JOCELINUS OF FURNESS A.D. 1112

OF MAN AND THE OTHER ISLANDS CONVERTED TO GOD.

A.D.444. Saint Patrick beholding in Ireland that the harvest was great, but the labourers few, passed over into Britain to obtain coadjutors and assistants in the field of the Lord. And forasmuch as the pest of the Pelagian heresy, and the Arian faithlessness had in many places defiled the confines of Britain, he by his preaching and working of many miracles recalled the people unto the way of truth. And many places exist in Britain to this day which bear testimony to his miracles, and are imbued with his sanctity. He collected many learned and religious men and brought them with him, thirty of whom he afterwards raised to the Episcopal office. Returning to Ireland, he touched at the Islands of the sea, one of which Eubonia, that is Man, at that time subject to Britain, by his miracles and preaching converted to Christ. Among the miracles which he wrought, the most famous was as follows : a certain evil-doer, named Melinus, like Simon the Magician, asserting himself to be God, attempted a diabolical flight in the air, but by his prayers fell headlong from his lofty flight, was dashed to pieces, and thus perished. Saint Patrick placed as Bishop over the new church of this nation, one of his disciples, a wise and holy man named Germanus, who placed his Episcopal seat in a certain promontory which to this day is called Saint Patrick’s Island,* because he had remained there for some time. And the other Islands being converted to the Christian faith, he placed over each of them one or more Bishops from among his disciples, and then returned to Ireland. For St. Patrick was accustomed to appoint Bishops, not only in cities, but also in to wns and the more celebrated places, lest any who had been baptized should be deprived of Episcopal confirmation. Thus he provided, that the faithful might have present, one who could administer to them the Pontifical office, while the Diocese, not being too extensive, required not the withdrawal from it of the presence and care of their pastor. The inhabitants of some of these Islands having receded from the Faith, afterwards renounced the law of God, which was preached by St. Patrick, and therefore, to this day, are deprived of the special gift of God, which through the prayers of St. Patrick freed from all venomous animals the Islands that preserved the faith.

EX JOCELINO MONACHO BE FURNESIO.

RE MANNIA, ET ALlIS 1NSULIS AD DEUM CONVERSIS.

A.D.444. IDENS S. Patricius in Hibernia Messem cjuidem multam, operarios autem paucos, transfretavit Britan niam acquisiturus sibi coadjutores in agrum Dominicum et cooperarios. Et quia pestis Pelagianæ Hæresis, et etiam Ariana perfidia pluribus in locis, Britanniæ fines foedaverat ; ipse prædi cando et signa multa faciendo patriotas ad viam veritatis reducebat. Existant adhuc in Britannia perplura loca miraculorem ejus con-scia, crebrisque miraculis sanctitatem ihius redolentia. Collectosdeniq’, viros multos literatos et Religiosos secum adduxit, e quibus triginta in Episcopalis officii fastigium postmodem sublimavit. Regnavignâs Hiberni~m, ad insulas mans convertendas divertit è quibus Euboniam, id est, Mannia~n, tunc quidem Britanniæ subjectam salutari prædicatione, ac signorum exhibitione ad Christum convertit. Inter quæ signa, illud insigne claruit ; quod quidam maleficus Melinus dictus, instar Simonis magi, se Deum asserens ac æthera volatu diabolico repetens, precibus ejus è sublimi corruit, præcipitatus, confractusque interiit. Quêndam discipulorum S. Patricii virum sanctum et sapientum, Germanum nominatum, in Episcopum promotum, illius gentis Ecclesiæ novellæ regentem præposuit, et in quodam promontorio, quod adhuc insula Patricii dicitur, eo quod ipse ibidem aliquan.. tulum demorabatur, et Episcopalêm sedem posuit. Aliis autem sulis ad fidem Christi conversis, singulis singulos, aut etiam plures præfecit præsules, de discipulis suis : sicque Hiberniam repetiit. Consuevit enim S . Patricius, non solum in vibibus, verumetiam in oppidis, et locis celebrioribus Episcopos constituere, ne baptizati ullatenus defraudarentur Episcopali confirmatione. Hoc etiam a Sancto procuratum est, ut fideles in præsenti haberent, qui mion istraret Pontificale officium illis, dum Diœcesis non nimis extensa non subtraheret illis presentiam atque custodiam sui pastoris. Quarundam Insularum incolæ legem dci per S . Patricium prædicata abiecerunt, abalienati a fide retrorsum ; et ideo usque in hodiernum diem privantur speciali Dci dono, quod cæteris Insulis in fide suscepta perseverantibus, super venonosorum animalium abdicatione per Patricii preces òonstat collatum.

* Jurby Point ; called Patrick’s Isle to this day.

Any comments, errors or omissions gratefully received The Editor
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