St. Patrick, known as the Apostle of Ireland, lived during the fourth and fifth centuries, and, due to his many popular followings, many legends exist concerning his life and his works.

St. Patrick was born around the year 389 on the Island of Briton and considered himself to be both Roman and British. At the age of 16, he was captured by an Irish raiding party and sold into slavery. As a slave, Patrick worked as a shepherd and was given little to satisfy his needs. After six years of slavery, Patrick was given the chance to escape and he took it, traveling first to France and later back home. While in slavery, Patrick realized the spiritual need of the Irish people and decided to address this problem.

After studying for the priesthood and ordination, Patrick began to seek support for his plan of being a missionary to Ireland. At the age of 46, Patrick was ordained a bishop and sent to Ireland as a missionary. At first, Patrick met with much resistance from the native pagan religions, but he soon began to instill a deep sense of Christianity through prayers, example, and instruction.

Within a relatively short time of first embracing the Faith, Ireland was on fire with the Spirit and sending missionaries across the world to spread the Word of God. Patrick penned several works, some of which are still in existence, and shared much of his enthusiasms for the Faith with the people he converted.

Legend has it that St. Patrick drove all of the snakes out of Ireland. Though the country is climatically and geographically isolated enough that snakes never migrated to the island, it is said that Patrick’s actions are symbolic of his stand against the Druids and the symbols of snakes that were used across the country.

Patrick is famous for using the shamrock, a flower native to Ireland to explain the trinity to the pagans who did not understand. Just as the shamrock has three leaves but is one flower, so the trinity has three persons but is one God, he said.

St. Patrick died around the year 461 and is buried in the area of Ulster in the county of Down. St. Patrick is the patron of Ireland, Nigeria, and against snakes.

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