A Kidnapped Youth Finds God

How can a young man keep his life pure? By obeying your commands.With all my heart I try to serve you. Psalm 119: 9, 10

I, Patrick, am a sinner, the most awkward of country bumpkins, the least of all the faithful, and the most contemptible amongst very many. My father was Calpornius, a deacon, son of a certain Potitus, a priest of the village of Bannavem Taburniae, and there I was captured by slave traders.

At the time I was about sixteen years old, and I did not know the true God. Along with thousands of other people, I was taken in captivity to Ireland. It was no more than we deserved, for we had turned our backs on God and did not keep his laws. Neither did we obey our priests who reminded us of our salvation. So the Lord scattered us among many nations, even to the utmost part of the earth, where my insignificance might be seen by strangers.

In Ireland the Lord opened my eyes to my unbelief, so that I might at last face up to my wickedness and be converted with all my heart to the Lord my God. He respected my humbling and had mercy on my youth and ignorance. Even before I knew him, he watched over me. Before I was able to tell good from evil, he protected me and comforted me as a father would his son.

So I cannot keep quiet – nor should I -about the tremendous blessings and the grace that the Lord poured out on me in the land of my captivity.
The Confession of Patrick

I arise today in vast might,
inviting the Trinity
entrusting myself to the Three
honouring the One
meeting in the Creator.
St. Patrick’s Breastplate