Patrick and the Fire: A Legend about Saint Patrick

Join Bevan as he meets St. Patrick and learns about the Holy Trinity, shamrocks, and the unquenchable fire! How Bevan longs for the festival of the fire-a night of celebration honoring Balor, the god of light! Bevan knows when the huge bonfire is lit, he will forget all about his boring life as a goatherd and dance and jump with his friends. Bevan’s daydreams about the party are interrupted by an oddly dressed stranger named Patrick. Patrick begs Bevan to take him to the king so that Patrick can tell him about the God he worships-one God in three persons (Father, Son, and Holy Spirit). When Patrick learns the fire and the festival are to take place that night, he boldly decides to light a fire to rival the king’s. Bevan is afraid of what will happen, but Patrick says, “Christ with me. Christ before me. Christ behind me. Christ on my right and on my left.” Bevan runs away in fright but soon returns when he sees that Patrick has indeed followed through with his plan. Bevan races to outrun the soldiers sent to capture Patrick and put out the fire. Patrick’s faith keeps the fire burning-even when the soldiers try to douse it! The king is intrigued by Patrick and his fire. He grants Patrick permission to preach about God to the people after Patrick uses a shamrock to show the king how God is one God in three persons. About the Author and Illustrator Cornelia Mary Bilinsky was born and raised in Manitoba, Canada. She received her BA in English and theology from St. Paul’s College at the University of Manitoba. Cornelia’s husband is a Ukrainian Catholic priest and they reside in Oshawa, Ontario. Maggie Coburn loves drawing and storytelling. She has a BA in anthropology from UC Santa Cruz (where she discovered scientific illustration) and an MFA in traditional illustration from the Academy of Art University in San Francisco.