Saint Patrick's Day - Naomh Maewyn Succat Padraig na hÉireann

Naomh Maewyn Succat Padraig

Born: 385 AD

Died: 461 AD

Skills: Shepherd, Pastor, Poet, Leader, Peacemaker
Symbols: Shamrocks, Bells, Shepherd Staff, Celtic Crosses, Red Deer, White Dragons
Celebrated on his "Death Day" - March 17th, 46IAD

Born Maewyn Succat Padraig meaning "the crying white dragon", to the Decon Calpurnius and his wife, Conchesse, somewhere within Romano-Britonic Waels or Southern Scotland, of Romano-Britonic (Celtic Britons) stock.  He was the grandson of the priest Potius, and some sort of kin to Martin of Tours.   Maewyn married the native Irish woman, Sheela, while still a slave, and upon his return to Ireland would discover a son, Brennen, the foster-son of Sesenen, who would become heir to his legacy.  He and Sheela would go on to have two other sons, and 5 or 6 daughters, though these were often later called sisters/brothers of Patrick, as "bishops didn't marry" in later traditions.

Maewyn would first go to Ireland as a slave around the age of 16, and upon his time in Ireland would turn to Eosa, praying night and day 100 times or more.  He was led to escape in a vision, and in Celtic tradition, he and Sheela parted, having been handfasted and her not wishing to leave her homeland, but she remained faithful to him.  Having returned to his homeland, he would receive training, and then return to his true home, having heard to voice of the Irish calling him to walk among them again.

He would share a much more nature-connected version of Christianity than his Roman counterparts, having been first enriched in his faith in the lonely hills of Ireland, tending to the sheep, much more in tune with Eosa's teaching than those of Imperial Colonizers.  He would use the shamrock as an image of the Trinity, along with the much earlier Gallatian Trinity Knot, and is attributed to the writing of "Saint Patrick's Breastplate".

He is honored to this day as the patron saint of his adopted nation: Ireland.

So it is this day we honor her with the last day of the Three Days of Celebration: Eve of Maewyn, Padraig's Day, and Sheela's Day!

"Beannaithe Lá Fhéile Pádraig agus Síle!"