As everyone knows, Easter is early this year (2008), its earliest appearance since 1913. Liturgists are still panting from the quick turnover from Christmas to Lent, but the moveable Easter date has also affected the celebration of St. Patrick Day.

Technically, since March 17th falls this year on Monday of Holy Week, the great Irish saint's feast day is hereby pre-empted. Some bishops gave special dispensation to celebrate the feast day liturgy of St. Patrick this week. Portland's newspaper, the Oregonian, had an insightful feature about "The St. Patrick Predicament."

But try explaining this to the bar and tavern owners who depend on an over-capacity St. Patrick crowd to have a successful year. Try clarifying this with Irish-Americans who seize March 17th as a day of national pride. Indeed, even non-Irish people suddenly become Irish on this day of days.

There has always been a dichotomy between the sacred and secular celebrations of great holidays. See how Baby Jesus competes with Santa and Rudolph at Christmas. And what does a chocolate Easter bunny have to do with the resurrection of Christ? But the secular celebration of St. Patrick Day seems like nothing more than an excuse to overindulge in alcohol and salty limericks.

I am not condemning or criticizing the secular observance of St. Patrick Day. Portland has one of the best March 17th celebrations west of Dublin, and I love participating in the festivities with my friends. I only wish that somehow, in the midst of the riverdancing, the bagpiping and the Irish coffee, the reason for this holiday would come to the fore. St. Patrick was a great saint whose trust in the Trinitarian God was so strong that he literally converted a whole island nation to the Catholic faith.

So, in honor of St. Patrick, I present you with some insights that have appeared in spiritandsong.com before. May the road rise up to meet you, and the wind be always at your back, as God holds you in the palm of his hand! Erin go bragh!

• Bless You, Father O'Malley: A fond tribute to the Irish clergy in America
• An Irish Blessing: Joan Weber's experience of teaching in Ireland
• Be Thou My Vision: a modern setting of the traditional Irish hymn from Sarah Hart's first album
• Breastplate of St. Patrick: Ceili Rain's fine contemporary rendition of the Irish saint's most famous prayer