Hymn of St. Patrick

The Holy Bishops and the Royal Daughters CHAPTER ONE

Divisions 1-25

The story of the holy bishops and the royal daughters (of king Loegaire). Recorded in the Book of Armagh, the story gives internal evidence of its antiquity and genuineness.

THE HOLY BISHOPS AND THE ROYAL DAUGHTERS

Yet thence went the holy Patrick to the spring which is called Clebach,

on the sides of Crochan, towards the rising of the sun,

before the rising of the sun,

and they sat beside the springs.

And behold two daughters of Loegaire,

Ethne the fair, and Fedelm the ruddy, [translated: _____ and _____ ]

went to the spring in the morning, after the custom of women, to wash,

and they found the holy synod of bishops with Patrick by the spring.

And they did not know from whence they were, or of what shape,

or of what people, or of what region.

Yet they thought that they were men of the side,

or of the terrestrial gods, or an apparition.

And the daughters said to them,

“Whence are ye, and whence have ye come? ”

And Patrick said to them,

“It were better that you would confess our true God than to inquire about our race. ”

10.

The first daughter said,

“Who is God?

11.

And where is God?

12.

And of what is God?

13.

And where is His dwelling-place?

14.

Has your God sons and daughters,

gold and silver?

15.

Is He ever-living?

16.

Is He beautiful?

17.

Have many fostered His Son?

18.

Are His daughters dear and beautiful to the men or the world?

19.

Is He in heaven or on earth?

20.

In the sea? In the rivers?

21.

In the mountains? in the valleys?

22.

Tell us how is He seen?

23.

How is He loved?

24.

How is He found?

25.

Is He in youth? or in age?

The Holy Bishops and the Royal Daughters CHAPTER ONE

Divisions 26-60

The story of the holy bishops and the royal daughters (of king Loegaire). Recorded in the Book of Armagh, the story gives internal evidence of its antiquity and genuineness.

THE HOLY BISHOPS AND THE ROYAL DAUGHTERS

26.

Yet holy Patrick, full of the Holy Spirit, answering, said—

27.

“Our God is the God of all men,

the God of heaven and earth,

of the sea, and of the rivers;

28.

the God of the sun and of the moon,

and of all the stars;

29.

the God of the lofty mountains and of the lowly valleys;

30.

the God over heaven and in heaven and under heaven.

31.

He has His dwelling towards heaven and earth, and the sea,

and all things which are in them.

32.

He inspires all things,

He gives life to all things,

33.

He surpasses all things,

He supports all things.

34.

He kindles the light of the sun,

He strengthens the light of the moon at night for watches;

35.

and He made springs in the and land,

and dry islands in the sea;

and the stars He placed to minister to the greater lights.

36.

He has a Son co-eternal with Himself and like unto Himself.

37.

The Son is not younger than the Father,

nor is the Father older than the Son. [? ]

38.

The Father, Son, and Holy Spirit are not separated.

39.

I truly desire to unite you to the heavenly king,

since ye are daughters of an earthly king.

40.

Believe concerning Him. ”

41.

And the daughters said with one voice and heart,

42.

“How can we believe on the Heavenly King?

43.

Teach us most diligently,

so that we may see Him face to face.

44.

Point out to us,

and we will do whatsoever thou shalt say to us. ”

45.

And Patrick said:

‘Do you believe that the sin of your father and mother is taken away by baptism? ”

46.

They replied:

“We do believe it. ”

47.

Then said Patrick,

“Do you believe that there is repentance after sin? ”

48.

And the daughters said,

“We do believe it. ”

49.

Patrick said,

“Do you believe that there is a life after death?

50.

Do you believe in the resurrection in the day of judgment? ”

51.

The daughters said,

“We do believe it. ”

52.

Patrick said,

“Do you believe in the unity of the Church? ”

53.

The daughters

“We do believe it. ”

54.

And they were baptized,

and Patrick placed a white garment on their heads.

55.

And they begged to see the face of Christ.

And the saint said to them:

“You cannot see the face of Christ,

unless you shall receive the [sacraments]. ”

56.

And they replied:

“Give to us the [sacrament], that we may see the Son our spouse. ”

57.

And they received the Eucharist of God,

and they [praised God with singing].

58.

And they placed them in [a house, with] a bed covered with a mantle, [bridal chamber]

and their friends made [singing] and a great [fast].

59.

And the days of the [fast] for the daughters of the king were ended,

and they [married] them by the spring Clebach,

60.

and they made a round [table] in the likeness of [a altar],

because so the Scotic men and Gentiles used to do.

The last few lines of the story vary.

St. Patrick's Vision of Ireland CHAPTER ONE

Divisions 1-35

The following account of our saint’s vision concerning the future of Ireland is given in Life of St. Patrick, chapter 175.

PATRICK'S VISION OF IRELAND

[ ]

And the man of God was anxiously desiring, and earnestly praying,

that he might be certified of the present and future state of Hibernia,

to the end that he might know with what devotion of faith he was burning,

and also the value of his labor in the sight of God.

Then the Lord heard the desire of his heart

and manifested that which he sought for unto him by an evident revelation.

For while he was engaged in prayer,

and the heart of his mind was opened,

he beheld the whole island to be as it were a flaming fire ascending unto heaven,

and he heard the Angel of God saying unto him,

“Such at this time is Hibernia in the sight of the Lord. ”

And after a little space he beheld in all parts of the island

cone-like mountains of fire stretching unto the skies. Aurora Borealis

And again, after a little space, he beheld as it were candlesticks burning,

and after a while darkness intervened;

10.

and then he beheld scanty lights, and at length he beheld coals lying hidden here and there,

as reduced unto ashes, yet appearing still burning.

11.

And the Angel added:

“What thou seest here shown in different states are the Irish nations. ”

12.

Then the saint, weeping exceedingly, repeated Often the words of the Psalmist, saying:

13.

“Will God cast off for ever, and will He be no more entreated?

14.

Shall His mercy come to an end from generation to generation?

15.

Shall God forget to be merciful,

and shut up His mercy in His displeasure? ”

16.

And the Angel said,

“Look towards the northern side,

and on the right hand of an height shalt thou behold the darkness

dispersed from the face of the light which thenceforth will arise. ”

17.

Then the saint raised his eyes, and behold,

he at first saw a small light arising in Ulidia, that struggled a long time with the darkness,

and at length dispersed it, and illumined with its rays the whole island.

18.

Nor ceased the light to increase and to prevail,

even until it had restored to its former fiery state all Hibernia.

19.

Then was the heart of St. Patrick filled with joy, and his tongue with exultation,

giving thanks for all these things which had been shown unto him by grace.

20.

And he understood in the greatness of this fiery ardor of the Christian faith,

the devotion and zeal for religion wherewith those islanders burned.

21.

By the fiery mountains he understood the saints,

illustrious by miracles and words and by their examples.

22.

By the diminution of the light, the decrease of holiness.

23.

By the darkness that covered the land, the infidelity prevailing therein.

24.

By the intervals of delay, the distances of the succeeding times.

25.

Yet the people think the period of darkness was that in which Gurmundus and Turgesius,

heathen Norwegian princes, conquered and ruled in Hibernia.

26.

For in those days the saints, like coals covered with ashes,

lay hidden in caves and dens from the face of the wicked,

who pursued them all the day like sheep for the slaughter.

27.

Whence it happened that differing rites and new sacraments,

which were contrary to the ecclesiastical institutions,

were introduced into the Church and by prelates of the Holy Church ignorant of the Divine law.

28.

Yet the light arising first from the northern part,

and after long conflict exterminating the darkness,

those born in Hibernia assert to be St. Malachy,

29.

who presided first in the Church at Dunum (Down),

afterward in the metropolis, Ardmachia (Armagh),

and reduced the island unto the Christian law.

30.

On the other hand, the people of Britain ascribe this light to their coming,

31.

for that then the Church seemed under their rule to be advanced unto a better state;

32.

and that then religion seemed to be planted and propagated,

33.

and the sacraments of the Church,

and the institutions of the Christian law,

to be observed with more regular observance.

34.

Yet I do not pretend to decide of this contention, neither do I solve it,

35.

yet I think that the discussion and the decision thereof should be left to the Divine Judgment.

A translation of this work into English, rather free in many places, yet sufficiently close to give a good idea of the original, appeared in 1809—namely, The Life and Acts of St. Patrick, the Archbishop, Primate, and Apostle of Ireland, now first translated from the original Latin of Jocelin, the Cistercian Monk of Fumes, who flourished in the early part of the twelfth century.

The Last Confessions of Saint Partick CHAPTER ONE

Divisions 1-35

First published in 189. The elder saint, now nearing 90 years old, essentially preaches about immoral behaviours to avoid. Also dubbed the Confession of Tours.

LAST CONFESSIONS OF ST. PATRICK

[0. ]

(Here) begins the confession of Saint Patrick, Bishop.

God, my God, onmipotent King,

I humbly adore Thee.

Thou art King of kings, Lord of lords,

Thou art the Judge of every age.

Thou art the Redeemer of souls.

Thou art the Liberator of those who believe.

Thou art the Hope of those who toil.

Thou art the Comforter of those in sorrow.

Thou art the Way to those who wander.

Thou art Master to the nations.

10.

Thou art the Creator of all creatures.

11.

Thou art the Lover of all good.

12.

Thou art the Prince of all virtues.

13.

Thou art the joy of all Thy saints.

14.

Thou art life perpetual.

15.

Thou art joy in truth.

16.

Thou art the exultation in the eternal fatherland.

17.

Thou art the Light of light.

18.

Thou art the Fountain of holiness.

19.

Thou art the glory of God the Father in the height.

20.

Thou art Savior of the world.

21.

Thou art the plenitude of the Holy Spirit.

22.

Thou sittest at the right hand of God the Father on the throne, reigning for ever.

23.

I seek for forgiveness of my sins, O my God, Jesus Christ.

24.

Thou art He who desirest no one to perish,

“yet will have all men saved,

and to come to the knowledge of the truth. ”

25.

Thou, O God, with Thy holy and chaste mouth hast said:

In whatever day the sinner may be converted “living he shall live, and shall not die. ”

26.

I will return to Thee, O God,

and with all my heart will cry to Thee, my God,

and to Thee now I desire to confess my sins.

27.

My transgressions are multiplied above me,

because my sins have no number before Thine eyes.

28.

O Lord, I appear (and stand before Thee) a witness accused by conscience.

29.

I dare not ask what I do not deserve to obtain.

30.

For Thou knowest, Lord, all things which are done in us,

and we blush to confess what by ourselves we do not fear to commit.

31.

In words alone we obey Thee, in heart we lie.

32.

And what we do not say we desire we approve of by our acts.

33.

Spare, Lord, those confessing, pardon those sinning.

34.

Pity those asking Thee, for in Thy mysteries my perception is weak.

35.

Show, Lord,

--Thou who dost not receive prayers from us with hard heart--

that through Thee Thou mayest bestow pardon on us,

O Jesus Christ our Lord.

The Last Confessions of Saint Partick CHAPTER TWO

Divisions 36-60

LAST CONFESSIONS OF ST. PATRICK

36.

I will confess to Thee, my God,

because I have sinned in heaven and in earth,

37.

and before Thee,

and before Thy angels,

and before the face of all Thy saints.

38.

I have sinned by negligence of Thy commands and of my deeds.

39.

I have sinned by pride and by envy.

40.

I have sinned by detraction and by avarice.

41.

I have sinned by luxury and by malice.

42.

I have sinned by fornication and by gluttony.

43.

I have sinned by false testimony and by hatred of men.

44.

I have sinned by theft and by robbery.

45.

I have sinned by blasphemy and by the desire of the flesh.

46.

I have sinned by drunkenness and by hateful tales.

47.

I have sinned by contentions and by quarrelling.

48.

I have sinned by swearing and anger.

49.

I have sinned by earthly and transitory joy.

50.

I have sinned by fear and by the weakness of my mind.

51.

I have sinned by deceit and by murmuring.

52.

I have sinned by the instability of faith of mind,

and by the impiety of doubt.

53.

I have sinned by unmercifulness and by despising of men.

54.

I have sinned by corrupt and wicked works and judgments.

55.

I have sinned by negligence and by forgetfulness of the works of God.

56.

I have sinned by wandering and subtlety of my mind.

57.

I have sinned by impatience and by imperfection of hope.

58.

I have sinned by hardness and by blindness of heart and mind.

59.

I have sinned by forgetfulness of the love of God and of my neighbor.

60.

I have sinned by disobedience and by the loss of good ordinances.

The Last Confessions of Saint Partick CHAPTER THREE

Divisions 61-85

LAST CONFESSIONS OF ST. PATRICK

61.

I have sinned by the loss of heavenly desires and by the love of earthly things.

62.

I have sinned by inclinations to evil, and by deceitful arguments.

63.

I have sinned by evil examples, and by the uncleanness of humanity.

64.

I have sinned by vain melancholy, and by stupor of mind.

65.

I have sinned by feigned humility, and loss of the love of God.

66.

I have sinned by cursing, and by divinations.

67.

I have sinned by the non-accomplishment of my vows

and by wicked inventions.

68.

I have sinned by [over-] investigation of the majesty of God, and of heavenly life.

69.

I have sinned by pomps of the body,

and by canvassing for the layouts of men.

70.

I have sinned by the intemperance of mirth and madness.

71.

I have sinned by laziness and indolence of mind.

72.

I have sinned by counsels of iniquity, and by returning of evil.

73.

I have sinned by concupiscence and by perpetration of lust.

74.

I have sinned by consent to, and by knowledge of, evil acts and words.

75.

I have sinned by works upon the Lord’s day and by illuring imaginations.

76.

I have sinned by sorrow of the world,

and by love of money, and by ambitions after honors.

77.

I have sinned by restlessness and by bitterness of mind.

78.

I have sinned by useless joy, and by scurrility, [insults]

by grievous words, and by intemperance of clamor.

79.

I have sinned by desperation, and by impurity of confession.

80.

I have sinned by imperfection, and negligence of amendment.

81.

I have sinned by presumption and despair.

82.

I have sinned by acceptance of unjust gifts and by the punishments of impious acts.

83.

I have sinned by pretense, and by pleasing of myself.

84.

I have sinned by silence concerning righteousness, and iniquity, and flattery.

85.

I have sinned by rioting and by taking of polluted God, [? ]

and by suggestions of the devil,

The Last Confessions of Saint Partick CHAPTER FOUR

Divisions 86-115

LAST CONFESSIONS OF ST. PATRICK

86.

and by the delight of the spirit,

and by knowledge of the flesh,

I have sinned in my eyes and in my ears.

87.

I have sinned in my hands, and in my mouth,

and in my lips, and in all my deeds.

88.

I have sinned in tongue and in throat.

89.

I have sinned in neck and in breast.

90.

I have sinned in heart and in cogitations.

91.

I have sinned in mind and in operations.

92.

I have sinned in hands and in feet.

93.

I have sinned in bones and in flesh.

94.

I have sinned in marrow and in veins.

95.

I have sinned in my mind and in my whole body.

96.

If now Thy vengeance will be upon me as great as my sins have been multiplied in myself;

how shall I sustain Thy judgment?

97.

Yet I have Thee as the High Priest to whom I confess all my sins.

98.

I do that to Thee alone, my God,

because “I have sinned against Thee alone,

and done evil before Thee. ”

99.

And because Thou art, O God, alone without sin,

I beseech Thee, O Lord my God,

100.

by Thy passion,

and by the sign of Thy salvation-bringing cross,

101.

and by the shedding of Thy blood,

in order that Thou mayest grant to me remission of all my sins.

102.

I beg Thee, my Lord Jesus Christ,

that Thou wilt not render to me according to my deserving,

yet according to Thy great compassion.

103.

Judge me, O Lord, according to the judgment of Thy indulgence.

104.

I beg Thee and I adjure Thee, O my God omnipotent,

that Thou mayest plant in me Thy love and fear.

105.

Awake in me repentance of my sins,

and sorrow,

for Thy name’s sake.

106.

Give to me the remembrance of Thy commands,

and assist me, O my God,

107.

blot out my iniquity from Thy sight,

and turn not away Thy face from my prayer.

108.

“Cast me not out from Thy presence. ”

109.

Leave me not, my God, neither depart from me,

yet confirm me in Thy will.

110.

Teach me what I ought not to do,

and what to do,

112.

and what to speak,

and what to keep silent.

113.

Defend me, O Lord my God, against the darts of the devil,

and against the angel of hell suggesting and teaching many evil things.

114.

Do not desert me, O Lord my God, nor leave Thy miserable servant,

yet assist me, my God, and perform in me Thy teaching.

115.

Teach me to do Thy will,

because Thou art my teacher and my God,

who reignest for ever and ever.

Amen

Hymn of St. Patrick

A Latin hymn in honor of St. Patrick. It is interesting, as showing that the author of this very ancient poem was aware of St. Patrick’s having been born in Britain, and that he was sent by God to Ireland. Note that no mention is made of any commission received from the Bishop of Rome.

HYMN OF ST. PATRICK

[0. ]

Here begins the hymn (in honor) of Saint Patrick.

“Lo! there shines the most illustrious celebration of St. Patrick!

On which he, happy, having laid aside the flesh, passed beyond the stars.

Who, full of Divine grace, even from boyhood,

began to love the life of angelic dignity.

He was born in Britain of a noble family,

and having received baptism, he strove to aim at high things.

Yet the Lord, conscious of the future, merciful, and ruler,

directed this apostle to the people of Ireland.

For this island was fruitful in the good things of the earth,

yet by its idolatrous worship it was sinking to the lowest.

The illustrious doctor, Patrick, coming to this island,

preached to the Gentiles that which he kept by his works.

The nation flocked to his holy admonitions,

and, rejecting the Devil, worshipped the King of all.

And he rejoiced to return himself to a free country,

from whence the guile of the serpent had been formerly expelled.

10.

Wherefore, dearly beloved, in praise of this leader,

Let us sing to Christ in alternate songs with hearts and voices.

11.

That, freed by his prayers from vice,

We may enjoy the angelic vision in glory.

12.

Praise be to the Father, and the Son, with the Spirit the Comforter,

Who with the gift of his grace pitied Ireland.

Amen

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