, and it is contained, likewise, in
a Chartulary of \Vn>or.
a Chartulary of \Vn>or.
O'Hanlon - Lives of the Irish Saints - v4
153.
By a more recent hand.
Walsiodori, in Belgio, Ord. S. Benedicti, pp. 807 to 822.
' A Prologue precedes this Life, given in three chapters, and in twenty-three para- graphs, illustrated with notes.
it is Miror quid hie Hirlandus memlicet, cumomnesex tabu-
"
lis Valvidorensibus Scotum as=erant. " See ""
SS4 LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. [April 30.
to Fiacha Suighdhe. '' The present St. Farannan is thought to have been the son of Ronan, son to Fiach, son of Fin tan, son to IMaclasrius, son of Cannech, son
ofErchon, son to Niebron, son of Bronfinn, son to Eugene, son of Artcorb,son of Fiacha Suighdhe, the founder of the Decies family. '* This might well agree, with what has been stated by Robert, the monk of Walsor, that our saint descended from a noble Scottish ancestry. =9 According to tlie most reason- able supposition, about the earlier part of the tenth century, Forannan was borninIreland. Fromhisinfancy,mosthappydispositionsseemedtogrow; for, relying on God, he prepared to sacrifice the advantages of birth and rank, to secure His love. Forannan's parents took care excellently to provide, at an early age, for the religious and secular education of their son. He profited so
well, through the advantages afforded, that the boy soon became distinguished for his progress in study, giving indications of future eminence in merit, as in learning. Advancing in years, Forannan afforded edification to all his com-
panions and acquaintances, by exhibiting all those virtues and acquirements,
that could distinguish one who was yet a youth. In loving God, with his
whole heart, he learned to give this precept and observance practical effect,
by loving his neighbour, only in a secondary degree. Deeply grounded in
humility, he desjnsed the advantages of birth and fortune. Cultivating a love of angelic purity, he was accustomed to withstand the assaults of irregu-
lar temptation and impure suggestions. He was always ready to forgive and to forget injuries, in imitation of his Divine Master. But, his charity towards the poor and orphans, whom he considered always as the special favourites of Heaven, seemed to know no bounds ; and, he looked upon himself, as the self-constituted steward of Christ, in relieving their necessities. The bent of his genius was directed to the acquisition of sacred learning, and chiefly with the view of devoting himself to the instruction of others, in the principles of religion. Aspiring to the ecclesiastical state, it would seem, that he received holy orders, in due course. Having prepared himself, by a diligent study of the Holy Scriptures, and by reading the works of various holy Fathers, his labours in the ministry were great, and productive of much fruit. After faithfully discharging all his sacerdotal duties—but wheth—er as a secular or as a regular priest we are not informed in his Life it has been stated, that he afterwards was appointed Bishop, and his charge was at a place called Domnachmor. 3°
There were many churches in Ireland bearing such a name, in his time ; and, even yet, that topographical denomination is spread in various parts of Ireland. His locality—according to a supposition advanced—lay within the district of iMagh-Feimhin,3' or the Plain of Femhin. That parish of Dom- nach-mor, or Donaghmore,3^ with which Bishop Farannan was connected, is said to have been situated, in the baronies of Offa and Iffa, and Middle- third, county of Tipperary. This is now a parish church, belonging to the diocese of Lismore ;33 and, it is thought, also, to have been the church of that
"J See Rev. Dr. Todd's and Reeves' History of Ireland," vol. iii. , cap. xxiii. ,
sect, iv. , p. 404.
3' It was a very ancient territorial deno-
mination, as it is mentioned in the "Annals
of the Four Masters," at A. M. 3506 ; also, at
A. D. 571and759.
3^ It is shown, on the " Ordnance Survey
"
and n. 4. Jhid.
Martyrology of Donegal," pp. II4, 115,
" Acta Sanctorum Hiber- nise," XV. Januarii. Appendix ad Acta S. Itse,
cap. ii. , p. 73.
"' See the BoHandists' " Acta Sanctorum,"
"^ See
Colgan's
tomus iii , Aprilis xxx. De S. Forannano, Townland Maps for the County of Tip-
Abbate Walsiodori, in Belgio, Ord. S. Bene- dicti. Vita S. Forannani, cap. i. , num. 2,
peraiy,'' sheets 70, 77. The townland pro-
per is on the latter sheet,
p.
808.
5° See Rev. Dr. Lanigan's "Ecclesiastical
33 See Archdall's cum," p. 654.
"
Monasticon Hiberni-
April 30. ] LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. 555
monastery, over which St. Farannan presided. 3< Such a conclusion, however, does not appear to be very well established. At present, in the place men- tioned, certain remains of an ecclesiastical character merit the study of an antiquar}'. The old cluirch of Donoughmore consists of a nave 35 and chancel, s"" wliich for many years have been in ruins. That it was a church 37 of some importance may be judged from the care bestowed on its erection, some of its details being of a highly ornate character. The chancel arch is mutilated. It had three orders of arches, springing from an equal number of
jamb-shalts on each side ; the arcli members were enriched with carving, and
also the capitals of the pier-shafts. The design of the western doornay was very beautiful, and the ornamentation was chaste, ornate, and effectives* 'I'here are no less than six distinct views of the ancient church of Donagh- more in Moy Femhin, among the Tipperary sketches 39 for illustrating the IrishOrdnanceSurveyRecords. ''" Theseembracecapitalsofthechoirarch, window of choir, interior of doorway, a window, and the doorway. From one
Old Church of Donaghmore Magh Femhin, County of Tipperary.
of these,*' we have introduced an illustration,*' which gives a very good idea of the church. This structure we do not tiiink to have been built, in the time of our saint. There is also a very beautiful woodcut illustration •s of what is called St. Farannan's church doorway, at Donoughmore, and which was drawn by George
w See " The Irish Builder " of June ISth,
1872.
« The nave is 39 feet 6 inches long, and
23 feet broad, and it islighltd by one win- dow, at the north side, and by two, at the south.
'" This oil! church is situated about four and-a-half miles from Clonmel, on the '1 hurles road.
3«See "The Irish Builder" of June 15th,
1872.
3' See vol. ii.
" Drawn by George V. Du Noyer.
" It has been traced on the wood, by
*
8 feet 6 inches broad, and it is lighted by a small •. emi-circular-headed window, in the
east gable.
*'' Now
The chancel
is 12 feet 8 inches
and
in the Library of tlic Koyal Irish Academy.
long,
preserved,
SS6 LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. [April 30.
Petrie, LL. D. This is introduced with the characteristic mouldings and carvings, as a specimen of tiie Irish Romanesque, in tlint iiivakinble work, so
learnedly and artistically edited, by Miss Margaret Stokes. •» However, it must be observed, that in our saint's old Life, his church of Domnachmor'*' is called the Metropolis of all Ireland/*
Mostprobably, from theforegoing designation and description has been de- rived a notion, that St. Foran nan was ruler in the primatial See of Armagh. '*?
There, it is intimated, that he had built, restored, or founded a clmrcli dedicated
to the Blessed Virgin Mary, from his own funds ;<* and, we are told, that with
great popular acclaim, he was transferred from it, to a position of still greater
dignity. Yet, are we unable to find him among the Prelates of Armagh,'*? in the
history of its See. Therefore do we think, that some misconception and
erroneous statements have crept into his Life, by the monk Robert, and that
these have been perpetuated, in a conjectural manner, by our later-day his-
torians. The addition to the O'Clerys states, 5° that Forannan of Domhnach-
mor-MaigheFeimhin,andofWalsor. s'wasprimateofArd-Macha. When
giving his Life, as had been intended by Colgan, at the 30th of April, 5» the
latter, calling him an Archbishoji. sa had promised to jjrove his statement, in the notes which were to be added. ' However, the tradition was propagated in
Belgium, probably because he had been called " Scotorum Episcopus ;"5S
while, Papebroke suggests, that such a rumour might have prevailed, if Forannan had been consecrated Bisliop in Armagh, by his Metropolitan,
although he had been assigned possibly to some other See. '* That dignity of the episcopate he rather dreaded than aspired to, and it appears from the recorded fact, that he enjoyed it, only for a short period. Then he volun- tarily resigned such a distinction. After first iniportuuing Heaven to direct his future course of life, Forannan was admonished by an angel, and in a vision, to quit his natal soil, and to seek in far distant lands a location, which was known as the Beautiful Valley.
In compliance with what he deemed the call of Heaven, with twelve devoted companions, he resolved to set out from Ireland, for the scenes of his future labour. He wished to leave the result of his journey altogether under the direction of Divine Providence. Having gone to the sea-shore, according to a popular legend, as the voyagers could not procure a boat, they
William F. Wakeman, and it is engraved, by Mrs. Millard.
•" It was engraved by Swain.
*'' See " Notes on Irish Architecture," by
Edwin, Third Earl of Dunraven, vol. ii. ,
p. ]gc
« It would appear, that the Belgian writer
<' It may have had a previous existence ; and, perhaps, it had been burned, by the Northmen, during some of those assaults to
which Armagh had been exposed, as already stated, in the Life of the Blessed Bryan Boroimha, ai the 23rd of this month.
^i The recent writer states, that iiiconectly
this ]il:ice was in France,
^^ See "Acta Sanctorum Hibernix," xxi.
Januarii. De B. Malcalianno Abbate, n. I, p- 173-
=' In the Life of Blessed Malcallan, Abbot, ^t the 21st of Januarj'. . See Hid. , p. 172.
s* Dempster has placed For. iniian as one
"
rum" tomus iii. , Aprilis xxx. Vita S. Drs. Todd's ami Reevts'edition, pp. 114, 115.
of our saint's Life, had written Dominocinor, as Papebroke states. See "Acta Sancto-
Catalogus Ardniachanorum Primatum. "
n. (b), 810. p.
Fornnnani, cap. i. ,
<* The words are: "In tiviiate, quK
eorum barbaiica sermocinatione Domnach- mor nuncupatur, quae est metropolis totius
HiberniK," &c. By Papebroke, this is ren- dered, " ecclesia major," meaning "the large church. "
*^ There are various interesting views of modem Armagh in a work, which has ren- dered the scenic beauties of Ireland familiar to the literary world. See Mr. and Mr. s.
Hall's " Ireland : its Scenery, Character," '
he, vol. ii. , pp. 4S4 to 459.
having the degree of being the greatest of "
<' His name is missing from Colgan's li«t,
5° "
See Manyrology of Donegnl," Rev.
theScottishprelatesinScotia. See Meno-
logium Scoticum," at 30th April, in Bishop Forbes' " Kalendars of Scottish Saints,"
p. 197-
April 30. ] LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. 557
made a large wooden cross, or probably they built a raft laid on beams,
whichweredisposedcross-wise. =7 Thistlieycastintothesea,andonitthey
then stood. Waking a sign of the cross, St. Forannan took iiis place in the
middle, assigning three of his feliow-voyagers to stand on each one of the four
extremities. He then sang with a loud and clear voice this versicle from the
"
Psalms of David :
In blind obedience to tiie admonition of St. Forannan, his companions trusted implicitly in the protection of Heaven to guide their course ; nor were they deceived, as the Almighty safely brought them to land. ^'
CHAPTER II.
ST. FORANNA. N A. ND HIS TWELVE COMPANIONS PROCEED TO BELGIUM —DESCRIPTION OF WASOR AND HISTORY OF THE RELIGIOUS FOUNDATIONS BY COUNT EILBERT— ST. FORANNAN IS—HOSPITABLY RECEIVED BV HIM, AND PRKSENTED TO THE EMPEROR OTHO I. HE IS APPOINTED ABBOT OF WASOR.
The holy pilgrim and his companions directed their course to the present country,knownasBelgium. TheysoonarrivedattheRiverMeuse,'where they were destined to find that beautiful valley, which had been revealed in Forannan's vision. " Before the commencement of the tenth century, a cele- brated Abbey had been established on its banks, and at a place, known as Wasor ;3 wliile over it, two or three countrymen of Forannan had ruled, before the period of his arrival, namely St. Maccallan,* and St. Cadroe,' perhaps,
and Charlemont,'° two towns, which were not built, at the time of its founda- tion.
It has been thought, that Forannan originated the monastery there. How- ever, no just grounds have been produced, to establish such a conclusion.
5' Sec Rev. S.
the Saints," vol. iv. , April 30, p. 377.
s'See Psalms Ixxvi. , 20.
Thy way is in the sea, and thy paths in many waters. "5^
It was
of Liege ;7 it is however in that of Namur' and between Dinant'
St.
also, Fingen. *
as often — stated in the diocese situated, incorrectly
« This is found, in a Bull of Pope Bene-
diet VII.
, and it is contained, likewise, in
a Chartulary of \Vn>or.
'•
Acta Sanciorum," tomus iii. , Ap- rilis XXX. Vita S. Forannani, cap. , i. , n. (d), p. 810.
of January. Mabillon calls him the first AbbotoverWasor. Heresgiiedthisposi- tion, however, in favour of his prefect or prior, St. Cadroe, who died, a. d. 975.
' See his Life, at the 6th of M. irch. After his death, Miecallan again succeeded, but he did not lon^ survive, as 978 is the year assigned for his death, by Floduard.
' Sec his Liie, written at the 5th of Feb-
ruary.
' There is an interesting description of this
citv, in J. S. Hucliinghnm's "Belgium, the '
Khine, Switzerland, and Holland, vol. i. , chap, ix. , pp. 171 to 180.
'See kev. S. Baring-Gould's "Lives of the Saints," vol. iv. , April 30, p. 376.
' " Pagus est cum Cceiiobio quondnm cele- bri apud Dinanium opp. et Honinas in comit. Na—murcen. et Leo<lieu. Episcopatus
5* See
Baring-Gould's
» See "Acta Snnclorum," tomus . \prilis XXX. Vita S. Forannani, cap. i. , sect. 4, 5, p. 809.
Chapter II. —' It is called in the Wal-
loon di. ilect Mouse, and in the Flemish or
Dutch, Maas. It is one of the laigcsl and
mo-t picturesque of the Bel 'ium livers. See
Elisee Kecliis' " Nouvelle Geographic Uni-
verselle. " tome iv. , pp. 59 to 61.
»"
'1 his is s'ated, ill the Chronicon Wal-
ciodiprensi-. "
' Under the year 944, Mabillon com-
mences bis account of Wasor and its founda- tiun. See "Annales Oniinis S. Benedicti," tomus iii. , lib. xliv. , sect. Ixvii. , p. 472.
' See his Life, already given, at the 21st
" Lives of
iii. ,
.
" confinio. " Ferrarius Catalogus
Sanctorum,'' 30 Aprilis, p. 173.
"° This is a hamlet, in a commanding
situaiion, on the left bank ol the Meuse, in theDepaitmentofArdennes. SeeFullarton's "Gazetteer of the World," vol. iv. , p. 461.
Generalis
5S8 LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. [April 30.
Resting on the authority of the Bollandists, the Rev. Dr. Lanigan will not admit Forannan to have been the founder of VVasor ; but, he acknowledges, thatsomewriterswereofacontraryopinion. " ThereCountEilbert"had commenced the erection, in 944,'5 of tlie monastery church at Wasor, or Wassor ;'• and, as was usual, in all such cases, a village soon sprung up around thereligiousinstitute. Besidestheforegoing,CountEilbertbuiltachurclithere, andthiswasdedicatedtoSt. Patrick. 's Thelocaldenominationwascorrupted from the Latin, Vallis-decora, to Valciodorus,'* in order to suit the Celtic as wellastheBelgicidiom. '7 UndertheprotectionofCountEilbert,themonas-
seemed to be —for tlie habitation of Irish monks. tery specially designed
H—is religious consort Hcrswindis
dis had seconded all the efforts of her husband, to promote the erection of monasteries, convents andchurclies. '^ Eilbert, through his bravery, activity. and skill in war, had become a very powerful chieftain, in this part of the country; and, it is said, to atone for his youthful excesses, he had been a sincere con- vert, desiring to spend his latter years in works of goodness. After the death of Herswindis, these were mostly undertaken. As she left no children to him, the familiars of Eilbert urged him to marry once more, so tliat there might be hope of an heir for his large possessions. He took their advice, and he mar- ried the widow of a nobleman, by whom she had two sons, namely Godefrid and Arnulf. These became greatly attached to their step-father, who loved them, as if they had been his own children. They were most assiduous in ministeringtohiswants; for,whenafflictedwithsomemaladyofthefeet,and which prevented him from standing upright, the Count was assisted by them, each offering his shoulder on either side as a support. This they did, also, before the Emperor Otho 's and his Court. The monarch praised them for
" Among others is Colgan, who promised to prove, at 30th of April, that Forannan had preceded Maccallin. See "Acta Sanctorum Hibeniipe," xxi. Januarii. De R. Malcallanno, Abbate, p. 152. Again, at i'cbruaiii ii. , De S. Columbano Abbate, Gandavi sepulto, p. 238.
were monks there, from the natives of the country, so that the former might have a dis- tinctive settlement at Wasor.
" The name is sometimes written Walsi- dorum or Valsidorum. Father Papebroke considers, however, that the real origin of this name must be referred to the Teutonic.
' " Ab ipsis enim Scotis secundum idioma
linguie suae et nostrse ipsum nomen aliter non
the
"
Clironicon Valciodorense. " It is sup-
" This noljleman's genealogy is given, in
posed, by Papebroke, to have been an inter- polation, and to contain anaciironisms and romance, the pioduct of some writer or writers, differing from the original com- piler.
potuit aptari, sed sicut dictum est, ipsum Valciodorum, silicet quasi vallem decoram nominaverunt secundum projirielatem utrius-
—" '^ This year said to have been the ninth
of the reign of Otho I. , afterwards Emperor of Germany—the foundations of the church were laid, and in the course ol three years, the whole building was completed, in a very elegant style of woikmanship. According to the corrected chronology of Marianus Scottiis, the Emperor Otho I. died, A. u.
She departed this life, it seems probable, before the arrival of . St. Forannan in Bel-
gium. . She had a special regard for the monastery of Si. Michael at Tlier. asche, where she appears to have been interred. See
"
Mabillon's Annales Ordinis S. Benedict! ,"
tomus iii. , lib. xliv. , sect. \li. x. , p. 473.
'' This was probably theEmperor Oiho II. ,
who had been elected of in King Germany
961, who married Theophania, niece tojohn Zimisces, Emperor of the East, in 972, and who was crowned Emperor of Germany, in 967. See Dr. Bisset Hawkins' "Germany; the Sjiirit of her History, Literature, Social Condition and Economy," &c. , chap, i. ,
" Non Maii," and he was buried at
973.
Mcgedeburc, now Magdeburgh. See"Chro- nicon," in Monvmenta Gei maniae Ilistorica,"
toraus v. , p. 555.
'* It is sometimes written Walsor.
"
sometimes called Herensindisor Ilersin-
'5 Accordmg to ihe
this church. It is supposed, by Papebroke, sect, i. , p. II. The Emperor Otho II. died
Chronicon Walcio- dorense," a cemetery for the monks lay near
that this dedication wasat the ill^t. l^ce of the first Abbot, . St. Maccilan, who lived in the
monastery of St. Michael, at Thierasche, and who desired to detach his Countrymen, who
•'
que linguK. "
—" Chronicon Valciodorense," "
inD'Archery's Spicelegium,'tomusvii.
Annales Sancti Maximi Trevircnsis," p. 7, in "Monvmenta Germanise Ilistorica," tomus vi. , edited by
in 984, accoiding to the Georgivs Ileinricvs Pertz.
April 30. ] LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS, 559
such dutiful conduct, and on learning their good quahties from the Count, he
urged the latter suitably to reward them, as he had no cliildren of his own.
Accordingly, Eilbert bestowed on them the castle and town of Florennes,'°
reserving carefully all rights and privileges connected with the monastery, at Wasor. The Abbot, Prefect, and Monks of that place, had the favour of
residing in the castle at Florennes, and of receiving legal recognizance, and
protection, from future proprietors. Other privileges, not less curious than characteristic of the period, are recounted. " That constitution and decree
were affirmed and assented to, by Godefrid and Arnulf, on oath ; while the Emperor and his palatine Princes ratified them, by royal ordinance and will. Still, Eilbert did not neglect to build seven castles. He resided in one of them, near Fiorina, or Florennes. ^^ There, revolving in mind the propriety of making atonement for some evil deeds, and which those c—astles even sug-
he as a — to erect monasteries also gested, resolved, counterpoise, observing
-all future time.
One more religious house remained to be built, and this was resolved on as
a compensation for the destruction of a church at Rheims,^' while the Count in- tended it for dedication to the holy Motherof God. That nobleman lived in a remote situation, at Prireriis,5° or Priezeriis,3' which was compassed around
the mystic number of seven in the work of reparation. One
of these had been erected at Tirascia,'3 or Therasche,'* under tlie patronage of St. Michael the Archangel fs another was intended for nuns, at a place called Bucceleuni, or I'ocileis,'* now Bussily, and it was dedicated to St. Peter, while over this presided a mitred Abbess ; anotlier basilica was erected, at a place known as Humblieres,'7 and this was dedicated to the Blessed Virgin Mary ; wiiile he built three other monasteries, all of these having been endowed, in a most substantial manner, from Count Filbert's patrimony. '^ On these, too, he conferred various privileges. Wishing their rule to be that of St. Benedict, he also desired, that 4ioly superiors and subjects should dwell in them, for
" This is now the capital of a Canton, in the Province of Naniur, lielgium, having an ancient castle, and it is on the right bank of the Yves. See "Gazetteer of the World,"
vol. v. , pp. 376, 377.
" See "Acta Sanctorum," lomus iii. , Ap-
rilis XXX. Alia . Acta S. Forannani, cap. iii. , num. 19, 20, 21, pp. 820, 821.
liacum, and state that the founders were Elbert and Gertrude, " Veiomanduorum
Comites," under Bartholomew, Bishop of Laon, who issued in its favour a charter of
confirmation, ad. M13. However, Pape- broke suspects the genuineness of this cliar- ter, as no such noble personages are to be found noted, in the histories of the Veroman-
" Here a Benedictine Monastery was dui, or people of Picardy.
founded, about the year loio, under the in- vocation of St. John the Baptist, and in the
'' This was built, under the very walls of
Augusta Viromanduorum, now St. Qiiintin,
in Picardy. However, Papebroke suspects,
that not Eilbert, but Albert, Count of St.
Quintin, w. is the founder, and he adds.
" idem forte sentiendum de sequentibus quod
tribus innominatis monasteriis, hoc scilicet
eodcm tempore, sed ab aliis fuisse condita
vel restaurata. "
'* "
See Mabillon's Annalcs Ordinis S.
Beuedicti," tomus iii. , lib. xliv. , sect, xlix. , p. 473.
"» This city has a special importance in the Christian history of France, and it contains
a magnificent cathedral, in the ogival style, designed by Robert de Courcy, in 1212.
By a more recent hand.
Walsiodori, in Belgio, Ord. S. Benedicti, pp. 807 to 822.
' A Prologue precedes this Life, given in three chapters, and in twenty-three para- graphs, illustrated with notes.
it is Miror quid hie Hirlandus memlicet, cumomnesex tabu-
"
lis Valvidorensibus Scotum as=erant. " See ""
SS4 LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. [April 30.
to Fiacha Suighdhe. '' The present St. Farannan is thought to have been the son of Ronan, son to Fiach, son of Fin tan, son to IMaclasrius, son of Cannech, son
ofErchon, son to Niebron, son of Bronfinn, son to Eugene, son of Artcorb,son of Fiacha Suighdhe, the founder of the Decies family. '* This might well agree, with what has been stated by Robert, the monk of Walsor, that our saint descended from a noble Scottish ancestry. =9 According to tlie most reason- able supposition, about the earlier part of the tenth century, Forannan was borninIreland. Fromhisinfancy,mosthappydispositionsseemedtogrow; for, relying on God, he prepared to sacrifice the advantages of birth and rank, to secure His love. Forannan's parents took care excellently to provide, at an early age, for the religious and secular education of their son. He profited so
well, through the advantages afforded, that the boy soon became distinguished for his progress in study, giving indications of future eminence in merit, as in learning. Advancing in years, Forannan afforded edification to all his com-
panions and acquaintances, by exhibiting all those virtues and acquirements,
that could distinguish one who was yet a youth. In loving God, with his
whole heart, he learned to give this precept and observance practical effect,
by loving his neighbour, only in a secondary degree. Deeply grounded in
humility, he desjnsed the advantages of birth and fortune. Cultivating a love of angelic purity, he was accustomed to withstand the assaults of irregu-
lar temptation and impure suggestions. He was always ready to forgive and to forget injuries, in imitation of his Divine Master. But, his charity towards the poor and orphans, whom he considered always as the special favourites of Heaven, seemed to know no bounds ; and, he looked upon himself, as the self-constituted steward of Christ, in relieving their necessities. The bent of his genius was directed to the acquisition of sacred learning, and chiefly with the view of devoting himself to the instruction of others, in the principles of religion. Aspiring to the ecclesiastical state, it would seem, that he received holy orders, in due course. Having prepared himself, by a diligent study of the Holy Scriptures, and by reading the works of various holy Fathers, his labours in the ministry were great, and productive of much fruit. After faithfully discharging all his sacerdotal duties—but wheth—er as a secular or as a regular priest we are not informed in his Life it has been stated, that he afterwards was appointed Bishop, and his charge was at a place called Domnachmor. 3°
There were many churches in Ireland bearing such a name, in his time ; and, even yet, that topographical denomination is spread in various parts of Ireland. His locality—according to a supposition advanced—lay within the district of iMagh-Feimhin,3' or the Plain of Femhin. That parish of Dom- nach-mor, or Donaghmore,3^ with which Bishop Farannan was connected, is said to have been situated, in the baronies of Offa and Iffa, and Middle- third, county of Tipperary. This is now a parish church, belonging to the diocese of Lismore ;33 and, it is thought, also, to have been the church of that
"J See Rev. Dr. Todd's and Reeves' History of Ireland," vol. iii. , cap. xxiii. ,
sect, iv. , p. 404.
3' It was a very ancient territorial deno-
mination, as it is mentioned in the "Annals
of the Four Masters," at A. M. 3506 ; also, at
A. D. 571and759.
3^ It is shown, on the " Ordnance Survey
"
and n. 4. Jhid.
Martyrology of Donegal," pp. II4, 115,
" Acta Sanctorum Hiber- nise," XV. Januarii. Appendix ad Acta S. Itse,
cap. ii. , p. 73.
"' See the BoHandists' " Acta Sanctorum,"
"^ See
Colgan's
tomus iii , Aprilis xxx. De S. Forannano, Townland Maps for the County of Tip-
Abbate Walsiodori, in Belgio, Ord. S. Bene- dicti. Vita S. Forannani, cap. i. , num. 2,
peraiy,'' sheets 70, 77. The townland pro-
per is on the latter sheet,
p.
808.
5° See Rev. Dr. Lanigan's "Ecclesiastical
33 See Archdall's cum," p. 654.
"
Monasticon Hiberni-
April 30. ] LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. 555
monastery, over which St. Farannan presided. 3< Such a conclusion, however, does not appear to be very well established. At present, in the place men- tioned, certain remains of an ecclesiastical character merit the study of an antiquar}'. The old cluirch of Donoughmore consists of a nave 35 and chancel, s"" wliich for many years have been in ruins. That it was a church 37 of some importance may be judged from the care bestowed on its erection, some of its details being of a highly ornate character. The chancel arch is mutilated. It had three orders of arches, springing from an equal number of
jamb-shalts on each side ; the arcli members were enriched with carving, and
also the capitals of the pier-shafts. The design of the western doornay was very beautiful, and the ornamentation was chaste, ornate, and effectives* 'I'here are no less than six distinct views of the ancient church of Donagh- more in Moy Femhin, among the Tipperary sketches 39 for illustrating the IrishOrdnanceSurveyRecords. ''" Theseembracecapitalsofthechoirarch, window of choir, interior of doorway, a window, and the doorway. From one
Old Church of Donaghmore Magh Femhin, County of Tipperary.
of these,*' we have introduced an illustration,*' which gives a very good idea of the church. This structure we do not tiiink to have been built, in the time of our saint. There is also a very beautiful woodcut illustration •s of what is called St. Farannan's church doorway, at Donoughmore, and which was drawn by George
w See " The Irish Builder " of June ISth,
1872.
« The nave is 39 feet 6 inches long, and
23 feet broad, and it islighltd by one win- dow, at the north side, and by two, at the south.
'" This oil! church is situated about four and-a-half miles from Clonmel, on the '1 hurles road.
3«See "The Irish Builder" of June 15th,
1872.
3' See vol. ii.
" Drawn by George V. Du Noyer.
" It has been traced on the wood, by
*
8 feet 6 inches broad, and it is lighted by a small •. emi-circular-headed window, in the
east gable.
*'' Now
The chancel
is 12 feet 8 inches
and
in the Library of tlic Koyal Irish Academy.
long,
preserved,
SS6 LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. [April 30.
Petrie, LL. D. This is introduced with the characteristic mouldings and carvings, as a specimen of tiie Irish Romanesque, in tlint iiivakinble work, so
learnedly and artistically edited, by Miss Margaret Stokes. •» However, it must be observed, that in our saint's old Life, his church of Domnachmor'*' is called the Metropolis of all Ireland/*
Mostprobably, from theforegoing designation and description has been de- rived a notion, that St. Foran nan was ruler in the primatial See of Armagh. '*?
There, it is intimated, that he had built, restored, or founded a clmrcli dedicated
to the Blessed Virgin Mary, from his own funds ;<* and, we are told, that with
great popular acclaim, he was transferred from it, to a position of still greater
dignity. Yet, are we unable to find him among the Prelates of Armagh,'*? in the
history of its See. Therefore do we think, that some misconception and
erroneous statements have crept into his Life, by the monk Robert, and that
these have been perpetuated, in a conjectural manner, by our later-day his-
torians. The addition to the O'Clerys states, 5° that Forannan of Domhnach-
mor-MaigheFeimhin,andofWalsor. s'wasprimateofArd-Macha. When
giving his Life, as had been intended by Colgan, at the 30th of April, 5» the
latter, calling him an Archbishoji. sa had promised to jjrove his statement, in the notes which were to be added. ' However, the tradition was propagated in
Belgium, probably because he had been called " Scotorum Episcopus ;"5S
while, Papebroke suggests, that such a rumour might have prevailed, if Forannan had been consecrated Bisliop in Armagh, by his Metropolitan,
although he had been assigned possibly to some other See. '* That dignity of the episcopate he rather dreaded than aspired to, and it appears from the recorded fact, that he enjoyed it, only for a short period. Then he volun- tarily resigned such a distinction. After first iniportuuing Heaven to direct his future course of life, Forannan was admonished by an angel, and in a vision, to quit his natal soil, and to seek in far distant lands a location, which was known as the Beautiful Valley.
In compliance with what he deemed the call of Heaven, with twelve devoted companions, he resolved to set out from Ireland, for the scenes of his future labour. He wished to leave the result of his journey altogether under the direction of Divine Providence. Having gone to the sea-shore, according to a popular legend, as the voyagers could not procure a boat, they
William F. Wakeman, and it is engraved, by Mrs. Millard.
•" It was engraved by Swain.
*'' See " Notes on Irish Architecture," by
Edwin, Third Earl of Dunraven, vol. ii. ,
p. ]gc
« It would appear, that the Belgian writer
<' It may have had a previous existence ; and, perhaps, it had been burned, by the Northmen, during some of those assaults to
which Armagh had been exposed, as already stated, in the Life of the Blessed Bryan Boroimha, ai the 23rd of this month.
^i The recent writer states, that iiiconectly
this ]il:ice was in France,
^^ See "Acta Sanctorum Hibernix," xxi.
Januarii. De B. Malcalianno Abbate, n. I, p- 173-
=' In the Life of Blessed Malcallan, Abbot, ^t the 21st of Januarj'. . See Hid. , p. 172.
s* Dempster has placed For. iniian as one
"
rum" tomus iii. , Aprilis xxx. Vita S. Drs. Todd's ami Reevts'edition, pp. 114, 115.
of our saint's Life, had written Dominocinor, as Papebroke states. See "Acta Sancto-
Catalogus Ardniachanorum Primatum. "
n. (b), 810. p.
Fornnnani, cap. i. ,
<* The words are: "In tiviiate, quK
eorum barbaiica sermocinatione Domnach- mor nuncupatur, quae est metropolis totius
HiberniK," &c. By Papebroke, this is ren- dered, " ecclesia major," meaning "the large church. "
*^ There are various interesting views of modem Armagh in a work, which has ren- dered the scenic beauties of Ireland familiar to the literary world. See Mr. and Mr. s.
Hall's " Ireland : its Scenery, Character," '
he, vol. ii. , pp. 4S4 to 459.
having the degree of being the greatest of "
<' His name is missing from Colgan's li«t,
5° "
See Manyrology of Donegnl," Rev.
theScottishprelatesinScotia. See Meno-
logium Scoticum," at 30th April, in Bishop Forbes' " Kalendars of Scottish Saints,"
p. 197-
April 30. ] LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. 557
made a large wooden cross, or probably they built a raft laid on beams,
whichweredisposedcross-wise. =7 Thistlieycastintothesea,andonitthey
then stood. Waking a sign of the cross, St. Forannan took iiis place in the
middle, assigning three of his feliow-voyagers to stand on each one of the four
extremities. He then sang with a loud and clear voice this versicle from the
"
Psalms of David :
In blind obedience to tiie admonition of St. Forannan, his companions trusted implicitly in the protection of Heaven to guide their course ; nor were they deceived, as the Almighty safely brought them to land. ^'
CHAPTER II.
ST. FORANNA. N A. ND HIS TWELVE COMPANIONS PROCEED TO BELGIUM —DESCRIPTION OF WASOR AND HISTORY OF THE RELIGIOUS FOUNDATIONS BY COUNT EILBERT— ST. FORANNAN IS—HOSPITABLY RECEIVED BV HIM, AND PRKSENTED TO THE EMPEROR OTHO I. HE IS APPOINTED ABBOT OF WASOR.
The holy pilgrim and his companions directed their course to the present country,knownasBelgium. TheysoonarrivedattheRiverMeuse,'where they were destined to find that beautiful valley, which had been revealed in Forannan's vision. " Before the commencement of the tenth century, a cele- brated Abbey had been established on its banks, and at a place, known as Wasor ;3 wliile over it, two or three countrymen of Forannan had ruled, before the period of his arrival, namely St. Maccallan,* and St. Cadroe,' perhaps,
and Charlemont,'° two towns, which were not built, at the time of its founda- tion.
It has been thought, that Forannan originated the monastery there. How- ever, no just grounds have been produced, to establish such a conclusion.
5' Sec Rev. S.
the Saints," vol. iv. , April 30, p. 377.
s'See Psalms Ixxvi. , 20.
Thy way is in the sea, and thy paths in many waters. "5^
It was
of Liege ;7 it is however in that of Namur' and between Dinant'
St.
also, Fingen. *
as often — stated in the diocese situated, incorrectly
« This is found, in a Bull of Pope Bene-
diet VII.
, and it is contained, likewise, in
a Chartulary of \Vn>or.
'•
Acta Sanciorum," tomus iii. , Ap- rilis XXX. Vita S. Forannani, cap. , i. , n. (d), p. 810.
of January. Mabillon calls him the first AbbotoverWasor. Heresgiiedthisposi- tion, however, in favour of his prefect or prior, St. Cadroe, who died, a. d. 975.
' See his Life, at the 6th of M. irch. After his death, Miecallan again succeeded, but he did not lon^ survive, as 978 is the year assigned for his death, by Floduard.
' Sec his Liie, written at the 5th of Feb-
ruary.
' There is an interesting description of this
citv, in J. S. Hucliinghnm's "Belgium, the '
Khine, Switzerland, and Holland, vol. i. , chap, ix. , pp. 171 to 180.
'See kev. S. Baring-Gould's "Lives of the Saints," vol. iv. , April 30, p. 376.
' " Pagus est cum Cceiiobio quondnm cele- bri apud Dinanium opp. et Honinas in comit. Na—murcen. et Leo<lieu. Episcopatus
5* See
Baring-Gould's
» See "Acta Snnclorum," tomus . \prilis XXX. Vita S. Forannani, cap. i. , sect. 4, 5, p. 809.
Chapter II. —' It is called in the Wal-
loon di. ilect Mouse, and in the Flemish or
Dutch, Maas. It is one of the laigcsl and
mo-t picturesque of the Bel 'ium livers. See
Elisee Kecliis' " Nouvelle Geographic Uni-
verselle. " tome iv. , pp. 59 to 61.
»"
'1 his is s'ated, ill the Chronicon Wal-
ciodiprensi-. "
' Under the year 944, Mabillon com-
mences bis account of Wasor and its founda- tiun. See "Annales Oniinis S. Benedicti," tomus iii. , lib. xliv. , sect. Ixvii. , p. 472.
' See his Life, already given, at the 21st
" Lives of
iii. ,
.
" confinio. " Ferrarius Catalogus
Sanctorum,'' 30 Aprilis, p. 173.
"° This is a hamlet, in a commanding
situaiion, on the left bank ol the Meuse, in theDepaitmentofArdennes. SeeFullarton's "Gazetteer of the World," vol. iv. , p. 461.
Generalis
5S8 LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. [April 30.
Resting on the authority of the Bollandists, the Rev. Dr. Lanigan will not admit Forannan to have been the founder of VVasor ; but, he acknowledges, thatsomewriterswereofacontraryopinion. " ThereCountEilbert"had commenced the erection, in 944,'5 of tlie monastery church at Wasor, or Wassor ;'• and, as was usual, in all such cases, a village soon sprung up around thereligiousinstitute. Besidestheforegoing,CountEilbertbuiltachurclithere, andthiswasdedicatedtoSt. Patrick. 's Thelocaldenominationwascorrupted from the Latin, Vallis-decora, to Valciodorus,'* in order to suit the Celtic as wellastheBelgicidiom. '7 UndertheprotectionofCountEilbert,themonas-
seemed to be —for tlie habitation of Irish monks. tery specially designed
H—is religious consort Hcrswindis
dis had seconded all the efforts of her husband, to promote the erection of monasteries, convents andchurclies. '^ Eilbert, through his bravery, activity. and skill in war, had become a very powerful chieftain, in this part of the country; and, it is said, to atone for his youthful excesses, he had been a sincere con- vert, desiring to spend his latter years in works of goodness. After the death of Herswindis, these were mostly undertaken. As she left no children to him, the familiars of Eilbert urged him to marry once more, so tliat there might be hope of an heir for his large possessions. He took their advice, and he mar- ried the widow of a nobleman, by whom she had two sons, namely Godefrid and Arnulf. These became greatly attached to their step-father, who loved them, as if they had been his own children. They were most assiduous in ministeringtohiswants; for,whenafflictedwithsomemaladyofthefeet,and which prevented him from standing upright, the Count was assisted by them, each offering his shoulder on either side as a support. This they did, also, before the Emperor Otho 's and his Court. The monarch praised them for
" Among others is Colgan, who promised to prove, at 30th of April, that Forannan had preceded Maccallin. See "Acta Sanctorum Hibeniipe," xxi. Januarii. De R. Malcallanno, Abbate, p. 152. Again, at i'cbruaiii ii. , De S. Columbano Abbate, Gandavi sepulto, p. 238.
were monks there, from the natives of the country, so that the former might have a dis- tinctive settlement at Wasor.
" The name is sometimes written Walsi- dorum or Valsidorum. Father Papebroke considers, however, that the real origin of this name must be referred to the Teutonic.
' " Ab ipsis enim Scotis secundum idioma
linguie suae et nostrse ipsum nomen aliter non
the
"
Clironicon Valciodorense. " It is sup-
" This noljleman's genealogy is given, in
posed, by Papebroke, to have been an inter- polation, and to contain anaciironisms and romance, the pioduct of some writer or writers, differing from the original com- piler.
potuit aptari, sed sicut dictum est, ipsum Valciodorum, silicet quasi vallem decoram nominaverunt secundum projirielatem utrius-
—" '^ This year said to have been the ninth
of the reign of Otho I. , afterwards Emperor of Germany—the foundations of the church were laid, and in the course ol three years, the whole building was completed, in a very elegant style of woikmanship. According to the corrected chronology of Marianus Scottiis, the Emperor Otho I. died, A. u.
She departed this life, it seems probable, before the arrival of . St. Forannan in Bel-
gium. . She had a special regard for the monastery of Si. Michael at Tlier. asche, where she appears to have been interred. See
"
Mabillon's Annales Ordinis S. Benedict! ,"
tomus iii. , lib. xliv. , sect. \li. x. , p. 473.
'' This was probably theEmperor Oiho II. ,
who had been elected of in King Germany
961, who married Theophania, niece tojohn Zimisces, Emperor of the East, in 972, and who was crowned Emperor of Germany, in 967. See Dr. Bisset Hawkins' "Germany; the Sjiirit of her History, Literature, Social Condition and Economy," &c. , chap, i. ,
" Non Maii," and he was buried at
973.
Mcgedeburc, now Magdeburgh. See"Chro- nicon," in Monvmenta Gei maniae Ilistorica,"
toraus v. , p. 555.
'* It is sometimes written Walsor.
"
sometimes called Herensindisor Ilersin-
'5 Accordmg to ihe
this church. It is supposed, by Papebroke, sect, i. , p. II. The Emperor Otho II. died
Chronicon Walcio- dorense," a cemetery for the monks lay near
that this dedication wasat the ill^t. l^ce of the first Abbot, . St. Maccilan, who lived in the
monastery of St. Michael, at Thierasche, and who desired to detach his Countrymen, who
•'
que linguK. "
—" Chronicon Valciodorense," "
inD'Archery's Spicelegium,'tomusvii.
Annales Sancti Maximi Trevircnsis," p. 7, in "Monvmenta Germanise Ilistorica," tomus vi. , edited by
in 984, accoiding to the Georgivs Ileinricvs Pertz.
April 30. ] LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS, 559
such dutiful conduct, and on learning their good quahties from the Count, he
urged the latter suitably to reward them, as he had no cliildren of his own.
Accordingly, Eilbert bestowed on them the castle and town of Florennes,'°
reserving carefully all rights and privileges connected with the monastery, at Wasor. The Abbot, Prefect, and Monks of that place, had the favour of
residing in the castle at Florennes, and of receiving legal recognizance, and
protection, from future proprietors. Other privileges, not less curious than characteristic of the period, are recounted. " That constitution and decree
were affirmed and assented to, by Godefrid and Arnulf, on oath ; while the Emperor and his palatine Princes ratified them, by royal ordinance and will. Still, Eilbert did not neglect to build seven castles. He resided in one of them, near Fiorina, or Florennes. ^^ There, revolving in mind the propriety of making atonement for some evil deeds, and which those c—astles even sug-
he as a — to erect monasteries also gested, resolved, counterpoise, observing
-all future time.
One more religious house remained to be built, and this was resolved on as
a compensation for the destruction of a church at Rheims,^' while the Count in- tended it for dedication to the holy Motherof God. That nobleman lived in a remote situation, at Prireriis,5° or Priezeriis,3' which was compassed around
the mystic number of seven in the work of reparation. One
of these had been erected at Tirascia,'3 or Therasche,'* under tlie patronage of St. Michael the Archangel fs another was intended for nuns, at a place called Bucceleuni, or I'ocileis,'* now Bussily, and it was dedicated to St. Peter, while over this presided a mitred Abbess ; anotlier basilica was erected, at a place known as Humblieres,'7 and this was dedicated to the Blessed Virgin Mary ; wiiile he built three other monasteries, all of these having been endowed, in a most substantial manner, from Count Filbert's patrimony. '^ On these, too, he conferred various privileges. Wishing their rule to be that of St. Benedict, he also desired, that 4ioly superiors and subjects should dwell in them, for
" This is now the capital of a Canton, in the Province of Naniur, lielgium, having an ancient castle, and it is on the right bank of the Yves. See "Gazetteer of the World,"
vol. v. , pp. 376, 377.
" See "Acta Sanctorum," lomus iii. , Ap-
rilis XXX. Alia . Acta S. Forannani, cap. iii. , num. 19, 20, 21, pp. 820, 821.
liacum, and state that the founders were Elbert and Gertrude, " Veiomanduorum
Comites," under Bartholomew, Bishop of Laon, who issued in its favour a charter of
confirmation, ad. M13. However, Pape- broke suspects the genuineness of this cliar- ter, as no such noble personages are to be found noted, in the histories of the Veroman-
" Here a Benedictine Monastery was dui, or people of Picardy.
founded, about the year loio, under the in- vocation of St. John the Baptist, and in the
'' This was built, under the very walls of
Augusta Viromanduorum, now St. Qiiintin,
in Picardy. However, Papebroke suspects,
that not Eilbert, but Albert, Count of St.
Quintin, w. is the founder, and he adds.
" idem forte sentiendum de sequentibus quod
tribus innominatis monasteriis, hoc scilicet
eodcm tempore, sed ab aliis fuisse condita
vel restaurata. "
'* "
See Mabillon's Annalcs Ordinis S.
Beuedicti," tomus iii. , lib. xliv. , sect, xlix. , p. 473.
"» This city has a special importance in the Christian history of France, and it contains
a magnificent cathedral, in the ogival style, designed by Robert de Courcy, in 1212.
