The obscured life of St. Patrick

One of the things my father loved to do (which has subsequently been passed down to me) is to learn about the origin of holidays.  It is fascinating to me how oftentimes the original intent of these holidays has evolved into something completely different.  This is particularly true when it comes to today’s holiday, St. Patrick’s Day.  Just who is this Saint Patrick?  What is his story?  And why is there a day set apart to celebrate him?

“Patrick, whom almost everyone calls “Saint Patrick,” although he was never canonized by the Catholic Church, was born to a wealthy family in AD 387 in Kilpatrick, Scotland.  His real name was Maewyn Succat.  It was his extensive missionary work in Ireland for which Patrick is famous.  During his thirty years of work there, he supposedly converted over 135,000 people, established 300 churches, and consecrated 350 bishops.  Patrick died on March 17, 461.  For over a millennium, the Irish have celebrated St. Patrick’s Day on March 17.

History records that Saint Patrick, at age sixteen, was captured by Irish raiders and spent several years as a slave in Ireland.  It was during this time that he learned the various rituals, customs, and language of Druids, and it was these people that he eventually evangelized.  Patrick apparently had a dream in which God spoke to him, saying, “Your ship is ready.”  Patrick was then able to escape Ireland by ship.  Shortly thereafter, he experienced another dream in which he received a letter that was labeled the “voice of the Irish.”  When he opened it, he heard the voices of all those whom he had met in Ireland begging him to return.”  (Source: https://www.gotquestions.org/St-Patricks-Day.html)

It is challenging to differentiate what is historical and what is a myth that has developed over the centuries regarding Patrick.  For example, as one source puts it: “A later legend would have it that Patrick rid all of Ireland of snakes.  Snakes were not native to Ireland at the time.  Instead, Patrick rid Ireland of all marauding ways and a cultural and civil barbarianism by bringing…a whole new ethic.”  Furthermore, this author writes, “Some biographers claim definitively that Patrick used the shamrock as an object lesson to teach pagans about the Trinity…there is no evidence, however, for such a claim” (Source: https://www.ligonier.org/blog/who-was-saint-patrick-and-should-christians-celebrate-st-patricks-day/).

Recently, I saw a Nike shirt that said “Be brave, be bold, be you.”  The message of that shirt captures Patrick’s character.  Patrick was brave.  One source states, “Patrick had no less of a goal than seeing pagan Ireland converted.  These efforts did not set well with…the pagan king of…Ireland.  Patrick faced danger and even threats on his life.  He took to carrying a dagger.  Yet, despite these setbacks, Patrick persisted” (from the same Ligonier article again).  That’s bravery right there!

Patrick was also bold.  Once again, that got questions.org article states, “During his thirty years of work there, he supposedly converted over 135,000 people, established 300 churches, and consecrated 350 bishops.”  God called Patrick to a hard task: share the love of Jesus to the very people who captured him and forced to spend several years of his life as a slave.  He could have said no.  But he demonstrated a brave, bold obedience to God; I want to be like that.  That’s what I celebrate this day.  I celebrate the contributions to the Kingdom of God made by Saint Patrick.   

Kevin