Saint
Patrick
Saint
Patrick
i
The field of St. Patrick’s labor was the most remote part of the then known world. The seed he planted in faraway Ireland, which before his time was largely pagan, bore a rich harvest: whole colonies of saints and missionaries were to rise up after him to serve the Irish Church and to carry Christianity to other lands.

St. Patrick was born about the year 389. His father was a deacon and his grandfather was a priest. At that time, celibacy was not a strict law imposed on the Christian clergy of the Catholic Church. At the age of 15 he committed some fault – what it is we are not told – which caused him much suffering for the rest of his life.

At 16, he tells us, he still “knew not the true God.” Since he was born into a Christian family, we may take this to mean that he gave little heed to religion or to the priests. That same year Patrick and some others were seized and carried off by sea raiders to become slaves among the inhabitants of Ireland.

During his captivity, Patrick tells us himself, that “constantly I prayed in the daytime. Love of God and his fear increased more and more, and my faith grew and my spirit was stirred up, so that in a single day I said as many as a hundred prayers and at night nearly as many, and I used to stay out in the woods and on the mountain. Before the dawn I used to wake up to prayer, in snow and frost and rain, nor was there any such lukewarmness in me as now I feel, because then my spirit was fervent within.”

Patrick tells us of hearing a voice in his sleep bidding him to get back to freedom and the land of his birth. He ran away from his master and traveled to a harbor where a ship was about to depart. The captain at first refused his request for passage, but after Patrick had silently prayed to God, the pagan sailors called him back, and with them he made an adventurous journey to return to his homeland.

Upon returning, Patrick’s family wanted him to stay with them but he felt that he must leave to follow his calling. Patrick spent three years at the monastery of Lerins off the coast of France and another fifteen years were spent at the monastery of Auxerre where he was ordained to the priesthood.

Patrick labored to fight heretical beliefs that were circulating in the Christian community and was consecrated to replace Bishop Palladius who was murdered while serving as a missionary in the area where Patrick has been held captive as a youth. Patrick founded a monastic community at Ulster and worked to gain the support of the powerful pagan King Laeghaire.

Through trials and perseverance he gained a great victory over paganism for the Kingdom of God. On one occasion, as Patrick was allowed to preach to a gathering, King Laeghaire and his Druid priests were overcome by the great signs and miracles wrought in their midst. When the gathering saw their political and religious leaders overcome, they bowed down in obedience to God and Patrick.

King Laeghaire is not known to have become a Christian. However many in his court and household were converted. The King’s brother gave Patrick his estate for the founding of a church. From this time on, Patrick’s apostolate was favored by many powerful chieftains.

The Druid priests continued to oppose Patrick. It is written in one of their ancient documents: “Adze-head will come, with his crook-headed staff and his house. He will chant impiety from the table in the east of his house. All his household shall answer: Amen, Amen. When, therefore, all these things come to pass, our kingdom, which is a heathen one, will not stand.” The Druids continued to exist in Christian Ireland, though with a change of name and a limited scope of activity. They subjected Patrick to a great deal of difficulty and imprisoned him many times but the Saint always managed to escape.

What was most human in the saint, and at the same time most divine, comes out in this passage from his Confession: “It was not any grace in me, but God who conquered in me, and He resisted them all, so that I came to the heathen of Ireland to preach the Gospel and to bear insults from unbelievers, to hear the reproach of my going abroad and to endure many persecutions even unto bonds, the while that I was surrendering my liberty as a man of free condition for the profit of others. And if I should be found worthy, I am ready to give even my life for His name’s sake unfaltering and gladly, and there (in Ireland) I desire to spent it until I die, if our Lord should grant it to me.”

Patrick died about 461 and left behind a legacy that still communicates volumes in our time. During his thirty year apostolate he consecrated some 350 Bishops, converted the sons and daughters of many pagan chieftains, and won the hearts of multitudes of men and women to the Gospel of Jesus Christ.

What can we learn, what can we glean, from the life of Saint Patrick that transcends all time and circumstances? What is it about this man that deemed it appropriate to designate an annual global remembrance of him each March?

One of the first things that stand out in Patrick’s life is that he refused to allow circumstances to keep him from yielding his life to Christ. Even though he was enslaved in a foreign land, he sought solace in God. He gave himself unreservedly to the Lord and walked in a deep communal relationship with him.

Second, though he could have accepted a comfortable life among friends and family, Patrick chose to follow God’s calling upon his life. He put comfort and familiarity behind him and chose a path that involved much faith and perseverance in the face of hardships.

Third, Patrick refused to get caught up in the success of his ministry. He chose instead to accept himself as only a man and allowed God the privilege of receiving the glory that was due him for the works that he wrought through his humble servant.

Fourth, Patrick didn’t expect God to keep him from experiencing difficulty. He recognized the fact that he was laboring for a Holy God in a land filled with pagan religion and unholy living and accepted the consequences of his commitment to God.

Saint Patrick, only one of many voices that call to us from beyond the grave, is a role model worthy of our attention. His lifestyle strikes a path that is contrary to the world and his commitment to the Lord is one that issues a challenge to all of us who consider ourselves to be Christians in this contemporary setting.
Apostle of Ireland
c. 461 (March 17)
©David Kralik Ministries, Inc. 2004
Email:
matthewfivesix@hotmail.com
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