Mature Life Features

Ireland’s Legendary Saint

St. Patrick’s Day was made a religious celebration in the 17^th century to commemorate his death on March 17 in the year 461.

Dates and developments in his life are sketchy and it is not clear when St. Patrick was born. Nor is the date of his death confirmed by all historians.

Much of what we know about him comes from the “Confessio,” a book he wrote during his final years. It reads in part, “My name is Patrick. My father was Calpornius … his father was Potitus, . . . who lived at Bannavem Taburniae. . . and that is where I was taken prisoner. I was about sixteen at the time. I was taken into captivity in Ireland, along with thousands of others.”

He served as a sheep herder for six years until a vision led him to escape to a ship that carried him back to England. After becoming a cleric. he decided to return to Ireland. The Irish were pagan at the time and this former slave is credited with planting Christianity in that land. He’s now venerated as Ireland’s patron saint.

He used t three-leaf clover, known as a shamrock, to explain the trinity to the unbelievers.

The wearing of the green has nil to do with St. Patrick but is a tenet of Irish folklore that the color makes you invisible to leprechauns, who love to pinch you when they’re around.

Now, for a dram o’ Paddy’s

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Corn beef ‘n’ cabbage today and the festivities begin at 2 p.m.