Saint Patrick and the Irish Kings (Part Two)

One night Patrick had a dream in which many voices cried out to him, "We beseech thee, holy youth, to come and walk once more among us." He felt that God was calling him back to Ireland, but it was some time before he received the church's permission to go.

Around the year 432, Patrick was consecrated a bishop and sent to Ireland with twenty-five followers. After landing in Ulster they took shelter in a barn and were arrested by its owner, a prince named Dichu. But Patrick soon won Dichu's trust and converted him to Christianity.

Next Patrick journeyed to see Milchu, the king to whom he had been enslaved, intending to pay the ransom he felt he owed his former master. But according to (a seemingly dubious) legend, when Milchu heard of Patrick's approach he set all his possessions on fire, and himself as well, preferring to burn to death rather than risk being converted by his one-time slave.

Patrick decided that his mission to convert the people of Ireland would be easier if he received the blessing of the high king, Laoghaire (the son of Niall of the Nine Hostages). He chose a very bold way of getting Laoghaire's attention. Each year the Irish people celebrated a pagan fire festival in which bonfires were lit on hilltops throughout the country. No fire was supposed to be lit until the high king had kindled his fire on the sacred hill of Tara, but Patrick violated this rule by building a huge Easter bonfire on the Hill of Slane, a few miles from Tara. When Laoghaire saw the distant flames, he angrily called his warriors together and went to confront Patrick.

Again Patrick turned an enemy into a friend. He impressed Laoghaire, and the king invited him to Tara. There the king's druids mocked Patrick, asking him if he could make it snow. According to legend, Patrick replied that only God could make it snow - and at that moment it began to snow. When Patrick crossed himself, the snow stopped. Awed, the high king gave Patrick permission to continue his missionary work. Laoghaire himself never converted to Christianity, but his wife, daughters, and brother did.

For nearly thirty years Patrick travelled tirelessly through Ireland, spreading his Christian message. His strategy was to first convert the local chiefs so the people would be more easily convinced. Patrick established between 365 and 700 churches, and is credited with singlehandedly converting the vast majority of the Irish people to Christianity. When he died in 461, the whole country mourned. Today he is still honored as Ireland's patron saint.

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