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Monday, March 1, 2021
of Britain by Irish pirates, who proceeded to carry him off to Ireland and force him to work as a shepherd herding sheep. After six years, he escaped his captors, walking nearly 200 miles through the Irish landscape and convincing a ship to carry him with them back to Britain. This harrowing experience certainly had an effect on Maewyn, who was convinced it was the Lord who protected him and delivered him safely home. St. Patrick Spreads the Gospel Upon returning home, Maewyn received his call (in a dream) to preach the Gospel—in Ireland, of all places! He spent the next 15 or so years in a monastery in Britain, preparing for his missionary work. When he became a priest, his name was changed to Patricius, and he returned to the land of his captors to begin his teachings. Although some Christians already lived in Ireland at the time, the country was largely pagan, so spreading a foreign religion was not an easy task. Patricius traveled from village to village to share the teachings of the Lord, and was successful enough to eventually found many churches there. Why is The Shamrock Associated with St. Patrick’s Day? We wear a shamrock on St. Patrick’s Day because, legend says, St. Patrick used its three leaves to explain the Holy Trinity in his teachings. (The Trinity is the Father, the Son, and the Spirit as three divine persons who are one divine being [God].) The truth of the St. Pat-
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rick legend, however, is in question, as there is no direct record that the saint actually used the shamrock as a teaching tool. Note: The symbol of St. Patrick is a three-leaf shamrock, not a four-leaf clover. However, long before the shamrock became associated with St. Patrick’s Day, the four-leaf clover was regarded by ancient Celts as a charm against evil spirits. In the early 1900s, O. H. Benson, an Iowa school superintendent, came up with the idea of using a clover as the emblem for a newly founded agricultural club for children in his area. In 1911, the fourleaf clover was chosen as the emblem for the national club program, later named 4-H.
☘ ☘ ☘ ☘ ☘ Q: Why should you never iron a four-leaf clover? A: You don’t want to press your luck!
☘ ☘ ☘ ☘ ☘
Irish Potato Biscuits
Directions Preheat oven to 400 degrees F. Boil and mash the potatoes, making sure they are free of lumps. Add the milk, butter, and salt. Add just enough flour to make a soft dough, then lay it on a floured board and roll out quickly and lightly to a half-inch sheet. Cut into rounds; bake about 10 minutes, or until just crisp on the outside. Butter and eat before they fall. Makes 12 to 18 biscuits.
This is a different sort of biscuit that’s perfect for St. Patrick’s Day and goes well with a corned beef or meat stew. Ingredients 6 to 8 potatoes 1 cup milk or cream 1 tablespoon melted butter Salt, to taste 1/2 cup self-rising flour (approximately)
More St. Patrick Day recipes can be found at https://www.almanac.com/bestst-patricks-day-recipes.
—SPJST—
More St. Patrick’s Day Facts, Fun, and Folklore ☘ Blue was the color originally associated with St. Patrick, but green is now favored. ☘ The first St. Patrick’s Day parade in the American colonies was held in New York City on this day in 1762. ☘ St. Patrick’s Day is the traditional day for planting peas, even in the snow! ☘ Cabbage seeds are often planted, and old-time farmers believed that to make them grow well, you needed to plant them while wearing your nightclothes! ☘ ☘ ☘ ☘ ☘ “On St. Patrick’s Day, the warm side of a stone turns up, and the broadback goose begins to lay.” ☘ ☘ ☘ ☘ ☘
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The Taylor Czech Chorus CD and Songbook package Featuring 21 Czech Songs! $20 for the CD and Songbook. Free shipping. Mail check to: Buster Pavlicek 112 Walnut Tree Loop Georgetown, TX 78633 For information, call 512-818-0004
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