Sunday, March 17, 2024

Saint Patrick of Ireland-46th & 49th Great Uncle

Saint Patrick "Patron Saint of Ireland" ap Calpurnius

Introduction

Family Ancestral Research

HAPPY ST. PATRICK'S DAY

My many years of family ancestral research has unearthed some very interesting characters from World History. Such is the current famous figure of history who's holiday is celebrated today, March 17th.

Through at least 2 of our mom's family bloodline branches, we have a familial connection with this patron saint.

Patrick is our 46th Great uncle in one line and our 49th Great uncle in another line.

(see below his life sketch for these two bloodlines we share with Patrick through our mother, Marlene Deitz Repinski)

AS THEY SAY...

"MAY WE ALL HAVE THE LUCK OF THE IRISH IN OUR LIVES"

Life Sketch of Patrick

Our ancetral great grand uncle Patrick was born about about 0351AD in Old Kilpatrick, Dunbartonshire, Scotland (so he really was not an Irish Man by birth but a Scott!!)

He was the Son of Calpurnius ap Heireann (320-?) and Conchessa ferch Ochbes (Unknown) Calpurnius(332-?)

Brother of Tigridia ferch Calpurnius and Darerca (Calpurnius) ferch Calpurnius

(Our family lines descend from his sister Darerca who was born in a bout 355AD in Scotland as well.)

Patrick Died about 0457AD at about age 106 in Saul, Downpatrick, County Down, Ireland

There are many legends and stories about St. Patrick, and this is his story as best it can be reconstructed.

Patrick is believed to have been born around 0351 CE (or perhaps 10-15 years later; the date has been "pushed back" several times).

No primary documents exist to confirm it. In his handwritten "Confessio," Saint Patrick describes his father as "Calphrann," a Deacon in the local Celtic Christian church and his grand-father, named "Potitus," as a Celtic Christian Priest.^[

He is said to have been baptized under the name Succat, which means brave in battle, but he later stated that he was not a practicing Christian in his youth.

Patrick's mother is said to have been Conchessa ferch Ochbes (Unknown) Calpurnius, born about 0330 CE in Gaul (today's France); she is believed to have been a niece of Saint Martin de Tours (c. 316, Savaria, Pannonia – November 8, 397, Candes, Gaul).

This "French connection" has been disputed but it's clear that 5th Century Gaul and Britain, both provinces of Rome, shared close ties in that time and that Patrick's parents were both literate and Christian.

When he was about 16 years old, Patrick was captured by Irish pirates who often raided the western Scottish lowlands as Roman civilization was collapsing (all Roman troops were ordered back to Rome from Britain ca. 0405 CE).

He was taken to north-east Ireland, known as "Dalriada," and sold as a slave whose main duties were herding sheep and pigs for a local Druid (pagan) priest for six years.

It was during this time, by his own admission, that Patrick turned to the God of his fathers and developed his faith in Christ as his bulwark against the harsh treatment he underwent at the hands of his pagan captors.

Clearly an intelligent lad, he also learned the Irish language (not too different from his own native pre-Welsh dialect) and about Irish customs and history. From this early knowledge, he later devised the Celtic Cross emblem, uniting pagan solar characteristics with the traditional Christian Greek cross.

After about six years in captivity, young Patricius (the only name he ever used for himself), in the heard a voice in his meditations saying "a ship is waiting" to take him home. He soon escaped and walked several days until he reached the coast where he found a ship and a captain willing to take him on, after some persuasion. After three days at sea they reached Britain where, following several adventures, he was reunited with his family.

In 0431 CE Patrick was ordained a bishop by Pope Celestine I, and shortly after his clerical elevation Patrick felt a renewed call to return to Ireland, this time as a respected leader who could help Irish Christians, struggling with local pagan rulers as well as seaborne invasions. He later wrote that he had a vision of "Saint Victoricus" (sic=St. Victricius) appealing to him as "The Voice of the Irish." He decided he needed to answer the call.

Bishop Patricius arrived in Ireland in 0432 CE.

A legend recounts that shortly after his arrival, he defied the pagan High King Laoire by lighting a Paschal (Easter) fire on Slane's hilltop, when the King had forbidden public bonfires because he was celebrating Spring Equinox rites at neighboring Tara, just nine miles away. Patrick's Christian fire could be seen from Tara. King Laiore's attempt to kill Patrick for this insubordination led to his conversion instead after he lost control of his sword arm until he agreed to spare the Christian missionary.

Even though he landed in the East, Bishop Patrick's diocese was located in the West of Ireland, precisely those areas that were least Christian in the 5th Century. He was a very successful preacher and organizer, converting thousands to Christianity and raising money from all levels of society, apparently especially from wealthy women, just as Jesus and the early disciples had done. He also converted several local chiefs and their families.

Patrick also ordained many disciples, among them Beningnus, Auxilius, Iserninus, and Fiaac, (all later canonized by Rome). There is also the tradition that he brought Christianity to The Isle of Man.

Bishop Patricius' mission in Ireland was not without its controversies and temporary setbacks. His "Confessio" was written to answer personally critics within the Church who opposed his financial tactics (especially accepting gifts from wealthy women converts), and suggested he had an inflated ego. Apparently his success overcame criticism as he was never convicted or seriously hindered during the four decades that he served Christ and the Church in his adopted country. Not all of his conversion attempts succeeded as quickly as he'd have liked either. He himself noted that he had suffered beatings, had been robbed on the road and once was thrown in prison by a pagan chief for two months. Fortunately, however, his Faith was always vindicated in the end, at least as recounted by later disciples and followers.

Patrick and his followers were excellent teachers, using local lore and flora and fauna to make the Gospel message come alive for Irish audiences. The common clover plant, known as a "shamrock" in Ireland, served as his main example for the Christian Trinity: Father, Son and Holy Spirit, three separate identities united in One Being. Its shiny green color and three-leaved form have been identified with the Emerald isle ever since.

There are conflicting dates for Patrick's death ranging from 0457-0496. The wide discrepancy is thought to be because at least two (and possibly three) Patricks have been conflated over the years by historians.

The Annals of Ulster record his death as having occurred in 0457 CE. Although his remains have never been formally identified, it is generally accepted that he is buried at the Cathedral of County Down's Downpatrick, along with Saints Brigit and Columba.

Why are there no snakes in Ireland?

Well, of course, it’s because St. Patrick drove them from the Emerald Isle. During a forty day fast, atop a hill, some snakes made the mistake of disturbing his prayer, and Patrick, using his shepard’s crook, drove all of the island's snakes into the sea.

If this doesn't convince you, you can choose to believe that snakes simply haven't existed in Ireland, at least since the last ice age. During the time when Ireland was still connected to the main land mass, it was just too cold for snakes to live. They are reptiles, cold blooded animals. By the time Ireland warmed enough for snakes to survive, it was surrounded by water, and snakes have never learned how to use row boats.