St. Patrick (Maewyn Succat) - Missionary

Birth:

c. 389, Roman Britain

Death:

c. 461, Ireland

Early Influences:

• Captured and sold into slavery at the age of 16
• Turned to religion during his six years of captivity in Ireland
• Returned to Britain at age 22 and dedicated his life to the conversion of the Irish

Education:

• Studied in Gaul (present day France)
• Ordained to the diocanate around 417
• Spent 15 years at the Church of Auxerre

Major Accomplishments:

• Ordained a Bishop in 432
• Secured toleration of Christians in Ireland
• Converted members of the Irish royal families

Significance:

• Patron Saint of Ireland
• Fostered the growth of Christianity in Ireland
• His feast day, March 17, is celebrated as a religious and secular holiday in many countries

Contemporaries:

• Hypatia of Alexandria - Female mathematician
• Celestine I - Pope
• St. Augustine - Theologian