The Catholic Press, 7th June, 1917 p46
The Feast of St. Patrick, the Apostle Saint of Ireland, is kept on March 17. Some people contend he was born in Scotland, others in France; but most historians favour the former country. When he was 16 years old he was carried into Ireland as a captive, where he was sold as a slave to a chieftain named Michu; this was about the year 400. For six years he was a shepherd on the Slemish mountain in Antrim. All those years he had a zeal for God’s glory, and God must have been inspiring his soul for his future and apostolic work.
Soon, however, he escaped, and went to Rome, and here he became a priest. After a few years he went back to Ireland, not as a slave this time, but as the conqueror of Ireland — not the conqueror by fire and sword, but by the word of God.
He landed in the south, but he was driven off. He sailed northward, and again landed at Magh Innis, in County Down. Michu, hearing that Patrick had landed with several men, thought that Patrick had come to capture him and take him back to Rome, as his slave. Michu therefore threw himself into a fire. St. Patrick knew that the Parliament of Ireland would be meeting at about this time in Tara, the residence of the ancient kings of Ireland. St. Patrick went, and that day he converted several hundred people. But the main one was the king, and he died as ignorant as ever of the religion of Our Divine Lord.
St. Patrick ordained over 300 Bishops, and it is said he visited them constantly until his death. He comforted the sorrowful, and he strengthened them in their faith. St. Patrick passed to his reward on March 17, 493, and the last Sacraments were administered by St. Tassach. A portion of his remains was taken to Rome and deposited in St. Mark’s Basilica.
Leo Poidevin. (Aged 12 years 1 month.) Victoria-street, Bowral.
The Burren and Beyond 