The Perseverance of Patrick

Patrick showed remarkable capability to persevere. No doubt this was fuelled by his commitment to prayer and devotion to God. He faced incredible odds and opposition to what he felt called to do. The Confession containing much insight o the life of the saint was primarily a document defending his ministry and calling. Patrick describes the accusations brought against him in terms of an ‘attack’! Obviously there was an element in the church in Britain who had always opposed him and was determined to destroy him; Patrick says that they had to go back some thirty years to find something to discredit him.

He had to contend with his family and friends dissuading him from ever leaving again, ‘And again after a few years I was in Britain with my people. who received me as their son, and sincerely besought me that now at last, having suffered so many hardships, I should not leave them and go elsewhere.’

Patrick’s mission to Ireland was full of danger; I suppose his first experience in Ireland helped prepare him for this. In The Confession he records, ‘Let me tell you briefly how the merciful God often freed me from slavery and from twelve dangers in which my life was at stake---not to mention numerous plots, which I cannot express in words; for I do not want to bore my readers.’ He wasn’t afraid of what could harm him, he had a single minded devotion to his call and a belief that God would protect him.

Patrick was prepared to give his life in the cause of his mission, ‘And if ever I have done any good for my God whom I love, I beg Him to grant me that I may shed my blood with those exiles and captives for His name, even though I should be denied a grave, or my body be woefully torn to pieces limb by limb by hounds or wild beasts, or the fowls of the air devour it. I am firmly convinced that if this should happen to me, I would have gained my soul together with my body, because on that day without doubt we shall rise in the brightness of the sun, that is, in the glory of Christ Jesus our Redeemer, as sons of the living God and joint heirs with Christ, to be made conformable to His image; for of Him, and by Him, and in Him we shall reign.’

Patrick’s desire was to remain faithful until the end of his ministry, we learn of the keys to how he persevered, - prayer and a profound reliance on God, ‘But what can I say or what can I promise to my Lord, as I can do nothing that He has not given me? I pray to God to give me perseverance and to deign that I be a faithful witness to Him to the end of my life for my God.’