MURPHY'S EMERALD IDYLL
IRELAND
St. Patrick's Story
Two Articles about Saint Patrick follow.
THE LIFE OF SAINT PATRICK
The Patron Saint of Ireland was born into either a Scottish or English family in the fourth century. He was captured as a teenager by Niall of the Nine Hostages who was to become a King of all Ireland. He was sold into slavery in Ireland and put to work as a shepherd. He worked in terrible conditions for six years drawing comfort in the Christian faith that so many of his people had abandoned under Roman rule. Patrick had a dream that encouraged him to flee his captivity and to head South where a ship was to be waiting for him. He traveled over 200 miles from his Northern captivity to Wexford town where, sure enough, a ship was waiting to enable his escape. Upon arrival in England he was captured by brigands and returned to slavery. He escaped after two months and spent the next seven years traveling Europe seeking his destiny. During this time he furthered his education and studied Christianity in the Lerin Monastery in France.---------------------------------------
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—