| The history of St. Patrick's Day, which | | | | |
| started out as a Holy Day for the Irish | | | | After spending 12 years in the study of |
| Catholics in the 10th or 11th century, goes | | | | theology and Catholic Laws, he departed and |
| all the way back to the late 3rd century when | | | | went to Ireland to preach to a heathen |
| a small boy was born in Roman England by the | | | | nation. He spent 30 years in evangelistic |
| name of Maewyn. | | | | and missionary work across the land. He won |
| | | | many converts over, healed people, and it was |
| Maewyn and his family lived in a small town | | | | even said that he raised some people from the |
| where his father was a soldier in the army, | | | | dead. Everywhere he went he announced God, |
| and a member of the town government. Some | | | | and he built many schools and churches to |
| accounts say that Maewyn was an agnostic and | | | | help promote the Catholic religion. Legend |
| some say that his family was Christian, but | | | | has it that angels followed him everywhere, |
| weren't very strong in their faith. Either | | | | and even told him where and how to go. |
| way, it doesn't really matter because it was | | | | |
| what happened later in his life that gained | | | | After 30 years of missionary work, he died on |
| him his notoriety. | | | | March 17th. This is the day that has gone |
| | | | down in history as St. Patrick's Day, for the |
| When Maewyn was only 16, there was a raid on | | | | patron saint of Ireland. |
| his village from Ireland, in the Irish Sea. | | | | |
| They captured Maewyn and many of the | | | | St. Patrick's Day today has grown into much |
| villagers, and took them back to Ireland as | | | | more than just a Holy Day for Catholics. |
| servants and slaves for the local Irish. | | | | Strict Catholics around the world though do |
| | | | remember St. Patrick, usually in an early |
| It was here in captivity that it is reported | | | | Mass on March 17th. But everyone joins in as |
| that Maewyn accepted God, and began to talk | | | | a celebration of St. Patrick's Day and |
| to him. In fact, legend has it that he often | | | | becomes Irish for the day. It has now become |
| spoke to God in prayer up to one hundred | | | | a celebration of spring with parades special |
| times a day. And Maewyn was under the | | | | Irish meals, green tinted drinks and beer, |
| authority of a Celtic family, so he learned | | | | etc. "The wearing of the green" and the |
| the Celtic language and how to speak it | | | | Leprechaun have come about over the years to |
| fluently. Six years later, when he was 22, | | | | be Good Luck and prosperity to all and |
| Maewyn escaped from his servitude, and ran to | | | | everything green typically represents the |
| France. There he joined a monastery and | | | | turning to spring - green is the color of |
| under the direction of the Bishop of France, | | | | life. |
| he studied the Bible. It was this Bishop who | | | | |
| gave him the name Patrick. Legend has it | | | | So, with one day to be Irish, take advantage, |
| that while Patrick was here in the monastery, | | | | and have a wonderful St. Patrick's Day. |
| he heard angels calling him back to Ireland. | | | | |