Patrick was the son of a Romano-British Christian who lived somewhere in the north of what is now England. At sixteen years old he, and many other of his people, were taken captive into Ireland. What follows is his own story of his realisation of God’s purpose for his life. In it he gives interesting and valuable insights into the workings of his personal faith in Jesus Christ, as well as into life in the fifth century. It also may be that this document was written partly for the purpose of responding to charges made against him by unspecified persons, in his later years.
The date of Patrick’s birth is not known, but it has been placed in the early years of the fifth century. His “saint’s day” is celebrated on March 17th. There are two extant writings, both believed to be genuine, which are attributed to Patrick; the “Confession,” printed below, and a letter to the British king, Coroticus.
Patrick ‘s “Confession” is a simple statement consistent with a “New Testament-style,” apostolic and evangelical Christianity. His church was known as the Celtic Church.
THE CONFESSION of ST. PATRICK
(Here are his own words Translated from the Latin by Ludwig Bieler)
I am Patrick, a sinner, most unlearned, the least of all the faithful, an utterly despised by many. My father was Calpornius, a deacon, son of Potitus, a priest, of the village Bannavem Taburniæ he had a country seat nearby, and there I was taken captive.
I was then about sixteen years of age. I did not know the true God. I was taken into captivity to Ireland with many thousands of people, and deservedly so, because we turned away from God, and did not keep His commandments, and did not obey our priests, who used to remind us of our salvation. And the Lord brought over us the wrath of his anger and scattered us among many nations, even unto the utmost part of the earth, where now my littleness is placed among strangers.
And there the Lord opened the sense of my unbelief that I might at last remember my sins and be converted with all my heart to the Lord my God, who had regard for my abjection, and mercy on my youth and ignorance, and watched over me before I knew Him, and before I was able to distinguish between good and evil, and guarded me, and comforted me as would a father his son.
Hence I cannot be silent, nor, indeed, is it expedient, about the great benefits and the great grace which the lord has deigned to bestow upon me in the land of my captivity; for this we can give to God in return after having been chastened by Him, to exalt and praise His wonders before every nation that is anywhere under the heaven.