A BRAZEN SERPENT AND TWO PATRICKS
THE FIRST PATRICK
THE Culdee Church was planted in Ireland at an early date (some authorities say in the days of Boadicea) and flourished side by side with Druidism. Here the Levitical nature of Druidism was, perhaps, more apparent than elsewhere in the Isles of the West.
Moses, the great Hebrew Lawgiver, was followed more closely, as instanced in the symbol of the serpent, used as in the wilderness of Sinai; and the lifting up of the brazen serpent, the symbol of deliverance through the advent of Yesu the Christ, was a notable tenet of Druidic religion.
When Patrick embarked upon his missionary labours in Ireland, actually as a revivalist of earlier teaching, his first task was to enlighten the people as to the fact that Yesu, whom they had been taught to expect in fulfilment of prophecy, had already appeared and that the symbol should now be discarded. Thus was laid the foundation of the story that Patrick had banished the snakes from Ireland.
Born at Llantwit Major, Glamorgan, Cir. 390 A.D., Patrick had for his family name Succat, signifying “Prosperous in Battle”, thus suggesting a military background; the name Margonius was added at his ordination as deacon, and, finally, Patricius, signifying “nobleman.” Patrick was the son of Calpurnius and Otide. otherwise known as Conchessa, and was the grandson of the Deacon Odessa. His mother, Conchessa, was the daughter of a bard and sister of Martin, Bishop of Tours. The clergy of this period were not under the rule of celibacy, a rule of Roman Catholicism, introduced to these islands by Augustine in 597 A.D.
The basic ingredients of the story of St. Patrick are well known. This is because he has left us a record in his own words – his Confession, dictated in old age and copied into the Book of Armagh many years later.
From his Confession we learn that Patrick “travelled round Ireland”, was put in irons .. .lived in daily expectation of untimely death, treachery or captivity …journeyed everywhere in many dangers, even to the outlying regions beyond which no man (and where never anyone) had come to baptize or to ordain clergy”. In these words the true missionary spirit is discernible.
From the fifth to the eighth century the simple Culdee or primitive Church in Ireland, of which Patrick was an earnest Apostle, brought about so notable a change in its people that one writer asserts in connection with this period “Ireland between the fifth and eighth centuries was like a second Palestine, like a new cradle of the Christian Church.” (The French writer Daniel Rops, The Rising Star of the Reformation).
THE SECOND PATRICK
Into this Edenic like religious life in Ireland there was born, towards the end of this period, a son to a family in the Culdee Church named, at baptism, Patrick, presumably in remembrance of the great St. Patrick of hallowed memory.
Destined for the Church by education and family associations. this Patrick, in due course, became a cleric of the Culdee Church in Ireland. Rumours of the prosperity of the Latin Church having reached Ireland, this second Patrick travelled to Rome to ascertain for himself how much truth there might be in these reports. This second Patrick soon became enamoured of her ritualistic display and evidence of wealth.
Returning to Ireland. Patrick sought to introduce Roman Catholicism, inflicting upon himself the title “Abbot of Ireland”, an attempt strongly resisted by the Irish Culdees. The Pope, to reward him for his efforts to introduce purgatory, the Mass and Madonna worship in the Church, sent him the Pallium. the highest honour
ecclesiastical Rome could confer as it had been in Imperial Rome. This Patrick, by his exactions and cruelty, caused an exasperated people to drive him from the country. To Glastonbury in Somerset he fled. and settled in the Roman Catholic community there, which the Saxon king, Ina, had imposed upon and made to supersede the primitive Culdee Church. The “Place of Refuge” from Druidic times still existed at Glastonbury, enabling Patrick to claim asylum and an unquestioned acceptance in the monastery. Here he spent the remainder of his life working as a monk; here he died and here he lies buried. (Martin Haverty, History of Ireland).
With the passage of time, confusion grew up regarding the two historic personages named Patrick, and incidents connected with the second Patrick were made to adhere to the first Patrick including the assertion that Patrick, Patron Saint of Ireland, lies buried at Glastonbury, an assertion which few have taken the trouble to refute.
[From: In Former Times]
