This monastery of Iniskeltra was
insulated
by
its founder, St.
its founder, St.
O'Hanlon - Lives of the Irish Saints - v1
—Reputed Festival of St, Amnichad.
In the anony-
mous catalogue of our national saints, pubUshed by O'Sullivan Beare,^ this saint's feast is set down at the 29th of the present month. The follo^ving day, however, seems to have been his proper festival.
Article X. —St. Mocheanna, or Mac Conna, Virgin. Watchful
and untiring in their duty, holy virgins are as the Apostle desired, not children of darkness, but children of the light and of the day, sober and
sleepless. ' We read of Mocheanna, a virgin, having a festival at this date, according to the Martyrology of Donegal. ^ In the published
Martyrology of Tallagh,3 as in the Franciscan copy,* her name is simply entered as Mac Conna. Notwithstanding the apparently incorrect way of spelling the name in this latter record, I cannot doubt but it represents Mo- cheanna.
:
afterwards follows this notice " The three Clairenechs
Article XI. —St. Volocus, Macwoloch, or Faelchu, Bishop and Missionary in Scotland. [Probably zn the Fifth or Sixth Century. '] Little of an authentic cast seems to be known regarding this zealous missionary prelate. On to-day, however, in the Kalendar and Breviary of Aberdeen,' there are notices of St. Volocus, who is said to have flourished in or after the fifth century. We find him classed as a bishop and confessor by Dempster, who calls him Makvoolocus. ^ He is also called Macwoloc. 3 Camerarius,* the Scottish priest, and Ferrarius^ have notices of St. Makwolocus, or Wolocus, as a bishop in Scotia. We also find him called Maknolocus and Volocus. Yet the Bollandists, at this date, rank him among those saints unkno\\'n to them, and to be relegated for further possible notice. ^ This holy man came a stranger to Scotland, and as analogy might possibly lead one to suppose that Volocus was the Latin form of the Irish name, Faelchu,? it seems possible enough he was a native of Ireland. ^
^ Edited by Drs. Todd and Reeves, pp.
30, 31, —
Article ix. 'See "Historise Catho-
191,
2 See Adam
"
iv,, cap, xi. , p. —49, merarius. '^
=^"
Edited by Drs. Todd and Reeves, pp.
30, 31,
3 Edited by the Rev. Dr, Kelly, p. xiv,
* In this the name is united with that of
another virgin, likewise venerated on the
—mochonriA biAchA ,v. present day, thus,
See
Acta Sanctomm," tomus ii. , xxix,
tomus i. , lib.
143.
'' He is
Maknolocus
David Ca- Article x. i Thess. v. , 5> 6. "Catalogus Generalis Sanctorum. "
licas Ibemise
Compendium,"
styled
See ibid. , p. 234,
by
Under Aberdeen," p. 128, and Pars Hyemalis, tonsure. See Rev, Dr. Reeves' Adamnaft's
Article xi, 'See "Martyrology of
folio xliv.
- See " Menologium Scoticum," in Bishop Forbes' " Kalendar of Scottish Saints," p.
"
Life of St. Columba," p. 381.
^ At the 6th of April, he is commemorated
At a time when St. Celestine^ sent
Januarii, p. 916.
^ See Bishop Forbes'
"
Kalendars of Scot-
King's
Ivalendar," ibid. , p.
tish Saints," p, 460.
^ There was a Faelchu Mac Dorbene, who
was Abbot of lona A. D,
to
him the community there received the Roman
in the Roman Martyrology.
717
724.
January 29. ] LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. 505
Palladius'° first to the Scots of Ireland, already believing in Christ," and afterwards to Pictland, there seems to have been a Christian element existing amid a barbarous people, yet addicted to Paganism and to theworship of idols. "
A purer and better-organized system appears to have been introduced from Rome, while missionary efforts diffused a more orderly form of Church go- vernment, among the rude and uncultivated inhabitants. More than four hundred years after our Lord suffered for us, and while the one Faith, which the Roman Church teaches, had not been received through all Scotia, as few Christian teachers were there, the blessed confessor Volocus left his parents and native land. He heard that our Lord Jesus Christ had suffered for him and for all men, and he fully understood the faith of Christ. He followed a Divine Master's footsteps, so far as the frailty of human nature would allow. Volocus voluntarily submitted to the greatest hunger, thirst and cold, that in this life he might satisfy for his own sins and for those of others in his Church. Heissaidtohavebeenadvancedtotheepiscopalgrade,andto have preached chiefly in the northern parts of Scotland. There he chose a
place of dwelling among the high rocks. He preferred a poor little house, woven together with reeds and wattles, to a royal palace. In that he led a life of poverty and humility. He wrought great miracles. '3 He also shunned the world's dignities to achieve a higher reward in heaven, and for eternal guerdonhehopedtoreceiveaperpetualcrown. Thepeopleamongwhom helivedwerefierceanduntamed,voidofdecentmannersandvirtue. Their conversation was brutish, and they were incapable of easily listening to the voice of truth. They had neither altar, nor temple, nor oratory, to praise God ; as they believed not in Christ's incarnation, they had neither know- ledge nor faith ; like animals, given to sleeping, eating, and gorging, their lives were finished in the blindness of unbelief, and they supposed no eternal painsforsinhadbeeninflictedontheunjust. '^ Tenderlyfeelingcompassion for their errors, and filled with the love of Christ, blessed Volocus never ceased from preaching and instructing, sometimes mixing up light and sweet things, sometimes hard and stem reproofs, to gain their souls to heaven. They saw that his great miracles could only proceed from God. Several were converted to the faith. At length, in extreme old age, and on the 4th of the kalends of February, with angels standing around, he passed away to Christ. The parochial churches of Tumeth^^ and Logy'^ in Mar are dedi- cated to his honour. "7 In a popular rhyme we have such a notice. '^ The death of this blessed bishop is placed at a. d. 733 by Camerarius,'? and his
'°
See his life, at the 6th of July. Ac- hordes ; living chiefly by the chase, patient
cording to Venerable Bede, his mission to the Scots took place in the eighth year of the
Emperor Theodosius junior's, reign, which began in the year of our Lord 423. See " Historia Ecclesiastica Gentis Anglorum," lib. i. , cap. 13, p. 55.
" So
of fatigue and privation ; rapacious, revenge- ful, bloody, strong of body, hardy, active, and ferocious.
'S In the "Martyrology of Aberdeen" it
is denominated Dummeth, Camerarius
calls itTunimeg.
'* is a in the Kin- Logie-Coldstone parish
cardine O'Neil district of Aberdeenshire.
"
'7 "Aberdeen Breviary," fol. 44b, 45. Pars Hyemalis.
states in his Chronicle.
'* The missions of St. Ninian and of St. Palladius render this state of things exceed-
See Forbes' ' ' Ka- Bishop
Prosper
ingly probable.
lendars of the Scottish Saints," p. 460.
Coldstone, 1618. See Fullarton's
'3 See Bishop Forbes' tish Saints," p. 460.
"
Kalendars of Scot-
Imperial Gazetteer of Scotland," vol. ii. , pp. 365, 366.
'The classical writers, Mela, lib. iii. . Dio, Severus, Herodian, lib. iii. , in the
'^ "
Wala-fair in Logic Mar,
The thirtieth of
day Januar.
early
ages,
describe the of people
"
historic
Caledonia as wild, nomadic, half-clothed
It comprehends the ancient parishes of Logic Mar and which were united in
'' See p. 75.
5o6 LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. [January 30.
missionisgivenatCandidaCasa,^'"inBalveny,^'StrathdonandMar. '^ Two miles below Beldomy, in the parish of Glass,^3 are St. Wallach's Baths, a ruined chapel called Wallach's Kirk, and St. Wallach's Well. ^* Until very lately, this well was visited as a place of pilgrimage. ^s it has been justly
remarked, by a distinguished religious,^^ that the power, which a saint wields, is not his own, but that eternal power communicated to him by the Eternal
Will. ^7 He needs no earthly weapons when he goes forth, not to attempt conquest, but as a conqueror.
Cfiirtiet! ) Bap of 3fanuarp^
ARTICLE I. —ST. AMNUCHAD, ANMICHADIUS OR ANMCHAD, RECLUSE OF FULDA, IN GERMANY.
[TENTH AND ELEVENTH CENTURIES. -^
pure heavenly
their exercise and indulgence. While this saint is usually called Amnichad, Amnicadus, and Annuchadus, the more correct forms for his name would seem to be Anmchad, Amnuchadus, or Anmichadus. The Irish were accustomed to call persons by this name Anmchad, as well during as long before Colgan's time. ' By Cratepolius, our saint is incorrectly named Annu- chardusorAnnuchadus,'andbyFerrarius,Annichadus. 3 Aparticularnoble family was called Siol Anmchadha, having derived its origin and name from a certain Dynast, called Anmchad. It possessed a district of country in southern Connaught, which bordered on the River Shannon's western bank. s It has been supposed,'^ that our saint was a member of this family, which
ALL
known as
Whitehom,'/our
miles from Barrow
of — 116, Ireland," chap, iii. , p.
earthly pleasures are sure to end in satiety or disgust ; those derived from a love of God and from meditation increase with
'^ The situation of this cradle of Christi-
anity in North Britain is to be seen noted on
the excellent Map of Wigtonshire, in Nichol-
son's "History of Galloway. " It is now
''SSee Bishop Forbes' "Kalendars of Scottish Saints," p. 461.
^*
Sister Mary Francis Clare,
*7 See her " Life of St. Patrick, Apostle
Head, one of the most extreme southern
promontories of Scotland.
Article
torum Hibemise," xxx. Januarii De Beato Anmichado, Confessore, n. i, p. 206.
^'
Near the Castle of Balveny, in the pa-
rish of Mortlach, in Banffshire, and not far from St. Molach's Church, Malcolm II. ob- tained a glorious victory over the Danes. See FuUarton's "Gazetteer of Scotland," vol. ii. , pp. 464, 465.
*»"Viewof the Diocese of Aberdeen," p. 128, note.
^3 This parish is partly in Aberdeenshire and partly in Banffshire. See the account of it contained in FuUarton's "Imperial Gazetteer of Scotland," vol. i. , pp. 791, 792.
^•See "View of the Diocese of Aber-
neen," p. 129, and "Antiquities of Aber- deen and Banff," vol. ii. , p. l8l.
" In his work, " De Episcopis Germanise. "
3 "Catalogus Generahs Sanctorum. "
*0'Madagain,prO'Madadhain, Anglicized to O'Madden, is the tribe name. See "The Annals of Ireland, translated from the original Irish of the Four Masters," by Owen Connellan, Esq. , with annotations by Philip MacDermott, Esq. , M. D. , and the translator, p. 130, note.
s Its position is indicated on the Map of Ancient Ireland, postfixed to the work just quoted,
^ByColgan.
i.
' See "ActaSane- Colgan's
January 30. ] LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. 507
was one of considerable antiquity. 7 The Acts of St. Amnichad have been
placed on record, at this day, by various hagiographical writers. Thus in four paragraphs, the Bollandists have given some notices of this saint. ^ Colgan has also celebrated his memory, and has derived his information from different sources. 9 That our saint was born, probably before the end of the tenth century, appears from this circumstance of his having been first a monk in Ireland ; and that afterwards he lived many years as a recluse at Fulda, wherehediedbeforethemiddleoftheeleventhcentury. '" Thathewasa native of Ireland is proved by Marianus O'Gorman and Florence of Wor- cester, in their respective Chronicles.
The " Anmchad's Siolnamchad, interpreted
race," formerly occupied part of Galway county, adjoining the River Shannon, and now including Longfordbarony. " Oursaintis thoughttohavebeenascionofthispar- ticular family. " He is also said to have been patron saint of the O'Mad- dens. '3 Again, the Island of Iniskeltra, in which our saint was educated, is situated between two well-known provinces of Ireland, Connaught and Munster. '+ Thisholymonklived,notfarfromtheIslandofIniskeltra,on the Shannon. '5 It was probably the reason for his religious profession under the will and guidance of the Abbot Corcran, who then presided over the establishment at Iniskeltra.
This monastery of Iniskeltra was insulated by
its founder, St. Camin. '^ Amid the wide-spreading waters of Lough Derg, he lived about the middle of the seventh century, and his foundation
flourished in great repute for many succeeding ages. '7 A melancholy loneli- ness and interest are now felt, as the tourist wanders over a site spread with ruins. '^ This island of Iniskealtra or Holy Island gives name to the parish
7 It was flourishing even when Colgan wrote.
^See"ActaSanctorum,"tomusii. , xxx.
Januarii. Vita S. Anmichadi, p. 1055.
5 See "Acta Sanctorum Hiberniae," xxx.
Januarii. De B. Anmichado, Confessore, pp. 205, 206.
'°He died A. D. 1043. See Marianus O'Gorman, in his Chronicle; Florence of Worcester, in his history; and Trithemius, or John of Trittenem, " Catalogus Scrip- torum Ecclesiasticorum, sive Illustrium Vi- rorum," lib. iii. , cap. 244, and in Chron.
'3 See an excellent little work, Mrs. Anas- tasia O'Byme's "Saints of Ireland," p. 12.
'* Corcran, his master, it is most probable, lived and died in Ireland.
'5 Colgan supposes, that our saint was not
venerated in any particular place, by the institution of a Divine office, or by any other
mark of special respect paid to the saints ; although all writers agree in calling him a holy man, and his Natalis occurs in the
Martyrologies, at the 30th of January. See
Vita S. Anmichadi, n. I, p. 206.
^* His feast occurs at the 24th of March. '7 In "The Irish Penny Magazine," vol.
i. , No. 36, pp. 281, 282, will be found a
wood-cut. An interesting article, fro—m the
pen of John D'Alton, accompanies it the subject being Iniscaltra or Holy Island.
'^ The occurring to- following paragraph,
" By Colgan this is supposed to be pro-
bable, for the following reasons, i. There
was another holy man descended from this
family, who was celebrated for his learning
and piety, and who was bishop of the church
of Clonfert, situated in the same part of the
country. His death is recorded in the tions of his native country. After describ- "Annals of the Four Masters," at A. D.
A. D.
" " Silanmchadia, Silanchia, a Territory
in the C. of Galway, comprehending the Barony of Longford, the country of the O'Maddens. " Harris' Ware, vol. ii. , "An-
tiquities of Ireland," chap, vii. , sec. i. , p. 53.
Hirsaugiensi,
1045.
1 1 where he is " Anmcha O'h 17, called,
Anmchadha, Bishop of Ard-fearta-Breniaun. " See O'Donovan's edition, vol. ii. , pp. 1002,
ing these ruins, and recording historical
renders " Anmchadus it,
1003. Colgan
O'Hanmchadha . i. de stirpe Anmchadi Episcopus de Cluainferta S. Brandani, obiit anno U17," n. i, p. 206.
"
Acta Sanctorum Hiberniae. " xxx. Januarii.
wards the conclusion of the article in ques- tion, is alike creditable to the literary repu-
tation, correct judgment, taste, and religious feeling of this writer, our lamented and venerable deceased friend, who has signally served to popularize the history and tradi-
on the island, Mr. D'Alton
notices, bearing
*'
writes :
that crowded upon me when years since I sat down amidst the consecrated shades of these ^venerable ruins ; the birds were rust- ling through their ivied walls, and the withered leaves of autumn were crackling
Never can I forget the feelings
5o8 LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. [January 30.
in which it Hes, and it is situated in the barony of Leitrim and county of Galway. '9 Theislandcontainsover45statuteacres.
Florence of Worcester relates, that on a certain occasion, some guests aiTiving at this monastery, Corcran appointed our saint to exercise the duties of host or entertainer. After partaking of food, some of those guests retired, while others remained warming themselves at the fire. ^° These persons asked for some drink, biit this being a demand, not perhaps conformable with established discipline in the house, our saint, with much reluctance, assented to their request. ^^ Previous to his compliance, however, he sent some of this drink to obtain the blessing of his superior. Being interrogated on the following day by Corcran,^^ to elicit his reasons for acting in this manner, our saint related the request which had been preferred to him, and his subsequent compliance with it. To punish him for such a breach of discipline, the abbot ordered his disciple to leave Ireland, and to become an exile in a foreign country. Our saint immediately obeyed this severe in- junction, and sailed for a distant land. As a monk he travelled to Germany, andenteredFuldaorFuldemonastery. ^3 ThusembracingtheBenedictine rule and discipline, which had been established in this religious enclosure, he lived there as a recluse, and shut up in a stone cell, avoiding all intercourse with the world. He continued for a long time in a state of complete abnega- tion and holy self-sacrifice. ^* While in this retreat, our saint was a perfect model for all the religious brethren, being remarked for his strict adherence to rule, his perfect obedience, his profound humility, and his rigorous pen- ances. His soul seemed to aspire, without restraint, to the contemplation of heavenly things ; he endeavoured in all his prayers and meditations to exclude distractions caused by worldly thoughts and concerns. Passing such kind of life, he attained an advanced age ; and finally, he departed to
the haven of his rest and his aspirations, on the 30th day of January, a. d.
in the wind—meet for their covering sepul-
;
^' "Bibere ab eo These petierunt. "
words are explained by Colgan, as if the strangers had asked him to take part of what
they had before them. Yet, they might be understood to mean that, although the meal
was over, they applied to him for some
drink. See " Ecclesiastical His- Lanigan's
tory of Ireland," vol. iii. , chap, xxiv,, sec. ii. , n. 17, p. 445.
^^
It is presumed, that this was the Cor- cran, who wrote a poem on the relics and virtues of St. Gormgal of Ard-Oilean. See further notices regarding him, in the Acts of this latter saint, which occur at the 5th of August.
^3 This celebrated abbey and town are
situated on the River Fulde, near the boun-
dary of Bavaria, and in Hessen Nassau, Northern Germany. The abbot, to the
closing of the last century, was primate of the abbeys in the German Emjiire, perpe- tual chancellor of the emperor, and sovereign over a small territory, lying between Hesse, Franconia, and Thuringia. See "Encyclo- paedia Britannica," vol. vii. , Art. Fulde, p. 492. Dublin edition, 1792.
^"^ Colgan's "Acta Sanctorum Hibemise," xxx. Januarii. Vita S. Anmichadi, cap. i. , ii. , p. 205.
chral pavement—and I bethought me of the time wlien these religious houses were sup- pressed, and the consummation of royal robbery and sacrilege by which that act was accompanied. The event has cast a shadow through centuries that have ensued
we even yet stand within its penumbra, and I confess the indignation which rose within me at that early period of my life, neither has the advance of years chilled, nor has the ex- perience of professional intercourse with the ecclesiastical records of my country, fami-
liarized into patient endurance. "
'9 See " Ordnance Survey Townland Maps
fortheCountyofGalway. " Sheet136.
^°
a reader of the opening lines in that exceed-
This incident will probably remind many
ingly interesting poem, "The Monks of Kilcrea. "
" Three monks sat by a bogwood fire ! If ^^ if * * ^a H.
Whoever past, be he baron or squire, Was free to call at the abbey, and stay, Nor guerdon nor gift for his lodging
pay,
Although he t—arried a week with its holy
Quire! " Fytte i. , stanza i.
January 30. ] LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. 509
1 043. =^5 This is the day assigned for his natahs and festival, according to the generahty of writers f^ but CratepoUus says, a feast occurs in his honour at the ist of February. =^7 Ferrarius assigns to him a festival on both the days already mentioned. ^^ St. Amnichad was buried at Fulda, or, as sometimes >\Titten, Fulden. ^9 Sixteen years after this death of our saint, his more celebrated countryman, Marianus Scotus, the Chronologist, succeeded him as a religious in the monastery of Fulda,3° and relates in his writings, that fortenyearshedailycelebratedMassoverthetombofSt. Anmichad. He says, moreover, that supernatural light and heavenly psalmody were frequently seen or heard above the place of our saint's sepulture, during this same period. He even declares, a certain religious brother of the monastery, named William, prayed in his own hearing, that our saint would bestow a blessing upon him. During this same night, in a vision, Amnichad appeared, resplendent with celestial light. Standing on his tomb, the blessed apparition gave a blessing with extended hands to the monk. This was related to Marianus by the brother himself, after its occurrence. During the whole night, when this vision took place, the Chronographer declares, a most agreeable odour
was diffused through that chamber, in which he reposed. 3^ We are thus
taught from the example of this holy penitent,, how even slight faults are to be atoned for, when, as Marianus O'Gonnan learned from his superior, Tighernach—or as called Tigernacb Borchecb^^—an offence of such a nature caused Anmchad's exile from his native country. This Tighernach is sup- posed to have been a saint,33 according to the Martyrologies of Marianus O'Gorman and of Donegal, and not that celebrated Annalist bearing the same name, and who flourished much about the same period, yet a little
*5 Marianus Scottus, the first who has written regarding this saint, says at 1043,
•'
^7 In his work, "De Episcopis Germanise," this writer has entered his feast at the Ka- lends or 1st day of February, and by him this saint is called Annuchadus. Hugo
Menard in his " Benedicti- Martyrologium
Animchadus Scottus monachus et inclusus obiit 3. Kal. Februarii in JNIonasterio Ful- densi. " See Chronicon, edited Professor
by
G. Waitz, in " Monumenta Germanicfe His-
num," places his feast at the same date; as "
torica. " Scriptorum, tomus v. , p. 557. Flor-
"
ence of Worcester also writes,
Animchadus Scotus Monachus et inclusus in Fulda obiit. " Trithemius in " Chronicon Hirsaugiensis," places his death in the same year, and in his work, " De viris Illustribus,"
likewise Christopher Browerus' Antiquit. Mildens," lib. i. , cap. 20.
" 3° lib. iii,, cap. 244, remarks of this saint, Mo-
ritur an. Domini 1043, tertio Calend. Febr. "
The English Martyrology says, that he died on the 30th of of January, about A. D. 1043. Wion, also, assigns the death of this saint to the 30th of January, 1043. Besides those already cited, Camerarius, Dempster, and
Such is the statement of Colgan, both in his text and in a note, where he says, this information may be collected from Marianus Scotus himself, who relates, that Anmichad died a. d. 1043, and that he, Marianus, became a recluse, A. D. 1059, in the cell of Anmichad. See "Acta Sanc- torum Hiberniae," xxx. Januarii. Vita S. Anmichadi, cap. iv. , p. 205, and n. 7, p. 206.
3' Florence of Worcester observes, that
the foregoing particulars are related by Marianus in his Chronicle.
3= See Mariani Scotti Chronicon, edited - by Professor G. Waitz, in "Monumenta GermaniiB Historica. " Scriptorum, tomus v. , p. 557-
33 See St. Tighernach's festival at the I3tli
others are of accord. See Colgan's
"
Acta
Sanctorum Hibernite," xxx. Januarii. Vita
S. Anmichadi, cap. iii. , iv. , pp, 205, 206,
and nn. 5, 6, ibid.
^^ "
In Henry Fitzsimon's Catalogus Ali-
quoram Sanctorum Iberniae," Aminachad's festival is placed at this date, on the autho-
rity of the English Martyrology. Father Stephen White omits to notice his feast.
See "Apologia pro Hibernia," cap. iv.
mous catalogue of our national saints, pubUshed by O'Sullivan Beare,^ this saint's feast is set down at the 29th of the present month. The follo^ving day, however, seems to have been his proper festival.
Article X. —St. Mocheanna, or Mac Conna, Virgin. Watchful
and untiring in their duty, holy virgins are as the Apostle desired, not children of darkness, but children of the light and of the day, sober and
sleepless. ' We read of Mocheanna, a virgin, having a festival at this date, according to the Martyrology of Donegal. ^ In the published
Martyrology of Tallagh,3 as in the Franciscan copy,* her name is simply entered as Mac Conna. Notwithstanding the apparently incorrect way of spelling the name in this latter record, I cannot doubt but it represents Mo- cheanna.
:
afterwards follows this notice " The three Clairenechs
Article XI. —St. Volocus, Macwoloch, or Faelchu, Bishop and Missionary in Scotland. [Probably zn the Fifth or Sixth Century. '] Little of an authentic cast seems to be known regarding this zealous missionary prelate. On to-day, however, in the Kalendar and Breviary of Aberdeen,' there are notices of St. Volocus, who is said to have flourished in or after the fifth century. We find him classed as a bishop and confessor by Dempster, who calls him Makvoolocus. ^ He is also called Macwoloc. 3 Camerarius,* the Scottish priest, and Ferrarius^ have notices of St. Makwolocus, or Wolocus, as a bishop in Scotia. We also find him called Maknolocus and Volocus. Yet the Bollandists, at this date, rank him among those saints unkno\\'n to them, and to be relegated for further possible notice. ^ This holy man came a stranger to Scotland, and as analogy might possibly lead one to suppose that Volocus was the Latin form of the Irish name, Faelchu,? it seems possible enough he was a native of Ireland. ^
^ Edited by Drs. Todd and Reeves, pp.
30, 31, —
Article ix. 'See "Historise Catho-
191,
2 See Adam
"
iv,, cap, xi. , p. —49, merarius. '^
=^"
Edited by Drs. Todd and Reeves, pp.
30, 31,
3 Edited by the Rev. Dr, Kelly, p. xiv,
* In this the name is united with that of
another virgin, likewise venerated on the
—mochonriA biAchA ,v. present day, thus,
See
Acta Sanctomm," tomus ii. , xxix,
tomus i. , lib.
143.
'' He is
Maknolocus
David Ca- Article x. i Thess. v. , 5> 6. "Catalogus Generalis Sanctorum. "
licas Ibemise
Compendium,"
styled
See ibid. , p. 234,
by
Under Aberdeen," p. 128, and Pars Hyemalis, tonsure. See Rev, Dr. Reeves' Adamnaft's
Article xi, 'See "Martyrology of
folio xliv.
- See " Menologium Scoticum," in Bishop Forbes' " Kalendar of Scottish Saints," p.
"
Life of St. Columba," p. 381.
^ At the 6th of April, he is commemorated
At a time when St. Celestine^ sent
Januarii, p. 916.
^ See Bishop Forbes'
"
Kalendars of Scot-
King's
Ivalendar," ibid. , p.
tish Saints," p, 460.
^ There was a Faelchu Mac Dorbene, who
was Abbot of lona A. D,
to
him the community there received the Roman
in the Roman Martyrology.
717
724.
January 29. ] LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. 505
Palladius'° first to the Scots of Ireland, already believing in Christ," and afterwards to Pictland, there seems to have been a Christian element existing amid a barbarous people, yet addicted to Paganism and to theworship of idols. "
A purer and better-organized system appears to have been introduced from Rome, while missionary efforts diffused a more orderly form of Church go- vernment, among the rude and uncultivated inhabitants. More than four hundred years after our Lord suffered for us, and while the one Faith, which the Roman Church teaches, had not been received through all Scotia, as few Christian teachers were there, the blessed confessor Volocus left his parents and native land. He heard that our Lord Jesus Christ had suffered for him and for all men, and he fully understood the faith of Christ. He followed a Divine Master's footsteps, so far as the frailty of human nature would allow. Volocus voluntarily submitted to the greatest hunger, thirst and cold, that in this life he might satisfy for his own sins and for those of others in his Church. Heissaidtohavebeenadvancedtotheepiscopalgrade,andto have preached chiefly in the northern parts of Scotland. There he chose a
place of dwelling among the high rocks. He preferred a poor little house, woven together with reeds and wattles, to a royal palace. In that he led a life of poverty and humility. He wrought great miracles. '3 He also shunned the world's dignities to achieve a higher reward in heaven, and for eternal guerdonhehopedtoreceiveaperpetualcrown. Thepeopleamongwhom helivedwerefierceanduntamed,voidofdecentmannersandvirtue. Their conversation was brutish, and they were incapable of easily listening to the voice of truth. They had neither altar, nor temple, nor oratory, to praise God ; as they believed not in Christ's incarnation, they had neither know- ledge nor faith ; like animals, given to sleeping, eating, and gorging, their lives were finished in the blindness of unbelief, and they supposed no eternal painsforsinhadbeeninflictedontheunjust. '^ Tenderlyfeelingcompassion for their errors, and filled with the love of Christ, blessed Volocus never ceased from preaching and instructing, sometimes mixing up light and sweet things, sometimes hard and stem reproofs, to gain their souls to heaven. They saw that his great miracles could only proceed from God. Several were converted to the faith. At length, in extreme old age, and on the 4th of the kalends of February, with angels standing around, he passed away to Christ. The parochial churches of Tumeth^^ and Logy'^ in Mar are dedi- cated to his honour. "7 In a popular rhyme we have such a notice. '^ The death of this blessed bishop is placed at a. d. 733 by Camerarius,'? and his
'°
See his life, at the 6th of July. Ac- hordes ; living chiefly by the chase, patient
cording to Venerable Bede, his mission to the Scots took place in the eighth year of the
Emperor Theodosius junior's, reign, which began in the year of our Lord 423. See " Historia Ecclesiastica Gentis Anglorum," lib. i. , cap. 13, p. 55.
" So
of fatigue and privation ; rapacious, revenge- ful, bloody, strong of body, hardy, active, and ferocious.
'S In the "Martyrology of Aberdeen" it
is denominated Dummeth, Camerarius
calls itTunimeg.
'* is a in the Kin- Logie-Coldstone parish
cardine O'Neil district of Aberdeenshire.
"
'7 "Aberdeen Breviary," fol. 44b, 45. Pars Hyemalis.
states in his Chronicle.
'* The missions of St. Ninian and of St. Palladius render this state of things exceed-
See Forbes' ' ' Ka- Bishop
Prosper
ingly probable.
lendars of the Scottish Saints," p. 460.
Coldstone, 1618. See Fullarton's
'3 See Bishop Forbes' tish Saints," p. 460.
"
Kalendars of Scot-
Imperial Gazetteer of Scotland," vol. ii. , pp. 365, 366.
'The classical writers, Mela, lib. iii. . Dio, Severus, Herodian, lib. iii. , in the
'^ "
Wala-fair in Logic Mar,
The thirtieth of
day Januar.
early
ages,
describe the of people
"
historic
Caledonia as wild, nomadic, half-clothed
It comprehends the ancient parishes of Logic Mar and which were united in
'' See p. 75.
5o6 LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. [January 30.
missionisgivenatCandidaCasa,^'"inBalveny,^'StrathdonandMar. '^ Two miles below Beldomy, in the parish of Glass,^3 are St. Wallach's Baths, a ruined chapel called Wallach's Kirk, and St. Wallach's Well. ^* Until very lately, this well was visited as a place of pilgrimage. ^s it has been justly
remarked, by a distinguished religious,^^ that the power, which a saint wields, is not his own, but that eternal power communicated to him by the Eternal
Will. ^7 He needs no earthly weapons when he goes forth, not to attempt conquest, but as a conqueror.
Cfiirtiet! ) Bap of 3fanuarp^
ARTICLE I. —ST. AMNUCHAD, ANMICHADIUS OR ANMCHAD, RECLUSE OF FULDA, IN GERMANY.
[TENTH AND ELEVENTH CENTURIES. -^
pure heavenly
their exercise and indulgence. While this saint is usually called Amnichad, Amnicadus, and Annuchadus, the more correct forms for his name would seem to be Anmchad, Amnuchadus, or Anmichadus. The Irish were accustomed to call persons by this name Anmchad, as well during as long before Colgan's time. ' By Cratepolius, our saint is incorrectly named Annu- chardusorAnnuchadus,'andbyFerrarius,Annichadus. 3 Aparticularnoble family was called Siol Anmchadha, having derived its origin and name from a certain Dynast, called Anmchad. It possessed a district of country in southern Connaught, which bordered on the River Shannon's western bank. s It has been supposed,'^ that our saint was a member of this family, which
ALL
known as
Whitehom,'/our
miles from Barrow
of — 116, Ireland," chap, iii. , p.
earthly pleasures are sure to end in satiety or disgust ; those derived from a love of God and from meditation increase with
'^ The situation of this cradle of Christi-
anity in North Britain is to be seen noted on
the excellent Map of Wigtonshire, in Nichol-
son's "History of Galloway. " It is now
''SSee Bishop Forbes' "Kalendars of Scottish Saints," p. 461.
^*
Sister Mary Francis Clare,
*7 See her " Life of St. Patrick, Apostle
Head, one of the most extreme southern
promontories of Scotland.
Article
torum Hibemise," xxx. Januarii De Beato Anmichado, Confessore, n. i, p. 206.
^'
Near the Castle of Balveny, in the pa-
rish of Mortlach, in Banffshire, and not far from St. Molach's Church, Malcolm II. ob- tained a glorious victory over the Danes. See FuUarton's "Gazetteer of Scotland," vol. ii. , pp. 464, 465.
*»"Viewof the Diocese of Aberdeen," p. 128, note.
^3 This parish is partly in Aberdeenshire and partly in Banffshire. See the account of it contained in FuUarton's "Imperial Gazetteer of Scotland," vol. i. , pp. 791, 792.
^•See "View of the Diocese of Aber-
neen," p. 129, and "Antiquities of Aber- deen and Banff," vol. ii. , p. l8l.
" In his work, " De Episcopis Germanise. "
3 "Catalogus Generahs Sanctorum. "
*0'Madagain,prO'Madadhain, Anglicized to O'Madden, is the tribe name. See "The Annals of Ireland, translated from the original Irish of the Four Masters," by Owen Connellan, Esq. , with annotations by Philip MacDermott, Esq. , M. D. , and the translator, p. 130, note.
s Its position is indicated on the Map of Ancient Ireland, postfixed to the work just quoted,
^ByColgan.
i.
' See "ActaSane- Colgan's
January 30. ] LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. 507
was one of considerable antiquity. 7 The Acts of St. Amnichad have been
placed on record, at this day, by various hagiographical writers. Thus in four paragraphs, the Bollandists have given some notices of this saint. ^ Colgan has also celebrated his memory, and has derived his information from different sources. 9 That our saint was born, probably before the end of the tenth century, appears from this circumstance of his having been first a monk in Ireland ; and that afterwards he lived many years as a recluse at Fulda, wherehediedbeforethemiddleoftheeleventhcentury. '" Thathewasa native of Ireland is proved by Marianus O'Gorman and Florence of Wor- cester, in their respective Chronicles.
The " Anmchad's Siolnamchad, interpreted
race," formerly occupied part of Galway county, adjoining the River Shannon, and now including Longfordbarony. " Oursaintis thoughttohavebeenascionofthispar- ticular family. " He is also said to have been patron saint of the O'Mad- dens. '3 Again, the Island of Iniskeltra, in which our saint was educated, is situated between two well-known provinces of Ireland, Connaught and Munster. '+ Thisholymonklived,notfarfromtheIslandofIniskeltra,on the Shannon. '5 It was probably the reason for his religious profession under the will and guidance of the Abbot Corcran, who then presided over the establishment at Iniskeltra.
This monastery of Iniskeltra was insulated by
its founder, St. Camin. '^ Amid the wide-spreading waters of Lough Derg, he lived about the middle of the seventh century, and his foundation
flourished in great repute for many succeeding ages. '7 A melancholy loneli- ness and interest are now felt, as the tourist wanders over a site spread with ruins. '^ This island of Iniskealtra or Holy Island gives name to the parish
7 It was flourishing even when Colgan wrote.
^See"ActaSanctorum,"tomusii. , xxx.
Januarii. Vita S. Anmichadi, p. 1055.
5 See "Acta Sanctorum Hiberniae," xxx.
Januarii. De B. Anmichado, Confessore, pp. 205, 206.
'°He died A. D. 1043. See Marianus O'Gorman, in his Chronicle; Florence of Worcester, in his history; and Trithemius, or John of Trittenem, " Catalogus Scrip- torum Ecclesiasticorum, sive Illustrium Vi- rorum," lib. iii. , cap. 244, and in Chron.
'3 See an excellent little work, Mrs. Anas- tasia O'Byme's "Saints of Ireland," p. 12.
'* Corcran, his master, it is most probable, lived and died in Ireland.
'5 Colgan supposes, that our saint was not
venerated in any particular place, by the institution of a Divine office, or by any other
mark of special respect paid to the saints ; although all writers agree in calling him a holy man, and his Natalis occurs in the
Martyrologies, at the 30th of January. See
Vita S. Anmichadi, n. I, p. 206.
^* His feast occurs at the 24th of March. '7 In "The Irish Penny Magazine," vol.
i. , No. 36, pp. 281, 282, will be found a
wood-cut. An interesting article, fro—m the
pen of John D'Alton, accompanies it the subject being Iniscaltra or Holy Island.
'^ The occurring to- following paragraph,
" By Colgan this is supposed to be pro-
bable, for the following reasons, i. There
was another holy man descended from this
family, who was celebrated for his learning
and piety, and who was bishop of the church
of Clonfert, situated in the same part of the
country. His death is recorded in the tions of his native country. After describ- "Annals of the Four Masters," at A. D.
A. D.
" " Silanmchadia, Silanchia, a Territory
in the C. of Galway, comprehending the Barony of Longford, the country of the O'Maddens. " Harris' Ware, vol. ii. , "An-
tiquities of Ireland," chap, vii. , sec. i. , p. 53.
Hirsaugiensi,
1045.
1 1 where he is " Anmcha O'h 17, called,
Anmchadha, Bishop of Ard-fearta-Breniaun. " See O'Donovan's edition, vol. ii. , pp. 1002,
ing these ruins, and recording historical
renders " Anmchadus it,
1003. Colgan
O'Hanmchadha . i. de stirpe Anmchadi Episcopus de Cluainferta S. Brandani, obiit anno U17," n. i, p. 206.
"
Acta Sanctorum Hiberniae. " xxx. Januarii.
wards the conclusion of the article in ques- tion, is alike creditable to the literary repu-
tation, correct judgment, taste, and religious feeling of this writer, our lamented and venerable deceased friend, who has signally served to popularize the history and tradi-
on the island, Mr. D'Alton
notices, bearing
*'
writes :
that crowded upon me when years since I sat down amidst the consecrated shades of these ^venerable ruins ; the birds were rust- ling through their ivied walls, and the withered leaves of autumn were crackling
Never can I forget the feelings
5o8 LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. [January 30.
in which it Hes, and it is situated in the barony of Leitrim and county of Galway. '9 Theislandcontainsover45statuteacres.
Florence of Worcester relates, that on a certain occasion, some guests aiTiving at this monastery, Corcran appointed our saint to exercise the duties of host or entertainer. After partaking of food, some of those guests retired, while others remained warming themselves at the fire. ^° These persons asked for some drink, biit this being a demand, not perhaps conformable with established discipline in the house, our saint, with much reluctance, assented to their request. ^^ Previous to his compliance, however, he sent some of this drink to obtain the blessing of his superior. Being interrogated on the following day by Corcran,^^ to elicit his reasons for acting in this manner, our saint related the request which had been preferred to him, and his subsequent compliance with it. To punish him for such a breach of discipline, the abbot ordered his disciple to leave Ireland, and to become an exile in a foreign country. Our saint immediately obeyed this severe in- junction, and sailed for a distant land. As a monk he travelled to Germany, andenteredFuldaorFuldemonastery. ^3 ThusembracingtheBenedictine rule and discipline, which had been established in this religious enclosure, he lived there as a recluse, and shut up in a stone cell, avoiding all intercourse with the world. He continued for a long time in a state of complete abnega- tion and holy self-sacrifice. ^* While in this retreat, our saint was a perfect model for all the religious brethren, being remarked for his strict adherence to rule, his perfect obedience, his profound humility, and his rigorous pen- ances. His soul seemed to aspire, without restraint, to the contemplation of heavenly things ; he endeavoured in all his prayers and meditations to exclude distractions caused by worldly thoughts and concerns. Passing such kind of life, he attained an advanced age ; and finally, he departed to
the haven of his rest and his aspirations, on the 30th day of January, a. d.
in the wind—meet for their covering sepul-
;
^' "Bibere ab eo These petierunt. "
words are explained by Colgan, as if the strangers had asked him to take part of what
they had before them. Yet, they might be understood to mean that, although the meal
was over, they applied to him for some
drink. See " Ecclesiastical His- Lanigan's
tory of Ireland," vol. iii. , chap, xxiv,, sec. ii. , n. 17, p. 445.
^^
It is presumed, that this was the Cor- cran, who wrote a poem on the relics and virtues of St. Gormgal of Ard-Oilean. See further notices regarding him, in the Acts of this latter saint, which occur at the 5th of August.
^3 This celebrated abbey and town are
situated on the River Fulde, near the boun-
dary of Bavaria, and in Hessen Nassau, Northern Germany. The abbot, to the
closing of the last century, was primate of the abbeys in the German Emjiire, perpe- tual chancellor of the emperor, and sovereign over a small territory, lying between Hesse, Franconia, and Thuringia. See "Encyclo- paedia Britannica," vol. vii. , Art. Fulde, p. 492. Dublin edition, 1792.
^"^ Colgan's "Acta Sanctorum Hibemise," xxx. Januarii. Vita S. Anmichadi, cap. i. , ii. , p. 205.
chral pavement—and I bethought me of the time wlien these religious houses were sup- pressed, and the consummation of royal robbery and sacrilege by which that act was accompanied. The event has cast a shadow through centuries that have ensued
we even yet stand within its penumbra, and I confess the indignation which rose within me at that early period of my life, neither has the advance of years chilled, nor has the ex- perience of professional intercourse with the ecclesiastical records of my country, fami-
liarized into patient endurance. "
'9 See " Ordnance Survey Townland Maps
fortheCountyofGalway. " Sheet136.
^°
a reader of the opening lines in that exceed-
This incident will probably remind many
ingly interesting poem, "The Monks of Kilcrea. "
" Three monks sat by a bogwood fire ! If ^^ if * * ^a H.
Whoever past, be he baron or squire, Was free to call at the abbey, and stay, Nor guerdon nor gift for his lodging
pay,
Although he t—arried a week with its holy
Quire! " Fytte i. , stanza i.
January 30. ] LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. 509
1 043. =^5 This is the day assigned for his natahs and festival, according to the generahty of writers f^ but CratepoUus says, a feast occurs in his honour at the ist of February. =^7 Ferrarius assigns to him a festival on both the days already mentioned. ^^ St. Amnichad was buried at Fulda, or, as sometimes >\Titten, Fulden. ^9 Sixteen years after this death of our saint, his more celebrated countryman, Marianus Scotus, the Chronologist, succeeded him as a religious in the monastery of Fulda,3° and relates in his writings, that fortenyearshedailycelebratedMassoverthetombofSt. Anmichad. He says, moreover, that supernatural light and heavenly psalmody were frequently seen or heard above the place of our saint's sepulture, during this same period. He even declares, a certain religious brother of the monastery, named William, prayed in his own hearing, that our saint would bestow a blessing upon him. During this same night, in a vision, Amnichad appeared, resplendent with celestial light. Standing on his tomb, the blessed apparition gave a blessing with extended hands to the monk. This was related to Marianus by the brother himself, after its occurrence. During the whole night, when this vision took place, the Chronographer declares, a most agreeable odour
was diffused through that chamber, in which he reposed. 3^ We are thus
taught from the example of this holy penitent,, how even slight faults are to be atoned for, when, as Marianus O'Gonnan learned from his superior, Tighernach—or as called Tigernacb Borchecb^^—an offence of such a nature caused Anmchad's exile from his native country. This Tighernach is sup- posed to have been a saint,33 according to the Martyrologies of Marianus O'Gorman and of Donegal, and not that celebrated Annalist bearing the same name, and who flourished much about the same period, yet a little
*5 Marianus Scottus, the first who has written regarding this saint, says at 1043,
•'
^7 In his work, "De Episcopis Germanise," this writer has entered his feast at the Ka- lends or 1st day of February, and by him this saint is called Annuchadus. Hugo
Menard in his " Benedicti- Martyrologium
Animchadus Scottus monachus et inclusus obiit 3. Kal. Februarii in JNIonasterio Ful- densi. " See Chronicon, edited Professor
by
G. Waitz, in " Monumenta Germanicfe His-
num," places his feast at the same date; as "
torica. " Scriptorum, tomus v. , p. 557. Flor-
"
ence of Worcester also writes,
Animchadus Scotus Monachus et inclusus in Fulda obiit. " Trithemius in " Chronicon Hirsaugiensis," places his death in the same year, and in his work, " De viris Illustribus,"
likewise Christopher Browerus' Antiquit. Mildens," lib. i. , cap. 20.
" 3° lib. iii,, cap. 244, remarks of this saint, Mo-
ritur an. Domini 1043, tertio Calend. Febr. "
The English Martyrology says, that he died on the 30th of of January, about A. D. 1043. Wion, also, assigns the death of this saint to the 30th of January, 1043. Besides those already cited, Camerarius, Dempster, and
Such is the statement of Colgan, both in his text and in a note, where he says, this information may be collected from Marianus Scotus himself, who relates, that Anmichad died a. d. 1043, and that he, Marianus, became a recluse, A. D. 1059, in the cell of Anmichad. See "Acta Sanc- torum Hiberniae," xxx. Januarii. Vita S. Anmichadi, cap. iv. , p. 205, and n. 7, p. 206.
3' Florence of Worcester observes, that
the foregoing particulars are related by Marianus in his Chronicle.
3= See Mariani Scotti Chronicon, edited - by Professor G. Waitz, in "Monumenta GermaniiB Historica. " Scriptorum, tomus v. , p. 557-
33 See St. Tighernach's festival at the I3tli
others are of accord. See Colgan's
"
Acta
Sanctorum Hibernite," xxx. Januarii. Vita
S. Anmichadi, cap. iii. , iv. , pp, 205, 206,
and nn. 5, 6, ibid.
^^ "
In Henry Fitzsimon's Catalogus Ali-
quoram Sanctorum Iberniae," Aminachad's festival is placed at this date, on the autho-
rity of the English Martyrology. Father Stephen White omits to notice his feast.
See "Apologia pro Hibernia," cap. iv.
