The Most Ancient Lives of Saint Patrick: Including the Life by Jocelin, Hitherto Unpublished in America, and His Extant Writings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The Most Ancient Lives of Saint Patrick: Including the Life by Jocelin, Hitherto Unpublished in America, and His Extant Writings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?
In the place which is named Achadhfobhair Saint Patrick built and
endowed a church with fair possessions; and thereover he appointed and
consecrated a bishop, Sennachus, who for the innocency of his heart was
called a lamb of God. And he, being so consecrated, entreated of the
saint that with unceasing prayer he would labor with the Lord to shield
him in this his office from the commission of all sin; and furthermore
he suppliantly besought that the church over which he presided might
not be called by his name, as was in many places the custom among the
Irish people. And this did he to preserve his lowliness, and to avoid
vainglory, which is the fretting moth of all virtues. Then Saint
Patrick, understanding the worthiness of Sennachus and the simplicity
of his heart, promised unto him all his desire; and blessing him and
his flock, prophesied that thereout should proceed many holy and
eminent priests. And Sennachus, serving in exceeding holiness the Holy
One of all holies, and being renowned for his miracles and for his
virtues, entered at length into the heavenly sanctuary.
CHAPTER CXXXII.
_The Miracle which is worked for Certain Hewers of Wood._
And Saint Patrick in his journeying passed with his people through a
forest in Midernia, and he met therein certain slaves that were hewing
wood; and these men were under the yoke of a hard and cruel master,
named Tremeus; and they hewed the wood with blunt axes, nor had they
whetstones nor had they any other means whereon to sharpen them.
Wherefore their strength failed, their arms stiffened, and the flesh
fell from their hands, and the naked sinews were seen, and the
miserable men wished rather for death than for life. But when the man
of God beheld their misery, he compassionated them, and he touched
them, and he blessed their hands and their instruments. Then at the
touch and the word of his blessing, all their strength is restored,
their hands are healed, their instruments become sharpened, the hardest
oaks are hewed down without toil, even as the tenderest twigs; and in
these men did the miracle continue until the saint had wondrously
obtained for them their freedom.
CHAPTER CXXXIII.
_A Hone is divided by Saint Patrick, and the Oppressor is drowned._
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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