Thursday, July 19, 2012

Saint Patrick and baptism - Tírechán

Baptism is, of course, very important in Saint Patrick's mission. We do not have his own writings except for the obvious importance he gives to baptism in his Confessio "I have baptised thousands." The location of Saint Patrick's Cathedral is said to be that of a holy well that he used when bringing people of Ireland to Christ.

There are significant passages in Tírechán's text concerning Christian baptism and other aspect relating to the conversion of Irish people to Christian faith. God really "gave him the whole island with its people through an angel of the Lord" as Tírechán wrote.


The following excerpts are from the English translation of Tírechán by L.Bieler (subtitles added by me).

Bible is present in baptism
And when he had opened the book and baptized the man named Erc, he heard men behind his back laughing at him together because of that action, for they did not understand what he had done; and he baptized many thousand men on that day.
Tírechán 4.



Christ brought to Ireland church hierarchy, order and literacy 
Concerning the number of bishops whom he consecrated in Ireland, (that is,) 450. As regards priests, we cannot give a number, because he baptized people daily and read the letters to them and wrote alphabet-tables for them, and of some of them he made bishops and priests, who at a sober age (had ?) received baptism.
Tírechán 6.



Christian teaching and baptism
God gave him the whole island with its people through an angel of the Lord,
ii. and he taught them the law of the Lord,
iii. and baptized them with God's baptism,
iiii. and made known to them the cross of Christ,
and preached His resurrection;
Tírechán 18.



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