Chapter 16. A New Kind of Hero. Having lived with the Irish people, Patrick well understood the important role the hero played in their culture. "From what I've heard," he told his men, "in battle the Irish depend more upon the extreme bravery of one or more of their heroic warriors than they do upon any battle strategy or unified discipline. Often their hero challenges the enemy to send out their champion to engage him in single combat.
At other times, the hero even offers himself as a sacrifice for the good of his people." "Yes, I've heard that before," Loman chimed in. "That's one reason the Irish so terrorize our people." Thinking hard, Patrick continued, "So we've got to give the Irish a new heroic model to replace their warrior hero ideal. But who will this new hero be?" He paused for a moment. "Why, of course, how silly of me. Their new hero will be Jesus himself.
Jesus forsook all of the comforts of heaven and all of the privileges of deity in order to come to earth on our behalf. He then single-handedly defeated Satan. I think the Irish can relate to that and respect it." "You said the Irish hero often gives up his life as a sacrifice," Crispus interjected. "Jesus also gave his life as a sacrifice for all of mankind." "Right you are," Patrick replied. "Of course, in other ways. Jesus doesn't fit the Irish ideal of the hero at all," Patrick mused.
"The Irish practically worship beauty. Their kings have to be physically attractive. Yet Jesus wasn't handsome. Furthermore, he didn't come to earth with a sword slaughtering his enemies. Rather, he came as a suffering servant. He preached love and forgiveness of enemies, not war and hate. These are going to be new things for the Irish.
To them, Jesus will be a new kind of hero." During that first year in Ireland, hundreds of Irish men and women committed their lives to this new hero, Jesus Christ, and received the adoption as sons and daughters of God. Loman, Crispus, and the others proved to be able assistants. Periodically, Christians from Britain would come over, bringing fresh supplies for the Ireland mission.
Although the beleaguered British church couldn't contribute a lot in the way of supplies, Patrick appreciated what help it did provide. "The important thing," Patrick counseled his men one morning, "is that we must all become living examples of how even fallen humans can live the Christ life. Like Paul before us, we'll have to brobe beat our bodies in order to keep our feet on the narrow way that Christ has set before us.
We're on a stage here, and it's important that in our conduct we never give the unbelievers any opportunity to disparage Christ, even in the smallest matter." "That's going to be extremely difficult," Crispus replied. "In our own strength, it's impossible," Patrick agreed. "But with the power of the Holy Spirit, we can do it. I don't trust my own flesh as long as I'm in this body of death. I know how strong Satan is, and I realize that every day he strives to turn all of us away from the faith.
We can only accomplish what we've set out to do if the Lord wills it and guards us from every evil way." Because they walked closely with the Lord and depended on God's grace, Patrick, his men, and their message had a dramatic effect on their listeners. Everywhere they went, crowds of people laid down their swords forever and committed their lives to Christ. Within a few years, Patrick had baptized thousands of people and had ordained many of the Irish men into the ministry.
"I've just come back from visiting Bron," Loman told Patrick one evening, warming himself by the peat fire in their crude wattle and daub huts. "I wish I could have been with you," Patrick sighed. "That man has given up everything for Christ: rank, property, and comforts. Free of the cares of this world, he's been able to devote his life wholeheartedly to Christ." "Yes, and there are scores of others just like him," Loman agreed. "How's he doing?" Patrick inquired. "He's doing fine, both physically and spiritually.
He's built himself a small hut in the mountains of Mourne. There he spends his entire life in prayer, fasting, and studying Scripture." "How is he coming with his Latin?" "He's doing really well. These Irish amaze me. For all of these centuries, they've been an illiterate people. Yet now that we're offering to teach them to read, they're embracing it with more zeal than our own people. They love to read. Bron is a perfect example of this." "But is that all he does?" Patrick queried.
"He just stays to himself and reads?" "Not at all. As his reputation for godliness has grown, others have come to him for spiritual counseling and instruction. So now a number of other single men have constructed huts nearby. And they're the strangest huts I've ever seen. They look like giant beehives. They build them by stacking stones on top of one another without a drop of mortar." "Yes, I'm familiar with these beehive huts," Patrick explained as he stoked the fire.
"They're actually quite sturdy, and they keep the water out. But tell me more about this community of men. What do they do besides pray, meditate, and study?" "They become an effective center for evangelism. The men are spreading the gospel all throughout Ulster." "Praise God," Patrick exclaimed, raising his hands in the air. "It seems as though he has set this entire nation on fire. And so far, Satan and his demons have been utterly unable to stop it.
As you well know, Loman, it isn't just the men who are eagerly receiving the gospel. The women are just as eager, or perhaps more so. And they, too, have to make a lot of changes to become Christians." "How well I know," Loman agreed. "I think they're as warlike as their men. Just last week, I witnessed an unbelievable fight between two women. One woman had found out that her rival had committed adultery with her husband.
So without warning, she fell on the other woman, screaming, kicking, and punching with all of her might. When a bystander tried to break it up, she pummeled him with kicks and punches as well." Patrick smiled. "Yes, I've witnessed many such fights myself. The women here are also quite loose sexually. Often they openly commit adultery with their much-admired warrior heroes." "And are they ever preoccupied with beauty and cosmetics?" Loman interjected.
"Have you noticed how they darken their eyebrows with berry juice, paint their fingernails, and even use a special herb to redden their cheeks?" "How could I help but notice? And of course, they love to array themselves with costly jewelry and ornate dresses. That's why I so admire our female converts here in Ireland. They give up so much for Christ, becoming fine examples of the godly women that Peter describes. Hundreds of them have become virgins espoused to Christ.
These women are well known throughout their communities for their acts of love, hospitality, and mercy." "In some ways," Loman added, "I think the celibate life is more difficult for them." "Why do you say that?" Patrick asked. "Because they usually remain at home rather than living in community with other virgin women." "I agree. Their lot is difficult. Often their unbelieving parents strongly oppose them.
In fact, just last week, Etnie came up to me after we had celebrated the Eucharist." "Who's Etnie?" "She's a godly young woman of noble birth and very beautiful. She could have her pick of dozens of suitors." "Yes, I remember her now. Anyway, she came up and told Crispus and me that she had received a word from a messenger of God. He had admonished her to become a virgin of Christ and to devote her life completely to God. Six days later, she committed herself to be a virgin for Christ.
Poor thing, her father was furious and threatened to beat her. In fact, he threatened me as well." Loman helped himself to some of the soup cooking in a black iron cauldron hanging over the fire. "Patrick, isn't it about time that you took a rest from your work here and went back to Britain for a short spell? We've been here five years now, and you haven't left the country even once." "Oh, how I would love to," Patrick sighed with a deep yearning in his eyes.
"I can't tell you how much I want to see my family again. And it would be so wonderful to visit some of the brothers in Britain, and maybe even my friends in Gaul. I sometimes feel like I'm in exile here. However, the Spirit won't let me leave Ireland. In fact, he's told me that my work here will be in great peril if ever I leave. So until the spirit tells me differently, I can't leave." "Not even for a week?" Loman asked in disbelief. "No, not even for a week. I love my parents deeply, and I ache to see them.
Yet my first loyalty must be to my flock in Ireland. And I have to obey the spirit. As Jesus said, 'He who loves father or mother more than me is not worthy of me.'" Overcome with emotion, Patrick could speak no more. He went outside and brought in some more firewood. Loman helped him put the wood in the fire. He then put his arm around Patrick and said, "I'm going to make it a point to intercede for you on this matter, dear brother. Perhaps God will change his mind and let you leave for at least a week."