Saint Patrick«I AM PATRICK, A SINNER, MOST UNCULTIVATED AND LEAST OF ALL

THE FAITHFUL AND DESPISED IN THE EYES OF MANY»ST. PATRICK «CONFESSION»

Main facts 385 - 461

A 5th century Romano-British Christian missionary

The «Apostle of Ireland» (along with Saints Brigid and Columba)

An ancestor of the Irish literature

Main works are :

Confessio

Epistola ad Coroticum

Three patrons of Ireland

Childhood Born in 385 AD in Banna Venta Berniae, in Cumbria

Parents were Roman citizens living in modern-day England, in Wales:

« My father was Calpornius. He was a deacon; his father was Potitus, a priest,

who lived at Bannavem Taburniae»

River Calder West Cumbria Sedbergh

SlaveryAt the age of 16 was captured by a group of Irish pirates

After Patrick arrived in Ireland, he went to work as a slave for a chieftain named Milcho, herding sheep and cattle on the Slemish Mountain

Worked in that capacity for six years and drew strength from the time he often spent praying:

"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."

The Slemish Mountain

Returning to Britain

One day, Patrick's guardian angel, Victor, appeared to him in human form and told:

"It is good that you have been fasting and praying. You

will soon go to your own country; your

ship is ready."

After Patrick had spent several years with his family, Victor communicated with him through a dream again

An angel showed a dramatic vision that made Patrick realize that God was calling him to return to Ireland to preach the Gospel message ("good news") and helping people connect with God through relationships with Jesus Christ

St. Patrick left his life with family behind and sailed to Gaul to become a priest in the Catholic Church.

After Patrick was appointed a bishop, he set out for Ireland to help as many people as possible in the island nation where he had been

enslaved years before.

Patrick preached and converted all of Ireland for 40 years.

After the long time of living in poverty, travelling and enduring much suffering he died March 17, 461

By the seventh century, he had already come to be revered as the patron saint of Ireland

Main works Confessio - Epistola ad Coroticum

Confessio

Tells how Saint Patrick was kidnapped at 16, sold into slavery and escaped

Is more theological in nature than autobiographical

A Letter to the Soldiers of Coroticus

Coroticus was a king of Alt Clut (modern Dumbarton) in the 5th century

An open letter which announcing that St. Patrick has excommunicated Coroticus because he had taken some of his converts into slavery while raiding in Ireland

The letter describes the followers of Coroticus as "fellow citizens of the devils" and "associates of the Scots and Apostate Picts"

Symbols associated with Saint Patrick

ShamrockAccording to legend, Saint Patrick used a shamrock to explain pagans about God

Patrick told that the shamrock was like the idea of the Trinity, that in the one God there are three divine beings:

the Father

the Son

the Holy Spirit

Saint Patrick’s Bell

Is part of a collection of "relics of Patrick" removed from his tomb sixty years after his death by Colum Cille

One of three relics of "precious minna" (extremely valuable items), of which the other two are described as Patrick's goblet and "The Angels Gospel"

St. Patrick's PurgatoryIs an ancient pilgrimage site on Station Island in Lough Derg, County Donegal, Ireland.

Dates from the fifth century, when Christ showed Saint Patrick a cave, sometimes referred to as a pit or a hell

St. Patrick's Day Is celebrated on March 17

The saint's religious feast day and the anniversary of Patrick’s death.

Have been celebrating since around the 9th or 10th century

The first parade held to honor St. Patrick's Day took place in the United States of America

On March 17, 1762, Irish soldiers serving in the English military marched through New York City.

Along with their music, the parade helped the soldiers reconnect with their Irish roots, as well as with fellow Irishmen serving in the English army.

On St. Patrick's Day, which falls during the Christian season of Lent, Irish families would traditionally attend church in the morning and celebrate in the afternoon.

Big cities and small towns alike celebrate with parades, "wearing of the green," music and songs, Irish food and drink, and activities for kids such as crafts, coloring and games. Some communities even go so far as to dye rivers or streams green!

Summary

Saint Patrick was miraculously successful: Ireland became a Christian nation as a result.

Patrick was a humble, pious, whose love and total devotion to and trust in God should be a shining example to each of us.

He feared nothing, not even death, so complete was his trust in God, and of the importance of his mission.

Thank you for attention!