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Ireland has
a very distinctive history. It was an island untouched by the
Roman legions, and Patrick, the Evangelist, brought to it the
Gospel of grace . Patrick was himself descended
from a family that had been, for two generations at least, in
Christ Jesus. His father, he tells us was "the deacon Calpurnius,
son of the late Potitus, a presbyter, of the settlement of
Bannaven Taburniae."
[1] These facts are recorded in
Patrick's own testimony of faith. This authentic document is
preserved in five manuscripts: one in the Book of Armagh
of the seventh century, the second in the Cotton Library of
the tenth century, a third in the French monastery of St.
Vedastus, and two more in the Cathedral Library of Salisbury.
This authenticated document is the main source of both the
person and the mission of Patrick, and also his clear statement
of the Gospel of grace.
Patrick was
born in the year 373
[2] in a town on the River Clyde in
Roman Britain, now a part of Scotland. When he was sixteen years
old, Patrick was captured by a band of pirates who sold him to a
chieftain in what is now county Antrim in Northern Ireland. For
six years he tended flocks. In his testimony he tells us, "I was
taken captive before I knew what I should desire and what I
should shun."
[3] It was during the time of his
captivity that he turned from his careless ways and came to a
saving knowledge of Christ Jesus. He was convicted that he was a
sinner. In his own words,
"before I
was humbled I was like a stone lying in deep mire, and He that
is mighty came and in His mercy raised me up and, indeed, lifted
me high up and placed me on top of the wall. And from there I
ought to shout out in gratitude to the Lord for His great
favours in this world and for ever, that the mind of man cannot
measure."
[4]
Patrick,
like so many of the godly men of history, found God's favor in
the riches of the grace of Christ. This was the theme echoing
throughout the testimony of Patrick, in his own words "I am
greatly God's debtor, because he granted me so much grace."
[5] He then grew in the grace of God.
Having believed on "the only begotten of the Father, full of
grace and truth,"
[6] he directly received
"of his fullness.grace for grace."
[7] In his own words,
"More and
more did the love of God, and my fear of Him and faith increase,
and my spirit was moved so that in a day [I said] from one up to
a hundred prayers, and in the night a like number; besides I
used to stay out in the forests and on the mountain and I would
wake up before daylight to pray in the snow, in icy coldness, in
rain, and I used to feel neither ill nor any slothfulness,
because, as I now see, the Spirit was burning in me at that
time."
[8]
Patrick
relates how, after six years, he escaped and after a difficult
journey on land and sea returned to his people in Scotland. In
his own words, "I was again in Britain with my family
[kinsfolk], and they welcomed me as a son, and asked me, in
faith, that after the great tribulations I had endured I should
not go any where else away from them."
[9]
Like the Apostle
Paul, he received a clear and personal call from the Lord to
preach the Gospel in the land of his former captivity. He
described his call in these words,
"I saw a man
whose name was Victoricus coming as if from Ireland with
innumerable letters, and he gave me one of them, and I read the
beginning of the letter: 'The Voice of the Irish', and as I was
reading the beginning of the letter I seemed at that moment to
hear the voice of those who were beside the forest of Foclut
which is near the western sea, and they were crying as if with
one voice: 'We beg you, holy youth, that you shall come and
shall walk again among us.' And I was stung intensely in my
heart so that I could read no more, and thus I awoke. Thanks be
to God, because after so many years the Lord bestowed on them
according to their cry"
[10]
He speaks of
being called again in dream another night, but makes it clear
how he interpreted what was happening by the Scriptures. He
wrote, "'Likewise the Spirit helps us in our weakness; for
we know not how to pray as we ought. But the Spirit Himself
intercedes for us with sighs too deep for utterance. '" And
again, "'The Lord our advocate intercedes for us.'" Thus,
Patrick relies on Scripture to understand his experience and to
see that it was the Lord Himself who was calling him. In his own
words, "'He who gave his life for you, He it is who speaks
within you.'"
[11] He understood that Christ Jesus,
who had died for his sins, was the One who was calling him to
work as an evangelist in the very island where he had been held
captive.
A second
historical document from Patrick's own hand is his letter to
Coroticus. In it he explains his assignment from God to a
foreign nation for the glory of eternal life that is in Christ
Jesus. His own words are the following, "Thus I am a servant in
Christ to a foreign nation for the unspeakable glory of life
everlasting which is in Christ Jesus our Lord."
[12] This is a major factor in
understanding Patrick. He knew himself as a sinner and found
salvation where only sinners find it, " in Christ Jesus our
Lord. "
[13] The first words of his testimony
read, "I, Patrick, a sinner, a most simple countryman, the least
of all the faithful and most contemptible to many." Likewise, in
the beginning of his letter to Coroticus he states, "I, Patrick,
a sinner, unlearned, resident in Ireland". Quite clearly Patrick
saw himself as a sinner. He did not look to some spark of life
from within himself or to some ritual; rather, he looked unto
Christ Jesus. Patrick's words, "unspeakable glory of life
everlasting which is in Christ Jesus our Lord" shows his
distinct and personal comfort and courage in Christ. Totally
unlike religion that looks to rituals, Patrick had his eyes set
on the Lord. Catholicism now, and to some extent even in
Patrick's time, looks to sacraments as necessary for salvation.
[14] Patrick saw himself only as a
sinner saved by grace in Christ Jesus. Patrick's message is that
salvation is totally in Christ alone--a message utterly diverse
from that of Roman Catholicism then and now.
Patrick, the Christian Evangelist, being about 30 years
old and together with some brothers in the Lord, set out for
Ireland. He arrived in or about the year 405. This fact of
history is authentic and verified. For example, Marcus, an Irish
Bishop, who lived at the beginning of the ninth century, states
that Patrick came to Ireland in the year 405 AD and Nennius, who
lived about the same time, repeats the statement.
[15] This date is of great importance
because many centuries later there was an attempt made to
confuse Patrick with Palladius, who had been sent out by Pope
Celestine as a missionary to Ireland. When news of Patrick's
Christian success had reached Rome, Pope Celestine then sent
Palladius as a bishop to bring the churches under the control of
the Papacy. It was in 432, at least 27 years after Patrick's
commission from God, that Palladius from Rome came on the scene.
When Palladius did come to Ireland, it was to an Ireland that
had many Christian churches and that did not accept his message
of subservience to the Bishop of Rome. In actual fact, Palladius
was greatly discouraged by his lack of success. To quote from
the historian Philip Schaff, "Palladius was so discouraged that
he soon abandoned the field, with his assistants, for north
Britain, where he died among the Picts.
The Roman mission of Palladius failed; the independent
mission of Patrick succeeded . He is the true
Apostle of Ireland, and has impressed his memory in indelible
characters upon the Irish race at home and abroad."
[16] d's Grace over the Course of 60
Yearork of Patrick and his associates in Ireland was extremely
difficult. He came up against the old pagan religion of the
Druids. The people believed in the Druids as pagan priests who
mediated for them in the things of the spirit. When Patrick
preached Christ Jesus in his own words he said,
Patrick, the Christian Evangelist, being about 30 years old and
together with some brothers in the Lord, set out for Ireland. He
arrived in or about the year 405. This fact of history is
authentic and verified. For example, Marcus, an Irish Bishop,
who lived at the beginning of the ninth century, states that
Patrick came to Ireland in the year 405 AD and Nennius, who
lived about the same time, repeats the statement.
[15] This date is of great importance
because many centuries later there was an attempt made to
confuse Patrick with Palladius, who had been sent out by Pope
Celestine as a missionary to Ireland. When news of Patrick's
Christian success had reached Rome, Pope Celestine then sent
Palladius as a bishop to bring the churches under the control of
the Papacy. It was in 432, at least 27 years after Patrick's
commission from God, that Palladius from Rome came on the scene.
When Palladius did come to Ireland, it was to an Ireland that
had many Christian churches and that did not accept his message
of subservience to the Bishop of Rome. In actual fact, Palladius
was greatly discouraged by his lack of success. To quote from
the historian Philip Schaff, "Palladius was so discouraged that
he soon abandoned the field, with his assistants, for north
Britain, where he died among the Picts..The Roman mission of
Palladius failed; the independent mission of Patrick succeeded
. He is the true Apostle of Ireland, and has
impressed his memory in indelible characters upon the Irish race
at home and abroad."
[16]
The work of
Patrick and his associates in Ireland was extremely difficult.
He came up against the old pagan religion of the Druids. The
people believed in the Druids as pagan priests who mediated for
them in the things of the spirit. When Patrick preached Christ
Jesus in his own words he said,
"I am
greatly God's debtor, because he granted me so much grace, that
through me many people would be reborn in God, and soon after
confirmed, that clergy would be ordained everywhere for them,
and the masses lately come to belief, whom the Lord drew from
the ends of the earth. As He once promised through His prophets:
'To you shall the nations come from the ends of the earth, and
shall say, Our fathers have inherited naught but lies, worthless
things in which there is no profit.' And again, 'I have set
you to be a light for the Gentiles that you may bring salvation
to the uttermost ends of the earth.' And I wish to wait
then for His promise which is never unfulfilled, just as it is
promised in the Gospel."
[17]
He wrote of
baptizing many thousands of believers after they had professed
faith.
[18]
He also wrote
about anxious journeys, difficulties, and disappointments. He
combated the powers of darkness in the priesthood of the Druids.
He relied on Christ Jesus and the glorious Holy Spirit given to
convict people of sin, of righteousness, and of judgment. He
understood grace to be entirely from God when he declared,
"I, alone,
can do nothing unless He Himself vouchsafes it to me. But let
Him search my heart and [my] nature, for I crave enough for it,
even too much, and I am ready for Him to grant me that I drink
of His chalice, as He has granted to others who love him.
Therefore may it never befall me to be separated by my God from
His people whom He has won in this most remote land. I pray God
that He gives me perseverance, and that He will deign that I
should be a faithful witness for His sake right up to the time
of my passing."
[19]
Over the course of
60 years, Patrick went the length and breadth of Ireland
preaching the Gospel and, like Timothy and Titus before him, he
ordained elders and established churches. It is reckoned that at
the end of his days there were 365 churches across the island.
These were established, as were the churches in Biblical times,
with the people served by a pastor or elder. The authority of
the pastor was one of service, rather than lording it over the
people. I t was like that which was established in the pages of
Scripture. Likewise, the monasteries set up by Patrick, were
totally unlike the monasteries that were established under the
Church of Rome. These monasteries were quite like those of the
Vaudois and other early Christian churches of northern Italy and
southern France, whereby men came aside for some years to be
trained in the Scriptures and to learn how to evangelize and to
bring the Gospel to others. Later in their lives these men
married and had families. These men were not forsaking the world
for some retreat of inner holiness; rather, they were men who
saw light and life in Christ Jesus and wished to evangelize
others with the true Gospel. Because of these monasteries and
the churches that Patrick founded in Ireland, Ireland became
known as the "Isle of Saints and Scholars".
The clarity
of the Gospel message cherished by Patrick and those who worked
with him was to live on for many years after him. There were
many famous missionaries like Patrick such as Columba and his
companions who set out for Scotland in 563. Then there was
Columbanus with his companions that went to evangelize France
and Germany in 612. Kilian and the brothers that accompanied him
went as missionaries to Franconia and Wurzburg in 680. Forannan
and twelve brothers with him set out to bring the Gospel to the
Belgian frontier in 970.
[20]
For more than six
hundred years, Irish missionaries carried the Gospel with the
same truthfulness as Patrick's to Britain, Germany, France,
Switzerland, Italy and beyond. Darkness covered Europe in the
ninth and tenth centuries. The Dark Ages had begun and the Roman
Church, having gained rulership through intrigue and
persecution, now held most of Europe in her iron grip. Even so,
in those dark centuries, the Irish missionaries continued to
spread the true Gospel, seed which for centuries to come would
bear much good fruit all across Europe.
With the
coming of the Danes in the ninth century, however, the Celtic
Church in Ireland began to lose its Biblical clarity. Further,
Papal Rome began to unleash military power to bring Ireland
under her control. This began with the decree of Pope Adrian IV
issued to King Henry II of England in 1155. The Pope authorized
the invasion of Ireland and sent the king a ring of investiture
as Lord of Ireland, calling upon the monarch to, "to extirpate
the vices that have there taken root, [in Ireland]. saving to
St. Peter and the holy Roman Church the annual pension of one
penny from each house."
[21]
King Henry carried
out the designs of the Papacy in 1171 and with a strong military
force subdued the whole Irish nation. He received from every
Archbishop and Bishop, at the Synod of Cashel in 1172 charters
whereby they confirmed the Kingdom of Ireland to him and his
heirs. The King sent a transcript of these charters to Pope
Alexander III, who, according to the letters of the Archbishops
and Bishops, was extremely gratified by the extension of his
dominion, and in 1172 issued a bull confirming the Papal decree
of Pope Adrian. Further rulings were sent from Rome to Henry II
and to the princes and nobles of Ireland, and to the bishops of
Ireland to establish the hierarchy over the people and pastors
and enjoin obedience of both Ireland and England to the Papal
throne.
The heartbeat and
the soul of Patrick was the Gospel of Christ. He wrote in his
testimony,
"I am
imperfect in many things, nevertheless, I want my brethren and
kinsfolk to know my nature so that they may be able to perceive
my soul's desire. I am not ignorant of what is said of my Lord
in the Psalm: 'You destroy those who speak a lie and a lying
mouth deals death to the soul.' Likewise the Lord says in the
Gospel, 'In the day of judgment, men shall render an account for
every idle word they utter'' So it is that I should fear
mightily, with terror and trembling, this judgment on the day
when no one shall be able to steal away or hide, but each one
shall render account for even our smallest sins before the
judgment seat of Christ."
[22]
These words
of Patrick are as a prophetic trumpet of the Lord. It is most
serious to steal the legacy from the people of the nation,
particularly when that heritage was life and light in Christ
Jesus! Many Irish have grown up engrossed in the rites and
rituals of Roman Catholicism. Many of us, turning from those
dead things and having drunk deeply of the Biblical grace of God
that is in Christ Jesus, now want to stand on Patrick's words, "
no one shall be able to steal away or hide, but each one shall
render account for even our smallest sins before the judgment
seat of Christ." To publish abroad the Gospel of God's chosen in
Christ "before the foundation of the world"
[23] is our longing now, as it was
Patrick's then. The wonder of Patrick's life was simply God's
grace in Christ Jesus. The divine call to the true Gospel went
forth from Ireland for more than 600 years. Just as Patrick
expected the power of God's grace to overcome the priesthood of
the Druids, we now stand for the same Biblical Gospel that he
preached to evangelize even those in the Catholic priesthood and
hierarchy. The battle is the Lord's and the victory will be His.
" Fear not, little flock; for it is your Father's good
pleasure to give you the kingdom ."
[24] In the legacy of Patrick, we pray
Christ words, "Father, I will that they also, whom thou hast
given me, be with me where I am."
[25] The frightening words of the Lord
ring in the ears of those who spend their lives in man-made
religion, "Not every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord,
shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the
will of my Father which is in heaven."
[26] No person by merely acknowledging
Christ through a priesthood and sacraments shall have any part
with God in Him, but only the one who does the will of His
Father. The Lord made the will of the Father abundantly clear
when He said, "this is the work of God, that ye believe on
him whom he hath sent."
[27] "Today if ye will hear his
voice, harden not your hearts. . "
[28] As Christ Jesus' Gospel stands,
so also is His call on your life. " Faith cometh by hearing,
and hearing by the word of God. "
[29] Believe on Him alone for,
"this is the record, that God hath given to us eternal life, and
this life is in his Son. He that hath the Son hath life; and he
that hath not the Son of God hath not life."
[30] Then you will stand where before
you Patrick stood immoveable, and this is how it will be for all
eternity. "Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new
creature: old things are passed away; behold all things are
become new."
[31] " Come out of her, my people,
that ye be not partakers of her sins, and that ye receive not of
her plagues. " §
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[1]
The Confession of Patrick,
http://irelandnow.com/legends/confession.html
, 1/29/03, p. 1.
[2]
"According to the best authorities, Patrick was born about A.D.
373; and Lanigan has adduced good evidence to prove that he died
in A.D. 465 (Apud Lanigan, vol. iv. p. 112). The Book of
Armagh furnishes corroborative evidence of the same fact.
It says, 'From the passion of Christ to the death of Patrick
there were 436 years.' The crucifixion took place about A.D. 30;
and adding these thirty years to the 436 that intervened between
the crucifixion and the death of Patrick, we arrive at A.D. 466
as the year of his demise. Traditions of the highest authority
attest that he spent sixty years in preaching the Gospel to the
Scoto-Irish." From, "St. Patrick: Apostle of Ireland" in
History of the Scottish Nation by J.A. Wylie (London:
Hamilton, Adams & Co. Andrew Elliot, Edinburgh 1886) Vol. II, Ch
9.
[3]
The Confession of Patrick , p. 2.
[4]
Ibid. , p. 2.
[5]
Ibid. , p. 5.
[6]
John 1:14.
[7]
John 1:16.
[8]
The Confession of Patrick , p. 2.
[9]
The Confession of Patrick , p. 3.
[10]
Ibid. , p 3.
[11]
Ibid. , p. 3.
[12] Letter to Coroticus ,
http://prayerfoundation.org/st_patricks_letter_to_coroticus.htm
1/30/03, p. 2.
[13] ".
that I may win Christ, and be found in him, not having mine
own righteousness, which is of the law, but that which is
through the faith of Christ, the righteousness which is of God
by faith.. " Philippians 3:8-9
[14]
"The Church affirms that for believers the sacraments of the New
Covenant are necessary for salvation .
" (italic in the original). Catechism of the
Catholic Church , Second ed., (United States Catholic
Conference, 1997) Para. 1129.
[15]
The historian, J A Wylie goes to great lengths of demonstrate
the fact that Patrick came to Ireland to evangelise in 405.
Among others, he quotes Dr. Killen as saying "'Its [i.e., this
fact] claims to have been acknowledged by the best critics of
all denominations,' by Usher, Ware, Tillemont, Lanigan, and
Neander..He [Dr. Killen] thinks that Patrick arrived in Ireland
immediately after the death of Nial, or Nial of the Nine
Hostages, in the year 405.'" From "St Patrick: Apostle of
Ireland" by J.A. Wylie in History of the Scottish Nation
, Vol. II, Ch. 13, endnote No. 4.
[16]
Philip Schaff, History of the Christian Church , Vol.
4, Ch. 2, Sect. 14, "The Conversion of Ireland".
[17]
The Confession of Patrick , p. 5.
[18]
Ibid. , p. 2.
[19]
Ibid p 8
[20]
For a more complete list, see Philip Schaff, History of the
Christian Church , Vol. 4, Ch. 2, "Conversion of Northern
and Western Barbarians", Sect. 15, "The Irish Church after St.
Patrick. The Missionary Period".
[21]
The full text of the Papal Bull of Pope Adrian IV that empowered
king Henry II to conquer and subdue Christian churches to Rome
can be read at: http://www.yale.edu/lawweb/avalon/medieval/bullad.htm
2/1/2003
[22]
The Confession of Patrick , p. 8.
[23]
Ephesians 1:4
[24]
Luke 12:32
[25]
John 17:24
[26]
Matthew 7:21
[27]
John 6:29
[28]
Hebrews 3:7, 8
[29]
Romans 10:17
[30] 1
John 5:11-12
[31] II
Corinthians 5:17 |
