St. Patrick's Three Leaf Clover

The famous St. Patrick used a three leaf clover to explain the trinity. The trinity is made up of God, Jesus, and the Holy Spirit. All three are actually one, but each of the three fulfill different, perfect purposes. This mystery is not fully comprehendible to humans, but an almighty, omniscient God cannot always be understood by us who have limits.

What You Need for this Craft:

green pieces of paper
various marker colors
scissors
glue

Three Leaf Clover Craft to illustrate the trinity

The circle represents God because He has no beginning and no end. He is forever.

The cross represents Jesus because He died on the cross for our sins. When we accept Him as our Savior, we receive the gift of eternal life.

The fire represents the Holy Spirit because our God is light. Also Acts 2:3-4 states, "They saw what seemed to be tongues of fire that separated and came to rest on each of them. All of them were filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in tongues as the Spirit enabled them."

Information about St. Patrick

If you would like to teach your child more about St. Patrick, you can read the information below, or print this book about St. Patrick. The book is geared for children ages 4 to 10.

Patrick was born in Britain. His father was a tax collector. Patrick's grandfather was a priest, but when Patrick was a child, he was not interested in learning about God.

When Patrick was 16 years old, he was kidnapped by pirates. How do you think Patrick felt?

The pirates took Patrick to a different country called Ireland. There he was sold as a slave.

How do you think Patrick felt as a slave in a new place? He was sad. He had to work very hard. He didn't get to go home for 6 years. Do you think he missed his family?

Patrick did not have enough clothes or food, but he did start praying. Sometimes he would pray 100 times a day, and then he would pray 100 times again at night. Patrick started to trust in Jesus.

One night an angel told Patrick in a dream that he would get to go home soon. The angel told Patrick of a ship leaving Ireland. Patrick walked across 200 miles and boarded a ship.

After a rough time at sea, Patrick was able to return home and see his parents again. How do you think Patrick and his parents felt? Patrick began studying God's word. He became a bishop.

Patrick thought God wanted him to go back to Ireland and teach the people of Ireland about Jesus. How do you think Patrick felt about that? However he felt, he decided to obey. He returned to Ireland to teach about Jesus.

Patrick taught the people about Jesus. Patrick is famous for teaching about the trinity by using a three leaf clover. Lots of people came to trust in Jesus because Patrick returned to Ireland.

Bible Verses about the Trinity

the Bible never actually uses the word "Trinity." The first recorded word of the "Trinity" was in the late 2nd century by early church fathers. There are many Bible verses that back up the belief of the Trinity even though that word wasn't spoken. Even in the beginning book of Genesis, God refers to Himself as "us" or "our." Some people believe that this is because polytheism was overwhelming popular. They conclude that the Bible isn't coherent, but there is no reference to God being simply a god of a certain area which is what was common practice for polytheistic gods. God has always been the God of everything. He has three separate parts which are one. Below are some verse which reference the Trinity.

1 Corinthians 8:6 yet for us there is but one God, the Father, from whom all things came and for whom we live; and there is but one Lord, Jesus Christ, through whom all things came and through whom we live.
2 Corinthians 3:17 Now the Lord is the Spirit, and where the Spirt of the Lord is, there is freedom.
2 Corinthians 13:14 May the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, and the love of God, and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit be with you all.
Colossians 2:9 For in Christ all the fullness of the Deity lives in bodily form,
Isaiah 9:6 For to us a child is born, to us a son is given, and the government will be on his shoulders. And he will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.
Isaiah 44:6 "This is what the Lord says- Israel's King and Redeemer, the Lord Almighty: I am the first and I am the last; apart from me there is no God.
1 John 1:1-4 That which was from the beginning, which we have heard, which we have seen with our eyes, which we have looked at and our hands have touched-this we proclaim concerning the Word of life. The life appeared; we have seen it and testify to it, and we proclaim to you the eternal life, which was with the Father and has appeared to us. We proclaim to you what we have seen and heard, so that you also may have fellowship with us. And our fellowship is with the Father and with his Son, Jesus Christ. We write this to make our joy complete.
John 1:1-5 In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was with God in the beginning. Through him all things were made; without him nothing was made that has been made. In him was life, and that life was the light of all mankind. The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it.
John 1:14 The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us. We have seen his glory, the glory of the one and only Son, who came from the Father, full of grace and truth.
John 10:30 I and the Father are one."
Luke 3:21-22 When all the people were being baptized, Jesus was baptized too. And as he was praying, heaven was opened and the Holy Spirit descended on him in bodily form like a dove. And a voice came from heaven: "You are my Son, whom I love; with you I am well pleased."

Encouragement: Sometimes I get caught up in how the finished craft will look instead of what my children learn. It's okay if the craft looks like a grey hippo when it was supposed to be a green clover if my children now know what they didn't know. Be intentional about the most important part of an activity. Let less important parts become less important. Awesome job to all the parents and primary caregivers who are intentional with their children!

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