St. Patrick's Day

Essay by knouff88Junior High, 9th gradeA+, May 2004

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St. Patrick's Day is on Match 17th. It is named after an Irishman by the name of Maewyn. He almost didn't get the job of bishop of Ireland because he lacked the required scholarship.

Until the age of 16, Maewyn considered himself a pagan. At that age, he was sold into slavery by a group of Irish marauders that raided his village. During his captivity, he became closer to God.

He escaped from slavery after six years and went to Gaul where he studied in the monastery under St. Germain, bishop of Auxerre for twelve years. During his studying he became aware that his calling was to convert the pagans to Christianity.

Patrick's (Maewyn) wishes were to return to Ireland as bishop and convert the native pagans to Christianity. But his superiors, instead, appointed St. Palladius to be the bishop of Ireland. Two years later, Palladius transferred to Scotland and Patrick, having adopted that Christian name earlier, was then appointed as second bishop to Ireland.

Patrick was quite successful at winning converts and this fact upset the Celtic Druids. Patrick was arrested several times, but escaped each time. He traveled throughout Ireland, establishing monasteries across the country. He also set up schools and churches which would aid him in his conversion of the Irish country to Christianity.

His mission in Ireland lasted for thirty years. After that time, Patrick retired to County Down. He died on March 17, 461 A.D. That day has been commemorated as St. Patrick's Day ever since.

Some of this lore includes the belief that Patrick raised people from the dead. He also is said to have given a sermon from a hilltop that drove all the snakes from Ireland. Of course, no snakes were ever native to Ireland, and...