We as Christians have allowed the modern, secular customs of St. Patrick’s Day to steal away one of the greatest missionaries in Christian history and reduce his memory to leprechauns, green beer and fictional tales. Let’s take back our beloved servant of Christ and share God’s glory achieved during the life of Patrick the missionary to Ireland. Let’s share the true legacy of this great Christian missionary.

Today most people know St. Patrick for green beer, banishing snakes from Ireland, using shamrocks to teach the trinity, or Patrick’s walking stick growing into a living tree. Indeed, none of this has anything to do with the real Patrick. However, the factual accounts of Patrick, missionary to Ireland, are even more compelling than the folklore. Telling the true story of Patrick the Christian missionary provides an inspiring lesson in God’s grace and mercy.

While other 1500-year-old characters in history are difficult to research because too few writings have survived time, Patrick is hard to study because there is so much written about him. The bulk of the writings on Patrick are lore, fiction and embellishment. In uncovering the real Patrick one must sift through ten fictional accounts of his life to find one factual work.

As a teenager Patrick was kidnapped, taken from his home in southern Britain and sold into slavery on the island of Ireland. During his six years as a slave he converted to Christianity and earned a reputation as a fervent evangelist. In the dark of the night Patrick escaped his bonds and fled Ireland. Following a long journey home he entered theological training and fulltime service to the Lord. God spoke to Patrick in his dreams and told him that he would return to Ireland and serve as a missionary to the very culture that had kept him in servitude.

In 432 AD, twenty-five years after fleeing Ireland, Patrick returned to the place of his bondage. He did not return with malice in his heart, but as a missionary eager to convert the Irish. Patrick served in regions of Ireland where outsiders had never traveled. While roaming through Ireland he preached to pagans and also instructed existing Christian believers. Patrick trained Irish helpers and ordained native clergy. He was bringing a new way of life to a violent, war oriented pagan culture. His work was both ground breaking and Christ honoring. While serving in Ireland Patrick wrote, “Daily I expect to be murdered or betrayed or reduced to slavery if the occasion arises. But I fear nothing, because of the promises of Heaven.”

Many brutal kings and warlords felt threatened by the work Patrick was doing. In order to obtain the favor of local leaders and to gain safe passage, Patrick paid penance, or bribes, to those in authority. Patrick viewed this as important for both his safety and to build strong relations. He used the rulers to gain access to their lands just as they used Patrick to gain wealth and favor with Christians. Of the bribes he had paid, Patrick proclaimed, “I do not regret this nor do I regard it as enough. I am paying out still and I shall pay out more.”

In fifth century Ireland women were a commodity. Selling a daughter or arranging a politically strategic marriage was common and advantageous to a family. Patrick upset the social order by instructing women they had a choice in Christ. As God converted these women to Christianity, some became fulltime servants of Christ in the face of strong family opposition. Patrick told women they could be “virgins for Christ” by remaining chaste in Christ’s name. This newfound control was appealing to many women, and angered many men who believed Patrick was taking away their prized possessions.

It was believed by many scholars that Ireland was at the end of the earth, or at least, at the edge of the inhabitable portion of earth. The collapsing Roman Empire supported many beliefs that civilized society was drawing to a close. Politicians and philosophers viewed Ireland as barbaric and untamable. Many Christians did not believe the Irish were worthy of being saved. At that point in history, Patrick was truly serving as a pioneering missionary to a forgotten people.

Patrick advocated learning among Christians. He promoted the ascetic life and monasticism. The Irish culture did not place great value on literacy or education. Patrick however, promoted studying of the Scriptures as well as reading the books written by fathers of the faith.

Patrick entered an Ireland full of paganism and idol worship. Just a few short decades after Patrick arrived in Ireland, a healthy, Christ-honoring church was thriving. The Irish church was so strong; in the centuries to come it would provide missionaries to re-evangelize much of continental Europe. Patrick’s legacy lives on through the countless spiritual grandchildren he left to continue his work.

Patrick, the missionary to Ireland, lived in a way that brought honor to God. His devotion and resolute obedience are examples for all followers of Christ. Patrick stood in the face of great challenges and did not falter. His service, his life, and his unwavering commitment to spreading the gospel of Christ are as commendable today as they were in the fifth century.

We as Christians have allowed the modern, secular customs of St. Patrick’s Day to steal away one of the greatest missionaries in Christian history and reduce his memory to leprechauns, green beer and fictional tales. Let’s take back our beloved servant of Christ and share God’s glory achieved during the life of Patrick the missionary to Ireland. Let’s share the true legacy of this great Christian missionary.

Mike Pettengill is a full-time missionary serving in La Ceiba, Honduras, with Mission to the World (www.mtw.org). Mike is a team leader of a 12-person mission team. To learn more about the Pettengill’s work in Honduras visit Pettengill Missionaries.