BOOK TWO CHAPTER 1 the LIFE of SAINT PATRICK APOSTLE of IRELAND This Information Is Mostly from the Above Book, Supplemented By
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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.