St. Patrick is most known for illustrating the meaning of the Holy Trinity - the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit - by sharing with the masses that the shamrock is one leaf with three parts, just as God is one entity with three persons.
Key Facts about St Patrick's Day
- Spiritual Significance: St. Patrick's Day honors the arrival of Christianity in Ireland and Saint Patrick’s missionary work.
- Symbols: The shamrock represents the Holy Trinity, and a legend claims St. Patrick banished snakes from Ireland.
- Saint Patrick’s Life: Born as Maewyn Succat in Roman Britain (385), he was enslaved at 14, later became a bishop, and spread Christianity in Ireland.
- Celebrations: Festivities include parades, wearing green, attending church, and traditional Irish dances (Céilithe).
- Why We Celebrate: St. Patrick’s story encourages faith, perseverance, and following one's calling.
St Patrick's Day: Table of Contents
Spiritual Meaning of St Patrick's Day
The Irish celebrate that St. Patrick brought Christianity to Ireland. The celebrations should be about being thankful for him and thankful that his missions helped bring about the message of the Good News. Moreover, it is being thankful that God gave His only Son to die for us so that we could live. Therefore, it is always a celebration when the gospel is preached to the lost.
In Mark 16:15, Jesus appears to the 11 disciples and commands them to “go into all the world and preach the gospel to the whole creation.”
Are you thankful that someone obeyed God and preached the gospel to you? I am. Without God, my life would be totally different. Imagine what life would be like for you. Even more, imagine what the country of Ireland would be like if the gospel was never reached there. So, when you celebrate St. Patrick's Day, remember what it is all about: the gospel.
And let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, to which indeed you were called in one body. And be thankful. Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly, teaching and admonishing one another in all wisdom, singing psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, with thankfulness in your hearts to God. And whatever you do, in word or deed, do everything in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him (Colossians 3:15-17).
St Patrick's Breastplate Prayer
Aside from this and St. Patrick's Day itself, St. Patrick's legacy is sustained by his famous prayer of protection or breastplate prayer. The prayer is long, but the encouragement still speaks the same message to this day. Here is a small excerpt of the prayer:
Christ with me, Christ before me, Christ behind me, Christ in me, Christ beneath me, Christ above me, Christ on my right, Christ on my left, Christ when I lie down, Christ when I sit down, Christ when I arise, Christ in the heart of every man who thinks of me, Christ in the mouth of everyone who speaks of me, Christ in every eye that sees me, Christ in every ear that hears me.
Origin and History of St. Patrick's Day
St. Patrick was born in the late 4th century, likely in Roman Britain, to a Christian family of some status. However, his early life took a dramatic turn when, as a teenager, he was kidnapped by Irish raiders during an attack on his home. He was taken across the sea to Ireland, where he was sold into slavery and forced to work as a shepherd, enduring harsh conditions and isolation for six long years. During this time of solitude, he turned to prayer, developing a deep and unwavering faith. It was in these difficult years that he experienced a profound revelation from God, which gave him the courage to escape captivity. Following what he believed was divine guidance, he managed to flee, making a dangerous journey back to his homeland.
Once safely home, Patrick could have resumed a normal life, but his spiritual calling led him down a different path. He traveled to Gaul (modern-day France) and joined a monastery, where he dedicated himself to studying Christianity more deeply, preparing for a life of faith and service. His time in the monastery solidified his beliefs, shaping him into the devoted missionary he would later become.
One night, Patrick had a powerful dream that would change the course of his life. In the dream, he saw the people of Ireland calling him back, begging him to return and bring them the message of Christ. This vision ignited a sense of purpose within him—he knew he was meant to go back to the very land where he had once been enslaved, not for revenge, but to share the Gospel. Ordained as a bishop, Patrick returned to Ireland as a missionary, determined to spread Christianity, convert the Irish people, and challenge the existing pagan traditions. His work would go on to shape the spiritual landscape of Ireland, earning him the title of the nation’s beloved patron saint.
St. Patrick's Day Symbols
Meaning of the Shamrock
Legend has it that St. Patrick used the shamrock to explain the concept of the Holy Trinity (Father, Son, and Holy Spirit) to the Irish people during his mission in the 5th century. The three leaves of the shamrock were said to represent these three aspects of the Trinity, which are all one.
Today, the shamrock is a widely recognized symbol of Ireland and is often worn or displayed on St. Patrick's Day as a symbol of Irish heritage and culture. It is also considered a symbol of luck, and finding a four-leafed clover (a rare variation of the shamrock) is said to bring good luck.
Legend of Snakes
St. Patrick driving the snakes out of Ireland is a well-known story associated with the saint. According to tradition, St. Patrick, who is credited with bringing Christianity to Ireland in the 5th century, stood on a hilltop (often believed to be Croagh Patrick) and used the power of his faith to drive all the snakes from Ireland into the sea, banishing them forever.
It's important to note that this story is likely symbolic rather than literal. The tale is often interpreted as an allegory for St. Patrick's role in Christianizing Ireland, "driving out" the pagan beliefs symbolized by the snakes.
Celtic Cross
In the context of St. Patrick, the Celtic cross represents the fusion of Christian faith with Celtic heritage and culture. Because St. Patrick is credited with bringing Christianity to Ireland in the 5th century, and the Celtic cross is believed to have originated in the early Celtic Christian church in the British Isles, it is seen as a way to incorporate existing Celtic symbols and traditions into the new Christian faith.
The Celtic cross, with its combination of a cross and a circle, symbolizes the cross (representing the crucifixion of Jesus) merged with the sun, an object of veneration in many ancient cultures including the Celts. This fusion of Christian and pagan symbolism reflects the syncretic nature of early Celtic Christianity, which incorporated elements of both Celtic polytheism and Christian monotheism.
Wearing the Color Green
Wearing green on St. Patrick's Day is a tradition that is believed to have originated as early as the 17th century. Green is associated with Ireland's nickname, "The Emerald Isle," as well as with the green hills and fields of the country's landscape. The color is also linked to the shamrock, which is traditionally worn on St. Patrick's Day.
St. Patrick's Day Modern Celebrations
Saint Patrick’s Day has evolved far beyond its origins as a religious feast day, turning into a worldwide celebration of Irish culture, heritage, and just plain fun. In cities across the U.S. and beyond, massive parades take over the streets, with New York City and Chicago hosting two of the biggest. In Chicago, they even dye the river bright green—a tradition that started in the 1960s and still draws huge crowds every year.
Beyond the parades, people celebrate with Irish music, dancing, and of course, lots of food and drink. Many pubs and restaurants serve traditional Irish fare like corned beef and cabbage, soda bread, and shepherd’s pie, while others lean into the festive spirit with green beer and shamrock-shaped treats.
In schools and workplaces, it's common to see people dressed in green to avoid the dreaded “pinch” and to participate in themed parties, trivia, or charity events. Some churches and religious communities still honor the day in a more traditional way, with services or prayer gatherings recognizing Saint Patrick’s missionary work in Ireland.
St. Patrick’s Day should be a day to focus on the message St. Patrick was convicted to spread, that of Christ Himself. So, as you read his prayer, you see that the central focus is about Jesus Christ. But, never just rely on prayer alone. The Word of God is the only weapon that can defeat the lies of the enemy. In Matthew 4, Jesus was taken into the wilderness for 40 days and nights. He had no food or water. But what He had was the Word of God itself.
Then Jesus was led up by the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted by the devil. And when He had fasted forty days and forty nights, afterward He was hungry. Now when the tempter came to Him, he said, “If You are the Son of God, command that these stones become bread.” But He answered and said, “It is written, ‘Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceeds from the mouth of God’” (Matthew 4:1-4).
Oftentimes, when we don’t focus on God, we feel abandoned and alone. I am sure St. Patrick had those feelings during his time of isolation. I am also sure that some of those emotions overcame moments where doubt and fear became the focus. When we make our situations bigger than God, we are maximizing the fear of the enemy rather than maximizing God in the situation.
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Rebecca Mashburn (Gordon) has a wonderful husband named Joseph. She has a blog, Trust. Lean, Seek and is working on becoming what God is calling her to. She has a bachelor's in psychology and hopes to one day pursue a degree in biblical counseling. Rebecca loves to be in nature, especially in springtime, and she loves to travel. She has a loving family and hopes one day to have children of her own.
