Do You Know How St Patrick Changed The World?

St Patrick’s Day is coming. But why does it matter? It matters more than you think. When I was a kid I heard stories about St Patrick, and how he drove the snakes out of Ireland. But that’s not what happened. St Patrick brought Christianity to Ireland, changing the lives of the people there forever.

Before St Patrick came along the Celtic people worshiped nature. Their religion was based on the seasons and they worshipped many gods. They believed nature was sacred and that everything had a spirit. In many ways, their beliefs were similar to those of the American Indian tribes.

Early Ireland

I imagine how different the world looked for them after learning they were children of God. To understand their true worth in the Lord’s eyes, that Jesus would deem them worthy to die for their sins. To learn that they could repent of their mistakes and understand the nature of the Atonement. It’s a monumental shift in thinking.

I think of how I felt when I learned about how God loved me. I felt warm and special, and like my life had new meaning and purpose. Respect and reverence for nature was an excellent beginning.

But knowing that your life has a purpose, that you are here for a reason, and that when you die you are going home to the God who gave you life, now that is tremendous.

Something else I found in my research was that the early Celtic people believed in the Otherworld. It was often imagined as being on an island or underground. It was the realm where the spirits of the dead lived.

So they had an understanding that there was life after this one. The Otherworld reminds me a lot of the Spirit World. I can see why they embraced St Patrick’s teachings because they lined up with what they already believed in many ways.

St Patrick’s Day now

Most recently St Patrick’s Day has become a celebration of Irish culture. There is a lot to celebrate. One of my favorite Irish traditions is the Ceili, (pronounced Kay-lee). It’s a potluck party with music, food, and dancing. Everyone brings a dish to share and everyone gets to visit and unwind. Traditionally the Ceili is in the evening after the work for the day is done. It’s a community event, and everyone is invited.

We got a chance to visit Ireland last year when we tagged along with my husband when he went to Dublin to speak at a conference. It was autumn, and it rained a lot. But the countryside is so beautiful. And the people are so friendly. I love the architecture in Ireland. Their houses are built so solidly. I wondered why houses in the US weren’t similar, and discovered Ireland has zero earthquakes. So despite my loving their building style, it won’t work for me at home.

His lasting legacy

Returning to St Patrick and his gift to the people of Ireland, St Patrick was Catholic. That is still the dominant religion in Ireland today. It’s the dominant religion in the US too.

Did you know that 6 of the signers of the Declaration of Independence were Irish? Our Founding Fathers and many other prominent early Americans had St Patrick to thank for their Christian heritage.

So many Irish people immigrated to the United States, that we can safely thank St Patrick for bringing Christianity to America too. The Irish immigrants were hard workers, and firm in their faith. And they have left a lasting legacy of both where they trod.

My Irish ancestors were Catholic, and my mother became the first in her family to join The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. I’m so grateful she did. Because of her, I grew up in the church and knew God’s love for me.

I’m proud of my Irish heritage. And I am thankful for St Patrick for the blessing he brought to a great people. I hope you get a chance to celebrate Christianity and some Irish culture with your loved ones this St Patrick’s Day.