The History and Origins of St. Patrick's Day
How much do you really know about the history and origins of Saint Patrick’s Day? I’ll give you a hint: it wasn’t about leprechauns, gold, shenanigans, and all things green.
- Did you know he wasn’t Irish but was actually born in Britain?
- Did you know he was kidnapped as a 16-year-old boy and sold as a slave in Ireland?
- Did you know he was a Christian?
- Did you know he is credited with bringing the Gospel to the people of Ireland?
- Did you know the holiday was established to remember his life and ministry?
- Did you know he used a clover to try to explain the doctrine of the Trinity?
Saint Patrick was a man who loved Jesus and spent his life making Him known.
Want to know more about the history of St. Patrick and the day set aside to celebrate him? CLICK HERE to read more about his life.
I’d be willing to bet few know the history of the holiday. Like a telephone game played for a few rounds too many, the holiday is unrecognizable from its beginning. What used to be a day set to remember a Christian man’s life and ministry and enormous impact on an entire country—bringing the Gospel to a people group who had not yet heard—has largely turned into a day of drunkenness, folklore, and commercialism.
The attack was not to remove the holiday. That would have been obvious and caused outrage. Instead, things were added to it, little by little, year by year until the truth was lost in the celebrations.
St. Patrick’s Breastplate
A famous prayer Saint Patrick penned is still quoted and remembered today as St. Patrick’s Breastplate. It’s a beautiful testimony of Patrick’s reliance on Christ for salvation and living in holiness. The most often quoted lines of this prayer are as follows:
“Christ with me,
Christ before me,
Christ behind me,
Christ in me,
Christ beneath me,
Christ above me,
Christ on my right,
Christ on my left,
Christ when I lie down,
Christ when I sit down,
Christ when I arise,
Christ in the heart of every man who thinks of me,
Christ in the mouth of everyone who speaks of me,
Christ in every eye that sees me,
Christ in every ear that hears me.”
This was the heartbeat of Patrick’s life. He desired to be so consumed with Christ that every man who thought of him, spoke of him, saw him, or heard him would turn their eyes to JESUS. He sought to KNOW Christ and to make him known. And so he did.
Remembering St. Patrick
Today, I challenge you to remember the man as he wished to be remembered. Here are a few ways you can do that with your family.
- Share the history of this man of faith with your children. Don’t let St. Patrick’s Day simply be another day to buy gifts and home decor, wear green, have parties, and eat dessert!
- Lead your family to intentionally and specifically pray for missionaries around the world who are who are making disciples today as Patrick did many years ago.
- Send a few personal letters THIS WEEK to specific missionaries you and your family are praying for (keep their pictures close and share updates with your family as you receive them). Don’t know of any? Contact your church! Still need help? Check out these two links.
- Lead your family (this will encourage your heart, too!) to study Scripture and understand the person and role of Christ more deeply. As we approach Easter, there is no better time to reflect on His birth, life, death, and resurrection. DOWNLOAD a FREE worksheet here for your family! This is best used with a parent present and will give you many opportunities to talk about the person and work of Jesus while also working on Bible skills!
- Share the Gospel, your personal testimony, or invite someone to join you at church. We’re called to be disciple-makers–we have the words of LIFE–share them!
