Daily and Weekly Christian Inspiration
What a wonderful prayer to include in your devotion time today to honor the life of Saint Patrick. As ambassadors reminding the world that Ireland is still the “Land of Saints and Scholars” as it was known in mediaeval times and has not deteriorated to the land of beer and drunkenness!
Did you know that Patrick ranks with the greatest missionaries that ever lived?
Perhaps second only to Paul of Tarsus (Raymond Edmoan, Moody Monthly magazine) From the 5th. to the 8th. century thousands had turned to Christ. Ireland became one of the great centers of Christianity in the world, not only of Christian holiness and virtue, but also of education because of monasteries all over the country. Thus Ireland has been named, “ The land of Saints and Scholars”.
At least not in the technical sense of the Roman Catholic Church, because he was never officially canonized. According to the encyclopedia Patrick “passes as a saint merely by popular approval”.
Did you know that Patrick is claimed by Catholics and Protestants? All we can say, whatever his affiliation, he was an evangelical preacher and he never appealed to the authority of any creed, ecclesiastical leader or council,
.“The Greek word for holiness is ‘hagiasmos’ which literally means ‘to be set apart’. In the Bible it is the same word that is translated ‘sanctification’. ‘Hagios’ is the same root word we translate ‘saints’ but could also be translated ‘holy ones’. Believers are al- ways referred to as ‘saints’ in the Bible. Only once are they called Christians in Acts 11:26…And the disciples were called Christians first in Antioch. Only twice are they referred to as believers in Acts 5:14 /1Timothy 4:12. Everywhere else they are called saints or ‘holy ones’.” excerpt Page 168 DEVELOPING A SECRET HISTORY WITH GOD
So you see according to Biblical standards Patrick truly was a saint and set apart for the use of God.
1 Corinthians 1:2 Unto the church of God which is at Corinth, to them that are sanctified in Christ Jesus, called to be saints, with all that in every place call upon the name of Jesus Christ our Lord.
Patrick plucked a shamrock from where it was growing in abundance on the Irish mountainside, and used it as a lesson to teach his converts the mystery of the trinity, the three in one, The Father, Son and Holy Spirit.
In the year 432, Patrick returned to Ireland again, as a result of his obedience to the voice of God. On his arrival Patrick humbly and courageously presents himself and the gospel to the heathen Druid chieftain, whom he had escaped from years before.
This chieftain named Dichu became his first convert and he offered Patrick, the pick of any of his land for the site of Patrick’s first church. Patrick chose a situation high on the mountains of County Down, from where Patrick could see much of Ireland spread out before him. It was from here that Patrick carried out the great commission for the next thirty years of his life, where the influence of his ministry expanded to the mainland of Scotland, England and Wales and even much of Europe.