LEGISLATIVE RESOLUTION honoring St. Patrick and all persons of Irish
descent upon the occasion of the 2016 celebration of St. Patrick's Day
on Thursday, March 17, 2016

WHEREAS, A native of Roman Britain, Patrick was the son of Calpurnius, a
civil servant and deacon; and
WHEREAS, Tradition has it that at age 16, Patrick was captured, along
with all the servants of his father's estate, by Irish marauders, then
sold to a Druid chief and taken to what is now known as County Antrim,
in the Province of Ulster, Ireland; and
WHEREAS, During his six years of captivity, Patrick's occupation as a
slave was the tending of flocks of swine and sheep; and
WHEREAS, While in Ireland, Patrick learned the Irish language and
customs; and
WHEREAS, During this period, Patrick experienced a religious awaken-
ing, with the Christian teachings of his family and pastors taking hold
during his captivity; and
WHEREAS, Driven by visions urging him to return to his native land,
Patrick escaped his captors, undertaking a perilous journey in the proc-
ess; and
WHEREAS, Upon his return home, Patrick dedicated his life to religion,
studying in France, where he was ordained a priest and later consecrated
a Bishop; and
WHEREAS, It was Pope Celestine I who named him Patricius and sent him
back to Ireland, where he tangled with the Druids over religious beliefs
and where his efforts to convert the Irish to the Catholic faith were
untiring, as seen today in the significant presence of God in Irish
life; and
WHEREAS, It was the example and fervor of Patrick's faith that
inspired and rekindled the lamp of learning in Ireland which shone
throughout the British Isles and the rest of Europe, and which sustained
the people of Ireland through famine, oppression and exile; and
WHEREAS, As United States President John Fitzgerald Kennedy observed,
Ireland has hemorrhaged herself to enrich the life's blood of other
nations around the world, where its sons and daughters have risen to
prominent positions as pioneers, educators, military commanders and
government leaders, even ascending to the Presidency of both France and
the United States; and
WHEREAS, It was his faith that earned Patrick not only sainthood, but
the everlasting love and respect of the Irish people; and
WHEREAS, As we honor St. Patrick, whose life mirrored a deep and abid-
ing example of the challenges of sainthood, we are mindful of the histo-
ry of the Irish people and their struggle against oppression, religious
intolerance and political, social and economic barriers; now, therefore,
be it
RESOLVED, That this Legislative Body pause in its deliberations to
most joyously commemorate the life and good works of St. Patrick and to
express its sincerest prayers and hopes that the 1998 Peace Agreement,
known as the Good Friday Agreement, will lead to a lasting reconcil-
iation between the Christian populations of Northern Ireland and bring
true peace and freedom for all the people of Northern Ireland; and be it
further
RESOLVED, That copies of this Resolution, suitably engrossed, be tran-
smitted George John Mitchell, 255th Grand Marshal of the New York City
St. Patrick's Day Parade; and John T. Dunleavy, Chairman of the New York
City St. Patrick's Day Parade, on the 17th of March 2016.