| St. Patrick's Day is known as a day of celebration | | | | After 8 years in captivity, he escaped at the age |
| and festivities, but very few people know the | | | | of twenty-two, and legend has it that an angel |
| true story of St. Patrick and who he really is. By | | | | directed him to spend twelve years in a |
| tradition, he is a patron saint of the Catholic | | | | monastery near Paris, France, where he adopted |
| religion because of the captivity that he went | | | | the name Patrick. It was during this time of |
| through, the time of solitude and his great faith, | | | | captivity that Patrick found God and developed |
| and eventually the number of people that were | | | | the habit of praying throughout the day to |
| converted to know God through him. It is legend | | | | strengthen himself and to be closer to God. It is |
| that he heard angels and they helped him in his | | | | recorded in the Confessio that he would often |
| decisions. All in all, he is known as the patron saint | | | | pray up to 100 times a day. One night, while in |
| of good luck and blessings to the Catholics in that | | | | the monastery, he said he heard many voices |
| era up until the 21st century. | | | | that were calling him back to Ireland to help the |
| St. Patrick was a real live person born in the time | | | | remaining slaves. At this time he was somewhere |
| around 400 AD in Roman Britian, when the British | | | | in his mid thirties and so he answered the callings. |
| Isles were still under the domain of the Romans. | | | | He became one of the first Christian missionaries |
| He was born with the name Maewyn. His name | | | | in Ireland. |
| wasn't changed until he was in the monastery. His | | | | He was confident in the Lord, and he journeyed |
| father was a soldier in the army, and Patrick also | | | | far and wide, baptizing and confirming with untiring |
| reports him to be a deacon, civil official, and a | | | | zeal. Indeed, Patrick was successful at converting |
| town councilor, who was a son of a | | | | Ireland to christianity . And he even made |
| Romano-British priest. The family was Christian, | | | | important converts even among the royal families. |
| but they weren't extremely religious, some | | | | For 20 years he had travelled throughout Ireland, |
| historians even say Patrick was agnostic in his | | | | establishing monasteries, schools and churches, |
| childhood. | | | | which would aid him in his conversions. He died on |
| According to his most famous work, the | | | | March 17th. |
| Confessio, Patrick was captured along with many | | | | You can see how originally this was a Catholic holy |
| others when his village was attacked, and he was | | | | day, but today St. Patrick's Day has evolved into |
| taken to Ireland as a slave. Patrick was under the | | | | more of a secular holiday. Or, rather, 'be Irish Day |
| authority of a druid high priest and his family and | | | | '. Speculation as to why this holiday is so popular |
| here he learned the native Celtic language which | | | | could be the coming of spring that occurs within |
| he later used to communicate, and help those to | | | | just a few days. |
| be converted. | | | | |