Story of Saint Patrick

Story of Saint Patrick

2. St. Patrick’s Day is celebrated
each year on March 17
th
.
In Ireland, St. Patrick’s Day is
both a holy day and a national
holiday. St. Patrick is the
patron saint of Ireland, as he
was the one who brought
Christianity to the Irish.

3. St. Patrick was born in
Wales in 387 A.D.
When he was young he was
captured by a man know as
Niall Naoi nGiallach, who
brought him to Ireland and
sold him to a farmer called
Milchu.

4. At the farm young Patrick
worked very hard, watching the
sheep or pigs.
Patrick prayed every night.
One night he heard a voice
speaking to him. It was God
telling him to leave Ireland.

5. Patrick travelled to France. It
was a very difficult journey,
but he survived.
Eventually, he returned to
Wales. He realised that he
wanted to become a priest and
needed to study.

6. Patrick became a
wonderful priest. Pope
Celestine was very happy
with him.
Patrick returned to
Ireland with a group of
priests. They were going
to tell all the Irish
pagans about Jesus.

7. Irish people did not really want to
hear about Jesus, but they were
impressed at the way Patrick knew
their language, so they let him speak.
Patrick picked up a shamrock.

8. "How many leaves are there?" asked
Patrick. They all said three. Then
Patrick asked how many seeds were
needed to make it. Someone said one.
Patrick said this was the same as the
Blessed Trinity, God the Father, God
the Son and God the Holy Spirit. A
pagan priest said, "I will follow him".

9. Patrick stayed in Ireland
for sixty years. He
travelled to different
places spread the word of
God.
Patrick died on the 17
th

March, 493 A.D. , and his
life is celebrated on this
date throughout the world.

10. There is a famous story about St.
Patrick, which tells of how he drove
snakes out of Ireland and banished
them forever.
Some people think that this story is
really talking about the way St.
Patrick managed to tell people about
God and stop them becoming pagans.