history - Did Saint Patrick actually explain the Trinity using a shamrock? - Christianity Stack Exchange Did Saint Patrick actually explain the Trinity using a shamrock? St. Patrick's Bad Analogies (YouTube) So, that in itself is good evidence that St. Patrick wouldn't (or shouldn't) have used the shamrock to teach the Trinity. And Wikipedia provides some evidence that he didn't: The first written mention of the link does not appear until 1681, in the account of Thomas Dineley, an English traveller to Ireland. Dineley writes: The 17th day of March yeerly is St Patricks, an immoveable feast, when ye Irish of all stations and condicions were crosses in their hatts, some of pinns, some of green ribbon, and the vulgar superstitiously wear shamroges, 3 leav'd grass, which they likewise eat (they say) to cause a sweet breath. It goes on: There is nothing in Dineley's account of the legend of St.

Patrick using the shamrock to teach the mystery of the Holy Trinity, and this story does not appear in writing anywhere until a 1726 work by the botanist Caleb Threlkeld. Threlkeld identifies the shamrock as White Field Clover (Trifolium pratense album ) and comments rather acerbically on the custom of wearing the shamrock on St. Patrick's Day So, what do we have stronger evidence for? Did St. Patrick actually use the shamrock as an analogy to teach the Trinity? If so, do we know what sort of emphasis or seriousness he placed on the analogy? 2 I didn't do it, I promise I wasn't even born then! – Caleb♦ Jul 19 '13 at 15:39 up vote 8 down vote accepted As far as we know, he did not use this analogy. It does not appear in the extant writings attributed to him, nor in early hagiographies. There are several places in these documents where a shamrock metaphor wouldn't go completely amiss, and yet it doesn't seem to appear anywhere.

In the Confession attributed to Patrick, he talks a lot about how he is a simple unlearned person, who has nevertheless managed to convert a large number of people. That might suggest use of easily-understandable metaphors rather than very precise theological statements. On the other hand, there are biographies that say he studied under Saints Germanus of Auxerre and Martin of Tours, received large numbers of books from Pope Celestine I, and so forth, suggesting that he might have understated his level of education. His reported speech is generally quite direct and Biblical - more of a "repent, ye sinners" flavour than any kind of gentle analogy. Given the complete lack of reference until the eighteenth century, it seems more likely that the explanation was associated with him long after he actually lived, than that it was somehow preserved in tradition for the whole time, without appearing in any of the many written sources about this popular saint. I'll now give some examples of shamrocks not appearing. There is a fifth-century poem or hymn attributed to him, called the Lorica of St. Patrick (Luireach Phadraig) or Deer's Cry (Faeth Fiada), which invokes the Trinity but does not use an analogy.

The ninth century hagiography known as the Tripartite Life (Bethu Phátraic) recounts an episode where Patrick converts the two daughters of Lóegaire mac Néill , saying in response to their question about what kind of God he worships: St. Patrick, full of the Holy Spirit, responded, "Our God is the God of all, the God of heaven and earth, the God of the seas and rivers, the God of the sun and moon, and all the other planets; the God of the high hills and low valleys; God over heaven, in heaven, and under heaven; and He has a mansion, that is, heaven, and the earth, and the sea, and all things that are in them. He inspireth all things. He quickeneth all things. He enkindleth all things. He giveth light to the sun, and to the moon. He created fountains in the dry land, and placed dry islands in the sea, and stars to minister to the greater lights. He hath a Son, coeternal and coequal with Himself; and the Son is not younger than the Father, nor is the Father older than the Son. And the Holy Ghost breatheth in them.

And the Father, and the Son, and the Holy Ghost are not divided. I desire, moreover, to unite you to the Son of the heavenly king, for ye are daughters of an earthly king." 1 This would be the perfect time to mention the shamrock, but it does not appear. The same goes for the seventh-century Life by Muirchú moccu Machtheni, and the other sources. It is frequently mentioned that people in Ireland did not generally know about or believe in the Trinity before Patrick, and that he baptized people in the name of the Trinity, but there is no record of him using any metaphor for it, shamrock or otherwise, when he baptized or taught. Tertullian's work Against Praxeas (Adversus Praxeam) uses a plant metaphor for the Trinity (chapter 8). Here, he says that the three persons of the Trinity are like the root, trunk, and fruit of the tree. This has something of a similar character to the shamrock metaphor, though the three parts for Tertullian have distinct roles2, and the clover leaves are all the same. It is possible that Patrick had some exposure to this idea, or independently reinvented it.

But there is absolutely no evidence. 1. From the translation by James O'Leary, 1874. Original Latin and Irish text is on lines 1124-1138 of Kathleen Mulchrone's 1939 edition. 2. Partialism!? Modalism?! Perhaps. Metaphors are hard. Saint Patrick, The Shamrock, and The Trinity - Catholic Hotdish Saint Patrick, The Shamrock, and The Trinity March 16, 2011 The Pastor's Page St. Patrick at St. Nicholas in Belle River The shamrock is a symbol both for the Holy Trinity and St. Patrick (389-461). The shamrock is a clover plant with a yellow flower and leaflets made up of a stem with three small green leaves. The plant is very common and widely distributed throughout Ireland. St. Patrick was a zealous missionary to the Irish, a people who upon his arrival in 432 had heard little or nothing of Jesus and his gospel. St.

Patrick was an energetic traveler, a determined evangelizer, and a courageous preacher, and as he canvassed the countryside he was assailed by bitter opponents who threatened his life and undermined his message, but undeterred, he made hundreds and thousands of converts. Whether St. Patrick was speaking to local pagans who knew nothing of the Christian faith, or to neophytes, newly-baptized disciples who were not well-grounded in the truths of the faith, he was faced with the daunting task of explaining profound mysteries such as the Trinity which are so difficult to understand. There are several popular legends about how St. Patrick used the shamrock to explain the mystery of the Trinity. According to one story, St. Patrick went to Connaught where he met two of King Laoghaire’s daughters, Ethne and Fedelm. St. Patrick had been unable to persuade the king to convert, but he convinced the king’s daughters. During their time of instruction St. Patrick used a shamrock to visualize the mystery of the Trinity, how a single plant with three leaves is analogous to the one Triune God with three separate and distinct Persons (Thurston, H. J., ed., Butler’s Lives of the Saints, Vol.

1, 615). According to another legend, St. Patrick used a shamrock to help explain the Trinity in a sermon he preached directly to King Laoghaire. According to a third legend, St. Patrick was traveling and happened upon a number of Irish chieftains along a meadow. The tribal leaders were curious about the Trinity and asked St. Patrick for an explanation. So he bent down, picked a shamrock, and showed it to them, and explained how the three leaves are part of the one plant, and how similarly the three Persons, Father, Son, and Spirit, are part of one Supreme Being. Teens will enjoy tale by Minnesotan Jonathan Friesen, an author ‘who wants to make God smile’ → Statueswoeyes Great explanation of the origins of St. Patrick. This blog is a must read for St. Patrick’s day and it’s brevity and clarity make it easily read. kittenfuud I didn’t know this about St. Patrick. All I’ve ever heard is that he supposedly drove all the snakes out of Ireland! But I’m a Scots Protestant, so I wouldn’t have learned this in Sunday School!

Thanks for the explanation of who he REALLY was, and the simple yet profound way he explained the Holy Trinity. I will teach my children this today! ROCKIN' THE SHAMROCK Home / Blog / Little History Shamrock Tabs Photos Shamrock is the seasonal plant of the moment! Now in the shops, in time for Saint Patrick's Day this Thursday, March 17th. To get you in the mood, we're rockin' the shamrock with some fun facts about this wild plant: Shamrock is considered the national plant of Ireland. So embedded is this little plant in Irish legend, it is said by some that wild shamrock won't actually grow outside the Emerald Isle. Shamrock is a type of clover. Its name is taken from the Irish word 'seamrog', meaning 'little or young clover' There is some discussion regarding the proper scientific name for real Irish shamrock. Recorded names include Trifolium dubium (lesser clover) and Trifolium repens (white clover), which is the species generally on sale this time of year. Trifolium is the genus, which refers to the three-leaved formation of shamrock.

Saint Patrick is said to have used shamrock to illustrate the Holy Trinity of Father, Son and Holy Ghost when he first began to convert the Irish to Christianity. Which is why it is inextricably linked to the Saint. The Saint Patrick's Day tradition of 'Drowning the Shamrock', involves putting a clump of the green stuff into the last shot of whiskey of the night on March 17th. The glass is raised, the Saint toasted at the end of a wonderful day of celebration, and the whiskey drunk through the shamrock. Then everyone goes home. Allegedly... Shamrock, like many wild plants, was traditionally used for medicinal reasons. It was often boiled and mixed with pork fat to treat inflammation of the joints. The President of the United States is always presented with a bowl of shamrock on Saint Patrick's Day. This tradition began in 1952, when a box of shamrock was brought to the White House by the Irish Ambassador John Joseph Hearne, as a gift to President Harry Truman, who was not at home to receive it. The shamrock was left with a member of the President's staff. Humble beginnings gave birth to what is now an official ceremony which takes place every year.

Every March 17th, shamrock is now presented to the President personally by Ireland's Taoiseach. Now you know a bit about the plant, let's whet your appetite with some lovely shamrock goodies to eat: Keogh's Shamrock and Sour Cream Crisps are flavoured with wild shamrock. A seasonal speciality from the family farm in North County Dublin, where every potato for these crisps can be tracked from field to bag with the Keogh SpudNav! Seymour's Biscuits make a special Shamrock Shortbread for this time of year. Real Bandon butter goes into these melt in the mouth hand-made biscuits from West Cork. A delicious treat on Saint Patrick's Day. Our chocolatiers make their own chocolate shaped shamrocks from best quality chocolate. Perfect as gifts for a chocolate lover you know! Facts about Shamrocks Shopping Cart What is the Real Shamrock Plant? Do you know that there is no such thing as a "Shamrock Plant"? The word shamrock comes from the Irish word "seamrog" meaning "little clover". However, there are hundreds of varieties of clover. The question is...what is the "Original Irish Shamrock"?

Here is what some respected authorities have to say: "The true Irish Shamrock, as identified by Nathaniel Colgan c. 1893 is a clover. It is not one of any or many clovers, it is one species, collected from a majority of counties at that time and with the exception of a very few plants, the majority were Trifolium repens or a form of this plant - White clover also known as Dutch Clover". 'From Ireland' Â© Jane Lyons, Dublin, Ireland "White Clover, Trifolium repens forma minus, family Leguminosae, was the original shamrock of Ireland..." Academic American Encyclopedia, Vol. 17, 1990. "In Ireland, the plant most often referred to as shamrock is the white clover." The World Book Encyclopedia, Vol. 17, 1993. "Those most commonly called shamrocks are: the white clover, Trifolium repens, a creeping white-flowered perennial..." Collier's Encyclopedia, Vol. 20, 1992. "The clovers also occupied a position in the cultural life of early peoples. White clover (T.

repens L.) in particular was held in high esteem by the early Celts of Wales as a charm against evil spirits. According to Evans (1957), this pagen tradition was continued by early Christian leaders and became the symbol of the Holy Trinity for the Irish people." Clover Science and Technology, N.L. Taylor, 1985. Saint Patrick used the plant to illustrate the doctrine of the Holy Trinity. Shamrocks have been considered by the Irish as good-luck symbols since earliest times, and this superstition has persisted in modern times among people of many nationalities. On March 17th, St Patrick's Day is celebrated around the world, with the "wearin' o' the green". The plants we grow are Trifolium repens, White Clover... "The Original Irish Shamrock" The Legend of St Patrick & Download Book Shamrock (Irish Seamrog or Seamroy for "little clover") is the common name for any of several trifoliate (3 leaf) clovers native to Ireland. The shamrock was originally chosen as the national emblem of Ireland because of the legend that Saint Patrick used the trefoil plant to illustrate the doctrine of the Holy Trinity.

Most shamrocks, particularly the small- leaved white clover, have been considered by the Irish as good-luck symbols since earliest times. Before the Christian era it was a sacred plant among the Druids of Ireland because its leaves formed a triad. Throughout history, the number three is one of the numbers considered special or magical. This superstition has persisted in modern times among people of many nationalities. In the modern Western World, the rare finding of a four leaf clover is said to double one's good luck. The trefoil in Arabia is called Shamrakh and was sacred in Iran as an emblem of the Persian triads. As the number three was sacred in the Celtic and other religions, it is thought that Saint Patrick must have considered this in choosing the three leafed plant to demonstrate the three-in-one nature of the Christian Trinity of the Father, the Son and The Holy Spirit. A group of his followers came to him and admitted it was difficult for them to believe in the Holy Trinity. Saint Patrick thought for a moment. He stooped down and plucked a leaf from the Shamrock growing at his feet.

He held it before them and said, "Behold the living example of the Three-in-One." From that day forward, the Shamrock has been revered throughout Ireland! The mystique of the Shamrock (white clover plant) continues today since there is not a clover plant that produces four leaflets. A fourth leaflet is a rare occurrence! One leaf is for HOPE, the second for FAITH, the third for LOVE, and the fourth for LUCK! Having had a bad time with Great Britain over the years, the Luck 'o the Irish, obviously is a misnomer. It seems that Irish luck is strictly related to four leaf clovers. Saint Patrick's Day is celebrated on March 17th, to honor and celebrate the death anniversary of St. Patrick the patron saint of Ireland. St. Patrick's day is celebrated with parades and marching bands. People eat corned beef, cabbage and Irish soda bread. Some people sing and dance the Irish jig. The shamrock leaf is a symbol of St. Patrick and Ireland. St. Patrick used a three leafed clover to explain the concept of the Trinity (father, son and holy spirit). Many people wear green on this day.

Green symbolises the color of spring, Ireland and the shamrock. Ireland is called the "Emerald Isle” as it has lots of green pastures. The Blarney stone The Blarney stone is in the Irish village of Blarney in the wall of the Blarney castle. Legend has it that kissing the stone gives person the ability to speak sweetly and convincingly. Snakes: Legend has it that Saint Patrick drove all the snakes out of Ireland -- that they all went into the sea and drowned. Poor snakes. I don't know why he would want to do this, except that the snake was a revered pagan symbol, and perhaps this was a figurative tale alluding to the fact that he drove paganism out of Ireland. He was said to have done this by beating a drum. He also made the soil fatal to all serpents who touched it. One day, there was a stubborn snake that refused to leave. Saint Patrick constructed a box and tried to lure the snake into it. The snake refused, stating that the box was too small. Saint Patrick told the snake that it was big enough and to just give it a try.

The snake agreed, just to prove that the box was too small, and he entered the box. Saint Patrick immediately closed the lid on the snake and threw the box, snake and all, into the ocean. Leprechauns are also associated with Saint Patrick's Day, although I'm not sure why. Leprechauns of legend are actually mean little creatures, with the exception of the Lucky Charms guy. They were probably added later on to give card makers something cute to put on their cards. A Leprechaun looks like a small, old man (about 2 feet tall), often dressed like a shoemaker, with a cocked hat and a leather apron. According to legend, Leprechauns are aloof and unfriendly, live alone, and pass the time making shoes. They also possess a hidden pot of gold. Treasure hunters can often track down a leprechaun by the sound of his shoemaker's hammer. If caught, he can be forced (with the threat of bodily violence) to reveal the whereabouts of his treasure, but the captor must keep their eyes on him every second.

If the captor's eyes leave the Leprechaun (and he often tricks them into looking away), he vanishes, and all hopes of finding the treasure are lost. Pinching: School children have started a little tradition of their own -- they pinch classmates who don't wear green on Saint Patrick's Day. We promise not to pinch those who come to the dance without their green. And castles old and gray, Put them all together To make St. Patrick's Day DOWNLOAD THE BOOK THE LEGEND OF ST PATRICK click on thumbnail St Patrick - there's no doubt in anyone's mind that he existed and has become the legend that he is today. There are varying accounts of this amazing man's life, all pointing to the fact that he was one extraordinary person. Here we account one of the tales of the Legend's life. Download the FREE Book at the bottom of this page. Enjoy! Beannachtaí na Féile Pádraig oraibh! Happy St. Patrick's Day To You All! St Patrick's Day · March 16, 2015 · Shamrock is a word borrowed into English from Irish. It is a transliteration of "seamair óg" meaning young clover.

Historical English writers unable to understa...nd the Irish language make the distinction between Shamrock and Clover but it is in error. In botanical terms the Irish Shamrock is usually considered to refer to either the species Trifolium dubium (lesser clover, Irish: seamair bhuí) or Trifolium repens (white clover, Irish: seamair bhán). However, other three-leaved plants—such as Medicago lupulina, Trifolium pratense, and Oxalis acetosella—are sometimes called shamrocks or clovers. Semair or clover appear in early Irish literature, generally as a description of a flowering clovered plain. For example, in the series of medieval metrical poems about various Irish places called the Metrical Dindshenchus, a poem about Tailtiu or Teltown in Co. Meath describes it as a plain blossoming with flowering clover (mag scothach scothshemrach). Similarly, another story tells of how St. Brigid decided to stay in Co. Kildare when she saw the delightful plain covered in clover blossom (scoth-shemrach).

The shamrock is most popularly associated with Saint Patrick who is said to have used it to illustrate the Christian doctrine of the Trinity (there persons in one god) when Christianising Ireland in the 5th century. In pagan Ireland, three was a significant number and the Irish had many triple deities, including the triumvirate of goddesses Ériú (who the island is named after) her sisters Banba and Fódla. However there is no evidence that the shamrock was ever considered sacred by the pagans. In recent times many people have come to believe the silly myths regarding the plant. In Ireland they even let economists with no history qualifications make history programmes, who are not surprisingly unable to distinguish between barstool myths and historical fact, In one of the most clueless “history” documentaries ever shown by RTÉ (the national broadcaster), it was claimed the Shamrock, as a symbol of Ireland, was the invention of a 19th century priest. However, had the unknowledgeable presenter troubled himself to look up even Wikipedia he might have discovered that the shamrock first began to change from a symbol purely associated with St.

Patrick to an Irish national symbol when it was taken up as an emblem by rival militias, during the turbulent politics of the late eighteenth century. A century previous the first tangible evidence of a link between St. Patrick and the shamrock appears in 1675 on the St. Patrick's Coppers or Halfpennies. These appear to show a figure of St. Patrick preaching to a crowd while holding a shamrock, presumably to explain the doctrine of the Holy Trinity. A few years later in 1681, an English traveller to Ireland named Thomas Dineley wrote that the “This plant is worn by the people in their hats upon the 17. Day of March yearly, (which is called St. Patrick's Day.) It being a current tradition, that by this Three Leafed Grass, he emblematically set forth to them the Mystery of the Holy Trinity.” St. Patrick ’s Day always falls in Christian season of Lent and in ancient times the observation of it was severe. It was a time for penance and abstinence which included certain foods, sex and alcohol. The populace in Ireland claimed a “dispensation” from the austerity of Lent to celebrate their national saint’s feast day.

Accordingly as you can imagine St. Patrick’s Day was one of the biggest and wildest day of partying in the year. Thomas Dineley went on “when they wet their Seamar-oge, they often commit excess in liquor, which is not a right keeping of a day to the Lord; error generally leading to debauchery.” We all love a good party but the same prejudices against popular celebrations appear often in the historical records from Egypt to England. Puritans and Puritan writers hated to see anyone enjoying themselves so much that in 1644 they passed an act of the English parliament banning Christmas celebrations. Christmas was celebrated daily over the course of the twelve days with non-stop dancing, singing, drinking, exchanging of presents and stage plays. The population indulged in feasts of roast beef, plum porridge, minced pies and special ale. Twelfth Night, the final day of celebration, often saw a fresh bout of feasting and carnivals. The daily celebrations often led to drunkenness, promiscuity, gambling and other forms of excess. Sixteenth and seventeenth century Puritans frowned on what they saw as a frenzy of disorder and disturbance. St.

Patrick’s Day only became an official Irish public holiday in 1903 with the introduction of the Bank Holiday (Ireland) Act 1903. The act was introduced by Irish Member of Parliament James O’Mara, who was also responsible for the law that required that all public houses were to remain closed on March 17. The ban was only lifted in 1960. As the writer Maeve Binchy wrote recalling the past, “Dublin was the dullest place on earth to spend St. Patrick's Day.” Binchy recalls how her family and she would watch with amazement as they saw Irish in other parts of the world indulging heavily in the festivities while the homeland suffered through a day of thirst. There will be a big party in Dublin tomorrow and many other places too. · March 12, 2014 · Saintly misconceptions - St. Patrick was not Irish, St George was not English and St Andrew was not Scottish. St. David of Wales is the only patron saint who is... a native. Through the absence of knowledge some assume that Patrick was Welsh or English but Wales and England did not exist in Patrick’s time.

He was a Romano-Briton meaning of a Roman family living in Roman colonial Britain prior to the withdrawal of the Romans. St George never killed a Dragon and St. Patrick never banished snakes from Ireland and some claim he did not even bring Christianity to Ireland it was Palladius. Therefore the Irish should be celebrating St. Palladius Day on March 17th. So there were two St. Patricks but neither of them brought Christianity to Ireland! The great Irish historian T. F. O'Rahilly's "Two Patricks" theory was first posited in a lecture in 1942 where he playfully stoked controversy in order the initiate academic debate. O'Rahilly like many scholars before noted that a contemporary continental chronicler wrote that Palladius was sent as the first bishop of the Irish by the pope to Ireland in 431AD. Yet tradition tells us that Patrick was ordained bishop and sent to Ireland to convert the Irish in 432AD. O'Rahilly was intimating that the histories of two men had been confused and folded together. The Irish writers of the lives of St. Patrick say, that St. Palladius had preached in Ireland a little before St.

Patrick, but that he was soon banished by the king of Leinster and returned to North Britain. Scottish church tradition holds that he presided over a Christian community there for around 20 years but the Irish Vita Tripartita states that he died at Cell Fine (thought to be modern-day Killeen Cormac, County Kildare), where he left his books, together with a writing tablet and relics of Peter and Paul. Alban Butler, citing Hector Boethius and Camden, says that he died at Fordun, fifteen miles south of Aberdeen about the year 450. As we have seen, certainty in these cases is elusive and if we can be certain of anything it is that Palladius did not bring Christianity to Ireland and neither did Patrick because his arrival was a year subsequent. Prosper of Aquitaine states in a chronicle entry for the year 431AD “Ad Scotum in Christum credentes ordinatur a Papa Celestino Palladius et primus episcopus mittitur”. Translated as “To the Irish believing in Christ Pope Celestine sends Palladius as the first Bishop”. In plain language Prosper tells us that there were Christians in Ireland before the arrival of Palladius and Patrick!

St. Patrick: The Trinity and the Shamrock St. Patrick: The Trinity and the Shamrock by Tom Stewart July 22, 2001 St. Patrick (373-465 AD) is the patron saint of Ireland, and long before man gave him the title of St., God had already made him one. "Unto the Church of God which is at Corinth, to them that are sanctified in Christ Jesus, called to be Saints" (1Corinthians 1:2). Though the Church of Rome claims St. Patrick as its own, he is more appropriately owned by the "General Assembly and Church of the Firstborn, which are written in Heaven" (Hebrews 12:23), where "Christ is the Head of the Church: and He is the Saviour of the Body" (Ephesians 5:23). Historians believe that St. Patrick's missionary career in Ireland took place in the 5th Century, though they are uncertain of the date of his birth. "But the very hairs of your head are all numbered [by God]" (Matthew 10:30).

Born in Britain (373 AD), Patrick was kidnapped into slavery at the age of sixteen to serve as a herdsman in Ireland for six years, where he turned in faith to the LORD Jesus Christ. "When He [God] slew them, then they sought Him: and they returned and enquired early after God" (Psalm 78:34). During the second half of the 4th Century, when Roman power was in decline in Italy and Britain, Irish raiding expeditions were common along the west coast of Britain, and unconverted Patrick was seized by such raiders. "I will go and return to My place, till they acknowledge their offence, and seek My face: in their affliction they will seek Me early" (Hosea 5:15). In a dream, he heard that the ship in which he was to make his escape was ready, so he fled his master and found his way back to Britain. "I being in the way, the LORD led me" (Genesis 24:27). A passage from Patrick's spiritual biography, "Confessio" (Latin, Confession), tells of a dream that came to Patrick after he had escaped from Ireland and returned to Britain.

One Victoricus appeared to Patrick, delivering him a letter entitled, "The Voice of the Hibernians". Hibernia is the Latin name for the island of Ireland. As Patrick read the letter, he seemed to hear a company of Irish beseeching him to return to Ireland. "9 And a vision appeared to Paul in the night; There stood a man of Macedonia, and prayed him, saying, Come over into Macedonia, and help us. 10 And after he had seen the vision, immediately we endeavoured to go into Macedonia, assuredly gathering that the LORD had called us for to preach the Gospel unto them" (Acts 16:9-10). Though Patrick doubted his fitness and educational preparation for such a task, he entered his missionary task to the Irish people (405 AD) with the zeal of an Apostle Paul. "19 For though I be free from all men, yet have I made myself servant unto all, that I might gain the more... 22 To the weak became I as weak, that I might gain the weak: I am made all things to all men, that I might by all means save some" (1Corinthians 9:19, 22).

He met with great success in Ulster and Tara, though he faced the continual threat of martyrdom. Remember, he preached the Gospel where pagan idols were worshipped and Druid human sacrifice was still practiced. "For they themselves shew of us what manner of entering in we had unto you, and how ye turned to God from idols to serve the Living and True God" (1Thessalonians 1:9). His success with the Irish was matched by his trouble with his ecclesiastical superiors in Britain; but through it all, he humbly promoted the "Gospel of the Grace of God" (Acts 20:24). Excerpt from "Patrick's Confession" "I, Patrick, a sinner, a most simple countryman, the least of all the faithful and most contemptible to many, had for father the deacon Calpurnius, son of the late Potitus, a presbyter, of the settlement of Bannaven Taburniae; he had a small villa nearby where I was taken captive. I was at that time about sixteen years of age.

I did not, indeed, know the true God; and I was taken into captivity in Ireland with many thousands of people, according to our deserts, for quite drawn away from God, we did not keep his precepts, nor were we obedient to our presbyters who used to remind us of our salvation. And the Lord brought down on us the fury of his being and scattered us among many nations, even to the ends of the earth, where I, in my smallness, am now to be found among foreigners. "And there the Lord opened my mind to an awareness of my unbelief, in order that, even so late, I might remember my transgressions and turn with all my heart to the Lord my God, who had regard for my insignificance and pitied my youth and ignorance. And he watched over me before I knew him, and before I learned sense or even distinguished between good and evil, and he protected me, and consoled me as a father would his son. "Therefore, indeed, I cannot keep silent, nor would it be proper, so many favours and graces has the Lord deigned to bestow on me in the land of my captivity.

For after chastisement from God, and recognizing him, our way to repay him is to exalt him and confess his wonders before every nation under heaven. "For there is no other God, nor ever was before, nor shall be hereafter, but God the Father, unbegotten and without beginning, in whom all things began, whose are all things, as we have been taught; and his son Jesus Christ, who manifestly always existed with the Father, before the beginning of time in the spirit with the Father, indescribably begotten before all things, and all things visible and invisible were made by him. He was made man, conquered death and was received into Heaven, to the Father who gave him all power over every name in Heaven and on Earth and in Hell, so that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord and God, in whom we believe. And we look to his imminent coming again, the judge of the living and the dead, who will render to each according to his deeds.

And he poured out his Holy Spirit on us in abundance, the gift and pledge of immortality, which makes the believers and the obedient into sons of God and co-heirs of Christ who is revealed, and we worship one God in the Trinity of holy name." The Trinity and the Shamrock Legend has it that St. Patrick was responsible for ridding the Emerald Isle of snakes; but more importantly, it is said that Patrick used the shamrock as a symbol to explain the Trinity to Unbelievers, i.e., how God is One God in Three Persons. "Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the Name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost" (Matthew 28:19). Patrick would hold up a shamrock and challenge his hearers, "Is it one leaf or three?" "It is both one leaf and three," was their reply. "And so it is with God," he would conclude. "19 Because that which may be known of God is manifest in them; for God hath shewed it unto them.

20 For the invisible things of Him from The Creation of the world are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, even His Eternal Power and Godhead; so that they are without excuse" (Romans 1:19-20). Of course, doctrines such as the Trinity or the Divinity of Jesus Christ can only be received by willing hearts, who have committed themselves to obey whatever the Spirit reveals from the Scriptures. "If any man will do His will, he shall know of the doctrine" (John 7:17). St. Patrick, no doubt, was careful not to confuse pagan idolaters with the idea of Polytheism, i.e., the false notion that there are many separate gods; but, his dependence upon the Holy Spirit to give him the illustration of the shamrock to illustrate the Trinity, gave him success in preaching the Gospel. "For I am not ashamed of the Gospel of Christ: for it is the Power of God unto Salvation to every one that believeth; to the Jew first, and also to the Greek" (Romans 1:16).

[See our article, " Who Then Can Be Saved?: Or, The Simplicity of Gospel Salvation " --- New Window , for a brief discussion of what must we do to be saved.] Thank God for the testimony of Patrick of Ireland! A Brief Outline of Scripture Concerning the Doctrine of the Trinity 1. The Old Testament Scriptures speak of God as More Than One. "And God said, Let Us make man in Our image, after Our likeness: and let them have dominion over the fish of the sea, and over the fowl of the air, and over the cattle, and over all the Earth, and over every creeping thing that creepeth upon the Earth" (Genesis 1:26). "And the LORD God said, Behold, the man is become as one of Us, to know good and evil" (3:22). 2. God is spoken of as Three in Scripture. "Come ye near unto Me, hear ye this; I have not spoken in secret from The Beginning; from the time that it was, there am I: and now the LORD GOD, and His Spirit, hath sent Me" (Isaiah 48:16). 3.

The Father, the Son, and the Spirit are equally referred to as God. FATHER: "Doubtless Thou art our Father, though Abraham be ignorant of us, and Israel acknowledge us not: Thou, O LORD, art our Father, our Redeemer; Thy Name is from Everlasting" (Isaiah 63:16). "Labour not for the meat which perisheth, but for that meat which endureth unto Everlasting Life, which the Son of Man shall give unto you: for Him hath God the Father sealed" (John 6:27). SON: "For unto us a Child is born, unto us a Son is given: and the government shall be upon His shoulder: and His Name shall be called Wonderful, Counsellor, The Mighty God, The Everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace" (Isaiah 9:6). "27 My sheep hear My Voice, and I know them, and they follow Me: 28 and I give unto them Eternal Life; and they shall never perish, neither shall any man pluck them out of My hand.

29 My Father, which gave them Me, is greater than all; and no man is able to pluck them out of My Father's hand. 30 I and My Father are One. 31 Then the Jews took up stones again to stone Him. 32 Jesus answered them, Many good works have I shewed you from My Father; for which of those works do ye stone Me? 33 The Jews answered Him, saying, For a good work we stone Thee not; but for blasphemy; and because that Thou, being a man, makest Thyself God. 34 Jesus answered them, Is it not written in your Law, I said, Ye are gods? 35 If He called them gods, unto whom the Word of God came, and the Scripture cannot be broken; 36 say ye of Him, Whom the Father hath sanctified, and sent into the world, Thou blasphemest; because I said, I am the Son of God?" (John 10:27-36). [See our editorial, " John F.

Kennedy, Jr.: America's Departed Prince " --- New Window , for an exposition of the 82nd Psalm, from which Jesus cited, "Ye are gods".] SPIRIT: "And the Earth was without form, and void; and darkness was upon the face of the deep. And the Spirit of God moved upon the face of the waters" (Genesis 1:2). "7 Whither shall I go from Thy Spirit? or whither shall I flee from Thy presence? 8 If I ascend up into Heaven, Thou art there: if I make my bed in Hell, behold, Thou art there. 9 If I take the wings of the morning, and dwell in the uttermost parts of the sea; 10 even there shall Thy hand lead me, and Thy right hand shall hold me" (Psalm 139:7-10). "But Peter said, Ananias, why hath Satan filled thine heart to lie to the Holy Ghost... thou hast not lied unto men, but unto God" (Acts 5:3,4). 4. The Father sends the Son, Who sends the Spirit.

FATHER SENDS THE SON: "For God so loved the world, that He gave His Only Begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in Him should not perish, but have Everlasting Life" (John 3:16). "Then said Jesus to them again, Peace be unto you: as My Father hath sent Me, even so send I you" (20:21). SON SENDS THE SPIRIT: "But the Comforter, which is the Holy Ghost, Whom the Father will send in My Name, He shall teach you all things, and bring all things to your remembrance, whatsoever I have said unto you" (14:26). "But when the Comforter is come, Whom I will send unto you from the Father, even the Spirit of Truth, which proceedeth from the Father, He shall testify of Me" (15:26). "Nevertheless I tell you the Truth; It is expedient for you that I go away: for if I go not away, the Comforter will not come unto you; but if I depart, I will send Him unto you" (16:7).

Excerpt on the Trinity from " Sermons on Gospel Themes " --- New Window , by C. G. Finney --- New Window : "Let me say again: the manner in which the Bible reveals God is also a great stumbling-block to many; the doctrine of the Trinity, for example, there are a great many that stumble at it because they cannot understand it, any better than they can understand a great many other things; because they cannot understand it they reject it, and say that it cannot be, and so they will not receive it simply because they cannot explain it. Just so with respect to the incarnation of the Son of God; many men because they cannot understand how humanity and Deity could be united, reject the doctrine, and will not believe it. Now it is admitted at once, there is no occasion for denying it, and to do so would be as absurd as it is unnecessary, that these doctrines are very mysterious; but they are announced as facts, that God was in Christ, that Christ was both God and man; of course it is readily admitted that this declaration is a great trial to the faith of finite creatures; but then the announcement is made by God himself and ought to be believed.

The doctrine of the atonement is another stumbling-block to men; that God should give his own Son to die for the sins of mankind, and that he should actually suffer, is a difficulty that can only be overcome by faith -- unbelief will suggest a multitude of difficulties and reject it... If God's attributes are what he declares them to be, there are things that cannot be explained to finite beings. Now for example; take the doctrine of the Trinity. To be sure human reason cannot explain that, nor is any explanation called for; God simply announces the fact in the bible, that the Father, the Son, and the Spirit are God. Now that God should manifest himself in ten hundred thousand beings at one and the same time is not contrary to reason. For example, we find that at one time, before the destruction of Sodom, three individuals appeared to Abraham, and one of them who is called Jehovah, informed Abraham what they were going to do, and Abraham put up a prayer to have Sodom saved -- you recollect the afflicting circumstance. We learn that there were three men, or apparently so; two of them probably were angels in human form, and the other was no less a being than Jehovah himself. Now mark!

Who can doubt but that God could have assumed the same form in millions of cases at the same time in different parts of the world, for there would be nothing contrary to reason in that. There is nothing then unreasonable in the supposition that God should exist in three persons or three hundred thousand million persons! We say there is nothing unreasonable in it. Who does not know that there is not? What then do men mean when they say that they cannot believe in the Trinity? Why not believe? What do such men suppose they know about infinity? Can they affirm of the Father, Son, and Holy Ghost that these three cannot exercise and manifest the attributes of God? But as the fact is announced, there need be no evidence of it to the man who has faith. Faith makes no effort to understand it. If you object to this, let me ask, how do you know that you exist yourselves? O yes, you say, we know that we exist; we believe it. What makes you believe it? Can you explain it? Did you choose your body? Can you tell the connection between matter and spirit?

How can you prove what yourselves are?" All worship, praise, and glory to the Thrice Holy God, to the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit! "Holy, Holy, Holy, LORD God Almighty, which Was, and Is, and Is To Come" (Revelation 4:8). Maranatha! St. Patrick's Confession --- New Window by Patrick (373-465 AD) "I, Patrick, a sinner, a most simple countryman, the least of all the faithful and most contemptible to many, had for father the deacon Calpurnius, son of the late Potitus, a presbyter, of the settlement of Bannaven Taburniae; he had a small villa nearby where I was taken captive. I was at that time about sixteen years of age. I did not, indeed, know the true God; and I was taken into captivity in Ireland with many thousands of people, according to our deserts, for quite drawn away from God, we did not keep his precepts, nor were we obedient to our presbyters who used to remind us of our salvation.

And the Lord brought down on us the fury of his being and scattered us among many nations, even to the ends of the earth, where I, in my smallness, am now to be found among foreigners." --Patrick and A Ten Chapter Excerpt (Chapters 9-18) from "History of the Scottish Nation" by J. A. Wylie "In entering on the story of Succat, whom our readers will more familiarly recognise under his later and better known appellative of St. Patrick, we feel that we tread on ground more stable and reliable than that which we had to traverse when relating the earlier evangelization of Whithorn. St. Patrick, it is true, has not wholly escaped the fate which has usually befallen early and distinguished missionaries at the hands of their monkish chroniclers. Unable to perceive or to appreciate his true grandeur as a humble preacher of the Gospel, some of his biographers have striven to invest him with the fictitious glory of a miracle-worker. No monk of the Middle Ages could have imagined such a life as Patrick's. These scribes deemed it beneath their heroes to perform, or their pens to record, whatever did not rise to the rank of prodigy.

Humility, self-denial, deeds of unaffected piety and benevolence, discredited rather than authenticated one's claim to saintship. Boastful professions and acts of fantastic and sanctimonious virtue were readier passports to monkish renown than lives which had no glory save that of sterling and unostentatious goodness. We can trace the gradual gathering of the miraculous halo around Patrick on the pages of his successive chroniclers. His miracles are made to begin before he himself had seen the light. His story grows in marvel and prodigy as it proceeds. Each successive narrator must needs bring a fresh miracle to exalt the greatness of his hero and the wonder of his readers. Probus in the tenth century outdoes in this respect all who had gone before him, and Jocelin, in the twelfth, outruns Probus as far as Probus had outrun his predecessors. Last of all comes O'Sullivan in the seventeenth century, and he carries off the palm from every previous writer of the "Life of St. Patrick." The man who comes after O'Sullivan may well despair, for surely nothing more foolish or more monstrous was ever imagined by monk than what this writer has related of Patrick.

So rises this stupendous structure which lacks but one thing-- a foundation. But happily it is easier in the present instance than in most cases of a similar kind, to separate what is false, and to be put aside, from what is true, and, therefore, to be retained. Before the monks had any opportunity of disfiguring the great evangelist by encircling him with a cloud of legends, Patrick himself had told the story of his life, and with such marked individuality, with such truth to Christian experience, and with such perfect accordance to the age and the circumstances, that we are irresistibly led to the conclusion that the life before us is a real life, and must have been lived, it could not have been invented. The confessions here poured forth could come from no heart but a heart burdened with a sense of guilt; and the sorrows here disclosed with so simple yet so touching a pathos, authenticate themselves as real not ideal. They are the experiences of the soul, not the creations of the imagination. Succat the first name of the man who has taken his permanent place in history as Patrick or St. Patrick was born on the banks of the Clyde..." --J. A.

Wylie and Or, Roman Catholicism Examined in Light of the Scriptures by Tom Stewart "We would have healed Babylon, but she is not healed: forsake her" (Jeremiah 51:9). If all would agree that Salvation comes only by the grace of God through faith in the finished work of Jesus Christ upon the cross of Calvary-- "8 For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: 9 Not of works, lest any man should boast" (Ephesians 2:8-9)-- then adherence to or rejection of the Church of Rome would simply be a test of Christian nobility, i.e., searching the Scriptures for proof to go out or stay in. "These were more noble than those in Thessalonica, in that they received the Word with all readiness of mind, and searched the Scriptures daily, whether those things were so" (Acts 17:11). Further, if anyone resorts to the investigation of Scripture, then a cardinal rule must be observed. You must be willing to obey the Scriptures.

Jesus said, "If any man will do His [the Father's] will, he shall know of the doctrine, whether it be of God, or whether I speak of Myself" (John 7:17). This cannot be an unreasonable rule, for Jesus Christ identifies Himself as the very Word that "was made flesh" (John 1:14), that we must obey. "For this cause also thank we God without ceasing, because, when ye received the Word of God which ye heard of us, ye received it not as the word of men, but as it is in Truth, the Word of God, which effectually worketh also in you that believe" (1Thessalonians 2:13). I propose to demonstrate from Scripture that Roman Catholicism is not a Christian religion, and that the Church of Rome is not a Christian Church. And, if so, then it would only be reasonable for all those who truly name the "Name of Christ" (2Timothy 2:19) to separate themselves from this "MYSTERY, BABYLON THE GREAT, THE MOTHER OF HARLOTS AND ABOMINATIONS OF THE EARTH" (Revelation 17:5).

Thus, the warning of the Revelation would fall upon your ears to come out of Babylon the Great. "Come out of her, My people, that ye be not partakers of her sins, and that ye receive not of her plagues" (18:4). Fact vs. Fantasy : Ireland's Shamrock Legend Ireland's Shamrock Legend Sure, you already know a wee bit about the shamrock legends. I've found that many sites tell you the same basic things, in the same three paragraphs, word-for-word. (I wonder who originally wrote those paragraphs, anyway?) But I know you want to know more. I know you're tired of reading the same words about St. Patrick and shamrocks over and over again. Well, you came to the right place! How do I know? Because even though I won't leave out the basics you find everywhere else, I can relate that basic information to you in my own words, and I can (and will) reveal even more about the shamrock legend than you will find anywhere else. You are about to discover that Fantasy-Ireland is the only source you need for learning about all your favorite Irish symbols! Why? Because the shamrock is one of the best representations of the Fantasy Ireland!

And it is my job to honor your fantasy of Ireland, but also to help you sort out fact from fantasy. You count on me to honor your fantasies, but also give to you the facts. So you can decide for yourself what the shamrock legend means to you. Buy this Art Print @ AllPosters.com Contrary to popular belief, the shamrock is not the official emblem of Ireland. Ask any head of state or diplomat. Officially, that honor goes to the Celtic harp . But in the hearts and minds of people all over the world, the shamrock is the symbol of Ireland. You could say the shamrock is the emblem of Irish culture. After all, the shamrock is without a doubt the most universally recognized symbol of Ireland. It has such power to define Ireland in the minds of people that it is used in the official logos of many major Irish organizations, like Fáilte Ireland, the Irish Tourist Board, for example. It is also the emblem of the official airline of Ireland, Aer Lingus. Every year on St.

Patrick's Day, Aer Lingus flies freshly cut shamrock to the Irish embassies all over the world so that Irish diplomats and uniformed personnel can uphold the "Wearing of the Green" tradition on their beloved National Holiday. Fact vs. Fantasy Many sites will tell you that the little trefoil known as the shamrock was once known as "seamróg", pronounced "Seamroy", meaning "little clover". They also mention the fact that it is a very common clover that grows heartily in Ireland. Many agree that the ancient Druids honored it as a sacred plant. The Druids believed the shamrock had the power to avert evil spirits. Some people still believe the shamrock has mystical, even prophetic, powers. It is said that the leaves of shamrocks turn upright whenever a storm is coming. According to Lady Wilde, the shamrock "enlightens the brain and makes one see and know the truth". The ancient Irish Celts also revered the shamrock because it has three leaves, and they considered "3" to be a sacred number. The ancient Celtic Druids believed many numbers held mystical powers.

The three leaves shaped like hearts were associated with the Triple Goddess of Celtic mythology, otherwise known as the "Three Morgans". The Triple Goddess represented the Triple Mothers, the hearts of the ancient Celtic tribes. This Celtic tradition of honoring "3's" continued in Ireland for millennia. Great things do come in threes, after all... past, present, and future love, valor, and wit faith, hope and charity Three was also sacred to devotees of the goddess, Brighid, signifying totality. And the Irish bards continued the significance of "3's" by using triple repetition in their storytelling rhythms. Actually, many spiritual belief systems, ancient and contemporary, find the number "3" to have mystical properties. The shamrock was considered a sacred plant to ancient Iranians, for example. They knew it as "shamrakh" and honored it as a symbol of the Sacred 3's. Symbol of the Holy Trinity The shamrock is a symbol of the Trinity and the Cross for most Irish-Catholics. This is due to the most famous shamrock legend, starring St. Patrick.

The story basically says that he used the shamrock to help the pagan Druid High Priests and their followers comprehend the Holy Trinity: Father, Son, and Holy Spirit - All in One Almighty God. But we know the shamrock was already considered a sacred plant to the Druids long before St. Patrick arrived in Ireland. Perhaps that is why, according to the shamrock legend, he chose this common little clover to illustrate the Trinity concept to them. The wisdom of St. Patrick's mission was to take ancient pagan Celtic ideas and beliefs and use them to explain the concepts of Christianity in such a way that the Druids and their followers would embrace Christ and the Trinity. Knowing that it was considered a sacred plant to them already, the shamrock legend says he plucked one right out of the ground he was standing upon. Then he held it up high so everyone could see, and proclaimed, "Do you not see how in this wildflower three leaves are united on one stalk, and will you then believe that there are indeed three persons and yet one God?" According to Irish folklore, this effective demonstration secured the approval of the Druid High Priests of St.

Patrick's missionary work in Ireland, and even led many of them to convert to Christianity and become Bishops themselves. Banishing the Serpents The shamrock legend also includes the story that St. Patrick drove all the snakes out of Ireland forever. The legend goes on to say that St. Patrick filled the Emerald Isle with lush shamrock fields to keep the snakes from ever returning. In fact, people say that shamrocks would grow wherever St. Patrick had preached. An old Irish blessing says, There's a dear little plant that grows in our isle, 'Twas Saint Patrick himself, sure, that set it; And the sun of his labor with pleasure did smile, And with dew from his eye often wet it. It grows through the bog, through the brake, through the mireland And they call it the dear little Shamrock of Ireland It is true that you won't find any snakes in Ireland. Believers in Irish folklore take this as proof that St. Patrick indeed did banish all the serpents from the Emerald Isle.

This shamrock legend is validated to some by the fact that snakes are never seen in fields of shamrocks anywhere in the world, and that shamrocks can indeed be used as a remedy for snake venom. The question is whether or not they were ever there at all. Some scholars believe that there have never been snakes in Ireland. The more romantic folk believe St. Patrick really did perform a Divine miracle and drove them out. Actually most people these days realize that the shamrock legend is probably just a metaphor for the fact that he did indeed drive out the pagan beliefs and rituals, which are commonly associated with snakes. For the "Factaholics" What "factaholics", as I like to call them, argue is that there is no mention of shamrocks in the writings of St. Patrick or his missionaries as a teaching tool. One would think that if it was such an important tool, and if it had the major impact on their mission like the shamrock legend says, they would have written about it. Alas, they did not. But the shamrock is, in fact, a symbol found on many medieval bishops' tombs, including St. Patrick's. It is also found on the copper coins that were once known as "St.

Patrick’s money". So maybe there is a wee bit of history behind the legend. The facts are clear, though, that it wasn't until 1571 that anyone made written reference to shamrocks, some 1000 years after St. Patrick. In 1681 it is first mentioned as the badge to be worn on St. Patrick's Feast Day. "Seamróg", the Gaelic word for shamrock, is not found in writing until even later, in 1707. As far as it being a symbol of the Trinity, this part of the shamrock legend isn't included in any written records until 1727. How did the shamrock become such a powerful and universal symbol of Ireland? Well, for starters, during the days of Queen Victoria, the shamrock became a symbol of rebellion against the oppression of the Crown, when the Queen made it a capital crime to wear the shamrock on military uniforms, punishable by death. It was during this time that displaying the shamrock proudly on one's clothing became known as the "Wearing of the Green".

Throughout the 19th century, the shamrock was used as a decorative symbol on everything Irish from churches and other public buildings, to clothing and household furniture. It wasn't long before anything connected with Ireland at all displayed shamrocks in some way. So the shamrock legend had taken on new meaning to Irish people. It went beyond being a spiritual symbol and became a source of empowerment and national pride. Celtic Revival This empowerment in the 19th century made way for a "Celtic Revival", when Celtic art experienced an explosion in popularity. Between the oppressive rule of the Crown, the devastating and tragic Famine, and the growing tide of freedom-fighters, the Irish people sought to reassert their national identity and proudly display their Celtic heritage. The shamrock and Celtic knotwork were commonly used together as a symbol of this pride. The Real Truth So when you read all about the shamrock legend, you wonder, "which is fact and which is fantasy"? The fact is, we'll never know for sure. But the fantasy inherent in the shamrock legend is precisely what gives it such power. After all, it's not necessarily facts that define real truth.

It's what people believe that defines their truth, and that is what has the power to influence people’s lives. So, whether the shamrock legends are factually accurate misses the point. The shamrock legend has the power to comfort and inspire. So the legend will no doubt live on for quite some time, as it should. Click Here to return to the TOP of this page To learn more about the shamrock legend, read Shamrocks, Harps and Shillelaghs: The Story of the St. Patrick's Day Symbols . This little treasure is an invaluable resource for understanding the symbols associated with St. Patrick's Day. It was written by the late Edna Barth, the recognized expert in explaining the history and legends behind popular holidays to children. "Shamrocks" is not only thoroughly researched and well-written, but it has a way of blending fanciful stories and historical facts in such a way that it's easy for the wee ones to understand the significance of those symbols that they busy themselves crafting in preparation for St. Patrick's Day. Her book covers everything from the life of St. Patrick to the shamrock legend with insight and wit.

For the teachers and parents out there, she includes a list at the end of the book that recommends more books to read to young students looking forward to March 17. < center> shamrock | plant | Britannica.com Shamrock Santalales Shamrock, any of several similar-appearing trifoliate plants—i.e., plants each of whose leaves is divided into three leaflets. Plants called shamrock include the wood sorrel ( Oxalis acetosella ) of the family Oxalidaceae, or any of various plants of the pea family ( Fabaceae ), including white clover (Trifolium repens), suckling clover (T. dubium), and black medic (Medicago lupulina). According to Irish legend , St. Patrick, patron saint of Ireland , first chose the shamrock as a symbol of the Trinity of the Christian church because of its three leaflets bound by a common stalk. Wood sorrel is shipped from Ireland to other countries in great quantity for St. Patrick’s Day. Wood sorrel (Oxalis acetosella).

Laila Remahl The shamrock pea (Parochetus communis), a creeping legume with bicoloured blue and pink flowers, is grown in pots and in hanging baskets. Learn More in these related articles: Fabaceae pea family of flowering plants (angiosperms), within the order Fabales. Fabaceae, which is the third largest family among the angiosperms after Orchidaceae (orchid family) and Asteraceae (aster family), consists of more than 700 genera and about 20,000 species of trees, shrubs, vines, and herbs and... in Saint Patrick: Legends ...figure, and the legends have continued to grow. One of these would have it that he drove the snakes of Ireland into the sea to their destruction. Another, probably the most popular, is that of the shamrock, which has him explain the concept of the Holy Trinity, three persons in one God, to an unbeliever by showing him the three-leaved plant with one stalk. Today Irishmen wear shamrocks, the... 1 Reference found in Britannica Articles Assorted Reference association with St.

Patrick (in Saint Patrick: Legends ) External Links shamrock - Student Encyclopedia (Ages 11 and up) Several types of plants are called shamrocks. Each of them is trifoliate-that is, each of their leaves has three leaflets. According to legend, in the 5th century St. Patrick, the patron saint of Ireland, chose the shamrock as a symbol of the Trinity (three persons in one God) of the Christian church. He is said to have used the plant to illustrate the Trinity to a skeptic, saying, "Do you not see how in this wildflower three leaves are united on one stalk, and will you not then believe that there are indeed three persons and yet one God?" The shamrock remains the national emblem of Ireland and is worn proudly by Irish people the world over on St. Patrick’s Day (March 17). Article History Corrections? Updates? Help us improve this article! Contact our editors with your feedback. MEDIA FOR: You have successfully emailed this. Error when sending the email. Try again later. Edit Mode Submit Tips For Editing We welcome suggested improvements to any of our articles.

You can make it easier for us to review and, hopefully, publish your contribution by keeping a few points in mind. Encyclopædia Britannica articles are written in a neutral objective tone for a general audience. You may find it helpful to search within the site to see how similar or related subjects are covered. Any text you add should be original, not copied from other sources. At the bottom of the article, feel free to list any sources that support your changes, so that we can fully understand their context. (Internet URLs are the best.) Your contribution may be further edited by our staff, and its publication is subject to our final approval. Unfortunately, our editorial approach may not be able to accommodate all contributions. Submit Thank You for Your Contribution! Our editors will review what you've submitted, and if it meets our criteria, we'll add it to the article. Please note that our editors may make some formatting changes or correct spelling or grammatical errors, and may also contact you if any clarifications are needed. Uh Oh There was a problem with your submission. Please try again later. Close Date Published: July 20, 1998 URL: Access Date: January 18, 2017 Share Who was St.

Patrick? | Reference.com Who was St. Patrick? A: Quick Answer St. Patrick was a British priest who spent six years of his youth as a slave in Ireland and later returned there as a Catholic missionary. Although at first he was in danger of being martyred, ultimately his mission met with great success. His autobiography "The Confession" tells of the dreams and voices that led to his conversion and his return to Ireland to fulfill his mission. Full Answer St. Patrick was born into a wealthy British family in the late fourth century. He was captured by Irish pirates and sold into slavery. During his captivity, he became a devout Christian. He heard a voice in a dream telling him it was time to escape, so he walked 200 miles to the coast, took a ship and returned to his family. He studied for the priesthood in France before returning to Ireland. He already spoke the language, having learned it as a slave, and he adapted his Christian teachings to local culture so they would be more comprehensible to the Irish. For instance, he added the locally revered image of the sun to the Christian cross to create the Celtic cross, and he celebrated Easter using the local tradition of bonfires. Many legends have arisen about St. Patrick.

One concerns the shamrock, or three-leafed plant, which he supposedly used to illustrate the concept of the Holy Trinity. Another posits that because snakes harassed him during a 40-day fast, he banned them all from Ireland, although there is no evidence that snakes ever inhabited the island. March 17, which is supposedly the day of his death, is celebrated worldwide as St. Patrick's Day.

Question: Which plant is Saint Patrick said to have used to illustrate the Holy Trinity
Answer: Shamrock