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What Was The Real
St. Patrick Like?

No other saint has given such a boost to a nation's image. But how did this man from Roman Britain become Ireland's most widely recognized icon?

Read more about Climbing Croagh Patrick, the "Magic Mountain."
Read more about The History Of St. Patrick Day Celebrations

Saint Patrick’s relationship with Ireland is unique, whether you look at it from a religious or secular viewpoint. No other saint has been celebrated so widely that it increases the fame of an entire country in the way that St. Patrick has. Today, as St. Patrick Day parades and festivals spread to Japan and other unexpected locales, it seems as though the popularity of this Irish symbol is limitless.

But as his holiday is celebrated in ways from devout to degenerate (drinking is clearly a key part of the modern St. Paddy's Day feast), the true story of St. Patrick is part fact and part popular legend. Here’s a look at who the actual Patrick of Ireland was.

Difficult Early Life
Born in Kilpatrick, Scotland (then part of Roman Britain) around 388, his original name was Maewyn Succat. His parents, Calpurnius and Conchessa, were aristocratic Romans. Up to the age of 16, he viewed himself as a pagan. His life changed however, when a band of marauders or pirates from Ireland raided his area, captured him and sold him into slavery, where he worked herding sheep. During six years of captivity in Ireland, he says he became aware of the presence of God. “I prayed in the woods and on the mountain,” he wrote, “even before dawn. I felt no hurt from the snow or ice or rain.” Importantly, during this time he also learned the Irish language and the ways of the Druids who held him, both of which would help him on his later return to the country.

Dreams play an important role in Saint Patrick’s legend. He is said to have escaped from slavery at age 20 after having a dream in which God told him to go to the coast and leave Ireland. To accomplish this, he had to walk some 200 miles over mountains, bogs and valleys, and be brought back to Britain by a shipload of pagan sailors. At first, the sailors refused to bring Patrick with them. After he prayed, however, they agreed to take him home, where he was reunited with his parents.

Study In France
Once again, Patrick had an important dream, in which he heard the people of Ireland crying out for him to return to them. Not yet prepared for this kind of work, he left home to begin studying for the priesthood in France. On completing his studies, Saint Germanus, Auxerre’s bishop, ordained him. Later, Patrick was ordained as a bishop, and ordered to return to Ireland to convert its people to Christianity.

It’s written in numerous places that Patrick arrived back in Ireland (landing at Slane) on March 25, 433, though the exact date is probably not known. According to one legend, a tribal chieftain tried to kill Patrick immediately upon his arrival. But after finding he could not move his arm to attack the missionary, the chieftain relented, and ultimately became a friend to Patrick.

Patrick and his many followers (including Auxilius and Iserninus, both later canonized as saints) succeeded in converting many of the Irish to Christianity, and in building many churches and monasteries across the country. But he also provoked an angry reaction from the ruling Druids and other pagans. Patrick was imprisoned by them several times, but always managed to escape. Although many miracles have been attributed to him during his time in Ireland, including raising the dead, he lived a hard life of poverty.

Far From Rome
Patrick’s relationship to the Roman Catholic Church is a strange one. Because Ireland was one of the only nations in Europe never conquered by Rome, Patrick and other founders of the early Irish Catholicism did not accept any outside influence over their church. They believed that Christ was the only head of the church, and did not see themselves as beholden to Rome’s central Catholic hierarchy. Only after the Saxon invasion of Ireland centuries later did the Irish Catholic Church come under the influence of The Pope in Rome.

There are two extremely famous legends surrounding St. Patrick. First, that he used the three-leafed shamrock to illustrate the trinity of God the father, son and holy spirit as being part of one central being. Second, that he “drove the snakes out of Ireland.” This means that he converted the country to the Christian gospel, driving out all pagans in the process.

Depth Of Conviction
According to Philip Freeman, a Celtic studies expert at Washington University in St. Louis who has written a book called St. Patrick of Ireland – A Biography (publisher Simon & Schuster, 2004), most of the legends around St. Patrick were created long after his death by monks who wished to build him into a Christian icon people could feel drawn to. Unfortunately, some of those legends – that he had mystical powers to make enemies in battle lay down and surrender – have created a distorted picture of his life. Freeman has done a careful analysis of the two surviving letters of St. Patrick, and says they “reveal the heart and soul of a truly remarkable man.”

Patrick’s two surviving letters are an autobiography called “The Confession” and “A letter to Coroticus,” which is a strong complaint against the raiding of Patrick’s converts by a rival. It’s often said that St. Patrick was extremely unsure of his writing skills, partly because his early captivity prevented him from receiving a full education.

Some historians claim that Patrick retired to County Down near the end of his life, while others say he worked right up to his death. He died on March 17th, 461. This date has been adopted worldwide as his celebration.

Party Time
Oddly enough, he has never been officially canonized by the Roman Catholic Church, which means that strictly speaking, he is not a saint. That seems to be of little importance to the millions who celebrate him each year, whether they are religious or not. It’s been suggested that Patrick’s appeal is based partly on his commitment to the idea that all slaves should be freed. Whatever the reason, the worldwide party that takes place in his honor each March 17th, with it’s packed Irish pubs, the wearing of green and huge parades, has been a powerful representation of the most fun-loving elements of Irish culture to people who know nothing about Patrick the man.