Prayers for the raising of the Irish Flag
Today, Hamilton Township, NJ had its annual raising of the Irish Flag ceremony, kicking off about a week of celebrations for St. Patrick’s Day (OK, I don’t know why they start on March 8, and are over before the actual St. Patrick Day). This year’s Miss St. Patrick is a young lady from my parish. I am not sure why I was asked (but the pastor is named Gervasio, no Irish there, and the other priest is from the Phillippines, so me being the only redheaded Irish priest may have a bearing), to say the invocation at the Flag raising ceremony. Here’s my prayer:
God of Heaven and Earth,
As the Dark Ages spread though Europe, it was largely do to the faith of Irish monks that much of Western civilization was preserved.
As the darkness of the Culture of Death continues to spread through much of the world, may we respond to Your light of Truth with the same faith.
Amen
Then they told me that they also wanted me to say the final blessing, so with no prior thought I came up with this:
May the God of Love bless you with long life.
May the Mighty God continue to bless us with freedom, for which so many shed their blood.
And as the Irish say,
May you be in Heaven a half hour before the devil knows you are dead.
