In Conversation with God – Volume 6 Part 1: Special Feasts: January – March by Fernandez Francis

Author:Fernandez, Francis [Fernandez, Francis]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Scepter (UK) Ltd
Published: 2011-11-23T05:00:00+00:00

19-A.2 Aiming at all levels of society.

When Patrick landed in Ireland – in the year 432 A.D. – charged with the mission of evangelizing that pagan and warlike people, he brought with him a serene faith that stood to him in all the trials that lay ahead, allied to a shrewdly practical mind and a knowledge of the country, its language and customs.

In his work Patrick followed a fairly stereotyped pattern. Whenever he entered a district he would first present himself to the local chieftain and preach the Gospel to him and, following the custom of the time, make him an offering of presents. Although some of the chiefs did embrace the faith, the ancient annals make no secret of the fact that by and large those worldly-wise men were content to retain the less demanding customs of their ancestors. However, Patrick always asked for two further favours, which were invariably granted: a title to a plot of land where he could build a church; and the chief’s permission to preach to the people.

Patrick next directed his efforts to the chiefs’ sons and daughters; and here, by contrast, he was spectacularly successful. Wherefore then in Ireland they who never had the knowledge of God, but until now only worshipped idols and abominations – now there has lately been prepared a people of the Lord, and they are called children of God. The sons and daughters of the Irish chieftains are seen to become monks and virgins of Christ.

In especial there was one blessed lady of Irish birth, of noble rank, most beautiful, grown up, whom I baptized; and after a few days she came to us for a certain cause. She disclosed to us that she had been warned by an angel of God, and that he counselled her to become a virgin of Christ, and live closer to God. Thanks be to God, six days after, most admirably and eagerly she seized on that which all virgins of God do in like manner; not with the consent of their fathers; but they endure persecutions and lying reproaches from their kindred; and nevertheless their number increases more and more. And as for those of our race who are born there, we know not the number of them, besides widows and continent persons.[324]

That this laid the basis for a subsequent massive conversion of ordinary folk is clear from Patrick’s reference to having personally baptized ‘many thousands’: wherefore it was exceedingly necessary that we should spread our nets so that a great multitude and a throng should be taken for God, and that everywhere there should be (ordained) clergy to baptize and to exhort a poor and needy people.[325]

It should not be thought, however, that from then on everything was plain sailing. Time and time again Patrick’s life was in danger from various quarters, principally from his mortal enemies the Druids; that he managed to survive them all was due to his own shrewdness and, on more than one occasion, to the special intervention of divine Providence.

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