Letter against the Soldiers of Coroticus (8)

I do not know what more I should say or tell of those dead children of God who were direly struck down by the sword. It is indeed written: “Weep with those who weep.” And again: “If one sorrows, let all be sorrowful.”

Therefore the church weeps and laments for those of its sons and daughters whom the sword has not yet slain but who have been carried away and transported to distant lands where open, shameless, grave sin abounds. There free citizens have been sold, and Christians have been reduced to servitude which is all the worse since they are enslaved to the vilest worthless, apostate Picts.

For that reason I shall cry out in grief and sadness, “O most beautiful and loving brethren and children whom I begot in Christ (and whom I cannot number) – what can I do for you? I am inadequate to help either God or humans. The wickedness of the wicked has overcome us. We have been transformed into strangers. Perhaps they do not believe that we have been given the same baptism, or that we have the same God. For them it is shameful that we are Irish.” But the saying is: “Have you not the one God? Why have you, one and all, abandoned your neighbor?”

For that reason I grieve for you; I grieve, my most loved ones. But then again, I rejoice within myself. I have not laboured in vain, and my exile has not been for nothing. For it is an unspeakably horrible crime that has taken place; but thank God, it was as baptized believers that you left this world for paradise. I have a vision of you: you have begun your journey to where there will be no night nor sorrow nor death any more; freed of your bonds, you will gambol like young calves and you will trample on the wicked, and they will be like ashes under your feet. And you will reign with the apostles and the prophets and the martyrs. You will gain an eternal kingdom as He Himself has promised. He said: “The will come from the east and the west and they will sleep with Abraham and Isaac and Jacob in the Kingdom of Heaven.” “Outside are dogs and purveyors of evil and murderers;” – and: “The lying perjurers will be allotted the lake of fire.” It is not without reason that the apostle says, “When the just man will barely be saved, where will the sinner and the unholy breaker of the law find himself?”

Translation Liam De Paor, St. Patrick’s World

We glimpse here the powerful eschatological vision which motivated Patrick throughout his entire ministry. God has prepared a glorious day for those who believe the Good News of the Kingdom of heaven, and He is even now receiving His faithful ones into His presence with joy. But for sinners and all the wicked, only judgment looms.

Here below we lament the loss of loved ones, especially those taken so violently as was the case with these Irish martyrs. Many of those kidnapped by the soldiers of Coroticus might have wished to be among the slain. Awaiting them in the land of the Picts was slavery and additional torment and persecution. Patrick prayed with tears for both groups, those who had been lost, and those whose freedom had been taken from them.

These days, when foreign governments persecute Christians with impunity, when our own government refuses to intervene on behalf of suffering Christians, if only in the name of human rights, it behooves us as believers to remember with tears those who are being martyred and those whose freedoms are curtailed on pain of imprisonment or worse. If believers in this country were to weep and pray and publish their complaints as loudly, pointedly, and courageously as Patrick, we might see some change in world policies with respect to our brothers and sisters in other lands.

But in spite of this tragedy, Patrick could rejoice. He knew where those martyred believers were and had a sense of what they were doing there. Interesting to note that he mentions their going to heaven is but the beginning of their journey to the full Kingdom. Heaven is not the end of our journey, but merely an interim place of rejoicing and further preparation for the new heavens and new earth yet to come. As wonderful, glorious, and filled with joy as heaven will, God has even more in store for us who believe and hold fast our confession to the end.

To live is Christ, as Patrick knew and proclaimed; but to die as one who has lived for Christ is gain.

Want to learn more about Patrick and the impact of his ministry? Order T. M.’s book, The Legacy of Patrick, from our online store.