'* Regarding this celebrated
*s His biography will be found, in Colgan's "Acta Sanctorum Hiberniae.
*s His biography will be found, in Colgan's "Acta Sanctorum Hiberniae.
O'Hanlon - Lives of the Irish Saints - v4
, Part i.
, chap.
4, sect.
56, p.
147.
"•
His feast occurs, at the 27th of De- cember.
'S He is venerated, at the 1st of May.
''
Their festival is held, on the 29th of June.
1792. repre-
' See L'Abbe " Dictionnaire de Bergier's
Theologie," tome iii. . Art. Paques, pp. 598, 599.
Ryan's History and Antiquities of the County Carlow,' chap, ii. , p. 24.
'
< About A. D. 162.
""
His feast occurs, at the 26th of January,
He
" From a. d. 157 to 168, this Pontiff pre-
July.
'^ See ibid. °' "
LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. [April i«.
traditions, on the subject, to St. Peter and St. Paul. '* In the second century, Pope St. Pius l. ,^^ who sat from a. d. 142 to a. d. 157,'' had issued a Decree, that Easter should be celebrated on a Sunday ; and. Pope St. Victor I. ,'9 who ruled from a. d. 192 to a. d. 202,'° confirmed that decree. ^' However, a vio- lent contest arose, about the year 194, between the latter Pope and Polycrates, Bishop of Ephesus, who resolved, with a Council assembled by him, to cele- brateEaster,onthe14thdayofthemooninMarch. ThePopethreatened these Orientals with excommunication ; but, he was dissuaded from this pur- pose, by St. Irenaeus, Bishop of Lyons, and by some other holy Bishops, who represented the probability of a schism, and on a difference, which touched no dogma of Christianity. ^^ These differences were settled, by a decree of the Council of Nice, which was held, in 325 ; and, this confirmed the Roman rule. Thefatherstheredecided,thatthefestivalshouldbecelebratedevery- where,onthefirstSunday,afterthespringfullmoon. However,itwasdiffi- cult to fix the precise day. The Bishop of Alexandria was commissioned, by Pope St. Leo \. p to calculate the Easter beforehand, and to communicate such result to the Apostolic See, so that it might be proclaimed to the whole Church. ^4 Thus, the fathers of Nice wisely put an end to an unseemly dis- crepancy. They decreed, that the Easter should be celebrated uniformly, on theSundaywhichnextfollowsthe14thdayofthefirst month,accordingto
theJewishcomputation. Thiswasregulatedbythelunarday,occurringon the 2 1st of March, or the next in succession to it. Again, the decree pro- vided, that the feast should not be celebrated on the same day, as that adopted by the Jews. The ancient British Church still celebrated Easter Sunday, however, from the 14th to the 20th of the moon ; because, as the Britons were then harassed by the Saxons, and as they were almost precluded from com- municating with Italy or the Continent, on account of wars prevailing there, they continued to use the old cycle,^5 and they were ignorant, in a great mea- sure, of any improvement. '^^ In England, ecclesiastics and laics differed widely, on this matter of observance. While some Christians were mourning in com- memoration of the others were — in the resu—rrection of the
Passion, rejoicing,
a
Blessed Saviour. Thus, Queen Eanfleda "^ Kentish lady
with her
fol-
lowers, was still fasting and keeping Palm-Sunday, when her husband Oswy,=* the King of Northumbria, had done fasting, and was keeping his Easter. ''' This might have occurred, in any of the years 645, 647, 648, or 651, when the 14th of the moon fell on Sunday ; but, the exact date, to which allusion is made, has not been determined. About the beginning of the seventh cen-
tury, it is thought, that St. Laurence,^" Archbishop of Canterbury, took a journey into Ireland, for the purpose of bringing the Catholics of this country, to adopt the Roman practice for celebrating Easter. 3' His pastoral care, as
' His feast occurs, on the nth of July.
'* "
See Sir Harris Nicolas' Chronology of
History," p. 211.
"' His festival is celebrated, on the 28th of
Ecclesiastica Gentis Anglorum," lib. iii. , cap. 4.
-^
See Rev. Dr. Lingard's "Antiqui- ties of the Anglo-Saxon Church," chap, i. , p. 36.
"' She had been educated, by Roman dis- ciples.
'*
He, with the majority of his subjects, had derived the knowledge of Christianity, from the Irish or Scots. See Rev. Dr.
Lingard's "History of England," vol. i. , chap, ii. , p. 100.
°' See Venerable Bede's account,
30 His feast occurs, at the 2nd of Feb-
ruary.
31 See "Britannia Sancta," by Bishop
Challoner, part i. , p. 97.
See Breviarium Romanum," Pars.
Estiva, xxviii. Julii, Officiura, Lect. v.
'^ "
See Rev. John Alzog's M. inual of
UniversalChurchHistory,"vol. i. , Periodi. ,
Epoch i. . Part 2, chap. 5, sect. 93, p. 310. 'T' He ruled from A. D. 440 to 461. See
Sir Harris Nicholas' tory," p. 210.
"
Chronology of His-
"*See "Opera," S. Leoni Magni. Epis- tola 121.
^^ See Venerable Bede's " Historia
April i8. ] LIVES OF THE IRISH SAWTS. »ti
we are told,3= extended to the Scots inhabiting Ireland. '^ Whether that Arch- bishop saw Laserian cannot be discovered ; but, it is probable, some means ofcommunicationhadbeenestablishedbetweenthem. ThefirstPaschwas celebratedamongtheSaxons,asweareinformed,ina. d. 665;34 but,bythis we are to understand, in conformity with the generally accepted Western rite. The Roman usage, for celebrating Easter, prevailed throughout England, from A. D. 673,35 and by degrees, the Irish and Scots conformed to the same practice. However, as we are informed, nearly another century had elapsed, before the Pasch was changed to the Sunday among the Britons. This happened, through theinterventionofthemanofGod,Elbodugus,intheyear768. 3^ Notwith- standing all the foregoing dififerences and changes, other adjustments had to take place, before the regulation of Easter-tide was finally settled. Pope Gregory XIII. 3? was the great reformer of our Church Calendar in 1582 ; for, accumulated errors, from an 89 minutes' excess of the 19 years' cycle, made thecalendarmoonfallfourdayslaterthantherealmoon. Hence,adepar- ture from the Old to the New style. 3^ This was simply the old enactment of the Canon Law, as established in the Catholic Church, and which was laid down by the General Council of Nice. For Calendar and ecclesiastical pur- poses, an imaginary moon 39 movement has been devised. I'hus, the moon refened to in the rule regarding Easter is not tliat real moon, which shines in our system. Nor is it that mean moon of the astronomers, which is regarded as moving at a uniform rate, so as invariably to run through ;iil its phases, in a period of 29 days, and about 12 hours. This is the average period, de-
. scribed by the real moon of the firmament. ''" It was only during the last
century, the reformation of the Gregorian Calendar had been adopted in
England,*' and during the reign of George II. , in 1 75I. ''' It was received in Ireland, in 1781, thirty years later, when introduced by an Act of the Irish Parliament,^ passed in tlie reign of George III. However, Ireland had already practically adopted the English statute, relating to the calendar, from the year 1752, when ib provisions came into force.
^ By Venerable Bede.
^ See "Historia Ecc'. esiastica Gentis An-
glomm," lib. ii. , cap. 4.
"See "Annales Cambriae," edited hy
Rev. John Williams ab Ithel, M. A. , p. 8.
35 Then the National Council at Hart-
goriati Calendar, acted in the full belief, that the " moon," referred to in the rules rcgaid- ing the celebration of Easter, was the real moon of the firmament.
*' Then was enacted, the English statute
24th of George II. , chap. 22, for changing from the Old to the New style. It enacted,
"
from the 2nd September, 1752 . . . the said Feast of Piaster should be observed
according to the calendar, tables, and rules thereunto annexe<l. " The calendar for
March, annexed to that English act, has this note: "The numbers here prefixed to the several days between the 21st day of March and the l8th day of April, both inclusive, de- note the days upon which those full moons do fall which happened upon or next after the 21st day of Marth in those years of which they are respectively the golden num- hers. AndtheSundayletternextfollowing any such full moon points out Easter Day
"
for that
*^ It is known, as the 21st and 22nd of
ferd, under Archbishop Theodore, adopted
the canon : "'That we all jointly keep Eas- that
ter Day, on the Lord's Day, after the 14th day of the moon, in the first day.
* See ' Aimales Cambriae," edited by Rev. John Williams ab Ithel, M. A. , p. 10.
^ He sat in St. Peter's chair, from a. d.
1572 to 1585.
3* See tlie account contained, in Sir Harris
Nicolas'
"
Chronology of History," pp. 34
to 39.
3' This is regarded, as moving with a
period, sometimes of 29, and sometimes of
30days.
*> To an article on the Almanac, in Dr.
Ijirdner's "Museum of Science and Art," the reader is referred, for a popular exposi-
year.
tion, on the principles of chronometric George III. , chap. 8.
science. There, this matter is fully ex- plained, and it deserves careful study.
*' It has been remarked, by Professor de
" In Ussher's " Britannicarum Ecclesia-
rum Antiquitates," cap. xvii. , pp. 479 to 484, a learhed and succinct statement of this
Morgan, thatthestatesmentowhomEngland subject will be found, with various refer- is indebted for the introduction of the Ore- ences to the works of ancient writers.
233 LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. [April i8.
The disputed Paschal question <4 having been specially agitated, during our saint's epoch, he is thought to have visited Rome a second
time, to consult regarding this observance, He thus acted, at the re- quest of some, among the Irish clergy. This journey, however, could not have been undertaken, at the desire of either King ^dan, or of St. Columba, both of whom were then dead. The Bollandist Editor, Papebroke, supposes that Cummineus, Abbot of Hy, was a chief procurer of this visit. *' It seems to be inferred, also, from an epistle written to the monks of lona, in which Cummineus excuses himself from observing the Roman Pasch, and in opposition to their received custom. *^ When this question had been maturely
a was convoked in or " under the investigated, Synod MagJene, Whitefield,"
heights of Mount Marge, and near the Barrow banks. '" But, when it was proposed there to observe Easter for the future, after the prevailing practice of the Universal Church, a certain monk moved, that the consideration of this matter should be submitted to the Roman See. *^ St. Laserian defended, with great energy and success, the Roman method of Paschal computation, at this Synod ; and, its assembled fathers deputed him to proceed, as their delegate, to the Holy City. 9 The year thus indicated is computed to have been 630,5° when nearly the Universal Church celebrated Easter on the 24th ofMarch. TheBritonsandIrishwerethesoleexceptions. Theseobserved the Paschal festival, on the 21st of April, being entirely attached to St. Columba's practice, of adopting the Quartadeciman Cycle, which had caused the difference of nearly a month to intervene, between the respective rites. '"
During this, or the year following, St. Laserian is thought to have returned as Legate, and to have presided in that capacity over a Synod,'" convened at Leighlin. 53 In our saint's Acts, although we have an account, concerning the honours and dignities conferred on him by Pope Honorius, yet we find no mention made, about such an important Synod.
'* Regarding this celebrated
*s His biography will be found, in Colgan's "Acta Sanctorum Hiberniae. " xxvi. Feb- ruarii. Vita S. Cuminei. His Life may be seen likewise, at the 24th of February.
*' " of the letter," In consequence Pope's
writes the Rev. James G. nffney, "a synod was at once convened at Old Leighlin, the
as seems by verbal discrepancies—from some less perfect copy of this celebrated Epistle, than the one used by Ussher.
"The Very Rev. Monsignor Moran's
" on the Doctrines and Dis- Essays Origin,
ciplineof the Early Irish Church," part iii. , chap, iii. , p. 141.
5° " Annus ille serae Christianae DCXXX.
fuisse videtur; quo Hibernicyclum LXXXIV. annorum seciiti Paschalera Dominicam ca-
lendis Aprilibus, integra ante tempus in Alexandrina Enneadecaeteride (a Romanis
of which is handed down by a learned
history
monk named Cummian. " "Ancient Irish
Church," chap, iv. , p. 94. '
"? See Ussher's Britannicarum Ecclesia-
—
rum Antiquitates," cap. xvii. , p. 484.
*" Papebroke sujiposes, that this monk j. im recepta), prostitutum septimnna obser-
must have been . St. Fintan Munnu, who zealously defended the Irish observance.
vabant. "
—
Ussher's
"
Britannicarum Eccle-
" Misimus quos novi- et humiles esse, velut natos ad matrem, et prosperum iter in voluntate Dei habentes, et ad Romam urbem aliqui ex
eis venientes, tertio nnno ad nos usque per- venerunt, et sic omnia viderunt sicut audie- runt : sed, et valde certiora, utpote visa quam audita invenerunt, et in uno hospitio cum Grseco et Hebraso, Scytha et . ^gyp-
in ecclesia S. Petri simul in Pascha (in quo menso disjuncti sumus) fuerant, et ante sancta sic testati sunt nobi>, dicentes, o per totum orbem terrarum hoc Pascha, ut scimus,
"
siarum . \ntiquitates," cap. xvii. , p. 485. =' Ibid.
Cummin thus writes
:
mu5
sapientes,
'' In "L'Art de Verifier des Dates, "tome
Chronologie Historique des Conseils," p.
tiaco,
54 This omission is supplied, however,
from the Acts of St. Fintan Munnu, por-
tions of which are quoted, in Ussher's
Vetenim Epis- tolarum Hibernicarum Sylloge," Epist. xi—. ,
cap. xvii. , pp. 484 to 486, where an interest-
ing account, regarding this Synod, maybe seen.
celebratur. " See Ussher's
p. 34. Papebroke appears to have copied
i.
155, the date assigned for this Synod is
A. D. 630.
"
Biitannicarum Ecclesiarum Antiquitates,"
53 Dr. Lanigan intimates, that this Synod "
was held, about the year 633. See Eccle- siastical History of Ireland," vol. ii. , chap, xv. , sec. ix. , p. 402.
April i8. ] LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. 223
convocation of the Irish clergy, said to have belonged to the second order of saints, and it would seem also, many of the people assembled with them, the following details are recorded, in an ancient Life of St. Fintan Munnu. ss The
principal contestants, on a disciplinary matter that naturally excited great public interest, as it was one of grave national importance, were St. Laserian, or Molassius, Abbot over Leighlin monastery, and St. Fintan Munnu. 5* Abbot over Teach-Munnu, called after its founder, and situated in that part of
SouthernLeinster,knownasHy-Kinsellagh. Oneofthemostpleasingpic- tures presented to us, in the detailed account of this transaction, is the true
Christian feeling and courtesy displayed by those saints, who were most opposed in opinion. s? The usual embittered tone, and rabid arguments of
ordinary controversy, seem to have been entirely eschewed ; while a respect- iiil and decorous consideration, suited to the time and the occasion, contrasts favourably with the unbecoming passions and excitement of modem conven- ticles and meetings. It is possible, we may have special legendary accounts left us, regarding a great historic event ; but, the light of early Irish transac- tions, although dimmed by popular rumours often interposed, must occa- sionally be traced under the veil of traditional lore. The trial proposed, for ascertaining the Divine will, in a matter of great moment, seems to indicate arathermoderncompositionofoursaint'sLifenowextant; for,itrecallsthe trials of innocence, and by combat, which were practised so frequently in the Middle Ages. Laserian was one of the first assembled, to promote the new ordinance, lately received from Rome ; while St. Munnu seems to have met with some detention, for he did not immediately reach the Synod of clerics expectinghisarrival,asachiefdefenderoftheIrishcustom. Subne,sonof
Domnaili, and local chieftain over the Huamairche territory, felt impatient becauseofthisdelay,incommencingtheproceedings. Heatlastcriedout:
" Why do you await so long the arrival of this leper ? "
to his servant. "
On that very day, before evening came, St. Munnu approached towards theplace; and,theholymena. ssembledinCouncilwentforthtoreceivehim
with honour. St. Laserian, and this distinguished stranger courteously saluted each other. Moved by this spectacle, the chieftain, Subne, asked a
rian his " O mildly reproved expression, by saying,
do not such apply
Chief,
a term to St. Munnu ; for, although corporally absent, he is with us in spirit ; assuredly what you have now said, he has heard, wherever he may happen to be ; and the Almighty will exact from you reparation, for any injury done
55 "St. Laserian proposes to follow the
compulation adopted by the whole Western Church J the Ablwt of Tnghmon isin favour
of the old cycle of eighty-four years ; the great body of the prelates and heads of the
Munnu appears to have read, under the same virtuous and learned master, and to have been a felloiv-disciple with the re- nowned St. Columbanus, who«e career has been so magnificently portrayed by Comte
religious houses support the computation de Montalembert, in his celebrated work,
then practised by the Universal Church, de- daring that they had been directed by their
predecessors to follow invarinbly what was held by the successors of the Apostles. "—
"
Les Moines d'Occident," tome ii. , liv. ix. Those remarkable Iri^h Saints held simi- lar strong opinions, in favour of celebra- ting Easter, according to the early Irish custom.
5? " Like obedient children of the Holy See, they proceeded at once to consider the matter, to which the Pope had called their
attention, namely, the question ot the Pas- "
chal computation. "— Irish History. Fur- ther observations on a Lecture, delivered in
the Town House, Tullamore. " By Benjamin Quiverful, p. 12.
"
Lecture delivered in the Town House, TuUa- more, and republished with an Appendix. "
By Benjamin Quiverful, p. 12 ; Dublin, 1859, l2mo.
^ This St. Fintan had for his lather Tulcan, and for his mother Fedelmia. For eighteen years, he studied with St. Synell
Mac Maynacur, AbWot over the monastery of Cluain-inis, in Lough Erne. St. Fintan
Irish History. Further observations on a
Then, Abbot Lase-
224 LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. [April i8.
from St. Munnu. The latter
benediction ? Indeed, I can truly tell you, that at the right hand of His eter- nal Father, Christ himself felt the insult, when you spoke evil concerning me. For, I am one of the members, over whom He, as the Head, presides ; and, the head feels pain, whenever any one of the members is wounded. Where- fore, even before this month ends, your own kinsman shall put you to death, and cut off your head, wliile your body shall be cast into the River Barrow,5' and shall not afterwards be seen. " This prophecy was fulfilled, and in the manner announced by God's holy servant ; for, that month had not closed, before Subne was killed by the son of his own brother, near a rivulet, called
Blathach,s9 and his head was cast into the river. '°
While the Council was — the Paschal contro- engaged, considering
versy, St. Munnu is said to liave observed " Let us be brief in our remarks : but, in the name of God, let us proceed to a trial. Three different choices are given to you, O Laserian. Let two books, one of the old order, and another of the new, be cast into the fire together, and let us see which of them shall escape the flames. Or, let two monks, one of your house, and another of mine, be shut up in the same house, which may be set on fire, and then we shall see, who of both these men shall escape unharmed. Or, let us go together to the tomb of a holy monk, and raise him to life, and he will manifest to us, which order we ought to observe, for the celebration of Easter this year. "*'
:
answeredhim "Wewillnotproceedtoatrialwithyou because,weknow,
;
for your sake, on account of your labours and sanctity, if you desired Mount Margy to occupy the place of this White Field, and the White Field to be removed where Mount Margy now remains, God would immediately cause this to be done. " At that time, they were assembled in the White Field, which was under the foot of Mount Margy. In presence of all the people
appears that unanimity prevailed among the people, and the clergy then con- vened, before departing for their respective homes. *^'
In the estimation of some persons, the exact spot, where this assembly
blessing
replied :
Why
dost thou ask a
leper's
assembled, St. Munnu also said to the Abbot Laserian
break up this Council, that each person may depart to his own place. " It
5^ This word in Ussher is " Berow," and he has a marginal annotation, "Al. Berbha. " 59 This might have been an ancient name for the stream, on which Old Leighlin
stands.
*" From the obscure way, in which this
statement is recorded, we are at a loss to known, whether his head was cast into the Blathach or into the Barrow.
^' Were we to place reliance, on all this legendary account, it should appear proba- ble, from this passage, the Synod of Magh Lene must have been assembled, before the Easter of that year.
" To the foregoing account, we find added
"
Vel. ut in alio libro plenius legitur, Consentientes igiiur omnes juxta sententiam vir—i sancti, adpropria cum ^audio sunt reversi. '' "Britannicarum Ecclesiarum
Antiquitates," cap. xvii. , pp. 484, 485.
'^ Pope Honorius commenced his Pontifi-
cate, on the 27th of October, 625. In Blair's "Chronological and Historical Tables," num. 33, he is represented, as having reigned fourteen years.
'* Commenting on this Epistle, the Pro-
testant local historian, Ryan, remarks:
"This document evinces, pretty clearly, the
tone of authority assumed by the Bishop of
Rome, at a very early period ; and must,
assuredly, strike all, as containing an unjus-
tifiable degree of arrogance, coming, as it
did, from a person, who had no earthly, or
heavenly authority whatever to dictate to the
Irish people on either spiritual, or temporal affairs. This was the view taken, at least, in
effect, by many of the Irish clergy, as will
he seen in the See " and sequel. " History
Antiquities of the County of Carlow," chap. ii. , pp. 23, 24. Strange to say, the writer's inconclusiveness of reasoning is perfectly
shown in the "sequel" by himself; but stranger still is the fact, he did not reflect, that not alone the whole Irish Catholic Church, but even eveiy sect of Protestants has since accepted, without hesitation, or in- quiry, the "authority assumed by the Bishop of Rome, "in deciding this once controverted question, regarding the most suitable time
for celebrating Easter.
in Ussher:
"
:
St. Laserain then
" It is now time to
April i8. ] LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS.
'
had been convened, may readily be inferred, from ancient Acts of our early saints. The holy Fintan, it is said, having urged our saint to a strange sort of miraculous test, the Abbot Laserian declined it, owing to the respect enter- tained for his former master. Again, it was thought, that the Divine inter- position should not thus be sought fatuitously, in a matter so clear and certain. Wherefore, St. Fintan concluded, that each one should follow the course he judged right. Pope Honorius *3 wrote to the Irish Bishops, in
635, exhorting them not to oppose an example, set by the Universal Church, in ancient and modern times. '< Yet, the account of his Pontificate,*' given us by most authors, contains nothing, which might in any way serve to illus- trate St. Laserian's biography. Pope Honorius reminded the Irish, that they were placed in a remote part of the world, and that they were few in number, as compared with those adopting the Roman custom. ** Although the Northern Irish observed their own peculiar practice on this point, for a longer period ; yet, those, who lived in the south of Ireland, soon conformed to the canonical rite for observing Easter,*' which seems to have been urged on their attention,bytheSovereignPontiffsinRome. *^ TwoyearsafterthisSynod, it is said, St. Gobban surrendered his abbey to St. Laserian's rule. *' This latter was a chief instrument, in finally settling the Easter question, for the
south of Ireland. ? " St. Laserian did not
survive those events, — long having
been summoned to his eternal reward,'" on the 14th of the May Kalends
according to his published Acts. These admit incompleteness, in narrating
all the miracles and wondrous deeds performed by our saint, during the course jof his life. Under the year 638, the Annals of the Four Masters, and those of Ulster, record the death of Dalaise Mac h U-Imdae, Abbot of Leithglinn, i. e. Half Glen, now Old Leighlin. '' The year of his death was 639," as stated by Ussher /* or 640, according to another account. The Annals of Ulster, Senat-raac-Magus,arequotedfortheformerstatement; andeventheyseem
•5 " II gouverna I'Eglise douze ans, onze dum in Campo Lene celebratair. Pascha
mois, et seize jours, et mourut le 12 Octo- bre, 638. "—Rohrbacher's "Historic Uni- verselle de I'Eglise Catholique," tome X. , liv. xliii. , p. 76. _
* See Venerable Bede's " Historia Ec-"
clesiastica Gentis Anglonim," lib. ii. ,
cap. 19.
^ St. Fintan is said to have died A. D. 634,
"
according to the Annals of the Four
Ma«ter>" and those of Ulster. He reached
the patriarchal age of nine' y years, and, as we learn I rora other sources, had become de-
crepit. The Annals of Tighernath place his death at A. D. 636, which, we are told, is the true year. His festival is kept on the 21st
Romanum et caetera sibi a seile Apostolica
ordinata recipienda sanciisse, legatos sapien- tes Romam missos triennali itinera reliisse
cum reliquiis pretiosis martyram. Excom- municatiunes sedis apostolicx fuerunt causa
hujus synodi apud Australes Scotos. Epis- tola Cleri Romani subelecto Jo. 4° an. 639.
Dilectissimis et sanotissimis, Tomiano, Co-
lumbano, Cronano, Dimao, et Baitlieno
epi-. copis ;Cromano, Eriuanoque, Laistrano,
Scellano, et Segeno I'resbyteris ; Sarano
CKterisque, doctoribus seu abbatibus Sco- '
tis, etc.
^See Archdall's "MonasticonHibemi-
of October.
"•
His feast occurs, at the 27th of De- cember.
'S He is venerated, at the 1st of May.
''
Their festival is held, on the 29th of June.
1792. repre-
' See L'Abbe " Dictionnaire de Bergier's
Theologie," tome iii. . Art. Paques, pp. 598, 599.
Ryan's History and Antiquities of the County Carlow,' chap, ii. , p. 24.
'
< About A. D. 162.
""
His feast occurs, at the 26th of January,
He
" From a. d. 157 to 168, this Pontiff pre-
July.
'^ See ibid. °' "
LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. [April i«.
traditions, on the subject, to St. Peter and St. Paul. '* In the second century, Pope St. Pius l. ,^^ who sat from a. d. 142 to a. d. 157,'' had issued a Decree, that Easter should be celebrated on a Sunday ; and. Pope St. Victor I. ,'9 who ruled from a. d. 192 to a. d. 202,'° confirmed that decree. ^' However, a vio- lent contest arose, about the year 194, between the latter Pope and Polycrates, Bishop of Ephesus, who resolved, with a Council assembled by him, to cele- brateEaster,onthe14thdayofthemooninMarch. ThePopethreatened these Orientals with excommunication ; but, he was dissuaded from this pur- pose, by St. Irenaeus, Bishop of Lyons, and by some other holy Bishops, who represented the probability of a schism, and on a difference, which touched no dogma of Christianity. ^^ These differences were settled, by a decree of the Council of Nice, which was held, in 325 ; and, this confirmed the Roman rule. Thefatherstheredecided,thatthefestivalshouldbecelebratedevery- where,onthefirstSunday,afterthespringfullmoon. However,itwasdiffi- cult to fix the precise day. The Bishop of Alexandria was commissioned, by Pope St. Leo \. p to calculate the Easter beforehand, and to communicate such result to the Apostolic See, so that it might be proclaimed to the whole Church. ^4 Thus, the fathers of Nice wisely put an end to an unseemly dis- crepancy. They decreed, that the Easter should be celebrated uniformly, on theSundaywhichnextfollowsthe14thdayofthefirst month,accordingto
theJewishcomputation. Thiswasregulatedbythelunarday,occurringon the 2 1st of March, or the next in succession to it. Again, the decree pro- vided, that the feast should not be celebrated on the same day, as that adopted by the Jews. The ancient British Church still celebrated Easter Sunday, however, from the 14th to the 20th of the moon ; because, as the Britons were then harassed by the Saxons, and as they were almost precluded from com- municating with Italy or the Continent, on account of wars prevailing there, they continued to use the old cycle,^5 and they were ignorant, in a great mea- sure, of any improvement. '^^ In England, ecclesiastics and laics differed widely, on this matter of observance. While some Christians were mourning in com- memoration of the others were — in the resu—rrection of the
Passion, rejoicing,
a
Blessed Saviour. Thus, Queen Eanfleda "^ Kentish lady
with her
fol-
lowers, was still fasting and keeping Palm-Sunday, when her husband Oswy,=* the King of Northumbria, had done fasting, and was keeping his Easter. ''' This might have occurred, in any of the years 645, 647, 648, or 651, when the 14th of the moon fell on Sunday ; but, the exact date, to which allusion is made, has not been determined. About the beginning of the seventh cen-
tury, it is thought, that St. Laurence,^" Archbishop of Canterbury, took a journey into Ireland, for the purpose of bringing the Catholics of this country, to adopt the Roman practice for celebrating Easter. 3' His pastoral care, as
' His feast occurs, on the nth of July.
'* "
See Sir Harris Nicolas' Chronology of
History," p. 211.
"' His festival is celebrated, on the 28th of
Ecclesiastica Gentis Anglorum," lib. iii. , cap. 4.
-^
See Rev. Dr. Lingard's "Antiqui- ties of the Anglo-Saxon Church," chap, i. , p. 36.
"' She had been educated, by Roman dis- ciples.
'*
He, with the majority of his subjects, had derived the knowledge of Christianity, from the Irish or Scots. See Rev. Dr.
Lingard's "History of England," vol. i. , chap, ii. , p. 100.
°' See Venerable Bede's account,
30 His feast occurs, at the 2nd of Feb-
ruary.
31 See "Britannia Sancta," by Bishop
Challoner, part i. , p. 97.
See Breviarium Romanum," Pars.
Estiva, xxviii. Julii, Officiura, Lect. v.
'^ "
See Rev. John Alzog's M. inual of
UniversalChurchHistory,"vol. i. , Periodi. ,
Epoch i. . Part 2, chap. 5, sect. 93, p. 310. 'T' He ruled from A. D. 440 to 461. See
Sir Harris Nicholas' tory," p. 210.
"
Chronology of His-
"*See "Opera," S. Leoni Magni. Epis- tola 121.
^^ See Venerable Bede's " Historia
April i8. ] LIVES OF THE IRISH SAWTS. »ti
we are told,3= extended to the Scots inhabiting Ireland. '^ Whether that Arch- bishop saw Laserian cannot be discovered ; but, it is probable, some means ofcommunicationhadbeenestablishedbetweenthem. ThefirstPaschwas celebratedamongtheSaxons,asweareinformed,ina. d. 665;34 but,bythis we are to understand, in conformity with the generally accepted Western rite. The Roman usage, for celebrating Easter, prevailed throughout England, from A. D. 673,35 and by degrees, the Irish and Scots conformed to the same practice. However, as we are informed, nearly another century had elapsed, before the Pasch was changed to the Sunday among the Britons. This happened, through theinterventionofthemanofGod,Elbodugus,intheyear768. 3^ Notwith- standing all the foregoing dififerences and changes, other adjustments had to take place, before the regulation of Easter-tide was finally settled. Pope Gregory XIII. 3? was the great reformer of our Church Calendar in 1582 ; for, accumulated errors, from an 89 minutes' excess of the 19 years' cycle, made thecalendarmoonfallfourdayslaterthantherealmoon. Hence,adepar- ture from the Old to the New style. 3^ This was simply the old enactment of the Canon Law, as established in the Catholic Church, and which was laid down by the General Council of Nice. For Calendar and ecclesiastical pur- poses, an imaginary moon 39 movement has been devised. I'hus, the moon refened to in the rule regarding Easter is not tliat real moon, which shines in our system. Nor is it that mean moon of the astronomers, which is regarded as moving at a uniform rate, so as invariably to run through ;iil its phases, in a period of 29 days, and about 12 hours. This is the average period, de-
. scribed by the real moon of the firmament. ''" It was only during the last
century, the reformation of the Gregorian Calendar had been adopted in
England,*' and during the reign of George II. , in 1 75I. ''' It was received in Ireland, in 1781, thirty years later, when introduced by an Act of the Irish Parliament,^ passed in tlie reign of George III. However, Ireland had already practically adopted the English statute, relating to the calendar, from the year 1752, when ib provisions came into force.
^ By Venerable Bede.
^ See "Historia Ecc'. esiastica Gentis An-
glomm," lib. ii. , cap. 4.
"See "Annales Cambriae," edited hy
Rev. John Williams ab Ithel, M. A. , p. 8.
35 Then the National Council at Hart-
goriati Calendar, acted in the full belief, that the " moon," referred to in the rules rcgaid- ing the celebration of Easter, was the real moon of the firmament.
*' Then was enacted, the English statute
24th of George II. , chap. 22, for changing from the Old to the New style. It enacted,
"
from the 2nd September, 1752 . . . the said Feast of Piaster should be observed
according to the calendar, tables, and rules thereunto annexe<l. " The calendar for
March, annexed to that English act, has this note: "The numbers here prefixed to the several days between the 21st day of March and the l8th day of April, both inclusive, de- note the days upon which those full moons do fall which happened upon or next after the 21st day of Marth in those years of which they are respectively the golden num- hers. AndtheSundayletternextfollowing any such full moon points out Easter Day
"
for that
*^ It is known, as the 21st and 22nd of
ferd, under Archbishop Theodore, adopted
the canon : "'That we all jointly keep Eas- that
ter Day, on the Lord's Day, after the 14th day of the moon, in the first day.
* See ' Aimales Cambriae," edited by Rev. John Williams ab Ithel, M. A. , p. 10.
^ He sat in St. Peter's chair, from a. d.
1572 to 1585.
3* See tlie account contained, in Sir Harris
Nicolas'
"
Chronology of History," pp. 34
to 39.
3' This is regarded, as moving with a
period, sometimes of 29, and sometimes of
30days.
*> To an article on the Almanac, in Dr.
Ijirdner's "Museum of Science and Art," the reader is referred, for a popular exposi-
year.
tion, on the principles of chronometric George III. , chap. 8.
science. There, this matter is fully ex- plained, and it deserves careful study.
*' It has been remarked, by Professor de
" In Ussher's " Britannicarum Ecclesia-
rum Antiquitates," cap. xvii. , pp. 479 to 484, a learhed and succinct statement of this
Morgan, thatthestatesmentowhomEngland subject will be found, with various refer- is indebted for the introduction of the Ore- ences to the works of ancient writers.
233 LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. [April i8.
The disputed Paschal question <4 having been specially agitated, during our saint's epoch, he is thought to have visited Rome a second
time, to consult regarding this observance, He thus acted, at the re- quest of some, among the Irish clergy. This journey, however, could not have been undertaken, at the desire of either King ^dan, or of St. Columba, both of whom were then dead. The Bollandist Editor, Papebroke, supposes that Cummineus, Abbot of Hy, was a chief procurer of this visit. *' It seems to be inferred, also, from an epistle written to the monks of lona, in which Cummineus excuses himself from observing the Roman Pasch, and in opposition to their received custom. *^ When this question had been maturely
a was convoked in or " under the investigated, Synod MagJene, Whitefield,"
heights of Mount Marge, and near the Barrow banks. '" But, when it was proposed there to observe Easter for the future, after the prevailing practice of the Universal Church, a certain monk moved, that the consideration of this matter should be submitted to the Roman See. *^ St. Laserian defended, with great energy and success, the Roman method of Paschal computation, at this Synod ; and, its assembled fathers deputed him to proceed, as their delegate, to the Holy City. 9 The year thus indicated is computed to have been 630,5° when nearly the Universal Church celebrated Easter on the 24th ofMarch. TheBritonsandIrishwerethesoleexceptions. Theseobserved the Paschal festival, on the 21st of April, being entirely attached to St. Columba's practice, of adopting the Quartadeciman Cycle, which had caused the difference of nearly a month to intervene, between the respective rites. '"
During this, or the year following, St. Laserian is thought to have returned as Legate, and to have presided in that capacity over a Synod,'" convened at Leighlin. 53 In our saint's Acts, although we have an account, concerning the honours and dignities conferred on him by Pope Honorius, yet we find no mention made, about such an important Synod.
'* Regarding this celebrated
*s His biography will be found, in Colgan's "Acta Sanctorum Hiberniae. " xxvi. Feb- ruarii. Vita S. Cuminei. His Life may be seen likewise, at the 24th of February.
*' " of the letter," In consequence Pope's
writes the Rev. James G. nffney, "a synod was at once convened at Old Leighlin, the
as seems by verbal discrepancies—from some less perfect copy of this celebrated Epistle, than the one used by Ussher.
"The Very Rev. Monsignor Moran's
" on the Doctrines and Dis- Essays Origin,
ciplineof the Early Irish Church," part iii. , chap, iii. , p. 141.
5° " Annus ille serae Christianae DCXXX.
fuisse videtur; quo Hibernicyclum LXXXIV. annorum seciiti Paschalera Dominicam ca-
lendis Aprilibus, integra ante tempus in Alexandrina Enneadecaeteride (a Romanis
of which is handed down by a learned
history
monk named Cummian. " "Ancient Irish
Church," chap, iv. , p. 94. '
"? See Ussher's Britannicarum Ecclesia-
—
rum Antiquitates," cap. xvii. , p. 484.
*" Papebroke sujiposes, that this monk j. im recepta), prostitutum septimnna obser-
must have been . St. Fintan Munnu, who zealously defended the Irish observance.
vabant. "
—
Ussher's
"
Britannicarum Eccle-
" Misimus quos novi- et humiles esse, velut natos ad matrem, et prosperum iter in voluntate Dei habentes, et ad Romam urbem aliqui ex
eis venientes, tertio nnno ad nos usque per- venerunt, et sic omnia viderunt sicut audie- runt : sed, et valde certiora, utpote visa quam audita invenerunt, et in uno hospitio cum Grseco et Hebraso, Scytha et . ^gyp-
in ecclesia S. Petri simul in Pascha (in quo menso disjuncti sumus) fuerant, et ante sancta sic testati sunt nobi>, dicentes, o per totum orbem terrarum hoc Pascha, ut scimus,
"
siarum . \ntiquitates," cap. xvii. , p. 485. =' Ibid.
Cummin thus writes
:
mu5
sapientes,
'' In "L'Art de Verifier des Dates, "tome
Chronologie Historique des Conseils," p.
tiaco,
54 This omission is supplied, however,
from the Acts of St. Fintan Munnu, por-
tions of which are quoted, in Ussher's
Vetenim Epis- tolarum Hibernicarum Sylloge," Epist. xi—. ,
cap. xvii. , pp. 484 to 486, where an interest-
ing account, regarding this Synod, maybe seen.
celebratur. " See Ussher's
p. 34. Papebroke appears to have copied
i.
155, the date assigned for this Synod is
A. D. 630.
"
Biitannicarum Ecclesiarum Antiquitates,"
53 Dr. Lanigan intimates, that this Synod "
was held, about the year 633. See Eccle- siastical History of Ireland," vol. ii. , chap, xv. , sec. ix. , p. 402.
April i8. ] LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. 223
convocation of the Irish clergy, said to have belonged to the second order of saints, and it would seem also, many of the people assembled with them, the following details are recorded, in an ancient Life of St. Fintan Munnu. ss The
principal contestants, on a disciplinary matter that naturally excited great public interest, as it was one of grave national importance, were St. Laserian, or Molassius, Abbot over Leighlin monastery, and St. Fintan Munnu. 5* Abbot over Teach-Munnu, called after its founder, and situated in that part of
SouthernLeinster,knownasHy-Kinsellagh. Oneofthemostpleasingpic- tures presented to us, in the detailed account of this transaction, is the true
Christian feeling and courtesy displayed by those saints, who were most opposed in opinion. s? The usual embittered tone, and rabid arguments of
ordinary controversy, seem to have been entirely eschewed ; while a respect- iiil and decorous consideration, suited to the time and the occasion, contrasts favourably with the unbecoming passions and excitement of modem conven- ticles and meetings. It is possible, we may have special legendary accounts left us, regarding a great historic event ; but, the light of early Irish transac- tions, although dimmed by popular rumours often interposed, must occa- sionally be traced under the veil of traditional lore. The trial proposed, for ascertaining the Divine will, in a matter of great moment, seems to indicate arathermoderncompositionofoursaint'sLifenowextant; for,itrecallsthe trials of innocence, and by combat, which were practised so frequently in the Middle Ages. Laserian was one of the first assembled, to promote the new ordinance, lately received from Rome ; while St. Munnu seems to have met with some detention, for he did not immediately reach the Synod of clerics expectinghisarrival,asachiefdefenderoftheIrishcustom. Subne,sonof
Domnaili, and local chieftain over the Huamairche territory, felt impatient becauseofthisdelay,incommencingtheproceedings. Heatlastcriedout:
" Why do you await so long the arrival of this leper ? "
to his servant. "
On that very day, before evening came, St. Munnu approached towards theplace; and,theholymena. ssembledinCouncilwentforthtoreceivehim
with honour. St. Laserian, and this distinguished stranger courteously saluted each other. Moved by this spectacle, the chieftain, Subne, asked a
rian his " O mildly reproved expression, by saying,
do not such apply
Chief,
a term to St. Munnu ; for, although corporally absent, he is with us in spirit ; assuredly what you have now said, he has heard, wherever he may happen to be ; and the Almighty will exact from you reparation, for any injury done
55 "St. Laserian proposes to follow the
compulation adopted by the whole Western Church J the Ablwt of Tnghmon isin favour
of the old cycle of eighty-four years ; the great body of the prelates and heads of the
Munnu appears to have read, under the same virtuous and learned master, and to have been a felloiv-disciple with the re- nowned St. Columbanus, who«e career has been so magnificently portrayed by Comte
religious houses support the computation de Montalembert, in his celebrated work,
then practised by the Universal Church, de- daring that they had been directed by their
predecessors to follow invarinbly what was held by the successors of the Apostles. "—
"
Les Moines d'Occident," tome ii. , liv. ix. Those remarkable Iri^h Saints held simi- lar strong opinions, in favour of celebra- ting Easter, according to the early Irish custom.
5? " Like obedient children of the Holy See, they proceeded at once to consider the matter, to which the Pope had called their
attention, namely, the question ot the Pas- "
chal computation. "— Irish History. Fur- ther observations on a Lecture, delivered in
the Town House, Tullamore. " By Benjamin Quiverful, p. 12.
"
Lecture delivered in the Town House, TuUa- more, and republished with an Appendix. "
By Benjamin Quiverful, p. 12 ; Dublin, 1859, l2mo.
^ This St. Fintan had for his lather Tulcan, and for his mother Fedelmia. For eighteen years, he studied with St. Synell
Mac Maynacur, AbWot over the monastery of Cluain-inis, in Lough Erne. St. Fintan
Irish History. Further observations on a
Then, Abbot Lase-
224 LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. [April i8.
from St. Munnu. The latter
benediction ? Indeed, I can truly tell you, that at the right hand of His eter- nal Father, Christ himself felt the insult, when you spoke evil concerning me. For, I am one of the members, over whom He, as the Head, presides ; and, the head feels pain, whenever any one of the members is wounded. Where- fore, even before this month ends, your own kinsman shall put you to death, and cut off your head, wliile your body shall be cast into the River Barrow,5' and shall not afterwards be seen. " This prophecy was fulfilled, and in the manner announced by God's holy servant ; for, that month had not closed, before Subne was killed by the son of his own brother, near a rivulet, called
Blathach,s9 and his head was cast into the river. '°
While the Council was — the Paschal contro- engaged, considering
versy, St. Munnu is said to liave observed " Let us be brief in our remarks : but, in the name of God, let us proceed to a trial. Three different choices are given to you, O Laserian. Let two books, one of the old order, and another of the new, be cast into the fire together, and let us see which of them shall escape the flames. Or, let two monks, one of your house, and another of mine, be shut up in the same house, which may be set on fire, and then we shall see, who of both these men shall escape unharmed. Or, let us go together to the tomb of a holy monk, and raise him to life, and he will manifest to us, which order we ought to observe, for the celebration of Easter this year. "*'
:
answeredhim "Wewillnotproceedtoatrialwithyou because,weknow,
;
for your sake, on account of your labours and sanctity, if you desired Mount Margy to occupy the place of this White Field, and the White Field to be removed where Mount Margy now remains, God would immediately cause this to be done. " At that time, they were assembled in the White Field, which was under the foot of Mount Margy. In presence of all the people
appears that unanimity prevailed among the people, and the clergy then con- vened, before departing for their respective homes. *^'
In the estimation of some persons, the exact spot, where this assembly
blessing
replied :
Why
dost thou ask a
leper's
assembled, St. Munnu also said to the Abbot Laserian
break up this Council, that each person may depart to his own place. " It
5^ This word in Ussher is " Berow," and he has a marginal annotation, "Al. Berbha. " 59 This might have been an ancient name for the stream, on which Old Leighlin
stands.
*" From the obscure way, in which this
statement is recorded, we are at a loss to known, whether his head was cast into the Blathach or into the Barrow.
^' Were we to place reliance, on all this legendary account, it should appear proba- ble, from this passage, the Synod of Magh Lene must have been assembled, before the Easter of that year.
" To the foregoing account, we find added
"
Vel. ut in alio libro plenius legitur, Consentientes igiiur omnes juxta sententiam vir—i sancti, adpropria cum ^audio sunt reversi. '' "Britannicarum Ecclesiarum
Antiquitates," cap. xvii. , pp. 484, 485.
'^ Pope Honorius commenced his Pontifi-
cate, on the 27th of October, 625. In Blair's "Chronological and Historical Tables," num. 33, he is represented, as having reigned fourteen years.
'* Commenting on this Epistle, the Pro-
testant local historian, Ryan, remarks:
"This document evinces, pretty clearly, the
tone of authority assumed by the Bishop of
Rome, at a very early period ; and must,
assuredly, strike all, as containing an unjus-
tifiable degree of arrogance, coming, as it
did, from a person, who had no earthly, or
heavenly authority whatever to dictate to the
Irish people on either spiritual, or temporal affairs. This was the view taken, at least, in
effect, by many of the Irish clergy, as will
he seen in the See " and sequel. " History
Antiquities of the County of Carlow," chap. ii. , pp. 23, 24. Strange to say, the writer's inconclusiveness of reasoning is perfectly
shown in the "sequel" by himself; but stranger still is the fact, he did not reflect, that not alone the whole Irish Catholic Church, but even eveiy sect of Protestants has since accepted, without hesitation, or in- quiry, the "authority assumed by the Bishop of Rome, "in deciding this once controverted question, regarding the most suitable time
for celebrating Easter.
in Ussher:
"
:
St. Laserain then
" It is now time to
April i8. ] LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS.
'
had been convened, may readily be inferred, from ancient Acts of our early saints. The holy Fintan, it is said, having urged our saint to a strange sort of miraculous test, the Abbot Laserian declined it, owing to the respect enter- tained for his former master. Again, it was thought, that the Divine inter- position should not thus be sought fatuitously, in a matter so clear and certain. Wherefore, St. Fintan concluded, that each one should follow the course he judged right. Pope Honorius *3 wrote to the Irish Bishops, in
635, exhorting them not to oppose an example, set by the Universal Church, in ancient and modern times. '< Yet, the account of his Pontificate,*' given us by most authors, contains nothing, which might in any way serve to illus- trate St. Laserian's biography. Pope Honorius reminded the Irish, that they were placed in a remote part of the world, and that they were few in number, as compared with those adopting the Roman custom. ** Although the Northern Irish observed their own peculiar practice on this point, for a longer period ; yet, those, who lived in the south of Ireland, soon conformed to the canonical rite for observing Easter,*' which seems to have been urged on their attention,bytheSovereignPontiffsinRome. *^ TwoyearsafterthisSynod, it is said, St. Gobban surrendered his abbey to St. Laserian's rule. *' This latter was a chief instrument, in finally settling the Easter question, for the
south of Ireland. ? " St. Laserian did not
survive those events, — long having
been summoned to his eternal reward,'" on the 14th of the May Kalends
according to his published Acts. These admit incompleteness, in narrating
all the miracles and wondrous deeds performed by our saint, during the course jof his life. Under the year 638, the Annals of the Four Masters, and those of Ulster, record the death of Dalaise Mac h U-Imdae, Abbot of Leithglinn, i. e. Half Glen, now Old Leighlin. '' The year of his death was 639," as stated by Ussher /* or 640, according to another account. The Annals of Ulster, Senat-raac-Magus,arequotedfortheformerstatement; andeventheyseem
•5 " II gouverna I'Eglise douze ans, onze dum in Campo Lene celebratair. Pascha
mois, et seize jours, et mourut le 12 Octo- bre, 638. "—Rohrbacher's "Historic Uni- verselle de I'Eglise Catholique," tome X. , liv. xliii. , p. 76. _
* See Venerable Bede's " Historia Ec-"
clesiastica Gentis Anglonim," lib. ii. ,
cap. 19.
^ St. Fintan is said to have died A. D. 634,
"
according to the Annals of the Four
Ma«ter>" and those of Ulster. He reached
the patriarchal age of nine' y years, and, as we learn I rora other sources, had become de-
crepit. The Annals of Tighernath place his death at A. D. 636, which, we are told, is the true year. His festival is kept on the 21st
Romanum et caetera sibi a seile Apostolica
ordinata recipienda sanciisse, legatos sapien- tes Romam missos triennali itinera reliisse
cum reliquiis pretiosis martyram. Excom- municatiunes sedis apostolicx fuerunt causa
hujus synodi apud Australes Scotos. Epis- tola Cleri Romani subelecto Jo. 4° an. 639.
Dilectissimis et sanotissimis, Tomiano, Co-
lumbano, Cronano, Dimao, et Baitlieno
epi-. copis ;Cromano, Eriuanoque, Laistrano,
Scellano, et Segeno I'resbyteris ; Sarano
CKterisque, doctoribus seu abbatibus Sco- '
tis, etc.
^See Archdall's "MonasticonHibemi-
of October.
