The Dallas weekly herald. [volume] (Dallas, Tex.) 1873-1885, 1874-03-21
VT. PATRsCH'S DAY-SOMETHiN'
OF THE IRISH APOSTLE.

OF IhE hhhSh HEVN'
Wherever the English, French or
Spanish language is spoken, ana III all
Catholic countries, the name OF 81.
Patrick, the apostle of Ireland, Is
known and honored, and, to n large
extent, revered. Many popular lala-
cies exist in regard to him; but, by the
concurrent testimony of christian
writers, both Catholic and Protestant,
he is Justly entitled to be called the
apostle of Ireland, and one of the most
remarkable and holy men who ever
carried the cross Of Christ into heathen
or pagan nlands-remarkable in his his
tory-great in his abilities, and, with
the greatest meekness of spirit, COM
bincd the most exalted courage. In
deed, his whole missionary career
seems to have been sustained by that
reliance on the arm of God which
makes the feeblest of men illustrious
in moral heroism.
The birth place of st. Patrick is in
volved in some doubt, but it is believed
he was born in Armorc-Brittany,
Gaul, near the site of the present city
of Bou!ogne, about the year A. ID. 3S1.
In his sixteenth year he was carried
captive into Ireland, and held for some
time. After his release he returned to
his native country, studied for the
ministry, and, being fired by holy
zeal to reclaim his late captors from
paganism, he commenced his labors
in Ireland, as is believed, about the
year 432.
From that time to his death, on the
18th of March, 465, his whole soul was
devoted to his great work, and was
crowned with such success as not only
to embalm his memory in the hearts
of the nation he had redeemed, but
afterwards to become its patron saint.
That st. Patrick was an apostolic
man is acknowledged by all men who
profess christianity. In Ireland his
name has been talisman of joy, graft
tude and veneration ever since his
death, fourteen hundred and nine
years ago. The day of his death
March ~ has always been regarded
as his natal day, rather than the day
of his BIRTH on the accepted ground
that as he ceased to breathe on earth,
he was born anew in heaven.
st. Patrick, though not strictly the
first christian to plant the cross in
England, was prominently the great
light who carried the gospel of Christ
as well into the huts of the poor as into
the palaces of the ancient Irish kings.
He converted the kings and noble
families of Meath, Connaught, Done
gal, Sligo, Derry, Ulster, Leinster,
Munster and other places. His whole
life at that time is illuminated with the
brightest illustrations of pious devotion
and fearless adherence to duty.
The last years of his life were chiefly
spent at Armagh and Soul, in the
county Down, where he departed this
life March 18th, A. ID. 465. A great
writer says, che is justly celebrated as
the apostle of Ireland.o
ST. PATRICK's HYMN.
After escaping u great danger, in
which he and his trusty followers
seemed providentially saved, ST. Pat
rick composed, in the ancient Irish
language, the celebrated hymn, some
times called Fethfddhd, and some
times Sc. Put,ick's Bredstptate. The
original manuscript of this hymn is
preserved in the library of Trinity col
lege, Dublin. AS perhaps few persons
among our readers ever saw this an
cent and rare document, we subjoin it
in full at the conclusion of this article.
The fidelity, then, with which Irish
men everywhere celebrate the an
nual return of st. Patrick's day, on the
18th of March, is fact honorable to
that nation, and illustrates their devo-
ton to those things held by them
in respect or veneration. The
faith that still venerates the
patron saint of their country, after the
lapse of fourteen centuries, is typical
in an earthly point of view, in their
steadfast opposition to a union with
England and promises to be perpet-
uated with the same tenacity to the
end.
ST. PATRICK'S HYMN.