Happy St. Patrick’s Day, everyone.
Before you sit down for some corned beef and cabbage or a pint of Guinness, I wanted you to see how the new progressive President of Ireland is framing the story of her country’s patron saint.
According to Catherine Connolly, the story of St. Patrick is about how great migrants are. That’s news to me.
In my years of Catholic school, I learned that St. Patrick was a Roman living in Britain who was captured by raiders and brought to Ireland as a slave. After escaping Ireland, he returned to Britain, where he became a priest. According to legend, Patrick had a dream where the people of Ireland called to him to come back and save them. He then traveled back to Ireland and converted the Irish people from paganism to Christianity.
This transcript is directly from the Irish President’s website:
As we gather together to celebrate Saint Patrick’s Day, it is appropriate that we recall the foundational story upon which our national day is based.Patrick was trafficked across the Irish Sea from Britain as a young man in the 5th century only to return to Ireland as a missionary, giving voice and his life to fostering an awareness of the consequences of slavery.The story of Patrick’s life serves as a reminder of the resilience and courage of migrants, the invaluable contributions that they have made, and continue to make, to the countries they now call home, sometimes even in the face of great adversity.Patrick’s story speaks not only to the Ireland of the 5th century, but to the millions still subjected to trafficking, forced labour and displacement today.As we recall the life of Patrick, we invoke his spirit and acknowledge our shared responsibilities as global citizens. We stand in solidarity with those who find themselves in vulnerable and dangerous circumstances.Patrick’s story invites us to respond with hospitality and kindness to those suffering the consequences of war and displacement, those fleeing their countries because of persecution or violence.
Nowhere in her speech does Connolly mention the core of St. Patrick’s story or what made him a saint. She even repeatedly refuses to use the word ‘saint,’ opting instead to just say ‘Patrick.’ Watch below:
This short video from the History Channel does a better job recounting the actual story of St. Patrick.
The left’s obsession with unfettered migration is baffling, but don’t let it ruin the holiday for you.
Sláinte!
Featured image via YouTube.
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