"—"
Histoire
d'Aumale," tome i.
O'Hanlon - Lives of the Irish Saints - v5
] LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS.
6i
Mosella, or Moselle f^ and, he travelled on to Treves,^'? where already so vast a number of Christian Martyrs had been slain, that the river had been made red with their blood. Passing through those parts, it is stated, that St. Severinus,3° Arclibishop of Cologne—having already heard of his wonderful labours and fortitude—received him with open arms, and insisted on his con- secration as bishop, to share in spreading the Gospel, in building cluirches, and in superintending the efforts of other ]uiests. However, it is thought,3' that the real consecrator of our saint was the St. Severius, Bishop of Treves, who was in Britain, with St. Germanus of Auxerre. 3^ Severinus is said to have obliged Germanus to remain with him, for some days, and then to have pro- moted him to the episcopal dignity. Afterwards, this holy man applied him- self most sedulously to Apostolic labours of every kind. Healing afflictions of mind and of body, ordaining priests and founding congregations, he gained all hearts to Christ. Germanus is said to have preached the Gospel in Frisia, and in the provinces of Lower Germany, while he wrought many miracles. 33 The holy man felt a great desire, according to his legend, to visit the tomb of the Apostles, Saints Peter and Paul, at Rome. 34 There, he prayed with intense fervour, and he was favoured with a vision. Those holy Apostles appeared to him and said : " Courage, Germanus, brother in our Apostolate, labour and be comforted, nor cease to spread the seed of the Divine Word and of the Faith among the people, that you may be a partaker of the eternal reward. A grand return for your works is reserved ; but, for your confirmation in the Faith, a great trial awaits you, while the point of the hostile sword shall be turned againstyoutodrawyourblood. " Foratime,GermanusremainedinRome, and during several days spent there, he visited the churches. One night, he returned to the Church of St. Peter, and with warm devotion, he saw and kissed it? sacred places. He then prepared to leave Rome. He sought Spain as thatcountry,whereheexpectedthecrownofmartyrdom. There,paganism and Arianism were both at work, to ravage the fold; but, the holy bishop preached the Gospel, in season and out of season, with superabounding fruit. He wrought numberless miracles ; he baptized many persons ; he built vari- ous churches ; he overturned idols and their temples. Especially in Tolosa,3S he is said to have left behind him a distinguished fame. Finding the Faith to be greatly increased among the people of Spain, owing to his own and the preachingofotherpiousmen,heresolvedondeparture. Hepassedbyship, to the British seas. Wishing to conceal his great actions and merits from the knowledge of the inhabitants, who had already received him, he found this, however, to be impossible. Among his countrymen, he spent a year and
century, its Bishops occupied a distinguished station in the Church. It is situated on the River Moselle, and under the name of Augusta Trevirorum, it became the Roman capital of Gallia Belgica. See "Gazetteer of the World," vol. xiii. , pp. i6i, 162.
This latter is supposed to have lived too late, after the time of St. Germain, to have con- secrated him bishop.
^i gy the Bollandists.
s^ £)ui-ing the time of his second visit. This St. Germanus was a disciple to St. Loup, Bishop of Troyes. See " Histoire Literaire
3° The feast of a holy man, bearing this
name, has been assigned to the 23rd of Octo- de la France," tome ii. Siecle v. , sect, i. ,
ber. He died about the beginning of the fifth century—as the Bollandists remark, be- fore the present St. Germanus of Auxerre had been baptized, or probably had been born. There was another St. Severinus, a bishop of Treves, who was martyred in the beginning of the fourth century, venerated on the 24th of October ; while, about A. D. 600, there was another bishop of Treves, so called, and who is venerated, on the 21st of December.
p. 490.
33 gee " Les Petits Bollandistes, Vies des
Saints," tome v. Seconde Jour de Mai, pp. 260, 261.
34 See " Dictionary of Christian Biogra- phy," edited by William Smith, D. C. L. , LL. D. , and Henry Wace, M. A. , vol. ii. , p. 656.
^s 'f he Bollandists are unable to fix upon its exact locality.
62
LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. [May
.
a-half,whileheconvertednumbersoftliemfromGentileerrors. Heordained priests to second those efforts made for the reign of Christ in all hearts. s^ Poinding the period destined for his martyrdom to be deferred, and knowing that France was still addicted to idolatry, he resolved to embark for that country, the scene of his former labours. During his voyage by sea, his vessel with the crew was miraculously saved from shipwreck. After a prayer poured fortli to the Almighty, Germanus and his companions landed safely at the port of La Hougue,37 between Barfleur 3^ and Carentan,39in Cotentin,''° a part of Lower Normandy. '*' At this time, the daughter of a nobleman, who was a native of Montebourg, lived near ; she happened to be blind from her birth, and a paralytic. Yet, seven years before his arrival she had an appa- rition during sleep, that Germanus should arrive and deliver her from afflic- tion. Anxiously she besought her domestics, to bring her in presence of the long-expected visitor. Having professed the true faith, she was conducted to the sacred font ot Baptism, and when there immersed, in the name of the Most Holy Trinity, she obtained the use of her hmbs and of her sight. According to certain accounts, she was named Petronilla,''^ in honour of St. Peter. 43 She became a most pure virgin. The fame of this wonderful mi- racle was soon diffused among the people ; and, as a consequence, they renounced idolatry, and built churches, in honour of the true and living God. Germanus spread the Gospel greatly throughout Normandyj-'-^and the people there very generally believed. He travelled on one occasion towards the city of Bayeux,45 where a certain avaricious Count refused hospitality to him, and to those in his company ; but, it was otherwise with a noble, named Gantius, who was both generous and courteous. A blessing fell on his family. On entering Bayeux, Germanus sought the release of certain captives. At first, his request was refused ; but, a miracle which he wrought there caused the magistrate to relent. Afterwards, to the number of twenty-four, the incar- cerated were released from their prison. *^ Leaving Normandy, St. Germanus had a great desire to visit a certain village, inhabited by the Ambiani. '*? These Ambiani or Ambienes, mentioned by Julius Caesar,-*^ were inhabitants of that country, about Amiens. St. Germanus travelled along the coast, so
3* See the Bollandists' "Acta Sanctorum," tomus i. , Maii ii. Vita S. Germani, ex variis Codicibus MSS. , with notes, cap. v. , pp. 226, 227.
^^ AccorJing to many of the ancient Kalendars, he had a daughter so named.
Normandia was formerly a province of Celtic Gaul. When brought over to the Cliristian Faith, it had seven principal cities over which bisliops presided, and the Arch- bishop of Rheims was the metropolitan pre- late. See Bavdrand's " Novum Le. \icon Geographicon," tomus i. , pp. 526, 527.
*^ Its Latin name is Baioca. See ibid. , p. 526.
** See the Bollandists' "Acta Sancto- rum," tomus i. , Maii ii. Vita S. Germani, ex variis Codicibus MSS. , cap. vi. , with notes, pp. 267, 268.
^^'phe Ambiani are classed with the Amiennois, Vimeux, Ponthieu and Santerre people, in Ernest Desjardin's " Geographic Historique et Administrative de la Gaule Romaine," tome ii. , chap, iv. , sect. 3, p. 436. Their position is marked, also, on the Map, intituled Gallia Comata, plate VI. , at P- 369. Ibid.
*^ See " De Bello Gallico," lib. ii. , cap. xv.
' See " Les Petits Bollandistes, Vies des
3'" " Pres du cap de la Hougue, se trou- vent la pointe^'i fansede Saint-Germain. II est probable que c'est la quele Saint Eveque debarqua pour la seconde fois dans les Gau-
les. " — "Les Petits Saints," tome v. p. 263.
Bollandistes' Vies des Seconde Jour de Mai,
3^ In 1346, it was ruined, and its harbour was filled up by the English. See " Ency- clopedia Britannica," vol. iii. , p. 12. Dublin ediiion.
39 In thearrondissementof St. L6, and the chief city of La Manche. See Elisee Rectus' " Nouvelle Geographie Universelle," tome ii. , chap. X. , p. 661.
*° See/i'/i/. , p. 652.
*' See "Les Petits Bollandistes, Vies des Saints," tome v. Seconde Jour de Mai, p. 261
^^ There are various female saints of France, bearing the name of Petronille, or Petronilla.
May 2. ] LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. 67,
far as Mortemar, a village on the River Eaulne, in the district of Caux. 't9 There, while near Dieppe,5° he had a revelation during sleep, that the day following should be that for his martyrdom. The holy bisliop was well pleased to learn, that the time for his happy translation had come. At an early hour, he arose, and waking up his companions, they recited Lauds together ; he then set out, to continue his journey, by the Commune of Essarts. There he baptized neophytes, in a pond, bearing still the name Mare-Saint-Germain. He then continued his journey, and he passed the River Auda, now called the Bresle. s' near the town of Eu. s^ That stream formed the boundary line, between Normandy and France, in former times. A wicked pagan, named Hebald, or Hubald, lived in a castle, afterwards calledbytraditiontheHouseofHebald. Thiswretchcollectedanumber of his satellites, to follow the holy propagandist of Christianity, and to take away his life. Towards the close of day, St. Germanus had reached the decli- vity of a high hill, known as Vieux Rouen, between Aumale S3 and Senarpont. Nearitwasachapel,dedicatedtotheHolyVirginMary. Here,thecruel Hebald and his gang lay in wait for the bishop. No sooner did the latter perceive these preparations for his destruction, than he cried out : " Holy, holy, holy, invisible, incomprehensible, Trinity, complex and simple, now the time approaches : if it please thee, take from me this earthly form of body, nor suffer me to remain longer, in this life of sorrow. I commend to thee those whom I have gained to God, and I pray that whosoever shall remember me, or shall supplicate thee in my name, shall obtain thy assistance, in all his affairs. " Scarcely had he ended these words, when the barbarous tyrant thrust his sword into the throat of St. Germanus. Through fear of meeting a similar fate, wiiich was threatened to them, the people assembled there fled away in fear, before that chief and his band of satellites. The head of Germanus was severed from his body,5+ as we are told, on the sixth of the May Nones. Atthesamemoment,adoveofsnowywhitenessseemedtoascend from that place, and poised on light wings, to direct its course towards Heaven. The exact year when his martyrdom occurred is not known ; but,
as he had been baptized by St. Germain of Auxerre, and had died towards the close of the fifth century, the date 480 is thought nearly to indicate that event. s5 The people of the place, through fear of the tyrant, allowed his body to remain in the open air, until the day following. It was preserved from desecration, however, until next morning, when a young girl, about to offer her prayers at the Blessed Virgin's chapel, heard a voice miraculously direct- ing her to notify the chief of Senarpont, 5^ to take measures for a decent inter- mentoftheremains. Thisnobleman,namedSenard,assembledaconsiderable number of the clergy, religious and people, to assist at the obsequies. Mean- time, the remains were not to be found at the spot, where his martyrdom occurred ; for. Angels had removed them to some distance. Aromatic em- balment of the body took place, and Senard 57 had it deposited, in a new
Saints," tome V, Seconde Jour de Mai, p. 262.
5° See an engraved plan and a description of this maritime port, in Elisee Reclus' "Nouvelle Geographie Universelle," tome ii. , chap, xi. , pp. 762 to 764.
53 Anciently called Albemarle. See Elisee Reclus' " Nouvelle Geographic Uni- verselle," tome ii. , chap, xi. , p. 764.
54 ^ slight mistake has been made, by M. Semichoii, that the tyrant llebault cut off our saint's head " au lieu meme ou s'eleve adjourd' hui I'eglise de Sainf-Germain-sur-
S' As the Bollandists incorrectly spell it
Gresle we may presume this must be a Brelse.
"—" Histoire d'Aumale," tome i. , ;
typographical error.
5^ See an account of this place, in Murray's
"Hand-book for Travellers in France," sect. i. , Route 18, pp. 74, 75.
p. 239.
55 See " Les Petits Eollandistes, Vies des
Saints," tome v. Seconde Jour de Mai, p. 262.
64
LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. [May
sarcophagus. It was buried, on that spot, where it had been found. Over his tomb, a chapel, and then a church,58 had been built. 59 This gave rise to the future village, called from the holy martyr Saint-Germain-SLir-Bresle. ^° There, a number of pilgrims resorted, during the middle ages, and great mira- cles were wrought. ^' Over three hundred years had lapsed after his death, when a religious community of Benedictines, who had been established at that place, were obliged to fly with his relics, from the ravages of the Danes, or Northmen. After the middle of the ninth century, two of the religious were charc^ed, to bring those remains to the Vermandois. Arriving one evening, on a 13th of November, at Ribemont,^^ the doors of a chapel,^^ in tlie suburbs of Suzencourt,^-* suddenly opened, and the relics were placed there, for that night. Nor could they be removed, on the day following. So it was found to be the Divine will, that there they should remain. Some time afterwards, the Count of Ribemont built a collegiate church, near his fortified chateau, and
itwasdedicatedtoSt. (jermanus. ^5 Toit,hisrelicsweretransferred,indue course ; and, he became chief patron of Ribemont,^^ where many miracles were wrought. When this town was besieged by the army of Turenne, in the year 1650, the shrine of our saint then in the church was broken by marauding soldiers. Theseafterwardswereseizedwithfear,onaccountofthesacrilege they had committed, so that they dared not carry any of its treasures away. The church-warden took care to remove the relics to La Fere. Some years later, these were brought back to Ribemont. At Amiens,^7 there was a church, also dedicated to St. Germanus. ^^ Jean Cauchie, who was cure of this church, in 1659, obtained some portion of his patron's relics,^? from the cure of Ribemont, while these were still kept in trust at La Fere. 7° They were verified by Frangois Faure, Bishop of Amiens, on the 3rd of April, 1660. They are yet preserved there, in the parish church of St. Germanus. ? ' In
s* It is observed, that he was a formerfriend of Germanus.
They desired greatly to spread their own devotion for the holy martyr, in the city of Amiens.
*- This town is situated on the River Oise, about three French leagues from St. Quin- tin, and more than six from Laon.
57 To honour his memory, the clergy of Saint-Germain-sur-Biesle go in procession,
each year, and on the Sunday which follows
the 2nd of Mav, with the relics of their holy
patron. This brings a great number of the
Senarpont people to the church of St. Ger-
main. At the time of the Ofifertoiy, an dicated to our saint.
ofiicial pronounces these words: " S'il y a ici quelque habitant de Senarpont, quels que soient son age, son sexe et sa condition, qu'il approche le premier, quand meme le seigneur du lieu serait present. "
58 It was served by Benedictines from the
Abbey of Saint-Fuscien-au-Bois, soon after
the foundation of this monastery. When gether with a view of its magnificent cathe- Enguerrand de Bovcs, Count of Amiens, drals—will be found, in Elisee Reclus' raised that Abbey from the ruins, he united " Nouvelle Geographic Universelle," tome the priory of Saint-Germain-sur-BresIe ii. , chap, xii. , sect, iv. , p. 7S8.
'^ No less than three streets, in this city, 59 See the Bollandists' "Acta Sancto- are called after St. Germanus, as also one of
^jtjjit,
rum " tomus i. , Maii ii. Vita S. Germani,
ex variis Codicibus MSS. , cap. vii. , with
notes, pp. 268, 269.
^ Within this church, there is a statue of
the saint, wrought in the fifteenth century. " Guy, Count of Amiens, and his wife Matilda, had such a veneration for St. Ger- main, that they desired to possess the domain, on which the Scottish missionary had shed his blood. Not far from the ancient chateau, they erected a church, to replace this chapel.
the islands there, on the River Somme.
'' These are certified as " os d'une cuisse, "ne coste, un os des vertebres, un morceau de la machoire dans laquelle il y avoit une dent. "—" Archives de la Paroisse Saint-
Germain d'Amiens. "
^° On the River Oise.
? ' Within it is a statue of the patron, and
it is the work of M. Duthoit.
'" Here there was a stained glass window
representing the Legend of St. Germanus.
'^ It was dedicated to St. Anne.
^* This place was afterwards specially de-
"s ,See " Les Petits Bollandistes, Vies des Saints," tome v. Seconde Jour de Mai, p. 263.
°^ Here not only is the day of his death commemorated, but also that of his Transla- tion.
*? A plan of Amiens and its environs—to-
—
May LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. 65
Normandy and in Picardy, he is greatly venerated. Especially in Amiens,? * in Ribemont, in Abbeville,73 in Argoules, in Carteret, in Flamanville, in Saint-Germain-sur-Bresle,74 in Senarpont, and in Mesnil-David, the people en- tertain a great devotion towards this Apostolic man. 75 The Breviaries of Amiens '^ commemorate hmi. Various relics are yet kept in the places already mentioned, while several religious foundations, dedicated in honour of St. Germanus, are still preserved, in the northern parts of France.
Article III. St. Fiachra, Abbot, of Ullard, County of Kil- kenny. The Martyrology of Donegal ' registers, on this day, Fiachra, Abbot ofErard,inUi-Drona. Thatplace,withwhichhehadbeenconnected,is now called Ullard,^ in the county of Kilkenny ;3 while, it is the head of a parish, which extends, likewise, into the adjoining county of Carlow. '* In the Life of St. Comgall,5 Abbot of Bangor, there is an account of a certain St. Fiachra, who came to the monastery at Bangor, and who raised from their place of sepulture, in an honourable manner, the relics of the patron, and brought them to the bounds of Leinster, which was his own province. ^ Whether or not, that St. Fiachra had been identical with the present holy abbot may be questioned. The place, where our St. Fiachra's establishment stood, is situated on the Barrow's western bank. ? Its sub-soil is a granite formation. ^ Here, there is a remarkable old church, having a highly ornamented and recessed doorway of the Irish Romanesque pattern. 9 There is an ornamented cross, besides the odier interesting remains illustrating a past period,
Simon Martin, who wrote " Nouvelles Vies des Saints," in 1649, states, that it was then valued at one thousand crowns—about three thousand francs. Only a single pane now exists in the Museum, and this represents the Apostolic man overcoming the monster with seven heads. Another stained glass window, representing him, is to be seen in a chapel, belonging to St. Germanus' convent.
'3 At the porch of St. Wulfran's church is a statue to our saint.
'* The old coffin of St. Germanus is yet
preserved, under the altar of this church. It
is covered by a sharply raised roof, and there
are two lateral holes, through which pilgrims
pass their arms, and take earth, which they
apply to persons in fever. Above there is a
large stone, elevated on six pillars, and on it
is represented a figure of St. Germain recum-
bent, and clothed in episcopal dress, with a
dragon writhing beneath the feet. This is
a work of the thirteenth century, and the
tomb is classed among the French historic
monuments. It is lithographed, in Baron annotation of William M. Hennessey, in his
Taylor's "Voyage Pittoiesque. "
''S See the Bollandists' " Acta Sanctorum,"
tomus i. , Mail ii. Vita S. Germani, ex variis Codicibus MSS. Historia Translationum, auctore D. Joanne Cauchio nuper composita, ut in Officio Ecclesiastico recitaretur, with notes, pp. 269, 270.
1^ As published in 1746, and 1840. See Les Petits BoUandistes, '* Vies des Saints," tome V. Seconde Jour de Mai, pp. 263, 264.
Vol. v. —No, 2.
copy of the Martyrology of Donegal.
** See the Map, prefixed to William Tighe's "Statistical Observations relative to the County of Kilkenny, made in the year
1800 and 1801," at p. I.
9 The accompanying illustration, drawn
on the spot by William F. Wakeman, and transferred to the wood by him, is here pre- sented, as engraved, by Mrs. Millard.
"See Lewis' " Topographical Dictionary of Ireland," vol. ii. , p. 670.
Article hi. —' Edited by Drs. Todd and Reeves, pp. 118, 119.
^ Among the Irish Ordnance Survey sketches, preserved in the Royal Irish Aca- demy, the doorway of the old church, and an ancient stone cross, will be found pictorially represented.
3 There are 3,186a. 3r. i8p. of land in the Barony of Gowran, and in this division of the parish shown, on the "Ordnance Survey Townland Maps for the County of Kilkenny," sheets 25, 29. The townland proper is on the former sheet.
* There are 72a. 2r. in the Barony of Idrone East, and 2,5S8a. or. 5p. in the Barony of St. MuUin's Lower. These are marked, on the " Ordnance Survey Town- landMapsfortheCountyofCarlovv,"sheets 22, 24.
s His Life will befound, at the loth of May.
* See Father Flemming's " Collectanea Sacra," Vita S. Comgelli, cap. 1. , p. 313.
7 "Erard ua n Drona," is a Manuscript
—
66 LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. [May
inthecemetery. '° TheUiDrona,ordescendantsofDrona,possessednot only the Idrone baronies, east and west, in the county of Carlow, but also that portion of Kildare and Leighlin diocese, lying on the west side of the
Doorway of Ullard Old Church, County of Kilkenny.
River Barrow, and near the town of Graiguenamanagh. " The church of Erard, or Urard—now called Ullard—west of the Barrow, likewise, and in the county of Kilkenny, belonged formerly to that district. "
Article IV. St, Piran, of Padstow and Piran-Sanz, Cornwall, England. We meet the name of St. Piranus, at the 2nd of May, in the Anonymous Calendar of Irish Saints, published by O'Sullevan Beare. ' The Bollandists ^ insert, at this same date, brief notices of St. Piran but, they
;
defer, to the 6th of June,^ any further information that might transpire, in addition to them. Some have thought, that St. Kyran,< Patron of Ossory, was not a distinct person from St. Piran. However, this latter holy man is stated, to have derived his origin, from different parents, 5 called Domuel and
" This parish, in the barony of Gowran, is shown, on the " Ordnance Survey Town- land Maps for the County of Kilkenny," sheets 25, 29, 33. The town and townland are on sheet 29.
" See Dr. O'Donovan's " Leabhar na g-Ceart, or Book of Rights," n. (k), p. 212. Article iv. —' See " Historic Catho- licas Iliernire Compendium," tomus i. , lib.
iv. , cap. xi. , xii. , pp. 50, 56.
' See "Acta Sanctorum," tomus i. ,
Maii ii. Among the pretermitted saints, p. 168.
3 This was a festival day for St. Petroc, one of the British saints, whose Life has been written by John of Tynemouih, about the year 1360.
•• See his Life, at the 5th of March, in vol.
Mosella, or Moselle f^ and, he travelled on to Treves,^'? where already so vast a number of Christian Martyrs had been slain, that the river had been made red with their blood. Passing through those parts, it is stated, that St. Severinus,3° Arclibishop of Cologne—having already heard of his wonderful labours and fortitude—received him with open arms, and insisted on his con- secration as bishop, to share in spreading the Gospel, in building cluirches, and in superintending the efforts of other ]uiests. However, it is thought,3' that the real consecrator of our saint was the St. Severius, Bishop of Treves, who was in Britain, with St. Germanus of Auxerre. 3^ Severinus is said to have obliged Germanus to remain with him, for some days, and then to have pro- moted him to the episcopal dignity. Afterwards, this holy man applied him- self most sedulously to Apostolic labours of every kind. Healing afflictions of mind and of body, ordaining priests and founding congregations, he gained all hearts to Christ. Germanus is said to have preached the Gospel in Frisia, and in the provinces of Lower Germany, while he wrought many miracles. 33 The holy man felt a great desire, according to his legend, to visit the tomb of the Apostles, Saints Peter and Paul, at Rome. 34 There, he prayed with intense fervour, and he was favoured with a vision. Those holy Apostles appeared to him and said : " Courage, Germanus, brother in our Apostolate, labour and be comforted, nor cease to spread the seed of the Divine Word and of the Faith among the people, that you may be a partaker of the eternal reward. A grand return for your works is reserved ; but, for your confirmation in the Faith, a great trial awaits you, while the point of the hostile sword shall be turned againstyoutodrawyourblood. " Foratime,GermanusremainedinRome, and during several days spent there, he visited the churches. One night, he returned to the Church of St. Peter, and with warm devotion, he saw and kissed it? sacred places. He then prepared to leave Rome. He sought Spain as thatcountry,whereheexpectedthecrownofmartyrdom. There,paganism and Arianism were both at work, to ravage the fold; but, the holy bishop preached the Gospel, in season and out of season, with superabounding fruit. He wrought numberless miracles ; he baptized many persons ; he built vari- ous churches ; he overturned idols and their temples. Especially in Tolosa,3S he is said to have left behind him a distinguished fame. Finding the Faith to be greatly increased among the people of Spain, owing to his own and the preachingofotherpiousmen,heresolvedondeparture. Hepassedbyship, to the British seas. Wishing to conceal his great actions and merits from the knowledge of the inhabitants, who had already received him, he found this, however, to be impossible. Among his countrymen, he spent a year and
century, its Bishops occupied a distinguished station in the Church. It is situated on the River Moselle, and under the name of Augusta Trevirorum, it became the Roman capital of Gallia Belgica. See "Gazetteer of the World," vol. xiii. , pp. i6i, 162.
This latter is supposed to have lived too late, after the time of St. Germain, to have con- secrated him bishop.
^i gy the Bollandists.
s^ £)ui-ing the time of his second visit. This St. Germanus was a disciple to St. Loup, Bishop of Troyes. See " Histoire Literaire
3° The feast of a holy man, bearing this
name, has been assigned to the 23rd of Octo- de la France," tome ii. Siecle v. , sect, i. ,
ber. He died about the beginning of the fifth century—as the Bollandists remark, be- fore the present St. Germanus of Auxerre had been baptized, or probably had been born. There was another St. Severinus, a bishop of Treves, who was martyred in the beginning of the fourth century, venerated on the 24th of October ; while, about A. D. 600, there was another bishop of Treves, so called, and who is venerated, on the 21st of December.
p. 490.
33 gee " Les Petits Bollandistes, Vies des
Saints," tome v. Seconde Jour de Mai, pp. 260, 261.
34 See " Dictionary of Christian Biogra- phy," edited by William Smith, D. C. L. , LL. D. , and Henry Wace, M. A. , vol. ii. , p. 656.
^s 'f he Bollandists are unable to fix upon its exact locality.
62
LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. [May
.
a-half,whileheconvertednumbersoftliemfromGentileerrors. Heordained priests to second those efforts made for the reign of Christ in all hearts. s^ Poinding the period destined for his martyrdom to be deferred, and knowing that France was still addicted to idolatry, he resolved to embark for that country, the scene of his former labours. During his voyage by sea, his vessel with the crew was miraculously saved from shipwreck. After a prayer poured fortli to the Almighty, Germanus and his companions landed safely at the port of La Hougue,37 between Barfleur 3^ and Carentan,39in Cotentin,''° a part of Lower Normandy. '*' At this time, the daughter of a nobleman, who was a native of Montebourg, lived near ; she happened to be blind from her birth, and a paralytic. Yet, seven years before his arrival she had an appa- rition during sleep, that Germanus should arrive and deliver her from afflic- tion. Anxiously she besought her domestics, to bring her in presence of the long-expected visitor. Having professed the true faith, she was conducted to the sacred font ot Baptism, and when there immersed, in the name of the Most Holy Trinity, she obtained the use of her hmbs and of her sight. According to certain accounts, she was named Petronilla,''^ in honour of St. Peter. 43 She became a most pure virgin. The fame of this wonderful mi- racle was soon diffused among the people ; and, as a consequence, they renounced idolatry, and built churches, in honour of the true and living God. Germanus spread the Gospel greatly throughout Normandyj-'-^and the people there very generally believed. He travelled on one occasion towards the city of Bayeux,45 where a certain avaricious Count refused hospitality to him, and to those in his company ; but, it was otherwise with a noble, named Gantius, who was both generous and courteous. A blessing fell on his family. On entering Bayeux, Germanus sought the release of certain captives. At first, his request was refused ; but, a miracle which he wrought there caused the magistrate to relent. Afterwards, to the number of twenty-four, the incar- cerated were released from their prison. *^ Leaving Normandy, St. Germanus had a great desire to visit a certain village, inhabited by the Ambiani. '*? These Ambiani or Ambienes, mentioned by Julius Caesar,-*^ were inhabitants of that country, about Amiens. St. Germanus travelled along the coast, so
3* See the Bollandists' "Acta Sanctorum," tomus i. , Maii ii. Vita S. Germani, ex variis Codicibus MSS. , with notes, cap. v. , pp. 226, 227.
^^ AccorJing to many of the ancient Kalendars, he had a daughter so named.
Normandia was formerly a province of Celtic Gaul. When brought over to the Cliristian Faith, it had seven principal cities over which bisliops presided, and the Arch- bishop of Rheims was the metropolitan pre- late. See Bavdrand's " Novum Le. \icon Geographicon," tomus i. , pp. 526, 527.
*^ Its Latin name is Baioca. See ibid. , p. 526.
** See the Bollandists' "Acta Sancto- rum," tomus i. , Maii ii. Vita S. Germani, ex variis Codicibus MSS. , cap. vi. , with notes, pp. 267, 268.
^^'phe Ambiani are classed with the Amiennois, Vimeux, Ponthieu and Santerre people, in Ernest Desjardin's " Geographic Historique et Administrative de la Gaule Romaine," tome ii. , chap, iv. , sect. 3, p. 436. Their position is marked, also, on the Map, intituled Gallia Comata, plate VI. , at P- 369. Ibid.
*^ See " De Bello Gallico," lib. ii. , cap. xv.
' See " Les Petits Bollandistes, Vies des
3'" " Pres du cap de la Hougue, se trou- vent la pointe^'i fansede Saint-Germain. II est probable que c'est la quele Saint Eveque debarqua pour la seconde fois dans les Gau-
les. " — "Les Petits Saints," tome v. p. 263.
Bollandistes' Vies des Seconde Jour de Mai,
3^ In 1346, it was ruined, and its harbour was filled up by the English. See " Ency- clopedia Britannica," vol. iii. , p. 12. Dublin ediiion.
39 In thearrondissementof St. L6, and the chief city of La Manche. See Elisee Rectus' " Nouvelle Geographie Universelle," tome ii. , chap. X. , p. 661.
*° See/i'/i/. , p. 652.
*' See "Les Petits Bollandistes, Vies des Saints," tome v. Seconde Jour de Mai, p. 261
^^ There are various female saints of France, bearing the name of Petronille, or Petronilla.
May 2. ] LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. 67,
far as Mortemar, a village on the River Eaulne, in the district of Caux. 't9 There, while near Dieppe,5° he had a revelation during sleep, that the day following should be that for his martyrdom. The holy bisliop was well pleased to learn, that the time for his happy translation had come. At an early hour, he arose, and waking up his companions, they recited Lauds together ; he then set out, to continue his journey, by the Commune of Essarts. There he baptized neophytes, in a pond, bearing still the name Mare-Saint-Germain. He then continued his journey, and he passed the River Auda, now called the Bresle. s' near the town of Eu. s^ That stream formed the boundary line, between Normandy and France, in former times. A wicked pagan, named Hebald, or Hubald, lived in a castle, afterwards calledbytraditiontheHouseofHebald. Thiswretchcollectedanumber of his satellites, to follow the holy propagandist of Christianity, and to take away his life. Towards the close of day, St. Germanus had reached the decli- vity of a high hill, known as Vieux Rouen, between Aumale S3 and Senarpont. Nearitwasachapel,dedicatedtotheHolyVirginMary. Here,thecruel Hebald and his gang lay in wait for the bishop. No sooner did the latter perceive these preparations for his destruction, than he cried out : " Holy, holy, holy, invisible, incomprehensible, Trinity, complex and simple, now the time approaches : if it please thee, take from me this earthly form of body, nor suffer me to remain longer, in this life of sorrow. I commend to thee those whom I have gained to God, and I pray that whosoever shall remember me, or shall supplicate thee in my name, shall obtain thy assistance, in all his affairs. " Scarcely had he ended these words, when the barbarous tyrant thrust his sword into the throat of St. Germanus. Through fear of meeting a similar fate, wiiich was threatened to them, the people assembled there fled away in fear, before that chief and his band of satellites. The head of Germanus was severed from his body,5+ as we are told, on the sixth of the May Nones. Atthesamemoment,adoveofsnowywhitenessseemedtoascend from that place, and poised on light wings, to direct its course towards Heaven. The exact year when his martyrdom occurred is not known ; but,
as he had been baptized by St. Germain of Auxerre, and had died towards the close of the fifth century, the date 480 is thought nearly to indicate that event. s5 The people of the place, through fear of the tyrant, allowed his body to remain in the open air, until the day following. It was preserved from desecration, however, until next morning, when a young girl, about to offer her prayers at the Blessed Virgin's chapel, heard a voice miraculously direct- ing her to notify the chief of Senarpont, 5^ to take measures for a decent inter- mentoftheremains. Thisnobleman,namedSenard,assembledaconsiderable number of the clergy, religious and people, to assist at the obsequies. Mean- time, the remains were not to be found at the spot, where his martyrdom occurred ; for. Angels had removed them to some distance. Aromatic em- balment of the body took place, and Senard 57 had it deposited, in a new
Saints," tome V, Seconde Jour de Mai, p. 262.
5° See an engraved plan and a description of this maritime port, in Elisee Reclus' "Nouvelle Geographie Universelle," tome ii. , chap, xi. , pp. 762 to 764.
53 Anciently called Albemarle. See Elisee Reclus' " Nouvelle Geographic Uni- verselle," tome ii. , chap, xi. , p. 764.
54 ^ slight mistake has been made, by M. Semichoii, that the tyrant llebault cut off our saint's head " au lieu meme ou s'eleve adjourd' hui I'eglise de Sainf-Germain-sur-
S' As the Bollandists incorrectly spell it
Gresle we may presume this must be a Brelse.
"—" Histoire d'Aumale," tome i. , ;
typographical error.
5^ See an account of this place, in Murray's
"Hand-book for Travellers in France," sect. i. , Route 18, pp. 74, 75.
p. 239.
55 See " Les Petits Eollandistes, Vies des
Saints," tome v. Seconde Jour de Mai, p. 262.
64
LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. [May
sarcophagus. It was buried, on that spot, where it had been found. Over his tomb, a chapel, and then a church,58 had been built. 59 This gave rise to the future village, called from the holy martyr Saint-Germain-SLir-Bresle. ^° There, a number of pilgrims resorted, during the middle ages, and great mira- cles were wrought. ^' Over three hundred years had lapsed after his death, when a religious community of Benedictines, who had been established at that place, were obliged to fly with his relics, from the ravages of the Danes, or Northmen. After the middle of the ninth century, two of the religious were charc^ed, to bring those remains to the Vermandois. Arriving one evening, on a 13th of November, at Ribemont,^^ the doors of a chapel,^^ in tlie suburbs of Suzencourt,^-* suddenly opened, and the relics were placed there, for that night. Nor could they be removed, on the day following. So it was found to be the Divine will, that there they should remain. Some time afterwards, the Count of Ribemont built a collegiate church, near his fortified chateau, and
itwasdedicatedtoSt. (jermanus. ^5 Toit,hisrelicsweretransferred,indue course ; and, he became chief patron of Ribemont,^^ where many miracles were wrought. When this town was besieged by the army of Turenne, in the year 1650, the shrine of our saint then in the church was broken by marauding soldiers. Theseafterwardswereseizedwithfear,onaccountofthesacrilege they had committed, so that they dared not carry any of its treasures away. The church-warden took care to remove the relics to La Fere. Some years later, these were brought back to Ribemont. At Amiens,^7 there was a church, also dedicated to St. Germanus. ^^ Jean Cauchie, who was cure of this church, in 1659, obtained some portion of his patron's relics,^? from the cure of Ribemont, while these were still kept in trust at La Fere. 7° They were verified by Frangois Faure, Bishop of Amiens, on the 3rd of April, 1660. They are yet preserved there, in the parish church of St. Germanus. ? ' In
s* It is observed, that he was a formerfriend of Germanus.
They desired greatly to spread their own devotion for the holy martyr, in the city of Amiens.
*- This town is situated on the River Oise, about three French leagues from St. Quin- tin, and more than six from Laon.
57 To honour his memory, the clergy of Saint-Germain-sur-Biesle go in procession,
each year, and on the Sunday which follows
the 2nd of Mav, with the relics of their holy
patron. This brings a great number of the
Senarpont people to the church of St. Ger-
main. At the time of the Ofifertoiy, an dicated to our saint.
ofiicial pronounces these words: " S'il y a ici quelque habitant de Senarpont, quels que soient son age, son sexe et sa condition, qu'il approche le premier, quand meme le seigneur du lieu serait present. "
58 It was served by Benedictines from the
Abbey of Saint-Fuscien-au-Bois, soon after
the foundation of this monastery. When gether with a view of its magnificent cathe- Enguerrand de Bovcs, Count of Amiens, drals—will be found, in Elisee Reclus' raised that Abbey from the ruins, he united " Nouvelle Geographic Universelle," tome the priory of Saint-Germain-sur-BresIe ii. , chap, xii. , sect, iv. , p. 7S8.
'^ No less than three streets, in this city, 59 See the Bollandists' "Acta Sancto- are called after St. Germanus, as also one of
^jtjjit,
rum " tomus i. , Maii ii. Vita S. Germani,
ex variis Codicibus MSS. , cap. vii. , with
notes, pp. 268, 269.
^ Within this church, there is a statue of
the saint, wrought in the fifteenth century. " Guy, Count of Amiens, and his wife Matilda, had such a veneration for St. Ger- main, that they desired to possess the domain, on which the Scottish missionary had shed his blood. Not far from the ancient chateau, they erected a church, to replace this chapel.
the islands there, on the River Somme.
'' These are certified as " os d'une cuisse, "ne coste, un os des vertebres, un morceau de la machoire dans laquelle il y avoit une dent. "—" Archives de la Paroisse Saint-
Germain d'Amiens. "
^° On the River Oise.
? ' Within it is a statue of the patron, and
it is the work of M. Duthoit.
'" Here there was a stained glass window
representing the Legend of St. Germanus.
'^ It was dedicated to St. Anne.
^* This place was afterwards specially de-
"s ,See " Les Petits Bollandistes, Vies des Saints," tome v. Seconde Jour de Mai, p. 263.
°^ Here not only is the day of his death commemorated, but also that of his Transla- tion.
*? A plan of Amiens and its environs—to-
—
May LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. 65
Normandy and in Picardy, he is greatly venerated. Especially in Amiens,? * in Ribemont, in Abbeville,73 in Argoules, in Carteret, in Flamanville, in Saint-Germain-sur-Bresle,74 in Senarpont, and in Mesnil-David, the people en- tertain a great devotion towards this Apostolic man. 75 The Breviaries of Amiens '^ commemorate hmi. Various relics are yet kept in the places already mentioned, while several religious foundations, dedicated in honour of St. Germanus, are still preserved, in the northern parts of France.
Article III. St. Fiachra, Abbot, of Ullard, County of Kil- kenny. The Martyrology of Donegal ' registers, on this day, Fiachra, Abbot ofErard,inUi-Drona. Thatplace,withwhichhehadbeenconnected,is now called Ullard,^ in the county of Kilkenny ;3 while, it is the head of a parish, which extends, likewise, into the adjoining county of Carlow. '* In the Life of St. Comgall,5 Abbot of Bangor, there is an account of a certain St. Fiachra, who came to the monastery at Bangor, and who raised from their place of sepulture, in an honourable manner, the relics of the patron, and brought them to the bounds of Leinster, which was his own province. ^ Whether or not, that St. Fiachra had been identical with the present holy abbot may be questioned. The place, where our St. Fiachra's establishment stood, is situated on the Barrow's western bank. ? Its sub-soil is a granite formation. ^ Here, there is a remarkable old church, having a highly ornamented and recessed doorway of the Irish Romanesque pattern. 9 There is an ornamented cross, besides the odier interesting remains illustrating a past period,
Simon Martin, who wrote " Nouvelles Vies des Saints," in 1649, states, that it was then valued at one thousand crowns—about three thousand francs. Only a single pane now exists in the Museum, and this represents the Apostolic man overcoming the monster with seven heads. Another stained glass window, representing him, is to be seen in a chapel, belonging to St. Germanus' convent.
'3 At the porch of St. Wulfran's church is a statue to our saint.
'* The old coffin of St. Germanus is yet
preserved, under the altar of this church. It
is covered by a sharply raised roof, and there
are two lateral holes, through which pilgrims
pass their arms, and take earth, which they
apply to persons in fever. Above there is a
large stone, elevated on six pillars, and on it
is represented a figure of St. Germain recum-
bent, and clothed in episcopal dress, with a
dragon writhing beneath the feet. This is
a work of the thirteenth century, and the
tomb is classed among the French historic
monuments. It is lithographed, in Baron annotation of William M. Hennessey, in his
Taylor's "Voyage Pittoiesque. "
''S See the Bollandists' " Acta Sanctorum,"
tomus i. , Mail ii. Vita S. Germani, ex variis Codicibus MSS. Historia Translationum, auctore D. Joanne Cauchio nuper composita, ut in Officio Ecclesiastico recitaretur, with notes, pp. 269, 270.
1^ As published in 1746, and 1840. See Les Petits BoUandistes, '* Vies des Saints," tome V. Seconde Jour de Mai, pp. 263, 264.
Vol. v. —No, 2.
copy of the Martyrology of Donegal.
** See the Map, prefixed to William Tighe's "Statistical Observations relative to the County of Kilkenny, made in the year
1800 and 1801," at p. I.
9 The accompanying illustration, drawn
on the spot by William F. Wakeman, and transferred to the wood by him, is here pre- sented, as engraved, by Mrs. Millard.
"See Lewis' " Topographical Dictionary of Ireland," vol. ii. , p. 670.
Article hi. —' Edited by Drs. Todd and Reeves, pp. 118, 119.
^ Among the Irish Ordnance Survey sketches, preserved in the Royal Irish Aca- demy, the doorway of the old church, and an ancient stone cross, will be found pictorially represented.
3 There are 3,186a. 3r. i8p. of land in the Barony of Gowran, and in this division of the parish shown, on the "Ordnance Survey Townland Maps for the County of Kilkenny," sheets 25, 29. The townland proper is on the former sheet.
* There are 72a. 2r. in the Barony of Idrone East, and 2,5S8a. or. 5p. in the Barony of St. MuUin's Lower. These are marked, on the " Ordnance Survey Town- landMapsfortheCountyofCarlovv,"sheets 22, 24.
s His Life will befound, at the loth of May.
* See Father Flemming's " Collectanea Sacra," Vita S. Comgelli, cap. 1. , p. 313.
7 "Erard ua n Drona," is a Manuscript
—
66 LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. [May
inthecemetery. '° TheUiDrona,ordescendantsofDrona,possessednot only the Idrone baronies, east and west, in the county of Carlow, but also that portion of Kildare and Leighlin diocese, lying on the west side of the
Doorway of Ullard Old Church, County of Kilkenny.
River Barrow, and near the town of Graiguenamanagh. " The church of Erard, or Urard—now called Ullard—west of the Barrow, likewise, and in the county of Kilkenny, belonged formerly to that district. "
Article IV. St, Piran, of Padstow and Piran-Sanz, Cornwall, England. We meet the name of St. Piranus, at the 2nd of May, in the Anonymous Calendar of Irish Saints, published by O'Sullevan Beare. ' The Bollandists ^ insert, at this same date, brief notices of St. Piran but, they
;
defer, to the 6th of June,^ any further information that might transpire, in addition to them. Some have thought, that St. Kyran,< Patron of Ossory, was not a distinct person from St. Piran. However, this latter holy man is stated, to have derived his origin, from different parents, 5 called Domuel and
" This parish, in the barony of Gowran, is shown, on the " Ordnance Survey Town- land Maps for the County of Kilkenny," sheets 25, 29, 33. The town and townland are on sheet 29.
" See Dr. O'Donovan's " Leabhar na g-Ceart, or Book of Rights," n. (k), p. 212. Article iv. —' See " Historic Catho- licas Iliernire Compendium," tomus i. , lib.
iv. , cap. xi. , xii. , pp. 50, 56.
' See "Acta Sanctorum," tomus i. ,
Maii ii. Among the pretermitted saints, p. 168.
3 This was a festival day for St. Petroc, one of the British saints, whose Life has been written by John of Tynemouih, about the year 1360.
•• See his Life, at the 5th of March, in vol.
