Who was St Patrick? Plus two of his quotes

St Patrick’s Day is known as a day to wear green. But who was the man behind the celebration? Patrick (390?-460?) is known as the “Apostle of the Irish,” although he was not Irish and was originally a slave.

Knowledge of Patrick’s life is scant, yet this much is widely accepted: He was born in Britain in a Christian family. At 16, he was kidnapped by pirates and taken to Ireland as a slave. After six years, he believed God told him to escape. He traveled 200 miles to the southeastern coast of Ireland (closest to England) where he found passage on a ship and landed back in Britain. Eventually he made it home, a much different man then when he had left almost seven years earlier.

His change came in the form of a desire to become a priest. He underwent the necessary training and was sent as a “Bishop of Ireland” back to the land where he had lived as a slave. He spent the rest of his life in Ireland, evangelizing the people, and setting up a strong Christian presence among the Irish. His influence was so strong that today 80% of Irish are Catholic.

Only one of Patrick’s writings is known to exist. This book, known as “The Confession of Saint Patrick,” was written toward the end of his life. (In that time, the title “Confession” meant “autobiography.") It is only about fifty pages in a small paperback.

But still, why is March 17 called St Patrick’s Day? Because that is the accepted date of his death. This celebration was brought over by Irish immigrants to the colonies, with the first recorded celebration of St Patrick’s Day being in Boston in 1737. In addition, the St Patrick’s Day Parade in New York City has been held since 1762. And the shamrocks? The story goes that Patrick explained the Trinity of God, Three in One, by using a three-leafed clover: three leaves but part of the same plant.

Quotes

• Patrick’s clear sense of purpose comes through in this writing. As he stated in section 44: “I do not believe in my own powers, as long as I shall continue in this moral flesh, because he (the flesh) is strong, who daily strives to turn me away from the faith and from the purity of religion that is without any pretense right up to my very last breath in Christ my Lord. Yet my enemy the flesh continually drags me down to death, I mean indulgence in illicit pleasures. And I well know in part why I have not led a perfect life, just like other believers, but still I confess my Lord and I do not blush for shame in his sight. Neither do I lie, for I have known him from my youth, and the love of God and the fear of him have grown in me, and up till now, by God’s goodwill, I have kept the faith.”
• “I arise today through God’s strength to pilot me;
  God’s might to uphold me,
  God’s wisdom to guide me,
  God’s ear to hear me,
  God’s word to speak for me,
  God’s hand to guard me,
  God’s way to lie before me,
  God’s shield to protect me afar and anear, alone or in a multitude.”
  Prayer ascribed to St. Patrick
  (d. late 400s)(Part of a longer poem)

© 2023 Mark Nickens, Trinitas Institute, LLC.