READINGS IN IRISH HISTORY

New Zealand Tablet, 16 November 1916, Page 11

READINGS IN IRISH HISTORY

By ' Shanachie.'

ST. PATRICK RETURNS TO IRELAND. St. Patrick landed in Ireland probably at or near Bray, Co. Wicklow, in the year 432. The Druids were at once in arms against him. So he resolved to seek out a more friendly territory. He bethought him of Dalriada and his old Master Milchu. Now would he return the old Druid good for evil, Accordingly he steered his galley to Ulster, halting at the mouth of the Boyne where he preached with success, sailed thence to Strangford Lough, left his boat and journeyed on foot to Slemish, encountered a chieftain named Dichu on the way at Saul, overcame his opposition by saintly meekness, baptised him and consecrated his large barn as his first church. Continuing on his journey towards Slemish, the saint was horrified on seeing at a distance the fort of his old master in flames. Milchu, it is said, rather than meet a former slave of whose miraculous powers he had already been informed, collected his treasures, and in a fit of frenzy set fire to his house and perished in the flames. Returning to Saul, Patrick learned from Dichu that there was to be a great Feis or assembly of the chieftains of Erin, at Tara, the residence of Leoghaire (Leary), the High King. It was a grand opportunity which Patrick was loath to let slip. He knew the ways of men: Convert the leaders and the masses, like a flock of sheep, will follow their lead. Here, then, would he meet in assembly chieftains and their retainers from every province of the land, put before them his mission, obtain safe-con-duct through their territories together with permission to preach. Leaving Ulster and passing southward, Patrick halted near Dundalk at the house of a chieftain named Secsnen, who with his household joyfully received the faith. Here he met Benignus, the son of his host. The youth -was captivated by Patrick and his teaching. When the saint was setting out on his journey to Tara, the boy Benignus clung to his feet, beseeching him to take him with him. In vain the others tried to dissuade Benignus from his purpose. ' Allow him to have his way,' said Patrick, ' he will be heir to my sacred mission.' So it turned out : Benignus succeeded Patrick as Archbishop of Armagh. It was on the 26th of March, Easter Sunday in 433, that the great Feis was to be held at Tara. Thither had they come in full numbers : Chieftains, Brehons, Bards, and Druids. The decree had gone forth that from the preceding day no fire was to burn throughout the kingdom till the signal flame, kindled by the king himself, on the sacred mound, should be seen over the plains of Meath. On Easter eve St. Patrick reached the Hill of Slane, an eminence at the opposite extremity of the valley from Tara. It was evening. Darkness was settling down upon the earth. St. Patrick kindled his Paschal fire on the summit of the hill. Swiftly and fiercely the devouring flames enveloped the pile of furze and oak faggots. High into the air leaped the tongues of .flame. Tongues, truly, we may call them; for they were hissing a challenge to Druidism throned over yonder in all the might of pagan multitudes. The Druids beheld that defiant fire and knew it boded evil for their religious system. Indeed their demoniac oracle had given out that this would one day come to pass: ' Bane-poll will come over the wild sea, His mantle hole-headed, his staff crook-headed, His altar in the east of his house, And all'his people shall answer, amen, amen,' i 'What means this fire?' the king demanded, and the Druids made answer: ' O king, live for ever ; this fire which has been lighted in defiance of the royal edict, will blaze for ever in this land unless it be this very night extinguished.' Then the High King, determining to punish the offender, ordered his chariots to be harnessed, and with a retinue and two of his chief Druids, set out for the Hill of Slane. As* he approached, the

Druids counselled him riot to go where the fire was ,kindled, lest he - should : unwittingly do homage, but - rather to send for the kindler of it. They admonished all" that no one should rise up before the stranger when he came, since that would be to own allegiance. Patrick arrived where Leoghaire and his attendants were seated. One man, however, Eric by name, rose up to do him reverence, and Patrick blessed him and he believed. . Thus ended St. Patrick's first encounter with King Leoghaire. Next day the king, summoned Patrick before him again. Yes, Patrick would come and plead his cause. On the next day, arrayed in full pontifical ; vestments, Patrick and his followers proceeded to Tara and interviewed the king amid the assembled multitude. It was a momentous day in the history of Ireland. " Druidism and Christianity met in conflict and the latter came off victorious. The Druids put forth all the might of their incantations and magic spells, marshalling all the powers of darkness in this duel unto death. 'Twas vain. They had encountered a man mightier than themselves. Christianity triumphed. Leoghaire himself embraced the faith though he did not die in it Subthach, the chief poet, was converted, and thus the way was opened to thousands who followed their example. It was on the occasion of his second interview with King Leoghaire that Patrick is said to have composed that beautiful prayer, ' The Deer's Cry,' better known as ' The Breastplate of Patrick.' The king, it may be explained, had planned ambushes to entrap and slay him. The following extract is a literal translation from the old Irish text: I bind to myself to-day God's power to guide, God's might to uphold me, God's wisdom to teach me, God's eye to watch over me, God's ear to hear me, God's word to give me speech, God's hand to guide me, God's way to lie before me, God's shield to shelter me, God's host to secure me, Against the snares of demons, Against the seductions of vices, Against the lusts of nature, Against every one who meditates injury to me, Whether far or near, Whether few or with many. Christ, protect me to-day Against every poison, against burning, Against drowning, against death-wound, That I may receive abundant reward. Christ with me, Christ before me, Christ behind me, Christ within me, Christ beneath me, Christ above me, Christ at my right hand, Christ at my left, Christ in the fort, Christ in the chariot seat, Christ in the poop, Christ in the heart of every one who thinks of me, Christ in the mouth of every one who speaks to me, Christ in every eye that sees me, Christ in every ear that hears me. From Tara Patrick passed to Con naught. On his way thither he destroyed the idol Crom Cruach in Leitrim, visited Rath Crogan, the royal seat of the kings of Connaught, situated near Tulsk in the Co. Roscommon, where a remarkable incident occurred. ■ The story, is this:—Close by the king's abode was the clear fountain of Clebach, where Patrick and his fol-' lowers had encamped for the night. Thither the king's daughters, Ethne, the fair, and Fedelm, the ruddy, came, as was their wont, in the early morning to bathe. At the sight of Patrick and his companions the maidens stood in astonishment; then they drew near and asked :. 'Who are ye and whence do ye come?' St. Patrick told them who he was and what his mission meant. They heard him speak of God with growing interest. They believed and asked to be baptised. This done,

they besought Patrick that they might behold the face of Christ. The saint replied : ' You cannot see the face of Christ unless you taste* death, and unless you receive the Sacrifice.' They answered: Give us the Sacrifice, .so that we may be able to behold' our Spouse.' Then, .(adds the ancient narrative: ''When they received the Eucharist of God, they slept in death, and they were placed upon a couch arranged in their white baptismal robes.' Seven years Patrick remained in Connaught, visiting every district, organising parishes, forming dioceses, instructing the chieftains and the people. From Connaught the saint passed to Ulster. The date is given as 440. In 444 he built his church at Armagh and selected it as his episcopal residence. Thence he passed into Munster, appointing bishops and ordaining priests as he went along, and there as in Connaught he spent seven years. He went directly to the seat of .the King of Munster, and at ' Castoel of the Kings ' he received a warm welcome from chiefs and brehons and people alike. While engaged in the baptism of the royal prince Aengus, son of. the King of Munster, the saint, leaning on his crozier, 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, and asked him why he had been silent, he replied, with genuine heroism, that he thought it .was part of the ceremony, a penalty for the joyous blessings of the Faith that were imparted. On the banks of the Suir, and the Blackwater, and the Lee, whenever the saint preached during the seven years he spent in Munster, a hearty welcome awaited him. The ancient Life ' attests: ' After Patrick had founded cells and churches in Munster, and ordained persons of every grade, and healed the sick, and raised the dead to life, he bade them farewell, and imparted his blessing to them.' The words of this blessing, which is said to have been . given from the hills of Tipperary, are very beautiful : A blessing on the Munster people— Men youths, and women ; A blessing on the land That yields them fruit'. A blessing on every treasure That shall bo produced on their plains, Without any one being in want of help, God's blessing bo on Munster. A blessing on their peaks. On their bare flagstones, A blessing on their glens, A blessing on their ridges. Like the sand of the sea under ships, Be the number of their hearths ; On slopes, on plains, On mountains, on hills, a blessing.