Saturday, July 9 : Saint Patrick

So “I will entrust my soul to my most faithful God” 1Pt 4,19), whom I serve here as his “ambassador” (Eph 6,20) in spite of my shortcomings – but God doesn’t use the world’s standards in such matters. He chose me for this job – me, one of the least of his servants (Mt 25,40) – to be his assistant. “How shall I make a return to the Lord for all the good he has done to me?” (Ps 116[115],12). But what can I say or do for God? Everything I can do comes from him… So may God never permit me to be separated from his people “whom he formed for himself” (Is 43,21), here at the end of the earth. I pray that God will give me perseverance and allow me to be a faithful witness for him until I die. If have ever done anything worthwhile for the God I love, I ask that I might be allowed to die here for his name with these converts and slaves… I know if that were to happen, I would gain my soul along with a new body on that day we will undoubtedly rise again like the sun in the morning, like the son, Jesus Christ, our Redeemer. My final prayer is that all of you who believe in God and respect him, whoever you may be who read this letter that Patrick, the unlearned sinner, wrote from Ireland, that none of you will ever say that I, in my ignorance, did anything for God. You must understand – because it is the truth – that it was all the gift of God. And this is my confession before I die.
maronite readings – rosary,team