Interfaith Days: St. Patrick's Day

St. Patrick's in Dublin

Today is the feast day of Saint Patrick. He was originally a Briton but was kidnapped by Irish raiders when he was sixteen. He spent several years as a slave in Gaelic Ireland, converted to Christianity, returned home and became a priest, then returned to Ireland. He was not the first Christian missionary in Ireland but he was very influential, converting many and achieving acceptance among the native Irish, so much so that he eventually became Ireland's patron saint. It is said that he used the shamrock to explain the Holy Trinity. According to tradition he died on March 17, around the year 460. This site provides more information about him and the holiday.