St. Patrick’s Day
Patrick was born in Britain, somewhere between the Severn and Clyde rivers during the 4th century. He was the son of a deacon and grandson of a priest. Despite these influences, he showed little interest in Christ.
When Patrick was sixteen years old he was taken as a prisoner by Irish raiders. In Ireland he was sold as a slave to a chieftain named Milchu and spent six years tending his master’s sheep. During these days as he herded the flock his heart opened to God.
Patrick said: “ I prayed a hundred times in the day and almost as many at night.”
In response to hearing God’s voice Patrick traveled nearly two hundred miles, from where hew was tending his master’s flock to the Irish coast, where he boarded a ship for Britain.
Patrick wrote: “I heard in my sleep a voice saying to me: “It is well that you fast. Soon you will go to your own country.”
And again, after a short while, I heard a voice saying to me: “See, your ship is ready.”
Upon returning to his home land he was reunited with his family. His writing then indicates that he had another dream, where he was told to go back to Ireland as a missionary. He then began fifteen years of studying to be a priest.
After his ordination he was sent to Ireland; landing at the mouth of the Slaney River. Patrick had many challenges when trying to convince the Irish that their multitude of gods were false, that there was only one true God, and that He loved them. He faced off with the druid priests Easter morning when he lit a forbidden fire. No other light could be lit other than the fire on the hill of Tara during the pagan worshiping of the changing seasons. The King of Tara had Patrick brought before him for this action. He explained he was no threat because he was bringing the new light, the light of world, Christ the Savior to the Irish people.
Using the shamrock, Patrick is said to have taught the Irish about the Trinity, the Father, Son, and Holy Ghost.
Interestingly, it is only in Ireland that you find this shamrock.
In 432 A.D. Patrick built a church on the site of preset day St. Patrick’s Memorial Church in Saul, this was the first Christian church in all of Ireland. His ministry lasted twenty nine years, baptizing over 120,000 Irishmen and planting 300 churches.
It is believed that he died on March 17, around 460 AD.
"The Breastplate"
"Christ be within me, Christ behind me, Christ before me, Christ beside me, Christ to win me, Christ to comfort and restore me, Christ beneath me, Christ above me, Christ inquired, Christ in danger, Christ in hearts of all that love me, Christ in mouth of friend and stranger."
