^ Petrus "De Cratepolius,
Episcopis
dies Ger- s
Dempster's
ortus fuerat ex Scotia," and a similar statement is contained in Joannes Gualierius' "Chroni-
con Chronicorum," tom.
Episcopis
dies Ger- s
Dempster's
ortus fuerat ex Scotia," and a similar statement is contained in Joannes Gualierius' "Chroni-
con Chronicorum," tom.
O'Hanlon - Lives of the Irish Saints - v2
427.
'7 See O'Donovan's edition, vol. i. , pp.
It is described on the Ordnance Sur- vey Townland Maps for the County of Ros- common. " Sheets 54, 56.
'9 Described on Sheets 50, 51, 53, 54, 55,
Annals of the
Four Masters," vol. i. , n. (w), p. 209.
'* "
See Monasticon Hibemicum," p. 608.
* See Dr. 6' Donovan's " Annals of the
Four Masters," vol. i. , pp. 350, 351.
5 The "Annales Ultonienses," have his
death at A. D. 752, See ibid. , n. (o), p. 351.
^ See ibid. , pp. 354, 355. 7 See ibid. , pp. 358, 359.
^
See tbid. , pp. 366, 367.
9 See vol. i. , "Bishops of Lismore," p.
208, 209.
»^ "
56.
='° "
Academy," Irish MSS. series, vol. i. , part
i. , pp. 118, 119.
'^
Edited by Drs. Todd and Reeves, pp. 42, 43.
See Dr. O'Donovan's
Kelly, p. xv.
=" "
See vol. i. , Bishops of Lismore," p. 549.
549.
'° "
'* Acta Sanctorum Hibex-
See Monasticon Hibemicum," p.
692. ""
See Proceedings of the Royal Irish
February 9. ] LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. 445
Colgan,^ has inserted the Acts of St. Attracta, taken from the MS. book,
belonging to the Island of Lough Ree, and partly compiled from other sources. The Bollandists have published the Acts of this saint, likewise, with a previous commentary, at this day. ^ Some notices of her are to be found, in Bishop Challoner's work,3 in Rev. Alban Butler's* and Rev. S. Baring-Gould's :5 all unite in assigning her festival to this date. The Acts, published by Colgan, are said, not to have been written, until six hundred years after her death, and that they are therefore of very little authority to illustrate her history. ^ She is classed among the virgins, veiled by St. Patrick. 7 I have preferred the authorities of our Irish Martyrologists, for placing St. Attracta's biography, at the nth of August; especially, as her festival is locally kept, with great veneration, on that day.
Article IX. —Feast of St. Tarahata. {Probably in the Fifth or Sixth Century? ^ The festival of a St. Tarahatta is found in many foreign
martyrologies, at this day. ^ She is supposed, by Colgan, to have been identical with St. Attracta, whose Acts he published, at the 9th of February. ^ Several of our modern saint writers, also, have her under both forms of name. 3
ArticleX. —FeastofSt. Eada,aPriest. {PossiblyintheSixthor
Seventh Century. ] In the Kalendar, added to the Manuscript Martyrology ascribed to St. Jerome,^ Eada Presbyter is entered at the 9th of February.
The Bollandists acknowledge themselves to be ignorant regarding his identity, unless he be Eata, who, from having been abbot, became Bishop of Hagul- stadiensis, in England,^ and concerning him further notices will be found, at his recognised festival-day, the 26th of October.
Article XL—Reputed Feast of St. Erhard, Bishop of Ratisbon.
[Seventh Century. ] At the 9th of February, Camerarius has entered the
festival of Erehardus or Erchardus, the prepositus of a monastery. ^ Colgan says, that Camerarius frequently errs, and that he agrees with no writer. Yet, the authority of Pantaleon^ is referred to, and Velser. 3 Again, at this very date, we find St. Erhard, Abbot, occurring in the Annals of the Cis- tercian Monks,4 as also in the " Circle of the Seasons. " 5 By Mersceus and
other German writers, this saint is called Eberhardus.
Article viii. —^ See '<Acta rum Hibernise," ix. Februarii.
His Acts have been
Attracts
partim ex aliis, pp. 277 to 282.
^
See, likewise, the Seasons," p. 40.
^ the article, See previous
Virginis, partim
ex MS.
See "Acta Sanctorum," tomus ii. , ix. Februarii. De S. Attracta, sive Tarahata,
to
3 Such as Bishop Challoner, Rev. Alban Butler, Rev. S. Baring-Gould, &c.
Article X. —* The Bollandists add, " exarato ante annum loccxLi. "
^ " Acta tomus Feb- See Sanctorum," ii. ,
in
3 See " Britannia
Virgine,
Hibernia, pp. 296
300. Sancta," part i. . p. 113.
* See "Lives of the Fathers, Martyrs and
other Principal Saints," vol. ii. , February jecti, p. 227. —
Sancto- Vita S. Insulensi,
Article ix. —'
*' Circle of
*'De Statu
ruary ix. , pp. 236 to 238. Conversione," lib. i. , pars ii. , cap. iii. , sect.
^
ix.
s See "Lives of the Saints," vol. ii, , Feb- veteris simul ac novae Ecclesios et Infidelium
See Bishop Challoner's "Britannia 2, p. 147.
Sancta," part i. , p. 113.
7 See Colgan's "Trias Thaumaturga,"
="" Prosopographiae, pars i.
Quinta Appendix ad Acta S. xiii,, p, 270.
Patricii, cap.
-» See 221. p.
s See p. 40.
ruarii ix. Praetermissi et in alios dies re-
Article XI.
^
See
Hominis,
3 " Boicarum Rerum," lib. v. , A. D. 753,
446 LIVES OP THE IRISH SAINTS. [February 9.
givenalready,atthe8thdayofJanuary. ^ Foreignwritersallow,thathe was a native of Scotia. 7 Therefore, some of the Scotch writers claim him as
"
Ad Bavaros Fidei Rudi- raenta," lib. i. The same writer observes, that he flourished a. d. 675, but
a countryman. According to Dempster, he wrote, that he could not find when St. Eberhard died. ^
Article XII. —Reputed Festival of Blessed Magilmumensis.
At the 9th of February, Dempster^ has the festival, in Anglia, of a Blessed Magilmumensis, who is called a doctor of the Scots. ^ In another work, by
the same author, he is called Magilmumen, a monk, who visited Aelfredus,
King of England, who greatly admired his virtues and learning. 3 He is said
"
to have addressed a book to King Aelfred, Sermones de Sanctis," and to
down, at the 9th of Febniary. s
Article XIII. —St. Alto, Bishop and Founder of Altminster, IN Bavaria. \^Eighth Century^ St. Alto's Acts have been inserted by Colgan, m his work,^ at the 9th of February. The BoUandists^ have like- wise published this saint's Acts, with a preceding commentary,3 at the same date, which many Calendarists believe to be the anniversary of his death. This holy man, a Scot, was one of the nineteen disciples, who accompanied St. Virgilius to Bavaria. * There he was set over a monastery. In alter time, it was called Alt-Munster, or the Monastery of Alto, as a consequence. He is, likewise, commemorated on the 5 th of September, for which day, we reserve a further account of this holy bishop.
Article XIV. —Reputed Festival o^ St. Trumwin, Bishop of the
PiCTS. \Sei>enth Century. ^ St. Trumuin, or Trumwin, was consecrated Bishop of the Picts. He is mentioned, in the Life of St. Cuthbert. He was
venerated, on this day, according to Hugh Menard,' and other authorities. " His feast, however, seems referable to the loth of February.
have written " De another,
ad Loca Sancta. "* He is said to have undertaken a pilgrimage to Rome, in the year 891. His feast is set
ix. , p. 575.
^ Petrus "De Cratepolius,
Episcopis
dies Ger- s
Dempster's
ortus fuerat ex Scotia," and a similar statement is contained in Joannes Gualierius' "Chroni-
con Chronicorum," tom. iii. , p. mcdli.
^ See " Historia Ecclesiastica Gentis Sco-
mannis," states, that St. Eberhard,
torum," tomus i. , lib. v. , num. 452, p. 247.
301, 302.
^ See "Acta
Article XII. —* See " Sco- MeiKjlogium
tomus ix. ii. ,
Peregrinatione
* ^*
— At the 9th of February, the Bollandists attaching little weight to the authority of Camerarius, whom they quote—have the present saint among the pratermissi, having already given his Acts, at the 8th of January. See "Acta Sanctorum," tomusii. , Februarii
information, and they add : Disimulat
quoque de eo et duobus sociis scribere Ethel*
werdum, Hibernia stirpe tres viros lectos, aduectos in Cornu—ualias partes, Umbo taurinis byrsis consuto. " "Acta Sanctorum," tomus
"
Sanctorum,"
ticum. " Bishop Forbes' " Kalendars of Februarii. De S. Altone, Abbate in Ba-
Scottish Saints," p. 192.
" The authority cited for this statement is
Ingulf.
3 Ethelweldus
nun. "—" Chronicorum," lib. iv.
* The BoUandists remark, that they do
not know wiiere Dempster obtained such
varia Superiore, pp. 358 to 361.
3 in two sections.
*" See Father Stephen White's
Hibernia," —iv. ,
pro cap. p. 43. cap.
of him "artibus fron-
Apologia
''See, also, Bishop Forbes' "Kalendars of Scottish Saints," p. 330.
says
dens, litera doctus, magister insignis Scoto-
Article xiv. Benedictinum.
'
v. ,
In "Martyrologium
Februarii ix. rejecti, p. 276.
" Historia Ecclesiastica Gentis Scotorum," tomus ii. , lib. xii. , num.
'
See "Acta Sanctorum Hiberniae," ix. Februarii. De S. Altone Abbate Alto-Monasterii, in Bavaria, pp.
ii,,
Praetermissi et in alios
929, p. 490. — Article xiii.
p. 64.
February io. ] LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. 447
CentftlBap of jTefaruarp*
ARTICLE I. —ST. CRONAN, OR MOCHU-A, ABBOT, AND PATRON OF CLASHMORE PARISH, COUNTY OF WATERFORD.
{SIXTH AND SEVENTH CENTURIES. \
CHAPTER I.
INTRODUCTION—ACTS OF ST. CRONAN OR ST. MOCHUA—HIS PARENTAGE AND BIRTH— HIS RELIGIOUS PROFESSION UNDER ST. CARTHAGE—PLACED OVER CLUAIN-DACH- RAN—ST, CRONAN REMOVES TO LISMORE WITH ST. CARTHAGE—HE IS APPOINTED TO RULE A COMMUNITY, AT GLASSMORE, OR CLASHMORE.
old-world saints possessed a tender, generous, and loving nature :
THE of a harsh word or a harsh
incapable thought, they
manifested an unaffected modesty, such as one rarely meets in those days of shallow pre- tentiousness \ a high sense of honour, which abhorred even the shadow of deceit ; a nobleness of soul, which made them shrink instinctively, from every form of meanness ; a rare refinement of Christian feeling, which, even by their very presence,. sustained and silenced vulgarity. They held a loyalty and a love in friendship, making that noble friendship a prize which all coveted. Thus St. Cronan or Mochua became one of those tried servants of Christ, ready to spend his life, for his own, and for the salvation of others. His Acts have been issued by Colgan,^ who assumes he was both an abbot and a martyr ; while, the Bollandists^ only refer to these, in a passing and
briefmanner. Ourdomesticmartyrologiesusuallystylethisholyservantof Christ,bythenameofCronan. 3 However,heisalsocalledMochua. '^ Nor do these authorities allude to different persons ; for, under both names, our saint is designated, son to Mellan,5 or Mellain. ^ This patronymic generally accompanies his notice,^ and, Maguire calls him by both names, while he is noted, too, as Mochua de Miliuc. ^ Yet, Ussher9 designates his father as Niellain, and he has been followed by Harris^° and Archdall. "
Article i. —Chapter i. —* See '* Acta Sanctorum Hibemiae," x. Februarii. De S. Cronano, Abbate et Martyre, pp. 303,
by Maguire, at the loth of February, as, also, by the author of the Life of St. Car-
thage, at chap. 32, and by St. ^ngus in his "Homonymous Saints of Ireland,"
304. ^"
See "Acta Sanctorum, tomus ii. , Feb-
book i. , chap. 19.
"> See Dr. Lanigan's
"
ruarii x. Praetermissi et in alios dies re-
jecti, p. 377.
3 Thus is he called, by St. ^Engus, at the
Ecclesiastical His- tory of Ireland," vol. ii. , chap, xiv. , sect.
loth of the Calendar of February, by
Cashel,
xv. , n. 210, p. 360,
^ See the BoUandists' "Acta
tomus ii. , x. Februarii, p. 377.
"
Sanctorum,"
by the Martyrology of Tallagh, and by all other authorities.
Britannicarum Ecclesiarum Anti- quitates," cap. xvii. , p. 971.
*
St. iEngus the Culdee, in his Homony-
mous Saints, book i. ,
and the Life
^° When of the Irish treating
xix.
of St. Carthage, call our saint Mochua.
" Acta Sanctorum Hiber-
monasteries,
s See
niae," x. Februarii, n. 6, p. 304.
at Cluan Dachran.
"See "Monasticon Hibemicum,"
Colgan's
p. 708. Here, the author connects him with
the monastery of Clonrane, in the county of Westmeath,
cap.
,
* Such is the name given to our saint's
father, by the Martyrologies of Tallagh, and of Donegal, by the Calendar of Cashel, and
5 See
448 LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. [February io.
Our saint appears to have been born, after the middle of the sixth
century. Colganwouldseemtoreferhisbirth,toanearlierperiodthandoes
Dr. Lanigan, who, by conjectural inferences, places it about a. d. 570. " The calculation is based on the date of St. Carthage's establishment's at
Rathanj'-^ now known as Rahan, and his expulsion from this place. 's The Life of St. Carthage states,'^ that our present St. Cronan or Mochua had been, from his youth, a monk at Rathan. Dr. Lanigan's date'7 appears to have been too late for his birth, ;f we rest on Colgan's opinion ; for, he con- siders it most probable, Cronan's profession as a monk took place, about the year 571, or 572. Colgan acknowledges, that some authors refer his profession to a. d. 59 ii However this be, our saint is said to have been the first, who made his religious profession, under St. Carthage, in the famous monastic establishment of Rathen ; and, it is on record, that eight hundred
and seventy-seven monks'^ were at one time subject to this very distinguished abbot's spiritual supervision. '9
Here, deriving every advantage from the training of this great saint, Cronan made considerable progress in virtue. At length, he was placed by St. Carthage, over an establishment, near Rathen. ^° This place is called Cluain Dachran. We are told, this locality is identical with Clonrane,^' in Westmeath county. ^* When Cronan was there appointed, he had been in- formed, that Cluain Dachran would neither be the place of his death, nor of his resurrection. ^3 This appointment of Saint Cronan took place, in the early period of the seventh century ; and, in all likeUhood, before the expulsion of St. Carthagh from his establishment, as Dr. Lanigan considers. This
" He ** Now, if we that the Four Masters. " See Dr. O'Donovan's says : suppose
Mochua was only twenty years of age, when edition, vol. i. , pp. 254, 255. It follows, he became a monk, we will have his birth that about A. D. 591, or, more probably, about 570," According to a canon of the about the year 571, lie began to dwell at
ancient Irish Church the age of twenty years
was necessary for the validity of the mo- nastic vow, Voto perficiendo as laid down in
the 17th article of the Synodus S. Patricii, p. 35, in Ware's Opuscula S. Patricii. In
someotherchurches,theageofeighteenwas sufficient in those times, as appears from a decree of the Second Council of Toledo,
Rathen, and St. Cronan there received the monastic habit from him.
'*
In the third chapter. The Life of St. Mochuda or Carthage occurs, at the 14th of May.
^^ Namely,about570.
held in the See Dr. year 531.
'5 See " Acta Sanctorum Hiber- Colgan's
nige," x. Februarii. De S. Cronano Abbate et Martyre, p. 303.
=°
"""IX. is said, by Archdall, to lie on the
River Brusna, about seven miles south-west
of Mullingar, in the barony of Moycashel ; but, as already stated, at our notice of St. Ernan of Cluain-Deochra, for the iith of January, its situation does not yet appear to be identified.
Lanigan's " Ecclesiastical History of Ireland," vol.
ii. , chap, xiv. , sect, xv. , n. 212, pp. 360, 361.
See Rev. Anthony Cogan's "Diocese of Meath, Ancient and Modern," vol. iii. , chap. Ixxiv. , p. 555.
^3 In the nineteenth chapter of the Latin
Life of St. Carthage, it is said, that he lived
forty years at Rathen ; but, in an Irish Life
of this same saint, it is stated, that he lived
sixty years, at that place. The latter account
is thought to be the more reliable one, ac-
cording to a note (n. 25), which, it appears,
Colgan added to it. See "Acta Sancto-
rum Hibemiee," x.
'7 See O'Donovan's edition, vol. i. , pp.
It is described on the Ordnance Sur- vey Townland Maps for the County of Ros- common. " Sheets 54, 56.
'9 Described on Sheets 50, 51, 53, 54, 55,
Annals of the
Four Masters," vol. i. , n. (w), p. 209.
'* "
See Monasticon Hibemicum," p. 608.
* See Dr. 6' Donovan's " Annals of the
Four Masters," vol. i. , pp. 350, 351.
5 The "Annales Ultonienses," have his
death at A. D. 752, See ibid. , n. (o), p. 351.
^ See ibid. , pp. 354, 355. 7 See ibid. , pp. 358, 359.
^
See tbid. , pp. 366, 367.
9 See vol. i. , "Bishops of Lismore," p.
208, 209.
»^ "
56.
='° "
Academy," Irish MSS. series, vol. i. , part
i. , pp. 118, 119.
'^
Edited by Drs. Todd and Reeves, pp. 42, 43.
See Dr. O'Donovan's
Kelly, p. xv.
=" "
See vol. i. , Bishops of Lismore," p. 549.
549.
'° "
'* Acta Sanctorum Hibex-
See Monasticon Hibemicum," p.
692. ""
See Proceedings of the Royal Irish
February 9. ] LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. 445
Colgan,^ has inserted the Acts of St. Attracta, taken from the MS. book,
belonging to the Island of Lough Ree, and partly compiled from other sources. The Bollandists have published the Acts of this saint, likewise, with a previous commentary, at this day. ^ Some notices of her are to be found, in Bishop Challoner's work,3 in Rev. Alban Butler's* and Rev. S. Baring-Gould's :5 all unite in assigning her festival to this date. The Acts, published by Colgan, are said, not to have been written, until six hundred years after her death, and that they are therefore of very little authority to illustrate her history. ^ She is classed among the virgins, veiled by St. Patrick. 7 I have preferred the authorities of our Irish Martyrologists, for placing St. Attracta's biography, at the nth of August; especially, as her festival is locally kept, with great veneration, on that day.
Article IX. —Feast of St. Tarahata. {Probably in the Fifth or Sixth Century? ^ The festival of a St. Tarahatta is found in many foreign
martyrologies, at this day. ^ She is supposed, by Colgan, to have been identical with St. Attracta, whose Acts he published, at the 9th of February. ^ Several of our modern saint writers, also, have her under both forms of name. 3
ArticleX. —FeastofSt. Eada,aPriest. {PossiblyintheSixthor
Seventh Century. ] In the Kalendar, added to the Manuscript Martyrology ascribed to St. Jerome,^ Eada Presbyter is entered at the 9th of February.
The Bollandists acknowledge themselves to be ignorant regarding his identity, unless he be Eata, who, from having been abbot, became Bishop of Hagul- stadiensis, in England,^ and concerning him further notices will be found, at his recognised festival-day, the 26th of October.
Article XL—Reputed Feast of St. Erhard, Bishop of Ratisbon.
[Seventh Century. ] At the 9th of February, Camerarius has entered the
festival of Erehardus or Erchardus, the prepositus of a monastery. ^ Colgan says, that Camerarius frequently errs, and that he agrees with no writer. Yet, the authority of Pantaleon^ is referred to, and Velser. 3 Again, at this very date, we find St. Erhard, Abbot, occurring in the Annals of the Cis- tercian Monks,4 as also in the " Circle of the Seasons. " 5 By Mersceus and
other German writers, this saint is called Eberhardus.
Article viii. —^ See '<Acta rum Hibernise," ix. Februarii.
His Acts have been
Attracts
partim ex aliis, pp. 277 to 282.
^
See, likewise, the Seasons," p. 40.
^ the article, See previous
Virginis, partim
ex MS.
See "Acta Sanctorum," tomus ii. , ix. Februarii. De S. Attracta, sive Tarahata,
to
3 Such as Bishop Challoner, Rev. Alban Butler, Rev. S. Baring-Gould, &c.
Article X. —* The Bollandists add, " exarato ante annum loccxLi. "
^ " Acta tomus Feb- See Sanctorum," ii. ,
in
3 See " Britannia
Virgine,
Hibernia, pp. 296
300. Sancta," part i. . p. 113.
* See "Lives of the Fathers, Martyrs and
other Principal Saints," vol. ii. , February jecti, p. 227. —
Sancto- Vita S. Insulensi,
Article ix. —'
*' Circle of
*'De Statu
ruary ix. , pp. 236 to 238. Conversione," lib. i. , pars ii. , cap. iii. , sect.
^
ix.
s See "Lives of the Saints," vol. ii, , Feb- veteris simul ac novae Ecclesios et Infidelium
See Bishop Challoner's "Britannia 2, p. 147.
Sancta," part i. , p. 113.
7 See Colgan's "Trias Thaumaturga,"
="" Prosopographiae, pars i.
Quinta Appendix ad Acta S. xiii,, p, 270.
Patricii, cap.
-» See 221. p.
s See p. 40.
ruarii ix. Praetermissi et in alios dies re-
Article XI.
^
See
Hominis,
3 " Boicarum Rerum," lib. v. , A. D. 753,
446 LIVES OP THE IRISH SAINTS. [February 9.
givenalready,atthe8thdayofJanuary. ^ Foreignwritersallow,thathe was a native of Scotia. 7 Therefore, some of the Scotch writers claim him as
"
Ad Bavaros Fidei Rudi- raenta," lib. i. The same writer observes, that he flourished a. d. 675, but
a countryman. According to Dempster, he wrote, that he could not find when St. Eberhard died. ^
Article XII. —Reputed Festival of Blessed Magilmumensis.
At the 9th of February, Dempster^ has the festival, in Anglia, of a Blessed Magilmumensis, who is called a doctor of the Scots. ^ In another work, by
the same author, he is called Magilmumen, a monk, who visited Aelfredus,
King of England, who greatly admired his virtues and learning. 3 He is said
"
to have addressed a book to King Aelfred, Sermones de Sanctis," and to
down, at the 9th of Febniary. s
Article XIII. —St. Alto, Bishop and Founder of Altminster, IN Bavaria. \^Eighth Century^ St. Alto's Acts have been inserted by Colgan, m his work,^ at the 9th of February. The BoUandists^ have like- wise published this saint's Acts, with a preceding commentary,3 at the same date, which many Calendarists believe to be the anniversary of his death. This holy man, a Scot, was one of the nineteen disciples, who accompanied St. Virgilius to Bavaria. * There he was set over a monastery. In alter time, it was called Alt-Munster, or the Monastery of Alto, as a consequence. He is, likewise, commemorated on the 5 th of September, for which day, we reserve a further account of this holy bishop.
Article XIV. —Reputed Festival o^ St. Trumwin, Bishop of the
PiCTS. \Sei>enth Century. ^ St. Trumuin, or Trumwin, was consecrated Bishop of the Picts. He is mentioned, in the Life of St. Cuthbert. He was
venerated, on this day, according to Hugh Menard,' and other authorities. " His feast, however, seems referable to the loth of February.
have written " De another,
ad Loca Sancta. "* He is said to have undertaken a pilgrimage to Rome, in the year 891. His feast is set
ix. , p. 575.
^ Petrus "De Cratepolius,
Episcopis
dies Ger- s
Dempster's
ortus fuerat ex Scotia," and a similar statement is contained in Joannes Gualierius' "Chroni-
con Chronicorum," tom. iii. , p. mcdli.
^ See " Historia Ecclesiastica Gentis Sco-
mannis," states, that St. Eberhard,
torum," tomus i. , lib. v. , num. 452, p. 247.
301, 302.
^ See "Acta
Article XII. —* See " Sco- MeiKjlogium
tomus ix. ii. ,
Peregrinatione
* ^*
— At the 9th of February, the Bollandists attaching little weight to the authority of Camerarius, whom they quote—have the present saint among the pratermissi, having already given his Acts, at the 8th of January. See "Acta Sanctorum," tomusii. , Februarii
information, and they add : Disimulat
quoque de eo et duobus sociis scribere Ethel*
werdum, Hibernia stirpe tres viros lectos, aduectos in Cornu—ualias partes, Umbo taurinis byrsis consuto. " "Acta Sanctorum," tomus
"
Sanctorum,"
ticum. " Bishop Forbes' " Kalendars of Februarii. De S. Altone, Abbate in Ba-
Scottish Saints," p. 192.
" The authority cited for this statement is
Ingulf.
3 Ethelweldus
nun. "—" Chronicorum," lib. iv.
* The BoUandists remark, that they do
not know wiiere Dempster obtained such
varia Superiore, pp. 358 to 361.
3 in two sections.
*" See Father Stephen White's
Hibernia," —iv. ,
pro cap. p. 43. cap.
of him "artibus fron-
Apologia
''See, also, Bishop Forbes' "Kalendars of Scottish Saints," p. 330.
says
dens, litera doctus, magister insignis Scoto-
Article xiv. Benedictinum.
'
v. ,
In "Martyrologium
Februarii ix. rejecti, p. 276.
" Historia Ecclesiastica Gentis Scotorum," tomus ii. , lib. xii. , num.
'
See "Acta Sanctorum Hiberniae," ix. Februarii. De S. Altone Abbate Alto-Monasterii, in Bavaria, pp.
ii,,
Praetermissi et in alios
929, p. 490. — Article xiii.
p. 64.
February io. ] LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. 447
CentftlBap of jTefaruarp*
ARTICLE I. —ST. CRONAN, OR MOCHU-A, ABBOT, AND PATRON OF CLASHMORE PARISH, COUNTY OF WATERFORD.
{SIXTH AND SEVENTH CENTURIES. \
CHAPTER I.
INTRODUCTION—ACTS OF ST. CRONAN OR ST. MOCHUA—HIS PARENTAGE AND BIRTH— HIS RELIGIOUS PROFESSION UNDER ST. CARTHAGE—PLACED OVER CLUAIN-DACH- RAN—ST, CRONAN REMOVES TO LISMORE WITH ST. CARTHAGE—HE IS APPOINTED TO RULE A COMMUNITY, AT GLASSMORE, OR CLASHMORE.
old-world saints possessed a tender, generous, and loving nature :
THE of a harsh word or a harsh
incapable thought, they
manifested an unaffected modesty, such as one rarely meets in those days of shallow pre- tentiousness \ a high sense of honour, which abhorred even the shadow of deceit ; a nobleness of soul, which made them shrink instinctively, from every form of meanness ; a rare refinement of Christian feeling, which, even by their very presence,. sustained and silenced vulgarity. They held a loyalty and a love in friendship, making that noble friendship a prize which all coveted. Thus St. Cronan or Mochua became one of those tried servants of Christ, ready to spend his life, for his own, and for the salvation of others. His Acts have been issued by Colgan,^ who assumes he was both an abbot and a martyr ; while, the Bollandists^ only refer to these, in a passing and
briefmanner. Ourdomesticmartyrologiesusuallystylethisholyservantof Christ,bythenameofCronan. 3 However,heisalsocalledMochua. '^ Nor do these authorities allude to different persons ; for, under both names, our saint is designated, son to Mellan,5 or Mellain. ^ This patronymic generally accompanies his notice,^ and, Maguire calls him by both names, while he is noted, too, as Mochua de Miliuc. ^ Yet, Ussher9 designates his father as Niellain, and he has been followed by Harris^° and Archdall. "
Article i. —Chapter i. —* See '* Acta Sanctorum Hibemiae," x. Februarii. De S. Cronano, Abbate et Martyre, pp. 303,
by Maguire, at the loth of February, as, also, by the author of the Life of St. Car-
thage, at chap. 32, and by St. ^ngus in his "Homonymous Saints of Ireland,"
304. ^"
See "Acta Sanctorum, tomus ii. , Feb-
book i. , chap. 19.
"> See Dr. Lanigan's
"
ruarii x. Praetermissi et in alios dies re-
jecti, p. 377.
3 Thus is he called, by St. ^Engus, at the
Ecclesiastical His- tory of Ireland," vol. ii. , chap, xiv. , sect.
loth of the Calendar of February, by
Cashel,
xv. , n. 210, p. 360,
^ See the BoUandists' "Acta
tomus ii. , x. Februarii, p. 377.
"
Sanctorum,"
by the Martyrology of Tallagh, and by all other authorities.
Britannicarum Ecclesiarum Anti- quitates," cap. xvii. , p. 971.
*
St. iEngus the Culdee, in his Homony-
mous Saints, book i. ,
and the Life
^° When of the Irish treating
xix.
of St. Carthage, call our saint Mochua.
" Acta Sanctorum Hiber-
monasteries,
s See
niae," x. Februarii, n. 6, p. 304.
at Cluan Dachran.
"See "Monasticon Hibemicum,"
Colgan's
p. 708. Here, the author connects him with
the monastery of Clonrane, in the county of Westmeath,
cap.
,
* Such is the name given to our saint's
father, by the Martyrologies of Tallagh, and of Donegal, by the Calendar of Cashel, and
5 See
448 LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. [February io.
Our saint appears to have been born, after the middle of the sixth
century. Colganwouldseemtoreferhisbirth,toanearlierperiodthandoes
Dr. Lanigan, who, by conjectural inferences, places it about a. d. 570. " The calculation is based on the date of St. Carthage's establishment's at
Rathanj'-^ now known as Rahan, and his expulsion from this place. 's The Life of St. Carthage states,'^ that our present St. Cronan or Mochua had been, from his youth, a monk at Rathan. Dr. Lanigan's date'7 appears to have been too late for his birth, ;f we rest on Colgan's opinion ; for, he con- siders it most probable, Cronan's profession as a monk took place, about the year 571, or 572. Colgan acknowledges, that some authors refer his profession to a. d. 59 ii However this be, our saint is said to have been the first, who made his religious profession, under St. Carthage, in the famous monastic establishment of Rathen ; and, it is on record, that eight hundred
and seventy-seven monks'^ were at one time subject to this very distinguished abbot's spiritual supervision. '9
Here, deriving every advantage from the training of this great saint, Cronan made considerable progress in virtue. At length, he was placed by St. Carthage, over an establishment, near Rathen. ^° This place is called Cluain Dachran. We are told, this locality is identical with Clonrane,^' in Westmeath county. ^* When Cronan was there appointed, he had been in- formed, that Cluain Dachran would neither be the place of his death, nor of his resurrection. ^3 This appointment of Saint Cronan took place, in the early period of the seventh century ; and, in all likeUhood, before the expulsion of St. Carthagh from his establishment, as Dr. Lanigan considers. This
" He ** Now, if we that the Four Masters. " See Dr. O'Donovan's says : suppose
Mochua was only twenty years of age, when edition, vol. i. , pp. 254, 255. It follows, he became a monk, we will have his birth that about A. D. 591, or, more probably, about 570," According to a canon of the about the year 571, lie began to dwell at
ancient Irish Church the age of twenty years
was necessary for the validity of the mo- nastic vow, Voto perficiendo as laid down in
the 17th article of the Synodus S. Patricii, p. 35, in Ware's Opuscula S. Patricii. In
someotherchurches,theageofeighteenwas sufficient in those times, as appears from a decree of the Second Council of Toledo,
Rathen, and St. Cronan there received the monastic habit from him.
'*
In the third chapter. The Life of St. Mochuda or Carthage occurs, at the 14th of May.
^^ Namely,about570.
held in the See Dr. year 531.
'5 See " Acta Sanctorum Hiber- Colgan's
nige," x. Februarii. De S. Cronano Abbate et Martyre, p. 303.
=°
"""IX. is said, by Archdall, to lie on the
River Brusna, about seven miles south-west
of Mullingar, in the barony of Moycashel ; but, as already stated, at our notice of St. Ernan of Cluain-Deochra, for the iith of January, its situation does not yet appear to be identified.
Lanigan's " Ecclesiastical History of Ireland," vol.
ii. , chap, xiv. , sect, xv. , n. 212, pp. 360, 361.
See Rev. Anthony Cogan's "Diocese of Meath, Ancient and Modern," vol. iii. , chap. Ixxiv. , p. 555.
^3 In the nineteenth chapter of the Latin
Life of St. Carthage, it is said, that he lived
forty years at Rathen ; but, in an Irish Life
of this same saint, it is stated, that he lived
sixty years, at that place. The latter account
is thought to be the more reliable one, ac-
cording to a note (n. 25), which, it appears,
Colgan added to it. See "Acta Sancto-
rum Hibemiee," x.
