Erard's Lives, compiling breviaries,
histories
and other tracts to deprive their country
'S See "Bavaria Sancta," tomus i.
'S See "Bavaria Sancta," tomus i.
O'Hanlon - Lives of the Irish Saints - v1
Erhard desired the companion of his pilgrimage, labours and merits, during life, to share with him the power of working miracles after death.
Such objects and powers were agreeable to the ordinances of God.
^s
It has been justly remarked, that the whole history, regarding St. Albert
and his remains involved in ^^ This is the more companions, great obscurity.
to be regretted, since St. Albert has been so long venerated as the Patron Saint of a most important and celebrated ancient Irish diocese. This, too, ranks foremost amongst the sees of the Munster province. However, we can have little doubt, that during life his virtues and labours were especially approved by the Almighty. Enjoying the fruition of heavenly delights, for many past ages, his prayers and patronage must continue to afford spiritual comforts, whenever he. is devoutly importuned by the faithful children of his diocese. Yet, to the faithful abroad he was endeared, because leaving the comforts of home, he became a pilgrim for the sake of Christ. ^7
no ambition, but the desire to sanctify himself, and to teach others by example and precept to despise worldly riches and honours. In no grade, whether of
sacerdotal, episcopal, missionary or monastic life, was he found otherwise
than self-sacrificing and angelic. Meek to all, he was too great and magnani- mous to feel proud of his attainments and position. A Confessor and an
Apostle, he had the spirit of a martyr ; for although he contended not to blood, his life was slowly but surely wasted, in the service of his neighbour.
on the 8th of July, a. d. 973. See Bruner,
he had seen this crucifix. He relates very diffusely the miracle here noticed more briefly, and doubtless it came to him from some reliable source. Bruner has incorrectly stated, that St. Albert's and St. Erard's re- mains had been deposited in the same tomb.
'3 In the Acts of St. Erhard, written by Paul, and published by Bollandus and Colgan, lib. ii. , cap. ii. , we are told, that the person in whose favour this miracle had been wrought, spent her time in continual vigils and tears. She was a matron, as we read, whose mind became detached from all thoughts of earth. These practices caused a whiteness, or as commonly called a "pearl," to grow over her eyes, so as to deprive her
of sight. Importunately she besought St. Erhard to restore her vision, as necessary to enable her to keep watch over church pro- perties committed to her care,
'"* These words of St. Erard, recorded by
Paul, may refer to Albert having been older, or more distinguished for his virtues or
miracles, or perhaps for his dignity, Albert
having been an archbishop, and Erard, at
most, simply a bishop.
'= Conradus de Montepuellarum, Vita S.
Erhardi, Episcopi. , cap. iii.
'* See " Harris' Ware," vol. i. , "Arch-
bishops of Cashel," p. 463.
'7 We can hardly doubt, that the favourite
Christian name of Albert, so much in vogue among the Germans, had its origin in their veneration for our Irish saint, who was an
early patron of their country.
" '^
Annales Boicorum," lib. viii. ^
The ancient writer Paul declares, that
Vol. I.
I
He had
114 LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. [January 8.
ARTICLE II. —ST. ERARD OR ERHARD, MISSIONARY AT RATISBON, IN BAVARIA.
[SEVENTH CENTURY. ']
CHAPTER I.
INTRODUCTION—^WRITERS OF ST. ERARD's ACTS—HIS COUNTRY AND RACE—DERIVATION OF HIS NAME.
Illustrious saints, who are destined by the Almighty greatly to advance his honour among men, begin almost from childhood to increase their store
of virtues as they grow in strength. They begin a warfare against the pas- sions,anddirecttheirpowersofresistancetosuppressvices; whiletheyac-
quire self-control to master temptations, and to despise worldly attractions. Prayer and fasting become the means for extinguishing pride and vain-glory,
for repelling luxury, and the promptings of selfishness. Delighting in the company of the good, and sedulous in sounding the Divine praises, they re- gard not the malice of enemies, nor the tongues of detractors. To friends
theylendawillingassistance,andeventofoes; theyrejoicewiththosewho are in joy; they grieve with those in affliction ; seeking every means to be- come more advanced in knowledge and virtue, they neglect no ascertained duty. Early years are not weak in effort, when the soul and will are rightly directed : then do children put away the things that please children, for their desires become matured, and their energies are beyond the feebleness of mere childhood. Fearing the Lord in loving him, and loving our neighbour in fearing him ; the offices of charity are fairly exercised towards man, while the reverence of hearts tends only to its great object. When young persons start into the years of discretion with such purposes, they tread in the paths of life eternal. Numerous Acts of St. Erard, written at greater or lesser length, had been in circulation before Colgan published his account of this very celebrated missionarypreacher. ^ BesidessixdifferentLives,whichhehadtodrawfrom, he possessed many more compendious notices, taken from breviaries and other sources. Six chief acts alluded to, were those three published by Bol- landus ; the fourth was found in a German manuscript codex belonging to theMonasteryofSt. UdalricofAugusta; thefifthfromanancientGerman manuscript of the Carthusian Monastery, at Mentz ; the sixth was found in the " Legenda Germanica Sanctorum," printed at Strasburg a. d. 1478. These latter three are not printed by Colgan, as he found nothing in them worthy of being added to those he chose to select for publication. The second of those Acts, published by the Bollandists, he also omitted, thinking it did not materially increase information, sufficiently afforded by the first and third Life. ^ Paulus or Paululus^ wrote a tract, dedicated to the Abbess Heilika,4 in a prologue. Then follow thS first book, in three chapters, and
Art. II. —Chap. I. —'See "Acta Sane-
torum Hibemiae," viii. Januarii. Vita S.
Erardi, pp. 22 to 38.
^
Paulus Bernriedensis, who wrote the Lives of Pope St. Gregory VII. and of the Blessed Herluca. See Bollandus' "Acta Sanctorum Januarii," tomus i. , viii. Ja-
See ibid. , n. i. , p. 28.
3 It is thought by Colgan, that he nuarii. Preface to St. Erard's Acts, p. 533.
flourished towards or after the close of the
eleventh century. He mentions St. Wolf- Halika, daughter to Henry I. , Duke of
gang, who died towards the close of the
tenth, and Pope Leo. IX. , who died after
the middle of the eleventh century. Joannes
Gamansius supposes him to have been lib. viii. This valuable work of the
'* This religious woman may have been
Bavaria. She is said to have been a virgin consecrated to God, by Andrew Brunner, in "Annales Virtutis et Fortunae Boiorum,"
January 8. ] LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. 115
an epilogue : afterwards, a second book, relating St. Erhard's miracles, and in two chapters, may be found. Next, a tract of Conradus,s a Montepuella-
nim, in three chapters, succeeds, as also an appendix, in four chapters, together with many learned illustrative notes, and lessons. The Breviaries of Aus-
burg,^ Wurtzburg7 and Ratisbon are printed as authorities, by Colgan, who introduces the Acts of St. Erard, compiled by Paul and Conrad, at the 8th of January. The Bollandists have collected the Acts of this saint and pub- lished them, at this same date.
A very excellent summary of St. Erard's acts will be found written by
Harris; althoughheacknowledges,thattheAnnalsofIrelandseemtobe
altogether silent regarding his history and that of his reputed brothers, St. AlbertandSt. Hidulph. TheremarksofHarris,however,areequallypreju- diced and unjust, when he asserts, their ignorant monkish biographers, in the dark ages, had little regard to chronological exactness, provided they could relate a sufficient number of miracles,^ Now, it seems most probable, that the Monk Paul, who wrote in the eleventh, and Conradus De Montepuella- rum,9 who wrote about the beginning of the fourteenth century, had very conflicting and uncertain records, from which to compile their respective accounts. From one or other of those, not very ancient writers, epitomes have since been prepared. However, although various historic difficulties, relating to the saintly brothers or companions, have not been cleared up, some learned German and French writers have put their history in a tolerably chiaro-oscuro light.
Nearly all the writers of this holy missioner's Acts are agreed, that he was
In all fairness, it must be stated, however, that certain writers assign to different other nations the honour of his nativity. Thus Camerarius would place his birth to the credit of modem Scotia. ^+ Narbon is said to have been the spot, where he was bom, in some particular lives. Some of the
and bom in ancient Scotia or Ireland. '° In some of the
of Scottish
German Calendars, and in two diiferent versions of the Augsburgh Breviary, he is said to have been a Scotus in nationality. " In the Breviary of Wurtz- burgh,and in that of Ratisbon, the same statement appears ; while according to this latter authority, it is expressly said, Scotia or Hibernia nvas an ocean island. " Various other German writers, who are quoted by Colgan,^3 assert, that not only was Erard a Scot, but likewise one from Ireland.
race,
learned Jesuit treats the History of Bavaria
from the first known accounts to the begin-
ning of the year 1 3 14. It appeared at
Possevino, in "Apparatus Sacer" state. He lived before the year 1340. He was the writer of several learned works.
was afterwards printed.
^ Printed there in 1625.
in three
printed A. D. 1626, 1627 and 1629. See St. Pius V. , but a more modern Breviary
Munich,
volumes, respectively
approvedbyPope
"
Bibliotheca Scriptorum Socie- tatis Jesu. " Yet, it would seem more in accordance with her place, period and posi- tion, to regard her as. Halica, daughter to the Count Palatine a Wittelspach, and who immediately succeeded Bertha, as abbess
over the Lower Monastery, at Ratisbon.
See Hundius, in "Metropoli," tomus ii. ,
Additions of Gewoldus. The latter abbess than that his country was Scotia, that is, as died A. D. 1 120. See "Acta Sanctorum Conrad explains himself, Ireland, or Scotia
Alegambe's
Januarii," n. (a), p. 535.
s He was rector of the College at Vieima,
as he states in the third chapter of his Life of St. Erard. Afterwards, he became a Canon in the Church of Ratisbon, as Gesner, in "Bibliotheca," and Antonio
Major, cap. ii.
" See Colgan's "Acta Sanctorum Hiber-
nise," viii. Januarii. Vita S. Erardi, p. 32. " See ibid. , p. 33.
'3 See z^/^. , Appendix, cap. iv,, pp. 37, 38, 'See"DeStatuHominis. "
^Theancientonewas
^
See Harris' Ware, vol. i. ,
"Bishops of
Ardagh," p. 248.
» Harris incorrectly renders this Conrad
of Montpellier.
'° In his Life, as written by Conrad De
Montepuellarum, nothing more is stated.
ii6 LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS.
[Januarys.
most celebrated historians, such as Rader,^5 Marcus Velserus, Christopher Phrseislebius, Brunner,^^ make our saint a native of Ireland. ^?
Such is the statement, as found in the first Life, written by Paulus or Paululus. Again, he is called a Nervian. ^^ In one instance, an old Life writes him down as a Gothus, or Goth, when a Scotus or Scot was manifestly intended. He is said to have been descended from the nation " Niemio- rum,"accordingtoaPaderbornMS. ; butBoUandusconjectures,thatinstead of this, we should read, that he was descended from the nation " Hiber- norum," i. e. , "of the Irish. " It has been also stated that he was a Bavarian. ^? There appears to have been a very strange commingling of errors,^° in all that has been written, in reference to the birth-place of this saint. ^' « St. Erard's being a native of Ireland can scarcely admit of question, unless we are to reject the authority of almost all wTiters, who have treated about him.
Having deeply studied this subject, Bollandus states, as the most pro- bable opinion, that Erard was an Irishman. Colgan conjectures that Narbon means Ardboe or Arboe—sometimes aspirated Hardboe—near Lough Neagh, in the county of Tyrone, as this was formerly a town of some note. Harris adopts this opinion. ^^ More likely, an error of statement has been committed by the old Avriter. Dr. Lanigan suspects, however, that Narbon is a corruption of Nardach,23 that is, of Ardach or Ardagh, where Erard is said to have been bishop. ^+ To test this matter by historic enquiry presents real difficulties. In opposition to the testimonies already cited, there is no authority worth mentioning, except that of St. Hidulfs Life, published in the Benedictine Acts, in which Erard is said to have been bom at Ratis- bon. For this statement, there is no foundation whatsoever, unless it should be argued, because Erard spent his last years and died in that city, it was therefore the place of his birth. Nor was his companion Hildulf ev—en a
native of that place. Nothing could have induc many
Germans re-
—edso markableas,severalareforindustryandresearch whenwritingSt.
Erard's Lives, compiling breviaries, histories and other tracts to deprive their country
'S See "Bavaria Sancta," tomus i. , p. alluding to his having been of a family, 42, where some doubt is expressed about settled at a place called Narbon, some other this matter ; but in his additions to tomus Lives or legends, not published by Colgan,
"
ii. , p. 56, all ambiguity is removed by have Narbonae in Scotia natus. "
his being considered a native of Hibernia.
Marcus Velserus was the author of a work
printed at Venice, in folio, A. D. 1594.
''See Hugo Menardus, in
"
It was adorned with different
and intituled " Rerum Augustanarum Vin- delicarum, Libri Octo. " In the same city,
"
gium Benedictinum," xi. Julii, when treating
about St. Hildulph.
^° Some writers have that one or thought,
both of St. Erard's parents may have been
natives of Ireland, while the saint himself
engravings,
A. D. 1590, in 4to, appeared,
Antiquse Augustae-Vindelicorum duplo auc-
tiores quam ante acutse, et in tres partes dis-
tributse ; cum notis Marci Velseri Matthsei Hiberniae," viii. Januarii. Vita S. Erardi.
Inscriptiones
F. Aug. Vind. " In the city of Nuremburg, A. D. 1682, "Opera Historica et Philologica" of Velserus issued in folio, under the editor- ship of Cr. Arnold. See Brunet's "Manuel
^^
country of St. Erard, " Acta Sanctorum
du Libraire," tome v. , p. 11 18.
Appendix, cap. iv. , pp. 37, 38, also at n. 5, p. 28.
^^ "
See Harris' Ware, vol. i. , Bishops of
Ardagh," p. 249.
=3 The N prefixed is a contraction of «a,
'* See "Rerum
Boicarum,"
tomus
so that " Narbonensis " "of signifies
lib. v. ,
'7 See Bollandus in his Prologue to the
Acts of St. Erard and Albert, in "Acta
Sanctorum Januarii," tomus i. , viii. Ja-
nuarii, pp. 533, 534.
Erhardus, qui gloria fortis interpre- tari potest, Narbonensis gentilitate, Nervius civilitate, genere Scoticus fuit," lib. i. , cap.
and "
Nardachensis,
" if it werethe
»8 "
i. Instead of
"
Narbonensis
108.
p. 690.
gentilitate," p.
i. ,
"of;"
Arbon,"
original reading, would mean "of Ardagh. " As to "Nervius civilitate," perhaps the author intended to say, that Erard had spent some time in the territory of the Nervii, in which there were some Irish establishments,
^^ See " Ecclesiastical History of Ire- land," vol. iii. , chap, xviii. , sec. vii. , n. 95,
might have been born in Gaul.
See Colgan's dissertation on the race and
Martyrolo-
Januarys. ] LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. 117
of the honour a saint's nativity should have conferred on it, unless they had incontrovertible proofs that St. Erard had been bom in distant Scotia. ^s In
several documents, Erard's name is spelled Erhard, following the genius of the German language. Hence Paul, the author of the first Life, etymolo-
gizes it into gloria fortis; for Er, in German, signifies "honour," and hard, orhart,is"strong,""hard. " AgainConradderiveshisnamefromHebrew
roots.
^^
Passing these etymologies regarding him, the real name of the saint
seems to have been Erard. As Colgan observes, this denomination was not
uncommon nor unapplied in Ireland, and therefore he traces it to its true
source in the Celtic or Irish language. According to him, Er in Irish is
"noble" or "honourable," and Ardis "high" or "illustrious. " A combina-
tion of both words produces Erard. ^7 Thus what the ancient author, Paul,
considered to be the true etymology of Erard's name, is rejected by the later
writer, Conrad, who seeks the original or roots of it, not in the German, but
in the Hebrew ^^ St. Erard had been a native of Ire-
tongue. If, however,
land—as generally allowed—Colgan's derivation seems preferable to either
of the foregoing ones ; although etymological deductions are too frequently only fanciful, and far from being reliable.
CHAPTER II.
EARLY YOUTH OF ST. ERARD—HIS ATTAINMENTS AND VIRTUES—THE PERIOD ST.
HIS ECCLESIASTICAL RANK— LIVING—HIS CONNEXION WITH THE CITY OF RATXSBON.
ERARD LIVED ON THE CONTINENT—
HIS MANNER OF
From earliest youth, Erhard deserved the name he received, for his morals were in perfect accordance with it. Building his virtues from childhood, on the name of Christ, no waves of temptation or storm of passion could move him from the secure foundation, on which his hopes of future felicity rested. While a boy, he completely eschewed the idle sports of companions, while he sedulouslycultivatedstudiesandgoodpractices; andwhetherornothehap- pened to be in the presence of his instructors, he was always careful to walk in the paths of virtue, to manifest a generous nature, to acquire the fruits of labour in learning, and to place his satisfaction in its acquisition.
The old writer^ of our saint's acts states, that Erard was a model for students in his application to reading, to writing, and to his teachers' lessons ; he stored up in a tenacious memory the subtle learning he conned over, and which he derived from his own judicious enquiries. But his inquisitive spirit, not satis- fied with the casuistry of the schools, sighed most earnestly after the more useful pursuits of Divine wisdom and science. Thus, on the spiritual rock, the hardy roots of secular study took hold, and the stems shot forth early flowers of virtue. So was learning a means to form the judgment, and to
Formed from infancy with the fulness
Some tracts of his were extant in the seven-
Erech, vigil
eligens Dominum;" i. e. , "watching the tion as far-fetched "Acta Sanct—orum Ja- Lord. " nuarii," n. (c), p. 542. Colgan wh—o is
*7 See "Acta Sanctorum Hibemise," n. usually too serious to perpetrate a pun yet 4, p. 28. There was an Erhard, well appositely declares, that it seems to him versedinscienceandIrishhistory,who evenmoreGe—rmanthangermane,
^
lived towards the close of the eleventh cen- Chap, il. ^ Paulus or Paululus. His
tury, during the reign of King Malachy. humility made him adopt the latter title,
guide his free-will, in a right direction.
=5 See Harris' Ardagh," pp. 149, 150.
vol.
" of Bishops
"^ He has " it,
vita et rara ;
teenth century.
^^ BoUandus considers the German deriva-
Ware,
i. ,
ii8 LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. [January 8.
of holiness, in the school where he planted the seeds of doctrine, he safely led fellow-students through dangerous and winding paths, where their morals were likely to be in peril. He was even rewarded for this guidance by the
general and favourable opinion pronounced regarding him. Yet, while his playfellows rejoiced in the sports of childhood, he thirsted after the refresh-
ing dew of evangelic precepts ; and the breath of the holy spirit, influencing his heart, caused it to bring forth the fruits of a holy life. Whosoever ful- filleth his desires after good things, was a sound ever ringing in his ears ; and his good inclinations thus obtained the habit of piety as a consequence. He willed what he felt able to procm^e, and he was capable of willing in a just measure, so that in tender youth, he acquired a most refined and exem- plary intellect. The fear of the Lord he knew is the beginning of wisdom, and growing in years and strength, he declined not to folly during after-life. He continued even more vigorous in the spiritual conflict, and more respected aslifepassedontomanhood. Thuslivedthenobleyouth,Erard,arestrainer of human passions, a lover of holiness, armed with the defensive weapons of Christ's soldier, and an elect vessel of the Holy Ghost. He was, metaphori- cally speaking, vision to the blind, hearing to the deaf, a supporter of the lame and halting ; he became a father to the orphan and a consoler to the widow; whilehebravelyresistedtheenemyofsouls,andthedeceitfulblan- dishments of fortune. The hope and glory of youth, he was a treasvure to the poor and a warning to the rich, for he loved poverty and despised wealth. He brought delight to the aged, for he well ordered his actions, and adorned the clerical state, for which he was manifestly destined. ^
The history of Erard and his times is confused and intricate. Although Mabillon3 did not take the trouble of inquiring into it, he must have been in- clined to think, this saint belonged to the seventh century. Yet, he was of opinion, that Hildulph, in whose time Erard is generally allowed to have lived, did not survive the early part of the eighth century. Colgan maintains that Erard flourished in the reign of Pepin or Charlemagne, and to sustain this position he strives to answer certain objections. ^ This he does, however, in a very unsatisfactory manner ; and engaged on a vain labour, the results are not concordant ^vith the care and exploration he has bestowed on it. s
ThetimewhenErhardlivedhasnotbeendeterminedbyBollandus. ^ Not
pretending to decide on a question which very eminent men have left unde-
termined, the former opinion appears more probable to Dr. Lanigan, and to
be better supported, by such occurring circumstances, as seem sufficiently
authentic. 7 It is stated, and on respectable authority, that he was Bishop of Ardagh,^ before he left Ireland. 9 Having resigned this see, it is said, he Avent
^ See " Acta Sanctorum Januarii," Com-
mentarius Prsevius Acta S. Erardi, tomusi. ,
viii. Januarii, pp. 534, 535.
7 <'l cannot but think that the confusion,
which has taken place on this point as well as on that relative to St. Hildulph of Treves,
has proceeded principally from Pepin Heris- tall, mayor of the palace, and his son Charles
Martel, having been mistaken for King Pepin, grandson of the former Pepin, and
"
his son Charlemagne.
iii. , pp. 35 to 37. On this subject, the History of Ireland," vol. iii. , chap, xviii. ,
" See Colgan's Acta Sanctorum Hiber- _ |'
hise," viii. Januarii. Vita S. Erardi, authore
Paulo, lib. i. , cap. i. , p. 23. Not less elo-
quent and eulogistic are the praises bestowed
on him in Conrad's Life, chap, i. , p. 29, ibid.
"
4 See " Acta Sanctorum Hibemias," viii.
3
Acta Bene. ," sec. iii. , pars. ii. p. 470.
Januarii. Appendix ad Acta S. Erardi, cap. iii. , pp. 35 to 37.
"
s See
Januarii. Vita S. Erardi. Appendix, cap.
Acta Sanctorum Hibemise," viii.
reader is referred to the Life of St. Albert, already given at this day, and to the Life of St. Hildulf, at the nth of July. Both holy men were companions, and consequently contemporaneous with St, Erhard.
sec. vii. , and nn. pp. 104 to no.
^ See Father Stephen White's " Apologia
pro Hibemia," cap. iv. , p. 43, and cap. v. , p. 64.
9 Besides the authority of the Breviary of
See "Ecclesiastical
January 8. ]
LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS.
119
to the Continent. It is stated in the Breviary of Ratisbon that Erard went to Rome, and straight from Ireland. But this cannot be reconciled with the seriesofhistransactions,asrelatedinotherdocuments. Theholypilgrim's journeytoRomemusthavebeenafterhisarrivalinGermany. St. Hildulph or Hidulf'° was then living retired in the Vosges mountains. Erard is said to have remained for a considerable time with him in this solitude. From that country he went to Bavaria. There he preached the Gospel, but without attaching himself possibly to any particular see as bishop. Again, it has been incorrectly stated, he was Bishop of Frisengen, or of Treves.
It has been justly remarked, that the whole history, regarding St. Albert
and his remains involved in ^^ This is the more companions, great obscurity.
to be regretted, since St. Albert has been so long venerated as the Patron Saint of a most important and celebrated ancient Irish diocese. This, too, ranks foremost amongst the sees of the Munster province. However, we can have little doubt, that during life his virtues and labours were especially approved by the Almighty. Enjoying the fruition of heavenly delights, for many past ages, his prayers and patronage must continue to afford spiritual comforts, whenever he. is devoutly importuned by the faithful children of his diocese. Yet, to the faithful abroad he was endeared, because leaving the comforts of home, he became a pilgrim for the sake of Christ. ^7
no ambition, but the desire to sanctify himself, and to teach others by example and precept to despise worldly riches and honours. In no grade, whether of
sacerdotal, episcopal, missionary or monastic life, was he found otherwise
than self-sacrificing and angelic. Meek to all, he was too great and magnani- mous to feel proud of his attainments and position. A Confessor and an
Apostle, he had the spirit of a martyr ; for although he contended not to blood, his life was slowly but surely wasted, in the service of his neighbour.
on the 8th of July, a. d. 973. See Bruner,
he had seen this crucifix. He relates very diffusely the miracle here noticed more briefly, and doubtless it came to him from some reliable source. Bruner has incorrectly stated, that St. Albert's and St. Erard's re- mains had been deposited in the same tomb.
'3 In the Acts of St. Erhard, written by Paul, and published by Bollandus and Colgan, lib. ii. , cap. ii. , we are told, that the person in whose favour this miracle had been wrought, spent her time in continual vigils and tears. She was a matron, as we read, whose mind became detached from all thoughts of earth. These practices caused a whiteness, or as commonly called a "pearl," to grow over her eyes, so as to deprive her
of sight. Importunately she besought St. Erhard to restore her vision, as necessary to enable her to keep watch over church pro- perties committed to her care,
'"* These words of St. Erard, recorded by
Paul, may refer to Albert having been older, or more distinguished for his virtues or
miracles, or perhaps for his dignity, Albert
having been an archbishop, and Erard, at
most, simply a bishop.
'= Conradus de Montepuellarum, Vita S.
Erhardi, Episcopi. , cap. iii.
'* See " Harris' Ware," vol. i. , "Arch-
bishops of Cashel," p. 463.
'7 We can hardly doubt, that the favourite
Christian name of Albert, so much in vogue among the Germans, had its origin in their veneration for our Irish saint, who was an
early patron of their country.
" '^
Annales Boicorum," lib. viii. ^
The ancient writer Paul declares, that
Vol. I.
I
He had
114 LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. [January 8.
ARTICLE II. —ST. ERARD OR ERHARD, MISSIONARY AT RATISBON, IN BAVARIA.
[SEVENTH CENTURY. ']
CHAPTER I.
INTRODUCTION—^WRITERS OF ST. ERARD's ACTS—HIS COUNTRY AND RACE—DERIVATION OF HIS NAME.
Illustrious saints, who are destined by the Almighty greatly to advance his honour among men, begin almost from childhood to increase their store
of virtues as they grow in strength. They begin a warfare against the pas- sions,anddirecttheirpowersofresistancetosuppressvices; whiletheyac-
quire self-control to master temptations, and to despise worldly attractions. Prayer and fasting become the means for extinguishing pride and vain-glory,
for repelling luxury, and the promptings of selfishness. Delighting in the company of the good, and sedulous in sounding the Divine praises, they re- gard not the malice of enemies, nor the tongues of detractors. To friends
theylendawillingassistance,andeventofoes; theyrejoicewiththosewho are in joy; they grieve with those in affliction ; seeking every means to be- come more advanced in knowledge and virtue, they neglect no ascertained duty. Early years are not weak in effort, when the soul and will are rightly directed : then do children put away the things that please children, for their desires become matured, and their energies are beyond the feebleness of mere childhood. Fearing the Lord in loving him, and loving our neighbour in fearing him ; the offices of charity are fairly exercised towards man, while the reverence of hearts tends only to its great object. When young persons start into the years of discretion with such purposes, they tread in the paths of life eternal. Numerous Acts of St. Erard, written at greater or lesser length, had been in circulation before Colgan published his account of this very celebrated missionarypreacher. ^ BesidessixdifferentLives,whichhehadtodrawfrom, he possessed many more compendious notices, taken from breviaries and other sources. Six chief acts alluded to, were those three published by Bol- landus ; the fourth was found in a German manuscript codex belonging to theMonasteryofSt. UdalricofAugusta; thefifthfromanancientGerman manuscript of the Carthusian Monastery, at Mentz ; the sixth was found in the " Legenda Germanica Sanctorum," printed at Strasburg a. d. 1478. These latter three are not printed by Colgan, as he found nothing in them worthy of being added to those he chose to select for publication. The second of those Acts, published by the Bollandists, he also omitted, thinking it did not materially increase information, sufficiently afforded by the first and third Life. ^ Paulus or Paululus^ wrote a tract, dedicated to the Abbess Heilika,4 in a prologue. Then follow thS first book, in three chapters, and
Art. II. —Chap. I. —'See "Acta Sane-
torum Hibemiae," viii. Januarii. Vita S.
Erardi, pp. 22 to 38.
^
Paulus Bernriedensis, who wrote the Lives of Pope St. Gregory VII. and of the Blessed Herluca. See Bollandus' "Acta Sanctorum Januarii," tomus i. , viii. Ja-
See ibid. , n. i. , p. 28.
3 It is thought by Colgan, that he nuarii. Preface to St. Erard's Acts, p. 533.
flourished towards or after the close of the
eleventh century. He mentions St. Wolf- Halika, daughter to Henry I. , Duke of
gang, who died towards the close of the
tenth, and Pope Leo. IX. , who died after
the middle of the eleventh century. Joannes
Gamansius supposes him to have been lib. viii. This valuable work of the
'* This religious woman may have been
Bavaria. She is said to have been a virgin consecrated to God, by Andrew Brunner, in "Annales Virtutis et Fortunae Boiorum,"
January 8. ] LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. 115
an epilogue : afterwards, a second book, relating St. Erhard's miracles, and in two chapters, may be found. Next, a tract of Conradus,s a Montepuella-
nim, in three chapters, succeeds, as also an appendix, in four chapters, together with many learned illustrative notes, and lessons. The Breviaries of Aus-
burg,^ Wurtzburg7 and Ratisbon are printed as authorities, by Colgan, who introduces the Acts of St. Erard, compiled by Paul and Conrad, at the 8th of January. The Bollandists have collected the Acts of this saint and pub- lished them, at this same date.
A very excellent summary of St. Erard's acts will be found written by
Harris; althoughheacknowledges,thattheAnnalsofIrelandseemtobe
altogether silent regarding his history and that of his reputed brothers, St. AlbertandSt. Hidulph. TheremarksofHarris,however,areequallypreju- diced and unjust, when he asserts, their ignorant monkish biographers, in the dark ages, had little regard to chronological exactness, provided they could relate a sufficient number of miracles,^ Now, it seems most probable, that the Monk Paul, who wrote in the eleventh, and Conradus De Montepuella- rum,9 who wrote about the beginning of the fourteenth century, had very conflicting and uncertain records, from which to compile their respective accounts. From one or other of those, not very ancient writers, epitomes have since been prepared. However, although various historic difficulties, relating to the saintly brothers or companions, have not been cleared up, some learned German and French writers have put their history in a tolerably chiaro-oscuro light.
Nearly all the writers of this holy missioner's Acts are agreed, that he was
In all fairness, it must be stated, however, that certain writers assign to different other nations the honour of his nativity. Thus Camerarius would place his birth to the credit of modem Scotia. ^+ Narbon is said to have been the spot, where he was bom, in some particular lives. Some of the
and bom in ancient Scotia or Ireland. '° In some of the
of Scottish
German Calendars, and in two diiferent versions of the Augsburgh Breviary, he is said to have been a Scotus in nationality. " In the Breviary of Wurtz- burgh,and in that of Ratisbon, the same statement appears ; while according to this latter authority, it is expressly said, Scotia or Hibernia nvas an ocean island. " Various other German writers, who are quoted by Colgan,^3 assert, that not only was Erard a Scot, but likewise one from Ireland.
race,
learned Jesuit treats the History of Bavaria
from the first known accounts to the begin-
ning of the year 1 3 14. It appeared at
Possevino, in "Apparatus Sacer" state. He lived before the year 1340. He was the writer of several learned works.
was afterwards printed.
^ Printed there in 1625.
in three
printed A. D. 1626, 1627 and 1629. See St. Pius V. , but a more modern Breviary
Munich,
volumes, respectively
approvedbyPope
"
Bibliotheca Scriptorum Socie- tatis Jesu. " Yet, it would seem more in accordance with her place, period and posi- tion, to regard her as. Halica, daughter to the Count Palatine a Wittelspach, and who immediately succeeded Bertha, as abbess
over the Lower Monastery, at Ratisbon.
See Hundius, in "Metropoli," tomus ii. ,
Additions of Gewoldus. The latter abbess than that his country was Scotia, that is, as died A. D. 1 120. See "Acta Sanctorum Conrad explains himself, Ireland, or Scotia
Alegambe's
Januarii," n. (a), p. 535.
s He was rector of the College at Vieima,
as he states in the third chapter of his Life of St. Erard. Afterwards, he became a Canon in the Church of Ratisbon, as Gesner, in "Bibliotheca," and Antonio
Major, cap. ii.
" See Colgan's "Acta Sanctorum Hiber-
nise," viii. Januarii. Vita S. Erardi, p. 32. " See ibid. , p. 33.
'3 See z^/^. , Appendix, cap. iv,, pp. 37, 38, 'See"DeStatuHominis. "
^Theancientonewas
^
See Harris' Ware, vol. i. ,
"Bishops of
Ardagh," p. 248.
» Harris incorrectly renders this Conrad
of Montpellier.
'° In his Life, as written by Conrad De
Montepuellarum, nothing more is stated.
ii6 LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS.
[Januarys.
most celebrated historians, such as Rader,^5 Marcus Velserus, Christopher Phrseislebius, Brunner,^^ make our saint a native of Ireland. ^?
Such is the statement, as found in the first Life, written by Paulus or Paululus. Again, he is called a Nervian. ^^ In one instance, an old Life writes him down as a Gothus, or Goth, when a Scotus or Scot was manifestly intended. He is said to have been descended from the nation " Niemio- rum,"accordingtoaPaderbornMS. ; butBoUandusconjectures,thatinstead of this, we should read, that he was descended from the nation " Hiber- norum," i. e. , "of the Irish. " It has been also stated that he was a Bavarian. ^? There appears to have been a very strange commingling of errors,^° in all that has been written, in reference to the birth-place of this saint. ^' « St. Erard's being a native of Ireland can scarcely admit of question, unless we are to reject the authority of almost all wTiters, who have treated about him.
Having deeply studied this subject, Bollandus states, as the most pro- bable opinion, that Erard was an Irishman. Colgan conjectures that Narbon means Ardboe or Arboe—sometimes aspirated Hardboe—near Lough Neagh, in the county of Tyrone, as this was formerly a town of some note. Harris adopts this opinion. ^^ More likely, an error of statement has been committed by the old Avriter. Dr. Lanigan suspects, however, that Narbon is a corruption of Nardach,23 that is, of Ardach or Ardagh, where Erard is said to have been bishop. ^+ To test this matter by historic enquiry presents real difficulties. In opposition to the testimonies already cited, there is no authority worth mentioning, except that of St. Hidulfs Life, published in the Benedictine Acts, in which Erard is said to have been bom at Ratis- bon. For this statement, there is no foundation whatsoever, unless it should be argued, because Erard spent his last years and died in that city, it was therefore the place of his birth. Nor was his companion Hildulf ev—en a
native of that place. Nothing could have induc many
Germans re-
—edso markableas,severalareforindustryandresearch whenwritingSt.
Erard's Lives, compiling breviaries, histories and other tracts to deprive their country
'S See "Bavaria Sancta," tomus i. , p. alluding to his having been of a family, 42, where some doubt is expressed about settled at a place called Narbon, some other this matter ; but in his additions to tomus Lives or legends, not published by Colgan,
"
ii. , p. 56, all ambiguity is removed by have Narbonae in Scotia natus. "
his being considered a native of Hibernia.
Marcus Velserus was the author of a work
printed at Venice, in folio, A. D. 1594.
''See Hugo Menardus, in
"
It was adorned with different
and intituled " Rerum Augustanarum Vin- delicarum, Libri Octo. " In the same city,
"
gium Benedictinum," xi. Julii, when treating
about St. Hildulph.
^° Some writers have that one or thought,
both of St. Erard's parents may have been
natives of Ireland, while the saint himself
engravings,
A. D. 1590, in 4to, appeared,
Antiquse Augustae-Vindelicorum duplo auc-
tiores quam ante acutse, et in tres partes dis-
tributse ; cum notis Marci Velseri Matthsei Hiberniae," viii. Januarii. Vita S. Erardi.
Inscriptiones
F. Aug. Vind. " In the city of Nuremburg, A. D. 1682, "Opera Historica et Philologica" of Velserus issued in folio, under the editor- ship of Cr. Arnold. See Brunet's "Manuel
^^
country of St. Erard, " Acta Sanctorum
du Libraire," tome v. , p. 11 18.
Appendix, cap. iv. , pp. 37, 38, also at n. 5, p. 28.
^^ "
See Harris' Ware, vol. i. , Bishops of
Ardagh," p. 249.
=3 The N prefixed is a contraction of «a,
'* See "Rerum
Boicarum,"
tomus
so that " Narbonensis " "of signifies
lib. v. ,
'7 See Bollandus in his Prologue to the
Acts of St. Erard and Albert, in "Acta
Sanctorum Januarii," tomus i. , viii. Ja-
nuarii, pp. 533, 534.
Erhardus, qui gloria fortis interpre- tari potest, Narbonensis gentilitate, Nervius civilitate, genere Scoticus fuit," lib. i. , cap.
and "
Nardachensis,
" if it werethe
»8 "
i. Instead of
"
Narbonensis
108.
p. 690.
gentilitate," p.
i. ,
"of;"
Arbon,"
original reading, would mean "of Ardagh. " As to "Nervius civilitate," perhaps the author intended to say, that Erard had spent some time in the territory of the Nervii, in which there were some Irish establishments,
^^ See " Ecclesiastical History of Ire- land," vol. iii. , chap, xviii. , sec. vii. , n. 95,
might have been born in Gaul.
See Colgan's dissertation on the race and
Martyrolo-
Januarys. ] LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. 117
of the honour a saint's nativity should have conferred on it, unless they had incontrovertible proofs that St. Erard had been bom in distant Scotia. ^s In
several documents, Erard's name is spelled Erhard, following the genius of the German language. Hence Paul, the author of the first Life, etymolo-
gizes it into gloria fortis; for Er, in German, signifies "honour," and hard, orhart,is"strong,""hard. " AgainConradderiveshisnamefromHebrew
roots.
^^
Passing these etymologies regarding him, the real name of the saint
seems to have been Erard. As Colgan observes, this denomination was not
uncommon nor unapplied in Ireland, and therefore he traces it to its true
source in the Celtic or Irish language. According to him, Er in Irish is
"noble" or "honourable," and Ardis "high" or "illustrious. " A combina-
tion of both words produces Erard. ^7 Thus what the ancient author, Paul,
considered to be the true etymology of Erard's name, is rejected by the later
writer, Conrad, who seeks the original or roots of it, not in the German, but
in the Hebrew ^^ St. Erard had been a native of Ire-
tongue. If, however,
land—as generally allowed—Colgan's derivation seems preferable to either
of the foregoing ones ; although etymological deductions are too frequently only fanciful, and far from being reliable.
CHAPTER II.
EARLY YOUTH OF ST. ERARD—HIS ATTAINMENTS AND VIRTUES—THE PERIOD ST.
HIS ECCLESIASTICAL RANK— LIVING—HIS CONNEXION WITH THE CITY OF RATXSBON.
ERARD LIVED ON THE CONTINENT—
HIS MANNER OF
From earliest youth, Erhard deserved the name he received, for his morals were in perfect accordance with it. Building his virtues from childhood, on the name of Christ, no waves of temptation or storm of passion could move him from the secure foundation, on which his hopes of future felicity rested. While a boy, he completely eschewed the idle sports of companions, while he sedulouslycultivatedstudiesandgoodpractices; andwhetherornothehap- pened to be in the presence of his instructors, he was always careful to walk in the paths of virtue, to manifest a generous nature, to acquire the fruits of labour in learning, and to place his satisfaction in its acquisition.
The old writer^ of our saint's acts states, that Erard was a model for students in his application to reading, to writing, and to his teachers' lessons ; he stored up in a tenacious memory the subtle learning he conned over, and which he derived from his own judicious enquiries. But his inquisitive spirit, not satis- fied with the casuistry of the schools, sighed most earnestly after the more useful pursuits of Divine wisdom and science. Thus, on the spiritual rock, the hardy roots of secular study took hold, and the stems shot forth early flowers of virtue. So was learning a means to form the judgment, and to
Formed from infancy with the fulness
Some tracts of his were extant in the seven-
Erech, vigil
eligens Dominum;" i. e. , "watching the tion as far-fetched "Acta Sanct—orum Ja- Lord. " nuarii," n. (c), p. 542. Colgan wh—o is
*7 See "Acta Sanctorum Hibemise," n. usually too serious to perpetrate a pun yet 4, p. 28. There was an Erhard, well appositely declares, that it seems to him versedinscienceandIrishhistory,who evenmoreGe—rmanthangermane,
^
lived towards the close of the eleventh cen- Chap, il. ^ Paulus or Paululus. His
tury, during the reign of King Malachy. humility made him adopt the latter title,
guide his free-will, in a right direction.
=5 See Harris' Ardagh," pp. 149, 150.
vol.
" of Bishops
"^ He has " it,
vita et rara ;
teenth century.
^^ BoUandus considers the German deriva-
Ware,
i. ,
ii8 LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. [January 8.
of holiness, in the school where he planted the seeds of doctrine, he safely led fellow-students through dangerous and winding paths, where their morals were likely to be in peril. He was even rewarded for this guidance by the
general and favourable opinion pronounced regarding him. Yet, while his playfellows rejoiced in the sports of childhood, he thirsted after the refresh-
ing dew of evangelic precepts ; and the breath of the holy spirit, influencing his heart, caused it to bring forth the fruits of a holy life. Whosoever ful- filleth his desires after good things, was a sound ever ringing in his ears ; and his good inclinations thus obtained the habit of piety as a consequence. He willed what he felt able to procm^e, and he was capable of willing in a just measure, so that in tender youth, he acquired a most refined and exem- plary intellect. The fear of the Lord he knew is the beginning of wisdom, and growing in years and strength, he declined not to folly during after-life. He continued even more vigorous in the spiritual conflict, and more respected aslifepassedontomanhood. Thuslivedthenobleyouth,Erard,arestrainer of human passions, a lover of holiness, armed with the defensive weapons of Christ's soldier, and an elect vessel of the Holy Ghost. He was, metaphori- cally speaking, vision to the blind, hearing to the deaf, a supporter of the lame and halting ; he became a father to the orphan and a consoler to the widow; whilehebravelyresistedtheenemyofsouls,andthedeceitfulblan- dishments of fortune. The hope and glory of youth, he was a treasvure to the poor and a warning to the rich, for he loved poverty and despised wealth. He brought delight to the aged, for he well ordered his actions, and adorned the clerical state, for which he was manifestly destined. ^
The history of Erard and his times is confused and intricate. Although Mabillon3 did not take the trouble of inquiring into it, he must have been in- clined to think, this saint belonged to the seventh century. Yet, he was of opinion, that Hildulph, in whose time Erard is generally allowed to have lived, did not survive the early part of the eighth century. Colgan maintains that Erard flourished in the reign of Pepin or Charlemagne, and to sustain this position he strives to answer certain objections. ^ This he does, however, in a very unsatisfactory manner ; and engaged on a vain labour, the results are not concordant ^vith the care and exploration he has bestowed on it. s
ThetimewhenErhardlivedhasnotbeendeterminedbyBollandus. ^ Not
pretending to decide on a question which very eminent men have left unde-
termined, the former opinion appears more probable to Dr. Lanigan, and to
be better supported, by such occurring circumstances, as seem sufficiently
authentic. 7 It is stated, and on respectable authority, that he was Bishop of Ardagh,^ before he left Ireland. 9 Having resigned this see, it is said, he Avent
^ See " Acta Sanctorum Januarii," Com-
mentarius Prsevius Acta S. Erardi, tomusi. ,
viii. Januarii, pp. 534, 535.
7 <'l cannot but think that the confusion,
which has taken place on this point as well as on that relative to St. Hildulph of Treves,
has proceeded principally from Pepin Heris- tall, mayor of the palace, and his son Charles
Martel, having been mistaken for King Pepin, grandson of the former Pepin, and
"
his son Charlemagne.
iii. , pp. 35 to 37. On this subject, the History of Ireland," vol. iii. , chap, xviii. ,
" See Colgan's Acta Sanctorum Hiber- _ |'
hise," viii. Januarii. Vita S. Erardi, authore
Paulo, lib. i. , cap. i. , p. 23. Not less elo-
quent and eulogistic are the praises bestowed
on him in Conrad's Life, chap, i. , p. 29, ibid.
"
4 See " Acta Sanctorum Hibemias," viii.
3
Acta Bene. ," sec. iii. , pars. ii. p. 470.
Januarii. Appendix ad Acta S. Erardi, cap. iii. , pp. 35 to 37.
"
s See
Januarii. Vita S. Erardi. Appendix, cap.
Acta Sanctorum Hibemise," viii.
reader is referred to the Life of St. Albert, already given at this day, and to the Life of St. Hildulf, at the nth of July. Both holy men were companions, and consequently contemporaneous with St, Erhard.
sec. vii. , and nn. pp. 104 to no.
^ See Father Stephen White's " Apologia
pro Hibemia," cap. iv. , p. 43, and cap. v. , p. 64.
9 Besides the authority of the Breviary of
See "Ecclesiastical
January 8. ]
LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS.
119
to the Continent. It is stated in the Breviary of Ratisbon that Erard went to Rome, and straight from Ireland. But this cannot be reconciled with the seriesofhistransactions,asrelatedinotherdocuments. Theholypilgrim's journeytoRomemusthavebeenafterhisarrivalinGermany. St. Hildulph or Hidulf'° was then living retired in the Vosges mountains. Erard is said to have remained for a considerable time with him in this solitude. From that country he went to Bavaria. There he preached the Gospel, but without attaching himself possibly to any particular see as bishop. Again, it has been incorrectly stated, he was Bishop of Frisengen, or of Treves.
