Journey as a Slave
Born in Britain, St. Patrick grew up not believing in God. Irish pirates captured him when he was 16 and sold him as a slave in Ireland, where he was forced to look after sheep. After six years, he escaped and returned to Britain and his family and devoted his life to Christ.
Back to Ireland
St. Patrick became a priest and eventually a bishop, then traveled back to Ireland as a missionary so he could teach the people about God. He used examples to explain the mysteries of the faith in simple ways, such as comparing a three-leaf clover, or shamrock, to the Holy Trinity. He said that the shamrock has three leaves, but it is only one plant. In the same way, God is three Persons—Father, Son, and Holy Spirit—but one God.
Trust in God
There is a popular legend about St. Patrick driving snakes out of Ireland, but instead of actual snakes, this symbolizes that he drove evil out of the land by converting pagans to Christianity. God used St. Patrick’s kidnapping to convert the Irish people; in our lives, God uses the bad times to bring about a good we do not always see. We must be patient and trust Him.
Patrick’s Prayer
We celebrate St. Patrick’s Day March 17 to remember how he lived his life entirely for Jesus, and that we are called to do the same. We can pray St. Patrick’s prayer: “Christ with me, Christ before me, Christ behind me, Christ in me, Christ beneath me, Christ above me, Christ on my right, Christ on my left, Christ when I lie down, Christ when I sit down, Christ when I arise, Christ in the heart of every man who thinks of me, Christ in the mouth of everyone who speaks of me, Christ in every eye that sees me, Christ in every ear that hears me.”
