﻿66
AN GAODHAL
Dhiúltuigh sé Bettigh & a cuid diabhlór,
& d'a bhrigh sin, faoi 'n bh-fear miofort¬
únach Mountjoy, le ordughadh Bhettigh,
tugadh breith báis ar an árd-easbog.
Ach cia 'n chuma báis a bhí le fulaing
aige? É bheith loisgthe go n-eugfadh an
t-anam as a cholainn bheannuighthe. Mar
cheangail siad é do 'n chrann ins an áit
d-tugthar Pháirc an Choláisde anois air.
Ar chuir siad teine mhór in a thimchioll
le n-a chur chum báis go tapaidh. Níor
chuir: bheidheadh sé sin ro thrócaireach;
ach in ionad sin chuir siad ola & biot¬
aile & neithe eile solasta ar a chosa
loma. Lasadh é go rabh a cholainn faoi
lasair go h-uile. Ar leig siad dhó bás
fhághail faoi 'n lasair sin? Níor leig;
bheidhadh sin ro thrócaireach do shagart
nó easbog Mhúch siad an lasair nuair
a chonnairc siad go rabh an cholann mar
ghríosach. Chuir siad ar ais é ins a g¬
carcair le cathughadh a cuir air arís; &
gidh go rabh sé faoi phiantaibh uabhásacha
dhiúltaigh sé na diabhalóiridhe. D'a bhrigh
sin tugadh amach é arís lá 'r na márach;
ceangladh de 'n chrann é mar rinne an
lá roimhe sin; lasadh é go rabh sé faoi
theinidh go h-uile; múchadh an lasair — &
is mar sin do dheun siad leis an mair¬
tir bheannuighthe ceithre laethe i n-diaigh a
chéile; ach an cúigeadh lá d' eug an t-an¬
am ó 'n luaith naomhtha & ó n-a chnámhaibh
mór-luachmhara le bheith go síorruidhe fá
choróin ghlórmhar, mar ghaisgigheach treun¬
mhar a fuair buaidh ar námhaid a chreid¬
imh, & a rinne an troid mhaith ar shon Dé
& Naomh Padhraic.
Fiafruighthear díom ar mhair
aon t-sagart nó aon easbog ar bith
Caitiliceach in Éirinn faoi na dlighthibh
sgiúrsacha so. Freagraim gur mar
thuit fuil na mairtireach, i b-príobh aoisibh
na h-Eaglaise in a h-uisge úraighthe, ag
fliuchadh na talmhan as ar éirigh síol
naomhtha an chreidimh ag iompóghadh na b¬
págánach ar fud an domhain, is mar an
g-ceudna bhí an chúis in Éirinn ar feadh
laetheadh uabhásach na geurleanamhainte;
óir le fuil na mairtireach Éireanneach
& a seasmhacht ar son na h-Eaglaise,
rinneadh an creideamh Caitiliceach tar¬
ruingeach do mhórán de na Protestún.
his body was all in a flame. Did they suffer him
to die under that flame? They did not? that would
be too merciful for a priest or bishop. They extin¬
guished the flame when they saw that the body
was like burned embers. They sent him back to
prison so as to tempt him again ; and though he
was suffering intense pains, he refused the devils.
Hence, he was brought out the next day : he was
tied to the tree as he was the day before he was lit
until he was covered with fire; the flame was extin¬
guished, and in that manner they used the blessed
martyr for four days in succession : but the fifth
day the soul departed from the holy ashes and from
the precious bones to live for ever under the crown
of glory, like a brave hero who obtained victory
over the enemy of his religion, and who fought the
good fight for God and Saint Patrick.
I am asked if any Catholic priest or bishop lived
in Ireland under these scourging laws. I answer
that as the blood of the martyrs fell, in the early
days of the Church, in refreshing waters irrigating
the soil from which sprung the holy seed of reli¬
gion, converting the pagan throughout the world;
that same condition obtained in Ireland during the
awful days of the persecution ; for by the blood of
the Irish martyrs, their steadfastness for the Church
the Catholic religion became as a loadstone to
many of the Protestants, and they returned back
to the true Church. Hence, much more was gained
than were lost to Saint Patrick's religion.
But were not all the priests either killed or ban¬
ished? That was, indeed, the intention of the ene¬
my, but he could not enforce it in Ireland of the
Saints ; for in spite of the unmerciful laws made
against the obtainment of learning at home or a¬
broad, the Irish father and mother sent their sons
to Belgium or to France to become priests, and af¬
ter a while they returned home, in order to give
spiritual care to their own country people.
They returned, indeed, but it is oftener they jour¬
neyed in the garb of a peasant than in the garb of
a priest. Many of them were caught and put to
death; but in spite of the English spy and traitor,
there were four thousand of priests imparting the
solace and blessings of the holy religion to the peo¬
ple of Ireland.
And, now, faithful children of Saint Patrick, to
finish my discourse on the tribulations and on the
victories of the holy religion of Ireland, I hope
you will not be ever without the grace of God, so
that yourselves and your children will be always as
were your holy forefathers, who lost their worldly
substance entirely, and who freely shed their blood
for Saint Patrick's religion. And, to-night, as we
call to mind the victory which we obtained over
England and Hell, let our prayers ascend to the re¬
gal throne of God as the incense which is burned
before the holy sacrament, giving thanks to God
(Continued on page 72)
