The Catholic times. [volume] (Columbus, Ohio) 1951-current, 1961-03-17
Continued from Page 1


concerned the pattern Of or
oganization.
The continental model Of
Church organization to which
he had been accustomed had,
SO to speak, an urban bias. In
the prefecture of Gaul, the
civil and ecclesiastical divl-
sions for the most part coin
cided. Very close union exist
ed between the Gallo church
and Rome.
This union with Rome was
always a feature of st. Pa
tricks Irish mission. One of
the canons Of the early
Church drawn up under his
administration in Ireland laid
1t down that matters of dis
pute are ''to be referred to
the See Of Armagh and when
disputes continue, then they
are to be carried to the Apos-
tolic See, that is to the See of
the Apostle Peter, having the
authority of Rome"
Patrick derired to model
his foundation of an Irish
Church on that of Gaul, but in
the Ireland of the time there
were no towns to which bish-
ops could be attached. In eff
feet the country was a vast
forest, with rough primitive
roads catering for a wholly
rural society.
POLITICALLY THE SYS.
TEN was monarehic, with a
High King at Tara, the center
of pagan power, ruling nu-
merous provincial kings or
chiefs and many tributaries.
So the early Irish church
had to have a rural bias and
ST. Patrick must have been
quick to grasp that signifi-
canoe.
THOUGH NOT A MONK,
ST. Patrick always showed en-
thusiasm for the monastic
life. His chief religious set
Elements - perhaps not mon
asteries in a strict sense
were houses governed ac-
cording to church rule. 1t
was from them that the high.
er clergy were chosen In this
way a strong body Of native
clergy was formed.
The establishment of &C.
clesiastical centers or secs"
was a gradual process Of St.
Patrick's ministry but several
were founded during the first
half Of his Irish missionary
life. 1t may be that they were
only "diminutive" settlements
but they fitted into the rural
pattern and in time became
absorbed by the larger do
ceses.
ST. PATRIcK'S WRITINGS
assume, and Irish tradition
confirms. his supreme iuris-
diction over the Church in Ire
land. This extended over the
whole island which e~cclesia-
stically was regarded as a
single province with its met
ropolitan see at Armagh.
The latter See was founded
in 444 AID. after st. Patrick
had return from a visit TO
Rome, entailing a tWO-year
absence including the journey.
That the Irish Church so
quickly emerged from the sta
tus Of a mission to become an
ecclesiastical province under
the immediate jurisdiction Of
Rome speaks well for Pa
tricks technique,
One Of its most unusual
features is the fact that he ac-
cepted no Stipends for his
ministry. mot even the price
of my SHOE he said. In his
own words we read.
Albeit unskilled in all
things | have done my little
best to keep myself in good,
as also the Christian broth
rem, the virgins of Christ and
the religious women, who in.
sisted on bringing me gifts
and left their jewelry on the
altar, but ! insisted on return,
ing all they gave"
OUTSTANDING TOO a S
contributing to his success
wal PatIitk's respect and sym.
pathy for native Institutions
II is said that he learned the
Irish language so thoroughly
that in all great moments "oi
stress and emotion his SOU
unburdened itself in Irish
poetry"
He made friends and con
verts among famous Irish law
yers and poet, and with THEN
help, tried to bring the pre-
vailing legislation into line
with Christian ethics.
He respected local socia.
conventions, manners ant
customs so long as they wer'
not in conflict with Christian
principles. Through this at
titude many princes anC
mobiles entrusted their sons
him for their education.
He DEVELOPED his well
know practice Of trying Il
convert the rulers and chief
tains as the surest way Il
winning the people. His earl.
apostolate was directed TO tn.
TFs-L. III " n II