The Real Magic of Saint Patrick’s Day

Although it’s not an official holiday, March 17 is celebrated every year as being Saint Patrick’s Day. It honors the patron saint of Ireland. Originally, a Catholic holy day, St. Patrick’s Day has evolved into a worldly holiday. Think of this holiday, and you probably think of wearing green. You probably also imagine tiny leprechauns with magical powers. There was a real power in this holiday, and it was the man named Saint Patrick. He possessed the power to overcome evil with the goodness of faith.

Saint Patrick came into this world named, “Maewyn Succat” around 389 AD. His family were Roman aristocrats who lived on an estate in Caledonia. Even though his father Calpornius was a deacon, and Succat’s paternal grandfather Potitus was a priest, Succat attended church only as a perfunctory duty.

About sixteen years later, the young Roman’s advantaged life changed abruptly when he was captured by the vicious Niall of the Nine Hostages, heathen Scotti from the island of Hibernia. He was immediately sold into slavery. He suffered miserably at the hands of his new owner, a chieftain named Miliue, and his two abusive sons.

For the next six years, Succat lived a lonely, wretched existence on Mount Slemish and in the valleys around Miliue’s village. His job was to look after his master’s flocks. The slave boy’s only outfit was a ragged tunic. His only shelter was a cave in a rocky outcrop. His only food were scraps brought up from the village.

Finally, alone and miserable, living in what he perceived to be his darkest hours, Succat turned to the God in heaven he had heard about as a young boy. He prayed and he talked to God day and night. He wrote this about the event: “The love of God and his fear grew in me more and more, as did the faith, and my soul was rosed, 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.” Miraculously, Patrick’s faith flourished.

One day Succat realized that God had spoken to him in his dreams. God urged the young man to escape to a ship in the far southeast. So, Succat decided to follow His instructions. He journeyed on foot for several weeks using the sun and the stars as a compass. He had traveled about 200 Roman miles when he came across the small colony of Wexford. There, he found did indeed find a ship that was preparing to leave on a trading mission to, none other than, his homeland of Caledonia. After much persuasion, the commander let him hop aboard the vessel.

Succat finally returned home safely to his family estate. But, his journeys were far from being over. God later called him to His ministry- again in a dream- and the twenty-two year old left his homeland again. This time he headed for Gaul. There, he studied for twelve years in the monastery under Saint Germain, the bishop of Auxerre.

Succat advanced rapidly from being a Novice to a Bishop. Another dream told him the Irish were calling him back. He returned to Ireland, but with the Christian name of “Patrick”.

Patrick’s stay in Ireland lasted about thirty years. During that time, he founded more than 300 churches and he baptized over 100,000 people. Though he was not the first missionary, Patrick is credited with bringing Christianity to Ireland.

Saint Patrick died on March 17 in 461 AD at Saul, Downpatrick, Ireland. A large rock slab which is inscribed, “Patric” marks his burial place.