East Texas Quarterly Magazine Spring 2014 | Page 15

The Patron Saint of Ireland was born into Roman
Britain in the fourth century. He was captured as a
teenager by Niall of the Nine Hostages who was to
become a King of all Ireland.
He was sold into slavery in
Ireland and put to work as
a shepherd. He worked in
terrible conditions for six years,
drawing comfort in the Christian
faith that so many of his people
had abandoned under Roman
rule.
Patrick had a dream that
encouraged him to flee his
captivity and to head south
where a ship was to be waiting for
him. He travelled over 200 miles
from his northern captivity to
Wexford town where, sure
enough, a ship was waiting to
enable his escape.
Upon arrival in England he
was captured by brigands and
returned to slavery. He escaped
after two months and spent
the next seven years travelling
Europe seeking his destiny.

year 432 and, together with a small band of followers,
travelled to Ireland to commence the conversion.
Patrick confronted the most powerful man in I ɕ