St. Patrick of Ireland is one of the world’s most popular saints. He was born in Roman Britain and when he was fourteen or so, he was captured by Irish pirates during a raiding party and taken to Ireland as a slave to herd and tend sheep. At the time, Ireland was a land of Druids and pagans but Patrick turned to God and wrote his memoir, The Confession. In The Confession, 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 Britain and was reunited with his family.
A few years after returning home, Patrick saw a vision he described in his memoir:
“I saw a man coming, as it were from Ireland. His name was Victoricus, and he carried many letters, and he gave me one of them. I read the heading: ‘The Voice of the Irish.’ As I began the letter, I imagined in that moment that I heard the voice of those very people who were near the wood of Foclut, which is beside the western sea-and they cried out, as with one voice: ‘We appeal to you, holy servant boy, to come and walk among us.'”
The vision prompted his studies for the priesthood. He was ordained by St. Germanus, the Bishop of Auxerre, whom he had studied under for years, and was later ordained a bishop and sent to take the Gospel to Ireland.
Patrick arrived in Slane, Ireland on March 25, 433. There are several legends about what happened next, with the most prominent claiming he met the chieftan of one of the druid tribes, who tried to kill him. After an intervention from God, Patrick was able to convert the chieftain and preach the Gospel throughout Ireland. There, he converted many people -eventually thousands – and he began building churches across the country.
He often used shamrocks to explain the Holy Trinity and entire kingdoms were eventually converted to Christianity after hearing Patrick’s message.
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.
He died at Saul, where he had built the first Irish church. He is believed to be buried in Down Cathedral, Downpatrick. His grave was marked in 1990 with a granite stone.
In His Footsteps:
Patrick was a humble, pious, gentle man, whose love and total devotion to and trust in God should be a shining example to each of us. So complete was his trust in God, and of the importance of his mission, he feared nothing -not even death.
“The Breastplate,” Patrick’s poem of faith and trust in God:
“Christ be within me, Christ behind me, Christ before me, Christ beside me, Christ to win me, Christ to comfort and restore me, Christ beneath me, Christ above me, Christ inquired, Christ in danger, Christ in hearts of all that love me, Christ in mouth of friend and stranger.”
Catholicism Pure & Simple 
Reblogged this on Zero Lift-Off and commented:
Yes Saint Patrick you pray for us! This world has become such a convoluted and so different a realm than the earthly world you lived upon when in it; a very strange place now with all of this technology seeming to give power to humans, but their hearts grow cold and their words that they speak to one another are hollow too often; in this self-serving tumultuous worsening nightmare. The world was back then a sinful and at times brutal place when you were here; but now the brutality and sins are exponentially greater, because though people see well enough and know better, while having so much convenience with opportunity to do good; they allow the cold indifference of the system to rule their actions and even their hearts. They truly more often than not, lack what these words which describe you, tell us about who you were and how you lived for God!
“Patrick was a humble, pious, gentle man, whose love and total devotion to and trust in God should be a shining example to each of us. So complete was his trust in God, and of the importance of his mission, he feared nothing -not even death.”
We should all try our best to do so well; to follow your example and truly serve God’s will in this world without hesitation; being fully committed to our Lord who is in heaven; and not let this world get us down or break our spirit!
Saint Patrick, you who lived in a harsh uncomfortable reality, yet remained humble and so willing to serve God in heaven; while today most people have so much in the way of creature comforts with a myriad of pleasures, but they don’t look to serve God; because they love serving themselves being caught up in the murky mire of deceptions they embrace.
Pray for us, as we now enter, I do believe the darkest of ages on earth; where hope will not exist for multitudes! We need the prayers of all the Saints as we seek the will of the Father through our Savior Jesus Christ, who tells us to follow Him, that He leads us by our right hands!
Isaiah 41:13 “For I am the LORD your God, who takes hold of your right hand and tells you: Do not fear, I will help you.”
Amen.
God bless!
Brother in Christ Jesus,
Lawrence Morra III
LikeLiked by 1 person