Behind all of the green rivers, leprechauns, shamrocks, and woefully inadequate tales of snakes lies the story of a man who changed the world for the cause of Christ and through the power of the Holy Spirit.
Patrick of Ireland was a real person with a real ministry. He was born in the late fourth century; and if you’re like me and always get centuries wrong that means late 300’s not late 400’s. We have two actual letters preserved that were written by Patrick. The oldest known copies are held in the Trinity College in Dublin as part of the Book of Armagh named after the 9th century scribe (remember that’s 800’s) who copied Patrick’s letters word for word into the book (a tradition monks performed all the time, and they were very strict about not changing anything).
From those letters we can learn the following
- Patrick was captured by Irish pirates as a young man and sold in Ireland
- He grew to know God while serving as a slave shepherd in the Irish countryside
- He was there for a while, learned the language, and the culture because he had to in order to survive.
- God gave him a vision that it was time to escape, and a boat was ready for him, but this required a dangerous cross-country trek as an escaped slave.
- He made the journey and God protected him.
- Upon return to England, his home, he dedicated his life to the service of the Lord and trained to be a priest.
- God sent him a dream where a man named Victoricius (if you’re thinking victory then good job!) comes to him with a huge amount of letters. The letters begin by saying: “The Voice of the Irish.” In the dream as Patrick reads them he can hear the voices “…of the same men who lived beside the forest of Foclut, which lies near the Western sea where the sun sets… ‘holy broth of a boy, we beg you, come back and walk once more among us!” He recognizes this as a clear call to return to Ireland as a missionary.
- History, and the strong presence of the Irish church demonstrate that Patrick succeeded in Ireland, with the help of God, in a place where many had failed before him.
Here are a few stanzas from the Lorica of St Patrick, a historical prayer attributed to him. It’s much longer than what I have recorded below. I do have the full text in my office and would be happy to share a copy with you, simply email pastor@downsumc.org.
Selections from the Lorica of St Patrick
I arise today in a mighty strength, calling upon the Trinity, believing in the Three Persons saying they are One thanking my Creator.
I arise today strengthened by Christ’s own baptism, made strong by his crucifixion and his burial, made strong by his resurrection and his ascension, made strong by his descent to meet me on the day of doom.
…
Christ protect me today against poison, against burning, against drowning, against wounding so that I may come to enjoy your rich reward.
Christ ever with me
Christ before me
Christ behind me
Christ within me
Christ beneath me
Christ above me
Christ to my right side
Christ to my left
Christ in his breadth
Christ in his length
Christ in his depth
Christ in the heart of every man who thinks of me
Christ in the mouth of every man who speaks to me
Christ in every eye that sees me
Christ in every ear that hears me.
May you be Inspired
By the bravery and true mission of Patrick to return to the very people who kidnapped him, so he could tell them about Jesus. If Patrick can share the good news of Jesus with the very pirates who kidnapped him, surely we can share it with the people we love, the neighbors we live by, and the village we live in! And perhaps we will experience even a small amount of the gift of faith that Patrick was given, as we set out to share Jesus.