ATTRACTA, VIRGIN AND
PATRONESS
PATRONESS
OF KIL- LARAUGHT, COUNTY OF SLIGO.
O'Hanlon - Lives of the Irish Saints - v8
"
Vita Tripartita S. Patricii,J pars, hi. , cap. 62, p. 161.
i 4S
LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. [Auoust ia.
This a being clay
of rest and devotion for him,15 he the labourers prohibited
from prosecuting their work. ' 6 They mocked him, however, and would not cease. An abbey or a church is said to have been founded here, during the lifetime of the great Irish Apostle. The printed survey of Down, by Walter Harris, describes the old church ruins at this place, as they were before the middle of the last century. '? However, careless copyists of monastic story
Martyrology
Tallagh,
Marianus, Donegal,
18 that the ruined church there was the
of an
founded
by
John O'Donovan has written : "This Fretum is now Belfast Lough, then called after Drumbo, the nearest and most celebrated town in this part of Uladh. Belfast, after which- this strait is now called, was not in existence for centuries afterwards. "* 2 This place was near the sea, as we are told, at a port in the northern part of Ireland, and opposite the town of Drumbo, called in Latin " Collis Bovis. "a3 It has been 2* that the Drumbo, in the
assert,
St. Patiick,^ and in the beginning of the seventh century presided over by St. Mochumma. 20 In the Book of Armagh, the patron saint of Ireland is saidtohavebeennear"Fretum CollumBovisvocatur. "21 Wefind
quod
thought, present
Barony of Upper Castlereagh, can hardly be die spot there alluded to, and it is supposedtobeprobable,thattheinnerbayofDundrummayhavebeen intended. 2 s A festival was celebrated at this date, as we find registered in the 26 of 2? and of 28 in honour of
of
Cuimmin, Abbot of Druimbo, in Uladh.
Article III. —St. Malchus, Bishop of Lismore. {Eleventh and
Twelfth Centuries^ We learn most about this holy Bishop, through the
writings
Already
2 onwhich
of St. Bernard. 1
we have treated about at some him,
hewas
to some Calendarists. Colgan intended publishing a Life of St. Malchus, at the ioth of August, as would seem from his posthumous list. 3 The Bollandists have given his acts,* in three paragraphs, at this date. He is noticed, likewise, in the work of Rev. S. Baring-Gould. 5 St. Malchus was born in Ireland, about the middle of the eleventh century. He became a monk at Winchester. From that religious house, he was drawn to preside over the See of Lismore, in the Southern part of Ireland. He was probably the immediate successor of Mac Mic who died A. D. 6 In or
length,
attheiothof
April,
day
venerated, according
•s Joceline states : " Sed ibidem navi q—uiescens eandem devotione solemnizavit. "
Ibid. , cap. clx. , p. 100.
16 See Sir William Bctham's " Anti-
quarian Researches. " Appendix, p xi.
17 See " Ancient and Present State of the
2 * By the Rev. William Reeves, D. D.
25 See "Ecclesiastical Antiquities of
Down, Connor and Dromore. " Appendix
s. pp. 235, 236, and Appendix LL, p. 379. "Edited by Rev. Dr. Kelly, p. xxxi. In the Book of Leinstei copy, at this date,
vestige
Aeducan, 1113.
thereadingis Ctmne&b"Oponnbo. "'"
CountyofDown,"chap. i. , sect,iv. ,pp. 73,74. 5ee Parliamentary Gazetteer ol Ire-
land," vol. ii. , p. 81. .
7 See Colgan's Acta Sanctorum Hiber-
niae," xii. Januarii, n. 6, p. 59. Colgan here calls him Abbot of Dromore.
M Edited by Drs. Todd and Reeves, pp.
'9 See Archdall's cum," p. 119.
"
Monasticon Iliberni-
30
See Colgan's "Acta Sanctorum Iliber-
niae. " Martii xii. , De S. Muro sive Articlein.
wi urano, p. 587, and n. 5, ibid. chiiv. "
'" 2 Fol. 680.
*•
These remarks are met with on loose sheets, intituled, "Correspondence, &c, concerningnamesofrPlaces,Antiquities,&C. , Co. Down. " They are part of the Irish Ordnance Survey Records.
Sexta Vita S. Patricii, cap. clx. , p. 100,
'
23 See " Trias Colgan's
De S. Malcho Conf. Episcopo
Thaumaturga. " Probus or Quinta Vita S. Patricii, pars. ii. , cap. xxxviii. , p. 61, and Jocelyn's or
Augusti x. ,
Li^nori in Hibernia, p. 561.
214, 215. —
In his " Vita S. Mala-
abbey
See at that date, the Fourth Volume of this work, Art. v.
Dierum. "
'•Sec "Acta Sanctorum. " tomus ii. ,
' See "
Actuum Sanctorum qua: MS. habentur Ordine Mensium et
Catalogus
5 See "Lives of the Saints," vol. viii. , August 10, p. 112,
August to. ] LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. 149
about the year n 20, St. Malachy O'Morgair? became his disciple, and after- wards spent some time with him. At this time, Malchus seems to have been
very old ; but, he had been distinguished for his learning and his virtues, and even for his miracles. When St. Malchus died has not been ascertained
exactly; but, after the year n30, seems to have been the probable epoch. The name of this holy Bishop is entered, at the 10th of August, in the
8 anonymousCalendarofIrishSaints,publishedbyO'SullevanBeare. Bishop
Malchus is mentioned, at the same date, on Father Henry Fitzsimons' list,9 where reference is given for further notice of him to St. Bernard's Life
ofSt. Malachy.
Article IV. —The Arrival or St. Maolruain, with the Relics of
VirginsandofotherSaints,atTallagh,CountyofDublin. Inthe
of 1 we find a festival for this as characterized at Martyrology Tallagh, day,
the head of this paragraph. We learn from the Life of St. ^Engus, the
2
Culdee, that he often travelled about, engaged on inquiries, which enabled
him to illustrate the Saint-History of Ireland. Doubtless, he failed not to
collectsomerelicsofthoseholypersons,wheneverhetravelledabroad; and,
it is likely, that his distinguished superior and local contemporary, St. Maelruan,3 who had kindred tastes, made special journeys for similar purposes. Oneofthesereturnsmusthavebeensolemnlycommemoratedat Tallagh, in the eighth century, and before the death of St. Maelruan, on the 7th July, 792. That commemoration was probably continued annually, on
this day, and at that particular place, in recognition of those treasures deposited by the holy founder in the house of his religious community.
Article V. —Feast of St. Laurence, Deacon and Martyr. In the Irish Church was commemorated on this day the Feast of that illustrious Deacon. St. Laurence, who submitted to a glorious martyrdom, for the sake
" *' 1
of Christ. In the Feilire of St. ^Engus the festival is entered, and a
Latin comment is found affixed in the ki Leabhar Breac "
copy.
3 The Acts
of this holy Deacon are set forth in full by the Bollandists,3 at the 10th of
August, in a previous commentary of twelve sections, containing 128 para-
graphs, with a closing Latin hymn,-* and notes : afterwards, follow Acts from theMartyrologyofAdo,5 andanAccountoftheposthumouscommemora- tions, miracles, and glories of the Saint, in six sections, containing 59 paragraphs.
Article VI. —Festival of Soldiers, Martyrs. In the general way of
commemorating a host of soldiers, who are highly eulogized as martyrs, a festival was celebrated in the Irish Church, on the 10th of Ajigust, as we
learn from the ' 4 Feilire "* of St. yEngus. In a comment attached, these are stated to have been seventy in number. 2 However, I cannot find in any
6 See Harris' Lismore," p. 550.
vol. i. "
of
<vo Cambachcam uetiic. See the Third Volume of this work, at
the nthot March, Art. i.
3 His festival occurs, at the 7th of July,
where his Acts may be seen in the Seventh
Volume of this— i. work, Ajrt.
x
8
See "Historian Catholicae Ibernix
Compendium," tomus xi. , P- 5°-
Article v.
9 See ibid. , p. 55. Article iv. —*
Ware,
Bishops
fAticcopum eu'tiqx 3
1 His feast occurs, on the 3rd of Novem-
ber, at which date his Life may be found in
the Eleventh Volume of this work, Art. i.
Edited
Kelly, p. xxxi. In the Book of Leinster
the Rev. Dr. copy, we find melruiArn cum rf pelivpnr-
dar of
i. , lib.
iv. , cap.
See "Transactions of the Royal Irish Academy. " Irish Manu- script Series, vol. i. , part i. On the Calen-
by
Oengus, by Whitley Stokes, LL. D. , cxxiii.
"Thus: "*•*. Martir[i]um ejus i. e.
p.
150 LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. [August ii.
other Calendar a similar enumeration of martyr soldiers; but the Bollandists, at this same date, have a feast and notice for seven soldiers, with other martyrs, 3 and, moreover, they have a festival for one hundred and sixty-five soldiers, with other martyrs, for the ioth of August. *
©lebentfj ©arj of August,
ARTICLE I. —ST.
ATTRACTA, VIRGIN AND PATRONESS OF KIL- LARAUGHT, COUNTY OF SLIGO.
[FIFTH OR SIXTH CENTURY. ]
CHAPTER I.
INTRODUCTORY—WRITERS OF ST. ATTRACTA's BIOGRAPHY—THE PERIOD OF ST. AT- TRACTA—SUPPOSED PARENTAGE AND RELATIONS OF THE HOLY VIRGIN—HER EARLY PIOUS DISPOSITIONS—SHE RESOLVES ON LEADING A RELIGIOUS LIFE— SHE RECEIVES THE VEIL FROM ST. PATRICK.
is to be regretted, that so many of our earlier saints failed to have the ITstory oftheir lives recorded, by writers familiar with their company and conversation on earth. Among those pious and meritorious Christians was St. Attracta, of whom only popular traditions have been committed to rather late record. As a consequence, no very reliable materials for her Life remain. Those we possess are of a legendary character ; but, the morals culture and patriotism of the reader cannot be injured in the story of a chaste woman's career on earth. In exaggerated tales, religious sentiments may be over-strained, but they usually give right and virtue their due reward,
and they often afford examples of retribution against the wrong-doer.
A brief illusion to this holy virgin has been made already, at the 9th of
1
February, which was a festival held in her honour, and where her Life is to
;
Laurentius Archidiaconus Sixti Militum VII. See "Acta Sanctorum," Papaje]
Romae fuit et sub Decio passus est ba. uii. , tomus ii. , Aprilis x. , p. 533.
fuit [sic] sub D£cio pasus est in Romae. "— 4 See ibid. De Sanctis Martyribus
Ibid. , p. cxxx.
3 See "Acta Sanctorum," tomus ii. ,
Augusti x. , De S. Laurentio Archidiacono
Romania Militibus ci. xv. Item de Claudio,
Severo, Crescentione, et Romano, pp. 534,
i. See the —Chapter —'
Art. viii.
ac Romse, &c, Martyre,
to
535. Article
pp. 485 * By Aurelius Prudentius.
532.
i.
Second Volume of this work, at that date,
5 These are set forth in twelve paragraphs, with notes.
2
These are published in Father John
Article vi.
—
'
See "Transactions of the
"Acta Sanctorum Hibernioe," Kebruarii ix. Vita S. Attracta Virginia. Partim ex. MS. Insulensi, partim ex aliis, pp.
27710282. See also n. I, p. 2S1.
3 Its foundation is referred to A. D. 1 148. See "The History of Ireland and the Annals of Boyle," &c. , by John D'Alton,
Esq. , vol. i. , p. 179.
Royal Irish Academy. " Irish Manuscript Series, vol. i. , part i. On the Calendar of
Oengus, by Whitley Stokes, LL. D. , p. cxxiii.
3 See ibid. , p. cxxx.
3 Thus headed : De Sanctis Martyribus Viris XL, et Virginibus XIIL, item Afraa et
of several the nth of —
be found, in the
appears to us, to ha—ve been her principal feast. Her Life and Acts 2 but in a mutilated state are taken from an old manuscript, which is supposed to have been written by a Cistercian Monk, belonging to the Abbey of Boyle,*
writings hagiologists
but, August
Colgan's
August ii. ] LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. 151
in Connaught, and who lived after the commencement of A. d. iioo. 4 It was taken from the Book of the Island, but it wants the beginning and conclusionofSt. Attracta'sLife. OurnationalHagiologist,however,hassup- plied these portions from other sources. Whilst admitting the inferiority of style in this composition, we are told truly, that its literary defects are not even compensated for, by its intrinsic historical value. 5 Thus composed, the
Acts ofthis Saint are to us given
at the nthof 6 It February.
by Colgan,
was his design, likewise, to have published Acts of St. Attracta, Virgin, at
the present day, as we may learn from the list of his MSS. given by Charles
MacDonnell, Esq. ? The original, from which Colgan extracted her Life, is still preserved among the Franciscan Manuscripts, Dublin. 8 The Bol-
landists have treated, also, about this holy virgin, at the 9th of February. They have a passing allusion to her, also, at this date, 9 under the names
Arata,Attracta,andTaharata. However,theyhavescarcelyanythingabout her, except what they took from Colgan, and they follow him even to her
having flourished in —the fifth century. To this period, they also assign
IO
St. Coeman of Airdne Coemhain. Only a few remarks about this holy
virgin have been given by Bishop Challenor. "
Regarding the period, at which this religious woman lived, considerable 12
discrepancy of opinion exists. According to Rev. Dr. Lanigan, St. Attracta flourished in the sixth century, and perhaps at a late period in that age. He
remarks, likewise, that although in her Life, as published by Colgan, she is said to have been born in Ulster ; nevertheless, from an account given about her having been sister to St. Coeman of Aird-na-Coemhain,^ it must prove a difficult matter, to reconcile both statements. Such objections are urged, also, in notes to his text, and with much force. After treating about St. Conchenna, I4 who died in 655, the Rev. Dr. Lanigan tells us, there is good reason for supposing, that the celebrated St. Athracta or Attracta lived either at or before such period. *s The grounds on which this opinion is based are ; first, that she is spoken of as being contemporaneous with St.
I2 See "Ecclesiastical History of Ireland," vol. i. , chap, v. , sect, x. , p. 245, and n. 95, pp. 247, 248, ibid.
,3 His festival occurs on the 12th ofJune, where notices of him may be found, in the Sixth Volume of this work, Art. vi.
I4 See an account of her, at the 13th of March, in the Third Volume of this work, Art. iv.
'S See "Ecclesiastical History of Ireland," vol. iii. , chap, xvii. , sect, ix. , p. 39.
I<5
See his life, at the 13th of December, *» Abbot of Ros Glas, and whose feast is
on the 23rd of December.
,8 See his Acts, in the present volume,
I9 See the Thirteenth Chapter of St.
Corbmac's Life, in Colgan's "Acta Sanc- torum Hibemioe," Martii xxvi. Vita S. Corbmaci Abbatis, cap. xiii. p. 753.
20 Not finding any king there of this name before about 670, Colgan thought that in- stead of a king over all Connaught, it
ought tobe understood a dynast ruling in some part of that Province,
l6 brother to St. Evin/7 and
supposed to have belonged to Achonry, and who lived in the sixth or seventh century, is alluded to in her Acts, as having been a contemporary. ^
Corbmac,
secondly,
4 Such is Colgan's statement.
5 Bishop Challoner, in his " Britannia Sancta, part i. , p. 113, pronounces these Acts of the Saint published by Colgan to be
of no authority.
6
See "Acta Sanctorum Hibemioe," xi.
Februarii. Vita S. Attracts, &c, pp. 277 to 282.
7 In "Catalogusaliquorum Sanctorum Hi-
hernia? , qua? MS. habentur ordine Mensium
et Dierum. "
8
In "Vitae Sanctorum," ex. Cod. Inisensi, we find Vitae S. Athractee Virg. , in this Co- dex.
9 See "Acta Sanctorum," tomus ii. , Au-
gusti xi. Among the pretermitted saints, 606.
10
p.
According to the Rev. Dr. Lanigan, they did not examine the history of either saint with much attention. See " Ecclesi- astical History of Ireland," vol. iii. , chap. xvii. , sect ix. , n. 129, pp. 43, 44.
"In his "Britannia Sancta," part i. , P- 113.
that St. l8 whom he Nathy,
152 LIVES OE THE IRISH SAINTS. [August ii.
Moreover, Keannfaelaid is said to have been king of Connaught during her
time 2 ° while, it is manifest, that the author of her Acts meant the well-known ;
king over all Connaught, and bearing that name. 21 Yet, we are not bound to believe, that Athracta lived so late as his reign, which lasted to a. d. 680, whenhewaskilled22 byUlcha-deargorRedbeardUa-Caillidhe,oneofthe Conmaicne-Cuile. 23 Again,St. Attractaismadetobecontemporaneouswith St. Nathy of Achonry; 3 < and, that he was the Nathy alluded to in her Acts
is sufficiently clear, from his having lived in that district, in which her nunnery 2
was situated, viz. , Lugne or Lugnia. s
InmakingAthractaasisterofSt. Patrick,26 Harris2? commitsagrave
error ; for, among all his pretended sisters, no such person as Athracta is
28
mentioned.
century, that careless author thinks so little about anachronisms, he again places her in the times of St. Patrick. Whether sister or not, if St. Attracta
2
were only a contemporary with Coeman, ? * we have an additional argument,
in favour of her having lived during the sixth century ; for, Coeman is said to have been brother to St. Coemghen of Glendalough,3° and the latter is known to have lived even to the seventh century. 31
St. Attracta is said to have been the daughter of Talan, and to have had abrothercalledSt. Coeman. ThesebelongedtotheraceofIrius,andderive their origin from the Province of Ulster. However, other statements are found to differ from the foregoing account of her family and race. By some
writers, who have treated on this saint, she is called Taracta, but erroneously, as has been asserted. 3* Her father's name was Talan, said to belong to the
21 Thus, in her Acts, Keannfaelaid is ex-
pressly stated to have ruled the whole pro-
vince, " tenens totum ejus (Connacire) prin- cipatum universaliter. "
race of Irius 33 no little ; yet,
Having inferentially assigned this holy virgin to the seventh
exists, in those accounts respecting her parentage and genealogy. 3* In one instance, St. Attracta's father
given
3° See his life, in the Sixth Volume of this work, at the 3rd of June, Art. i.
Vita Tripartita S. Patricii,J pars, hi. , cap. 62, p. 161.
i 4S
LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. [Auoust ia.
This a being clay
of rest and devotion for him,15 he the labourers prohibited
from prosecuting their work. ' 6 They mocked him, however, and would not cease. An abbey or a church is said to have been founded here, during the lifetime of the great Irish Apostle. The printed survey of Down, by Walter Harris, describes the old church ruins at this place, as they were before the middle of the last century. '? However, careless copyists of monastic story
Martyrology
Tallagh,
Marianus, Donegal,
18 that the ruined church there was the
of an
founded
by
John O'Donovan has written : "This Fretum is now Belfast Lough, then called after Drumbo, the nearest and most celebrated town in this part of Uladh. Belfast, after which- this strait is now called, was not in existence for centuries afterwards. "* 2 This place was near the sea, as we are told, at a port in the northern part of Ireland, and opposite the town of Drumbo, called in Latin " Collis Bovis. "a3 It has been 2* that the Drumbo, in the
assert,
St. Patiick,^ and in the beginning of the seventh century presided over by St. Mochumma. 20 In the Book of Armagh, the patron saint of Ireland is saidtohavebeennear"Fretum CollumBovisvocatur. "21 Wefind
quod
thought, present
Barony of Upper Castlereagh, can hardly be die spot there alluded to, and it is supposedtobeprobable,thattheinnerbayofDundrummayhavebeen intended. 2 s A festival was celebrated at this date, as we find registered in the 26 of 2? and of 28 in honour of
of
Cuimmin, Abbot of Druimbo, in Uladh.
Article III. —St. Malchus, Bishop of Lismore. {Eleventh and
Twelfth Centuries^ We learn most about this holy Bishop, through the
writings
Already
2 onwhich
of St. Bernard. 1
we have treated about at some him,
hewas
to some Calendarists. Colgan intended publishing a Life of St. Malchus, at the ioth of August, as would seem from his posthumous list. 3 The Bollandists have given his acts,* in three paragraphs, at this date. He is noticed, likewise, in the work of Rev. S. Baring-Gould. 5 St. Malchus was born in Ireland, about the middle of the eleventh century. He became a monk at Winchester. From that religious house, he was drawn to preside over the See of Lismore, in the Southern part of Ireland. He was probably the immediate successor of Mac Mic who died A. D. 6 In or
length,
attheiothof
April,
day
venerated, according
•s Joceline states : " Sed ibidem navi q—uiescens eandem devotione solemnizavit. "
Ibid. , cap. clx. , p. 100.
16 See Sir William Bctham's " Anti-
quarian Researches. " Appendix, p xi.
17 See " Ancient and Present State of the
2 * By the Rev. William Reeves, D. D.
25 See "Ecclesiastical Antiquities of
Down, Connor and Dromore. " Appendix
s. pp. 235, 236, and Appendix LL, p. 379. "Edited by Rev. Dr. Kelly, p. xxxi. In the Book of Leinstei copy, at this date,
vestige
Aeducan, 1113.
thereadingis Ctmne&b"Oponnbo. "'"
CountyofDown,"chap. i. , sect,iv. ,pp. 73,74. 5ee Parliamentary Gazetteer ol Ire-
land," vol. ii. , p. 81. .
7 See Colgan's Acta Sanctorum Hiber-
niae," xii. Januarii, n. 6, p. 59. Colgan here calls him Abbot of Dromore.
M Edited by Drs. Todd and Reeves, pp.
'9 See Archdall's cum," p. 119.
"
Monasticon Iliberni-
30
See Colgan's "Acta Sanctorum Iliber-
niae. " Martii xii. , De S. Muro sive Articlein.
wi urano, p. 587, and n. 5, ibid. chiiv. "
'" 2 Fol. 680.
*•
These remarks are met with on loose sheets, intituled, "Correspondence, &c, concerningnamesofrPlaces,Antiquities,&C. , Co. Down. " They are part of the Irish Ordnance Survey Records.
Sexta Vita S. Patricii, cap. clx. , p. 100,
'
23 See " Trias Colgan's
De S. Malcho Conf. Episcopo
Thaumaturga. " Probus or Quinta Vita S. Patricii, pars. ii. , cap. xxxviii. , p. 61, and Jocelyn's or
Augusti x. ,
Li^nori in Hibernia, p. 561.
214, 215. —
In his " Vita S. Mala-
abbey
See at that date, the Fourth Volume of this work, Art. v.
Dierum. "
'•Sec "Acta Sanctorum. " tomus ii. ,
' See "
Actuum Sanctorum qua: MS. habentur Ordine Mensium et
Catalogus
5 See "Lives of the Saints," vol. viii. , August 10, p. 112,
August to. ] LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. 149
about the year n 20, St. Malachy O'Morgair? became his disciple, and after- wards spent some time with him. At this time, Malchus seems to have been
very old ; but, he had been distinguished for his learning and his virtues, and even for his miracles. When St. Malchus died has not been ascertained
exactly; but, after the year n30, seems to have been the probable epoch. The name of this holy Bishop is entered, at the 10th of August, in the
8 anonymousCalendarofIrishSaints,publishedbyO'SullevanBeare. Bishop
Malchus is mentioned, at the same date, on Father Henry Fitzsimons' list,9 where reference is given for further notice of him to St. Bernard's Life
ofSt. Malachy.
Article IV. —The Arrival or St. Maolruain, with the Relics of
VirginsandofotherSaints,atTallagh,CountyofDublin. Inthe
of 1 we find a festival for this as characterized at Martyrology Tallagh, day,
the head of this paragraph. We learn from the Life of St. ^Engus, the
2
Culdee, that he often travelled about, engaged on inquiries, which enabled
him to illustrate the Saint-History of Ireland. Doubtless, he failed not to
collectsomerelicsofthoseholypersons,wheneverhetravelledabroad; and,
it is likely, that his distinguished superior and local contemporary, St. Maelruan,3 who had kindred tastes, made special journeys for similar purposes. Oneofthesereturnsmusthavebeensolemnlycommemoratedat Tallagh, in the eighth century, and before the death of St. Maelruan, on the 7th July, 792. That commemoration was probably continued annually, on
this day, and at that particular place, in recognition of those treasures deposited by the holy founder in the house of his religious community.
Article V. —Feast of St. Laurence, Deacon and Martyr. In the Irish Church was commemorated on this day the Feast of that illustrious Deacon. St. Laurence, who submitted to a glorious martyrdom, for the sake
" *' 1
of Christ. In the Feilire of St. ^Engus the festival is entered, and a
Latin comment is found affixed in the ki Leabhar Breac "
copy.
3 The Acts
of this holy Deacon are set forth in full by the Bollandists,3 at the 10th of
August, in a previous commentary of twelve sections, containing 128 para-
graphs, with a closing Latin hymn,-* and notes : afterwards, follow Acts from theMartyrologyofAdo,5 andanAccountoftheposthumouscommemora- tions, miracles, and glories of the Saint, in six sections, containing 59 paragraphs.
Article VI. —Festival of Soldiers, Martyrs. In the general way of
commemorating a host of soldiers, who are highly eulogized as martyrs, a festival was celebrated in the Irish Church, on the 10th of Ajigust, as we
learn from the ' 4 Feilire "* of St. yEngus. In a comment attached, these are stated to have been seventy in number. 2 However, I cannot find in any
6 See Harris' Lismore," p. 550.
vol. i. "
of
<vo Cambachcam uetiic. See the Third Volume of this work, at
the nthot March, Art. i.
3 His festival occurs, at the 7th of July,
where his Acts may be seen in the Seventh
Volume of this— i. work, Ajrt.
x
8
See "Historian Catholicae Ibernix
Compendium," tomus xi. , P- 5°-
Article v.
9 See ibid. , p. 55. Article iv. —*
Ware,
Bishops
fAticcopum eu'tiqx 3
1 His feast occurs, on the 3rd of Novem-
ber, at which date his Life may be found in
the Eleventh Volume of this work, Art. i.
Edited
Kelly, p. xxxi. In the Book of Leinster
the Rev. Dr. copy, we find melruiArn cum rf pelivpnr-
dar of
i. , lib.
iv. , cap.
See "Transactions of the Royal Irish Academy. " Irish Manu- script Series, vol. i. , part i. On the Calen-
by
Oengus, by Whitley Stokes, LL. D. , cxxiii.
"Thus: "*•*. Martir[i]um ejus i. e.
p.
150 LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. [August ii.
other Calendar a similar enumeration of martyr soldiers; but the Bollandists, at this same date, have a feast and notice for seven soldiers, with other martyrs, 3 and, moreover, they have a festival for one hundred and sixty-five soldiers, with other martyrs, for the ioth of August. *
©lebentfj ©arj of August,
ARTICLE I. —ST.
ATTRACTA, VIRGIN AND PATRONESS OF KIL- LARAUGHT, COUNTY OF SLIGO.
[FIFTH OR SIXTH CENTURY. ]
CHAPTER I.
INTRODUCTORY—WRITERS OF ST. ATTRACTA's BIOGRAPHY—THE PERIOD OF ST. AT- TRACTA—SUPPOSED PARENTAGE AND RELATIONS OF THE HOLY VIRGIN—HER EARLY PIOUS DISPOSITIONS—SHE RESOLVES ON LEADING A RELIGIOUS LIFE— SHE RECEIVES THE VEIL FROM ST. PATRICK.
is to be regretted, that so many of our earlier saints failed to have the ITstory oftheir lives recorded, by writers familiar with their company and conversation on earth. Among those pious and meritorious Christians was St. Attracta, of whom only popular traditions have been committed to rather late record. As a consequence, no very reliable materials for her Life remain. Those we possess are of a legendary character ; but, the morals culture and patriotism of the reader cannot be injured in the story of a chaste woman's career on earth. In exaggerated tales, religious sentiments may be over-strained, but they usually give right and virtue their due reward,
and they often afford examples of retribution against the wrong-doer.
A brief illusion to this holy virgin has been made already, at the 9th of
1
February, which was a festival held in her honour, and where her Life is to
;
Laurentius Archidiaconus Sixti Militum VII. See "Acta Sanctorum," Papaje]
Romae fuit et sub Decio passus est ba. uii. , tomus ii. , Aprilis x. , p. 533.
fuit [sic] sub D£cio pasus est in Romae. "— 4 See ibid. De Sanctis Martyribus
Ibid. , p. cxxx.
3 See "Acta Sanctorum," tomus ii. ,
Augusti x. , De S. Laurentio Archidiacono
Romania Militibus ci. xv. Item de Claudio,
Severo, Crescentione, et Romano, pp. 534,
i. See the —Chapter —'
Art. viii.
ac Romse, &c, Martyre,
to
535. Article
pp. 485 * By Aurelius Prudentius.
532.
i.
Second Volume of this work, at that date,
5 These are set forth in twelve paragraphs, with notes.
2
These are published in Father John
Article vi.
—
'
See "Transactions of the
"Acta Sanctorum Hibernioe," Kebruarii ix. Vita S. Attracta Virginia. Partim ex. MS. Insulensi, partim ex aliis, pp.
27710282. See also n. I, p. 2S1.
3 Its foundation is referred to A. D. 1 148. See "The History of Ireland and the Annals of Boyle," &c. , by John D'Alton,
Esq. , vol. i. , p. 179.
Royal Irish Academy. " Irish Manuscript Series, vol. i. , part i. On the Calendar of
Oengus, by Whitley Stokes, LL. D. , p. cxxiii.
3 See ibid. , p. cxxx.
3 Thus headed : De Sanctis Martyribus Viris XL, et Virginibus XIIL, item Afraa et
of several the nth of —
be found, in the
appears to us, to ha—ve been her principal feast. Her Life and Acts 2 but in a mutilated state are taken from an old manuscript, which is supposed to have been written by a Cistercian Monk, belonging to the Abbey of Boyle,*
writings hagiologists
but, August
Colgan's
August ii. ] LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. 151
in Connaught, and who lived after the commencement of A. d. iioo. 4 It was taken from the Book of the Island, but it wants the beginning and conclusionofSt. Attracta'sLife. OurnationalHagiologist,however,hassup- plied these portions from other sources. Whilst admitting the inferiority of style in this composition, we are told truly, that its literary defects are not even compensated for, by its intrinsic historical value. 5 Thus composed, the
Acts ofthis Saint are to us given
at the nthof 6 It February.
by Colgan,
was his design, likewise, to have published Acts of St. Attracta, Virgin, at
the present day, as we may learn from the list of his MSS. given by Charles
MacDonnell, Esq. ? The original, from which Colgan extracted her Life, is still preserved among the Franciscan Manuscripts, Dublin. 8 The Bol-
landists have treated, also, about this holy virgin, at the 9th of February. They have a passing allusion to her, also, at this date, 9 under the names
Arata,Attracta,andTaharata. However,theyhavescarcelyanythingabout her, except what they took from Colgan, and they follow him even to her
having flourished in —the fifth century. To this period, they also assign
IO
St. Coeman of Airdne Coemhain. Only a few remarks about this holy
virgin have been given by Bishop Challenor. "
Regarding the period, at which this religious woman lived, considerable 12
discrepancy of opinion exists. According to Rev. Dr. Lanigan, St. Attracta flourished in the sixth century, and perhaps at a late period in that age. He
remarks, likewise, that although in her Life, as published by Colgan, she is said to have been born in Ulster ; nevertheless, from an account given about her having been sister to St. Coeman of Aird-na-Coemhain,^ it must prove a difficult matter, to reconcile both statements. Such objections are urged, also, in notes to his text, and with much force. After treating about St. Conchenna, I4 who died in 655, the Rev. Dr. Lanigan tells us, there is good reason for supposing, that the celebrated St. Athracta or Attracta lived either at or before such period. *s The grounds on which this opinion is based are ; first, that she is spoken of as being contemporaneous with St.
I2 See "Ecclesiastical History of Ireland," vol. i. , chap, v. , sect, x. , p. 245, and n. 95, pp. 247, 248, ibid.
,3 His festival occurs on the 12th ofJune, where notices of him may be found, in the Sixth Volume of this work, Art. vi.
I4 See an account of her, at the 13th of March, in the Third Volume of this work, Art. iv.
'S See "Ecclesiastical History of Ireland," vol. iii. , chap, xvii. , sect, ix. , p. 39.
I<5
See his life, at the 13th of December, *» Abbot of Ros Glas, and whose feast is
on the 23rd of December.
,8 See his Acts, in the present volume,
I9 See the Thirteenth Chapter of St.
Corbmac's Life, in Colgan's "Acta Sanc- torum Hibemioe," Martii xxvi. Vita S. Corbmaci Abbatis, cap. xiii. p. 753.
20 Not finding any king there of this name before about 670, Colgan thought that in- stead of a king over all Connaught, it
ought tobe understood a dynast ruling in some part of that Province,
l6 brother to St. Evin/7 and
supposed to have belonged to Achonry, and who lived in the sixth or seventh century, is alluded to in her Acts, as having been a contemporary. ^
Corbmac,
secondly,
4 Such is Colgan's statement.
5 Bishop Challoner, in his " Britannia Sancta, part i. , p. 113, pronounces these Acts of the Saint published by Colgan to be
of no authority.
6
See "Acta Sanctorum Hibemioe," xi.
Februarii. Vita S. Attracts, &c, pp. 277 to 282.
7 In "Catalogusaliquorum Sanctorum Hi-
hernia? , qua? MS. habentur ordine Mensium
et Dierum. "
8
In "Vitae Sanctorum," ex. Cod. Inisensi, we find Vitae S. Athractee Virg. , in this Co- dex.
9 See "Acta Sanctorum," tomus ii. , Au-
gusti xi. Among the pretermitted saints, 606.
10
p.
According to the Rev. Dr. Lanigan, they did not examine the history of either saint with much attention. See " Ecclesi- astical History of Ireland," vol. iii. , chap. xvii. , sect ix. , n. 129, pp. 43, 44.
"In his "Britannia Sancta," part i. , P- 113.
that St. l8 whom he Nathy,
152 LIVES OE THE IRISH SAINTS. [August ii.
Moreover, Keannfaelaid is said to have been king of Connaught during her
time 2 ° while, it is manifest, that the author of her Acts meant the well-known ;
king over all Connaught, and bearing that name. 21 Yet, we are not bound to believe, that Athracta lived so late as his reign, which lasted to a. d. 680, whenhewaskilled22 byUlcha-deargorRedbeardUa-Caillidhe,oneofthe Conmaicne-Cuile. 23 Again,St. Attractaismadetobecontemporaneouswith St. Nathy of Achonry; 3 < and, that he was the Nathy alluded to in her Acts
is sufficiently clear, from his having lived in that district, in which her nunnery 2
was situated, viz. , Lugne or Lugnia. s
InmakingAthractaasisterofSt. Patrick,26 Harris2? commitsagrave
error ; for, among all his pretended sisters, no such person as Athracta is
28
mentioned.
century, that careless author thinks so little about anachronisms, he again places her in the times of St. Patrick. Whether sister or not, if St. Attracta
2
were only a contemporary with Coeman, ? * we have an additional argument,
in favour of her having lived during the sixth century ; for, Coeman is said to have been brother to St. Coemghen of Glendalough,3° and the latter is known to have lived even to the seventh century. 31
St. Attracta is said to have been the daughter of Talan, and to have had abrothercalledSt. Coeman. ThesebelongedtotheraceofIrius,andderive their origin from the Province of Ulster. However, other statements are found to differ from the foregoing account of her family and race. By some
writers, who have treated on this saint, she is called Taracta, but erroneously, as has been asserted. 3* Her father's name was Talan, said to belong to the
21 Thus, in her Acts, Keannfaelaid is ex-
pressly stated to have ruled the whole pro-
vince, " tenens totum ejus (Connacire) prin- cipatum universaliter. "
race of Irius 33 no little ; yet,
Having inferentially assigned this holy virgin to the seventh
exists, in those accounts respecting her parentage and genealogy. 3* In one instance, St. Attracta's father
given
3° See his life, in the Sixth Volume of this work, at the 3rd of June, Art. i.
