Saint Patrick's Day

St. Patrick was born in the early fourth century, A.D. in western England, but no one knows exactly when or where. At the age of 16, he was captured by Irish raiders who carried him to slavery in Ireland. Patrick escaped after six years and entered and English monastery where eventually he became a bishop. He returned to Ireland as a missionary and dedicated himself to converting the Irish to Christianity. He used the shamrock to explain about God. This small green plant, which looks like a clover, has three leaves on each stem. St. Patrick told the people that the shamrock was like the idea of the Trinity--that in the one God there are three divine Persons: The Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit. Today, celebrations mark the anniversary to his death in 492.