In his travels throughout Ireland, St. Patrick once came upon the little village of Dublina. He foretold to the inhabitants the greatness this small place would one day possess. But as the happy people enjoyed the Saint’s company, a region not far from them was oppressed by a crushing grief.
In the sorrowing home of King Alphimus, lay a stiff lifeless body in a cold chamber. The king’s young son had died. All of the people missed the prince deeply. But their sadness did not end there. Before long, another body was found lying dead upon the riverbank. The king was completely crushed when he saw it. For now he had lost not just one child, but two. He recognized the lifeless body of his daughter, who had drowned in the river. The bodies of the Irish prince and princess were laid next to each other, and their tombs were prepared in the pagan manner of the region.
During this bitter trial that had befallen them, the people suddenly found hope. Rumor had it that Patrick of Armagh had journeyed to that very village. This Patrick was none other than the one who, in the Name of the ‘Unknown God’, as they understood it, had raised numerous dead people to life.
When word of this reached the grieving king, he immediately sought out the Saint. King Alphimus begged St. Patrick to restore his children to life, and made a proposal to him. He gave his word that if Patrick would obtain for him this miracle, then in return he and his entire domain would be baptized. St. Patrick was more than happy to do such immense good for these poor people. He greatly desire to obtain for them not just the return of the king’s dear children to them - but, more importantly, to give all of them, including the two deceased, a chance to save their souls and enjoy eternal happiness.
The king led St. Patrick to the buried remains of his children. The people watched and waited as St. Patrick confidently prayed over the tombs. As many anxious eyes were fixed upon those silent coffins, something stirred within them… In an instant, King Alphimus rushed to the tombs as his people cried out on all sides. There were his children - in the vaults of death - rising up to meet him! The young prince and princess were alive again! With all the fervor of his soul, the king clasped his dear children in his arms. Imagine his joy to feel their strong embrace in return!
The king, the people, and the resurrected prince and princess were immeasurably grateful to St. Patrick, who was himself very happy for them all. But he assured them that it was God Alone Who worked this great wonder. They soon came to understand that St. Patrick’s role was that of a faithful instrument in God’s All-Powerful Hands.
True to his word, King Alphimus made return both to God and St. Patrick, threw away his paganism and embraced the True Faith. The entire region was baptized. Having been reunited to their bodies and then cleansed of Original Sin, the prince and princess were restored to life in the fullest sense.
After this wonderful miracle, the people built churches to give glory and thanks to Almighty God. And they did not forget their beloved St. Patrick. From then on, they gratefully acclaimed him as their first Bishop of Armagh.
In this time of grace and joy, St. Patrick’s prophecy concerning the future of their small village was perhaps forgotten. But God did not forget, and it has since come to pass…
What Irishman does not know the capital of his country - the city of Dublin? But how many of the Irish know the Catholic history of this famed city? How many would smile and be glad to know that its greatness was prophesied by St. Patrick himself. What has become the nation’s capital was once an insignificant place - a small village named for the beloved daughter of King Alphimus - Dublina.