Today is the glorious feast of St. Patrick (c. 418 - 493), beloved of all Irishmen and patron of Ireland. While he did not single-handedly Christianize Ireland (there were others before and after him), it can well be said that the spiritual fate of that country rested on his narrow shoulders. A British subject, kidnapped as a slave, he was forced to work as a shepherd for six long years in Antrim. He was shaved, cursed, starved and beaten, the whole cruel lot of slaves. He managed to escape and begged a ride on a boat carrying wolfhounds to Continental Europe. They actually landed in Britain, but in a wild, untamed part of it. They wandered around, but at one point Patrick managed to escape and to return to his family.
You'd think that joyful reunion would be the end of it, but no. Patrick was haunted by the memory of the sad, mostly pagan Ireland and in his generous heart decided to return and give them the light of Jesus. He became a priest in France, then returned to the land of his captivity. Turned away from several ports, he finally landed in Strangford Lough (near Bangor, in County Down) and made his way to Tara, the place of the High King, making converts all along the way. Once when he was preaching to the king about the passion of the Christ, he accidentally pierced the king's foot with the point of his sharp crosier. Instead of castigating Patrick, or even crying out, the king bore it quietly, thinking it was all part of the ritual! The King himself never accepted Christianity, but allowed Patrick to preach, baptize, build churches, and ordain (he had been made a bishop by the Brits) unhindered throughout the land. And succeed he did: he built hundreds of churches, ordained 3000 priests, and baptized thousands. He was not able to convert his former owner, however -- that man committed suicide (and arson) rather than face the shame (as he saw it) of repentance and conversion.
Although Patrick seldom had ANY free time, he managed to escape to Croagh Patrick (a white quartz mountain near Clew Bay) for the 40 days of Lent. It was during this time of prayer and fasting that he had the vision and heard the angel's promise that the Irish would hold fast to the faith til the end of time. And "all the men of Erin, living or dead, shall be blessed and consecrated to God through thee." Neat.
Patrick traveled less as time went on, and wrote more. He settled in Armagh and there set up his cathedral. He wrote many beautiful prayers, psalms, poems and even an autobiography called the Confession. But not all his words were diplomatic and flowery. He also wrote a blistering attack against a British prince and slaveholder who had raided Ireland and kidnapped and enslaved some of Patrick's own subjects. He wrote: "Is it a crime to be born in Ireland? Have we not the same God as you?" And he called him a "rebel against God" and said, "What manner of hope in God have you, or any who cooperate with you? God will judge!" Wow.
He died where he started out, in Strangford Lough in the North and while many towns vied for the right of his final resting place, Downpatrick received the honor when the oxen carrying his coffin stopped there and could not be moved. You can visit his grave there in the churchyard, adorned with the simple marker: a boulder marked with a cross and the one word: Patric.
Dear St. Patrick, pray for us. Erin go bragh.
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