The Confession

He teatifies with what sincerity he has preached the Gospel — He enters immediately on the Apostolic work, and a little moved by the reproaches of others, he protests, however, his sincerity amongst the Gentiles, and his contempt of their gifts, nay, his gratuitous administration of the Sacraments, and not without uncalled-for loss and liberal expenditure of - his own property ; desiring rather to be poor, after the example of Christ, for whom he is anxious to suffer anything, even Martyrdom itself, being assured of the glory which is laid up for him for such a sacrifice. — A repetition of the Confession of St. Patrick.

“In spite of the derision and insolence of all who choose, I will not hold my peace, nor will I conceal the signs and wonders which have been shown to me by the Lord for many years before they happened, as by one who foreknew all things from the

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CONFESSION OF

times («) of the world ; wherefore, I ought unceasingly give thanks to God, who has so often indulged my

foolishness and my negligence And

though I was appointed the coadjutor of the Lord, he was not angry with me for having withheld my consent, according as it was shown to me by the Spirit, who suggested these things. And the Lord took compassion upon me on account of many thousands, because be saw that my heart was ready ; but I was wholly ignorant of my condition w'hat to do, because many were opposed to this mission ; and some amongst them exclaimed, and cried out behind my back ; “ Why does this man obtrude himself into danger amongst enemies who know not the Lord ?” not, indeed, through malice, but because they did not rehsh this expedition of mine, on account of my simplicity, as I can well testify. And I did not immediately acknowledge the grace that was in me ; but now, as I ought, it is delightful for me to obey the voice of God. I now simply intimate to my brethren and fellow-labourers, who believed in me, why I have preached, and why I still preach, to confirm their faith. Would to God that you would imitate me in holier things, and do them more wisely. Such wiU be my glory, for the wisdom of the Son is the glory of the Father, (i) God knows, and you also know, how I have conducted myself from my youth(c) whilst among you, in faith and truth and sincerity of heart, even towards that people among whom I dwell. I have brought, and I vm bring them to the faith. God is my witness that I have circumvented no man, nor, on account of God and his Church, do 1 intend it, lest I should bring

'(a) 2 Tim. i. 9. (J>) ^ Kings, zii. 2.

(c) Prov. z. 1.

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persecution upon them and every one of you, and lest through me the name of Grod should be blasphemed ; because it is written, “ Wo be to that man by whom the name of God should be blasphemed.” For though I am foolish in all things, I have nevertheless endeavoured to preserve myself, even for my Christian brethren, and for the Christian virgins, and for those holy women who gave me their voluntary offerings, and laid down their ornaments on the altar; and I returned them back again to them, and they were scandalized at me because I did so. But I did so for the hope of immortality, that in all things I might act with caution, so that on no account the unbelievers should reproach me, or even in the least degree upbraid the service of my ministry, nor in the smallest circumstance should afford these unbelievers an opportunity to calumniate or decry me. Now, jerhaps, when I baptized so many thousand men, lave I expected from any of them even the lalf of a farthing ? Tell me so, and I will restore it back to them. Or, when the Lord had every where ordained clergjunen by my ministry, did I not gratuitously dispense my services amongst them. Again, if I demanded from any of them even the value of a shoe, tell me so, and I will restore it back again to them. I spent myself, that they might comprehend me ; and every where among you I advanced for your sake in many dangers, into distant regions, where nobody before had ever come, to baptize them, or ordain them, or confirm their people in the faith. Now all these things I did by the grace of God, diligently and cheerfully for your salvation. In the mean time I was giving rewards to their kings and to their children, who reinained along with me, and nevertheless they seized me, and in that day* they sought most anxiously to kill me — but my hour was

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not yet come — and they laid hold of myself and all my property, and bound me in chains ; and on the fourteenth day the Lord released me from their power, and everything belonging to me was restored back again to me, for the sake of God and my friends, whom I had provided.

“ Now you have experienced how much I bestowed amongst those who were in distress in every district, and how frequently I visited them. I am of opinion that I have distributed amongst these men, not less in amount than in value, so that you may enjoy me, and I always enjoy you, in the Lord ; for I am not sorry, nor does it satisfy me, as yet to spend and overspend myself for your souls. Behcdd, I call God to witness in my soul that I lie not, and that 1 do not write to you for avarice sake, or through flattery, nor that I should enjoy your good esteem ; for I am satisfied with the esteem which is not seen, but is believed in the heart. Now, he is faithful who has promised, and never deceives. -But I perceive that in this present world I am exalted beyond measure by the Lord, for I did not desire, nor was I worthy, that the Lord should confa* such favors on me, for I know most certainly that poverty and calamity are far more suitable to me than riches and pleasures. But Christ the Lord became poor for our sakes.

“ But I, miserable and wretched, am possessed of no riches, though I might desire them ; but I daily expect either death, or treason, or slavery, or some such misfortune. But I fear none of those things, <mi account of God’s heavenly promises ; for I have thrown myself into the hands of the Almighty, who every where reigns, as the Prophet says, (a) “ Cast all your thoughts upon the Lord, and he will comfort youa

(aj Ps. liv. 23.

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ST. PATRICK.

Behold I now commend my soul to my most faithful God, whose ambassador I am, though unworthy ; but he regards not the person, but has chosen me for his ministry, and has appointed me, one of the least of his servants, to discharge it. But what shall I say, or what shall I promise, to the Lord, who have nothing but what has been given to me ? But he who searcheth both the reins and the heart, will understand how ardently I desire, and how ready I am, to drink of his chalice, as already he has favoured so many others, who love him. Therefore, I pray that my Lord may never suffer me to lose these people, whom he has purchased from the extremities of the earth. I now pray the Lord will grant me the grace of perseverance, and that he would vouchsafe to make me his faithful witness, until the hour of my death, which I will endure for my God. And if by imitation I have done any good for my God, whom I love, I pray Him, to give me the grace, to shed my blood for these converts and captives of his ; and aU this I ask, even though I should be deprived of Christian burial, and even though my wretched carcass should be tom in pieces, or should be thrown out to be devoured by the birds of the air, or the beasts of the field. For I am certain, if this should befal me, that by the loss of my body I should save my soul ; for, without doubt, we shall all rise again on the last day, resplendent as the sun, in the glory of Jesus Christ, by whom we have been redeemed and made his co-heirs, like the sons of God, being made conformable to the creature of his image ; for of him, and by him, and in him, are all things. To him be glory for ever and for ever. — Amen, (a) For with him w^e shall reign for ever. That sun which wc

(a) Rom. xi. 3G.

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behold, rises daily by his order for our sakes. It will not last for ever, and its splendor shall be dimmed, and aU who adore it shall perish unceasingly for all eternity. But we believe and adore Jesus Christ, the true Sun of Justice, who never shall go down, and he who does his will shall not perish, but shall remain for ever and for ever : who reigns eternally with the Father and the Holy Ghost, before all ages, and now and for ever. — Amen.

“ Behold, again, I briefly repeat the words of my confession, and I bear witness, in truth and joy, before God and his holy angels, that I had no inducement, but the promises of God and his Gospel, to return back to that people from whom I had escaped. And now I pray all those who believe and seek, and fear the Lord, and who wiD be pleased . to receive, and to read this manuscript, which I, Patrick, though an unlearned sinner, have written in Ireland; I pray all such not to ascribe to my ignorance that I have done any thing, however trifling, or that I have pointed out any thing ; but in conformity with the designs of God. Consider these things, and most certainly believe, that AU is the work of God. And this is my Confession before I shall die.”

THE END.

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Dublin: Printed by John C. O'Kkilly, 139 Capel-street.

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