St. Patrick’s Day has always been a favorite of mine. A celebration of Irish roots, my favorite color, traditions of a good excuse for a cold dyed beer with loved ones.
This year there are no plans of that tradition. None to toast green beer around a table of friends and family. No carefully picked out festive outfit to wear, only some green overworn sweatpants.
Instead of celebrating Saint Patrick’s Day in a traditional old way, I looked into the history of this patron saint. What I found was the traditions aren’t actually reflected with the life of the apostle saint. Worldy celebration overtook his real mission, the awareness of spreading the Gospel of Jesus Christ. In faith and in action, we honor Saint Patrick best by living out the Gospel he preached. This March 17th, I see that true celebration is not in festivity, but in following St. Patrick’s example.
🍀Patrick wasn’t Irish. He was born in Britain to a wealthy family at the end of the fourth century A.D.
🍀This future saint was taken into slavery by raiders to Ireland in his teenage years.
🍀In captivity he became a devout Christian.
🍀He was freed from Ireland and returned to Britian.
🍀He then had a dream, from God, to return to Ireland and become a missionary in the land he escaped.
🍀Patrick studied Christianity in France.
🍀St. Patrick brought Christianity to Ireland and is known as the national apostle of Ireland.
🍀Legend has it he drove Ireland’s snakes into the sea.
🍀Claims of his prayers resulting in various miracles.
🍀He used the shamrock to explain the Trinity concept.
🍀St. Patrick wrote “Confessio” and “Epistola“.
🍀Today, St. Patrick’s Day is to commemorate the saint’s death that occurred around 460 A.D.
🍀His burial site is unknown.
Sources:
St. Patrick | Biography, Facts, Feast Day, Miracles, & Death | Britannica
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