8th October, 2003

DAVID ADAMS reports that there's more to the life of St Patrick than simply being patron saint of all things Irish...

A towering figure of the early European church, St Patrick is known throughout the world as the man who drove snakes out of Ireland and used a shamrock to explain the Holy Trinity as well as - perhaps most widely - the patron saint of all things Irish.

Yet ironically it’s Patrick’s very fame which causes many of us to overlook the truly remarkable nature of his life and remember only the celebration that stems from it.

To say Patrick’s life was extraordinary is perhaps an understatement. Born a freeman into a wealthy Romano-British family (his birthdate has been put in the late 300’s AD while the location remains a subject of debate - Scotland and Wales are among the suggestions), he was captured in a raid by Irish marauders when only 16 and taken back to their homeland as a slave.

Yet somehow - against all the odds - he was able to escape and - despite what he had experienced at the hands of the Irish - eventually returned as a phenomenally successful missionary.

Most of what we know about Patrick is gleaned from his own writings: his “Confessio” (described as a “spiritual autobiography”) and a letter in which he denounces the actions of some British warriors mistreating Irish captives.

Patrick tells of how, when taken to Ireland, he turned to God while living the lonely life of a herdsman. After six years and now full of fervour for the Lord, Patrick was prompted by a dream to escape. He did so and found passage on a ship to Britain where, despite enduring near starvation and being briefly recaptured, he was reunited with his family.

But the story doesn’t end there. God’s hand remained upon Patrick and again prompted by a dream - this time one in which the Irish begged him to return - he eventually agreed to to do so. Some years later - after extensive training - he was ordained as a priest and set out for Ireland.

Back in the emerald isle, Patrick traveled constantly; converting and baptising people and living in constant danger of death. His knowledge of the Irish and their customs must have come in handy and, rather than attempting to eradicate pagan Irish beliefs, Patrick used some of the signs with which they were already familiar in the worship of Jesus Christ: in one famous example, he superimposed the symbol of the sun - a sign of power in heathen Ireland - onto the Christian cross to create what we now know as a Celtic cross.

Patrick was not the first Christian to evangelise in Ireland - Palladius, Ireland’s first bishop, had already traveled there and Patrick’s own mission - to convert pagans and to minister to those Christians already in Ireland - gives credence the thought that there were already Christians in Ireland by the time he arrived.

But he is the man remembered as the “Apostle to Ireland” and by the time of his death - said by some to be around 460 AD - his mission had made a dramatic impact on the future destiny of Ireland with, according to his claims, thousands baptised.

His is truly a life to be remembered. And not just in celebration of all this Irish but for his courage and the strength of his conviction in making the most of the life God had given him.

References: “St Patrick” - Encyclopaedia Britannica; The St Patrick Centre - www.saintpatrickcentre.com