from the diary of a slave named Patrick.

But after I reached Ireland I used to pasture the flock each day
and I used to pray many times a day. More and more did the love of God, and my fear of him and faith increase, and my spirit was moved so that in a day [I said] from one up to a hundred prayers, and in the night a like number; besides I used to stay out in the forests and on the mountain and I would wake up before daylight to pray in the snow, in icy coldness, in rain, and I used to feel neither ill nor any slothfulness, because, 

as I now see, 

the Spirit was burning in me at that time. 

- Confession of Saint Patrick

It is not good that man should be alone ... but whom have I in Heaven or Earth beside You?