How St. Patrick Would Celebrate St. Patrick’s Day

For many, St. Patrick’s Day brings up visions of cartoony leprechauns, four-leaf clovers and wearing the color green. The Plumber’s Union in Chicago even dyes the Chicago River green for the holiday. But much as Santa Claus has nothing to do with the historical reason for Christmas, leprechauns and four-leaf clovers have nothing to do with the historical reason for St. Patrick’s Day.

In the fourth century A.D. during an uncertain time period in the Roman Empire, Patrick lived in Britain with his family. Just before he turned 16 years old, Patrick and his family were on holiday by the sea in a town called Bannaventa Berniae.

One day, this little town was attacked by Irish pirates. The pirates captured Patrick, took him to Ireland and sold him to Miliuc of Slemich, a druid chieftain. Miliuc gave Patrick the task of herdsman.

Patrick had grown up in a Christian home, but he had never made a decision to follow Christ until he was kidnapped and sold into slavery. Not only did he choose to follow Christ, but he started to pray. And as he prayed, miracles began happening.

Here’s what he writes in his autobiography: