BOOK TWO CHAPTER 1 THE LIFE OF SAINT PATRICK

APOSTLE OF IRELAND

This information is mostly from the above book, supplemented by information from various other sources, and it is intended to describe the life of Saint Patrick in his travels throughout Ireland. He is credited with the conversion of Ireland from Paganism to Christianity. The book was: Published by R. WASHBOURNE, 18 Paternoster Row, London Printed April 16, 1870 by J. B. Lauwers, Vic-Gen. Sancta Trinitas Unas Deus

These are individual statements and lines of prose which describe these activities which are related to Saint Patrick, and reflect the character and thinking of the Roman Catholic clergy, from whom they have originated. While the book from which they are taken more than likely does not exist any longer except in my own library, I have attempted to copy specific phrases and meanings from it, and only add clarity and continuity to their meanings. It is, by far, foe most complete book that I have found on this subject, and 1 have read many. On Page 5, foe author identifies "the sequestered Island of Eire, the seat of art, science and civilization; and thus predisposing the natives for receiving the truth of the Gospel" Since the illustrious Ollav Fola, (or Eochaidh Ollamh Fodhla, High King of Ireland - 1317 B. C. to 1277 B. C.) who was nearly contemporary with Lycurgus, instituted wholesale laws for limiting the powers of the monarch (of Ireland) and restraining the licentiousness of the subject, the people at large had become more civilized, courteous and polite. To him (Ollamh Fodhla), Ireland is, under Heaven, indebted for establishing the triennial parliaments at Tara, discriminating the various orders of society into distinct classes, and erecting seminaries for acquiring knowledge of physics, philosophy, heraldry and music. (The importance of his influence upon Irish society, as it has expanded even into the present, should not be under estimated).

For six centuries, antecedent to the introduction of Christianity (in Ireland at the 5th Century mainly), history records no more than six or seven provincial insurrections, with scarcely as many general engagements, without any invasion from abroad.

It was a tranquil period. National institutions were uniformly conducted and governed by druidic professors. In Ireland, Gaul and Britain, druids had the management of sacrifices, and were entrusted with the decision of controversies, both public and private. If you didn't abide by the druids' "decisions", you were not allowed participation in their religious rites, and this was a powerful and grievous punishment in those days. The "druids were distinguished for profound learning, and (were) consequently superior to other ignorant priests of the heathens". Druids believed in - One God - Immortality of the soul - After death, men were rewarded according to actions in life - Druids had the respect of their people - Druids were a part of the triennial convention at Tara - Oak was foe object of the Druids' esteem - Places of worship were surrounded by oak trees - That is why they were called Druids

Harris is quoted as saying that Saint Patrick was a person of exemplary piety. Saint Patrick's actions should have been recorded, but instead, many fictions have arisen. They tempt one to doubt if he ever existed. The oldest writings are closest to the truth. Writers have sometimes introduced miracles (ascribed to Saint Patrick) without any substantiation. The writings discredit any truths or miracles that may have occurred.

(By 1870 A. D.,) Saint Patrick was looked upon as a jolly companion, and some celebrated his date in riot and excess (as some also do today). Others said that: Saint Patrick wrote 365 alphabets founded 365 churches ordained 365 bishops or more and ordained no less than 3,001 priests Kentigen's "LIFE" says that he had 365 monks with him, but that is only using a once common expression "that things were as many as the days of the year". The BOLLANDISTS and others have been extremely censorious in their criticisms of Saint Patrick and others, and severe in their reprobation of such a legendary species of writing. The Bollandists are the followers of Father Jean (John) Bollandus (Bolland), a researcher in hagiography, who began a documentation of the lives of the saints, mainly in Europe. His work has been carried on by others, and his Society continues to this day. He flourished , according to some, around 1665 A. D., but the Society's published works extend from 1607 A. D. to 1960 A. D.

Saint Patrick was not an ideal personage, according to the many foreign writers who recorded his life. — Petrus de Natalibus was a biographer who wrote about 1470 A.D. — Saint Antoninus, the archbishop of Florence, gave a summary account of Saint Patrick's life in his chronicle of 1459 A.D. — A century earlier, James de Vorgne believed in Saint Patrick's existence. He was a doctor and a bishop of Genoa in 1350 A.D. ™ Eric of Auxerre, in the middle of the 9th century, wrote of the life and miracles of Saint Germanus, the bishop of Tours, which place was the birthplace of Saint Patrick's existence, mission, apostolic labors and sanctity. It was written in 850 A.D. Eric of Auxerre says that Saint Germanus's highest honor was as the instructor of Saint Patrick, his most famous student for 18 years. Saint Germanus considered Saint Patrick as distinguished in religion, eminent in virtue and steadfast in doctrine. — Saint Germanus thought that Saint Patrick's talents were being wasted through inactivity, and he recommended Saint Patrick to Pope Celestine, through his Presbyter, Segetius, who was to carry to the Apostolic See a testimonial of Saint Patrick's ecclesiastical merit. After approval by Rome, Saint Patrick set out for Ireland with authority and blessing. — Saint Patrick is also recorded by the Venerable Bede in the genuine copy of his MARTYROLOGY.

Saint Patrick's birthplace- Some say he was an Irishman Some say he was from Cornwall Some say he was a Welshman Some say he was a Scotch Highlander Some say he was born in The Lowlands Some say he was born at Bannavem in 389 A. D., or maybe at Glamorgan. Some say he was born in the district of Severn in Western Britain in 390 A. D.

Father Colman, who embraces the opinion of the Anglo-Irish and British writers, says that he was born at Tours. This is according to the established tradition among the natives of Armoric Gaul, and those who live contiguous to that venerable city.

Philip O'Sullivan (Don Philip O'Sullivan Beare), in his life of Saint Patrick, makes him a native of Bretagne in France, and Saint Probus agrees, and says "Saint Patrick was a Briton, of the village of Banave in the district of Tyburnia, adjacent to the Western (or Atlantic) Ocean, which village we undoubtedly find to be in the province of Neutria". The Western Ocean is in another part called Tyrehenian, which designates the Turonian Sea at the mouth of the Loire (River), and opposite the country inhabited by Turaine, whose capital, Tours, was a great city even in the time of foe Romans. Tours is also celebrated for being the residence of Saint Martin, Saint Gregory and a multiplicity of other illustrious men. (Don Philip O'Sullivan Beare was known for his chronicle of "The March of the O'Sullivans", when they were driven from Dunboy to finally seek refuge in Breathnach with the O'Rourkes. He had to leave Ireland with The Flight of the Earls).

Saint Probus probably got his account of Saint Patrick from foe same source as Gildas, because of the notice he gives us of the Britons, and the Britons source is from the seminaries and writings that flourished around that time in Gaul and Ireland. They obtained their information from those who were either the disciples of Saint Martin or Saint Germanus, and therefore, they were contemporaries and fellow students of Saint Patrick. In foe first verse of the Irish poem by Saint Fisch, the disciple of Saint Patrick and the bishop of Sletty, which seems by its style to have been composed about the time of Saint Patrick, we are plainly informed that "Patrick was born at holy Tours, as he is affirmed in histories".

In the River Shannon, (there is) scarcely an island that did not have a cell for a contemplative retreat by a pious monk or ascetic, or a church monastery founded by a Saint. Many of these cells were built for religious contemplation. One of these cells, though not on a river isle, was located in an isolated area called Drumcullen in what is now County Offaly, and an eremite named John lived there, who acquired the name of Saint John. His original stone cell was called a church, and when he passed away, another church, somewhat larger, but still small in size was built at his original spot. The Irish practice of burying the dead alongside the local church created what is now called Drumcullen Cemetery, which is where my grandmother and grandfather, and others of my family are interred in foe oldest cemetery in Ireland.

Saint Patrick's uncle, who was Saint Martin of Tours, achieved the conversion of the western parts of Gaul from "Gentileism" to Christianity. Saint Martin was born in 316 A.D. as the son of a Roman tribune, and he was, at first, compelled to be a soldier. He had always showed a preference for a retired life, and in 374 A.D., he left retirement when he was elected as bishop of Tours, concurrently by the people and the clergy. He "built" near Tours, between the Loire River and a sharp rock, so as to have less contact with the world. It became the monastery of Marmoutier, which was still in existence in 1860 A. D., and was considered to be the most ancient abbey in France. It was in this inch (river island or beach area), in the Turonian, (and not in the Tyrrhenian or Mediterranean) islands, that Saint Patrick fixed his residence for studying divinity under Saint Martin, upon escaping from slavery. He also studied with other holy masters after that Saint's death. The writers make his mother to be a niece or a sister of Saint Martin.

Because foe Roman Eagle hovered over the shores of South Britain about a half century before the birth of Christ, foe Milesian sovereigns (kings) of Ireland saw the necessity of keeping up a balance of power against any further encroachments by the Romans in the British Isles. - The Milesians (Irish) sent colonies to North Britain (Scotland), which was then called Alba, which was occupied by the Picts. - The Milesians had previously assisted the Picts in establishing themselves in Scotland, and considered the Picts to be their subjects. They required that the Picts pay them tribute. - They generally kept the Britons and the Irish in reciprocal terms of amnesty and peace among themselves. - They sent the Picts a reinforcement of auxiliaries to harass the Romans and to arrest their northerly progress in Britain. - They tried to prevent the Romans from achieving the total conquest of Britain. - It was for these reasons that the Romans did not undertake to invade Ireland.

This was foe motive for: Connell Cearnach (of the Red Branch Knights) Conn the Great (or Conn of the Hundred Battles who ruled as Monarch 123 A. D. to 157 A. D.) Fuahal Cormac (or Cormac MacArt - 227 A. D. to 266 A. D.) Cairbre (or Cairbre Liffeachair - 268 A. D. to 284 A. D.) Eochuy (or Eochaidh Gonnat - 267 A. D. to 277 A. D.) and other Irish princes of that time to: - transport mighty armaments to Britain — unite in a well-formed confederacy against the Romans — to unite the Picts, Scots and Attacotti (the ancient ones), to the north of the Tweed (River) - to often lead them in person against the Roman invaders

For foe proof of their frequent invasions of the Roman provinces, and of their successful conflicts with the Roman legions and their British auxiliaries in the years 183, 364, 393, 403,421,426 and 443 A.D., we have the unimpeachable authorities of: Dion Ammianus Marcel linus Gildas Bede Florence of Worcester and others.

So frequent and incessant were the invasions of Britain and Gaul by the Irish of these times, that the Venerable Bede, after Gildas, designates them by the appellation of "Hibernian marauders, not likely to remain long till they return and renew their depredations". This was a wise policy that saved Ireland from the "galling thralldom of Roman oppression" and which ultimately, through the victorious efforts of Niall of the Nine Hostages (King No. 126 of Ireland from 379 A. D. to 405 A. D.), was the principal cause that compelled the Roman Emperor to withdraw foe remainder of his vanquished legions from Britain. Niall did not rest there, for not content with their expulsion from Britain, he chased them with his victorious fleets and armies into Armoric Gaul (The French mainland). The lovers and asserters of liberty in Armoric Gaul, aided by the alliance of NialPs forces, "altogether freed themselves from the tyranny and yoke of Rome also" to quote ZOSIMUS.

To the patriots of Armoric Gaul, the renown Niall of the Nine Hostages was required a second time to lend his assistance. On the Romans landing in Armorica, the country was at the Romans' mercy. They had their garrisons, Roman tax gatherers, and Roman oppressors with their numerous followers or agents who were even more oppressive. These Roman agents were often the natives who cooperated with the Romans to allow them to maintain their thralldom. Rome's oppressive agents were described as "the native abettors of their country's thralldom, a species of degenerate and cowardly reptiles, which have ever been the pest of all nations, (and who) left foe country at the invader's mercy". (The invaders were the Romans) Niall repaid foe patriots "with the territorial possessions of their former task-masters, and he re-established foe blessings of liberty and peace among his allies". Before the return of NialPs fleet to Ireland, he was assassinated by an Irish vassal who had followed him to Gaul, and who murdered him on the banks of the Loire River. Ireland regretted foe loss of a monarch with such political and military skill as Niall had. He had kept internal peace in Ireland, and had extended Irish prowess beyond her shores. It was NialPs returning fleet that brought Saint Patrick to Ireland as a young captive. NialPs naval armament returned to Ireland in 389 A.D.

The commander of the Dalriadian land forces on this occasion was Gauran, but the name of the naval commander is not known. Because of the size of the responsibility for the fleet, it was probably an experienced and valorous person. (Dalriada is foe name of a section of the Irish province of Ulster. It was probably named after Cairbre dal Riada, who led a group of natives of County Clare to this area, to cross to Scotland, and to colonize the Scottish Highlands. Scotland was an Irish colony for 1300 years and had Irish kings for 300 years). The Ultonian (or Ulster) Dalriadas produced a prince of this description. The superiority of this chieftain's fleet at sea, and foe success attendant upon his military enterprises, both by sea and land against the Romans and Britons, and more particularly against the Dalreudian (or Dalriadan) colonists of Scotland, whom he kept in obedience to the mother-country for many years before this, acquired for him from the enemies of his country in North Briton, the appellation of FOMAIRE, which is a pirate or depredator at sea. As most fables are generally fabricated from stories which have some allusion to the truth, the biographers of Saint Patrick, either through ignorance or design, have metamorphosed the name of this "Fomaire" into that of a British prince, whom they have called Tehmair, Fechtmair, Fehtmair, Etc., Etc. In some copies of Probus, this prince is called Rethmaig Rethmet. By Rede, he is called "Reuda". By the Scots, he is called Rether By Nennius, he is called Histareuth Dr. Langhorae supposes that all of these names to have been applied to the same person, as being a Fomaire, or depredator of foe Reudians (or Dalriadans of Ulster and not of Britain). This prince had seven sons who were commanders aboard NialPs fleet. These sons, after their monarch's death, embarked from Armoric Gaul with their troops and their booty. The most considerable part of the spoils consisted of two hundred children, who were descended from such of the Armoric nobles as supported the government and interests of the Romans. Among the children who were thus made captive, and brought to Ireland aboard the fleet, was Saint Patrick, with his two sisters, Lupita and Darerca. Saint Patrick was sixteen years old when he was taken captive. He was from a respectable family. His father was Calphurnius, who was the son of Potitus (or Otide), who had entered into Holy Orders after the birth of his children. Calphurnius (or Calpurnius) was a Roman official and a deacon, and Potitus was a priest. Saint Patrick says that his father was a denizen of a neighboring city of the Romans. His father, and his (grand) "father'e" names also indicate that they were of Roman extraction, as Colgan justly observed in his remarks on the list of Saint Patrick's ancestors. His mother was Conchessa, who was, according to the most probable opinion, not the sister, but the niece of Saint Martin, foe celebrated bishop of Tours. Their (Saint Patrick's family) origin will easily account for both his father and mother having been killed by the Irish invaders of Armoric Gaul, who undoubtedly considered Saint Patrick's family as a part of foe ascendancy faction that supported the interest and power of Rome in that country, in opposition to the oppressed natives, otherwise their murder would have been an unnecessary and wanton act of cruelty. Biographers vary in their accounts respecting Saint Patrick's brothers and sisters. Some, with the old scholiast of Saint Fiech's Hymn, maintain that he had one brother, who was the deacon "Sannanus", and five sisters whose names were Lupita, Tigris, Liemania, Darerca and Cinnenaey. Some say that Riccall was his third sister, instead of Liemania, and they quote an ancient Irish verse to that effect. Saint Evinus, and after him, Joseline, affirm that he only had three sisters, and they were named as Lupit, Darerca and Tigris. Liemania's children were the Hua-Baird, or "long beard", and were named Secundin, Nectan, Dabonna, Mogurnan, Darioc, Auxilius and Lugath the priest. Tigris had seventeen sons and five daughters. All of the male children signalized themselves in the practice of foe most austere virtues, as monks, priests or bishops. Darerca was, according to the calendar of Cashel, the mother of seventeen bishops, and two daughters, remarkable for their sanctity and Christian devotion in their recluse lives as holy nuns. Of Riccall (or Richell's) children, nothing can be collected with certainty from Saint Patrick's biographers.

There are various opinions regarding Saint Patrick's country of origin and as to the date of his birth. William of Malmesbury, Adam of Domerham and John, the monk of Glastonbeury are quoted, and followed by Alford and Cressy, as placing his birth in 361 A.D., and Stainhurst agrees. All of them follow Probus, but the author (of this book) can't depend upon him, or on the date, or on the country of Saint Patrick's origin. The error seems to be an attempt to stretch Saint Patrick's life to a longer period than what the best writers of it have done. - Probus makes him to be 132 years old at his death in 493 A. D., which carries the account back to the time assigned by Probus for his birth. - Colgan thinks that 132 years is a typographical error for 122 years, but it is better accounted for in that way, and especially as Probus repeats it in two different paragraphs, - William of Malmesbury differs from Probus and he places Saint Patrick's death as 472 A.D. at the age of 111. - The Annals of Connaught are yet more grossly mistaken in assigning his death to 366 A.D. - Henry of Marleburgh says that he was born in 376 A.D. - Jocelyn says he was born in 370 A.D. - Florence of Worcester is nearer to the truth in giving it as 372 A.D. - Usher could see no reason to depart from that date, notwithstanding that the now-mentioned (in 1860 A. D.) authorities who seem to have set his birth date as the 5th of April in 373 A.D. - The most commonly received opinion is that Saint Patrick lived but 120 years (with which Usher in another part of his works agrees), and that he died in 423 A.D., and subtracting 120 years from that date brings his birth date back to 373 A.D. - This is further confirmed by the old Irish Book of Sligo, as quoted by Usher "that Saint Patrick was born, baptized and died on the 4th Feria", viz Wednesday. It is known that the 5th of April in 373 A.D. fell on a Wednesday and, so his birthday was in that year. Saint Patrick was not baptized as "Patrick", according to Joceline, but instead, as "Succoth", which the old scholiast on foe Hymn of Saint Fiech interprets, in the British language, to signify as "Valiant in War". Philip O'Sullivan further says that the name was very well adapted to the fruit-bearing shoulders of this infant Saint; for he was a most plentiful stock, whence many boughs, so many branches, so many leaves, so many flowers, so much fruit, that is, so many venerable Irish prelates, so many priests, so many preachers, so many monks, and so many doctors of foreign nations have proceeded from him. There is very little about Saint Patrick's infantile years by his biographers, if we except the numerous miracles which have been absurdly ascribed to him. A miracle is a sensible change in the order of nature. The proper intent of a miracle is designated for the clear manifestation of divine interference. Scripture supposes that to be its destination. Consequently, a miracle is wrought for proving the divine mission of the agent. A miracle should have an important and grand object, worthy of foe intervention of omnipotence. It should be sensible and fully perceptible to general observation. It should be independent of all secondary causes, and it should be wrought in an instantaneous manner. How ridiculous, how absurd, how impious an attempt it is to impose on human credulity a belief that the omnipotent Ruler of the World would particularly intervene, and suspend those laws of nature by which He governs foe universe without necessity, for a frivolous reason, contrary to His wisdom, and unbecoming to His Divine Majesty. With regard to the foregoing, we find no miracles ascribed to or wrought by Jesus Christ, Our Blessed Redeemer, during His infancy or youth. The first manifestation of the Omnipotent's intervention in the Messiah's favor was not till the thirty - second year of His age, and that (was) in the presence of all Judea, assembled on the banks of the River Jordan, to hear his precursor, John the Baptist. Here, the astonished multitude was agreeably informed of Christ's divine mission, as well by the blessed Baptist as by the mystic Dove.

As stated on Page 30, in that same year, Christ began to work miracles - by His forty days fast - by His withstanding Satan's temptation - by His changing water into wine - by His appeasing the tempest - by His healing one possessed of the devil - by his curing palsied and leprous men - with the recovery of the centurion's servant - by His bringing of foe widow's son to life - by foe multiplication of the loaves and fishes - etc.

The biographers of Saint Patrick, particularly Joceline, have acted contrary to these examples. (There was) not a miracle ever performed in Scripture by the Elect of God, but (that) Saint Patrick is made to surpass (it) by a more marvelous one. But the hagiographers of Scripture never recorded any miracles except what have been performed for manifesting the interference of Divine Omnipotence to the public at large.

Joceline's conduct in imputing miracles, on the most trivial and ridiculous occasions, to Saint Patrick is different. Scarcely is Saint Patrick baptized, when, according to Joceline, a blind man is made to apply Saint Patrick's infant hand to the ground, and a well issues forth, whose all-healing waters restores sight, science and literature (literacy) to this hitherto illiterate man. - When his aunt's cabin overflows with water, Saint Patrick works a miracle for stopping the flood - When his aunt wants a faggot, the boy (Saint Patrick) converts the ice he brings home in his bosom into dry wood - When his sister, Lupita, received a contusion in her forehead by an accidental fall, the boy (Saint Patrick) works a miracle to cure foe damsel - When his foster father dies, the child works a miracle for restoring him to life again - When foe wolf takes away a lamb, the boy (Saint Patrick) is accused of negligence, and the next morning, the wolf brings the lost lamb back again - When the cattle are butting their horns, or seized with the murrain, the child is made to gree them from the evil spirits - When his nurse has a longing wish for honey, Saint Patrick is made by a miracle to convert water into honey

When foe cruel lord of foe castle of Dunbreaton wants to have his fortress stalls and stables cleaned out by the aunt of Saint Patrick, who was, it seems, the lord's slave, Saint Patrick is made to work a miracle, and from that time until Joceline wrote, the dung and dirt continued to be cleaned away by an invisible hand, even if all of the herds and horses in the community were driven into these stalls, and no dirt could ever be found after them, and this was a miracle so well known to foe people there as to require no further demonstration. Such are the contents of Joceline's first thirteen chapters, which include Saint Patrick's actions until his fifteenth year, or as more learnedly and more classically expressed by Joceline's late translator for the anti-Catholic Hibernia Press Company until "he (Patrick) perlustrated three lustres" (or traveled through fifteen years). From this specimen, foe pious Catholic reader will be enabled to appreciate the merits of the remaining past. He will also see with what propriety it was animadverted (criticized) on by Harris, whose judicious observations on this species of writing, and particularly on Joceline's work, are delivered in a former chapter. (In other words, it was a series of fabrications). Who does not see that the hands of Joab have been at work in translating and editing a work which brings our Saint into contempt by foe imputation of such absurd and ridiculous miracles, rendered more laughable from the burlesque and quaint phraseology adopted by the translator ? This is, in part, a reference to the obscure term of " perlustrated three lustres", as a third lustrum is 15 years. (Joab was the commander of King David's army, and the slayer of Abner and Absolom) The Catholic author of the book sets forth that the style of the "Postliminous Preface" is an attempt to depreciate Saint Patrick's character by exciting the sneers of skepticism, or contempt of ignorance, as is the adoption of that ludicrous and antiquated style in which the tale is told.

Further, we are told that Calphurnius (who was Saint Patrick's father) married a French damsel named Conevessa, and the damsel was elegant in her form. NOBODY uses the word "damsel", intended to describe the daughter of a prince and great lord among the French, except in poetry plays and farces, or among the lower orders of people, to denote a country lass or a woman of bad character, for which (you may) see the dictionary of Doctor Johnson (which was the source of most of this type of research of that time).

Saint Patrick says, in his writings, that at the age of sixteen, he still lived ignorant of God, "meaning" says the pious Alban Butler, "the devout and frequent love of God", for Saint Patrick was always a Christian. Patrick never ceased to bewail this neglect, and he wept when he remembered that he had been, at one moment in his life, insensible to the divine love of God. In his sixteenth year, he was carried into captivity by certain (Irish) barbarians, together with many of his father's vassals and slaves, who were taken upon (from) his estate. Another source says that it was the Picts that captured Patrick, and sold him as a slave. The Irish brought him to Ireland, where he was obliged to tend cattle on the mountains and in the forests, in hunger and nakedness, amidst snows, rain and ice. Whilst he lived in this condition, God had pity on his soul, and "quickened him to a sense of his duty" by the impulse of a strong interior grace. Patrick prayed often during the day, and also many times during the night, breaking off his sleep to return to the divine praises. Patience, resignation and holy joy were afflictions with Christ that he carried within himself.

It was in his 16th year (389 A.D.) when he was taken captive in Bretagne, and brought to the north of Ireland, where he was sold to Milcho Huanan, a petty prince of Dalaradia, and his sister, Saint Lupita, was sold to Conal Muirthemme. (Bretagne is also known as Brittany, and is a province of northwest France.) (Armorica is foe upland region of western France, and is an ancient province name). Doctors Fell and Sharp,(alias Gunston), in their English abridgement of Bailet, tell the story in a different manner, in order to give Saint Patrick's British origin more probability. (They say) that the Romans, having left Britain naked and defenseless, its inhabitants became an easy prey to their troublesome neighbors, the Irish, and that Saint Patrick fell into the hands of some of these pirates and was carried to Ireland. That is not so, and it should be understood that the government of Britain has, for many centuries, hired historians to write histories that show Britain in a favorable light, without any concern for the truth. Up and into recent years, the British government has authorized expenditures in various places, and in foreign countries (including the United States), to acquire and to remove those writings that are uncomplimentary to the world view of the British Empire, and to that end, many histories of Ireland, not written in the British Isles, are no longer available anywhere in the world.

For six years, Patrick was sold to Milcho and his three brothers, which gave the occasion of changing his name to Cothraig, or rather Ceather-tigh, because he served four masters. "Ceathea" signifies "four" and "Tigh" means "a. house or a family". Milcho, observing the care and diligence of this new servant, bought the shares of his brothers, and made him his own property. Milcho sent him to feed the hogs on Sliev-Mis, and Saint Patrick himself tells us of his behavior in this office. Saint Patrick said " My constant business was to feed the hogs; I was frequent in prayer; the love and fear of God more and more inflamed my heart; my faith was enlarged and my spirit augmented, so that I said a hundred prayers by day and almost as many by night. I arose before day to my prayers, in foe snow, in foe frost, in the rain, and yet I received no damage, nor was I affected with slothfulness, for then the spirit of God was warm within me". It was here he perfected the Irish language, the wonderful providence of God visibly appearing in this instance of his captivity, that he should have the opportunity in his tender years of becoming well acquainted with foe language, manners and dispositions of that people, to whom he was intended in the future as an apostle. The ignorance, in these particulars, of his predecessor, Saint Palladius, may have been the cause of his failure in the like attempt.

(Saint Patrick) might well think that he saw the patriarch, Joseph, sold into Egypt and cast into prison; for there seems to be a great affinity and likeness between them. Joseph, in the opinion of some, was at that time about the age that Patrick was now. Joseph, after his servitude and humiliation, was exalted to great power and authority, and made lord of Egypt. Patrick, after he had been sold, had served, and endured great afflictions and miseries in Ireland, became an apostle thereof, and is now its most glorious patron. Joseph, in a great famine, fed and maintained all foe people with corn, while Patrick, with salutary sustenance of the Gospel and the Bread of Life nourished foe Irish nation, which was perishing with spiritual hunger.

Saint Patrick continued six whole years in servitude, and in the seventh (395 A.D.) was released. There seems to have been a law in Ireland for this purpose, agreeably to the institution of Moses, that a servant should be released during the seventh year, as it is said in an ancient life of Saint Patrick, supposed to be written by Saint Patrick, junior; in another, ascribed to Elerane, the wife, and in the tripartite life before mentioned. Joceline, who deals in foe marvelous (sayings), says that the angel Victor appeared to him and bade him observe one of his hogs, which should root out of foe ground a mass of money, sufficient to pay his ransom. But Saint Patrick saith no such thing; he only informs us that he was bound in a dream to prepare for his return home, and that he arose and betook himself to flight, and left the man with whom he had been six years. He made all the haste that he could to foe sea side, and found a ship unmoored and ready to sail, but the ship's master refused to take him aboard because he had no fare to give him. (The reference to the law of release after seven years would have been a reference to the Brehon Laws which governed Ireland at the time, and which had some provisions for changes in status for some of those who had spent a number of years in servitude at a specific level of society. These Brehon Laws may not have been known to some biographers of Saint Patrick.)

Upon this repulse by the ship's master, Saint Patrick went to look for some cottage, where he might securely wait for a better opportunity of making his escape, and in the meantime betook himself to his usual consolation (or his prayers), during which time, the sailors sent after him to return to the ship. They took him on shipboard, and hoisted sail. He is said to have had a bad voyage, having been three days on sea, and afterwards spent near to a month in traveling by land, before he came to the place of his parents; after which he suffered another captivity, which as Joceline and O'Sullivan tell us, and he himself saith, was "post annos non multos" a few years after. At this time, he continued in captivity for two months; but with whom he was a prisoner, or how he was released, we have no information, excepting that Bailet wrote that he was brought as a slave to Bordeaux or thereabouts. After all of his sufferings, he arrived at last to his relations, who received him with greatest joy, and with whom he continued (for) about two years. His relations would have persuaded him to spend the remainder of his days with them, but he was destined for a more active and useful employment. While he was pondering upon this advice, he tells us that he had a vision or a dream one night, in which he saw a man coming to him as from Ireland, whose name was Victoricius, with a great number of letters. Victoricius gave him one of the letters to read, and in the beginning of the letter were the words "Vox Hibernigenarum" (or The Voice of the Irish). At the same time as he was reading this letter, he thought that he heard the voice of the inhabitants who lived hard (or near) by the wood of Foclut near the Western Sea, crying to him with one voice saying "We entreat thee, holy youth, to come and walk among us". In a similar manner, but many years earlier, foe great apostle of the world, Saint Paul, was called to preach in Macedonia by a vision of one of that nation, begging help and assistance from him. Saint Patrick was greatly amazed with his own vision, and he awoke from it. He tells "he thanked God, for that after many years, he had dealt with them according to their crying out"

From this time, he formed the resolution of attempting the conversion of the Irish. In order to better prepare himself for such a task, he undertook a painful journey to foreign parts, to enrich his mind with learning and experience. He continued abroad thirty five years, pursuing his studies, for the most part under the direction of his mother's uncle, Saint Martin, bishop of Tours, who ordained him deacon. After Saint Martin's death, he stayed partly with Saint Germanus, bishop of Auxerre, who ordained him as a priest, and called him by the name of Mononius, which was the third name by which Patrick was known. He also lived among a colony of hermits and monks in some islands of the Turonian or Armoric Sea, and he lived a part of the time in the City of Rome, among foe Canons Regular of the Lateran Church.

SAINT PATRICK AT THE AGE OF 23 AND BEYOND

Saint Patrick was delivered from his captors in 395 A.D. at the age of twenty three. According to Marianus Scotus and other writers, he returned to Great Britain, but they all disagree as to how many years he spent there. Some are of foe opinion that he spent eight years there (until 403 A.D.), but if so, how could he have been the disciple of Saint Martin who died in 402 A.D.? There are other authors who say he lived there for four years, but it is far more probable that he sojourned there only a few months before he was taken prisoner a second time, and continued between twenty and thirty days on sea and in deserts, where he and the sailors fed on wild honey; but in two months time, he had his liberty, and returned in June to his relatives, with whom he continued not many months.

About foe beginning of this year (396 A.D.), he went for the first time to Saint Germanus, who was then a layman studying the civil law of the Romans in Italy, and Patrick continued with him for three years and some months, studying humanities, in which he could have made no great proficiency before this because of his period of captivity. Being then twenty seven years old (in 399 A.D.), he left Saint Germanus and went to his relative, Saint Martin, for four years, improving himself in the knowledge of church discipline. About this period, (402 or 403 A.D.), he went for a second time to Saint Germanus in the island of Arel, being thirty years old, but he did not continue his stay there for very long. He went to Rome in 403 A.D., where he applied himself to the study of the Scriptures; according to Vincentius in his Speculum Hib. lib. 20. c. 23, Matth. Westminster, in chron. 491 and according to Ninius, and he lived among the Canons of Lateran, according to Gabriel Pennot, John de Nigravalle, Augustinus, Ticensis and others. His stay at Rome is computed to have been six years. (The Canons of Laternan were named from the ancient Roman family of the Laterani who were the early owners of the site. It was applied to a basilica in Rome, as "Saint John Lateran", ranking highest of all Roman Catholic churches, and to an adjoining palace, which replaced an earlier palace which was once the residence of the popes, and therefore to a number of Church Councils that were held there).

He went from Rome (408 A.D.) to a certain island in the Turonian Sea, and sojourned among some barefoot hermits who inhabited that island, where he received the famous staff, called Jesus's staff, which, as Saint Bernard writes, was covered with gold and precious gems. Some writers have affirmed that it was given to Saint Patrick by Christ himself, and others have said that it was given to the Saint by a solitary of that isle, called Justus, who received it from Our Savior with orders to give it to Saint Patrick. But Cambrensis, in his topography, dis. 3. c. 34, remarks, that the virtue of this staff was as uncertain as its origin, or as the manner of Saint Patrick's receiving it from Christ immediately, or from the insular recluse who received it from Our Savior with orders to deliver it to Saint Patrick, was uncertain. Cambrensis also says that it is certain, that the staff was preserved with religious pomp, as one of the chief relics of Ireland, and it was translated, together with the text of the Gospel used by Saint Patrick, from Armagh to Christ Church in Dublin. Joceline compares the staff with the rod of Moses, and makes a parallel between the wonders wrought by both foe one and the other in his Prospect of Ireland. Thyrie, David Roth and Peter Walsh expand upon the issue. Ware mentions in his Annals that this staff was burnt in Dublin with other relics in 1538 A.D., a little after the so- called reformation. Toward foe end of the year (409 A.D.), in the thirty eighth year of his age, Saint Patrick went to some monks who dwelt in foe island of Tamary, between the mountain and the sea, and he continued his stay with them for nine months. In 418 A. D., toward the end of the year, and with Saint Patrick being between forty six and forty seven years old, he went for a third time to Saint Germanus in the month of July, and was consecrated as bishop of Auxerre after the death of Saint Amator. Amator, who had ordained Saint Germanus, then a secular priest and formerly a married man, had remained with Saint Germanus for fourteen years.

Saint Germanus sent Saint Patrick, along with the priest named Segetius (in 424 A.D.) to be consecrated as bishop and to exercise the episcopal functions at Banonia (or Bolonir), according to John Malbranche, torn. 1. de Morinis, 1.2. C.26, Saint Patrick, who was aged 57 in 428 A.D., accompanied the holy bishops, Saint Germanus and Saint Lupus, into Britain, to extinguish the Pelagian heresy, and he stayed there (for) some years. (Pope) Saint Celestine, had been informed of the death of Saint Palladius (in 433 A.D.), and he appointed Saint Patrick to preach in Ireland.

SAINT PATRICK IN IRELAND

It is necessary now to show the status of religion in Ireland before the arrival of Saint Patrick, so as to better be able to judge what he had to do, and what he did. Before Patrick arrived, there had been several priests or missionaries who had preceded him so that there was some knowledge of Catholicity in the country. However, there was no indication that there would be a widespread change from Paganism to Christianity, such as did occur due to Saint Patrick's teachings.

Writers have said the following about Ireland: - Saint James, foe son of Zebedee, arrived and preached the Gospel there, in the 41 st year of Christ - There are the dreams of others who would make the Irish indebted to a Pictish woman for our conversion about the year 335 A.D. - Saint Mansuetus, an Irishman, who was reputed by some authors (as) a disciple of the apostle Saint Peter, but who is not regarded by them to have returned to his native country - It is certain that there were many Christians in Ireland before the arrival of Saint Palladius in 431 A.D. - Saint Patrick arrived in Ireland in 432 A. D. in the year following the arrival of Palladius. - Saint Kieran, Saint Ailbe (probably a disciple), Saint Declan of Ardmore and Saint Ibar, are those whom Usher calls foe precursors or forerunners of Saint Patrick in Ireland. They were natives of Ireland, whence they traveled to Rome in search of education and learning, where they lived (for) some years, were ordained, and returned home about foe year 402 A.D. - There were some Christians in Ireland, even before this time, as may be understood from the lives of Saint Declan and Saint Ailbe, as they are quoted by Usher. - Saint Declan is there said to have been baptized by one Colman, a priest, and Saint Ailbe, by a Christian priest, possibly foe same Colman. - Saint Declan, when he was seven years old, was put under the tuition of Dyman, a religious Christian, to learn to read - Cairbre was his school fellow who has been described by Keating as being "an obstinate pagan and an inveterate enemy of Saint Patrick". He was also a son of Neil of the Nine Hostages.

The writer of foe life of Saint Kieran of Saigar, which published by Colgan, says that this Kieran was baptized in Rome in the thirtieth year of his age, (and) that he continued there (for) twenty years, and that upon his returning to Ireland, about the year 402 A.D., Saint Patrick, who was then on his journey to Rome, met him in Italy, and that the saints of God rejoiced. It seems that these early preachers confined their labors to particular places, in which they had considerable success, but fell very short of converting the body of the nation. However, they sowed the seed which Saint Patrick came afterwards to cultivate. It appears in the sequel, that Saint Patrick was so well satisfied with the progress they made in their particular districts in Munster, that this was the last province in Ireland he thought proper to visit. There were many Christians in Ireland at this period, and that seems to have been confirmed by Prosper, who in giving an account of the mission of Saint Palladius, says that he was ordained by Pope Celestine I, and sent as the first bishop to foe Scots, who believed in Christ. This passage can mean nothing else, but that Palladius, who was born in Briton, was sent to foe Scots, (that is the Irish), who had already formed churches under Saint Kieran, Saint Ailbe, Saint Declan and Saint Ibar, and so foe bishop of Saint Asaph's expounds it. The ages and times of the Irish saints that preceded Patrick vary with the writers. Some are: Saint Ciaran (Kieran) of Saighir and Ossory 375 A. D. Saint Ailbe of Emly Said to have lived 167 years? 360 A. D. to 527 A. D. Saint Ibar of Beg Erin Saint Declan of Ardmore - who was of foe Deisi clan Saint Ailbe was born to a maidservant in the house of Cronin, foe Lord of Eliach, in County Tipperary.

The birth of Saint Declan was said to have been announced by a ball of fire, blazing over the house where he was born, which was said to be a nearly universal mark of holiness attending the birth of Irish saints. When Saint Declan was leaving Italy, he encountered Saint Patrick on the road. Later, when Declan and his followers reached the English Channel, there was no boat for their transportation across, and they had no money. Saint Declan had a little black bell that he had received from Heaven. He struck the bell, asking for God's help. An empty ship appeared, with no sails on it. It sailed them to Ireland. The little black bell was left behind on a rock on the shores of Gaul, and Declan asked God to bring it back to him. The rock, itself, floated over foe ocean, to come to rest on an island on foe south coast of Ireland, in County Waterford, and it is still there. It is a great Ice Age boulder with a hole in it. Only he who is without sin is able to crawl through the hole. In the last century, a parish priest tried to have this object of superstition removed, but he could find no workmen to perform such an act of desecration to foe memory of a still beloved saint.

Saint Patrick's effort was the next attempt that was made for foe conversion of the Irish to Christianity. Palladius had engaged in a more ample and extensive design than his predecessors did, yet he failed in the execution of it and stayed but a short time in Ireland. He converted a few to Catholicity, and is said to have founded three churches; but he had not courage to withstand foe fierceness of foe heathen Irish, nor foe abilities, through his ignorance of the language, that were suitable and proper for the mission. Nathi, who was the son of Garchon, an Irish prince (and not the high King of Ireland), opposed Patrick's preaching, as he had opposed similar preaching by Palladius a year earlier, at which time Palladius had left the kingdom. It was said that to Nafoi's rebuff, Saint Patrick replied with a curse in the manner of the times, and that he turned Nathi's land into a salt water marsh. Palladius died in foe land of foe Picts (Scotland) on the 15th of December, 431 A.D. The great work of converting Ireland to Catholicity was reserved for Saint Patrick, to whose actions it is time to return.

It is a controversial subject among some writers as to who ordained Saint Patrick as a bishop, and sent him on his Irish mission. Some say it was Amatus, Amator, Ammatarex, Amatheus, Amotus or Matheus, for his name is written in all these ways. Others hold that it was Pope Celestine himself who ordained him and who changed his name to Patricus, that is "Pater Civium" (Father of foe People), whereas before he had been called Magonios (or Maun) by Saint Germanus, when he ordained him as a priest. Concerning foe dignity and the privileges of foe Patricii among foe ancient Romans, an account may be found in Dionysius Halicarnassus, in Velleius Paterculus and others. From this dignity among the Romans, the kings of France in after ages, by a decree of Pope Stephen which was made in foe reign of King Pepin, came to be called Patricii Romanorum. Saint Patrick was ordained bishop at Rome, in foe opinion of the generality of writers, and that seems to be confirmed by Prosper, who (when) speaking of Pope Celestine, says that "having ordained a bishop for the Scots (the Irish), while he endeavored to keep foe Roman Islands (Britain) Catholic, he made the barbarous island (of Ireland) Christian".

Bishop Lloyd judiciously reasons that this cannot, with any probability, be affirmed of Palladius, but of some other bishop, who, by consent of all the ancients, was Saint Patrick, who was sent to the Irish by the Pope after foe death of Palladius. There was a sufficient space of time between December 15th, the day upon which Palladius died, and foe 6th of April, on which Pope Celestine died, for the Pope to hear of foe death of his first missionary, and to send Saint Patrick to succeed him. There was also enough time in the year, 431 A. D., before Decemberl 5th, for Saint Palladius to receive his commission at Rome to try to do what he could do in Ireland, and, finding no success, to go over to Britain, where he died. Bishop Lloyd observes that foe compassion with which Saint Patrick was touched for the people of Ireland, whom he had found during his captivity to be altogether heathens, was that which gave him his first impulse to labor at the conversion of the Irish, and this impulse was heightened by his personal vision, which has been previously mentioned. Saint Palladius died among foe Britons, and it was easy for Saint Patrick to hear of his death, which he soon did. Patrick was at Auxerre, in foe duchy of Burgundy, with Saint Germanus who was its bishop, and that bishop advised and persuaded Patrick to pursue his former design of going to convert the Scots (Irish) to foe faith of Christ. In order to do this, he went to foe Pope, to get such powers as were necessary for accomplishing his great design.

Auxilius and Iserninus, (who was) by some called Servinus, both of whom were Canons of the Laternan Church in Rome, and some others, received their inferior Orders with Patrick, being intended for work as under laborers in foe same harvest of souls. Auxilius was ordained as a priest, and Servinus became a deacon. Having received his credentials, Patrick took leave of Rome, and with all expedition, he set forward on his journey to Ireland, attended by twenty principal eminent men, who were eminent for their piety and their wisdom. He arrived safely in Britain, where he preached in Cornwall for a few days with success, and as some say, in Wales, also. Having increased his attendants to thirty four (another source says only 24), he set sail for Ireland, and arrived with a prosperous gale at a port in foe territory of the Evoleni, as Probus calls it, but which the Irish writers term Crioch Cuolan (or foe country of Cuolan). Others have called it the port of Jubber Dea, and it is now known as foe port of Wicklow, which is in the southern part of Ireland, near to Britain. Saint Patrick was in his sixtieth year (431 A.D.) when he landed in Ireland. John Flood, an English Jesuit (who published his Ecclesiastical History of England in Latin under foe borrowed name of Michael Alford) and his copier, or English abridger, Hugh Paul of Yorkshire (who from being the Protestant dean of Leighlin, became a Benedictine, and who published his folio under the borrowed name of Serenus Cressy entitled "Church History" in 1668 A. D.) and other writers, who were following the authority of William of Malmesbury, and of John, the monk of Glastenbury, who was quoted previously, placed Patrick's arrival in Ireland at 425 A.D., but this contradicts the more early writers. He happily began his ministry by the conversion and baptism of Sinnell, a great man in that country of Wicklow. Sinnell was the grandson of Finchal, and he ought to be remembered as foe first fruits of Saint Patrick's mission in Ireland, or the first of the Irish conversions by him.

He (Sinnell) was eighth in lineal descent from Cormac, king of Leinster, and he would afterwards come to be enumerated among the saints of Ireland. Nathi, who was the son of Garchon, and who was king of that district, and who had, foe year before, frightened away Saint Palladius, made a vain attempt to terrify Saint Patrick by opposing and contradicting his doctrine. (This was not the same Nathi or Dathi who ruled as high king of Ireland from 406 A. D. to 423 A. D.) From Wicklow, Saint Patrick bent his course to a castle near foe sea called Rath- Iabher, which was near the mouth of the River Bray, but the pagans of those parts rose up, and they drove him to his ship. Patrick sailed to an island on foe coast of the County of Dublin, which, after him, is now called Inis Phadruig, (and by foe English, Holm-Patrick), where he and his companions rested after their fatigue. From Inis Patrick, he sailed northward to that part of Ulster called Ulidia, and at Inver Slaing Bay in an area known as Strangford Lough in County Down. When he and his fellow laborers landed, Dichu, who was the son of Triche, foe Lord (or chieftain) of that country, upon being informed that they were pirates, came out with armed men to kill them, and set dogs upon them. When Dichu raised his word against Saint Patrick, one story has it that his arm became paralyzed, and he immediately decided to embrace the faith of the holy man. However, being struck with foe venerable appearance of Saint Patrick, and listening attentively to the words of life preached by him, Dichu changed his wicked purpose. He believed, and he was baptized, and he brought all of his family over to the Catholic Faith. It was further observed of him, that he was the first person in Ulster who embraced Christianity, but this was not all. He dedicated the land upon which his conversion was wrought to God, where a church was built, which got the name of Sgibol, or Sabhall Phadruig, or the barn of Patrick, and it was said to be extended (or built) from north to south, contrary to the usual form of churches. After foe figure of the barn was dedicated by Dichu, this church was afterwards converted into an eminent monastery; and these were foe transactions of that year of 432 A.D.

Sabhall-phadruig, (called Saballum, and commonly, Saul), was an abbey of Canons Regular, founded by Saint Patrick in foe year 432 A.D. in the barony of Lecale, and County of Down, on the east side of foe Bay of Dundrum. "Sgibol" in Irish signifies a barn. Some hold that the name of the place was Samhall, which signifies "save", "and that by softening the M into V, the word is pronounced by the Irish as "saval", and by foe English as "saul". This monastery appears now to stand in the usual form of churches, east and west, though some ancient writers relate that it stood north and south, which perhaps it might have done in its original state. This was perhaps one of foe first founded monasteries in foe kingdom of Ireland, being erected in the year 432 A.D., but we must not conceive it to have been built of stone in the stately manner it has since appeared, for that task was performed by Saint Malachy O'Morgair, when he was bishop of Down. There are here two small vaulted rooms of stone yet entire, about seven feet high, six feet long and two feet and a half broad, with a small window placed on one side. One of them is now closed up, and used by some families as a tomb, as the churchyard is always a great burial place for foe natives. At some distance from the church on the southwest side, stands a battlemented castle and two small towers, but there are no stone stairs in foe castle leading up to foe top of it, as is usual in such fabrics. It is probable that there were stairs of timber in the body of the building by which people might ascend from story to story. In foe west angles of each, these stories are neatly finished within foe wall, rising in various sections to foe top, where they terminate in a circle.

Early in the year 433 A.D., Saint Patrick left Sabhall and traveled northwards by land to Clanebois in Dalaradia, to try to convert his old master, Milcho, whose service he had left thirty eight years before, but this obstinate prince, upon hearing of the great success of Saint Patrick's teaching, and ashamed to be persuaded in his old age to forsake the paganism of his ancestors, especially by one who had been his servant, made a funeral pile of his house and goods, and by the instigation of the enemy of mankind (the Devil), he burnt himself therein. Thus most of the writers of foe life of Saint Patrick relate this event, but the tripartite (three part) author adds, that Guasact, who was foe son of Milcho, and two of his daughters, both of whom were called Emeria, were converted to Christianity and baptized. The former, Guasact, became afterwards foe bishop of Granard in the ancient Teffia region, and foe two daughters took foe veil at Cluain-broin in the neighborhood. Saint Patrick was sorely afflicted at this rash action of Milcho, and he is said to have stood three hours in silence and in tears. It put a stop to his further progress northward at this time. He returned to Inis, the habitation of Dichu, by foe same roads he came. He made a circuit of that whole territory, and in it, foe faith increased rapidly.

In a subscript, Teffia was an extensive territory, comprehending more than half of the County of Westmeath, and all the County of Longford. The Longford Teffia was divided into North and West Teffia. In North Teffia, stood Granard, which was an early Episcopal See, planted by Saint Patrick. If I mistake it not, the north parts of foe Longford Teffia came afterwards to be called Angalia. Cluain-broin is where a nunnery was founded by Saint Patrick, and it was a few miles south of Granard. In another subscript, foe habitation of Dichu was said before to be at Sabhall, but now at Inis. This implies no contradiction, because Sabhall was the particular spot where his house stood, (while) Inis was his whole territory, which was the island or peninsula of Lecale. It is almost surrounded by foe lough and bay of Strangford.

Saint Patrick took his leave of Dichu, and he bent his course southward by sea, keeping the coast on his right hand, and he arrived at foe port of Coldbi, where he landed. (Colbdi was a little port, which yet retains a share of its name, and is called Colp, near Drogheda, at the mouth of the River Boyne. In Colp, a priory of Canons Regular formerly stood, founded at the close of foe 12th Century by Hugh de Lacy, lord of Meath, who had been given foe lands confiscated from the Irish by the King of England. The priory was dependent upon the priory of Lanthon, in Monmouthshire, Wales). Saint Patrick committed foe charge of his vessel to his nephew, Saint Luman, by his sister, Tigrida. Afterwards he consecrated Saint Luman as bishop of Trim, desiring him to wait for him there for forty days, while he and his disciples were traveling into the inner parts of the country to preach the Gospel. His intention in this journey was to celebrate the Festival of Easter in the plains of Bregia. (Bregia was a large, spacious plain, extending many miles about Tarah or "Tara", the residence of the monarchs of Ireland, which was anciently called Temora.) He wanted to be in the neighborhood of the great triennial (every three year) convention at Tara, which at this season was to be held by King Laeghaire (or Leary), and all his tributary princes, nobles and druids or pagan priests. Saint Patrick justly thought that whatever impressions were made here must have an influence upon foe whole kingdom, and therefore being armed with unshaken fortitude, he determined not to be absent from a place where his presence was so necessary. He took up his lodgings at the house of the hospitable Sesgen in Meath, who kindly received and welcomed him. Saint Patrick preached Christ and His doctrine to Sesgen who believed and was baptized, along with his whole family. Sesgen had a little son, of a sweet and gentle disposition, whom Saint Patrick named Benignus or Benneen, as that is "sweet" in Irish, from the qualities which he had observed in this young Christian. He was afterwards one of the successors of Saint Patrick in administering the episcopal See of Armagh, and to him is ascribed an Irish poem on the conversion of the people of Dublin to Christianity. From foe house of Sesgen, Saint Patrick moved westward, and he arrived on the eve of Easter at Ferta Fir Fieic on foe north banks of the River Boyne, where he rested in a tent which had been erected for shelter, resolving there to prepare for foe next day's solemnity. It was penal for any person at the time of the celebration of this solemn occasion at Tara, to kindle a fire in the province before the king's bonfire first appeared. Saint Patrick, either not knowing or not minding this law, lighted up a fire before his booth, which, although eight miles distant from Tara, was very visible. It was seen with astonishment from foe court, and foe King's Druid, Matha MacUmotr, informed foe king that, if he did not immediately extinguish this fire, he who kindled it, with his successors, would hold foe principality of Ireland forever, which has hitherto happened to be a true prediction of those heathen priests as to spiritual principality. Ferta Fir Fieic, in Irish, imports "the graves of the men of Fiech". It is now called Slane. It was afterward made an episcopal See, and Saint Ere (was) the first bishop of it, but (it) merged into the bishopric of Meath in later ages, together with Trim, Duleek, Dunshaughlin, Foar, Kilshire, Ardbracan and Slane. Christopher Fleming, foe baron of Slane, who was treasurer of Ireland in Henry VIII's reign, and Elizabeth Stukely, his wife, founded a convent at Slane of foe third Order of Saint Francis in 1512 A.D., in foe hermitage of Saint Ere.

King Laeghaire (High King of Ireland - 428 A. D. to 458 A. D) gathered druids and warriors together, and sent them to seek and to do away with Patrick, who eluded them by making himself and his party invisible, so that the assassins only saw the head of a deer, as the Christian travelers passed by. Then, King Laeghaire dispatched messengers to bring Saint Patrick before him, and gave positive orders that nobody should presume to rise out of his seat, or pay him the least honor. But Ere, who was the son of Dego, ventured to disobey this command. He arose and he offered foe Holy Father his seat. It was on the eve of Beltane (or May 1). Saint Patrick preached to Ere, and converted him. Ere became a person of great sanctity, and after some time, was consecrated by Saint Patrick as foe bishop of Slane. On the following day, when Saint Patrick and two of his people appeared unexpectedly at court, and preached to foe king and all his nobles, Dubtach, the king's poet-laureate, paid honor and respect to Saint Patrick, and was converted by his preaching. Fiech, a young poet, who was under foe tuition of Dubtach, was also converted and he was later made bishop of Sletty. Fiech was also foe author of a poem on foe life of Saint Patrick.

Saint Anselm, who was the archbishop of Canterbury, relates the conversion of Fingar, foe son of Clito, one of the nobles at this assembly, in the same manner. The queen and many other members of the court became Christians, and although King Laeghaire held out for a long time, he also submitted to be baptized. Saint Patrick is said to have wrought many miracles here. Indeed, there could not, according to foe projects of human wisdom, have been a more weighty occasion for the Almighty's supporting this preacher by miracles, than when the collective body of foe whole nation was assembled together, from whose report and conviction the influence of his doctrine and works must necessarily have been spread through the kingdom. It was suitable, with divine Providence, that foe "signs of his apostolate should be confirmed" as Saint Paul expresses it "not only in all patience, but also in signs and wonders and mighty deeds".

SAINT PATRICK AFTER HE LEFT TARA

After leaving Tara, Saint Patrick proceeded to Alten, which was not far away, at the season of royal diversions. He preached to Cairbre and Connall, who were the two brothers of King Laeghaire. Cairbre received him with great indignity, and obstinately shut his ears against his doctrine. Connall believed, and he was baptized. He gave Saint Patrick a place upon which to build a church. This Connall would become a great grandfather to Saint Columbkille, who is esteemed as Ireland's second most important saint. Saint Patrick spent the rest of this year in Meath and Louth, and in foe counties adjacent to that area, preaching to, and converting, great numbers of people to Christianity. About this time (434 A.D.), we are told by foe writers of Saint Patrick's life, that having given his benediction to his dear friend, Connall, he took leave of Meath (near Dublin) and he traveled into Connaught (at northwestern Ireland), not forgetting the oracular dream or vision by which he thought himself more particularly called to foe conversion of those parts. Along his way, he happened to meet the two daughters of King Laeghaire, (who were) Ethne the fair and Fedeline the ruddy. They had been educated under the tuition of two druids, (who were) Mael and Caplait. Saint Patrick preached to them the words of truth, and they heard him. They were converted, together with their tutors. The "Lives" of these pious ladies have been published by John Colgan, who assigns foe 11th of January for their feast. Probus has given us at large the sermon which he says that Saint Patrick preached to them. The season of Lent was approaching, and Saint Patrick withdrew to a high mountain on foe western coast of Connaught, called Cruachan-Aickle to be more at leisure for contemplation and prayer. Cruachan-Aichle or rather Cruachan-Achuil (now Achill), which in foe old Irish, signifies "mount-eagle" , is a high mountain in the west of Connaught, in foe barony of Morisk, and foe County of Mayo, and it is now called "Croagh-Patnck). Saint Patrick walked beside a fast, stony stream to a saddle in foe hill below peak's shear north face. He turned through the saddle to climb the summit cone from the back, and his final ascent was through a steep scree of jagged stones. The writers of his life tell us "that in imitation of our Savior, he here fasted forty days without taking any kind of sustenance". Joceline says further "that in this place, he gathered together the several tribes of serpents and venomous creatures, and, by the Power of his word, drove them headlong into the Western Ocean, and that hence hath proceeded that exception which Ireland holds from all poisonous reptiles". The earlier writers of Saint Patrick's life had not mentioned this action. Solinus, who wrote some hundred years before Saint Patrick's arrival in Ireland, takes notice of this exemption (of snakes from being in Ireland). Venerable Bede, in foe eighth age, mentions this quality, but is silent as to the cause, and so is Saint Donat, bishop of Fesula, who, in describing his country (Ireland), has the following lines. (This matter of the lack of snakes in Ireland has been explained in other places It relates to foe ice that once covered most of Ireland, its melting, and the failure of some creatures to get back to Ireland from foe European mainland before the land bridge or connection to the mamland was eliminated).

Far westward lies an isle of ancient fame, By nature blessed, and Scotia is her name; Enrolled in books, exhaustless is her store Of veiny silver, and of golden ore. Her fruitful soil for ever teems with wealth, With gems her waters, and her air with health; Her verdant fields, with milk and honey flow, Her virgin fleeces vie with virgin-snow; Her waving furrows float with bearded corn, And arms and arts, her envied sons adorn. No savage bear with lawless fury roves, Nor ravenous lion trough her peaceful groves; No poison there infects; no scaly snake Creeps through foe grass, nor toad annoys the lake, An island, worthy of her pious race, In war triumphant, and unmatched in peace.

Geraldis Cambrensis treats foe story of Saint Patrick and foe snakes as a fable, and Colgan gives it up. From these testimonies arise unanswerable arguments to prove that this exemption is owing to foe nature and quality of foe air or soil, or to some other unknown cause, and not to the virtues of our patron, which have no need to be supported by inventions. Solinus not only mentions this exemption of Ireland, but says that in Ireland, there are few birds and no bees. Now, as he is mistaken in these latter particulars, so he may be in the former. This method of reasoning strikes at foe credit of all profane history, as none of it is totally exempt from error. Besides, although we have plenty of birds and bees now, yet it may be admitted that there is some question as to whether we had very many in foe age of Solinus. The Britons, in the time of Caesar, had no corn (wheat), especially in foe inland countries, but lived on milk and flesh. The food of the ancient Irish was, for foe most part, milk, butter and herbs, from whence Strabo calls them "herb-eaters". If there was a scarcity of corn (wheat) among the Irish in the days of Solinus, it may seem to follow that there could be no very great plenty of birds, since there was not sufficient food for foe support of foe several tribes of them, especially such as lived on corn (wheat) and it may be observed at this day that birds abound most in the corn growing counties of the kingdom. (The Irish did not grow corn. They grew wheat, and they called it "corn"). There are several species of birds among us now, which were unknown to our ancestors, and particularly, it is not many years since the magpie first visited us. As to what Solinus mentioned, that there were no bees in Ireland at the time he wrote, (foe writer) shall not take upon me to defend the fact, but only observe that Madomnoc or Saint Dominic of Ossory, who flourished about the middle of the 6th Century, is by the writer of his life said to be foe first who brought bees, or at least a particular sort of bee, into Ireland, which Cambrensis, Peter Lombard and many others confirm. (Also, Saint Gobnait was the patroness of bees and is much revered). Having finished his devotions on Mount Aichle (now Croagh Patrick), Saint Patrick descended into foe plain to forward foe work of his mission, and after converting great numbers there, he celebrated foe Festival of Easter. In this place, he founded a church in the territory of Umalia or Hy-malia, and he placed one of his disciples, the humble Senach, over it. Senach was so regardless of vain glory that he made a request that foe church not be called after his name. Umali or Hy Malia, (or foe land of foe O'Malleys) was an ancient territory in the southwest part of foe County of Mayo, which is seated on foe Western (Atlantic) Ocean, comprehending the barony of Morisk, or at least foe maritime parts of it, and perhaps the half barony of Ross in the County of Galway, as far as the banks of Lough Corb (or Lough Corrib).

AFTER CROAGH PATRICK

Saint Patrick moved northward until he came to Tyr Amalgard, preaching all foe way and converting multitudes. It was in this territory that the wood of Foclut stood. It was foe inhabitants of foe wood of Foclut of which he had the lively dream or vision, and who had cried out to him as was previously mentioned. Patrick looked upon this area as foe place to which he had been more particularly directed, and he did not fail to take hold of foe opportunity which presented itself. At this time foe seven (or twelve) sons of Amalgaid, who were contending as to a successor to foe throne of their father, had convened all the nobles and people of that province to a council. Saint Patrick preached with boldness among them, and is said to have wrought many miracles for their conversion, especially among foe druids. The writers of his life, with whom Nennius and Matthew of Westminster agree, say that, in one day, he baptized foe seven sons of Amalgaid and twelve thousand others. .Saint Patrick has mentioned that many thousands were converted on this occasion. Among this people, he planted a church, and placed Mancenus over it. Mancenus was a religious and devout man, and one well schooled in foe Holy Scriptures. It would be a tedious journey to travel with Saint Patrick, step by step through this province, for he continued there for seven years, preaching in every quarter and baptizing wherever he went, so that he may be said to have wrought almost a general conversion in it. Colgan has totaled up foe particular names of forty seven parishes that were planted by him in this area, over which he placed as many pastors. The last Church that he founded in Connaught (in 441 A.D.) was at Cassiol lira in that part of the land which is now called foe County of Sligo. Saint Patrick made Saint Bron as its bishop. Then, he traveled along the maritime coast of foe north of Connaught, by Sligeach (or Sligo), Drumcliabh and Ross-Clogher, until he arrived at Magh Ean in foe southern parts of Tirconnel in Ulster. He stayed there for some time, and he founded a church called Domnach Mor Magh Ean. (Cassiol lira is now simply called Cashel, and it is a church and village lying in foe barony of Leny, in the County of Sligo, between the River Unchin and the River Owenmor, about six miles south of Sligo.) Then, Patrick crossed the Erne near Easroa (or Ashroe), and he passed through all of Tirconnel, preaching, converting and planting parishes everywhere, until he arrived at Ailech Neid, which was the seat and residence of prince Owen, one of the sons of King Neill, whom he converted with all his family. He generally addressed himself first to the princes and great men, wisely judging that the populace would easily be prevailed on to follow their leaders, according to that saying of foe poet "The monarch frames the morals of foe State." From the peninsula of Innish Eoghain (or Inis Owen), he passed foe River Foyle between Derry and foe Lough, and came to the River Fochmuine. He continued in that neighborhood for seven weeks, and he founded as many churches. Saint Patrick returned to Inis- Eoghain, back along the way that he had arrived, and then, traveling northward, continued to the area around foe River Bredach for forty days. He founded the Church of Domnach Bile, and he converted these northern parts of the peninsula to Christianity. From there, he passed over foe narrow Frith at the north end of Lough Foyle, and he kept along the seashore until he came to Duncruthen, where he founded a church and placed a pastor over it. In these parts, he continued seven weeks, and he converted Sedna, who was foe son of Trena, and all of his clan.

Sligeach is now called Sligo, and it is a well-known seaport town, seated in a county and on a river and bay, all of which have the same name. Drumcliabh is now called Drumcliffe or Drumclive, and although it was anciently an Episcopal See, it is now but a "sorra village" in the barony of Carberry and County of Sligo, about three miles due north of Sligo. Ross-Clogher is a barony in the County of Leitrim, in the north part of which stands a village of foe same name near Lough Melvin. Magh-Ean is a large plain lying in foe south of the County of Donegal, near foe River Erne and foe River Drabhois. Easroa (or Ashroe) is a great cataract or waterfall on the River Erne. Fochmune, which has now been corrupted into Faughan, is a river rising in the barony of Tirekerin in foe County of Derry, which taking a north northwest course, falls into Lough Foyle about a mile east of the mouth of foe Foyle. Dun Cruthen (or foe castle of Crutheni) is now called Dunbo, a parish church in the north parts of foe barony of Coleraine and County of Kerry.

Then, Saint Patrick passed foe River Bann at Cuilrathen (now called Coleraine). Lea was an ancient territory in foe north of Ulster, in foe County of Antrim, and it extended along the east banks of foe River Bann. Patrick made a stay in foe territory of Lea, where he formed the resolution of proceeding through Dalrieda and Dalaradia. He had never been in Dalrieda before, and he had previously made but a short stay in Dalaradia, having left there oppressed with the cruel fate that had befallen Milcho. I shall not follow him through those districts, but only observe that wherever he went, he preached foe gospel, converted the countries, erected churches and established ecclesiastical discipline. He spent two whole years in this progress, from the time he left Connaught until he arrived at Lugh or Ludha, which is now called Louth. He stayed here some time, at a place which was afterwards called Ard-Patrick, to the east of the town of Louth. He intended to have built a church and to have fixed a bishop's See at Louth, but was prevented by the religious Mochfoe, who had arrived from Britain at that time, and who had started to build a church there, where Mochfoe became the first bishop of Louth.

From Louth, Saint Patrick moved northward to Clogher, and he founded a church and bishop's See there, which he governed for a time, but then he surrendered it to MacCartin, the old companion of his travels, both while he was in Italy and also in Ireland. MacCartin is accounted as being the first bishop of Clogher.

After spending some time in Ard-Patrick and Clogher and the neighboring countries, in 445 A. D., Saint Patrick moved to Druim-Sailech, which was afterwards called Armagh Daire. The lord of the territory made him a present of the place. Here, he laid out a city, large in compass (distance), and beautiful in situation. Saint Patrick built a cathedral, monasteries and other religious places, and he drew inhabitants to it who were both secular and spiritual. He also established schools and seminaries of education there. Ware, in his writings, places foe foundation of the Church of Armagh in 445 A.D., which surely must be an error, or else that exact writer must be supposed to contradict himself on the same page of his writings, for he says that Saint Patrick committed the care of the Church of Armagh to Saint Benignus ten years after that, and that Saint Benignus resigned in 465 A.D. by which account he must be understood to resign the See at the same time he was promoted to it. Usher is more exact when he places foe foundation in 445 A. D., the succession of Saint Benignus in 455 A.D., and his resignation with foe advancement of Saint Jarlath in 465 A. D.

Saint Patrick's labors met with such prodigious success everywhere, such that he did not have assistants sufficient to gather in so large a harvest. To obtain coadjutors and fellow laborers for this pious work, he crossed over to Britain in 447 A.D. He found that island was miserably corrupted with the Pelagian and Arian heresies. He took such pains while he stayed there, that he recovered multitudes of that country from those pestilent religious infections. He found a great many men of learning and piety in Britain, and he engaged them to assist him in foe conversion of foe Irish. He consecrated thirty of them as bishops before he returned to Ireland. He went to Liverpool to take shipping, and on his approach to that town, the people came out to receive him. At the place where they met him, they erected a cross in his honor and memory, and they called it by his name, which to this very day the name that it bears. (The Arian heresy pertained to Arius of Alexander, who died in 336 A.D., and who held that Christ the Son of God was subordinate to and not consubstantial with God the Father). (The Pelagian heresy referred to those followers of Pelagius, a British monk, who flourished about 400 to 418 A.D., and who denied foe doctrine of original sin, and maintained that freedom of the evil one and its power (or sin), apart from divine grace, was available for man to attain righteousness. In other words, all men were free from sin).

John Seacom, who was a native of Ratoath in the County of Meath, and an Alderman of Liverpool, writes in his "History of the Isle of Man" that Saint Patrick and his companions, having rested and refreshed themselves for some time at Liverpool, put into foe Isle of Man, where he found the people very much given to magic, but, being overcome and convinced by his preaching and miracles, they were either converted or expelled (from) the island. In 447 A. D., Saint Patrick placed Saint German, who was one of his disciples, and who had traveled with Patrick from Rome, and who was, according to some writers, a canon of the Lateran church and a companion of Auxilius and Isernius. This Saint German was a holy man, says Joceline, who was proper to rule and instruct foe people of foe Isle of Man in the faith of Christ. He was appointed as bishop of the Isle of Man, but died before Saint Patrick did, and Patrick sent two other bishops to replace him. They were Saint Conindrius and Saint Romulus, of whom there is little that is remembered, but one or more of them survived Saint Patrick, and died in 494 A.D. Then, Saint Maughold succeeded him as bishop. But to return to Saint Patrick, he is said to have visited many of foe neighboring islands besides the Isle of Man. Saint Patrick returned to Ireland early in 448 A. D., which was the next year. He visited his new See of Armagh, where in conjunction with Auxilius and Isernius, he held a synod, foe canons of which are yet extant. In foe eighth of them are foe footsteps of the ancient combat for foe trial of truth, it being there provided, "That if a clerk becomes surety for a heathen, and he shall be deceived, he shall pay the debt; but if he enters into foe lists with him, he shall be put out of the pale of the Church". The fourteenth canon lays a penance on those who should have recourse to soothsaying, or using the entrails of beasts for searching into future events.

Having broken up this (Armagh) synod, Saint Patrick took his journey to the province of Leinster through Meath, and passing foe River Finglas, he came to Bally-ath-Cliath, which is now called Dublin. The people were acquainted with his fame, and they flocked out to welcome him. Alphin, who was the son of Eochaid, is said to have been king of that place, and Saint Patrick preached to him, and having converted him and all his people by foe fervor of his zeal in preaching and by restoring to life his son and daughter, whereof one was drowned and the other died of sickness, the king and people were baptized in a fountain called Saint Patrick's Well, south of foe city of Dublin. This well, according to Joceline, owes its birth to a miracle wrought by Saint Patrick in favor of his landlady, who complained about foe scarcity of fresh water. Having recourse to prayer in the presence of many, Saint Patrick struck foe ground with foe Staff of Jesus, and there immediately sprung up a most excellent fountain which, according to foe above quoted author, was reputed to be of great virtue in curing many disorders. He built a church near this fountain, on the foundation of which foe noblest cathedral in the kingdom has since been erected, which still bears his name. Usher tells us, in his "Primordia" that he had seen this fountain, which stood near foe steeple, and that in 1639 A.D., it was shut up and enclosed within a private house. (Alphin may have been the son or grandson of Eochaidh Muighmheadoin who ruled Ireland as its High king from 358 A. D. to 365 A. D.)

Finglas was a village located two miles from Dublin, and it was formerly an Episcopal See and an abbey. It is now (or was formerly) a parochial church, dedicated to Saint Kenny. It gave the title of Baron to Thomas Windham, who was appointed by England as the lord high chancellor of Ireland. Colgan relates that in Finglas Abbey were buried: - Saint Flanius whose feast was kept on the 21st of January - Saint Noe whose feast was kept on the 27th of January - Saint Dubliterius, whose feast was kept on foe 15th of May.

Colgan has cited, from the "black book of Christ Church", a passage which he has inserted in the 497th page of his antiquities of foe British Church, wherein it is mentioned that Saint Patrick celebrated Mass in one of foe subterraneous vaults of Christ Church, which in after ages was called Saint Patrick's Vault. The cathedral of foe Blessed Trinity was afterwards built over the vaults. Many such vaults may be seen to this day in France, for there are subterraneous chapels under foe abbatial church of Saint Genevieve and the parochial one of Saint Sulpice in Paris, and also under foe Cathedral of Chartres and Saint Victor's Church in Marseille, and several others. They are also found in England, as Saint Faith's was under Saint Paul's, and at Canterbury, there is a church under that cathedral. Captain Stephens, in the sixth page of his Monasticon Hybernicum , writes that this cathedral (in Dublin) is so ancient that several authors agree that it had been built under ground before the coming of Saint Patrick to Ireland. Perhaps Saint Palladius had appointed Saint Silvester Sydonius or Salonius Gregory, or Benedict or some other of his companions, as bishop of Dublin, which is far more ancient than Ossory (in Leinster), of which Kyran (Kieran) was bishop, or of Emley, of which Saint Albeus was bishop, or Trim of which Saint Luman was bishop, (according to Usher, twelve years before Armagh, which was not built until 454 A.D.) Christ Church in Dublin was built by Donat. the bishop of Dublin, about the year of 1038 A. D. It was built on foe spot where the arches and vaults were found. Sitricus was the son of Amlave, the King of the Ostmen (or Vikings) of Dublin at the time of the construction of Christ Church, and some say he built it. In 448 A.D. Saint Patrick celebrated Mass in Dublin, (which was called Eblana by Ptolomy, who flourished under Emperors T. Aurelius Hadrianus and Antonius Pius). It is noted that none of the three Norwegian brethren, Amelachus, Sitricus, or Ibor were foe first founders of Christ Church (in Dublin), but only the repairers and fortifiers of it, a little before foe Danish war. Donat was not the first bishop of Dublin, but only the first Ostman (Viking) bishop of Dublin, for it is highly improbable that Saint Patrick would leave a Church at Dublin in 448 A.D. without a bishop to preside over it, and in this particular instance, deviate from his universal practice m other places. If he had he would have introduced a different species (or form) of church government from what he had established in other parts of foe Irish and British kingdoms. It would be inconsistent with the form, which in the cause of his travels he had observed in establishing all of the churches of foe Holy Roman Empire. Although foe records of Christ Church place Donat as its first bishop, it should be noted that the monuments which preceded the 11 Century were lost, as foe learned father, Hugh Ward, a minorite of the Irish convent of that order in Louvain, who was admirably skilled in Irish antiquities, justly remarks in his "Life of Saint Rumold", who was a bishop of Dublin and a martyr. The Life of Saint Rumold was dedicated to the then archbishop of Mechlin and Pnmate of Flanders. Yet, in some manner, foe silence (or absence) of old records are at best but a negative argument, and are, consequently, inconclusive. However, foe silences of these records are supplied by biographers and historians, who mention Saint Livinus, who was foe bishop of Dublin in 620 A.D., Saint Wiro, who was foe bishop of Dublin in 650 A.D., Saint Disibod who was Dublin's bishop in 675 A.D., and Saint Cormac who was bishop there in 746 A.D. Saint Gualser, who was a predecessor of Saint Rumold, governed foe Church of Dublin in 770 A.D., and after him was Saint Sedulius in 785 A.D. Moreover, Peter Walsh observed, in his "Prospect of Ireland", that Dublin was a considerable place in foe days of Bennin. Peter Walsh advised that, at foe time of Bennin, or before his time, Dublin had a king, and it was a kingdom of itself, different from that of (the province of) Lemster, and afterwards, foe church was probably destroyed, though the time of its being razed is not exactly known. We do know for certain that Saint Patrick converted and confirmed foe inhabitants of Dublin in the Christian faith, on which subject there is extant an Irish poem, which is ascribed to Saint Benignus (or Benenus), who was Saint Patrick's disciple, and who was his immediate successor in the See of Armagh.

Saint Patrick, in his mission of converting Dublin, may be justly compared to a lamb among wolves but most happily Patrick changed those very wolves into lambs. The zealous labors of this eminent luminary changed this great city into a fruitful and delicious garden. To secure the conquests which Jesus Christ had made through his ministry Saint Patrick's efforts were the occasions for building new churches upon the ruins of idolatrous temples, and furnishing them with virtuous and indefatigable pastors. The founding of monasteries of both sexes for the reception of such as desired to retire from the follies and vanity of this deceitful and uncertain world was another of his significant activities.

These regulations which he imposed upon Ireland and the Irish were not made without much difficulty; yet he found it a task much more arduous to reform foe hearts, and to root out foe paganism and the existing vices when they were fortified by existing customs and long habitual use. Saint Patrick's constant and continuing application to this great work, along with his patience, humility and invincible courage, conquered all opposition to his efforts. He had the comfort to see his labors, which were truly apostolic in nature, crowned with success among the inhabitants of Dublin. Those who were not Christians before his coming were entirely converted to Christianity. Divine Providence, which had selected Saint Patrick for foe total conversion of so populous and noble a city, imbued this champion of the Gospel with all the natural qualities which were requisite for the functions of an apostle. His genius was sublime and capable of foe greatest designs. His heart was fearless, and his charity was not confined to words and thoughts, but it shone out in his works and actions, and it extended itself to foe service of his neighbors to whom he carried foe light of foe Gospel. After Patrick had made a very considerable stay in Dublin he gave its inhabitants and their posterity his blessing, while at the same time, prophetically establishing the future happiness and prosperous state of this ancient and pious metropolis.

Saint Evin who was the abbot of Ross Mac Treoin, which was not far from the River Barrow, in the diocese of Ferns related'around the close of the 6th or the beginning of the 7th Century that, after Saint Patrick had confirmed foe inhabitants of Dublin in foe Christian faith by the zeal of his persuasive preaching, and by the efficacy of his pious miracles, he went to a neighboring village, now called Castleknock, which was the seat and estate of a certain infidel named Murinus (or rather Fullenus, according to Golgan), whom Patrick hoped to convert, and having signified that he wished to speak to Murinus, Patrick was told that he was about to sleep and that he was unwilling to be disturbed. This same message was repeated, to get rid of the importunities of the saint, who found him as obdurate as ever Moses had found Pharaoh to be. (Saint Evin of Ross Mac Treoin has his feast day on foe 22nd ot December) The church at the new bridge of Ross was dedicated to him and that was done by William Marcha (or Mareshal), the Earl of Pembroke, to be added to the building of the priory and convent of Saint John the Evangelist, near Kilkenny. Saint Patrick, having preached through several parts of the province of Leinster, propagated the faith and he settled bishops in foe province. Towards the close of the year 448 A.D., he took a journey to foe province of Munster, which he had hitherto put off, assuming that his precursors had made good progress in these parts, as they had But foe conversion and baptism of Angus (or Aengus), who was the son of Naitfrach, and who was the King of Munster, was reserved for Saint Patrick. King Angus, hearing of his coming into his territories, went out with joy to meet him in the plains of Fennor, and he conducted him with all honor and respect to his royal city of Cashel in County Tipperary, where he and all his family, listening to the words of Saint Patrick, were convinced and baptized. The Saints Ailbe, Declan, Kieran and Ibar visited with the King and Saint Patrick, and they held a synod together, wherein they made several regulations profitable to foe government of the Church and foe establishment of ecclesiastical discipline. These holy men had almost separated because of some issues which were not easily settled, because Saints Ailbe, Declan, Kieran and Ibar, had derived their commissions from the same source as Saint Patrick (from Rome), and they were all antecedent to him in point of time. With reluctance, they submitted to Saint Patrick's authority. The first three, for foe sake of union in the Church, were, after a short contest, easily prevailed on, but Saint Ibar, with some obstinacy, adhered to his own opinions, not willing that anyone, except a native of Ireland, should be acknowledged as the patron of it. It was only after some debates that Saint Ibar was prevailed on to submit, out of respect to the great pains that Saint Patrick had taken, and to his extraordinary success. In this synod, Emly was conferred on Saint Ailbe, and Saint Declan was confirmed as bishop of Ardmore. Saint Kieran was settled into the See of Saigar, which in the process of time, was translated (transferred) to Aghavoe, and from there to Kilkenny. Saint Ibar was created as bishop of Beg Eri. This settled some important issues, and the synod was dissolved. Saint Patrick left Cashel and he traveled through the territory of Ormond to County Kerry, and to foe most remote parts of Munster, in which province he continued preaching and executing other functions of his ministry for about seven years.

The retinue of the saint had changed with the times. His followers included the sons of chieftains and people of various households. They included such people as a cook, a brewer, a bell ringer, a scribe, smiths, shepherds and embroidresses (or nuns). He made handsome gifts to his followers, and to those lands which he visited. His was a generous life style, and that his stature in the community required that he travel like a prince, so that he would attract attention. Wherever he went, he left behind a trail of churches and church leaders.

Patrick proceeded again to Tara, where King Laeghaire was prevailed upon to allow Dubhtach (or Duffy), his chief poet, to relate to Patrick, all of foe extent of existing laws, which was an awesome recital. The King appointed, at Patrick's request, a committee to revise and edit foe laws, and three other kings, three churchmen and three historians were appointed. They labored for three years to do so, and in the end, they produced "Senchus Mor" or "The Great Tradition". There were no new laws, but it was a codification of the old laws, with the addition of some church canons, and the removal of measures that were cruel or arbitrary. Dubhtach placed foe Senchus Mor into verse form.

Saint Patrick founded the Church of Ardagh in the County of Longford in 454 A.D., and he consecrated Saint Mael, (foe son of his sister, Darerca), as bishop there. Saint Mael was not only bishop, but also the abbot of this church. Joceline says "that Saint Mael, like Saint Paul, got his livelihood by the labor of his own hands". Saint Mael is said to have written a book on foe "Virtues and Miracles of Saint Patrick", who was then living. Saint Mael died on foe sixth of February, in 487 A.D., according to the Ulster Annals, but according to others, he died in 488 A.D., five years before his uncle passed away. He was buried in his own Church of Ardagh, and he succeeded by his brother, Saint Melchuo, who (according to Colgan) had followed his uncle, Saint Patrick, out from France into Ireland before the year 454 A.D. Saint Mael was an unwearied companion of the labors of Saint Patrick, and he was a zealous imitator of his virtues.

Saint Patrick went back through the province of Leinster, and then he proceeded to foe northern parts of Ulster, around which he made frequent circuits during the following six years, converting the few who had yet remained as heathens, and comforting and fortifying those in the Faith whom he had brought over to a sincere sense of the Christian religion. He had relinquished the See of Armagh, and he had appointed Saint Benignus (or Binen), as his successor in it. He employed a great part of these six years founding churches, visiting such as had been before founded, and placing proper pastors over them. He settled the Catholic Church in Ireland on a solid foundation, and ordained bishops and priests through foe whole island, according to foe system that he had seen in other countries. Thus, he established foe same kind of church government as was used in the several parts of the Roman empire, and it is observable that in some of the Sees that were fixed by him, their succession has been continued down to this day.

Saint Patrick made a journey to Rome in 461 A.D., to render an account of foe fruits of his mission. The Pope received him with joy, and confirmed him (as Joceline says) in his Apostolate of Ireland, and then sent him back armed with the legatine authority. That writer adds further, that he adorned him with the pallium, (but Roger Hoveden and foe Annals of Mailross deny that the Pope ever sent a pallium to Ireland until the year 1151 or 1152 A.D.) in foe legation of Cardinal Paparo. That was confirmed by Saint Bernard, who, in foe "Life of Saint Malachy" said that the use of the pallium (which is the plentitude of honor) was wanting from the beginning. This shakes the authority of Joceline and the writers subsequent to him, who would make the legatine authority, and foe use of the pall, as early as foe age of Saint Patrick, and it confounds the unguarded assertion of Bailet, who makes foe legatine authority descend in concert with the archbishop of Armagh's authority, from Saint Patrick to his successors. If this were so, it must be that Saint Patrick obtained foe pallium and foe legatine authority for Saint Benignus, for he was at this time foe archbishop of Armagh. Saint Patrick returned from Rome to Ireland in 462 A.D., and stopped in Britain on his way, where he stayed but a short time. He used foe visit in founding monasteries, and repairing such as had been destroyed by the pagans. He filled them with monks, and he laid down rules for them. Probus tells us that Saint Patrick had received the monks' habit from his uncle, Saint Martin, and that foe institutes which were afterwards observed in Ireland were called "Cursus Scotorum". A number of bishops and other holy men accompanied Patrick's return. (There is no conflict with foe use of "Scotorum" in the name of a sacred Irish Institute, as Ireland was formerly described by many as being "Scota" before that name was transferred to Scotland). Saint Patrick lived for thirty years after this, which he employed, for foe most part in retirement and contemplation, being old and unable to perform the active part of his charge. He did not, however, neglect the concerns of the Church which he had planted and watered. He held synods and ecclesiastical councils, by which he rooted up and destroyed whatever was practiced that was contrary to the Catholic faith. He settled and established rules consonant to foe Christian law, to justice and to the ancient Canons of the Church. Saint Nennius says of Saint Patrick (and is followed therein by others), that he wrote 365 alphabets, founded 365 churches, ordained 365 bishops and 3,000 priests. The number of churches, however great, has been under-estimated by Nennius, for Colgan says that they amounted to upwards of 700 churches, of which he names 196, in addition to 66 in foe province of Leinster alone, which were not mentioned. To foe frivolous objections started by Dr. Ledwich against the numbers set forth by Nennius, we have opposed foe satisfactory observations of Dr. Lloyd. From the same work, we submit to foe readers' perusal the following additional explanation of those numbers. "Perhaps foe meaning might be, that besides those thirty bishops, which Saint Patrick ordained for foe bishops' Sees, he also ordained as many suffragans as there were rural deaneries; in each of which there were eight or nine parish priests, taking one deanery with another. If Saint Patrick so far consulted foe ease of foe bishops or foe people's convenience, he might do it without altering the species of church government; but no man that writes of foe church government of Ireland, speaks of anything there in those times which was otherwise that it was in foe Churches of the Roman Empire".

Saint Patrick spent most of the last thirty years of his life between the monasteries of Saballum (or Saul) and Armagh. He was not easily drawn out of these retreats, unless some urgent business relating to his function called him abroad. He called himself a "resident of Ireland", and he lived a simple life in spite of foe pomp that sometimes surrounded him. His life was austere, as he slept on a stone, and said prayers each morning and night. He immersed himself in cold water each morning and night up to his neck, and wore simple clothing consisting usually of a hair shirt next to his body, with a hooded robe of unbleached wool over it. While he fasted often, he was said to have had no prescribed rules for eating, and ate whatever was placed before him. His passage through Ireland was generally afoot, and in later life, he rode in a chariot, and joined in manual labor.

Pleased with foe success of his labors, he concluded his ministry and his life with meditation and prayer in the abbey of Saul on the 17th of March 493 A.D., and he was buried at Down. When he was near death, he was visited by Saint Brigid, who offered him a winding (burial) sheet that she had spun and woven. He accepted it with a heartfelt gratitude. As a young girl, Brigid had gone to listen to his preaching, and she had fallen asleep, and Saint Patrick had made sure that she was not awakened. His last Benediction was to foe nuns of Saint Brigid's Order. In later years, foe remains of Saint Brigid and those of Saint Columbkille would be added to Saint Patrick's grave.

The funeral services extended over a period of 12 days. P. W. Joyce, a more modern writer, says that St. Patrick died on 17th of March 465 A.D. at the age of 78, an age that "seemed to him most probable". Others ascribe a much longer life span for him, extending to 120 years. Like the place of his birth, so foe place of his death and burial, is also much contested. Some confirm that he died and was buried at Glastonbury in England, and William of Malmsbury is of this opinion in his antiquities of that abbey. In another of his works, he adds this cautionary remark to his assertion, namely "if we may venture to believe it". Capgrave also speaks dubiously of the matter, for having related that Saint Patrick was buried at Glastonbury, he adds "I leave the truth of this to foe judgment of foe reader". John of Tinmouth affirms it only as the opinion of the moderns. Other late English writers hold to the same opinion and are induced to do so, perhaps from an equivocal signification of the word Dunlethglaisse and Glastonbury. This notion is confirmed by a passage related by Usher out of a manuscript life of Saint Patrick remaining in foe public library in Cambridge, which was written by an Irishman, and wherein it is said that his resurrection would be at Dunelege-Glaisse. Added to this passage is "Quod nos dicimus in nostra lingua Glastingabyry" (Glastonbury), for there were three Patricks in early times besides our Saint. They were: 1. The first was called Patrick the elder, and he was a disciple of the great Saint Patrick. According to some writers, he was Saint Patrick's suffragan in the See of Armagh 2. The second was Patrick, Junior, who was a disciple and nephew to our Saint Patrick. 3. The third was the abbot, Patrick, who flourished about the years 850 A.D. One of these four Patricks is said to have been buried at Glastonbury, but which of them it was is uncertain. (It has been foe practice of English historians to alter the histories of Ireland in their writings, which were often commissioned by foe governing parties of England, to erase or eradicate the way that the English government has tried to totally eradicate foe Irish people as a nation and to wipe out all traces of Catholicity, in favor of the establishment of the Church of England as the sole religion of the British Isles).

I do not know on what authority Saint Bernard affirmed that Saint Patrick was buried at Armagh, for all Irish writers agree that Saint Patrick was buried at Down in Ireland. Thus, Saint Fiech, bishop of Sletty, who was the disciple of Saint Patrick, asserts that when he sickened, he had a desire to go and to be buried in Armagh, but was hindered by foe interposition of an Angel; and the ancient scholiast on that writer says "that he was at Saul when he fell sick, and began his journey towards Armagh, desiring to be buried there". The writer of foe third life of Saint Patrick, supposed to be one of his disciples, asserts that he sickened at Saul and died at Down. Another writer, supposed to be Saint Elerane the Wise, who wrote foe "Life of Saint Patrick" toward the close of the 6th Century, relates that a battle was fought between the Airtherians and Ulidians concerning "the property of his body", and concludes that it was buried at Down. Saint Evin, in the tripartite life of Saint Patrick, which is ascribed to him, agrees to this. Saint Ultan in foe "Life of Saint Bridgid" is positive in that particular, and from these and other authorities, we may give Down the honor of containing his sacred remains, with which several English writers agree. Cambrensis affirms that the bodies of Saint Patrick, Saint Bridgid (or Brigid) and Saint Columba (or Columbkille) were not only buried at Down, but were there taken up from there, and they were translated (moved) into foe shrines by John de Courcey, who sent a supplication to Rome on that account. To this purpose, Cambrensis gives us these verses: Hi tres in Duno tumulantur in uno Bridgida, Patricius atque Columba pius. In Down, three Saints one grave do fill, Bridgid, Patrick and Columkille or

One tomb three saints contains; one vault below Does Patrick, Bridgid and Columba show.

or rather thus: Three Saints one shrine in Down's cathedral fill Patrick and Bridgid too with Columkille.

When Saint Patrick died, there was a change in the religious aspect of Ireland. The Druids started to regain some of their former influence, and some of the Irish clergy left Ireland for monasteries in Wales, Scotland and foe European continent. However, for the most part, they returned to Ireland, inspired with even greater zeal to carry on foe works of Christianity in Ireland.

The English invasion of Ireland reached Ulster in 1185 A.D. When, in 1186 A. D., Saint Patrick's relics were found, together with those of Saint Columbkille and Saint Bridgid, by Malachy, who was foe third bishop of Down, they were, by the Pope's Nuncio, on foe 9th of June, most solemnly translated (moved) to a more honorable place, which was prepared in foe Cathedral of Down, and which afterwards bore foe name of Saint Patrick. At the translation of these sacred relics, the assistants, besides Cardinal Vivian of Saint Stephen's in Monte Celio, (who was a Legate a latere of the Apostolic See, sent for that purpose by Pope Urban III), nine bishops, several abbots and other dignitaries, as also John de Courcey, (who was appointed by England as a prince of Ulster). It was enacted in that venerable assembly, that the solemnity of the finding of those relics should be celebrated yearly (annually) for ever, on the 9th of June, with an octave, as appears from foe historical lessons of the divine Office composed on that occasion, which was re-printed by Thomas Messingham and John Colgan from the ancient breviaries made use of in Ireland before foe so-called Reformation. It is indeed true that this office is not composed with such exactness as is to be wished. However, if this feast be ever revived, that defect may be soon supplied from foe Offices which are either in foe Parisian or Cluny breviary, on November foe 8th, retaining only the historical lessons of the second nocturn. In some ancient martyrologies, the feast of this translation (movement of relics) is deferred to foe 10th of June, on account of Saint Columba's (Columbkille's) solemnity, which is kept on the 9th of June. In Saint Patrick's Church at Roan, it is observed on the 17th day of March, which seems to be foe most proper day. The reason of its being celebrated with an octave is, because Saint Patrick's feast always occurs in Lent, and is therefore kept without an octave, (though not so in Murcia). This is, in some measure, to supply that defect. The Church of Down and Saint Patrick's shrine were profaned by Leonard Lord Grey, lord deputy of Ireland, in 1538 A. D., but his sacrilege was punished by the loss of his head on a scaffold on Towerhill. (Lord Grey was noted for his sending out of "killing parties" from the English Pale, an enclosed area surrounding Dublin. These Killing Parties slew all Irish that they met, and laid foe countryside to waste and famine).

The deference paid by the faithful to the mortal remains of the saints has been a most ancient practice. The Marcionites, who opposed it, were reputed heretics, as Magnus relates in his fourth book against Theosion Vigilantius, who impugned the said devotion, and was described as a heretic. Saint Jerome wrote against foe heresiarch. It is recorded, in foe 19th verse of foe 15th chapter of Exodus, that Moses quitted Egypt to go into foe Land of Promise to search for foe bones of foe patriarch, Joseph. The wise and prudent king Josias, after having destroyed foe altars of foe idols, burned foe bones of foe false prophets, which were made use of in foe greatest of abominations. Having found in foe same place, foe sepulchre of a prophet of the true God, Josias revered his ashes, and prevented them from being profaned by anyone touching them.

The same fourth book of Kings mentions that, after foe prophet Eliseus was dead and buried, certain men carrying foe corpse of a dead man to his grave, were frightened by robbers, and cast down the body into the prophet's sepulchre, which as soon as it touched his bones, came to life again. The end of this great miracle, wrought by the Almighty, and recorded in Scripture, was to let foe people then present, and their posterity, know how much he valued and esteemed foe very bones of His great servant, when He thus inverted foe order of nature to manifest it. Again, in Acts xix., it is mentioned that "God wrought special miracles by the hands of Paul, so that from his body were brought unto foe sick, handkerchiefs and aprons, and foe diseases departed from them, and the evil spirits went out of them". The same Acts record, in the fifteenth chapter, verses 12 and 15 "that by the hands of foe apostles were wrought many signs and wonders among the people; insomuch as they brought forth the sick into every street and laid them on beds and couches, that at least the shade of Peter, passing by, might overshadow them".

Eusebius Caesarienis, in foe 10th chapter of foe fourth book of his Ecclesiastical History, gives an account of foe martyrdom of Saint Polycarp, who was a disciple of the apostles. The account that Eusebius was extracted from a letter from the Church of Smyrna, which was said to have been written about Pontius, and it related to foe whole trial and execution of Christ by that prelate, which he says was extant in his days, and which was seen by himself. In it, as Eusebius affirms, we are informed that, when Saint Polycarp was burned, the Christians gathered his bones with more earnestness than if they were precious jewels, and more pure than gold, and they laid them up in a proper place. Saint Gregory Nysson, in his funeral oration of Theodorus, the martyr, speaks thus of his soul and body: "The soul indeed" says he, "since it went on high, is at rest in its own place, and, being dissolved from the body, lives together with those of its own likeness; but the venerable and immaculate body, its instrument, being dressed and adorned, is with much honor and veneration deposed in a magnificent and sacred place". Saint Austin wrote this to Quintianus concerning foe relics of Saint Stephen, which he sent by the bearers of his letters: "They carry indeed foe relics of the most blessed and most glorious martyr, Saint Stephen, which your holiness is not ignorant how conveniently you ought to honor as we have done". Saint Gregory Nazianzen, in his oration on Saint Cyprian says: "the dust of Saint Cyprian can, with faith, do all things, as they know who have experienced it, and have transmitted the miracles to us". Saint Chrysostom speaks thus of the relics of Saint Baby la: "The miracles, which are daily wrought by the martyrs, abundantly confirm our opinion." Saint Jerome, in his book against Vigilantius, in which he calls him a new monster who merits the name of Dormitantius, thus says: "Vigilantius is sorry that the relics of foe martyrs should be covered with a precious veil, and not rather bundled together in rags or sackcloth, and cast on foe dunghill, (so) that Vigilantius alone, drunk and asleep, might be adored".

Several national and provincial councils in foe primitive church have decreed that no altar should be consecrated, except that relics be set in them. Saint Athanasius, Saint Cyril of Jerusalem, Saint Basil, Saint Justin, Saint Epiphanius, Saint Paulinus Eusebius, Emissenus, Theodoretus, Sulpitius, Severus, Saint Leo, Saint Gregory the Great, Venerable Bede and many more in sundry places extol foe veneration which all antiquity had for foe relics of foe Saints.

All ecclesiastical historians, Eusebius, Socrates, Theodoretus, Sonzomen, Evagrius, Nicephorus, Ruffinus, Sulpitus and many others record innumerable miracles wrought at the shrines and relics of Saints. Saint Austin, in foe 8th chapter of the twenty second book of the City of God, enumerates more than twenty miracles wrought at the altars where the relics of Saint Stephen, the proto-martyr were preserved.

Thus, much by way of digression, let us return to the great Saint Patrick. He was truly mortified in the flesh, but enlivened in the spirit. He constantly girded his loins with a rough and coarse hair-cloth, and he labored for his livelihood, like Saint Paul, in fishing, tilling foe ground, and particularly in building churches. He generally kept in his company some lepers, whom he served and attended most carefully, washing their sores and ulcers with his own hands, and providing them with all manner of necessities. His humility was so extraordinary and great, that he was not in the least elated with foe graces which the Almighty bestowed upon him in great abundance, but thought and styled himself as THE GREATEST SINNER IN THE WORLD AND THE MOST CONTEMPTIBLE AMONG MEN. From this humility proceeded this sweet and amiable conversation, by which he accommodated himself to all sorts and conditions of people, and so he gained their affections, such that, (as the apostle speaks of foe Galatians) "if it could be done, they would have plucked their eyes out and given them to him". They pressed our Saint to accept of very large presents, which he always refused, except what he employed in relieving foe indigent members of Jesus Christ, or in erecting altars to His august and most adorable Name. This holy and austere man, the luster of whose virtues had long charmed and edified the world was, in a manner, sustained by his zeal alone. No matter how painful were his functions, he acquitted himself with promptitude and joy. The least of his business, in all of his travels, was to labor, so that the way that Saint Chrysostom styles Saint Paul may not be properly applied to this apostolic prelate, in calling him a winged laborer, like Pennatus Agricola, for he ran through the world with an incredible swiftness and, as it were, on the wing, yet not without labor, nor was that labor without fruit. It was the rooting out of idol worshipers, whose idols could no more stand before him than could Dagon in foe presence of the ark. Patrick acted in reforming manners, establishing Christian piety, and bringing numbers of people under foe banner of the Cross of Christ. He left no corner of the Irish kingdom un visited in his efforts. The fatigues of so laborious and difficult a mission might seem a very sufficient mortification. The badness of foe roads, foe great variety of bad weather, and foe stupidity and obstinacy of those he had to deal with, gave him trouble enough to found an excuse for his not practicing austerities upon himself, but this second Paul, fearing that whilst he preached to others, he should become a reprobate himself, was not so tender of his own person. He joined rigorous fasts and other penitential severities to add to his apostolic labors. Bailet relates that his biographers mention him to have rehearsed the whole psalter daily with a great number of prayers, and that he mortified himself every night by repeating fifty psalms in the water, and then taking a little sleep upon the bare ground, with a stone under his head for a bolster, until he was fifty years of age. (Self mortification was quite common among foe prelates of foe time).

WE WILL CONCLUDE WITH THE FOLLOWING REFLECTIONS, EXTRACTED FROM THE REVEREND ALBAN BUTLER'S SKETCH OF OUR SAINT'S LIFE

The apostles of nations were all interior men, endowed with a sublime spirit of prayer. The salvation of souls, being a supernatural end, foe instruments ought to bear a proportion to it, and preaching should not proceed from a grace which is supernatural. To undertake this holy function without a competent stock of sacred learning, and without foe necessary precautions of human prudence and industry, would be to tempt God. But sanctity of life and foe union of foe heart with God, are qualifications far more essential than science, eloquence and human talents. Many almost kill themselves with studying to compose elegant sermons, which flatter the ear, and yet produce very little fruit. Their hearers applaud their parts, but very few are converted. Most preachers now-a-days have learning, but are not sufficiently grounded in true sanctity and a true spirit of devotion. Interior humility, purity of heart, recollection, and foe spirit of assiduous practice of holy prayers are foe principal preparations for the ministry of foe word, and foe true means of acquiring foe science of foe Saints. A short devout meditation and fervent prayer which kindle a fire in the affections, furnish more thoughts proper to move foe hearts of the hearers, and inspire them more with sentiments of true virtue than many years employed barely in reading and study. Saint Patrick and other apostolic men were dead to themselves and the world, and animated with the spirit of perfect charity and humility, by which they were prepared by God to be such powerful instruments of His grace, as, by foe miraculous change of so many hearts to plant in entire barbarous nations not only foe faith, but also foe spirit of Christ. Preachers who have not attained to a disengagement and purity of heart suffer the petty interest of self-love secretly to mingle themselves in their zeal and charity, and we have reason to suspect that they inflict deeper wounds on their own souls than they are aware of, and produce not in others the good which they imagine.

THE APPENDIX FOLLOWS (No, I didn't remove it)

You should remember that none of Ireland's pre-medieval saints were canonized, and that included Saint Patrick, as too little could be proven of their deeds and miracles, and in many instances, even of their existence.

There were three orders of saints in the 8th Century 1. At foe time of Saint Patrick, which was the 5th Century, all bishops were thought to be holy and distinguished saints, and full of foe spirit of the Holy Ghost. Many were founders of their own churches. 2. There were a few bishops who were thought to be saints, and many priests who were, and they were mainly those who founded monasteries and centers of Irish monasticism. 3. There were anchorites and hermits who lived within their own communities, and who had saintly qualities.

St. Patrick, in his writings, said that he dreamed about the voices of those who were near the Wood of Foclut which was near the Western Sea (or The Atlantic Ocean), and they asked him to go among them. He had several dreams that inspired him to go back to Ireland after he had escaped (or was released) from his captivity there. Foclut is near Killala Bay in County Mayo.

According to St. Patrick, jury trials were old, even back in his time. Senchus Mor (Shan anus More) - It was the Book of Brehon Laws that was collected and edited by St. Patrick in 439 A.D., or under his supervision. Fenechas - These were the laws of Ancient Ireland, sometimes improperly called the Brehon laws.

Saint Patrick was foe first to introduce Latin into foe celebration of foe Mass. He was also the first to encourage foe writing down of foe Tales of Ireland, whatever they might be.

Saint Patrick in Connaught He was at the Forest of Fochuch (note the spelling difference) in Tir Amhalgaidh (Tyrawley now Tirawly) in County Mayo, which was foe scene of his vision representing the conversion of Ireland. He had visited back to it, in foe course of his missions and he had converted King Enda Crom and his seven sons to Christianity. He baptized twelve thousand persons in the water of a well called Tobar Enidhirc (or Enadhirc). There were many monasteries in Wales and Ireland with many hundreds of monks in each of them in the past. The chief glory of the Celtic monasteries was its missionary work. The results are to be seen all over Europe.

In the ancient division land of Skreen, a hill with church ruins, is where St. Patrick lighted the first paschal fire in 433 A.D. The Hill of Slane nearby has the remains of the Hermitage of St. Ere. A fine spring of water called foe Well of St. Patrick is nearby and is much resorted to by the devout.

Croagh Patrick is the scene of some of the interesting episodes in the life of St. Patrick and is celebrated in legend as foe place where he drove all of the demon-reptiles of Ireland into foe sea. The faithful emulate him by climbing "The Reek" on his special day, and many have done it with bare foot, in penitence. One of the many stories about Saint Patrick was that he was atop his mountain, and a vast flock of hideous black birds swooped down upon him, with savage screams, making night and day horrible with their cries. Another story is told of one old serpent that resisted our good Saint Patrick in his efforts to drive them all into foe sea. For this serpent, Saint Patrick made a box, and he tried to place the serpent inside of it. The serpent complained, saying that the box was too small, but Saint Patrick said that he had made it to just foe right size, and that it should be quite comfortable. Eventually, the serpent got in to prove that the box was too small, and Saint Patrick slammed the lid down, and cast the box into the sea. For this great act, our good Saint Patrick is often shown as banishing serpents waving a shamrock leaf.

Saint Patrick's Cross is the same shape as that of Saint Andrew's Cross (an X), except that it has different colors. Saint Patrick's Cross is red, on a white background.

Patrick 389?- 461? The following information seems erroneous! St Patrick was born in England (?),somewhere in southwest Britain might be more accurate (?), at a time when the Romans were abandoning foe area and before the English had appeared on the scene. He was educated as a Christian. He was captured in a raid upon his homeland (Gaul?) and he was transported to Ireland as a slave, where he spent six years as a swineherd. He escaped (?) from Ireland in a ship which was going to Gaul (France) (?). He lived in Gaul where he became a monk, and then he returned to his home in Britain (?). After his return, he dreamed one night that a man came to him with a paper bearing these words, "The Voice of foe Irish" and at the same time he heard the Irish calling "We pray thee, holy youth, to come and walk amongst us as before". Saint Patrick decided that this was a missionary call to Ireland. He returned to Gaul and spent fourteen years preparing for his work. He arrived in Ireland with the title of "bishop", an extensive entourage and the Pope's blessing. He began foe work which was to make him foe Patron Saint of foe island. It has been said that "there were no Christians in Ireland when Patrick began his work and no pagans when he died". This is not true, but he did do much to establish Christianity firmly in the island, building churches and monasteries and converting people. This, while fierce tribal chieftains ruled the land, and there was only a semblance of order.

Some of Saint Patrick's converts to Christianity did not understand the doctrine of The Holy Trinity. Saint Patrick clarified the matter by holding up a shamrock with three leaves emanating from one stem as an example of "Three in One".

In Antrim, near Glenarm Castle, the home of the McDonnell family since 1750 A. D., the hill of Slieve Mish is sited nearby. This is the hill where St. Patrick tended the swine of the chieftain, Milcho, during foe term of his capture by the Irish. "Paud" is foe Norse word for "toad". "Paudrig" means "toad expeller". It is not known how the speculation arose that gave credit to Saint Patrick for driving the snakes and toads from Ireland, after he prayed on Croagh Patrick, and perhaps it may have arisen from the interpretation of his name by foe Vikings. The Vikings invaded Ireland around the 9th Century, and they would destroy libraries and churches wherever they found them.

When Saint Patrick was journeying to Rome, he stayed with Saint Vincent and his brother Contemplatives at foe monastery at Le'rins, where he also received some training. He completed his preparation for his visit to Ireland at Rome and received his mission from Pope Celestine. One of Saint Patrick's writings was an epistle to Coroticus, reproaching him for cruelty and denouncing slavery. He also wrote what we now know as "The Confessions of St. Patrick" and it is said by some that he lived to foe age of 120 years, but not by others.

The chief bard at St. Patrick's confrontation with King Laeghaire (Leary) was Dubtach (Duffy). Saint Patrick had lighted a Paschal fire on the Hill of Slane on a forbidden night which was the Feast of Beltane or November Eve. Dubtach was foe first one to be converted by St. Patrick at foe meeting that took place between foe king and St. Patrick about the Paschal fire.

St. Patrick's Lorica (or Breastplate) is a famous prayer. It was said to have been composed by Saint Patrick to preserve him from the snares of King Laeghaire as he approached Tara, foe seat of the Monarch of Ireland. King Laeghaire's, men who were sent to ambush the Saint, only saw a deer. Portions of the prayer were repeated by foe Irish peasants during their night prayers for many centuries. It is called the Feth Fiadha or the "Instructions of the Deer". It has also been called the "Deer Cry" or "The Cry of the Deer". Part of it is: I bind myself this day The strong virtue of the Infinity The Faith of the Trinity in Unity The Creator of foe Elements.

In the World of St. Patrick, foe following existed: - There were four kingdoms which had over 180 petty kings and kingdoms called Tuatha beneath them. - Each tuath was called a kingdom and each kingdom had a righ (king). - The tuath was capable of maintaining 3000 or less (down to 700) soldiers in an emergency. The rights and duties relating to this responsibility were set forth in the Book of Rights. - In foe 5th Century, there were no cities in Ireland. The land was all used for agricultural and grazing purposes, or was wooded or bogland. There were no great roads, except foe Five Roads that led to Tara, and trade was "in kind" (or in kine). Cattle, horses and things like silverware were used for barter. - There were five classes of people. They were Kings nobles freemen with property freemen without property non-free people Professional men (physicians, bards, historians, brehons and artificers) were given the status of freemen. More information on this subject may be found elsewhere in these records.

On St. Patrick's Day, some pilgrims visit St. Patrick's Well in Clonmell and drink the waters. There are many Saint Patrick's Wells in Ireland, and I have been to a few of them.

Saint Patrick's Purgatory is a cave on Station Island in Lough Derg in County Donegal. It has been a resort of sorts for pilgrims since foe 13th Century. The legend about foe place is that Christ revealed foe cave to Saint Patrick, and told him that all who visited there in penitence and faith would gain a full indulgence of their sins, and that they would gain sight of the torments of Hell and the joys of Heaven. It was blocked up on March 17 in 1497 A. D. by order of foe Pope. The Order of Saint Patrick, which is a British knighthood order, not involving the Irish, was created in 1793 A. D. by King George III of England. It originally consisted of foe Sovereign (or King of England), foe Lord Lieutenant of Ireland (appointed by the King) and 15 knights (enlarged in 1833 to 22 knights). It adopted foe motto of "Quis Separabit?" In 1968, foe Order consisted of only the Sovereign and two knights, and we know of no elections to it since 1924. A quote from Lever, the famous Irish writer, was "Clear foe Green Isle of the horrible vermin St. Patrick forgot when banishing the others".

The Life of St. Patrick - Tripartite It is ascribed to St. Kevin - the 7th Century as translated by Colgan

The gift of St. Patrick to St. MacCarthen was the Domnach (or Donagh or Dona) which was an ancient relic called a condach described as Domnach - Airgidh. It is a type of container which was said to have protected a copy of St. Patrick's gospel. While some writers have described these containers as "shrines", I do not think of them in that context, but in another sense, they often do contain what we can sometimes think of as "relics" that belonged to saints, such as their gospels. The City of Armagh has some marble streets and houses. St. Patrick founded one of his earliest churches and an adjoining school there around 455 A.D. Since then, it has been the ecclesiastical center of Ireland. In 1552 A. D., the archbishop of Dublin was authorized to call himself the Primate of Ireland, but the archbishop of Armagh is foe Primate of All Ireland. Armagh Cathedral is an old Catholic church converted to Protestant use. It has been rebuilt many times. The Danes destroyed the city and the church seventeen times. Emain Macha, foe royal palace, was located on a rath (which was usually a raised fortification area) two miles from Armagh. It was built by Macha of foe Golden Hair, wife of the king of Ulster. For six hundred years, it was foe residence of the Ulster kings. Here was where foe Knights of the Red Branch met during the 1st Century and the Fianna or Fena of the 3rd Century. The Fianna were an army established by Cormac Mac Art to protect the throne of the monarchy. "Deidre of the Sorrows" of foe "Tales of the Sons of Usnach" was lodged there in the House of foe Red Branch Knights. There is nothing much left of Emain Macha, much like at Tara.

Downpatrick was one of St. Patrick's early foundations, about 440 A.D. In one grave were buried St. Patrick, St. Columba (or Columbkille) and Saint Bridget. Saint Bridget died February 1, in 525 A. D.

St. Patrick was a slave to Milchu in North Dalaradia, County Antrim, at the Valley of Braid, near Broughshane, five miles from Ballymena. He was located near the Hill of Slemish and he spent six years tending cattle there. He either escaped or was released, and went to Brittany, became a missionary in time, and his sleep was troubled by visions. He heard voices calling to him from Ireland for help. Bishop Germanicus of Auxerre may have sent St. Patrick to Rome, from where he later went to Ireland. He landed there in 432 A.D. at a site in County Wicklow. He left again, sailing northerly to land at Inis Patrick, an isle off the Skerries at the mouth of the Boyne River. He halted at Strangford Lough, which is currently the dividing area between the Republic of Ireland and the Six Counties. He converted Dichu, who provided a grant of land for a church at a place called Saul. He went to foe area of his captivity in an attempt to convert Milcho, but upon hearing of his approach, and being afraid, Milch set fire to his house and died in foe flames. With a party or entourage accompanying him, as was foe custom, St. Patrick pitched his tent on the Hill of Slane. The location, though far away, is visible to Tara at Beltane, which is Easter Eve. Although all fires but that of foe king were supposed to be extinguished at that night, St. Patrick lit a fire, contrary to the prevailing customs, at Easter time upon the hill. King Laoghaire saw foe fire and wondered who it was that was disregarding the edict against fires upon that night. The story of what happened next, The Cry of The Deer, the details that next transpired are well documented in many of the books on the Life of St. Patrick. St. Patrick converted Ere, a Brehon lawyer and toured County Meath. He also converted Connall, who was King Leoghaire's brother, at a place called Donagh Patrick. He then went to Connaught where he had visions again and he stayed there for seven years. His policy or procedure was to try to convert foe chief of foe area, obtain a piece of land from him and build a church. Often, he appointed the chief as the Abbot of the area, and he appointed bishops. Next, his travels took him to Ulster, where he established a See at Armagh in the county of that name. He induced King Daire to give to him the high land by performing a miraculous deed. He then went to Naas, and to foe King of Leinster's palace. After that, he went to Munster and back again to Ulster. He died there. One story is told about a contest between the churches at Saul and at Armagh as to where Saint Patrick should be buried. Two untamed oxen were yoked together and to the funeral cart and were left free to go their way. They traveled to Downpatrick, where he was buried. Since 700 A.D., his remains were at Downpatrick, and then they were transplanted to Armagh. Converted chiefs conferred houses and land for use as churches. They also provided foe vassals who were connected with these lands and properties. The "head" person was called the "comarba" or co-heir, and he was the inheritor of both the spiritual and temporal rights of the founder, and he thus obtained the right to be a chieftain in relation to foe Freemen of his tribe, as well as the larger rights over the vassals who were settled upon the monastic demesne of foe chief. Although Ireland was converted by St. Patrick and it entered into foe spiritual world of foe Holy Roman Empire, it was not until 1152 A.D. that Rome got full authority over foe Irish churches, and it occurred at foe synod of Kells. By contrast, at 697 A.D., a system of national education was set up at Birre in County Offaly, which is only a few miles away from the Corcoran farm.

The City of Dublin was established by the Danes in 919 A.D. It was on College Green in Dublin that the Irish chiefs took their seats on the steep hill to administer foe Parliament of their nation.

In his letter to Coroticus bewailing English oppression of Catholic Irish, when Prince Coroticus had raided Ireland, and had slain and carried off the Irish, Saint Patrick said "Is is a crime to be born in Ireland? Have we not foe same God as ye?"

Saint Patrick also said in his "Confession" "By the tongue, wisdom will be discerned, and understanding and knowledge, and foe learning of the truth". In his writings, A. M. Sullivan, in the second half of the 1800's said that when King Laoghaire summoned St. Patrick to himself for lighting a Paschal fire, and the saint was en route to meet with him, foe earth shook, darkness fell and opposing magicians were seized and tossed into foe air.

SOME PROOMINENT EARLY IRISH MISSIONARIES

After the coming and passing of Saint Patrick, many Irish missionaries were educated in Ireland, and they left their homeland to travel across the world to preach God's faith. Between 250 B. C. to 250 A. D., or a period of about 500 years, Ireland achieved some of her greatest power and military glory. During the next 500 years, after Saint Patrick had converted Ireland to Christianity, foe country became noted as a land of Christian teachings. Where foe Irish kings had led by the sword, foe saints carried foe cross of faith. This was particularly true between foe 6th and 8th Centuries Anno Domini, when it was known as the land of Saints and Scholars. Ireland had many churches, castles, monasteries, convents, universities and similar sites that grew through foe ages. Many of those who came to visit and to learn, stayed there. Among foe noted ones were these: Columcille Columbanus Saint Gall who evangelized Helvetia Saint Frigidian who was the bishop of Lucca in Italy. Saint Linius who was martyred in Flanders. Saint Argobast who was the bishop of Strasburg Saint Killian who was the apostle of Franconia.

SAINT COLUMCILLE (or Saint Columbkille or Saint Columba)

Columba (521 A. D. to 597 A. D.)

The Hebrides Islands were called The Western Islands. The Irish Saint Columba, on Iona in 597 A.D., said "Unto this place, albeit so small and poor, great homage shall be paid not only by kings and people of foe Scots but by foe rulers of barbarous and distant nations, with their people, also". He was born in County Donegal, and he was a direct descendant of Neil of the Nine Hostages. His feast day is on June 9th. His fame was equal in both Ireland and Scotland, because of the time that he spent on the island of Iona, off the coast of Scotland. From an early age, it was intended that he would become a Catholic priest, and he was given in fosterage to a priest. Later, he would study under one or more of the great teachers of his time. After he was ordained into the priesthood, he spent some fifteen years preaching and teaching in Ireland. Saint Columbcille founded monasteries at Iona in Scotland, at Durrow in County Offaly and at Kells in County Meath. He wrote the Cathach of Columba before 634 A. D. of which only 58 pages are left. It was probably 563 A. D. when he left Ireland for Iona. His exile was an act of Penance for his responsibility in starting foe bloody battle of Cooldrevne, which had been fought two years earlier. At that time of his exile, foe Picts of Scotland were still heathens, but there were some Irish settlers in Argyle in Scotland who were Christians. With twelve companions, Columbcille settled on Iona, which is located off the southwest corner of Mull. The island of Iona was only five square miles in size. It became foe center of Celtic Christianity. Missionaries were sent out from it for foe conversion of Scotland and England. They mingled with the Picts, and one of the Pictish kings was greatly impressed by Saint Columbcille's miracles, and he became a Catholic. One of these miracles was foe driving away of a water monster from the River Ness by the sign of the cross. Saint Columbcille made extensive journeys on the British mainland, and he founded three or four other monasteries for those followers who joined him. One of these settlements was on the island of Hinba, to which he frequently retired. Saint Adamnan referred to Columbcille as an "island soldier" when he wrote the story of Saint Columbcille's life, about a century after he had died. That story is a narrative of unusual happenings or miracles, and it was a great tribute to a man who was loving to everyone, happy in appearance, and who rejoiced in his love of t h e H o l y s p i r i t . . Many kings and chiefs are buried on Iona, so that their dust might mingle with that of the "blessed isle . In foe 8th Century, the Vikings took over the island and they controlled it until the 13th Century. After that, native chieftains ruled over it under semi-feudal conditions until 1748 A. D. A great depression followed and foe rents became excessively high. Many of foe occupants migrated to America. The Great Famine of 1845 A. D. to 1849 A. D. in Ireland was transported to Iona in 1848 with the extension of foe potato blight, and foe entire population of foe island was on the edge of starvation. Many, at that time, left for Australia. The Hebrides are composed of the Outer and Inner Hebrides. There are five hundred islands of which one hundred and fifty are inhabited. The total size is 2,812 square miles and about one ninth is cultivated. The scenery is wild and picturesque.

SAINT COLUMBANUS (c. 543 -615)

A West Leinster native, early on he chose the cloistered life. Pride in being Irish was a feature of this handsome, but stern and unbending man, who was devoted to Christianity. He was not the same person as Saint Columba, who was also known as Saint Columbkille.

St. Comgall, his mentor at Bangor, personally selected Columbanus' twelve traveling companions, and he included Gall and others who would also become saints. They landed in Scotland, and then went to Burgundy in France, around 585 A. D. People were awed by their modesty, patience and humility. The fame of Columbanus drew crowds, and as he governed there for 25 years, sick people came to be cured through prayer. Three monasteries were built, including the celebrated Abbey of Luxeuil in 590 A. D. From these beginnings, his disciples would expand to found some 300 other abbeys. A perpetual service of praise, known as "Laus perennis" was adopted by Saint Columbanus, and it followed choir after choir, day and night. His rules for monastic life were extremely severe, and were not modified during his lifetime. His maintenance of certain Irish dates and customs conflicted with those of local bishops, and resulted in correspondence with the Pope. In 610 A. D., after criticizing the royal family for its use of concubines, Columbanus was deported from France.

He was shipwrecked on his trip into exile. He went to Bregenz on Lake Constance, and then over the Alps to Bobbio in 614 A. D., to start a great abbey. A year later, he died, still preaching love of God and of neighbor.

His abbey at Luxeuil in France remained until the middle of the 18th Century, but the French Revolution ended it. Another one at Bobbio, in Italy, faded earlier, and was closed by French intervention in 1803. The Columban Fathers became a part of foe Benedictines in the 8th century. Columbanus (also known as Columba and Columban) is honored on November 23. His works include Pemtencia "Seventeen Short Sermons", "Six Epistles", "Latin Poems" and the last was "A Monastic Rule He is one of foe greatest of the Irish saints, but not as great as Columbkille, who was also called "Columba or Columbanus at times.

SAINT COLUMBA OF TERRYGLASS, THE SON OF CRIMTHAIN

There are many saints named Columba, including very important ones such as Columbkille (Columba or Columbanus of Iona), and Columbanue (or Cilumba) who was a major missionary to Europe. The Martyrology of Gormon records some 15 other ones. This is about another Columba, who was active only in Ireland, and who flourished around County Meath. He was known as Columba of Terryglass.

This Saint Columba, who was foe son of Crimthain (or Crinthain) was a native of Leinster, and he was, like so many others a disciple of Saint Finnian of Clonard He also became a great master of spiritual life. He is best known for founding and governing the monastery of Tyrdaglas (or Tir-da-glass which is now Terryglass in County Tipperary) in foe province of Munster, and he died of a pestilence (plague) which raged in Ireland in 552 A.D. He was buried within the precincts of his own monastery at Terryglass. It was said that he visited to Tours in France, and that he brought relics back from Saint Martin who was there. Columba, foe son of Crimthain, had completed his studies, and he took charge of Caemban, Fintan and Mocumin, who are numbered among foe saints of Ireland were associates. He had founded a celebrated monastery at Tirdaglas (Terryglas), near to Lough Derg, on the River Shannon early in foe 6th Century (around 548 A.D.). He was foe first Abbot of Clonenagh and afterward, he became the first Abbot over Tirdaglass. He died in 548 A. D. Clonenagh (Claineidhniach) signifies Latibulum hederosum which is "the ivied land". From the old Life of another Saint Fintan, who was the son of Gabhran, which was published by Colgan, it seems quite clear that this Columba, the son of Crimthain, had spiritually directed and counseled Saint Fintan, the son of Gabhran. This Saint Fintan went with this Columba of Terryglas to Clonenagh, and advised him to found his abbey there. They stayed there for a year, and when they were determined to relocate again, it was Columba who helped to find them find a new place. However, Saint Columba, looking back toward foe site that was being abandoned, saw a flock of angels, and so the monks were persuaded to return to Clonenagh, and to continue in their efforts to found their monastery there around 548 A.D.

Referring back to Clonenagh, that place was where those who disturbed the retirement of Saint Finnian of Clonard were sent. The place is referred to as "an inconvenient recourse". Saint Finnian of Clonard then looked for a more secluded location for retirement among the recesses of the Slieve Bloom Mountains of Laois (and Offaly), but was convinced by his student, Saint Columba, the son of Crimthain, to go back to Clonard to retire. When Saint Finnian left the Clonenagh area, it left foe place under the guidance of Saint Fintan, the son of Gabhran, who became Abbot there. Saint Fintan flourished about the year 560 A.D., and he presided over a number of laborious and fervent monks. He was yet followed in that place by another Fintan.

Getting back to Saint Columba of Terryglass (Tir Dha Ghlas), the son of Crimthaim, Saint Adamnan in his Life of Saint Columba, translates Terryglas into "the land of two streams". It is foe first stopping point on the return, down along Lough Derg. About 1150 A.D., the Book of Leinster was said to have been written there. It is now in foe Library of the Trinity College in Dublin. A few years after it was written, the abbey was attacked by Galway invaders, and foe monks left it forever, taking their possessions to Lorrha, (which is where Eugene and Anne Hartnett Mahon lived. The remains of an old abbey are still to be found in Lorrha, just a short distance from Eugene Mahon's old house.