When Irish Eyes Are Smiling

Who was St. Patrick of Ireland?

Patrick (his real name was Succat) was born in Dumbarton, Scotland and moved to Wales (on the west coast of England). He was not a very good student in school and was severely ridiculed because of his lack of scholastic ability. When Patrick was 16 years old, he was captured by Irish pirates and taken into slavery. Patrick was forced to take care of a herd of sheep and goats by himself. This often caused him to stay out all night alone in the mountains. This solitude turned out to be a great blessing in disguise as Patrick had plenty of time to do some very serious thinking about his life and eternal soul's destiny. As the Lord dealt with Patrick, he repented and was gloriously saved!

Two very lonely years passed and during his prayer time as he guarded sheep in the desolate mountains, Patrick felt impressed by the Lord to escape his captors. Patrick did escape, found a ship going to France and was able to make his way back home to Wales.

A number of years passed and while attending a Bible institute, Patrick felt God calling him to be a missionary to Ireland at 40 years of age! In 432 A.D. Patrick returned to Ireland as a Baptist Missionary! He was supported on a monthly basis by Baptist churches in Wales.

Patrick started over 300 Independent Baptist churches in Ireland and baptized over 100,000 adults during his 30+ years of gospel ministry there. There is no legitimate record that Patrick ever prayed the Rosary, prayed to saints or prayed to the Virgin Mary. Patrick, the Baptist preacher, so evangelized Ireland that after his death, Ireland sent out missionaries all over England and Europe.

In 664 A.D. the Roman Catholic Church instigated a debate in Whitney, England. The king decided to become a Roman Catholic and brought the English churches under the rule of Catholicism. So, to get all those Irish Baptist churches to join the Roman Catholic Church, the Council of Whitney made a saint out of Patrick (although he was long dead and did not have any say in the matter!).

Well, it sure is good to know that Patrick really isn't a cause for the unsaved, worldly crowd to don their green apparel, visit the local pubs and drink green beer with their corned beef and cabbage! Patrick of Ireland is certainly worth talking about and spiritually appreciating what he did for the cause of the Lord Jesus Christ!

When Irish Eyes Are Smiling,
Pastor David Blevins