More than Green Beer

The story of St. Patrick is one of the most well-known and influential stories in the world, and it is a true story. St. Patrick was a 5th-century Christian missionary and bishop of Ireland, and his life was devoted to converting the Irish people to Christianity. He is credited with spreading Christianity throughout Ireland, and his legacy is still celebrated today in the form of St. Patrick’s Day. The true story of St. Patrick is one of remarkable faith, courage, and determination, and it is one that inspires us even today.

Patrick was born in Roman Britain around 385 AD, most likely in Kilpatrick, Scotland. His parents were Calpurnius and Conchessa, and he had two sisters, Lupait and Darerca. His father was a deacon in the Roman Empire and his grandfather, Potitus, was a priest.

At the age of 16, Patrick was captured by a group of Irish raiders and taken as a slave to Ireland. He was held captive for six years, during which time he worked as a shepherd. During this time, he turned to Christianity and prayer as a means of solace.

After six years, Patrick managed to escape and made his way back to Britain, where he studied in the monastery of Auxerre. He later returned to Ireland as a missionary, determined to spread the gospel of Christianity.

He spent many years travelling throughout Ireland, converting the people to Christianity and establishing monasteries. He also wrote a number of works, including Confessio, which is believed to be his spiritual autobiography.

Patrick died in 461 AD, and he was quickly canonized as the patron saint of Ireland. He is celebrated each year on the 17th of March in what has become known as St. Patrick's Day.

In the later years of his life, Patrick shifted his focus to providing spiritual guidance and support to the growing Christian communities he had helped to create. He continued his missionary work, traveling around the country, preaching, and establishing churches. Patrick was also a prolific writer, penning several works on theology and spirituality. His most famous work, Confessio, is a spiritual autobiography that tells the story of Patrick's life and his mission to bring Christianity to Ireland.

In addition to his missionary work, Patrick also worked to improve the lives of the Irish people. He helped to introduce laws and regulations that provided greater equality for the poor and increased protections for slaves. He also advocated for the rights of women and worked to improve the education system in Ireland.

Patrick's legacy continues to this day, as his teachings are still remembered and respected in Ireland and throughout the world. His later years were spent sharing his wisdom and promoting the values of faith, justice, and equality. St. Patrick's life and work have left an indelible mark on the history of Ireland, and his legacy will live on forever.

The Prayer of St. Patrick is a well-known prayer used by Christians around the world. It is a prayer of faith, protection, and thanksgiving used to honor St. Patrick, the patron saint of Ireland.

The prayer was first written by St. Patrick himself in the 5th century during his travels through Ireland. It is believed that he used the prayer to protect and thank those who helped him spread Christianity to the Irish people. He also used it to ask for strength, guidance, and protection.

The prayer begins with an invocation of the Trinity, praising God for his holy name and for the gift of salvation. It then moves on to ask for strength and guidance in every aspect of life, from physical health to spiritual growth. It ends with a request for protection from evil and a blessing of peace and love.

The Prayer of Saint Patrick

I arise today Through a mighty strength, the invocation of the Trinity, Through a belief in the Threeness, Through confession of the Oneness Of the Creator of creation. I arise today Through the strength of Christ's birth and His baptism, Through the strength of His crucifixion and His burial, Through the strength of His resurrection and 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 obedience of angels, In service of archangels, In the hope of resurrection to meet with reward, In the prayers of patriarchs, In preachings of the apostles, In faiths of confessors, In innocence of virgins, In deeds of righteous men. I arise today Through the strength of heaven; Light of the sun, Splendor of fire, Speed of lightning, Swiftness of the wind, Depth of the sea, Stability of the earth, Firmness of the 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 way to lie before me, God's shield to protect me, God's hosts to save me From snares of the devil, From temptations of vices, From every one who desires me ill, Afar and anear, Alone or in a multitude. I summon today all these powers between me and evil, Against every cruel merciless power that opposes 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 women and smiths and wizards, Against every knowledge that corrupts man's body and soul. Christ shield me today Against poison, against burning, Against drowning, against wounding, So that reward may come to me in abundance. 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 in the heart of every man who thinks of me, Christ in the mouth of every man who speaks of me, Christ in the eye that sees me, Christ in the ear that hears me. I arise today Through a mighty strength, the invocation of the Trinity, Through a belief in the Threeness, Through a confession of the Oneness Of the Creator of creation.

Through his courage and dedication, St. Patrick brought hope and peace to a people who had been oppressed and neglected. His legacy lives on today as the national holiday celebrated in his name. The true story of St. Patrick is a testament to the power of faith, courage, and resilience. His efforts to spread Christianity and bring hope to the Irish people is an inspirational reminder of the importance of faith and perseverance. His courage and dedication remind us that anything is possible if we remain steadfast in our convictions and that our faith can lead us to great things. St. Patrick's legacy will live on for generations to come, and his story will continue to inspire people to strive for greatness.

As for the snakes, they report he led out of Ireland - he took them all to Arizona.