St Patrick
Not all the details of Saint Patrick are known, but the following, though not precise, should give you a good idea of what sort of man Patrick was, and what he did.
Patrick (or Patricius) was born Maewyn Succat (or Magonus Sucatus) at the end of the fourth century (~385) in Britain. ... His mother, Concessa, was related to St Martin of Tours. ...
He lived at the monastery on the island of Lerins (now St. Honorat), just off Cannes and Monaco, on the Riviera from 412 to 418 under St. ... From 418 Maewyn lived at Auxerre under the tutelage of St Germanus. ...
St. ... And so, Patrick, a newly-consecrated bishop, set out from Auxerre to Ireland, and arrived there in the year A. ...
During those 20 years in training he took on the name Patrick (or Patricius). ...
Before Easter in 433, Patrick decided to go to Meath were King Laoghaire, the son Of Niall of the Nine Hostages, the most powerful man in Ireland, was King of Tara . ... Patrick’s action is an example of his style and wild actions for spreading the good new. ... Laoghaire was furious and sent his chief Druid and some men to challenge Patrick, but the chief Druid was killed and his group dispersed. On Easter Sunday Patrick went to Laoghaire and boldly explained his purpose clearly and concisely, the king was impressed with his confidence. King Laoghaire invited Patrick to the Royal Court of Tara. When they arrived at court Patrick was received by the King with a kiss on the cheek. This enraged the Druids (anticipating a loss of job security) and they demanded that Father Patrick produce snow. Father Patrick merely replied to them that it is Gods place to determine the weather. ... Father Patrick made the sign of the cross and the snow stopped. ...
After this magnificent sign, the King asked Patrick to explain his faith to him. Patrick began to explain the doctrine of the Trinity, one God in three different forms and the Druids began to laugh hysterically. Patrick looked down and saw a shamrock (three leaf clover), and picked it up and used it to explain the Trinity to the King, just as one God has 3 different manifestations, so the one stem has 3 leaves, but it is all the same plant. ...
"But St. Patrick then came, before sunrise, to the well which is called Clebach, on the eastern side of Crochan, and they seated themselves near the well. ... And Patrick said to them: It were better for you to confess our True God than to enquire about our race. ...
"But St. Patrick, filled with the Holy Ghost, answered and said: Our God is the God of all men; the God of heaven and earth, of the sea and rivers; the God of the sun, the moon, and the stars; He has a dwelling 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 has a Son 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 breathes into them; the Father and the Son and the Holy Ghost are undivided; but I wish to unite you to the Heavenly King, as you are daughters of an earthly king, by believing. ...
These sorts of events seem common for Patrick.
Starting from the North east Patrick fearlessly spread to good new throughout every part or Ireland: he travelled throughout the country preaching, teaching, baptising, beginning churches, opening schools and monasteries, converting chiefs and bards, and everywhere supporting his preaching with miracles. ... Patrick Baptised the Aengus, King of Cashel. Patrick was using a crozier, which has a spike at the end to stab in the ground to hold it up. Patrick, searching for the right spot in a book, stuck his crosier into the ground just beside him and accidentally through the foot of Aengus. Thinking it part of the baptism, Aengnus said nothing, and Patrick didn’t notice. After pouring the bowl of water on him, Patrick took up the crosier and realised what had happened. ... " Patrick was very unset to have hurt another. ... Patrick mentions a nun who obviously impressed him, "a blessed Irishwoman of noble birth, full-grown, beautiful, whom I had baptised. ...
As the apostles did in the beginning of the church, Patrick did not set up authority unless required, and he did so in 444 when he set up sees, or diocese, in major towns with bishops to tend to the church there. Patrick himself was at Armagh and oversaw all the diocese, having the Irish church exist outside of the authority of Rome – a very important point for the future.
Patrick was utterly reckless of his own life and safety. ...
His writings leave us merely with a strong impression of a man of extraordinary holiness-they have something of the atmosphere of the more emotional letters of St.
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