Happy St Patrick's Day

by Timothy Howe

Today, is St . Patrick's Day. Patrick is one of my heroes of the faith. His story is one mixed with fact and legend. And it is one little known by most people. Though it is sometimes difficult to differentiate between was is true and what is legendary, the story below offers account about the man behind the legend. 

Details of Patrick’s Life
Patricius, his Latin name, was kidnapped from his native Britain when he was a teenager and taken to Ireland as a slave where he was made into a slave-shepherd, in which capacity he served for 6 years. He spoke of two constant companions – hunger and nakedness.

Patrick had been raised in a Christian home, but it was while alone in the fields he really began to know God. He didn’t speak Irish Gaelic initially and so God was the only companion with whom he could talk. It is said that he would often pray more than 100 times a day and then 100 more times during the night.

One night he had a vision from the Lord, “your hungers are answered, you are going home.” He sat up startled, “look your ship is ready.” He got up and walked 200 miles across territory he had never before crossed.

He negotiated passage with some sailors. When they landed, probably in France, all they found was devastation in the land with no towns or food. This was about the time that Germanic tribes were sweeping through the region destroying everything in site. 

When the group had walked for many days and had run out of food, the sailors began to taunt him from praying so much and asked him where his God was. He asked them to "turn trustingly to the Lord…and today he will send you food until you are filled." They bowed in prayer for a moment and just then a stampede of pigs came towards them and they had enough to eat.

Patrick stayed in France for some time and did some theological training then moved back to Britain returning to his parents’ home. While there he had a vision of a man he had known in Ireland called Victoricus. Victoricus was holding letters, one of which was called “The Voice of the Irish.” During this vision he heard the voice of a multitude saying, “we beg you come and walk among us once more.” 

Patrick seemed to have no desire to return to the land of his kidnappers and tried to ignore this and other similar visions, but one day Christ spoke to him saying, “He who gave his life for you, he it is who speaks within you.”

After accepting the task to return to Ireland, he was appointed to be a the first recorded missionary bishop in church history.

Like Paul

Patrick received a calling much like Paul’s. He became a missionary to a new people, and is the first missionary historically recorded to venture outside of the civilized world. Legend tells us that Thomas may left the Greco-Roman world and may have gone to India, but India had an ancient and respected civilization. For someone to willingly go to Barbarian tribes in the early 5th century in order to share the gospel was a first. It was as bold a step as Columbus sailing across the Atlantic or of the US astronauts stepping on the moon. Most medieval maps had listed in the barbarian world “here be monster!”

He moved to Ireland and began to preach and live among the people. He helped to make what had been a violent society become a peaceful one. He was the first person to speak out vehemently against slavery. Having suffered at it hands, he was in a good position to refute it. He spent 30 years in ministry to the Irish, expecting everyday to be murdered, betrayed and enslaved, but continued on.

The Irish culture was one of warfare, fear and betrayal. They shared three prominent values: loyalty, courage and generosity. To them Patrick exhibited extreme courage. In fact, he didn’t seem to fear! That immediately caught their attention. Patrick preached faith, hope and love as the Christian forms of the Irish loyalty, courage and generosity and found an open and interested audience. 

His influence on Ireland is unmistakable. By some accounts, he is singularly responsible for the establishment of the church in the entire country. At the very least he had a major role in its growth. His work also had an enormous impact on societal norms so that violence and slavery greatly decreased.

Lessons from the Life of St Patrick
1. God spoke to him and had a plan for him in the midst of his despair.
2. God gave him clear visions for his appointed tasks.
3. Patrick responded to the Lord’s radical vision.
4. Patrick changed an entire culture.

Application for us:
1. What is God stirring you towards?
2. Are you looking and listening for His prompting?

3. How will you respond?

4. What impact does He want you to have on your world?