5 This folio paper contains 416 written pages,
transcribed
by Michael Oge O'Longan, between the years iSoo and 1808.
O'Hanlon - Lives of the Irish Saints - v5
However, other calendarists refer their chief festival, to the 15th of this month,' astheBollandists= observe.
Article IX. St. or the Blessed Michomeris. At the 13th of May, Colgan appears to have intended writing the Acts of a Blessed Michome- ris, as we find from the posthumous list of his Manuscripts. We cannot dis- cover, whether or not, he should be identified with that St. Michomer, or Michomores, Confessor, of Tornodor, in Gallic Campania, whose feast has been assigned to the 30th of April. '
Article X. St. Carthagius, or Carthacus. In the anonymous catalogue, published by O'SuUevan Beare,' we find St. Carthagius entered at the 13th of May. This, however, can only be regarded as the vigil, for his proper festival. The Carthusian Martyrology and Henry Fitzsimon place St. Karthagius, Bishop, at the same date. ^" Also, is he noticed by the Bollan- dists,3whorefertoGreven,Canisius,Fcrraiius,andFitz-simon; whilethey relegate his Acts, to the day following.
Article XI. Feast of Saints Teracus and Probus. —The 12th of May is set down in the Feilire' of St. ^ngus, as the festival for Saints Teracus and Probus. These seem to have suffered martyrdom, with several other companions, at Alexandria;^ although elsewhere, except in the Tallagh
of Dublittir, priest of Armagh, crowned with martyrdom by the Gentiles, is entered at a. D. 922 al. 923. See Dr. O'Conor's "Rerum Hibernicarum Scriptores," tomus iv. , p. 255.
Dr. Whitley Stokes: "The holy family of Teracus and Probus after paths (of this world). After long bitter crosses, six persons and six hundred. "—"Transactions of the Royal Irish Academy," vol. i. , parti. On the Calendar of Oengus, p. Ixxix.
^ The scholiast on St. ^ngus has a note on noebiiniiiice]\ Ce]\<\ci, as follows, "i. in Alexandria pasi sunt. " The commentator had a different version of the Feilire, from that found in the " Leabhar Breac " which in a note, he thus introduces, lAyvi^eyvbch- pocliAib fii\Aib feifei\ Ay\ fe cecAib. uelp'c
Cige^MiAcli ^o]:epu^\
I'epuy^ a^a . m. ceuAib . 1. CijeiMiAcli t)<Mi\che.
Article viii. —^ same day.
See their Lives, at the
* See "Acta Sanctorum," tomus iii. , Mail xiii. Among the pretermitted saints, p. 187. —
Article ix. ' See his Acts, in the Fourth Volume of this work, at that date,
' See " Historias Catholics Ibernias Compendium," tomus i. , lib. iv. ,
cap. xi. , p. 50.
^ See ibid. , cap. xii. , p. 55.
3 See "Acta Sanctorum," tomus iii. ,
. . .
The foregomg is thus translated, by Dr.
Maii xiii. jg-
Among the pretermitted saints,
,
,,1
t^
Article xi. — '
copy we find :— ^'
In the " Leabhar Breac "
Whitley Stokes :-" After long bitter crosses, six on six hundreds.
Or thus :—
. . Tigernach thou shouldst know, Six on six hundreds. "
i-e-t^ Tigernach of Bairche. —See ibid. , p. Ixxxvi.
^ See "Acta Sanctorum," tomus iii. ,
tloebnnnnceTA CenAci
Pl^oio^? ,^ {. -^ITt"^;,^ lA]\l'e|\bch|\OCnA1D f1^^A1b
. ui. ei\ A|\. «i, c. Aib. ThisstanzaisthustranslatedintoEnglish,by
—
^40 LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. [May 14.
Martyrology, we do not find tlieir names recorded in other ancient Calendars. Different are the names of those Martyrs of Alexandria, noted by the Bollan- dists,3 at this date ; and, among them are two unnamed, who might probably be Teracus and Probus. '*
ArticleXII. ReputedFeastofSj". Motomagus. IntheCatalogue of some Irish Saints, it is stated, that Father Henry Fitz-simon sets down Motomagus ;' and, he states, that in his Martyrology, Canisius has placed him,atthei8thofMay. ^ However,Fitz-simoncorrectsthisstatement,and refers his feast to the 13th of March; by which, the Bollandists 3 think, he means St. Mochoemogus,* whose Life belongs to that date.
jfdurtffntl) Hap of iiflaj)*
ARTICLE I. —ST. CARTHAGE, OR MOCHUDDA, BISHOP. ACUUT, AND PATRON, OF ITSMORE.
ISIXTII AND SEVENTH CENTURIES. \ CHAPTER I.
INTRODUCTION—ACTS OF ST. MOCHUDDA OR CARTHAGE—PROGNOSTICATION REGARD- ING HIM—HIS PARENTAGE AND lilRTH—HIS YOUTH AND EARLY VOCATION TO THE CLERICAL STATE—EDUCATED BY ST. CARTHAGE THE ELDER—ST. MOCHUDDA BECOMES A PRIEST—HE SETTLES DOWN AT A PLACE CALLED KELLTULACH, BUT SOON HE LEAVES IT—HE VISITS ST. COMGALL AT BANGOR.
'^"T^'IIE history of St. Carthage Junior, or St. Mochuda, is one of singular
interest. Thisholymanexcelledbothinlearningandinpiety. That
J_ —even of legend over- he was a popular saint is proved from the records
colouring—with which his memory has been transmitted to us. But, no question remains in doubt, that while he lived, the right rule of Faith and dis- ciplinewasspread,throughhispersonalzealandlabours. Thisholysuperior, exact in all the duties of his sacred calling, as being to give an account one day to that great Master, who has allotted to each one of us our respective station, among his numerous family of Christians, in every age and clime. Especially, the saints were accustomed, to consecrate the beginning and end of each day, and they would not allow their worldly concerns, to interfere with or prevent
Maii xiii. De Sanctis Martyribus Alexan- drinis Aplirodisio, Agrippa, Sabino, Giiso, I. ucio, Cyrilla, Cridvla, Juviuo, ct aliis duo- bus, p. 202.
' So has Dempster in his Menology. See Bishop Forbes' " Kalendars of Scottish Saints," p. 200. Also, he is noticed by Demp- ster, in his " Ilistoria Eccle-iastica Gentis
"• Tiiis is apparent, by reference to the Scotorum," tomus ii. , Ub. xii. , num. 897, Franciscan copy of the Tallagh Martyr- p. 473.
^ See " Acta Sanctorum," tomus iii. , Article xii. —' This is not tlie case, Maii xiii. Among the pretermitted saints,
ology.
however, in that List of Irish Saints furnished • by him to O'Sullevan Bcarc, in *' Historia> CathoHca; Ibcrni. v Compendium," tomus i. ,
lib. iv. , cap. xii.
p. 185.
^ See his Acts, in the Third Vohnne of
this work, at lliat day, Art. i.
May 14. ] LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS.
241
such holy occupations. Treasuring the words of Christ himself, " No man Cometh to the Father but through me," they made prayer and contemplation a pleasure and a solace. Their example made an impression on their disciples, and these loved religious exercises in their turn, finding from personal experience the advantages sure to be derived from such practices.
There are different Manuscript Latin Lives of St. Carthage extant. ' One of these is in Marsh's Library,^ and another in the Library of Trinity College,^ Dublin. TherearesomeIrishManuscriptLivesofthissaint,likewise,inSir William Betham's collections, belonging to the Royal Irish Academy, as also Tracts, attributed to him. Thus, in volumes vi. ,4 x. ,s xxi. ,^ of the O'Longan transcripts, andin anotherofthese,butwithoutanydistinctivemark,andclassed, No. 30,7areillustrationsfortheLifeofSt. Carthage. Thislattercontains,A Rule of Discipline, ascribed —Mr. O'Curry thinks improperly— to St. Mochuda of Lismore. ^ There is also a small paper MS. ,9 belonging the Messrs. Hodges and Smith collection, R. I. A. , which lias a Life of St. Mochuda of Rathin, in the King's County. Again, Michael O'Clery has transcribed two Irish Lives of St. Mochudda, or Carthac. '° A Life of St. Carthagus, first Bishop of Lismore, and commencing with the words, "Gloriosus Christi miles, Carthagus," is men- tionedbySirJamesWare. " TheperiodwhenthisLifehadbeencomposed is not mentioned, and it seems to be unknown. Colgan seems to have in- tended the insertion of Acts at this date, for St. Carthagius or Mochudda. " At this day, the Bollandists give us, also, two different Lives ofSt. Carthage. 's The first is published,'-* from a Salamancan Manuscript, collated with another, which belonged to Father Henry Fitzsimon ; and, it appears to have consti- tuted the Lessons for Matins, recited in honour of our saint, as the conclud- ing Antiphon of the Magnificat sufficiently indicates. The Second Life '5 is taken from an old Irish Manuscript. It is long and circumstantial, but, it is far from being accurate, in many of its assertions. '^ Ussher refers to both, in his
Antiquities of the British Churches. '?
Article i. — ' There is a Vita S. Car- thaci seu Mochudda, de Hibernia, ex MS. Salmanticensi (nunc in Bibl. Ducum Bur- gundiffi apud Bruxell).
^ Thus in the Manuscript, which has been called " Codex Killcenniensis " is recorded St. Carthagus, fol. 94 to 99 ; but, fol. 100 is lost. It contained the concluding portion of this Life.
3 In the Manuscript, classed E, 3, 1 1, there is a Vita S. Carthagi at fol. 60. We find missing, fol. 65, and the Life concludes at fol. 66.
* It contains, a story of St. Mochuda, at p. 114.
5 This folio paper contains 416 written pages, transcribed by Michael Oge O'Longan, between the years iSoo and 1808. It in- eludes a short monastic Rule, or fragment of one, ascribed here to St. Mochuda of Lis- more, in 5 quatrains, at p. 317.
As published, they contain various
97 written pages, transcribed lately in Cork, by some one of the O'Longans. Though the writing has a respectable appearance ; yet, this transcript is very inaccurate, and it must have been tlie production of some ignorant scribe. On the back, this MS. is lettered " Extracts from Leabhar Droma Sneachtaigh(BookofDromSneacht); byJ- Maolconaire, 1560. "
^ It contains five quatrains, at p. 67.
' This is classed, No. 150.
'" Also a Tract on St. Suanach's sons, and
on St. Mochudda. These are now preserved in the Burgundian Library of Bruxelles, fols. 265, 268, vol. xi. , and vol. iv. , part ii. , p. 45.
"See " De Scriptoribus Hibernige," lib. i. , cap. xiii. , p. 90.
'- See "Catalogus Actuum Sanctorum quse MS. habentur, ordine Mensium et Dierum. "
'3 See " Acta Sanctorum," tomus iii. , xiv. Mail. De S. Carthaco seu Mochudda, Epis- copo et Abbate Lismoriensi, in Hibernia,
* It consists of 228 written pages, tran-
scribed by Michael Oge O'Longan, between
the years 1802 and 1827. At p. 1 15, the pp. 375 to 388.
last line but two, there is a memorandum by the transcriber to the effect, he had heard, that the Life of St. Mochuda of Lismore, and the Life of St. Daiglan (Declan), were in Kilkenny, and near Ariglin, in the year 1816.
"> This is a quarto paper book comprising
'"' It contains little, that is historical,
'^ in Rev. Dr. Lanigan's references to St. Carthage's Life, the reader is to understand, that called the Second Life was also the one, usually quoted by Ussher and Colgan.
'* See Rev. Dr. Lanigan's "Ecclesiastical History of Ireland," vol. ii. , chap, xiv. , sect.
Q
242 LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. [May 14.
graphical errors. Colgan often quotes this Second Life, in his " Acta Sanc- torum Hibernige. " The first of those Lives will be cited, in the following pages, as the Vita ex duplici IMS. Legendario, and the latter, as the Vita ex antique MS. Hibernico ; for thus, they are intituled, by the Bollandists. This latter Life, comprised in Four chapters, is by far the more copious of the twobiographiespublished. Otherinterestingaccountsofthisholymanhave been published, by Archbishop Ussher,'^ Bishop Challoner,'9 Rev. Alban Butler,=° Rev. S. Baring-Gould,"' Miss Mary F. Cusack," and in Les Petits Bollandistes. "3
The approaching birth of our saint was announced to St. Comgall,"* by an Angel, in the following words : " O holy old man, a child shall be born in the western part of Ireland. He must receive the name of Carthage, at the baptismal font, because he shall be loved by God and man, both in Heaven and upon earth. After a while, he shall come to you, on his way to Rome, and it is the Lord's mandate, that you forsake him not, but that he remain with you an entire year. " St. Brendan "5 ofClonfert had an angelic warning, also, regarding the birth of our saint. Brendan heard these words : " A wonder-working brother must shortly come to thee, who shall aid thy people here and hereafter. Men shall thus divide the region of Kiarraigh. "^ His name shall be Carthage amongst you, and many shall rejoice in his com- memoration ; for, he will collect a great congregation of many people to the Lord, on the day of judgment. His first city shall be called Rathen, situated in Meath territory, in the midst of Ireland, among the people called Feara- Keelf7 andthiscityshallberenowned. But,thesecondcityshallbegreater and more illustrious ; for, Carthage shall possess a great principality called
Lismore. "^
The fath. er of St. Carthage, commonly called Mochudda, was named
Fingen. This latter was a son to Guel, and a descendant from the noble family of Ciar,''y son of Ferguss Mac Roigh,3° a renowned prince of TJlster. 3" He belonged to the tribe of Kieragia-Luachra, in the province of Munster. ThemotherofoursaintwascalledMead,daughtertoFingen,of the Corcoduibne tribe, Avho lived near the western ocean of Ireland, and in the vicinity of a fish-abounding river, called Leamha—probably the present Laune, which is an outlet of the Killarney Lakes. The father of Carthage was a powerful chieftain, possessed of two castles; one of these was situated,
xiii. , n. 177, p. 351.
'? Referring to a Life of St. Carthage, he
writes, " cujus penes me duo sunt ^ISS. exemplaria. "
'_* See " Britannicarum Ecclesiarum Anti- quitates," cap. xvii. , pp. 472, 488.
No. Ixxx. , p. 389, n.
'^ The reader will find a very interesting
account of St. Carthage Mochuda, and of this place Rahin or Rahen, a parish in the barony of Ballycowan, King's County, in Rev. A. Cogan's "Diocese of Meath, Ancient and Modern," vol. iii. , chap, Ixxv. , pp. 619 to 627.
"^ See Vita ex antiquo MS. Hibernico, cap. i. , num. i.
'' vSee " Britannia Sancta," part i. , 286 to 288.
pp.
"" See '* Lives of the Fathers, Martyrs and other principal Saints," vol. v. , May xiv.
"See '"Lives of the Saints," vol. v. , May 14.
^9 He sprang from the race of Ciar, son of P^ergus, son of Ross, son to Rudhraighe, and " See "History of the Kingdom of he belonged to the progeny of Ir, son to
Kerry," cap. iv. , pp. 60 to 64.
'3 See " Vies des Saints," tome v. , xiv*
Jour de Mai, p. 519.
'^ See his Life already given in this
volume, at May loth, Art. i.
'5 His Life will be found, at the l6th of
this month.
*' Ciaraighe Cuirche—now Kerrycurrihe,
in the county of Cork. Sec the " Irish Ecclesiastical Record," Old Scries, vol. vii. ,
Milcdh, according to the O'Clerys.
^° See Derniod O'Connor's Kcating's
" History of Ireland," Book ii. , p. 394.
3' Jhc Rev. Dr. Lanigan, in quoting Keating, would have it appear, that the latter historian made our saint an immediate son of Feargus mac Roigh. . "^ce " Ecclesi-
astical llistoiy of Ireland," vol. ii. , chap, xiv. , sect, xiii. , n. 179, p. 351.
'^ Still known as Slievemish Mountains,
May 14. ] LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS.
243
on the southern side of a mountain, called Miss,3^ and the other in a grove, by the River Mainne. 33 In the former of these castles, the saint was conceived, and he was born in the latter. Both of these castles received a benediction, in consequence, so that evil-designing men could not afterwards inhabit them. It is said, that while a great number of persons of both sexes were collected
in one place, a globe of fire was seen to descend on the mother of our saint, who was then borne in her womb. This celestial fire immediately vanished, without further injury to any one. They knew not, however, at that time, how thiswasanindicationoftheunborninfant'ssanctity. Wemaycalculate,that St. Carthach or Mochudda was born, about the middle of the sixth century, according to Rev. Dr. Lanigan,34 if—as appears not improbable—the time for his ordination was about a. d. 580. On his way to receive baptism, Carthage
was met by a holy man, named -^dan. He was asked to regenerate sacramen- tally this infant. That place where they then were was deficient in water but instantly, a fountain issued from earth, and with its water the child was baptized. This limpid fountain continued afterwards to flow without ceasing.
At the baptismal font, our saint received the name Carthach, or as Latinized Carthagus, according to the angelic prediction. 35 He was afterwards more usually called Mochuda ; for this reason, because the elder St. Carthage, his master, had been in the habit of calling his pupil by such a name,3S while mani- festing his affection by kisses and benedictions. St. -(Edan is said to have predicted, that the infant should be illustrious on earth, in the sight of God and man. 37 Carthage appeared, from his earliest youth, to have destined himself for God's service, and to have set at nought the vanities of this world; yet, much to the dislike of his parents, who were anxious to train him up to a knowledge of secular pursuits. Like another David, keeping the flocks of his father, our saint in his youth was an humble herd. To him and to others was committed the charge of feeding his father's swine, in certain woods, bordering on the RiverMainne,orMangJ^ AchieftainofKerry,namedMoeltul,wasvisited by the boy, at his castle of Astaddin. That chieftain received him kindly and said, " Come to me each day, with the other swineherds, and honour shall be paid them, on thy account, for I desire much to see thee. "
Onaparticularnight,theboyremainedwiththischieftain. Hiswife,named Noeleathan, the granddaughter of ^dhabeannain. King of Munster, remon- strated with her husband, for being so much captivated with a mere youth. Moeltul said "Woman, if you had seen what I behold in him, you would regard none but this child. I see a golden collar of exquisite workmanship around his neck,andapillaroffire,reachingfromhisheadtoHeaven; whileIdiscerna houseopenabove,asifnothavingaroof. FromthemomentIbeheldtheseper- sonal signs, love towards him hath taken possession of my heart. " His wife then said, "Let him come hither, and sit beside me. " This the child accordingly
ing been a disciple of the real Carthagh
lying southwards from Tralee, in the county atemode,Mochuda, thatis, "mydearChuda. " of Kerry. 36 xhere is reason to think, according to 33 Still so called. The River Maine rises Rev. Dr. Lanigan's conjecture, that his being called Carthagh was owing to his hav-
in the hills north of Castleisland, and taking a western course, it flows into Castlemain Harbour, at the head of Dingle Bay.
venerated on the 5th of March—as if we 3* See his " Ecclesiastical History of should say Carthagh's Mochuda.
Ireland," vol. ii. , chap, xiv. , sect. xiii. p. 351,
35 Yet, it is probable, according to Rev. Dr. Lanigan, that his original name was Chuda or Chuttai (Cuddy), and that his master, who was very fond of him, did no more, in this respect, than instead of calling him Chuda, addressed him by the affection-
37 See Vita ex antique MS. Hibernico, cap. i. , num.
Article IX. St. or the Blessed Michomeris. At the 13th of May, Colgan appears to have intended writing the Acts of a Blessed Michome- ris, as we find from the posthumous list of his Manuscripts. We cannot dis- cover, whether or not, he should be identified with that St. Michomer, or Michomores, Confessor, of Tornodor, in Gallic Campania, whose feast has been assigned to the 30th of April. '
Article X. St. Carthagius, or Carthacus. In the anonymous catalogue, published by O'SuUevan Beare,' we find St. Carthagius entered at the 13th of May. This, however, can only be regarded as the vigil, for his proper festival. The Carthusian Martyrology and Henry Fitzsimon place St. Karthagius, Bishop, at the same date. ^" Also, is he noticed by the Bollan- dists,3whorefertoGreven,Canisius,Fcrraiius,andFitz-simon; whilethey relegate his Acts, to the day following.
Article XI. Feast of Saints Teracus and Probus. —The 12th of May is set down in the Feilire' of St. ^ngus, as the festival for Saints Teracus and Probus. These seem to have suffered martyrdom, with several other companions, at Alexandria;^ although elsewhere, except in the Tallagh
of Dublittir, priest of Armagh, crowned with martyrdom by the Gentiles, is entered at a. D. 922 al. 923. See Dr. O'Conor's "Rerum Hibernicarum Scriptores," tomus iv. , p. 255.
Dr. Whitley Stokes: "The holy family of Teracus and Probus after paths (of this world). After long bitter crosses, six persons and six hundred. "—"Transactions of the Royal Irish Academy," vol. i. , parti. On the Calendar of Oengus, p. Ixxix.
^ The scholiast on St. ^ngus has a note on noebiiniiiice]\ Ce]\<\ci, as follows, "i. in Alexandria pasi sunt. " The commentator had a different version of the Feilire, from that found in the " Leabhar Breac " which in a note, he thus introduces, lAyvi^eyvbch- pocliAib fii\Aib feifei\ Ay\ fe cecAib. uelp'c
Cige^MiAcli ^o]:epu^\
I'epuy^ a^a . m. ceuAib . 1. CijeiMiAcli t)<Mi\che.
Article viii. —^ same day.
See their Lives, at the
* See "Acta Sanctorum," tomus iii. , Mail xiii. Among the pretermitted saints, p. 187. —
Article ix. ' See his Acts, in the Fourth Volume of this work, at that date,
' See " Historias Catholics Ibernias Compendium," tomus i. , lib. iv. ,
cap. xi. , p. 50.
^ See ibid. , cap. xii. , p. 55.
3 See "Acta Sanctorum," tomus iii. ,
. . .
The foregomg is thus translated, by Dr.
Maii xiii. jg-
Among the pretermitted saints,
,
,,1
t^
Article xi. — '
copy we find :— ^'
In the " Leabhar Breac "
Whitley Stokes :-" After long bitter crosses, six on six hundreds.
Or thus :—
. . Tigernach thou shouldst know, Six on six hundreds. "
i-e-t^ Tigernach of Bairche. —See ibid. , p. Ixxxvi.
^ See "Acta Sanctorum," tomus iii. ,
tloebnnnnceTA CenAci
Pl^oio^? ,^ {. -^ITt"^;,^ lA]\l'e|\bch|\OCnA1D f1^^A1b
. ui. ei\ A|\. «i, c. Aib. ThisstanzaisthustranslatedintoEnglish,by
—
^40 LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. [May 14.
Martyrology, we do not find tlieir names recorded in other ancient Calendars. Different are the names of those Martyrs of Alexandria, noted by the Bollan- dists,3 at this date ; and, among them are two unnamed, who might probably be Teracus and Probus. '*
ArticleXII. ReputedFeastofSj". Motomagus. IntheCatalogue of some Irish Saints, it is stated, that Father Henry Fitz-simon sets down Motomagus ;' and, he states, that in his Martyrology, Canisius has placed him,atthei8thofMay. ^ However,Fitz-simoncorrectsthisstatement,and refers his feast to the 13th of March; by which, the Bollandists 3 think, he means St. Mochoemogus,* whose Life belongs to that date.
jfdurtffntl) Hap of iiflaj)*
ARTICLE I. —ST. CARTHAGE, OR MOCHUDDA, BISHOP. ACUUT, AND PATRON, OF ITSMORE.
ISIXTII AND SEVENTH CENTURIES. \ CHAPTER I.
INTRODUCTION—ACTS OF ST. MOCHUDDA OR CARTHAGE—PROGNOSTICATION REGARD- ING HIM—HIS PARENTAGE AND lilRTH—HIS YOUTH AND EARLY VOCATION TO THE CLERICAL STATE—EDUCATED BY ST. CARTHAGE THE ELDER—ST. MOCHUDDA BECOMES A PRIEST—HE SETTLES DOWN AT A PLACE CALLED KELLTULACH, BUT SOON HE LEAVES IT—HE VISITS ST. COMGALL AT BANGOR.
'^"T^'IIE history of St. Carthage Junior, or St. Mochuda, is one of singular
interest. Thisholymanexcelledbothinlearningandinpiety. That
J_ —even of legend over- he was a popular saint is proved from the records
colouring—with which his memory has been transmitted to us. But, no question remains in doubt, that while he lived, the right rule of Faith and dis- ciplinewasspread,throughhispersonalzealandlabours. Thisholysuperior, exact in all the duties of his sacred calling, as being to give an account one day to that great Master, who has allotted to each one of us our respective station, among his numerous family of Christians, in every age and clime. Especially, the saints were accustomed, to consecrate the beginning and end of each day, and they would not allow their worldly concerns, to interfere with or prevent
Maii xiii. De Sanctis Martyribus Alexan- drinis Aplirodisio, Agrippa, Sabino, Giiso, I. ucio, Cyrilla, Cridvla, Juviuo, ct aliis duo- bus, p. 202.
' So has Dempster in his Menology. See Bishop Forbes' " Kalendars of Scottish Saints," p. 200. Also, he is noticed by Demp- ster, in his " Ilistoria Eccle-iastica Gentis
"• Tiiis is apparent, by reference to the Scotorum," tomus ii. , Ub. xii. , num. 897, Franciscan copy of the Tallagh Martyr- p. 473.
^ See " Acta Sanctorum," tomus iii. , Article xii. —' This is not tlie case, Maii xiii. Among the pretermitted saints,
ology.
however, in that List of Irish Saints furnished • by him to O'Sullevan Bcarc, in *' Historia> CathoHca; Ibcrni. v Compendium," tomus i. ,
lib. iv. , cap. xii.
p. 185.
^ See his Acts, in the Third Vohnne of
this work, at lliat day, Art. i.
May 14. ] LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS.
241
such holy occupations. Treasuring the words of Christ himself, " No man Cometh to the Father but through me," they made prayer and contemplation a pleasure and a solace. Their example made an impression on their disciples, and these loved religious exercises in their turn, finding from personal experience the advantages sure to be derived from such practices.
There are different Manuscript Latin Lives of St. Carthage extant. ' One of these is in Marsh's Library,^ and another in the Library of Trinity College,^ Dublin. TherearesomeIrishManuscriptLivesofthissaint,likewise,inSir William Betham's collections, belonging to the Royal Irish Academy, as also Tracts, attributed to him. Thus, in volumes vi. ,4 x. ,s xxi. ,^ of the O'Longan transcripts, andin anotherofthese,butwithoutanydistinctivemark,andclassed, No. 30,7areillustrationsfortheLifeofSt. Carthage. Thislattercontains,A Rule of Discipline, ascribed —Mr. O'Curry thinks improperly— to St. Mochuda of Lismore. ^ There is also a small paper MS. ,9 belonging the Messrs. Hodges and Smith collection, R. I. A. , which lias a Life of St. Mochuda of Rathin, in the King's County. Again, Michael O'Clery has transcribed two Irish Lives of St. Mochudda, or Carthac. '° A Life of St. Carthagus, first Bishop of Lismore, and commencing with the words, "Gloriosus Christi miles, Carthagus," is men- tionedbySirJamesWare. " TheperiodwhenthisLifehadbeencomposed is not mentioned, and it seems to be unknown. Colgan seems to have in- tended the insertion of Acts at this date, for St. Carthagius or Mochudda. " At this day, the Bollandists give us, also, two different Lives ofSt. Carthage. 's The first is published,'-* from a Salamancan Manuscript, collated with another, which belonged to Father Henry Fitzsimon ; and, it appears to have consti- tuted the Lessons for Matins, recited in honour of our saint, as the conclud- ing Antiphon of the Magnificat sufficiently indicates. The Second Life '5 is taken from an old Irish Manuscript. It is long and circumstantial, but, it is far from being accurate, in many of its assertions. '^ Ussher refers to both, in his
Antiquities of the British Churches. '?
Article i. — ' There is a Vita S. Car- thaci seu Mochudda, de Hibernia, ex MS. Salmanticensi (nunc in Bibl. Ducum Bur- gundiffi apud Bruxell).
^ Thus in the Manuscript, which has been called " Codex Killcenniensis " is recorded St. Carthagus, fol. 94 to 99 ; but, fol. 100 is lost. It contained the concluding portion of this Life.
3 In the Manuscript, classed E, 3, 1 1, there is a Vita S. Carthagi at fol. 60. We find missing, fol. 65, and the Life concludes at fol. 66.
* It contains, a story of St. Mochuda, at p. 114.
5 This folio paper contains 416 written pages, transcribed by Michael Oge O'Longan, between the years iSoo and 1808. It in- eludes a short monastic Rule, or fragment of one, ascribed here to St. Mochuda of Lis- more, in 5 quatrains, at p. 317.
As published, they contain various
97 written pages, transcribed lately in Cork, by some one of the O'Longans. Though the writing has a respectable appearance ; yet, this transcript is very inaccurate, and it must have been tlie production of some ignorant scribe. On the back, this MS. is lettered " Extracts from Leabhar Droma Sneachtaigh(BookofDromSneacht); byJ- Maolconaire, 1560. "
^ It contains five quatrains, at p. 67.
' This is classed, No. 150.
'" Also a Tract on St. Suanach's sons, and
on St. Mochudda. These are now preserved in the Burgundian Library of Bruxelles, fols. 265, 268, vol. xi. , and vol. iv. , part ii. , p. 45.
"See " De Scriptoribus Hibernige," lib. i. , cap. xiii. , p. 90.
'- See "Catalogus Actuum Sanctorum quse MS. habentur, ordine Mensium et Dierum. "
'3 See " Acta Sanctorum," tomus iii. , xiv. Mail. De S. Carthaco seu Mochudda, Epis- copo et Abbate Lismoriensi, in Hibernia,
* It consists of 228 written pages, tran-
scribed by Michael Oge O'Longan, between
the years 1802 and 1827. At p. 1 15, the pp. 375 to 388.
last line but two, there is a memorandum by the transcriber to the effect, he had heard, that the Life of St. Mochuda of Lismore, and the Life of St. Daiglan (Declan), were in Kilkenny, and near Ariglin, in the year 1816.
"> This is a quarto paper book comprising
'"' It contains little, that is historical,
'^ in Rev. Dr. Lanigan's references to St. Carthage's Life, the reader is to understand, that called the Second Life was also the one, usually quoted by Ussher and Colgan.
'* See Rev. Dr. Lanigan's "Ecclesiastical History of Ireland," vol. ii. , chap, xiv. , sect.
Q
242 LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. [May 14.
graphical errors. Colgan often quotes this Second Life, in his " Acta Sanc- torum Hibernige. " The first of those Lives will be cited, in the following pages, as the Vita ex duplici IMS. Legendario, and the latter, as the Vita ex antique MS. Hibernico ; for thus, they are intituled, by the Bollandists. This latter Life, comprised in Four chapters, is by far the more copious of the twobiographiespublished. Otherinterestingaccountsofthisholymanhave been published, by Archbishop Ussher,'^ Bishop Challoner,'9 Rev. Alban Butler,=° Rev. S. Baring-Gould,"' Miss Mary F. Cusack," and in Les Petits Bollandistes. "3
The approaching birth of our saint was announced to St. Comgall,"* by an Angel, in the following words : " O holy old man, a child shall be born in the western part of Ireland. He must receive the name of Carthage, at the baptismal font, because he shall be loved by God and man, both in Heaven and upon earth. After a while, he shall come to you, on his way to Rome, and it is the Lord's mandate, that you forsake him not, but that he remain with you an entire year. " St. Brendan "5 ofClonfert had an angelic warning, also, regarding the birth of our saint. Brendan heard these words : " A wonder-working brother must shortly come to thee, who shall aid thy people here and hereafter. Men shall thus divide the region of Kiarraigh. "^ His name shall be Carthage amongst you, and many shall rejoice in his com- memoration ; for, he will collect a great congregation of many people to the Lord, on the day of judgment. His first city shall be called Rathen, situated in Meath territory, in the midst of Ireland, among the people called Feara- Keelf7 andthiscityshallberenowned. But,thesecondcityshallbegreater and more illustrious ; for, Carthage shall possess a great principality called
Lismore. "^
The fath. er of St. Carthage, commonly called Mochudda, was named
Fingen. This latter was a son to Guel, and a descendant from the noble family of Ciar,''y son of Ferguss Mac Roigh,3° a renowned prince of TJlster. 3" He belonged to the tribe of Kieragia-Luachra, in the province of Munster. ThemotherofoursaintwascalledMead,daughtertoFingen,of the Corcoduibne tribe, Avho lived near the western ocean of Ireland, and in the vicinity of a fish-abounding river, called Leamha—probably the present Laune, which is an outlet of the Killarney Lakes. The father of Carthage was a powerful chieftain, possessed of two castles; one of these was situated,
xiii. , n. 177, p. 351.
'? Referring to a Life of St. Carthage, he
writes, " cujus penes me duo sunt ^ISS. exemplaria. "
'_* See " Britannicarum Ecclesiarum Anti- quitates," cap. xvii. , pp. 472, 488.
No. Ixxx. , p. 389, n.
'^ The reader will find a very interesting
account of St. Carthage Mochuda, and of this place Rahin or Rahen, a parish in the barony of Ballycowan, King's County, in Rev. A. Cogan's "Diocese of Meath, Ancient and Modern," vol. iii. , chap, Ixxv. , pp. 619 to 627.
"^ See Vita ex antiquo MS. Hibernico, cap. i. , num. i.
'' vSee " Britannia Sancta," part i. , 286 to 288.
pp.
"" See '* Lives of the Fathers, Martyrs and other principal Saints," vol. v. , May xiv.
"See '"Lives of the Saints," vol. v. , May 14.
^9 He sprang from the race of Ciar, son of P^ergus, son of Ross, son to Rudhraighe, and " See "History of the Kingdom of he belonged to the progeny of Ir, son to
Kerry," cap. iv. , pp. 60 to 64.
'3 See " Vies des Saints," tome v. , xiv*
Jour de Mai, p. 519.
'^ See his Life already given in this
volume, at May loth, Art. i.
'5 His Life will be found, at the l6th of
this month.
*' Ciaraighe Cuirche—now Kerrycurrihe,
in the county of Cork. Sec the " Irish Ecclesiastical Record," Old Scries, vol. vii. ,
Milcdh, according to the O'Clerys.
^° See Derniod O'Connor's Kcating's
" History of Ireland," Book ii. , p. 394.
3' Jhc Rev. Dr. Lanigan, in quoting Keating, would have it appear, that the latter historian made our saint an immediate son of Feargus mac Roigh. . "^ce " Ecclesi-
astical llistoiy of Ireland," vol. ii. , chap, xiv. , sect, xiii. , n. 179, p. 351.
'^ Still known as Slievemish Mountains,
May 14. ] LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS.
243
on the southern side of a mountain, called Miss,3^ and the other in a grove, by the River Mainne. 33 In the former of these castles, the saint was conceived, and he was born in the latter. Both of these castles received a benediction, in consequence, so that evil-designing men could not afterwards inhabit them. It is said, that while a great number of persons of both sexes were collected
in one place, a globe of fire was seen to descend on the mother of our saint, who was then borne in her womb. This celestial fire immediately vanished, without further injury to any one. They knew not, however, at that time, how thiswasanindicationoftheunborninfant'ssanctity. Wemaycalculate,that St. Carthach or Mochudda was born, about the middle of the sixth century, according to Rev. Dr. Lanigan,34 if—as appears not improbable—the time for his ordination was about a. d. 580. On his way to receive baptism, Carthage
was met by a holy man, named -^dan. He was asked to regenerate sacramen- tally this infant. That place where they then were was deficient in water but instantly, a fountain issued from earth, and with its water the child was baptized. This limpid fountain continued afterwards to flow without ceasing.
At the baptismal font, our saint received the name Carthach, or as Latinized Carthagus, according to the angelic prediction. 35 He was afterwards more usually called Mochuda ; for this reason, because the elder St. Carthage, his master, had been in the habit of calling his pupil by such a name,3S while mani- festing his affection by kisses and benedictions. St. -(Edan is said to have predicted, that the infant should be illustrious on earth, in the sight of God and man. 37 Carthage appeared, from his earliest youth, to have destined himself for God's service, and to have set at nought the vanities of this world; yet, much to the dislike of his parents, who were anxious to train him up to a knowledge of secular pursuits. Like another David, keeping the flocks of his father, our saint in his youth was an humble herd. To him and to others was committed the charge of feeding his father's swine, in certain woods, bordering on the RiverMainne,orMangJ^ AchieftainofKerry,namedMoeltul,wasvisited by the boy, at his castle of Astaddin. That chieftain received him kindly and said, " Come to me each day, with the other swineherds, and honour shall be paid them, on thy account, for I desire much to see thee. "
Onaparticularnight,theboyremainedwiththischieftain. Hiswife,named Noeleathan, the granddaughter of ^dhabeannain. King of Munster, remon- strated with her husband, for being so much captivated with a mere youth. Moeltul said "Woman, if you had seen what I behold in him, you would regard none but this child. I see a golden collar of exquisite workmanship around his neck,andapillaroffire,reachingfromhisheadtoHeaven; whileIdiscerna houseopenabove,asifnothavingaroof. FromthemomentIbeheldtheseper- sonal signs, love towards him hath taken possession of my heart. " His wife then said, "Let him come hither, and sit beside me. " This the child accordingly
ing been a disciple of the real Carthagh
lying southwards from Tralee, in the county atemode,Mochuda, thatis, "mydearChuda. " of Kerry. 36 xhere is reason to think, according to 33 Still so called. The River Maine rises Rev. Dr. Lanigan's conjecture, that his being called Carthagh was owing to his hav-
in the hills north of Castleisland, and taking a western course, it flows into Castlemain Harbour, at the head of Dingle Bay.
venerated on the 5th of March—as if we 3* See his " Ecclesiastical History of should say Carthagh's Mochuda.
Ireland," vol. ii. , chap, xiv. , sect. xiii. p. 351,
35 Yet, it is probable, according to Rev. Dr. Lanigan, that his original name was Chuda or Chuttai (Cuddy), and that his master, who was very fond of him, did no more, in this respect, than instead of calling him Chuda, addressed him by the affection-
37 See Vita ex antique MS. Hibernico, cap. i. , num.
