Who was St. Patrick and why is he important to the Irish?

 SAINT PATRICK’S DAY

 

In the United States and Great Britain, the Irish communities celebrate St.

Patrick's Day on 17th March.

Who was St. Patrick and why is he important to the Irish?

St. Patrick is the patron of Ireland. He left several writings about his life

and work in Ireland. St. Patrick was born in Britain in 389 AD. His father was a landowner and a Christian. When he was 16 years old he was

captured and taken to Ireland and he became a slave. After six years the young Patrick escaped to France by ship. There he became a priest.

He returned to Ireland as a bishop in 432 AD. His missionary work

was very successful. He converted most of the Irish to Christianity. He

was a generous and dedicated man and he introduced the Roman alphabet

to Ireland.

There are legends about St. Patrick. One legend says that he banished all

the serpents from Ireland. Another legend says that he used a shamrock

to teach the Irish about the Trinity. Today the shamrock is still a symbol of

Ireland and the Irish.

St. Patrick died in 461 and his tomb at Downpatrick is a centre of

Pilgrimage.