Patrick

Sometime in the early 4th century, there was born in modern-day England  man named Potitus. He grew up and would become a Christian Priest. He married, and had a son named Calpornius who, similarly, would grow up and become a Deacon in the Church. Calpornius then had a son and named him Patrick.

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Patrick, however, did not submit to the same God that his father and grandfather did. Patrick grew, wandered, did not seek out or receive any of God's gifts. And then one day - like the patriarch Joseph - Patrick was kidnapped and carried off to a far away land. He would later reflect that it was God's wrath being poured out on him for not believing what he had heard about Jesus.

 

It was while he was a prisoner - maybe even a slave - that he came to faith. As he grew, he eventually made his way westward and found himself on the other side of the sea on an island called Hibernia - modern day Ireland.

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Whereas he once ran away from God, he found himself drawn to countryside. He realized that even, and maybe especially, the rural parts of the world were created by the Most High.

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He began tending to sheep, praying day in and day out. But then one day he found an opportunity to return to his homeland. He made his way to a port city and, after some difficulty, was able to secure passage on a ship to England. He was saddened by the fact that these sailors were all unbelievers, but he hoped that the grace of God would shine through him onto them.

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These sailors didn't really know what they were doing. After a few days at sea, they made landfall but wandered the English forests for weeks. When they ran out of food they began to mock Patrick saying, "Don't you Christians believe in an all powerful God? Why can't you just wave your hand and give us food?" Patrick did not speak a word of condemnation for their impiety, but simply said "turn to God and He can provide all you need in this life and the next." And before long, a herd of wild pigs ran by them. They killed and ate, and had more than enough food. 

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After sometime, he eventually made his way back to his parents in his homeland. They were overjoyed to have their son back, and especially so now that he was a Christian. As he slept in his homeland, he had a dream that a man came from Ireland, holding more letters than he could count. But when the man made his way to Patrick, there was only one letter written by all the people of Ireland. In the dream, Patrick looked to the west and heard all the people shouting from the other side "Holy boy! Come back and walk among us again!"

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He awoke, bid farewell to his parents, to his childhood home, and went back to the place where God was leading him.

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Life was difficult for Patrick. He was eventually ordained a deacon, raised to the priesthood, and before long became Bishop of Armagh in Ireland.

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He was betrayed by those he loved. A close friend, upon Patrick's Consecration as Bishop remarked "You? A bishop?" Perhaps in response to this, Patrick said to another friend, in a moment of weakness and anxiety,  "Maybe he's right. Maybe I shouldn't be a bishop. Before I was a priest, even before I was a deacon, even before I was a deacon, I did horrible, terrible things." He went into detail about the sins of his youth, and that friend betrayed the Bishop and made those sins publicly known to everyone.

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But even in the midst of hurt, the word of God continued to spread. And it spread and spread. This Ireland, which was once pagan, filled with the worship of trees and stars and monsters and demons. Ireland was now a Christian island. Certainly because of the work of Patrick. But as Patrick often reminds those who read his works - it was all by the grace of God.

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Patrick was a humble man, and even when he attempted to speak about the good he had done, he would cut himself off and sing only the praises of God. Little is known about this Patrick, but that's exactly how he would want it.

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And so, toward the end of his life, he sat down and began to write out his story, his Confession of who he was: "My name is Patrick. I am a sinner, a simple country person, and the least of all believers. I am looked down upon by many."