It is believed that St. Patrick was born in Britain of Roman parents.
When he was sixteen, he was captured by pirates and taken to Ireland. There he was sold as a slave. His owner sent him to tend his flocks on the mountains. St. Patrick had very little food and clothing. Yet every morning, even in rain, snow and ice, he would get up early to pray. A hundred time a day and a hundred times during the night, Patrick prayed to God. His faith thus grew stronger all the time and his love for God increased.
Later, when he escaped from Ireland, he studied to become a priest. But Patrick always felt that he must go back to Ireland to bring that pagan land to Christ. At last his wish came true. He was consecrated a Bishop and sent by the Holy Father to Ireland. How happy he was to bring the good news of the true God to the poor pagans of the land where once he had been a slave!
Right from the start, Patrick suffered much. His relatives and friends wanted him to quit before the pagan Irish killed him. Yet the Saint kept on preaching about Jesus, traveling from one village to the another. He never rested, and he did great penance for these people whom he so loved. Before he died, the whole nation was Christian! And besides bringing the Irish to the Faith, he made them a civilized, learned people.
Despite such great success, St. Patrick never grew proud. He called himself a poor sinner and gave all the praise to God.
Today, we shall perform at least one spiritual work of mercy. For example, we may pray for missionaries in pagan lands.
