6
See "Acta Sanctorum Hibemioe," xi.
See "Acta Sanctorum Hibemioe," xi.
O'Hanlon - Lives of the Irish Saints - v8
^Engus, the
2
Culdee, that he often travelled about, engaged on inquiries, which enabled
him to illustrate the Saint-History of Ireland. Doubtless, he failed not to
collectsomerelicsofthoseholypersons,wheneverhetravelledabroad; and,
it is likely, that his distinguished superior and local contemporary, St. Maelruan,3 who had kindred tastes, made special journeys for similar purposes. Oneofthesereturnsmusthavebeensolemnlycommemoratedat Tallagh, in the eighth century, and before the death of St. Maelruan, on the 7th July, 792. That commemoration was probably continued annually, on
this day, and at that particular place, in recognition of those treasures deposited by the holy founder in the house of his religious community.
Article V. —Feast of St. Laurence, Deacon and Martyr. In the Irish Church was commemorated on this day the Feast of that illustrious Deacon. St. Laurence, who submitted to a glorious martyrdom, for the sake
" *' 1
of Christ. In the Feilire of St. ^Engus the festival is entered, and a
Latin comment is found affixed in the ki Leabhar Breac "
copy.
3 The Acts
of this holy Deacon are set forth in full by the Bollandists,3 at the 10th of
August, in a previous commentary of twelve sections, containing 128 para-
graphs, with a closing Latin hymn,-* and notes : afterwards, follow Acts from theMartyrologyofAdo,5 andanAccountoftheposthumouscommemora- tions, miracles, and glories of the Saint, in six sections, containing 59 paragraphs.
Article VI. —Festival of Soldiers, Martyrs. In the general way of
commemorating a host of soldiers, who are highly eulogized as martyrs, a festival was celebrated in the Irish Church, on the 10th of Ajigust, as we
learn from the ' 4 Feilire "* of St. yEngus. In a comment attached, these are stated to have been seventy in number. 2 However, I cannot find in any
6 See Harris' Lismore," p. 550.
vol. i. "
of
<vo Cambachcam uetiic. See the Third Volume of this work, at
the nthot March, Art. i.
3 His festival occurs, at the 7th of July,
where his Acts may be seen in the Seventh
Volume of this— i. work, Ajrt.
x
8
See "Historian Catholicae Ibernix
Compendium," tomus xi. , P- 5°-
Article v.
9 See ibid. , p. 55. Article iv. —*
Ware,
Bishops
fAticcopum eu'tiqx 3
1 His feast occurs, on the 3rd of Novem-
ber, at which date his Life may be found in
the Eleventh Volume of this work, Art. i.
Edited
Kelly, p. xxxi. In the Book of Leinster
the Rev. Dr. copy, we find melruiArn cum rf pelivpnr-
dar of
i. , lib.
iv. , cap.
See "Transactions of the Royal Irish Academy. " Irish Manu- script Series, vol. i. , part i. On the Calen-
by
Oengus, by Whitley Stokes, LL. D. , cxxiii.
"Thus: "*•*. Martir[i]um ejus i. e.
p.
150 LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. [August ii.
other Calendar a similar enumeration of martyr soldiers; but the Bollandists, at this same date, have a feast and notice for seven soldiers, with other martyrs, 3 and, moreover, they have a festival for one hundred and sixty-five soldiers, with other martyrs, for the ioth of August. *
©lebentfj ©arj of August,
ARTICLE I. —ST. ATTRACTA, VIRGIN AND PATRONESS OF KIL- LARAUGHT, COUNTY OF SLIGO.
[FIFTH OR SIXTH CENTURY. ]
CHAPTER I.
INTRODUCTORY—WRITERS OF ST. ATTRACTA's BIOGRAPHY—THE PERIOD OF ST. AT- TRACTA—SUPPOSED PARENTAGE AND RELATIONS OF THE HOLY VIRGIN—HER EARLY PIOUS DISPOSITIONS—SHE RESOLVES ON LEADING A RELIGIOUS LIFE— SHE RECEIVES THE VEIL FROM ST. PATRICK.
is to be regretted, that so many of our earlier saints failed to have the ITstory oftheir lives recorded, by writers familiar with their company and conversation on earth. Among those pious and meritorious Christians was St. Attracta, of whom only popular traditions have been committed to rather late record. As a consequence, no very reliable materials for her Life remain. Those we possess are of a legendary character ; but, the morals culture and patriotism of the reader cannot be injured in the story of a chaste woman's career on earth. In exaggerated tales, religious sentiments may be over-strained, but they usually give right and virtue their due reward,
and they often afford examples of retribution against the wrong-doer.
A brief illusion to this holy virgin has been made already, at the 9th of
1
February, which was a festival held in her honour, and where her Life is to
;
Laurentius Archidiaconus Sixti Militum VII. See "Acta Sanctorum," Papaje]
Romae fuit et sub Decio passus est ba. uii. , tomus ii. , Aprilis x. , p. 533.
fuit [sic] sub D£cio pasus est in Romae. "— 4 See ibid. De Sanctis Martyribus
Ibid. , p. cxxx.
3 See "Acta Sanctorum," tomus ii. ,
Augusti x. , De S. Laurentio Archidiacono
Romania Militibus ci. xv. Item de Claudio,
Severo, Crescentione, et Romano, pp. 534,
i. See the —Chapter —'
Art. viii.
ac Romse, &c, Martyre,
to
535. Article
pp. 485 * By Aurelius Prudentius.
532.
i.
Second Volume of this work, at that date,
5 These are set forth in twelve paragraphs, with notes.
2
These are published in Father John
Article vi.
—
'
See "Transactions of the
"Acta Sanctorum Hibernioe," Kebruarii ix. Vita S. Attracta Virginia. Partim ex. MS. Insulensi, partim ex aliis, pp.
27710282. See also n. I, p. 2S1.
3 Its foundation is referred to A. D. 1 148. See "The History of Ireland and the Annals of Boyle," &c. , by John D'Alton,
Esq. , vol. i. , p. 179.
Royal Irish Academy. " Irish Manuscript Series, vol. i. , part i. On the Calendar of
Oengus, by Whitley Stokes, LL. D. , p. cxxiii.
3 See ibid. , p. cxxx.
3 Thus headed : De Sanctis Martyribus Viris XL, et Virginibus XIIL, item Afraa et
of several the nth of —
be found, in the
appears to us, to ha—ve been her principal feast. Her Life and Acts 2 but in a mutilated state are taken from an old manuscript, which is supposed to have been written by a Cistercian Monk, belonging to the Abbey of Boyle,*
writings hagiologists
but, August
Colgan's
August ii. ] LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. 151
in Connaught, and who lived after the commencement of A. d. iioo. 4 It was taken from the Book of the Island, but it wants the beginning and conclusionofSt. Attracta'sLife. OurnationalHagiologist,however,hassup- plied these portions from other sources. Whilst admitting the inferiority of style in this composition, we are told truly, that its literary defects are not even compensated for, by its intrinsic historical value. 5 Thus composed, the
Acts ofthis Saint are to us given
at the nthof 6 It February.
by Colgan,
was his design, likewise, to have published Acts of St. Attracta, Virgin, at
the present day, as we may learn from the list of his MSS. given by Charles
MacDonnell, Esq. ? The original, from which Colgan extracted her Life, is still preserved among the Franciscan Manuscripts, Dublin. 8 The Bol-
landists have treated, also, about this holy virgin, at the 9th of February. They have a passing allusion to her, also, at this date, 9 under the names
Arata,Attracta,andTaharata. However,theyhavescarcelyanythingabout her, except what they took from Colgan, and they follow him even to her
having flourished in —the fifth century. To this period, they also assign
IO
St. Coeman of Airdne Coemhain. Only a few remarks about this holy
virgin have been given by Bishop Challenor. "
Regarding the period, at which this religious woman lived, considerable 12
discrepancy of opinion exists. According to Rev. Dr. Lanigan, St. Attracta flourished in the sixth century, and perhaps at a late period in that age. He
remarks, likewise, that although in her Life, as published by Colgan, she is said to have been born in Ulster ; nevertheless, from an account given about her having been sister to St. Coeman of Aird-na-Coemhain,^ it must prove a difficult matter, to reconcile both statements. Such objections are urged, also, in notes to his text, and with much force. After treating about St. Conchenna, I4 who died in 655, the Rev. Dr. Lanigan tells us, there is good reason for supposing, that the celebrated St. Athracta or Attracta lived either at or before such period. *s The grounds on which this opinion is based are ; first, that she is spoken of as being contemporaneous with St.
I2 See "Ecclesiastical History of Ireland," vol. i. , chap, v. , sect, x. , p. 245, and n. 95, pp. 247, 248, ibid.
,3 His festival occurs on the 12th ofJune, where notices of him may be found, in the Sixth Volume of this work, Art. vi.
I4 See an account of her, at the 13th of March, in the Third Volume of this work, Art. iv.
'S See "Ecclesiastical History of Ireland," vol. iii. , chap, xvii. , sect, ix. , p. 39.
I<5
See his life, at the 13th of December, *» Abbot of Ros Glas, and whose feast is
on the 23rd of December.
,8 See his Acts, in the present volume,
I9 See the Thirteenth Chapter of St.
Corbmac's Life, in Colgan's "Acta Sanc- torum Hibemioe," Martii xxvi. Vita S. Corbmaci Abbatis, cap. xiii. p. 753.
20 Not finding any king there of this name before about 670, Colgan thought that in- stead of a king over all Connaught, it
ought tobe understood a dynast ruling in some part of that Province,
l6 brother to St. Evin/7 and
supposed to have belonged to Achonry, and who lived in the sixth or seventh century, is alluded to in her Acts, as having been a contemporary. ^
Corbmac,
secondly,
4 Such is Colgan's statement.
5 Bishop Challoner, in his " Britannia Sancta, part i. , p. 113, pronounces these Acts of the Saint published by Colgan to be
of no authority.
6
See "Acta Sanctorum Hibemioe," xi.
Februarii. Vita S. Attracts, &c, pp. 277 to 282.
7 In "Catalogusaliquorum Sanctorum Hi-
hernia? , qua? MS. habentur ordine Mensium
et Dierum. "
8
In "Vitae Sanctorum," ex. Cod. Inisensi, we find Vitae S. Athractee Virg. , in this Co- dex.
9 See "Acta Sanctorum," tomus ii. , Au-
gusti xi. Among the pretermitted saints, 606.
10
p.
According to the Rev. Dr. Lanigan, they did not examine the history of either saint with much attention. See " Ecclesi- astical History of Ireland," vol. iii. , chap. xvii. , sect ix. , n. 129, pp. 43, 44.
"In his "Britannia Sancta," part i. , P- 113.
that St. l8 whom he Nathy,
152 LIVES OE THE IRISH SAINTS. [August ii.
Moreover, Keannfaelaid is said to have been king of Connaught during her
time 2 ° while, it is manifest, that the author of her Acts meant the well-known ;
king over all Connaught, and bearing that name. 21 Yet, we are not bound to believe, that Athracta lived so late as his reign, which lasted to a. d. 680, whenhewaskilled22 byUlcha-deargorRedbeardUa-Caillidhe,oneofthe Conmaicne-Cuile. 23 Again,St. Attractaismadetobecontemporaneouswith St. Nathy of Achonry; 3 < and, that he was the Nathy alluded to in her Acts
is sufficiently clear, from his having lived in that district, in which her nunnery 2
was situated, viz. , Lugne or Lugnia. s
InmakingAthractaasisterofSt. Patrick,26 Harris2? commitsagrave
error ; for, among all his pretended sisters, no such person as Athracta is
28
mentioned.
century, that careless author thinks so little about anachronisms, he again places her in the times of St. Patrick. Whether sister or not, if St. Attracta
2
were only a contemporary with Coeman, ? * we have an additional argument,
in favour of her having lived during the sixth century ; for, Coeman is said to have been brother to St. Coemghen of Glendalough,3° and the latter is known to have lived even to the seventh century. 31
St. Attracta is said to have been the daughter of Talan, and to have had abrothercalledSt. Coeman. ThesebelongedtotheraceofIrius,andderive their origin from the Province of Ulster. However, other statements are found to differ from the foregoing account of her family and race. By some
writers, who have treated on this saint, she is called Taracta, but erroneously, as has been asserted. 3* Her father's name was Talan, said to belong to the
21 Thus, in her Acts, Keannfaelaid is ex-
pressly stated to have ruled the whole pro-
vince, " tenens totum ejus (Connacire) prin- cipatum universaliter. "
race of Irius 33 no little ; yet,
Having inferentially assigned this holy virgin to the seventh
exists, in those accounts respecting her parentage and genealogy. 3* In one instance, St. Attracta's father
given
3° See his life, in the Sixth Volume of this work, at the 3rd of June, Art. i.
3I See Rev. Dr. Lanigan's "Ecclesiastical History of Ireland," vol. iii. , chap, xvii. , sect, ix. , n. 126, v. 43.
32 Thus, Usuard's continuator, Canisius, 23 These were a sept of Fergus mac Hermanus Greuen, Ferrarius, Fitzsimon, Roich's race settled in the present barony of and others, place a St. Taracta among the Kilmaine in the County of Mayo. Fergus taints of Ireland, in their Martyrologies, at was ex-King of Ulster in the first century of the 4th of February ; but, Colgan says, that theChristianera. See Roderick O'Flaherty's they must certainly mean St. Attracta, as "Ogygia," pars, iii. , cap. xlvi. , pp. 275, the name Tharacta is not to be found among the saints of our island, nor can any name be discovered, bearing any greater affinity to it, than that of Attracta. See Colgan 's "Acta Sanctorum Hibernice," ix. Februarii,
n. I, p. 2S1.
33 Most authorities agree, that this virgin
was daughter to Talan, and of Ir's race, yet,
" See Dr. O'Donovan's " Annals of the Four Masters" vol i. , pp. 286 to 289.
276.
24 In the present volume, at the 9th of this
month, his Acts may be seen, Art. i.
2s Of this ancient territory the barony of Leney, in the County of Sligo, forms at
"
is in said barony, is the only saint of that
Lanigan's
"
2
See Harris' Ware, vol. ii. , "Antiquities
3< Seluacius and the Sanctilogium Genea- logicum state, that the common father of Talan was, Saran, Prince of Dalaradia, in Ulster, whose father, Coelbadius, the last of Ir's race, was King of Ireland, a short time before the Gospel bad been preached in this country. But, the old author of St. Patrick's Tripartite Life states, that Talan, son to Cathbhaidh, was father to St. Attracta and St. Coeman. See " Trias Thau-
cap. liv. , n. 113, p. 178.
"
Nathy of Achonry, which
least a part.
name that flourished in Lugne. "—
differin the name of Talan's recording
Rev. Dr. Ecclesiastical History of Ireland, vol iii. , chap, xvii. , sect, ix. , n. 124,
p. 43.
his life, in the Third Volume of
this work, at the 17th of March, Art. i.
they
father and progenitors.
of Ireland," chap, xxxviii. , p. 270.
23 "
See Rev. Dr. Lanigan's Ecclesiasti-
cal History of Ireland," vol. i. , chap, iii. , sect, xviii. , pp. 125 to 128.
'" His feast has been
ofjune, where notices of him may he found, in the Sixth Volume of this work, Art vi.
assigned
to the 12th
Colgan's
maturga. " Septima Vita S. Patricii, pars ii. ,
discrepancy
August it] LIVES Of THE IRISH SAINTS. 153
is called Tigerna,3* and in another Saran. 36 According to some writers, our saint was sister to St. Coeman,37 Abbot of Ardnensis Monastery, near Wex- ford, and he was likewise the disciple of St. Patrick. *8 However, we had rather follow the opinion of Colgan, that our saint was a contemporary with St. Patrick; since the ancient Lives of our Irish Apostle speak of this holy virgin, as having been his disciple, and as having received the veil at his hands. 39 We know not whether her parents were Pagans or Christians ; for, it is stated, that when St. Patrick preached in the wooded region about Moy- lurg, about a. d. 450, St. Attracta had led a very pious and austere life, at home. An error of Rev. Dr. Lanigan appears, when he makes our saint a native of Ulster. * Now, there are circumstances related in her Acts, which
indicate, that she belonged to a Tireragh rather than to an Ultonian family ; so that it is a reasonable conjecture to suppose, the Diocese of Killala or
1
the of Diocese which it to have been her
part Achonry
In the ancient Life of this
adjoins
birth-place*
2 we are
years, she was most fervent in prayer, that she bestowed frequent alms, and
macerated her body by continual fasting. She despised this world's vanities, and lamented the blindness of its votaries, who follow lights that lure only to lead them astray. *3
When this holy virgin arrived at the age of puberty, her father was
desirous to engage her in the state of marriage. This did not accord,
however, with her own desire. Being very beautiful, and sought in marriage
by several suitors, she felt a Divine inspiration to embrace a religious life.
Those writers who hold, that she belonged to the Ulster province, state her
coming thence to Connaught to fulfil that object. 4 * In consequence of an
intention long formed, it is probable, she there sought an opportunity
presented to her, especially as another virgin had expressed a similar desire,
Saint,*
informed,
that
during
her tender
about the same time, and perhaps a mutual understanding existed between
them. St. Patrick—then engaged on his western Irish mission—was
preaching in that part of the country. This visit, it is thought, could not
have been sooner than the year 435/s To avoid her parent's importunities,
and taking with her a maid, called Mitain, and a servant-man called
6
Mochain,* she left her paternal home,*? and directed her course towards
35 In a comment on Marianus O'Gorman's
Martyrology, at the nth ot August, the father of our saint is so named, but this statement is at variance with all other au- thorities.
36 In the Fifteenth Chapter of St. Corb- mac's Life, Attracta is called daughter to Saran. Colgan would not undertake to pronounce a decision on these different statements. See "Acta Sanctorum Hiber- nioe," ix. Februarii, n. 2. p. 281.
37 The Psalter of Cashel, the Martyrology of Donegal, and other authorities, call St. Coeman's father, Talan, son to Dubhtaigh, son to Rossius, of the race of Corb, son to Fergus Rogius.
38 See Colgan's "Acta Sanctorum Hiber-
niaj," ix. Februarii. Vita S. Attracta, cap. cised Mohan or Moghan, are still very
i. , cap. iii. , pp. 277, 27S.
39 This statement is also made, in the
Fourth Lesson of the Second Nocturn of a Divine Office, authorized by an Indult, ob- tained at Rome, on the 28th of July, 1864.
40 This he asserts, and assumes, on Col- gan's authority, but the latter only states,
numerous in Killaraght and in the northern parts of the County ot Roscommon. See John
that she lived in that province, during St. Patrick's time.
4I See Archdeacon T. O'Rorke's "History ofSligo : Town and County," \ol. ii. , chap, xxxiv. , pp. 369, 370.
« As published by Colgan.
*3 See Colgan's Acta Sanctorum Hiber*
mre," Februaiii ix. Vita S. Attracts, cap. iii. , p. 278.
*4 See Very Rev. Archdeacon O'Rorke's "History of Sligo : Town and County," vol. ii. , chap, xxxiv. , p. 369.
*s See Rev. Dr.
2
Culdee, that he often travelled about, engaged on inquiries, which enabled
him to illustrate the Saint-History of Ireland. Doubtless, he failed not to
collectsomerelicsofthoseholypersons,wheneverhetravelledabroad; and,
it is likely, that his distinguished superior and local contemporary, St. Maelruan,3 who had kindred tastes, made special journeys for similar purposes. Oneofthesereturnsmusthavebeensolemnlycommemoratedat Tallagh, in the eighth century, and before the death of St. Maelruan, on the 7th July, 792. That commemoration was probably continued annually, on
this day, and at that particular place, in recognition of those treasures deposited by the holy founder in the house of his religious community.
Article V. —Feast of St. Laurence, Deacon and Martyr. In the Irish Church was commemorated on this day the Feast of that illustrious Deacon. St. Laurence, who submitted to a glorious martyrdom, for the sake
" *' 1
of Christ. In the Feilire of St. ^Engus the festival is entered, and a
Latin comment is found affixed in the ki Leabhar Breac "
copy.
3 The Acts
of this holy Deacon are set forth in full by the Bollandists,3 at the 10th of
August, in a previous commentary of twelve sections, containing 128 para-
graphs, with a closing Latin hymn,-* and notes : afterwards, follow Acts from theMartyrologyofAdo,5 andanAccountoftheposthumouscommemora- tions, miracles, and glories of the Saint, in six sections, containing 59 paragraphs.
Article VI. —Festival of Soldiers, Martyrs. In the general way of
commemorating a host of soldiers, who are highly eulogized as martyrs, a festival was celebrated in the Irish Church, on the 10th of Ajigust, as we
learn from the ' 4 Feilire "* of St. yEngus. In a comment attached, these are stated to have been seventy in number. 2 However, I cannot find in any
6 See Harris' Lismore," p. 550.
vol. i. "
of
<vo Cambachcam uetiic. See the Third Volume of this work, at
the nthot March, Art. i.
3 His festival occurs, at the 7th of July,
where his Acts may be seen in the Seventh
Volume of this— i. work, Ajrt.
x
8
See "Historian Catholicae Ibernix
Compendium," tomus xi. , P- 5°-
Article v.
9 See ibid. , p. 55. Article iv. —*
Ware,
Bishops
fAticcopum eu'tiqx 3
1 His feast occurs, on the 3rd of Novem-
ber, at which date his Life may be found in
the Eleventh Volume of this work, Art. i.
Edited
Kelly, p. xxxi. In the Book of Leinster
the Rev. Dr. copy, we find melruiArn cum rf pelivpnr-
dar of
i. , lib.
iv. , cap.
See "Transactions of the Royal Irish Academy. " Irish Manu- script Series, vol. i. , part i. On the Calen-
by
Oengus, by Whitley Stokes, LL. D. , cxxiii.
"Thus: "*•*. Martir[i]um ejus i. e.
p.
150 LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. [August ii.
other Calendar a similar enumeration of martyr soldiers; but the Bollandists, at this same date, have a feast and notice for seven soldiers, with other martyrs, 3 and, moreover, they have a festival for one hundred and sixty-five soldiers, with other martyrs, for the ioth of August. *
©lebentfj ©arj of August,
ARTICLE I. —ST. ATTRACTA, VIRGIN AND PATRONESS OF KIL- LARAUGHT, COUNTY OF SLIGO.
[FIFTH OR SIXTH CENTURY. ]
CHAPTER I.
INTRODUCTORY—WRITERS OF ST. ATTRACTA's BIOGRAPHY—THE PERIOD OF ST. AT- TRACTA—SUPPOSED PARENTAGE AND RELATIONS OF THE HOLY VIRGIN—HER EARLY PIOUS DISPOSITIONS—SHE RESOLVES ON LEADING A RELIGIOUS LIFE— SHE RECEIVES THE VEIL FROM ST. PATRICK.
is to be regretted, that so many of our earlier saints failed to have the ITstory oftheir lives recorded, by writers familiar with their company and conversation on earth. Among those pious and meritorious Christians was St. Attracta, of whom only popular traditions have been committed to rather late record. As a consequence, no very reliable materials for her Life remain. Those we possess are of a legendary character ; but, the morals culture and patriotism of the reader cannot be injured in the story of a chaste woman's career on earth. In exaggerated tales, religious sentiments may be over-strained, but they usually give right and virtue their due reward,
and they often afford examples of retribution against the wrong-doer.
A brief illusion to this holy virgin has been made already, at the 9th of
1
February, which was a festival held in her honour, and where her Life is to
;
Laurentius Archidiaconus Sixti Militum VII. See "Acta Sanctorum," Papaje]
Romae fuit et sub Decio passus est ba. uii. , tomus ii. , Aprilis x. , p. 533.
fuit [sic] sub D£cio pasus est in Romae. "— 4 See ibid. De Sanctis Martyribus
Ibid. , p. cxxx.
3 See "Acta Sanctorum," tomus ii. ,
Augusti x. , De S. Laurentio Archidiacono
Romania Militibus ci. xv. Item de Claudio,
Severo, Crescentione, et Romano, pp. 534,
i. See the —Chapter —'
Art. viii.
ac Romse, &c, Martyre,
to
535. Article
pp. 485 * By Aurelius Prudentius.
532.
i.
Second Volume of this work, at that date,
5 These are set forth in twelve paragraphs, with notes.
2
These are published in Father John
Article vi.
—
'
See "Transactions of the
"Acta Sanctorum Hibernioe," Kebruarii ix. Vita S. Attracta Virginia. Partim ex. MS. Insulensi, partim ex aliis, pp.
27710282. See also n. I, p. 2S1.
3 Its foundation is referred to A. D. 1 148. See "The History of Ireland and the Annals of Boyle," &c. , by John D'Alton,
Esq. , vol. i. , p. 179.
Royal Irish Academy. " Irish Manuscript Series, vol. i. , part i. On the Calendar of
Oengus, by Whitley Stokes, LL. D. , p. cxxiii.
3 See ibid. , p. cxxx.
3 Thus headed : De Sanctis Martyribus Viris XL, et Virginibus XIIL, item Afraa et
of several the nth of —
be found, in the
appears to us, to ha—ve been her principal feast. Her Life and Acts 2 but in a mutilated state are taken from an old manuscript, which is supposed to have been written by a Cistercian Monk, belonging to the Abbey of Boyle,*
writings hagiologists
but, August
Colgan's
August ii. ] LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. 151
in Connaught, and who lived after the commencement of A. d. iioo. 4 It was taken from the Book of the Island, but it wants the beginning and conclusionofSt. Attracta'sLife. OurnationalHagiologist,however,hassup- plied these portions from other sources. Whilst admitting the inferiority of style in this composition, we are told truly, that its literary defects are not even compensated for, by its intrinsic historical value. 5 Thus composed, the
Acts ofthis Saint are to us given
at the nthof 6 It February.
by Colgan,
was his design, likewise, to have published Acts of St. Attracta, Virgin, at
the present day, as we may learn from the list of his MSS. given by Charles
MacDonnell, Esq. ? The original, from which Colgan extracted her Life, is still preserved among the Franciscan Manuscripts, Dublin. 8 The Bol-
landists have treated, also, about this holy virgin, at the 9th of February. They have a passing allusion to her, also, at this date, 9 under the names
Arata,Attracta,andTaharata. However,theyhavescarcelyanythingabout her, except what they took from Colgan, and they follow him even to her
having flourished in —the fifth century. To this period, they also assign
IO
St. Coeman of Airdne Coemhain. Only a few remarks about this holy
virgin have been given by Bishop Challenor. "
Regarding the period, at which this religious woman lived, considerable 12
discrepancy of opinion exists. According to Rev. Dr. Lanigan, St. Attracta flourished in the sixth century, and perhaps at a late period in that age. He
remarks, likewise, that although in her Life, as published by Colgan, she is said to have been born in Ulster ; nevertheless, from an account given about her having been sister to St. Coeman of Aird-na-Coemhain,^ it must prove a difficult matter, to reconcile both statements. Such objections are urged, also, in notes to his text, and with much force. After treating about St. Conchenna, I4 who died in 655, the Rev. Dr. Lanigan tells us, there is good reason for supposing, that the celebrated St. Athracta or Attracta lived either at or before such period. *s The grounds on which this opinion is based are ; first, that she is spoken of as being contemporaneous with St.
I2 See "Ecclesiastical History of Ireland," vol. i. , chap, v. , sect, x. , p. 245, and n. 95, pp. 247, 248, ibid.
,3 His festival occurs on the 12th ofJune, where notices of him may be found, in the Sixth Volume of this work, Art. vi.
I4 See an account of her, at the 13th of March, in the Third Volume of this work, Art. iv.
'S See "Ecclesiastical History of Ireland," vol. iii. , chap, xvii. , sect, ix. , p. 39.
I<5
See his life, at the 13th of December, *» Abbot of Ros Glas, and whose feast is
on the 23rd of December.
,8 See his Acts, in the present volume,
I9 See the Thirteenth Chapter of St.
Corbmac's Life, in Colgan's "Acta Sanc- torum Hibemioe," Martii xxvi. Vita S. Corbmaci Abbatis, cap. xiii. p. 753.
20 Not finding any king there of this name before about 670, Colgan thought that in- stead of a king over all Connaught, it
ought tobe understood a dynast ruling in some part of that Province,
l6 brother to St. Evin/7 and
supposed to have belonged to Achonry, and who lived in the sixth or seventh century, is alluded to in her Acts, as having been a contemporary. ^
Corbmac,
secondly,
4 Such is Colgan's statement.
5 Bishop Challoner, in his " Britannia Sancta, part i. , p. 113, pronounces these Acts of the Saint published by Colgan to be
of no authority.
6
See "Acta Sanctorum Hibemioe," xi.
Februarii. Vita S. Attracts, &c, pp. 277 to 282.
7 In "Catalogusaliquorum Sanctorum Hi-
hernia? , qua? MS. habentur ordine Mensium
et Dierum. "
8
In "Vitae Sanctorum," ex. Cod. Inisensi, we find Vitae S. Athractee Virg. , in this Co- dex.
9 See "Acta Sanctorum," tomus ii. , Au-
gusti xi. Among the pretermitted saints, 606.
10
p.
According to the Rev. Dr. Lanigan, they did not examine the history of either saint with much attention. See " Ecclesi- astical History of Ireland," vol. iii. , chap. xvii. , sect ix. , n. 129, pp. 43, 44.
"In his "Britannia Sancta," part i. , P- 113.
that St. l8 whom he Nathy,
152 LIVES OE THE IRISH SAINTS. [August ii.
Moreover, Keannfaelaid is said to have been king of Connaught during her
time 2 ° while, it is manifest, that the author of her Acts meant the well-known ;
king over all Connaught, and bearing that name. 21 Yet, we are not bound to believe, that Athracta lived so late as his reign, which lasted to a. d. 680, whenhewaskilled22 byUlcha-deargorRedbeardUa-Caillidhe,oneofthe Conmaicne-Cuile. 23 Again,St. Attractaismadetobecontemporaneouswith St. Nathy of Achonry; 3 < and, that he was the Nathy alluded to in her Acts
is sufficiently clear, from his having lived in that district, in which her nunnery 2
was situated, viz. , Lugne or Lugnia. s
InmakingAthractaasisterofSt. Patrick,26 Harris2? commitsagrave
error ; for, among all his pretended sisters, no such person as Athracta is
28
mentioned.
century, that careless author thinks so little about anachronisms, he again places her in the times of St. Patrick. Whether sister or not, if St. Attracta
2
were only a contemporary with Coeman, ? * we have an additional argument,
in favour of her having lived during the sixth century ; for, Coeman is said to have been brother to St. Coemghen of Glendalough,3° and the latter is known to have lived even to the seventh century. 31
St. Attracta is said to have been the daughter of Talan, and to have had abrothercalledSt. Coeman. ThesebelongedtotheraceofIrius,andderive their origin from the Province of Ulster. However, other statements are found to differ from the foregoing account of her family and race. By some
writers, who have treated on this saint, she is called Taracta, but erroneously, as has been asserted. 3* Her father's name was Talan, said to belong to the
21 Thus, in her Acts, Keannfaelaid is ex-
pressly stated to have ruled the whole pro-
vince, " tenens totum ejus (Connacire) prin- cipatum universaliter. "
race of Irius 33 no little ; yet,
Having inferentially assigned this holy virgin to the seventh
exists, in those accounts respecting her parentage and genealogy. 3* In one instance, St. Attracta's father
given
3° See his life, in the Sixth Volume of this work, at the 3rd of June, Art. i.
3I See Rev. Dr. Lanigan's "Ecclesiastical History of Ireland," vol. iii. , chap, xvii. , sect, ix. , n. 126, v. 43.
32 Thus, Usuard's continuator, Canisius, 23 These were a sept of Fergus mac Hermanus Greuen, Ferrarius, Fitzsimon, Roich's race settled in the present barony of and others, place a St. Taracta among the Kilmaine in the County of Mayo. Fergus taints of Ireland, in their Martyrologies, at was ex-King of Ulster in the first century of the 4th of February ; but, Colgan says, that theChristianera. See Roderick O'Flaherty's they must certainly mean St. Attracta, as "Ogygia," pars, iii. , cap. xlvi. , pp. 275, the name Tharacta is not to be found among the saints of our island, nor can any name be discovered, bearing any greater affinity to it, than that of Attracta. See Colgan 's "Acta Sanctorum Hibernice," ix. Februarii,
n. I, p. 2S1.
33 Most authorities agree, that this virgin
was daughter to Talan, and of Ir's race, yet,
" See Dr. O'Donovan's " Annals of the Four Masters" vol i. , pp. 286 to 289.
276.
24 In the present volume, at the 9th of this
month, his Acts may be seen, Art. i.
2s Of this ancient territory the barony of Leney, in the County of Sligo, forms at
"
is in said barony, is the only saint of that
Lanigan's
"
2
See Harris' Ware, vol. ii. , "Antiquities
3< Seluacius and the Sanctilogium Genea- logicum state, that the common father of Talan was, Saran, Prince of Dalaradia, in Ulster, whose father, Coelbadius, the last of Ir's race, was King of Ireland, a short time before the Gospel bad been preached in this country. But, the old author of St. Patrick's Tripartite Life states, that Talan, son to Cathbhaidh, was father to St. Attracta and St. Coeman. See " Trias Thau-
cap. liv. , n. 113, p. 178.
"
Nathy of Achonry, which
least a part.
name that flourished in Lugne. "—
differin the name of Talan's recording
Rev. Dr. Ecclesiastical History of Ireland, vol iii. , chap, xvii. , sect, ix. , n. 124,
p. 43.
his life, in the Third Volume of
this work, at the 17th of March, Art. i.
they
father and progenitors.
of Ireland," chap, xxxviii. , p. 270.
23 "
See Rev. Dr. Lanigan's Ecclesiasti-
cal History of Ireland," vol. i. , chap, iii. , sect, xviii. , pp. 125 to 128.
'" His feast has been
ofjune, where notices of him may he found, in the Sixth Volume of this work, Art vi.
assigned
to the 12th
Colgan's
maturga. " Septima Vita S. Patricii, pars ii. ,
discrepancy
August it] LIVES Of THE IRISH SAINTS. 153
is called Tigerna,3* and in another Saran. 36 According to some writers, our saint was sister to St. Coeman,37 Abbot of Ardnensis Monastery, near Wex- ford, and he was likewise the disciple of St. Patrick. *8 However, we had rather follow the opinion of Colgan, that our saint was a contemporary with St. Patrick; since the ancient Lives of our Irish Apostle speak of this holy virgin, as having been his disciple, and as having received the veil at his hands. 39 We know not whether her parents were Pagans or Christians ; for, it is stated, that when St. Patrick preached in the wooded region about Moy- lurg, about a. d. 450, St. Attracta had led a very pious and austere life, at home. An error of Rev. Dr. Lanigan appears, when he makes our saint a native of Ulster. * Now, there are circumstances related in her Acts, which
indicate, that she belonged to a Tireragh rather than to an Ultonian family ; so that it is a reasonable conjecture to suppose, the Diocese of Killala or
1
the of Diocese which it to have been her
part Achonry
In the ancient Life of this
adjoins
birth-place*
2 we are
years, she was most fervent in prayer, that she bestowed frequent alms, and
macerated her body by continual fasting. She despised this world's vanities, and lamented the blindness of its votaries, who follow lights that lure only to lead them astray. *3
When this holy virgin arrived at the age of puberty, her father was
desirous to engage her in the state of marriage. This did not accord,
however, with her own desire. Being very beautiful, and sought in marriage
by several suitors, she felt a Divine inspiration to embrace a religious life.
Those writers who hold, that she belonged to the Ulster province, state her
coming thence to Connaught to fulfil that object. 4 * In consequence of an
intention long formed, it is probable, she there sought an opportunity
presented to her, especially as another virgin had expressed a similar desire,
Saint,*
informed,
that
during
her tender
about the same time, and perhaps a mutual understanding existed between
them. St. Patrick—then engaged on his western Irish mission—was
preaching in that part of the country. This visit, it is thought, could not
have been sooner than the year 435/s To avoid her parent's importunities,
and taking with her a maid, called Mitain, and a servant-man called
6
Mochain,* she left her paternal home,*? and directed her course towards
35 In a comment on Marianus O'Gorman's
Martyrology, at the nth ot August, the father of our saint is so named, but this statement is at variance with all other au- thorities.
36 In the Fifteenth Chapter of St. Corb- mac's Life, Attracta is called daughter to Saran. Colgan would not undertake to pronounce a decision on these different statements. See "Acta Sanctorum Hiber- nioe," ix. Februarii, n. 2. p. 281.
37 The Psalter of Cashel, the Martyrology of Donegal, and other authorities, call St. Coeman's father, Talan, son to Dubhtaigh, son to Rossius, of the race of Corb, son to Fergus Rogius.
38 See Colgan's "Acta Sanctorum Hiber-
niaj," ix. Februarii. Vita S. Attracta, cap. cised Mohan or Moghan, are still very
i. , cap. iii. , pp. 277, 27S.
39 This statement is also made, in the
Fourth Lesson of the Second Nocturn of a Divine Office, authorized by an Indult, ob- tained at Rome, on the 28th of July, 1864.
40 This he asserts, and assumes, on Col- gan's authority, but the latter only states,
numerous in Killaraght and in the northern parts of the County ot Roscommon. See John
that she lived in that province, during St. Patrick's time.
4I See Archdeacon T. O'Rorke's "History ofSligo : Town and County," \ol. ii. , chap, xxxiv. , pp. 369, 370.
« As published by Colgan.
*3 See Colgan's Acta Sanctorum Hiber*
mre," Februaiii ix. Vita S. Attracts, cap. iii. , p. 278.
*4 See Very Rev. Archdeacon O'Rorke's "History of Sligo : Town and County," vol. ii. , chap, xxxiv. , p. 369.
*s See Rev. Dr.
