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<\/a><\/div>\nThis is a strange St. Patrick\u2019s Day for me. That\u2019s because my children are on Spring break, and as such, they are out of school. I don\u2019t ever remember being not \u201cin school\u201d on St. Patrick\u2019s Day. <\/i><\/p>\n
My mother\u2019s father was born in Ireland (and he was a Catholic too)so there is definitely Irish blood coursing through my veins. But he died when I was very young, and I never got to hear him tell stories of his home country. Remember my list of resources I shared on Catholic Media Promotion Day?<\/a> Running by New Advent, I saw they had posted the Catholic Encyclopedia citation for St. Patrick. And that is where I found the following charming story.<\/p>\n St. Patrick Converts Ethne and Fedelm, Daughters of the King of Connaught<\/i><\/b><\/p>\n On the occasion of his first visit to Rathcrogan, the royal seat of the kings of Connaught, situated near Tulsk, in the County of Roscommon, a remarkable incident occurred, recorded in many of the authentic narratives of the saint\u2019s life. Close by the clear fountain of Clebach, not far from the royal abode, Patrick and his venerable companions had pitched their tents and at early dawn were chanting the praises of the Most High, when the two daughters of the Irish monarch \u2014 Ethne, the fair, and Fedelm, the ruddy \u2014 came thither, as was their wont, to bathe. Astonished at the vision that presented itself to them, the royal maidens cried out:<\/p>\n \u201cWho are ye, and whence do ye come? Are ye phantoms, or fairies, or friendly mortals?\u201d <\/p>\n St. Patrick said to them: \u201cIt were better you would adore and worship the one true God, whom we announce to you, than that you would satisfy your curiosity by such vain questions.\u201d <\/p>\n And then Ethne broke forth into the questions:<\/p>\n \u201cWho is God?\u201d But St. Patrick, filled with the Holy Ghost, made answer:<\/p>\n \u201cGod, whom we announce to you, is the Ruler of all things.\u201d The maidens, as if with one voice and one heart, said: \u201cTeach us most carefully how we may believe in the Heavenly King; show us how we may behold Him face to face, and we will do whatsoever you shall say to us.\u201d<\/p>\n And when he had instructed them he said to them: \u201cDo you believe that by baptism you put off the sin inherited from the first parents.\u201d<\/p>\n They answered: \u201cWe believe.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cDo you believe in penance after sin?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cWe believe.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cDo you believe in life after death?\u201d Do you believe in resurrection on the Day of Judgement?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cWe believe.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cDo you believe in the unity of the Church?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cWe believe.\u201d<\/p>\n Then they were baptized, and were clothed in white garments. And they besought that they might behold the face of Christ. And the saint said to them: \u201cYou cannot see the face of Christ unless you taste death, and unless you receive the Sacrifice.\u201d They answered: \u201cGive us the Sacrifice, so that we may be able to behold our Spouse.\u201d And the ancient narrative adds: \u201cwhen they received the Eucharist of God, they slept in death, and they were placed upon a couch, arrayed in their white baptismal robes.\u201d<\/p>\n Read more about the actual St. Patrick.<\/a> Visit the cathedral\u2019s website<\/a> too. Come on, there is a virtual tour<\/a>, at no additional charge.<\/p>\n
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I wasn\u2019t raised Catholic, so instead of learning about the actual bishop named Patrick, I learned about leprechauns, four-leaf clovers, and the luck of the Irish. As a result, much of St. Patrick\u2019s story has been lost to me.<\/i><\/p>\n
\u201cAnd where is God?\u201d
\u201cWhere is His dwelling?\u201d
\u201cHas He sons and daughters?\u201d
\u201cIs He rich in silver and gold?\u201d
\u201cIs He everlasting? is He beautiful?\u201d
\u201cAre His daughters dear and lovely to the men of this world?\u201d
\u201cIs He on the heavens or on earth?\u201d
\u201cIn the sea, in rivers, in mountains, in valleys?\u201d
\u201cMake Him known to us. How is He to be seen?\u201d
\u201cHow is He to be loved? How is He to be found?\u201d
\u201cIs it in youth or is it in old age that He may be found?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cThe God of heaven and earth, of the sea and the rivers.\u201d
\u201cThe God of the sun, and the moon, and all the stars.\u201d
\u201cThe God of the high mountains and of the low-lying valleys.\u201d
\u201cThe God who is above heaven, and in heaven, and under heaven.\u201d
\u201cHis dwelling is in heaven and earth, and the sea, and all therein.\u201d
\u201cHe gives breath to all.\u201d
\u201cHe gives life to all.\u201d
\u201cHe is over all.\u201d
\u201cHe upholds all.\u201d
\u201cHe gives light to the sun.\u201d
\u201cHe imparts splendour to the moon.\u201d
\u201cHe has made wells in the dry land, and islands in the ocean.\u201d
\u201cHe has appointed the stars to serve the greater lights.\u201d
\u201cHis Son is co-eternal and co-equal with Himself.\u201d
\u201cThe Son is not younger than the Father.\u201d
\u201cAnd the Father is not older than the Son.\u201d
\u201cAnd the Holy Ghost proceeds from them.\u201d
\u201cThe Father and the Son and the Holy Ghost are undivided.\u201d
\u201cBut I desire by Faith to unite you to the Heavenly King, as you are daughters of an earthly king.\u201d<\/p>\n
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