Patrick - Brave Shepherd of the Emerald Isle

Also known as

    * Apostle of Ireland
    * Maewyn Succat
    * Patricius
    * Patrizio

Memorial

    * 17 March

Profile

    Kidnapped from the British mainland around age 16, and shipped to Ireland as a slave. Sent to the mountains as a shepherd, he spent his time in the field in prayer. After six years of this life, he had a dream in which he was commanded to return to Britain; seeing it as a sign, he escaped. He studied in several monasteries in Europe. Ordained a priest and then a bishop. Sent by Pope Celestine to evangelize England, then Ireland, during which his chariot driver was Saint Odran, and Saint Jarlath was one of his spiritual students. In 33 years he effectively converted the Ireland. In the Middle Ages Ireland became known as the Land of Saints, and during the Dark Ages its monasteries were the great repositories of learning in Europe, all a consequence of Patrick’s ministry.

Born

    * between 387 and 390 at Scotland as Maewyn Succat

Died

    * between 461 and 464 at Saul, County Down, Ireland of natural causes

Canonized

    * Pre-Congregation

Name Meaning

    * warlike (Succat – pagan birth name);
    * noble (Patricius – baptismal name)

Patronage

    * against fear of snakes
    * against ophidiophobia
    * against snake bites
    * against snakes
    * engineers
    * excluded people
    * ophidiophobics
    * Ireland
    * Nigeria
    * Adelaide, Australia, archdiocese of
    * Armagh, Ireland, archdiocese of
    * Auckland, New Zealand, diocese of
    * Ballarat, Australia, diocese of
    * Boston, Massachusetts, archdiocese of
    * Burlington, Vermont, diocese of
    * Cape Town, South Africa, archdiocese of
    * Dromore, Ireland, diocese of
    * Erie, Pennsylvania, diocese of
    * Fort Worth, Texas, diocese of
    * Harrisburg, Pennsylvania, diocese of
    * Kilmore, Ireland, diocese of
    * Melbourne, Australia, archdiocese of
    * Mymensingh, Bangladesh, diocese of
    * New York, New York, archdiocese of
    * Norwich, Connecticut, diocese of
    * Ottawa, Ontario, archdiocese of
    * Peterborough, Ontario, diocese of
    * Poona, India, diocese of
    * Port Elizabeth, South Africa, diocese of
    * Portland, Maine, diocese of
    * Sacramento, California, diocese of
    * Saint John, New Brunswick, diocese of
    * Thunder Bay, Ontario, diocese of
    * Loiza, Puerto Rico


Representation

    * baptismal font
    * demons
    * harp
    * bishop driving snakes before him
    * bishop trampling on snakes
    * snakes
    * cross
    * Purgatory
    * serpent
    * shamrock