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