CARADOC28@aol.com wrote: all this is something as long as you asume the pre patrick people to be barbarians which they were not they where christians That is news to me! Pardon my ignorance but what is the source that says most of pre-Patrick Ireland was Christian. And if so that quote from "Seumas MacManus, The Story of the Irish Race" would mean the Catholic Faith is more peaceful than other Christian faiths. Considering the Spanish Inquisition and other dark periods in Catholic history I find an always completely peaceful Catholic Faith is hard to swallow. Best wishes, Dennis Reiley shanedr@sbcglobal.net In a message dated 3/17/2004 12:19:25 AM Eastern Standard Time, brerkev@yahoo.com writes: > > "...we contrast two widely different natures of the Irish people who before > Patrick were carrying the ruthless law of the sword far over sea and land, > and that very different Irish people who, after Patrick, left the conquering > sword to be eaten by rust, while they went far and wide again over sea and > land, bearing now to the nations - both neighboring and far off - the healing > balm of Christ's gentle words. All histories of all countries probably could not > disclose to the most conscientious searcher another instance of such radical > change in a whole nations character being wrought within the lifespan of one > man." > > ----Seumas MacManus, The Story of the Irish Race. all this is something as long as you asume the pre patrick people to be barbarians which they were not they where christians Jim Denning

All, Some good references: How the Irish Saved Civilization Sun Dancing. The vigour with which the Irish embraced Christianity is really fascinating. Some read about the desert Father's and attempted to imitate by isolating themselves on bare rocks, Skellig Michel. It is also interesting to study how Christianity had its own twist in Ireland and struggled against Roamn domination for the first 500 years. Blessings on all Irish Sisters and Brothers in peace. Annie McEntee ----- Original Message ----- From: "Reiley Dennis S" <shanedr@sbcglobal.net> To: <IRL-CAVAN-L@rootsweb.com> Sent: Wednesday, March 17, 2004 8:37 AM Subject: Re: [IRL-CAVAN] St Pats Day > > CARADOC28@aol.com wrote: > > all this is something as long as you asume the pre patrick people to be barbarians which they were not they where christians > > That is news to me! Pardon my ignorance but what is the source that says most of pre-Patrick Ireland was Christian. And if so that quote from "Seumas MacManus, The Story of the Irish Race" would mean the Catholic Faith is more peaceful than other Christian faiths. Considering the Spanish Inquisition and other dark periods in Catholic history I find an always completely peaceful Catholic Faith is hard to swallow. > > Best wishes, Dennis Reiley shanedr@sbcglobal.net > In a message dated 3/17/2004 12:19:25 AM Eastern Standard Time, > brerkev@yahoo.com writes: > > > > "...we contrast two widely different natures of the Irish people who before > > Patrick were carrying the ruthless law of the sword far over sea and land, > > and that very different Irish people who, after Patrick, left the conquering > > sword to be eaten by rust, while they went far and wide again over sea and > > land, bearing now to the nations - both neighboring and far off - the healing > > balm of Christ's gentle words. All histories of all countries probably could not > > disclose to the most conscientious searcher another instance of such radical > > change in a whole nations character being wrought within the lifespan of one > > man." > > > > ----Seumas MacManus, The Story of the Irish Race. > > all this is something as long as you asume the pre patrick people to be > barbarians which they were not they where christians > > Jim Denning > > > ==== IRL-CAVAN Mailing List ==== > For the IRL-CAVAN-L archives, go to > http://archiver.rootsweb.com/th/index/IRL-CAVAN >