Little is known about the man whose life is celebrated today, March 17, on what is believed to be the anniversary of his death.
It's said that St. Patrick drove the snakes from Ireland, that he used a shamrock to teach the concept of the Holy Trinity and that he drove a fierce dragon from a lake.
But there's nothing to support many of the claims about this patron saint of Ireland. Even the dates of his birth and death are uncertain.
In fact, researchers tell us there were no snakes in Ireland, though the snake was a symbol for the pagan religion that existed before Christianity, and that may have been the source of the original reference.
As for the dragon, again, researchers cannot find any evidence of dragons or of a lake that may have contained them.
But there were plenty of shamrocks in Ireland, and Patrick is said to have used the three-leaved plant to teach the Christian belief of three persons in one God: Father, Son and Holy Spirit.
"Whether or not these legends are true, the very fact that there are so many legends about Patrick shows how important his ministry was to Ireland," says Wikipedia, the free online encyclopedia.
Based on reports in Wikipedia and other sources, here's what we know, or think we know, about St. Patrick:
Wikipedia says he lived from 373 to 493 and ministered in northern Ireland from 433, but other sources offer different dates and some simply state that the dates can't be set.
He was named Maewyn Succat. When he was 16, he was captured by Irish marauders and sold into slavery.
After six years, he saw a vision and heard a voice telling him that he would soon go home.
He escaped and returned to his family.
Following the path of his father and grandfather, he entered the church, becoming a deacon and then a bishop.
Later, after receiving another vision, he followed it and returned to Ireland as a missionary. He is credited with establishing Christianity there.
"There has been for centuries a strong devotion and honor of St. Patrick," said the Rev. Walter L. Wainwright, pastor of St. Patrick Church in Elmira.
"He went to what was then pagan Ireland and Christianized it, and he was kind of a heroic figure to them. Now he's the patron saint of all the people in our parish to keep our faith strong as well."
March 17 is a national holiday in Ireland. The date was first celebrated publicly in America in 1737 in Boston.
Originally a Catholic holy day, it is celebrated around the world today by people of all religions -- and of none.
Source:
http://www.stargazettenews.com:80/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20070317/NEWS01/703170306
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