Patrick was born in the town of Bannaventa, Britany about 385 AD. He was the son a wealthy Roman Christian cleric. Unfortunately for him, in 401 AD, when he was 16 years old, Druid pirates from Ireland raided his home and drug him off to be sold as a slave.

For the next 6 years, Patrick, worked as a shepherd to sheep and pigs. Patrick himself, wrote how trying and lonely this time was in his life. Even so, as a slave to a tribal king, he was able to become acquainted with their customs, traditions, clan structure and the Druid religion.

At age 22, he decided, by some accounts due to an Angel’s instructions in a dream, to return to Britany. He managed to sail from Ireland to the coast of Gaul (France), where the ship foundered and Patrick swam to shore. It took 3 years for Patrick to make his way from southern France to his home in Britany.

After another dream and several letters from Ireland begging him to return, Patrick returned to France to study theology at the Gallic university, Auxerre. He was ordained a priest; by then he was 32 years old. Upon the death of Bishop Palladius, the first Bishop of Ireland, some 14 years after Patrick’s ordination, Patrick was ordained bishop and sent to Ireland in 431 AD.

Patrick’s personal mission focus in Ireland was to convert the heathens. Within 30 years, using his knowledge of the clan structure and the Druid religion, he converted most of Ireland to Christianity. In 442 AD, Patrick met with Pope Leo the Great in Rome and for the first time, the Church in Ireland was aligned with the Church of Christendom at Rome.

Now for the legends of Patrick: it must have been his incredible energy, drive, charisma, sincerity, holiness and the hand of God which permitted Patrick to reach his goal. Because of Patrick’s knowledge of Ireland, gained during his youth, he approached, convinced and converted the Regional Kings first, then the Tribal (Clan) Chieftains under that regional king were most often inclined to convert as well. Patrick built monastic communities and convents which were the seeds for many modern day cities and villages of Ireland. Christianity, under Patrick’s influence, enjoined the Irish laity that fidelity, courage and generosity could replace the sword. Intertribal warfare, assassination and most all forms of violence decreased to near extinction.

Perhaps, his use of the Druid sacred plant, the Shamrock, to explain the Trinity helped him convert Kings and Chieftains. Patrick is said to have driven the snakes from Ireland. Once again, since the serpent was a Druid symbol and practically speaking he converted the whole lot of them, he drove the serpent from Ireland.

Patrick died in 481 at the age of 96 and is buried at Armagh, Northern Ireland, where Patrick established his original church (cathedral) which still stands today.

Irish bishops in Nigeria named St. Patrick as the country’s patron saint in 1961, the same year Ireland opened its embassy in Lagos, Nigeria. Today, the number of Catholics in Nigeria numbers in excess of 20 million. Although St. Patrick’s Day is not an of^icial holiday in Nigeria, Guinness stout beer is always the drink of the day.

Nigerian seminaries send their priest all over the world to serve. Indeed, we in Mobile are blessed and pleased to have several of these holy men serving in our Archdiocese.