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
