March 17, 2019

Dear Brothers and Sisters,

The Gospel of the Transfiguration is proclaimed on the Second Sunday of Lent. Tradition holds that Mount Tabor in Galilee is the place that this miracle occurred. Jesus took Peter, John and James and went up the mountain to pray. While at prayer He was transfigured before them and His Divinity was revealed to the Apostles. This is called a “Theophany” a revelation of God’s Glory. According to Tradition this revelation occurred one month before Good Friday. In this way the Lord Jesus strengthened His disciples before His Passion.

Today is the feast day of Saint Patrick, the patron saint of Ireland. According to tradition Saint Patrick died on this day near the village of Saul and is buried at Downpatrick, County Down, Northern Ireland.

The “Lorica” of Saint Patrick is an ancient Celtic prayer:

“Christ with me, Christ before me, Christ behind me,
Christ in me, Christ below me, Christ above me,
Christ to the right of me, Christ to the left of me,
Christ where I lie, Christ where I sit, Christ where I stand,
Christ in the heart of everyone who speaks of me,
Christ in the mouth of everyone who speaks of me,
Christ in every eye which sees me,
Christ in every ear which hears me.”

I arise today,
with a mighty power, calling on the Trinity,
with a belief in the Threeness,
with a faith in the oneness
of the Creator of Creation.

In Christ,
Fr. Thomas