Everybody is a little bit Irish on St. Patrick’s Day. But did you ever wonder who St. Patrick was?

St. Patrick was the patron saint of Ireland…but did you know he’s not actually Irish?

Born in the late part of the fifth century as Maewyn Succat, son of a Roman-British army officer. Maewyn was growing up like any other kid in Britain. However, one day a band of pirates landed in south Wales and kidnapped him, along with other boys. They sold him into slavery in Ireland. Imprisoned for six years, it was in Ireland that he had a dream of seeing God.

According to his autobiography, God told him to escape on a getaway ship.

So escape he did. He went to Britain, then France, joined a monastery and studied under St. Germain, the bishop of Auxerre. And when he became a bishop he had another dream: that the Irish were calling him back to Ireland to tell them about God.

So back to Ireland he went.

There are many legends associated with St. Patrick. It is said that he used the three-leafed shamrock to explain the concept of the Trinity–the Father, Son, and the Holy Spirit.

Legend also has it that St. Patrick had put the curse of God on venomous snakes in Ireland. And he drove all the snakes into the sea where they drowned.

Tonight, enjoy your corned beef and cabbage!