The Irish standard., 1886-07-17
St. Pat1iek's Staff,

w leu foG. t1JflCh was IStuEHlliS llOiu
Rome to France, On his way back TO
Ireland, TO bring to Its distant shores
the knowledge Of the faith Of Jesus
Christ, he stopped for nights rest at
a venerable convent Of monks, which
was situated Oh the Gulf of Genoa.
The work and labor Of these pious
monks was the spiritual and temporal
care of the poor, benigbted and ship
wrecked sailors, who sought refuge
there from the piracy Of the Turks. To
the Rev. Father, Prior Of the Monas~
terry, St, Patrick revealed his name.
mission and his privileges: just issued
from the Papal Court, and, after the
evenings collation., WAS invited to the
sacred precincts OF their chapel room,
The distinctiveness Of the personal ap-
pearance of the monks amazed and
puzzled our Saint. One-half Of the
number of our holy brethren seemed
decrepit, infirm and Old, bent in form,
their boards silvery with age; while on
the other side an equal number looked
young, fresh in years and manners. But
St. Patrick's wonder increased when
one of the youthful Of the piots monks,
in the course Of conversation and con-
ference with our Saint, Informed him
that the very old men We're their chill
dren cit is,'' said the seeming young
man in years and voice, "over a CEN
tury ago since myself and my COM
panions you observe near ME came to
live in this sanctiied monastic retreat,
giving praise to God and laboring for
the sailors souls redeemed by the pre-
cious blood Of His only Son. A com
mon bond united us in the world, as we
were widowe1s, and most Of our num-
Der had the paternal and spiritual
charge of a son assigned by an AL
mighty and wise Providence. Those
elderly bent frames yonder, stranger
pilgrim, are, as you now know, really
our children III spirit and flesh. The
reason and cause OF this strange reyer-
sal of nature will unfold to you for
your edi6cation and thanksgiving. One
happy night, in time long ago, it was
our blessed fortune to entertain at our
humble board pilgrim of gentle mien
and heavenly sweetness of manner.
When about to bid adieu after the
hour of prime next day, in return for
our hospitality and good feeling toward
him. he babe our Father Prior assemble
US in his presence, and presented him
the staff he bore III his hand, saying:
In thanksgiving tor the generous hos
pitality you have extended to me, l
leave you this staff; for the time it re-
mains in your possession the lapse of
years will have no effect upon your
strength or appearance. Keep it safe
until my son Patrick, and the Apostle
of My word rests here, on his way
northward to Erin, to convert and
bring souls under the banner of ever
lasting truth. In years to come when
he shall rest here, after prostration at
the feet of My Vicar on earth, treat
him with all the due honor and respect
his Office commands. On his departure
from your midst give into his hands
this staff as memorial for Me, carrying
with it all graces and blessings on him
and his Apostolic labors.' When you
depart from our unworthy midst. great
Apostle of Erin, for the sainted west
ern Isle Of the future, we shall expect
soon our release from the bonds Of
flesh, and when chanting on high the
eternal anthem of glory We will chant
praises for your labors before the Heay-
emily throne
This is the legendary history of the
famous staff which st. Patrick ever
carried with him on his journey through
the length and breadth of Erin. After
his death it was presented as 9 relic in
st. Patrick's Cathedral of Armagh for
over hundred years. 1t is said now
by some annalists to have been trans
ferred to Christ Church in Dub
lin.