What is St. Patrick’s Day? Who was Saint Patrick?

what does the bible say?

St. Patrick’s Day honors Saint Patrick, a fifth-century Christian missionary who brought the gospel to Ireland. His mission work reflected the biblical call to love God fully and share His message with all nations. Saint Patrick’s mission aligns with Old Testament teachings on wholehearted devotion to God (Deuteronomy 6:5) and spreading His glory (Psalm 96:3), as well as the New Testament Great Commission to evangelize and baptize (Matthew 28:19-20). Despite being kidnapped and enslaved in Ireland, Patrick returned to share the gospel, demonstrating forgiveness, humility, and faithful witness (2 Timothy 4:2). His use of the shamrock to explain the Trinity shows his approach of connecting biblical truths to the culture he ministered to. Today, St. Patrick’s Day celebrates his legacy and blends religious, cultural, and national elements, while reminding believers of the call to faithfully share Christ’s love.

from the old testament

• Saint Patrick’s mission to bring the gospel to Irel and reflects the Old Testament call to wholehearted devotion to God (Deuteronomy 6:5) and inspires believers to share God’s love with others.
• Patrick’s evangelism aligns with the Old Testament emphasis on spreading God’s glory to all nations (such as Psalm 96:3), including the people of Ireland.

from the new testament

• Saint Patrick exemplified the Great Commission by evangelizing Ireland, teaching and baptizing people in Christ’s name (Matthew 28:19-20).
• In Acts 26:18, Paul describes his mission “to open their eyes, so that they may turn from darkness to light and from the power of Satan to God.” Saint Patrick’s work in converting Irel and from paganism to Christianity echoes this New Testament mission of bringing people from spiritual darkness into God’s light.
• Second Timothy 4:2 states, “Preach the word; be ready in season and out of season…” Saint Patrick’s persistence in spreading the gospel despite challenges reflects this call to faithful witness.

implications for today

Saint Patrick was born in Roman-controlled Britain in the late fourth century. At sixteen, he was kidnapped and sold into slavery in Ireland. He tended his master’s sheep for six years before escaping back to his family. Patrick had many visions, including one telling him to return to Irel and to convert the population to Catholicism. He studied for the priesthood and was ordained as a bishop. He returned to Irel and to build up the few Catholics already there and to draw the Irish from their native pagan religion. More legends exist about St. Patrick than hard facts. It is said he used the three-leafed shamrock to explain the Trinity. Snakes are rare or non-existent in Ireland; this led to the story that St. Patrick banished snakes from the isl and after they attacked him. On one occasion, it is said that St. Patrick arrived at a town, thrust his ash walking stick into the ground, and started preaching. But his message took so long the stick grew roots and became an ash tree. He also supposedly banished the monster Caoranach to Lough Derg (red lake). Catholics commonly honor their saints with a feast day on the anniversary of their death (or a day assigned to their death if unknown). St. Patrick’s is March 17. His day is enthusiastically celebrated in Ireland, as he is the symbol of Catholicism in Ireland, and his day marks a temporary lift of the Lenten fast from alcohol, although the celebration is moved if it falls within Holy Week. The Irish government now uses St. Patrick’s Day to publicize the country and its culture with a festival that can last five days. Irish in other nations also observe the day; the city of Chicago dyes the Chicago River green every year, and several cities in Japan hold parades throughout the month of March. While St. Patrick’s Day has become more about Irish nationalism and ethnicity than religion, we can still take away something from the man and his legends. Whatever the true story is, it is universally told that he was kidnapped and enslaved, escaped, and returned to the place of his slavery to spread the Gospel. His forgiveness and humility are inspiring. Legend says that he left his well-to-do family and the benefits due his position as a bishop to become an itinerant preacher among the very people who had captured him. And, true or not, the story of how he compared the shamrock to the Trinity is a great example of meeting people where they are and explaining Christ in their own environment (1 Corinthians 9:19-22).

Recap

understand

• St. Patrick was a fifth-century missionary who brought Christianity to Ireland.
• St. Patrick showed forgiveness and faith by returning to evangelize after being enslaved.
• St. Patrick’s Day honors his legacy and encourages sharing Christ’s love.

reflect

• How can you show forgiveness and humility like Saint Patrick in your own life, especially toward those who have wronged you?
• How are you actively sharing the gospel or expressing your faith to those around you?
• How do you respond when faced with challenges or opposition while trying to live out your faith like Saint Patrick did?

engage

• How does Saint Patrick’s use of the shamrock as a teaching tool inspire us to connect biblical truths with the cultures we live in?
• What lessons can we learn from Saint Patrick’s persistence in sharing the gospel despite hardship and captivity?
• How does Saint Patrick’s example challenge us to live out the Great Commission in our own communities today?