Saint Patrick - Lenten Martyr - Witness

Happy Saint Patrick's Day AND ...
We considered Saint Patrick last evening at our Lenten Mid-week service. Shrouded in some mystery, Patrick certainly dominates the revival of traditional Christianity in Ireland. Parts of his story may be familiar -- kidnapped from his home in Britain at 14 or 16, kept as a slave in Ireland, forced to tend sheep, learned the Celtic tongue, escaped, trained as a priest, and returned as missionary after a vision of an invitation to return to Erin. Not always successful at first, Easter 433 things turned around after his defeat of the challenges from the Druid priests.

It is interesting to note biblical parallels in his story -- tend sheep like David, hear the "Macedonian call" like Paul, battle evil priests over a fire like Elijah.

His unique associations are interesting too -- driving out the snakes from Ireland, (OK, scientists doubt there ever were snakes, but the Druid priests used the symbol of the snake/serpent -- maybe that is the root of the snake tale.) and using the Shamrock (one plant, three leaves) to illustrate the Trinity (one God, three Persons) -- may not have been Patrick, but he was passionate about the Trinity in his teaching, so it makes sense he influenced whoever came up with the idea first!

Here's something I did not know, supposedly Patrick wrestled with an angel (echo of the Jacob story), and was given concessions or guarantees -- no barbarian invasion of Ireland, special blessings for those who sing his "Patrick's Breastplate" song right before death, and most intriguing --- Patrick will judge the Irish race on the Last Day!

I know of no other such case of special treatment at the Last Judgement. Anyone know of another so favored people?

No wonder the Irish from Ireland, America, Australia, and around the globe honor him still!

For us not so Irish, we can still thank him for his faithful witness.