Rich Mullins and St. Patrick

I like to imagine Rich Mullins praying with St. Patrick on this the Saint's feast day. The two had so much in common, especially in their love and devotion to Christ. When St. Patrick was traveling through Ireland in the early part of the 5th Century on his quest to teach the beautiful truths of the Christian (Catholic) faith to the people of Ireland, he was approached by a pagan leader of the Irish people who questioned St. Patrick about this "God" he spoke of:
And then Ethne broke forth into the questions:
"Who is God?"
"Where is His dwelling?"
"Has He sons and daughters?"
"Is He rich in silver and gold?"
"Is He everlasting? is He beautiful?"
"Are His daughters dear and lovely to the men of this world?"
"Is He on the heavens or on earth?"
"In the sea, in rivers, in mountains, in valleys?"
"Make Him known to us. How is He to be seen?"
"How is He to be loved? How is He to be found?"
"Is it in youth or is it in old age that He may be found?"

But St. Patrick, filled with the Holy Ghost, made answer:

"God, whom we announce to you, is the Ruler of all things."
"The God of heaven and earth, of the sea and the rivers."
"The God of the sun, and the moon, and all the stars."
"The God of the high mountains and of the low-lying valleys."
"The God who is above heaven, and in heaven, and under heaven."
"His dwelling is in heaven and earth, and the sea, and all therein."
"He gives breath to all."
"He gives life to all."
"He is over all."
"He upholds all."
"He gives light to the sun."
"He imparts splendour to the moon."
"He has made wells in the dry land, and islands in the ocean."
"He has appointed the stars to serve the greater lights."
"His Son is co-eternal and co-equal with Himself."
"The Son is not younger than the Father."
"And the Father is not older than the Son."
"And the Holy Ghost proceeds from them."
"The Father and the Son and the Holy Ghost are undivided."
(from: New Advent Catholic Encyclopedia)

I imagine Rich Mullins must have been contemplating the love which St. Patrick had for our Lord. as he traveled through Ireland creating the video below:

5 comments:

  1. A great example of Rich understanding the sacramentality of nature, of Creation.

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  2. Beautiful music and video. Thank you for telling us about Rich Mullins and his faith filled insighful life!

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  3. So true Brian! I feel another post coming on. :)

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  4. Patti, I'm so happy you are enjoying learning about him. He was one of the first people to inspire me in exploring our beautiful Catholic faith. Russ and I sometimes wonder if his prayers (combined with Russ' mother, and of course Mary and all the Saints) were what brought both of us back.

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  5. It was because he was so humble, so "unlike" the world. He was NOT just "talk." He had a true Catholic heart/soul. To see him in concert was like no other concert! I'm sure he did pray for you and Russ ... and me. He's surely more Catholic than many I know who 'claim to be.' God rest his troubadour ... his TRUEbadour soul.

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