A Little Bit About Saint Patrick

Since starting the Mind Body Spirit Marketplace my education about different cultural beliefs, religions, historical figures and mythology continues to grow everyday.  So does my collection of reference material!  Today is St. Patrick's Day.  I'm watching the sun peek out this morning (finally), the grass beginning to turn green... (a little, at least there's no snow)... and while putting on my green earrings and Celtic amulet I decided to thumb through "Saints Preserve Us" by Sean Kelly and Rosemary Rodgers to refresh my knowledge about Saint Patrick.  What I found out may surprise you... 
The following reference was taken directly from book (which I would definitely recommend, by the way)

enjoy your day!

~ diane


"Partick- March 17
 Patron of Ireland and Nigeria; Invoked Against the Snakes

Patrick wasn't Irish; he was Welsh-Italian.  His name wasn't Patrick, it was Succat.  He wasn't the first Christian missionary sent to Ireland-that was Saint Palladius.  And there were never any snakes in the country to begin with.  But aside from that, everything you know about Patrick is true.  He was declared by the Sacred Congregation of Rites to be the Patron of Nigeria in April 1961."

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The History of Valentine's Day

Researching the historical roots of any Holiday practice usually produces interesting findings!  That's what happened to me while reading about Valentine's Day.  The excerpt below was taken from a wonderful book, "Saints Preserve Us" by Sean Kelly and Rosemary Rogers.  Enjoy your Valentine's Day!
        ~ diane


"The martyrdoms of three different Saints named Valentine are celebrated on this day; in various Roman churches eight complete bodies (and one head) of Valentine are venerated.  One of these a priest and/or physician beheaded in 269, is traditionally invoked against blindness and epilepsy.

The association of this date with courtship may arise from the mid-February pagan fertility feast of Lupercalia, and/or from the medieval belief that birds chose their mates on this day.

"Valentines" were originally cards that boys drew by lot, inscribed with names of girls to be courted.  An attempt to improve this custom by substituting the names of Saints to be emulated was once made, without much success, by Saint Francis de Sales."

Valentine graphic from Creative Commons.

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Who was Saint Patrick?

Who was Saint Patrick?

Since I became involved in the Mind Body Spirit Marketplace my collection of reference material on a variety of subjects continues to grow.
Today is St. Patrick's Day.  I'm watching the sun coming out this morning (finally), the grass beginning to turn... and while putting on my green earrings and Celtic amulet I decided to thumb through "Saints Preserve Us" by Sean Kelly and Rosemary Rodgers to refresh my knowledge about St. Patrick.
The following reference was taken directly from book (which I would definitely recommend, by the way)...

enjoy your day!

~ diane

"Partick- March 17
 Patron of Ireland and Nigeria; Invoked Against the Snakes

Patrick wasn't Irish; he was Welsh-Italian.  His name wasn't Patrick, it was Succat.  He wasn't the first Christian missionary sent to Ireland-that was Saint Palladius.  And there were never any snakes in the country to begin with.  But aside from that, everything you know about Patrick is true.  He was declared by the Sacred Congregation of Rites to be the Patron of Nigeria in April 1961."