No More Learning

" See " Ecclesiastical History of Ireland," vol. i. , chap, i. , sect, ix. , n. 69, p. 20.
^ See
ni3C," xii. Februarii. De S. Sedulio Epis- mitted saints, p. 574.
Colgan's
authority.
9 Denis Florence M'Carthy.
^° He remarks, also, respecting this name
" '^
of Shiel, that it is one of which, under any This Sovereign Pontiff reigned from
of its forms, Ireland may well tie proud," A. D. 752 to 757. See Sir Harris Nicolas' "
See Poets and Dramatists of Ireland," vol. "Chronology of History," p. 211. Dr. i. , p. 48. The writer adds, in a note: Lanigan remarks, however, that it would be "England, too, can boast a poet of this hard to find, ^there De Burgo got such in- name. The celebrated ballad of 'Chevey formation.
" See *' Acta Sanctorum liibernise," xii. Februarii, pp. 315 to 326.
'3 See D'Alton's
"
History of the Arch-
^^ See his Life at the 1st of July,
February 12. ] LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. 489
Ware excludes him from his Hst of bishops for this see. =° Dr. Lanigan does
not exactly deny, what he would fain disapprove, that any regular bishop had been appointed before Donatus to preside over Dublin. He admits, how- ever, the possibility of Sedulius having been raised, like other abbots of eminent merit, to episcopal rank, without being attached permanently to any diocese. He doubts not, that Sedulius' promotion might have been a consequence of FerfuguilFs death. This latter was abbot and bishop, at Clondalkin, and he departed this life, on the loth of March, a. d. 785. =^^ Lanigan supposes it probable, that bishops, at least of that denomination, known as chorepiscopi, must have resided in that neighbourhood, to perform certain necessary episcopal functions. Sedulius, he thinks, might have be- longed to such a class. He passed out of life, on the 12 th day of February, A. D. 786. " IntheMartyrologyofDonegal^sisrecorded,onthisday,Siadhal, sonofLuath,BishopofDubhHnn. Heissaidtohavedeparted,a. d. 785. In the table, appended to this work, he is noted as having died, in 789. '^ It must be remarked, that bishop and abbot are terms frequently confounded, in the pages of many, among our monastic writers and annalists f^ since, within their own monasteries and over their own subjects, a superior ecclesi- astical jurisdiction was frequently exercised, by many abbots.
CHAPTER II.
CAIUS C^LIUS SEDULIUS—THE OBSCURITY OF HIS HISTORY—CONTROVERSIES REGARD- ING THE PLACE OF HIS BIRTH—HIS EARLY EDUCATION—THE TIME WHEN HE FLOURISHED—HIS EUROPEAN TRAVELS—RANK HE HELD IN THE CHURCH—HIS GENIUS AS A POET AND THEOLOGIAN—HIS WRITINGS—VARIOUS EDITIONS OF THEM—EULOGIES OF DIFFERENT AUTHORS REGARDING THEM—HIS DEATH.
By far the most renowned Sedulius is he, who is called by some writers,
Caelius, and by others, Caius Ctelius. The greatest incertitude prevails, respecting this Christian poet of the fourth century. ^ Some writers have stated, there is no reliable knowledge, regarding him, or the time when he lived. ^ Among distinguished men of the ancient Church, there is, indeed,
scarcely any, concerning whom, so many questions have been started, or about whom, such a variety of opinions has been held.
Although our national hagiologist, Colgan, introduces some account of this holy man, and truly ingenious writer, with various learned dissertations appended, at the 12th of February ;3 it is admitted,, that the day for his
^5 See De Burgo's "Officia Propria Sane-
"
torum Hibernise.
S. Rumoldi, lect. v. , p. 66,
remarks the date should be 785, according to the Four Masters and Colgan. Trias Thaum. , p. II2, n, 69. See ibid. , pp, 468, 469.
^° In Harris' we Ware, read,
"
nice," xii. Februarii, De S. Sedulio Epis-
death a earlier than here,"
n.
10, p, 315,
See M. le Dr. Hoefer's
placed
i,, Bishops of Ireland, p. 306.
—
Nouvelle Biographic Generale depuis les
^^ March,
Temps les plus recules jusqu'a nos jours," tome xliii. , col, 682.
=^ See " The of Uni- Imperial Dictionary
versal Biography," vol. iii. , p. 944.
3 See "Acta Sanctorum HiberniDe," xii, Febraarii, Vita Venerabilis Sedulii, pp,
316 to 326.
"
vol, i,, sect, cap, XX,,
v,,and
nn.
36, 37, 38,
day
Die Prima Julii officium
" In an an- cient Irish calendar, I find this prelate called Shiel Mac Bait, Bishop of Dublin, a—nd his
Vol,
See some notices of him at the loth of See "Ecclesiastical History of Ireland,"
pp. 228, 230,
^3 Edited by Drs. Todd and Reeves, pp.
46, 47.
^4 This however is an error. Dr, Reeves
^s See Colgau's copo Dubliniensi,
Acta Sanctorum Hiber-
Chapter ii. *'
^
490
LIVESOFTHEIRISHSAINTS. [February12.
festival—if such there be—has not yet been decided. It must be observed,
however, that Camerarius, and it is said, others, have placed it, at the 20th of February, and at the 13th of June ;'^ but, as such assertions do not rest
on satisfactory evidence, it is better, j^erhaps, to leave this matter a still open question. The Bollandists have only a few brief notices of this vener-
able man. 5 Notwithstanding the celebrity of Sedulius, his history is very obscure. His place of birth, also, has been disputed ; some considering him to have been a Scotsman,^ and others a Spaniard. 7 Seduliu—s—-called by some writers Csecilius, and by others Caius Coslius Sedulius is said^ to have been a Scot, or an Irishman. Yet Labbe states, that no ancient writer has called him a Scot. ^ However, nearly all writers, who have treated about Caius or C^lius Sedulius, make him a Scot, while many have styled him an Irish Scot. 9 Stanihurst'° declares that he was born in Ireland. Without determining to what country he belonged, Labbe confines himself to showing, that there is no sufficient proof for his having been designated an Irishman, and that he ought to be distinguished from a Sedulius, who was a bishop, in 721, as also from another Sedulius, the commentator on St. Paul's Epistles. " This latter was undoubtedly from Ireland, and he flourished in the ninth century. This may be discovered, from intrinsic evidences, found in his writings, as also, from reliable inscriptions, which have been affixed to some
manuscript copies. "
The first question to be determined is, whether the elder Sedulius was
an Irishman, or belonging to some part of the Continent. '3 Following a crowd of old writers, Ussher^4 and Colgan's have discussed almost every point,relatingtoSedulius. Thesemaintain,thathewasanativeofIreland. '^ Ware^7 and Harris,'^ likewise, adopt such an opinion. Some British Scots have, as usual, put in their claim for Sedulius, on account of His being generally designated by the appellation Scotus or Scotigena. But, it has
< Camerarius adds : "alii diem ejus fes- tum ponant decimo tertio Junii. " Yet, for this statement no authority is quoted.
5 See "Acta Sanctorum," tomus ii,, Feb- ruarii xii. Among the pretermitted saints,
toria Ecclesiastica Gentis Scotorum," tomus i. , lib. iii,, num. 229, p. 130.
p. 574.
^ *'
Hyberniensis, in omnes Epistolas Pauli CoUectaneum," to be met with in an old codex, belonging
_^ Bale offers such an opinion, in
Scrip- torum lUustrium Majoris Brytannioe, quam nunc Angliam et Scotiam vocant," cent.
to Fulda,
'^ Dr. Lanigan very satisfactorily discusses this question concerning Sedulius' birth, as being referable to Ireland. See " Ecclesi-
xiv. , num. ix. , p. 187.
7 Damianus a Goes, a Portugese knight,
is quoted by Dr. Hanmer, as an authority
" 8"
for this statement. See land," p. 92.
Chronicle of Ire-
astical History of Ireland," vol. i. , chap, i. , sect, viii. , and notes, pp. 1 7 to 21.
See his historic dissertation, postfixed to Cardinal Bellarmine's account of Cajus
Ccelms Sedulius, Presbyter Scotus. "Ope-
De Scriptoribus
'"See Britannicarum Ecclesiarum An-
tiquitates," cap. xvi. , pp. 402 to 408.
'S See the Life of Sedulius, at the xii. of
February. j,
rum," tomus septimus. Ecclesiasticis, p. 149.
'^ inan be"
By Bishop Tanner, too, he is said to
—" edition of their Bibliotheca Sanctorum tannico-Hibernica : sive de
5Thusthe
Cologne theologians, "
patria Hibernus. "
Bibliotheca Bri-
"
Scotus Hiberniensis. " Dempster takes them to task, however, for this assumed mistake, by asserting, there is no evidence for their statement, nor was there any use of the latter term, in the en- lightened period when Sedulius flourished ; but, that it was afterwards framed to dis-
Scriptoribus, qui in Anglia, Scotia, et Hibernia ad saeculi xvii. initium floruerunt literarum ordine juxta familiarum nomina dispositis, com-
mentarius," p. 659.
'7 See " De Scriptoribus Hibernian," lib.
i. , cap. i. , p. 4.
'"See Harris' Ware, vol. ii. , "The
Patrum," call him
tinguish the Scottish mountaineers and Writers of Ireland," book i. , chap, ii,, p. backwoodsmen from those dwelling in the 7.
mid-sea and lowland regions. See "His-
'°
In his historical work.
" See " De Scriptoribus Ecclesiasticis," tomus ii.
" Such as, " Sedulii Scoti
February 12. ] LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS, 491
been almost universally admitted, that, if he were a Scot at all, he must have been an Irish one. Even, in those very passages, from which his Scottish origin is deduced, Sedulius is called, not merely Scotus, but, likewise, Scotus
"^^
Still,
the Spanish writers, F. Bivarius, and Nicholas Antonio,^" incline, with many
of their countrymen, to the generally received opinion of Sedulius having
Hyberniensis. ^9 Other writers have said, that he was a Spaniard.
been an Irishman. ^"^ Some writers have thrown out, as a mere
conjecture,
that he was a native of ^^3 Amid these doubts and and while Italy. disputes,
nothing is adduced to overturn the assertion that he was an Irish Scot, another argument occurs, which has been overlooked by Ussher, and by most writers. This is derived from the name Sedulius, one which is quite common in Ireland. ^-^ It is written in Irish Siedhuil ; we may suppose, the same as Shiel. Colgan reckons eight eminent men of that name, known in Irish history. Except in the case of this poet. Dr. Lanigan believes, no single instance can be traced of so old a name, disguised in an existing form, in any other country, and found in a Latinized shape, so early as
the fifth century.
Whether the pious and elegant scholar, of whom we are now to treat, had
been one of the Scots, believing in Christ, before the arrival of St. Patrick, or one of those converts made by the latter illustrious Apostle, or a man of
genius, who left his native island, in the early age of Christianity, as a pagan, and who had been brought to the light of Faith, in a more distant country ; these are questions, around which too much mystery revolves, for the hope ofanyrationalsolution. However,CaiusCseliusSeduliusisstatedtohavebe- come, in early life,^5 the disciple of Hildebertus f^ a most learned Archbishop of the Scots, according to John of Trittenham. ^7 In these statements, he is followed by the generality of writers. ^^ It is likely, Sedulius had a perfect knowledge of the Irish language and literature of the Gentile period, before he left home, and when abroad, he succeeded in acquiring that classic taste and learning, of which he soon became a master. Inflamed with a great desire of making greater proficiency in letters,^? he resolved on leaving his native country of Scotia or Ireland. 3° The inscription of certain commen- taries on the Epistles of St. Paul are reUed on, by some writers, to show that
^9 On this question, the reader is referred
to the accounts of Archbishop Ussher, of
gliam et vScotiam vocant," &c,, cent, xiv. ,
Bibliotheca Bri-
tannico-Hibernica," &c. , p. 659.
^^ See Liber, "De Scriptonbus Ecclesi-
asticis. "
^^
Such as by Aldus Manutius, Lilius Gi- raldus, Sixtus Senensis, Georgius Fabricius, Franciscus Juretus, Jacobus Sirmondus, and Autbertus Miraeus.
^^ See Wills' "Lives of Illustrious and Distinguished Irishmen," vol. i. , part i. , first period, p. 106.
3° After citing the opinion of Stanihurst,
Dr. Hanmer " Sedulius was not observes,
only of Irish birth, but also the light of all Ireland.
" He closes this question in the
following quaint and illogical manner: " And to shut up this challenge of all sides, I find that there was a second Sedulius, a man of no lesse fame and learning, and hee is said to bee a Scottish man, theirfore let Ireland being more antient than Scotland take the first, and Scotland the last. " See " Chronicle, of Ireland," p. 95.
Colgan, and of Rev. Dr. Lanigan. ^^ "
num. ix. , p. 187.
^"^ *'
See Ussher's Britannicarum Ecclesi-
arumAntiquitates,"cap. xvi. , p,403.
v. , num. 115, p. 201.
" Antonio remarks, that if Sedulius were
a Spaniard, Isidorus would be likely to
^'^ " See
Bibliotheca Hispana Vetus," &c. , tomus i. , lib. iii. Nicolas Antonio states, that Sedulius, the Poet, is acknowledged by certain writers to have derived his Sootic origin, from Hibernia, while he deserves to be classed among the Spanish writers, cap.
class ibid.
him, among
the
Spanish
writers. See
^3 See Dr. Lanigan's "Ecclesiastical His- tory of Ireland," vol. i. , chap, i. , sect, viii. ,
p. 18.
"
bernite," xii. Februarii. De Venerabili
^+ See Colgan's
Acta Sanctorum Hi-
Sedulio, Scriptore et Doctore eximio, p. 315.
="5 See John Bale's " Scriptorum Illus- trium Majoris Brytannia;, quam nunc An-
See Bishop Tanner's
492 LIVES OF THE IRISH SAIIVTS. [February i
he was a Hibernian. s'' This proof, however, must rest on more solid ground.
He is said, first to have passed into Britain. Thence, he travelled to Gaul,
and afterwards into Italy,32 where his genius was exercised, in the study of
poetry and philosophy. We find it stated, by Convseus, in his list of Irish
Saints, that Sedulius was a bishop, and that his high character was rendered
illustrious, throughout all European provinces, while he was specially vene- rated at Rome. 33
As to the precise time, in which this illustrious poet and theologian lived, it is said, by some writers, that he flourished in the time of Cqnstans and
Constantine, or about a. d. 340 to 350. 34 Albertus Stadensis, and other authors,thinkheshouldbeassignedtoabouttheyear378. 35 However,itis
generally agreed, that he flourished, during the earlier half of the fifth century. 36 He is said to have lived under the Emperor Theodosius, the
Younger,37 who reigned from the year 408 to 450. 38 Colgan places him about the same period,39 as also Cave and Bishop Tanner. 4° Bale says he flourished, while Fergus II. reigned in Scotland, after the miserable destruc- tion of his kingdom by the Romans. '^^
It is difficult to explain, why a notice of Sedulius does not appear in that catalogue of illustrious men and ecclesiastical writers,^^ furnished by Gena- dius,43 a priest of the church at Marseilles,44 were his works published before the close of the fifth century. ^s In opposition to Ussher's calculation, a
passage is quoted from ancient manuscripts,^^ in which Sedulius is expressly stated to have written his books, in the time of Theodosius the Younger, and of Valentinian III. The latter was Emperor of the West, from the year 424,tothe16thofMarch,a. d. 455. '*7 Ifthismustbeconsidered,asdecisive
3* See D. Petrus Lombardus, "De 4' See " Regno
lUustrium Hibernia;, Sanctomm Insulas, Commen- Brytanniae, quam nunc Angliam et Scotiam
tarius," cap, xiii. , pp. 60, 61. Dr. Moran's edition.
vocant," cent, xiv. , num. ix. , p. 187.
4^ This is one of his best known and most esteemed works, having a great historic and biographical value, since it is regarded as a continuation of St. Jerome's highly interest- ing biographies, reaching to the end of the
fourth century.
*3 His writings seem to date from 467,
and to end at 493.
4'» While praised, by several writers, for his great erudition, some Catholic authors aver, that his works savour of Semipela-
'*
The Imperial Dictionary of Uni-
3^ See
versal Biography," vol. iii. , p. 944.
*'
33 See O'SuUevan Beare's
tholicse Iberniaj Compendium," tomus i. , lib, iv. , cap. x,, p. 49. The date of his festival, however, is not given at this pas-
sage.
34 Cardinal Bellarmin states, that those,
who make Sedulius a contemporary with
Constantine, the son of Constantine the
Great, are in error. With Trithemius, gianism.
Bellarmin thinks his era was 430, See
"Operum," tomus Septimus, I)e Scrip-
"s The fullest and most authentic account
of Genadius, of his writings, and of the
Chronological and Historical Tables," No. 29.
*'
in these words : Incipit ars Sedulii poetse,
Methode pour etudier I'Histoire," tome ii. , chap, xxi. ,
qui primo laicus in Italia philosophiam di- dicit ; postea cum aliis metrorum generibus heroicum metrum Macedonio consulente docuit in Achaia ; libros suos scripsit tem- pore Impp. minoris Theodosii filii Arcadii
38 See M. I'Abbe Lenglet's
PP- 53, 54.
39 See "Acta Sanctorum Hiberniae, at
HistoriDs Ca-
various editions of his works, as published, '* "
toribus Ecclesiasticis, p. 149,
35 See Philip Labbe's Dissertatio His- will be found in the Histoire Literaire de
torica," 7did. , p. 150. la France," tome ii. , siecle v. , pp. 632 to 36 See S, Austin Allibone's "Critical 643-
*^
of Pithoeus, while Mabillon quotes from a codex, belonging to the monastery of Lerins,
Labbe gives it from an old manuscript " *'
Dictionary of English Literature," vol. ii. , p. 1989.
37 He succeeded Arcadius. See Blair's
xii. Februarii. Appendix ad Acta S. et Valentiniani /ilii Constantii. "—"Vetera
Sedulii, cap, iv. , pp. . 322 to 325,
'*" According to Cave, he flourished in
434, pp. 336, 450. Also, Bishop Tanner. •'Bibliotheca Britannico-Hibemica, p. 660.
Analecta," vol. i. , p, 363,
^'^ See the Benedictines' "L'Art de Veri-
fier les Dates," tome i. Chronologic His- torique des Empereurs, pp. 400, 401.
Scriptorum
Majoris
February 12. ] LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. 493
authority, we should suppose, to reconcile it with the silence of Gennadius,^^
that Sedulius' writings were not generally known, until many years after he
had composed them.
Having remained in Italy, for some time, he resolved to journey yet
further, and accordingly he visited Achaia. 49 Here, it is said, he composed some of his works, and read most learned lectures, for the great instruction ofmany. 5° FromGreecehepassedintoAsia,ashasbeenstatedbyvarious writers. However, in some accounts, the order of his travels is differently
5' arranged.
He sought Spain, it has been stated, as the country where he might properlyengageinacourseofmissionarylabour. There,asweread,hewas actively engaged in preaching the word of God. Wherever he was, we cannot doubt, but his eloquent and holy discourses produced fruit in abun- dance. Likethevolantandindustriousbee,whichthrougheverypartofthe globe seeks out flowers, whence sweet juices are extracted, and then con- vertedintohoney; sodidthisholyandlearnedmandrawfromthecountries, through which he passed, materials replenishing his stores of knowledge, with taste and genius combined, so that within the hive of his own breast, the aroma and sweetness of heavenly wisdom were preserved. s^ From the inspired writings, also, were his words drawn, to inspire others with a love of truth, which all science should subserve. His very name, Cselius Sedulius, admirably signified the nature and object of his labours ; for, his life was sedulously employed, in looking towards heavenly things, while his- piety and eloquence both combined to raise others above the mere concerns of this world. " ^3
Regarding the rank he held in the Church, different opinions are enter- tained. 54 Sigebertus,Trithemius,andFitzsimon,withagreatnumberofother writers, style him a bishop. ss It has been stated, too, that he ruled over a see, called Orretana, in Spain. s^ Were Sedulius a bishop, however. Pope Gelasius should be likely to call him so, and not merely to style him " venerabilem virum. " However,itseemsclear,thatherosenohigherinstation,thanto the rank of a priest. 57 Yet, the title Antistes, has been given to him, by some of the ancients. 5S Still this proves nothing to the contrary. ss He is
regarded,
as
having
been
only
a St. Isidore of priest, by
Seville,
^° and
by
*^ See an account of him and of his writ- ings in Cardinal Bellarmin, " De Scrip- toribus Ecclesiasticis,"pp. 185, 186, "Ope- rum," tomus Septimus.
49 According to Trithemius, and other writers.
Appendix ad Acta
s° See
Colgan's
" Acta Sanctorum Hiber-
nise," xii. Februarii. Appendix ad Acta
Ven, Sedulii, cap. ii,, iv,, pp. 320 to 325,
5^ See Wills' "Lives of Illustrious and Distinguished Irishmen," vol. i. , part i. , first period, p. 106,
52 See Ussher's " Britannicarum Ecclesi- arum Antiquitates. " cap. xvi. , p, 403. Six-
tus Senensis writes regarding him
alter Appollonius Tianseus fugientem sa- pientium toto terrarum orbe perquirens, Britanniam, Hispaniam, Galliam, Italiam, Graeciam, et Asiam miro discendi ardore
"
perlustravit.
ts See Colgan's "Acta Sanctorum Hiber-
:
" Velut
The reasons for and against the state- ments of many writers are well examined, S4 See Colgan's Acta Sanctorum Hiber- in that historic dissertation, affixed by
niae," xii. Februarii. Vita Venerabilis Se- dulii, cap. ii. , p. 316.
niee," xii. Februarii.
Ven. Sedulii, cap. iii. , p. 322.
"
tholicas Ibernife Compendium," tomus i. ,
lib, iv. , cap, xii,, p. 53.
56 See Bishop Tanner's Bibliotheca
Britannico-Hibernica," &c. , 659. p.
57 So is he called, by Cardinal Bellarmin, and by Labbe, The latter states, that no ancient writer styles him a bishop. See
"Operum," tomus Septimus. De Scrip- toribus Ecclesiasticis, pp. 149, 150.
ss Xwo acrostic panegyrics found in the editionofCellarius, Sigebertus of Gembloux, Trithemius, and an anonymous writer Melli-
ss See O'Sullevan Beare's
Historise Ca-
"
Fabricius, c, 2, apply this title to him,
censis in the
Bibliotheca Ecclesiastica" of
"
Origines Ecclesise," book ii. , chap, xix. , sect. 14.
^° See " De Illustribus Ecclesise Scrip- toribus," at Sedulius.
^'
59 See Bingham's
*'
494 LIVESOFTHEIRISHSAINTS. [February
many other writers. ^^ This is the conclusion, at which most arrive, who take care to investigate such evidence, as remains to us regarding him.
This celebrated and venerable Sedulius was considered, even when a
^='
"
See Colgan's Acta Sanctonim Hiber- Antiquitates," cap, xvi. , pp. 402, 403. Yet,
as a most erudite and scholar. ^^ He was
elegant profoundly
young man,
versed in a knowledge of the Sacred Scriptures. ^3 He excelled equally, in the writing of Latin verse and prose. ^* By a certain writer,^^ it has been said, that without being eloquent, Seduhus borrowed the rhetorical affectation and subtlety of his period ; while, he loves to moralize and to draw his homilies from the Church Fathers. His verse is by no means inhar- monious. ^^ He is more the orator, than the poet ; under his pen the Gospel and the Life of Jesus Christ receive an allegorical treatment, afterwards ren-
dered more familiar to readers in the middle ages. ^7
Cselius Sedulius wrote the " Carmen following works,^^
*' " De Signis et Virtutibus," lib. i. ;7o
Paschale,"
Qesta et Miracula '* "
Christi,"
Super utroque Testamento," lib. ii. ;
" Collectanea in lib.