For the latter is only to be compared with the
Patriarchs, Prophets, and Apostles of God, in whom the Holy Ghost, the foun-
tainandsourceofwisdomandDivineprophecy,trulyreigns whoaccording —;
to the Apostolic sentence, becomes like although there be dissimilar de- grees—for through the choice of Heaven, he is made to bring salvation upon all.
Patriarchs, Prophets, and Apostles of God, in whom the Holy Ghost, the foun-
tainandsourceofwisdomandDivineprophecy,trulyreigns whoaccording —;
to the Apostolic sentence, becomes like although there be dissimilar de- grees—for through the choice of Heaven, he is made to bring salvation upon all.
O'Hanlon - Lives of the Irish Saints - v6
See Col-
et obitus
12 See "Britannia Sancta,"
regiminis
9th, pp. 356, 357.
tempore.
i. ,
part June
"
gan's pendix p. 480.
21 According to Rev. Dr. O'Conor's "Re- rum Hibemicarum Scriptores," tomus ii. , made him second cousin of St. Columba. Annales Tigernachi, at A. c. 536, have See "Ecclesiastical History of Ireland," nAciuicAf o<Mchine •oaIca Choluiin-
Additional Notes N, p.
,6 The Rev. Dr. Lanigan has incorrectly
vol. ii. , chap, xii. , n. 241, p. 259.
cilbe.
22
See ibid.
23 See Rev. Dr. Reeves' Adamnan's
" Life of St. Columba," lib. i. , cap. 2, and
n. (f), p. 19.
24 As contained in the Salamancan copy,
published by the Bollandists.
25 The vi. vol. of the O'Longan Manu-
scripts in the Royal Irish Academy. at p. 1 15, containsastoryofSt. Baothinwhichrelates, that this saint never ceased his prayers and aspirations to God, in whatever occupation he was engaged.
26 According to the O'Clerys. See Rev.
"
17 poem refers
An ancient Irish —to the
father and the son, in these terms XW$ £45 bj\er>Ainn, |\eim 50 j\ac
&ctz m<v6 OAOicin flucce-ApcAc).
:
fr\icbeA|\cAc (no
The following is an English translation : —
" Brenaun of happy career left not
But only Baoithin of the goodly
deeds. "
—LeAbhA^ 'br\eAuhttAch Armfo fif, or the Irish Version of the Historia Britonum of
Drs. Todd's and Reeves' Donegal," pp. 164, 165.
Martyrology of
342.
536.
21 From his
Trias Thaumaturga," Quarta Ap-
Reeves' Adamnan's Life of St. Columba," Additional Notes A, n. (g), p. 245.
6oo LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS.
[June 9.
with God,2? and under his tunic, his hands were often clasped in prayer, with-
outanyonepresentknowingit. Whenhegatheredcornalongwiththemonks, he held one hand up beseeching God, while another hand was gathering the
tree, completely stripping off its bark; while, at the same time, a mighty wind laid its trunk prostrate on the earth, where it finally withered. In Ireland,
corn,
by
Teach 1 now Baothin,^
Taughboyne,3
Conaill,
or is said Donegal,
Sancta," part i. , June 9th, p. 357.
land Maps for the County of Donegal," sheets 54, 55, 62, 63, 70.
33 Tliis church was in the Diocese of De:ry, and St. Baitanus or Boedanus, a disciple of St. Columba, dwelt there, accord- ing to Colgan. See ** Trias Thaumaturga," Quinta Appendix ad Acta S. Columbae, cap. 2, p. 293.
3* See Rev. Mervyn Archdall's " Monas- ticon Hibernicum," p. 93.
35 It contains 48 stanzas, and a copy of it
is to be found among the O'Longan Manu-
scripts, belonging to the Royal Irish Aca-
demy, in vol. iv. , at p. 306.
3° The Eighth Volume of the O'Longan
Manuscripts in the Royal Irish Academy contains four quatrains by St. Baoithin, on the Munificence of St. Columkille, pp.
"
a8
See Rev. Drs. Todd's and Reeves' Martyrology of Donegal," pp. 164, 165.
* As published by the Bollandists, from
the Salaimmcan Manuscript.
30 The Bollandist editor remarks, that
there was a Druim-Cuillin, on the confines of Munster and Leinster, but within Fear- ceal, in Meath. Its abbot Barrindeusis said to have flourished, A. n. 591, wherefore the editor assumes this miracle recorded in the text must have taken place, before a monas- tery had been then founded. However, we believethe Druym-Cuill in question to have been quite in a different locality, but that it has not been identified.
31 Anglicized "the house of Baothin. " It is in the diocese of Raphoe. See Rev.
Mervyn Archdall's cum,' p. 105.
"
Monasticon Hiberni-
62, 63.
37 See Cosmo Innes' "
33 This extensive parish of 15,773a. 3r. 7p. is in the barony of Raphoe, and it is de-
Origines
38 See this matter as more particularly re-
the 28 and the same account is con- O'Clerys ;
as we are informed
tained in his Latin Acts,29 where we are informed, he would not brush away the troublesome midges from his face. At one time, St. Columba sent him to excommunicate a certain family, that lived in a place called Druym-Cuill. 3° That night he remained fasting under an oak tree. To those sitting around Baoithen said : I feel unwilling this time to excommunicate that family, until I learn whether or not they shall become penitent. Therefore, let the weight of our judgment to be visited on them fall rather on this tree before the year closes. " After a few days, lightning came from Heaven, and struck that
2 in Cinel
to have been his chief church; but, whether he founded it, or lived there for
anytime,doesnotseemtobeknown. Again,asmallmonastery,inaplace
called Rath-Reginden,33 was inhabited, and seemingly founded by one Baitan, who lived in Columba's time, and who became one of his monks. He
is thought, by some, to have been identical with the present holy disciple ; although, it cannot be ascertained correctly, if such were the case, or if that foundation took place before or after his parting from Ireland for the Scottish mission. We are told, however, that the site of Rath-Reginden is now unknown. 34 Among the literary works of some old bard is a poem, which takes the form of a dialogue, between St. Columba and St. Baothin. 35 This latter holy Abbot, likewise, has the reputation of having composed some Irish verses,36 and as he was addicted to literary pursuits, we have no reason to doubt, but that he wrote some pieces during his lifetime. In the Acts of St. Columba, there is frequent mention of his cousin and bosom friend Baoithen. This saint was one of the twelve first disciples, and he is the first named, who sailed from Ireland to Scotland with him on the occa- sion of Columba's first setting out for Britain. 37 At Iona, Baoithen appears to have been appointed the dispensator, or economus, or steward, of that foundation, anil he superintended the labours of the monks in the field. On
97 See Bishop Challoner's '* Britannia scribed on the " Ordnance Survey Town-
Parochia- les Scotiae," vol. ii. , part i. , p. 285.
June 9. ]
LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. 601
such an occasion, the monks once noticed a most fragrant odour, as if flowers, at a spot on the Island called Cuuleilne, and they asked the cause from Baoithen, who declared it was the spirit of their Abbot, who thus desired to refresh and comfort he was not 8 When St.
them, although bodily present. ^ Columbahad established a religious foundation inTiree,he appointed Baoithen
superior of the dependent Monastery there at Magh-Lunge. His journeyings thither by sea are recorded in St. Columba's Acts, and on occasion of setting
out, he was accustomed to invoke the great Abbot's blessing. 39 He also defended that Island from an invasion of evil spirits. "* Thence, too, he
occasionallyvisitedHy. 41 Itisrelated,thatonaparticularoccasion,Baithe-
nus and Columbanus,42 son of Beognus, came to St. Columkille, and entreated
him to obtain next day from God a prosperous wind for them, as they
intended to set out on the sea, yet in contrary directions. The saint an-
'*
Baitheneus sailing from the port of Iona in the morning shall have
swered :
aprosperous wind,until hearrivesatthehavenofLungefield. "43 ThisGod granted him, according to the saint's words ; for, Baitheneus crossed over the sea to the land of Ethica, and with flowing sails, on that day. Then, at nineo'clock,St. ColumbasentforColumbanus44 thePriest,andbadehim make ready; as he told this voyager, that the south wind which favoured Baitheneus should turn to the north, and this was accordingly effected. So Columbanus embarked for Ireland, in the afternoon, and he made the voyage with full sails and favourable winds. This miracle was wrought by virtue of
'*
St. Columba's prayers, because it is written :
that believeth. "45 After Columbanus' departure on that day, St. Columba
:
pronounced this prophecy regarding him " The holy man Columbanus,
whom I have blessed on departing, shall never more see me in this life. So
6
indeed it fell for St. Columba out,
to our Lord that
While living in Iona, Baithen blessed a spear, over which he marked a sign of the cross. Thenceforth, it could hurt no person, and it could not even pierce the skin of any animal. Wherefore, its iron was taken to a smith, and mixed with other iron. 4? At one time, Lugbeus his monk happened to hold the staff of Baithen in his hand, when it was slightly gnawed by a dog. Hav- ing the same staff with him, while travelling among the Picts, he came to one oftheirhouses,whenafuriousdogrushedoutbarkingathim. Thatanimal seized the staff of Baithen with his teeth, but immediately fell dead, and thus the monk escaped his meditated violence. It is related, moreover, that no other person on this side of the Alps was comparable to Baoithen in scrip- tural and scientific knowledge. Such was the opinion expressed by one Fintin, thewise,sonofLuppan,48 andwhensomewhowerenearhimasked,ifBaoithen
:
were wiser than his master St. Columba, Fintin answered " Know you not
that I did not compare his alumnus to St. Columkille, full of the gifts of
latedin the previous Life of St. Columkille, chap. xii.
See note (d), lib. i. , cap. 5, p. 29.
4S Mark ix. , 22.
46 See Rev. Dr. Reeves' Adamnan's
Life of St. Columba," lib. ii. , cap. 15, pp.
124, 125.
4? The ofthis sentence is concluding part
not so intelligible, "ne ilia quidquam inci-
"
derent.
48 Notwithstanding this statement in the
39 See Rev. Dr. Reeves' Adamnan's ""
Life of St. Columba," lib. i. , cap. 19. 40 See ibid. , lib. iii. , cap. 8.
41
See ibid. , lib. ii. , cap. 15.
43 Otherwise known as St. Colman Elo,
of Lynnally, whose feast is celebrated at the
departed
very
same
year. *
26th of September.
43 In the Ethica terra, the modern text, the Bollandists think him in a note to
Tiree. have been "Fintanus Alius Aidi," who was
44 Throughout one chapter of Adamnan miraculously healed by St. Columba, as he is called Columbanus, but elsewhere Col- read in his Life.
manus, the two names being convertible. 49 Called in Latin " Campus Navis. "
All things are possible to him
6o2 LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS.
[June 9.
wisdom, but to other men ?
For the latter is only to be compared with the
Patriarchs, Prophets, and Apostles of God, in whom the Holy Ghost, the foun-
tainandsourceofwisdomandDivineprophecy,trulyreigns whoaccording —;
to the Apostolic sentence, becomes like although there be dissimilar de- grees—for through the choice of Heaven, he is made to bring salvation upon all. Yet, he is wise among the wise, a king among kings, an anchorite among anchorites, a monk among monks, and although popular among secu-
lars he needlessly lowered himself; he was poor of heart among the poor
after the manner of the Apostles, owing to the wealth of charity which glowed
within his breast, rejoicing with the glad souls and weeping with those who
lamented. But all these fts of Divine the true of among gi bounty, humility
Christstronglyreignsinhim,asifithadbeennaturallyimplanted. " When that pious man had borne testimony to the wisdom of both the master and
the disciple, all who heard him were quite ready to adopt his opinion as in- controvertible. Many sick persons were cured by St. Baithen, and among
these was one of his monks, named Trenanus, who had been dropsical. But, he was commanded not to reveal this cure to any person, so long as Baithen lived. Our saint also prophesied, that a {n\v days before his death, the patient should undergo a similar cure, and this was fulfilled a very long time afterwards. By the efficacy of his prayers, he converted—sometimes even the
—d sinners. A most hardene
is told of one Beoanus the living beyond
story
Island Strait who was an impious persecutor of the Church and a scoffer of
the monks, and who had sent a messenger in derision to ask for the remains of their dinner. Then Baithen ordered the milk, which each of the brothers
had left, to be poured into one vessel, and to be given to the messenger of Beoanus. Nosoonerhadthisunhappymantastedit, thanhefeltagrievous internal complaint, and he found that death had already seized on him. How- ever, he recognised in this intolerable anguish, that a just judgment had fallen upon him ; and. he had the grace of becoming contrite, while he died after being reconciled to God. St. Baoithen also had the gift of casting out devils. Just at the time when he had succeeded the founder St. Columba, and while seated at table, he observed a foul demon looking in through a window. Rais- ing his hand to make a sign of the cross over his monks, that evil spirit instantly vanished. The community afterwards inquired from him, for what
re? son he had in token of benediction, when he signed
"
My
replied : brethren, the devil had looked in through the window at this very hour for
dinner, to find if he could discover any of you negligent, either in making the
sign of the cross, or in offering thanks to the Almighty. Understanding his craft, however, and having made that sign of the cross, he was overcome and he vanished as smoke. " At one time, a monk of his order had been possessed, and so violent did he become, that manacles were applied, to prevent the maniac from tearing himself and others. Baithen was appealed to, that he might effect a cure, but through humility he distrusted any good result from his own merits. However, he selected some of his monks to take their maniac brother to Ireland, and there to seek the prayers of holy men, at its variouschurches. Theresultstillcontinuedtobeunfavourable. Atlength,
taking courage and offering up the Holy Sacrifice for that object, Baithen ordered the afflicted person into the church. There, in the presence of all the religious, the sufferer was restored to a sound state. Another monk, who
50 He is mentioned in Rev. Dr. Reeves'
Adamnan's "Life of St. Columba," lib.
iii. . cap. 19, pp. 223 to 225.
51 See the account given by the scholiast,
in " Transactions of the Royal Irish Aca- demy," Irish Manuscript Series, vol. i. On the Calendar of Oengus, edited by Whitley Stokes, LL. D. , p. ci.
June 9. ]
LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS.
dwelt in the monastery of Mcagh Lunga,49 which St. Columba had founded in Heth, had been in like manner possessed. St. Baithen appeared, and
pronounced
these words in his
presence :
" You
know,
O that between demon,
you and me, no compact has existed or can exist j and therefore, in the
name of our Lord Jesus Christ, depart immediately from this possessed man. "
Whereforethedemonvanished,andthatbrotherwasrestoredtohealth. Even
his garments were effective for similar purposes. On a certain occasion, one
Fedgenus—perhaps Fechinus should be read—whowas brother to the Abbot
Virgnous, 50 desired to visit his kindred in Britain, and he brought with him a
habit belonging to Baithen, believing that it should protect him from every
danger and extricate him from every difficulty he might experience along the
way. When he visited that province, he entered a house, in which he found a man possessed. The pilgrim at once placed the habit of Baithen over him,
and instantly the demon disappeared, the man being restored to perfect health. To Baoethin, it was permitted to see the three grand chairs in heaven empty, and awaiting some of the saints of Erin, viz. , the chair of gold, and a chair of silver, and a chair of glass. He told Colum Cille, at la or Iona, the vision which was shown to him. s 1 Then Colum Cille the
gave interpretation to him of what he had seen, for he was a famous prophet. St. Columba said :
" The chair of gold, which thou hast seen, is the chair of Ciaran, son of the
carpenter, the reward for his sanctity, and hospitality, and charity. The chair of silver, which thou hast seen, is thine own chair, 52 for the brightness and
effulgence of thy piety. The chair of glass is my own chair, for although pure and bright, I am brittle and fragile, in consequence of the battles, which were fought on my account. " After this event, St. Colum Cille 53 is said to have resolved upon the celebrated abstinence, i. e. , to take nettle pottage as food for the future, without drippings* or any fat whatever. ss Baoithen was
endowed with an incomparable wisdom, and knowledge of the holy Scrip- tures, and we may well infer, from the last words spoken by the great St. Columba, that he was accustomed to transcribe them, as to him had been committed the charge of continuing what his master had left unfinished. s6 The transmission of the Iona abbacy in one family, and for ages after the time of St. Columba, is one of the most remarkable facts in connexion with his institute. 57 The monks of old had no property in the church or monaster)'-,
8 however, but as servants and stewards to provide for its safe keeping. s After
the death of Colum Cille, from among the men of Erin the Abbot of Iona was chosen, and he was most frequently selected from among the men of Cinell Conaill, as the O'Clerys remark. Even the appointment seems to have vested in the one chief family of that province. According to this tribal
52 to another this According statement,
s6 Adamnan"remarks, that the unfinished verse, which Baithan was to finish, admira- bly applied to himself :" Venite, filii, audite
chair was intended for St. Laisrean, or Mo-
lassius of Devenish, as related in his Life,
chapters xxviii. and xxix. See Colgan's me, timorem Domini docebo vos. "
"Trias Thaumaturga. " Secunda Appendix ad Acta S. Columba. Pars Prima, p. 461.
53 This name appears as a gloss, . 1. Co- bum Cilbe, over the words, |\o chmnpium, in the text, says Dr. Todd.
"
57 See Rev. Dr. Reeves' Adamnan's
Life of St. Columba," Additional Notes O,
Ages ; a Series of Essays, intended to 54 Colgan translates, the Irish word illustrate the State of Religion and Litera-
lonman, obsonium. See
Hibernice," Martii xxiv, Appendix ad Acta S. Mochtei, 3, 734.
cap. p.
55 See Rev. Drs. Todd's and Reeves'
" of Martyrology
165.
162 to
designatedassuccessorsometime before the founder's death.
"
Acta Sanctorum
ture in the Ninth, Tenth, and Eleventh and Twelfth Centuries," No. v. , p. 74.
59 It would seem, that he had been no- minated by St. Columba himself, and he was
Donegal," pp.
probably
p. 369, and following pages.
58 See Rev. S. Maitland's "The Dark
604 LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. [June 9.
custom, Baithen was now chosen,59 and St. Columba was immediately suc-
ceeded by him in the government of Hy, and consequently in the super- intendence over the whole order or institution. 60 But, he did not long continue to govern the monastery and church at Iona, which must have
6t and
and Abbey Church of the Diocese of the Isles had been erected in the early
disappeared ages ago,
long
beforetheEclusMoror Cathedral great
part
century.
ruin,
This is even now a
62 but the of capitals
of the thirteenth
some bas-reliefs on its columns resemble many of those to be found in Ire- land. The great master Columba had declared, that his disciple Baithen resembled St. John the Evangelist, the disciple of Christ, in his true inno-
Chancel of Abbey Church, Iona.
cence, in his perfect works, and in his prudent simplicity of character; but, thattheirrespectiveteachers,borenoresemblanceonetotheother. Tohis
last hour, notwithstanding the violent pains he suffered, Baoithen desisted not from his usual employments of writing, praying and teaching. Death
surprised him, while praying at the altar, on a certain Tuesday, when a faint- nessseizeduponhim. Themonksflockedaroundhimingreatlamentation, for they thought he was in the last agony. Then, the ministrator Diermitius
:
criedout uSeebrothers,betweenthefeastsofbothyourseniorsthereisbut
a short interval. "
sleep-swoon said
:
When he spoke these words, Baithen aroused from his
" If I have found favour in the sight of God, and if I have
continued to please him by a perfect course to this day ; I trust in him, that
I shall not die until the Natalis of my great senior. " This his desire was
and for six more his life was 63 actually accomplished, days prolonged.
60 "
See Rev. Dr. Lanigan's Ecclesiastical interior is from an improved drawiug in
Billing's "Baronial and Ecclesiastical Anti- quities of Scotland," reduced by William F. Wakeman, and drawn on the wood, en- graved by Mrs. Millard.
63 See the Bollandists' " Acta Sancto-
History of Ireland," vol. ii. , chap, xii. , sect, xv. , p. 250.
61 See Rev. Dr. J. F. S. Gordon's " Iona,"
pp. 25, 26.
62 The accompanying illustration of the
June 9. ]
LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS.
605
According to some, Baoithin resigned his soul to Heaven, after three 6* or
6
four 5 years of rule on the same day of the month, that Colum Cille went to
Heaven. He departed this life in 595, according to the statement of some writers. This, however, cannot be admitted, as it seems altogether most probable, that St. Columkille himself was then living. It is supposed, by Archbishop Ussher and by Rev. Dr. Lanigan,66 that as immediate successor of St. Columba, his cousin St. Baoithen, survived him only for a year, neith—er
more nor and that he a. d. That the —
with notes.
64 According to Rev. Dr. Reeves, he en-
joyed the Abbacy for three years.
65 Such is the statement of the O'Clerys.
turga," Quarta Appendix ad Acta S. Co- lumba*, cap. 3, num. 4, p. 480.
? 2 See"MemoiroftheCityandNorth- Western Liberties of Londonderry," part ii. , sect. 2, p. 26.
« See " Notice of some popular Supersti- tions still extant, in Connexion with certain of the primitive Ecclesiastical Hand-Bells of Ireland," by John Bell, Esq. , Dungannon, F. S. A. , Scotland, in " Proceedings of the Society of Antiquities of Scotland," vol. i. , p. 54.
Academy," Irish Manuscript Series, vol. i. On the Calendar of Oengus, edited by Whitley Stokes, LL. D. , p. xciii.
« Edited by the Rev. Dr. Kelly, p xxvi.
? 6 Edited by Drs. Todd and Reeves, pp. 162,163.
<<
The story here alluded to is told with somecuriousandinterestingcircumstances,
e6
See "Ecclesiastical History of Ireland,"
vol. ii. , chap, xii. , sect, xv. , p. 250.
67 See Colgan's "Trias Thaumaturga,
"
Quarta Vita S. Columbse, lib. ii. , cap. xlv. , p.
et obitus
12 See "Britannia Sancta,"
regiminis
9th, pp. 356, 357.
tempore.
i. ,
part June
"
gan's pendix p. 480.
21 According to Rev. Dr. O'Conor's "Re- rum Hibemicarum Scriptores," tomus ii. , made him second cousin of St. Columba. Annales Tigernachi, at A. c. 536, have See "Ecclesiastical History of Ireland," nAciuicAf o<Mchine •oaIca Choluiin-
Additional Notes N, p.
,6 The Rev. Dr. Lanigan has incorrectly
vol. ii. , chap, xii. , n. 241, p. 259.
cilbe.
22
See ibid.
23 See Rev. Dr. Reeves' Adamnan's
" Life of St. Columba," lib. i. , cap. 2, and
n. (f), p. 19.
24 As contained in the Salamancan copy,
published by the Bollandists.
25 The vi. vol. of the O'Longan Manu-
scripts in the Royal Irish Academy. at p. 1 15, containsastoryofSt. Baothinwhichrelates, that this saint never ceased his prayers and aspirations to God, in whatever occupation he was engaged.
26 According to the O'Clerys. See Rev.
"
17 poem refers
An ancient Irish —to the
father and the son, in these terms XW$ £45 bj\er>Ainn, |\eim 50 j\ac
&ctz m<v6 OAOicin flucce-ApcAc).
:
fr\icbeA|\cAc (no
The following is an English translation : —
" Brenaun of happy career left not
But only Baoithin of the goodly
deeds. "
—LeAbhA^ 'br\eAuhttAch Armfo fif, or the Irish Version of the Historia Britonum of
Drs. Todd's and Reeves' Donegal," pp. 164, 165.
Martyrology of
342.
536.
21 From his
Trias Thaumaturga," Quarta Ap-
Reeves' Adamnan's Life of St. Columba," Additional Notes A, n. (g), p. 245.
6oo LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS.
[June 9.
with God,2? and under his tunic, his hands were often clasped in prayer, with-
outanyonepresentknowingit. Whenhegatheredcornalongwiththemonks, he held one hand up beseeching God, while another hand was gathering the
tree, completely stripping off its bark; while, at the same time, a mighty wind laid its trunk prostrate on the earth, where it finally withered. In Ireland,
corn,
by
Teach 1 now Baothin,^
Taughboyne,3
Conaill,
or is said Donegal,
Sancta," part i. , June 9th, p. 357.
land Maps for the County of Donegal," sheets 54, 55, 62, 63, 70.
33 Tliis church was in the Diocese of De:ry, and St. Baitanus or Boedanus, a disciple of St. Columba, dwelt there, accord- ing to Colgan. See ** Trias Thaumaturga," Quinta Appendix ad Acta S. Columbae, cap. 2, p. 293.
3* See Rev. Mervyn Archdall's " Monas- ticon Hibernicum," p. 93.
35 It contains 48 stanzas, and a copy of it
is to be found among the O'Longan Manu-
scripts, belonging to the Royal Irish Aca-
demy, in vol. iv. , at p. 306.
3° The Eighth Volume of the O'Longan
Manuscripts in the Royal Irish Academy contains four quatrains by St. Baoithin, on the Munificence of St. Columkille, pp.
"
a8
See Rev. Drs. Todd's and Reeves' Martyrology of Donegal," pp. 164, 165.
* As published by the Bollandists, from
the Salaimmcan Manuscript.
30 The Bollandist editor remarks, that
there was a Druim-Cuillin, on the confines of Munster and Leinster, but within Fear- ceal, in Meath. Its abbot Barrindeusis said to have flourished, A. n. 591, wherefore the editor assumes this miracle recorded in the text must have taken place, before a monas- tery had been then founded. However, we believethe Druym-Cuill in question to have been quite in a different locality, but that it has not been identified.
31 Anglicized "the house of Baothin. " It is in the diocese of Raphoe. See Rev.
Mervyn Archdall's cum,' p. 105.
"
Monasticon Hiberni-
62, 63.
37 See Cosmo Innes' "
33 This extensive parish of 15,773a. 3r. 7p. is in the barony of Raphoe, and it is de-
Origines
38 See this matter as more particularly re-
the 28 and the same account is con- O'Clerys ;
as we are informed
tained in his Latin Acts,29 where we are informed, he would not brush away the troublesome midges from his face. At one time, St. Columba sent him to excommunicate a certain family, that lived in a place called Druym-Cuill. 3° That night he remained fasting under an oak tree. To those sitting around Baoithen said : I feel unwilling this time to excommunicate that family, until I learn whether or not they shall become penitent. Therefore, let the weight of our judgment to be visited on them fall rather on this tree before the year closes. " After a few days, lightning came from Heaven, and struck that
2 in Cinel
to have been his chief church; but, whether he founded it, or lived there for
anytime,doesnotseemtobeknown. Again,asmallmonastery,inaplace
called Rath-Reginden,33 was inhabited, and seemingly founded by one Baitan, who lived in Columba's time, and who became one of his monks. He
is thought, by some, to have been identical with the present holy disciple ; although, it cannot be ascertained correctly, if such were the case, or if that foundation took place before or after his parting from Ireland for the Scottish mission. We are told, however, that the site of Rath-Reginden is now unknown. 34 Among the literary works of some old bard is a poem, which takes the form of a dialogue, between St. Columba and St. Baothin. 35 This latter holy Abbot, likewise, has the reputation of having composed some Irish verses,36 and as he was addicted to literary pursuits, we have no reason to doubt, but that he wrote some pieces during his lifetime. In the Acts of St. Columba, there is frequent mention of his cousin and bosom friend Baoithen. This saint was one of the twelve first disciples, and he is the first named, who sailed from Ireland to Scotland with him on the occa- sion of Columba's first setting out for Britain. 37 At Iona, Baoithen appears to have been appointed the dispensator, or economus, or steward, of that foundation, anil he superintended the labours of the monks in the field. On
97 See Bishop Challoner's '* Britannia scribed on the " Ordnance Survey Town-
Parochia- les Scotiae," vol. ii. , part i. , p. 285.
June 9. ]
LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. 601
such an occasion, the monks once noticed a most fragrant odour, as if flowers, at a spot on the Island called Cuuleilne, and they asked the cause from Baoithen, who declared it was the spirit of their Abbot, who thus desired to refresh and comfort he was not 8 When St.
them, although bodily present. ^ Columbahad established a religious foundation inTiree,he appointed Baoithen
superior of the dependent Monastery there at Magh-Lunge. His journeyings thither by sea are recorded in St. Columba's Acts, and on occasion of setting
out, he was accustomed to invoke the great Abbot's blessing. 39 He also defended that Island from an invasion of evil spirits. "* Thence, too, he
occasionallyvisitedHy. 41 Itisrelated,thatonaparticularoccasion,Baithe-
nus and Columbanus,42 son of Beognus, came to St. Columkille, and entreated
him to obtain next day from God a prosperous wind for them, as they
intended to set out on the sea, yet in contrary directions. The saint an-
'*
Baitheneus sailing from the port of Iona in the morning shall have
swered :
aprosperous wind,until hearrivesatthehavenofLungefield. "43 ThisGod granted him, according to the saint's words ; for, Baitheneus crossed over the sea to the land of Ethica, and with flowing sails, on that day. Then, at nineo'clock,St. ColumbasentforColumbanus44 thePriest,andbadehim make ready; as he told this voyager, that the south wind which favoured Baitheneus should turn to the north, and this was accordingly effected. So Columbanus embarked for Ireland, in the afternoon, and he made the voyage with full sails and favourable winds. This miracle was wrought by virtue of
'*
St. Columba's prayers, because it is written :
that believeth. "45 After Columbanus' departure on that day, St. Columba
:
pronounced this prophecy regarding him " The holy man Columbanus,
whom I have blessed on departing, shall never more see me in this life. So
6
indeed it fell for St. Columba out,
to our Lord that
While living in Iona, Baithen blessed a spear, over which he marked a sign of the cross. Thenceforth, it could hurt no person, and it could not even pierce the skin of any animal. Wherefore, its iron was taken to a smith, and mixed with other iron. 4? At one time, Lugbeus his monk happened to hold the staff of Baithen in his hand, when it was slightly gnawed by a dog. Hav- ing the same staff with him, while travelling among the Picts, he came to one oftheirhouses,whenafuriousdogrushedoutbarkingathim. Thatanimal seized the staff of Baithen with his teeth, but immediately fell dead, and thus the monk escaped his meditated violence. It is related, moreover, that no other person on this side of the Alps was comparable to Baoithen in scrip- tural and scientific knowledge. Such was the opinion expressed by one Fintin, thewise,sonofLuppan,48 andwhensomewhowerenearhimasked,ifBaoithen
:
were wiser than his master St. Columba, Fintin answered " Know you not
that I did not compare his alumnus to St. Columkille, full of the gifts of
latedin the previous Life of St. Columkille, chap. xii.
See note (d), lib. i. , cap. 5, p. 29.
4S Mark ix. , 22.
46 See Rev. Dr. Reeves' Adamnan's
Life of St. Columba," lib. ii. , cap. 15, pp.
124, 125.
4? The ofthis sentence is concluding part
not so intelligible, "ne ilia quidquam inci-
"
derent.
48 Notwithstanding this statement in the
39 See Rev. Dr. Reeves' Adamnan's ""
Life of St. Columba," lib. i. , cap. 19. 40 See ibid. , lib. iii. , cap. 8.
41
See ibid. , lib. ii. , cap. 15.
43 Otherwise known as St. Colman Elo,
of Lynnally, whose feast is celebrated at the
departed
very
same
year. *
26th of September.
43 In the Ethica terra, the modern text, the Bollandists think him in a note to
Tiree. have been "Fintanus Alius Aidi," who was
44 Throughout one chapter of Adamnan miraculously healed by St. Columba, as he is called Columbanus, but elsewhere Col- read in his Life.
manus, the two names being convertible. 49 Called in Latin " Campus Navis. "
All things are possible to him
6o2 LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS.
[June 9.
wisdom, but to other men ?
For the latter is only to be compared with the
Patriarchs, Prophets, and Apostles of God, in whom the Holy Ghost, the foun-
tainandsourceofwisdomandDivineprophecy,trulyreigns whoaccording —;
to the Apostolic sentence, becomes like although there be dissimilar de- grees—for through the choice of Heaven, he is made to bring salvation upon all. Yet, he is wise among the wise, a king among kings, an anchorite among anchorites, a monk among monks, and although popular among secu-
lars he needlessly lowered himself; he was poor of heart among the poor
after the manner of the Apostles, owing to the wealth of charity which glowed
within his breast, rejoicing with the glad souls and weeping with those who
lamented. But all these fts of Divine the true of among gi bounty, humility
Christstronglyreignsinhim,asifithadbeennaturallyimplanted. " When that pious man had borne testimony to the wisdom of both the master and
the disciple, all who heard him were quite ready to adopt his opinion as in- controvertible. Many sick persons were cured by St. Baithen, and among
these was one of his monks, named Trenanus, who had been dropsical. But, he was commanded not to reveal this cure to any person, so long as Baithen lived. Our saint also prophesied, that a {n\v days before his death, the patient should undergo a similar cure, and this was fulfilled a very long time afterwards. By the efficacy of his prayers, he converted—sometimes even the
—d sinners. A most hardene
is told of one Beoanus the living beyond
story
Island Strait who was an impious persecutor of the Church and a scoffer of
the monks, and who had sent a messenger in derision to ask for the remains of their dinner. Then Baithen ordered the milk, which each of the brothers
had left, to be poured into one vessel, and to be given to the messenger of Beoanus. Nosoonerhadthisunhappymantastedit, thanhefeltagrievous internal complaint, and he found that death had already seized on him. How- ever, he recognised in this intolerable anguish, that a just judgment had fallen upon him ; and. he had the grace of becoming contrite, while he died after being reconciled to God. St. Baoithen also had the gift of casting out devils. Just at the time when he had succeeded the founder St. Columba, and while seated at table, he observed a foul demon looking in through a window. Rais- ing his hand to make a sign of the cross over his monks, that evil spirit instantly vanished. The community afterwards inquired from him, for what
re? son he had in token of benediction, when he signed
"
My
replied : brethren, the devil had looked in through the window at this very hour for
dinner, to find if he could discover any of you negligent, either in making the
sign of the cross, or in offering thanks to the Almighty. Understanding his craft, however, and having made that sign of the cross, he was overcome and he vanished as smoke. " At one time, a monk of his order had been possessed, and so violent did he become, that manacles were applied, to prevent the maniac from tearing himself and others. Baithen was appealed to, that he might effect a cure, but through humility he distrusted any good result from his own merits. However, he selected some of his monks to take their maniac brother to Ireland, and there to seek the prayers of holy men, at its variouschurches. Theresultstillcontinuedtobeunfavourable. Atlength,
taking courage and offering up the Holy Sacrifice for that object, Baithen ordered the afflicted person into the church. There, in the presence of all the religious, the sufferer was restored to a sound state. Another monk, who
50 He is mentioned in Rev. Dr. Reeves'
Adamnan's "Life of St. Columba," lib.
iii. . cap. 19, pp. 223 to 225.
51 See the account given by the scholiast,
in " Transactions of the Royal Irish Aca- demy," Irish Manuscript Series, vol. i. On the Calendar of Oengus, edited by Whitley Stokes, LL. D. , p. ci.
June 9. ]
LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS.
dwelt in the monastery of Mcagh Lunga,49 which St. Columba had founded in Heth, had been in like manner possessed. St. Baithen appeared, and
pronounced
these words in his
presence :
" You
know,
O that between demon,
you and me, no compact has existed or can exist j and therefore, in the
name of our Lord Jesus Christ, depart immediately from this possessed man. "
Whereforethedemonvanished,andthatbrotherwasrestoredtohealth. Even
his garments were effective for similar purposes. On a certain occasion, one
Fedgenus—perhaps Fechinus should be read—whowas brother to the Abbot
Virgnous, 50 desired to visit his kindred in Britain, and he brought with him a
habit belonging to Baithen, believing that it should protect him from every
danger and extricate him from every difficulty he might experience along the
way. When he visited that province, he entered a house, in which he found a man possessed. The pilgrim at once placed the habit of Baithen over him,
and instantly the demon disappeared, the man being restored to perfect health. To Baoethin, it was permitted to see the three grand chairs in heaven empty, and awaiting some of the saints of Erin, viz. , the chair of gold, and a chair of silver, and a chair of glass. He told Colum Cille, at la or Iona, the vision which was shown to him. s 1 Then Colum Cille the
gave interpretation to him of what he had seen, for he was a famous prophet. St. Columba said :
" The chair of gold, which thou hast seen, is the chair of Ciaran, son of the
carpenter, the reward for his sanctity, and hospitality, and charity. The chair of silver, which thou hast seen, is thine own chair, 52 for the brightness and
effulgence of thy piety. The chair of glass is my own chair, for although pure and bright, I am brittle and fragile, in consequence of the battles, which were fought on my account. " After this event, St. Colum Cille 53 is said to have resolved upon the celebrated abstinence, i. e. , to take nettle pottage as food for the future, without drippings* or any fat whatever. ss Baoithen was
endowed with an incomparable wisdom, and knowledge of the holy Scrip- tures, and we may well infer, from the last words spoken by the great St. Columba, that he was accustomed to transcribe them, as to him had been committed the charge of continuing what his master had left unfinished. s6 The transmission of the Iona abbacy in one family, and for ages after the time of St. Columba, is one of the most remarkable facts in connexion with his institute. 57 The monks of old had no property in the church or monaster)'-,
8 however, but as servants and stewards to provide for its safe keeping. s After
the death of Colum Cille, from among the men of Erin the Abbot of Iona was chosen, and he was most frequently selected from among the men of Cinell Conaill, as the O'Clerys remark. Even the appointment seems to have vested in the one chief family of that province. According to this tribal
52 to another this According statement,
s6 Adamnan"remarks, that the unfinished verse, which Baithan was to finish, admira- bly applied to himself :" Venite, filii, audite
chair was intended for St. Laisrean, or Mo-
lassius of Devenish, as related in his Life,
chapters xxviii. and xxix. See Colgan's me, timorem Domini docebo vos. "
"Trias Thaumaturga. " Secunda Appendix ad Acta S. Columba. Pars Prima, p. 461.
53 This name appears as a gloss, . 1. Co- bum Cilbe, over the words, |\o chmnpium, in the text, says Dr. Todd.
"
57 See Rev. Dr. Reeves' Adamnan's
Life of St. Columba," Additional Notes O,
Ages ; a Series of Essays, intended to 54 Colgan translates, the Irish word illustrate the State of Religion and Litera-
lonman, obsonium. See
Hibernice," Martii xxiv, Appendix ad Acta S. Mochtei, 3, 734.
cap. p.
55 See Rev. Drs. Todd's and Reeves'
" of Martyrology
165.
162 to
designatedassuccessorsometime before the founder's death.
"
Acta Sanctorum
ture in the Ninth, Tenth, and Eleventh and Twelfth Centuries," No. v. , p. 74.
59 It would seem, that he had been no- minated by St. Columba himself, and he was
Donegal," pp.
probably
p. 369, and following pages.
58 See Rev. S. Maitland's "The Dark
604 LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. [June 9.
custom, Baithen was now chosen,59 and St. Columba was immediately suc-
ceeded by him in the government of Hy, and consequently in the super- intendence over the whole order or institution. 60 But, he did not long continue to govern the monastery and church at Iona, which must have
6t and
and Abbey Church of the Diocese of the Isles had been erected in the early
disappeared ages ago,
long
beforetheEclusMoror Cathedral great
part
century.
ruin,
This is even now a
62 but the of capitals
of the thirteenth
some bas-reliefs on its columns resemble many of those to be found in Ire- land. The great master Columba had declared, that his disciple Baithen resembled St. John the Evangelist, the disciple of Christ, in his true inno-
Chancel of Abbey Church, Iona.
cence, in his perfect works, and in his prudent simplicity of character; but, thattheirrespectiveteachers,borenoresemblanceonetotheother. Tohis
last hour, notwithstanding the violent pains he suffered, Baoithen desisted not from his usual employments of writing, praying and teaching. Death
surprised him, while praying at the altar, on a certain Tuesday, when a faint- nessseizeduponhim. Themonksflockedaroundhimingreatlamentation, for they thought he was in the last agony. Then, the ministrator Diermitius
:
criedout uSeebrothers,betweenthefeastsofbothyourseniorsthereisbut
a short interval. "
sleep-swoon said
:
When he spoke these words, Baithen aroused from his
" If I have found favour in the sight of God, and if I have
continued to please him by a perfect course to this day ; I trust in him, that
I shall not die until the Natalis of my great senior. " This his desire was
and for six more his life was 63 actually accomplished, days prolonged.
60 "
See Rev. Dr. Lanigan's Ecclesiastical interior is from an improved drawiug in
Billing's "Baronial and Ecclesiastical Anti- quities of Scotland," reduced by William F. Wakeman, and drawn on the wood, en- graved by Mrs. Millard.
63 See the Bollandists' " Acta Sancto-
History of Ireland," vol. ii. , chap, xii. , sect, xv. , p. 250.
61 See Rev. Dr. J. F. S. Gordon's " Iona,"
pp. 25, 26.
62 The accompanying illustration of the
June 9. ]
LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS.
605
According to some, Baoithin resigned his soul to Heaven, after three 6* or
6
four 5 years of rule on the same day of the month, that Colum Cille went to
Heaven. He departed this life in 595, according to the statement of some writers. This, however, cannot be admitted, as it seems altogether most probable, that St. Columkille himself was then living. It is supposed, by Archbishop Ussher and by Rev. Dr. Lanigan,66 that as immediate successor of St. Columba, his cousin St. Baoithen, survived him only for a year, neith—er
more nor and that he a. d. That the —
with notes.
64 According to Rev. Dr. Reeves, he en-
joyed the Abbacy for three years.
65 Such is the statement of the O'Clerys.
turga," Quarta Appendix ad Acta S. Co- lumba*, cap. 3, num. 4, p. 480.
? 2 See"MemoiroftheCityandNorth- Western Liberties of Londonderry," part ii. , sect. 2, p. 26.
« See " Notice of some popular Supersti- tions still extant, in Connexion with certain of the primitive Ecclesiastical Hand-Bells of Ireland," by John Bell, Esq. , Dungannon, F. S. A. , Scotland, in " Proceedings of the Society of Antiquities of Scotland," vol. i. , p. 54.
Academy," Irish Manuscript Series, vol. i. On the Calendar of Oengus, edited by Whitley Stokes, LL. D. , p. xciii.
« Edited by the Rev. Dr. Kelly, p xxvi.
? 6 Edited by Drs. Todd and Reeves, pp. 162,163.
<<
The story here alluded to is told with somecuriousandinterestingcircumstances,
e6
See "Ecclesiastical History of Ireland,"
vol. ii. , chap, xii. , sect, xv. , p. 250.
67 See Colgan's "Trias Thaumaturga,
"
Quarta Vita S. Columbse, lib. ii. , cap. xlv. , p.
