The morning star and Catholic messenger., 1877-03-11
!" TIE IOICR OF TEE IRISH"

|
ated Apostle of Ireland, is thus related b.
himself in his ConJcssio:
"Isaw, in q nocturnal vision, man names
Victorious coming as if from ireland. with
large parcel Of letters, ono Of which he han6e'
to me. On reading the beginning of it. foun'
it contained these words: The voice of th'
Irish ! and while reading it l thought heard
at the same msnent, the voice of a multitude
of persons near the Wood of Foclut, which Ii
near the western sea and they cried ont. as Il
with one voice: Ne cntreot thee, holy youth, tt
como and sOalk henoeforth soith as..' And wa'
greatly affected in my heart and could read nc
longer; and then I awoke.'
Ireland is the only nation in the world upon
the record Of whose conversion to the Faith
| there is found no stain of blood and no blot OF
tears, o glory which she shares with no other
| people, and which gives to ber history it's Pc
culisr charm.
| This beautiful vision of her early Apostle
teaches us, moreover that she longed for the
| Light of Christianity and invited it's presence
into the midst of her people, even while the in
fuences of pagsnism were still at work upon
their thoughts and ACTIONS.
"The voice of the Irishn was not an idle
fancy of st. Patriok's mind. 1t shaped his hopes
and inclinations, and urged him to the feet Of
Pope Celestiue to solicit from him permission
to undertake. his unknown mission. In 432 st,
Patrick landed in Ireland.
1t Is recorded that upon advancing from the
coast towards the north of the island, he was
met by largo body of retainers. headed by
the missionaries were pirates, began to dispute
fbnir huE ;ah L
ceived the Saint, lost all apprehension, and
welcomed him to his own home. Dicbo was
St. Patrick's first convert, the first of that
multitude of persons" whose voice had called
the Apostle from across the western sea-
From this day until that Of bis holy death,
Wednesday, March II, In the year 492, st.
Patrick continued to tralk, as the vision had
him, with those earnest souls who
loved truth aud adhered faithfully to its ser.
vice.
No one can read the history of Ireland with
out feeling of veneration for it's people who,
under all circumstances, in prosperity or
misery, in intelligence or ignorance, in wealth
or in poverty, have clung to the Faith handed
them by Patrick, with devotion unequalled
in the history of nations.
She did not shed the blood of her consecrated
nor did she crown with thorns
tho brow of her illustrious Apostle; yet by o
mysterious dispensAtion, her own blood has
been poured out like water, and her own head
has been BUNDLED to the dust. She, the most
enlightened nation to whom the Gospel was
ever preached, has been pointed at as the out
cast of the world-the ragged fool-in the
great court of prosperity and progress. She,
uhno nobi
Sages. stands before the eyes of the min etc enth
century as one forsaken, debarred of life's best
privileges, while modern civilization apologies
for her Ignorance and vices.
But is this truef "The voice of the Irish
resoupds across the sea and refutes the slander;
for that voice is heard around the globe as the
pioneer Of civilization and the messenger of
religion.
From among that multitude of persops,"
seen by st. Patrick in his noctural vision, come
forth men whose names are brightest on the
roll Of honor, fame and virtue. Poets, heroes
saints and martyrs, q numerous throng, whose
words and deeds are precious legacies in every
Christian land, and precious memories in every
Christian heart.
The mission of st. Patrick is perpetuated in
his children; for the princes as we'll as the
peasants of the world learn from their lips the
saving truths of Gods religion, and gather
from their example the heroism and patience
which ensure success.
But in view of the approaching festival of
this great Saint, 80 singularly ard universally
celebrated by the contrast of humble prayer
and proud procession, of silent homage before
the altar and loud display before the world, we
cannot refrain from recalling those words of
the pleading voices which entreated the holy
youth to "come and walk henoeforth with
them"
In humility and charity, St. Patrick's spirit
walks the entire globe, kindling the fire of
faith where none exists. tanning into a burning
glow the embers that seem to be expiring, or
building up the glorious fame that draws 80
many souls inte its blessed radiance. Thus we
see the Saint.
Gathered together in multitudes, Crying out
as with one voice." testifying, even in exile,
to their faithful brotherhood and andying
love. and appealing to the world for its recog-
milton of their devotion to the cause of country