by Christine G. Law

St. Patrick of Ireland was not Irish. In fact, he was a British Celt from a prominent family. Patrick was taken captive at the age of sixteen and sold into slavery in Ireland. He spent six years in captivity, working as a shepherd. Patrick spent hours and days alone watching over his master's sheep. How appropriate that God would call to him at such a time! Although he had previously abandoned and renounced his father's faith before his capture, Patrick became increasingly close to the Lord during his enslavement. And through a dream that God revealed to Patrick a divine plan for escape.

Patrick's escape from slavery was not easy. It required much faith and trust in the Lord. All he knew was that God had told him in his dream that he would leave by boat. He knew not when or where this boat would appear. Trusting in God and led by blind faith, Patrick walked many miles until he found the ship that the Lord had revealed in his dream.

But as luck would have it, Patrick was denied passage on the vessel. He immediately withdrew and fell to his knees to pray. Shortly thereafter, he was called back to the boat by the same crew who had denied his passage before. They said they'd changed their minds and welcomed him aboard as a friend.

Patrick and the ship's crew were assailed by a deadly storm while at sea. Patrick urged the men to give their lives over to the Lord in order to be spared. Their prayers were answered and when all had been converted by Patrick's incredible faith, the storm ceased with minimal damage to the vessel.

Patrick returned to his homeland and was reunited with his family, but he was not happy. He was plagued by doubts and once again the Lord came to him in his dreams. This time, God called Patrick back to the land of his captivity as His own holy shepherd. Patrick was convinced that he had been chosen to convert the entire country of Ireland to Christianity.

Patrick studied hard in the monastery and was eventually appointed as second bishop to Ireland. Upon returning to the country, he chose to treat the native people with much respect. This baffled the pagans of that land. But Patrick felt humbled and honored that the Lord had chosen him, of all people, to convert the Irish and he never doubted that he would be able to do so.

His undying faith and impenetrable grace is what got him through the rest of his life as God's handyman. Patrick gave of himself completely, without reservations. He gave knowingly, willingly, joyfully, and proudly. It is because of this that his success in Ireland was so profound. He was loved because he first loved unconditionally.

St. Patrick of Ireland taught us by his example that all life is precious. He led by compassion. He ruled with courage and intelligence. He single-handedly changed an entire country's faith. Although there were never snakes (or other reptiles) in Ireland for Patrick to chase out, he did indeed pursue the evil embodied in an uncultured land and succeeded in replacing the darkness with the light of the risen Christ for evermore.

St. Patrick's day has come and gone, but we would be wise to remember his abiding faith. Once each year, many people claim to be Irish and adorn themselves with green shamrocks for good luck. Others scoff at such superstition. But Patrick did not believe in fickle demonstrations of fate. Nor was he faint of heart in matters concerning devotion to our Lord.

Modern Society causes our young people to face imminent danger on an almost daily basis. There is evil strewn all about us. It rears its ugly head through the false intimacy of some relationships, the duplicity of "friends", dishonesty, disillusionment, and increasing crime rates. It is how we approach and cope with each of these adversities that will ultimately form our own character.

Will we simply endure with closed mouths and shamed hearts? Can we take a stand for God as Patrick did? Are we willing to say yes to the Lord? Is our faith strong enough to go against the grain? If so, perhaps it is not the luck of the Irish that will nudge us forward, but the blessings of St. Patrick himself along with the hand of God.

Wear your shamrock proudly -- not as a token of luck but as a symbol of the most blessed trinity. And among the green you just might hear the Voice of the Irish whispering a prayer on your behalf.

How do you judge your own commitment to God?
Have you ever been forced to do something you didn't want to do? How did you feel?
When has doing God's will required great courage on your part?