Photo by Sergio Mena Ferreira on Unsplash
Q:
Dear Pastor,
I’m learning that St. Patrick is NOT the patron saint of green beer. What do you know about him?
A:
Most people have no idea that Saint Patrick is anything more than a mythical figure involving green beer. He’s been stereotyped like a leprechaun with pots of gold—or in his case pints of frothy, green, hops. The truth is, Patrick was a miracle-man of God who scouted the countryside of the ancient British Isles in search of people who needed Jesus as badly as they needed relief from the demonic, pagan empires that ruled the land.
Let us consult the sacred Book of Kells for the truth about Saint Patrick:
Named “The Celtic Lion,” Patrick was born in 398 A.D. to Conchessa and Calpurnius, both Roman citizens (he of noble birth) who were deeply Christian. They lived in the area now known as Wales in the United Kingdom.
His dutiful, Christian parents took the infant Patrick to be baptized. But Christian priests were rare and one could not be found. They instead traveled to the home of a blind hermit named Gornias, known to be a devout Christ-follower. But there was no water for the ceremony to be performed, so Gornias took baby Patrick’s hand in his and traced the sign of the cross in the dirt at their feet. Water gushed forth from the spot. Not only was the baby baptized, but the hermit was forever healed of his blindness.
As a child, Patrick played in the ice and snow with his siblings during winter. Snatching an icicle to show his mother, she was irritated that he hadn’t instead brought a piece of wood to start their fire. He told her not to worry, that God could use ice to kindle flame. Soon Patrick’s fire was roaring in his mother’s hearth. Miracles began to mark Patrick’s life.
During childhood adventures in the forest, his beloved sister, Lupita, fell and struck her head on a rock, knocking her unconscious and bleeding. Patrick lay his hands upon the wound and prayed: she was immediately healed with the scar on her head visible to show their parents what Patrick and God had done. Patrick’s tribal-teacher fell dead during lessons one evening. Patrick calmly approached him, put his arm around him, whispered in his ear, and the man came back to life in the middle of the class filled with students.
At age sixteen, Patrick’s homeland was raided by Scottish thugs who captured Patrick and sold him as a slave in the pagan land of Ireland. He never saw his parents again. Yet in Ireland, surrounded by the demonic Druids, Patrick began to be visited at night by an angel named Victor. This angel ministered to him with Scripture, inflaming Patrick’s love for God and instructing him to begin winning souls as soon as he was free. Patrick was released and promptly decided to seek out the Druid-kings of Ireland; to witness to them, win them to Christ and in so doing, save the nation.
On the eve of Easter, 433 A.D., Patrick decided to light the first-ever Paschal Fire on the Hill of Slane (just twenty-odd miles north of Dublin, Ireland.) There, he and his band of new Christians sang hymns and prayers through the night until dawn. Unbeknownst to Patrick, his Easter Fire mocked the regional high-king’s edict of certain death to anyone who lit their fire before the king's fiery-celebration of pagan ritual took place, which was the same night. On Easter Sunday, the furious king and queen rounded up nine chariots of troops, their vilest, satanic wizards and descended the hill. They had every intention to permanently end Patrick’s Paschal fire, his songs of praise, and his life. Upon their arrival, Patrick calmly sang, “Some trust in chariots, some in horses, but we will call on the Name of the Lord our God.”
An earthquake suddenly occurred as the first light of Easter morning crept over the mountain. One soldier kneeled in prayer as the fear of Almighty God swept through the atmosphere. The frightened horses galloped away; the other soldiers fled. A showdown ensued as demonic wizardry railed against the power of Patrick’s God (Jesus Christ)…resulting in many dead wizards. Only the king and queen remained. They swore never to hinder or harm Patrick and his Christians again.
And that's how Christianity came to Ireland!
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