Latin name: Patricius
Irish name: Naomh Pádraig
saint Patrick:
Patron saint of: Ireland, Nigeria, and Engineers
Venerated in: Roman Catholicism, Anglican Church of Ireland, Lutheran Church, AND
the Orthodox Church
There are several misconceptions about Patrick that the world needs to know:
1) Saint Patrick has never officially been canonized by a Pope from the Vatican in Rome. Therefore, he is not a Saint, with a capital S. Though, he is still widely venerated in Ireland and elsewhere today. In truth, the first thousand or so years of the Christian faith, canonisations were done on the diocesan or regional level, as no Pope had existed. People were considered to be very holy fairly soon thereafter their death in those years. The local Church would affirm that these people may be liturgically celebrated as saints (with a lower-case 's').
2) He could not have ever driven any snakes out of a post-glacial Ireland. This is due to the fact that there weren't any snakes to begin with. There are suggestions that when the Irish refer to "snakes," they were never literally referring to the slithery animal, but rather as a symbol of the Druids of that time and place (as shown on coins minted in Gaul). Another symbolic suggestion is that they referred to beliefs, such as Pelagianism - which is symbolized by "serpents."
3) The man was not even Irish. He is actually originally from a town that is currently known as Dumbarton, Scotland, which is northwest of Glasgow.
Now, in truth, saint Patrick was quite successful in converting Ireland to Christianity, but he was not solely responsible. Palladius, being the first evangelist, had been sent in 431 C.E. to Ireland, which was approximately 5 years before saint Patrick traveled there. Patrick, although, did journey all over Ireland, spreading the word of Christianity and it became, soon thereafter, as one of Europe's Christian centers. So, it is not as if saint Patrick did not accomplish anything, but that he had help doing so.
Prosper of Aquitaines' contemporary chronicles states:
"Palladius was ordained by Pope Celestine and sent to the Irish believers in Christ as their first bishop."
Previously a slave to Ireland, after being captured at sixteen by Irish raiders in Roman Britain. He lived in Ireland for six years as a slave, before escaping and thankfully returning to his family. As his father's side before him, he too entered the life of the church. Patrick became a deacon, and then later a bishop.
When Patrick became a missionary, he returned to Ireland and worked in the northern and western parts of the island. Sadly, little is known of the locations in which Patrick actually worked in, so he cannot even be linked to any churches in Ireland.
About three hundred years later, during the 8th century and around when the Irish monastery sysem evolved, Patrick had become known as the patron saint, with the help of the monastery of Armagh, which still claims to hold his relics.
We still know little about the specifics of this saint, even his year of birth and death. Some modern historians currently accept the date of Patrick's death as being 493 C.E., as this year is stated according to the latest reconstruction of the old Irish annals. It is said that St. Patrick was buried under Down Cathedral in Downpatrick, County Down, in Ireland.
The compiler of the Annals of Ulster stated that in the year 553 C.E.:
"I have found this in the Book of Cuanu: The relics of Patrick were placed sixty
years after his death in a shrine by Colum Cille. Three splendid halidoms were
found in the burial-place: his goblet, the Angel's Gospel, and the Bell of the
Testament. This is how the angel distributed the halidoms: the goblet to Dún, the
Bell of the Testament to Ard Macha, and the Angel's Gospel to Colum Cille
himself. The reason it is called the Angel's Gospel is that Colum Cille received it
from the hand of the angel."
At least, two Latin letters from him still survive (generally accepted theory that they had been written by him - this is still not proven as complete fact). One is entitled the 'Declaration' (in Latin: Confessio) and the 'Letter to the Soldiers of Coroticus' (in Latin: Epistola). The 'Confessio' is his most important work. It provides a short account of Patrick's life as well as mission.
Saint Patrick's Day:
Irish: Lá 'le Pádraig or Lá Fhéile Pádraig
March 17th is the day on which Patrick died. The year of his death is specifically unknown, but this day serves as the marker for the holiday that is so widely celebrated today. Although, when the world is out on March 17th celebrating St. Patrick's day with parades, shamrocks, green beer, and praising the slogan "Kiss Me I'm Irish" (even when one is not), the truth behind saint Patrick is hidden and uninteresting to the general partying public.
March 17th was originally celebrated as the pagan holiday, Bacchanalia, the Roman festival celebrating the deity, Bacchus (to whom wine was sacred). This may explain the root of the widespread use of alcoholic beverages.
March 17th is supposed to be now celebrated in Christian culture as the feast of Saint Patrick, to celebrate the works and achievements of saint Patrick. This feasting holiday became universal in the Catholic church during the early part of the 17th century C.E., so it took quite some time to catch on.
This holiday custom first arrived to America in 1737, when the Irish immigrants began to arrive in swarms to the new world. It was first publicly celebrated in Boston, Massachusetts on that year, with a parade that was oranized by the Charitable Irish Society.
It became a public holiday in 1903 in the United Kingdom. Although, the first annual Saint Patrick's Day parade and festival in Glasgow was in 2007. This is due to the fact that it had not being feasible due to potential sectarian issues. The Scottish people hope to continue this tradition.
The Christian leaders do not enjoy what Saint Patrick's Day has become. One Friar, Vincent Tworney, stated in Word magazine in March 2007 that, "it is time to reclaim Saint Patrick's Day as a church festival" and that "it is time to bring piety and the fun together" (while questioning the need for "mindless alcohol-fuelled revelry.)"
The Shamrock:
The legend behind the shamrock was that St. Patrick would show people the 3-leaved shamrock to people, during his teachings, to teach them about the concept of the Holy Trinity. It was used to highlight the belief of "three divine persons in the one God" (not like the Arian belief, which was a common practice during Patrick's lifetime). These legends may have no truth to them, but the fact that there are so many legends about Patrick that outlive him prove how important his presence and work were to Ireland.
Obviously, you can see where the green color came from, which everyone seems to be covered with (so they don't get pinched). [Even the Boston Red Sox wear green uniforms for luck on game days which happen to occur on this holiday.]
A little unknown fact: The color originally associated with this day was actually blue.
For More Information and Fun Facts on Saint Patrick and Celtic Christianity, check out:
1)
http://www.christianitytoday.com/history/newsletter/holidays/stpatricks.html
Real St. Patrick" – Christian History & Biography
2)
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Saint_Patrick
3)
http://www.ccel.org/ccel/patrick/confession.i.html
4)
http://www.christianitytoday.com/ch/60h/
5)
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/St._Patrick%27s_Day
Patrick's Day
