MURPHY'S EMERALD IDYLL
IRELAND
St. Patrick's Story
Two Articles about Saint Patrick follow.
THE LIFE OF SAINT PATRICK
He returned to England as a priest. Again a dream greatly influenced him when he became convinced that the Irish people were calling out to him to return to the land of his servitude. He went to the Monastery in Auxerre where it was decided that a mission should be sent to Ireland. Patrick was not selected for this task to his great disappointment. The monk that was selected was called Paladius, but he died before he could reach Ireland and a second mission was decided upon. Patrick was made a Bishop by Pope Celestine in the year 432 and, together with a small band of followers, he traveled to Ireland to commence the conversion.
Patrick confronted the most powerful man in Ireland, Laoghaire (pron. Lair--ee), The High King of Tara, as he knew that if he could gain his support that he would be safe to spread the word throughout Ireland. To get his attention Patrick and his followers lit a huge fire to mark the commencement of Spring. Tradition had it that no fire was to be lit until the King's fire was complete, but Patrick defied this rule and courted the confrontation with the King.
The King rushed into action and traveled with the intention of making war on the holy delegation. Patrick calmed the King and with quiet composure impressed the King that he had no other intention than that of spreading the word of the Gospel. The King accepted the missionary, much to the dismay of the Druids who feared for their own power and position in the face of this new threat. They commanded that he make snow fall. Patrick declined to do so stating that this was God's work. Immediately it began to snow, only stopping when Patrick blessed himself.
Still trying to convince the King of his religion Patrick grasped at some Shamrock growing on the ground. He explained that there was but one stem on the plant, but three branches of the leaf, representing the Blessed Trinity. The King was impressed with his sincerity and granted him permission to spread the word of his faith, although he did not convert to Christianity himself.
Patrick and his followers were free to spread their faith throughout Ireland and did so to great effect. He drove paganism (symbolised by the snake) from the lands of Eireann. Patrick was tempted by the Devil whilst on a pilgrimage at Croagh Patrick (Mt. Patrick). For his refusal to be tempted, God rewarded him with a wish. Patrick asked that the Irish be spared the horror of Judgment Day and that he himself be allowed to judge his flock. Thus, the legend that Ireland will disappear under a sea of water seven years before the final judgment, was born.
Patrick died on March 17th in the year 461 at the age of 76. It is not known for sure where his remains were laid although Downpatrick in County Down in the North of Ireland is thought to be his final resting place. His influence is still felt to this day as Nations the world over commemorate him on March 17th of every year.
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Courtesy of Michael Green, Editor, The Information about Ireland Site. http://www.ireland-information.com
michaelgreen@ireland-information.com
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St. Patrick
One of the earliest and most beloved figures in Irish history was Saint Patrick.
The facts of Patrick's life are
largely obscured by legend. He belonged to a Christian family of Roman
citizenship. Captured when barely 16 by Irish marauders and enslaved, he worked
for six years as a herder on the slopes of Slemish (near Ballymena, Co. Antrim)
or of Croaghpatrick or (most likely) of both. Then, in response to a voice, he
escaped and embarked for Gaul. Patrick spent some years
wandering on the Continent and probably visited the Monastery of St. Martin at
Marmoutier. He entered the monastery and received the tonsure (the shaving of
the head of a new monk).
He returned c. 413
to his native Britain and lived for some years with relatives. During this time
he had a vision that called him to return to Ireland to Christianize it.
Accordingly, he returned to Europe (c. 419) to perfect himself as a
missionary. The next 12 years were spent in study at Auxerre. In
431, St. Palladius, first missionary bishop sent to Ireland, died; Patrick
was consecrated (432) in his place by St. Germanus of Auxerre.
In the winter
of 432 Patrick landed near Saul and remained until spring, when he went to Tara
and gained his first major converts. He defied the pagan priests of Tara
by kindling the Easter fire on Slane, a nearby hill. This challenge to paganism
created at first indignation, and subsequently respect, in the court of the high
king. Tara became Patrick's headquarters, and with a band of followers he
successively converted Meath, Leitrim, Cavan, and W Ireland. Further
details of his missions are only generally known.
In 444 or 445, with the approval of
Pope St. Leo I, Patrick established his archiepiscopal see at Armagh.
St. Patrick's mission was successful; Ireland was almost entirely Christian by
the time of his death. He understood and wisely preserved the social structure
of the country, converting the people tribe by tribe. Out of his hierarchy,
organized by tribal units, developed the Celtic abbot-bishop system. At
Patrick's instance, the traditional laws of Ireland were codified. Patrick
modified them to harmonize with Christian practice, and he mitigated the harsher
ones, particularly those that dealt with slaves and taxation of the poor. He
introduced the Roman alphabet. In 457 he retired to Saul, where he
died. He was buried in Downpatrick, which was a great European shrine
until its destruction by the English government in 1539. Also enshrined to him
is Croaghpatrick. Patrick's connection with Saint Patrick's Purgatory in Lough
Derg is undoubtedly only legendary. His personality is said to have been
unusually winning. Feast Day: Mar. 17.
Information in this article from The Columbia Electronic Encyclopedia Copyright; 1994, 2000, Columbia University Press. Licensed from Columbia University Press. All rights reserved. For more, go to: www.Infoplease.com Encyclopedia—