St. Patrick was born in Britain. When he turned 16, he was sold into slavery in Ireland. During his 6 years as a herdsman, he turned his life to fervent prayer and faith in God. He dreamt of a ship taking him away from his imprisonment, so he decided to run away and found a passage to Britain. He faced another brief captivity before being returned to his family. 

His faith in God led him to baptize and confirm believers with untiring zeal. He lived in constant danger of becoming a martyr. Apparently an angel had come to him telling him that he would die in Sual’. He eventually resided there until his last breath.

St Patrick is one of the most popular saints in Western Christendom. He is the Patron Saint of Ireland. In  iconography, St. Patrick is most often seen in the miter and vestments of a bishop carrying a bishop’s crozier and a shamrock. It is said that he used the shamrock as a teaching aid when preaching on the Trinity.

His feast day on March 17 is celebrated with singing, parades, and dancing. It is important to remember St Patrick as a saint who knew all the trials of life on a painful journey. He is a saint who understands our trials as we walk with Jesus and one another, and is a willing intercessor on our behalf.

Facts:

1. The real St. Patrick was born in Britain 
2. Though he is pictured with snakes, there were actually no snakes around during his time
3. Leprechauns are based on Celtic Fairies 
4. The Shamrock was considered a sacred plant 
5. The first St.Patrick’s day was held in America 
6. The Irish were once scorned in America 
7. Corned beef and cabbage was an American innovation 

St.Patrick’s Day Treat : MINT OREO M&M’s BROOKIES

Ingredients:

• 1 stick of butter (cooled)
• 1 egg
• 1 box Betty Crocker fudge brownie mix
• 12 Oreo thins chocolate mint crème sandwich cookies 
• 1 ¼ cups M&m’s milk chocolate candies 
• 1 pouch of Betty Crocker Sugar Cookie mix

Directions:

• Heat oven to 350°F. Line a 9-inch square pan with foil, allowing foil to hang over the sides of the pan for easy removal after baking. Spray with cooking spray.
• Make brownie batter as directed on the box. Spread in pan. Bake for 32 to 35 minutes or until brownies are set around the sides and the toothpick inserted in the center of brownies comes out almost clean. Cool in pan for 10 minutes.
• Meanwhile, in a medium bowl, make cookie dough as directed on the pouch for drop cookies. Stir in 1 cup of the candies. Drop half of the cookie dough mixture in chunks on top of the baked brownie layer; add half of the Oreo™ pieces. Repeat with remaining cookie dough and Oreo™ pieces. With the back of a spoon or offset metal spatula, gently press cookie dough together to form an even layer. Top with remaining 1/4 cup candies, pressing gently into cookie dough.
• Bake for 23 to 28 minutes or until a cookie layer is set, covering with foil last 10 minutes if necessary to prevent overbrowning. Cool at least 2 1/2 hours; remove bars from pan, and cut into 4 rows by 4 rows.