Tomorrow we will celebrate the Feast of St. Patrick, apostle of Ireland and thaumaturge (wonder worker)
The pic above is view of the beautiful statue of St. Patrick breathing over the Holy Well of Ballintubber to consecrate the waters of Ireland for baptism and healing. Traditionally the Holy Well here was used by St. Patrick to baptise and has been venerated ever since with the Abbey growing up around it. (You can see a reflection of the Abbey in the water if you look closely). Insufflation, the practice of consecrating or blessing with the breath, is one of the oldest gestures of blessing and directly echoes the in-breathing of the Holy Spirit at creation and the gifting of the Spirit by Jesus when He breathed over the Apostles and at the moment of Pentecost. It is also a reminder that our breath is one of the clearest connections to the Divine as it anchors us in the experience of life in the Now, in the present moment, where we touch the Divine Presence. "His breath vibrates in yours. It is the breath of God that you breathe and you are unaware of it." said St. Theophilus of Antioch. Touch your breath with deep awareness today... come home to it and know it as a connection to Divine Peace and your breath will become prayer, will become blessing, and then we may breathe peace to all we meet on this special feast and every day+
No comments:
Post a Comment