I3 It devotes six Lessons to his history, in
17 See Thomas
Dempster's
" Historia Ec-
June 12.
17 See Thomas
Dempster's
" Historia Ec-
June 12.
O'Hanlon - Lives of the Irish Saints - v6
Bishop of the diocese, Dr.
Abraham.
It was laid by Sir Richard Keane, in presence of a considerable number of the clergy, and of not less probably than 20,000 of the people.
Towards the close of 1834, through the instrumentality of his Eminence Cardinal Weld, the new monastery was approved and erected into an Abbey by the Holy See. At the same time, it was recognised and affiliated to the Cistercian Family, by the Most Rev. Abbot General of the Order, residing at Rome. He confirmed the election of the Right Rev. Dom. Vincent Ryan as first Abbot, and delegated the Most Rev. Dr. Abraham to perform the ceremony of the Abbatial Benediction. This accordingly took place in the Bishop'sprivatechapelatWaterford,onSunday,the17thofMay,1835. It was the first time that this solemn and interesting ceremony had been performed
in for Ireland,
more than 200
16
Owing
to want of
probably
the building of Melleray Abbey proceeded but slowly. It was only towards, the end of 1838, that the interior works of the church were sufficiently ad-
vanced—though far from being completed—to admit of Divine service being
performed in it. On Saturday evening, the 21st of October, during that year, the Blessed Sacrament was solemnly placed in the tabernacle, and im- mediately after, vespers were sung for the first time in the new church. On
20th of August, and was received by the Abbot and community in the solemn manner prescribed by the Ritual of the Cistercian Order for the reception of distinguished per- sonagea in Church and State. The great Liberator spent a week on Retreat in the monastery, and extremely edified the whole community by his humble and modestdeport- ment, his fervent piety, his recollection, silence, and other virtues. He subsequently rendered important legal services to the community. A fuller account of O'ConnelPs visit to Mount Melleray, with an illustration of the interior of the church and the great Irish Agitator on Retreat there, may be found in Miss Mary F. Cusack's admirable biography, "The Liberator, his Life and
Masswas
itself could scarcely be said to be habitable before 1840, although the com-
the asolemnPontifical following day,
High
sung.
monastery
16 In 1837, the establishment at Rathmore was broken up, and all the monks— about 80 in number —were united at Mount Melleray. For some years, the New Abbey had a hard struggle for existence. The crops, sown with so much labour and care most generally failed ; and even when they did succeed, the ungrateful soil yielded but a poor return. The community was sometimes reduced to great straits —occasionally, even to abso- lute want. Yet, Almighty God did not abandon his servants, tie always sent them aid in reasonable time ; and the action of his merciful Providence in their regard was sometimes manifested in a most marvellous manner.
17 In 1838, Mount Melleray was honoured
with a visit from the illustrious Daniel Times, Political, Social and Religious," O'Connell. He arrived at the Abbey on the chap, xi. , pp. 629 to 633.
years.
funds,
1? The
6 3 6 LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. [June"
munity had been living in it, with great inconvenience, for some time pre- viously. However, the buildings were progressing to a state of completion,
duringtheyearssubsequent; althoughitrequiredgreateffortandpersever- ance, to bring them to their present convenient and useful extension. 18 The
venerable founder of Mount Melleray Abbey, Right Rev. Dr. Ryan, died on
the 9th of December, 1845, m the 57 tn vear °f his age, the 34th of his 1
religious profession, and the 10th of his Abbatial dignity. ?
Mount Melleray Abbey, County of Waterford.
The present Abbot of Mount Melleray, Right Rev. Dr. Bartholomew Fitzpatrick, was elected, and blessed by the Most Rev. Dr. Foran, Bishop of Waterford, in the Abbey Church, a. d. 1848. A long term of administration has since elapsed, and under it, the fraternity have enjoyed all the advantages
18 The accompanying illustration repre- sents the condition of the church and monas-
of thirty-five years since thewriterhad before
seen him ; and nearly a week spent on Retreat
tic buildings as they were presented over
forty years ago ; but, considerable additions
and improvements have since been made. It
is copied from a copperplate engraving of
that period, and executed by R. Hendiick,
Dublin. It was drawn by William F. At that time—as well as I recollect—a per- Wakeman on the wood, engraved by Mrs.
Millard.
'9 Since his return to Ireland in 1831, he
had endured incredible hardships, labours, and pains of all kinds, mental and physical,
in endeavouring to establish his community ; and he bore, with true Christian patience, the long and painful illness of which he died. A short time before he expired, he had all his brethren assembled around him, bade them an affecting farewell, and gave them his last benediction.
20 In August, 1876, an opportunity was afforded of visiting the Abbot of M—ount Mel-
Rev. Dr. —
leray, Right Fitzpatrick formerly
petual lease had been obtained, at 5s. per acre to the proprietor. As every cultivated spot on the grounds had been reclaimed from a state of nature, by the monks ; and, as that poor soil required the most unremit- ting toil, with constant manuring and tillage, to prevent its relapsing into barreness and waste ; it may well be inferred, that its pro- fitable occupation by the community under such conditions must be out of the question at the present time, subject to the original rentagreement. Oflateyears,anotherCis- tercian house, known as St. Joseph's Abbey, near Roscrea, county of Tipperary, has been
Rev.
Beardwood has been created its first Abbot.
Dean over Carlow College
after an absence
at Mount Melleray gave opportunities for ob- servation and information, regarding the ac- tual condition of the institute. Before leaving,
the guests are usually invited to inspect the farm and agricultural operations in progress.
founded. The'
Right
J.
Camillus
June 12. ]
LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS.
637
of his gentle, wise and holy guidance ; while the institute itself has progressed and improved in its circumstances and sphere of usefulness to a degree, that must fill the Irish Catholic heart with rejoicing and thankfulness, for the un- told blessings it has conferred on his own country and on the Church even far beyond our seas. 20 Ever since the settlement at Mount Melleray, the monks have persevered in their efforts to reclaim the land, and their labours have been partially successful ; many green fields and pleasing plantations of trees now occupy the place, where forty years ago, the dark brown heath could alone be seen. Yet, the vegetables and crops grown on the farm for the most part are of very inferior quality, and far from being sufficient to sup- ply the community requiremements, few and simply though these wants are. Manynecessaryorusefulbuildingshavebeenerectedaroundtheabbey; but, it is worthy of remark, as being in—dicative of the natural soil, that most of the stones used in all these — the with the walls and
itself.
There is a college with a classical and science school, in connexion with
the monastery, and they are directed by some of the Fathers. In those superior schools, hundreds of priests, now on the mission in the five divisions of the globe, and many who are members of religious orders, received their elementary education. Others of the Fathers are engaged, imparting to the poor male children of the mountain the rudiments of a good sound English education. 21 In a political and social point of view, they have practically shown, how readily the most unpromising of the waste lands in Ireland could be reclaimed and cultivated, with certain gain to landed proprietors an—d
Article II. —St. Ternan, Apostle among the Picts. {Fifth or
Sixth Century. '] The accounts left us of this holy missionary are evidently disfigured by legendary romance, while his acts and period have thus been rendered obscure and doubtful. His career, at least, seems chiefly to have
buildings including abbey,
fences around and through the farm have been taken from the land
— and
; religion, morality, order, industry, peace happiness
occupiers while
invaluablepossessionstoanynationorcommunity mightsoeasilydisplace the systematic mismanagement of properties, controlled by despotic agrarian laws and byoppressive local customs—fruitful incentives to crime—which are a reproach to modern economies and humane rule, while they are exceptional to any code of wise and beneficent land legislation, prevailing in every other civi- lized country of the old and new world.
had its course in Scotland. 1 The Metrical Calendar of 2
in the Leab- har Breac, celebrates with eulogy St. Torannan, at the 12th day of June; while the text of the Feilire seems to speak of him as a traveller^ and so, it
21 At a short distance from the Abbey, thereisafemaleschool,whichis underthe Irish National Board. It is patronized and superintended by the parish priest of Cappo-
Oengus,
£eil mchrve-oAil choemAin "OiAnSancclechanrlorrovro Corvan'o. an buan bAnnAch t)Ar\ler\ lechan longAch.
whowas
quin. —* " Article ii.
There seems no reason
" ofthe The feast
to doubt the tradition that this saint was the
High Bishop of the Picts, yet disti—nct traces of him are found in Ireland. " Bishop Forbes' "Kalendars of Scottish Saints," p. 450.
2 From the Leabhar Breac copy is the fob
pious Coeman, named vehement Sanct-lethan.
Torannan
lowing s—tanza, translated by Dr. Whitley observation, likewise, that Palladius was
Stoke*
:
sent by
Peter's successor into Ireland before
lasting, deedful, over a wide shipful sea. " —
"
of the Irish Transactions Boyal Academy,"
Irish Manuscript Series, vol. i. , part i. On the Calendar of Oengus, p. xciii.
3 The Scholiast on this Calendar has the
638 LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. [June 12.
appears to identify him also with the Pictish bishop Ternan, who had visited Rome. There are lines * in the Bodleian copy of this Manuscript,* which differ from those in the Leabhar Breac. The Bollandists have the Acts of St.
Ternanus, Bishop of the Picts, at this day.
6
They are written or compiled by
Father Daniel Papebroke, yet his digression on the subject ' throws little light
on the personal biography of this early missionary, or even on that distant
periodofScottishhistoryinwhichhelived. Onlyshortanddoubtfulallusions
tothisholybishopcanbefoundintheearlyScottishChronicles; andamong
our modern writers, it is not to be expected they can enlarge on his career.
We find in Dean 8 Challoner 9 and Rev. Alban Butler I0 some
Cressy, Bishop
brief references to him, at the 12th of June. A few particulars regarding him,
will be found in Forbes' 11 as also in that of William F. 12 Bishop work, Skene;
but most of these are conjectural and somewhat conflicting. The Aberdeen
Breviary *s states, that St. Ternan was descended from noble Scotch parents,
in a province called the Mearns. '4 According to the Scottish accounts, St.
Ternan is said to have been baptized by St. Palladius, 15 who was admonished
by an angel to perform this ceremony, and who afterwards unde—rtook his in-
6
— If we are to credit some accounts,'? St. Ternan also called
Tervanus wasacolleagueofSt. Servanus,ApostleoftheOrkneys,whileheis
also called Apostle of the Picts, whom he converted from the worship of idols.
He is said to have spent seven years under the tuition of St. Palladius. 18
Again, we are told, he had sanctified himself many years in the Abbey of
struction. '
Culross, in Fifeshire, in which St. Kentigern had established a m—ost holy 1 20
Rome accord- ing to the Legend of the Aberdeen Breviary St. Ternan undertook a journey thither to follow his words and works. This may be regarded, however, as an unchronological statement, if we are to suppose our saint to have lived con-
—St.
manner of living. ' Hearing of the fame of Gregory at
temporaneously with St. Palladius ;
21
while with the latter he has been even
Patrick to teach them. He was not received
in Ireland, so he went into Scotland. He
was buried in Liconium. Or My-Toren of Ancient Alban," vol. ii. , book ii. , chap, i. , Tulach Fortchirn in Ui-Felmeda and
of Druim Cliab in Cairpre. See ibid. ,
p.
—
u Latinized
cii.
4 They run thus:
Co]\AruiAn r>UAn bArmAch bAnnach barm beif ]-aij\
Aguf bAnn ]\eir" AnAip.
Pars Hyemalis, fol. cv.
Myrnia.
js See Hector Boece's "Scotorum Hysto-
rie," lib. vii. , fol. cxxxiii.
'6
See John Fordun's Scoiichronicon," tomus i. , lib. iii. , cap. ix. , p. 113.
They are translated into English, as follows:
" Torannan the long-famed voyager, a dash by him to the east, and a dash by him from
"
the east.
5 Classed Laud 610.
6 See "Acta Sanctorum," tomus ii. , Junii
xii. De Sancto Ternano, Pictorum in Bri- tannia Episcopo, Illorum Simul et Scoto- rum, limites, Apostoli, diceceses, pp. 533 to 535.
7 It is contained in 11 paragraphs.
8 See " Church History of Brittany," book ix. , chap, iii. , pp. 173, 174.
9 See "Britannia Sancta," part i. , pp.
366, 367.
10 See his " Lives of the Fathers, Martyrs
and other principal Saints," vol. vi. , June xn.
" See " Kalendars of Scottish Saints," pp.
clesiastica Gemis Scotorum," tomus ii. , lib.
xviii. , num. 1107, p. 607.
,8
Thus we read in the Breviaiy of Aber- deen, at the 12th of June: "A quo tanta sciencia septem annis erudiius est vt per eun-
"
dem ad pontiiicatus apicem promoueretur. —"Proceedings of the Society of Antiqua- ries of Scotland," vol. ii. , p. 264.
,9 See Rev. Alban Butler's " Lives of the Fathers, Martyrs and other principal Saints," vol. vi. , June xit.
TO St. Gregory L, surnamed the Great,
ruled over the Church from A. D. 590 to a. i>.
"
604. See Sir Harris Nicolas' Chronology
of History," p. 209.
" See his Life, in the Seventh Volume of
this work, at July 6th, the date for his fes- tival.
» See William F. Skene's " Celtic Scot-
450, 451.
" See " Celtic Scotland : a History of
pp. 29 to 32.
I3 It devotes six Lessons to his history, in
17 See Thomas
Dempster's
" Historia Ec-
June 12. ]
LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS.
639
confounded, by a certain scholiast, who adds, moreover, that he was sent from the Coarb of Peter to Erin before Patrick. According to one opinion, Ter-
rananus or Ternan was probably a disciple of Palladius, and brought his relics either from Ireland or from Galloway, to his native district in the territories of
years, he was promoted to the Episcopal rank by Pope Gregory, who in- structed him to return for the purpose of evangelizing Scotland. A supposi- tion has been offered, that he was sent there to water the vineyard, planted
22 BlessedGregoryreceivedtheyouthwithgreathonour. 23 Attheendofseven
the southern Picts.
Knowing it to be his intention to visit Rome, the
St. 2* and that he became successor to the latter. 2^ by Ninian,
In the Missal
heavy and inconvenient to carry with him, that he left it at Rome. However, morning after morning, that bell was found lying beside the saint, while he and his companions proceeded on their journey. At last, through Divine
2
power, the bell and its owner reached their destination, in Scotland. 9 Accord-
ing to some accounts, St. Palladius made him bishop of the Picts in 431. 3°
Several of the ancient Scottish writers regard St. Terrenanus or Ternanus
x asthefirstBishopofthePicts,andamongtheseareFordun,3 Boece32 and
Lesley. 3^ At Abernethy 34- in Stratherne is said to have been the seat of the
° ;
jutorstothetwochiefbishops. 39 Theextensivewarsandforeignexpeditions
are thought to have hindered the canonical division of these kingdoms into
regular dioceses. The practice of ordaining bishops at large in Ireland, with- out fixed Sees and by one single bishop, appears to have prevailed down to
Church of St.
26 St. Terrenanus is
2 7 Archi-
of the
presul and Archbishop of the Picts, while his festival was annually celebrated
Metropolitan
Andrew's,
styled
and with on the 12th great solemnity,
28 The that legend relates,
of
he was presented by Pope Gregory, with a little bell, which he found so
Pictish bishops,3s as also of the Pictish kings in ancient times 3
diocese of those bishops included all the Pictish kingdom. In the early ages of Christianity in Scotland, it has been stated, that as there were two distinc- tive nations, one of Picts and the other of Scots ; so there were two head bishops for those people, one designated Archiepiscopus and Archipraesul Pictorum,37 and the other Primus or Summus Episcopus or Archiepiscopus Scotorum. 38 Underthesewereotherbishops,andsomeperhapsnotordained to any title, or for any fixed locality, seat or district, being suffragans or coad-
land : a History of Ancient Alban," vol. ii. ,
book
ii. , chap, i. , p. 30
25 According to the Aberdeen Breviary. 24 His feast lias been assigned to the 16th
of September.
25 See Dean Cressy's "Church History of
Brittany," Book ix. , chap, iii. , pp. 173, 174.
36
Sancta," part i. , pp. 366, 367.
3I ix. See "Scotichronicon," lib. iii. , cap.
^ See " Scotorum Hystorie," lib. vii. , fol. cxxxiii.
33 See " De Origine, Moribus et Rebus Gentis Scotorum," lib. iiii. , p. 131.
^ " Fuit ille locus principalis Regalis et
Pontificalis— totius regni per aliqua tempora
This, with some other liturgical books,
Pictorum. " Fordun's "Scotichronicon," was in possession of the ancient and noble tomus i , liv. iv. , cap. xii. , p. 189.
3S According to the Book of Paisley, in the King's Library at London, and which quotes the Chronicle of Abernethy for proof.
"
3<s See Rev. Thomas Innes' Civil and
Ecclesiastical History of Scotland," book ii. , sect, xxiv. , p. 157.
37 Their seat was at Abernethy.
38 Andrews. Their See was St.
land, p. 44. part i. , p. 367.
*> See Bishop Challenor's "Britannia «• See Rev. Thomas Innes' "Civil and
family of Arbuthnot, and the Viscount of his day allowed Father Thomas Innes to peruse them.
*? Both in the Calendar and in the
Collect or prayer of the Liturgy of the
day.
28 See Rev. Thomas Innes' "Civil and
Ecclesiastical History of Scotland," book sect, xxiv. , p. 157.
ii. ,
39 However, Bishop Challenor denies that there were Archbishops in Scotland in St. chronicon," vol. i. , Early Bishops in Scot- Ternan's age. See "Britannia Sancta,"
29 See Rev. J. F. S. Gordon's " Scoti-
day
June.
while the
640 LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. [June 12.
the eleventh or beginning of the twelfth century ; and, it was probably begun
out of motives dictated by piety, necessity or expediency, however incon-
venient, irregular and conflicting must have been the usage. As the Scotch had received originally the doctrines and discipline of Christianity from Ire- land ; so, it is probable, that their practices had been borrowed or greatly in- fluenced by the like prevailing practices/ Ternan was the companion of St. Macharius, and a most devout lover of solitude. 41 A certain Convecturius is said to have been prince in the territory, where St. Ternan lived.
man with his companions was approaching. The prince cried out
:
The holy " Hypo-
? " St. Ternan salvation, that thou mayest know God and serve him alone. "
" We seek But, Convec-
crite,
what dost thou in
my territory
replied :
thy
" Cease from these deceiving words. " Thus repulsed, the saint retired from him. Convecturius thought to retire, also, but his feet adhered firmly to a stone. However, the saint prayed for his release. This miracle convinced that prince of his impiety, and professing a desire to be baptized, St. Ternan received his profession of Faith. *2 If we are to believe Thomas Dempster, he wrote one book intituled u Exhorationes ad Pictos," another
"
turius said
14 Contra and a third Pelagianos,"
:
Homilias ex Sacra but these Scriptura,"43
statements are given without guarantees, and they are wholly gratuitous St.
Machar of Aberdeen is said to have sent for some seed corn to St. Ternan. '' 4
Having none to give on loan, the latter sent some sacks of sand. Machar
sowed the sand, moved by a like faith, and the legend states, that he after-
wardsreapedanabundantharvest. 45 Oneofthefablesrelatedaboutthissaint
is, that he had been engaged in extripating the Pelagian heresy from among
the Picts 46 whereas, in it had no hold them in the time of St. ; reality, among
Ternan. 4? He flourished, it is said,48 a. d. 440, and he died at Abernethy, where his remains were afterwards held in distinguished veneration. He is said to have been buried in Liconium, which was probably the old name for that place, afterwards called Banchory-Ternan. 4? At the 12th of June, his festival is entered in the Carthusian additions to the Martyrology of Usuard 5° in Ferrarius 51 and in Canisius. s2 In the Martyrology,53 Calendar and Breviary of Aberdeen, at the 12th of June, is the feast of St. Terrenanus. It is entered, also in Adam King's Ka- lendar. s4 at the same date;55 in the Menologium Scotorum 5° of Thomas
49 See William F. Skene's "Celtic Scot- sect, xxiv. , xxv. , pp. 157 to 160. land : a History of Ancient Alban," vol. ii. ,
41 In the Martyrology of Aberdeen, we book ii. , chap, i. , p. 30.
read: "Eratenim Beati Mauricii contem- 5° Thus : "In Scotia Ternani Archiepis- poraneus et heremi cultor deuotissimus. " copi et Confessoris. "
Ecclesiastical History of Scotland," book ii. ,
42
chronicon," p.
" 5'In" Scoti-
See Rev. Dr. J. F. S. Gordon's
Catalogus Generalis. "
43 See Thomas
Dempster's
fol. cv.
45 See Rev. Dr.
F. S. Gordon's
"
Scoti-
siam de Banquorefternysepultus quern Sanc- tus Palladius Scotorum apostolus de sancto fonte leuauit — Rome
magno commendauit. " Proceedings of the Society of Antiquaries of Scotland," vol. ii. , p. 264.
vol. i. , 44.
5~ See " Germanicum. " Martyrologium
SJ The of Aberdeen at Martyrology says
" Historia Ec- clesiastica Gentis Scotorum," tomusii. ,
lib. xviii. , num. 1107, p. 608.
44 Breviary of Aberdeen, Pars Hyemalis,
J. chronicon," vol. i. , pp. 44, 45.
adultumque Gregorio "
46 This is stated by Bishop Lesley, in his work, " De Origine, Moribus, et Rebus Gen- tis Scotorum," lib. iiii. , p. 131.
54 Thus at the 12th : "S. Turnane, arch- 47 See the Bollandists' "Acta Sanctorum," bishop of ye 1'iclues ordenit le S. padie
tomus ii. , Junii xii. 1 )e Sancto Ternano Pic-
vnder king Kugenius 2. "
55 See Forbes' "Kalendars of Bishop
Scottish Saints," p. 154.
5" Thus : "xn Kinkar—niae Tarnani picto-
torum in Britannia
48 See Thomas Dempster's
num. 534.
Episcopo,
"
5, p. Historia Ec-
clesiastica Gentis Scotorum," tomus ii. , lib. xviii. , num. 1 107, p. 608.
rum Archiepiscopi. k. " Jbid. , p.
202.
"
Terrenani Pictorum archiprcsulis apud eccle-
FridieIdasJunijj
In Scotia natalis sancti
June 12. ] LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. 641
Dempster; and likewise, in the Scottish Entries 57 in the Kalendar of David
Camerarius. The head of this saint was preserved at Banquhory-Ternan,
where it was seen by the compiler s 8 of the Aberdeen Martyrology, about
a. d. 1530, or as calculated 1,100 years after his death, and even then, the
skin on that part where he had been tonsured and anointed was observed. 59
That miraculous bell ^—called the Ronnecht—was preserved at Banchory-
TernanuntiltheReformation. Oneofthose
ecclesiasticalrelics aBookoftheFourGospels hadbeenpreservedatBanchoryformany
——
interesting
ornamented with silver and 61 A gold.
and it was enclosed in a
monstrance containing his relicswas in the treasury of the church at Aberdeen.
Towards the close of 1834, through the instrumentality of his Eminence Cardinal Weld, the new monastery was approved and erected into an Abbey by the Holy See. At the same time, it was recognised and affiliated to the Cistercian Family, by the Most Rev. Abbot General of the Order, residing at Rome. He confirmed the election of the Right Rev. Dom. Vincent Ryan as first Abbot, and delegated the Most Rev. Dr. Abraham to perform the ceremony of the Abbatial Benediction. This accordingly took place in the Bishop'sprivatechapelatWaterford,onSunday,the17thofMay,1835. It was the first time that this solemn and interesting ceremony had been performed
in for Ireland,
more than 200
16
Owing
to want of
probably
the building of Melleray Abbey proceeded but slowly. It was only towards, the end of 1838, that the interior works of the church were sufficiently ad-
vanced—though far from being completed—to admit of Divine service being
performed in it. On Saturday evening, the 21st of October, during that year, the Blessed Sacrament was solemnly placed in the tabernacle, and im- mediately after, vespers were sung for the first time in the new church. On
20th of August, and was received by the Abbot and community in the solemn manner prescribed by the Ritual of the Cistercian Order for the reception of distinguished per- sonagea in Church and State. The great Liberator spent a week on Retreat in the monastery, and extremely edified the whole community by his humble and modestdeport- ment, his fervent piety, his recollection, silence, and other virtues. He subsequently rendered important legal services to the community. A fuller account of O'ConnelPs visit to Mount Melleray, with an illustration of the interior of the church and the great Irish Agitator on Retreat there, may be found in Miss Mary F. Cusack's admirable biography, "The Liberator, his Life and
Masswas
itself could scarcely be said to be habitable before 1840, although the com-
the asolemnPontifical following day,
High
sung.
monastery
16 In 1837, the establishment at Rathmore was broken up, and all the monks— about 80 in number —were united at Mount Melleray. For some years, the New Abbey had a hard struggle for existence. The crops, sown with so much labour and care most generally failed ; and even when they did succeed, the ungrateful soil yielded but a poor return. The community was sometimes reduced to great straits —occasionally, even to abso- lute want. Yet, Almighty God did not abandon his servants, tie always sent them aid in reasonable time ; and the action of his merciful Providence in their regard was sometimes manifested in a most marvellous manner.
17 In 1838, Mount Melleray was honoured
with a visit from the illustrious Daniel Times, Political, Social and Religious," O'Connell. He arrived at the Abbey on the chap, xi. , pp. 629 to 633.
years.
funds,
1? The
6 3 6 LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. [June"
munity had been living in it, with great inconvenience, for some time pre- viously. However, the buildings were progressing to a state of completion,
duringtheyearssubsequent; althoughitrequiredgreateffortandpersever- ance, to bring them to their present convenient and useful extension. 18 The
venerable founder of Mount Melleray Abbey, Right Rev. Dr. Ryan, died on
the 9th of December, 1845, m the 57 tn vear °f his age, the 34th of his 1
religious profession, and the 10th of his Abbatial dignity. ?
Mount Melleray Abbey, County of Waterford.
The present Abbot of Mount Melleray, Right Rev. Dr. Bartholomew Fitzpatrick, was elected, and blessed by the Most Rev. Dr. Foran, Bishop of Waterford, in the Abbey Church, a. d. 1848. A long term of administration has since elapsed, and under it, the fraternity have enjoyed all the advantages
18 The accompanying illustration repre- sents the condition of the church and monas-
of thirty-five years since thewriterhad before
seen him ; and nearly a week spent on Retreat
tic buildings as they were presented over
forty years ago ; but, considerable additions
and improvements have since been made. It
is copied from a copperplate engraving of
that period, and executed by R. Hendiick,
Dublin. It was drawn by William F. At that time—as well as I recollect—a per- Wakeman on the wood, engraved by Mrs.
Millard.
'9 Since his return to Ireland in 1831, he
had endured incredible hardships, labours, and pains of all kinds, mental and physical,
in endeavouring to establish his community ; and he bore, with true Christian patience, the long and painful illness of which he died. A short time before he expired, he had all his brethren assembled around him, bade them an affecting farewell, and gave them his last benediction.
20 In August, 1876, an opportunity was afforded of visiting the Abbot of M—ount Mel-
Rev. Dr. —
leray, Right Fitzpatrick formerly
petual lease had been obtained, at 5s. per acre to the proprietor. As every cultivated spot on the grounds had been reclaimed from a state of nature, by the monks ; and, as that poor soil required the most unremit- ting toil, with constant manuring and tillage, to prevent its relapsing into barreness and waste ; it may well be inferred, that its pro- fitable occupation by the community under such conditions must be out of the question at the present time, subject to the original rentagreement. Oflateyears,anotherCis- tercian house, known as St. Joseph's Abbey, near Roscrea, county of Tipperary, has been
Rev.
Beardwood has been created its first Abbot.
Dean over Carlow College
after an absence
at Mount Melleray gave opportunities for ob- servation and information, regarding the ac- tual condition of the institute. Before leaving,
the guests are usually invited to inspect the farm and agricultural operations in progress.
founded. The'
Right
J.
Camillus
June 12. ]
LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS.
637
of his gentle, wise and holy guidance ; while the institute itself has progressed and improved in its circumstances and sphere of usefulness to a degree, that must fill the Irish Catholic heart with rejoicing and thankfulness, for the un- told blessings it has conferred on his own country and on the Church even far beyond our seas. 20 Ever since the settlement at Mount Melleray, the monks have persevered in their efforts to reclaim the land, and their labours have been partially successful ; many green fields and pleasing plantations of trees now occupy the place, where forty years ago, the dark brown heath could alone be seen. Yet, the vegetables and crops grown on the farm for the most part are of very inferior quality, and far from being sufficient to sup- ply the community requiremements, few and simply though these wants are. Manynecessaryorusefulbuildingshavebeenerectedaroundtheabbey; but, it is worthy of remark, as being in—dicative of the natural soil, that most of the stones used in all these — the with the walls and
itself.
There is a college with a classical and science school, in connexion with
the monastery, and they are directed by some of the Fathers. In those superior schools, hundreds of priests, now on the mission in the five divisions of the globe, and many who are members of religious orders, received their elementary education. Others of the Fathers are engaged, imparting to the poor male children of the mountain the rudiments of a good sound English education. 21 In a political and social point of view, they have practically shown, how readily the most unpromising of the waste lands in Ireland could be reclaimed and cultivated, with certain gain to landed proprietors an—d
Article II. —St. Ternan, Apostle among the Picts. {Fifth or
Sixth Century. '] The accounts left us of this holy missionary are evidently disfigured by legendary romance, while his acts and period have thus been rendered obscure and doubtful. His career, at least, seems chiefly to have
buildings including abbey,
fences around and through the farm have been taken from the land
— and
; religion, morality, order, industry, peace happiness
occupiers while
invaluablepossessionstoanynationorcommunity mightsoeasilydisplace the systematic mismanagement of properties, controlled by despotic agrarian laws and byoppressive local customs—fruitful incentives to crime—which are a reproach to modern economies and humane rule, while they are exceptional to any code of wise and beneficent land legislation, prevailing in every other civi- lized country of the old and new world.
had its course in Scotland. 1 The Metrical Calendar of 2
in the Leab- har Breac, celebrates with eulogy St. Torannan, at the 12th day of June; while the text of the Feilire seems to speak of him as a traveller^ and so, it
21 At a short distance from the Abbey, thereisafemaleschool,whichis underthe Irish National Board. It is patronized and superintended by the parish priest of Cappo-
Oengus,
£eil mchrve-oAil choemAin "OiAnSancclechanrlorrovro Corvan'o. an buan bAnnAch t)Ar\ler\ lechan longAch.
whowas
quin. —* " Article ii.
There seems no reason
" ofthe The feast
to doubt the tradition that this saint was the
High Bishop of the Picts, yet disti—nct traces of him are found in Ireland. " Bishop Forbes' "Kalendars of Scottish Saints," p. 450.
2 From the Leabhar Breac copy is the fob
pious Coeman, named vehement Sanct-lethan.
Torannan
lowing s—tanza, translated by Dr. Whitley observation, likewise, that Palladius was
Stoke*
:
sent by
Peter's successor into Ireland before
lasting, deedful, over a wide shipful sea. " —
"
of the Irish Transactions Boyal Academy,"
Irish Manuscript Series, vol. i. , part i. On the Calendar of Oengus, p. xciii.
3 The Scholiast on this Calendar has the
638 LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. [June 12.
appears to identify him also with the Pictish bishop Ternan, who had visited Rome. There are lines * in the Bodleian copy of this Manuscript,* which differ from those in the Leabhar Breac. The Bollandists have the Acts of St.
Ternanus, Bishop of the Picts, at this day.
6
They are written or compiled by
Father Daniel Papebroke, yet his digression on the subject ' throws little light
on the personal biography of this early missionary, or even on that distant
periodofScottishhistoryinwhichhelived. Onlyshortanddoubtfulallusions
tothisholybishopcanbefoundintheearlyScottishChronicles; andamong
our modern writers, it is not to be expected they can enlarge on his career.
We find in Dean 8 Challoner 9 and Rev. Alban Butler I0 some
Cressy, Bishop
brief references to him, at the 12th of June. A few particulars regarding him,
will be found in Forbes' 11 as also in that of William F. 12 Bishop work, Skene;
but most of these are conjectural and somewhat conflicting. The Aberdeen
Breviary *s states, that St. Ternan was descended from noble Scotch parents,
in a province called the Mearns. '4 According to the Scottish accounts, St.
Ternan is said to have been baptized by St. Palladius, 15 who was admonished
by an angel to perform this ceremony, and who afterwards unde—rtook his in-
6
— If we are to credit some accounts,'? St. Ternan also called
Tervanus wasacolleagueofSt. Servanus,ApostleoftheOrkneys,whileheis
also called Apostle of the Picts, whom he converted from the worship of idols.
He is said to have spent seven years under the tuition of St. Palladius. 18
Again, we are told, he had sanctified himself many years in the Abbey of
struction. '
Culross, in Fifeshire, in which St. Kentigern had established a m—ost holy 1 20
Rome accord- ing to the Legend of the Aberdeen Breviary St. Ternan undertook a journey thither to follow his words and works. This may be regarded, however, as an unchronological statement, if we are to suppose our saint to have lived con-
—St.
manner of living. ' Hearing of the fame of Gregory at
temporaneously with St. Palladius ;
21
while with the latter he has been even
Patrick to teach them. He was not received
in Ireland, so he went into Scotland. He
was buried in Liconium. Or My-Toren of Ancient Alban," vol. ii. , book ii. , chap, i. , Tulach Fortchirn in Ui-Felmeda and
of Druim Cliab in Cairpre. See ibid. ,
p.
—
u Latinized
cii.
4 They run thus:
Co]\AruiAn r>UAn bArmAch bAnnach barm beif ]-aij\
Aguf bAnn ]\eir" AnAip.
Pars Hyemalis, fol. cv.
Myrnia.
js See Hector Boece's "Scotorum Hysto-
rie," lib. vii. , fol. cxxxiii.
'6
See John Fordun's Scoiichronicon," tomus i. , lib. iii. , cap. ix. , p. 113.
They are translated into English, as follows:
" Torannan the long-famed voyager, a dash by him to the east, and a dash by him from
"
the east.
5 Classed Laud 610.
6 See "Acta Sanctorum," tomus ii. , Junii
xii. De Sancto Ternano, Pictorum in Bri- tannia Episcopo, Illorum Simul et Scoto- rum, limites, Apostoli, diceceses, pp. 533 to 535.
7 It is contained in 11 paragraphs.
8 See " Church History of Brittany," book ix. , chap, iii. , pp. 173, 174.
9 See "Britannia Sancta," part i. , pp.
366, 367.
10 See his " Lives of the Fathers, Martyrs
and other principal Saints," vol. vi. , June xn.
" See " Kalendars of Scottish Saints," pp.
clesiastica Gemis Scotorum," tomus ii. , lib.
xviii. , num. 1107, p. 607.
,8
Thus we read in the Breviaiy of Aber- deen, at the 12th of June: "A quo tanta sciencia septem annis erudiius est vt per eun-
"
dem ad pontiiicatus apicem promoueretur. —"Proceedings of the Society of Antiqua- ries of Scotland," vol. ii. , p. 264.
,9 See Rev. Alban Butler's " Lives of the Fathers, Martyrs and other principal Saints," vol. vi. , June xit.
TO St. Gregory L, surnamed the Great,
ruled over the Church from A. D. 590 to a. i>.
"
604. See Sir Harris Nicolas' Chronology
of History," p. 209.
" See his Life, in the Seventh Volume of
this work, at July 6th, the date for his fes- tival.
» See William F. Skene's " Celtic Scot-
450, 451.
" See " Celtic Scotland : a History of
pp. 29 to 32.
I3 It devotes six Lessons to his history, in
17 See Thomas
Dempster's
" Historia Ec-
June 12. ]
LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS.
639
confounded, by a certain scholiast, who adds, moreover, that he was sent from the Coarb of Peter to Erin before Patrick. According to one opinion, Ter-
rananus or Ternan was probably a disciple of Palladius, and brought his relics either from Ireland or from Galloway, to his native district in the territories of
years, he was promoted to the Episcopal rank by Pope Gregory, who in- structed him to return for the purpose of evangelizing Scotland. A supposi- tion has been offered, that he was sent there to water the vineyard, planted
22 BlessedGregoryreceivedtheyouthwithgreathonour. 23 Attheendofseven
the southern Picts.
Knowing it to be his intention to visit Rome, the
St. 2* and that he became successor to the latter. 2^ by Ninian,
In the Missal
heavy and inconvenient to carry with him, that he left it at Rome. However, morning after morning, that bell was found lying beside the saint, while he and his companions proceeded on their journey. At last, through Divine
2
power, the bell and its owner reached their destination, in Scotland. 9 Accord-
ing to some accounts, St. Palladius made him bishop of the Picts in 431. 3°
Several of the ancient Scottish writers regard St. Terrenanus or Ternanus
x asthefirstBishopofthePicts,andamongtheseareFordun,3 Boece32 and
Lesley. 3^ At Abernethy 34- in Stratherne is said to have been the seat of the
° ;
jutorstothetwochiefbishops. 39 Theextensivewarsandforeignexpeditions
are thought to have hindered the canonical division of these kingdoms into
regular dioceses. The practice of ordaining bishops at large in Ireland, with- out fixed Sees and by one single bishop, appears to have prevailed down to
Church of St.
26 St. Terrenanus is
2 7 Archi-
of the
presul and Archbishop of the Picts, while his festival was annually celebrated
Metropolitan
Andrew's,
styled
and with on the 12th great solemnity,
28 The that legend relates,
of
he was presented by Pope Gregory, with a little bell, which he found so
Pictish bishops,3s as also of the Pictish kings in ancient times 3
diocese of those bishops included all the Pictish kingdom. In the early ages of Christianity in Scotland, it has been stated, that as there were two distinc- tive nations, one of Picts and the other of Scots ; so there were two head bishops for those people, one designated Archiepiscopus and Archipraesul Pictorum,37 and the other Primus or Summus Episcopus or Archiepiscopus Scotorum. 38 Underthesewereotherbishops,andsomeperhapsnotordained to any title, or for any fixed locality, seat or district, being suffragans or coad-
land : a History of Ancient Alban," vol. ii. ,
book
ii. , chap, i. , p. 30
25 According to the Aberdeen Breviary. 24 His feast lias been assigned to the 16th
of September.
25 See Dean Cressy's "Church History of
Brittany," Book ix. , chap, iii. , pp. 173, 174.
36
Sancta," part i. , pp. 366, 367.
3I ix. See "Scotichronicon," lib. iii. , cap.
^ See " Scotorum Hystorie," lib. vii. , fol. cxxxiii.
33 See " De Origine, Moribus et Rebus Gentis Scotorum," lib. iiii. , p. 131.
^ " Fuit ille locus principalis Regalis et
Pontificalis— totius regni per aliqua tempora
This, with some other liturgical books,
Pictorum. " Fordun's "Scotichronicon," was in possession of the ancient and noble tomus i , liv. iv. , cap. xii. , p. 189.
3S According to the Book of Paisley, in the King's Library at London, and which quotes the Chronicle of Abernethy for proof.
"
3<s See Rev. Thomas Innes' Civil and
Ecclesiastical History of Scotland," book ii. , sect, xxiv. , p. 157.
37 Their seat was at Abernethy.
38 Andrews. Their See was St.
land, p. 44. part i. , p. 367.
*> See Bishop Challenor's "Britannia «• See Rev. Thomas Innes' "Civil and
family of Arbuthnot, and the Viscount of his day allowed Father Thomas Innes to peruse them.
*? Both in the Calendar and in the
Collect or prayer of the Liturgy of the
day.
28 See Rev. Thomas Innes' "Civil and
Ecclesiastical History of Scotland," book sect, xxiv. , p. 157.
ii. ,
39 However, Bishop Challenor denies that there were Archbishops in Scotland in St. chronicon," vol. i. , Early Bishops in Scot- Ternan's age. See "Britannia Sancta,"
29 See Rev. J. F. S. Gordon's " Scoti-
day
June.
while the
640 LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. [June 12.
the eleventh or beginning of the twelfth century ; and, it was probably begun
out of motives dictated by piety, necessity or expediency, however incon-
venient, irregular and conflicting must have been the usage. As the Scotch had received originally the doctrines and discipline of Christianity from Ire- land ; so, it is probable, that their practices had been borrowed or greatly in- fluenced by the like prevailing practices/ Ternan was the companion of St. Macharius, and a most devout lover of solitude. 41 A certain Convecturius is said to have been prince in the territory, where St. Ternan lived.
man with his companions was approaching. The prince cried out
:
The holy " Hypo-
? " St. Ternan salvation, that thou mayest know God and serve him alone. "
" We seek But, Convec-
crite,
what dost thou in
my territory
replied :
thy
" Cease from these deceiving words. " Thus repulsed, the saint retired from him. Convecturius thought to retire, also, but his feet adhered firmly to a stone. However, the saint prayed for his release. This miracle convinced that prince of his impiety, and professing a desire to be baptized, St. Ternan received his profession of Faith. *2 If we are to believe Thomas Dempster, he wrote one book intituled u Exhorationes ad Pictos," another
"
turius said
14 Contra and a third Pelagianos,"
:
Homilias ex Sacra but these Scriptura,"43
statements are given without guarantees, and they are wholly gratuitous St.
Machar of Aberdeen is said to have sent for some seed corn to St. Ternan. '' 4
Having none to give on loan, the latter sent some sacks of sand. Machar
sowed the sand, moved by a like faith, and the legend states, that he after-
wardsreapedanabundantharvest. 45 Oneofthefablesrelatedaboutthissaint
is, that he had been engaged in extripating the Pelagian heresy from among
the Picts 46 whereas, in it had no hold them in the time of St. ; reality, among
Ternan. 4? He flourished, it is said,48 a. d. 440, and he died at Abernethy, where his remains were afterwards held in distinguished veneration. He is said to have been buried in Liconium, which was probably the old name for that place, afterwards called Banchory-Ternan. 4? At the 12th of June, his festival is entered in the Carthusian additions to the Martyrology of Usuard 5° in Ferrarius 51 and in Canisius. s2 In the Martyrology,53 Calendar and Breviary of Aberdeen, at the 12th of June, is the feast of St. Terrenanus. It is entered, also in Adam King's Ka- lendar. s4 at the same date;55 in the Menologium Scotorum 5° of Thomas
49 See William F. Skene's "Celtic Scot- sect, xxiv. , xxv. , pp. 157 to 160. land : a History of Ancient Alban," vol. ii. ,
41 In the Martyrology of Aberdeen, we book ii. , chap, i. , p. 30.
read: "Eratenim Beati Mauricii contem- 5° Thus : "In Scotia Ternani Archiepis- poraneus et heremi cultor deuotissimus. " copi et Confessoris. "
Ecclesiastical History of Scotland," book ii. ,
42
chronicon," p.
" 5'In" Scoti-
See Rev. Dr. J. F. S. Gordon's
Catalogus Generalis. "
43 See Thomas
Dempster's
fol. cv.
45 See Rev. Dr.
F. S. Gordon's
"
Scoti-
siam de Banquorefternysepultus quern Sanc- tus Palladius Scotorum apostolus de sancto fonte leuauit — Rome
magno commendauit. " Proceedings of the Society of Antiquaries of Scotland," vol. ii. , p. 264.
vol. i. , 44.
5~ See " Germanicum. " Martyrologium
SJ The of Aberdeen at Martyrology says
" Historia Ec- clesiastica Gentis Scotorum," tomusii. ,
lib. xviii. , num. 1107, p. 608.
44 Breviary of Aberdeen, Pars Hyemalis,
J. chronicon," vol. i. , pp. 44, 45.
adultumque Gregorio "
46 This is stated by Bishop Lesley, in his work, " De Origine, Moribus, et Rebus Gen- tis Scotorum," lib. iiii. , p. 131.
54 Thus at the 12th : "S. Turnane, arch- 47 See the Bollandists' "Acta Sanctorum," bishop of ye 1'iclues ordenit le S. padie
tomus ii. , Junii xii. 1 )e Sancto Ternano Pic-
vnder king Kugenius 2. "
55 See Forbes' "Kalendars of Bishop
Scottish Saints," p. 154.
5" Thus : "xn Kinkar—niae Tarnani picto-
torum in Britannia
48 See Thomas Dempster's
num. 534.
Episcopo,
"
5, p. Historia Ec-
clesiastica Gentis Scotorum," tomus ii. , lib. xviii. , num. 1 107, p. 608.
rum Archiepiscopi. k. " Jbid. , p.
202.
"
Terrenani Pictorum archiprcsulis apud eccle-
FridieIdasJunijj
In Scotia natalis sancti
June 12. ] LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. 641
Dempster; and likewise, in the Scottish Entries 57 in the Kalendar of David
Camerarius. The head of this saint was preserved at Banquhory-Ternan,
where it was seen by the compiler s 8 of the Aberdeen Martyrology, about
a. d. 1530, or as calculated 1,100 years after his death, and even then, the
skin on that part where he had been tonsured and anointed was observed. 59
That miraculous bell ^—called the Ronnecht—was preserved at Banchory-
TernanuntiltheReformation. Oneofthose
ecclesiasticalrelics aBookoftheFourGospels hadbeenpreservedatBanchoryformany
——
interesting
ornamented with silver and 61 A gold.
and it was enclosed in a
monstrance containing his relicswas in the treasury of the church at Aberdeen.
