Abstract
It is difficult to retrace the life of Saint Patrick, because no one is sure of the exactness of the events. Indeed, the punctuality of the facts is mixed up by a lot of legends. The historical marks are not sure and it is difficult to extract the reality of the facts. This is why it is said about Saint Patrick, what it is quite sure about him: Maewyn Succat (he adopted Patrick upon becoming a priest) was born in Scotland (in the Clyde Valley, near Dumbarton) between 385 and 390 (it is not sure, other documents tell us that he was born in 377, or 415). His parents were Calphurnius and Conchessa, who were Romans living in Britain. When he was sixteen years old, Irish pirates, under their leader, Niall of the Nine Hostages, abducted him. He was taken to Ireland, where he stayed as a slave during six years. He was working for a druid; he was a shepherd on the slopes of Slemish Mountain in Country Antrim, in Ulster. During this time, he prayed to the Christian God while captive in a pagan land. After six years, an angel came to him in a dream, prompting him to escape and seek out his homeland. After travelling for more than 200 miles by foot, he travelled eventually on a boat, across the Irish Sea. His first destination was Britain but he settled in Gaul and became a very religious person. He trained as a monk during twenty years in Marmoutier Abbey, and took the name of Patrick.
