The Irish standard., 1918-03-23
WORTH|LY RANKS
AMONG SAINTS
Patrick's Useful Life and Good
Works EntitIe Him to Posi-
tion of Eminence.
PLACE OF BIRTH NO MATTER
Certain He Was True lrishman and
Accomplished Much for the We'll
fare of the Race During His
Sojurn on the Island.

Patrick is such a favorite the
world over is that he was so
- very human. He hadn't much
of Il chance when IL boy, but he made
the best of what he had. If he had not
he would have been IL hogherd all the
days of his life. He was slave, in
very truth, being bound to pagan hog
raiser in Britain.
But you can't keep good man down,
and that's fact.
If all the legends be true, which can
hardly be possible, Patrick was a IA
vorite among the ladies, even making
an impression on the good st. Bridget.
Maybe this was before they became
SaintS-of course it was, for how could
they be saints and be alive at the same
time?
However, there is quite lot of writ
ingS, whether genuine or not, that go
to show that he was a real human
lover, and that dear Bridget was ex-
ceedingly fond of him, and would have
married him could be have procured
the consent of the church.
His Life and Works.
From all that can be learned con-
cerning the life and works Of st. Pat
rick, he was q good man. and spent his
life going about doing good for his fell
lows.
AS you know. a good man is more
highly respected, more beloved and eX-
erts Il greater influence for good in
the community in which he is known
than even the wealthiest, the most
powerful or most favored. He may not
wear purple and fine linen, nor fare
sumptu0usly, but he is making the
world better and is, therefore, truly,
There are numerous stories and leg
ends concerning st. Patrick, some of
which may be true. But it matters
little whether he was MileSian born
in Spain, or son of poor swine
herd of the green isle.
The history Of the world shows that
the mere circumstances of birth cuts
very small figure in the matter of real
greatness. From earliest times the
men who have figured most promi-
nuntly in world nvvements for the bet
trrlncnt Of mankind have been of
humble origin.
In order to rise from the lowly birth
station Of Lincoln or of Moses, a man
must have tile true spirit of man1i-
ness in him. If he survive the severe
trylng-out process his will be master
full, leading, helpful spirit which the
spirits of all must acknowledge, re-
spect and submit to.
In His Day. ...
We of the present day can hardly
conceive of the conditions existing in
the British islands in his day.
The native Cclts were heathen and
british, and had no higher ambition
than to exist, unless it was to rob
neighbor1ng tribes of their cattle, hogs
and fair women. Physically they were
strong, vigorous and emotional, and
possessed of good nature, wit and So
cial feeling in marked degree as COM
pared with the inhabitants of other
islands.
Noting this, st. Patrick must have
concluded there was something here to
work on, something good; and seeing
this he took it as his command to as
sist in the development of the social
disposition and good feelings of these
people.
He therefore became one Of them,
lived with them, won their confidence
and commanded their respect. In or
der that he might be an efficient leader
he occasionally went abroad and
studied under the fathers Of the church,
for religion is most powerful to con-
troll the feelings and change the aspi-
rations of men.
No matter what he may have been
born, he was true Irishman.
A Real Man.
There are those who regard st. Pat
rick as a fakir more or less, because
of the miracles he is said to have
wrought.
AS far as known st. Patrick did not
claim to have miraculous power, nor
to have driven the reptiles out of Ire
land.
1t has always been the rule among
ignorant and superstitious people to
credit their religious teachers and
great leaders with having done some
marvellous or miraculous thing. With
out something of the sort other igno-
rant and superstitious people would
not heed them.
There may never have been any rep
tiles on this particular island, it hav-
ing been one of the last to rise up out
of the salty sea.
1t is not the fact that man is able
to do wonderful things, or to work mir
acles, that makes him great really, but
his ability to see and to comprehend
the great truths concerning life, and to
earnestly desire to spread these among
the people. This it is that commands
the attention of the livelier spirits,
and wins the respect and confidence Of
those who desire better things in this