Bishop and Missionary · Remembered on March 17
St. Patrick
St. Patrick is remembered on March 17 in Bless’s calendar of saints. Traditionally invoked as patron of Ireland and engineers. Below: a short life and 1 sourced quotation in their own words.
| Remembered on | March 17 |
|---|---|
| Title | Bishop and Missionary |
| Died | c. 461 |
| Patron of | Ireland, engineers |
| In their own words | 1 sourced quotation · 1 attributed saying (source unconfirmed) |
| Next on Bless’s Today screen | None left in the published calendar (through December 31, 2028) |
Life
A Roman Briton kidnapped at sixteen by Irish raiders and enslaved six years as a herdsman, where the boy who had ignored God learned to pray a hundred times a day. A voice in a dream led him to a ship and home — and then, in another dream, the voice of the Irish called him back.
Ordained and consecrated, he returned to his captors’ island and spent thirty years crossing it, confronting kings and druids, baptizing thousands, planting churches and monasteries. His Confession, written in rough soldier’s Latin, is one long act of gratitude from ‘Patrick, a sinner.’
Patron of
Tradition invokes St. Patrick as patron of Ireland and engineers.
Saints with the same patronage
- St. Brigid of KildareIreland · February 1
Patronages are traditional, not an official list. All patron saints in Bless, A to Z.
In their own words
Each quotation names the work it comes from. Bless quotes these in the comments beside the verses listed under In Scripture.
I am Patrick, a sinner, most unlearned, the least of all the faithful, and utterly despised by many.
Attributed, source unconfirmed
These sayings circulate under the saint’s name, but no source has been confirmed. Bless shows them with that label.
Christ with me, Christ before me, Christ behind me, Christ in me, Christ beneath me, Christ above me, Christ on my right, Christ on my left.
In Scripture
In Bless, St. Patrick’s words appear in the comments beside these verses. This page’s labels say how each is linked: “on this verse” means the saint wrote about that very verse; “on this theme” means the quotation shares its theme. Scripture is quoted from the Catholic Public Domain Version.
On this theme · source unconfirmed
And let them sing in accordance with the ways of the Lord. For great is the glory of the Lord.
Psalm 137:5 · CPDV Beside their words: “Christ with me, Christ before me, Christ behind me, Christ in me, Christ beneath me…”
On this theme
For I am the least of the Apostles. I am not worthy to be called an Apostle, because I persecuted the Church of God. But, by the grace of God, I am what I am. And his grace in me has not been empty, since I have labored more abundantly than all of them. Yet it is not I, but the grace of God within me.
1 Corinthians 15:9–10 · CPDV Beside their words: “I am Patrick, a sinner, most unlearned, the least of all the faithful, and utterly…”
In the calendar
The upcoming dates, through December 31, 2028, when Bless’s Today screen shows St. Patrick. Where the US calendar keeps another celebration that day, it is named instead and no rank is given.
Readings
No dates are left in Bless’s published calendar, which runs through December 31, 2028. St. Patrick keeps March 17 in Bless’s calendar of saints: see the saints of March.
All the saints of March Born on March 17? A saint for every day
Spotted a mistake in a date, a patronage or a quotation? Report an error and we’ll fix it in the app and here.