About Us : About Saint Patrick
St.Patrick is the Patron Saint of Ireland, and of our Church.
There are many legends and stories about St.Patrick but it is believed he was born in Scotland around the year 387. His parents were Calpurnius and Conchessa who were Romans living in Britain in charge of the colonies.
When he was about 16 years old, Patrick was captured during a raiding party and taken to Ireland as a slave to herd and tend sheep and pigs, probably among the bogs and hills of Antrim. During his four years of captivity he thought about God more and more and his belief was a great comfort to him. He began to experience dreams and one night he awoke with a voice telling him to return to Britain and that a ship was waiting for him. Believing his dream he escaped and set off for the coast where he found a ship which took him back home.
Reunited with his family he lived at home for a while but in another dream he heard the Irish people calling him back to Ireland "Come back, holy boy, and walk among us once more". He made up his mind he must return and preach Christianity to the Irish and began his training as a Priest. He was ordained by St.Germanus, Bishop of Auxerre and later was ordained Bishop. He later sailed to take the Gospel to Ireland arriving in 433 at Slane.
Patrick began preaching the Gospel throughout Ireland converting many people. He and his disciples preached and converted thousands and began building churches all over the country. He worked many miracles and wrote of his love for God in Confessions. After years of travelling and living in poverty he died on March 17th 461.
One famous story about St.Patrick is how he used the leaf of the shamrock to explain the mystery of the Trinity. It is because of this that all Irish wear a shamrock on St.Patrick's day.
St.Patrick was a humble, pious and gentle man whose love and devotion and trust in God is a shining example to each one of us.
References:
taken from www.catholic.org
