News & Views
Beyond Green Beer
What do people think of when they think of St. Patrick’s Day? Some think of leprechauns, shamrocks, or green beer. Others think of pinching their friends who forget to wear green. However, St. Patrick’s Day is much more than any of this. A man exists behind the legend.
Born in Britain, Patrick was kidnapped and enslaved by Irish pirates at the age of fifteen. He was sold to an Irish sheep farmer. Before this, Patrick had rejected Christianity. He was living a carefree lifestyle, partying at his parent’s vacation villa. However, in slavery in Ireland, Patrick turned to God. In his Confessions, written later in his life, Patrick said, “It was here in Ireland that God first opened my heart ... He looked down on my miserable condition and had compassion on me.” During the six years of his enslavement, his faith grew, and he spent more and more time with God in prayer.
Then one night Patrick had a dream. In his dream, he heard the voice of God, telling him, “Soon you will be going home.” Then a little later he had another dream, and heard the voice again. “Behold, your ship is ready.” Patrick was given specific directions in his dream that told him where to go to find the ship. The port was over two hundred miles away.
Following the instructions, Patrick ran away from his master and arrived at the ship just as it was launching. But the captain of the ship turned him away. Patrick began to walk away, praying. Then he heard the crew calling after him, telling him he could come with them. The ship took him back to Britain. Patrick was able to return home to his family.
Then one night Patrick had a new vision. He saw a man coming to him from Ireland. The man gave him a letter, and the first words on the letter read, “The Voice of the Irish.” When he began to read the letter, he heard the voices of the Irish calling out to him. They said, “We beg you, holy boy, come here and walk among us!” Patrick said, “My heart was breaking and I was not able to read anymore.” He knew God was leading him to go back to Ireland.
According to Cheryl Odden, author of the book, The Story of St. Patrick: More Than Shamrocks and Leprechauns, “Once Patrick heard God’s voice, he was also sensitive to God’s timing.” He knew that he was unprepared. Despite objections from church leaders who did not believe the Irish were worth saving, Patrick studied and was ordained a bishop and sent to Ireland. Patrick sold his birthright to raise the funds for the passage.
Once in Ireland, Patrick began a ministry of traveling, sharing the Gospel, and teaching people to read and write. This attracted the animosity of the Irish Druids. Cheryl Odden said, “They tried to poison him and even assassinated Patrick’s chariot driver, thinking they had killed Patrick.” However, Patrick continued his ministry until he died in 461 A.D. Many of the Irish became Christians because of him.
Patrick was a man who heard the voice of God and followed his lead. He was willing to return to the country where he was enslaved to save the same people who had kidnapped him. St. Patrick’s day was originally a celebration of his life and ministry. When asked how she would encourage Christians to celebrate St. Patrick’s Day, Cheryl Odden said, “Celebrate ... by giving thanks to God for a man who obeyed His voice and shared Christ amidst threats of death and enslavement. Spend the holiday by setting aside time to get alone in a quiet place with God and evaluate where and how He wants you to be His witness.”