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Saint
Patrick
St. Patrick of Ireland is
one of the world's most popular saints.
Apostle of Ireland, born
at Kilpatrick, near Dumbarton, in Scotland, in the year 387;
died at Saul, Downpatrick, Ireland, 17 March, 461.
Along with St.
Nicholas and St. Valentine, the secular world shares our
love of these saints. This is also a day when everyone's
Irish.
There are many
legends and stories of St. Patrick, but this is his story.
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Patrick was born around 385
in Scotland, probably Kilpatrick. His parents
were Calpurnius and Conchessa, who were Romans
living in Britian in charge of the colonies.
As a boy of fourteen or so,
he was captured during a raiding party and taken to Ireland
as a slave to herd and tend sheep. Ireland
at this time
was a land of Druids and pagans. He learned the language
and practices of the people who held him.
During his captivity, he
turned to God
in prayer. He wrote
"The love of God
and his fear grew in me more and more, as did the faith,
and my soul
was rosed, so that, in a single day, I have said as many
as a hundred prayers
and in the night, nearly the same." "I prayed
in the woods and on the mountain, even before dawn. I
felt no hurt from the snow or ice or rain."
Patrick's captivity lasted
until he was twenty, when he escaped after having a
dream from God
in which he was told to leave Ireland
by going to the coast. There he found some sailors who
took him back to Britian, where he reunited with his
family.
He had another dream in
which the people of Ireland
were calling out to him "We beg you, holy youth, to
come and walk among us once more."
He began his studies for
the priesthood. He was ordained by St. Germanus, the Bishop
of Auxerre, whom he had studied under for years.
Later, Patrick was ordained a bishop,
and was sent to take the Gospel to Ireland. He arrived
in Ireland
March 25, 433, at Slane. |
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One legend says that he
met a chieftain of one of the tribes, who tried to
kill Patrick. Patrick converted Dichu (the chieftain)
after he was unable to move his arm until he became
friendly to Patrick.
Patrick began preaching
the Gospel throughout Ireland, converting many. He and
his disciples preached and converted thousands and
began building churches all over the country. Kings,
their families, and entire kingdoms converted to Christianity
when hearing Patrick's message.
Patrick by now had many
disciples, among them Beningnus, Auxilius, Iserninus,
and Fiaac, (all later canonized as well).
Patrick preached and
converted all of Ireland
for 40 years. He worked many miracles and wrote of his
love for God
in Confessions. After years of living in poverty,
traveling and enduring much suffering he died March
17, 461.
He died at Saul, where
he had built the first church.
Why a shamrock?
Patrick used the
shamrock to explain the Trinity, and has been
associated with him and the Irish since that time.
In His Footsteps:
Patrick was a humble,
pious, gentle man, whose love and total devotion to
and trust in God
should be a shining example to each of us. He feared
nothing, not even death, so complete was his trust in
God, and of the importance of his mission. |
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From - http://www.catholic.org/saints/saint.php?saint_id=89
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