St. Patrick

St. Patrick was born in the late fourth or early fifth century in Roman Britain, into a Christian family, and died around 461 in Ireland, traditionally on 17 March. As a boy of about sixteen he was seized by Irish raiders and carried off into slavery, spending some six years tending flocks in isolation, during which he turned deeply to God in prayer. Guided, as he believed, by a divine call, he escaped and returned home, but later felt summoned in a vision to go back and bring the Gospel to the very people who had enslaved him.

Returning to Ireland as a bishop, he devoted the rest of his life to evangelizing the Irish, baptizing multitudes, ordaining clergy, and establishing the Church throughout the island. His own writings, the Confession and the Letter to Coroticus, are moving testimonies of his humble faith and missionary zeal. Beloved traditions credit him with using the shamrock to teach the mystery of the Holy Trinity. Honored as the Apostle and patron saint of Ireland, his feast on 17 March is celebrated the world over.