Saint Patrick was not actually Irish.
Historical sources report
that he was born around 373 A.D. in either
Scotland near the town of Dumbarton or in Roman
Britain (the Romans left Britain in 410 A.D.).
Patrick's father was
Calpurnius, a local official. His real name
is believed to be Maewyn Succat (he took on Patrick, or Patricus,
after he became a priest). Succat, means "warlike".
Patrick's family then
moved to Britain. Since Britain
was part of the Roman Empire and had become Christian,
the child was baptized and called Patricius, meaning "noble".
For 16 years, Patrick lived a normal life as the son of a
prosperous
landowner and magistrate.
He was kidnapped at the
age of 16 by pirates and sold into slavery
in Ireland. During his 6-year captivity he worked as a shepherd,
he began to have religious visions, and found strength
in his faith.
He finally escaped, after
voices in one of his visions told
him where he could find a getaway ship. It said that
he reunited with his family, and then went to Gaul where
he studied in the monastery under St. Germain, bishop of Auxerre
for
a period of twelve years. During his training he became aware
that his calling was to convert the pagans to Christianity.
In the Confessio, his
spiritual autobiography, Patrick tells of a
dream, after his return to Britain. Victoricus delivered
Patrick a
letter titled "The Voice of the Irish."
This
Dream prompted Patrick to go to Ireland as a missionary to
convert the Irish.
Patrick was a missionary
who worked for 40 years in Ireland,
preaching, baptizing, and establishing churches, schools, and
colleges.
History reports that he used shamrock leaves to explain the
meaning of the Trinity (father, son, holy spirit). It is
also stated that he drove snakes from Ireland, banishing the
venomous serpents by beating his drum. The snake was a
revered pagan symbol, and perhaps this was a figurative tale
alluding to the fact that he drove paganism out of Ireland
. It is sometimes reported that St. Patrick died on March 17,
493
after bringing the Christian faith to Ireland. This date is not
confirmed.
The first American
celebration of Saint Patrick's Day was in
Boston, Massachusetts, in 1737. As the saying goes, on
this day "everybody is Irish!"
May your blessings outnumber the shamrocks
that grow
And may trouble avoid you wherever you go.
