Ausonii
Burdigalensis
"Idyllia," x.
O'Hanlon - Lives of the Irish Saints - v2
O'Donovan's "Annals of the
Four Masters," vol. ii. , n. (s), p. 888.
46, 47i
3
"Acta Sanctorum
licet antiquis historiis non parum celebrate, hodie obscurioris notoe regiuncula est in confinibus Australis Or- gielliae ad Slanensem baroniam in Midia
See
Hibernise," xvii.
Februarii. De Tribus Sanctis Aedis, Ath-
rumiae Quiescentibus, p. 367.
4 See 2^? d^. , xxxi. Januarii. Appendix ad Acta S. Maidoci, cap. i. , p. 221.
says,
at this
passage,
Edited
Edited by Drs. Todd and Reeves, pp.
O'Flaherty says of it
by
5o8 LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. [February 12.
Criomthannan, the church of Teach Daimhain, (Tidowan), was situated, ac- cording to the Feilire Aenguis, at this date. 5 We may enquire, as to whether or not, the present Daman had been the same, as the martyr, so called and noticed, by St. ^Engus.
Article XV. —St. Forannan, Abbot of Clonard, County of Meath.
[Eighth Century. '] We read on this day, in the Martyrology of Donegal,^ that Forannan, Abbot of Cluain Eraird, was venerated. He is said, also, to have been Abbot of Kildare, and to have died, on the 12th of February,^ a. d. 740,3 according to the Annals of the Four Masters,-^ or according to those of Ulster, a. d. 744.
Article XVI. —St. Ludan, or Ludanus, Pilgrlm, Diocese of Stras-
BURGH. [Twelfth and Thirtee7ith Centuries. '] There is a Life of St. Ludan,
Peregrinus, in the Bollandist collection, at the 12th of February. ^ The
memory of this holy pilgrim, Ludan, was held in high honour, among those
saints to the diocese of belonging
^ To that ancient called city,
Strasbourg.
Argentoraton,3 Argentoratus,-^ Argentoratum,^ Argentorate,^ Argentora,7 at
first,theholypilgrimLudanproceeded. Itissituatedontheriver,called111,
which falls into the Rhine by various channels, after the River Brusch enters
the 111 above Strasburgh, through two enibouchures} Bullet thinks a natural
derivation for the old name of this city might be taken from the fine country
surrounding it. 9 This canton is the most fertile in Alsace,''' and it abounds
in nearly all manner of useful vegetable products, and in fine scenery, from the mountain of Saverne to the Rhine. " This district was blessed, by the
presence and death, of the holy Scottish pilgrim, Ludan. Father John Boland gives a few introductory notices, and then certain Acts, by an anony- mous writer, taken from a Bodecensian manuscript^ belonging to the Canons Regular of St. Augustin," and discovered by the Jesuit, John Gamansius. In Herman Greuen's additions to the Martyrology of Usuard, Ludan, con- fessor,'3 is entered for the day before the Ides of February. According to the old Life, St. Ludan was a confessor of God, but not a priest. Yet, he descended from a noble family. He was born in the twelfth century. His father is called Hiltibold, who was a chief of the Scots. By this, we are
probably to understand the Irish. His son, Ludan, was distinguished more
s See O'Donovan's
"
Leabhar na-g-Ceart,
3 According to Ptolemy,
4 to Ammianus
According Marcellinus,
orBookof —n. Rights,"
216.
Article xv. Edited by Drs. Todd and St. Jerome,
^
(q), p.
and Reeves, pp. 46, 47. s As called by Cassiodorus. "" "^
See Archdall's Monasticon Hiberni- According to the Tablets of Peutinger. cum," p. 520. 7 As found in a letter of the Emperor
3 See Rev; A. Cogan's "Diocese of Julian.
^
—
M. Bullet's "Memoires sur la Langue Celtique," tome i. , p. 231. —
» Thus, '^Argent, belle. Or, contree. "
Peregrino, in Dioecesi Argentiensi, pp. Ibid,
Meath, Ancient and Modern," vol. i. ,chap.
ii. , p. 15.
4 See Dr. O'Donovan's edition, vol. i. ,
The name, given to it by the ancients,
pp. 342, 343. — Article XVI.
partagee. "
*
dered M. Bullet "
^
See "Acta Sanctorum," tomus ii. , xii. Februarii. De S. Ludano
638,639.
" '^ tage. "— Memoires sur la Langue Cel-
The etymology of this city is thus ren-
France," at Strasburg.
"
by
partage ; parce que des que la Brusch s'est jointe a Till, cette demiere riviere se par-
:
Torrat, coupure,
See, also,
tionnaire Geographique, in that article, treating on Alsace.
tique," tome i. Additions et Corrections, P- 486.
many.
^3 In a Carthusian codex, at Bmxelles, in
Ou
M. de la
**
Dic-
" pres, Gen^ embouchure, Torrat, coupee,
is supposed to have been drawn from
Ar^
"
'"See Dictionnairc Universcl de la
From the diocese of Paderborn, in Ger-
Martiniere, "
February 12. ] LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. 509
for his nobility of soul, than even for his temporal rank. In due course, the
son succeeded to his father's possessions, and then he began to execute a de-
sign he had long entertained, by founding a great and convenient hospital, where every necessary was provided for pilgrims and for the sick, as also for blindandlamepersons. Allhisrevenuewasdevotedtoitssupport. Hethen conceived a great desire to visit the holy places, and above all to pray at our Saviour's sepulchre, as also, at the limi? ia of the Apostles, Saints Peter and Paul.
Hepaidvisits,likewise,tovarioussaintlymen. Hisvirtuouspracticeswere daily on the increase, by taking to heart the words of the Apostle St. Peter, " he that feareth Him, and worketh justice, is acceptable to him. " ^^ St. Ludan, at last, came to a place, near the river Ylsa,^5 from which the pro- vince of Alsace^^ is named. This spot was known as the bann'7 of the village Northus. It is written Nort, in some documents, and at present it is called Northeim. Here, reclining under an elm tree without the village, he fell asleep. Then was it divinely revealed to him, that the close of his life was near ; but,
awaking, he earnestly prayed the Omnipotent, that he might not pass away, untilhehadfirstpartakenofChrist'sBody. Whereupon,anangelappeared
"
to him, and administered Holy Communion. Afterwards ejaculating,
Into Hisdeath Ides which falls on the 12th of this month and in the year of our Lord 1202. Another great portent of his sanctity was manifested, at the moment of his happy departure ; for, without human aid, all the church bells in those villages around began to toll, and this continued without intermission, to the very time of his burial. Mean- time, a young man of the place, on seeing a wallet, beside the dead saint, ventured to open it. Discovering a scroll within, he found these words traced : " I am called Ludanus, son of the noble Hilteboldus, chief of the Scots ; I was born a Christian, and in the name and for the love of God, I became a pilgrim. " On raising his body, a most fragrant odour was diffused around the place. In the village of Northeim were then two parochial churches. The pastors and people, belonging to either, desired the body to be brought to, and interred in, their respective church. In short, a great strife arose, which was at last quelled by a certain abbot, who was riding into the village,
O I commend —he
Thy hands, Lord, my spirit," calmly expired.
—d the occurre
day
before the
February
at this time. On the cause of their he " Take learning contention, said,
ye an untamed and unyoked horse, never put under a corricle, a cart, or a chariot,andyokeittoacart; thenplacethebodyoftheholymanthereon, and turning the horse, without a driver, on the direction towards Northeim ; follow ye from behind, with crosses and standards, and to whatever church the corpse may be brought, there let it find ecclesiastical sepulture. " This advice seemed good to all the parishioners, and it was immediately followed. Then St. George was patron of a church, known as Scherekirche, because it was built near the River Schere, or Sarre. ^^ Thither the untamed horse, gentle now as a lamb, drew the holy Ludan. '9 The Sare or Sarre is said to
='°
have been so called, because it was surrounded by mountains.
Sare River is said to have been called by the ancients Sarra, or Saravus ;
the margin is found "alibi ponitur Episco- pus. "
tion, or burgh, on the Sarre. " See M. Bullet's "Memoires sur la Langue Cel-
'-^ ActsX. , tome 35. tique,"
^s Now the 111.
^^
Lately conquered and taken from Acts, as published by the Bollandists.
France, by the Germans, in the war of 1870 and 1 87 1.
^7 The original Latin word, in the Life, is "bannus. "
*'
Me* moires sur la Langue Celtique," tome i. , p.
^^ a Sarebourg, city
which lies on its
^^ "
undisona dudum me mole Saravus
banks, has the signification of
*'
the habita-
i. , p. 269.
^9 Further details are given in the old
^° " Sar, montagne. "—M. Bullet's 194.
'''
See ibid. , p. 277.
Naviger
Again, the
510
LIVESOFTHEIRISHSAINTS. [Februaryi;^.
while,
its Celtic
etymology
is Sarvv, or Saravv, which means '^ '^tortuous. "
On this account, it has been called the oblique river, by Ausonius. ^'^' The
church, already mentioned, was so named, because it was near the Sarre.
There, the horse stopped of his own accord ; and, here, it was resolved to burySt. Ludan. Afterwards,onthebanksoftheSarre,achurchwasbuilt inhishonour. Greatsignsandwonderssubsequentlytookplacethere,as also evident miracles. Not far from the village of Hipsh or Hipsheim—the modern name probably for Scherekirche—now stands the parochial church of St. Luden. ^3 But, when in later times, the Swedes took possession of Benfeld, the church of St. Ludan was burned, while his relics seem to have been scattered and lost. Such are the ravages of war, usually destructive to the best interests of society, while also, injurious to religious rites and obser- vances.
Article XVII. —St. Maneteus, Abbot, in Scotland. At the 12th of February, Camerarius' has a brief notice of St. Maneteus, who is said to have flourished in the time of St. Columba. His sanctity and miracles caused him to be distinguished. Especially at lona and in the Hebrides was he held in honour. ^' Dempster has nothing regarding this saint, nor can we find any further account of him.
Article XVIII. —Reputed Festival of St. Cadoc, of Lanncarven. [Sixth Century. ] Already, at the 24th of January, the Life of this saint has been written, at some length. ^ Colgan thinks, he may be identified with a Mo-Chatocus,adiscipleofSt. Fiech,atthechurchofDomhnaqhFiac. Ifso, his place was known as Inisfail. ^ Elsewhere, he is put down as Mochonous or Canocus, for—the 12th of February ;3 it is probable, however, that Colgan meant the nth which is the feast of St. Canoe.
^\}\ttm\i\) J3aj) of Jebniarp.
ARTICLE L—ST. DOMNOC, DOMINICUS OR MODOMNOC, PATRON OF TIBBERAGHNY, AND FIDDOWN, COUNTY KILKENNY.
[SIXTH CENTURY. -]
CHAPTER I.
INTRODUCTION—ACTS OF ST. DOMNOC OR MODOMNOC—HIS PEDIGREE—HE GOES OVER TO WALES—A DISCIPLE OF ST. DAVID—APPOINTED BEE-KEEPER AT MEN^^VIA— ST. DAVID RESCUES HIM FROM DANGER—HE LEAVES FOR IRELAND, AND THE BEES FOLLOW HIM—THEY ARE LEFT AT LANN BEACHAIRE.
NOT alone in the monasteries were young minds fashioned and moulded
—
delium Conversione, lib. i. , pars ii. , cap.
Ausonii Burdigalensis "Idyllia," x. Mo- iii. , sect. 2, p. 147.
into the of virtue and hearts were, also, ways religion; but,young
Tota veste vocat," &c. nis, veteris simul ac novx Ecclesiae et Infi- "
=* See, also, Scottish Entries in the Ka- lendar of David Camerarius. Bishop Forbes'
sella, 11. ,
="3 See the Bollandists' "Acta Sanctorum,"
367, 368.
tomus ii. , Februarii xii. Do S. Ludano,
**
Kalendars of Scottish Saints," p. 234. Article xviii. —' Colgan enters the Acts
&c. , sect. 2 and 8,—
pp. 638, 639.
Article xvii.
*
See " De Statu Homi-
of this
man at the same date. See
holy
February 13. ] LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. 511
guidedalongthelinesoftruthandrectitude. Thehandsofyouthwerelikewise
formed to industry, and their quick capacities were bent to the acquisition of trades and handicrafts, that enabled them to rise superior to the tempta- tions of need, and to the perilous allurements of idleness. Nor did even this content their kind, thoughful, and energetic instructors. The monks lifted the children of poor parents into the region of the refinements, and the accomplishments of life. When they met a child of special endowments or of special tastes, the educated brothers took him into hands, and taught him with more than ordinary care and solicitude, especially when it was believed that he evinced a desire to lead a religious or a sacerdotal life.
Yet, the present holy youth was distinguished for his noble race. The Acts of St. Dominicus or Modomnocus have been compiled by Colgan,
from various sources, and published at the 13th of February. ^ Most of what we learn regarding him has been taken from the Acts of St. David of Menaevia. ^ The Bollandists have Acts of St. Modomnoc for this day. 3 These, however, are only abbreviated'^ from what Colgan had previously published. Bishop Challenor,5 the Rev. Alban Butler,^ and Rev. S. Baring- Gould,7 also, commemorate this saint in some very short notices.
The original Celtic name of this holy man was Domnoc, to which had
" mo," which makes Modomnoc. ^ He is also styled Domnoch, and this is thought to correspond with Dominick. 9 This name is Latinized, Domnocus and Modomnocus, and sometimes Dominicus. '°
He was the son of Saran, son to Tigernach, son of Muredach, son to Eugene, sontoNeillNeigilliach,MonarchofIreland. " Thusdidhebelongtothe noble race of the O'Neills. '^' Our saint, likewise, was a brother to St. Do- mangart. '3 The holy man, here alluded to, is a different person, however, from one, having the same name,^''- and who is said to have erected a monas-
been added the
expletive,
"Acta Sanctorum Hibernias," xxiv. Janu-
arii. De S. Canoco, Abbate Lancarvanensi.
the name has been corrupted into Mandab- nauctis, as Ussher has it (p. 953). Giraldus elsewhere {Topogr. Hib. Dist. i, c. 5) La- tinizes it into Dominicus, in consequence of -which Ussher was led astray so as to think Dominicus Ossoriensis, as Giraldus calls him, was a different person from Mandabnaucus.
Ex diversis, pp. 158, 159. He has another
Life, taken from Albert le Grand, " De
Sanctis Britannias Armoricae," pp. 160, 161.
^
See "Trias Thaumaturga. " Septima Vita S. Patricii, lib. iii. , cap, xxii. ,pp. 152, 153, n. 38, p. 185, as also nn. 124, 125, p. 188.
3 See ibid. Quinta Appendix ad Acta S. Patricii, cap. xxiii. , p. 267.
^
Colgan has (at 13 Feb. ) such Ac—ts of Dom- "
Article — —
astical History of Ireland," vol. ii. , chap.
xiv. , section v. , n. 70, p. 320.
to be derived from
Chapter
i.
"9 See Acta
i.
Sanctorum Hibernise," xiii. Februarii. De "Dominica. "
^° This is thought, to have been that ori* ginal word, from which the name Domnoc hadbeendrawn. Itisalsotheoneusedby
3 See Acta Sanctorum," tomus ii. , xiii.
Februarii, De S. Modomnoco, sive Do- when referring to this saint, in their re*
S. Dominico qui Modomnocus, pp. 326 to 328.
^
SeehisLifeattheistofMarch. *'
Giraldus Cambrensis, and by Lombard,
minico Ossoriensi in Hibernia, pp, 673,
674.
4 By Father Godefrid Henschenn.
spective treatises,
" See " Acta Sanctorum Hiber- Colgan's
nise," xiii. Februarii. Vita S. Dominici,
s See "Britannia Sancta," part i,, p. 116. ^""
See Lives of the Fathers, Martyrs, and
Other Principal Saints," vol. ii,, February xiii.
7 See " Lives of the Saints," vol. ii. , Feb- ruary xiii. , p, 291.
cap, i. , p. 326, and nn. 2, 3, p. 327, ibid. In the latter place, the Sanctilogium Genealogicum," cap, 3> is quoted, as au« thority for this pedigree.
**
observes: "I need
the reader, that Modomnoch means my Domnoch. This saint is called Modomnoch in the Life of St. David
In the one written by Giraldus Cambrensis
" See Rev. Alban Butler's " Lives of the Fathers, Martyrs, and other Principal Saints," vol, ii,, February xiii.
ject,
scarcely apprize
Sanctilogium Genealogicum,"
Dr, Lanigan, in connexion with this sub-
^3 The "
published by Colgan.
^* to the same " According
noch, as he was able to collect. " Ecclesi-
Said, by Colgan,
cap, 3, is also cited by Colgan, for this re»
lationship.
Genealogicum," cap. 1 9, the latter St. Domangart is said to
512 LIVESOFTHEIRISHSAINTS. [February13.
tery, in Ulster, at the foot of Slainge mountain, now Slieve Donard, in the countyofDown. 's WefindthenameofModomnocresolvedintoMandab- naucus, by Giraldus Cambrensis. '^
Through a desire of perfecting himself in religious fervour and learning, St. Modomnoc left his native country, and then he sailed over to Wales. '7 Here, he was placed under the direction of St. David, afterwards Bishop of Menevia. '^ As a disciple of this great master, Modomnoc showed in all things, and at all times, most ready obedience and docility, as also the greatest care and zeal, in discharging whatever duties were required of him, and the most faithful observance of discipline. For these several reasons, he was always most affectionately esteemed by his renowned master. ^9 While residing at Mensevia, St. David had entrusted him with the care of his bees, and with the honey, belonging to his monastery,^" and these useful insects under his charge seem to have formed some sort of instinctive love for their
keeper.
We are told,'^^ likewise, that on one occasion, this saint was labouring
with others, and endeavouring to level a hilly road,^^ that thus a freer passage should be made, for the transportation of burdens. Seeing one of his com-
panions at work, and who appeared to proceed too slowly with it, Modomnoc undertook to administer a slight reproof. His words excited the anger of
that person. Immediately lifting an iron instrument he held, the man re-
provedwasabouttostrikeoursaint; but,beholdinginspiritwhatwasgoing
to take place, holy David, having made the sign of the cross, the delinquent's hand became suddenly paralysed. ^3 So was the good Irish monk saved from that danger, which threatened his life.
A curious account of our saint is related, in the old Acts of Bishop David. ^'^ We are told, that when Modomnoc was about to take his leave of Wales, with a design of returning to his native country, several swarms of bees followed him, and settled on board the ship, in which he was about to
havebeensontoEuchodius,KingofUlster,
and to have flourished about the middle of
the fifth century. Our saint and his brother,
St. Domangart, flourished about a century toria de Vita S. Davidis Archiepiscopi laterthanthisperiod. SeeColgan's"Acta
Sanctorum Hibernise," xiii. Februarii, n. 4,
pp. 327, 328.
'5 See his Life at the 24th of March.
='
^^" =^ See Historia, de Vita S. Davidis
It is worth observing, in this and in similar passages of old Saints' Lives, what useful public works often engaged their at- tention.
=3 See ** Acta Sanctorum Hiber- Colgan's
Fathers, Martyrs, and other Principal ni? e," xiii. Februarii. Vita S. Dominici, Saints," vol. ii. , February xiii. cap. iii. , pp. 326, 327.
Archiepiscopi Menevensis," lect. vii. Gi-
raldi Cambrensis' "Opera," vol. iii. Edited
by J. S. Brewer, M. A. , p. 395.
'7 Alban Butler's " Lives of the See Rev.
" Acta Sanctorum Hiber- =* This Life is taken from a MS. of All niae," xiii. Februarii. Vita S. Dominici, Saints' Island, in Ireland. At present,
'8 See
Colgan's
cap. ii. , p. 326. In n. 5, p. 328, to this passage, Colgan refers us to the Life of St. David, which he published at the 1st of March. In the succeeding n. 6. , p. 328, and in the chapter just cited, Colgan states, that our saint, under St. David, was a fellow- disciple with St. Aedan or Moedoc of Ferns,
St. Scuthin, and many other holy and
learned Irishmen, as may be seen, by refer-
ring to the Acts of St. David, of St.
Four Masters," vol. ii. , n. (s), p. 888.
46, 47i
3
"Acta Sanctorum
licet antiquis historiis non parum celebrate, hodie obscurioris notoe regiuncula est in confinibus Australis Or- gielliae ad Slanensem baroniam in Midia
See
Hibernise," xvii.
Februarii. De Tribus Sanctis Aedis, Ath-
rumiae Quiescentibus, p. 367.
4 See 2^? d^. , xxxi. Januarii. Appendix ad Acta S. Maidoci, cap. i. , p. 221.
says,
at this
passage,
Edited
Edited by Drs. Todd and Reeves, pp.
O'Flaherty says of it
by
5o8 LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. [February 12.
Criomthannan, the church of Teach Daimhain, (Tidowan), was situated, ac- cording to the Feilire Aenguis, at this date. 5 We may enquire, as to whether or not, the present Daman had been the same, as the martyr, so called and noticed, by St. ^Engus.
Article XV. —St. Forannan, Abbot of Clonard, County of Meath.
[Eighth Century. '] We read on this day, in the Martyrology of Donegal,^ that Forannan, Abbot of Cluain Eraird, was venerated. He is said, also, to have been Abbot of Kildare, and to have died, on the 12th of February,^ a. d. 740,3 according to the Annals of the Four Masters,-^ or according to those of Ulster, a. d. 744.
Article XVI. —St. Ludan, or Ludanus, Pilgrlm, Diocese of Stras-
BURGH. [Twelfth and Thirtee7ith Centuries. '] There is a Life of St. Ludan,
Peregrinus, in the Bollandist collection, at the 12th of February. ^ The
memory of this holy pilgrim, Ludan, was held in high honour, among those
saints to the diocese of belonging
^ To that ancient called city,
Strasbourg.
Argentoraton,3 Argentoratus,-^ Argentoratum,^ Argentorate,^ Argentora,7 at
first,theholypilgrimLudanproceeded. Itissituatedontheriver,called111,
which falls into the Rhine by various channels, after the River Brusch enters
the 111 above Strasburgh, through two enibouchures} Bullet thinks a natural
derivation for the old name of this city might be taken from the fine country
surrounding it. 9 This canton is the most fertile in Alsace,''' and it abounds
in nearly all manner of useful vegetable products, and in fine scenery, from the mountain of Saverne to the Rhine. " This district was blessed, by the
presence and death, of the holy Scottish pilgrim, Ludan. Father John Boland gives a few introductory notices, and then certain Acts, by an anony- mous writer, taken from a Bodecensian manuscript^ belonging to the Canons Regular of St. Augustin," and discovered by the Jesuit, John Gamansius. In Herman Greuen's additions to the Martyrology of Usuard, Ludan, con- fessor,'3 is entered for the day before the Ides of February. According to the old Life, St. Ludan was a confessor of God, but not a priest. Yet, he descended from a noble family. He was born in the twelfth century. His father is called Hiltibold, who was a chief of the Scots. By this, we are
probably to understand the Irish. His son, Ludan, was distinguished more
s See O'Donovan's
"
Leabhar na-g-Ceart,
3 According to Ptolemy,
4 to Ammianus
According Marcellinus,
orBookof —n. Rights,"
216.
Article xv. Edited by Drs. Todd and St. Jerome,
^
(q), p.
and Reeves, pp. 46, 47. s As called by Cassiodorus. "" "^
See Archdall's Monasticon Hiberni- According to the Tablets of Peutinger. cum," p. 520. 7 As found in a letter of the Emperor
3 See Rev; A. Cogan's "Diocese of Julian.
^
—
M. Bullet's "Memoires sur la Langue Celtique," tome i. , p. 231. —
» Thus, '^Argent, belle. Or, contree. "
Peregrino, in Dioecesi Argentiensi, pp. Ibid,
Meath, Ancient and Modern," vol. i. ,chap.
ii. , p. 15.
4 See Dr. O'Donovan's edition, vol. i. ,
The name, given to it by the ancients,
pp. 342, 343. — Article XVI.
partagee. "
*
dered M. Bullet "
^
See "Acta Sanctorum," tomus ii. , xii. Februarii. De S. Ludano
638,639.
" '^ tage. "— Memoires sur la Langue Cel-
The etymology of this city is thus ren-
France," at Strasburg.
"
by
partage ; parce que des que la Brusch s'est jointe a Till, cette demiere riviere se par-
:
Torrat, coupure,
See, also,
tionnaire Geographique, in that article, treating on Alsace.
tique," tome i. Additions et Corrections, P- 486.
many.
^3 In a Carthusian codex, at Bmxelles, in
Ou
M. de la
**
Dic-
" pres, Gen^ embouchure, Torrat, coupee,
is supposed to have been drawn from
Ar^
"
'"See Dictionnairc Universcl de la
From the diocese of Paderborn, in Ger-
Martiniere, "
February 12. ] LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. 509
for his nobility of soul, than even for his temporal rank. In due course, the
son succeeded to his father's possessions, and then he began to execute a de-
sign he had long entertained, by founding a great and convenient hospital, where every necessary was provided for pilgrims and for the sick, as also for blindandlamepersons. Allhisrevenuewasdevotedtoitssupport. Hethen conceived a great desire to visit the holy places, and above all to pray at our Saviour's sepulchre, as also, at the limi? ia of the Apostles, Saints Peter and Paul.
Hepaidvisits,likewise,tovarioussaintlymen. Hisvirtuouspracticeswere daily on the increase, by taking to heart the words of the Apostle St. Peter, " he that feareth Him, and worketh justice, is acceptable to him. " ^^ St. Ludan, at last, came to a place, near the river Ylsa,^5 from which the pro- vince of Alsace^^ is named. This spot was known as the bann'7 of the village Northus. It is written Nort, in some documents, and at present it is called Northeim. Here, reclining under an elm tree without the village, he fell asleep. Then was it divinely revealed to him, that the close of his life was near ; but,
awaking, he earnestly prayed the Omnipotent, that he might not pass away, untilhehadfirstpartakenofChrist'sBody. Whereupon,anangelappeared
"
to him, and administered Holy Communion. Afterwards ejaculating,
Into Hisdeath Ides which falls on the 12th of this month and in the year of our Lord 1202. Another great portent of his sanctity was manifested, at the moment of his happy departure ; for, without human aid, all the church bells in those villages around began to toll, and this continued without intermission, to the very time of his burial. Mean- time, a young man of the place, on seeing a wallet, beside the dead saint, ventured to open it. Discovering a scroll within, he found these words traced : " I am called Ludanus, son of the noble Hilteboldus, chief of the Scots ; I was born a Christian, and in the name and for the love of God, I became a pilgrim. " On raising his body, a most fragrant odour was diffused around the place. In the village of Northeim were then two parochial churches. The pastors and people, belonging to either, desired the body to be brought to, and interred in, their respective church. In short, a great strife arose, which was at last quelled by a certain abbot, who was riding into the village,
O I commend —he
Thy hands, Lord, my spirit," calmly expired.
—d the occurre
day
before the
February
at this time. On the cause of their he " Take learning contention, said,
ye an untamed and unyoked horse, never put under a corricle, a cart, or a chariot,andyokeittoacart; thenplacethebodyoftheholymanthereon, and turning the horse, without a driver, on the direction towards Northeim ; follow ye from behind, with crosses and standards, and to whatever church the corpse may be brought, there let it find ecclesiastical sepulture. " This advice seemed good to all the parishioners, and it was immediately followed. Then St. George was patron of a church, known as Scherekirche, because it was built near the River Schere, or Sarre. ^^ Thither the untamed horse, gentle now as a lamb, drew the holy Ludan. '9 The Sare or Sarre is said to
='°
have been so called, because it was surrounded by mountains.
Sare River is said to have been called by the ancients Sarra, or Saravus ;
the margin is found "alibi ponitur Episco- pus. "
tion, or burgh, on the Sarre. " See M. Bullet's "Memoires sur la Langue Cel-
'-^ ActsX. , tome 35. tique,"
^s Now the 111.
^^
Lately conquered and taken from Acts, as published by the Bollandists.
France, by the Germans, in the war of 1870 and 1 87 1.
^7 The original Latin word, in the Life, is "bannus. "
*'
Me* moires sur la Langue Celtique," tome i. , p.
^^ a Sarebourg, city
which lies on its
^^ "
undisona dudum me mole Saravus
banks, has the signification of
*'
the habita-
i. , p. 269.
^9 Further details are given in the old
^° " Sar, montagne. "—M. Bullet's 194.
'''
See ibid. , p. 277.
Naviger
Again, the
510
LIVESOFTHEIRISHSAINTS. [Februaryi;^.
while,
its Celtic
etymology
is Sarvv, or Saravv, which means '^ '^tortuous. "
On this account, it has been called the oblique river, by Ausonius. ^'^' The
church, already mentioned, was so named, because it was near the Sarre.
There, the horse stopped of his own accord ; and, here, it was resolved to burySt. Ludan. Afterwards,onthebanksoftheSarre,achurchwasbuilt inhishonour. Greatsignsandwonderssubsequentlytookplacethere,as also evident miracles. Not far from the village of Hipsh or Hipsheim—the modern name probably for Scherekirche—now stands the parochial church of St. Luden. ^3 But, when in later times, the Swedes took possession of Benfeld, the church of St. Ludan was burned, while his relics seem to have been scattered and lost. Such are the ravages of war, usually destructive to the best interests of society, while also, injurious to religious rites and obser- vances.
Article XVII. —St. Maneteus, Abbot, in Scotland. At the 12th of February, Camerarius' has a brief notice of St. Maneteus, who is said to have flourished in the time of St. Columba. His sanctity and miracles caused him to be distinguished. Especially at lona and in the Hebrides was he held in honour. ^' Dempster has nothing regarding this saint, nor can we find any further account of him.
Article XVIII. —Reputed Festival of St. Cadoc, of Lanncarven. [Sixth Century. ] Already, at the 24th of January, the Life of this saint has been written, at some length. ^ Colgan thinks, he may be identified with a Mo-Chatocus,adiscipleofSt. Fiech,atthechurchofDomhnaqhFiac. Ifso, his place was known as Inisfail. ^ Elsewhere, he is put down as Mochonous or Canocus, for—the 12th of February ;3 it is probable, however, that Colgan meant the nth which is the feast of St. Canoe.
^\}\ttm\i\) J3aj) of Jebniarp.
ARTICLE L—ST. DOMNOC, DOMINICUS OR MODOMNOC, PATRON OF TIBBERAGHNY, AND FIDDOWN, COUNTY KILKENNY.
[SIXTH CENTURY. -]
CHAPTER I.
INTRODUCTION—ACTS OF ST. DOMNOC OR MODOMNOC—HIS PEDIGREE—HE GOES OVER TO WALES—A DISCIPLE OF ST. DAVID—APPOINTED BEE-KEEPER AT MEN^^VIA— ST. DAVID RESCUES HIM FROM DANGER—HE LEAVES FOR IRELAND, AND THE BEES FOLLOW HIM—THEY ARE LEFT AT LANN BEACHAIRE.
NOT alone in the monasteries were young minds fashioned and moulded
—
delium Conversione, lib. i. , pars ii. , cap.
Ausonii Burdigalensis "Idyllia," x. Mo- iii. , sect. 2, p. 147.
into the of virtue and hearts were, also, ways religion; but,young
Tota veste vocat," &c. nis, veteris simul ac novx Ecclesiae et Infi- "
=* See, also, Scottish Entries in the Ka- lendar of David Camerarius. Bishop Forbes'
sella, 11. ,
="3 See the Bollandists' "Acta Sanctorum,"
367, 368.
tomus ii. , Februarii xii. Do S. Ludano,
**
Kalendars of Scottish Saints," p. 234. Article xviii. —' Colgan enters the Acts
&c. , sect. 2 and 8,—
pp. 638, 639.
Article xvii.
*
See " De Statu Homi-
of this
man at the same date. See
holy
February 13. ] LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. 511
guidedalongthelinesoftruthandrectitude. Thehandsofyouthwerelikewise
formed to industry, and their quick capacities were bent to the acquisition of trades and handicrafts, that enabled them to rise superior to the tempta- tions of need, and to the perilous allurements of idleness. Nor did even this content their kind, thoughful, and energetic instructors. The monks lifted the children of poor parents into the region of the refinements, and the accomplishments of life. When they met a child of special endowments or of special tastes, the educated brothers took him into hands, and taught him with more than ordinary care and solicitude, especially when it was believed that he evinced a desire to lead a religious or a sacerdotal life.
Yet, the present holy youth was distinguished for his noble race. The Acts of St. Dominicus or Modomnocus have been compiled by Colgan,
from various sources, and published at the 13th of February. ^ Most of what we learn regarding him has been taken from the Acts of St. David of Menaevia. ^ The Bollandists have Acts of St. Modomnoc for this day. 3 These, however, are only abbreviated'^ from what Colgan had previously published. Bishop Challenor,5 the Rev. Alban Butler,^ and Rev. S. Baring- Gould,7 also, commemorate this saint in some very short notices.
The original Celtic name of this holy man was Domnoc, to which had
" mo," which makes Modomnoc. ^ He is also styled Domnoch, and this is thought to correspond with Dominick. 9 This name is Latinized, Domnocus and Modomnocus, and sometimes Dominicus. '°
He was the son of Saran, son to Tigernach, son of Muredach, son to Eugene, sontoNeillNeigilliach,MonarchofIreland. " Thusdidhebelongtothe noble race of the O'Neills. '^' Our saint, likewise, was a brother to St. Do- mangart. '3 The holy man, here alluded to, is a different person, however, from one, having the same name,^''- and who is said to have erected a monas-
been added the
expletive,
"Acta Sanctorum Hibernias," xxiv. Janu-
arii. De S. Canoco, Abbate Lancarvanensi.
the name has been corrupted into Mandab- nauctis, as Ussher has it (p. 953). Giraldus elsewhere {Topogr. Hib. Dist. i, c. 5) La- tinizes it into Dominicus, in consequence of -which Ussher was led astray so as to think Dominicus Ossoriensis, as Giraldus calls him, was a different person from Mandabnaucus.
Ex diversis, pp. 158, 159. He has another
Life, taken from Albert le Grand, " De
Sanctis Britannias Armoricae," pp. 160, 161.
^
See "Trias Thaumaturga. " Septima Vita S. Patricii, lib. iii. , cap, xxii. ,pp. 152, 153, n. 38, p. 185, as also nn. 124, 125, p. 188.
3 See ibid. Quinta Appendix ad Acta S. Patricii, cap. xxiii. , p. 267.
^
Colgan has (at 13 Feb. ) such Ac—ts of Dom- "
Article — —
astical History of Ireland," vol. ii. , chap.
xiv. , section v. , n. 70, p. 320.
to be derived from
Chapter
i.
"9 See Acta
i.
Sanctorum Hibernise," xiii. Februarii. De "Dominica. "
^° This is thought, to have been that ori* ginal word, from which the name Domnoc hadbeendrawn. Itisalsotheoneusedby
3 See Acta Sanctorum," tomus ii. , xiii.
Februarii, De S. Modomnoco, sive Do- when referring to this saint, in their re*
S. Dominico qui Modomnocus, pp. 326 to 328.
^
SeehisLifeattheistofMarch. *'
Giraldus Cambrensis, and by Lombard,
minico Ossoriensi in Hibernia, pp, 673,
674.
4 By Father Godefrid Henschenn.
spective treatises,
" See " Acta Sanctorum Hiber- Colgan's
nise," xiii. Februarii. Vita S. Dominici,
s See "Britannia Sancta," part i,, p. 116. ^""
See Lives of the Fathers, Martyrs, and
Other Principal Saints," vol. ii,, February xiii.
7 See " Lives of the Saints," vol. ii. , Feb- ruary xiii. , p, 291.
cap, i. , p. 326, and nn. 2, 3, p. 327, ibid. In the latter place, the Sanctilogium Genealogicum," cap, 3> is quoted, as au« thority for this pedigree.
**
observes: "I need
the reader, that Modomnoch means my Domnoch. This saint is called Modomnoch in the Life of St. David
In the one written by Giraldus Cambrensis
" See Rev. Alban Butler's " Lives of the Fathers, Martyrs, and other Principal Saints," vol, ii,, February xiii.
ject,
scarcely apprize
Sanctilogium Genealogicum,"
Dr, Lanigan, in connexion with this sub-
^3 The "
published by Colgan.
^* to the same " According
noch, as he was able to collect. " Ecclesi-
Said, by Colgan,
cap, 3, is also cited by Colgan, for this re»
lationship.
Genealogicum," cap. 1 9, the latter St. Domangart is said to
512 LIVESOFTHEIRISHSAINTS. [February13.
tery, in Ulster, at the foot of Slainge mountain, now Slieve Donard, in the countyofDown. 's WefindthenameofModomnocresolvedintoMandab- naucus, by Giraldus Cambrensis. '^
Through a desire of perfecting himself in religious fervour and learning, St. Modomnoc left his native country, and then he sailed over to Wales. '7 Here, he was placed under the direction of St. David, afterwards Bishop of Menevia. '^ As a disciple of this great master, Modomnoc showed in all things, and at all times, most ready obedience and docility, as also the greatest care and zeal, in discharging whatever duties were required of him, and the most faithful observance of discipline. For these several reasons, he was always most affectionately esteemed by his renowned master. ^9 While residing at Mensevia, St. David had entrusted him with the care of his bees, and with the honey, belonging to his monastery,^" and these useful insects under his charge seem to have formed some sort of instinctive love for their
keeper.
We are told,'^^ likewise, that on one occasion, this saint was labouring
with others, and endeavouring to level a hilly road,^^ that thus a freer passage should be made, for the transportation of burdens. Seeing one of his com-
panions at work, and who appeared to proceed too slowly with it, Modomnoc undertook to administer a slight reproof. His words excited the anger of
that person. Immediately lifting an iron instrument he held, the man re-
provedwasabouttostrikeoursaint; but,beholdinginspiritwhatwasgoing
to take place, holy David, having made the sign of the cross, the delinquent's hand became suddenly paralysed. ^3 So was the good Irish monk saved from that danger, which threatened his life.
A curious account of our saint is related, in the old Acts of Bishop David. ^'^ We are told, that when Modomnoc was about to take his leave of Wales, with a design of returning to his native country, several swarms of bees followed him, and settled on board the ship, in which he was about to
havebeensontoEuchodius,KingofUlster,
and to have flourished about the middle of
the fifth century. Our saint and his brother,
St. Domangart, flourished about a century toria de Vita S. Davidis Archiepiscopi laterthanthisperiod. SeeColgan's"Acta
Sanctorum Hibernise," xiii. Februarii, n. 4,
pp. 327, 328.
'5 See his Life at the 24th of March.
='
^^" =^ See Historia, de Vita S. Davidis
It is worth observing, in this and in similar passages of old Saints' Lives, what useful public works often engaged their at- tention.
=3 See ** Acta Sanctorum Hiber- Colgan's
Fathers, Martyrs, and other Principal ni? e," xiii. Februarii. Vita S. Dominici, Saints," vol. ii. , February xiii. cap. iii. , pp. 326, 327.
Archiepiscopi Menevensis," lect. vii. Gi-
raldi Cambrensis' "Opera," vol. iii. Edited
by J. S. Brewer, M. A. , p. 395.
'7 Alban Butler's " Lives of the See Rev.
" Acta Sanctorum Hiber- =* This Life is taken from a MS. of All niae," xiii. Februarii. Vita S. Dominici, Saints' Island, in Ireland. At present,
'8 See
Colgan's
cap. ii. , p. 326. In n. 5, p. 328, to this passage, Colgan refers us to the Life of St. David, which he published at the 1st of March. In the succeeding n. 6. , p. 328, and in the chapter just cited, Colgan states, that our saint, under St. David, was a fellow- disciple with St. Aedan or Moedoc of Ferns,
St. Scuthin, and many other holy and
learned Irishmen, as may be seen, by refer-
ring to the Acts of St. David, of St.
