It has been supposed probable, that he
departed
to our Lord, about a.
O'Hanlon - Lives of the Irish Saints - v7
1 199, pp.
459, 460.
7 See Samuel Lewis' "Topographical
Dictionary of England," vol. ii. , p. 632.
8 See Le Comte de Montalembert's " Les
Moines de l'Occident," tome ii. , liv. vii. , chap, iv. , p. 316.
9 From 22,855 in 1851, the population increased to 57,155 in i860. See "The
Gazetteer of the World," vol. vii. , p. 381. 10 This is a very small island, only inha- bited by a few individuals. See Samuel
" See Mabillon's " Annales Ordinis S. Benedicti," tomus i. , lib. vi. , sect, xx. , p. 151.
Doleat Dolensis, et gaudeat Turonen-
" I2
6 See Les Petits
Saints," tome ix. , xxviiie Jour de Juillet, p. 89.
Bollandistes,
" Vies des
See "Acta Sanctorum," tomus vi. , Julii xxviii. De S. Samsone Episcopo Conf. Dobe in Britannia Armorica. Vita S. Samsonis, lib. ii. , num. 13, p. 590.
13 Such casual in the Acts of descriptions
saints furnish a correct notion of what had been the custom in building early monas- teries. We are to infer, most probably, that the dwellings of St. Samson's monks had been formed around a square plot ofground which was in the centre.
M See Albert le Grand, p. 423.
"i In the Legend it is called "magnum
nemus. "
l6 "
It bore the name Arboretum Teleavi
et Samsonis. " See La Broderie's " Dis- cours sur les Saints Bretons," p. 39.
426 LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. [July 28.
according to popular tradition, it was three miles in extent. To these saints,
the people of Amorica are mainly indebted for introducing the apple-tree into 1
a district, where cider is yet the national beverage. ?
The chief of St. Samson were St. 18 his deacon and disciples Magloire,
1
successor at Dol, St. Similien, ^ Abbot over the monastery of Taurac, St.
Ethbin 20 and St. Guenole the 21 both Younger,
religious
of the same
monastery
at Taurac, the famous St. Me'en," founder of Gael monastery ; besides, in
Greater and Lesser Britain, there were many others, who spread everywhere
the name and glory of this holy man. Among these may be included
his own father, and his mother, his uncle and his aunt, his brothers and his
2 cousins. 3
Some accounts state, that Queen Ultrogotha was a faithful coadjutrice of the monks. With her husband's assistance, at the gates of Paris, she founded a great monastery, afterwards known as St. Germain-des-Pre's. The Bishop of Paris, St. Germain,2* and the king, agreed that it should be given for a religious institute of men. This new monastery was exempt from episcopal jurisdiction. One day, according to a Breton legend, our saint and the Bishop of Paris talked over the affairs of their respective monasteries. St. Samson said his monks were such good economists, and so careful of their beehives, that they had an abundance of honey and of-wax. At the same time, he complained, that their country was not suited for vines, and con- sequently, they experienced a dearth of wine. St. Germain then replied, that vineyards abounded near Paris, and that, while wanting waxlights for the Church services, they had more wine than sufficient for monastic uses. It was agreed, that Dol should furnish yearly wax, to light the church at Paris ; while the tenth part of wine, produced from the monastery vineyards there, should be returned as an equivalent. During the lifetime of both saints, this mutual accommodation continued. 25
The zeal of St. Samson caused him to visit Paris, and to take part in the deliberations of many holy Archbishops and Bishops, who assembled for the purpose of holding a National Council. The king had invited him to lodge in an apartment prepared for his reception, in the royal palace ; but, such was our saint's humility, that he preferred to remain in the monastery of St. Vincent,builtbySt. Germain. Atthistime,hewasadvancedinyears,and hetravelledinachariot. Whilepassingthroughaplace,calledBeauce,one of the wheels broke, and there was neither wheel-wright, nor tradesman, nor wood, to set it in order. Those who were present felt alarmed at that accident ; but, according to Samson's usual custom, making the sign of the cross, the wheel was mended, so that he was able to proceed on his way. Being informed regarding such a miraculous occurrence, King Childebert desired he should build a monastery at that very spot. Accordingly, Samson called a house there erected Rotmou, and it became a dependency to the Abbey of
17 See Le Comte de Montalembert's
34 See Albert le Grand, p. 422.
2S from about A. D. St. Germain flourished
490 to the period of his death, which took
this Third Council
"Les Moines de l'Occident," tome
livre viii. , chap, iii. , pp. 433, 434.
18 Venerated on the ber.
ii. ,
Octo- *• His feast occurs, at the 16th of June.
on the 28th of a. d. He had May, 576.
of
His festival is held on the 19th of October,
31 He is honoured with a feast, at the 3rd of March.
22 He is venerated on the 21st of June.
20
83 See Les Petits
Saints," tome ix. , xxviii JJour de Juillet, p. 90.
Bollandistes, e
"
en 557. " He also enumerates, amongst
24th
place
the principal share in drafting trie Canons of the Third Council of Paris, in 557. By his advice,KingChildibert issued an edict, direct- ing all idols to be destroyed throughout his dominions, while it forbid all indecent dances and diversions on Sundays and Holy* days.
" Vies des
a6 to According Fleury,
of Paris had been held
comme
Ton
croit,
July 28. ] LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. 427 Dol. Among the many bishops who were present, St. Samson's name is found
subscribed to decrees,
passed
in the Council of which was held a. d. a6 Paris, 55 7.
runs in this manner " Samson, signature : I,
27 The
a sinner, Bishop, have consented and subscribed. " A similar form has been
Others it at a. d. place
5S9.
adopted by most—but not by all—of the bishops who assisted. 28 On his return to Dol from the Council of Paris, Samson wrought several miracles along his route. Among others, he caused a snake to leave the body of a man, and it had entered there while he was sleeping. When Samson had arrived at the gates of Dol, he effected the recovery of two persons, who were in the agonies of death, which had been momently expected; he also delivered eight demoniacs, from their malady ; while a woman of quality, who had dared to enter his monastic enclosure contrary to the rule, having been
2 deprived of sight, he benignantly restored her again to the faculty of vision. ?
Samson, according to the most reliable accounts, spent the rest of his days in that monastery, which he founded at Dole. 3° This saint is said to have
1
detained Theliaus^ Bishop of LandafT, on his return to that See, at Dol, in
the year 596. 3' Hence, it would seem, that he lived to the close of the sixth, if not to the beginning of the seventh century. The same fervour, the same prayers, the same vigils, and the same austerities, that he had practised during his vigorous years, and before he had become a bishop, were persevered in
to his declining years. To reward his merits, the Almighty now permitted that malady to assail him, and which was destined to prelude the final triumph. When he found death approaching, the holy bishop called together his canons and religious ; while he declared, that the moment had come, when St. Magloire should prepare to succeed, and he recommended them to elect him. He then addressed those assembled in a pathetic and farewell monition, which drew tears from their eyes. Then, he received the last Sacraments of the Church, in a spirit of fervent emotion ; and, giving his benediction to all who were present, on the 28th of July, his soul passed away to everlasting happiness. 33
According to some accounts, having returned to his native country of Cambria, the holy man then and there became Archbishop of Menevia. 34 These statements, however, do not deserve the slighest credence. Some Welsh authorities tell us, that Samson travelled from Brittany to Wales, at the close of his life, and that he was buried at Lantwit ;35 while there is still in existence a remarkable monument, which lends an appearance of plausibi- lity to this tradition. It consists of the stone shaft belonging to a cross, nine feet in height, which was disinterred in the churchyard of Landwit,36 and has
on it this inscription in Latin " In the name of God Most High, here begins
:
the cross of the Saviour, which Samson the Abbot prepared for his own soul,
at it, "Saint Samson, 3I His festival is on the ot —" pre- held, 25th
others
mier eveque de Dol, en Bretagne. " His- November.
assisting
toire Ecclesiastique," liv. xxxiii. , sect, lviii. , p. 473.
27 See Colgan's "Acta Sanctorum Hiber-
nke," Martii ii. Vita S. Jaovse, Episcopi
See Labbe's and Crossart's Acta Con- ciliorum et Epistolae Decretales ac Constitu- tiones Summorum Pontificum," tomus iii. , col. 340.
32 "
See Ussher's Britannicarum Ecclesia-
rum Antiquitates," Index Chronologicus, p. 534.
33 See Les Petits Bollandistes, " Vies des Saints," tome ix. , xxviiie Jour de Juillet. p. 90.
& See Giraldi Cambrensis, "Opera," vol. vi. Edited by James F. Dimock, M. A.
"
Itinerarium Kambrise," lib. ii. , cap. i. , p. 102.
Leonensis, n. 10, p. 443.
28 "
2» See Les Petits Bollandistes, t Vies des
e 3S "
Saints," tome ix. , xxviii Jour de Juillet, p. 89.
30 So ends his history, as given in the oldest Life, and in the Liber Landavensis.
Achau Saint ynys Prydain. — Iolo MSS. ," p. 105. The Book of Llandaff, how- ever, represents him as closing his life in his monastery at Dole.
428 LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. [J uly 28.
andthesoulofKingJuthael,andofArtmaltheDean. "37 Thefirstofthese names is thought to have been that of St. Samson, who was Bishop of Dole in Brittany, in the sixth century, and also Abbot of Lantwith ; the next corresponding with that of Juthael, King of Brittany; but, the last name, Artmal, cannot be identified with any historic personage ; however, it is thoughtpossiblehemayhavebeenofDole. Ifthisinterpretationbecorrect,it seems to support a tradition, that our saint returned to Wales, and there ended his life. However, another opinion has been advanced,38 that the foregoing are all the names of Welshmen ;39 and, according to this supposition, that cross might have been erected by St. Samson, while he was a monk at Lantwith. Besides, none of the Lives which are extant have any allusion to St. Samson's return to Wales, and they all mention, that he died at Dole, in a good old age. The earliest of St. Samson's biographers tells us, that being perfect in life and in age, as also with all good qualities fully and completely adorned, he finished a holy course, in the hope of resurrection to eternal life, while full of bliss, his happy soul went to Christ.
He was interred in his own monastery at Dole, according to his most ancient biographer/ At the time of his death, the monastic brothers heard the music and hymns of angelic choirs. Three holy prelates assisted at his
2
1
these were St. Brieuc,* who has
name to his
and bishopric, St. Gurval,* bishop of St. Malo, and St. Ruelm,** bishop of Tre"guier. At the moment of his interment, an extraordinary brightness
funeral obsequies
;
given
city
illuminated his tomb, and the angels themselves appeared assisting at his obsequies. The emblematic forms of art have represented St. Samson, some- times with a dove floating over his head ; sometimes as chasing a dragon beforehim 4 andsometimeswithacrossnearhim. ts
;<
Authors are not agreed, regarding the year of St. Samson's happy death.
However, it is generally assigned to some date after the middle of the sixth
century.
It has been supposed probable, that he departed to our Lord, about a. d. 560. 46 At the year 563, Father John Mabillon records the death of St. Samson. 4? TheRev. AlbanButlerhashisdemise,onthe28thofJuly,a. d.
s To a. d. Les Petits Bollandistes,* refer his Neither 565, departure.
5 64. 4
has it been determined how many years he—lived. Some writers attribute to
ndred or the still more him the unusual number of one hu—
extraordinary
durationofonehundredandtwenty years.
At Dol, his episcopal cross was for a long time preserved. 50 Acurious
tradition is related, that this religious and valued object of art was covered
36 In the year 1789.
37 A full account of this monumental stone
44 See Les Petits Bollandistes, " Vies des Saints," tome ix. , xxviiie Jour de Juillet, p. 90.
4S See Very Rev. Dr. F. C. Husenbeth's "Emblems of Saints," p, 186. Norwich, 1882, 8vo.
46 See Bishop Challenor's "Britannia
"
the Ancient British Poems," and in a note to
the " Iolo MSS. ," p. 263.
33 By the Rev. T. Price of Carnhua-
nawe.
39 According to a learned Welsh writer,
Taliesin Williams.
40 See the Bollandists' "Acta Sancto-
mm," tomus vi. , Julii xxviii. De S. Sam- sone Episcopo Conf. Doloe in Britannia Armorica. Vita S. Samsonis Episcopi, cap. vi. , num. 61, p. 587.
41 His festival is held on the 1st of May. For an account of him, see the Fifth Volume of the present work, at that date, Art. ii.
42 His feast occurs, on the 6th of June.
43 At the 28th of February, his commemo- ration is celebrated.
may be found, in Turner's
Vindication of
Sancta," part ii. , p. 44. "
47 See Annales Ordinis S. Benedicti,"
tomus i. , lib. vi. , num. xx. ,
48 The " Circle of the Seasons," also
places his death, at a. d. 564. See p. 210. 49 See " Vies des Saints," tome ix. ,
xxviii Jour de Juillet, p. 90.
s° This he caused to be carried before him
by one of his brethren. . In later times, it was encased in silver arid gold. It was also adorned with precious gems, and it was
jealously guarded by the faithful. See Right
"
Rev. Patrick F. Moran's Early Irish
p. 151.
July 28. ] LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. 429
with gold, silver, and precious stones \ but, it tempted the cupidity of a dis- honest and sacrilegious man, who stole it. Afterwards, he was miraculously punished, by a sudden death, while those valuables, which he had taken from the cross, were recovered. 51 Many differences of opinion have been venti- lated by various writers, to account for its removal from Dol, and for the sub- sequentdispersionofSt. Samson'srelics. Somecenturiesafterhisdeath,the Christians of Dol were alarmed by the approach of enemies. Thence, on occasion of the Norman Invasions, the relics of St. Samson were translated to Paris, together with those of his kinsmen, St. Magloire and St. Maclou. This
happened during the reign of King Lothaire. Owing to the pious care of Salvator, Bishop, over the ancient See of Aleth, the precious remains were
removed. However,thechurchatDolpossessedathigh-bone,atibia,and some other fragments of the vertebrae and bones of its holy patron. The
diocesan Bishop, Charles d'Epinal, inspected these sacred relics, and had them transferred to a new shrine, on the 24th of December, 1579. At the
period of the French Revolution, this beautiful reliquary had been placed besidethehighaltarofthecathedral; but,nowitdoesnotexist,owingto
the irreligious spirit then paramount. It is said, likewise, that Maynon, Bishop of Dol, in the year 878, had the relics of our saint transferred to Orleans, fearing that the Normans should desecrate the church in Brittany, where they had been preserved. Then, those sacred relics were deposited in that church belonging to the monastery of St. Symphorian, afterwards called St. Samson. s2 With regard to the relics carried to Paris; some of these were distributed in favour of the church of St. Bartholomew, while some part of the remains were sent to a church, dedicated to St. Samson, at Orleans. These relics were hidden from the Huguenots, when they became masters of that city. 53 The Jesuits had possession of St. Samson's church, to the time of their dispersion. 5* Again, it has been stated, that the relics of St. Samson had been transferred from Lesser to Greater Britain in 934. 5S Moreover, it has been asserted, that a certain English Camaldulensian monk, named Ger- manus, brought the three bodies of the holy Bishops Magloire, Paschasius and Samson to Italy, in the time of King Henry VIII. , but this account is not substantiated nor credible. A great portion of St. Samson's bones, after an inquisition made, was found to be contained in his shrine, at Paris, when
onthe
value are wanting to authenticate such various statements as are current. 57
Missions," No. i. , p. 29.
s1 See the Bollandists' " Acta Sancto-
rum," tomus vi. , Julii xxviii. De S. Samsone Episcopo Conf. Dolse in Britannia Armorica, lib. ii. , num. 10, pp. 589, 590.
52 Such is the account given by Mabillon, and he adds, that the church in his time be- longed to the Jesuits. See the observations
"' prefixed to his Vita S. Samsonis.
53 At this time, the relics were so well concealed, that they have never since been discovered.
54 The relics of St. Samson, brought to Orleans, are supposed to have been buried somewhere in or about that church.
ss According to William of Malmesbury. 56 " Les ossements, conserves a Paris,
of
that
is to be made of more than one holy person named Samson, it seems difficult to reconcile those conflicting accounts, regarding the transfer of our saint's relics to so many different places, especially as early historic authorities of
opened
19th
January,
a. d.
1647. 5
admit,
question
6 Unlesswe
etaient, en dernier lieu, dans l'eglise de Saint-Magloire ; ils se trouvent maintenant dans celle de Saint-Jacques du Haut-Pas. " —Les Petits "Vies des
Saints," tome ix. , xxviiie Jour de Juillet, p. 90.
Bollandistes,
57 The Bollandist Father John Baptist
Soller fully discusses this matter in " Acta
Sanctorum," tomus vi. , Julii xxviii. De S. Samsone Confessore Epis. Dolae in Britannia Armorica. Appendix de S. Samsonis Reli- quiis earumque Translatione, pp. 591 to 593.
s» AWelshfamilynamedGriffin is said
to have settled here in the thirteenth cen-
tury.
59 " The parochial name and dedication
agree in indicating a Welsh occupant about
43° LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. [July 28.
Memorials of St. Samson still exist in Ireland. In the former parish of Ballygriffin, a church had been placed under the patronage of this Cambrian saint. The church may have been on the site of one still more ancient, and it was built near the manorial castle of s8—so called
probably from some Welsh settler and founder. ^ The church or district of St. Samson's church has been ab- sorbed in that of St. Doulough*»—a church of mediaeval construc- tion61—situated a few miles northwards from the city of Dublin. The
St. Doulough's Church, County of Dublin.
been engraved on the maps, we are led irresistibly to such a conclusion.
Inthesouthof thereisa Wexford,
Ballysamson,
6s witharuined but church,
this is now dedicated to St. Catharine.
the time of the English Invasion. " See Rev. Dr. Reeves' "Memoir of the Church of St. Duilech, in the Diocese of Dublin," pp. 5, 6. P'or further particulars, regarding this church
and parish of Ballygriffin, the reader is re- ferred to that valuable Memoir.
Its more ancient patron may have
for the County of Dublin," sheet 15.
62 The walls were razed, and the whole site
levelled, when the present Belgryffin House was erected, nearly a century and a-half ago, by the Doynes of Wells, in the county of Wexford.
63 The accompanying illustration of St. Doulough's church was drawn on the spot, by William F. Wakeman, and by him trans- ferred to the wood, engraved by Mrs. Millard.
64 See " Ordnance Survey Townland Maps
for the County of Dublin/ sheet 15. This
small parish contains only 1,052a. 2r. 2p.
6s It is in the parish of Tacumshin and This is a townland, within the parish of barony of Forth. It is shown on the
"
Ballygriffin, barony of Coolock, and marked Ordnance Survey Townland Maps for the
on the " Ordnance Survey Townland Maps County of Wexford," sheet 48.
60
There is a beautiful lithograph drawing
of this church, by J. D. Harding, from a
sketch by Robert O'Callaghan Newenham,
Esq. , as published in "The Picturesque
Scenery and Remarkable Antiquities of Ire-
land. " This work has been dedicated to
His Excellency Richard Marquis Wellesley,
Lord Lieutenant of Ireland.
61
Ballygriffin
old church of Balgriffin —the present name— lay between the very curious ancient struc- ture of St. Duilech 63
and Stapolin, in the county of Dublin. At
the left hand side, en- tering the avenue to
Balgriffin Park, some traces of St. Samson's ruined church 6* may yet be seen. It consisted of a nave and chancel ; together taken, about eighteen yards in length. Thechurchyardis under meadow; still a shadowy outline of its precincts is faintly discernible. Yet, both these objects seem to have escaped the no- tice of our Ordnance Surveystaff. Nothaving
62
July 28. ] LIVESOFTHEIRISHSAINTS. 431
beenSt. Samson,whosenameispreservedinthatofthetownland. Ona
high hill, in the vicinity of Downpatrick, there is a huge cromlech. An absurd legend prevails, that the Jewish Samson cast it there from the mountain of SlieveDonard. Therefore,itissaidtohavebeencalled"Samson'sStone. " It has been more reasonably conjectured, however, that its denomination may rather be referable to our present St. Samson, who spent a considerable term in Ireland. 66 Several memorials of this saint's connection with Corn- wall still exist in the county. There is a parish in the Hundred of Powder still called by his name, and it has been thus designated from at least the four- teenth 67 But, it is also called
Golant,
earliest name. When this sacred spot became the site of a parish church,
century.
the name of St. Samson had be—en given to it, as in former times he had
hall—
6
A church known anciently
owed the
?
7 See Samuel Lewis' "Topographical
Dictionary of England," vol. ii. , p. 632.
8 See Le Comte de Montalembert's " Les
Moines de l'Occident," tome ii. , liv. vii. , chap, iv. , p. 316.
9 From 22,855 in 1851, the population increased to 57,155 in i860. See "The
Gazetteer of the World," vol. vii. , p. 381. 10 This is a very small island, only inha- bited by a few individuals. See Samuel
" See Mabillon's " Annales Ordinis S. Benedicti," tomus i. , lib. vi. , sect, xx. , p. 151.
Doleat Dolensis, et gaudeat Turonen-
" I2
6 See Les Petits
Saints," tome ix. , xxviiie Jour de Juillet, p. 89.
Bollandistes,
" Vies des
See "Acta Sanctorum," tomus vi. , Julii xxviii. De S. Samsone Episcopo Conf. Dobe in Britannia Armorica. Vita S. Samsonis, lib. ii. , num. 13, p. 590.
13 Such casual in the Acts of descriptions
saints furnish a correct notion of what had been the custom in building early monas- teries. We are to infer, most probably, that the dwellings of St. Samson's monks had been formed around a square plot ofground which was in the centre.
M See Albert le Grand, p. 423.
"i In the Legend it is called "magnum
nemus. "
l6 "
It bore the name Arboretum Teleavi
et Samsonis. " See La Broderie's " Dis- cours sur les Saints Bretons," p. 39.
426 LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. [July 28.
according to popular tradition, it was three miles in extent. To these saints,
the people of Amorica are mainly indebted for introducing the apple-tree into 1
a district, where cider is yet the national beverage. ?
The chief of St. Samson were St. 18 his deacon and disciples Magloire,
1
successor at Dol, St. Similien, ^ Abbot over the monastery of Taurac, St.
Ethbin 20 and St. Guenole the 21 both Younger,
religious
of the same
monastery
at Taurac, the famous St. Me'en," founder of Gael monastery ; besides, in
Greater and Lesser Britain, there were many others, who spread everywhere
the name and glory of this holy man. Among these may be included
his own father, and his mother, his uncle and his aunt, his brothers and his
2 cousins. 3
Some accounts state, that Queen Ultrogotha was a faithful coadjutrice of the monks. With her husband's assistance, at the gates of Paris, she founded a great monastery, afterwards known as St. Germain-des-Pre's. The Bishop of Paris, St. Germain,2* and the king, agreed that it should be given for a religious institute of men. This new monastery was exempt from episcopal jurisdiction. One day, according to a Breton legend, our saint and the Bishop of Paris talked over the affairs of their respective monasteries. St. Samson said his monks were such good economists, and so careful of their beehives, that they had an abundance of honey and of-wax. At the same time, he complained, that their country was not suited for vines, and con- sequently, they experienced a dearth of wine. St. Germain then replied, that vineyards abounded near Paris, and that, while wanting waxlights for the Church services, they had more wine than sufficient for monastic uses. It was agreed, that Dol should furnish yearly wax, to light the church at Paris ; while the tenth part of wine, produced from the monastery vineyards there, should be returned as an equivalent. During the lifetime of both saints, this mutual accommodation continued. 25
The zeal of St. Samson caused him to visit Paris, and to take part in the deliberations of many holy Archbishops and Bishops, who assembled for the purpose of holding a National Council. The king had invited him to lodge in an apartment prepared for his reception, in the royal palace ; but, such was our saint's humility, that he preferred to remain in the monastery of St. Vincent,builtbySt. Germain. Atthistime,hewasadvancedinyears,and hetravelledinachariot. Whilepassingthroughaplace,calledBeauce,one of the wheels broke, and there was neither wheel-wright, nor tradesman, nor wood, to set it in order. Those who were present felt alarmed at that accident ; but, according to Samson's usual custom, making the sign of the cross, the wheel was mended, so that he was able to proceed on his way. Being informed regarding such a miraculous occurrence, King Childebert desired he should build a monastery at that very spot. Accordingly, Samson called a house there erected Rotmou, and it became a dependency to the Abbey of
17 See Le Comte de Montalembert's
34 See Albert le Grand, p. 422.
2S from about A. D. St. Germain flourished
490 to the period of his death, which took
this Third Council
"Les Moines de l'Occident," tome
livre viii. , chap, iii. , pp. 433, 434.
18 Venerated on the ber.
ii. ,
Octo- *• His feast occurs, at the 16th of June.
on the 28th of a. d. He had May, 576.
of
His festival is held on the 19th of October,
31 He is honoured with a feast, at the 3rd of March.
22 He is venerated on the 21st of June.
20
83 See Les Petits
Saints," tome ix. , xxviii JJour de Juillet, p. 90.
Bollandistes, e
"
en 557. " He also enumerates, amongst
24th
place
the principal share in drafting trie Canons of the Third Council of Paris, in 557. By his advice,KingChildibert issued an edict, direct- ing all idols to be destroyed throughout his dominions, while it forbid all indecent dances and diversions on Sundays and Holy* days.
" Vies des
a6 to According Fleury,
of Paris had been held
comme
Ton
croit,
July 28. ] LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. 427 Dol. Among the many bishops who were present, St. Samson's name is found
subscribed to decrees,
passed
in the Council of which was held a. d. a6 Paris, 55 7.
runs in this manner " Samson, signature : I,
27 The
a sinner, Bishop, have consented and subscribed. " A similar form has been
Others it at a. d. place
5S9.
adopted by most—but not by all—of the bishops who assisted. 28 On his return to Dol from the Council of Paris, Samson wrought several miracles along his route. Among others, he caused a snake to leave the body of a man, and it had entered there while he was sleeping. When Samson had arrived at the gates of Dol, he effected the recovery of two persons, who were in the agonies of death, which had been momently expected; he also delivered eight demoniacs, from their malady ; while a woman of quality, who had dared to enter his monastic enclosure contrary to the rule, having been
2 deprived of sight, he benignantly restored her again to the faculty of vision. ?
Samson, according to the most reliable accounts, spent the rest of his days in that monastery, which he founded at Dole. 3° This saint is said to have
1
detained Theliaus^ Bishop of LandafT, on his return to that See, at Dol, in
the year 596. 3' Hence, it would seem, that he lived to the close of the sixth, if not to the beginning of the seventh century. The same fervour, the same prayers, the same vigils, and the same austerities, that he had practised during his vigorous years, and before he had become a bishop, were persevered in
to his declining years. To reward his merits, the Almighty now permitted that malady to assail him, and which was destined to prelude the final triumph. When he found death approaching, the holy bishop called together his canons and religious ; while he declared, that the moment had come, when St. Magloire should prepare to succeed, and he recommended them to elect him. He then addressed those assembled in a pathetic and farewell monition, which drew tears from their eyes. Then, he received the last Sacraments of the Church, in a spirit of fervent emotion ; and, giving his benediction to all who were present, on the 28th of July, his soul passed away to everlasting happiness. 33
According to some accounts, having returned to his native country of Cambria, the holy man then and there became Archbishop of Menevia. 34 These statements, however, do not deserve the slighest credence. Some Welsh authorities tell us, that Samson travelled from Brittany to Wales, at the close of his life, and that he was buried at Lantwit ;35 while there is still in existence a remarkable monument, which lends an appearance of plausibi- lity to this tradition. It consists of the stone shaft belonging to a cross, nine feet in height, which was disinterred in the churchyard of Landwit,36 and has
on it this inscription in Latin " In the name of God Most High, here begins
:
the cross of the Saviour, which Samson the Abbot prepared for his own soul,
at it, "Saint Samson, 3I His festival is on the ot —" pre- held, 25th
others
mier eveque de Dol, en Bretagne. " His- November.
assisting
toire Ecclesiastique," liv. xxxiii. , sect, lviii. , p. 473.
27 See Colgan's "Acta Sanctorum Hiber-
nke," Martii ii. Vita S. Jaovse, Episcopi
See Labbe's and Crossart's Acta Con- ciliorum et Epistolae Decretales ac Constitu- tiones Summorum Pontificum," tomus iii. , col. 340.
32 "
See Ussher's Britannicarum Ecclesia-
rum Antiquitates," Index Chronologicus, p. 534.
33 See Les Petits Bollandistes, " Vies des Saints," tome ix. , xxviiie Jour de Juillet. p. 90.
& See Giraldi Cambrensis, "Opera," vol. vi. Edited by James F. Dimock, M. A.
"
Itinerarium Kambrise," lib. ii. , cap. i. , p. 102.
Leonensis, n. 10, p. 443.
28 "
2» See Les Petits Bollandistes, t Vies des
e 3S "
Saints," tome ix. , xxviii Jour de Juillet, p. 89.
30 So ends his history, as given in the oldest Life, and in the Liber Landavensis.
Achau Saint ynys Prydain. — Iolo MSS. ," p. 105. The Book of Llandaff, how- ever, represents him as closing his life in his monastery at Dole.
428 LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. [J uly 28.
andthesoulofKingJuthael,andofArtmaltheDean. "37 Thefirstofthese names is thought to have been that of St. Samson, who was Bishop of Dole in Brittany, in the sixth century, and also Abbot of Lantwith ; the next corresponding with that of Juthael, King of Brittany; but, the last name, Artmal, cannot be identified with any historic personage ; however, it is thoughtpossiblehemayhavebeenofDole. Ifthisinterpretationbecorrect,it seems to support a tradition, that our saint returned to Wales, and there ended his life. However, another opinion has been advanced,38 that the foregoing are all the names of Welshmen ;39 and, according to this supposition, that cross might have been erected by St. Samson, while he was a monk at Lantwith. Besides, none of the Lives which are extant have any allusion to St. Samson's return to Wales, and they all mention, that he died at Dole, in a good old age. The earliest of St. Samson's biographers tells us, that being perfect in life and in age, as also with all good qualities fully and completely adorned, he finished a holy course, in the hope of resurrection to eternal life, while full of bliss, his happy soul went to Christ.
He was interred in his own monastery at Dole, according to his most ancient biographer/ At the time of his death, the monastic brothers heard the music and hymns of angelic choirs. Three holy prelates assisted at his
2
1
these were St. Brieuc,* who has
name to his
and bishopric, St. Gurval,* bishop of St. Malo, and St. Ruelm,** bishop of Tre"guier. At the moment of his interment, an extraordinary brightness
funeral obsequies
;
given
city
illuminated his tomb, and the angels themselves appeared assisting at his obsequies. The emblematic forms of art have represented St. Samson, some- times with a dove floating over his head ; sometimes as chasing a dragon beforehim 4 andsometimeswithacrossnearhim. ts
;<
Authors are not agreed, regarding the year of St. Samson's happy death.
However, it is generally assigned to some date after the middle of the sixth
century.
It has been supposed probable, that he departed to our Lord, about a. d. 560. 46 At the year 563, Father John Mabillon records the death of St. Samson. 4? TheRev. AlbanButlerhashisdemise,onthe28thofJuly,a. d.
s To a. d. Les Petits Bollandistes,* refer his Neither 565, departure.
5 64. 4
has it been determined how many years he—lived. Some writers attribute to
ndred or the still more him the unusual number of one hu—
extraordinary
durationofonehundredandtwenty years.
At Dol, his episcopal cross was for a long time preserved. 50 Acurious
tradition is related, that this religious and valued object of art was covered
36 In the year 1789.
37 A full account of this monumental stone
44 See Les Petits Bollandistes, " Vies des Saints," tome ix. , xxviiie Jour de Juillet, p. 90.
4S See Very Rev. Dr. F. C. Husenbeth's "Emblems of Saints," p, 186. Norwich, 1882, 8vo.
46 See Bishop Challenor's "Britannia
"
the Ancient British Poems," and in a note to
the " Iolo MSS. ," p. 263.
33 By the Rev. T. Price of Carnhua-
nawe.
39 According to a learned Welsh writer,
Taliesin Williams.
40 See the Bollandists' "Acta Sancto-
mm," tomus vi. , Julii xxviii. De S. Sam- sone Episcopo Conf. Doloe in Britannia Armorica. Vita S. Samsonis Episcopi, cap. vi. , num. 61, p. 587.
41 His festival is held on the 1st of May. For an account of him, see the Fifth Volume of the present work, at that date, Art. ii.
42 His feast occurs, on the 6th of June.
43 At the 28th of February, his commemo- ration is celebrated.
may be found, in Turner's
Vindication of
Sancta," part ii. , p. 44. "
47 See Annales Ordinis S. Benedicti,"
tomus i. , lib. vi. , num. xx. ,
48 The " Circle of the Seasons," also
places his death, at a. d. 564. See p. 210. 49 See " Vies des Saints," tome ix. ,
xxviii Jour de Juillet, p. 90.
s° This he caused to be carried before him
by one of his brethren. . In later times, it was encased in silver arid gold. It was also adorned with precious gems, and it was
jealously guarded by the faithful. See Right
"
Rev. Patrick F. Moran's Early Irish
p. 151.
July 28. ] LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. 429
with gold, silver, and precious stones \ but, it tempted the cupidity of a dis- honest and sacrilegious man, who stole it. Afterwards, he was miraculously punished, by a sudden death, while those valuables, which he had taken from the cross, were recovered. 51 Many differences of opinion have been venti- lated by various writers, to account for its removal from Dol, and for the sub- sequentdispersionofSt. Samson'srelics. Somecenturiesafterhisdeath,the Christians of Dol were alarmed by the approach of enemies. Thence, on occasion of the Norman Invasions, the relics of St. Samson were translated to Paris, together with those of his kinsmen, St. Magloire and St. Maclou. This
happened during the reign of King Lothaire. Owing to the pious care of Salvator, Bishop, over the ancient See of Aleth, the precious remains were
removed. However,thechurchatDolpossessedathigh-bone,atibia,and some other fragments of the vertebrae and bones of its holy patron. The
diocesan Bishop, Charles d'Epinal, inspected these sacred relics, and had them transferred to a new shrine, on the 24th of December, 1579. At the
period of the French Revolution, this beautiful reliquary had been placed besidethehighaltarofthecathedral; but,nowitdoesnotexist,owingto
the irreligious spirit then paramount. It is said, likewise, that Maynon, Bishop of Dol, in the year 878, had the relics of our saint transferred to Orleans, fearing that the Normans should desecrate the church in Brittany, where they had been preserved. Then, those sacred relics were deposited in that church belonging to the monastery of St. Symphorian, afterwards called St. Samson. s2 With regard to the relics carried to Paris; some of these were distributed in favour of the church of St. Bartholomew, while some part of the remains were sent to a church, dedicated to St. Samson, at Orleans. These relics were hidden from the Huguenots, when they became masters of that city. 53 The Jesuits had possession of St. Samson's church, to the time of their dispersion. 5* Again, it has been stated, that the relics of St. Samson had been transferred from Lesser to Greater Britain in 934. 5S Moreover, it has been asserted, that a certain English Camaldulensian monk, named Ger- manus, brought the three bodies of the holy Bishops Magloire, Paschasius and Samson to Italy, in the time of King Henry VIII. , but this account is not substantiated nor credible. A great portion of St. Samson's bones, after an inquisition made, was found to be contained in his shrine, at Paris, when
onthe
value are wanting to authenticate such various statements as are current. 57
Missions," No. i. , p. 29.
s1 See the Bollandists' " Acta Sancto-
rum," tomus vi. , Julii xxviii. De S. Samsone Episcopo Conf. Dolse in Britannia Armorica, lib. ii. , num. 10, pp. 589, 590.
52 Such is the account given by Mabillon, and he adds, that the church in his time be- longed to the Jesuits. See the observations
"' prefixed to his Vita S. Samsonis.
53 At this time, the relics were so well concealed, that they have never since been discovered.
54 The relics of St. Samson, brought to Orleans, are supposed to have been buried somewhere in or about that church.
ss According to William of Malmesbury. 56 " Les ossements, conserves a Paris,
of
that
is to be made of more than one holy person named Samson, it seems difficult to reconcile those conflicting accounts, regarding the transfer of our saint's relics to so many different places, especially as early historic authorities of
opened
19th
January,
a. d.
1647. 5
admit,
question
6 Unlesswe
etaient, en dernier lieu, dans l'eglise de Saint-Magloire ; ils se trouvent maintenant dans celle de Saint-Jacques du Haut-Pas. " —Les Petits "Vies des
Saints," tome ix. , xxviiie Jour de Juillet, p. 90.
Bollandistes,
57 The Bollandist Father John Baptist
Soller fully discusses this matter in " Acta
Sanctorum," tomus vi. , Julii xxviii. De S. Samsone Confessore Epis. Dolae in Britannia Armorica. Appendix de S. Samsonis Reli- quiis earumque Translatione, pp. 591 to 593.
s» AWelshfamilynamedGriffin is said
to have settled here in the thirteenth cen-
tury.
59 " The parochial name and dedication
agree in indicating a Welsh occupant about
43° LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. [July 28.
Memorials of St. Samson still exist in Ireland. In the former parish of Ballygriffin, a church had been placed under the patronage of this Cambrian saint. The church may have been on the site of one still more ancient, and it was built near the manorial castle of s8—so called
probably from some Welsh settler and founder. ^ The church or district of St. Samson's church has been ab- sorbed in that of St. Doulough*»—a church of mediaeval construc- tion61—situated a few miles northwards from the city of Dublin. The
St. Doulough's Church, County of Dublin.
been engraved on the maps, we are led irresistibly to such a conclusion.
Inthesouthof thereisa Wexford,
Ballysamson,
6s witharuined but church,
this is now dedicated to St. Catharine.
the time of the English Invasion. " See Rev. Dr. Reeves' "Memoir of the Church of St. Duilech, in the Diocese of Dublin," pp. 5, 6. P'or further particulars, regarding this church
and parish of Ballygriffin, the reader is re- ferred to that valuable Memoir.
Its more ancient patron may have
for the County of Dublin," sheet 15.
62 The walls were razed, and the whole site
levelled, when the present Belgryffin House was erected, nearly a century and a-half ago, by the Doynes of Wells, in the county of Wexford.
63 The accompanying illustration of St. Doulough's church was drawn on the spot, by William F. Wakeman, and by him trans- ferred to the wood, engraved by Mrs. Millard.
64 See " Ordnance Survey Townland Maps
for the County of Dublin/ sheet 15. This
small parish contains only 1,052a. 2r. 2p.
6s It is in the parish of Tacumshin and This is a townland, within the parish of barony of Forth. It is shown on the
"
Ballygriffin, barony of Coolock, and marked Ordnance Survey Townland Maps for the
on the " Ordnance Survey Townland Maps County of Wexford," sheet 48.
60
There is a beautiful lithograph drawing
of this church, by J. D. Harding, from a
sketch by Robert O'Callaghan Newenham,
Esq. , as published in "The Picturesque
Scenery and Remarkable Antiquities of Ire-
land. " This work has been dedicated to
His Excellency Richard Marquis Wellesley,
Lord Lieutenant of Ireland.
61
Ballygriffin
old church of Balgriffin —the present name— lay between the very curious ancient struc- ture of St. Duilech 63
and Stapolin, in the county of Dublin. At
the left hand side, en- tering the avenue to
Balgriffin Park, some traces of St. Samson's ruined church 6* may yet be seen. It consisted of a nave and chancel ; together taken, about eighteen yards in length. Thechurchyardis under meadow; still a shadowy outline of its precincts is faintly discernible. Yet, both these objects seem to have escaped the no- tice of our Ordnance Surveystaff. Nothaving
62
July 28. ] LIVESOFTHEIRISHSAINTS. 431
beenSt. Samson,whosenameispreservedinthatofthetownland. Ona
high hill, in the vicinity of Downpatrick, there is a huge cromlech. An absurd legend prevails, that the Jewish Samson cast it there from the mountain of SlieveDonard. Therefore,itissaidtohavebeencalled"Samson'sStone. " It has been more reasonably conjectured, however, that its denomination may rather be referable to our present St. Samson, who spent a considerable term in Ireland. 66 Several memorials of this saint's connection with Corn- wall still exist in the county. There is a parish in the Hundred of Powder still called by his name, and it has been thus designated from at least the four- teenth 67 But, it is also called
Golant,
earliest name. When this sacred spot became the site of a parish church,
century.
the name of St. Samson had be—en given to it, as in former times he had
hall—
6
A church known anciently
owed the
?
