No More Learning

Mngws,
Irish commentator on that copy in the Leabhar Breac adds, as a conjecture, that he was a Bishop, or that he may be Unnint who is in Tagmad. 2 It does not appear to be a very easy task, to discover the identity either of the person or the place, to which allusion is here made. A St. Vincent, with other companions, who were martyrs in Spain, has a festival at this date ; but, the only knowledge regarding them has been a few brief notices drawn from
on which
we have endeavoured to elucidate his Acts.
19th,
day
Article X. —Feast of St. Fincana, a Virgin and an Eremite.
1
This holy Virgin, said to have been daughter to St. Doneualdus, is recorded
by Camerarius,2 at the 21st day of August, in his Calendar. She is stated to have lived a solitary life, and to have been an eremite. She flourished in the eighth century, as her father is said to have lived during the reign of Eugenius VII. , King of Scotland. 3 He was also called Nectan, and he is stated to have reigned but two years, viz. : from a. d. 761 to 763. A writer, who has ably treated the social state of Scotland at different eras, remarks, that its caves and rocks retain traces of the early teachers of the Gospel of peace, while the old markets all over the country were named after them;* and he adds, that there were few places of any note that were not associated with the name of some early saint.
Article viii. —'See "Transactions of the Royal Irish Academy," Irish Manu- script Series, vol. i. , part i. On the Calendar
ofdingus. ByWhitleyStokes,LL. D. ,p. cxxiv.
3
See ibid. , p. cxxxii.
3 See the Bollandists' " Acta Sanctorum,"
tomus iv. , Augusti xxi. De SS. Julio, Juli-
ano, Vincentio, Augurio et Eulodio Martyr-
ibus in — 424. Hispania, p.
Article ix. 'See "Acta Sanctorum," tomus iv. , Augusti xxi. Among the preter- mitted feasts, p. 396
3 In the — volume, Art. i. present
l
Doneualdi Scotici sanguinis viri sanctitas,
qui in solitudine Ovvgilluy sex prope passuum millibus ab Alecto oppido inter Pictos vitse sanctimonia insignis vixit. Huic novem erant filiae Mazoto majori no- men, Fincante alteri : cceterarum nomina vetustas abolevit. His arctissima vita de- gentibus panis ordeaceus cibus fuit, et aqua potum : semel que duntaxat in die exiguo reficiebantur cibo, perpetuse fere orationi
rei rustics tenuem vitam
aut quo susten-
tarent dedita. -. "
4 See in the series of The Historians of
Scotland, and ably edited by the late learned
the English translation by the same scholarly editor, John F. Fordun's "Chronicle of the Scottish Nation," book iii. , chap, xlvi. ,
Article x.
Fordun "Chronica Gentis Scotorum," lib. iii. , cap. xlvi. , p. 131, Edinburgh, 1871, 8vo. Also
Donevald is styled of the Den of Ogilvy, and he is mentioned by Hector Boece, in "Scotorum Historic," lib.
ix. ,fol. clxxxvii. , Editio 1 520, fol.
2 Thus " Sancta Fincana virgo Eremi—ta :
filia sancti Doneualdi, de quo supra. " Bishop Forbes' " Kalendars of Scottish
Saints," p. 239.
3 This is stated by Hector Boece :
p. 125, Edinburgh, 1872, 8vo. 5"
" vente autem Eugenio septimo valuit pluri-
See Dr. John Mackintosh's History of
mum ad commovendos ad
pietatem
homines
Article —x i.
Vi-
Civilization in Scotland,"vol. i. ,chap. i. ,Intro- duction, sect, viii. , p. 135.
This has been stated by
William F. de Skene, Johannis
August 22. ] LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. 311
CUientp^econJ Dag of august
ARTICLE I. —ST. ANDREW, DEACON AND CONFESSOR, OF FIESOLE, IN ITALY.
[NINTH CENTURY. ]
CHAPTER I.
INTRODUCTION—WRITERS OF ST. ANDREW'S ACTS—HIS FAMILY AND BIRTH IN SCOTIA— HIS EARLY PIETY—THE DISCIPLE OF ST. DONATUS—BOTH RESOLVE TO LEAVE IRELAND AND TO BECOME PILGRIMS —THEY TRAVEL TO ITALY AND ARRIVE IN FIESOLE—ACCOUNT OF THAT ANCIENT CITY—ST. DONATUS MIRACULOUSLY DESIG- NATED AS ITS BISHOP.
not alone the comforts but the luxuries of life, many truly
souls have treated them as but the accidents of birth ENJOpYioIusNG
;
nor do
they regard such possessions as objects that can confer real happiness. With regard to the present holy man, while his rank and station were assured to him in his own country, still having a holier purpose in view, he had no ambition to enjoy ease and rest, but rather to seek in self-denial and labour his own and the salvation of his fellow- men. Therefore entertaining wise con- siderations did he abandon family and home, for the uncertain fortune that awaited him in distant lands. There, too, obtaining sufficient for sustenance in the work of a noble ministry, he lived in almost absolute privation of earth's goods ; yet, treated and trusted, with more spiritual honour and affection, than the great ones of this world, he felt rich in the rewards of the true Christian life, and in the hopes of his heavenly inheritance.
Villanus. 1 When about his treating
The Life of this holy pilgrim—an exile from his native country—has been
written in Italian
by Philippus
sister, St. Brigid, of Opacum, at Fiesole, in Italy, Father John Colgan,* and
specially
the Bollandists 3 have not omitted to draw their account, mainly from that Life. Filippo Villani was a Florentine gentleman of an ancient and respect- able family, the son of Matteo, and the nephew of Giovanni Villani,4 who wroteamuchesteemedHistoryofFlorence. 5 Thisbeginswiththefoundation
ofhisdeath,a. d. 6 Hisbrother 1348.
ofthat anditcontinuestothe city,
year
Matteo continued it to a. d. 1363, the year when he died. Afterwards, his
son Filippo added forty-two chapters, and ended it with the year 1364. 7 The
Franciscus Cataneus Diacettius, Bishop of Fesulse, in an Italian Preface to the Lives of Saints belonging to his Church. This is
been one of the most learned men of his time.
3 It is remarkable for the elegance and
purity of its style ; and besides the affairs of
likewise stated by Placidus Puccinellus and Florence, it recounts the principal events
by other writers. referring to other countries. This general
2
Februarii. De S. Brigida Virgine Ecclesise source for study by more modern Italian
See "Acta Sanctorum Hiberniae," i. Chronicle has been always regarded as a
Opacensis apud Fessulas in Italia Patrome, pp. 236 to 238.
historians. See Tiraboschi's Letteratura Italiana," tomo v.
"
Storia della
6 See M. le Dr. Hoeffer's " Nouvelle Februarii i. , Vita S. Brigidse, Virginis, Biographie Generate depuis les Temps les
3 See "Acta Sanctorum," tomus
i. ,
Fsesulis in Etruria, pp. 243 to 247.
4 He was born at Florence, about the year 1280, and he was considered to have
plus recules jusqu'a nos Jours," tome xlvi. , cols. 159, 160.
7 The " Storie Florentine " of Villani was
3i2 LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. [August 22.
latter wrote in Latin the Lives of illustrious men belonging to Florence ; but
tary,
11 and added notes. The
editor, however, proposes
some
difficulties,
originalManuscript
ofthatworkh—asnotbeenhithertodiscovered. 8 Two
the
different copies of St. Andrew's Life the authorship attributed to Filippo Villani —were in possession of the Bollandists, with two shorter Lives, very similar to each other, and which seem to have been intended as panegyrics of the saint. They were written for one of his festival celebrations. Those appeartohavebeenabbreviatedfromthelongerActs. Atthe22ndofAugust, the Bollandists publish the Latin Acts of St. Andrew^ from a Manuscript of Placidus Puchinellus, and which they had obtained. 10 These have been edited by Father Guiliclmus Cuper, who has prefixed a Previous Commen-
regarding the authorship of those Acts, owing to the introduction of the
name Leonardus, in the Prologue, and that person to whom the tract had
been dedicated. If he were Leonardus Bonafides, the Carthusian, who
became Bishop of Cortona, and who erected a chapel to St. Andrew, in the
church of St. Martin de Mensula, it is quite evident, that Filippo Villani,
who lived in the fourteenth century, could not have been the writer. So that,
either another and a different Filippo Villani must be found ; or a different
Leonardus, than he who constructed a chapel for the relics of St. Andrew in
the Monastery of St. Martin of Mensola, in order to synchronise the author
and his patron. The Irish Franciscan Fathers of St. Isidore, at Rome, had
"
a of St. Andrew's 12 and of this the Bollandists obtained a tran-
copy Life,
script. ^ The posthumous list, referring to Colgan's unpublished Lives of Irish Saints, contained the name of St. Andreas, as if intended for printing, at the 22nd of August. ** Father Stephen White records him, likewise, as oneoftheIrishsaintswhowentabroad. 15 InButler'swork,10 atthe22nd of August, is found a very brief notice of St. Andrew, Deacon, and Confessor.
There is a brief account of this holy bishop of Fiesole in
1 Saints," in the Petits Bollandistes, at the 22nd of August. ?
Les Vies des
Later, still, a very interesting account of St. Andrew has been inserted in a work, written
by Miss Margaret Stokes. 18
This Irish or Scottish gentleman was born, probably towards the close of
the eighth or beginning of the ninth century. In what part of Ireland, his birth took place, has not transpired, nor have we been able to find his pedi-
gree, through any process of onomancy. From early youth, he felt a truly
published for the first time at Venice, in folio, liv. i. -x. , a. d. 1537, and at Florence in 1554, Liv xi. , XII. , 8vo. Afterwards at Venice both appeared in 4to form, a. d. , 1559. The continuation by Matteo was published at Venice in 1562, 1581 in 4to ; while that of Fillippo appeared at Florence,
paragraphs.
" Vita et Miracula S. Andreae de Scotia, scripta vetusto Italico idiomate per Philippum Villanum, dedicata Leonardo de Jacobo Buonafedi, extracta scu 1557 in 4to. Muratoii has included these exscripta ex vetusto codice MS. monasterii
"
works in his great collection
carum Scriptores," &c, tomus xiii. and xiv.
has been Mazzuchelli in published by
'4 "See Sanctorum CatalogusActuum
1747 at Venice, in 4to, and he has added notes to
quae MS. habentur Ordine Mensium et Dierum. "
it.
9 See "Acta Sanctorum," tomus iv. ,
Augusti xxii. De S. Andrea Confessore, prope Faesulas in Etrnria, pp. 539 to 548.
'5 See "Apologia pro Hibernia," cap. iv. ,
See Lives of the Fathers, Martyrs and other principal Saints," vol. viii.
Rerum Itali-
sancti Martini de Maiana (the Bollandist editor here adds for-san de Mensula kgen- dum est) Ordinis monachorum nigrorum
8 The Abbe Mehus found an Italian trans-
lation of it, but not literal or exact. This sancti Benedicti prope Faesulas. "
10 A in three t? See tome xxiie Prologue paragraphs, pre- x. ,
cedes four chapters, and an additional 106.
Jour
d'Aout,
p.
18
twenty-six paragraphs. See "Six Months in the Apennines,"
11
This is in two sections and fifteen from pp. 227 to 276.
x2
It was marked in the Library 4, num.
32.
,j It bore this title
p. 40.
l6 "
:
August 22. ] LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. 313
1
fraternal affection for his sister, St. Brigid, ? and her virtues were justly calcu-
latedtocementtheirmutualendearment. Andrewwastheelderofthetwo,
while he was also her constant guide and counsellor.
20 They were the chil-
dren of noble and virtuous parents. Both Andrew and Brigid were
accustomed from their earliest youth to pause at the church door, to enter it
and to pray, when they walked together on their way to school. This service
theyrepeatedeachhourtheycouldsavefromsleep. Fromhisyouth,Andrew
was comely in features, modest in dress and gestures, and grave in deport-
ment. Moreover, he loved practices of penance and mortification, while he
was accustomed to fast very rigorously. He carefully avoided the company
and conversation of those, who might be likely to endanger his morals. 21
Besides, the youth of Andrew was spent in the study of letters and in the
22
There were none, however poor and miserable, who left the house in which
he lived uncomforted, so deeply were compassion and the love of unhappy persons rooted in his heart. Meanwhile, his parents were careful that he should be taught the art of riding, and such other accomplishments as befitted his high rank. Time passed on, and a distinguished teacher of Divine philosophy, named Donatus, arrived near their place. He came from many miles distant. Hearing of Andrew's great promise, Donat formed his
acquaintance, took him to his school, and soon a life-long friendship was establishedbetweenthem. ThekindlygreetinghereceivedgaveAndrew heartfelt satisfaction, and afterwards, he received lessons from that Christian philosopher, named Donat, or Donatus,23 who is thought to have been educated at Iniscaltra or Holy Island, on Lough Derg, a wide-spreading lake ontheRiverShannon. Thisconclusionhasbeendrawnfromthecircum- stance, that a Latin hexameter poem, giving the Life of St. Brigid of
exercises of piety.
2 * had been written who calls himself a monk of
by Caolan, Iniscaltra,
Kildare,
and to that Donatus of Fiesole has added the Prologue.
One day, while Donatus and Andrew were standing at the entrance of that cashel surrounding their monastery, and discoursing as was their custom on various matters human and divine ; the former revealed to his disciple a desire he had long entertained, to journey into distant lands, and especially to visit all the holy places throughout Italy. Then, he resolved on seeking a spot, where his family and friends could not find him. There, too, he pur- posed devoting the remainder of his life to God's service. Unable to part from his beloved master, Andrew prayed that he might become the companion of Donat's travels. At last, it was arranged, they should pay no heed to the opposition of their families and friends, but set out at once after taking their "final leave. Great was the grief of Brigid, when she heard of that pro- ject, and she cried out: "Brother dear, why dost thou leave me? When shall we see each other again ? " At last, with much gentleness, Andrew put his sister from him. Then, in a spirit of resignation, she said : "Go in peace, andpraytoGodformeabandonedhereinsorrow. " Afterwards,accompanied by their families and friends, they went to the sea-coast, where a ship was waiting to receive them on board.
19 See her Life in the Second Volume of this work, at the 1st of February, Art. iv. Also, further notices of her, in the present
Six
Volume, at the 20th of August.
20 "
23 His feast occurs on the 22nd of October, at which date his Life may be seen.
24 See it in Colgan's "Trias Thauma- turga," Sexta Vita S. Brigidse, pp. 582 to
See Miss Margaret Stokes' Months in the Apennines," p. 230.
21
See the Bollandists, "Acta Sanctorum," Augusti xxii. De S. Andrea Confessore, 598.
&c. Acta, i,, sect. cap.
4, p. 542.
2s See Les Petits " Vies des Bollandistes,
" See Les Petits Bollandistes, " Vies des e
Saints," tome x. , xxii Jour d'Aout, p. 1 06.
3i4 LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. [August 22. Both the master and the scholar thus left their own country of Scotia,
2s
and travelled to Italy.
intending as pilgrims contented and humble in spirit to travel on foot from place to place, while resting in those monasteries, containing relics of the saints. They often turned aside to visit certain hermitages, in almost inaccessible places, and where they might hold converse with holy ancho- rites.
After such adventures, they at length crossed the Alps, and travelled to
a resting spot among the Apennine Mountains of Italy. In those journeyings,
Donatuswastheguidingspirit,whodirectedtheircourse. Thecityhewent
to, in fine, was situated in Etruria ; and under the appellation of Faesule,26 it
was one of the twelve cities of that province, being the most distinguished by
its celebrity and beautiful situation, as also for the presumed skill of its
denizens in the of omens and 2 ? With the rest of interpretation prognostics.
Etruria, it submitted to the Roman power, and it was colonized by Scylla. 28 Fiesole had survived the general desolation of Italy, during the fifth, sixth, seventh and eighth centuries. At the time Donatus and Andrew entered that city as pilgrims and rested in the public hospice, discord and dissensions had followed those devastations caused by the Northmen, and the city had been deprived of its Bishop. The people were anxious about the appoint- ment of his successor, and they earnestly prayed the Almighty to send them a good chief pastor. A wonderful miracle revealed to them, that two holy strangers had just arrived ; and, it is stated, all the bells of the city began to ring, without human agency ; while a voice from Heaven was heard, " Receive the stranger who approaches, Donatus of Scotia, and take him for
2 your shepherd ! " This was accepted as a manifestation of God's holy will. 9
At the same moment, the lamps in all the churches were suddenly extin- guished, but only to be succeeded by a miraculous light, which spread over the whole horizon.
They had very scant provision for their journey,
With the multitude of the inhabitants, those pious pilgrims sought the chief temple, and there admiring the faithful at their devotions, at first it was supposed that congregation had been collected on the occasion of some great local festival. However, one of the crowd noticing the strangers asked Donatus their names and whence came. He answered " We
they modestly,
are both Scots ; my companion is named Andrew, and I am Donatus ; we are both as pilgrims travelling to Rome. " That person, who had heard the
: voicefromHeaven,immediatelycriedout "Citizens,thatmanispresent,
who has been called by the Almighty. " Public excitement and joy then
reached the highest pitch of enthusiasm,and rushing to embrace him, the people exclaimed with one voice, " Father Donatus, as you see, the Lord hath given theetous. Havepityonourpeople,andeffectivelyremovethediscordand scandal that have hitherto prevailed. Have compassion also on our labours, and do not decline, we humbly request, that mercy which Heaven has thus manifested. " In vain he protested, even with tears, to be allowed to proceed as an humble pilgrim to Rome, and he tried by various arguments to dissuade
e aS Saints," tome x. , xxii Jour d'Aout, p.
106. 26
According to Machiavelli, this city was more ancient than Florence. See
"
The colonists he placed there after- wards formed the main body of the ruffians collected by Cataline for his army. See C. Sallustii Crispi, "Catalina," cap. xliii. , lix. , lx.
29 Such is the account as contained in the work of the monk Blasius, Vita Donati Epis. " Classical Tour through Italy, An. et Conf. , a Manuscript in the Laurentian mdcccii. ," vol. iii. , chap, x. , p. 368. Library, Florence, Pluto, Codex ix. , col. 47 b.
Istoria Fiorentino," torn, i. , lib. ii. , p. 36, Ed. Londra, 1747.
2? See Rev, John Chetwode Eustace's
August 22. ] LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. 315
the people from their purpose. However, the faithful would hear of no refusal ; and, at last, knowing it to be in accordance with the Divine will, he
yielded to their request. Accordingly, Donat was elected Bishop of Fiesole,
where his virtues and merits rendered him so pleasing to the Almighty,* that
he has since been venerated as its patron saint. No sooner did he assume
that sacred office, than he laboured to discharge all its duties with a zeal,
prudence and moderation, which gained him the affections of his flock. His
noble simplicity of character and his affable manners were united with a piety
and judgment, altogether amiable and admirable. The good he encouraged,
the bad he reprehended ; his advice was wise and his judgments were just ;
he was liberal in bestowing alms ; he was assiduous in prayer ; he was
eloquent in exhortation, and true in word ; mild and benignant in courtesy
to all, it is not surprising, that he gained the affections both of his clergy and
1
CHAPTER II.
ST. DONATUS INDUCES ANDREW TO RECEIVE DEACON'S ORDERS—THE HOLY DISCIPLE BECOMES A GREAT FAVOURITE WITH THE PEOPLE OF FIESOLE—HE RESTORES A NOBLE LADY TO HEALTH—AFTERWARDS, HE IS PROMOTED TO THE OFFICE OF ARCHDEACON—HE RESTORES THE ANCIENT CHURCH OF ST. MARTIN DE MEN- SOLA—THERE HE GATHERS AROUND HIM A COMPANY OF MONKS—HIS GIFT OF MIRACLES.
Owing to the persuasion of St. Donat, Andrew became a Deacon to serve the church of Fiesule. At first, he was reluctant to accept that grade of orders, as through sincere humility he did not think himself worthy to advance from the ranks ot the laity. However, under the precept of obedience, united with argument and persuasion, he at length conformed to the wishes of his spiritual guide and master. His compliance likewise gave great satis- faction to the clergy and people of Fiesole, among whom he lived, and with
the people. *
whom he was especially popular.
himself to the other various duties assigned him. Thus, the faithful disciple who had followed Donatus from Ireland remained at his side until death,
servinghiminhumilityandgoodness. Suchwashismodestyandwisdom, that he was loved and trusted by the people of Fiesole no less than by his
master. Furthermore, Donatus had desired to promote him to the office of Archdeacon, so as to raise his rank and esteem in the people's eyes.
It so happened, that while Andrew was still a deacon, the beloved daughter of a noble and wealthy inhabitant of Fiesule had become paralyzed, while all that medical skill could avail had been tried in vain for her recovery.
At last, the father kneeling besought Bishop Donatus, and earnestly implored him to visit his house, and to place his hand on the girl's head. The Bishop
extended his hand, and raising the suppliant, by a sudden inspiration, he called Andrew to their presence. He then declared, that for his deacon was
30 See Les Petits Bollandistes, "Vies des Chapter ii. —' The festival of this first e
ber.
2 This feast occurs on the holy Martyr's
10th of August.
3 yox a very complete account of such
emulate the of the examples
Levites, St.
Stephen
x and St. 2 Laurence,
In his new position, he endeavoured to
holy
especially in looking after the wants of the poor, and in cheerfully devoting
Saints," tome x. , xxii Jour d'Aout, p. Martyr is celebrated, on the 26th of Decem-
106.
3t See " Acta Sanctorum," tomus
iv. , Augusti xxii. De S. Andrese Confessore,
&c. Acta, cap. i. , pp. 543, 544.
3 i6 LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. [August 22.
reserved that gift of healing, and then asked Andrew by a precept of obedience, to part with the noble for his house, and to effect the cure. Andrew obeyed accordingly, and when they had both entered the house, that girl was found reclining on a couch. The holy deacon fell upon his knees, and extending his hands towards Heaven prayed with great fervour; then, as if moved by a sudden impulse, he arose, and cried out with a loud voice : "Daughter arise, for our Lord Jesus Christ hath healed thee. " Immediately she arose, to the great astonishment of all present. Then, in a transport of gratitude, she threw herself at the feet of Andrew, kissing them, giving thanks to God and to his servant, through whose intervention she had been restored to strength. Soon the fame of that miracle spread abroad, and especially was Bishop Donatus gratified with the result. Knowing that Andrew was now a choice favourite of Heaven, he pressed on him the acceptance of the highest office in his church. The holy disciple had still a lowly opinion of his own merits ; how- ever, he humbly submitted his own will to that of his beloved Bishop. He was accordingly promoted to be Archdeacon, under him, in the church at Faesule.
When the seat of empire had been transferred from Rome to Constanti-
nople, a period ofgradual decay commenced,3 and this was soon followed by the invasion of successive hordes of barbarians, who swarmed into the fertile and civilized provinces of Italy/ Constant warfare left many of the cities desolate, and especially the churches were subjected to demolition and spoliation, even after the establishment of Christianity. * In the year of our Lord 395, the Emperor Theodosius divided the Imperial provinces into the EasternorByzantineEmpire,andintotheWesternorLatinEmpire. The invasionsoftheHuns6 werefollowedbythoseoftheGoths,? andafterwards these barbarians subverted the Roman Empire.
It happened one day, that the two attached friends, Donatus and
Andrew, were walking together round the foot of a hill at Fiesole, when they came to the banks of the little river Mensola, which flows beneath a certain height. It was crowned by a church dedicated to St. Martin. Ascending the hill, they found that ancient sanctuary in ruins, and on inquring the cause of this desolation from people in the neighbourhood, they learned that it had been laid waste in former days by the barbarous soldiers of Totila. 8 As he stood in his sadness among the broken walls, and bewailed the destruc- tion of that temple, the Bishop wept, and then in silent prayer Donatus entreatedofGod,tosendsomeonewhowouldrestoreHischurch. Thedeacon Andrew, standing by, and seeing the tears of his most holy father, inquired the cause for his sorrow. Then, lifting up his voice to Heaven, Donatus
:
cried aloud " Behold how Thy sanctuaries are laid low, and Thy high
places are made desolate, and Thy temple has become the den of robbers and of wicked men, who show tyranny against Thy house before the eyes of
events, the reader may consult Le Sieur Le De " Ilistoire des
Huns," &c,
Nain Tillemont's
"
Guignes' Histoire des Em- Paris, 1756, 4to.
pereuvs," &c. Second edition, Bruxelles, * The Goth Jornandes gives their early 1732 et seq. fol. achievements in Italy, in his Treatise " De
4 See Le Beau's "Histoire du Bas Em- Rebus Geticis. "
pire," tome vi. , edition de M. de Saint- Martin, Pans, 1827, 8vo.
s See Le Sieur Le Nain Tillemont's
8 This renowned Gothic leader invaded
Italy, during the reign of the Emperor
and towards the middle of Justinian, the
sixth century. The destruction of the city
of Florence and of its neighbouring towns is
"
astique," Bruxelles, 1732, et seq. fol.
Memoires pour servir a l'Histoire Ecclesi-
6
Their King Attila was called "the to be fuund set forth in Ughelli's "Italia
Scourge
by
Sacra,
iii. , col. 5.
of God
"
the Christians. See
' torn,
August 22. ] LIVES OE THE IRISH SAINTS. 317
allmen/' Hearingthesewords,andfilledwiththezealofcharity,Andrew humbly offered to the bishop his earnest service for the restoration of the
temple, and then, fixing his eyes on the ground, awaited his pleasure and commands. Donatus praised the devotion of the holy man, whose offer
corresponded with his own thought. He made the sign of the cross, with hands stretched over him. Blessing him in God's name, the Bishop said, that henceforth he was free to devote himself to a pious work, and that when he had restored the monastery, he might therein dedicate the remaining days of his life to the Lord, along with such of the brethren as he should
chose.
The basilica of St. Martin had almost gone into ruin at that time, but
St. Andrew restored it suitably to serve for purposes of public worship. Though the work seemed arduous for a poor and needy man ; yet,
strengthened by the holy bishop, Andrew began to clear the sacred place from brambles and from thorns, to search for the ancient foundations, and to dig out the stones of the old walls, hidden under the* rubbish. He also prepared new stones, cement, and other things necessary for the building, and with sedulous care. He sought alms from pious and faithful persons in the neigbourhood around ; he hired builders, with whom he laboured himself, continually prosecuting these labours in the restoration of the church, so far as his little body attenuated by fasting allowed.
In a short time, the basilica was not only restored, but enlarged ; more- over, the man of God bought lands sufficient for his small company of monks, with such sums as he could save by a holy parsimony, or earn through his own labours, and that of his brethren. During their labours, they lived on a most scanty subsistence, rejecting all superfluous things, that might soften andenervatetherigouroftheirpenitence. Afterthecompletionoftheirwork, he distributed the surplus funds among the poor, not allowing those offerings
he received to be hidden in chests, even to the amount of one iota ; for the
man of God thought avarice one of the greatest sins of which an ecclesiastic
could be guilty.
Having thus established his monastery near that of his master Donatus,
Andrewledaholylifeinthatplace,untilheattainedagoodoldage. Were we to relate all the miracles which God deigned to grant, in return for the prayers of this holy man, the account should expand beyond those limits usual in sacred writings. In San Martino a Mensola, St. Andrew drew around him a number of devoted men, who, invested with the religious garb, led a life ot austerityandpurity. Norcanthepenrecordthosegloriousdeedsofhisold age. His gift of working miracles was very extraordinary. He cast out demons, gave sight to the blind, health to the fevered, and strength to the infirm, so that they might live to render thanks to their Creator. Even the afflicted, who touched only his garments, received spiritual comfort, and often bodily health. 9 At San Martino de Mensola 10 the holy man lived, and there, too, he expected, with a tranquil mind, the approach of his latter end.
9 See the Bollandists' "Acta Sanctorum," the Benedictines of the Badia of Florence, tomus iv. , Augusti xxii. De S. Andrea along with all its annexations. About the
Confessore, &c.