The REAL Story of St. Patrick

Today is St. Patrick’s Day, the Patron Saint of Ireland — but did you know he wasn’t even Irish?

He was from Northern Britain – and green wasn’t even a color associated with him.

He didn’t drive the snakes out of Ireland and most likely did not use the shamrock to teach about the Trinity.

But the real story of St. Patrick is so much better than many of the myths surrounding his life.

He was born around 400 AD, and his birth name was Maewyn Succat.

While he was born into a Christian home, Patrick himself said he had no real interest in religion growing up.

At 16, he was captured by slave traders and taken across the Irish Sea, where he was sold into slavery in what was a radically pagan Ireland.

It was in captivity that Patrick turned to Christianity and the God he had largely ignored as a child—eventually putting his faith in Jesus.

After six years of slavery—prompted by a dream—Patrick managed to escape his captors, boarded a ship across the sea, and was eventually reunited with his family in Northern Britain.

While there his faith became firmly rooted in God and His Word, and he began to study for the ministry.

Once again, prompted by a dream, Patrick felt that God was calling him back to Ireland—not only to minister to people who were enslaved and mistreated, but also to minister to the very ones who had enslaved him.

in Ireland, Patrick would become one of the earliest anti-slavery, pro-women activists in Western civilization.

He was humbled and moved every day by the hunger and nakedness of those in bondage—separated from their families, just as he had been.

His care for people was not just spiritual—it was physical as well—meeting the actual needs of people every day, as he was able.

By the end of his 30-year ministry slavery had ended in Ireland and never returned.

It’s believed Patrick was instrumental in starting over 300 churches, and he baptized thousands of people, some say upwards of 120,000.

His genuine care for people, his spiritual connection to the souls of both native Irish and the enslaved in Ireland, and his massive impact through his ministry laid the groundwork for the Gospel message to continue in Ireland and beyond.

On this day – we celebrate the Gospel fueled ministry of Maewyn Succat.