An exploration of the spiritual value and significance of Patrick's writings and their relevance and importance for today with particular reference to ALCOHOL ABUSE.
An exploration of the spiritual value and significance of Patrick's writings and their relevance and importance for today with particular reference to ALCOHOL ABUSE.
Patrick's Confession and Letter to the soldiers of Coroticus, are of considerable spiritual value and of great relevance for today. These writings could be considered to be a record of the spiritual development of Patrick and thus a spiritual biography. Some could describe his writings as devotional literature rather than a historical source giving us facts about Patrick's life.
"While Patrick's writings are short on biographical detail, they do give us some firm information on his life and times but, more importantly, they give us very clear insights into his spirituality and personality."
L.Whiteside, 'The Spirituality of St.Patrick' In J.Groden's St.Patrick: Spirit and Prayer (MCCRIMMONS: ESSEX 2002) p.26
Patrick's Confession and Letter to Coroticus are classics in that they contain themes that are as relevant in today's society as they were in the 5th century. His writings deal with aspects of thought and behaviour, which are as poignant today as they were in Patrick's time.
J.Duffy (2000) states Patrick In His Own Words (VERITAS: Dublin, 2002) P.5
"Patrick's account of his life is without question one of the most remarkable stories, in Irish history, full of compelling drama and adventure. It also is one of the great classics of our Christian tradition with a timeless and universal message which deserves to be kept alive in the most accessible form."
In today's modern society, which is obsessed by celebrity gossip and a materialistic lifestyle, the spiritual value and significance of Patrick's writings are often overlooked.
Although there are many aspects of human experience, which I could address such as the war in Iraq, abortion or drug abuse, I have decided to choose alcohol abuse in Ireland, as I see it as a growing problem in our society. It causes so many negative consequences such as loss of life and depression, and we have all noticed how it has become a big attraction for the youth of today.
Alcohol abuse is something that occurs all too commonly in Irish society, it eventually leads to very painful experiences in many ways such as physically, mentally and spiritually. This doesn't only affect the alcohol abuser in these ways, but it also affects the alcohol abusers' family and friends. The battle against any addiction, whether it is gambling, drugs or alcohol, is a tough one, as the addict may feel they depend on alcohol to live, they may feel like they're someone they don't like, without alcohol. But these people whose lives are spiralling out of control because of alcohol abuse, they can take inspiration from the writings of St.Patrick, which contain many values that could be inspirational to any alcohol abuser.
Alcohol abuse can have many disastrous effects on people and society as a whole, including, death, poor health and broken families. Unlike drugs, which are killers, such as cocaine and heroin, alcohol is a legalised recreational drug and this along with cigarettes is the most prominent and destructful of all addictions, this is because it's legalised and thus far, more widely available than illegal drugs.
Alcohol kills more than 6 times more young people than all other illicit drugs combined.
Source: Miller, T., & Pacific Institute for Research and Evaluation. Adolescent Deaths Attributable to Underage Drinking ...
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Alcohol abuse can have many disastrous effects on people and society as a whole, including, death, poor health and broken families. Unlike drugs, which are killers, such as cocaine and heroin, alcohol is a legalised recreational drug and this along with cigarettes is the most prominent and destructful of all addictions, this is because it's legalised and thus far, more widely available than illegal drugs.
Alcohol kills more than 6 times more young people than all other illicit drugs combined.
Source: Miller, T., & Pacific Institute for Research and Evaluation. Adolescent Deaths Attributable to Underage Drinking and to Other Illicit Drug Use
Addiction seems almost impossible to overcome for the person concerned as they depend on it and think they're life would be useless and worse of without it, here we can draw comparisons, as Patrick in his Confession talks of the struggle between the flesh and the spirit.
"My uncooperative body is forever dragging me towards death, that is towards the satisfaction of unlawful desires"(C.44)
This forms a pivotal part of Patrick's spiritual journey as he battles with his temptations. Alcohol abusers can learn from this.
Alcohol abuse is dramatically increasing in Ireland to alarming rates, new research has shown that binge drinking in Ireland is a very serious problem, the research shows the extent of it.
"New research shows that 58% of the drinking done by men in Ireland is binge drinking"
"Ireland is the highest of all European countries in terms of binge drinking."
Source: http://www.jointogether.org/sa/news/summaries/reader/0,1854,567209,00.html
Alcohol abuse is rife in Ireland and in our society; the alcoholics we see in our towns back this. It is not only 'bums' who abuse alcohol, and not all alcoholics are homeless. We see that Irish people in the public eye also have serious problems with alcohol such as George Best and Paul McGrath; they were two of the best in their profession, yet both of them have let alcohol dictate their lives in a negative way.
George Best wrecked the Mercedes he bought wife Alex, to apologise for an earlier bout of drunken violence. He hurled a brick through the back window of the £53,000 motor and ripped off a hi-tech electronic wing mirror. Best then tore paintings from the kitchen walls of his £600,000 Surrey farmhouse before smashing them on the floor and throwing crockery around.
Graham Brough - Daily Mirror Nov.29th 2003
As with most addictions people need to feed their habit and thus must resort to crime to pay for it, this means that they are sinning against God. In Patrick's Letter to Coroticus Patrick warns such people:
"For everyone who commits sin is a slave and is called a child of the devil." L.4
Although alcoholics who live a life of crime, sin, just as the soldiers of Coroticus did, there is still hope, and for those who want to reform and accept God, they will be forgiven. We see this in Patrick's Confession when he quotes the prophet talking for God.
"Call upon me in the day of your trouble and I will deliver you, and you shall glorify me." C.5
In order to overcome addictions, especially alcohol, you must first admit that you have a drink problem; to admit you have a problem takes honesty. Patrick's honesty and humility were some of Patrick's main spiritual values as R.P.C Hanson states:
"The primary quality which endears Patrick's writings to the reader is their honesty. Not only was Patrick incapable of disguising his inner thoughts by rhetoric, but he was himself a remarkably honest person."
R.P.C Hanson, The life and Writings of the Historical Saint Patrick
(SEABURY PRESS: New York, 1983) p.38
If an alcoholic does admit to having a problem and seeks help, then this takes humility, as they could find it easier to deny their drink problem and drink themselves into an early grave. These alcoholics can take inspiration from Patrick as he himself used the spiritual quality of humility, this is why people are able to relate with his writings and take inspiration from. As J.Duffy (2000) states
"Patrick was also a humble man who, far from planning a monument for himself, forecast the possibility that he might not have grace at all."(C.59)
Alcohol allows people to be more at ease and to help them express their emotions better. For alcoholics though it's a different matter, as the alcohol controls their emotion and while they may feel good for a while, the emotions of despair and loneliness will last much longer. Alcohol is used to take away these feelings:
Alcohol is often a way to have control over feeling empty, alone, and lonely, as well as a way to have control over others. People may turn to alcohol when they do not know how to manage painful feelings or to fill themselves with the love they are seeking
Source: Dr.Margaret Paul- http://www.innerbonding.com/index.lasso?did=content&content.article=198
Alcoholics can take inspiration from how Patrick dealt with his emotions. Patrick dealt with the strong emotions of loneliness and hardship, but by placing his trust in God, he beat his negative emotions. As J.Duffy(2000) states.
"...it was stillness that enabled Patrick to listen to the emotions and memories that surfaced from his own depths. In this way he got in touch with his feelings of gratitude for being alive.. In time these feelings enabled him to confront successfully his loneliness and isolation and physical hardship. The negative feelings were also so strong and deep and never left him but somehow they became secondary to God's presence."
In order to defeat their addiction alcoholics must be fearless. Due to alcoholism, they probably fear the embarrassment they've caused to their families. There is also the fear of failure to overcome their addiction also; it is in this case that Patrick is good inspiration as he showed fearlessness during his mission to Ireland. As J.Duffy(2000) states
"Because he knew that God was with him, he overcame all human fear and anxiety. He was willing to hold his ground against all comers. He was convinced that he would never be defeated or harmed were it mattered."
In order for alcoholics to defeat the addiction they need other help apart from their own, so they are advised to place their trust in God so that He may help them get through their emotional pain and God's strength, and presence will help them beat alcoholism if they accept him into their lives and love him. Patrick in his mission was aware of his need to look to God for help in hard times. His intense prayer life made him closer with God. As C. O'Donnell (2002) states:
"When he learned to pray, he realised that the spirit was burning in him (C.16). When he was seriously attacked by evil powers, he called out in prayer, which the Holy Spirit had inspired him." (C.20)
C.O' Donnell, 'The Spirituality of St.Patrick' In J.Groden's St.Patrick: Spirit and Prayer (MCCRIMMONS: ESSEX 2002) p.28
Alcoholics can learn from Patrick, as he opened up to God and let him into his life. They can also learn from the way in which Patrick was resilient, as J.R Walsh and T.Bradley state:
"He is also resilent. While life has dealt him many blows, he does not give into disillusionment or despair."
J.R. Walsh and T.Bradley, A History of the Irish Church 400 - 700 AD (Columba Press Dublin, 1991) p.22
They can take inspiration from this as no matter how impossible giving the alcohol up seems it can be done with tolerance.
Some scholars today argue that Patrick's writings have little spiritual and are of little if any relevance today. These scholars would say his writings are more of a historical source telling us of his time in Ireland, as R.P.C Hanson states
"Patrick is not writing his biography, nor even his spiritual biography"
R.P.C Hanson, The life and Writings of the Historical Saint Patrick
(SEABURY PRESS: New York, 1983) p.41
According to J.Duffy, Patrick's writings are of value in both a spiritual sense and also a historical sense as J.Duffy (2000) states.
"Both writings give us the personal history and living faith of the man we call Patrick."
J.Duffy (2000) P.52
In conclusion, it seems apparent that Patrick's writings are of considerable value and relevance for today. The writings can be considered timeless, as they are as useful and effective today as they were when they were first written as people can take inspiration from them, AS C.O.Donnell explains
"These two texts deserve the name "classics", one can return to them time and time again always finding more riches and depths of meaning."
C.O' Donnell, 'The Spirituality of St.Patrick' In J.Groden's St.Patrick: Spirit and Prayer (MCCRIMMONS: ESSEX 2002) p.26
Paul Mullin
3b
