CHAPTER IV ST. PATRICK TO THE NORSE INVASIONS (A.D 432-795) SECTION I. CHRISTIANITY IN EUROPE The Romans. During those centuries in which the Gaels of Ireland, undisturbed by any intruder, were developing their political constitution, a great change had taken place in the fortunes of the other Celtic speakers of Europe. Their position was now very different from that which they held in those early days when they occupied Central and Western Europe, and dominated or absorbed large sections of the other Aryan peoples. The loss of their power was chiefly due to the spread of the dominion of the Romans. That Latin speaking people had steadily extended the sway of their City of Rome, at first under a Republic and afterwards under an Empire, until in the third century all the South and most of the West of Europe, as well as great territories in Asia and Africa, obeyed their rule. All the countries of Europe south of the Danube and west of the Rhine were subject to the Romans. East of the Rhine, in Central Europe, the "Celts " had also been supplanted in the cradle of their race. But there it was by Germanic tribes, descendants of the early Teutons (page 2) who had gradually extended southwards from the shores of the Baltic. The neighbouring island of Britain had early been invaded by the Romans. Before the close of the first century-that is about the time that Tuathal was founding the dynasty of Tara-they had permanently conquered the island as far north as the Rivers Forth and Clyde. It was only in the districts stretching along the western coast that the British retained their independence. The Roman occupation of Britain lasted for more than three centuries and a half. The "Provincials."-The countries which had thus been occupied by the Romans had become completely Latinised. They were parcelled out into provinces under Roman governors, and permanent colonies of Roman soldiers were established in numerous centres. The Latin language, laws and customs were introduced, and were everywhere adopted. The Celtic inhabitants of those great districts lost all the distinctive marks of race. They became, as their conquerors called them, Roman "Provincials." The only places in which remnants of the Celtic peoples remained distinct were Armorica-now Brittany on the Continent, and the districts of Cornwall, Wales, and Strathclyde the west coast of Britain. Ireland was the only Celtic-speaking country which remained completely free from Roman dominion. Spread of Christianity. For many years after the full development of their Empire, the Romans remained Pagan. The Christian religion, however, had steadily advanced, despite the most fearful persecutions, until it permeated all the Roman dominions. With the conversion of the Emperor Constantine (A.D. 312) it had become the official religion of the Empire, and soon it completely supplanted the old Paganism. Accepted and practised throughout all the Roman territories, Christianity now spread from the Caspian to the Irish Sea. The "Barbarians."-At the time of St. Patrick's mission, however, Christianity and the Roman Empire were alike threatened by serious dangers. These were caused by the incursions of the peoples whom the Romans called the "Barbarians." They were mostly tribes of Teutonic race, who, as we have just seen, were steadily advancing southward. Fierce and savage Pagans, they now hovered on the borders of the Empire, and threatened to overwhelm both religion and civilisation. Already the Goths had sacked Rome, and the Vandals had penetrated into the Spanish peninsula and Africa. Other German tribes were ready to move across the Danube and the Rhine. Some of them were taken into the pay of the Empire to defend it against their neighbours, as, for instance, the Franks, who were planted on the Rhine and Meuse. So serious was the situation, that the Roman legions had to be withdrawn from Britain (A.D. 411) in order to protect the heart of the Empire. It was when such perils menaced Christianity in Europe that St. Patrick carried its light into Ireland. “Druidism.”—The Gaels of Eire had by this time reached a high standard of culture-but they were still pagan. Of their religion before the introduction of Christianity we know but little. It does not seem to have been a connected system, and, possibly, as was remarked, in dealing with the mythology (Chap. I, Sec. III), it may have been a mixture of different tribal beliefs. It is now generally called "Druidism," because the religious ceremonies were conducted by "Druids." The Druid (Orao1), however, was not so much a priest as a teacher and magician. It is clear that the Pagan Irish worshipped the natural elements such as light, fire, water, etc., and their religious festivals coincided with the changes of the seasons. They believed in a future world, which was known by various names, such as Tír na n-Óg, From the Mersey to the Clyde. с Mag Mell, Ui Breasail,* etc., and they paid much attention to the cemeteries of their dead. Idols of stone were sometimes worshipped, as, for instance, Crom Cruach, which, together with twelve smaller idols, stood on Magh Sleacht (in the present Co. Cavan). There are only two references in all our literature to human sacrifices, and if such a custom ever prevailed it must have been in the most primitive times. Druidism was also practised amongst the Celts of Europe, as we learn from Latin writers, but there were many points of difference between the Continental and Irish forms. Early Irish Christianity.-For over three hundred years the Romans had been established so close to Ireland as almost to approach the opposite shores of the Irish Sea. For much longer they had occupied those parts of Europe which faced the southern coasts. During all that time, Christianity was known amongst the Romans: for a century it had been the official religion of their empire. The two races were in close contact, both in commercial intercourse and hostile warfare. Roman coins have been found in many places in Ireland; the raids of Irish Kings brought back many Christian captives from Britain and Gaul. It is only to be expected, therefore, that Christianity should be known to the Irish, and practised amongst them before the coming of St. Patrick. Some of the Irish saints, such as Ailbe of Emly, Declan of Ardmore, and others, are said to have been Christians when St. Patrick arrived, and to have submitted to him. But the number of Christians must have been small, and there was no organised Church. Shortly before the arrival of St. Patrick on his mission, Palladius was consecrated bishop by Pope Celestine, who sent him to "the Irish believing in Christ" (A.D. 430). He landed on the eastern coast, but his mission was not successful, and he soon retired, to die in Britain. SECTION II. ST. PATRICK AND HIS MISSION Birth and Captivity.-We know nothing certain as to either the place or the year of St. Patrick's birth. It probably took place in the year 387, either at Dumbarton in Britain or Boulogne in Gaul. His parents appear to have been "provincialised " Celts, his father holding a minor official position in the Roman administration or Civil Service. In baptism the future saint received the name of Succat. At the age of sixteen he was taken prisoner in one of the many raids of the "Scots," and was carried as a slave to Dal-riada,† the northern part of Ulaidh. There he spent six years of hardship and privation tending the sheep of *Tir na n-Og, Magh Mell, Ui Breasail. ↑ The northern half of County Antrim. his master, Milchu, on the slopes of Sliabh Mis (Slemish). At length he left his place of slavery-instructed, we are told, in a vision—and after travelling two hundred miles, got passage on board a ship which brought him to Gaul. Stay in Europe.-A period of no less than twenty-three years elapsed before St. Patrick returned to Ireland as its Apostle. Some even say that the interval extended over forty years. Of his life during that time, in an empire which was breaking up under the blows of Teuton and Celt, we know little. But most of it was spent in preparing for the great project which he had formed of carrying the light of Christianity to the island of his captivity. He maintained the knowledge of its language and customs which he had acquired in slavery. He prepared himself for his mission by earnest study first under St. Martin of Tours, then under St. Germanus of Auxerre, who ordained him priest, and afterwards at a famous monastery on the small island of Lerin in the Mediterranean. When news came of the death of Palladius, he was consecrated bishop, and with the apostolic blessing of Pope Celestine (who is said to have given him his name of Patrick or Patricius), he proceeded on his great mission for the conversion of Ireland, A.D. 432. First Landings (A.D. 432).-Reaching the shores of Ireland, Patrick coasted northwards, touching first at the mouth of the river Vartry and next at Holmpatrick, near Skerries. Then sailing into Loch Cuan (Strangford Lough), he landed on the coast of Dal-araidhe, or Southern Ulaidh. Here he celebrated his first Mass in Ireland in a barn at Saul (Saball, a barn), and converted Dichu, the chief of the district. An attempt to persuade his old master, Milchu, was, however, unsuccessful, the determined pagan chief destroying himself rather than be convinced by his former slave. Slane (A.D. 433).—Acting upon a policy which he pursued throughout his mission, Patrick now determined to carry his gospel to the greatest centre of authority in the island. This was Tara, where Laoghaire, the son of the great Niall, was now King. Sailing back along the coast, the apostle entered the mouth of the Boyne, and proceeded along the bank of that river until he came to Slane. Here on the northern bank rises a hill high enough to command the level country around. It was a spot surrounded by the great sites of Pagan tradition. A few miles down the valley was Brugh na Boinne, the dwelling place of the gods and the burial place of the Kings: inland was Taillte, where the festival instituted by the demi-god Lugh was still celebrated: beyond the river the plains of Meath rolled gently up to a smooth hill, which was Tara. On the summit of the Hill of Slane, St. Patrick boldly lighted the paschal *The modern County Down and part of Antrim. |