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 | By Chris Sushynski

St. Patrick the Cross-Cultural Saint

Patron of Ireland, Engineers, and Paralegals.

Patrick was born in Britain, but at 16, was captured by Irish raiders and enslaved.

For six years, he tended the flocks of his owner. During this time, he gained knowledge of Irish language and customs.

He escaped, returned to England and became a priest. He later returned to Ireland as a bishop. He used the clover leaf to explain the Trinity, and legend has it that there are no snakes in Ireland because he banished them

Patrick visited his former owner and compensated him for the loss of a slave. (It was Irish custom to compensate someone if you were responsible for the loss of his slave.) Patrick shows us that evangelization can happen through other’s cultural traditions. He died around 460 A.D.