History of St. Patrick
When Is St. Patrick’s Day?
Saint Patrick’s Day is celebrated each year on March 17th.
Note for 2009: Most secular establishments in the US and Canada, such as restaurants and bars, will continue to celebrate the holiday on March 17th, and the 17th will remain a national day off from work in Ireland.
Who Was Saint Patrick?
Even though Saint Patrick is one of the most celebrated figures around the world, the factual information about his life and times is quite vague. Saint Patrick was born somewhere near the end of the fourth century or the beginning of the fifth century. St Patrick was born a Briton under Roman rule – the exact location of his birthplace isn’t known but it was either the north of England or southern Scotland. In his teens he was kidnapped and brought to Ireland as a slave by Niall of the Nine Hostages, a famous king of Ireland whose son Laoghaire was later to play a large part in Patrick’s mission to convert Ireland to Christianity.
Patrick was taken to Antrim where he was sold to a local landowner, Meliuc, who put him to work as a shepherd. For six long years Patrick lived upon the Slemish mountain with only his sheep for company. The land was bleak and the conditions harsh but Patrick found solace in the faith that his people had abandoned under Roman rule. He prayed day and night to the Christian God who brought him comfort during this time. One night he heard a voice calling to him, telling him that the time had come to escape. It told him, “See, your ship is ready.” Patrick knew that he had to travel south to seek the ship God had told him of. He travelled for 200 miles until he came to Wexford where, sure enough, a boat heading for Britain was waiting.
Patrick approached the captain, who at first denied him passage. He turned away, praying for God’s guidance. Before he finished the prayer he heard a member of the crew calling to him to come with them – they had changed their mind and could provide him with safe passage home. Patrick did not seem destined to have an easy life – when travelling home through Britain he was captured by a band of brigands, who returned him to slavery. Desperate, Patrick heard God’s voice reassuring him that, “Two months will you be with them.” Sure enough, after sixty days in their company, God delivered him from their hands. Patrick then spent seven years travelling throughout Europe trying to determine what his purpose on earth was. Eventually he came to the conclusion that he should study to become a true servant of God, taking his message throughout the world.
He first studied at the Lerin Monastery, situated on an island off the Cote d’ Azur. On completing his studies he returned to Britain as a priest. He remained in Britain until a voice came to him in a dream. He recognised it as the voice of the Irish, which begged him, “We beseech thee, holy youth, to come and walk once more amongst us.” At this point, Patrick’s purpose in life was revealed to him – he would convert the Irish to Christianity. While back in his homeland, Patrick decided to become a priest and then decided to return to Ireland after dreaming that the voices of the Irish people were calling him to convert them to Christianity.
After studying and preparing for several years, Patrick traveled back to Ireland as a Christian missionary, preaching to existing Irish Christians and converting others. Patrick was arrested several times, but escaped each time. He traveled throughout Ireland, establishing monasteries and setting up schools and churches to aid in converting the Irish country to Christianity. He used the shamrock, which resembles a three-leafed clover, to help explain the concept of the Trinity (father, son, holy spirit).
Patrick’s mission in Ireland lasted for thirty years. It is believe he died in the 5th century on March 17, which is the day St. Patrick’s Day is commemorated each year. The first year St. Patrick’s Day was celebrated in America in 1737 in Boston, Massachusetts. The first official St. Patrick’s Day parade was held in New York City in 1766. As the saying goes, on this day “everybody is Irish!” Over 100 U.S. cities now hold Saint Patrick’s Day parades.
WHY IS THE SHAMROCK USED?
Finding that the pagan Irish had great difficulty comprehending the doctrine of the Trinity, St. Patrick held up a shamrock (similar to a three-leaf clover) to show how the three leaves combined to make a single plant, just as the Father, Son, and Holy Ghost combined to make the holy Trinity. The Irish understood at once, and from that time the shamrock has been the symbol of the land. Irishmen wear it in their hats on the saint’s day.
