The Irish standard. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn. ;) 1886-1920, 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 a knowledge of the
True Faith.

Ireland has been a land of mirth
and melody from the earliest period
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 hhylne.
But when Ireland became a Christian
nation Irish poetry soon echoed the
spirit of the new doctrine and fitting
~ enough the first Christian poets OF
Ireland sang the 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 pleasant
thing to know that the faith of Christ
was not long established in the land
| tAlA viz al SI NIlI lSlIdll pocl SdIlS. l liz
learned Alban Butler devotes one line
only to st. Secundin: He was dis
ciple 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. Patrick's sister, Darerca
who had been carried into captivity
with her brother and who subse.
quently married a person OF the name
of Lungbaird, Some authors say this
Lungbaird was a native of Ireland
others hold he was n 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 conservation in France OF
Britain. For a time he was in charge
Of the See of Armagh; but his owr
diocese was Dunshaughlin, in Meath
'"The Hymn of st. Patrick" was
composed by Secundin in honor of his
uncle; and the story of its origin is
rather curious. A very ancient au.
thority says that Secundn had OF.
/ Tended st. Patrick by some criticism
Of his preaching. ST. Patrick in his
sermons never insisted on extraordi.
nary almsgiving; his nephew though
and said that more land and good!
should be given over to the Church
Secundin's remarks-with additions
no doubt-werc repeated to st. Pat
rick. who explained that for char
itys sake he forebore to preach char
ity" so that those who came afte
might receive the offerings of tn,
faithful.
In the course OF time Secundi.
sought and obtained his uncle's par
don; but he spent hours in compos
ing hymn in ST Patrick's honor n
a sort Of satisfaction for his re-
marks. The hymn consists of twenty
two stanzas and they begin with tn,
letters of the alphabet in due order
The hymn was in Latin; and Whel
Secundin asked permission to read i
to Patrick, the Saint assented. Pat
rick's name was suppressed till III
had expressed appreciation of the po
etic effusion; then Secundin told j,
whose praise it was written, an,
claimed in the old Irish fashion,
reward for his labors.
Better known still is the hymn
: "Sancta Venite." also written by Sc
cundin. A legend says It was frs
sung by angels IN st Secundin's owl
church at the time he was reconcile
to st. Patrick. The first stanza run
thus. in Denis Florence MacCarthy'
, translation:
Draw nigh, we holy ones-draw mig
And take the body of the. Lore
And drink the Sacred Blood out
poured;
BY which redeemed, we shall not die
The first Christian poet of Irelan
passed to his reward on Nov. 27, O
which date he is commemorated Il
Irish martyrologies.