There’s no denying that St. Patrick’s Day unites people far and wide, and not just those from the Emerald Isle. As millions don something green to honor the patron saint of Ireland — and maybe raise a glass or two in his honor — it is a day to delight in all things Irish, and Read More…

The Emerald Isle is known for its great beauty, but it is also home to an extraordinary collection of holy sites. These sacred places have drawn pilgrims for hundreds of years. It is believed that Christianity came to Ireland around the year 400. While the faith was present on the island before St. Patrick’s arrival, Read More…

While we associate St. Patrick’s Day with vibrant shades of green, historical evidence suggests a different palette for Ireland’s patron saint. The Huntington Library in California, for example, houses a rare 13th-century manuscript, the famed Legenda Aurea. In it, the earliest known depiction of St. Patrick is found. Surprisingly (for us), he’s dressed in a Read More…

Oddly enough, St. Patrick is often forgotten about on St. Patrick’s Day, as the secular world mainly focuses on shamrocks, leprechauns, and pots of gold. St. Patrick would not have been upset about such an oversight, as he did not view himself as a saint, but as a sinful man. This point of view can Read More…

Many Catholics who attend Mass on March 17 might expect the priest to be wearing the color green. Green has become the color most widely associated with St. Patrick’s Day and has numerous connections to shamrocks, Ireland and most modern depictions of St. Patrick. Is green the correct liturgical color for St. Patrick’s Day? In Read More…

In many different countries, especially the United States, St. Patrick’s Day is traditionally a time to go out to a local bar or pub and drink lots of beer. What would St. Patrick have said about drinking beer? During his lifetime, St. Patrick reportedly had his own brewer. According to John Healy in The Life Read More…

In a few days millions of people will be celebrating St. Patrick, the patron saint of Ireland. While Patrick — or Padraig in its Gaelic form — is a popular choice for many baby boys from the Emerald Isle and beyond, there are a myriad of other Irish saints who could inspire you in naming Read More…

The people of Ireland resoundingly rejected two proposed changes to the nation’s constitution, in a vote that took place on International Women’s Day, March 8. The measures were both opposed by the Irish bishops, who spoke out against them. The first amendment would have broadened the definition of “family,” to include “durable relationships” other than Read More…

Not all saints are celebrated on their day of death. For example, St. John Paul II is celebrated on October 22, the day of his papal inauguration. However, the vast majority of saints are celebrated on their death date, which is also considered their “birthday” into Heaven. This is the case for St. Patrick, as Read More…

St. Patrick’s Day is regarded as a secular holiday by many different countries, especially those with large Irish communities. With regard to the official Church calendar, the celebration of St. Patrick’s Day differs throughout the world. For example, in most of the United States, St. Patrick’s Day is an “optional memorial,” meaning that it is Read More…

In a heartwarming display of unity and faith, thousands of students from 18 secondary schools in Co Kildare joined hands to create what may be the largest human St. Brigid’s Cross ever assembled, according to Irish Central. This remarkable feat, which took place at the Curragh Racecourse on January 31, was not just about breaking Read More…

A relic St. Brigid, patroness of Ireland, poets, and babies among others causes, has been gifted to St. Brigid’s Cathedral in Kildare. The cathedral, which stands on the spot where St. Brigid brought her nuns to erect an abbey church, is now celebrating the return of their beloved Irish saint, whose relics have not visited Read More…