It was
situated
within Munster.
O'Hanlon - Lives of the Irish Saints - v3
Adam King's Kalendar, at the loth of this month, enters S.
Makkessage bisch.
and cof.
in
"
Menologium Scoticum," at this same date, has in Levinia, Makkessag, bishop, who is depicted in a military habit, and whose intercession is earnestly implored by soldiers. Also, in the Scottish entries,
as found in the Kalendar of David Camerarius, we have, at the loth of
Scotl. Dempster, in his
his hand, and a quiver at his back.
"
' See the Bollandists'
tomus ii. , Martii x. De S. Kessogo Epis- copo in Scotia. Vitse Initium, ex Breviario Aberdonensi, p. 36.
" See
Dempster's
" Historia Ecclesiastica
'? It was a. d. granted,
Gentis Scotorum," tomus ii. , lib. xii. , num.
853. P- 454-
"Or Monk's Island, in Loch
near the village of Luss, in Luss parish, Dumbartonshire. See FuUarton's " Im-
1200, by Gilbert, Earl of Strathearn, to the Abbey of In-
style.
Kessog's fair,
" in Boina Scotie provincia," celebrated for the lustre of his miracles. ="* The " Circle of the Seasons " has its note of St. Kessog, at this date. ^5 in art, it is said,^^ he was represented as a soldier, with a stretched bow and arrows in
St. who is also called March, Makkessog,
Confessor and
Acta Sanctorum,"
perial Gazetteer of Scotland," vol. ii. , p.
107. See
"
part i. , p. 30. Also "Old Statistical Ac- count of Scotland," vol. xvii. , p. 264.
'3 A. D. 1292-1333.
' It is expressed, "Deo et Beato Kes-
Old Statistical Account of Scot- land," vol. xi. , pp. 597, 610.
"See ibid. Inverness, vol. ii. , p. 28,
See "Origines Parochiales Scotiae,"
" See " New Statistical Account of Scot- land," Bute, p. 161.
Lomond,
chaffray.
'* See "Liber Insul.
Missarum," pp.
Ross, pp. 61, 229. "'"
sogo.
"5 This is engraved, together wath the
efi&gy of St. Kessog, now at Rossdhu, in
23See ' of pp. Martyrology Donegal,
74, 75, and n. i.
^* See Bishop Forbes' " Kalendars of
Bishop
that very interesting work, "The Chiefs of
Colquhoun and their Country," vol. ii. , pp.
54, 58.
Kessog,
'*
Retours, Perth, 708, 880.
viii. , 4, 8, 18, 70.
*' See " New Statistical Account of Scot-
land," Perth, p. 356.
='° "
March io. ] LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. . 287
Article IV. —St. Setna or Sedna, Bishop, and Confessor.
pcsed to have lived in the Sixth Ce? ituryJ\ Nothing of a very definite nature seems to be known, regarding a St. Setna or Sedna, venerated on the lothday of March, although Colgan records some conjectural particulars respecting him, at that date,^ and we also find him called by the Latin form, Sidonius or Sedonius. The Bollandists have a passing notice of him. * The present holy man is thought to have been identical with that cowherd, who was mute from his birth, and who was met on the mountains of Slieve Bloom, by St. Columba3 of Terryglass, and by St, Fintan+ of Clonenagh. The former of thesesaintsbestowedablessing,whenherecoveredtheuseofspeech. Two
otherholymenwerepresentwiththem. Sednawasrequired,inthenameof
our Lord Jesus Christ, to predict the places for their respective sepultures, andthishedidmostaccurately,assucceedingeventsestablished-^ Itispro-
bable, too, that on this occasion, he received the gift of prophesying. Among our Irish Manuscripts, there is extant a copy of St. Sedna's Prophecy, delivered to St. Columkille. ^ It contains 80 verses. 7 We may probably attribute it, to the present holy man ; who, in other respects, too, was en- dowed with poetic powers and fancy. Poems of a prophetical character, ascribed to St. Sedna, are to be found in the Messrs. Hodges and Smith's collection of MSS. , belonging to the Royal Irish Academy, Nos. 27,^ 221,9 and 223. '° St. Sedna is thought to have become a bishop of Ossory," and to have lived contemporaneously with St. Molua,'* of Clonfert Molua. With him, the latter was intimate, and their places were not very far apart. St. Sedna is placed third in order, among the bishops of Seirkieran, by Colgan,andabouta. d. 570. ^3 However,whenquotingthisstatement,Arch- dall had no warrant for referring his death to the ist of March, in the same year. '4 The name, S. Setna, is the simple entry found in the Martyrology of Tallagh,'satthelothofMarch. Heisclassedasabishop,bytheauthorof a Tract, on the Homonymous Saints of Ireland,'^ as also by Marianus O'Gorman. It is recorded, in the Martyrology of Donegal,'? that Sedna,
Bishop, had a festival on this day. Colgan is doubtful, however, regarding '^
the application of this festival, to the present Sedna, or to another, so called, who is mentioned in the Acts of St. Senan,'? Abbot of Scattery Island.
Article V. —Reputed Festival of a St. Sedonius, Bishop, and a Disciple of St. Senan, Abbot of Scattery Island. \Probably in the SixthCentury^ AmongthedisciplesofBlessedSenan,'AbbotofScattery
Scottish Saints," pp. 97, 113, 146, 194, 235.
? See the O'Longan MSS. , R. I. A. , vol. XV. , p. 172. This vol. contains 200 pages,
the son of Peter O'Lon-
* Asmall MS. 4to paper
«
p.
2.
3 His feast occurs, at the 13th of Decern-
'3 See " Acta Sanctorum Hiber- Colgan's
'^ See
'* "
written
p. 70.
See Rev. S. Baring-Gould's
Lives of 208.
by Michael,
gan, about the year 1760.
March
the Saints," vol. — x. , p.
iii.
Article IV. 'See, "Acta Sanctorum A
folio
MS.
Hibemise," x, Martii. De S. Sedna sive
Sedonio Episcopo et Confessore, p. 572. *"
paper
'° A large 4to parchment MS.
See Acta Sanctorum," tomus ii. ,
" See Colgan's "Acta Sanctorum Hiber- niae," xvii. Februarii, n. 10, p. 354.
Martii x.
Among the pretermitted saints,
" See his Life, at the 4th of August.
ber.
* See his Life, at the 17th of February.
s See Colgan's "Acta Sanctorum Hiber- nise," xvii. Februarii. Vita S. Fintani Ab- batis de Cluain-Ednech, cap. iii. , iv. , p.
nix," Martii v. Appendix ad Vitam S.
Kierani, cap. v. , p. 473.
•• See " Monasticon Hibernicum,"p. 404. 'S Edited by Rev. Dr. Kelly, p. xviii.
'* Lib. i. , cap. iii. , xlvii. This treatise
has been attributed to St. ^Engus the Cul- dee, by Colgan.
350. *
See his Life, at the 9th of June.
[6'«/-
288 LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. [March io.
Island, was one Sedna or Sedonius, remarkable for his virtues and miracles, who dwelt with his master, and with a fellow-religious, called Libemus or Liberius,* on the Island, called Inismore. There the latter seems to have chiefly lived. Among St. Senan's disciples, at this place, were three holy bishops, Dalan,3 Sedonius, and Ere,* whom he brought away to live on the island,calledInis-Caorach. ButColgan,whohasafullernotice,ontheloth of MarchjS remarks, that he does not suppose they were bishops, when living underSt. Senan'srule; but,aftertheyhadpartedfromhim,toassumewhat- ever positions of responsibility had been assigned to each. The circum- stances of country and of time render it probable, in Colgan's opinion, that this St. Sedna or Sedonius was the son of Eren or Ere, a nobleman, and his mother was Magna, sister of St. David,^ of Kill-muine, following an account in the work of St. . ^ngus. 7 He is said, to have been bom in Altraige Cliach,^ in Muuster. He had two holy brothers, likewise ; one is called Mo- Gaban or Goban,9 and the other Melteoc or Eltin. '° This Sedna, to whom we allude, presided over the Church of Cluain, between the Mountains of Crot" and Mirge.
It was situated within Munster. He is buried in Kinn- sale,^' a maritime town of southern Munster. What more confirms Colgan, in his attempted identification, is the account of that strict friendship and alliance, between St. Senan and St. David. No wonder, therefore, that the nephew of this latter should be ranked, among the favoured disciples of the great Abbot of Scattery Island. If all the foregoing speculations can be re- conciled, we may justly infer, that St. Sedna lived about the middle of the
sixth century.
Article VI. —St. Hymelin, or Himelinus, Confessor, of Vissen-
AEKEN, Brabant. \Eighth Century. \ Among the many holy Irishmen, who made their way to foreign countries in past ages, Hymelin or Himelinus was distinguished, and we have his Acts recorded, at the loth of March, in Colgan. ' ThesearetakenfiromanaccountofFatherHeribertRoaweyde, and from a Life, founded on notices in the Martyrologies, and fi'om popular
'7 Edited by Drs. Todd and Reeves, pp. county of Limerick.
" Martyrology
72, 73.
'^ See "Acta Sanctorum Hiberniae," of
" treats of
Martii x. De S. Sedna sive Sedonio Epis-
copo et Confessore, p. 572, and n. 3.
•9 His Life is already given, at the 8th of
March. Article v.
March.
—
'
See his Life, at the 8th of
' '° See an account of him, at the 1st of
August.
3 He was venerated, probably on the 14th
of December, according to Colgan's conjee- ture.
* Colgan thinks, he had been venerated, either on the 13th of July, or on the 17th of October.
5 See " Acta Sanctorum Hiberniae," viiL MartiL Secunda Vita S. Senani, n. 19, p. 540 (nrrfe) 536. Also, x. MartiL De S. SedonioEpiscopoS. SenaniDiscipulo,' pp. 572. 573-
* See his Life, already given at the 1st of March. • -
' His " Opuscula," lib. iv. , cap. 81, we
find quoted.
His feast is referred, to the lith of December.
" Crota Cliach was the ancient name for the Galtee Mountains, in the county of Tipperary. See Dr. O'Donovan's "Topo- graphical Poems of John O'Dubhagain and Giolla na Naomh O Huidhrin," n. 753, p. Ixxxiii.
" The town of Kinsale, in the parishes of
Kinsale and Ringcurran, in the barony of Kinsale, is described on the "Ordnance
Survey Townland Maps for the County of
*
Very probably Ara-Cliach, in the
Hiberniae," x. Martii. Vita S. Hymelini Praesbyteri et Conf. authore Heriberto Ros-
wedio. Also, Alia Vita ejusdem, &c. , pp. 574 to 576.
9 Colgan tells us, that the
noted already, at that day ; or, according to Marianus and other authorities, he was the Goban, venerated on the 26th or 30th of March.
at the llth of February, where he is called Mogoboc or Goban, of Rath Lampaighe, as we have
Tallagh
him,
Cork. " (East Riding). Sheets 112, 125.
Article vi.
"
—'See AcU Sanctorum
March lo. ] LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. 289
traditions, by John Gillemann,' and written about 1480. The Belgian writers, Jean Ver Meulen, or John Molanus,3 and Autbertus Miraeus,* have recorded St. Himelin. The Bollandists have inserted his Acts, at the same date, as found in Gilleman's work ; and, these are preceded by two elucida-
toryparagraphs. 5 Saussay,^Willot,? andFerrarius,^notehimintheirCalen- dars. Bishop Challenors has an account, at the loth of March. Again, the Rev. S. Baring-Gould has some observations concerning him, at this date. ^° It is related, that not only was Hyraelin a Scot," or an Irishman," but that he was also related to the celebrated St Rumold,'3 the Aposde of Belgium. ** Inlikemannerwasheassimilatedbyvirtuesandmerits. Heappearstohave been desirous of following Rumold, to the country of his adoption. Little regarding his early life is knowoi. We are told, however, that he undertook a pilgrimage to Rome,'' to visit the shrines of the holy Apostles, Peter and Paul. He returned, afterwards, through the province of Brabant, at a time, too, when Pepin'^ ruled over France. '? Being greatly fatigued and very thirst)', he stopped on the way near Vissenacken. Here he was seized with a violent fever. He sank exhausted on a bank, and he seemed pale and worn
to extremity, when a girl passed by, while bearing water in a pitcher from a neighbouring fountain. This she brought as a household supply for her master, who is called Deculus, a Priest, and who was curate of that place. As a plague was then raging, she had received strict orders from her master, to let no person touch the pitcher, for he ieared infection. Hymelin asked for a drink of the water, as she passed, but the girl refused to give it, excusing herself, owing to the strict orders she received. Again, the sick traveller
"
languidly repeated his request, wheu the girl answered,
My friend, I cannot
at all give you water from the pitcher, because of the injunction I received
from my master ; yet, I beseech you to visit our house, and there you shall
be refreshed, not only with drink, which you need sorely, but with abundance
of food. " This invitation Hymelin refused, but he said confidentially to the
"
woman,
be satisfied with your action. " She was moved to compassion, and he drank from the vessel. Then was the pilgrim able to continue his journey. The servant brought the water he had tasted to her master's house. Some of it was presented, for his use ; but, on drinking, he found it had the taste of wine. Enquiring Irom the girl, she confessed what had occurred, and owned her
Daughter, have trust, and give what I ask for ; the Almighty shall
' He was a Canon Regular of the Monas- tery or Rubea Vallis, m Soignes Wood, near Bruxelles, and with great industry, he compiled the Acts of several saints. In the second part of his Brabantine Hagiolcgy, he gives the notice of St. Hymelin.
5 In the " Natales Sanctorum Belgii," p. 49, he has a single paragraph devotoi to St. Himelinus, at the loih of March.
of March.
" Both editions of the English Martyr-
* See "Fasti Belgici et Burgundici," x. distinguishes him as a Confessor. Yet, in
Martii
5 See "Acta Sanctorum," De S. Hime-
Imo Presbytero Fenaci in Brabantia, tomus IL, Martii x. , pp. 46, 47.
one account of this saint, he is styled a Priest.
'5 See Bishop Challenor's " Britannia
*
In his
to
Sancta," part i. , p. 167.
'* His ended in the
the Gallic Martyr- ' in a French Calendar,
768. Yet, Breviary of Aberdeen states the saint
ology.
Supplement
reign
' In " Generalis Catalogus
flourished under King Dungall, A-D. 822.
'' Molanus that he Uved states, however,
until the reign 01 Charlemagne. See Rev. Dr. Lanigan's "Ecclesiastical History of Ireland," vol. iii, chap, xix. , sect xiv. , nn. 165, 166, pp. 194, 195, 197.
'^ In " Menoic^um Scoticum. " See t
Sanctorum. " ' See " Britannia bancta," part L, p. 167. "See "Lives of the Saints," vol. iii. .
March x. , pp. 210, 211.
" Mireus refers him to Scotia, in his work,
"Fasti Belgici et Burgundici," at the loth Vol. m. —No. 5.
ology say, that he was sprung nia. "
''
ex Hiber-
'^ See his Life, at the 1st of July,
* Such is the account of Ferrarius, who does not allude to Hjrmelin having been in orders. In like manner, the "English Martyrology," at the loth of March, only
290 LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS, [March io.
disobediencetothecurate'sorders. Thepriestwasnotdispleased,however, but he instantly ran after the unknown holy pilgrim. The latter was over- taken, and conducted to the curate's home, where he received a hospitable welcome and refreshment. Yet, Hymelin refused the luxury of a comfortable bed, or any other comforts ; but, he expressed a wish, to lie down on some straw in a bam. There he rested for three days. His hour for departing this world had now come ; and, requesting the favour from the curate's hands,hereceivedthelastSacramentsoftheChurch. Lyingallalone,his happy si)irit passed away to the guardianship of his Creator. No sooner had he departed, than all the bells around began to toll of their own accord, and withoutahandtouchingthem. Thiswasasubjectofgreatastonishmentfor the people. The curate was the first to divine the cause, and he invited his parishioners to enter the barn, where Hymelin's corpse lay. There they saw his face and body, surrounded with a radiant light. Deeming him to be a true saint, they began to consider where his remains should be deposited. Going into the village church, they found a tomb, corresponding with the size of the pilgrim's body, and miraculously prepared for its reception. Citing the authority of John Molanus, we are told by Dempster,'^ that neither by the Roman Pontiff, nor by the bishop of the place, had Himelin been enrolled among the saints ; and, yet, his miracles made him celebrated, and his dedi- cated temples were frequented, by the people. In Convseus' list of Irish Saints, for the loth of March, he notices St. Himilius, a nobleman. '9 The name is written Himelinus, in the anonymous list, at the same day. '° In Henry Fitzsimons' list—apparently through mistake—and on the authority of Molanus, his feast is set down, at the 20th ot March. ^' The Manuscript Florarius, Canisius, and Molanus, in his edition of Usuard, have his feast, at the loth. In Adam King's Kalendar,*^ at the same day in March, we have entered S. Hemeiin, confess, scotisma vnder king dungallus. In like manner, Dempster's and Camerarius record Himelin, he having been revered asConfessor,inVissenaken. ^* Thitherwerethesacredremamsbroughtand
honourably interred, in a crypt, under the campanile. In after time, several miracles were wrought, through the merits of Hymelin, who —is regarded as the patron saint —of Vissenaeken. 's On the 10th of March probably the date for his death
Martyrology of Donegal,' on this day.
Bishop Forbes' " Kalendars of Scottish Saints," p. 194,
The place is now known as Clonti-
"3 See " Menologium Scoticum," p. 194. Ibid.
"^ Although they state, that he preached among the people of Brabant, there is no warrant for this in the popular legend.
'9 He adds Thenas. "
:
" Romuldi cognatus apud
^° See Hugo Menard's " Martyrologium Benedictinum," at this date.
a concourse of the and of is
pilgrims annually attracted to his tomb. On the altar his image was visible. None
great parishioners
but distinguished saints may go straightway to God, after death ; every one
"
of us, not being regarded as great saints, must be purified,
We shall have to tarry, to expiate, to suffer; yet, happy still, it our final rest be obtained.
Article VII. —St. Colman, of Clontibrin, or Clontivrin, County OF Fermanagh. The name, Colman, of Cluan Tibhrinn, appears in the
*5 See Bishop Challenor's "Britannia -^ See O'SuUevan Beare's " Historiae Sancta," part i,, p. 167, Molanus states,
Catholicse Ibernias Compendium," tomus i. , lib. iv,, cap. x. , p, 48, and cap. xi. , p. 49, and cap. xii. , p. 55.
Forbes' "Kalendars of
that his death took place, at Fenac of St.
Martin. See "Natales Sanctorum Belgii,"
p, 49.
Article vii. —» Edited Drs. Todd by
and Reeves, pp. 72, 73.
=^ See
Scottish Saints," p, 147.
Bishop
so as by fire. "
March io. ] LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. 291
brin, or Clontivrin, in Clankelly barony, and in the county of Fermanagh.
"
Menologium Scoticum," at this same date, has in Levinia, Makkessag, bishop, who is depicted in a military habit, and whose intercession is earnestly implored by soldiers. Also, in the Scottish entries,
as found in the Kalendar of David Camerarius, we have, at the loth of
Scotl. Dempster, in his
his hand, and a quiver at his back.
"
' See the Bollandists'
tomus ii. , Martii x. De S. Kessogo Epis- copo in Scotia. Vitse Initium, ex Breviario Aberdonensi, p. 36.
" See
Dempster's
" Historia Ecclesiastica
'? It was a. d. granted,
Gentis Scotorum," tomus ii. , lib. xii. , num.
853. P- 454-
"Or Monk's Island, in Loch
near the village of Luss, in Luss parish, Dumbartonshire. See FuUarton's " Im-
1200, by Gilbert, Earl of Strathearn, to the Abbey of In-
style.
Kessog's fair,
" in Boina Scotie provincia," celebrated for the lustre of his miracles. ="* The " Circle of the Seasons " has its note of St. Kessog, at this date. ^5 in art, it is said,^^ he was represented as a soldier, with a stretched bow and arrows in
St. who is also called March, Makkessog,
Confessor and
Acta Sanctorum,"
perial Gazetteer of Scotland," vol. ii. , p.
107. See
"
part i. , p. 30. Also "Old Statistical Ac- count of Scotland," vol. xvii. , p. 264.
'3 A. D. 1292-1333.
' It is expressed, "Deo et Beato Kes-
Old Statistical Account of Scot- land," vol. xi. , pp. 597, 610.
"See ibid. Inverness, vol. ii. , p. 28,
See "Origines Parochiales Scotiae,"
" See " New Statistical Account of Scot- land," Bute, p. 161.
Lomond,
chaffray.
'* See "Liber Insul.
Missarum," pp.
Ross, pp. 61, 229. "'"
sogo.
"5 This is engraved, together wath the
efi&gy of St. Kessog, now at Rossdhu, in
23See ' of pp. Martyrology Donegal,
74, 75, and n. i.
^* See Bishop Forbes' " Kalendars of
Bishop
that very interesting work, "The Chiefs of
Colquhoun and their Country," vol. ii. , pp.
54, 58.
Kessog,
'*
Retours, Perth, 708, 880.
viii. , 4, 8, 18, 70.
*' See " New Statistical Account of Scot-
land," Perth, p. 356.
='° "
March io. ] LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. . 287
Article IV. —St. Setna or Sedna, Bishop, and Confessor.
pcsed to have lived in the Sixth Ce? ituryJ\ Nothing of a very definite nature seems to be known, regarding a St. Setna or Sedna, venerated on the lothday of March, although Colgan records some conjectural particulars respecting him, at that date,^ and we also find him called by the Latin form, Sidonius or Sedonius. The Bollandists have a passing notice of him. * The present holy man is thought to have been identical with that cowherd, who was mute from his birth, and who was met on the mountains of Slieve Bloom, by St. Columba3 of Terryglass, and by St, Fintan+ of Clonenagh. The former of thesesaintsbestowedablessing,whenherecoveredtheuseofspeech. Two
otherholymenwerepresentwiththem. Sednawasrequired,inthenameof
our Lord Jesus Christ, to predict the places for their respective sepultures, andthishedidmostaccurately,assucceedingeventsestablished-^ Itispro-
bable, too, that on this occasion, he received the gift of prophesying. Among our Irish Manuscripts, there is extant a copy of St. Sedna's Prophecy, delivered to St. Columkille. ^ It contains 80 verses. 7 We may probably attribute it, to the present holy man ; who, in other respects, too, was en- dowed with poetic powers and fancy. Poems of a prophetical character, ascribed to St. Sedna, are to be found in the Messrs. Hodges and Smith's collection of MSS. , belonging to the Royal Irish Academy, Nos. 27,^ 221,9 and 223. '° St. Sedna is thought to have become a bishop of Ossory," and to have lived contemporaneously with St. Molua,'* of Clonfert Molua. With him, the latter was intimate, and their places were not very far apart. St. Sedna is placed third in order, among the bishops of Seirkieran, by Colgan,andabouta. d. 570. ^3 However,whenquotingthisstatement,Arch- dall had no warrant for referring his death to the ist of March, in the same year. '4 The name, S. Setna, is the simple entry found in the Martyrology of Tallagh,'satthelothofMarch. Heisclassedasabishop,bytheauthorof a Tract, on the Homonymous Saints of Ireland,'^ as also by Marianus O'Gorman. It is recorded, in the Martyrology of Donegal,'? that Sedna,
Bishop, had a festival on this day. Colgan is doubtful, however, regarding '^
the application of this festival, to the present Sedna, or to another, so called, who is mentioned in the Acts of St. Senan,'? Abbot of Scattery Island.
Article V. —Reputed Festival of a St. Sedonius, Bishop, and a Disciple of St. Senan, Abbot of Scattery Island. \Probably in the SixthCentury^ AmongthedisciplesofBlessedSenan,'AbbotofScattery
Scottish Saints," pp. 97, 113, 146, 194, 235.
? See the O'Longan MSS. , R. I. A. , vol. XV. , p. 172. This vol. contains 200 pages,
the son of Peter O'Lon-
* Asmall MS. 4to paper
«
p.
2.
3 His feast occurs, at the 13th of Decern-
'3 See " Acta Sanctorum Hiber- Colgan's
'^ See
'* "
written
p. 70.
See Rev. S. Baring-Gould's
Lives of 208.
by Michael,
gan, about the year 1760.
March
the Saints," vol. — x. , p.
iii.
Article IV. 'See, "Acta Sanctorum A
folio
MS.
Hibemise," x, Martii. De S. Sedna sive
Sedonio Episcopo et Confessore, p. 572. *"
paper
'° A large 4to parchment MS.
See Acta Sanctorum," tomus ii. ,
" See Colgan's "Acta Sanctorum Hiber- niae," xvii. Februarii, n. 10, p. 354.
Martii x.
Among the pretermitted saints,
" See his Life, at the 4th of August.
ber.
* See his Life, at the 17th of February.
s See Colgan's "Acta Sanctorum Hiber- nise," xvii. Februarii. Vita S. Fintani Ab- batis de Cluain-Ednech, cap. iii. , iv. , p.
nix," Martii v. Appendix ad Vitam S.
Kierani, cap. v. , p. 473.
•• See " Monasticon Hibernicum,"p. 404. 'S Edited by Rev. Dr. Kelly, p. xviii.
'* Lib. i. , cap. iii. , xlvii. This treatise
has been attributed to St. ^Engus the Cul- dee, by Colgan.
350. *
See his Life, at the 9th of June.
[6'«/-
288 LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. [March io.
Island, was one Sedna or Sedonius, remarkable for his virtues and miracles, who dwelt with his master, and with a fellow-religious, called Libemus or Liberius,* on the Island, called Inismore. There the latter seems to have chiefly lived. Among St. Senan's disciples, at this place, were three holy bishops, Dalan,3 Sedonius, and Ere,* whom he brought away to live on the island,calledInis-Caorach. ButColgan,whohasafullernotice,ontheloth of MarchjS remarks, that he does not suppose they were bishops, when living underSt. Senan'srule; but,aftertheyhadpartedfromhim,toassumewhat- ever positions of responsibility had been assigned to each. The circum- stances of country and of time render it probable, in Colgan's opinion, that this St. Sedna or Sedonius was the son of Eren or Ere, a nobleman, and his mother was Magna, sister of St. David,^ of Kill-muine, following an account in the work of St. . ^ngus. 7 He is said, to have been bom in Altraige Cliach,^ in Muuster. He had two holy brothers, likewise ; one is called Mo- Gaban or Goban,9 and the other Melteoc or Eltin. '° This Sedna, to whom we allude, presided over the Church of Cluain, between the Mountains of Crot" and Mirge.
It was situated within Munster. He is buried in Kinn- sale,^' a maritime town of southern Munster. What more confirms Colgan, in his attempted identification, is the account of that strict friendship and alliance, between St. Senan and St. David. No wonder, therefore, that the nephew of this latter should be ranked, among the favoured disciples of the great Abbot of Scattery Island. If all the foregoing speculations can be re- conciled, we may justly infer, that St. Sedna lived about the middle of the
sixth century.
Article VI. —St. Hymelin, or Himelinus, Confessor, of Vissen-
AEKEN, Brabant. \Eighth Century. \ Among the many holy Irishmen, who made their way to foreign countries in past ages, Hymelin or Himelinus was distinguished, and we have his Acts recorded, at the loth of March, in Colgan. ' ThesearetakenfiromanaccountofFatherHeribertRoaweyde, and from a Life, founded on notices in the Martyrologies, and fi'om popular
'7 Edited by Drs. Todd and Reeves, pp. county of Limerick.
" Martyrology
72, 73.
'^ See "Acta Sanctorum Hiberniae," of
" treats of
Martii x. De S. Sedna sive Sedonio Epis-
copo et Confessore, p. 572, and n. 3.
•9 His Life is already given, at the 8th of
March. Article v.
March.
—
'
See his Life, at the 8th of
' '° See an account of him, at the 1st of
August.
3 He was venerated, probably on the 14th
of December, according to Colgan's conjee- ture.
* Colgan thinks, he had been venerated, either on the 13th of July, or on the 17th of October.
5 See " Acta Sanctorum Hiberniae," viiL MartiL Secunda Vita S. Senani, n. 19, p. 540 (nrrfe) 536. Also, x. MartiL De S. SedonioEpiscopoS. SenaniDiscipulo,' pp. 572. 573-
* See his Life, already given at the 1st of March. • -
' His " Opuscula," lib. iv. , cap. 81, we
find quoted.
His feast is referred, to the lith of December.
" Crota Cliach was the ancient name for the Galtee Mountains, in the county of Tipperary. See Dr. O'Donovan's "Topo- graphical Poems of John O'Dubhagain and Giolla na Naomh O Huidhrin," n. 753, p. Ixxxiii.
" The town of Kinsale, in the parishes of
Kinsale and Ringcurran, in the barony of Kinsale, is described on the "Ordnance
Survey Townland Maps for the County of
*
Very probably Ara-Cliach, in the
Hiberniae," x. Martii. Vita S. Hymelini Praesbyteri et Conf. authore Heriberto Ros-
wedio. Also, Alia Vita ejusdem, &c. , pp. 574 to 576.
9 Colgan tells us, that the
noted already, at that day ; or, according to Marianus and other authorities, he was the Goban, venerated on the 26th or 30th of March.
at the llth of February, where he is called Mogoboc or Goban, of Rath Lampaighe, as we have
Tallagh
him,
Cork. " (East Riding). Sheets 112, 125.
Article vi.
"
—'See AcU Sanctorum
March lo. ] LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. 289
traditions, by John Gillemann,' and written about 1480. The Belgian writers, Jean Ver Meulen, or John Molanus,3 and Autbertus Miraeus,* have recorded St. Himelin. The Bollandists have inserted his Acts, at the same date, as found in Gilleman's work ; and, these are preceded by two elucida-
toryparagraphs. 5 Saussay,^Willot,? andFerrarius,^notehimintheirCalen- dars. Bishop Challenors has an account, at the loth of March. Again, the Rev. S. Baring-Gould has some observations concerning him, at this date. ^° It is related, that not only was Hyraelin a Scot," or an Irishman," but that he was also related to the celebrated St Rumold,'3 the Aposde of Belgium. ** Inlikemannerwasheassimilatedbyvirtuesandmerits. Heappearstohave been desirous of following Rumold, to the country of his adoption. Little regarding his early life is knowoi. We are told, however, that he undertook a pilgrimage to Rome,'' to visit the shrines of the holy Apostles, Peter and Paul. He returned, afterwards, through the province of Brabant, at a time, too, when Pepin'^ ruled over France. '? Being greatly fatigued and very thirst)', he stopped on the way near Vissenacken. Here he was seized with a violent fever. He sank exhausted on a bank, and he seemed pale and worn
to extremity, when a girl passed by, while bearing water in a pitcher from a neighbouring fountain. This she brought as a household supply for her master, who is called Deculus, a Priest, and who was curate of that place. As a plague was then raging, she had received strict orders from her master, to let no person touch the pitcher, for he ieared infection. Hymelin asked for a drink of the water, as she passed, but the girl refused to give it, excusing herself, owing to the strict orders she received. Again, the sick traveller
"
languidly repeated his request, wheu the girl answered,
My friend, I cannot
at all give you water from the pitcher, because of the injunction I received
from my master ; yet, I beseech you to visit our house, and there you shall
be refreshed, not only with drink, which you need sorely, but with abundance
of food. " This invitation Hymelin refused, but he said confidentially to the
"
woman,
be satisfied with your action. " She was moved to compassion, and he drank from the vessel. Then was the pilgrim able to continue his journey. The servant brought the water he had tasted to her master's house. Some of it was presented, for his use ; but, on drinking, he found it had the taste of wine. Enquiring Irom the girl, she confessed what had occurred, and owned her
Daughter, have trust, and give what I ask for ; the Almighty shall
' He was a Canon Regular of the Monas- tery or Rubea Vallis, m Soignes Wood, near Bruxelles, and with great industry, he compiled the Acts of several saints. In the second part of his Brabantine Hagiolcgy, he gives the notice of St. Hymelin.
5 In the " Natales Sanctorum Belgii," p. 49, he has a single paragraph devotoi to St. Himelinus, at the loih of March.
of March.
" Both editions of the English Martyr-
* See "Fasti Belgici et Burgundici," x. distinguishes him as a Confessor. Yet, in
Martii
5 See "Acta Sanctorum," De S. Hime-
Imo Presbytero Fenaci in Brabantia, tomus IL, Martii x. , pp. 46, 47.
one account of this saint, he is styled a Priest.
'5 See Bishop Challenor's " Britannia
*
In his
to
Sancta," part i. , p. 167.
'* His ended in the
the Gallic Martyr- ' in a French Calendar,
768. Yet, Breviary of Aberdeen states the saint
ology.
Supplement
reign
' In " Generalis Catalogus
flourished under King Dungall, A-D. 822.
'' Molanus that he Uved states, however,
until the reign 01 Charlemagne. See Rev. Dr. Lanigan's "Ecclesiastical History of Ireland," vol. iii, chap, xix. , sect xiv. , nn. 165, 166, pp. 194, 195, 197.
'^ In " Menoic^um Scoticum. " See t
Sanctorum. " ' See " Britannia bancta," part L, p. 167. "See "Lives of the Saints," vol. iii. .
March x. , pp. 210, 211.
" Mireus refers him to Scotia, in his work,
"Fasti Belgici et Burgundici," at the loth Vol. m. —No. 5.
ology say, that he was sprung nia. "
''
ex Hiber-
'^ See his Life, at the 1st of July,
* Such is the account of Ferrarius, who does not allude to Hjrmelin having been in orders. In like manner, the "English Martyrology," at the loth of March, only
290 LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS, [March io.
disobediencetothecurate'sorders. Thepriestwasnotdispleased,however, but he instantly ran after the unknown holy pilgrim. The latter was over- taken, and conducted to the curate's home, where he received a hospitable welcome and refreshment. Yet, Hymelin refused the luxury of a comfortable bed, or any other comforts ; but, he expressed a wish, to lie down on some straw in a bam. There he rested for three days. His hour for departing this world had now come ; and, requesting the favour from the curate's hands,hereceivedthelastSacramentsoftheChurch. Lyingallalone,his happy si)irit passed away to the guardianship of his Creator. No sooner had he departed, than all the bells around began to toll of their own accord, and withoutahandtouchingthem. Thiswasasubjectofgreatastonishmentfor the people. The curate was the first to divine the cause, and he invited his parishioners to enter the barn, where Hymelin's corpse lay. There they saw his face and body, surrounded with a radiant light. Deeming him to be a true saint, they began to consider where his remains should be deposited. Going into the village church, they found a tomb, corresponding with the size of the pilgrim's body, and miraculously prepared for its reception. Citing the authority of John Molanus, we are told by Dempster,'^ that neither by the Roman Pontiff, nor by the bishop of the place, had Himelin been enrolled among the saints ; and, yet, his miracles made him celebrated, and his dedi- cated temples were frequented, by the people. In Convseus' list of Irish Saints, for the loth of March, he notices St. Himilius, a nobleman. '9 The name is written Himelinus, in the anonymous list, at the same day. '° In Henry Fitzsimons' list—apparently through mistake—and on the authority of Molanus, his feast is set down, at the 20th ot March. ^' The Manuscript Florarius, Canisius, and Molanus, in his edition of Usuard, have his feast, at the loth. In Adam King's Kalendar,*^ at the same day in March, we have entered S. Hemeiin, confess, scotisma vnder king dungallus. In like manner, Dempster's and Camerarius record Himelin, he having been revered asConfessor,inVissenaken. ^* Thitherwerethesacredremamsbroughtand
honourably interred, in a crypt, under the campanile. In after time, several miracles were wrought, through the merits of Hymelin, who —is regarded as the patron saint —of Vissenaeken. 's On the 10th of March probably the date for his death
Martyrology of Donegal,' on this day.
Bishop Forbes' " Kalendars of Scottish Saints," p. 194,
The place is now known as Clonti-
"3 See " Menologium Scoticum," p. 194. Ibid.
"^ Although they state, that he preached among the people of Brabant, there is no warrant for this in the popular legend.
'9 He adds Thenas. "
:
" Romuldi cognatus apud
^° See Hugo Menard's " Martyrologium Benedictinum," at this date.
a concourse of the and of is
pilgrims annually attracted to his tomb. On the altar his image was visible. None
great parishioners
but distinguished saints may go straightway to God, after death ; every one
"
of us, not being regarded as great saints, must be purified,
We shall have to tarry, to expiate, to suffer; yet, happy still, it our final rest be obtained.
Article VII. —St. Colman, of Clontibrin, or Clontivrin, County OF Fermanagh. The name, Colman, of Cluan Tibhrinn, appears in the
*5 See Bishop Challenor's "Britannia -^ See O'SuUevan Beare's " Historiae Sancta," part i,, p. 167, Molanus states,
Catholicse Ibernias Compendium," tomus i. , lib. iv,, cap. x. , p, 48, and cap. xi. , p. 49, and cap. xii. , p. 55.
Forbes' "Kalendars of
that his death took place, at Fenac of St.
Martin. See "Natales Sanctorum Belgii,"
p, 49.
Article vii. —» Edited Drs. Todd by
and Reeves, pp. 72, 73.
=^ See
Scottish Saints," p, 147.
Bishop
so as by fire. "
March io. ] LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. 291
brin, or Clontivrin, in Clankelly barony, and in the county of Fermanagh.
