Safe back home in Britain, Patrick probably thought he would never leave. But God had other plans. Today’s excerpt from Patrick: A Devotional History is found on page 40:
“When Patrick returned to his home in Britain, his family was so overjoyed that they made him swear he would never leave them again. He was all too ready to agree to their request.
“But his vow would be a foolish one, as God made clear. After some time at home, Patrick received [a second vision]. In a dream, Patrick saw a man he knew, named Victoricus, coming to visit him, bearing a handful of letters. The first one he read said, ‘The voice of the Irish.’ At the same time, he thought he could hear familiar voices, from people he had known in the west of Ireland in the wood of Foclut, where he had been a slave. It seemed to him that they were calling him to come and walk among them.
“This vision is interesting for several reasons. First, the name Victoricus is Latin and not Irish. We know that Christianity arrived in Ireland before Patrick. We also know that some of those working for the faith in Ireland had notable success. Ailbe of Emly, for example, is reported to have preached the Gospel faithfully and made many converts. It could be that Victoricus was a clergyman, perhaps one Patrick had known in the wood of Foclut.
“Next is the fact that Victoricus was bearing letters from the Irish. This is interesting because literacy was not widespread in Ireland and being able to read and write would not have been a skill that rural, rustic folk would have acquired. The letters therefore would have been as miraculous as the vision itself.
“Finally, the voices of the people in the wood of Foclut—voices Patrick seemed to recognize—would have left no doubt as to the purpose of the vision. Patrick was being called, by the Church and the Irish people, to come as a ‘holy servant boy’ and walk among them, that is, to live and work in their midst.”
For reflection or discussion
1. Paul says we all have a calling from the Lord. To what Kingdom work has God called you?
2. How do you prepare each day to undertake your calling?
God doesn’t call us like He did Patrick. We are called to His Kingdom and glory, as His Word tells us, and to serve Him in whatever everyday calling He may be pleased to assign us. When we are faithful in our everyday calling, God’s grace flows to others, just like it did through Patrick. Share today’s podcast with a friend, then get together to discuss the calling God has appointed to you. You can download a free PDF copy of our 30-day devotional, Patrick: A Devotional History, by going to The Ailbe Bookstore.
T. M. Moore
