Did you know that Patrick, the patron saint of Ireland, wasn't even Irish? He was born in Scotland to a noble Roman family, but at age sixteen was taken captive by Irish marauders and sold as a slave to an Irish chieftain named Milchu, who was also a druidic high priest.


Many miracles are accounted to Saint Patrick, and he made the tiny shamrock famous by using it to illustrate the Trinity, as told in the poem below...



Good St. Patrick traveled far, to teach God's Holy Word
And when he came to Erin's sod, a wondrous thing occurred
He plucked a shamrock from the earth and held it in His hand
To symbolize the Trinity that all might understand
The first leaf for the Father
And the second for the Son
The third leaf for the Holy Spirit
All three of them in one.

Most famous of all Saint Patrick's miracles was his driving the snakes out of Ireland. Legend has it that he stood on a high cliff overlooking the sea and, using his wooden staff, commanded the snakes into the water, banishing them forever. When one stubborn old snake refused to go, Saint Patrick built a small wooden box and challenged to snake to enter it. The snake insisted that the box was too small, that he'd never fit, while Saint Patrick argued that there was plenty of room. To prove his point, the snake slid into the box, demonstrating how tight the fit was. Saint Patrick shut and locked the lid and threw the box into the ocean. From that day to now, there are no snakes in Ireland, save those found in pet shops and zoos.



Mary Spencer, who also writes as Susan Spencer Paul, is the author of fifteen historical romance novels, ranging in era from Medieval to Regency to Early Americana.