The Most Ancient Lives of Saint Patrick: Including the Life by Jocelin, Hitherto Unpublished in America, and His Extant Writings
History
The Most Ancient Lives of Saint Patrick: Including the Life by Jocelin, Hitherto Unpublished in America, and His Extant Writings
Patrick, Saint, 373?-463?
And a certain prince who reigned in Humestia at the preaching of
Patrick believed, and, with all his people, was baptized. But when the
saint would have instructed him as to the general resurrection, he
could not easily bend thereto his faith, for in nowise could he believe
that the body which was once reduced into dust could ever be raised
again in the pristine state of its proper but improved nature. So when
the man of God, that he might reclaim him from his error, showed divers
testimonies of the Holy Writ, examples, signs, and miracles, he is said
to have thus replied; "If, by the virtue of Christ Jesus, thou shall
revive my grandfather, who has now been buried many days, then will I
believe in the resurrection of the dead which thou preachest." Then
the saint, being accompanied of the prince and all his people, went
unto the tomb, and signed it with the staff of Jesus; and he caused the
tomb to be opened, and, having prayed, to the admiration of all
present, and to the confirmation of the Catholic faith, he raised to
life the buried man. And he was of exceeding height and of terrible
countenance, yet much inferior to the aforementioned in his stature.
And him, relating the torments of hell, and devoutly asking baptism in
the name of Christ, did the saint baptize, and, when baptized, gave
unto his entreaty the Holy Eucharist; and placed him again, falling to
sleep, but sleeping in the Lord, in his former sepulchre. Then no one
of those present doubted of the resurrection of the dead, since it was
proved before their eyes by a testimony so credible, a miracle so
apparent. And this and the aforementioned miracle hath the saint
recorded in an epistle, addressed to a certain friend who dwelled in a
country beyond the sea, wherein, among other things, he sayeth: "The
Lord hath given unto me, though humble, the power of working miracles
among a barbarous people, such as are not recorded to have been worked
by the great apostles; inasmuch as in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ
I have raised from the dead bodies that have been buried for many
years; but, I beseech you, let no one believe that for these or the
like works I am to be at all equalled with the Apostles, or with any
perfect man, since I am humble and a sinner, and worthy only to be
despised." Now, let the hearer admire to what a point of perfection
this man had raised his mind, who, working so many and so great works,
yet thought so humbly of himself. And I truly admire in the saint his
extreme humility, beyond even his raising up of the dead.
CHAPTER LXXXIII.
_Of the Boy who was torn in pieces by Swine and restored unto Life._
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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