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Holidays and Observances - Who Was Saint Patrick?

Who was Saint Patrick?

The son of high-ranking Roman parents, Patrick (c. 389–432) lived at a time when the Romans occupied England. At age sixteen, Patrick was captured by Irish pirates and sold as a slave. For six years he worked as a herdsman, and during this time he had a religious awakening and converted to Christianity (a religion founded by Jesus of Nazareth, also called the Christ). After he escaped and returned to his family, Patrick felt compelled to become a Roman Catholic priest. About 432 Patrick, who was by then a bishop, went to Ireland as a missionary. When Patrick died in 461, he and his followers had converted many Irish people to Christianity, making Ireland a Christian nation. Saint Patrick's feast day is March 17 on the Catholic Church calendar. The shamrock (threeleafed clover) is associated with Patrick because he supposedly used it to explain the Holy Trinity (the leaves represent God the Father,...

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