History of St. Patrick

St. Patrick was born in Roman Britain, around 389. When he was 16, he was sold into slavery to Ireland where he was a shepherd for six years.

While in captivity, he studied and turned to religion. He escaped slavery and later returned to Ireland as a missionary, determined to convert Ireland to Christianity. He used the shamrock to explain the Holy Trinity.

He was ordained as Bishop of Ireland in 431. He was able to secure tolerance for Christians in Ireland during his life there.

He is also said to have drummed the snakes from Ireland and into the sea.

He is said to have died in 461 and to be buried in Downpatrick.

St. Patrick's Cathedral in Dublin was built in the 12th Century.

Our God is the God of all,
The God of heaven and earth,
Of the sea and the rivers;
The God of the sun and of the moon
and of all the stars;
The God of the lofty mountains
and of the lowly valleys,
He has His dwelling around heaven
and earth, and sea, and
all that is in them.

-St. Patrick