Patrick was born in 385 into a Christian-Romano-British family. His first encounter with Ireland was as a slave after he was captured by raiders at the age of sixteen where he had to tend sheep. Having escaped from slavery he chose to enter the priesthood and probably studied in Gaul. Around 432 he returned to Ireland as a missionary bishop and succeeded in consolidating the faith in large parts of the country. He died at Down in 461. – CTS New Daily Roman Missal 2012, p 2599; Christian Prayer 1990, p 1092.
