You are the son of a senator,
and a church deacon, I might
add. A son of privilege, Patrick. And all I was trying to do,
is enjoy that privilege, father. By running out on your tutors
and causing havoc in the
village? What will it take for you to
realize that life is more than
just you? For now, go to your room. And Patrick, you are to stay
within these grounds for the
next week. What? But father... I know it's hard for you to
understand, but your father, he
disciplines you... because he loves you, Patrick. Now, don't forget to...
- say my prayers. I know, I know, I know. One of these days,
I won't be treated like a child. One of these days,
no one will tell me what to do. Plunder all you can. And remember: we are in need of strong, young
slaves. Those dogs! Will someone please
keep those dogs quiet. Pirates!
-What? Quickly, Patrick.
-But, father... We've got to...auuughh.
-Father. The boy. He's getting away.
-Run, Patrick. Run! After him! Put him with the others. Come here, boy.
-Let me go. Let me go. Where are they taking us?
-To Ireland. And if you know how to pray,
boy, you best start now. No, no, no.
This can't be happening to me. I am the son of senator
Calpurnius. I do not belong
here. I do not belong here. Another difficult night, bishop?
-Yes. Lately, I've had these dreams... about the time I was kidnapped. It's like I am living it all
over again. I...I was just a boy. Where...where are we? I...I don't know. But with three days journey
between us and the sea... might say we are very far
inland. My wife. Please sir, if I...? You have returned.
-I have. And my son. How is he? A few more days away... and you could have asked him
yourself. I see the gods...
-have favored you. Just as I implored them.
-Priest Cathbad. I have come to take their
portion... as well as offer them thanks
for such great spoils. And there's much more
where that came from. You speak without permission?
-If I may? I am Patrick,
son of senator Calpurnius. The place you raided, is my
father's. Name your price.
My father will pay any ransom. He's very...
-wealthy. I doubt he has anything left.
-Oh, no. Please, I don't belong here. Then I may just have
the way out for you. Really? I'll do anything.
Anything, sir. Take him to the pyre.
-What? He shall make a good sacrifice
for the gods. Please, sir. No, no! Cathbad.
-What? The lad's young and we need
strong workers for the harvest. Would the gods not be just as
pleased with some of the others? Fine, but don't you ever
challenge my authority... again. Let the boy go. Take him instead. And him. And that one... No! No, please. Please! Whatever you were before,
you are now a slave. And don't you ever forget that. Husband... it is time. That's your bread. And some cheese.
That should last you a few days. Now get to work! But what do I do? Look around. What do you see? Nothing. That's cause your sheep
have gone grazing, you fool. Now find and stay with them. Lord Sesenen will be at you if
any of them gets sick or killed
by wolves. Wolves? And don't you even think
of running away. You get caught and you'll wish
you'd never been born. Now get... There you are. Now, now, stay right where you
are. Wait, where are you going? Stay. Wow. Don't! No, don't! Come back here. I said, get back here. Get... Why me? Why is this happening to
me? God, why? Why me? Why me? Why me? Don't give me that look.
You're nothing but trouble. What would have happened if I
hadn't gotten back up and found
you? You could have ended up... What was that? No, no, no! Help me. Please, help me, God. Please, help me. Because he is sickly and weak,
you're telling us to... Return it to the gods. Take it out to the wilderness. And leave him there? We called on you to intercede
with the gods for our son's
healing. You know our customs. Getting rid of the weak
keeps the clan strong. It is the way of the gods. Then maybe we need a better way.
-Oonagh. My wife is upset. She's...
-treading on dangerous ground. Keep in mind, Lord Sesenen,
that I alone speak for the gods. We have gods of trees,
of rocks, of storms, of war. Is there not a god of mercy? Even though I was the son
of a church deacon... I did not really know God. I felt ashamed even to pray. But with no one to talk to,
I began to approach God. With little words here and
there, just asking for help for
the day. Then for help keeping watch
over the sheep, finding food... building a shelter, for health
when I was sick, comfort when I
was sad. I was speaking to Him about
everything. And my heart was filled
with trust in Him... and I began to see
His hand everywhere... and to realize
that I no longer walked alone. Lord, you are with me... before me... behind me... in me, beneath me, above me. You...You're on my right, on my
left... when I sit down and when I lie
down. Oh, Lord. You've brought me to Ireland as
a slave. And it is here,
in the land of my captivity... that You have set me... free. Clans divided, fights over
territory. Rations are more important than
ever. -They are. Well then, the crops were not
good. But how, how is that? We've done as the gods demand. Have you? Have you really? My Lord, the situation is not
entirely dark. While the crops failed,
the sheep flourished. We shall have enough milk,
cheese and meat for winter. And this is due to...?
-Patrick. One of the slaves. He's been here six years now. It is because of God's help. It is Him that I depend on, for
everything. And which of the gods is that? I am a Christian. We believe in
one God. And this is the god
you have served from your youth? I'm ashamed to say that I had
not truly known Him until I met
with hardship. It's because He can bring good
from the worst situations... that I stand before you today. But is it not true
that this god of yours... died naked... flogged and hung on a cross? A god that suffers such
humiliation at the hands of
men... is no god at all. It is because
He has suffered humiliation... that He can walk with me in
mine. He sympathizes with the weak
and hears our prayers. A god that sympathizes. Then perhaps
He may sympathize with us. Would your God
hear your prayer for my son? For six years we have begged the
gods to heal our child, yet
there is no change. Because the gods do not will it,
that's why. Enough. You dare to silence me? And you would deny me
the health of my son? Don't! Don't! God in heaven... by the grace of our Lord Jesus
Christ... I ask that You... heal this boy. I said no. Out! How dare you bring your god
to this place. Out! I warn you, Sesenen. If you think you have trouble
now, continue in your neglect of
the gods. And see how you will be judged,
you and the entire clan. Dada. What now? We need to do away
with this Christian... before he further casts his
spell on the rest of the clan. At the next full moon, let his
god try to deliver him from me. Patrick. Patrick, get up. The ship awaits you. The ship that will take you
home. What's that? And don't you even think
of running away. You get caught and you'll wish
you'd never been born. The ship. I must go. I'll get...
-No. But he'll get away. -And perhaps
that is not a bad thing. Let him die in the woods. I ran as fast as I could. I knew what would happen
if I was caught. It took me days to get to the
shore. And there, just as God had shown
me... was the ship that would take me
back to my parents. Back to my home. Patrick? Conchessa.
Conchessa, it's Patrick. Patrick. Patrick has returned. Thank you, Marcus.
-You have changed. A long time ago, you told me the
day would come when I
realized... that life is more
than just about what I want. I remember. I believe God is asking
something of me. I believe God is calling me
to serve Him. As a priest. It was difficult for my parents
to let me go, but... they were thankful
to have me back safe. I needed to learn the
Scriptures. And the more God's light shone
in my heart... the more earnestly I prayed
for those in Ireland. And I longed for them
to come to know Christ's love... and mercy. Years passed. And while God
has continued to bless me... God has never let me forget
the days of my captivity. For by them, I found Him, even
in the midst of my darkness. Lord, use me for Your glory,
in whatever way You want... in the place I am needed most. I wonder... why have the gods abandoned
us.... why do they not accept our
sacrifices? And here you are, twenty years
later. A bishop, caring for so many
people. God has certainly made up for
all the suffering you had as a
slave in Ireland. You have so much to be thankful
for. -I do. Which is why I am surprised that
God is asking me to go back. What? God wants me to go back. He is asking me to return
to the land of my captivity. I arise today, through God's
strength to pilot me... God's might to uphold me... God's wisdom to guide me... God's eye to look before me... God's ear to hear me... God's word to speak for me... God's hand to guard me... God's shield to protect me... God's host to save me
from snares of devils... from temptation of vices... from everyone who shall wish me
ill... afar and near. He was caught in the woods. Probably came here
to spy out our land. Or in answer to your prayers. Who are you? I am Patrick. The slave. You escaped. Because my God told me to
in a dream. And it is because He has spoken
to me in a dream, that I have
returned... of my own free will. I saw a man calling out to me. Patrick. Patrick. Come back, holy boy. For we have need of you. God has brought me back
in answer to that prayer... to bring His light
to you and your people. And that you will do... in the fires of our sacrifice. No! Cathbad,
what do you think you're doing? What should have been done years
ago. Cathbad. What? How many sacrifices will it take
to satisfy the gods? How dare you, Sesenen! The
gods... -have abandoned us. Look around you. Do our gods walk with us in our
misery... as Patrick's God walks with him? Perhaps his God is... perhaps He is a true God. What? You want to know if this
Christian God is a true God? Do
you? Then let him walk the test of
fire. If his god is a true god,
he will not be burned. And if he is not... he would become the sacrifice
he was meant to be years ago. I will walk into the fire. But you shall walk with me. W...what? Why not, Cathbad?
Isn't this what you hoped for? If you're spared,
you've proven your point. If not, is it not better
to be with the gods? As you have so often said. But I, uh, I... Go! But I...
-Walk! No, I...I... I don't need to prove myself. I...I... I'm on fire. My robe. Put it out. Put it out. I don't want to die. I, I don't
want to. That's what I thought. I for one am tired
of our insatiable gods... that only demand
more and more blood. Teach us, Patrick. Teach us of God's way. Teach us of the true God. What are you...what are you
doing? You can't abandon the gods. Hear me, people of Ireland. For God has sent me back to you
to show you His way. He is not a God
Who asks for these sacrifices. For He took our sins
and sacrificed Himself... for our salvation. He does not ask
for your body to be burned... but for your heart,
that He might fill it... with His love... His abundance... and His light. Chieftain Sesenen's
entire family converted. The Chieftain's son begged
Patrick to let him follow as a
disciple. Noting the young man's
devotion... Patrick consented and changed
his name to Benignus. The two spread the message of
Christianity throughout Ireland. Patrick always went directly to
the head of each clan to
preach... knowing that if the Chieftain
converted... he would have free rein
to teach his people. Slowly, the Irish landscape
changed... as churches were established
throughout the country... as the Irish people,
touched by Patrick's example... embraced the Gospel. That he returned to the place of
his captivity of his own free
will... to teach them, was a living
example of Christ coming into
the world... to bring us to God. Patrick labored in Ireland
the rest of his life. Upon his death, Benignus took
over the massive work... of shepherding the growing Irish
followers of Christ.
