BLOG 3/11/13. JUST TO SET THE RECORD STRAIGHT—ST. PATRICK
I am by self-definition, a missiologist, i.e., one who makes a study of Christian missions currently, and historically. This being so, while some of my Blog readers may be celebrating St. Patrick’s Day next Sunday by wearing green, or shamrocks, or drinking green beer, let me remind you that St. Patrick (circa 5th century) has got one of the giant missionary figures of Christian history, even though there are scant records, and even though he is much mythologized.
Patrick was the son of a deacon in Britain and the grandson of a priest. He was kidnapped by Irish raiders as a youth and spent several years as a slave and a sheepherder in Ireland. In a vision he was provoked to escape and take passage back to his home in Britain. Again, he had a vision of one calling him to come and herald the Christian message and to walk among the Irish people. Ultimately, that is exactly what he seems to have done, returning as a missionary bishop to the northern and western region of Ireland. We are, to underscore, dealing with historical shadow-lands here.
Now then, when one does something of a cultural analysis of what he entered, it becomes the more fascinating, even though there really aren’t many reliable records of what he did. But looking in hindsight, he managed to initiate a monastic/missionary movement (monasteries in that period of history were missionary outposts of the church) of awesome proportions. From that work of Patrick came generations of missionary monks, who evangelized much of Scotland and Britain, and ultimately much of Europe.
Back to the cultural analysis: anyone who enjoys people and cultures has got to be fascinated by the Irish. The Celtic-Irish (in my mind) are a mixture of a robust, humorous, sensuous/sexual, poetic, musical, melancholy, musical, tempestuous, strong-willed, tragic folk, with a marvelous and profound capacity for reflection on life’s meaning (as is evident in their literary figures). Patrick would also have been dealing with a host of local monarchs, or tribal leaders, jealous of their own fiefdoms, and suspicious of outsiders such as Patrick.
Yet, somehow, he did what he went to do, and evidently baptized a huge host of Irish folk, established Christian communities, ordained priests, and left behind a legacy that is undeniable. Whether he banished snakes as the myths indicate (doubtful) or not, the oral tradition assigns to him the establishment of a vigorous Christian presence in Ireland, which would have required a very gifted and determined Christian disciple, who must have employed spiritual disciplines that are amazing. There continue to come forth from the press books on Celtic spirituality, which has roots in Patrick’s day.
In many ways, to my mind, there is a strange combination of Celtic paganism and profound Catholic Christianity within the Irish church. Yet, they continue to send Irish Christian missioners to the corners of the earth.
(It is even possible that this week the College of Cardinals could name one of Irish descent as the next pope, as the name of Seàn O’Malley emerges among the papabile.)
So, from a missiologist: Here’s to St. Patrick, who no matter how much he is mythologized is a giant figure in the history of Christian missions. Lift a green beer in a toast to such a giant.
Peace!
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