St. Patrick was born in Roman Britain around 390 AD. He was the son of Calpurnius, a deacon and grandson of a priest. When he was 16, he was captured by a raiding party from Ireland and was taken there as a slave. He spent six years in captivity in harsh conditions until he heard a voice telling him that ship was ready to take him to freedom.
He landed in Gaul, present day France, and spent 28 days journeying through that country before coming to safety, probably in Auxerre, south of Paris, where Bishop Germanus resided.
Patrick wrote two pieces, one was his Confessions, the other a letter to Coroticus, and from them we get Patrick’s account of his life. He does not tell us how he was trained to be a priest, and how he was ordained a bishop. But the church was established to a degree within the Roman Empire at that time and he could have received preparation in a number of places, including with Germanus.
At home, In Britain, he heard a voice calling him to Ireland.
“We ask you, boy, come and walk once more among us.” Patrick answered this call and spent the rest of his days preaching the gospel to the Irish outside the Roman Empire,
He faced many challenges from druids and brehons who had their own spheres of power, from local chieftains, from lawless robbers who took him captive. He had to learn Gaelic. Despite the obstacles, like St. Paul, he continued his work and baptized thousands of converts during his lifetime until his death in 461AD.
He is associated with many places in Ireland: Croagh Patrick, in Mayo, where there is an annual pilgrimage, Armagh, where he was Bishop. He was buried in Downpatrick, and he is associated with Lough Derg, a place of penance and pilgrimage, and other places including Glastonbury in Somerset, England.
Patrick was an apostle to the Irish, bringing the gospel of Jesus Christ to them by preaching and example. They accepted the faith, practiced it and integrated it into their lives and culture. They also shared it with other peoples, in Britain, Europe and throughout the world.
Patrick planted a seed that has grown into a large tree where the birds of the air come to build their nests in places near and far.
We remember St. Patrick especially on March 17.
