Patrick of Ireland: A Devotional History
In the early part of March considerable attention is given to the memory of St. Patrick in the run-up to the celebrations on the 17th March. St. Patrick’s Day celebrations are now a worldwide phenomenon and growing every year. Irish mythology is brought to life in the streets of many cities as green-coloured leprechauns parade under green bunting and drink green beer. City fountains bubble up with green water, major rivers run green, and multitudes sport shamrocks and green face paint. It is just another opportunity for a shindig, an Irish pastime!
Most of what is commonly believed about Patrick is false. He never chased the snakes out of Ireland, never mentioned the Church in Rome in his writings, and was never officially canonized by the Roman Catholic Church. However, setting aside all the myth and mystery of Patrick—and there’s lots of it—and setting aside the celebrations that have no relation to this ancient saint, let’s get to the heart of Patrick’s story.
There are only two pieces of literature that historians are agreed on that accurately tell us about Patrick because they were written by him. One is his own Confession, a declaration of the work of God in his life: his conversion, his call to Ireland, and his ministry. The other is a letter he wrote to the soldiers of Coroticus, a British warrior, complaining of the capture of and brutality to Christians in Ireland.
The devotionals in the month of March will be taken from the Confession and the Letter to the Soldiers of Coroticus and will also draw from other historical material to give context to the writings of Patrick. They will form a devotional history of the first missionary to Ireland and one of the first Christian voices to be raised against slavery.
Subscribe to these devotionals, learn the history of a man who truly was a saint, and learn how to read biographies devotionally for your spiritual good.
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