The Writings of Saint Patrick, the Apostle of Ireland/The Epistle to Coroticus

by Saint Patrick

For other English-language translations of this work, see Letter to the soldiers of Coroticus.

III.—THE EPISTLE TO COROTICUS.^[1]

PATRICK, a sinner, unlearned, declare indeed that I have been appointed a bishop in Ireland; I most certainly believe that from God I have received what I am. I dwell thus among barbarians,^{[* 1]} a proselyte and an exile, on account of the love of God. He is witness that it is so. Not because I desired to pour out anything from my mouth so harsh and severe, but I am compelled, stirred up by zeal for God and for the truth of Christ, for the love of my neighbours and sons, for whom I have abandoned country and parents, and my soul, even unto death, if I be worthy (of such honour). I have vowed to my God to teach the nations, although I be despised by some.

With my own hand I have written and composed these words, to be given and handed to the soldiers, to be sent to Coroticus;^[2] I do not say, to my fellow-citizens, and to the citizens of the Roman saints, but to the citizens of demons, on account of their own evil deeds, who by hostile practice of barbarians live in death;^[3]—companions of the Scots and apostate Picts^[4]—who stain themselves bloody with the blood of innocent Christians, whom I have begotten without number to God, and have confirmed in Christ.

2. On the day after that in which (these Christians) were anointed neophytes in white robes, while it (the anointing) was yet glistening on their foreheads—they were cruelly massacred and slaughtered with the sword by those above-mentioned.^[5] And I sent a letter with a holy presbyter, whom I taught from his infancy, with (other) clergy (begging them) that they would restore to us some of the plunder, or of the baptized captives whom they took, (but) they mocked at them. Therefore, I do not know what I should lament for the more, whether those who were slain, or those whom they captured; or those whom the devil has grievously ensnared with the everlasting pain of Gehenna (hell-fire)—for they will be chained together with him. 'For' indeed 'he who commits sin is a slave,'^{[* 2][6]} and is termed 'a son of the devil.'^{[* 3]}

3. Wherefore, let every man fearing God know that they (the soldiers) are aliens from me, and from Christ my God, for whom I discharge an embassage,—patricides, fratricides, 'ravening wolves,'^{[* 4]} devouring the people of the Lord as the food of bread.^{[* 5][7]} As he says the ungodly 'have dissipated Thy law. Lord.'^{[* 6][8]} Since in these last times Ireland has been most excellently and auspiciously planted and instructed by the favour of God. I do not usurp [other men's labours but]^[9] I have part with those whom He hath called and predestined to preach the Gospel amidst no small persecutions, even to the end of the earth; although the Enemy envies us by the tyranny of Coroticus, who fears not God, nor His priests, whom He hath chosen, and committed to them that greatest, Divine, sublime power: 'Whom they bind upon earth, they are bound also in heaven.'^[10]

4. I, therefore, earnestly beseech (you), who are holy and humble in heart, not to flatter such persons, nor to take food or drink with them, nor to deem it right to take their alms—until they rigorously do repentance with tears poured forth, and make satisfaction to God, and liberate the servants of God, and the baptized handmaidens of Christ, for whom He was put to death and crucified.

'The Most High reprobates the gifts of the wicked. . . . He that offereth sacrifice of the goods of the poor is as one that sacrificeth the son in the presence of his father.'^{[* 7][11]} 'The riches,' he says, 'which he will collect unjustly shall be vomited from his belly, the angel of death shall drag him off, the fury of dragons shall assail him, the tongue of the adder shall slay him,^{[* 8][12]} ' the inextinguishable fire shall devour him.'^{[* 9]} And, therefore, 'Woe unto those who fill themselves with things which are not their own.'^[13] Or, 'What doth it profit a man if he gain the whole world, and suffer the loss of his own soul?'^{[* 10]}

It were long to discuss (texts) one by one, or to run through the whole law, to select testimonies concerning such cupidity. Avarice is a deadly sin: 'Thou shalt not covet thy neighbour's goods.'^[14] 'Thou shalt not kill.'^{[* 11]} A murderer cannot be with Christ. 'Whosoever hateth his brother is' termed 'a murderer.'^{[* 12]} Or, 'He who loveth not his brother abideth in death.'^{[* 13][15]} How much more guilty is he who has stained his hands with the blood of the sons of God—whom He lately acquired in the ends of the earth by the exhortation of our littleness!'^{[* 14][16]}

5. Was it indeed without God, or according to the flesh, that I came to Ireland?^[17] Who compelled me? I was bound by the Spirit not to see (again) any of my kindred. Do I not love^[18] pious compassion, because I act (thus) towards that nation which once took me captive, and laid waste the servants and handmaidens of my father's house? I was a free-man according to the flesh, I was born of a father who was a Decurio.^[19] For I bartered my noble-birth—I do not blush or regret it—for the benefit of others. In fine, I am a servant in Christ, (given over) to a foreign nation, on account of the ineffable glory of that perennial life which is in Christ Jesus our Lord. And if my own friends do not acknowledge me:—'A prophet hath no honour in his own country.'^{[* 15]}

Perhaps (they think) we are not of the one sheepfold, nor have the one God as Father. As He says: 'He that is not with Me is against Me; and he that gathereth not with Me scattereth.'^{[* 16]} It is not fitting that 'one destroys, another builds.'^[20] I do not seek those things which are my own.^{[* 17][21]}

6. Not my grace, but God, indeed, hath put this desire into my heart, that I should be one of the Page:Writings of Saint Patrick, Apostle of Ireland.djvu/83 Page:Writings of Saint Patrick, Apostle of Ireland.djvu/84 Page:Writings of Saint Patrick, Apostle of Ireland.djvu/85 Page:Writings of Saint Patrick, Apostle of Ireland.djvu/86

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1. Lat. inter barbaras, which must either be corrected into barbaros, as we have done, or the word gentes, nations, supplied, as by Dr. W. Stokes.
2. John viii. 34.
3. John vii. 44.
4. Acts xx. 29.
5. Psa. xiv. 4.
6. Psa. cxix. 126.
7. Ecclus. xxxiv. 23, 24.
8. Job xx. 15, 16.
9. Matt. iii. 12.
10. Matt. xvi. 26.
11. Exod. xx. 13.
12. 1 John iii. 15.
13. 1 John iii. 14.
14. Comp. 2 Cor. i. 15–17.
15. John iv. 44.
16. Matt. xii. 30.
17. 2 Cor. xii. 14.

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1. The figures refer to the notes at the end of the book.

   The title of this Epistle in Dr. Whitley Stokes' work is 'The Epistle of St. Patrick to the Christian subjects of the tyrant Coroticus.'

2. ⁠ Coroticus was a Welsh prince. Some twenty years ago a pillar was discovered in Wales, with the name Coroticus in Latin and Ogham. Some have identified this with the name of Patrick's correspondent. (G. T. Stokes.)
3. ⁠ The reference is to 1 John iii. 15, but there is no direct quotation. Patrick writes in morte vivunt, while the New Testament phrase is manet in morte.
4. ⁠ The Picts inhabited Scotland, and were also scattered over the north of Ireland. Comgall of Bangor and Canice of Kilkenny were Irish Picts. Columba was a Scot; he summoned Comgall, the founder of Bangor, and Canice, to help him in preaching the Gospel to the Scottish Picts, recognising the fact that community in blood and language is a great help towards persuasion. There is a tradition that the Picts of Scotland accepted Christianity before Patrick's day, but soon fell away
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