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Beyond the Holiday:
The Real Saint Patrick
The real St. Patrick wasn't even Irish. Maewyn Succat was born in Britain some time around AD 387 to Christian parents. He (Patrick) never mentions either Rome or the pope or hints that he was in any way connected with the ecclesiastical capital of Italy. He recognizes no other authority but that of the word of God.
But early on, he did not embrace the faith of his parents during his youth. In fact, he considered himself to be "idle and callow (immature)" when he was a boy. A turning point came when he was taken captive by Irish raiders at the age of 16.
“I was taken captive before I knew what I should desire and what I should shun.”
It was during the time of his captivity that he turned from his careless ways and came to a saving knowledge of Christ Jesus. He was convicted that he was a sinner. In his own words, “before I was humbled, I was like a stone lying in deep mire, and He that is mighty came and in His mercy raised me up and, indeed, lifted me high up and placed me on top of the wall. And from there I ought to shout out in gratitude to the Lord for His great favours in this world and for ever, that the mind of man cannot measure.”
During this time of captivity, he worked as a shepherd, outdoors and away from people. Lonely and afraid, he turned to his religion for solace, becoming a devout Christian. (It is also believed that Patrick first began to dream of converting the Irish people to Christianity during his captivity.)
He was finally able to escape after six years in Ireland, and he was reunited with his family. But some time later he was instructed in a dream to return to Ireland as a missionary... Patrick's return to Ireland was spectacularly successful.
Thus, Patrick relies on Scripture to understand his experience and to see that it was the Lord Himself who was calling him. In his own words, “He who gave his life for you, He it is who speaks within you.” He understood that Christ Jesus, who had died for his sins, was the One who was calling him to work as an evangelist in the very island where he had been held captive.
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St. Patrick was tremendously effective and saw many pagans turn to put their faith in Christ. Despite how his extant writings testify to how much he missed his homeland, he chose to live and serve among the Irish he grew to love. He even suffered imprisonment and persecution at the hands of the Druids.
But...Patrick started a fire which literally continued for hundreds of years, he said...“I am greatly God's debtor, because he granted me so much grace, that through me many people would be reborn in God!”
The churches that he established sent out missionaries that took the gospel throughout Europe and all over the known world.
But because of his dedicated and tireless evangelistic efforts, vast numbers of people gave their lives to Christ, and he founded hundreds of churches... according to tradition, resulted in his baptizing 120,000 new believers and building over 300 churches in Ireland.
He served and worked among the people for 30 years before he died on March 17, 461, and was buried in Ireland. Sadly, hardly anyone knows about any of the things that I have just shared with you.
Instead, St. Patrick's Day is considered to be a time for drinking and partying.
I pray you, like St. Patrick, know the truth of Jesus Christ. Your life may seem difficult, but I assure you it is much more difficult without Him. If you don't know Him as your personal Savior, I pray that you'd settle it today.
Click here or below to learn more about how you can be saved today and know that you're heading for Heaven.
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