The Manitowoc pilot. [volume] (Manitowoc, Wis.) 1859-1932, 1861-03-29
PauegYric on St. Patrick


The Ri. Rev. DR.. Duggan, of Chicago.
on Sunday last delivered an eloquent and
forcibe discourse on the life, virtues and
labors of ST. Patrick, from 'hich the Post
condenses the following .A
Seven cities have contended for the birth
of Homer, the poet; almost as many ma
tons have claimed the honor of giving
birth to the illustrious apostle Of the
Island of Saints. But according 70 Tho
authorities it is now generally adm;t,ad
that be came from the land Of the G.nl
In the language of the learned DR.. Coll
gan, "St. Patrick was born at Hoiy
7oursm g. cons 80
A war party set out from the coast Of
ireland to invade the French shores, bead
ed by one of the kings of Ireland. Hay-
ing made successful landing and taken
a number of captives at town called
Bretagna, and much riches, they returned.
to Ireland. Among thu captives was
found youth of fifteen years, who was
taken by his captor to the northern prov
ince and was employed to attend cattle on
the hills Of mountainous district. This
youth was the future apostle of Ireland.
Having remained in captivity long enough
to acquire knowledge of the manners,
customs, and language of the people, he
made his escape to the sea shore. where
he was fortunate enough to obtain ves-
sci which bore him to his loved and ma
tive land. Arriving at Tours, where he
was received by his uncle St. Martin
whose pious labors had achieved the con.
version of the western parts of Gaul from
Gentileism to Christianity. He was the
son Of Roman tribune, born in the wear
3l6. at Saawar, a town between the rivers
Raab and Guns, in the west of Hungary.
He was elected Bishop of Tours Under
the direction Of his uncle, ST. Patrick, on
his return to France, began his study for
the church on the banks of the Liore, at
a monastery called Marmountier, which
still exists and IS considered one of the
most ancient abbeys CT France. Having
received the orleAof priesthood in Tours,
from Bishop St. German, who succeeded
to the Bishoprick on the death of St Mar
tin, be went to Rome Pope Celestine
consecraed him First Bishop of Ireland,
about the year 433. 1t has been said St.
James, the son Of Zebodee, was the first
to announce the gospel tidings in Ireland,
in the forty first year after Christ. 1t is
admitted there were many Christians in
Ireland previous to the landing of St. Pat
lick. St. Palladeus had preceded him the
previous year. There were many who,
hearing of Christianity and its teachings,
had gone to Rome and were baptized, but
returning had contended themselves to
remain in their own localities, working in
a limited circle. Net thus did Patrick do
when he landed on the shores of Ireland
about the month of March, Adj; instead
of directing his steps to the cattle fields of
his youth, he heard there was grand
council of the kings and chiefs of the
whole nation then holding at Tara, and
thilher he straIghtway went.
He asked an audience Of the kings and
it was grated. And in their native
tongue the princes Of the land first heard
tie glad tidings Of the gospel of Christ
A few did no: believe, but the great ma
jority of those who heard were converted;
and thus without the loss Of one life, with
out the shedding of one drop of blood the
heathenish rites and the Drudical Gus
toms Of Ireland gave way before the true
light of the gospel of truth.
But "the blood Of the martyrs is the
seed OF the Church," and although the in>
PRODUCTION Of Christianity was accomplish
ed without boodshed in the adherence Of
Ireland to that same Christianity, the
soil of Ireland has since then been well
badewed with martyrs blood. 1t is a
consolne fact to look back through this
long vista-over this bridge of fourteen
hundred years TO the days Of St. Patrick,
and to console ourselves with the great
truth, that Notwithstanding all il may
have cost in blood and treasure, Ireland
has never departed from "the old land
marks, she has ever "held fast TO :he
faith once delivered to the saints"
Although the life of St Patrick might
now have been one of peace and inactivi-
ty, we find the very reverse TO be proved
from the number Of foundations TO be es-
tablished. The monasteries and church.
es, whose ruins are everywhere to be
found in that dear old land OF ours, are
testimonials, not only to the zeal and en-
ergy of St. Patrick, out they are also testi-
monials to the piety, liberalty and civili-
cation Of our forcfathers at an age when
civilization was almost unknown in Eu-
rope. During life of holiness and activ-
ity which extended to his one hundred
and twentieth year St. Patrick establish
ed over eight hundred churches, consecra
ted three hundred and seventy five bish>
ops, and ordained three thousand priests.
lie founded converts innum cradle, and
schools. whose pupils became the teach
ers of Europe, and in every country of
the old world the fame and sanctity of
these pupils are 10 be yet found.
The learned doctor animated that so
peculiarly was the past history of Ireland
connected with the life Of ST. Patrick, th at
he found it difficult TO speak of the one
without touching upon the other, yet he
had, he hoped, succeeded in combining his
remarks to the subject in purely religious
point Of view.
HEAVY FRosT IN NORTHERN ALABAMA.
Tina Fyansvil In TouruGi saws: