Saint Patrick of Ireland is one of the world’s most popular saints. He was born in Roman Britain and when he was fourteen or so, he was captured by Irish pirates duringĀ a raiding party and taken to Ireland as a slave to herd and tend sheep. At the time, Ireland was a land of Druids and pagans but Patrick turned to God and wrote his memoirĀ The Confession. In this, he wrote: “The love of God and his fear grew in me more and more, as did the faith, and my soul was roused, so that, in a single day, I haveĀ said as many as a hundred prayers and in the night, nearly the same. I prayed in the woods and on the mountain, even before dawn. I felt no hurt from the snow or ice or rain.”
Saint Patrick’s participationĀ within the teachings of God shaped his life in a difficult time and new land. As we also participateĀ in God’s teachings let us act faithfully. We must love the world but let God be first. We must be constant in our love for God and others. We must communicate with God frequently. We must find time for reflection and to reconcile with God when we have done wrong.
Create in me a pure heart, O God, and renew a steadfast spirit within me – Psalms 51:10
St Patrick – Pray for us
