Saint Patrick is one of the most popular saints ever and is the patron saint of Ireland - the Emerald Isle. Join us as we briefly explore the history if thus great saint!
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Saint Patrick is generally believed to have lived in the fifth century - the 400's - although it is not altogether impossible that Saint Patrick lived in the 300's - the fourth century. And there is really no way to know even in the 21st century.
What we do know is that he was born in England and that he was kidnapped by Irish pirates around the age of 16. He lived in slavery as an animal tender among mostly druids and pagans in Ireland. He remained there until around the age of 22 when he escaped and returned home to his family and that her became a priest and was, eventually, sent to Ireland to convert the Celtic pagans to Christianity - remember - in the fifth century, most Christians (save for the Eastern Churches) were called Christian. There was no "Catholic" with a capital C until the 15th century and Martin Luther.
While Saint Patrick is credited with converting Ireland to Christianity, the reality is that there is evidence of Christian missionaries on the Emerald Isle prior to Saint Patrick. Join us in discovering what we do know about Saint Patrick.
The First Dream
After Saint Patrick was kidnapped, he lived in Ireland tending sheep until, one night, he had a dream in which God told Patrick to return home by going to the coast. When he got to the coast, Saint Patrick found a group of Italian sailors who gladly took Saint Patrick home to England.
Once back in England, Saint Patrick began his studies for the priesthood. He studied under Saint Germanus, the Bishop of Auxerre. It was Saint Germanus who ordained Saint Patrick to the priesthood.
Again With the Dreams
Prior to studying for the priesthood, Saint Patrick had another dream. As he wrote in his memoir, The Confessio:
"I saw a man coming, as it were from Ireland. His name was Victoricus, and he carried many letters, and he gave me one of them. I read the heading: 'The Voice of the Irish.' As I began the letter, I imagined in that moment that I heard the voice of those very people who were near the wood of Foclut, which is beside the western sea-and they cried out, as with one voice: 'We appeal to you, holy servant boy, to come and walk among us.'"
Shortly after his ordination, Saint Patrick arrived in Ireland. Some sources indicate that it may have been on March 25, 433. How that date was determined when we don't even know for sure if he lived in the 4th or 5th century is beyond the writer, but we will go with it.
One of the first things that happened to Saint Patrick upon his return to Ireland is that he was taken to the chieftain of a local tribe. This chieftain wanted to kill him. Instead, the chieftain was converted to Christianity.
The Importance of the Shamrock
So why is the shamrock so important and so closely associated with Saint Patrick? It is said that he explained the Holy Trinity by using the Shamrock - three distinct leaves in one plant. Like the shamrock, the Holy Trinity is three divine persons in one God. By his use of the shamrock, Saint Patrick converted tens of thousands to Christianity.
Saint Patrick brought the Faith and the Gospel with him to Ireland and he worked there for some forty years. It is said that her died on March 17, 461 at Saul, Ireland, where he built his first church. He is said to be buried in Down Cathedral, Downpatrick, Ireland and his grave was marked with a granite stone in 1990.
Linkes Regarding Saint Patrick
His writings
Confessio (the Confession or memoir of Saint Patrick)
Epistola ad Coroticum (Letter to Coroticus)
About the Collectio Hibernesis Canonum (Irish Code of Canon Law)
Adapted from Catholic.org
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