Ireland's patron saint

Press, 14 March 1978, Page 16

Ireland's patron saint

This coming Friday, March 17, is St Patrick’s . Day. He is the patron saint of Ireland. There are many legends about him and one says that he chased all the snakes out of Ireland. He set about this task with enthusiasm. He made himself a drum, cut two sturdy sticks, and, flourishing them with gusto, marched and drummed his way through bogs, over hills, and across valleys. Serpents and scorpions crept from their hiding places as they heard the rata-tat-tat and fled before him. St Patrick’s arms ached, but he still beat loudly. Then one day he struck such a mighty blow against the side of his drum, that he knocked a hole through it. What was he to do? 4 Hundreds of snakes slithered before him. He could not give up now. He prayed, and fortunately was heard. For an angel flew down from Heaven and patched the hole. After that, St Patrick drummed more softly, and when he reached the sea, drove every snake into it. Then he blessed the land and since that time there has not been a snake in Ireland. St Patrick was a hardworking and great missionary. He converted to Christianity nearly all of the Irish people who, in those early times, were Druids. One Easter morning he met some of the Druid leaders outside their Temple and spoke to tnem, but it was difficult, for some of them to understand his Christian message. So St Patrick stooped down and picked a little green plant which was growing in the ground nearby. It was the threeleaved shamrock and well known to Irish people. He pointed to the three joined leaves which sprang from one stem, and said: “Let me now tell you about something just as natural." And he described to them the one God, who was yet known in three ways — as Father, Son, and Holy Ghost. Many people, as they looked at the shamrock and listened to St Patrick, decided to become Christians on that Easter morning. St Patrick died on March 17 and it is said that he was 120*years-old. The three-leaved shamrock became his emblem and is often worn on his Day.