Patricians of the Holy Spirit
The Patrician Fathers and Brothers of the Holy Spirit is envisioned as a new Congregation inspired by the life and works of St Patrick, Enlightener of Ireland. Like his Master Jesus, Patrick sought the mountains where he could be close to God in solitude. His vocation was nurtured during the years he spent as a slave herding swine in the Antrim hills and it was there that he heard an angel giving him instructions to find his way home and out of slavery. Later, after his ordination and consecration he persistently heard the voice of the Irish in his dreams calling him back to the work of evangelisation among the people who had once enslaved him, and for the next few decades he ministered energetically throughout Ireland establishing communities and nurturing vocations. We are interested in receiving applications from men who may be interested in exploring this vocation.
Coat of Arms of the Patricians of the Holy Spirit
Like Our Holy Father St Patrick, our Patrician Fathers and Brothers are engaged in apostolic work, especially in teaching Celtic spirituality and traditional Liberal Catholicism, yet also following the example of St Patrick they frequently seek God in contemplative solitude. Their ministry flows naturally from their experience of union with the Master Jesus on the mountain, who urges them, "Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost" (Matthew 28:19)
Applicants to this order should be members of the Holy Celtic Church International or in communion with us. Members commit to a personal rule of life which should include some form of Morning and Evening Prayer (Divine Office, Rosary or Chaplet of the Holy Ghost), Meditation, Mass on Sundays and Feast Days, a Retreat Day at least once each month and some form of ministry (social work, pastoral care or teaching). An annual promise to observe the rule is made in the presence of the Guardian or the Abbot, CSR. The habit of the congregation is a black soutane with an emerald green cloth cincture.
Applicants to this order should be members of the Holy Celtic Church International or in communion with us. Members commit to a personal rule of life which should include some form of Morning and Evening Prayer (Divine Office, Rosary or Chaplet of the Holy Ghost), Meditation, Mass on Sundays and Feast Days, a Retreat Day at least once each month and some form of ministry (social work, pastoral care or teaching). An annual promise to observe the rule is made in the presence of the Guardian or the Abbot, CSR. The habit of the congregation is a black soutane with an emerald green cloth cincture.
St Patrick's Breastplate
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I bind unto myself to-day
The strong Name of the Trinity, By invocation of the same, The Three in One and One in Three. I bind this day to me for ever, By pow'r of faith, Christ's incarnation; His baptism in Jordan river; His death on Cross for my salvation; His bursting from the spiced tomb, His riding up the heavenly way; His coming at the day of doom; I bind unto myself to-day. I bind unto myself the power Of the great love of Cherubim; The sweet ‘Well done’ in judgment hour, The service of the Seraphim, Confessors' faith, Apostles' word, The patriarchs' prayers, the Prophets' scrolls, All good deeds done unto the Lord, And purity of virgin souls. I bind unto myself to-day The virtues of the star-lit heaven, The glorious sun's life-giving ray, The whiteness of the moon at even, The flashing of the lightning free, The whirling wind's tempestuous shocks, The stable earth, the deep salt sea Around the old eternal rocks. I bind unto myself to-day The pow'r 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: Against the demon snares of sin, The vice that gives temptation force, The natural lusts that war within, The hostile men that mar my course; Or few or many, far or nigh, In every place, and in all hours, Against their fierce hostility, I bind to me these holy powers: Against all Satan's spells and wiles, Against false words of heresy, Against the knowledge that defiles, Against the heart's idolatry, Against the wizard's evil craft, Against the death-wound and the burning, The choking wave, the poisoned shaft, Protect me, Christ, till Thy returning. Christ be with me, Christ within me, Christ behind me, Christ before me, Christ beside me, Christ to win me, Christ to comfort and restore me, Christ beneath me, Christ above me, Christ in quiet, Christ in danger, Christ in hearts of all that love me, Christ in mouth of friend and stranger. I bind unto myself the Name, The strong Name of the Trinity; By invocation of the same, The Three in One, and One in Three. Of Whom all nature hath creation; Eternal Father, Spirit, Word: Praise to the Lord of my salvation, Salvation is of Christ the Lord. (translated from the original by Mrs Cecil Frances Alexander) |
St Patrick, Downpatrick Church of Ireland, Northern Ireland
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from the legendary "Glastonbury Charter of St Patrick"
Medieval wall painting of St Patrick, St Patrick's Chapel, Glastonbury
"I [Patrick] was sent on a mission into a region
That is called Ireland, a very wild land,
By the Pope Celestine who caused me so to do
To preach to that folk our belief.
[Afterwards] I departed thence doing harm to none
And returned straightway into Britain
I came into an isle that had to name Ynswitrin,
So was it called of old time in the British tongue,
In the which I found a place delectable
There found I several brethren well indoctrinate
And well instructed in the Catholic faith
They came there after those saints
Whom saints Phagan and Deruvian had left there
And, because I found them humble and peaceable,
I made choice rather to be with them, though I should be feeble, Than to dwell in a royal court in vigorous life
But, because we all had one heart
We chose to dwell together
And to eat and drink in one house
And in one place sleep under a rule.
So, though I liked it not, they chose me chief
And by fraternal force made me their guardian..."
That is called Ireland, a very wild land,
By the Pope Celestine who caused me so to do
To preach to that folk our belief.
[Afterwards] I departed thence doing harm to none
And returned straightway into Britain
I came into an isle that had to name Ynswitrin,
So was it called of old time in the British tongue,
In the which I found a place delectable
There found I several brethren well indoctrinate
And well instructed in the Catholic faith
They came there after those saints
Whom saints Phagan and Deruvian had left there
And, because I found them humble and peaceable,
I made choice rather to be with them, though I should be feeble, Than to dwell in a royal court in vigorous life
But, because we all had one heart
We chose to dwell together
And to eat and drink in one house
And in one place sleep under a rule.
So, though I liked it not, they chose me chief
And by fraternal force made me their guardian..."
Glastonbury Abbey, Somerset
