“Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! According to his great mercy, he has caused us to be born again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, to an inheritance that is imperishable, undefiled, and unfading, kept in heaven for you, who by God’s power are being guarded through faith for a salvation ready to be revealed in the last time.” (1 Peter 1:3-5 ESV)
My husband comes from an Irish Catholic family, and we have developed quite a fondness for Ireland. In fact, the two of us are headed to the Emerald Isle for the first time this summer.
Not only does my mother-in-law trace both of her parents’ lineage to Ireland, but my husband’s maternal grandfather and one of my maternal great-grandmothers were born on Saint Patrick’s Day. As a result of this lucky coincidence, the patron saint of Ireland is one of our family’s favorite saints, and we love to celebrate his feast day with our daughters every March. Last year, we took them to a Saint Patrick’s Day festival featuring traditional Irish dancing.
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2 replies on “The Legacy of St. Patrick’s Day is Rebirth for All”
[…] St. Patrick’s Day also happens to be my husband’s maternal grandfather’s birthday, which is so appropriate for this loving and generous man with Irish Catholic roots. Affectionately called “Joe” by his grandchildren, my husband’s grandfather was born in New Jersey but wisely moved his wife, Catherine, and five daughters to Texas as fast as he could! Joe traces his lineage to his maternal grandmother, Sarah Rattigan, born in Ireland in 1865, and, on his father’s side, to his great-great-grandfather Thomas Gannon, also born in Ireland. Catherine has Irish roots as well, tracing her paternal lineage to her great-grandfather, William Maguire of Ireland. […]
[…] loved St. Patrick’s Day because it was her mother’s birthday. She loved watching the Macy’s parade on Thanksgiving Day […]