" Again, Robertus
Gaguinus
writes: " Delati naue ex Scotia Claudius et Joannes, Rabanus quoque et Alcunus, ex Venerabilis Bedae discipulis," &c.
O'Hanlon - Lives of the Irish Saints - v2
] LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS.
299
east of Sligc^'s This lies on the northern shore. '^ The old church of
Upper Island, or Church Island, on Lough Gill, is reached, through bramble- covered pathways, after hmding from the boat, on the western side, and with considerable difficulty. The church measures 48 feet by 24, on the outside. It is about 30 feet, to the ridge of the roof. The side walls are over 3 feet
Old Church on Church Island, Lough Gill.
in thickness. ^7 There is a sort of hermitage, walled off from the chapel, as may be seen in the interior, and its construction is worth a careful study of the architect and antiquary. Around the walls, there are several openings, once serving for windows, it may be supposed. Within the church, there are two low doorways to be seen, in a cross wall. One doorway is arched low, on the interior. There may be seen, on the exterior, a long lintel- headeddoorway. Embeddedinthemasonryofthecross-wallinteriorly,a curious Oghan stone, with its hieroglyphic inscription, must arrest the anti- quary's attention. The characters are almost obliterated. After some delay on this island, eventide began its approaches, and we deemed it time to steer down the lake, in the direction of Sligo. A fleet of boats happened to be moving, towards the same destination ; and, in the exciting race for home, which ensued among the hired oarsmen, it was a pleasing sight to observe a great eagerness to steer their respective craft, in advance of con- tending neighbours. It would seem, that the present saint had lived, pro-
in the deanery of Carbery, worth 30s. , and usurped by the soldier John King, a. d.
against the forces of William III. See
Harris' " Life and Reign of William III. ,"
book ix. , pp. 331, 332.
^^^ The accompanying sketch, by the
writer, was taken in 1868. It has been since transferred to wood, by the accom- plished Irish antiquary and artist, William Y. Wakcman, and it is engraved by George A. Hanlon.
1615. R. LA. ,p. 261.
"
Liber Regalis Visitatlonis," MS. ,
=5 See Thomas O'Conor's letter, dated
Grange, September 5th, 1836. Shgo Letters,
vol. i. , pp. 70, 71.
^^
In the parish of Calry, may be seen the Sod Fort, defended by Sir Teague O'Regan,
300 LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. [February 4.
bably for some considerable period of his life, on one or other of those
islands, already described, and where we now find the remains of churches, on Lough Gill. ^^ When he died has not been exactly ascertained ; yet, we have every reason to suppose, this occurrence took place, towards the close of the sixth, or about the commencement of the seventh, century.
Article IV. —The Blessed Rabanus Maurus, or Raban IMaur,
Abbot of Fulda, and Archbishop of Mayence, Germany.
atid Ninth Centuries. ^ A very eminent prelate and prince of the Church has rightly observed, that she need not be afraid of the school, foi science has never yet demonstrated anything contrary to Faith. Again, experience has proved, that there never had been any demonstration of science, which was in contradiction with any of the revealed truth, and those who put that theory forward, put it forward, either from want of a clear knowledge of what reve- lation was, or from some mistaken opinion of their own, which they supposed to be scientific. ^ The truth of such an opinion is very clearly demonstrated, in the life and labour of the Blessed iiaban Maur, who joined with his varied and accurate clerical learning, a secular course of studies. If in advance of his period, he was a great scholar, yet, perhaps, his profane learning was not wholly free from those mistakes, which more or less attend, on most human speculations and systems. Philosophy changes its theories, inmanyinstances,andduringthecourseofages. Faithisunalterable,since from the beginning, it has been God's revealed truth. Rodolph, a priest and a monk at Fulda, was one of the Blessed Raban's disciples. ^' He is the first known to have written the Life of his highly-distinguished master. Yet, he strangely enough omits all detailed mention of Raban's parentage, race and place of birth. Such particulars, therefore, must be inferred, rather than decided, from other sources. The fragmentary biography of Rudolf is a very imperfect record of Raban Maur's Acts. He applies, chiefly to an account of the translation of saints' relics, from the city of Rome to France, during the reign of the Emperor Lewis,3 son of Charlemagne. '* In the eleventh or twelfth century lived Meginfrid, a learned monk and chronologist of Fulda, who wrote the history of this abbey and of its inmates. s Trithemius appears chiefly to have taken him as an authority, for many of those accounts he has left of Raban Maur. It is likely, Trithemius had various other authors to quote from, but we can hardly find their value as authorities. Nicolaus Serarius*^ and Christopherus Browerus^ specially write about the Blessed Raban Maur. The most complete and elaborate biography of this holy manisundoubtedlythatbyJohnofTrittenhem. ^ Yet,astheauthorhim-
s8 ** See
Parliamentary Gazetteer of Ire-
twenty-seven years, but, he wanted eight months of such a term. Seethe Bollandists' "Acta Sanctorum," iv, Februarii. First Life. Preface and n. (b), tomus i. , p. 512.
-» This on the 28th of great Emperor died,
January, a. D. 814.
s See "In Chronico Hirsaugiensi," A. D.
land," vol. ii. , p. 254. '
Article IV. — See inaugural address of His Eminence Henry Edward Manning,
Cardinal
Archbishop
of Westminster, at
the opening of the Catholic "Academia,"
in Manchester, January loth, 1876.
'
Rudolf survived his master, about eight or nine years, his death being assigned to
MC.
^ *' See
Fulda.
*'
Mogunticarum Rerum," lib. iv.
the viii. of the March
with the 8th of the month, A. D. 865, accord- ing to the Annals of Fulda.
3 This monarch immediately succeeded his father, and died on the 2ist of May, A. D. 840. Rudolf states, that he reigned
^ See "
Ides, corresponding
Fuidensium,'' lib. ii. , cap. 13, lib. iii. , cap. 13, 14, and lib. iv,, when treating about the fifth Abbot of
Antiquitalum
^
Reverendissimo in Christo Patri, Illustris-
In the Prologue, this life is inscribed :
\Eighth
February 4. ] LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. 301
self complains, he wrote just six hundred and fifty-nine years,^ after the Blessed Raban had departed from this world ;'° so that many of his subject's
great actions had passed away to oblivion, during this lapse of time. For, although, many previous writers had left various eulogies on the holiness and
learning of Raban, still no one among them had composed a complete and a continuous life. From very unsatisfactory materials, and as a gleaner in several poor harvest fields, John of Trittenhem was only enabled to collect a few ears of corn, and to place them in the best conjectural order he could follow,withanapologyofferedfordefectsandoversights. " ToAlbert,then
Archbishop of Mayence, at whose instigation this biography had been com- posed," the author submits it for correction and patronage. Although a
very interesting record, Tritheminus has undoubtedly fallen into several errors of statement, corrected by other writers. At the 4th of February, the BollandistshavegiventwoLivesofSt. Raban,ArchbishopofMayence. A
in ten sections commentary precedes.
The first Life'3 contains nine — chapters
and
—books the A second Life'^ is written in three
fifty-one paragraphs. firstbookcomprisesfivechaptersan—dtwenty-eightparagraphs thesecond four chapters and ten paragraphs while the third book contains four
chapters and seventeen paragraphs. ^s The learned Benedictine Father,
John Mabillon, evidently loves to dwell on the virtues and accomplishments of Raban Maur, who was so distinguished an ornament of his order. Where- fore, not alone in his Acts of the Benedictine Saints ;'^ but, likewise, in his great history of the order,^7 are there references made to illustrate the Acts of this great man. Although Trithemius numbers the illustrious Rabanus Maurus among the saints and canonized persons,'^ besides relating that his tomb was famous for miracles, ^9 and that special honours were paid to his remains on the occasion of their translation to Saxony, in the year 1515, while a certain manuscript, containing a catalogue of the patron saints^° of thecityofMayence,styleshimSt. Raban; yet,theBollandistsprefertocall him a Beatus. '^'' It was not known, that at Fulda, an ecclesiastical office had
simoque Principi et Domino, D. Alberto, ^3 This was written by Raban's disciple, Sanctae Moguntinae Sedis, et Magdebur- Rodulf.
gensis Ecclesise Archiepiscopo, Sacri Ro- '* This Life was written by John of Trit-
mani Imperii Principi Electori, per Ger- tenhem. Abbot of Spanheim. In referring
maniam Archicancellario atque Primati,
Halberstatensis Ecclesise Administratori,
Brandeburgensium Marchioni, Stetinensium,
Pomeranorum, Cassubiorum, et Sclauorum
Duci, Nurenbergensium Burgravio, ac Ru-
giorum Principi, Joannes Trithemius, Abbas Monasterii S. Jacobi Maioris Apostoli, in
suburbanis Herbipolensis civitatis, quondam vero Spanheimensis, Ordinis S. Benedicti, quicquid ad Deum oratio praeualet pecca- toris. "
9 Hence, he wrote St. Raban's Life A. d. 15 1 5, and he dates the Prologue, on the 6th of November.
^° Computed to be A. D. 856.
" Incidentally he complains, about the Germans neglecting the memories of their great saints and men, and their want of cul- tivating historic studies. From such a charge, however, in an elaborate eulogy, he exempts the learned Archbishop of Mayence, to whom his biography is dedicated.
" When Trithemius, formerly Abbot of
Spanheim, became Abbot of Herbipolis, he was asked to write Raban's Life.
to either, they are distinguished as the first and second Life.
^s See "Acta Sanctorum," tomus i. , iv. Februarii. Ue S. Rabano Maiiro, Archi- episcopo Moguntino in Germania, pp. 5CX) to 538.
'° See " Acta Sanctorum Ordinis S. Bene- dicti," tomus ii. , saec. iv. , pp. I et seq.
Annales Or- dinis S. Benedicti," tomus ii. and iii.
'^ in various passages of
'^ See " De Viris Illustribus Ordinis S.
Benedicti," lib. iii. , cap. 199.
^^ See Vita B. Mauri Rabani, lib. iii. ,
"
Acta Sanctorum," tomus i. , Februarii iv. , pp. 537, 538.
cap. iv. , subs. 13, 17.
=° While Raban was alive, Amolo, Bishop
"
man, and a Catholic bishop ;" Ilincmar of
of Lyons, calls hini
a good and a learned
Rheims styles him
*'
a venerable archbishop,
a zealous father in holy religion, and a Ca-
tholic writer;" while, Ermanric says, he
was " a most holy man, and most skilled in
every art. "
=' chronicle.
Thus is he styled, by Frodoard, in his
"
302 LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. [February 4. .
been recited in his honour, although several writers agreed to mention him,
as a saint. '^ Thus, Mabillon has him enrolled, and classed, among the dis-
tinguished and holy men of his order. =^3 The name is frequently found
aspirated to Hrabanus f'> and this seems to have been his own favourite way
for spelling it. ^s A great difference of opinion has prevailed, regarding the exact place of the Blessed Raban's birth. Most of our modern writers
appear to agree, that Germany best deserves to claim the honour of his
nativity; while,manydeemMayenceorMaintz,=^^tohavebeenthecity,in which he first saw the light, and had been baptized. ^7 Otlier writers con-
tend, that he was a Briton, and an Anglo-Saxon monk,=^^ before he came to FranceandGermany; but,someoftheirobservations,inreferencetohim,
areeasilyrefuted,byexaminingthefactsofhistory. Again,thereareauthors, who deem St. Raban Maur to have been a Scotus. =^9 The Scotch writers,3° as a matter of course, in the latter case, claim him to have been one of their countrymen. However, some of our Irish writers will not allow this easy appropriation ; for, they rightly infer, that if other proof of Raban's nativity be wanting, Ireland may fairly claim so distinguished a Scotus as her son. If born in Ireland, at all, it seems to us, he must have left it, when a mere youth; but,thematterisextremelydoubtful,andpendingfurtherinvestiga-
^'^
This is remarked, by Browerus, in some comments on the epitaph of Raban, num. 6.
'3 He calls Raban, "prseclarum ecclesiae lumen," and "immo astris supernis inser- tum. "—See " Annales Ordinis S. Benedicti," tomus iii. , lib. xxxv. , sec. iii,, pp. 52, 53.
= See the various tracts, especially the Epistles he composed, to which his name is found affixed.
versity of Paris, founded in his time, cele-
brated through his learning.
^9 The foundation for this opinion is thought
to be, that sentence of Vincentius Bellova-
=^5 See Mabillon's "Annales Ordinis S. Benedicti," tomus ii. , lib. xxix. , sec. xxvii. , p. 472.
clarus, sapientise studium de Roma Parisios
transtulit, quod illuc quondam e Graecia
translatum fuerat a Romanis : fueruntque Parisiis Fundatores hujus studii quatuor monachi Bedoe discipuli, Rabanus et Alcui- nus,ClaudiusetJoannesScotus.
" Again, Robertus Gaguinus writes: " Delati naue ex Scotia Claudius et Joannes, Rabanus quoque et Alcunus, ex Venerabilis Bedae discipulis," &c. See "De Rebus Fran-
^ See Rev. S. Baring- Gould's " Lives of the Saints," vol. ii. , February iv. , p. 91.
=7 This supposition rests chiefly on the
authority of two lines, found in the epitaph,
which, it has be—en stated, he composed corum," lib. iv. This latter writer lived,
before his death
the
Robertus Gaguinus' statement. Thus,
Hector Boetius, in "Historia Scotorum,"
lib. "DeRebusScotorum," x. , John Lesley,
lib. v. , at the reign of Donald V. , make him
**
:
Vrbe quidem hac genitus sum, ac sacro fonte renatus ;
year 1500.
In Fulda didici. "
post
hoec
dogma
sacrum
a Scotchman. Thomas Dempster boldly Still, the authorship of this epitaph may asserts, he was born in Scotland, where he
"
Historia Ecclesiastica Gentis Scotorum," tomus ii. , lib. xvi. , num. 1037, p. 545. David Came-
— in the first
became a monk of Melrose. See =^ "
—be written well be questioned, although it
as often happens in such cases person.
Ptolemy of Lucca, a Dominican, lived about the year 1270, and Geruasius Ricco-
rarius, in Menologium Scotorum," places him among the Scottish saints at the 4th of
baldus
who lived about A. D.
Raphael Volaterranus, for particulars he demife Parisiensis fundatoris. " Bishop
Ferrariensis,
a canon of
Ravenna,
January :
Abbatis, Archiepiscopi Moguntini
13CX),
are cited
by
—et Aca-
"
logic," lib. xviii. , xix. , xxii. Yet, some of p. 189. It is incorrectly stated, that Demp-
gives, regarding St. Raban, in "Anthropo- Forbes'
Kalendars of the Scottish Saints,"
these statements are clearly erroneous ; as, for instance, that Raban was a disciple of Venerable Bede, that he was a Prsesul of Meaux, in the time of Lewis the Pious, and of Gregory V. , and that he made the Uni-
ster's opinion is supported by the authority of Wion, Josias Simlerus, Gesnerus, Lilius
Giraldus, Ferrariensis, Balaeus, Zabarella, and other writers, who are not named. This affirmation, the Bollandists refute.
"
cap. 173, when treating about Albinus
censis,
Speculi Historialis," lib. xxiii. ,
Flaccus, he writes :
'*
Scientia vitaque prae-
in
3° They seem chiefly to have followed
*' Fuldoe obitus Hrabani Mauri
February 4. ] LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. 303
tion, we should feel rather loth to pass his feast over in silence, and to disconnect him from the many other holy and learned Irishmen, who were
hiscontemporariesandhisfriends,ontheContinentofEurope. According to the authors of the Literary History of France3^ the parents of Raban are not
known by name, although said to have been distinguished for their nobility of descent. 32 We only know, for a certainty, that he had a brother called Toutin,andthatbothhadanephewGondramne. 33 Now,Trithemiushas given Raban the surname of Magnentius,34 because he supposed Ruthard belonged to the family of the Magnances. Instead of Magnentius, he is called Magnetius, by Ademar of Chabanois and by Sigebert, probably for a differentreasonfromthatgivenbyJohnofTrittenhem. Hisbirthisreferred to the year 788,35 or even to 795,2^ but, where it actually took place seems to have hitherto baffled the researches of his various biographers. Although Trithemius states,37 that St. Rabanus Maurus was born in the town of Fulda,
intheterritoryofBuconica; yet,theBollandistsaver,38thatatthetimeof his birth, there was no town at Fulda, and, that it seems more probable, he was born at Mayence, while, his parents were French in origin. This is supposed, rather than proved. We are informed, likewise, that from a very early age, Raban manifested a precocious sanctity, and most amiable dis- positions. His mother, in particular, is said to have fostered these pious indications, and to have become his earliest instructor. Not only do some of the Scotch Writers claim Raban Maur for their countryman, but they in- troduce accounts, regarding him, which conflict entirely with chronology, and even with probability. John Major states, that the Scots, Clement, John, Raban and Alcuin, accompanied a certain Guillermus, their relative, and a large number of Scots, in a representative capacity from Achaius,39
"
3* See
ou I'on traite de I'Origine et du Progres, de la Decadence et du Retablissement des Sciences parmi les Gaulois et parmi les Fran9ois ; Du goiit et du genie des uns et des autres pour les Letres en chaque Siecle ; De leurs anciennes Ecoles ; De I'etablisse- ment des Universites en France ; Des princi- paux Colleges ; Des Academies des Sciences et des Belles Letres ; Des meilleueres Biblio- theques anciennes et modernes ; Des plus celebres Imprimeries ; et de tout ce qui a un Rapport particulier a la Literature.
Avec les Eloges historiques des Gaulois et des Fran9ois qui s'y sont fait quelque repu- tation ; Le Catalogue et la Chronologie de leurs Ecrits ; Des Remarques historiques et critiques sur les principaux Ouvrages ; Le denombrement des differentes editions ; Le tout justifie par les citations des Auteurs originaux. Par des Religieux Benedictins de la Congregation de S. Maur. Nouvelle Edition, entierement conforme a la prece- dente, par M. Paulin Paris, Membre de rinstitut, tome v. Neuvieme Siecle, p. 151. A Paris, 1865 et j^^. , inxvii. tomes, 4to.
32 Yet, Trithemius says, his father was
called Ruthardus, or Ruthard, and his
mother was called Aldegundis,or Aldegonde. But, no other writer, before him, has been found to make a like statement.
33 The latter was a chaplain to Lewis,
Histoire Literaire de la France,"
King of Germany. See ibid.
34 This, too, has been found in an anony-
mous tract at Molk, and it has been used in the collective edition of his works.
3S Natalis Alexander, in his " Historia Ecclesiastica," saec. ix. , pars i. , p. 224, and parsii. , p. 575, has an account of Raban, and a special dissertation relating to him. Trithemius states, that Raban was born on the iv. Nones of February, a. d. 788. This was the eleventh Roman Indiction, which was in the twentieth year of Charlemagne's reign, and the seventeenth year of Pope Adrian I. See " Vita Rabani Mauri," lib. >. , cap. i. , sec. 5. See the Bollandists' "Acta Sanctorum," tomus i. , Februarii iv. , p. 524.
**
3^ According to Nicolaus Saderus, De
Rebus Moguntinis," lib. iv. , who makes
him Abbot of Fulda, a. d. 825, when he
was only thirty years of age.
37 See "Vita S. Rabani Mauri," lib. i. ,
cap. i. , sec. i.
38 gee "Acta Sanctorum," tomus i. , Feb-
ruarii iv. De S. Rabano Mauro, Archi-
episcopo Moguntino in Germania. Com- mentarius Praevius, sec. ii. , subs. lo, II, pp. 502, 503.
39 He is represented, as the sixty-fifth King of Scotland, reigning from A. D. 787 to 809. See George Buchannan's " Rerum
Scoticarum Historia," lib. v. , pp. 150, I5J. The same viriter states, that during his reign,
304 LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. [February 4.
KingofScotland,toCharlemagne. Byhim,theywerefavourablyandhos- pitablyreceived; but,wearctold,RabanandAlcuinreturnedtotheirown
country, while Guillermus, John and Clement remained with Charlemagne. '*® SomeauthorsmakeRabanadiscipleofVenerableBede; but,chronology clearly conflicts with such a supposition ; for, the latter celebrated personage died A. D. 735,^' while none place the birth of Raban earlier than the Bene- dictine authors of the Literary History of France, who assign it to a. d. 776. '*' Mostofhisbiographersdeferit,toamuchlaterperiod. Otheraccountshave it, that Albin or Alcuin, Raban, Claudius Clemens'*^ and Joannes Scotus were associated, in the work of founding the University of Paris, under the pa- tronage of the Emperor Charlemagne. 44 Even, here, however, there are some errors of statement. Again, it has been asserted, the four accom- plished men, already named, and said to have been Bede's disciples, arrived in a ship from Scotia, and settled in France. ^s If Raban came from Scotia orIreland,itmusthavebeenataveryearlyage; for,allthemostauthentic accounts, we have regarding him, show, that when quite young, he was en- gaged at his studies in France and Germany. Dempster foolishly and in- correctly states, that Charlemagne conferred, on Raban, the bishopric of Meaux, but, that he preferred the religious life of St. Benedict, which he had begun in the Scottish monastery of Melrose, and that he entered as a monk at Fulda, over which house, afterwards, he became abbot. '**^ When very young, most writers agree, that Raban was sent to the monastery of Fulda, situated on a river bearing the like name, which takes a northern course, and joins the River Weser, at Miinden. In the year 744, the renowned St. Boniface,'*^ Apostle of Germany, is said to have founded Fulda, in the soli- tude of Bochonia. 48 The renowned Charlemagne had given the first great encouragement to liberal studies, in this celebrated monastery,49 nor was he less anxious to promote there a knowledge of the inspired writings. 5° At the age of ten years, it has been stated, his parents there made an offering of Raban. 51 At Fulda, he studied for some time, while his great natural abilities, and his acquirements, showed that he was endowed with superior gifts of intellect. His piety and love for monastic discipline became con- spicuous, in a singular degree. We learn from Raban's own avowal, that while a student there, he had a fellow-disciple, Haimo or Aimon,52 greatly distinguished for his abilities. Together they studied, not alone the Sacred
many Scottish monks went into Gaul, who taught the people about the Rhine, the rudi- ments of Christian Faith.
4° See *• Scotorum Historise," lib. x. , fol. cxciiii.
' See Du Pin's " Nouvelle Bibliotheque
des Auteurs Ecclesiastiques," &c. , tome vi. Des Auteurs du viii. Siecle de I'Eglise, p.
86. Mons edition, 4to.
^ See ' Histoire Literaire de la France,"
&c. , tome V. Neuvieme Siecle, p. 151.
*^ See his Life, and this question, treated
at greater length, at the 20th of March.
Scotorum," tomus ii. , lib. xvi. , num. 1037, pp. 545, 546.
47 Marianus Scottus says, also, of St.
w See Vincentius Speculo Historiali. " similar account.
" In will be in "
Bellovacensis, Fulda, found, Gallia Christiana,"
S. Antoninus has a
tomus v. , col. 604.
5« gee I'Abbe
^5 See Robertus Gaguinus, "Annales Abbayes et Monasteres," col. 314.
Rerum Gallicarum," lib. iv. , cap. i. , Jacobus Medendorpius, " De Academiis Orbis," and other writers.
s^ Aiterwards, he became Bishop of Ha-
of
**See "Historia Ecclesiastica Gentis Viris lUustribus," cap. 135.
De
Boniface, that he was—a Scottus, " "
patre
at-
que etiam matre. " Chronicon," A. D.
737. See Georgius Heinricus Pertz's
**
Monumenta Germanise Historica," tomus
v. , p. 545.
*** See ibid. , p. 547,
so 'ihe history of seventy-nine abbots, who ruled over the important establishment of
^9 See I'Abbe
Abbayes et Monasteres," col. 314.
berstadt, in Saxony.
He died, on the 27th
"
March, a. d. 853.
See Sigebcrtus,
Migne's
Migne's
" Dictionnaire des
" Dictionnaire des
February 4.
east of Sligc^'s This lies on the northern shore. '^ The old church of
Upper Island, or Church Island, on Lough Gill, is reached, through bramble- covered pathways, after hmding from the boat, on the western side, and with considerable difficulty. The church measures 48 feet by 24, on the outside. It is about 30 feet, to the ridge of the roof. The side walls are over 3 feet
Old Church on Church Island, Lough Gill.
in thickness. ^7 There is a sort of hermitage, walled off from the chapel, as may be seen in the interior, and its construction is worth a careful study of the architect and antiquary. Around the walls, there are several openings, once serving for windows, it may be supposed. Within the church, there are two low doorways to be seen, in a cross wall. One doorway is arched low, on the interior. There may be seen, on the exterior, a long lintel- headeddoorway. Embeddedinthemasonryofthecross-wallinteriorly,a curious Oghan stone, with its hieroglyphic inscription, must arrest the anti- quary's attention. The characters are almost obliterated. After some delay on this island, eventide began its approaches, and we deemed it time to steer down the lake, in the direction of Sligo. A fleet of boats happened to be moving, towards the same destination ; and, in the exciting race for home, which ensued among the hired oarsmen, it was a pleasing sight to observe a great eagerness to steer their respective craft, in advance of con- tending neighbours. It would seem, that the present saint had lived, pro-
in the deanery of Carbery, worth 30s. , and usurped by the soldier John King, a. d.
against the forces of William III. See
Harris' " Life and Reign of William III. ,"
book ix. , pp. 331, 332.
^^^ The accompanying sketch, by the
writer, was taken in 1868. It has been since transferred to wood, by the accom- plished Irish antiquary and artist, William Y. Wakcman, and it is engraved by George A. Hanlon.
1615. R. LA. ,p. 261.
"
Liber Regalis Visitatlonis," MS. ,
=5 See Thomas O'Conor's letter, dated
Grange, September 5th, 1836. Shgo Letters,
vol. i. , pp. 70, 71.
^^
In the parish of Calry, may be seen the Sod Fort, defended by Sir Teague O'Regan,
300 LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. [February 4.
bably for some considerable period of his life, on one or other of those
islands, already described, and where we now find the remains of churches, on Lough Gill. ^^ When he died has not been exactly ascertained ; yet, we have every reason to suppose, this occurrence took place, towards the close of the sixth, or about the commencement of the seventh, century.
Article IV. —The Blessed Rabanus Maurus, or Raban IMaur,
Abbot of Fulda, and Archbishop of Mayence, Germany.
atid Ninth Centuries. ^ A very eminent prelate and prince of the Church has rightly observed, that she need not be afraid of the school, foi science has never yet demonstrated anything contrary to Faith. Again, experience has proved, that there never had been any demonstration of science, which was in contradiction with any of the revealed truth, and those who put that theory forward, put it forward, either from want of a clear knowledge of what reve- lation was, or from some mistaken opinion of their own, which they supposed to be scientific. ^ The truth of such an opinion is very clearly demonstrated, in the life and labour of the Blessed iiaban Maur, who joined with his varied and accurate clerical learning, a secular course of studies. If in advance of his period, he was a great scholar, yet, perhaps, his profane learning was not wholly free from those mistakes, which more or less attend, on most human speculations and systems. Philosophy changes its theories, inmanyinstances,andduringthecourseofages. Faithisunalterable,since from the beginning, it has been God's revealed truth. Rodolph, a priest and a monk at Fulda, was one of the Blessed Raban's disciples. ^' He is the first known to have written the Life of his highly-distinguished master. Yet, he strangely enough omits all detailed mention of Raban's parentage, race and place of birth. Such particulars, therefore, must be inferred, rather than decided, from other sources. The fragmentary biography of Rudolf is a very imperfect record of Raban Maur's Acts. He applies, chiefly to an account of the translation of saints' relics, from the city of Rome to France, during the reign of the Emperor Lewis,3 son of Charlemagne. '* In the eleventh or twelfth century lived Meginfrid, a learned monk and chronologist of Fulda, who wrote the history of this abbey and of its inmates. s Trithemius appears chiefly to have taken him as an authority, for many of those accounts he has left of Raban Maur. It is likely, Trithemius had various other authors to quote from, but we can hardly find their value as authorities. Nicolaus Serarius*^ and Christopherus Browerus^ specially write about the Blessed Raban Maur. The most complete and elaborate biography of this holy manisundoubtedlythatbyJohnofTrittenhem. ^ Yet,astheauthorhim-
s8 ** See
Parliamentary Gazetteer of Ire-
twenty-seven years, but, he wanted eight months of such a term. Seethe Bollandists' "Acta Sanctorum," iv, Februarii. First Life. Preface and n. (b), tomus i. , p. 512.
-» This on the 28th of great Emperor died,
January, a. D. 814.
s See "In Chronico Hirsaugiensi," A. D.
land," vol. ii. , p. 254. '
Article IV. — See inaugural address of His Eminence Henry Edward Manning,
Cardinal
Archbishop
of Westminster, at
the opening of the Catholic "Academia,"
in Manchester, January loth, 1876.
'
Rudolf survived his master, about eight or nine years, his death being assigned to
MC.
^ *' See
Fulda.
*'
Mogunticarum Rerum," lib. iv.
the viii. of the March
with the 8th of the month, A. D. 865, accord- ing to the Annals of Fulda.
3 This monarch immediately succeeded his father, and died on the 2ist of May, A. D. 840. Rudolf states, that he reigned
^ See "
Ides, corresponding
Fuidensium,'' lib. ii. , cap. 13, lib. iii. , cap. 13, 14, and lib. iv,, when treating about the fifth Abbot of
Antiquitalum
^
Reverendissimo in Christo Patri, Illustris-
In the Prologue, this life is inscribed :
\Eighth
February 4. ] LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. 301
self complains, he wrote just six hundred and fifty-nine years,^ after the Blessed Raban had departed from this world ;'° so that many of his subject's
great actions had passed away to oblivion, during this lapse of time. For, although, many previous writers had left various eulogies on the holiness and
learning of Raban, still no one among them had composed a complete and a continuous life. From very unsatisfactory materials, and as a gleaner in several poor harvest fields, John of Trittenhem was only enabled to collect a few ears of corn, and to place them in the best conjectural order he could follow,withanapologyofferedfordefectsandoversights. " ToAlbert,then
Archbishop of Mayence, at whose instigation this biography had been com- posed," the author submits it for correction and patronage. Although a
very interesting record, Tritheminus has undoubtedly fallen into several errors of statement, corrected by other writers. At the 4th of February, the BollandistshavegiventwoLivesofSt. Raban,ArchbishopofMayence. A
in ten sections commentary precedes.
The first Life'3 contains nine — chapters
and
—books the A second Life'^ is written in three
fifty-one paragraphs. firstbookcomprisesfivechaptersan—dtwenty-eightparagraphs thesecond four chapters and ten paragraphs while the third book contains four
chapters and seventeen paragraphs. ^s The learned Benedictine Father,
John Mabillon, evidently loves to dwell on the virtues and accomplishments of Raban Maur, who was so distinguished an ornament of his order. Where- fore, not alone in his Acts of the Benedictine Saints ;'^ but, likewise, in his great history of the order,^7 are there references made to illustrate the Acts of this great man. Although Trithemius numbers the illustrious Rabanus Maurus among the saints and canonized persons,'^ besides relating that his tomb was famous for miracles, ^9 and that special honours were paid to his remains on the occasion of their translation to Saxony, in the year 1515, while a certain manuscript, containing a catalogue of the patron saints^° of thecityofMayence,styleshimSt. Raban; yet,theBollandistsprefertocall him a Beatus. '^'' It was not known, that at Fulda, an ecclesiastical office had
simoque Principi et Domino, D. Alberto, ^3 This was written by Raban's disciple, Sanctae Moguntinae Sedis, et Magdebur- Rodulf.
gensis Ecclesise Archiepiscopo, Sacri Ro- '* This Life was written by John of Trit-
mani Imperii Principi Electori, per Ger- tenhem. Abbot of Spanheim. In referring
maniam Archicancellario atque Primati,
Halberstatensis Ecclesise Administratori,
Brandeburgensium Marchioni, Stetinensium,
Pomeranorum, Cassubiorum, et Sclauorum
Duci, Nurenbergensium Burgravio, ac Ru-
giorum Principi, Joannes Trithemius, Abbas Monasterii S. Jacobi Maioris Apostoli, in
suburbanis Herbipolensis civitatis, quondam vero Spanheimensis, Ordinis S. Benedicti, quicquid ad Deum oratio praeualet pecca- toris. "
9 Hence, he wrote St. Raban's Life A. d. 15 1 5, and he dates the Prologue, on the 6th of November.
^° Computed to be A. D. 856.
" Incidentally he complains, about the Germans neglecting the memories of their great saints and men, and their want of cul- tivating historic studies. From such a charge, however, in an elaborate eulogy, he exempts the learned Archbishop of Mayence, to whom his biography is dedicated.
" When Trithemius, formerly Abbot of
Spanheim, became Abbot of Herbipolis, he was asked to write Raban's Life.
to either, they are distinguished as the first and second Life.
^s See "Acta Sanctorum," tomus i. , iv. Februarii. Ue S. Rabano Maiiro, Archi- episcopo Moguntino in Germania, pp. 5CX) to 538.
'° See " Acta Sanctorum Ordinis S. Bene- dicti," tomus ii. , saec. iv. , pp. I et seq.
Annales Or- dinis S. Benedicti," tomus ii. and iii.
'^ in various passages of
'^ See " De Viris Illustribus Ordinis S.
Benedicti," lib. iii. , cap. 199.
^^ See Vita B. Mauri Rabani, lib. iii. ,
"
Acta Sanctorum," tomus i. , Februarii iv. , pp. 537, 538.
cap. iv. , subs. 13, 17.
=° While Raban was alive, Amolo, Bishop
"
man, and a Catholic bishop ;" Ilincmar of
of Lyons, calls hini
a good and a learned
Rheims styles him
*'
a venerable archbishop,
a zealous father in holy religion, and a Ca-
tholic writer;" while, Ermanric says, he
was " a most holy man, and most skilled in
every art. "
=' chronicle.
Thus is he styled, by Frodoard, in his
"
302 LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. [February 4. .
been recited in his honour, although several writers agreed to mention him,
as a saint. '^ Thus, Mabillon has him enrolled, and classed, among the dis-
tinguished and holy men of his order. =^3 The name is frequently found
aspirated to Hrabanus f'> and this seems to have been his own favourite way
for spelling it. ^s A great difference of opinion has prevailed, regarding the exact place of the Blessed Raban's birth. Most of our modern writers
appear to agree, that Germany best deserves to claim the honour of his
nativity; while,manydeemMayenceorMaintz,=^^tohavebeenthecity,in which he first saw the light, and had been baptized. ^7 Otlier writers con-
tend, that he was a Briton, and an Anglo-Saxon monk,=^^ before he came to FranceandGermany; but,someoftheirobservations,inreferencetohim,
areeasilyrefuted,byexaminingthefactsofhistory. Again,thereareauthors, who deem St. Raban Maur to have been a Scotus. =^9 The Scotch writers,3° as a matter of course, in the latter case, claim him to have been one of their countrymen. However, some of our Irish writers will not allow this easy appropriation ; for, they rightly infer, that if other proof of Raban's nativity be wanting, Ireland may fairly claim so distinguished a Scotus as her son. If born in Ireland, at all, it seems to us, he must have left it, when a mere youth; but,thematterisextremelydoubtful,andpendingfurtherinvestiga-
^'^
This is remarked, by Browerus, in some comments on the epitaph of Raban, num. 6.
'3 He calls Raban, "prseclarum ecclesiae lumen," and "immo astris supernis inser- tum. "—See " Annales Ordinis S. Benedicti," tomus iii. , lib. xxxv. , sec. iii,, pp. 52, 53.
= See the various tracts, especially the Epistles he composed, to which his name is found affixed.
versity of Paris, founded in his time, cele-
brated through his learning.
^9 The foundation for this opinion is thought
to be, that sentence of Vincentius Bellova-
=^5 See Mabillon's "Annales Ordinis S. Benedicti," tomus ii. , lib. xxix. , sec. xxvii. , p. 472.
clarus, sapientise studium de Roma Parisios
transtulit, quod illuc quondam e Graecia
translatum fuerat a Romanis : fueruntque Parisiis Fundatores hujus studii quatuor monachi Bedoe discipuli, Rabanus et Alcui- nus,ClaudiusetJoannesScotus.
" Again, Robertus Gaguinus writes: " Delati naue ex Scotia Claudius et Joannes, Rabanus quoque et Alcunus, ex Venerabilis Bedae discipulis," &c. See "De Rebus Fran-
^ See Rev. S. Baring- Gould's " Lives of the Saints," vol. ii. , February iv. , p. 91.
=7 This supposition rests chiefly on the
authority of two lines, found in the epitaph,
which, it has be—en stated, he composed corum," lib. iv. This latter writer lived,
before his death
the
Robertus Gaguinus' statement. Thus,
Hector Boetius, in "Historia Scotorum,"
lib. "DeRebusScotorum," x. , John Lesley,
lib. v. , at the reign of Donald V. , make him
**
:
Vrbe quidem hac genitus sum, ac sacro fonte renatus ;
year 1500.
In Fulda didici. "
post
hoec
dogma
sacrum
a Scotchman. Thomas Dempster boldly Still, the authorship of this epitaph may asserts, he was born in Scotland, where he
"
Historia Ecclesiastica Gentis Scotorum," tomus ii. , lib. xvi. , num. 1037, p. 545. David Came-
— in the first
became a monk of Melrose. See =^ "
—be written well be questioned, although it
as often happens in such cases person.
Ptolemy of Lucca, a Dominican, lived about the year 1270, and Geruasius Ricco-
rarius, in Menologium Scotorum," places him among the Scottish saints at the 4th of
baldus
who lived about A. D.
Raphael Volaterranus, for particulars he demife Parisiensis fundatoris. " Bishop
Ferrariensis,
a canon of
Ravenna,
January :
Abbatis, Archiepiscopi Moguntini
13CX),
are cited
by
—et Aca-
"
logic," lib. xviii. , xix. , xxii. Yet, some of p. 189. It is incorrectly stated, that Demp-
gives, regarding St. Raban, in "Anthropo- Forbes'
Kalendars of the Scottish Saints,"
these statements are clearly erroneous ; as, for instance, that Raban was a disciple of Venerable Bede, that he was a Prsesul of Meaux, in the time of Lewis the Pious, and of Gregory V. , and that he made the Uni-
ster's opinion is supported by the authority of Wion, Josias Simlerus, Gesnerus, Lilius
Giraldus, Ferrariensis, Balaeus, Zabarella, and other writers, who are not named. This affirmation, the Bollandists refute.
"
cap. 173, when treating about Albinus
censis,
Speculi Historialis," lib. xxiii. ,
Flaccus, he writes :
'*
Scientia vitaque prae-
in
3° They seem chiefly to have followed
*' Fuldoe obitus Hrabani Mauri
February 4. ] LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. 303
tion, we should feel rather loth to pass his feast over in silence, and to disconnect him from the many other holy and learned Irishmen, who were
hiscontemporariesandhisfriends,ontheContinentofEurope. According to the authors of the Literary History of France3^ the parents of Raban are not
known by name, although said to have been distinguished for their nobility of descent. 32 We only know, for a certainty, that he had a brother called Toutin,andthatbothhadanephewGondramne. 33 Now,Trithemiushas given Raban the surname of Magnentius,34 because he supposed Ruthard belonged to the family of the Magnances. Instead of Magnentius, he is called Magnetius, by Ademar of Chabanois and by Sigebert, probably for a differentreasonfromthatgivenbyJohnofTrittenhem. Hisbirthisreferred to the year 788,35 or even to 795,2^ but, where it actually took place seems to have hitherto baffled the researches of his various biographers. Although Trithemius states,37 that St. Rabanus Maurus was born in the town of Fulda,
intheterritoryofBuconica; yet,theBollandistsaver,38thatatthetimeof his birth, there was no town at Fulda, and, that it seems more probable, he was born at Mayence, while, his parents were French in origin. This is supposed, rather than proved. We are informed, likewise, that from a very early age, Raban manifested a precocious sanctity, and most amiable dis- positions. His mother, in particular, is said to have fostered these pious indications, and to have become his earliest instructor. Not only do some of the Scotch Writers claim Raban Maur for their countryman, but they in- troduce accounts, regarding him, which conflict entirely with chronology, and even with probability. John Major states, that the Scots, Clement, John, Raban and Alcuin, accompanied a certain Guillermus, their relative, and a large number of Scots, in a representative capacity from Achaius,39
"
3* See
ou I'on traite de I'Origine et du Progres, de la Decadence et du Retablissement des Sciences parmi les Gaulois et parmi les Fran9ois ; Du goiit et du genie des uns et des autres pour les Letres en chaque Siecle ; De leurs anciennes Ecoles ; De I'etablisse- ment des Universites en France ; Des princi- paux Colleges ; Des Academies des Sciences et des Belles Letres ; Des meilleueres Biblio- theques anciennes et modernes ; Des plus celebres Imprimeries ; et de tout ce qui a un Rapport particulier a la Literature.
Avec les Eloges historiques des Gaulois et des Fran9ois qui s'y sont fait quelque repu- tation ; Le Catalogue et la Chronologie de leurs Ecrits ; Des Remarques historiques et critiques sur les principaux Ouvrages ; Le denombrement des differentes editions ; Le tout justifie par les citations des Auteurs originaux. Par des Religieux Benedictins de la Congregation de S. Maur. Nouvelle Edition, entierement conforme a la prece- dente, par M. Paulin Paris, Membre de rinstitut, tome v. Neuvieme Siecle, p. 151. A Paris, 1865 et j^^. , inxvii. tomes, 4to.
32 Yet, Trithemius says, his father was
called Ruthardus, or Ruthard, and his
mother was called Aldegundis,or Aldegonde. But, no other writer, before him, has been found to make a like statement.
33 The latter was a chaplain to Lewis,
Histoire Literaire de la France,"
King of Germany. See ibid.
34 This, too, has been found in an anony-
mous tract at Molk, and it has been used in the collective edition of his works.
3S Natalis Alexander, in his " Historia Ecclesiastica," saec. ix. , pars i. , p. 224, and parsii. , p. 575, has an account of Raban, and a special dissertation relating to him. Trithemius states, that Raban was born on the iv. Nones of February, a. d. 788. This was the eleventh Roman Indiction, which was in the twentieth year of Charlemagne's reign, and the seventeenth year of Pope Adrian I. See " Vita Rabani Mauri," lib. >. , cap. i. , sec. 5. See the Bollandists' "Acta Sanctorum," tomus i. , Februarii iv. , p. 524.
**
3^ According to Nicolaus Saderus, De
Rebus Moguntinis," lib. iv. , who makes
him Abbot of Fulda, a. d. 825, when he
was only thirty years of age.
37 See "Vita S. Rabani Mauri," lib. i. ,
cap. i. , sec. i.
38 gee "Acta Sanctorum," tomus i. , Feb-
ruarii iv. De S. Rabano Mauro, Archi-
episcopo Moguntino in Germania. Com- mentarius Praevius, sec. ii. , subs. lo, II, pp. 502, 503.
39 He is represented, as the sixty-fifth King of Scotland, reigning from A. D. 787 to 809. See George Buchannan's " Rerum
Scoticarum Historia," lib. v. , pp. 150, I5J. The same viriter states, that during his reign,
304 LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. [February 4.
KingofScotland,toCharlemagne. Byhim,theywerefavourablyandhos- pitablyreceived; but,wearctold,RabanandAlcuinreturnedtotheirown
country, while Guillermus, John and Clement remained with Charlemagne. '*® SomeauthorsmakeRabanadiscipleofVenerableBede; but,chronology clearly conflicts with such a supposition ; for, the latter celebrated personage died A. D. 735,^' while none place the birth of Raban earlier than the Bene- dictine authors of the Literary History of France, who assign it to a. d. 776. '*' Mostofhisbiographersdeferit,toamuchlaterperiod. Otheraccountshave it, that Albin or Alcuin, Raban, Claudius Clemens'*^ and Joannes Scotus were associated, in the work of founding the University of Paris, under the pa- tronage of the Emperor Charlemagne. 44 Even, here, however, there are some errors of statement. Again, it has been asserted, the four accom- plished men, already named, and said to have been Bede's disciples, arrived in a ship from Scotia, and settled in France. ^s If Raban came from Scotia orIreland,itmusthavebeenataveryearlyage; for,allthemostauthentic accounts, we have regarding him, show, that when quite young, he was en- gaged at his studies in France and Germany. Dempster foolishly and in- correctly states, that Charlemagne conferred, on Raban, the bishopric of Meaux, but, that he preferred the religious life of St. Benedict, which he had begun in the Scottish monastery of Melrose, and that he entered as a monk at Fulda, over which house, afterwards, he became abbot. '**^ When very young, most writers agree, that Raban was sent to the monastery of Fulda, situated on a river bearing the like name, which takes a northern course, and joins the River Weser, at Miinden. In the year 744, the renowned St. Boniface,'*^ Apostle of Germany, is said to have founded Fulda, in the soli- tude of Bochonia. 48 The renowned Charlemagne had given the first great encouragement to liberal studies, in this celebrated monastery,49 nor was he less anxious to promote there a knowledge of the inspired writings. 5° At the age of ten years, it has been stated, his parents there made an offering of Raban. 51 At Fulda, he studied for some time, while his great natural abilities, and his acquirements, showed that he was endowed with superior gifts of intellect. His piety and love for monastic discipline became con- spicuous, in a singular degree. We learn from Raban's own avowal, that while a student there, he had a fellow-disciple, Haimo or Aimon,52 greatly distinguished for his abilities. Together they studied, not alone the Sacred
many Scottish monks went into Gaul, who taught the people about the Rhine, the rudi- ments of Christian Faith.
4° See *• Scotorum Historise," lib. x. , fol. cxciiii.
' See Du Pin's " Nouvelle Bibliotheque
des Auteurs Ecclesiastiques," &c. , tome vi. Des Auteurs du viii. Siecle de I'Eglise, p.
86. Mons edition, 4to.
^ See ' Histoire Literaire de la France,"
&c. , tome V. Neuvieme Siecle, p. 151.
*^ See his Life, and this question, treated
at greater length, at the 20th of March.
Scotorum," tomus ii. , lib. xvi. , num. 1037, pp. 545, 546.
47 Marianus Scottus says, also, of St.
w See Vincentius Speculo Historiali. " similar account.
" In will be in "
Bellovacensis, Fulda, found, Gallia Christiana,"
S. Antoninus has a
tomus v. , col. 604.
5« gee I'Abbe
^5 See Robertus Gaguinus, "Annales Abbayes et Monasteres," col. 314.
Rerum Gallicarum," lib. iv. , cap. i. , Jacobus Medendorpius, " De Academiis Orbis," and other writers.
s^ Aiterwards, he became Bishop of Ha-
of
**See "Historia Ecclesiastica Gentis Viris lUustribus," cap. 135.
De
Boniface, that he was—a Scottus, " "
patre
at-
que etiam matre. " Chronicon," A. D.
737. See Georgius Heinricus Pertz's
**
Monumenta Germanise Historica," tomus
v. , p. 545.
*** See ibid. , p. 547,
so 'ihe history of seventy-nine abbots, who ruled over the important establishment of
^9 See I'Abbe
Abbayes et Monasteres," col. 314.
berstadt, in Saxony.
He died, on the 27th
"
March, a. d. 853.
See Sigebcrtus,
Migne's
Migne's
" Dictionnaire des
" Dictionnaire des
February 4.
