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Article IV. —St. Gurvall, Bishop of Aleth, in Armorica, France.
\Sixth and Seventh Centuries. '] Evidently, the history of this holy personage is surrounded with several obscurities, and tradition has been confused, by the compilers of his Acts. The ancient Breviary of St. Malo contains three
Lessons, giving an abridgment of Gurval's Life. reproduced, in Proper ones of the same church.
of St. Gurval. 2 Albert le Grand,3 Again,
1
These Lessons have been Lobineau has an account
de
Claude Robert, the Sammarthani, as also Andrew Saussay,s refer to our saint.
Paz,4 Jean Chenu, His name is found variedly written Gurvall, Gudwall, Gudnal,6 and Guidgal,?
8 on St. Gurval
this is now probably lost, since the period of the French Revolution,? although
An article has been written, le Pere Alain Le by
Large,
; but,
the substance
of this British
have been 10 The Bollandists have an account preserved.
his veneration,
acts, age
and
religious
institute. —The Rev. Alban Butler x3
may saint,
at the 6th of
11
June, giving
a historic TM on commentary
—resentshisLife,undertheheadingofSt. Gudwall thecorruptionofaletter
p
and he maintains the present holy man is not distinct from that Bishop and
Confessor. *4 Thisseemsprobableenough,althoughsomedifferencesofstate- ment make it difficult to reconcile both narratives. There is an account of
barony of Ballintober North, described on of St. Malo. See Les Petits Bollandistes,
the "Ordnance Townland for Survey Maps
the County of Roscommon," sheet 18.
31 In the parish of Ruthdowney and barony of Clondonagh, shown on the " Ordnance
Survey Townland Maps for the Queen's County, "sheets 22, 28.
"Vies des tome Saints,"
vi. ,
vie de Jour
33 In the parish ol Loughmoe East, and
" I0
barony of Eliogarty. See Ordnance Sur- vey Townland Maps for the County of Tip- perary," sheet 35.
33 Edited by Rev. Dr. Kelly, p. xxvi.
34 Edited by Drs. Todd and Reeves, pp.
After the death of Lelarge, 29th of June, 1705, his Manuscripts were put into
146, 147.
"
toire des Eveques de St. Malo, par Pierre
Deshayes, Chanoine Regulier de la Congre-
gation de France, sur les Memoires recueil-
lis d'Alain Lelarge, de la meme Congrega-
35
See
Monasticon Hibernicum," p.
3 21
Article iv.
A. n. 1768.
3
"
tion. " SeeMichaud's Univer-
3
In his Lives of the Saints of British
-
—
Biographie
selle, Ancienneet Moderne," tome xxiv. , pp.
*
These were published
In his "Vies des Saints de la Bretagne," P- I31-
51, 52.
"See "Acta Sanctorum," tomus i. ,
Junii vi. De Sancto Gurvallo Episcopo Alethensi in Armoricis, pp. 727, 728.
Armorica. Thiswork A. D. * " appeared
12 Inthe
Father Godefnd Henschen.
1636. In Historia Chronologica Episcoporum
Britannise Armories. "
eight paragraphs, compiled by
5 In his "
I3 See " Lives of the Fathers, Martyrs
and other vol. vi. , vi. principal Saints," June
' 4 The Bollandists have a distinct saint,
at this date. See "Acta Sanctorum,"
tomus i. , Junii vi. De Sancto Gudwalo, Episcopo Britanno, Gaudavi in Flandria.
There is a previous commentary, in six
Gallicanum. "
* In an ancient Calendar of the Diocese of
St. Malo.
7 In a Calendar belonging to the Abbey of
St. Meen, Diocese of St. Malo.
8
In his Manuscript History of the Bishops
Martyrologium
Augustine
Juin, p. 504.
9 After it, the Manuscript History of Le-
large was brought to England by a refugee Religious, who was charged to continue that very learned work, the "Gallia Chris- tiana. "
order for publication under this title :
"
His-
ai8
LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. [June 6.
in the work of Rev. S. x s The Petits Baring-Gould.
St. Gurwall,
Bollandistes
St. Gurval is said to have been a native of Great Britain. 1 ? In his early youth, he became addicted to study, and with his letters, he learned the rules of an ecclesiastical life. His love of prayer was very remarkable, while he was accustomed to give alms liberally. While young, he loved mortification.
He
Bishop,
l6
Also, by watching and fasting, he sought to subdue all mortal frailties.
was accustomed to assemble daily the young clergy of his own age, and to exhort them. This caused many to entertain a great desire, to lead very holy and perfect lives. To show how entirely he renounced the world, Gurval re- solved, that Christ should be his sole inheritance ; so that he employed all his worldly substance, which was very considerable, to found a monastery. At this time, the illustrious St. Brendan,18 the Navigator and Bishop of Clon- fert, was the master over many holy disciples : and to him St. Gurval is thought to have repaired for direction and teaching. However, there was a
,Q
have special notices of this holy Bishop, at the 6th of June.
different St. Brendan, Abbot of Birr,
and he may have been under this ex- perienced master. 20 St. Gurval studied with fruit, and he embraced also the monastic state. Whether the first-named St. Brendan lived in Ireland, or in British Armorica, at this time, does not seem to have transpired. However, as this celebrated man died about a. d. 577, we should naturally suppose, that if St. Gurvall were his pupil, it must have been in Ireland. 21 Afterwards, as we are told, St. Gurval became Abbot, over that monastery of which he was the founder. St. Gurval had a revelation, which assured him of becoming Bishop over the church of Alet or Aleth, otherwise known as Quid Alet, or Guich Alet. 22 When St. Malo retired to Saintonge, and when he knew that death was approaching, he began to consider well the spiritual necessities of his people, and he felt most desirous of selecting a worthy successor, to whom he might conscientiously resign the See of Aleth. 23 He therefore called his brethren to him, and recommended, that they should induce St. Gurval to come, he being so distinguished through his miracles and virtues. When St. MalowascalledawaytoHeaven,2* someofhisdiscipleswentovertoGreat Britain. There they prayed St. Gurval, to become their Bishop, as their holy master had requested. Overcome by their persuasions, Gurval at last yielded assent. He then passed over the sea with them. 2* With consent of the
paragraphs, with Vita, having seven chap- ters, in 74 paragraphs, and notes, edited by Father Godefrid Henschen, pp. 728 to
748.
*s See" Lives of the Saints," vol. vi. , June
6. p. 56.
16 See "Viesdes Saints," tome vi. , vie Jour
de Juin, pp. 471, 504.
17 Supposing him to be identical with the
,8
See his Life, in the Fifth Volume of this work, at the 1 6th of May, Art. i.
*' His feast occurs, on the 29th of Novem- ber, where notices of him may be found.
TO
His death is placed, at the 29th of November, a. d. 571. See Rev. Dr. Lanigan's "Ecclesiastical History of Ireland," vol. ii. ,
chap, x. , sect, viii. , p. 39, and n. 131, p. 40.
—— "
St. Gudwall separately mentioned by the This account is questioned in Rev. S.
Bollandists the Rev. Alban Butler places his birth in Wales, and states, that he be-
"
Lives of the Saints," vol.
came Abbot over a numerous
the little isle of Plecit, that he afterwards
passed by sea to Cornwall, and then travelled
into Devonshire, where he built himself a
hermitage. This is said to have grown into
a monastery, on account of the number of
disciples who flocked to the place. He velle Biographie Genthale," tome xxxiii. , flourished at the close of the sixth or in the
seventh century. See "Lives of the Fathers,
in
Martyrs and other principal Saints," vol. vi. , the Tune vi.
monastery
Baring-Gould's
vi. , June 6th, p. 56.
" See L'Abbe Tresvaux's " de Eglise
Bretagne. "
2J See "Gallia Christiana," tome xiw,
col. 995.
^ This event is assigned to a. d. 612 or
627. See M. Le Dr. Hoefer's " Nou-
col. 89.
25 See the ancient Lessons, published in
"
De Sancto Gurvallo Episcopo Alethensi in
Acta Sanctorum," tomus i. , Junii vi.
June 6. ]
LIVES OZ THE IRISH SAINTS.
219
metropolitan and the neighbouring bishops, he was consecrated Bishop of Aleth. He applied himself immediately, to know the wants of his diocese and to supply them. His character for holiness, and his exalted position, caused him to be greatly loved and admired by his people. He worked much for God's glory and for the salvation of souls. So long as his brief term of rule lasted, he was the source of great consolation to his flock, who would have desired him to continue long among them as their bishop. He governed this See, however, only a year and few months, according to some writers ; others have it, that he ruled over it for two whole years. During this term, Gurval had still a longing desire to abandon the world wholly, and to fulfil this purpose, he caused his Archdeacon named Coalfinit or Colfineth to
26
place in his diocese, known as Ar-Guern 2? or Guer,28 in Morbihan. There,
accept the charge of souls, in the See of Aleth.
Then, Gurval sought a
a monastery had been established,
2? and it was deemed a for fitting place
him to commune solely with his Creator, and to prepare for the rewards of
eternal life. Encouraged by his example, and animated by the love of God,
several of his priests relinquishing their worldly goods followed their bishop
to his place of retirement. Notwithstanding, the holy recluse could not there
find retreat: for, numbers of the faithful, attracted by the reputation of his
sanctity, came frequently to visit him. At length, selecting a grotto, and screened from all knowledge of his diocesans, Gurval wished to lead the life
of a hermit. Taking with him twelve of his priests, as companions, he re-
treated to that remote place, and there he lived until about the end of the
sixth or beginning of the seventh century. 3° Full of years as of merits, he there finished his life, in calm repose. 31 He lived in a cavern above the sea. 32
He departed from this world, according to one account, a. d. 62 3," or about the year 640, as is more generally supposed. A part of his head was formerly
kept, in the treasury of St. Magloire, belonging to the Fathers of the Oratory, at Paris. 34 During those inroads, made by the Normans on the coast of France, certain monks carried away the treasure of his relics. At first, these were deposited at Gatinois, where at Yevre-le-Chate! an old shrine was shown, and which contained them. One of the bones, which was left, afterwards might be seen in the parish church of Petiviers or Pluviers. 3s Some time after their first translation, the relics of our saint were brought to Montreuil in Picardy, then a place of strength. There they remained, until the tenth century, when Arnold I. or the Great, Count of Flanders, 36 caused them to be transferred to the great monastery of St. Peter, of Blandine, at Gant. 3?
There his memory is specially revered. At Guer, or Guern, in the diocese of St. Malo, St. Gurval, second bishop of Aleth, was also greatly venerated, 38 and
Armorica, num. 8, p. 728.
26 "
the Saints," vol. vi. ,
27 This Breton word
Saints," tome vi. , vie Jour de Juin, pp. 471, 5C4.
See Rev. S. Baring-Gould's
"
English agroveofaldertrees. "
in
and in
33ThatofAlbertleGrand.
SB It is near St. Malo's of the diocese of St. Malo.
Baignon,
34 See Les Petits
Bollandistes,
6th,
Lives of p. 56.
32 See Rev. S.
the vol. Saints,"
"Lives of
" Vies des
June
signifies l'Aunaie,
Baring-Gould's vi. ,June 6, p. 56.
29 It is thought, by St. Malo, and that it first had been conducted under the Scottish Rule, although afterwards it embraced the Benedictine. See "Acta Sanctorum," tomus i. , Junii vi. De Sancto Gurvallo, &c, num. 5. p. 727.
30 See Rev. Alban Butler's " Lives of the
Fathers, Martyrs and other
vol. vi. , June vi.
31 See Les Petits
Saints," " Vies des
des Saints," tome vi. , vie de Jour
principal Bollandistes,
Juin,
Saints,"
vi. ,
vie de
Jour June, p. 471.
tome
35 According to Chastelain.
36 He carried on a long war against the
Normans.
37 See Rev. Alban Butler's " Lives of the
Fathers, Martyrs and other principal Saints," vol. vi. , Juue vi.
38 See Les Petits Bollandistes, "Vies
p. 471.
39 See Rev. Alban Butler's " Lives of
the
220 LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. [June 6.
of that place he is titular patron. In the British Calendars, the 6th of June is the date for St. Gurvall's or Gudwall's feast. In several churches of Gatinois, and at Montreuil sur Mer, he is honoured ; in the parish of St. Gouail, Diocese of Vannes, he is patron, whilst St. Gudwall bears this name. There was an island priory, depending on the abbey of Redon, in the same diocese. 39 Chiefs and prelates, as also the commonalty, crowded probably to this saint's place of abode, during his lifetime. There he was honoured more than others, exalted in the enjoyment of rank and wealth, although he had been living in absolute poverty.
Article V. —St. Maelaithghen, of Tech Maeilaithghin, pro- bably in Cairpre Ua-Ciardha, now Barony of Carbury, and County
'
of
the name Maelathgean, at the 6th of June. That Moelaithgen lived at an
early period is proved, from the fact of his feast having been inserted in the Feiiire of St. ^Engus,* at this date. The commentator has a note, to identify
his locality. 3 According to the Martyrology of Donegal,* on this day was venerated Maelaithghen, said to have been of Tigh Maelaithghen,s in Cairbre-
Ua-Ciardha,6orinMaghlacha,inthewestofBregia. Thisterritoryextended from the River Liffey to the River Boyne, and it took in a great part of the present county of Meath. 7 The place of this saint must be sought for, within the ancient territory of Cairbre-Ui-Chiardha. 8 This now forms the barony of Carbury, in the north-western part of the present county of Kildare. 9 In Scotland, this Natalis of the Holy Confessor Maelaithchen was commemo- rated, on the 6th of June, as noticed in the Kalendar of Drummond.
OF orinMeath. The Kildare,
Martyrology
Tallagh
merely registers
ArticleVI. —St. Medhran,orMedrain,Bishop. Medrainappears 1
in the Martyrology of Tallagh, at the 6th of June, and he is styled Bishop.
In the table, superadded to the Donegal Martyrology, he is said to have been
3 brotherofOdhran,accordingtotheLifeofSt. CiaranofSaighir. Ifso,both
belonged to the town of Lothre in Musgraidhe Tire, and Meadhran, although at first coming to consult St. Kieran 3 about going on a pilgrimage, afterwards expressedawishtoremainwithhimasadisciple. Wearetold,thatboththe brothers were children from ten to fourteen years of age about this time when they visited Kieran, which was just before the return of St. Cartachfrom the
Fathers, Martyrs and other principal Saints,"
i Cairpre Ua Ciaidha. "
7 See Dr. O'Donovan's Leabhar na
II, 12.
8 The name of O'Ciardha is now family
Anglicized Keary and Carey.
' See Dr. O'Donovan's "Annals of the
Four Masters," vol. ii. , n. (y), p. 670.
,0 See Bishop Forbes' " Kalendars of
vol. vi. , Junii v—i.
Article v. Edited by Rev. Dr. g-Ceart or Book Rights," (z), pp.
Kelly, p. xxvi.
2 See tlie " Leabhar Breac "
"Transactions
Iridi
copy vol.
demy," p. xcii.
\
of n.
in of the Royal Irish Aca-
Manuscript Series,
3 The Irish note is thus translated, by
"VVhitley Stokes, LL. D. :
Moelaithgin in Cairpre Hua-Ciardai. —Or in
Article vi. Edited by Rev. Dr. Kelly, p. xxvi.
Mag Locha in the west of Bregia. " Hid. , p. xcix.
* Edited by Drs. Todd and Reeves, pp.
146, 147.
5 This local denomination has not been
discovered.
6 William M. Hennessy annexes thefollow-
ing Manuscript note : "Tech Maeilaithglin
2
At this passage, Rev. Dr. Reeves has the
"
i. e. , of Tech Scottish Saints. "—p. 15.
i. ,
following note
:
" In the margin of the MS. ,
opposite this, is written, 8 1un. T>opein '
'8 of — See AeogAir, June Aonghus says.
above at 8th Tune. *'
3 See his Life, in vol. iii. of this work, at
5th of March, Art. i.
"
Hid. , pp. 444, 445.
June 6. ]
LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. 22*
Continent,placedata. d. 462or463. 4 AccordingtoO'Clery,itwassaid,thathe
may have been Medhran of Saighir, who descended from the race of Conaire,
sontoMoghlamha,monarchofErin. HebelongedtotheraceofHeremon,s
in that supposition. Under the head of Saighir, Duald Mac Firbis enters,
Medran, bishop, at June the 6th. 6 The Martyrology of Donegal ? mentions, on this day, the veneration of Medhran. At this date, as also at the 8th of
the present month, the Scotch have a St. Medran, and also a Madrine, entered in their Calendars. 8 This latter name is supposed to have been a corruption
of Medan,9 while there was a parish in Wigtonshire, called Kirkmadrine, and alsoanothercalledKirkmadin. Chalmerssupposed,thattwochurchesinthe
were dedicated to St. Medan IQ in the recent Ordnance locality ; and,
Survey
Maps of Scotland, the old churches there are given under the name of Kirk-
madrine. 11 one seems to have been as Kirk-Maiden Formerly, distinguished
ontheSea,andtheotherasKirkMadin. 12 ThechurchyardofKirkmadrine,
in the parish of Stoneykirk, Wigtonshire, is still preserved as a burial-ground, while some ancient remains and inscriptions^ are to be found in that
1 place.
Article VII. —St. Claireneach, of Cluain-Caoin. An entry, in
1
the Martyrology of Tallagh, at the 6th of June, is Clarainech, Cluana Caoin.
There is a Clonkeehan, a parish in the barony of Louth, and another Clon- keen, a parish in the barony of Ardee j both of these are in the county of Louth. Old ruins exist in both of these parishes. ' However, it may not be positively asserted, that either of these parishes were connected with the pre- sent saint. There are many similar names, in different counties of Ireland. Hence, it will not be an easy matter to identify the present locality. On this day was venerated Claireneach, of Cluain-caoin, as we find set down, in the Martyrology of Donegal. 3
*
Article VIII. —St. Lonan. The name Lonan is entered, in the 1
Martyrology of Tallagh, at the 6th of June. His time and locality are alike 2
unknown. It is recorded, likewise, in the Martyrology of Donegal, that veneration was given to Lonan, on this day.
4 See John Hogan's " St. Ciaran, Patron of Ossory : a Memoir of his Life and Times,"
chap, xx. , pp. 163, 164.
5 In a note, Dr. Todd says at Heremon :
"The more recent hand adds here, 'Est potius 8i hujus. ' Meaning that the S.
Kirkmaiden in Rinns.
" On Blean's Atlas.
"3 These are referred to, in the
Medran, here mentioned, is more probably of Scotland," for an interesting Plate and
the same, who is commemorated on the 8th
See Proceedings of the Royal Irish Academy," Irish Manuscript Series, vol. i. , parti. , pp. 126, 127.
7 Edited by Drs. Todd and Reeves, pp.
description of these objects, at pp. 35, 36, and Plate lxxi. He supposes the inscrip-
of this month. " 6"
tion, as having reference to St. Mathurinus, who was honoured in the diocese of Sens, and whose feast was celebrated on the 9th of November. —
Article vii. See Bishop Forbes' Kalendars of Kelly, p. xxvi.
r
Edited by
148, 149. 8"
Scottish
ofboth
is
given,
Saints," p.