26 March 2025

Was Patrick the first to use visual aids? He spotted the shamrock’s teaching potential and used it to illustrate the Holy Trinity – Father, Son and Holy Spirit, the three persons in one.

He was considered to be endowed with miraculous powers. The fact that there are no snakes in Ireland is explained very simply. Patrick banished them!

Despite his poor Latin and alleged lack of culture, he established a famous school in Armagh. Of one scholar he wrote that his ‘scrawl is so bad that none can tell whether it is caused by a human hand or a bird’s claw!’ I know. That scholar was me!

His date of death is disputed. Some say it was 461 AD. What cannot be disputed is the permanence of his legacy not only in Ireland but also in Scotland and throughout the world.

Despite his imperfections and deficiencies, made all the more acceptable by his transparency, one thing is clear. He had a strong and courageous faith in God and believed that what he had achieved was not his work but the work of the Lord Himself!

‘None shall ever say it was my ignorance which achieves whatever tiny success was mine or whatever I showed in accordance with God’s will. But make your judgement, and let it be most truly believed that it was a gift of God. And this is my confession before I die.’ Thanks be to God!