St. Patrick’s Day is celebrated each year on

March 17th.

In Ireland, St. Patrick’s Day is both a holy day and a

national holiday. St. Patrick is the patron saint of

Ireland, as he was the one who brought Christianity to

the Irish.

St. Patrick was born in Wales in 387 A.D.

When he was young he was captured by a man

know as Niall Naoi nGiallach, who brought him to Ireland and sold him to a farmer called

Milchu.

At the farm young Patrick worked very hard, watching

the sheep or pigs.

Patrick prayed every night. One night he heard a voice speaking to him. It was God telling him to leave Ireland.

Patrick travelled to France. It was a very difficult journey,

but he survived.

Eventually, he returned to Wales. He realised that he wanted to become a priest

and needed to study.

Patrick became a wonderful priest. Pope

Celestine was very happy with him.

Patrick returned to Ireland with a group of

priests. They were going to tell all the Irish

pagans about Jesus.

Irish people did not really want to hear about Jesus, but they were

impressed at the way Patrick knew their language, so they let

him speak.

Patrick picked up a shamrock.

"How many leaves are there?" asked Patrick. They all said three.

Then Patrick asked how many seeds were needed to make it. Someone said one. Patrick said

this was the same as the Blessed Trinity, God the Father, God the Son and God the Holy Spirit. A pagan priest said, "I will follow

him".

Patrick stayed in Ireland for sixty years. He

travelled to different places spread the word

of God.

Patrick died on the 17th March, 493 A.D. , and his life is celebrated on this

date throughout the world.

There is a famous story about St. Patrick, which tells of how he

drove snakes out of Ireland and banished them forever.

Some people think that this story is really talking about the way St.

Patrick managed to tell people about God and stop them

becoming pagans.