Saint Patrick
circa. ~387 AD to 461 AD | Britain; Ireland
When you think about Saint Patrick’s Day, you probably think
about Ireland, right? But have you ever thought about pirates?
No? Actually, pirates, or bandits, are very much a part of
Patrick’s story. And his story doesn’t begin in Ireland. It begins
in Britain, where he was captured by fierce sea bandits and
brought to Ireland as a slave.
While Patrick was in Ireland, a land of rolling green hills and
slate grey skies, he was forced to work as a shepherd. (This is
why many works of art depict Patrick in a green field with lots of
sheep.) After six long years of loneliness, Patrick escaped back
to Britain, away from those who enslaved him.
But do you know what happened next? He kept thinking about
the Irish people who captured him. He kept thinking about
Ireland! And he was not angry with the people, even though they
had made him a slave. He wanted to show love -- he forgave
them! And he decided to go back to Ireland, and teach the
people.
When we hear about all the shamrocks, leprechauns, and other
Irish legends during Saint Patrick’s Day, we can remember
Patrick, and how he was an example of forgiveness. How can
you show forgiveness today?
© 2017; a www.oaxacaborn.com resource by Gina Munsey