_Apostle of Ireland_.
St. Patrick was born towards the end of the fourth century, in
Killpatrick, between Dunbriton and Glasgow. At sixteen he was carried
off with many of his father’s vassals into slavery, and compelled for
six months to keep cattle on the mountains in Ireland, from whence he
escaped through the humanity of some sailors. He travelled into Gaul and
Italy, and received his apostolical mission to convert the Irish, from
pope Celestine, who died in 432. Determined on attempting the
conversion of the people, he penetrated to the remotest corners of
Ireland, baptized multitudes, ordained clergy to preside over them,
instituted monks, gave alms to the poor of the provinces, made presents
to the kings, educated children to serve at the altar, held councils,
founded monasteries, restored health to the sick, sight to the blind,
raised dead persons to life, continued his missions during forty years,
and died at Down in Ulster, where he was buried. Such, in brief, is
Alban Butler’s account, who assigns the year 464, for a period wherein
he lived.
Ribadeneira affirms it, as a most famous miracle, and well known to the
whole world, that St. Patrick did so free Ireland of all venomous
beasts, that none could ever since breed or live there, and that even
the very wood has a virtue against poison, “so that it is reported of
king’s college, Cambridge, that being built of Irish wood, no spider
doth ever come near it.”
Jocelin, a Cistercian monk of Furnes in the twelfth century, wrote “The
Life and Acts of St. Patrick,” wherein he relates many extraordinary
particulars, of which the few that follow are specimens: St. Patrick
when a child in winter time brought home some pieces of ice, his nurse
told him he had better have brought home wood, whereupon he heaped
together the ice, and prayed, and the ice immediately became a bonfire.
After this his foster-father died, and to relieve his nurse’s distress,
St. Patrick prayed, signed him with the sign of the cross, and so
restored him to life. Then by the same sign he freed a cow from an evil
spirit; recovered five cows she had wounded; and, by the same means,
when his nurse was ill and longed for honey, he “immediately changed
water into the best honey.” At another time, when she was commanded to
clean out some filthy stables, St. Patrick prayed, and they were cleaned
without hands. Then St. Patrick himself was carried into slavery, and
sold for a kettle; but the kettle being placed on the fire, the hotter
the fire burned, the colder became the kettle; whereupon the seller of
St. Patrick returned the kettle, took St. Patrick back, and the vessel
was restored to its wonted power of boiling. St. Patrick desiring to eat
meat, obtained some pork, and having concealed it for a convenient
season, presently he saw a man with eyes before and eyes behind, and
asked him why he was so formed; the seer answered, “I am the servant of
God; with the eyes in my forehead I see things open to view, with my
eyes behind I see a monk hiding flesh meat in a vessel to satisfy his
appetite privately.” Then the seer vanished. St. Patrick repented,
prayed for pardon, besought for a sign that he had it, was told by an
angel to put the pork into water, did as the angel bid him, and the pork
“immediately became fishes.” Having journeyed into Britain, he saw a
leper whom mariners would not carry in their ship, whereon St. Patrick
took a stone altar consecrated by the pope, cast it into the sea, caused
the leper to sit on it, and the leper immediately set sail on the stone,
kept company with the ship all the voyage, and got into port with her at
the same time. St. Patrick, returning to Ireland, on approaching the
shore, saw a multitude of devils in the form of a globe surrounding the
whole island, when he “raised his sacred right hand, made the sign of
the cross, and, unhurt and unterrified, passed he over.” Some fishermen
in the county of Leinster, drawing their nets from a river loaded with
fish, St. Patrick asked them for some; they refused him; he cursed them,
and the river; and from that day the river never produced fish. Once
when the chief king of Ireland ordered his subjects to prevent St.
Patrick from landing, they set a fierce dog at him, whereupon the dog
stiffened like a stone; then a gigantic man brandished his sword at the
saint, the man stiffened likewise, but repented, and St. Patrick
unstiffened him, and baptized him. An old man, would not believe St.
Patrick’s preaching. St. Patrick asked him whether he would be persuaded
by a miracle; the old man said he would, then St. Patrick prayed, laid
his hand on him, “and immediately the old man became beautiful and
young, and flourished again, as in his early youth,” and was so made to
believe. Having converted Mochna, a virtuous swineherd, while they were
conversing together, a staff from heaven fell between them, which St.
Patrick gave to Mochna for a pastoral staff, consecrated him bishop of
Edrum, “and the staff is in that church still preserved, and called the
_flying staff_.”
St. Patrick’s nephew, St. Lumanus, being desirous of taking a journey by
sea when wind and tide were against him, he hoisted the sails, trusted
in the merits of St. Patrick, and, “O, miracle till then unheard and
unknown! the ship, without any pilot, sailed against wind and stream,”
and he made a prosperous voyage. At another time, St. Patrick seeing a
hundred men unable to stir a large stone, he, alone, raised it up, and
placed it where it was wanted. He was accustomed to stop and erect a
cross at the head-stone of every christian who was buried outside of a
burial-place; one day, coming to the graves of two men newly buried, and
observing that one of the graves only had a cross over it, he stopped
his chariot, and speaking to the dead man below, asked him what religion
he had been, the dead man answered a pagan, St. Patrick inquired why
then a cross was put over _him_, the dead pagan replied, he who is
buried near me was a christian, and one of your faith coming hither
placed the cross at _my_ head; the saint stepped out of his chariot,
rectified the mistake, and went his way. One Foylge, an idolator,
strangled the driver of St. Patrick’s chariot, in his seat, wherefore
the saint cast his “holy curse” at Foylge, who pierced thereby, fell
dead into hell; but the devil entering the dead body, walked about in
it, and seemed as if he were Foylge himself, till one day St. Patrick
called at the dead man’s house, and asking the family where Foylge was,
they answered he was at home, when the saint told them of Foylge’s
death, and that Satan “had entered into his corpse and occupied it as
his own proper vessel,” then St. Patrick gave notice to the devil to
leave his lodging in Foylge’s body, which he did immediately, and Foylge
was buried. Preaching on a journey to 14,000 men, “he first fed them all
with spiritual food,” then commanding a cow to be killed, with two
stags, and a couple of boars, the people ate abundantly, the remnants
were gathered up; and “thus with the flesh of five animals, did St.
Patrick plenteously feed 14,000 men.” Once when he was preaching, by way
of a strong argument, he raised to life nineteen dead men, one of whom
had been buried for ten years. After that, St. Patrick passing over a
river one of his teeth dropped into the water, and his disciples could
not find it till night, when the tooth in the river shone as a radiant
star, and being so discovered was brought to St. Patrick, who on that
spot built a church, and deposited his tooth beneath the altar. Desiring
to pass an impassable river, and no boat being at hand, St. Patrick
prayed, and dividing the river, made himself and followers a free
passage, then “he blessed the river, and being so blessed, it abounded
in fishes above all others.” St. Mel being denounced unjustly to St.
Patrick, and preferring to prove his innocence by a miracle rather than
by an oath, he ploughed up the earth on a certain hill, and took by the
ploughshare many and large fishes out of the dry land; thereupon St.
Patrick absolved him, but lest St. Mel should continue to work miracles
presumptuously, “he bade him that he should thenceforth plough on the
land, and fish in the water.” St. Patrick had a goat, a thief stole it,
and ate it, and when accused, denied it; but the goat bleating in the
stomach of the thief, proclaimed the merit of St. Patrick; and, to
increase the miracle, by the sentence of the saint, all the posterity of
the man were marked with the beard of a goat. St. Patrick having labored
to convert a tyrant, who laughed him to scorn, he immediately converted
the tyrant, against his will, into a fox; which fox went off with a hard
run, and could never be found. Another time being benighted in the open
air, violent rain fell around St. Patrick and his companions, but did
not wet them a drop. On the same night, the driver of his chariot could
not for the darkness find the horses to re-yoke them, on which St.
Patrick, drawing his right hand from his sleeve, and lifting up his
fingers, they “shone even as sun-beams, and wonderfully illumining the
whole country, turned darkness into light, and night into day--then by
the aid of the radiant miracle, the chariot-driver found his steed.”
After the death of St. Patrick, there was no night for twelve days.
These are some of the miracles attributed to St. Patrick by Jocelin,
whose life of him published in “Dublin, Printed for the Hibernia Press
Company, By James Blyth,” is sold in London by Messrs. Keating and
Brown, Catholic Printers and Publishers, No. 38, Duke-street,
Grosvenor-square, in one volume 12mo. containing 264 pages, price 2_s._
6_d._ in boards.
* * * * *
To what extent Catholics believe such miracles, as have been just
related is unknown to a Protestant; but the publication of Jocelin’s
works by catholic booksellers in a cheap form, seems to signify that it
it held in repute by Catholics in a humble rank of life. To what extent
the catholic clergy have instructed this class of their flocks, or
rather to what extent they design to instruct them, is also unknown to a
Protestant; but should the higher classes of catholics enjoy the civil
rights, which the most wise and enlightened of their Protestant
fellow-subjects deplore they do not possess, and most anxiously desire
they should possess, it is not too much to hope that it will become the
anxious wish, as it is the positive duty of the catholic clergy to
inform the ignorant of their community. An union between the church of
England, or any other protestant church, and the church of Rome, never
can take place; but protestant churchmen, and Protestants of all
denominations, can and will unite with Catholics, if Catholics can and
will unite with them, to enlighten the Egyptian darkness, which ensures
the mind worse than Egyptian bondage. The education of helpless infancy,
and the fixation of just principles in youth, form the best security
against criminal manhood. In this, surely, both Protestants and
Catholics will concur, and their earnest cooperation to obtain this
security will be a firm pledge that each desires the welfare of each.
The marked separation of churches and doctrines cannot much longer
separate man from man. In the bigotted and selfish interests that dam
the social affections, there are incurable and daily widening breaches:
the issues alternate and vary, but the first high tide of mutual
kindness will burst the restrictions, and sweep them away for ever.
~St. Patrick’s Day.~
This being the anniversary of the day whereon St. Patrick died, it is
commemorated as a high festival in the catholic church; and it is
celebrated to his honour in that country, with every demonstration of
affection for his memory as the apostle and patron saint of Ireland,
that a warm-hearted, enthusiastic, joyous people, can possibly express.
An eye-witness represents to the editor of the _Every-Day Book_ that St.
Patrick’s day in Dublin is a scene of festivity and mirth unequalled by
any thing observable in this country. From the highest to the lowest,
all hearts seem inspired by the saint’s beneficence. At day-break flags
fly on the steeples, and the bells ring out incessant peals till
midnight. The rich bestow their benevolence on the poor, and the poor
bestow their blessings on the rich, and on each other, and on the
blessed St. Patrick. The “green immortal” shamrock is in every hat.
Sports of manly exercise exhibit the capabilities of the celebrated
“shillelah,” and before night many a head gives token of the application
of its wonderful powers, by a muscular hand. Priestly care soothes
querulousness; laughter drowns casualty; innumerable bright-eyed,
rosy-cheeked, jaunty lasses dance with their mirth-loving lads; old
women run about with children in the hoods of their cloaks, to publicly
share care-drowning cups of sweet consolation with each other; and by
the voice of wit, humour, and frolic, this miraculous day is prolonged
till after the morning dawn.
A popular song on this festal occasion contains these verses:
Saint Patrick’s, the holy and tutelar man;
His beard down his bosom like Aaron’s ran:
Some from Scotland, from Wales, will declare that he came,
But I care not from whence now he’s risen to fame:--
The pride of the world and his enemies scorning,
I will drink to St. Patrick, to-day, in the morning!
He’s a desperate big, little Erin go brah;
He will pardon our follies and promise us joy.
By the mass, by the Pope, by St. Patrick, so long
As I live, I will give him a beautiful song!
No saint is so good, Ireland’s country adorning;
Then hail to St. Patrick, to-day, in the morning!
* * * * *
In London St. Patrick’s day is observed at court as a high festival, and
the nobility crowd to pay their compliments in honour of Ireland’s
tutelar saint. For many years it has been selected as an occasion for
soliciting and obtaining aid to a great national object--the promotion
of education. It is the anniversary of the “Benevolent Society of St.
Patrick,” for clothing and educating children of Irish parents who need
the assistance, by voluntary contribution. The festival is attended by
Irishmen of different political parties and religious persuasions, and
many of the highest rank. On this anniversary, in 1825, the marquess of
Londonderry was in the chair, with the duke of Leinster on his right,
and the marquess of Lansdown at his left hand: several of the king’s
ministers and nobility were present. The report stated, that 400
children were educated in the school, the funds admitted of only 240
being clothed, the rest were supplied with shirts, shoes, and stockings;
and the committee earnestly invited inspection of the schools from nine
till two every day, except on the sabbath and Monday. A donation to the
charity, from his majesty of 100 guineas, was followed by others, and by
hopes that absent Irishmen and Englishmen who could, would cheerfully
contribute towards an institution which on its merits required general
support. Speeches from the chairman and noble guests, the chancellor of
the exchequer, Mr. O’Connell, Mr. Huskisson, and other distinguished
characters, breathed sentiments of universal good will, and must have
inspired every individual to kindness, and desire of extending, and
cementing, the conciliation so happily commenced between the people of
both countries.
It is related that during the dinner, the party at the head table were
much amused by a bottle of genuine (_illegal_) poteen, neat as imported
from the emerald isle, being handed to the chancellor of the exchequer,
who, forgetting the good of the revenue in the memory of St. Patrick,
put a portion of the naughty _liqueur_ in his glass, and drank it with
becoming devotion.
In the forenoon of the same day, the festival was celebrated at the
Roman catholic chapel in Sutton-street, Soho, with an unusual degree of
splendour. The archbishop of Armagh in his mitre and pontifical robes,
officiated as high-priest, assisted by the two English catholic bishops,
Poynter and Bramston, and one of the Irish bishops, and several of the
minor clergy. A selection of music, chiefly from Haydn’s masses, was
powerfully performed by a very numerous choir, accompanied by a full
band; and after a sermon by Dr. Poynter, a collection was made, to the
amount of £65., to assist the chapel and the schools attached to it.
_Order of St. Patrick._
In February, 1783, letters patent created a brotherhood denominated
“Knights of the illustrious order of St. Patrick,” to consist of the
sovereign for the time being, as sovereign of the order; and fifteen
knights companions, the “lieutenant-general and general governor of
Ireland, or the lord deputy or deputies, or lord’s justices, or other
chief governor or governors” for the time being, officiating as deputy
grand masters. The statutes of the order of St. Patrick direct the badge
to be of gold, surmounted with a wreath of shamrock or trefoil,
surrounding a circle of gold, bearing the motto of the order in gold
letters, _Quis separabit?_ with the date MDCCLXXXIII, wherein the order
was founded, and encircling the cross of St. Patrick _gules_, surmounted
with a trefoil _vert_, each leaf charged with an imperial crown _or_,
upon a field _argent_; the badge, encircled with rays in form of a star
of silver of eight points, four greater and four lesser, worn on the
left side of the outer garment.
_The Shamrock._
The shamrock is the trefoil. The Druids used it to cure diseases. The
Irish use it as a national cognizance. It is said that when St. Patrick
landed near Wicklow to convert the Irish in 433, the pagan inhabitants
were ready to stone him; he requested to be heard, and endeavoured to
explain God to them as the Trinity in Unity, but they could not
understand him, till plucking a _trefoil_ from the ground, he said, “Is
it not as possible for the Father, Son, and Holy Ghost, as for these
leaves, to grow upon a single stalk,” then the Irish were immediately
convinced.[31]
_St. Patrick._
The Welch claim St. Patrick. Mr. Owen in his “Cambrian Biography”
affirms, he was born at Aberllychwr in Pembrokeshire, South Wales, where
there is a church dedicated to him. They call him Padrig, the son of
Mawrn or Maenwyn, of the laird of Gwyr. Mr. Owen cites from the
genealogy of the British saints, that, “It was the glory of the emperor
Theodosius, in conjunction with Cystonnin Llydaw, surnamed the blessed,
to have first founded the college of Illtyd, which was regulated by
Balerus, a man from Rome; and Padrig, son of Mawrn, was the principal of
it, before he was carried away a captive by the Irishman.” In
corroboration, Mr. Owen says, it is recorded in the history of Wales,
“that the Irish were enabled to settle themselves along nearly the whole
extent of its coast, in the beginning of the fifth century, and
continued there until nearly the middle of the same era; when they were
expelled from the north by the natives, assisted by the sons of
Cunedda, and from the south with the aid of Urien.” Thus Wales contends
for the honour of the birth-place of Patrick with Scotland, while
Ireland has the honour of the saint himself.
_A London Bull._
The “Athenæum” affirms the following to be a literal transcript of a
letter sent to a gentleman, who had recommended a patient to that
excellent institution called the _London Electrical Dispensary_:--
“To Mr. G----
“No. 5081.
“Sir,
“Having by your recommendation been received a patient at the London
Electrical Dispensary, and being discharged this day _dead_, I beg
leave to return my humble and hearty thanks for the same.
“March 7, 1810.”
Except the No., date, and the word _dead_, which are _written_, all the
rest of the letter is _printed_.
* * * * *