It is a very unfortunate day when the world begins to believe that Patrick is the patron Saint of Leprechauns and Green Beer. While there is nothing inherently wrong with either to reduce what God did through this man for both Ireland and the world is something that sickens me. This is as horrible as reducing St. Nicholas to Santa Clause, St. Valentine to Cupid, and almost as grotesque as reducing Easter and Christmas to days about fuzzy animals and simple presents. It is a mockery.
St. Patrick's story is one of the Gospel. Patrick an unbelieving Roman born in Britain who was taken into slavery by the invading Irish Celts. It was in Ireland that God found Patrick and after six years of slavery as a shepherd, God allowed Patrick to escape and return to Britain. There he joined the church and began to study the Word of God. Feeling God calling him to return to Ireland to take the Gospel of Christ to the Irish people, his capturers. In one dream he heard God say, "We beg you, holy youth, to come and walk among us once more." In 433 AD he did just that.
Thinking he would convert his old master for whom he was a shepherd to his new Master for whom he remained a shepherd under the tutelage of the Great Shepherd, he returned to the place of his former bondage. Unfortunately due to the pagan influence upon Patrick's former master caused him to commit suicide and destroy his lands. Patrick horrified by this superstition began to minister to the pagan Celts.
At the druidic festival Beltane, a yearly ritual of fire, Patrick began his ministry. The ritual was commenced by the King lighting the first fire of ritual from whence all other fires in the Kingdom would be lit. Patrick on an opposing hill light his Easter fire prior to the King's. This was blasphemy against the druidic gods. Seeing this fire the druids told the High King, that were that fire not quenched prior to the rising of the Sun it would never be put out. Therefore the King sent druids and soldiers to put out Patrick's fire.
Like Elijah and the prophets of Baal, Patrick mocked the druids, and the more they tried they could not quench the fire. At this sight the King accepted Patrick and allowed him to preach the Gospel in his lands. Later the King became a believer. After this time the Gospel flourished throughout Ireland. This is the reference of where Patrick drove the snakes from Ireland, driving the druidic paganism out of Ireland.
St. Patrick is credited with explaining the Trinity to the Gaelic culture through the use of the shamrock, an herb used in many druidic rituals. He often held one up and asked if the shamrock was one leaf or three, to which the common reply was, it is both one leaf and three. Patrick concluded to them so it is with God. Of course the pagan mind cannot comprehend the things of God so Patrick was sure to emphasize to the pagan mind that the Christian belief was not that of polytheism.
With the Christianizing of Ireland Patrick set up monastery after monastery, through out Ireland and these Irish monks would take what little money they had and bought the classic works of antiquity and copied them in their monasteries. This became very important after the fall of Rome to the barbarians. The barbarians torched most of the written works in the Roman empire. Had it not been for Patrick we would not have many of the works of antiquity. Therefore even if you do not believe the Christian Gospel you must at least than Patrick for his roll in preserving the works of Plato, Aristotle, Augustine, and many others. Therefore today when drinking a pint of Guinness remember to thank God for St. Patrick and his contribution to the world we live in.
Happy St. Patrick's Day.
St. Patrick's story is one of the Gospel. Patrick an unbelieving Roman born in Britain who was taken into slavery by the invading Irish Celts. It was in Ireland that God found Patrick and after six years of slavery as a shepherd, God allowed Patrick to escape and return to Britain. There he joined the church and began to study the Word of God. Feeling God calling him to return to Ireland to take the Gospel of Christ to the Irish people, his capturers. In one dream he heard God say, "We beg you, holy youth, to come and walk among us once more." In 433 AD he did just that.
Thinking he would convert his old master for whom he was a shepherd to his new Master for whom he remained a shepherd under the tutelage of the Great Shepherd, he returned to the place of his former bondage. Unfortunately due to the pagan influence upon Patrick's former master caused him to commit suicide and destroy his lands. Patrick horrified by this superstition began to minister to the pagan Celts.
At the druidic festival Beltane, a yearly ritual of fire, Patrick began his ministry. The ritual was commenced by the King lighting the first fire of ritual from whence all other fires in the Kingdom would be lit. Patrick on an opposing hill light his Easter fire prior to the King's. This was blasphemy against the druidic gods. Seeing this fire the druids told the High King, that were that fire not quenched prior to the rising of the Sun it would never be put out. Therefore the King sent druids and soldiers to put out Patrick's fire.
Like Elijah and the prophets of Baal, Patrick mocked the druids, and the more they tried they could not quench the fire. At this sight the King accepted Patrick and allowed him to preach the Gospel in his lands. Later the King became a believer. After this time the Gospel flourished throughout Ireland. This is the reference of where Patrick drove the snakes from Ireland, driving the druidic paganism out of Ireland.
St. Patrick is credited with explaining the Trinity to the Gaelic culture through the use of the shamrock, an herb used in many druidic rituals. He often held one up and asked if the shamrock was one leaf or three, to which the common reply was, it is both one leaf and three. Patrick concluded to them so it is with God. Of course the pagan mind cannot comprehend the things of God so Patrick was sure to emphasize to the pagan mind that the Christian belief was not that of polytheism.With the Christianizing of Ireland Patrick set up monastery after monastery, through out Ireland and these Irish monks would take what little money they had and bought the classic works of antiquity and copied them in their monasteries. This became very important after the fall of Rome to the barbarians. The barbarians torched most of the written works in the Roman empire. Had it not been for Patrick we would not have many of the works of antiquity. Therefore even if you do not believe the Christian Gospel you must at least than Patrick for his roll in preserving the works of Plato, Aristotle, Augustine, and many others. Therefore today when drinking a pint of Guinness remember to thank God for St. Patrick and his contribution to the world we live in.
Happy St. Patrick's Day.
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