The Life of Saint Patrick

Saint Patrick, patron saint of Ireland, was born in the year 387 AD or so it is believed. He comes from the village of Bunnavem Taburniae (there is still some doubt about the name for it has many names) in Roman Britain. The location to the village is unknown but believed to be on the west coast near Scotland. He was the son of Calpornius, a deacon, who is the son of Potitus, a priest. Besides being a deacon, Calpornius also held a official position with the Roman administration. The native tongue of St. Patrick was an old Celtic dialect similar to nowadays Welsh. Being among the privileged classes it is well believed he was also familiar with Latin. Few details were written by Patrick, or by anyone else, of his childhood and early teens. But Patrick did mention that towards his regard to Christianity, even though his family was Christian, he was a pagan.

At sixteen years of age, Patrick was captured, with thousands of others, and brought to Ireland in slavery. During the six years of captivity Patrick worked as a herdsman and as you know the treatment of slaves is nothing but humane and Patrick recalls that he endured hunger, nakedness, and being near the point of collapse. During those years of hardship whatever religion he had that was nominal changed into desperate plight in seeking for God. “And there the Lord opened the sense of my unbelief that I might at last remember my sins and be converted with all my heart to the Lord my God.” He wrote in his ‘Confession’ that he prayed a hundred prayers during the day and as many during the night. One night he heard a voice in his dreams say, and I quote, “It is well that you fast, for soon you will go to your home country.” A short wile after he heard a voice again, saying “See, your ship is ready.” As Joseph did with Mary and Our Lord many years ago, Patrick never doubted the Lord got up and fled, from his master’s field, and traveled across two hundred miles of country, seemingly on foot. As a runaway slave there would be many dangers and hardships to face but Patrick gives us few details besides being unafraid for he went with the strength of God to guide him. He found a ship ready to sail and after much difficulty was allowed to board. After various adventures, which Patrick does not mention where but is believed to have taken place in Gaul, returned home to hos family.

After thirty years of peace and becoming a deacon, Patrick had a vision of a man coming, as it were from Ireland. The mans name was Victoricus (who many believe to be Saint Victricius, bishop of Roauen). He carried with him many letters which one he gave to Patrick, and in the letter he heard the desperate cry of the Irish. Patrick knew then that it was his calling to go back to Ireland and help the people. Although he petitioned to the elders of the church, instead of letting him go they attacked him with a confession he had made, to a friend about his childhood, thirty years ago. But in the years to pass Patrick prevailed and became the Second Bishop of Ireland for they sent Palladius before him. It is said that is when his name was changed to Patrick for his Christian name was Maewyn Succat. It took him many years and through many hardships to see change in Ireland. As he said in his confession, and I quote; “hence how did it come to pass in Ireland that those who never had a knowledge of God, but until now always worshipped idols and things impure, have now been made a people of the Lord, and are called sons of God, that the sons and daughters of the Kings of the Irish are seen to be Monks and Virgins of Christ.”

According to the latest reconstruction of the Old Irish annals, Patrick died in 460 AD on March 17^th. And that is why we celebrate his life, the banishing of the snakes, and the bringing of Christianity into beloved Ireland. 

By Allison Halliday