Saint Patrick’s Day is a well-known holiday around this part of the world. It serves as a celebration of Ireland and Irish heritage, and many people here at Oratory have some form of Irish ancestry. However, even for those who lack a single drop of Irish blood, Saint Patrick’s day still can serve as a reminder of how to live a holy life. The titular Saint Patrick was a greatly inspiring figure, who, despite his countless trials and tribulations, still chose complete faith and trust over an easy life.
Saint Patrick was born in what is now Scotland during the late fourth century. His father was a deacon, his grandfather a priest. Despite this, like many boys his age, he was not very religious. He was not very concerned with keeping any commandments, and he did not have any desire to be a holy person. This all changed when, at only 16 years old, he was kidnapped by Irish raiders and brought to Ireland, which was pagan at the time. He had to work long hours as a shepherd. In response to this, he became much more religious, and prayed to God often. One day, he received a vision from God, where he was told to escape and return home.
At home, he grew and developed in his faith, eventually becoming a bishop. Once he was ordained, he received another vision where he was told to return to Ireland to teach the people about God. And, despite how much he suffered there, he gladly returned to Ireland to spread the Good News. He was a masterful preacher, helping the Irish people to understand the Word of God, despite its often confusing nature. He used imagery to explain tricky concepts. Most famously, he used the clover, which has three leaves in a single plant, to explain the idea of three persons in a single God. Just as he was such a skilled shepherd of sheep, he became a skilled shepherd of the Irish people. And he was a caring shepherd, denouncing the British mistreatment of the Irish people, despite the danger challenging such a powerful nation posed.
Overall, Saint Patrick was a perfect example of who we should strive to be as Christians- faithful, trusting, strong, and loving. If we are willing to face the challenges life throws at us with as much confidence and faith as Saint Patrick had, we can manage to do anything we set our minds to.
