St Patrick is one of a handful of Christian saints, along with Mary, Valentine and Francis, that is celebrated in popular culture.
His feast day is commemorated with supermarket meat sales, green rivers, green beer, and (my favourite) parades.
But who was the real St Patrick?
Most people know that the missionary Patrick (Patricius or Pádraig) helped to bring Christianity to Ireland in the 5th Century. Some may remember how his first visit to the island was as a slave.
Sadly, only a few may remember Patrick’s opposition to structural injustice and his prophetic defense of victims of violence and human trafficking.
As with so many of our saints, Patrick’s radical application of the Gospel has been domesticated and stripped of its challenging message.
Rather than witnessing to the prophetic and loving call of the God’s mission, Patrick has been turned into a caricature to decorate commercial marketing schemes and Hallmark cards. Continue reading.
Kevin Glauber Ahern, PhD is an assistant professor of religious studies at Manhattan College. He served as the President of the International Movement of Catholic Students (IMCS-Pax Romana) and is Vice-President of the ICMICA-Pax Romana.
Source: Daily Theology
Image: Author’s own
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