Captured by Irish barbarian Pirates at the age of 16, Patrick didn't speak much of his early years.
He opened his autobiography with this:
"My name is Patrick. I am a sinner, a simple country person, and the least of all believers. I am looked down upon by many. My father was Calpornius. He was a deacon; his father was Potitus, a priest, who lived at Bannavem Taburniae. His home was near there, and that is where I was taken prisoner. I was about sixteen at the time."
Patrick was a prisoner for six years until one day he was given a dream, quite possibly a vision from God for an escape route that would be a 200 mile venture on foot toward the ocean shore, where he would come upon a ship that would lead him back home.
Before he was taken captive, Patrick's faith was not at the forefront of importance. It was after being captive for many years that gave him the desire to return to pagan Ireland, where eventually a pagan Irish King Leogaire who had once threatened Patrick's life would convert to Christianity and eventually even be baptized.
Patrick planted churches throughout Ireland and is known as the "Apostle of Ireland." It has been said that it is quite likely he would use the natural items like the clover (the shamrock) to teach pagans about the Trinity of God, as One - yet three in persons.
Pagans that once had held him captive, he was able to point to Christ. He wrote a prayer on the face of his shield that said much about who he really was, as he said, "I am a sinner, not a saint."
"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."
May we be so bold as this Apostle, Amen.
Today may you consider adding a little bit of orange into your green wardrobe. Green was a strong representation of the Roman Catholic Church. Orange was the representation of (Protestantism) Christianity by William of Orange and although part of the story a church is represented, Patrick was "Apostle Patrick," a man of God that spread Christianity throughout Ireland. Now when people wonder why they see more Orange on Saint Patrick's day, you'll have a great story to share!
