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At the age of sixteen, shortly before he was taken into captivity, "he
commited" a fault which appears not to have been a great crime, yet was
to him a subject of tears during the rest of his life". (from Butler, Lives
of the Saints)
He was
tremendously conscious about his lack of education and often refers to
his inability to express his thoughts clearly in his Confessio.
(from
Simms, The Real Story of Saint Patrick)
Myths
about Saint Patrick
He used
a shamrock to explain the Trinity: Not true but the shamrock was traditionally
worn in Ireland as a symbol of the cross.
He drove
the snakes out of the country: Ireland never had snakes - but the snake
metaphor was probably used later to represent paganism.
He was
the first to preach the Good News in Ireland: It is known that there were
Christians in Ireland before his time.
He is
thought to have been born and died on his feastday, March 17th: Both claims
are considered unlikely.
Saint
Patrick's Day Parades:
Contrary
to popular belief, this tradition did not originate in Ireland. The first
St. Patrick's Day celebration in America was in 1737 hosted by the Charitable
Irish Society of Boston. Today festive parades are held all over the world,
for no more sinister purpose than raising a glass to the saint and celebrating
Irishness.
The
Reek:
Every
year thousands of pilgrims, many in bare feet, climb the 2,500 ft to the
peak of Croagh Patrick, to pay homage to Saint Patrick's Christia mission
in Ireland. Legend says that it was here that the saint rang his bell and
the snakes of Ireland fled.
Patrick's
Profile
Name:
Maewyn Succat (He adopted Patrick or Patricius
upon becoming a priest)
Nationality:
Roman Briton
Born:
Around 415 AD
Travels:
At the age of 16 he was brought to Ireland. He later returned to his home
in Wales, travelled to France and eventually came back to Ireland.
Died:
March 17th, 493 (Disputed)
Education:
Very little in his early life. He later trained as a cleric in France
Occupation:
Sheep herder for Milchu on Slemish Mountain in Co Antrim and later preacher,
baptiser and bishop.
Achievements:
Posthumously became Ireland's patron saint Responsible for the conversion
of the island to Christianity.
Publications:
Epistle to
Coroticus
Confessio
Interests/hobbies:
Preaching
Writing
Travel
Church-building
Hillwalking
- once spent forty days of Lent on Croagh Patrick
Legacies:
Pota
Phadraig
Pota
Phadraig (Patrick's Pot) is the name given to the measure of whiskey to
be taken on Saint Patrick's Day. Tradition dictates that a shamrock be
floated on the whiskey before drinking, hence the expression, 'drowning
the shamrock'.
The
Shamrock
This was
the tool reputedly used by Saint Patrick to illustrate the Holy Trinity
to convert the Irish pagans
Saint
Patrick's Breastplate
Also known
as The Lorica, this was the hymn said to have been sung by Patrick and
his followers on their pilgrimage to Tara they attempted to put a stop
to the pagan rituals.
Another
Bit on St Patrick's Day
More
About St. Patrick's Day
St.
Patrick's Day is celebrated on
March
17 to honor Patrick,
Ireland's
patron saint.
Almost
1500 years ago the patron saint and national hero of Ireland
was
born to a Gaelic family who had migrated to Britain. The child
was
called Succat, which means "warlike". Since Britain waspart of
the
Roman Empire and had become Christian, the child was baptized
and
called Patricius,meaning "noble". For 16 years, Patrick lived
a
normal life as the son of a prosperous landownerand
magistrate.
Captured
and forced into slavery, Patrick spent 6 years herding sheep. What is known
is that he escaped.What is also known, is that after a period of time,
Patrick returned to Ireland to do
missionary
work.
On
his return to Ireland, Patrick was a missionary who worked
for
40 years in Ireland, preaching, baptizing, and establishing
churches,
schools, and colleges.History reports that he used
shamrock
leaves to explain the meaning of theTrinity.
It
is also stated that hedrove snakes from Ireland, banishing the venomous
serpents by beating his drum. It is sometimes
reported
that St. Patrick died on March 17, 1493.
after
bringing the Christian faith to Ireland.
This
date is not
confirmed.
The
first Irish celebrations on the date of St. Patrick's death
were
noisy affairs. As the Irish emigrated aroundthe world,
they
took the St. Pat's celebration with them,
and
today parades are held in some of the
unlikeliestplaces
you can imagine.
The
Irish heritage has had a profound influence on our nation.
Nine
of the people who signed our Declaration of Independence
were
of Irish origin, and nineteen Presidents of the United States proudly claim
Irish heritage --including our first President,
George
Washington.
By
the way, F&a acuteilte romhat means welcome in Irish.
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