St. Patrick’s Day is upon us, and I see the typical St. Patty’s Day celebrations being planned. Everyone will be wearing green and getting pinched if they don’t. Shamrocks, pots of gold with rainbows leading to them, and Leprechauns in funny hats and green suits will be seen everywhere. I am sure that some great Celtic music will be heard, some rivers will be dyed green, and the green beer will be flowing as well. But, we forget that St. Patrick was a real person. Much like St. Nicholas has been transformed into the jolly old St. Nick in the red Santa suit and white beard, St. Patrick has been transformed into an old Irish guy who had a curved staff and drove the snakes out of Ireland. Beyond that, what else is there to know about him really?
St. Patrick (387 – 461) was born in Roman Britain, most likely Wales or Scotland. At age 16, he was abducted by the Irish Druids and became a slave tending herds in Ireland. God called Patrick to Him and then delivered him from his captivity. Later, Patrick became a Priest and returned to Ireland to spread the Gospel to his former captors.
St. Patrick is widely credited with bringing Christianity to the pagan peoples of Ireland. This may actually be the true meaning of the myth that he drove the “snakes” out of Ireland, as he did away with pagan worship. He is also well known for using the shamrock to illustrate the Christian doctrine of the Trinity, when teaching about the attributes of God. I personally carry a three leaf clover in my Bible all the time. I use it as a visual example when talking about the Trinity, and followed St. Patrick's example in using the shamrock.
There is a lot of controversy surrounding the facts of St. Patrick’s life. However, there are two letters which are believed to be from St. Patrick himself. One titled The Declaration (or Confessio in Latin), conveys in his own words his background and captivity as a young man, and his later calling by God to preach the Good News to his former captors. Here are a few brief passages from that letter, which show us the heart of this man that God used:
Therefore, indeed, I cannot keep silent, nor would it be proper, so many favours and graces has the Lord deigned to bestow on me in the land of my captivity. For after chastisement from God, and recognizing him, our way to repay him is to exalt him and confess his wonders before every nation under heaven:
For there is no other God, nor ever was before, nor shall be hereafter, but God the Father, unbegotten and without beginning, in whom all things began, whose are all things, as we have been taught; and his son Jesus Christ, who manifestly always existed with the Father, before the beginning of time in the spirit with the Father, indescribably begotten before all things, and all things visible and invisible were made by him.
He was made man, conquered death and was received into Heaven, to the Father who gave him all power over every name in Heaven and on Earth and in Hell, so that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord and God, in whom we believe. And we look to his imminent coming again, the judge of the living and the dead, who will render to each according to his deeds.
And he poured out his Holy Spirit on us in abundance, the gift and pledge of immortality, which makes the believers and the obedient into sons of God and co-heirs of Christ who is revealed, and we worship one God in the Trinity of holy name. He himself said through the prophet: 'Call upon me in the day of' trouble; I will deliver you, and you shall glorify me.' And again: 'It is right to reveal and publish abroad the works of God.' …
So that whatever befalls me, be it good or bad, I should accept it equally, and give thanks always to God who revealed to me that I might trust in him, implicitly and forever, and who will encourage me so that, ignorant, and in the last days, I may dare to undertake so devout and so wonderful a work; so that I might imitate one of those whom, once, long ago, the Lord already pre-ordained to be heralds of his Gospel to witness to all peoples to the ends of the earth....
For beyond any doubt on that day we shall rise again in the brightness of the sun, that is, in the glory of Christ Jesus our Redeemer, as children of the living God and co-heirs of Christ, made in his image; for we shall reign through him and for him and in him.
As we celebrate St. Patrick’s Day this year, let’s remember the actual person whose death on March the 17th is the one we commemorate. Patrick was a man who had faults, who was chosen by God, protected by God, and directed by God. St. Patrick followed God’s direction for his life, and as a result an entire nation benefited. St. Patrick was faithful and obedient to God. As I celebrate St. Patty’s Day this year, I will try and honor his memory by asking God what it is that I need to be faithful and obedient in.
Happy St. Patrick’s Day everyone!
