|
Young World
Shamrock and memorials
PADMA LAWRENCE
|
March 17 is celebrated as St. Patrick's day. He is the patron saint of Ireland. It is his humility, love and untiring service that endeared him to the Irish.
|
A fascinating country...Ireland.
Ireland is a fascinating country. The people of Ireland celebrate March 17 as St. Patrick's day, the patron saint of Ireland. St. Patrick was born in Britain but spent his adult life serving the people of Ireland.
Fifth century history of Ireland is dominated by the deeds of St. Patrick. His humility, charity, love, untiring service and gifts won the hearts of many people. His father, Calpurnius was a deacon and a local official in Britain. When he was 16 years old he was captured by Irish raiders. Foregoing the luxuries of his parental home he spend six years as a herdsman and slave in Ireland. This period of slavery and hardship enriched his faith. He educated himself, concentrating on Latin and spiritual matters.
When he was 23 years old, he dreamt that a ship was waiting for him to escape. He believed it was a message for him and he tried to escape. But he was caught, driven to starvation and had to undergo a second period of captivity. But the dream stayed with him and at the earliest opportunity managed to escape to Britain.
History records that St. Patrick was educated and ordained to the priesthood. Many details of his life and service have been collected from his spiritual autobiography, The Confessio which means confession. He records a dream he had in Britain where a letter headed "The voice of Irish" was delivered to him by Victorius, whom he never met or knew. This letter requested him to return to Ireland and serve the Irish people. He says, "Deeply moved: I could read no more."
This letter continued to haunt him. He was beset by doubts. With fears assailing him, he returned to Ireland. He travelled the length and breadth of Ireland working with untiring zeal. The soldiers of Coroticus, persecuted his followers, kidnapped and killed them.
According to the great scholar D. A. Binchy, "the moral and spiritual greatness of the man shines through every stumbling sentence of his rustic Latin".
By the 7th Century St. Patrick had become a legendary figure. There is a legend, that the poisonous snakes of Ireland were driven into the sea and destroyed by him. The most popular, is the legend of the shamrock. He chose the shamrock as a symbol of the Trinity. Even today, the Shamrock is shipped from Ireland to different countries in large quantities for the celebration of St. Patrick's day.
Send this article to Friends by
E-Mail
Young World
|
