This was an occupation very agreeable to Patrick, for
as love can avow itself more openly in solitude, he spent all the
night and all the day in loving and conversing with God, making
altars of the rocks and of the flowers, on which to make to Him the
entire sacrifice of his heart.
"The astonishing increase of the flock, which multiplied every day
beneath his charge, soon became known to his master, who, being one
night asleep, saw among the obscure visions of his dreams his slave
Patrick rejoicing and surrounded by a great light, from whose mouth
issued a beautiful and resplendent flame, which touching his two
daughters, who he thought were by his side, burned them and reduced
them to ashes, leaving himself alone untouched by that sweet and
amorous flame. Frightened at such an astonishing vision, scarcely
had the day come, when he sent for his slave and related to him what
had occurred, asking him to explain the mystery of that terrible
dream. To which Patrick replied, with great tranquillity, that the
flame which he had seen come from his mouth could only be the Faith
of the most Holy Trinity, which for a long time he had desired to
preach to him and his daughters. And further, that it was because
this doctrine would make no impression on his soul the flame refused
to touch him, he dying blind in his infidelity. But because his
daughters would eventually be convinced of the truth, God permitted
them to be burned by the flame of His Faith and His Love, so as to
fulfil the end for which they were created.
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