If you escaped enslavement, would you ever return to convert your captors?

[lightbulb27]

That is the story of St. Patrick. The day is not about wearing green, green beer, or corned beef. It's about St. Patrick day he died and before that, gave his life to travel Ireland bringing the people to Christianity that had formerly kidnapped and enslaved them.

They are thankful for him and so a holiday is made.

Knowing that, you can drink some green tea if you like and eat a snake galbladder. (Note he is rumored to have cast the snakes out of Ireland... although no snakes ever dwelled there.

@midnightmoon05

[Lliam]

The popular narrative of St. Patrick as the singular, first bringer of Christianity to Ireland is considered inaccurate.

Records suggest saints like Declan, Ciarán and Piran came before Patrick.
St. Declan, St. Ciarán (Kieran of Saighir), and St. Piran are considered pre-Patrician saints, meaning they brought Christianity to Ireland and the surrounding region before the arrival of St. Patrick in 432 AD. These figures represent the early "Celtic Rite" church that existed before Roman influence fully integrated with Ireland.

Pope St. Celestine I commissioned St. Patrick to preach the gospel in Ireland, strengthening the mission around 431–432 AD.
Patrick was consecrated as a bishop before returning to convert the Irish, with the Pope providing authority and blessings for this missionary effort.

When I visited Ireland in 1988, an aunt wanted me to bring her some holy water. I asked around at a few places and finally some women at a historic site said there was a place called St. Declan's Well down the street in a cow pasture.
We found it and I walked down a couple steps, leaned down, and filled an empty soda bottle. The water was actually green! (algea). How appropriate.

When we got home, I had a priest bless it, then I poured it into plastic "holy water" bottles.
I sent one to my aunt. She was jazzed. I gave one to my mom and kept one.

I later looked up St. Declan and learned more about early Irish Christianity.

[AviatorTom]

Not very likely. I'd be enjoying my freedom.

[purplepoppy]

Thing you have to remember is we kinda went Christianity crazy back then. The celtic world churned out saints by the bucket load. You couldn't throw a stick without hitting one.

Another thing is the Irish get unfairly demonised here. Yes their were Irish pirates raiding Briton but there was legitimate trade between the two. Patrick may have preached in Ireland but paganism had long been on the decline. Iets not forget the celts were the civilised educated ones back then.

So would I go back to convert? Nah just to give them a piece of my mind.

[Anonymous]

Just listened to the woke president of Ireland use St Patrick's day to preach about diversity and mass uncontrolled immigration. Not once did she refer to Saint Patrick as a saint, just Patrick. Seems we can't even be irish on st Patrick's day and Christianity is a dirty word.

[lightbulb27]

that's really messed up...

[exitseven]

I would return but not to convert my captors. It would involve automatic weapons and a flame thrower.

[Agape93]

Nope. I'd come back to kill them. Why would I want slavery in my religion?

[FreyaRed]

Yes, to convert them in unliving ones.

[KostasKouvalis]

No way! Conversion is not that easy

[slatyb]

I'm not religious.