The apostle of Ireland was born in Scotland in the year 387, He died around 461-464 at Saul, County Down, Ireland.
His feast is celebrated on March 17 when by tradition people wear green meaning the color of shamrock. (A reminder of the Holy Trinity)
Captured when he was 16, he was sent to Ireland as a slave. He was a shepherd for six years but finally he escaped. He heard a voice that asked him to return to Ireland, so he went to Rome to become a priest and asked the Pope Saint Celestine to send him back. He was made a Bishop, then evangelized in England and finally in Ireland. As a result of his preaching the people of Ireland were converted and the country became the land of many saints.

He illustrated the mystery of the Holy Trinity in the leaf of shamrock. He said "There is only one God" and "Three divine persons: The Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit", even as there are three leaves on the stem of one shamrock, there are three persons in One God.

Reading, from the Confession of Saint Patrick

I came to the Irish people to preach the Gospel and endure the taunts of unbelievers, putting up with reproaches about my earthly pilgrimage, suffering many persecutions, even bondage, and losing my birthright of freedom for the benefit of others.
If I am worthy, I am ready also to give up my life, without hesitation and most willingly, for Christ's name. i want to spend myself for that country, even in death, if the Lord should grant me this favor.

It is among that people that I want to wait for the promise made by him, who assuredly never tells a lie. He makes this promise in the Gospel: "They shall come from the east and west and sit down with Abraham, Isaac and Jacob." This is our faith: believers are to come from the whole world.

Lorica of St. Patrick

I arise today,
Through a mighty strength, the invocation of the Trinity,
Through belief in threeness,
Through confession of oneness,
Of the Creator of Creation.

I arise today,
Through the strength of Christ's birth with His baptism,
Through the strength of His crucifixion with His burial,
Through the strength of His resurrection with His ascension,
Through the strength of His descent for the judgement of Doom.

I arise today,
Through the strength of the love of Cherubim,
In obedience of angels,
In the service of archangels,
In hope of resurrection to meet with reward,
In the prayers of patriarchs,
In predictions of prophets,
In preachings of apostles,
In faiths of confessors,
In innocence of holy virgins,
In deeds of righteous men.

I arise today,
Through strength of heaven:
Light of sun,
Radiance of moon,
Splendour of fire,
Speed of lightning,
Swiftness of wind,
Depth of sea,
Stability of earth,
Firmness of rock.

I arise today,
Through God's strength to pilot me,
God's might to uphold me,
God's wisdom to guide me,
God's eye to look before me,
God's shield to protect me,
God's host to save me,
From the snares of devils,
From temptations of vices,
From everyone who shall wish me ill,
Afar and anear,
Alone and in a multitude.

I summon today all these powers between me and those evils,
Against every cruel merciless power that may oppose my body and soul,
Against the incantations of false prophets,
Against the black laws of pagandom,
Against the false laws of heretics,
Against craft of idolatry,
Against the spells of women, smiths, and wizards,
Against every knowledge that corrupts man's body and soul.

Christ to shield me today,
Against poison, against burning,
Against drowning, against wounding,
So that there may come abundance of reward.

Christ with me, Christ before me, Christ behind me,
Christ in me, Christ beneath me, Christ above me,
Christ on my right, Christ on my left,
Christ when I lie down, Christ when I sit down, Christ when I arise,
Christ in the heart of every man who thinks of me,
Christ in the mouth of every one who speaks of me,
Christ in every eye that sees me,
Christ in every ear that hears me.

I arise today,
Through a mighty strength, the invocation of the Trinity,
Through belief in threeness,
Through confession of oneness,
Of the Creator of Creation.

texags73:
I'm not Irish, but I think I've mentioned before how fascinated I am by the Emerald Isle and it's history.

You need to read a book by Thomas Cahill called, "How the Irish Saved Civilization". He USED to be a favorite author of mine (until he went off the deep end in his most recent book, a pretty good history read about the Greeks. He decided to share with us his present day "enlightened" political viewpoint, whether we wanted it, or not.)

Cahill goes into MAJOR detail on Patricius's (St. Patrick's) life, and his work in Ireland.

His other books are pretty good, too. Just stay away from the Greek book.

[This message has been edited by janag81 (edited 2/9/2006 1:10p).]

janag, I am in the middle of that book (among others!) right now and I really enjoy it. I am very Irish and the story really brings a lot of unknown-by-many Irish history to light.

Yankee:
The only problem I have with his writing style, not content, is the way he will ramble off on some related item. Often, it's VERY educational, but it doesn't flow real well.

"Gift of the Jews" was actually my 2nd favorite book from him.

Hmm, I kind of liked his prose--I thought it was refreshing and not too history-bookish. Though I do see what you are talking about.

I will have to keep his name in mind when book-searching in the future... thanks for the rec!!

[This message has been edited by YankeeAg00 (edited 2/9/2006 3:37p).]

If you are intereted in Irish literature & history you should also read Trinity by Leon Uris. It's about the stugles and upsrising during the late 1800's and early 1900's.

Can't wait till St. Patty's day and to head back to Ireland this summer!

Erin go bragh!

janag- Thanks - I'll look for a copy. I'm 1/4 Irish on my mom's side, and it always bugs me how people treat St. Patrick's Day by getting drunk on the day that he died. While I'm glad everyone wants to be Irish on March 17, getting drunk is not the way to do it. St. Patrick rescued Ireland from the Druids and paganism, and is a great Saint.

Doesn't the Hallmark Channel run a St. Patrick movie in March about his life?



[This message has been edited by texasag73 (edited 2/9/2006 5:47p).]

"Against the spells of women"

Man I'm using that tonight when my wife nags me about a new house.

Just kidding. Great stuff.

Plot Synopsis: A young Christian boy attends a druid worship that is attacked by invading Irish tribes. Taken captive, he is taken back to Ireland to become a slave. Enduring many hardships, he finds comfort and eventually salvation in his faith. After several years, he escapes back to England, where he joins a convent to prove his faith. His greatest desire is to return to Ireland to convert the Irish to Christianity. Years later, he is given the opportunity. Upon setting foot on the Irish soil, all snakes are aitomatically driven from the land. He then overcomes many obstacles, including disagreements with the British Cardinal (Malcolm McDowell), to fulfill his destiny and ultimately being given Sainthood.