Q:
A: St. Patrick is the patron Saint of Ireland. He was a Catholic missionary who was the first to truly challenge the traditional Pagan religions of Ireland. He was captured as a slave when he was 16 and sent to Ireland. After six years he escaped and returned to Britian. It was here that he became a member of the clergy. After a message from God where he was told to spread the Faith to the Irish pagans he began to study how to be a successful missionary. He arrived in Ireland in 432 or 433 and quickly challenged the status quo including preforming Christian rituals. He preached and spread the gospel for 40 years before he died. His mission was successful as by the time of his death the majority of Irish has converted to Catholicism. So St. Patrick's Day was born as a religious celebration of him, but has evolved into a celebration of all things Irish and the impact the Irish have had around the world.