Meantime,MurroughO'Brien,Kingof Munster, engaged in a serious
military
enterprise, with the troops of his own province, and with those of Connaught and of Meath.
O'Hanlon - Lives of the Irish Saints - v4
153.
Ld.
tio
f""Acta Sanctorum. " tomus i.
rnill. is! v. , De S. Vmcentio Ferreno, &c. Com-
'See'vol. 3 He also
iv. ,'ApriI v. , p. 203.
quotes Floratius, as an autho-
^^^\.
,
by Cardinal
rity. See "Catalogus Sanctorum aliquorum
Iberniae. "
« See " Historian Catholics Ibemiae Com-
pendium," tomus i. , lib. iv. , cap. xi. , p. 50,
C^sar Koma:, 1580, tol.
Bretagne," at the
Ap-
42
LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. [April 5.
Ti-emach's festival is noted, at this same date, in the Roman Martyrology as "also by Father White, who styles this saint a distinguished preacher of ? he Gospels John Molanus, the Circle of the Seasons,^ with Adam King s Kalendar,7 Dempster,^ and David Camerarius,^ agree, as likewise the Bollan- Sts, in assigning his feast to this day- Bishop Forbes has some notices of
this saint. "
Article IV. —Feast of Saint Patrick's First Baptism, in Ireland. This means, not the day, on which St. Patrick himself was baptized but the dav on which he baptized his first convert. It seems to hav"e been celebrated, fromavlryremoteperiod,sinceitoccurs,inthe"Feihre ofSt. o^
^"gus,ine the sth day of April. ' From the commentary appended, we learn, that
first of Patrick " means how Sinell,^ the son of ^^h
came to Ireland The remark
ad Hiberniam, i. e.
able event of St. Patrick regenerating, in the saving waters of Baptism his first
Irish convert, is recorded, likewise, in the Martyrology of Donegal f and, in reference to it, the " Feilire " of St. ^ngus is quoted :—
" On the great festival of the son of Cula, Of Becan with the victory of austerity, The first baptism of Patrick
Which he performed in Erinn. "*
Article V—Reputed Festiv. \l of St. Finian, Abbot of Clonard.
baptism o f-"f On t^hfe^Jf^^
Garchon, was the first person baptized in Ireland, by Patnck. 3 5th ApS in'the Martyrolo^'y of we find entered BapUsma Patncii vem
" Tallagh^
the Baptism of Patrick
In a Manuscript Benedictine Kalendar, there is a com- SiSno7i. Finian,Abbot,illHibemia; while^^J^^^^^^,
r<? /*//* Caltury^
a man, bear"ng\e same name, and venerated, at the 12th of December. ^
mac Cula with a victory of piety, excel ent
was kindled in Ireland.
s tice the entry, at the sth of April, state, that he wa
th
ho
"
p. 15. Again,
Hlbernia," cap. ii. , his name occurs, at the Sth as S. Frigernanis, a bishop of old Scotia or Hibemia. See cap. iv. , p. 37, 'l/id- He is the same person, although there is
anincorrectionofspelling.
of
on the stanza of the it.
5 See April,
Apologia pro
Patrick's baptism 'The Scholium Felire thus explains
'
1
we find "Tigernakebisch. andcon- fess. in Scotland vnder King Alpliine. "—
on the word piMmroA honourable;
See p. 96.
Thus,
in Adam King's Kalendar, at
learned. The Scholiast seems to have taken it to signify here/«^, agreeing with baptism, if the other significa-
tion be adopted, it must agree with Patrick.
4 Rev. Dr. Kelly, p. xx. The Edited by
Franciscan copy has b^pcipnA p4C]\icii
uenic Ab VnbeyviiiAm.
Apryll 5,
is glossed efgnA,
Forbes' " Kalendars of the Scottish
Bishop
Saints," p. 148. ^ „ c
8 See " Menologium Scotorum, p. igo-
9 In the Scottish Entries to his Kalendar, "
s Edited Drs. Todd and Reeves, pp. by
^
'^^n a note, Dr. Todd here says, "The more recent hand adds here, f. Oensuir,
on the meaning that this quatrain occurs, 5th
we read at 5 Die Sanctus Tigernacus
et Confessor. "—/i^! </. p. 236.
'o See "Acta Sanctorum," tomus i. , Ap-
Episcopus
rilis V. See pp. 401 to 404.
"
"
See Kalendars
of Scottish Saints,
p.
of
452.
words of the text:—
The same hand adds also, in Aengus. M.
Roman letters: "Baptismus S. Patricii, Taml," where we have the words, "Bap-
— Hiberniam. " tisma Patricii venit
, Article iv. — The following are the
A1C cuIa beccAO cotnbuATO leiM
bAicherpACT\AicpiMtnuA
ACi\4iin4-o ine]\i.
They are thus translated by Dr. Whitley Stokes:—"On the great feast of Beccan
hi-pelb molten
ide
ly
nt
,
3 In his note on the O'Clery s Calendar,
the Rev. Dr. Todd remarks :—"The gloss
ica
l
is here Aife^TJA, but the same word at Aprd 15
of April, in the FeUre or Martyrology
See "Acta Sanctorum, tomusi. ,Aprilis. Amongthepretermitted
feasts, p. 397. , . ^ ,,
= His Life is to be found written, at the
same datei
Article v.
'
vvi
^
, •,
April 6. ] LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. 43
^i^tK) I3ap of gpnl.
ARTICLE I. —ST. CELSUS, OR CELESTINE, OR CELLACH \LA. C AID . ARCH- BISHOP OF ARMAGH.
[ELEVENTH AND TiVELFTH CENTURIES. }
the very remarkable prelates, that ruled over the See of Armagh,
AMONG
the name and actions of the man deserve a
special men-
present holy
tion. He was remarkable for his great abilities, as also for his distinguished
virtues, while he ruled happily over the clergy and people, committed to his charge.
Sir James Ware,' and his editor Walter Harris," have given us an account of St Celsus. Colgan would seem to have collected some Acts of this holy Bishop, for publication, at the 6th of April,3 had he lived to complete his work. The BoUandist Father, Daniel Papebroch, has inserted the Acts of
this holy man, at the same date. < The Right Rev. Bishop Challenor s and the Rev. Alban Buder * have some brief notices of St. Celsus, at the 6th of April, the date most usually assigned for his festival. The Rev. S. Baring- Gould has a Life of this saint, at the same day. ' In Irish, the present holy man's name is WTitten Cellach Mac Aid, so called from the etymon of his father, while his grandfather was known as Mac Maelisa. The name of our saint has been Latinized Celsus, while some writers call him Celestine. It is said, that he received his education at Oxford,' and, it is affirmed, that he was a man, universally skilled in the circles of Science,' while recognised, as pos-
sessing varied erudition.
•"
By the unanimous suffrages of the clergy and
people, after the death of Donald Mac Amalgaid," St. Celsus was elected
Archbishop of Armagh, and he was consecrated, on the 23rd of September, a. d.
1 106. " Incorrectly is the date set down in Ware, as being on the 2nd day
ofthemonth. '3 Celsuswasindefatigable,inzealouslydischargingthefunc-
We are informed, that he ordained bishops, priests, and personsofeverydegree; thatheconsecratedmanychurchesandcemeteries; that he bestowed jewels and wealth ; that he established rules and good
morals among all, both laity and clergy ; and that he spent a life of fasting, prayer, and mass celebration. '* During the first year of his consecration,
Article i. — See " De Scriptoribus Hi- ' See " Lives of the Saints," vol. iv. ,
tions of his office.
bernia;," lib. f. , cap. viii. , pp. 53, 54. April vi. , pp. 106 to 109. '"»"
Sec Harris' Ware, vol. 1. , Archbishops of Armagh," pp. 51 to 54.
3 See "Catalogus Actuum Sanctorum qiue MS. habentur Ordine Mensium et Diemm. "
'
lliey are written, , in ten paragraphs. See "Acta Sanctorum," tomus L, Aprilis vi. , De Sancto Celso Archiepiscopo Arma- cano in Hibernia, pp. 619, 620.
5 See "Britannu Sancta," part i. , pp. 2IS, 216.
' See " Lives of the Fathers, Martyrs and other principal Saints," vol. iv. , April vi. j
Sec Dr. Meredith Hanmer's of Ireland," p. 202.
Chronicle
' Such is the statement of Brian Twine, on the authority of Bale.
'° " Oxon. academ. Antiq.
Apolog," lib.
ii. , sec. 280.
" He ruled, from A. D. 1092 to a. d. 1106. "SeeHarris'Ware,vol. i. , "Archbishops
of Armagh," p. 51.
" See "De Scriptoribus Hibemiae," lib. i. ,
cap. viii. , p. 53.
'* See Dr. O'Donovan's "Annals of the
Four Masters," vol. ii. , pp. 1032, 1033.
44
LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. [April 6.
Celsus visited Munster. The tribute given to him, in acknowledgment of his primatial rights, on this occasion, was very considerable. Thus, every cantred or district, which contained a hundred villages, contributed seven oxen, seven sheep, and half and ounce of gold, with many other presents. During this year, also, the primate made a visitation, throughout the provmce
the Annals of the Four Mastei;? '* state, that m Ceallach, successor of Patrick, went on his visitation of Munster, for the first time,andobtainedhisfulldemand.
Meantime,MurroughO'Brien,Kingof Munster, engaged in a serious military enterprise, with the troops of his own province, and with those of Connaught and of Meath. Against him, an army was led, by Domhnall Mac Laughlin,'? with the people of the North of Ire- land, to Sliabh-Fuaid, in 1 109; but, Ceallach effected a truce for one year, between Mac Laughlin and Ua Briain. '^ In the year iiio,^9 Ceallach, the successor of Patrick, went on his visitation of Meath, for the first time, and obtained his demand. ''" At the instance of the Monarch of all Ireland," Muirchearteach or Mortough O'Brian, son of Teige, son to the renowned Bryan Boroimhe, it was resolved to gratify the desires of that pious ruler, who
had the interests of religion much at heart. A celebrated synod was sum-
moned and it was held, at Fedh-Mac ^ngusa, or " the Land of the Sons of
Aenghus," in the year iiii," or iii2. =3 The place is said to have been near
the Hill of Uisneach, in the county of Westmeath. St. Celsus, the Comor-
ban or successor of St. Patrick, presided. We are told, that no leas than fifty
bishops, three hundred priests, and three thousand ecclesiastics, or students,
assisted'. Among them was Maelmury O'Dunan, called the noble or Arch
Senior of Ireland, who is supposed to have been Meiler O'Dunan, Arch-
bishop of Cashel. ''* Besides the ecclesiastics mentioned, Murchertach
O'Brien, monarch of Ireland, with many nobles and chiefs of Leth- '
Mo'^ha or the southern division of Ireland, assisted. ^'s This synod was con- vened 'to prescribe rules and good morals for all, both laity and clergy. By some, 'this convention has been named the Synod of Uisneach, which spot was celebrated, in being a favourite place, for various public meetings of the king- dom owing probably to its very central position in Ireland. Among the writi'ngs attributed to our saint, by John Bale,=6 were "Constitutiones Quas- dam •" and, by these. Sir James Ware thinks, he meant perhaps the statutes of thi's celebrated synod. '? It ought to be observed, however, that the synod ofFidhMacAengusamustbedistinguishedfromthatofUisneach; for,after
of Ulster. 's However,
i io8,
giving
an account of the former, the Annals of Inisfallen state, that in the
•ssee Harris' Ware, vol. i. , X. „f Arm-io-Vi " Tin i;i C2
Archbis-
$09 to SIS. Duffy's
"
edition.
"This IS the year assigned for it,
S'see d" O'bonovan's edition, vol. ii. ,
,,,,086087
^Vly! oi^writers, he is called Donnell
O'Louehlin and he was a rival for the
sovereignty of Ireland, with Murtough pars, iii. , pp. 229, 300.
n'Rrinn who died A D. 1 1 19. See Martin Saverty's'' History of Ireland," chap, xv. ,
i6 161;
^^li\% Dr O'Donovan's "Annals of the TT M„=. . ,'= " vaI ii DD q88 qSq.
^TA^Ing to Ae'ar;endon Codex of tl,. TTktpr Annals tome 40.
4erDrO^Dono"an? "Annals of the ttTM,, Mo=tpr«" vol ii DD. qqo, QQI.
- for from He ruled twenty ye^k^viz. ,
Iliotonso, accordingtoDermodO'Conor's Keating's "History of Ireland," part ii. , pp.
m Dr. O'Donovan's "Annals of the Four Masters. "
vol. ii. , pp. 990 to 993-
«See Colgan's "Trias Thaumaturga,;;
Septima Appendix ad "Acta S. Patricu.
» According to the Annals of Connaught.
- Henry of Marleburgh, the Vicar of Ballyscadan, in the diocese of Dublin, has fallen into an error, when he states, this
Synod had been convened, by Maurice
mL Loughlin, King of Ireland, who did not
begin his reign before the year 1 1 57. ^"
See Scriptoram Illustrium Majoris Britanniae," &c. , cent, xiv. , sec. 84.
'' See De Scriptoribus Hiberni^," lib. '/
i. , cap. viu. , p. 54-
April 6. ] LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS.
45
same year, a great synod was held at Uisneach, for the purpose of dividing the parishes of Meath equally, between the dioceses of Clonmacnoise and of Clonard. ^* St. Celsusspentmuchtime,inendeavouringtoeffecttherecon- cilementofkingsandchiefs,ataveryanarchicalperiodofourhistory. Inthe year 11 16, this prelate made a second visitation, in the province of Con- naught. 's The object of these Archiepiscopal progresses apparently had been, to impress on the minds of the people living without it the supremacy of Armagh See, over the various other dioceses in Ireland, with a view of discharging some customary usage, and of exacting dues or tributes. During the same year, a fire broke out in Armagh.
'"P"'*-
3° ,,
of Armagh," p. 53.
3^ See Dr. O'Donovan's "Annals of the
Four Masters," vol. ii. , pp. 1022, 1023.
37 See Rev. P. J. Carew's " Ecclesiasti-
cal History of Ireland," chap, iv. , pp. in, 112.
It occurred, at the beginning of Lent, ac-
'? Ulster Annals. 'o^'"? V'''
38 His feast is at the I commemorated,
VCa.
3" His Life IS written, for the 3rd of No-
of August.
p.
35 See Harris' Ware, vol.
i. , "Archbishops ^
It caused destruction of the abbey, with
twenty other buildings, in that
illustrious St. Malachy O'Morgair,^' as a deacon, and also as a priest, about A. D. 1 1 1 9. In the year 1 1 2 1, another destructive fire broke out, and in the Trian-
Massain quarter two streets, extending from the rath, or tower, to St. Brigid's Church, were burned down. It may be supposed, that nearly all of those buildings had been constructed of wood, thatch, or other perishable materials. In the year 1121,3' and on the 4th of July, Samuel O'Haingley, bishop of Dublin, died. 33 The See became vacant, for a time. It is said, that by the common consent of the Irish and Normans, St. Celsus was invited, to preside over that diocese ; and, while our Annalists eulogize his purity, they declare, that he was Archbishop of the West of Europe, the only head whom the foreigners and Irish of Ireland, both laity and clergy, obeyed. 34 This state- ment may have been occasioned, by his only assuming the administration or guardianship of that See, pending the vacancy, which continued in the regular succession of its bishops, until Ralph, Archbishop of Canterbury, had conse- crated, on the 2nd of October following, Gregory, as bishop of Dublin. This ceremony took place, at Lambeth, near London. In the year 1 1 22, it is stated, that Maelcolm O'Brolcan, who was bishop of Armagh, died ; but, it is more than probable, he was only a sufiiragan, or vicar, to Archbishop Celsus. 35 In the year 995, during the government of Dubhdalethy II. in the Archbishopric, the cathedral of Armagh was burned; and, for 130 years it remained in a
rumous condition, being only partially roofed, until on the 12th of January, A. D. 1 1 25, St. Celsus commenced the repairs of this church, which he covered entirely with tiles, or shingles. 36 THis was only one of the great improve- ments effected by him, during the period of his highly useful incumbency. 3? A church, which had been erected, at Armagh, by St. Imhar Ua h-Aedha- gain,3« and which was called the Regies of Peter and Paul, was consecrated by Ceallach, the successor of Patrick, on the 12th of the Calends of Novem-
*•
There is no account of Murtogh O'Brian,
nor of Celsus, nor of Moelmurry, being pre- ? ^PA*'i ";"? "'' ^ ''^ "e told, Morough O Moelseachlain, Eocha O'Kelly and the clergy of the religious house of St. Kieran (Clonmacnoise) together with GioUa Chriost OMaoillean, abbot of Clonmacnoise, at-
tended the regulations in that Synod. See Kev. Dr. Lamgan's " Ecclesiastical History
of Ireland, vol. IV. , chap, xxv. , sec. iii. , 37, and n. 82, p. 39.
"See Dr. O'Donovan's "Annals of the * our Masters, vol. n. , pp. 1000 to 1003. It IS said, on this occasion, he obtained a full
vember.
^However, the Annals of St. Mary's
Abbey, and some ancient Rolls, in Lambeth,
city.
3° The Celsus ordained the holy bishop
have it A. d. 1122 while the ;
Annals of MuI- tifernan refer his death to a. d. 1123
" See John D'Alton's "Memoirs of the
Archbishops of Dublin," p. 40.
" See Dr. O'Donovan's "Annals of the
Four Masters," vol. ii. , pp. 1032, 1033.
46
LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. [April 6.
ber A. D 1126. 39 In the year 11 26, a great stonii of war arose in Ireland," and St. 'Celsus left his See, for the purpose of effecting a reconciliation, between the princes and chiefs. He was absent, during thirteen months, trying to restore peace ; while he laboured in promulgating good rules and customs, among the clergy and laity, throughout every district. t^ Without giving any authority for his assertion, Hanmer*' states, that Celsus was a
married man,43 and that he was buried with his wife and children, in the church of Armagh. This account is altogether incorrect. In 1 1 28, through his mediation, a truce was effected, between the kings of Connaught^4 and of Munster. ts Thiswasintendedtolastforayear,butthearchbishopdidnot live for the expiration of that term. Illness appears to have seized upon him, having scarcely passed the fiftieth year of his age. "6 Upon the approach of death, he greatly desired, that the illustrious St. Malachy O'Morgair—who was then bishop of Connor—should succeed him at Armagh. t? With this
intent,
dying
He desired especially, that the two kings of Munster should in-
archbishop sent the Staff of Jesus,^^ as the ensign his of^
the
authority.
terest themselves, in the matter which he had recommended, and before those
who were'attending him, during his last illness. 49 St. Celsus died, after unction
and good penance, at Ard Patrick. s" a village in the county of Limerick, cer- tain writers say, on the ist of April,? ' while others have it, on the 6th, in the
year 1128, as some state j5= but, as most generally beheved, in 1129. 53 By a provision in his will, the body was conveyed to Lismore, on the Wednesday succeedincr • and there, having been waked with psalms, hymns and canticles, it was honourably interred,54 in tlie tomb of the Bishops, on the Thursday fol- lowing. ss To St. Celsus is ascribed the following works, besides the Consti-
to which reference has been already made, viz. : His Testament or Will, besides many Epistles to St. Malachy. 5« At the 6th of April, his festival is set down, in the Roman Martyrology,'? while we are told, that this occurred through an oversight of Cardinal Baronius, who mistook a iv. for a vi. , and
tutions,
39 See Dr. O'Donovan's " Annals of the Four Masters," vol. ii. , pp. 1022 to 1025.
*°See Colcan's "Trias Thaumaturga,"
Sexta Appendix ad Acta S. Patricii, pars.
jii p3^
V- See Dr. O'Donovan's "Annals of the
Four Masters," vol. ii. , pp. 1024, 1025.
4^ See " Chronicle of Ireland," p. 203.
43 Such an inference he drew, perhaps,
from the circumstance, that Celsus belonged
to the dominant family at Armagh. This Sancta," part 1, p. 216. A. like statement
family intruded "viri uxorati," on the See,
as St. Bernard complains, in his Life of St.
Malachy
4< At this time, Toirdhealbhach Ua Con-
chobhair, or Turlough O'Conor, a renowned and ambitious warrior, ruled overConnaught; while Cormac Mac Carthy, known as the
occurs, in Rev. Alban Butler s "Lives of the Fathers, Jlartyrs and other principal Saints, vol. iv. , April vi.
5^ Regarding this Saint, Father Stephen
ruled in Munster. count of thelatter, in Dr.
f""Acta Sanctorum. " tomus i.
rnill. is! v. , De S. Vmcentio Ferreno, &c. Com-
'See'vol. 3 He also
iv. ,'ApriI v. , p. 203.
quotes Floratius, as an autho-
^^^\.
,
by Cardinal
rity. See "Catalogus Sanctorum aliquorum
Iberniae. "
« See " Historian Catholics Ibemiae Com-
pendium," tomus i. , lib. iv. , cap. xi. , p. 50,
C^sar Koma:, 1580, tol.
Bretagne," at the
Ap-
42
LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. [April 5.
Ti-emach's festival is noted, at this same date, in the Roman Martyrology as "also by Father White, who styles this saint a distinguished preacher of ? he Gospels John Molanus, the Circle of the Seasons,^ with Adam King s Kalendar,7 Dempster,^ and David Camerarius,^ agree, as likewise the Bollan- Sts, in assigning his feast to this day- Bishop Forbes has some notices of
this saint. "
Article IV. —Feast of Saint Patrick's First Baptism, in Ireland. This means, not the day, on which St. Patrick himself was baptized but the dav on which he baptized his first convert. It seems to hav"e been celebrated, fromavlryremoteperiod,sinceitoccurs,inthe"Feihre ofSt. o^
^"gus,ine the sth day of April. ' From the commentary appended, we learn, that
first of Patrick " means how Sinell,^ the son of ^^h
came to Ireland The remark
ad Hiberniam, i. e.
able event of St. Patrick regenerating, in the saving waters of Baptism his first
Irish convert, is recorded, likewise, in the Martyrology of Donegal f and, in reference to it, the " Feilire " of St. ^ngus is quoted :—
" On the great festival of the son of Cula, Of Becan with the victory of austerity, The first baptism of Patrick
Which he performed in Erinn. "*
Article V—Reputed Festiv. \l of St. Finian, Abbot of Clonard.
baptism o f-"f On t^hfe^Jf^^
Garchon, was the first person baptized in Ireland, by Patnck. 3 5th ApS in'the Martyrolo^'y of we find entered BapUsma Patncii vem
" Tallagh^
the Baptism of Patrick
In a Manuscript Benedictine Kalendar, there is a com- SiSno7i. Finian,Abbot,illHibemia; while^^J^^^^^^,
r<? /*//* Caltury^
a man, bear"ng\e same name, and venerated, at the 12th of December. ^
mac Cula with a victory of piety, excel ent
was kindled in Ireland.
s tice the entry, at the sth of April, state, that he wa
th
ho
"
p. 15. Again,
Hlbernia," cap. ii. , his name occurs, at the Sth as S. Frigernanis, a bishop of old Scotia or Hibemia. See cap. iv. , p. 37, 'l/id- He is the same person, although there is
anincorrectionofspelling.
of
on the stanza of the it.
5 See April,
Apologia pro
Patrick's baptism 'The Scholium Felire thus explains
'
1
we find "Tigernakebisch. andcon- fess. in Scotland vnder King Alpliine. "—
on the word piMmroA honourable;
See p. 96.
Thus,
in Adam King's Kalendar, at
learned. The Scholiast seems to have taken it to signify here/«^, agreeing with baptism, if the other significa-
tion be adopted, it must agree with Patrick.
4 Rev. Dr. Kelly, p. xx. The Edited by
Franciscan copy has b^pcipnA p4C]\icii
uenic Ab VnbeyviiiAm.
Apryll 5,
is glossed efgnA,
Forbes' " Kalendars of the Scottish
Bishop
Saints," p. 148. ^ „ c
8 See " Menologium Scotorum, p. igo-
9 In the Scottish Entries to his Kalendar, "
s Edited Drs. Todd and Reeves, pp. by
^
'^^n a note, Dr. Todd here says, "The more recent hand adds here, f. Oensuir,
on the meaning that this quatrain occurs, 5th
we read at 5 Die Sanctus Tigernacus
et Confessor. "—/i^! </. p. 236.
'o See "Acta Sanctorum," tomus i. , Ap-
Episcopus
rilis V. See pp. 401 to 404.
"
"
See Kalendars
of Scottish Saints,
p.
of
452.
words of the text:—
The same hand adds also, in Aengus. M.
Roman letters: "Baptismus S. Patricii, Taml," where we have the words, "Bap-
— Hiberniam. " tisma Patricii venit
, Article iv. — The following are the
A1C cuIa beccAO cotnbuATO leiM
bAicherpACT\AicpiMtnuA
ACi\4iin4-o ine]\i.
They are thus translated by Dr. Whitley Stokes:—"On the great feast of Beccan
hi-pelb molten
ide
ly
nt
,
3 In his note on the O'Clery s Calendar,
the Rev. Dr. Todd remarks :—"The gloss
ica
l
is here Aife^TJA, but the same word at Aprd 15
of April, in the FeUre or Martyrology
See "Acta Sanctorum, tomusi. ,Aprilis. Amongthepretermitted
feasts, p. 397. , . ^ ,,
= His Life is to be found written, at the
same datei
Article v.
'
vvi
^
, •,
April 6. ] LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. 43
^i^tK) I3ap of gpnl.
ARTICLE I. —ST. CELSUS, OR CELESTINE, OR CELLACH \LA. C AID . ARCH- BISHOP OF ARMAGH.
[ELEVENTH AND TiVELFTH CENTURIES. }
the very remarkable prelates, that ruled over the See of Armagh,
AMONG
the name and actions of the man deserve a
special men-
present holy
tion. He was remarkable for his great abilities, as also for his distinguished
virtues, while he ruled happily over the clergy and people, committed to his charge.
Sir James Ware,' and his editor Walter Harris," have given us an account of St Celsus. Colgan would seem to have collected some Acts of this holy Bishop, for publication, at the 6th of April,3 had he lived to complete his work. The BoUandist Father, Daniel Papebroch, has inserted the Acts of
this holy man, at the same date. < The Right Rev. Bishop Challenor s and the Rev. Alban Buder * have some brief notices of St. Celsus, at the 6th of April, the date most usually assigned for his festival. The Rev. S. Baring- Gould has a Life of this saint, at the same day. ' In Irish, the present holy man's name is WTitten Cellach Mac Aid, so called from the etymon of his father, while his grandfather was known as Mac Maelisa. The name of our saint has been Latinized Celsus, while some writers call him Celestine. It is said, that he received his education at Oxford,' and, it is affirmed, that he was a man, universally skilled in the circles of Science,' while recognised, as pos-
sessing varied erudition.
•"
By the unanimous suffrages of the clergy and
people, after the death of Donald Mac Amalgaid," St. Celsus was elected
Archbishop of Armagh, and he was consecrated, on the 23rd of September, a. d.
1 106. " Incorrectly is the date set down in Ware, as being on the 2nd day
ofthemonth. '3 Celsuswasindefatigable,inzealouslydischargingthefunc-
We are informed, that he ordained bishops, priests, and personsofeverydegree; thatheconsecratedmanychurchesandcemeteries; that he bestowed jewels and wealth ; that he established rules and good
morals among all, both laity and clergy ; and that he spent a life of fasting, prayer, and mass celebration. '* During the first year of his consecration,
Article i. — See " De Scriptoribus Hi- ' See " Lives of the Saints," vol. iv. ,
tions of his office.
bernia;," lib. f. , cap. viii. , pp. 53, 54. April vi. , pp. 106 to 109. '"»"
Sec Harris' Ware, vol. 1. , Archbishops of Armagh," pp. 51 to 54.
3 See "Catalogus Actuum Sanctorum qiue MS. habentur Ordine Mensium et Diemm. "
'
lliey are written, , in ten paragraphs. See "Acta Sanctorum," tomus L, Aprilis vi. , De Sancto Celso Archiepiscopo Arma- cano in Hibernia, pp. 619, 620.
5 See "Britannu Sancta," part i. , pp. 2IS, 216.
' See " Lives of the Fathers, Martyrs and other principal Saints," vol. iv. , April vi. j
Sec Dr. Meredith Hanmer's of Ireland," p. 202.
Chronicle
' Such is the statement of Brian Twine, on the authority of Bale.
'° " Oxon. academ. Antiq.
Apolog," lib.
ii. , sec. 280.
" He ruled, from A. D. 1092 to a. d. 1106. "SeeHarris'Ware,vol. i. , "Archbishops
of Armagh," p. 51.
" See "De Scriptoribus Hibemiae," lib. i. ,
cap. viii. , p. 53.
'* See Dr. O'Donovan's "Annals of the
Four Masters," vol. ii. , pp. 1032, 1033.
44
LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. [April 6.
Celsus visited Munster. The tribute given to him, in acknowledgment of his primatial rights, on this occasion, was very considerable. Thus, every cantred or district, which contained a hundred villages, contributed seven oxen, seven sheep, and half and ounce of gold, with many other presents. During this year, also, the primate made a visitation, throughout the provmce
the Annals of the Four Mastei;? '* state, that m Ceallach, successor of Patrick, went on his visitation of Munster, for the first time,andobtainedhisfulldemand.
Meantime,MurroughO'Brien,Kingof Munster, engaged in a serious military enterprise, with the troops of his own province, and with those of Connaught and of Meath. Against him, an army was led, by Domhnall Mac Laughlin,'? with the people of the North of Ire- land, to Sliabh-Fuaid, in 1 109; but, Ceallach effected a truce for one year, between Mac Laughlin and Ua Briain. '^ In the year iiio,^9 Ceallach, the successor of Patrick, went on his visitation of Meath, for the first time, and obtained his demand. ''" At the instance of the Monarch of all Ireland," Muirchearteach or Mortough O'Brian, son of Teige, son to the renowned Bryan Boroimhe, it was resolved to gratify the desires of that pious ruler, who
had the interests of religion much at heart. A celebrated synod was sum-
moned and it was held, at Fedh-Mac ^ngusa, or " the Land of the Sons of
Aenghus," in the year iiii," or iii2. =3 The place is said to have been near
the Hill of Uisneach, in the county of Westmeath. St. Celsus, the Comor-
ban or successor of St. Patrick, presided. We are told, that no leas than fifty
bishops, three hundred priests, and three thousand ecclesiastics, or students,
assisted'. Among them was Maelmury O'Dunan, called the noble or Arch
Senior of Ireland, who is supposed to have been Meiler O'Dunan, Arch-
bishop of Cashel. ''* Besides the ecclesiastics mentioned, Murchertach
O'Brien, monarch of Ireland, with many nobles and chiefs of Leth- '
Mo'^ha or the southern division of Ireland, assisted. ^'s This synod was con- vened 'to prescribe rules and good morals for all, both laity and clergy. By some, 'this convention has been named the Synod of Uisneach, which spot was celebrated, in being a favourite place, for various public meetings of the king- dom owing probably to its very central position in Ireland. Among the writi'ngs attributed to our saint, by John Bale,=6 were "Constitutiones Quas- dam •" and, by these. Sir James Ware thinks, he meant perhaps the statutes of thi's celebrated synod. '? It ought to be observed, however, that the synod ofFidhMacAengusamustbedistinguishedfromthatofUisneach; for,after
of Ulster. 's However,
i io8,
giving
an account of the former, the Annals of Inisfallen state, that in the
•ssee Harris' Ware, vol. i. , X. „f Arm-io-Vi " Tin i;i C2
Archbis-
$09 to SIS. Duffy's
"
edition.
"This IS the year assigned for it,
S'see d" O'bonovan's edition, vol. ii. ,
,,,,086087
^Vly! oi^writers, he is called Donnell
O'Louehlin and he was a rival for the
sovereignty of Ireland, with Murtough pars, iii. , pp. 229, 300.
n'Rrinn who died A D. 1 1 19. See Martin Saverty's'' History of Ireland," chap, xv. ,
i6 161;
^^li\% Dr O'Donovan's "Annals of the TT M„=. . ,'= " vaI ii DD q88 qSq.
^TA^Ing to Ae'ar;endon Codex of tl,. TTktpr Annals tome 40.
4erDrO^Dono"an? "Annals of the ttTM,, Mo=tpr«" vol ii DD. qqo, QQI.
- for from He ruled twenty ye^k^viz. ,
Iliotonso, accordingtoDermodO'Conor's Keating's "History of Ireland," part ii. , pp.
m Dr. O'Donovan's "Annals of the Four Masters. "
vol. ii. , pp. 990 to 993-
«See Colgan's "Trias Thaumaturga,;;
Septima Appendix ad "Acta S. Patricu.
» According to the Annals of Connaught.
- Henry of Marleburgh, the Vicar of Ballyscadan, in the diocese of Dublin, has fallen into an error, when he states, this
Synod had been convened, by Maurice
mL Loughlin, King of Ireland, who did not
begin his reign before the year 1 1 57. ^"
See Scriptoram Illustrium Majoris Britanniae," &c. , cent, xiv. , sec. 84.
'' See De Scriptoribus Hiberni^," lib. '/
i. , cap. viu. , p. 54-
April 6. ] LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS.
45
same year, a great synod was held at Uisneach, for the purpose of dividing the parishes of Meath equally, between the dioceses of Clonmacnoise and of Clonard. ^* St. Celsusspentmuchtime,inendeavouringtoeffecttherecon- cilementofkingsandchiefs,ataveryanarchicalperiodofourhistory. Inthe year 11 16, this prelate made a second visitation, in the province of Con- naught. 's The object of these Archiepiscopal progresses apparently had been, to impress on the minds of the people living without it the supremacy of Armagh See, over the various other dioceses in Ireland, with a view of discharging some customary usage, and of exacting dues or tributes. During the same year, a fire broke out in Armagh.
'"P"'*-
3° ,,
of Armagh," p. 53.
3^ See Dr. O'Donovan's "Annals of the
Four Masters," vol. ii. , pp. 1022, 1023.
37 See Rev. P. J. Carew's " Ecclesiasti-
cal History of Ireland," chap, iv. , pp. in, 112.
It occurred, at the beginning of Lent, ac-
'? Ulster Annals. 'o^'"? V'''
38 His feast is at the I commemorated,
VCa.
3" His Life IS written, for the 3rd of No-
of August.
p.
35 See Harris' Ware, vol.
i. , "Archbishops ^
It caused destruction of the abbey, with
twenty other buildings, in that
illustrious St. Malachy O'Morgair,^' as a deacon, and also as a priest, about A. D. 1 1 1 9. In the year 1 1 2 1, another destructive fire broke out, and in the Trian-
Massain quarter two streets, extending from the rath, or tower, to St. Brigid's Church, were burned down. It may be supposed, that nearly all of those buildings had been constructed of wood, thatch, or other perishable materials. In the year 1121,3' and on the 4th of July, Samuel O'Haingley, bishop of Dublin, died. 33 The See became vacant, for a time. It is said, that by the common consent of the Irish and Normans, St. Celsus was invited, to preside over that diocese ; and, while our Annalists eulogize his purity, they declare, that he was Archbishop of the West of Europe, the only head whom the foreigners and Irish of Ireland, both laity and clergy, obeyed. 34 This state- ment may have been occasioned, by his only assuming the administration or guardianship of that See, pending the vacancy, which continued in the regular succession of its bishops, until Ralph, Archbishop of Canterbury, had conse- crated, on the 2nd of October following, Gregory, as bishop of Dublin. This ceremony took place, at Lambeth, near London. In the year 1 1 22, it is stated, that Maelcolm O'Brolcan, who was bishop of Armagh, died ; but, it is more than probable, he was only a sufiiragan, or vicar, to Archbishop Celsus. 35 In the year 995, during the government of Dubhdalethy II. in the Archbishopric, the cathedral of Armagh was burned; and, for 130 years it remained in a
rumous condition, being only partially roofed, until on the 12th of January, A. D. 1 1 25, St. Celsus commenced the repairs of this church, which he covered entirely with tiles, or shingles. 36 THis was only one of the great improve- ments effected by him, during the period of his highly useful incumbency. 3? A church, which had been erected, at Armagh, by St. Imhar Ua h-Aedha- gain,3« and which was called the Regies of Peter and Paul, was consecrated by Ceallach, the successor of Patrick, on the 12th of the Calends of Novem-
*•
There is no account of Murtogh O'Brian,
nor of Celsus, nor of Moelmurry, being pre- ? ^PA*'i ";"? "'' ^ ''^ "e told, Morough O Moelseachlain, Eocha O'Kelly and the clergy of the religious house of St. Kieran (Clonmacnoise) together with GioUa Chriost OMaoillean, abbot of Clonmacnoise, at-
tended the regulations in that Synod. See Kev. Dr. Lamgan's " Ecclesiastical History
of Ireland, vol. IV. , chap, xxv. , sec. iii. , 37, and n. 82, p. 39.
"See Dr. O'Donovan's "Annals of the * our Masters, vol. n. , pp. 1000 to 1003. It IS said, on this occasion, he obtained a full
vember.
^However, the Annals of St. Mary's
Abbey, and some ancient Rolls, in Lambeth,
city.
3° The Celsus ordained the holy bishop
have it A. d. 1122 while the ;
Annals of MuI- tifernan refer his death to a. d. 1123
" See John D'Alton's "Memoirs of the
Archbishops of Dublin," p. 40.
" See Dr. O'Donovan's "Annals of the
Four Masters," vol. ii. , pp. 1032, 1033.
46
LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. [April 6.
ber A. D 1126. 39 In the year 11 26, a great stonii of war arose in Ireland," and St. 'Celsus left his See, for the purpose of effecting a reconciliation, between the princes and chiefs. He was absent, during thirteen months, trying to restore peace ; while he laboured in promulgating good rules and customs, among the clergy and laity, throughout every district. t^ Without giving any authority for his assertion, Hanmer*' states, that Celsus was a
married man,43 and that he was buried with his wife and children, in the church of Armagh. This account is altogether incorrect. In 1 1 28, through his mediation, a truce was effected, between the kings of Connaught^4 and of Munster. ts Thiswasintendedtolastforayear,butthearchbishopdidnot live for the expiration of that term. Illness appears to have seized upon him, having scarcely passed the fiftieth year of his age. "6 Upon the approach of death, he greatly desired, that the illustrious St. Malachy O'Morgair—who was then bishop of Connor—should succeed him at Armagh. t? With this
intent,
dying
He desired especially, that the two kings of Munster should in-
archbishop sent the Staff of Jesus,^^ as the ensign his of^
the
authority.
terest themselves, in the matter which he had recommended, and before those
who were'attending him, during his last illness. 49 St. Celsus died, after unction
and good penance, at Ard Patrick. s" a village in the county of Limerick, cer- tain writers say, on the ist of April,? ' while others have it, on the 6th, in the
year 1128, as some state j5= but, as most generally beheved, in 1129. 53 By a provision in his will, the body was conveyed to Lismore, on the Wednesday succeedincr • and there, having been waked with psalms, hymns and canticles, it was honourably interred,54 in tlie tomb of the Bishops, on the Thursday fol- lowing. ss To St. Celsus is ascribed the following works, besides the Consti-
to which reference has been already made, viz. : His Testament or Will, besides many Epistles to St. Malachy. 5« At the 6th of April, his festival is set down, in the Roman Martyrology,'? while we are told, that this occurred through an oversight of Cardinal Baronius, who mistook a iv. for a vi. , and
tutions,
39 See Dr. O'Donovan's " Annals of the Four Masters," vol. ii. , pp. 1022 to 1025.
*°See Colcan's "Trias Thaumaturga,"
Sexta Appendix ad Acta S. Patricii, pars.
jii p3^
V- See Dr. O'Donovan's "Annals of the
Four Masters," vol. ii. , pp. 1024, 1025.
4^ See " Chronicle of Ireland," p. 203.
43 Such an inference he drew, perhaps,
from the circumstance, that Celsus belonged
to the dominant family at Armagh. This Sancta," part 1, p. 216. A. like statement
family intruded "viri uxorati," on the See,
as St. Bernard complains, in his Life of St.
Malachy
4< At this time, Toirdhealbhach Ua Con-
chobhair, or Turlough O'Conor, a renowned and ambitious warrior, ruled overConnaught; while Cormac Mac Carthy, known as the
occurs, in Rev. Alban Butler s "Lives of the Fathers, Jlartyrs and other principal Saints, vol. iv. , April vi.
5^ Regarding this Saint, Father Stephen
ruled in Munster. count of thelatter, in Dr.
