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Feast
Day: March 17
Also known as
Apostle of
Ireland; Maewyn Succat; Patricius; Patrizio
Profile
Kidnapped
from the British mainland around age 16, and shipped to
Ireland as a
slave. Sent to the mountains as a
shepherd, he spent his time in prayer. After six years of this life,
he received had a dream in which he a command to return to Britain; seeing
it as a sign, he escaped. Studied in continental
monasteries.
Priest.
Bishop. Sent by
Pope Saint Celestine to evangelize
England, then
Ireland, during which his chariot driver was Saint
Odran, and Saint
Jarlath was one of his spiritual students. In 33 years he effectively
converted the
Ireland. In the Middle Ages
Ireland became known as the Land of Saints, and during the Dark
Ages its
monasteries were the great repositories of
learning in
Europe, all a consequence of Patrick's ministry.
Born
387-390 at
Scotland as Maewyn Succat
Died
461-464 at Saul, County Down,
Ireland
Canonized
Pre-Congregation
Name Meaning
warlike (Succat
- pagan birth name);
noble (Patricius -
baptismal name)
Patronage
against ophidiophobia,
against snakes,
archdiocese of
Boston Massachusetts, diocese of
Burlington Vermont,
engineers,
excluded people,
fear of snakes, diocese of
Fort Worth, Texas, diocese of
Harrisburg, Pennsylvania,
Ireland,
archdiocese of
New York,
Nigeria, diocese of
Norwich, Connecticut,
ophidiophobics, diocese of
Portland, Maine, diocese of
Sacramento, California,
snake bites
Prayers
The Breastplate of...,
...for the Faithful,
Saint Patrick Prayer,
...for God's Protection and Christ's Presence,
Representation
bishop driving
snakes before him;
bishop trampling on
snakes; shamrock;
snakes; cross; harp; demons;
baptismal font
Images
Gallery of images of Saint Patrick
[25 images, 541
kb]
Readings
I came to
the Irish people to preach the Gospel and endure the taunts of
unbelievers, putting up with reproaches about my earthly pilgrimage,
suffering many persecutions, even bondage, and losing my birthright of
freedom for the benefit of others.
If I am worthy, I am ready also to give up my life, without hesitation and
most willingly, for Christ's name. i want to spend myself for that
country, even in death, if the Lord should grant me this favor.
It is among that people that I want to wait for the promise made by him,
who assuredly never tells a lie. He makes this promise in the Gospel:
"They shall come from the east and west and sit down with Abraham, Isaac
and Jacob." This is our faith: believers are to come from the whole world.
from the Confession of Saint Patrick
Christ
shield me this day:
Christ with me,
Christ before me,
Christ behind me,
Christ in me,
Christ beneath me,
Christ above me,
Christ on my right,
Christ on my left,
Christ when I lie down,
Christ when I arise,
Christ in the heart of every person who thinks of me,
Christ in every eye that sees me,
Christ in the ear that hears me
Saint Patrick, from his breastplate
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