Happy St. Patrick's Day! March 17 is the date he died in 460!

There is a lot I don't know about St. Patrick, but I did some reading in the last few days on the internet. They are not sure of the date of his birth - 385 - 390. Reads like he many have been a 'spoiled, rich kid' and not overly interested in God and Christianity. It was the six years of his captivity by pirates and his tending sheep; alone in pastures. With no one to talk with, Patrick chose to talk to God. And that is just the beginning of his story!

From the computer:

"When we think of Saint Patrick, we usually think of parades, shamrocks, green drinks, and corned beef and cabbage. Everyone is “Irish” on Saint Patrick’s Day. 

"But Patrick wasn’t Irish. And he wasn’t Patrick. He was born Patricius, somewhere in Romanized Britain, to a wealthy family. And in his early years, he wasn’t particularly saintly either. His family was Christian, but he was indifferent to Christianity. 

:"But Patrick was humble, tenacious, and brave. When he was sixteen, Irish raiders kidnapped him from the family villa and sold him into slavery in Ireland. There he spent six bleak years as a herdsman. 

"Later, Patrick was ordained a bishop and evangelized Ireland in spite of opposition from local pagan druids and from Christians in Britain. His success in Christianizing Ireland was so great that the formerly pagan island sent missionaries to the continent and contributed to the spread of Christianity across Europe. 

"Patrick also expanded literacy throughout Ireland, and he influenced laws in favor of women, the poor, and slaves."

*
Thank You, God,
for using people like St. Patrick
to do Your Will and spread Your Words
to other generations, including ours!
You always use the most unlikely people!
Like him; and like us!!
Help us to remember!
Help us to continue to make Your Changes,
in each of our worlds!
Amen.