1. I am Patrick, a sinner, a man of great ignorance, the last of the faithful, utterly despised by many. My father was Calpurnius, a deacon, son of the priest Potitus, from the village of Bonavem Tabernica. Not far from there, my father had a small villa, where I was captured. I was then about sixteen years old and did not yet know the true God. I was carried off into captivity to Ireland with many thousands of people—and quite deservedly so, for we had turned away from God, did not keep His commandments, and were disobedient to our priests, who constantly reminded us of salvation. And the Lord brought upon us the flames of His wrath and scattered us among the nations, even to the ends of the earth, where I now dwell, in my nothingness, as a stranger.
2. And there the Lord revealed to me the consciousness of my unbelief, so that I could finally see my sins and turn with all my heart to the Lord God, Who looked upon my insignificance and had mercy on my youth and ignorance, Who kept me before I knew Him and before I could distinguish good and evil, and protected me and comforted me, as a father his son.
3. And therefore I cannot remain silent, nor would it be proper, for the Lord has deigned to bestow such great favor and grace upon me in the land of my captivity. For when God corrects us and we acknowledge Him, we can repay Him only by praising Him and confessing His wonders before all the nations under heaven.
4. For there is no other God, nor ever was, nor ever will be, but God the Father, unbegotten and without beginning, from whom all things had a beginning and who rules over all, as we have been taught; and His Son Jesus Christ, whom we confess to have always been with the Father, who was spiritually and incomprehensibly begotten before the beginning of time and before the foundation of the world, and who created all things visible and invisible. He was made man, conquered death , and was received into heaven by the Father, who gave Him all authority over every name of things in heaven, on earth, and under the earth, so that every tongue might confess Jesus Christ as Lord and God, in whom we believe. And we look for Him to come again soon to judge the living and the dead, to reward everyone according to their deeds. And He pours out upon us in abundance His Holy Spirit, the gift and pledge of immortality, making those who believe and obey sons of God and co-heirs with Christ. And we confess Him and worship Him, the One God in the Holy Trinity. 1
5. He Himself spoke through the prophet: “Call upon Me in the day of trouble; I will deliver you, and you will glorify Me” ( Ps. 49:15 ) 2 . And again: “It is right to reveal and proclaim to all the works of God” ( Tob. 12:11 ) 3
6. Although I am imperfect in many ways, I want my brothers and fellow tribesmen to know what I am like and to be able to understand the desires of my heart.
7. I know what my Lord said in the Psalm: “You will destroy those who speak lies” ( Ps. 5:7 ) and also “Lying lips bring destruction to the soul” ( Wis. 1:11 ) 4. The Savior also says in the Gospel: “For every idle word that people speak, they will give account on the day of judgment” ( Mt. 12:36 ).
8. So I must greatly fear, in fear and trembling, that day of judgment, when no one will be able to escape or hide, but each and every one will have to answer for even the slightest of their sins before the judgment seat of the Lord Christ.
9. And so, from time to time, I have thought about writing, but until now I have hesitated, fearing to expose myself to the gossip of men. For I have not studied, like others who have equally mastered the law and the Holy Scriptures , and who have not changed their language since childhood, but have only achieved ever greater perfection in it. My words and speech, however, are translated into a language foreign to me. The way I write clearly shows whether I am skilled in words and experienced in knowledge, for, as it is said, "Wisdom is known by speech, and by understanding, and by knowledge, and by the doctrine of truth" (cf. Prov. 1:5 ).
10. But what good are excuses to me, even truthful ones, especially if now, in my old age, I yearn for what I failed to attain in my youth, because my sins have prevented me from applying to myself what I read? Who will believe me, even if I repeat what I have already said? As a young man, a beardless boy, I was carried off into captivity before I knew what I should desire and what I should avoid. So now I am ashamed and greatly dread the revelation of my ignorance, for, lacking eloquence and poor in words, I am unable to express what my spirit passionately desires, what is in my soul and in my mind.
11. But if this had been given to me, as it has been given to others, I would not be silent in thanksgiving. And if I seemed to exalt myself above others, with my ignorance and my slowness of speech, it is written: "The slow-tongued will speak quickly and clearly" ( Is. 32:4 ). How much more should we strive to achieve this, of whom it is said: "You are a letter from Christ to all the ends of the earth... written in your hearts, not with ink, but with the Spirit of the living God" ( 2 Cor. 3:3 ). And the same Spirit testifies that even uncouth people are created by the Most High.
12. Here I am—uncouth, an outcast, ignorant, unable to see into the future, but I know for certain that before I found humility, I was like a stone lying in a deep quagmire, and the Mighty One came and in His mercy lifted me up, exalted me, and placed me on top of the wall. And from there I can cry out to the Lord in thanksgiving for His great blessings both in this world and in eternity, blessings that the human mind cannot appreciate.
13. Therefore, marvel, you great and small, you who fear God, and you who are eloquent; listen and ponder what has been said. Who could have chosen me, a fool, among those who are wise in the eyes of men and versed in the law, and skilled in words and in everything else? He inspired me, truly worthless in this world, more than others, so that I might become—if I am able—one who, with fear and reverence, without discontent, faithfully serves those to whom the love of Christ has led me and to whom it has devoted my entire life; I might serve—if I am worthy—true and humbly.
14. As great as my faith in the Trinity is, so great is my duty, regardless of dangers, to proclaim the gifts of God and His eternal consolation, to proclaim everywhere the name of God with confidence and without fear, so as to leave behind me, after my death, a support for my brothers and sons, of whom I have baptized so many thousands in the Lord.
15. And I was not worthy of it, and had nothing for which the Lord should have granted me, so that after deprivations and such great trials, after my captivity and all these long years, He gave me such a great blessing in the form of these people, a blessing which in the days of my youth I could not have hoped for and which I could not have imagined.
16. But then, when I reached Ireland, I tended the flock every day and prayed many times every day. My love for God, the fear of God within me, and my faith grew ever stronger, and my spirit moved me to say up to a hundred prayers a day and almost as many at night—even when I was in the forest or in the mountains, and I woke before dawn to pray—in the snow, in the icy cold, in the rain—and I never once fell ill or became lazy, for, as I see now, the spirit was burning within me in those days.
17. And then, one night, I heard a voice in a dream saying, "You have fasted well; soon you will set off for your native land." And again, a very short time later, I heard a voice announcing, "Behold, your ship is ready." And it (the ship - translator's note) was not nearby, but, as it turned out, two hundred miles away, where I had never been and knew no one. And then I made up my mind and ran away, leaving the man with whom I had been for six years, and walked, guided by the power of God for my own good, fearing nothing, until I reached that ship.
18. On the day I arrived there, the ship was preparing to sail from that place, and I told the men I was willing to pay to go with them. But the captain was displeased and angrily replied, "Don't even try to ask for it." Hearing this, I left them and headed for the hut where I was staying, and along the way I began to pray. And before I finished praying, I heard one of them call out to me loudly, "Come quickly, for you are called." And I immediately returned to them, and they said, "Come, we will take you; you have awakened our confidence. You may choose whomever you wish as your friend among us." And that day, out of fear of God, I refused to feed these men, although I had hoped that they would find faith in Jesus Christ, since they were pagans. So I stayed with them, and soon we set out to sea.
19. And after three days we reached the shore, and for twenty-eight days we wandered through uninhabited lands, and all the food ran out, and hunger overcame them. And in the morning the captain said, "Tell me, Christian, you say that your God is great and omnipotent, so why don't you pray for us? For we could perish from hunger, and it is unlikely that we will ever see people again." And I answered them with confidence, "Turn with faith from your whole heart to the Lord my God, for nothing is impossible for Him to send you food along the way today, so that you may be satisfied, for He has everything in abundance everywhere." And, with God's help, this happened, and behold, a herd of pigs appeared before them on the road, and the people killed many of them. They stopped there for two nights, and, having eaten their fill of meat, they regained their strength—many of them were quite weakened, and otherwise would have fallen half-dead along the way. And they thanked God, and I grew in their eyes, and from that day on they had plenty of food. They also found wild honey and offered to share it with me, and one of them said, "We offered this as a sacrifice [to our gods]." Thank God, I did not touch it.
20. That very night, while I was sleeping, Satan attacked me so cruelly that I will always remember it as long as I remain in this body. It was as if a huge rock had fallen upon me, and there was no strength in any of my members. And how could it come into my mind, being ignorant in spirit, to cry out, "Eliam!"? Meanwhile, I saw the sun rising in the sky. And as I cried out with all my strength, "Eliam! Eliam!"—behold, a ray of that sun fell upon me and immediately cast off all that heaviness, setting me free . 5 And I believe that Christ, my Lord, helped me, and that it was His Spirit that cried out in me, and I hope that it will be so in all other troubles, as it is said in the Gospel: "In that hour... ," says the Lord, " it will not be you who speak, but the Spirit of your Father who speaks in you" ( Matt. 10:19-20 ).
21. And many years later, I was captured a second time. And on the very first night, when I was with my captors, I heard a revelation from God saying, "You will be with them for two months." And so it happened. On the sixtieth night, the Lord freed me from their hands.
22. During that same journey He provided us with food and fire, and daily dry weather, until on the tenth day we came out among men. As I have already said, we walked through uninhabited lands for twenty-eight days, and on the night we came out among men, we had no more food.
23. So, after several years of absence, I found myself again in Britain among my relatives, who welcomed me as a son and earnestly entreated me not to leave them again, nor to go anywhere, after the great trials I had endured. And there, one night, I saw in a vision a man named Victor, as if he had come from Ireland, bearing with him countless messages. And he gave me one of them, and I read the beginning of the message: "The Voice of the Irish." And at the moment when I read the beginning of the message, it seemed I heard the voices of those who dwelt beyond the forest of Foclut, by the western sea, and they cried out as if with one voice: "We pray you, holy youth, that you come and be among us again." And my heart was so broken by this that I could no longer read—and then I came to. Thanks be to God, for after so many years He granted them what they asked for.
24. And on another night, whether in the body or out of the body, God knows, I do not know, I was called by still clearer words which I heard, but could not understand, except the end of what was said, which was: "He who gave His life for you, He speaks to you." And I again awoke, filled with joy.
25. Another time I saw Him praying within me, as if I were within my own body, and I heard Him over me—that is, over my inner being. And He prayed with great force and groaning. And seeing this, I was continually amazed and astonished, and wondered who it was that was praying within me. And at the end of the prayer , it was revealed to me that it was the Spirit. And then I came to my senses and remembered the words of the Apostle: “Likewise the Spirit also helps us in our weaknesses. For we do not know what we should pray for as we ought, but the Spirit Himself intercedes for us with groanings which cannot be uttered” ( Rom. 8:26 ). And again: “The Lord, our Advocate, intercedes for us” (cf. 1 John 2:1 ).
26. And then many of my elders attacked me, citing and recalling my many sins against me accepting my episcopacy, filled with labors. That very day, I was so deeply distressed that I could have fallen very deeply here and in eternity, but the Lord mercifully delivered me from this, having become a stranger and a pilgrim in His name, and with great power came to my aid in that difficult time. I pray to God that He will not hold it against them that I then fell into disgrace and was disgraced.
27. They cited against me an incident from thirty years ago, which I confessed before becoming a deacon. In the unrest of my sorrowful mind, I revealed to a close friend what I had done one day—or rather, one hour—in my youth, when I was not yet strengthened against sin. God knows—I don't know; I think I was fifteen then, and I did not yet believe in the living God, just as I had not believed in Him since infancy, but remained in death and unbelief until I was severely corrected and truly brought to humility by daily hunger and nakedness.
28. On the other hand, I did not go to Ireland voluntarily, but only out of necessity, and by this the Lord corrected and purified me, so that I could become what I had never been, so that I could care for and work for the salvation of others, whereas in those days I thought only of myself.
29. So, on the day when I was so reproached by them, as I have already said, I had a night vision. The infamous scriptures were before me, and at that moment I heard God's revelation. He said to me: "We saw with displeasure how the chosen one was deprived of his good name." He did not say "you saw with displeasure," but "we saw with displeasure," as if including Himself in this number. Then He said: "He who encroaches on you encroaches on the apple of My eye."
30. Therefore, I thank Him who strengthened me in everything, so that I had no obstacles in my path and in my work, which my Lord Christ entrusted to me, but on the contrary, after such a confluence of events, I felt considerable courage in myself, and confirmed my faith before God and people.
31. Therefore, I say with confidence that my conscience is clear now and will be clear in the future. God is my witness that I have not lied to you in this.
32. But rather, I grieve for my close friend, because of whom I suffered all this. I entrusted my soul to him! And many brothers told me that before my acquittal in court—I was not there, I was outside Britain and did not ask for it—he defended me in my absence. Moreover, he personally said to me: "See, soon you will be a bishop"—of which I was unworthy. But how did it happen that soon after this he publicly disgraced me before everyone, good and evil, when before he had joyfully and willingly forgiven me, as the Lord, who is above all, forgave?
33. I have said enough about this. But at the same time, I must not conceal the gifts God gave me in the land of my captivity, for there I diligently sought Him, and there I found Him, and He protected me from all evil, for—so I believe—His Spirit dwelt in me, and abides in me to this day. Again, I speak with confidence, but God knows—if this had been revealed to me by men, I would rather have remained silent for the love of Christ.
34. And now I continually give thanks to God, who has kept me faithful in the day of my temptation, so that I can now offer my soul to Him as a living sacrifice—to my Lord Christ, who has saved me in all my troubles. And I can say: "Who am I, Lord? Or rather, to what have You called me, that You have assisted me with such divine power, so that now, among the barbarians, I can continually praise and glorify Your name wherever I may be, and not only in days of success, but also in days of trial?" So, whatever happens to me, be it good or bad, I must accept it equally and always give thanks to God, who has revealed to me that I can rely on Him without hesitation and always, and who has strengthened me so that, being ignorant even in these last times, I dared to undertake such a pious and wonderful deed; so that he could become an imitator of those whom the Lord once predestined to be heralds of His Gospel and to bear witness to Him to all nations, even to the ends of the earth. And we have seen this, and it has been fulfilled. Truly, we are witnesses that the Gospel has been preached wherever people live.
35. It would be tedious to recount all my labors one by one. I will now only briefly relate how the Most Holy God has often delivered me—from slavery, and from twelve trials in which my life was in danger, from snares set by men, and from many other things which I cannot describe, for I do not wish to tire my readers. God , who knows everything even before it happens, bears witness that—though I am a poor and good-for-nothing ignoramus—He generously warned me of dangers in divine revelations.
36. Where did this wisdom come from, something I, who knew neither the number of my days nor God, never possessed before? Where did such a great and healing gift—to know and love God—come from, a man who had lost his homeland and family?
37. And many gifts were offered to me with weeping and tears, and I disdained them, [having offended the donors], and went against the will of many of my elders. Guided by God, I did not agree with them and did not yield to them, not of my own free will, but by the good pleasure and mercy of God, who was victorious in me and resisted them all, so that I could go to the Irish people to preach the Gospel, and suffer insults from unbelievers; so that I could hear evil rumors about my travels and suffer persecution from people, even to the point of being thrown into prison, and so that I could sacrifice my rights as a freeborn for the good of others. And if I am worthy of it, I am ready to give up even my life without hesitation, and I will gladly do this in His name. And I have chosen to dedicate my life to God until death, if He grants it to me.
38. I am greatly indebted to God, for He has granted me such great grace that many have been reborn in Christ by me, and afterwards chrismated, and that clergy have been ordained everywhere for them, and that in recent times many people have come to the faith, gathered by the Lord from all ends of the earth, as He once promised through His prophets: "Unto You the nations will come from the ends of the earth, saying, 'Our fathers have inherited nothing but lies, vanity, and that in which there is no profit'" ( Jer. 16:19 ). And again: "I have set You for a light to the Gentiles, that You may be for salvation to the ends of the earth" ( Acts 13:47 ).
39. And I desire to await the fulfillment of the promise of Him who never leaves a single promise unfulfilled, given in the Gospel: “Many will come from east and west and recline with Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob” ( Matthew 8:11 ). And so we believe that the faithful will come from all over the world.
40. And for this reason, everyone must truly fish diligently and well, as the Lord foretells and teaches, saying: "Follow Me, and I will make you fishers of men" ( Matt. 4:19 ), and also says through the prophets: "Behold, I will send out a multitude of fishers and hunters, says the Lord" (cf. Jer . 16:16 ), etc. Therefore, we must widen our nets, so that we can catch a great multitude and a thousand people for God, and so that everywhere there may be clergy baptizing and exhorting those who thirst for this and need it. As the Lord says in the Gospel, advising and instructing: "Go ye therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you; “And lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age” ( Matthew 28:19–20 ). And in another place He says: “And this gospel of the kingdom will be preached in all the world for a witness to all nations; and then the end will come” ( Matthew 24:14 ). And likewise God foretold through the prophet: “And it shall come to pass in the last days,” says God , “I will pour out My Spirit on all flesh: and your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, and your young men shall see visions, and your old men shall dream dreams. And on My servants and on My handmaidens I will pour out My Spirit in those days, and they shall prophesy” ( Acts 2:17–18 ). And through Hosea He said: “I will call them that were not My people My people, and her that was not beloved, beloved: and in the place where it was said to them, ‘You are not My people,’ there they will be called ‘sons of the living God’” ( Rom. 9:25–26 ).
41. And how did it happen that [those living] in Ireland, where they never knew God, but always, until this day, worshipped idols and all uncleanness, have now become the people of the Lord and are called the children of God, that the sons of the Scots (Irish - translator's note) and the daughters of their leaders we now see as monks and brides of Christ?
42. Among others was a most beautiful, happy, and already fully mature woman of noble Scotch descent, whom I baptized. A few days later, she came to us again to report that she had received a revelation through an angel of God, who advised her to become a bride of Christ in order to draw near to God. Thanks be to God, after six days, she promptly and eagerly chose the path that all brides of Christ follow. And they do so not with the consent of their fathers, but enduring persecution and undeserved reproaches from their parents. Despite this, their number continues to increase (and we do not know how many have been reborn in this way), and this does not include widows and those who practice self-denial. Those who are kept in slavery suffer most. They endure fear and constant threats, but the Lord has given many of His handmaidens such grace that they unwaveringly follow His example, although they are forbidden to do so.
43. So even if I were to wish to separate from them and go to Britain—and I would most eagerly desire to go to my native lands and my fellow countrymen—and not only there, but also to Gaul, to visit the brethren there and be privileged to see the faces of the saints of my Lord—God knows how much I long for this—I would be restrained by the Spirit, who has testified to me that if I did so, He would consider me a criminal. And I fear lest I should ruin the work I have begun—though not I, but the Lord Christ, who has commanded me to go and be with them for the rest of my life, if it pleases the Lord and He will protect me from all evil, lest I sin against Him.
44. So, I hope I have done as I should, but I do not trust myself while I am in this mortal body. For powerful is He who daily strives to turn me away from the faith and from true holiness, which I will pursue to the end of my life for the sake of my Lord Christ. And the hostile flesh always draws us to death, that is, to lawless lusts. And I know in part that I have not led a life as perfect as other believers, but I speak before God, and I am not ashamed before Him, for I do not lie, that from the time I came to know Him in my youth, the love of God and the fear of Him have grown in me, and, thanks be to God, I have preserved my faith until now.
45. And moreover—and let those who wish to mock me and ridicule me—I do not remain silent and do not conceal the signs and wonders which, long before they were fulfilled, were shown to me by the Lord, Who knew all things, even before the beginning of time.
46. Therefore, I must continually give thanks to God, who has often forgiven my foolishness and ignorance and more than once refrained from becoming angry with me, who had been appointed His co-worker. I did not readily agree with what was revealed to me and with what the Spirit compelled me to do, and the Lord has shown me mercy a thousand times over, for He saw that I was ready to act but did not know how to handle the circumstances that arose, when many tried to hinder my mission. They judged among themselves behind my back and said, "Why should someone like this expose himself to danger among enemies who do not know God?" They did not say this out of malice, but it did not please them, and, besides, I know they saw my uncouthness. And I did not immediately recognize the grace that was within me, but now I know that I should have done so sooner.
47. And now I openly state this to my brothers and fellow servants, who believed me because of what I have prophesied and am now prophesying, in order to strengthen and confirm your faith. I only desire that you strive for even greater and better things. This will be my joy, for "a wise son makes a glad father" ( Proverbs 10:1 ).
48. You know, as God knows, that I have lived among you from my youth in true faith and sincerity of heart. Likewise, the pagans, among whom I live, have seen and see now that I am worthy of trust. God knows that I have never deceived any of them, nor have I ever dreamed of doing so, for the sake of God and His Church, lest I provoke persecution against them and lest the name of the Lord be dishonored because of me, as it is written: "Woe to the man by whom the name of the Lord is dishonored" (cf. Rom. 2:24 ).
49. And although I was ignorant in everything, I tried to protect others and myself. Therefore, I returned to my Christian brothers and the brides of Christ the gifts they had voluntarily given me, as well as the ornaments and utensils they had placed on the altar. And they were sometimes offended at me for doing so. But in hopes of future success, I tried to exercise caution in everything, to avoid attacks on me or on my ministry under the pretext of my dishonesty, and to leave no room for slander or contempt on the part of unbelievers.
50. Moreover, when I baptized so many thousands, did I ever expect even the slightest thing from them? If so, tell me so, and I will return everything to them. And when the Lord, through my humble intercession, appointed clergy everywhere, and I of my own free will entrusted their ministry to them, did I ask of them even the price of my shoes? If so, tell me so to my face, and I will return it to them.
51. Moreover, I spent myself to reach them. And I walked among you everywhere for your benefit, in danger, reaching even the most distant ends of inhabited lands, where no one had ever gone before, to baptize, or ordain clergy, or perform chrismation. By the grace of God, I did all this with all my heart and joy for your salvation.
52. At times I gave gifts to kings and paid their sons who traveled with me. Despite this, they seized me and my companions and, in their greed, wanted to kill me. But my time had not yet come. However, they plundered everything they found on us and put me in irons. But on the fourteenth day, the Lord freed me from their hands, and all that they had taken from our property was returned to us, for God's sake, thanks to the invaluable help of the friends we had previously made.
53. You know firsthand how much I have paid to those who administer justice in all the lands I frequent. I believe I have given them no less than the price of fifteen men so that you could always have my company, and I yours, in God. I do not regret this and do not consider it enough. I still pay and will continue to pay. The Lord has the power to grant me the opportunity to spend myself for your souls.
54. Behold, I call God to witness my soul that I do not lie, and have not written to you to give grounds for flattery or vainglory, nor do I expect glory from any of you. Sufficient is that glory which is now unseen, but of which the heart is confident. He who has promised it is faithful; He never lies.
55. But I see that even here and now I am exalted by the Lord beyond all measure, although I am completely unworthy. I know for certain that poverty and misfortune are more fitting for me than abundance and pleasure. The Lord Christ became poor for our sake, but I, a wretched failure, could not become rich even if I wished. And this is not just my opinion—for I daily expect to be killed, deceived, or enslaved. But I fear nothing, having the heavenly promises, for I have committed myself into the hands of Almighty God, who reigns everywhere. As the prophet says: "Cast your burden on the Lord, and He will sustain you" ( Psalm 55:22 ).
56. Behold, now I commit my soul to God, who is faithful in all things, and for whom I have done my work in obscurity, - with whom there is no partiality, and who chose me for this service, that I might be one of the least of His servants.
57. And therefore I must repay Him for all His blessings to me. But what can I say or promise my Lord, for I can do nothing of myself that He does not grant me? But let Him search my heart and my reins, for I desire this very, very much, and I am ready for Him to grant me to drink from His cup, as He has granted to others who love Him.
58. Therefore, may my God not separate me from His people whom He has acquired for Himself in this distant land. I pray to God that He will grant me steadfastness and honor me to be His faithful witness until my very death.
59. And if I have ever done any good for the sake of God, whom I love, I pray Him to grant me to shed my blood with those who are exiled and imprisoned for His name, even if I remain unburied, or if my worthless body is torn to pieces by dogs and wild beasts, or devoured by the birds of the air, - for I firmly believe that if this happens, I will preserve both soul and body. For beyond all doubt, on that [last] day we will rise again in the splendor of the sun, that is, in the glory of Jesus Christ, our Redeemer, as children of the living God and joint heirs with Christ, created in His image, and we will reign through Him, with Him, and in Him.
60. Behold, the visible sun rises for us daily by His command, but it will not reign, nor will its majesty last, and those unfortunates who worship it will be punished. Not so with us, who believe in the True Sun, Christ, and who worship Him. He will never die, just as those who have fulfilled the will of Christ will no longer die, but will abide forever, just as Christ abides forever, reigning with God the Father Almighty and the Holy Spirit from the beginning, and now, and forever and ever. Amen.
61. Behold, I repeat again and again briefly the words of my confession. I testify in truth and with the joy of my heart before God and His holy angels that I never had any other reason than the Gospel and its promises to return to the people from whom I had previously fled with such difficulty.
62. But I beseech all who believe in God and fear Him to receive and study this scripture, composed in Ireland by the sinful and ignorant Patrick, so that none of them may attribute to my ignorance any small thing I have done or explained that was pleasing to God—but let all know and firmly believe that this was accomplished only by the gift of God. And I confess this before I die.
Source: https://azbyka.ru/otechnik/Patrik_Irlandskij/ispoved/