Photo by Wyxina Tresse on Unsplash

SAINT PATRICK’S DAY

Well, here we are, St. Patrick’s Day 2025. Secular America is once more drowning itself in slime colored booze and pinching the arms of those who do not conform to the Oscar the Grouch dress code.

But is that what this holiday is all about? Who was St. Patrick? Was he even a real person?

Let’s explore Mr. Patty’s history. Much like the atheist grasping at the wind looking to justify their internal sense of “right and wrong”, (whatever that means concerning human-shaped bacteria that descended from pond scum in a godless universe), the secular world is once more borrowing capital from the Christian world and using it to avail themselves of some shenanigans.

I believe that once we finish, we will find little mention of obligatory Irish kisses, Mardi Gras beads with little clovers on them, or green-colored dye.

Photo by K. Mitch Hodge on Unsplash

THE HISTORY

St. Patrick, originally named Maewyn Succat, was born in the year 385 in Roman Britannia, which is modern-day Dumbarton, Scotland. He grew up in a Christian family, but at the time, it meant little to him. When Patrick was 16, a band of Irish pirates captured him and took him to Ireland, a land of leprechauns, rainbows, and pots of gold (though mostly just pagan druids and farmers). They brought him about 200 miles inland and forced him to work as a shepherd and farmhand for six years.

After this time had passed, Patrick had either a dream or a vision that showed him an escape route back to the coast. He bravely broke free from his captors and followed this mental map 200 miles back to the coast where he spotted a British ship setting course back home.

MAEWYN TURNS OVER A NEW CLOVER LEAF

As I mentioned, in his youth, his Christian surroundings and faith did not mean much to him, but that changed during his time in slavery. During his captivity Patrick experienced a true conversion to the Lord Jesus Christ, and he accredits his faith as what got him through those dark years. Now back home, he committed himself to his faith and became a priest, at which point he began to feel an abiding burden for the lost people of Ireland that he encountered. So much so, that he actually became a missionary to the pagan land of Ireland.

The pagan king of Ireland, Leoghaire, did not look favorably upon these efforts. Patty regularly received death threats and faced much pushback from the Irish, who at the time were on the whole extremely hostile towards Christ and His message of salvation.

Eventually, through much prayer, evangelism, and a heaping dose of the grace of God, Patrick saw not only the majority of Ireland bow their knees in the clover fields to Christ, but he baptized the pagan king himself!

St. Patrick became known as the “Apostle of Ireland”, planting many churches throughout the land and witnessing the Holy Spirit move mightily.

No one knows the exact date of the Saint’s death, but most accept that it was March 17, 461, in Saul, where he planted his first Irish church. This is where we get the date for our modern holiday.

Photo by Colin Lloyd on Unsplash

TREADING ON SERPENTS

You have likely heard the lore of St. Patrick “driving all the snakes out of Ireland”. While serpents were not native to Ireland, this is true in a sense.

Through Patty’s work, God spiritually drove the broods of pagan Celtic vipers out of the land of Ireland.

The gospel, as it can do anywhere it goes, tears apart the bricks of any stronghold thrown up by the enemy, even a beautiful Irish castle.

The barbaric Celtic culture of ancient Ireland was a dark and wicked manifestation of the true depravity of the human heart, and it’s demonic comrades.

Human sacrifice, rituals, and worship of the pagan pantheon; which included deities like Lugh, Morrigan, Danu, Brigid, Dagda, and the Tuatha Dé Danann was rampant at the time.

Luke 10:19
Behold, I have given you authority to walk on snakes and scorpions, and authority over all the power of the enemy, and nothing will injure you.

YET NOT I, BUT THROUGH CHRIST IN ME

So, dear Christian, as we encounter a lost and dying world that is unknowingly commemorating not only a faithful brother in Christ, but a mighty work of our Lord some 16 centuries ago, share these truths with them. Most importantly, be bold like our friend, Maewyn in his time, and share the gospel with them, it is mighty to save and transform.

All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to Christ (Matt. 28:18-20). All authority, all the earth, including Ireland, and even the local bar and grill where you encounter a drunken, green-lipped brute getting rowdy, while you’re trying to enjoy a meal with your family.

Be bold, be courageous, this is Christ’s world.

I will leave you with this—a prayer attributed to Patrick, known as Saint Patrick’s Breastplate.

“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.”