Sunday, March 18, 2012

Q & A

Q and A
By Amy Gentry

Q: Why is the Shamrock associated with Saint Patrick’s Day?

A: The concept of One God in Three Persons was a foreign concept for the pagan society of an unbelieving Ireland.  A missionary to Ireland in the 6th century, Saint Patrick is said to have used the shamrock to teach the people of Ireland about the Christian doctrine of the Trinity.  To demonstrate, Saint Patrick would ask the spectators if the shamrock was made of one leaf or three.  The shamrock appears to be both - one leaf and three just as the trinity is a picture of One God and Three.  This demonstration was very successful among the Irish population and generations-upon-generations were enlightened through the teachings of Saint Patrick.

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