The Death of Saint Patrick.
Now, the sickness of his body increasing, age pressing on, or rather
the Lord calling him unto his crown, the blessed Patrick perceived he
was hastening unto the tomb; and much he rejoiced to arrive at the port
of death and the portal of life. Therefore, being so admonished by the
angel, his guardian, he fortified himself with the divine mysteries
from the hand of his disciple, the Bishop Saint Thasach, and lifting up
his eyes he beheld the heavens opened, and Jesus standing in the
multitude of angels. Then raising his hands, and blessing his people,
and giving thanks, passed he forth of this world, from the faith unto
the proof, from his pilgrimage unto his country, from transitory pain
unto eternal glory. Oh! how blessed Patrick. Oh! how blessed he, who
beheld God face to face, whose soul is secured in salvation! Happy, I
say, is the man, unto whom the heavens opened, who penetrated into the
sanctuary, who found eternal redemption, whom the blessed Mary with the
spotless choirs of virgins welcomed, whom the bands of angels admitted
into their fellowship! Him the wise assembly of prophets attendeth,
the venerable senate of apostles embraceth, the laurelled army of
martyrs exalteth, the white-robed company of confessors accepteth, and
the innumerable number of the elect receiveth with all honor and with
all glory. Nor wondrous was it, nor undeserved; seeing that he was the
angel of God, though not by his birth, yet by his virtue and by his
office--he, whose lips were the guard of knowledge, and declared unto
the people the law of life which was required of God. Rightly is he
called the prophet of the Most Highest, who knew so many things absent,
who foretold so many and such things future, as seldom have any of the
prophets prophesied! Rightly is he called, and is, the apostle of
Hibernia, seeing that all the people thereof, and the other islanders,
are the signs of his apostolate! Rightly is he called a martyr, who,
bearing continually in his heart and in his body the name of Christ,
showed himself a living sacrifice unto God; who having suffered so many
snares, so many conflicts, from magicians, from idolaters, from rulers,
and from evil spirits, held his heart always prepared to undergo any
and every death! Rightly is he called the confessor of God, who
continually preached the name of Christ, and who by his words, his
examples, and his miracles excited peoples, tribes, and tongues unto
the confession of his name, of human sin, and of divine promise!
Rightly is he called a virgin, who abided a virgin in his body, in his
heart, and in his faith; and by this threefold virginity pleaseth he
the Spouse of virgins and the Virgin of virgins! Rightly is he
numbered among the angelic choirs and the assemblies of all saints, who
was the sharer in all holy acts and all virtues!