The table is decked out in green today in honor of St. Patrick, patron saint of Ireland. Patrick was born in Britain and taken as a slave to Ireland by Irish pirates. While in captivity, he cried out to God for help and discovered his faith. After 6 years of servitude, he was able to escape. He suffered many hardships, but he finally made it home, and he would have happily stayed there. But one night he had a dream in which the children of Ireland called out to him, begging him to come and tell them about Christ. Patrick decided to return. Some of the stories about Patrick's missionary work in Ireland might be the stuff of legends, but the impact of his work is not. He devoted his life to serving God, and within a century the Gospel had spread across Ireland and even beyond its borders. Happy St. Patrick's Day everyone!
