THE SHIELD #4 The Heart of Saint Patrick
What can we take from the life and ministry of Saint Patrick? St Patrick's Day is celebrated on the 17th of March by various denominations.Believed to have lived around the 4th, 5th, 6th centuries, he writes that he was abducted by pirates from his native Britain and taken to Ireland, where he lived as a herdsman for six years before escaping back to his family. Later, after becoming a cleric, he took the bold step to return to Ireland as a MISSIONARY to spread Christianity.
Acts 1:20 KJV For it is written in the book of Psalms, Let his habitation be desolate, And let no man dwell therein: and His bishoprick let another take.
From the many legends of this Bishop it is evident that he did not leave the work of Ireland to another, but through many trials purposed to persuade the inhabitants to follow the way of the cross. There is much information on his life, ministry and miracles for you to peruse. Let me however just highlight three points that can apply to today's situation:
📯 Heed the call. According to Patrick's memoir he received a vision…
"I saw a man coming, as it were from Ireland. His name was Victoricus, and he carried many letters, and he gave me one of them. I read the heading: 'The Voice of the Irish.' As I began the letter, I imagined in that moment that I heard the voice of those very people who were near the wood of Foclut, which is beside the western sea-and they cried out, as with one voice: 'We appeal to you, holy servant boy, to come and walk among us.'"
He evangelised all of Ireland for 40 years.
🪔 Be the Light. In The Confession he wrote of his time as a slave among the pagans and Druids:
"The love of God and his fear grew in me more and more, as did the faith, and my soul was rosed, so that, in a single day, I have said as many as a hundred prayers and in the night, nearly the same. I prayed in the woods and on the mountain, even before dawn. I felt no hurt from the snow or ice or rain."
He returned years later with the light of the gospel to those same communities where he was once captive.
☘️ Explain the Gospel. He used the Shamrock to illustrate the Trinity.
Some people are confused about why Jesus had to come, die and resurrect. By explaining the simplicity of the gospel to them you can open their hearts to the love of God, turn their minds from darkness to light and see them translated from the power of satan to God.
To walk in the mantle of Saint is to hear and heed the call of God on your life, to let your light SO shine where there is darkness and to be a willing mouthpiece for the proclamation of the gospel.
Beannachtaí na Féile Pádraig ort!
Plus he was English. 😊