Saint Patrick
Also known as
- Apostle of Ireland
- Maewyn Succat
- Patricius
- Patrizio
Profile
Kidnapped from the British mainland around age 16, and shipped to Ireland as a slave. Sent to the mountains as a shepherd, he spent his time in the field in prayer. After six years of this life, he received had a dream in which he was commanded to return to Britain; seeing it as a sign, he escaped. He studied in several monasteries in Europe. Priest. Bishop. Sent by Pope Celestine to evangelize England, then Ireland, during which his chariot driver was Saint Odran, and Saint Jarlath was one of his spiritual students. In 33 years he effectively converted the Ireland. In the Middle Ages Ireland became known as the Land of Saints, and during the Dark Ages its monasteries were the great repositories of learning in Europe, all a consequence of Patrick’s ministry.
Born
Name Meaning
- warlike (Succat – pagan birth name);
- noble (Patricius – baptismal name)
- against fear of snakes
- against ophidiophobia
- against snake bites
- against snakes
- barbers
- barrel makers
- blacksmiths
- cattle
- coopers
- engineers
- excluded people
- hairdressers
- miners
- ophidiophobics
- —
- Ireland
- Nigeria (1961)
- —
- Adelaide, Australia, archdiocese of
- Armagh, Ireland, archdiocese of
- Auckland, New Zealand, diocese of
- Ballarat, Australia, diocese of
- Boston, Massachusetts, archdiocese of
- Burlington, Vermont, diocese of
- Cape Town, South Africa, archdiocese of
- Corpus Christi, Texas, diocese of
- Dromore, Ireland, diocese of
- El Paso, Texas, diocese of
- Erie, Pennsylvania, diocese of
- Fort Worth, Texas, diocese of
- Harrisburg, Pennsylvania, diocese of
- Kilmore, Ireland, diocese of
- London, Ontario, Canada, diocese of
- Los Angeles, California, archdiocese of
- Madison, Wisconsin, diocese of
- Melbourne, Australia, archdiocese of
- Mymensingh, Bangladesh, diocese of
- New York, New York, archdiocese of
- Newark, New Jersey, archdiocese of
- Norwich, Connecticut, diocese of
- Ottawa-Cornwall, Ontario, archdiocese of
- Peterborough, Ontario, diocese of
- Poona, India, diocese of
- Port Elizabeth, South Africa, diocese of
- Portland, Maine, diocese of
- Rapid City, South Dakota, diocese of
- Sacramento, California, diocese of
- Saint John, New Brunswick, diocese of
- San Francisco, California, archdiocese of
- Thunder Bay, Ontario, diocese of
- –
- Glastonbury, England
- Loiza, Puerto Rico
- baptismal font
- demons
- harp
- bishop driving snakes before him
- bishop trampling on snakes
- snakes
- cross
- Purgatory
- serpent
- shamrock
- preaching to wolves (as mentioned in a legend about him; may be a metaphor for bringing the Gospel to rough-living men)
Readings
I came to the Irish people to preach the Gospel and endure the taunts of unbelievers, putting up with reproaches about my earthly pilgrimage, suffering many persecutions, even bondage, and losing my birthright of freedom for the benefit of others. If I am worthy, I am ready also to give up my life, without hesitation and most willingly, for Christ’s name. I want to spend myself for that country, even in death, if the Lord should grant me this favor. It is among that people that I want to wait for the promise made by him, who assuredly never tells a lie. He makes this promise in the Gospel: “They shall come from the east and west and sit down with Abraham, Isaac and Jacob.” This is our faith: believers are to come from the whole world. – from the Confession of Saint Patrick
Christ shield me this day:
Christ be with me,
Christ within me,
Christ with me,
Christ before me,
Christ behind me,
Christ beside me
Christ to win me,
Christ beneath me,
Christ above me,
Christ on my right,
Christ on my left,
Christ in quiet,
Christ in danger,
Christ to comfort me and restore me,
Christ when I lie down,
Christ when I arise,
Christ in the heart of every person who thinks of me,
Christ in every eye that sees me,
Christ in the ear that hears me– Saint Patrick, from his breast-plate
MLA Citation
- “Saint Patrick“. CatholicSaints.Info. 28 February 2024. Web. 20 April 2024. <>