Patrick and creation

Saint Patrick (378?-493?) was born in Roman Britain and kidnapped by Irish attackers. After escaping captivity, Patrick returned to Britain and became a priest, and later a bishop. He returned to Ireland 30 years later and, despite the danger, witnessed Christ among the Irish, converting thousands. Patrick often used the things of creation to point beyond to the Creator; one example is his legendary use of the three-leaved shamrock to explain the Holy Trinity to the pre-Christian Irish.

Celtic Christianity, which lasted some 400 years between the fifth and the ninth centuries had an acute sensitivity to the revelation of God in creation. "Reading the works of Celtic Christians," we get the impression, says T. M. Moore, "that if God is making Himself known through the things He has made, then we need to be studying those things carefully, in order to discover His glory, encounter His presence, and learn what we can." [T. M. Moore, “Glory All Around: Celts and Creational Theology,” BreakPoint Online, 19 February 2008; www.breakpoint.org.]

Creation certainly points me to the Creator. As spring will soon unfold, I think often of and express gratitude to an amazingly creative God.

May you too find creative joy in the greening of the days ahead.

O Lord, our Lord, how majestic is your name in all the earth!
Psalm 8:1