Most of us know about St Patrick as the patron saint of Ireland and the saint behind the famous St Paddy’s Day celebrations that are marked across the world. But what miracles did he perform in order to be canonised as an official saint by the Catholic church?
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Patrick’s Early Life
Want to know what’s behind the story of those St Patricks Day gifts you’ll see
each year? Patrick was born in Scotland in 385 to Roman parents. At the age of
14 he was captured as a slave and taken to Ireland, a country filled with
Druids and pagans. The young Patrick rapidly learned their customs and language
whilst praying to God continuously. He had a dream that God told him to escape,
which he did – being helped by sailors who helped him to return to his family
in England. Patrick continued to receive messages from God in dreams, and he
began to study for the priesthood. Later he became a bishop, and he returned to
Ireland in a bid to bring the word of Jesus and the Gospel to its people.
Converting the Pagans
When he arrived, a tribal chief ordered him to be killed, but his arm was
prevented from moving – the first miracle. As he relented towards Patrick, his
arm began to move again. Later, Patrick was able to teach the Gospel and
convert thousands of Irish pagans. He built 300 churches and baptised more than
120,000 people, working in the country for over four decades before dying as a
pauper in 461.
The church granted him sainthood in recognition of many tales of miracles and
his achievements. He died at the site of the first Irish church he had built,
in https://www.catholic.org/saints/.
Many resurrection stories have been attributed to Saint Patrick, with around 33
famous ones on record. These include raising royals, children, siblings and
women back to life. Others include creating food for starving people and
bringing animals back to life. He is also believed to have stopped a fire. Find
out more at https://www.shamrockgift.com/st-patricks-day.
The shamrock is associated with the saint, and he used it to explain the
Trinity concept of the Father, Son and Holy Spirit. After a life of miracles,
this incredible man was named a saint on March 17th – the day that he died.