 |
Who Was St. Patrick?
St. Patrick, the patron saint of Ireland, is one of Christianity's most widely
known figures. But for all his celebrity, his life remains somewhat of a
mystery. Many of the stories traditionally associated with St. Patrick,
including the famous account of his banishing all the snakes from Ireland, are
false, the products of hundreds of years of exaggerated storytelling.
|
 |
|
|
|
|
Taken Prisoner By Irish
Raiders
It is known that St. Patrick was born in Britain to wealthy parents near the end
of the fourth century. He is believed to have died on March 17, around 460 A.D.
Although his father was a Christian deacon, it has been suggested that he
probably took on the role because of tax incentives and there is no evidence
that Patrick came from a particularly religious family. At the age of sixteen,
Patrick was taken prisoner by a group of Irish raiders who were attacking his
family's estate. They transported him to Ireland where he spent six years in
captivity. (There is some dispute over where this captivity took place. Although
many believe he was taken to live in Mount Slemish in County Antrim, it is more
likely that he was held in County Mayo near Killala.) During this time, he
worked as a shepherd, outdoors and away from people. Lonely and afraid, he
turned to his religion for solace, becoming a devout Christian. (It is also
believed that Patrick first began to dream of converting the Irish people to
Christianity during his captivity.)
Guided By Visions
After more than six years as a prisoner, Patrick escaped. According to his
writing, a voice—which he believed to be God's—spoke to him in a dream, telling
him it was time to leave Ireland.
|
 |
|
|
|
|
To do so, Patrick walked nearly
200 miles from County Mayo, where it is believed he was held, to the Irish
coast. After escaping to Britain, Patrick reported that he experienced a second
revelation—an angel in a dream tells him to return to Ireland as a missionary.
Soon after, Patrick began religious training, a course of study that lasted more
than fifteen years. After his ordination as a priest, he was sent to Ireland
with a dual mission—to minister to Christians already living in Ireland and to
begin to convert the Irish. (Interestingly, this mission contradicts the widely
held notion that Patrick introduced Christianity to Ireland.)
Bonfires and Crosses
Familiar with the Irish language and culture, Patrick chose to incorporate
traditional ritual into his lessons of Christianity instead of attempting to
eradicate native Irish beliefs. For instance, he used bonfires to celebrate
Easter since the Irish were used to honoring their gods with fire. He also
superimposed a sun, a powerful Irish symbol, onto the Christian cross to create
what is now called a Celtic cross, so that veneration of the symbol would seem
more natural to the Irish. (Although there were a small number of Christians on
the island when Patrick arrived, most Irish practiced a nature-based pagan
religion. The Irish culture centered around a rich tradition of oral legend and
myth. When this is considered, it is no surprise that the story of Patrick's
life became exaggerated over the centuries—spinning exciting tales to remember
history has always been a part of the Irish way of life. )
|
Who is St. Patrick
History of St.
Patrick's Day
Have a beer instead of
wine
Blarney Stone
Craft for Kids for St. Patrick's Day
Rainbow Streamers
for Kids for St. Pattys Day
Shamrock
Potato Print Design
|
|
Partnered with:
