Part 10 (1/2)

[117] _Nemthur_.--The _n_ is merely a prefix; it should read Em-tur.

[118] _Celestine._--See the Scholiast on Fiacc's Hymn.

[119] _Preserved._--It is much to be regretted that almost every circ.u.mstance in the life of St. Patrick has been made a field for polemics. Dr. Todd, of whom one might have hoped better things, has almost destroyed the interest of his otherwise valuable work by this fault. He cannot allow that St. Patrick's mother was a relative of St.

Martin of Tours, obviously because St. Martin's Catholicity is incontrovertible. He wastes pages in a vain attempt to disprove St.

Patrick's Roman mission, for similar reasons; and he cannot even admit that the Irish received the faith as a nation, all despite the clearest evidence; yet so strong is the power of prejudice, that he accepts far less proof for other questions.

[120] _Victoricus_.--There were two saints, either of whom might have been the mysterious visitant who invited St. Patrick to Ireland. St.

Victoricus was the great missionary of the Morini, at the end of the fourth century. There was also a St. Victoricus who suffered martyrdom at Amiens, A.D. 286. Those do not believe that the saints were and are favoured with supernatural communications, and whose honesty compels them to admit the genuineness of such doc.u.ments as the Confession of St.

Patrick, are put to sad straits to explain away what he writes.

[121] _Lerins.--See Monks of the West_, v. i. p. 463. It was then styled _insula beata_.

[122] _St. Germain_.--St. Fiacc, who, it will be remembered, was contemporary with St. Patrick, write thus in his Hymn:

”The angel, Victor, sent Patrick over the Alps; Admirable was his journey-- Until he took his abode with Germa.n.u.s, Far away in the south of Letha. In the isles of the Tyrrhene sea he remained; In them he meditated; He read the canon with Germa.n.u.s-- This, histories make known.”

[123] _Canons_--This Canon is found in the Book of Armagh, and in that part of that Book which was copied from _St. Patrick's own ma.n.u.script_.

Even could it be proved that St. Patrick never wrote these Canons, the fact that they are in the Book of Armagh, which was compiled, according to O'Curry, before the year 727, and even at the latest before the year 807, is sufficient to prove the practice of the early Irish Church on this important subject.

[124] _Further.--Life of St. Patrick_, p. 315.

CHAPTER IX.

St. Patrick visits Tara--Easter Sunday--St. Patrick's Hymn--Dubtach salute him--He overthrows the Idols at Magh Slecht--The Princesses Ethnea and Fethlimia--Their Conversion--Baptism of Aengus--St. Patrick travels through Ireland--His Success in Munster--He blesses the whole country from Cnoc Patrick--The First Irish Martyr--St. Patrick's Death--Pagan Prophecies--Conor Mac Nessa--Death of King Laeghaire--The Church did not and does not countenance Pagan Superst.i.tion--Oilioll Molt--Death of King Aengus--Foundation of the Kingdom of Scotland--St.

Brigid--Shrines of the Three Saints--St Patrick's Prayer for Ireland, and its Fulfilment.

[A.D. 432--543.]

On Holy Sat.u.r.day St. Patrick arrived at Slane, where he caused a tent to be erected, and lighted the paschal fire at nightfall, preparatory to the celebration of the Easter festival. The princes and chieftains of Meath were, at the same time, a.s.sembled at Tara, where King Laeghaire was holding a great pagan festival. The object of this meeting has been disputed, some authorities saying that it was convoked to celebrate the Beltinne, or fire of Bal or Baal; others, that the king was commemorating his own birthday. On the festival of Beltinne it was forbidden to light any fire until a flame was visible from the top of Tara Hill. Laeghaire was indignant that this regulation should have been infringed; and probably the representation of his druids regarding the mission of the great apostle, did not tend to allay his wrath.

Determined to examine himself into the intention of these bold strangers, he set forth, accompanied, by his bards and attendants, to the place where the sacred fire had been kindled, and ordered the apostle to be brought before him strictly commanding, at the same time, that no respect should be shown to him.

Notwithstanding the king's command, Erc, the son of Dego, rose up to salute him, obtained the grace of conversion, and was subsequently promoted to the episcopate. The result of this interview was the appointment of a public discussion, to take place the next day at Tara, between St. Patrick and the pagan bards.

[Ill.u.s.tration: St. Patrick going to Tara.]

It was Easter Sunday--a day ever memorable for this event in the annals of Erinn. Laeghaire and his court sat in state to receive the amba.s.sador of the Eternal King. Treacherous preparations had been made, and it was antic.i.p.ated that Patrick and his companions would scarcely reach Tara alive. The saint was aware of the machinations of his enemies; but life was of no value to him, save as a means of performing the great work a.s.signed him, and the success of that work was in the safe keeping of Another. The old writers love to dwell on the meek dignity of the apostle during this day of trial and triumph. He set forth with his companions, from where he had encamped, in solemn procession, singing a hymn of invocation which he had composed, in the Irish tongue, for the occasion, and which is still preserved, and well authenticated.[125] He was clothed as usual, in white robes; but he wore his mitre, and carried in his hand the Staff of Jesus. Eight priests attended him, robed also in white, and his youthful convert, Benignus, the son of Seschnan.

Thus, great in the arms of meekness and prayer, did the Christian hosts calmly face the array of pagan pomp and pride. Again the monarch had commanded that no honour should be paid to the saint, and again he was disobeyed. His own chief poet and druid, Dubtach, rose up instantly on the entrance of the strangers, and saluted the venerable apostle with affection and respect. The Christian doctrine was then explained by St.

Patrick to his wondering audience, and such impression made, that although Laeghaire lived and died an obstinate pagan, he nevertheless permitted the saint to preach where and when he would, and to receive all who might come to him for instruction or holy baptism.

On the following day St. Patrick repaired to Taillten, where the public games were commencing; and there he remained for a week, preaching to an immense concourse of people. Here his life was threatened by Cairbre, a brother of King Laeghaire; but the saint was defended by another of the royal brothers, named Conall Creevan, who was shortly after converted.

The church of Donough Patrick, in Meath, was founded by his desire. It is said that all the Irish churches which begin with the name Donough were founded by the saint, the foundation being always marked out by him on a Sunday, for which Domhnach is the Gaedhilic term.

Having preached for some time in the western part of the territory of Meath, the saint proceeded as far as Magh Slecht, where the great idol of the nation, Ceann [or Crom] Cruach was solemnly wors.h.i.+pped. The legend of its destruction, as given in the oldest annals, is singularly interesting. We give a brief extract from Professor O'Curry's translation: ”When Patrick saw the idol from the water, which is named _Guthard_ [loud voice] (i.e., he elevated his voice); and when he approached near the idol, he raised his arm to lay the Staff of Jesus on him, and it did not reach him; he bent back from the attempt upon his right side, for it was to the south his face was; and the mark of the staff lies in his left side still although the staff did not leave Patrick's hand; and the earth swallowed the other twelve idols to their heads; and they are in that condition in commemoration of the miracle.