Deacon Patrick McDonald of the Diocese of Lansing celebrated St. Patrick's Day Thursday by asking on Facebook, "Through the inspiration of St. Patrick, give me guidance and health to do your Holy will." 

St. Patrick is the patron saint of Ireland and is credited with bringing Christianity to that country.

"No wonder the reassuring lilt of Irish laughter and joy is so infectious," McDonald said in the post. "May St. Patrick be our hero of the day, and every day."

St. Patrick was born to a financially well-off British family, a history.com report said this week. At 16, Irish raiders captured him and carried him off to Ireland. Patrick spent six years in slavery, often working in isolation as a shepherd. The loneliness drove him to often turn to his faith for strength. One day, God came to him in a dream, telling him that it was time to escape and go back to Britain. Patrick is said to have walked 200 miles to fulfill God's mandate. Later, God instructed him to go back to Ireland to serve as a missionary.

A report on Franciscan Media describes Ireland as largely pagan at that time, but Patrick didn't give up his missionary work. He had a dream that showed all the children of Ireland reaching out their hands to him, and he was determined to provide them with the tools for salvation. Amid opposition from some of the pagans, Patrick converted many people to Christianity. His accomplishments included ordaining priests, founding monasteries and establishing dioceses. 

St. Patrick is associated with many myths and legends, including one that purports he drove all the snakes out of Ireland, a Britannica report said. 

St. Patrick is also said to have raised 33 people from the dead. In his teaching work, he used shamrocks—the native flower of Ireland—to explain the concept of the Holy Trinity.