Holmes County farmer. [volume] (Millersburg, Ohio) 1857-1926, 1861-04-04
81. PnfricIk.

The Baltimore Sun furnishes the fol-
lowing sketch of the life and works of st.
Patrick, the patron saint of Ireland:
st. Patrick, the apostle and patron
saint of Ireland, was born at Tours, in
Gaul, about 373. His uncle was the great
St. Martin, Bishop of Tours. His faith
er was Calphurnius; his mothers namo
was Conchcssa. In 3S0, being sixteen
years old, he was taken captive in Bre
tagnc, and was brought to Ireland, where
he was sold to Mlcho Human, petty
prince of Dalardia, in Antrim. Patrick
fed Milcho's hogs, in which office, the
saint tells us, he was frequently in prayer
the love aud fear of God inilamcd his
heart, his faith was enlarged, his spirit
augmented, he said a hundred prayers by
day, and nearly as many by night; he rose
in the frost, rain and snow, and was not
slothiul, &c. In this way he learned the
Irish language, manners and dispositions,
and thus prepared himself for his subse-
qucnt labors. ..... .......
| In 800 he was released from his servi-
tude, and returned to his relatives, with
whom he remained two years. 1t was
during this time he had that vision in
which he saw man named Victorious,
coming to him from Ireland, with num-
Der of letters, one of which cor rtained the
words For Htberni Generum, "the voice
OF the Irish," and whilst reading it he
heard a voice saying, 1--WE entreat thee,
Patrick, to come amongst u.s." which
formed his resolution on being Ireland s
apostle.
| Patrick, for thirty five yours studied
under his uncle st. Martin, by whom he
was was made deacon. About 4O3 he
went to Rome, where he studied the scrip
lures for six years. In 429 he accompa-
MED ST. German, to expel Pelagianism
from Britain; and in 432 was appointed
by Pope Celestine to preach to the Irish
He proceeded to Delardia, where his old
master, Nlcho, lived. lie next went
southwark, westward and northward, un-
til he arrived at Tara. Here he convert
ed Connell, prince, grandfather to St.
Columbkill. In 434 he travelled to Con
naught, where he converted the daughters
of King Lohair Now, in imitation of
Christ, Moses and Elias he tasted forty
days, and, according to Joceline, gather
ed the tribes Of reptiles and scrpents and
drove them into the ocean. Patrick again
proceeded northward, toward the west,
to Tyr Amalgald (now deanery in
'Tuam, and here converted many thous-
ands, amidst striking miracles. Colgan
says he founded here above At churches.
He appointed bishops, ordained priests,
and founded nunnuries on his way to
Louth In 445 he built cathedral, en-
largod and beautiied Armagh, and fixed
his archiepiscopal see in it.
In 44S he held synod, and enacted
many valuable canons in Armagh. He
now passed through Leinster to Dublin,
baptiscd the king and people, and by his
"Staf of Jesus" q fountain issued, near
/. which he built cathedral. According
to the Black Boob, quoted by Usher, St
Patrick celebrated mass in one Of the sub.
terranean vaults over which Christ Church
was subsequently built in 1888. In 454
he founded the Church of Ardah, and
consecrated st. Maelits bishop. For six
years he made his circuits around Ulster
Leinster and other parts of Ireland. In
46l he made journey TO the Pope, to
whom he gave an authentic ascount Of
the fruits of his mission. The Pope re.
ceived him with joy, confirmed him in his
apostolate of Ireland, and armed him
with legative powers.
On his return he passed through Brit
ain, where he destroyed Paganism, cx
communicated the wicked prince, Coro
tic, and established numerous monster
les and churches. He now for thirty
, years renewed his labors, animated hi
flock, built churches, ordained priests
' consecratod bishops, founded monasterc
and nunueries, held councils, wrote hi
confessions, rules and canons, removed
abuses, and after due retirement and con
; temptations, died in the Abbey of Paul
I on the 18th of March, 493, in the on
hundred and twentieth year of his age
and was buried in Down, which gave ris
to that verse;
ain Down, three saints one grave do lillj
: Patrick, Bridget and Columbkill."