It is
situated
in Bath Street, and it has been erected after a design, furnished by the celebrated architect, Welby Pugin.
O'Hanlon - Lives of the Irish Saints - v3
The monk stood for about one hour astonished, and he seriously revolved in mind, what such a portent could signify.
The bishop at length opened the oratory window, and he made a sound with his hands—a well-known signal for those without—that the monk should come towards him.
Then desiring him to hasten, and to bring seven brothers to attend at the church, the prelate desired them to preserve the virtue of peace among themselves, and with all others.
He requested them, likewise, to observe those regular rules of discipline, which had been taught or observed by him, or which they found in the words and actionsoftheirforefathers.
Thenheadded,thatthedayofhisdeathwasat hand.
^ "For," said he, "that amiable guest, who was wont to visit our brethren, has vouchsafed also to come to me this day, and to call me out of this world.
Therefore, returning to the church, speak to the brethren, that they in their prayers recommend my passage to our Lord; and, that they be careful to provide for their own—the hour of which is uncertain—by watch- ing, prayer, and good works.
" Having spoken thus, and after receiving his blessing, they being gone away very sorrowful, Owini returned alone.
Pro-
himself on the
permitted to ask one question ? " " Ask what you will," answered the
strating
ground,
he
said,
you, father, may
I be
"
that, which I heard coming upon this oratory, and after some time returning
Then," to heaven ? " The
he,
you " If
me,
bishop.
3° The BoUandists estimate this term of rule, from about the month of September, A. D. 669 to the and of March, a. d, 672. See "Acta Sanctorum," tomus i. , Martiiii. De S. Ceadda Episcopo, Vita, &c. , cap. ii. , n- (g)> P- 147-
s' See Ecclesiast—es iii. , 5.
CHAPTi:. K III. 'The account adds:
' '
"I entreat bishop answered,
what was joyful melody
said
to tell
" I beseech
you
heard the and know singing,
videlicet vocem ab Euro id austro,
quam
est, ab alto Brumalis exortam, primo se audiisse dicebat. "
''We find it stated, that he died of a
pestilence in the year 673. See A Key to the Calendar, p. 57, in Whitaker's "Alma- nack for the year of our Lord 1873. "
3"
See Venerable Bede's Historia Eccle-
78 LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. [March 2.
the coming of the heavenly company, I command you, in the name of our Lord, that you do not tell the same to any before my death ; but, they were really angelic spirits, who came to call me to those heavenly rewards I always so much loved and desired. They promised, likewise, to return seven days hence, and to take me away with them. " As had been intimated to him, this promise was fulfilled. A languishing illness seized him, and it increased daily in intensity, until the seventh day. Then he had prepared for death, by receiving the Body of our Lord. Released from the prison of the body—the angels, as may justly be believed, attending him—his spirit went to take possession of heavenly joys. 3
The year generally assigned for his death is 672,4 Others again place it at673. s Thissaintwasverycelebratedinhisday,andafterhistime,several writers have recorded him. ^ The holy prelate passed out of this life, on the 2nd of March, or on the 6th day of the Nones, according to Venerable Bede. 7 The Martyrology of Salisbury, the English Martyrology, Hugh Menard,^ the Martyrology of Cologne, Molanus on Usuard, Canisius, Felicius, Galesinius, the Roman Martyrology, and several other ancient and modem Calendars, have his commemoration assigned to this date. 9 The Kalendar of Arbuth- nott notices the feast of St. Ceadde, Bishop and Confessor, with an Office of nine Lessons, at the 2nd of March. The Kalendarium Breviarii Aberdon- ensis has a notice of St. Cedde's festival, at the 2nd of March. This holy bishop had an Office of nine Lessons. At the 2nd of March, Dempster says,'° that at York, in England, the first Apostle of the East Angles, Arch- bishop Cedda, and Bishop of Leichfeld, was commemorated. In Adam King's Kalendar, at the 2nd of March, is found " S. Cedde bisch. of ye mers
"
in scot, vnder Constantine
At first his remains were buried near the Church of St. Mary, but after-
wards the Church of St. Peter, Prince of the Apostles, was built there, and
thither his remains were translated.
In testimony of his sanctity, frequent
ye 5. "
"
certain distracted person, wandering about, arrived there in the evening un-
miraculous cures were
performed.
Among
the rest of " a late," says Bede,
known to or unregarded by keepers of the place. Having rested there all night, he came out the next morning in his perfect senses, to the great admi- ration and joy of all. The place of his sepulchre," continues the historian, " is a wooden monument, made like a little house covered " a hole
; having
in the wall, through which those that go thither for devotion usually put in
theirhand,andtakeawaysomeofthedust. This,beingputintowater,and given to sick persons or cattle to drink, gives immediate ease to their infir- mity, and restores them to health. *3 The relics of St. Chad were subsequently translated to that church, built by Roger de Clinton, in the year 1148. This wasdedicatedtoGod,inhonouroftheBlessedVirginandofSt. Chad. It
^ See "Acta Sanctorum Hiber- Colgan's
niae," Martii ii. , n. 31, p. 447.
' See the Bollandists' " Acta Sanctorum,"
tomus i. , Martii ii. De S. Ceadda, Epis*
copo, &c. Commentarius historicus, sect.
i. , num. 5, 6, p. 144.
'° In " Menologium Scoticum. "
Vitse ;" Harpsfeld's Chronicle, Seculum "See Bishop Forbes' "Kalendars of
vii. ; Florence of Worcester ad A. D. 653,
siastica Gentis
Anglorum,"
lib.
iv. , cap. iii. ,
pp. 212, 213.
See "Monumenta Historica Britannica,"
vol. i. , p. 214. "
s See Circle of the Seasons," p. 62.
®
ences of Arnold Wion in his "Lignum
Thus the reader may find the refer*
lib.
16; William of Malmesbury, " De Regibus
" This form of shrine was common very
6645 Ranulphus Cestrensis,
v. , cap. 15,
Anglorum," lib. bus," lib. ii. , &c.
i. , cap.
6. " De Pontifici-
in Ireland, in the instances of saints' pre- served relics,
'3 See Venerable Bede's " Historia Eccle*
siastica Gentis Anglorum," lib. iv. , cap. iii. , p. 214.
^ See " Historia Ecclesiastica Gentis An*
glorum," lib. iv. , cap. iii. , p. 214.
Scottish Saints," pp. 97, 113, 146, 193.
March 2. ] LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. 79
is at present known as the fine Cathedral Church of Lichfield. In 1296, Walter Langton was raised to this see, and he built the Lady Chapel. He there erected a beautifiil shrine, at the enormous cost of ;^2,ooo, to receive the holy bishop's relics. '^ Although St. Chad's episcopate was a short one, yet, the warm-hearted Mercians abundantly esteemed it, for no less than thirty-one churches are dedicated to his honour, and all in the midland counties,eitherinorneartheancientdioceseofLichfield. Thefirstchurch ever built in Shrewsbury was named after him, and when the old building fell in 1788, an ancient wooden figure of the patron escaped destruction. The carver had represented St. Chad, in his pontifical robes, with a mitre : a book being held in his right hand, and a pastoral staff in his lelt. This image is still preserved in the new Protestant Church. 's
Until the change of religion in England, St. Chad's remains were pre-
served in the Cathedral of Lichfield. '^ Some of these relics are now lost, but
someofthemhavebeenpreservedinaveryprovidentialmanner. Thehead
of the Lichfield St. Chad had been long kept, on a special altar of the
cathedral, called the Altar of St. Chad ;'? but, what became of this relic, at
the time of the Reformation, has not been ascertained. A prebendary of
Lichfield Cathedral, named Arthur Dudley,'^ a relation to the noble family of
Dudley, preserved St. Chad's relics from desecration, by giving them for safe
keeping to two ladies of that family, from whom they passed dividedly into the hands of two neighbours, Henry and William Hoodsheeds. When about
to die,'9 Henry Hoodsheeds, of Woodcitton, near Sedgley, in Staffordshire, was attended by his priest. Father Peter Turner, and then the dying man
gave him that portion he possessed of St. Chad's relics, they being concealed at that time, on the top of his bed. ^° Father Turner, dying in 1655, this treasure passed to the keeping of " Dominus Leveson. " We next hear of them, about 1667, as being at Boscobel, a house of the Fitzherberts ; and, later still, they were kept at Swinnerton,"^' in the county of Stafford. These relics had been inspected, at various times, by venerable ecclesiastics. ^^ About A. D. 1790, they followed the Fitzherberts to a new residence, at Aston Hall,nearStone. TheRev. FatherMaher,theirJesuitchaplain,hadcharge of those relics ; but, in consequence of his sudden death, the place where they had been concealed was for a time unknown. In 1837, Father Ben- jamin Hulme, a secular priest, while thoroughly renovating the chapel, dis- covered the box containing St. Chad's and other relics, fastened up under the altar. ="3 The bishop of the district, Rt. Rev. Dr. Walsh, and Bishop Wise- man, went to Aston Hall, and there having carefully enquired into the whole matter, they presented a manifesto to Pope Gregory XVI. On weighing their evidence, he granted permission for the relics to be publicly venerated.
'* the
Fathers, Martyrs
and other ii.
'• See Rev. S. Baring-Gould's "Lives of
'» On the 8th of September, a. d. 1615.
=° That of St. Chad's wliich portion relics,
fell to the lot of William Hoodsheeds, is not now traceable,
^' A seat of the same
" family.
The foregoing account is substantiated by documents and contained in a MS. in the handwriting of the Rev. Alban Butler, now kept among the archives of Oscott College, near Birmingham.
March
See Rev. Alban Butler's "Lives of
the Saints," vol.
's See ibid. , p. 32.
ii. , p. 33.
iii. ,
principal '7 See a very interesting article, relating
"
to these relics, the
Head," in Lichfield Cathedral, and other matters concerning that minster in the fifteenth century, by John Hewitt. "The Archaeological Journal," vol. xxxiii. , No. 129, pp. 72 to 82.
'^ He appears in the list of Prebendaries,
Saints," vol. iii. ,
March
A. p. 1531. Lichfield. "
History
Hall,
or the beginning of the present century.
Keeper of St. Chad's
See Harwood's "
of
^3 The Rev. Dr. Kirk of Lichfield, who died there aged 92, in A. D. 1852, at once identified them as St. Chad's relics. He might well have seen them, when they were at Aston at the close of the
eighteenth,
8o LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. [March 2.
They were lodged for a time at Oscott College; but, on the opening of the new Cathedral of St. Chad, at Birmingham, in June, 1841, they were trans-
ferred to their present position. ** They are still exposed for veneration, on the 2nd of March each year, as also on the anniversary of the Dedication of the Church, which is kept on the third Sunday of June, and which is looked upon as the feast of the Finding of those Relics. St. Chad's Catholic Church,=^5 in Birmingham, serves as the Cathedral of this flourishing diocese.
It is situated in Bath Street, and it has been erected after a design, furnished by the celebrated architect, Welby Pugin. In style it is Gothic, but mainly built of brick materials. Exteriorly and interiorly, however, the effects are very striking. It has a nave, side aisles and short transepts, with a choir. An elegantly-designed rood-screen separates nave and choir. Over the high altar and within a canopied niche, there is a capsula, or shrine, containing the relics of St. Chad, Bishop of Lichfield. Side altars are placed within chapels, on either side of the high altar and choir stalls. No writings of this saint have survived, yet in Lichfield Cathedral Library, there is a MS. of the seventh century, in the Anglo-Saxon character. It contains the Gospels of St. Matthew, of St. Mark, and a part of St. Luke ; it being known by the title of St. Chad's Gospel. His well, too, is shown at Lichfield. There was one in London, called St. Chad's well, the water of which was sold to valetudi- narians, at sixpence a glass. He got the character of being patron saint of medicinal springs. At Chadshunt, there was an oratory, and a well, bearing hisname. Chadwell—onesourceoftheNewRiver—is,perhaps,acorrup- tion of St. Chad's well. *^ In the Clog Almanacks, St. Chad's emblem is a
thishadbeen — the readinthe Perhaps, suggested by Gospel,'^ Mass,
branch.
and on the feast of his Translation formerly celebrated on the 2nd of August, with great pomp, at Lichfield. So long as the virtues of chastity, humility and a forsaking of all for Christ's sake, are esteemed among men, the name of this great Mercian Apostle ought not to be forgotten. "*
Article II. —St. Montan, or Mantan, Deacon, of Blaris, County of Down, and of Kill Mantan, County of Wicklow. \Fifth Century. '] It is thepropertyoftruewitorhumour,tobearnomalice; ithasnobitternessat heart ; it carries no venom beneath its tongue ; it aims no shafts at goodness or worth. It is not self-seeking or envious of another's reputation ; its laughter isharmless,itssparklingbeamissunny,itsaimisgenerous. Itisachildof light and of warm-heartedness. Impurity, indecency, indelicacy, it holds in aversion. Even the forfeiture of self-respect is an outrage on refinement and social propriety. In such an aspect, St. Montan or Mantan appears to have regarded the silly or sinful drolleries of strolling outcasts, at an early period,
'* At the examination of Oscott College, St. Chad's relics are thus described : No. I. A femur of the left side, nearly entire ; Nos. 3 and 3. The two tibiae, both broken at the lower ends, one having the head of the fibula adhering ; No. 4. Portion of a hume- rus. The relics were wrapped up in the slate-coloured silk, which originally enclosed them. The box containing them, and
of Bishop Wiseman. It is signed by Bishop Walsh, Bishop Wiseman, and Bishop Kyle (of Scotland).
'S It is situated on Snow Hill, between
Nos. 62 and 69 Bath Street, Birmingham, A convent dedicated to St. Chad, and also a Grammar school, under ecclesiastical direction, are among the religious institutes of the diocese.
^ See Rev. S. " Lives of Baring*Gould's
the Saints," vol, iii. , March ii. , pp. 32, 33. 'i See St. John xv. , where allusion is
made to the fruitful vine branches,
**
See Rev. S. Baring-Gould's "Lives of the Saints," vol. iii. , March ii. , p. 33.
covered with velvet and
lace,
was reclosed.
It was bound with a white silk riband, and
sealed by Bishop Walsh and by Bishop
Wiseman. An attestation of the above ex- amination and a description of the relics, dated 20th June, 1841, is in the handwriting
March 2. ] LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. 81
and who were regarded with aversion, by men of sense, of judgment, and of moral courage. His Acts, by Colgan,^ at the 2nd of March, refer to this single attributed incident of his life, and it is indicated or foreshadowed, by our previous remarks. The Bollandists^ have only a passing allusion to this saint, and some doubts respecting his identity have been thrown out. The Irish Martyrologist, Cathal Maguire, states, that Montan was venerated in a
place, called Blarus. We can only find one locality, in Ireland, bearing a denomination, at all corresponding. Within the county of Down lies the townland of Blaris,3 and there may be seen an old graveyard, with very little of the ancient church remaining. Blaris or Lisburn parish being intersected
Blaris Graveyard, County of Down.
by the River Lagan, belongs to both the counties of Down and of Antrim.
In some old Inquisitions, it is called Bally-templeblarisse. s It is denomi- nated, on an old map, " Blare. " The church and graveyard give name to
this parish. Its etymological meaning may have been derived, from Blar, " a plain," or field, and Rus " a wood ;" or perhaps, more probably, from Rus " for the soil around is of a kind. ^ Save a
s See Rev. William Reeves' "Ecclesias-
tical Antiquities of Down, Connor and Dro-
red," everywhere
red, sandy
Article ii. —' See " Acta Sanctorum Hibemise," ii. Martii. De S. Montano, Dia- cono, pp. 450, 451.
p. 125.
3 It is situated in the parish as Blaris, and
barony of Upper Castlereagh. It is marked ''
more," n. (h), p. 47.
^ The writer is indebted to Rev. David
'See "Acta
tomus Martii ii. Among the pretermitted Saints,
Sanctorum,"
i. ,
—
B. Mulcahy, C. C. , Lisburn an excellent
on the Ordnance Survey Townland Maps notes, in a letter, dated, Lisburn, 8th of
for the County of Down," Sheet 14.
* The portion of it in Down is described on Sheets 8, 14, 15, ibid. That within the barony of Upper Massariene is noted on the " Ordnance Survey Townland Maps for the
County of Antrim," Sheets 64, 67, 68.
August, 1877.
7 Two of the holy water fonts are now in
the possession of Mr. P. Connery, Bridge- street, Lisburn. These were got in the old church of Blaris. The accompanying view of Blaris graveyard was sketched on the
Irish scholar, well versed in local and general Irish history—for much of the infor- mation contained in the text and illustrative
F
82 LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. [March 2.
small portion of the north side-wall—now called the old wall—the former churchhasdisappeared. ? Theornamentalstoneworkoftheeasternwindow was removed to Mr. Carlton's place, he being the former proprietor. ^ It may be questioned, whether or not, the present holy man could have been bom here ; but, now, there is not any account whatsoever of St. Mantan, in the place. It is also problematical, if he can be considered as identical with a certain St. Mantan, or Montan, Deacon, who flourished, at an early period of ourhistory. Weknowlittleregardinghim,exceptwhatcanbegleanedfrom St. Patrick's Tripartite Life ; and from this, Jocelyn seems to have related the matter, yet in a form, somewhat dissimilar. 9 Montanus is classed as a disciple to the great St. Patrick. '° He is said to have assisted the Irish Apostle, in various ministerial labours. From his designation of Deacon," we may fairly infer, that he was never elevated, beyond such an ecclesiastical rank, although Maguire, or his Scholiast, calls him a Presbyter, In the Tri- partite Life," we are told, that having arranged the religious affairs of Ara Church,^3 St. Patrick betook himself to the Hi-Fidhgente''* region, where he was hospitably received by Lonan,'s son of Eric. This chieftain prepared a banquet for him, in a castle, situated on Mount Kea,^^ and near Carn-Fera- dhuic'7mountain,inthesouthernpartofMunster. Montanassistedinpre- paring this banquet. While thus engaged, a certain band of Druids and buffoons arrived at the '^ These demanded food from St.
place. persons
Patrick, in an importunate, and even in an insulting manner. '? Fearing they
would spread scandalous reports among his new converts, unless they should receive refreshments, since the saint and his companions might be said to enjoy themselves at table, whilst others were hungry ; St. Patrick requested Lonan and Montan to send them something, to satisfy their importunities. But, disregarding the efforts of such worthless characters, to spread disparag- ing reports against the great Irish Apostle, Lonan and Montan delayed com- plying with this request, until the meat should be thoroughly cooked, and afterwards blessed by Patrick. Meantime a youth, named Nessan,^" who, together with his mother, was bearing a basket filled with viands to Lonan's
spot, by Mr. Goodman, of Belfast. It has
been transferred to the wood, by "William
F. Wakeman, and it has been engraved by George A. Hanlon.
^ When the graveyard was enlarged, more than fifty years ago, a chalice is said to have been found in the digging, by his workmen, Of this sacred object there is no trace, at present.
5 Jocelyn conceals all mention of Mon- tan's name.
tuimnig Amu. —"History of Ireland," book ii.
'^ Jocelyn calls him " de Comdothan. "
'*
It rises just on the borders of the counties of Cork and of Limerick,
'^ Fearadhach's Cam or Heap. In the " Book of Lecan," fol. 204, it is referred to as being on the southern boundary of Cliu- Mail territory. It was probably the ancient name of Seefin, in the barony of Coshlea, in the south of Limerick county. See Dr,
'° "
See Colgan's "Trias Thaumaturga," Quinta Appendix ad Acta S. Patricii, cap. xxiii. , p. 267.
©'Donovan's AnnalsoftheFourMasters," vol. i. , n. (g), p. 41.
'^
It seems probable, that these buffoons had certain characteristics with the /iw/;w«<'j, introduced from Etruria, by the ancient Romans, B. C, 364. Such dancers or tumblers are found represented on old Etruscan monuments. Illustrations of comic and tragic acting, with theatrical arrange- ments at Pompeii are numerous enough, in Thomas H. Dyer's "Pompeii : Its History, Buildings and Antiquities," part i. , chap. vii. , pp. 188 to 214.
'» Jocelyn only mentions one, whom he designates, "quidam improbus, nomine Dercardius," yet seeming to indicate, that he was leader of a band.
" We are told, by Colgan, that in Book "
i. of St. /Engus' Opuscula," cap. iii. , he is styled "Diaconus," See j^/af. , n. 74, p. 186.
"See ibid. Septima Vita S, Patricii, pars. iii. ,. cap. xlii. , pp. 157, 158.
'3 Ara Cliach was situated in the county of Limerick, and it lies round Knockany. See Dr. O'Donovan's " Annals of the Four
Masters," vol. i,, n. (b), p. 47.
** At the reign of Diarmaid Mac Ceirb-
heoil and Conall Caol, Keating states, that this was the plain of the county of Limerick.
til -pomseince t\e i\4i'6cioi\ cli:^ Conc<\e
March 2. ] LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. 83
table, had been asked by St. Patrick to divide its contents among the buffoons. '' No sooner had they tasted this food, however, than God's vengeance fell upon them, for injuries offered to his great saint. ^^ hSS. of these men dropped dead. ''3 But, St. Patrick was likewise offended, at the disobedience of Lonan and Montan to his orders. As a punishment for their fault, he pre- dicted, that none of Lonan's seed should enjoy the regal or pontifical dignity ; while, the Church of Montan, he declared, should be humble and of mode- ratedimensions; moreover,itshouldbecomeaplaceofresortforthevulgar, and even over Montan's tomb and body, sheep and swine should afterwards
range uncontrolled, according to the Apostle's prediction,^* We cannot
Kilmantan Hill, South of Wicklow Town,
account, for the change of scene, to a place far more distant ; but, this church is said to have been situated, on the sea shore, in the eastern part of Leinster.
himself on the
permitted to ask one question ? " " Ask what you will," answered the
strating
ground,
he
said,
you, father, may
I be
"
that, which I heard coming upon this oratory, and after some time returning
Then," to heaven ? " The
he,
you " If
me,
bishop.
3° The BoUandists estimate this term of rule, from about the month of September, A. D. 669 to the and of March, a. d, 672. See "Acta Sanctorum," tomus i. , Martiiii. De S. Ceadda Episcopo, Vita, &c. , cap. ii. , n- (g)> P- 147-
s' See Ecclesiast—es iii. , 5.
CHAPTi:. K III. 'The account adds:
' '
"I entreat bishop answered,
what was joyful melody
said
to tell
" I beseech
you
heard the and know singing,
videlicet vocem ab Euro id austro,
quam
est, ab alto Brumalis exortam, primo se audiisse dicebat. "
''We find it stated, that he died of a
pestilence in the year 673. See A Key to the Calendar, p. 57, in Whitaker's "Alma- nack for the year of our Lord 1873. "
3"
See Venerable Bede's Historia Eccle-
78 LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. [March 2.
the coming of the heavenly company, I command you, in the name of our Lord, that you do not tell the same to any before my death ; but, they were really angelic spirits, who came to call me to those heavenly rewards I always so much loved and desired. They promised, likewise, to return seven days hence, and to take me away with them. " As had been intimated to him, this promise was fulfilled. A languishing illness seized him, and it increased daily in intensity, until the seventh day. Then he had prepared for death, by receiving the Body of our Lord. Released from the prison of the body—the angels, as may justly be believed, attending him—his spirit went to take possession of heavenly joys. 3
The year generally assigned for his death is 672,4 Others again place it at673. s Thissaintwasverycelebratedinhisday,andafterhistime,several writers have recorded him. ^ The holy prelate passed out of this life, on the 2nd of March, or on the 6th day of the Nones, according to Venerable Bede. 7 The Martyrology of Salisbury, the English Martyrology, Hugh Menard,^ the Martyrology of Cologne, Molanus on Usuard, Canisius, Felicius, Galesinius, the Roman Martyrology, and several other ancient and modem Calendars, have his commemoration assigned to this date. 9 The Kalendar of Arbuth- nott notices the feast of St. Ceadde, Bishop and Confessor, with an Office of nine Lessons, at the 2nd of March. The Kalendarium Breviarii Aberdon- ensis has a notice of St. Cedde's festival, at the 2nd of March. This holy bishop had an Office of nine Lessons. At the 2nd of March, Dempster says,'° that at York, in England, the first Apostle of the East Angles, Arch- bishop Cedda, and Bishop of Leichfeld, was commemorated. In Adam King's Kalendar, at the 2nd of March, is found " S. Cedde bisch. of ye mers
"
in scot, vnder Constantine
At first his remains were buried near the Church of St. Mary, but after-
wards the Church of St. Peter, Prince of the Apostles, was built there, and
thither his remains were translated.
In testimony of his sanctity, frequent
ye 5. "
"
certain distracted person, wandering about, arrived there in the evening un-
miraculous cures were
performed.
Among
the rest of " a late," says Bede,
known to or unregarded by keepers of the place. Having rested there all night, he came out the next morning in his perfect senses, to the great admi- ration and joy of all. The place of his sepulchre," continues the historian, " is a wooden monument, made like a little house covered " a hole
; having
in the wall, through which those that go thither for devotion usually put in
theirhand,andtakeawaysomeofthedust. This,beingputintowater,and given to sick persons or cattle to drink, gives immediate ease to their infir- mity, and restores them to health. *3 The relics of St. Chad were subsequently translated to that church, built by Roger de Clinton, in the year 1148. This wasdedicatedtoGod,inhonouroftheBlessedVirginandofSt. Chad. It
^ See "Acta Sanctorum Hiber- Colgan's
niae," Martii ii. , n. 31, p. 447.
' See the Bollandists' " Acta Sanctorum,"
tomus i. , Martii ii. De S. Ceadda, Epis*
copo, &c. Commentarius historicus, sect.
i. , num. 5, 6, p. 144.
'° In " Menologium Scoticum. "
Vitse ;" Harpsfeld's Chronicle, Seculum "See Bishop Forbes' "Kalendars of
vii. ; Florence of Worcester ad A. D. 653,
siastica Gentis
Anglorum,"
lib.
iv. , cap. iii. ,
pp. 212, 213.
See "Monumenta Historica Britannica,"
vol. i. , p. 214. "
s See Circle of the Seasons," p. 62.
®
ences of Arnold Wion in his "Lignum
Thus the reader may find the refer*
lib.
16; William of Malmesbury, " De Regibus
" This form of shrine was common very
6645 Ranulphus Cestrensis,
v. , cap. 15,
Anglorum," lib. bus," lib. ii. , &c.
i. , cap.
6. " De Pontifici-
in Ireland, in the instances of saints' pre- served relics,
'3 See Venerable Bede's " Historia Eccle*
siastica Gentis Anglorum," lib. iv. , cap. iii. , p. 214.
^ See " Historia Ecclesiastica Gentis An*
glorum," lib. iv. , cap. iii. , p. 214.
Scottish Saints," pp. 97, 113, 146, 193.
March 2. ] LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. 79
is at present known as the fine Cathedral Church of Lichfield. In 1296, Walter Langton was raised to this see, and he built the Lady Chapel. He there erected a beautifiil shrine, at the enormous cost of ;^2,ooo, to receive the holy bishop's relics. '^ Although St. Chad's episcopate was a short one, yet, the warm-hearted Mercians abundantly esteemed it, for no less than thirty-one churches are dedicated to his honour, and all in the midland counties,eitherinorneartheancientdioceseofLichfield. Thefirstchurch ever built in Shrewsbury was named after him, and when the old building fell in 1788, an ancient wooden figure of the patron escaped destruction. The carver had represented St. Chad, in his pontifical robes, with a mitre : a book being held in his right hand, and a pastoral staff in his lelt. This image is still preserved in the new Protestant Church. 's
Until the change of religion in England, St. Chad's remains were pre-
served in the Cathedral of Lichfield. '^ Some of these relics are now lost, but
someofthemhavebeenpreservedinaveryprovidentialmanner. Thehead
of the Lichfield St. Chad had been long kept, on a special altar of the
cathedral, called the Altar of St. Chad ;'? but, what became of this relic, at
the time of the Reformation, has not been ascertained. A prebendary of
Lichfield Cathedral, named Arthur Dudley,'^ a relation to the noble family of
Dudley, preserved St. Chad's relics from desecration, by giving them for safe
keeping to two ladies of that family, from whom they passed dividedly into the hands of two neighbours, Henry and William Hoodsheeds. When about
to die,'9 Henry Hoodsheeds, of Woodcitton, near Sedgley, in Staffordshire, was attended by his priest. Father Peter Turner, and then the dying man
gave him that portion he possessed of St. Chad's relics, they being concealed at that time, on the top of his bed. ^° Father Turner, dying in 1655, this treasure passed to the keeping of " Dominus Leveson. " We next hear of them, about 1667, as being at Boscobel, a house of the Fitzherberts ; and, later still, they were kept at Swinnerton,"^' in the county of Stafford. These relics had been inspected, at various times, by venerable ecclesiastics. ^^ About A. D. 1790, they followed the Fitzherberts to a new residence, at Aston Hall,nearStone. TheRev. FatherMaher,theirJesuitchaplain,hadcharge of those relics ; but, in consequence of his sudden death, the place where they had been concealed was for a time unknown. In 1837, Father Ben- jamin Hulme, a secular priest, while thoroughly renovating the chapel, dis- covered the box containing St. Chad's and other relics, fastened up under the altar. ="3 The bishop of the district, Rt. Rev. Dr. Walsh, and Bishop Wise- man, went to Aston Hall, and there having carefully enquired into the whole matter, they presented a manifesto to Pope Gregory XVI. On weighing their evidence, he granted permission for the relics to be publicly venerated.
'* the
Fathers, Martyrs
and other ii.
'• See Rev. S. Baring-Gould's "Lives of
'» On the 8th of September, a. d. 1615.
=° That of St. Chad's wliich portion relics,
fell to the lot of William Hoodsheeds, is not now traceable,
^' A seat of the same
" family.
The foregoing account is substantiated by documents and contained in a MS. in the handwriting of the Rev. Alban Butler, now kept among the archives of Oscott College, near Birmingham.
March
See Rev. Alban Butler's "Lives of
the Saints," vol.
's See ibid. , p. 32.
ii. , p. 33.
iii. ,
principal '7 See a very interesting article, relating
"
to these relics, the
Head," in Lichfield Cathedral, and other matters concerning that minster in the fifteenth century, by John Hewitt. "The Archaeological Journal," vol. xxxiii. , No. 129, pp. 72 to 82.
'^ He appears in the list of Prebendaries,
Saints," vol. iii. ,
March
A. p. 1531. Lichfield. "
History
Hall,
or the beginning of the present century.
Keeper of St. Chad's
See Harwood's "
of
^3 The Rev. Dr. Kirk of Lichfield, who died there aged 92, in A. D. 1852, at once identified them as St. Chad's relics. He might well have seen them, when they were at Aston at the close of the
eighteenth,
8o LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. [March 2.
They were lodged for a time at Oscott College; but, on the opening of the new Cathedral of St. Chad, at Birmingham, in June, 1841, they were trans-
ferred to their present position. ** They are still exposed for veneration, on the 2nd of March each year, as also on the anniversary of the Dedication of the Church, which is kept on the third Sunday of June, and which is looked upon as the feast of the Finding of those Relics. St. Chad's Catholic Church,=^5 in Birmingham, serves as the Cathedral of this flourishing diocese.
It is situated in Bath Street, and it has been erected after a design, furnished by the celebrated architect, Welby Pugin. In style it is Gothic, but mainly built of brick materials. Exteriorly and interiorly, however, the effects are very striking. It has a nave, side aisles and short transepts, with a choir. An elegantly-designed rood-screen separates nave and choir. Over the high altar and within a canopied niche, there is a capsula, or shrine, containing the relics of St. Chad, Bishop of Lichfield. Side altars are placed within chapels, on either side of the high altar and choir stalls. No writings of this saint have survived, yet in Lichfield Cathedral Library, there is a MS. of the seventh century, in the Anglo-Saxon character. It contains the Gospels of St. Matthew, of St. Mark, and a part of St. Luke ; it being known by the title of St. Chad's Gospel. His well, too, is shown at Lichfield. There was one in London, called St. Chad's well, the water of which was sold to valetudi- narians, at sixpence a glass. He got the character of being patron saint of medicinal springs. At Chadshunt, there was an oratory, and a well, bearing hisname. Chadwell—onesourceoftheNewRiver—is,perhaps,acorrup- tion of St. Chad's well. *^ In the Clog Almanacks, St. Chad's emblem is a
thishadbeen — the readinthe Perhaps, suggested by Gospel,'^ Mass,
branch.
and on the feast of his Translation formerly celebrated on the 2nd of August, with great pomp, at Lichfield. So long as the virtues of chastity, humility and a forsaking of all for Christ's sake, are esteemed among men, the name of this great Mercian Apostle ought not to be forgotten. "*
Article II. —St. Montan, or Mantan, Deacon, of Blaris, County of Down, and of Kill Mantan, County of Wicklow. \Fifth Century. '] It is thepropertyoftruewitorhumour,tobearnomalice; ithasnobitternessat heart ; it carries no venom beneath its tongue ; it aims no shafts at goodness or worth. It is not self-seeking or envious of another's reputation ; its laughter isharmless,itssparklingbeamissunny,itsaimisgenerous. Itisachildof light and of warm-heartedness. Impurity, indecency, indelicacy, it holds in aversion. Even the forfeiture of self-respect is an outrage on refinement and social propriety. In such an aspect, St. Montan or Mantan appears to have regarded the silly or sinful drolleries of strolling outcasts, at an early period,
'* At the examination of Oscott College, St. Chad's relics are thus described : No. I. A femur of the left side, nearly entire ; Nos. 3 and 3. The two tibiae, both broken at the lower ends, one having the head of the fibula adhering ; No. 4. Portion of a hume- rus. The relics were wrapped up in the slate-coloured silk, which originally enclosed them. The box containing them, and
of Bishop Wiseman. It is signed by Bishop Walsh, Bishop Wiseman, and Bishop Kyle (of Scotland).
'S It is situated on Snow Hill, between
Nos. 62 and 69 Bath Street, Birmingham, A convent dedicated to St. Chad, and also a Grammar school, under ecclesiastical direction, are among the religious institutes of the diocese.
^ See Rev. S. " Lives of Baring*Gould's
the Saints," vol, iii. , March ii. , pp. 32, 33. 'i See St. John xv. , where allusion is
made to the fruitful vine branches,
**
See Rev. S. Baring-Gould's "Lives of the Saints," vol. iii. , March ii. , p. 33.
covered with velvet and
lace,
was reclosed.
It was bound with a white silk riband, and
sealed by Bishop Walsh and by Bishop
Wiseman. An attestation of the above ex- amination and a description of the relics, dated 20th June, 1841, is in the handwriting
March 2. ] LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. 81
and who were regarded with aversion, by men of sense, of judgment, and of moral courage. His Acts, by Colgan,^ at the 2nd of March, refer to this single attributed incident of his life, and it is indicated or foreshadowed, by our previous remarks. The Bollandists^ have only a passing allusion to this saint, and some doubts respecting his identity have been thrown out. The Irish Martyrologist, Cathal Maguire, states, that Montan was venerated in a
place, called Blarus. We can only find one locality, in Ireland, bearing a denomination, at all corresponding. Within the county of Down lies the townland of Blaris,3 and there may be seen an old graveyard, with very little of the ancient church remaining. Blaris or Lisburn parish being intersected
Blaris Graveyard, County of Down.
by the River Lagan, belongs to both the counties of Down and of Antrim.
In some old Inquisitions, it is called Bally-templeblarisse. s It is denomi- nated, on an old map, " Blare. " The church and graveyard give name to
this parish. Its etymological meaning may have been derived, from Blar, " a plain," or field, and Rus " a wood ;" or perhaps, more probably, from Rus " for the soil around is of a kind. ^ Save a
s See Rev. William Reeves' "Ecclesias-
tical Antiquities of Down, Connor and Dro-
red," everywhere
red, sandy
Article ii. —' See " Acta Sanctorum Hibemise," ii. Martii. De S. Montano, Dia- cono, pp. 450, 451.
p. 125.
3 It is situated in the parish as Blaris, and
barony of Upper Castlereagh. It is marked ''
more," n. (h), p. 47.
^ The writer is indebted to Rev. David
'See "Acta
tomus Martii ii. Among the pretermitted Saints,
Sanctorum,"
i. ,
—
B. Mulcahy, C. C. , Lisburn an excellent
on the Ordnance Survey Townland Maps notes, in a letter, dated, Lisburn, 8th of
for the County of Down," Sheet 14.
* The portion of it in Down is described on Sheets 8, 14, 15, ibid. That within the barony of Upper Massariene is noted on the " Ordnance Survey Townland Maps for the
County of Antrim," Sheets 64, 67, 68.
August, 1877.
7 Two of the holy water fonts are now in
the possession of Mr. P. Connery, Bridge- street, Lisburn. These were got in the old church of Blaris. The accompanying view of Blaris graveyard was sketched on the
Irish scholar, well versed in local and general Irish history—for much of the infor- mation contained in the text and illustrative
F
82 LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. [March 2.
small portion of the north side-wall—now called the old wall—the former churchhasdisappeared. ? Theornamentalstoneworkoftheeasternwindow was removed to Mr. Carlton's place, he being the former proprietor. ^ It may be questioned, whether or not, the present holy man could have been bom here ; but, now, there is not any account whatsoever of St. Mantan, in the place. It is also problematical, if he can be considered as identical with a certain St. Mantan, or Montan, Deacon, who flourished, at an early period of ourhistory. Weknowlittleregardinghim,exceptwhatcanbegleanedfrom St. Patrick's Tripartite Life ; and from this, Jocelyn seems to have related the matter, yet in a form, somewhat dissimilar. 9 Montanus is classed as a disciple to the great St. Patrick. '° He is said to have assisted the Irish Apostle, in various ministerial labours. From his designation of Deacon," we may fairly infer, that he was never elevated, beyond such an ecclesiastical rank, although Maguire, or his Scholiast, calls him a Presbyter, In the Tri- partite Life," we are told, that having arranged the religious affairs of Ara Church,^3 St. Patrick betook himself to the Hi-Fidhgente''* region, where he was hospitably received by Lonan,'s son of Eric. This chieftain prepared a banquet for him, in a castle, situated on Mount Kea,^^ and near Carn-Fera- dhuic'7mountain,inthesouthernpartofMunster. Montanassistedinpre- paring this banquet. While thus engaged, a certain band of Druids and buffoons arrived at the '^ These demanded food from St.
place. persons
Patrick, in an importunate, and even in an insulting manner. '? Fearing they
would spread scandalous reports among his new converts, unless they should receive refreshments, since the saint and his companions might be said to enjoy themselves at table, whilst others were hungry ; St. Patrick requested Lonan and Montan to send them something, to satisfy their importunities. But, disregarding the efforts of such worthless characters, to spread disparag- ing reports against the great Irish Apostle, Lonan and Montan delayed com- plying with this request, until the meat should be thoroughly cooked, and afterwards blessed by Patrick. Meantime a youth, named Nessan,^" who, together with his mother, was bearing a basket filled with viands to Lonan's
spot, by Mr. Goodman, of Belfast. It has
been transferred to the wood, by "William
F. Wakeman, and it has been engraved by George A. Hanlon.
^ When the graveyard was enlarged, more than fifty years ago, a chalice is said to have been found in the digging, by his workmen, Of this sacred object there is no trace, at present.
5 Jocelyn conceals all mention of Mon- tan's name.
tuimnig Amu. —"History of Ireland," book ii.
'^ Jocelyn calls him " de Comdothan. "
'*
It rises just on the borders of the counties of Cork and of Limerick,
'^ Fearadhach's Cam or Heap. In the " Book of Lecan," fol. 204, it is referred to as being on the southern boundary of Cliu- Mail territory. It was probably the ancient name of Seefin, in the barony of Coshlea, in the south of Limerick county. See Dr,
'° "
See Colgan's "Trias Thaumaturga," Quinta Appendix ad Acta S. Patricii, cap. xxiii. , p. 267.
©'Donovan's AnnalsoftheFourMasters," vol. i. , n. (g), p. 41.
'^
It seems probable, that these buffoons had certain characteristics with the /iw/;w«<'j, introduced from Etruria, by the ancient Romans, B. C, 364. Such dancers or tumblers are found represented on old Etruscan monuments. Illustrations of comic and tragic acting, with theatrical arrange- ments at Pompeii are numerous enough, in Thomas H. Dyer's "Pompeii : Its History, Buildings and Antiquities," part i. , chap. vii. , pp. 188 to 214.
'» Jocelyn only mentions one, whom he designates, "quidam improbus, nomine Dercardius," yet seeming to indicate, that he was leader of a band.
" We are told, by Colgan, that in Book "
i. of St. /Engus' Opuscula," cap. iii. , he is styled "Diaconus," See j^/af. , n. 74, p. 186.
"See ibid. Septima Vita S, Patricii, pars. iii. ,. cap. xlii. , pp. 157, 158.
'3 Ara Cliach was situated in the county of Limerick, and it lies round Knockany. See Dr. O'Donovan's " Annals of the Four
Masters," vol. i,, n. (b), p. 47.
** At the reign of Diarmaid Mac Ceirb-
heoil and Conall Caol, Keating states, that this was the plain of the county of Limerick.
til -pomseince t\e i\4i'6cioi\ cli:^ Conc<\e
March 2. ] LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. 83
table, had been asked by St. Patrick to divide its contents among the buffoons. '' No sooner had they tasted this food, however, than God's vengeance fell upon them, for injuries offered to his great saint. ^^ hSS. of these men dropped dead. ''3 But, St. Patrick was likewise offended, at the disobedience of Lonan and Montan to his orders. As a punishment for their fault, he pre- dicted, that none of Lonan's seed should enjoy the regal or pontifical dignity ; while, the Church of Montan, he declared, should be humble and of mode- ratedimensions; moreover,itshouldbecomeaplaceofresortforthevulgar, and even over Montan's tomb and body, sheep and swine should afterwards
range uncontrolled, according to the Apostle's prediction,^* We cannot
Kilmantan Hill, South of Wicklow Town,
account, for the change of scene, to a place far more distant ; but, this church is said to have been situated, on the sea shore, in the eastern part of Leinster.
