St Patrick - Our Patron Saint

Saint Patrick (about 402 - March 17, 491) is the patron saint of Ireland. He was born in a village in Roman Britain. Saint Patrick came from a Christian family. He was the son of Calpurnius, who was a deacon in the church. When he was about sixteen years old, he was captured by Irish pirates. They took him from his home in Britain and sold him as a slave in Ireland. He lived there for six years and learned the local language. He explains that the Lord had mercy and allowed him to be forgiven for his sins and convert to Christianity. While in captivity, Patrick worked as a shepherd and strengthened his relationship with God through prayer.

After six years of captivity, Patrick heard a voice telling him that he would soon go home and that his ship was ready. Fleeing his master, he travelled to a port two hundred miles away, where he found a ship and convinced the captain to take him. After the ship sailed for three days, they landed in what they thought was Britain and everyone left the ship. They walked for 28 days in a "wilderness" and became faint from hunger. After Patrick prayed for food, they saw a herd of wild boar. Since this was shortly after Patrick had urged his companions to put their faith in God, his reputation in the group was greatly increased. After many adventures, he returned home to his family when he was in his early twenties.

After becoming a cleric, he returned to northern and western Ireland as a missionary. Because he knew the language, he could preach to the people. He also married couples when the king did not allow it. He brought Christianity to Ireland and converted many pagans to Christianity.

St. Patrick's Day is celebrated every year on March 17 in his honor.

Saint Patrick's bell

The Shrine of St. Patrick's Bell

There is a bell in the National Museum of Ireland that was made around the time of Saint Patrick's life. There is no evidence that Saint Patrick owned the bell, but the Irish believe that the bell belonged to Saint Patrick and that he rang it to let people know it was time for church. One of the kings of Ulster, who was the high king of Ireland at the time, had a beautiful cover made out of gold and gems to preserve the bell. The names of the bishops of Ireland were engraved on the cover. The style of the letters on the cover was used to make the first typewriters.

Saint Patrick and the snakes

There are no snakes in Ireland but there is a legend that at the time of Saint Patrick there were many snakes and he chased them all into the Irish Sea. Some say that this legend came to be because pagans had tattoos of snakes, and Saint Patrick got rid of the pagan religions by teaching Christianity and therefore drove out the snakes from Ireland.

Holy Trinity and the shamrock

St. Patrick is known for teaching the Irish about the doctrine of the Holy Trinity. He used a three-leafed shamrock to illustrate the three-in-one God. For this reason, shamrocks are a central symbol for St. Patrick’s Day.

Saint Patrick quotes

“And He (God) watched over me before I knew Him and before I learned sense or even distinguished between good and evil.”
“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.”
"For that sun, which we see rising every day, rises at His command."
“Each and all shall render account for even our smallest sins before the judgement seat of Christ the Lord.”
"If I have any worth, it is to live my life for God."
"But I fear nothing, because of the promises of heaven."
"Luck is when an opportunity comes along and you’ve prepared for it."
"I have a Creator who knew all things, even before they were made - even me, his poor little child."
"May the blessing of each day be the blessings you need most."