Thank God for Saint Patrick

I am part Irish, and have a personal interest in Patricus (Saint Patrick).  You will once again find it Amazing that our father wastes nothing and uses everything for His purposes in our lives.  Here's part of Patrick's story as written by my friend Marc Fluet... enjoy.

“The Story and Message of the Beloved St. Patrick”

Of all the Catholic Saints known by Americans, St. Patrick, the patron saint of Ireland, is probably the most famous. Indeed, one day a year is set aside to celebrate his life. For Irish-Americans it’s an opportunity to celebrate their heritage and to share it with the rest of the country.  But as famous as St. Patrick is, many of us have never heard his remarkable story and how he truly changed Ireland forever.
This little pamphlet was prepared to help you celebrate this day and share with you the story and message of St. Patrick.

“Captured Into Slavery”

In 430 A.D. a sixteen year old Roman Brit, the son of a civil magistrate and tax collector, named Patricius walked along the beach with his family. In the distance a fleet of 50 long boats could be seen headed toward shore. Patricius had heard stories of barbarian invasions, how Irish warriors ransacked Roman villages and carried away the able bodied survivors as slaves. Fear filled his heart as he ran towards town and the helmeted Irish warriors landed on the shore.
At days end his village lay demolished and young Patrick found himself bound and carried aboard a boat headed for Northern Ireland. There he was sold as a slave to a warrior chief.  Patrick would spend six years as a pig herder in the Northern Irish hills. During this time Patrick suffered from the cold, hunger, thirst, and incredible loneliness.  All alone in the mountains he turned to the God of his fathers for comfort and strength. He began to pray and his faith grew.

“The Great Escape”

In his autobiography Patrick wrote of a mysterious voice that spoke to him, “You do well to fast, soon you will return to your homeland.”  He continued in the hills until the voice came to him again and told him, “Come and see your ship is waiting for you.”  Patrick obeyed and fled two hundred miles on foot to a southeastern harbor. There he boarded a ship bound for Europe. Upon arriving he was reunited with some surviving family members. After formal study he entered the ministry and again God spoke to him in a clear way. This time, during a dream, he saw a vision of a man from Ireland…

“A Call To Return To The Land He Fled?”

Patrick records in his “Confessions” of a dream he had that would change Ireland forever. He writes, “I had a vision in my dreams of a man who seemed to come from Ireland… His name was Victoricius, and he carried countless letters, one of which he handed over to me. I read aloud where it began: “The Voice of the Irish”.  And as I began to read these words I seemed to hear the voice of the same men who lived besides the Forest of Focult… and they cried out with one voice, “We appeal to you, holy servant boy, to come and walk among us.”
Patrick obeyed the vision and returned to Ireland in 461 A.D. This time not as a slave boy but as a missionary of God sent to bring the message of God’s love to a people who once enslaved him.

“Patrick’s Preaching Brings an End To Slavery And Human Sacrifices”

Major changes began to take place in Ireland after Patrick began to travel and preach. Patrick, as a former slave, spoke out boldly against slavery. Through his influence, the slave trade was completely abolished during his lifetime.
 
The Irish people were also held in bondage to fear. The Druids were the spiritual leaders in Ireland before Patrick came. They practiced witchcraft, black magic, and controlled the common people through the fear of their curses, incantations, and magic spells. The Druids taught that the “gods” were hateful and angry with the people and needed to be appeased. To find favor with these “gods” the people would take part in human sacrifices. Very often newborn babies were slaughtered and offered upon altars.
As Patrick preached about the one true God, the power and influence the Druids had over the people declined. The Druids were furious and Patrick’s life was constantly in danger, yet he placed himself in God’s hand and trusted Him for protection. As the people accepted the message Patrick preached the bloody human sacrifices came to an end.

“The Message Patrick Preached”

Patrick taught the Irish people about the Creator of the Universe, The Triune God, who existed from all eternity as the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. Patrick taught the one true God loved them and was infinitely merciful and good. He also taught them that his God was holy, pure, and free from sin, and the people’s sin kept them from a relationship with this Holy God. He shared with them how God was Just and Righteous and as such must judge their sins and punish them. He warned that they were in danger of being sentenced to an eternity in Hell by this Judge, as the penalty for the sins they had committed. This God, out of love and mercy had provided a way of escape, the One Perfect Sacrifice.

“The One Perfect Sacrifice”

Patrick explained that God the Father sent God the son, Jesus, to be born a human baby and grow to be the perfect man, who would willingly die on the cross.  In our place, Jesus suffered and died as the perfect sacrifice for us. On the cross Christ paid the penalty for our sins, He received the punishment due us for breaking God’s laws. There was nothing the Irish people (or we) could do to take away those sins. No amount of tribal rituals or traditions could save them. No amount of prayers or good works would do. God had to provide the perfect sacrifice. No only did Christ die but he also rose victoriously from the grave to prove to us who he was and that his sacrifice was accepted.

“Because Of Jesus”

·        Because of what Jesus had done the Irish people need not fear death or judgment.
·        Because of Jesus the Irish could have a Relationship with their Creator.
·        Because of Jesus the Irish people could receive the gift of eternal life.