The Diocese of Little Rock, Arkansas, celebrated St. Patrick's Day Thursday by posting on social media about St. Patrick’s importance. St. Patrick is the patron saint of Ireland and is credited with bringing Christianity to the country.

“St. Patrick, pray for us!” the diocese posted Thursday on Facebook. “In about 432, Pope Celestine I consecrated Patrick as a bishop and sent him to Ireland. For nearly 30 years, he preached tirelessly, made countless converts and founded monasteries.” 

St. Patrick was born to a wealthy British family, a history.com report says. At 16, Patrick was captured by Irish raiders who took him to Ireland. He was a slave for six years, often working in isolation as a shepherd. In his loneliness, he often turned to his faith for strength. Eventually God came to him in a dream, telling him that it was time to escape and return to Britain. Patrick is believed to have walked around 200 miles on his journey to fulfill God’s request. Later, God instructed him to go back to Ireland to serve as a missionary.

Franciscan Media says the Ireland of the time was largely pagan, but that didn’t deter Patrick. He once had a dream that showed all the children of Ireland reaching out their hands to him. Although he had to contend with opposition from some of the pagans, Patrick converted many people to Christianity. In his work, he ordained priests, founded monasteries and established dioceses. Patrick is the patron saint of Ireland and of engineers. 

Many myths and legends surround St. Patrick. One popular one is that he drove all the snakes out of Ireland, Britannica says. He is also said to have raised 33 people from the dead. In his teaching, he used shamrocks - the native flower of Ireland - to explain the concept of the Holy Trinity.

St. Patrick describes his life and ministry, including his work to convert the Irish people, in his short testimony, “Confessions,” the diocese’s online post says.