The Irish standard. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn. ;) 1886-1920, 1903-03-14
That the Great Missionary Was Native
Of Scotland or England is
Very Improbable.
The Learned DR.. Lanigan Says That He Was
Unquestionably Native of
Boulogne-Sur-Mer.

I whom he was destined to supplant ii
royal favor, as "a foreigner coming
from over the sea-" But whateve,
place or nation has had the honor o1
his birth, whether France, England OF
Scotland, he is essentially the patron
saint Of Ireland, and stands out after
the long lapse Of ages as the most
typical representative of the piety and
patriotism o. its people. What St
David is to the ancient Cymric nation
what st. George is to England, or St.
Andrew to Scotland, that st. Patrick
is to Ireland and Irishmen.
Of his youth little is known, but at
the age Of 16, or about the year A. D.
4O3, he and his sister were carried
captives to Ireland, the destination of
Patrick being in the northern part of
the Island, where he was separated
from his sister, who was located on the
eastern coast. For six years the fut-
ure missionary, like the .Prodigal Son
of the New Testament, was engaged
in herding cattle and swine. From
this captivity he subsequently escaped
and made his way to the western coast
without money or food, subsisting as
best lie could OH the berries and wild
fruits which the country afforded.
Probably finding pleasure in the
pathless woods and a rapture OH the
lonely Shore" he, after this travelling
about 200 miles, providentially met
some sailors bound for France and Of
fered to go OH board with them. The
captain refused, owing to his poverty,
saying, "You shall by no means come
with u.s." Patrick repaired to small
cottage by the seashore, where he had
previously obtained some shelter, and
here prayed and wept, when finally
the master Of the vessel relaxed and
took him Oh board. After three days
they landed in Brittany on the north
ern coast of France. Patrick was now
in his 22nd year, and, tired Of the cares
Of the world, retired to a monastery at
Tours, where he resided for some
time. Here he educated himself, fully
determined to devote himself to the
interests Of religion. Being no longer
either slave or a stowaway, but an
educated man and priest, he yearned
to return to the land of his captivity,
and like Christian to return to his
captors and oppressors that good for
evil which he had learned was the
great doctrine Of all true religion. The
holy see had previously dispatched
missionaries to Ireland, where Chris.
tianity, as we shall subsequently see,
had made much progress; but some re-
sistance being now encountered to its
doctrines and owing to Patrick's six
years experience with the country,
making him something Of an Irishman,
he was selected for the difficult but
glorious work Of propagating the teach
ings he himself had already received
In the monasteries of France. Against
the advice and remonstrances of his
friends, who earnestly endeavored to
dissuade him by the most touching en-.
treaties not to go among a people who
were known to be deeply attached to
pagan rites, and who had threatened
and expelled Palladius, he resolved to
risk his life, and not to hide the gift
of God from a people whose supplica-
tons for their deliverance he imagined
were still ringing in his ears. After
a prosperous voyage he once more ar
rived in Britain and began his minis
tratiOns in Wales, and when long m
to middle age he again reached Ireland,
where years before he was q captive
and stranger. Patrick Immediately
commenced his missionary labors with
consummate wisdom and tact. and be.
ing mild in manner and gentle Of de-
pertinent, and gifted, also, it is said
with great eloquence, he made first
friends and tlren rapidly converts. He
Invariably made it point to preach
before the princes and chiefs Of clans,
knowing that if he succeeded with one
chief his whole following would in
those early times change over to Chris.
tianity.