Daily globe. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1878-1884, 1880-03-17
ST. PATRICK.
A Skotch Of Irelands Patron Saint-The
Observance Of the Day In st. Paul.

Other people have their national days pecu-
liar in come political or religious feature, but
ireland and the Irish have combined national
existence and religious birth in the observ-
ance of st. Patrick's day. Every nation has
its national day and may have its saints day,
but the Irish, with all the generous patriotism
characteristic of the people, join in jealous re-
igiOus enthusiasm in making their nation nj
anniversary one of religious commem0ration
to the patron saint who rescued their nation
from paganism to Christianity away back in
the early ages of the Christian era, which
make . study of the life and ministrations of
st. Patrick almost mythical were it not for the
intensity and devotion which his name awakens
in the Irish and which gives him personality
to last through all ages. t - II g.
st.. Patrick's Day is a national day, and in
its observance the enthusiastic patriotism of
the Irish is proverbial. As a sacred day COM
memorative of the birth and ministrations Of
their patron saint, the Irish bring an equal en-
thusiasm in devotional observance. The birth
place of Saint Patrick is written of with uh-
certainty. With some authorities Scotland is
credited with the honor of his birth, and Kill
patrick. near the mouth of the Clyde, is named
as his birthplace. Others, and latte1lv with
greater weight of authority, name Bou-
logne, France. as the place of his birth,
or that vicinity. DIR. Lanigan in his
Ecclesiastical history favors the French
nativity of the saint, and in heightened dis.
course refutes the Scotch claimants, Usher,
Ware, Colgun ard other writer's upon the sub
ject. All authorities agree in fixing the date
of the birth between the years A. ID. 372 and
A. D. 1877.
religion into Ireland, st. Patrick, as conse-
Grated bishop of the church of
Rome, was specially sent to convert
the island, and where Others had failed or been
banished, he succeed. His success was such
as to make it enduring through all ages, and
whatever other faults may be laid at the door
of the Irish, they have never fsltered in their
jealous and enthusiastic devotion to the relig-
ion st. Patrick preached. AS his
tory has it, st. Patrick conceived tho
idea of his mission when boy and
in captivity in Ireland. It would seem that
when a mere lad, he was captured in foray by
the Irish, on his native coast and taken to Irel
land, there becoming the captive slave of a ma
tive chief in the north country. 1t was here he
conceiv I'd his mission, and was prepared in a
measure for it while engaged in humble servi-
tude, as many other holy men have been pre-
pared for a similar duty. With what truth
may not be exactly known, but
authority favors the narrative that he became
an interpreter to dream of his master, which
years after was fulfilled in the conversion of
the chiefs daughter, though he. as foretold, re-
sanity missionary.
When % years old he succeeded in leaving
Ireland and returning to the place of his ma
tivity. 1t Is made known in his Confessions"
written during the latter part of his life, that
he suffered second captivity. But both the
saints and other accounts are meagre in regard
to the nature or intent, or even she nationality
of his second captors, thougi presumably.
Irish. .-
After his return to his home Ind friends st.
Patrick began systematic PREF sration for the
service to which God had called aim.
He placed himself under the priestly tuition
of st. German, Bishop of Auxerre. According
to DR.. Lanigan, this decided step in the saints
life took place about A. ID. AS. After this he
took ghostly counsel for nine years in cele-
brated monastery on the island of Lerins.
Returning to his sanity pre-
ceptor, the Bishop of Auxerre, he
again put himself under his tuition and fur
Their fitted himself for the missionary life,
about which he constantly thought. The years
following we're devo ed to the discharge of
priestly and pastoral duties in his native place,
interrupted by a mission to Britain, where his
intention to christianize Ireland was in
heard of the few scattered,
.,rofessing Christians Of that barbarous and pa
gan realm. Following this mission, st. Patrick
returned to his home. placed himself in COM
munication with st. German, and by him was
sent to Rome. There he was brought in con-
tact and conference with the Holy Father, Ce-
lestine l., and the saints qualifications having
been communicated to His Holiness, st. Pat
rick was encouraged in his good intentions, and
even commissioned for the great work which
he so successfully accomplished under the boun-
tiful and miraculous blessing of God. In con-
junction with Palladius, 81. Patrick was Or
dered to Ireland. For some reason st. Patrick
did not accompany the first bishop to
Ireland, whose mission failed, Palladius dy-
ing shortly after his Punishment in Scotland,
whittier he had been exiled, and where he had
accomplished in a measure the purpose of his
life, by converting the Scots, with whom his
declining days were passed. 7r-=
A. D. 432, st. Patrick set out on his holy
mission to Ireland. Accompanied by several
holy men as associates, he landed in Ireland.
st. Patrick was then in his forty-ffth year.
He brought to the successful issue of his labors
an experience of years, holy and intense be-
lief in bis mission and conviction under
Gods will that his acquaintance with the coun-
try and its people would bring to him sue
cess such as would rebound to the glory of the
Church.
J 1t is believed that st. Patrick first landed at
town now known as Bray, in Wicklow,
about eleven miles south of Dublin. The idol
atrous or pagan people opposed him here, and
he abandoned the field under imminent danger
of death, and with his holy confreres he sailed
along the coast, landing now and then, to
preach and even convert by the mastery of his
sincerity until the north of Ireland. the scene
of his former captivity, was reachsd. Here his
systematic and persistent labors were begun,
which found . hearing and Judgment from one
end of the Sacred Island to the other.
/ Like the first adherent to our Savior, the first
convert in Ireland by 1T. Patrick is said to
have been a shepherd, and even through the
myth and obscurity.of ages, his name, Dicho, is
believed to be preserved even unto the present
day
In time, st. Patrick preached and taught the
gospel to all Ireland, the people, from kings to
peasants, alike came within the fold, and this
with miraculous unanimity, without any re-
volt from time to time, which has never char
acterized the conversion of any other people.
Once a convert to the benign and lovely
influences of the Christian religion, the Irish
have remained a consistent and devotional
people. --i. --5
The kings of Dublin and Munster were bap-
tized by him. Their subjects became Christ's
subjects, and before his death, st. Patrick had
fulfilled his wonderful mission by an absolute
conversion of all the people. 1t is believed, &C.
cording to authority, that st. Patrick
established his metropolitan See at Armagh,
and cOusecrating other bishops, they became
ardent cOlaborers in the miraculous conversion
of the Irish. They abandoned their Druidical
worship, sacrifices and rites, and embracing
the new religion of love, never afterwards re-
kal knI