Patrick and the Holy Grail

Hibernia (Ireland) in the 5th century AD. Jesus is being worshipped in the form of a snake! Patrick, a Roman monk, is sent there from a monastery in Gaul to stamp out this foul, gnostic heresy. He succeeds, but only by invoking the magic power of the Holy Grail!

In this historical novel the scene of the action is both Ireland and Britain (Hibernia and Britannia). The Roman Legions are gone from Britannia which is fast becoming a wasteland. Only a young warlord called Arthur offers hope. He dreams of re-establishing Logres, the ancient kingdom of his Celtic forebears. The Roman power however still lingers in the form of a monkish, fanatical, and very corrupt clergy. They oppose Arthur who also has a host of petty warlords to overcome. His most powerful enemy is Mordred, who connives with the dreaded Saxons to invade and conquer the land.

When Patrick arrives on the scene he eschews his Roman connections and decides to start his own Jesus religion! He sides with Arthur who is vaguely aware that the sun-like Christ can help him. Patrick acquires one of the Druid’s Four Treasures of Hibernia, the Spear of Initiation, and with it comes to Arthur’s aid.

Merlin, Arthur’s friend and adviser is old, sceptical, and bewitched by a young priestess. But although Merlin is suspicious of Jesus, his sense of loyalty compels him to help Arthur fight the Roman Catholics. So, from Hibernia he acquires another of the Druid’s Four Treasures, the Sword of Light. Renamed Excalibur by Arthur, this weapon is just what Arthur needs to realise his dream. For Patrick, Merlin makes a special staff and invests it with his own magic power!

This novel is based on real historical characters of whom Patrick is the best known. It was inspired by a book that Patrick himself wrote. Modern historians say that Patrick’s Latin in his book (which is one of the oldest surviving books from this part of the world) is poor; but through his poor Latin Patrick reveals himself better than if he were a scholar. He comes across as a free spirit, and nothing like the sentimental, pious image that has been handed down of him through the centuries, an image generated for sectarian purposes only.

This book by Patrick’s own hand records a very personal story. In it Patrick (who later became the patron saint of Ireland) tells of how as a boy he was captured by Irish pirates from his Christian home in Cambria (Wales) and was carried off to Ireland and sold there as a slave.

Patrick’s master in Ireland was an old druid. He treats him well. He tells Patrick about the old gods and heroes of Ireland. Patrick is enthralled by the sheer magic of the place of his captivity. After a few years however he makes a miraculous escape. Years later, as an adult, he returns to Ireland to preach, and to teach the mostly pagan people there about the great new god he has come to know more and more intimately in the meantime, the sun-like Christ.

Patrick and the Holy Grail is based on Patrick’s own story, but by taking into account the known history of the period it weaves around it a much larger and very intriguing story involving the semi-legendary figure of Arthur.
It is a story of conquest, mystery and magic, a heady mix of history, religion, politics and pending war, where the Grail acts as a guiding and healing force for the future, a power for truth, justice and mercy. But much evil has to be overcome if it is to do its good work.