New Orleans Republican. [volume] (New Orleans, La) 1867-1878, 1871-03-17
AT. PATRICK'S DAY,

In every portion OF the clVlAZed GloDe,
where there are Irishmen in sufficient
numbers to make respectable process
sion, this day is celebrated And why ?
Who was st. Patrick? What. did hs do
for Ireland or for Ir;shmon? Was he o
great warrior who led their Celtic an
cestors to battle and carried victory on
the edge of his battle-aX, or great
monarch whose reign made Ireland pros
porous at home and respected abroad? ?
Did he teach the early inhabitants Of the
ever Green Isle the rudiments Of ci;iliza-
ton, or introduce into it any improve
ments whereby the physical condition Of
its people was a,neiiorated? Did he maize
them acquainted with any improved sys
ten OF agriculture, any scientific ma
chinery enabling them to utilize TIE nat
u1al products OF the country and turn
them into msrletable commodities? Or
was he political leader, whose
brilliant talents cXtorted from the
naughty govornmen. of the dominant
sister isle a reluctant recognition of Ire
lands rights, and a still more reluctant
restitution Of some of them No; the
claims of st. Patrick upon the gratitude
Of the Irish nation rest on far higher
basis than the comforting of any material
advantage. The treasure which he brought
to this ardent and roetical people was
the Christian religion, and 50 completely
and heartily did they accept it at his
hands that to this day they hold it in the
very same primitive form in which they
received it. Neneration is leading at
tribute in the Irish character; reverence
for old age, for the teachings of their
this which prevented the Reformation,
when it overran England and Scotland
from making any Roadway in the Isle Of
Saints.
st. Patrick, although the patron saint
of Ireland, was not an Irishman, and al
though still venerated as the apostle Of
Ireland, was not the first to attempt the
introduction of Christianity to its inhab-
itants. He was born, according to most
authorities in Scotland, and, when
mere youth, was carried captive to Ire
land, where he remained seven years.
pursuing the occupation of swineherd
1t was thus he acquired knowledge of
the Irish language, which in after years
was to be of so much service to him in
his apostleship. Escaping at length to
France, he studied theology under his
uncle, the Bishop of Tours. He after
ward went to Rome, whence he was sent
to Ireland as a missionary with thirty
four assistants. An attempt had been
previously made by monk named Palla-
dius to convert the islanders, but with
little encouragement. The zeal and elo-
quence of st. Patrick, however, We're re-
warded with success. After having con-
verted and baptized five or six Irish
kings that was the proper way
to begin the conversion of a coun-
try in chose days he turned his attention
to the people, and before his death, had
the happiness to see nearly the whole
country converted to Christianity: the
stability of which was insured by the
erection OF churche, and monasteries. and
the introduction of all the pharaphernalia
By which the church militant carries on
her warfare with 1.-The world, the flesh and
the devil.
The honor bestowed on their patron
saint by Irishmen in every land, displays
A beautiful trait in their character a, a
people, namely. gratitude, which is pas
sion among them: but beautiful as this
sentiment is in itself, the method of it's |
display is still more so. We do not OF
course allude to the parades. the banners,
etc, but the many associations for benev-
olent purposes which bear the name of ST.
Patrick, showing that the seeds of Chris |
.ianity which he planted fourteen hun
lred years ago are still bearing fruit
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