Category: History

Did You Know?

St. Patrick wasn’t actually Irish
Despite being the patron saint of Ireland, St. Patrick was born in Britain in either Scotland or Wales (accounts tend to vary on this point). His parents, Calpurnius and Conchessa, were both Roman citizens and his mother gave birth to him in 385 AD.

Slavery was what brought St. Patrick to Ireland
As a teenager, St Patrick was kidnapped by a pirate raiding party and sold into slavery in Ireland. As a slave, he looked after and herded sheep for many years before fleeing to a monastery in England. While there, he became a devout follower of Christianity and ordained a Bishop, after which he returned to Ireland as a missionary.

The shamrock as an Irish symbol is said to have been popularized by St. Patrick
As stories go, St. Patrick supposedly used the iconic shamrock to explain the Holy Trinity while preaching. With each leaf representing Christianity’s Holy Father, Son and Holy Spirit, it was a symbol that showed how they could be three different spiritual entities and yet all part of the whole.

St. Patrick actually wore blue, not green
Although everyone is expected to wear green on St. Patrick’s Day, all surviving artworks of St. Patrick show him wearing blue robes. It’s the reason why through the years, flags, sports uniforms and coat-of-arms featured the color. As time progressed, green as a national color grew in favor particularly in the 17th century.

St. Patrick probably didn’t drive all the snakes out of Ireland
One of the most popular myths about the Irish saint is that he rid the country of snakes, however modern science has since ruined that belief for everyone. As Ireland has always been an incredibly cold country, scientists have said that it’s highly unlikely that there were any snakes to begin with and there are no fossils to disprove this theory.

Patrick was not St. Patrick’s given name
St. Patrick’s given name was Maewyn Succat. It wasn’t until he became a priest that he adopted a new name – Patrick, after Patricius (which relates to the Latin root meaning father).

IS 9:1-6
The people who walked in darkness
have seen a great light;
upon those who dwelt in the land of gloom
a light has shone.
You have brought them abundant joy
and great rejoicing,
as they rejoice before you as at the harvest,
as people make merry when dividing spoils.
For the yoke that burdened them,
the pole on their shoulder,
and the rod of their taskmaster
you have smashed, as on the day of Midian.
For every boot that tramped in battle,
every cloak rolled in blood,
will be burned as fuel for flames.

For a child is born to us, a son is given us;
upon his shoulder dominion rests.
They name him Wonder-Counselor, God-Hero,
Father-Forever, Prince of Peace.
His dominion is vast
and forever peaceful,
from David’s throne, and over his kingdom,
which he confirms and sustains
by judgment and justice,
both now and forever.
The zeal of the LORD of hosts will do this!

Today is the last Sunday of Advent. The last candle to be lit is referred to as the Peace Candle.

Traditional Advent calendars were made of paper and imported from Germany. The boxes for the days of the season were shaped like windows and one was opened on every day of Advent. The numbers for each day were placed arbitrarily so that part of the fun was finding the appropriate day. The windows opened either onto religious scenes or images of toys, musical instruments or sweets.

On the third Sunday of Advent the joy candle, the only pink one, is lit. Many times it is also referred to as the Shepherd Candle.

In the United States, the Christmas tree became common in the early 19th century. Several cities with German connections lay claim to the first public American Christmas tree: Windsor Locks, Connecticut maintains that the Hessian soldier Hendrick Roddemore, who was captured after the Battle of Bennington, put up a Christmas tree there in 1777, while a POW there. Other claims are made by Easton, Pennsylvania (1816) and Lancaster, Pennsylvania (1821).

On the second Sunday of Advent the faith candle, also a purple one, is lit. Many times it is referred to as the Prophecy Candle or the Candle of Preparation.

It is believed the first Advent wreath dates to 1839 and was the idea of Johann Hinrich Wichern (1808-1881), a Protestant pastor in Hamburg and a pioneer in urban mission work among the poor.

It’s not known when Advent was first celebrated, but it has certainly existed since the days of the early church. According to the historian/bishop St. Gregory of Tours, the celebration of Advent was in existence in the 5th century when the Bishop Perpetuus of Tours, who died in 490, ordered the faithful to fast three times a week from St. Martin’s Day, November 11th until Christmas Day.

Today’s traditions during Advent are both religious and secular. Some originated as religious and have become less so, and most began in Lutheran areas of Germany. These traditions included praying an Advent themed daily devotional (a book of Bible verses and prayers for each day of the season), lighting an Advent wreath, lighting a Christingle, performing seasonal music, keeping an advent calendar, and of course, erecting a Christmas tree.

The Risen Christ – Ambrogio De Stefano Borgognone, 1510

May you rejoice and be glad this Easter Sunday!

1 Peter 1:3: “Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! In his great mercy he has given us new birth into a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead.”

Bernardo Gatti – Crucifixion: late 15th to mid 16th century.