Hi First Presbyterian,
Today is March 17. Happy Saint Patrick’s Day! While St. Patrick’s Day doesn’t have the personal connection for me that St. David’s Day does, I enjoy thinking about Patrick of Ireland and his contribution to the spread of Christianity. I am particularly intrigued by the distinct trinitarianism of ancient Celtic Christianity. The Trinity was important not only for how they understood God but also how they lived out their faith. Most people are aware of Patrick’s use of the shamrock to introduce the concept of the Trinity to the people of Ireland.
I’ve attached an image of something called the triquetra (from Latin meaning “three-corners.”) The triquetra is often connected to the “Celtic knot,” because of its distinctly trinitarian appearance. In other words, the triquetra is uniquely three-in-one. It has three distinct corners, which you can draw without ever lifting your pen from paper. The trinitarian nature of the triquetra was noticed by Celtic Christians as early as the middle ages, when it appears in many illustrated manuscripts of the Bible from Ireland.
I’m going to include below the text of a well-known prayer attributed to Patrick of Ireland. I encourage you to print off the attached image and pray this prayer while you trace your finger along the shape of the triquetra. Or, maybe you just want to trace the triquetra while you contemplate the mystery of the Trinity. My hope is that today, on St. Patrick’s Day, you will think about the mystery of God’s nature, that God can be both far beyond our ability to understand and deeply familiar and knowable.
I bind unto myself today the strong name of the Trinity,
by invocation of the same, the Three in One, the One in Three.
I bind this day to me forever, by power of faith, Christ’s incarnation,
his baptism in the Jordan river, his death on the 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 today.
I bind unto myself today 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 today the power of God to hold and lead,
God’s eye to watch, God’s might to stay, God’s ear to harken to my need,
the wisdom of my God to teach, God’s hand to guide, God’s shield to ward,
the word of God to give me speech, God’s heavenly host to be my guard.
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 God of my salvation, salvation is of Christ the Lord!
Peace to you,
Pastor Neff