The Irish standard., 1910-07-30
|RELAND'S EARLY
CHRISTIAN POETRY
Ireland Was the Land of Poetry
Even Before 1t Became the
Land of Saints.
The Hymn to St. Patrick Was the
Theme of the First Christian
Bard.
Secundin Wrote Other Poems Show
ing knowledge of the
True Faith.


True Faith.
Ireland has been a amd of mirth
Of her history. Even before Chris
| tianity shed it's refining rays over the
country the bards OF Erin must have
fashioned their thoughts in ahylnc.
But when Ireland became Il Christian
nation Irish poetry soon echoed tho
spirit of the new doctrine and fitting
Ireland sang tho praises of the coun-
try's patron saint while the latter was
still busy with his great mission.
The Ave Maria says: Ireland is a
surely poetical nation; and if her
many poets have not had reward in
worldly goods for their songs. they at
least have had the love and honor of
their countrymen. 1t is d pleasant
thing to know that the faith of Christ
was not long established in the land
till the first Christian poet sang. The
learned Alhan Butler dcvutes one line
only to st. Secundin: "Hc was a dis
ciplc and nephew OF ST. Patrick, and
died in 447."
In the old Irish annals, Sccundin is
known as Sechnall; and he was the
son Of st. Patricks sister, Darerca,
who had been carried into captivity
with her brother. and who subse-
quently married a person of the name
of Lungbnird, Some authors say this
Lungbaird was a native of ireland,
others hold he was Il Breton. Sc
cundin, however, seems to have ac-
ocmpanied Patrick when he went to
the island on his mission: for the an
nails Of Ulster speak of Secundin as
being a bishop in 439. Probably he
received consccration in France or
Britain. For Il time he was in charge
Of the See Of Armagh; but his own
diocese was Dunsllaushlin. in Meath
'"rhe Hymn of ST. Patrick" was
composed by Sccundin in honor of his
rather curious. A very ancient au-
thority says that Sccundin had Of
; Tended st. Patrick by some criticism
of his preaching. ST. Patrick in his
sermons never insisted on cxtrnordi- =
nary almsgiving; his nephew thought
and said that more land and goods
Secundin's remarks additions.
no doubt-wcrc repeated to ST. Pat
rick. who explained that for char
ity's sake he forcborc to preach char
ity." so that those who came after
might receive the offerings of the
faithful
In the course of time Sccundin
sought and obtained his unclc's par
don, but he spent hours in compOs-
ing a hymn in ST. Patrick's honor As
a sort OF satisfaction for his re-
marks. The hymn consists of twenty
two stanzas. and they begin with tho
: letters Of the alphabet in due order
The hymn was in Latin: and when
Sccundin asked permission to read it
to Patrick, the Saint asscntcd. Pat
ricks name was suppressed till he
, had expressed appreciation Of the po-
ctic effusion; then Sccundin told in
whose praise ii was written, and
, claimed in the old Irish fashion, q
reward for his labors.
Better known still is the hymn
"Sancta Vcnite." also written by Sc
cundin. A legend says it was first
s sung by angels in st Secundins owl
church at the time he was rcconcileC
7 to st. Patrick. The first stanza runs
9 thus in Denis Florence MacCarthy's
> translaton:
Draw nigh. ye holy oncs--draw nigf
I And take the body of the Lord
And drink the Sacred Blood out.
. poured
BY which redeemed. We shall not die
The first Christian poet of Irclant
I passed to his reward on Nov. 81, or
] which date he is commemOrated ir
J. Irish martyrOlogies