RND
Seventh-day Adventist
The "REAL" St. Patrick's Day!
One of the most recognize saints of God is the patron, Patrick of Ireland. People from different parts of the world observe the festival of St. Patrick's Day. Catholics and Protestants alike find a common ground in that day dedicated to the man named Patrick of Ireland. The Catholic Church made him a Catholic saint, but was Patrick really Catholic? Most people do not know where this mysterious, remarkable man came from! You'll be amazed at what history reveals! Let us do a background check on Patrick's life. First of all, Patrick was born in about 360 A.D. (see -- Smith and Wace, A Dictionary of Christian Biography, art. "Patricius".) His original name was Succat but later became Patrick. "Succat, afterwards known as St. Patrick..." J. H. D'aubigne, The Reformation in England, p. 28. He was the son of Calpurnius, a deacon in the early Celtic church. He was born in a town in the southern part of Scotland, and at the age of 15, he was taken captive and brought to Ireland by freebooters or pirates. Here is Patrick's own testimony:
"I, Patrick, a sinner, the rudest and least of all the faithful, and most contemptible to great numbers, had Calpurnius for my father, a deacon, son of the late Potitus, the presbyter, who dwelt in the village of the Bonavan, Tiberiae, for he had a small farm at hand with the place where I was captured. I was then almost 16 years of age. I did not know the true God; and was taken to Ireland in captivity with many thousand and in accordance with our deserts, because we walked at a distance from God and did not observe his commandments." William Betamn, Irish Antiquarian Researches, vol. 1, p. 270.
So far, we have found out that Patrick was not born in Ireland but in Bonnaven in southern Scotland. He was the son of Calpurnius, a deacon in the Celtic church. He was taken captive by a ruffian band at the age of 15 and brought to Ireland.
After six years of captivity, Patrick escaped and made it back to his home town in southern Scotland. During his captivity, Patrick gave his heart to the Lord! "Here, in slavery, he gave his heart to God and, after six years of servitude, escaped, returning to his home in Scotland." Christian Edwardson, Facts of Faith, p.134. Also, about ten years later, Patrick returned to Ireland because of his remembrance of the poor heathens who needed the knowledge of Christ and the spiritual graces from God. "...But he (Patrick) could not forget the spiritual need of these poor heathen, and after ten years he returned to Ireland as a missionary of the Celtic Church." Ibid., pp. 134,135. Another Christian historian, Dr. William Cathcart, reveals that Patrick was about thirty years old at this time. "He (Patrick) had now reached his thirtieth year [390 A.D.]." Dr. William Cathcart, The Ancient British and Irish Churches, p.70. The great Patrick of Ireland did such a marvelous work in evangelizing Ireland that another historian makes this comment on the subject. "Saint Patrick in his day founded there 365 churches." Dr. E. Pagit, Christianography, Part 2, p.10.
What type of churches were they? Were they Catholic churches? Let's have history bear record of the facts! "There is strong evidence that Patrick had no Roman communion in Ireland. As Patrick's churches in Ireland, like their brethren in Britain, repudiated the supremacy of the popes, all knowledge of conversion of Ireland through his ministry must be suppressed by Rome, at all costs." William Cathcart, The Ancient British and Irish Churches, p. 85. Even the popes, who lived as Patrick's contemporaries, NEVER mention or even rejoiced over his great evangelistic efforts in Ireland. "There is not a written word from one of them rejoicing over Patrick's additions to their church, showing clearly that he was not a Roman missionary...So completely buried was Patrick and his work by popes and other Roman Catholics, that in their epistles and larger publications, his name does not once occur in one of them until A.D. 634." Ibid, p.83. Isn't that amazing! Patrick and his great work was not mentioned by Papal historians and prelates until about 244 years later! "Prosper does not notice Patrick...He says nothing of the greatest success ever given to a missionary of Christ, apparently because he was not a Romanist." Ibid, p.84. Also, Patrick never mentions Rome or the pope in his writings. "He (Patrick) never mentions either Rome or the pope or hints that he was in any way connected with the ecclesiastical capital of Italy. H mentions no other authority but that of the word of God." Dr. Killen, Ecclesiastical History of Ireland, vol. 1, p. 12.
Eventually, years later, the Roman pontiff did send a papal emissary to the Celtic church, but the papal legate was turned away! This proves that Patrick was of that pure Celtic Church of Christ. The historian, Bede, wrote of the papal emissary, Palladius, that was sent by the Roman pontiff in the year 431 A.D.: "Palladius was sent by Clestinus, the Roman pontiff, to the Scots [Irish] that believed in Christ." Bede, Ecclesiastical History, p.22. London: 1894. The historian, Cathcart, reveals that this papal representative was turned away. "He left because he did not receive respect in Ireland." William Cathcart, The Ancient British and Irish Churches, p.72.
Here are three reasons why Patrick of Ireland could not have been Roman Catholic. "1. Early Catholic historians and popes avoided mentioning Patrick or his work; until later legendary histories represented him as a Catholic Saint. 2. When papal missionaries arrived in Britain, 596 A.D., the leaders of the original Celtic Church refused to accept their doctrines, or to acknowledge the papal authority, and would not dine with them. They 'acted towards the Roman party exactly as if they had been pagans.' - Ecclesiastical Records, by Richard Hart. pp. viii, xiv. 3. The doctrines of the Celtic Church of Patrick's day differed so widely from those of the Roman Church, that the latter could not have accepted it as 'Catholic.'" Christian Edwardson, Facts of Faith, p.137. The first reason mentioned above happens quite a bit! For example, there is a story about Brian Boru, the king of Ireland around 941-1014 A.D., being the strongest man that ever lived. It was said that he was so strong that he could lift himself off the ground so that no part of him touched the ground! This is impossible and is misinformation! The same thing happened to Patrick by the Catholic Church. "Centuries were to pass before the papacy discovered that his (Patrick's) merits were too firmly established to be overlooked. It (the Catholic Church) labored to gather Patrick into its fold by inventing all kinds of history and fables to make him a papal hero." Elder Benjamin Wilkinson, Truth Triumphant, p. 93.
One of the most recognize saints of God is the patron, Patrick of Ireland. People from different parts of the world observe the festival of St. Patrick's Day. Catholics and Protestants alike find a common ground in that day dedicated to the man named Patrick of Ireland. The Catholic Church made him a Catholic saint, but was Patrick really Catholic? Most people do not know where this mysterious, remarkable man came from! You'll be amazed at what history reveals! Let us do a background check on Patrick's life. First of all, Patrick was born in about 360 A.D. (see -- Smith and Wace, A Dictionary of Christian Biography, art. "Patricius".) His original name was Succat but later became Patrick. "Succat, afterwards known as St. Patrick..." J. H. D'aubigne, The Reformation in England, p. 28. He was the son of Calpurnius, a deacon in the early Celtic church. He was born in a town in the southern part of Scotland, and at the age of 15, he was taken captive and brought to Ireland by freebooters or pirates. Here is Patrick's own testimony:
"I, Patrick, a sinner, the rudest and least of all the faithful, and most contemptible to great numbers, had Calpurnius for my father, a deacon, son of the late Potitus, the presbyter, who dwelt in the village of the Bonavan, Tiberiae, for he had a small farm at hand with the place where I was captured. I was then almost 16 years of age. I did not know the true God; and was taken to Ireland in captivity with many thousand and in accordance with our deserts, because we walked at a distance from God and did not observe his commandments." William Betamn, Irish Antiquarian Researches, vol. 1, p. 270.
So far, we have found out that Patrick was not born in Ireland but in Bonnaven in southern Scotland. He was the son of Calpurnius, a deacon in the Celtic church. He was taken captive by a ruffian band at the age of 15 and brought to Ireland.
After six years of captivity, Patrick escaped and made it back to his home town in southern Scotland. During his captivity, Patrick gave his heart to the Lord! "Here, in slavery, he gave his heart to God and, after six years of servitude, escaped, returning to his home in Scotland." Christian Edwardson, Facts of Faith, p.134. Also, about ten years later, Patrick returned to Ireland because of his remembrance of the poor heathens who needed the knowledge of Christ and the spiritual graces from God. "...But he (Patrick) could not forget the spiritual need of these poor heathen, and after ten years he returned to Ireland as a missionary of the Celtic Church." Ibid., pp. 134,135. Another Christian historian, Dr. William Cathcart, reveals that Patrick was about thirty years old at this time. "He (Patrick) had now reached his thirtieth year [390 A.D.]." Dr. William Cathcart, The Ancient British and Irish Churches, p.70. The great Patrick of Ireland did such a marvelous work in evangelizing Ireland that another historian makes this comment on the subject. "Saint Patrick in his day founded there 365 churches." Dr. E. Pagit, Christianography, Part 2, p.10.
What type of churches were they? Were they Catholic churches? Let's have history bear record of the facts! "There is strong evidence that Patrick had no Roman communion in Ireland. As Patrick's churches in Ireland, like their brethren in Britain, repudiated the supremacy of the popes, all knowledge of conversion of Ireland through his ministry must be suppressed by Rome, at all costs." William Cathcart, The Ancient British and Irish Churches, p. 85. Even the popes, who lived as Patrick's contemporaries, NEVER mention or even rejoiced over his great evangelistic efforts in Ireland. "There is not a written word from one of them rejoicing over Patrick's additions to their church, showing clearly that he was not a Roman missionary...So completely buried was Patrick and his work by popes and other Roman Catholics, that in their epistles and larger publications, his name does not once occur in one of them until A.D. 634." Ibid, p.83. Isn't that amazing! Patrick and his great work was not mentioned by Papal historians and prelates until about 244 years later! "Prosper does not notice Patrick...He says nothing of the greatest success ever given to a missionary of Christ, apparently because he was not a Romanist." Ibid, p.84. Also, Patrick never mentions Rome or the pope in his writings. "He (Patrick) never mentions either Rome or the pope or hints that he was in any way connected with the ecclesiastical capital of Italy. H mentions no other authority but that of the word of God." Dr. Killen, Ecclesiastical History of Ireland, vol. 1, p. 12.
Eventually, years later, the Roman pontiff did send a papal emissary to the Celtic church, but the papal legate was turned away! This proves that Patrick was of that pure Celtic Church of Christ. The historian, Bede, wrote of the papal emissary, Palladius, that was sent by the Roman pontiff in the year 431 A.D.: "Palladius was sent by Clestinus, the Roman pontiff, to the Scots [Irish] that believed in Christ." Bede, Ecclesiastical History, p.22. London: 1894. The historian, Cathcart, reveals that this papal representative was turned away. "He left because he did not receive respect in Ireland." William Cathcart, The Ancient British and Irish Churches, p.72.
Here are three reasons why Patrick of Ireland could not have been Roman Catholic. "1. Early Catholic historians and popes avoided mentioning Patrick or his work; until later legendary histories represented him as a Catholic Saint. 2. When papal missionaries arrived in Britain, 596 A.D., the leaders of the original Celtic Church refused to accept their doctrines, or to acknowledge the papal authority, and would not dine with them. They 'acted towards the Roman party exactly as if they had been pagans.' - Ecclesiastical Records, by Richard Hart. pp. viii, xiv. 3. The doctrines of the Celtic Church of Patrick's day differed so widely from those of the Roman Church, that the latter could not have accepted it as 'Catholic.'" Christian Edwardson, Facts of Faith, p.137. The first reason mentioned above happens quite a bit! For example, there is a story about Brian Boru, the king of Ireland around 941-1014 A.D., being the strongest man that ever lived. It was said that he was so strong that he could lift himself off the ground so that no part of him touched the ground! This is impossible and is misinformation! The same thing happened to Patrick by the Catholic Church. "Centuries were to pass before the papacy discovered that his (Patrick's) merits were too firmly established to be overlooked. It (the Catholic Church) labored to gather Patrick into its fold by inventing all kinds of history and fables to make him a papal hero." Elder Benjamin Wilkinson, Truth Triumphant, p. 93.