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From Rich Boy......To Slave......To Patron Saint
(A Look At the Real St. Patrick)
Ask most school children about St. Patrick’s Day and they will no doubt tell you about the snakes being driven out of Ireland. With the aid of local media reports, many adults associate the day with “green beer” and parades with a few shamrocks thrown in for good measure. Tragically most American have no concept of what March 17th, and the celebration of St. Patrick’s Day is all about, in spite of the fact that has been observed nationwide since 1845. Fewer still know anything about the Apostle to the Irish and the patron saint of Ireland to whom the day seeks to give honor.
Born to a wealthy British family in 389, St. Patrick was captured by pirates at age 16 and sold as a slave in Ireland. It was during this captivity that he turned to God and dedicate his life to the cause of Christ. No doubt it was also during this time that God put Ireland in his heart. After six years he was able to escape to freedom. Following a brief visit to his home, Patrick entered a French monastery and studied for the priesthood.
As far as St. Patrick was concerned the call of God was clear: he was to be a missionary to Ireland. His superiors, however, were reluctant to send him back to the land where he had been made a slave. But God has His ways and His timing is perfect. St. Patrick did return to Ireland as a missionary priest. Under his ministry more than 300 churches were established. It is also reported that he baptized more than 120,000 people. On March 17, 461, St. Patrick laid aside his mantle of earthly ministry and crossed over into eternity.
There are many legends about St. Patrick. The most popular is of course how he reportedly drove the snakes out of Ireland by charming them into the sea. Legend also holds that St. Patrick used a three-leaf shamrock to illustrate and teach the doctrine of the Trinity: God the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit.
Perhaps the most fascinating thing to this writer is the “grace of God” that placed forgiveness and compassion in the heart of a young man who had been made a slave.
One can only marvel at God’s redeeming plan. St. Patrick could have become embittered toward the people who made him a slave. Instead, God filled his heart with compassion and love for a people who were without Christ. How sad that we in America have never really understood the heart of this man. Sadder still, the day that remembers his death and honors his life is totally devoid of the Christ he served.
The good news is ....... it is not too late. We can begin to teach our children about this Godly man who could have become bitter but chose instead to let God use him to bring Christianity to the very nation that had enslaved him. It is an example from which we can all learn.
Harold D. Gingerich, Pastor
Eden Worship Center
P.O. Box 518
Topeka, IN 46571
Last updated 1/20/03gc