Thanks Father Padraig for encouraging us to read Saint Patrick’s Confessio/Testimony and thanks for filling in for Father Jim and Father Dermot last night and today.
Saint Patrick’s Testimony
This Testimony of Saint Patrick gives his account of how the Lord changed his life and used
him in a powerful way in Ireland. It was written in Latin and there are 8 Latin manuscripts
in existence today. Patrick was the first Apostle to the Irish and he is understood to have
founded some 300 Christian Communities throughout Ireland. His Testimony, written
near the end of his life, is Christ-centered and Scripturally based. The Irish Celtic Church he
founded focused on these six aspects:
• Worship and Prayer
• Lifestyle of learning, training and equipping others
• Study of Scripture
• Establishing communities as centres of hospitality
• Adventurous missionary endeavour
• Had an openness to the Charisms
May you be blessed and inspired as you read the following key extracts from
Saint Patrick’s remarkable testimony.
A foundational
inspiration
of the Irish
Celtic Church
Patrick, a sinner:
I am Patrick, a sinner, most unlearned, the least of all the faithful, and utterly despised
by many. My father was Calpornius, a deacon, son of Potitus, a priest, of the village Bannavem
Taburniae (probably in Britain); he had a country seat nearby, and there I was taken
captive.
Did not know God:
I was then about sixteen years of age. At that time, I did not know the true God. I was
taken into captivity in Ireland, along with thousands of others. We deserved this, because
we had gone away from God, and did not keep his commandments. (S1)We would not
listen to our priests, who advised us about how we could be saved. The Lord brought his
strong anger upon us, and scattered us among many nations even to the ends of the
earth (S2)…
His Conversion:
It was there that the Lord opened up my awareness of my lack of faith. Even though it
came about late, I recognised my failings. So I turned with all my heart to the Lord my
God, (S3) and he looked down on my lowliness (S4) and had mercy on my youthful
ignorance. He protected me and consoled me as a father does for his son. That is why I
cannot be silent about such great blessings and such a gift that the Lord so kindly bestowed
in the land of my captivity.
His Concept of God:
Because there is no other God, nor ever was, nor will be, than God the Father unbegotten, without beginning, the Lord of the universe (S5) and His son Jesus Christ, whom we
declare to have always been with the Father by Him are made all things visible and
invisible. (S6) He was made man and, having defeated death, was welcomed into
heaven by the Father. He has given Him all power in heaven, on earth, and under the
earth and every tongue shall confess to Him that Jesus Christ is Lord and God. (S7) He is
judge of the living and of the dead; (S8) he rewards every person according to their
deeds. (S9) He has poured forth upon us abundantly the Holy Spirit, (S10) the gift and
guarantee of eternal life, who makes those, who believe and obey, sons of God and
joint heirs with Christ (S11) and Him do we confess and adore, one God, in the Trinity of
the Holy Name.
Imperfect –yet speaks the truth:
For He Himself has said through the Prophet: ‘Call upon me in the day of trouble, I will
deliver you and you shall glorify me.’ (S12) Although I am imperfect in many things, I
nevertheless wish that my brothers and relations should know what sort of person I am,
so that they may understand my heart’s desire. I know well the testimony of my Lord,
who in the Psalm declares: ‘You will destroy those who speak lies.
