Who is St. Patrick?

Who is St. Patrick?

• St. Patrick is the patron saint of Ireland and its national apostle.
• He is an important religious figure in the Christian world.

Early Life

• St. Patrick was born in Britain in the 5th century.
• His family was very rich.
• When he was 16, a group of pirates attacked his home, kidnapped him, and sold him as a slave to a rich farmer in Ireland.
• He worked as a shepherd for 6 years, during which he prayed every day and his faith grew stronger.

Escape and Priesthood

• After 6 years, Saint Patrick heard a voice telling him to run away, and he fled back to Britain.
• He became a priest when he returned to Britain.

Return to Ireland

• When he was about 60 years old, he had a dream that the Irish people were calling him to come back.
• He returned to Ireland and spent 30 years traveling across the Irish countryside to spread the word of God.
• He brought Christianity to the Irish people.
• Almost everybody loved him.
• He carried a shamrock with him to teach people about God.

Legends and Legacy

• According to a legend, St. Patrick drove away all the snakes from Ireland by standing on a hill and using a wooden stick to drive them into the sea.
• To this day, there are no snakes in Ireland.
• St. Patrick's Day is celebrated annually on March 17, the day he died.
• Wearing green on St. Patrick's Day symbolizes honoring him, as green is the color of spring, and he died in the spring.

Answer Key

• 1. That's the day St. Patrick died.
• 2. He was a shepherd.
• 3. In Britain
• 4. In Britain
• 5. He had a dream that the Irish people needed him.
• 6. The patron saint of Ireland.
• 7. He drove all the snakes from Ireland.
• 8. In the 5th century.