THE SUN SHADOWED the tombstone, making photographing the words thereon a challenge no matter which way I angled my body and camera. So in the end, I settled on two images to share an Irish blessing with you on this, St. Patrick’s Day.
I found this gravestone blessing in the cemetery of Corpus Christi Catholic Church, a shuttered country church in Deerfield Township, rural Steele County, Minnesota. The 1856 church closed in 2016, when it merged with Christ the King Catholic Church in nearby Medford. It opens now for special occasions and is clearly much beloved by those who once worshiped here.
As I wandered among tombstones in the partially snow-covered cemetery, reading names and inscriptions a week before St. Patrick’s Day, I happened upon the familiar Irish blessing. I love the strong visuals the words create. The road. The sun. The fields. I can almost feel the road beneath my feet, the warm sun on my face, the soft rain on my skin, the wind at my back. The hand of God holding me securely.
While the blessing in this context is one of seeing a departed loved one again in heaven, the words fit the living, too. When we say goodbye to family and friends, especially those we won’t see for awhile, our love carries us until the next time we meet.
The message in this Irish blessing is so uplifting, so encouraging, so caring. Gentle words. Loving words. Words that carry us through the days of our lives, whether sunny or rainy. Always hopeful.
Blessed be your St. Patrick’s Day and every day thereafter…until we meet again.
© Copyright 2025 Audrey Kletscher Helbling
Minnesota Prairie Roots 
thank you for this message, it’s one of my favorites, so kind and hopeful
You are welcome. Happy St. Patrick’s Day, my part Irish friend from Michigan!
One of my favorites: “May you be in Heaven a half hour before the devil knows you’re dead.”
Thanks for making me laugh. I needed to laugh this morning.
Have a Happy St. Patrick’s Day, Audrey, and may all your days be Blessed. 🍀
Awwww, thank you, Rose. And the same to you, my friend.
Thank you for the Irish blessing! Even though my first name is Irish, I am not but still appreciate the sentiment. I love it when I learn something new about my home county. I didn’t know there was a Corpus Christi Catholic Church. Growing up, we often took Sunday drives but apparently not in the direction of Deerfield township. 2016 was a sad time for a number of other Catholic churches that closed.
It’s a well-kept little church that I’s love to get inside some day. Ah, Sunday afternoon drives…such fond memories from my childhood, too.
Lovely post. Irish blessings to you, too, Audrey.
Thank you, Bernadette. I’ve always loved that Irish blessing.
I drive by this church every time I go to the Medford Outlet mall from Waseca and it looks so pretty and peaceful. I have often thought about stopping at the cemetery, but never have.
Angie, stop. I find cemeteries fascinating. The sculptures at Corpus Christi are beautiful, too.
❤️☘️❤️☘️❤️
Yes, always hopeful… We had the same blessing on our posts. 😉
Great minds, or should I say good friends, think alike.
beautiful
🙂