tricius himself beyond the bare statement of Pliilaster; and as the heresy of which he is said to be the founder is not mentioned by Epiphanius, Damarius thinks it probable that it arose after his time, perhaps about A.D. 380. I'rredestinatns says that the Patricians sprung from the northern parts of Numidia and Mauritania. See Turner's Hist. p. 188, 1 89. (J. H. W.)
Patricius. See Patkicians.
Patrick, St., one of the most noted of Christian saints, is distinguished as a missionary of the 5th cen- tur3', and is commonly designated as the Apostle of Ireland. There is much uncertaintj' as to his per- sonal history, and great difference of opinion regard- ing his religious sentiments. About his life we know very little, except what is derived from his own writ- ings. He left only two short compositions, his Con- fession and his Epistle to Coroticus, both of which are well authenticated. Of the former the London Quarterly for April, 18GG, says, " There is now almost a universal agreement in regard to St. Patrick's Con- fession. Its genuineness is admitted by bishop Usher, Sir James Ware, Spelnian, Tillemont, Mabillon, Du- cange, Lanigan, and a long list of both Roman Cath- olics and Protestants. Formerly there was some dif- ference in regard to the place of his birth ; at present the best authorities are nearly unanimous in believing that he was born in Armoric Gaul, about A.D. 387." According to his own account of himself (Coif. 5) : "I had for mj' father Calphornius, a deacon, the son of Potitus, a presbyter in the Church, who lived in the village of Benavem of Tibernia, near the hamlet of Enon, where I was captured." In his Ejnstle to Coro- ticus, he adds (sect. 5), "I was born free according to the flesh ; I was the son of a father who was a decu- rio (a Roman magistrate). I sold my nobilitj^ for the advantage of this nation. But I am not ashamed, neither do I repent; I became a servant for Jesus Christ our Lord, so that I am not recognised in my former position." Elsewhere (Conf. 1) he savs, ''I was about sixteen years old ; but I knew not the true God, and was led away into captivitj- to Hibernia, with a great many men according to our deservings." Un- contradicted tradition says he was bought b^^ Milcho, who lived in Dalvidda, now the county of Antrim. He lived with him six years. His occupation was herding or keeping cattle. His conversion and em- ployment are thus described (Conf. 6) : " My constant business was to keep the flocks; I was frequent in prayers. The love and fear of God more and more inflamed my heart. My faith and spirit were en- larged; so that I said a hundred prayers in a day, and nearly as many at night. And in the woods and on the mountiiin I remained, and before the light I arose to my prayers, in the snow, in the frost, and in the rain ; and I experienced no evil at all. Nor was I aflfected with sloth, for the spirit of God was warm in me." Near the close of the sixth j^ear of his cap- tivity he dreamed that he was soon to return to his parents, and that on the sea-coast he would find a ves- sel to take him to them. He readih' found the vessel, but at first he was very roughly refused a passage. On retiring he began to pray ; soon one from the ship came after him, and kindly oftered to take him with them. On the third Any of their voj-age they reached land, but he does not tell us what land, and immedi- ately adds that they entered the desert, which re- quired twenty-eight daj'S to pass through it. At last he reached home. His parents received him very af- fectionately, and entreated him never again to leave them. In regard to his return we have no trustworthy account, except that in his Confession, which is wholly defective in dates and places, and seems to have been intended merely as an acknowledgment of God's good- ness in his deliverance. There is here a hiatus of un- known length in his life ; a chasm, however, which his mediaeval biographers have filled up according to the
i
PATRICK
PATRICK