Patrick: A Heart Afire

On St. Patrick’s Day, Jared arrives at Whit’s End wearing a green sweater but knowing almost nothing about the man whose day he is celebrating. He assumes Patrick was a leprechaun with a pot of gold. Whit offers him a clover-shaped cookie and explains that Patrick was a real person whose remarkable life includes both history and legend.

Patrick grows up in Birdesauld, a village on the west coast of England. His father, Calpurnius, is a village official and church deacon, and his grandfather has been a priest. Yet young Patrick does not share his family’s faith. He repeatedly causes trouble - trying to steal a neighbor’s chickens as a prank, recklessly racing a horse through the village, and even falling through the governor’s roof. His sorrowful father cannot understand his behavior and tells him that only God can truly change him. Patrick later remembers that he has not known the true God and has feared that only punishment will make him different.

Across the sea in Ireland, the druid priest Lochrue persuades King Niall to raid Britain now that its Roman defenders have gone. Lochrue appeals to the king’s greed, promising stolen goods, livestock, workers, and money from the sale of captives. He also demands some of the British prisoners for human sacrifices to the druids’ god. Though disturbed by the demand, Niall approves the raids and orders his fleet to sail.

When Irish attackers descend upon Birdesauld, Calpurnius orders Patrick to remain at home and protect his mother and sisters. Patrick disobeys and rushes toward the fighting with a sword. The raiders overpower him, burn the village, and carry him aboard one of their ships. Another captive tells Patrick that his family’s home has probably been destroyed and that no one knows what has happened to his father. Patrick blames his capture on his disobedience and believes God is punishing him for his faithless life.

At an Irish slave market, Lochrue and the high priestess Lucitmael select Patrick for sacrifice. Before he can be delivered to their temple, however, a hard country landowner named Mieclu intercepts the man transporting him. That man owes Mieclu money, so Mieclu claims Patrick as payment, caring more about useful labor than the druids’ ceremony. Patrick protests at being traded like an object, but his only choices are slavery on Mieclu’s land or death at the temple.

Mieclu gives Patrick a pile of hay in a barn for a bed and warns that he will remain tied at night until he proves trustworthy. Lonely, hungry, and stripped of everything familiar, Patrick thinks about his lost family and wonders whether his suffering is punishment or something else. Frightened and desperate, he calls upon the God he has resisted all his life and begs for help.

After watching Patrick work faithfully for several weeks, Mieclu entrusts him with a flock in the lonely western hills. Patrick remains a shepherd for six years. The long days and nights give him time to remember what his parents have taught him about Jesus, and he begins praying constantly through every kind of weather. His heart and life become devoted to God.

Patrick eventually experiences dreams and visions. A voice tells him that he will return to his own country, and later he hears that his ship is ready and sees the distant vessel he must find. Trusting that God is leading him, Patrick asks Mieclu to honor an old promise and free him. Mieclu refuses because Patrick has become too valuable a shepherd, then secretly orders a servant to tie him down that night. Patrick has already walked out of the house.

The runaway travels two hundred miles on foot through forests, fields, bogs, and rocky shores until he reaches the seaport now called Wicklow. There he recognizes the ship from his vision. Its captain is transporting Irish wolfhounds and at first sees no use for a passenger with no sailing or cooking skills. After Patrick prays for guidance, the captain calls him back and offers food and passage in exchange for caring for the animals.

The captain expects Patrick to seal their bargain with a pagan blood ritual, but Patrick refuses. He declares that he is a Christian who worships one powerful God and will not dishonor Him to secure his freedom. Impressed by Patrick’s courage, the captain allows him aboard anyway. After six years of captivity, Patrick sails away from Ireland, unaware that his journey will one day bring him back and transform the nation that has enslaved him.