3
Here Endeus disposed himself for the reception of Holy Orders.
Here Endeus disposed himself for the reception of Holy Orders.
O'Hanlon - Lives of the Irish Saints - v1
920, 921.
Its Parson's and Erenach's death is recorded, a.
d.
1365, vol.
iii.
, pp.
626,
"~^ Rossory Cemetery. Looking southwards.
''^'^'^'^'^^^^rTJ^,
January l]
LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS.
" Know
Christ? " Thenrecognisingthevocaltonesoftheirchieftain,Endeus,among
you, my sisters,
this dreadful vociferation is not to pleasing
nity,
his some Divine followers, by
intimation,
Fanchea cried " He is a son out,
of Heaven's kingdom, whose voice is so particularly distinguished. " She knew her brother's heart, with all its defects, to be chivalrous and pure. 9
Wherefore, standing at the gate of her nunnery, Fanchea said to the chief, *' Do not near for thou art contaminated with the blood of a
approach us, man who is slain. " Endeus
" I am innocent of this murdered man's blood ; and, as yet, I am free not only from homicide but even from carnal
" O wretched
Lord to anger ? And why do you plunge your soul into the depths of sin
my
sister replied, that their father, whose sins were his o\vn, was then enduring punishment for them in another world.
sins. " The then virgin
said,
man, why
do the you provoke
various crimes ? " Endeus
" I hold the inheritance of
replied,
answered,
father, and therefore I am justified in fighting against my enemies. " His
by your
Endeus afterwards requested his sister to give him a certain noble maiden placed under her care for his wife. He promised in the future to follow those religious admonitions he had thus received. The holy virgin said she should soon give a response to his petition. Immediately going to the place where the aforesaid maiden Fanchea said to " A choice is now
lived, her,
given : dost thou desire to love the Spouse whom I love, or a carnal one ? "
girl replied,
her,
with cried horror,
out,
present sadly pale
and
Then Fanchea spoke to
" I will love Him whom love. " Fanchea said to you
The
" Come with me into this chamber that here you may rest a while. " The maiden complied, and placing herself upon a bed she soon expired. Her
pure soul fled to the guardianship of her chosen and heavenly Spouse. Having put a veil over the face of this deceased young lady, St. Fanchea returnedtoEndeus. Shethenconductedherbrothertothechamberofthe dead. Uncovering the departed maiden's features, Fanchea exclaimed, " Look now upon the face of her whom thou hast desired. " Endeus, struck
"Itis at
shall your features hereafter be," replied the virgin.
him regarding the pains of Hell, and dwelt also on the joys of Heaven, until the young man burst into tears. Having heard these discourses of his holy sister, despising the vanities of this Avorld, Endeus took the habit of a monk and received the tonsure. Thus he embraced the clerical profession,'" and became eventually one of the most distinguished among the saints of Ireland.
CHAPTER III.
ST. FANCHEA'S prayers confirm the resolves of her brother—A MIRACLE WROUGHT THROUGH HER—ST. ENDEUS FENCES HER NUNNERY—HE AFTERWARDS RETIRES TO KILL-AINE—ST. FANCHEA ONCE MORE DETERMINES HIS VOCATION.
The companions of Endeus, hearing about his conversion, endeavoured with some manifestations of violence to excite his feelings, and to with- draw their chieftain from a fulfilment of his purpose. It is said that St. Fanchea offered up her prayers, and she made the sign of the cross against this unjust attempt. The. clansmen's feet then became fastened to the
5 An account of this conver- '° See ' ' Acta Sanctorum Hi- interesting Colgan's
sion, with the causes leading to it, will be bernise," i Januarii. Vita S. Fancheoe, cap.
found in the "Irish Ecclesiastical Record," i. , ii. , iii. , iv. , p. i. Also Mrs. M. C. Fer- '*
vol. vii. , p. 28. It is contained in an ele- guson's story of The Irish before the
gantly-written paper, Aranmore of St. Enda.
" A Visit to the
Conquest," chap.
v.
p. 167.
"
ghastly. "
"Andso
freedom of motion.
Thus are we to under-
Hibernise," i Januarii, n. 13, p. 24. The Rev. Peter Loughran, C. C. of Clones, in a
stand,
but in another
— her
sense, binding
or
communication to the
dated author, April
LIVES OJP THE IRISH SAINTS.
[January i.
ground. On that spot they remained Hke so many immovable statues. A fine moral lesson is then envolved by the legend -writer. It seemed those men, who were so much attached to earthly pursuits should even in this
manner, although unwillingly, adhere to earth. As misfortune often pro- duces a better frame of mind, entering upon a consideration of their
state, the culprits promised to do penance when released from bondage. Thus, what the Lord said to the Apostles when he sent them to preach, " Whatsoever you shall bind upon earth, shall be bound also in heaven, and whatsoever you shall loose upon earth, shall be loosed also in heaven,"' seemed to have been fulfilled in the person of this apostolic virgin. ^ Here- upon the newly-converted chief began to fulfil by works what he had con- ceived in mind.
With his own hands Endeus commenced digging earth around the nun- nery. This habitation he fenced in with deep trenches. 3 He rooted up thistles and other noxious weeds likewise, and with all the care of an expe- riencedhusbandman. '* Havingbestowedthenecessaryamountoflabouron this nunnery, the servant of Christ went to a place afterwards called Kill- aine,5nowknownasKillany,inthecountyofLouth. Thereheintendedto foundahouseforareligiouscongregationofmen. ^ Herealsohebecame oeconomus, or steward, over artificers who were engaged upon his buildings, and he furnished the workmen with all necessary supplies. 7 From the con- text of his acts it would seem that a nunnery for Fanchea, or a branch estab- lishmentforherreligious,wasestablishedhere; anditappearsevenprobable that the holy sister of Endeus resided at Kill-aine for some considerable time previous to her death.
We are told, while he lived at Kill-aine,^ certain robbers, enemies to
Chap. hi. —' Matt, xviii. , i8.
"'' Such a relation is found in the Acts
of St. Endeus. " In a note Colgan remarks
the author of this saint's hfe does not mean
that the holy virgin had a power of binding
or loosing, by giving absolution in foro con-
scientia, as it is called by theologians. This power of the keys was conferred on the Apostles, and on their ^co-labourers in the ministry. But having immediately before spoken of a miracle performed by St. Fan- chea, whereby she bound to earth, so that they could not move, those who wished to draw her brother back to worldly pursuits, and afterwards, on their repentance, a power being granted her of releasing their limbs to
in a great measure to the agricultural skill
and industry of former possessors.
5 This place is said to have been situated
near the mountain, Bregh, within the terri-
tory of Meath. Colgan adds, perchance Kill-aine is corruptly read for Kill-Fainche,
or, as commonly pronounced, Kill-Ainche. The f after //, or almost any other conso- nant, is not pronounced by the Irish in the beginning of a word, or even in the middle, when that word is a compound one.
loosing the men detained. See "Acta Sanc-
torum Hibemiae," i Januarii, n. 12, p. 4.
3 As we often find in the old acts of Irish saints, the record is corroborated by existing antique remains ; and this earthwork of St.
17th, 1873, rightly connects Kill-Aine with
the present parish of Killany, partly in the county of Louth and partly in that of Mo-
naghan. It also lay within the patrimonial inheritance of St. Endeus.
7 See " Acta Sanctorum Hiber- Colgan's
nise," I Januarii. Vita St. Fanchese,
Endeus is
to be
seen,
but in a ruined
yet state, at Rossory.
* The present is one of many incidents
recorded in the acts of our Irish saints re- This
garding that care bestowed on fencing and cultivating the soil by our ancient ascetics.
It has been a subject for general remark, that in nearly all cases the glebe or monas- tery lands of Ireland have been of a supe- rior quality ; even yet they—are characterized
by unusual productiveness
a result
owing
^
Colgan was unable to pronounce whe-
ther or not that place is different from
Teaghaine. This was a place of sepulture
for seven bishops. See " Acta Sanctonun
cap. v. , pp. I, 2.
^
wards related, appears to be identical with the present parish of Killany, situated partly in the barony of Ardee, county of Louth, and partly in the barony of Famey, county of Monaghan. See "Lewis' Topogra- phical Dictionary of Ireland," vol. ii. , p. 125.
place,
from the circumstance after-
January i. ]
LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS.
Endeus and his country-people, from a district called Crimthann,9 passed
with their booty near the monastery. Pursuing these robbers, the clansmen
of Endeus had there overtaken them. When about to attack the spoilers at
this place, feeling an irresistible desire to succour his friends, their former
chieftain seized one of those wooden poles which were used in building his
monastery.
^°
That Endeus intended to employ as a weapon. But St.
Fanchea then said to her " O brother,
Endeus, place your hand upon your head, and recollect you have taken the crown of Christ. " On obeying this
command Endeus immediately felt he had assumed the clerical tonsure. Withdrawing his hand the holy monk remained in his cell," and at peace with all mankind. He who once puts his hand to the plough and aftenvards looks behind is not fit for God's kingdom.
CHAPTER IV.
ADOPTING ST. FANCHEA'S ADVICE, ENDEUS FIRST GOES TO WALES, AND AFTERWARDS HE VISITS ROME—HE ERECTS A MONASTERY—ST. FANCHEA LEARNS THE PLACE OF HIS RETREAT FROM SOME ROMAN PILGRIMS—WITH SOME OF HER RELIGIOUS, SHE RESOLVES TO PAY HIM A VISIT—THEY SAIL OVER TO BRITAIN.
The virgin Fanchea afterwards counselled her brother to leave his native
country and kindred, lest perchance he might again be tempted by any worldly considerations to forsake that path in which he trod. She wished him to visit Britain, and to enter Rosnat Monastery,^ that he might become an humble disciple of Mansenus,^ who presided over that house. Having listened attentively to her advice, Endeus asked how long he should remain there, when Fanchea told him to continue until she should have received a
3 Colgan says this was a territory on the borders of Meath and Louth, little noticed
width. The north and south side walls were nearly levelled with the ground. Bu- rials take place in the adjoining cemetery,
in his time, although formerly celebrated in
the Irish Annals. It was called after a within —the demesne belonging to Dunany chieftain named Creamhthann. It was con- House. "T. O'Conor's Letters for County sidered as being included in the barony of Louth. " "I. O. S. Letters," vol. i. , pp.
Slane. See Dr. O'Donovan's "
"
Leabhar na — 13s, 136, 145.
"
Chap. iv. 'This was Monasterium
g-Ceart,"or Book of Rights," n. f. p. 152
^° "
About four miles to the west of Louth
village, on the townland and in the parish
of Killanny, are the ruins of a religious establishment called by the people niAinifci-(\ t\\\j eAriAi'o or Killanny Monastery. The entire length of the church was about twenty-nine yards by about twelve yards and two feet in breadth. A rude draw- ing is given by T. O'Conor, with a minute admeasurement and description of
Vallis Rosinae in Wales, as well on ac- count of the nominal affinity as —for a reason that St. Manchen, an Irishman
A
yard surrounds the church. In the same nus, or, more properly, Manchenus and
townland isamoat called ITlocA t\\X GAnAit). Manchanus should be read. First, because " Ordnance Survey Letters for County the name Mansenus is not to be found men-
its as parts
they
stood in
1836.
grave-
^ Instead of this name Maca- Mancenus,
Louth," vol. i. , pp. 250 to 254.
" In the townland and parish of Dunany,
county of Louth, are the ruins of an old church, called in Irish CeAtnpulL "oun -AriA. It was probably named after St. Endeus. The ruins are seventeen yards long by about sixteen feet and a half foot in width. The western gable, quite perfect in 1836, was covered with ivy. In the southern part of the east gable was a pointed window-place, four feet high by one foot in
tioned by any other writer ; and secondly, because in that region of Britain called Demetia, which lies opposite to Ireland, a
certain monastery was built by St. Manchan, as stated in the previous note. This might have been called Rosnacum, because it was situated in the valley of Rosina, although afterwards resuming the name of its founder. As regards Manchen, Colgan supposes him to have been the master and countryman of St. Endeus.
—who here seemstobecalledSt. Mansenus wasabbot over the Monastery of Rosina or Rosnat. In the "Life of St. David, Archbishop of Menavia," written by Capgrave, we read
that St. Manchen erected a monastery in ''
this part of the country. See Nova Le-
genda Angliae," cap. i.
sion. ""
LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. [January i.
good report regarding the manner in which his time had been spent. Wishing to fulfil his sister's desire, St. Endeus passed over the sea, and came
to the aforesaid monastery. There he remained under the discipline of its
abbot,Mansenus. Whenhehadmadesufficientprogressinlearningandin
the science of a religious life, he took another sea-voyage on his way to Rome.
3
Here Endeus disposed himself for the reception of Holy Orders. After a
diligent study of examples left by the saints, it pleased Almighty God to
invest him with the priestly dignity. Carefully considering the duties of his new profession, he deemed it incumbent to show others the way towards
heaven. Therefore, having collected some disciples, he erected a monas- tery. This was called Latinum ;+ but the place where it was situated appears to baffle further enquiry. s
After some time had elapsed, certain pilgrims came from Rome to Ire- land, where they visited St. Fanchea's cell. The virgin held some conference
withthem. Amongotherreligiousacquaintancesthosestrangersmentioned the name of Endeus, who was a native of Ireland, and whose reputation for sanctity had been much extolled by all who knew him. They told her where the monastery over which he presided stood. ^ On hearing this account St. Fanchea knew St. Endeus was her brother. She then resolved to pay him a visit, in company with three other virgins. The abbess ordered these to take none of their effects along with them ; but one of her compa- nions disobeyed this mandate and brought a brazen vessel, which she con- ceived would be of use in washing their hands during this journey. A strange and incredible legend is then related to account for the detection and reproof of such disobedience. A prosperous voyage is said to have conducted those adventurous females to the wished for port in Britain. Further they journeyed, perhaps, but our accounts fail us in reference to this matter.
3 In this instance, as in many other pas- sages found in the lives of our Irish saints, we are led to observe a frequent intercourse between the Holy City and Ireland, dating back even to the earliest ages of our Chris- tianity. Hence we may well consider the relations existing between the Holy See and our early Irish Church were always of a most intimate nature in all matters connected
with the Catholic religion and Catholic Church government, notwithstanding the
futile efforts of modem duplicity, ignorance,
or fanaticism to establish a contrary impres-
and it was called " Monasterium Lastiense. " But as Mireus, in his Chronicon Benedic-
tinum, and others, state this monastery had been founded by Count Wilbert A. D. 751, it cannot be said that Endeus built it. His monastery of Latinum must have been erectedbeforeA. D. 500. Itmightbeurged, however, that a more modem Benedictine monastery had been built on the ruins or site of that erected by Endeus.
^ As Endeus was ordained at Rome, and had collected some disciples, who were Italians, or from Latium, the ancient name for Italy, his establishment might have been afterwards called the Monastery of the La-
^ The Life of St. Endeus adds, that it
was appositely called " Latinum Monaste- tins, or people of Latium. No doubt, it
rium," as there the mandate of love towards God and towards our neighbour was exactly observed. Yet it is difficult to discover an affinity between such a monastic name and the precept of charity. Colgan conjectures that Laetinum would have been a better reading, as spiritual joy is the companion of exalted love.
had some other local name which it is diffi-
cult, if not impossible, now to discover, as we are unacquainted with any document that could throw further light on this ques- tion. Itisnotprobablethatthosedisciples, collected in a foreign country, could have been natives of Ireland, especially in that early age. It is also quite probable that
5 Colgan says he did not think that any most of them, if not all, were Latins, monastery called Latinmn existed in his They might have settled in Rome, in Italy, time. It was not likely that Latiniacum, in France, or in some place outside their which was built by St. Fursey in Gaul, own country. As their Irish superior and about the year 640, could have been the
same as Latinum. There is a place called Lsetitia, on the river Helpra, in Hannonia. There was a house of Benedictine Fathers,
his community spoke the Latin language and observed the Latin customs, hence their house was probably called "the Latin Mo- nastery"bypeople of the surrounding country.
January i. ]
LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS.
CHAPTER V.
ST. ENDEUS HAS A PRETERNATURAL KNOWLEDGE OF ST. FANCHEA's APPROACH—THEIR INTERVIEW—RECEIVING HER BROTHER'S BENEDICTION, THE HOLY VIRGIN RETURNS TO IRELAND—HER DEATH—CONTENTION AMONG THE PEOPLE OF MEATH AND LEINSTER FOR THE POSSESSION OF HER REMAINS—SUPPOSED BURIAL AT KILL-AINE —CONCLUSION.
The Almighty, who reveals wonderful secrets to his friends, was
pleased to enlighten Endeus regarding the approaching visit of those religious females from Ireland. His brethren were directed to prepare all things necessary for their expected arrival. While the monks were thus
engaged, the holy virgins appeared at their monastery gate. St. Fanchea preferredarequesttosee—herbrother; butshewastoldshemighthaveher choice of two alternatives either to receive his greetings without seeing him, ortoseehimwithoutreceivinghissalutations. Thevirginsaidshepreferred the choice of conversation without the permission of seeing him, thus con- ceiving she should derive more advantage from her visit. Endeus then had a tent erected in the grounds of his monastery. Being veiled from her sight, the abbot entered into conversation with his sister. Fanchea advised that as God had gifted him with talents, he ought to exercise these among the people of his native land, and thus enhance doubly their value.
" When a
hope the Almighty may permit me to follow you. "
the entrance to Galway Bay,3 and out in the Atlantic Ocean. *
Having thus advised her brother, she received his benediction, and after-
wards she appears to have passed over into Ireland with her virgins. Under
the guidance of angels, they escaped all sea dangers, and landed safely in
their native country. It would appear, however, St. Fanchea did not long
survive her arrival in Ireland. As a further favour, she obtained from heaven
that her soul might be permitted to escape from the prison of the body.
She wished it to ascend with the celestial attendants of her voyage to that
replied,
year
your
Fanchea then said to her
brother,
you
your nativity
" When
shall have after elapsed
return to I Ireland,
come to Ireland do not enter the land of
at first, but rather seek out a certain island called Aran,'' which is situated off the Irish western coast. =^ The interesting group of Aran islands lies at
where " follow the lamb whithersoever he From
kingdom,
Chap. v. —' This island is more properly
designated ^ra, /. ^. , ren ; for, in the nomi- native case it is called Ara, in the genitive
mars, the proper name -A]aa, Aran, in the » nominative makes A-^&xk in the genitive, and ^]\<xin in the dative. According to the
forms of the fifth declension of Irish nouns, A\^ is classed among nouns of this latter declension by the Very Rev. Canon Ulick
goeth. "s
virgins
and in the dative Arann. This
the extremities,
3 in "Transactions of the Royal Irish
Academy," vol. xv. , pp. 19 to 140, there is
a most valuable " A Sketch paper intituled,
of the History and Antiquities of the South- em Islands of Aran, lying off the West Coast of Ireland ; with Observations on the Religion of the Celtic Nations, Pagan Monuments, of the early Irish, Druidic Rites, &c. ," by John T. O'Flaherty, A. B. This interesting paper was read at a meet- ing of the Royal Irish Academy, held on the 26th of January, 1824.
They are included within the boundaries
of the Connaught province, and they lie within the limits of Tuam archdiocese. Formerly they were inhabited by a number of holy persons, while remains of ecclesias- tical buildings and monuments furnish suffi- cient evidence of their former importance in a religious point of view,
s Apocalypse, xiv. 4.
Arainn,
form of declension, however, is somewhat incorrect ; for according to the number and order of declensions adopted by Dr. O'Do- novan and by Very Rev. Canon Ulick J. Bourke in their respective Irish gram-
Bourke in his " Irish Grammar. " College
J.
See chap, ii. , section 6, p. 38.
^
The writer of St. Endeus' Acts then tells us, that Aran island in Latin is so called because it bears some resemblance in shape to the kidney of an animal. In the middle this diminishes, while it is greater at
Hereupon Endeus
10 LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS.
[January i.
the obscurity of that narrative, contained in St. Endeus' Hfe, it is not possible to discover whether our saint hved to reach her native shore, or whether she died during her last sea voyage. Her religious sisters greatly lamented her decease.
A contention arose between people belonging to the provinces of Meath and Leinster for possession of this holy virgin's body. What claim the Lein- ster people had to her remains does not appear, unless her death took place among them. This quarrel was appeased in a miraculous manner. Fan- chea's remains seemed to rest on a vehicle borne by two oxen. These animals are said to have preceded the people of Leinster, bearing the sup- posed body of this holy virgin towards a cell, which was called Barrigh,^ in Magh-Lifife. There the Leinster people deposited what they had conceived to be St. Fanchea's body ^ but the people of Meath in like manner saw oxen preceding them and bearing the real body of St. Fanchea, while the companions of her voyage were present at this funeral procession. Having arrived at the nunnery, commonly called Kill-aine,^ the remains of our holy virgin were there deposited to await the day of final resurrection. This most pure virgin, the spouse of her Heavenly Bridegroom, is thought to have departed to her long-desired and beatific rest on the feast of our Lord's Circumcision,^ This day her natalis is kept, according to our Irish Martyrologies. It seems probable, however, that her feast had been more solemnly observed on a different day. Some held this opinion for various reasons. ^° St. Fanchea lived in the fifth and died," it is thought, about the commencement of the
^ in his time this had Colgan says place
been called Baile Bairrigh. It was situated on the banks of the river Liffey, in the county and diocese of Kildare. But he would not decide whether the place took its name from St. Barr, an Irish bishop, whose feast is observed on the 25th of September, or from a St. Barruch, hermit, whose feast has been assigned to the 29th of November in the English Martyrology. See "Acta Sanctorum Hibernise," I Januarii, n. 22, p. 24.
7 A miracle similar to the present is re-
"
Vita S. Patricii," cap. 195, as also in St. Abban's life, which will be found at the 27th October. Many simi- lar contentions about possessing the remains of holy persons are related in various Acts
of our saints.
^ In the Acts of St. Endeus we read
that he founded this monastery while yet a
neophyte, or but lately strengthened in the faith. He commenced to build it for his sister's accommodation.
—because a Eoghnacht-Chaisell. Thirdly
feast of St. Carecha, at the 9th of March, is thought to have been identical with St. Fanchea's. The admonition, which had been given by St. Fanchea to St. Endeus, as found in Acts of the latter, is related by St. ^ngus, at the 21st of March, to have been offered by the same Endeus to his sis- ter, St. Carecha. Wherefore it would ap- pear that no distinct person is intended to have been meant under these different names. The first of the foregoing rea- sons, however, is one which bears most weight in support of an opinion advanced in the text. The second is by no means con- clusive, for St. Fanchea, who is venerated in Munster on the 21st of January, differs from Conall's daughter. This latter is not said to have had any connexion with Mun- ster in what can be learned regarding her ; while the parentage and country of both Fancheas appear to have been quite different.
"
corded in Jocelin's
Menologic Gene- there were four other holy virgins in Ireland bearing the name of Fanchea, be- sides our saint. Nor has the third reason had been observed in the parish church of much weight ; for it is easy to fall into an
9 The Martyrologies of Tallagh and Ma- rianus O'Gorman state that on the ist of
Again, according to the "
January, the natal day of this holy virgin Ross-airther, near Lough Erne, in the dio-
cese of — Clogher.
error in describing the actions of two sisters,
and to one an act
by attributing which, per-
haps,
saints, whose names, places, and festivals indicate that they were altogether different persons, may have been confounded for
'° First
val of the Circumcision, which falls on the 1st of January, a minor festival of this holy virgin could not supersede the f—ormer feast
had reference to the other. Two
on account of that
greater
festi-
held on her natalis. Secondly
tyrologies of Tallagh and Marianus O'Gor- man assign a natalis on the 21st of January to St. Fanchea at the Church of Cluain- Chaoin, within that district of Munster called
So Colgan. See his " Acta Sanctorum Hiber-
niae," i Januarii, n. 25, p. 4.
" See Colgan's "Acta Sanctorum Hiber-
nise," I Januarii. Vita St. Fanchese, cap.
the Mar-
want of sufficient examination.
says
alogy
January I. ]
LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. ii
sixth century. Long ago has this noble virgin, drawing life from the foun- tain of Divine love while on earth, passed away from its unrealities to peren- nial enjoyment with the blessed in heaven.
ARTICLE II. —ST. BEOC, BEOG, MOBHEOC, BEANUS, DABEOC, OR DAB- HEOC, ABBOT AT LOUGH DERG, TEMPLECARN PARISH, COUNTY
OF DONEGAL.
\FIFTH OR SIXTH CENTURY. } CHAPTER I.
INTRODUCTION—PARENTAGE AND BIRTH OF THIS SAINT IN WALES—HIS FAMILY AND RELATIONSHIP—PERIOD WHEN HE FLOURISHED.
Ireland has ever been remarkable for the hospitality and welcome accorded to strangers. She receives and regards as her own those coming from other
nations, in a kindly and sympathetic spirit. This is more especially the case,
when, as ministers of the Gospel, missionaries arrive with the glad tidings of
salvation. In early times the family circles of our island were distinguished
for holiness, and, in like manner, what seems very notable, the ecclesias-
tical history of the Kymry, or Welsh, presents a similar peculiarity of
sanctity prevailing in certain houses for many generations, and running through various branches of kindred. The habit of tracing and preserving
pedigrees, as among the Irish, is characteristic of their clannish dispositions. A modem historian of Wales tells us that the saints of greatest renown, as heads of monasteries or choirs, were really teachers, while the brethren under them were really learners of such wisdom as their masters had to impart. "^
We are informed that Dabeoc is the same as Mobheoc of Glenn Geirg, who is commemorated on the 24th of July. It is probable Da and Mo are toberegardedasaffixestotheoriginalname,BeocorBheoc. Thissaintwas descended from a very noble or regal line. He appears to have been the junior of ten sanctified sons, all belonging to the same father and mother. ^ Seven or eight holy sisters are even enumerated in this same family. 3 Ac- cording to some ancient chronicles,"* no less than twenty-four daughters, and all classed among the beatified, were the happy issue of this marriage. ^ This latter account seems ratified by the learned antiquary, Camden f but it is
probable some numerical exaggeration crept into the pages of earlier chroniclers.
xi. , p. 3. This is partly collected from the " Acts of St. Endeus," who lived at the time when she flourished, as also from ac- counts of St. Kieran of Clonmacnoise, of St. Columba, and of many other saints who lived about the middle of the sixth century. It is thought, too, that she died before St. Monnenia, who, according to our Annals, departed A. D. 515. See ibid. n. 23, p. 4. Such an inference is to be
grave, and in the "Martyrologyof Salsbury," at the 8th of October, it is said, that the father of this saint had twelve holy sons and as many holy daughters.
3 According to some writers, twenty-four children of the same parents are classed among
supposed
drawn from this virgin's published acts.
Sections ix. and xi.
Art. II. —Chap. i. —' See the elegantly
illustrated and learned
"
History of Wales,"
by B. B.
"~^ Rossory Cemetery. Looking southwards.
''^'^'^'^'^^^^rTJ^,
January l]
LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS.
" Know
Christ? " Thenrecognisingthevocaltonesoftheirchieftain,Endeus,among
you, my sisters,
this dreadful vociferation is not to pleasing
nity,
his some Divine followers, by
intimation,
Fanchea cried " He is a son out,
of Heaven's kingdom, whose voice is so particularly distinguished. " She knew her brother's heart, with all its defects, to be chivalrous and pure. 9
Wherefore, standing at the gate of her nunnery, Fanchea said to the chief, *' Do not near for thou art contaminated with the blood of a
approach us, man who is slain. " Endeus
" I am innocent of this murdered man's blood ; and, as yet, I am free not only from homicide but even from carnal
" O wretched
Lord to anger ? And why do you plunge your soul into the depths of sin
my
sister replied, that their father, whose sins were his o\vn, was then enduring punishment for them in another world.
sins. " The then virgin
said,
man, why
do the you provoke
various crimes ? " Endeus
" I hold the inheritance of
replied,
answered,
father, and therefore I am justified in fighting against my enemies. " His
by your
Endeus afterwards requested his sister to give him a certain noble maiden placed under her care for his wife. He promised in the future to follow those religious admonitions he had thus received. The holy virgin said she should soon give a response to his petition. Immediately going to the place where the aforesaid maiden Fanchea said to " A choice is now
lived, her,
given : dost thou desire to love the Spouse whom I love, or a carnal one ? "
girl replied,
her,
with cried horror,
out,
present sadly pale
and
Then Fanchea spoke to
" I will love Him whom love. " Fanchea said to you
The
" Come with me into this chamber that here you may rest a while. " The maiden complied, and placing herself upon a bed she soon expired. Her
pure soul fled to the guardianship of her chosen and heavenly Spouse. Having put a veil over the face of this deceased young lady, St. Fanchea returnedtoEndeus. Shethenconductedherbrothertothechamberofthe dead. Uncovering the departed maiden's features, Fanchea exclaimed, " Look now upon the face of her whom thou hast desired. " Endeus, struck
"Itis at
shall your features hereafter be," replied the virgin.
him regarding the pains of Hell, and dwelt also on the joys of Heaven, until the young man burst into tears. Having heard these discourses of his holy sister, despising the vanities of this Avorld, Endeus took the habit of a monk and received the tonsure. Thus he embraced the clerical profession,'" and became eventually one of the most distinguished among the saints of Ireland.
CHAPTER III.
ST. FANCHEA'S prayers confirm the resolves of her brother—A MIRACLE WROUGHT THROUGH HER—ST. ENDEUS FENCES HER NUNNERY—HE AFTERWARDS RETIRES TO KILL-AINE—ST. FANCHEA ONCE MORE DETERMINES HIS VOCATION.
The companions of Endeus, hearing about his conversion, endeavoured with some manifestations of violence to excite his feelings, and to with- draw their chieftain from a fulfilment of his purpose. It is said that St. Fanchea offered up her prayers, and she made the sign of the cross against this unjust attempt. The. clansmen's feet then became fastened to the
5 An account of this conver- '° See ' ' Acta Sanctorum Hi- interesting Colgan's
sion, with the causes leading to it, will be bernise," i Januarii. Vita S. Fancheoe, cap.
found in the "Irish Ecclesiastical Record," i. , ii. , iii. , iv. , p. i. Also Mrs. M. C. Fer- '*
vol. vii. , p. 28. It is contained in an ele- guson's story of The Irish before the
gantly-written paper, Aranmore of St. Enda.
" A Visit to the
Conquest," chap.
v.
p. 167.
"
ghastly. "
"Andso
freedom of motion.
Thus are we to under-
Hibernise," i Januarii, n. 13, p. 24. The Rev. Peter Loughran, C. C. of Clones, in a
stand,
but in another
— her
sense, binding
or
communication to the
dated author, April
LIVES OJP THE IRISH SAINTS.
[January i.
ground. On that spot they remained Hke so many immovable statues. A fine moral lesson is then envolved by the legend -writer. It seemed those men, who were so much attached to earthly pursuits should even in this
manner, although unwillingly, adhere to earth. As misfortune often pro- duces a better frame of mind, entering upon a consideration of their
state, the culprits promised to do penance when released from bondage. Thus, what the Lord said to the Apostles when he sent them to preach, " Whatsoever you shall bind upon earth, shall be bound also in heaven, and whatsoever you shall loose upon earth, shall be loosed also in heaven,"' seemed to have been fulfilled in the person of this apostolic virgin. ^ Here- upon the newly-converted chief began to fulfil by works what he had con- ceived in mind.
With his own hands Endeus commenced digging earth around the nun- nery. This habitation he fenced in with deep trenches. 3 He rooted up thistles and other noxious weeds likewise, and with all the care of an expe- riencedhusbandman. '* Havingbestowedthenecessaryamountoflabouron this nunnery, the servant of Christ went to a place afterwards called Kill- aine,5nowknownasKillany,inthecountyofLouth. Thereheintendedto foundahouseforareligiouscongregationofmen. ^ Herealsohebecame oeconomus, or steward, over artificers who were engaged upon his buildings, and he furnished the workmen with all necessary supplies. 7 From the con- text of his acts it would seem that a nunnery for Fanchea, or a branch estab- lishmentforherreligious,wasestablishedhere; anditappearsevenprobable that the holy sister of Endeus resided at Kill-aine for some considerable time previous to her death.
We are told, while he lived at Kill-aine,^ certain robbers, enemies to
Chap. hi. —' Matt, xviii. , i8.
"'' Such a relation is found in the Acts
of St. Endeus. " In a note Colgan remarks
the author of this saint's hfe does not mean
that the holy virgin had a power of binding
or loosing, by giving absolution in foro con-
scientia, as it is called by theologians. This power of the keys was conferred on the Apostles, and on their ^co-labourers in the ministry. But having immediately before spoken of a miracle performed by St. Fan- chea, whereby she bound to earth, so that they could not move, those who wished to draw her brother back to worldly pursuits, and afterwards, on their repentance, a power being granted her of releasing their limbs to
in a great measure to the agricultural skill
and industry of former possessors.
5 This place is said to have been situated
near the mountain, Bregh, within the terri-
tory of Meath. Colgan adds, perchance Kill-aine is corruptly read for Kill-Fainche,
or, as commonly pronounced, Kill-Ainche. The f after //, or almost any other conso- nant, is not pronounced by the Irish in the beginning of a word, or even in the middle, when that word is a compound one.
loosing the men detained. See "Acta Sanc-
torum Hibemiae," i Januarii, n. 12, p. 4.
3 As we often find in the old acts of Irish saints, the record is corroborated by existing antique remains ; and this earthwork of St.
17th, 1873, rightly connects Kill-Aine with
the present parish of Killany, partly in the county of Louth and partly in that of Mo-
naghan. It also lay within the patrimonial inheritance of St. Endeus.
7 See " Acta Sanctorum Hiber- Colgan's
nise," I Januarii. Vita St. Fanchese,
Endeus is
to be
seen,
but in a ruined
yet state, at Rossory.
* The present is one of many incidents
recorded in the acts of our Irish saints re- This
garding that care bestowed on fencing and cultivating the soil by our ancient ascetics.
It has been a subject for general remark, that in nearly all cases the glebe or monas- tery lands of Ireland have been of a supe- rior quality ; even yet they—are characterized
by unusual productiveness
a result
owing
^
Colgan was unable to pronounce whe-
ther or not that place is different from
Teaghaine. This was a place of sepulture
for seven bishops. See " Acta Sanctonun
cap. v. , pp. I, 2.
^
wards related, appears to be identical with the present parish of Killany, situated partly in the barony of Ardee, county of Louth, and partly in the barony of Famey, county of Monaghan. See "Lewis' Topogra- phical Dictionary of Ireland," vol. ii. , p. 125.
place,
from the circumstance after-
January i. ]
LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS.
Endeus and his country-people, from a district called Crimthann,9 passed
with their booty near the monastery. Pursuing these robbers, the clansmen
of Endeus had there overtaken them. When about to attack the spoilers at
this place, feeling an irresistible desire to succour his friends, their former
chieftain seized one of those wooden poles which were used in building his
monastery.
^°
That Endeus intended to employ as a weapon. But St.
Fanchea then said to her " O brother,
Endeus, place your hand upon your head, and recollect you have taken the crown of Christ. " On obeying this
command Endeus immediately felt he had assumed the clerical tonsure. Withdrawing his hand the holy monk remained in his cell," and at peace with all mankind. He who once puts his hand to the plough and aftenvards looks behind is not fit for God's kingdom.
CHAPTER IV.
ADOPTING ST. FANCHEA'S ADVICE, ENDEUS FIRST GOES TO WALES, AND AFTERWARDS HE VISITS ROME—HE ERECTS A MONASTERY—ST. FANCHEA LEARNS THE PLACE OF HIS RETREAT FROM SOME ROMAN PILGRIMS—WITH SOME OF HER RELIGIOUS, SHE RESOLVES TO PAY HIM A VISIT—THEY SAIL OVER TO BRITAIN.
The virgin Fanchea afterwards counselled her brother to leave his native
country and kindred, lest perchance he might again be tempted by any worldly considerations to forsake that path in which he trod. She wished him to visit Britain, and to enter Rosnat Monastery,^ that he might become an humble disciple of Mansenus,^ who presided over that house. Having listened attentively to her advice, Endeus asked how long he should remain there, when Fanchea told him to continue until she should have received a
3 Colgan says this was a territory on the borders of Meath and Louth, little noticed
width. The north and south side walls were nearly levelled with the ground. Bu- rials take place in the adjoining cemetery,
in his time, although formerly celebrated in
the Irish Annals. It was called after a within —the demesne belonging to Dunany chieftain named Creamhthann. It was con- House. "T. O'Conor's Letters for County sidered as being included in the barony of Louth. " "I. O. S. Letters," vol. i. , pp.
Slane. See Dr. O'Donovan's "
"
Leabhar na — 13s, 136, 145.
"
Chap. iv. 'This was Monasterium
g-Ceart,"or Book of Rights," n. f. p. 152
^° "
About four miles to the west of Louth
village, on the townland and in the parish
of Killanny, are the ruins of a religious establishment called by the people niAinifci-(\ t\\\j eAriAi'o or Killanny Monastery. The entire length of the church was about twenty-nine yards by about twelve yards and two feet in breadth. A rude draw- ing is given by T. O'Conor, with a minute admeasurement and description of
Vallis Rosinae in Wales, as well on ac- count of the nominal affinity as —for a reason that St. Manchen, an Irishman
A
yard surrounds the church. In the same nus, or, more properly, Manchenus and
townland isamoat called ITlocA t\\X GAnAit). Manchanus should be read. First, because " Ordnance Survey Letters for County the name Mansenus is not to be found men-
its as parts
they
stood in
1836.
grave-
^ Instead of this name Maca- Mancenus,
Louth," vol. i. , pp. 250 to 254.
" In the townland and parish of Dunany,
county of Louth, are the ruins of an old church, called in Irish CeAtnpulL "oun -AriA. It was probably named after St. Endeus. The ruins are seventeen yards long by about sixteen feet and a half foot in width. The western gable, quite perfect in 1836, was covered with ivy. In the southern part of the east gable was a pointed window-place, four feet high by one foot in
tioned by any other writer ; and secondly, because in that region of Britain called Demetia, which lies opposite to Ireland, a
certain monastery was built by St. Manchan, as stated in the previous note. This might have been called Rosnacum, because it was situated in the valley of Rosina, although afterwards resuming the name of its founder. As regards Manchen, Colgan supposes him to have been the master and countryman of St. Endeus.
—who here seemstobecalledSt. Mansenus wasabbot over the Monastery of Rosina or Rosnat. In the "Life of St. David, Archbishop of Menavia," written by Capgrave, we read
that St. Manchen erected a monastery in ''
this part of the country. See Nova Le-
genda Angliae," cap. i.
sion. ""
LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. [January i.
good report regarding the manner in which his time had been spent. Wishing to fulfil his sister's desire, St. Endeus passed over the sea, and came
to the aforesaid monastery. There he remained under the discipline of its
abbot,Mansenus. Whenhehadmadesufficientprogressinlearningandin
the science of a religious life, he took another sea-voyage on his way to Rome.
3
Here Endeus disposed himself for the reception of Holy Orders. After a
diligent study of examples left by the saints, it pleased Almighty God to
invest him with the priestly dignity. Carefully considering the duties of his new profession, he deemed it incumbent to show others the way towards
heaven. Therefore, having collected some disciples, he erected a monas- tery. This was called Latinum ;+ but the place where it was situated appears to baffle further enquiry. s
After some time had elapsed, certain pilgrims came from Rome to Ire- land, where they visited St. Fanchea's cell. The virgin held some conference
withthem. Amongotherreligiousacquaintancesthosestrangersmentioned the name of Endeus, who was a native of Ireland, and whose reputation for sanctity had been much extolled by all who knew him. They told her where the monastery over which he presided stood. ^ On hearing this account St. Fanchea knew St. Endeus was her brother. She then resolved to pay him a visit, in company with three other virgins. The abbess ordered these to take none of their effects along with them ; but one of her compa- nions disobeyed this mandate and brought a brazen vessel, which she con- ceived would be of use in washing their hands during this journey. A strange and incredible legend is then related to account for the detection and reproof of such disobedience. A prosperous voyage is said to have conducted those adventurous females to the wished for port in Britain. Further they journeyed, perhaps, but our accounts fail us in reference to this matter.
3 In this instance, as in many other pas- sages found in the lives of our Irish saints, we are led to observe a frequent intercourse between the Holy City and Ireland, dating back even to the earliest ages of our Chris- tianity. Hence we may well consider the relations existing between the Holy See and our early Irish Church were always of a most intimate nature in all matters connected
with the Catholic religion and Catholic Church government, notwithstanding the
futile efforts of modem duplicity, ignorance,
or fanaticism to establish a contrary impres-
and it was called " Monasterium Lastiense. " But as Mireus, in his Chronicon Benedic-
tinum, and others, state this monastery had been founded by Count Wilbert A. D. 751, it cannot be said that Endeus built it. His monastery of Latinum must have been erectedbeforeA. D. 500. Itmightbeurged, however, that a more modem Benedictine monastery had been built on the ruins or site of that erected by Endeus.
^ As Endeus was ordained at Rome, and had collected some disciples, who were Italians, or from Latium, the ancient name for Italy, his establishment might have been afterwards called the Monastery of the La-
^ The Life of St. Endeus adds, that it
was appositely called " Latinum Monaste- tins, or people of Latium. No doubt, it
rium," as there the mandate of love towards God and towards our neighbour was exactly observed. Yet it is difficult to discover an affinity between such a monastic name and the precept of charity. Colgan conjectures that Laetinum would have been a better reading, as spiritual joy is the companion of exalted love.
had some other local name which it is diffi-
cult, if not impossible, now to discover, as we are unacquainted with any document that could throw further light on this ques- tion. Itisnotprobablethatthosedisciples, collected in a foreign country, could have been natives of Ireland, especially in that early age. It is also quite probable that
5 Colgan says he did not think that any most of them, if not all, were Latins, monastery called Latinmn existed in his They might have settled in Rome, in Italy, time. It was not likely that Latiniacum, in France, or in some place outside their which was built by St. Fursey in Gaul, own country. As their Irish superior and about the year 640, could have been the
same as Latinum. There is a place called Lsetitia, on the river Helpra, in Hannonia. There was a house of Benedictine Fathers,
his community spoke the Latin language and observed the Latin customs, hence their house was probably called "the Latin Mo- nastery"bypeople of the surrounding country.
January i. ]
LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS.
CHAPTER V.
ST. ENDEUS HAS A PRETERNATURAL KNOWLEDGE OF ST. FANCHEA's APPROACH—THEIR INTERVIEW—RECEIVING HER BROTHER'S BENEDICTION, THE HOLY VIRGIN RETURNS TO IRELAND—HER DEATH—CONTENTION AMONG THE PEOPLE OF MEATH AND LEINSTER FOR THE POSSESSION OF HER REMAINS—SUPPOSED BURIAL AT KILL-AINE —CONCLUSION.
The Almighty, who reveals wonderful secrets to his friends, was
pleased to enlighten Endeus regarding the approaching visit of those religious females from Ireland. His brethren were directed to prepare all things necessary for their expected arrival. While the monks were thus
engaged, the holy virgins appeared at their monastery gate. St. Fanchea preferredarequesttosee—herbrother; butshewastoldshemighthaveher choice of two alternatives either to receive his greetings without seeing him, ortoseehimwithoutreceivinghissalutations. Thevirginsaidshepreferred the choice of conversation without the permission of seeing him, thus con- ceiving she should derive more advantage from her visit. Endeus then had a tent erected in the grounds of his monastery. Being veiled from her sight, the abbot entered into conversation with his sister. Fanchea advised that as God had gifted him with talents, he ought to exercise these among the people of his native land, and thus enhance doubly their value.
" When a
hope the Almighty may permit me to follow you. "
the entrance to Galway Bay,3 and out in the Atlantic Ocean. *
Having thus advised her brother, she received his benediction, and after-
wards she appears to have passed over into Ireland with her virgins. Under
the guidance of angels, they escaped all sea dangers, and landed safely in
their native country. It would appear, however, St. Fanchea did not long
survive her arrival in Ireland. As a further favour, she obtained from heaven
that her soul might be permitted to escape from the prison of the body.
She wished it to ascend with the celestial attendants of her voyage to that
replied,
year
your
Fanchea then said to her
brother,
you
your nativity
" When
shall have after elapsed
return to I Ireland,
come to Ireland do not enter the land of
at first, but rather seek out a certain island called Aran,'' which is situated off the Irish western coast. =^ The interesting group of Aran islands lies at
where " follow the lamb whithersoever he From
kingdom,
Chap. v. —' This island is more properly
designated ^ra, /. ^. , ren ; for, in the nomi- native case it is called Ara, in the genitive
mars, the proper name -A]aa, Aran, in the » nominative makes A-^&xk in the genitive, and ^]\<xin in the dative. According to the
forms of the fifth declension of Irish nouns, A\^ is classed among nouns of this latter declension by the Very Rev. Canon Ulick
goeth. "s
virgins
and in the dative Arann. This
the extremities,
3 in "Transactions of the Royal Irish
Academy," vol. xv. , pp. 19 to 140, there is
a most valuable " A Sketch paper intituled,
of the History and Antiquities of the South- em Islands of Aran, lying off the West Coast of Ireland ; with Observations on the Religion of the Celtic Nations, Pagan Monuments, of the early Irish, Druidic Rites, &c. ," by John T. O'Flaherty, A. B. This interesting paper was read at a meet- ing of the Royal Irish Academy, held on the 26th of January, 1824.
They are included within the boundaries
of the Connaught province, and they lie within the limits of Tuam archdiocese. Formerly they were inhabited by a number of holy persons, while remains of ecclesias- tical buildings and monuments furnish suffi- cient evidence of their former importance in a religious point of view,
s Apocalypse, xiv. 4.
Arainn,
form of declension, however, is somewhat incorrect ; for according to the number and order of declensions adopted by Dr. O'Do- novan and by Very Rev. Canon Ulick J. Bourke in their respective Irish gram-
Bourke in his " Irish Grammar. " College
J.
See chap, ii. , section 6, p. 38.
^
The writer of St. Endeus' Acts then tells us, that Aran island in Latin is so called because it bears some resemblance in shape to the kidney of an animal. In the middle this diminishes, while it is greater at
Hereupon Endeus
10 LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS.
[January i.
the obscurity of that narrative, contained in St. Endeus' Hfe, it is not possible to discover whether our saint hved to reach her native shore, or whether she died during her last sea voyage. Her religious sisters greatly lamented her decease.
A contention arose between people belonging to the provinces of Meath and Leinster for possession of this holy virgin's body. What claim the Lein- ster people had to her remains does not appear, unless her death took place among them. This quarrel was appeased in a miraculous manner. Fan- chea's remains seemed to rest on a vehicle borne by two oxen. These animals are said to have preceded the people of Leinster, bearing the sup- posed body of this holy virgin towards a cell, which was called Barrigh,^ in Magh-Lifife. There the Leinster people deposited what they had conceived to be St. Fanchea's body ^ but the people of Meath in like manner saw oxen preceding them and bearing the real body of St. Fanchea, while the companions of her voyage were present at this funeral procession. Having arrived at the nunnery, commonly called Kill-aine,^ the remains of our holy virgin were there deposited to await the day of final resurrection. This most pure virgin, the spouse of her Heavenly Bridegroom, is thought to have departed to her long-desired and beatific rest on the feast of our Lord's Circumcision,^ This day her natalis is kept, according to our Irish Martyrologies. It seems probable, however, that her feast had been more solemnly observed on a different day. Some held this opinion for various reasons. ^° St. Fanchea lived in the fifth and died," it is thought, about the commencement of the
^ in his time this had Colgan says place
been called Baile Bairrigh. It was situated on the banks of the river Liffey, in the county and diocese of Kildare. But he would not decide whether the place took its name from St. Barr, an Irish bishop, whose feast is observed on the 25th of September, or from a St. Barruch, hermit, whose feast has been assigned to the 29th of November in the English Martyrology. See "Acta Sanctorum Hibernise," I Januarii, n. 22, p. 24.
7 A miracle similar to the present is re-
"
Vita S. Patricii," cap. 195, as also in St. Abban's life, which will be found at the 27th October. Many simi- lar contentions about possessing the remains of holy persons are related in various Acts
of our saints.
^ In the Acts of St. Endeus we read
that he founded this monastery while yet a
neophyte, or but lately strengthened in the faith. He commenced to build it for his sister's accommodation.
—because a Eoghnacht-Chaisell. Thirdly
feast of St. Carecha, at the 9th of March, is thought to have been identical with St. Fanchea's. The admonition, which had been given by St. Fanchea to St. Endeus, as found in Acts of the latter, is related by St. ^ngus, at the 21st of March, to have been offered by the same Endeus to his sis- ter, St. Carecha. Wherefore it would ap- pear that no distinct person is intended to have been meant under these different names. The first of the foregoing rea- sons, however, is one which bears most weight in support of an opinion advanced in the text. The second is by no means con- clusive, for St. Fanchea, who is venerated in Munster on the 21st of January, differs from Conall's daughter. This latter is not said to have had any connexion with Mun- ster in what can be learned regarding her ; while the parentage and country of both Fancheas appear to have been quite different.
"
corded in Jocelin's
Menologic Gene- there were four other holy virgins in Ireland bearing the name of Fanchea, be- sides our saint. Nor has the third reason had been observed in the parish church of much weight ; for it is easy to fall into an
9 The Martyrologies of Tallagh and Ma- rianus O'Gorman state that on the ist of
Again, according to the "
January, the natal day of this holy virgin Ross-airther, near Lough Erne, in the dio-
cese of — Clogher.
error in describing the actions of two sisters,
and to one an act
by attributing which, per-
haps,
saints, whose names, places, and festivals indicate that they were altogether different persons, may have been confounded for
'° First
val of the Circumcision, which falls on the 1st of January, a minor festival of this holy virgin could not supersede the f—ormer feast
had reference to the other. Two
on account of that
greater
festi-
held on her natalis. Secondly
tyrologies of Tallagh and Marianus O'Gor- man assign a natalis on the 21st of January to St. Fanchea at the Church of Cluain- Chaoin, within that district of Munster called
So Colgan. See his " Acta Sanctorum Hiber-
niae," i Januarii, n. 25, p. 4.
" See Colgan's "Acta Sanctorum Hiber-
nise," I Januarii. Vita St. Fanchese, cap.
the Mar-
want of sufficient examination.
says
alogy
January I. ]
LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. ii
sixth century. Long ago has this noble virgin, drawing life from the foun- tain of Divine love while on earth, passed away from its unrealities to peren- nial enjoyment with the blessed in heaven.
ARTICLE II. —ST. BEOC, BEOG, MOBHEOC, BEANUS, DABEOC, OR DAB- HEOC, ABBOT AT LOUGH DERG, TEMPLECARN PARISH, COUNTY
OF DONEGAL.
\FIFTH OR SIXTH CENTURY. } CHAPTER I.
INTRODUCTION—PARENTAGE AND BIRTH OF THIS SAINT IN WALES—HIS FAMILY AND RELATIONSHIP—PERIOD WHEN HE FLOURISHED.
Ireland has ever been remarkable for the hospitality and welcome accorded to strangers. She receives and regards as her own those coming from other
nations, in a kindly and sympathetic spirit. This is more especially the case,
when, as ministers of the Gospel, missionaries arrive with the glad tidings of
salvation. In early times the family circles of our island were distinguished
for holiness, and, in like manner, what seems very notable, the ecclesias-
tical history of the Kymry, or Welsh, presents a similar peculiarity of
sanctity prevailing in certain houses for many generations, and running through various branches of kindred. The habit of tracing and preserving
pedigrees, as among the Irish, is characteristic of their clannish dispositions. A modem historian of Wales tells us that the saints of greatest renown, as heads of monasteries or choirs, were really teachers, while the brethren under them were really learners of such wisdom as their masters had to impart. "^
We are informed that Dabeoc is the same as Mobheoc of Glenn Geirg, who is commemorated on the 24th of July. It is probable Da and Mo are toberegardedasaffixestotheoriginalname,BeocorBheoc. Thissaintwas descended from a very noble or regal line. He appears to have been the junior of ten sanctified sons, all belonging to the same father and mother. ^ Seven or eight holy sisters are even enumerated in this same family. 3 Ac- cording to some ancient chronicles,"* no less than twenty-four daughters, and all classed among the beatified, were the happy issue of this marriage. ^ This latter account seems ratified by the learned antiquary, Camden f but it is
probable some numerical exaggeration crept into the pages of earlier chroniclers.
xi. , p. 3. This is partly collected from the " Acts of St. Endeus," who lived at the time when she flourished, as also from ac- counts of St. Kieran of Clonmacnoise, of St. Columba, and of many other saints who lived about the middle of the sixth century. It is thought, too, that she died before St. Monnenia, who, according to our Annals, departed A. D. 515. See ibid. n. 23, p. 4. Such an inference is to be
grave, and in the "Martyrologyof Salsbury," at the 8th of October, it is said, that the father of this saint had twelve holy sons and as many holy daughters.
3 According to some writers, twenty-four children of the same parents are classed among
supposed
drawn from this virgin's published acts.
Sections ix. and xi.
Art. II. —Chap. i. —' See the elegantly
illustrated and learned
"
History of Wales,"
by B. B.
