A Pet For Pat

by Nathan Wilson, Jen Ruch (Illustrator)

This is the second of thirty-one readers used in the Veritas Press Phonics Museum program. Patrick (c. 389-461), the patron saint of Ireland, was born Maewyn Succat in Roman-era Britain and sold into slavery in Ireland at age 16. He escaped several years later but returned in 432 as an ordained bishop, determined to convert the Irish to Christianity. He made important converts among the royal families, developed a native clergy, fostered the growth of monasticism, established dioceses, and held church councils. This book shows him with his little bell -- still on display in Ireland -- that he held in his hand when he summoned his congregation in Ireland over fifteen hundred years ago. He is also illustrated teaching about the Trinity by using a shamrock, which is a myth like the one of him banishing the snakes from Ireland. There were never any snakes in Ireland. That story actually is Norse in origin, and comes from a misunderstanding about the meaning of his name. The account of him driving the snakes from the island is probably a reference to putting an end to old pagan religions where serpent symbols were common, and possibly even worshiped. It is here that our story begins, with Saint Patrick preaching the Gospel to the Irish then banning the old pagan religions. When the fishing village wants to give a gift to Patrick, they don't want Patrick to have a snake for a pet because they think the snake is evil due to its use in the old religion. Patrick affirms the good of all of God's creation and embraces the snake as his new pet

31 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 2000

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