St. Patrick's Day

Today is March 17th – St. Patrick’s Day. We send you on this feast day the very best wishes.

In New York, Chicago and many other cities across North America, thousands of people celebrate St. Patrick’s Day. Little is known about the man. He likely lived from 415 to 493 and was possibly born in the north of Wales. Others think he hailed from what is today Dunbarton, Scotland or Cumberland, England.

One thing that historians do know is that St. Patrick spent six years of his life as a slave after raiders captured him, his father, and his father’s cohort of slaves. He was often malnourished and cold during those years, which he is said to have largely spent working as a shepherd. At age 22 he escaped and travelled to continental Europe, probably France. He was a different man now. The years of slavery had brought about inside of him a spiritual conversion.

During his many years on the continent, Patrick spent some time in Auxerre, France and possibly at Lerins Abbey on France’s Mediterranean coast. By the time he turned 43 Patrick was a bishop. He felt a call to bring the Christian faith to the people of Ireland. Even though some individuals did not want Patrick to become a missionary in Ireland on account of his limited education, the saint nevertheless did travel to the island nation. His work there brought about countless conversions and allowed the Christian faith to take root.

(Source of all related images on webpage and homepage: www.wikipedia.org.)