Patrick 			March 17
Bishop, Patron Saint of Ireland
Patrick was born around 390 and grew up in a Romanised village on the west coast of Britain somewhere between the Severn and the Clyde. When nearly sixteen, Patrick was captured by Irish raiders and spent six years in slavery. Patrick had been nominally Christian, but he found himself being drawn more and more to God in prayer. Eventually he escaped from slavery and begged passage on a boat sailing to the continent.
Many adventures and difficult times followed before he managed to return to his family. This was a period of marked spiritual growth for him, with a profound deepening of his inner life. Whether he was trained for the priesthood in Britain or in Gaul is uncertain, but he returned to Gaul to study under Germanus of Auxerre. Patrick’s training gave him a good knowledge of the Latin Bible, and he was undoubtedly influenced by the form of monasticism established by Martin of Tours.
About 432 he returned to Ireland as bishop (apparently consecrated by Germanus), setting up his base at Armagh. From this centre he walked over much of northern and central Ireland, evangelising the people and making many converts. His ministry was marked by simplicity and deep pastoral care. He proclaimed the unearned and boundless love of God. He encountered strong opposition, and his life was often in danger, but he was always ready to face persecution. In his preaching he made no distinction between classes and he was deeply concerned to abolish paganism, although he tried to be sensitive to the culture of the people. He did not throw down their standing stones, but simply carved crosses on them. From this we can trace the development of the magnificent Celtic “high crosses”.
Patrick tried unsuccessfully to introduce the diocesan system he had seen in Gaul, but the monasteries he founded became the chief feature of the Irish church. These sprang up everywhere, some so large as to include several thousand monks. For his clergy he used volunteers from Britain and Gaul and his own converts.
His writings, and in particular his own account of his spiritual development, his Confessions, show him as a very humane person, deeply attached to his Lord, with an uncomplicated faith. The hymn known as “St Patrick’s Breastplate” is attributed to him. He died about 461.
For Liturgical Use
As a boy Patrick was taken captive by Irish raiders. After escaping, he trained as a priest, but felt a deep longing to preach the gospel in the country of his former captors. He returned as a bishop and, although faced with opposition and danger, he brought the love of Christ to the people and established the church in Ireland. His monastic foundations in particular were to have far-reaching effects. He died about 461.
Sentence
You are king, O Lord, let the earth be glad; let the many islets and coastlands rejoice.	
				Psalm 97:1
Collects
God of all the peoples of the earth,
you sent your servant Patrick
to be the apostle of the Irish people
and to bring them the light of your gospel;
grant that we may walk faithfully in that light 
and show your glory to all the world;
through Jesus Christ our Redeemer.
We praise you, God, 
for Patrick,
your apostle to the Irish,
for his evangelical zeal,
and for his legendary ability with snakes;
give us joy in our faith,
and bind us to what is holy.
Psalms	36:5-10	80
Readings
Isaiah 60:1-3		Nations shall come to your light
1 Corinthians 15:1-11	The good news proclaimed
Luke 13:22-30		From all quarters
Post Communion Sentence
Jesus said, “I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will never walk in darkness but will have the light of life.”	John 8:12