Lessons of St. Patrick

3/16/2025

Isaiah 6:8: “Then I heard the voice of the Lord saying, “Whom shall I send? And who will go for us?” And I said, “Here am I. Send me!’”

Today we look at the qualities of St. Patrick, and when we look beyond one of the most raucous and celebrated holidays in America, we find a deeper and more profound nature that is worthy of our recognition. 

In the study of St. Patrick, he is not without his detractors. Some claim his missionary work was nothing more than the cultural genocide of the Celtic people. Today, as we reflect on the life of St. Patrick, we keep an open mind and are reminded of the virtues that made him not only a great missionary but also a powerful productive Christian. His journey, from enslavement to that of a global spiritual leadership, teaches us several lessons. Let us explore these themes and learn to embody them in our own lives.

Born in 387, Patricius, as he called himself, or Padraig, as the Irish called him, became the patron saint of Ireland, though he was not Irish. He was born in either Great Britain or Gaul, present day Northern France, the sources do not agree. Of course, he is also the patron saint of Nigeria and Monserrat, as well as the patron saint of engineers, snakes, and snake bites. His influence extends beyond these roles, symbolizing faith and resilience across cultures.

He lived at a time when the Roman Empire was losing control over Western Europe. The Roman Army was being brought back to the center of the Empire. Patrick and his family had to live near a coast, where seaborne pirates would often raid and capture young people that they then sold as slaves.

At the age of 16, Patrick became one of those captured youth and was taken to Ireland where he was sold into slavery. He lived in captivity for six years, learning the Celtic language. St. Patrick's faith sustained him during his enslavement. Though he was the son of a deacon, he did not take his faith seriously until he was kidnapped. Despite being isolated and mistreated, he prayed constantly and trusted God's plan for his life. While a slave, he prayed as often as 100 times each day and as many times at night. Patrick took to heart 1 Thessalonians 5:16-18: “Rejoice always, pray without ceasing, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you.”

Patrick’s time in captivity became a period of spiritual renewal, an unexpected gift from God that prepared him for his future calling. His unwavering faith and unceasing prayer are powerful examples for us when we face trials and were keys to his converting a nation and making an impact on the world.

We are told in Proverbs 3:5-6 – “Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways submit to Him, and He will make your paths straight.” Like Patrick, we are called to trust God even when life seems uncertain or unfair. St. Patrick teaches us that faith grows strongest during adversity when we rely on God’s strength rather than our own.

He eventually escaped and gained passage back home. He immersed himself in Scripture and, despite being enslaved by the Irish, Patrick forgave his captors. Matthew 5:44 reads: “But I tell you, love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you.” It is Christ’s command to each of us. St. Patrick lived this verse by forgiving those who had wronged him and seeking their salvation.

The lesson of forgiveness that St. Patrick brings to us frees us from bitterness and opens the door for reconciliation and healing. Patrick’s forgiveness transformed his pain into purpose, allowing him to lead others toward Christ.

Not only did he forgive his captors, but he became a priest and heard Spirit calling him to return to Ireland. Patricius demonstrated extraordinary courage by answering that call and returning to Ireland to preach the love of Christ despite the opposition from the pagan leaders, despite his earlier life experience of isolation from home and family, the harsh labor and weather conditions, and his being “humbled everyday by hunger and nakedness,” and despite witnessing the violence and human sacrifice of Druid practices.  

Joshua 1:9 tells us: “Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged, for the Lord your God will be with you wherever you go.” Patrick trusted that God would protect him as he boldly proclaimed the truth.

The lesson St. Patrick gives us is that courage is not the absence of fear but the willingness to act despite fear. Like Patrick, we are called to step out in faith and share God’s love with others, even when it feels risky or uncomfortable.

Throughout his ministry, Patrick remained humble, acknowledging that his success was due to God’s grace rather than his own abilities. He referred to himself as “a sinner” and “the least of all.” His sentiments reflect the words of James 4:10 - “Humble yourselves before the Lord, and He will lift you up.” Patrick’s humility allowed him to serve others selflessly and glorify God through his work.

As he taught Christianity, he did not force others to see things his way. From History.com comes this quote: “Familiar with the Irish language and culture, Patrick chose to incorporate traditional ritual into his lessons of Christianity instead of attempting to eradicate native Irish beliefs. For instance, he used bonfires to celebrate Easter since the Irish were used to honoring their gods with fire. He also superimposed a sun, a powerful Irish symbol, onto the Christian cross to create what is now called a Celtic cross, so that veneration of the symbol would seem more natural to the Irish.”  His was a humble gentle style. True leadership begins with humility – recognizing that our gifts come from God and using them to serve others rather than elevate ourselves.

Patrick faced numerous challenges throughout his calling: hostility from pagan leaders, physical danger, and rejection, but he persevered because he trusted God’s calling on his life. We will face our own challenges, and the same advice serves us. From Hebrews 12:1-2 we hear: “Let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us, fixing our eyes on Jesus.” It is all about persevering focus. St. Patrick kept his focus on Christ despite obstacles, inspiring others with his resilience. As St. Patrick teaches us, perseverance is fueled by hope in God’s promises. When we fix our eyes on Spirit, we can endure hardships with confidence that He will sustain us.

St. Patrick’s life offers timeless lessons about living as faithful disciples of Christ: Trusting God during adversity, forgiving others as Christ forgives us, acting courageously in service to His purpose for us, leading others and living a life of humility, and persevering through trials with our focus always on God.

It is my prayer that in our celebration of St. Patrick’s Day we honor the positive aspect of his legacy by embodying these virtues in our own lives. May we draw closer to God through faith and unceasing prayer, extend forgiveness freely, act boldly through His love, lead humbly by example, and persevere with hope through every challenge. I pray that through our example in living, not just our words, we spread the love and being of Christ to other hearts.

May the road rise up to meet you.

May the wind be always at your back.

May the sun shine warm upon your face;

And the rains fall soft upon your fields,

And until we meet again,

May God hold you in the palm of his hand.

And with that, I wish you a Happy St. Patrick’s Day.