Ethne and Fedelm

Tulsk

Patrick and his household camped during the night
close to the wall of Clebach, or Cleabach, intending next day to proceed
to celebrate the Mystic Sacrifice. They were dressed in their long robes,
worn by the monks of their time, but their tonsured heads were bare, and
their feet were sandalled.There is a green bank all around the well, and limestone
crops up here and there, making natural seats - just on the margin of the
great limpid foundation. It was a great and beautiful spot, and so the clerics
sat down on the rocks, with their books in their hands, to chant their office,
just as the sun was rising over the far distant hills of Leitrim, through
which they had travelled some days before. But they now, too, saw a strange
sight at early morn, two maidens tripping down the green meadows, one of
fair complexion, with her golden hair streaming in the wind; the other with
ruddier features crowned with auburn hair. They were attended by their maids,
as their fosterers. It was customary for these royal girls, according to
the simple habits of the time, to come and wash in the fountain, as royal
maidens did in ancient Greece.But now they came to the fountain and saw the clerics
seated with their books in their hands, dressed in strange garments and
speaking strange words, they stood lost in amazement. But they were Royal
Maidens, daughters of the High King of Erin, and they were not afraid. Their
curiosity prompted them to speak, as the 'Book of Armagh' tells us, they
knew not who the strangers were, nor of what guise, nor of what race, nor
of what country - they thought them fairymen, as gods of the earth, or perhaps
ghosts.Wherefore they said, "Who are you, and whence
have you come?" Whereupon Patrick, repressing their curiosity, said:
"It e better for you to confess your faith in our true God than to
ask about our race." Their narrative is exact, but the questions are
compressed in it. Then the elder girl, the fair-haired Eithna, said "Who
is your God? Where is His dwelling-place? Has your God sons and daughters,
gold and silver? Is He ever-living? Is he beautiful? Have many chiefs fostered
His son? Are his daughters beautiful and dear to the men of the world? Dwelleth
He in Heaven or on earth, or in the sea, or in the rivers or in the mountains,
or in the valleys? How is he to be loved? Is He to be found, and shall we
find Him in youth or old age? Tell us this knowledge of God and how he can
be seen."This flood of questions the curious maiden, with
Royal courage, addressed to Patrick, the leader of those strange beings.
Then Patrick, full of Holy Spirit, replied to the Royal Maidens, answering
all their questions, but beginning with the most important."Our God is th
e God of all men; the God of the heavens and of the earth, of the sea and of
the rivers, the God of the sun and of the moon, the God of lofty hills and of deep
valleys, a God who is over the heavens, under the heavens; who hath for his
dwelling-place heaven and earth, and sea, and all beings that are within.
He breathes in all things, sustains all things.
He kindles the light of the sun, and the moon light
He keeps by night. He made the foundations in the dry land, and the dry
islands in the sea; and the stars He has set to aid the greater lights.
He has a Son alike and co-eternal with Himself. Neither is the Son younger
than the Father, nor is the Father older than the Son, and the Holy Spirit
breathes in them both; nor are the Father, the Son, and the Holy Ghost divided.
Now, as you are daughters of an Earthly King, I want to bring you right
to this Heavenly King. Believe ye, then."Then Patrick, after instruction, no doubt, said "Do
you believe that by baptism the sin of your father and mother (original
sin) is taken away?"
They said: "We believe it."
"Do you believe in penance after sin?"
They said: "We believe it."
"Do you believe in life after death and a resurrection on the Day of Judgment? "
"We believe it."
"Do you believe in the Unity of the Church?"
"We believe it."

It will be observed here that Patrick here merely
required faith in the chief articles of the Apostles Creed, He had, no doubt,
first instructed the maidens, and then required them to make a formal act
of faith in those articles, as is done still before baptism. Whereupon they
were baptised, and Patrick blessed a white veil and placed it on their heads.
This was, apparently, not the veil of a baptismal rite, but the white veil
of their virginity, which they consecrated to God. Then they asked to see
the face of Christ, but the Saint said to them: "You cannot see the
face of Christ except you taste death and receive the Sacrifice (before
death)." And they replied: "Give us the Sacrifice, that we may
see our spouse, the Son of God."So, by the well-side, under God's open sky, the Sacrifice
was offered, and they received the Eucharist of God, and fell asleep in
death. They were placed in the same bed, covered with one coverlet, and
their friends made great mourning for the maiden twin, but all heaven rejoiced.
So as far as we can judge, they were the first of the white-robed host of
Irish maidens who passed the gates of death with their Spouse for ever in
heaven.""Give us the Sacrifice!" each bright head
Bent towards it, as sunflowers bend to the sun;
They ate and the blood from the warm cheek fled,
The exile was over, the home was won,
A starry darkness overflowed their brain,
Far waters beat on some heavenly shore,
Like the dying away of a low sweet strain,
The young life ebbed, and they breathed no more.
At death they smiled, as though on the breast
Of the Mother Maid they had found their rest."The other sister, the ruddy one, was named Fidelm,
and the story is described as charming, moving, and the two Druids of the
story, Caplait and Mael, became Christian clerics. Yeah, right. It's also
crap.Fidelm and Eithna, two Irish goddess types, the two
daughters of the King from nearby Cruachan, died. To see the face of the
Son of God, after being baptised by Saint Patrick. The virgins sacrificed.
Two virgins, in the company of Patrick and a number of his followers, the
holy men, not to mention the Druids. The Druids that became clerics, after
converting.

Jaysus, do you believe it? And who were the witnesses? Who saw what happened?
The Celtic Pagan King of Cruachan accepted this version accounting for the
death of his daughters? Was he not mightily suspicious? Did he not suspect
some degree of bullshit? Did he just nod calmly and say "well, that's
okay then"; Nope, these girls suffered another fate, one meted out
at their refusal to convert.