Dr.

Robert Hickson

25 March 2014 Feast of the Annunciation

Through Belloc's Eyes: Saint Patrick's Person and Presence

Slightly ore than a century ago! four years before "orl# "ar $ began! an# si% years before

the &aster Rising in Dublin! Hilaire 'elloc (ublishe# an essay on Saint )atrick of $relan# in one of his collections of *arie# essays! entitle# First and Last +1,10-.1 .his co (act si%/(age essay0containing i (ortant conce(ts an# *i*i# (ersonal e%(eriences01as (ublishe# fi*e years after 2.'. 'ury! the )rotestant Regius )rofessor of Mo#ern History at 3a bri#ge 4ni*ersity! ha# (ublishe# his o1n learne# 400/(age book on Saint )atrick +#.451-! 1hich 1as entitle# The Life of St. Patrick and His Place in History +1,05-.2

"hat 'elloc 1ill #ra1 us to consi#er about the abi#ing )resence of a )erson0in this case a Saint of Robustness an# Heroic 6itality0 ay ean e*en ore to us 1hen 1e recall 'oethius7 classic four/1or# #efinition of )erson +8 Persona9-: 8the in#i*i#ual substance of rational nature9 +8 naturae rationabilis individua substantia-.; .he fuller (assage! 1herein 'oethius intro#uces this i (ortant #efinition! 1hich 1as later a#o(te# an# trans itte# by Saint .ho as A<uinas in his Summa Theologiae +$/$$ <. 2, a.1-! goes as follo1s: "herefore if (erson belongs to substances alone! an# these rational! an# if e*ery substance is a nature! an# e%ists not in uni*ersals but in in#i*i#uals! 1e ha*e foun# the #efinition of (erson: 8.he in#i*i#ual substance of a rational nature.9 =o1 by this #efinition 1e >atins ha*e #escribe# 1hat the ?reeks call H@)AS.AS$S Bas in Aur >or#7s 8H@)AS.A.$3 4=$A=9 in the $ncarnationC.4
1 Hilaire 'elloc! First and Last +>on#on: Methuen D 3o. >.D.! 1,10-! ((. ,1/,5. All <uotations fro H. 'elloc7s o1n essay on St. )atrick 1ill be fro this 1,10 e#ition! an# (lace# abo*e in (arentheses in the ain bo#y of this essay. 2 2.'. 'ury! The Life of St. Patrick and His Place in History +>on#on: Mac illan an# 3o.! >i ite#-! 400 (ages. $n his 5/ (age )reface +((. */%-! 1here he s(eaks of 1hy an# ho1 he ca e to 1rite the book! he says: 8For one 1hose interest in the subEect is purely intellectual! it 1as Bto eC a atter of unmixed indifference 1hat ans1er ay be foun# to any one of the *e%e# <uestions. $ 1ill not antici(ate my conclusions here! but I may say that they tend to show that the oman !atholic conception of St" Patrick's work is# generally# nearer to historical fact than the $iews of some anti%Papal di$ines.9 +((. *ii/*iii0 y e (hasis a##e#- Moreo*er! earlier on his (. *ii! he ha# also un<ualifie#ly asserte#: 8.he business of a historian is to ascertain facts.9 +(. *ii0 y e (hasis a##e#; Boethius: The Theological Tractates and The !onsolation of Philoso"hy0>oeb 3lassical >ibrary no. F4 +3a bri#ge! Massachusetts: Har*ar# 4ni*ersity )ress! 1,F;-! ((. G4/G5. 4 #bid.! ((. G5/G,.

?i*en the (re*alence to#ay of the =eo/Mo#ernists7 8relational9 an# 8e*olutionary9 theories an# their acco (anying 8(rocess (hiloso(hies9 an# 8(rocess theologies901here (ur(orte#ly +an# blas(he ously- e*en 8?o# needs us to co (lete Hi selfH9 an# all (ercei*e# things are so eho1 8beco ing9 an# 8e erging9 an# 8con*erging90it is es(ecially i (ortant to re e ber an# affir !oncept and eality of Substance an# the !oncept and eality of Person0also in the 'lesse# .rinity an# in the $ncarnation of 3hrist as a Di*ine )erson +not as a =estorian 8&uman )erson9H-. "e to be ay reliably e%(ect that! at forty years of age! Hilaire 'elloc hi self01ho 1as also later the

ore fully for e# by the .ho ist! Father 6incent Mc=abb! A.).0alrea#y kne1 his Saint

.ho as as 1ell as his 'oethius. 'ut! let us no1 consi#er our 'elloc7s *ie1 of Saint )atrick an# $relan# in 1,10! an# elegiacally contrast it 1ith 1hat 1e are co ing to see in $relan# to#ay! in 2014. For! it (oignantly re in#s e*en e of 1hat Ha ish Fraser once farsighte#ly sai# in (erson! an# in his 1riting! that ore s(iritual )erils of )ros(erity +i.e.! the lure of the $rish ha*e heroically en#ure# the cruelty an# (rotracte# )erils of A#*ersity! but that they 1oul# be ore grie*ously te (te# an# trie# by the a((arent (ros(erity! an# the se#uction of actual ease an# sloth/in#ucing co forts-0an# that 1as! in#ee#! as it see e#! the ne1 Strategic )lan of the 'ritish +an# others- in the late t1entieth century in their .argeting of 3atholic $relan#. .o return to 'elloc7s brief 1,10 essay! 8St. )atrick!9 an# to his o1n une%(ecte# an# so e1hat abstract! intro#uctory 1or#s! 1e refreshingly #isco*er hi to say:

$f there is one thing that (eo(le 1ho are not 3atholic ha*e gone 1rong u(on ore than another in the intellectual things of life ! it is in the conception of a Personality Bi.e.! an influential )erson! a arke#ly uni<ue )ersonhoo#C. .hey are u##le# about it 1here their o1n little sel*es are concerne#! they isa((reciate it 1hen they #eal 1ith the (roble s of society! an# they ha*e a *ery 1eak hol# on it 1hen they consi#er +if they #o consi#er- the nature of Al ighty ?o# Bthus! by i (lication! the =ature of the .riune ?o#C. +,10 y e (hasis a##e#Ho1! 1e ay 1on#er! #oes all of this (ertain to the character an# life of Saint )atrickI

"ith his characteristic a(lo b an# enhance# accent! an# in light of his o1n recurrent fears about (ersonal i ortality! 'elloc goes on to say: 2

=o1! (ersonality is e*erything. $t 1as a Personal 'ill that a#e all things! *isible an# in*isible. (ur hope of immortality resi#es in this! that 1e are (ersons! an# half our frailties (rocee# fro a BourHC isa((rehension of the awful responsibilities 1hich (ersonality B(ersonhoo#C in*ol*es or a cowardly ignorance of its (o1ers of self/go*ern ent. +,10 y e (hasis a##e#?.J. 3hesterton! so e t1enty years later! ga*e in so e1hat #ifferent 1or#s a co (arable e%(ression to his #ear frien# 'elloc7s o1n earlier insight about the 8terrible #o1ry of hu an free#o 9 +2osef )ie(er- an# our final (ersonal res(onsibility for ho1 1e use that faculty. 'ut 3hesterton7s 1or#s are! (erha(s! e*en ore (rofoun#. For! he 1rote the follo1ing luci# an# incisi*e 1or#s in his ature 3atholic essay entitle# 8.he Autline of >iberty9: "ill a#e the 1orl#K "ill 1oun#e# the 1orl#K the sa e Di*ine "ill ga*e to the 1orl# for the secon# ti e its chanceK the sa e hu an "ill can for the last ti e ake its choice.5

After this trenchant insight 1orthy of our further reflection! 3hesterton i another touch! an# 1ith his ironic char Ro an 3atholic! back in 1,22-: +ha*ing alrea#y hi self so

e#iately a##s

o#estly an# gratefully beco e a

.hat Babo*e/articulate# #octrineC is the real outstanding (eculiarity! or eccentricity! of the peculiar sect called oman !atholics . An# if anyone obEects to y li iting so large a conception to Ro an 3atholics! $ willingly agree that there are any 1ho *alue it so much that they ob*iously ought to be Ro an 3atholics. 'ut if anyone says that it is not in fact and history boun# u( 1ith the Faith of Ro an 3atholicis ! it is enough to refer him to the history and the facts.5

'elloc!

oreo*er! though 1ith so e rhetorical hy(erbole! 1ill no1 also consi#er the

atter of

history itself! an# in light of the 8 ain error9 he has alrea#y #iscusse#! na ely about the conce(t an# reality of 8)erson9 an# 8)ersonality9: .he hun#re# an# one errors 1hich this ain error leads to inclu#e a bad error on the nature of history. @our o#ern non/3atholic or anti/3atholic historian
5 ?.J. 3hesterton! The !ommon $an +=e1 @ork: Shee# an# "ar#! 1,50-! (. 2;5. His s(ecific essay on 8.he Autline of >iberty9 is to be foun# in its entirety on (ages 2;;/2;F. 5 #bid.0 y e (hasis a##e#.

is al1ays isun#erstan#ing! un#eresti ating! or u##ling the rLle (laye# in the affairs of en by great an# in#i*i#ual )ersonalities. .hat is 1hy he is so la entably 1eak on the functions of legen#K that is 1hy he akes a fetish of #ocu entary e*i#ence and has no grip on the $alue of tradition . For tra#itions s(ring fro so e (ersonality in*ariably! an# the function of legend! 1hether it be a rigi#ly true legen# or one tinge# 1ith ake/belie*e! is to interpret Personality. >egen#s Bas of Saint )atrickC ha*e *itality an# continue! because in their origin they so e%actly ser*e to explain or illustrate so e (ersonal character Bi.e.! (er anent sta (! or ark of #istinctionC in a an which no cold statement could gi$e. +,1/,20 y e (hasis a##e#At last! 1e shall co e to see the ore s(ecifically through 'elloc7s eyes ho1 so e nineteenth/

century scholars (rior to 2.'. 'ury ha*e (resente# an# effecti*ely #e(reciate# +or at least #i inishe#ission an# character of Saint )atrick an# e*en #oubte# his *ery historicity: =o1 St. )atrick! the 1hole story an# effect of hi ! is a atter of )ersonality. .here 1as once0t1enty or thirty years ago B1GG0/1G,0C0a 1hole school of #un#erhea#s 1ho 1on#ere# 1hether St. )atrick e*er e%iste#! because the ass of legen#s surroun#ing his na e trouble# the . Ho1 on earth +one 1on#ers#o such scholars consi#er their fello1/beingsH &a$e they e$er seen a cro1# cheering a (o(ular hero! or noticed the expression upon men's faces when they spoke of some friend of striking power recently dead I A great gro1th of legen#s aroun# a an is the $ery best proof you coul# ha*e not only of his e%istence but of the fact that he was an origin and a beginning# and that things sprang from his will or his $ision. +,20 y e (hasis a##e#Allu#ing to the recent scholarshi( of )rofessor 2.'. 'ury! 'elloc (raises his confir ation of things long belie*e# by the tra#itions of $rish 3atholicis ! an# he sees 'ury7s 1ork as a goo# e%a (le for other )rotestant en<uiries into &uro(ean history! (erha(s e*en so as to hel( the yet stiffer ?er ans: .here 1ere so e 1ho see e# to think it a kin# of fa*our #one to the indestructible body of Irish !atholicism 1hen Mr. 'ury 1rote his learne# )rotestant book Bunna e# by 'elloc! regrettablyC u(on St. )atrick. $t 1as a critical B8%uellenkritik902.'. 'ury7s o1n 1or#C an# a *ery careful bit of 1ork Bof only 440 (agesHC! an# 1as #eser*e#ly (raise#K but the fa*our #one us B3atholicsC $ coul# not seeH $t is all to the a#*antage of non/3atholic history that it shoul# be sane! an# that a great Protestant historian should make true history out of a great historical figure 1as a *ery goo# sign. $t 1as a long ste( back to co on sense co (are# 1ith the ?er an absur#ities 1hich ha# left the *icti s B etho#icallyC #oubting al ost all the soli# foun#ations of the &uro(ean storyK but as for us 3atholics! 1e ha# no nee# BsicC to be tol# it. +,2/,;0 y e (hasis a##e#4

Although $ fin# 'elloc a little too con#escen#ing here! an# ungratefully #is issi*e in those last un<ualifie# 1or#s of his about 8us 3atholics!9 $ a 1,10C! es(ecially to a *i*i#/soule# 3atholic sailor soon ollifie# 1hen $ i e#iately then rea# ho1 he no1 hi self i bibes 8the (resence9 of St. )atrick! 1hich is still to be foun# in $relan# Bin an running along the $rish coast in a fair 1in#:

=ot only 1as there a St. )atrick in history! but there is a St" Patrick on the shores of his eastern sea an# throughout all $relan# to%day. $t is a presence that stares you in the face! an# physically almost haunts you. >et a an sail along the >einster coast Bhea#ing north/northeastC on such a #ay as ren#ers the "icklo1 Mountains clear up%weather behind him ! an# the Mourne Mountains Bto the north/north1estC perhaps in storm! lifte# clearly abo$e the sea down the wind. He is taking so e such course as that on 1hich St. )atrick saile#! an# if he 1ill lan# fro ti e to ti e B1hile still running 1ith the 1in#C fro his little boat at the end of each day's sailing ! and hear )ass in the morning before he sails further northward ! he 1ill know in 1hat 1ay St. )atrick inhabits the soil which he rendered sacred . +,;0 y e (hasis a##e#"oul# that this little (assage on sailing +an# the culture of the Faith- 1oul# be kno1n an# sa*ore#! for! once again! it sho1s so ore 1i#ely

uch of our 'elloc7s heart0an# his soul of chil#hoo#. iracles

=o1 he 1ill gi*e us his reflections on holiness an# the e*i#ence! in#ee# 1itness! of of $relan#! to inclu#e the acute sorro1s that also (ro*oke# e igrations fro

that are one fruit of holinessK but 'elloc7s narrati*e 1ill also then take us further into the tragic history $relan#! 1hich like1ise ha# so e goo# 8uninten#e# conse<uences90at least ones not inten#e# by the flagitious 'ritish: "e kno1 that among the marks of holiness is the 1orking of iracles. $relan# is the greatest iracle any saint e*er 1orke#. $t is a iracle an# a nexus of miracles. *mong other miracles it is a nation raised from the dead. .he (reser*ation of the Faith by the $rish Bas of 1,10C is an historical iracle co (arable to nothing else in &uro(e. .here ne*er 1as! an# (lease ?o# ne*er can be! so (rolonge# an# insanely *iolent a (ersecution of en by their fello1/ en as 1as un#ertaken for centuries against the Faith in $relan#: an# it has co (letely faile#. $ kno1 of no e%a (le in history of failure following upon such effort. $t ha# behin# it in co bination terror and greed. An# so a aMing is it that they Bes(ecially the 'ritishC #i# not attain their en#! that (er(etually as one rea#s one fin#s the authors of the #rea#ful business Bof religious (ersecutionC no1 at one (erio#! no1 at another! assu ing 1ith certitu#e that their success is achie*e#. .hen! after centuries! it is al ost su##enly (ercei*e#0an# in our o1n ti e0that is has not been achie*e# an# ne*er 1ill be. +,;/,40 y e (hasis a##e#5

Ho1e*er! if our 'elloc 1ere ali*e to#ay! he

ight be shaken by 1hat he 1oul# no1 see in

$relan#K but he 1oul# also then search to fin# an# articulate the #ee(er causes for the see ing! if not un istakable! 8Deco (osition of 3atholicis 9 +>ouis 'ouyer- in $relan# these #ays! as 1ell as in the 1i#er Mo#ernist/Accu(ie# 3hurch. "ho 1oul# ha*e i agine# 1hat 'elloc calls the 8co (le%ity of strange coinci#ences co bine#9 +,4- that enable# such a resistance an# sur*i*al! e*en so as to effect a rescuing the $rish to A erica! for e%a (le: .hink of the A erican 3oloniesK 1ith one little e%ce(tion BMarylan#C they 1ere (erha(s the ost co (letely non/3atholic society of their ti e. .heir successful rebellion against the other country eant any things! an# le# to any (ro(hecies. "ho coul# ha*e guesse# that one of its chief results 1oul# be the furnishing of a free refuge for the IrishI The famine Bthe ?reat )otato Fa ine fro 1G45/1G4G or 1G52C! all hu an o(inion i agine#! an# all hu an Eu#g ent 1as boun# to conclu#e! 1as a ortal 1oun# Bto $relan#C! co ing in as the ally of the $ile persecution Bby the 'ritishC $ ha*e na e#. $t has turne# out the *ery contrary. Fro it there s(rings in#irectly the dispersion! an# the (o1er 1hich co es fro unity in #is(ersion! of Irish !atholicism. "ho! looking at the huge financial power that dominated Europe ! an# B#o inate#C &nglan# in (articular! during the youth of our own generation B1GF0/1,00C! coul# ha*e #rea t that in any corner of &uro(e! least of all in the poorest and most ruined corner of !hristendom# an effecti$e resistance could be raisedI Behind the enemies of Ireland! furnishing the 1ith all their o#ern strength! was that base and secret master of modern things# the usurer . &e it 1as far ore than the B'ritish an# Anglo/$rishC gentry of the islan# 1ho #e an#e# toll! an#! through the ortgages on $rish estates! had determined to drain Ireland as he has drained and rendered desert so much else . $s it not a iracle that he Bi.e.! the 4surerC has faile# Bas of 1,10CI +,4/,50 y e (hasis a##e#As he a((roaches his conclusion! 'elloc first returns to the the e of the resurrections of $relan#! es(ecially after en#uring so (ersecutionK an# then he 1ill en# 1ith another (ersonal an# e*ocati*e *ignette: $relan# is a nation risen fro the #ea#K an# to raise one 5 an fro the #ea# is ulti(le historical igration of

uch unEust cruelty an# (rotracte# religious

surely iraculous enough to con*ince one of the (o1er of a great s(irit B(erson an# (resenceC. .his iracle Bof a 1hole nation risen fro the #ea#C! as $ a (re(are# to belie*e! is the last an# greatest of St. )atrick7s B iraclesC. "hen $ 1as last in $relan#! $ bought in the to1n of "e%for# a coloure# (icture of St. )atrick 1hich greatly (lease# e. Most of it 1as green in colour! an# St. )atrick Bthen a 'isho(! consecrate# in 4;2 A.D.C 1ore a itre an# ha# a croMier in his han#. He 1as turning into the sea a nu ber of nasty re(tiles: snakes an# toa#s an# the rest Bhence! also the re(tilian usurersIC. $ bought this (icture because it seemed to me as modern a piece of symbolism as e$er I had seen: an# that is 1hy $ bought it for my children and for my home. .here 1as a fe1 (ence change! but $ #i# not 1ant it. .he (erson 1ho sol# e the (icture sai# they 1oul# s(en# the change in candles for St" Patrick+s altar. So St. )atrick is still ali*e. +,5/,50 y e (hasis a##e#$n such a 1ay #oes Hilaire 'elloc #eftly con*ey the )erson an# abi#ing )resence of Saint )atrick! an# his fertiliMing Holiness! 1ith its anifol#! often une%(ecte#! effects in History. For! un#er ?race! the Missioner to $relan# still 8inhabits the soil 1hich he ren#ere# sacre#.9 +,;- An#! also sub &ratia 'ivina! as 3hrist7s o1n )arable of the So1er teaches us! the 3ulti*ation of the Soil an# the 3ulti*ation of the Soul are inti ately interrelate#. An# it is so still yet to#ay! though less *isibly an# ore o#estly! in Saint )atrick7s beset an# en#uring $relan#.F

//Finis// N 2014 Robert D. Hickson

F "ith #ee( gratitu#e! $ 1ant no1 to ackno1le#ge that this short essay +1ith its counter(ointing running co entary1as ins(ire# by an unlooke#/for co bination of things: +1- so e 1or#s about snakes +inclu#ing those 1ith legs- by Anthony S. FraserK +2- the recollection of so e of Ha ish Fraser7s +.ony7s father7s- earlier 1or#s about $relan# an# the ne1 'ritish Strategy to gain sub ission an# greater #o inance o*er $relan# by 1ay of 8(ros(erity9K +;- 3.2. +82oe9Doyle7s recent! elo<uent an# 1hole/hearte# 1ritings in his 3atholic Defense of Saint )atrick an# of the 3atholic .ra#itions of 'oston7s longstan#ing Saint )atrick7s Day )ara#e! 1hich 1as this year un#er attack by certain sor#i# grou(s an# 8flatulent (olitical thi bleriggers9 +Albert 2ay =ock-K an#! finally! +4- a note 1hich ?erar# Hanratty (lace# on the Hilaire 'elloc 'log 1hich re in#e# e of Hilaire 'elloc7s original essay on 8St. )atrick9 that $ ha# not rea# for so e years. +My 1ife! Maike! then! as al1ays! encourage# e to follo1 u( on that ins(iration an# to try to bring forth so e goo# fruit out of all of this. >o*e #oes such things0es(ecially her 8 lele luve.9-