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CHRISTIAN COMMENTS by Reg Block
March 17 is St. Patrick’s Day. For businesses it’s a marketing opportunity
while for others it’s a day to wear a shamrock or something green. But who
was St. Patrick? What did he do? Where did he come from? And why is he so well
known?
I think it is important to point out that St. Patrick was not Irish, but he was
born somewhere in Britain. His parents, Calphurnius and Conchessa were high ranking
Romans from either Gaul or Britain.
At the age of 16, Patrick was captured in an Irish raid and sold into slavery.
For six years he tended his master’s livestock near what is now the town
of Balleymena. At 22, Patrick had a dream in which an angel told him to flee captivity.
Escaping from his cruel master, he made his way to the coast some 200 miles away
and boarded a ship headed for Britain.
Once there, Patrick became a monk, dedicating his life to God and the ministry.
As the story goes, 20 years later he had another vision instructing him to return
to Ireland and preach the gospel. Which is exactly what he did.
In the winter of 432, Patrick and 24 of his followers arrived in Ireland to share
the good news with the druids. Although Patrick’s formal Latin education
was somewhat lacking, his ability to speak Celtic served him well.
It is known that Ireland at the time was a land of paganism and for the past 400
years few if any had been there to share the gospel. The inhabitants constantly
warred with each other, practised human sacrifice and engaged in the slave trade.
Patrick condemned slavery and empathized with the suffering of others, having
himself been a slave. He is counted among the few Christian leaders, who at the
time, spoke up for the rights of women. As Ireland at that time was essentially
free from Greco-Roman influences, the Christianity that developed was more primitive
and less political, adopting a more joyful and celebratory attitude. Patrick was
a man well ahead of his time.
While the papacy had not yet determined that slavery and subjugation of women
were immoral, Patrick was busily converting a nation to the Christian model Jesus
had taught.
It is often said that Patrick used the shamrock to illustrate the doctrine of
the Trinity, a leaf of one substance yet possessing three parts while all the
time remaining one leaf. It is also said that he chased all the snakes out of
Ireland, a claim that is not true, as there never were snakes in Ireland. The
story more likely demonstrates the end of paganism in the land.
As Patrick believed it was his God-given mission to preach the gospel throughout
Ireland, he travelled all over the country at great personal risk. In The Confessions
of St. Patrick, translated by Ludwig Bieler, Patrick shares his many trials and
tribulations. In one instance he says, "Daily I expect murder, fraud, or
captivity, or whatever it may be; but I fear none of these things because of the
promises of heaven."
Today St. Patrick’s example is no less relevant than it was 1,500 years
ago. He is regarded by many as a champion of the downtrodden, a man who understood
and felt other people’s suffering and someone with the courage to speak
up against injustice. Also, it is probable that St. Patrick’s conversion
of Ireland and subsequently the monasteries that sprang up helped to preserve
literacy during Europe’s Dark Ages.
The Irish regarded St. Patrick as a saint and hero long before the Roman church
canonized him. His contribution to Ireland was felt far and wide during his life
and well after. At the time of St. Patrick’s death or shortly thereafter,
the face of warring had changed, becoming more restricted and human sacrifice
was no longer tolerated in Ireland.
March is the month to remember St. Patrick and why his legacy has endured. It
is also a time to reflect on International Women’s Day on March 8, a date
that St. Patrick would most certainly honour, if he were here.
Reg
Block is an apologist for the historic Christian faith. Your questions and comments
are welcome at editor@commonground.ca.
Note: As this is my last column in Common Ground for a while, I would like to
thank the many readers who took the time to correspond with me. Although not always
in agreement, most of the letters and emails I received were considerate and fair
minded. In appreciation of free speech and open dialogue I would like to also
thank the publisher for the opportunity to share aspects of historic Christianity
that, prior to my column, had not been represented in Common Ground. If you would
like to correspondence with me directly please feel free to email me at rjblock@telus.net
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