Morris tribune., 1888-03-21
ST. PATRICK
A Brief. Sketch of lreland's Patron SAINT.

England, Scotland, Wales and
France each claims to be the birth
place of st. Patrick and each has
much of legendary evidence to give
in support of its claim. One ancient
writer ascribes his origin to the jew
ish exiles, driven from the Holy
City by the Roman conqueror. The
years of his birth and death are also
points of wide difference among the
historians-tlle former ranging from
372 to 3SS; the latter is quite generally
conceded to he 1913.
Coglans writings, which are based
upon we'll authenticated traditions "f
Armoric Gaul, are probably the most
truthful and reliable. lie states posi-
lively that st. Patrick was born at
Holy Tours, in Armonic Gaul, in 37S.
There he spent his early youth until
the arrival of the fleets aud armies OF
Mall Neeallach in pursuit of the
Roman legions. which had invaded
Ireland and met with ignominOus de-
feat. Having disposed OF the Romans
the Celts proceeded to ravage the
country. The wise monarch Mall
was assassinated by all Irish vassal
Oh the bank of the Lofre. His naval
armament returned to Ireland in 3S9.
Among the spoils taken back with
them were 200 children for slaves,
among them the boy Patrick. Thus
while the loss of Mali was great
one to Ireland, she received an i'll
estlmable blessing in this holy per-
sonage. who was then 16 years Of age.
His baptismal name was not Patrick,
but Succath, meaning valiant in war.
None OF the historians have nttemp-
ted to record anything of his youth
full history.
In 500 he was sold into slavery in
the north of Ireland and served six
years before gaining his liberty. st.
Patrick himself describes this part Of
hts life as follows:
my constant business was to feed
the hogs. was frequent in prayer;
the love and fear Of God more and
more infiamed my heart; my faith
was enlarged; my spirit augmented;
so that said an hundred prayers by
day aud almost rs many by night. L
arose before day to my prayers, i'll the
snow, in the frost, In the rain; nor
was | affected 10y slothfulness. for
then the spirit of God was warm with
in me-
He then returned to his native land
and after enjoying two years with his
relatives he was warned through a
vision that there was work for him to
do in Ireland.
He resolved then to carry out his
long cherished wish to attempt the
work Of converting Ireland. 10 hit
himself for this work he spent many
years in travel and study. Then,
having been clothed with authority
from the pope, he sailed for Ireland
with twenty colaborers, all men OF
great piety and wisdom. He landed
first in Britain AMI preached for
several days with great success. Here
he increased his following to thirty
four and proceeded to Ireland, land
ing Oh the coast of Wicklow, where
he at once began his labors. His first
convert was Smell, q CREST man in
that country, and he soon added the
king, queen and many of the nobility.
His innovation was, of course,
strongly opposed by the Druidical
priests who were anxious to preserve
their power over the peo lie by their
supposed magical and mystifying acts
The manner in which St. Patrick
overcame them and the record of the
many miracles ascribed to the good
saint are interesting PORTIONS of his
tory. All the world knows that to
| st. Patrick is ascrlbed the credit Of
the freedom of Ireland from snakes.
Colgan solemnly states that St. Pat
| rick accomplished the feat of banish-
ing the reptiles through the instru-
mentality OF q drum, which he beat
with such feryor that he burst the
head, and that an angel at ONCE came
to the rescue and mended it: The
work of st. Patrick in Ireland will
live as long as the island continues
to hold its Yerdant fields and valleys.
In every part are flourishIng churches
and grand cathedrals organized and
established by him, monuments to
his fame in this world and gems fOr
his diadem in the Beautiful City,
where lie is with the Master he SC
earnestly and efficiently served. The
number of churches said to have been
established by hmm is 700. He died
March 18th, 493 and his remains were
placed in the cathedral of Down, af'
terward called st. Patrick's.