Michelle E. Sepulveda
Ironically the patron saint of Ireland was not of Irish descent. It is thought that he was born in the British Isles around 385-460 A.D. Most of the biographical information comes from his own confession, which he wrote in old age. The Roman Empire was near collapse and raiders found it easy toprey on Britain. Many of the raiders crossed the Irish Sea from a land the Romans called Juverna. In English the word was Hibernia.
When Patrick was sixteen he was abducted and enslaved. Patrick Believed he was being punished by god because he had broken the Commandments. While in captivity he prayed to god and swore allegiance to
him and his laws. Six years went by when Patrick had a special dream and heard a voice tell him to flee in a nearby ship. Patrick ran away and begged steerage on a ship and eventually ended up in Western Europe. He studied and prayed and eventually decided the Irish needed to be saved from Paganism. He was sent as a missionary and found the Celts living in clans and practicing an old religious form headed by Druids. They worshipped nature gods, offered sacrifices, and foretold the future.
Although Patrick introduced them to bible he allowed them to hold onto some old rites and customs. They had always honored their gods with Springtime fires so Patrick had the people light bonfires at Easter. The color green was not always the national color . it had special significance during pagan times because it symbolized spring.
Patrick was very successful with his conversion and is said to have used the three leafed shamrock when explaining the holy trinity. The shamrock is a small green three-leafed trefoil that resembles a clover. It has since become an emblem of St. Patrick and Ireland as well.
When Patrick died, all of Ireland went into mourning. The church elders prayed over his body for twelve days. It is believed that his body is buried near the River Quoile in Downpatrick, County Down, in Northern Ireland. His contributions to Ireland included reading and writing. When he introduced the bible and other sacred writings in latin most of the Irish were illiterate and they had no written history. Ireland later became known as the "Island of Saints and Scholars".