So, just who is St Patrick?

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Saint Patrick
Born c. AD 387Banna Venta Berniae, Britain
Died 17 March, 461
Venerated in:
AnglicanismEastern OrthodoxyLutheranismRoman Catholicism
Feast
17 March (Saint Patrick's Day)
Patronage
Ireland, Nigeria, Montserrat, New York, Boston, engineers, against snakes, Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Melbourne

Saint Patrick (estimated AD 387 - AD 461)(Latin: Patricius,[2] Irish: Naomh Pádraig), said[by whom?] to have been born Maewyn Succat (Latin: Magonus Succetus), was a Roman Britain-born Christian missionary and is the patron saint of Ireland along with Brigid of Kildare and Columba. When he was about sixteen he was captured by Irish raiders and taken from his native Wales as a slave to Ireland, where he lived for six years before escaping and returning to his family. After entering the church, he later returned to Ireland as a missionary in the north and west of the island, but little is known about the places where he worked and no link can be made between Patrick and any church. By the eighth century he had become the patron saint of Ireland. The Irish monastery system evolved after the time of Patrick and the Irish church did not develop the diocesan model that Patrick and the other early missionaries had tried to establish.

The available body of evidence does not allow the dates of Patrick's life to be fixed with certainty, but it appears that he was active as a missionary in Ireland during the second half of the fifth century. Two letters from him survive, along with later hagiographies from the seventh century onwards. Many of these works cannot be taken as authentic traditions. Uncritical acceptance of the Annals of Ulster (see below) would imply that he lived from 340 to 460, and ministered in what is modern day northern Ireland from 428 onwards. On 17th March St.Patrick's day is celebrated to remember him and what he did. This is celebrated across the world.

Contents
1 Background
2 Patrick in his own words
3 Early traditions
4 Patrick in legend
5 Missionary Legacy
6 Methods for Conversion
7 Sainthood and remembrance
8 Saint Patrick in literature
9 See also
10 References
11 Further reading
12 External links
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This certainly changes how we should be celebrating ST PATRICK'S DAY, huh?