The story of St. Patrick

While in France, Patrick discovered that he had a talent for preaching of Christ to the Pagan Irish. Webster’s Dictionary defines the word Pagan as, "One who worships false gods". I’m guessing that these Irish were described as Pagans because they did not practice the beliefs being practiced in France at the time.

During this time, Patrick took a course in theological studies, and became an ordained minister. He then returned to Ireland, and used a barn as his first cathedral. He began converting Irishmen into Christians. Then King Laeré invited Patrick to preach to him. The King was so impressed that he gave Patrick his royal permission to teach the new faith throughout Ireland, which he did (along with many other journeys) until his death around 461A.D.

In this house lived a people whose self-imposed duty is to entertain wrecked sailors. These people contained two groups, one was very young, and the other was very old. One of the young men told Patrick that the elder-looking people were the children of the younger-looking people.

They told a story of a stranger who they had the good fortune to entertain one night. As the stranger was about the depart, he spoke these words, "In requital for your loving hospitality, I leave you this staff. During it’s stay with you years shall have no effect on your strength nor appearance. Retain it till my servant Patrick rests here on his way to Erinn for the conversion of its people, and give it into his hands when he quits you." I assume the stranger was referring to Ireland when he spoke of Erinn.

So when Patrick left the island, he was presented with the staff of Jesus. He then continued on to his homeland, Ireland.

He then traveled on to the Royal Fortress, at the end of Holy Week. He is still a long way from the city of Tara.

It was the eve of Bealteiné, a holiday in which no one is to light a fire through the entire land. As darkness fell, the king, nobles, and Druids gathered on the hill. They were waiting for the right moment to light their fire. People were stationed on each hill, facing towards Tara. As each station saw the sun peek above the horizon, they were to light their fire, but not before.

The WordNet dictionary defines a Druid as a "pre-Christian priest".

As the chief Druid was about to light the fire, the king became enraged, for he observed someone to the east had prematurely lit a fire! If that fire was not extinguished at once, that fire would burn forever, and the king would be overpowered by it.

So, the king sent the Chief Druid, two other Druids, and some guards to capture the person responsible for their sacrilegious act. The group comes up Patrick and his assistants, who are wearing white robes and chanting psalms. They order the chanters to put out the fire and return with them to face the king.

In defiance to the king, two of his followers arose to show respect to their visitors. The first was Dubhthach, and older Druid, and Fiech, a poet. Patrick is forced to defend himself against these, Druids. He then preaches the ideals of Christianity to the crowd. The Druids were not convinced of Patrick’s worthiness, so they challenged him to a debate the following day.

Thousands of Irishmen were gathered the next day for the debate. Arrogantly, the Chief Druid disputed that Jesus had sent Patrick on his mission. In response, he does some chants and causes snow to fall, then melt away a moment later. The majority of the people gathered were still not convinced.

As a final challenge, Patrick and one Druid were placed inside of tent, which was then lit on fire. The poor Druid was burned to dust almost immediately, only his cloak remained. Meanwhile, all that the fire consumed of Patrick was his clothing. He was spared.

Of course, after this demonstration, everyone present at the miracle professed his or her belief in the god of Patrick.

During the ceremony, Patrick was holding the sacred staff. He saw "the spirit of the arch enemy of mankind" on the ground next to Anogus. He struck his staff through the spirit, and into the ground, all the while continuing on with the ceremony.

When he finished, he was horrified to find that he had driven the staff through the foot of the king. When Patrick asked why he didn’t inform him of the error, the king said, "Father, though the torture was great, I strove to endure it. I looked on what you did as a necessary part of the rite." Patrick stooped down, and caused the blood to stop flowing from the king’s foot by waving the sing of a cross over it.

The saint further blessed Aongus, by promising that his descendents would wear his crown through the next 10 generations.

"Alas, Father!" she said, "my soul is sad from the sights that succeeded one another while I slumbered. I seemed standing on a high eminence with all Erinn in my sight, and from every part of it were issuing bright flames that joined above and filled the atmosphere. I looked again, and behold, fires were still burning on the mountains and hills, but the sight was poor compared to the former general blaze. The third time I cast my eyes abroad, nothing brighter than the puny flames of torches and candles met my gaze. This was sad enough, but when I looked again, the land was covered with ashes, except where a few solitary torches burned in caverns and in the shadows of rocks. I shut my eyes and wept, but was comforted on again opening them to see a steady bright flame blazing in the north, and which spread, scattering itself from its focus till the whole island was once more cheerfully lighted up."

For twelve days and nights, the nuns sung hymns and psalms in honor of Patrick, the patron saint of Ireland. Countless numbers of men and women visited the Apostle’s body, and kissed his hand.