St. Patrick
• Patrick was born in Great Britain in
387.
• The name his parents gave him was
Succat.
• Ireland was ruled by provincial kings
and local chieftains. It was a pagan
country with pagan festivals and
feasts. Druids offered sacrifices to
pagan gods.
Patrick becomes a slave
• Frequently, Irish raiders travelled
over to Britain to capture young boys as
slaves.
•When Patrick was 16 he was captured
by one such Irish raider.
•Patrick was sold to Milchu, a chieftain
from Co. Antrim and was forced to herd
sheep on Slieve Mis (Slemish Mountain).
Patrick turns to God
•Patrick worked as a slave for 6
years. During his time of cruel
slavery Patrick turned to God. His
faith increased and he began to
spend much of his time in prayer.
• One night Patrick had a vision. He
dreamed he heard a voice telling him
‘Your ship is ready’. Patrick believed
that this was a message
from God calling him back
home.
• He boarded a ship set for Britain.
• Patrick’s visions did not stop once he
returned home.
• One night he had a vivid dream where
he heard the people on the Western
seaboard of Ireland, crying out to him
saying ‘We beg you, holy youth, to come
and walk once more among us’.
Patrick returns to Ireland
• Patrick was sent back as a Bishop to
Ireland to bring the Gospel of Christ to
the Irish people.
• Patrick then travelled to Tara, the
stronghold of the pagan druids.
The Story of the Shamrock
•Tradition states that it was at Tara that
Patrick first used the shamrock to explain
the mystery of the Trinity (The Father,
Son and Holy Spirit).
•To this day the shamrock is used
as a symbol of Ireland, especially
on St. Patrick’s Day.
Croagh Patrick, Co. Mayo
• In about the year 441, Patrick spent 40
days alone on a rocky, windy mountain
praying and fasting for the Irish people.
• The mountain is now known as Croagh
Patrick, or the ‘Mountain of Patrick’.
•The annual pilgrimage to Croagh Patrick,
on the last Sunday of July, is known as
‘Reek Sunday’.
Lough Derg
•Patrick spent many days in a cave on an
island in Lough Derg, Co. Donegal.
•This place has become a place of
pilgrimage. Many people still go there every
summer for a weekend to pray and fast.
St. Patrick’s Wells
• As well as preaching, Patrick also
performed many miracles and many holy
wells are named after him.
St. Patrick’s Grave
• St. Patrick died in Co. Down on March
17th 461.
• It was in that place that he had built
his first church.
•St. Patrick is buried in a cemetery
next to Downpatrick Cathedral in Co.
Down.
Test your knowledge
1. What year was St. Patrick born?
2. Where was St. Patrick born?
3. What name was St. Patrick given by his parents?
4. What age was St. Patrick when he was captured?
5. What was the name of the chieftain that bought
Patrick?
6. What did St. Patrick work as?
7. What was the name of the mountain on which
St. Patrick worked?
8. For how long was St. Patrick a slave?
9. How did God deliver His message to Patrick to
return home?
10. What did Patrick use the shamrock to explain?
11. Name the mountain on which Patrick spent 40
days praying and fasting?
12. When and where did St. Patrick die?
St. Patrick’s Day Activities
1.
2.
Click on the links below for images to print:
3.
1. http://www.doyle.com.au/images/stpatr_1.jpg
2. http://www.scrantonlabel.com/newsnotes/Small_icons/Shamrock.jpg
3. http://www.thecolor.com/Coloring/St%20Patrick.aspx