What is the ledgend of St. Patrick and the Saints?
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St Patrick is known as the patron saint of Ireland. True, he was not a born Irish.But he has become an integral part of the Irish heritage, mostly through his service across Ireland of the 5th century.\n\nPatrick was born in the later half of the 4th century AD.\n\nThere are differing views about the exact year and place of his birth.\n\nAccording to one school of opinion, he was born about 390 A.D.,\nwhile the other school says it is about 373 AD. Again, his birth place is said to be in either Scotland or Roman England.\n\nHis real name was probably Maewyn Succat.Though Patricius was his Romanicized name, he was later came to be familiar as Patrick.\n\nPatrick was the son of Calpurnius, a Roman-British army officer.\nHe was growing up as naturally as other kids in Britain. However, one day a band of pirates landed in south Wales and kidnapped this boy along with many others. Then they sold him into slavery in Ireland. There was there for 6 years, mostly imprisoned.\n\nThis was when changes came to him. He dreamed of having seen God.\n\nLegend says, he was then dictated by God to escape with a getaway ship.\n\nFinally, he did escape and went to Britain. And then to France.\nThere he joined a monastery and studied under St. Germain,\nthe bishop of Auxerre. He spent around 12 years in training.\nAnd when he became a bishop he dreamed that the Irish were calling him back to Ireland to tell them about God.\n\nThe Confessio, Patrick's spiritual autobiography, is the most important document regarding this. It tells of a dream after his return to Britain, in which one Victoricus delivered him a letter headed "The Voice of the Irish."\n\nSo he set out for Ireland with the Pope's blessings. There he converted the Gaelic Irish, who were then mostly Pagans, to Christianity. He was confident in the Lord, he journeyed far and wide, baptizing and confirming with untiring zeal. And, in a diplomatic fashion he brought gifts to a kinglet here and a lawgiver there,but accepted none from any.\n\nIndeed, Patrick was quite successful at winning converts.\nThrough active preaching, he made important converts even\namong the royal families. And this fact upset the Celtic Druids.\nPatrick was arrested several times,but escaped each time.\nFor 20 years he had traveled throughout Ireland, establishing monasteries across the country. He also set up schools and churches which would aid him in his conversion.\nHe developed a native clergy, fostered the growth of monasticism, established dioceses, and held church councils.\n\nPatrick's doctrine is considered orthodox and has been interpreted as anti-Pelagian. Although he is not particularly noted as a man of learning, a few of his writings remain extant:\nhis Confession, a reply to his detractors, and several letters.\nThe Lorica ("Breastplate"), a famous hymn attributed to Patrick,\nmay date to a later period.\n\nBy the end of the 7th century Patrick had become a legendary figure, and the legends have continued to grow since then.\nThere are many legends associated with St Patrick.\nIt is said that he used the three-leafed shamrock to explain the concept of the Trinity; which refers to the combination of\nFather, Son, and the Holy Spirit. Hence its strong association with his day and name.\n\nLegend also has that, Saint Patrick had put the curse of God on venomous snakes in Ireland. And he drove all the snakes into the sea where they drowned.\n\nTrue, these are mostly legends. But, after some 1500 years,\nthese legends have been inseparably combined with the facts.\nAnd together they have helped us know much about the Saint and the spirit behind celebration of the day.\n\nPatrick's mission in Ireland lasted for over 20 years.\nHe died on March 17, AD 461.\nThat day has been commemorated as St. Patrick's Day ever since.\nThe day's spirit is to celebrate the universal baptization of Ireland.\nThough originally a Catholic holy day, St. Patrick's Day has evolved
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St. Patrick's Day, of course
251424
Depends who your are offending.  The god of St Patrick would say "Eat your corned beef".  The god of lent would say "Don't eat your corned beef".  Which god do you love more?
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Saint Patrick's Day (March 17) is a Catholic feast day which celebrates Saint Patrick (386-493), the patron saint of Ireland. It is a national holiday in the Republic of Ireland (but not Northern Ireland, where it is a bank holiday); the overseas territory of Montserrat; and the Canadian province of Newfoundland and Labrador.\n\nSaint Patrick's Day is celebrated worldwide by Irish people and increasingly by many of non-Irish descent. Like Christmas and Halloween, it is increasingly celebrated in a non-religious manner. Celebrations are generally themed around all things green and Irish; both Christians and non-Christians celebrate the secular version of the holiday by wearing green as part of their wardrobe, eating Irish food and imbibing Irish drink, and/or attending parades. The largest St. Patrick's Day parade in the world is held in New York City. Parades also take place in Dublin and in other Irish towns and villages. Other large parades include those in Manchester, Montreal, Boston, Chicago, Savannah and Scranton. Large parades also take place in other places throughout Europe and the Americas, as well as Australia and Asia.\n\nAs well as being a celebration of Irish culture, Saint Patrick's Day is a Christian festival celebrated in the Catholic Church, the Church of Ireland (among other churches in the Anglican Communion) and some other denominations. The day always falls in the season of Lent and sometimes during Holy Week. In church calendars (though rarely in secular ones) Saint Patrick's Day is moved to the following Monday when it falls on a Sunday. If it falls in Holy Week, it is moved to the second Monday after Easter. It is traditional for those observing a lenten fast to break it for the duration of Saint Patrick's Day.[1]\n\nIn many parts of the U.S., Britain, and Australia, expatriate Irish, those of Irish descent, and ever-growing crowds of people with no Irish connections but who may proclaim themselves "Irish for a day" also celebrate St. Patrick's Day, usually by drinking alcoholic beverages (lager dyed green, Irish beer such as Murphys, Smithwicks, Harp or Guinness, or Irish whiskey, Irish Cider, Irish Coffee or Baileys Irish Cream) and by wearing at least one article of green-colored clothing.
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--------------------------------------------------------------------------------\n\n\nCommon Traditions\nEveryone wears the color green to honor Ireland. Ireland's nickname is "The Emerald Isle" because the grass on the hills is so green. \nIf someone doesn't where green, everyone else is allowed to pinch him. Some people say that if you pinch someone who is wearing green, that person gets to pinch you back ten times. \nDecorations often include shamrocks to honor St. Patrick. He is supposed to have used the shamrock to explain religion to the Irish people. \nLeprechauns are also common decorations. It is said that these little magical men hide their gold in pots at the end of the rainbow. \nThere are always big parades in Chicago and New York. \nThe city of Chicago dyes their river green
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Up the Irish !!\n\nIm irish !!
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Ireland is largely a Christian country, mostly Roman Catholic. What are you looking for that this statement doesn't answer?
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My middle name is Patrick, I think they created this holiday for me! (thats what my mommy told me)\n\nActually, it originated in Ireland from an old mythical tale- and YES, some DO celebrate it in some parts of Ireland.
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Saint Patrick went into Ireland spreading the Gospel of Jesus Christ and some people started making big tales/miracles about St. Patrick. Like the most well known of him sending out the snakes out of Ireland. So he became a hero and they honor him using his name. =>
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St Patrick used the shamrock to set a example to the people for the 3 parts which is the Father, Son and Holy ghost. he brought christian believes to Irland
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http://www.catholic-forum.com/saints/saintl06.htm
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Hey! Happy St.Patrick's Day to you too!
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we have both at our parish and i know a few others that also have both.  it depends on the congregation and the pastor.  if there are enough people who want it and the preist knows it all they have to do is petition their archdiocese.  i don't think it'll go fully back though - it wasn't as encompassing as i believe the mass is presently.  we will often do the kyrie, agnus dei, etc.
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http://www.newadvent.org/cathen/04294b.htm\nNew Advent is a Catholic Encyclopedia.
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Here are a couple of websites with lots of information about St. Patrick.  \n\nI think people in Ireland would say there are still some snakes there though ... maybe two legged ....
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I love all saints too! \n\nTry these sites, they are pretty good. Hope they help you find some good info!
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To celebrate St. Patrick's Day, here is an old Irish joke in poem form:\n                The Snuff.\n\nPaddy was a decent man, a man who rarely swore,\nPeter was his oldest friend, since they were twenty-four.\nBut now that they were ancient, though still quite hard and tough,\nThey lived just for their evening pint - and a hefty pinch of snuff.\n\nThe snuffbox sat upon the bar, with compliments and free,\nAnd while the lads sipped at their pints ‘twas plain for all to see,\nThat both had quite a habit, like addicts and their fix,\nEach night they met and could be seen, in the bar just after six.\n\nUntil the dark day came about, when Paddy on his own,\nFound the snuffbox empty, on his forehead, a deep frown.\nBut Paddy was a gentleman, not a rude word did he say,\nSo he called upon a young boy, outside the door at play.\n\n‘Run down to Coynes tobacconist, buy half a gram of snuff,\nHere’s half-a-crown in money, I think it’s quite enough,\nAnd if you’re back in minutes, the change it’s yours to spend’\nThe boy was gone in seconds, at last he’d found a friend.\n\nMisfortune fell upon the boy, for as he passed the cross,\nHe came upon a group of men playing pitch and toss.\nAnd as he watched he felt the urge, temptation was too strong,\nHe tried to fight the evil off, he knew that it was wrong.\n\nThree tosses later, he was broke, the half-crown, it was lost,\nHe weighed up all the options, and knew what it would cost,\nA solution it was called for, somehow to make things right,\nWhen suddenly he became aware of a large dry white dogsh--e.\n\nWithout thinking twice, he ground it up, in a twist of old white paper,\nRan quickly back to Paddy’s pub and handed him the taper.\nHe never stopped to see the result of the nasty thing he’d done,\nWithin seconds he was far away now thinking it was fun.\n\nPaddy quietly placed the stuff, into the old snuffbox,\nThen smartly tapped upon the lid, gave it three gentle knocks,\nBetween his thumb and index finger, with stuff he struck a pose,\nAnd without delay, a wait all day, he sniffed it up his nose.\n\nMinutes later Paddy asked of others in the pub,\n‘Can you smell sh--e’ he called out loud, he gave his nose a rub,\nAll checked their shoes and boots to see, in what they might have trod,\nThen with united chorus, called ‘No, no, not me, begob’.\n\nNow in strolls Peter, his best friend as I have just said,\n‘Sorry Paddy that I’m late’ his hand up to his head.\n‘I have a heavy cold’ says he ‘my nose it is blocked up’\n‘Sit down’ said Pad, hands him a pint ‘just take a gentle sup’.\n\n‘Can you smell sh--e in here tonight’ asks Paddy of his mate,\n‘I can’t smell nothing’ Peter says ‘’Till now at any rate’.\n‘I’ve had this cold for three days now, its going to my chest,\nTonight I’m leaving early Pad, I need a decent rest’.\n\n‘Try a pinch of snuff’ says Pad and passes him the tin,\nAgain three taps upon the lid, then quietly watches him,\nPeter takes a hefty pinch and sniffs it deep, deep down.\nThen sits and looks around the pub, upon his face a frown.\n\n‘You know what’ Peter asks of Pad, his sniffle its now gone,\n‘Tis the finest snuff this pub has seen, I doubt if I am wrong’.\n‘And how do you make that out Pete’ asks Pad, he knows he’s right,\nThen Peter answered soft and slow, ‘I now smell that dogsh--e’.\n\n-----------------------------------------