_Of Saint Patrick's Vision._
And a short space of time being passed, the while he was settled in his
lather's house, he beheld in a vision of the night a man of comely garb
and countenance, bearing many letters as if from Ireland, and holding
out to him one of them for him to read--which taking, he read, and
found therein thus written: "THIS IS THE VOICE OF THE IRISH." But when
he would have continued to read, he seemed in the spirit to hear the
Irish infants which were yet unborn crying unto him with a loud voice,
"O holy youth Patrick! we beseech thee come unto us, and abide with us,
and release us!" And Patrick, being pierced therewith in his heart,
could not finish the letter; but awaking, he gave infinite thanks to
God, for he was assured by the vision that the Lord had set him apart,
even from his mother's womb, had by His grace called him to convert and
to save the Irish nation, which seemed to desire his presence among
them. And on this he consulted the angel of great counsel, and through
the angel Victor he received the divine command that, quitting his
father and his country, he should go unto France, there to learn the
doctrine and the discipline of the Christian faith.