St. Patrick’s Day has always been one of the biggest traditions of March all across the world.
St. Patrick, originally named Maewyn Succat, was born during 385 AD in Kilpatrick, Scotland. When he was 16 years old Irish raiders attacked Succat’s family estate, kidnapping him in the process. From there, Succat was taken to Ireland.
While in Ireland, Succat spent six years there as a shepherd. Not only was Succat always outdoors, but was always alone too. Lonely and afraid, Succat turned to his faith for consolation, becoming a devout Christian.
After over six years as a prisoner, Succat found himself having a dream in which a voice he believed to be God told him it was time to leave Ireland. In which Succat did so, by walking from County Mayo where he was held, to the Irish coast, where he found passage on a ship of sailors who brought Succat back to Britain.
While back in Britain, Succat eventually had a second dream, where an angel told him to eventually go back to Ireland to share the gospel of Jesus. From there, Succat started religious training, which lasted 15 years.
After his ordination as a priest, Maewyn Succat took the name Patrick. Patrick was sent to Ireland to minister to those of Ireland who already were Christians, and share the disciple to those who weren’t.
Having experience with the Irish language and culture, Patrick chose to incorporate traditional rituals into his lessons of Christianity as opposed to attempting to eradicate native Irish beliefs. This included using bonfires to celebrate Easter since the Irish were used to honoring their gods with fire. He also superimposed a sun, a powerful Irish symbol, onto the Christian cross to create what is now called a Celtic cross, so that veneration of the symbol would seem more natural to the Irish.
Patrick preached for 40 years and was able to convert nearly all of Ireland. Patrick had his first church built, in Saul, Ireland, in 432 AD. That church has since been a popular place of Christian worship in Ireland. After years of living in poverty, traveling, and enduring much suffering he died March 17, 461. Patrick may be known as the patron saint of Ireland, though was never actually canonized as a saint, due to the era he lived in. But after becoming a priest and helping to spread Christianity throughout Ireland, Patrick was likely proclaimed a saint by popular acclaim. His legacy is still celebrated every year on March 17th, including in St. Charles, Missouri.
This was only the fourth ever St. Patrick’s Day parade at Main Street St. Charles, with the first ever one having happened in 2022. This year’s parade featured St. Patrick’s Day inflatables, Irish apparel accessories from vehicles and people, beads and candy thrown to the visitors, first responder vehicles, and even Lindenwood organizations. Altogether, this year’s Main Street St. Patrick’s Day parade was a very packed and energized event.
