Kentucky Irish American. (Louisville, Ky.) 1898-1968, 1919-03-15

lieved. but comprehended in its
fullness and measured in all its
parts.
Warlike as II was, it was un-
bounded also lin loyalty, generosity
and self-sacrifice; il was not there
fore untouched by the records of
flee or the doctrine of a great sacri-
fee. 1t loved the children and the
poor, and st. Patrick made the
former the exemplifiers of the faith
and the latter the eminent inherit
ors of the kingdom.
In the main institutions and ira
ditions of Ireland were favorable TO
Christianity, and the people re-
ceived the gospel gladly. It ap-
pealed to them and prompted ardent
natures TO find their rest in spiritual
things. It had created among them
an excellent appreciation of the
beautiful, the esthetic and the pure.
The early Irish chroniclers show
how strong that sentiment has ever
been. The Borhromean Tribute, for
many years the source of relentless
wars, had been imposed in ven
geance for an insult offered to a
woman, and discourtesy shown to
a poet had overthrown an ancient
dynasty; an unprovoked affront was
regarded as a great moral offense.
And severe punishments were or
dained not only for detraction but
for a word. though uttered in jest.
which brought blush on the
cheek of the listener.
Il was not that laws were want
ing; a code minute in its justice had
proportional a penalty to every Of
fence. It was not that hearts were
hard-there was at least as much
pity for others as for self. It was
that anger was implacable, and that
where fear was unknown the war
field was the happy hunting ground.
The rapid growth of learning, as
well as piety. in the three centuries
succeeding the conversion of Ireland
prove that the country had not been
until then without preparation for
the gift.
Perhaps nothing human had so
large an influence In the conversion
of the Irish as the personal charac-
ter of our apostle. By nature. by
grace and by providential training
he had been especially fitted for his
task
Everywhere we can trace the
might and sweetness that belonged
to his character; the versatile mind.
yet the simple heart; the vaJVing
tact. yet the fixed resolve; the
large desire taking counsel from
all. yet the minute solicitude for
each; the fiery zeal, yet the gentle
temper; the skill in using means.
yet the reliance in God alone; the
readiness in action, with willing
ness TO wait; the habitua1 self-pos-
session, yet the outburst of an in
spiration, which raised him above
himself-the abiding consciousness
of an authority-an authority in
him, but not of him, and yet the
ever present humility. Above all
there burned in him that boundless
love which seems the main con-
stituent of apostolic character. It
was love for God; but It was love
lQF nlan also, - sts'f,assipqesk Io',et|
4 parental compassion Wrong and
Injustice to the poor he resented as
an injury TO God
A just man indeed was st. Pat
rick: with purity of nature like the
patriarchs: true pilgrim like
Abraham: gentle and forgiving OF
heart like Moses; a praiseworthy
psainnist like David: an emulator of
wisdom like Solomon; chosen
vessel for pToclaiming truth like the
Apostle Paul; man of grace and
of knowledge of the Holy Ghost like
the beloved John; lion In strength
and power; a dove in gentleness and
humility; "a servant of labor in the
service of Christ; a king in dignity
and might. for binding and loosen
ing, for liberating and convicting.
After performing great miracles,
after resuscitating the dead after
healing lepers and the blind, and
the deaf, and the lame, and all
disease; after ordaining Bishops
and priests and deacons. and people
of all orders in the church; after
teaching the men of Erin Christian
ity and after baptizing them; after
founding churches and monasteries;
after destroying idols and images
and Druidical arts. the hour Of
death of st. Patrick approached.
and after receiving the last sacra-
ment of the church from Bishop
Tassach he resigned his spirit TO
heaven in the one hundred and
twentieth year of his age.