The Christ-Filled Life of Patrick

The life of Patrick (5th century AD) can inspire and strengthen the soul. Christ animated Patrick, and Patrick in turn spoke to everyone of Christ.

On St. Patrick's Day, we sometimes see caricatures of this early Christian, and the emphasis can be on leprechauns, green clothes, pots of gold, and pots of beer! But the man Patrick was a Christ-loving, humble visionary who baptized thousands and brought the gospel to the nations of his time.

You may have even heard people talk of Patrick cleansing Ireland of snakes, but many church historians believe this actually had to do with spiritual snakes – Patrick speaks of battling territorial and personal demons, and he left Ireland aflame with the light of the gospel. 

Here is a gathering of some quotations from Patrick's Confessions, which is his story of his life. You'll also find a few links at the bottom of this article, resources that really bring out the Light of Christ that was alive in this man.

Mount Slemish, where Patrick wrote of his prayer life, "More and more the love of God increased, and my sense of awe before God."

Patrick was no quiet Christian. He was charismatic, walking in many of the gifts of the Spirit. And he was a mystic, believing that we can and should experience the living God. He saw visions and dreamed dreams (see paragraphs 17, 19, 21, 23, 40, 45 in the Confessions).

He had a wild prayer life (see paragraphs 16, 25, 34).

He fought tooth and nail for communion with the Father, Son, and Spirit, being counted among the early church "fathers and mothers" who crystalized the most vital doctrine of the Trinity (4, 14, 60).

He preached, believing Christ was speaking through him (24).

He heard and cultivated the voice of God (17, 21).

He planted churches and installed pastors to "baptise and encourage people in need and want" (40) and to "bring people to fulfillment" (51).

He walked in a regular ministry of signs and wonders (45).

And most of all, he lived with a burning zeal and passion for Christ in his heart (2, 3, 13, 33). 

Here are some deep passages from Patrick's autobiography, to enflame your heart as you pursue "Christ in you, Christ behind you, Christ before you": 

ON HIS PRAYER LIFE 

"After I arrived in Ireland, I tended sheep every day, and I prayed frequently during the day. More and more the love of God increased, and my sense of awe before God. Faith grew, and my spirit was moved, so that in one day I would pray up to one hundred times, and at night perhaps the same. I even remained in the woods and on the mountain, and I would rise to pray before dawn in snow and ice and rain. I never felt the worse for it, and I never felt lazy – as I realize now, the Spirit was burning in me at that time" (paragraph 16). 

"Another time, I saw in me One who was praying. It was as if I were inside my body, and I heard above me, that is, above my inner self. He prayed strongly, with sighs. I was amazed and astonished, and pondered who it was who prayed in me; but at the end of the prayer, it was clear that it was the Spirit. At this I awoke, and I remembered the apostle saying: “The Spirit helps the weaknesses of our prayer; for we do know what it is we should pray, but the very Spirit pleads for us with unspeakable sighs, which cannot be expressed in words.” And again: “The Lord is our advocate, and pleads for us” (paragraph 25). 

ON EVANGELISM 

"It is right that we should fish well and diligently, as the Lord directs and teaches" (paragraph 40).

"Who am I, Lord, or what is my calling, that you have worked with me with such divine presence? This is how I come to praise and magnify your name among the nations all the time, wherever I am, not only in good times but in the difficult times too. Whatever comes about for me, good or bad, I ought to accept them equally and give thanks to God. He has shown me that I can put my faith in him without wavering and without end. However ignorant I am, he has heard me, so that in these late days I can dare to undertake such a holy and wonderful work. In this way I can imitate somewhat those whom the Lord foretold would announce his gospel in witness to all nations before the end of the world. This is what we see has been fulfilled. Look at us: we are witnesses that the gospel has been preached right out to where there is nobody else there!" (paragraph 34).

ON THE TRINITY

"...there is no other God, nor will there ever be, nor was there ever, except God the Father. He is the one who was not begotten, the one without a beginning, the one from whom all beginnings come, the one who holds all things in being – this is our teaching. And his son, Jesus Christ, whom we testify has always been, since before the beginning of this age, with the father in a spiritual way. He was begotten in an indescribable way before every beginning. Everything we can see, and everything beyond our sight, was made through him. He became a human being; and, having overcome death, was welcomed to the heavens to the Father. The Father gave him all power over every being, both heavenly and earthly and beneath the earth. Let every tongue confess that Jesus Christ, in whom we believe and whom we await to come back to us in the near future, is Lord and God. He is judge of the living and of the dead; he rewards every person according to their deeds. He has generously poured on us the Holy Spirit, the gift and promise of immortality, who makes believers and those who listen to be children of God and co-heirs with Christ. This is the one we acknowledge and adore – one God in a trinity of the sacred name" (paragraph 4).

"We, however, believe in and adore the true sun, that is, Christ, who will never perish. Nor will they perish who do his will but they will abide forever just as Christ will abide forever. He lives with God the Father almighty and with the Holy Spirit before the ages began, and now, and for all the ages of ages. Amen" (paragraph 60).

You can read Patrick's whole autobiography here: https://www.confessio.ie/etexts/confessio_english# It's a delightful, quick read at about 10 pages. 

You can also watch this brief but profound documentary on his actual life: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9R_wDQeP1U4&t=119s

And here is Patrick's surviving prayer (often called the "Breastplate of Patrick") set to music by Rend Collective: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Hi-rZMTURCY