The mother of a family, furious and
possessed
by devils, had these cast out through the prayer of St.
O'Hanlon - Lives of the Irish Saints - v3
See " Re- gistrum Nigrum de Aberbrothock," p.
277.
borradh. " Old Statistical Survey of Scot- of Scotland," vol. ii. Sessions MDCCCLIV —" ——
Monitorium ad Ecclesias patrias," lib. i.
He also incorrectly places the festival of this
saint, at the 2nd of March,
^^
In reference to it and to his remains,
the Aberdeen Martyrology states, that as a
sweet-smelling balsam, these brought each day joy and health to all the people of the
province, where they had been kept. See
Society
of
Antiquaries
62 LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS.
[March
was celebrated on the day of his feast. 3° The clergy and people were accustomed each Sunday, to have lights placed around the head, which was washed with water. This again was used by the infirm and sick, who deemed it an effective restorative. Some remarkable instances are adduced, in the Breviary of Aberdeen, of miracles wrought, through the intervention of St. Marnan. Certain persons, who had plundered the lands of Abirkerdoure Church, were unable to light the tapers, held in their hands. A chief, who wished to carry off a tree from Lochellis Church lands, in the diocese of Aberdeen, could not remove it beyond the bounds, but the clergy very readily carried it back. s' The Kalendar of Arbuthnott notes St. Marnoc, Bishop, with an office of nine Lessons, at the ist of March. 3^ The Martyr- ology, compiled for the use of the church at Aberdeen,33 has the festival of St. Marnan, Bishop and Confessor, at Aberkerdor, of Moray, in Scotia, on the Kalends of March. 34 In Adam " St. bisch.
King's Kalendar, Mamane,
and confess, in Scotland vnder King indulphe," is noticed, at the ist of March. 35 TheBreviaryofAberdeenhasanOfficeandLessonsforSt. Mar- nan's festival, at this date. In it, he is regarded as a Bishop and Confessor. 3^
The Kalendar of David Camerarius enters the feast of St. Marnanus, Bishop and Confessor, at the ist of March. 37 The parish of Aberchirder, in the presbyteryofStrathbogie,iscalledSt. Marnoch. Nearthemanseisawell, called after him. Here, too, on the 2nd Tuesday of March, is held Marnoch fair. 33 TheparishofKilmarnock,Ayrshire 39 Leochel ^° Foulis-Easter '
Dalmarnock, at Little Dunkeld ^" Inchmarnock, a suppressed parish, now ;
united to Glentaner and Aboyne ^3 Boith Chapelry <+ Inchmarnock, on ;;
the Isle of Bute *s all were where his ; places
formerly celebrated. Among the Scone Charters, there is mention of a gift to the
"
convent, attached to St. Mernoc's Chapel, infra Fossata," as also allusion
to St. Mernock's croft, with the chapel-yard and chapel of St. Mernock. "*^ At Benholm, there is a St. Marny's Well. -*? There is a Portmarnock ^^ townland
; but, and parish, in the barony of Coolock, county of Dublin ^9
whether its name has been derived from the present saint, or from another bearing a
similar name, may be questioned.
Article V. —St. Moinend or Maoineann, Bishop of Clonfert, County of Galway. \Sixth Century^ Doubts have been entertained,^ that the present holy man, called Moen, Moena, Maoineann, Maineann,
"
3° See Registrum Episcopatus Brechin-
12.
'" As related in the legend,
» See " Prioratus S. Registrum
Andree," of Scot-
ensis," p. "
3» Brcviarium Aberdonense," Pars Hye-
fol. b. Ixi. • malis, Ix. ,
s' See Bishop Forbes' " Kalendars of Scottish Saints," p. 97.
33 Communicated by David Laing, Esq. ,
p. 348.
*•' See "Old Statistical
Survey
F. S. A. , Scot.
nensis," pp. 12, 14.
*s See " New Statistical
land," Bute, pp. 96, 104.
s* See "
of Sessions MDCCCLVi—VII. , p. 261. 35 See Bishop Forbes' " Kalendars of
Scottish Saints," p. 146.
3* See the Bollandists' " Acta Sancto-
rum," tomus i. , Martii i. De S. Marnano
Episcopo in Scotia, num. i. , p. 63.
37 See Bishop Forbes' "Kalendars of
—of Antiquaries
Scotland,"
vol. ii.
MDCCCLiv V.
**
See "Liber Ecclesia^ de Scon," pp.
Proceedings
of the
Society
Survey
of Scot-
Scottish Saints," p. 235.
3* See " New Staliatical land," Banfl", pp. 382, 386.
Survey
of Scot-
186,231.
7 See Bishop Forbes' "Kalendars of
Scottish Saints," pp. 392, 393.
*" Rendered St. Mernoc's Port or landing-
place.
*' The townland is shown on Sheet 15,
"
and the parish on Sheets 12, 14, 15, Ord-
nance Townland for the Survey Maps
County of Dubl—in. "
'
Article v. See Dr. Lanigan's "Ec
39 Sec ibid. , Ayr, p. 535.
3;;
memory
had been
land," vol. vi. , p. 381.
'3 See ibid. , vol. xix. , p. 296.
<^ See "Registrum Episcopatus Brechi-
March i. ] LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS 63
Moeneann, Moenenn, Moenu, Moenen, Moinend, and as in Scotland Min- nan, INIonan or Monanus,^^ may not be different from the saint, whom we have already noticed, at the 26th of February. So far as he had been able to build upon conjecture and inference, the Life of this bishop is published by Colgan, at the ist of March,3 and it is drawn from many sources. The Bollandists merely notice Mxnx^'' and cautiously avoid entering upon
particulars already given ; nor, is it known, that any special Acts are avail- "
able, to throw light on his history. Mo, which signifies my," is prefixed very frequently to the proper names of Irish Saints, out of respect and tender-
ness. Removing this prefix, the original and true name probably was Nen- nius or Nennio. But, it being common with the Irish to add the monosyllable,
the name in spelling has been considerably metamorphosed. Mo-Nennius and Mon-Nennio, too, are held to have been other forms. 5 In the opinion of
Dr. Lanigan,^ this Monennus, venerated at the ist of March, was undoubtedly
the same persop as Nennio, who had been abbot and bishop over what was
called the great monastery in Britain. This, which was known as Rosnat, is
thought to be a sufficiently probable conjecture, by Colgan ; and, therefore, our saint might be regarded as teacher of the most celebrated among our
IrishSaints. Again,heisthoughttohavebeenacompanionofSt. Brendan,? the Navigator, by whom he was installed as Bishop of Clonfert. ^ Following Dr. Lanigan's hypothesis, the present holy man should have been the teacher
'° ofSt. Tighernach,9BishopofClones,ofSt. Eugene, BishopofArdstraw,of
St. Carpreus or Carbrei," and of St. -^-ndseus of Aran. " Likewise, Cailan or Mochai,'3 of Nendrum, is said to have sent Finnian of Maghbile,^* to Nennius or Monenius. ^s But, even the foregoing should not close the list of his celebrated disciples. Another supposition has confounded the present St. Moinend, with the St. Mannan, to whom allusion has been already made, at the 23rd of February, and who has been thought identical with a St. Monan, called Archdeacon of St. Andrew's Church, in Scotland. He is said to have preached the Word of God, in the country about Fife. By some of the Scottish writers, he is also called Mynnanus. The Bollandists have the Acts of this St. Monon, Archdeacon, taken from the Aberdeen Breviary,^^ at the ist of March. ^7 T—he legend relates, that he and several companions camefromHungary^^ certainScottishwritersthinkthemrathertohavebeen
clesiastical History of Ireland," vol. ii. , feast takes place on the 1 1 th of November ;
chap. X. , sect, vii. , n. Ii6, p. 36. or perhaps St. Cairbrc, Bishop of Magh ^ See Bishop Forbes' " Kalendars of Bile, venerated on the 3rd ; or St. Coirpre,
Scottish Saints," pp. 412, 413.
3 See, "Acta Sanctorum Hibemiae," i.
Abbot of Magh Bile, venerated on the 31st of May.
'-
His feast is celebrated, on the 2 1st of March.
'3 His feast occurs, at the 23rd of June.
'^ His festival is referred to the lOth of
September.
's See Ussher's " Primordia Eccl^siarum
Britannicarum," p. 954.
Martii. Vita S. Moinenni, sive Mon-Nen- nil, pp. 437 to 439.
See Martii i.
Acta Sanctorum," tomus i. ,
"
Among the pretermitted Saints,
p. 3-
5 See Colgan's "Acta Sanctorum Hiber-
niK," Martii i. De S. Moinenno sive Mon-
Nennio, Episcopo Cluanfertensi, p. 437,
'^
First printed, A. D. MDIX. , at the ex-
and n. 1, 439. ^"
pense of Walter Chepman, a citizen of Edin-
burgh,
'7 See " Acta Sanctorum," Martii i. De S. Monano Archidiacono Andreopoleos in Scotia, tomus i. , pp. 86 to 88.
'^ The Bollandists discredit this statement, however, by showing, that in the ninth cen- tury, the period assumed for their arrival, the Hungarians were not Christians. The
See Ecclesiastical History of Ireland,"
vol. i. , chap, ix. , sect, ii. , n. 17, p. 437. ^ His feast occurs, at the i6th of May.
^ See Colgan's "Acta Sanctorum Hiber-
nise," Martii i. De S. Moinenno sive Mon-
Nennio, Episcopo Cluanfertensi, pp. 436, 437-
9 His feast is held, on the 4th of April.
'°
August. Hungary, and Pagans. See ibid, Com-
"
Probably Bishop of Cdrain, whose mentarius prsevius, num. i, p. 86.
His festival occurs, at the 23rd of Chuni or Avares were then in possession of
64 LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. [March i.
Scots or Angles^9—and suffered martyrdom, in the ninth century, at the handsoftheDanes. ^° St. Mononissaidtohaveflourishedduringthereign of Kenneth, King of Scotland. This holy man's tomb was at Inverny in Fife,^^ where many miracles were wrought, in favour of sick and afflicted persons. Pilgrimages to his shrine were also very frequently made, during the middle ages, as we learn from the five Lessons of St. Monon's Office, con- tained in the old Breviary of Aberdeen, at this day.
The mother of a family, furious and possessed by devils, had these cast out through the prayer of St. Monan, and though left half dead, yet was she immediately restored to health. For many years after his translation to heaven, a little chapel contained his relics. Being struck by an iron-barbed arrow from a catapult, King David 11. ^^ofScotlandfailedtogetrelieffromsurgeons; but,bycommendinghim- self to the protection of St. Monan, the barbedarrowcame out of its own accord, notevenleavingascar. Thisincidentandothermiraclescausedthekingto restoreandfoundtheChapelofSt. Monon,onthe3rdofApril,andinthe fortieth year of his reign. A hermit was attached to its service, and lands were granted for its support. ^3 St. Monan's was the chief seat for the cultus of this holy man, and it is now joined to the parish of Abercromby in Fife,^-* where there is a fine church, standing picturesquely on the shore. ^^ His chapel in the Aberdeen Martyrology is called Invere. There is a burn ancientlycalledInweary,onthewestoftheparish. ThereisachapelofSt. Monanis, in the parish of Kilteam, in Ross. ^^ Minnan's fair is held at the old chapel, at Freswick, in Caithness, on the 2nd of May (? March), a day later than the feast. "? There is also a Kilminning farm and rock in the parish of Crail. "^ The Kalendar of Drummond, at the Kalends, or ist of March, commemorates St. David, Archbishop of Britain, and amongst the Irish, it states, that the holy Bishops and Confessors, Senan and Moynenn, went to heaven. "9 In the Martyrology, printed at Cologne, a. d. 1490, St. Monan, Confessor, is entered, at this date ; likewise, in Hermann Greuen's additions to Usuard,3° we read, in Scotland, Monan, Levite and Confessor, for this day ; a manuscript copy of Florarius, however, places him in Anglia, as a Bishop and Confessor, at this date. s^ In the Kalendar of Hyrdmanis- toun, there is an entry of St. Monan's feast, at the ist of March. He is
'9 See Hector Boece, " Scotorum Hysto-
northern pirates at this time carried on wars with the Gauls and Belgians, who were Christians, these martyrs might be con- sidered, as coming from Belgium or Gaul, to
take refuge in Scotland ; or, rather, they think it more probable, that they may have been missionaries, newly arrived from Hiber- nia, to spread the Gospel among the Picts. See " Acta Sanctorum," tomus i. , Martii i. De S. Monano Archidiacono Andreopoleos
Scot. , p. 261.
'^'^ He from A. D. to reigned 1329 1370.
See George Buchanan's account of the stir- ring events during his time in " Rerum Scoticarum Historia," lib. ix. , pp. 262 to 285.
lib. ccvi. X. , p.
rise,"
^° The Bollandists suggest, that as the
Commentarius prcevius, num. 2,
^* See "New Statistical Survey of Scot-
land," Fife, pp. 337, 350.
""5 See " Old Statistical Survey of Scot-
land," vol. ix. , p. 334.
-*
See "Origines Parochiales Scotise," vol. ii. , part ii. , p. 478.
*' See Bishop Forbes' " Kalendars of
'
p. 413.
See New Statistical Survey of Scot-
land," Fife, p. 944.
*' See "Bishop Forbes' "Kalendars of
Scottish Saints," p. 6.
^o Edited A. D. 1515 and 1521.
^i See the Bollandists' "Acta Sancto-
rum," tomus i. , Martii i. De S. Monano
Archidiacono Andreopoleos in Scotia, num. 4, p. 87.
in Scotia.
pp. 86, 87. ^^
According
deen ; yet, in the Martyrology of Aberdeen, the place is called Inuere in Fyfe. " Thither, "fama sanctitas Monam tam de vrbibus quam de agris vulgus innumerabile tam validorum quam languidorum ad bene- fica Monani consequenda continue confluit. " —"Proceedings of the Society of Anti- quaries of Scotland," vol. ii. Sessions MDCCCLiv—V. MDCCCLVI—VII. Com- municated by David Laing, Esq. , F. S. A. ,
to the old
Breviary
of Aber-
Scottish Saints, " *^'*
'^ See Spottiswoode's Religious Houses, "
in Keith's Scottish Bishops," p. 445. Russel edition.
March i. ] LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. 65
noted as a Confessor, who had an Office, comprising nine Lessons. 3^ The Kalendar De Nova Farina, has Monan, Abbot, at the same date. 33 The Kalendar of Arbuthnott notes St. Monan, a' Confessor, with an Office of nine Lessons. 34 The Kalendar of the Aberdeen Breviary, at the ist of March, has the festival of St, Monan, of St. Marnan, Bishop, and of St. David, Bishop,withofficesrespectivelyofnineLessons. 35 IntheMartyrology^^for the use of the Church of Aberdeen,37 St. Monan is noticed as a Confessor, in Scotia, at this date. s^ But, from what has been already stated, as also in that which follows, it must be extremely difficult to reconcile conflicting accountsrespectinghim. InAdamKing'sKalendar,"St. Mynnane,archi- deacon and confess, in Scotland vnder king constantine ye 2," 39 is entered, at the ist of March. 't° Dempster has Minnan, Archdeacon, in his " Menolo- giumScoticum,"atthesamedatc*^ Mostunaccountably,thiswriterelse- where distinguishes between a St. Monan and a St. Minnan, making both archdeacons, however, and the authors of books. Thus, he states, St. Monan " ad lib.
and " Carmina Sacra," lib. i. , and that he suffisred martyrdonij-^^ with St. Adrian, and his companions. 13 The reader is referred to another volume of this work, for further details of theirpassion. <+ AttheistofMarch,CamerariushasthefeastofSt. Monan,
composed Epistolse Diversos," i. ,
Martyr. He officiated in the province of Fife, and in the country adjoining the Island, Maia. He was celebrated' for his miracles. '^s At the ist of March, Dempster has an account of a St. Minnanus, who is called an arch- deacon, and who had a great reputation for piety and learning. He is said, to have been a great favourite of King Kenneth, and after his death, Minnan retired from the Court of Donald V. , being disgusted with his luxu-
He is
Unione,"
The Martyrology of Donegal,5° on this day, records Maoineann, Bishop of Cluain-fertaBrenainn. ThisplaceisnowknownasClonfert,neartheRiver
Shannon, in the barony of Longford, and county of Galway. St. Brendan
rious habits of
to have "
Pictici The ChurchofKilminnaninGallovidiawasdedicatedtohim. Accordingtothe Scottish Breviary, he was venerated on this day, and he lived, a. d. 878. 4^ Now, it seems difficult beyond measure, to identify the foregoing Minnan or Monon, with Moinend or Maoineann, said to have been a bishop over the see of Clonfert. St. ^ngus, the Culdee, has a notice of this latter saint. '*' On the ist of March, the Martyrology of Tallagh-*^ also mentions Moinend, Bishop, but without indicating his see. Alluding to the holy man recorded at this date, Marianus O'Gorman calls him " the fair, tall, smooth Moenen. "'t9
Regni
lib.
i. ,
living. cum Scotico
stated,
written, Apologiam pro Rege,"
3' See Bishop Forbes' "Kalendars of Scottish Saints," p. 37.
33 See /^/c/. , p. 69.
*' See "Historia Ecclesiastica Gentis Scotorum," tomus ii. , lib. xii. , num. 834, p. 451- „, .
3* - sTheir See ibid. ^ p. 97.
festival is usually assigned to the 4th of March.
^^ See vol. of Feb- ii. , Twenty-Third day
ruary, Article iv. , Saints Mannan and Tiaan, of Aredh-Suird, or Airiudh h-Uird.
45 See Scottish Entries in the Kalendar of 38 See "Proceedings of the Society of David Camerarius. Bishop Forbes' " Kal-
35 See ibid. , p. 113.
3* From a
Manuscript
of the sixteenth
century.
3' Communicated by David Laing, Esq. ,
F. S. A. , Scot.
Antiquaries of Scotland," vol. ii. Sessions
261.
endars of Scottish Saints," p. 235.
* See " Historia Ecclesiastica Dempster's
Gentis Scotorum," tomus ii. , lib. xii. , num.
851, p. 453.
' a note on Moinend, in the " Feilire "
lib. v. , pp. 158, 159.
'See Bishop Forbes' "Kalendars of mo^bA CluAriA 'pet\CA bt\enAin'o, i. e. ,
Scottish Saints," p. 146. "Bishop and Coarb of Cluaia-Ferta of *' See ibid. , p. 193. Brenaind. "
MDCCCLiv—v. MDCCCLVi—
VII. , p. According to George Buchanan, King Constantine II. reigned from A. D. 858 to 874. See "Rerum Scoticarum Historia,"
39
" De
of St. ^ngus thus runs : ej'poc ocax'^ co-
Legitima lib. i.
£
66 LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. [March i.
The present saint is thought to have been a companion of St. Brendan, during the seven years of his trans-Atlantic voyage ; and to have afterwards lived under this holy abbot's rule, at Clonfert.
borradh. " Old Statistical Survey of Scot- of Scotland," vol. ii. Sessions MDCCCLIV —" ——
Monitorium ad Ecclesias patrias," lib. i.
He also incorrectly places the festival of this
saint, at the 2nd of March,
^^
In reference to it and to his remains,
the Aberdeen Martyrology states, that as a
sweet-smelling balsam, these brought each day joy and health to all the people of the
province, where they had been kept. See
Society
of
Antiquaries
62 LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS.
[March
was celebrated on the day of his feast. 3° The clergy and people were accustomed each Sunday, to have lights placed around the head, which was washed with water. This again was used by the infirm and sick, who deemed it an effective restorative. Some remarkable instances are adduced, in the Breviary of Aberdeen, of miracles wrought, through the intervention of St. Marnan. Certain persons, who had plundered the lands of Abirkerdoure Church, were unable to light the tapers, held in their hands. A chief, who wished to carry off a tree from Lochellis Church lands, in the diocese of Aberdeen, could not remove it beyond the bounds, but the clergy very readily carried it back. s' The Kalendar of Arbuthnott notes St. Marnoc, Bishop, with an office of nine Lessons, at the ist of March. 3^ The Martyr- ology, compiled for the use of the church at Aberdeen,33 has the festival of St. Marnan, Bishop and Confessor, at Aberkerdor, of Moray, in Scotia, on the Kalends of March. 34 In Adam " St. bisch.
King's Kalendar, Mamane,
and confess, in Scotland vnder King indulphe," is noticed, at the ist of March. 35 TheBreviaryofAberdeenhasanOfficeandLessonsforSt. Mar- nan's festival, at this date. In it, he is regarded as a Bishop and Confessor. 3^
The Kalendar of David Camerarius enters the feast of St. Marnanus, Bishop and Confessor, at the ist of March. 37 The parish of Aberchirder, in the presbyteryofStrathbogie,iscalledSt. Marnoch. Nearthemanseisawell, called after him. Here, too, on the 2nd Tuesday of March, is held Marnoch fair. 33 TheparishofKilmarnock,Ayrshire 39 Leochel ^° Foulis-Easter '
Dalmarnock, at Little Dunkeld ^" Inchmarnock, a suppressed parish, now ;
united to Glentaner and Aboyne ^3 Boith Chapelry <+ Inchmarnock, on ;;
the Isle of Bute *s all were where his ; places
formerly celebrated. Among the Scone Charters, there is mention of a gift to the
"
convent, attached to St. Mernoc's Chapel, infra Fossata," as also allusion
to St. Mernock's croft, with the chapel-yard and chapel of St. Mernock. "*^ At Benholm, there is a St. Marny's Well. -*? There is a Portmarnock ^^ townland
; but, and parish, in the barony of Coolock, county of Dublin ^9
whether its name has been derived from the present saint, or from another bearing a
similar name, may be questioned.
Article V. —St. Moinend or Maoineann, Bishop of Clonfert, County of Galway. \Sixth Century^ Doubts have been entertained,^ that the present holy man, called Moen, Moena, Maoineann, Maineann,
"
3° See Registrum Episcopatus Brechin-
12.
'" As related in the legend,
» See " Prioratus S. Registrum
Andree," of Scot-
ensis," p. "
3» Brcviarium Aberdonense," Pars Hye-
fol. b. Ixi. • malis, Ix. ,
s' See Bishop Forbes' " Kalendars of Scottish Saints," p. 97.
33 Communicated by David Laing, Esq. ,
p. 348.
*•' See "Old Statistical
Survey
F. S. A. , Scot.
nensis," pp. 12, 14.
*s See " New Statistical
land," Bute, pp. 96, 104.
s* See "
of Sessions MDCCCLVi—VII. , p. 261. 35 See Bishop Forbes' " Kalendars of
Scottish Saints," p. 146.
3* See the Bollandists' " Acta Sancto-
rum," tomus i. , Martii i. De S. Marnano
Episcopo in Scotia, num. i. , p. 63.
37 See Bishop Forbes' "Kalendars of
—of Antiquaries
Scotland,"
vol. ii.
MDCCCLiv V.
**
See "Liber Ecclesia^ de Scon," pp.
Proceedings
of the
Society
Survey
of Scot-
Scottish Saints," p. 235.
3* See " New Staliatical land," Banfl", pp. 382, 386.
Survey
of Scot-
186,231.
7 See Bishop Forbes' "Kalendars of
Scottish Saints," pp. 392, 393.
*" Rendered St. Mernoc's Port or landing-
place.
*' The townland is shown on Sheet 15,
"
and the parish on Sheets 12, 14, 15, Ord-
nance Townland for the Survey Maps
County of Dubl—in. "
'
Article v. See Dr. Lanigan's "Ec
39 Sec ibid. , Ayr, p. 535.
3;;
memory
had been
land," vol. vi. , p. 381.
'3 See ibid. , vol. xix. , p. 296.
<^ See "Registrum Episcopatus Brechi-
March i. ] LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS 63
Moeneann, Moenenn, Moenu, Moenen, Moinend, and as in Scotland Min- nan, INIonan or Monanus,^^ may not be different from the saint, whom we have already noticed, at the 26th of February. So far as he had been able to build upon conjecture and inference, the Life of this bishop is published by Colgan, at the ist of March,3 and it is drawn from many sources. The Bollandists merely notice Mxnx^'' and cautiously avoid entering upon
particulars already given ; nor, is it known, that any special Acts are avail- "
able, to throw light on his history. Mo, which signifies my," is prefixed very frequently to the proper names of Irish Saints, out of respect and tender-
ness. Removing this prefix, the original and true name probably was Nen- nius or Nennio. But, it being common with the Irish to add the monosyllable,
the name in spelling has been considerably metamorphosed. Mo-Nennius and Mon-Nennio, too, are held to have been other forms. 5 In the opinion of
Dr. Lanigan,^ this Monennus, venerated at the ist of March, was undoubtedly
the same persop as Nennio, who had been abbot and bishop over what was
called the great monastery in Britain. This, which was known as Rosnat, is
thought to be a sufficiently probable conjecture, by Colgan ; and, therefore, our saint might be regarded as teacher of the most celebrated among our
IrishSaints. Again,heisthoughttohavebeenacompanionofSt. Brendan,? the Navigator, by whom he was installed as Bishop of Clonfert. ^ Following Dr. Lanigan's hypothesis, the present holy man should have been the teacher
'° ofSt. Tighernach,9BishopofClones,ofSt. Eugene, BishopofArdstraw,of
St. Carpreus or Carbrei," and of St. -^-ndseus of Aran. " Likewise, Cailan or Mochai,'3 of Nendrum, is said to have sent Finnian of Maghbile,^* to Nennius or Monenius. ^s But, even the foregoing should not close the list of his celebrated disciples. Another supposition has confounded the present St. Moinend, with the St. Mannan, to whom allusion has been already made, at the 23rd of February, and who has been thought identical with a St. Monan, called Archdeacon of St. Andrew's Church, in Scotland. He is said to have preached the Word of God, in the country about Fife. By some of the Scottish writers, he is also called Mynnanus. The Bollandists have the Acts of this St. Monon, Archdeacon, taken from the Aberdeen Breviary,^^ at the ist of March. ^7 T—he legend relates, that he and several companions camefromHungary^^ certainScottishwritersthinkthemrathertohavebeen
clesiastical History of Ireland," vol. ii. , feast takes place on the 1 1 th of November ;
chap. X. , sect, vii. , n. Ii6, p. 36. or perhaps St. Cairbrc, Bishop of Magh ^ See Bishop Forbes' " Kalendars of Bile, venerated on the 3rd ; or St. Coirpre,
Scottish Saints," pp. 412, 413.
3 See, "Acta Sanctorum Hibemiae," i.
Abbot of Magh Bile, venerated on the 31st of May.
'-
His feast is celebrated, on the 2 1st of March.
'3 His feast occurs, at the 23rd of June.
'^ His festival is referred to the lOth of
September.
's See Ussher's " Primordia Eccl^siarum
Britannicarum," p. 954.
Martii. Vita S. Moinenni, sive Mon-Nen- nil, pp. 437 to 439.
See Martii i.
Acta Sanctorum," tomus i. ,
"
Among the pretermitted Saints,
p. 3-
5 See Colgan's "Acta Sanctorum Hiber-
niK," Martii i. De S. Moinenno sive Mon-
Nennio, Episcopo Cluanfertensi, p. 437,
'^
First printed, A. D. MDIX. , at the ex-
and n. 1, 439. ^"
pense of Walter Chepman, a citizen of Edin-
burgh,
'7 See " Acta Sanctorum," Martii i. De S. Monano Archidiacono Andreopoleos in Scotia, tomus i. , pp. 86 to 88.
'^ The Bollandists discredit this statement, however, by showing, that in the ninth cen- tury, the period assumed for their arrival, the Hungarians were not Christians. The
See Ecclesiastical History of Ireland,"
vol. i. , chap, ix. , sect, ii. , n. 17, p. 437. ^ His feast occurs, at the i6th of May.
^ See Colgan's "Acta Sanctorum Hiber-
nise," Martii i. De S. Moinenno sive Mon-
Nennio, Episcopo Cluanfertensi, pp. 436, 437-
9 His feast is held, on the 4th of April.
'°
August. Hungary, and Pagans. See ibid, Com-
"
Probably Bishop of Cdrain, whose mentarius prsevius, num. i, p. 86.
His festival occurs, at the 23rd of Chuni or Avares were then in possession of
64 LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. [March i.
Scots or Angles^9—and suffered martyrdom, in the ninth century, at the handsoftheDanes. ^° St. Mononissaidtohaveflourishedduringthereign of Kenneth, King of Scotland. This holy man's tomb was at Inverny in Fife,^^ where many miracles were wrought, in favour of sick and afflicted persons. Pilgrimages to his shrine were also very frequently made, during the middle ages, as we learn from the five Lessons of St. Monon's Office, con- tained in the old Breviary of Aberdeen, at this day.
The mother of a family, furious and possessed by devils, had these cast out through the prayer of St. Monan, and though left half dead, yet was she immediately restored to health. For many years after his translation to heaven, a little chapel contained his relics. Being struck by an iron-barbed arrow from a catapult, King David 11. ^^ofScotlandfailedtogetrelieffromsurgeons; but,bycommendinghim- self to the protection of St. Monan, the barbedarrowcame out of its own accord, notevenleavingascar. Thisincidentandothermiraclescausedthekingto restoreandfoundtheChapelofSt. Monon,onthe3rdofApril,andinthe fortieth year of his reign. A hermit was attached to its service, and lands were granted for its support. ^3 St. Monan's was the chief seat for the cultus of this holy man, and it is now joined to the parish of Abercromby in Fife,^-* where there is a fine church, standing picturesquely on the shore. ^^ His chapel in the Aberdeen Martyrology is called Invere. There is a burn ancientlycalledInweary,onthewestoftheparish. ThereisachapelofSt. Monanis, in the parish of Kilteam, in Ross. ^^ Minnan's fair is held at the old chapel, at Freswick, in Caithness, on the 2nd of May (? March), a day later than the feast. "? There is also a Kilminning farm and rock in the parish of Crail. "^ The Kalendar of Drummond, at the Kalends, or ist of March, commemorates St. David, Archbishop of Britain, and amongst the Irish, it states, that the holy Bishops and Confessors, Senan and Moynenn, went to heaven. "9 In the Martyrology, printed at Cologne, a. d. 1490, St. Monan, Confessor, is entered, at this date ; likewise, in Hermann Greuen's additions to Usuard,3° we read, in Scotland, Monan, Levite and Confessor, for this day ; a manuscript copy of Florarius, however, places him in Anglia, as a Bishop and Confessor, at this date. s^ In the Kalendar of Hyrdmanis- toun, there is an entry of St. Monan's feast, at the ist of March. He is
'9 See Hector Boece, " Scotorum Hysto-
northern pirates at this time carried on wars with the Gauls and Belgians, who were Christians, these martyrs might be con- sidered, as coming from Belgium or Gaul, to
take refuge in Scotland ; or, rather, they think it more probable, that they may have been missionaries, newly arrived from Hiber- nia, to spread the Gospel among the Picts. See " Acta Sanctorum," tomus i. , Martii i. De S. Monano Archidiacono Andreopoleos
Scot. , p. 261.
'^'^ He from A. D. to reigned 1329 1370.
See George Buchanan's account of the stir- ring events during his time in " Rerum Scoticarum Historia," lib. ix. , pp. 262 to 285.
lib. ccvi. X. , p.
rise,"
^° The Bollandists suggest, that as the
Commentarius prcevius, num. 2,
^* See "New Statistical Survey of Scot-
land," Fife, pp. 337, 350.
""5 See " Old Statistical Survey of Scot-
land," vol. ix. , p. 334.
-*
See "Origines Parochiales Scotise," vol. ii. , part ii. , p. 478.
*' See Bishop Forbes' " Kalendars of
'
p. 413.
See New Statistical Survey of Scot-
land," Fife, p. 944.
*' See "Bishop Forbes' "Kalendars of
Scottish Saints," p. 6.
^o Edited A. D. 1515 and 1521.
^i See the Bollandists' "Acta Sancto-
rum," tomus i. , Martii i. De S. Monano
Archidiacono Andreopoleos in Scotia, num. 4, p. 87.
in Scotia.
pp. 86, 87. ^^
According
deen ; yet, in the Martyrology of Aberdeen, the place is called Inuere in Fyfe. " Thither, "fama sanctitas Monam tam de vrbibus quam de agris vulgus innumerabile tam validorum quam languidorum ad bene- fica Monani consequenda continue confluit. " —"Proceedings of the Society of Anti- quaries of Scotland," vol. ii. Sessions MDCCCLiv—V. MDCCCLVI—VII. Com- municated by David Laing, Esq. , F. S. A. ,
to the old
Breviary
of Aber-
Scottish Saints, " *^'*
'^ See Spottiswoode's Religious Houses, "
in Keith's Scottish Bishops," p. 445. Russel edition.
March i. ] LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. 65
noted as a Confessor, who had an Office, comprising nine Lessons. 3^ The Kalendar De Nova Farina, has Monan, Abbot, at the same date. 33 The Kalendar of Arbuthnott notes St. Monan, a' Confessor, with an Office of nine Lessons. 34 The Kalendar of the Aberdeen Breviary, at the ist of March, has the festival of St, Monan, of St. Marnan, Bishop, and of St. David, Bishop,withofficesrespectivelyofnineLessons. 35 IntheMartyrology^^for the use of the Church of Aberdeen,37 St. Monan is noticed as a Confessor, in Scotia, at this date. s^ But, from what has been already stated, as also in that which follows, it must be extremely difficult to reconcile conflicting accountsrespectinghim. InAdamKing'sKalendar,"St. Mynnane,archi- deacon and confess, in Scotland vnder king constantine ye 2," 39 is entered, at the ist of March. 't° Dempster has Minnan, Archdeacon, in his " Menolo- giumScoticum,"atthesamedatc*^ Mostunaccountably,thiswriterelse- where distinguishes between a St. Monan and a St. Minnan, making both archdeacons, however, and the authors of books. Thus, he states, St. Monan " ad lib.
and " Carmina Sacra," lib. i. , and that he suffisred martyrdonij-^^ with St. Adrian, and his companions. 13 The reader is referred to another volume of this work, for further details of theirpassion. <+ AttheistofMarch,CamerariushasthefeastofSt. Monan,
composed Epistolse Diversos," i. ,
Martyr. He officiated in the province of Fife, and in the country adjoining the Island, Maia. He was celebrated' for his miracles. '^s At the ist of March, Dempster has an account of a St. Minnanus, who is called an arch- deacon, and who had a great reputation for piety and learning. He is said, to have been a great favourite of King Kenneth, and after his death, Minnan retired from the Court of Donald V. , being disgusted with his luxu-
He is
Unione,"
The Martyrology of Donegal,5° on this day, records Maoineann, Bishop of Cluain-fertaBrenainn. ThisplaceisnowknownasClonfert,neartheRiver
Shannon, in the barony of Longford, and county of Galway. St. Brendan
rious habits of
to have "
Pictici The ChurchofKilminnaninGallovidiawasdedicatedtohim. Accordingtothe Scottish Breviary, he was venerated on this day, and he lived, a. d. 878. 4^ Now, it seems difficult beyond measure, to identify the foregoing Minnan or Monon, with Moinend or Maoineann, said to have been a bishop over the see of Clonfert. St. ^ngus, the Culdee, has a notice of this latter saint. '*' On the ist of March, the Martyrology of Tallagh-*^ also mentions Moinend, Bishop, but without indicating his see. Alluding to the holy man recorded at this date, Marianus O'Gorman calls him " the fair, tall, smooth Moenen. "'t9
Regni
lib.
i. ,
living. cum Scotico
stated,
written, Apologiam pro Rege,"
3' See Bishop Forbes' "Kalendars of Scottish Saints," p. 37.
33 See /^/c/. , p. 69.
*' See "Historia Ecclesiastica Gentis Scotorum," tomus ii. , lib. xii. , num. 834, p. 451- „, .
3* - sTheir See ibid. ^ p. 97.
festival is usually assigned to the 4th of March.
^^ See vol. of Feb- ii. , Twenty-Third day
ruary, Article iv. , Saints Mannan and Tiaan, of Aredh-Suird, or Airiudh h-Uird.
45 See Scottish Entries in the Kalendar of 38 See "Proceedings of the Society of David Camerarius. Bishop Forbes' " Kal-
35 See ibid. , p. 113.
3* From a
Manuscript
of the sixteenth
century.
3' Communicated by David Laing, Esq. ,
F. S. A. , Scot.
Antiquaries of Scotland," vol. ii. Sessions
261.
endars of Scottish Saints," p. 235.
* See " Historia Ecclesiastica Dempster's
Gentis Scotorum," tomus ii. , lib. xii. , num.
851, p. 453.
' a note on Moinend, in the " Feilire "
lib. v. , pp. 158, 159.
'See Bishop Forbes' "Kalendars of mo^bA CluAriA 'pet\CA bt\enAin'o, i. e. ,
Scottish Saints," p. 146. "Bishop and Coarb of Cluaia-Ferta of *' See ibid. , p. 193. Brenaind. "
MDCCCLiv—v. MDCCCLVi—
VII. , p. According to George Buchanan, King Constantine II. reigned from A. D. 858 to 874. See "Rerum Scoticarum Historia,"
39
" De
of St. ^ngus thus runs : ej'poc ocax'^ co-
Legitima lib. i.
£
66 LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. [March i.
The present saint is thought to have been a companion of St. Brendan, during the seven years of his trans-Atlantic voyage ; and to have afterwards lived under this holy abbot's rule, at Clonfert.
