The Most Ancient Lives of Saint Patrick: Including the Life by Jocelin, Hitherto Unpublished in America, and His Extant Writings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The Most Ancient Lives of Saint Patrick: Including the Life by Jocelin, Hitherto Unpublished in America, and His Extant Writings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?
When the lamp of the daily light was extinguished in the shades of
nocturnal darkness, the man of God beheld in a vision of the night
angels measuring the form and the extent of the city which was to be
builded in that high place, and one of the angels enjoined him, that on
the morrow he should go unto the fountain near Ardmachia, which is now
called Tobar Patraic, that is, the Fountain of Patrick; and there he
should heal in the name of the Lord sixteen lepers, who were come
thither from many places to experience the mercy of the Lord, and to
receive his faith. And Patrick obeyed the voice of the angel; and
early in the morning he found those men, and by his preaching he
converted them unto the faith, and being converted, he baptized them in
that fountain, and when baptized, he purified them from the leprous
taint of either man. And this miracle when published abroad, was
accounted a fair presage and a present sanction of the future city.
And the angel, at the prayers of Patrick, removed far from thence an
exceeding huge stone which lay in the wayside, and which could not be
raised by the labor or the ingenuity of man; lest it should be an
hindrance to passengers approaching the city.
CHAPTER CLXV.
_Of the City of Ardmachia, and Twelve of its Citizens._
Then Patrick founded, according to the direction of the angels, a city,
fair in its site, its form, and its ambit, and when by the divine
assistance it was completed, he brought to dwell therein twelve
citizens, whom he had from all parts diligently and discreetly chosen:
and these he instructed in the Catholic doctrines of the Christian
faith. And he beautified the city with churches builded after a
becoming and spiritual fashion; and for the observance of divine
worship, for the government of souls, and for the instruction of the
Catholic flock, he appointed therein clerical persons; and he
instituted certain monasteries filled with monks, and others filled
with nuns, and placed them under the regulations of all possible
perfection. And in one of these monasteries was a certain brother, who
would not take either food or drink before the hour appointed by the
saint; and he perished of thirst; and Patrick beheld his soul ascending
into heaven, and placed among the martyrs. And in the convent of the
handmaidens of God, was a certain virgin, the daughter of a British
king, with nine other holy damsels, who had come with her unto Saint
Patrick, and of these, three in his presence went unto heaven. And in
this city placed he an archiepiscopal cathedral; and determined in his
mind that it should be the chief metropolis, and the mistress of all
Hibernia; and that this his purpose might remain fixed and by posterity
unaltered, he resolved to journey unto the apostolic seat, and confirm
it with authentic privileges.
CHAPTER CLXVI.
_At the Direction of the Angels Saint Patrick goeth unto Rome._
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
Reviews
Reviews
No reviews yet
Be the first to share your thoughts on this work.
Elsewhere in the archive
Join the Discussion
Join the discussion
Sign in to leave a comment or review.
Sign InorCreate an account