The weekly Minnesotian. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn. Territory) 1852-1858, 1856-03-22
3s For the Minnesotian.
~. r~stfval Of St. Patrick.

The Festival Of 81. Patrick.
In a city where the Festival Of St. Patrick
is celebrated with so much enthusiasm, splen.
dor and good taste, as was witnessed in St
Yesterday, it ought to be known that the 18th
of March is the anniversary of the Death
and not Of the Birth of St. Patrick.
The birthplace of the Apostle of Ireland
is not certainly known, but the fact is well
established, that he was not native of that
country. According to some authors, he
was Scotchman; but the most reliable au-
thorities place his birth in Ganl, or France;
and according to the most approved nara
tive, he was brought into Ireland by King
HAL in the year 403, and was then sixteen
years of age.
| He was sold as slave and served as a
shepherd, or swinc-herd for six years; du-
ring which time, his leisure was constantly
EMPLOYED in prayer and meditation. He then
became free, and repaired to the College Of
Tours, in France, where lie became not only
profoundly learned in the doctrines of the
Catholic Church, but also proficient in q
variety of languages, including Welsh, Irish
Gallo, Latin and Greek After spending
several years in Italy, perfecting himsel
in monastic discipline, and having been con
secrated Bishop by the Pope, he proceeded
on his mission to convert Ireland when tho
religion of the Druids still prevailed. He
there, according to the legends of his life
performed many wonderful miracles, such as
depriving rivers of their fish and turning fer
tile districts into boys. Hands raised to
strike him were arrested by an unseen pow.
er; and to convert an ugly and wicked old
Druid who blasphemed the Gospel, lie turn.
ed him into beautiful young man, which
suddenly accomplished the conversion OF a
multitude of pagans.
His old master was so furious at the sue
cess of his quondam slave, that ina fit Of
madness, he set fire to his own house, and
leaping into the flames was entirely con-
sumed.
Among other remarkable miracles, ST.
Patrick collected together the venemous rep
tiles from every part of Ireland upon the
summit of mountain on the coast of Mayo,
and thence, hurled them into the waves OF
the Atlantic. At the same time he cleared
the Island of Demons; and in a short time it
became so filled with holy Monks and Nuns,
that it received the name of &c the Island OF
Saints"
The life and labors of st. Patrick, divcst-
ed Of these legends, is one of the most beau
tiful and interesting to be found in the whole
history of christian missions. He was a
faithful representative of Christ; heroic, gen.
tie and eloquent, in land where he had
been slave, he devoted himself to the cor
version of naughty kings and princes, in
whose halls he vanquished, and by his elo-
quent persuasions convince the proud Druid
and Bard, and brought alike the pagan chief
the Priest of Baal, and the common people
to the foot of the cross; and when he had
surrounded himself with powerful party Of
| duuCIcutS, ulCIi GCCuStOIucu 10 iicTCc Gull
f1icts, whom lie might have armed against
the pagan unbelievers with all the persecu-
ting zeal of new converts. Like the Saviour
he taught them to rely only upon the purity
of their lives, with the deeds of charity and
beneyolence, for the spread and triumph OF
their holy religion. The conversion of Ire
land from paganism was thus accomplished
by St. Patrick without persecution or the
shedding of human blood. A mild and peace
full revolution placed the cross and altar
amid the sacred groves Of the Druids; and
although not Catholics, we may sympathise
with the Sons of Erin in yeneration for their
tutelary saint, whose life was so brilliant an
example of christian purity and gre atness.
! st. Patrick died March 18th, 4G5, in the
seventy eighth year Of his age; and on that
day, is celebrated by Catholic Irishmen i'll
every land, the Festival of St. Patrick.
BRIDGET.
st. Paul, March 18th, 1856.