On
Irish History
And
The Fighting Irish
And
The Fighting Irish
( The Arrival of St. Patrick )
the banks of the Suit, and the Blackwater, and the Lee, wherever the saint preached during the seven
years he spent in Munster, a hearty welcome awaited him. The ancient Life attests: " After St. Patrick had founded cells and churches in Munster, and had ordained persons of every grade, and healed the sick, and resuscitated the dead, 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 as follows:
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 be produced on their plains,
Without any one being in want of help,
God's blessing be 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 in their hearths;
On slopes, on plains,
On mountains, on hills, a blessing.
Men, youths, and women;
A blessing on the land
That yields them fruit.
A blessing on every treasure
That shall be produced on their plains,
Without any one being in want of help,
God's blessing be 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 in their hearths;
On slopes, on plains,
On mountains, on hills, a blessing.
St
Patrick continued until his death to visit and watch over the churches which he had founded in all the
provinces in Ireland. He comforted the faithful in their difficulties, strengthened them in the Faith and in practice of virtue, and appointed pastors to continue his work among them. It is recorded in his life that he consecrated no fewer than 350 bishops. He appointed St. Loman to Trim, which rivalled Armagh itself in its abundant harvest of piety. St. Guasach, son of his former master, Milcho, became Bishop of Granard, while the two daughters of the same pagan Chieftain founded close by, at Clonbroney, a convent of pious virgins, and merited the aureola of sactity. St. Mel, nephew of our apostle had the charge of Ardagh. St. MacCarthen, who appears to have been particularly loved by St. Patrick, was made Bishop of Clogher. The narrative in the ancient life of the saint regarding his visit to the district of Costello, in the County of Mayo, serves to illustrate his manner of dealing with the Chieftains. He found it says, the Chief, Ernasc, and his son, Loarn, sitting under a tree, " with whom he remained, together with his twelve companions, for a week, and they received from him the doctrine of the salvation with attentive ear and mind. Meanwhile he instructed Loarn in the rudiments of learning and piety. " A church was erected there, and , in after years, Loarn was appointed to its charge.
The manifold virtues by which the early saints were distinguished shone forth in all their perfection in the life of St. Patrick. When not engaged in the work of the sacred ministry, his whole time was spent in prayer. Many times in the day he armed himself with the sign of the cross. He never relaxed his penitential ecercises. Clothed in a rough hair shirt, he made the hard rock his bed. His disinterestedness is specially commemorated, Countless converts of high rank would cast their precious ornaments at his feet, but all were restored to him. he had not come to Erin in search of material wealth, but to enrich her with the priceless treasures of the Catholic Faith.
From time to time he withdrew from the spiritual duties of his apostolate to devote himself wholly to prayer and penance. One of his chosen places of solitude and retreat was the Island of Lough Derg, which to our own day has continued to be a favourite resort of pilgrims, and it is known as St. Patrick's Purgatory. Another theatre of his miraculous power and piety and penitential austerities in the west of Ireland merits particular attention. In the far west of Connaught there is a range of tall mountians, which arrayed in rugged majesty, bid defiance to the waves and storms of the Atlantic. At the head of this range arises a stately cone in solitary geandeur, about 4,000 feet in height, facing Clew Bay, casting its shadow over the adjoining districts of Aghagower and Westport. This mountain was known in pagan times as the Eagle Mountain, but ever since Ireland was enlightened with the light of Faith, it is known as Croagh Patrick, ie St. Patrick's Mountain, and is honoured as the Holy Hill. the Mount Sinai of St. Patrick, in obedience to his guardian angel, made this mountain his hallowed place of retreat.
The manifold virtues by which the early saints were distinguished shone forth in all their perfection in the life of St. Patrick. When not engaged in the work of the sacred ministry, his whole time was spent in prayer. Many times in the day he armed himself with the sign of the cross. He never relaxed his penitential ecercises. Clothed in a rough hair shirt, he made the hard rock his bed. His disinterestedness is specially commemorated, Countless converts of high rank would cast their precious ornaments at his feet, but all were restored to him. he had not come to Erin in search of material wealth, but to enrich her with the priceless treasures of the Catholic Faith.
From time to time he withdrew from the spiritual duties of his apostolate to devote himself wholly to prayer and penance. One of his chosen places of solitude and retreat was the Island of Lough Derg, which to our own day has continued to be a favourite resort of pilgrims, and it is known as St. Patrick's Purgatory. Another theatre of his miraculous power and piety and penitential austerities in the west of Ireland merits particular attention. In the far west of Connaught there is a range of tall mountians, which arrayed in rugged majesty, bid defiance to the waves and storms of the Atlantic. At the head of this range arises a stately cone in solitary geandeur, about 4,000 feet in height, facing Clew Bay, casting its shadow over the adjoining districts of Aghagower and Westport. This mountain was known in pagan times as the Eagle Mountain, but ever since Ireland was enlightened with the light of Faith, it is known as Croagh Patrick, ie St. Patrick's Mountain, and is honoured as the Holy Hill. the Mount Sinai of St. Patrick, in obedience to his guardian angel, made this mountain his hallowed place of retreat.
Croagh Patrick
In imitation of the great Jewish legislator on Sinai, he spent 40 days on its summit in fasting and in prayer, and other penitential exercises. His only shelter from the fury of the elements, the wind and rain, the hail and snow, was a cave, or recess, in the solid rock; and the flagstone on which he rested his weary limbs at night is still pointed out. The whole purpose of his prayer was to obtain special blessings and mercy for the Irish race, whom he evangelized. The demons that made Ireland their battlefield mustered all their strength to temp the saint and disturb him in his solitute, and turn him away, if possible from his pious purpose.
They gathered around the hill in the form of vast flocks of hideous birds of prey. So dense were their ranks that they seemed to cover the whole mountain, like a cloud, and they so filled the air that Patrick could see niether the sky nor earth nor ocean. St. Patrick besought God to scatter the demons, but for a time it would seem as if his prayers and tears were in vain. At length he rang his sweet sounding bell, symbol of his preaching of the Divine truths. Its sound was heard all over the valleys and hills of Erin, everywhere bringing peace and joy. The flocks of demons began to scatter. He flung his bell among them; they took to precipitate flight, and cast themselves into the ocean. So complete was the saint's victory over them that, as the ancient narrative adds " For seven years no evil thing was to be found in Ireland. "
The saint however, would not, as yet, descend from the mountain. He had vanquished the demons, but he would now wrestle with God himself, like Jacob of old, to secure the spiritual interests of his people. The angel had announced to him that, to reward his fidelity in prayer and penance, as many of his people would be gathered into heaven as would cover the land and sea as far as his vision could reach. Far more ample, however were the aspirations of the saint, and he resolved to persevere in fasting and prayer until the fullest measure of his petition was granted. Again and again the angel came to comfort him, announcing new concessions; but all these would bot suuice. He would not relinquish his post on the mountain or relax his penance, until all were granted. At length the message came that his prayers were heard.
They gathered around the hill in the form of vast flocks of hideous birds of prey. So dense were their ranks that they seemed to cover the whole mountain, like a cloud, and they so filled the air that Patrick could see niether the sky nor earth nor ocean. St. Patrick besought God to scatter the demons, but for a time it would seem as if his prayers and tears were in vain. At length he rang his sweet sounding bell, symbol of his preaching of the Divine truths. Its sound was heard all over the valleys and hills of Erin, everywhere bringing peace and joy. The flocks of demons began to scatter. He flung his bell among them; they took to precipitate flight, and cast themselves into the ocean. So complete was the saint's victory over them that, as the ancient narrative adds " For seven years no evil thing was to be found in Ireland. "
The saint however, would not, as yet, descend from the mountain. He had vanquished the demons, but he would now wrestle with God himself, like Jacob of old, to secure the spiritual interests of his people. The angel had announced to him that, to reward his fidelity in prayer and penance, as many of his people would be gathered into heaven as would cover the land and sea as far as his vision could reach. Far more ample, however were the aspirations of the saint, and he resolved to persevere in fasting and prayer until the fullest measure of his petition was granted. Again and again the angel came to comfort him, announcing new concessions; but all these would bot suuice. He would not relinquish his post on the mountain or relax his penance, until all were granted. At length the message came that his prayers were heard.
