Saint Patrick’s Day Parade, Springfield Pa., March 15, 2014
Saint Patrick was a rich Brit born in 390 and kidnapped at age 16
where he was taken to Ireland to work as a sheep-herding slave.
While in the Emerald Isle he had a religious experience, converted to Christianity and was directed by a voice to escape, which he did catching a ride on a pirate ship back to Britain. In Patrick’s absence, Britain had been deserted by the Romans after a 400-year occupation.
Patrick was reunited with his family and began studying for the priesthood. He was ordained, then returned to Ireland to begin converting the natives.
That was not easy. He was constantly beaten by members of populace, bothered by the Irish royalty, and lectured by his ecclesiastic bosses in Britain.
Despite this, his perseverance bore fruit and today the three-leafed shamrock is the nation’s symbol as it is said to have been used by Patrick to explain how the three persons of the Trinity can be one.
Patrick died on March 17, 461, which gives us the day we celebrate his life.
The parties and parades, of course, are an American creation are more likely to happen on the weekend preceding the day itself.