He is not someone of legend. St. Patrick was the Bishop of Ireland!
But he was born in 387 in Scotland. His father belong to a Roman famly of high ranking. When Patrick was 16 he was kidnapped, taken to Ireland as a slave. For 6 years he tended his master's flocks and during that time developed a life of prayer.
He became fluent the Celtic language which would one day help him preach the Word of God. His master Milchu was a druid high priest. Through him he became familiar with Druidism so that later he could liberate the Irish race from it.
Upon proding from an angel, he escaped, found a ship out of there to Britan. St. Germane came into his life and finally Patrick went into the priesthood. After a period of time, in summer 433 he was sent as a missionary to Ireland. He first went to his master to pay his ransom...some guy huh? I don't think I'd have been so nice! He spent years travelling Ireland touching the hearts of the Irish, turning them from Druidism and baptizing many into Christianity and establishing churches. Many miracles were attributed to him.
St. Patrick wrote two documents. According to the Catholic Encyclopedia: "The "Confessio" and the "Epistola ad Coroticum" are recognized by all modern critical writers as of unquestionable genuineness."
In March 493, he received last rights and died. He was wrapped in a shroud made by the hands of St. Bridgit. People came from all parts to pay their respects. It is said that for several days the light of heaven shone on his coffin. His remains were interred at the chieftan's Dun or Fort two miles from Saul, later to be the cathedral of Down.
So I hope you learned something today! I leave you with a prayer from Saint Patrick's Breastplate . I would hope we would all be so Christ Centered! Happy St. Patricks Day.
Christ be with me
Christ before me
Christ behind me
Christ in me
Christ beneath me
Christ above me
Christ on my right
Christ on my left
Christ where I lie
Christ where I sit
Christ where I arise
Christ in the heart of every man who thinks of me
Christ in the mouth of every man who speaks of me
Christ in every eye that sees me
Christ in every ear that hears me
Salvation is of the Lord.
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The plate of St. Patrick is not for sale. It was painted for a priest.
5 comments:
Thank you Joann. I'm always eager to learn something. Thank you also for the prayer. It is beautiful.
Your plate is lovely also. I am sure that the priest you painted for is very pleased.
I did learn something new, thank you Joann! Isn't it wonderful how God can use terrible situations and turn them around for good!!?!! I love his prayer!
Happy St. Patty's Day!
Thank you so much for sharing this, Joann. I enjoyed being enlightened. Kathryn
This is beautiful, in every way. I love the prayer. What kind of paint did you use, to get it to stick to the plate?
Melisa, it's china paints. Here's a link to my blog post that explains how it's done
http://jywheeler.blogspot.com/2011/03/sunday-sketches_13.html
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