The Real St. Patrick

When people think of St. Patrick's Day, the first thoughts that come to mind are green beer, parties, and corned beef and hash. Maybe some think of the Shamrock. Others think of wearing the color green to avoid pinches. There are a few people though who are aware of what the day really means.

St. Patrick's Day marks the Roman Catholic Church's celebration of the life of a great saint. According to the Patron Saint Index, St. Patrick was born in the late in the fourth century on the British mainland and at age 16 he was kidnapped and taken to Ireland as a slave. While working as a shepherd, he prayed all the time. He escaped back to the mainland when he was 22 and became a priest and eventually a bishop. He was then sent back to Ireland.

Once in Ireland, he started to convert the pagan people of the land. He is most famous for his use of the shamrock to explain the Trinity. He showed how the three leaves of the shamrock were like the three persons in the Trinity, yet they were part of the same plant like the three persons are one God. The people loved his simple preaching and much of Ireland was converted. He often used the protection of local kings to preach to the pagan druids of Ireland. According to popular legend, when a druid priest tried to kill Patrick, he was unable to move his arm until he repented of the evil he wanted to do and converted.

During the middle ages, it was monasteries which Patrick helped to found that kept the Catholic faith alive. In the middle ages, people in central Europe feared learning and books as well as the Faith. They did everything in their power to destroy the faith or anything related. Thousands of relics were destroyed and much of Christianity was lost. However, after the Dark Ages, the faith, which had been preserved in Ireland, started to spread back to Europe and eventually became a big part of life in Europe again.

Patrick had a breastplate which has become famous for the powerful words inscribed upon it, which have become a popular church hymn:Christ be with me, Christ within me,
Christ behind me, Christ before me,
Christ beside me, Christ to win me,
Christ to comfort me 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.

St. Patrick encouraged the Irish to practice chastity and sobriety. He helped to instill them with a deep faith that has lived on with much of the country to this day. Even Irish immigrants to the United States brought this strong faith with them. It is very ironic that this strong faith that he instilled lead to a holiday when people celebrate with drinking and immodest partying. One day, perhaps people will celebrate the Saint in a manor more befitting his humble and courageous way.