HISTORY OF ST. PATRICK'S DAY

St. Patrick was born about 390 AD to a Gaelic family who had migrated to Britain.  He was

given the name of Succrat, when means "warlike".  Britain was part of the Roman Empire at this

time and most of its residents had become Christian.  Succrat was baptized and called

"Patricius".  For sixteen years he lived a normal life as the son of a landowner and magistrate.

Not long after he turned sixteen, he was sold into slavery by a group of Irish marauders that

raided his village.  He spent the next six years herding sheep.  It was during this time he became

closer to God.

When he was about twenty-two, he escaped and fled to Gaul.  Here he studied in the monastery

under St. Germain, bishop of Auxerre.  He stayed at the monastery for a period of twelve years.

It was during this training at the monastery that he realized he had a calling to convert Ireland

to Christianity.  He used the three-leafed shamrock to explain the meaning of the Trinity (hence

the use of the shamrock).

He returned to Ireland where he worked for the next forty years doing missionary work.  He was

very successful in establishing churches, monasteries, schools and colleges throughout Ireland.

He was ordained as the second Bishop of Ireland in 431 AD.  He later retired to County Down.

On March 17 in 461 AD he died and reportedly buried in Downpatrick.  The date of his death

is not confirmed but St. Patrick's Day is always celebrated worldwide on March 17th to

commemorate St. Patrick. 

There are about sixty churches and cathedrals named for St. Patrick throughout Ireland.  The

most famous cathedral named for him is St. Patrick's Cathedral in Dublin, Ireland (built in

the 12th century).  The grounds of the cathedral bear the mark of the place where St. Patrick

baptized some of his converts.

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