Reflect:
Today is St. Patrick's Day, a time to celebrate in the true American fashion with everything green. We know St. Patrick, but in a limited capacity; often associating him with Ireland and driving out the snakes. But St. Patrick was not always a devout Catholic who preached the Gospel of our Lord. He was introduced to Ireland via servitude. He relied on his growing faith to help him survive his ordeal with the pagans. St. Patrick can remind us that through our toughest moments we can, and should, turn to God and our faith. To what do we so often allow ourselves to be enslaved by? In our society there are many chains that can hold us down, keep us locked in a prison of modernity, materialism, and the world of "me". We are now a couple of weeks into Lent, perhaps a good time to reflect on what continues to hold us back from truly embracing God. Are you, in spite of your chains, turning to God through prayer, contemplation, scripture? What moment from this Lenten season can you look towards as a reminder that you can hold fast to your promises to Christ? What continues to be a struggle? What gives you hope? 

Pray:
Today, pray the Lorica of St. Patrick here.

Act:
Think about the things that could be holding you back in your relationship with God even beyond this Lenten season. What one, daily habit can you change? What have you changed this Lent that you can maintain for the remainder of the year?