Happy St. Patrick's Day!

St. Patrick was born at Kilpatrick, near Dumbarton, Scotland in 387 and died at Saul, Downpatrick, Ireland, March 17, 461. His parents were Calpurnius and Conchessa, who were Romans living in Britain, in charge of the colonies.

He is a beloved saint, even in the secular world.

When he was about 14 years old, Patrick was captured by a raiding party and taken to Ireland as a slave. He was a shepherd there. Living in a land of pagans and druids, Patrick learned their customs and language, but always turned to God in prayer.

"The love of God and his fear grew in me more and more, as did the faith, and my soul was rosed, so that, in a single day, I have said as many as a hundred prayers and in the night, nearly the same. I prayed in the woods and on the mountain, even before dawn. I felt no hurt from the snow or ice or rain."

When he was twenty, Patrick dreamed that God told him to leave Ireland by going to the coast. Some sailors there took him home to Britain and he was reunited with his family.

In another dream, he heard the Irish people calling to him, "We beg you, holy youth, to come and walk among us once more."

He studied for the priesthood and was ordained by the Bishop of Auxerre, who had been his mentor. Later he was ordained a bishop and sent back to Ireland in 433 to preach the gospel.

Legend says that a chieftain of one of the tribes tried to kill Patrick, but that Patrick converted the chieftain by making him unable to move his arm until he was friendly.

Patrick and his disciples preached and converted thousands. They built churches all over Ireland. Entire kingdoms converted to Christianity upon hearing Patrick's message, along with the kings and their families.

Patrick preached the gospel all over Ireland for 40 years, converting many, working miracles and writing of his love for God. He died March 17, 461 in poverty, after constant traveling and much suffering. He died at Saul, where he had built the first church.

Patrick is said to have used the shamrock to explain the Holy Trinity to the Irish people.

He had a total love and devotion to God. He accomplished his mission in Ireland in complete obedience, humbly, gently, piously. He feared nothing, but only wanted to do the will of God.