Some say that Maewyn Succat was kidnapped from his home in Roman Britain in the 4th century and sold into slavery in Ireland. For the 6 years of his enslavement his Christianity grew. To escape slavery, he stowed away on a cargo ship heading for his homeland. Others say he was the slave trader himself. (Smacks of St. Paul's pre-conversion experience!)
Spinning exciting tales to remember history has always been a part of the Irish way of life. These two tales would seem to support that theory.
No matter which account is accurate Maewyn felt a religious calling once back home in what is currently Wales. There he was ordained and ultimately consecrated a bishop receiving the name Patricius: Patrick to us. He successfully asked to be sent back to Ireland where his knowledge of the land and language would assist him to spread Christianity among the Druids and Pagans. Cleverly combining Irish pagan beliefs with Christian sacramental rituals, he was very successful not only in converting Ireland to Christianity but also to having the Irish fall in love with him.
What were some of his combining rituals you ask?
The most well-known is the use of the shamrock to explain the Holy Trinity.
He used bonfires to celebrate Easter since the Irish honoured their gods with fire.
He superimposed a sun, a powerful Irish symbol, onto a Christian Cross, creating the Celtic Cross.
St. Patrick was never canonized by the Catholic Church because during the first millennium there was no formal canonization. Saint Patrick was proclaimed a saint by popular acclaim, by the Irish to whom he ministered. March 17th, the day of his death, has been celebrated for well over 1000 years. Though a National Holiday in Ireland the largest parade is still held in New York followed by Dublin, then Sydney Australia.
As the daughter of an Irish Mom and a Canadian/Irish Dad named Pat, St. Patrick’s Day was always a day to look forward to - Mass, Irish Stew with lamb, corned beef & cabbage, soda bread and family stories. And so, in true Irish style, I bless you all on this day.
May the road rise up to meet you
May the wind be always at your back
May the sunshine warm upon your face
And the rains fall soft upon your fields
(unknown origin)
OR
May you be in heaven a half hour before the devil knows you’re dead!
Like St. Patrick we have all experienced some sort of trauma, enslavement. Have I been as generous and forgiving to those responsible? It's never too late.
St.Patrick, Pray for us.
-Maureen Condon
Header Image: Unsplash/Adrian Moran