Maewyn Succat (was given the name Patrick years later when he was ordained) was born in the late fourth century in Britain - into a religious family - a good family. He likely memorized the catechism as a young boy and knew the Scriptures well also. At some point during Patrick’s teenage years, Celtic pirates invaded his town and he was kidnapped, smuggled onto a pirate ship and carried off to Ireland. Patrick was eventually sold as a slave to a chieftain - was cut off from family and home - and was very much alone. I imagine he wasn’t much older than my teenaged grandchildren.

Patrick was given the responsibility of a shepherd for the chieftain and this position kept him isolated from humans. For weeks at a time, Patrick moved the sheep - sometimes in the freezing cold - the rain - sometimes sunshine but history tells us he was homesick and hungry most of the time. It was during these long, lonely days and nights that Patrick experienced a closeness with God he had never felt before. All the catechism he had studied and the Bible stories he had learned as a child returned to him. He began to pray night and day. He began to sense God’s Spirit in powerful ways. He took great notice of the Creator - probably because of the vast, green pastures - the bleating of the helpless sheep - and the ever-changing colours of the endless sky.

Patrick - “The Lord opened up my awareness of my lack of faith. Even though it came about late, I recognized my failings. So I turned with all my heart to the Lord my God and He looked down on my lowliness and had mercy on my youthful ignorance. He guarded me before I knew Him and before I came to wisdom and could distinguish between good and evil - He protected me and consoled me as a father does for his son.”

Miraculously six years after his capture, Patrick was awakened from a deep sleep in the middle of the night. He heard the voice of God say - “soon you will depart for your home country. Behold - your ship is ready.” Imagine? There was no waiting around for Patrick. Immediately, when morning came, Patrick fled - some 200 miles - in the direction of the sea. He arrived near an inlet - trekked up a hill and sure enough - a ship lay ready to leave. He made his way on board - and soon - he was going home.

I imagine it was quite a homecoming! Parents overwhelmed! Siblings excited! The town folk incredulous! The boy who had been dead to them (so to speak) was alive and well and home. Home!

But Patrick had been forever changed - Welsh by birth - schooled in classic Latin - but now - Celtic. It was hard to know where he belonged.

Sometime later - Patrick had another vision. In this particular vision he saw an Irishman holding up letters - entitled - The Voice of the Irish. When Patrick saw those words - he heard the cries of the multitudes - begging him to come back to Ireland and live among them. That vision recurred many times before Patrick finally responded - with a firm willingness to go. Before he returned to Ireland though - he spent several years in a French monastery learning spiritual practices and took theological training. Finally at the age of 48, Patrick was sent out as one of the first church planters to the Celtic peoples of Ireland.

History and legend indicate that Patrick’s patience, gentleness, kindness and courage invited conversations that led to a sweeping spiritual renewal of the Irish people. He moved from clan to clan throughout the county, sharing the saving gospel of Jesus Christ. It is said that Ireland is the only country in that era of history where conversion to Christianity happened without bloodshed. Patrick allowed Celtic culture to breathe and morph with its newfound faith. He was less interested in expanding the Roman Catholic church - but more interested in treating the Celts as children of God.

Consider Patrick’s prayer and may it bless you today.

“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 word to speak for me; God’s hand to guard me; God’s way to lie before me; God’s hosts to save me from the snares of the devil; From temptations of vices; From everyone who desires me ill; Afar and anear; Alone or in a multitude……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.”