Saint Patrick

Who they were

Patrick was born in Roman Britain between 385 and 392 into a Christian family. At fifteen or sixteen he was kidnapped by Irish pirates and sold as a slave in the north of Ireland. There, he wrote in his Confession, the love and fear of God grew in him: he prayed a hundred times a day and as often at night, in woods and on mountains, through snow, frost and rain. After six years a dream told him he would soon be free; he escaped, walked some 200 kilometres to the coast and persuaded sailors to take him home.

Some years later he saw in a vision a man bringing a letter headed 'The voice of the Irish', and heard the people by the western sea begging the 'young servant of God' to come back. Ordained priest by St Germanus of Auxerre, he was opposed at first as a bishop because of his irregular studies, but finally returned to Ireland as bishop and evangelised it, fixing his see at Armagh. He died on 17 March 461 at Saul and was buried at Down, since called Downpatrick.

The miracles

There was never a formal cause: Patrick has been honoured as a saint since his death. The story of his teaching the Trinity with the shamrock is first written down only in 1726, though it may be older.

Why that counted as sanctity

Patrick went back freely as a missionary to the land where he had been a slave, and gave his life to its people, humbly aware, as he wrote, of his own lack of learning.

Connected on this site

• Cettin Saint Pupil
• Darerca of Ireland Saint Relative
• Germanus of Auxerre Saint Teacher
  “Ordained priest by St Germanus of Auxerre, he was opposed at first as a bishop because of his irregular studies, but finally returned to Ireland as bishop and evangelised it, fixing his see at Armagh.” — this site's research
• Odran Saint Pupil
• Brigid of Kildare Saint
  “Known as the "Apostle of Ireland", he is the primary patron saint of Ireland, the other patron saints being Brigid of Kildare and Columba.” — Wikipedia