The Washington herald., 1908-03-15

teenth day Of March was Patrick trans
lated 70 the heavens" The document Is
in Latin. rude and archaic I'm It's COM
position. answering 10 the description ST.
Patrick gives Of his own writing In ad-
Cition 10 the confession there are the
"EpIstles % COroticus (alsO in LATIN.
and the hymn variously known as the
--LOTica. Beers Cry" or Guards
Cry Gin Gaelic, assigned 10 St Pat
rick.
The Confession" St Patrick tells US.
was written in his old age and that
its object was 90 defend himself from
the charge Of presumption IN undertaking
the work he tried 10 perform among
the Irish Tie work though called a
Confession is rather 10 o. considered
an apologize pro vita sUa II has been
described as the fervid outpourings cf
a jealous early Christian. anxious only
10 clear himself from the charges Of
wOrldliness. and Absolutely devoid Cf
those appeals 20 general interest which
are met with I'm most Of such memoirs.
a vein Of warm piety runs through
the whole In the Confession the saints
say that he was born OF Christian par
ents and belonged 20 a Christian people.
being the son of Calporuius. a deacon.
who was OF the town OF Bannauen Taber-
MAE lie was also OF aristOcratic birth.
Ms father being a decUTiO. that Is. one
Of the council or uagiStracy Of a Roman
provincial town
Was Taken Captive.
ST. Patrick was taken captive in his
sixteenth year. with many others. and
brought 10 Hibernia or Ireland. His own
words, with many thousands Of others"
tons. He remained six years in slavery
in Ireland. his daily occupation beng 10
herd swine While 50 occupied. the love
Of God kindled in his heart and he be-
came a religious enthusiast. undergoing
extreme fasting and penance-
One night. in a dream. a voice came 10
him. saying;
Thy fasting is well; thou shalt soon
return 70 thy country
Later on The dream was repeated. the
same voice assuring him that the ship
was now ready. I'D miles away The
saint soon after managed 70 escape. and
fed TO a port. where ne found q vessel
manned by Pagans about 10 sail. and
after much difficulty persuaded them 10
take him on board After a voyage Of
three days they reached lana. probably
wandered through a desert
Afterward he is at home with his paople
in Britannis that is. in the Roman PROV
ince Of Eritain). and his parents and
friends beseeching him. he says: Not
to expose himself To fresh dangers. but
10 remain with them henCefOrth.-- But
an angel came IN the guise OF a man
from Ireland. and showed him a letter
which called upon him TO leave his native
land and kindred and 20 TO Ireland 10
preach the Gospel. a command which he
Immediately obeyed. OF the location of
Bannauen Taberniae or Of Nemthur. the
alternative name OF the saints birthplace
given in the Hymn Of Fiace. there seems
TO be considerable doubt Many places
have contended for the honor bat au-
thorities now seem 10 be fairly well
agreed that il was AZ Old fitzpatrick. near
Dumbarton, Scotland.
Second One Assigned.
The second Latin piece assigned 10 the
saint are the "EpistIes to Corotic,is.r
Coroticus. a semi-Christian King of Dunn
barton Cali Claude. along with some
Scots, T. e.. irish and Southern Picts.
who had fallen away from Christianity.
raided The eastern shores Of Ireland. and
carried OF several Of St Patrick's con-
verts leaving the white garments OF the
neophytes stained with blood and hurry
ing into captivity numbers upon whose
fOreheads the holy oil of confirmation
was still glistening. The first letter
asked COrouCus 10 restore the captives.
and when this request was refused. the
second was sent. communicating the
King and all his aiders and abettors.
calling upon all Christians neither 10 eat
nor drink in their company until they
mad made expiation OTtheir great crimes.
St. Patricks beautiful hymn. the
Deer's Cry is Of special interest as
being the oldest composition extant in
the Gaelic language. IL is written IN
dialect, and was composed, as the hymn
itself shows, when Ireland was largely
Pagan. In the Liber Hymuorum,
manuscript Of the eleventh century. ia
which il is preserved, IL is introduced BY
a short preface. also in Gaelic. The saint
IS there said TO have made IL when on
his way TO visit King Lsoghaire Neary)
at Temair CTara). and the assassins. who
had been set in ambush to slay him and
his companions, nlistook the chanting %
the "lorica" for the crying of passing
deer. and 50 allowed them to escape.
ST Patrick died AT Saul tSabhaD while
on "a visit there from Armagh and his
burial place is believed 10 be AZ Down
patrick, in County Down.