St. Patrick was born in Wales about AD 385. His given name was Maewyn.

When he was 16 years old, he was sold into slavery to Ireland where he was a shepherd for 6 years. While in captivity he studied and turned to religion. The legendary saint escaped from slavery after six years and went to Gaul where he studied in a monastery under St. Germain, Bishop of Auxerre for 12 years. During his training he became aware that his calling was to convert the pagans to Christianity. His wish was to return to Ireland to convert the pagans that had overrun the country. But in a further setback, his superiors instead appointed St. Palladius. Two years later, Palladius transferred to Scotland. Patrick, having adopted that Christian name earlier, was then appointed as Second Bishop to Ireland. He used the shamrock to explain the Holy Trinity.

Patrick was quite successful at winning converts. And this fact upset the Celtic Druids. Patrick was arrested over and over, but escaped each time. He traveled throughout Ireland, establishing monasteries across the country. He also set up schools and churches which would help him in his conversion of the Irish country to Christianity.

His mission in Ireland lasted for thirty years. After that time, Patrick retired. He died on March 17 in AD 461. That day has been known as St. Patrick's Day ever since.

There is a lot of Irish folklore about St. Patrick's Day. Not much of it is actually known fact. Some of this lore includes the belief that Patrick raised people from the dead. He also is said to have given a sermon from a hilltop that drove all the snakes from Ireland. Though originally a Catholic holy day, St. Patrick's Day has become more of a secular holiday.

One traditional symbol of the day is the shamrock. And this stems from a more bona fide Irish tale that tells how Patrick used the three-leafed shamrock to explain the Trinity. He used it in his sermons to represent how the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit could all exist as separate elements of the same entity. His followers adopted the custom of wearing a shamrock on his feast day.

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