HIS 216 & REL 216 Church History I: Ancient & Middle Ages

The search for 'the real Saint Patrick' has puzzled and intrigued scholars for centuries. This new study asks, How much can we really know about the life and times of Patrick? Why and how was the Patrick myth built up in the seventh century, and what was its influence on the development of Irish Catholicism?

Who was St Patrick? In the modern era his name still carries the aura of legend -- yet the truths of his life remain unknown to most readers. Now, in this new work of biographical reconstruction, Maire B. de Paor brings us as close as possible to the man behind the myth. Through a combination of painstaking research and a close reading of Patrick's two surviving works -- the Confession and the Epistola, their texts included in full in this edition -- de Paor reveals a man at once poet and pilgrim, artist and apostle.

This modern biography of the patron saint of Ireland is an engaging account of a fascinating historical figure and the tumultuous times in which he lived.

Inspirations from the Patron Saint of Ireland Of all the saints through the centuries, St. Patrick stands out as the most universally beloved--and the symbol of all that is Irish. Although much of his life has been shrouded in myth and legend, two of his important writings have survived. St. Patrick's voice speaks to us clearly and compellingly in these documents. And from the well of his thoughts, consolation and understanding can be drawn.

The legend of Saint Patrick is irresistibly captivating - he drove the snakes out of Ireland, battled the druids, and used the three-leaf Shamrock to convert the pagan Irish to belief in the Christian Trinity. Yet, as so often happens, these stories are mere myths that fold under closer scrutiny. Fortunately, the truth is even more fascinating.