OPINION (AN COLÚN): The myths of St Patrick & the animal kingdom

SOME of the tales associated with Saints are very beautiful. Take for example the tale of Saint Cuthbert and the two otters. Cuthbert prayed all night on a beach. We are not certain why. Perhaps it was during a period of great trial for him and he needed the peacefulness of the sea and beach; or perhaps he simply wished to immerse himself in the tranquillity and loveliness of creation. During the night he walked into the North Sea, up to his shoulders, and started singing hymns. When he left the water and returned to the beach, two otters approached and used their fur to dry, and their breath to warm, his feet.
Their breath to warm his feet. This beautiful image expresses the tenderness, kindness and nurturing quality at the heart of nature. The force of kindness can come from anywhere, from unexpected sources. It is not worldly or brash but it is a powerful and transformative force, reminding people of the goodness at the heart of creation.
There are a number of myths connecting the animal kingdom with our Patron Saint. St Patrick is often depicted as possessing a supernatural power over nature and its creatures, snakes being the most obvious example. There are also stories about his interactions with insects and livestock. These legends can be interpreted symbolically. They are tales which can shine a light on human nature. His relationship with animals is largely defined by these legendary, symbolic stories.
There is in fact no evidence in the fossil record to suggest that snakes ever inhabited Ireland in the past, even during warmer interglacial periods. Patrick stood on the summit of Croagh Patrick (Cruach Phádraig) in County Mayo around 441 AD and, during a 40-day fast, used a wooden staff to banish all snakes from Ireland into the sea, freeing the country from the reptiles forever. Some scholars believe the snakes represented paganism or the Druidic tradition which Patrick wanted to overcome and to subsume into Christianity. Some interpretations suggest the snakes symbolised evil or Satan. They could be interpreted as representing the dark forces at work in the heart of humanity, forces which can be overcome with Christian love.
Snakes could be positive as well. Snakes in the Book of Kells generally symbolise the resurrection of Christ, as their ability to shed skin and "renew" themselves was seen as a powerful analogy for rebirth. While they can represent evil or the devil (referencing the Garden of Eden), they are also used to signify wisdom and healing. In Patrick's story on Croagh Patrick they can be interpreted as symbolising corruption and badness.
According to the 9th-century Bethu Phátraic, Patrick was harassed by a swarm of black birds while fasting on top of Croagh Patrick. The birds were described as dense, black, and demonic, blocking out the sky. He used his bell to banish the creatures, which were sent into a nearby lake, known as the "Hollow of the Demons".We admire the saint for his lack of perturbation and the fact he kept praying, eventually ringing the bell. Perhaps these sky-blocking, black swarms of crows represent fear, anxiety and temptation that were gnawing at the saint's heart. Perhaps they represent the fear and anxiety which can assail every person's heart. We are all flesh and therefore all potentially prey to the world's evils. The saint refused to bow before this black and confusing fog. He continued praying and rang his bell.
Another legend tells of a goat that accompanied St. Patrick and provided him with milk. Local people stole and ate the goat, and when confronted by the Saint, they could only bleat, revealing their crime. This tale reminds us of the potential dishonesty and badness of others.
Another myth is the saint's transformation into a deer, a relatively common motif in mythology. In St Patrick's case he transforms himself and his companions into deer to escape his enemies. This tale could be more than just magical disguise. It could be inspired by Celtic mythology, where transforming into a deer represented a deep, sacred connection between the human world and the Otherworld, often representing a transition into a spiritual, enchanted, or "faery" state. Patrick is of this material world but he also has a link with the unseen, with the Otherworld, with paradise. He is also linked with the beauty of nature. For example, early depictions portray him holding a staff, which is sometimes shown turning into a living tree.
We are very fortunate to have Patrick's “Confessio” (which means Confession) which he wrote himself. It reveals the saint to be a man of humility. “I am a sinner, a simple country person, and the least of all believers. I am looked down upon by many. My father was Calpornius. He was a deacon; his father was Potitus, a priest, who lived at Bannavem Taburniae. His home was near there, and that is where I was taken prisoner. I was about sixteen at the time.”
We can learn how we should act in our own lives by looking at Patrick's resilience and faith in the midst of great personal suffering. Kidnapped and enslaved at age 16, he didn't turn his back on God in bitterness; his separation from his loved ones and his isolation didn't make him denounce the Creator. Instead, he found consolation in his faith, demonstrating that strength can be found in God during dark times.
He didn't bear any ill will towards the Irish people because of the suffering which they had visited upon him. Quite the opposite in fact. He returned to them with love and the gospel message. The themes of forgiveness and love are strong in the story of Patrick's life. Also present as a theme is to continue believing in the possibility of people's redemption no matter how cynical, dark and lost they may appear. Of course, this doesn't mean making ourselves vulnerable to others' badness.

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