Happy St Patrick’s Day!

St. Patrick was born at Kilpatrick, near Dumbarton, in Scotland in AD 387.
At age 16, he was sold into slavery by a group of Irish marauders that raided his village and took him back to Ireland. During his captivity, he came closer to God.
He escaped from slavery after six years and went to Gaul where he studied in the monastery under St. Germain, bishop of Auxerre for a period of twelve years.
His wishes were to return to Ireland, to convert the native pagans to Christianity. But his superiors instead appointed St. Palladius. But two years later, Palladius transferred to Scotland. Patrick, having adopted that Christian name earlier, was then appointed as second bishop to Ireland.
His mission in Ireland lasted for thirty years. After that time, Patrick retired to County Down. He died on March 17 in AD 461. That day has been commemorated as St. Patrick’s Day ever since.