The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1903-03-20


ut is a characteristic of our age" says
Professor Maciean in his Literature Of
the Celts,' Ito doubt II not to deny, tle
historical reality OF many of the historic
figures that hover in the background of
history. And such a doubt has extended
even to st. Patrick, due largely to the
fact that he is not mentioned by the
early historians. Prosper of Aquitaine
"a. d. 402-46S) and Bede "a. d. 673-7S5),
both of whom attribute the conversion of
Ireland to Palladius."
This seeming omission, however, has
been explained by the theory that st.
Patrick and Palladius are one and the
same person. Succat the saints bap-
tismal name, In the ancient British Ian
guage means Good at war" (modern
Welsh hygad. warllke), and is accurate
ly translated by Palladius 0rom Pal
las), a common Roman name at that Pc
Rod. AS a Roman citizen, and moreover
of noble birth, the saint must have had
more than one name, and doubtless his
praenomen was Patricius. 1t would there
fore be appropriate to call him st. Pa
tricius, for, as Andrew Lang says, st.
Patrick almost inevitably suggests an
Irishman and Patricius was none.'
Before proceeding further it may be
stated that all the dates concerning st.
Patrick are elusive and uncertain. The
nest likely dates, and those most in ac-
cord with the historical evidence. are
those suggested by DR.. Whitley Stokes.
the distinguished editor of the ''Tripartite
Life" of st. Patrick. The dates suggested
by this scholar are: Birth A. d. 1913, first
missionary advent to ireland, 1877; second
advent in 4s2, and death in 463. But, as
Professor Maelean remarks, after all has
been said and searched, we are dependent
for the essential features and outstanding
facts Of his life upon the apostles own
writings" and these unfortunately, for
US contain no dates.
The authentic records Of ST. Patrick's
life are fairly numerous and of great age,
dating back. indeed, almost to his own
handwriting. The first Is the autobio-
graphical Confession" preserved for us
in an abridged form in the Book of
Armagh, one of the finest and oldest of
the Irish manuscripts, written in S12 by
scribe Ferdomnach. That the scribe had
before him the actual autograph manu-
script of the saint may be inferrsE from
his own words: Thus far the volume
which Patrick wrote with his own hand.
On the 18th day of March was Patrick
translated to the heavens" The docu-
ment is In Latin, rude and archaic in
its composition, answering u the descrip-
ton st. Patrick gives of his, own writing.
In addition to the Confession" there are
the "Epistles to coroticus" (also in LATIN
and the hymn variously known as the
.'Lorica," "Deer's Cry" or Guard Cry"
lin Gaelic, assigned to ST. Patrick.
The Confession" St. Patrick tells us,
was written In his old age, and that Its
object was to defend himself from the
charge of presumption in undertaking
the work he tried to perform among the
Irish The work. though called con
feasion," is rather to be considered as an
Apologize pro vita sua. 1t has been weI.
described as the fervid outpourings of
jealous early Christian, anxious only 10
clear himself from the charges of world
illness, and absolutely devoid of those
appeals to general interest which we
meet with in most of such memoirs A
vein of warm piety, too, runs through
the whole.
The information the saint gives US
about himself in the Confession" may
be shortly stated thus He was born Of
Christian people. being the son of CAL
pornius. a deacon, who was of the town
of Bannauen Taberniae. He was also of
aristocratic birth. his father being a
decurio, that is, one of the council of
ma gistracy of Roman provincial town.
Here ST Patrick was taken captive in
his sixteenth year. with many others
and brought to Hibernia. or Ireland. Ills
own words, with many thousands of
Others" (cum tot militia hominum). are
mere Celtic exaggeration. He remained
six years in slavery in ireland, his daily
occupation being to herd swine. While
so occupied the love of God kindled in
his heart and he became a religious en-
thusiast undergoing extreme fasting and
penance
One night, in a dream. voice came
to him. saying: Thy fasting is we'll;
thou shalt soon return to thy country"
Later on the dream was repeated. the
same voice assuring him that the ship
was now ready. 200 miles away. The
saint soon after managed to escape and
lied to port, where he found vessel
manned by pagans about to sail. and
after much difficulty. persuaded them to