_The Angelic Voice showeth unto Saint Patrick of his Death and of the
Place of his Burial._
And Patrick, the beloved of the Lord, being full of days and of good
works, and now faithfully finishing the time of his appointed ministry,
saw, as well by the divine revelation as by the dissolution of his
earthly tabernacle, that the evening of his life was drawing near. And
being then nigh unto Ulydia, he hastened his journey toward the
metropolitan seat, Ardmachia; for earnestly he desired to lay in that
place the remains of his sanctified body, and in the sight of his sons
whom he had brought forth unto Christ to be consigned unto the common
mother. But the event changed the purpose of the holy man; that all
might know, according to the testimony of the Scriptures, that the way
of man is not in his own power, but that his steps are directed of God.
For the Angel Victor met him while on his journey, and said unto him:
"Stay thou, O Patrick, thy feet from this thy purpose, since it is not
the divine will that in Ardmachia thy life should be closed or thy body
therein be sepultured; for in Ulydia, the first place of all Hibernia
which thou didst convert, hath the Lord provided that thou shalt die,
and that in the city of Dunum thou shall be honorably buried. And
there shall be thy resurrection; but in Ardmachia, which thou so
lovest, shall be the successive ministry of the grace which hath been
on thee bestowed. Therefore remember thy word, wherewith thou gavest
hope unto thy first converts, the sons of Dichu; when, instructed of
heaven, thou didst foretell unto them that in their land thou wouldest
die and be buried." And at the word of the angel the saint was
grieved; but quickly returning unto himself, embraced he the divine
Providence with much devotion and thanksgiving, and submitting his own
will unto the will of God, he returned into Ulydia.