St. Patricks Day: A Christian Celebration

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St. Patricks DayA Christian Celebration?

• Patrick was born in Scotland (400 A.D.), sold
  into slavery in Ireland, escaped, went home to
  study to be a priest, and was sent to Ireland to
  preach the Christian gospel

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St. Patricks DayA Christian Celebration?

• Ireland completely pagan nation

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St. Patricks DayA Christian Celebration?

• Patrick preached the gospel in Ireland for 30
  years, and within 100 years, the land was mostly
  Christian

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St. Patricks DayA Christian Celebration?

• March 17th was the date of his death
• Patrick suggested that those who mourned his
  death should take a wee drink (small alcoholic
  beverage) to ease their pain thus the Irish
  wake (feast of food and drink after someone dies)
• Celebration started in 1737 in U.S.

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St. Patricks DayA Christian Celebration?

• Bits of history

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St. Patricks DayA Christian Celebration?

• One pagan king committed suicide when he heard
  that Patrick was coming

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St. Patricks DayA Christian Celebration?

• Druids (pagan priests) performed black magic
  against Patrick, but the God of the Bible always
  performed greater miracles to demonstrate His
  greater power

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St. Patricks DayA Christian Celebration?

• Patrick used the clover (3-leaf) to help explain
  the concept of one God having three
  personalities the Trinity (Father, Son and Holy
  Spirit)

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St. Patricks DayA Christian Celebration?

• Legend (no basis in fact) he drove the snakes
  out of Ireland