" The
angel returned for answer,
dence protects man.
angel returned for answer,
dence protects man.
O'Hanlon - Lives of the Irish Saints - v1
iii.
, cap.
xix.
, p.
210.
'5 Dante likewise ends his immortal poem, the "DivinaCommedia," with an admirable vision of the Most HoiyTrinity, thus rendered in the Rev. Mr. Gary's translation :—
" In that abyss Of radiance, clear and lofty, seem'd,
methought,
Three orbs of triple hue, dipt in one
bound :
And, from another, one reflected seem'd, 1
any
time. "'^
By
wings
Ezechiel's • appari-
—Seem'd tire, breathed equally from both.
regarding the hidden mystery of the Trinity, through an enigma of similitude, as fonnerly, when Abraham saw three angels, he adored onlyoneGod. SeeGenesisxviii.
'' Colgan adds, likewise, in a note to this passage, that we are not to understand the saint had a clear, but rather an obscure and rapid vision of the Most Holy Trinity, dur- ing his remarkable ecstasy. See "Acta Sanctorum Hiberniae," ix. Februarii. Vita S. Fursxi, n. 8, p. 299.
'^John, i. , ib. i John, iv. , 12. ''Romans, viii. , lb.
"II Paradiso," canto xxxiii. , 115 '*
"
246 LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. [January l6 glory, save in the Cross of our Lord Jesus Christ. '"'° Besides, St. Gregory
" The love of God is never for if it exists it works out results
idle,
and regarding hope, the Apostle St. Paul observes,
great
says,
j" Our conversation is in heaven. "^' By the white shield and shining sword, he understood, " the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the spirit, which is the word of God. "^" He warned the people, that by such armour they should resist diabolic as- saults, and with it, in eloquent words, he cautioned them to keep vigil. He compared that versicle the angels repeated, to Jacob's ladder, which this
Patriarch saw erect, and the foundation of which was placed on the love of
God and of our neighbour ; while its steps were formed of patience, charity, concord, humility and other virtues. And, as each one of the faithful shall practise these virtues, so shall an ascent towards heaven be afforded to him. ^3
After Fursey had related these and other particulars of like import to
all that surrounded him, he predicted a future and more grievous struggle
against the powers of hell which yet awaited him, according to the angels' prediction. Then imparting a benediction to the crowd, his hearers departed for their respective homes. Filled with compunction, he remained in his
small cell, recollecting the angelic glories of which he had been a spectator, andthoseheavenlydelightswhichhehadexperienced. Oftenanddeeplydid he revolve in mind that duty of solicitude he had been admonished to extend towards his subjects. Yet he lamented and complained that he had no man
living with him possessing wisdom and force of mind, or who might give those
counsels requisite for their mutual instruction, and to fortify him against the predicted struggle, when the angels should revisit him. He poured forth many sighs from the depths of his soul, and offered tearful prayers to the Almighty on bended knees. His illness still proving serious in character, he devoutly asked to have the Holy Communion administered to him, by way of viaticum. He spent three days in vigils, fasts and devout prayers, while his bodily infirmities continued, with scarcely a moment's intermission.
During the middle of the third night, his parents, relations and neighbours are said to have been in attendance. On a sudden, the feet of our saint be- came stiff and cold, and while his hands were extended in prayer, the moment
of his expected vision seemed approaching. It was accompanied with signs similar to those accompanying his former revelation. During the time his trancecontinued,itappearedasifthesoulhadpartedfromhisbody. Sink- ing down on the bed, he heard terrific voices, as it were of a great multitude, calling out, and requiring him to leave —the prison of the flesh. On opening his eyes,'-* the saint beheld three angels two of these being stationed one on each side of him, whilst the other being armed stood at his head. Although deprived of human sight and speech, he saw these holy angels by miracle, and heard their canticles chanted with strains of inconceivable melody. Then the angel of the Lord, who stood at his right hand, consoled our saint,
for shall be defended. " The bore St. you angel
and " Fear said,
Fursey
not,
aloft, until he saw neither roof nor house. But on his passage, he heard
"°Galatians, vi. , 14. " Philippians, iii. , 20.
»»Ephesians, vi. , 17,
•3 These visions of St. . Fursey, are sup-
posed, by Ozanam, to have been, among elude, that no functions could have been other medijBval legends, forerunners of exercised by those of the body, which then Dante's "Divina Commedia. " See " Des seemal inanimate.
Sources Poetiques de la Divine Comedie,"
*'
p. 46.
=^ It is to be supposed, the ancient
chronicle refers to those of the soul, by
metaphor; as this narrative leads us to con-
January i6. ] LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. 247
demoniac clamour and howling,^3 whilst one of the evil spirits cried out, *' Let us go before his face and wage war. " Then Fursey saw a black cloud, gathering on the left side, and an army of demons marshalling its ranks before him. To his mental vision, the bodies of these demons appeared utterly deformed and black,^^ with necks of squalid leanness and horrid shape, extended,^7 their heads being unnaturally swollen. ^^ But when they flew
of deformed bodies3° their faces he could not see on account of the gloomy darkness. While the demons cast their fiery arrows against cur saint ; these missives were repelled and extinguished by the angelic buckler. The glory of those angels rendered them as it were invisible to human sight, and the demons retreated in view of the warrior spirit, who remonstrated with his adversaries,
saw a
" Do not retard our for this man has no by saying, journey,
or— the saint along fought, only
shadowy representation^?
part perdition. " The devil contradicted him, with blasphemies, saying, that God was unjust, who would not condemn a man in league with enemies, since it
" Not worthy of death. "
who sin, but
Our saint heard a confused clamour of battle, while the
is
written,
only they
they
who
agree
with are sinners,
angel contended with his spiritual enemies ; so that it seemed as if the out- cries of these demons might be heard, throughout the entire extent of earth. When Satan was vanquished, raising his venomous serpent-like head, he in-
"
enjoy
eternal
life,
impunity. "
spirit replied,
you
offences. "3i
father
enemy said, you
" When
Fursey hath often spoken idle words, nor ought he
" Unless forgive men,
there is no question regarding revenge, but about not forgiving from
sidiously cried out,
The blessed
The old " If do not neither will
with
convict him of great crimes, he shall not be lost on account of smaller
offences. "32 The
forgive you your
hath he avenged himself, or to whom hath he done an injury ! " The devil
"
your
said,
holy angel answered,
theheart. " Theholyangelexcusedoursaintbysaying,thatinhishearthefor-
gave all, even though he yielded somewhat to human infirmity. The devil
answered, as Fursey had done evil through habit, that so he should receive
judgment from the Supreme Judge. The guardian angel returned for answer, "WearejudgedbeforetheLord. " Thearch-enemybeingthusthricevan-
's " And now begin the dolesome notes to grow
casso. " — Dante's " Divina Com-
Audible unto me
. . . .
media. " Inferno, canto xx. , 10, ii. *** ''
tempest,
If by opposing winds 'tis combated.
The infernal hurricane that never rests Hurtles the spirits onward in its ra-
pine ; Whirlingthemround,andsmiting,it
molests ihem.
There are the — the shrieks,
kettle or pipkin to boil meat in. This comparison affords proof of the existence of such an object of domestic economy be- ing in use, when the ancient author of our saint's acts wrote.
translation of Dante's "Divina Commedia. " Inferno, canto v. , 25 to 35.
,si5
" Divenner membra che non fur mai viste.
__
Ogni primaio aspetto ivi era casso.
Dante's "Divina Commedia. " Inferno,
canto XXV. , 75 to 84.
Catholic doctrine regarding the distinction of sin, and by a fair inference purgatorial and eternal punishments.
^' Matthew, vi. , 15.
•7
"
Mirabilmente apparve esser travolto Ciascun dal mento al principio del
;
.
The narrative in simili- states, Capite
plaints,
tudine cacabi intumescente vidit. " The
I came into a place mute of all light,
Which bellows as the sea does in a compared, viz. , "cacabus," means a
object to which the heads of the demons is
"Divina Commedia. " Inferno, xxxi. , lo, II.
3" The writer of St. Fursey's Acts puts
"
Livido e nero come gran di pepe. — ^i Here do w,q find a clear exposition of
"There Was less than day and less than night,
that far
advanced not. "—Rev.
eye Henry
'^^ . , . . .
Mine
and the laments. " Longfellow's Francis Gary's translation of Dante's
Sed quis prudentium lector
this query,
ignoret, hiec etiam de inimundis spiritibus ad terrorem animcE videntis fieri ? "
in
your
24 LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS, [January i6.
If God be just, this man shall not enter into the kingdom of heaven. For it is written, unless you be con- verted, and become as little children, you shall not enter into the kingdom
quished, renewed his viperous attack, saying,
of heaven. 33 This saying he hath in no manner fulfilled. " The angel of
"
The demons being thus defeated by the warrior angel, that holy spirit on
"
the Lord answered and said,
Judgment shall take place before God. ''34
Look upon the world. " Then God's holy servant be- held a dark valley at a great distance and beneath him. In the surrounding air, there were four fires to be seen, and somewhat apart from each other.
the right hand said,
The angel asked Fursey if he understood what was meant by these fires.
On These are the four fires, which destroy the world, when all sins are remitted in the Sacrament of Baptism, after due profession is made to renounce the devil, with all his deceits, works and pomps. For in Baptism a promise is made to reject Satan and all his works. ^s This first condition is rarely fulfilled. In the
his answering in the negative, the holy spirit said,
"
second place, the fire of cupidity is that whereby the riches of this world are preferred to a love of heavenly things. s*^ In the third place, the fire of dis-
sention,37 whereby we do not fear to imperil our neighbour's souls, even for a matter of slight importance. And lastly, the fire of injustice, whereby we esteem it a matter of little consequence to despoil the defenceless, and practise fraud against them. "^^ The fire then seemed to approach towards
our saint, and to enlarge its volume. Fearing such a threatening aspect, "
Fursey said in alarm to the holy angd, This fire approaches towards me. "
"
you. For although this fire is great and terrible, it tries each one only ac-
The angel answered him,
What you have not kindled, shall not consume
cording to the measure of his works. The concupiscence of every person shall burn in this fire : as the body is consumed by unlawful pleasure, so shall
the soul burn with proportionate punishment. "^?
Then Fursey saw the holy angel advancing before him, and dividing the
flames into walls apparently erected on either side, whilst he was defended
from all danger of being injured. He also saw four demons flying through those flames, and exciting a horrible commotion in the midst of the fire.
"
Lord, and doth it not, shall be beaten with many stripes. *"
One of those wicked spirits said,
The servant who knows the will of his The holy angel
" What hath received the
that these had done
prove the perseverance of their penance, before thus receiving its fruits. For
answered,
part gifts
of God's will hath he not fulfilled ? "
supposed
penance. "
The devil " He should first said,
of wicked
persons. "
The
angel replied,
" He hath
33 Matthew, xviii. , 3.
3* Those objections of the demon here re-
corded, and his preverted applications of the inspired writings, afford additional il- lustration of a tnith contained in that well- known line, taken from the great English dramatist,
"The devil—can cite Scripture for his pur-
pose. " Shakespeare's "Merchant of
3* . . . . .
many found, Injudgment,furtherofffromHimbyfar, Than such —to whom his name was never
known. " Rev. Henry Francis Gary's
translation of Dante's "DivinaCommedia. " Gentis Anglorum," lib. iii. , cap. xix. , pp. Paradiso, canto xix. , 106 to 108. 21 1, 212.
Venice," act i. , scene iii.
" .
But lo
Who call 'Christ, Christ,' there shall be
!
ofthose
3* . . "As avarice quench 'd our love *° See Luke, xii. , 47.
"
Of good, without which is no working ; thus
Here justice holds us prison'd hand and foot. "—See ibid. "II Purgatorio,"
canto xix. , 121 to 124.
^ " After that I—saw A multitude, in fury burning. " See
38 ««
ibid. , canto xv. , 105.
fraud, that in every conscience leaves
a sting,
be man on whose May by employ'd one,
trust
He wins, or on another who withholds
Strictconfidence. "—Seeibid. "L'In-
femo," canto xi. , 52 to 54.
39 "
See Bede's Historia Ecclesiastica
Satan " He said,
January 16. ] LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS.
gifts blind the eyes of the wise and destroy the words of the just. "
249
The holy
thus
angel answered,
"Weshallbe
judged
beforeGod. " Thedemon
being
vanquished in his interlocutory sophisms, began to blaspheme the Almighty,
saying,
" Hitherto we have believed in a God of truth. " The
heavenly spirit
" The
Isaias hath said, that every crime which shall not have been expiated on earth
'
If you be willing and will hearken to me, you shall eat the good things of the land. But if you will not, and will provoke me to wrath : the sword shall devour you. 't^ This man hath not purged himself from his faults on earth, nor hath he yet received punish- ment. Where then is God's justice? " The heavenly messenger reproved
said,
" What else
is
He ? "
The
persistent
demon
repHed,
Prophet
must be judged in heaven, by these words :
in these " Do not him, words,
since know not God's secret
blaspheme, counsels. " The enraged demon cried out,
"
you
What is here concealed ?
" The
angel returned for answer,
dence protects man. " Satan said,
"
So long as repentance is hoped for, Divine Provi-
"
particular instance. " The angel replied, "You ignore the depth of God's
But there is no place for penance in this
The devil " Let us answered,
there will be. " there is no reason for judgment. "
Another of the demons
which but few enter. Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself"'^^ The holy
secrets, perchance
depart, then,
angel answered, adversary replied,
" It will not avail him to have
neighbour. " wrought good,
hathlovedhis
neighbour
ashimself" The
angel returned,
began,
" A narrow
gate
remains for
him, through
" This man hath towards his wrought good
The unless he "Thefruitoflove is to be found in good works towards our neighbour, for God shall render to
eachman tohisworks. " Thewicked according
spirit
cause he hath not fulfilled the precept of God in loving, he shall be con-
demned. " Thushesoughttocaluminatetheblessedman.
The holy angels remained victors in this contest, although the demons stoutlycontendedwiththem. Aftersixdifferentrepetitionsofthecontention, ending in a like number of defeats, a demon, according to his usual manner,
" If God be not and if false- unjust,
vent to
in these
hood or a transgression of his commands displease him, this man shall not
gave
blasphemies,
terms,
escape punishment. For he promised to renounce the world, and on the
contrary, he continues to love the world, contrary to the Apostolic precept : 'Love not the world, nor the things which are in the world. ''*3 Wherefore, this man had no regard either for his OAvn vow, nor for the Apostolic in-
junction. " The holy angel answered, " He doth not love the things of this world for their own sake, but in order that they may be dispensed to those
needingthem. " Thewickedspiritcontinued "Inwhatmannercansuch
:
things be loved, in accordance with the Divine precept, and contrary to the Christian's promise made in Baptism? " His adversaries being once more vanquished and his guardians being victors, Fursey again heard the demon
"
It is written : If thou wilt not announce to the unjust man his iniquity, I will require his blood at thy
hand. "^4 The " it is also written The
angel replied, Concerning this, : prudent
shall keep silence at that time, for it is an evil time. '^s For when hearers despise the word, the teacher's tongue is also tied, because he knows that his
resume his sophistical accusation, by saying,
preaching when heard is despised. "^^
<' See Isaias, i. , 19, 20.
** See Leviticus, xix. , 18 ; Matthew, v. , 43, xxii. 39 ; Mark, xii. , 31, &c.
*3 I. John, ii. , 15.
** See Ezechiel, iii. , 18.
*s
The old accuser returned : "The latter,
** Among the principal causes assigned for the loss of souls, we find, the negligence of doctors and the evil example of princes. See Mabillon's "Acta Sanctorum Ordinis
S. Benedicti," tomus ii. , p. 291.
Amos, v. , 13.
then "Butbe- said,
250 LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. [January i6,
however, ought to announce it to his last moments, and neither give his as- sent to this indifference, nor be silent, notwithstanding its continuance. "'*?
During the time occupied by the foregoing dialogue, the obstinate demons continued their resistance, until it pleased God to overcome them and give a victory to his angels. Then Fursey saw himself surrounded by an astonish- ing brightness. '*^ On looking upwards, he beheld an immense multitude of angels and of holy persons, flying around, and with their wings in motion. These at once repelled from his mind any dread of the fire and terrors caused by the demons, that had before disturbed him. It seemed to him, that no labour could be too severe, nor length of time too continuous, provided the glory of a happy eternity could be achieved, and its joys and delights should be secured. In the meantime, our saint beheld two venerable men of his na- tive province, with these blessed spirits. On seeing them, he thought they had then departed from among the living. *? These were St. Meldan and St. Beoan. 5° It is intimated in certain Acts of St. FurseyS' that when they had been written, the festivals of those holy men, who are called Prelates, were celebrated by the faithful. s^ They were accosted by Fursey, on their nearer approach, and a conversation ensued between our saint and these his friends. 53
Then St. Fursey noticed a great serenity in the surrounding atmosphere, s-t andtwoangelsapproachingthisaerialregion. Theysefemedtoenterthrough an ethereal opening. Suddenly, a great brightness surrounded them and a multitude of angels divided into four distinct choirs. 55 Theywere heard singing and repeating, Sandiis, sanctus, sandtis, Dominus Dens Sabaoth. ^^ Immediately the saint's spirit was wafted high into the air, whilst heavenly psalmodic strains of inexpressible sweetness and in a lively movement were heard. Bands of angels likewise stood at his right hand. A holy angel
:
placedamongthemsaid "Doyouknowwhenceproceedthisjoyandhappi-
ness? " Onansweringinthenegative,thisangelcontinued,"Fromthechoirs
«<
*7 See Colgan's "Acta Sanctorum Hiber- s^ nise," xvi. Januarii. Vita S. Fursasi, lib. i. ,
cap. xiv. , XV. , xvi. , xvii. , xviii. , xix. , pp.
77 to 79- Also, ix. Februarii. Vita S.
Furssei a Desmaio, cap. vi. , pp. 286 to 288,
ibib. In these latter acts, Desmay has cess.
omitted much of the foregoing dialogue, although he briefly relates its chief points.
*^ . . . . . "Thatwasrayingout
Light so acute, the sight which it en- kindles
53 According to Colgan, their Natalis is
placed at the 26th of October, with that of
their companion, St. Nasad, by St. ^ngus the Culdee. For further notices, the reader is referred to that day.
s* ' ' The firmament looks forth serene and smiles. "—Gary's translation of Dante's " Divina Commedia. " II Paradiso,
canto xxviii.
ss "in fashion, as a snow-white rose, lay
then
Before my view the saintly multitude.
. , . For, through the universe Wherever merited, celestial light
— Glides freely, and no obstacle prevents. " Cary's translation of Dante's "Divina
Must close
acuteness. " — See "The
agrees. S'» His
Commedia. " II- canto Paradiso,
reputation that of Meldan. "—
equally great Lanigan's
xxxi. , i, 2,
perforce
before such
great Divine
Comedy" of Dante Alighieri, translated by Henry Wadsworth Longfellow. Paradiso, canto xxviii. , 16 to 18.
*3 Acts, L. i. , c. 21. It being said,
that Fursey thought they were dead, seems to indicate that they were still alive. Bede,
however, speaks of them, without giving their names, as being dead at that time, and so they are represented in the lives by Capgrave and Desmay, with whom Colgan
was
Dr.
xvi. , § viii. , n. 74, p. 457,
5' Published by Colgan at the l6th of
January.
with " Ecclesi- astical History of Ireland," vol. ii. , chap.
Hos Proesules cunctorum memoria usque ad nostra tempera celebrat. " It would seem, that these expressions were verbally transcribed from the old acts of our saint, to which the Venerable I3ede had ac-
22, 23, 24.
ss The opening line of the seventh canto
"
—Dante's Divina Commedia.
of
II Paradiso" is
" Osanna, sanctus Deus Sabaoth. " ""
January i6. ] LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. 251
ofheaven,towhichwealsobelong. '' Fursey'smind,becomingthenceforward oblivious of all his previous anxieties and sufferings, was filled with ineffable
joy. 57 On hearing these heavenly hymns more distinctly and harmoniously sung, he supposed them intended for his sole gratification. In a transport of admiration he cried out, "The joy with which I am filled on hearing these
hymns is indescribable. " The angel made answer,
'•
On account of our
ministry extending to human aftairs, we arc often deprived of the great plea- sureofhearingthem-. ^^ andwhatwelabourhieffecting,thedemonseradicate
from the hearts of men, owing to temptation. ' Whilst Turkey was altogether intent on hearing those harmonious heavenly strains, the angel of the Lord
"
remarked to him,
what arises from man's perdition. "
"
sweet,
heart. "—Gary's translation of Dante's Divina Connnedia," II Paradise, canto
wise thinks, not only these words, but like-
wise a great portion of the later acts, espe- cially that which refers to our saint's visions, nnist have been copied from the old writer's account. For tlie words contained within parentheses were not spoken by the angel who appearetl to St. Fursey, when the mortality, (Sic, was yet to come, nor by the author of the acts pul)li. -hed at the i6th of January, who, according to Golgan, did not live for three or four hundred years after that prophecy and vision, in which it had
In this celestial kingdom tliere can be no sorrow, except
Then he beheld Saints Beoan and Meldan advancing from the heavenly penetralia, and assuming the forms of angels, while surrounded with great brightness. 59 They directed Fursey to return to the world. Our saint was silent, and overwhelmed with sorrow on hearing this announcement. At length, through the efforts of those angels, he found himself reco\"ered suffi-
to hear the words fronr Beoan and ]\Ieldan ciently following
:
" do ^Vhy you
fear ? You are only required to labour through a journey of one day. *^° Therefore, announce generally in your exhortations, that the dissolution of
all things is near at hand. " Then St. Fursey began to enquire regarding the end of the world, when he was told, that it was not immediately to take
place, though not very remote \ as also that famine and pestilence must op- press the human race. *^' The saint was also told, that there were two kinds
''! . . ,. . " All tlie vision dies, As 't were away ; and yet the sense of
mentioned in the aforesaid words, must have
been literally quoted from . St. Fursey's Acts,
compiled by the old author who had written That . sprang from it, still trickles in my before Venerable Bede's time. Golgan like-
xxxiii. , 61 to 63.
5' Colgan here remarks : We arc not to
understand that any of the angels are ever
deprived of God's bcatitic vision, T,\hiKt
they are occupied in ministering to men.
They arc only placed beyond the circle of
other angels, constantly employed in singing
and proclaiming the praises of the . -Mmighty. See "Acta . Sanctorum Ilibernia;," n. 20,
p. 90.
5^ The appearance and conversation of been intimated that this mortality and
those saints will remind the reader of Dante's vi. ^ion regarding several renowned saints and doctors of the Ghurcli, who were seen by hinr in the various div;>ions of his Paradise.
eclipse were to take place. He therefore
concludes, that the mortality and eclipse alluded to had been taken literally from the old writer's acts, and that mention is made of both occurrences, in these words of Vene-
:
''^ "
breve, quo laboratures cs in terra, ut
ex ipso authorc infra, c. 29. " Golgan's carnationis sexccntcssimo sexagessimo quar-
Tempus est instar unius diei, sen colligilur
rable Bede
" Eodem anno Dominicn3 In-
"Acta . Sanctorum Ilibernia','' x\i. Januarii. Vita S. FursLvi, n. 21, p. 90.
*"
to facta est Fcclypsis solis die tertio Mensis Maii, hora circiter dccima diei : quo etiam subita pcstilenti:D lues, dcpopulatis pruis
Immediately afterwards, we read in his
acts, published at the i6th of January, these Austrahbus Britannia plagis, Northum-
following words: "Quod jam signo solis (cum radios suos anno pr. eterito abscon-
brorum quoque Provinciam corripiens, atque accerba cade diutuis longe lataque desKviens magnam hominum multitudinem stravit.
disset) in modum lun;c splendcntis signifi-
ratum est. " Golgan supposes, this pro- Qua plaga prcfectus domi sacerdos Tuda
phecy regarding pestilence, and the account concerning the sun's eclipse, which is said
to have occurred during that past year, as
raplus est dc mundo, et in monasterio quod vocatur Pegnalech honorificc sepultus. Hfec autem plaga Hiberniam quoque Insulam
252 LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. [January i6.
of famine : one in the abundance of understanding the word of God, and in
not fulfilling its precepts ; and another, in the abundance of riches possessed
by a miser. Both of these spring from the same bitter root. For, as the
avaricious man is not satisfied with possessing money, because in desiring
those things that are unlawful, the bitterness of avarice does not even know
the benefits to be obtained by acquired goods : so, in like manner, souls
poisoned by the wormwood of sin, do not take delight in God's holy word.
And, on account of the Almight}''s mercy, mortality was restrained for a
while ; yet death must overtake that impenitent man, who should despise
those signs and the warnings of Holy Scripture. Although the \\Tath of
t'le Supreme Judge threatens all who despise Divine admonitions. His anger
is chietly excited against doctors of the Church and princes : because faith-
ful souls perish through the deceitful vices of this world, through tempta-
tions of hostile demons, through the negligence of doctors, and through the
evil example afforded by- wicked princes. By means of study, divines under-
stand the prophetic books, and know what sort of things shall occur at this
time. Men are usually found imperfect. Although, through God's mercy,
some are endowed with the spirit of generosity, notwithstanding, they are
prone to incontinency. Others preserve chastity, but are consumed with the fire of avarice. Others acquire the grace of mildness, but are deficient in
zeal. Others easily pardon and forget injuries inflicted on them, but, owing to want of guard over their hearts, they are prone to anger, and they excite
quarrels. Some glory in what has been charitably distributed, as if they had acquired such donations by their sole labour. Again, others, who impugn
such actions, have conquered by exercising an active mind, but those forget toobtainmeritbythepracticeofgoodworks. Therearealsosome,whoare fettered with spiritual vices, and who neglect them, whilst their bodies are lacerated by abstinence. For instance, they set great account on nocturnal illusions or lesser faults, whilst they little regard that pride, which expelled angelsfromheaven. Theydonotregardagreedinessofdisposition,which drove the first man from the delights of Paradise, nor that envy which caused the fratricide Cain to kill his brother Abel ; they do not detest blasphemies, nor false testimonies, through which our Saviour was condemned to death. They do not consider the nature or duration of that punishment, which will be inflicted on wicked persons thus offending.
'5 Dante likewise ends his immortal poem, the "DivinaCommedia," with an admirable vision of the Most HoiyTrinity, thus rendered in the Rev. Mr. Gary's translation :—
" In that abyss Of radiance, clear and lofty, seem'd,
methought,
Three orbs of triple hue, dipt in one
bound :
And, from another, one reflected seem'd, 1
any
time. "'^
By
wings
Ezechiel's • appari-
—Seem'd tire, breathed equally from both.
regarding the hidden mystery of the Trinity, through an enigma of similitude, as fonnerly, when Abraham saw three angels, he adored onlyoneGod. SeeGenesisxviii.
'' Colgan adds, likewise, in a note to this passage, that we are not to understand the saint had a clear, but rather an obscure and rapid vision of the Most Holy Trinity, dur- ing his remarkable ecstasy. See "Acta Sanctorum Hiberniae," ix. Februarii. Vita S. Fursxi, n. 8, p. 299.
'^John, i. , ib. i John, iv. , 12. ''Romans, viii. , lb.
"II Paradiso," canto xxxiii. , 115 '*
"
246 LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. [January l6 glory, save in the Cross of our Lord Jesus Christ. '"'° Besides, St. Gregory
" The love of God is never for if it exists it works out results
idle,
and regarding hope, the Apostle St. Paul observes,
great
says,
j" Our conversation is in heaven. "^' By the white shield and shining sword, he understood, " the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the spirit, which is the word of God. "^" He warned the people, that by such armour they should resist diabolic as- saults, and with it, in eloquent words, he cautioned them to keep vigil. He compared that versicle the angels repeated, to Jacob's ladder, which this
Patriarch saw erect, and the foundation of which was placed on the love of
God and of our neighbour ; while its steps were formed of patience, charity, concord, humility and other virtues. And, as each one of the faithful shall practise these virtues, so shall an ascent towards heaven be afforded to him. ^3
After Fursey had related these and other particulars of like import to
all that surrounded him, he predicted a future and more grievous struggle
against the powers of hell which yet awaited him, according to the angels' prediction. Then imparting a benediction to the crowd, his hearers departed for their respective homes. Filled with compunction, he remained in his
small cell, recollecting the angelic glories of which he had been a spectator, andthoseheavenlydelightswhichhehadexperienced. Oftenanddeeplydid he revolve in mind that duty of solicitude he had been admonished to extend towards his subjects. Yet he lamented and complained that he had no man
living with him possessing wisdom and force of mind, or who might give those
counsels requisite for their mutual instruction, and to fortify him against the predicted struggle, when the angels should revisit him. He poured forth many sighs from the depths of his soul, and offered tearful prayers to the Almighty on bended knees. His illness still proving serious in character, he devoutly asked to have the Holy Communion administered to him, by way of viaticum. He spent three days in vigils, fasts and devout prayers, while his bodily infirmities continued, with scarcely a moment's intermission.
During the middle of the third night, his parents, relations and neighbours are said to have been in attendance. On a sudden, the feet of our saint be- came stiff and cold, and while his hands were extended in prayer, the moment
of his expected vision seemed approaching. It was accompanied with signs similar to those accompanying his former revelation. During the time his trancecontinued,itappearedasifthesoulhadpartedfromhisbody. Sink- ing down on the bed, he heard terrific voices, as it were of a great multitude, calling out, and requiring him to leave —the prison of the flesh. On opening his eyes,'-* the saint beheld three angels two of these being stationed one on each side of him, whilst the other being armed stood at his head. Although deprived of human sight and speech, he saw these holy angels by miracle, and heard their canticles chanted with strains of inconceivable melody. Then the angel of the Lord, who stood at his right hand, consoled our saint,
for shall be defended. " The bore St. you angel
and " Fear said,
Fursey
not,
aloft, until he saw neither roof nor house. But on his passage, he heard
"°Galatians, vi. , 14. " Philippians, iii. , 20.
»»Ephesians, vi. , 17,
•3 These visions of St. . Fursey, are sup-
posed, by Ozanam, to have been, among elude, that no functions could have been other medijBval legends, forerunners of exercised by those of the body, which then Dante's "Divina Commedia. " See " Des seemal inanimate.
Sources Poetiques de la Divine Comedie,"
*'
p. 46.
=^ It is to be supposed, the ancient
chronicle refers to those of the soul, by
metaphor; as this narrative leads us to con-
January i6. ] LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. 247
demoniac clamour and howling,^3 whilst one of the evil spirits cried out, *' Let us go before his face and wage war. " Then Fursey saw a black cloud, gathering on the left side, and an army of demons marshalling its ranks before him. To his mental vision, the bodies of these demons appeared utterly deformed and black,^^ with necks of squalid leanness and horrid shape, extended,^7 their heads being unnaturally swollen. ^^ But when they flew
of deformed bodies3° their faces he could not see on account of the gloomy darkness. While the demons cast their fiery arrows against cur saint ; these missives were repelled and extinguished by the angelic buckler. The glory of those angels rendered them as it were invisible to human sight, and the demons retreated in view of the warrior spirit, who remonstrated with his adversaries,
saw a
" Do not retard our for this man has no by saying, journey,
or— the saint along fought, only
shadowy representation^?
part perdition. " The devil contradicted him, with blasphemies, saying, that God was unjust, who would not condemn a man in league with enemies, since it
" Not worthy of death. "
who sin, but
Our saint heard a confused clamour of battle, while the
is
written,
only they
they
who
agree
with are sinners,
angel contended with his spiritual enemies ; so that it seemed as if the out- cries of these demons might be heard, throughout the entire extent of earth. When Satan was vanquished, raising his venomous serpent-like head, he in-
"
enjoy
eternal
life,
impunity. "
spirit replied,
you
offences. "3i
father
enemy said, you
" When
Fursey hath often spoken idle words, nor ought he
" Unless forgive men,
there is no question regarding revenge, but about not forgiving from
sidiously cried out,
The blessed
The old " If do not neither will
with
convict him of great crimes, he shall not be lost on account of smaller
offences. "32 The
forgive you your
hath he avenged himself, or to whom hath he done an injury ! " The devil
"
your
said,
holy angel answered,
theheart. " Theholyangelexcusedoursaintbysaying,thatinhishearthefor-
gave all, even though he yielded somewhat to human infirmity. The devil
answered, as Fursey had done evil through habit, that so he should receive
judgment from the Supreme Judge. The guardian angel returned for answer, "WearejudgedbeforetheLord. " Thearch-enemybeingthusthricevan-
's " And now begin the dolesome notes to grow
casso. " — Dante's " Divina Com-
Audible unto me
. . . .
media. " Inferno, canto xx. , 10, ii. *** ''
tempest,
If by opposing winds 'tis combated.
The infernal hurricane that never rests Hurtles the spirits onward in its ra-
pine ; Whirlingthemround,andsmiting,it
molests ihem.
There are the — the shrieks,
kettle or pipkin to boil meat in. This comparison affords proof of the existence of such an object of domestic economy be- ing in use, when the ancient author of our saint's acts wrote.
translation of Dante's "Divina Commedia. " Inferno, canto v. , 25 to 35.
,si5
" Divenner membra che non fur mai viste.
__
Ogni primaio aspetto ivi era casso.
Dante's "Divina Commedia. " Inferno,
canto XXV. , 75 to 84.
Catholic doctrine regarding the distinction of sin, and by a fair inference purgatorial and eternal punishments.
^' Matthew, vi. , 15.
•7
"
Mirabilmente apparve esser travolto Ciascun dal mento al principio del
;
.
The narrative in simili- states, Capite
plaints,
tudine cacabi intumescente vidit. " The
I came into a place mute of all light,
Which bellows as the sea does in a compared, viz. , "cacabus," means a
object to which the heads of the demons is
"Divina Commedia. " Inferno, xxxi. , lo, II.
3" The writer of St. Fursey's Acts puts
"
Livido e nero come gran di pepe. — ^i Here do w,q find a clear exposition of
"There Was less than day and less than night,
that far
advanced not. "—Rev.
eye Henry
'^^ . , . . .
Mine
and the laments. " Longfellow's Francis Gary's translation of Dante's
Sed quis prudentium lector
this query,
ignoret, hiec etiam de inimundis spiritibus ad terrorem animcE videntis fieri ? "
in
your
24 LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS, [January i6.
If God be just, this man shall not enter into the kingdom of heaven. For it is written, unless you be con- verted, and become as little children, you shall not enter into the kingdom
quished, renewed his viperous attack, saying,
of heaven. 33 This saying he hath in no manner fulfilled. " The angel of
"
The demons being thus defeated by the warrior angel, that holy spirit on
"
the Lord answered and said,
Judgment shall take place before God. ''34
Look upon the world. " Then God's holy servant be- held a dark valley at a great distance and beneath him. In the surrounding air, there were four fires to be seen, and somewhat apart from each other.
the right hand said,
The angel asked Fursey if he understood what was meant by these fires.
On These are the four fires, which destroy the world, when all sins are remitted in the Sacrament of Baptism, after due profession is made to renounce the devil, with all his deceits, works and pomps. For in Baptism a promise is made to reject Satan and all his works. ^s This first condition is rarely fulfilled. In the
his answering in the negative, the holy spirit said,
"
second place, the fire of cupidity is that whereby the riches of this world are preferred to a love of heavenly things. s*^ In the third place, the fire of dis-
sention,37 whereby we do not fear to imperil our neighbour's souls, even for a matter of slight importance. And lastly, the fire of injustice, whereby we esteem it a matter of little consequence to despoil the defenceless, and practise fraud against them. "^^ The fire then seemed to approach towards
our saint, and to enlarge its volume. Fearing such a threatening aspect, "
Fursey said in alarm to the holy angd, This fire approaches towards me. "
"
you. For although this fire is great and terrible, it tries each one only ac-
The angel answered him,
What you have not kindled, shall not consume
cording to the measure of his works. The concupiscence of every person shall burn in this fire : as the body is consumed by unlawful pleasure, so shall
the soul burn with proportionate punishment. "^?
Then Fursey saw the holy angel advancing before him, and dividing the
flames into walls apparently erected on either side, whilst he was defended
from all danger of being injured. He also saw four demons flying through those flames, and exciting a horrible commotion in the midst of the fire.
"
Lord, and doth it not, shall be beaten with many stripes. *"
One of those wicked spirits said,
The servant who knows the will of his The holy angel
" What hath received the
that these had done
prove the perseverance of their penance, before thus receiving its fruits. For
answered,
part gifts
of God's will hath he not fulfilled ? "
supposed
penance. "
The devil " He should first said,
of wicked
persons. "
The
angel replied,
" He hath
33 Matthew, xviii. , 3.
3* Those objections of the demon here re-
corded, and his preverted applications of the inspired writings, afford additional il- lustration of a tnith contained in that well- known line, taken from the great English dramatist,
"The devil—can cite Scripture for his pur-
pose. " Shakespeare's "Merchant of
3* . . . . .
many found, Injudgment,furtherofffromHimbyfar, Than such —to whom his name was never
known. " Rev. Henry Francis Gary's
translation of Dante's "DivinaCommedia. " Gentis Anglorum," lib. iii. , cap. xix. , pp. Paradiso, canto xix. , 106 to 108. 21 1, 212.
Venice," act i. , scene iii.
" .
But lo
Who call 'Christ, Christ,' there shall be
!
ofthose
3* . . "As avarice quench 'd our love *° See Luke, xii. , 47.
"
Of good, without which is no working ; thus
Here justice holds us prison'd hand and foot. "—See ibid. "II Purgatorio,"
canto xix. , 121 to 124.
^ " After that I—saw A multitude, in fury burning. " See
38 ««
ibid. , canto xv. , 105.
fraud, that in every conscience leaves
a sting,
be man on whose May by employ'd one,
trust
He wins, or on another who withholds
Strictconfidence. "—Seeibid. "L'In-
femo," canto xi. , 52 to 54.
39 "
See Bede's Historia Ecclesiastica
Satan " He said,
January 16. ] LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS.
gifts blind the eyes of the wise and destroy the words of the just. "
249
The holy
thus
angel answered,
"Weshallbe
judged
beforeGod. " Thedemon
being
vanquished in his interlocutory sophisms, began to blaspheme the Almighty,
saying,
" Hitherto we have believed in a God of truth. " The
heavenly spirit
" The
Isaias hath said, that every crime which shall not have been expiated on earth
'
If you be willing and will hearken to me, you shall eat the good things of the land. But if you will not, and will provoke me to wrath : the sword shall devour you. 't^ This man hath not purged himself from his faults on earth, nor hath he yet received punish- ment. Where then is God's justice? " The heavenly messenger reproved
said,
" What else
is
He ? "
The
persistent
demon
repHed,
Prophet
must be judged in heaven, by these words :
in these " Do not him, words,
since know not God's secret
blaspheme, counsels. " The enraged demon cried out,
"
you
What is here concealed ?
" The
angel returned for answer,
dence protects man. " Satan said,
"
So long as repentance is hoped for, Divine Provi-
"
particular instance. " The angel replied, "You ignore the depth of God's
But there is no place for penance in this
The devil " Let us answered,
there will be. " there is no reason for judgment. "
Another of the demons
which but few enter. Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself"'^^ The holy
secrets, perchance
depart, then,
angel answered, adversary replied,
" It will not avail him to have
neighbour. " wrought good,
hathlovedhis
neighbour
ashimself" The
angel returned,
began,
" A narrow
gate
remains for
him, through
" This man hath towards his wrought good
The unless he "Thefruitoflove is to be found in good works towards our neighbour, for God shall render to
eachman tohisworks. " Thewicked according
spirit
cause he hath not fulfilled the precept of God in loving, he shall be con-
demned. " Thushesoughttocaluminatetheblessedman.
The holy angels remained victors in this contest, although the demons stoutlycontendedwiththem. Aftersixdifferentrepetitionsofthecontention, ending in a like number of defeats, a demon, according to his usual manner,
" If God be not and if false- unjust,
vent to
in these
hood or a transgression of his commands displease him, this man shall not
gave
blasphemies,
terms,
escape punishment. For he promised to renounce the world, and on the
contrary, he continues to love the world, contrary to the Apostolic precept : 'Love not the world, nor the things which are in the world. ''*3 Wherefore, this man had no regard either for his OAvn vow, nor for the Apostolic in-
junction. " The holy angel answered, " He doth not love the things of this world for their own sake, but in order that they may be dispensed to those
needingthem. " Thewickedspiritcontinued "Inwhatmannercansuch
:
things be loved, in accordance with the Divine precept, and contrary to the Christian's promise made in Baptism? " His adversaries being once more vanquished and his guardians being victors, Fursey again heard the demon
"
It is written : If thou wilt not announce to the unjust man his iniquity, I will require his blood at thy
hand. "^4 The " it is also written The
angel replied, Concerning this, : prudent
shall keep silence at that time, for it is an evil time. '^s For when hearers despise the word, the teacher's tongue is also tied, because he knows that his
resume his sophistical accusation, by saying,
preaching when heard is despised. "^^
<' See Isaias, i. , 19, 20.
** See Leviticus, xix. , 18 ; Matthew, v. , 43, xxii. 39 ; Mark, xii. , 31, &c.
*3 I. John, ii. , 15.
** See Ezechiel, iii. , 18.
*s
The old accuser returned : "The latter,
** Among the principal causes assigned for the loss of souls, we find, the negligence of doctors and the evil example of princes. See Mabillon's "Acta Sanctorum Ordinis
S. Benedicti," tomus ii. , p. 291.
Amos, v. , 13.
then "Butbe- said,
250 LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. [January i6,
however, ought to announce it to his last moments, and neither give his as- sent to this indifference, nor be silent, notwithstanding its continuance. "'*?
During the time occupied by the foregoing dialogue, the obstinate demons continued their resistance, until it pleased God to overcome them and give a victory to his angels. Then Fursey saw himself surrounded by an astonish- ing brightness. '*^ On looking upwards, he beheld an immense multitude of angels and of holy persons, flying around, and with their wings in motion. These at once repelled from his mind any dread of the fire and terrors caused by the demons, that had before disturbed him. It seemed to him, that no labour could be too severe, nor length of time too continuous, provided the glory of a happy eternity could be achieved, and its joys and delights should be secured. In the meantime, our saint beheld two venerable men of his na- tive province, with these blessed spirits. On seeing them, he thought they had then departed from among the living. *? These were St. Meldan and St. Beoan. 5° It is intimated in certain Acts of St. FurseyS' that when they had been written, the festivals of those holy men, who are called Prelates, were celebrated by the faithful. s^ They were accosted by Fursey, on their nearer approach, and a conversation ensued between our saint and these his friends. 53
Then St. Fursey noticed a great serenity in the surrounding atmosphere, s-t andtwoangelsapproachingthisaerialregion. Theysefemedtoenterthrough an ethereal opening. Suddenly, a great brightness surrounded them and a multitude of angels divided into four distinct choirs. 55 Theywere heard singing and repeating, Sandiis, sanctus, sandtis, Dominus Dens Sabaoth. ^^ Immediately the saint's spirit was wafted high into the air, whilst heavenly psalmodic strains of inexpressible sweetness and in a lively movement were heard. Bands of angels likewise stood at his right hand. A holy angel
:
placedamongthemsaid "Doyouknowwhenceproceedthisjoyandhappi-
ness? " Onansweringinthenegative,thisangelcontinued,"Fromthechoirs
«<
*7 See Colgan's "Acta Sanctorum Hiber- s^ nise," xvi. Januarii. Vita S. Fursasi, lib. i. ,
cap. xiv. , XV. , xvi. , xvii. , xviii. , xix. , pp.
77 to 79- Also, ix. Februarii. Vita S.
Furssei a Desmaio, cap. vi. , pp. 286 to 288,
ibib. In these latter acts, Desmay has cess.
omitted much of the foregoing dialogue, although he briefly relates its chief points.
*^ . . . . . "Thatwasrayingout
Light so acute, the sight which it en- kindles
53 According to Colgan, their Natalis is
placed at the 26th of October, with that of
their companion, St. Nasad, by St. ^ngus the Culdee. For further notices, the reader is referred to that day.
s* ' ' The firmament looks forth serene and smiles. "—Gary's translation of Dante's " Divina Commedia. " II Paradiso,
canto xxviii.
ss "in fashion, as a snow-white rose, lay
then
Before my view the saintly multitude.
. , . For, through the universe Wherever merited, celestial light
— Glides freely, and no obstacle prevents. " Cary's translation of Dante's "Divina
Must close
acuteness. " — See "The
agrees. S'» His
Commedia. " II- canto Paradiso,
reputation that of Meldan. "—
equally great Lanigan's
xxxi. , i, 2,
perforce
before such
great Divine
Comedy" of Dante Alighieri, translated by Henry Wadsworth Longfellow. Paradiso, canto xxviii. , 16 to 18.
*3 Acts, L. i. , c. 21. It being said,
that Fursey thought they were dead, seems to indicate that they were still alive. Bede,
however, speaks of them, without giving their names, as being dead at that time, and so they are represented in the lives by Capgrave and Desmay, with whom Colgan
was
Dr.
xvi. , § viii. , n. 74, p. 457,
5' Published by Colgan at the l6th of
January.
with " Ecclesi- astical History of Ireland," vol. ii. , chap.
Hos Proesules cunctorum memoria usque ad nostra tempera celebrat. " It would seem, that these expressions were verbally transcribed from the old acts of our saint, to which the Venerable I3ede had ac-
22, 23, 24.
ss The opening line of the seventh canto
"
—Dante's Divina Commedia.
of
II Paradiso" is
" Osanna, sanctus Deus Sabaoth. " ""
January i6. ] LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. 251
ofheaven,towhichwealsobelong. '' Fursey'smind,becomingthenceforward oblivious of all his previous anxieties and sufferings, was filled with ineffable
joy. 57 On hearing these heavenly hymns more distinctly and harmoniously sung, he supposed them intended for his sole gratification. In a transport of admiration he cried out, "The joy with which I am filled on hearing these
hymns is indescribable. " The angel made answer,
'•
On account of our
ministry extending to human aftairs, we arc often deprived of the great plea- sureofhearingthem-. ^^ andwhatwelabourhieffecting,thedemonseradicate
from the hearts of men, owing to temptation. ' Whilst Turkey was altogether intent on hearing those harmonious heavenly strains, the angel of the Lord
"
remarked to him,
what arises from man's perdition. "
"
sweet,
heart. "—Gary's translation of Dante's Divina Connnedia," II Paradise, canto
wise thinks, not only these words, but like-
wise a great portion of the later acts, espe- cially that which refers to our saint's visions, nnist have been copied from the old writer's account. For tlie words contained within parentheses were not spoken by the angel who appearetl to St. Fursey, when the mortality, (Sic, was yet to come, nor by the author of the acts pul)li. -hed at the i6th of January, who, according to Golgan, did not live for three or four hundred years after that prophecy and vision, in which it had
In this celestial kingdom tliere can be no sorrow, except
Then he beheld Saints Beoan and Meldan advancing from the heavenly penetralia, and assuming the forms of angels, while surrounded with great brightness. 59 They directed Fursey to return to the world. Our saint was silent, and overwhelmed with sorrow on hearing this announcement. At length, through the efforts of those angels, he found himself reco\"ered suffi-
to hear the words fronr Beoan and ]\Ieldan ciently following
:
" do ^Vhy you
fear ? You are only required to labour through a journey of one day. *^° Therefore, announce generally in your exhortations, that the dissolution of
all things is near at hand. " Then St. Fursey began to enquire regarding the end of the world, when he was told, that it was not immediately to take
place, though not very remote \ as also that famine and pestilence must op- press the human race. *^' The saint was also told, that there were two kinds
''! . . ,. . " All tlie vision dies, As 't were away ; and yet the sense of
mentioned in the aforesaid words, must have
been literally quoted from . St. Fursey's Acts,
compiled by the old author who had written That . sprang from it, still trickles in my before Venerable Bede's time. Golgan like-
xxxiii. , 61 to 63.
5' Colgan here remarks : We arc not to
understand that any of the angels are ever
deprived of God's bcatitic vision, T,\hiKt
they are occupied in ministering to men.
They arc only placed beyond the circle of
other angels, constantly employed in singing
and proclaiming the praises of the . -Mmighty. See "Acta . Sanctorum Ilibernia;," n. 20,
p. 90.
5^ The appearance and conversation of been intimated that this mortality and
those saints will remind the reader of Dante's vi. ^ion regarding several renowned saints and doctors of the Ghurcli, who were seen by hinr in the various div;>ions of his Paradise.
eclipse were to take place. He therefore
concludes, that the mortality and eclipse alluded to had been taken literally from the old writer's acts, and that mention is made of both occurrences, in these words of Vene-
:
''^ "
breve, quo laboratures cs in terra, ut
ex ipso authorc infra, c. 29. " Golgan's carnationis sexccntcssimo sexagessimo quar-
Tempus est instar unius diei, sen colligilur
rable Bede
" Eodem anno Dominicn3 In-
"Acta . Sanctorum Ilibernia','' x\i. Januarii. Vita S. FursLvi, n. 21, p. 90.
*"
to facta est Fcclypsis solis die tertio Mensis Maii, hora circiter dccima diei : quo etiam subita pcstilenti:D lues, dcpopulatis pruis
Immediately afterwards, we read in his
acts, published at the i6th of January, these Austrahbus Britannia plagis, Northum-
following words: "Quod jam signo solis (cum radios suos anno pr. eterito abscon-
brorum quoque Provinciam corripiens, atque accerba cade diutuis longe lataque desKviens magnam hominum multitudinem stravit.
disset) in modum lun;c splendcntis signifi-
ratum est. " Golgan supposes, this pro- Qua plaga prcfectus domi sacerdos Tuda
phecy regarding pestilence, and the account concerning the sun's eclipse, which is said
to have occurred during that past year, as
raplus est dc mundo, et in monasterio quod vocatur Pegnalech honorificc sepultus. Hfec autem plaga Hiberniam quoque Insulam
252 LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. [January i6.
of famine : one in the abundance of understanding the word of God, and in
not fulfilling its precepts ; and another, in the abundance of riches possessed
by a miser. Both of these spring from the same bitter root. For, as the
avaricious man is not satisfied with possessing money, because in desiring
those things that are unlawful, the bitterness of avarice does not even know
the benefits to be obtained by acquired goods : so, in like manner, souls
poisoned by the wormwood of sin, do not take delight in God's holy word.
And, on account of the Almight}''s mercy, mortality was restrained for a
while ; yet death must overtake that impenitent man, who should despise
those signs and the warnings of Holy Scripture. Although the \\Tath of
t'le Supreme Judge threatens all who despise Divine admonitions. His anger
is chietly excited against doctors of the Church and princes : because faith-
ful souls perish through the deceitful vices of this world, through tempta-
tions of hostile demons, through the negligence of doctors, and through the
evil example afforded by- wicked princes. By means of study, divines under-
stand the prophetic books, and know what sort of things shall occur at this
time. Men are usually found imperfect. Although, through God's mercy,
some are endowed with the spirit of generosity, notwithstanding, they are
prone to incontinency. Others preserve chastity, but are consumed with the fire of avarice. Others acquire the grace of mildness, but are deficient in
zeal. Others easily pardon and forget injuries inflicted on them, but, owing to want of guard over their hearts, they are prone to anger, and they excite
quarrels. Some glory in what has been charitably distributed, as if they had acquired such donations by their sole labour. Again, others, who impugn
such actions, have conquered by exercising an active mind, but those forget toobtainmeritbythepracticeofgoodworks. Therearealsosome,whoare fettered with spiritual vices, and who neglect them, whilst their bodies are lacerated by abstinence. For instance, they set great account on nocturnal illusions or lesser faults, whilst they little regard that pride, which expelled angelsfromheaven. Theydonotregardagreedinessofdisposition,which drove the first man from the delights of Paradise, nor that envy which caused the fratricide Cain to kill his brother Abel ; they do not detest blasphemies, nor false testimonies, through which our Saviour was condemned to death. They do not consider the nature or duration of that punishment, which will be inflicted on wicked persons thus offending.
