St. Patrick was born in 402 A.D. in Scotland, and grew up on a modest farm near the town of Banna Venta Berniae. When he was 16, Irish raiders burned down the family villa and took young Patrick to Ireland where he was sold as a slave. Although Patrick had been raised in church, he discovered his own spiritual poverty while he was in Ireland. Patrick came to saving faith during that time, and prayed to God constantly as he watched over his flock of sheep. Other shepherds called him "holy boy." Eventually Patrick escaped and, at age 22, he returned home to Scotland. But God began to speak to Patrick about going back to Ireland with the Gospel. Patrick even had a vision of an Irishman calling for him to come help them. Patrick did go back, despite the distress of his family who didn't want him to go. Even though his ministry had a rough beginning and much resistance, Patrick eventually established more than 300 churches and baptized 120,000 converts during his lifetime. He lived to be 95 years old. During those years, Patrick endured fierce opposition from the occult Druids, including imprisonment. Nothing deterred him, however, and the Druids lost the tight control they had over Ireland, as the good news of the Gospel spread.
The Celtic Cross that we are familiar with is a cross superimposed over the sun: Patrick designed this cross, and turned the Irish people from "sun" worship to "Son" worship instead. Legend says that Patrick used the three-leaf shamrock as an illustration of the Trinity. If St. Patrick were here today, I’m sure he’d be happy to share a glass of green beer with you. But he would also make sure that you had an opportunity to know Jesus as your Savior. Patrick was a devout, godly man whose passion was to save souls for Christ.
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