Between wearing green so not to get pinched and putting food dye in beer, the actual feast day has gotten lost in an ever growing list of secular traditions. Today, the real St. Patrick has taken a back seat to leprechauns. If you are curious about the Saint behind the day, here are some well known quotes from St. Patrick so you may get to know him a little better:"Before I was humiliated I was like a stone that lies in deep mud, and he who is mighty came and in his compassion raised me up and exalted me very high and placed me on the top of the wall."
"Christ beside me, Christ before me, Christ behind me, Christ within me, Christ beneath me, Christ above me."
"I am Patrick, a sinner, most uncultivated and least of all the faithful and despised in the eyes of many."
"If I have any worth, it is to live my life for God so as to teach these peoples; even though some of them still look down on me."
"No one should ever say that it was my ignorance if I did or showed forth anything however small according to God's good pleasure; but let this be your conclusion and let it so be thought, that - as is the perfect truth - it was the gift of God."
"That which I have set out in Latin is not my words but the words of God and of apostles and prophets, who of course have never lied. He who believes shall be saved, but he who does not believe shall be damned. God has spoken."
"The Lord opened the understanding of my unbelieving heart, so that I should recall my sins."
If you would like to learn more about Saint Patrick's life, go to: http://www.catholicadventure.com/2010/03/facts-about-st-patricks-day-and-real-st.html