The life of St. Patrick remains somewhat of a mystery. Some scholars insist that the person, who was to become the patron saint of Ireland, was born in Wales about 385 AD, and his given name was Maewyn. Others believe that apostle of Ireland was born at Kilpatrick, near Dumbarton, in Scotland, in 387 AD. Kilpatrick still retains many memorials of Saint Patrick.
It is known that St. Patrick was born in Britain to wealthy parents Calphurnius and Conchessa near the end of the fourth century. Calphurnius belonged to a Roman family of high rank and held the position of Christian deacon in Gaul or Britain. Conchessa was a near relative of the great patron of Gaul, St. Martin of Tours.
At the age of sixteen, Patrick was taken prisoner by a group of Irish raiders who were attacking his family's estate. They transported him to Ireland where he spent six years in captivity. During this time, he worked as a shepherd, outdoors and away from people. Lonely and afraid, he turned to his religion for solace, becoming a devout Christian.
After more than six years as a prisoner, Patrick escaped. To do so, Patrick walked nearly 200 miles. After escaping to Britain, he studied in the monastery under St. Germain, bishop of Auxerre. The course of study lasted more than fifteen years. He became aware that his calling was to convert the pagans of Ireland to Christianity. But his superiors instead appointed St. Palladius. However, two years later, Palladius transferred to Scotland. Patrick, having adopted that Christian name earlier, was then appointed as second bishop to Ireland.
Familiar with the Irish language and culture, Patrick chose to incorporate traditional ritual into his lessons of Christianity instead of attempting to eradicate native Irish beliefs. For instance, he used bonfires to celebrate Easter since the Irish were used to honoring their gods with fire. He also superimposed a sun, a powerful Irish symbol, onto the Christian cross to create what is now called a Celtic cross, so that veneration of the symbol would seem more natural to the Irish.
Patrick was quite successful at winning converts. This fact upset the Celtic Druids. He was arrested several times but always escaped. 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 is believed to have died on March 17, around 460 AD. St. Patrick's remains were wrapped in the shroud woven by St. Brigid's own hands. Just like his birth date, the year he has passed out is a mystery. Some sources say he died at Saul, Downpatrick, Ireland, 17 March, 493 AD. At least the exact day of his death is known. So, 17th of March has been commemorated as St. Patrick's Day ever since.
The St. Patrick's Day custom came to America in 1737. That was the first year St. Patrick's Day was publicly celebrated in Boston. 25 years later, Irish soldiers serving in the English military marched through New York City during the St. Patrick's Day parade on March 17, 1762.
Today people celebrate the day with parades, wearing of the green, and drinking Guinness.
It is known that St. Patrick was born in Britain to wealthy parents Calphurnius and Conchessa near the end of the fourth century. Calphurnius belonged to a Roman family of high rank and held the position of Christian deacon in Gaul or Britain. Conchessa was a near relative of the great patron of Gaul, St. Martin of Tours.
At the age of sixteen, Patrick was taken prisoner by a group of Irish raiders who were attacking his family's estate. They transported him to Ireland where he spent six years in captivity. During this time, he worked as a shepherd, outdoors and away from people. Lonely and afraid, he turned to his religion for solace, becoming a devout Christian.
After more than six years as a prisoner, Patrick escaped. To do so, Patrick walked nearly 200 miles. After escaping to Britain, he studied in the monastery under St. Germain, bishop of Auxerre. The course of study lasted more than fifteen years. He became aware that his calling was to convert the pagans of Ireland to Christianity. But his superiors instead appointed St. Palladius. However, two years later, Palladius transferred to Scotland. Patrick, having adopted that Christian name earlier, was then appointed as second bishop to Ireland.
Familiar with the Irish language and culture, Patrick chose to incorporate traditional ritual into his lessons of Christianity instead of attempting to eradicate native Irish beliefs. For instance, he used bonfires to celebrate Easter since the Irish were used to honoring their gods with fire. He also superimposed a sun, a powerful Irish symbol, onto the Christian cross to create what is now called a Celtic cross, so that veneration of the symbol would seem more natural to the Irish.
Patrick was quite successful at winning converts. This fact upset the Celtic Druids. He was arrested several times but always escaped. 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 is believed to have died on March 17, around 460 AD. St. Patrick's remains were wrapped in the shroud woven by St. Brigid's own hands. Just like his birth date, the year he has passed out is a mystery. Some sources say he died at Saul, Downpatrick, Ireland, 17 March, 493 AD. At least the exact day of his death is known. So, 17th of March has been commemorated as St. Patrick's Day ever since.
The St. Patrick's Day custom came to America in 1737. That was the first year St. Patrick's Day was publicly celebrated in Boston. 25 years later, Irish soldiers serving in the English military marched through New York City during the St. Patrick's Day parade on March 17, 1762.
Today people celebrate the day with parades, wearing of the green, and drinking Guinness.
by Neekie May 28, 2006
Get the St. Patrick mug.The Roman church official best known for his enthusiastic persecution of the native peoples of Ireland for practicing their ancestral faiths and whose death is celebrated annually by getting piss drunk and wearing particularly unflattering shades of green. His feast day is celebrated most enthusiastically in the United States, often by those who share neither the Saint's faith nor heritage and who seem to have conflated him with the leprechaun from the Lucky Charms cereal box.
by IMCuriousGinger April 2, 2011
Get the St. Patrick mug.I think St. Patrick actually saved the Irish from the potato famine by following the rainbow to a pot of cereal with marshmallows and a keg of green beer. So the people had cereal with marshmallows and the grown ups drank green beer until they weren’t hungry. Then they picked bouquets of four leaf clovers and danced around to a fiddle music with the rats. - Tressa
by Tressa L March 17, 2009
Get the St. Patrick mug.One if the best secondary schools located in the East of singapore. Very elite school with the top most priority of training your sons to become a YP. St. Patrick's secondary school is a place where you grow to become a better person or you devolve into a piece of shit.
by Lemmydog August 22, 2021
Get the St. Patrick's secondary school mug.Probably one of the safest schools in Vallejo. Probably. Home of the Bruins. Very, very close to the Benicia border. Sport teams are fairly good, as are the Theatre and Music groups. Also known as SPSV.
Bob: Hey dude, how you surviving Vallejo High? SUCKS don't it?
Pete: I go to St. Patrick- St. Vincent High School.
Bob: Oh.
Pete: SUCKKAAAAHHH!
Pete: I go to St. Patrick- St. Vincent High School.
Bob: Oh.
Pete: SUCKKAAAAHHH!
by jajajajavtown December 24, 2009
Get the St. Patrick- St. Vincent High School mug.1)A High School in Vancouver, B.C. whose population consists of all Asians other than three white people. A very small school in which a LOT of drama happens for no reason and where rumors spread like wildfire
2)A school where everyone knows each other's names regardless of their respective year. Also a school that has absolutely no talent in any sport other than girls Volleyball. Teachers in this institution are very easy going but at times can be major a cockblock.
3)The facilities are quite dirty but no one seems to mind. Everyone usually likes each other although there is a lot of gossip. Generally a very expensive daycare for people ages 12-18.
2)A school where everyone knows each other's names regardless of their respective year. Also a school that has absolutely no talent in any sport other than girls Volleyball. Teachers in this institution are very easy going but at times can be major a cockblock.
3)The facilities are quite dirty but no one seems to mind. Everyone usually likes each other although there is a lot of gossip. Generally a very expensive daycare for people ages 12-18.
1)
Guy 1: Wow St. Patrick Regional Secondary has alot of asians
Guy 2: Yeah I know rite?
Guy 1: Any white people I can hang with?
Guy 2: They're over there in that corner
2)
Guy 1: Do you know that Leibrandt?
Guy 2: Yeah from grade 10? He's a douchebag
Leibrandt: I heard that! Fuck you Migs!
3)
Guy 1: Have you checked out the girl's washroom? It's so clean there's no piss on the wall
Guy 2: What were you doing in the girl's washroom?
Guy 1: Wow St. Patrick Regional Secondary has alot of asians
Guy 2: Yeah I know rite?
Guy 1: Any white people I can hang with?
Guy 2: They're over there in that corner
2)
Guy 1: Do you know that Leibrandt?
Guy 2: Yeah from grade 10? He's a douchebag
Leibrandt: I heard that! Fuck you Migs!
3)
Guy 1: Have you checked out the girl's washroom? It's so clean there's no piss on the wall
Guy 2: What were you doing in the girl's washroom?
by Street Souljah October 20, 2008
Get the St. Patrick Regional Secondary mug.by IrishRepublicanArmy March 8, 2004
Get the St. Patrick's Day mug.