In Podcasts, The Inner Life

St. Patrick – The Inner Life – March 17, 2026

Patrick Conleyby Patrick Conley

Father Joseph Illo joins Patrick to discuss St. Patrick’s Day

  • (3:33) who was Saint Patrick?
  • (13:26) Sylvia – I heard St. Patrick raised people from the dead. Is that true?

(18:53) Break 1

  • (20:29) Natalia – Origins…I wondered if father is familiar with How the Irish Saved Civilization. There’s a discrepancy as to where St. Patrick was born. I think he was Roman and living in North Africa…I believe in Carthage when he was captured by the Irish and taken to Ireland.
  • (26:38) Patricia – Could Patricia be synonymous with St. Patrick because there is no St. Patricia. I look at Catholic names…most of my kids have Catholic names.
  • Carmen – My grandfather was Irish and American Indian. One tradition we had was about getting the family together and my mom would make a pot of Irish stew and dad would make corned beef and cabbage. I haven’t heard anybody mention that. We have an Irish population in Hawaii. On St. Patrick’s Day, they go all out with festivities.
  • Drinking problems in Ireland, especially around St. Patrick’s Day.

(37:18) Break 2

  • (39:11) Dr. Gerard – Thanks to my priest who gave me sacraments and communion. They came from Ireland to India. I’m now a cardiologist for the last 35 years. in US. Very thankful for St. Patrick.
  • John – Could you comment on St. Patrick’s prayer. Christ before me, behind me, etc. How could he survive in that environment? He had Christ present with him and it made him so powerful. This is what made people take heed of it. So many Irish hear…after the famine. People had to pay 7 pounds to live there or pay 4 pounds to come to America.
  • (45:30) Cassidy – He’s my patron saint and confirmation saint. How can I incorporate the life of St. Patrick during the feast with my family and share that with them?

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Patrick Conley

Patrick Conley

Patrick Conley was born, raised, and baptized in Wisconsin in a Protestant tradition. After meeting his wife, Kendra, through an Evangelical ministry at the University of Minnesota, they entered the Catholic Church in 2010. They listened to Relevant Radio, specifically The Inner Life, while preparing to enter the Church. Conley now holds a degree in theology from Oxford University and has served the Church in both academic theology and grassroots pastoral ministry. Conley teaches religion classes in a Catholic elementary school, serves as his parish Director of Religious Education, and is in formation for the permanent diaconate. He also hosts Practicing Catholic on Relevant Radio, exclusive to the Minneapolis area’s airwaves, and is a traveling presenter for the Catherine of Siena Institute apostolate. He lives in rural Wisconsin with his wife and their bulldogs, Georgie and Bingley.