Waves violently fell as 16-year-old Patrick was dragged onto a foreign shore. Captured, enslaved, and alone, he had no idea that this moment would shape the rest of his life—and the future of an entire nation.
Growing up in the United States, I always thought of St. Patrick’s Day as a fun day of celebration in school. Elementary school me didn’t care much for its history—I just associated it with the color green, Ireland, leprechauns, four-leaf clovers, fun crafts, and of course, pinching (if your friend was not wearing green). But as I’ve gotten older, it’s interesting to learn about the history of the British man who is accredited with popularizing Christianity in Ireland, particularly his journey as a missionary. Let’s explore Patrick’s story and three key takeaways we can gather from his missionary work.
- 1. He turned to Jesus during his most difficult times.
At 16, Patrick—then known as Succat—was captured by a group of Irish raiders, who attacked his family’s property. During this time, around A.D. 400, it was common practice for Irish raiders to loot coastal areas of Britain, capturing people to sell as slaves. Ripped away from his family, Patrick was taken to Ireland where he spent six years in captivity.
While captive, he worked as a shepherd. This left him spending most of his time outdoors, secluded, and deprived of food and clothes. On top of that, shepherds were already social outcasts, seen as unclean because of their constant contact with filthy sheep. It was during this time of suffering that he became a devout Christian, leaning on his faith for strength and comfort.
- 2. His confidence in the Lord allowed him to flourish.
After more than six years as a prisoner, Patrick escaped and eventually reunited with his family in Great Britain. Not long after, he wrote that an angel came to him in a dream telling him to return to Ireland as a missionary. Obedient to God’s call, he became a priest and returned to Ireland, leaving his family and returning to the place where he had horrific experiences. However, this time, he returned with one mission: to share the Gospel and strengthen Irish Christians.
At first, he doubted himself. However, once in the field, his hesitations vanished. Confident in the Lord’s calling, he traveled far and wide, passionately baptizing thousands of people. His confidence wasn’t in his own abilities but in the Lord. As two historians wrote,
“He was a humble-minded man, pouring forth a continuous paean of thanks to his maker for having chosen him as the instrument whereby multitudes who had worshipped ‘idols and unclean things’ had become ‘the people of God,’” (O’Raifeartaigh & Ostberg, 2002).
- 3. Patrick used culturally specific connections to teach the Gospel.
Rather than imposing his own background, he embraced Irish culture as a bridge for teaching the Gospel. He recognized that the best way to communicate the message of Christ was to use familiar customs and symbols that the Irish people already understood.
For example, he used bonfires to celebrate Easter because fire was already a significant part of Irish religious traditions. He is also credited with merging a sun, a significant symbol in Irish culture, with the Christian cross—forming what is now known as the Celtic cross. By making these connections, he made Christianity more natural to the Irish people, leading many to embrace the faith.
Patrick’s life is a testimony to God’s ability to redeem broken circumstances. What began as a painful captivity became the foundation for a life devoted to sharing the Gospel. His faith, courage, and willingness to meet people where they were, helped transform an entire nation. As St. Patrick’s Day approaches, sure, it’s fun to celebrate with green leprechaun decorations—but let’s also mimic Patrick’s missionary legacy of faithfulness, courage, and a willingness to follow God’s call. How might God be calling you to step out in faith today?
By Olivia Hogsett, Communications Associate, March 2025
Resources:
A&E Television Networks. (2019, March 13). St Patrick: Kidnapped by pirates and enslaved at 16. History.com. https://www.history.com/news/st-patrick-slavery-pirate-kidnapping-real-facts
A&E Television Networks. (2009, October 27). Who was St. Patrick? ? celebratation, Ireland, Catholic. History.com. https://www.history.com/topics/st-patricks-day/who-was-saint-patrick
Encyclopedia Britannica, Inc. (2002, October 25). St. Patrick’s Day. Encyclopedia Britannica. https://www.britannica.com/topic/Saint-Patricks-Day
Today Daily Devotional. (2014, December 11). Unclean shepherds. https://todaydevotional.com/devotions/unclean-shepherds-2014-12-11#:~:text=They%20were%20in%20daily%20contact,were%20generally%20treated%20as%20outsiders.
