St. Patrick (c. 390-461) was born in Bannavem Taburniae on the west coast
of Britan and was abducted to Ireland as a slave for six years. After
escaping, he became a priest and returned to missionize Ireland. Despite
his incomplete education, he rose to be a bishop, with his seat at Armagh.
The pastorial simplicity of his teaching is epitomized by his supposed use
of the shamrock to explain the mystical doctrine of the Trinity: the Three
Persons in One God. His frequent depiction as a bishop casting the serpents
out of Ireland may be a visual glyph of his eradication of early Celtic
beliefs.
Whatever the truth of the matter, there are still no snakes in Ireland.
St. Patrick's Day is celebrated world-wide amongst the Irish by the
'wearing of the green,' usually a trefoil of shamrock. St. Patrick is the
primary patron of Ireland and of many Gaelic events. His attributes are the
shamrock and the retreating snake.
From the Celtic Book of Days, by Caitlin Matthews
Famous Quote:
"All snakes who wish to remain in Ireland will please
raise your right hands."
-- Saint Patrick
-- Submitted by MaryEdna (ARTWORK)
