Millions around the world celebrate St. Patrick’s Day mostly as a secular holiday, but when we look into who St. Patrick was and the Christian origins of this holiday, we can celebrate it in a much more meaningful way.
St. Patrick was a missionary who brought Christianity to Ireland. Born in Britain around the turn of the fourth to fifth century, Patrick lived a middle-class life until Irish raiders kidnapped him at age 16. They took him to Ireland where he worked as a slave, herding sheep. During his captivity and desperation, he cried out to God and became serious about his faith. After several years, God spoke to him and called him to escape. Patrick escaped and returned to his family. He further felt the call into the priesthood, and one night God gave him a vision to return to Ireland, the land of his captors, and bring them the Gospel.
St. Patrick returned to Ireland as a priest and missionary. He traveled, preached, and established churches. His ministry practically converted a whole nation. We celebrate St. Patrick’s Day on March 17, the date of his death, to honor his faith and courage.
To celebrate his faith and legacy, let’s look at five quotes from Patrick and five Irish blessings.
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“Christ be with me, Christ within me, Christ behind me, Christ before me, Christ beside me, Christ to win me, Christ to comfort and restore me.”
St. Patrick fortunately left behind writings to reveal his perspective and faith. Confessio, his most famous work, tells us about his journey from captivity to the priesthood and becoming a missionary to Ireland. God’s guidance flows through his whole story. His Letter to the Soldiers of Coroticus spoke out against injustice and calls for repentance. These writings continue to encourage people today, reminding us that God’s strength, revelation, and protection will lead us through our challenges, too.
These words come from The Breastplate of St. Patrick, a powerful prayer of protection and encouragement. The New Testament does talk about Christ being within us through the Holy Spirit. However, it mentions the importance of being “in Christ” far more, more than 90 times. Regarding protection, Patrick’s words remind us that, in Christ, he surrounds us in every circumstance. He walks ahead of us, making the way clear and sure to eternal good. He stands behind us to protect our blind spots. His indwelling Spirit strengthens us to follow him alone. Christ comforts us and restores us. He gives us victory to faithfully endure every situation and to resist fear and doubt.
In every way, our lives have meaning and love through Christ. With this truth, we know he will never leave us or forsake us. He never abandons us. And we can live each day in confidence.
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“I cannot keep silent, nor would it be proper, about the great benefits and graces that the Lord has granted to me.”
This quote comes from Patrick’s Confession, where he expresses thankfulness for God’s goodness to him. Patrick’s words teach us to approach God with gratitude and express it to others, as well. Patrick had a traumatic life, being taken from his family and forced into slavery, yet he looked back and saw God’s continued love and grace in every situation. The Bible encourages us to enter God’s presence with thanksgiving and praise (Psalm 100:4).
God doesn’t want us to deny hard times or trauma, but we must reframe these events through the eternal perspective, transcending our circumstances to see God’s higher purpose in all things, good and bad. In fact, as Patrick says, focusing on his goodness means we can’t keep silent about it.
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“The Lord opened the understanding of my unbelieving heart, so that I should recall my sins.”
The New Testament makes it clear—human reason can’t reach God whose thoughts are beyond our thoughts, whose ways aren’t our ways. God must reveal himself to us, and he does with his love and mercy. Patrick may have done amazing things with God, but he understood the foundational reality: God began a work within Patrick to open his mind and heart, an unbelieving heart turned to repentance.
When God reveals our sins, it’s an act of grace and love, leading us to repentance and salvation. We can trust in God’s transforming power to change even the hardest hearts. Since he saved us, he can do the same for others. Patrick understood this on a level deep enough to know God’s Gospel could reach the hearts of those who enslaved Patrick. God’s mercy helps us see our need for forgiveness and to forgive others.
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“I am certain in my heart that ‘all that happens to me is for my good,’ and so I thank God continually.”
Patrick could look back on the difficulties of his life and ministry, knowing this eternal perspective. God works all things out for good for those who love God and follow him on mission (Romans 8:28). Patrick saw how God placed him in Ireland to learn the culture and the language, helping him better communicate the Gospel. This didn’t excuse slavery or oppression, but it did become a living example how God can use even the actions of evil people for his glory. Patrick could not only forgive his former slave masters but seek their redemption and good.
Each of us faces challenges and betrayals. God doesn’t justify sins, but his omnipotence means he will turn those hurtful seasons for his glory and our good if we remain faithful. We can trust God always works on our behalf.
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“If I have any worth, it is to live my life for God so as to teach these peoples.”
Oh, to have this mindset and heart. The Bible says we have died to ourselves and sin, and Christ now lives in and through us (Galatians 2:20). God didn’t do this amazing, eternal work to give us comfy, luxurious lives in this world. Instead, he seeks to give us eternal rewards by living in his purpose: to reconcile all creation to himself through the Son by the Spirit. When we participate in his purpose, we find the live we were meant to live. Patrick declared his only worth was to live for God first and, from that relationship, preach the Gospel to others.
Patrick’s dedication teaches us how God calls us to serve others and share the Gospel. We can use our God-given supernatural gifts, our natural talents and resources, and our opportunities to love others through generosity and inviting them to love and follow Jesus, too.
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“May the road rise to meet you, May the wind be always at your back. May the sun shine warm upon your face, And the rains fall soft upon your fields. And until we meet again, May God hold you in the palm of His hand.”
Irish blessings are rooted in early Irish Christianity, reminding people of God’s guidance and love. These blessings come from a poetic, artistic culture expressing their new faith. As Irish Christianity grew and even led to missionaries to Europe, these blessings were written and passed down through generations, a legacy of encouragement and strength.
Today, these Irish blessings still remind us to walk in faith, share love with others, and give grace in every situation. While a particular cultural expression, their words give us timeless and universal comfort and hope. And we can use these blessings to speak life over others.
A popular and traditional Irish blessing, these words offer practical encouragement for believers to share on St. Patrick’s Day. The blessing reflects a real-life extension of Patrick’s “Christ before me, Christ behind me …” breastplate prayer. The Irish culture would often use nature as symbols of God’s presence in our lives. As we continue through our day, the rising road symbolizes future opportunities. The wind and warm sun point to God’s favor. The rains bring nourishment for an agricultural people, like God’s Word for the soul and body. The blessing acknowledges how we must often say goodbye to the ones we love, but we place their lives in God’s strong and loving hands until we meet again. We can have joy and confidence when we place our lives in God’s care.
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“May you have the strength of heaven, The light of the sun and moon, The faith of the saints, And the love of Christ within you.”
Here we have another traditional Irish blessing to encourage people to have the strength of heaven. We all face challenges in our lives—whether emotional, physical, or spiritual—and God provides his own strength if we believe and trust him. True love also sees how others require heaven’s strength to be faithful through the trials and struggles ahead. In times of darkness, we need Christ as the Light of the World, again symbolized here through the natural sun and moon. Along with God’s strength and light, the blessings bestows upon others the faith of the saints, the kind of power to do miracles and live with radical generosity. These words end with the greatest blessing, the presence of Christ within us. Taken all together, this blessing reminds us to carry God’s light, love, and strength with us everywhere we go.
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“May you find peace in your heart, Wisdom in your mind, Strength in your soul, And love in your life.”
We often look at our material belongings and have some sense of lack, as if we don’t have all we need. And yet the greatest blessings are unseen—love, peace, hope, joy. Our unseen God gives all good gifts, and he understands how these internal gifts flow from within to how we live. This traditional Irish blessing speaks unseen and eternal reality over others. First, it calls them to discover the peace in their hearts through Christ. Along with peace, the Spirit gives all good gifts, including wisdom for our small and big decisions and strength to stand strong and do what’s right. Finally, these words seek to bless others with love in every aspect of others’ lives.
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“May your heart be light and happy, May your smile be big and wide, And may your pockets always have A coin or two inside.”
Along with nature, much of Irish poetry and artistry celebrates the simple joys of our lives. Friendship, music, food, family, and more, often communicating these seemingly ordinary moments and gifts actually give us great wealth. This traditional blessing encourages us to find treasure in simple things. A light heart expresses how we don’t let our troubles wear us down, allowing Christ to bear our griefs and finding rest in him. We can share happiness with others through a warm smile. The mention of coins communicates how we don’t need a great deal of money to be blessed. A few coins in the pocket are enough to praise God for his blessings, and so we bless others with the same.
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“I arise today through God’s strength to pilot me, God’s might to uphold me, God’s wisdom to guide me, God’s eye to look before me, God’s ear to hear me, God’s word to speak for me, God’s hand to guard me.”
This blessing comes from St. Patrick himself, and we can see the overlap with his famous “Christ before me, Christ behind me …” prayer. Here, we bless our own life with God’s presence, asking for more of his care as we go throughout our day. First, we rise in the morning with confidence, knowing his mercies are new every day (Lamentations 3:22-23), and he will strengthen us. God’s wisdom directs our steps, and his all-seeing sight explores the path in front of us. God hears our prayers because he loves us and seeks our good. We don’t need to defend ourselves; God’s Word speaks on our behalf by the Spirit, and when we engage in conversation with others, we get the message from the Spirit to bless others. Finally, since we have enemies (spiritual and otherwise), we claim God’s hand to protect us, no better refuge than the one who loves us.
Peace.
Further Reading
What Is Celtic Christianity?
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Originally published Friday, 14 February 2025.