St. Patrick, the patron saint of Ireland, is one of the world’s most widely known figures. He was born in Britain near the end of the fourth century, and died on March 17, around 460 A.D.
At the age of sixteen, Patrick was taken prisoner by Irish raiders who were attacking his family’s estate. They transported him to Ireland where he spent six years in captivity. During this time, he worked as a shepherd, outdoors and isolated. Lonely and afraid, he turned to his religion for solace, becoming a devout Christian.
After more than six years as a prisoner, Patrick escaped. According to his writing, a voice - which he believed to be God’s- spoke to him in a dream, telling him it was time to leave Ireland. He walked nearly 200 miles from County Mayo, to the Irish coast when a dream tells him to return to Ireland as a missionary. After his ordination, he was sent to Ireland to minister to Christians already living in Ireland and to begin to convert the Irish.
The first public celebration of Saint Patrick’s Day took place in Boston, in 1737. On St. Patrick’s Day, which falls during the Christian season of Lent, Irish families would traditionally attend church in the morning and celebrate in the afternoon. Lenten prohibitions against the consumption of meat were waived and people would dance, drink, and feast on the traditional meal of Irish bacon and cabbage.
St. Patrick, Ireland, Christian
