Fergna, as the
disciple
of St.
O'Hanlon - Lives of the Irish Saints - v3
141.
3* This name seems derivable from the
'*""
Greek, signifying good or chaste. " See
ibid. , n. (f ).
" Irish Early
37
Colgan
thinks he was the same as St.
No.
*" It is four leagues distant from the city
Taeda MacColgan, whose name is found in ""
the Tallagh Martyrology, edited by Rev. Dr. Kelly (See p. xiv. ) ; because, no place
Missions,"
i. , p. 32.
March 2. ] LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. 89
doing penance, and for renouncing pagan practices, in the name of Jesus Christ, All were moved, through the force of his exhortations, and cried out withonevoice,thattheyshouldbecomethoroughlyrepentant. Thenorder- ing an altar to be prepared, and St. loava having finished the Holy Sacrifice, St. Paul wrought a wonderful miracle, in relieving the district, from the presence of a dragon, which had there caused great terror and loss of life. Afterwards, he visited the Toparch, from whom he expelled a demon, and marking him with a sign of the cross, that Dynast was instructed in the Christian doctrine. Then he was baptized by St. loava, while St. Paul, who assisted, gave him that same name, which he bore himself. The Toparch's whole family followed this example. His mother ran in great joy to acquaint her brother, Aristagnus, with the news of her son's restoration and of his baptism. Aristagnus requested St. Paul and St. loava to visit him, and they consented ; when, on their arrival, the chieftain, with a large train, came out to meet them. He not only received them most courteously, but he even promised, in his nephew's name, that he should expiate a former offence. Nor did the Toparch refuse to execute this promise, made by his uncle. A fine monastery was then erected, to perpetuate their memory, on that very spot, where St. Taidoc and St. Judulus had been martyred. Joava was chosenasitsfirstabbot,44attherequestoftheToparchofLeFou. Aftera few years, the building was completed, and liberally endowed. It was con- secratedbytheBishopofCornouaille. Joavawasdirected,byhisuncle,St. Paul, to reside in the Isle of Baz,45 as we are told ; but, for this statement, we find no corresponding warranty, derivable from the old Acts. 4^ It was known in after times as St. Mary's Monastery of Doulas,47 Daoulane or Daouz- Glas,4^ which is interpreted as " the monastery of the two wounds. " 49 "We may well pass over some fabulous accounts, referring to St. Paul's return ; but, it must suffice to state, that St. laova collected a numerous company of monksatDaoulane,andhislifewasthereacauseforgreatedification. The evil one, however, envying his success, in freeing the province from heathenish thraldom, forced him at length to resign the rectorship of Barsparz to Tuseran, or Tusuran,5° the son of Aristagnus. Having instructed the latter, in the right manner of ruling his parish and monastery, Joava asked leave fromhisreligious,toseekhisunclePaul,atLeon. Hewasjoyfullyreceived there. He is stated, to have been created a Canon of the Cathedral Church. s^ Soon he was destined for a higher dignity. Being chosen as Bishop of Leon, St. Paul invited Joava to aid him, in sanctifying his people. s^ The senior now desired to spend his life in retirement, and his canons advised, that the assistant bishop should assume the responsibility of government. Then, St. Sampson53 ruled over the see of Dol, and he was regarded as the Metropo- litan of Britany. By him, it is stated, Joava was consecrated bishop. St.
4* See Rt. Rev. Patrick F. Moran's of St. Augustine. It belonged to the Dio-
"
45 See Rev. S.
the Saints," vol. iii. , March ii. , p. 22.
4* However, this appears to be founded on the Lessons of the old Breviary of Leon.
"
5° If this person belong to the list of saints, 47 See Rt. Rev. Patrick F. Moran's it does not seem possible to identify him,
Early Irish Missions," No. i. , pp. 32, 33.
cese of Corispotensis, in Armoric Comou-
aille,
the bishops there, as also in a Catalogue of the Gaulish Monasteries,
Baring-Gould's
" Lives of
as Claudius Robert shows in his list of
Early Irish Missions," No. i. , p. 33.
from the Calendars. Hugh Menard, in his Benedictine Martyrology, at the 25th of
November, has a Blessed Toussan, Monk of Cluny, but seemingly different from the present Tuseran.
s' See the Lessons in the Breviary of Leon. I
s^ See Rt. Rev. Patrick F. Moran's " Early Irish Missions," No. i. , p. 33.
48 The Bollandists suppose, in referring to this passage, that as Albert Le Grande wrote his account from certain knowledge, it may be inferred, that the compilers of the Catalogue of all the Gaulish Churches, de- nominated PouUie, have omitted the names of many monasteries and churches.
49 It became a house for Canons Regular
90 LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. [March 2.
Paul soon retired from his see, to the monastery of Baaz, being weighed down with old age and infirmities. S4 While Joava diligently exercised his
episcopal duties at Leon,5s the people he had left experienced the horrors of a famine, for three successive years, and were obliged to bring breadstuffs, from the most remote parts of Britany. Recognising this scarcity, as a punishment for their ingratitude towards our saint, they sent some of the Ocismiis^ to Leon, who requested his forgiveness, and return to their place, so that they might receive his benediction. Forgetful of injuries, the holy man was only too anxious to repay good for evil. He returned to their country, and no sooner had he prayed for increased prosperity there, than the earth and its fruits seemed to revive, and abundance followed. While here, in the presbytery of Barzparz, loava was stricken with a fever, which, after a few days access, deprived him of all strength. The third day before his death, a Divine intuition conveyed this intelligence to St. KenanS7 of Plou-kernaw, and to St. Paul, then residing in the Island Monastery of Baaz. The former instantly set out for Barzparz, to administer every spiritual succour to loava, and to arrange for his honourable interment. Our saint was greatly consoled, on his arrival, and piously received the Church Sacra- ments, through Kenan's ministry. Then blessing those around him, the holy bishopgavedirectionsabouthisinterment. Afterwards,extendinghishands towards heaven, he rendered his soul to his Creator, on the 2nd day of March. St. JoavaonlyruledovertheancientseeofLeon,foroneyearand seventy days,^^ while he died, a. d, 554,^9 or 555. ^° The body was washed after his death, and clothed in pontifical garments. Then, it was laid on a new couch, or litter, according to his previous directions, and borne by animals, along the great road, leading from Barzparz, until these arrived at a place, called Porz-arr charz, where they stopped of their own accord. There, the bier seemed violently agitated, and a loud sound was heard; yet, the animals advanced about five hundred paces onwards, to where a grave had been prepared miraculously for the remains. Here, they were buried, and a splendid temple, called after St. loava, was subsequently erected. In course of time, his relics were transferred to the Cathedral Church of Leon, where they were religiously preserved. As nothing occurs, in our Irish Calendars, at this date, in reference to St. laova or Jovinus, Colgan thinks his name may have undergone some change among the Gauls, where he lived and died, away from his own country. ^' He is the special patron of two parishes,^^ one called Ker-iouen,^3 and the other St. louan,^* in Leon diocese. ^s There, his
S3 See his Life, at the 28th of July. the 5th, and of St. Cianan or Kenan, Bishop
s< See Rt. Rev, Patrick F. Moran's of Duleek, at the 24th, of Norember.
"Early Irish Missions," No. i. , p. 33. ss Yet, nothing regarding these seventy
ss In his Catalogue of the Bishops of days, as the Bollandists remark, can be
I>eon, Joava is omitted from it, by Claudius
Robert, most probably, as Colgan states, because he administered that see, while St. Paul v/as living. See "Acta Sanctonim HibernizE," Martii ii. Vita S. laovre, Epis- copi Leonensis, n. 9, p. 443.
s* These were an ancient people of Bre- tagne, who lived near Leon and Treguier. See CjEsar " Commentariorum de Bello Gallico," lib. iii. , cap. ix.
57 There is some question about this saint's identity. The reader is referred to what has
" found in the Acts of St. Paul. See Acta
Sanctorum," tomus i. , Martii ii. De S.
loava sive Jovino, &c. , n. (m), p. 141.
S9 Such is the date found in the Breviary
of Leon,
been
already
written about St. Cienan or
de la Bretagne," p. 71.
"^^ This lay on the shore of the British Sea,
and about seven French leagues from the city of Leon.
Kenan, Abbot, in the second vol. of this
Work, Art. i. , at the 25th of February. See,
also, the notices of St. Cienan or Kenan, at
^^ This is called St. lahona, in the des-
" *'
*°
Early Irish Missions," No. i. , p. 33.
See Rt. Rev. Patrick F. Moran's
See "Acta Sanctorum Hibernice,"
Martii ii. Vita S. laovse Episcopi Leonen-
sis, n. i, p. 443.
^^
See Lobineau's "Les Vies des Saints
March 2. ] LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. 91
feast has been celebrated on the 2nd of March, the anniversary of his death, and with an office of nine Lessons, as contained in the Legendary of the Cathedral. It might be desired, that his Acts^^ were better expurgated, as they contain legends, which, instead of heightening the interest for judicious readers, tend rather to depreciate their authenticity and value, when subjected to the process of just criticism.
ArticleIV. —St,FergnaBritt,AbbotofIona. {SixthandSeventh Centuries. '] The Acts of St. Fergna, or Fergnaus, drawn from various writers, have been published by Colgan, at the 2nd of March. '' In like
manner, the BoUandists follow his authority, taking exceptions to some of those attributed Acts. ^ Bishop Forbes has certain notices regarding him. 3
"
The surname Brit, which signifies a Briton," was derived, in Colgan's
opinion, from his having lived in Britain ; but, the Rev. Dr. Reeves thinks, that probably more is implied in such an epithet, than is found recorded. * He belonged to the race of Conall Gulban, son to Niall,5 and he was son to Failbe, belonging to the family of Enna Boghaine. Fergna was born, pro- bably after or about the middle of the sixth century, having been a member of the community in St. Columba's time. ^ He is called Virgnous, by Adam- nan, who describes him as being a youth of ardent piety. 7 St. ^ngus the Culdee and the Calendar of Cashel designate him, by an epithet^ meaning " white " or " fair. " He appears to have presided over the religious com- munity, at Iona, from a. d. 605, to 623, having immediately succeeded St. Laisren, or Laisrien,9 who died on the i6th of September, in the former year. It is said, that St. Fergna had lived for some time with St. Lugudius,^° Abbot of Cluain-Finchuil, or Cluain-Fiacul," in Ireland;" but, this Fergnous or Vergnous is clearly a different person. Both are confounded, however, by
Colgan, who represents St.
Fergna, as the disciple of St. Columkille. *3 He was the fourth abbot, in succession ; but, not so nearly related, to St.
Columba,'4 as his predecessors. The contemporaneous incidents of his rule have been noted, by the Rev. Dr. Reeves. 's For additional particulars
cription of the Benefices of France. The BoUandists think, it wa. s the place of our saint's first burial.
*s See Rt. Rev. Patrick F. Moran's
" Early Irish Missions," No. i. , p. 33.
^ The Rev. Alban Butler observes, that
his Life, copied by Albert the Great, from
"
^ gee Rev. William Reeves' Adamnan's
" de—serves no
Acts, regard. "
See notices of him, at this date,
older
Article iv. See Acta Sanctorum
a
Clonfeakle, parish situated,
'''
Hibernise," Martii ii. De S. Fergna sive Fergnao, Abbate Hiensi et Episcopo, ex variis, pp. 448 to 450.
'See "Acta Sanctonam," tomus i. , Martii ii. Among the pretermitted saints, p. 125.
3 See "Kalendars of Scottish Saints," p.
336.
4 See Adamnan's "Life of St. Columba,"
Additional Notes, O, p. 372.
5 His pedigree is given from the " Sancti-
logic Genealogy," chap, i. , in Colgan's '3 See "Trias Thaumaturga. " Quarta
"Trias Thaumaturga. " Quarta Appendix ad Acta S. Columbse, cap. iii. , p. 481, cap. X. , p. 492.
Appendix ad Acta S. Columbee, cap. x. , num. 58, 112, pp. 490, 492.
'4 See his Life, at the 9th of June.
^This identity is called in question, by
167, p. 34S. 373.
'S See his Adamnan's "Life of St. Co- Dr. Lanigan. See " Ecclesiastical History lumba," lib. iii. , cap. 23, n. (d), pp. 236, of Ireland," vol. ii. , chap, xiv. , sect, xii. , n. 237, and Additional Notes, (O), pp. 372,
Life of St. Columba," lib. iii. , cap. 19, pp. 223 to 225.
^ Fionn.
5 See notices of him, at the l6th of Sep- tember.
'°
-' Now
partly in the baronies of Armagh and Oneil- land West, county of Armagh, which part is shown on the " Ordnance Survey Townland Maps for the County of Armagh," Sheets 4,
8; and, partly in the barony of Middle Dungannon, which is found on the " Ord- nance Survey Townland Maps for the County of Tyrone," Sheets 54, 55, 61, 62, 67. Clonfeacle town is on Sheet 61, ibid.
"See "Acta Sanctorum Hibernise," Martii ii. De S. Fergna sive Fergnao, Abbate Hiensi et Episcopo, p. 449.
92 LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. [March 2.
regarding him, the reader is referred to the Life of St. Columba. Fergna's death is noted, at a. d, 616, in the Annals of Inisfallen ; at a. d. 622, by the Annals of the Four Masters ;^^ and, at a. d. 623, by the Annals of Tigher- nach, and by the Rev. William Reeves. ^7 The 2nd of March is supposed to have been the day of his death. Simply the name Fergna, Abbot of la, is found in the Martyrology of Tallagh,'^ at the same date. St. ^ngus the Culdee notices him,^9 at the 2nd of March, as likewise Marianus O'Gorman ; but, in the gloss to his Calendar, Fergna is styled bishop. Yet, this is thoughttohavebeenanincorrectdesignation; insomuchastheprecedent, so recently established, in lona, by the founder, could hardly have been
^°
wards. Venerable Bede asserts, that in lona they were always accustomed to
have its ruler, a priest abbot. '^ The Martyrology of Donegal^^ mentions, as having a festival on this day, Fergna Britt, son of Failbhe, Bishop. In the entry of his name, by the compiler of a talDle added to this Martyrology, it is Latinized, Virgnoiis. '^'^ In addition, Duald Mac Firbis enters Fergna Britt, Bishop and Abbot of la-Coluim-Cille, at March 2nd. ^+ At this date, like- wise, the Carthusian Martyrology records his feast. =^5 At the 2nd of March, the Drummond Kalendar observes, that the Abbot Fergna, of the Hy mon- astery, went to Christ. ^^ In Ireland, this holy man seems to have had his office recited in nine lessons, as we learn from an old Antiphonarium, be-
longing to the Library of Trinity College, Dublin.
Article V. —Reputed Festival of a Monendabbis, or Movendas, as also of Tedgn^e, Tedquus or Teugna, Tenguus, Abbots. In the anonymous Catalogue of Irish Saints, as also in the list of Henry Fitzsimons, at the 2nd of March, we find the name of St. Movendas, Abbot. He is entered, likewise, in the Carthusian Martyrology,^ or Usuard, with the addi- tions of Hermann Greuen, as the BoUandists remark " and in the
departed from, in the case of its fourth abbot.
Besides, a century after-
'*
See Dr. O'Donovan's edition, vol. i. ,
; again,
nology, not only of this abbot's times, but of
all the other abbots' periods, at lona, with
annalistic entries,
*' "
See Historia Ecclesiastica Grentis
Anglorum," lib. iii. , cap. iv.
" Edited by Drs. Todd and Reeves, pp.
60, 6i.
*3 gee, /3/^. , pp. 414, 415.
'* See "Proceedings of the Royal Irish
Academy," Irish MSS. Series, vol. i. , part i. , pp. 112, 113.
pp. 244, 245.
'7 See his Adamnan's " Life of St. Co-
lumba," Additional Notes, O, pp. 372, 373.
'^
''As the "white Fergna in Hy. " See
Edited by Rev. Dr. Kelly, p. xvii.
Bishop Forbes'
"
Kalendars of Scottish
Saints," p. 336. To Professor O'Looney
the writer feels indebted for the following
rann, taken from the Leabhar Breac copy ""
of the Felire of St. iEngus, in Irish,
"In Hibemia
with the —
English translation,
which is here
"s It states
:
Fergna
et
appended : e. HI. 1*1.
*°
Monendabbis Abbatum. " how- Colgan,
"
lona.
passion
of Lucilia
Scottish — 6. Saints," p.
See Rev. William Reeves' Adamnan's Life of St. Columba," Additional Notes, O, p. 373. Here will be found, a research- ful and most complete account of the chro-
"See "Acta Sanctorum," tomus i. , Martii ii. Among the pretermitted saints, p. 125.
ever, corrects this mistake, by stating that
these names were substituted for " Fergna
tl4 niebfAirc'he|\ ^reili 1 pAij" tucitiAe
5ein fen poil ftAn ooe •peiL pnt) fepgnA lAe.
If it be appropriate to celebrate a Feast
On the
Birth of old Paul full of sanctity
The Feast of Find Chief of "Historic Catholicce Ibernias Compen-
et Montani Abbatum," since these are both
venerated in Ireland, on this day. See
"
Acta Sanctorum Hibernite," Martii ii. De S. Fergna sive Fergnao, &c. , nn. lo, 11, p. 450.
»* See Bishop Forbes* " Kalendars of
Article v.
'
dium," tomus i. , lib. iv. , cap. xi. , p. 49, and cap. xii. , p. 56.
See O'Sullevan Beare's
3 See O'Sullevan Beare's " Historias Ca-
March 2. ] LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. 93
anonymous Catalogue of National Saints, published by O'Sullevan Beare, at the 2nd of March, we find Tedquus. On the authority of Floratius, the same Tedquus or Tenguus, an abbot, is noticed in Henry Fitzsimon's hst, at the very same date ;3 the Bollandists have this name Teugna. However, they think, this may be a mistake for Fergna, and they state, that otherwise the foregoing saints' names were unknown to the Irish. Colgan accounts for a different mistake of entry, as we have remarked, in a previous note.
Article VI. —St. Lugadius, of Cluain-Finchuil, or Cluain-Fiacul, Clonfeakle,CountyofArmagh. [^ProbablyintheSixthCentury? ^ Acts ofthissaintareinserted,byColgan,atthe2ndofMarch. ^ TheBollandists
have only a few short notices, regarding him, and they deem many of Colgan's statements to be inconsequential, especially in reference to this saint's iden-
tification. ^ Great diversity of opinion seems to prevail concerning his age and period. According to Colgan's conjecture,3 this holy man, the son of
Tulchan, was probably a brother to St. Fintan Munnu,* and to St. Kieran,s as also to their sister, St. Conchenna. ^ Yet, elsewhere, Colgan has a different
opinion, that he was the same as Lugatius, a bishop, and a disciple of St. Patricks The reader will find some account of him, in the notices of St.
Meallan,^ which have been already published, at the 28th of January. 9 How- ever, we must not too hastily assume, that the bishop, there spoken of, was identical with the St. Lugadius, noted in our Calendars, on this day. '*' Among St. Patrick's disciples is classed Lugacius, of Kill-airthir ; and, it has been supposed by Colgan, that his festival belonged, either to the 2nd of March, or to the i6th of June.
3* This name seems derivable from the
'*""
Greek, signifying good or chaste. " See
ibid. , n. (f ).
" Irish Early
37
Colgan
thinks he was the same as St.
No.
*" It is four leagues distant from the city
Taeda MacColgan, whose name is found in ""
the Tallagh Martyrology, edited by Rev. Dr. Kelly (See p. xiv. ) ; because, no place
Missions,"
i. , p. 32.
March 2. ] LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. 89
doing penance, and for renouncing pagan practices, in the name of Jesus Christ, All were moved, through the force of his exhortations, and cried out withonevoice,thattheyshouldbecomethoroughlyrepentant. Thenorder- ing an altar to be prepared, and St. loava having finished the Holy Sacrifice, St. Paul wrought a wonderful miracle, in relieving the district, from the presence of a dragon, which had there caused great terror and loss of life. Afterwards, he visited the Toparch, from whom he expelled a demon, and marking him with a sign of the cross, that Dynast was instructed in the Christian doctrine. Then he was baptized by St. loava, while St. Paul, who assisted, gave him that same name, which he bore himself. The Toparch's whole family followed this example. His mother ran in great joy to acquaint her brother, Aristagnus, with the news of her son's restoration and of his baptism. Aristagnus requested St. Paul and St. loava to visit him, and they consented ; when, on their arrival, the chieftain, with a large train, came out to meet them. He not only received them most courteously, but he even promised, in his nephew's name, that he should expiate a former offence. Nor did the Toparch refuse to execute this promise, made by his uncle. A fine monastery was then erected, to perpetuate their memory, on that very spot, where St. Taidoc and St. Judulus had been martyred. Joava was chosenasitsfirstabbot,44attherequestoftheToparchofLeFou. Aftera few years, the building was completed, and liberally endowed. It was con- secratedbytheBishopofCornouaille. Joavawasdirected,byhisuncle,St. Paul, to reside in the Isle of Baz,45 as we are told ; but, for this statement, we find no corresponding warranty, derivable from the old Acts. 4^ It was known in after times as St. Mary's Monastery of Doulas,47 Daoulane or Daouz- Glas,4^ which is interpreted as " the monastery of the two wounds. " 49 "We may well pass over some fabulous accounts, referring to St. Paul's return ; but, it must suffice to state, that St. laova collected a numerous company of monksatDaoulane,andhislifewasthereacauseforgreatedification. The evil one, however, envying his success, in freeing the province from heathenish thraldom, forced him at length to resign the rectorship of Barsparz to Tuseran, or Tusuran,5° the son of Aristagnus. Having instructed the latter, in the right manner of ruling his parish and monastery, Joava asked leave fromhisreligious,toseekhisunclePaul,atLeon. Hewasjoyfullyreceived there. He is stated, to have been created a Canon of the Cathedral Church. s^ Soon he was destined for a higher dignity. Being chosen as Bishop of Leon, St. Paul invited Joava to aid him, in sanctifying his people. s^ The senior now desired to spend his life in retirement, and his canons advised, that the assistant bishop should assume the responsibility of government. Then, St. Sampson53 ruled over the see of Dol, and he was regarded as the Metropo- litan of Britany. By him, it is stated, Joava was consecrated bishop. St.
4* See Rt. Rev. Patrick F. Moran's of St. Augustine. It belonged to the Dio-
"
45 See Rev. S.
the Saints," vol. iii. , March ii. , p. 22.
4* However, this appears to be founded on the Lessons of the old Breviary of Leon.
"
5° If this person belong to the list of saints, 47 See Rt. Rev. Patrick F. Moran's it does not seem possible to identify him,
Early Irish Missions," No. i. , pp. 32, 33.
cese of Corispotensis, in Armoric Comou-
aille,
the bishops there, as also in a Catalogue of the Gaulish Monasteries,
Baring-Gould's
" Lives of
as Claudius Robert shows in his list of
Early Irish Missions," No. i. , p. 33.
from the Calendars. Hugh Menard, in his Benedictine Martyrology, at the 25th of
November, has a Blessed Toussan, Monk of Cluny, but seemingly different from the present Tuseran.
s' See the Lessons in the Breviary of Leon. I
s^ See Rt. Rev. Patrick F. Moran's " Early Irish Missions," No. i. , p. 33.
48 The Bollandists suppose, in referring to this passage, that as Albert Le Grande wrote his account from certain knowledge, it may be inferred, that the compilers of the Catalogue of all the Gaulish Churches, de- nominated PouUie, have omitted the names of many monasteries and churches.
49 It became a house for Canons Regular
90 LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. [March 2.
Paul soon retired from his see, to the monastery of Baaz, being weighed down with old age and infirmities. S4 While Joava diligently exercised his
episcopal duties at Leon,5s the people he had left experienced the horrors of a famine, for three successive years, and were obliged to bring breadstuffs, from the most remote parts of Britany. Recognising this scarcity, as a punishment for their ingratitude towards our saint, they sent some of the Ocismiis^ to Leon, who requested his forgiveness, and return to their place, so that they might receive his benediction. Forgetful of injuries, the holy man was only too anxious to repay good for evil. He returned to their country, and no sooner had he prayed for increased prosperity there, than the earth and its fruits seemed to revive, and abundance followed. While here, in the presbytery of Barzparz, loava was stricken with a fever, which, after a few days access, deprived him of all strength. The third day before his death, a Divine intuition conveyed this intelligence to St. KenanS7 of Plou-kernaw, and to St. Paul, then residing in the Island Monastery of Baaz. The former instantly set out for Barzparz, to administer every spiritual succour to loava, and to arrange for his honourable interment. Our saint was greatly consoled, on his arrival, and piously received the Church Sacra- ments, through Kenan's ministry. Then blessing those around him, the holy bishopgavedirectionsabouthisinterment. Afterwards,extendinghishands towards heaven, he rendered his soul to his Creator, on the 2nd day of March. St. JoavaonlyruledovertheancientseeofLeon,foroneyearand seventy days,^^ while he died, a. d, 554,^9 or 555. ^° The body was washed after his death, and clothed in pontifical garments. Then, it was laid on a new couch, or litter, according to his previous directions, and borne by animals, along the great road, leading from Barzparz, until these arrived at a place, called Porz-arr charz, where they stopped of their own accord. There, the bier seemed violently agitated, and a loud sound was heard; yet, the animals advanced about five hundred paces onwards, to where a grave had been prepared miraculously for the remains. Here, they were buried, and a splendid temple, called after St. loava, was subsequently erected. In course of time, his relics were transferred to the Cathedral Church of Leon, where they were religiously preserved. As nothing occurs, in our Irish Calendars, at this date, in reference to St. laova or Jovinus, Colgan thinks his name may have undergone some change among the Gauls, where he lived and died, away from his own country. ^' He is the special patron of two parishes,^^ one called Ker-iouen,^3 and the other St. louan,^* in Leon diocese. ^s There, his
S3 See his Life, at the 28th of July. the 5th, and of St. Cianan or Kenan, Bishop
s< See Rt. Rev, Patrick F. Moran's of Duleek, at the 24th, of Norember.
"Early Irish Missions," No. i. , p. 33. ss Yet, nothing regarding these seventy
ss In his Catalogue of the Bishops of days, as the Bollandists remark, can be
I>eon, Joava is omitted from it, by Claudius
Robert, most probably, as Colgan states, because he administered that see, while St. Paul v/as living. See "Acta Sanctonim HibernizE," Martii ii. Vita S. laovre, Epis- copi Leonensis, n. 9, p. 443.
s* These were an ancient people of Bre- tagne, who lived near Leon and Treguier. See CjEsar " Commentariorum de Bello Gallico," lib. iii. , cap. ix.
57 There is some question about this saint's identity. The reader is referred to what has
" found in the Acts of St. Paul. See Acta
Sanctorum," tomus i. , Martii ii. De S.
loava sive Jovino, &c. , n. (m), p. 141.
S9 Such is the date found in the Breviary
of Leon,
been
already
written about St. Cienan or
de la Bretagne," p. 71.
"^^ This lay on the shore of the British Sea,
and about seven French leagues from the city of Leon.
Kenan, Abbot, in the second vol. of this
Work, Art. i. , at the 25th of February. See,
also, the notices of St. Cienan or Kenan, at
^^ This is called St. lahona, in the des-
" *'
*°
Early Irish Missions," No. i. , p. 33.
See Rt. Rev. Patrick F. Moran's
See "Acta Sanctorum Hibernice,"
Martii ii. Vita S. laovse Episcopi Leonen-
sis, n. i, p. 443.
^^
See Lobineau's "Les Vies des Saints
March 2. ] LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. 91
feast has been celebrated on the 2nd of March, the anniversary of his death, and with an office of nine Lessons, as contained in the Legendary of the Cathedral. It might be desired, that his Acts^^ were better expurgated, as they contain legends, which, instead of heightening the interest for judicious readers, tend rather to depreciate their authenticity and value, when subjected to the process of just criticism.
ArticleIV. —St,FergnaBritt,AbbotofIona. {SixthandSeventh Centuries. '] The Acts of St. Fergna, or Fergnaus, drawn from various writers, have been published by Colgan, at the 2nd of March. '' In like
manner, the BoUandists follow his authority, taking exceptions to some of those attributed Acts. ^ Bishop Forbes has certain notices regarding him. 3
"
The surname Brit, which signifies a Briton," was derived, in Colgan's
opinion, from his having lived in Britain ; but, the Rev. Dr. Reeves thinks, that probably more is implied in such an epithet, than is found recorded. * He belonged to the race of Conall Gulban, son to Niall,5 and he was son to Failbe, belonging to the family of Enna Boghaine. Fergna was born, pro- bably after or about the middle of the sixth century, having been a member of the community in St. Columba's time. ^ He is called Virgnous, by Adam- nan, who describes him as being a youth of ardent piety. 7 St. ^ngus the Culdee and the Calendar of Cashel designate him, by an epithet^ meaning " white " or " fair. " He appears to have presided over the religious com- munity, at Iona, from a. d. 605, to 623, having immediately succeeded St. Laisren, or Laisrien,9 who died on the i6th of September, in the former year. It is said, that St. Fergna had lived for some time with St. Lugudius,^° Abbot of Cluain-Finchuil, or Cluain-Fiacul," in Ireland;" but, this Fergnous or Vergnous is clearly a different person. Both are confounded, however, by
Colgan, who represents St.
Fergna, as the disciple of St. Columkille. *3 He was the fourth abbot, in succession ; but, not so nearly related, to St.
Columba,'4 as his predecessors. The contemporaneous incidents of his rule have been noted, by the Rev. Dr. Reeves. 's For additional particulars
cription of the Benefices of France. The BoUandists think, it wa. s the place of our saint's first burial.
*s See Rt. Rev. Patrick F. Moran's
" Early Irish Missions," No. i. , p. 33.
^ The Rev. Alban Butler observes, that
his Life, copied by Albert the Great, from
"
^ gee Rev. William Reeves' Adamnan's
" de—serves no
Acts, regard. "
See notices of him, at this date,
older
Article iv. See Acta Sanctorum
a
Clonfeakle, parish situated,
'''
Hibernise," Martii ii. De S. Fergna sive Fergnao, Abbate Hiensi et Episcopo, ex variis, pp. 448 to 450.
'See "Acta Sanctonam," tomus i. , Martii ii. Among the pretermitted saints, p. 125.
3 See "Kalendars of Scottish Saints," p.
336.
4 See Adamnan's "Life of St. Columba,"
Additional Notes, O, p. 372.
5 His pedigree is given from the " Sancti-
logic Genealogy," chap, i. , in Colgan's '3 See "Trias Thaumaturga. " Quarta
"Trias Thaumaturga. " Quarta Appendix ad Acta S. Columbse, cap. iii. , p. 481, cap. X. , p. 492.
Appendix ad Acta S. Columbee, cap. x. , num. 58, 112, pp. 490, 492.
'4 See his Life, at the 9th of June.
^This identity is called in question, by
167, p. 34S. 373.
'S See his Adamnan's "Life of St. Co- Dr. Lanigan. See " Ecclesiastical History lumba," lib. iii. , cap. 23, n. (d), pp. 236, of Ireland," vol. ii. , chap, xiv. , sect, xii. , n. 237, and Additional Notes, (O), pp. 372,
Life of St. Columba," lib. iii. , cap. 19, pp. 223 to 225.
^ Fionn.
5 See notices of him, at the l6th of Sep- tember.
'°
-' Now
partly in the baronies of Armagh and Oneil- land West, county of Armagh, which part is shown on the " Ordnance Survey Townland Maps for the County of Armagh," Sheets 4,
8; and, partly in the barony of Middle Dungannon, which is found on the " Ord- nance Survey Townland Maps for the County of Tyrone," Sheets 54, 55, 61, 62, 67. Clonfeacle town is on Sheet 61, ibid.
"See "Acta Sanctorum Hibernise," Martii ii. De S. Fergna sive Fergnao, Abbate Hiensi et Episcopo, p. 449.
92 LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. [March 2.
regarding him, the reader is referred to the Life of St. Columba. Fergna's death is noted, at a. d, 616, in the Annals of Inisfallen ; at a. d. 622, by the Annals of the Four Masters ;^^ and, at a. d. 623, by the Annals of Tigher- nach, and by the Rev. William Reeves. ^7 The 2nd of March is supposed to have been the day of his death. Simply the name Fergna, Abbot of la, is found in the Martyrology of Tallagh,'^ at the same date. St. ^ngus the Culdee notices him,^9 at the 2nd of March, as likewise Marianus O'Gorman ; but, in the gloss to his Calendar, Fergna is styled bishop. Yet, this is thoughttohavebeenanincorrectdesignation; insomuchastheprecedent, so recently established, in lona, by the founder, could hardly have been
^°
wards. Venerable Bede asserts, that in lona they were always accustomed to
have its ruler, a priest abbot. '^ The Martyrology of Donegal^^ mentions, as having a festival on this day, Fergna Britt, son of Failbhe, Bishop. In the entry of his name, by the compiler of a talDle added to this Martyrology, it is Latinized, Virgnoiis. '^'^ In addition, Duald Mac Firbis enters Fergna Britt, Bishop and Abbot of la-Coluim-Cille, at March 2nd. ^+ At this date, like- wise, the Carthusian Martyrology records his feast. =^5 At the 2nd of March, the Drummond Kalendar observes, that the Abbot Fergna, of the Hy mon- astery, went to Christ. ^^ In Ireland, this holy man seems to have had his office recited in nine lessons, as we learn from an old Antiphonarium, be-
longing to the Library of Trinity College, Dublin.
Article V. —Reputed Festival of a Monendabbis, or Movendas, as also of Tedgn^e, Tedquus or Teugna, Tenguus, Abbots. In the anonymous Catalogue of Irish Saints, as also in the list of Henry Fitzsimons, at the 2nd of March, we find the name of St. Movendas, Abbot. He is entered, likewise, in the Carthusian Martyrology,^ or Usuard, with the addi- tions of Hermann Greuen, as the BoUandists remark " and in the
departed from, in the case of its fourth abbot.
Besides, a century after-
'*
See Dr. O'Donovan's edition, vol. i. ,
; again,
nology, not only of this abbot's times, but of
all the other abbots' periods, at lona, with
annalistic entries,
*' "
See Historia Ecclesiastica Grentis
Anglorum," lib. iii. , cap. iv.
" Edited by Drs. Todd and Reeves, pp.
60, 6i.
*3 gee, /3/^. , pp. 414, 415.
'* See "Proceedings of the Royal Irish
Academy," Irish MSS. Series, vol. i. , part i. , pp. 112, 113.
pp. 244, 245.
'7 See his Adamnan's " Life of St. Co-
lumba," Additional Notes, O, pp. 372, 373.
'^
''As the "white Fergna in Hy. " See
Edited by Rev. Dr. Kelly, p. xvii.
Bishop Forbes'
"
Kalendars of Scottish
Saints," p. 336. To Professor O'Looney
the writer feels indebted for the following
rann, taken from the Leabhar Breac copy ""
of the Felire of St. iEngus, in Irish,
"In Hibemia
with the —
English translation,
which is here
"s It states
:
Fergna
et
appended : e. HI. 1*1.
*°
Monendabbis Abbatum. " how- Colgan,
"
lona.
passion
of Lucilia
Scottish — 6. Saints," p.
See Rev. William Reeves' Adamnan's Life of St. Columba," Additional Notes, O, p. 373. Here will be found, a research- ful and most complete account of the chro-
"See "Acta Sanctorum," tomus i. , Martii ii. Among the pretermitted saints, p. 125.
ever, corrects this mistake, by stating that
these names were substituted for " Fergna
tl4 niebfAirc'he|\ ^reili 1 pAij" tucitiAe
5ein fen poil ftAn ooe •peiL pnt) fepgnA lAe.
If it be appropriate to celebrate a Feast
On the
Birth of old Paul full of sanctity
The Feast of Find Chief of "Historic Catholicce Ibernias Compen-
et Montani Abbatum," since these are both
venerated in Ireland, on this day. See
"
Acta Sanctorum Hibernite," Martii ii. De S. Fergna sive Fergnao, &c. , nn. lo, 11, p. 450.
»* See Bishop Forbes* " Kalendars of
Article v.
'
dium," tomus i. , lib. iv. , cap. xi. , p. 49, and cap. xii. , p. 56.
See O'Sullevan Beare's
3 See O'Sullevan Beare's " Historias Ca-
March 2. ] LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. 93
anonymous Catalogue of National Saints, published by O'Sullevan Beare, at the 2nd of March, we find Tedquus. On the authority of Floratius, the same Tedquus or Tenguus, an abbot, is noticed in Henry Fitzsimon's hst, at the very same date ;3 the Bollandists have this name Teugna. However, they think, this may be a mistake for Fergna, and they state, that otherwise the foregoing saints' names were unknown to the Irish. Colgan accounts for a different mistake of entry, as we have remarked, in a previous note.
Article VI. —St. Lugadius, of Cluain-Finchuil, or Cluain-Fiacul, Clonfeakle,CountyofArmagh. [^ProbablyintheSixthCentury? ^ Acts ofthissaintareinserted,byColgan,atthe2ndofMarch. ^ TheBollandists
have only a few short notices, regarding him, and they deem many of Colgan's statements to be inconsequential, especially in reference to this saint's iden-
tification. ^ Great diversity of opinion seems to prevail concerning his age and period. According to Colgan's conjecture,3 this holy man, the son of
Tulchan, was probably a brother to St. Fintan Munnu,* and to St. Kieran,s as also to their sister, St. Conchenna. ^ Yet, elsewhere, Colgan has a different
opinion, that he was the same as Lugatius, a bishop, and a disciple of St. Patricks The reader will find some account of him, in the notices of St.
Meallan,^ which have been already published, at the 28th of January. 9 How- ever, we must not too hastily assume, that the bishop, there spoken of, was identical with the St. Lugadius, noted in our Calendars, on this day. '*' Among St. Patrick's disciples is classed Lugacius, of Kill-airthir ; and, it has been supposed by Colgan, that his festival belonged, either to the 2nd of March, or to the i6th of June.
