St Patrick is known
as the patron saint of Ireland. True, he was not a born Irish. But he has become
an integral part of the Irish heritage, mostly through his service across Ireland
of the 5th century.
Patrick was born
in the later half of the 4th century AD. There are differing views about the
exact year and place of his birth.
According to one school of opinion, he was born about 390 A.D., while the other
school says it is about 373 AD. Again, his birth place is said to be in either
Scotland or Roman England. His real name was probably Maewyn Succat. Though
Patricius was his Romanicized name, he was later came to be familiar as Patrick.
Patrick was the son of Calpurnius, a Roman-British army officer.He was growing up as naturally as
other kids in Britain. However, one day a band of pirates landed in south Wales
and kidnapped this boy along with many others https://experience.tripster.ru/tours/russia/altaj/three-days/. Then they sold him into slavery
in Ireland. The was there for 6 years, mostly imprisoned. This was when changes
came to him. He dreamed of having seen God. Legend says, he was then dictated
by God to escape with a getaway ship.
Finally, he did escape and went to Britain. And then to France.
There he joined a monastery and studied under St. Germain,
the bishop of Auxerre. He spent around 12 years in training. And when he became
a bishop he dreamed that the Irish were calling him back to Ireland to tell
them about God. The Confessio, Patrick's spiritual autobiography, is the most
important
document regarding this. It tells of a dream after his return to Britain, in
which one Victoricus delivered him a letter headed "The Voice of the Irish."
So he set out for Ireland with the Pope's blessings. There he
converted the Gaelic Irish, who were then mostly Pagans, to Christianity. He was
confident in the Lord, he journeyed far and wide, baptizing and confirming with
untiring zeal. And, in a diplomatic fashion he brought gifts to a kinglet here
and a lawgiver there, but accepted none from any.
Indeed, Patrick was quite successful at winning converts. Through active preaching,
he made important converts even
among the royal families. And this fact upset the Celtic Druids. Patrick was
arrested several times, but escaped each time.
For 20 years he had traveled throughout Ireland, establishing monasteries across
the country. He also set up schools and churches which would aid him in his
conversion. He developed a native clergy, fostered the growth of monasticism,
established dioceses, and held church councils.
Patrick's doctrine is considered orthodox and has been interpreted as anti-Pelagian.
Although he is not particularly noted as a man of learning, a few of his writings
remain extant: his Confession, a reply to his detractors, and several letters.
The Lorica ("Breastplate"), a famous hymn attributed to Patrick, may
date to a later period.
By the end of the 7th century Patrick had become a legendary figure, and the
legends have continued to grow since then.
There are many legends associated with St Patrick. It is said that he used the
three-leafed shamrock
to explain the concept of the Trinity; which refers to the combination of Father,
Son, and the Holy Spirit. Hence its strong association with his day and name.
Legend also has that, Saint Patrick had put the curse of God on venomous snakes
in Ireland. And he drove all the snakes into the sea where they drowned.
True, these are mostly legends. But, after some 1500 years, these legends have
been inseparably combined with the facts.
And together they have helped us know much about the Saint and the spirit behind
celebration of the day. Patrick's mission in Ireland lasted for over 20 years.
He died on March 17, AD 461. That day has been commemorated as St. Patrick's Day
ever since. The day's spirit is to celebrate the universal baptization of Ireland.
Though originally a Catholic holy day,
St. Patrick's Day has evolved into more of a secular holiday. Or, rather, 'be
an Irish Day '. And the Irish has borne it as part of their national tradition
in everywhere they populated and prospered.
The Catholic feast day for this most loved of Irish saints has become a holiday
in celebration of the Irish and Irish culture. The leprechaun, a Celtic fairy,
has become entrenched as a chief symbol for this holiday, as is the shamrock,
an ancient symbol for the triple goddess Brigit. It is fitting that this holiday
should fall at the time of the year when the return of spring begins to seem at
hand.
