by Helen Jesze 20th March 2026

Born into a well-to-do Celtic Christian family in England in the fifth century AD, the
young man who was later to be called St. Patrick, rejected his faith as a teenager.
Disobeying his father’s commands to not go too near the coast, Patrick was kidnapped
and taken by boat to Ireland, at age 16. There he was sold as a slave, and lived in a
very remote, cold, isolated place in County Antrim, and had to look after a cruel
man’s sheep. His only shelter was a very primitive hut made of earth and branches
and he was brutally treated. Most of the people there were Druids and practised Black
Magic.

There he realised God was his only hope, and he begged for forgiveness and turned
wholeheartedly to God again, and began to pray a lot. “I would pray all the time, right
through the day,” Patrick wrote, and explained that as he did this, his faith and God’s
love in him increased. He lived in harsh conditions, sometimes out all day and night
in snow, frost and rain. But, he continued, “I would hardly notice any discomfort . . .
due to the Spirit within me.” Many would have grown bitter, but he focused his heart
and mind on God’s presence.

After 6 years, one night he was asleep and a voice spoke to him, “Get up Patrick.
Walk 200 miles and you will find a ship waiting to take you home to your family!”
Punishment for a runaway slave was death. He started on his journey, hiding from
those who would have captured him again, taking God as his protection. He came to
the coast and was taken on board by a trader and his two sailors. They came into a
terrific storm and the boat, now a complete wreck, was washed up on the shore of
England. They had very little food and water and walked for 28 days.
During this time, Patrick had often spoken of his God to these pagan men. They had
laughed and scorned him, but the captain challenged him to show themthe power of
his God. Just then, they heard a wild pig grunting and were able to kill it, giving them
food for many days. One day, Patrick recognised a particular path, and he said, “This
is my home! Come, let’s go to my house!” He was overjoyed! Then they heard
voices nearby and he saw his father, sister and one of the servants.

“Father, Father, it’s me, Patrick!” His father did not believe him and said his son
was dead, but Patrick was able to persuade him that he was indeed, his son. He
introduced the men as some people who had helped him to escape, and they all
went to dine at the family home. It was an amazing reunion with the whole
family. That evening, Patrick had the joy of hearing his companions all
denounce their pagan gods and accept the Christian faith.

After some years, one night, Patrick had a dream where he saw a man approach, who
gave him a rolled-up scroll, saying it was a letter from the people of Ireland, who
were asking Patrick to come back and to tell them about God. He took this as God’s
command and against the wishes of his family and friends, he returned to Ireland.
His profound conversion experience led to a life of constant evangelism. In spite of
much difficulty and persecution, with God’s help, thousands were saved and baptized
in water. He established over 200 churches and left a huge impact on the history of
Ireland. Patrick always insisted that God had prepared him for this difficult and
special task through all the suffering he endured as a slave. God had a great plan!
But what of the shamrock? This little three-leafed plant grows all over Ireland and as
Patrick often spoke of it, it has been adopted as the emblem of Ireland. Patrick found
a novel way to explain the Holy Trinity, saying that each leaf represented God the
Father, Jesus the Son and the Holy Spirit. Each has a separate personality although
they are also One, just like the shamrock leaf! An excellent parable!

This past Tuesday, 17th March, was St. Patrick’s Day when many people in Ireland
and all over the world celebrated. Unfortunately, most of them did not celebrate that
he brought Christianity to Ireland, bringing them out of Druids and Black Magic, for
they do not know personally know this Jesus as Patrick did, and it was only a day of
having fun.

It can be that some of you, my readers, are wondering why I have written about a
man who brought Catholicism to Ireland, and you are a Protestant and do not agree
with many of the beliefs or customs in the Roman Catholic Church. Some of those
may have been adopted later than the time when Patrick was alive. I also do not agree
with everything in the Catholic Church, yet there are many, many inviduals there who
are truly born again and baptized in the Holy Spirit, who seek to follow Mary’s
command to them every day, “Whatsoever He says to you, do it!” This is what she
said at the wedding in Cana in Galilee. The “He” is of course, JESUS! Let’s leave the
Holy Spirit to sort everything out and show people if they are wrong.

In the 1980’s when the Holy Spirit was being poured out on the Historic Churches,
my late husband, George, often preached in Protestant and Catholic Charismatic
groups. One night, a Catholic professor cried and cried all through the meeting, until
there was quite a puddle on the floor. Afterwards he said to George, “The Holy Spirit
is changing my doctrine from the inside out! I see where I have been wrong and He is
changing me!” We always try to change people from outside, but let’s allow God to
do it his way, it’s always better!

Prayer: Heavenly Father, thank you for the life of Patrick, this man who
brought the Truth of God’s Word to Ireland. Thank you for his faith, his
courage and obedience in going back to the place where he had suffered. We
thank you that you accept back those who have wandered from you.You said,
you are “married to the backslider”. We know there are so many who have
turned their back on their faith, and we pray that there will be a great turning
back to you. Make them men and women, boys and girls of faith, whom you can
use in your Kingdom! We pray this in Jesus’ Name, Amen.