ࡱ> DFC%` bjbjNN .:,, d >%2        $$$$$$$$p&h(J$w  ww$  $w  $w$:U, ؠ " $%0>%R")'`")")    r    $$   >%wwww The Book of Irish Writers, Chapter 6 St Patrick, Saint, Scholar - and the first Irish Auto- biographer! St Patricks origins in Roman Britain, and his eventual position as Irelands patron saint, make him a good example of the outsider who is absorbed by Ireland. Even though he was a real historical figure from the 5th Century, many legends have sprung up around Patrick even that he met Fionn Mac Cumhaills son, Oisn! The encounter is recorded in a 12th century collection of tales called Agallamh na Seanrach (or The Colloquy of the Ancients). Whether this meeting happened before or after Patrick drove the snakes out of Ireland - or explained the Trinity by using a shamrock - is impossible to say since, of course, all of these stories are invented. Patrick wasnt the first Christian missionary to Ireland, but his semi-legendary status means that he has long since obscured his predecessor, Palladius - Patrick may even have absorbed aspects of Palladiuss life. From the point of view of Irish literature, Patrick has his own importance. Although little of his writing survives, his Confession, originally written in Latin, is without question the first Irish autobiography. Autobiography and memoir are now familiar forms of writing, but Patricks is a very early example written as it was over one thousand five hundred years ago. Patrick doesnt emphasise his own individuality as many of todays autobiographers will do. Instead, his desire is to praise God and to give Him credit for anything that Patrick has achieved - I cannot be silent about the great benefits and the great grace which the Lord has deigned to bestow upon me in the land of captivity. But the overall story is familiar to us from contemporary misery memoirs telling as it does how Patrick overcame early suffering and trauma to reach eventual success! The early suffering is caused by Patrick being taken captive, with others, and brought to Ireland. He regards this as a form of punishment for his sinfulness: I, Patrick, a sinner, a most simple countryman, the least of all the faithful and most contemptible to many was taken captive. I was at that time about sixteen years of age. I did not, indeed, know the true God; and I was taken into captivity in Ireland with many thousands of people, according to our deserts - for quite drawn away from God, we did not keep his precepts And the Lord brought down on us the fury of his being and scattered us among many nations, even to the ends of the earth, where I, in my smallness, am now to be found among foreigners. Patrick finds God in Ireland and begins to pray fervently, but a voice tells him that he will return to his home country. His escape involves many more hardships finding a ship, a journey through a wilderness, near starvation, a further captivity and an assault by Satan. While I was sleeping Satan attacked me violently, as I will remember as long as I shall be in this body; and there fell on top of me as it were, a huge rock, and not one of my limbs had any force. At last he is re-united with his family. At which point the voice of the Irish speaks to him in a vision and calls him back to Ireland. Even when he has begun his mission, his troubles continue. Hes criticised and almost disgraced by others within the Church - and much of his Confession is taken up with pleas of innocence Hence, therefore, I say boldly that my conscience is clear now and hereafter. God is my witness that I have not lied in these words to you. As Patrick was working among the pagan Irish, he was also subject to danger as a despised and unprotected outsider. He is nevertheless able to end his story by giving thanks to God for allowing him to do His work in Ireland where they never had any knowledge of God but, always, until now, cherished idols and unclean things, they are lately become a people of the Lord, and are called children of God As an autobiographer, Patrick stands at the head of a long and central tradition of Irish writing; another feature of the Confession - which also locates it within Irish traditions - is its lack of a clear sense of an audience. At one point Patrick claims he is writing for his brethren and kinsfolk, but later admits that he has hesitated to write because - I feared to expose myself to the criticism of men, because I have not studied like others. Later still he states You know, as God does, how I went about among you from my youth in the faith of truth and in sincerity of heart. 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