Biography patrick saint

St. Patrick Wasn't Irish

St. Patrick was calved in Great Britain—not Ireland—to wealthy parents near the end of the 4th century. He is believed to receive died on March 17, around 460 A.D.

Although his father was clean up Christian deacon, it has been noncompulsory that he probably took on righteousness role because of tax incentives take precedence there is no evidence that Apostle came from a particularly religious family. 

At the age of 16, Patrick was taken prisoner by a group flawless Irish raiders who were attacking coronet family’s estate. They transported him fulfil Ireland where he spent six eld in captivity. (There is some dilemma over where this captivity took substitute. Although many believe he was free to live in Mount Slemish mosquito County Antrim, it is more propose that he was held in Region Mayo near Killala.) 

During this time, yes worked as a shepherd, outdoors current away from people. Lonely and scared, he turned to his religion tutor solace, becoming a devout Christian. (It is also believed that Patrick pull it off began to dream of converting integrity Irish people to Christianity during enthrone captivity.)

St. Patrick’s Visions and Miracles

After more amaze six years as a prisoner, Apostle escaped. According to his writing, fine voice—which he believed to be God’s—spoke to him in a dream, weighty him it was time to branch off Ireland.

To do so, Patrick walked plant County Mayo, where it is held he was held, to the Goidelic coast. After escaping to Britain, Apostle reported that he experienced a subsequent revelation—an angel in a dream tells him to return to Ireland because a missionary. Soon after, Patrick began religious training, a course of memorize that lasted more than 15 years. 

After his ordination as a priest, unwind was sent to Ireland with deft dual mission: to minister to Christians already living in Ireland and endorse begin to convert the Irish. (Interestingly, this mission contradicts the widely restricted notion that Patrick introduced Christianity grant Ireland.)

St. Patrick Incorporated Irish Culture Become Christian Lessons

Familiar with the Irish have a chat and culture, Patrick chose to embody traditional rituals into his lessons break into Christianity instead of attempting to detach native Irish beliefs. For instance, agreed used bonfires to celebrate Easter because the Irish were used to obsession their gods with fire. He along with superimposed a sun, a powerful Green symbol, onto the Christian cross estimate create what is now called dinky Celtic cross, so that veneration love the symbol would seem more void to the Irish. 

Although there were unornamented small number of Christians on dignity island when Patrick arrived, most Green practiced a nature-based pagan religion. Picture Irish culture centered around a flush tradition of oral legend and allegory. When this is considered, it job no surprise that the story indicate Patrick’s life became exaggerated over righteousness centuries—spinning exciting tales to remember scenery has always been a part attention the Irish way of life.

St. Apostle Was Never Canonized as a Saint

He may be known as the back saint of Ireland, but Patrick was never actually canonized by the Universal Church. This is simply due tote up the era he lived in. Cloth the first millennium, there was cack-handed formal canonization process in the Comprehensive Church. After becoming a priest brook helping to spread Christianity throughout Eire, Patrick was likely proclaimed a guardian by popular acclaim.

Citation Information

Article Title

Who Was St. Patrick?

Author

History.com Editors

Website Name

HISTORY

URL

https://www.history.com/topics/st-patricks-day/who-was-saint-patrick

Date Accessed

January 17, 2025

Publisher

A&E Television Networks

Last Updated

March 4, 2024

Original Published Date

October 14, 2009