Of Demons and Druids,
Slavers and Saints
The Real Saint Patrick
t’s a tale straight from the Dark
Ages, of demons and Druids, slavers and Saints. But if Ireland has any claim to be the ‘Island of Saints & Scholars,’ it is undoubtedly due to the work of a late Roman Briton.
But who was the real St. Patrick, and how did he become the unlikely Apostle of Ireland? We actually have two documents from Patrick’s own hand, his ‘Confessio’ and his ‘Letter to Coroticus,’ from which we can glean his story.
Son of a Roman Officer
Patrick was born in the west of England in 385 to Calphurnius, a Roman cavalry officer in command of a squadron. His mother, Conchessa, was a close relative of St. Martin of Tours. Interestingly, Patrick was raised with neither a strong Faith nor a serious education. (Patrick says in his Confessio, "I blush and fear exceedingly to reveal my lack of education.")
At age 16, Patrick was captured by Irish slavers. They brought him to Dalriada and set him to work as a shepherd; his master, Milchu, was a high priest of Druidism.
During his six years of bitter captivity, he prayed constantly (see ‘St Patrick’s Breastplate’). In a vision, he saw the children of pagan Ireland reaching out their hands to him. In a dream, a voice emboldened him to escape home to England.
Patrick Escapes Slavery
Patrick stowed away on a ship and after three days of sailing, he and the crew were abandoned on the coast of France. They wandered through the French countryside for 28 days. Finally, he was reunited with his family in England, where he announced his intention insisted to study for the priesthood. He entered under the guidance of the intellectual St Germanus of Auxerre, determined to convert Ireland to Christianity.
In 431, Pope St. Celestine I consecrated Patrick Bishop of the Irish, and sent him to Ireland to spread the Gospel. He was initially met with hostile resistance, which he famously overcame by his defiant lighting of a dramatic Easter fire on the Hill of Slane.
By Beverly Stevens
I
REGINA | 154