Gospel in Art: Feast of Saint Patrick

Saint Patrick, Engraving by Adriaen Collaert 1603 © National Gallery of Ireland, Dublin

Source: Christian Art

Gospel of 17 March 2025
Luke 10:1-12, 17-20

At that time: The Lord appointed seventy-two others and sent them on ahead of him, two by two, into every town and place where he himself was about to go.

And he said to them, 'The harvest is plentiful, but the labourers are few. Therefore pray earnestly to the Lord of the harvest to send out labourers into his harvest. Go your way; behold, I am sending you out as lambs in the midst of wolves. Carry no money bag, no knapsack, no sandals, and greet no one on the road.

'Whatever house you enter, first say, "Peace be to this house!" And if a son of peace is there, your peace will rest upon him. But if not, it will return to you. And remain in the same house, eating and drinking what they provide, for the labourer deserves his wages. Do not go from house to house.

'Whenever you enter a town and they receive you, eat what is set before you. Heal the sick in it and say to them, "The kingdom of God has come near to you." But whenever you enter a town and they do not receive you, go into its streets and say, "Even the dust of your town that clings to our feet we wipe off against you. Nevertheless know this, that the kingdom of God has come near." I tell you, it will be more bearable on that day for Sodom than for that town.'

The seventy-two returned with joy, saying, 'Lord, even the demons are subject to us in your name!' And he said to them, 'I saw Satan fall like lightning from heaven. Behold, I have given you authority to tread on serpents and scorpions, and over all the power of the enemy, and nothing shall hurt you. Nevertheless, do not rejoice in this, that the spirits are subject to you, but rejoice that your names are written in heaven.'

Reflection on the engraving

The Confessions of Saint Patrick is one of only two surviving works attributed to him. Written toward the end of his mission in Ireland, likely in the mid to late 5th century, it is both distant from us in time yet strikingly personal. Far more than a historical document, it is a profound statement of faith that continues to resonate today, nearly sixteen centuries later. In it, Patrick recounts the two distinct periods of his life in Ireland: first as a slave, serving an earthly master, and later as a servant of the Lord, fulfilling his calling as a bishop. Though his family were very committed Christians (his father a deacon and his grandfather a priest) Patrick admits that, at the time of his capture by pirates at the age of sixteen, he was spiritually indifferent and had turned away from God's commandments.

It was during his captivity in Ireland that Patrick underwent a profound spiritual awakening. In the isolation of an unfamiliar land, he experienced a deepening of faith that transformed his outlook on suffering. Reflecting on this transformation, he describes himself as being "like a stone lying in the deepest mire" until God, in His mercy, "raised me up." Patrick speaks of how his hardship became a blessing in disguise, kindling a fervent prayer life and a newfound awareness of God's presence. "I prayed frequently each day," he writes, "and more and more the love of God and the fear of Him grew in me." Even in harsh conditions of rain, hail, or snow, he rose before dawn to pray, recognising that the Spirit was alive within him during those difficult years. His experience suggests a truth that may resonate with us: it is often through life's darker moments, when familiar comforts are stripped away, that we become more open to God's grace.

After six years of enslavement, Patrick escaped from his master, undertaking a treacherous journey of two hundred miles to board a ship bound for Gaul (modern-day France). Eventually, he made his way back to his family in Britain, where he was welcomed with relief and joy. His parents pleaded with him to stay and never leave again, understandably wishing to keep him safe after his hardships. Patrick might have expected to settle back into a peaceful life at home, but God's call was not yet complete. He recounts a vision in which a man named Victorinus brought him countless letters. As he read one, he felt as though he could hear the voices of the Irish people crying out: "O holy boy, we beg you to come again and walk among us." Compelled by this call, Patrick was ordained a priest and later appointed bishop, returning to the very land where he had been enslaved. Reflecting on his life's mission, Patrick recognised that both his arrival in Ireland as a captive and his later return as a missionary were not his own doing. In the closing words of his Confessions, he humbly acknowledges: "It is not I but Christ the Lord who has ordered me to come here and be with these people for the rest of my life."

In our engraving published in 1603, we see a central image depicting Saint Patrick as bishop, adorned in an elaborate cope and mitre. Surrounding him are the venomous creatures he is credited with banishing from Ireland. While most people are familiar with the legend of Saint Patrick driving out the snakes, this artwork also includes other harmful creatures traditionally associated with the legend-a dragon, a toad, and a scorpion. Encircling the central figure are Baroque-style roundels that illustrate some of the most dramatic episodes from Patrick's life. While several of these scenes are widely recognised, others are less familiar.

LINKS

Gospel in Art: https://christian.art/
Today's Reflection: https://christian.art/daily-gospel-reading/luke-10-1-12-17-20-2025/(with audio)