CONTENTS.

CHAPTER I.

Christianity introduced into Ireland — Early bishops — Mission of Palladius — Its failure Page 1

CHAPTER II.

Parents of St. Patrick — His birth and baptism — A blind man restored to sight — His early life and mirages 8

CHAPTER III.

He is carried into captivity, and sold as a slave in Ireland — How he passed his days in prayer, and how, at length, he was freed from slavery — His trials during his journey home 14

CHAPTER IV.

His second captivity — How God often spoke interiorly to his soul, and favoured him with many visions — He leaves home to study for the priesthood — Visits Rome, and is appointed to succeed Palladius — Is consecrated bishop, and arrives in Ireland 21

CHAPTER V.

The conversion of Dicho — The first church erected in Ireland — The punishment of Sacrilege — Other conversions — The fearful death of Milcho, and the conversion of his son and daughters — Mochna, a young herdsman, becomes a Christian 30

CHAPTER VI.

How the saint visited Tara, and preached before the monarch and his court 37

CHAPTER VII.

King Leogaire receives the saint at Tara — Herco converted — The trial between the magician and the Christians — The miserable death of the former — The success of the saint's preaching Page 49

CHAPTER VIII.

How the saint retired to keep Lent — He visits the Christians in Monster — Foilge attempts to put St. Patrick to death — The martyrdom of his charioteer — The conversion of Maccaldus, the robber — The saint's zeal against slavery 64

CHAPTER IX.

The erection of the church and see of Armagh — The Saint visits Rome a second time, and brings back some precious relics — He holds several synods — His daily life 73

CHAPTER X.

The last illness and death of the saint — How his obsequies were celebrated 83

CHAPTER XI.

St. Brigid — Her birth — Early miracle — Her vision — Collects holy virgins in community — Erects the convent of Kildare — Its richness — Devastated by the Danes 90

CHAPTER XII.

Her manner of life — Meets with a young scholastic — Her great charity to the poor — Her miracles — Called the Mary of the Irish — Her death 99