These would not pay
attention
to his preaching.
O'Hanlon - Lives of the Irish Saints - v3
, p.
48.
March 17. ] LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. 517
According to some of St. Patrick's Acts, the holy man had determined to visit Rome, in order to be better instructed, in the ecclesiastical Constitutions, and Canons. He felt desirous withal, that his journey for Ireland might be approved, and ratified by Apostolic authority. This determination he mani- fested to St. German, who well approved of it. Germanus joined with St. Patrick a servant of God, named Segitius,^53 or Segetius,^54 also called Serge- cius,'ss the Priest, as a comfort in his trials, and as a faithful witness to his holy conversation. ^56 Then, as we are told, he had an angelic revelation, that he should seek out a holy solitary, called Justus,^37 living in an island of
the Etruscan S—ea. It is
certain bacichis or as called in Irish bachul
for — puic philologists
differ as to which is
while our who were then small, children,
have now become as observe. " decrepit, you
There is a different rendering of this story,
in Colgan's Latin Tripartite Life, and in Miss Cusack's Irish version of it.
'^^ Probus speaks of a staff, with which St. Patrick struck a certain grave. See
in old —that St. Patrick received there a stated, accounts,
a bishop's staff, a crozier.
the original root
Of these Bachul Phadraig, St. Patrick's crozier, was the most celebrated. " See n. //. , pp. 117, 174, of that admirable and elegant Poem, " The Monks of Kilcrea. "
" Vita S. lib. ii. , Quinta Patricii,"
'59 See a monk of Hunt- Henry, Saltrey,
cap. xxi. , p. 58. Still, he does not call it " the Staff of Jesus. " Neither does he tell how the
ingdonshire, in his book, " De Purgatorio S. Patricii," cap. i.
''°
See the Seventh Life, pars, i. , cap. xxxvii. , pp. 122, 123.
saint came to possess it. "
'5^
the Staff of Jesus," because our Saviour
afterwards regarded with great
religious veneration. It was called
is thought to have given it himself 'S9 to a hermit of the place. In turn, he was directed to present it to St. Patrick, when he should arrive there. '^° After charitable salutations and some spiritual conference passing between them, the holy man, Justus, delivered to Saint Patrick that staff, which he said he received out of our Saviour's own hands, and destined for him alone.
Other old and men resided on that young
"
island, apart
Patrick, after living some days with that servant of God, went on his journey
to Rome, being enriched with that holy staff, which the Almighty had so miraculously sent him. However, no mention of this circumstance occurs, in St. Fiach's Hymn, nor in his Commentator, nor in Probus. ^^^ Yet, the Tripartite Life of our saint^^3 and Jocelyn'^4 relate some wonderful miracles.
situated, and here its Bishop Senior lived,
according to their supposition. See " Acta Sanctorum," tomus ii. , Martii xvii. De S. Patricio Apostolo Hibemise. Commenta- rius praevius, sect, viii. , num. 34, p. 527.
'33 In the Second Life in the Third ;
Life ; in the Fourth Life. In Probus, by an
apparent error, the name is written Regirus. 'S* In the Tripartite Life.
'55 By Jocelyn.
'5^ See the Sixth Life, cap. xxiv. , p. 70. '57 In a Synod held at Aries, about A. D.
450, a bishop called Justus assisted, and it is remarkable, that the Synod was mainly composed of prelates, educated at the School
"
of Lerins. See Tillemont, Memoires pour
servir a I'Histoire Ecclesiastique," tome
XV. , p. 407. —
'5* "Bachul a staff. Either, hence the
— Baniliim or from it Bachal Eas- Latin, ;
'*3 See Septima Vita S. Patricii," lib. '*' The following curious and legendary i. , cap. xxxvi. , xxxvii. , pp. 122, 1 23. The
particulars are related, in addition, by Jocelyn : When St. Patrick had conferred
with the youthful-looking persons, he learned from them, that the apparent seniors
Irish version has an account, differing from
that in the text, regarding the reception of this celebrated staff. See Miss Cusack's
were the sons of those
when he enquired how this wonder hap-
" Life of St. Patrick," p. 377. "
apparent juniors,
and
'^-^ See Sexta Vita S. xxiv. , p. 70.
Patricii," cap.
from ^^^ Saint Justus.
; but, night, pilgrim bearing a staff sought refuge at their house, andhewasmostconsideratelytreated; in the morning, he blessed them and said,
'
You have received Jesus Christ, this time
in person, whereas formerly you only served his members. " Then, leaving his staff with the chief of those holy men, he was ordered to keep it, until a pious pilgi'im, named Patrick, should in lapse of time come to their island. Giving these orders, Jesus Christ ascended into heaven, and we con- tinued in the same state of youthfulness,
beauty and vigour, to the present
time
;
" From our for- youth
pened, they replied :
ward, through the Divine mercy, we were all intent on performing charitable works, while our doors were always open to every traveller, asking for food and hospitality, in Christ's name one a
5i8 LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. [March 17.
wrought through it, and they compare it for efficacy to the rod of Moyses. '^s As by it, says Jocelyn, God wrought many prodigious wonders, in bringing the IsraeHtes out of the house of bondage, so by that holy staff, which the Lord had sent to his true servant Patrick, did he work wonderful miracles, in the conversion of many nations. St. Bernard'^" and Jocelyn allude to it, as
having been held by the Irish, in great veneration, at that time, when they respectivelywrote. IfSt. PatrickbroughttheStaffofJesusfromthatisland,
where he had been educated, it may have been a keepsake given to him, by some dear friend. Perhaps, at first, it was merely a plain walking staff,
although subsequently it served the purposes of an episcopal crozier. ^^? However this may be, it was transferred from Armagh to Dublin, by William Fitz-Adelm De Burgo, and deposited in Christ's Church, about the year 1180. "^^ With many other relics, it was publicly burned, in High-street, by the Protestant Archbishop Browne, soon after the Reformed doctrines had been brought into Ireland. '^9
Thus, after receiving the Staff of Jesus, from the hand of our Lord Him-
self, according to the Irish Tripartite Life, and at a place, called Sliabh-Her- moin, near the island, St. Patrick was commanded to go and preach to the Gaeidhel. Hewastold,likewise,thattheBachall-Isashouldproveofgreat assistance to him, in all his difficulties and dangers. Then are related, three special requests, made by the favoured of heaven ;^7o but, as these appear to partake of a legendary cast, the reader may well be spared an enumeration of those specific petitions preferred. Nine companions, according to some accounts, journeyed with the saint, at this period of his life ; but, the order and variety of incidents recorded are greatly confused, by his different bio- graphers.
CHAPTER VI.
ST. Patrick's reception of holy orders—his supposed missionary labours at BOULOGNE—HIS MISSION WITH SAINTS GERMANUS AND LUPUS TO GREAT BRITAIN— THEIR RETURN TO GAUL—ST. PALLADIUS IN IRELAND—ST. PATRICK PROCEEDS TO ITALY—HIS CONSECRATION AS BISHOP—ST. PATRICK SAID TO HAVE BEEN AN AUGUS- TINIAN—DESTINED FOR HIS MISSION TO IRELAND, BY THE POPE.
Having received the various grades of clerical Orders, and even priesthood
under St. Germanus ^ it has been that before St.
itself, ; supposed,'^ Patrick
set out for Rome, he spent some time, in his own country. It has been calculated, that our saint passed about nine years, in the Tyrrhene Island,
.
'*s See Exodus vii. , xiv.
'"See "Vita S. Malachice," cap. xii.
tioge, County Kilkenny, about the period alluded to; but, the Rev. Patrick Neary, C. C, proved, that it had never been kept, except in the churches of Armagh and of Dublin, while in Ireland. This controversy originated from a learned paper, read by Mr. Morrin, at a meeting of the Diocesan Archaeological Society of Ossory.
See, also, the author's
"
Life of St. Malachy
O'Morgair," &c. , chap. vii. 8vo.
Dublin, 1859,
"
'^7 See Rev. Dr. Lanigan's
cal History of Ireland," vol. i. , chap, iv. , sect, xii. , and nn. 89 to 115, pp. 173 to 178.
Jotirtial, referring to a Charter of Henry the Third, preserved in the British Museum
(Charter Role 14, Henry III. , p. i, MS. )
the latter object had been preserved, ^t Jnis-
'^ In the years 1877 and 1878 appeared a
Ecclesiasti-
'^ Whoever wishes to learn more, regard- series of communications, in the Kilkenny ing this staff, may consult Colgan. See
This Charter conferred a
'? " See Miss Cusack's "Life of St. Patrick," p. 377.
at Inistioge, on John Comyn, Archbishop of Dublin, for guardianship of the Staff of Jesus. Mr. James Morrin suggested, that
Knight's Fee,
— xxii. , p. 66.
" Trias Thaumaturga," Quinta Appendix ad Acta S. Patricii, cap. xxii. , pp. 263, 264.
Chapter vi.
'
See the Sixth Life, cap.
' By Rev. Dr. Lanigan.
^ See Tillcmont's " Memoires pour servir
March 17. ] LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. 519
and at the end of this time, that he approached the fortieth year of his age. It is thought, he returned to Auxerre, about a. d. 429, and had been employed,
during the interval to a. d. 431, in missionary duties, near his parents' place of residence. More probably, we should suppose, he was only a priest, at
that time. However, popular traditions, and even old chronicles, represent him to have governed Boulogne, as a bishop, before he set out on the Irish
mission.
Morini 3 ;
Victricius, who presided over the See of Rouen, preached to the
Cressy's
"Church
History
of Brit-
and,
after his
departure,
to
replace
their loss, St. it is German,
stated, sent our saint to Boulogne. * Indeed, Probus tells us, that St. Patrick
preached the Gospel, and that he baptized persons in Scotia, Britain, Anglia
and Normandy, as also in the islands. ^ The name of Normandy had been
sometimes extended, beyond its provincial limits, and hence may have origi- nated an idea, that St. Patrick laboured at Boulogne, and in the adjacent territory. However this may be, in the year 429,^ Saints Germanus and Lupus7 proceeded to Britain, for the purpose of combating the growing errors of Pelagius. ^ He was a monk of Bangor, in Wales ; and, about the begin- ning of the fifth century, he denied the propagation of original sin, among the children of Adam. 9 Aided by Celestius, a Scottish monk, this heresy be- came greatly diffused, through Europe, Asia, and Africa. The Apostolic missionaries are said to have been accompanied, by many other attendants, and among these, St. Patrick is stated to have been. ^° Although loaded with exaggerations, this account may not be considered improbable, since he is said to have been on the mission, in northern France, about this period. Those prelates stopped, for some time, at Nanterre, in the diocese of Paris. " Their journey seems to have been directed, towards the Armorican Sea. They embarked, it is quite possible, at some port, where St. Patrick could bear them company," and with little inconvenience to himself. 's The result of their united labours tended to extirpate this heresy there, in a short time. ^* It is not correct to state—as Jocelyn does—that the Arian perfidy had then defiled many parts of Britain. "S Only imperfect accounts of this British mis- sionary enterprise have come down to us. Probus indeed informs us,'^ that at a certain time, when all Britain—meaning Anglian Britain—was nearly overspread with infidelity, St. Patrick almost despaired of doing any good among its inhabitants.
These would not pay attention to his preaching. However, the Lord comforted him, and told him, that his toils should not be
a I'Histoire Ecclesiastique," tome x. , servir a I'HistoireEcclesiastique," tomexv. ,
Article. S. Victrice. < See Malbrancq,
i6. """
cap. 26.
5 See "Quinta Vita S. Palricii," lib. i. ,
cap. X. , p. 51.
his Antiquities British Churches," chap, iv. , favours this
^ See
tany," book ix. , chap, iv. , v. , pp. 174 to
178.
^ He was Bishop of Troyes. His feast
^
Pelagianism, named from him, see the Abbe
view.
'3 A passage, quoted by Ussher, from
WiUiam of work, "De Anti- Malmesbury's
quitatibus Glastonise Ecclesice," contains
occurson the 24th of July. He died A. D. 479.
De Morinis," lib. ii ,
Stillingfleet, in
of the
'* Then the Scholiast adds, regarding Germanus, that he and St. Patrick returned Patricii, n. 10, p. 5. Also Ussher's " Pri- into Gaul. Jocelyn adds, that Patrick by his preaching and miracles, "patriotas ad
See Fiach's Scholiast, in Prima Vita S.
mordia," cap. xi. , p. 325.
9 For an account of this heresiarch, and of
viam veritatis reducebat. " See
Vita S. Patricii," cap. xcii. , p. 86.
"
Sexta How-
of
" Dictionnaire de Art. Pelagianisme, Pelagiens.
Theologie,"
ever, he refers this visit, to a later St. Patrick's career.
period
Bergier's
'° See "Church Cressy's
History
ofBrit-
'5 See Bede's "Historia Ecclesiastica
tany," book ix. , chap, vi. , pp. 178 to 180, "" '^"
Gentis Anglorum," lib. i. , cap. xvii.
Quinta Vita S. Patricii," lib. ii. , 327. Also, Tillemont's Memoires pour cap. xxiv. , xxv. , p. 59.
See Ussher's Primordia," cap. xi. , p. See "
p.
something to the same purpose. See mordia," cap. xvii. , p. 840.
"
Pri-
520 LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. [March 17.
quite useless. This state of things, hardly referable to Great Britain, before
the Saxon persecution, after a. d. 450,^7 niay relate rather to Gallic and Belgic
Britain. The Morini, Nerviens, and other adjacent people,^^ were in a
wretched condition, owing to the ravages of barbarians, and the negligence of
their pastors,^? about a. d. 427, or 428. This is supposed to be nearly the time, when St. Patrick went to Boulogne, and after his return from Lerins. ^°
If it be true, that he preached and baptized in Great Britain, most probably it was on this occasion. We may fairly take it for granted, that such a zealous pastor would not have misspent his time while there, even in a sub- ordinate capacity. However, it seems probable, also, that he may have con- tinued his missionary career, while passing through England, when leaving Gaul for the Irish shores, in 432. In his own words, we may learn, that from the time, he commenced the work of God there, Patrick continued to labour among the people, to the close of his active career. ^'
Saints Germanus and Lupus are said to have remained in Great Britain,
until Easter, in the year 430. ^^ It is supposed, about that time, they must have returned to Gaul. ^3 German had learned before this, that his own city wasinfectedwithPelagianism. '^^ ThenhewenttoGaul,ashasbeenthought, in company with St. Patrick. It is possible, they had communications, respecting the state of Ireland, and that these were duly forwarded to Pope Celestine. From his experience of that country, our saint might have been considered most suitable, to serve in the capacity of a missionary bishop, ^s
About the year 431, Pope St. Celestine the First had sent his Archdeacon
Palladius''^ to attempt the Christian conversion of the Irish people. Even
then, the Gospel had been preached among them, by some holy missionaries. At tha—t period, however, our island is said to have been exposed to wintry
cold^7 probably a metaphoric expression used for the prevailing errors of Paganism. It is said, Palladius brought with him the Apostolic number of twelvecompanions. ThePopebestowedsomebooks,withtherelicsoftlie
Apostles,
'9 See Tillemont's
admiUed. See " De Antiquitate Glasto- niensis Ecclesiae. "
=4 See St. Fiach's Scholiast, n. lo, p. 5.
=5 According to William of Malmesbury, St German going to his own country, and receiving St. Patrick to become his familiar friend, after some years sent him to preach among the Irish, Pope Celestine ordering it.
^* He is styled, alio nomine, Patricius.
His festival is generally assigned to the 6th
ofJuly.
'^ to Muircu Maccutenus who According
is said to have written his narrative, before A. D. 700. Probus uses a similar expression.
^'
See his Confession, p. 17, and Dr.
" Ecclesiastical of Ire- History
Lanigan's
land," vol. i,, chap, iv. , sect, xiv. , and nn. , pp. 180 to 183.
" See Ussher's "Index at A. D. ccccxxx.
Chronologicus,"
See "
Quinta
Vita S.
Patricii," cap.
xxiv. ,
*3 the" men- Computing aliquot annos,"
tioned by William of Malmesbury, from A. D. 430 to 432, the statCRient pannot be
p. 48.
=* See Sixth
=^9 See St. Fiach's Scholiast, n. I3«. , p.
asalsoofother ^^ Themissionaries martyrs.
St. PeterandSt.
set out, and landed on the eastern shore of Ireland. It was not decreed by Providence,however,thatPalladiusshouldconvertitspeople; since,noone can receive anything on earth, unless it be given to him from above. Having reached the territory of Hy-Garchon, he there built three churches, called respectively, Teach na Roman, Kill-fine, and Domnach ardec. ^9 A local ruler, named Nathy, resisted his efforts to spread the Gospel, and drove the missionaries away from that part of the country. Neither did Palladius desiretoremainanylongtime,inacountrynothisown; but,heresolvedon
Paul,
'7 See Ussher's " Index Cluonologicus," ad annum ccccl. , and "Primoidia," cap. xii. , pp. 415, et seq.
'^ At present known as Flanders, Bra- bant, Hainaut and Cambray.
"
Memoires pour servir a I'Histoire Ecclesiastique," tome x. , p.
671.
''° See Malbrancq's work, "DeMorinis,"
lib. ii. , cap. 26.
Life, cap. xxv. , p. 70.
5. Second Life, chap, xxiv. , p. 13; tlxe
March 17. ] LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. 521
returning to him, by whom he had been sent. 3° It is thought he remained there, until about the end of 431, when he intended returning to Rome ;3i but, his vessel was impelled by contrary winds, towards the northern coasts of Ireland. Afterwards, he was driven towards the southern extremity of a land, called Modhaidh. ^^ When Palladius left Ireland for Britain, it is said, he went to the land of the Picts. Fordun was the place selected for his resi- dence. Between the departure of Palladius from Ireland and his arrival there, some time must have intervened, and probably at least three weeks or a month. How long he stayed at Fordun we do not know. There is no reason for supposing, that Palladius died, so soon as he reached that place. 33 It is likely he lived, until the beginning of a. d. 432. 34 Some accounts have it, that he died a martyr, in Ireland. We must allow some weeks to have passed, in any case, between the day of his death, and that time, when an account of it reached St. Germanus, and St. Patrick. 35 It may be, that somewhat later, Pope Celestine learned this failure of his project, for the con-
version of Ireland.
In
conformity
the hypothesis, that our holy Apostle had time to a
according to some accounts he had already beens^ to be consecrated, or even to receive powers, relative to the Irish mission, from Pope Celestine. Now, this Pontiff died, on the 6th of April, a. d. 432, It seems probable, that the whole of Ireland's missionary affairs had been arranged, at Rome,
before the departure of Palladius, for his mission ; and, that due provision had been made, for supplying his place, in case of any untoward accident.
Yet, owing to a complexity and an apparent contradiction of statements, it is particularly difficult, at this period, to arrange the order of our narrative. St. Eric of Auxerre declares, that he considers it as the highest honour of the holy prelate, St. Germanus, of that city, to have been the instructor of St. Patrick ; for, the glory of a father shines, in the government of his children.
Of the many disciples, who are reported to have been his sons in Christ, one, by far the most famous, as the series of his actions must show, was Patrick,
the particular Apostle of Ireland. 3? By some, it has been inferred, St. Patrick's discipleship, under St. Germanus in person, was after his return from the Tuscan Islands, and immediately before his Irish mission began. We are told, that St. Patrick, in a. d. 430, went to Rome ; and, what we would not expect to meet with, is stated by the BoUandists, that he was at first re- pulsed, by the Pope. 32 They add, that he then returned to St.
March 17. ] LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. 517
According to some of St. Patrick's Acts, the holy man had determined to visit Rome, in order to be better instructed, in the ecclesiastical Constitutions, and Canons. He felt desirous withal, that his journey for Ireland might be approved, and ratified by Apostolic authority. This determination he mani- fested to St. German, who well approved of it. Germanus joined with St. Patrick a servant of God, named Segitius,^53 or Segetius,^54 also called Serge- cius,'ss the Priest, as a comfort in his trials, and as a faithful witness to his holy conversation. ^56 Then, as we are told, he had an angelic revelation, that he should seek out a holy solitary, called Justus,^37 living in an island of
the Etruscan S—ea. It is
certain bacichis or as called in Irish bachul
for — puic philologists
differ as to which is
while our who were then small, children,
have now become as observe. " decrepit, you
There is a different rendering of this story,
in Colgan's Latin Tripartite Life, and in Miss Cusack's Irish version of it.
'^^ Probus speaks of a staff, with which St. Patrick struck a certain grave. See
in old —that St. Patrick received there a stated, accounts,
a bishop's staff, a crozier.
the original root
Of these Bachul Phadraig, St. Patrick's crozier, was the most celebrated. " See n. //. , pp. 117, 174, of that admirable and elegant Poem, " The Monks of Kilcrea. "
" Vita S. lib. ii. , Quinta Patricii,"
'59 See a monk of Hunt- Henry, Saltrey,
cap. xxi. , p. 58. Still, he does not call it " the Staff of Jesus. " Neither does he tell how the
ingdonshire, in his book, " De Purgatorio S. Patricii," cap. i.
''°
See the Seventh Life, pars, i. , cap. xxxvii. , pp. 122, 123.
saint came to possess it. "
'5^
the Staff of Jesus," because our Saviour
afterwards regarded with great
religious veneration. It was called
is thought to have given it himself 'S9 to a hermit of the place. In turn, he was directed to present it to St. Patrick, when he should arrive there. '^° After charitable salutations and some spiritual conference passing between them, the holy man, Justus, delivered to Saint Patrick that staff, which he said he received out of our Saviour's own hands, and destined for him alone.
Other old and men resided on that young
"
island, apart
Patrick, after living some days with that servant of God, went on his journey
to Rome, being enriched with that holy staff, which the Almighty had so miraculously sent him. However, no mention of this circumstance occurs, in St. Fiach's Hymn, nor in his Commentator, nor in Probus. ^^^ Yet, the Tripartite Life of our saint^^3 and Jocelyn'^4 relate some wonderful miracles.
situated, and here its Bishop Senior lived,
according to their supposition. See " Acta Sanctorum," tomus ii. , Martii xvii. De S. Patricio Apostolo Hibemise. Commenta- rius praevius, sect, viii. , num. 34, p. 527.
'33 In the Second Life in the Third ;
Life ; in the Fourth Life. In Probus, by an
apparent error, the name is written Regirus. 'S* In the Tripartite Life.
'55 By Jocelyn.
'5^ See the Sixth Life, cap. xxiv. , p. 70. '57 In a Synod held at Aries, about A. D.
450, a bishop called Justus assisted, and it is remarkable, that the Synod was mainly composed of prelates, educated at the School
"
of Lerins. See Tillemont, Memoires pour
servir a I'Histoire Ecclesiastique," tome
XV. , p. 407. —
'5* "Bachul a staff. Either, hence the
— Baniliim or from it Bachal Eas- Latin, ;
'*3 See Septima Vita S. Patricii," lib. '*' The following curious and legendary i. , cap. xxxvi. , xxxvii. , pp. 122, 1 23. The
particulars are related, in addition, by Jocelyn : When St. Patrick had conferred
with the youthful-looking persons, he learned from them, that the apparent seniors
Irish version has an account, differing from
that in the text, regarding the reception of this celebrated staff. See Miss Cusack's
were the sons of those
when he enquired how this wonder hap-
" Life of St. Patrick," p. 377. "
apparent juniors,
and
'^-^ See Sexta Vita S. xxiv. , p. 70.
Patricii," cap.
from ^^^ Saint Justus.
; but, night, pilgrim bearing a staff sought refuge at their house, andhewasmostconsideratelytreated; in the morning, he blessed them and said,
'
You have received Jesus Christ, this time
in person, whereas formerly you only served his members. " Then, leaving his staff with the chief of those holy men, he was ordered to keep it, until a pious pilgi'im, named Patrick, should in lapse of time come to their island. Giving these orders, Jesus Christ ascended into heaven, and we con- tinued in the same state of youthfulness,
beauty and vigour, to the present
time
;
" From our for- youth
pened, they replied :
ward, through the Divine mercy, we were all intent on performing charitable works, while our doors were always open to every traveller, asking for food and hospitality, in Christ's name one a
5i8 LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. [March 17.
wrought through it, and they compare it for efficacy to the rod of Moyses. '^s As by it, says Jocelyn, God wrought many prodigious wonders, in bringing the IsraeHtes out of the house of bondage, so by that holy staff, which the Lord had sent to his true servant Patrick, did he work wonderful miracles, in the conversion of many nations. St. Bernard'^" and Jocelyn allude to it, as
having been held by the Irish, in great veneration, at that time, when they respectivelywrote. IfSt. PatrickbroughttheStaffofJesusfromthatisland,
where he had been educated, it may have been a keepsake given to him, by some dear friend. Perhaps, at first, it was merely a plain walking staff,
although subsequently it served the purposes of an episcopal crozier. ^^? However this may be, it was transferred from Armagh to Dublin, by William Fitz-Adelm De Burgo, and deposited in Christ's Church, about the year 1180. "^^ With many other relics, it was publicly burned, in High-street, by the Protestant Archbishop Browne, soon after the Reformed doctrines had been brought into Ireland. '^9
Thus, after receiving the Staff of Jesus, from the hand of our Lord Him-
self, according to the Irish Tripartite Life, and at a place, called Sliabh-Her- moin, near the island, St. Patrick was commanded to go and preach to the Gaeidhel. Hewastold,likewise,thattheBachall-Isashouldproveofgreat assistance to him, in all his difficulties and dangers. Then are related, three special requests, made by the favoured of heaven ;^7o but, as these appear to partake of a legendary cast, the reader may well be spared an enumeration of those specific petitions preferred. Nine companions, according to some accounts, journeyed with the saint, at this period of his life ; but, the order and variety of incidents recorded are greatly confused, by his different bio- graphers.
CHAPTER VI.
ST. Patrick's reception of holy orders—his supposed missionary labours at BOULOGNE—HIS MISSION WITH SAINTS GERMANUS AND LUPUS TO GREAT BRITAIN— THEIR RETURN TO GAUL—ST. PALLADIUS IN IRELAND—ST. PATRICK PROCEEDS TO ITALY—HIS CONSECRATION AS BISHOP—ST. PATRICK SAID TO HAVE BEEN AN AUGUS- TINIAN—DESTINED FOR HIS MISSION TO IRELAND, BY THE POPE.
Having received the various grades of clerical Orders, and even priesthood
under St. Germanus ^ it has been that before St.
itself, ; supposed,'^ Patrick
set out for Rome, he spent some time, in his own country. It has been calculated, that our saint passed about nine years, in the Tyrrhene Island,
.
'*s See Exodus vii. , xiv.
'"See "Vita S. Malachice," cap. xii.
tioge, County Kilkenny, about the period alluded to; but, the Rev. Patrick Neary, C. C, proved, that it had never been kept, except in the churches of Armagh and of Dublin, while in Ireland. This controversy originated from a learned paper, read by Mr. Morrin, at a meeting of the Diocesan Archaeological Society of Ossory.
See, also, the author's
"
Life of St. Malachy
O'Morgair," &c. , chap. vii. 8vo.
Dublin, 1859,
"
'^7 See Rev. Dr. Lanigan's
cal History of Ireland," vol. i. , chap, iv. , sect, xii. , and nn. 89 to 115, pp. 173 to 178.
Jotirtial, referring to a Charter of Henry the Third, preserved in the British Museum
(Charter Role 14, Henry III. , p. i, MS. )
the latter object had been preserved, ^t Jnis-
'^ In the years 1877 and 1878 appeared a
Ecclesiasti-
'^ Whoever wishes to learn more, regard- series of communications, in the Kilkenny ing this staff, may consult Colgan. See
This Charter conferred a
'? " See Miss Cusack's "Life of St. Patrick," p. 377.
at Inistioge, on John Comyn, Archbishop of Dublin, for guardianship of the Staff of Jesus. Mr. James Morrin suggested, that
Knight's Fee,
— xxii. , p. 66.
" Trias Thaumaturga," Quinta Appendix ad Acta S. Patricii, cap. xxii. , pp. 263, 264.
Chapter vi.
'
See the Sixth Life, cap.
' By Rev. Dr. Lanigan.
^ See Tillcmont's " Memoires pour servir
March 17. ] LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. 519
and at the end of this time, that he approached the fortieth year of his age. It is thought, he returned to Auxerre, about a. d. 429, and had been employed,
during the interval to a. d. 431, in missionary duties, near his parents' place of residence. More probably, we should suppose, he was only a priest, at
that time. However, popular traditions, and even old chronicles, represent him to have governed Boulogne, as a bishop, before he set out on the Irish
mission.
Morini 3 ;
Victricius, who presided over the See of Rouen, preached to the
Cressy's
"Church
History
of Brit-
and,
after his
departure,
to
replace
their loss, St. it is German,
stated, sent our saint to Boulogne. * Indeed, Probus tells us, that St. Patrick
preached the Gospel, and that he baptized persons in Scotia, Britain, Anglia
and Normandy, as also in the islands. ^ The name of Normandy had been
sometimes extended, beyond its provincial limits, and hence may have origi- nated an idea, that St. Patrick laboured at Boulogne, and in the adjacent territory. However this may be, in the year 429,^ Saints Germanus and Lupus7 proceeded to Britain, for the purpose of combating the growing errors of Pelagius. ^ He was a monk of Bangor, in Wales ; and, about the begin- ning of the fifth century, he denied the propagation of original sin, among the children of Adam. 9 Aided by Celestius, a Scottish monk, this heresy be- came greatly diffused, through Europe, Asia, and Africa. The Apostolic missionaries are said to have been accompanied, by many other attendants, and among these, St. Patrick is stated to have been. ^° Although loaded with exaggerations, this account may not be considered improbable, since he is said to have been on the mission, in northern France, about this period. Those prelates stopped, for some time, at Nanterre, in the diocese of Paris. " Their journey seems to have been directed, towards the Armorican Sea. They embarked, it is quite possible, at some port, where St. Patrick could bear them company," and with little inconvenience to himself. 's The result of their united labours tended to extirpate this heresy there, in a short time. ^* It is not correct to state—as Jocelyn does—that the Arian perfidy had then defiled many parts of Britain. "S Only imperfect accounts of this British mis- sionary enterprise have come down to us. Probus indeed informs us,'^ that at a certain time, when all Britain—meaning Anglian Britain—was nearly overspread with infidelity, St. Patrick almost despaired of doing any good among its inhabitants.
These would not pay attention to his preaching. However, the Lord comforted him, and told him, that his toils should not be
a I'Histoire Ecclesiastique," tome x. , servir a I'HistoireEcclesiastique," tomexv. ,
Article. S. Victrice. < See Malbrancq,
i6. """
cap. 26.
5 See "Quinta Vita S. Palricii," lib. i. ,
cap. X. , p. 51.
his Antiquities British Churches," chap, iv. , favours this
^ See
tany," book ix. , chap, iv. , v. , pp. 174 to
178.
^ He was Bishop of Troyes. His feast
^
Pelagianism, named from him, see the Abbe
view.
'3 A passage, quoted by Ussher, from
WiUiam of work, "De Anti- Malmesbury's
quitatibus Glastonise Ecclesice," contains
occurson the 24th of July. He died A. D. 479.
De Morinis," lib. ii ,
Stillingfleet, in
of the
'* Then the Scholiast adds, regarding Germanus, that he and St. Patrick returned Patricii, n. 10, p. 5. Also Ussher's " Pri- into Gaul. Jocelyn adds, that Patrick by his preaching and miracles, "patriotas ad
See Fiach's Scholiast, in Prima Vita S.
mordia," cap. xi. , p. 325.
9 For an account of this heresiarch, and of
viam veritatis reducebat. " See
Vita S. Patricii," cap. xcii. , p. 86.
"
Sexta How-
of
" Dictionnaire de Art. Pelagianisme, Pelagiens.
Theologie,"
ever, he refers this visit, to a later St. Patrick's career.
period
Bergier's
'° See "Church Cressy's
History
ofBrit-
'5 See Bede's "Historia Ecclesiastica
tany," book ix. , chap, vi. , pp. 178 to 180, "" '^"
Gentis Anglorum," lib. i. , cap. xvii.
Quinta Vita S. Patricii," lib. ii. , 327. Also, Tillemont's Memoires pour cap. xxiv. , xxv. , p. 59.
See Ussher's Primordia," cap. xi. , p. See "
p.
something to the same purpose. See mordia," cap. xvii. , p. 840.
"
Pri-
520 LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. [March 17.
quite useless. This state of things, hardly referable to Great Britain, before
the Saxon persecution, after a. d. 450,^7 niay relate rather to Gallic and Belgic
Britain. The Morini, Nerviens, and other adjacent people,^^ were in a
wretched condition, owing to the ravages of barbarians, and the negligence of
their pastors,^? about a. d. 427, or 428. This is supposed to be nearly the time, when St. Patrick went to Boulogne, and after his return from Lerins. ^°
If it be true, that he preached and baptized in Great Britain, most probably it was on this occasion. We may fairly take it for granted, that such a zealous pastor would not have misspent his time while there, even in a sub- ordinate capacity. However, it seems probable, also, that he may have con- tinued his missionary career, while passing through England, when leaving Gaul for the Irish shores, in 432. In his own words, we may learn, that from the time, he commenced the work of God there, Patrick continued to labour among the people, to the close of his active career. ^'
Saints Germanus and Lupus are said to have remained in Great Britain,
until Easter, in the year 430. ^^ It is supposed, about that time, they must have returned to Gaul. ^3 German had learned before this, that his own city wasinfectedwithPelagianism. '^^ ThenhewenttoGaul,ashasbeenthought, in company with St. Patrick. It is possible, they had communications, respecting the state of Ireland, and that these were duly forwarded to Pope Celestine. From his experience of that country, our saint might have been considered most suitable, to serve in the capacity of a missionary bishop, ^s
About the year 431, Pope St. Celestine the First had sent his Archdeacon
Palladius''^ to attempt the Christian conversion of the Irish people. Even
then, the Gospel had been preached among them, by some holy missionaries. At tha—t period, however, our island is said to have been exposed to wintry
cold^7 probably a metaphoric expression used for the prevailing errors of Paganism. It is said, Palladius brought with him the Apostolic number of twelvecompanions. ThePopebestowedsomebooks,withtherelicsoftlie
Apostles,
'9 See Tillemont's
admiUed. See " De Antiquitate Glasto- niensis Ecclesiae. "
=4 See St. Fiach's Scholiast, n. lo, p. 5.
=5 According to William of Malmesbury, St German going to his own country, and receiving St. Patrick to become his familiar friend, after some years sent him to preach among the Irish, Pope Celestine ordering it.
^* He is styled, alio nomine, Patricius.
His festival is generally assigned to the 6th
ofJuly.
'^ to Muircu Maccutenus who According
is said to have written his narrative, before A. D. 700. Probus uses a similar expression.
^'
See his Confession, p. 17, and Dr.
" Ecclesiastical of Ire- History
Lanigan's
land," vol. i,, chap, iv. , sect, xiv. , and nn. , pp. 180 to 183.
" See Ussher's "Index at A. D. ccccxxx.
Chronologicus,"
See "
Quinta
Vita S.
Patricii," cap.
xxiv. ,
*3 the" men- Computing aliquot annos,"
tioned by William of Malmesbury, from A. D. 430 to 432, the statCRient pannot be
p. 48.
=* See Sixth
=^9 See St. Fiach's Scholiast, n. I3«. , p.
asalsoofother ^^ Themissionaries martyrs.
St. PeterandSt.
set out, and landed on the eastern shore of Ireland. It was not decreed by Providence,however,thatPalladiusshouldconvertitspeople; since,noone can receive anything on earth, unless it be given to him from above. Having reached the territory of Hy-Garchon, he there built three churches, called respectively, Teach na Roman, Kill-fine, and Domnach ardec. ^9 A local ruler, named Nathy, resisted his efforts to spread the Gospel, and drove the missionaries away from that part of the country. Neither did Palladius desiretoremainanylongtime,inacountrynothisown; but,heresolvedon
Paul,
'7 See Ussher's " Index Cluonologicus," ad annum ccccl. , and "Primoidia," cap. xii. , pp. 415, et seq.
'^ At present known as Flanders, Bra- bant, Hainaut and Cambray.
"
Memoires pour servir a I'Histoire Ecclesiastique," tome x. , p.
671.
''° See Malbrancq's work, "DeMorinis,"
lib. ii. , cap. 26.
Life, cap. xxv. , p. 70.
5. Second Life, chap, xxiv. , p. 13; tlxe
March 17. ] LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. 521
returning to him, by whom he had been sent. 3° It is thought he remained there, until about the end of 431, when he intended returning to Rome ;3i but, his vessel was impelled by contrary winds, towards the northern coasts of Ireland. Afterwards, he was driven towards the southern extremity of a land, called Modhaidh. ^^ When Palladius left Ireland for Britain, it is said, he went to the land of the Picts. Fordun was the place selected for his resi- dence. Between the departure of Palladius from Ireland and his arrival there, some time must have intervened, and probably at least three weeks or a month. How long he stayed at Fordun we do not know. There is no reason for supposing, that Palladius died, so soon as he reached that place. 33 It is likely he lived, until the beginning of a. d. 432. 34 Some accounts have it, that he died a martyr, in Ireland. We must allow some weeks to have passed, in any case, between the day of his death, and that time, when an account of it reached St. Germanus, and St. Patrick. 35 It may be, that somewhat later, Pope Celestine learned this failure of his project, for the con-
version of Ireland.
In
conformity
the hypothesis, that our holy Apostle had time to a
according to some accounts he had already beens^ to be consecrated, or even to receive powers, relative to the Irish mission, from Pope Celestine. Now, this Pontiff died, on the 6th of April, a. d. 432, It seems probable, that the whole of Ireland's missionary affairs had been arranged, at Rome,
before the departure of Palladius, for his mission ; and, that due provision had been made, for supplying his place, in case of any untoward accident.
Yet, owing to a complexity and an apparent contradiction of statements, it is particularly difficult, at this period, to arrange the order of our narrative. St. Eric of Auxerre declares, that he considers it as the highest honour of the holy prelate, St. Germanus, of that city, to have been the instructor of St. Patrick ; for, the glory of a father shines, in the government of his children.
Of the many disciples, who are reported to have been his sons in Christ, one, by far the most famous, as the series of his actions must show, was Patrick,
the particular Apostle of Ireland. 3? By some, it has been inferred, St. Patrick's discipleship, under St. Germanus in person, was after his return from the Tuscan Islands, and immediately before his Irish mission began. We are told, that St. Patrick, in a. d. 430, went to Rome ; and, what we would not expect to meet with, is stated by the BoUandists, that he was at first re- pulsed, by the Pope. 32 They add, that he then returned to St.
