Who was Saint Patrick? And what is Saint Patrick's Day all about?

Who Was Saint Patrick?

Many people around the world celebrate Saint Patrick’s day but do they even know who this man was whose life they celebrate? Patrick was born in Scotland sometime around 387 AD. His parents were Romans living in Britain in charge of the colonies. As a young teenager, he was taken in raid by the Druids to Ireland. One source says that he tended and cared for sheep and another claimed that he tended his master’s pigs.

During his captivity he learned the language and practices of the Irish people. He also turned to God in prayer. Like the Israelite youth Joseph when imprisoned in Egypt, Patrick had dreams that guided him. He escaped his captivity after 6 years of slavery in Ireland when he was told by God in a dream to leave Ireland by going to the coast. Sailors took him back to his homeland where he was reunited with his family. But he had fallen in love with the Irish people. He had another dream where the people of Ireland were calling him back there and he felt a call to establish the church in Ireland.

He spent the next few years of his life preparing to return to Ireland. He studied and was ordained a priest. Since he also wanted to build churches, he spent time learning practical construction skills. Finally, he was ordained a bishop and commissioned to take the Gospel to Ireland. He returned to Ireland in 432.

“Patrick preached and converted all of Ireland for 40 years. He worked many miracles and wrote of his love for God in Confessions. After years of living in poverty, traveling and enduring much suffering he died March 17, 461.”*

The Significance of the Shamrock

Patrick used the three leaves of the clover – or shamrock to explain the trinity, so the shamrock has been associated with saint Patrick and the Irish.

Saint Patrick’s Prayer

Many miracles are attributed to him during his lifetime. One legend claims that when a powerful king was set to ambush Patrick, Patrick and his followers miraculously became invisible and all the king and his men saw were dear passing in the woods and voices chanting the following prayer, known as Patrick’s breastplate or the deer cry:

Christ with me, Christ before me,
Christ behind me, Christ within me,
Christ beneath me, Christ above me,
Christ at my right, Christ at my left,
Christ in my lying down, Christ in my sitting, Christ in my arising,
Christ in the heart of everyone who thinks of me,
Christ in the mouth of everyone who speaks to me,
Christ in every eye that sees me,
Christ in every ear that hears me.**

Get 5 facts about Saint Patrick from this fun short Youtube video.

Sources:
*http://www.catholic.org/saints/saint.php?saint_id=89

In Honor of Saint Patrick’s Day