Saint Patrick, the Apostle of Ireland, born at Kilpatrick, near Dumbarton, in Scotland, in the year 387; died at Saul, Downpatrick, Ireland, 17 March, 461. His parents were Calpurnius and Conchessa, who were Romans living in Britian in charge of the colonies. As a boy of fourteen or so, he was captured during a raiding party and taken to Ireland as a slave to herd and tend sheep. Ireland at this time was a land of Druids and pagans. He learned the language and practices of the people who held him.

During his captivity, he turned to God in prayer. He wrote:
“The love of God and his fear grew in me more and more, as did the faith, and my soul was rosed, 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 on the mountain, even before dawn. I felt no hurt from the snow or ice or rain.”

Patrick’s captivity lasted until he was twenty, when he escaped after having a dream from God in which he was told to leave Ireland by going to the coast. There he found some sailors who took him back to Britian, where he reunited with his family.

He had another dream in which the people of Ireland were calling out to him “We beg you, holy youth, to come and walk among us once more.” He began his studies for the priesthood. He was ordained by St. Germanus, the Bishop of Auxerre, whom he had studied under for years.

Later, Patrick was ordained a bishop, and was sent to take the Gospel to Ireland. He arrived in Ireland March 25, 433, at Slane. One legend says that he met a chieftain of one of the tribes, who tried to kill Patrick. Patrick converted Dichu (the chieftain) after he was unable to move his arm until he became friendly to Patrick.

Patrick began preaching the Gospel throughout Ireland, converting many. He and his disciples preached and converted thousands and began building churches all over the country. Kings, their families, and entire kingdoms converted to Christianity when hearing Patrick’s message.

Patrick by now had many disciples, among them Beningnus, Auxilius, Iserninus, and Fiaac, (all later canonized as well).

Patrick preached and converted all of Ireland for 40 years. He worked many miracles and wrote of his love for God in Confessions. After years of living in poverty, traveling and enduring much suffering he died March 17, 461.

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26 COMMENTS

  1. Happy St Patricks Day Holy St Patrick.. You works are known by the Lord please pray for me and my family so that our works are known and loved by our Lord.

  4. We love you St. Patrick! Thank you for bringing so many to the faith and making me feel lucky to have been born part Irish! My irish eyes are smiling! 🙂

  5. Dear St Patrick, I met an Irishman named after You and he is so proud of that. I met him on the net and we are getting to know each other now. Please intercede for me in my prayers, that I hope he is the perfect man that God has sent for me to be my partner in life. Thank you so much for the answered prayer….

  6. Thank you for your suffrage. I am proud to be Catholic. I pray that St Patrick will look after me and my family. And I pray for our new Pope

  8. Dear St Patrick , I pray to you on this your feast day for a full recovery from ovarian cancer. I trust in my faith and I ask you to intercede for me to the Lord our God for his mercy and healing graces so that I may live a long and happy life with my husband to be Rory. God be with us all. Amen

  9. Dear St Patrick though I am not Irish I have always loved you, I named my fourth son after you. I am asking you on this your feast day to please help him. he is in confusion in regard to his faith, he needs physical, spiritual and emotional help, he lost his job and is alone – Pleas interceed for him to God and ask Our Blessed Mother to assist him in all his needs – Thank you St Patrick Amen

  11. St. Patrick please intercede for my family brothers, sister, nieces and daughter to find work work or to be confirmed at work. St. Patrick pray for us.

  17. Dear St. Patrick,
    in your humility you called yourself a sinner,
    but you became a most successful missionary
    and prompted countless pagans
    to follow the Saviour.
    Many of their descendents in turn
    spread the Good News in numerous foreign lands.
    Through your powerful intercession with God,
    obtain the missionaries we need
    to continue the work you began.
    Amen.

  20. Saint Patrick, pray for us. Intercede for Father Patrick Mary, whose homily I have just heard on EWTN today, about the gospel of Matthew, etc. Bring him every joy and blessing during his ministry, with such astute observations and mature wisdom at such a young age. I watched the life story of Saint Patrick a few days ago, and am astounded by your incessant heroic virtue. Humility, poverty, celibacy, obedience with prudence. You didn’t always do what you were told, but had patience and perseverance to carry out only God’s will. Steadfast and effective. Bless the Irish wherever they live, as the ancestors of your converts. Amen.

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