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So, Who Was St. Patrick?
St. Patrick, patron saint and apostle of Ireland, born in the late 4th Century, started his life in Britain as part of a wealthy Romanized family. He grew more passionate about his faith after Irish raiders snatched him from his father’s villa at age sixteen and kept him in captivity as a herdsman. Known for dreams that spoke to him, after six bleak years he dreamed a ship waited to take him home to Britain, and it did. However, he nearly starved and endured another brief confinement before he found his family.
Later while still in Britain, he had another dream. In this one he received a letter headed, “The Voice of the Irish.” Reading it convinced him a group in Ireland beseeched him to join them once more. Because he lacked what he believed was the proper education, he waited to respond. Once he did, doubts plagued him as he embarked. However, when his work began, he grew completely confident in the Lord and journeyed far and wide converting and baptizing non-Christians. Even though he dealt carefully with those who didn’t accept Christianity, he lived in constant danger of martyrdom. On at least one occasion, he was put in chains and at times mourned the deaths of converts who had been slain or kidnapped. History records him as a humble man who praised God for choosing him to turn multitudes from idols and unclean things into worshipers of God.
Legends surrounding him claim he raised 33 people from the dead and that he used a three-leaf clover to explain the Trinity.
Photo Courtesy of Google, Clipart Library, Free St. Patrick's Day Images
After all of these centuries he’s still celebrated and amazingly by those who are not Christian, Irish or British as well as those who are. Many wearing green have no idea why, and others drinking green beer have no idea who St. Patrick was. St. Patrick didn’t wear green, but the color is associated with Ireland, and we wear it to keep the Leprechauns from pinching us. If they see us, they’re sure to give us a pinch, but if we’re in green, we’re invisible to them. I guess we’ll never know if St. Patrick would’ve enjoyed all the fun we have on his special day or not, but after spending so much time getting to know the Irish people and learning their ways, my guess is he would.
St. Patrick’s Day occurs on the day of his death at age seventy-eight, March 17th, AD 465.
Irish Cream Brownies
Recipe from Wonkywonderful
Ingredients for Brownies: ½ cup unsweetened cocoa powder; 1 cup of all purpose flour; 1 tsp. baking powder; ¼ tsp. salt; 1 cup sugar; ½ cup melted butter; 2 eggs; ½ cup Irish Cream Whiskey
Ingredients for Frosting: ½ cup butter – softened; 1 ½ cups powdered sugar; 2 tabls. Irish Cream Whiskey; 2 tabls. Unsweetened cocoa powder
Instructions for Brownies
Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Mix together dry ingredients and set aside. Using a mixer, blend sugar and melted butter. Add eggs and Irish Cream. Mix. Slowly add dry ingredients while mixing. Line a 9 x 9 baking dish with foil, press foil down firmly and spray with non-stick spray. Pour batter into prepared dish and spread evenly. Bake at 350 degrees for 30 – 35 minutes. (until a toothpick can be inserted and removed clean). Allow brownies to cool before frosting. Once cooled and frosted, remove the foil and brownies from the baking dish. Carefully peel foil away from brownies and slice into nine pieces.
Instructions for Frosting
Combine butter and powdered sugar. Mix for 3 – 4 minutes, until light and fluffy. Add Irish cream and cocoa powder. Mix for one more minute.
Happy St. Patrick's Day!
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