I like St. Patrick’s Day so much. My boys might even tell you it’s my favorite holiday. But maybe not for the reason you may think.

St. Patrick was a man who embodied faith, hope, and love.

Ten or eleven years ago I read the children’s biography Life of St. Patrick and it changed the way I view this holiday.

I no longer see St. Patrick’s Day as only a day when you wear green, imagine leprechaun and pots of gold, and hope to be lucky.  I see it as a day that celebrates a man who was courageous, who persevered, and who cared for others. We can learn from his example.

From the book I read, I learned that Patrick was captured from his home in Britain around the age of 16 by Irish raiders. He was taken to Ireland and sold as a slave. Patrick did not know if his parents were alive or dead or what would happen to him in this new land. But Patrick had faith. He trusted God. His parents had taught him about Jesus’ love and sacrifice, and raised Patrick to be faithful, to have hope, and to love others.

Ireland was not a Christian land back then. There were Druids, evil sorcerers who practiced dark magic who influenced the kings.

Throughout the book no matter what Patrick faced he trusted that God was with him and that God would lead and protect him.

In my own life I have found that trust in God does not mean God will NOT allow the things you are afraid of to happen. Trust in God means even if the thing you are afraid of happens GOD WILL TAKE CARE OF YOU! No matter what.

According to the story, Patrick was a slave for about six years and that he served his master well. He learned the language and developed skills that were beneficial to him throughout his life. He was resilient and worked hard. His circumstances were not great, but he made the best of it and did the best he could.

Then Patrick had a vision that he would escape, and that night he was able to walk past the guard dogs because he had been the one tending to them for the past several years. Patrick thought God was leading him back to Britain but when he got to the shore and found a ship, the ship was going to Gaul, which is now France. Patrick was captured again. Things in Gaul were rough but again Patrick was not discouraged. He did his best, was helpful and cared for others. Patrick was faithful, he trusted God in all things. His faith gave him comfort during the hard times. He had hope that God would provide and show him the way.

Eventually Patrick escaped again. On his way back towards to shore he met some monks and went to live and study with them.  Some of the monks were going to Britain and Patrick was able to go with them. The monks were going to the very area of Britain that Patrick was from.

Upon returning, Patrick found out that his parents had been killed in the raid years ago. Patrick stayed in Britain for a little while, but he felt a strong calling for the people of Ireland and wanted to share God’s love and light with them.

So, Patrick went back to a monastery to learn more about God to be prepared to share and answer their questions. Patrick learned from the Priests at the monastery and served with them. Eventually he was ordained a priest and then later a bishop. Finally, the opportunity came for Patrick to return to Ireland to spread the Good News of Jesus.

At first, the Kings of Ireland were not welcoming to Patrick and his companions, not open to his God. The Druids had prophesied “that a mighty man would come from across the sea and humble this land and build churches, and that many kings would take up pilgrim staffs.” The Druids were scared Patrick was this man, and the Druids discouraged the kings to let Patrick preach.

But Patrick was not deterred, he trusted that God would provide a way. Patrick was friendly and asked the kings permission to preach in their land. And throughout the book there are examples of how God continually made a way for Patrick. Throughout the story Patrick continued to be courageous, to persevere, and to care for people. He held tight to his faith and to God as his strength.

God enabled Patrick to perform miracles and defy the Druids, who ruled by fear and superstition. Patrick preached love. Patrick told the people of Ireland that God teaches us to love our fellow men, just as God loves every one of us. Patrick preached that we need to learn to be friends of God. He was trying to help people, to bring faith that would teach them to be happy. Patrick held onto hope for a better tomorrow, shared and showed love to the people of Ireland, and over time converted the island to Christianity.

My favorite story in the book is that as Patrick was preaching on a hill side a Druid asked him “’What did your God ever do to make Him so important?” “He created the Heaven and Earth,” Patrick said. “He created man in His own image. He is God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Ghost. We call this the Holy Trinity.”

“This is really silly.” The Druid laughed. “How can one god be three persons?”

Patrick smiled and bent over to pluck a shamrock from the grass. Holding it up, he said, “This shamrock has three leaves and a stem. It is only complete the way it grows, yet although it has a stem and three leaves, it is only one shamrock. So it is with my God.’”

In the book Patrick is quoted as saying, “I only want to be remembered as the man who brought the word of God to a barbarian people, and who helped open their eyes to the true faith.”

We can learn from Patrick’s example. We can become friends of God. We can be brave in the face of uncertainty. We can be friendly and kind to everyone. We can practice faith, hope, and love.

Happy St. Patrick’s Day!