whose name was Victoricius, who carried a
great number of letters, and gave him one, in
the beginning whereof he read — The Voice
of the Irish People.  "And whilst I was
reading the letter," says the saint, "methought
I heard the voice of those who dwelt
beside the forest of Foclute, which is nigh
the western sea, and they exclaimed, ' We
beseech thee, holy youth, to come and walk
amongst us! '  And I was greatly touched in
heart and could read no further, and so I
awoke, and thanked God that after so long a
time he had approached them according to
their cry."  "And another night (whether
within me or beside me, I know not, God
knoweth), I heard most learned words, which
I could not understand, only this, at the end :
' He that gave his life for thee ;' and then
I awoke, rejoicing."

After these visions, though dissuaded by
parents and friends, he gave himself up to the
Church, and to study ; beginning under
his mother's uncle— St. Martin— Bishop of
Tours.  On being priested he received the
new name of Magonius, and studied in various
places on the continent.  From Italy he is
said to have visited the islands of the Tyrrhenian
sea, and to have received from the
hermit Justus, who dwelt in one of them, the
famous staff of Jesus.

In the year four hundred and thirty-one,
Pope Celestine sent Bishop Palladius on a
mission to preach to the Irish, amongst whom
Christianity had already taken some hold,
but Heathenism was still so dominant that
Palladius, after less than a year's sojourn,
found himself forced to fly to North Britain,
where he died soon after.  Then Pope Celestine,
considering the eminent piety, learning,
and other gifts of Magonius, resolved to
send him upon the Irish mission, and therefore
consecrated him bishop ; at the same
time re-baptising him with the honourable
name of Patricius, which carried its dignity
from the ancient times of Rome (meaning
Pater Civium, Father of the People), and was
afterwards given to kings of France.  In after
days— so much do conditions change— it came
to have a most vulgar sound, especially in the
diminutives of Pat and Paddy; but may,
perhaps, regain its pristine rank, since it is
now once more conjoined with the blood
royal.

In the year four hundred and thirty-two
— Bishop Patricius then forty-five years old —
landed on the coast of Wicklow; but, being
driven to the ship by the Pagan population, he
sailed northward to a bay in what is now
called the County of Down.  Here the lord of
the district hastened to attack the strangers
as pirates, but was arrested by the venerable
looks of the bishop, listened to his preaching,
and was baptised with all his family.  There
Patricius immediately established  his first
church, which was called, simply, Sahal Phadrig,
— Patrick's Barn— whence the parish of
Saul, in Down, derives its name.  When he
re-visited the scene of his youthful captivity, a
strange event occurred.  Two daughters of
his old master, after hearing him preach,
were baptised and became nuns; whereupon
Milcho, strongly attached to the ancient
traditions, and perceiving that his former
slave was now in authority as their successful
antagonist, made a great fire of the house and
goods, and consumed himself therein; the
news of which, coming to St. Patrick, caused
him to stand for three hours silent, and in
tears.

Having learned that the time was approaching
when King Leoqhaire would hold on Tara
Hill a great triennial convention of tributary
princes, nobles, and Druid priests, St. Patrick
resolved to come and preach to them, at all
hazards, knowing the importance of influencing
the great people of the country; so, on
Easter Eve, four hundred and thirty-three,
the next day being that appointed for
the opening of the convention, he raised
his tent on the north bank of the river
Boyne, and kindled a fire before it.  Now,
it was a penal act for any one to light a fire
in the province at the time of the convention
of Tara, until the king's bonfire had first indicated
the opening of the solemnities ; and
when St. Patrick's fire shone through the
vernal night, and was seen after by the court
and multitude encamped on Tara Hill, the
utmost astonishment prevailed among them,
and the Druids told the king that this fire
must be speedily extinguished, or else the
man who had kindled it, and his successors,
should rule Ireland for ever.  The king
instantly sent messengers to drag the culprit
to his presence, but when Patrick appeared
within the circle of the court, so noble
and venerable was his aspect, that Ere, son of
Dego, instantly rose and offered him his seat.
St. Patrick was permitted to preach, and
Ere and Dubtach, the poet laureate, were his
first converts, along with Fiech, a young poet
under the instruction of Dubtach, and who is
judged to be the author of a certain poem
extant in praise of the saint.  The queen and
others followed their example, and at last
the king himself.  It is on this occasion that
St. Patrick is said to have successfully used
the trefoil or shamrock, growing at his feet,
as an illustration of the doctrine of the Trinity ;
whence this herb came to be assigned
to the patron saint of Ireland, and raised
into a national emblem.  Soon after, he
preached at the Hill of Usneagh, a famous
seat of Druidism.

In his peregrinations, he founded several
churches and made many converts ; and having
been thirteen years in Ireland, he established
himself in Armagh (the High Place),
and on that hill founded a city and cathedral,
with monasteries, schools, and other religious
edifices.  In that place, chosen fourteen hundred
years ago by Saint Patrick, the cathedral,
several times re-edificated, stands firm at this
day, and his archiepiscopal successor retains the