Also, Miraeus, Wilson, Ferrarius, Menard, and Ghinius have a similar record
regarding
him.
O'Hanlon - Lives of the Irish Saints - v8
]
Alife, spent in the persistent practice ofgood works and mortification, is
the surest for its close.
guarantee happy Many worldly-minded
Christians, with all their efforts to reform, only choose in Magdalene's penitence the perfumes she poured on her Redeemer's feet. But, the
p. 538.
23 See Rev. William Reeves' Adamnan's
" Life of St. Columba," Appendix O, p. 375. 24 See Rev. William Reeves' " Ecclesias- tical Antiquities of Down, Connor and Dro- more," Appendix T, p. 249. Also Appen-
dix LL, p. 379. y
of this work, at that date, Art. i.
2 See " Acta Sanctorum Hibernise," iii.
Februarii. Translatio S. Waldetrudis Abba- tissre, p. 249.
3 See Acta Sanctorum," tomus ii. , Augusti
"Acta
25 Edited byDrs. Todd and Reeves, pp. tomus ii. , Augusti xii. Among the preter-
216, 217. t
26 See Bishop Forbes' ** Kalendars of
Scottish Saints,—p. 12.
'
Article v. See the Fourth Volume
mitted feasts, p. —699. *
notice, at this date ;
xii. Among the pretermitted feasts, p. 698.
• Article vii. — See
Article vm. See "Acta Sanctorum," tomus ii. , Augusti xii. Among the preter- mitted feasts, p. 699.
Sanctorum,"
August 13. ] LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. 185
greatest saints desire to encounter fearlessly the more austere ordeal of earnest, painful and meritorious works.
The chief and earliest notice of Imar O'Headacan is that contained in the
of St. Bernard. 1
The name of this man in Irish is written holy
writings
Imhar Ua h Aedhagain ;
He was born, most probably about or after the middle of the eleventh cen-
tury j and, it seems likely, from the family name, that his birth took place in the northern part of Ireland. However, we have no record to guide us in
determining the locality. There can scarcely be a doubt, that from an early age, he was a true servant of Christ, and that he began to manifest those special indications of a vocation, which taught him to resolve on leaving the pompsandvanitiesoftheworld. Hewasalsoremarkableforhisintellectual gifts ; and, at the period when he lived, opportunities for obtaining an excellent education were not wanting.
We are informed, that Imar O'Aedhacan or O'Hegan embraced a religious
life. This profession was probably made at Armagh ; and there, he seems to have practised those exercises of devotion, which made him a distinguished member of that community to which he belonged. He became Abbot over
and the
From the time of St. 6 the of the Irish Church had been Patrick, Primacy
vested in the See of Armagh ; and, this place had grown into such esteem, as a ^consequence, that tributes were paid to it, from the other dioceses and districts throughout Ireland. Thus, it was intended by the faithful to main- tain the dignity of the Prelates and religious establishments that had been there, during the lapse of centuries. Pilgrims were accustomed to flock thither, and to offer their prayers at the various shrines. In the local monas- teries, famous schools of learning had attracted scholars, even from distant countries.
The church at Armagh is said to have been originally constructed of willows, or wattles, like most of the primitive churches, before the use of stone and mortar was known. 7 This latter statement may well be questioned, so far as Ireland is concerned ; since proofs sufficient and material monuments remain to establish the fact, that some of the most primitive of our Christian churches had been built of stone, cemented with mortar. However, in dis- tricts where wood most abounded, it was found to be more desirable, in early times, to hew and to use it for the erection of ordinary houses, and even for the building of churches and monasteries. But, as ages succeeded, and as
and this has been Anglicised into Ivor O'Hegan. 2
of St. Peter and St. Paul—, at his — monastery Armagh. During incumbency,
the
St. Machabeo 3 or Gilda Machai-beo
great St. Malachy O'Morgair s became his disciples. In the Life of this latter celebrated prelate, as given by his friend, St. Bernard, founder and Abbot of Clairvaux, Imar O'Aedhacan is especially lauded for his extraordinary retire- ment, vigils and fasting, which were united with prayer, and the manifestation of great virtues. Through the advice of Imar, St. Malachy O'Morgair was persuaded to offer himself as a candidate for holy orders, which, through sincere humility, he had previously declined.
Article i. —* See "Opera Omnia," tomusii. Vita S. Malachiae, cap. xi.
2 See Dr. O'Donovan's "Annals of the
Four Masters," vol. ii. , n. (n), p. 1046.
3 See an account of him in the Third Volume of this work, at the 31st of March,
s His Life may be found, in the Eleventh
Volume of this work, at the 3rd of Novem-
ber, the day for his feast.
7 Treating of Armagh and about its origin, Sir Charles Coote states : "Thence it was " Acta Sanctorum Hi- named Drumsailech, the high place of bernise," Ma'rtii xxxi. De S. Machabeo willows ; but Ware says this name refers to Abbate Ardmachano, pp. 795, 796. the vicinity of the town, which was crowded
the date for his festival, Art. ii.
4 See
Colgan's
afterwards his successor4
6
the Third Volume of this work, Art. i.
See his Life, at the 17th of March, in
i86 LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS.
[August 13.
the advantages and convenience of using stone for building material were the more appreciated, all the chief erections were thus solidly constructed,
although wood and thatch were mostly employed for their roofing. No doubt, the far greater number of habitations at Armagh, when it grew to be a con- siderable city, were built of wood, or they might have been composed of mud walls, with very inflammable materials for covering ; and these conditions seem to account for the numerous and destructive conflagrations occurring there, and recorded in our Annals.
fl'wmBKifflt^^
f/jH
The Great or Metro- politan —Church of Armagh the founda- tions for which had been laid probably about this period when our saint flourished—stood upon the site of the present Protestantcathedral. In
M* Catholicmediaevaltimes
Sm
Interior View of Armagh Protestant Cathedral.
the commencement of After his appointment to this dignity, various fires are recorded, as having occurred at Armagh. One of these took place in the year 11 12. 9 Another destructive fire broke out in
1 1 16, when, according to our Irish Annals, the great house IO of the Abbots
the twelfth century, if not before that period.
at Ard with houses about were burned. 11 A Macha, twenty it,
fire also
broke
with willows growing on the banks of the River Callen. "—" Statistical Survey of the County of Armagh," chap, xii. , part iii. , sec. i. , pp. 307, 308.
8
Already different illustrations of Armagh and of its Cathedral have appeared, in former volumes of this work. The accompanying illustration, from a photograph, represents an interior view of the choir, rood-screen, and stalls. It has been drawn on the wood,
by William F. Wakeman, and it was en- graved by Mrs. Millard.
9 See Dr. O'Donovan's "Annals of the
Four Masters," vol. ii. , pp. 992 to 995, and n. (f), ibid.
10 From this statement we may infer, that
the building was a large one ; and probably besides providing for the Abbot's accommo- dation, it contained cells or chambers for his whole community.
it wasservedbyaChap- ter of Canons, who had revenues set apart for the becoming and public celebration of the Divine Offices but, since the
;
period of the Reforma- tion, the revenues have been devoted to the maintenance of other services. The body of this structure, and espe- cially the interior, has
differen—t changes and repairs
notably—in the present century andthesehave been described in vari-
8
ous publications.
Our saint appears to
have been Abbot, from
undergone
August 13. ] LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. 187
12
out in 1121.
of St. Peter and St. Paul had been destroyed. This disastrous accident obliged its holy abbot to exert all his energies to repair the loss, which fell most heavily on the religious community to which he belonged. Nor does it appear, that much time was passed, until he commenced and completed the work of restoration. The church having been rebuilt by St. Imar O'Aedhacan, it was consecrated on the 21st of October,^ in the year 1126,'* by Ceallach, successor of St. Patrick, in the See of Armagh. It was called the Regies of Peter and Paul. It seems then to have been surrounded by a number of separate habitations, in which the monks lived as anchorites ; and they assembled there to engage in the public exercises of prayer and sacrifice.
The Abbot had his dwelling near the church of St. Peter and St. Paul, where he practised the usual devotions. In the year 1134, this saint under- took a pilgrimage to Rome, in which city he died. 15 Nor does he seem to have long survived his advent to that city ; since the date last mentioned is that assigned for his departure from this life. Marianus O'Gorman and the
Probably, during the latter of these fires, the great monastery
l6 have set down this
Abbot in their
holy
His festival has been celebrated, on the 13th day of August, ? probably the
date for his death.
Much as the city of Armagh may have improved in the style and character
of its more modern buildings for the past few centuries, yet must we regret, that so many venerable ecclesiastical structures and establishments of the earlier ages have now totally disappeared. Among these were the church and monasteryre-erectedbyoursaint. Someoftheirruinsexistedinthebeginning of the last century. The Presbyterians of the Congregation at Armagh built
18 on the site of the ancient church and
of St. Peter and St. Paul, it being in part erected with the ruined materials. 9 A nearly similar result might be chronicled, regarding numbers of the ancient
monuments formerly in Ireland.
Article II. —St. Wigbertus or Wickburtus, Missionary in Frisia. \_Eighth Century. \ The earliest notices of this holy man are to be found in
O'Clerys
respective Martyrologies. 1
their new church in
1722,
monastery T
11 We learn, however, that a portion of Lismor-Mochuda, was burn—ed in the beginning of the Lent of this year. See ibid.
12
See ibid. , pp. 1012, J013, and n. (o), ibid.
13 Or twelfth of the Calends of Novem- ber.
14 See ibid. , pp. 1022 to 1025. See also note (b), ibid.
xs See ibid. , pp. 1046, 1047.
16
^ In reference to Dr. Stuart relates these,
They enter him simply as 1omhA|\U4 h -Ae-OAgxym, at this date. Seethe "Martyr- ology of Donegal," edited by Rev. Drs. Todd and
name is affixed the note " of Kilmore," John O'Donovan, the meaning of which is
not so unless it that obvious, may signify,
he was from or had some connection with Kilmore.
"
Acta Sanctorum Hiber- niae," Martii xxxi. , n. 3, p. 796.
,8 See Thomas Whiterow's " Historical and Literary Memorials of Presbyterianism
*» See Colgan's
Reeves, pp. 218, 219.
earn ? ' per day
great
in Ireland (1623-1731)," chap, xlvi. , -torical Memoirs of the City of Armagh," p. 343- chap, xxvi. , pp. 489, 490.
the following amusing anecdote
:
" While
the workmen were engaged in preparing the
materials, Dean Swift, accompanied by a
friend, went to the place, and found the
masonsbusilyoccupiedinsmoothinganum-
ber of
grotesque heads and the figures of cherubs, which probably had been sculptured in the days of Imar O'Haedagain. 'See,' said Swift, 'these fanatic Puritans are chiselling Popery out of the very stones. ' 'Pray,' added he, addressing himself to a sawyer, who was then cutting some timber on the premises, ' how much do
To his
you by pence, please your
curiously-carved stones,
adorned with
'Fifteen Reverence. ' ' Fifteen why, I can get in Dublin a better
pence !
sawyer
I, please your Reverence, can produce a parson who preaches better sermons than the Dean of St. Patrick's, though he is only paid
£40 a-year, whilst the Dean receives ^700. ' Pleased with the sawyer's humour, the Dean presented him with half-a-crown. "—" His-
to work all
day
for ' Arid tenpence. '
1 88 LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS.
[August 13.
thewritingsofVenerableBede. 1 ThePetitsBollandistes* haveinserted some accounts of this missionary and confesser when treating about St. Wigbert or Wictberecht, Abbot of Fritzlar, in the Electorate of Hesse, at the 13thofAugust. Theymention,thatMabillonspeaksofseveralsaintsbear- ing this name ; and, in the first place, about the present one, who is the most ancient,andwhowentfromIrelandtoFrisia. Molanusdevotesaparagraph to this St. Wigbert, at the 13th of August^ and he is represented as a Martyr in Fostelandia.
Also, Miraeus, Wilson, Ferrarius, Menard, and Ghinius have a similar record regarding him. Colgan intended publishing the Acts of St. Wigbertus, Martyr, at the 12th or 13th of August/ Nevertheless, some erroneous tradition must have been put into circulation ; for, although this holy missionary laboured among a pagan people for some time, his blood was not shed for Christ on the field ofhis gospelling. The Bollandists have notices of this holy man, at the 13th of August,* while they are careful to distinguish him from another St. Wicbert, Wichbert, Wippert, Wigberch or Vigeberecht—as he is variedly called—and whose feast occurs, especially in Germany, on this same day. More complete details regarding the latter
6
have been recorded, and he was likewise an Anglo-Saxon. This coincidence
of names and of festivals, on the same day, has caused much confusion of state- mentbywriterswhohavereferredtothem. Thelastnamed,Wigbert,was Abbot over two monasteries, which he built in Germany : first, over Fritzlar, three miles from Cassel, and afterwards over Ortdorf, in the same province of Hesse. ? The saint connected with Ireland by residence seems to have been an Anglo-Saxon, by birth and race ; and, most probably, he was born towards the close of the seventh century. This holy servant of Christ, at an early
age, evinced a great contempt for the world's enjoyments ;
and, in after
companions there ; but, whether or not both left England at the same time is not so clear. However, St. Wigbert lived in Ireland for many years, which he spent in humble retirement, and serving God as a hermit. About the year
years,
distinguished
great learning.
Egbert
hewas
WhenSt.
8 went
forhis
to Ireland, where he lived the life of a recluse, St. Wicbert was one of his
10
from Ireland to preach among the old Continental Saxons ; and, with great
zeal, they spread truths of Christianity, chiefly among the people of the Low Countries. Desirous, no doubt, of emulating their fervour and labours, not- withstanding his love for holy solitude, still the saint resolved to engage in a great work of active charity ; and, his soul yearned to spread Christianity amongthosegentilesofnorthernEurope. Withsuchanobjectinview,he went to Frisia, where he preached the Gospel among the pagans for two
690, St. Willibrord,9 St. Suitbert,
and several other missionaries, set out
Article ii. — See " Historia Ecclesi-
astica Gentis Anglorum," lib. v. , cap. io,
p. 403.
a See " Les Vies des Saints," tome ix. ,
xiiie Jour d'Aout, p. 532.
3 See "Natales Sanctorum Belgii," p. 176.
4 This appears from the list of his post-
"
Catalogus Actuum Sanctorum quae MS. habentur, ordine Men-
sium et Dierum. "
5 See "Acta Sanctorum," tomus iii. ,
Augusti xiii. Among the pretermitted saints,
Latin Acts by Servatus Lupus, Abbot, with
a Preface and three chapters, containing thirty paragraphs, illustrated with editorial
notes by Father John Baptist Soller, pp. 132 to 137.
7 See notices of him, in Rev. Alban
Butler's " Lives of the Fathers, Martyrs and
other principal Saints," vol. viii. , August xii. 8 See his Life, in the Fourth Volume of
this work, at the 24th of April, the day for his feast, Art. i.
' See his Life, at the 7th of November, the date for his feast.
,0 See the Third Volume of this work, at
the 1st of March, the day for his festival, Art. ii.
humous Manuscripts:
p.
2.
6 See ibid. De S. Wigberto Presb. Conf.
in Germania. A previous commentary is given in eight paragraphs. Then follow his
August 13. ]
LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. 189
At that time, Radbod was their ruler, and he was hostile to Wherefore, meeting with little encouragement or success in the work of conversion, Wigbert returned to that place whence he proceeded, when trying to fill the office of missioner. There once more he gave himself to the Almighty, in the true spirit of recollection and prayer. That he became an Abbot has been stated, but on no good authority can such a conjecture befounded. Nevertheless,hisexampleandvirtuesledmanytoimitatehim,
and he laboured with great fruit among those people, who knew him so well, and who could thus appreciate his merits. Nor is there any warrant for styling him a Martyr, as some writers have done ; since it is most probable, he passed the remainder of his days peaceably in Ireland. His death has been assigned to a. d. 747 ; however, this date refers rather to Wigbert, whose Acts have been written by Servatus Lupus," a priest who lived under Rabanus Maurus, 12 at Mentz, and who afterwards was Abbot at Ferrieres. ^ In the Calendar of National Missionary Saints compiled by Convseus, St. Wicbertus is set down as a Martyr, in Fostilandia. But, no date has been
1
mentioned for his festival. * In the anonymous Calendar of Irish Saints,
whole years. such efforts.
published by
Beare,
13th
Seasons. "
1^ atthe
of thenameofWick- August,
O'Sullevan
bertusoccurs. Heisalsocommemorated,atthisdate,inthe"Circleofthe
16
Article III. —St. Maidoc, or Modemoc, Abbot of Fiddown,
CountyofKilkenny. InthecopyoftheMartyrologyofTallagh,found
in the Book of at this a feast is entered for this saint. 1 The Leinster, date,
2
published Martyrology of Tallagh, also, at the 13th of August, registers a
festival in honour of Momedoc Feda duin, or Fiddown, County of Kilkenny.
Some notices of him have been already given, at the 18th of May. 3 At " ,;
the 13th of August, in the Feilire * of St. yEngus, there is commemoration of Momedoc, with a distinctive eulogy. An Irish comment is attached, and which states, likewise, that he was of Fidh Duin, in the south of Ossory. s He is also commemorated, at this date in the Kalendar of Drummond. 6
Article IV. —St. Molacca, Son of Cairthenn. Veneration was
given, at the 13th of August to Moloca mac Cairthen, as we find entered in
the of1Intheof2
"
by Baluse.
12
See an account of his Life and works,
nipobcur triApcir* tXauiirvbuiL Achoi-oen
CorluAg At)bul u^r-al HlomoetJoc mint) n 5-Aet>el.
published Martyrology Tallagh.
Martyrology
Donegal,
His works were published and edited
Whitley Stokes, LL. D. :—
in the Second Volume of this work, at the
4th of February, Art iv.
13
"
place is three leagues from Mon-
targis, in Gratinois, in the diocese of Sens.
See Rev. Alban Butler's "Lives of the diadem of the Gael. "—"Transactions of Fathers, Martyrs and other principal
Saints," vol. viii. , August xii.
_This
14 See O'Sullevan Beare's " Historiae
Catholicse Ibernia Compendium," tomus lib. iv. , cap. x„ p. 48.
« See ibid. ,
the marvellous was his Hippolitus martyr,
3
Edited by Rev. Dr. Kelly, p. xxxii.
Kelly, p. xxxii. In that copy found in the Book of
cap. xi. ,p. 50. See p. 226.
ScottishSaints, thus,attheIdesof
August
:
1
Article hi. —1 Thus : X)Wn-
«« Apud Hibemiam Sancti confessoris Mome-
doc Natale celebratur," p. 21.
3
that date, Art. iv.
See the Fifth Volume of this work, at
Leinster, we read, moloca mac CApchim>, and under this latter word is Ceacpen.
« In the * Leabhar Breac "
following rann, with English translation by
2
pp. 2x8, 219.
i. ,
tnome'ooc ipex>&
ij ee ibid. , p. cxxxi.
copy is the
Edited by Rev. Drs. Todd and Reeves,
troop. With a host vast, noble, My-Maedoc,
the Royal Irish Academy," Irish Manuscript
Series, vol. i. , part i. On the Calendar of
Oengus, p. cxxiii.
s
6 See Bishop Forbes' "Kalendars of "
Article iv. —j Edited Rev. Dr. by
iqo LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. [August 13.
this saint is set down as Molacca, son of Cairthenn. There is a Molaga, of Saingel, adds the Calendarist, and who tells us that he belonged to the race of Conall Eachluath, who was of the posterity of Corbmac Cas, son to Oilioli Olum. There are different holy men bearing the name of Molacus or Molagius, tantamount to Molacca. Colgan supposes the present may possibly be identified with a Molocus, surnamed the Devout, of Inis-tiprad, near Limerick, and who assisted at the obsequies of St. Senan, Abbot of Iniscathy, about the middle of the sixth century. 3 He is recorded by Marianus O'Gorman, at the same date.
Article V. —St. Brigid of Cuainaoi, or Cluana diailama. At the 13th of August, St. Brigid of Cluana diailama is in the Rev. Dr. Kelly's
August, the Martyrologies'of Marianus O'Gorman, of Charles Maguire, and of Donegal,^ record a festival for St. Brigid of Cluainaoi or Cluain-ai. There is a church, called Cluainaoi, in the diocese of Derry. In the county of Londonderry alone, there are no less than four townlands, respectively called Clooney. AnotherClooneywasnearClonardinMeath/anditistheonly place so denominated in that county.
1 In that contained in the Book ofLeinster, copy
version of this
the place is differently entered. 2 Her location is styled Cluain-diolama, by Colgan. Itdoesnotappearwithwhatexistingtownlanddenominationthe name Cluain-diolama or Cluana diailama can be identified. At the 13th of
Martyrology.
Article VI. —St. Dianlann. The simple entry, Dianlann, appears in 1
the Martyrology of Donegal, at the 13th of August. Elsewhere, no notice of such a saint is to be found ; and, I am inclined to think, that a mistake has been made by the O'Clerys, in setting down the name of a saint, for that of the place Diamluma, as noted already in connection with the St. Brigid, venerated on this day.
Article VII. —St. Lucan. —We find the simple record, Lucan, in the
of 1 at this date. more seems to be known Martyrology Donegal, Nothing
regarding him.
Article VIII. —Feast of St. Hippolitus and of his Companions, Martyrs, at Rome. In the Irish Church, at the 13th of August, the festival of St. Hippolitus, with that of his companions, in number nineteen, and of either sex, was observed. They suffered under the Emperor Decius,
3 See "Acta Sanctorum Hibernix," viii. Martii. Vita S. Senani, cap. xliii, and n. 31,
Article vii. — ' Edited by Drs. Todd
and Reeves, pp. 218, 219.
a A note, Dr. Todd, at the denomina- by
tion Lucan: "After this word the second
hand adds momAO'ooj;. Mar. , /Eh. , M. Tarn. ExS. ALnact Marl , 'mo rVUet>05
pp. 533, 536. — Article v.
'
See "Calendar of
Irish
Saints," p. xxxii.
3 Thus: bpigiCAe Ct. T)iAnlu»n\.
3 Edited by Rev. Drs.
Alife, spent in the persistent practice ofgood works and mortification, is
the surest for its close.
guarantee happy Many worldly-minded
Christians, with all their efforts to reform, only choose in Magdalene's penitence the perfumes she poured on her Redeemer's feet. But, the
p. 538.
23 See Rev. William Reeves' Adamnan's
" Life of St. Columba," Appendix O, p. 375. 24 See Rev. William Reeves' " Ecclesias- tical Antiquities of Down, Connor and Dro- more," Appendix T, p. 249. Also Appen-
dix LL, p. 379. y
of this work, at that date, Art. i.
2 See " Acta Sanctorum Hibernise," iii.
Februarii. Translatio S. Waldetrudis Abba- tissre, p. 249.
3 See Acta Sanctorum," tomus ii. , Augusti
"Acta
25 Edited byDrs. Todd and Reeves, pp. tomus ii. , Augusti xii. Among the preter-
216, 217. t
26 See Bishop Forbes' ** Kalendars of
Scottish Saints,—p. 12.
'
Article v. See the Fourth Volume
mitted feasts, p. —699. *
notice, at this date ;
xii. Among the pretermitted feasts, p. 698.
• Article vii. — See
Article vm. See "Acta Sanctorum," tomus ii. , Augusti xii. Among the preter- mitted feasts, p. 699.
Sanctorum,"
August 13. ] LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. 185
greatest saints desire to encounter fearlessly the more austere ordeal of earnest, painful and meritorious works.
The chief and earliest notice of Imar O'Headacan is that contained in the
of St. Bernard. 1
The name of this man in Irish is written holy
writings
Imhar Ua h Aedhagain ;
He was born, most probably about or after the middle of the eleventh cen-
tury j and, it seems likely, from the family name, that his birth took place in the northern part of Ireland. However, we have no record to guide us in
determining the locality. There can scarcely be a doubt, that from an early age, he was a true servant of Christ, and that he began to manifest those special indications of a vocation, which taught him to resolve on leaving the pompsandvanitiesoftheworld. Hewasalsoremarkableforhisintellectual gifts ; and, at the period when he lived, opportunities for obtaining an excellent education were not wanting.
We are informed, that Imar O'Aedhacan or O'Hegan embraced a religious
life. This profession was probably made at Armagh ; and there, he seems to have practised those exercises of devotion, which made him a distinguished member of that community to which he belonged. He became Abbot over
and the
From the time of St. 6 the of the Irish Church had been Patrick, Primacy
vested in the See of Armagh ; and, this place had grown into such esteem, as a ^consequence, that tributes were paid to it, from the other dioceses and districts throughout Ireland. Thus, it was intended by the faithful to main- tain the dignity of the Prelates and religious establishments that had been there, during the lapse of centuries. Pilgrims were accustomed to flock thither, and to offer their prayers at the various shrines. In the local monas- teries, famous schools of learning had attracted scholars, even from distant countries.
The church at Armagh is said to have been originally constructed of willows, or wattles, like most of the primitive churches, before the use of stone and mortar was known. 7 This latter statement may well be questioned, so far as Ireland is concerned ; since proofs sufficient and material monuments remain to establish the fact, that some of the most primitive of our Christian churches had been built of stone, cemented with mortar. However, in dis- tricts where wood most abounded, it was found to be more desirable, in early times, to hew and to use it for the erection of ordinary houses, and even for the building of churches and monasteries. But, as ages succeeded, and as
and this has been Anglicised into Ivor O'Hegan. 2
of St. Peter and St. Paul—, at his — monastery Armagh. During incumbency,
the
St. Machabeo 3 or Gilda Machai-beo
great St. Malachy O'Morgair s became his disciples. In the Life of this latter celebrated prelate, as given by his friend, St. Bernard, founder and Abbot of Clairvaux, Imar O'Aedhacan is especially lauded for his extraordinary retire- ment, vigils and fasting, which were united with prayer, and the manifestation of great virtues. Through the advice of Imar, St. Malachy O'Morgair was persuaded to offer himself as a candidate for holy orders, which, through sincere humility, he had previously declined.
Article i. —* See "Opera Omnia," tomusii. Vita S. Malachiae, cap. xi.
2 See Dr. O'Donovan's "Annals of the
Four Masters," vol. ii. , n. (n), p. 1046.
3 See an account of him in the Third Volume of this work, at the 31st of March,
s His Life may be found, in the Eleventh
Volume of this work, at the 3rd of Novem-
ber, the day for his feast.
7 Treating of Armagh and about its origin, Sir Charles Coote states : "Thence it was " Acta Sanctorum Hi- named Drumsailech, the high place of bernise," Ma'rtii xxxi. De S. Machabeo willows ; but Ware says this name refers to Abbate Ardmachano, pp. 795, 796. the vicinity of the town, which was crowded
the date for his festival, Art. ii.
4 See
Colgan's
afterwards his successor4
6
the Third Volume of this work, Art. i.
See his Life, at the 17th of March, in
i86 LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS.
[August 13.
the advantages and convenience of using stone for building material were the more appreciated, all the chief erections were thus solidly constructed,
although wood and thatch were mostly employed for their roofing. No doubt, the far greater number of habitations at Armagh, when it grew to be a con- siderable city, were built of wood, or they might have been composed of mud walls, with very inflammable materials for covering ; and these conditions seem to account for the numerous and destructive conflagrations occurring there, and recorded in our Annals.
fl'wmBKifflt^^
f/jH
The Great or Metro- politan —Church of Armagh the founda- tions for which had been laid probably about this period when our saint flourished—stood upon the site of the present Protestantcathedral. In
M* Catholicmediaevaltimes
Sm
Interior View of Armagh Protestant Cathedral.
the commencement of After his appointment to this dignity, various fires are recorded, as having occurred at Armagh. One of these took place in the year 11 12. 9 Another destructive fire broke out in
1 1 16, when, according to our Irish Annals, the great house IO of the Abbots
the twelfth century, if not before that period.
at Ard with houses about were burned. 11 A Macha, twenty it,
fire also
broke
with willows growing on the banks of the River Callen. "—" Statistical Survey of the County of Armagh," chap, xii. , part iii. , sec. i. , pp. 307, 308.
8
Already different illustrations of Armagh and of its Cathedral have appeared, in former volumes of this work. The accompanying illustration, from a photograph, represents an interior view of the choir, rood-screen, and stalls. It has been drawn on the wood,
by William F. Wakeman, and it was en- graved by Mrs. Millard.
9 See Dr. O'Donovan's "Annals of the
Four Masters," vol. ii. , pp. 992 to 995, and n. (f), ibid.
10 From this statement we may infer, that
the building was a large one ; and probably besides providing for the Abbot's accommo- dation, it contained cells or chambers for his whole community.
it wasservedbyaChap- ter of Canons, who had revenues set apart for the becoming and public celebration of the Divine Offices but, since the
;
period of the Reforma- tion, the revenues have been devoted to the maintenance of other services. The body of this structure, and espe- cially the interior, has
differen—t changes and repairs
notably—in the present century andthesehave been described in vari-
8
ous publications.
Our saint appears to
have been Abbot, from
undergone
August 13. ] LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. 187
12
out in 1121.
of St. Peter and St. Paul had been destroyed. This disastrous accident obliged its holy abbot to exert all his energies to repair the loss, which fell most heavily on the religious community to which he belonged. Nor does it appear, that much time was passed, until he commenced and completed the work of restoration. The church having been rebuilt by St. Imar O'Aedhacan, it was consecrated on the 21st of October,^ in the year 1126,'* by Ceallach, successor of St. Patrick, in the See of Armagh. It was called the Regies of Peter and Paul. It seems then to have been surrounded by a number of separate habitations, in which the monks lived as anchorites ; and they assembled there to engage in the public exercises of prayer and sacrifice.
The Abbot had his dwelling near the church of St. Peter and St. Paul, where he practised the usual devotions. In the year 1134, this saint under- took a pilgrimage to Rome, in which city he died. 15 Nor does he seem to have long survived his advent to that city ; since the date last mentioned is that assigned for his departure from this life. Marianus O'Gorman and the
Probably, during the latter of these fires, the great monastery
l6 have set down this
Abbot in their
holy
His festival has been celebrated, on the 13th day of August, ? probably the
date for his death.
Much as the city of Armagh may have improved in the style and character
of its more modern buildings for the past few centuries, yet must we regret, that so many venerable ecclesiastical structures and establishments of the earlier ages have now totally disappeared. Among these were the church and monasteryre-erectedbyoursaint. Someoftheirruinsexistedinthebeginning of the last century. The Presbyterians of the Congregation at Armagh built
18 on the site of the ancient church and
of St. Peter and St. Paul, it being in part erected with the ruined materials. 9 A nearly similar result might be chronicled, regarding numbers of the ancient
monuments formerly in Ireland.
Article II. —St. Wigbertus or Wickburtus, Missionary in Frisia. \_Eighth Century. \ The earliest notices of this holy man are to be found in
O'Clerys
respective Martyrologies. 1
their new church in
1722,
monastery T
11 We learn, however, that a portion of Lismor-Mochuda, was burn—ed in the beginning of the Lent of this year. See ibid.
12
See ibid. , pp. 1012, J013, and n. (o), ibid.
13 Or twelfth of the Calends of Novem- ber.
14 See ibid. , pp. 1022 to 1025. See also note (b), ibid.
xs See ibid. , pp. 1046, 1047.
16
^ In reference to Dr. Stuart relates these,
They enter him simply as 1omhA|\U4 h -Ae-OAgxym, at this date. Seethe "Martyr- ology of Donegal," edited by Rev. Drs. Todd and
name is affixed the note " of Kilmore," John O'Donovan, the meaning of which is
not so unless it that obvious, may signify,
he was from or had some connection with Kilmore.
"
Acta Sanctorum Hiber- niae," Martii xxxi. , n. 3, p. 796.
,8 See Thomas Whiterow's " Historical and Literary Memorials of Presbyterianism
*» See Colgan's
Reeves, pp. 218, 219.
earn ? ' per day
great
in Ireland (1623-1731)," chap, xlvi. , -torical Memoirs of the City of Armagh," p. 343- chap, xxvi. , pp. 489, 490.
the following amusing anecdote
:
" While
the workmen were engaged in preparing the
materials, Dean Swift, accompanied by a
friend, went to the place, and found the
masonsbusilyoccupiedinsmoothinganum-
ber of
grotesque heads and the figures of cherubs, which probably had been sculptured in the days of Imar O'Haedagain. 'See,' said Swift, 'these fanatic Puritans are chiselling Popery out of the very stones. ' 'Pray,' added he, addressing himself to a sawyer, who was then cutting some timber on the premises, ' how much do
To his
you by pence, please your
curiously-carved stones,
adorned with
'Fifteen Reverence. ' ' Fifteen why, I can get in Dublin a better
pence !
sawyer
I, please your Reverence, can produce a parson who preaches better sermons than the Dean of St. Patrick's, though he is only paid
£40 a-year, whilst the Dean receives ^700. ' Pleased with the sawyer's humour, the Dean presented him with half-a-crown. "—" His-
to work all
day
for ' Arid tenpence. '
1 88 LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS.
[August 13.
thewritingsofVenerableBede. 1 ThePetitsBollandistes* haveinserted some accounts of this missionary and confesser when treating about St. Wigbert or Wictberecht, Abbot of Fritzlar, in the Electorate of Hesse, at the 13thofAugust. Theymention,thatMabillonspeaksofseveralsaintsbear- ing this name ; and, in the first place, about the present one, who is the most ancient,andwhowentfromIrelandtoFrisia. Molanusdevotesaparagraph to this St. Wigbert, at the 13th of August^ and he is represented as a Martyr in Fostelandia.
Also, Miraeus, Wilson, Ferrarius, Menard, and Ghinius have a similar record regarding him. Colgan intended publishing the Acts of St. Wigbertus, Martyr, at the 12th or 13th of August/ Nevertheless, some erroneous tradition must have been put into circulation ; for, although this holy missionary laboured among a pagan people for some time, his blood was not shed for Christ on the field ofhis gospelling. The Bollandists have notices of this holy man, at the 13th of August,* while they are careful to distinguish him from another St. Wicbert, Wichbert, Wippert, Wigberch or Vigeberecht—as he is variedly called—and whose feast occurs, especially in Germany, on this same day. More complete details regarding the latter
6
have been recorded, and he was likewise an Anglo-Saxon. This coincidence
of names and of festivals, on the same day, has caused much confusion of state- mentbywriterswhohavereferredtothem. Thelastnamed,Wigbert,was Abbot over two monasteries, which he built in Germany : first, over Fritzlar, three miles from Cassel, and afterwards over Ortdorf, in the same province of Hesse. ? The saint connected with Ireland by residence seems to have been an Anglo-Saxon, by birth and race ; and, most probably, he was born towards the close of the seventh century. This holy servant of Christ, at an early
age, evinced a great contempt for the world's enjoyments ;
and, in after
companions there ; but, whether or not both left England at the same time is not so clear. However, St. Wigbert lived in Ireland for many years, which he spent in humble retirement, and serving God as a hermit. About the year
years,
distinguished
great learning.
Egbert
hewas
WhenSt.
8 went
forhis
to Ireland, where he lived the life of a recluse, St. Wicbert was one of his
10
from Ireland to preach among the old Continental Saxons ; and, with great
zeal, they spread truths of Christianity, chiefly among the people of the Low Countries. Desirous, no doubt, of emulating their fervour and labours, not- withstanding his love for holy solitude, still the saint resolved to engage in a great work of active charity ; and, his soul yearned to spread Christianity amongthosegentilesofnorthernEurope. Withsuchanobjectinview,he went to Frisia, where he preached the Gospel among the pagans for two
690, St. Willibrord,9 St. Suitbert,
and several other missionaries, set out
Article ii. — See " Historia Ecclesi-
astica Gentis Anglorum," lib. v. , cap. io,
p. 403.
a See " Les Vies des Saints," tome ix. ,
xiiie Jour d'Aout, p. 532.
3 See "Natales Sanctorum Belgii," p. 176.
4 This appears from the list of his post-
"
Catalogus Actuum Sanctorum quae MS. habentur, ordine Men-
sium et Dierum. "
5 See "Acta Sanctorum," tomus iii. ,
Augusti xiii. Among the pretermitted saints,
Latin Acts by Servatus Lupus, Abbot, with
a Preface and three chapters, containing thirty paragraphs, illustrated with editorial
notes by Father John Baptist Soller, pp. 132 to 137.
7 See notices of him, in Rev. Alban
Butler's " Lives of the Fathers, Martyrs and
other principal Saints," vol. viii. , August xii. 8 See his Life, in the Fourth Volume of
this work, at the 24th of April, the day for his feast, Art. i.
' See his Life, at the 7th of November, the date for his feast.
,0 See the Third Volume of this work, at
the 1st of March, the day for his festival, Art. ii.
humous Manuscripts:
p.
2.
6 See ibid. De S. Wigberto Presb. Conf.
in Germania. A previous commentary is given in eight paragraphs. Then follow his
August 13. ]
LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. 189
At that time, Radbod was their ruler, and he was hostile to Wherefore, meeting with little encouragement or success in the work of conversion, Wigbert returned to that place whence he proceeded, when trying to fill the office of missioner. There once more he gave himself to the Almighty, in the true spirit of recollection and prayer. That he became an Abbot has been stated, but on no good authority can such a conjecture befounded. Nevertheless,hisexampleandvirtuesledmanytoimitatehim,
and he laboured with great fruit among those people, who knew him so well, and who could thus appreciate his merits. Nor is there any warrant for styling him a Martyr, as some writers have done ; since it is most probable, he passed the remainder of his days peaceably in Ireland. His death has been assigned to a. d. 747 ; however, this date refers rather to Wigbert, whose Acts have been written by Servatus Lupus," a priest who lived under Rabanus Maurus, 12 at Mentz, and who afterwards was Abbot at Ferrieres. ^ In the Calendar of National Missionary Saints compiled by Convseus, St. Wicbertus is set down as a Martyr, in Fostilandia. But, no date has been
1
mentioned for his festival. * In the anonymous Calendar of Irish Saints,
whole years. such efforts.
published by
Beare,
13th
Seasons. "
1^ atthe
of thenameofWick- August,
O'Sullevan
bertusoccurs. Heisalsocommemorated,atthisdate,inthe"Circleofthe
16
Article III. —St. Maidoc, or Modemoc, Abbot of Fiddown,
CountyofKilkenny. InthecopyoftheMartyrologyofTallagh,found
in the Book of at this a feast is entered for this saint. 1 The Leinster, date,
2
published Martyrology of Tallagh, also, at the 13th of August, registers a
festival in honour of Momedoc Feda duin, or Fiddown, County of Kilkenny.
Some notices of him have been already given, at the 18th of May. 3 At " ,;
the 13th of August, in the Feilire * of St. yEngus, there is commemoration of Momedoc, with a distinctive eulogy. An Irish comment is attached, and which states, likewise, that he was of Fidh Duin, in the south of Ossory. s He is also commemorated, at this date in the Kalendar of Drummond. 6
Article IV. —St. Molacca, Son of Cairthenn. Veneration was
given, at the 13th of August to Moloca mac Cairthen, as we find entered in
the of1Intheof2
"
by Baluse.
12
See an account of his Life and works,
nipobcur triApcir* tXauiirvbuiL Achoi-oen
CorluAg At)bul u^r-al HlomoetJoc mint) n 5-Aet>el.
published Martyrology Tallagh.
Martyrology
Donegal,
His works were published and edited
Whitley Stokes, LL. D. :—
in the Second Volume of this work, at the
4th of February, Art iv.
13
"
place is three leagues from Mon-
targis, in Gratinois, in the diocese of Sens.
See Rev. Alban Butler's "Lives of the diadem of the Gael. "—"Transactions of Fathers, Martyrs and other principal
Saints," vol. viii. , August xii.
_This
14 See O'Sullevan Beare's " Historiae
Catholicse Ibernia Compendium," tomus lib. iv. , cap. x„ p. 48.
« See ibid. ,
the marvellous was his Hippolitus martyr,
3
Edited by Rev. Dr. Kelly, p. xxxii.
Kelly, p. xxxii. In that copy found in the Book of
cap. xi. ,p. 50. See p. 226.
ScottishSaints, thus,attheIdesof
August
:
1
Article hi. —1 Thus : X)Wn-
«« Apud Hibemiam Sancti confessoris Mome-
doc Natale celebratur," p. 21.
3
that date, Art. iv.
See the Fifth Volume of this work, at
Leinster, we read, moloca mac CApchim>, and under this latter word is Ceacpen.
« In the * Leabhar Breac "
following rann, with English translation by
2
pp. 2x8, 219.
i. ,
tnome'ooc ipex>&
ij ee ibid. , p. cxxxi.
copy is the
Edited by Rev. Drs. Todd and Reeves,
troop. With a host vast, noble, My-Maedoc,
the Royal Irish Academy," Irish Manuscript
Series, vol. i. , part i. On the Calendar of
Oengus, p. cxxiii.
s
6 See Bishop Forbes' "Kalendars of "
Article iv. —j Edited Rev. Dr. by
iqo LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. [August 13.
this saint is set down as Molacca, son of Cairthenn. There is a Molaga, of Saingel, adds the Calendarist, and who tells us that he belonged to the race of Conall Eachluath, who was of the posterity of Corbmac Cas, son to Oilioli Olum. There are different holy men bearing the name of Molacus or Molagius, tantamount to Molacca. Colgan supposes the present may possibly be identified with a Molocus, surnamed the Devout, of Inis-tiprad, near Limerick, and who assisted at the obsequies of St. Senan, Abbot of Iniscathy, about the middle of the sixth century. 3 He is recorded by Marianus O'Gorman, at the same date.
Article V. —St. Brigid of Cuainaoi, or Cluana diailama. At the 13th of August, St. Brigid of Cluana diailama is in the Rev. Dr. Kelly's
August, the Martyrologies'of Marianus O'Gorman, of Charles Maguire, and of Donegal,^ record a festival for St. Brigid of Cluainaoi or Cluain-ai. There is a church, called Cluainaoi, in the diocese of Derry. In the county of Londonderry alone, there are no less than four townlands, respectively called Clooney. AnotherClooneywasnearClonardinMeath/anditistheonly place so denominated in that county.
1 In that contained in the Book ofLeinster, copy
version of this
the place is differently entered. 2 Her location is styled Cluain-diolama, by Colgan. Itdoesnotappearwithwhatexistingtownlanddenominationthe name Cluain-diolama or Cluana diailama can be identified. At the 13th of
Martyrology.
Article VI. —St. Dianlann. The simple entry, Dianlann, appears in 1
the Martyrology of Donegal, at the 13th of August. Elsewhere, no notice of such a saint is to be found ; and, I am inclined to think, that a mistake has been made by the O'Clerys, in setting down the name of a saint, for that of the place Diamluma, as noted already in connection with the St. Brigid, venerated on this day.
Article VII. —St. Lucan. —We find the simple record, Lucan, in the
of 1 at this date. more seems to be known Martyrology Donegal, Nothing
regarding him.
Article VIII. —Feast of St. Hippolitus and of his Companions, Martyrs, at Rome. In the Irish Church, at the 13th of August, the festival of St. Hippolitus, with that of his companions, in number nineteen, and of either sex, was observed. They suffered under the Emperor Decius,
3 See "Acta Sanctorum Hibernix," viii. Martii. Vita S. Senani, cap. xliii, and n. 31,
Article vii. — ' Edited by Drs. Todd
and Reeves, pp. 218, 219.
a A note, Dr. Todd, at the denomina- by
tion Lucan: "After this word the second
hand adds momAO'ooj;. Mar. , /Eh. , M. Tarn. ExS. ALnact Marl , 'mo rVUet>05
pp. 533, 536. — Article v.
'
See "Calendar of
Irish
Saints," p. xxxii.
3 Thus: bpigiCAe Ct. T)iAnlu»n\.
3 Edited by Rev. Drs.
