This story was printed from www.irishabroad.com

Time for Catholics to share St Patrick

Gary McMichael

There are few things in Ireland that escape political contamination, not least Irish history, of which many parts have been contorted to suit political or religious ideologies.

This weekend there will be celebrations of St. Patrick, and as usual New York will lead the charge with the biggest celebration of all. There will be many sore feet and even more sore heads.

The level of enthusiasm for this special occasion in the U.S. is quite astounding but ironically such an event would be considered totally alien where I live, in Co. Down, where St. Patrick himself is buried.

Would it shock you to learn that in Northern Ireland, St. Patrick's Day only became a public holiday last year, and that there are very few towns which hold a parade to celebrate his day?

Historical grave robbers

The truth of St. Patrick and his contribution to the genesis of Christianity in Ireland has been lost to the historical grave robbers who have cast him as an icon associated with the Roman Catholic faith.

His celebration has been politicized by nationalism, the effect of which has understandably distanced the Protestant tradition.

The fact is that neither tradition in Ireland has any right to embrace him more than the other, because his work predates both.

He was brought to Ireland as a slave and having escaped his master to flee Ireland, he returned around 432 to preach Christianity.

Independent church

Being reputed to have founded the Christian church in Ireland around 444 in Armagh, the church was actually independent.

Indeed it was only in the 11th Century almost 600 years later, that Roman Catholicism came to Ireland, when the Danes who had settled there became Christian and refused to acknowledge the authority and jurisdiction of the Irish church. They sent their bishops to be consecrated as Roman Catholic ones.

How typical of us it is that the message of St. Patrick which represents Christianity and fellowship has been allowed to become an instrument of division on this island.

I recall a few years ago that a St. Patrick's Day parade organized in Downpatrick, which is famously named after him, was advertised as a cross community event. That they felt the need to do so kind of says it all.

American stylization

I never took part in a St. Patrick's Day celebration until 1995 when President Clinton invited me to a party in the White House. I must admit that it was not primarily because of St. Patrick that I went. The American stylization of the occasion made me very uncomfortable.

The association between St. Patrick and being Irish, flying the Tricolor and drinking green beer was more than a little disconcerting for me, and made me feel more of a spectator than a participant.

Perhaps I should have suggested that the Union Jack should fly alongside the Tricolor. After all, the cross of St. Patrick is one of the four that makes up the British standard.

His image is cast in gold mosaic alongside that of St. George, St. Davis and St. Andrew in the lobby of the British Parliament, and the Queen presents the Irish regiments with the shamrock each St. Patrick's Day.

Not to mention the small matter of St. Patrick being buried in Northern Ireland which is in the U.K., so surely I have as much right to have my British identity associated with the occasion.

Not designed to be offensive

Having spent the last five St. Patrick's Days in the U.S., I have come to accept that the Nationalist paraphernalia of the occasion is not designed to be offensive to me or my tradition, and I have been made very welcome at all times.

I think that my community has been as much to blame for allowing the image of St. Patrick's Day become what it has. That is something which must be addressed by the Protestant tradition.

I have been invited on several occasions to walk in the New York parade and have consistently felt I must decline, which saddens me. It has been used in the past as a political vehicle to project anti-British sentiments, and that has conjured a very negative image in my community.

I remember explaining this to someone on one occasion. His proposed solution was to get a Loyalist marching band and maybe a lodge from the Orange Order to come along to give it a bit of balance. You will not be surprised to learn that I did not think that was the best approach.

Remove the trappings

Perhaps it would make more sense to remove all the political and nationalistic trappings from such events.

I think there must actually be a serious debate about how we seek to overcome the obstructions presented to accepting and celebrating shared history in Ireland.

For generations Nationalism and Unionism in this society has sought out ways to define its seperateness from the other, compelled to label everything from our past as either theirs or ours.

At this point in our history I think we should be trying revise that practice and apply ourselves to exploring the inescapable commonality of our past. Where better to start than with St. Patrick?

© Irish Voice