On These are the four fires, which destroy the world, when all sins are remitted in the
Sacrament
of Baptism, after due profession is made to renounce the devil, with all his deceits, works and pomps.
O'Hanlon - Lives of the Irish Saints - v1
This attack rapidly approached to a crisis, leaving all his attendants under an impression that his last hour on earth had arrived.
Being carried to this monastery, he was laid on a bed.
When the symptoms of suffering had somewhat abated, he was rapt intoanecstasy,duringwhichhehadseveralvisions.
^" Theserepresentedthe state of man in sin, sure remedies for sin, as also those virtues which are parti- cularlypleasinginGod'ssight.
Asthesaintlayduringthistimewithoutexclama- tion, motion, or respiration, the religious who were present gave way to sighs and tears, for they thought him already dead, because no sign of sensation or life appeared.
However, at the early dawn of morning, Fursey was restored to the use of his faculties.
Then he began to inform the monks, regarding those revelations made to him by the Almighty, during his ecstasy.
In the first place, no sooner had he ceased to feel pulsation, then he found himself surrounded by shadows of deep and horrible obscurity.
Then two angels,
"
Fleury writes :
pour convertir ses parents, il tomba malade et fut reduit en tel etat, qu'on le crut mort, ce qui arriva plusiers fois. II eut cependant des visions merveilieuses, touchant I'etat de I'autre vie, et re9ut d'excellentes instruc- tions, par des anges et des saints eveques, qui lui apparurent. " "Histoire Ecclesiastique," livre xxviii. , § xxviii.
Latin Christianity," book xiv. , chap. ii.
i The vision of Frate Alberico is very closely modelled on that of St. Fursey.
The former was a monk of Monte Cassino. Hi's vision was written in Latin, in the latter half of the twelfth century.
^Published by Colgan at the l6th of
January.
9 This records the first ecstatic ^'ision which
Etant retoume chez lui
s The same venerable chronicler tells us,
that one of the old brothers of his monastery
was wont to relate the visions of St. Fursey,
which the saint himself communicated to a
very trustworthy and religious man, who
heard thes2 narratives from the lips of to have been the earliest of its class, and to Fursey himself when he was among the
East Angles. These had such an effect on
the auditor's imagination and sensibilities,
that, although the weather was extremely
cold, and althcagh wearing only a thin gar-
ment in winter time, drops of perspiration
flowed from his body, owing to the excite-
ment these sublime and terrific visions caused.
See ibid. , pp. 213, 2i\.
* The Rev. Dean Milman, alluding to those visions of the mediceval times, calls our saint, "the French monk, St. Farcy;" and he adds, that these " were among the mo5t po]jular and wide-spread legends of the ages preceding Dante. " See "History of
have been the original of many similar sub- sequent ones, such as the vision of Adamnan, of Tundal, of Frate Alberico, &c. There can scarcely be a doubt entertained, that it furnished Dante, in a great measure, with the idea and plan of his sublime poem, the " Divina Commedia. " Even various pas- sages, as will afterwards ajipear, seem drawn from St. Fursey's vision : for the coincidences are too strikingly similar to be fortuitous, It is true, Dante gleaned from more ancient and classical sources, what he has super- added to the Christian vision of hell, purga- tory, and heaven.
the saint experienced, the others are found
related in due order. See Colgan's Sanctorum Hibemiae," xvi. Januarii. S. Furscei, n. 1 8, p. 90.
"
Acta Vita
"This "Vision of St. Fursey" appears
ANUARY- 1 6. ] LIVES OF The IRISH SAINTS. 645
having white wings, supported him with their hands, which were visible. On account of dazzhng brightness, he could not see their bodies, which were
covered their bodies. " Fursey saw a third angel, armed with a white shield and burnished sword, proceeding through the medium of air. A most fragrant odour had been diffused over every place where they went. While bearing our saint through a dense atmospheric darkness, they chanted with voices
After the manner of the
tion, two of these wings extended towards the heavens, while two wings
covered their by
wings.
Prophet
"
go from virtue to virtue, the God of Gods shall be seen in Sion. "»3 Having sung these words, with exquisitely modulated voices, they said to Fursey,
" Know what you have seen and heard, with a contemplative spirit, and having had your soul restored to your body, become a more zealous labourer for the harvest of God. " Having thus spoken, they seemed to restore his soul to his body,''* and departed trom Fursey, much against his inclination. However, they promised to return to him again, within a short time.
And now, whilst all had despaired of his recovery, the servant of God
arose, at an early hour in the morning. Having called together a large congregation of people, he related in detail what in spirit he had seen and heard. He explained to them, that the darkness through which he had been conducted signified the world, overshadowed by original sin. The three angels, whose faces and voices were undistinguishable, as they were indivisible in charity, represented the Holy and undivided Trinity, ^5 m the unity of the Godhead, according to the Patriarch Abraham's faith. '^ It was to be understood, from the circumstance of their bodies being covered with wings, in such a manner as to conceal it from view, that the Deity's in- scrutable decrees were concealed from human cognizance,'? as his presence was from mortal view, according to that expression of St. John, the Apostle
and " No man hath seen God at Evangelist,
of inexpressible harmony" these words of the Royal Psalmist,
They shall
the two which covered their bodies were also to be understood the fear of infidelity,
" I amnot
to be called an
because I persecuted the Church of God ;" and of penance, when he says, " The sufferings of this time are not worthy to be compared with the glory to
come,thatshallberevealedinus. "'9 Furseylikewiseunderstoodthenecessity for love and hope, by the two wings, which extended to heaven ; because of
according
to that ofthe
Apostle,
worthy
Apostle,
love,
the Doctor of the Gentiles
says exultingly,
" God forbid that I should
" See Ezechiel, chap. i.
As rainbow is from rainbow : third
and the
"
" With the song
My spirit reel'd, so passing sweet the strain. "
—Rev. Henry Francis Gary's translation of Dante's "DivinaCommedia. " II Paradiso, canto xxvii. , 3.
to 120. Desmay tells us, that our saint, in this vision, by a certain rapid intuition of an ecstatic spirit, had arrived at some knowledge
'3 Psalms, Ixxxiii. , 8. "•See Bede's " Historia
Ecclesiastica
Gentis Anglorum," hb. iii. , cap. xix. , p. 210.
'5 Dante likewise ends his immortal poem, the "DivinaCommedia," with an admirable vision of the Most HoiyTrinity, thus rendered in the Rev. Mr. Gary's translation :—
" In that abyss Of radiance, clear and lofty, seem'd,
methought,
Three orbs of triple hue, dipt in one
bound :
And, from another, one reflected seem'd, 1
any
time. "'^
By
wings
Ezechiel's • appari-
—Seem'd tire, breathed equally from both.
regarding the hidden mystery of the Trinity, through an enigma of similitude, as fonnerly, when Abraham saw three angels, he adored onlyoneGod. SeeGenesisxviii.
'' Colgan adds, likewise, in a note to this passage, that we are not to understand the saint had a clear, but rather an obscure and rapid vision of the Most Holy Trinity, dur- ing his remarkable ecstasy. See "Acta Sanctorum Hiberniae," ix. Februarii. Vita S. Fursxi, n. 8, p. 299.
'^John, i. , ib. i John, iv. , 12. ''Romans, viii. , lb.
"II Paradiso," canto xxxiii. , 115 '*
"
246 LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. [January l6 glory, save in the Cross of our Lord Jesus Christ. '"'° Besides, St. Gregory
" The love of God is never for if it exists it works out results
idle,
and regarding hope, the Apostle St. Paul observes,
great
says,
j" Our conversation is in heaven. "^' By the white shield and shining sword, he understood, " the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the spirit, which is the word of God. "^" He warned the people, that by such armour they should resist diabolic as- saults, and with it, in eloquent words, he cautioned them to keep vigil. He compared that versicle the angels repeated, to Jacob's ladder, which this
Patriarch saw erect, and the foundation of which was placed on the love of
God and of our neighbour ; while its steps were formed of patience, charity, concord, humility and other virtues. And, as each one of the faithful shall practise these virtues, so shall an ascent towards heaven be afforded to him. ^3
After Fursey had related these and other particulars of like import to
all that surrounded him, he predicted a future and more grievous struggle
against the powers of hell which yet awaited him, according to the angels' prediction. Then imparting a benediction to the crowd, his hearers departed for their respective homes. Filled with compunction, he remained in his
small cell, recollecting the angelic glories of which he had been a spectator, andthoseheavenlydelightswhichhehadexperienced. Oftenanddeeplydid he revolve in mind that duty of solicitude he had been admonished to extend towards his subjects. Yet he lamented and complained that he had no man
living with him possessing wisdom and force of mind, or who might give those
counsels requisite for their mutual instruction, and to fortify him against the predicted struggle, when the angels should revisit him. He poured forth many sighs from the depths of his soul, and offered tearful prayers to the Almighty on bended knees. His illness still proving serious in character, he devoutly asked to have the Holy Communion administered to him, by way of viaticum. He spent three days in vigils, fasts and devout prayers, while his bodily infirmities continued, with scarcely a moment's intermission.
During the middle of the third night, his parents, relations and neighbours are said to have been in attendance. On a sudden, the feet of our saint be- came stiff and cold, and while his hands were extended in prayer, the moment
of his expected vision seemed approaching. It was accompanied with signs similar to those accompanying his former revelation. During the time his trancecontinued,itappearedasifthesoulhadpartedfromhisbody. Sink- ing down on the bed, he heard terrific voices, as it were of a great multitude, calling out, and requiring him to leave —the prison of the flesh. On opening his eyes,'-* the saint beheld three angels two of these being stationed one on each side of him, whilst the other being armed stood at his head. Although deprived of human sight and speech, he saw these holy angels by miracle, and heard their canticles chanted with strains of inconceivable melody. Then the angel of the Lord, who stood at his right hand, consoled our saint,
for shall be defended. " The bore St. you angel
and " Fear said,
Fursey
not,
aloft, until he saw neither roof nor house. But on his passage, he heard
"°Galatians, vi. , 14. " Philippians, iii. , 20.
»»Ephesians, vi. , 17,
•3 These visions of St. . Fursey, are sup-
posed, by Ozanam, to have been, among elude, that no functions could have been other medijBval legends, forerunners of exercised by those of the body, which then Dante's "Divina Commedia. " See " Des seemal inanimate.
Sources Poetiques de la Divine Comedie,"
*'
p. 46.
=^ It is to be supposed, the ancient
chronicle refers to those of the soul, by
metaphor; as this narrative leads us to con-
January i6. ] LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. 247
demoniac clamour and howling,^3 whilst one of the evil spirits cried out, *' Let us go before his face and wage war. " Then Fursey saw a black cloud, gathering on the left side, and an army of demons marshalling its ranks before him. To his mental vision, the bodies of these demons appeared utterly deformed and black,^^ with necks of squalid leanness and horrid shape, extended,^7 their heads being unnaturally swollen. ^^ But when they flew
of deformed bodies3° their faces he could not see on account of the gloomy darkness. While the demons cast their fiery arrows against cur saint ; these missives were repelled and extinguished by the angelic buckler. The glory of those angels rendered them as it were invisible to human sight, and the demons retreated in view of the warrior spirit, who remonstrated with his adversaries,
saw a
" Do not retard our for this man has no by saying, journey,
or— the saint along fought, only
shadowy representation^?
part perdition. " The devil contradicted him, with blasphemies, saying, that God was unjust, who would not condemn a man in league with enemies, since it
" Not worthy of death. "
who sin, but
Our saint heard a confused clamour of battle, while the
is
written,
only they
they
who
agree
with are sinners,
angel contended with his spiritual enemies ; so that it seemed as if the out- cries of these demons might be heard, throughout the entire extent of earth. When Satan was vanquished, raising his venomous serpent-like head, he in-
"
enjoy
eternal
life,
impunity. "
spirit replied,
you
offences. "3i
father
enemy said, you
" When
Fursey hath often spoken idle words, nor ought he
" Unless forgive men,
there is no question regarding revenge, but about not forgiving from
sidiously cried out,
The blessed
The old " If do not neither will
with
convict him of great crimes, he shall not be lost on account of smaller
offences. "32 The
forgive you your
hath he avenged himself, or to whom hath he done an injury ! " The devil
"
your
said,
holy angel answered,
theheart. " Theholyangelexcusedoursaintbysaying,thatinhishearthefor-
gave all, even though he yielded somewhat to human infirmity. The devil
answered, as Fursey had done evil through habit, that so he should receive
judgment from the Supreme Judge. The guardian angel returned for answer, "WearejudgedbeforetheLord. " Thearch-enemybeingthusthricevan-
's " And now begin the dolesome notes to grow
casso. " — Dante's " Divina Com-
Audible unto me
. . . .
media. " Inferno, canto xx. , 10, ii. *** ''
tempest,
If by opposing winds 'tis combated.
The infernal hurricane that never rests Hurtles the spirits onward in its ra-
pine ; Whirlingthemround,andsmiting,it
molests ihem.
There are the — the shrieks,
kettle or pipkin to boil meat in. This comparison affords proof of the existence of such an object of domestic economy be- ing in use, when the ancient author of our saint's acts wrote.
translation of Dante's "Divina Commedia. " Inferno, canto v. , 25 to 35.
,si5
" Divenner membra che non fur mai viste.
__
Ogni primaio aspetto ivi era casso.
Dante's "Divina Commedia. " Inferno,
canto XXV. , 75 to 84.
Catholic doctrine regarding the distinction of sin, and by a fair inference purgatorial and eternal punishments.
^' Matthew, vi. , 15.
•7
"
Mirabilmente apparve esser travolto Ciascun dal mento al principio del
;
.
The narrative in simili- states, Capite
plaints,
tudine cacabi intumescente vidit. " The
I came into a place mute of all light,
Which bellows as the sea does in a compared, viz. , "cacabus," means a
object to which the heads of the demons is
"Divina Commedia. " Inferno, xxxi. , lo, II.
3" The writer of St. Fursey's Acts puts
"
Livido e nero come gran di pepe. — ^i Here do w,q find a clear exposition of
"There Was less than day and less than night,
that far
advanced not. "—Rev.
eye Henry
'^^ . , . . .
Mine
and the laments. " Longfellow's Francis Gary's translation of Dante's
Sed quis prudentium lector
this query,
ignoret, hiec etiam de inimundis spiritibus ad terrorem animcE videntis fieri ? "
in
your
24 LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS, [January i6.
If God be just, this man shall not enter into the kingdom of heaven. For it is written, unless you be con- verted, and become as little children, you shall not enter into the kingdom
quished, renewed his viperous attack, saying,
of heaven. 33 This saying he hath in no manner fulfilled. " The angel of
"
The demons being thus defeated by the warrior angel, that holy spirit on
"
the Lord answered and said,
Judgment shall take place before God. ''34
Look upon the world. " Then God's holy servant be- held a dark valley at a great distance and beneath him. In the surrounding air, there were four fires to be seen, and somewhat apart from each other.
the right hand said,
The angel asked Fursey if he understood what was meant by these fires.
On These are the four fires, which destroy the world, when all sins are remitted in the Sacrament of Baptism, after due profession is made to renounce the devil, with all his deceits, works and pomps. For in Baptism a promise is made to reject Satan and all his works. ^s This first condition is rarely fulfilled. In the
his answering in the negative, the holy spirit said,
"
second place, the fire of cupidity is that whereby the riches of this world are preferred to a love of heavenly things. s*^ In the third place, the fire of dis-
sention,37 whereby we do not fear to imperil our neighbour's souls, even for a matter of slight importance. And lastly, the fire of injustice, whereby we esteem it a matter of little consequence to despoil the defenceless, and practise fraud against them. "^^ The fire then seemed to approach towards
our saint, and to enlarge its volume. Fearing such a threatening aspect, "
Fursey said in alarm to the holy angd, This fire approaches towards me. "
"
you. For although this fire is great and terrible, it tries each one only ac-
The angel answered him,
What you have not kindled, shall not consume
cording to the measure of his works. The concupiscence of every person shall burn in this fire : as the body is consumed by unlawful pleasure, so shall
the soul burn with proportionate punishment. "^?
Then Fursey saw the holy angel advancing before him, and dividing the
flames into walls apparently erected on either side, whilst he was defended
from all danger of being injured. He also saw four demons flying through those flames, and exciting a horrible commotion in the midst of the fire.
"
Lord, and doth it not, shall be beaten with many stripes. *"
One of those wicked spirits said,
The servant who knows the will of his The holy angel
" What hath received the
that these had done
prove the perseverance of their penance, before thus receiving its fruits. For
answered,
part gifts
of God's will hath he not fulfilled ? "
supposed
penance. "
The devil " He should first said,
of wicked
persons. "
The
angel replied,
" He hath
33 Matthew, xviii. , 3.
3* Those objections of the demon here re-
corded, and his preverted applications of the inspired writings, afford additional il- lustration of a tnith contained in that well- known line, taken from the great English dramatist,
"The devil—can cite Scripture for his pur-
pose. " Shakespeare's "Merchant of
3* . . . . .
many found, Injudgment,furtherofffromHimbyfar, Than such —to whom his name was never
known. " Rev. Henry Francis Gary's
translation of Dante's "DivinaCommedia. " Gentis Anglorum," lib. iii. , cap. xix. , pp. Paradiso, canto xix. , 106 to 108. 21 1, 212.
Venice," act i. , scene iii.
" .
But lo
Who call 'Christ, Christ,' there shall be
!
ofthose
3* . . "As avarice quench 'd our love *° See Luke, xii. , 47.
"
Of good, without which is no working ; thus
Here justice holds us prison'd hand and foot. "—See ibid. "II Purgatorio,"
canto xix. , 121 to 124.
^ " After that I—saw A multitude, in fury burning. " See
38 ««
ibid. , canto xv. , 105.
fraud, that in every conscience leaves
a sting,
be man on whose May by employ'd one,
trust
He wins, or on another who withholds
Strictconfidence. "—Seeibid. "L'In-
femo," canto xi. , 52 to 54.
39 "
See Bede's Historia Ecclesiastica
Satan " He said,
January 16. ] LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS.
gifts blind the eyes of the wise and destroy the words of the just. "
249
The holy
thus
angel answered,
"Weshallbe
judged
beforeGod. " Thedemon
being
vanquished in his interlocutory sophisms, began to blaspheme the Almighty,
saying,
" Hitherto we have believed in a God of truth. " The
heavenly spirit
" The
Isaias hath said, that every crime which shall not have been expiated on earth
'
If you be willing and will hearken to me, you shall eat the good things of the land. But if you will not, and will provoke me to wrath : the sword shall devour you. 't^ This man hath not purged himself from his faults on earth, nor hath he yet received punish- ment. Where then is God's justice? " The heavenly messenger reproved
said,
" What else
is
He ? "
The
persistent
demon
repHed,
Prophet
must be judged in heaven, by these words :
in these " Do not him, words,
since know not God's secret
blaspheme, counsels. " The enraged demon cried out,
"
you
What is here concealed ? " The
angel returned for answer,
dence protects man. " Satan said,
"
So long as repentance is hoped for, Divine Provi-
"
particular instance. " The angel replied, "You ignore the depth of God's
But there is no place for penance in this
The devil " Let us answered,
there will be. " there is no reason for judgment. "
Another of the demons
which but few enter. Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself"'^^ The holy
secrets, perchance
depart, then,
angel answered, adversary replied,
" It will not avail him to have
neighbour. " wrought good,
hathlovedhis
neighbour
ashimself" The
angel returned,
began,
" A narrow
gate
remains for
him, through
" This man hath towards his wrought good
The unless he "Thefruitoflove is to be found in good works towards our neighbour, for God shall render to
eachman tohisworks. " Thewicked according
spirit
cause he hath not fulfilled the precept of God in loving, he shall be con-
demned. " Thushesoughttocaluminatetheblessedman.
The holy angels remained victors in this contest, although the demons stoutlycontendedwiththem. Aftersixdifferentrepetitionsofthecontention, ending in a like number of defeats, a demon, according to his usual manner,
" If God be not and if false- unjust,
vent to
in these
hood or a transgression of his commands displease him, this man shall not
gave
blasphemies,
terms,
escape punishment. For he promised to renounce the world, and on the
contrary, he continues to love the world, contrary to the Apostolic precept : 'Love not the world, nor the things which are in the world. ''*3 Wherefore, this man had no regard either for his OAvn vow, nor for the Apostolic in-
junction. " The holy angel answered, " He doth not love the things of this world for their own sake, but in order that they may be dispensed to those
needingthem. " Thewickedspiritcontinued "Inwhatmannercansuch
:
things be loved, in accordance with the Divine precept, and contrary to the Christian's promise made in Baptism? " His adversaries being once more vanquished and his guardians being victors, Fursey again heard the demon
"
It is written : If thou wilt not announce to the unjust man his iniquity, I will require his blood at thy
hand. "^4 The " it is also written The
angel replied, Concerning this, : prudent
shall keep silence at that time, for it is an evil time. '^s For when hearers despise the word, the teacher's tongue is also tied, because he knows that his
resume his sophistical accusation, by saying,
preaching when heard is despised. "^^
<' See Isaias, i. , 19, 20.
** See Leviticus, xix. , 18 ; Matthew, v. , 43, xxii. 39 ; Mark, xii. , 31, &c.
*3 I. John, ii. , 15.
** See Ezechiel, iii. , 18.
*s
The old accuser returned : "The latter,
** Among the principal causes assigned for the loss of souls, we find, the negligence of doctors and the evil example of princes. See Mabillon's "Acta Sanctorum Ordinis
S. Benedicti," tomus ii. , p. 291.
Amos, v. , 13.
then "Butbe- said,
250 LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. [January i6,
however, ought to announce it to his last moments, and neither give his as- sent to this indifference, nor be silent, notwithstanding its continuance. "'*?
During the time occupied by the foregoing dialogue, the obstinate demons continued their resistance, until it pleased God to overcome them and give a victory to his angels. Then Fursey saw himself surrounded by an astonish- ing brightness. '*^ On looking upwards, he beheld an immense multitude of angels and of holy persons, flying around, and with their wings in motion. These at once repelled from his mind any dread of the fire and terrors caused by the demons, that had before disturbed him. It seemed to him, that no labour could be too severe, nor length of time too continuous, provided the glory of a happy eternity could be achieved, and its joys and delights should be secured. In the meantime, our saint beheld two venerable men of his na- tive province, with these blessed spirits. On seeing them, he thought they had then departed from among the living. *? These were St. Meldan and St. Beoan. 5° It is intimated in certain Acts of St. FurseyS' that when they had been written, the festivals of those holy men, who are called Prelates, were celebrated by the faithful. s^ They were accosted by Fursey, on their nearer approach, and a conversation ensued between our saint and these his friends. 53
Then St. Fursey noticed a great serenity in the surrounding atmosphere, s-t andtwoangelsapproachingthisaerialregion. Theysefemedtoenterthrough an ethereal opening. Suddenly, a great brightness surrounded them and a multitude of angels divided into four distinct choirs. 55 Theywere heard singing and repeating, Sandiis, sanctus, sandtis, Dominus Dens Sabaoth. ^^ Immediately the saint's spirit was wafted high into the air, whilst heavenly psalmodic strains of inexpressible sweetness and in a lively movement were heard. Bands of angels likewise stood at his right hand. A holy angel
:
placedamongthemsaid "Doyouknowwhenceproceedthisjoyandhappi-
ness? " Onansweringinthenegative,thisangelcontinued,"Fromthechoirs
«<
*7 See Colgan's "Acta Sanctorum Hiber- s^ nise," xvi. Januarii. Vita S. Fursasi, lib. i. ,
cap. xiv. , XV. , xvi. , xvii. , xviii. , xix. , pp.
77 to 79- Also, ix. Februarii. Vita S.
Furssei a Desmaio, cap. vi. , pp. 286 to 288,
ibib. In these latter acts, Desmay has cess.
omitted much of the foregoing dialogue, although he briefly relates its chief points.
*^ . . . . . "Thatwasrayingout
Light so acute, the sight which it en- kindles
53 According to Colgan, their Natalis is
placed at the 26th of October, with that of
their companion, St. Nasad, by St. ^ngus the Culdee. For further notices, the reader is referred to that day.
s* ' ' The firmament looks forth serene and smiles. "—Gary's translation of Dante's " Divina Commedia. " II Paradiso,
canto xxviii.
ss "in fashion, as a snow-white rose, lay
then
Before my view the saintly multitude.
. , . For, through the universe Wherever merited, celestial light
— Glides freely, and no obstacle prevents. " Cary's translation of Dante's "Divina
Must close
acuteness. " — See "The
agrees. S'» His
Commedia. " II- canto Paradiso,
reputation that of Meldan. "—
equally great Lanigan's
xxxi. , i, 2,
perforce
before such
great Divine
Comedy" of Dante Alighieri, translated by Henry Wadsworth Longfellow. Paradiso, canto xxviii. , 16 to 18.
*3 Acts, L. i. , c. 21. It being said,
that Fursey thought they were dead, seems to indicate that they were still alive. Bede,
however, speaks of them, without giving their names, as being dead at that time, and so they are represented in the lives by Capgrave and Desmay, with whom Colgan
was
Dr.
xvi. , § viii. , n. 74, p. 457,
5' Published by Colgan at the l6th of
January.
with " Ecclesi- astical History of Ireland," vol. ii. , chap.
Hos Proesules cunctorum memoria usque ad nostra tempera celebrat. " It would seem, that these expressions were verbally transcribed from the old acts of our saint, to which the Venerable I3ede had ac-
22, 23, 24.
ss The opening line of the seventh canto
"
—Dante's Divina Commedia.
of
II Paradiso" is
" Osanna, sanctus Deus Sabaoth. " ""
January i6. ] LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. 251
ofheaven,towhichwealsobelong. '' Fursey'smind,becomingthenceforward oblivious of all his previous anxieties and sufferings, was filled with ineffable
joy. 57 On hearing these heavenly hymns more distinctly and harmoniously sung, he supposed them intended for his sole gratification.
"
Fleury writes :
pour convertir ses parents, il tomba malade et fut reduit en tel etat, qu'on le crut mort, ce qui arriva plusiers fois. II eut cependant des visions merveilieuses, touchant I'etat de I'autre vie, et re9ut d'excellentes instruc- tions, par des anges et des saints eveques, qui lui apparurent. " "Histoire Ecclesiastique," livre xxviii. , § xxviii.
Latin Christianity," book xiv. , chap. ii.
i The vision of Frate Alberico is very closely modelled on that of St. Fursey.
The former was a monk of Monte Cassino. Hi's vision was written in Latin, in the latter half of the twelfth century.
^Published by Colgan at the l6th of
January.
9 This records the first ecstatic ^'ision which
Etant retoume chez lui
s The same venerable chronicler tells us,
that one of the old brothers of his monastery
was wont to relate the visions of St. Fursey,
which the saint himself communicated to a
very trustworthy and religious man, who
heard thes2 narratives from the lips of to have been the earliest of its class, and to Fursey himself when he was among the
East Angles. These had such an effect on
the auditor's imagination and sensibilities,
that, although the weather was extremely
cold, and althcagh wearing only a thin gar-
ment in winter time, drops of perspiration
flowed from his body, owing to the excite-
ment these sublime and terrific visions caused.
See ibid. , pp. 213, 2i\.
* The Rev. Dean Milman, alluding to those visions of the mediceval times, calls our saint, "the French monk, St. Farcy;" and he adds, that these " were among the mo5t po]jular and wide-spread legends of the ages preceding Dante. " See "History of
have been the original of many similar sub- sequent ones, such as the vision of Adamnan, of Tundal, of Frate Alberico, &c. There can scarcely be a doubt entertained, that it furnished Dante, in a great measure, with the idea and plan of his sublime poem, the " Divina Commedia. " Even various pas- sages, as will afterwards ajipear, seem drawn from St. Fursey's vision : for the coincidences are too strikingly similar to be fortuitous, It is true, Dante gleaned from more ancient and classical sources, what he has super- added to the Christian vision of hell, purga- tory, and heaven.
the saint experienced, the others are found
related in due order. See Colgan's Sanctorum Hibemiae," xvi. Januarii. S. Furscei, n. 1 8, p. 90.
"
Acta Vita
"This "Vision of St. Fursey" appears
ANUARY- 1 6. ] LIVES OF The IRISH SAINTS. 645
having white wings, supported him with their hands, which were visible. On account of dazzhng brightness, he could not see their bodies, which were
covered their bodies. " Fursey saw a third angel, armed with a white shield and burnished sword, proceeding through the medium of air. A most fragrant odour had been diffused over every place where they went. While bearing our saint through a dense atmospheric darkness, they chanted with voices
After the manner of the
tion, two of these wings extended towards the heavens, while two wings
covered their by
wings.
Prophet
"
go from virtue to virtue, the God of Gods shall be seen in Sion. "»3 Having sung these words, with exquisitely modulated voices, they said to Fursey,
" Know what you have seen and heard, with a contemplative spirit, and having had your soul restored to your body, become a more zealous labourer for the harvest of God. " Having thus spoken, they seemed to restore his soul to his body,''* and departed trom Fursey, much against his inclination. However, they promised to return to him again, within a short time.
And now, whilst all had despaired of his recovery, the servant of God
arose, at an early hour in the morning. Having called together a large congregation of people, he related in detail what in spirit he had seen and heard. He explained to them, that the darkness through which he had been conducted signified the world, overshadowed by original sin. The three angels, whose faces and voices were undistinguishable, as they were indivisible in charity, represented the Holy and undivided Trinity, ^5 m the unity of the Godhead, according to the Patriarch Abraham's faith. '^ It was to be understood, from the circumstance of their bodies being covered with wings, in such a manner as to conceal it from view, that the Deity's in- scrutable decrees were concealed from human cognizance,'? as his presence was from mortal view, according to that expression of St. John, the Apostle
and " No man hath seen God at Evangelist,
of inexpressible harmony" these words of the Royal Psalmist,
They shall
the two which covered their bodies were also to be understood the fear of infidelity,
" I amnot
to be called an
because I persecuted the Church of God ;" and of penance, when he says, " The sufferings of this time are not worthy to be compared with the glory to
come,thatshallberevealedinus. "'9 Furseylikewiseunderstoodthenecessity for love and hope, by the two wings, which extended to heaven ; because of
according
to that ofthe
Apostle,
worthy
Apostle,
love,
the Doctor of the Gentiles
says exultingly,
" God forbid that I should
" See Ezechiel, chap. i.
As rainbow is from rainbow : third
and the
"
" With the song
My spirit reel'd, so passing sweet the strain. "
—Rev. Henry Francis Gary's translation of Dante's "DivinaCommedia. " II Paradiso, canto xxvii. , 3.
to 120. Desmay tells us, that our saint, in this vision, by a certain rapid intuition of an ecstatic spirit, had arrived at some knowledge
'3 Psalms, Ixxxiii. , 8. "•See Bede's " Historia
Ecclesiastica
Gentis Anglorum," hb. iii. , cap. xix. , p. 210.
'5 Dante likewise ends his immortal poem, the "DivinaCommedia," with an admirable vision of the Most HoiyTrinity, thus rendered in the Rev. Mr. Gary's translation :—
" In that abyss Of radiance, clear and lofty, seem'd,
methought,
Three orbs of triple hue, dipt in one
bound :
And, from another, one reflected seem'd, 1
any
time. "'^
By
wings
Ezechiel's • appari-
—Seem'd tire, breathed equally from both.
regarding the hidden mystery of the Trinity, through an enigma of similitude, as fonnerly, when Abraham saw three angels, he adored onlyoneGod. SeeGenesisxviii.
'' Colgan adds, likewise, in a note to this passage, that we are not to understand the saint had a clear, but rather an obscure and rapid vision of the Most Holy Trinity, dur- ing his remarkable ecstasy. See "Acta Sanctorum Hiberniae," ix. Februarii. Vita S. Fursxi, n. 8, p. 299.
'^John, i. , ib. i John, iv. , 12. ''Romans, viii. , lb.
"II Paradiso," canto xxxiii. , 115 '*
"
246 LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. [January l6 glory, save in the Cross of our Lord Jesus Christ. '"'° Besides, St. Gregory
" The love of God is never for if it exists it works out results
idle,
and regarding hope, the Apostle St. Paul observes,
great
says,
j" Our conversation is in heaven. "^' By the white shield and shining sword, he understood, " the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the spirit, which is the word of God. "^" He warned the people, that by such armour they should resist diabolic as- saults, and with it, in eloquent words, he cautioned them to keep vigil. He compared that versicle the angels repeated, to Jacob's ladder, which this
Patriarch saw erect, and the foundation of which was placed on the love of
God and of our neighbour ; while its steps were formed of patience, charity, concord, humility and other virtues. And, as each one of the faithful shall practise these virtues, so shall an ascent towards heaven be afforded to him. ^3
After Fursey had related these and other particulars of like import to
all that surrounded him, he predicted a future and more grievous struggle
against the powers of hell which yet awaited him, according to the angels' prediction. Then imparting a benediction to the crowd, his hearers departed for their respective homes. Filled with compunction, he remained in his
small cell, recollecting the angelic glories of which he had been a spectator, andthoseheavenlydelightswhichhehadexperienced. Oftenanddeeplydid he revolve in mind that duty of solicitude he had been admonished to extend towards his subjects. Yet he lamented and complained that he had no man
living with him possessing wisdom and force of mind, or who might give those
counsels requisite for their mutual instruction, and to fortify him against the predicted struggle, when the angels should revisit him. He poured forth many sighs from the depths of his soul, and offered tearful prayers to the Almighty on bended knees. His illness still proving serious in character, he devoutly asked to have the Holy Communion administered to him, by way of viaticum. He spent three days in vigils, fasts and devout prayers, while his bodily infirmities continued, with scarcely a moment's intermission.
During the middle of the third night, his parents, relations and neighbours are said to have been in attendance. On a sudden, the feet of our saint be- came stiff and cold, and while his hands were extended in prayer, the moment
of his expected vision seemed approaching. It was accompanied with signs similar to those accompanying his former revelation. During the time his trancecontinued,itappearedasifthesoulhadpartedfromhisbody. Sink- ing down on the bed, he heard terrific voices, as it were of a great multitude, calling out, and requiring him to leave —the prison of the flesh. On opening his eyes,'-* the saint beheld three angels two of these being stationed one on each side of him, whilst the other being armed stood at his head. Although deprived of human sight and speech, he saw these holy angels by miracle, and heard their canticles chanted with strains of inconceivable melody. Then the angel of the Lord, who stood at his right hand, consoled our saint,
for shall be defended. " The bore St. you angel
and " Fear said,
Fursey
not,
aloft, until he saw neither roof nor house. But on his passage, he heard
"°Galatians, vi. , 14. " Philippians, iii. , 20.
»»Ephesians, vi. , 17,
•3 These visions of St. . Fursey, are sup-
posed, by Ozanam, to have been, among elude, that no functions could have been other medijBval legends, forerunners of exercised by those of the body, which then Dante's "Divina Commedia. " See " Des seemal inanimate.
Sources Poetiques de la Divine Comedie,"
*'
p. 46.
=^ It is to be supposed, the ancient
chronicle refers to those of the soul, by
metaphor; as this narrative leads us to con-
January i6. ] LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. 247
demoniac clamour and howling,^3 whilst one of the evil spirits cried out, *' Let us go before his face and wage war. " Then Fursey saw a black cloud, gathering on the left side, and an army of demons marshalling its ranks before him. To his mental vision, the bodies of these demons appeared utterly deformed and black,^^ with necks of squalid leanness and horrid shape, extended,^7 their heads being unnaturally swollen. ^^ But when they flew
of deformed bodies3° their faces he could not see on account of the gloomy darkness. While the demons cast their fiery arrows against cur saint ; these missives were repelled and extinguished by the angelic buckler. The glory of those angels rendered them as it were invisible to human sight, and the demons retreated in view of the warrior spirit, who remonstrated with his adversaries,
saw a
" Do not retard our for this man has no by saying, journey,
or— the saint along fought, only
shadowy representation^?
part perdition. " The devil contradicted him, with blasphemies, saying, that God was unjust, who would not condemn a man in league with enemies, since it
" Not worthy of death. "
who sin, but
Our saint heard a confused clamour of battle, while the
is
written,
only they
they
who
agree
with are sinners,
angel contended with his spiritual enemies ; so that it seemed as if the out- cries of these demons might be heard, throughout the entire extent of earth. When Satan was vanquished, raising his venomous serpent-like head, he in-
"
enjoy
eternal
life,
impunity. "
spirit replied,
you
offences. "3i
father
enemy said, you
" When
Fursey hath often spoken idle words, nor ought he
" Unless forgive men,
there is no question regarding revenge, but about not forgiving from
sidiously cried out,
The blessed
The old " If do not neither will
with
convict him of great crimes, he shall not be lost on account of smaller
offences. "32 The
forgive you your
hath he avenged himself, or to whom hath he done an injury ! " The devil
"
your
said,
holy angel answered,
theheart. " Theholyangelexcusedoursaintbysaying,thatinhishearthefor-
gave all, even though he yielded somewhat to human infirmity. The devil
answered, as Fursey had done evil through habit, that so he should receive
judgment from the Supreme Judge. The guardian angel returned for answer, "WearejudgedbeforetheLord. " Thearch-enemybeingthusthricevan-
's " And now begin the dolesome notes to grow
casso. " — Dante's " Divina Com-
Audible unto me
. . . .
media. " Inferno, canto xx. , 10, ii. *** ''
tempest,
If by opposing winds 'tis combated.
The infernal hurricane that never rests Hurtles the spirits onward in its ra-
pine ; Whirlingthemround,andsmiting,it
molests ihem.
There are the — the shrieks,
kettle or pipkin to boil meat in. This comparison affords proof of the existence of such an object of domestic economy be- ing in use, when the ancient author of our saint's acts wrote.
translation of Dante's "Divina Commedia. " Inferno, canto v. , 25 to 35.
,si5
" Divenner membra che non fur mai viste.
__
Ogni primaio aspetto ivi era casso.
Dante's "Divina Commedia. " Inferno,
canto XXV. , 75 to 84.
Catholic doctrine regarding the distinction of sin, and by a fair inference purgatorial and eternal punishments.
^' Matthew, vi. , 15.
•7
"
Mirabilmente apparve esser travolto Ciascun dal mento al principio del
;
.
The narrative in simili- states, Capite
plaints,
tudine cacabi intumescente vidit. " The
I came into a place mute of all light,
Which bellows as the sea does in a compared, viz. , "cacabus," means a
object to which the heads of the demons is
"Divina Commedia. " Inferno, xxxi. , lo, II.
3" The writer of St. Fursey's Acts puts
"
Livido e nero come gran di pepe. — ^i Here do w,q find a clear exposition of
"There Was less than day and less than night,
that far
advanced not. "—Rev.
eye Henry
'^^ . , . . .
Mine
and the laments. " Longfellow's Francis Gary's translation of Dante's
Sed quis prudentium lector
this query,
ignoret, hiec etiam de inimundis spiritibus ad terrorem animcE videntis fieri ? "
in
your
24 LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS, [January i6.
If God be just, this man shall not enter into the kingdom of heaven. For it is written, unless you be con- verted, and become as little children, you shall not enter into the kingdom
quished, renewed his viperous attack, saying,
of heaven. 33 This saying he hath in no manner fulfilled. " The angel of
"
The demons being thus defeated by the warrior angel, that holy spirit on
"
the Lord answered and said,
Judgment shall take place before God. ''34
Look upon the world. " Then God's holy servant be- held a dark valley at a great distance and beneath him. In the surrounding air, there were four fires to be seen, and somewhat apart from each other.
the right hand said,
The angel asked Fursey if he understood what was meant by these fires.
On These are the four fires, which destroy the world, when all sins are remitted in the Sacrament of Baptism, after due profession is made to renounce the devil, with all his deceits, works and pomps. For in Baptism a promise is made to reject Satan and all his works. ^s This first condition is rarely fulfilled. In the
his answering in the negative, the holy spirit said,
"
second place, the fire of cupidity is that whereby the riches of this world are preferred to a love of heavenly things. s*^ In the third place, the fire of dis-
sention,37 whereby we do not fear to imperil our neighbour's souls, even for a matter of slight importance. And lastly, the fire of injustice, whereby we esteem it a matter of little consequence to despoil the defenceless, and practise fraud against them. "^^ The fire then seemed to approach towards
our saint, and to enlarge its volume. Fearing such a threatening aspect, "
Fursey said in alarm to the holy angd, This fire approaches towards me. "
"
you. For although this fire is great and terrible, it tries each one only ac-
The angel answered him,
What you have not kindled, shall not consume
cording to the measure of his works. The concupiscence of every person shall burn in this fire : as the body is consumed by unlawful pleasure, so shall
the soul burn with proportionate punishment. "^?
Then Fursey saw the holy angel advancing before him, and dividing the
flames into walls apparently erected on either side, whilst he was defended
from all danger of being injured. He also saw four demons flying through those flames, and exciting a horrible commotion in the midst of the fire.
"
Lord, and doth it not, shall be beaten with many stripes. *"
One of those wicked spirits said,
The servant who knows the will of his The holy angel
" What hath received the
that these had done
prove the perseverance of their penance, before thus receiving its fruits. For
answered,
part gifts
of God's will hath he not fulfilled ? "
supposed
penance. "
The devil " He should first said,
of wicked
persons. "
The
angel replied,
" He hath
33 Matthew, xviii. , 3.
3* Those objections of the demon here re-
corded, and his preverted applications of the inspired writings, afford additional il- lustration of a tnith contained in that well- known line, taken from the great English dramatist,
"The devil—can cite Scripture for his pur-
pose. " Shakespeare's "Merchant of
3* . . . . .
many found, Injudgment,furtherofffromHimbyfar, Than such —to whom his name was never
known. " Rev. Henry Francis Gary's
translation of Dante's "DivinaCommedia. " Gentis Anglorum," lib. iii. , cap. xix. , pp. Paradiso, canto xix. , 106 to 108. 21 1, 212.
Venice," act i. , scene iii.
" .
But lo
Who call 'Christ, Christ,' there shall be
!
ofthose
3* . . "As avarice quench 'd our love *° See Luke, xii. , 47.
"
Of good, without which is no working ; thus
Here justice holds us prison'd hand and foot. "—See ibid. "II Purgatorio,"
canto xix. , 121 to 124.
^ " After that I—saw A multitude, in fury burning. " See
38 ««
ibid. , canto xv. , 105.
fraud, that in every conscience leaves
a sting,
be man on whose May by employ'd one,
trust
He wins, or on another who withholds
Strictconfidence. "—Seeibid. "L'In-
femo," canto xi. , 52 to 54.
39 "
See Bede's Historia Ecclesiastica
Satan " He said,
January 16. ] LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS.
gifts blind the eyes of the wise and destroy the words of the just. "
249
The holy
thus
angel answered,
"Weshallbe
judged
beforeGod. " Thedemon
being
vanquished in his interlocutory sophisms, began to blaspheme the Almighty,
saying,
" Hitherto we have believed in a God of truth. " The
heavenly spirit
" The
Isaias hath said, that every crime which shall not have been expiated on earth
'
If you be willing and will hearken to me, you shall eat the good things of the land. But if you will not, and will provoke me to wrath : the sword shall devour you. 't^ This man hath not purged himself from his faults on earth, nor hath he yet received punish- ment. Where then is God's justice? " The heavenly messenger reproved
said,
" What else
is
He ? "
The
persistent
demon
repHed,
Prophet
must be judged in heaven, by these words :
in these " Do not him, words,
since know not God's secret
blaspheme, counsels. " The enraged demon cried out,
"
you
What is here concealed ? " The
angel returned for answer,
dence protects man. " Satan said,
"
So long as repentance is hoped for, Divine Provi-
"
particular instance. " The angel replied, "You ignore the depth of God's
But there is no place for penance in this
The devil " Let us answered,
there will be. " there is no reason for judgment. "
Another of the demons
which but few enter. Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself"'^^ The holy
secrets, perchance
depart, then,
angel answered, adversary replied,
" It will not avail him to have
neighbour. " wrought good,
hathlovedhis
neighbour
ashimself" The
angel returned,
began,
" A narrow
gate
remains for
him, through
" This man hath towards his wrought good
The unless he "Thefruitoflove is to be found in good works towards our neighbour, for God shall render to
eachman tohisworks. " Thewicked according
spirit
cause he hath not fulfilled the precept of God in loving, he shall be con-
demned. " Thushesoughttocaluminatetheblessedman.
The holy angels remained victors in this contest, although the demons stoutlycontendedwiththem. Aftersixdifferentrepetitionsofthecontention, ending in a like number of defeats, a demon, according to his usual manner,
" If God be not and if false- unjust,
vent to
in these
hood or a transgression of his commands displease him, this man shall not
gave
blasphemies,
terms,
escape punishment. For he promised to renounce the world, and on the
contrary, he continues to love the world, contrary to the Apostolic precept : 'Love not the world, nor the things which are in the world. ''*3 Wherefore, this man had no regard either for his OAvn vow, nor for the Apostolic in-
junction. " The holy angel answered, " He doth not love the things of this world for their own sake, but in order that they may be dispensed to those
needingthem. " Thewickedspiritcontinued "Inwhatmannercansuch
:
things be loved, in accordance with the Divine precept, and contrary to the Christian's promise made in Baptism? " His adversaries being once more vanquished and his guardians being victors, Fursey again heard the demon
"
It is written : If thou wilt not announce to the unjust man his iniquity, I will require his blood at thy
hand. "^4 The " it is also written The
angel replied, Concerning this, : prudent
shall keep silence at that time, for it is an evil time. '^s For when hearers despise the word, the teacher's tongue is also tied, because he knows that his
resume his sophistical accusation, by saying,
preaching when heard is despised. "^^
<' See Isaias, i. , 19, 20.
** See Leviticus, xix. , 18 ; Matthew, v. , 43, xxii. 39 ; Mark, xii. , 31, &c.
*3 I. John, ii. , 15.
** See Ezechiel, iii. , 18.
*s
The old accuser returned : "The latter,
** Among the principal causes assigned for the loss of souls, we find, the negligence of doctors and the evil example of princes. See Mabillon's "Acta Sanctorum Ordinis
S. Benedicti," tomus ii. , p. 291.
Amos, v. , 13.
then "Butbe- said,
250 LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. [January i6,
however, ought to announce it to his last moments, and neither give his as- sent to this indifference, nor be silent, notwithstanding its continuance. "'*?
During the time occupied by the foregoing dialogue, the obstinate demons continued their resistance, until it pleased God to overcome them and give a victory to his angels. Then Fursey saw himself surrounded by an astonish- ing brightness. '*^ On looking upwards, he beheld an immense multitude of angels and of holy persons, flying around, and with their wings in motion. These at once repelled from his mind any dread of the fire and terrors caused by the demons, that had before disturbed him. It seemed to him, that no labour could be too severe, nor length of time too continuous, provided the glory of a happy eternity could be achieved, and its joys and delights should be secured. In the meantime, our saint beheld two venerable men of his na- tive province, with these blessed spirits. On seeing them, he thought they had then departed from among the living. *? These were St. Meldan and St. Beoan. 5° It is intimated in certain Acts of St. FurseyS' that when they had been written, the festivals of those holy men, who are called Prelates, were celebrated by the faithful. s^ They were accosted by Fursey, on their nearer approach, and a conversation ensued between our saint and these his friends. 53
Then St. Fursey noticed a great serenity in the surrounding atmosphere, s-t andtwoangelsapproachingthisaerialregion. Theysefemedtoenterthrough an ethereal opening. Suddenly, a great brightness surrounded them and a multitude of angels divided into four distinct choirs. 55 Theywere heard singing and repeating, Sandiis, sanctus, sandtis, Dominus Dens Sabaoth. ^^ Immediately the saint's spirit was wafted high into the air, whilst heavenly psalmodic strains of inexpressible sweetness and in a lively movement were heard. Bands of angels likewise stood at his right hand. A holy angel
:
placedamongthemsaid "Doyouknowwhenceproceedthisjoyandhappi-
ness? " Onansweringinthenegative,thisangelcontinued,"Fromthechoirs
«<
*7 See Colgan's "Acta Sanctorum Hiber- s^ nise," xvi. Januarii. Vita S. Fursasi, lib. i. ,
cap. xiv. , XV. , xvi. , xvii. , xviii. , xix. , pp.
77 to 79- Also, ix. Februarii. Vita S.
Furssei a Desmaio, cap. vi. , pp. 286 to 288,
ibib. In these latter acts, Desmay has cess.
omitted much of the foregoing dialogue, although he briefly relates its chief points.
*^ . . . . . "Thatwasrayingout
Light so acute, the sight which it en- kindles
53 According to Colgan, their Natalis is
placed at the 26th of October, with that of
their companion, St. Nasad, by St. ^ngus the Culdee. For further notices, the reader is referred to that day.
s* ' ' The firmament looks forth serene and smiles. "—Gary's translation of Dante's " Divina Commedia. " II Paradiso,
canto xxviii.
ss "in fashion, as a snow-white rose, lay
then
Before my view the saintly multitude.
. , . For, through the universe Wherever merited, celestial light
— Glides freely, and no obstacle prevents. " Cary's translation of Dante's "Divina
Must close
acuteness. " — See "The
agrees. S'» His
Commedia. " II- canto Paradiso,
reputation that of Meldan. "—
equally great Lanigan's
xxxi. , i, 2,
perforce
before such
great Divine
Comedy" of Dante Alighieri, translated by Henry Wadsworth Longfellow. Paradiso, canto xxviii. , 16 to 18.
*3 Acts, L. i. , c. 21. It being said,
that Fursey thought they were dead, seems to indicate that they were still alive. Bede,
however, speaks of them, without giving their names, as being dead at that time, and so they are represented in the lives by Capgrave and Desmay, with whom Colgan
was
Dr.
xvi. , § viii. , n. 74, p. 457,
5' Published by Colgan at the l6th of
January.
with " Ecclesi- astical History of Ireland," vol. ii. , chap.
Hos Proesules cunctorum memoria usque ad nostra tempera celebrat. " It would seem, that these expressions were verbally transcribed from the old acts of our saint, to which the Venerable I3ede had ac-
22, 23, 24.
ss The opening line of the seventh canto
"
—Dante's Divina Commedia.
of
II Paradiso" is
" Osanna, sanctus Deus Sabaoth. " ""
January i6. ] LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. 251
ofheaven,towhichwealsobelong. '' Fursey'smind,becomingthenceforward oblivious of all his previous anxieties and sufferings, was filled with ineffable
joy. 57 On hearing these heavenly hymns more distinctly and harmoniously sung, he supposed them intended for his sole gratification.
