Who is St. Patrick?
Patrick was born in the now unknown Romano-British town of Bonavem Taberniae around AD 389. He was kidnapped and enslaved in Ireland by pirates when he was just 16. His education being interrupted, he was self-conscious about his lack of learning all his life. Although he escaped after 6 years, and returned to his family, he became burdened for the souls of the Irish people as a result of a vision, and eventually returned as a missionary. He was appointed bishop and apostle to Armagh, Ireland in AD 432, and lived there until his death around AD 461. (Great Leaders of the Christian Faith, Ed. Woodbridge, p 95-98.)
Here, from his own hand, is his account of how he personally found God.
Confession
I, Patrick the sinner, am the most illiterate and the least of all the faithful, and contemptible in the eyes of very many. My father was Calpurnius, a deacon, one of the sons of Potitus, a presbyter, who belonged to the village Banavem Taberniae. Now he had a small farm hard by, where I was taken captive. I was then about sixteen years of age. I knew not the true God; and I went into captivity to Ireland with many thousands of persons, according to our deserts, because we departed away from God, and kept not his commandments, and were not obedient to our priests, who used to admonish us for our salvation. And the Lord poured upon us the fury of his anger, and scattered us amongst many heathen, even unto the ends of the earth, where now my littleness may be seen amongst men of another nation.
And there the Lord opened the understanding of my unbelief that, even though late, I might call my fault to remembrance, and that I might turn with all my heart to the Lord my God, who regarded my low estate, and pitied the youth of my ignorance, and kept me before I knew, and before I had discernment or could distinguish between good and evil, and protected me and comforted me as a father does his son.
Wherefore then I cannot keep silence-nor would it be fitting-concerning such great benefits and such great grace as the Lord hath vouchsafed to bestow on me in the land of my captivity; because this is what we can render unto him, namely, that after we have been chastened, and have come to the knowledge of God, we shall exalt and praise his wondrous works before every nation which is under the whole heaven. (Classics of Christian Missions, Ed. DuBose, pp 161-166.)
Photo: I found this set of iconic Belleek Shamrock china in a shop in Long Grove. Sleinte!
Sources:
DuBose, Francis M. 1979. Classics of Christian Missions. Broadman Press.
Woodbridge, John D. 1989. Great Leaders of the Christian Church. Chicago: Moody Pr.