The St. Patrick’s Day tradition in Savannah dates back to the first parade held on March 17, 1824 as a small procession honoring the Irish heritage of the city’s immigrants. Today, St. Patrick’s in Savannah has grown into one of the South’s largest festivals. But WHO was St. Patrick? 
St. Patrick of Ireland was a Bishop and Missionary from the years 387-464. He brought Christianity to Ireland and is known as the “Apostle of Ireland,” and he is the primary patron saint of Ireland.
Patrick was born to Roman parents in 387. He was captured and held as a slave as a child, and during his captivity, he turned to God in prayer. He wrote
“The love of God and his fear grew in me more and more, as did the faith, and my soul was rose, so that, in a single day, I have said as many as a hundred prayers and in the night, nearly the same.” “I prayed in the woods and on the mountain, even before dawn. I felt no hurt from the snow or ice or rain.”
Patrick’s captivity lasted until he was twenty, when he escaped after having a dream from God in which he was told to leave Ireland by going to the coast. There he found some sailors who took him back to Britain, where he reunited with his family.
He had another dream in which the people of Ireland were calling out to him
“We beg you, holy youth, to come and walk among us once more.”
He began his studies for the priesthood. He was ordained by St. Germanus, the Bishop of Auxerre, whom he had studied under for years.
Patrick preached and converted all of Ireland for 40 years. He worked many miracles and wrote of his love for God in Confessions. After years of living in poverty, traveling and enduring much suffering he died at Saul on March 17, 461, where he had built the first church.
Patrick was a humble, pious, gentle man, whose love and total devotion to and trust in God should be a shining example to each of us. He feared nothing, not even death, so complete was his trust in God, and of the importance of his mission. Today we celebrate Patrick!
For more information on St. Patrick visit the Catholic.Ord-Saints and the Catholic Encyclopedia:St.Patrick
