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Beloved St. Patrick is not officially a saint after all

Church never canonized him but Facebook might

By
DARA KELLY,
IrishCentral.com Staff Writer
Published Sunday, January 30, 2011, 7:14 AM
Updated Sunday, January 30, 2011, 7:26 AM

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St. Patrick was never canonized a saint.


While millions around the world will celebrate St. Patrick's Day on March 17th, the sad fact is that Patrick has never been canonized by the Catholic Church and is a saint in name only.

As writer Ken Concannon stated: "There was no formal canonization process in the Church during its first millennium. In the early years of the Church the title saint was bestowed first upon martyrs, and then upon individuals recognized by tradition as being exceptionally holy during their lifetimes.

“Consequently these Irish saints, including St. Patrick, were never actually formally canonized -- save one. The exception was Fergal, also known as St. Virgil of Salzburg, an 8th century missionary scholar who was officially canonized in 1233 by Pope Gregory IX. Virgil is one of only four Irish saints to be canonized by Rome.

“There was no formal process for canonization in place when Patrick died. He was proclaimed a saint by popular acclaim, probably with the approval of a bishop. The official process for canonization did not come until about the 12th century."

Patrick was actually the grandson of a priest back when marriage for clerics was not frowned on. His genius was bringing together the old pagan traditions and the new religion together in harmony in Ireland in the 5th century.

Patrick was the first major figure to reject slavery and for that alone he deserves proper canonization.

Now there is a Facebook page dedicated to having him properly canonized. Check it out HERE.

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39 Comments

15 - 39 | See all comments

RthrBHistCorr | Mar 06, 2011, 02:53 PM EST
One again we have a load of bull spilled out by Irish Central in an effort to drive web hits. A little research and a little editorial oversight would show that this article is pure bunk, but then what do you expect from a reporter that thinks "Facebook" is a credible reference? I think I will create a facebook page proclaiming myself as Ard Ri, and then wait for this moron to bring me the crown.

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Irishphotograph | Feb 17, 2011, 07:59 PM EST
all believers in Jesus are considered saints in the eyes of our LORD.. Rom 1:7: To all who are in Rome, beloved of God, called to be saints:...One doesnt need the Roman church to decide!

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epbcddc | Feb 13, 2011, 11:20 PM EST
The debate over if and when the Catholic Church might have considered Patrick as a saint really doesn't make any difference as St. Patrick was never "Catholic" anyway. He was Orthodox, the only Christian church in existence at the time. It wasn't until approximately 1054 that the Roman Catholic Church came into separate existence, when the Bishop of Rome declared himself as the only "leader" of the Christian faith and excommunicated the other six or seven bishops who were his peers. In spite of this grave insult to the original Apostles who established the Orthodox Christian church, the Orthodox Church is still very healthy, with over one billion members all over the planet. Not to worry, though, we Orthodox Christians are very serious about our Saints and recognize Patrick as a Saint, taking special joy in his early Orthodox evangelization efforts in Ireland.

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patrickesq | Jan 31, 2011, 07:57 PM EST
i DO NOT THINK THE CHURCH NEEDS TO CONFIRM WHAT WE ALREADY KNOW!

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Woodkern | Jan 31, 2011, 05:54 PM EST
This is really an abysmally written piece, starting with the title. Yes, Patrick did not pass the canonisation process as we have come to know it. However, neither has the Mother of God, good St. Joseph, St. John the Baptist or any of the Apostles. Still no one would reasonably claim that they are "not officially saints after all". Only God makes Saints. The Church merely recognises them (and more often doesn't, as most are known only to God) in due course.

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AOHBard | Jan 31, 2011, 02:54 PM EST
When the body of St. Patrick was discovered at Downpatrick, Norman landowner de Courcy applied to Pope Urban III for permission to remove the sacred remains, to an honorable position within a church. According to the Catholic Encyclopedia, the removal of holy relics from one place to another was called a Translation. This was an official canonization in the days before the present ceremony was designed. It was a solemn event requiring an all-night vigil before moving the remains in a bier of gold or silver. The Pope sent a Cardinal Vivian with a commission to direct the undertaking. On June 9, 1186, no less than 15 Bishops, many abbots and high dignitaries and a great gathering of clergy and laity witnessed the official Translation of the relics of St. Patrick, St. Columcille, and St. Brigid, in Downpatrick. According to the account in the Royal Society of Antiquities of Ireland published in 1933, The ceremony was carried out with great pomp, some of the relics were enshrined and placed on the high Altar and some were brought back to Rome. This was as official a recognition of Sainthood as it got in those days Mike McCormack, AOH National Historian

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MikeRock | Jan 31, 2011, 10:13 AM EST
Is this the best that you can do? How about St. Matthew, St. Mark, St. Luke, St. John? Should we set up a Facebook page to have them canonized? Get a life!

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CitizenWhy | Jan 30, 2011, 11:30 PM EST
St. Patrick is the patron saint of Purgatory, so watch out. He's stoking up the fires just waiting for you. Actually, maybe not. Maybe he's made a deal with you-know-who, and you won't be going to Purgatory at all. ... By the way, St. Peter has never been officially canonized either.

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brondell | Jan 30, 2011, 09:23 PM EST
I'm truly sorry that your small addition to our knowledge of St. Patrick has served as a springboard for such a hash of ill considered opinion and prejudice.

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Squiredarling | Jan 30, 2011, 08:06 PM EST
Patrick is recognized in the Official Santorial calander of the Roman Catholic Church. 3/17 is a First Class Feast and a Holy Day of Obligation in Ireland. It is also a first class feast in the Archdiocese of New York. ceremony is not a factor. Faith is and Patrick IS a Saint in Heaven. Stop all your attemps to downgrade the wonderful tradition and belief of the Church and the Irish people.

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CitizenWhy | Jan 30, 2011, 07:22 PM EST
Take heart. St. Patrick is still the father of the Yoruba West African gods in the religion of Santeria/VooDoo/Macumba.

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belfastdanny | Jan 30, 2011, 07:21 PM EST
St Patrick it's said got rid of all the snakes in Ireland bullshit he got rid of most animals , there is no lions,tigers,monkeys ( except the drunks) kangaroo's ect only animal he could not get rid of was horses they where to fast for him to catch

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CitizenWhy | Jan 30, 2011, 07:21 PM EST
Portia777: The Irish, the ItaIians, and the Maltese are the only Western European peoples converted to Christianity through their own free will. Of course most practiced a form of Santeria for a few centuries.

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Paradigm | Jan 30, 2011, 06:58 PM EST
Only confusing you 'Oldboreen' - sure everyone know a saint and a prophet is ahead of his time !!! 1533 indeed !!

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teddybear | Jan 30, 2011, 06:48 PM EST
He will always be a St. to me.

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