Taken As A Slave

"Christ beside me, Christ before me,

Christ behind me, Christ within me,

Christ beneath me, Christ above me."

Saint Patrick

Imagine being sixteen years old, kidnapped, and taken to a foreign country as a slave to look after animals.  Think of all things familiar disappearing:  language, food, cultural practices, family or friends, and personal identity.  Think about this abduction lasting six years and the resulting emotional consequences. 

Now imagine being twenty-two and having the courage to escape captives.  It would require bravery and intricate plans to safely travel back to the home country to seek out family.   Perhaps solace is found by joining a religious order. What would inspire the once captive to return to the foreign land?  Imagine serving the population  to the degree of becoming Bishop.  What forgiveness, understanding, compassion and core values propelled this man's service, later to be revered as a patron saint?  

St Patrick's life was just like that.  Think of the resilience it took to bolster his inner spirit and create such an exemplary life.  Imagine how strong his faith was to overcome his physical boundaries and to unlock both his mental and spiritual dynamics.  His dedication to Christ consciousness allowed him to follow an inner calling that guided him far beyond expectation. A life to be celebrated by all.

(Wikipedia: Confessio of Patrick) When St Patrick was about 16, he was captured by Irish pirates from his home in Great Britain, and taken as a slave to Ireland, looking after animals, where he lived for six years before escaping and returning to his family. After becoming a cleric, he returned to northern and western Ireland.  He served as Bishop in later life.  He became revered as the patron saint of Ireland.