Saint Patrick: The Man and His Works

by Thomas O'Loughlin

The only true apostle of Ireland who more or less converted the country single-handed? or a Christian bishop from the embattled edge of a crumbling empire? All that can really be known of Patrick comes from his authentic writings - the 'Confessio' and the 'Epistola' (Address to the Soldiers of Coroticus). Thomas O'Loughlin's engaging yet scholarly reflections on these fifth-century texts lead us into a greater understanding of the mind of Patrick, the man, believer and missionary. Explanatory notes woven through the translations illuminate a very different world and time; it is not long before we realize, however, that Patrick's theology is no less relevant to our own.

Genres: History, Christian, Biography

120 pages, Paperback

First published March 17, 1999

Reviews

[Ryan Linkous · Rating 5 out of 5]

I picked up this book because I had long admired the legend of St. Patrick, knowing tidbits about his remarkable life including kidnapping into slavery and freedom from it, returning to the land of his captors to evangelize the island, teaching the Trinity robustly and unashamedly, standing down violent druid priests, the wonderful prayer known as "St. Patrick's Breastplate," and – although I know this last part to be pure myth – eradicating all the snakes from Ireland.

O'Loughlin's introduction is a bit dry, but it does introduce the reader to the complicated history of Patrick's legend. Basically, very little can be known about his life other than what he writes about in his writings. The two pieces of writing we have from his hand seem to be acknowledged as true. O'Loughlin tries to provide some historical context especially as we consider Patrick's presentation of his faith, but then does the reader a disservice I believe by trying to highlight the discontinuity between Patrick's mode of believing and our own. Other than an assumption about the imminent end of the world, I don't think there is much Christians must hold at a distance in Patrick's writings other than questioning things he says here and there. By and large, it is a faith I recognize.

This begins in Patrick's "Confession" which reads remarkably like an evangelical testimony. It's more akin to St. Augustine's autobiographical "Confessions" in truth and historical similarity. Nevertheless, I found myself desiring to rekindle the practice of testimony I was taught and engaged in as a young Christian. It isn't just an hallmark of the 1700's, 1800's, or post-WWII iterations of evangelicalism! The use and location of it might be different (a testimony of one's life versus in personal evangelistic conversation), but the form is ancient.

In both his "Confession" and his "Letter to the Soldiers," Patrick's use of Scripture is manifold, much like many other Church Fathers from this era and earlier. O'Loughlin serves the reader particularly well in this regard as he footnotes many Scriptural reference and allusions which are rarely if ever directly quoted in the text (i.e. "As Mark says,"). They just roll off the pen as Patrick quoted the Latin Vulgate from all over. He makes regular allusion to all parts of the Christian canon including the Apocrypha (especially Sirach). I was particularly impressed by Patrick's use of the prophets, not just as messianic proof-texts but as grounds for ethics. He pulls in obscure references ad nauseum and it is remarkably coherent.

This use of scripture is especially impressive in his "Letter to Soldiers" written as a public statement in the wake of a raid in Ireland where some soldiers had murdered recently baptized Christians and captured a number to sell as slaves. Patrick is unsparing in condemning this act of inhumanity, and calls the salvation of the enslavers into question on the basis of their act of hatred, which means they don't have fellowship with God. His marshaling of the biblical witness in condemnation of slavery (especially the act of enslaving) is impressive. Particularly of note to me was his use of the Old Testament prophets. His style of referencing will perplex readers, but they are not forced. Rather, they are remarkably coherent.

My ignorance of his work led me to be pleasant caught off guard by his his brilliant "Letter to Soldiers." It is an address of a contemporary event him, but historically for us, his addressing the evil of slavery is unique for his time and pertinent for ours. Current civil rights activists and apologists of white supremacist theologians should take note. Patrick (like many in the ancient Christian tradition) provides a pleasant neutral ground because he known and beloved by many, even if in the form of myth. But regardless, his insight is unique an important. O'Loughlin notes that Patrick may be the only enslaved person in the 5th century to have escaped and written about it whose writings have survived. So discussing the evil of slavery from the vantage point of an ex-slaved enables Patrick to bring the ethos, pathos, and logos.

I would commend this work to all - pastors and laypeople alike. It's brief - it would only take an hour or two to read. But the reader will be greatly edified.

[Glenn Crouch · Rating 5 out of 5]

In this short book, we not only get a good examination of St Patrick and his time/culture, but we also get a well-referenced, and well-commented modern English translation of his Confessions and his Epistle. The Author does try and dig through the myth and legend, so that we can better understand the context and meaning of Patrick's two works - and he also examines what we can learn (and can't learn) about Patrick and his environs from them.

I quite enjoyed this approach, and was very pleased with the cross-referencing - as well as the quite involved further reading that is supplied.

Highly recommended for those with an interest in Church History.

[BigGuyJawny · Rating 3 out of 5]

I really did treasure my time reading Patrick’s heartfelt writings (which I would rate 5 stars by themselves!) but O’Loughlin’s commentary quirks hinder it a little bit.

Three Reasons Why I gave it Three Stars
+ Even 1600 years later, Patrick’s deep desire for the salvation of souls is felt in both writings.
+ Reading through Patrick’s Epistola is a unique pearl of early medieval Christian life that I’m so grateful to be edified by!
- O’Loughlin’s crowds the text itself with unnecesary, repetitive commentary. While a lot of the content in his introductory chapters are truly great, I think there’s also an odd amount of pointless editorializing and repetition.

[Jill Hudson · Rating 4 out of 5]

A great little introduction to the brief works of St Patrick. Though many hundreds of books have been written about him, this one shows that we actually know very little about the man at all. But what we do see in Patrick's own writings (included in full in this slim volume) is a sincere and indefatigable Christian missionary who overcame astonishing odds to bring his message of God's love to the Irish people.

[Andy Gore · Rating 3 out of 5]

In all honesty this book is only an extended introduction to Patrick's two surviving works. O'Loughlin is very honest in his distrust of hagiography, which is why the book is so thin, but in doing so misses the whole point!!

[Sheila Urban · Rating 4 out of 5]

A five for content. A three for a dry, academic read.

[Peter · Rating 4 out of 5]

Along with a new translation of Patrick's 2 surviving letters this book also includes an insightful and erudite analytical biopic of the man and his zeitgeist. A preacher sent to the end of time and the edge of the known world with a strong eschatological emphasis. This carries all the same qualities as Thomas O'Loughlin's superb 'Journeys on the Edges' and is indeed a continuation of the same work. My review of the latter can be read here;

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Otherwise Patrick's letters read much alike to Paul and Peter's New Testament epistles.