Saint Patrick - Voice of the Irish

In the fifth century, St Patrick is said to havePatrick's dream of the "Voice of the Irish" inspired
driven the snakes out of Ireland, fought battles ofhim to begin a course of study to become a
wits with Irish druids, and taught the meaning ofpriest. Amazing as it may seem, after he was
the holy trinity to early Christians using theenslaved and almost killed by the Irish, he left his
three-leaved shamrock. St Patrick is muchhome and family to return to the land of those
beloved in Ireland to this day, 1600 years later. Hiswho had so mistreated him. He wanted
feast day March 17th is a Catholic holy day ofdesperately to save Irish pagan souls by
obligation in Ireland. Here in the United States, Stconverting them to the ways of Christ.
Patrick's Day is a celebration of Irish culture forAs I sit down to write on this incredibly blustery
many of Irish descent and a wild, celebratoryMarch day here in New Jersey, I think of the
party for these and many more.early monks and priests who traveled to remote,
I began to wonder what truly spurred suchinhospitable areas of the globe to spread the
intense love for St Patrick. Although a few hadnews of Christ. In the fifth century AD, well
preceded him to the Emerald Isle, Patrick wasbefore the convenience of Aer Lingus, central
apparently the first successful Christian missionaryheating and creamy pints of Guinness, Ireland was
to Ireland.actually considered by many as a forgotten land
What made Patrick so different? Well you seeon the edge of the known world - Patrick himself
Patrick's first trip to Ireland was not exactlydescribed Ireland as "the end of the earth." St
voluntary - it was a journey by force. Born to aPatrick was a brave priest indeed when he
wealthy family in Roman Britain around 373 AD,decided to journey to pagan Ireland and make his
Patrick was kidnapped by Irish pirates when hehome there all those many centuries ago.
was just sixteen years old. He was sold intoSetting up a Christian church in Ireland was a
slavery to an Irish farmer and forced to tend hisdifficult task and a dangerous one. Although there
flock of sheep. You may think of Little Bo Peepwere some Christians there already, among them
and her frilly outfits - ancient Irish sheep herdingmany enslaved Britons, the pagan ways of the
was by no means a picnic. Patrick was most likelydruids were still predominant. He was under
enslaved on a farm in the west of Ireland andconstant threat of bodily harm in his work: a band
forced to go out in all weather, day in and dayof nine druids at one point set out to assassinate
out, to care for the sheep, defending them fromhim, a king reputedly tried to poison him and he
wolves and other deadly predators. He stateshad to bribe landowners to allow him to travel
later that he almost died while in servitude.safely through their lands to spread the word of
Although he'd grown up in a Christian household,Christ. In his book "Confession of St Patrick" he
Patrick was somewhat of an atheist in his youth.writes that "I keep expecting to be murdered,
While enslaved in Ireland, however, he had aassaulted, sold back into slavery, or some such
spiritual awakening. He spent long periods of timething. But I'm not afraid because I know Heaven
alone watching his flock and he began to believe inwaits for me." Patrick persisted with great
God, to fast, and to pray morning, noon and night.courage, and bit by bit grew his ministry in Ireland,
Patrick's faith inspired him to survive against thebuilding the strong foundation of the Catholic
odds, for six long years, until one night when GodChurch of Ireland today.
spoke directly to him in a dream, waking himMany converts, Irish women in particular, tried to
from his sleep. "You have fasted well - soon youoffer him gifts of jewelry, often times leaving
will be going home," said the Lord. Although thisthem on the altar in his chapel. Patrick was a
was obviously good news, Patrick wasn't quitehumble soul and he would dutifully return them
sure what to do with this remarkableeach time, saying thanks but he could not accept
pronouncement, so on the next night God was athem. It was very important to him that the faith
bit more explicit and said to him - "Behold, yourhe preached not be tainted by money in any
ship is ready."way, so he lived a simple life.
Patrick was situated at least 200 miles from thePatrick saw his former life as a slave as key to
closest Irish port with ships departing for hishis success in Ireland. "God" he writes, "used the
British homeland and heeding the message fromtime to shape and mold me into something
God was not easy. He was a slave, someonebetter." God indeed molded a spoiled, atheistic,
else's property, and not at leisure to just up andaristocratic kid into a thoughtful, kind-hearted
leave. He did escape, however, and set out inChristian adult.
stealth to the nearest port. Once there, heWhat endeared Patrick most to me in his writings
managed to find passage to Britain by offering hiswas his singular plea in his Confession. He was
services as a ship's hand. He returned home to hisafraid at one point that the Roman church would
astonished parents, who rejoiced heartily, for theyrecall him and make him leave Ireland. He begs, "If
had believed him murdered by the pirates.I have ever done anything worthwhile for the
Patrick's parents begged him to remain with them.God I love, I ask that I might be allowed to die
One would think he would not hesitate tohere for his name with these converts and slaves
embrace a quiet, predictable life after all he had- even if it means that I won't have a marked
been through, but Patrick had had another lifegrave..." Despite his kidnapping and enslavement,
changing dream. In this dream, a friend delivereddespite his patrician upbringing in a Roman
an armful of letters to him. Patrick opened onehousehold, Patrick became like many after him,
letter which read at the top "Voice of the Irish",more Irish than the Irish. Thanks be to God for
and from this letter came forth the actual voicesthat!
of the Irish he had met, beseeching him to return.