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 PATRICK

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PATRICK

he would proceed towards Dalaradia, where he had been a slave, to pay the price of ransom to his former master, and in exchange for the servitude and cruelty endured at his hands to impart to him the blessings and freedom of God's chikiren. He rested for some days at the islands off the Skerries coast, one of which still retains the name of Inis-Patrick, and he probably visited the adjoining mainland, which in olden times was known as Holm Patrick. Tradition fondly points out the impression of St. Patrick's foot upon the hard rock — off the main shore, at the entrance to Skerries harbour. Continuing his course northwards he halted at the mouth of the River Boyne. A num- ber of the natives there gathered around him and heard with joy in their own sweet tongue the glad tidings of Redemption. There too he performed his first miracle on Irish soil to confirm the honour due to the Blessed Virgin, and the Divine birth of our Saviour. Leaving one of his companions to con- tinue the work of instruction so auspiciously be- gun, he hastened forward to Strangford Lough and there quitting his boat continued his journey over land towards Slemish. He had not proceeded far when a chieftain, named Dichu, appeared on the scene to prevent his further advance. He drew his sword to smite the saint, but his arm became rigid as a statue and continued so until he declared himself obedient to Patrick. Overcome by the saint's meek- ness and miracles, Dichu usketl for instruction and made a gift of a large sdlilmll (barn), in which the sacred mysteries were offi'red uj). This was the first sanctuary dedicated by St. Patrick in Erin. It be- came in later years a chosen retreat of the saint. A monastery ami church were erected there, and the hallowed site retains the name Sabhall (pronounced Saul) to the present day. Continuing his journey towards Slemish, the saint was struck with horror on seeing at a distance the fort of his old master Milchu enveloped in flames. The fame of Patrick's marvel- lous power of miracles had preceded him. Milchu, in a fit of frenzy, gathered his treasures into his man- sion and setting it on fire, cast himself into the flames. An ancient record adds: "His pride could not endure the thought of being vancjuished by his former slave". Returning to Saul, St. Patrick learned from Dichu that the chieftains of Erin had been summoned to celebrate a special feast at Tara by Leoghaire, who was the Ard-Righ, that is. Supreme Monarch of Ireland. This was an opportunity which Patrick would not fore- go; he would present himself before the assembly, to strike a decisive blow against the Druidism that held the nation captive, and to secure freedom for the glad tidings of Redemption of which he was the herald. As he journeyed on he rested for some days at the house of a chieftain named Secsnen, who with his household joyfully embraced the Faith. The youth- ful Benen, or Benignus, the son of the chief, was in a special way captivated by the Gospel doctrines and the meekness of Patrick. Whilst the saint slumbered he would gather sweet-scented flowers and scatter them over his bosom, and when Patrick was setting out, continuing his journey towards Tara, Benen clung to his feet declaring that nothing would sever him from him. "Allow him to have his way", said St. Patrick to the chieftain, "he shall be heir to my sacred mission." Thenceforth Benen was the inseparable companion of the saint, and the prophecy was ful- filled, for Benen is named among the "comhards" or successors of St. Patrick in Armagh. It was on 26 March, Easter Sunday in 433, that the eventful as- sembly was to meet at Tara, and the decree went forth that from the preceding day the fires throughout the kingdom should be extinguished until the signal blaze was kindled at the royal mansion. The chiefs and Bre- hons came in full numbers and the druids too would muster all their strength to bid defiance to the herald of good tidings and to secure the hold of their super-

stition on the Celtic race, for their demoniac oracles had announced that the messenger of Christ had come to Erin. St. Patrick arrived at the hill of Slane. at the opposite extremity of the valley from Tara, on Easter Eve. in that year the feast of the Annunciation, and on the smnmit of the hill kindled the Paschal fire. The druids at once raised their voice. "OKing", (they said) "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." By order of the king and the agency of the druids. re- peated attempts were made to extinguish the blessed fire and to punish with death the intruder who had disobeyed the royal command. But the fire was not extinguished and Patrick shielded by the Divine power came unscathed from their snares and assaults. On Easter Day the missionary band having at their head the youth Benignus bearing aloft a copy of the Gos- pels, and followed by St. Patrick who with mitre and crozier was arrayed in full episcopal at- tire, proceeded in processional order to Tara. The druids and magicians put forth all their strength and em- ployed all their in- cantations to main- tain theirsway over the Irish race, but theprayer and faith of Patrick achieved a glorious triumph. The druids by their incantations over- spread the hill and surrounding plain II with a cloud of ™ worse than Egyp- tian darkness. Pat- rick defied them to remove that cloud, and when all their efforts were made in vain, at his prayer the sun sent forth its rays and the bright- est sunshine lit up the scene. Again by demoniac power the Arch-Druid Lochru, like Simon Magus of old, was lifted up high in the air, but when Pat- rick knelt in prayer the druid from his flight was dashed to pieces upon a rock. Thus was the final blow given to paganism in the presence of all the assembled chieftains. It was, indeed, a momentous day for the Irish race. Twice Patrick pleaded for the Faith before Leoghaire. The king had given orders that no sign of respect was to be extended to the strangers, but at the first meeting the youthful Ere, a royal page, arose to show him reverence; and at the second, when all the chieftains were assembled, the chief-bard Dubhtach showed the same honour to the saint. Both these heroic men became fervent disci- ples of the Faith ami bright ornaments of the Irish Church. It was on this .second solenui occasion that St. Patrick is said to have plucked a shamrock from the sward, to explain by its triple leaf and single stem, in some rough way, to the assembled chieftains, the great doctrine of the liles,sed Trinity. On that bright Easter Day, the triumph of religion at 'I'ara was ccim- plete. The .Ard-Kigh granted piTmissiiin to Patrick to preach the Fuitli throughout tlie length and breadth of Erin, and the druidical iirii]ihecy like the words of Balaam of old would be fulfilled: the sacred fire now kindled by the saint would never be extinguished.

The beautiful prayer of St. Patrick, popularly known as "St. Patrick's Breast-Plate", is supposed to have been composed by him in preparation for this

St. Patrick's Bell. National Museum, Dublii