Patrick was born around 385, most likely in Scotland.  His parents were Calpurnius and Conchessa, who were Roman Christians living in Britain in charge of the colonies. As a boy of fourteen or so, he was captured during a raiding party and taken to Ireland as a slave to herd and tend sheep. Ireland at this time was a land of Druids and pagans. He learned the language and practices of the people who held him. During his captivity, he turned to God in prayer. He wrote “The love of God and his fear grew in me more and more, as did the faith, and my soul was roused, so that, in a single day, I have said as many as a hundred prayers and in the night, nearly the same.” “I prayed in the woods and on the mountain, even before dawn. I felt no hurt from the snow or ice or rain.”

Patrick’s captivity lasted until he was twenty, when he escaped after having a dream from God in which he was told to leave Ireland by going to the coast. There he found some sailors who took him back to Britain, where he reunited with his family.

He had another dream in which the people of Ireland were calling out to him, “We beg you, holy youth, to come and walk among us once more.” He began his studies for the priesthood. He was ordained by St. Germanus, the Bishop of Auxerre, whom he had studied under for years.

Later, Patrick was ordained a bishop and was sent to take the Gospel to Ireland. He arrived in Ireland in March 433.

Patrick began preaching the Gospel throughout Ireland, converting many, using the shamrock to explain the Blessed Trinity. He and his disciples, which included some of his relatives, preached and converted thousands and over his next 40 years, built churches all over the country. Kings, their families, and entire kingdoms converted to Christianity when hearing

Patrick was a humble, pious, gentle man, whose love and total devotion to and trust in God should be a shining example to each of us. He feared nothing, not even death, so complete was his trust in God, and of the importance of his mission.

St Patrick’s Breastplate

I arise today
Through a mighty strength, the invocation of the Trinity,
Through belief in the Threeness,
Through confession of the Oneness of the Creator of creation.
I arise today
Through the strength of Christ’s birth with His baptism,
Through the strength of His crucifixion with His burial,
Through the strength of His resurrection with His ascension,
Through the strength of His descent for the judgment of doom.
I arise today
Through the strength of the love of cherubim,
In the obedience of angels, In the service of archangels,
In the hope of resurrection to meet with reward,
In the prayers of patriarchs, In the predictions of prophets,
In the preaching of apostles, In the faith of confessors,
In the innocence of holy virgins, In the deeds of righteous men.
I arise today,

Through the strength of heaven,
The light of the sun, The radiance of the moon,
The splendour of fire, The speed of lightning,
The swiftness of wind, The depth of the sea,
The stability of the earth, The firmness of rock.
I arise today,

through God’s strength to pilot me, God’s might to uphold me,
God’s wisdom to guide me, God’s eye to look before me,
God’s ear to hear me, God’s word to speak for me,
God’s hand to guard me, God’s shield to protect me,
God’s host to save me
From snares of devils, From temptation of vices,
From everyone who shall wish me ill, afar and near.
I summon today all these powers between me and those evils,
Against every cruel and merciless power

that may oppose my body and soul,
Against incantations of false prophets,
Against black laws of pagandom,
Against false laws of heretics, Against craft of idolatry,
Against spells of witches and smiths and wizards,
Against every knowledge that corrupts man’s body and soul;
Christ to shield me today against poison, against burning,
Against drowning, against wounding,
So that there may come to me an abundance of reward.
Christ 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 when I lie down, Christ when I sit down,
Christ when I arise,
Christ in the heart of every man who thinks of me,
Christ in the mouth of everyone who speaks of me,
Christ in every eye that sees me,
Christ in every ear that hears me.
I arise today
Through a mighty strength, the invocation of the Trinity,
Through belief in the Threeness,

Through confession of the Oneness of the Creator of creation.