St. Patrick

The Saint of the Month is a regular feature, contributed by a member of our church.

Feast Day: March 17

Patron Saint: Saint of Ireland

Born: Britain (Date Unknown)

Died: March 17th in the year 492 or 493 in Saul, Britain

St. Patrick was a fifth-century Christian missionary and bishop in Ireland. Known as the "Apostle of Ireland", he was never formally canonized, having lived prior to the current laws of the Catholic Church. He is venerated as a Saint in the Catholic Church and in the Eastern Orthodox Church, where he is regarded as equal-to-the-apostles.

Early Years

source: www.patheos.com

St. Patrick was born in Roman Britain. His birthplace is not known with certainty; some records place it in England. His father was a deacon, but Patrick didn’t think too much about God. When he was around sixteen, he was captured by Irish pirates during a raiding party and taken to Ireland as a slave to herd and tend sheep. Forced to work as a shepherd, he suffered greatly from hunger and cold. He had just enough food to live on, and when he wasn’t working, he tried to rest in tiny huts that were damp and cold. At the time, Ireland was a land of Druids and pagans but Patrick turned to God. The time that he spent in captivity was critical to his spiritual development.

In his memoir Confessio, St.Patrick wrote: "The love of God and His fear grew in me more and more, as did the faith, and my soul was roused, so that, in a single day, I have said as many as a hundred prayers and in the night, nearly the same. I prayed in the woods and up on the mountains, even before dawn. I felt no hurt from the snow or ice or rain."

After six years spent in captivity, St.Patrick had a dream in which he was told to leave Ireland by going to the coast. Fleeing his master, he traveled to a port, two hundred miles away, where he found a ship. With difficulty, he persuaded the captain to take him aboard. After three days of sailing, they landed, presumably in Britain. Apparently, everyone had left the ship and walked for 28 days in the wilderness. After various adventures, he returned home to his family. By this time, he was in his early twenties.

St. Patrick's vision

Focult, source : www.sacredlandscapes.ie

A few years after returning home, Patrick saw a vision that he described in his memoir Confessio: "I saw a man coming from Ireland. His name was Victoricus, and he carried many letters, and he gave me one of them. I read the heading: 'The Voice of the Irish.' As I began reading the letter, I imagined in that moment that I heard the voice of those very people who were near the wood of Foclut, which is beside the western sea-and they cried out in one voice: 'We appeal to you, holy servant boy, to come and walk among us.'"

The vision prompted his studies for priesthood. Patrick was ordained by St. Germanus, Bishop of Auxerre, under whose tutelage he had studied for years. He was later ordained as a bishop and sent to Ireland, to spread the Gospel.

Patrick arrived in Slane, Ireland on March 25, 433. There are several legends about what happened next, with the most prominent claiming he met the chieftain of one of the Druid tribes, who tried to kill him. After an intervention from God, Patrick was able to convert the chieftain and preach the Gospel throughout Ireland. There, he converted many people, eventually thousands and he began building churches across the country.

Shamrock

Patrick often used shamrocks to explain the Holy Trinity. Legend credits him with teaching the Irish about the doctrine of the Holy Trinity by showing people the shamrock, a three-leaf clover, using it to illustrate the Christian teaching of three persons in one God. The shamrock has since become a central symbol for Saint Patrick's Day. Icons of St.Patrick often depict the saint "with a cross in one hand and a sprig of shamrocks in the other"

Familiar with Irish language and culture, Patrick chose to incorporate traditional rituals into his lessons of Christianity instead of attempting to eradicate native Irish beliefs. For instance, he used bonfires to celebrate Easter since the Irish were used to honoring their gods with fire. He also superimposed a sun, a powerful Irish symbol, onto the Christian cross to create what is now called a Celtic cross, so that veneration of the symbol would seem more natural to the Irish. Interpretations claim that placing the cross on top of the circle represents Christ's supremacy over the pagan sun.

Although there were a small number of Christians on the island when Patrick arrived, most Irish practiced a nature-based pagan religion. The Irish culture was centered around a rich tradition of oral legend and myth. When this is considered, it is no surprise that the story of Patrick’s life became exaggerated over the centuries.

Patrick banishes all snakes from Ireland

St. Patrick on a prayer card with snakes ( Picture: Getty)

The absence of snakes in Ireland has been noted from as early as the third century, but later legends has attributed the banishment of all reptiles from the island to Patrick. Patrick is often portrayed as trampling snakes in artwork and is credited with casting the reptiles from the Emerald Isle(a nickname of Ireland) into the sea after they disturbed him during a 40-day fast. It's true that there are no indigenous snakes in Ireland. But this wasn't Patrick's doing; he never mentioned snakes nor this seemingly major feat in his writings. It's an effective allegory about Patrick's role in casting evil from Ireland with his missionary work.

Down Cathedral

Patrick preached and evangelized all of Ireland for 40 years. He worked many miracles and wrote of his love for God in his autobiography Confessio. After years of living in poverty, traveling and enduring much suffering he died on March 17, 492 or 493. He died in Saul, United Kingdom where he had built the first Irish church. He is believed to be buried in Down Cathedral, Downpatrick. His grave was marked in 1990 with a granite stone.

In His Footsteps:

Much of what we truly know about Patrick comes from the man himself from two letters he wrote later in life – his autobiography "Confessio" and the fiery letter "Letter to the Soldiers of Coroticus". These are regarded as two of the oldest written documents in Irish history. His writings show him to be very humble; and yet emotionally very tough. Patrick saw himself as an instrument of God.

Many enjoy the festivities on St. Patrick's Day, known for its libations, parades and green color scheme. "Even Irish people are beginning to forget the real story of St. Patrick and what we are celebrating on St. Patrick's Day," says the Rev. Billy Swan, a priest with the Diocese of Ferns, Ireland, and one of the expert voices in the film 'I Am Patrick'. "There are costumes, green beers and green rivers, which are a testimony to his universal appeal, but we need to go back to the real story of this man’s life."

What distinguishes St. Patrick is the widespread reach and appeal of his efforts toward the Christian mission of spreading the Gospel. When one considers the state of Ireland where he began his mission work, the vast extent of his labor, and how the seeds he planted continued to grow and flourish, one can only admire the kind of man Patrick must have been.

Saint Patrick's Breastplate

Saint Patrick's Breastplate is an Old Irish prayer of protection, attributed to Saint Patrick. It is a hymn or poem of faith and trust in God, which is attributed to the saint during his Irish ministry. May I urge you to sing this beautiful song of St. Patrick as often as possible.

"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."

Rendition by James Kilbane

Notre Dame Handbell Choir

I Am Patrick - Docudrama Trailer

The new docudrama "I Am Patrick," released in March 17 and 18, 2020 features "Lord of the Rings" star John Rhys-Davies reenacting moments in Patrick's life, along with historians breaking down the legend.

Interested in knowing why the color green is associated with St. Patrick? You will find the information here at this link: Going Green

Church History (2011 -12)

Message from Fr. Vadana
Our First Parish Priest - Fr. Varghese Naikkamparambil
Parish Administration 2011 - 2012
SMCB Events Photo Gallery (2011 - 12)
The First SMCB Youth Meeting!
SMCB Family Units - Thirukudumbam & Little Flower

Google Sites

Report abuse