Happy St. Patrick’s Day

St. Patrick’s Day is to honor a young man that was born in the fourth century.  He was kidnapped at the age of 16 and taken captive to Ireland as a slave.  After being told by God in a dream to flee, he joined the Church and studied to be a priest after his escape.  He returned to Ireland as a bishop and is thought to have had the biggest Christian influence on the country.  He used the shamrock in his teachings to explain the Trinity.   He practiced nearly 30 years before his death in 461.   Today he is honored by the wearing of the green.  Many celebrate the day with the attendance of church services, wearing green, the lifting of the Lenten restrictions on eating and drinking alcohol.