Our Patron Saint
St. Patrick, Apostle of Ireland
Missionary bishop, fearless preacher, and witness to the transforming power of Christ.
Who Was St. Patrick?
St. Patrick was a fifth-century bishop and missionary who brought the Gospel to Ireland. Though he is honored today as Ireland’s patron saint, Patrick was not born there. He was born in Roman Britain, kidnapped as a teenager by Irish raiders, and taken to Ireland as a slave.
During six difficult years of captivity, Patrick’s faith deepened. He later escaped, returned home, and eventually became a priest and bishop. In one of the most remarkable acts of missionary charity in Christian history, he returned freely to the land of his captivity in order to preach Christ to the Irish people.
St. Patrick’s life is known not only through later tradition, but through his own surviving writings, especially the Confessio and the Letter to the Soldiers of Coroticus. These works reveal a man of humility, courage, deep prayer, and burning zeal for the salvation of souls.
The Pilgrimage of St. Patrick
St. Patrick’s life unfolds as a pilgrimage of providence: from Roman Britain to slavery in Ireland, from captivity to conversion, and from escape to apostolic mission.
The Paschal Fire at the Hill of Slane
Around A.D. 433, the High King Laoghaire mac Néill held a great pagan festival at Tara, the royal seat of the kings of Ireland. This gathering marked the beginning of spring and the lighting of the fire of Beltane, a pagan ritual overseen by the druids. According to custom, no fire could be lit anywhere in Ireland before the king’s fire was kindled at Tara.
Patrick, however, was celebrating the Easter Vigil with his companions at the nearby Hill of Slane, about ten miles away.
On the night of Easter, Patrick lit the Paschal fire, the new fire symbolizing the Resurrection of Christ.
The blaze was seen from Tara.
The king’s druids were alarmed and warned him with these words:
“If this fire is not extinguished tonight, it will never be extinguished in Ireland.”
Laoghaire sent soldiers to arrest Patrick and bring him before the royal court.
Patrick went to Tara and boldly proclaimed the Gospel before the king, the druids, and the assembled nobles. Early Irish accounts describe a dramatic confrontation between Patrick and the druids as he defended the Christian faith and preached Christ to those gathered there.
Although the king himself did not convert, many of those present believed and were baptized, including several nobles and members of the royal household.
From that moment Patrick was permitted to continue preaching throughout Ireland. In the years that followed, the Christian faith spread rapidly across the island.
Source: Muirchú, Vita Sancti Patricii (7th century), preserved in the Book of Armagh.
From St. Patrick’s Own Words
One of the most moving things about St. Patrick is that we can still hear his own voice. In the Confessio, he speaks with humility, gratitude, and wonder at what God had done in his life.
“I was then about sixteen years of age. I did not know the true God. I was taken into captivity to Ireland with many thousands of people—and deservedly so, because we turned away from God, and did not keep His commandments…”
His story is that of a man who was taken captive, brought to repentance, and then sent back as a missionary to the very people among whom he had suffered.
St. Patrick’s Day
March 17 is more than a cultural holiday. For Catholics, it is the feast of a missionary bishop whose life proclaims repentance, courage, and confidence in Christ.
St. Patrick’s Breastplate
Also called the Lorica or The Deer’s Cry, this traditional prayer has long been associated with St. Patrick. It is beloved by Christians as a prayer of protection, faith, and confidence in Christ.
I arise today
Through a mighty strength, the invocation of the Trinity,
Through belief in the Threeness,
Through confession of the Oneness
of the Creator of creation.
I arise today
Through the strength of Christ’s birth with His baptism,
Through the strength of His crucifixion with His burial,
Through the strength of His resurrection with His ascension,
Through the strength of His descent for the judgment of doom.
I arise today
Through the strength of the love of cherubim,
In the obedience of angels,
In the service of archangels,
In the hope of resurrection to meet with reward,
In the prayers of patriarchs,
In the predictions of prophets,
In the preaching of apostles,
In the faith of confessors,
In the innocence of holy virgins,
In the deeds of righteous men.
I arise today, through
The strength of heaven,
The light of the sun,
The radiance of the moon,
The splendor of fire,
The speed of lightning,
The swiftness of wind,
The depth of the sea,
The stability of the earth,
The firmness of rock.
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 ear to hear me,
God’s word to speak for me,
God’s hand to guard me,
God’s shield to protect me,
God’s host to save me
From snares of devils,
From temptation of vices,
From everyone who shall wish me ill,
afar and near.
I summon today
All these powers between me and those evils,
Against every cruel and merciless power
that may oppose my body and soul,
Against incantations of false prophets,
Against black laws of pagandom,
Against false laws of heretics,
Against craft of idolatry,
Against spells of witches and smiths and wizards,
Against every knowledge that corrupts man’s body and soul;
Christ to shield me today
Against poison, against burning,
Against drowning, against wounding,
So that there may come to me an abundance of reward.
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 when I arise,
Christ in the heart of every man who thinks of me,
Christ in the mouth of everyone who speaks of me,
Christ in every eye that sees me,
Christ in every ear that hears me.
I arise today
Through a mighty strength, the invocation of the Trinity,
Through belief in the Threeness,
Through confession of the Oneness
of the Creator of creation.