Book Review: Saint Patrick Christian Encounters Series

“Saint Patrick’s Day” probably conjures up images of leprechauns, four leafed clovers and a pot of gold at the end of a rainbow. But March 17 is declared a holiday for more reasons than just wearing green to avoid being pinched.

Jonathan Rogers separates fact from fiction about the legendary saint in his biography that is part of the Christian Encounters Series by Thomas Nelson Publishers. I have to admit, before reading this book, I knew relatively nothing of Saint Patrick. So I was glad to learn about the Saint we celebrate in March. He was kidnapped as a teenager and escaped home as a young adult only to return to the home of his captures to preach God’s words and baptize the people of that nation. He was probably the first foreign missionary.

This book was a quick read and I was surprised by how much I could learn in such few pages. The inclusions of the writings of Saint Patrick himself were especially interesting.

Book Description Given by booksneeze.com
Christian Encounters, a series of biographies from Thomas Nelson Publishers, highlights important lives from all ages and areas of the Church. Some are familiar faces. Others are unexpected guests. But all, through their relationships, struggles, prayers, and desires, uniquely illuminate our shared experience.
At age 14, he was captured from his homeland of Scotland by Irish marauders and taken as a slave to Ireland , where he lived for six years tending his master's flocks. In his early twenties, he fled over 200 miles and escaped by ship, returning to his family. By the eighth century, he had come to be revered as the patron saint of Ireland . What did he experience during his years of slavery that proved invaluable to this man who became a revered missionary who “baptised thousands of people,” converted sons of kings, and led wealthy women to become nuns? Learn about the sustaining faith of St. Patrick in this Christian Encounters biography.

Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from Thomas Nelson Publishers as part of their BookSneeze.com book review bloggers program. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255 “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”