This essay will focus on the many advantages and disadvantages of using the Confessio of St Patrick as a historical source. The Saint Patrick's Confessio is about Patrick, benefactor holy person of Ireland, who is a coordinating figure in that he gives a feeling of character to the entire of Ireland, and for its constituent parts, the Republic, the North and abroad. His social and profound legacy can be guaranteed by any settled political or social group on this island. Consistently, March seventeenth is celebrated as Saint Patrick's Day. Yet, who is Patrick? This separates into two inquiries: to begin with, what makes him and his work vital? Furthermore, second inquiry: what do we, what do researchers think about Patrick? The Confessio
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Sir, – Dr Elva Johnston (October 31st) categorically dismisses any alternative theory concerning St Patrick’s origins and holds fast to the traditional view that he came from Roman Britain. In the book Rediscovering Saint Patrick – A New Theory of Origins” (Columba Press, 2013) to which Dr Johnston indirectly refers, I have argued that St Patrick’s “Britanniis” which is the name given for his homeland in the oldest surviving copy of Patrick’s Confessio, preserved in the Book of Armagh, is a reference to the region we now call Brittany and not to the island of Britain, exclusively. (Irish Times, 2013) Just by looking at the different opinions of these two historians shows how a lack of evidence leads to different interpretations of the wording/meaning of the Confessio. The lack of clarification available is a disadvantage of using the Confessio as a historical …show more content…
Inspired by an earlier Life of Saint Brigit written by Cogitosus, Muirchú drew for his Life of Saint Patrick from the Confessio and the Epistola. But he elaborated on his source material – introducing literary qualities and quotes from classical literature as well as the Bible; extending the scope of Patrick’s travels; and attributing to him miracles otherwise unattested – to such an extent that his work is considered hagiography and of scant historical merit. This incident shows another disadvantage of the confession as a historical source, because it is vague in some of its details it lead to some writers throughout history exaggerating the feats of Patrick leading to more uncertainty when dealing with the problem of saint
Sir, – Dr Elva Johnston (October 31st) categorically dismisses any alternative theory concerning St Patrick’s origins and holds fast to the traditional view that he came from Roman Britain. In the book Rediscovering Saint Patrick – A New Theory of Origins” (Columba Press, 2013) to which Dr Johnston indirectly refers, I have argued that St Patrick’s “Britanniis” which is the name given for his homeland in the oldest surviving copy of Patrick’s Confessio, preserved in the Book of Armagh, is a reference to the region we now call Brittany and not to the island of Britain, exclusively. (Irish Times, 2013) Just by looking at the different opinions of these two historians shows how a lack of evidence leads to different interpretations of the wording/meaning of the Confessio. The lack of clarification available is a disadvantage of using the Confessio as a historical …show more content…
Inspired by an earlier Life of Saint Brigit written by Cogitosus, Muirchú drew for his Life of Saint Patrick from the Confessio and the Epistola. But he elaborated on his source material – introducing literary qualities and quotes from classical literature as well as the Bible; extending the scope of Patrick’s travels; and attributing to him miracles otherwise unattested – to such an extent that his work is considered hagiography and of scant historical merit. This incident shows another disadvantage of the confession as a historical source, because it is vague in some of its details it lead to some writers throughout history exaggerating the feats of Patrick leading to more uncertainty when dealing with the problem of saint