More St. Patricks Day.....
You know.. I was sitting here talking to the GOOTG and we started on the subject of St. Patrick's Day. He brought to my attention who St. Patrick was and when his Feast Day was first celebrated in this country. I personally think it quite odd that we set aside a day as a country to celebrate the life of a Pagan born in Wales. I mean hell half the country isn't even catholic!
Anyway, the GOOTG asked me to post following information for your enjoyment and enlightenment.
Like most early AD history the story of St. Patrick is bound in rings of mythos and fog. What does seem to be of common acceptance? St. Patrick was born in or around the area of Wales, he is considered by most to have lived his early life as a Pagan. Most stories and writings also seem to collaborate the story of his abduction around his 16th year of life by a band of Irish marauders. At this point it is said that he was sold in to slavery in Ireland, where he spent the next 4-6 years. It is said that St. Patrick was given visions from God showing him they way to escape, and showing him the "True" way of God.So it turns out that he escaped to Gaul where he studied in the monastery under St. Germain (St. Germain was the bishop of Auxerre at the time) for a period of 12 years. While at the monastery, he adopted his Christian name of Patrick. During his time at the monastery, he had more 'messages' from God, helping him see that his calling was to return to Ireland to convert the pagans to Christianity. At this point St. Patrick asked to be sent to Ireland but his superiors instead append St. pallets, who two years later transferred to Scotland.
This gave St. Patrick the opportunity to be appointed as Second Bishop to Ireland. The stories and mythos show St. Patrick to have been a highly effective emissary. Being very successful at converting the Pagan mass's to Christianity. St. Patrick continued his mission for 30 years before retiring to County Down. He is said to have died on March 17 in AD 461.
There is so much folklore surrounding St. Patrick's Day, and most of it is unsubstantiated. The folklore extends from St. Patrick raising people from the dead. To Driving all the snakes from Ireland, of which there have never been any. Over the years St. Patrick's day has evolved from a Catholic holiday to a more of a secular holiday. To what I would today call a Hallmark holiday.
St. Patrick's day is said to have first been publicly celebrated in America in 1737 in Boston by a group of Irish solders then serving in the English military.
One of the most recognized symbols of St. Patrick's day is the Shamrock. This 3-leafed plant is said to have assisted St. Patrick in explaining the Holy Trinity. Helping him pass understanding of the how the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit could all exist as separate elements of the same entity.
So in summary, we have an English Pagan who was adopted by the Catholic Church and trained as Clergy and pushed forth in to Ireland to convert the Pagans to the ways of Christianity. The Catholic Church celebrates his life by bestowing upon him the title of Saint, and feasting in his memory on the anniversary of his death. Current culture has latched on to this celebration and used it as an engine to party and profit.