by Tara Rijon

Created on: March 06, 2009   Last Updated: March 24, 2011

Oddly enough, the man to whom St Patrick's Day would come to honor was not even born in Ireland. Maewyn Succat was born in the Roman province of Britannia in 389 A.D. Kidnapped by pirates at the age of sixteen, and later sold into bondage, he turned to religion. He would later dedicate his life to converting the Irish from paganism to Christianity.

Maewyn was born to a wealthy Roman-Briton family. His early education was almost non-existent, as were any signs of a religious upbringing. It wasn't until after his capture that he felt a strong bond with God and he longed to return to Ireland where he could make a difference.

At the age of twenty-two Maewyn escaped from captivity and returned to his homeland. He went to Gaul (which today is France) to study for the priesthood and was ordained in 417 A.D. Fifteen years later Pope Celestine would consecrate him as a bishop and give him the name "Patricius" or Patrick, derived from two Latin words meaning "the father of his people." A year later St Patrick would return to Ireland, where he proceeded to build churches and convert its citizens to Christianity.

Their pagan beliefs made it difficult for the Irish to understand the Trinity, so St. Patrick used the one symbol that they could all identify with. Using a shamrock, he pointed out the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit, and he was well on his way to winning souls. It is said that he converted the entire country to Christianity.

Despite the many death threats received, St. Patrick traveled throughout Ireland for thirty years spreading the gospel. In 450 A.D. he penned an autobiographical confession called "The Confession," written entirely in Latin. In it he wrote, "So, how is it that in Ireland, where they never had any knowledge of God but, always, until now, cherished idols and unclean things, they are lately become a people of the Lord, and are called children of God; the sons of the Irish and the daughters of the chieftains are to be seen as monks and virgins of Christ."

St. Patrick died in Saul, Downpatrick, Ireland on March 17, 461 A.D. He was buried on the Hill in Downpatrick and a monastery and church were erected around his grave. Today, Saint Patrick Centre sits beside Down Cathedral and the patron saint's grave. It is the only permanent exhibition in the world devoted to St. Patrick.

Thanks to the migration of the Irish people, St. Patrick's Day is celebrated throughout the world. While it is a day of festivity all over the globe, it has been widely considered a religious holiday in Ireland. Prior to 1970, pubs were required to close on March 17th.

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