CHRISTIANS around the world, especially those in Ireland, will celebrate today, March 17, the life, words and deeds of Saint Patrick, a great man of courage and action who embodied the true Christian faith. Although he is the apostle and patron saint of Ireland, Patrick was not even Irish. Born in Roman Britain, Patrick was kidnapped by pagan human traffickers around 410 and brought to Ireland as a slave and was forced to guard cattle and goats. He was only 16 then.

He eventually learned to speak Irish and after six years of slavery, he escaped, traveled from the country's north to its south, and made his way to continental Europe by boat, likely working for his passage. From there, he returned to Britain. That was a brave journey to freedom for a 22-year-old.