Comgall came to the cell of a pious virgin —who appears to have ruled over a religious
community—he
heard great lamentation, for the loss of some beasts of burden.
O'Hanlon - Lives of the Irish Saints - v5
^° Again, Comgall fasted against a prince, who
but, this inexorable king refused to hear God's servant. Then, in presence of this king, of his children, and of his friends, a large stone appeared rent before them, through the merits of our saint. This warning so much alarmed the chief, that he humbly subjected himself to pen- ance, granting, at the same time, the particular request of Abbot Comgall. A certain young monk, named Conuath,*^ came to the Abbot, that he might
learn what manner of life Comgall led. That young man supposed himself to have followed a more austere life than others, and he requested our saint, not to conceal any of his accustomed practices. The latter, in the middle of the night, conducted him towards a neighbouring river. The young monk felt himself unable to bear certain alternations of heat and cold, in the water, whenheentereditwithSt. Comgall. Admiringthenceforththoseausterities and graces enjoyed by our saint, his former presumption immediately vanished, and he became a monk, under Comgall's rule. Another day, while the Abbot sailed over an arm of the sea, he reproved a young monk, named Crimac- than. 23 This devout servant immediately left the vessel. Prostrating himself on the sea, it was able to support him, as if he had stood upon dry land. There he remained, until the Abbot called him into the bark. This he entered, with garments not even moist. The vessel continued motionless, meanwhile, in the same place, although the winds blew, and sails were set.
E. onan,2+ son to Aeda, had a wife, named Brava. She was exceedingly beautiful, and much loved by him, until she gave birth to a son, whose face appeared blackened. This inclined the chief to dismiss his wife, with her offspring ; nor would he even acknowledge the child to be his own. Brava thenwenttoSt. Comgall,declaringthecauseforherej^pulsion. Thereupon, our saint bestowed a blessing, on the boy's face and eyes. At the instant, this child became exceedingly beautiful. Such a miracle induced Ronan, to receive again both mother and son, with due regard. ^5 On the occasion of his visit to Scotland—which is assumed—St. Comgall is said to have con-
dwelt in Mae-mad Castle
f'^
'^ This was done, to molify the wrath or move to clemency men in power, and the practice is often nolicetl in the Lives of our Irish Saints.
'9 This place appears to have escaped identification.
^- Nothing transpires to identify this reli- gious.
=' Who he was does not seem to be known.
-* Elsewhere, his name does not appear in history, although he appears to have been a person of distinction.
'° See "Acta Sanctorum," tomus ii. , x.
Maii. Vita S. Comgalli, ex MS. antique et
editione Sirini, cap. iii. , num, 41, 42, Maii. Vita S. Comgalli, ex MS. antiquo
p. 587.
^' The situation of this fort is not further
indicated.
et editione Sirini, cap. ii. , num. 43, 44, 45, 46, p. 587.
-^ See Bishop De Burgo's " Oflicia Pro- M
=5 gee " Acta Sanctorum," tomus ii. , x.
pria Sanctorum Hibernije," Die x. Maii. In
Festo S. Congalli, ii. Noctuino, Lect. vi. ,
P-53-
"' According to the " Scolichronicon," he
is reckoned to have been the thirtj'-fourth Pictish king in succession, from the first Cruthnean monarch. See Ussher's " Bri- tannicarum Ecclesiarum Antiquitates," cap. XV. , p. 372.
of the man of God. "—"Life of St. Patrick, Apostle of Ireland, with those of St. Bridget, virgin and abbess, and of St. Columba, Abbot and Apostle of the Northern Picts. A Triple Leaf just collected from the purest
sources," chap, iii. , p. 125.
3* See "Acta Sanctorum," tomus ii. , x.
Maii. VitaS. Comgalli,exMS. antiqueet editione Sirini, cap. iii. , n. 48, p. 5S7.
^^ According to Venerable Bede's " His-
toria Ecclesiastica Gentis Anglorum," lib.
iii. , cap. iv. , pp. 272, 273. See Rev. J- A. 585. Fiachna's achievements are recorded
Giles' "CompleteWorks of Venerable Bede," &€. , vol. ii.
in Dr. O'Donovan's "Annals of the Four Masters. " Thus, in a. d. 590, he gained a victory, at Eadan-mor, " the great Brow," or " Face of a Hill "—supposed by Dr.
'9 Supposed to be the present Craig Pha-
drick, a vitrified structure, near the River
Ness. There is a sketch and section, with O'Donovar to have been in East Meath an interesting description of it, in John possibly the ancient name of Edenrath, near Williams' "Account of some remarkable Navan. There, he defeated Gerthidhe, son
ancient Ruins in the Highlands," p. 31. Edinburgh,1777.
3° According to Tigernach's Annals, MS. Bodl. Rawlinson. B. 488. See " Chronicles of the Picts, Chronicles of the Scots, and other early Memorials of Scottish History," editedbyWilliamF. Skene,LL. D. ,p. 67.
of Ronan, chief of Cianachta-Breagh, in the eastofMeath. In592,FiachnaslewAedh Dubh, son to Suibhne, King of Ulidia. Again, Fiachna gained a victory over the Munstermen, in 593, at the battle of Sliabh- cua, in the north-west of the county of Waterford. In597,hegainedthebattleof
3' See "Cronica Brevis," MS. Bib. Fac. Cuil-Cael, "the narrow Angle" or
Jurid. Edin. , 34, 7. 3. —//'/(/. , p. 150.
3^ See James Taylor's ' Pictorial History
of Scotland," vol. i. , chap, iii. , p. 26.
33 The patron saint of Kilkenny, whose
feast occurs on the iith of October.
3* As we are told, " Sanctus cum pancis fratribus extra regis munitionem"—Rev. Dr. Reeves' Adamnan's " Life of St. Coluniba," lib. i. , cap. 37, p. 73, and lib. ii. , cap. 35,
p. 151.
35 The incident is related in the Acts of
" Corner," over Fiachna, son of Deman. This place was situated, either in the county o( Down or of Antrim. At last, in 604, this same Fiachna, designated Caech, or "the blind," was slain by the Cruithni. See vol. i. , pp. 212, 213, and n. (i), pp. 214, 215, and nn. (t, u), pp. 216, 217, and n. (c), pp. 222, 223, and n. (t), pp. 230, 231, and n. (u).
3** In 592, he succeeded to this position, after slaying Aedh-Dubh.
39 The site is yet marked, by a large irre- gular oval-shaped Rath, 138 on the long diameter, inside, and 108 feet, in the short
this great Apostle of the Picts, when Brudc
" shut himself up within tiie walls of the
royal residence at Iiivcriu-ss, hoping there diameter. It was formerly surrounded, by to remain undisturbed from the intrusion a deep and wide fosse, now partially filled
3' He was most probably Fiachna, the son of Baedan, the King of Ulidia, who died a. d.
—
lyS LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. [May 1 6.
tributed'^to the conversion of Brideus—odierwise Brudeus^7—King of die NorthernPicts,andsonofMeilochon. ^^ Helivedinagreatfort,^? where the modern town of Inverness, in Scotland, is situated. His reign com- menced in 557, and terminated a. d. 584. 3° Other accounts have it, that he reigned thirty years,^' and possessed great influence, in the northern parts of Scotland. 3^ At one time, as we are informed, St. Comgall, St. |CoIumba, and St. Canice,33 visited that pagan king, named Brudaeus. In most of St. Columba's Acts, however, no mention is made about his being accompanied, on the
occasion of his missionary excursion to Pictland, by either St. Comgall, or St. Canice; although, it is stated, in a general manner, that he had a few brethren 34 with him. That Pictish king ordered the gates of his castle to be closed against them. But, St. Comgall signed them with a sign of the cross, and they fell in pieces to the ground. After a like action, on the part of St. Columba,35 the doors of Brudseus' regal residence were broken. By a similar sign, St. Canice caused the hand of this king to witlier, even while it brandished a sword to slay them. However, on his consenting to embrace the Christian faith, its power was again restored to him. s^
There was a certain queen, as we are informed, who was named Cantigera, the pious and virtuous spouse of Fiachna,37 a King of Ulidia. s^ He dwelt in a celebrated fort,39 or castle, called Rathmore,^° situated
May io. ] LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS.
\ii)
Having Igno- rant concerning the autlior of those sufferings, her friends called for the ser- vices of some physicians, who felt unable to afford her relief. In fine, being invited to see her, St. Comgall declared, while giving her his blessing, that she should soon be restored to health, and that she should also discover the author of her tortures. The queen recovered, and after a short time, the devil possessed one of her handmaids. Being deprived of the use of her reason, this woman declared, that she had administered poison to her mis- tress. All who heard this statement insisted, that handmaid should suffer condign punishment for her crime. Yet, the queen desired, that Comgall might be assigned, as her judge. Whereupon, sending word by a messenger, our Abbot released the accused, not only from death, but even from servi- tude. Thattreacherouswomanafterwardsdidpenance,toatoneforherevil
purpose and attempted crime. t^ Once, when St.
Comgall came to the cell of a pious virgin —who appears to have ruled over a religious community—he heard great lamentation, for the loss of some beasts of burden. These had been carried away, by a wicked tyrant and robber, who was named Fergus. ''3 Our saint went to him and said, "Give me those cattle, which you have taken from Christ's servant. " However, that tyrant not only refused to release his unjustly acquired booty ; but, he even loaded the man of God with reproaches. On the following night, having entered his bed, the unhappy freebooter was found dead, lying beside his wife. This visitation was con- ceived to be a punishment, justly due for his crimes. A certain young man, Aedian by name—the grandson of Dunlainge—while reading the twelve minor prophets, with St. Finell,44 saw in a vision his garments wrapped around an afflicted leper, belonging to his race. After arising from sleep, he found his own body struck with leprosy. By St. Finell's advice, the young man hastened to St. Comgall, to be restored to his former state. At this time, the holy Abbot was old and infirm, so that he was obliged to use a bath, to alleviate his pains. Comgall ordered the young man to wash himself in this bath, from which he had then issued. Then, Aedian plunged his whole body under water, and recovered immediately his former health. He returned home, with great joy and thanksgiving. Although demons were frequently seen by our saint, in great numbers; yet, they were unable to change his mind, from a con- stant internal fruition of the presence of our Lord Jesus Christ. '^s
in the plain of Linia. ^' She belonged to the region of Dailnaraide. been poisoned, in consequence, she suffered most grievous torments.
with earth.
^° The Second Life of St. Comgall has
tenuit, apud quern reliquiae multorum Hiber- nise Sanctorum elevatre sunt, et honorifice reconditas. "—" Acta Sanctorum," tomus ii. , x. Maii. Vita S. Comgalii, ex MS. antiquo et editione Sirini, cap. iii. , num. 49, p. 587.
Rathmore—but this is evidently an error, as
it is \^2Xm\zzAAtriui)i-maqnum. In English,
it is rendered, " the large fort. " It was in
the townland of Rathmore, partly in the
parish of Dunegore, and partly in the Grange
ofNilteen, barony of Upper Antrim. It is
shown, on the "Ordnance Survey Town-
land Maps for the County of Antrim," rather read Sinell or Sinellus. There are
sheet 50.
*' In Latin designated "Campus Linise. "
By the Irish, it was called Magh Line, and also known as Moylinny, a tract represented by the modern Barony of Upper Antrim, in thecountyofAntrim. SeeRev. Dr. Reeves' " Ecclesiastical Antiquities of Down, Connor and Dromore," pp. 62, 63, and n, (a). Also, pp. 69, 70, and n. (s).
** It is added: "Supra dictus rex Fiachna regnum in Hibernia fortissimum
various saints thus called in our calendars. About this time, also, a celebrated school was under the direction cf St. Sinell, son of Mianach, at Cluain-Inish, in Lough Erne, His feast occurs, at the 12th of November,
^s See "Acta Sanctorum," tomus ii. , x. Maii. Vita S. Comgalii, ex MS. antiquo et editione Sirini, cap. iii. , num. 50, 51, pp. 587, 588.
** It has been thought, by Colgan, that he was the St. Meldan or Medan, buried in
_
'•^ Wedonotfindhisnameorplaceinhis-
tory.
'*'' Elsewhere, we do not find an account
of St. Finell or Fmellus. Perhaps, we should
i8o LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. [May io.
As the time of our saint's death approached, he was afflicted with much sufter- ing. Hespeciallylabouredunderatotaldeafness. Healsoenduredmuchpain, from retention of urine. In such a state of suffering he continued, from the commencementofwintertothetimeofPentecost,intheyearfollowing. Some were of opinion, that God thus afflicted him, on account of the intolerable and austere rule, he had imposed on his monks. Others said, that these pains were unwillingly endured by liim now, owing to tlie excessive and insensate rigour he had formerly imposed on himself, by choice; and again, other con- jectures of a different kind were hazarded. In the meantime, St. Meldan,'*^ an Abbot, who was descended from the Scots' nation, was sent from Heaven, toacertainholymonk,namedColman. 47 Meldanspoketohimasfollows, and while he was asleej) : "Not for the reasons men assign are so many pains inflicted on St Comgall, however real their causes, but for his love of Christ has he suffered, that he may receive an increase of merit. For, as he inno- cently suffers pain with men, so in the sight of Angels shall he rejoice, being crownedwithmanyunfadingjoysandrewards. t^ Asthelastdaysofoursaint were evidently fast approaching, the monks frequently requested him, to receive Holy Eucharist, and other necessary sacraments. Comgall replied to these requests ; " I shall receive the Holy Sacrament from the hands of no person, until St. Fiachra's arrival. 49 He is an Abbot of theLeinster province, whoissenttome,byGod. " Atthistime,theAngeloftheLordvisitedSt. Fiachra,5o whose monastery, Airard,^' in Idrone territory, was situated on the banks of the River Barrow,s^ and this holy Abbot was sent to our saint, then suffering great pain, to administer to him the Body and Blood of Christ. 53 According to other accounts, our saint received the Holy Viaticum from St. Fiachra,5+ Abbot of Congbail,55 and afterwards of Clonard. s^ Whether Fiachra was only abbot of Congbail, or had already removed to Clonard, when he attended St. Comgall in his last illness, cannot well be determined. Having arrived at Bangor, he immediately administered Holy Communion to the venerable Abbot, who had now attained the eightieth—or according to some accounts the ninetieths? —year of his age. According to other accounts, he was then in the eighty-fifth year. s^ Then, Fiachra asked St. Comgall for some
Perrone. See "Acta Sanctorum Hiber- nise," xvi. Januarii, Vita S. Fursai, Confes- soris, n. 19, p. 90. If so, his feast was kept on the 7th of February. But, there are several other Irish saints, bearing that name.
" Trias Thaumaturga. " Prince O'Donnell's 55 Congbail is now called Conwa'l, and it is Vita S. Colunibje, lib. ii. , cap. x. , p. in the county of Donegal. See Archdall's
•^AColman, son of Coimgallan, died A. D.
620. See Dr. O Donovan's " Annals of the
Four Masters," vol. i. , pp. 242, 243. He
lived in Dal-Riada, where . St. Columba at that date, vol. ii. ot this work, Art. vii. , visited his father's house. See Colgan's for an account of him.
4'I-
•* See "Acta Sanctorum," tomus ii. , x.
M. iii. Vita S. Comgalli, ex MS. antiipio et editione Sirini, cap. iii. , num. 52, p. 5S8.
^^ Many holy men, bearing this name, occur in our Irish Calendars.
5° His feast is at the 2nd of May, and from this showing, it should apjiear, th. at he lived ill the sixth century. See Art. iii. of the pre- sent Volume, at that date.
5' Now the old church of Ullard, a parish in the barony of Gowran, and county of Kil- kenny. It was formerly called Frard, or
" Monasticon Hibernicum," p. 96.
s^ According to Father John Colgan :" S. Fiachiius abl)as de Congbail in Gleann- Suilige in Tirconallia, et abb. is ctiam de Cluaineraird. " Pic places that St. Fiacrius, between the years 587 and 652. See " Acta Sanctorum Ilibernia-," xxiii. Februarii, Appendix ad Acta S. Finiani, cap. v. ,
p. 406.
57 See Rev. Drs. Todd and Reeves'
" Martyrology of Donegal," pp. 122, 123. ss gee Sir James Ware. " De Scriptoribus
Hibernix," lib. i. , cap. ii. , p. 14.
Urard—not much differing from the Airard, as found in the text of St. Comgall's Second Life.
s^ According to the Second Life of St. Comgall.
53 geeRev. Dr. Lanigan's"Ecclesiastical History of Ireland," vol. ii. , chap, x. , sect. xii. , p. 63, and n. 20S, p. 69. Ibid.
5-» His feast is at the 8th of February. See
,
May 10. ] LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS.
i8i
relics. This request the holy Abbot's disciples promised should be complied with ; when, in the presence of many venerable men, St. Comgall yielded up his spirit to the great Creater. S'^ His demise occurred, on the sixth of the May Ides, about the year 6oo,^°or 601. ^' The Rev. Dr. Reeves places his death, at a. d. 602. ^^ If we are to believe Dempster, some writers have stated thathelived,intheyear681,andhehadthesurnameofFaustus. ^3 Hehad beenthirtyyears,threemonths,andtendays,intheabbacyofBangor. ^4 Yet, do we find a different account in the " Chronicum Scotoram,"^5 under a. d. 602 ; in which year, it is stated, that he rested on the 6th of the Ides of May, in the fiftieth year, third month, and tenth day, of his government, as also, in the ninety-first year of his age. In the first of St. Comgall's Lives, as pub- lished by the Bollandists, he is said to have died, in the eiglitieth year of his age. Those, who place his birth in 516, tell us, that he departed at the age of eighty-five. ^^ After placing his birth in 516, and death in 601, Archdall makes him die, in the ninetieth year of his age,^? without apparent notice of his own inconsistency in calculation.
but, this inexorable king refused to hear God's servant. Then, in presence of this king, of his children, and of his friends, a large stone appeared rent before them, through the merits of our saint. This warning so much alarmed the chief, that he humbly subjected himself to pen- ance, granting, at the same time, the particular request of Abbot Comgall. A certain young monk, named Conuath,*^ came to the Abbot, that he might
learn what manner of life Comgall led. That young man supposed himself to have followed a more austere life than others, and he requested our saint, not to conceal any of his accustomed practices. The latter, in the middle of the night, conducted him towards a neighbouring river. The young monk felt himself unable to bear certain alternations of heat and cold, in the water, whenheentereditwithSt. Comgall. Admiringthenceforththoseausterities and graces enjoyed by our saint, his former presumption immediately vanished, and he became a monk, under Comgall's rule. Another day, while the Abbot sailed over an arm of the sea, he reproved a young monk, named Crimac- than. 23 This devout servant immediately left the vessel. Prostrating himself on the sea, it was able to support him, as if he had stood upon dry land. There he remained, until the Abbot called him into the bark. This he entered, with garments not even moist. The vessel continued motionless, meanwhile, in the same place, although the winds blew, and sails were set.
E. onan,2+ son to Aeda, had a wife, named Brava. She was exceedingly beautiful, and much loved by him, until she gave birth to a son, whose face appeared blackened. This inclined the chief to dismiss his wife, with her offspring ; nor would he even acknowledge the child to be his own. Brava thenwenttoSt. Comgall,declaringthecauseforherej^pulsion. Thereupon, our saint bestowed a blessing, on the boy's face and eyes. At the instant, this child became exceedingly beautiful. Such a miracle induced Ronan, to receive again both mother and son, with due regard. ^5 On the occasion of his visit to Scotland—which is assumed—St. Comgall is said to have con-
dwelt in Mae-mad Castle
f'^
'^ This was done, to molify the wrath or move to clemency men in power, and the practice is often nolicetl in the Lives of our Irish Saints.
'9 This place appears to have escaped identification.
^- Nothing transpires to identify this reli- gious.
=' Who he was does not seem to be known.
-* Elsewhere, his name does not appear in history, although he appears to have been a person of distinction.
'° See "Acta Sanctorum," tomus ii. , x.
Maii. Vita S. Comgalli, ex MS. antique et
editione Sirini, cap. iii. , num, 41, 42, Maii. Vita S. Comgalli, ex MS. antiquo
p. 587.
^' The situation of this fort is not further
indicated.
et editione Sirini, cap. ii. , num. 43, 44, 45, 46, p. 587.
-^ See Bishop De Burgo's " Oflicia Pro- M
=5 gee " Acta Sanctorum," tomus ii. , x.
pria Sanctorum Hibernije," Die x. Maii. In
Festo S. Congalli, ii. Noctuino, Lect. vi. ,
P-53-
"' According to the " Scolichronicon," he
is reckoned to have been the thirtj'-fourth Pictish king in succession, from the first Cruthnean monarch. See Ussher's " Bri- tannicarum Ecclesiarum Antiquitates," cap. XV. , p. 372.
of the man of God. "—"Life of St. Patrick, Apostle of Ireland, with those of St. Bridget, virgin and abbess, and of St. Columba, Abbot and Apostle of the Northern Picts. A Triple Leaf just collected from the purest
sources," chap, iii. , p. 125.
3* See "Acta Sanctorum," tomus ii. , x.
Maii. VitaS. Comgalli,exMS. antiqueet editione Sirini, cap. iii. , n. 48, p. 5S7.
^^ According to Venerable Bede's " His-
toria Ecclesiastica Gentis Anglorum," lib.
iii. , cap. iv. , pp. 272, 273. See Rev. J- A. 585. Fiachna's achievements are recorded
Giles' "CompleteWorks of Venerable Bede," &€. , vol. ii.
in Dr. O'Donovan's "Annals of the Four Masters. " Thus, in a. d. 590, he gained a victory, at Eadan-mor, " the great Brow," or " Face of a Hill "—supposed by Dr.
'9 Supposed to be the present Craig Pha-
drick, a vitrified structure, near the River
Ness. There is a sketch and section, with O'Donovar to have been in East Meath an interesting description of it, in John possibly the ancient name of Edenrath, near Williams' "Account of some remarkable Navan. There, he defeated Gerthidhe, son
ancient Ruins in the Highlands," p. 31. Edinburgh,1777.
3° According to Tigernach's Annals, MS. Bodl. Rawlinson. B. 488. See " Chronicles of the Picts, Chronicles of the Scots, and other early Memorials of Scottish History," editedbyWilliamF. Skene,LL. D. ,p. 67.
of Ronan, chief of Cianachta-Breagh, in the eastofMeath. In592,FiachnaslewAedh Dubh, son to Suibhne, King of Ulidia. Again, Fiachna gained a victory over the Munstermen, in 593, at the battle of Sliabh- cua, in the north-west of the county of Waterford. In597,hegainedthebattleof
3' See "Cronica Brevis," MS. Bib. Fac. Cuil-Cael, "the narrow Angle" or
Jurid. Edin. , 34, 7. 3. —//'/(/. , p. 150.
3^ See James Taylor's ' Pictorial History
of Scotland," vol. i. , chap, iii. , p. 26.
33 The patron saint of Kilkenny, whose
feast occurs on the iith of October.
3* As we are told, " Sanctus cum pancis fratribus extra regis munitionem"—Rev. Dr. Reeves' Adamnan's " Life of St. Coluniba," lib. i. , cap. 37, p. 73, and lib. ii. , cap. 35,
p. 151.
35 The incident is related in the Acts of
" Corner," over Fiachna, son of Deman. This place was situated, either in the county o( Down or of Antrim. At last, in 604, this same Fiachna, designated Caech, or "the blind," was slain by the Cruithni. See vol. i. , pp. 212, 213, and n. (i), pp. 214, 215, and nn. (t, u), pp. 216, 217, and n. (c), pp. 222, 223, and n. (t), pp. 230, 231, and n. (u).
3** In 592, he succeeded to this position, after slaying Aedh-Dubh.
39 The site is yet marked, by a large irre- gular oval-shaped Rath, 138 on the long diameter, inside, and 108 feet, in the short
this great Apostle of the Picts, when Brudc
" shut himself up within tiie walls of the
royal residence at Iiivcriu-ss, hoping there diameter. It was formerly surrounded, by to remain undisturbed from the intrusion a deep and wide fosse, now partially filled
3' He was most probably Fiachna, the son of Baedan, the King of Ulidia, who died a. d.
—
lyS LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. [May 1 6.
tributed'^to the conversion of Brideus—odierwise Brudeus^7—King of die NorthernPicts,andsonofMeilochon. ^^ Helivedinagreatfort,^? where the modern town of Inverness, in Scotland, is situated. His reign com- menced in 557, and terminated a. d. 584. 3° Other accounts have it, that he reigned thirty years,^' and possessed great influence, in the northern parts of Scotland. 3^ At one time, as we are informed, St. Comgall, St. |CoIumba, and St. Canice,33 visited that pagan king, named Brudaeus. In most of St. Columba's Acts, however, no mention is made about his being accompanied, on the
occasion of his missionary excursion to Pictland, by either St. Comgall, or St. Canice; although, it is stated, in a general manner, that he had a few brethren 34 with him. That Pictish king ordered the gates of his castle to be closed against them. But, St. Comgall signed them with a sign of the cross, and they fell in pieces to the ground. After a like action, on the part of St. Columba,35 the doors of Brudseus' regal residence were broken. By a similar sign, St. Canice caused the hand of this king to witlier, even while it brandished a sword to slay them. However, on his consenting to embrace the Christian faith, its power was again restored to him. s^
There was a certain queen, as we are informed, who was named Cantigera, the pious and virtuous spouse of Fiachna,37 a King of Ulidia. s^ He dwelt in a celebrated fort,39 or castle, called Rathmore,^° situated
May io. ] LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS.
\ii)
Having Igno- rant concerning the autlior of those sufferings, her friends called for the ser- vices of some physicians, who felt unable to afford her relief. In fine, being invited to see her, St. Comgall declared, while giving her his blessing, that she should soon be restored to health, and that she should also discover the author of her tortures. The queen recovered, and after a short time, the devil possessed one of her handmaids. Being deprived of the use of her reason, this woman declared, that she had administered poison to her mis- tress. All who heard this statement insisted, that handmaid should suffer condign punishment for her crime. Yet, the queen desired, that Comgall might be assigned, as her judge. Whereupon, sending word by a messenger, our Abbot released the accused, not only from death, but even from servi- tude. Thattreacherouswomanafterwardsdidpenance,toatoneforherevil
purpose and attempted crime. t^ Once, when St.
Comgall came to the cell of a pious virgin —who appears to have ruled over a religious community—he heard great lamentation, for the loss of some beasts of burden. These had been carried away, by a wicked tyrant and robber, who was named Fergus. ''3 Our saint went to him and said, "Give me those cattle, which you have taken from Christ's servant. " However, that tyrant not only refused to release his unjustly acquired booty ; but, he even loaded the man of God with reproaches. On the following night, having entered his bed, the unhappy freebooter was found dead, lying beside his wife. This visitation was con- ceived to be a punishment, justly due for his crimes. A certain young man, Aedian by name—the grandson of Dunlainge—while reading the twelve minor prophets, with St. Finell,44 saw in a vision his garments wrapped around an afflicted leper, belonging to his race. After arising from sleep, he found his own body struck with leprosy. By St. Finell's advice, the young man hastened to St. Comgall, to be restored to his former state. At this time, the holy Abbot was old and infirm, so that he was obliged to use a bath, to alleviate his pains. Comgall ordered the young man to wash himself in this bath, from which he had then issued. Then, Aedian plunged his whole body under water, and recovered immediately his former health. He returned home, with great joy and thanksgiving. Although demons were frequently seen by our saint, in great numbers; yet, they were unable to change his mind, from a con- stant internal fruition of the presence of our Lord Jesus Christ. '^s
in the plain of Linia. ^' She belonged to the region of Dailnaraide. been poisoned, in consequence, she suffered most grievous torments.
with earth.
^° The Second Life of St. Comgall has
tenuit, apud quern reliquiae multorum Hiber- nise Sanctorum elevatre sunt, et honorifice reconditas. "—" Acta Sanctorum," tomus ii. , x. Maii. Vita S. Comgalii, ex MS. antiquo et editione Sirini, cap. iii. , num. 49, p. 587.
Rathmore—but this is evidently an error, as
it is \^2Xm\zzAAtriui)i-maqnum. In English,
it is rendered, " the large fort. " It was in
the townland of Rathmore, partly in the
parish of Dunegore, and partly in the Grange
ofNilteen, barony of Upper Antrim. It is
shown, on the "Ordnance Survey Town-
land Maps for the County of Antrim," rather read Sinell or Sinellus. There are
sheet 50.
*' In Latin designated "Campus Linise. "
By the Irish, it was called Magh Line, and also known as Moylinny, a tract represented by the modern Barony of Upper Antrim, in thecountyofAntrim. SeeRev. Dr. Reeves' " Ecclesiastical Antiquities of Down, Connor and Dromore," pp. 62, 63, and n, (a). Also, pp. 69, 70, and n. (s).
** It is added: "Supra dictus rex Fiachna regnum in Hibernia fortissimum
various saints thus called in our calendars. About this time, also, a celebrated school was under the direction cf St. Sinell, son of Mianach, at Cluain-Inish, in Lough Erne, His feast occurs, at the 12th of November,
^s See "Acta Sanctorum," tomus ii. , x. Maii. Vita S. Comgalii, ex MS. antiquo et editione Sirini, cap. iii. , num. 50, 51, pp. 587, 588.
** It has been thought, by Colgan, that he was the St. Meldan or Medan, buried in
_
'•^ Wedonotfindhisnameorplaceinhis-
tory.
'*'' Elsewhere, we do not find an account
of St. Finell or Fmellus. Perhaps, we should
i8o LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. [May io.
As the time of our saint's death approached, he was afflicted with much sufter- ing. Hespeciallylabouredunderatotaldeafness. Healsoenduredmuchpain, from retention of urine. In such a state of suffering he continued, from the commencementofwintertothetimeofPentecost,intheyearfollowing. Some were of opinion, that God thus afflicted him, on account of the intolerable and austere rule, he had imposed on his monks. Others said, that these pains were unwillingly endured by liim now, owing to tlie excessive and insensate rigour he had formerly imposed on himself, by choice; and again, other con- jectures of a different kind were hazarded. In the meantime, St. Meldan,'*^ an Abbot, who was descended from the Scots' nation, was sent from Heaven, toacertainholymonk,namedColman. 47 Meldanspoketohimasfollows, and while he was asleej) : "Not for the reasons men assign are so many pains inflicted on St Comgall, however real their causes, but for his love of Christ has he suffered, that he may receive an increase of merit. For, as he inno- cently suffers pain with men, so in the sight of Angels shall he rejoice, being crownedwithmanyunfadingjoysandrewards. t^ Asthelastdaysofoursaint were evidently fast approaching, the monks frequently requested him, to receive Holy Eucharist, and other necessary sacraments. Comgall replied to these requests ; " I shall receive the Holy Sacrament from the hands of no person, until St. Fiachra's arrival. 49 He is an Abbot of theLeinster province, whoissenttome,byGod. " Atthistime,theAngeloftheLordvisitedSt. Fiachra,5o whose monastery, Airard,^' in Idrone territory, was situated on the banks of the River Barrow,s^ and this holy Abbot was sent to our saint, then suffering great pain, to administer to him the Body and Blood of Christ. 53 According to other accounts, our saint received the Holy Viaticum from St. Fiachra,5+ Abbot of Congbail,55 and afterwards of Clonard. s^ Whether Fiachra was only abbot of Congbail, or had already removed to Clonard, when he attended St. Comgall in his last illness, cannot well be determined. Having arrived at Bangor, he immediately administered Holy Communion to the venerable Abbot, who had now attained the eightieth—or according to some accounts the ninetieths? —year of his age. According to other accounts, he was then in the eighty-fifth year. s^ Then, Fiachra asked St. Comgall for some
Perrone. See "Acta Sanctorum Hiber- nise," xvi. Januarii, Vita S. Fursai, Confes- soris, n. 19, p. 90. If so, his feast was kept on the 7th of February. But, there are several other Irish saints, bearing that name.
" Trias Thaumaturga. " Prince O'Donnell's 55 Congbail is now called Conwa'l, and it is Vita S. Colunibje, lib. ii. , cap. x. , p. in the county of Donegal. See Archdall's
•^AColman, son of Coimgallan, died A. D.
620. See Dr. O Donovan's " Annals of the
Four Masters," vol. i. , pp. 242, 243. He
lived in Dal-Riada, where . St. Columba at that date, vol. ii. ot this work, Art. vii. , visited his father's house. See Colgan's for an account of him.
4'I-
•* See "Acta Sanctorum," tomus ii. , x.
M. iii. Vita S. Comgalli, ex MS. antiipio et editione Sirini, cap. iii. , num. 52, p. 5S8.
^^ Many holy men, bearing this name, occur in our Irish Calendars.
5° His feast is at the 2nd of May, and from this showing, it should apjiear, th. at he lived ill the sixth century. See Art. iii. of the pre- sent Volume, at that date.
5' Now the old church of Ullard, a parish in the barony of Gowran, and county of Kil- kenny. It was formerly called Frard, or
" Monasticon Hibernicum," p. 96.
s^ According to Father John Colgan :" S. Fiachiius abl)as de Congbail in Gleann- Suilige in Tirconallia, et abb. is ctiam de Cluaineraird. " Pic places that St. Fiacrius, between the years 587 and 652. See " Acta Sanctorum Ilibernia-," xxiii. Februarii, Appendix ad Acta S. Finiani, cap. v. ,
p. 406.
57 See Rev. Drs. Todd and Reeves'
" Martyrology of Donegal," pp. 122, 123. ss gee Sir James Ware. " De Scriptoribus
Hibernix," lib. i. , cap. ii. , p. 14.
Urard—not much differing from the Airard, as found in the text of St. Comgall's Second Life.
s^ According to the Second Life of St. Comgall.
53 geeRev. Dr. Lanigan's"Ecclesiastical History of Ireland," vol. ii. , chap, x. , sect. xii. , p. 63, and n. 20S, p. 69. Ibid.
5-» His feast is at the 8th of February. See
,
May 10. ] LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS.
i8i
relics. This request the holy Abbot's disciples promised should be complied with ; when, in the presence of many venerable men, St. Comgall yielded up his spirit to the great Creater. S'^ His demise occurred, on the sixth of the May Ides, about the year 6oo,^°or 601. ^' The Rev. Dr. Reeves places his death, at a. d. 602. ^^ If we are to believe Dempster, some writers have stated thathelived,intheyear681,andhehadthesurnameofFaustus. ^3 Hehad beenthirtyyears,threemonths,andtendays,intheabbacyofBangor. ^4 Yet, do we find a different account in the " Chronicum Scotoram,"^5 under a. d. 602 ; in which year, it is stated, that he rested on the 6th of the Ides of May, in the fiftieth year, third month, and tenth day, of his government, as also, in the ninety-first year of his age. In the first of St. Comgall's Lives, as pub- lished by the Bollandists, he is said to have died, in the eiglitieth year of his age. Those, who place his birth in 516, tell us, that he departed at the age of eighty-five. ^^ After placing his birth in 516, and death in 601, Archdall makes him die, in the ninetieth year of his age,^? without apparent notice of his own inconsistency in calculation.
