Though Patrick was born in Britain yet he can be considered Irish to the core and deserves to stand in the ranks of great Irish saints because of his love and influence upon this island for the sake of the Gospel. Britain had received the Gospel within 30 years of the day of Pentecost, some early church writers speak of a couple of the apostles coming to Britain. But by the time of Patricks birth the revival fires were gone. The great missionary efforts of evangelising Britain had come to a stand still. Normalcy, church politics and carnality had set in. Britain was soon and fast to be engulfed in spiritual darkness and paganism once again. But God had a plan
Patrick was born in a town called Bannavem Taberniae in Britain (many claim him for the west coast of Wales others for the Clyde in Scotland and still others for the west coast of England). Some estimate his birth as early as 372 others as late as 390. It was certainly near the end of the Roman occupation of Britain (It was in the year 476 that the City of Rome fell to invading hordes and not until 538 that the first pope of Rome was crowned). Patricks parents were born again, his father a deacon in the church who carried authority in the local community. They were well educated people, they spoke the Celtic language but taught there son to speak Latin while he was yet young. In the days of his youth a rebellious spirit gripped him, he had no time and no thought for God or the faith of his parents. When sixteen years old he fell victim to a wild party of Irish raiders. They killed some of the servants with him, but took him captive to his new home in Ireland along with thousands of others. During the beginnings of his captivity he was left hungry, half naked, cold and close to collapsing. He was sold by these raiders like a mere animal. His new owner was a sheep farmer on the Antrim hills near Slemish, who treated him little better than his captures. But all this was used in Gods hand. In this state he remembered the years of sinning against a holy God. The Holy Ghost opened his hard heart and he turned to God with all his heart receiving His gift of salvation. From the beginning he was gripped with a desire to pray. He would wake in the night to pray. He would rise early before dawn to seek God, even in rain, frost and snow without any ill effect to his health. On mountain tops, forests and fields he prayed daily and earnestly. The love of God and fear of God grew steadily in his heart. He believed the reason for this great fervency was that the Spirit glowed in him. This was Gods place of preparation for this missionary vessel for the next six years during which time he learnt the language and ways of the people.
Then one night during a time of fasting and seeking God, He spoke to him in a dream and told him that he would soon return to his own land. Again a second time the Lord showed him a boat prepared for his deliverance at a place he had never been to before 200 miles away where he knew no soul. So he fled the sheep hills and his owner of six years and went in the strength of God like Elijah. On the day he arrived a boat was there just ready to leave. He offered the captain money for the journey but in an angry and harsh manner the captain turned him down. He turned and walked away praying unto the Lord as he did. Then one of the other men called out to him to come, hurry and join them in the vessel. By sea they travelled three days then 28 days through desert on land, this would have been Gaul, present day France. By now they were hungry, weak and half dead. All through the journey Patrick was a witness of the true and Mighty God. Then at their end they sought this christian to call on his God if He was real for they would surely die. With full confidence he proclaimed his God was able to provide that very day for nothing was impossible for Him. Just then a heard of pigs appeared before them, quickly these sailors caught, killed and ate them. They remained here for two days until they regained strength. Again after some years he fell into captivity but the Lord encouraged him saying it would last but two months and so it did.
Eventually after years of tribulation he returned to Britain and his family. They were so glad to see him and besought him to remain with them now. He soon became a deacon in the church. In the night like Pauls Macedonian call an Irishman called Victoricus came to Patrick, in his hand he carried letters, he gave one to Patrick who read it. It began with The voice of the Irish
as he read he began to hear the voice of those who dwelt near the western sea (Irish Sea), they called to him
come and walk among us once more. This broke him deeply then he woke up. Again these same voices would come to him in the night and the spirit of God prayed and interceded through him for this people.
A situation arose while amongst his own people. It seems his character and calling was manifest to all, some believing he should be made a Bishop. A number of the older brethren turned upon him so viciously casting upon him past sins that it almost caused him to stumble in his walk with God. They brought accusations of the sins of his youth when he was only 15 years old before he knew Christ. On the day of his rejection the Lord came to him again and revealed who it was behind this attack, even the friend of his youth who had seemed the closest of friends to whom he had revealed his heart. But the Lord assured him that whoever touched him was touching the apple of His eye and so strengthened His servant. Many then tried to prevent him going to the Irish. They whispered behind his back, laughed and scorned. Others gave him great gifts to help his mission but he offended them by refusing it as he did not want to blemish his testimony or be seen to go for the sake of money.
Christs commission in his Latin version of scripture burned in his heart and mind, after 14 years of trials and preparation he was now ready. And so imitating the Apostles who first went out and believing that the Gospel must be preached in all Nations as a witness before the end, he went forth to Ireland on this holy and wonderful work to convert the heathen. (Some say this was about 405 and others 432). He was a debtor to the Irish and God gave him great grace to see many re-born. So great was the work that sons and daughters of kings gave themselves to labour for God. Many slaves also believed in the Lord even when forbidden by their masters. Signs and wonders were done which the Lord had shown him many years before. Under his ministry thousands turned from paganism to Christ. During his evangelistic trips there were those who many times wanted to kill him but God preserved him. He sought to raise up and train a host of labourers to carry forth the Gospel. He never returned to Britain but laboured in this land of Ireland for some 30 years planting hundreds of churches. He was truly an Apostle, pioneer, preacher and prophet.
Patrick
