1. The story of Patrick
Despite being very much connected with Ireland, Patrick wsa probably born in Scotland or Wales. Exact dates are still uncertain but this was around the year 385 AD. His real name was Maewyn Succat. When a teenager, Patrick was kidnapped by Irish raiders and sold to an Irish farmer in County Antrim. Here, he was treated like a slave and forced to look after sheep and pigs on a lonely hill. He suffered hunger and neglect but eventually turned to God and to Christianity in his troubles. He was kept there for six years and turned to the Bible and prayer for comfort. One night, he heard God speak to him in a dream. He was told to escape the mountain and go to a harbour, where there would be a boat waiting for him to take him home. With his newfound faith, he trusted the voice and escaped on a ship heading back home. He continued to pray and eventually became a priest at a monastery in Tours, France, and eventually became a Bishop, before returning to Britain. At the time, Ireland was a Pagan country. Patrick wanted to change this, so he returned to Ireland to teach them about God and the faith. When he arrived in Ireland trying to spread the word, he was first met with a lot of resistance. Eventually, he managed to spread his teachings throughout the island. He recognised that there were many Pagan spiritual beliefs and practices that had taken hold across Ireland. He incorporated some of these rituals into his form of Christianity – many believe he introduced the Celtic Cross, for example, a combination of Pagan sun-worship symbology with the traditional Christian cross. He is also thought to have used the Irish shamrock as a parable, where each leaf of the Shamrock represents one person in the Trinity. For 60 years, Patrick travelled around Ireland, spreading the word of God. He consecrated over 350 Bishops during this time to help complete this work. He eventually died on March 17, 461 AD, supposedly in an area now known as County Down. Legend has it that patrick drove all the snakes out of Ireland. Truth is Ireland never had any natural snakes. He did drive out Paganism from Ireland, however, and may be that is the point. Patrick is also said to have been tempted by the Devil while on a pilgrimage across Ireland. He refused to let the devil tempt him and God rewarded him with a wish and he wished that Ireland be spared Judgement day and that he himself get to judge the people of Ireland. Again, only a legend.
2. Why did Patrick want to go back to Ireland after he had escaped?
He wanted to tell the people abot Jeus and see them converted to Christianity
3. St Patrick's Day is on March 17
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