Daily Meditation for March 17, 2025

March 17 is the feast of St. Patrick, patron saint of Ireland, and thought to be the anniversary of his death. His feast day is traditionally associated with having a lot of fun. How does an anniversary which commemorates someone’s death become a date for eating, drinking and generally letting rip? In Chapter 4 of his Rule, St. Benedict tells us to “keep death daily before your eyes.” In other words, we must incorporate the idea of our death into our life, accepting that our earthly lives are finite and that one day the world will carry on without us. Knowing that and yet still being able to celebrate the life that was, that is and is to come, is a way of acknowledging that our death is a significant part of our life, and the gift of life in its entirety is something to celebrate. Happy St. Patrick’s Day!

By Karen Rose, OSB