Happy St.Patty's Day
Junter 52
it through another winter.An it was a winter,yes it was.(past tense)
brew ziggins
> May you all have "Whiskey in the Jar" today.Yes!!!!! us east coasters have
> made it through another winter.An it was a winter,yes it was.(past tense)
Don't count your spring chickens before they're hatched. Although it has
been lovely and warm here the last few days, I'm down to three inches of
ice on my driveway.
WRT St. Pattys day, I say, what better way of celebrating than lobbing 800
smart firecrackers into downtown Baghdad?!?!?!?
--
L. Bruce Higgins \\ lbh2 at cornell dot edu \\ http://Tigermtn.dev.cornell.edu
"Silence is a bridge between worlds" - Robert Fripp
Timothy Lynch
} May you all have "Whiskey in the Jar" today. Yes!!!!!
Who is this Patty of whom you speak? I thought it was St.
Fatty's Day! :-}-~~~~
it's a green thing,
Tim
tly...@socrates.berkeley.edu
MvD
ziggins) wrote:
>junt...@aol.com (Junter 52) wrote:
>
>> May you all have "Whiskey in the Jar" today.Yes!!!!! us east coasters have
>> made it through another winter.An it was a winter,yes it was.(past tense)
>
>Don't count your spring chickens before they're hatched. Although it has
>been lovely and warm here the last few days, I'm down to three inches of
>ice on my driveway.
>
Salt and a shovel solves that.
Matthew Blankman
"Timothy Lynch" <tly...@socrates.Berkeley.EDU> wrote in message
news:b550ll$2p55$1...@agate.berkeley.edu...
> junt...@aol.com (Junter 52) wrote:
>
> } May you all have "Whiskey in the Jar" today. Yes!!!!!
>
> Who is this Patty of whom you speak? I thought it was St.
> Fatty's Day! :-}-~~~~
>
I thought he drove the snakes out of Ireland. Maybe he was just
hallucinating?
Matt
dearmeyerŽ
dm <---- one quarter Scotch/Irish
ho...@badorities.fan
http://www.newadvent.org/cathen/11554a.htm
St. Patrick
Apostle of Ireland, born at Kilpatrick, near Dumbarton, in Scotland, in
the year 387; died at Saul, Downpatrick, Ireland, 17 March, 493.
He had for his parents Calphurnius and Conchessa. The former belonged to
a Roman family of high rank and held the office of decurio in Gaul or
Britain. Conchessa was a near relative of the great patron of Gaul, St.
Martin of Tours. Kilpatrick still retains many memorials of Saint
Patrick, and frequent pilgrimages continued far into the Middle Ages to
perpetuate there the fame of his sanctity and miracles.
In his sixteenth year, Patrick was carried off into captivity by Irish
marauders and was sold as a slave to a chieftan named Milchu in
Dalriada, a territory of the present county of Antrim in Ireland, where
for six years he tended his master's flocks in the valley of the Braid
and on the slopes of Slemish, near the modern town of Ballymena. He
relates in his "Confessio" that during his captivity while tending the
flocks he prayed many times in the day: "the love of God", he added,
and His fear increased in me more and more, and the faith grew in
me, and the spirit was roused, so that, in a single day, I have said as
many as a hundred prayers, and in the night nearly the same, so that
whilst in the woods and on the mountain, even before the dawn, I was
roused to prayer and felt no hurt from it, whether there was snow or ice
or rain; nor was there any slothfulness in me, such as I see now,
because the spirit was then fervent within me.
In the ways of a benign Providence the six years of Patrick's captivity
became a remote preparation for his future apostolate. He acquired a
perfect knowledge of the Celtic tongue in which he would one day
announce the glad tidings of Redemption, and, as his master Milchu was a
druidical high priest, he became familiar with all the details of
Druidism from whose bondage he was destined to liberate the Irish race.
Admonished by an angel he after six years fled from his cruel master and
bent his steps towards the west. He relates in his "Confessio" that he
had to travel about 200 miles; and his journey was probably towards
Killala Bay and onwards thence to Westport. He found a ship ready to set
sail and after some rebuffs was allowed on board. In a few days he was
among his friends once more in Britain, but now his heart was set on
devoting himself to the service of God in the sacred ministry. We meet
with him at St. Martin's monastery at Tours, and again at the island
sanctuary of Lérins which was just then acquiring widespread renown for
learning and piety; and wherever lessons of heroic perfection in the
exercise of Christian life could be acquired, thither the fervent
Patrick was sure to bend his steps. No sooner had St. Germain entered on
his great mission at Auxerre than Patrick put himself under his
guidance, and it was at that great bishop's hands that Ireland's future
apostle was a few years later promoted to the priesthood. It is the
tradition in the territory of the Morini that Patrick under St.
Germain's guidance for some years was engaged in missionary work among
them. When Germain commissioned by the Holy See proceeded to Britain to
combat the erroneous teachings of Pelagius, he chose Patrick to be one
of his missionary companions and thus it was his privilege to be
associated with the representative of Rome in the triumphs that ensued
over heresy and Paganism, and in the many remarkable events of the
expedition, such as the miraculous calming of the tempest at sea, the
visit to the relics at St. Alban's shrine, and the Alleluia victory.
Amid all these scenes, however, Patrick's thoughts turned towards
Ireland, and from time to time he was favoured with visions of the
children from Focluth, by the Western sea, who cried to him: "O holy
youth, come back to Erin, and walk once more amongst us."
Pope St. Celestine I, who rendered immortal service to the Church by the
overthrow of the Pelagian and Nestorian heresies, and by the
imperishable wreath of honour decreed to the Blessed Virgin in the
General Council of Ephesus, crowned his pontificate by an act of the
most far-reaching consequences for the spread of Christianity and
civilization, when he entrusted St. Patrick with the mission of
gathering the Irish race into the one fold of Christ. Palladius (q.v.)
had already received that commission, but terrified by the fierce
opposition of a Wicklow chieftain had abandoned the sacred enterprise.
It was St. Germain, Bishop of Auxerre, who commended Patrick to the
pope. The writer of St. Germain's Life in the ninth century, Heric of
Auxerre, thus attests this important fact: "Since the glory of the
father shines in the training of the children, of the many sons in
Christ whom St. Germain is believed to have had as disciples in
religion, let it suffice to make mention here, very briefly, of one most
famous, Patrick, the special Apostle of the Irish nation, as the record
of his work proves. Subject to that most holy discipleship for 18 years,
he drank in no little knowledge in Holy Scripture from the stream of so
great a well-spring. Germain sent him, accompanied by Segetius, his
priest, to Celestine, Pope of Rome, approved of by whose judgement,
supported by whose authority, and strengthened by whose blessing, he
went on his way to Ireland." It was only shortly before his death that
Celestine gave this mission to Ireland's apostle and on that occasion
bestowed on him many relics and other spiritual gifts, and gave him the
name "Patercius" or "Patritius", not as an honorary title, but as a
foreshadowing of the fruitfulness and merit of his apostolate whereby he
became pater civium (the father of his people). Patrick on his return
journey from Rome received at Ivrea the tidings of the death of
Palladius, and turning aside to the neighboring city of Turin received
episcopal consecration at the hands of its great bishop, St. Maximus,
and thence hastened on to Auxerre to make under the guidance of St.
Germain due preparations for the Irish mission.
It was probably in the summer months of the year 433, that Patrick and
his companions landed at the mouth of the Vantry River close by Wicklow
Head. The Druids were at once in arms against him. But Patrick was not
disheartened. The intrepid missionary resolved to search out a more
friendly territory in which to enter on his mission. First of all,
however, he would proceed towards Dalriada, where he had been a slave,
to pay the price of ransom to his former master, and in exchange for the
servitude and cruelty endured at his hands to impart to him the
blessings and freedom of God's children. He rested for some days at the
islands off the Skerries coast, one of which still retains the name of
Inis-Patrick, and he probably visited the adjoining mainland, which in
olden times was known as Holm Patrick. Tradition fondly points out the
impression of St. Patrick's foot upon the hard rock -- off the main
shore, at the entrance to Skerries harbour. Continuing his course
northwards he halted at the mouth of the River Boyne. A number of the
natives there gathered around him and heard with joy in their own sweet
tongue the glad tidings of Redemption. There too he performed his first
miracle on Irish soil to confirm the honour due to the Blessed Virgin,
and the Divine birth of our Saviour. Leaving one of his companions to
continue the work of instruction so auspiciously begun, he hastened
forward to Strangford Loughand there quitting his boat continued his
journey over land towards Slemish. He had not proceeded far when a
chieftain, named Dichu, appeared on the scene to prevent his further
advance. He drew his sword to smite the saint, but his arm became rigid
as a statue and continued so until he declared himself obedient to
Patrick. Overcome by the saint's meekness and miracles, Dichu asked for
instruction and made a gift of a large sabhall (barn), in which the
sacred mysteries were offered up. This was the first sanctuary dedicated
by St. Patrick in Erin. It became in later years a chosen retreat of the
saint. A monastery and church were erected there, and the hallowed site
retains the name Sabhall (pronounced Saul) to the present day.
Continuing his journey towards Slemish, the saint was struck with horror
on seeing at a distance the fort of his old master Milchu enveloped in
flames. The fame of Patrick's marvelous power of miracles preceeded him.
Milchu, in a fit of frenzy, gathered his treasures into his mansion and
setting it on fire, cast himself into the flames. An ancient record
adds: "His pride could not endure the thought of being vanquished by his
former slave".
Returning to Saul, St. Patrick learned from Dichu that the chieftains of
Erin had been summoned to celebrate a special feast at Tara by
Leoghaire, who was the Ard-Righ, that is, the Supreme Monarch of
Ireland. This was an opportunity which Patrick would not forego; he
would present himself before the assembly, to strike a decisive blow
against the Druidism that held the nation captive, and to secure freedom
for the glad tidings of Redemption of which he was the herald. As he
journeyed on he rested for some days at the house of a chieftain named
Secsnen, who with his household joyfully embraced the Faith. The
youthful Benen, or Benignus, son of the chief, was in a special way
captivated by the Gospel doctrines and the meekness of Patrick. Whilst
the saint slumbered he would gather sweet-scented flowers and scatter
them over his bosom, and when Patrick was setting out, continuing his
journey towards Tara, Benen clung to his feet declaring that nothing
would sever him from him. "Allow him to have his way", said St. Patrick
to the chieftain, "he shall be heir to my sacred mission." Thenceforth
Benen was the inseparable companion of the saint, and the prophecy was
fulfilled, for Benen is named among the "comhards" or successors of St.
Patrick in Armagh. It was on 26 March, Easter Sunday, in 433, that the
eventful assembly was to meet at Tara, and the decree went forth that
from the preceeding day the fires throughout the kingdom should be
extinguished until the signal blaze was kindled at the royal mansion.
The chiefs and Brehons came in full numbers and the druids too would
muster all their strength to bid defiance to the herald of good tidings
and to secure the hold of their superstition on the Celtic race, for
their demoniac oracles had announced that the messenger of Christ had
come to Erin. St. Patrick arrived at the hill of Slane, at the opposite
extremity of the valley from Tara, on Easter Eve, in that year the feast
of the Annunciation, and on the summit of the hill kindled the Paschal
fire. The druids at once raised their voice. "O King", (they said) "live
for ever; this fire, which has been lighted in defiance of the royal
edict, will blaze for ever in this land unless it be this very night
extinguished." By order of the king and the agency of the druids,
repeated attempts were made to extinguish the blessed fire and to punish
with death the intruder who had disobeyed the royal command. But the
fire was not extinguished and Patrick shielded by the Divine power came
unscathed from their snares and assaults. On Easter Day the missionary
band having at their head the youth Benignus bearing aloft a copy of the
Gospels, and followed by St. Patrick who with mitre and crozier was
arrayed in full episcopal attire, proceeded in processional order to
Tara. The druids and magicians put forth all their strength and employed
all their incantations to maintain their sway over the Irish race, but
the prayer and faith of Patrick achieved a glorious triumph. The druids
by their incantations overspread the hill and surrounding plain with a
cloud of worse then Egyptian darkness. Patrick defied them to remove
that cloud, and when all their efforts were made in vain, at his prayer
the sun sent forth its rays and the brightest sunshine lit up the scene.
Again by demoniac power the Arch-Druid Lochru, like Simon Magus of old,
was lifted up high in the air, but when Patrick knelt in prayer the
druid from his flight was dashed to pieces upon a rock. Thus was the
final blow given to paganism in the presence of all the assembled
chieftains. It was, indeed, a momentous day for the Irish race. Twice
Patrick pleaded for the Faith before Leoghaire. The king had given
orders that no sign of respect was to be extended to the strangers, but
at the first meeting the youthful Erc, a royal page, arose to show him
reverence; and at the second, when all the chieftains were assembled,
the chief-bard Dubhtach showed the same honour to the saint. Both these
heroic men became fervent disciples of the Faith and bright ornaments of
the Irish Church. It was on this second solemn occasion that St. Patrick
is said to have plucked a shamrock from the sward, to explain by its
triple leaf and single stem, in some rough way, to the assembled
chieftains, the great doctrine of the Blessed Trinity. On that bright
Easter Day, the triumph of religion at Tara was complete. The Ard-Righ
granted permission to Patrick to preach the Faith throughout the length
and breadth of Erin, and the druidical prophecy like the words of Balaam
of old would be fulfilled: the sacred fire now kindled by the saint
would never be extinguished.
The beautiful prayer of St. Patrick, popularly known as "St. Patrick's
Breast-Plate", is supposed to have been composed by him in preparation
for this victory over Paganism. The following is a literal translation
from the old Irish text:
I bind to myself today
The strong virtue of the Invocation of the Trinity:
I believe the Trinity in the Unity
The Creator of the Universe.
I bind to myself today
The virtue of the Incarnation of Christ with His Baptism,
The virtue of His crucifixion with His burial,
The virtue of His Resurrection with His Ascension,
The virtue of His coming on the Judgement Day.
I bind to myself today
The virtue of the love of seraphim,
In the obedience of angels,
In the hope of resurrection unto reward,
In prayers of Patriarchs,
In predictions of Prophets,
In preaching of Apostles,
In faith of Confessors,
In purity of holy Virgins,
In deeds of righteous men.
I bind to myself today
The power of Heaven,
The light of the sun,
The brightness of the moon,
The splendour of fire,
The flashing of lightning,
The swiftness of wind,
The depth of sea,
The stability of earth,
The compactness of rocks.
I bind to myself today
God's Power to guide me,
God's Might to uphold me,
God's Wisdom to teach me,
God's Eye to watch over me,
God's Ear to hear me,
God's Word to give me speech,
God's Hand to guide me,
God's Way to lie before me,
God's Shield to shelter me,
God's Host to secure me,
Against the snares of demons,
Against the seductions of vices,
Against the lusts of nature,
Against everyone who meditates injury to me,
Whether far or near,
Whether few or with many.
I invoke today all these virtues
Against every hostile merciless power
Which may assail my body and my soul,
Against the incantations of false prophets,
Against the black laws of heathenism,
Against the false laws of heresy,
Against the deceits of idolatry,
Against the spells of women, and smiths, and druids,
Against every knowledge that binds the soul of man.
Christ, protect me today
Against every poison, against burning,
Against drowning, against death-wound,
That I may receive abundant reward.
Christ with me, Christ before me,
Christ behind me, Christ within me,
Christ beneath me, Christ above me,
Christ at my right, Christ at my left,
Christ in the fort,
Christ in the chariot seat,
Christ in the poop,
Christ in the heart of everyone who thinks of me,
Christ in the mouth of everyone who speaks to me,
Christ in every eye that sees me,
Christ in every ear that hears me.
I bind to myself today
The strong virtue of an invocation of the Trinity,
I believe the Trinity in the Unity
The Creator of the Universe.
St. Patrick remained during Easter week at Slane and Tara, unfolding to
those around him the lessons of Divine truth. Meanwhile the national
games were being celebrated a few miles distant at Tailten (now
Telltown) in connection with the royal feast. St. Patrick proceeding
thither solemnly administered baptism to Conall, brother of the Ard-Righ
Leoghaire, on Wednesday, 5 April. Benen and others had already been
privately gathered into the fold of Christ, but this was the first
public administering of baptism, recognized by royal edict, and hence in
the ancient Irish Kalendars to the fifth of April is assigned "the
beginning of the Baptism of Erin". This first Christian royal chieftain
made a gift to Patrick of a site for a church which to the present day
retains the name of Donagh-Patrick. The blessing of heaven was with
Conall's family. St. Columba is reckoned among his descendants, and many
of the kings of Ireland until the eleventh century were of his race. St.
Patrick left some of his companions to carry on the work of
evangelization in Meath, thus so auspiciously begun. He would himself
visit the other territories. Some of the chieftains who had come to Tara
were from Focluth, in the neighbourhood of Killala, in Connaught, and as
it was the children of Focluth who in vision had summoned him to return
to Ireland, he resolved to accompany those chieftains on their return,
that thus the district of Focluth would be among the first to receive
the glad tidings of Redemption. It affords a convincing proof of the
difficulties that St. Patrick had to overcome, that though full liberty
to preach the Faith throughout Erin was granted by the monarch of
Leoghaire, nevertheless, in order to procure a safe conduct through the
intervening territories whilst proceeding towards Connaught he had to
pay the price of fifteen slaves. On his way thither, passing through
Granard he learned that at Magh-Slecht, not far distant, a vast
concourse was engaged in offering worship to the chief idol Crom-Cruach.
It was a huge pillar-stone, covered with slabs of gold and silver, with
a circle of twelve minor idols around it. He proceeded thither, and
whith his crosier smote the chief idol that crumbled to dust; the others
fell to the ground. At Killala he found the whole people of the
territory assembled. At his preaching, the king and his six sons, with
12,000 of the people, became docile to the Faith. He spent seven years
visiting every district of Connaught, organizing parishes, forming
dioceses, and instructing the chieftains and people. One the occasion of
his first visit to Rathcrogan, the royal seat of the kings of Connaught,
situated near Tulsk, in the County of Roscommon, a remarkable incident
occurred, recorded in many of the authentic narratives of the saint's
life. Close by the clear fountain of Clebach, not far from the royal
abode, Patrick and his venerable companions had pitched their tents and
at early dawn were chanting the praises of the Most High, when the two
daughters of the Irish monarch -- Ethne, the fair, and Fedelm, the ruddy
-- came thither, as was their wont, to bathe. Astonished at the vision
that presented itself to them, the royal maidens cried out: "Who are ye,
and whence do ye come? Are ye phantoms, or fairies, or friendly
mortals?" St. Patrick said to them: "It were better you would adore and
worship the one true God, whom we announce to you, than that you would
satisfy your curiosity by such vain questions." And then Ethne broke
forth into the questions:
"Who is God?"
"And where is God?"
"Where is His dwelling?"
"Has He sons and daughters?"
"Is He rich in silver and gold?"
"Is He everlasting? is He beautiful?"
"Are His daughters dear and lovely to the men of this world?"
"Is He on the heavens or on earth?"
"In the sea, in rivers, in mountains, in valleys?"
"Make Him known to us. How is He to be seen?"
"How is He to be loved? How is He to be found?"
"Is it in youth or is it in old age that He may be found?"
But St. Patrick, filled with the Holy Ghost, made answer:
"God, whom we announce to you, is the Ruler of all things."
"The God of heaven and earth, of the sea and the rivers."
"The God of the sun, and the moon, and all the stars."
"The God of the high mountains and of the lowlying valleys."
"The God who is above heaven, and in heaven, and under heaven."
"His dwelling is in heaven and earth, and the sea, and all therein."
"He gives breath to all."
"He gives life to all."
"He is over all."
"He upholds all."
"He gives light to the sun."
"He imparts splendour to the moon."
"He has made wells in the dry land, and islands in the ocean."
"He has appointed the stars to serve the greater lights."
"His Son is co-eternal and co-equal with Himself."
"The Son is not younger than the Father."
"And the Father is not older than the Son."
"And the Holy Ghost proceeds from them."
"The Father and the Son and the Holy Ghost are undivided."
"But I desire by Faith to unite you to the Heavenly King, as you
are daughters of an earthly king."
The maidens, as if with one voice and one heart, said: "Teach us most
carefully how we may believe in the Heavenly King; show us how we may
behold Him face to face, and we will do whatsoever you shall say to us."
And when he had instructed them he said to them: "Do you believe that by
baptism you put off the sin inherited from the first parents."
They answered: "We believe."
"Do you believe in penance after sin?"
"We believe."
"Do you believe in life after death?" Do you believe in resurrection on
the Day of Judgement?"
"We believe."
"Do you believe in the unity of the Church?"
"We believe."
Then they were baptized, and were clothed in white garments. And they
besought that they might behold the face of Christ. And the saint said
to them: "You cannot see the face of Christ unless you taste death, and
unless you receive the Sacrifice." They answered: "Give us the
Sacrifice, so that we may be able to behold our Spouse." And the ancient
narrative adds: "when they received the Eucharist of God, they slept in
death, and they were placed upon a couch, arrayed in their white
baptismal robes."
In 440 St. Patrick entered on the special work of the conversion of
Ulster. Under the following year, the ancient annalists relate a
wonderful spread of the Faith throughout the province. In 444 a site for
a church was granted at Armagh by Daire, the chieftain of the district.
It was in a valley at the foot of a hill, but the saint was not content.
He had special designs in his heart for that district, and at length the
chieftain told him to select in his territory any site he would deemmost
suitable for his religious purpose. St. Patrick chose that beautiful
hill on which the old cathedral of Armagh stands. As he was marking out
the church with his companions, they came upon a doe and fawn, and the
saint's companions would kill them for food; but St. Patrick would not
allow them to do so, and, taking the fawn upon his shoulders, and
followed by the doe, he proceeded to a neighbouring hill, and laid down
the fawn, and announced that there, in future times, great glory would
be given to the Most High. It was precisely upon that hill thus fixed by
St. Patrick that, a few years ago, there was solemnly dedicated the new
and beautiful Catholic cathedral of Armagh. A representative of the Holy
See presided on the occasion, and hundreds of priests and bishops were
gathered there; and, indeed, it might truly be said, the whole Irish
race on that occasion offered up that glorious cathedral to the Most
High as tribute to their united faith and piety, and their never-failing
love of God.
From Ulster St. Patrick probably proceeded to Meath to consolidate the
organization of the communities there, and thence he continued his
course through Leinster. Two of the saint's most distinguished
companions, St. Auxilius and St. Iserninus, had the rich valley of the
Liffey assigned to them. The former's name is still retained in the
church which he founded at Killossy, while the latter is honoroured as
the first Bishop of Kilcullen. As usual, St. Patrick's primary care was
to gather the ruling chieftains into the fold. At Naas, the royal
residence in those days, he baptised two sons of the King of Leinster.
Memorials of the saint still abound in the district -- the ruins of the
ancient church which he founded, his holy well, and the hallowed sites
in which the power of God was shown forth in miracles. At Sletty, in the
immediate neighborhood of Carlow, St. Fiacc, son of the chief Brehon,
Dubthach, was installed as bishop, and for a considerable time that see
continued to be the chief centre of religion for all Leinster. St.
Patrick proceeded through Gowran into Ossory; here he erected a church
under the invocation of St. Martin, near the present city of Kilkenny,
and enriched it with many precious relics which he had brought from
Rome. It was in Leinster, on the borders of the present counties of
Kildare and Queen's, that Odhran, St. Patrick's charioteer, attained the
martyr's crown. The chieftain of that district honoured the demon-idol,
Crom Cruach, with special worship, and, on hearing of that idol being
cast down, vowed to avenge the insult by the death of our apostle.
Passing through the territory, Odhran overheard the plot that was being
organized for the murder of St. Patrick, and as they were setting out in
the chariot to continue their journey, asked the saint, as a favour, to
take thereins, and to allow himself, for the day, to hold the place of
honour and rest. This was granted, and scarcely had they set out when a
well-directed thrust of a lance pierced the heart of the devoted
charioteer, who thus, by changing places, saved St. Patrick's life, and
won for himself the martyr's crown.
St. Patrick next proceeded to Munster. As usual, his efforts were
directed to combat error in the chief centres of authority, knowing well
that, in the paths of conversion, the kings and chieftains would soon be
followed by their subjects. At "Cashel of the Kings" he was received
with great enthusiasm, the chiefs and Brehons and people welcoming him
with joyous acclaim. While engaged in the baptism of the royal prince
Aengus, son of the King of Munster, the saint, leaning on his crosier,
peirced with its sharp point the prince's foot. Aengus bore the pain
unmoved. When St. Patrick, at the close of the ceremony, saw the blood
flow, and asked him why he had been silent, he replied, with genuine
heroism, that he thought it might be part of the ceremony, a penalty for
the joyous blessings of the Faith that were imparted. The saint admired
his heroism, and, taking the chieftain's shield, inscribed on it a cross
with the same point of the crozier, and promised that that shield would
be the signal of countless spiritual and temporal triumphs. Our apostle
spent a considerable time in the present County of Limerick. The fame of
his miracles and sanctity had gone before him, and the inhabitants of
Thomond and northern Munster, crossing the Shannon in their frail
coracles, hastened to receive his instruction. When giving his blessing
to them on the summit of the hill of Finnime, looking out on the rich
plains before him, he is said to have prophesied the coming of St.
Senanus: "To the green island in the West, at the mouth of the sea
[i.e., Inis-Cathaigh, now Scattery Island, at the mouth of the Shannon,
near Kilrush], the lamp of the people of God will come; he will be the
head of counsel to all this territory." At Sangril (now Singland), in
Limerick, and also in the district of Gerryowen, the holy wells of the
saint are pointed out, and the slab of rock, which served for his bed,
and the altar on which every day he offered up the Holy Sacrifice. On
the banks of the Suit, and the Blackwater, and the Lee, wherever the
saint preached during the seven years he spent in Munster, a hearty
welcome awaited him. The ancient Life attests: "After Patrick had
founded cells and churches in Munster, and had ordained persons of every
grade, and healed the sick, and resuscitated the dead, he bade them
farewell, and imparted his blessing to them." The words of this
blessing, which is said to have been given from the hills of Tipperary,
as registered in the saint's Life, to which I have just referred, are
particularly beautiful:
A blessing on the Munster people --
Men, youths, and women;
A blessing on the land
That yields them fruit.
A blessing on every treasure
That shall be produced on their plains,
Without any one being in want of help,
God's blessing be on Munster.
A blessing on their peaks,
On their bare flagstones,
A blessing on their glens,
A blessing on their ridges.
Like the sand of the sea under ships,
Be the number in their hearths;
On slopes, on plains,
On mountains, on hills, a blessing.
St. Patrick continued until his death to visit and watch over the
churches which he had founded in all the provinces in Ireland. He
comforted the faithful in their difficulties, strengthened them in the
Faith and in the practice of virtue, and appointed pastors to continue
his work among them. It is recorded in his Life that he consecrated no
fewer than 350 bishops. He appointed St. Loman to Trim, which rivalled
Armaugh itself in its abundant harvest of piety. St. Guasach, son of his
former master, Milchu, became Bishop of Granard, while the two daughters
of the same pagan chieftan founded close by, at Clonbroney, a convent of
pious virgins, and merited the aureola of sanctity. St. Mel, nephew of
our apostle, had the charge of Ardagh; St. MacCarthem, who appears to
have been patricularly loved by St. Patrick, was made Bishop of Clogher.
The narrative in the ancient Life of the saint regarding his visit to
the district of Costello, in the County of Mayo, serves to illustrate
his manner of dealing with the chieftains. He found, it says, the chief,
Ernasc, and his son, Loarn, sitting under a tree, "with whom he
remained, together with his twelve companions, for a week, and they
received from him the doctrine of salvation with attentive ear and mind.
Meanwhile he instructed Loarn in the rudiments of learning and piety." A
church was erected there, and, in after years, Loarn was appointed to
its charge.
The manifold virtues by which the early saints were distinguished shone
forth in all their perfection in the life of St. Patrick. When not
engaged in the work of the sacred ministry, his whole time was spent in
prayer. Many times in the day he armed himself with the sign of the
Cross. He never relaxed his penitential exercises. Clothed in a rough
hair-shirt, he made the hard rock his bed. His disinterestedness is
specially commemorated. Countless converts of high rank would cast their
precious ornaments at his feet, but all were restored to them. He had
not come to Erin in search of material wealth, but to enrich her with
the priceless treasures of the Catholic Faith. From time to time he
withdrew from the spiritual duties of his apostolate to devote himself
wholly to prayer and penance. One of his chosen places of solitude and
retreat was the island of Lough Derg, which, to our own day, has
continued to be a favourite resort of pilgrims, and it is known as St.
Patrick's Purgatory. Another theatre of his miraculous power and piety
and penetential austerities in the west of Ireland merits particular
attention. In the far west of Connaught there is a range of tall
mountains, which, arrayed in rugged majesty, bid defiance to the waves
and storms of the Atlantic. At the head of this range arises a stately
cone in solitary grandeur, about 4000 feet in height, facing Crew Bay,
and casting its shadow over the adjoining districts of Aghagower and
Westport. This mountain was known in pagan times as the Eagle Mountain,
but ever since Ireland was enlightened with the light of Faith it is
known as Croagh Patrick, i.e. St. Patrick's mountain, and is honoured as
the Holy Hill, the Mount Sinai, of Ireland. St. Patrick, in obedience to
his guardian angel, made this mountain his hallowed place of retreat. In
imitation of the great Jewish legislator on Sinai, he spent forty days
on its summit in fasting and prayer, and other penetential exercises.
His only shelter from the fury of the elements, the wind and rain, the
hail and snow, was a cave, or recess, in the solid rock; and the
flagstone on which he rested his weary limbs at night is still pointed
out. The whole purpose ofhis prayer was to obtain special blessings and
mercy for the Irish race, whom he evangelized. The demons that made
Ireland their battlefield mustered all their strength to tempt the saint
and disturb him in his solitude, and turn him away, if possible, from
his pious purpose. They gathered around the hill in the form of vast
flocks of hideous birds of prey. So dense were their ranks that they
seemed to cover the whole mountain, like a cloud, and they so filled the
air that Patrick could see neither sky nor earth nor ocean. St. Patrick
besought God to scatter the demons, but for a time it would seem as if
his prayers and tears were in vain. At length he rang his sweet-sounding
bell, symbol of his preaching of the Divine truths. Its sound was heard
all over the valleys and hills of Erin, everywhere bringing peace and
joy. The flocks of demons began to scatter, He flung his bell among
them; they took to precipitate flight, and cast themselves into the
ocean. So complete was the saint's victory over them that, as the
ancient narrative adds, "for seven years no evil thing was to be found
in Ireland." The saint, however, would not, as yet, descend from the
mountain. He had vanquished the demons, but he would now wrestle with
God Himself, like Jacob of old, to secure the spiritual interests of his
people. The angel had announced to him that, to reward his fidelity in
prayer and penance, as many of his people would be gathered into heaven
as would cover the land and sea as far as his vision could reach. Far
more ample, however, were the aspirations of the saint, and he resolved
to persevere in fasting and prayer until the fullest measure of his
petition was granted. Again and again the angel came to comfort him,
announcing new concessions; but all these would notsuffice. He would not
relinquish his post on the mountain, or relax his penance, until all
were granted. At length the message came that his prayers were heard:
* many souls would be free from the pains of purgatory through his
intercession;
* whoever in the spirit of penance would recite his hymn before
death would attain the heavenly reward;
* barbarian hordes would never obtain sway in his Church;
* seven years before the Judgement Day, the sea would spread over
Ireland to save its people from the temptations and terrors of the
Antichrist; and
* greatest blessing of all, Patrick himself should be deputed to
judge the whole Irish race on the last day.
Such were the extraordinary favors which St. Patrick, with his wrestling
with the Most High, his unceasing prayers, his unconquerable love of
heavenly things, and his unremitting penetential deeds, obtained for the
people whom he evangelized.
It is sometimes supposed that St. Patrick's apostolate in Ireland was an
unbroken series of peaceful triumphs, and yet it was quite the reverse.
No storm of persecution was, indeed stirred up to assail the infant
Church, but the saint himself was subjected to frequent trials at the
hands of the druids and of other enemies of the Faith. He tells us in
his "Confessio" that no fewer than twelve times he and his companions
were seized and carried off as captives, and on one occasion in
particular he was loaded with chains, and his death was decreed. But
from all these trials and sufferings he was liberated by a benign
Providence. It is on account of the many hardships which he endured for
the Faith that, in some of the ancient Martyrologies, he is honoured as
a martyr. St. Patrick, having now completed his triumph over Paganism,
and gathered Ireland into the fold of Christ, prepared for the summons
to his reward. St. Brigid came to him with her chosen virgins, bringing
the shroud in which he would be enshrined. It is recorded that when St.
Patrick and St. Brigid were united in their last prayer, a special
vision was shown to him. He saw the whole of Ireland lit up with the
brightest rays of Divine Faith. This continued for centuries, and then
clouds gathered around the devoted island, and, little by little, the
religious glory faded away, until, in the course of centuries, it was
only in the remotest valleys that some glimmer of its light remained.
St. Patrick prayed that the light would never be extinguished, and, as
he prayed, the angel came to him and said: "Fear not: your apostolate
shall never cease." As he thus prayed, the glimmering light grew in
brightness, and ceased not until once more all the hills and valleys of
Ireland were lit up in their pristine splendour, and then the angel
announced to St. Patrick: "Such shall be the abiding splendour of Divine
truth in Ireland." At Saul (Sabhall), St. Patrick received the summons
to his reward on 17 March, 493. St. Tassach administered the last
sacraments to him. His remains were wrapped in the shroud woven by St.
Brigid's own hands. The bishops and clergy and faithful people from all
parts crowded around his remains to pay due honour to the Father of
their Faith. Some of the ancient Lives record that for several days the
light of heaven shone around his bier. His remains were interred at the
chieftan's Dun or Fort two miles from Saul, where in after times arose
the cathedral of Down.
WRITINGS OF ST. PATRICK
The "Confessio" and the "Epistola ad Coroticum" are recognized by all
modern critical writers as of unquestionable genuineness. The best
edition, with text, translation, and critical notes, is by Rev. Dr.
White for the Royal Irish Academy, in 1905. The 34 canons of a synod
held before the year 460 by St. Patrick, Auxilius, and Isserninus,
though rejected by Todd and Haddan, have been placed by Professor Bury
beyond the reach of controversy. Another series of 31 ecclesiastical
canons entitled "Synodus secunda Patritii", though unquestionably of
Irish origin and dating before the close of the seventh century, is
generally considered to be of a later date than St. Patrick. Two tracts
(in P.L., LIII), entitled "De abusionibus saeculi", and "De Tribus
habitaculis", were composed by St. Patrick in Irish and translated into
Latin at a later period. Passages from them are assigned to St. Patrick
inthe "Collectio Hibernensis Canonum", which is of unquestionable
authority and dates from the year 700 (Wasserschleben, 2nd ed., 1885).
This "Collectio Hibernensis" also assigns to St. Patrick the famous
synodical decree: "Si quae quaestiones in hac insula oriantur, ad Sedem
Apostolicam referantur." (If any difficulties arise in this island, let
them be referred to the Apostolic See). The beautiful prayer, known as
"Faeth Fiada", or the "Lorica of St. Patrick" (St. Patrick's
Breast-Plate), first edited by Petrie in his "History of Tara", is now
universally accepted as genuine. The "Dicta Sancti Patritii", or brief
sayings of the saint, preserved in the "Book of Armagh", are accurately
edited by Fr. Hogan, S.J., in "Documenta de S. Patritio" (Brussels,
1884). The old Irish text of "The Rule of Patrick" has been edited by
O'Keeffe, and a translation by Archbishop Healy in the appendix to his
Life of St. Patrick (Dublin, 1905). It is a tract of venerable
antiquity, and embodies the teaching of the saint.
MvD
wrote:
>Woo Hoo, Car Bombs!!!
Fuck You!
Spider Dawg
ziggins) wrote:
>junt...@aol.com (Junter 52) wrote:
>
>> May you all have "Whiskey in the Jar" today.Yes!!!!! us east coasters have
>> made it through another winter.An it was a winter,yes it was.(past tense)
>
>Don't count your spring chickens before they're hatched. Although it has
>been lovely and warm here the last few days, I'm down to three inches of
>ice on my driveway.
Yeah, today was one of those days where I spent my lunch break sitting
outside with my feet propped up on a huge snow pile!
Happy Orangemen day,
Jim