St. Patrick's story is full of adventure, heroism, and above all, faith. Patrick was born in the year 385 on the west coast of England, and grew up in a religious family, though he himself was not particularly religious. When he was only 16, Patrick was captured by raiders and taken to Ireland where he worked as a slave tending sheep. During that time, Patrick learned to value his faith and be became a very prayerful. man.

After six years of slavery, Patrick escaped and happily returned to England. However, in a feram he heard God calling him to return to Ireland to teach and convert people to Christianity. So Patrick studied for the priesthood and was eventually made a bishop. In the year 432 he returned to Ireland, this time not as a slave but as a missionary bishop.

The best known legend of St. Patrick' is that he charmed all the snakes in Ireland into the sea where they drowned. The snakes were symbolic of the evil being driven out of the country when Patrick converted Ireland to Christianity.

It is said that Patrick caused Christ's Gospel to be welcomed far and wide and eventually led to Ireland's conversion. Another legend has it that he once used a green shamrock to show the people how God can be three persons in one. Each of the three leaves represented the Father, Son, and the Holy Spirit. The stem represented the Godhead from which the three proceed. This led to the popular custom of the "wearing of the green" on March 17th, the date of Patrick's death.

Patrick faced many dangers and much opposition in his missionary work, but he always believed that God had called him to his ministry. Patrick once wrote: "I owe it to God's grace that so many people should, through me, be born again to God."

How fitting it is that we should rejoice and celebrate on March 17, St. Patrick's Feast Day. He is a great model of faith for all of us.

A St. Patrick's Day Prayer

God, our Father, we than you for the gift of faith. May we never take it for granted. Thank you for St. Patrick who is a great model of faith and love for us. May we, like Patrick cherish our faith and gladly and courageously share it with others. Amen.