The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1873-03-17
ST. PATRICK's DAY.
SKETCH OF THE PATRON SAINT
OF IRELAND.
TO-DAY's CELEBRATION.

TO-DAY'S CELEBRATION.
To-day Is without exception the dearest of
all the days Of the year 10 the irish heart.
1t Is set apart for the coriimemoration Of the
virtues OF st. Patrick, the apostle of Ire
| land. No nation has ever accorded its
patron saint such honors. The love and
yenerltion with which the Irish, dispersed
as they are to-day throughout the civilized
world, regard the very name OF their glorious
apostle has never been equalled. It is just
now as warm and intense as it was fourteen
centuries ago, and century hence it will
have experienced no diminution.:
LIFE AND CAREER OF ST. PATRICK.
The most reliable authorities represent
that st. Patrick was born about the close of
the fourth century in that part Of Armoric
Gaul near the present Boulogne-sur-Mer.
His fathers name was Potitious, man Of
wealth and of noble family; his mothers
name was Conchessa, either sister or
Some authorities describe Conchessa as
niece Of st. Martin. While yet d
mere youth st. Patrick. was twice reduced
to slavery. He was barely sixteen when first
madc a captive and sold to Milcho, under
whom he served as swneherd in the noun
tains Of Seamisb, in the county Of Antrim,
North Of Ireland. A spot is pointed out even
at the present time as favorite resort of this
saint when engaged in the holy work of
prayer. Without entering into any elaborate
display of argument to prove the eXactness
of those places to be all that popular tradi-
ton ascribcs them to be, we may only state
that even at the present hour they possess
characteristics favorable 20 the belief of those
whose lives have been spent around them.
During our last visit to Sleamish, remarks a
writer, in company with young Italian
prie.t, we remember how enthusiastically the
young Levite cried out, 81 believe, know,
that this is the very spot which st. Patrick
trod.'
st. Patrick rcgained his liberty, and fleeing
to France, repaired to the monastery of his
illustrious relative, st. Martin, where he
spent four years preparing himself for the
work which he felt himself inspired BY God
10 fulfil-viz., the conversion of the Irish
people from Pagauism to Christianity. In a
vision granted to him by the power Of God
he read the words, The voice Of the Irisb,'
and at the same time he heard the voice of
the people crying out to him "Come and
walk among u.s. After studying for some
nine wears under SIS. Honoratus and
Maxinius, he, by the advice Of st. Germanus,
his director, proceeded to Rome, and there
| solicited and obtained from Pope Celestine
=, commission to preach the Gospel in Ire
land.
Happy, thrice blessed. day when Patrick
landed at Strangford in 43l and baptized
Dicbo, the chief of that district, in the North
of Ireland. But happier far when he
nf nd
when assembled in the courtly balls of Tara.
BY the laws of the country no fire was to
| be lighted before the Bcdislnnc Tor Baaltire),
| Int st. Patrick and his mpanions-among
whom was Bcnignus-had determined to
celebrate the Feast of Easter, and for that
purpose had pitched their tents and lighted
| their fires. Let US here note the reply OF
Druid priests in answer to the inquiry of
the King concerning this strange violation
of the law: "This fire, which has now been
kindled before our eyes. unless eXtinguished
this very night, will never be eXtinguished
throughout ali time. Moreover, it will tower
over all fires of our ancient rites, and lie who
lights it will ere long scatter your ancient
kingdom" The King was enpaged. Yet,
the next dIy Patrick preached in The halls Of
Tara, and Leogairc declared, "It is better
that should believe than die"
The Saint next visited Breil'ney, now the
county of Cavan, where the worship OF the
Crom-cruach "a large Idol had existed for
centuries. When the Saint saw the idol he
at it pointed the staff of Jesus, aud the idol
fell to the earth never 10 rise again. After
traycrsing all Connaught for the space of
seven wears, he returned again to Ulster, and
in the district then known by the name of
Nlacba received from Daire grant of land
1t q place called Drurin Sailech (the Hill of
SaIlams), upon which the ancient cathedral
of Armagh was erected.
It is needless to assure the reader that the
fine old cathedral was lost at the time OF
Henry and Elizabeth's reformation of
Cbrist's religion in Ireland. But the sue
ressor of ST. Patrick, the late Primate Crolly,
laid the foundation of the new cathedral,
which stands higher and is even grander in
poiut of agricultural beauty than the old
cathedral.
What strange yeritication OF the words
of the Druid priests at Tara. -,
St. Patrick's apostleship in Ireland lasted
nearly sixty years. During that time he built
| or caused to be built Il church for every day
in the wear. He also conseIrated as many
bishops. and ordained nearly 5000 priests
about the same number to be found i'll Ire
land at the present day. 1t were very easy
| matter to give many and beautiful outlines OF
the holy life and career of st. Patrick, but
where is the hand ft 10 write the funniest
sketch of the result Of his labors as mani
tested in the missionary career Of the Irish
saints in Europe Or in the dispersion OF his
children throughout the world.
No land ever produced such multitude
Of saints and scholirs as Ireland. Not
century passed by, from the days OF st. Pa
trick down to the introduction. or, rather,
atlemptcd introduction, of heresy into Ire
land, without witnessing hosts of Irish
saints enrolled in the glorious history OF the
Church.
PROGRAMME OF PROCEEDINGS.
The Irish citizens Of Richmond and those
of Irish descent, and indeed all others who
are interested in the celebration, Will as
sembie at their respective places of rendeZ
rous ut O'Clock this morning. The So
cielies which will take part in the cclebra'
ton are: The Ancient Order Of llibernlans
Hibernian Society, Catholic Total Abstinence
Society, Catholic Beneficial Society, and st
| Bcnedictus, st. Bonilacius, and st. Joseph's
| German societies.
The line will be formed on Broad street
the right resting on Ninth street, and the
line of march will be up Broad street to
Sixth, down Sixth to Grace, and to st. Pc
ter's cathedral, where services will be held
and discourse delivered by the Righ'
Reverend Bishop Gibbons.
After the services the line will be again
formed, The right resting on Ninth street
and the procession, in proper order, vii
move up Ninth to Broad. down Broad te
Tweuty-tifth, down Twenty to Main
ND Main to First, up First to Marshall, dowr
Marshall to Fifth, along Fifth to Grace, doWr
Grace to the Executive mansion, where the
~, viii mass in review before the Governor