Berthold
prolong life, for about fifty-three years.
O'Hanlon - Lives of the Irish Saints - v6
v.
, sect.
I.
, chap,
'9", at See Monasticon Hibernicum,
Oran, p. 617.
-Thisis stated,ina oftheBook fragment
of Hy-Many, preserved
Trinity College, Dublin, and cla seel
p 136, " « See Rev. Dr. Lanigan's
, „r? ,
l8 Dr Lanigan's "Ecclesiastical
Ecclesiastical History of Ireland," vol. i. , chap, v. , sect.
x. , and nn. 87, 90, p. 246.
»4 Said to have been the parish church of
Oranmore. inthedeaneryof Athenry. anddio-
History of Ireland,
cese of Tuam
;
greater probability,
that it was a place called
H2
or, as Colgan thinks, and with
in he Libra,y of
Huaran Hichlabaith, in the territory of Sil-
muiredhuigh, in the diocese of Elphin. See
"Trias Thaumaturga," Septima Vita S.
Patricii, lib. ii. , capr. 1. . , p. 136, and n. IOI,
-
7- It c"rs %
'
p I7
I5 In the,
of Roscommon.
p. \77- „. '- . See Rev-
• a~,i
x. , n. 89, p. 246.
county
Sarige,
l6 Another
has been styled the angelic Oran, m an Irish poem, addressed to Eoghan O'Madden, chief of Siol-Anmchadha or South Hy-Many. See " The Tribes and Customs of Hy-Many,
Oran,
in the of Galway, county
\&u Li. « at p. 190. M-T«fc«. «nH
n
Eoghan O'Madden, chief of Sil Anmchada,
2I See O'Donovan
sT. bes and
? r.
Customs of Hy-Many, Introductory
Ke-
676 LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. [June 16.
21
2 bishop's death is not known. Bishop Cethechus is said to have been buried *
in the parish church of Kill-garadh, or Oian,25 and there his relics were after-
wards preserved. To it, many pilgrimages continued to be made, down to the
close of the last 26 The name of this man also, in the century. holy appears,
There was also a Cill Garadh" in Scotland. Oran was nothing more than a parish church,** and should not have been placed among the Irish monasteries. The date for this holy
eastern part of the county of Galway.
of Martyrology Donegal
2? at the same date, as Cethach, Patrick's of Bishop,
Cill Garadh, in the territory of Ui Maine, and of Domhnach Sairighe in Cian- achta, at Daimhliac Cianan. He was, it is said, of the Cianachta. The Life of
for the statements. Under the foregoing
Patrick 28 is 99 as quoted,
authority
head of Domhnach Sairighe, Duald Mac Firbis enters Cethach, bishop, at
June 16th;30 and, at the same date, under the head of Daimhlaig, Duald
Mac Firbis again enters, Cethech, bishop, from Domnach-Sairighe, at Daimh-
Cianain. 31 More than the we cannot discover, in reference to laig foregoing
this primitive bishop.
Article II. —St. Berthold, or Bertaud, Hermit, at Chaumont-
Pokcien, Champagne, France. [Fifth and Sixth Centuries. '] The present holy recluse has obtained great veneration in the north-eastern parts of France, to which as a pious pilgrim he proceeded from Scotia. An ancient Office,' which seems to have been used in the church of the Premonstratenses at Chaumont, and once preserved among the archives of that place, was used* by Father Daniel Papebroke for the Acts of our saint. These are supposed, by that Father, not to have been older than the eleventh or twelfth century. 3 A Breviary* of the Metropolitan Church of Rheims also contains an office for St. Berthaldus, Confessor and Abbot, with an office of three Lessons, the third being specially devoted to his Life, at the 16th day of June. In his History of Rheims, Dom Guilelmus Marlot has special reference to St. Ber- thaldus;S while,inthiswork,thereareparticularsrelatedregardinghim,and
marks, p. 7.
* See Dr. O'Donovan's "Annals of the
Four Masters," vol. i. , where the death of Tinmen, of Cill-Garadh in Scotland, is com- memorated at A. D. 726, pp. 322 to 325.
Lessons, relating to St. Berthold, in the Matins for his Feast and its Octave.
2
It was furnished to Papebroke, by Rev. Father Casimir Oudin, a Premonstratcn- sian.
3 It is he thinks, were even possible, they
later, and they seem to have been compiled simply from popular tradition, running down
23 See Rev. Dr.
" Ecclesiastical
Lanigan's
History of Ireland," vol. i. , chap, v. , sect.
x. , n. 88, p. 246.
Colgan's
Thaumaturga,"
previous.
" Trias
24 See
Septima Vita S. Patricii, lib. ii. f cap. li. , p. 136.
's See ibid. , chap. x\i. , pp. 127. uN.
36 See Ajrchdall's "Mooasdcon Uiberni-
cum," p. 617.
27 Edited by Drs. Todd and Reeves, pp.
170, 171.
38
Lib. ii. , chap. 49, 52.
*9 In a note, Dr. Reeves says at this refer-
ence, chap. 49, 52 : "In Colgan's division, the numbers are 48 and 51. Trias Th. ,
p. 136-"
30 See "Proceedings of the Royal Irish
Academy," Irish Manuscript Series, vol. i. , part i. , pp. 106, 107.
from five to six centuries
31 NowDuleek,countyofMeath. Article 11. — » It consisted of
Six
*
Thiswas
in the
year 1630. by authority of Louis de Lotharingia, Arch- bishop of Rheims, with the consent of his
Chapter.
s . See "Metropolis Remensis Historia. a
Flodorado primum auctius digesta, uenuim aliunde aceersitis plurimum aucta et illus- trata, et ad nostrum hoc SSecolum fVteliter deducta," lib. ii. , cap. xvi. The first volume of this work was printed at Lille, under the author's revision ; the second only appeared iu 1079) at Rheims, and after his death, which occurred on the 7th of October, 1667. See Michaud's "Biographic Univcrselle Ancienne et Moderne," tome xxvii. , pp.
16, 17.
6 In the Frontispiece to this biography are
printed
June 16. ] LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS.
677
which are not to be met with in the ancient office. F. J. Lietau wrote a Life of the present saint, in the French language, and which was printed at
Rheims, in 1 634. 6 The Acts of St. Berthold, together with those of St.
Amand, are inserted for this day, in the great Bollandist collection. 7 These
are contained in a historical commentary of four sections, including thirty- seven paragraphs, and they are edited by Father Daniel Papebroke. Accord- ing to his ancient 8 and more modern 9 Proper Office, St. Berthald or Ber- tholdwasthesonofaScottishKingnamedTheoldus. 10 Hismotherisnamed Bertha. He is said to have been born XI in Scotia, where he was instructed in the humanities or in secular learning, from his most tender years, while he was brought up in the Christian religion and piously educated. He was mor- tified in all his desires and practices. He often meditated on the passion of our Lord Jesus Christ ; and, from this habit, he applied to himself the Apostle's words, that as he suffered for us, so should we imitate his example, and follow in his footsteps. At length, he felt a great longing to visit those holy places, where his Divine Master had borne such a weight of hardships and labours to redeem mankind, and which He completed by His death on the cross. As Berthold progressed daily in the love of God, so he resolved to sacrifice the advantages of birth to the call of Heaven, and accordingly, he communicated to a young companion, named Amandus, his intention of leaving Scotia for a more distant country. This youth was also a faithful ser- vant of Christ, and he agreed to share that lot in exile. Thus leaving their family, friends and native country, after many trials and toils during a long journey, both arrived in France, when they travelled towards Champagne, and there they rested in a place, known as Portien. In that part of the country, there was a mountain, called Mons Calvus," and at present the place is denominated Chaumont. At that time, it was infested with venemous serpents and other reptiles, while people believed that the outcries of demons were often heard from its heights. Thither the two travellers repaired, and then taking some stakes and brambles, they constructed an humble dwelling. Already had the place been sanctified by their presence, and they suffered no
and demons. 13 to lead a They began
from the
religious life in voluntary poverty, and their wants were supplied by the people to whom they applied. However, some jealousy had been aroused there, because it was feared the strangers had ulterior designs hurtful to the inhabi- tants, and soon these began to clamour for their departure. At length, such unjust suspicions were somewhat allayed, as the sanctity and spiritual gifts of the pilgrims became known more to the people. Numbers flocked to their her- mitage, and there in conference with them, the people received great spiritual
poisonous reptiles
to be seen Saints Berthald and Amand clothed in the habit of Hermits.
7 See "Acta Sanctorum," tomus iii. , Junii xvi. De SS. Berthaldo et Amando Eremitis et Presbyteris, in Remensi Galliae Dicecesi, pp. 98 to 108.
8 It states " Berthaldus, Theoldi Sco-
:
tise Regis et Berthse films," &c.
9 This commences the proper Lesson
with the words, " Berthaldus, Theoldi Sco- tire Regis filius," &c.
10 However,' Papebroke has some mis- givings, about the names of Berthaldus and of his parents Theoldus and Bertha being of Irish origin, and he rather thinks they are derived from the French or German Ian- guage. It may be observed here, notwith-
injury
standing, that denominations of several Irish pilgrims who visited the Continent have been Latinized or changed, in such a man- ner, as to disguise completely the original names.
" According to Guilelmus Marlot, this event should have happened about 467. See "Metropolis Remensis Historia," lib. 11. , cap. xvi.
_
,2 The Breviary of Rheims states of St.
Berthald, "ex Hibernia pervenit ad Castn- censempagum,Amandocomite, statequi- dem juvene, sed bono ac fideli Christi servo, Qui ex concilio S. Remigii locum ad liiha- bitandum sibi deligunt in Calvo-monte.
Ij According to popular tradition, a lion was seen to accompany their journeyuigs, as
678 LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. [June 16.
consolation. Others were restored to health. Still the pilgrims were destined to bear up against adversities ; but, by firm faith and constant prayer, they were able to avoid danger and to overcome all obstacles. At this time, the holyRemigiusI4presidedoverthechurchatRheims;'s thereBertholdand
Amand, moved by the fame of his sanctity and learning, resolved on visiting him. Theyreceivedaverykindlygreeting. Bertholdwasbyhiminstructed
in sacred science, and adopted as one of his spiritual children, having been advanced in due grades to the dignity of the priesthood. He then returned with his companion to their former hermitage. Near it, a small oratory was erected, and there, the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass was frequently offered, together with prayers, which were constantly recited. There, too, the favour of Heaven was copiously obtained, in holy visions ; and, as from early youth, virtue was conspicuous in all the dispositions, morals, anJ actions of our saint, so as years advanced, his perfection increased. Humility, justice, truth, chastity and charity were fully manifested, in the life of this poor servant of Christ. Those who came into his presence were moved to great reverence for him. Wherefore, he received from the Almighty the gift of miracles, and not only did he heal the sick, and exorcise demons, but even he was known to have restored the dead to life. In that retreat he had chosen, from being a tyro in Divine wisdom and philosophy, St. Berthold became a master of the spiritual life, and various disciples were under his virtuous charge. Among
fountains—called by their respective names—are consecrated in popular tra- dition ; while feverish and other patients were accustomed to resort to them, and to drink from their waters, in the hope of being restored to health. 18 In that place of retreat did St.
Berthold prolong life, for about fifty-three years. He was an example to all, owing to his spirit of lowliness, abstinence, patience, poverty, obedience and conformity to the Divine will. At length, finding the time of his mortal pilgrimage about to close, he called Amand to him, and after he had declared where he wished to be interred, and when he had given other parting counsel, he cried out in a loud voice: "Into thy hands, Christ Jesus, I commend my spirit. " Soon after this, his soul was released from earthly chains. The date of this holy man's death has been assigned to the 16th of June, about the year 540, and in the seventy-third
named Oliva l6 and
embraced a life of strict seclusion in a wood not far removed. There, two
others,
two
holy virgins,
Libertas,
1 ? directed
by him,
ofhis 1? To this
age. day,
22 and
simon,23 while by Greven, in his Additions to Usuard,2* it is set down at the
14th of June. After Berthold's holy death, many pilgrims flocked to the place ofhisdeposition,andthesewerehealedfromvariousinfirmities. Dailywere such miracles repeated, and great wonders were wrought through his inter- cession. Some religious disciples are thought to have succeeded St. Ber-
a guardian. Rcmensis Ilistoria, a Flodoardo primum 14 This holy Archbishop's festival is at auetius digests, demum alinn ie accersilis the 1st of October. See his Life, at that plurinuim aucta et illustr. Tta, et ad nostrum
"
date, in Rev. Alban Butler's Lives of the hoc sacuium fideliter deducta," lib. ii. ,
Fathers,MartyrsandotherprincipalSaints," cap. xvi.
vol. x. October I. ' 9 According to Guilclmus Marlot, " Me-
'5 It is said he flourished, from A. D. 459 tropolis Remensis Historia," &c, lib. ii. ,
year
his festival has been
assigned by
the old
Gallic Breviaries,20 Marlot,21 by
by Saussay,
by
Father Fitz- Henry
to
16 We do not find her name, in any of the
Calendars.
'' If she had a feast, it does not now seem
xvi.
533.
cap.
As already shown.
"• In his "Metropolis R mensis His- toria. "
to be known.
18 See Guilelmus Marlot's "
ai In his " st| In his "
Gallicanum. *' Catal'ogus aliquorum Sancto-
Metropolis
Martyrologium
June 16. ] LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS.
679
thald, in that place; but, it is questionable, as to whether they embraced the Columban Rule or otherwise, since many nouses of that order had been for- merly within the Archdiocese of Rheims. At length, it was resolved to establish a religious house in the place, where so many special favours had been received. Raynald, Count of Chateauportien, about the year 1045, founded there a church dedicated to St. Berthald, and to it was attached a collegeofsecularCanons. Fortheirmaintenance,heassignedalargetract of adjacent woodland, with various villages and the tithes of the tovvn. 2 s At a subsequent period, Roger, son of the preceding Raynald, added as an endowment the village of Remald-Curtis, with its appurtenances and tithes, together with jurisdiction over the inhabitants. 26 Under the invocation of Saints Bertaud and Amand was dedicated the ancient Chaumont-la-Piscine Abbey of the Premonstratensian Order, said to have been founded in the year 1140,byReginalddeRoset. Anotheraccountattributesafoundationhere to Henricus de Castello, Comes Portiensis, Calvimontis and Grandisprati, in 1 142, in favour of two hermits, named Rodulf and Guarnerius. However, it seems to be tolerably well demonstrated, that the Premonstratensians were
not introduced to Chaumont-Porcien until a. d. i 147. Afterwards, their house obtained great accessions, through the benevolence of Roger, Count of
Roset, in a. d. 12 19. In the year 1 248,^ the relics of St. Berthald, with those of other saints, viz. : Viventius 28 and Amandus, with the virgins Oliva and Libertas, were translated, and placed within new cases. 29 Father Daniel Papebroke remarks, that he could not well ascertain what relics of Amandus andofViventiushadbeenretainedatChaumont. 3° Wehaveanattestation of various miracles, that had been wrought in the church of St. Berthald, in favour of persons of all ages and of both sexes, who laboured under different infirmities, and especially of those affected with madness and mental imbeci- lity. This was drawn up by the Vicars-General of the diocese of Rheims, in that city, on the 19th of March, 1430. Until the sixteentli century, when
1
the Huguenots had raised disturbances in France^ the Abbey continued to
enjoy its privileges and possessions; but, in the year 1589, it was captured and pillaged by the Huguenots, who were soon afterwards expelled, and the placewasoccupiedbytheroyalsoldiers. Thereligioushadremovedmean- time to some distance from their former house, and they officiated in a chapel belonging to the monastery of St. Hubert. In 1623, the site of their Abbey was transferred to a pleasant valley, not far distant ; and, about the year 1634, their church was dedicated by Henry, Bishop of Tarsis. Various indul-
rum Hibernue. "
24 His work appeared, A. D. 15 15 and A. D.
jcai.
2s This statement rests on a Record of the
Lord Archbishop of Rheims, Rodulph, and dated a. d. HI I.
26 The Instrument containing this attested grant is dated 10S7, and in the twenty- eighth year of Philip, King of the Franks.
27 According to an ancient document, for- merly preserved in the Archives of the Premonstratensian Abbey, this translation took place on the Kalends of June, during that year, and it purports to be an instru- ment under the hand of Guido, Bishop of Soissons, who inspected the names of those holy persons, as set forth in schedules, and
Rheims, and his feast is assigned to the 7th
of September.
29 It is related, in F. J. Lietau's Life of St.
Berthald, and in the Twentieth Chapter, that this Translation took place in a secret
manner, on the Vigil of St. John the Baptist, and on the Octave of St. Berthald's feast,
The
3° See " Acta Sanctorum, tomus 111. , Junii xvi. De SS. Berthaldo et Amando Eremitis et Presbytens m Remensi Gallia;
Dioeccsi, sect, i. , pp. 98 to 100.
3 ' See an account of their proceedings in
Bossuefs " Abrege de
28 He was the ninth Archbishop of Completes, tome xi. Migne s edition.
on the statement of men deserving credit.
lest the people might prevent it. Archbishop gave permission, while Father Nicolas Bugnet and the Religious were en- gaged in the Translation.
Histoirede France, liv. xvii. , col. 325 to col. ; 478. CLuvres
1
68o LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. [June 16.
gences were obtained from the Sovereign Pontiffs 32 and Cardinals, on behalf of those who visited the shrine of our saint, and who complied with certain
prescribed pious conditions. 33 Even, at a comparatively late period, two remarkable miracles have been attributed to his intercession ;34 one of these
was wrought in favour of a pious woman, Anna de Bonnaire, widow of Guil- laume, belonging to a village called Harpy, who visited the church and sacred shrine of St. Berthald, where she performed a round of devotions and was freed from a chronic headache ; another miracle was experienced by Charles de Sein, from a village called Scrincurt, who was released from a phrenesis and an aberration of mind, while assisting there during the Holy Sacrifice of Mass. 35 Nodoubt,theresidenceofSt. Berthald,andthesubsequentfounda- tion of the Premonstratensian Abbey, formed the origin 36 of the actual town of Chaumont-Porcien, at present the chief seat of a Canton, in the depart- mentofArdennes. ALitanycompiledinhonourofSt. Berthaldwaswont to be recited, and it admirably sets forth his various virtues and merits. 37 It also concludes with a Prayer to the Almighty, that his devout clients might be able to follow sincerely the bright examples of their venerable patron, who was so distinguished for his humility, love of privation, and spirit of penance, and that they might be aided through his powerful intercession.
Article III. —St. Amandus or Amand, Hermit, of Beaumont,
Champagne, France. [Sixth Century. '] From the preceding Article, we have been told, that this holy servant of God was a companion in exile of St. Berthold. An ancient Manuscript Life of St. Amandus had been extracted
1 when his Acts. This was from compiling
for ' and used the by
Bollandists,
a choral Codex,3 which is said to have been more than two hundred years
old, at that time. 4 The Petits Bollandistes 5 have a notice of St. Amand, the
priest and solitary, at this date. According to the old Latin Acts, St. Amandus
was a native of 6 while his were thus named his father Scotia, parents : being
GermanusandhismotherAmanda. HehadanotherbrothernamedLucius, and a sister called Proba. These children were of respectable parentage. Amand was a boy of remarkably good dispositions, and he was addicted to
the learning, provided for him by his religious parents. In his studies, great progresswassoonmade. GuidedbytheHolySpirit,hischiefobjectwasto become perfect in all virtues ; he was fond of assisting the necessitous, and of clothing the naked, while he made frequent visits to churches, where he dwelt long at prayers. Having a vocation thus acquired for the ecclesiastical
32AmongtliesewerePopeNicholasV. ,who Saints,"tomevii. , xvic JourdeJuin,p. 65. issued a decree of the fourth of the August 37 See the Bollandists' "Acta SattCtb- Nones, and in the fourth year of his PontiH- 111m," tomus iii. , Junii xvi. De SS. P. er- cate ; as also Pope Paul II. , on the sixth of
the March Pies, a. t>. 1466, and in the third
year ofhis Pontificate.
"See the Bollandists' "Acta Sancto-
rum," tomus iii. Junii xvi. De SS. Ber- Odin.
thaldo et Amando Eremitis et Presbyteris in 2 See "Acta Sanctorum," tomus iii. , Remensi (jalli. e Dioecesi, sect, ii. , pp. 100 Junii xvi. De SS. Berthaldo et Amando to 102.
34 These occurred in 1631, and are related
more in dead in that Life written F. by J.
Lietau.
35 Those miracles narrated were attested
before the magistrates at Scrincurt.
36 See " Les Petits Bollandistes Vies des
Eremitis et Presbyteris in Kemensi Gallue Dioecesi, sect, iv. , rip, 106 to 108.
thaldoet Amando Eremitis el Pres' yteris in Remensi Gallia Dioecesi, sect, iii. , pp. 102
to 106. — Article hi. '
Father Ca-imir
By
3 Besides the of St. it Legend Amanda*,
contained Antiphons, Responses and some good rythmical modulations.
4 InA. D. 1701, when the current volume had been issued.
June 16. ]
LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. 681
state,hewaspromotedtopriest'sorders; andthenceforth,hebegantocele- brate Mass daily, while in word and work he was most fervent in discharging all duties. After some time, he resolved on visiting Rome, together with his parents, brother and sister, and an attendance, consisting in all of eighteen persons of both sexes. Having crossed the sea, a wearisome and dangerous journey was before them. However, they surmounted all difficulties, and reached Rome. There they delayed for some time, visiting the shrines ot the Apostles and Martyrs. Afterwards, St. Amand resolved to return bare- footed to his native country. Having travelled through Italy and Upper Gaul, the pilgrim party sought the province of Rheims, at that time presided overbytheArchbishopSt. Remigius. ? Theseholypersonscametoaplace, known as the Beautiful Mount,8 now Beaumont, and a pleasant grove was spread around it. There, wearied with fatigue, the pilgrims lay down on the earth, and having no provisions with them, they fed on roots and herbs. As it was summer time, they experienced also a great thirst, so that they felt ready almost to expire through exhaustion. In this extremity, pained to behold the sufferings of his companions, and especially of his aged and feeble mother, St. Amand fell upon his knees, and besought the Creator of all things tosavethem. Then,fixinghisstaffintheground,acopiousfountainsprung up on the spot, so that his aged mother and his other companions were enabled to assuage their thirst from its water. The holy man considered this to be an indication from Heaven, that there he should chose to reside for the remainder of his life, far from the haunts of men, and surrounded on every sidebyadensewood. HesoughtthepresenceofClodovceus,Kingofthe Franks, who had been lately baptized by St. Remigius, and he asked for that portion of the royal domains to erect there a church. This permission
10 which was dedicated to St. Peter, Prince of the Apostles. Thither the people soon flocked to see and hear him, to praise the Saviour of men, and to drink from the fountain, so miraculously produced through his prayers. The sick, who came to drink or wash themselves in it, often returned home restored to has been offered,12 that it is not while Ber-
conjecture
in his time many miracles had been wrought there, the blind receiving the gift of sight, the lame that of walking, the sorrowful, that
of consolation, the possessed freedom from diabolic influences, as was then known to
many.
I"
By Father Daniel Papebroke.
' 3 Guilelmus Marlot considers 1 hat the pre- sent Amandus may have been confounded with a certain Altimundus or Antimundus, alluded to by Matthseus de Pres, in his Chronicle of the Moiini, and who lived very poor and humble in a hut, not far from Rheims. Hehadsomelearning,however, and he became a priest. But, this cannot be allowed ; for the latter was destined to carry on missionary work among the Monni, and according to Malbranq he was conse- crated bishop of Teruanen. See De
Morinis," lib. ii. , cap. 39, 43, 44-
was the granted by
king,
and Amand returned to erect a
basilica,
health. 11 A
unlikely,
Amand'3 made one to
thaldus made a — to separate pilgrimage
Jerusalem, Romeincompanywithhim whetherbeforeorafteris notclear
—and that they both lived as intimate friends and companions, in this part of France. This latter man died the lifetime of 1 * by whom he was
holy during
Remigius,
s See "Vies des Saints," tome vii. ,
xvie Jour de Juin, p. 65.
6 They state " Amandus Domini nostri
Jesu Chiisti Asceta, Natione Scot gena," &c.
7 Venerated at the 1st of O tober. He
died, A. D.
'9", at See Monasticon Hibernicum,
Oran, p. 617.
-Thisis stated,ina oftheBook fragment
of Hy-Many, preserved
Trinity College, Dublin, and cla seel
p 136, " « See Rev. Dr. Lanigan's
, „r? ,
l8 Dr Lanigan's "Ecclesiastical
Ecclesiastical History of Ireland," vol. i. , chap, v. , sect.
x. , and nn. 87, 90, p. 246.
»4 Said to have been the parish church of
Oranmore. inthedeaneryof Athenry. anddio-
History of Ireland,
cese of Tuam
;
greater probability,
that it was a place called
H2
or, as Colgan thinks, and with
in he Libra,y of
Huaran Hichlabaith, in the territory of Sil-
muiredhuigh, in the diocese of Elphin. See
"Trias Thaumaturga," Septima Vita S.
Patricii, lib. ii. , capr. 1. . , p. 136, and n. IOI,
-
7- It c"rs %
'
p I7
I5 In the,
of Roscommon.
p. \77- „. '- . See Rev-
• a~,i
x. , n. 89, p. 246.
county
Sarige,
l6 Another
has been styled the angelic Oran, m an Irish poem, addressed to Eoghan O'Madden, chief of Siol-Anmchadha or South Hy-Many. See " The Tribes and Customs of Hy-Many,
Oran,
in the of Galway, county
\&u Li. « at p. 190. M-T«fc«. «nH
n
Eoghan O'Madden, chief of Sil Anmchada,
2I See O'Donovan
sT. bes and
? r.
Customs of Hy-Many, Introductory
Ke-
676 LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. [June 16.
21
2 bishop's death is not known. Bishop Cethechus is said to have been buried *
in the parish church of Kill-garadh, or Oian,25 and there his relics were after-
wards preserved. To it, many pilgrimages continued to be made, down to the
close of the last 26 The name of this man also, in the century. holy appears,
There was also a Cill Garadh" in Scotland. Oran was nothing more than a parish church,** and should not have been placed among the Irish monasteries. The date for this holy
eastern part of the county of Galway.
of Martyrology Donegal
2? at the same date, as Cethach, Patrick's of Bishop,
Cill Garadh, in the territory of Ui Maine, and of Domhnach Sairighe in Cian- achta, at Daimhliac Cianan. He was, it is said, of the Cianachta. The Life of
for the statements. Under the foregoing
Patrick 28 is 99 as quoted,
authority
head of Domhnach Sairighe, Duald Mac Firbis enters Cethach, bishop, at
June 16th;30 and, at the same date, under the head of Daimhlaig, Duald
Mac Firbis again enters, Cethech, bishop, from Domnach-Sairighe, at Daimh-
Cianain. 31 More than the we cannot discover, in reference to laig foregoing
this primitive bishop.
Article II. —St. Berthold, or Bertaud, Hermit, at Chaumont-
Pokcien, Champagne, France. [Fifth and Sixth Centuries. '] The present holy recluse has obtained great veneration in the north-eastern parts of France, to which as a pious pilgrim he proceeded from Scotia. An ancient Office,' which seems to have been used in the church of the Premonstratenses at Chaumont, and once preserved among the archives of that place, was used* by Father Daniel Papebroke for the Acts of our saint. These are supposed, by that Father, not to have been older than the eleventh or twelfth century. 3 A Breviary* of the Metropolitan Church of Rheims also contains an office for St. Berthaldus, Confessor and Abbot, with an office of three Lessons, the third being specially devoted to his Life, at the 16th day of June. In his History of Rheims, Dom Guilelmus Marlot has special reference to St. Ber- thaldus;S while,inthiswork,thereareparticularsrelatedregardinghim,and
marks, p. 7.
* See Dr. O'Donovan's "Annals of the
Four Masters," vol. i. , where the death of Tinmen, of Cill-Garadh in Scotland, is com- memorated at A. D. 726, pp. 322 to 325.
Lessons, relating to St. Berthold, in the Matins for his Feast and its Octave.
2
It was furnished to Papebroke, by Rev. Father Casimir Oudin, a Premonstratcn- sian.
3 It is he thinks, were even possible, they
later, and they seem to have been compiled simply from popular tradition, running down
23 See Rev. Dr.
" Ecclesiastical
Lanigan's
History of Ireland," vol. i. , chap, v. , sect.
x. , n. 88, p. 246.
Colgan's
Thaumaturga,"
previous.
" Trias
24 See
Septima Vita S. Patricii, lib. ii. f cap. li. , p. 136.
's See ibid. , chap. x\i. , pp. 127. uN.
36 See Ajrchdall's "Mooasdcon Uiberni-
cum," p. 617.
27 Edited by Drs. Todd and Reeves, pp.
170, 171.
38
Lib. ii. , chap. 49, 52.
*9 In a note, Dr. Reeves says at this refer-
ence, chap. 49, 52 : "In Colgan's division, the numbers are 48 and 51. Trias Th. ,
p. 136-"
30 See "Proceedings of the Royal Irish
Academy," Irish Manuscript Series, vol. i. , part i. , pp. 106, 107.
from five to six centuries
31 NowDuleek,countyofMeath. Article 11. — » It consisted of
Six
*
Thiswas
in the
year 1630. by authority of Louis de Lotharingia, Arch- bishop of Rheims, with the consent of his
Chapter.
s . See "Metropolis Remensis Historia. a
Flodorado primum auctius digesta, uenuim aliunde aceersitis plurimum aucta et illus- trata, et ad nostrum hoc SSecolum fVteliter deducta," lib. ii. , cap. xvi. The first volume of this work was printed at Lille, under the author's revision ; the second only appeared iu 1079) at Rheims, and after his death, which occurred on the 7th of October, 1667. See Michaud's "Biographic Univcrselle Ancienne et Moderne," tome xxvii. , pp.
16, 17.
6 In the Frontispiece to this biography are
printed
June 16. ] LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS.
677
which are not to be met with in the ancient office. F. J. Lietau wrote a Life of the present saint, in the French language, and which was printed at
Rheims, in 1 634. 6 The Acts of St. Berthold, together with those of St.
Amand, are inserted for this day, in the great Bollandist collection. 7 These
are contained in a historical commentary of four sections, including thirty- seven paragraphs, and they are edited by Father Daniel Papebroke. Accord- ing to his ancient 8 and more modern 9 Proper Office, St. Berthald or Ber- tholdwasthesonofaScottishKingnamedTheoldus. 10 Hismotherisnamed Bertha. He is said to have been born XI in Scotia, where he was instructed in the humanities or in secular learning, from his most tender years, while he was brought up in the Christian religion and piously educated. He was mor- tified in all his desires and practices. He often meditated on the passion of our Lord Jesus Christ ; and, from this habit, he applied to himself the Apostle's words, that as he suffered for us, so should we imitate his example, and follow in his footsteps. At length, he felt a great longing to visit those holy places, where his Divine Master had borne such a weight of hardships and labours to redeem mankind, and which He completed by His death on the cross. As Berthold progressed daily in the love of God, so he resolved to sacrifice the advantages of birth to the call of Heaven, and accordingly, he communicated to a young companion, named Amandus, his intention of leaving Scotia for a more distant country. This youth was also a faithful ser- vant of Christ, and he agreed to share that lot in exile. Thus leaving their family, friends and native country, after many trials and toils during a long journey, both arrived in France, when they travelled towards Champagne, and there they rested in a place, known as Portien. In that part of the country, there was a mountain, called Mons Calvus," and at present the place is denominated Chaumont. At that time, it was infested with venemous serpents and other reptiles, while people believed that the outcries of demons were often heard from its heights. Thither the two travellers repaired, and then taking some stakes and brambles, they constructed an humble dwelling. Already had the place been sanctified by their presence, and they suffered no
and demons. 13 to lead a They began
from the
religious life in voluntary poverty, and their wants were supplied by the people to whom they applied. However, some jealousy had been aroused there, because it was feared the strangers had ulterior designs hurtful to the inhabi- tants, and soon these began to clamour for their departure. At length, such unjust suspicions were somewhat allayed, as the sanctity and spiritual gifts of the pilgrims became known more to the people. Numbers flocked to their her- mitage, and there in conference with them, the people received great spiritual
poisonous reptiles
to be seen Saints Berthald and Amand clothed in the habit of Hermits.
7 See "Acta Sanctorum," tomus iii. , Junii xvi. De SS. Berthaldo et Amando Eremitis et Presbyteris, in Remensi Galliae Dicecesi, pp. 98 to 108.
8 It states " Berthaldus, Theoldi Sco-
:
tise Regis et Berthse films," &c.
9 This commences the proper Lesson
with the words, " Berthaldus, Theoldi Sco- tire Regis filius," &c.
10 However,' Papebroke has some mis- givings, about the names of Berthaldus and of his parents Theoldus and Bertha being of Irish origin, and he rather thinks they are derived from the French or German Ian- guage. It may be observed here, notwith-
injury
standing, that denominations of several Irish pilgrims who visited the Continent have been Latinized or changed, in such a man- ner, as to disguise completely the original names.
" According to Guilelmus Marlot, this event should have happened about 467. See "Metropolis Remensis Historia," lib. 11. , cap. xvi.
_
,2 The Breviary of Rheims states of St.
Berthald, "ex Hibernia pervenit ad Castn- censempagum,Amandocomite, statequi- dem juvene, sed bono ac fideli Christi servo, Qui ex concilio S. Remigii locum ad liiha- bitandum sibi deligunt in Calvo-monte.
Ij According to popular tradition, a lion was seen to accompany their journeyuigs, as
678 LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. [June 16.
consolation. Others were restored to health. Still the pilgrims were destined to bear up against adversities ; but, by firm faith and constant prayer, they were able to avoid danger and to overcome all obstacles. At this time, the holyRemigiusI4presidedoverthechurchatRheims;'s thereBertholdand
Amand, moved by the fame of his sanctity and learning, resolved on visiting him. Theyreceivedaverykindlygreeting. Bertholdwasbyhiminstructed
in sacred science, and adopted as one of his spiritual children, having been advanced in due grades to the dignity of the priesthood. He then returned with his companion to their former hermitage. Near it, a small oratory was erected, and there, the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass was frequently offered, together with prayers, which were constantly recited. There, too, the favour of Heaven was copiously obtained, in holy visions ; and, as from early youth, virtue was conspicuous in all the dispositions, morals, anJ actions of our saint, so as years advanced, his perfection increased. Humility, justice, truth, chastity and charity were fully manifested, in the life of this poor servant of Christ. Those who came into his presence were moved to great reverence for him. Wherefore, he received from the Almighty the gift of miracles, and not only did he heal the sick, and exorcise demons, but even he was known to have restored the dead to life. In that retreat he had chosen, from being a tyro in Divine wisdom and philosophy, St. Berthold became a master of the spiritual life, and various disciples were under his virtuous charge. Among
fountains—called by their respective names—are consecrated in popular tra- dition ; while feverish and other patients were accustomed to resort to them, and to drink from their waters, in the hope of being restored to health. 18 In that place of retreat did St.
Berthold prolong life, for about fifty-three years. He was an example to all, owing to his spirit of lowliness, abstinence, patience, poverty, obedience and conformity to the Divine will. At length, finding the time of his mortal pilgrimage about to close, he called Amand to him, and after he had declared where he wished to be interred, and when he had given other parting counsel, he cried out in a loud voice: "Into thy hands, Christ Jesus, I commend my spirit. " Soon after this, his soul was released from earthly chains. The date of this holy man's death has been assigned to the 16th of June, about the year 540, and in the seventy-third
named Oliva l6 and
embraced a life of strict seclusion in a wood not far removed. There, two
others,
two
holy virgins,
Libertas,
1 ? directed
by him,
ofhis 1? To this
age. day,
22 and
simon,23 while by Greven, in his Additions to Usuard,2* it is set down at the
14th of June. After Berthold's holy death, many pilgrims flocked to the place ofhisdeposition,andthesewerehealedfromvariousinfirmities. Dailywere such miracles repeated, and great wonders were wrought through his inter- cession. Some religious disciples are thought to have succeeded St. Ber-
a guardian. Rcmensis Ilistoria, a Flodoardo primum 14 This holy Archbishop's festival is at auetius digests, demum alinn ie accersilis the 1st of October. See his Life, at that plurinuim aucta et illustr. Tta, et ad nostrum
"
date, in Rev. Alban Butler's Lives of the hoc sacuium fideliter deducta," lib. ii. ,
Fathers,MartyrsandotherprincipalSaints," cap. xvi.
vol. x. October I. ' 9 According to Guilclmus Marlot, " Me-
'5 It is said he flourished, from A. D. 459 tropolis Remensis Historia," &c, lib. ii. ,
year
his festival has been
assigned by
the old
Gallic Breviaries,20 Marlot,21 by
by Saussay,
by
Father Fitz- Henry
to
16 We do not find her name, in any of the
Calendars.
'' If she had a feast, it does not now seem
xvi.
533.
cap.
As already shown.
"• In his "Metropolis R mensis His- toria. "
to be known.
18 See Guilelmus Marlot's "
ai In his " st| In his "
Gallicanum. *' Catal'ogus aliquorum Sancto-
Metropolis
Martyrologium
June 16. ] LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS.
679
thald, in that place; but, it is questionable, as to whether they embraced the Columban Rule or otherwise, since many nouses of that order had been for- merly within the Archdiocese of Rheims. At length, it was resolved to establish a religious house in the place, where so many special favours had been received. Raynald, Count of Chateauportien, about the year 1045, founded there a church dedicated to St. Berthald, and to it was attached a collegeofsecularCanons. Fortheirmaintenance,heassignedalargetract of adjacent woodland, with various villages and the tithes of the tovvn. 2 s At a subsequent period, Roger, son of the preceding Raynald, added as an endowment the village of Remald-Curtis, with its appurtenances and tithes, together with jurisdiction over the inhabitants. 26 Under the invocation of Saints Bertaud and Amand was dedicated the ancient Chaumont-la-Piscine Abbey of the Premonstratensian Order, said to have been founded in the year 1140,byReginalddeRoset. Anotheraccountattributesafoundationhere to Henricus de Castello, Comes Portiensis, Calvimontis and Grandisprati, in 1 142, in favour of two hermits, named Rodulf and Guarnerius. However, it seems to be tolerably well demonstrated, that the Premonstratensians were
not introduced to Chaumont-Porcien until a. d. i 147. Afterwards, their house obtained great accessions, through the benevolence of Roger, Count of
Roset, in a. d. 12 19. In the year 1 248,^ the relics of St. Berthald, with those of other saints, viz. : Viventius 28 and Amandus, with the virgins Oliva and Libertas, were translated, and placed within new cases. 29 Father Daniel Papebroke remarks, that he could not well ascertain what relics of Amandus andofViventiushadbeenretainedatChaumont. 3° Wehaveanattestation of various miracles, that had been wrought in the church of St. Berthald, in favour of persons of all ages and of both sexes, who laboured under different infirmities, and especially of those affected with madness and mental imbeci- lity. This was drawn up by the Vicars-General of the diocese of Rheims, in that city, on the 19th of March, 1430. Until the sixteentli century, when
1
the Huguenots had raised disturbances in France^ the Abbey continued to
enjoy its privileges and possessions; but, in the year 1589, it was captured and pillaged by the Huguenots, who were soon afterwards expelled, and the placewasoccupiedbytheroyalsoldiers. Thereligioushadremovedmean- time to some distance from their former house, and they officiated in a chapel belonging to the monastery of St. Hubert. In 1623, the site of their Abbey was transferred to a pleasant valley, not far distant ; and, about the year 1634, their church was dedicated by Henry, Bishop of Tarsis. Various indul-
rum Hibernue. "
24 His work appeared, A. D. 15 15 and A. D.
jcai.
2s This statement rests on a Record of the
Lord Archbishop of Rheims, Rodulph, and dated a. d. HI I.
26 The Instrument containing this attested grant is dated 10S7, and in the twenty- eighth year of Philip, King of the Franks.
27 According to an ancient document, for- merly preserved in the Archives of the Premonstratensian Abbey, this translation took place on the Kalends of June, during that year, and it purports to be an instru- ment under the hand of Guido, Bishop of Soissons, who inspected the names of those holy persons, as set forth in schedules, and
Rheims, and his feast is assigned to the 7th
of September.
29 It is related, in F. J. Lietau's Life of St.
Berthald, and in the Twentieth Chapter, that this Translation took place in a secret
manner, on the Vigil of St. John the Baptist, and on the Octave of St. Berthald's feast,
The
3° See " Acta Sanctorum, tomus 111. , Junii xvi. De SS. Berthaldo et Amando Eremitis et Presbytens m Remensi Gallia;
Dioeccsi, sect, i. , pp. 98 to 100.
3 ' See an account of their proceedings in
Bossuefs " Abrege de
28 He was the ninth Archbishop of Completes, tome xi. Migne s edition.
on the statement of men deserving credit.
lest the people might prevent it. Archbishop gave permission, while Father Nicolas Bugnet and the Religious were en- gaged in the Translation.
Histoirede France, liv. xvii. , col. 325 to col. ; 478. CLuvres
1
68o LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. [June 16.
gences were obtained from the Sovereign Pontiffs 32 and Cardinals, on behalf of those who visited the shrine of our saint, and who complied with certain
prescribed pious conditions. 33 Even, at a comparatively late period, two remarkable miracles have been attributed to his intercession ;34 one of these
was wrought in favour of a pious woman, Anna de Bonnaire, widow of Guil- laume, belonging to a village called Harpy, who visited the church and sacred shrine of St. Berthald, where she performed a round of devotions and was freed from a chronic headache ; another miracle was experienced by Charles de Sein, from a village called Scrincurt, who was released from a phrenesis and an aberration of mind, while assisting there during the Holy Sacrifice of Mass. 35 Nodoubt,theresidenceofSt. Berthald,andthesubsequentfounda- tion of the Premonstratensian Abbey, formed the origin 36 of the actual town of Chaumont-Porcien, at present the chief seat of a Canton, in the depart- mentofArdennes. ALitanycompiledinhonourofSt. Berthaldwaswont to be recited, and it admirably sets forth his various virtues and merits. 37 It also concludes with a Prayer to the Almighty, that his devout clients might be able to follow sincerely the bright examples of their venerable patron, who was so distinguished for his humility, love of privation, and spirit of penance, and that they might be aided through his powerful intercession.
Article III. —St. Amandus or Amand, Hermit, of Beaumont,
Champagne, France. [Sixth Century. '] From the preceding Article, we have been told, that this holy servant of God was a companion in exile of St. Berthold. An ancient Manuscript Life of St. Amandus had been extracted
1 when his Acts. This was from compiling
for ' and used the by
Bollandists,
a choral Codex,3 which is said to have been more than two hundred years
old, at that time. 4 The Petits Bollandistes 5 have a notice of St. Amand, the
priest and solitary, at this date. According to the old Latin Acts, St. Amandus
was a native of 6 while his were thus named his father Scotia, parents : being
GermanusandhismotherAmanda. HehadanotherbrothernamedLucius, and a sister called Proba. These children were of respectable parentage. Amand was a boy of remarkably good dispositions, and he was addicted to
the learning, provided for him by his religious parents. In his studies, great progresswassoonmade. GuidedbytheHolySpirit,hischiefobjectwasto become perfect in all virtues ; he was fond of assisting the necessitous, and of clothing the naked, while he made frequent visits to churches, where he dwelt long at prayers. Having a vocation thus acquired for the ecclesiastical
32AmongtliesewerePopeNicholasV. ,who Saints,"tomevii. , xvic JourdeJuin,p. 65. issued a decree of the fourth of the August 37 See the Bollandists' "Acta SattCtb- Nones, and in the fourth year of his PontiH- 111m," tomus iii. , Junii xvi. De SS. P. er- cate ; as also Pope Paul II. , on the sixth of
the March Pies, a. t>. 1466, and in the third
year ofhis Pontificate.
"See the Bollandists' "Acta Sancto-
rum," tomus iii. Junii xvi. De SS. Ber- Odin.
thaldo et Amando Eremitis et Presbyteris in 2 See "Acta Sanctorum," tomus iii. , Remensi (jalli. e Dioecesi, sect, ii. , pp. 100 Junii xvi. De SS. Berthaldo et Amando to 102.
34 These occurred in 1631, and are related
more in dead in that Life written F. by J.
Lietau.
35 Those miracles narrated were attested
before the magistrates at Scrincurt.
36 See " Les Petits Bollandistes Vies des
Eremitis et Presbyteris in Kemensi Gallue Dioecesi, sect, iv. , rip, 106 to 108.
thaldoet Amando Eremitis el Pres' yteris in Remensi Gallia Dioecesi, sect, iii. , pp. 102
to 106. — Article hi. '
Father Ca-imir
By
3 Besides the of St. it Legend Amanda*,
contained Antiphons, Responses and some good rythmical modulations.
4 InA. D. 1701, when the current volume had been issued.
June 16. ]
LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. 681
state,hewaspromotedtopriest'sorders; andthenceforth,hebegantocele- brate Mass daily, while in word and work he was most fervent in discharging all duties. After some time, he resolved on visiting Rome, together with his parents, brother and sister, and an attendance, consisting in all of eighteen persons of both sexes. Having crossed the sea, a wearisome and dangerous journey was before them. However, they surmounted all difficulties, and reached Rome. There they delayed for some time, visiting the shrines ot the Apostles and Martyrs. Afterwards, St. Amand resolved to return bare- footed to his native country. Having travelled through Italy and Upper Gaul, the pilgrim party sought the province of Rheims, at that time presided overbytheArchbishopSt. Remigius. ? Theseholypersonscametoaplace, known as the Beautiful Mount,8 now Beaumont, and a pleasant grove was spread around it. There, wearied with fatigue, the pilgrims lay down on the earth, and having no provisions with them, they fed on roots and herbs. As it was summer time, they experienced also a great thirst, so that they felt ready almost to expire through exhaustion. In this extremity, pained to behold the sufferings of his companions, and especially of his aged and feeble mother, St. Amand fell upon his knees, and besought the Creator of all things tosavethem. Then,fixinghisstaffintheground,acopiousfountainsprung up on the spot, so that his aged mother and his other companions were enabled to assuage their thirst from its water. The holy man considered this to be an indication from Heaven, that there he should chose to reside for the remainder of his life, far from the haunts of men, and surrounded on every sidebyadensewood. HesoughtthepresenceofClodovceus,Kingofthe Franks, who had been lately baptized by St. Remigius, and he asked for that portion of the royal domains to erect there a church. This permission
10 which was dedicated to St. Peter, Prince of the Apostles. Thither the people soon flocked to see and hear him, to praise the Saviour of men, and to drink from the fountain, so miraculously produced through his prayers. The sick, who came to drink or wash themselves in it, often returned home restored to has been offered,12 that it is not while Ber-
conjecture
in his time many miracles had been wrought there, the blind receiving the gift of sight, the lame that of walking, the sorrowful, that
of consolation, the possessed freedom from diabolic influences, as was then known to
many.
I"
By Father Daniel Papebroke.
' 3 Guilelmus Marlot considers 1 hat the pre- sent Amandus may have been confounded with a certain Altimundus or Antimundus, alluded to by Matthseus de Pres, in his Chronicle of the Moiini, and who lived very poor and humble in a hut, not far from Rheims. Hehadsomelearning,however, and he became a priest. But, this cannot be allowed ; for the latter was destined to carry on missionary work among the Monni, and according to Malbranq he was conse- crated bishop of Teruanen. See De
Morinis," lib. ii. , cap. 39, 43, 44-
was the granted by
king,
and Amand returned to erect a
basilica,
health. 11 A
unlikely,
Amand'3 made one to
thaldus made a — to separate pilgrimage
Jerusalem, Romeincompanywithhim whetherbeforeorafteris notclear
—and that they both lived as intimate friends and companions, in this part of France. This latter man died the lifetime of 1 * by whom he was
holy during
Remigius,
s See "Vies des Saints," tome vii. ,
xvie Jour de Juin, p. 65.
6 They state " Amandus Domini nostri
Jesu Chiisti Asceta, Natione Scot gena," &c.
7 Venerated at the 1st of O tober. He
died, A. D.
