Chapter 17. The Saxon Fury. Ten years had passed since Patrick had begun his mission in Ireland. However, God had not relented on the matter of Patrick's leave in Ireland. Nevertheless, God did continue to bless Patrick's work. In fact, in the areas where he and his men had heavily evangelized, Christians typically outnumbered the pagans. In those areas, Christianity was dramatically affecting society as a whole. Clans who had been feuding for years laid down their swords and began to love each other as brothers.
By this time, Patrick had set up his permanent base at Armagh, in Northern Ireland. "Welcome to Armagh," Patrick said in Latin with outstretched arms to the two guests who approached his simple wattle-and-daub hut one day. "From your dress, I can tell you're not from Ireland." "No, we're not," the older of the two men replied with a broad smile on his face. "I'm Secundinus, and this is Auxilius.
We've come to volunteer our service in the work here in Ireland." Patrick immediately invited the men into his hut and gave them cool water to drink. "Here are our letters of recommendation from Bishop Brannock," Auxilius said as he handed Patrick some papers he had pulled from his worn leather satchel. Patrick studied them for a moment. "So you're both presbyters, I see. That's wonderful. I can put you to work right away.
However, you'll be limited in what you can do here until you learn Gaelic." "Yes, we realize that," Secundinus responded, nodding his head. "We're ready to study Gaelic right away." "Good. I'll ask one of the brothers here to begin teaching you Gaelic this week." Patrick walked over to the lone cupboard in his Spartan hut and produced a loaf of bread and a small bit of cheese from it.
"Here, have a bite to eat while you're resting your weary legs." "During our walk from the coast, Auxilius and I have been remarking on how beautiful Ireland is," Secundinus mentioned between bites. "We come from Gaul originally. Gaul is scenic as well, but not like this. It's as though the hills and valleys here are carpeted in green velvet." "Yes, Ireland is truly beautiful. I've come to love it. But I'll let you in on a little secret," Patrick said with a twinkle in his eye.
"There's a reason why Ireland is so green. It rains all the time. To do God's work here means that you'll be constantly walking and preaching in the rain. I can't tell you how many times I've been drenched to the skin, shivering in the cold wind. My feet are often so caked with mud I can't tell for sure if my toes are still there." "But at least your hut, as modest as it is, keeps the rain out," Auxilius observed. "Yes, that it does.
Now, if I could only find a way to take it with me when I go to preach," Patrick commented with a chuckle. "But now, tell me the news about Britain. How are things there?" The two men hesitated for a moment. Finally, Secundinus spoke up. "As you know, Britain enjoyed a period of peace for several years, brought about by the Saxons." "Yes, Vortigern convinced the people that our only chance for peace was to invite the Saxons to come and settle between us and the Picts.
I said it would never work, that it was putting our trust in alliances with idol-worshipping pagans. But so far, it looks like I was wrong." "No, you weren't wrong," Secundinus countered. "The Saxon peace lasted for several years. But finally, the Saxons grew tired of having only a strip of buffer land in northern Britain for themselves. Once they observed how weak and demoralized the Britons were, they realized they could have the whole island for themselves.
So they sent word to their fellow Saxons back on the Jutland Peninsula, telling them of the situation. They invited the other Saxons, as well as the neighboring Angles, to come and help them take all of Britain. Once their comrades arrived, the Saxons allied themselves with the Picts and turned their vicious swords on the Christians of Britain." "Oh, no," Patrick moaned, burying his head in his hands.
"If only the people had trusted in God and returned to him." The Saxons swept across the countryside of northern and eastern Britain, killing, raping, and burning," Secundinus continued in a sad voice. "They even burst into churches in the middle of worship and cut down the presbyters and bishops in the middle of their prayers." Patrick was now openly crying. Overcome with emotion, Secundinus could not continue, so Auxilius took over the narration.
"The Britons have quickly found that the Saxons are far worse to have as enemies than the Scots and Picts put together. The Saxons take no prisoners and show no mercy on account of age, rank, or sex. They burn whole families alive in their houses. Anyone who flees from the flames is caught and butchered on the spot. In fact, the Saxons usually leave no survivors to bury the dead. Everywhere, dead bodies rot, filling the land with a horrid stench." "Hasn't anyone escaped?" Patrick asked in a broken voice.
"A few have," Secundinus answered, having recovered his composure. "They flee to the mountains and forests, where they eke out a wretched existence, living in constant fear for their lives. Others seek refuge in the villages and cities in western Britain, which has not yet fallen to the Angles and Saxons." "It's a wonder that anyone's left," Auxilius added.
"Between the Scots and Picts from the north, the Irish raiders from the west, and the Saxons in the east, it's as though all of Britain is in the stranglehold of an evil giant. When news reached Gaul of the horrible conditions in Britain, we sailed to the western coast of Britain to see what we could do to help the Christians there." "And how are things there, on the west coast?" Patrick inquired anxiously. "Not good," Secundinus answered.
"Refugees from all over the country are pouring into the coastal cities and villages. As a result, the cities and villages are overcrowded, and one plague after another has swept over them. The fury of the plagues is as deadly as that of the Saxons." "Did you, by any chance, visit the village of Bannavem Taburniae?" Patrick asked with a disturbed look. "That's where I'm from." "Yes, that's where we learned about you and your mission." "What about my parents?
Did you meet them, perchance?" Secundinus hesitated, obviously not wanting to answer. "Patrick, I'm sorry to be the one to have to tell you. But they're both dead from the plague." Patrick was silent for a moment. He then excused himself so he could have some time in solitude. He told his guests to make themselves at home while he took a walk in the nearby hills to come to grips with the news he had just heard. While he was out, Loman dropped by.
"Hello, I'm Secundinus, and this is Auxilius from Britain." Secundinus greeted him. "Well, actually, we're originally from Gaul. We've come to help in the work here." "Wonderful!" Loman exclaimed, embracing the two men. "I'm Loman." "Loman, yes, we've heard about you. You're one of the original men who came here with Patrick, aren't you?" "Yes, I am. By the way, where is Patrick?" The men filled Loman in on the events in Britain and the death of Patrick's parents.
"We didn't even get a chance to tell Patrick that after the death of his parents, an uncle was appointed executor. He sold all of the property and deposited the proceeds with the local presbyters. They, in turn, have entrusted those goods with us. We've brought them for Patrick. Perhaps he can build a more comfortable place with them or something." "Not Patrick," Loman sighed. "Knowing him, he'll use it all to fund the work of evangelism. We don't receive much aid from Britain anymore.
Of course, with the way things are in Britain, I well understand why they can't send more aid. But tell me, has this time of calamity brought the people of Britain closer to God?" "I'm afraid not," Auxilius answered sadly, shaking his head. "From what I've been told, when the Saxons first turned on the Britons, the people cried out to God with upraised arms in great lamentation. But when no answer from God was forthcoming, the people decided that their only deliverance would be in the sword, not in the church.
Their hastily organized armies now fight valiantly against the Saxons. Yet they've lost battle after battle. The Saxons continue their butchery with seeming invincibility." "You mean no one has ever successfully fought the Saxons?" Loman asked. "Up to now, no," Auxilius replied. "Unless God intervenes, there may no longer be a Britain in a few years. With what has happened, the people have almost totally lost their faith in God. The majority of the people don't even attend church anymore.
Many are openly worshipping the idols of their ancestors." "I mean no offense by this, but I'm surprised you didn't stay in Britain," Loman interjected. "I mean, with things being in the state they are right now." "Well, we would have," explained Secundinus. "If there were a shortage of leaders there. However, right now, there is an abundance of shepherds. The bishops, presbyters, and deacons have all stayed in the church. It's just the flocks that have dwindled.
Our efforts to revive the people met with no success at all." "So after considerable prayer," Auxilius added, "we felt that God would have us labor where the harvest is great. Ireland seems to be that place right now." "That it is," Loman heartily agreed. "Listen, I'm leaving tomorrow on a short preaching trip. Why don't the two of you come with me so you can see firsthand what God is doing here?" The visitors readily agreed, and the next morning they set off on foot with Loman and some others.
It rained the whole day, and a chilly Atlantic wind quickly had Secundinus and Auxilius shivering. "Patrick warned us that it rains all the time here in Ireland," Secundinus remarked, drawing his hood over his head. "Yes, it does," Loman readily acknowledged. "But you'll rarely hear Patrick complain about it. Quite often, when he's preaching, he's forced to sleep out in the rain or in crude temporary huts, which don't keep the rain out. And he's not a young man anymore. He's nearly sixty, you know.
Although he seldom says anything, I can tell from watching him that his body constantly aches. I've seen him spend many a night lying on the cold ground, shaking with fever chills." "Before we came to Britain, we had never even heard of Patrick," Secundinus commented. "But he sounds like an incredible man of God." "He definitely is, and the people of Ireland know it. His reputation precedes him when he sets out to preach. Everywhere he goes, people fall at his feet.
When he speaks, crowds of people are nearly always converted." "It sounds like he's become their national hero," Auxilius chimed in. "Yes, that's exactly right. You see, the Irish strongly relate to a hero figure. They have no written laws and very little concept of an organized government like we do. Instead, they rally around their heroes. From the very first, Patrick has steered the people toward Jesus Christ as their new hero, and they have responded marvelously to that concept.
Yet the people also need a physical, flesh-and-blood model they can see with their eyes." "And Patrick has become that flesh-and-blood hero," Secundinus submitted. "Exactly. The Irish can hear about Christ. But Patrick, they can see. Like Paul, Patrick has been able to say to the Irish, 'Become imitators of me, as even I imitate Christ.' I've never met anyone who walks so closely in the footsteps of Jesus as Patrick does." "I'm beginning to like this, Patrick," Auxilius responded.
"Give us some examples of what you mean by his walking in the footsteps of Jesus." "To begin with, Jesus never married, neither has Patrick. Jesus had no house to call his home, neither does Patrick, unless you want to count his little huts made of sticks and mud. Besides his clothes, Jesus had practically no material possessions, neither does Patrick. Jesus loved and forgave his enemies, so is Patrick." "What enemies are you talking about?" Secundinus asked.
"Did you know that Patrick had originally been kidnapped by the Irish as a lad of sixteen?" The two newcomers looked surprised. "No, no one ever told us that," Secundinus admitted. "Well, he was. He served as a slave here in Ireland for six years. As a result, he missed out on his education. Through God's intervention, he finally escaped from Ireland, but he bore no hatred for his kidnappers. Instead, when God called him to come here to bring the love of Christ to these people, he responded without hesitation.
Now he prays that God will let him die in Ireland." "Has Patrick had any other enemies?" Auxilius asked as he sat down on a boulder to rest. "Oh, yes, he's had plenty, both inside and outside the church. In fact, even his best friend betrayed him." "Really? Tell us about this betrayal," Secundinus asked. "So Loman told the men about Patrick's false friend, Marcus, and the treacherous thing he had done.
Yet the entire time we've been in Ireland, I've never heard Patrick say even one unkind word about Marcus," Loman concluded. The men continued their journey. "Have I told you what a man of prayer Patrick is?" Loman asked. "No," the other two chorused. "Let me tell you, he prays like no one I've ever met before. He spends entire days at a time in prayer, and he constantly fasts.
I think that's why God has protected him and the rest of us from the continual dangers we face." "What sort of dangers?" Auxilius asked nervously. "Well, from the moment Patrick and the rest of us set foot in Ireland, our lives have been constantly in danger. You see, Ireland is fragmented into many different clans. I hear there's about two hundred of them, and these clans are constantly waging petty wars against each other.
So it's highly dangerous for a band of foreigners to travel about the countryside, journeying from clan to clan." "But it didn't seem dangerous there in Armagh," Auxilius noted. "That's right," Loman answered. "But that's because of the effects of the gospel. However, when you venture into places where the gospel has never been preached, it's a very different story.
If you're not careful, one of the chieftains will kidnap you and either hold you for ransom or sell you as a slave." Secundinus and Auxilius glanced at each other anxiously. "So how do you manage to preach the gospel?" Secundinus inquired with a puzzled brow. "Well, since Patrick knew the customs in advance, from his years here as a slave, he pays tribute to each chieftain in order to travel freely through his territory. Of course, this can get to be expensive.
We've exhausted all our resources in doing this, and no doubt Patrick will spend his entire inheritance in the same way." "But once you pay tribute to a chieftain, it ensures your safety, right?" Secundinus asked, swallowing hard. "Usually it does, but not always. About a year ago, Patrick and I had just paid a handsome tribute demanded by Coapre, one of the Irish kings. In return, Coapre guaranteed us and our men safe passage throughout his territory. He even sent his sons along to give us protection.
However, we hadn't journeyed far before the king's sons pounced on us and stole everything we had." "Oh, no," Auxilius interjected. "But that's not all," Loman continued. "They then took us to their father's house, where we were all put in iron chains. In fact, the king was planning to kill all of us, but our time had not yet come. Although the rest of us were all terribly frightened, Patrick's faith never wavered. He prayed day and night to God, hardly taking time to eat and drink.
Suddenly, two weeks later, Coapre released us and even returned all of our property." "What happened to make him change his mind?" Auxilius asked eagerly. "Well, about a week after kidnapping us, two of his sons were killed in battle. Coapre felt that God had punished him for the treacherous way he had dealt with us, so that's why he let us go." "But that was an isolated incident, right?" Secundinus asked. "No, I'm afraid that things like that are the norm.
I don't mean that most kings go back on their word of honor. Very few do. Rather, what I mean is that without God's hand of protection, Patrick and I wouldn't have lasted more than a week in Ireland. Even now, we daily expect murder, deceit, captivity, or some other thing. Eleven years ago, Rome sent a man here named Palladius. He lasted only a year and then left." Seeing the countenances of the two men, Loman added, "I hope I haven't discouraged you, but I do think you should know the truth about our work here.
It's a hard life." "No, you haven't discouraged us," Secundinus replied, glancing at Auxilius for confirmation. "The things you've said are a bit disturbing, of course. But we weren't expecting an easy time when we decided to come here." "Furthermore," Auxilius added, "it's a bit exciting to think about working alongside a man of faith like Patrick." "Yes, it is," Loman agreed. "Patrick came here to die. Before he ever set foot in Ireland, he cast himself into the hands of God Almighty.
His life is totally in God's hands. I don't know how long he has left here. Tomorrow may be his last day. Or perhaps God wants him to continue working for another twenty or thirty years. Only he knows." "Let's hope for another twenty or thirty years," Auxilius remarked. "Amen. The others and I have a lot of maturing to do before we'll be ready to take over the work here," Loman agreed. By this time, the men had reached their destination.
A crowd had already gathered, having heard that a man sent by Patrick was coming to tell them about this new king, Jesus. Before the week was over, Loman and the others had baptized more than forty people. When they returned to Patrick's hut at Armagh a few weeks later, Secundinus and Auxilius couldn't help remarking over and over how they had never seen such a marvelous response to the gospel. "Yes, the fields are definitely ripe for harvest here," Patrick agreed.
"God will be able to use both of you in a powerful way, so long as you stay close to him and do everything in his strength, not your own. But you should also know that not everyone in Ireland is receptive to the gospel. We've made some powerful enemies here." "Yes, we've heard about them," Auxilius replied. Pointing to a worn Bible laying on a nearby table, Patrick asked Secundinus to hand it to him.
Then, turning to Paul's second epistle to the Corinthians, he read to them this passage: "In journeys often, in perils of waters, in perils of robbers, in perils of my own countrymen, in perils of the Gentiles, in perils in the city, in perils in the wilderness, in perils in the sea, in perils among false brethren, in weariness and toil, in sleeplessness often, in hunger and thirst, in fastings often, in cold and nakedness." Closing the Bible, Patrick looked at the two men and added, "That describes our life in
Ireland, which is now your life as well."