History has a way of giving away to legend and folklore. Such is the case when it comes to St. Patrick's Day. You would think that if we were going to set aside a day and honor someone we would at least get some of the historical facts straight.
Probably the two biggest things people associate with the day is pinching someone because they did not wear green or drinking. Not sure where those two things came from. And we can also add in parties and parades.
Consider what Patrick himself said. "I am greatly a debtor to God, who has bestowed his grace so largely upon me, that multitudes were born again to God through me. The Irish, who had never had the knowledge of God and who worshipped only idols and unclean things, have lately become the people of the Lord, and are called sons of God."
Most of what we know about Patrick come from his two books, Confession and Letter to Coroticus. He speaks of being taken captive at age 16 and becoming a slave of an Irish master. Following his conversion he became a man of prayer.
After his release six years later, he chose to return to Ireland and be a missionary and church planter. He ministered in Ireland in the middle of the 1400's. While we lack a lot of details he does give us an overview of his work.
Patrick had an incredible pasion "for the salvation of others." Thousands were baptized under his ministry.
So this March 17, St. Patrick's Day, let's remember a man who was lost who was born again. A man who became a missionary to Ireland, planted hundreds of churches, led thousands to Christ, and left a great legacy, even though history has lost sight of the real, historical Patrick.
