Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1912-03-16
ST. patrirk's Birtbnap
Celebrations Qrramqe0
Gatboifs ano protestants to Pap Tribute to #emorp
of @atron Saint of Gmeralo Isle TOMORROW "a
15rief Nistorp of his 1ite an6 1aork.

penitential austerity and apostolic aplnty
! as well.
LAS the freer of Ireland's cruelty OPP
pressed and the patron saint OF Its people,
st. Patrick has ever been held in sacred
esteem by the Irish"
st Patrick says Cardinal Moran, In
the Catholic Encyclopedia, was born at
Fitzpatrick. near Dumbarton. in Scotland,
in the year 3s7. He had for his parents
Calphurnius and Conchessa. The former
belonged to a Roman family of high rank
and held the Office of decurio in Gaul or
Britain. Conchessa was a near relative
of the great patron of Gaul. st. Martin
of Tours In his sixteenth year Patrick
was carried off into captivity by Irish
mara,riers and was sold as a slave to a
chieftafn named Milchu in Dalaradia, a
territory of the present county Of Antrim
in Ireland, where for six years he tended
his masters f1ocks in the valley OF the
Braid and on the slopes Of Slemish, near
the modern town of Ballymena. He
acquired a perfect knowledge Of the
Celtic tongue, His master. Mifchu, was
druidfcal high priest, and he became
familiar with all the details Of Druidism
from whose bondage he was destined to
liberate the Irish race. Admonished by
an angel he, after six years, fed from
his cruel master.
'It is sometimes supposed that st. Pat
ricks apostolate in Ireland was an I'M
broken series of peaceful triumphs, and
vet 1t is quite the reverse. No storm of
persecution was. indeed, stirred up to
assail the infant church. but the saint
himself was subjected to frequent trials
at the hands of the Druids and of other
enemies Of the faith. He tells us in his
"Confessio" that no fewer than twelve
times he and his companions were seized
and carried off as captives, and on one
occasion in particular he was loaded
with chains and his death was decreed.
But from all these trials and sufferings
he was liberated by benign Providence.
1t is on account Of the many hardshps
some of the ancient Martyrologies, he is
honored as martyr. st. Patrick, having
now completed his triumph over pagan
ism. and gathered Ireland into the fold
his reward. st. Brigid came to him with
her chosen virgins. bringing the shroud
in which he would be enshrined. 1t is
recorded that when st. Patrick and st.
Brigid were united in their last prayer a
special vision was shown to him. He saw
the whole of Ireland lit up with the
brightest rays Of divine faith.
This continued centuries, and then the
clouds gathered round the devoted island,
and. little by little. it was only in the re-
light remained. st. Patrick prayed that
that light would never be extinguished,
and as he prayed the angel came to him
and said: Fear not; your apostolate shall
never cease As he thus prayed the
glimmering light grew in brightness and
ceased not until once more all the hills
and valleys OF Ireland were lit UP in their
pristine splendor, and then the angel an
nounced to st. Patrick: Such shall be
the abiding splendor of divine truth in
Ireland.
AT Saul. st. Patrick received the sum-
mons to his reward on the 18th of March,
1913. st. Tassach administered the last
sacraments to him. His remains were
wrapped in the shroud woven by ST.
Brigid's own hands. The bishops and
clergy and faithful people from all parts
honor to the father of their faith. Some
of the ancient Lives recorded that for
several days the light of heaven shone
around his bier. His remains were inter-
red at the chieftains' dun or fort, two
miles from Saul, where in after times
arose the cathedral of Down"