Patrick

Excerpt from Chapter 6 of Christ’s Faithful Servants, copyright 2023

Fifth Century Ireland. In about 400, the Irish still worshiped a variety of nature gods—such as the sun and moon—and believed in magic, fairies, and elves. The Irish routinely sacrificed their first-born infants to one of their chief gods, the Crom Cruach. Christianity was virtually unknown. A hundred years later, Ireland was almost entirely Catholic. This remarkable turn of events was due largely to the determined and unceasing efforts of one man, the patron saint of Ireland, Saint Patrick.

Patrick’s First Trip to Ireland. Patrick was born in about 389, in Roman Britain,[1] in the English village of Bonnaventa. He was the son of middle class Christian parents, and he tells us in his Confessions that he was the grandson of a priest. Although his education was simple, he knew the Bible and could quote many passages from memory. At the age of sixteen he became an unwilling Irish immigrant when some Irish raiders kidnapped him, beat him almost to death, and carried him to Ireland. He became the slave of Miliucc MacBuain.[2] In this isolation, Patrick found God, or perhaps a deeper relationship with him. Patrick began to fill his waking moments with prayer. His religious devotion became so strong that he would go outside to pray every morning before sunrise, even in rain or snow.

After six years in Ireland, Patrick escaped. . . .

Christ’s Faithful Servants is available on Amazon.com.


[1]. Britain did not remain Roman for long. The Roman army withdrew from Britain in 409, which was probably during the time Patrick was a prisoner in Ireland.

[2]. MacBuain means “son of Buain.” When Patrick later returned to Ireland, MacBuain burned himself to death rather than face Patrick again.