Patrick of Ireland
British missionary bishop who evangelized Ireland in the fifth century. Wrote the Confessio and the Letter to Coroticus, the only sure primary documents.
Why Patrick matters
Patrick was kidnapped by Irish slavers as a teenager, escaped, and went back as a missionary to the people who enslaved him. His Confession is the earliest substantial document from Christian Ireland and one of the earliest first-person accounts of any missionary anywhere. The conversion he led was bloodless, organised through monasteries rather than imperial power, and produced a Christianity literate enough to send missionaries back across Europe. He is also the reason there are so many Irish saints — the model he set up made saint-production a cottage industry.
Chain to Jesus
Loading…
Works
- Confession (Confessio)c. 460
Patrick's spiritual autobiography and apologia — earliest substantial document from Christian Ireland.
As an Amazon Associate we earn from qualifying purchases.
Sources for biography
- Patrick, Confessio primary
- Patrick, Epistola ad Coroticum primary
tradition connections(2)
- knew of Pope Celestine IPatrick's mission is traditionally connected to Celestine's earlier sending of Palladius.Prosper of Aquitaine, Chronicon (s.a. 431)
- cited (incoming) ColumbaColumba stands in the Irish monastic tradition that traces back to Patrick; direct lineage is hagiographic.Adomnán, Vita Columbae, prologue