Stained Glass: St. Patrick and St. Bridget – Steadfastness

March 11, 2010

With March 17th coming up, and many around me preparing to down green beers, and cook corned beef and cabbage, I thought I might post the window for Saint Patrick, as he appears in his stained glass portrait, at Grace Cathedral. His window is paired with that of St. Bridget — another iconic Irish saint — and the rosette window above their pair, is “Steadfastness.”

While reading a brief biography of St. Patrick a while back, I learned nothing about snakes. I did, however, learn quite a bit about the harrowing, early life of Patrick, and how all the relentless despair (after early years of privilege) caused him to look more thoughtfully at his priorities. I admire his devotion to prayer, often during weeks of imposed isolation and struggle. I know that it’s difficult to maintain focus while in pain, but Patrick did, and that makes his story, to me, quite remarkable.