St. Patrick of Ireland by Philip Freeman

I finished reading St. Patrick of Ireland for the second time yesterday. I really love this book.

It's odd to me how the writer is so grotesque in his description of the barbaric antcient Irish compared to many other books I've read on this subject. Most authors seem to look down upon the ideas of the Irish being canables, making ritual blood sacrifices and such, but the descriptions of such traditions of the Irish recorded in this book really stick out to me like soar thumb. Looking past this veiwpoint however I love the way the author looks into the man of St. Patrick by analyzing his surviving two letters along with the age he lived in.

To me this book is so full of light, telling the story of a man who was enslaved at a young age, found God while in servitiude in a pasture of sheep on an Irish hillside, was then sent on a journey home directed and protected by God, and ultimatley called by God to return to the Island of his enslavement to free the barbaric Irish through the redeeming power of Christ. The entire book is filled with great historical information not only about St. Patrick but about Britian, the Roman empire, the Irish, and the church.

From an evangelical Christians veiwpoint it seemed like the author, although relaying Patricks relationship with God, in terms of God speaking to him in dreams, and warning him of coming danger in the future, didn't necessarily believe God was truley behind these dreams and visions. I liked how the author wrote, in my opinion, so skeptically of Patricks encounters with God. The simple telling of the story, with no convincing of it's validity involved, made it seem very raw and real. I could imagine for myself the reality of Patrick waking from a dream in which God spoke to him. I could imagine for myself the enemny seizing Patrick and imobilzing him. I could imagine for myself the aboslute faith and the beautiful relationship Patrick must have had with God. I think the story is beautiful and reassuring of God's unchanging nature.

I tend to look at the time of Patrick as very unspiritual. I always imagine that the monks and bishops of the Catholic church were very religious and although I don't doubt they had faith in God and somewhat of a relationship with Him I never imagine such an intense beatiful spirit filled relationship as that which is relayed in this book. It's encouraging, enlightening, and confirming of the unchanging nature of God. It makes me admire the evangelists of Patricks age. It paints a beautiful picture of the gospel of Christ coming to Ireland. It's a great true story and I feel the author does and excellent non bias job of telling it. I really love this book.