St. Patrick

[OnlyNatural]

I saw this letter to the editor in the newspaper today. Just wondering if any of it is accurate, and what your thoughts are on St. Patrick, since I don't know all that much about saints.

For most people, St. Patrick’s Day is a day of parades, parties, leprechauns and green beer. But just as Christmas is about more than commercialized fun, so is St. Patrick’s Day.

It began as a religious holiday honouring St. Patrick — a holy bishop sent to Ireland in 433 AD by Pope Celestine I to draw its people into the fold of Christ’s universal church. Upon his arrival at Ireland’s shores St. Patrick encountered many setbacks and persecutions by the superstitious Druids who had employed magicians to maintain their sway over the Irish race. Despite severe trials, St. Patrick was able to convert all of Ireland and conquer paganism. He is thus credited with driving the Celtic “snakes” out of Ireland.

St. Patrick is credited with many miracles and is responsible for the building of several Catholic schools, monasteries and churches throughout Ireland. He even used the three-leaved shamrock to teach people about the Blessed Trinity. St. Patrick was a humble, pious gentle man, whose love and total devotion to and trust in God should be a shining example to each of us.