AN UNLIKELY HOLIDAY CELEBRATION

Cultural holidays can come in unlikely ways. Consider the life of Patricius. His March 17th date of death is marked yearly with often raucous celebrations in numerous parts of the world, including ours. He was born into a wealthy and influential family around 385 A.D. However, life took a difficult turn when this sixteen year old Roman citizen of Britain was captured by pirates and cruelly sold into slavery in Ireland. For most, that would mean a life consigned to hopeless misery and an early death. But God had different plans for this young man’s life.

Patricius did his best to survive as an isolated, cold, and hungry shepherd for Miliucc, a minor Irish chieftain. His Christian upbringing, largely ignored by him growing up, began to take on deep and personal significance as God called him to constant prayer as he toiled for six years. After this time, he heard a voice say to him, “Your hungers are rewarded: you are going home.” Patricius was obviously surprised by this! The voice then spoke again and said, “Look, your ship is ready.” He obeyed and began an amazing 320 kilometre journey towards the sea where God provided a ship for him to board going heading to the European mainland. Through a dangerous and difficult journey, God miraculously provided food and protection for both him and his travelling companions. Finally, he made it safely back to his parents in Britain a few years later where he was joyfully welcomed back. Of course, they urged him to settle down and not leave them again. And what young freed slave would not joyfully comply?

Yet again, God had different plans. One night, God gives Patricius a vision of an Irish man who urges, “We beg you to come and walk among us once more.” Very understandably he resists until Jesus begins to speak to his heart: “He who gave his life for you, he it is who speaks within you.” Patricius, the former slave of the Irish, is called as a missionary to the Irish. He left his family to begin his theological education and is ordained as a priest and bishop with a commission as the first missionary to the Irish. He who had been freed from physical slavery, was now tasked with freeing his former masters from their spiritual slavery.

How the Holy Spirit must have done a deep work in his soul to obey this call! If we are honest, most of us would hate our former captors and pray God’s wrath and judgement down upon them. But God placed an uncommon love in his heart for these people who he began to deeply identify with and work for their spiritual and physical betterment. Over his life, God used him powerfully to see many converted and called to Christ. He established churches, leaders, and training institutions throughout most of Ireland. Furthermore, he was the first know human to speak out against the unjust and oppressive practice of slavery as he played a leading role in helping end the slave trade in Ireland. God also used him in other ways, including helping the plight of women and in ending some of the violence between the various chieftains and clans. A man who could rightfully justify being a lifelong enemy of the Irish identifies with them and becomes their greatest advocate. How the good news of God’s grace redeems and transforms lives!

I pray that on March 17th when you celebrate Patricius, the patron saint of Ireland, better known as St. Patrick, you don’t just think of green Guinness, shamrock shakes, and wearing green. May you be turned in worship and wonder to our great God who uses even the most unlikely of people in his grand missionary plans and purposes. May he even use you!

“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 in the heart of every man who thinks of me,
Christ in the mouth of every man who speaks of me,
Christ in the eye that sees me,
Christ in the ear that hears me.

I arise today
Through a mighty strength, the invocation of the Trinity,
Through a belief in the Threeness,
Through a confession of the Oneness
Of the Creator of creation

~From the prayer know as the Lorica, attributed to Saint Patrick

Sources:
-St. Patrick, Confession, https://www.confessio.ie/etexts/confessio_english#.
-Cahill, Thomas. St. Patrick: The First Missionary (A Vintage Short). Knopf Doubleday Publishing Group. Kindle Edition.