" Quinta
Appendix
ad Acta S.
O'Hanlon - Lives of the Irish Saints - v1
" Accor-
ding to Wilson he died a. d. 581, and according to Bishop Forbes, he Hved on to A. D. 602. The most reliable accounts state, that he departed this life, in the small island of Horata, or Hoata, now Houat,^3 whither he had retired from his monastery of Rewisius, now St. Gildas-de-Ruis,^* some short time before his demise. Not far distant is the commune of St. Gildas des Bois. ^s Again it has been asserted,^^^ that with permission of the abbot, Gildas became a recluse near a river,^? at Glastonbury. He built there a chapel to the Holy Trinity, where he fasted and prayed constantly, giving an example of perfect penance to all. He died at Cornubia, according to Wilson,^^ and he was buried in the middle of St. Mary's Church, at that place. ^9 But, it is said, the Glastonians appropriated more saints than Gildas, and that they placed his death there, so early as 512, in order to give the most respectable antiquity to their monastery. 3°
The festival of this holy bishop, abbot, and confessor is generally assigned by calendarists and other writers to the 29th day of January. Thus the name of Gildas, surnamed the Wise, 3^ occurs in the very ancient Kalen- dar of the old Martyrology at Epternac, inscribed with the name of St. Jerome, while he is in the unpublished3* and published Martyrology of Tallagh,33 at this date. Here we find the title of bishop given to this saint. He is also called Badonicus,34 The very ancient metrical " Feilire " of St. ^ngus, has classed Gildas with some other foreign saints at this, the Fourth of the February Kalends. 35 Hugo Menard places his veneration in Britan- nia Minor at this date,3^ as also Trithemius,37 Mabillon,33 Molanus,39 and Ferrarius. '*° A Florarian Manuscript and Canisius set down his festival in Anglia, at this day. Wilson, who has very confused accounts regarding St. Gildas, yet places his festival at the present date. Surius passes over this saint ; but the Bollandists give a very interesting insertion of his acts. He is omitted altogether from the Martyrology of Donegal. Dora Lobineau^' and
"
"See Chambers' "Encyclopedia. " Art.
Gildas," vol. iv. , p. 752.
=^3 It lies off the French coast, in the De-
3' See Rev. S. Baring-Gould's " Lives of the Saints," vol. i. , p. 440.
3» In the Franciscan copy we read, at this
partment of Morbihan, and in the province
of Britany. It is shown, situated immediately
south of St. Gildas, on the mainland, and
north-east of Belle lie, as marked on the
Map of France, No. Ii. Arrowsmith's translation—were furnished by Professor "London Atlas of Universal Geography. "
London, 1835.
=* This is now a commune, in the depart-
ment of Morbihan, and ten miles S. S. W. of Vannes. See "Gazetteer of the World," vol. vi. , p. 602.
^5 In the department of Loire-Inferieure. See ibid.
O'Looney:
•A. iit'i. kl. Aw efcoip ^o|\Ai'oiu-p lloni'riA'ouc •oia^ n-T)itiuf
^^
By Caradoc of Lanncarvan and by Cap-
grave.
^7 It was called Axus.
^^See
"
Martyrologium Anglicanum," at
the 29th of January. 3* "
Menologium Benedictinum. "
=^9 See Sir Thomas Duffus Hardy's De- scriptive Catalogue of Materials relathig to 3°
the History of Great Britain and Ireland,"
vol. i. , part i. , p. 152.
3° See Dr. Lanigan's "Ecclesiastical His-
tory of Ireland," vol. i. , chap, ix. , sec. x. , n. 170. pp. 488, 489.
35
^° " Catalogus Generalis Sanctorum. "
day, gil. 'OAe epi ocuf fApiencif.
33 Edited by Rev. Dr. Kelly, p. xiv.
"
35 The following stanza and its English
3-* See
Circle of the Seasons,"
p. 29.
kl.
Ipoiicu]", pAuUip 5iitAf, ConpcAncinuf.
The bishops whom I celebrate May they protect us to our in-
heritance [i. e. , heaven) Ipolitus, Paulus,
Gillas, Constantinus.
"
37 I^ib. iii. , cap. 47.
"
i. , lib. vi. , sec. xix. , p. 151.
""
See "Vies des Saints de Bretagne," p.
72, and
"
Histoire de la Bretagne. "
Annales Ordinis S. Benedict! ," tomus
In his additions to Usuard.
494
[January 29.
*
LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS.
Dom Morice^* have accounts of this holy abbot, so renowned throughout Armorica. '*3
The relics of St. Gildas were borne from Ruys, early in the tenth century,
into Berry, as the pagan Northmen were making great inroads on the north-
west parts of France. ^4 In the beginning of the eleventh century, an
ancient abbey, which in the last century bore the name of St, Gildas, had
been established by a pious man called Felix. +5 In 1649, the Abbey of
Ruys had been placed under the Reformed Congregation of St, Maur. +s
St, Gildas is honoured in the city and diocese of Vannes, as one of its
patrons. It has been asserted, that his body lay in the cathedral of Vannes,
during the last century. ^*?
The illustrious St. Gildas well deserved the title of Wise, even from
youth, when Uke the true soldier of Christ he learned Christian discipline in the best schools and from the training of the greatest masters of virtue and science. He then taught others, both by word and work. His labours were most fruitful of good results in Ireland, in Great Britain, and in more distant countries. Wherefore more especially in these principal fields of his culture, as throughout the universal Church, his virtues, his learning, and his great actions, are deservedly held in the highest honour and veneration.
Article II. —St. Gildasius or Gildas, Abbot of Reys, in the
Diocese of Vannes, in Britany, France. \Fifth and Sixth Cetituries^ It would only be a repetition of our former critical analysis, to sum up evidence referring to the present holy abbot's identity. Text and notes of the preceding life will supply sources for investigation. Many (of our hagiologicai writers are of opinion the saint called Gildasius, or Gildas, was a native of Ireland. ^ Indeed, the old Breviary of Nantes states, that he was bom there and of illustrious parentage. ' At an early age, it is said, he was sent to a monastery for training. There he learned the liberal sciences, the precepts of morality, and sacred theology. It seems difficult to reconcile the chronology of his subsequent history,3 if, as we are told, he studied with Samson and Paul,^ while after he had widely dissem- inated truths of the Gospel over Ireland, the Lord inspired him to visit
*^ See ' ' Memoires sur I'Histoire de Bre-
tagne," and " Histoire de la Bretagne,"
*3 This comprised that part of Celtic Gaul, which was divided into Brittany, Lower Normandy, Anjou, Maine, and Touraine, Tours was the capital, and it yet maintains
the metropolitical dignity.
who was distinguished for learning at Rome, in the time of Horatius, Juvenal, and Mar- tial, but who is not known to have been a Christian; Colgan distinguishes six other remarkable Gildases, regarding whom he has offered various conjectures, in a lengthy note, appended to his notice of the present holy abbot. He has nothing conclusive to advance, however, on summing up the evi- dence collected regarding them. See "Acta Sanctorum Hiberniae," xxix. Januarii. De
^
banks of the River Indre. This was secula- rized and united to the collegiate church of Chateauroux, a. d, 1623.
An abbey was erected there, upon the
Sancta," part i. , p. 84.
**See Rev. Alban Butler's
"
Lives of the
3 The compiler evidently fell into error re-
garding persons who were not contempo- raneous, yet the general tenor of his account is tolerably accurate.
*At the school of St. Iltut. Now, in
the previous life, we have seen, that these
holy men were fellow-disciples there with St. Gildas Badonicus. This circumstance gives rise to a suspicion, that the present St.
Fathers, Martyrs, and other Principal Saints," vol. i. , xxix. January.
<'See Bishop Challenor's "Britannia
Sancta," part i—. , p. 84,
Article II. » We find in Baillet's " Les
"
sSee Bishop Challoner's "Britannia S. Gildasio Abbate, n. i, pp. 176, 177.
Vias des Saints," at the 29th of January, a
Life of St, Gildas or Guedas, Abbot of Rays,
in the diocese of Vannes, Bretagne. See Gildas was not different from him. Samson pp. 398 to 401. and Paul lived towards the close of the sixth
"Besides a certain Gildas, a Cambrian,
century.
January 39. ] LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. 495
Armorica, at a time when King Grallons ruled over the whole of this pro- vince. ^ Our saint was a man of great accomplishments, despising the vanities
and delights of the world, while wholly devoted to religious worship. He chastisedhisfleshwithahair-shirtandfasting: hewasamodelofallvirtues,
and especially of humility, continence, and rectitude. Moved by the fame
of his merits and sanctity, Grallon^ built a monastery for himself and his
disciples in the island of Ruys. ^ This, too, he endowed with considerable
possessions. Here Gildas lived for a long time, and distinguished for his
great integrity of life, until he became an old man. Then he went to the
island of Hoat,9 to spend^in greater solitude and heavenly contemplation the
closing scenes of life. There he was admonished of his approaching dissolu-
tion by an angel. Rejoicing at the news, he was brought into his oratory,
where he received sacred Viaticum, and departed happily on the 29th day
of ^° life and after death, he was for his January. During distinguished
miracles. " Fromtheforegoingcoincidencesofnarrative,andthedatefor
his festival, it would seem, that the present saint can hardly be distinguished from St. Gildas Badonicus, whose Acts have been treated in the previous article.
Article III. —Reputed Festival of St. Gildas Albanius. andSixthCenturies^ AmongthedisciplesofSt. Patrick,Colgan*ranksa Gildas Albanus, or Albanius, on the authority of Harpsfeld,"" Pitsaeus, and Bale. 3 From John Capgrave and Caradoc of Lanncarvan, as we have already seen, Colgan has reproduced his Acts at this day. * Several other writers have endeavoured to show, that he was a distinct person from St. Gildas Bandonicus, or the Wise. s To the foregoing articles, the reader is
referred for an investigation of this disputed point
Article IV. —St. Blath or Flora, Virgin, Cook to St. Brigid, AT KiLDARE. \Fifth or Sixth Century^ This humble handmaid of the celebrated foundress of Kildare is mentioned as her cook, in an Irish Life
Codex Floriacensis reads "in Insula Riui-
"
This island lies in the ocean near the shore of British Armorica.
' go it is denominated in the Breviary of Nantes; while in the Codex Floriacensis it is called Horat. See what has been said re- garding it, in the previous article.
*° The year of his death is not recorded,
" See " Acta Sanctorum Hiber- Colgan's
niae," xxix. Januarii. De S. Gildasio Ab- bate, ex Breviario Nannetensi, with the ac- companying notes, pp. 176, 177.
"
Trias Thaumatur- ga.
" Quinta Appendix ad Acta S. Patricii,
cap. xxiii. , p. 269.
'"Historia Ecclesiastica," lib. i. , cap.
xxiii.
3 " De Scriptoribus Anglise. "
< See "Acta Sanctorum Hibemioe," xxix.
Januarii. Vita S. Gildae Albanii Abb. et
Confes. , pp. 178 to 180.
s See Rev. Alban Butler's "Lives of the
Fathers, Martyrs, and other Principal Saints," vol. i. , January xxix. The " Circle of the Seasons,"p. 29. AlsotheCistercianMonk's "Lives of the Irish Saints," pp. X71, 172.
s This monarch, sometimes called Gradlon,
and Graalon, is the hero of several Breton censi.
romances. See Le Vicomte Hersart de la Villemarque's Barzaz-Breiz, Chants Popu- laires de la Bretagne, sec. vi. , pp. 39 to 44.
^This Armorican potentate lived A. D. 402,
according to Albert le Grand, in his Life of
St. Sezin, at the 19th of September. Ber-
trand de in his Britannic Argentre, History
states, that he died A. D. 405. Unless another and a later King Grallon ruled there, Colgan finds it difficult to believe, that the monarch mentioned in the text could have been contemporaneous with Gildas, the fellow-disciple of Samson and of Paul.
'Albertus Magnus de Morlaix, in his "Historia Sanctorum Britannise Armoricas," distinguished two Gildases, the first of whom
assisted at the death of King Grallon, A. D.
405; and yet, inconsistently enough, he is called the writer of the work, " De Excidio
Britannise," acknowledged by Albert Le Grand himself in another passage, to have been written at a much later period.
^The Breviary at Nantes has placed his monastery "in Insula Riuensi," while the
Article iir. — 'See
\Fifth
496 LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. [January 29.
of St. Brigid. ^ From this it appears she must have lived in simple obedience,
about the beginning of the sixth century. ' Yet, while occupying a very subordinate position in the convent to which she was attached, this pious servant of God fulfilled her ordinary duties, so as to merit the respect of her illustrious abbess and the community at Kildare. Here it is likely, in t—he early age of its celebrity, St. Blath lived. At present, this ancient town
VWVM'IVW'**'
Kildare Round Tower and Cathedral.
Situated on an elevated plateau—retains some remarkable vestiges of its
former importance ; the Round Tower,3 cathedral ruins, and other religious buildings, which have fallen into decay, are well worthy the tourist's in- spection,* while a pilgrimage to the former shrine of St. Brigid should revive memories of
"
And bum'd through long ages of darkness and storm. "^
the bright lamp, that shone in Kildare's holy fane.
The Virgin Blath is recorded in the , Martyrologies of Marianus O'Gorman
andofDonegal,^onthisday. Inthattable,postfixedtothelattercalendar, her name is Latinized FloraJ Without any data, Archdall^ presumes to assign
her death to a. d. 523, and apparently only on the assumption, she must have departed during that year, so generally connected with the demise of Kildare's illustrious foundress.
Article V. —St. Dallan Forgaill, Martyr, of Cluain Dallain. \Sixth Century. \ Genius has little to do \vith the creation or introduction of
Article iv. —' See her Life at the ist ot February.
'See Colgan's "Trias Thaumaturga. " Appendix Quinta ad Acta S. Brigids, cap. ii. , p. 629.
5 It is said to be 130 feet in height. See "The Tourist's Illustrated Hand Book for Ireland," p. 56.
* The accompanying view has been dra^vn on the spot by William F. Wakeman, and engraved by William Oldham.
5 Moore's " Irish Melodies. "
*
Edited by Drs. Todd and Reeves, pp. 30» 31.
7 See ibid. , pp. 366, 367.
*"
See Monasticon Hibemicum," p. 323.
January 29. ] LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. 497
new ideas for the world. As sufficient light for the eyes is there found, so does genius find ideas sufficient, but misty, unsettled, in disorder, and in
rebellion. Thebirthrightofgeniusarrestsontheirpassagefugitivethoughts. Genius unveils their obscurity, and from the cloud it draws forth those beauties which lie concealed. It seizes on them, and chaining them down to order, they are marshalled into a force and life-sustaining form. A cele- brated Catholic writer has said, in the power of a great spirit, that subdues ideas, subordinates them, and obtains from them all the value they are able to affiDrd, may be seen a reflex of sovereign originality. The great secret of genius,asofvirtue,listorendermanamasterofhimself If,asphilosophers assert, man be an abridgment of the universe, he never shows to greater advantage than when he masters the stormy tide of thoughts and sentiments which agitate his mind. The power of creation is reserved to God alone ; but to great minds has been communicated a secondary trait of His omni- potence, to fuse numbers into combination, and to reduce discordant elements into regulated harmony. ^
This very gifted and distinguished saint, at first called Eochaidh, was the son of Colla, who was the son of Erc,^ according to some of our old genealogists. 3 He was thus descended on the father's side from Colla Huais, King of Ireland. * To certain authorities Colgan refers, for proof of this assertion. ^ The mother of our saint is called Forchella,^ and therefore he is supposed to have been styled Forgaill or Forcellius,? as he is thus called in the Pre- face to the Acts of that Synod held at Drumcheat. ^ The name Eochod or Euchodius is sometimes found prefixed to that of Dalian. This saint, it
would appear, was nearly related to St. Maidoc, Archbishop of Fems,9 both holy men being grandsons to Erc,'° as related in the Irish Book of Genealo- gies. The period when St. Dalian flourished fell during the reign of Aidus,"
Article v. —' See Ozanam's " QSuvres saints this same Ere was
relate,
Completes, tome V. Des Sources Poetiques to St. Maidoc of Ferns, and to St. Dalian
"
de la Divine Comedie, pp. 557, 558.
^The " Life of Maedhogof Fearns,"chap. Ixxii. , states, that Sf. Dalian of Cill-Dal-
lain was a first cousin to St. Maedhog of
Fearns. The two children are said to have
been brothers' sons, viz. , Maedhog was son
of Sedna, son to Ere, while Dalian was son remarks, it is more probable, those who
of Colla, son to Ere. See Rev. Drs. Todd's
flourished at the same period were equi-
distant from the same common than stem,
that they had a greater diversity of genealogy, See "Acta Sanctorum Hibernise," n. 8,
p. 204.
^
Colgan argues, that such must have been the name of his mother, as from a preced- ing note, it will be seen that his father was named Colla, and not Forgaill or Forchella.
'Also from a Life of St. Columba, as
likewise from Mai-ianus O'Gorman, and the
Martyrology of Tallagh, where this saint is called the son of Forgaill.
and Reeves' " pp. 30, 31.
of Martyrology Donegal,"
3 The "Menologic Genealogy," chap, xii. , has such a statement, as likewise a Preface to the Acts of Drumcheat Synod, and a Life of St. Columba, chap, ccxviii. , as stated by Colgan. He gives the Life of St. Dalian, Martyr, with notes, compiled from various sources, at this day. See " Acta Sanctorum Hiberniae," xxix. Januarii. De S. Dallano Martyre, pp. 203 to 205.
4 This monarch began to reign A. D. 323, and A. D. 326, in the fourth year of his reign, Muireadhach Tireach expelled him, with his brothers and three hundred others, to Alba or Scotland. See Dr. O'Donovan's "An- nals of the Four Masters," vol. i. , pp. 122,
123.
5 The "Menologic Genealogy" says, that
Ere here mentioned was grandson to King Colla, by his son Feradach; while the genealogies of St, Maidoc and of other
®
Near the River Roe, county of London-
Vol, I.
2 K
Forgaill. However, the grandfather of St.
Maidoc was not grandson to King Colla,
but removed from him by many generations,
This would be seen, by referring to the
" " Such an Menologic Genealogy.
opinion is in accordance with Colgan's views ; for he
derry.
^ The Acts of St. Maidoc will be found at
the 31st of January.
'°This is set forth in Colgan's "Acta
Sanctorum Hibernise," xxx. Januarii. Vita S. Maidoci, Appendix, cap. iv. , p. 223.
''This monarch began his reign about A. D. 568, and was killed A. D. 594, in the battle of|Dun-bolg in Leinster, after having oc-
grandfather
498 LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. [January 29.
son to Ainmirech, a monarch of Ireland. This was towards the latter end ofthesixthcentury. " ThesaintwasbomataplacecalledMasrige'3and Cathrige Sleacht/4 by the ancients/s and by more modern ^vriters, leallach
Eathach, within the province of Connaught. '^ Most probably early in or towards the middle of that age he first saw the light. When very young, he was placed under charge of suitable instructors. These took care to indocti- nate him in sacred and profane learning. He made such rapid progress in a short time, that very few of his contemporaries excelled him in the arcana of sacred science, while none were his superiors in secular learning. ^7 He acquired a profound knowledge of his native country's antiquities. '^ He wrote various works, in the Irish language. From the peculiar structure of their ancient idiom, these are not easily understood by modem readers. '9 On this account, various commentaries were added, in after ages, by scholars well versed in the lore of our native tongue, and skilled in the elucidation of Ireland'sancientmonuments. Itisprobable,Eachodiusaddictedhimselfso much to study, that in course of time, he became deprived of sight. Hence
"
this holy man acquired the name Dalian, which signifies this designation he was afterwards best known. ^°
blind," and by
Besides his knowledge of history and antiquities, he was a most excellent poet. He wrote St. Columba's praise, in a sort of rythmical panegyric, called "Ambhra Choluim Kille. "^' Copies of his poems are yet preserved in manuscript. ^^ The occasion for writing this much- esteemed poem was thus afforded. Aldus, King of Ireland, having convoked certain chiefs of Ulster and Leinster to a great council, held at Drumcheat,^^ in Kinnacht territory,^* St. Columkille returned from Scotland to assist at
this synod. His presence and influence brought the deliberations and reso- lutions to a peaceful and successful issue. One of the great objects had in view, at this assembly, was to control the tendency of Irish poets to satirize
cupied the throne of Ireland twenty-seven years. The contemporaneous incidents of his ireign are narrated in Dr. O'Donovan's "Annals of the Four Masters," vol. i. , pp. 206 to 221.
^^This is expressly stated, in a Preface to
remote date of composition, and a great pro- bability of their being authentic productions of this learned man.
^"'See Colgan's "Acta Sanctorum Hiber-
the Acts of Drumcheat
and in the
i. , ii. , iii. , p. 203.
ding to Wilson he died a. d. 581, and according to Bishop Forbes, he Hved on to A. D. 602. The most reliable accounts state, that he departed this life, in the small island of Horata, or Hoata, now Houat,^3 whither he had retired from his monastery of Rewisius, now St. Gildas-de-Ruis,^* some short time before his demise. Not far distant is the commune of St. Gildas des Bois. ^s Again it has been asserted,^^^ that with permission of the abbot, Gildas became a recluse near a river,^? at Glastonbury. He built there a chapel to the Holy Trinity, where he fasted and prayed constantly, giving an example of perfect penance to all. He died at Cornubia, according to Wilson,^^ and he was buried in the middle of St. Mary's Church, at that place. ^9 But, it is said, the Glastonians appropriated more saints than Gildas, and that they placed his death there, so early as 512, in order to give the most respectable antiquity to their monastery. 3°
The festival of this holy bishop, abbot, and confessor is generally assigned by calendarists and other writers to the 29th day of January. Thus the name of Gildas, surnamed the Wise, 3^ occurs in the very ancient Kalen- dar of the old Martyrology at Epternac, inscribed with the name of St. Jerome, while he is in the unpublished3* and published Martyrology of Tallagh,33 at this date. Here we find the title of bishop given to this saint. He is also called Badonicus,34 The very ancient metrical " Feilire " of St. ^ngus, has classed Gildas with some other foreign saints at this, the Fourth of the February Kalends. 35 Hugo Menard places his veneration in Britan- nia Minor at this date,3^ as also Trithemius,37 Mabillon,33 Molanus,39 and Ferrarius. '*° A Florarian Manuscript and Canisius set down his festival in Anglia, at this day. Wilson, who has very confused accounts regarding St. Gildas, yet places his festival at the present date. Surius passes over this saint ; but the Bollandists give a very interesting insertion of his acts. He is omitted altogether from the Martyrology of Donegal. Dora Lobineau^' and
"
"See Chambers' "Encyclopedia. " Art.
Gildas," vol. iv. , p. 752.
=^3 It lies off the French coast, in the De-
3' See Rev. S. Baring-Gould's " Lives of the Saints," vol. i. , p. 440.
3» In the Franciscan copy we read, at this
partment of Morbihan, and in the province
of Britany. It is shown, situated immediately
south of St. Gildas, on the mainland, and
north-east of Belle lie, as marked on the
Map of France, No. Ii. Arrowsmith's translation—were furnished by Professor "London Atlas of Universal Geography. "
London, 1835.
=* This is now a commune, in the depart-
ment of Morbihan, and ten miles S. S. W. of Vannes. See "Gazetteer of the World," vol. vi. , p. 602.
^5 In the department of Loire-Inferieure. See ibid.
O'Looney:
•A. iit'i. kl. Aw efcoip ^o|\Ai'oiu-p lloni'riA'ouc •oia^ n-T)itiuf
^^
By Caradoc of Lanncarvan and by Cap-
grave.
^7 It was called Axus.
^^See
"
Martyrologium Anglicanum," at
the 29th of January. 3* "
Menologium Benedictinum. "
=^9 See Sir Thomas Duffus Hardy's De- scriptive Catalogue of Materials relathig to 3°
the History of Great Britain and Ireland,"
vol. i. , part i. , p. 152.
3° See Dr. Lanigan's "Ecclesiastical His-
tory of Ireland," vol. i. , chap, ix. , sec. x. , n. 170. pp. 488, 489.
35
^° " Catalogus Generalis Sanctorum. "
day, gil. 'OAe epi ocuf fApiencif.
33 Edited by Rev. Dr. Kelly, p. xiv.
"
35 The following stanza and its English
3-* See
Circle of the Seasons,"
p. 29.
kl.
Ipoiicu]", pAuUip 5iitAf, ConpcAncinuf.
The bishops whom I celebrate May they protect us to our in-
heritance [i. e. , heaven) Ipolitus, Paulus,
Gillas, Constantinus.
"
37 I^ib. iii. , cap. 47.
"
i. , lib. vi. , sec. xix. , p. 151.
""
See "Vies des Saints de Bretagne," p.
72, and
"
Histoire de la Bretagne. "
Annales Ordinis S. Benedict! ," tomus
In his additions to Usuard.
494
[January 29.
*
LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS.
Dom Morice^* have accounts of this holy abbot, so renowned throughout Armorica. '*3
The relics of St. Gildas were borne from Ruys, early in the tenth century,
into Berry, as the pagan Northmen were making great inroads on the north-
west parts of France. ^4 In the beginning of the eleventh century, an
ancient abbey, which in the last century bore the name of St, Gildas, had
been established by a pious man called Felix. +5 In 1649, the Abbey of
Ruys had been placed under the Reformed Congregation of St, Maur. +s
St, Gildas is honoured in the city and diocese of Vannes, as one of its
patrons. It has been asserted, that his body lay in the cathedral of Vannes,
during the last century. ^*?
The illustrious St. Gildas well deserved the title of Wise, even from
youth, when Uke the true soldier of Christ he learned Christian discipline in the best schools and from the training of the greatest masters of virtue and science. He then taught others, both by word and work. His labours were most fruitful of good results in Ireland, in Great Britain, and in more distant countries. Wherefore more especially in these principal fields of his culture, as throughout the universal Church, his virtues, his learning, and his great actions, are deservedly held in the highest honour and veneration.
Article II. —St. Gildasius or Gildas, Abbot of Reys, in the
Diocese of Vannes, in Britany, France. \Fifth and Sixth Cetituries^ It would only be a repetition of our former critical analysis, to sum up evidence referring to the present holy abbot's identity. Text and notes of the preceding life will supply sources for investigation. Many (of our hagiologicai writers are of opinion the saint called Gildasius, or Gildas, was a native of Ireland. ^ Indeed, the old Breviary of Nantes states, that he was bom there and of illustrious parentage. ' At an early age, it is said, he was sent to a monastery for training. There he learned the liberal sciences, the precepts of morality, and sacred theology. It seems difficult to reconcile the chronology of his subsequent history,3 if, as we are told, he studied with Samson and Paul,^ while after he had widely dissem- inated truths of the Gospel over Ireland, the Lord inspired him to visit
*^ See ' ' Memoires sur I'Histoire de Bre-
tagne," and " Histoire de la Bretagne,"
*3 This comprised that part of Celtic Gaul, which was divided into Brittany, Lower Normandy, Anjou, Maine, and Touraine, Tours was the capital, and it yet maintains
the metropolitical dignity.
who was distinguished for learning at Rome, in the time of Horatius, Juvenal, and Mar- tial, but who is not known to have been a Christian; Colgan distinguishes six other remarkable Gildases, regarding whom he has offered various conjectures, in a lengthy note, appended to his notice of the present holy abbot. He has nothing conclusive to advance, however, on summing up the evi- dence collected regarding them. See "Acta Sanctorum Hiberniae," xxix. Januarii. De
^
banks of the River Indre. This was secula- rized and united to the collegiate church of Chateauroux, a. d, 1623.
An abbey was erected there, upon the
Sancta," part i. , p. 84.
**See Rev. Alban Butler's
"
Lives of the
3 The compiler evidently fell into error re-
garding persons who were not contempo- raneous, yet the general tenor of his account is tolerably accurate.
*At the school of St. Iltut. Now, in
the previous life, we have seen, that these
holy men were fellow-disciples there with St. Gildas Badonicus. This circumstance gives rise to a suspicion, that the present St.
Fathers, Martyrs, and other Principal Saints," vol. i. , xxix. January.
<'See Bishop Challenor's "Britannia
Sancta," part i—. , p. 84,
Article II. » We find in Baillet's " Les
"
sSee Bishop Challoner's "Britannia S. Gildasio Abbate, n. i, pp. 176, 177.
Vias des Saints," at the 29th of January, a
Life of St, Gildas or Guedas, Abbot of Rays,
in the diocese of Vannes, Bretagne. See Gildas was not different from him. Samson pp. 398 to 401. and Paul lived towards the close of the sixth
"Besides a certain Gildas, a Cambrian,
century.
January 39. ] LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. 495
Armorica, at a time when King Grallons ruled over the whole of this pro- vince. ^ Our saint was a man of great accomplishments, despising the vanities
and delights of the world, while wholly devoted to religious worship. He chastisedhisfleshwithahair-shirtandfasting: hewasamodelofallvirtues,
and especially of humility, continence, and rectitude. Moved by the fame
of his merits and sanctity, Grallon^ built a monastery for himself and his
disciples in the island of Ruys. ^ This, too, he endowed with considerable
possessions. Here Gildas lived for a long time, and distinguished for his
great integrity of life, until he became an old man. Then he went to the
island of Hoat,9 to spend^in greater solitude and heavenly contemplation the
closing scenes of life. There he was admonished of his approaching dissolu-
tion by an angel. Rejoicing at the news, he was brought into his oratory,
where he received sacred Viaticum, and departed happily on the 29th day
of ^° life and after death, he was for his January. During distinguished
miracles. " Fromtheforegoingcoincidencesofnarrative,andthedatefor
his festival, it would seem, that the present saint can hardly be distinguished from St. Gildas Badonicus, whose Acts have been treated in the previous article.
Article III. —Reputed Festival of St. Gildas Albanius. andSixthCenturies^ AmongthedisciplesofSt. Patrick,Colgan*ranksa Gildas Albanus, or Albanius, on the authority of Harpsfeld,"" Pitsaeus, and Bale. 3 From John Capgrave and Caradoc of Lanncarvan, as we have already seen, Colgan has reproduced his Acts at this day. * Several other writers have endeavoured to show, that he was a distinct person from St. Gildas Bandonicus, or the Wise. s To the foregoing articles, the reader is
referred for an investigation of this disputed point
Article IV. —St. Blath or Flora, Virgin, Cook to St. Brigid, AT KiLDARE. \Fifth or Sixth Century^ This humble handmaid of the celebrated foundress of Kildare is mentioned as her cook, in an Irish Life
Codex Floriacensis reads "in Insula Riui-
"
This island lies in the ocean near the shore of British Armorica.
' go it is denominated in the Breviary of Nantes; while in the Codex Floriacensis it is called Horat. See what has been said re- garding it, in the previous article.
*° The year of his death is not recorded,
" See " Acta Sanctorum Hiber- Colgan's
niae," xxix. Januarii. De S. Gildasio Ab- bate, ex Breviario Nannetensi, with the ac- companying notes, pp. 176, 177.
"
Trias Thaumatur- ga.
" Quinta Appendix ad Acta S. Patricii,
cap. xxiii. , p. 269.
'"Historia Ecclesiastica," lib. i. , cap.
xxiii.
3 " De Scriptoribus Anglise. "
< See "Acta Sanctorum Hibemioe," xxix.
Januarii. Vita S. Gildae Albanii Abb. et
Confes. , pp. 178 to 180.
s See Rev. Alban Butler's "Lives of the
Fathers, Martyrs, and other Principal Saints," vol. i. , January xxix. The " Circle of the Seasons,"p. 29. AlsotheCistercianMonk's "Lives of the Irish Saints," pp. X71, 172.
s This monarch, sometimes called Gradlon,
and Graalon, is the hero of several Breton censi.
romances. See Le Vicomte Hersart de la Villemarque's Barzaz-Breiz, Chants Popu- laires de la Bretagne, sec. vi. , pp. 39 to 44.
^This Armorican potentate lived A. D. 402,
according to Albert le Grand, in his Life of
St. Sezin, at the 19th of September. Ber-
trand de in his Britannic Argentre, History
states, that he died A. D. 405. Unless another and a later King Grallon ruled there, Colgan finds it difficult to believe, that the monarch mentioned in the text could have been contemporaneous with Gildas, the fellow-disciple of Samson and of Paul.
'Albertus Magnus de Morlaix, in his "Historia Sanctorum Britannise Armoricas," distinguished two Gildases, the first of whom
assisted at the death of King Grallon, A. D.
405; and yet, inconsistently enough, he is called the writer of the work, " De Excidio
Britannise," acknowledged by Albert Le Grand himself in another passage, to have been written at a much later period.
^The Breviary at Nantes has placed his monastery "in Insula Riuensi," while the
Article iir. — 'See
\Fifth
496 LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. [January 29.
of St. Brigid. ^ From this it appears she must have lived in simple obedience,
about the beginning of the sixth century. ' Yet, while occupying a very subordinate position in the convent to which she was attached, this pious servant of God fulfilled her ordinary duties, so as to merit the respect of her illustrious abbess and the community at Kildare. Here it is likely, in t—he early age of its celebrity, St. Blath lived. At present, this ancient town
VWVM'IVW'**'
Kildare Round Tower and Cathedral.
Situated on an elevated plateau—retains some remarkable vestiges of its
former importance ; the Round Tower,3 cathedral ruins, and other religious buildings, which have fallen into decay, are well worthy the tourist's in- spection,* while a pilgrimage to the former shrine of St. Brigid should revive memories of
"
And bum'd through long ages of darkness and storm. "^
the bright lamp, that shone in Kildare's holy fane.
The Virgin Blath is recorded in the , Martyrologies of Marianus O'Gorman
andofDonegal,^onthisday. Inthattable,postfixedtothelattercalendar, her name is Latinized FloraJ Without any data, Archdall^ presumes to assign
her death to a. d. 523, and apparently only on the assumption, she must have departed during that year, so generally connected with the demise of Kildare's illustrious foundress.
Article V. —St. Dallan Forgaill, Martyr, of Cluain Dallain. \Sixth Century. \ Genius has little to do \vith the creation or introduction of
Article iv. —' See her Life at the ist ot February.
'See Colgan's "Trias Thaumaturga. " Appendix Quinta ad Acta S. Brigids, cap. ii. , p. 629.
5 It is said to be 130 feet in height. See "The Tourist's Illustrated Hand Book for Ireland," p. 56.
* The accompanying view has been dra^vn on the spot by William F. Wakeman, and engraved by William Oldham.
5 Moore's " Irish Melodies. "
*
Edited by Drs. Todd and Reeves, pp. 30» 31.
7 See ibid. , pp. 366, 367.
*"
See Monasticon Hibemicum," p. 323.
January 29. ] LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. 497
new ideas for the world. As sufficient light for the eyes is there found, so does genius find ideas sufficient, but misty, unsettled, in disorder, and in
rebellion. Thebirthrightofgeniusarrestsontheirpassagefugitivethoughts. Genius unveils their obscurity, and from the cloud it draws forth those beauties which lie concealed. It seizes on them, and chaining them down to order, they are marshalled into a force and life-sustaining form. A cele- brated Catholic writer has said, in the power of a great spirit, that subdues ideas, subordinates them, and obtains from them all the value they are able to affiDrd, may be seen a reflex of sovereign originality. The great secret of genius,asofvirtue,listorendermanamasterofhimself If,asphilosophers assert, man be an abridgment of the universe, he never shows to greater advantage than when he masters the stormy tide of thoughts and sentiments which agitate his mind. The power of creation is reserved to God alone ; but to great minds has been communicated a secondary trait of His omni- potence, to fuse numbers into combination, and to reduce discordant elements into regulated harmony. ^
This very gifted and distinguished saint, at first called Eochaidh, was the son of Colla, who was the son of Erc,^ according to some of our old genealogists. 3 He was thus descended on the father's side from Colla Huais, King of Ireland. * To certain authorities Colgan refers, for proof of this assertion. ^ The mother of our saint is called Forchella,^ and therefore he is supposed to have been styled Forgaill or Forcellius,? as he is thus called in the Pre- face to the Acts of that Synod held at Drumcheat. ^ The name Eochod or Euchodius is sometimes found prefixed to that of Dalian. This saint, it
would appear, was nearly related to St. Maidoc, Archbishop of Fems,9 both holy men being grandsons to Erc,'° as related in the Irish Book of Genealo- gies. The period when St. Dalian flourished fell during the reign of Aidus,"
Article v. —' See Ozanam's " QSuvres saints this same Ere was
relate,
Completes, tome V. Des Sources Poetiques to St. Maidoc of Ferns, and to St. Dalian
"
de la Divine Comedie, pp. 557, 558.
^The " Life of Maedhogof Fearns,"chap. Ixxii. , states, that Sf. Dalian of Cill-Dal-
lain was a first cousin to St. Maedhog of
Fearns. The two children are said to have
been brothers' sons, viz. , Maedhog was son
of Sedna, son to Ere, while Dalian was son remarks, it is more probable, those who
of Colla, son to Ere. See Rev. Drs. Todd's
flourished at the same period were equi-
distant from the same common than stem,
that they had a greater diversity of genealogy, See "Acta Sanctorum Hibernise," n. 8,
p. 204.
^
Colgan argues, that such must have been the name of his mother, as from a preced- ing note, it will be seen that his father was named Colla, and not Forgaill or Forchella.
'Also from a Life of St. Columba, as
likewise from Mai-ianus O'Gorman, and the
Martyrology of Tallagh, where this saint is called the son of Forgaill.
and Reeves' " pp. 30, 31.
of Martyrology Donegal,"
3 The "Menologic Genealogy," chap, xii. , has such a statement, as likewise a Preface to the Acts of Drumcheat Synod, and a Life of St. Columba, chap, ccxviii. , as stated by Colgan. He gives the Life of St. Dalian, Martyr, with notes, compiled from various sources, at this day. See " Acta Sanctorum Hiberniae," xxix. Januarii. De S. Dallano Martyre, pp. 203 to 205.
4 This monarch began to reign A. D. 323, and A. D. 326, in the fourth year of his reign, Muireadhach Tireach expelled him, with his brothers and three hundred others, to Alba or Scotland. See Dr. O'Donovan's "An- nals of the Four Masters," vol. i. , pp. 122,
123.
5 The "Menologic Genealogy" says, that
Ere here mentioned was grandson to King Colla, by his son Feradach; while the genealogies of St, Maidoc and of other
®
Near the River Roe, county of London-
Vol, I.
2 K
Forgaill. However, the grandfather of St.
Maidoc was not grandson to King Colla,
but removed from him by many generations,
This would be seen, by referring to the
" " Such an Menologic Genealogy.
opinion is in accordance with Colgan's views ; for he
derry.
^ The Acts of St. Maidoc will be found at
the 31st of January.
'°This is set forth in Colgan's "Acta
Sanctorum Hibernise," xxx. Januarii. Vita S. Maidoci, Appendix, cap. iv. , p. 223.
''This monarch began his reign about A. D. 568, and was killed A. D. 594, in the battle of|Dun-bolg in Leinster, after having oc-
grandfather
498 LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. [January 29.
son to Ainmirech, a monarch of Ireland. This was towards the latter end ofthesixthcentury. " ThesaintwasbomataplacecalledMasrige'3and Cathrige Sleacht/4 by the ancients/s and by more modern ^vriters, leallach
Eathach, within the province of Connaught. '^ Most probably early in or towards the middle of that age he first saw the light. When very young, he was placed under charge of suitable instructors. These took care to indocti- nate him in sacred and profane learning. He made such rapid progress in a short time, that very few of his contemporaries excelled him in the arcana of sacred science, while none were his superiors in secular learning. ^7 He acquired a profound knowledge of his native country's antiquities. '^ He wrote various works, in the Irish language. From the peculiar structure of their ancient idiom, these are not easily understood by modem readers. '9 On this account, various commentaries were added, in after ages, by scholars well versed in the lore of our native tongue, and skilled in the elucidation of Ireland'sancientmonuments. Itisprobable,Eachodiusaddictedhimselfso much to study, that in course of time, he became deprived of sight. Hence
"
this holy man acquired the name Dalian, which signifies this designation he was afterwards best known. ^°
blind," and by
Besides his knowledge of history and antiquities, he was a most excellent poet. He wrote St. Columba's praise, in a sort of rythmical panegyric, called "Ambhra Choluim Kille. "^' Copies of his poems are yet preserved in manuscript. ^^ The occasion for writing this much- esteemed poem was thus afforded. Aldus, King of Ireland, having convoked certain chiefs of Ulster and Leinster to a great council, held at Drumcheat,^^ in Kinnacht territory,^* St. Columkille returned from Scotland to assist at
this synod. His presence and influence brought the deliberations and reso- lutions to a peaceful and successful issue. One of the great objects had in view, at this assembly, was to control the tendency of Irish poets to satirize
cupied the throne of Ireland twenty-seven years. The contemporaneous incidents of his ireign are narrated in Dr. O'Donovan's "Annals of the Four Masters," vol. i. , pp. 206 to 221.
^^This is expressly stated, in a Preface to
remote date of composition, and a great pro- bability of their being authentic productions of this learned man.
^"'See Colgan's "Acta Sanctorum Hiber-
the Acts of Drumcheat
and in the
i. , ii. , iii. , p. 203.
