ST. PATRICK OF IRELAND
In the fifth century in Ireland, a slave named Succat tended the sheep and swine of Milcho, a local chief, on the barren slopes of Slemish mountain in Antrim, one of the six counties of Northern Ireland. From this place he could see the cliffs of Scotland. He was originally from Wales, but pirates of Niall of the Nine Hostages, Ard-Ri (a High King) of Ireland, sailed to Wales and despoiled his father's villa and Succat was captured, and taken to Ireland. His father was a Roman magistrate by the name of Calpurnius, a Christian Roman.
Under the servitude of Milcho, he was beaten and cursed, so he learned to enjoy the solitude away from his master. It is here that he discovered God. In a dream he was told he would have his own country back, as he boarded a ship caring wolfhounds bred in Ireland for the Continents noblemen, he was denied passage. However, a small ship's captain said he would take him and he was once more a captive. After a few weeks, he escaped these pagans and found his way to his family's estate in Wales. After twenty years Succat, became Patrick, the missionary. He visited monasteries and hermitages in Europe. he studied in various seminaries. He longed to return to Ireland. Here he converted his first man, another shepherd of Dichu. From Dichu Patrick went to Tara, the seat of the High King, to get his official sanction.
Ard-Ri never became a Christian but he allowed Patrick to preach and baptize. Patrick did just that and built churches and ordained 3000 priests. He was said to have baptized Ethna and Fedelma, the daughters of the High King. In royal Cashel he baptized King Aongus. Towards the end of his life Patrick established himself in Armagh. Armagh was the religious capital of Ireland since the 5th century.
Patrick had a premonition of his own death and he died March 17th, 493. He was thought to have been buried in Downpaterick, the seat of County Down, near to St. Bridgit (453?-524?) and Columcille (521-597) next to Downpatrick Cathedral and his grave is marked by a large boulder with the name PATRIC on the granite.
Written and researched by Margaret Sypniewska, herbu Odrowaz B.F.A.
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