The Norfolk Virginian. [volume] (Norfolk, Va.) 186?-189?, 1897-03-16
SAINT PATRICK's DA1.
Tomorrow Will Be Observed In Honor Of
IIeland's Great Patron Saint.
A,sKE7cH OF HIS REMARKABLE LIFE.
Son OF 10 Observation-Disclosures when
I" R"y-Eseapes and Resolves to
Convert Ireland to christianity
F'rcparntion-zsis Work baptized
Over Ia 900 People IIimsclf.
is st. Patrick's dav

Tomorrow is st. Patrick's day.
Upon 1t. all sons Of Erin, friends of
the Eimeral Isle, and those who glory
In the spread OF Christianity over the
world. the history Of its past progress
and the promise Of the future, delight
to honor Ireland's great patron saint,
whose wonderful missionary work In
4. period comparatively brief, converted
the beautiful land from a state of al
most savage heathenism to a practical
1 ly antipodal condition Of Christianity.
! t was away back in the early days,
some four hundred and eleven years
/ after the birth Of Christ, when the
scots and picts in one Of their incur
sions upon the neighboring Roman pro-
vince south Of the Wall Of Severus in
/ Britain, captured a youth Of about fiji
teen years and carried him off, with
many others from the district in the
}ncighborlood or Wall at the head Of the
I, Solway, and sold on the opposite coast
! Of Ireland in the territory OF the Irish
/ Picts, called Dial Araide. This youth
was the future apostle OF the Irish. He
was the grandson Of Pontitus, u priest,
and the son of Calpurnius, deacon,
and Il magistrate.
IN SLAVERY'S CHAINS.
For q period of about six years. though
some chronicles make it sixteen, the
youth Succat, or Patrick remained i'm
hard slavery, his duties being chiefly
tending; his masters cattle upon the
Flemish mountains in the county An
trim He was All enthusiastic PERSONAL
4 ty and much given In his lonely watch
/ ing, 10 prayer and meditation, and
| when, one day he learned OF a means
OF escape, saw visions, and it was
probably here that he first conceived
the idea OF devotinS his life to the con-
version of the Irish. though his plan did
/ not mature until after he made his es-
!, cape.
The details Of this latter incident OF
his life are not known, though it is be-
lieVed that he made his way secretly
10 one CT the towns on tho coast and was
! taIen thence in Il vessel to France,
where he began to prepare himself for
BENT UPON HIS MISSION.
He visited Tours. the island Of Ler-
| in the Mediterranean and Rome.
| where he received his commission from
/ Pope Celestine. This portion Of his life
is more or less little known, and Is the
subject or considerable controversy
among chroniclcrs
! At any rate, Il few years after his es-
cape, he was back among the Rritons
with his kindred who received him as q
son and besought him not TO part from
them again. But he was bent upon
MS mission. lie dreamed that n man
whose name was Victorious came to him
bearing innumerable cpistles, one of
which began with the words: THE Voice
OF the Irish" And when repeating the
words, lie thought he heard the voice of
those who were upon the western coast
Of Ireland calling him and beseeching
nm TO come and henceforward work
among them.
I This dream was followed by others.
Patrick was about twenty-five when he
escaped He was probably about thir-
l. ~ when he entered upon his mission.
| 1NDl Al is n.
OLD when consecrated as bishop The
date OF his death is uncertain It was
! probably Ago y. D., which would place
the length of his mission as priest and
bishop at about forty-four years.
HIS WORK IN IRELAND.
The chief facts of his life in ireland
are as follows: He sailed from France
to Wales or ireland Doth claim the hon
! ORD he that as it may, he first landed nc
a missionary in Ireland in the town Of
| WICKLOW, at the mouth Of the river Var
try. Thence he sailed North to con-
| vert MS Old master Milchu who de-
stroyed himself upon his approach. In
/ Inc county Down. he converted chief
named Dichu, who bestowed upon him
the first Christian church ST. Patrick
possessed. 1t was called 'Sabhall." or
The Barn" and it is still O church call
| ed by exactly by the same name.
st. Patrick then went to the County
Mtath ana preached to one Jeary or
LaGEhaire, the king of Tara, and It is
IN this case he is said to have used the
! shamrock to illustrate the doctrine OF
Inc trinity. He visited after that a
number OF other counties. his mission
being remarkably successful, founding
1t IS said 365 churches. baptIzing 12 600
persons, consecrating 450 bishops, and or
Gaming q vast number Of priests. He
died at Sabhull (SauD and was buried
AT DoWnpatrlck, where his relics were
preserved down to the period Of the Re-
| formation.
HOW TT IS CELEBRATED.
! me day is generally celebrated in Ire
land and the United States. where
SO many Of the oppressed Of that now
stricken land have found homes and lib
erty In the Land Of the Free. Tho various
linsh patriotic and benevolent or
GERS IN this country make it the occa-
sion Tor rejoicing, and festival, and there
IS not a city In the land where some
token OF the day will not be worn. for
even In places where the Irshman has
not gone. and they are few, are to be-
found Irish hearts that keep the
memory Of old Ireland and her patron
SAINT as green as the little sprie or
ribbon, which will be found upon the
lapels of their coats
|
/ ' AtE1 .Gt