My reflection is from The Little Black Book:
Saint Patrick didn’t go through the canonization process that is followed today. He died about 461 A. D., and the first saint formally canonized by a pope didn’t occur until 993.
So how did he become a saint? During the Church’s first thousand years, ‘making a saint was usually handled on a regional basis, i.e. the local church decreed that the deceased person had lived a life of such holiness that they could be liturgically celebrated as a saint.
That’s how it worked for Saint Patrick. And he received his own feast day through the efforts of a 16th century Franciscan priest.
Luke Wadding was born in Waterford, Ireland, in 1588. After his ordination as a Franciscan in 1613, he was sent to Rome. While there, he raised money for a college where Irish students could study for the priesthood. His efforts were successful, and the Franciscan College of Saint Isidore opened in 1625. Three years later, he founded a second college to help train Irish clergy. Today it is known as the Pontifical Irish College.
Although his entire ministry was in Rome, Father Wadding remained a strong Irish nationalist who opposed English occupation of Ireland. he supported the Irish Catholic uprising in the war of 1641 by supplying ammunition and arms to Ireland.
He also wanted to honor Saint Patrick. Using his influence and connections, he managed to get Patrick’s feast added to the church calendar.
Father Wadding died in Rome on November 18, 1657. He is buried on the grounds of Saint Isidore College.”
Happy St. Patrick’s Day to all!
