The Property Manager
March 2010 Newsletter
Who is St. Patrick Anyway?
The mysterious St. Patrick. Despite his celebrity behind the widely celebrated St. Patrick's Day, the patron saint of Ireland has endured hundreds of years of embellished stories, like his banishment of all snakes from Ireland. Yeah, that didn't happen. But we do know that St. Patrick was born in Britain, to a very wealthy family. Shockingly enough, at the age of sixteen Patrick was taken prisoner by a group of Irish raiders that were invading his family's property. He was then taken a location that is still in debate in Ireland. However, historians believe it was either Mount Slemish in County Antrim or more widely accepted County Mayo near Killala.
He was held prisoner for six years where he labored as a shepherd, isolated in the great outdoors, far away from human contact. It was during this time of isolation that he turned to his faith to calm his fears and give him comfort. After six years of being held captive, Patrick escaped and walked nearly 200 miles to the Irish Coast. This is where it is believed, based on Patrick's writing, that God spoke to him, telling him to leave Ireland and make his way back to Britain. However, upon his return and a brief stay in Britain, an angel that appeared to him in a dream told him he should return to Ireland as a missionary.
His religious training began shortly after that dream. Training during this time was certainly not like taking a correspondence course. Fifteen years later Patrick was ordained as a priest. He then traveled back to Ireland where he set out on a mission to be a minister to the Christians already living there and to convert the Irish.
It was Patrick's ability to combine some of the symbolism of the Irish beliefs into Christianity that helped him become more widely accepted in their culture. Thus the addition of the sun to the cross, which is now known as the Celtic cross. Bonfires incorporated in Easter celebrations since the Irish showed their respects to their gods with fire.
And thus we have some of the very rich traditions in the Irish culture today because of St. Patrick. Happy St. Patrick's Day to all! And don't forget to wear your green!