Saint Patric is the patron saint of Ireland.Saint Patric is the patron saint of Ireland. His emblem, aHis emblem, a diagonal red cross on a diagonal red cross on a

white background, is the flag of Ireland, white background, is the flag of Ireland, and part of the British flag.and part of the British flag.

He was born about AD 390.He was born about AD 390. St. Patrick's father had been a deacon St. Patrick's father had been a deacon

and his grandfather was a priest. and his grandfather was a priest.

Patrick grew up in a world whose Patrick grew up in a world whose mores and Christianity were provincial mores and Christianity were provincial Roman, in an area which never lost its Roman, in an area which never lost its

Celtic identity and customs. Celtic identity and customs.

St. Patrick had already become St. Patrick had already become familiar with the Celtic festivals of the familiar with the Celtic festivals of the pre-Christian calendar before he was pre-Christian calendar before he was

taken into Irish slavery. taken into Irish slavery.

At the age of At the age of 16 16 St. Patrick's life St. Patrick's life changed. He was abducted and taken changed. He was abducted and taken

into Irish slavery. into Irish slavery.

Being a romanized Briton his Being a romanized Briton his real name was real name was

Magonus Saccatus PatriciusMagonus Saccatus Patricius

One night Patrick had a vision and he One night Patrick had a vision and he escaped from slavery and found his way escaped from slavery and found his way home to his family. home to his family.

Patrick studied religion for many years to Patrick studied religion for many years to become a priest and a missionary and at become a priest and a missionary and at night he would hear in his dreams the night he would hear in his dreams the call from the Irish. call from the Irish.

They called him to come and free them They called him to come and free them from paganismfrom paganism..

Finally Pope Celestine fulfilled Saint Finally Pope Celestine fulfilled Saint Patrick's wish and ordained him as Patrick's wish and ordained him as bishop to preach the word of God to the bishop to preach the word of God to the Celtic People. Celtic People.

He was sold in Ireland and was taken to the North east of the country He was sold in Ireland and was taken to the North east of the country to herd sheep. During his six years of solitude he found a life of prayer to herd sheep. During his six years of solitude he found a life of prayer

and pledged his life to God.and pledged his life to God.

Saint Patrick then came back to Ireland to help teach the word of God. Saint Patrick then came back to Ireland to help teach the word of God. He helped to build churches and he baptised the pagans into He helped to build churches and he baptised the pagans into

ChristianityChristianity..

As time past Saint Patrick As time past Saint Patrick and his followers spread the and his followers spread the

word of God around the word of God around the country. country.

They fasted and prayed at They fasted and prayed at the top of what is now the top of what is now

Croagh Patrick. Croagh Patrick.

Patrick made a promise to God that the Patrick made a promise to God that the people of Ireland would keep their faithpeople of Ireland would keep their faith

until the end of time until the end of time and the day they did not keep their faith and the day they did not keep their faith

would be the day of doom.would be the day of doom.

LLegend credits Patrick egend credits Patrick with banishing with banishing snakessnakes from the island, though from the island, though

post-glacial Ireland never post-glacial Ireland never had snakeshad snakes..

OOne suggestion is that ne suggestion is that snakessnakes referred to the referred to the serpent serpent

symbolism of the symbolism of the Druids Druids of of that time and place, as shown that time and place, as shown for instance on coins minted for instance on coins minted

in Gaulin Gaul.. IIt could have referred to t could have referred to

beliefs such as beliefs such as PelagianismPelagianism, , symbolized as “serpents”.symbolized as “serpents”.

Legend also credits Patrick with Legend also credits Patrick with teaching the Irish about the concept teaching the Irish about the concept of the of the TrinityTrinity by showing people the by showing people the

shamrockshamrock, , a a threethree-leaved clover, using it to -leaved clover, using it to

highlight the Christian highlight the Christian beliefbelief of 'three of 'three divine persons in the one God‘divine persons in the one God‘..

Numbers played an important role in Celtic symbolism. Numbers played an important role in Celtic symbolism. ThreeThree was the most sacred and magical number. was the most sacred and magical number.

Legend suggests that it was used by St. Patrick in the fifth Legend suggests that it was used by St. Patrick in the fifth century to demonstrate the meaning of the Trinity: century to demonstrate the meaning of the Trinity:

Father, Son and Holy Spirit.Father, Son and Holy Spirit.

It is said that Patrick had a time of it trying to convince It is said that Patrick had a time of it trying to convince the people he met in Ireland to believe in the Holy Trinity. the people he met in Ireland to believe in the Holy Trinity.

Reflecting for a moment, Patrick plucked a shamrock from Reflecting for a moment, Patrick plucked a shamrock from the earth, and pointed to the three leaves on the the earth, and pointed to the three leaves on the

shamrock, living proof of the Holy Trinity. Since then, the shamrock, living proof of the Holy Trinity. Since then, the Shamrock has become the symbol of the land of Ireland.Shamrock has become the symbol of the land of Ireland.

England Scotland1606

1801after the Act of Union of after the Act of Union of Ireland with England Ireland with England (and Wales) and (and Wales) and Scotland on 1 January Scotland on 1 January 1801, to create the 1801, to create the Union Flag that has Union Flag that has been flown ever since. been flown ever since. 

Irish flagIrish flag was was combined with combined with the previous the previous Union Flag of Union Flag of St George and St George and St Andrew,St Andrew,