Mauguil
accompanied
himtoMasieres;'^ and,hewasthecarefulattendantonhismaster'slastsick- ness, being also present at his death.
O'Hanlon - Lives of the Irish Saints - v5
Dr.
Article vii.
'
Kelly, p. xxv.
^ See "Acta Sanctorum," tomus vii. ,
Mali xxix. Among the pretermitted feasts,
p. 3.
ARTICLE VIII. —' Thus: " Sanctus Da-
ganus Episcopus et Confessor in Galloidia Scotise provincia. "—-Bishop Forbes' "Ka- lendars of Scottish Saints," p. 237.
-The " Benchorensi Monasterio " of Camerarius, at p. 151.
3 See "Acta Sanctorum," tomus vii. , Maii xxix. Among the pretermitted feasts, p. 2.
' See " Kalendars of Scottish Saints," p. 320.
s See VenerabilisBedce ''Opera qucesuper- sunt omnia," Rev. Dr. J. A. Giles' edition, vol. ii. " Historia Ecclesiastica Gentis Ang- lorum," lib. ii. , cap. iv. , p. 185.
* Dempster quotes Venerable Bede's
—
6oo LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. [May 29.
beenentertained. 5Thereisoftenaconfusionof«and;«intheScottishlists. He is indifferently named Dagamus or Daganus, by Thomas Dempster, who tells us, he was advanced to the episcopal dignity, and that he strenuously maintained against the English the British over the Roman rite,^ until the latter had been establislied by Augustine and by Mellitus. The same writer remarks, that Venerable Bede does not name his episcopal place or church, that the same Dagamus or Daganus wrote " Ad Britanorum Ecclesiam," lib. i. , and that he flourished a. d. 55 5. ^ However, for want of better evidence, we must re- gard the foregoing statements as inconclusive respecting the identity of this St. Dagan ; but, his name was common in Ireland, so that we may fairly claim him, in all probability, as one of our countrymen.
Article IX. Festival of St. Pollio. The ancient Martyrology of St. Jerome has simply the name of Pollio, venerated at the 29th of May; and, from this authority, it seems probable, St. . ^ngus ' inserted the feast of " PoUio's great host," which indicates, that he suffered with many other holy companions for the Faith. There are other Martyrologies, in which he is recorded, as the Bollandists observe,^ at this same date, but they consider him to be identical with a Pollio, who has a feast, at the 28th of April.
Article X, Reputed Feast of St. Gumbert, or Gundibert. \_Seventh or Eighth Century. '] At the 27th of March,' there are notices of St. Gumbert, or Gundibert, a Martyr in Ireland,^ whose festival is said to have been kept, also, on the 29th of May, as likewise on the 29th of April. 3 The Bollandists have an entry of St. Gundibert, mentioned by Father Henry Fitz- simon,4 at this date ; and, they suspect St. Gumbert, Martyr, who with his wife Bertha, is venerated at the 29th of April, and at the ist of May, to be indi- cated. s Atthe29thofMay,ThomasDempster,inhisMenologiumScotorum, enters this holy man f and, quoting the Records or Tablets of Rheims, he is represented, as a Scottish bishop, who having been a pilgrim in Gaul crowned his career with martyrdom, his body being preserved at Rheims, ac- cording to historic monuments. Furthermore, his time and age were uncer- tain, 7 although his festival was celebrated, on the 29th of May. ^
" Historia Ecclesiastica Gentis Anglorum," lib. ii. , cap. iv. , and also, John Lesley, lib. iv. , p. cliii.
this work, at this date, Art. xii.
= See Colgan's "Acta Sanctorum Ililier-
nice," Martii xxvii. S. Gumbeiti sive Gun- 7 See "Historia Ecclesiastica Gentis diberti Martyris Memoria, p. 771.
Scotorum," tomus i. , lib. iv. , num. 3S2, p. 209.
* See an account of him, at this day, in the Fourth Volume of this work, Art. ix.
* See " Catalogus aliquoium Sanctorum Hibernioe. "
s gee "Acta Sanctorum," tomus vii. ,
Maii xxix. Among the pretermitted saints,
pp. 2, 3.
* In these words: "xxix. Rhemis
Grundibeiti martyris B. "—Bishop Forbes' " Kalendars of Scottish Saints," p. 201.
? According to Thomas Dempster.
* See " Historia P^cclesiastica Gentis Sco- toruni. " tomus i. , lib. vii. , num. 591, pp. 317. 318.
Article ix. —' In his " Feiliie. " See "Transactions of the Royal Irish Academy," Irish Manuscript Series, vol. i. , part i. On the Calendar of Oengus, by Dr. Whitley Stokes, p. ixxxi.
^ Thus ; "nudum nomen S. Pollionis, primo loco ante alios hujus diei Mailyres, in Martyrologiis, MSS. Aquisgranensi Augus- tano et I'arisiensi Labbrei, atque auctario Greveni at Vsuardum. "—"Acta Sancto- rum," tomus vii. , Maii xxix. Among the pretermitted saints, p. 2.
Articlex. —' SeetheThirdVolumeof
V
May 30. ] LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. 601
Cftirtiet! ) J3a|) of i¥lap»
ARTICLE I. —ST. MADELGISILUS, OR MAUGUILLE, SOLITARY IN PICARDY, FRANCE.
{SEVENTH CENTURY. ] CHAPTER I.
INTRODUCTION—WRITERS OF THE ACTS OF ST. MADELGISILUS—HIS EARLY BIRTH AND EDUCATION—HE ACCOMPANIES ST. FURSEY TO FRANCE—THEIR UNITED LABOURS—AFTER ST. FURSEY'S DEATH, ST. MADELGISILUS SEEKS ADMISSION, AND HE IS RECEIVED AS A RELIGIOUS, IN THE MONASTERY AT CENTULE.
FROM earliest Christian times, some mysterious but natural sympathy seems to have attracted the Celts of Ireland to their kindred race both in Britain and on the Continent. Especially were the Gallic people and their true interests objects of deep and abiding affection for our holy and learned men, during those distant ages. In our own days, a celebrated French historian has remarked ^ on the strange mutability of things, in reference to different branches of the Celtic family ; the Irish—oldest of the stock—losing their liberty, language, prosperit}'', population—all but their indestructible spirit of nationality—while the younger sister France has emerged from factious contests and many a national disaster, to a life of renewed freedom, vigour, power and self-reliance. The latter nation owes much of her intellec- tual and material vigour to the former ; in ancient days, when Ireland's saints and scholars landed on the shores of Gaul, in later times when some Irish soldiers—hundreds of thousands—fought by the side of Frenchmen, on the battle-fields of Europe. While the cause for bloodshed was often a ques- tionable one, and when the efforts of valour were misapplied, in the waste of human life ; the fold of Christ was certainly extended and the reign of civili- zation was deep-rooted, in France, when the former saints and sages of Ire-
land migrated to her shores.
It was Father John Colgan's intention to treat about St. Madelgisilus,
atthe30thofMay. ^ Thelifeandactionsofthissaintwerewrittenafterhis death, by a monk of Centule, named Hariulfe, who flourished in the eleventh century. 3 Mabillon and D'Achery + have a Life of St. Madelgisilus, in thirteen chapters, with some previous observalions. The Bollandists,5 at this date, furnish the Acts of St. Madelgisilus, as written by Hariulphus,^ and giving a previous commentary,7 as also a supplement,^ from another writer, together with illustrative notes. At the 30th of May, Baillet has a Life of St.
Articlei. —Chapteri. —' Michelet, dicti,"tomusvi. ,sac. iv. ,a. d. Sooto900, in his " Histoire de France," tome i. , liv. i. , pars. ii. Appendix, pp. 537 to 544.
chap, iv. , pp. 158, 159. 5 See "Acta Sanctorum," tomus vii. ,
^ See " Catalogus Actuum Sanctorum qure Maii xxx. De S. Madelgisilo Eremita,
MS. habentur, ordine Mensium et Die- rum. "
3 See an account of iiim and of his writings in " Histoire Literaire de la France," tome xii. , sect, i. , ii. , pp. 204 to 217.
* See " Acta Sanctorum Ordinis S. Bene-
Centula; in Picardia, pp. 264 to 269.
* It is preceded by a Preface or Dedica- tion to Gervin, Bishop of Amiens, and it
comprises thirteen paragraphs,
' In six paragraphs.
^ This Latin tract gives an account of the
6o
LIVES OFTHEIRISHSATNTS. [May 3o.
2
Mauguille, a solitary, in Picardy. It is contained, in three sections. 9 Among other writers, the Rev. Alban Butler, '° and the " Petits Bollandistes," have notices of St. Mauguille, the Hermit, at the 30th of May. "
This saint is reputed to have been born in Ireland—as accounts regard- ing him seem to indicate—and apparently about the beginning of the seventh century. He is thought to have there received a religious education. He lived probably a monastic life, and exercised all the virtue of this state, before he embraced the design of devoting himself to the service of God, in a strange land. " When the celebrated St. Fursey '3 left Ireland, and went over to England, where he was graciously and in a friendly manner received by King Sigebert,'-* it would seem, that Madelgisilus accompanied him, in quality of a disciple. There, a missionary career was opened, so long as St. Fursey deemed it advisable to remain ; however, finding it to be the will of Heaven, that he should further proceed to France, asking leave from King Sigebert,andleavinghisreligiousestablishment'5 amongtheEastAngles,in charge of his holy brother Ultan,'^ who became its Abbot ; St. Fursey took with him a chosen band of disciples, and with them, he sailed over to western Gaul. Among these is stated to have been Madelgisius, by the author of his Acts, Hariulf; although, the Lives of St. Fursey liave no special notice of him. Notwithstanding, Madelgisilus is said to have followed St. Fursey to France. The tender friendship, that existed between both these holy persons, made them almost inseparable companions. They travelled together, engaged on missionary works ; they bore the heat and labours of the day, often suffer- ing from hunger, thirst and cold ; they watched and prayed ; while the disciple desired, -in all things, to imitate his master. '? When St. Fursey was about to proceed to England to visit his brothers, St.
Mauguil accompanied himtoMasieres;'^ and,hewasthecarefulattendantonhismaster'slastsick- ness, being also present at his death. '9 With pious solicitude, he per- formed the last rites, and offered up his most earnest prayers for the deceased saint.
Mauguil was overwhelmed with grief, on the dissolution of those ties of friendship, that held both of them together in this life ; but, he felt not dis- consolate, on account of a hope he had of their reunion in Heaven, when his own course of mortality should be closed. However, he long and anxiously deliberated, as to whether he should continue his progress towards England, to visit the brothers of his deceased friend, and then associate himself with them, or to return once more towards the Abbey of Lagny. But, again, on a more matured consideration of the matter, he embraced a different resolu- tion.
Translation of our saint's relics, to the reigned over them from 623 to 653. See an
Church of St. Richarius, at Centule.
9 See the first edition of his work, " Les "Vies des Saints,'' tome v. , xxx. Jour de May, '° See " Lives of the Fathers, Martyrs and other principal Saints," vol. v. , May xxx. , pp. 942 to 945, or Second Edition, in tome
ii. , pp. 470, 471.
" See " Vies des Saints," tome vi. ,
xxx«. Jour de Mai, p. 305.
"See Baillet's "Les Vies des Saints,"
tome V. xxx. Jour de May, sect i. , p. 942.
'5 See his Life, which occurs in the First Volume of this work, at the i6th of January, Art. i.
'* Sigebert I. , King of the East Saxons,
interesting account of this monarch, in Bishop Tanner's " Bibliotheca Britannico- Hibernica," &€. , pp. 671, 672.
's Known as Cnobhersberg.
'* Ills feast occurs, at the 1st of May. ''See "Acta Sanctorum," tomus vii. ,
Maii xxx. De S. Madelgisilo Eremita, &c. , sect. 2, p. 264.
'" Its position is shown on a small chart, with a description in Eiisee Reclus' "Nou- velle Geographic Universelle. " tome ii. , chap, xiii. , sect, iv. , pp. 826 to S2S.
'' It is thought, St. Fursey departed this life, about the middle of the seventh cen- tury.
="' See an account of these holy men, and
Some time before the arrival of Madelgisilus in France, two of his countrymen, St. Caidoc and St. Fricor,^° had influenced a nobleman, Richarius ^' of Picardy, to found a religious establishment at Centule,*^ and over this the holy founder began to preside, abou—t a. d. 638. ^3 He was the son of Alquier—said to have been a Duke or Count
dis- but, his kind and hospitable reception of the two holy Irishmen, St. Caidoc and St. Fricor, led to his own great sanctification. Like them, he resolved, on devotinghislifetopreachingtheGospelofChrist. Hewasaccordinglyad- vanced to the priestly dignity, and soon he began to gi\'e missions in all the surrounding country, wliile with the good tidings of salvation, widows, orphans, pilgrims, strangers and the poor, were the objects of his tender solicitude and charity. After such excursions, he was accustomed to return home, and there devoting himself to prayer and other exercises of piety, he fasted on barley bread and water. ^4 Fully partaking the spirit of the Lord,^^ which gives true liberty ,^° the holy man freed from bondage those serfs, who were on his pater- nal estates in Ponthieu. Not satisfied with his labours in that part of France, Richarius went over to England, where he gained over a great number of idolaters and sinners to Christ. He also purchased the freedom of many slaves, both Christians and pagans. Returning to France, St. Richarius preached in several of its provinces. However, while thus engaged, several pious souls, regarding themselves as his converts and disciples, desired to live underhisdirection. Accordingly,notfarfromtheplaceofhisbirth,hefounded a church and monastery, at Centule, for that comm. unity; and, there he desired to rest, when the labours of his mission were over, while he also re- ceived visits from kings and influential personages. When age and fatigue began to grow upon him, Richarius desired to seek a solitude, where he could better prepare himself for death. This situation he found, in the forest of Crecy, and confiding the care of Centule monastery to a religious of approved piety and discretion, named Olciade, he retired with his disciple Sigobard, to meditate wholly on heavenly things. ^7 Still he was followed thither, by num- bers of infirm persons, who were miraculously healed through him, while others approached to receive his wise counsels. Communicating a presenti- ment of his approaching death to Sigobard, and ordering his coffin to be pre-
and to have been born in a town of the Ponthieu
trict, under the reign of Clotaire II. Little is known of his early years
;
their missionary labours in this part of France, at the ist day of April, which is that of their Feast—in the Fourth Volume of this work, Art. i.
^' His Festival is commemorated, at the 26th day of April, and his Life has been written by Alcuin. He was a great favourite of King Dagobert I. , who on one occasion was greatly moved, when hearing him preach on the vanities of this world. See Rev. Alban Butler's " Lives of the Fathers, Martyrs and other principal Saints," vol. iv. , April xxvi.
-^ This monastery was in the Diocese of Amiens.
^3 According to the Abbe Fleury's "His- toire Ecclesiastique," tome viii. , liv. xxxvii. , sect, xxviii. , p. 269.
''•' See TAbbe M. Fleury's " Histoire Ec- clesiastique," tome viii. liv. , xxxvii. , sect. xxviii. , p. 269.
25 "\vhere the Spirit of the Lord is, there is liberty. "—ii. Cor. iii. , 17.
^* The iUustrious bard of Ireland, Tliomas Moore,inthatfinelyconceivedlyric, "The Irish Peasant to his Mistress "—allegorically meaning the ancient Church of Ireland—has most happily introduced this idea, in his "Irish Melodies. " He thus concludes it, with these lines :
" They say, too, so long thou hast worn those lingering chains,
That deep in thy heart they have printed iheir servile stains
Oh ! foul is the slander—no chain could that soul subdue—
Where shineth //5_j' spirit, there liberty shineth too. "
=7 The place of his retirement was at first called Foresta-cella, or "the cell of the forest ;" afterwards when a monastery had been built there, it was called Forestense- monasterium, or the "monastery of the forest," at present known as Forest-moutier.
—•—
May 30. ] LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS.
603
6o4 LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. [May 30.
pared, St. Richarius took ill, and the weakness of old age soon hastened his eternal repose. ^^ He departed this life, about the year 645. ^9 Immediately after death, the remains of St. Richier were buried ia the grave prepared near his oratory, at Forest-moutier, But, they were not allowed to rest there for any considerable time ; for, on the vii. of the ensuing October Ides, the Abbot Ocioald and his monks exhumed his remains, which were brought to the church of Centule.
About that time, when IMadelgisilus laboured on his missionary career, FrancewasundertheruleofKingClovisII. ,3°sonofDagobertI. ,3' andhis religious Queen Bathilde,^' who was English by birth, and who, from being a slave of Erchinoald, became through her admirable qualities and virtues the choice of Clovis to share his high dignity. She gave birth to three sons, Clotaire III. ,33 Childeric II. ,34 and Thierry III. ,35 all of whom became kings in France. Clovis 11. died at an early age, in 655 ; and, soon after the death of her husband, the pious Bathilde founded many monastic insti- tutes in the country. Among the religious houses which owe their origin or patronage to this holy Queen may be enumerated Corbie, Jumieges, Luxeuil, Jouarre, Sainte Fare and Fontenelle ; while there are {^\\ of the ancient monasteries around Paris, which have not claimed her, either as their foundress or as their benefactress. The relics of St. Riquier having been deposited in the first house of his foundation, it pleased the Almighty, to show how great were the merits of that holy servent, during life as after his death. Among the religious monasteries of France for its antiquity and renown, Centule had pre-eminence over the rest ;3^ because of the many miracles which had been wrought at the tomb of St. Richarius, and besides, the memory of his virtues had been a precious inheritance, to cause the monks there to emulate his great example. 37 A pilgrim and an exile in this part of France, Madelgisilus felt an earnest desire to lead a monastic life, and to be- come a subject of some holy superior. As the Abbey of St. Riquier 38 —now Centule 39—was near, Madelgisilus approached its gates, and made application
for admission among the religious. The modest deportment of our saint, and his many shining virtues, at once procured on presentation that request he seemed to prefer, and with such just claims.
^* See his Life set forth, in Les Petits Bollandistes "Vies des Saints," tome v. , xxvi=. Jour d'Avril, pp. 33 to 36.
^9 See Dom. John Mabillon's "Annalcs Ordinis S. Benedicti," tomus i. , lib. xiii. , sect, xxxi. , p. 391.
3° He was only four years of age, when liis
father Uagobert I. , died, a. d. 638. He was
the inheritor of Neustria and Bourgogne ;
while the major domus, who conducted his
artlairs was /Ega, at fust, and afterwanis
Erchinoald. He died at the early age of Ordinis S. Benedicti," tomus i. , lib. xiii. , twenty-one. See L. —P. Anquetil's "His- sect, xxxi. , p. 392.
toire de France," Premiere Race ditc ties Merovingiens, sect, iv. , p. 53.
3' He died A. D. 638, and the reader is re- ferred for particulars of his reign to Michelet's " Histoire de France," tome i. , liv. ii. , chap, i. , pp. 250 to 272.
3' She is venerated as a saint, and her feast is commemorated, at the 30th of January. See her Life, in Lc-> Petits BoUan- distes "Vies des . Saints," tome ii. , xxx^ Jour de Janvier, pp. 121 to 128.
37 yge " Acta Sanctorum," tomus vii. , Maii xxx. De S. Madelgisilo Eremita,
the holy father Richarius.
39 The relics of St. Riquier are yet pre-
served here, in the parish church they are ;
enclosed within two shrines, one containing tlie holy Abbot's head, placed on the altar, the other containing his body, according to a
work intituled, "Saints de Cambrai et 3' He is called the thirteenth King of d'Airas. "
France, and his reign dates from a. d. 655 to a. d. 670. See L. —P. Anquetil's "His- toire de France," Table Chronologique, p. 698.
34 He is called the fourteenth Kin;^ of France, and his reign dates from a. d. 670 to 674.
35 He is called the fifteenth King of France, and his reign dates from a. d. 674 to 691.
3" See Dom. John Mabillon's "Annates
4, p. 264.
sect.
Kelly, p. xxv.
^ See "Acta Sanctorum," tomus vii. ,
Mali xxix. Among the pretermitted feasts,
p. 3.
ARTICLE VIII. —' Thus: " Sanctus Da-
ganus Episcopus et Confessor in Galloidia Scotise provincia. "—-Bishop Forbes' "Ka- lendars of Scottish Saints," p. 237.
-The " Benchorensi Monasterio " of Camerarius, at p. 151.
3 See "Acta Sanctorum," tomus vii. , Maii xxix. Among the pretermitted feasts, p. 2.
' See " Kalendars of Scottish Saints," p. 320.
s See VenerabilisBedce ''Opera qucesuper- sunt omnia," Rev. Dr. J. A. Giles' edition, vol. ii. " Historia Ecclesiastica Gentis Ang- lorum," lib. ii. , cap. iv. , p. 185.
* Dempster quotes Venerable Bede's
—
6oo LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. [May 29.
beenentertained. 5Thereisoftenaconfusionof«and;«intheScottishlists. He is indifferently named Dagamus or Daganus, by Thomas Dempster, who tells us, he was advanced to the episcopal dignity, and that he strenuously maintained against the English the British over the Roman rite,^ until the latter had been establislied by Augustine and by Mellitus. The same writer remarks, that Venerable Bede does not name his episcopal place or church, that the same Dagamus or Daganus wrote " Ad Britanorum Ecclesiam," lib. i. , and that he flourished a. d. 55 5. ^ However, for want of better evidence, we must re- gard the foregoing statements as inconclusive respecting the identity of this St. Dagan ; but, his name was common in Ireland, so that we may fairly claim him, in all probability, as one of our countrymen.
Article IX. Festival of St. Pollio. The ancient Martyrology of St. Jerome has simply the name of Pollio, venerated at the 29th of May; and, from this authority, it seems probable, St. . ^ngus ' inserted the feast of " PoUio's great host," which indicates, that he suffered with many other holy companions for the Faith. There are other Martyrologies, in which he is recorded, as the Bollandists observe,^ at this same date, but they consider him to be identical with a Pollio, who has a feast, at the 28th of April.
Article X, Reputed Feast of St. Gumbert, or Gundibert. \_Seventh or Eighth Century. '] At the 27th of March,' there are notices of St. Gumbert, or Gundibert, a Martyr in Ireland,^ whose festival is said to have been kept, also, on the 29th of May, as likewise on the 29th of April. 3 The Bollandists have an entry of St. Gundibert, mentioned by Father Henry Fitz- simon,4 at this date ; and, they suspect St. Gumbert, Martyr, who with his wife Bertha, is venerated at the 29th of April, and at the ist of May, to be indi- cated. s Atthe29thofMay,ThomasDempster,inhisMenologiumScotorum, enters this holy man f and, quoting the Records or Tablets of Rheims, he is represented, as a Scottish bishop, who having been a pilgrim in Gaul crowned his career with martyrdom, his body being preserved at Rheims, ac- cording to historic monuments. Furthermore, his time and age were uncer- tain, 7 although his festival was celebrated, on the 29th of May. ^
" Historia Ecclesiastica Gentis Anglorum," lib. ii. , cap. iv. , and also, John Lesley, lib. iv. , p. cliii.
this work, at this date, Art. xii.
= See Colgan's "Acta Sanctorum Ililier-
nice," Martii xxvii. S. Gumbeiti sive Gun- 7 See "Historia Ecclesiastica Gentis diberti Martyris Memoria, p. 771.
Scotorum," tomus i. , lib. iv. , num. 3S2, p. 209.
* See an account of him, at this day, in the Fourth Volume of this work, Art. ix.
* See " Catalogus aliquoium Sanctorum Hibernioe. "
s gee "Acta Sanctorum," tomus vii. ,
Maii xxix. Among the pretermitted saints,
pp. 2, 3.
* In these words: "xxix. Rhemis
Grundibeiti martyris B. "—Bishop Forbes' " Kalendars of Scottish Saints," p. 201.
? According to Thomas Dempster.
* See " Historia P^cclesiastica Gentis Sco- toruni. " tomus i. , lib. vii. , num. 591, pp. 317. 318.
Article ix. —' In his " Feiliie. " See "Transactions of the Royal Irish Academy," Irish Manuscript Series, vol. i. , part i. On the Calendar of Oengus, by Dr. Whitley Stokes, p. ixxxi.
^ Thus ; "nudum nomen S. Pollionis, primo loco ante alios hujus diei Mailyres, in Martyrologiis, MSS. Aquisgranensi Augus- tano et I'arisiensi Labbrei, atque auctario Greveni at Vsuardum. "—"Acta Sancto- rum," tomus vii. , Maii xxix. Among the pretermitted saints, p. 2.
Articlex. —' SeetheThirdVolumeof
V
May 30. ] LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. 601
Cftirtiet! ) J3a|) of i¥lap»
ARTICLE I. —ST. MADELGISILUS, OR MAUGUILLE, SOLITARY IN PICARDY, FRANCE.
{SEVENTH CENTURY. ] CHAPTER I.
INTRODUCTION—WRITERS OF THE ACTS OF ST. MADELGISILUS—HIS EARLY BIRTH AND EDUCATION—HE ACCOMPANIES ST. FURSEY TO FRANCE—THEIR UNITED LABOURS—AFTER ST. FURSEY'S DEATH, ST. MADELGISILUS SEEKS ADMISSION, AND HE IS RECEIVED AS A RELIGIOUS, IN THE MONASTERY AT CENTULE.
FROM earliest Christian times, some mysterious but natural sympathy seems to have attracted the Celts of Ireland to their kindred race both in Britain and on the Continent. Especially were the Gallic people and their true interests objects of deep and abiding affection for our holy and learned men, during those distant ages. In our own days, a celebrated French historian has remarked ^ on the strange mutability of things, in reference to different branches of the Celtic family ; the Irish—oldest of the stock—losing their liberty, language, prosperit}'', population—all but their indestructible spirit of nationality—while the younger sister France has emerged from factious contests and many a national disaster, to a life of renewed freedom, vigour, power and self-reliance. The latter nation owes much of her intellec- tual and material vigour to the former ; in ancient days, when Ireland's saints and scholars landed on the shores of Gaul, in later times when some Irish soldiers—hundreds of thousands—fought by the side of Frenchmen, on the battle-fields of Europe. While the cause for bloodshed was often a ques- tionable one, and when the efforts of valour were misapplied, in the waste of human life ; the fold of Christ was certainly extended and the reign of civili- zation was deep-rooted, in France, when the former saints and sages of Ire-
land migrated to her shores.
It was Father John Colgan's intention to treat about St. Madelgisilus,
atthe30thofMay. ^ Thelifeandactionsofthissaintwerewrittenafterhis death, by a monk of Centule, named Hariulfe, who flourished in the eleventh century. 3 Mabillon and D'Achery + have a Life of St. Madelgisilus, in thirteen chapters, with some previous observalions. The Bollandists,5 at this date, furnish the Acts of St. Madelgisilus, as written by Hariulphus,^ and giving a previous commentary,7 as also a supplement,^ from another writer, together with illustrative notes. At the 30th of May, Baillet has a Life of St.
Articlei. —Chapteri. —' Michelet, dicti,"tomusvi. ,sac. iv. ,a. d. Sooto900, in his " Histoire de France," tome i. , liv. i. , pars. ii. Appendix, pp. 537 to 544.
chap, iv. , pp. 158, 159. 5 See "Acta Sanctorum," tomus vii. ,
^ See " Catalogus Actuum Sanctorum qure Maii xxx. De S. Madelgisilo Eremita,
MS. habentur, ordine Mensium et Die- rum. "
3 See an account of iiim and of his writings in " Histoire Literaire de la France," tome xii. , sect, i. , ii. , pp. 204 to 217.
* See " Acta Sanctorum Ordinis S. Bene-
Centula; in Picardia, pp. 264 to 269.
* It is preceded by a Preface or Dedica- tion to Gervin, Bishop of Amiens, and it
comprises thirteen paragraphs,
' In six paragraphs.
^ This Latin tract gives an account of the
6o
LIVES OFTHEIRISHSATNTS. [May 3o.
2
Mauguille, a solitary, in Picardy. It is contained, in three sections. 9 Among other writers, the Rev. Alban Butler, '° and the " Petits Bollandistes," have notices of St. Mauguille, the Hermit, at the 30th of May. "
This saint is reputed to have been born in Ireland—as accounts regard- ing him seem to indicate—and apparently about the beginning of the seventh century. He is thought to have there received a religious education. He lived probably a monastic life, and exercised all the virtue of this state, before he embraced the design of devoting himself to the service of God, in a strange land. " When the celebrated St. Fursey '3 left Ireland, and went over to England, where he was graciously and in a friendly manner received by King Sigebert,'-* it would seem, that Madelgisilus accompanied him, in quality of a disciple. There, a missionary career was opened, so long as St. Fursey deemed it advisable to remain ; however, finding it to be the will of Heaven, that he should further proceed to France, asking leave from King Sigebert,andleavinghisreligiousestablishment'5 amongtheEastAngles,in charge of his holy brother Ultan,'^ who became its Abbot ; St. Fursey took with him a chosen band of disciples, and with them, he sailed over to western Gaul. Among these is stated to have been Madelgisius, by the author of his Acts, Hariulf; although, the Lives of St. Fursey liave no special notice of him. Notwithstanding, Madelgisilus is said to have followed St. Fursey to France. The tender friendship, that existed between both these holy persons, made them almost inseparable companions. They travelled together, engaged on missionary works ; they bore the heat and labours of the day, often suffer- ing from hunger, thirst and cold ; they watched and prayed ; while the disciple desired, -in all things, to imitate his master. '? When St. Fursey was about to proceed to England to visit his brothers, St.
Mauguil accompanied himtoMasieres;'^ and,hewasthecarefulattendantonhismaster'slastsick- ness, being also present at his death. '9 With pious solicitude, he per- formed the last rites, and offered up his most earnest prayers for the deceased saint.
Mauguil was overwhelmed with grief, on the dissolution of those ties of friendship, that held both of them together in this life ; but, he felt not dis- consolate, on account of a hope he had of their reunion in Heaven, when his own course of mortality should be closed. However, he long and anxiously deliberated, as to whether he should continue his progress towards England, to visit the brothers of his deceased friend, and then associate himself with them, or to return once more towards the Abbey of Lagny. But, again, on a more matured consideration of the matter, he embraced a different resolu- tion.
Translation of our saint's relics, to the reigned over them from 623 to 653. See an
Church of St. Richarius, at Centule.
9 See the first edition of his work, " Les "Vies des Saints,'' tome v. , xxx. Jour de May, '° See " Lives of the Fathers, Martyrs and other principal Saints," vol. v. , May xxx. , pp. 942 to 945, or Second Edition, in tome
ii. , pp. 470, 471.
" See " Vies des Saints," tome vi. ,
xxx«. Jour de Mai, p. 305.
"See Baillet's "Les Vies des Saints,"
tome V. xxx. Jour de May, sect i. , p. 942.
'5 See his Life, which occurs in the First Volume of this work, at the i6th of January, Art. i.
'* Sigebert I. , King of the East Saxons,
interesting account of this monarch, in Bishop Tanner's " Bibliotheca Britannico- Hibernica," &€. , pp. 671, 672.
's Known as Cnobhersberg.
'* Ills feast occurs, at the 1st of May. ''See "Acta Sanctorum," tomus vii. ,
Maii xxx. De S. Madelgisilo Eremita, &c. , sect. 2, p. 264.
'" Its position is shown on a small chart, with a description in Eiisee Reclus' "Nou- velle Geographic Universelle. " tome ii. , chap, xiii. , sect, iv. , pp. 826 to S2S.
'' It is thought, St. Fursey departed this life, about the middle of the seventh cen- tury.
="' See an account of these holy men, and
Some time before the arrival of Madelgisilus in France, two of his countrymen, St. Caidoc and St. Fricor,^° had influenced a nobleman, Richarius ^' of Picardy, to found a religious establishment at Centule,*^ and over this the holy founder began to preside, abou—t a. d. 638. ^3 He was the son of Alquier—said to have been a Duke or Count
dis- but, his kind and hospitable reception of the two holy Irishmen, St. Caidoc and St. Fricor, led to his own great sanctification. Like them, he resolved, on devotinghislifetopreachingtheGospelofChrist. Hewasaccordinglyad- vanced to the priestly dignity, and soon he began to gi\'e missions in all the surrounding country, wliile with the good tidings of salvation, widows, orphans, pilgrims, strangers and the poor, were the objects of his tender solicitude and charity. After such excursions, he was accustomed to return home, and there devoting himself to prayer and other exercises of piety, he fasted on barley bread and water. ^4 Fully partaking the spirit of the Lord,^^ which gives true liberty ,^° the holy man freed from bondage those serfs, who were on his pater- nal estates in Ponthieu. Not satisfied with his labours in that part of France, Richarius went over to England, where he gained over a great number of idolaters and sinners to Christ. He also purchased the freedom of many slaves, both Christians and pagans. Returning to France, St. Richarius preached in several of its provinces. However, while thus engaged, several pious souls, regarding themselves as his converts and disciples, desired to live underhisdirection. Accordingly,notfarfromtheplaceofhisbirth,hefounded a church and monastery, at Centule, for that comm. unity; and, there he desired to rest, when the labours of his mission were over, while he also re- ceived visits from kings and influential personages. When age and fatigue began to grow upon him, Richarius desired to seek a solitude, where he could better prepare himself for death. This situation he found, in the forest of Crecy, and confiding the care of Centule monastery to a religious of approved piety and discretion, named Olciade, he retired with his disciple Sigobard, to meditate wholly on heavenly things. ^7 Still he was followed thither, by num- bers of infirm persons, who were miraculously healed through him, while others approached to receive his wise counsels. Communicating a presenti- ment of his approaching death to Sigobard, and ordering his coffin to be pre-
and to have been born in a town of the Ponthieu
trict, under the reign of Clotaire II. Little is known of his early years
;
their missionary labours in this part of France, at the ist day of April, which is that of their Feast—in the Fourth Volume of this work, Art. i.
^' His Festival is commemorated, at the 26th day of April, and his Life has been written by Alcuin. He was a great favourite of King Dagobert I. , who on one occasion was greatly moved, when hearing him preach on the vanities of this world. See Rev. Alban Butler's " Lives of the Fathers, Martyrs and other principal Saints," vol. iv. , April xxvi.
-^ This monastery was in the Diocese of Amiens.
^3 According to the Abbe Fleury's "His- toire Ecclesiastique," tome viii. , liv. xxxvii. , sect, xxviii. , p. 269.
''•' See TAbbe M. Fleury's " Histoire Ec- clesiastique," tome viii. liv. , xxxvii. , sect. xxviii. , p. 269.
25 "\vhere the Spirit of the Lord is, there is liberty. "—ii. Cor. iii. , 17.
^* The iUustrious bard of Ireland, Tliomas Moore,inthatfinelyconceivedlyric, "The Irish Peasant to his Mistress "—allegorically meaning the ancient Church of Ireland—has most happily introduced this idea, in his "Irish Melodies. " He thus concludes it, with these lines :
" They say, too, so long thou hast worn those lingering chains,
That deep in thy heart they have printed iheir servile stains
Oh ! foul is the slander—no chain could that soul subdue—
Where shineth //5_j' spirit, there liberty shineth too. "
=7 The place of his retirement was at first called Foresta-cella, or "the cell of the forest ;" afterwards when a monastery had been built there, it was called Forestense- monasterium, or the "monastery of the forest," at present known as Forest-moutier.
—•—
May 30. ] LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS.
603
6o4 LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. [May 30.
pared, St. Richarius took ill, and the weakness of old age soon hastened his eternal repose. ^^ He departed this life, about the year 645. ^9 Immediately after death, the remains of St. Richier were buried ia the grave prepared near his oratory, at Forest-moutier, But, they were not allowed to rest there for any considerable time ; for, on the vii. of the ensuing October Ides, the Abbot Ocioald and his monks exhumed his remains, which were brought to the church of Centule.
About that time, when IMadelgisilus laboured on his missionary career, FrancewasundertheruleofKingClovisII. ,3°sonofDagobertI. ,3' andhis religious Queen Bathilde,^' who was English by birth, and who, from being a slave of Erchinoald, became through her admirable qualities and virtues the choice of Clovis to share his high dignity. She gave birth to three sons, Clotaire III. ,33 Childeric II. ,34 and Thierry III. ,35 all of whom became kings in France. Clovis 11. died at an early age, in 655 ; and, soon after the death of her husband, the pious Bathilde founded many monastic insti- tutes in the country. Among the religious houses which owe their origin or patronage to this holy Queen may be enumerated Corbie, Jumieges, Luxeuil, Jouarre, Sainte Fare and Fontenelle ; while there are {^\\ of the ancient monasteries around Paris, which have not claimed her, either as their foundress or as their benefactress. The relics of St. Riquier having been deposited in the first house of his foundation, it pleased the Almighty, to show how great were the merits of that holy servent, during life as after his death. Among the religious monasteries of France for its antiquity and renown, Centule had pre-eminence over the rest ;3^ because of the many miracles which had been wrought at the tomb of St. Richarius, and besides, the memory of his virtues had been a precious inheritance, to cause the monks there to emulate his great example. 37 A pilgrim and an exile in this part of France, Madelgisilus felt an earnest desire to lead a monastic life, and to be- come a subject of some holy superior. As the Abbey of St. Riquier 38 —now Centule 39—was near, Madelgisilus approached its gates, and made application
for admission among the religious. The modest deportment of our saint, and his many shining virtues, at once procured on presentation that request he seemed to prefer, and with such just claims.
^* See his Life set forth, in Les Petits Bollandistes "Vies des Saints," tome v. , xxvi=. Jour d'Avril, pp. 33 to 36.
^9 See Dom. John Mabillon's "Annalcs Ordinis S. Benedicti," tomus i. , lib. xiii. , sect, xxxi. , p. 391.
3° He was only four years of age, when liis
father Uagobert I. , died, a. d. 638. He was
the inheritor of Neustria and Bourgogne ;
while the major domus, who conducted his
artlairs was /Ega, at fust, and afterwanis
Erchinoald. He died at the early age of Ordinis S. Benedicti," tomus i. , lib. xiii. , twenty-one. See L. —P. Anquetil's "His- sect, xxxi. , p. 392.
toire de France," Premiere Race ditc ties Merovingiens, sect, iv. , p. 53.
3' He died A. D. 638, and the reader is re- ferred for particulars of his reign to Michelet's " Histoire de France," tome i. , liv. ii. , chap, i. , pp. 250 to 272.
3' She is venerated as a saint, and her feast is commemorated, at the 30th of January. See her Life, in Lc-> Petits BoUan- distes "Vies des . Saints," tome ii. , xxx^ Jour de Janvier, pp. 121 to 128.
37 yge " Acta Sanctorum," tomus vii. , Maii xxx. De S. Madelgisilo Eremita,
the holy father Richarius.
39 The relics of St. Riquier are yet pre-
served here, in the parish church they are ;
enclosed within two shrines, one containing tlie holy Abbot's head, placed on the altar, the other containing his body, according to a
work intituled, "Saints de Cambrai et 3' He is called the thirteenth King of d'Airas. "
France, and his reign dates from a. d. 655 to a. d. 670. See L. —P. Anquetil's "His- toire de France," Table Chronologique, p. 698.
34 He is called the fourteenth Kin;^ of France, and his reign dates from a. d. 670 to 674.
35 He is called the fifteenth King of France, and his reign dates from a. d. 674 to 691.
3" See Dom. John Mabillon's "Annates
4, p. 264.
sect.
