~*`HISTORY OF ST PATRICK OF IRELAND`*~
~*`HISTORY OF ST PATRICK`*~
~OF IRELAND~
St. Patrick, the patron saint of Ireland,
is one of Christianity's most widely known figures.
But for all his celebrity, his life remains somewhat of a mystery.
Many of the\ traditionally associated with St. Patrick, including the
famous account of his banishing all the snakes from Ireland, are false, the
products of hundreds of years of exaggerated storytelling.
It is known that St. Patrick was born in Britain to wealthy parents
near the end of the fourth century.
He is believed to have died on March 17, around 460 A.D.
Although his father was a Christian deacon,
it has been suggested that he probably took on the role because
of tax incentives and there is no evidence that Patrick came from
a particularly religious family.
At the age of sixteen, Patrick was taken prisoner by a group of
Irish raiders who were attacking his family's estate.
They transported him to Ireland where he spent six years in captivity.
(There is some dispute over where this captivity took place.
Although many believe he was taken to live in Mount Slemish in
County Antrim,
it is more likely that he was held in County Mayo near Killala.)
During this time, he worked as a shepherd, outdoors and away from people.
Lonely and afraid, he turned to his religion for solace, becoming a devout
Christian. (It is also believed that Patrick first began to dream of
converting the Irish people to Christianity during his captivity.)
Guided By Visions
After more than six years as a prisoner, Patrick escaped.
According to his writing, a voice-which he believed to be God's-spoke to him
in a dream, telling him it was time to leave Ireland.
To do so, Patrick walked nearly 200 miles from County Mayo, where it is
believed he was held, to the Irish coast.
After escaping to Britain, Patrick reported that he experienced a second
revelation-an angel in a dream tells him to return to Ireland as a missionary.
Soon after, Patrick began religious training, a course of study that lasted
more than fifteen years.
After his ordination as a priest, he was sent to Ireland
with a dual mission-to minister to Christians already living in Ireland
and to begin to convert the Irish.
(Interestingly, this mission contradicts the widely held notion that Patrick
introduced Christianity to Ireland.)
Bonfires and Crosses
Familiar with the Irish language and culture, Patrick chose to incorporate
traditional ritual into his lessons of Christianity instead of attempting to
eradicate native Irish beliefs.
For instance, he used bonfires to celebrate Easter since the Irish were used
to honoring their gods with fire.
He also superimposed a sun, a powerful Irish symbol, onto the Christian cross
to create what is now called a Celtic cross, so that veneration of the symbol
would seem more natural to the Irish.
(Although there were a small number of Christians on the island when Patrick
arrived, most Irish practiced a nature-based pagan religion.
The Irish culture centered around a rich tradition of oral legend and myth.
When this is considered, it is no surprise that the story of Patrick's life
became exaggerated over the centuries-spinning exciting tales to remember
history has always been a part of the Irish way of life.)
~AUTHOR UNKNOWN~
Graphics/audio/Presented by:
`MJB`©*2009*
`Redesigned:*©*2011*
`Mary Jane's Poetry`
`Never Ending Circle Of Love`
By`Janie/mjfb1954`
**REVIEWED*17*MAR*2014*
`May You Always Find True Friendships
Once Found, Don't Ever Let It GO
As It Is A Once In A Lifetime Blessing
Only Made Possible With The Love Of God`
~*~L*o*v*e~*~
God's Blessings To You & Yours!
`Janie a.k.a.~'MJB'~
~*`HISTORY OF ST PATRICK OF IRELAND`*~
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