A Second Thebaid; Being a Popular Account of the Ancient Monasteries of Ireland (Paperback)

Purchase of this book includes free trial access to www.million-books.com where you can read more than a million books for free. This is an OCR edition with typos. Excerpt from book: excel the promised reward, neither might any sacrifice made to attain it be deemed too great. About the year 450, St. Patrick was inspired to found the Primatial See of the Irish Church, and the once famed monastic school of Armagh. Heretofore his disciples, anxious to benefit by his teaching and example, were wont, as a rule, to accompany him from place to place. But now Armagh became the recognised centre of the Saint's zeal, influencing the lives of those who dwelt there until their renown for holiness and wisdom drew multitudes of earnest students from the remotest regions of the earth, yielding ready obedience to the Bishop appointed to govern both See and monastery in St. Patrick's name. The labours of our Saint did not cease with the establishment of Armagh; even in his old age?the year 465 was, probably, the date of his death?he had to face trials and troubles that rendered his life a very martyrdom. However, he succeeded, by degrees, in bringing the ecclesiastical affairs of Ireland into most striking harmony with the usages of the universal Church. In his well-known Confession before Death St. Patrick affords us a far clearer insight into his own character than we can derive from the numerous books written to record his life and labours: the out-pouring of a heart inflamed with Divine love; but, as in the case of the Prophet Elias?for whom our Saint cherished a deep devotion 3?grief-stricken because of his powerlessness to prevent the injuries daily offered by the wicked to the Most High. Some writers assert that Saint Ailbe of Emly actually preceded our national Apostle in the labours of the Irish Episcopacy; but it is far more probable that he was one of St. Patrick's disciples, entering upon the duties assigned to him by his holy master some time about th...