St. Patrick’s Day!

Every year on March 17, millions of people around the world celebrate St. Patrick’s Day with parades, parties, and the color green, clovers and more… But who was the man who inspired these traditions… who actually is St. Patrick… and why should we still celebrate him today?

Well, this may come as a surprise, but St. Patrick’s real name is actually Maewyn Succat.

Maewyn Succat was born around 380 A.D. in England to Christian parents.

At the age, of sixteen, Maewyn was captured by Irish marauders or as some researcher’s state to “pirates” who carried him off to Ireland and sold him into slavery. He stayed in slavery for around six years before he escaped.

However, while he was in slavery probably during the many dark, cold, lonely nights Maewyn turned to faith in God. Some think that Maewyn may have believe that his kidnapping and enslavement were punishment for his lack of belief. What we do know however is that during this time Maewyn began to pray and developed a relationship with the triune God (God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Spirit).

 Following Maewyn’s escape from slavery he later began to have visions and feeling a strong calling from God. Maewyn became involved in the church, studied, and became ordained as a bishop. His name was then changed to Patrick.

At this point St. Patrick did the unthinkable… He decided to return to his captors, back to the nation of his slavery to be a missionary among the Irish. You see, while St. Patrick (Maewyn) was enslaved he observed the dark arts and pagan worship. However, now returning as a missionary St. Patrick was effective and saw many pagans turn from their beliefs and put their faith in Christ.

Today, March 17^th each year many around the world celebrate St. Patrick’s Day which is actually the day of his death.

Think of the very popular green three leaf clover that you see everywhere this St. Patrick’s Day… It actually is a reminder and symbol of the triune God (God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Spirit).

Also, think about the rainbow often associated with St. Patrick’s Day which is actually a biblical symbol of God’s promise…

Happy St. Patrick’s Day!

Blessings,
Pastor Jonathan Pannell