St. Patrick's Day History

Ireland's Patron Saint: A Brief History Of St. Patrick's Day

St. Patrick's Day History, colloquially St. Paddy's Day, begins with a missionary priest named Patrick (385-461 AD), who was chiefly responsible for converting the Irish to Christianity in the first half of the fifth century and became known as the Apostle to the Irish.

Patrick led a colorful, adventurous, pious life. Born in Britain to wealthy parents, Patrick was kidnapped by pirates at age 16 and sold as a slave in Ireland, where he served as a shepherd of an Irish chieftain in Ulster. It was during his captivity that he grew close to God and dedicated himself to prayer. About six years later, Patrick managed to escape and return to Britain where he increasingly felt God's call to missionize Ireland.

To prepare for his daunting task, Patrick travelled to the monastery of Lerins off the French coast to devote himself to prayer and theological study. He later studied under the bishop, Saint Geremanus, in Auxerre, France, before he was sent to Ireland by Pope Celestine I around 431 AD.

Christianity had never been preached in northern and western Ireland before Patrick arrived, but he won the respect and trust of influential tribal leaders and is said to have established over 300 churches and baptized more than 120,000 people during his ministry. He dedicated his remaining life preaching and ministering to the people of Ireland.

St. Patrick's Day History