No More Learning

•'
Historia Scotias," lib. vi. , p.
Ibui.
.
,
Another saint is there placed, in conjunction with his name. Again, we
meet St. Gobban, registered in the Martyrology of Donegal,3 as having been venerated, on this day. There is neither reference to his rank, nor locaUty,
in the latter record. The Bollandists,^ at this date, merely enter his name.
Article VIII. —Reputed Festival of St. Attala, Abbot of Bobbio, Italy. \Sixth and Seventh Centuries^ As we have already stated, at the loth of March, this holy man was a native of Burgundy. ^ At Bobbio, Attala, Abbot, is set down, with his feast, at the 30th of March, by Dempster,^ who claims him as a Scottish saint. 3 If this were at all true, he should be regarded as an Irish Scot, as he was a disciple of the great St. Columban,* and he died, a. d. 627. 5 The BoUandists^ give his feast, at this date,ontheauthorityofDempster; but,theyreferthereadertohisLife, published on the 10th of March.
Article IX. —St. Fiachna. The Bollandists briefly notice this holy
man, and they quote the authority of Marianus O'Gorman, who has inserted his name, at this day, in his Calendar of Irish Saints. ' In the Martyrology
of Tallagh,^ there is a Fiachra, set down, at the present date ; and, scarcely can there be a doubt, but this name is intended to represent that of Fiachna. 3 He was, perhaps, descended from the race of Eoghan, son of Niall, remarks thewriterintheDonegalMartyrology. Whe—therhecanbeidentifiedwith
^
may be questioned. Much uncertainty prevails, regarding the identity of the person here set down for commemoration. The Martyrology of
Donegal ^ states, that on this day was venerated Fiachna. ^ There is another
Fiachna, observes the Calendarist, at the 29th of April. It is probable, to one of them Cuimin of Coindeire gave the character, that he never pronounced
a bad word, but always an expression, which was pleasing to God. 9 If this holy man were the disciple of St. Columba, he must be regarded as the St. Fechno, or Fiachna, surnamed the Wise, who was a monk,'° in the monas-
1026 LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS.
[March 30.
F—echnoSapiens,^otherwisecalledFiechnauss adiscipleofSt,Columkille
him, as if he were brother to St. Sedna, or
Sedonius, venerated at the lOth of March.
There he is called Mo-Gaban, or Goban.
'
Edited by the Rev. Dr. Kelly, p. xx.
3 In the Franciscan copy, this can be
legibly made out, pAchrAi.
See
"
Acta Sanctorum Hibernise," Martii X.
-t See "Trias Colgan's
De S, Sedonio Episcopo S. Senani Disci-
pulo, nn. 2, 3, p. 573.
3 Edited by Drs, Todd and Reeves, pp,
Martii xxx. Among the pretermitted 7 Edited by Drs. Todd and Reeves, pp.
saints, p. 796. — 90, 91.
'* Article viii. According to Jonas,
who has written his Life,
'"
See Menologium Scoticum,"
Columbae, lib. ii. , cap. xliii,, p. 417. Ibid. *^
90, 91,
See "Acta Sanctorum," tomus iii. , See his Life, at tlie 9th of June.
3 See Bishop Forbes' " Kalendars of the 30th of March, See " Trias Thauma-
Scottish Saints," p. 194.
* See his Life, at the 21st of November, s See Mabillon's " Ahnales Ordinis S.
turga," Quinta Appendix ad Acta S. Columbse," cap, iii. , sect—, v. , n. 502.
Benedict! ," tomus i. , lib, xi. , sect. Ivii. , pp. 334> 335'
"
' It is thus he speaks :
Fiachna loved true devotion,
He instructed all to follow it equally.
He never said a naughty word,
Nor aught but what was pleasing to his
Lord. "
"See Colgan's "Trias Thaumaturga. '
* See " Acta Sanctorum," tomus iii. .
Martii xxx. Among the pretermitted feasts, p. 795,
Articleix,—' See"Acta tomusiii. ,Martiixxx. Amongthepreter- mitted saints, p. 796,
Sanctorum,"
Thaumaturga. " Quarta Vita—Adamnan's—St. Columbse,"
lib. i. , cap, xxx. , p. 345, and n. 75, p. 378,
—— s See Quinta Vita O'Donnell's S,
Colgan has Fechanu=:, or Fiachna Sapiens, among those who lived or died on the Island of Hy, and a feast assigned for
March 30. ] LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. 1027
tery called after Lunge, a plain in' the Island of Ethica. At the 12th of March, there is a saint, who is variedly called Fethchinn, Fetchuon, Fiech-
non, Fethuo, Fethchuo, Fieghno, Fetno, Fethchu and Fiechna—supposed to have been a missionary among the Picts and Scots, in the sixth century. For some notices of him, the reader is referred back to that date.
Article X. —St. Ferdacrich, or Ferdachrioch. An entry, Ferda-
crich, occurs in the Martyrology of Tallagh,' at the 30th of March. It is
quite likely, with the present designation—apparently meaning, "the man of the two places"—some other name should be supplied. Marianus O'Gorman
has an entry of his feast, likewise, as Ferdachrichus, and at this date, the BoUandistsobserveintheirwork. ' Onthepresentday,asweread,also,in the Martyrology of Donegal,3 a festival was celebrated, in honour of Ferdach- rioch.
Article XI. —Reputed Festival of St. Maritha, Virgin, of Cologne ad Gradus. We find such an entry, in a Manuscript copy of Florarius, according to the BoUandists,' who think she may have been one
of the Ursuline virgins, although not entered in the Cologne Festivals, re- corded by Galenius, nor in Hermann Crombach's Catalogue. The BoUan- dists state, that at the 21st of October, the matter might further be investigated.
Article XII. —Reputed Festival of Claudius, a Bishop, and Founder of the University of Paris. At Auxerre, on the 30th of Alarch, was venerated Claudius, Bishop, and founder of the Academy of
Paris, according to Dempster,' who makes him a Scottish saint. ^* However, this account is irreconcilable with facts, as may be seen, where we have already treated of Clemens, sometimes called Claudius Clemens Scotus, at the 20th of March. The BoUandists 3 have a notice of him, at this day, on the authority of Thomas Dempster, as Claudius Episcopus Antissiodorcnsis, fundator Academise Parisiensis ; while they refer the reader to the 20th of March, as also to the 5th of March, when he is noticed, by David Camera- rius.
Article XIII. —Reputed Festival of St. Cronan.
Veneration was
atthe ofMarchto aswe inthe — of given 30th Cronan, read, Martyrology
—from the St. Mochua also called Tallagh. ' But, whether he was distinct
Cronan'andalreadyenteredatthisday mayadmitofquestion.
Article XIV. —St. Liber, of Lethdumha. In the Martyrology of Quarta Appendix ad Acta S. Columbse, cap. mitted feasts, p. —796. " Scoli-
'
X. , num. 56, p. 490. Article xii. In Menologium
Article X. —' Edited by Rev. Dr. cum. "
' ^(^^ Bishop Forbes' "Kalendars of
Scottish Saints," p. 194.
3 See "Acta Sanctorum," tomus iii. ,
XX. I can
"Da Cpicli, on one line, in the Franciscan copy.
Kelly, p.
only
V^&X"
saints, p. 796.
3 Edited by Drs. Todd and Reeves, pp.
90, 91.
Article xi. —' See "Acta Sanctorum,"
tomus iii. , Martii xxx. Among the preter-
*
In the Franciscan copy is the entry,
make out
" See " Acta Sanctorum," tomus iii. ,
Martii xxx. Among the pretermitted feasts, p. 796. —
Martii xxx. Among the pretermitted
Article xin. Kelly, p. xx.
'
Edited by Rev. Dr.
CtvoriAi.
Article xiv. — Edited by Rev. Dr.
•
1028 LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS.
[March 30.
Tallagh,^ there is found an entry, Liber, Leth Dummai, at the 30th of March. Wherehisplacewassituatedmustaffordasubjectforconjecture.
A St. Liber, a priest and a disciple of St. Patrick,^ was placed, by the Irish Apostle, in conjunction with St. Glassicus, over the church of Kill-glais, in the diocese of Down, and territory of Dalaradia. 3 Colgan conjectures this present saint may have been the same. This day, we read in the Martyrology
of Donegal,^ concerning a St. Liber, of Lethdumha, having been venerated. The BoUandists s give a notice of him, likewise, at this day, as Liberius Lethdurahensis.
Article XV. —Natalis of St. Colman of Linn Huachaille, or of
Magheralin, County of Down. [Seventh Century. '] Some account of St.
Colman,^ Abbot of Lann, or Linn, will be found, in Colgan's work, at this
date, and a brief notice,* in the Bollandists. 3 His name is entered, in the
Martyrology of Tallagh,^ at the 30th of March, as Colman Linne (i Casan
Linne) duachill. This, we are told, was the name of a demon. We are informed,
likewise, that his monastery was known as Lann Mic-Luachain, and that it was
situated, in the present barony of Delvin, county of Westmeath. s According
to the Annals of the Four Masters, this saint's Natalis occurred, on the 30th
of March. His death is assigned to the year 699. ^ His Acts will be found,
atthe30thofOctober; or,perhaps,morecorrectly,atthe17thofJune. At
both further — will be The days, however, notices, regarding him, given.
Ulster, is set down, in the Martyrology of Donegal,9 as having been cele-
on this In the — 11 at Lann the shrine of brated, day. year 22, Mic-Luachain,
^°
Lann- da-Cholmoc, or Lann-Mocholmoc,^ on the brink of Cassan-Linne, in
festival of
Colman,
7
of Linn-Uachaille— sometimes called
Lin-duacall,
this saint was found in a tomb a man's cubit in the earth. was made on Spy Wednesday.
This discovery
Article XVI. —Reputed Festival of St. Olaf, or Acjlaf Kyrre, KingOFNorway,ANDMartyr. [TenthandElruenthCenturies. '] Accord- ing to some authorities, the feast of St.
Olaf, Olave, or Aulaf, was held on
this day ; but, the 29th of July is more usually set down, as his principal festival. Tradition has it—even in northern Europe—that he was either bom in Ireland, or descended from Irish parents. That he was in Ireland,
Kelly, p. XX. In the Franciscan copy, we Martii xxx. Among the pretermitted
find tiDei\ LechTJuni.
' See the Life of St. Patrick, at the 17th
ofMarch,chap. xv.
saints, p. 796.
* Edited by Rev. Dr. Kelly, p. xx. In
the Franciscan copy, I can only read
ColtriAi tinn TDua, with lini, and CAffAn
some other undeciphered letters, over and above the line.
s See Rev. Anthony Cogan's "Ecclesias- ticalHistoryoftheDioceseofMeath,Ancient and Modem," vol. iii. , chap. Ixxiv. , p. 580,
'^ See Dr. O'Donovan's "Annals of the Four Masters," vol. i. , pp. 300, 301.
^ In a Manuscript note, William M.
Article xv.
—'See "Acta Sanctorum
^ See Rev. William Reeves' " Ecelesias- tical Antiquities of Down, Connor and Dromore," n. (1), pp. no, in, and Calen- dar LL, p. 377.
' Edited by Drs. Todd and . Reeves, pp. 90,91.
Colgan's
Thaumaturga,"
" Trias
3 See
Septima Vita S. Patricii, lib. ii. , cap. cxxxi. , pp. 146, 147, and nn. 207, 208, pp. 182, 183. Also, Quinta Appendix ad Acta S. Patricii, cap. xxiii. , p. 267.
* Edited by Drs. Todd and Reeves, pp. 90,91.
5 See "Acta Sanctorum," tomus iii. . Martii xxx. Among the pretermitted saints, p. 796.
Hennessy writes, ralin, Down. "
"
Luan Mocholmog, Ma-
Hibernias," Martii xxx. De S. Colmano
Lannensi sive Liimensi Abbate, pp. 792,
793. -"
Colmanus de Lainn-Huachuille juxta ripam Cassainlinn in Vltonia. "
3 See "Acta Sanctorum," tomus iii. ,
March 31. ] LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. 1029
when very young, seems incontestable, as the following narrative shows. In the twentieth year of his age,^ a. d. 990, King Aulaf Tryggvesson was en-
gaged on a plundering expedition in Ireland, when he collected a great herd,
of cows, sheep and goats. While driving them to his ships, a poor Irishman begged of Aulaf, to give up his cows and sheep, so that he might drive them
home. " How can I do it," said
" since neither
nor else you anyone
letmesend
that poor man immediately complied with the chief's request. * Whereupon, Aulaf gave him a heavy ring of goId,3 and they both parted as friends. * That
he was specially venerated in Scotland, on this day, is manifest, from the ScottishMartyrologists,Breviaries,andHistoriesextant. IntheKalendarof
Arbuthnott,5 we have, at the 30th of March, St. Olave, King and Martyr, ix. Lect. ; whileasimilarentryistobefound,intheKalendaroftheAberdeen
themfromsucha
in," replied the poor man, " and he will find them out. "
could
Bollandists ^ that a state,
Martyrology
of has Ado,
NOTHING
parents impress
Aulaf,
my dog " If your dog can do it, you may send him in, but mind, that he does not delay us long. " Having obtained such permission, the man made a sign to his dog. In about half-an-hour, this animal collected the cattle, for their former owner. Astonishedattheextraordinarysagacityofthedog,Aulafaskedforit, and
separate
great
Only
"^ attheiii. ofthe Kalends. Adam Breviary, April
^ atthe of King has, 30th
March : S. Ole King of norwege and mart, vnder henrie ye crowkit. The
of the
Manuscript copy
the feast of Olaus, King of Norway and Martyr, at this date, although his
Natalis is properly referable to the 29th of July. To this latter day, we direct the reader's attention, for further particulars, regarding this illustrious historical character.
Cl)ii%firs;t laai? of ilartft*
ARTICLE I. —ST. MELLA, ABBESS OF DOIRE-MELLE, COUNTY OF LEITRIM.
[EIGHTH CENTURYJi
can prove more advantageous to the interests of religion,
than for to the tender minds of children with
high and holy purposes. Some account of this holy woman is given by Colgan^' and by the Bollandists. ^ St. Mella flourished, about the middle of the
'° SeeDr. 0'Donovan's"AnnalsoftheFour presenting so many precious deposits, in the
Masters," vol. ii. , pp. 1014, 1015, andn. (r. ) Royal Irish Academy. '"
Article XVI. — See "The Scandinavian '•See Scripta Historica Islandorum," History of Dublin. '* by Charles Haliday, vol. X. Historia Olavi Tryggvii filii, cap.
with some notice of the author's life, by xiii. , p. 234^
"
John P. Prendergast, p. Ixiv.
s See Bishop Forbes' Scottish Saints," p. 98.
*
Kalendars of
"" We are further
Latin Vigius, was the name of this dog, the most sagacious of all others known, and
Olafus was his master, for a long time. See "
informed,
that in Vigi,
iii. j Rev. James Johnstone's Aiitiquitates Martii xxx. Among the pretermitted
Celto-Scandicse," pp. 74, 75.
3 Perhaps this account may serve to
saints, p. 796.
Article i. —' See Colgan's "Acta Sane*
torum ttibemise," xxxi. Martii. Dc S»
throw some light on the torques of gold, or
ring money—as it has been called—repre- Mella,
Abbatissa.
p. 796.
herd? " "
Ibid. , p. 114.
^ See his Kalendar. Ibid. , p. 1 48. * See "Acta Sanctorum," tomus
1030 LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. [March 31.
eighth century, in the northern parts of the Connaught province. 3 This, has been inferred, from the circumstance of her son SL Tighernach's *> death,
having been recorded, at a. d. 805. 5 The devout matron, by God's holy decree, was the happy mother of two sons, whose names are found on record,
in the pages of our Irish Martyrologies. These are named respectively, St. Cannech,^ a Priest, and St. Tigernach, an Abbot. ? Having been deprived of her husband, by death, she afterwards formed the resolution of embracing
a religious life. St. Tigernach erected a religious house, near Lough Melve, —now known as Lough Melvin,—in the county of Leitrim, and within the diocese of Killmore. ^ He left this establishment, in favour of his mother ; and, he then retired to another monastery, named Kill-Acaidh, or " the church of the field," the situation of which is unknown. St. Mella presided overacommunityofholywomen,attheformerplacej which,fromher,took the name of Doire-Melle, which signifies, the " oak grove of Mella. " We are told, it had been situated in Rossinver parish, county of Leitrim, although the name is not known, at present. 9 It is said, she ruled over her nunnery for many years ; but, little more has transpired respecting her. She is sup- posed to have died, before the year 787,^° as her name occurs, in the Martyr- ology of Tallagh. In it" we find inserted, Mella, at the 9th, and Doire
Mella,added,atthe31stofMarch,tothesameetymon. IntheMartyr- ologies of Marianus O'Gorman, and of Cathald Maguire, there is a Mella, belonging to the church of Cluainai, set-down, for the 1 9th of March. But, shemayhavebeenadistinctperson. " TheMartyrologyofDonegalgives her this title of Doire Mella, on the 31st of January,'3 when alluding to her son Cainneach ; but, at the present day, it has no record of her feast. By her influence and authority, St. Mella awakened in the souls of her religious, as of her own two sons, the love and fear of God. This she effected, like- wise, in the spirit of gentleness, forbearance, and true charity.
Article II. —St. Machabeo, or Gilda Machai-beo, Abbot of Armagh. \Twelfth Century7\ Although the oak-tree's trunk cease for a time to put forth branches and leaves, its roots do not fail to grow vigor- ously, while they extend in the earth. So when religious life appears diminished to the gaze of men, its hidden workings do not present less effec- tive results, in the sight of God. St. Machabeo, or, as he is sometimes
'"
See Acta Sanctorum," tomus iii. ,
xxxi. Martii. Among the pretermitted festivals, p. 898.
3 See Colgan's note i, p. 796.
•• His feast occurs, at the 4th of Novem- ber.
s See Dr. O'Donovan's "Annals of the
Four Masters," vol. i. , pp. 414, 415.
' His feast has been referred, to the 31st
of January.
'In the attributed "Opuscula" of St.
ruined church of Rossinver is supposed to have been that of the nunnery of Doiremelle, founded by St. Tigernach for his mother. See, vol. ii. , p. 537.
» See Dr. 0'i3onovan's "Annals of the
Four Masters," vol. i. , n. (g), p. 415.
'" See Colgan's "Acta Sanctorum Hiber-
niae," xxxi. Martii. De S.