Beannachtaí
na Féile Pádraig Oraibh Uile!
(Gaelic for)
Happy St. Patrick's Day!
The following prayer is from the 4th century and is attributed
to St. Patrick.
I bind myself today
The power of God to hold and lead
His eye to watch, His might to stay
His ear to hearken to my need
The wisdom of my God to teach
His hand to guide
His shield to ward
The word of God to give me speech
His Heavenly Host to be my guard.
Craft & Fun
Activities
1) small $$store candles decoupaged with dried shamrocks
2) coloring pages:
print and color a shamrock (pdf
format)
Label the leaves: Father Son
Holy Spirit
Print Scripture
Shamrocks (.pdf format) from the lovetolearnplace.com
3) puzzle
4) color the flag
of Ireland
5) Weave a St. Brigid's Cross
6) painting projects -
Pepper Shamrocks You will need two or three green peppers, select the
largest ones you can find. Cut the peppers in half and clean out the insides. Use white
construction paper and let the children dip the pepper halves into tempra paint and stamp
three connecting pepper shapes to form a shamrock. Have children paint a stem with a small
(or large) brush. You have a shamrock! You could spread glue inside each opening , after
the paint is dry, and sprinkle with green glitter to make the shamrock more outstanding!
Can stamping Take three soup cans and duct tape them together in a
cluster. Then you use it as a stamp in green paint and it will come out as a shamrock.
Note: if you put damp paper towel down on the paint tray first it helps absorb some of the
paint and it works like a stamp pad then.
Potato stamping Discuss Ireland and the importance of the potato. Cut
some spuds in half to use to stamp shamrock leaves or carve out shamrock and use as a
stamp. Carve out a cross for a stamp as well.
7) St Patrick Fun Food -
Green Milk Pour 2-3 drops of green food coloring (for a 6-8 ounce
glass) in clear glasses.
When the people come in to eat, pour their milk in the glasses. It will swirl green.
Green Potatoes Stir green food coloring in milk you add to
potatoes before mashing.
Poem about Shamrock
There's a dear little plant that grows in Ireland.
'Twas Saint Patrick himself sure that set it.
And the sun on his labor with pleasure did smile.
And a tear from his eyes oft-times wet it.
It grows through the bog ...
Through the brake, and through the mireland.
And it's called the dear little Shamrock of Ireland.
(Irish Blessing)
Origin of the Celtic Cross
Patrick made the mark of a Latin cross through the circle and blessed
the stone making the first Celtic Cross.
There is a account of how St. Patrick when preaching to some soon-to-be converted heathens
was shown a sacred standing stone that was marked with a circle that was symbolic of the
moon goddess. Patrick made the mark of a Latin cross through the circle and blessed the
stone making the first Celtic Cross. This legend implies that the Saint was willing to
make ideas and practices that were formerly Druid into Christian ideas and practices. This
is consistent with the belief that he converted and ordained many Druids to lives as
Christian priests.
print and color a Celtic
Cross
The Harp
The harp is an ancient musical instrument used in Ireland for centuries.
It is also a symbol of Ireland. Harpists, who were often blind, occupied an honored place
in Irish society. Harpists and bards (or poets) played an important role in the social
structure of Ireland.
print and color a harp
 listen to mp3 of O
How I Love Jesus on the harp by Laurie
Muirhead
Online Resources
Church History Institute
Kids Glimpses - Kids
History of St. Patrick
Adult Glimpse of St.
Patricks life
Will the Real
Saint Patrick please stand up!
Letter
to Coroticus from Patrick
Persecution in the early Irish church... this Letter to the Soldiers of Coroticus
is Saint Patrick's protest against the slaughter and enslaving of Irish Christians by
Christian Welshmen that were raiding Ireland. Coroticus was a west coast king that invaded
the northern Ireland coast enslaving many Christians.
Video Resources
Patrick: Brave Shepherd
of the Emerald Isle
Patrick
St. Patrick: The Irish
Legend
Books
Two books available by interlibrary loan or to purchase through Coles
Gail Gibbons - St. Patrick's Day $11
Tomi Paola - Patrick, Patron Saint of Ireland $11
St. Patrick
Patrick was a just a shepherd boy
When to this land he came
To care for sheep and teach the folk
The Gospel to proclaim.
Holding up the little shamrock He told of God's great love
And explained to them the triune God
Who lived in Heaven above.
He told them that God sent His Son
Who was born in Bethlehem
And lived a sinless life down here
But was put to death by men.
But God raised Jesus from the tomb
To sit upon His throne
And all who put their trust in Him
Have heaven as their home. Upon the 17th of March
Men should their homage give
To Patrick who to Slemish came
And taught them how to live.
© Copyright 2003 Eunice Walker
The Precious Mum of my dear friend Avril,
An Irish Lamb of our Shepherd's
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