St. Patrick's Breastplate

Patrick was not a feisty little leprechaun hiding a pot of gold coins. In the course of his efforts to evangelize Ireland, St. Patrick most probably did make use of the three-leaf clover to symbolize the Christian understanding of God as three-in-one. However, it is safe to speculate that he never heard of green beer; and this patron saint of Ireland was definitely not Irish by birth!

"Irish for a day," we say, as we admonish one another to wear green. We thereby perpetuate one of the most common myths about this holiday. While much of Ireland enjoys a Roman Catholic legacy, Ulster (sometimes referred to as Northern Ireland) has a Protestant heritage. The partition goes back at least three centuries. In 1688, the Roman Catholic king of England was deposed by the Protestant, William of Orange. He later became king of Scotland, which included Ulster but not the rest of Ireland. An Ulsterman might wear orange as a show of ethnic affiliation; but he would never wear green.

Now here is the truth: St. Patrick's Day began as a religious holiday, not a celebration of ethnicity. From medieval times, it marked the work of one of the most effective Christian evangelists in the history of the Church. It is a mark of the increasing secularization of our culture that the day was turned first into an ethnic festival and more recently, a mere excuse to party after the Mardi Gras headache began to abate.

Magonus Succatus Patricius was a well-born Roman citizen, a baptized Christian, and a celibate priest of the Roman Church. He was born when Rome was failing, in the early 5th century. As the protecting legions withdrew, Britain's villages were vulnerable to the marauding and plundering Irish. At the age of 16, Succatus was kidnapped in just such a raid and sold as a slave to a thriving Irish hog farm. After six years he escaped, having seen quite enough of the Emerald Isle, thank-you!

Succatus did go back to Ireland. That story is told beautifully by Juilene Osborne-McKnight in her book "I Am of Irelaunde: A Novel of Patrick and Osian." Underlining his sincere commitment to Christ, the book describes Patrick's reluctant return to the land of his former captivity. He could not deny the incessant demand by the messenger of Christ to return. But he was determined not to like it! Among other symbols of this reluctance, the evangelist maintained a sullen refusal to acknowledge his Hibernian name, Padraig (Patrick).

According to the story (which is part history, part legend, and part magical fantasy) Osian, poet-son of the great Finian leader Fionn Mac Cumhail, is sent by God to tell the ancient stories of Eire, and so encourage the transformation of "Succatus" into "Padraig." Arriving from 200 years out of the past, Osian is the representative of ancient Eire, the Eire that is passing away to make room for the "One who comes," Jesus, who is the Lord Christ.

Osborne-Knight paints an Ireland that has waited for generations for the arrival of the "Three-in-One." Patrick was sent to deliver the message of the "light at the center of all," not because he was courageous, strong, educated, or charming. Indeed, the messenger angel assures Padraig that his courage and skill are not the issue. God's strength, God's wisdom, and Christ's utter attractiveness are instead determinative. Ireland was converted as a work of grace, not a work of merit.

The novel climaxes with Padraig's triumph at Tara, the great hall of the High King of Eire. In circumstances of mortal danger, Padraig prays for Christ to shield he and his Christian brothers. In response, he is given a hymn. Singing this powerful poem, Padraig and the brothers are preserved. They experience a great victory where it was least looked for. Today, I celebrate the conversion of Ireland to Christianity by quoting the opening lines from "Saint Patrick's Breastplate".

I bind unto myself today

The strong name of the Trinity

By invocation of the same;

The Three in One,

The One in Three.