In
his sixteenth year he was carried into captivity by certain barbarians, who
took him into Ireland, where he was obliged to keep cattle on the mountains and
in the forests, in hunger and nakedness, amidst snow, rain, and ice. Whilst he
lived in this suffering condition, God had pity on his soul, and quickened him
to a sense of his duty by the impulse of a strong interior grace. The young man
had recourse to Him with his whole heart in fervent prayer and fasting; and
from that time faith and the love of God acquired continually new strength in
his tender soul. After six months spent in slavery under the same master, St.
Patrick was admonished by God in a dream to return to his own country, and
informed that a ship was then ready to sail thither. He went at once to the
sea-coast, though at a great distance, and found the vessel; but could not
obtain his passage, probably for want of money. The Saint returned towards his
hut, praying as he went; but the sailors, though pagans, called him back and
took him on board. After three days’ sail they made land, but wandered
twenty-seven days through deserts, and were a long while distressed for want of
provisions, finding nothing to eat. Patrick had often spoken to the company on
the infinite power of God; they therefore asked him why he did not pray for
relief. Animated by a strong faith, he assured them that if they would address
themselves with their whole hearts to the true God He would hear and succor
them. They did so, and on the same day met with a herd of swine. From that time
provisions never failed them, till on the twenty-seventh day they came info a
country that was cultivated and inhabited.
Some
years afterwards he was again led captive, but recovered his liberty after two
months. When he was at home with his parents, God manifested to him, by divers
visions, that He destined him to the great work of the conversion of Ireland.
The writers of his life say that after his second captivity he travelled into
Gaul and Italy, and saw St. Martin, St. Germanus of Auxerre, and Pope
Celestine, and that he received his mission and the apostolical benediction
from this Pope, who died in 432. It is certain that he spent many years in
preparing himself for his sacred calling. Great opposition was made against his
episcopal consecration and mission, both by his own relatives and by the
clergy. These made him great offers in order to detain him among them, and
endeavored to affright him by exaggerating the dangers to which he exposed
himself amidst the enemies of the Romans and Britons, who did not know God. All
these temptations threw the Saint into great perplexities; but the Lord, Whose
will he consulted by earnest prayer, supported him, and he persevered in his
resolution. He forsook his family, sold his birthright and dignity, to serve
strangers, and consecrated his soul to God, to carry His name to the ends of
the earth. In this disposition he passed into Ireland, to preach the Gospel,
where the worship of idols still generally reigned. He devoted himself entirely
to the salvation of these barbarians. He travelled over the whole island,
penetrating into the remotest corners, and_ such was the fruit of his
preachings and sufferings that he baptized an infinite number of people. He
ordained everywhere clergymen, induced women to live in holy widowhood and
continence, consecrated virgins to Christ, and instituted monks. He took
nothing from the many thousands whom he baptized, and often gave back the
little presents which some laid on the altar, choosing rather to mortify the
fervent than to scandalize the weak or the infidels. He gave freely of his own,
however, both to pagans and Christians, distributed large alms to the poor in
the provinces where he passed, made presents to the kings, judging that
necessary for the progress of the Gospel, and maintained and educated many
children, whom he trained up to serve at the altar. The happy success of his
labors cost him many persecutions.
A
certain prince named Corotick, a Christian in name only, disturbed the peace of
his flock. This tyrant, having made a descent into Ireland, plundered the
country where St. Patrick had been just conferring confirmation on a great
number of neophytes, who were yet in their white garments after Baptism.
Corotick massacred many, and carried away others, whom he sold to the infidel
Picts or Scots. The next day the Saint sent the barbarian a letter entreating
him to restore the Christian captives, and at least part of the booty he had
taken, that the poor people might not perish for want, but was only answered by
railleries. The Saint, therefore, wrote with his own hand a letter. In it he
styles himself a sinner and an ignorant man; he declares, nevertheless, that he
is established Bishop of Ireland, and pronounces Corotick and the other
parricides and accomplices separated from him and from Jesus Christ, Whose
place he holds, forbidding any to eat with them, or to receive their alms, till
they should have satisfied God by the tears of sincere penance, and restored the
servants of Jesus Christ to their liberty. This letter expresses his most
tender love for his flock, and his grief for those who had been slain, yet
mingled with joy because they reign with the prophets, apostles, and martyrs.
Jocelin assures us that Corotick was overtaken by the divine vengeance.
St.
Patrick held several councils to settle the discipline of the Church which he
had planted. St. Bernard and the tradition of the country testify that St.
Patrick fixed his metropolitan see at Armagh. He established some other
bishops, as appears by his Council and other monuments. He not only converted
the whole country by his preaching and wonderful miracles, but also cultivated
this vineyard with so fruitful a benediction and increase from heaven as to
render Ireland a most flourishing garden in the Church of God, and a country of
Saints.
Many
particulars are related of the labors of St. Patrick, which we pass over. 'in
the first year of his mission he attempted to preach Christ in the general
assembly of the kings and states of all Ireland, held yearly at Tara, the
residence of the chief king, styled the monarch of the whole island, and the
principal seat of the Druids, or priests, and their paganish rites. The son of
Neill, the chief monarch, declared himself against the preacher; however,
Patrick converted several, and, on his road to that place, the father of St.
Benignus, his immediate successor in the see of Armagh. He afterwards converted
and baptized the Icings of Dublin and Munster, and the seven sons of the king
of Connaught, with the greatest part of their subjects, and before his death
almost the whole island. He founded a monastery at Armagh; another called
Domnach-Padraig, or Patrick's Church; also a third, named Sabhal-Padraig; and
filled the country with churches and schools of piety and learning, the
reputation of which, for the three succeeding centuries, drew many foreigners
into Ireland. He died and was buried at Down in Ulster. His body was found
there in a church of his name in 1185, and translated to another part of the
same church.
Ireland
is the nursery whence St. Patrick sent forth his missionaries and teachers.
Glastonbury and Lindisfarne, Ripon and Malmesbury, bear testimony to the labors
of Irish priests and bishops for the conversion of England. Iona is to this day
the most venerated spot in Scotland. Columban, Fiacre, Gall, and many others
evangelized the "rough places" of France and Switzerland. America and
Australia, in modern times, owe their Christianity to the faith and zeal of the
sons and daughters of St. Patrick.
Reflection.—By
the instrumentality of St. Patrick the Faith is now as fresh in Ireland, even
in this cold nineteenth century, as when it was first planted. Ask him to
obtain for you the special grace of his children—to prefer the loss of every
earthly good to the least compromise in matters of faith.
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