The Most Ancient Lives of Saint Patrick: Including the Life by Jocelin, Hitherto Unpublished in America, and His Extant Writings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The Most Ancient Lives of Saint Patrick: Including the Life by Jocelin, Hitherto Unpublished in America, and His Extant Writings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?
These miracles, then, which we have related, the Lord performed for
Patrick. Though one should attempt to recount them, he could not.
Nevertheless, they are but a few of many related in commemoration; for
there is no one who could remember them all. And there is no writer who
could write all the prodigies and miracles he wrought in the countries he
reached.
After the foundation, then, of numerous churches; after the consecration
of monasteries; after baptizing the men of Eriu; after great abstinence
and great labor; after destroying idols and images; after degrading
numerous kings who would not obey him, and raising up those who obeyed
him; and after he had three hundred and fifty or three hundred and
seventy bishops; and after ordaining three thousand priests and persons
of all other orders in the Church; after fasting and prayer; after
showing mercy and mildness; after gentleness and sweetness towards sons
of life; after the love of God and his neighbor, he received the body of
Christ from the bishop, from Tassach; and he afterwards resigned his
spirit to heaven. His body, lowever, is here on earth still, with honor
and reverence. And though great his honor here, his honor will be
greater in the Day of Judgment, when he will shine like a sun in heaven,
and when judgment will be given regarding the fruit of his teaching, like
Peter or Paul. He will be afterwards in the union of the patriarchs and
prophets; in the union of the saints and virgins of the world; in the
union of the apostles and disciples of Jesus Christ; in the union of the
Church, both of heaven and earth; in the union of the nine orders of
heaven, which cannot be surpassed; in the union of the divinity and
humanity of the Son of God; in the union which excels every union--in the
union of the Trinity, the Father, and the Son, and the Holy Ghost, for
ever and ever. Amen. I beseech the mercy of God, through the
intercession of Patrick. May we all reach that union; may we deserve it;
may we inhabit it for ever and ever.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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