^ The
influence
of St.
O'Hanlon - Lives of the Irish Saints - v7
670.
41 When Lothaire, Bishop of Strasburgh, died, King Dagobert deemed this a proper time to draw St.
Arbogast from his retreat; and although he felt great reluctance to assume such an office, the royal choice was unanimously approved both by the clergy and the people.
With general acclaim, he was consecrated, and he had then a further opportunity for manifesting his zeal to extend the kingdom of Christ among his people.
down as the second Bishop of Argentine or Strasburgh. 42 According to one
account, his rule began in the year 669/3 but, this seems to be too early a
date, since it is generally held, that Dagobert II. , surnamed the Younger, only returnedfromhisexiletoFranceintheyear674. 44 HebecameBishopover
this See, it is stated, through the influence of King Dagobert II. , by whom he had been often called to court. * 5 The old Latin name Argentoratum was
that by which Strasbourg was formerly known; and, it is stated, the temple of Hercules stood on the site of its present magnificent cathedral. So early as the fourth century, it has been alleged, that an episcopal See was here established, but that its ancient basilica had disappeared, owing to the ravages of barbarians, who brought back the empire of paganism on its ruins. '' 6 How- ever, when these barbarians had been obliged to yield obedience, in their contest with the Christian kings of Austrasia, religion once more was estab- lished. The ancient bishopric of Strasburg in Alsace, lay on both banks of the Rhine. *? It is stated, that King Dagobert enriched the See of Strasburgh with several large estates ; and that, for the love he bore our saint, the manor andtownofRufach,orRuffeich,nearColmar,48 hadbeenbestowedonit, together with an extensive country situated on both sides of the River Alse or Elle, 4 9 together with the old royal palace of Isenberg. The city of Strasburg in the middle ages was a free city of the German Empire, and had power to elect its own magistrates, exempt from subjection to any neighbouring prince, and entitled to assert its independence at the Germanic Diet. s° In 1681, it
36 " Floruit anno dcxliii. Coliturdie XXI. 42 See Dr. Meredith Hanmer's " Chronicle Julii. Molan. Addition. Usuardi. Guil. of Ireland," p. 145.
—" "— By some writers, Arbogast said to have been a godley Preacher is set
Eisengrinius. Fr. Irenicus. lib. III. German. Exeg. , cap. xlviii. "—" Historia Ecclesias- tica Gentis Scotorum," tomus i. , lib. i. , num. 28, p. 26.
37 See Rev. Alban Butler's "Lives of the Fathers, Martyrs and other principal Saints,"
43 See M. le Dr. Hoefer's "Nouvelle Bio-
graphie Generale," tome iii. , col. 21.
44 "
See Michaud's Biographie Univer-
selle, Ancienne et Moderne," tome x. ,
vol. vii. , July xxi.
38 See Les Petits Bollandistes,
"
Vies des Saints," tome viii. , xxi Jour de Juillet,
p. 577.
39
"
Grimoalde le fit enlever et conduire
en Irlande, que les —auteurs de ce temps-la "
nommaient Scotia. " Bossuet's Abrege de l'Histoire de France," liv. i. CEuvres Com- pletes de Bossuet, tome x. , col. 1 179.
e
49 Jodocus Coccius, when treating on the 678. See Le Sieur F. de Mezeray's His- reign of King Dagobert, alludes to this
40 Dagobert, King of Austrasia, died a. d. "
toire de France," tome i. , liv. viii. , p. 268. 41 See " Histoire Literaire de la France,"
tome iii. , vii. siecle, p. 622.
donation, in cap. xv.
5° See "Gazetteer of the World," vol.
xii. , p. 755.
*
45 See Rev. Alban Butler's " Lives of the
Fathers, Martyrs and other principal Saints," vol. vii. , July xxi.
46 " Plus
See Les Belles Cathedrales de
France," Notre-Dame de Strasbourg, p. 140.
4? See "The Popular Cyclopedia, or Conversations Lexicon," vol. vi. , p. 421.
<8 See Rev. S. Baring-Gould's " Lives of the Saints," vol. vii. , July 21, p. 502.
p. II.
year 653,
whither
284 LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. [July 2 t.
fell under the dominion of France ; but, in 1870, it was besieged and taken by the Germans, to whose Empire it was then annexed, and to whom the citizens are now subjected.
CHAPTER II.
THE HOLY LIFE OF ST; ARP. OGAST—HE RESTORES PRINCE SIGEBERT TO HIS PARENTS- GRATITUDE MANIFESTED BY KING DAGOIiERT II. —MIRACLE AT THE RIVER ILL— WORKS ATTRIBUTED TO ST. ARBOGAST—HIS PASTORAL LABOURS—HIS DEPARTURE FROM THIS LIFE—HONOURS PAID TO HIS MEMORY—FESTIVALS AND COMMEMORA- TIONS—CONCLUSION.
in
great holiness,
and goodness, that every one of his subjects obeyed him with pleasure, and even
sought to anticipate his wishes and directions. During the period of his episco- pacy, idolatry yet lingered in that part of the country, and especially were its traces to be found among those almost inaccessible mountains and forests, where old customs are most apt to linger. Our saint adopted the best effective measures
to eradicate those practices, and he was prepared even if necessary to spend his life could he only gain souls to Christ. Among other matters, it is stated,
St. Florentius. 4
Among his many other miracles, it is stated, that through his prayers,
Arbogast recalled to life Sigebert, the only son of King Dagobert. While
hunting one day in the forest of Ebersheim,* he had been killed by a wild
while from his 6 That animal was of enormous boar, separated companions.
size. Being hard pressed by the young prince, it turned on the horse which he rode, fixing its tusks in the flesh and causing such pain, that in fright the wounded steed fled, and in its agony threw Sigebert on the ground. While some writers state, that he was then attacked and dangerously wounded by the infuriated boar ; others have it, that he was entangled by the reins or stirrup leathers of the horse and dragged along the ground, having been trampled on repeatedly by the frighted animal on which he had ridden. His attendants, finding him in that deplorable condition, brought his body to the palace, where the king and queen were plunged into an excess of grief. Soon the dolorous news spread among their subjects. It was resolved, that St.
dem
The life of was Arbogast
spent
1 while such was his
gentleness
that St. 2 of was on familiar terms with our Deodatus, Bishop Nevers,
saint, when, retiring from the Heiligevvrst or Sacred Forest, he lived in the Eber- sheim monastery,3 and presided over it. This friendship lasted during the lifetime of Arbogast, and it was continued to his successor and countryman
Chapter
—*
See
Challenor's M Britannia Sancta," part ii. , p. 36.
successoris et conterranei. " 'Thus was it called, either on account of
11.
Bishop
Arbogasti
2 Called Apostle of the Vosges Moun- its abounding in wild boars, or perhaps from
tains. His festival occurs, at the 19th of
June.
3 This was founded by Duke Atticus,
father of St. Odilia, Virgin. Their history, with a curious copperplate engraving of their images, sculptured on stone may be found in
'*
Annales Ordinis S. lknedicti," tomus i. , lib. xv. , sect. lix. to lxii. , pp. 487
to 493.
4 Thus Mabillon writes: "familiaritate
usus Arbogasti episcopi Argentinensis, ori- illustrium Germanise," tomus i. , p. 133. gine Scotti ; acdeinde beati Florentii, ejus- Bale, 1565, 1566, fol.
Mabillon's
the incident here narrated. It would seem that a monastery had been afterwards erected on its site, known as Ebersheimunster,
Latinized Apri-monasterium. There, too, was a little town, dependent on the See of Strasburg, and on the River 111, not far from Schlestad.
6
on this hunting excursion, . ^ee Henricus Pantaleon, in "Prosopographia Viroruua
According to some, the king himself was
July 2 1 . ] LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. 285
Argobast should be sent for, and when he arrived, that scene of woe moved him totears. Thequeenfellonherknees,beforetheholybishop,andaskedhimto pray for her son's restoration. Accordingly, St. Arbogast entered the church fasting,andheremainedallnightinferventprayer. Towardsmorningheap- proached where the dead prince lay, beseeching the Blessed Mother of God to intercede on his behalf. To the great amazement and joy of all, the dead prince came to life, and as if he had awakened from a gentle sleep. The cere-cloths with which he had been covered were soon exchanged for his ordinary habi- liments. ?
The record of this miracle regarding the restoration of Sigisbert, son of
8 "On trouve des traces du
y Dagobert, felden,
interestinconnexionwithFrench 8 Itis history.
hasa
related, that the king felt so grateful for the miracle which restored his son, thathewishedtoconferthemostgenerousrewardsonSt. Arbogast. However, the saint refused to receive any gift, which was offered to himself personally ; yet, he accepted those endowments which were awarded to his cathedral and See. Whereupon, Dagobert gave to these RoufTach, and the palace of Isenbourg, with all its domain. 9 The king endowed, likewise, the Abbey of Wissem- bourg, in the same city. He also placed the authenticated deed for these dotations in the hands of St. Arbogast, and in presence of the nobles belong- ing to his court. Having thus received them, on his return to Strasbourg the holy prelate placed those deeds on the altar, in presence of his clergy, and of the people, while he offered them in turn to our Blessed Lady. This gene- rous grant, and the miracle which he wrought, not only gained him respect
Dagobert III. ,
special
from the king, but likewise from all his subjects, who extolled the name of
Arbogast, as one worthy to rank with those pastors raised by the Almighty in his Church, to triumph over the inveterate practices of idolatry and the wiles of heresy, in the fourth and fifth centuries. 10
After the performance of the foregoing miracle, which caused him to become very celebrated, our saint is said to have lived many years. In a wocd on the brink of the River 111," he had caused a small cell to be built. When the day had been spent in continuous labour and in the discharge of his ministerial functions, he would often leave the city when night set in for this hermitage, which reminded him of his former place for retirement. Here would he meditate in solitude, on the grandeur and sacredness of his duties, while like another Moyses he negotiated for the interests of his people with the Almighty, when he engaged in prayer. One evening having arrived at the banks of that river, the accustomed boat was wanting to cross it ; but, his
7 Such is an abridged account of what Utho relates, but in a manner more diffuse.
Gueberschwihr, Pfaffenheim, Osenbir, Or- schwihr, Soulzmath, Osenbach and Wins-
Herlisheim and Westhalten. After qu'011 n—e connoissoit pas avant le xvn. the death of the last Counts of Egisheim,
siecle. " "Histoire Literaire de la France," tome vi. , x. siecle, p. 303.
9 This dotation was afterwards called Ilaut-Mundat.
Sainte Croix, Egisheim, Wettolsheim and Obermorschwihr were added to the former endowment. At the end of the fourteenth century, Jungholz, Bollwiller, Hatstadt, Benwihr and Zellenberg were also added, Nevertheless, the Haut-Mandat depended in spirituals on the Diocese of Bale. See Les Petits Bollandistes, "Vies des Saints,'' tome viii. , xxi° Jour de Juillet, pp. 57S, 579.
10
This gift by deed of the palace oflsen-
bourg and of its domain formed the germ of
temporal sovereignty for the Bishops of St^as-
"
bourg. However, at the commencement,
the temporalities were not so extended, as in
after times, because several Bishops added
new lands to their See. At first, Rouffach, the
Castle of Isenbourg, and the village of Sund- while in other Manuscripts it is variedly
heim, long since destroyed, Soultz, and called Bruyscha, Brusen, Bruschius, and Alschwiller, also destroyed, were parcels of Bruscha. In the vernacular, it is the Breusch, this grant ; as likewise, Wunheim, Rim- which joins the 111, near Strasburg, where bachzell, Hartmannsweiler, Gundolsheim, both flow into the Rhine.
"The Life by Utho calls it Briuscha,
2 S6 LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. [July 21. ___ •:
confidence in God was so great, that making a sign of the cross over its waters, he passed over without so much as wetting his feet, and arrived at his oratory. According to some accounts, St. Arbogast there commenced the foundation of a religious house, which afterwards had been enlarged or improved, and whichhadbeenendowedbytwoCanonsofStrasburgcathedral. 12 Afterwards, this hermitage became an object of veneration to the faithful. '3 According
1 to one account, our saint founded twelve monasteries along the River Rhine. *
This statement, however, must be largely discounted, for it seems founded on no ancient authority. It is certain, however, that King Dagobert II. built several churches and monasteries in France and Germany, which he liberally endowed with lands and possessions.
^ The influence of St. Arbogast may have been exercised, however, in reference to many of these pious works.
Some rather late writers have asserted, that St. Arbogast left a collection
16
of Homilies, or Commentaries on the Epistles of St. Paul. However,
these are not now to be found, nor have those who prepared catalogues of
ecclesiasticalandholyauthorsrecordedthem. Wherefore,theyseemeither
1
to have perished,, or to be buried in dust for the present. ? According to
lS
Dempster, he wrote In Epistolas Pauli, lib. i.
It is to be assumed, that these are not distinct—if ever they had been written—from the collection to which
allusion has been already made.
In the active discharge of every pastoral and Christian duty, the life of St.
Argobastwasspent. Hehadalsothegiftofhealingthesick,andofexorcising devils. His intervention between contentious persons often changed their discord into relations of strict friendship. The great desire of St. Arbogast was to form a right spirit among the clergy; and he required them to assist at the functions of their sacred ministry, as also to engage in spiritual confer- ences. He wished, moreover, to have good labourers in the vineyard, so that theymightgleanaplentifulharvestofsoulstoChrist. Hewasthemoreanxious, besides, for the reason that certain disorders had found their way among his flock ; and the zealous pastor, while prudently exercising patience under the evils he could not immediately cure, was yet alive to embrace each oppor tunity afforded for rescuing souls from the power of the devil. In fine, he was able to overcome great obstacles, and to accomplish great results, before he arrived at the closing scene of life. Over the See of Strasburgh he ruled not as a master, but rather as the father of his people, and with great emi- nence. Had he occasion to reprove any person, he did so with such tender- ness and consideration, that he gained the hearts of all.
For twelve years, he is said by some writers to have presided there, and all his days were passed in continuous labour as with ardour in the exercise of functions altogether apostolic. However, the opinion is more probable, that he only occupied the See for five or six years ; although his
Life
that he ruled for a
to the account
Utho has
x 9
20 based on that of other
the year of our Lord 658. This, however, is too early a date for the occur-
by of
12 See Guillimann, " De tinensibus," cap. ix.
long period.
According
it, Bishop Challoner,
21 he
l6 " Bale out of Munster," this is Quoting
asserted by Dr. Meredith Hanmer, in his " Chronicle of Ireland," p. 145.
l8
See "Historia Ecclesiastica Gentis Scotorum," tomus i. , lib. i. , num. 28, p. 26.
:
'' Thus " susceptumque culmen regimi-
nis felici gubernatione diu rexisse. "
*> See Britannia Sancta," part ii. , pp.
36, 37.
31 Such as Bruschius, Demochares, Mun
13 In the year 1069, Charles, a Dean of Strasburg Cathedral, caused a monastery to be here built for Canons Regular of St. Au-
gustine. This house was held in great respect for many ages subsequent, and finally in the month of December, 1530, the Protestant senate of Strasburgh caused its demolition.
At present, an inn occupies the site.
"
tome hi. , vii. siecle, p. 622.
14
According to Antonius de Heredia,
Episcopis Argen-
'* See
Histoire Literaire de la France,"
writers,
departed
this in life,
July 21. ] LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. 287
rence. Even the statement of other writers, that his death occurred in 668"
is erroneous ; for, at this period, King DagobertlL, who appointed our saint to the See of Strasburgh, was in England, and it was only in 673, when Chil- deric II. died, that he filled the throne of Austrasia. St. Arhogast died a. d. 678,^ according to the most generally received accounts. It is known, that
King Dagobert offered the Bishopric of Strasburgh to St. Wilfrid in the
to Rome. 21* This a at that proves vacancy
of while on his spring 679,
journey
time. Upon his declining that dignity, St. Florentius was then chosen. It
is mentioned, that in his last will, St. Arbogast desired to have his body buried onamountain,wheremalefac—torsonlyhadbeeninterred. Hiswishes—were
2* complied with but a afterwards dedicated, to St. Michael was
chapel
erected over his grave, and a village named Strateburg sprung up near it.
;
Again, the Abbey of St. Arbogastus was built at that place, where the
miracle of passing the 111 with dry feet had occurred. 26 His successor, St.
2
Florentius, ? took care, to have his remains translated to the collegiate church
founded him at 28 while due honours were accorded on that by Strasburg,
occasion to his memory.
Scarcely had St. Arbogast departed from this world, when great miracles were wrought at his tomb, which the faithful frequented. These wonders of
God's power, wrought through his holy servant, caused his successor St. Florentius to raise his relics and to place them on the altar. We are told,*9 moreover, that when he had built a church to St. Thomas near Strasburg, he there placed the head of St. Arbogast, it having been separated from the body. In the tenth century, the body of St. Arbogast was translated to the chapel of St. Michael,belongingtotheAbbeyofSurbourg. Aboutthemiddleofthe eleventh century, the relics of St. Arbogast were divided. A part was given to the Canons Regulars of the monastery built near the 111. Those remains
preserved at Surbourg were kept in a shrine richly gilt and ornamented. ^
When the Swedes invaded Alsace in 1631,3* the Canons of Surbourg trans-
ported their relics and archives to the house of the Augustinians at Haguenau.
Having subdued all Alsace, Gustavus Horn compelled the city of Hague-
nau to open its gates, when the Augustinians issued from that place to take
refuge in Huningue, while bearing with them their relics and archives. How-
ever, they were taken prisoners, and the Swedes destroyed the relics, while
they robbed these religious of everything they possessed. In like sort fared
the Canons near the 111. Their monastery was destroyed, and their
relics were dispersed, so that not the least particle of them has since been
2
found. 3
On the 21st of July, various Calendars and Martyrologies mark the
stems, Pantalion and Cratepolius.
22
Among these are Wympheling, IrenU cus, Guillimann, Coccius and Ruerus.
23 See "Histoire Literairede la France," tome iii. , vii. siecle, p. 622.
27 His feast occurs, on the 7th of No- vember.
28 See M. le Dr. Hoefer's " Nouvelle JBiographie Ge'nerale," tome iii. , col. 21.
*9 By Wimpheling and Eerier.
3° See Les Petits Bollandistes, "Vies des
24 This fact is mentioned by Eddius, in his
Life of St. Wilfrid, cap. 27, as seen in Saints," tome viii. , xxie Jour de Juillet,
Mabillon's "Acta Sanctorum Ordinis S. Benedicti," ssec. iv. , parsi. , p. 691.
25 Albert of Strasburg, who wrote in the thirteenth century, adds: "in qua retro altare sepulchrum ejus elevatum adhuc cer- nitur, ac patibulum ad locum, ubi jam est, transfertur. "
p. 581.
3I For the events connected with this period,
the reader may be referred to Schiller's His- tory of the Thirty Years' War in the col- lected German edition of his works, issued at Stuttgard, in Twelve 8vo volumes, 1862. It has likewise been translated into French and English.
32 See 1' Abbe Hunckler's "Histoire des Saints d'Alsace. " S. Arbogaste, Eveque de
26
Dagobert founded that religious house. See his Chronicle, at A. D. 1374.
According to Albert of Strasburg, King
288 LIVESOFTHEIRISHSAINTS. [July 21.
deposition, or happy death, of St. Arbogastus. In the most ancient copies of Ado's and of Usuard's Martyrologies, there is no mention of this holy bishop. But in the additions to Ado's Martyrology, edited by Father Rosweyde, he is mentioned at the present date. 33 Also in the additions to Usuard's genuine text, his name'and festival day are to be found. In the old German Martyr-
"
Arbogasti Confessoris" is entered. The Roman Martyrology commemorates him, on this day. 3* At the 21st of July, or xii. Kalendas Augusti, the feast of St. Arbogast is to be found in
nearly all the western Calendars, viz. : as in those of Arnold Wion, Dorgain,
Menard, and Bucelin. In various Calendars, Breviaries and Missals, he is
likewise commemorated. Thus, in the Breviary printed at Venice in 1495,
his office is set at the 20th of July, as a common of Confessor and Bishop, with
aferialrite,andapropercollect. IntheBreviaryofMayence,whichhadbeen
printed in 1507, he was venerated in like manner, and with an office contain-
ing Nine Lessons. But, in a Breviary of the same church, printed at Cologne
in 1570, the Collect is changed and two proper Lessons are added. 36 In the
Breviary belonging to the church of Constance, printed at Lyons, a. d. 1561, are the six proper Lessons in the first and second Nocturns, taken chiefly
from the Life by Utho; while there is a special Collect, but the rest of that office is from that common to a Confessor and Bishop. In another edition
of the Breviary belonging to the same diocese, and printed at Dilingan, a. d. 1575, the Collect is retained, but the Lessons of the First Nocturn are taken
from the Scriptures occurring. The Second Nocturn is proper, but the Lessons differ from those preceding ; the rest agreeing with what is contained in the fust edition. The Breviary of Worms, printed at Mayence, a. d. 1576, has
only three proper Lessons, taken from the Life by Utho, and having a different Collect from those Collects appearing in the Breviaries already men- tioned. ThemostancientBreviaryofStrasburg,printeda. d. 1489,hasNine Lessons,distributedthroughThreeNocturns; alltheLessonsandAntiphons being proper at Matins, Lauds and Vespers. 37 In the Missal of Mayence, printed a. d. 1493, there is a Mass for St. Arbogast, at this day ; as also in the Missal of Melitensis, printed at Strasburg, a. d. 1505, and in its Calendar, the feast of our saint is noted as a semi-double. In the Calendar and Missal of 151 2, printed at Strasburg, the feast of St. Arbogast is set at the 21st of
8
July, while its Sequence is published by the Bollandists. 3
Although the present very renowned and virtuous prelate has not been
included in the home Calendars of our Irish Saints, like many other cele- brated ones who departed from life in the Continental countries; yet, have our more modern Irish writers claimed St. Arbogast as their countryman. Thus, the Right Rev. David Rothe, Bishop of Ossory, and author of a treatise 39 " Vin- dicise Hibernire sive Antiquioris Scotiae contra Dernpsterum," has classed St. Arbogast among the holy ones of Ireland. In Father Henry Fitzsimon's uCalendarofIrishSaints,"* thereisanArbogastus,Bishop,entered,butwith-
ology, published by Beckius, a. d. 1687,34
Strasbourg.
33 Thus: "Eodem die, sancti Arbogasti
episcopi et confessoris. "
34 Augustae Vindelicorum.
Kalendas Augusti, p. 105.
36 The first of these contains the miracle of
his raising to life the son of King Dagobert ; while the other relates his passing over the Brusch River with dry feet.
the
Antiphons for Vespers, Matins and Lauds, in their great work.
38 See "Acta Sanctorum," tomus v. ,
Julii xxi. De S. Arbogaslo Episcopo Argen- toratensi in Gennania Prima. Commenta-
35 Thus "
: Argentoiati
san—cti Arbogasti Episcopi, miraculis clari. " "Martyrolo- gium Romanum," Editio novissima, xii.
rius
Prsevius, sect, i. , pp. 168 to 170.
The Bollandists
republished only
iv. , cap. xii. , p. 52.
4I No less than seven editions of that tract
& Printed at Antwerp, in 1621.
4° "
Fitzsimonquotes Gillebertusminorita
in Supplemento Sanctorum," as authority,
"
licse Ibernise Compendium," tomus i. , lib.
See O'Sullevan Beare's
Historiae Catho-
July 21. ] LIVES OF TH£ IRISH SAINTS. 289
out the date for his festival. * 1 In like manner, Father Stephen White 42 has notice of this holy Bishop. Assuming him to have been a Scotch saint, Thomas
Dempster, in his Menologium Scoticum, 4 3 enters Argobast at this date. The Cistercian Monk, in his " Lives of the Irish Saints,"" and the " Circle of the Seasons/'45 likewise, record his festival at this day.
This celebrated saint is styled a Bishop and a Confessor, in those different
accounts, which have reference to him. As such, he continued to exercise
humility and love of contemplation on the episcopal throne, as if he had still livedinthedesert. Inadministeringtheaffairsofhisdiocese,nothingcoulfl be more admirable than his extraordinary disinterestedness.
down as the second Bishop of Argentine or Strasburgh. 42 According to one
account, his rule began in the year 669/3 but, this seems to be too early a
date, since it is generally held, that Dagobert II. , surnamed the Younger, only returnedfromhisexiletoFranceintheyear674. 44 HebecameBishopover
this See, it is stated, through the influence of King Dagobert II. , by whom he had been often called to court. * 5 The old Latin name Argentoratum was
that by which Strasbourg was formerly known; and, it is stated, the temple of Hercules stood on the site of its present magnificent cathedral. So early as the fourth century, it has been alleged, that an episcopal See was here established, but that its ancient basilica had disappeared, owing to the ravages of barbarians, who brought back the empire of paganism on its ruins. '' 6 How- ever, when these barbarians had been obliged to yield obedience, in their contest with the Christian kings of Austrasia, religion once more was estab- lished. The ancient bishopric of Strasburg in Alsace, lay on both banks of the Rhine. *? It is stated, that King Dagobert enriched the See of Strasburgh with several large estates ; and that, for the love he bore our saint, the manor andtownofRufach,orRuffeich,nearColmar,48 hadbeenbestowedonit, together with an extensive country situated on both sides of the River Alse or Elle, 4 9 together with the old royal palace of Isenberg. The city of Strasburg in the middle ages was a free city of the German Empire, and had power to elect its own magistrates, exempt from subjection to any neighbouring prince, and entitled to assert its independence at the Germanic Diet. s° In 1681, it
36 " Floruit anno dcxliii. Coliturdie XXI. 42 See Dr. Meredith Hanmer's " Chronicle Julii. Molan. Addition. Usuardi. Guil. of Ireland," p. 145.
—" "— By some writers, Arbogast said to have been a godley Preacher is set
Eisengrinius. Fr. Irenicus. lib. III. German. Exeg. , cap. xlviii. "—" Historia Ecclesias- tica Gentis Scotorum," tomus i. , lib. i. , num. 28, p. 26.
37 See Rev. Alban Butler's "Lives of the Fathers, Martyrs and other principal Saints,"
43 See M. le Dr. Hoefer's "Nouvelle Bio-
graphie Generale," tome iii. , col. 21.
44 "
See Michaud's Biographie Univer-
selle, Ancienne et Moderne," tome x. ,
vol. vii. , July xxi.
38 See Les Petits Bollandistes,
"
Vies des Saints," tome viii. , xxi Jour de Juillet,
p. 577.
39
"
Grimoalde le fit enlever et conduire
en Irlande, que les —auteurs de ce temps-la "
nommaient Scotia. " Bossuet's Abrege de l'Histoire de France," liv. i. CEuvres Com- pletes de Bossuet, tome x. , col. 1 179.
e
49 Jodocus Coccius, when treating on the 678. See Le Sieur F. de Mezeray's His- reign of King Dagobert, alludes to this
40 Dagobert, King of Austrasia, died a. d. "
toire de France," tome i. , liv. viii. , p. 268. 41 See " Histoire Literaire de la France,"
tome iii. , vii. siecle, p. 622.
donation, in cap. xv.
5° See "Gazetteer of the World," vol.
xii. , p. 755.
*
45 See Rev. Alban Butler's " Lives of the
Fathers, Martyrs and other principal Saints," vol. vii. , July xxi.
46 " Plus
See Les Belles Cathedrales de
France," Notre-Dame de Strasbourg, p. 140.
4? See "The Popular Cyclopedia, or Conversations Lexicon," vol. vi. , p. 421.
<8 See Rev. S. Baring-Gould's " Lives of the Saints," vol. vii. , July 21, p. 502.
p. II.
year 653,
whither
284 LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. [July 2 t.
fell under the dominion of France ; but, in 1870, it was besieged and taken by the Germans, to whose Empire it was then annexed, and to whom the citizens are now subjected.
CHAPTER II.
THE HOLY LIFE OF ST; ARP. OGAST—HE RESTORES PRINCE SIGEBERT TO HIS PARENTS- GRATITUDE MANIFESTED BY KING DAGOIiERT II. —MIRACLE AT THE RIVER ILL— WORKS ATTRIBUTED TO ST. ARBOGAST—HIS PASTORAL LABOURS—HIS DEPARTURE FROM THIS LIFE—HONOURS PAID TO HIS MEMORY—FESTIVALS AND COMMEMORA- TIONS—CONCLUSION.
in
great holiness,
and goodness, that every one of his subjects obeyed him with pleasure, and even
sought to anticipate his wishes and directions. During the period of his episco- pacy, idolatry yet lingered in that part of the country, and especially were its traces to be found among those almost inaccessible mountains and forests, where old customs are most apt to linger. Our saint adopted the best effective measures
to eradicate those practices, and he was prepared even if necessary to spend his life could he only gain souls to Christ. Among other matters, it is stated,
St. Florentius. 4
Among his many other miracles, it is stated, that through his prayers,
Arbogast recalled to life Sigebert, the only son of King Dagobert. While
hunting one day in the forest of Ebersheim,* he had been killed by a wild
while from his 6 That animal was of enormous boar, separated companions.
size. Being hard pressed by the young prince, it turned on the horse which he rode, fixing its tusks in the flesh and causing such pain, that in fright the wounded steed fled, and in its agony threw Sigebert on the ground. While some writers state, that he was then attacked and dangerously wounded by the infuriated boar ; others have it, that he was entangled by the reins or stirrup leathers of the horse and dragged along the ground, having been trampled on repeatedly by the frighted animal on which he had ridden. His attendants, finding him in that deplorable condition, brought his body to the palace, where the king and queen were plunged into an excess of grief. Soon the dolorous news spread among their subjects. It was resolved, that St.
dem
The life of was Arbogast
spent
1 while such was his
gentleness
that St. 2 of was on familiar terms with our Deodatus, Bishop Nevers,
saint, when, retiring from the Heiligevvrst or Sacred Forest, he lived in the Eber- sheim monastery,3 and presided over it. This friendship lasted during the lifetime of Arbogast, and it was continued to his successor and countryman
Chapter
—*
See
Challenor's M Britannia Sancta," part ii. , p. 36.
successoris et conterranei. " 'Thus was it called, either on account of
11.
Bishop
Arbogasti
2 Called Apostle of the Vosges Moun- its abounding in wild boars, or perhaps from
tains. His festival occurs, at the 19th of
June.
3 This was founded by Duke Atticus,
father of St. Odilia, Virgin. Their history, with a curious copperplate engraving of their images, sculptured on stone may be found in
'*
Annales Ordinis S. lknedicti," tomus i. , lib. xv. , sect. lix. to lxii. , pp. 487
to 493.
4 Thus Mabillon writes: "familiaritate
usus Arbogasti episcopi Argentinensis, ori- illustrium Germanise," tomus i. , p. 133. gine Scotti ; acdeinde beati Florentii, ejus- Bale, 1565, 1566, fol.
Mabillon's
the incident here narrated. It would seem that a monastery had been afterwards erected on its site, known as Ebersheimunster,
Latinized Apri-monasterium. There, too, was a little town, dependent on the See of Strasburg, and on the River 111, not far from Schlestad.
6
on this hunting excursion, . ^ee Henricus Pantaleon, in "Prosopographia Viroruua
According to some, the king himself was
July 2 1 . ] LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. 285
Argobast should be sent for, and when he arrived, that scene of woe moved him totears. Thequeenfellonherknees,beforetheholybishop,andaskedhimto pray for her son's restoration. Accordingly, St. Arbogast entered the church fasting,andheremainedallnightinferventprayer. Towardsmorningheap- proached where the dead prince lay, beseeching the Blessed Mother of God to intercede on his behalf. To the great amazement and joy of all, the dead prince came to life, and as if he had awakened from a gentle sleep. The cere-cloths with which he had been covered were soon exchanged for his ordinary habi- liments. ?
The record of this miracle regarding the restoration of Sigisbert, son of
8 "On trouve des traces du
y Dagobert, felden,
interestinconnexionwithFrench 8 Itis history.
hasa
related, that the king felt so grateful for the miracle which restored his son, thathewishedtoconferthemostgenerousrewardsonSt. Arbogast. However, the saint refused to receive any gift, which was offered to himself personally ; yet, he accepted those endowments which were awarded to his cathedral and See. Whereupon, Dagobert gave to these RoufTach, and the palace of Isenbourg, with all its domain. 9 The king endowed, likewise, the Abbey of Wissem- bourg, in the same city. He also placed the authenticated deed for these dotations in the hands of St. Arbogast, and in presence of the nobles belong- ing to his court. Having thus received them, on his return to Strasbourg the holy prelate placed those deeds on the altar, in presence of his clergy, and of the people, while he offered them in turn to our Blessed Lady. This gene- rous grant, and the miracle which he wrought, not only gained him respect
Dagobert III. ,
special
from the king, but likewise from all his subjects, who extolled the name of
Arbogast, as one worthy to rank with those pastors raised by the Almighty in his Church, to triumph over the inveterate practices of idolatry and the wiles of heresy, in the fourth and fifth centuries. 10
After the performance of the foregoing miracle, which caused him to become very celebrated, our saint is said to have lived many years. In a wocd on the brink of the River 111," he had caused a small cell to be built. When the day had been spent in continuous labour and in the discharge of his ministerial functions, he would often leave the city when night set in for this hermitage, which reminded him of his former place for retirement. Here would he meditate in solitude, on the grandeur and sacredness of his duties, while like another Moyses he negotiated for the interests of his people with the Almighty, when he engaged in prayer. One evening having arrived at the banks of that river, the accustomed boat was wanting to cross it ; but, his
7 Such is an abridged account of what Utho relates, but in a manner more diffuse.
Gueberschwihr, Pfaffenheim, Osenbir, Or- schwihr, Soulzmath, Osenbach and Wins-
Herlisheim and Westhalten. After qu'011 n—e connoissoit pas avant le xvn. the death of the last Counts of Egisheim,
siecle. " "Histoire Literaire de la France," tome vi. , x. siecle, p. 303.
9 This dotation was afterwards called Ilaut-Mundat.
Sainte Croix, Egisheim, Wettolsheim and Obermorschwihr were added to the former endowment. At the end of the fourteenth century, Jungholz, Bollwiller, Hatstadt, Benwihr and Zellenberg were also added, Nevertheless, the Haut-Mandat depended in spirituals on the Diocese of Bale. See Les Petits Bollandistes, "Vies des Saints,'' tome viii. , xxi° Jour de Juillet, pp. 57S, 579.
10
This gift by deed of the palace oflsen-
bourg and of its domain formed the germ of
temporal sovereignty for the Bishops of St^as-
"
bourg. However, at the commencement,
the temporalities were not so extended, as in
after times, because several Bishops added
new lands to their See. At first, Rouffach, the
Castle of Isenbourg, and the village of Sund- while in other Manuscripts it is variedly
heim, long since destroyed, Soultz, and called Bruyscha, Brusen, Bruschius, and Alschwiller, also destroyed, were parcels of Bruscha. In the vernacular, it is the Breusch, this grant ; as likewise, Wunheim, Rim- which joins the 111, near Strasburg, where bachzell, Hartmannsweiler, Gundolsheim, both flow into the Rhine.
"The Life by Utho calls it Briuscha,
2 S6 LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. [July 21. ___ •:
confidence in God was so great, that making a sign of the cross over its waters, he passed over without so much as wetting his feet, and arrived at his oratory. According to some accounts, St. Arbogast there commenced the foundation of a religious house, which afterwards had been enlarged or improved, and whichhadbeenendowedbytwoCanonsofStrasburgcathedral. 12 Afterwards, this hermitage became an object of veneration to the faithful. '3 According
1 to one account, our saint founded twelve monasteries along the River Rhine. *
This statement, however, must be largely discounted, for it seems founded on no ancient authority. It is certain, however, that King Dagobert II. built several churches and monasteries in France and Germany, which he liberally endowed with lands and possessions.
^ The influence of St. Arbogast may have been exercised, however, in reference to many of these pious works.
Some rather late writers have asserted, that St. Arbogast left a collection
16
of Homilies, or Commentaries on the Epistles of St. Paul. However,
these are not now to be found, nor have those who prepared catalogues of
ecclesiasticalandholyauthorsrecordedthem. Wherefore,theyseemeither
1
to have perished,, or to be buried in dust for the present. ? According to
lS
Dempster, he wrote In Epistolas Pauli, lib. i.
It is to be assumed, that these are not distinct—if ever they had been written—from the collection to which
allusion has been already made.
In the active discharge of every pastoral and Christian duty, the life of St.
Argobastwasspent. Hehadalsothegiftofhealingthesick,andofexorcising devils. His intervention between contentious persons often changed their discord into relations of strict friendship. The great desire of St. Arbogast was to form a right spirit among the clergy; and he required them to assist at the functions of their sacred ministry, as also to engage in spiritual confer- ences. He wished, moreover, to have good labourers in the vineyard, so that theymightgleanaplentifulharvestofsoulstoChrist. Hewasthemoreanxious, besides, for the reason that certain disorders had found their way among his flock ; and the zealous pastor, while prudently exercising patience under the evils he could not immediately cure, was yet alive to embrace each oppor tunity afforded for rescuing souls from the power of the devil. In fine, he was able to overcome great obstacles, and to accomplish great results, before he arrived at the closing scene of life. Over the See of Strasburgh he ruled not as a master, but rather as the father of his people, and with great emi- nence. Had he occasion to reprove any person, he did so with such tender- ness and consideration, that he gained the hearts of all.
For twelve years, he is said by some writers to have presided there, and all his days were passed in continuous labour as with ardour in the exercise of functions altogether apostolic. However, the opinion is more probable, that he only occupied the See for five or six years ; although his
Life
that he ruled for a
to the account
Utho has
x 9
20 based on that of other
the year of our Lord 658. This, however, is too early a date for the occur-
by of
12 See Guillimann, " De tinensibus," cap. ix.
long period.
According
it, Bishop Challoner,
21 he
l6 " Bale out of Munster," this is Quoting
asserted by Dr. Meredith Hanmer, in his " Chronicle of Ireland," p. 145.
l8
See "Historia Ecclesiastica Gentis Scotorum," tomus i. , lib. i. , num. 28, p. 26.
:
'' Thus " susceptumque culmen regimi-
nis felici gubernatione diu rexisse. "
*> See Britannia Sancta," part ii. , pp.
36, 37.
31 Such as Bruschius, Demochares, Mun
13 In the year 1069, Charles, a Dean of Strasburg Cathedral, caused a monastery to be here built for Canons Regular of St. Au-
gustine. This house was held in great respect for many ages subsequent, and finally in the month of December, 1530, the Protestant senate of Strasburgh caused its demolition.
At present, an inn occupies the site.
"
tome hi. , vii. siecle, p. 622.
14
According to Antonius de Heredia,
Episcopis Argen-
'* See
Histoire Literaire de la France,"
writers,
departed
this in life,
July 21. ] LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. 287
rence. Even the statement of other writers, that his death occurred in 668"
is erroneous ; for, at this period, King DagobertlL, who appointed our saint to the See of Strasburgh, was in England, and it was only in 673, when Chil- deric II. died, that he filled the throne of Austrasia. St. Arhogast died a. d. 678,^ according to the most generally received accounts. It is known, that
King Dagobert offered the Bishopric of Strasburgh to St. Wilfrid in the
to Rome. 21* This a at that proves vacancy
of while on his spring 679,
journey
time. Upon his declining that dignity, St. Florentius was then chosen. It
is mentioned, that in his last will, St. Arbogast desired to have his body buried onamountain,wheremalefac—torsonlyhadbeeninterred. Hiswishes—were
2* complied with but a afterwards dedicated, to St. Michael was
chapel
erected over his grave, and a village named Strateburg sprung up near it.
;
Again, the Abbey of St. Arbogastus was built at that place, where the
miracle of passing the 111 with dry feet had occurred. 26 His successor, St.
2
Florentius, ? took care, to have his remains translated to the collegiate church
founded him at 28 while due honours were accorded on that by Strasburg,
occasion to his memory.
Scarcely had St. Arbogast departed from this world, when great miracles were wrought at his tomb, which the faithful frequented. These wonders of
God's power, wrought through his holy servant, caused his successor St. Florentius to raise his relics and to place them on the altar. We are told,*9 moreover, that when he had built a church to St. Thomas near Strasburg, he there placed the head of St. Arbogast, it having been separated from the body. In the tenth century, the body of St. Arbogast was translated to the chapel of St. Michael,belongingtotheAbbeyofSurbourg. Aboutthemiddleofthe eleventh century, the relics of St. Arbogast were divided. A part was given to the Canons Regulars of the monastery built near the 111. Those remains
preserved at Surbourg were kept in a shrine richly gilt and ornamented. ^
When the Swedes invaded Alsace in 1631,3* the Canons of Surbourg trans-
ported their relics and archives to the house of the Augustinians at Haguenau.
Having subdued all Alsace, Gustavus Horn compelled the city of Hague-
nau to open its gates, when the Augustinians issued from that place to take
refuge in Huningue, while bearing with them their relics and archives. How-
ever, they were taken prisoners, and the Swedes destroyed the relics, while
they robbed these religious of everything they possessed. In like sort fared
the Canons near the 111. Their monastery was destroyed, and their
relics were dispersed, so that not the least particle of them has since been
2
found. 3
On the 21st of July, various Calendars and Martyrologies mark the
stems, Pantalion and Cratepolius.
22
Among these are Wympheling, IrenU cus, Guillimann, Coccius and Ruerus.
23 See "Histoire Literairede la France," tome iii. , vii. siecle, p. 622.
27 His feast occurs, on the 7th of No- vember.
28 See M. le Dr. Hoefer's " Nouvelle JBiographie Ge'nerale," tome iii. , col. 21.
*9 By Wimpheling and Eerier.
3° See Les Petits Bollandistes, "Vies des
24 This fact is mentioned by Eddius, in his
Life of St. Wilfrid, cap. 27, as seen in Saints," tome viii. , xxie Jour de Juillet,
Mabillon's "Acta Sanctorum Ordinis S. Benedicti," ssec. iv. , parsi. , p. 691.
25 Albert of Strasburg, who wrote in the thirteenth century, adds: "in qua retro altare sepulchrum ejus elevatum adhuc cer- nitur, ac patibulum ad locum, ubi jam est, transfertur. "
p. 581.
3I For the events connected with this period,
the reader may be referred to Schiller's His- tory of the Thirty Years' War in the col- lected German edition of his works, issued at Stuttgard, in Twelve 8vo volumes, 1862. It has likewise been translated into French and English.
32 See 1' Abbe Hunckler's "Histoire des Saints d'Alsace. " S. Arbogaste, Eveque de
26
Dagobert founded that religious house. See his Chronicle, at A. D. 1374.
According to Albert of Strasburg, King
288 LIVESOFTHEIRISHSAINTS. [July 21.
deposition, or happy death, of St. Arbogastus. In the most ancient copies of Ado's and of Usuard's Martyrologies, there is no mention of this holy bishop. But in the additions to Ado's Martyrology, edited by Father Rosweyde, he is mentioned at the present date. 33 Also in the additions to Usuard's genuine text, his name'and festival day are to be found. In the old German Martyr-
"
Arbogasti Confessoris" is entered. The Roman Martyrology commemorates him, on this day. 3* At the 21st of July, or xii. Kalendas Augusti, the feast of St. Arbogast is to be found in
nearly all the western Calendars, viz. : as in those of Arnold Wion, Dorgain,
Menard, and Bucelin. In various Calendars, Breviaries and Missals, he is
likewise commemorated. Thus, in the Breviary printed at Venice in 1495,
his office is set at the 20th of July, as a common of Confessor and Bishop, with
aferialrite,andapropercollect. IntheBreviaryofMayence,whichhadbeen
printed in 1507, he was venerated in like manner, and with an office contain-
ing Nine Lessons. But, in a Breviary of the same church, printed at Cologne
in 1570, the Collect is changed and two proper Lessons are added. 36 In the
Breviary belonging to the church of Constance, printed at Lyons, a. d. 1561, are the six proper Lessons in the first and second Nocturns, taken chiefly
from the Life by Utho; while there is a special Collect, but the rest of that office is from that common to a Confessor and Bishop. In another edition
of the Breviary belonging to the same diocese, and printed at Dilingan, a. d. 1575, the Collect is retained, but the Lessons of the First Nocturn are taken
from the Scriptures occurring. The Second Nocturn is proper, but the Lessons differ from those preceding ; the rest agreeing with what is contained in the fust edition. The Breviary of Worms, printed at Mayence, a. d. 1576, has
only three proper Lessons, taken from the Life by Utho, and having a different Collect from those Collects appearing in the Breviaries already men- tioned. ThemostancientBreviaryofStrasburg,printeda. d. 1489,hasNine Lessons,distributedthroughThreeNocturns; alltheLessonsandAntiphons being proper at Matins, Lauds and Vespers. 37 In the Missal of Mayence, printed a. d. 1493, there is a Mass for St. Arbogast, at this day ; as also in the Missal of Melitensis, printed at Strasburg, a. d. 1505, and in its Calendar, the feast of our saint is noted as a semi-double. In the Calendar and Missal of 151 2, printed at Strasburg, the feast of St. Arbogast is set at the 21st of
8
July, while its Sequence is published by the Bollandists. 3
Although the present very renowned and virtuous prelate has not been
included in the home Calendars of our Irish Saints, like many other cele- brated ones who departed from life in the Continental countries; yet, have our more modern Irish writers claimed St. Arbogast as their countryman. Thus, the Right Rev. David Rothe, Bishop of Ossory, and author of a treatise 39 " Vin- dicise Hibernire sive Antiquioris Scotiae contra Dernpsterum," has classed St. Arbogast among the holy ones of Ireland. In Father Henry Fitzsimon's uCalendarofIrishSaints,"* thereisanArbogastus,Bishop,entered,butwith-
ology, published by Beckius, a. d. 1687,34
Strasbourg.
33 Thus: "Eodem die, sancti Arbogasti
episcopi et confessoris. "
34 Augustae Vindelicorum.
Kalendas Augusti, p. 105.
36 The first of these contains the miracle of
his raising to life the son of King Dagobert ; while the other relates his passing over the Brusch River with dry feet.
the
Antiphons for Vespers, Matins and Lauds, in their great work.
38 See "Acta Sanctorum," tomus v. ,
Julii xxi. De S. Arbogaslo Episcopo Argen- toratensi in Gennania Prima. Commenta-
35 Thus "
: Argentoiati
san—cti Arbogasti Episcopi, miraculis clari. " "Martyrolo- gium Romanum," Editio novissima, xii.
rius
Prsevius, sect, i. , pp. 168 to 170.
The Bollandists
republished only
iv. , cap. xii. , p. 52.
4I No less than seven editions of that tract
& Printed at Antwerp, in 1621.
4° "
Fitzsimonquotes Gillebertusminorita
in Supplemento Sanctorum," as authority,
"
licse Ibernise Compendium," tomus i. , lib.
See O'Sullevan Beare's
Historiae Catho-
July 21. ] LIVES OF TH£ IRISH SAINTS. 289
out the date for his festival. * 1 In like manner, Father Stephen White 42 has notice of this holy Bishop. Assuming him to have been a Scotch saint, Thomas
Dempster, in his Menologium Scoticum, 4 3 enters Argobast at this date. The Cistercian Monk, in his " Lives of the Irish Saints,"" and the " Circle of the Seasons/'45 likewise, record his festival at this day.
This celebrated saint is styled a Bishop and a Confessor, in those different
accounts, which have reference to him. As such, he continued to exercise
humility and love of contemplation on the episcopal throne, as if he had still livedinthedesert. Inadministeringtheaffairsofhisdiocese,nothingcoulfl be more admirable than his extraordinary disinterestedness.
