We favour of the Church of the Most Holy
second pencil sketch exhibits a rudely- executed cross, as seen on a stone in the church-yard of Ferns.
second pencil sketch exhibits a rudely- executed cross, as seen on a stone in the church-yard of Ferns.
O'Hanlon - Lives of the Irish Saints - v1
3^ See the "Irish Ecclesiastical Record,"
vol. vii. , p. 407.
33 His birth is usually to between assigned
A. D. 550 and 560.
3* His death is generally stated to lie be-
tween A. D. 624 and 632.
35 See '• Acta Sanctorum Hiber- Colgan's
niae," xxxi. Januarii. Vita S. Maidoci, cap. Ixiv. , p. 215.
Four Masters," vol. i. , pp. 246 to 249. "" "
See Monasticon Hibemicum," p. 420.
'3 See "Kalendars of Scottish Saints," 403-
=*See "Index Chronologicus," p. 537. "Britannicarum Ecclesiarum Antiquitates. "
25 " Prajsulibus Hibemiae. " See De
Epis-
copi Fernenses, p. 53.
^'See "Histoire de I'lrlande, Ancienneet
Moderne," tome i. , pariie ii. , chap, iii. , p.
306.
'~ See his " Ecclesiastical History of Ire-
3*
the whole world ior this purpose, in Rev. W. J. Rees' " Lives of the Cambro-British
'
land, vol. ii. , chap, xiv. , sec. x. , p. 339, Saints," pp. 249, 572.
and n. 144, p. 341.
** See Rev. M. J Brenan's " Ecclesiastical
History of Ireland, from the Introduction of
Christianity into that country to the year MDCCCXXIX. " Seventh Century, chap, ii. ,
3' See the BoUandists' "Acta Sanctorum," tomus ii. , xxxi. Januarii. Vita S. Aidani, cap. ix. , pp. 1 1 19, 1 1 20.
3* See Colgan's "Acta Sanctorum Hiber- nije," xxxi. Januarii, Vita S. Maidoci, cap.
p.
It is stated, that he travelled through
January 31. ] LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. 571
Again, we are informed, that during a period, when the pious Bishop MoUng39 ruled Ferns church,^° at one time he slept in St. Maidoc's bed. '*'' This no person before him had dared to enter. A canon, belonging to the
"
Since the death of our patron St. Maidoc, no person hath hitherto entered into this bed, on account of his great sanctity, who, when wearied in the body, lay down upon it for a short time, while his spirit, for the most part, communed with God. " But St.
cathedral church of Ferns, said to him :**
" We who
there without presumption. " When he had spoken these words, a violent
pain seized him. Being in an extremity of torture, he poured forth his prayers, asking God's assistance. Still the pain continued without cessation. ^**
Moling signed himself again with a sign of the cross, and he began to invoke most earnestly St. Maidoc's intercession. When he had done so, this great
pain miraculously left him. Arising from the bed, Moling^s felt at once relieved. The author of our saint's published life adds, that, in his time, no person was found worthy to sleep in the holy father's bed. Owing to this
circumstance, his biographer infers the great merit, which this illustrious archbishop must have acquired, before God's throne in Heaven. '*'^
That our saint was the author of some pieces may well be admitted ; although, it is doubtful, if any of them are now extant. One of his supposed poems has been alluded to already. It refers to the death of Cumuscach. 47 Furthermore, to Maidoc, Dempster has ascribed some works. '*^ However, no mention is made of these, in any of our saint's lives, nor by any other known author. The late Edward O'Reilly^s had in his possession an ancient
Moling*3 replied :
occupy
his seat,
may
be
permitted
to
sleep
Ixi. , p. 215.
39 A note in the hand-writing of Eugene
" O Jesus, protect me ; O Son of the living God, from all diseases, should they come to me ; if you heal me not, there is no charm to heal me under heaven. " See
O'Curry, and preceding his signature, is
found in the " Wexford County
Extracts, belonging to the Irish Ordnance Survey,"
pp. 250, 573, It will be found by comparison of botli pages, vol. i. , p. 425. It states: "Moiling Luach- the editor's version of Irish words in the
ra succeeded Maodhog at Ferns. "
*°A considerable amount of useful infor-
mation, regarding this ancient church and
"
diocese, will be found in Erck's ticalRegister. "FernsDiocese,pp. i19to127.
*' In the same Manuscript Volume, pre- viously alluded to, Mr. O'Curry tells us, that
Latin text was inexact, until Professor Eu-
gene O'Curry, of Dublin, restored for him
the correct reading, and supplied its English translation.
«Hislifeoccursatthe17thofJune. His death took place A. D. 696. See Rev, Dr. Todd's and Reeves' edition of the " Martyr-
Ecclesias-
"
"there was a place at Ferns called Leoba ology of Donegal, pp. 1 72, 1 73.
Maodhoige. " Seep. 425.
«' In Rev. W. J. Rees* " Lives of the
Cambro- British Saints," we find this incident
+SeetheBollandists'"ActaSanctorum," tomus ii. Vita S. Aidani, cap. ix. , p. 11 20.
*5 There is a very interesting note 3, re- garding this saint, in the Rev. John F. Shear-
thus rendered.
" Do not
A clergyman said to Moi-
man's " Loca
go up Moiling replied :
Patriciana,"
holy sleep
liag as Thou knowest our healing plants, no cure do I re- quest; I ask no physician but Thee. " Once more Moiling said: ". A Issu, dom comarce a meic de bi ar cec galar madam hi miner ica ni fil arthe nod ica fo nim ;" which means,
ling,
man. " Then
therein. " When he had gone up to the bed, immediately a severe illness attacked him. Then Moiling said: "A Jesu oro fetor ar saethu galar fil form inmain de cenom bedad a Issu ;" which means, " O Jesus, as Thou knowest our diseases, a distemper is on me ; welcome it is, though I die of it, O Jesus. " Yet pain did not cease to torment him. Again Moiling said: "A Issu oro fetor ar lussu nom nice nadab iarrussu ni ertha
vi. , pp. 185, Historical
act tusu ;" wi. ich " O signifies,
Jesus,
Librum " ;" lib. i. ,
L, Contemptu
to the bed of the
No. Royal
"Iwill
186.
See of the "Journal
and Archaeological Association of Ireland," vol. iii. Fourth Series, No. 19, July, 1874.
**Colgan's "Acta Sanctorum Hiberniie," xxxi,, Januarii, Vita S, Maidoci, cap, Ixiii. , p. 215.
*^ See Dr. O'Donovan's " Annals of the Four Masters," vol. i. , pp. 216, 217.
*^ According to his enumeration, these
works are intituled :
lorum Vanitatem
lib. i. , "Contra Ido-
lib. De
;"
" Homilias
rum Deorum ;" lib. i. , Crathlinthum Regem. "
*9 Assistant secretary to the Iberno-Celtic Society, started in Dublin a. d. 1818, and only of short-lived continuance.
falso- "Pro Ecclesia ad
572 LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. [January 31.
manuscript life of our saint. In this were preserved some poems, said to have been written by him. There is one, which professes to expound his will. s° In this testament his property is divided between three churches, said to have been founded by him : namely, Ferns,5' in Leinster, Drum Leathan, in Cavan, and Ross Inver, in Leitrim county. Another of these poemss^denouncesthosewhoshoulddaretoinjurehischurch; butsucha description is given of the author as might cause one to suspect, that those verses were not the genuine productions of Maodhog. 53 Besides different tracts written to commemorate the life and actions of our saint, a poem,54 consisting of one hundred and forty-four verses, was composed in the four- teenthcentury,55byapoetofBreffney,namedSiodhruadhO'Cuimin. s^ Our
saint is usually designated Mogue, throughout the diocese of Ferns. We are told, that children, here called after him, generally receive the name of Moses at baptism,57 when they are the offspring of Catholic parents. s^ The name of Edan or Aidan seems to have been formerly common enough in other parts of Ireland. 59
Besides giving a very interesting sketch of St. Maidoc's life, a lady,^ possessing distinguished artistic and antiquarian talents, has most accurately described the celebrated relic of this saint, called The Breac Moedoc,'^' and another referring to the patron of Devenish called The Soiscel Molaise. Both of these precious objects are now preserved in the Museum of the
RoyalIrishAcademy. Beautifullyandcorrectlyexecutedengravings,giving detailed illustrations, are introduced. The history of those relics is traced with great care, and the lady, who, as an Irish author and artiste, has achieved so deserved a distinction, leaves nothing unnoticed, which could lend pic- torial or literary effect to the special subjects of her essay. The shrine of St. MogueisformedlikeanancientIrishcillorchurch. Itssideswereanciently covered with exquisitely formed figures of ecclesiastics, habited in seventh or eighth century costumes. Only eighteen of these figures remain, although
5° It begins with these Irish words, 'bint) mhAo-doig meAbAif tinn. In English,
Ann CiomnA ifAi-bce^x bn. The English "The History of Maodhog let us re-
thus runs
:
" Intention of the will set forth
member. "
55 See " Account O'Reilly's Chronological
5* This author died in the year 1400. Some copies of his poems were preser\'ed in
by
us. "
5' Among the artists' sketches for Wex-
ford county, preserved in the Ordnance Sur-
vey Office Records, R. I. A. , there are three
drawings, relating to Ferns. One sketch in
pencil represents the ruins of its castle. A Edward O'Reilly's MS. collection.
57 This, however, is incorrect. The chil- dren of Protestant parents are more correctly named Aidan, in this part of Ireland.
5^ See Dr. O'Donovan's "Annals of the
Four Masters," vol. i. , n. (p), p. 247.
59 Thus, a of St Patrick's Church, priest
Dublin, called Edan, was a subscribing wit-
ness to St. Laurence O'Toole's grant, in duced in ink, ready for the engraver.
We favour of the Church of the Most Holy
second pencil sketch exhibits a rudely- executed cross, as seen on a stone in the church-yard of Ferns. The third, also pen- cilled, represents the remains of another
stone cross, lying in the same graveyard.
On the latter cross
within different compartments. The first
appears angular tracery,
and third drawings are beautifully repro-
find, also, a beautiful ink drawing, present- ing the ruins of Ferns abbey, as seen from theeast.
^ It begins with these words : fHAi]\5
Trinity, in 1170. See Monck Mason's
''
History and Antiquities of the Collegiate andCathedralChurchofSt. Patrick. " In-
troduction, sect, i. , pp. I, 2. ^MissStokesofDublin.
|'Ai]\eo64f -mo 61bl, cat6, thus translated,
" *' "
Woe to those who pollute my noble See the elaborate treatise, On Two church. " Works of Ancient Irish Art, known as The 53 See the "Chronological Account of Breac Moedog, or shrine of St. Moedog,
nearly Four Hundred Irish Writers," &c. , p. xliii.
5* It began with these words, SeAn6<3i|'
and the Soiscel Molaise, or Gospel of St. Molaise," communicated to the Society of Antiquaries.
of nearly Four Hundred Irish W'riters," p. cxi.
January 31. ] LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. 573
originally they were twenty-one in number. Besides the figures, a great variety of ornamental designs, executed in bronze and variegated enamel, may be seen. By competent critics, this shrine has been pronounced to be the oldest, and the opus Hibernicum workmanship to be the most interesting of its class, known to remain in the world. ^*
After St. Molaise of Devenish had resolved on a visit to Rome, he is said
firsttohavevisitedSt. Moedoc,atFerns. Havingthenestablishedamutual
friendly covenant, on his return from Rome, Molaise presented a reliquary or shrine to St. Edan at Fems. '^^ This is now in Dr. Petrie's collection of
Irish antiquities, preserved at the Royal Irish Academy. It is known as the Breac Moedoc. This shrine had been preserved for many centuries in the church of St. Moedoc, at Drumlane, in keeping of the Catholic parish priest. The people believed, a false oath taken on it must be followed by some singular judgment, so great was that reverence in which it was held. It was occasionally lent for the purpose of swearing accused persons on trial. About the year 1846, it had been lent on some such understanding to a person named Magauran, from the parish of Templeport, he having de- posited the usual pledge of a guinea for its safe return. However, a Dublin jeweller offered him a larger sum than that he had given as a guarantee. He thereupon broke faith with the priest, and sold the sacred relic. Afterwards, Dr. Petrie purchased and preserved it, as a genuine and curious specimen of ancient Irish art. ^-* This shrine is a small one,^5 and in its general form it is very like the chasses or shrines of Limoges work, belonging to a much later date. It is box-shaped and vertical, for about one-third of the height, on the sides : then these slope inwards, until they meet at a very acute angle, so as to resemble the roof of a house.
The foundation of this shrine is of pale The front of the Breac Moedog is divided The lower tier^^ has three compartments : each of these had originally three figures. The central^^ and righf^^ compart-
bronze, covered with gilt plates. into three tiers, or rows of figures.
*^ See W. F. Wakeman's " Lough Erne,
Enniskillen, Belleek, Ballyshannon and
Bundoran," &c. , concluding chapter, p. 161.
inches.
*3 In the Irish life of St. Moedoc, it is
stated, Molaise presented a portion of the
sacred remains which he had brought from
Rome, and these included the relics of "Irish Ecclesiastical Record," vol. vii. , p. Saints Peter and Paul, of Saints Laurence
and Clement and Stephen, of the Blessed
Virgin Mary and St. Martin, with those of many other saints, "The life further adds,
that St. Molaise, having given these relics to his^ friend, St. Moedoc, exclaimed, "/j Breac go maith uail me anossa," i. e. , "Now
indeed I am well-speckled by thee," as if he said, "You have given me such a corselet of relics, that I am now all over ornamented and protected by them. " And St. Molaise then said, Breac Moedoig {i. e. , the speckled or variegated shrine of Moedoc),"—shall be the name of the reliquary for ever. Ecclesiastical Record," vol. vii. , pp. 318, 319.
321.
^^ In it are represented Our Saviour with
the Apostles, SS. Peter and Paul. The Re-
deemer holds in his hands the Book of the
Law, and in the left a vase, closely resembl-
ing in form some old Irish chalices, yet pre-
served in the Royal Irish Academy ; while
in the arcade or where he stands are birds,
symbolical of the angelic choirs. St. Paul
is at the right of Our Saviour, while a sword
is in the right and a sceptre in the left hand
of this Apostle. S—t. Peter stands at the left
of the Redeemer this in many ancient
monuments the of ho- — being post highest
nour with a sceptre in the right and a crozier in the left hand.
*5 Its dimensions are : height 'j\ inches, considering his youthful appearance and length 81 inches, breadth of the base 3J beardless fece ; the other appears to be St.
^* See Miss Stokes' illustrated
"On Two Works of Ancient Irish Art," &c. , p. 5, et seq.
'* Here are three : one of figures
"Irish
treastise,
these, bearing a cruciform crozier in his hand, seems intended for St. John the Evangelist,
**
It is thought, in the figures it contained,
had been represented the whole series of the
Apostles. Allowing two figures to the cor-
responding parts of the shrine, at either end, including the figure of our Blessed Lord, we should have precisely thirteen figures. See
574 LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. [January 31.
merits are still entire, but only the feet of three figures remain in the left com- partment. ^9 Thesecondorcentraldivisionisonlycapableofreceivingtwo compartments ; each one of these has a group of figures. One of these groups is still preserved, and it presents, in an arcade, three female figures, with hands gracefully clasped on the bosom. Their dress is uniform, while their countenances are peculiarly sweet. There is something in their atti- tude so noble and Divine, that there can be little hesitation in reckoning this group among the most perfect works of art belonging to our early Irish Church. 7° TheuppermosttierordivisionoftheBreacMoedoigallowsonly of two compartments ; and as these spaces are smaller than those of the middle tier, each one may possibly have contained only two figures. 7' It was to this tier, perhaps, that a group of two figures,^' now loosely appended to the middle compartment, originally belonged. In the forms and faces of the female figures, there is not only strong individuality of character, but this character is one of sweetness, benevolence and simple goodness, carried out, not only in facial expression, but in the mere figure attitudes, and in the quiet clasping of hands upon the breast. 73 Impassioned sorrow, an earnest, tearful gaze ; a cheerful, common-sense expression ; solemn, severe dignity ; these characteristics are noticeable in the faces of various groups. '^ All this and the treatment of details manifest the existence of a dramatic, as also of a religious element, in early Irish art. It elevates above that which is purely decorative, and it is as much beyond the art of the mere savage or barbarian, as the faith which teaches of goodness, purity and love transcends the dark superstitions of heathenism. 75
The present Protestant cathedral church of Ferns, although a modem building, is said to have attached some remains of the mor—e ancient structure.
When last
to occupy its original position St. . ^dan's or Mogue's reputed monument was found. 76 There it may be seen,77 and it is held to have been his ancient
in a niche of that church not a. d. 181 —
repaired, 7, yet supposed
tomb, according to popular tradition. 7^
Matthew, for it bears a book clasped in both hands, his usual characteristic symbol in ancient art. The remains of an undeciplier- able inscription are traceable over their heads.
A monster, writhing with pain, is
ship to St. Molaise of Devenish. See " Irish Ecclesiastical Record," vol. vii. , pp. 324, 325.
73 \—curious feature is a reversal of the
hands as if a mistake happened in the
^ With singular artistic taste and anti- quarian lore, Miss Stokes has described and 74
resolved the emblematic meaning, as also the comparative relationship of the tracery and objects represented, with cognate religious and national designs.
7° •' We probably will not err in supposing that the central figure is the Blessed Virgin Mary, Mother of God, and that the figures on either side are St. Brigid, the Mary of Erin, and St. Ita, the contemporary of our Saint Aidan, and celebrated in our annals as the Brigid of Munster. "—"The Irish Ec- clesiastical Record," vol. vii. , p. 323.
7' Miss Stokes has detailed the patterns
and characteristics of this group, with great
felicity of thought and expression. See p. 13.
7' It has been conjectured, that one of
these may have been intended for St. Aidan
of Ferns, while the other may represent his synonymn saint, called Aedh Mac Brie. Both were bound by special ties of friend-
moulding,
««
That the Blessed Virgin and the Apos- ties were represented in the figures of this reliquary becomes the more probable when we reflect that their sacred relics were pre-
served within the venerable shrine. " "
Irish Ecclesiastical Record," vol. vii. , p.
323.
'5 See Miss Stokes, "On Two Works of
Ancient Irish Art," &c. , p. 14.
7* «« We are not informed by whom, or at
what period, this monument was erected, but it is visibly not of a veiy ancient date "— Brewer's "Beauties of Ireland," voL i. , p. 398.
'7 Not only an illustration of St. Mogue's
ancient tomb, but likewise illustrations of
the abbey and castle ruins, with engravings of an ancient cross and font at Ferns, are to be seen in Mr. and Mrs. Hall's " Ireland ; its Scenery, Character," &c. , vol. ii. , pp. 180 to 183.
'^ The saint is represented f>(/Mf/^<i/>^;
— The
January 31. ] LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. 575
sculptured beneath his feet ; while the exergue of this tomb is ornamented, with trefoils. 79 This memorial is held in great respect by the Catholics, who come from great distances and steal into the Protestant church to kiss it,^° whenever the doors are open.
In Ireland, various places have been connected with the memory of St.
Maidoc. ThereisatownlandcalledKilmeague,inthecountyofKildare,
and it may possibly be rendered " the church of Mogue. " At Templeshambo. ^' formerly Shanbotha, he was reverenced, and likewise, at Killybeg,^"" a town- landoftheparishofInishmacsaint,inthecountyofFermanagh, Here,ac- cording to Colgan, was a miraculous stone called Lac-Maodhoc, or Maedoc's stone. ^^ Besides, we find a place called Disert Nairbre,^-* now Dysart, a townland in the parish of Ardmorc, in the south-west of the county of Water- ford. ^^ We have already seen, that a house of his own foundation stood at
Cloncagh,^^ a parish in the territory of Hy-Conaill Gabhra, now the barony ofConnelloUpper,inthecountyofLimerick. ^7 Totheseplacesmaybe
added Ard-lathran,^^ now supposed to be Ardamine^s parish, in the barony of Ballaghkeen, on the sea coast, in the county of Wexford ; as also in the same county the Clonmore9° of his establishment, and the still more celebrated Ferns,9' to which allusion has been already sufficiently made. 9^ A well in the parish of Conra,93 county of Westmeith, was named, it is said, after this most remarkableofthosesaintsbearingMaidoc'sname. However,suchastate- ment may be doubtful. St. Edan's or Mogue's well and an old graveyard lie inthetownlandandparishofClongeen,94inWexfordcounty. Thespringesis
a very small conical cap, which ends in a point, surmounts his head, as a mitre ; whilst a short crozier or baculum crosses his breast.
ples of Ancient Ireland," there are notices of Ardladhran or Ardamine, and its large artificial mound. See p. 457.
tno]A.
9' In the work immediately quoted, we find a detailed account of the antiquities of
93 In the townland of Cam in this
there is a well, called Tobar Maodhoig or Mogue well, from which Dr. O'Donovan was inclined to believe, that parish might have been dedicated to Saint Mogue, before the D'Altons transferred its patronage to the Blessed Virgin. See "County of VVest- meath Antiquarian Letters belonging to the Ordnance Survey," vol. i. , pp. 117, 118. Mr. O'Donovan's Letter dated Ballymore, Lough Sewdy, September 17th, 1837.
9* In the townland of Loughnageer, in the same parish, there is a spot, where it is said, a church, dedicated to St. Catherine, for- merly stood ; but of which the foundation cannot even now be traced. Near it was a "holy well," dedicated to St. Catherine. In the detached southern part of that same parish stood an old abbey, called Abbey- braney. Ofthisnotastoneistobeseenat present. Its site is occupied by Abbey-
Antiquarian Letters belonging to the Irish Ordnance Survey Office. "
95Itwas the site of a " al- formerly patron,"
though in 1840 the well was not resorted to; nor was the pattern day remembered by the people.
79 On its top, according to Archdeacon "
Cotton's Fasti," Leinster, p. 329, we find
the " Under sculptured following inscription :
this monument are interred the remains of St. Edan, commonly called St. Moague,
January 31st, A. D. DCXXXil. "
^ Tliey believe, in many instances, this practice procures for them the miraculous cure of toothache. "Clearly, then, this monument is not in its proper place. It oughttobegivenuptotheRoma—nCatholic bishop or sent to a museum. " Godkin's "Ireland and her Churches," part second, chap, xiii. , p. 276.
Ferns. See ibid. ,
9^ See likewise the Rev. William Reeves'
the founder of this and first cathedral,
bishop of Perns. He discharged the pastoral office with piety and Xtian zeal for the space of fifty years, and died, in an advanced age,
parish,
*'
In Marcus Keane's "Towers and Tem-
ples of Ancient Ireland," there is an account
of the ecclesiastical remains at this place.
See p.
vol. vii. , p. 407.
33 His birth is usually to between assigned
A. D. 550 and 560.
3* His death is generally stated to lie be-
tween A. D. 624 and 632.
35 See '• Acta Sanctorum Hiber- Colgan's
niae," xxxi. Januarii. Vita S. Maidoci, cap. Ixiv. , p. 215.
Four Masters," vol. i. , pp. 246 to 249. "" "
See Monasticon Hibemicum," p. 420.
'3 See "Kalendars of Scottish Saints," 403-
=*See "Index Chronologicus," p. 537. "Britannicarum Ecclesiarum Antiquitates. "
25 " Prajsulibus Hibemiae. " See De
Epis-
copi Fernenses, p. 53.
^'See "Histoire de I'lrlande, Ancienneet
Moderne," tome i. , pariie ii. , chap, iii. , p.
306.
'~ See his " Ecclesiastical History of Ire-
3*
the whole world ior this purpose, in Rev. W. J. Rees' " Lives of the Cambro-British
'
land, vol. ii. , chap, xiv. , sec. x. , p. 339, Saints," pp. 249, 572.
and n. 144, p. 341.
** See Rev. M. J Brenan's " Ecclesiastical
History of Ireland, from the Introduction of
Christianity into that country to the year MDCCCXXIX. " Seventh Century, chap, ii. ,
3' See the BoUandists' "Acta Sanctorum," tomus ii. , xxxi. Januarii. Vita S. Aidani, cap. ix. , pp. 1 1 19, 1 1 20.
3* See Colgan's "Acta Sanctorum Hiber- nije," xxxi. Januarii, Vita S. Maidoci, cap.
p.
It is stated, that he travelled through
January 31. ] LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. 571
Again, we are informed, that during a period, when the pious Bishop MoUng39 ruled Ferns church,^° at one time he slept in St. Maidoc's bed. '*'' This no person before him had dared to enter. A canon, belonging to the
"
Since the death of our patron St. Maidoc, no person hath hitherto entered into this bed, on account of his great sanctity, who, when wearied in the body, lay down upon it for a short time, while his spirit, for the most part, communed with God. " But St.
cathedral church of Ferns, said to him :**
" We who
there without presumption. " When he had spoken these words, a violent
pain seized him. Being in an extremity of torture, he poured forth his prayers, asking God's assistance. Still the pain continued without cessation. ^**
Moling signed himself again with a sign of the cross, and he began to invoke most earnestly St. Maidoc's intercession. When he had done so, this great
pain miraculously left him. Arising from the bed, Moling^s felt at once relieved. The author of our saint's published life adds, that, in his time, no person was found worthy to sleep in the holy father's bed. Owing to this
circumstance, his biographer infers the great merit, which this illustrious archbishop must have acquired, before God's throne in Heaven. '*'^
That our saint was the author of some pieces may well be admitted ; although, it is doubtful, if any of them are now extant. One of his supposed poems has been alluded to already. It refers to the death of Cumuscach. 47 Furthermore, to Maidoc, Dempster has ascribed some works. '*^ However, no mention is made of these, in any of our saint's lives, nor by any other known author. The late Edward O'Reilly^s had in his possession an ancient
Moling*3 replied :
occupy
his seat,
may
be
permitted
to
sleep
Ixi. , p. 215.
39 A note in the hand-writing of Eugene
" O Jesus, protect me ; O Son of the living God, from all diseases, should they come to me ; if you heal me not, there is no charm to heal me under heaven. " See
O'Curry, and preceding his signature, is
found in the " Wexford County
Extracts, belonging to the Irish Ordnance Survey,"
pp. 250, 573, It will be found by comparison of botli pages, vol. i. , p. 425. It states: "Moiling Luach- the editor's version of Irish words in the
ra succeeded Maodhog at Ferns. "
*°A considerable amount of useful infor-
mation, regarding this ancient church and
"
diocese, will be found in Erck's ticalRegister. "FernsDiocese,pp. i19to127.
*' In the same Manuscript Volume, pre- viously alluded to, Mr. O'Curry tells us, that
Latin text was inexact, until Professor Eu-
gene O'Curry, of Dublin, restored for him
the correct reading, and supplied its English translation.
«Hislifeoccursatthe17thofJune. His death took place A. D. 696. See Rev, Dr. Todd's and Reeves' edition of the " Martyr-
Ecclesias-
"
"there was a place at Ferns called Leoba ology of Donegal, pp. 1 72, 1 73.
Maodhoige. " Seep. 425.
«' In Rev. W. J. Rees* " Lives of the
Cambro- British Saints," we find this incident
+SeetheBollandists'"ActaSanctorum," tomus ii. Vita S. Aidani, cap. ix. , p. 11 20.
*5 There is a very interesting note 3, re- garding this saint, in the Rev. John F. Shear-
thus rendered.
" Do not
A clergyman said to Moi-
man's " Loca
go up Moiling replied :
Patriciana,"
holy sleep
liag as Thou knowest our healing plants, no cure do I re- quest; I ask no physician but Thee. " Once more Moiling said: ". A Issu, dom comarce a meic de bi ar cec galar madam hi miner ica ni fil arthe nod ica fo nim ;" which means,
ling,
man. " Then
therein. " When he had gone up to the bed, immediately a severe illness attacked him. Then Moiling said: "A Jesu oro fetor ar saethu galar fil form inmain de cenom bedad a Issu ;" which means, " O Jesus, as Thou knowest our diseases, a distemper is on me ; welcome it is, though I die of it, O Jesus. " Yet pain did not cease to torment him. Again Moiling said: "A Issu oro fetor ar lussu nom nice nadab iarrussu ni ertha
vi. , pp. 185, Historical
act tusu ;" wi. ich " O signifies,
Jesus,
Librum " ;" lib. i. ,
L, Contemptu
to the bed of the
No. Royal
"Iwill
186.
See of the "Journal
and Archaeological Association of Ireland," vol. iii. Fourth Series, No. 19, July, 1874.
**Colgan's "Acta Sanctorum Hiberniie," xxxi,, Januarii, Vita S, Maidoci, cap, Ixiii. , p. 215.
*^ See Dr. O'Donovan's " Annals of the Four Masters," vol. i. , pp. 216, 217.
*^ According to his enumeration, these
works are intituled :
lorum Vanitatem
lib. i. , "Contra Ido-
lib. De
;"
" Homilias
rum Deorum ;" lib. i. , Crathlinthum Regem. "
*9 Assistant secretary to the Iberno-Celtic Society, started in Dublin a. d. 1818, and only of short-lived continuance.
falso- "Pro Ecclesia ad
572 LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. [January 31.
manuscript life of our saint. In this were preserved some poems, said to have been written by him. There is one, which professes to expound his will. s° In this testament his property is divided between three churches, said to have been founded by him : namely, Ferns,5' in Leinster, Drum Leathan, in Cavan, and Ross Inver, in Leitrim county. Another of these poemss^denouncesthosewhoshoulddaretoinjurehischurch; butsucha description is given of the author as might cause one to suspect, that those verses were not the genuine productions of Maodhog. 53 Besides different tracts written to commemorate the life and actions of our saint, a poem,54 consisting of one hundred and forty-four verses, was composed in the four- teenthcentury,55byapoetofBreffney,namedSiodhruadhO'Cuimin. s^ Our
saint is usually designated Mogue, throughout the diocese of Ferns. We are told, that children, here called after him, generally receive the name of Moses at baptism,57 when they are the offspring of Catholic parents. s^ The name of Edan or Aidan seems to have been formerly common enough in other parts of Ireland. 59
Besides giving a very interesting sketch of St. Maidoc's life, a lady,^ possessing distinguished artistic and antiquarian talents, has most accurately described the celebrated relic of this saint, called The Breac Moedoc,'^' and another referring to the patron of Devenish called The Soiscel Molaise. Both of these precious objects are now preserved in the Museum of the
RoyalIrishAcademy. Beautifullyandcorrectlyexecutedengravings,giving detailed illustrations, are introduced. The history of those relics is traced with great care, and the lady, who, as an Irish author and artiste, has achieved so deserved a distinction, leaves nothing unnoticed, which could lend pic- torial or literary effect to the special subjects of her essay. The shrine of St. MogueisformedlikeanancientIrishcillorchurch. Itssideswereanciently covered with exquisitely formed figures of ecclesiastics, habited in seventh or eighth century costumes. Only eighteen of these figures remain, although
5° It begins with these Irish words, 'bint) mhAo-doig meAbAif tinn. In English,
Ann CiomnA ifAi-bce^x bn. The English "The History of Maodhog let us re-
thus runs
:
" Intention of the will set forth
member. "
55 See " Account O'Reilly's Chronological
5* This author died in the year 1400. Some copies of his poems were preser\'ed in
by
us. "
5' Among the artists' sketches for Wex-
ford county, preserved in the Ordnance Sur-
vey Office Records, R. I. A. , there are three
drawings, relating to Ferns. One sketch in
pencil represents the ruins of its castle. A Edward O'Reilly's MS. collection.
57 This, however, is incorrect. The chil- dren of Protestant parents are more correctly named Aidan, in this part of Ireland.
5^ See Dr. O'Donovan's "Annals of the
Four Masters," vol. i. , n. (p), p. 247.
59 Thus, a of St Patrick's Church, priest
Dublin, called Edan, was a subscribing wit-
ness to St. Laurence O'Toole's grant, in duced in ink, ready for the engraver.
We favour of the Church of the Most Holy
second pencil sketch exhibits a rudely- executed cross, as seen on a stone in the church-yard of Ferns. The third, also pen- cilled, represents the remains of another
stone cross, lying in the same graveyard.
On the latter cross
within different compartments. The first
appears angular tracery,
and third drawings are beautifully repro-
find, also, a beautiful ink drawing, present- ing the ruins of Ferns abbey, as seen from theeast.
^ It begins with these words : fHAi]\5
Trinity, in 1170. See Monck Mason's
''
History and Antiquities of the Collegiate andCathedralChurchofSt. Patrick. " In-
troduction, sect, i. , pp. I, 2. ^MissStokesofDublin.
|'Ai]\eo64f -mo 61bl, cat6, thus translated,
" *' "
Woe to those who pollute my noble See the elaborate treatise, On Two church. " Works of Ancient Irish Art, known as The 53 See the "Chronological Account of Breac Moedog, or shrine of St. Moedog,
nearly Four Hundred Irish Writers," &c. , p. xliii.
5* It began with these words, SeAn6<3i|'
and the Soiscel Molaise, or Gospel of St. Molaise," communicated to the Society of Antiquaries.
of nearly Four Hundred Irish W'riters," p. cxi.
January 31. ] LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. 573
originally they were twenty-one in number. Besides the figures, a great variety of ornamental designs, executed in bronze and variegated enamel, may be seen. By competent critics, this shrine has been pronounced to be the oldest, and the opus Hibernicum workmanship to be the most interesting of its class, known to remain in the world. ^*
After St. Molaise of Devenish had resolved on a visit to Rome, he is said
firsttohavevisitedSt. Moedoc,atFerns. Havingthenestablishedamutual
friendly covenant, on his return from Rome, Molaise presented a reliquary or shrine to St. Edan at Fems. '^^ This is now in Dr. Petrie's collection of
Irish antiquities, preserved at the Royal Irish Academy. It is known as the Breac Moedoc. This shrine had been preserved for many centuries in the church of St. Moedoc, at Drumlane, in keeping of the Catholic parish priest. The people believed, a false oath taken on it must be followed by some singular judgment, so great was that reverence in which it was held. It was occasionally lent for the purpose of swearing accused persons on trial. About the year 1846, it had been lent on some such understanding to a person named Magauran, from the parish of Templeport, he having de- posited the usual pledge of a guinea for its safe return. However, a Dublin jeweller offered him a larger sum than that he had given as a guarantee. He thereupon broke faith with the priest, and sold the sacred relic. Afterwards, Dr. Petrie purchased and preserved it, as a genuine and curious specimen of ancient Irish art. ^-* This shrine is a small one,^5 and in its general form it is very like the chasses or shrines of Limoges work, belonging to a much later date. It is box-shaped and vertical, for about one-third of the height, on the sides : then these slope inwards, until they meet at a very acute angle, so as to resemble the roof of a house.
The foundation of this shrine is of pale The front of the Breac Moedog is divided The lower tier^^ has three compartments : each of these had originally three figures. The central^^ and righf^^ compart-
bronze, covered with gilt plates. into three tiers, or rows of figures.
*^ See W. F. Wakeman's " Lough Erne,
Enniskillen, Belleek, Ballyshannon and
Bundoran," &c. , concluding chapter, p. 161.
inches.
*3 In the Irish life of St. Moedoc, it is
stated, Molaise presented a portion of the
sacred remains which he had brought from
Rome, and these included the relics of "Irish Ecclesiastical Record," vol. vii. , p. Saints Peter and Paul, of Saints Laurence
and Clement and Stephen, of the Blessed
Virgin Mary and St. Martin, with those of many other saints, "The life further adds,
that St. Molaise, having given these relics to his^ friend, St. Moedoc, exclaimed, "/j Breac go maith uail me anossa," i. e. , "Now
indeed I am well-speckled by thee," as if he said, "You have given me such a corselet of relics, that I am now all over ornamented and protected by them. " And St. Molaise then said, Breac Moedoig {i. e. , the speckled or variegated shrine of Moedoc),"—shall be the name of the reliquary for ever. Ecclesiastical Record," vol. vii. , pp. 318, 319.
321.
^^ In it are represented Our Saviour with
the Apostles, SS. Peter and Paul. The Re-
deemer holds in his hands the Book of the
Law, and in the left a vase, closely resembl-
ing in form some old Irish chalices, yet pre-
served in the Royal Irish Academy ; while
in the arcade or where he stands are birds,
symbolical of the angelic choirs. St. Paul
is at the right of Our Saviour, while a sword
is in the right and a sceptre in the left hand
of this Apostle. S—t. Peter stands at the left
of the Redeemer this in many ancient
monuments the of ho- — being post highest
nour with a sceptre in the right and a crozier in the left hand.
*5 Its dimensions are : height 'j\ inches, considering his youthful appearance and length 81 inches, breadth of the base 3J beardless fece ; the other appears to be St.
^* See Miss Stokes' illustrated
"On Two Works of Ancient Irish Art," &c. , p. 5, et seq.
'* Here are three : one of figures
"Irish
treastise,
these, bearing a cruciform crozier in his hand, seems intended for St. John the Evangelist,
**
It is thought, in the figures it contained,
had been represented the whole series of the
Apostles. Allowing two figures to the cor-
responding parts of the shrine, at either end, including the figure of our Blessed Lord, we should have precisely thirteen figures. See
574 LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. [January 31.
merits are still entire, but only the feet of three figures remain in the left com- partment. ^9 Thesecondorcentraldivisionisonlycapableofreceivingtwo compartments ; each one of these has a group of figures. One of these groups is still preserved, and it presents, in an arcade, three female figures, with hands gracefully clasped on the bosom. Their dress is uniform, while their countenances are peculiarly sweet. There is something in their atti- tude so noble and Divine, that there can be little hesitation in reckoning this group among the most perfect works of art belonging to our early Irish Church. 7° TheuppermosttierordivisionoftheBreacMoedoigallowsonly of two compartments ; and as these spaces are smaller than those of the middle tier, each one may possibly have contained only two figures. 7' It was to this tier, perhaps, that a group of two figures,^' now loosely appended to the middle compartment, originally belonged. In the forms and faces of the female figures, there is not only strong individuality of character, but this character is one of sweetness, benevolence and simple goodness, carried out, not only in facial expression, but in the mere figure attitudes, and in the quiet clasping of hands upon the breast. 73 Impassioned sorrow, an earnest, tearful gaze ; a cheerful, common-sense expression ; solemn, severe dignity ; these characteristics are noticeable in the faces of various groups. '^ All this and the treatment of details manifest the existence of a dramatic, as also of a religious element, in early Irish art. It elevates above that which is purely decorative, and it is as much beyond the art of the mere savage or barbarian, as the faith which teaches of goodness, purity and love transcends the dark superstitions of heathenism. 75
The present Protestant cathedral church of Ferns, although a modem building, is said to have attached some remains of the mor—e ancient structure.
When last
to occupy its original position St. . ^dan's or Mogue's reputed monument was found. 76 There it may be seen,77 and it is held to have been his ancient
in a niche of that church not a. d. 181 —
repaired, 7, yet supposed
tomb, according to popular tradition. 7^
Matthew, for it bears a book clasped in both hands, his usual characteristic symbol in ancient art. The remains of an undeciplier- able inscription are traceable over their heads.
A monster, writhing with pain, is
ship to St. Molaise of Devenish. See " Irish Ecclesiastical Record," vol. vii. , pp. 324, 325.
73 \—curious feature is a reversal of the
hands as if a mistake happened in the
^ With singular artistic taste and anti- quarian lore, Miss Stokes has described and 74
resolved the emblematic meaning, as also the comparative relationship of the tracery and objects represented, with cognate religious and national designs.
7° •' We probably will not err in supposing that the central figure is the Blessed Virgin Mary, Mother of God, and that the figures on either side are St. Brigid, the Mary of Erin, and St. Ita, the contemporary of our Saint Aidan, and celebrated in our annals as the Brigid of Munster. "—"The Irish Ec- clesiastical Record," vol. vii. , p. 323.
7' Miss Stokes has detailed the patterns
and characteristics of this group, with great
felicity of thought and expression. See p. 13.
7' It has been conjectured, that one of
these may have been intended for St. Aidan
of Ferns, while the other may represent his synonymn saint, called Aedh Mac Brie. Both were bound by special ties of friend-
moulding,
««
That the Blessed Virgin and the Apos- ties were represented in the figures of this reliquary becomes the more probable when we reflect that their sacred relics were pre-
served within the venerable shrine. " "
Irish Ecclesiastical Record," vol. vii. , p.
323.
'5 See Miss Stokes, "On Two Works of
Ancient Irish Art," &c. , p. 14.
7* «« We are not informed by whom, or at
what period, this monument was erected, but it is visibly not of a veiy ancient date "— Brewer's "Beauties of Ireland," voL i. , p. 398.
'7 Not only an illustration of St. Mogue's
ancient tomb, but likewise illustrations of
the abbey and castle ruins, with engravings of an ancient cross and font at Ferns, are to be seen in Mr. and Mrs. Hall's " Ireland ; its Scenery, Character," &c. , vol. ii. , pp. 180 to 183.
'^ The saint is represented f>(/Mf/^<i/>^;
— The
January 31. ] LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. 575
sculptured beneath his feet ; while the exergue of this tomb is ornamented, with trefoils. 79 This memorial is held in great respect by the Catholics, who come from great distances and steal into the Protestant church to kiss it,^° whenever the doors are open.
In Ireland, various places have been connected with the memory of St.
Maidoc. ThereisatownlandcalledKilmeague,inthecountyofKildare,
and it may possibly be rendered " the church of Mogue. " At Templeshambo. ^' formerly Shanbotha, he was reverenced, and likewise, at Killybeg,^"" a town- landoftheparishofInishmacsaint,inthecountyofFermanagh, Here,ac- cording to Colgan, was a miraculous stone called Lac-Maodhoc, or Maedoc's stone. ^^ Besides, we find a place called Disert Nairbre,^-* now Dysart, a townland in the parish of Ardmorc, in the south-west of the county of Water- ford. ^^ We have already seen, that a house of his own foundation stood at
Cloncagh,^^ a parish in the territory of Hy-Conaill Gabhra, now the barony ofConnelloUpper,inthecountyofLimerick. ^7 Totheseplacesmaybe
added Ard-lathran,^^ now supposed to be Ardamine^s parish, in the barony of Ballaghkeen, on the sea coast, in the county of Wexford ; as also in the same county the Clonmore9° of his establishment, and the still more celebrated Ferns,9' to which allusion has been already sufficiently made. 9^ A well in the parish of Conra,93 county of Westmeith, was named, it is said, after this most remarkableofthosesaintsbearingMaidoc'sname. However,suchastate- ment may be doubtful. St. Edan's or Mogue's well and an old graveyard lie inthetownlandandparishofClongeen,94inWexfordcounty. Thespringesis
a very small conical cap, which ends in a point, surmounts his head, as a mitre ; whilst a short crozier or baculum crosses his breast.
ples of Ancient Ireland," there are notices of Ardladhran or Ardamine, and its large artificial mound. See p. 457.
tno]A.
9' In the work immediately quoted, we find a detailed account of the antiquities of
93 In the townland of Cam in this
there is a well, called Tobar Maodhoig or Mogue well, from which Dr. O'Donovan was inclined to believe, that parish might have been dedicated to Saint Mogue, before the D'Altons transferred its patronage to the Blessed Virgin. See "County of VVest- meath Antiquarian Letters belonging to the Ordnance Survey," vol. i. , pp. 117, 118. Mr. O'Donovan's Letter dated Ballymore, Lough Sewdy, September 17th, 1837.
9* In the townland of Loughnageer, in the same parish, there is a spot, where it is said, a church, dedicated to St. Catherine, for- merly stood ; but of which the foundation cannot even now be traced. Near it was a "holy well," dedicated to St. Catherine. In the detached southern part of that same parish stood an old abbey, called Abbey- braney. Ofthisnotastoneistobeseenat present. Its site is occupied by Abbey-
Antiquarian Letters belonging to the Irish Ordnance Survey Office. "
95Itwas the site of a " al- formerly patron,"
though in 1840 the well was not resorted to; nor was the pattern day remembered by the people.
79 On its top, according to Archdeacon "
Cotton's Fasti," Leinster, p. 329, we find
the " Under sculptured following inscription :
this monument are interred the remains of St. Edan, commonly called St. Moague,
January 31st, A. D. DCXXXil. "
^ Tliey believe, in many instances, this practice procures for them the miraculous cure of toothache. "Clearly, then, this monument is not in its proper place. It oughttobegivenuptotheRoma—nCatholic bishop or sent to a museum. " Godkin's "Ireland and her Churches," part second, chap, xiii. , p. 276.
Ferns. See ibid. ,
9^ See likewise the Rev. William Reeves'
the founder of this and first cathedral,
bishop of Perns. He discharged the pastoral office with piety and Xtian zeal for the space of fifty years, and died, in an advanced age,
parish,
*'
In Marcus Keane's "Towers and Tem-
ples of Ancient Ireland," there is an account
of the ecclesiastical remains at this place.
See p.
