According to Irish lore regarding St. Patrick he was actually born in Wales around 385 A.D. and given the name Maewyn. As a youth he was far from being a saint and actually considered himself to be a pagan. Around the age of 16 he was kidnapped by pirates who raided his village and sold into slavery in Ireland where he was forced to work as a shepherd. It was during his captivity of about 6 years that he became closer to God. It is said that he had a vision that directed him to a ship which allowed him to escape to France where he then studied to be a priest under St
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