March 17 — The Patrice, or Patrick in English, whose feast day is 17 March, is the one called the Apostle of Ireland. He was born in Boulogne-sur-Mer in 373 and tradition considers him to be the nephew of Saint Martin of Tours.
Educated by his parents in piety, Patrick was abducted by a stranger at the age of 16 and was brought to Ireland. During 5 years, he learnt there the language and customs and worked as shepherd.It was while he was going about his daily business that an angel appeared to him in the guise of a young man, telling him to dig in the soil to find the ransom for his release. He then went to France to the monastery of Marmoutier. There he trained himself in asceticism and prayer.He also prepared there for the mission of evangelization in Ireland. A few years later, Patrice went to see the Pope and offered to go to Ireland.
Once in Ireland, Patrick meet the hostility of the then king against evangelism. The king wanted to smash his head with his sword, but his arm fell soft and weak.Once again the king sent assassins after him but Patrick disappeared before the eyes of his pursuers. Once again, we wanted to poisoned him but the goblet broke as soon as he signed it. Patrice's faith spread like wildfire throughout Ireland.
He baptized those who were converted and healed the sick. Without respite, Patrice proclaimed the Gospel and visited the king, asking him to allow him to continue his mission. Prayer was his only strength and he devoted himself to it day and night. The first half of the night, for example, he recited the first hundred Psalms and while doing so, he knelt down and prostrated himself in adoration. The second half of the night, he allows himself to be immersed in icy water and recites the other fifty Psalms, with his heart, eyes and hands turned towards the sky. He sleeps very little, and as he goes to bed, he lies down on a stone and covers himself with hair. It is not surprising that in the name of the Holy Trinity he resurrected thirty-three individuals. Despite this very austere rule of life, Patrice did not die until he was ninety years old.
