My wife and I were impressed this week by a docudrama of Patrick. I enjoyed seeing his true story portrayed, but I especially enjoyed some of the insight by the commentators.

For example, on Patrick's conversion, the narrator said:

In no case -- Moses, Paul, Patrick -- did this conversion come about as an act of choice. It is forcefully done to the converted man.

This was followed by Patrick's own description of his conversion:

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.

There were no punches pulled regarded the conflict that arose between Patrick and the British church. When Patrick didn't want to play by the rules of society, namely calling the nominal christianity of the rulers into question, the British church wanted to call him back to Britain. Patrick let them know in no uncertain terms they were not the One who had called him to Ireland in the first place.

The end of the documentary did discuss the many legends of Patrick (snakes and shamrocks) and then addressed the celebrations of St. Patrick's Day.

Regarding the parades, Frank McCourt, author of Angela's Ashes said, "If Patrick were to come back... he'd jump off the balcony and say, 'Stop! This is not what I was preaching at all. Disperse! Go home and pray and help the poor.'"