Saturday, March 17, 2007

St. Patrick Day: 2nd Mid March Italian Celebration

The ANNOTICO Report

 

Most Irish are wrapped up so in Mythology that they are unaware that St Patrick was born Maewyn Succat in Scotland, son of Calphurnius and Conchessa Succat, Maewyn's father was a ROMAN Citizen, and Highly placed Roman Administrator, when Britain was part of the Roman Empire.

 

He was kidnapped and taken to Ireland where he was a slave shepherd. After 6 years of thought and prayer he escaped, and briefly returned to his family, and then went to study for the ministry at Tours, in southern France, where his mother was well connected. He also studied at Lerins in Savoy, He was then promoted to the priesthood, and between time in Turin and Rome, he did missionary work in Britain, but felt his mission was in Ireland.

 

Pope Celestine I on the recommendation of  St. Germain, Patrick's patron, that Patrick was given his wish of the  Mission to convert Ireland, after the failure of Palladius.

 

Patrick never chased any snakes out of Ireland, because there were none there to start with. It was used as a metaphor for paganism.

 

The Irish and Italian Flags are very similar. Both are Tricolore.

 

The Irish Flag is Green, White, and Orange.   The green color on the flag represents the native people of Ireland (most of whom are Roman Catholic). The orange color represents the British supporters of William of Orange who settled in Northern Ireland in the 17th century (most of whom are Protestant). The white in the center of the flag represents peace between these two groups of people.

The Italian Flag is Green, White and Red. Derived from an original design by Napoleon. Green was said to be Napoleon's favorite color.

 

We Italians should more celebratory about One of OURS  and join in with the Irish!!!!

 

 

From New Advent The Catholic Encyclopedia

 

Maewyn Succat was born at Kilpatrick, near Dumbarton, in Scotland, in the year 387; died at Saul, Downpatrick, Ireland, 17 March, 493. Other sources say 460 or 461 ?Ed.

He had for his parents Calphurnius and Conchessa. The former belonged to a ROMAN family of high rank and held the office of decurio  in Gaul or Britain. Conchessa was a near relative of the great patron of Gaul, St. Martin of Tours.

In his sixteenth year, Patrick was carried off into captivity by Irish marauders and was sold as a slave to a chieftan named Milchu in Dalriada, a territory of the present county of Antrim in Ireland, where for six years he tended his master's flocks.

During his captivity, Patrick became very spiritual. prayed a great deal,  acquired a perfect knowledge of the Celtic tongue. and, as his master Milchu was a druidical high priest, he became familiar with all the details of Druidism from whose bondage he was destined to liberate the Irish race.

After six years he fled and in a few days he was among his friends once more in Britain, but now his heart was set on devoting himself to the ministry. He studies at St. Martin's monastery at Tours, and again at the island sanctuary of Lirins  Patrick put himself under the the guidance of  St. Germain who a few years later promoted him the priesthood.  Under St. Germain's guidance for some years was engaged in missionary work to Britain.  Patrick's thoughts often turned towards Ireland.

Pope St. Celestine I,  entrusted St. Patrick with the mission of gathering the Irish race into the one fold of Christ on the recommendation of St. Germain. Palladius (q.v.) had previously been unsuccessful.It was Celestine that  gave him the name "Patercius" or "Patritius", not as an honorary title, but as a foreshadowing of the fruitfulness and merit of his apostolate whereby he became pater civium  (the father of his people). Patrick on his return journe y from Rome and turning aside to the neighboring city of Turin received episcopal consecration at the hands of its great bishop, St. Maximus, and thence hastened on to Auxerre to make preparations for the Irish mission.

It was probably in the summer months of the year 433, that Patrick and his companions landed at the mouth of the Vantry River close by Wicklow Head. The Druids were at once in arms against him. But Patrick was not disheartened. The intrepid missionary resolved to search out a more friendly territory in which to enter on his mission. First of all, however, he would proceed towards Dalriada, where he had been a slave, to pay the price of ransom to his former master, and in exchange for the servitude and cruelty endured at his hands to impart to him  blessings

He continued his journey over land towards Slemish. He had not proceeded far when a chieftain, named Dichu, appeared on the scene to prevent his further advance. He drew his sword to smite the saint, but his arm became rigid as a statue and continued so until he declared himself obedient to Patrick. This was the first sanctuary dedicated by St. Patrick in Erin. It became in later years a chosen retreat of the saint. A monastery and church were erected there, and the hallowed site retains the name Sabhall (pronounced Saul) to the present day. Continuing his journey towards Slemish, the saint was struck with horror on seeing at a distance the fort of his old master Milchu enveloped in flames. The fame of Patrick's marvelous power of miracles preceeded him. Milchu, in a fit of frenzy, gathered his treasures into his mansion and setting it on fire, cast himself into the flames. An ancient record adds: "His pride could not endure the thought of being vanquished by his former slave".......

 

The ANNOTICO Reports Can be Viewed and are Fully Archived at:

Italia USA: http://www.ItaliaUSA.com (Formerly Italy at St Louis)

 

The ANNOTICO Reports Can be Viewed at

 

Annotico Email: annotico@earthlink.net