That’s how St. Patrick was known in his native Cymru (that’s Wales, in case you wondered). St. Patrick was born, in Banwen, near Castell Nedd (Neath). He was the son of a prosperous merchant who is claimed to have been a Roman citizen. But wait! The Romans left Britain in the year 410. There weren’t any left by the year of Patrick’s birth. Interesting, isn’t it. So-o, what happened next? Who provided protection against marauders after the Romans left the sceptered isle? How did Patrick suddenly get to be a saint in Ireland? Well, as it happens, it didn’t happen suddenly.
St. Patrick's Breastplate When he was around 16 years old, Patrick and his sister were captured by Irish pirates who made them slaves. A lot of Irishmen and others made a prosperous living by being pirates in those days, and they made the people they stole into slaves. As for those men who protected the shores of Britain? Well, ahem, there weren't any. St. Patrick (but of course, he wasn’t a saint at that stage) spent many years as a shepherd. Eventually he escaped and returned to Wales—which was known as Britain in those long ago days—and, after a while, made his way to Brittany where he studied and was ordained as a monk. He traveled to Rome and was ordained as a bishop after some time had passed. Afterward, Patrick returned to Ireland where he toiled on his personal mission of feeding and sheltering the hungry and poor.
(I don't think it happened quite this way.) Just in case you wondered about those snakes he chased out of Ireland, it’s most likely that Ireland never had any to begin with. But just in case it was you, St. Patrick, I want to offer a fervent thank you!
Isn’t this an interesting bit of history? Now aren’t you sorry you didn’t listen closer in those classes you once thought were so dull? But I almost forgot…although St. Patick had nothing to do with this, I wanted to leave you with a little Celtic blessing.
