Saint Patrick
In honor of Saint Patrick’s day I read a book about the real man: Thomas Nelson’s Christian Encounters Saint Patrick by Jonathan Rogers. All my blogger friends check out Booksneeze.com, where you can get free books for reviewing them on your blog like I just did! I also review everything I read on Goodreads.
The Christian Encounters series aims to make Church History more accessible to a wider audience. This little book did just that. It includes lots of historical and factual information in a book that is easy to read and enjoy. I had read (the much weightier) How the Irish Saved Civilization and am fascinated by Saint Patrick. This book upfront tells you that not a whole lot is know about the man, and what we know comes from two letters written by Patrick (which wonderfully are included at the end of the book). Rogers fills in gaps with informed speculation (admittedly) and historical information. And he also includes lots of the myths and legends surrounding Patrick. I learned some new things; Patrick was not the first to bring Christianity to Ireland, there were already some British believers there; Patrick, though a bishop, was against the hierarchy and took his orders straight from God (which can be dangerous or earth changing). It shouldn’t be surprising, but I was, in how much scripture Patrick quoted in his letters and also how the faith has remained true over 2000 years. Patrick lived in the 400s but one could take his words as a modern day frontier missionary.
This book is great for anyone who is interested in Patrick. Because it is quick read, it would be a good choice for a student biography review. And it is a wonderful encouragement to keep listening and following God. Patrick gave up everything, except his faith, to return to the land of his former enslavement. God rewarded him for his zeal. His boldness and dedication to reaching the ends of the earth for Christ is amazing, and it makes me wonder, who will be the Patrick for some countries in our time!