Finnian
refusing
to lend him a copy of the Gospels.
O'Hanlon - Lives of the Irish Saints - v9
540/8 HavingbeenconsecratedBishop, by his preaching and life, he very much edified that portion of God's church, and there planted the Gospel seed, destined in after times to fructify and greatly to increase.
CHAPTER II.
TIME WHEN ST. FINIAN FLOURISHED—HIS MIRACLES—FOUNDER OF MAGHBILE AND DRUIM-FIONN MONASTERIES—HIS RELATION AS MASTER TO SOME DISTINGUISHED IRISH SAINTS—HIS LAST ILLNESS AND DEATH—HIS FESTIVALS AND COMMEMORA- TIONS—CONCLUSION.
1
St. Finian flourished during the reign of Tuathal Maelgarb, King of Ireland. The spirit of prophecy was not wanting in this saint; since he foretold that
king's unhappy death. He lived also, during the reign of the succeeding monarch, Dermitius or Diarmaid. 2 His miracles were numerous and greatly celebrated. He restored a nun to life, it is said, in a church, which was called the Cell of the Mount. The servant of a certain Bishop, that had been drowned, St. Finnian also resuscitated. He recalled to life, by his
Nemus — now Holywood — where he selected a place to dwell with his disciples. There as a result of his prayers a clear well bubbled up. In a good and holy age, we are told, he was chosen bishop by the clerics and people of his country, and having wrought many miracles, he was honourably interred in Kilwinne. This account ends with the sentence—" ubi nunc monachorum viget claritas et illorum virorum sanctitas perpetua. "
43 See Bishop Challoner's " Britannia Sancta," part ii. , September 10th, p. 125. . 44 The Aberdeen Breviary states, that in
praying, and laid the sick man down before him. After a little rest, the infirm youth recovered, and when they carried him home his pristine health was restored.
4s Such is the account left by John Cap-
grave. v
46 See Ussher's " Britannicarum Ecclesi-
arum Antiquitates," cap. xvii. , p. 494.
47 See ibid. > Index Chronologicus ad a. d.
48 "
gee Tjr# Lanigan's Ecclesiastical
History of Ireland," vol. ii. , chap, x. , sect.
'According to Capgrave, Kilwinnin, Scotland, a certain person Tuathal Maelgarbh reigned from a. d. 528
laboured under wliat was supposed to be an
incurable disease, but his friends brought
him to the basilica of St. Winni'n that he
might be cured. Now there stood outside
of the church a stone cross marvellously
constructed, which during his lifetime
Blessed V\ innin had erected in honour of began his reign to A. D. 565. Then he was blessed Brigida the virgin. To it they slain at Rath Bee by Aedh Dubh, King of fixed the sick youth. By advice of the Uladh. See William M. Hennessy's edition,
priests, his friends entered the church pp. 48 to 57.
"
Vol. IX—No. 5. R
dxl. , p. 529.
vi. ,p. 25. — Chapter ii.
to 538, according to Dr. O'Donovan's "Annals of the Four Masters,'' vol. i. , pp. 177 to 181.
2 The " Chronicum Scotorum," however, places the death of Tuathal Maelgarbh, at A. D. £44, wljen Diarmaid Mac Cerbhail
*58
LIVESOFTHEIRISHSAINTS. 'Septemberio.
prayers, Nathus,3 a Bishop, who died without having received the holy sacraments. He even raisecl to life a widow's son, who had been dead for three days, and wht> had departed this life without baptism. These are only afewofthesignsandwonderswhichhewrought. * Theplace,wherehis Abbey had been founded, was at the head of Strangford Lough, in the County of Down. It is rendered into Latin, as Campus arboris sacri.
"
Magh-bile, or Moville, also Movilla, may be literally translated
the field of
Moville Abbey, County Down.
In
only, as having been governed by Abbots. ? Domnagh-bile, in the County of Donegal, was afterwards called Magh-bile, and modernized Moville. Archdall 8 has strangely confounded Colgan's account of Magh-bile,9 or
3 This form of name seems resolvable into place occupied by a garden attached to Mr. the Irish Nathi or Nathe. There was a Jamison's house, three or four Irish yew
the aged tree. " s This word also signifies the plain of the tree or trees.
our Calendars, Martyrologies, and Annals, Maghbile is often mentioned, in a general and absolute manner, without any allusion to a second monastery bearing that name. After the year 731, Moville is noticed in our Annals
Bishop Nathi, of Cuil Saccaile, in Dala- radia, County of Down, venerated at the 1st of August. For notices of him, at that date, see the Eighth Volume of this work, Art. iv. A still more celebrated Patron of Achonry Diocese is venerated, at the 9th of August, where his Acts are to be found. Sec ibid. , Art. i. There is also a Nathe Bishop, whose feast occurs at the 28th October. However, in none of their Acts do we find a relation of the miracle recorded in the text.
4 See Bishop Challenor's " Britannia
Sancta," part ii. , September 10th, pp. 125, 126.
5 Close to the burying-ground, and in a
trees of immense size and age might be seen, and are said to have been much older than any of the buildings in their immediate neighbourhood. It is possible, that one of these may be the sacred tree, which gave the name to the place, or at all events, that the present trees are the descendants of the original ''aged tree. " See Mr. William Hugh Patterson's " Notice of some Ancient Tomb Stones at Movilla, County Down," P- 5-
6
According to Rev. Dr. Lanigan.
7 See Rev. William Reeves' " Ecclesias-
tical Antiquities of Down, Connor, and
Dromore," Appendix A, p. 152.
8 See Monasticon Ilibernicum, p. 103. " It
6
September io. ] LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. 259
Movilleof
10 withthatofMovilleinDown,thewellknownmonas-
Donegal,
flourishing period.
tery, which was governed by St. Finnian in the sixth century, and continued
in a — state to a still later — The 'remains of a later
monastery said to have been Augustinian T
11
12
are yet te be seen, at Moville,
in the County of Down. 3 Traces of its extensive foundations may still be clearly made out ; and of the ruins that remain, there are some, parts of
whichindicateahighfinishofworkmanship. However,theoriginalmonas-
tery and church remains of St. Finian have at present totally disappeared. The x
Index Topographicus * affixed to Colgan's Acta Sanctorum, represents Finnian as having lived at both Maghbiles ; viz. , that in the County of
Donegal,
County
colour of his hair, which was or light,
18 At a Maghbile,
of Down. This led Harris r s for astray,
and that in the
when alluding to those distinct places, he has both houses under the one St. Finian. 16 Sir James Ware was right in marking but one Maghbile or Moville, whichwassituatedinDown. Hisauthorityoughttohavebeenadheredto by Harris.
1"
This Saint is said to have been called Finnbar ? or white top," from the
to
famous school was attached to his monastery, and there several eminent
scholars were educated in the science of the saints. Although St. Nathy, Bishop and Patron of Achonry Diocese, is said to have been brought up in
the School of St. Finnian, Abbot of Clonard ; yet this seems irreconcilable with the time when that school had been established, towards the middle of
the sixth 1 ? It is more century.
probable,
Nathy
artist, with a very
narrative in connexion, to be found in Mr. and Mrs.
interesting
"
&c, vol. iii. , pp. 16 to 18. This has been faithfully copied and engraved by Mr. Gregor
Grey, to furnish the subject of the present illustration.
'3 In the grave-yard attached is the grave
Hall's
Ireland ; its Scenery, Character,"
inclining
golden.
that the Finian under whom studied had been the present saint. Also he was the illustrious St. Columkille's
3° preceptor ;
is there wrongly stated, that Colgan ascribes to St. Patrick the establishment of a monas-
tery at Domnach-bile, in Donegal; nor does he exhibit it as placed by St. Patrick under Aengus, son of Olild.
' See "Trias Thaumaturga," p. 181.
while he is said to have brought the Mosaic Law, and the whole Gospel, into Ireland. The early years of St. Columba were spent under the guidance and instruction of our saint. While there, and as a deac6n, Columba had been obliged to procure wine for the celebration of the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass, and this was brought as water in the first instance from the fountain. However, on blessing it, the water was miraculously changed
I0
Colgan states,that a monastery was there.
of the Rev. Archibald Warwick, the Presby- terian minister of the parish, hung for his participation in the rebellion of 1798. He was greatly beloved and respected by his
people, and regarding him, a most pathetic story is told in the work of Mr. and Mrs. Hall.
As to Moville, in Dr. much Donegal, Lanigan
doubts, as to whether it had ever been a
monastery ; for Colgan, although he thought
so, yej; could not make out any one abbot
placed over it.
"
At the Dissolution, it appears to have been possessed of seven townlands, and the spiritualities of sixteen and a half besides. Its possessions were granted to Viscount Claneboys.
12 There is a wood-cut illustration of this ruin, drawn by Mr. Burgess, a Belfast
' 4 The of that Index was compiler
owing to the identity of the names, lS In his list of Monasteries,
l6 Yet, Archdall
pretends to give the names of abbots at Moville in Donegal, such as Finnian,
Siollan, Aengus M'Loingsy, &c. Now, these are the same identical persons, he reckons at Moville in Down, with some othersnamed. Therealonetheyoughttobe.
J? In the Irish character written ponn
bA^.
l8 to ire's " he According Magu Calendar,"
had yellow hair.
19 See what has been stated already, in the
Life of St. Nathy, Patron of Achonry Diocese, at the 9th of August, in the Eighth Volume of this work, Art. i. , chap. i.
*°See Dr. Reeves' Adamnan's " Vita S. Columbae," lib. ii,, cap. i. , lib. iii. , cap. iv.
goes
further, and he even
deceived,
260 LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. [September io.
into wine. St. Finian and his community gave thanks to the Almighty for that miracle, which through humility the holy young deacon chose to ascribe
rather to the merits of his superior than to his own.
21
According to the Irish
32 and he afterwards from the assistants how such a highly superior quality of wine had
been found.
Besides Movilla, he was the founder of Druim-fionn, in the territory of
Conall Muirthemne, and now Dromin in Louth -p here the dispute between him and St. Columba respecting the manuscript of the Gospels is said to h'ave
Life of St. St. Finian had been the Columkille,
celebrant,
enquired
occurred. 24
Allusion has been already made25 to the circumstances related
26 and which are to have fomented the battle of Cuil- reported
in this
fable,
2? near
two years before the coming of St. Columba to Scotland. ^ In his Life of St. Columba, Adamnan relates a miraculous occurrence in connexion with
him, of a young man learning the Holy Scriptures in Scotia, and of a bishop Findbarr. Could this refer to the teaching of St. Finnian of Movilla,3° it
renders the legend, regarding the quarrel between him and St. Columba, both as to cause and effect, extremely improbable. 31 When St. Columba32 was a young man, and under the tuition of Finnion his master, the latter saw an in his
company,
Oremne,
Sligo,
in the
province
of
Connaught. *
8 Thatbattle took
place
33 and this he said to his other rt Now disciples :
angel
behold Columba coming, who for his merits deserves to have a denizen of Heaven for his companion. '^ The Irish Life states, that on leaving St. Finnian of Maghbile, St. Columba placed himself under a senior called Gemman. 35 In the Life of St. Fintan of Dunbleisch,36 there is a story told of this same St.
Finnian refusing to lend him a copy of the Gospels. 37 The particular account has already been given, in the Life of the former saint. 38 ThisholybishopofMaghbilewasacontemporary. ofSt. Comgall,39 Abbot
21
Columba, in the Sixth Volume of this work,
See the Life of St. Columkille or tures. See the various testimonies collected by Colgan from the Lives of his disciples,
June ix. , Art. i. , chap. ii.
in Colgan's " Acta Sanctorum Hiberniae," Appendix ad Acta S. Finniani, cap. ii. , iii. ,
23
See Colgan's "Trias Thaumaturga,"
Vita Quinta S. Columbae, lib. i. , cap. xxxix. ,
p. 395.
23 Called "Ecclesia S. Fintani de Dro-
myng. "—Fleming's "Registrum," fol. 44 a. 24 For the particulars relating to this legend, see Prince O'Doniiell's Life of St.
iv. and v. , pp. 403 to 407. 3I See Rev. Dr. Reeves'
"
Sixth Volume of this work, Art. i.
33 This anecdote appears to have been turga," lib. ii. , cap. i. , p. 408 et seq. Also, borrowed from Cummian's Life. See Col-
Columkille, in Colgan's "Trias Thauma-
the Rev. Dr. Keating's "History of Ire- gan's
Trias Thaumaturga. " Vita Secunda
land," at the reign of Aodh.
=5 See the Life of St. Columkille or
S. Columba, cap. iv. , pp. 325, 326.
34 See Rev. Dr. Reeves' " Adamnan's Life
Columba, in the Sixth Volume of this work, of St. Columba," lib. iii. , cap. iv. , pp. 195,
June 9, Art. i. , chap. vii.
96 See Thomas Moore's " History of Ire-
land," vol. i. , chap, xii. , pp. 243, 244.
2
? See an account of the assigned causes, in Archbishop Ussher's "Britannicarum Eccle- siarum Antiquitates," cap. xvii. , pp. 467 to 469.
196, and n. (a. )
3s From him, St. Columba removed to St.
Finnian of Clonard. See Colgan's "Trias Thaumaturga. " Vita Quinta S. Columbse, lib. i. , cap. xl. , p. 395.
36 See him noticed, at the 3rd of January, First Volume of this work, Art. i.
28 In Dr. O'Donovan's " Annals of the Four Masters," the battle of Cul-Dreimhne is set down at a. d. 555. See vol. i. , pp. 192 to 195, and accompanying notes.
" Acta Sanctorum Hiber- nioe," iii. Januarii. Vita S. Fintani, Abb. , cap. v. , p. II, and Vita S. Fridiani, Appen-
3
*See the Second Preface to Rev. Dr.
dix, cap. iii. , pp. , 643, 644. 38 See ibid. , chap. ii.
3«See his — the 10th of
Reeves' "Adamnan's Vita S. Columbae,"
confessedly a famous teacher of the Scrip- work, Art. i.
the date 30 The other St. Finnian, hovvever, was for his festival in the Fifth Volume of tlm
p. 9.
Life. at May—
Adamnan's Life of St. Columba," lib. ii. , cap. i. , and n. (b. ),
pp. 103, 104.
32 See his Life at the 9th of June, in the
"
37 See
Colgan's
September io. J LIVES OF THE IRISH SAIN1S. 261
ot Bangor, and was accustomed to visit hiui. On a particular occasion, which is related in the Acts of this latter Saint, lie induced Comgall to relax the austerity of his rule, especially as regarded the old and inhrm monks of
his monastery/
The present St. Finian has been styled Bishop of Moville, and he is con-
sidered to have been the first founder of a religious establishment there. According to Camerarius, before he became bishop, he was abbot of some monastery in Fife. *' The Breviary of Aberdeen states, that he often visited foreignregions,anddesiredtoleadasolitarylifeawayfromhisparents. In this connexion, he is said, to have been accompanied by some fellow warriors, and to have been carried to Scotia Minor, where they landed at a place called Coninghame. In the Saltair-na-rann attributed to St. ^ngus the Culdee, it is affirmed, that he was honoured as principal patron in all the province of Ulster, as St. Brigid42 was in that of Leinster, St. Kieran^ of Cluain-mic-nois in that of Connaught, and St. Ailbeus44 in that of Munster. In the list of the chief Irish Saints as Patrons, and in that metrical composi- tion's the name of St. Finnian of Maghbile is introduced as special Patron of all Ulster. However, his memory was more especially venerated in that district of Ulster, called Ullagh, or Ulidia, comprising some parts of eastern
He was visited, in fine, by a painful illness, which confined him for twelve months to his bed. 4 ? Having prepared himself for an exit to the happiness of Heaven, by receiving the divine mysteries, the day at last came, and St. Finnian breathed out his pure soul, into the keeping of his great Creator. Having then received the Sacred Viaticum, in holy resignation, that Bishop fell asleep in our Lord. St. Comgall, Abbot of Bangor, who survived him,48 had a miraculous intuition regarding his death, as one night, while his
:
monks were assembled in the church, he said " Let us pray, dearly beloved,
for the soul of our father Bishop Findbarr. He is now borne to Heaven by the Angels. 40 On the following day, authentic intelligence arrived of our saint's happy departure.
the
too, as one of the chief Patron Saints belonging to the diocese of Down.
Ultonia,and chiefly including
present county
is
regarded,
He died on the tenth of —and on this his festival September, day, was
—ted. At the iv. Idus
month John Capgrave has that account, regarding St. Finan, Bishop and
40 See ibid. , chap. iii. Momonii omnes cum suis proceribus, sub 41 See " De Scotorum Pietate," p. 88. patrocinio Ailbei :
42 See her Life, in the Second Volume of Archipraesules sancti cum suis monachis
celebra
Septembris corresponding
with the 10th of this
this work, at the 1st of February, Art. i.
43
See his Life, at the previous day, in the present volume, Art. i.
44 See his Acts, at the 12th of September, in the present volume, Ait. i.
45 The following is Colgan's rendering of some lines in Latin :—
Posteri Nielli sub patrocinio Columbae, non subrubo:
Sub patrocinio Finniani Magbilensis Ultonii
universi
Conatii omnes sub patrocinio Kierani, esto
sine perditione :
Dal-Aradii nobiles et inclyti, sub patrocinio
Comgalli :
finanliter quacumque procedunt via, omnes sub patricinio Patricii.
—"Acta Sanctorum Hibernioe," Martii xviii. Vita S. Fridiani. Appendix, cap. iii. , p. 646.
47 See Bishop Challenor's "Britannia Sancta," part ii. , September 10, p. 126.
48 st. Comgall of Bangor survived to about the year 602. See Rev. Dr. Reeves'
:
Lagenii sub patrocinio Brigidse nomine rum," tomus ii. , Maii x. Vita S. Comgalli,
famosse :
cap. ii. ,
num.
27, 28, p. 585.
of Down/6 He
*6 see Dr.
tory of Ireland," vol. ii. , chap, x. , sect, vi. , and n. 90, pp. 26, 28.
Lanigan's
" Adamnan's Life of St.
CHAPTER II.
TIME WHEN ST. FINIAN FLOURISHED—HIS MIRACLES—FOUNDER OF MAGHBILE AND DRUIM-FIONN MONASTERIES—HIS RELATION AS MASTER TO SOME DISTINGUISHED IRISH SAINTS—HIS LAST ILLNESS AND DEATH—HIS FESTIVALS AND COMMEMORA- TIONS—CONCLUSION.
1
St. Finian flourished during the reign of Tuathal Maelgarb, King of Ireland. The spirit of prophecy was not wanting in this saint; since he foretold that
king's unhappy death. He lived also, during the reign of the succeeding monarch, Dermitius or Diarmaid. 2 His miracles were numerous and greatly celebrated. He restored a nun to life, it is said, in a church, which was called the Cell of the Mount. The servant of a certain Bishop, that had been drowned, St. Finnian also resuscitated. He recalled to life, by his
Nemus — now Holywood — where he selected a place to dwell with his disciples. There as a result of his prayers a clear well bubbled up. In a good and holy age, we are told, he was chosen bishop by the clerics and people of his country, and having wrought many miracles, he was honourably interred in Kilwinne. This account ends with the sentence—" ubi nunc monachorum viget claritas et illorum virorum sanctitas perpetua. "
43 See Bishop Challoner's " Britannia Sancta," part ii. , September 10th, p. 125. . 44 The Aberdeen Breviary states, that in
praying, and laid the sick man down before him. After a little rest, the infirm youth recovered, and when they carried him home his pristine health was restored.
4s Such is the account left by John Cap-
grave. v
46 See Ussher's " Britannicarum Ecclesi-
arum Antiquitates," cap. xvii. , p. 494.
47 See ibid. > Index Chronologicus ad a. d.
48 "
gee Tjr# Lanigan's Ecclesiastical
History of Ireland," vol. ii. , chap, x. , sect.
'According to Capgrave, Kilwinnin, Scotland, a certain person Tuathal Maelgarbh reigned from a. d. 528
laboured under wliat was supposed to be an
incurable disease, but his friends brought
him to the basilica of St. Winni'n that he
might be cured. Now there stood outside
of the church a stone cross marvellously
constructed, which during his lifetime
Blessed V\ innin had erected in honour of began his reign to A. D. 565. Then he was blessed Brigida the virgin. To it they slain at Rath Bee by Aedh Dubh, King of fixed the sick youth. By advice of the Uladh. See William M. Hennessy's edition,
priests, his friends entered the church pp. 48 to 57.
"
Vol. IX—No. 5. R
dxl. , p. 529.
vi. ,p. 25. — Chapter ii.
to 538, according to Dr. O'Donovan's "Annals of the Four Masters,'' vol. i. , pp. 177 to 181.
2 The " Chronicum Scotorum," however, places the death of Tuathal Maelgarbh, at A. D. £44, wljen Diarmaid Mac Cerbhail
*58
LIVESOFTHEIRISHSAINTS. 'Septemberio.
prayers, Nathus,3 a Bishop, who died without having received the holy sacraments. He even raisecl to life a widow's son, who had been dead for three days, and wht> had departed this life without baptism. These are only afewofthesignsandwonderswhichhewrought. * Theplace,wherehis Abbey had been founded, was at the head of Strangford Lough, in the County of Down. It is rendered into Latin, as Campus arboris sacri.
"
Magh-bile, or Moville, also Movilla, may be literally translated
the field of
Moville Abbey, County Down.
In
only, as having been governed by Abbots. ? Domnagh-bile, in the County of Donegal, was afterwards called Magh-bile, and modernized Moville. Archdall 8 has strangely confounded Colgan's account of Magh-bile,9 or
3 This form of name seems resolvable into place occupied by a garden attached to Mr. the Irish Nathi or Nathe. There was a Jamison's house, three or four Irish yew
the aged tree. " s This word also signifies the plain of the tree or trees.
our Calendars, Martyrologies, and Annals, Maghbile is often mentioned, in a general and absolute manner, without any allusion to a second monastery bearing that name. After the year 731, Moville is noticed in our Annals
Bishop Nathi, of Cuil Saccaile, in Dala- radia, County of Down, venerated at the 1st of August. For notices of him, at that date, see the Eighth Volume of this work, Art. iv. A still more celebrated Patron of Achonry Diocese is venerated, at the 9th of August, where his Acts are to be found. Sec ibid. , Art. i. There is also a Nathe Bishop, whose feast occurs at the 28th October. However, in none of their Acts do we find a relation of the miracle recorded in the text.
4 See Bishop Challenor's " Britannia
Sancta," part ii. , September 10th, pp. 125, 126.
5 Close to the burying-ground, and in a
trees of immense size and age might be seen, and are said to have been much older than any of the buildings in their immediate neighbourhood. It is possible, that one of these may be the sacred tree, which gave the name to the place, or at all events, that the present trees are the descendants of the original ''aged tree. " See Mr. William Hugh Patterson's " Notice of some Ancient Tomb Stones at Movilla, County Down," P- 5-
6
According to Rev. Dr. Lanigan.
7 See Rev. William Reeves' " Ecclesias-
tical Antiquities of Down, Connor, and
Dromore," Appendix A, p. 152.
8 See Monasticon Ilibernicum, p. 103. " It
6
September io. ] LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. 259
Movilleof
10 withthatofMovilleinDown,thewellknownmonas-
Donegal,
flourishing period.
tery, which was governed by St. Finnian in the sixth century, and continued
in a — state to a still later — The 'remains of a later
monastery said to have been Augustinian T
11
12
are yet te be seen, at Moville,
in the County of Down. 3 Traces of its extensive foundations may still be clearly made out ; and of the ruins that remain, there are some, parts of
whichindicateahighfinishofworkmanship. However,theoriginalmonas-
tery and church remains of St. Finian have at present totally disappeared. The x
Index Topographicus * affixed to Colgan's Acta Sanctorum, represents Finnian as having lived at both Maghbiles ; viz. , that in the County of
Donegal,
County
colour of his hair, which was or light,
18 At a Maghbile,
of Down. This led Harris r s for astray,
and that in the
when alluding to those distinct places, he has both houses under the one St. Finian. 16 Sir James Ware was right in marking but one Maghbile or Moville, whichwassituatedinDown. Hisauthorityoughttohavebeenadheredto by Harris.
1"
This Saint is said to have been called Finnbar ? or white top," from the
to
famous school was attached to his monastery, and there several eminent
scholars were educated in the science of the saints. Although St. Nathy, Bishop and Patron of Achonry Diocese, is said to have been brought up in
the School of St. Finnian, Abbot of Clonard ; yet this seems irreconcilable with the time when that school had been established, towards the middle of
the sixth 1 ? It is more century.
probable,
Nathy
artist, with a very
narrative in connexion, to be found in Mr. and Mrs.
interesting
"
&c, vol. iii. , pp. 16 to 18. This has been faithfully copied and engraved by Mr. Gregor
Grey, to furnish the subject of the present illustration.
'3 In the grave-yard attached is the grave
Hall's
Ireland ; its Scenery, Character,"
inclining
golden.
that the Finian under whom studied had been the present saint. Also he was the illustrious St. Columkille's
3° preceptor ;
is there wrongly stated, that Colgan ascribes to St. Patrick the establishment of a monas-
tery at Domnach-bile, in Donegal; nor does he exhibit it as placed by St. Patrick under Aengus, son of Olild.
' See "Trias Thaumaturga," p. 181.
while he is said to have brought the Mosaic Law, and the whole Gospel, into Ireland. The early years of St. Columba were spent under the guidance and instruction of our saint. While there, and as a deac6n, Columba had been obliged to procure wine for the celebration of the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass, and this was brought as water in the first instance from the fountain. However, on blessing it, the water was miraculously changed
I0
Colgan states,that a monastery was there.
of the Rev. Archibald Warwick, the Presby- terian minister of the parish, hung for his participation in the rebellion of 1798. He was greatly beloved and respected by his
people, and regarding him, a most pathetic story is told in the work of Mr. and Mrs. Hall.
As to Moville, in Dr. much Donegal, Lanigan
doubts, as to whether it had ever been a
monastery ; for Colgan, although he thought
so, yej; could not make out any one abbot
placed over it.
"
At the Dissolution, it appears to have been possessed of seven townlands, and the spiritualities of sixteen and a half besides. Its possessions were granted to Viscount Claneboys.
12 There is a wood-cut illustration of this ruin, drawn by Mr. Burgess, a Belfast
' 4 The of that Index was compiler
owing to the identity of the names, lS In his list of Monasteries,
l6 Yet, Archdall
pretends to give the names of abbots at Moville in Donegal, such as Finnian,
Siollan, Aengus M'Loingsy, &c. Now, these are the same identical persons, he reckons at Moville in Down, with some othersnamed. Therealonetheyoughttobe.
J? In the Irish character written ponn
bA^.
l8 to ire's " he According Magu Calendar,"
had yellow hair.
19 See what has been stated already, in the
Life of St. Nathy, Patron of Achonry Diocese, at the 9th of August, in the Eighth Volume of this work, Art. i. , chap. i.
*°See Dr. Reeves' Adamnan's " Vita S. Columbae," lib. ii,, cap. i. , lib. iii. , cap. iv.
goes
further, and he even
deceived,
260 LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. [September io.
into wine. St. Finian and his community gave thanks to the Almighty for that miracle, which through humility the holy young deacon chose to ascribe
rather to the merits of his superior than to his own.
21
According to the Irish
32 and he afterwards from the assistants how such a highly superior quality of wine had
been found.
Besides Movilla, he was the founder of Druim-fionn, in the territory of
Conall Muirthemne, and now Dromin in Louth -p here the dispute between him and St. Columba respecting the manuscript of the Gospels is said to h'ave
Life of St. St. Finian had been the Columkille,
celebrant,
enquired
occurred. 24
Allusion has been already made25 to the circumstances related
26 and which are to have fomented the battle of Cuil- reported
in this
fable,
2? near
two years before the coming of St. Columba to Scotland. ^ In his Life of St. Columba, Adamnan relates a miraculous occurrence in connexion with
him, of a young man learning the Holy Scriptures in Scotia, and of a bishop Findbarr. Could this refer to the teaching of St. Finnian of Movilla,3° it
renders the legend, regarding the quarrel between him and St. Columba, both as to cause and effect, extremely improbable. 31 When St. Columba32 was a young man, and under the tuition of Finnion his master, the latter saw an in his
company,
Oremne,
Sligo,
in the
province
of
Connaught. *
8 Thatbattle took
place
33 and this he said to his other rt Now disciples :
angel
behold Columba coming, who for his merits deserves to have a denizen of Heaven for his companion. '^ The Irish Life states, that on leaving St. Finnian of Maghbile, St. Columba placed himself under a senior called Gemman. 35 In the Life of St. Fintan of Dunbleisch,36 there is a story told of this same St.
Finnian refusing to lend him a copy of the Gospels. 37 The particular account has already been given, in the Life of the former saint. 38 ThisholybishopofMaghbilewasacontemporary. ofSt. Comgall,39 Abbot
21
Columba, in the Sixth Volume of this work,
See the Life of St. Columkille or tures. See the various testimonies collected by Colgan from the Lives of his disciples,
June ix. , Art. i. , chap. ii.
in Colgan's " Acta Sanctorum Hiberniae," Appendix ad Acta S. Finniani, cap. ii. , iii. ,
23
See Colgan's "Trias Thaumaturga,"
Vita Quinta S. Columbae, lib. i. , cap. xxxix. ,
p. 395.
23 Called "Ecclesia S. Fintani de Dro-
myng. "—Fleming's "Registrum," fol. 44 a. 24 For the particulars relating to this legend, see Prince O'Doniiell's Life of St.
iv. and v. , pp. 403 to 407. 3I See Rev. Dr. Reeves'
"
Sixth Volume of this work, Art. i.
33 This anecdote appears to have been turga," lib. ii. , cap. i. , p. 408 et seq. Also, borrowed from Cummian's Life. See Col-
Columkille, in Colgan's "Trias Thauma-
the Rev. Dr. Keating's "History of Ire- gan's
Trias Thaumaturga. " Vita Secunda
land," at the reign of Aodh.
=5 See the Life of St. Columkille or
S. Columba, cap. iv. , pp. 325, 326.
34 See Rev. Dr. Reeves' " Adamnan's Life
Columba, in the Sixth Volume of this work, of St. Columba," lib. iii. , cap. iv. , pp. 195,
June 9, Art. i. , chap. vii.
96 See Thomas Moore's " History of Ire-
land," vol. i. , chap, xii. , pp. 243, 244.
2
? See an account of the assigned causes, in Archbishop Ussher's "Britannicarum Eccle- siarum Antiquitates," cap. xvii. , pp. 467 to 469.
196, and n. (a. )
3s From him, St. Columba removed to St.
Finnian of Clonard. See Colgan's "Trias Thaumaturga. " Vita Quinta S. Columbse, lib. i. , cap. xl. , p. 395.
36 See him noticed, at the 3rd of January, First Volume of this work, Art. i.
28 In Dr. O'Donovan's " Annals of the Four Masters," the battle of Cul-Dreimhne is set down at a. d. 555. See vol. i. , pp. 192 to 195, and accompanying notes.
" Acta Sanctorum Hiber- nioe," iii. Januarii. Vita S. Fintani, Abb. , cap. v. , p. II, and Vita S. Fridiani, Appen-
3
*See the Second Preface to Rev. Dr.
dix, cap. iii. , pp. , 643, 644. 38 See ibid. , chap. ii.
3«See his — the 10th of
Reeves' "Adamnan's Vita S. Columbae,"
confessedly a famous teacher of the Scrip- work, Art. i.
the date 30 The other St. Finnian, hovvever, was for his festival in the Fifth Volume of tlm
p. 9.
Life. at May—
Adamnan's Life of St. Columba," lib. ii. , cap. i. , and n. (b. ),
pp. 103, 104.
32 See his Life at the 9th of June, in the
"
37 See
Colgan's
September io. J LIVES OF THE IRISH SAIN1S. 261
ot Bangor, and was accustomed to visit hiui. On a particular occasion, which is related in the Acts of this latter Saint, lie induced Comgall to relax the austerity of his rule, especially as regarded the old and inhrm monks of
his monastery/
The present St. Finian has been styled Bishop of Moville, and he is con-
sidered to have been the first founder of a religious establishment there. According to Camerarius, before he became bishop, he was abbot of some monastery in Fife. *' The Breviary of Aberdeen states, that he often visited foreignregions,anddesiredtoleadasolitarylifeawayfromhisparents. In this connexion, he is said, to have been accompanied by some fellow warriors, and to have been carried to Scotia Minor, where they landed at a place called Coninghame. In the Saltair-na-rann attributed to St. ^ngus the Culdee, it is affirmed, that he was honoured as principal patron in all the province of Ulster, as St. Brigid42 was in that of Leinster, St. Kieran^ of Cluain-mic-nois in that of Connaught, and St. Ailbeus44 in that of Munster. In the list of the chief Irish Saints as Patrons, and in that metrical composi- tion's the name of St. Finnian of Maghbile is introduced as special Patron of all Ulster. However, his memory was more especially venerated in that district of Ulster, called Ullagh, or Ulidia, comprising some parts of eastern
He was visited, in fine, by a painful illness, which confined him for twelve months to his bed. 4 ? Having prepared himself for an exit to the happiness of Heaven, by receiving the divine mysteries, the day at last came, and St. Finnian breathed out his pure soul, into the keeping of his great Creator. Having then received the Sacred Viaticum, in holy resignation, that Bishop fell asleep in our Lord. St. Comgall, Abbot of Bangor, who survived him,48 had a miraculous intuition regarding his death, as one night, while his
:
monks were assembled in the church, he said " Let us pray, dearly beloved,
for the soul of our father Bishop Findbarr. He is now borne to Heaven by the Angels. 40 On the following day, authentic intelligence arrived of our saint's happy departure.
the
too, as one of the chief Patron Saints belonging to the diocese of Down.
Ultonia,and chiefly including
present county
is
regarded,
He died on the tenth of —and on this his festival September, day, was
—ted. At the iv. Idus
month John Capgrave has that account, regarding St. Finan, Bishop and
40 See ibid. , chap. iii. Momonii omnes cum suis proceribus, sub 41 See " De Scotorum Pietate," p. 88. patrocinio Ailbei :
42 See her Life, in the Second Volume of Archipraesules sancti cum suis monachis
celebra
Septembris corresponding
with the 10th of this
this work, at the 1st of February, Art. i.
43
See his Life, at the previous day, in the present volume, Art. i.
44 See his Acts, at the 12th of September, in the present volume, Ait. i.
45 The following is Colgan's rendering of some lines in Latin :—
Posteri Nielli sub patrocinio Columbae, non subrubo:
Sub patrocinio Finniani Magbilensis Ultonii
universi
Conatii omnes sub patrocinio Kierani, esto
sine perditione :
Dal-Aradii nobiles et inclyti, sub patrocinio
Comgalli :
finanliter quacumque procedunt via, omnes sub patricinio Patricii.
—"Acta Sanctorum Hibernioe," Martii xviii. Vita S. Fridiani. Appendix, cap. iii. , p. 646.
47 See Bishop Challenor's "Britannia Sancta," part ii. , September 10, p. 126.
48 st. Comgall of Bangor survived to about the year 602. See Rev. Dr. Reeves'
:
Lagenii sub patrocinio Brigidse nomine rum," tomus ii. , Maii x. Vita S. Comgalli,
famosse :
cap. ii. ,
num.
27, 28, p. 585.
of Down/6 He
*6 see Dr.
tory of Ireland," vol. ii. , chap, x. , sect, vi. , and n. 90, pp. 26, 28.
Lanigan's
" Adamnan's Life of St.
