Why celebrate Saint Patrick’s Day?
Our modern society has turned Saint Patrick’s Day into four leaf clovers, leprechauns, beer and parties. The truth about the real Saint Patrick’s Day can be found through a study in history. A record of Saint Patrick’s life is in a book he wrote called Confessions.
Who was St Patrick
The young boy Patrick lived a comfortable life in England. However, at the age of 16, his life became unraveled. Irish pirates attacked his village, abducting Patrick and many of the household servants. After arriving in Ireland, he was sold as a slave and had to work with a herd of pigs.
In the midst of the slavery, God began to transform Patrick’s heart. In Confessions he wrote, “I was sixteen and knew not the true God, but in a strange land the Lord opened my unbelieving eyes, and I was converted.”. Patrick became convinced that his trials were opportunities to know Jesus Christ better. “Anything that happens to me,” he wrote, “whether pleasant or distasteful, I ought to accept with serenity giving thanks to God … who never disappoints.”
Patrick escaped from slavery 6 years later as a stowaway on a boat back to his home country of England. Yet through a dream God called him to return to Ireland; not as a slave but as a preacher of the Gospel. Despite objections from family, Patrick used his own money to purchase a boat and sailed back to Ireland. There he won many souls to the Kingdom of God and becoming an outspoken opponent of slavery.
Why Christians should celebrate St Patrick’s Day
Saint Patrick’s Day was originally a celebration of the life and death of Patrick of Berniae and Ireland’s acceptance of Christianity. We should be reminded on March 17, the day of Patrick’s death, we are to share the Good news of Jesus Christ and Him Crucified with whoever we shall meet in life despite the things they may have done to us. We may not win countries over as he did, but every soul counts and one can sometimes be a great number.