Astonished
Irish History
And
The Fighting Irish
And
The Fighting Irish
( The Arrival of St. Patrick )
at the vision that presented itself to them, the Royal maidens cried out
" Who are ye, and whence do ye come? Are ye phantoms, or fairies, or friendly mortals?" St. Patrick said to them
" It were better you adore and worship the one true God, whom we announce to you, than that you would satisfy your curiosity by such vain questions, " And then Ethne broke forth into the questions:
" It were better you adore and worship the one true God, whom we announce to you, than that you would satisfy your curiosity by such vain questions, " And then Ethne broke forth into the questions:
" Who is God? "
" And where is God? "
" Where is His dwelling? "
" Has He sons and daughters? "
" Is He rich in silver and gold? "
" Is He everlasting? is He beautiful? "
" Are His daughters dear and lovely to the men of the world? "
" Is He on the heavens or on earth? "
" In the sea, in rivers, in mountains, in valleys?"
" Make Him known to us. How is he to be seen? "
" How is he to be loved? How is He to be found? "
" Is it in youth or is it in old age that He may be found? "
" And where is God? "
" Where is His dwelling? "
" Has He sons and daughters? "
" Is He rich in silver and gold? "
" Is He everlasting? is He beautiful? "
" Are His daughters dear and lovely to the men of the world? "
" Is He on the heavens or on earth? "
" In the sea, in rivers, in mountains, in valleys?"
" Make Him known to us. How is he to be seen? "
" How is he to be loved? How is He to be found? "
" Is it in youth or is it in old age that He may be found? "
But St. Patrick, filled with the Holy Ghost, made answer:
" God, whom we announce to you, is the Ruler of all things. "
" The God of heaven and earth, of the sea and the rivers. "
" The God of the sun, and the moon, and all the stars. "
" The God of the high mountains and the low-lying valleys. "
" The God who is above heaven, and in heaven, and under heaven. "
" His dwelling is in heaven and earth, and the sea, and all therein. "
" He gives breath to all. "
" He gives life to all. "
" He is over all. "
" He upholds all. "
" He gives light to the sun. "
" He imparts splendour to the moon. "
" He has made wells in the dry land, and islands in the ocean. "
" He has appointed the stars to serve the greater lights. "
" His Son is co-eternal and co-equal with Himself. "
" The Son is not younger than the Father. "
" And the Father is not older than the Son. "
" And the Holy Ghost proceeds from them. "
" The Father and the Son and the Holy Ghost are undivided. "
" But i desire by faith to unite you to the heavenly King, as you are daughters of an eartly King. "
" The God of heaven and earth, of the sea and the rivers. "
" The God of the sun, and the moon, and all the stars. "
" The God of the high mountains and the low-lying valleys. "
" The God who is above heaven, and in heaven, and under heaven. "
" His dwelling is in heaven and earth, and the sea, and all therein. "
" He gives breath to all. "
" He gives life to all. "
" He is over all. "
" He upholds all. "
" He gives light to the sun. "
" He imparts splendour to the moon. "
" He has made wells in the dry land, and islands in the ocean. "
" He has appointed the stars to serve the greater lights. "
" His Son is co-eternal and co-equal with Himself. "
" The Son is not younger than the Father. "
" And the Father is not older than the Son. "
" And the Holy Ghost proceeds from them. "
" The Father and the Son and the Holy Ghost are undivided. "
" But i desire by faith to unite you to the heavenly King, as you are daughters of an eartly King. "
The maidens as if with one voice and one heart, said: " Teach us most carefully how we may believe in the Heavenly King; show us how we may behold Him face to face, and we will do whatsoever you shall say to us. " And when he had instructed them he said to them " Do you believe that by baptism you put off the sin inherited from the first parents. "
They answered: " We believe. "
" Do you believe in penance after sin? "
" We believe. "
" Do you believe in life after death? " Do you believe in resurrection on the Day of Judgement? "
" We believe. "
" Do you believe in the unity of the Church? "
" We believe. "
" Do you believe in penance after sin? "
" We believe. "
" Do you believe in life after death? " Do you believe in resurrection on the Day of Judgement? "
" We believe. "
" Do you believe in the unity of the Church? "
" We believe. "
Then they were baptized, and were clothed in white garments. And they besought that they might behold the face of Christ. And the saint said to them " You cannot see the face of Christ unless you taste death, and unless you receive the Sacrifice. " And the ancient narrative adds: " When they received the Eucharist of God, they slept in death, and they were placed upon a couch, arrayed in their white baptism robes. "
In 440 St. Patrick entered on the special work of the conversion of Ulster. Under the following year, the ancient annalists relate a wonderful spread of the Faith throughout the province. In 444 a site for a church was granted at Armagh by Daire, the Chieftain of the district. It was in a valley at the foot of a hill. but the saint was not content. He had special designs in his heart for that district, and at length the Chieftain told him to select in his territory any site he would deem most suitable for his religious purpose. St. Patrick chose the beautiful hill on which the old cathedral of Armagh stands. As he was marking out the church with his companions, they came across a doe and fawn, and the saint's companions would kill them for food; but Patrick would not allow them to do so, and taking the fawn upon his shoulders, and followed by the doe, he proceeded to a neighbouring hill and laid down the fawn, and announced that there, in future times, great glory would be given to the Most High.
From Ulster, St. Patrick probably proceeded to Meath to consolidate the organisation of the communities there, and thence he continued his course through Leinster. Two of the saint's most distinguished companions
St. Auxilius and St. Iserminus, had the rick valley of the Liffey aasigned to them. The former's name is still retained in the church which he founded at Killossy, while the latter is honoured as the first Bishop of Kilcullen.
As usual St. Patrick's primary care was to gather the ruling Chieftains into the fold. At Naas, the royal residence in those days, he baptised two sons of the King of Leinster. Memorials of the saint still abound in the district - the ruins of the ancient church which he founded, his holy well, and the hallowed sites in which the power of God was shown forth in miracles. At Sletty, in the immediate neighborhood of Carlow, St. Fiacc, son of the Chief Brehon, Dubthach, was installed as bishop.
St. Patrick proceeded through Gowran into Ossory, here he erected a church under the invocation of St. Martin, near the present city of Kilkenny, and enriched it with many precious relics which he had brought from Rome. It was in Leinster, on the borders of the present counties of Kildare and Queen's that Odhran, St. Patrick's charioteer attained the martyr's crown. The Chieftain of that district honoured the demon-idol, Crom Cruach, with special worship, and on hearing of that idol being cast down, vowed to avenge the insult by the death of the our apostle. Passing through the territory, Odhran overheard the plot that was being organised for the murder of St. Patrick and as they were setting out in the chariot to continue their journey, asked the saint as a favour, to take thereins, and to alllow himself, for the day to hold the place of honour and rest. This was granted, and scarcely had they set out when a well directed thrust of a lance pierced the heart of the devoted charioteer, who thus by changing places saved St. Patrick' life, and won for himself the martyr's
St. Patrick next proceeded to Munster. As usual his efforts were directed to combat error in chief centres of authorit, knowing well that, in the paths of conversion, the Kings and Chieftains would soon be followed by their subjects. At " Cashel of the Kings " he was received with great enthusiasm, the chiefs and Brehons and people welcoming him with joyous acclaim. While engaged in the baptism of the Royal Prince Aengus, son of the King of Munster, the saint leaning on his crosier, pierced with its sharp point the prince's foot. Aengus bore the pain unmoved. When St. Patrick, at the close of the ceremony, saw the blood flow, he asked the Prince why he had been silent. He replied, with genuine heroism, that he thought it might be part of the ceremony, a penalty for the joyous blessings of the Faith that were imparted. The saint admired his heroism, and taking the Chieftain's shield
inscribed on it a cross with the same point of the crozier, and promised that the shield would be the signal of countless spiritual and temporal triumphs.
Patrick spent some considerable time in the County of Limerick. The fame of his miracles and sanctity had gone
before him, and the inhabitants of Thomond and Northern Munster, crossing the Shannon in their frail coracles, hastened to receive his instruction. When giving his blessing to them on the summit of the hill of Finnime, looking out on the rich plains before him, he is said to have prophesied, the coming of St. Senanus: " To the green island in the West, at the mouth of the sea ( Inis-Cathaigh, now Scattery Island, at the mouth of the Shannon, near Kilrush ) the lmp of the people of God will come; he will be the head of counsel to all this territory. " At Sangril
( now Singland ) in Limerick, and also in the district of Garryowen, the holy wells of the saint are pointed out, and the slab of rock, which served for his bed, and the altar on which every day he offered up the Holy Sacrifice.
In 440 St. Patrick entered on the special work of the conversion of Ulster. Under the following year, the ancient annalists relate a wonderful spread of the Faith throughout the province. In 444 a site for a church was granted at Armagh by Daire, the Chieftain of the district. It was in a valley at the foot of a hill. but the saint was not content. He had special designs in his heart for that district, and at length the Chieftain told him to select in his territory any site he would deem most suitable for his religious purpose. St. Patrick chose the beautiful hill on which the old cathedral of Armagh stands. As he was marking out the church with his companions, they came across a doe and fawn, and the saint's companions would kill them for food; but Patrick would not allow them to do so, and taking the fawn upon his shoulders, and followed by the doe, he proceeded to a neighbouring hill and laid down the fawn, and announced that there, in future times, great glory would be given to the Most High.
From Ulster, St. Patrick probably proceeded to Meath to consolidate the organisation of the communities there, and thence he continued his course through Leinster. Two of the saint's most distinguished companions
St. Auxilius and St. Iserminus, had the rick valley of the Liffey aasigned to them. The former's name is still retained in the church which he founded at Killossy, while the latter is honoured as the first Bishop of Kilcullen.
As usual St. Patrick's primary care was to gather the ruling Chieftains into the fold. At Naas, the royal residence in those days, he baptised two sons of the King of Leinster. Memorials of the saint still abound in the district - the ruins of the ancient church which he founded, his holy well, and the hallowed sites in which the power of God was shown forth in miracles. At Sletty, in the immediate neighborhood of Carlow, St. Fiacc, son of the Chief Brehon, Dubthach, was installed as bishop.
St. Patrick proceeded through Gowran into Ossory, here he erected a church under the invocation of St. Martin, near the present city of Kilkenny, and enriched it with many precious relics which he had brought from Rome. It was in Leinster, on the borders of the present counties of Kildare and Queen's that Odhran, St. Patrick's charioteer attained the martyr's crown. The Chieftain of that district honoured the demon-idol, Crom Cruach, with special worship, and on hearing of that idol being cast down, vowed to avenge the insult by the death of the our apostle. Passing through the territory, Odhran overheard the plot that was being organised for the murder of St. Patrick and as they were setting out in the chariot to continue their journey, asked the saint as a favour, to take thereins, and to alllow himself, for the day to hold the place of honour and rest. This was granted, and scarcely had they set out when a well directed thrust of a lance pierced the heart of the devoted charioteer, who thus by changing places saved St. Patrick' life, and won for himself the martyr's
St. Patrick next proceeded to Munster. As usual his efforts were directed to combat error in chief centres of authorit, knowing well that, in the paths of conversion, the Kings and Chieftains would soon be followed by their subjects. At " Cashel of the Kings " he was received with great enthusiasm, the chiefs and Brehons and people welcoming him with joyous acclaim. While engaged in the baptism of the Royal Prince Aengus, son of the King of Munster, the saint leaning on his crosier, pierced with its sharp point the prince's foot. Aengus bore the pain unmoved. When St. Patrick, at the close of the ceremony, saw the blood flow, he asked the Prince why he had been silent. He replied, with genuine heroism, that he thought it might be part of the ceremony, a penalty for the joyous blessings of the Faith that were imparted. The saint admired his heroism, and taking the Chieftain's shield
inscribed on it a cross with the same point of the crozier, and promised that the shield would be the signal of countless spiritual and temporal triumphs.
Patrick spent some considerable time in the County of Limerick. The fame of his miracles and sanctity had gone
before him, and the inhabitants of Thomond and Northern Munster, crossing the Shannon in their frail coracles, hastened to receive his instruction. When giving his blessing to them on the summit of the hill of Finnime, looking out on the rich plains before him, he is said to have prophesied, the coming of St. Senanus: " To the green island in the West, at the mouth of the sea ( Inis-Cathaigh, now Scattery Island, at the mouth of the Shannon, near Kilrush ) the lmp of the people of God will come; he will be the head of counsel to all this territory. " At Sangril
( now Singland ) in Limerick, and also in the district of Garryowen, the holy wells of the saint are pointed out, and the slab of rock, which served for his bed, and the altar on which every day he offered up the Holy Sacrifice.
