A bit about Saint Patrick… I’ve just learned all this cool stuff today so I thought I’d share!!
* He was a pagan until he was 16 years old
* He became a Christian during his enslavement to the Irish marauders who kidnapped him from his family’s wealthy estate on the British mainland
* He escaped after 6 years and was so convicted of the need to spread the Gospel that he went to study at the monastery for 12 years
* In saving many souls for Christ, he was despised by the Celtic Druids who were pagans… he was captured and imprisoned by them on numerous occasions, but miraculously escaped each time
* Saint Patrick originated the symbol of the shamrock as he used it to teach the concept of the Trinity: three leaves connected by one stem (and isn’t it cool that each leaf is in the shape of a heart?)
* He died on March 17 AD 461, which is why we celebrate his life on this day
* Although he is celebrated as a Saint, Patrick and the early Celtic Church of Ireland rejected any foreign control of the church, recognizing only Jesus Christ as head of the Church. Roman Catholicism was not embraced until many years later
From The Confession, written by Saint Patrick as he neared the end of his life:
“And there the Lord opened the sense of my unbelief that I might at last remember my sins and then turn with all my heart to the Lord my God, who had regard for my low estate, and took pity on my youth and ignorance, and watched over me before I knew Him, and before I was able to distinguish between good and evil, and guarded me, and comforted me as would a father his son. Hence I cannot be silent – and indeed, I ought not to be – about the many blessings and the great grace which the Lord has deigned to bestow upon me in the land of my captivity… for this we can give to God in return after having been chastened by Him, to exalt and praise His wonders before every nation that is anywhere under the heaven.”
So I challenge you, today as your kids dress in green, pinch each other and wear shirts that say, “Kiss me, I’m Irish” and joke about leprechauns and pots of gold, take a moment to teach your children the truth about Saint Patrick. And the real reason we celebrate his life. He devoted himself to following Christ and teaching others about the Good News. Even though it meant returning to the place of his initial enslavement, he followed God’s plan for his life, “to exalt and praise His wonders before evey nation that is anywhere under heaven.” How inspirational is that!? He was a man with a passion and a purpose. And he changed the face of Christianity forever and in doing so he saved countless people for Christ. Now THAT’S something to celebrate!
I had no idea! I am so glad you shared this with us. It sure brings a whole new focus to what I thought was just a simple, fun holiday. I will be sharing this with my kids for sure.
Cool! Will do.
A
I have always wondered what was “up” with St.Patrick’s Day! I am so happy to know now. What an infinitely more precious thing to celebrate.
Stefanie….I loved your post so much I put it on my blog. I didn’t know this and I thought others needed to know as well. I hope you don’t mind that I posted your post. I didn’t put a link to your blog because I would want to ask you if I could before I did that. Please let me know if you have a problem with me using your post and I will remove it without any questions. I know I should have ask you first but I’m leaving town for the day and I thought it would be a great thing for people to know.
Have a blessed day,
Kim
Hey Kim!
I’m so glad you liked the post! Feel free to post it on your blog, I think that’s great that you wanted to share 🙂
STEFANIE! I am SO glad I popped in real quick and saw you got PAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA!!!!!!!!!
Woo hoo! I am SO excited! What an answer to prayer!
And thank you for the info about St. Patrick…definitely will share with the kiddos! We’ll catch up later!
Love,
Laine
Wow! Thank-you for sharing this! I too had no idea! Now there is new meaning to this day for me. Happy St. Patrick’s Day!
His confession speaks eloquently the confession of all who call Jesus their Lord and Savior. Thanks for sharing.
Wow Stefanie, you and I are on the same page today! I’m a cub scout leader for Nathan’s Bear Den and did research on St. Patrick for a meeting tonight on ‘Ways We Worship’. I didn’t know any of this until today! We have to discuss people in history who have shown great faith, and with it being St Patricks Day, my starting point was clear;-).
Congrats on getting your PA as well. You’re getting closer and closer to the day you’ll get to hold Shepherd in your arms…so happy for you!
~Tami
Thanks for sharing the story of ST. Patrick. God bless your family.
From another large family in Minnesota
Thanks, I learned a lot!
I never knew all of this about St. Patrick. We’ve never gotten into celebrating St. Patty’s day but I think we will now!!