The festival of
Ernin, Bishop, was celebrated, on this day, as we read in the Martyrology of Donegal.
Ernin, Bishop, was celebrated, on this day, as we read in the Martyrology of Donegal.
O'Hanlon - Lives of the Irish Saints - v4
Todd and Reeves, pp.
100, loi.
"Acta tomus Sanctorum,"
p. 65-
«
/Egidius Gelenius, in sis," styles him hiatus.
"
Fastis Colonieli-
«
rilis xi.
Chronicon, p. 557.
Article i. — Genesis xii. i.
» See " Catalogus Actuum Sanctorum
quae Ms. habentur, ordine Mensium et Diernm. "
—
manix Historica," tomus v. , Mariani Scotti
'See
"
Monumenta Ger-
has been for the death of this assigned
126 LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. [April 12.
man. He belonged to the family,7 or religious house of Mucnamh. This
place is now known as Mucknoe,* a parish in the barony of Cremorne, and
county of Monaghan. 9 The present holy man must have been very much
the Four " head of the monks of Masters,
since he is called
the Gaeidhil ;" and, it seems most likely, that his religious training was re- ceived in Ireland, where he dwelt for some time, before setting out for the Continent. His course was directed to Cologne, where a religious foundation, for men of the Irish or Scottish race, had been long established. It seems pro- bable, that he lived under direction of the Scottish Abbot Kilian, wlio ruled the house of St. Martin there, from a. d. 986, to the day of his death, a. d.
by
1003. '° Helias left Ireland, to embrace a solitary life.
distinguished,
over the Scots house, at Cologne," having succeeded Kilian, a. d. 1004, and
he governed St. Martin's Monastery, in that city, for twenty years. Some of
his Scottish countrymen lived there, and in the monastery of St. Pantalion. " The discipline he enforced was strict and rigorous ; and, as we learn, some immortified inmates of the latter house contrived to prejudice the mind of Piligrinus, bishop of Cologne, against their Irish abbot and their fellow monks of Scottish birth. In the year 1027, it is stated, that the cause of religion was
greatly promoted, by this holy man, according to Sigebert ;'3 but, it seems
doubtful, that he survived to this latter year. He was regarded as a prudent
andreligiousman. MarianusScotusrelatesapropheticdeclarationofthis
Helias, respecting the death of Piligrinus, bishop of Cologne,'* who had threatened him and the Scots under his rule, that if they did not remove from
the monastery of St. Pantaleon, before he returned from a royal station, they should be expelled. They replied to his threat: "If Christ be for the strangers, Bishop Piligrinus himself should not return from that place alive to Cologne. " It so happened, that his death took place, on the 8th of the September Kalends, a. d. 1037, thus fulfilling the prophecy of Helias. We are told, that Ailill died, a. d. 1042 ;'5 and, at the same year, on the second of the April Ides, corresponding with the i2tli day of this month, the death of Helias Scotus is noted, by Marianus Scotus, according to the Bollandists. '* According to Thomas Dempster, he edited many tracts, but all perished,
"
except a small one, intituled,
Imperatorem. "'? John Major has a notice about two Scots' monasteries, erected at Cologne, and others in different parts of Germany, by a certain
Guillemus, a brother to King Achaius, in the time of Charlemagne j'^ but
' In a note, Dr. Reeves says, at this word,
of July.
'^ See "Monumenta Germaniae Historica,"
" tomusvi. SigebertiGemblacensis Chrono-
graphia," edidit D. Ludowicus Conradus
Bethmann, p. 356.
''See "Monumenta Germanise Histo-
rica," tomus v. Mariani Scotti, Chronicon,
pp. 556, 557-
"S See Dr. O'Donovan's "Annals of the
Four Masters," vol. ii. , pp. 840, 841.
'^ See "Acta Sanctorum," tomus ii. , Ap- rilis xii. Among the pretermitted saints,
p. 65.
'? See " Historia Ecclesiastica Gentis Sco-
torum," tomus ii. , lib. viii. , num. 631, pp.
family,
" That is the
religious family
or con-
gregation. "
' It is shown, on the "Ordnance Sur-
vey Townland Maps for the County of Monaghan," as a parish, sheets 15,20,25.
9 See Lewis' "Topographical Dictionary of Ireland," vol. ii. , pp. 407, 408. And Dr. O'Donovan's "Annals of the Four Mas-
ters," vol. i. , n. (d), p. 445.
'o He died, on the 19th of January Ka-
lends, or 7th of December, according to Marianus Scottus, in his "Chronicon," where the chronology appears varied, in G. Waltz's edition, contained in "Monumenta Germa-
nise Historica, "tomus v. , p. 555.
"See Trithemius, De Viris lUustribus
Ordinis S. Benedicti," lib. iii. , cap. cxli.
" The feast of St. Pantaleon, physician, and martyr, in Nicomedia, occurs, at the 27th
De Scotorum Peregrinorum Innocentia ad
335. 336- ""
He became Abbot
"See
Anglia; quam Scotiae, lib. ii. , cap. xiii. , fol. xxxv. Prelum Ascensianum. a. d. 1521, sm. 4to.
Historia Majoris Biitannias, tarn
April 12. ] LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. 127
there appears to be much more of imagination than of reality, in this state- ment. Among the illustrious men of the Benedictine Order, Helias is classed, by Trithemius. 's who styles him a saint, and who states, that after death, his many-sided merits became recognised by indubitable evidence. ''" His tem- per or habits of thought must have been moulded, in extreme views of duty ; for, we are told, that a French monk, having written a beautiful Missal with- out his leave, in the monastery of St. Pantalion, Helias ordered it to be pub- hcly burned, in presence of the monks, so that no other should transgress, in a like manner, without permission. " His death may be assigned, to the year 1042, if we follow the computation ofG. Waitz, and on the 3rd of the April Ides," as found in the Chronicle of Marianus Scottus. "3 Dempster has an entry '* of Helias the Solitary, and Abbot of the Scots, as also Arnold Wion, at the i2th of April. »5 He was succeeded by Maiobus Scottus, a chaste, patient and wise man, who niled eighteen years. '* Besides the foregoing writers, Dorgan, Menard, Bucelin, and Ferrarius, in his General Catalogue oftheSaints,havethesamedateforhisfeasf Bothathomeandabroad, its commemoration seems to have been observed.
Article II. —St. Conda, or Connath, said to have been Abbot OF DoiREDHA-CoNNA, CouNTY OF LouTH. When this saint flourished is unknown ; but, it is probable, not later than the eighth century. The name Connath, Abbot, occurs, in the Martyrology of Tallagh,' at the 12th of April. He was of the race of Conall Gulban, son to Niall, according to the Calendar of the O'Clerys. His place is not well known. The following
account is from Jocelyn's Life of our great Irish Apostle. It is mentioned, "
thatSaintPatrick visitedthecountryoftheTurturi,whereheabodeforthe durationofsevenweeks. Inthatlittlespace,heerectedsevenchurches,one whereofhecalledtheLord'sChurch. Forthiswashiscustom,thatwhere- soever he dwelt on the Lord's day, if he founded a church there, he called it Doranhach, that is, belonging to the Lord. Over one of these seven churches, he appointed a disciple, named Conncdus, a good and holy man, indegreeaPresbyter,orPriest,andlearnedinthedivinelaw. Undertaking the government of this church, rather from obedience than from ambition, he spent there only one week, and then quitting it, he hastened to St. Patrick. The saint inquiring the cause for his speedy return, Connedus answered, that he could not patiently endure the absence of his beloved father. " Nor is it to
"
saint,
of life, but men of blood, and devourers of cattle, of whose sword thou
standest in dread, and fearest that thy blood will be poured out. Return, re- turn securely, nor tremble before their face ; for the blood of no man shall in
be the wondered," replied
since,
in that there are not children place,
"See "De Viris Illnstribns Ordinis S.
Benedicti," lib. iii. , cap. 141. *"
bes' " Kalendarsof Scottish Saints, p. 196.
»3 See in " Lignum Vitae," lib. iii. , p. cxxxiii.
By Rupert, he is simply styled Abbot. "See "Monumenta Germaniac Histo- rica," tomus v. Chronicon Mariani Scotti,
"See "Monumenta GennaniKHistorica," tomus v. Chronicon Mariani Scotti, p. 557. "^ See the BoUandists' "Acta Sanctorum," "Dempster has it, at ii Idus April. tomus ii. , Aprilis xii. Among the preter-
P- 557-
"
anno Salulis MXLII. "—" Ilistoria Ecclesi- asticaGentisScotorum,"tomusii. ,lib. viii. , num. 621. , p. 336.
mitted saints, p. 65.
Articleii. —' EditedbyRev. Dr. Kelly,
p. xxi. In the Franciscan copy, I find '*See "Monumenta Germaniae Histo- Cotiachi <Jb •Oo,1|M, with another word
rica," tomus v. , p. 557. *"
added, which seems to read LauIcu, or La
ulcu.
In the SolitariiScotorumAbbatis. " Bishop
following way,
Natalis Helix
—
For-
'
SeehisLife,atthe17thofMarch.
X28
LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. [April 12.
that place be shed, even from generation to generation. " Therefore, receiving this answer of St. Patrick, the venerable Connedus returned to the govern- mentofhischurch; andasdwellersinthatcountrydeclared,thewordofSt. Patrick has been confirmed, by many proofs. 3 Colgan has not been able to indentify this saint, with any recorded in our Calendars. He remarks, how- ever, that there isaConna, orConda, at the 8th of March, and at the 12th of April; thatthereisaCondanus,orConnanus,atthe12thofJune,andatthe ist of July; while there is a Connatus, orCondatus, at the 15th of November. Again, in the An—nals of the Four Masters. ^ it is stated, that Tighernach, lord ofLochGabhar nowknownasLoughGower,orLagore,nearDunshaughlin
atDaire
ofMeath—— a overthe
county gained victory foreigners.
It
Disirt-Dachonna s identified with Diseart-Dachonna, Dysart, in Feara-. -Vrda, Ferrard, a barony in the county of Louth. ^ This victory was achieved, a. d. 846, As the locality appears to have taken its denomination from a saint Dachonna, or Mochonna, venerated at the 8th of March,' it may be asked, if the pre-
sent saint must be distinguished from him ? He flourished, at a period, long anterior to the event already recorded, if such were the case. In the Annals of Ulster and of the Four Masters, his death is referred to a. d. 704, or 705. We read, in the Martyrology of Donegal,^ that on this day was venerated, Conda,Abbot,ofDaireDachonna,inUlster. TheRev. WilliamReeveshas placed St. Conna, in a Calendar, and the inference wouldjseem to be, that he is supposed to have been connected, with the north-east parts of Ireland. '
Article III. —St. Ernin, Bishop. A record of Erngn, a Bishop, is
found, in the Martyrology of Tallagh,' at this date. On the same authority, the Bollandists = insert a notice of him, at the 12th of April.
The festival of
Ernin, Bishop, was celebrated, on this day, as we read in the Martyrology of Donegal. 3
Article IV. —Reputed Festival of St. Dobanus. In his Commemora- tions of the Scottish Saints, Camerarius has inserted the name of a saint Dobanus, as a companion of St. Boniface. ' The Bollandists,'' who make the entry, at this day, and on his authority, remark, that he was unknown to them, and to Dempster ; unless, indeed, reference had been to St. Bonifa- cius Kiritinus, venerated at the i6th of March, where there is no mention madeofDobanus. AbriefnoticeofDobanisgiven,byBishopForbes. 3
3 See Colgan's "Trias Thaumaturga. " lOO, lOI.
Sexta Vita S. Patricii, cap. xci. , p. 86, and
nn. loi, I02, p. 113.
< . See Ur. O'Donovan's Edition, vol. i. , pp.
476,477.
5 This is rendered, " The Oak Wood of
' See "Ecclesiastical Antiquities of Down, Connor and Dromore, Appendix LL, p. 377-
St. Dachonna's desert or wilderness. " Dr.
O'Donovan had not been able to identify the
exact place. See n. (c), ibid. Yet, there
seems to me no good reason, for not associa-
ting this saint with the present parisli of
'Dysart, in the barony of P'errard, county of
Louth. Some vestiges of an ancient church
still remain, in the burial ground of this heren,-is is added, by Camerarius, to dis- parish. See Lewis' "Topographical Die- tinguish him.
tionary of Ireland," vol. i. , pp. 591, 592.
' See vol. vii. , Index Locorum, pp. 47, 48,
58.
1 See notices regarding him, at that date.
* Edited by Drs. Todd and Reeves, pp.
"
occurred,
Article HI. — Edited by Rev. Dr. Kelly, p. xxi. In the Franciscan copy, we find, epne^ni e^pi.
'See "Acta Sanctorum," tomus ii. , Ap- rilis xii. Among the pretermitted saints, p. 65.
^ Edited by Drs. Todd and Reeves, pp.
Article IV, "
100, loi. — " Scoti, Episcopi Tre-
"
See "Acta Sanctorum," tomus ii. , Ap- rilis xii. Among the pretermitted saints, P- 65-
3 See " Kalendars of Scottish Saints," p. 324.
April 12. ] LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. 129
Article V. —Feast of St. Mathilda, Virgin. {Thirteenth Centnry7\ The English Martyrology and Ferrarius state, that this pious virgin died on the 1 2th of April, and about the year 1200. Notices, regarding her, have been entered already, at the ist of January, the day more generally assumed
'
for her feast. Spinelhis
who is said to have sprung from a royal Scotic race. Her Manuscript Life was extant, according to Robert Buckland ; and, the Bollandists 3 have an account of her, at the 12th of April, nor do they consider, that any special ecclesiastical veneration had been given to her. The name is missing, in
Saussay's Gallic Martyrology, although she visited France, with her younger brother Alexander,* for the purpose of spending there a religious hfe. Re- garding herself and her brother Alexander, Baptista Fulgosius 5 and Andreas Eborensis * have treated. Already whatever particulars could be related, regarding the holy virgin Mathilde, will be found, and these have a close connection, with the Acts of her devoted brother.
Article VI. —St. Erkembodon, or Erkembode, Bishop of Therou- ANNE,ANDAbbotOFSt. Omer,France. \SnenthandEighthCenturies^ Among the distinguished missionaries, that Ireland sent forth, at a very early period, to spread the Gospel on the Continent of Europe, we may very pro- bably class the present holy man. The Breviary of St. Omer,' and the Ghronicon Bertinianum,' narrate St. Erkembode's Acts. The writers of the Bollandist Community have inserted a previous commentary, in two para- graphs, with a Life of St. Erkembodon, Bishop, at this day. ' Still later, the Abbd Destombes has treated about him. The Life, as published by the Bollandists, was written by John,' a monkof Sithieu,*once in Belgium j'and, in an appropriate introduction, the reasons why he composed it are presented to the reader. ' The early years of the present holy man are little known ; but,hewasbom,probably,inthelaterpartoftheseventhcentury. Accord-
ing
to
Jacobus Malebrancus,'
or
James Mabranq,
this saint was an »° Irishman,
Article v. —' In his work, " De Dei- para," s;ec. 7, num. 6l.
' -See
Colgan's
niae," I Januarii, Vita S. Mathildis, pp. 6, 7, and n. 8.
3 See "Acta Sanctorum," tomus ii. , Ap- rilis xii. Among the pretermitted saints, p. 65.
* The 14th of January has been assigned for his feast, as also the 6th of August.
Siecle. Legendaires du Douzieme Si^le, sect, i. , p. 615.
' This was not different from St. place
Berlin's fine monastery, at St. Omer.
' This Life is taken " ex Ordinario MS. et
Breviario Ecclesise S. Audomari. "
'
The author assigns his motives for writ- ing it, in the opening paragraph.
' See his work, " De Morinis," tomus i. , lib. iv. , en p. 55.
5 In his work, " Factorum
'° His and are not known.
treats about the rare sanctity of this devoted lady,'
" Acta Sanctorum Hiber-
Diciorumque "InSuisExemplis,"tituloDePaupertate.
family origin
See Les I'etits Bollandistes, Vies des
Mirabilium," lib. i. , cap. 4. '
"
The Life of this Saint is there in Nine Lessons.
Saints," tome iv. , xii. • Jour. d'Avril, p. 353.
Article VI. —' Printed,A. D.
1515.
" Their festival is kept, on the 23rd of October, where their Acts will be found.
'
Henschenn wrote, A. D. 'See"ActaS. anctorum, tomusii. , Ap-
rilis xii. De SancloErkembodone, Eplscopo
Teruanensi et Abbate Sithiuensi, in Bclgio,
In Vie des Saints de Cambrai et d'Arras. "
' See an account of him, in " Histoire Literaire de la France," tome xv. Douzieme
It was unpublished, when Godefrid
" Father Henschenn thinks the name of our saint to be manifestly ot Teutonic origin ; thus, Eryhen-bode, he translates, by the
"
Latin words, industrium cautumque
ministrum. " A stronger argument is to be found, in the statement, that in the Manu- script Acts, as also in the printed ones of
Luglius and Luglianus, no mention of St. Erkembodon's name appears.
pp. 92 to 94. '"
Vol. IV. —No, 3.
I
1675.
130 LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. [April 12.
as had been allowable to infer from a certain manuscript he read, since he
was a companion to Luglius and Luglianus," who came as royal missionaries fromHibernia. " Likethem,hewasattackedbymurderers,robbed,beaten
and left for dead, at a place called Seyrendal, near Ferfay, in the canton of Norrent-Fontes. It is stated, that after the departure of the assassins, he came to the use of his senses ; and then, hastily covering the bodies of both Irish Martyrs with brandies, Erkembodon went immediately to Thdrouanne, where St. Bain, '3 the Bishop, then lived, and who heard from him all that happened. ''* He lived, afterwards, in the monastery of Sithiii, at St. Omer,'5 and under St. Bertin. '* There, with an admirable spirit of religion, he laboured to emulate the virtues of his great master. He practised all monas- ticexercises,andwiththegreatestexactness. Hewaspresent,atthedeath- bed scene of St. Bertin, who passed out of this life, having exceeded the age of one hundred years. The monk John places his demise, at 698, while other modern writers state, that he died on the 5th of September, a. d. 709. '' In succession to him were first Rigobert, and afterwards Erlefrid. '^ With the unanimous suffrages of the monks, at St. Omer, St. Erkembobe was elected to succeed the last deceased Abbot, in the year 717. '' Meantime, owing to thegreatageofSt. Bertin,andhisinabilitytodischargeallthedutiesofhis
important charge, Rigobert
=° and Erlefrid " had been chosen his life- during
time, as coadjutors. While Erkembode maintained that exact discipline,
which had hitherto distinguished the monks, who dwelt in the monastery at
Sithiii, he fulfilled all the duties his new position required, and with true fide-
lity. By example and precept, he inspired the perfection of virtue, and he provided with prudence for the wants of his monastic brethren. In those
times, violent and oppressive acts often interrupted that peace, which should
reign in all religious communities ; but, the holy Abbot, with great wisdom and forecast, procured and defended the rights and immunities of his house. He even obtained a charter''' from King Chilperic II. , who, from having been a cleric, became a monarch, in 715. ^3 This deed conferred several important privileges on his monastery. Again, Thierry IV. , or Theodoric the younger,^*
'3 His feast occurs, on the 20th of June. '< According to some writeis, St. Erkem-
He does not appear to have lived very long, as assistant Abbot.
" Some writers regard him as third Abbot of Sithiu, in succession to St. Bertin.
" It begins: "Chilpericus Rex Francorum. Si facta parentum," &c. According to the Chronicle of Iperius, it was granted, in the
third year of his reign.
'3 He died, a. d. 720, after an unquiet rule.
bode belonged to a family of the Morini
;
while his zeal and piety, it is thought, urged him to become a guide and companion to St.
Luglius and Luglianus, in that part of the country.
'S Called after St. Omer, or St. Audmar, formerly a monk of Luxeuil, and afterwards the founder of a monastery, in honour of the Blessed Virgin Mary, at the former place. His festival is held, on the 9th of September.
'' His feast occurs, at the 5th September. '7 See Rev. Alban Butler's " Lives of the
Fathers, Martyrs and other principal Saints," vol. ix. , September v.
"' Erkembode had succeeded him, A.
"Acta tomus Sanctorum,"
p. 65-
«
/Egidius Gelenius, in sis," styles him hiatus.
"
Fastis Colonieli-
«
rilis xi.
Chronicon, p. 557.
Article i. — Genesis xii. i.
» See " Catalogus Actuum Sanctorum
quae Ms. habentur, ordine Mensium et Diernm. "
—
manix Historica," tomus v. , Mariani Scotti
'See
"
Monumenta Ger-
has been for the death of this assigned
126 LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. [April 12.
man. He belonged to the family,7 or religious house of Mucnamh. This
place is now known as Mucknoe,* a parish in the barony of Cremorne, and
county of Monaghan. 9 The present holy man must have been very much
the Four " head of the monks of Masters,
since he is called
the Gaeidhil ;" and, it seems most likely, that his religious training was re- ceived in Ireland, where he dwelt for some time, before setting out for the Continent. His course was directed to Cologne, where a religious foundation, for men of the Irish or Scottish race, had been long established. It seems pro- bable, that he lived under direction of the Scottish Abbot Kilian, wlio ruled the house of St. Martin there, from a. d. 986, to the day of his death, a. d.
by
1003. '° Helias left Ireland, to embrace a solitary life.
distinguished,
over the Scots house, at Cologne," having succeeded Kilian, a. d. 1004, and
he governed St. Martin's Monastery, in that city, for twenty years. Some of
his Scottish countrymen lived there, and in the monastery of St. Pantalion. " The discipline he enforced was strict and rigorous ; and, as we learn, some immortified inmates of the latter house contrived to prejudice the mind of Piligrinus, bishop of Cologne, against their Irish abbot and their fellow monks of Scottish birth. In the year 1027, it is stated, that the cause of religion was
greatly promoted, by this holy man, according to Sigebert ;'3 but, it seems
doubtful, that he survived to this latter year. He was regarded as a prudent
andreligiousman. MarianusScotusrelatesapropheticdeclarationofthis
Helias, respecting the death of Piligrinus, bishop of Cologne,'* who had threatened him and the Scots under his rule, that if they did not remove from
the monastery of St. Pantaleon, before he returned from a royal station, they should be expelled. They replied to his threat: "If Christ be for the strangers, Bishop Piligrinus himself should not return from that place alive to Cologne. " It so happened, that his death took place, on the 8th of the September Kalends, a. d. 1037, thus fulfilling the prophecy of Helias. We are told, that Ailill died, a. d. 1042 ;'5 and, at the same year, on the second of the April Ides, corresponding with the i2tli day of this month, the death of Helias Scotus is noted, by Marianus Scotus, according to the Bollandists. '* According to Thomas Dempster, he edited many tracts, but all perished,
"
except a small one, intituled,
Imperatorem. "'? John Major has a notice about two Scots' monasteries, erected at Cologne, and others in different parts of Germany, by a certain
Guillemus, a brother to King Achaius, in the time of Charlemagne j'^ but
' In a note, Dr. Reeves says, at this word,
of July.
'^ See "Monumenta Germaniae Historica,"
" tomusvi. SigebertiGemblacensis Chrono-
graphia," edidit D. Ludowicus Conradus
Bethmann, p. 356.
''See "Monumenta Germanise Histo-
rica," tomus v. Mariani Scotti, Chronicon,
pp. 556, 557-
"S See Dr. O'Donovan's "Annals of the
Four Masters," vol. ii. , pp. 840, 841.
'^ See "Acta Sanctorum," tomus ii. , Ap- rilis xii. Among the pretermitted saints,
p. 65.
'? See " Historia Ecclesiastica Gentis Sco-
torum," tomus ii. , lib. viii. , num. 631, pp.
family,
" That is the
religious family
or con-
gregation. "
' It is shown, on the "Ordnance Sur-
vey Townland Maps for the County of Monaghan," as a parish, sheets 15,20,25.
9 See Lewis' "Topographical Dictionary of Ireland," vol. ii. , pp. 407, 408. And Dr. O'Donovan's "Annals of the Four Mas-
ters," vol. i. , n. (d), p. 445.
'o He died, on the 19th of January Ka-
lends, or 7th of December, according to Marianus Scottus, in his "Chronicon," where the chronology appears varied, in G. Waltz's edition, contained in "Monumenta Germa-
nise Historica, "tomus v. , p. 555.
"See Trithemius, De Viris lUustribus
Ordinis S. Benedicti," lib. iii. , cap. cxli.
" The feast of St. Pantaleon, physician, and martyr, in Nicomedia, occurs, at the 27th
De Scotorum Peregrinorum Innocentia ad
335. 336- ""
He became Abbot
"See
Anglia; quam Scotiae, lib. ii. , cap. xiii. , fol. xxxv. Prelum Ascensianum. a. d. 1521, sm. 4to.
Historia Majoris Biitannias, tarn
April 12. ] LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. 127
there appears to be much more of imagination than of reality, in this state- ment. Among the illustrious men of the Benedictine Order, Helias is classed, by Trithemius. 's who styles him a saint, and who states, that after death, his many-sided merits became recognised by indubitable evidence. ''" His tem- per or habits of thought must have been moulded, in extreme views of duty ; for, we are told, that a French monk, having written a beautiful Missal with- out his leave, in the monastery of St. Pantalion, Helias ordered it to be pub- hcly burned, in presence of the monks, so that no other should transgress, in a like manner, without permission. " His death may be assigned, to the year 1042, if we follow the computation ofG. Waitz, and on the 3rd of the April Ides," as found in the Chronicle of Marianus Scottus. "3 Dempster has an entry '* of Helias the Solitary, and Abbot of the Scots, as also Arnold Wion, at the i2th of April. »5 He was succeeded by Maiobus Scottus, a chaste, patient and wise man, who niled eighteen years. '* Besides the foregoing writers, Dorgan, Menard, Bucelin, and Ferrarius, in his General Catalogue oftheSaints,havethesamedateforhisfeasf Bothathomeandabroad, its commemoration seems to have been observed.
Article II. —St. Conda, or Connath, said to have been Abbot OF DoiREDHA-CoNNA, CouNTY OF LouTH. When this saint flourished is unknown ; but, it is probable, not later than the eighth century. The name Connath, Abbot, occurs, in the Martyrology of Tallagh,' at the 12th of April. He was of the race of Conall Gulban, son to Niall, according to the Calendar of the O'Clerys. His place is not well known. The following
account is from Jocelyn's Life of our great Irish Apostle. It is mentioned, "
thatSaintPatrick visitedthecountryoftheTurturi,whereheabodeforthe durationofsevenweeks. Inthatlittlespace,heerectedsevenchurches,one whereofhecalledtheLord'sChurch. Forthiswashiscustom,thatwhere- soever he dwelt on the Lord's day, if he founded a church there, he called it Doranhach, that is, belonging to the Lord. Over one of these seven churches, he appointed a disciple, named Conncdus, a good and holy man, indegreeaPresbyter,orPriest,andlearnedinthedivinelaw. Undertaking the government of this church, rather from obedience than from ambition, he spent there only one week, and then quitting it, he hastened to St. Patrick. The saint inquiring the cause for his speedy return, Connedus answered, that he could not patiently endure the absence of his beloved father. " Nor is it to
"
saint,
of life, but men of blood, and devourers of cattle, of whose sword thou
standest in dread, and fearest that thy blood will be poured out. Return, re- turn securely, nor tremble before their face ; for the blood of no man shall in
be the wondered," replied
since,
in that there are not children place,
"See "De Viris Illnstribns Ordinis S.
Benedicti," lib. iii. , cap. 141. *"
bes' " Kalendarsof Scottish Saints, p. 196.
»3 See in " Lignum Vitae," lib. iii. , p. cxxxiii.
By Rupert, he is simply styled Abbot. "See "Monumenta Germaniac Histo- rica," tomus v. Chronicon Mariani Scotti,
"See "Monumenta GennaniKHistorica," tomus v. Chronicon Mariani Scotti, p. 557. "^ See the BoUandists' "Acta Sanctorum," "Dempster has it, at ii Idus April. tomus ii. , Aprilis xii. Among the preter-
P- 557-
"
anno Salulis MXLII. "—" Ilistoria Ecclesi- asticaGentisScotorum,"tomusii. ,lib. viii. , num. 621. , p. 336.
mitted saints, p. 65.
Articleii. —' EditedbyRev. Dr. Kelly,
p. xxi. In the Franciscan copy, I find '*See "Monumenta Germaniae Histo- Cotiachi <Jb •Oo,1|M, with another word
rica," tomus v. , p. 557. *"
added, which seems to read LauIcu, or La
ulcu.
In the SolitariiScotorumAbbatis. " Bishop
following way,
Natalis Helix
—
For-
'
SeehisLife,atthe17thofMarch.
X28
LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. [April 12.
that place be shed, even from generation to generation. " Therefore, receiving this answer of St. Patrick, the venerable Connedus returned to the govern- mentofhischurch; andasdwellersinthatcountrydeclared,thewordofSt. Patrick has been confirmed, by many proofs. 3 Colgan has not been able to indentify this saint, with any recorded in our Calendars. He remarks, how- ever, that there isaConna, orConda, at the 8th of March, and at the 12th of April; thatthereisaCondanus,orConnanus,atthe12thofJune,andatthe ist of July; while there is a Connatus, orCondatus, at the 15th of November. Again, in the An—nals of the Four Masters. ^ it is stated, that Tighernach, lord ofLochGabhar nowknownasLoughGower,orLagore,nearDunshaughlin
atDaire
ofMeath—— a overthe
county gained victory foreigners.
It
Disirt-Dachonna s identified with Diseart-Dachonna, Dysart, in Feara-. -Vrda, Ferrard, a barony in the county of Louth. ^ This victory was achieved, a. d. 846, As the locality appears to have taken its denomination from a saint Dachonna, or Mochonna, venerated at the 8th of March,' it may be asked, if the pre-
sent saint must be distinguished from him ? He flourished, at a period, long anterior to the event already recorded, if such were the case. In the Annals of Ulster and of the Four Masters, his death is referred to a. d. 704, or 705. We read, in the Martyrology of Donegal,^ that on this day was venerated, Conda,Abbot,ofDaireDachonna,inUlster. TheRev. WilliamReeveshas placed St. Conna, in a Calendar, and the inference wouldjseem to be, that he is supposed to have been connected, with the north-east parts of Ireland. '
Article III. —St. Ernin, Bishop. A record of Erngn, a Bishop, is
found, in the Martyrology of Tallagh,' at this date. On the same authority, the Bollandists = insert a notice of him, at the 12th of April.
The festival of
Ernin, Bishop, was celebrated, on this day, as we read in the Martyrology of Donegal. 3
Article IV. —Reputed Festival of St. Dobanus. In his Commemora- tions of the Scottish Saints, Camerarius has inserted the name of a saint Dobanus, as a companion of St. Boniface. ' The Bollandists,'' who make the entry, at this day, and on his authority, remark, that he was unknown to them, and to Dempster ; unless, indeed, reference had been to St. Bonifa- cius Kiritinus, venerated at the i6th of March, where there is no mention madeofDobanus. AbriefnoticeofDobanisgiven,byBishopForbes. 3
3 See Colgan's "Trias Thaumaturga. " lOO, lOI.
Sexta Vita S. Patricii, cap. xci. , p. 86, and
nn. loi, I02, p. 113.
< . See Ur. O'Donovan's Edition, vol. i. , pp.
476,477.
5 This is rendered, " The Oak Wood of
' See "Ecclesiastical Antiquities of Down, Connor and Dromore, Appendix LL, p. 377-
St. Dachonna's desert or wilderness. " Dr.
O'Donovan had not been able to identify the
exact place. See n. (c), ibid. Yet, there
seems to me no good reason, for not associa-
ting this saint with the present parisli of
'Dysart, in the barony of P'errard, county of
Louth. Some vestiges of an ancient church
still remain, in the burial ground of this heren,-is is added, by Camerarius, to dis- parish. See Lewis' "Topographical Die- tinguish him.
tionary of Ireland," vol. i. , pp. 591, 592.
' See vol. vii. , Index Locorum, pp. 47, 48,
58.
1 See notices regarding him, at that date.
* Edited by Drs. Todd and Reeves, pp.
"
occurred,
Article HI. — Edited by Rev. Dr. Kelly, p. xxi. In the Franciscan copy, we find, epne^ni e^pi.
'See "Acta Sanctorum," tomus ii. , Ap- rilis xii. Among the pretermitted saints, p. 65.
^ Edited by Drs. Todd and Reeves, pp.
Article IV, "
100, loi. — " Scoti, Episcopi Tre-
"
See "Acta Sanctorum," tomus ii. , Ap- rilis xii. Among the pretermitted saints, P- 65-
3 See " Kalendars of Scottish Saints," p. 324.
April 12. ] LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. 129
Article V. —Feast of St. Mathilda, Virgin. {Thirteenth Centnry7\ The English Martyrology and Ferrarius state, that this pious virgin died on the 1 2th of April, and about the year 1200. Notices, regarding her, have been entered already, at the ist of January, the day more generally assumed
'
for her feast. Spinelhis
who is said to have sprung from a royal Scotic race. Her Manuscript Life was extant, according to Robert Buckland ; and, the Bollandists 3 have an account of her, at the 12th of April, nor do they consider, that any special ecclesiastical veneration had been given to her. The name is missing, in
Saussay's Gallic Martyrology, although she visited France, with her younger brother Alexander,* for the purpose of spending there a religious hfe. Re- garding herself and her brother Alexander, Baptista Fulgosius 5 and Andreas Eborensis * have treated. Already whatever particulars could be related, regarding the holy virgin Mathilde, will be found, and these have a close connection, with the Acts of her devoted brother.
Article VI. —St. Erkembodon, or Erkembode, Bishop of Therou- ANNE,ANDAbbotOFSt. Omer,France. \SnenthandEighthCenturies^ Among the distinguished missionaries, that Ireland sent forth, at a very early period, to spread the Gospel on the Continent of Europe, we may very pro- bably class the present holy man. The Breviary of St. Omer,' and the Ghronicon Bertinianum,' narrate St. Erkembode's Acts. The writers of the Bollandist Community have inserted a previous commentary, in two para- graphs, with a Life of St. Erkembodon, Bishop, at this day. ' Still later, the Abbd Destombes has treated about him. The Life, as published by the Bollandists, was written by John,' a monkof Sithieu,*once in Belgium j'and, in an appropriate introduction, the reasons why he composed it are presented to the reader. ' The early years of the present holy man are little known ; but,hewasbom,probably,inthelaterpartoftheseventhcentury. Accord-
ing
to
Jacobus Malebrancus,'
or
James Mabranq,
this saint was an »° Irishman,
Article v. —' In his work, " De Dei- para," s;ec. 7, num. 6l.
' -See
Colgan's
niae," I Januarii, Vita S. Mathildis, pp. 6, 7, and n. 8.
3 See "Acta Sanctorum," tomus ii. , Ap- rilis xii. Among the pretermitted saints, p. 65.
* The 14th of January has been assigned for his feast, as also the 6th of August.
Siecle. Legendaires du Douzieme Si^le, sect, i. , p. 615.
' This was not different from St. place
Berlin's fine monastery, at St. Omer.
' This Life is taken " ex Ordinario MS. et
Breviario Ecclesise S. Audomari. "
'
The author assigns his motives for writ- ing it, in the opening paragraph.
' See his work, " De Morinis," tomus i. , lib. iv. , en p. 55.
5 In his work, " Factorum
'° His and are not known.
treats about the rare sanctity of this devoted lady,'
" Acta Sanctorum Hiber-
Diciorumque "InSuisExemplis,"tituloDePaupertate.
family origin
See Les I'etits Bollandistes, Vies des
Mirabilium," lib. i. , cap. 4. '
"
The Life of this Saint is there in Nine Lessons.
Saints," tome iv. , xii. • Jour. d'Avril, p. 353.
Article VI. —' Printed,A. D.
1515.
" Their festival is kept, on the 23rd of October, where their Acts will be found.
'
Henschenn wrote, A. D. 'See"ActaS. anctorum, tomusii. , Ap-
rilis xii. De SancloErkembodone, Eplscopo
Teruanensi et Abbate Sithiuensi, in Bclgio,
In Vie des Saints de Cambrai et d'Arras. "
' See an account of him, in " Histoire Literaire de la France," tome xv. Douzieme
It was unpublished, when Godefrid
" Father Henschenn thinks the name of our saint to be manifestly ot Teutonic origin ; thus, Eryhen-bode, he translates, by the
"
Latin words, industrium cautumque
ministrum. " A stronger argument is to be found, in the statement, that in the Manu- script Acts, as also in the printed ones of
Luglius and Luglianus, no mention of St. Erkembodon's name appears.
pp. 92 to 94. '"
Vol. IV. —No, 3.
I
1675.
130 LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. [April 12.
as had been allowable to infer from a certain manuscript he read, since he
was a companion to Luglius and Luglianus," who came as royal missionaries fromHibernia. " Likethem,hewasattackedbymurderers,robbed,beaten
and left for dead, at a place called Seyrendal, near Ferfay, in the canton of Norrent-Fontes. It is stated, that after the departure of the assassins, he came to the use of his senses ; and then, hastily covering the bodies of both Irish Martyrs with brandies, Erkembodon went immediately to Thdrouanne, where St. Bain, '3 the Bishop, then lived, and who heard from him all that happened. ''* He lived, afterwards, in the monastery of Sithiii, at St. Omer,'5 and under St. Bertin. '* There, with an admirable spirit of religion, he laboured to emulate the virtues of his great master. He practised all monas- ticexercises,andwiththegreatestexactness. Hewaspresent,atthedeath- bed scene of St. Bertin, who passed out of this life, having exceeded the age of one hundred years. The monk John places his demise, at 698, while other modern writers state, that he died on the 5th of September, a. d. 709. '' In succession to him were first Rigobert, and afterwards Erlefrid. '^ With the unanimous suffrages of the monks, at St. Omer, St. Erkembobe was elected to succeed the last deceased Abbot, in the year 717. '' Meantime, owing to thegreatageofSt. Bertin,andhisinabilitytodischargeallthedutiesofhis
important charge, Rigobert
=° and Erlefrid " had been chosen his life- during
time, as coadjutors. While Erkembode maintained that exact discipline,
which had hitherto distinguished the monks, who dwelt in the monastery at
Sithiii, he fulfilled all the duties his new position required, and with true fide-
lity. By example and precept, he inspired the perfection of virtue, and he provided with prudence for the wants of his monastic brethren. In those
times, violent and oppressive acts often interrupted that peace, which should
reign in all religious communities ; but, the holy Abbot, with great wisdom and forecast, procured and defended the rights and immunities of his house. He even obtained a charter''' from King Chilperic II. , who, from having been a cleric, became a monarch, in 715. ^3 This deed conferred several important privileges on his monastery. Again, Thierry IV. , or Theodoric the younger,^*
'3 His feast occurs, on the 20th of June. '< According to some writeis, St. Erkem-
He does not appear to have lived very long, as assistant Abbot.
" Some writers regard him as third Abbot of Sithiu, in succession to St. Bertin.
" It begins: "Chilpericus Rex Francorum. Si facta parentum," &c. According to the Chronicle of Iperius, it was granted, in the
third year of his reign.
'3 He died, a. d. 720, after an unquiet rule.
bode belonged to a family of the Morini
;
while his zeal and piety, it is thought, urged him to become a guide and companion to St.
Luglius and Luglianus, in that part of the country.
'S Called after St. Omer, or St. Audmar, formerly a monk of Luxeuil, and afterwards the founder of a monastery, in honour of the Blessed Virgin Mary, at the former place. His festival is held, on the 9th of September.
'' His feast occurs, at the 5th September. '7 See Rev. Alban Butler's " Lives of the
Fathers, Martyrs and other principal Saints," vol. ix. , September v.
"' Erkembode had succeeded him, A.
