It’s the week leading up to St. Patrick’s Day, so I thought it would be fun to share a 5 part story by none other than our very own K.G. Watson. Each day when you visit our website, http://www.pandamoniumpublishing.com, you’ll get to enjoy another part of the story from March 13-March 17.
Also, K.G. Watson has a brand new book titled Found Money, which is available right now for order through Amazon.com! American Friends, get your copies here: Amazon.com: Found Money: 9781989506684: Watson, K.G.: Books
For our Canadian friends, the listing should show available stock in the next few days, so add it to your wishlist in the meantime! Found Money : Watson, K.G.: Amazon.ca: Books
Here’s part 1 of A Saintly Soul Abducted by K.G. Watson
“ A SAINTLY SOUL ABDUCTED” read the title on the candidate’s paper. “A correction of historical perceptions of the life and preaching of a Saint,” read the subtitle.
Dr. McNeil groaned inwardly as he raised it and lifted his eyebrows for an explanation.
“Well, Patrick was awarded ‘honourary saintly’ status not just because he arrived before the criteria were written down,” said the earnest red-haired and freckle-faced young man, “but because he won many hearts, then died. The reference to his soul and the ‘abduction’ claim is consistent with historical references.” McNeil scanned the lines of small print at the bottom. He was wondering if he’d taught his student too well.
“I footnoted each item at the bottom. I don’t think he was captured by Irish pirates, though that is what his legend claims. I think he preached to the rebel’s justification in fighting for their identity. Others took over his memory and twisted it to their ends. I contend that the St. Patrick we think we know today, is not the one who lived about 400 CE in Ireland. ”
McNeil could see this would be a longer discussion than he had intended. Did he really need such an angular thinker? Could he even continue to supervise him as a PhD candidate? Maybe it was his penance that he’d been assigned to be Liam’s mentor. His thoughts were blown away by the logical brickwork that was stacked in the lad’s lap and on the floor by his chair, ready to be laid out on his desk. He suggested they move to his conference table, and swept it clear.
“My arguments rest on three lines of research,” Liam began. “First there is the written record.” He laid down a small sheaf of reprints like a dealer at a poker table. “Pātricius, was his name in the earliest writing naming him. There is no agreement on his place of birth or actual date but the best data supports him having a northern British or Scottish ancestry in the late 300’s CE. Rome was in retreat from England.”
“Patrick’s father, Calpurnius, is described as a decurion (Senator and tax collector) of an unspecified Romano-British city, and as a deacon; his grandfather Potitus was a priest from Bonaven Tabernia in central England. What slips between the lines however, is Patrick’s confession in later life was that he was not an active believer in his youth.” Another page was added to the pile.
“My point is that, young Patrick’s reluctance to go to Church at a time of political unrest, when his family was deeply involved in The Roman administration, could have been life-saving. The family were probably identified as ‘Collaborators’.” Liam let the negative consequences of that conclusion settle before continuing.
“Dad and Grandfather had sold their souls for the benefits of supporting Roman Rule. It makes more sense to me to see Patrick a nationalist. His abduction to Ireland wasn’t any such thing. Patrick escaped there to distance himself from the retribution that would follow as soon as the soldiers left.” McNeil was getting a growing feeling that Liam’s assertions were going completely off the rails. Perceiving the disgust his mentor was signalling, Liam was already peeling out his next photocopy.
