This provided by one of my many faith-filled Catholic facebook friends Nicholas Cardarelli. Hopefully we will remember St. Patrick tomorrow as a real Saint who did God's work:
The real story behind Saint Patrick's Day!!!!
Before we don our "kiss me I'm Irish... today!" shirts, leprechaun hats, or drink ourselves blind with green beer, I thought you would like to know about the real Saint Patrick.
My blog tells in brief about a boy who was captured by savages, sold into slavery, escaped home as a young man and out of love for the very people that had made him a slave, returned to set them free from the bondage of their sins and bring them the peace that only comes from knowing Jesus Christ.
Enjoy and have a Happy St. Patrick’s Day!
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.
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 respect for him grew in me more and more, as did the faith, and my soul was raised, 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 Britain, 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.
After many long years, Patrick was ordained a bishop, and his request to take the Gospel of Jesus Christ to Ireland was accepted. He arrived in Ireland March 25, 433, at Slane. 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, helping many find the truth and peace of Jesus. He and his disciples preached and baptized thousands and began building churches all over the country. Kings, their families, and entire kingdoms converted to Christianity when hearing Jesus’ message from Patrick.
Patrick by now had many disciples, among them Beningnus, Auxilius, Iserninus, and Fiaac, (all later became canonized saints as well).
Patrick preached and baptized 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.
For even more info on the real Saint Patrick visit the Catholic Encyclopedia online at Saint Patrick
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