Charming Biography, Courageous Exemplar - Review of Patrick - Patron Saint of Ireland

If you are looking for a children's book to help explainAlso, the legends about Patrick that dePaola appends
the significance of St. Patrick's Day toto the biography are charming. For example, one
6-to-8-year-olds, this is it. Patrick: Patron Saint oflegend tells of how Patrick was trying to explain the
Ireland is a brief, charming biography of St. Patrick,Trinity--the Christian notion of one God in three
with the added bonus of several interesting legendspersons: Father, Son, and Holy Spirit--to some people
about Patrick appended after the strictly biographicalone day and noticed a shamrock growing at his feet.
part.As the legend goes, he picked the shamrock and
As dePaola tells it, Patrick grew up in Britain near theused it as an illustration of the Trinity: one stem, with
Irish Sea during the late 4th- and early 5th-centurythree leaves. Hence, the significance of the shamrock.
CE, in the twilight of the Western Roman Empire.Patrick: Patron Saint of Ireland is also developmentally
One night warriors from Ireland landed on the shoresvaluable for children in the 6-to-8-years age group for
near his home, raided local farms, and took manyseveral reasons. First, Patrick is an exemplar of
people into captivity, including the teenage Patrick.excellent character. As suggested by the fact that
Patrick was sold into slavery, and was forced to tendhe endured six years of captivity in Ireland and then
the flock of an Irish landowner. After six yearsescaped back to his home in Britain, Patrick was
Patrick managed to escape, finding passage toextremely courageous. dePaola comments on
France and eventually back home to Britain and hisPatrick's subsequent ministry in Ireland as follows:
family."Patrick faced many other dangers, too. In fact, he
However, dePaola recounts how Patrick later had acame close to losing his life twelve times. But that
dream in which he sensed a divine calling to return todidn't stop him." Here, then, is a welcome model of
Ireland as a Christian missionary. Patrick became acourage. More uniquely, though perhaps less explicitly,
bishop and returned to Ireland to pursue thisthe book shows Patrick also to be a model of
missionary work. Although he faced many perils in hisforgiveness. Despite his early and painful enslavement
work in Ireland, dePaola tells us that Patrick'sin Ireland, Patrick embraced a calling to serve the
missionary work inspired the establishment of manypeople of Ireland. Here is a man who forgave and
churches, monasteries, and schools in Ireland, andloved his captors, rather than taking a ready
that his work was an impetus to the continuedopportunity to become bitter and hateful toward
spread of the good news of God's love throughoutthem.
the world. On dePaola's telling, Patrick died in 461 CEThe book also suggests formative parallels between
on March 17th, the day we now celebrate as St.Patrick and certain biblical figures. For example, his
Patrick's Day.early captivity and later forgiveness of his captors
Several things make this book appealing forreminded me immediately of Joseph--the favorite son
6-to-8-year-olds. First, the theme of St. Patrick's life isof Jacob, sold into slavery by his envious brothers.
one that many children in this age group will beMoreover, Patrick's labor in exile as a shepherd
interested in simply because the story behind St.reminded me of both Moses--the murderous fugitive
Patrick's Day is not widely known, apart from thefrom Egypt who tended sheep in Midian for 40
bare fact that it is about some guy named St.years--and of David--the young boy forced to tend
Patrick. Kids will welcome this brief biography ofhis father's flock while his older brothers were off
Patrick as an explanation of why everyone is wearingglamorously battling the Philistines. And, of course,
green and decorating with shamrocks on March 17thPatrick's forgiving love of his enemies reminded me
(though it won't explain the excessive drinking ofmost poignantly of Jesus. Furthermore, Patrick's walk
green beer...).with God--particularly his vivid prayer life and his
Second, the episodes from Patrick's life that dePaolaresponsiveness to a divine calling--feature prominently
recounts are pithy and interesting. For example, heand tastefully in the book. Thus, Patrick: Patron Saint
tells of how Patrick's chariot driver once heard that aof Ireland is also quite valuable as an instrument of
wicked king planned to kill Patrick. Wanting to protectreligious education.
Patrick, the driver feigned tiredness and asked PatrickIn sum, I give Patrick: Patron Saint of Ireland my
to drive the chariot in his place. Because of thishighest recommendation. Erin go bragh! ("Ireland
switch the wicked king confused the chariot driverforever!
for Patrick and had the driver killed instead of Patrick.