Who was Saint Patrick?

Today is my birthday, and I've always enjoyed sharing my day with the celebrations of St. Pat. However, as I've gotten older I've become much more interested in the man behind the day. There is lots of folk-lore about him banishing snakes and burning stuff, but he's really a very interesting guy who had much more up his sleave.



Saint Patick wasn't Irish born, he was actually British. Through some turmoil in his country he was kidnapped by the Irish and held as a prisoner for six years. He was made to slave away in their fields farming and hearding sheep, having little to no food or human contact. Well, this pissed him off because one day he decided to escape! 200miles on foot later he was a free man, and a devout Christian. Now most people wouldn't step foot into a country that had so betrayed them and basically ruined their life. Not Saint Pat, he.... went back.



He (in a way) took pity on the Irish and felt they needed a little guidence. Most Irish were pagans at the time and he wanted to go spread the "good word" to them. So he did, and in that time he invented the Celtic Cross, NEATO! He did this by adding the image of the sun (often worshiped by the Irish pagans) and added it to the cross. He thought this would make wearing and using the symbol more appealing to them, smart cookie. Now the entire nation of Ireland, and world, credits him with bringing Christianity to the country.



Now can you see why I find him so interesting? What if everyone went back to the people in life who scorned them, saw their struggles, and tried to help them? What a different world we would have! I also find the fact that his day of honor is marked on his death interesting. How great to know that on a day when so many were made sad, they were given a free pass to celebrate his life instead.



May the road rise up to meet you,

May the wind be always at your back,

May the sun shine warm upon your face,

And the rains fall soft upon your fields,

Until we meet again my friend,

May God hold you in the palm of His hand



Irish Proverb







So Happy St. Patrick's Day to all of you and may we all take a little page out of his book.





Not that I don't love a good, cold, green beer.......