"'* To these words our saint " Fear for I believe that his soul
answered, not,
shall not only be delivered from the powers of hell, through 3'our faith in
God, but that it shall even immediately enjoy the happiness of Paradise.
answered, not,
shall not only be delivered from the powers of hell, through 3'our faith in
God, but that it shall even immediately enjoy the happiness of Paradise.
O'Hanlon - Lives of the Irish Saints - v1
His disciple was destined by God to remain in the kingdom of Burgundy for the salvation of many souls.
9 St.
Deicolus thus found himself left alone, and solely in God's presence.
He resolved immediately to obey the Divine will, when it should be known to
Divine Providence,
the medium of devout and humble
'° while Afterwards,
him, through
rambling through unknown and woody thickets, anxiously seeking out a place suitable for human habitation, he came to a certain arid spot. Being then
tormented with thirst, he knelt down for a considerable time, while offering his prayers to the Creator. The staff on which he leaned sank gradually deeper into the earth, until at length a fountain began to flow. This watered the neighbouring lands with its clear stream. Afterwards it was called by thenameofoursaint,andtheinhabitantsofthatcountryaroundheldit in great reverence. It was to be seen at that precise time, when the author of our saint's acts wrote. " Dichul felt consoled, and gave thanks to God for this favour bestowed on him. He then drank copiously from the well. This was the first miracle, wrought by the Almighty through Deicolus. In succeeding ages, it specially caused the saint's memory to be held in bene-
diction.
? This place was situated in the ancient
Sancta," part i. , p. 53.
" In terse and harmonious language, an
Irish poet, John Fraser, has described the characteristics of the sacred fountains, in an
kingdom of Burgundy. *"
See Rev. S. Baring-Gould's Lives of the Saints," vol. i. , January xviii. , p. 280.
9 Before the state- commencing foregoing
admirable ballad — commencing,
—
wells
ttient,
remarks,
holy
the
wells —
the author of our saint's acts
"The
cool, the fresh, the pure
the
that he had diverged somewhat from the
A thousand ages rolled away, and still was with a view to show what God liad been those founts endure," &c.
Hayes'
particulars of Deicola's biography, but this
— The Wells. See Edward to effect, and afterwards that he ""
pleased Holy
might adhere more closely to his theme. "Ballads of Ireland," vol. i. , p. 7.
" See Bishop Clia,lloner's "Britannia
prayers,
living
January i8. ] LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. 307
The Lord is truly wonderful in his saints, and faithful to all his promises.
Our Saviour Himself in the says
" Therefore I
unto
all whatsoever you ask when ye pray, beheve that you shall receive, and they shallcomeuntoyou. "" WhereforehathHefulfilledsuchpromise,thusper- petuating faith in His servant, and with much honour giving him renown among the people. And that Divine Lord, who formerly produced water from the rock for use of the Israelites, '3 likewise caused rivulets of water to abound in dry and fertile spots, on account of those prayers offered up by
his holy worshipper.
ST. DICHUL GUIDED TO LURE BY A SWINEHERD—THE CHIEFTAIN WEIFHAR—THE SAINT CALUMNIATED AND INJURED—PUNISHMENT INFLICTED ON WEIFHAR— HIS DEATH—AT THE REQUEST OF HIS WIDOW, BERTHILDE, ST. DICHUL INTER- POSES ON HIS BEHALF—SHE AFTERWARDS ENDOWS HIS MONASTERY—HUNTING ADVENTURE OF KING CLOTAIRE II—HE BEFRIENDS THE HOLY ABBOT.
While the forlorn man wandered without any well-defined track through
the woods, and sought a place where he might conveniently reside, suddenly he observed a herd of swine with their keeper. The swineherd was sur- prised to behold a man of tall stature,^ and habited in a monkish dress, which he had never before seen. He began to ask our saint who he was, whence he came, and what object he had in travelling thus without a guide or companion through such a vast desert. The man of God calmly replied : " Do not fear, my friend, I am a stranger, and I bear the habit of a nvonk. I desire to be conducted immediately to any place in this neighbourhood, where it might be possible to live, if you have the charity to assist me in such a selection. " The swineherd returned for answer, that he did not knowofanyhabitableplacenearerthanLuthra. ^ Thislocalitywasnota great way off, and being marshy, it abounded sufficiently in streams. The
saint asked, if he could act as a guide to show him that place. The herd
replied, he would willingly do so only for his animals, which could not be
"
left Avithout a caretaker during his absence. Deicolus said, My son, do
not refuse me a small portion of your time. If you are disposed to go with me, you shall certainly find you will not lose even the least one of your animals. " The swineherd consented to a proposal made by the stranger religious, with a dashing gaiety, as has been said,3 peculiar to the Irish even at the present day. The saint struck his staff firmly into the ground. Then his guide preceding directed Dichul's course to the place already indicated.
*' Mark xi. , 24.
" See Exodus, xvii. , 6.
having died 'A. d. 635, according to St. Theodore, in his life of St. Magnus. See
—'These
acts convey an idea, that St. Deicolus was
"Acta Sanctorum Hibemiae,"
Chap. hi.
expressions
in his
Colgan's
xviii. Januarii. Vita S. Deicoli, n. 36, p. 126.
over the ordinary height. That he was
older than his brother Gallus
appears pro-
' This is now called Lure, the place by
French. It is situated near Luxeu, in the
province of Burgundy. A noble monastery was afterwards built there,
3 See Le Comte de Montalembert's " Les
Moines d'Occident," tome ii. , liv. ix. , chap, v. , p. 558.
bable, from the circumstance of this latter
being able to prosecute his journey, when
the more feeble Deicolus had been obliged to remain. At the time of his expulsion from Luxeu in 6io, Gallus was sufficiently robust. This is pretty evident, because he survived that event over twenty years,
Gospel,
say
you,
things
CHAPTER III.
3o8 LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. [January i8.
After an hour's absence, the swineherd, wishing to see his charge, returned to the place he left. According to the saint's promise, his animals were found collected around the staff, and lying down, having satiated themselves with food. Not even one among the whole number was found to be missing. *
During his wanderings through those deserts, among the Vosges chain of mountains, Dichul thus came to the present site of Lure. This region
then belonged to a nobleman, named Weifhar, one of King Thierry's vassals. At the time this country was covered with dense forests, which served as coverts for wild beasts. But, as a small chapel, dedicated to St. Martin,s and served by a priest, had been here . erected, Dichul thought of construct- ing a rude hut beside some clear fountains of water in that neighbourhood. '^ For some cause unknown, the forlorn stranger was persecuted with calumniesandannoyances. TheaffectionsofWeifharwereestrangedfrom him. St. Martin's chapel was situated on a mountainous declivity, and here the illustrious soldier of Christ—at stated times had been accustomed to officiate. Some of his — for it would seem he had collected com-
himself to God's service, and had crucified himself to the world. He was careful in all his religious exercises to observe Gospel precepts, not per- forming his good actions before men, so as to be observed by them.
Wherefore he sought an opportunity of offering up his prayers to God in silence, and at an hour when he should least be noticed. Although the
church doors were found closed at that particular time, when he went alone
to offer up the Holy Sacrifice of Mass, yet, by a miracle, it happened that they opened wide to give him admission. This even occurred without any human intervention.
Such a circumstance, becoming known to the priest, caused him to complain in a public manner, that he could not live in this place on account of the stranger monk, who had there established himself A numerous congregation, who had been accustomed to resort to that church, asked their
disciples
panions in his retirement accompanied him. Our saint had wholly devoted
what should be done in this case. He " I know not what replied,
priest
incantations are used by this strange monk, who lurks in these woods, for
he is often in the habit of solitarily resorting to this church at midnight to offer up his prayers, and while the doors are firmly bolted. " He then threatened to eject Dichul from the church, and even to use force if neces- sary. His congregation advised this priest to have patience for a while, until it should be ascertained whether the monk was a true servant of the Almighty or merely an impostor. If they discovered him to be the latter, they promised he should be banished immediately from the neighbourhood. ' Meantime, our saint, who disregarded human threats, continued his earnest
*In concluding the foregoing account, the author of our saint's acts exclaims : " Oh ! the true merit of a holy man, whom even irrational animals obey, when he reasonably seeks God! For God raises up His own among the faithful ; and as He is supreme over all things, the Lord wished man to be constituted superior to the lesser
Vita
5 The feast of St. Martin is kept on the nth of November. See his life given at
Saints," vol. xi. , November xi.
*
Eleven centuries after these events, the abbot of Lure was classed among the princes of the Holy Roman Empire. —" La France Ecclesiastique," A. D. 1788. Art. " Cha- pitres Nobles de Lure et de Murbach reunis," p. 78.
' The writer of our saint's acts thus ex-
claims: "Behold bow the elements
and do not resist those who cling to the omnipotent God ! He, who after the Re- surrection entered among His disciples, the doors being shut, caused the closed doors to be opened lor his servant Deicolus. "
of creation. " See " Acta Colgan's
objects
Sanctorum Hibernije," xviii. Januarii. S. Deicoli, cap. iii. , pp. 118, 119.
obey,
"
of the Fathers, Martyrs, and other Principal
that day in the Rev. Alban B. itler's
Lives
January i8. ] LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS.
309
prayers to God both Ijy day and night. As usual he entered the church.
His enemies, having opened its doors and windows, placed a great heap of thorns, briars, and thistles before the entrances, to discover whether God's holy servant should be molested by them, or otherwise, on the next renewal of his attempt. But the holy man triumphed over their malevolent intentions. He entered the church without any difficulty, for neither the wisdom nor counsels of the wicked can prevail against God. The enemies of our saint, however, sent a deputation, who complained of his conduct to the lord of the soil,Weifhar. ^ Ithadbeenstated,thathischapelwassoughttobeconverted into an oratory by the monk. This noble then dwelt at a place, called in Latin, " Villa Callonis. " He expressed indignation against the unfriended stranger. Afterwards, St. Dichul was treated with the most barbarous in- humanity. But, a most painful disease attacked the cruel chieftain, as a
just punishment for persecuting this holy man. The seigneur's wife, Berthilde, reproached her husband for his conduct. She advised him to
sendimmediatelyforoursaint,toseeif, owingtotheprayersandforgiveness of this injured man, such great pain might be removed, and death be averted. MessengersweredespatchedontheinstanttoDeicolus. Beforetheyarrived, however, Weifhar had already died. On learning what had been told him, unmindful of personal wrongs received from that chieftain, and taking into account the widowed fate of his religious wife, Deicolus most charitably forgave him. Dichul set out towards the castle, travelling on foot. When arrived there, the pious widow received him with all the honours due to such a saint. Wearied after his journey, Dichul wished to take off his birrus,9 and to set it aside, in order to refresh himself before sitting down. The numerous servants who were present eagerly hastened to receive the saint's cloak, and to lay it in a secure place. However Dichul said, that
he would find a servant, who should carefully keep his garment. Being a stranger to them for Christ's sake, the Lord could do what he pleased in
behalf of his disciple. Wherefore, observing the sun's rays entering a win- xiow in the house, and they being considerably extended, he approached andhunghisgarmentoverthem. '° Thusitremainedfortwoorthreehours, •until the saint wished to put it on a second time. " All who were present expressed astonishment at this miracle, and gave thanks to God, who was thus pleasedtohonourHisholyservant,insuchanunusualmanner. " Thepious
lady of the mansion, on witnessing it, fell upon her knees, at the venerable man's feet. With sighs and tears, she besought his intervention in these
terms,
" O servant of the Most
High, pity
the case of
thy
wretched
servant,
® The author of our saint's acts says, that this chieftain lived "in alado suo. " But Belfortius more correctly has it, "in allodio suo. " The term "allodium" signifies a freehold estate, which the owner can ab- solutely sell or assign to another.
it not be forgotten, when we say that the story may be fabulous, that it is not for us to limit the power of God, and to say : Thus shalt Thou act, and in no other way. " See " Lives of the Saints," vol. i. , January xviii. , p. 282, note.
" In referring to this sunbeam, the author of our saint's acts says, that according to the
9 The author of our saint's acts designates
it thus, and states, that the Greeks called it
"amphiballus. " It was a sort of robe or definition of philosophers, it was nothing
cloak, worn by bishops and priests.
" A similar legend is recorded in the acts of St. Goar, at the 6th of July ; of St. of St. and of The Rev. S. Baring-Gould, remarking that this
more than a condensation of the air, illumi- nated by the sun's rays. This comment gives us an idea of the vague and incorrect pneumatic and other philosophy learned at the time, when this life had been written.
" See Colgan's "Acta Sanctorum Hiber-
niae," xviii. Januarii. Vita S. Deicoli, cap. iv. , p. 119.
Florentius, at the 7th of November ; Amabilis, at the 19th of October ; St. Cuthman, at the 8th of February.
traditional account must be taken for what
it is worth, adds:
"
At the same time, let
3IO LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. [January i8.
who was my lord, and who hath in ignorance sinned against thee, for which Divine vengeance would not suffer him longer to live. But now I grieve more for his sin, lest he may be tortured with the damned, than for his temporal death, which has left me a sorrowful widow. Wherefore, my father and my superior, I earnestly ask of your charity to offer up prayers, and to obtain the release of his soul, lest he experience the loss of eternal life, since you are proved to have been the Almight/s true servant. All our property at the vicarage, and the place itself where the church of St. Martin is built, with its appendages,'3 together Anth this villa and its de- pendencies, I willingly bestow on your reverence, as a perpetual possession.
"'* To these words our saint " Fear for I believe that his soul
answered, not,
shall not only be delivered from the powers of hell, through 3'our faith in
God, but that it shall even immediately enjoy the happiness of Paradise. *
ForintheedoIseeclearlyfulfilledthatpromisegivenbytheApostle, the unbelieving husband is sanctified by the believing wife. ' "'s Thus God's holy servant, by the wonderful miracle which he -vsTOught, converted the minds of many to a love of true religion. Weifhar is said to have died in the year 612.
His widow, Berthilde, conscious of injustice done to God's servant, endeavoured to repair the injuries perpetrated by her deceased husband. She bestowed a tract of land on the saint, and also means to erect thereon a monastery. Dichul immediately set about building his abbe\'. '^ He afterwards collected around him some monks, who were subject to his rule, as likewise to the discipline and regulations established by Columbanus. Our saint also erected two oratories, dedicated respectively to Saints Peter and Paul. Deicolus is said to have had his donation of lands assigned to him in presence of many witnesses. A great number of persons accompanied him to the site of Lure. He spent some time examining the ground presented to him, and afterwards he entered upon possession of a spot, where his remains were destined to repose. Here he betook himself to
thanks to his benefactors. He
'* This is The faithful
and
rest for ever ; here shall I dwell, because I have chosen it. "'7
standing around, who had assembled for the purpose of seeing and of hear- ing him, presented Dichul with gifts. These enabled him to erect his oratories, dedicated to the Prince of the Apostles and to the Doctor of the Gentiles, in a very beautiful style of workmanship. For it was the saint's most earnest desire to render his establishment suitable for all religious requirements. Whatever largesses were received, he thought should be devoted
prayer,
gave
instantly
exclaimed,
honour and '^ glory.
my
to God's promote
'* See "Les Moines d'Occident," tome words, " ipsum esse a mortuis resuscita-
ii. , liv. ix. , chap, v. , p. 560.
turn," seems inclined to the first supposition,
while thinks rather that Weifhar Colgan
happily. See "Acta Sanctorum Hiber-
niae," xviii. Januarii, n. 41, p. 126.
'* This monastery was founded at Luthra or Lure in the diocese of Besanoon, and in the province of Burgundy. See Fleury's "Histoire Ecclesiastique," livre xxxviii. ,
sec. 27.
'' See Rev. S. Baring-Gould's " Lives of
the Saints," vol. i. , January xviii. , p. 282. '^ Mabillon says, that Deicolus obtained
'5 I Corinthians
vii. , 14.
We have not a
" Histoire de
great
'3 See
Gallicane," tome iii. , liv. ix. , p. 399, purgatory. Petnis a Natalibus, in these
Longiieval's
I'EgHse saint,
so that he
escaped
from the of pains
sufficiently clear account respecting the na-
ture of this miracle, as given by the author and that afterwards repenting, he died
of our saint's acts. For the saint's words will not lead us to infer, the chiefs soul could have been released from the hell of the damned, and from which there can be no redemption ; but either that he was saved from a temporal death "in extremis," or that, repenting of his crimes at the last moments of his life, and owing to the pious prayers of his wife, God's mercy had been extended to him, through the ministry of the
was first brought to life by St. Deicolus,
January i8. ] LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. 311
The foundation of his monastery having been duly established, numbers of religious men resorted to the desert, which heretofore only offered lairs for wild beasts. Now it was about to become a monastic garden of Paradise, under the culture of this holy servant of God. While devoutly submitting themselves to the sweet yoke of Christ, those words of the Prophet Isaias
" In the dens where dragons dwelt before, shall rise up the verdure of the reed and the bulrush. " '9 Here the holy man and his brethren spent their time in sacred meditation, in reading, and in teach- ing. A school of most sublime religious practice was there estabHshed ; for according to the most perfect models did Deicolus aspire to imitate the early Christians' discipline, when the multitude of believers had but one heart and
one soul. ^°
Clotaire 11. ,^' who, on the death of Thierry, possessed Burgogne, en-
gaged in the chase among the Vosges mountains. ^^^ Accidentally coming to this monastery, and learning that it was under the rule of Columbanus, for whom he entertained a deep veneration, Clotaire desired an interview with the abbot. The king had an exchequer for receiving royal revenues near the monastery. He was accompanied on this occasion by a great train of nobles. A wild boar, which these pursued in the royal forests of Sequania, fled towards the monastic lands. It even entered the cell of our saint, engaged in prayer at this time. On seeing the quarry become tame, Dichul
found manifest fulfilment
:
reached forth his hand towards it and said :
*'
Trust me, you shall not be
deprived of life to-day, because you have sought the protection of our monastery. "^3 Meantime, following the tracks of their game, these dis- tinguished huntsmen came to the cell of Deicolus. Some of them entered,
when, to their great astonishment, they saw an animal lying doAvn before the altar, and in a quiet manner. Being men of pious sentiments, they sent messengers to the king, so that he might witness such an unusual occurrence.
On his arrival, having offered up a prayer in a benignant manner, Clotaire began to ask Deicolus whence he came, and what object he had in view, by establishing himself in that remote place. The saint explained his motives, and he was then asked by the king, if he and his monks had the necessary means for living. The saint replied, according to the Scripture, that those who feared God should want for nothing, and that it sufficed, if they feared Almighty God. Still he acknowledged that the community livedafteraverypoormanner. Clotairewasgiventounderstand,likewise, that Deicolus had been a disciple to the great St, Columban. After departure, the monarch bestowed great gifts and possessions on this house. ^* He made a special request, that its inmates should never entertain any idea of removing beyond the bounds of his kingdom. '^s Before the king's de-
the site of Lure and the lands given to him
by Berthilde, that he might be an inter- cessor for the soul of her deceased husband. See " Annales Ordinis S. Benedicti," tomus i. , lib. xi , sec. xviii. , p. 309.
'9 Isaias xxxv. , 7. The author of our saint's acts adds, by way of comment on this Scriptural passage cited by him, that
'"
Clotaire II. was son to Chilperic, King
of Soissons, and to Fredegonde. He suc- ceeded his father when a minor, in the year 584. He was grandson to Clotaire I. , sole monarch of France. See L. P. Anquetil's "HistoiredeFrance. " PremiereRacedite Des Merovingiens, sees, iii. , iv. , pp. 45 to 52.
*3 See also an account of this incident in ""
the prophet spoke metaphorically, and that the word "calamus stands for the Sacred
Scripture ; while by the word "juncus" the hope and joy of hearers must be understood.
''°
Acts,iv. , 32.
"He was the sole king of France in 613,
according to a prophecy of St. Columbanus,
Le Comte de Montalembert's Les Moines
d'Occident," tome il, liv. i. , chap, v. , p.
559.
** See Mabillon's "Annales Ordinis S.
Benedicti," tomus i. , lib. xi. , sec. xviii. ,
p. 309.
^^ Lure and Luxeuil were situated in the
three
years
before its fulfilment.
JI2 LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. [January i8.
parture, he received our saint's blessing, having previously assured the latter
his royal patronage should be so exercised, that the monastery henceforth could want for nothing. Clotaire is said to have pronounced these words,
" All possessions that have hitherto belonged to me in this neighbourhood,
whether of woods, royal fisheries, pastures, or meadows, I henceforward
freely bestow upon you and on your monastery, as a perpetual gift, from
this day. Moreover, I confirm to you the proprietorship of the village, called Bredanus, with its church and all matters belonging to it. And, as
vineyards are here wanting, I most willingly grant to my reverend Father, and by free gifts, all St. Anthony's vineyards, which I possess in my own
right.
*^ Then Deicolus ordered that wild
boar,
which had taken with refuge
him, to seek his den without molestation. This order was obeyed in the
king's presence, and before all who accompanied him. =7 But, when it has
been asserted, that deeds of vassalage and of monastic privileges,*^ were not known in the days of Deicolus, we may well question the correctness of a statement, which seems to be controverted by abundant historical evidence and inference.
CHAPTER IV.
VISIT OF ST. DICHUL TO ROME, AND HIS RECEPTION BY THE SOVEREIGN PONTIFF- HE RETURNS TO GAUL—HE PROPOSES ST. COLUMBIN AS ABBOT OF LURE, AND RETIRES TO A CELL—HIS PREPARATION FOR DEATH—THE DAY AND YEAR OF HIS DECEASE—ST. DICHUL's VENERATION IN BURGUNDY—MIRACLES WROUGHT AT HIS TOMB—HIS SARCOPHAGUS AT LURE—CONCLUSION.
After these occurrences, it is said that the saint began to reflect seriously on
the propriety of obtaining a further confirmation for his newly-acquired landed possessions from the Sovereign Pontiff, lest after his own death these might be invaded by turbulent and impious marauders or by powerful and unscrupulous nobles. Wherefore through Divine inspiration having collected the sage opinions of his congregation and disciples, he resolved to set out for Rome on a visit to the Holy Father. ' By the latter, he was received with marked distinction, on his arrival in the Eternal City. After he had visited the apostolic shrines and satisfied his devotional feelings there, the Pope particularly enquired what had induced this saintly old man to under- take such a
prosecution
north of ancient Sequania, then included in
thekingdomofBurgundy. Thisprovince, with that of Austrasia, belonged to Clotaire II. See " Les Moines d'Occident," tome ii. , liv. ix. , chap, v. , p. 561.
"*
Dr. Lanigan observes, that the author of our saint's life, who lived at a period much later than the times of Deicolus, and when monasteries were richly endowed, de- scribes the grants made by Clotaire to Lure as considerably greater than they really were. He says,
the death of Deicolus, that this monastery became gradually possessed of great estates.
^ According to Dr. Lanigan, the author of St. Dichul's acts supposed that because these customs existed in the tenth century, in which he appears to have lived, the same practices must have prevailed at all other times. See "Ecclesiastical Historj' of Ire- land," vol. ii. , chap, xvi. , sec. iv. , n. 24, p. 441.
it was not until
We are left no means for ascertaining who then filled the Papal Chair,
of his laborious Deicolus " I am journey. repHed,
long
after
'
^ See Colgan's "Acta Sanctorum Hiber- nise," xviii. Januarii. Vita S. Deicoli, cap. v. , pp. rig, 120.
Chap. — iv.
January i8. ]
LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS.
313
a native of Scotia,' a monk and an exile for the sake of Christ. 3 It has pleased the Almighty to give me a residence in that part of Gaul, which is inhabited by the Burgundian people, and in a place called Lure. There I have erected two oratories, according to the extent of my means. These buildings I have dedicated to the apostolic princes, who are the patrons of this Roman city, and now the Lord hath enriched that place, through the in- strumentality of local potentates, who have given fruitful lands, ample en- dowments, and almost all things necessary for the subsistence of the brethren. But the people there residing are ungovernable and rapacious beyond measure. WhereforeassupremeFather,Idesiretoplaceunderyourrule that place and all its possessions, as also to confirm them by tradition and perpetual charter to the Prince of the Apostles. An obligation to pay ten pieces of silver each year, as a tribute to the apostolic treasury, shall be binding on myself and on those successors of mine, who henceforth may govern in my place. " All things having been thus arranged, Deicolus ob- tained a charter, to which the apostolic seal was affixed, according to the prayer of his petition. The document was to this purpose : that long as the world lasted, the Abbot of Lure, who should be appointed by the elec- tion of those brothers dwelling there, should have full liberty without ques- tion to dispose of things pertaining to them for religious uses. Under pain of anathema, the Sovereign Pontiff issued a mandate, that no king or chief- tain by force or violence should ever molest that place. He, who admi-
nistered affairs in the Roman Empire, and who was guardian of the Apostolic See, must always faithfully defend the rights and property of our saint's
monastic institution. FeeHng gratified beyond measure, at having obtained this apostolic sanction, St. Dichul took his leave of the Roman city. He then directed his course immediately towards Gaul. He was loaded with spiritiial treasures, having not only obtained special favours and privileges, confirmed by the apostolic seal, but also various ecclesiastical ornaments and relics of holy martyrs. Having happily returned to his house, after the accomplishment of his Roman journey, our saint resolved on certain arrange- ments in his monastery, which might enable him to select Mary's part, by sitting and meditating at the feet of his Divine Master, as hitherto like Martha, he had been busily occupied with more active labours. * In practice and laborious toil, having served the Almighty assiduously, this holy abbot was prepared by a natural sequence to spend the evening of his life in con-
templative exercises.
As during his earlier years, he had been a solicitor for
so
' From this statement, Dempster and Camerarius suppose this saint to have been a native of their own country, which was called Minor or Britannic Scotia. They also add, that he was Abbot of Luthrensis in Etruria. Camerarius likewise confounds him with St. Dichull, St. Fursey's disciple, of whom the Venerable Bede speaks in lib.
might
of the Lord all the days of my life. "s
others,
he out with the " One I cry Psalmist, thing
the salvation of
have asked of the Lord, this will I seek after ; that I may dwell in the house
iii. , cap. 19, of his " Historia Ecclesiastica
Gentis Anglorum. " But BoUandus, in his ing other writers in the year 589. He re-
premonitory annotations, shows, that this saint was not Abbot of Lutrium in Etruria, or of any other place in Italy, but that he
was Abbot of Lure. According to Menard,
mained there until the time of his death, which occurred long previous to the arrival in Britain of the first-named Dichull.
* See Luke x.
' Psalms xxvi. , 4.
this is
"
urbs nobilis in Burgundia,"
Having thus resolved on securing the
^ The disciple of St. Fursey who went to Britain in the year 636, according to Flor- ence of Worcester, or much later accord- ing to other authorities, was different from the present St. Deicolus.
Divine Providence,
the medium of devout and humble
'° while Afterwards,
him, through
rambling through unknown and woody thickets, anxiously seeking out a place suitable for human habitation, he came to a certain arid spot. Being then
tormented with thirst, he knelt down for a considerable time, while offering his prayers to the Creator. The staff on which he leaned sank gradually deeper into the earth, until at length a fountain began to flow. This watered the neighbouring lands with its clear stream. Afterwards it was called by thenameofoursaint,andtheinhabitantsofthatcountryaroundheldit in great reverence. It was to be seen at that precise time, when the author of our saint's acts wrote. " Dichul felt consoled, and gave thanks to God for this favour bestowed on him. He then drank copiously from the well. This was the first miracle, wrought by the Almighty through Deicolus. In succeeding ages, it specially caused the saint's memory to be held in bene-
diction.
? This place was situated in the ancient
Sancta," part i. , p. 53.
" In terse and harmonious language, an
Irish poet, John Fraser, has described the characteristics of the sacred fountains, in an
kingdom of Burgundy. *"
See Rev. S. Baring-Gould's Lives of the Saints," vol. i. , January xviii. , p. 280.
9 Before the state- commencing foregoing
admirable ballad — commencing,
—
wells
ttient,
remarks,
holy
the
wells —
the author of our saint's acts
"The
cool, the fresh, the pure
the
that he had diverged somewhat from the
A thousand ages rolled away, and still was with a view to show what God liad been those founts endure," &c.
Hayes'
particulars of Deicola's biography, but this
— The Wells. See Edward to effect, and afterwards that he ""
pleased Holy
might adhere more closely to his theme. "Ballads of Ireland," vol. i. , p. 7.
" See Bishop Clia,lloner's "Britannia
prayers,
living
January i8. ] LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. 307
The Lord is truly wonderful in his saints, and faithful to all his promises.
Our Saviour Himself in the says
" Therefore I
unto
all whatsoever you ask when ye pray, beheve that you shall receive, and they shallcomeuntoyou. "" WhereforehathHefulfilledsuchpromise,thusper- petuating faith in His servant, and with much honour giving him renown among the people. And that Divine Lord, who formerly produced water from the rock for use of the Israelites, '3 likewise caused rivulets of water to abound in dry and fertile spots, on account of those prayers offered up by
his holy worshipper.
ST. DICHUL GUIDED TO LURE BY A SWINEHERD—THE CHIEFTAIN WEIFHAR—THE SAINT CALUMNIATED AND INJURED—PUNISHMENT INFLICTED ON WEIFHAR— HIS DEATH—AT THE REQUEST OF HIS WIDOW, BERTHILDE, ST. DICHUL INTER- POSES ON HIS BEHALF—SHE AFTERWARDS ENDOWS HIS MONASTERY—HUNTING ADVENTURE OF KING CLOTAIRE II—HE BEFRIENDS THE HOLY ABBOT.
While the forlorn man wandered without any well-defined track through
the woods, and sought a place where he might conveniently reside, suddenly he observed a herd of swine with their keeper. The swineherd was sur- prised to behold a man of tall stature,^ and habited in a monkish dress, which he had never before seen. He began to ask our saint who he was, whence he came, and what object he had in travelling thus without a guide or companion through such a vast desert. The man of God calmly replied : " Do not fear, my friend, I am a stranger, and I bear the habit of a nvonk. I desire to be conducted immediately to any place in this neighbourhood, where it might be possible to live, if you have the charity to assist me in such a selection. " The swineherd returned for answer, that he did not knowofanyhabitableplacenearerthanLuthra. ^ Thislocalitywasnota great way off, and being marshy, it abounded sufficiently in streams. The
saint asked, if he could act as a guide to show him that place. The herd
replied, he would willingly do so only for his animals, which could not be
"
left Avithout a caretaker during his absence. Deicolus said, My son, do
not refuse me a small portion of your time. If you are disposed to go with me, you shall certainly find you will not lose even the least one of your animals. " The swineherd consented to a proposal made by the stranger religious, with a dashing gaiety, as has been said,3 peculiar to the Irish even at the present day. The saint struck his staff firmly into the ground. Then his guide preceding directed Dichul's course to the place already indicated.
*' Mark xi. , 24.
" See Exodus, xvii. , 6.
having died 'A. d. 635, according to St. Theodore, in his life of St. Magnus. See
—'These
acts convey an idea, that St. Deicolus was
"Acta Sanctorum Hibemiae,"
Chap. hi.
expressions
in his
Colgan's
xviii. Januarii. Vita S. Deicoli, n. 36, p. 126.
over the ordinary height. That he was
older than his brother Gallus
appears pro-
' This is now called Lure, the place by
French. It is situated near Luxeu, in the
province of Burgundy. A noble monastery was afterwards built there,
3 See Le Comte de Montalembert's " Les
Moines d'Occident," tome ii. , liv. ix. , chap, v. , p. 558.
bable, from the circumstance of this latter
being able to prosecute his journey, when
the more feeble Deicolus had been obliged to remain. At the time of his expulsion from Luxeu in 6io, Gallus was sufficiently robust. This is pretty evident, because he survived that event over twenty years,
Gospel,
say
you,
things
CHAPTER III.
3o8 LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. [January i8.
After an hour's absence, the swineherd, wishing to see his charge, returned to the place he left. According to the saint's promise, his animals were found collected around the staff, and lying down, having satiated themselves with food. Not even one among the whole number was found to be missing. *
During his wanderings through those deserts, among the Vosges chain of mountains, Dichul thus came to the present site of Lure. This region
then belonged to a nobleman, named Weifhar, one of King Thierry's vassals. At the time this country was covered with dense forests, which served as coverts for wild beasts. But, as a small chapel, dedicated to St. Martin,s and served by a priest, had been here . erected, Dichul thought of construct- ing a rude hut beside some clear fountains of water in that neighbourhood. '^ For some cause unknown, the forlorn stranger was persecuted with calumniesandannoyances. TheaffectionsofWeifharwereestrangedfrom him. St. Martin's chapel was situated on a mountainous declivity, and here the illustrious soldier of Christ—at stated times had been accustomed to officiate. Some of his — for it would seem he had collected com-
himself to God's service, and had crucified himself to the world. He was careful in all his religious exercises to observe Gospel precepts, not per- forming his good actions before men, so as to be observed by them.
Wherefore he sought an opportunity of offering up his prayers to God in silence, and at an hour when he should least be noticed. Although the
church doors were found closed at that particular time, when he went alone
to offer up the Holy Sacrifice of Mass, yet, by a miracle, it happened that they opened wide to give him admission. This even occurred without any human intervention.
Such a circumstance, becoming known to the priest, caused him to complain in a public manner, that he could not live in this place on account of the stranger monk, who had there established himself A numerous congregation, who had been accustomed to resort to that church, asked their
disciples
panions in his retirement accompanied him. Our saint had wholly devoted
what should be done in this case. He " I know not what replied,
priest
incantations are used by this strange monk, who lurks in these woods, for
he is often in the habit of solitarily resorting to this church at midnight to offer up his prayers, and while the doors are firmly bolted. " He then threatened to eject Dichul from the church, and even to use force if neces- sary. His congregation advised this priest to have patience for a while, until it should be ascertained whether the monk was a true servant of the Almighty or merely an impostor. If they discovered him to be the latter, they promised he should be banished immediately from the neighbourhood. ' Meantime, our saint, who disregarded human threats, continued his earnest
*In concluding the foregoing account, the author of our saint's acts exclaims : " Oh ! the true merit of a holy man, whom even irrational animals obey, when he reasonably seeks God! For God raises up His own among the faithful ; and as He is supreme over all things, the Lord wished man to be constituted superior to the lesser
Vita
5 The feast of St. Martin is kept on the nth of November. See his life given at
Saints," vol. xi. , November xi.
*
Eleven centuries after these events, the abbot of Lure was classed among the princes of the Holy Roman Empire. —" La France Ecclesiastique," A. D. 1788. Art. " Cha- pitres Nobles de Lure et de Murbach reunis," p. 78.
' The writer of our saint's acts thus ex-
claims: "Behold bow the elements
and do not resist those who cling to the omnipotent God ! He, who after the Re- surrection entered among His disciples, the doors being shut, caused the closed doors to be opened lor his servant Deicolus. "
of creation. " See " Acta Colgan's
objects
Sanctorum Hibernije," xviii. Januarii. S. Deicoli, cap. iii. , pp. 118, 119.
obey,
"
of the Fathers, Martyrs, and other Principal
that day in the Rev. Alban B. itler's
Lives
January i8. ] LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS.
309
prayers to God both Ijy day and night. As usual he entered the church.
His enemies, having opened its doors and windows, placed a great heap of thorns, briars, and thistles before the entrances, to discover whether God's holy servant should be molested by them, or otherwise, on the next renewal of his attempt. But the holy man triumphed over their malevolent intentions. He entered the church without any difficulty, for neither the wisdom nor counsels of the wicked can prevail against God. The enemies of our saint, however, sent a deputation, who complained of his conduct to the lord of the soil,Weifhar. ^ Ithadbeenstated,thathischapelwassoughttobeconverted into an oratory by the monk. This noble then dwelt at a place, called in Latin, " Villa Callonis. " He expressed indignation against the unfriended stranger. Afterwards, St. Dichul was treated with the most barbarous in- humanity. But, a most painful disease attacked the cruel chieftain, as a
just punishment for persecuting this holy man. The seigneur's wife, Berthilde, reproached her husband for his conduct. She advised him to
sendimmediatelyforoursaint,toseeif, owingtotheprayersandforgiveness of this injured man, such great pain might be removed, and death be averted. MessengersweredespatchedontheinstanttoDeicolus. Beforetheyarrived, however, Weifhar had already died. On learning what had been told him, unmindful of personal wrongs received from that chieftain, and taking into account the widowed fate of his religious wife, Deicolus most charitably forgave him. Dichul set out towards the castle, travelling on foot. When arrived there, the pious widow received him with all the honours due to such a saint. Wearied after his journey, Dichul wished to take off his birrus,9 and to set it aside, in order to refresh himself before sitting down. The numerous servants who were present eagerly hastened to receive the saint's cloak, and to lay it in a secure place. However Dichul said, that
he would find a servant, who should carefully keep his garment. Being a stranger to them for Christ's sake, the Lord could do what he pleased in
behalf of his disciple. Wherefore, observing the sun's rays entering a win- xiow in the house, and they being considerably extended, he approached andhunghisgarmentoverthem. '° Thusitremainedfortwoorthreehours, •until the saint wished to put it on a second time. " All who were present expressed astonishment at this miracle, and gave thanks to God, who was thus pleasedtohonourHisholyservant,insuchanunusualmanner. " Thepious
lady of the mansion, on witnessing it, fell upon her knees, at the venerable man's feet. With sighs and tears, she besought his intervention in these
terms,
" O servant of the Most
High, pity
the case of
thy
wretched
servant,
® The author of our saint's acts says, that this chieftain lived "in alado suo. " But Belfortius more correctly has it, "in allodio suo. " The term "allodium" signifies a freehold estate, which the owner can ab- solutely sell or assign to another.
it not be forgotten, when we say that the story may be fabulous, that it is not for us to limit the power of God, and to say : Thus shalt Thou act, and in no other way. " See " Lives of the Saints," vol. i. , January xviii. , p. 282, note.
" In referring to this sunbeam, the author of our saint's acts says, that according to the
9 The author of our saint's acts designates
it thus, and states, that the Greeks called it
"amphiballus. " It was a sort of robe or definition of philosophers, it was nothing
cloak, worn by bishops and priests.
" A similar legend is recorded in the acts of St. Goar, at the 6th of July ; of St. of St. and of The Rev. S. Baring-Gould, remarking that this
more than a condensation of the air, illumi- nated by the sun's rays. This comment gives us an idea of the vague and incorrect pneumatic and other philosophy learned at the time, when this life had been written.
" See Colgan's "Acta Sanctorum Hiber-
niae," xviii. Januarii. Vita S. Deicoli, cap. iv. , p. 119.
Florentius, at the 7th of November ; Amabilis, at the 19th of October ; St. Cuthman, at the 8th of February.
traditional account must be taken for what
it is worth, adds:
"
At the same time, let
3IO LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. [January i8.
who was my lord, and who hath in ignorance sinned against thee, for which Divine vengeance would not suffer him longer to live. But now I grieve more for his sin, lest he may be tortured with the damned, than for his temporal death, which has left me a sorrowful widow. Wherefore, my father and my superior, I earnestly ask of your charity to offer up prayers, and to obtain the release of his soul, lest he experience the loss of eternal life, since you are proved to have been the Almight/s true servant. All our property at the vicarage, and the place itself where the church of St. Martin is built, with its appendages,'3 together Anth this villa and its de- pendencies, I willingly bestow on your reverence, as a perpetual possession.
"'* To these words our saint " Fear for I believe that his soul
answered, not,
shall not only be delivered from the powers of hell, through 3'our faith in
God, but that it shall even immediately enjoy the happiness of Paradise. *
ForintheedoIseeclearlyfulfilledthatpromisegivenbytheApostle, the unbelieving husband is sanctified by the believing wife. ' "'s Thus God's holy servant, by the wonderful miracle which he -vsTOught, converted the minds of many to a love of true religion. Weifhar is said to have died in the year 612.
His widow, Berthilde, conscious of injustice done to God's servant, endeavoured to repair the injuries perpetrated by her deceased husband. She bestowed a tract of land on the saint, and also means to erect thereon a monastery. Dichul immediately set about building his abbe\'. '^ He afterwards collected around him some monks, who were subject to his rule, as likewise to the discipline and regulations established by Columbanus. Our saint also erected two oratories, dedicated respectively to Saints Peter and Paul. Deicolus is said to have had his donation of lands assigned to him in presence of many witnesses. A great number of persons accompanied him to the site of Lure. He spent some time examining the ground presented to him, and afterwards he entered upon possession of a spot, where his remains were destined to repose. Here he betook himself to
thanks to his benefactors. He
'* This is The faithful
and
rest for ever ; here shall I dwell, because I have chosen it. "'7
standing around, who had assembled for the purpose of seeing and of hear- ing him, presented Dichul with gifts. These enabled him to erect his oratories, dedicated to the Prince of the Apostles and to the Doctor of the Gentiles, in a very beautiful style of workmanship. For it was the saint's most earnest desire to render his establishment suitable for all religious requirements. Whatever largesses were received, he thought should be devoted
prayer,
gave
instantly
exclaimed,
honour and '^ glory.
my
to God's promote
'* See "Les Moines d'Occident," tome words, " ipsum esse a mortuis resuscita-
ii. , liv. ix. , chap, v. , p. 560.
turn," seems inclined to the first supposition,
while thinks rather that Weifhar Colgan
happily. See "Acta Sanctorum Hiber-
niae," xviii. Januarii, n. 41, p. 126.
'* This monastery was founded at Luthra or Lure in the diocese of Besanoon, and in the province of Burgundy. See Fleury's "Histoire Ecclesiastique," livre xxxviii. ,
sec. 27.
'' See Rev. S. Baring-Gould's " Lives of
the Saints," vol. i. , January xviii. , p. 282. '^ Mabillon says, that Deicolus obtained
'5 I Corinthians
vii. , 14.
We have not a
" Histoire de
great
'3 See
Gallicane," tome iii. , liv. ix. , p. 399, purgatory. Petnis a Natalibus, in these
Longiieval's
I'EgHse saint,
so that he
escaped
from the of pains
sufficiently clear account respecting the na-
ture of this miracle, as given by the author and that afterwards repenting, he died
of our saint's acts. For the saint's words will not lead us to infer, the chiefs soul could have been released from the hell of the damned, and from which there can be no redemption ; but either that he was saved from a temporal death "in extremis," or that, repenting of his crimes at the last moments of his life, and owing to the pious prayers of his wife, God's mercy had been extended to him, through the ministry of the
was first brought to life by St. Deicolus,
January i8. ] LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. 311
The foundation of his monastery having been duly established, numbers of religious men resorted to the desert, which heretofore only offered lairs for wild beasts. Now it was about to become a monastic garden of Paradise, under the culture of this holy servant of God. While devoutly submitting themselves to the sweet yoke of Christ, those words of the Prophet Isaias
" In the dens where dragons dwelt before, shall rise up the verdure of the reed and the bulrush. " '9 Here the holy man and his brethren spent their time in sacred meditation, in reading, and in teach- ing. A school of most sublime religious practice was there estabHshed ; for according to the most perfect models did Deicolus aspire to imitate the early Christians' discipline, when the multitude of believers had but one heart and
one soul. ^°
Clotaire 11. ,^' who, on the death of Thierry, possessed Burgogne, en-
gaged in the chase among the Vosges mountains. ^^^ Accidentally coming to this monastery, and learning that it was under the rule of Columbanus, for whom he entertained a deep veneration, Clotaire desired an interview with the abbot. The king had an exchequer for receiving royal revenues near the monastery. He was accompanied on this occasion by a great train of nobles. A wild boar, which these pursued in the royal forests of Sequania, fled towards the monastic lands. It even entered the cell of our saint, engaged in prayer at this time. On seeing the quarry become tame, Dichul
found manifest fulfilment
:
reached forth his hand towards it and said :
*'
Trust me, you shall not be
deprived of life to-day, because you have sought the protection of our monastery. "^3 Meantime, following the tracks of their game, these dis- tinguished huntsmen came to the cell of Deicolus. Some of them entered,
when, to their great astonishment, they saw an animal lying doAvn before the altar, and in a quiet manner. Being men of pious sentiments, they sent messengers to the king, so that he might witness such an unusual occurrence.
On his arrival, having offered up a prayer in a benignant manner, Clotaire began to ask Deicolus whence he came, and what object he had in view, by establishing himself in that remote place. The saint explained his motives, and he was then asked by the king, if he and his monks had the necessary means for living. The saint replied, according to the Scripture, that those who feared God should want for nothing, and that it sufficed, if they feared Almighty God. Still he acknowledged that the community livedafteraverypoormanner. Clotairewasgiventounderstand,likewise, that Deicolus had been a disciple to the great St, Columban. After departure, the monarch bestowed great gifts and possessions on this house. ^* He made a special request, that its inmates should never entertain any idea of removing beyond the bounds of his kingdom. '^s Before the king's de-
the site of Lure and the lands given to him
by Berthilde, that he might be an inter- cessor for the soul of her deceased husband. See " Annales Ordinis S. Benedicti," tomus i. , lib. xi , sec. xviii. , p. 309.
'9 Isaias xxxv. , 7. The author of our saint's acts adds, by way of comment on this Scriptural passage cited by him, that
'"
Clotaire II. was son to Chilperic, King
of Soissons, and to Fredegonde. He suc- ceeded his father when a minor, in the year 584. He was grandson to Clotaire I. , sole monarch of France. See L. P. Anquetil's "HistoiredeFrance. " PremiereRacedite Des Merovingiens, sees, iii. , iv. , pp. 45 to 52.
*3 See also an account of this incident in ""
the prophet spoke metaphorically, and that the word "calamus stands for the Sacred
Scripture ; while by the word "juncus" the hope and joy of hearers must be understood.
''°
Acts,iv. , 32.
"He was the sole king of France in 613,
according to a prophecy of St. Columbanus,
Le Comte de Montalembert's Les Moines
d'Occident," tome il, liv. i. , chap, v. , p.
559.
** See Mabillon's "Annales Ordinis S.
Benedicti," tomus i. , lib. xi. , sec. xviii. ,
p. 309.
^^ Lure and Luxeuil were situated in the
three
years
before its fulfilment.
JI2 LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. [January i8.
parture, he received our saint's blessing, having previously assured the latter
his royal patronage should be so exercised, that the monastery henceforth could want for nothing. Clotaire is said to have pronounced these words,
" All possessions that have hitherto belonged to me in this neighbourhood,
whether of woods, royal fisheries, pastures, or meadows, I henceforward
freely bestow upon you and on your monastery, as a perpetual gift, from
this day. Moreover, I confirm to you the proprietorship of the village, called Bredanus, with its church and all matters belonging to it. And, as
vineyards are here wanting, I most willingly grant to my reverend Father, and by free gifts, all St. Anthony's vineyards, which I possess in my own
right.
*^ Then Deicolus ordered that wild
boar,
which had taken with refuge
him, to seek his den without molestation. This order was obeyed in the
king's presence, and before all who accompanied him. =7 But, when it has
been asserted, that deeds of vassalage and of monastic privileges,*^ were not known in the days of Deicolus, we may well question the correctness of a statement, which seems to be controverted by abundant historical evidence and inference.
CHAPTER IV.
VISIT OF ST. DICHUL TO ROME, AND HIS RECEPTION BY THE SOVEREIGN PONTIFF- HE RETURNS TO GAUL—HE PROPOSES ST. COLUMBIN AS ABBOT OF LURE, AND RETIRES TO A CELL—HIS PREPARATION FOR DEATH—THE DAY AND YEAR OF HIS DECEASE—ST. DICHUL's VENERATION IN BURGUNDY—MIRACLES WROUGHT AT HIS TOMB—HIS SARCOPHAGUS AT LURE—CONCLUSION.
After these occurrences, it is said that the saint began to reflect seriously on
the propriety of obtaining a further confirmation for his newly-acquired landed possessions from the Sovereign Pontiff, lest after his own death these might be invaded by turbulent and impious marauders or by powerful and unscrupulous nobles. Wherefore through Divine inspiration having collected the sage opinions of his congregation and disciples, he resolved to set out for Rome on a visit to the Holy Father. ' By the latter, he was received with marked distinction, on his arrival in the Eternal City. After he had visited the apostolic shrines and satisfied his devotional feelings there, the Pope particularly enquired what had induced this saintly old man to under- take such a
prosecution
north of ancient Sequania, then included in
thekingdomofBurgundy. Thisprovince, with that of Austrasia, belonged to Clotaire II. See " Les Moines d'Occident," tome ii. , liv. ix. , chap, v. , p. 561.
"*
Dr. Lanigan observes, that the author of our saint's life, who lived at a period much later than the times of Deicolus, and when monasteries were richly endowed, de- scribes the grants made by Clotaire to Lure as considerably greater than they really were. He says,
the death of Deicolus, that this monastery became gradually possessed of great estates.
^ According to Dr. Lanigan, the author of St. Dichul's acts supposed that because these customs existed in the tenth century, in which he appears to have lived, the same practices must have prevailed at all other times. See "Ecclesiastical Historj' of Ire- land," vol. ii. , chap, xvi. , sec. iv. , n. 24, p. 441.
it was not until
We are left no means for ascertaining who then filled the Papal Chair,
of his laborious Deicolus " I am journey. repHed,
long
after
'
^ See Colgan's "Acta Sanctorum Hiber- nise," xviii. Januarii. Vita S. Deicoli, cap. v. , pp. rig, 120.
Chap. — iv.
January i8. ]
LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS.
313
a native of Scotia,' a monk and an exile for the sake of Christ. 3 It has pleased the Almighty to give me a residence in that part of Gaul, which is inhabited by the Burgundian people, and in a place called Lure. There I have erected two oratories, according to the extent of my means. These buildings I have dedicated to the apostolic princes, who are the patrons of this Roman city, and now the Lord hath enriched that place, through the in- strumentality of local potentates, who have given fruitful lands, ample en- dowments, and almost all things necessary for the subsistence of the brethren. But the people there residing are ungovernable and rapacious beyond measure. WhereforeassupremeFather,Idesiretoplaceunderyourrule that place and all its possessions, as also to confirm them by tradition and perpetual charter to the Prince of the Apostles. An obligation to pay ten pieces of silver each year, as a tribute to the apostolic treasury, shall be binding on myself and on those successors of mine, who henceforth may govern in my place. " All things having been thus arranged, Deicolus ob- tained a charter, to which the apostolic seal was affixed, according to the prayer of his petition. The document was to this purpose : that long as the world lasted, the Abbot of Lure, who should be appointed by the elec- tion of those brothers dwelling there, should have full liberty without ques- tion to dispose of things pertaining to them for religious uses. Under pain of anathema, the Sovereign Pontiff issued a mandate, that no king or chief- tain by force or violence should ever molest that place. He, who admi-
nistered affairs in the Roman Empire, and who was guardian of the Apostolic See, must always faithfully defend the rights and property of our saint's
monastic institution. FeeHng gratified beyond measure, at having obtained this apostolic sanction, St. Dichul took his leave of the Roman city. He then directed his course immediately towards Gaul. He was loaded with spiritiial treasures, having not only obtained special favours and privileges, confirmed by the apostolic seal, but also various ecclesiastical ornaments and relics of holy martyrs. Having happily returned to his house, after the accomplishment of his Roman journey, our saint resolved on certain arrange- ments in his monastery, which might enable him to select Mary's part, by sitting and meditating at the feet of his Divine Master, as hitherto like Martha, he had been busily occupied with more active labours. * In practice and laborious toil, having served the Almighty assiduously, this holy abbot was prepared by a natural sequence to spend the evening of his life in con-
templative exercises.
As during his earlier years, he had been a solicitor for
so
' From this statement, Dempster and Camerarius suppose this saint to have been a native of their own country, which was called Minor or Britannic Scotia. They also add, that he was Abbot of Luthrensis in Etruria. Camerarius likewise confounds him with St. Dichull, St. Fursey's disciple, of whom the Venerable Bede speaks in lib.
might
of the Lord all the days of my life. "s
others,
he out with the " One I cry Psalmist, thing
the salvation of
have asked of the Lord, this will I seek after ; that I may dwell in the house
iii. , cap. 19, of his " Historia Ecclesiastica
Gentis Anglorum. " But BoUandus, in his ing other writers in the year 589. He re-
premonitory annotations, shows, that this saint was not Abbot of Lutrium in Etruria, or of any other place in Italy, but that he
was Abbot of Lure. According to Menard,
mained there until the time of his death, which occurred long previous to the arrival in Britain of the first-named Dichull.
* See Luke x.
' Psalms xxvi. , 4.
this is
"
urbs nobilis in Burgundia,"
Having thus resolved on securing the
^ The disciple of St. Fursey who went to Britain in the year 636, according to Flor- ence of Worcester, or much later accord- ing to other authorities, was different from the present St. Deicolus.
