Having well ordered their personal concerns, example inspirits other men to admire and afterwards imitate those, who seem to
Sanctus episcopus et Confessor La-ren glo- riose adChri>tumconscenclit.
Sanctus episcopus et Confessor La-ren glo- riose adChri>tumconscenclit.
O'Hanlon - Lives of the Irish Saints - v4
Yet, it was formerly a town of note, and it had been governed by a corporation.
Until the close of the last
century, it retained the privilege of sending representatives to the Irish Parha- ment. *3 The branch-formed stream, below which this town was built, is at
present named the Ballynolan River.
The Bishop and Chapter of Leighlin represented to the Holy See, in the
thirteenth century, that their church, being situated in the immediate neigh- bourhood of a mountainous and sterile country, was subject to great dangers, owing to the plots and snares laid by robbers, for the people and clergy fre-
quenting it, even for the purpose of assisting at synods. Their petition referred principally, for a transference of the See, to a safer, and to a more suitable place, within the diocese. Pope Innocent IV. , in 1247, as a consequence of this representation, wrote for further information, on the subject, to the Arch- bishop, Prior, and Archdeacon of Dublin. *• We do not iind, however, any
—slopes of the surrounding hills. higher
it was formerly
" He adds : "Dequibus annalibus alibi apud ipsum (scil Usserium) aut Colganum legisse videor, quod ^rae vulgaris annos uno anno prsecurrant, sic S. Lasreani mors, vel saltern illius sepultura, anno DCXL. ad- scribenda, accidisset tertia feria Paschee die xvi. Aprilis celebrati apud Lagenios, juxta
Canones tam ferventer operoseque ab eo
propugnatos, ut ab ipsa temporis festivi cir- cumstantia accidentali ejus glorias accederet
craggy, vast. " Pope's Homer's "Iliad," Booli xxi. , lines 469, 470.
" On the " Ordnance Survey Maps for the
County of Carlow," sheet 12, this old ruined
building is called St. Briget's Church,
See " Acta Sanctorum," tomus
ii. , xviii. Aprilis. Vita S. Lasreani, Com- quities of the County of Carlow," chap, mentarius Prsevius, sees. 6, 7, p. 544, and xxxi. , p. 342.
aliquid. "
Ryan's History
cap. iii. , sees. 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, mi. (a, b, c,
d, e, f), pp. 546, 547.
7° See Harris' Ware, vol. i. . Bishops of
Leighlin," p. 454.
? ' Somecuriousandreconditeinformation
regarding ancient burial customs is given, in that very interesting book. Dr. Richard R. Madden's "Shrines and Sepulchres of the Old and New World," vol. ii. , chap, ii. , pp. 57, 58. For authorities, the Decrees of
former Synods are cited.
1^ The limit of the neighbouring lands, '" There fixed from eldest times; black,
_
'°
It is half-way, between Leighlin-bridge
and, Castlelawn, rising
and the Royal Oak.
"
One gable and a side
wall (sixty-three feet in length) are standing,
and the ruin is bisected by another wall. A window, in a —ruinous state, is observable in the east end," " and Anti-
*'
On the "Ordnance Survey Maps for the County of C. irlow," sheet 16, Killinane Church is marked "in ruins. "
*'0n the "Ordnance Survey Maps of
the County of Carlow," sheet 15, Wells Church is marked out as " in ruins. " Near it, the "Ancient Boundary Stone," is like- wise noted.
*' See Archdall's " Monasticon Hiberni-
cum," p. 36.
'* See Theiner's "Vetera Monumenta
Hibernorum et Scotorum Historiam lUus- trantia," p. 49.
^
April i8. ] LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. 237
change to have followed after this inquiry. ^s The valley, or nook, in which the church of Old Leighlin now stands, was anciently known by the name of Glen Derg, or the Red Glen. This seems established, from an entry in the An- nalsoftheFourMasters,ata. d. io15; wherewehaveanaccount,concerning the violation of a mutual league and oath, when murder was perpetrated at Leithghlinn Church, in Glen Derg. ^* The present Protestant parochial church isnotheremeant; but,onitssite,mayhavestoodamoreancientcathedral, and this is even very probable. *' The graveyard is of large dimensions, and it has been used for interments, from the earliest Christian times. Fragments of old tombs and crosses, with other interesting antiquarian objects, have been turned up, in digging graves ; but, few of those antiques have been preserved, ornowremainforthetourist'sinspection. *^ Onenteringtheoldcathedral,*' under its solid square belfry's first stage, there may be seen some fine ribbed stone masonry, very much resembling the beautiful groined workmanship, within the belfry of Holy Cross Abbey, county of Tipperary. There are seven perforations, evidently intended for the play of ropes, attached to so many bells. Here again may we indulge our reader's fancy, with a local legend, as related by our guide. Seven silver-toned bells had been ordered from the city of Rome for this massive tower, and they had even arrived in the city of Dublin. Then these bells were placed upon waggons, to which bullocks were yoked, in order to be conveyed towards Old Leighlin. The teams laboured with difficulty along a road, skirting the western slopes of the Dublin mountains, until they approached Blessington. There, that weird
. creature, the red-haired woman, once more presented her unwelcome form, and the result was unpropitious. 9° Never were those carillons, which so me-
's Further interesting particulars may be found, regarding the subsequent history of this place, in the " Old Irish Ecclesiastical Record," vol. ii. The " See of Leighlin,"
pp. 54410551.
** In Dr. O'Donovan's vol. edition,
thus runs in reference to this transaction
:
'' Applicable to this structure are the lines
of our patriotic and distinguished writer. Dr. R. R. Madden, although he addressed them to a different, and moie distant fane : —
" The solemn chant is heard no more Within that venerable pile,
ii. , pp. 786, 787, St. Moling's reputed prophecy
"Donndurgen, and the royal Bard ot Lances,
Shall violate friendship at Glinngerg ; mutual oaths shall not prevent bloodshed. "
In an edition of the "Four Masters,"
from which Mr. T. O'Conorhas drawn his ac-
count, the place in question is more correctly called Glen Derg, and the church built there is also mentioned. In Mr. O'Donovan's edition, no notice has been taken of this church.
*' . See Mr. O'Conor's communication, in
the MS. Carlow Letters, written for the
Irish Ordnance Survey, p. 227.
^ The writer was told by his guide, a
middle-aged native of Old Leighlin, who had always resided there, that many curious pieces of oxidized iron had been found, in or about the graveyard, and that these had Ijeen forged by blacksmiths, into different objects. What appeared to have been the stand of a chalice was seen, by this man ; but, it was claimed by the Protestant minister, who was
thought, at that time, to possess it.
The — from aisle to Virgin's praise
aisle
The sounds, the sights, that gave a soul
To piety, no more are there.
No more absorb each sense, control
Each thought, and wrap the mind in prayer. "
—" Shrines and Sepulchres of the Old and
New World," vol. ii. , chap, xi. , p. 634.
s" The dells around St. Laserian's grand old cathedral were not destined to echo the musical chime of the Italian bell-founder, nor could the peasant of Idrone turn with a
" From the tumult within and without, to the peace that abideth on High, When the deep solemn sound from
the belfry comes down like a voice from the sky. "
See the beautiful composition of our dear and so lately deceased National Poet, Denis Florence MacCarthy, "The Bell Founder," part il, stanza 9.
— The that bore vesper hymn softly
more rapt delight—
.
this Martyrology, piiblislied by the Kev. nmnici Martyolo^ii editiane Canisiiis. " Matthew Kelly, at the same date, is found Tliere, he is said to liave been venerated " in
•'. Molaisse See "Calen- Hibernia," or, as others " in Leithghlinne. " say,
"
228 LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. [April i8.
lodiously peal on continental ears, heard joyously ringing an invitation to festival celebrations, or sounding in dirge-lilce cadences a summons to funeral rites, within the vales of Old Leighlin. When the red-haired 'Woman crossed the drivers' path, their bullocks failed in strength, and foundered; while their waggons broke down, and the seven sweet-toned bells ever afterwards
"
remained at Blessington. There, for many a long day, the
musical, magical trolled a rich burthen of harmonious sounds, along the heath-covered sides of the Dublin mountains. The name of St. Laserian occurs, in our old Irish Martyrologies, at the diurnal date assigned for. his death. '' Even, in some of the foreign Martyrologies, St. Laserian's name is found, at the i8th of April. S'^ In his Catalogue, enumerating the chief Saints of Ireland, Father
bells
"
"
when giving his alphabetical list of holy Irishmen. But, in the digest of
"
Henry Fitzsimon calls our saint,
Lafrianum Abbatem," at this same day,
saints' names, at the various months, our saint is called,
Lasrianum,"93 in
an edition of his Catalogue, ])ublished by O'Sullivan Beare, where the name
is rightly given as I^asrianus, Abb, at this day. The anonymous Catalogue of
Irish Saints, published in the same work, also calls him Lasrianus. 94 The
Martyrology of Donegal on this day records Malaissi, son of Cairell, Abbot of Leithghlinn, in Leinster. It also states, that he belonged to the race of F"iatach Finn, King of Erin, and that he was descended from the seed of Heremon-Maithghein—so her name is here written—daughter to Aedhan, son toGabhran,KingofAlba,whowashismother. 95 Acertainveryancientvellum book states, as we are informed, that Molaissi of Leithghlinn, in his manners and life, was like to Boniface the Pope. '* It seems strange, however, that De Burgo has omitted giving the office for this renowned saint, in his " Officia Propria Sanctorum Hibernise. " Certainly, this omission can hardly be accotmted for, on the score of sufficient materials not being available, to such an adept in Irish ecclesiastical history, as this learned man undoubtedly was ; nor should the important and ancient diocese of Leighlin want Proper Les- sons, for its celebrated patron. Yet, De Burgo has left unwritten the offices ofmanyotherpatronsofourIrishdioceses. TiieCircleoftheSeasons'^has a notice of St. Laserian, at the i8th of April ; and, he was venerated, like- wise, in Scotland. Thus, the Kalendar of Drummond has an entry of St. Lasren,? ' at this same date. In a Synod held at Dublin, under Alexander
9' Thus, in the Martyrology ofTallajjht, mistake, by noting, "In Anglia Lasseriani at the 14th of the Kalends of May, we find Kpiscopi et Confessoris. "
id " this cntiy:—Lasorenus, est, Molassins,
Abbas Lethghnnensis," according to the liol- landist Editor. However, in tlie edition of
XheBollandistEditorwrites,thathehas the same, with Abbot and Confessor affixed,
only,
dar of Irish Saints, p. xxi. But Iberia had probably been inserted,
^ In additions to Usuard's Maityrology, owing to the omission of the letter « for printed at Lubec and Cologne, A. D. 1490, "Ibernia. " See " Acta Sanctorum," tomus
"
we find at this day :
copi, et Confessoiis. " In another edition, Commentarius, sec. 2, p. 543.
printed at Cologne, A. D. 1 521, we also meet, •>* See"HistorioeCatholicasIberniteCom- "Laceriano Episcopo et Confessore," with pendium," tomus i. , lib. iv. , cap. xi. , p. 50,
this entry interposed,
"
st(b nomine Lafriaiii in posteriore Ger-
S. Laceriani : Epis- ii. , xviii. Aprilis. Vita S. Lisreani, Prsevius
"
Petro Diacono et and cap. xii. , p. 55.
"
natalis Lafriani Abbatis et Confessoris. " quoted
Confessore,''
an old is poem
Molaissi, a flame of fire,
Son ofMaithgliem of Monadh, &c. "
and afterwards,
In Hibernia '5 In — of
proof which,
The BoUandist, Papebroke, remarks, that these different entries must be understood. as referring to the same person. The writer of the Horarian MS. inserts, "Lafriani Ab- batis," without any addition of the place to which he belonged. He then duplicates this
"
:
9' See Edition by Drs. Todd and Reeves, pp. 104 to 107.
"Seep. 109.
9^ Thus at xiv. Kl. Mail. Apud Hiberniam
Hispania. "
April 1. 8. ] LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. 229
Bicknor, Archbishop, the day of St. Laserian's departure is prescribed to be held as a Double, throughout the province of Dublin. ''' In the diocese of
Leighlin, of which this holy Abbot and Bishop is special patron, this festival is celebrated, as a Double of the first class, with an a Octave. The feast itself
occurs, on the i8th of April. In our ancient Kalendars, at this date, his office has an honoured place ;'°° and, it was celebrated with Nine Lessons,'"' although, indeed, we find, it had a lesser number. '" If the relics of Saint Laserian had been preserved, in the old church of Leighlin, after his deposi- tion, it is possible, they were taken away, or destroyed, during the tenth, or eleventh ccntury. '°3 Still, the churcii, in which they lay, may have escaped desecration, or destruction. At present, the modern Catholic Church, in the Town of Leighlin. Bridge, has been properly dedicated to our saint, as the local patron ; we know not, if elsewhere, any other church has been placed under his invocation.
This great servant of God, like many other holy prelates, appears to have united the active to the contemplative life, as we may learn, from the record
of those various saints' Acts, which have come down to our times.
the founders of our early churches were not only men, practised in the devout exercises of prayer, meditation and austere penance ; they laboured much to build material edifices, in honour of the. Almighty, while preparing tiieir own and other souls, to become living temples of the Holy Ghost. There can be no manner of doubt, but their example and instruction served to spread the Gospel seeds of Divine truth, in the minds of their i)riniitive and docile people, whose manners were not corrupted, by many so-called refinements of modern civilization. It is true, that a life of virtue and earnestness must en- counter trials and opposition, at all times, and under the most favourable cir- cumstances ; but, the testimony of a serene conscience and the resolute efforts of a will rightly directed must ultimately triumph, in the contest of Faithandgoodworks. Withsuchmotivesandmeansforexertionandself- sacrifice, the saints have always laboured, with zeal and efficacy, in their Master's household.
Having well ordered their personal concerns, example inspirits other men to admire and afterwards imitate those, who seem to
Sanctus episcopus et Confessor La-ren glo- riose adChri>tumconscenclit. "—BishopFur- bes"'Kalendarsof Scott shSaint? ,"pp. 10, II.
"When giving us this information, we find the following in. -iccurate statement, in a note appended, as found in Harris' edition
"*'
" The sense of these dou- ble festival are (x/r) when, to the greater honour of the Saint the . Anthems are ordered to be rehearsed entire before and after each whereas in common festivals, only the beginning of the Anthem is repeated before and after the psalm. And there arc nine lessons repealed in the service—whereas
;
in others there are but three" Vol. i. ,
" Bishops of leighlin," p. 454. It should have Ijeen said, that in common festivals, which are not doubles, the banning of the Anthem or Antiphonis repeated before each psalm ; but, it is repeated entire, after each psalm; and, it is not true, that in all festival. *, not doubles, there are only three lessons. Even, in the Double Offices, duiini^ thereci- lal of Little Hours, the . Antipiion is only re- cited ill part Ijeioie, but entire after those diflTerent ps. ilms, therein occurring. At least, such is the usage, according to the Roman rite.
Thus, the Manusciipt in Trinity Col- lege, Dublin, and which is classeil B. i, i. ,
formerly belonging lotiieCuldee Aniiphona- riumof Armagh Metropolitan Church, has, in its Calendar list, April 18, Kal. xiv. , Maii. Sancti Laseriani episcopi et confessoris, iSrc. ;
18, Kal. xviii. Maii. ijancti L. aseriani
In Trinity College, Dublin, a MS. classed B. I, 4, contains, nt A|)ril the l8lh, K. il. xiv. , Maii. Sancti La^eriani Epis. et
Conf. Patron, Leigldenensis, Ijuplex, ix.
the l8th, Kal. xiv. , Mai, . Sancti Lasiiani. Epis. et Conf. ix. I. ect. per const. Dublin.
""
Thus, a . MS. in Trinity College, Dub. lin, and classed B. 3, 12, contains, at April 18th, Kal. xiv. Maii, Lasriani, Epis. et Conf iii. I. ect.
'"r Inthe years 916, 978, and 982, Leighlin
was plundered. In the year 1060, it was
totally d,;stroyed, by fire. See Archdalls
"
of Ware s works
also, a -Manuscript, in
psalm
;
:
Duh- lin, and chissed B. I, 3, contains, at April
et Conf. Duplex fin. ""
; also, a MS. in
Lect.
lin, and classed B. 3, 13, contains, . it April
Monasticon Hibemicum. "
Trinity Colle(,'e,
Trinity Collcsje,
Dub-
Indeed,
Epis.
ajo LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. [April i8.
move in this world, but with thoughts happily intent, on the prospect of future inheritance and reward. So we may account for the great religious influences and results, which fostered piety in the early Christian ages of our National Church, and which have not ceased to bring forth good fruit, even through the most unpromising seasons of her temporal misfortune, distress, and persecution.
Article II. —St. Cogitosus, Sapiens, or the Wise. Much uncer-
tainty prevails, regarding the identity of this wise and holy man, as recorded in our Irish Calendars. The Bollandists, who enter his festival, at this date,
profess their want of knowledge respecting him ;' and, therefore, nothing have they asserted, to clear up the mystery. This wise man is thought, by some, to have lived, and to have written, in the sixth century ; on the sup- position, that he had been a nephew of the great St. Brigid,' the Patroness of Ireland. There are other accounts,^ however, that might lead to the sup- position, this holy man did not even belong to Ireland. Such statements are notlikelytobecorrect; for,besidestheknowledgewehave,thatsomeper- sons, so named, lived in our Island, we find, also, the entry of Cogitosus, Sapiens, or the Wise, inserted in the Martyrology of Tallagh,^ at the i8th of April. He is considered to have been the writer of St. Brigid's Life ;5 yet, this is very doubtful. Several authors seem to assume his near family rela- tionship, with the illustrious Abbess of Kildare,^ and, to have been the com- poser of that Life, which was first published, by Canisius. ' However, while the Rev. Dr. Lanigan will not admit, that Cogitosus the author flourished, so early as the sixth century -^ yet, there are intrinsic evidences, in his biogra- phical Tract to show, that his place in history cannot be later than the begin- ning of the ninth century ;9 for, the holy relics of St. Brigid were at Kildare,'° when he wrote. " Possevin" and Mirseus'3 have notices of Cogitosus, whose
Life of St. Brigid has been published, by Messingham,'^ and by Colgan. 's
'
Article ii. — See "Acta Sanctorum,"
Kildare, a. d. 835.
"> That lived before the said de- Cogitosus
vastation is evident, first, from his not mak- ing, in his minute description of the church at Kildare, the least allusion to its having
been ever destroyed, or to the spoliation of the shrines of St. Brigid and Conleath, which
tomus ii. ,
mitted saints, p. 521.
the
"
See her Life, already published, at the
3
Thus, the Bollandists notice, at the pre-
"
Aprilis
xviii.
Among
preter-
1st day of February, with allusions to Cogi-
tosus, and his Life of St. Brigid, chap. i.
sent day:
Turonis, /<f//«r /h MS. Tornacensi et pridie
in Lcetiensi ; ubi diximus, nimnulhis apud the city of Kildare and its suburbs were a
Cogitosi Episcopi depositio
he represents as being very splendid and rich; and, secondly, from liis stating, that
Turoiiensesfuerit Episcopus Cogitosus, nos non posse assequi, quis hie inteliigatur. "
* Edited by Rev Dr. Kelly, p. xxi.
Inthe Franciscan copy, at xiiii. Kal. Mali, we
find Cogicopi e^pc.
5
According to Colgan.
' Who is said to have died, about A. D.
523, in the time of the Elder Juslinus.
*
period.
'Some time after the beginning of the
ninth century, the remains of St. Brigid were removed to Down, then a safe place, to guard them against the fury of the heathen
Danes. ' See Colgan 's "Trias Thaumaturga," at pp. 565, 629. These Danes first ravaged
place of refuge, in which there could not be
the least apprehension of any hostile attack ;
" Nullus carnalis adversarius, nee concursus
timetur hostium. " Now, remarks Dr.
Lanigan, Cogitosus could not have written
in this manner, after the year 836, nor even
after 831 (832), in which year Kildare was
plundered by Keilach, son of Bran," See
" of vol. Eccle-iastical History Ireland," i. ,
chap, viii. , sect. ii„ n. 18, pp. 379, 380. " See his Vita S. Brigida;, cap. xxxv.
"
In Apparatu Sacro.
'3 In "Auctario, cap. 117, p. 205.
< In Florilegium Insulse Sanctorum. " See
pp. 189 to 207.
'S He remarks, that the editions of
Canisius and of Messingham abound in errors.
1 In his "
tomus v. His description of this church of Kildare plainly refers to a time, much later than that
Aniiqua; Lectiones,"
April i8. ] LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. 231
From a certain phrase,'* in the memoir of St. Brigid, some writers maintain,"? thatCogitosuswashernephew. '^ Someintrinsicevidenceofnepotisticand early authorship is to be found, it is supposed, where Cogitosus speaks of
miracles, wrought through the power of St. Brigid, and which, not only he had heard about, but which he had even actually seen. '9 Yet, from the context, in this passage, it can only be rightly inferred, that the writer witnessed these supernatural wonders, after the holy virgin's departure from this life ; and, it seems most probable, they took place through her intercession, and in her convent, or in that church, where St. Brigid's venerable body had been de- posed,''' and where the faithful had an opportunity of visiting her shrine. '' Her relics were undoubtedly at Kildare, when Cogitosus penned or pro- nounced her panegyric. Yet, such supposed relationship may be rejected, for many reasons. Especially, Colgan could not be induced to admit it, on account of having in his possession two Menologic genealogies, in which four- teen saints of St. Brigid's family and kindred are enumerated, and there he finds no mention of Cogitosus's name, or even that of any nephew belonging to her. Besides, Brigid's different Acts, written in the Irish language, and by ancient authors, relate, that saint's father had seven sons by his wife, and that he had no daughter besides Brigid. Also, there are internal evidences in his work to show, that Cogitosus lived at too late a period, to have been St Brigid's nephew, in the ordinary course of nature. '' The Latin word
" sometimes nepos," moreover,
or a luxurious orriotousman. '* However,Cogitosusmighthavecalledhimselfaculpable spendthrift, not on account of having lived a luxurious life, but because of his having trifled with time, or of his having wasted precious moments, in his own humble opinion. This may have been his conscientious conjecture, although in reality, he may have spent his days piously and religiously, after the example of many other holy men, who called themselves great sinners, and who be- of serious offences. It is supposed, Cogitosus was a monk at Kildare,'' owing to his finished and detailed account of the church, in that place, for which he seems to have had a special regard ; and, because he frequently calls those persons bretiiren, for
whom his Life of St. Brigid had been particularly written. His description of the religious institutions and privileges of that protected city are supposed to
lieved—even when living regularly—that they were guilty
••
' See Posseviuo, "In Apparatu Sacro. "
"Gerard Vossius, however, explains the wordi alluded to in a difTerent sense. " Sed fortasse ob adolescentiam luxuriose trans- actam, culpabiltm se nepotem vocat, uti Hora- tiusdixitdiscinctumnepvtem: aquanotione
. apud Senecam et Tertull. ani m^iati dicun- tur qui sua inutiliter profundunt. "— "Ue Historicis Latinis," lib. lii. , p. 624.
''See Secunda Vita S. Brigidae, cap.
Towards the close of his Life of St.
Cogitoso
which succession is mentioned in terms,
which indicate a of time, but long lapse
likewise, he represents the bishop of that See as chief over the Leinster prelates. This the bishop of Kildare was not, at least, until after the sixth century, bee Ussher's "Primor- dia," p. 965.
"
Brigid, we reaii : pro
Orate me nepote culpahili," &c.
xxxii. , in " Trias at Thaumaturga,
Epodon
p. S^S- "The words of Cogitosus are "in suo
monasterio, ubi ejus venerabile corpus re- "
quiescit.
" It was raised, near the altar of that
church, where her mortal remains were de-
posited. See Rev. P. J. Carew's " Ecclesi-
astical History of Ireland," chap. vi. p. 242.
"
In his prologue, Cogitosus speaks not only regarding a succession of Bishops at Kildare after Conlacth, who died in 5 19, and
signifies
a wasteful
spendthrift. '^
'' Thus, Horace says
:
—
. ou. . TM. , . «,. »
•< ,-, 1 .
Q""^ ='"' ^"""^ "* Chremes, terra
premam, „ Distmctus aut perdam ut nepos.
—
'5 Thus, he must have learned many popu- lar traditions regarding St. Brigid, and cur- rent probably during tlie two or three cen- turies, immediately succeeding her death, and in that locality, with which the illustrious virgin was most inseparably connected. Even, at (he present day, various legends of St. Brigid are preserved among thepeasantry, through various parts of Ireland, and espe- cially in Kildare.
Liber.
century, it retained the privilege of sending representatives to the Irish Parha- ment. *3 The branch-formed stream, below which this town was built, is at
present named the Ballynolan River.
The Bishop and Chapter of Leighlin represented to the Holy See, in the
thirteenth century, that their church, being situated in the immediate neigh- bourhood of a mountainous and sterile country, was subject to great dangers, owing to the plots and snares laid by robbers, for the people and clergy fre-
quenting it, even for the purpose of assisting at synods. Their petition referred principally, for a transference of the See, to a safer, and to a more suitable place, within the diocese. Pope Innocent IV. , in 1247, as a consequence of this representation, wrote for further information, on the subject, to the Arch- bishop, Prior, and Archdeacon of Dublin. *• We do not iind, however, any
—slopes of the surrounding hills. higher
it was formerly
" He adds : "Dequibus annalibus alibi apud ipsum (scil Usserium) aut Colganum legisse videor, quod ^rae vulgaris annos uno anno prsecurrant, sic S. Lasreani mors, vel saltern illius sepultura, anno DCXL. ad- scribenda, accidisset tertia feria Paschee die xvi. Aprilis celebrati apud Lagenios, juxta
Canones tam ferventer operoseque ab eo
propugnatos, ut ab ipsa temporis festivi cir- cumstantia accidentali ejus glorias accederet
craggy, vast. " Pope's Homer's "Iliad," Booli xxi. , lines 469, 470.
" On the " Ordnance Survey Maps for the
County of Carlow," sheet 12, this old ruined
building is called St. Briget's Church,
See " Acta Sanctorum," tomus
ii. , xviii. Aprilis. Vita S. Lasreani, Com- quities of the County of Carlow," chap, mentarius Prsevius, sees. 6, 7, p. 544, and xxxi. , p. 342.
aliquid. "
Ryan's History
cap. iii. , sees. 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, mi. (a, b, c,
d, e, f), pp. 546, 547.
7° See Harris' Ware, vol. i. . Bishops of
Leighlin," p. 454.
? ' Somecuriousandreconditeinformation
regarding ancient burial customs is given, in that very interesting book. Dr. Richard R. Madden's "Shrines and Sepulchres of the Old and New World," vol. ii. , chap, ii. , pp. 57, 58. For authorities, the Decrees of
former Synods are cited.
1^ The limit of the neighbouring lands, '" There fixed from eldest times; black,
_
'°
It is half-way, between Leighlin-bridge
and, Castlelawn, rising
and the Royal Oak.
"
One gable and a side
wall (sixty-three feet in length) are standing,
and the ruin is bisected by another wall. A window, in a —ruinous state, is observable in the east end," " and Anti-
*'
On the "Ordnance Survey Maps for the County of C. irlow," sheet 16, Killinane Church is marked "in ruins. "
*'0n the "Ordnance Survey Maps of
the County of Carlow," sheet 15, Wells Church is marked out as " in ruins. " Near it, the "Ancient Boundary Stone," is like- wise noted.
*' See Archdall's " Monasticon Hiberni-
cum," p. 36.
'* See Theiner's "Vetera Monumenta
Hibernorum et Scotorum Historiam lUus- trantia," p. 49.
^
April i8. ] LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. 237
change to have followed after this inquiry. ^s The valley, or nook, in which the church of Old Leighlin now stands, was anciently known by the name of Glen Derg, or the Red Glen. This seems established, from an entry in the An- nalsoftheFourMasters,ata. d. io15; wherewehaveanaccount,concerning the violation of a mutual league and oath, when murder was perpetrated at Leithghlinn Church, in Glen Derg. ^* The present Protestant parochial church isnotheremeant; but,onitssite,mayhavestoodamoreancientcathedral, and this is even very probable. *' The graveyard is of large dimensions, and it has been used for interments, from the earliest Christian times. Fragments of old tombs and crosses, with other interesting antiquarian objects, have been turned up, in digging graves ; but, few of those antiques have been preserved, ornowremainforthetourist'sinspection. *^ Onenteringtheoldcathedral,*' under its solid square belfry's first stage, there may be seen some fine ribbed stone masonry, very much resembling the beautiful groined workmanship, within the belfry of Holy Cross Abbey, county of Tipperary. There are seven perforations, evidently intended for the play of ropes, attached to so many bells. Here again may we indulge our reader's fancy, with a local legend, as related by our guide. Seven silver-toned bells had been ordered from the city of Rome for this massive tower, and they had even arrived in the city of Dublin. Then these bells were placed upon waggons, to which bullocks were yoked, in order to be conveyed towards Old Leighlin. The teams laboured with difficulty along a road, skirting the western slopes of the Dublin mountains, until they approached Blessington. There, that weird
. creature, the red-haired woman, once more presented her unwelcome form, and the result was unpropitious. 9° Never were those carillons, which so me-
's Further interesting particulars may be found, regarding the subsequent history of this place, in the " Old Irish Ecclesiastical Record," vol. ii. The " See of Leighlin,"
pp. 54410551.
** In Dr. O'Donovan's vol. edition,
thus runs in reference to this transaction
:
'' Applicable to this structure are the lines
of our patriotic and distinguished writer. Dr. R. R. Madden, although he addressed them to a different, and moie distant fane : —
" The solemn chant is heard no more Within that venerable pile,
ii. , pp. 786, 787, St. Moling's reputed prophecy
"Donndurgen, and the royal Bard ot Lances,
Shall violate friendship at Glinngerg ; mutual oaths shall not prevent bloodshed. "
In an edition of the "Four Masters,"
from which Mr. T. O'Conorhas drawn his ac-
count, the place in question is more correctly called Glen Derg, and the church built there is also mentioned. In Mr. O'Donovan's edition, no notice has been taken of this church.
*' . See Mr. O'Conor's communication, in
the MS. Carlow Letters, written for the
Irish Ordnance Survey, p. 227.
^ The writer was told by his guide, a
middle-aged native of Old Leighlin, who had always resided there, that many curious pieces of oxidized iron had been found, in or about the graveyard, and that these had Ijeen forged by blacksmiths, into different objects. What appeared to have been the stand of a chalice was seen, by this man ; but, it was claimed by the Protestant minister, who was
thought, at that time, to possess it.
The — from aisle to Virgin's praise
aisle
The sounds, the sights, that gave a soul
To piety, no more are there.
No more absorb each sense, control
Each thought, and wrap the mind in prayer. "
—" Shrines and Sepulchres of the Old and
New World," vol. ii. , chap, xi. , p. 634.
s" The dells around St. Laserian's grand old cathedral were not destined to echo the musical chime of the Italian bell-founder, nor could the peasant of Idrone turn with a
" From the tumult within and without, to the peace that abideth on High, When the deep solemn sound from
the belfry comes down like a voice from the sky. "
See the beautiful composition of our dear and so lately deceased National Poet, Denis Florence MacCarthy, "The Bell Founder," part il, stanza 9.
— The that bore vesper hymn softly
more rapt delight—
.
this Martyrology, piiblislied by the Kev. nmnici Martyolo^ii editiane Canisiiis. " Matthew Kelly, at the same date, is found Tliere, he is said to liave been venerated " in
•'. Molaisse See "Calen- Hibernia," or, as others " in Leithghlinne. " say,
"
228 LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. [April i8.
lodiously peal on continental ears, heard joyously ringing an invitation to festival celebrations, or sounding in dirge-lilce cadences a summons to funeral rites, within the vales of Old Leighlin. When the red-haired 'Woman crossed the drivers' path, their bullocks failed in strength, and foundered; while their waggons broke down, and the seven sweet-toned bells ever afterwards
"
remained at Blessington. There, for many a long day, the
musical, magical trolled a rich burthen of harmonious sounds, along the heath-covered sides of the Dublin mountains. The name of St. Laserian occurs, in our old Irish Martyrologies, at the diurnal date assigned for. his death. '' Even, in some of the foreign Martyrologies, St. Laserian's name is found, at the i8th of April. S'^ In his Catalogue, enumerating the chief Saints of Ireland, Father
bells
"
"
when giving his alphabetical list of holy Irishmen. But, in the digest of
"
Henry Fitzsimon calls our saint,
Lafrianum Abbatem," at this same day,
saints' names, at the various months, our saint is called,
Lasrianum,"93 in
an edition of his Catalogue, ])ublished by O'Sullivan Beare, where the name
is rightly given as I^asrianus, Abb, at this day. The anonymous Catalogue of
Irish Saints, published in the same work, also calls him Lasrianus. 94 The
Martyrology of Donegal on this day records Malaissi, son of Cairell, Abbot of Leithghlinn, in Leinster. It also states, that he belonged to the race of F"iatach Finn, King of Erin, and that he was descended from the seed of Heremon-Maithghein—so her name is here written—daughter to Aedhan, son toGabhran,KingofAlba,whowashismother. 95 Acertainveryancientvellum book states, as we are informed, that Molaissi of Leithghlinn, in his manners and life, was like to Boniface the Pope. '* It seems strange, however, that De Burgo has omitted giving the office for this renowned saint, in his " Officia Propria Sanctorum Hibernise. " Certainly, this omission can hardly be accotmted for, on the score of sufficient materials not being available, to such an adept in Irish ecclesiastical history, as this learned man undoubtedly was ; nor should the important and ancient diocese of Leighlin want Proper Les- sons, for its celebrated patron. Yet, De Burgo has left unwritten the offices ofmanyotherpatronsofourIrishdioceses. TiieCircleoftheSeasons'^has a notice of St. Laserian, at the i8th of April ; and, he was venerated, like- wise, in Scotland. Thus, the Kalendar of Drummond has an entry of St. Lasren,? ' at this same date. In a Synod held at Dublin, under Alexander
9' Thus, in the Martyrology ofTallajjht, mistake, by noting, "In Anglia Lasseriani at the 14th of the Kalends of May, we find Kpiscopi et Confessoris. "
id " this cntiy:—Lasorenus, est, Molassins,
Abbas Lethghnnensis," according to the liol- landist Editor. However, in tlie edition of
XheBollandistEditorwrites,thathehas the same, with Abbot and Confessor affixed,
only,
dar of Irish Saints, p. xxi. But Iberia had probably been inserted,
^ In additions to Usuard's Maityrology, owing to the omission of the letter « for printed at Lubec and Cologne, A. D. 1490, "Ibernia. " See " Acta Sanctorum," tomus
"
we find at this day :
copi, et Confessoiis. " In another edition, Commentarius, sec. 2, p. 543.
printed at Cologne, A. D. 1 521, we also meet, •>* See"HistorioeCatholicasIberniteCom- "Laceriano Episcopo et Confessore," with pendium," tomus i. , lib. iv. , cap. xi. , p. 50,
this entry interposed,
"
st(b nomine Lafriaiii in posteriore Ger-
S. Laceriani : Epis- ii. , xviii. Aprilis. Vita S. Lisreani, Prsevius
"
Petro Diacono et and cap. xii. , p. 55.
"
natalis Lafriani Abbatis et Confessoris. " quoted
Confessore,''
an old is poem
Molaissi, a flame of fire,
Son ofMaithgliem of Monadh, &c. "
and afterwards,
In Hibernia '5 In — of
proof which,
The BoUandist, Papebroke, remarks, that these different entries must be understood. as referring to the same person. The writer of the Horarian MS. inserts, "Lafriani Ab- batis," without any addition of the place to which he belonged. He then duplicates this
"
:
9' See Edition by Drs. Todd and Reeves, pp. 104 to 107.
"Seep. 109.
9^ Thus at xiv. Kl. Mail. Apud Hiberniam
Hispania. "
April 1. 8. ] LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. 229
Bicknor, Archbishop, the day of St. Laserian's departure is prescribed to be held as a Double, throughout the province of Dublin. ''' In the diocese of
Leighlin, of which this holy Abbot and Bishop is special patron, this festival is celebrated, as a Double of the first class, with an a Octave. The feast itself
occurs, on the i8th of April. In our ancient Kalendars, at this date, his office has an honoured place ;'°° and, it was celebrated with Nine Lessons,'"' although, indeed, we find, it had a lesser number. '" If the relics of Saint Laserian had been preserved, in the old church of Leighlin, after his deposi- tion, it is possible, they were taken away, or destroyed, during the tenth, or eleventh ccntury. '°3 Still, the churcii, in which they lay, may have escaped desecration, or destruction. At present, the modern Catholic Church, in the Town of Leighlin. Bridge, has been properly dedicated to our saint, as the local patron ; we know not, if elsewhere, any other church has been placed under his invocation.
This great servant of God, like many other holy prelates, appears to have united the active to the contemplative life, as we may learn, from the record
of those various saints' Acts, which have come down to our times.
the founders of our early churches were not only men, practised in the devout exercises of prayer, meditation and austere penance ; they laboured much to build material edifices, in honour of the. Almighty, while preparing tiieir own and other souls, to become living temples of the Holy Ghost. There can be no manner of doubt, but their example and instruction served to spread the Gospel seeds of Divine truth, in the minds of their i)riniitive and docile people, whose manners were not corrupted, by many so-called refinements of modern civilization. It is true, that a life of virtue and earnestness must en- counter trials and opposition, at all times, and under the most favourable cir- cumstances ; but, the testimony of a serene conscience and the resolute efforts of a will rightly directed must ultimately triumph, in the contest of Faithandgoodworks. Withsuchmotivesandmeansforexertionandself- sacrifice, the saints have always laboured, with zeal and efficacy, in their Master's household.
Having well ordered their personal concerns, example inspirits other men to admire and afterwards imitate those, who seem to
Sanctus episcopus et Confessor La-ren glo- riose adChri>tumconscenclit. "—BishopFur- bes"'Kalendarsof Scott shSaint? ,"pp. 10, II.
"When giving us this information, we find the following in. -iccurate statement, in a note appended, as found in Harris' edition
"*'
" The sense of these dou- ble festival are (x/r) when, to the greater honour of the Saint the . Anthems are ordered to be rehearsed entire before and after each whereas in common festivals, only the beginning of the Anthem is repeated before and after the psalm. And there arc nine lessons repealed in the service—whereas
;
in others there are but three" Vol. i. ,
" Bishops of leighlin," p. 454. It should have Ijeen said, that in common festivals, which are not doubles, the banning of the Anthem or Antiphonis repeated before each psalm ; but, it is repeated entire, after each psalm; and, it is not true, that in all festival. *, not doubles, there are only three lessons. Even, in the Double Offices, duiini^ thereci- lal of Little Hours, the . Antipiion is only re- cited ill part Ijeioie, but entire after those diflTerent ps. ilms, therein occurring. At least, such is the usage, according to the Roman rite.
Thus, the Manusciipt in Trinity Col- lege, Dublin, and which is classeil B. i, i. ,
formerly belonging lotiieCuldee Aniiphona- riumof Armagh Metropolitan Church, has, in its Calendar list, April 18, Kal. xiv. , Maii. Sancti Laseriani episcopi et confessoris, iSrc. ;
18, Kal. xviii. Maii. ijancti L. aseriani
In Trinity College, Dublin, a MS. classed B. I, 4, contains, nt A|)ril the l8lh, K. il. xiv. , Maii. Sancti La^eriani Epis. et
Conf. Patron, Leigldenensis, Ijuplex, ix.
the l8th, Kal. xiv. , Mai, . Sancti Lasiiani. Epis. et Conf. ix. I. ect. per const. Dublin.
""
Thus, a . MS. in Trinity College, Dub. lin, and classed B. 3, 12, contains, at April 18th, Kal. xiv. Maii, Lasriani, Epis. et Conf iii. I. ect.
'"r Inthe years 916, 978, and 982, Leighlin
was plundered. In the year 1060, it was
totally d,;stroyed, by fire. See Archdalls
"
of Ware s works
also, a -Manuscript, in
psalm
;
:
Duh- lin, and chissed B. I, 3, contains, at April
et Conf. Duplex fin. ""
; also, a MS. in
Lect.
lin, and classed B. 3, 13, contains, . it April
Monasticon Hibemicum. "
Trinity Colle(,'e,
Trinity Collcsje,
Dub-
Indeed,
Epis.
ajo LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. [April i8.
move in this world, but with thoughts happily intent, on the prospect of future inheritance and reward. So we may account for the great religious influences and results, which fostered piety in the early Christian ages of our National Church, and which have not ceased to bring forth good fruit, even through the most unpromising seasons of her temporal misfortune, distress, and persecution.
Article II. —St. Cogitosus, Sapiens, or the Wise. Much uncer-
tainty prevails, regarding the identity of this wise and holy man, as recorded in our Irish Calendars. The Bollandists, who enter his festival, at this date,
profess their want of knowledge respecting him ;' and, therefore, nothing have they asserted, to clear up the mystery. This wise man is thought, by some, to have lived, and to have written, in the sixth century ; on the sup- position, that he had been a nephew of the great St. Brigid,' the Patroness of Ireland. There are other accounts,^ however, that might lead to the sup- position, this holy man did not even belong to Ireland. Such statements are notlikelytobecorrect; for,besidestheknowledgewehave,thatsomeper- sons, so named, lived in our Island, we find, also, the entry of Cogitosus, Sapiens, or the Wise, inserted in the Martyrology of Tallagh,^ at the i8th of April. He is considered to have been the writer of St. Brigid's Life ;5 yet, this is very doubtful. Several authors seem to assume his near family rela- tionship, with the illustrious Abbess of Kildare,^ and, to have been the com- poser of that Life, which was first published, by Canisius. ' However, while the Rev. Dr. Lanigan will not admit, that Cogitosus the author flourished, so early as the sixth century -^ yet, there are intrinsic evidences, in his biogra- phical Tract to show, that his place in history cannot be later than the begin- ning of the ninth century ;9 for, the holy relics of St. Brigid were at Kildare,'° when he wrote. " Possevin" and Mirseus'3 have notices of Cogitosus, whose
Life of St. Brigid has been published, by Messingham,'^ and by Colgan. 's
'
Article ii. — See "Acta Sanctorum,"
Kildare, a. d. 835.
"> That lived before the said de- Cogitosus
vastation is evident, first, from his not mak- ing, in his minute description of the church at Kildare, the least allusion to its having
been ever destroyed, or to the spoliation of the shrines of St. Brigid and Conleath, which
tomus ii. ,
mitted saints, p. 521.
the
"
See her Life, already published, at the
3
Thus, the Bollandists notice, at the pre-
"
Aprilis
xviii.
Among
preter-
1st day of February, with allusions to Cogi-
tosus, and his Life of St. Brigid, chap. i.
sent day:
Turonis, /<f//«r /h MS. Tornacensi et pridie
in Lcetiensi ; ubi diximus, nimnulhis apud the city of Kildare and its suburbs were a
Cogitosi Episcopi depositio
he represents as being very splendid and rich; and, secondly, from liis stating, that
Turoiiensesfuerit Episcopus Cogitosus, nos non posse assequi, quis hie inteliigatur. "
* Edited by Rev Dr. Kelly, p. xxi.
Inthe Franciscan copy, at xiiii. Kal. Mali, we
find Cogicopi e^pc.
5
According to Colgan.
' Who is said to have died, about A. D.
523, in the time of the Elder Juslinus.
*
period.
'Some time after the beginning of the
ninth century, the remains of St. Brigid were removed to Down, then a safe place, to guard them against the fury of the heathen
Danes. ' See Colgan 's "Trias Thaumaturga," at pp. 565, 629. These Danes first ravaged
place of refuge, in which there could not be
the least apprehension of any hostile attack ;
" Nullus carnalis adversarius, nee concursus
timetur hostium. " Now, remarks Dr.
Lanigan, Cogitosus could not have written
in this manner, after the year 836, nor even
after 831 (832), in which year Kildare was
plundered by Keilach, son of Bran," See
" of vol. Eccle-iastical History Ireland," i. ,
chap, viii. , sect. ii„ n. 18, pp. 379, 380. " See his Vita S. Brigida;, cap. xxxv.
"
In Apparatu Sacro.
'3 In "Auctario, cap. 117, p. 205.
< In Florilegium Insulse Sanctorum. " See
pp. 189 to 207.
'S He remarks, that the editions of
Canisius and of Messingham abound in errors.
1 In his "
tomus v. His description of this church of Kildare plainly refers to a time, much later than that
Aniiqua; Lectiones,"
April i8. ] LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. 231
From a certain phrase,'* in the memoir of St. Brigid, some writers maintain,"? thatCogitosuswashernephew. '^ Someintrinsicevidenceofnepotisticand early authorship is to be found, it is supposed, where Cogitosus speaks of
miracles, wrought through the power of St. Brigid, and which, not only he had heard about, but which he had even actually seen. '9 Yet, from the context, in this passage, it can only be rightly inferred, that the writer witnessed these supernatural wonders, after the holy virgin's departure from this life ; and, it seems most probable, they took place through her intercession, and in her convent, or in that church, where St. Brigid's venerable body had been de- posed,''' and where the faithful had an opportunity of visiting her shrine. '' Her relics were undoubtedly at Kildare, when Cogitosus penned or pro- nounced her panegyric. Yet, such supposed relationship may be rejected, for many reasons. Especially, Colgan could not be induced to admit it, on account of having in his possession two Menologic genealogies, in which four- teen saints of St. Brigid's family and kindred are enumerated, and there he finds no mention of Cogitosus's name, or even that of any nephew belonging to her. Besides, Brigid's different Acts, written in the Irish language, and by ancient authors, relate, that saint's father had seven sons by his wife, and that he had no daughter besides Brigid. Also, there are internal evidences in his work to show, that Cogitosus lived at too late a period, to have been St Brigid's nephew, in the ordinary course of nature. '' The Latin word
" sometimes nepos," moreover,
or a luxurious orriotousman. '* However,Cogitosusmighthavecalledhimselfaculpable spendthrift, not on account of having lived a luxurious life, but because of his having trifled with time, or of his having wasted precious moments, in his own humble opinion. This may have been his conscientious conjecture, although in reality, he may have spent his days piously and religiously, after the example of many other holy men, who called themselves great sinners, and who be- of serious offences. It is supposed, Cogitosus was a monk at Kildare,'' owing to his finished and detailed account of the church, in that place, for which he seems to have had a special regard ; and, because he frequently calls those persons bretiiren, for
whom his Life of St. Brigid had been particularly written. His description of the religious institutions and privileges of that protected city are supposed to
lieved—even when living regularly—that they were guilty
••
' See Posseviuo, "In Apparatu Sacro. "
"Gerard Vossius, however, explains the wordi alluded to in a difTerent sense. " Sed fortasse ob adolescentiam luxuriose trans- actam, culpabiltm se nepotem vocat, uti Hora- tiusdixitdiscinctumnepvtem: aquanotione
. apud Senecam et Tertull. ani m^iati dicun- tur qui sua inutiliter profundunt. "— "Ue Historicis Latinis," lib. lii. , p. 624.
''See Secunda Vita S. Brigidae, cap.
Towards the close of his Life of St.
Cogitoso
which succession is mentioned in terms,
which indicate a of time, but long lapse
likewise, he represents the bishop of that See as chief over the Leinster prelates. This the bishop of Kildare was not, at least, until after the sixth century, bee Ussher's "Primor- dia," p. 965.
"
Brigid, we reaii : pro
Orate me nepote culpahili," &c.
xxxii. , in " Trias at Thaumaturga,
Epodon
p. S^S- "The words of Cogitosus are "in suo
monasterio, ubi ejus venerabile corpus re- "
quiescit.
" It was raised, near the altar of that
church, where her mortal remains were de-
posited. See Rev. P. J. Carew's " Ecclesi-
astical History of Ireland," chap. vi. p. 242.
"
In his prologue, Cogitosus speaks not only regarding a succession of Bishops at Kildare after Conlacth, who died in 5 19, and
signifies
a wasteful
spendthrift. '^
'' Thus, Horace says
:
—
. ou. . TM. , . «,. »
•< ,-, 1 .
Q""^ ='"' ^"""^ "* Chremes, terra
premam, „ Distmctus aut perdam ut nepos.
—
'5 Thus, he must have learned many popu- lar traditions regarding St. Brigid, and cur- rent probably during tlie two or three cen- turies, immediately succeeding her death, and in that locality, with which the illustrious virgin was most inseparably connected. Even, at (he present day, various legends of St. Brigid are preserved among thepeasantry, through various parts of Ireland, and espe- cially in Kildare.
Liber.
