The Sauk Centre herald. (Sauk Centre, Stearns County, Minn.) 1886-current, 1904-03-17
ST. PATRICK.
Why the Irishman Celebrates.

St. Patrsck's day in all Nations
as we'll as in Ireland. Many are the
reasons which perhaps to the aver
age mind are unknown and to whom
this bit of information may be of
some value.
As in the life of every Nation
there is certain day of note and
import, wherein due respect is
shown on account of the Importance
of the event, so likewise in the his
tory of Ireland and of the Irish peo-
pie, the event of st. Patrick's day,
is one that is dear to every Irish
heart, who on that occasion cele-
brates the anniversary of Ireland's
patron Saint, by paying respect and
reverential homage to the memory
of him, whose words and works are
to them monumental inspirations,
to whom they proclaim their graft
tude for the many benefits he be-
slowed upon them, and to renew
their fealty to the faith with which
he imbued them. One reason for
celebrating the occasion. Another
is because of the fact that they are
prompted by their respect and ad-
miratlon for one of the great and
towering characters of the worlds
history, to proclaim him as the
greatest benefactor of their race,
thus fostering a desire to emulate
him in making themselves and
others better and happier, by per-
petuating his glorious. memory on
down the ages. AS to the fact that
he was of Irish extraction, this the
true Irishman never questions, since
it is of little import to him SO long
as he knows and feels that he was
one sent of God to do his bidding,
for he understands that s'God moves
in a mysterious way his wonders to
perform" St. Patrick was not a ma.
tive of Ireland. Historians differ
in regard to the place and date of
his birth. 1t was long before the
art of printing had been discovered
and details were difficult to pro-.
cure Hs was probably born a.
Bonaven, Tibernia, Scotland, A. !
D., 3s7. At the age of sixteen he
was kidnapped and taken to Ireland
in captivity. The man whom God
had destined to rescue the Irish peo-
pie from old paganism, came among
them in chains, and spent the first
months of his sojourn in abject
slavery. He escaped and made his
way back to Scotland, after being
recaptured he made his escape the
second time, going to France,
where he remained until of his own
accord, and after due preparation,
he returned to Ireland in the year
432, A. D., with the Benediction
of Pope Clementine, where he
preached the Gospel of life, and
light, and truth to the semi-bar-
barious pagans, who knew not the
true God. where he opened their
eyes, ears and hearts to the truth of
the Divinity, by telling them of
the Redeemer, of the way of the
cross, of Calvary, and of the Res
erection, and where he made them
understand in so far as finite mind
is able to understand the idea of the
most Holy Trinity by using the
shamrock" so popular with the
Irish on that day or three-leaf clover
to demonstrate the idea of one God
and three Divine persons, after
which he baptized an incredible
number. In recognition therefore
of his unbounded success, he was
consecrated Bishop of the land of
his captivity, where he ordained
Priests and established converts
and monisteries, filling the entire
country with schools of plety and
learning, so that even to the present
day Ireland bears the glorious title
of s'The Isle of Scholars and of
Saints" He made Ireland the
great educational centre of all
Europe, and for three hundred
years afterwards, students from all
parts of the civilized world flocked
to Ireland to be educated. Irish
missionaries invoded England,
France and Switzerland, spreading
the light of christianity wherever
they went, thus forming and shap-
ing character, and moulding citizen
ship. 1t is in recognition of these
unparalleled events in the history of
the worlds civilization and chris
tianization, that the Irishman with
sense of pride and fidelity cele-
brates the 18th of March the Feast
day of Ireland's Patron, St. Pat
rick.