Patrick of Irish fame was born in Kilpatrick, Scotland in 387 to
Christian parents of means and position. At the age of sixteen Patrick
was abducted and sold into slavery. In Ireland he worked as a shepherd
in the service of the chieftain Milchu of Dalriada, who was also a Druid
high priest. Alone with the sheep, young Patrick developed a deep
prayer life. Referring to this period of his life in his “Confessio” he writes: “… and the faith grew in me, and the spirit was roused …”
Patrick
became acquainted with the Celtic language, and with the ways of the
Druids, a knowledge that was to be crucial to his effectiveness in
ridding Ireland of pagan Druidism.
Led by an angel, after six
years Patrick fled captivity, walked 200 miles to the sea and boarded a
ship, ultimately returning to his people. They begged him to remain,
but Patrick felt the call to dedicate his life to God. He spent time in
the monastery of St. Martin de Tours and on the island sanctuary of
Lérins and was ordained a priest by his mentor, the great St. Germain.
But
the “voices” of Ireland called out to Patrick to return. Commended to
Pope St. Celestine by St. Germain, Patrick received the commission to
bring the green isle into the fold of Christ.
Returning
to Ireland, Patrick proceeded to win over the pagan chieftains, druids
and ultimately the king by his daring, meekness, miracles and inspired
teaching. The tradition of a three-leafed shamrock originated in the
fact that he held the shamrock up before the Irish chieftains as he
explained the doctrine of the Holy Trinity of three divine Persons in
one God.
Before the apostle’s faith, ardent fervor and miracles,
druid magic melted away and druid strongholds succumbed. As Patrick and
his companions announced the glad tidings of Redemption, Ireland was
cloaked in the green mantle of new hope and faith.
After
wrestling with paganism, Patrick wrestled with God in prayer and
penance, obtaining from Him great blessings for Ireland and was granted
to be the judge of Ireland on the Last Day. Before his death, he was
also granted a vision in which he saw the light of the Catholic faith
shining in Ireland for many centuries, then dimming to the point of only
prevailing in certain areas, then growing and glowing again.
Patrick died on March 17 having spent forty years in preaching the Gospel in Ireland.
First Photo by: Andreas F. Borchert
Second Photo by: TFP
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