Ah, March 17…the day for all Irish hearts to rejoice. Started as a religious feast to honor the Patron Saint of Ireland, Saint Patrick, it has grown to an international festival in celebration of all things Irish - culture, food, music and, of course, the color GREEN. So here’s a little Irish history and some facts for you to mull over as you celebrate. As for me, I’m going to gather family and friends and have a Mug O’ Beer and some Corned Beef and Cabbage. And in the spirit of Irish everywhere, I will take a moment to remember Old Friends both here and departed.

Born in the 4th Century near Kilpatrick in Scotland to Conchessa and Calpornius, a deacon, whose father, Potitus, was, in turn, a priest, Patrick was not religious in his youth. According to his own writing, The Confession, he was captured by Irish raiders at the age of 16 and taken to Ireland as a slave. In his six years of slavery, he toiled as a shepherd where his solitary time led him to prayer and, eventually, to Christianity.

In his sixth year of captivity, a voice came to him instructing him to flee his master and that a ship was prepared to take him home. Traveling over 200 miles, he made his way to a port where he was able to persuade a ship’s captain to take aboard his ship and thence home to Scotland. Upon landing, he along with his ship companions, wandered for 28 days in the wilderness before finally returning home. He was now in his early twenties and continued to study Christianity.

A few years after returning home, he had a vision which he recounts in his confessions.

I saw a man coming, as it were 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 the letter, I imagined in that moment that I heard the voice of those very people who were near the wood of Folcut which is beside the western sea—and they cried out, as with one voice: "We appeal to you, holy servant boy, to come and walk among us."

He studied for the priesthood and was ordained by St. Germanus, the Bishop of Auxerre, his mentor and teacher. He was later himself ordained a bishop and, as his vision has directed him, he was sent to Ireland to convert the heathen. One of his first converts was a local chieftain, Dichu, whose arm was stayed from slaying Patrick and he was unable to move it until he converted.

As he preached the Gospel throughout Ireland, he converted many, including Beningnus, Auxilius, Iserninus, and Fiaac, all of whom later were canonized. For 40 years he roamed the Irish countryside where he was attributed with many miracles. His favorite instrument was the shamrock, with its three leaves (not four), which he used to explain the Holy Trinity. Allegedly, during a 40 day fast, he was attacked by a snake and, taking up his staff, he chased it and all its brethren into the sea. (The historical evidence that no snakes ever lived in post-glacial Ireland cannot disclaim this tale.)

A humble and pious man, he lived out the remainder of his life bringing the Gospel to his one-time Irish masters. After years of living in poverty and enduring much suffering, he died on March 17, in the year of our Lord 461, near Saul in Northern Ireland. Éirinn go Brách!

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Ah, March 17…the day for all Irish hearts to rejoice. Started as a religious feast to honor the Patron Saint of Ireland, Saint Patrick, it has grown to an international festival in celebration of all things Irish - culture, food, music and, of course, the color GREEN. So here’s a little Irish history and some facts for you to mull over as you celebrate. As for me, I’m going to gather family and friends and have a Mug O’ Beer and some Corned Beef and Cabbage. And in the spirit of Irish everywhere, I will take a moment to remember Old Friends both here and departed.

Born in the 4th Century near Kilpatrick in Scotland to Conchessa and Calpornius, a deacon, whose father, Potitus, was, in turn, a priest, Patrick was not religious in his youth. According to his own writing, The Confession, he was captured by Irish raiders at the age of 16 and taken to Ireland as a slave. In his six years of slavery, he toiled as a shepherd where his solitary time led him to prayer and, eventually, to Christianity.

In his sixth year of captivity, a voice came to him instructing him to flee his master and that a ship was prepared to take him home. Traveling over 200 miles, he made his way to a port where he was able to persuade a ship’s captain to take aboard his ship and thence home to Scotland. Upon landing, he along with his ship companions, wandered for 28 days in the wilderness before finally returning home. He was now in his early twenties and continued to study Christianity.

A few years after returning home, he had a vision which he recounts in his confessions.

I saw a man coming, as it were 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 the letter, I imagined in that moment that I heard the voice of those very people who were near the wood of Folcut which is beside the western sea—and they cried out, as with one voice: "We appeal to you, holy servant boy, to come and walk among us."

He studied for the priesthood and was ordained by St. Germanus, the Bishop of Auxerre, his mentor and teacher. He was later himself ordained a bishop and, as his vision has directed him, he was sent to Ireland to convert the heathen. One of his first converts was a local chieftain, Dichu, whose arm was stayed from slaying Patrick and he was unable to move it until he converted.

As he preached the Gospel throughout Ireland, he converted many, including Beningnus, Auxilius, Iserninus, and Fiaac, all of whom later were canonized. For 40 years he roamed the Irish countryside where he was attributed with many miracles. His favorite instrument was the shamrock, with its three leaves (not four), which he used to explain the Holy Trinity. Allegedly, during a 40 day fast, he was attacked by a snake and, taking up his staff, he chased it and all its brethren into the sea. (The historical evidence that no snakes ever lived in post-glacial Ireland cannot disclaim this tale.)

A humble and pious man, he lived out the remainder of his life bringing the Gospel to his one-time Irish masters. After years of living in poverty and enduring much suffering, he died on March 17, in the year of our Lord 461, near Saul in Northern Ireland. Éirinn go Brách!

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