The citizen. (Honesdale, Pa.) 1908-1914, 1912-03-20
REV. 0'TOOLE'S SERMON ON
SAINT PATRICK


of the Christian religion over her
enemies. He repealed the laws
against the Christians, and built
churches in honor of God by Whom
he had been so visibly protected.
Then the Christians came from the
caves and catacombs and worshipped
God with perfect freedom.
At the fall of Rome young
Christian was taken prisoner on
the northern shores of Gaul, and car
ried by his captors into Ireland
That young captive was Patrick
whom we are honoring to-day. He
was born of Christian parents, stolen
from them and sold as a slave at
the age of 16. His labor while in
captivity was herding cattle on the
dreary hills of Ireland After six
years he escapes from his captors,
and finds his way to his home The
Saint himself tells us that he heard
in dream the voices of many peo-
pie crying to him, I'VE entreat thee,
o holy youth! to come and walk
still amongst us" He adds: ut was
the voice of the Irish people" He
entered college at the famous Mon
astery of st. Martin at Tours, and
went to Rome after his ordination
to prepare himself for his missionary
labors.
Pope Celestine, The First, conse-
! Grated Patrick the first bishop of
Ireland in the year 430.
The Holy Father recognized in
! Patrick the destined instrument for
carrying out the great work of
| Christianizing Ireland
! What a gladstone day it was for
the Irish people when the feet of the
! newly-consecrated Bishop Patrick
| touched the green shores of the beau
tiful Isle that stands out in the
water like a brilliant gem on the
| bosom of the ocean! Bishop Pat
rick met no opposition in christianiz-
/ ing the people he found on the is
land. 1t is matter of history that
| it is the only country converted by
one man; it is the only christianized
country that never cost her Apostle
an hour of sorrow, a single tear, or
a drop of blood. He found Ireland
entirely pagan-he left it entirely
! Christian.
Tradition tells us that in expound-
ing the doctrine of the Holy Trinity
he used a little sprig of trefoil, or
three-leaved grass, whence the
Shamrock came to be the national
tional Saint.
The Pagan Monarch of the Druids
was holding a Druidical festival on
the Hill of Tara, at which the
kindling of a great fire formed the
chief feature of the proceedings, and
it was a crime punishable with
death for anyone to light a fire in
the surrounding country on the
evening of the great festival until
after the Sacred Flame of Tara Hill
| blaZed forth. To his amazement,
however, the Monarch beheld on the
| Hill of Slane, visible from Tara,
bright fire kindled early in the
evening. This was the Paschal Fire
which Bishop Patrick and his Mis-
sionaries had lighted, for it was
Holy Saturday. History tells us how
the alarmed Monarch sent for the
Chief Druid and pointed out to him
on the distant horizon the f1ickering
beam that so audaciously violated
the sacred laws. Tradition says that
the Archpriest gaZed long and visit
fully at the spot, and finally said l.
"Oh, King, there is indeed a flame
lighted on yonder hill, which if it
be not put out tonight will never
be quenched in Erin" The King
| Ilit 10 D6 Drought
before him at once for dire punish
ment. Bishop Patrick on being ar
rested himself in his vestments, and
with crozier in hand marched boldly
at the head of his captors, reciting
aloud as he went along a prayer to
| God and the Saints for victory over
| the pagans.
When arraigned before the King
and his assembled courtiers and
Druidical High Priests, Bishop Pat
rick was not at all dismayed, for he
| boldly proclaimed to them that he
| came to quenoh the fires of pagan
sacrifice in Ireland, and to light the
flame of the Christian Faith. The
amazed and angered King listened
to him, but ordered no punishment
to be inflicted on the Bishop. ON
the contrary" concludes the histor-
ian, Bishop Patrick made several
converts on the spot, and the SER
mon and the learned controversy in
the Kings presence proved an aus
picious beginning for the glorious
mission upon which he had Just en-
tered.
AS four mighty Saints, Ambrose,
| Augustine, and the two Popes Gre
gories, like four great pillars, up
| uOlu IuS N6SIeTH CuuTtnS as IOur
mighty Saints, Basil, Athanasius,
Chrysostom, Nazianzen, are the pill
lars of the Eastern church, so the
church of Ireland rests upon Pat
rick, COLUMBIA, Malachy and st.
Lawrence O'Toole.
Irish history is not complete with
out mention of Brigid, the sainted
Abbess of Kildare, who is lovingly
called "TNhe Mary of Ireland" 1t
is matter of history that she was
the first great woman who com
manded the attention and undivided
homage of Christendom. "She
rose" says the historian, like a star
from the Western wave and her pure
light fell upon nations that Chris
tianity had with difficulty convinced
of the lofty plane to which the Vir-
| gins Son had elevated woman. Pure
as the snow upon her native hills, she
| (Brigid) had heart of fire. and an
intellect clear as a sunbeam"
Unwomanly, unIrIsh, Ignorant and
despicable must be the soul of that
Irish Maiden or Irish Mother whose
cheek would burn, or tongue falter