Saint, Slave or Scholar? Patrick of Ireland is known as all three but who is he really? Let K.C. Murdarasi bring to light the real life of this father of the Christian faith. Kidnapped from his home and family as a young boy you would think forgiveness would have been far from his mind. Yet with God's grace Patrick returned to the land of his captivity where he preached the Good News of Jesus Christ to slaves and kings alike and left a legacy of faith that would last for centuries.
Born in Glasgow, Karen Murdarasi spent a number of years in England before returning to Scotland to study. She earned a first in Ancient History from the University of St Andrews and then studied Theology as preparation for becoming a missionary.
She served as missionary in various parts of Albania for four years. Her first novel, Leda, is informed by her experiences in Albania.
Karen has been writing professionally since 2007, and combines it with her 'day job' as an Albanian interpreter. She loves Interrailing and hanging out with her pet budgies.
Patrick was the first Christian missionary to Ireland in the 5th century AD. He is the patron saint of Ireland and he is celebrated every year on St Patrick’s Day. This book is part of a series called Trailblazers.
Patrick of Ireland: The Boy Who Forgave is a great biography about Saint Patrick. It presents the life of this man from boyhood through old age, and how and what he did to bring faith to the people of Ireland. There were many facts I had never known that were presented in this biography which is highly readable (and listenable as an audio) that holds your interest, is informative, entertaining, and faith building. I really enjoyed this book. I recommend it for public libraries YA/Juvenile biographies, church biographies, and general biographies. It is a good book.
An excellent version of the life of Patrick. It was good to have the legends stripped out, and to have returned to the source texts. A beautiful story of faith and sacrifice for Jesus, and how one man and his colleagues unashamed for the goodish can change a nation. Read with my daughter as part of her home school curriculum. We interchanged the person who read the narrative and the person who read the characters which was fun. Recommend. Good reflective questions at the end.
An honest and God glorifying look at the life of a man who could have let bitterness consume him, or at the very least, could have “retired” to enjoy his rescue from slavery. Instead, knowing he was undeserving, he shared this grace with those who had wronged him. In the process, God transformed a nation.
Great book. Learnt a lot. Things to be aware of that could confuse some children: Baptism in this book is making the sign of the cross with oil on the head. Priests, bishops etc. God speaking directly in dreams and visions.
This series is more about moral training than history. I see a place for this kind of work for children. But for most adults it will feel very superficial. It basically takes the main events of a historical figure and then fills out the unknown stuff with morals. Again, not that adults don't need morals, but I think they are so explicitly laid out, it will annoy most adults. It isn't winsome. It's true stuff but not winsome.