Its influences should be the same to- day, but men and manners have changed since those eras, when the world had less attractions, and society had fewer allurements, to engage the various
classes, that only found peace and happiness in religious seclusion.
classes, that only found peace and happiness in religious seclusion.
O'Hanlon - Lives of the Irish Saints - v5
XXV.
' See Mail xxiv. p. 270.
" Acta Sanctorum," tomus v. , Among the pretermitted saints,
the Royal Irish Academy," Irish Manuscript Series, vol. i. , part i. On the Calendar of Oengus, by Whitley Stokes, LL. D. , p. l. \xxi.
- The following are his observations, as translated by Dr. Whitley Stokes: "Col- man: nescio ubi est hie, but some say that he is the third Colman Mor of Meath, i. e. , Colman of the coffer and Colman son of Luachan of Land Mic Luachain and Colman Eia of Land Ela in Tir Cell. "—//'/</. , p. xc.
^ Edited by Rev. Dr. Kelly, p. xxv.
See " Acta Sanctorum," tomus v. , Malixxiv. Amongthepretermiitedsaints,
p. 270.
5 Edited by Drs. Todd and Reeves, pp.
13S, 139.
Article vii. —'Edited by Rev. Dr.
Kelly, p, xxv.
—
LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. [May 24.
monastery, about the middle of the sixth century. 3 The BoUandists have a brief record of him, at this date. This holy man flourished about the early part and on to the middle of the seventh century. In the year 640, we find himexpresslynamed,inaletters writtenfromRometotheIrishclergy,and having reference to the Pascal celebration. * This holy man died. May 24th, A. D. 650, about three years 7 before St. Camin, the founder of Iniskel- tair.
Article V. The Seven Daughters of Fergus, of Tigninghin Ferghusa, or of Inis-cealtra, County of Galway. The Martyrology of Tallagh,' records Seaht ningena Fergusa, in Inis Cealtra, at the 24th of May. ThisisnowknownasInis-crealtra,anislandandparishinthecoun- ties of Clare and Galway. The Bollandists^ also record their festival, for this day. But, Colgan seems to connect them with Teach na ninghean, in Connaught. 3 He says,"> they were perhaps those seven nuns of Tir-na-Fiachra Aine,5 who assisted at the great Synod of Dromcheat, in the year 580. The extent of Ui Fiachrach Aidhne is shown on the Irish Maps, prefixed to the " Tribes and Customs of Hy-Many, commonly called O'Kelly's Country. "* A festival in honour of the Seven Daughters of Fergus, of Tigh-inghen- Ferghusa, was celebrated on this day, as we read in the Martyrology of Done- gal. 7 Under the title of the Seven INIaidens, they seem to have been vene- rated, likewise, in Scotland. ^
Article VI. —St. Colman. The "Feilire"' of St. . ^ngus commemo- ratesColman,witheulogy,onthe24thofMay. Thescholiastonthatcopy, which is found in the " Leabhar Breac," seems doubtful regarding his iden- tity. '' An entry of Colman simply appears in the Martyrology of Tallagh,3 at the 24th of May. The same authority is quoted by the BoUandists,* for their entry of his name, at this same date. According to the Martyrology of Donegal,5 veneration was given to Colman, on this day.
Article VII. —St. Siollan, or Sillan. In the Martyrology of Tallagh,' the name Sillan occurs, at the 24th of May. He may have been the son of Neman, mentioned by Colgan, in the " Trias Thaumaturga. "* The
560
3 The Martyrology of Tallagh, Marianus O'Gorman and Maguire are quoted.
* See "Acta Sanctorum Hibernia;," xv. Februarii, Vita S. Farannani, n. 39, pp. 340.
5 The inhabitants of the diocese of Kil- macduagh held this territory, which was anciently called Aidhore. See "The Genea- logics, Tribes and Customs of Ily-Fiach- rach," &c. , edited by John O'Donovan, n. (f), p. 3.
*EditedbyJohnO'Donovan,in1843.
7 Edited by Drs. Todd and Reeves, pp. 138, 139.
" See Bishop Forbes' " Kalendars of Scot- tish Saints," p. 447.
Article vi. —'
See "Transactions of
—— + —
May 24. ] LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS.
Bollandists 3 have the feast of Sillanus entered, likewise, at this date. A fes- tival in honour of Siollan was celebrated, on this day, as we tind mentioned, in the Martyrology of Donegal.
Article VIII. St. Ultan, Son of Aedhghen. The Martyrology of Donegal,' mentions a festival, on this day, in honour of Ultan, son of Aedhghen.
Article IX. Reputed Festival of Ferranus, or Ferianus, a CuLDEE Bishop, in Scotland. At the 24th of May, Camerarius among his Scottish entries has a St. Ferranus, a Culdean Bishop, in Scotia/ while Dempster,^ who does not give the date for his feast, has a notice of Ferianus, surnamed the Culdee, or Worshipper of God. The Bollandists 3 barely notice such statements, at this date.
ArticleX. FestivalofErmes,orHermes. Ermescalled"abbot of great thousands," in the " Feilire "' of St. yEngus, at the 24th of May, is marked as " papa," in the commentary affixed to the " Leabhar Breac " copy. '^ There is a Hermes Martyr commemorated, in the Kalendar of the Hieron)''- mian Martyrology, at this date; and, in recording such an entry, the Bollandists 3 are unable to state his identity, many Martyrs bearing a like name being in- cluded in that ancient Menology.
Article XI. Festival of St. Rudbertus, or Rupert, Bishop of Saltzburgh. In Manuscript additions to the Carthusian Martyrology of Greven, at Bruxelles, there is a feast set down, at the 24th of May, for St. Rudbertus, Bishop and Confessor, in Saltzburgh,' His Life has been given already, at the 27 th of March. ^'
Article XII. —Feast of St. Augustine, Bishop and Apostle of THE Southern English. \Sixth and Seventh Centuries. '] In the " Feilire "' of St. yEngus, there is a festival set down for Augustine the Bishop. The commentator of that copy, contained in the " Leabhar Breac," characterizes
^ See Quarta Appendix ad Acta S. Co- Royal Irish Academy," Irish Manuscript lumbte, cap. x. , num. 106, p. 492, and Series, vol. i. , part i. On the Calendar of Oen-
Quinta Appendix, ibid. , cap. iii. , sect, v. , p. 502.
3 See "Acta Sanctorum," tomus v. , Maii xxiv. Among the pretermitted saints, p. 270. Edited by Drs. Todd and Reeves, pp.
138, 139.
Article viii. — ' Edited by Drs. Todd
gus, by Whitley Stokes, LL. D. , p. Ixxxi.
^ See ibid. , p. xc.
3 See "Acta Sanctorum," tomus v. ,
Maii XXIV. Among the pretermitted saints,
p. 270. — See the Bollandists' Article xi. ^
" Acta Sanctorum," tomus v. , JMad xxiv. Among the pretermitted ^aints, p. 270.
and Reeves, pp. 138, 139.
Article ix. —
" Ferranus Episcopus Culdaeus in Scotia. "
'
See the Tliird Art. ii.
Volume of this work,
'
Thus: 24 Die.
Sanctus
Bishop Forbes' " Kalendars of Scottish Saints," p. 237.
- See " Historia Ecclesiastica Gentis Sco- torum," tomus i. , lib. vi. , num. 534, p. 292.
3 See "Acta Sanctorum," tomus v. , Maii
Article xii. — ' See " Transactions of the Royal Irisli Academy," Irish Manu-
xxiv. Among the pretermitted saints, p. 270.
- 3
See ibid. , p. Ixxxix. Known as St. Gregory
Article x. —'
See
"
Transactions of the
the Great, Pope, IN
On the Calen- dar of Oengus, by Whitley Stokes, LL. D. ,
script Series, vol. i. , part i.
p. Ixxxi.
561
562 LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. [May 25.
this great and holy man, as having the epithet " of the books "^ applied to him, as being a pupil to Gregory 3 of Rome, and as ruling a Bishop over the Saxons. The feast of this Apostle to the Southern English is held, however, on the 26 th of May, which was the date for his death.
Eh3ent2s:Kftlj ©32 of JHag,
ARTICLE I. —ST. DUNCHADH, ABBOT OF lONA, IN SCOTLAND. [SEVENTH AND EIGHTH CENTURIES. ]
IT may be observed, that the Columban monasteries were not so much hermitages or monasteries, in the usual sense of the word, as missionary centres, or rather as Christian colonies, whence the words of God went forth, until religion had permeated the existence of the faithful, and had taught them their obligations. In the early days of fervour, simple piety elevated the common incidents of their every-day life, while it sanctified even their duties and pleasures. It smoothed asperities, while it ennobled drudgery, and gave them a foretaste of heaven.
Its influences should be the same to- day, but men and manners have changed since those eras, when the world had less attractions, and society had fewer allurements, to engage the various
classes, that only found peace and happiness in religious seclusion.
The Martyrology of Tallagh,' at this date, inserts Dunchadh Abbot of lae, or lona. In the " Feilire "^ of St. yEngus, this holy Abbot is commemorated, at the 25th of May. In the Annals of Ulster, he is named Duncha mac
Cinnfaelad. TheBollandistss have a notice of this holy man, also, at the 25th of May. He descended from the race of Conall Gulban, according to the O'Clerys ; and, this accords with the pedigree of the Sanctilogium Genealo- gicumandofSeluacius. '« St. DunchadwasthesonofKennfail,sontoMoel- cobh, son of Aid, son to Ainmire, son of Sedna, son of Ferguss, son to Kenn- fod, son of Connal Gulban, son to Niall of the Nine Hostages. 5 He was of regal descent, for his paternal grandfather, Moelcobh, King of Ireland, died in the year 610,* or according to other accounts a. d. 615. But, the virtues and merits of Dunchad made him still more remarkable ; for, abandoning
whose feast is held on the 12th of March. sure, (the) bold : Dunchad of chilly Hi. " Articlf, I. — ' At this day, we read: "Transactions of the Royal Irish Aca- " Dunchadh Abb, I? ee, i. mac Cennfae- demy," Irish Manuscript Series, vol. i. , laidh. "—Rev. Dr. Kelly's "Calendar of part i. On the Calendar of Oengus, p.
Irish Saints," &c. , p. xxv.
= In the " Leabhar Breac"copy, the fol-
lowing is the text, with a translation into English, by Dr. Whitley Stokes :
"Oocic^reil lohAnnif InniAin Aige hudjo Oionifoei\b ojinA "OunchAT) lAe huA]\c.
"To thee comes the feast of Johannes, a lovable pillar of virginity. Dionysius (the)
Ixxxi.
' See "Acta Sanctorum," tomus vi. ,
Maii xxv. Among the pretermitted saints, p. 3.
* See Colgan's " Trias Thaumaturga," Quarta Appendix ad Acta S. Columboe, cap. iii. , num. iS, p. 480.
5 According to the "Genealogies of the Irish Saints," chap. i.
' See Dr. O'Donovan's " Annals of the Four Masters," vol. i. , pp. 236, 237, and n. (q), ibid.
—
May 25. LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS.
563
the world, he chose to become a monk, in the congregation, founded by St. Cohniiba,7 at lona.
Our saint was held, in great veneration, especially at a place, called Kill- lochuir, or Kill-chlochuir, on the southern confines of Ultonia, and towards the east, on the sea-shore. Here, he is said to have ruled over a monastery, and a community of monks, and to have been regarded, as the special patron of the place ; while the fishermen near it invoked his intercession, and often attri- buted the safety of ships and sailors to his protection. His abode here seems to have been prior, to his departure from Ireland ; and, it may have been, that his celebrity as a holy religious called him over to fill a more responsible posi- tion, in the monastery of lona.
Port na Currach, lona.
Scarcely a century had elapsed, after the death of that great coenobite, who sought the remote and desert island, where he established a renowned insti- tute, when Dunchad leaving his friends and native country sought the shores of " chilly Hi," and perhaps landed in that very Port na Currech,^—on the southern sea-board 9—where tradition still holds, that St. Columba first touched land, after he had parted from the coast of Tyrconnell. According to some writers, in the year 707,'° or in 710," St. Dunchadh was elected to rule over thecommunityoflona,onthedeathofConmail. " DuringDunchadh'sin- cumbency, there is an account of one Dorbene having obtained the cathedra in Hy, a. d. 713, and of Faelcu mac Dorben having ascended the cathedra of
7 See his Life, in the succeeding Volume of this worlv, at the 9th of June, Art. i.
^ The accompanying illustration of Port na Currach in lona has been drawn on the wood, by William F. Wakeman, and it has been engraved by Mrs. Millard.
5 Its position is well defined on the Map of Modern Hy, in Rev. Dr. Reeves' work, at p. 424. Additional Notes, P.
'° See Rev. William Reeves' "Adam- nan's "Life of St. Columba," Additional Notes, O, p. 379.
564
LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. [May 25.
Columba, in tlie seventy-fourth year of his age, a. d. 716. It appears rather inexphcable, how Faelchu, son of Dorbene, or Dorbhe, Abbot of lona, lived to A. D. 720, according to the "Annals of the Four Masters,"'3 and to a. d. 723, according to the " Annals of Ulster. " Perhaps, the better way to account for it might be, to suppose our saint had resigned his dignity,'"* before he had enjoyed it quite twelve months, as St. Dorbene Foda died, on the 28th of October, a. d. 713. ^5 The death of this saint is not recorded, in the Annals of Ulster, at a. d. 714, although there are many entries, agreeing with those of the Four Masters, for the previous year. It is likewise omitted, in the Annals of Clonmacnoise, at a. d. 712, although most of the other entries of the Four jVIasters, at a. d. 713, are there given. It must be remarked, that a discrepancy ofoneyearexists,intheseseveralIrishrecords. Theonlyreasonableconjec- ture, which could otherwise be formed, is, that it was found necessary to appoint Faelchu as a coadjutor; although, owing to his being in the seventy-fourth year, at the time of liis appointment, such a surmise appears somewhat impro- bable. The facts stated may not necessarily denote, that there was any schism, among the monks, during the lifetime of Dunchad ; for, it may be aprior,orevenabishop,wasmeant,asdistinguishedfromtheabbot. Under Dunchad, the Cohnnbian monks received the Roman Tonsure, and the mode of celebrating Easter, owing to the exertion made by a learned Northum- brian priest, named Ecgberet, or Egbert,'^ who lived for a long time in Ire- land, and engaged at his studies, in the monastery, called Rathmelsig,'? Rath- melsidhe, or Rathmilsige,'^ the exact situation of which has not yet been de-
termined. '? Here,however,hewasdistinguishedforhisgreatholinessoflife, and for his knowledge of the Sacred Scriptures. He had designed taking his departure for northern Germany, when his former master Boisil^° appeared to him in a vision, and told him it was God's will, that he should rather go to the monasteryofSt. Columba. Hisremarkablypersuasi\eandsuavemanners, joined with zeal and eloquence, when he left Ireland, induced the southern Picts to follow his instructions, and to abandon the old Celtic observances, in 716. Soon, afterwards, Ecgberet was able to persuade Dunchad and his religious congregation, at lona, to adopt the Roman Tonsure and Paschal observances. Having continued for 150 years, at lona, the Celtic practice wasobservedforthelasttime,ontheEasterFestival01715. TheRoman rite thenceforward prevailed, and this caused great rejoicing, thoughout the universal Church,^* on account of that uniformity of discipline, which induced both clergy anci laity in these islands to agree, on so important a celebration.
" . See ibid.
" His feast occurs, on the lilh of Sep- tember.
'3 . '<ee Dr. O'Donovan's edition, vol. i. pp. 318, 319.
'•• It has been imagined, that a schism had divided the monks at lona, in consequence of their differences of opinion, on the Easter celebration but, besides our having
;
Four Masters," vol. i. , pp. 312. 313.
'"See an account of him, in the Fourth Volume of this work, Art. i. , at the 14th
'^ Colgan states, this place is in Con- no record of >uch a state of things, it seems naught. See Index Locorum, to "Acta
quite improbable, that any factious spirit even appeared in so regular a community, and on a maUer of merely theological conlro- vtr-y, only historical and liturgical. Much better reasons may be found, than have been assigned for a change of abbots at lona, in William F. Skene's "Celtic Scotlnnd ; a History of Ancient Albnn," vol. ii. , book ii. , chap. iv. , pp. 175 to 177.
'S See Dr. O'Donovan's " Annals of the
Sanctorum I libernire," at the word,
'' According to Rev. Dr. Reeves. See Adamnan's " Life of St. Columba," Addi-
tional Notes O, n. (h), p. 379.
^'^ See his Life, at the 23rd of Feb-
ruary, in the Second Volume of this work, Art. x.
" Ste Vener. ible Bede's "Historia Eccle- siastica Gentis AngloiTim," lib. v. , cap. x. xiii. , p. 481.
of April, the day for his feast,
'' Venerable Bede s. ^ys, "lingua Scotto-
rum Rathmelsigi appellatur. "—"Hisloria Eccle>iastica Gentis Anglorum," lib. iii. , cap. xxvii. , p. 241.
— ;
May 25. ] LIVES Of THE IRISH SAINTS. 565
While ruling over lona, we are told, that Dunchad was remarkable for his sanctity, and for the gift of miracles. He was also distinguished for his assi- duity in prayer, and for that spirit of sublime contemplation, whereby he was enabled to repel all outward distractions. The " Chronicum Scotorum,"" records the death of Dunchadh, son of Cennfaeladh, Abbot of Hi, at a. d. 713. According to the Annals of Ulster,^3 and of the Four Masters,^'* St. Dunchadh was called to heaven, on the 25th of May, a. d. 716. Having been Abbot for seven years, he happily departed to the Lord, on the 25th of May, A. D. 717,^^ according to the chronology of Tighernach. He died, so late as A. D. 736, Camerarius relates, and on the 24th of March, according to the same writer. The Martyrology of Donegal,^^ on this day, registers the name of Dunchadh, son to Cennfaeladh, son to Maelcobha, son of Aedh, son to Ainmire. In that Irish Calendar, now preserved in the Royal Irish Aca- demy,^7 at the viii. of the June Kalends, or May 25th, the feast of this holy Abbot is set down. St. Dumhade is commemorated, in the Annals of the Cistercian Monks,^^ and in the Circle of the Seasons, ^9 at the 25th of May. The Kalendar of Drummond,3° at this same date, enters the Natalis of Dun- cada, Abbot of lae.
Article II. St. Criumther Cael, of Kilmore, probably in the County of Cavan. An entry appears, at the 25th of May, in the Martyr- ology of Tallagh,^ regarding this saint. There, too, he is said to have been connected wilh Cill moir, which corresponds with the modern Kilmore. The BoUandists,^ on the same authority, record his name as Crumtherus Coel, sive Presbyter, at this same date. It is probable, that v/hat follows is only a double entry of this feast, viz. , Coelius de Killmor. This place was proba- bly Kilmore, the seat of the bishop's See, in the present county of Cavan although, this is by no means certain, for many other places in Ireland have received a like name, owing we suppose to the the fact of a great church having been erected, in each place so denominated. 3 On this day, likewise, the Martyrology of Donegal-* mentions the veneration of Cruimther Cael, of Cill-mor.
Article III. St. Mocholla, Daughter of Diomma. The Martyr- ology of Tallagh ^ thus records this name, at the 25th of May, as Mocholla
'^ See William M.
' See Mail xxiv. p. 270.
" Acta Sanctorum," tomus v. , Among the pretermitted saints,
the Royal Irish Academy," Irish Manuscript Series, vol. i. , part i. On the Calendar of Oengus, by Whitley Stokes, LL. D. , p. l. \xxi.
- The following are his observations, as translated by Dr. Whitley Stokes: "Col- man: nescio ubi est hie, but some say that he is the third Colman Mor of Meath, i. e. , Colman of the coffer and Colman son of Luachan of Land Mic Luachain and Colman Eia of Land Ela in Tir Cell. "—//'/</. , p. xc.
^ Edited by Rev. Dr. Kelly, p. xxv.
See " Acta Sanctorum," tomus v. , Malixxiv. Amongthepretermiitedsaints,
p. 270.
5 Edited by Drs. Todd and Reeves, pp.
13S, 139.
Article vii. —'Edited by Rev. Dr.
Kelly, p, xxv.
—
LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. [May 24.
monastery, about the middle of the sixth century. 3 The BoUandists have a brief record of him, at this date. This holy man flourished about the early part and on to the middle of the seventh century. In the year 640, we find himexpresslynamed,inaletters writtenfromRometotheIrishclergy,and having reference to the Pascal celebration. * This holy man died. May 24th, A. D. 650, about three years 7 before St. Camin, the founder of Iniskel- tair.
Article V. The Seven Daughters of Fergus, of Tigninghin Ferghusa, or of Inis-cealtra, County of Galway. The Martyrology of Tallagh,' records Seaht ningena Fergusa, in Inis Cealtra, at the 24th of May. ThisisnowknownasInis-crealtra,anislandandparishinthecoun- ties of Clare and Galway. The Bollandists^ also record their festival, for this day. But, Colgan seems to connect them with Teach na ninghean, in Connaught. 3 He says,"> they were perhaps those seven nuns of Tir-na-Fiachra Aine,5 who assisted at the great Synod of Dromcheat, in the year 580. The extent of Ui Fiachrach Aidhne is shown on the Irish Maps, prefixed to the " Tribes and Customs of Hy-Many, commonly called O'Kelly's Country. "* A festival in honour of the Seven Daughters of Fergus, of Tigh-inghen- Ferghusa, was celebrated on this day, as we read in the Martyrology of Done- gal. 7 Under the title of the Seven INIaidens, they seem to have been vene- rated, likewise, in Scotland. ^
Article VI. —St. Colman. The "Feilire"' of St. . ^ngus commemo- ratesColman,witheulogy,onthe24thofMay. Thescholiastonthatcopy, which is found in the " Leabhar Breac," seems doubtful regarding his iden- tity. '' An entry of Colman simply appears in the Martyrology of Tallagh,3 at the 24th of May. The same authority is quoted by the BoUandists,* for their entry of his name, at this same date. According to the Martyrology of Donegal,5 veneration was given to Colman, on this day.
Article VII. —St. Siollan, or Sillan. In the Martyrology of Tallagh,' the name Sillan occurs, at the 24th of May. He may have been the son of Neman, mentioned by Colgan, in the " Trias Thaumaturga. "* The
560
3 The Martyrology of Tallagh, Marianus O'Gorman and Maguire are quoted.
* See "Acta Sanctorum Hibernia;," xv. Februarii, Vita S. Farannani, n. 39, pp. 340.
5 The inhabitants of the diocese of Kil- macduagh held this territory, which was anciently called Aidhore. See "The Genea- logics, Tribes and Customs of Ily-Fiach- rach," &c. , edited by John O'Donovan, n. (f), p. 3.
*EditedbyJohnO'Donovan,in1843.
7 Edited by Drs. Todd and Reeves, pp. 138, 139.
" See Bishop Forbes' " Kalendars of Scot- tish Saints," p. 447.
Article vi. —'
See "Transactions of
—— + —
May 24. ] LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS.
Bollandists 3 have the feast of Sillanus entered, likewise, at this date. A fes- tival in honour of Siollan was celebrated, on this day, as we tind mentioned, in the Martyrology of Donegal.
Article VIII. St. Ultan, Son of Aedhghen. The Martyrology of Donegal,' mentions a festival, on this day, in honour of Ultan, son of Aedhghen.
Article IX. Reputed Festival of Ferranus, or Ferianus, a CuLDEE Bishop, in Scotland. At the 24th of May, Camerarius among his Scottish entries has a St. Ferranus, a Culdean Bishop, in Scotia/ while Dempster,^ who does not give the date for his feast, has a notice of Ferianus, surnamed the Culdee, or Worshipper of God. The Bollandists 3 barely notice such statements, at this date.
ArticleX. FestivalofErmes,orHermes. Ermescalled"abbot of great thousands," in the " Feilire "' of St. yEngus, at the 24th of May, is marked as " papa," in the commentary affixed to the " Leabhar Breac " copy. '^ There is a Hermes Martyr commemorated, in the Kalendar of the Hieron)''- mian Martyrology, at this date; and, in recording such an entry, the Bollandists 3 are unable to state his identity, many Martyrs bearing a like name being in- cluded in that ancient Menology.
Article XI. Festival of St. Rudbertus, or Rupert, Bishop of Saltzburgh. In Manuscript additions to the Carthusian Martyrology of Greven, at Bruxelles, there is a feast set down, at the 24th of May, for St. Rudbertus, Bishop and Confessor, in Saltzburgh,' His Life has been given already, at the 27 th of March. ^'
Article XII. —Feast of St. Augustine, Bishop and Apostle of THE Southern English. \Sixth and Seventh Centuries. '] In the " Feilire "' of St. yEngus, there is a festival set down for Augustine the Bishop. The commentator of that copy, contained in the " Leabhar Breac," characterizes
^ See Quarta Appendix ad Acta S. Co- Royal Irish Academy," Irish Manuscript lumbte, cap. x. , num. 106, p. 492, and Series, vol. i. , part i. On the Calendar of Oen-
Quinta Appendix, ibid. , cap. iii. , sect, v. , p. 502.
3 See "Acta Sanctorum," tomus v. , Maii xxiv. Among the pretermitted saints, p. 270. Edited by Drs. Todd and Reeves, pp.
138, 139.
Article viii. — ' Edited by Drs. Todd
gus, by Whitley Stokes, LL. D. , p. Ixxxi.
^ See ibid. , p. xc.
3 See "Acta Sanctorum," tomus v. ,
Maii XXIV. Among the pretermitted saints,
p. 270. — See the Bollandists' Article xi. ^
" Acta Sanctorum," tomus v. , JMad xxiv. Among the pretermitted ^aints, p. 270.
and Reeves, pp. 138, 139.
Article ix. —
" Ferranus Episcopus Culdaeus in Scotia. "
'
See the Tliird Art. ii.
Volume of this work,
'
Thus: 24 Die.
Sanctus
Bishop Forbes' " Kalendars of Scottish Saints," p. 237.
- See " Historia Ecclesiastica Gentis Sco- torum," tomus i. , lib. vi. , num. 534, p. 292.
3 See "Acta Sanctorum," tomus v. , Maii
Article xii. — ' See " Transactions of the Royal Irisli Academy," Irish Manu-
xxiv. Among the pretermitted saints, p. 270.
- 3
See ibid. , p. Ixxxix. Known as St. Gregory
Article x. —'
See
"
Transactions of the
the Great, Pope, IN
On the Calen- dar of Oengus, by Whitley Stokes, LL. D. ,
script Series, vol. i. , part i.
p. Ixxxi.
561
562 LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. [May 25.
this great and holy man, as having the epithet " of the books "^ applied to him, as being a pupil to Gregory 3 of Rome, and as ruling a Bishop over the Saxons. The feast of this Apostle to the Southern English is held, however, on the 26 th of May, which was the date for his death.
Eh3ent2s:Kftlj ©32 of JHag,
ARTICLE I. —ST. DUNCHADH, ABBOT OF lONA, IN SCOTLAND. [SEVENTH AND EIGHTH CENTURIES. ]
IT may be observed, that the Columban monasteries were not so much hermitages or monasteries, in the usual sense of the word, as missionary centres, or rather as Christian colonies, whence the words of God went forth, until religion had permeated the existence of the faithful, and had taught them their obligations. In the early days of fervour, simple piety elevated the common incidents of their every-day life, while it sanctified even their duties and pleasures. It smoothed asperities, while it ennobled drudgery, and gave them a foretaste of heaven.
Its influences should be the same to- day, but men and manners have changed since those eras, when the world had less attractions, and society had fewer allurements, to engage the various
classes, that only found peace and happiness in religious seclusion.
The Martyrology of Tallagh,' at this date, inserts Dunchadh Abbot of lae, or lona. In the " Feilire "^ of St. yEngus, this holy Abbot is commemorated, at the 25th of May. In the Annals of Ulster, he is named Duncha mac
Cinnfaelad. TheBollandistss have a notice of this holy man, also, at the 25th of May. He descended from the race of Conall Gulban, according to the O'Clerys ; and, this accords with the pedigree of the Sanctilogium Genealo- gicumandofSeluacius. '« St. DunchadwasthesonofKennfail,sontoMoel- cobh, son of Aid, son to Ainmire, son of Sedna, son of Ferguss, son to Kenn- fod, son of Connal Gulban, son to Niall of the Nine Hostages. 5 He was of regal descent, for his paternal grandfather, Moelcobh, King of Ireland, died in the year 610,* or according to other accounts a. d. 615. But, the virtues and merits of Dunchad made him still more remarkable ; for, abandoning
whose feast is held on the 12th of March. sure, (the) bold : Dunchad of chilly Hi. " Articlf, I. — ' At this day, we read: "Transactions of the Royal Irish Aca- " Dunchadh Abb, I? ee, i. mac Cennfae- demy," Irish Manuscript Series, vol. i. , laidh. "—Rev. Dr. Kelly's "Calendar of part i. On the Calendar of Oengus, p.
Irish Saints," &c. , p. xxv.
= In the " Leabhar Breac"copy, the fol-
lowing is the text, with a translation into English, by Dr. Whitley Stokes :
"Oocic^reil lohAnnif InniAin Aige hudjo Oionifoei\b ojinA "OunchAT) lAe huA]\c.
"To thee comes the feast of Johannes, a lovable pillar of virginity. Dionysius (the)
Ixxxi.
' See "Acta Sanctorum," tomus vi. ,
Maii xxv. Among the pretermitted saints, p. 3.
* See Colgan's " Trias Thaumaturga," Quarta Appendix ad Acta S. Columboe, cap. iii. , num. iS, p. 480.
5 According to the "Genealogies of the Irish Saints," chap. i.
' See Dr. O'Donovan's " Annals of the Four Masters," vol. i. , pp. 236, 237, and n. (q), ibid.
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May 25. LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS.
563
the world, he chose to become a monk, in the congregation, founded by St. Cohniiba,7 at lona.
Our saint was held, in great veneration, especially at a place, called Kill- lochuir, or Kill-chlochuir, on the southern confines of Ultonia, and towards the east, on the sea-shore. Here, he is said to have ruled over a monastery, and a community of monks, and to have been regarded, as the special patron of the place ; while the fishermen near it invoked his intercession, and often attri- buted the safety of ships and sailors to his protection. His abode here seems to have been prior, to his departure from Ireland ; and, it may have been, that his celebrity as a holy religious called him over to fill a more responsible posi- tion, in the monastery of lona.
Port na Currach, lona.
Scarcely a century had elapsed, after the death of that great coenobite, who sought the remote and desert island, where he established a renowned insti- tute, when Dunchad leaving his friends and native country sought the shores of " chilly Hi," and perhaps landed in that very Port na Currech,^—on the southern sea-board 9—where tradition still holds, that St. Columba first touched land, after he had parted from the coast of Tyrconnell. According to some writers, in the year 707,'° or in 710," St. Dunchadh was elected to rule over thecommunityoflona,onthedeathofConmail. " DuringDunchadh'sin- cumbency, there is an account of one Dorbene having obtained the cathedra in Hy, a. d. 713, and of Faelcu mac Dorben having ascended the cathedra of
7 See his Life, in the succeeding Volume of this worlv, at the 9th of June, Art. i.
^ The accompanying illustration of Port na Currach in lona has been drawn on the wood, by William F. Wakeman, and it has been engraved by Mrs. Millard.
5 Its position is well defined on the Map of Modern Hy, in Rev. Dr. Reeves' work, at p. 424. Additional Notes, P.
'° See Rev. William Reeves' "Adam- nan's "Life of St. Columba," Additional Notes, O, p. 379.
564
LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. [May 25.
Columba, in tlie seventy-fourth year of his age, a. d. 716. It appears rather inexphcable, how Faelchu, son of Dorbene, or Dorbhe, Abbot of lona, lived to A. D. 720, according to the "Annals of the Four Masters,"'3 and to a. d. 723, according to the " Annals of Ulster. " Perhaps, the better way to account for it might be, to suppose our saint had resigned his dignity,'"* before he had enjoyed it quite twelve months, as St. Dorbene Foda died, on the 28th of October, a. d. 713. ^5 The death of this saint is not recorded, in the Annals of Ulster, at a. d. 714, although there are many entries, agreeing with those of the Four Masters, for the previous year. It is likewise omitted, in the Annals of Clonmacnoise, at a. d. 712, although most of the other entries of the Four jVIasters, at a. d. 713, are there given. It must be remarked, that a discrepancy ofoneyearexists,intheseseveralIrishrecords. Theonlyreasonableconjec- ture, which could otherwise be formed, is, that it was found necessary to appoint Faelchu as a coadjutor; although, owing to his being in the seventy-fourth year, at the time of liis appointment, such a surmise appears somewhat impro- bable. The facts stated may not necessarily denote, that there was any schism, among the monks, during the lifetime of Dunchad ; for, it may be aprior,orevenabishop,wasmeant,asdistinguishedfromtheabbot. Under Dunchad, the Cohnnbian monks received the Roman Tonsure, and the mode of celebrating Easter, owing to the exertion made by a learned Northum- brian priest, named Ecgberet, or Egbert,'^ who lived for a long time in Ire- land, and engaged at his studies, in the monastery, called Rathmelsig,'? Rath- melsidhe, or Rathmilsige,'^ the exact situation of which has not yet been de-
termined. '? Here,however,hewasdistinguishedforhisgreatholinessoflife, and for his knowledge of the Sacred Scriptures. He had designed taking his departure for northern Germany, when his former master Boisil^° appeared to him in a vision, and told him it was God's will, that he should rather go to the monasteryofSt. Columba. Hisremarkablypersuasi\eandsuavemanners, joined with zeal and eloquence, when he left Ireland, induced the southern Picts to follow his instructions, and to abandon the old Celtic observances, in 716. Soon, afterwards, Ecgberet was able to persuade Dunchad and his religious congregation, at lona, to adopt the Roman Tonsure and Paschal observances. Having continued for 150 years, at lona, the Celtic practice wasobservedforthelasttime,ontheEasterFestival01715. TheRoman rite thenceforward prevailed, and this caused great rejoicing, thoughout the universal Church,^* on account of that uniformity of discipline, which induced both clergy anci laity in these islands to agree, on so important a celebration.
" . See ibid.
" His feast occurs, on the lilh of Sep- tember.
'3 . '<ee Dr. O'Donovan's edition, vol. i. pp. 318, 319.
'•• It has been imagined, that a schism had divided the monks at lona, in consequence of their differences of opinion, on the Easter celebration but, besides our having
;
Four Masters," vol. i. , pp. 312. 313.
'"See an account of him, in the Fourth Volume of this work, Art. i. , at the 14th
'^ Colgan states, this place is in Con- no record of >uch a state of things, it seems naught. See Index Locorum, to "Acta
quite improbable, that any factious spirit even appeared in so regular a community, and on a maUer of merely theological conlro- vtr-y, only historical and liturgical. Much better reasons may be found, than have been assigned for a change of abbots at lona, in William F. Skene's "Celtic Scotlnnd ; a History of Ancient Albnn," vol. ii. , book ii. , chap. iv. , pp. 175 to 177.
'S See Dr. O'Donovan's " Annals of the
Sanctorum I libernire," at the word,
'' According to Rev. Dr. Reeves. See Adamnan's " Life of St. Columba," Addi-
tional Notes O, n. (h), p. 379.
^'^ See his Life, at the 23rd of Feb-
ruary, in the Second Volume of this work, Art. x.
" Ste Vener. ible Bede's "Historia Eccle- siastica Gentis AngloiTim," lib. v. , cap. x. xiii. , p. 481.
of April, the day for his feast,
'' Venerable Bede s. ^ys, "lingua Scotto-
rum Rathmelsigi appellatur. "—"Hisloria Eccle>iastica Gentis Anglorum," lib. iii. , cap. xxvii. , p. 241.
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May 25. ] LIVES Of THE IRISH SAINTS. 565
While ruling over lona, we are told, that Dunchad was remarkable for his sanctity, and for the gift of miracles. He was also distinguished for his assi- duity in prayer, and for that spirit of sublime contemplation, whereby he was enabled to repel all outward distractions. The " Chronicum Scotorum,"" records the death of Dunchadh, son of Cennfaeladh, Abbot of Hi, at a. d. 713. According to the Annals of Ulster,^3 and of the Four Masters,^'* St. Dunchadh was called to heaven, on the 25th of May, a. d. 716. Having been Abbot for seven years, he happily departed to the Lord, on the 25th of May, A. D. 717,^^ according to the chronology of Tighernach. He died, so late as A. D. 736, Camerarius relates, and on the 24th of March, according to the same writer. The Martyrology of Donegal,^^ on this day, registers the name of Dunchadh, son to Cennfaeladh, son to Maelcobha, son of Aedh, son to Ainmire. In that Irish Calendar, now preserved in the Royal Irish Aca- demy,^7 at the viii. of the June Kalends, or May 25th, the feast of this holy Abbot is set down. St. Dumhade is commemorated, in the Annals of the Cistercian Monks,^^ and in the Circle of the Seasons, ^9 at the 25th of May. The Kalendar of Drummond,3° at this same date, enters the Natalis of Dun- cada, Abbot of lae.
Article II. St. Criumther Cael, of Kilmore, probably in the County of Cavan. An entry appears, at the 25th of May, in the Martyr- ology of Tallagh,^ regarding this saint. There, too, he is said to have been connected wilh Cill moir, which corresponds with the modern Kilmore. The BoUandists,^ on the same authority, record his name as Crumtherus Coel, sive Presbyter, at this same date. It is probable, that v/hat follows is only a double entry of this feast, viz. , Coelius de Killmor. This place was proba- bly Kilmore, the seat of the bishop's See, in the present county of Cavan although, this is by no means certain, for many other places in Ireland have received a like name, owing we suppose to the the fact of a great church having been erected, in each place so denominated. 3 On this day, likewise, the Martyrology of Donegal-* mentions the veneration of Cruimther Cael, of Cill-mor.
Article III. St. Mocholla, Daughter of Diomma. The Martyr- ology of Tallagh ^ thus records this name, at the 25th of May, as Mocholla
'^ See William M.
