Christianity in Ireland Before St. Patrick
Multiple Sources Cite Sparse Early Irish Christian Communities
Mar 2, 2009
St. Patrick is often confused with Palladius, who is sometimes called the elder Patrick. In turn, the Palladius who was briefly an Irish bishop is not to be confused with the Palladius born at Galatia in 368, who at age 20 was a monk on the Mount of Olives and wrote prolifically of church events of his era.
St. Palladius
The seventh century Life of St. Patrick by Muircu Maccumacthenus in the "Book of Armagh" says in discussing Irish Christianity: "Palladius was ordained and sent to convert this island lying under wintry cold…”
The Vita Secunda (Second Life of St. Patrick) adds interesting details:
"The most blessed Pope Celestine ordained (as) Bishop the Archdeacon of the Roman Church, named Palladius, and sent him into the Island of Hibernia, after having committed to him the relics of Blessed Peter and Paul and other Saints, and having also given him the volumes of the Old and New Testaments.”
A history of the Archdiocese of Dublin is even clearer: “When the death of Palladius was known at Rome in 431, Patrick was immediately selected and consecrated bishop for this Irish mission.”
Companions of St. Palladius
A Catholic Encyclopedia article on St. Palladius by Patrick Francis Cardinal Moran says St. Palladius was accompanied to Ireland by Sylvester and Salonius. Perhaps they assisted Palladius with two of the three Irish churches reportedly established by the saint. They were at Teach-Renan (Tigroney), Donard (Co. Wicklow) and Ceill-Finne (Co. Kildare).
The Story of Conall Cearnach
Conall Cearnach, an Irish warrior, supposedly was in Jerusalem when Christ was crucified, and returned to Ireland full of indignation at the conduct of the Jews, according to Roderick O'Flaherty, the learned author of the Ogyg£a, who is quoted as saying this in James H. Todd’s book about St. Patrick.
It is possible “that isolated and accidental visits made to the island by men in the third or fourth century, some of them perhaps merchants, some ascetics, or ecclesiastics, had raised up here and there, principally in the south or southeast, some few Christian families,” Todd says. He also notes that some natives of Ireland had been to the continent and that it is possible they converted to Christianity and returned to Ireland.
Todd writes with certainty of the existence of isolated Christian enclaves in Ireland before St. Patrick’s arrival in 432.
St. Brieuc’s Tie to Ireland
It is said that St. Brieuc, a Celtic saint from Brittany, received his education in Ireland, then studied under Germanus (as did St. Patrick) and returned to France in 431, bringing with him St. Lltud. This account is given by W. H. G. Flood in his biography of St. Brieuc prepared for the Catholic Encyclopedia.
In sum, there is a wide assortment of references, some fragmentary, but from differing sources, that give evidence of Christianity being practiced in Ireland beforeSt. Patrick’s arrival. This, however, in no way detracts from St. Patrick’s accomplishments in spreading the gospel and founding churches throughout Ireland. If the seeds of Christianity were already in Ireland, then St. Patrick harvested from them and planted many more of his own.
Sources:
Colgan, John, Acta Sanctorum Hiberniae, 1645
Todd, James H., D. D., senior fellow, Trinity College, Dublin, St. Patrick, Apostle of Ireland 1864
The Catholic Encyclopedia, Vols. 1-15, Appleton Pub. Co., 1907-1912 (several articles)
 |
 |
