St Patricks Day

Some Fact, Fiction and History of St Patrick's Day!

Ð'* Jesus Christ spent around 30 years in Palestine (what is now Israel) around the year 1AD. His ministry must have been extraordinary, for his followers spread rapidly across the known world with the message that he had taught. The early missions around the eastern Mediterranean are chronicled in the book of Acts in the Bible, as well as the letters of St Paul. Despite widespread persecution under the Romans, during which time thousands of Christians were thrown to the lions or crucified, the Roman Empire ultimately adopted Christianity as its religion. From the Mediterranean it spread northwards into Gaul and it reached Ireland around the late 300s or early 400s.

Ð'* The first recorded missionary to Ireland was Palladius, who was probably from Gaul [France]. He was sent by the Pope to be bishop to the "Irish who believe in Christ". Patrick himself stated that Palladius' mission was a failure. However, other historical documents from outside Ireland indicate that the mission of Palladius was very successful, at least in Laigin (Leinster), and that he set up a number of churches. [1]. Tradition says that Palladius' visit to Ireland was in the year 431.

Ð'* St Patrick Perhaps the most famous missionary to Ireland was St Patrick. However, a small point of caution is needed here [2]. It is widely believed by historians that the missions of St Patrick were embellished and enshrined by Patrick's monastery at Armagh in their (ultimately successful) bid for primacy over the church in Ireland. In creating what is referred to as the 'Cult of Patrick', Armagh exaggerated the importance of Patrick and diminished the importance of the other missionaries, possibly even attributing some of the work of these other missionaries to Patrick. That said, St Patrick is such an important part of Irish culture that it would be a mistake to ignore him.

Ð'* We know very little for certain about Patrick. According to his own "Confession", he was born in Roman Britain - probably near Hadrian's Wall in northern England - the son of a wealthy official. His mother may have come from Gaul [France]. When he was 16, sometime in the early 400s, he was kidnapped by an Irish raiding party and sold into slavery in Ireland. As Roman Britain collapsed, it was increasingly common for Irish, Pict and Saxon raiders to pillage its coastal settlements and it seems that Patrick fell victim to one of these raids. Patrick worked as a slave for 6 years tending sheep, traditionally believed to be on Slemish Mountain, county Antrim, but it seems possible that he was, in fact, somewhere near the Atlantic Ocean in county Mayo or Sligo.

Ð'* Patrick says in his Confession that he discovered God during his time of captivity, and took to praying a hundred times a day. After 6 years, Patrick managed to escape from captivity, walked the 200 miles to the east coast and managed to negotiate passage aboard a trading ship to Gaul [France]. There, he probably trained to be a Christian Priest and spent time in Auxerre. He then received prophetic dreams where he heard the people of Ireland near the 'western sea' call him to come and walk among them again. He then travelled to Ireland as a missionary, and it seems that he never left. The year traditionally given is 432, but it seems more likely to have been around 460 [3].

Ð'* Patrick concentrated his work in north-east Ireland, and his first church was at Saul, near present-day Downpatrick. He preached to the Kings and their households and met with varied levels of success. One of his methods was to 'Christianize' the Celtic Pagan festivals. For example, Patrick reputedly lit an Easter bonfire on Slane Hill near the Hill of Tara while the King was having his own Pagan bonfire there. The King was enraged, but he took the opportunity to preach and managed to make some converts. He is famously said to have used the 3-leaved Shamrock to explain the concept of the Trinity: God as the Father, Son and Holy Spirit (although this story is almost certainly a myth). Patrick died in Ireland and is traditionally believed to be buried on the Hill of Down in Downpatrick, county Down. A stone marking the traditional burial spot was added in 1901 and the site is now a popular tourist attraction.

t. Patrick's Day: March 17th (by Donna M Pinkton MA)

Ð'* While St. Patrick's day is not officially recognized as a "National" Holiday, it is certainly one the most recognized in the United States. Celebrations began in Boston, MA in the year 1737. Irish immigrants missed their home country and with the help of the Catholic Church they came to honor the arrival of Spring with the legend of St. Patrick bringing Christianity to Pagan Ireland.

Ð'* As the legend goes, ST. Patrick was born in Kilpatrick Scotland in 387. His real name was believed to be Macwyn Succat. And his parents were of Roman high rank. At 16 he was captured by Irish Marauders and sold as a slave to chieftain Milchu in Dalaradia. Milchu was a Druidical High Priest, leaving Patrick to tend sheep in the fields. Patrick remained in captivity for 6 years. He learned the Celtic language as well as all the facets of Druidism. However, as he remained a slave he grew in his belief in Christianity and prayed to the Christian God. Finally, one day he fled, traveling 200 miles and boarded a ship and sailed to Britain.

Ð'* Patrick stayed in Britain for 18 years bring Christianity to various cultures through war and conquering lands. Pope Celestine allowed Patrick to return to Ireland and bring Christianity to the country and named him "patritius" derived from "ater civium" meaning "father of the people". A legend says that St. Patrick chased all the snakes out of Ireland. With Ireland being an island, there actually were no snakes to begin with. Patrick's chasing out the snakes is in reference to chasing out the Druid's, Ireland's indigenous religion.

Ð'* As the legend continues, in 433 Patrick fought in Ireland with the Druids and was able to infiltrate the culture since he knew the language of the ancient pagan religion. Legend has it that St. Patrick died on the 17th of March 460 and this is the reason he is honored on this date. However, the Spring Equinox being anywhere from the 19th to the 22nd of March, by celebrating St. Patrick's day on the 17th was actually symbolic of the famous legend where Patrick arrived on Tar hill and lit the ritual fire before the Druid priests arrived and overtook the site.

Ð'* Another symbolic act of Patrick overtaking Ireland's Druid heritage involves his use of the Shamrock (three-leaf