March 17 is widely accepted as the date of St. Patrick’s death in A.D. 461.
Was there really a St. Patrick? Definitely. Did he really drive the snakes out of Ireland? Probably not.
At age 16 (around A.D. 400), Patrick was kidnapped from his home on the west coast of England and carried off to Ireland. After 6 years, he escaped; upon returning home, he received his call (in a dream) to preach the Gospel. Although some Christians lived in Ireland at the time, it was Patrick who spread Christianity throughout the land and brought an organized church into existence.
We wear a shamrock on St. Patrick’s Day because Patrick used its three leaves to explain the Trinity. But, as far as we know, he never drank green beer!
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