Lenten Campaign 2025
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One unique aspect of St. Patrick's ministry was his ability to bring Christianity to the Emerald Isle without having to die a martyr's death.
In reading the lives of the saints, often a trailblazing disciple of Jesus Christ will bring the Gospel to a region, but those in power will quickly strike them down.
In St. Patrick's case, he died of old age and was not killed by any of the leaders in Ireland.
However, that doesn't mean there wasn't opposition or even blood spilled. St. Patrick's Letter to the soldiers of Coroticus clearly shows that many of his own disciples were killed for their faith.
Soldiers of Coroticus
In his letter, St. Patrick condemns the actions of the soldiers under Coroticus' rule:
With my own hand I have written and put together these words to be given and handed on and sent to the soldiers of Coroticus. I cannot say that they are my fellow-citizens, nor fellow-citizens of the saints of Rome, but fellow-citizens of demons, because of their evil works. By their hostile ways they live in death, allies of the apostate Scots and Picts. They are blood-stained: blood-stained with the blood of innocent Christians, whose numbers I have given birth to in God and confirmed in Christ.
It appears from his letter that pagan soldiers in Ireland killed many newly baptized Christians and captured both men and women.
St. Patrick appeals to these soldiers, begging them to have mercy and to change their ways. He does not mince words either, proclaiming that their evil doing will profit them a dangerous reward:
The angel of death will drag such a one away, to be crushed by the anger of dragons. Such a one will the tongue of a serpent slay, and the fire which cannot be extinguished will consume.
He concludes his letter by imploring that his message will be heard by all and that those who committed the evil deeds would turn their hearts to God:
[L]et it be read before all the people, especially in the presence of Coroticus himself. If this takes place, God may inspire them to come back to their right senses before God.
St. Patrick's ministry in Ireland was not easy, and while his life was spared, he suffered much seeing his newly baptized Christians killed by others.
We don't know much of what happened next, besides the reality that the people of Ireland embraced the Christian faith, establishing it as the "land of saints and scholars."
