Jose's place

lunes, 16 de marzo de 2009

The Legend of St Patrick Celebrated on 17th March

Patrick was born in Britain in the year 387. His real name is Maewyn Succat. The name St. Patrick was given to him later by Pope Celestine. He was the son of a Roman family.

When he was 16, he was captured and became a slave in Ireland. He spent a lot of time alone as a shepard looking after his master's sheep. During this time, his spirituality awakened and his belief in God became strong. He used to pray many times in a day. After 6 years he escaped.

He managed to return to his family and home. After his escape, he visited the St. Martin's monastry at Tours. He stayed in Britain for eighteen years. During those years, he was still haunted by memories of Ireland and would often speak of his experiences in Ireland with St. Germain. The Bishop. He was called to Rome and made a Bishop by Pope Celestine in 432 before he went on his mission to Ireland. It was during that occasion that the name "Patritius" was given to him. The name comes from two Latin words, "pater civium" meaning "the father of his people".

In Ireland Patrick was imprisoned by the Druids but managed to escape. There are also many legends which talks about the miracles and magical fights between him and the Druids. Patrick is most known for is pushing the snakes off Ireland. Some stories tell that he stood on a hill and used a wooden staff to drive the snakes into the sea and banished them forever from Ireland.

Ho

wever, he finally became friends with the Irish kings later. He spent the next 28 years traveling across the countryside to spread the word of God. He could do this easily as he was fluent with the Celtic language. He converted almost every body in the island.

Legend has it that St. Patrick used the shamrock to explain the Trinity - Father, Son and Holy

Spirit. The word "shamrock" comes from the Gaelic word "seamrog" (In irish, it means "summer plant") meaning "trefoil" (three leaves) or "little clover". Shamrock is the national flower of Ireland. Many Irish people wear a shamrock on St. Patrick's Day. It is not the Irish national emblem. The harp has that honor. This explains the color green and shamrocks on St. Patrick's Day. Today, if you do not wear green on St. Patrick's Day, you will get pinched !!

St. Patrick died at Saul, Downpatrick, Ireland, on the 17 March, 461 A.D at the age of 76. This is why we celebrate St. Patrick's Day on the seventeenth of March. St. Patrick is the patron saint of Ireland.