Feast Day: March 17th
Short History:
There’s a lot we don’t know about Saint Patrick, but what we do know is rather spectacular. He was born around 385 AD and was a Roman Briton. When he was 16, he was captured and taken to Ireland to be sold as a slave. After 6 years of living in captivity, he escaped. During those years of imprisonment, he grew closer to God and prayed every day and night. Finally, he was shown the way to freedom. After walking 200 miles he found a ship that took him back home. Once he was back in Britain, he became a bishop. Then, returned to Ireland for the sole purpose of preaching the Gospel. Within one generation he succeeded in converting all of Ireland to Catholicism by covering the island with churches and monasteries. Legend has it he used the shamrock to teach the mysteries of the Holy Trinity. On March 17th, 461 he died in Saul, where he built his first church.
You can learn more about Saint Patrick by reading his Confessio, a short autobiography, here.
Interesting Facts:
1. Legend says he banished snakes out of Ireland
2. The original color associated with Saint Patrick was blue
3. Saint Patrick’s Day used to be a dry holiday in Ireland from 1907 – 1970
Quotes:
“I pray to God to give me perseverance and to deign that I be a faithful witness to Him to the end of my life for my God.”
“Be still and know that I am God.
Be still and know that I am.
Be still and know.
Be still.
Be.”
“Christ be with me, Christ within me,
Christ behind me, Christ before me,
Christ beside me, Christ to win me,
Christ to comfort and restore me,
Christ beneath me, Christ above me,
Christ in quiet, Christ in danger,
Christ in hearts of all that love me,
Christ in mouth of friend and stranger.”