Page:Writings of Saint Patrick, Apostle of Ireland.djvu/101



HE following account of our saint's vision concerning the future of Ireland is given in Jocelin's Life of St. Patrick, in chapter clxxv. As it is referred to in Rev. Robert King's valuable Primer of the History of the Irish Church (3 vols., Dublin, 1845–51), we give it in full here, with Jocelin's exposition.

And the man of God was anxiously desiring, and earnestly praying, that he might be certified of the present and future state of Hibernia, to the end that he might know with what devotion of faith he was burning, and also the value of his labour in the sight of God. Then the Lord heard the desire of his heart and manifested that which he sought for unto him by an evident revelation.

For while he was engaged in prayer, and the heart of his mind was opened, he beheld the whole island to be as it were a flaming fire ascending unto heaven, and he heard the Angel of God saying unto 95