Baring-Gould’s sources: Not mentioned in ancient Martyrologies. There is a Palladius or Patlatius mentioned on this day in the so-called Martyrology of S. Jerome, but he was a martyr at Alexandria, and is commemorated with SS. Zoticus, Serenis, Zeto, Philip, and Arator. They were Syrians. Nothing more is known of them. S. Palladios, apostle of Scotland, probably died on Dec. 15th. The 6th July seems to have been set down as his festival simply because in the early Roman Martyrology occurred on this day a saint of the same name. In the Irish Martyrologies on Jan. 27th; the Scottish on July 6th; Wilson in his Anglican Martyrology on July nth: (July o.

…not in the Modern Roman Martyrology. Authorities The chronicle of S. Prosper of Aquitain, a contemporary, Bede [English monk and historian (d. 735)], and Nennius, and the Annals of the Four Masters.] Laeghair, son of Nial of the Nine Hostages, succeeded his father Dathi as Ard-Righ, or chief monarch of Ireland, about the year 428. In the third year of his reign, 431, came Palladius on a mission from Pope Coelestine to the Christians of Ireland. On account of the proximity of that island to Britain, Christianity had begun to spread among its inhabitants, and the situation of the faithful there, as sheep without a shepherd, became known at Rome after the mission of S. Germain of Auxerre and S. Lupus of Troyes to Britain in 429, for the purpose of extirpating the Pelagian [followers of Pelagius, who taught people could be good without God’s grace] heresy which had found firm foot-hold in the ancient British Church. Palladius was probably a Briton. Prosper tells us that it was through his intervention that Pope Coelestine sent the mission to Britain.

The Irish writers, especially Muircha-Macca-Mactheni, in the 44 Book of Armagh,” style him chief deacon of S. Coelestine. This was an important post in the Roman Church. The popes were frequently chosen from the ranks of the Roman deacons, on whom, during the vacancy of the see, or the captivity of a pontiff, the administration devolved.

It was in consequence of the information received in all probability from S. Germain, that the pope deemed it advisable to appoint a bishop to preside over the Irish Christians, and superintend the ecclesiastical affairs of the island. The words of Prosper are, 44 Palladius was consecrated by Pope Coelestine, and sent as the first bishop to the Irish (ad Scotos) believing in Christ.” The Annals of the Four Masters say: 44 In this year (431) Pope Coelestine the First sent Palladius to Ireland S. Palladius.

Inly 6.] to propagate the faith among the Irish; and he landed in the county of Leinster with a company of twelve men. Dathi, son of Garchu, refused to admit him; but he baptized a few persons in Ireland, and three wooden churches were erected by him, namely — Cell-Fine, Teach-na-Romhan, and Domhnach-Arta. At Cell-Fine he left his books and his written tablets, with the relics [the bodily remains of a saint, or objects they used, kept with honor] of Peter and Paul and many martyrs besides. He left these four in those churches — Augustine, Benedict, Sylvester, and Solinus.,, The sites of two of these churches have been identified. They were situated in the territory of Hy-Garrchon, on the river Inver-Dee, in the east of the present county of Wicklow. The site of Cell-Fine is doubtful, but it may be the present Dun-lavin. Teach-na-Romhan, or the House of the Romans, has been identified as Tywin, and Domhnach-Arta as Dunard, near Redcross. When the news of the progress of the mission reached Rome and other parts of the Continent, fame, as usual, added exaggerations, and excited a confident assurance of its complete success throughout the whole island. Hence Prosper did not hesitate to say that, through the exertions of Pope Ccelestine, Ireland was become a Christian country.

But in reality the mission was a failure. Palladius was opposed by Prince Dathi, and obliged speedily to withdraw, “not receiving respect in Ireland,” as the Annals of the Four Masters inform us.

Palladius left his companions behind him, as being less likely to become objects of persecution, and S. Patrick [apostle of Ireland (5th century)] in his subsequent more successful mission is said to have met them. 1 Palladius sailed from Ireland towards the latter end of the same year (431), and, after having been tossed (July 6.

about by storms, arrived in Britain, with the intention of proceeding thence to Rome; but he fell sick in Mearns, and died at Fordun. It may be inquired how Palladius, after leaving Ireland, happened to arrive at a place so remote in the north-east of Britain. According to Fiech’s Scoliast he had been driven by a storm as far as that country, and consequently sailed round the north of Scotland. But this seems hardly probable, and it is more likely that he landed somewhere in the northwest, and thence continued his course by land until he arrived at Fordun, where he fell sick. The day of his death is given differently, 15th Dec., 25th Dec. (both It is not possible to say whether his death occurred in December, or somewhat later.

The mission of S. Palladius was almost a failure, but it prepared the way for S. Patrick. His stay in Ireland can have been only short, as he arrived in the island and left it within the year.