No More Learning

=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. ] LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. 305
Scriptures, and the patristic commentaries, on them ; likewise, they read a course of natural philosophy, while, they paid special attention, to the liberal arts and sciences, as a source for improvement. 53 In 801, Raban is said to havebeenordainedadeacon; and,inthefollowingyear,hisAbbotRatgars* sent him with Haimon, afterwards Bishop of Halberstat, to finish his studies at Tours. There he conceived the idea of writing his poem on the Cross. ss He learned the liberal sciences and the Sacred Scriptures under Alcuin,^^ who gave him the surname of Maur, following a custom then in use among the learned. 57 It was, also, conferred for a religious reason. The surname Maurus he received, that he might revere St.
Maur as his patron, and learn to imitate successfully his virtues. s^ From Tours, after a sojourn of two years, 59 Raban returned to Fulda, in a territory then recognised as Eastern France. When here, he was entrusted with die government of the pupils and novices f"" and, it must be acknowledged, that tew men could be better
qualified than he, to train them, in virtue and learning. As an assistant, Raban had Samuel, his tellow-disciple at Tours, and who, afterwards, became Bishop of Worms. ^' He was ordained priest, at the hands of Haistulf or Heistulf^—by Rudolf called Hertolfus,—Archbishop of Maintz, from a. d. 814 to 826. In the month of December of the former year, this event took
^^
and his
819, a magnificent ceremony took place at Fulda. This happened, on the
this
persecution against one, who should have been regarded, as the chief orna- ment of his order. Ratgar, the abbot, took away his books and his wridngs, while he expelled several other monks, probably through a mistaken notion, that severity best enforces the duty of obedience. It is thought, thit Raban took advantage of this disagreeable state of affairs to visit the hoiy places in Palestine,^3 whither he made a pilgrimage, to which he alludes in his Com- mentaries on the Book of Josue. ^4 Ratgar was obliged to retire from the government of the abbey, and St. Eigil was elected m his place. ^5 Raban then resumed his literary exercises and his public lessons. ^^ In the year
place.
Yet,
distinction,
celebrity
professor,
prevent
53 This may be seen, in Raban's preface
to the books, " De Universo," which he dedicated to the venerable Bishop Aimon or Hemmon. See Mabillon's " Annales Or* dinis S. Benedicti," tomus ii. , kb. xlvi. , p. 627.
54 Yet Moreri states, that the Abbot Bangulfe received him at Fulda, clothed him with the religious habit, caused him to be instructed in learning and virtue, while the same Bangulfe sent him to Alcuin, at Tours, to be further perfected in his studies. See *'Le Grand Dictionnaire Historique," tome
England into France A. D. 790, and he died, as one of the Canonical Chapter of St. Martin, ai Tours, A D. 804. See Uu Pin's " Nouvelle Bibliotheque des Auteurs Eccle- siastiques," i&c, tome vi. Des Auteurs du viii. Siecle de I'Eglise, p. 120.
57 See " Histoire Literaire de la France," &c. , tome v. Neuvieme Siecle, pp. 151, 152.
ss gee Mre. Louis Moreri's *'Le Grand
2.
55 Alcuin reminds him, in his Fifty-fifth
6° See Rev. S. " Lives of Baring-Gould's
ix. , p.
Epistle, to finish this promised work
^^ See " Histoire Literaire de la tome v. , p. 152.
^'
; but, it does not appear to have been completed, before the death of Alcuin, supposed to have taken place, A. D. 804, although others defer
France,"
it to the period A. D. 814. Raban only Benedicti," tomus ii. , lib. xxviii. , sec. xxix. ,
finished this poem, when he had attained the sex lustra of his age. More than one
copy of it had been prepared and distributed, during the author's lifetime. See Mabillon's "Annales Ordinis S. Benedicti," tomus ii. , lib. xxvii. , sec. xxix. , p. 367.
s" Flaccus, Albin or Alcuin, one of the greatest lights during his age, came from
p. 416.
** See *' Histoire Literaire de la France,"
tome v. Neuvieme Siecle, p. 152.
^^ He greatly embellished the monastery. See I'Abbe Migne's "Dictionnaire des
Abbayes et Monasteres," col. 314.
Vol. II.
X
as
did not
Dictionnaire Historique," tome ix,, p. 3. "
59 See Histoire Literaire de la France," tome v. Neuvieme Siecle, p. 152.
the Saints," vol. ii. , February iv. , p. 91.
See ibid.
^3 See Mabillon's "Annales Ordinis S.
^^ " See
tome v.
Histoire Literaire de la France,"
' Neuvieme Siecle, pp. 152, 153.
3o6 LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. [February 4-
Kalends of-November, when the new church, built by Eigil, was consecrated
by Heitolf, Archbishop of Mayence ; while, many other bishops, abbots, priests and nobles, with a vast crowd of the faithful, attended. On this occasion, the body of St. Boniface was transferred to a place, destined for it, in the new church. Raban had the happiness of being one, among the bearers. He, afterwards, celebrated this great and memorable event, in verses of his own composition. ^7 From the description left us, regarding the new church of Our Saviour, its various altars, crypts and shrines, it must have been a most imposing structure. ^^ During the year 819, Raban wrote his three books on the Clerical Institution, which he dedicated to Archbishop Heistulf He was impelled to write it, for the direction of his brethren, especially of those in Holy Orders, who had often applied to him for in- struction, in reference to sacred rites and clerical offices. In the first book, he treats about ecclesiastical orders and vestments, on Baptism, on Confir- mation, on the Holy Eucharist, and on the Sacrifice of the Mass,^'9 according to the rite of the Roman Church ;7o in the second book, he refers to the Canonical Offices, to fasting and to penance, to Faith and to various heresies ; in the third book, he dilates on the science, befitting an ecclesiastic, and on
the manner of \iJ^ He wrote the acquiring
work,
might be a reply to, and form an illustration of, certain propositions written
byamonk,namedMacarius. Mabillonwasnotabletoascertain,ifhewere the Macarius Scottus, or the Hibernian,72 against whom Ratramnus wrote a book,"DeAnima. " TheworkofRabanprofessestosetanintricatesub- ject out, in an orderly, and in an agreeable way, for reading. 73 This was written,a. d. 820,duringtheThirdIndiction. Itcontainsninety-sixchapters, in the form of a dialogue. 74 A short time after the consecration of the great church followed the dedication of a crypt and cemetery,75 on the xviii. of the FebruaryKalends,a. d. 822. 7^ Duringthisyear,77whenRabanwasaboutthirty years of age, it is said, the fame of his virtues and of his talents caused him to be elected abbot, over the establishment at Fulda. 78 Trithemiiis, however, states, that his election took place, a. d. 825, and in the thirty-seventh year of his age. The same writer relates, that he presided for twenty-two years as abbot. According to Rudolf, and Trithemius, he was the fifth in succes- sion, from St. Boniface, founder of Fulda, the tenth year before his martyr- dom. 79 It should prove a difficult task, indeed, to relate all that Blessed
*7 He has, likewise, noted the day and the
year, not alone in his Martyrology, but in
a cartnen, prefixed to his books, on the
Clerical Institution, which he dedicated to
Heistolf.
p. 454.
^ Pope St. Alexander, who ruled from
A. D. 109 to A. D. 119, decreed that a little
water should be mingled with the wine, at
Mass, to indicate the blood and water flow-
ing from the side of Christ on the cross.
"
tome v. Neuvieme Siecle, p. 182.
73 This valuable tract had been omitted, from the collected edition of his works, A. D.
1627.
74 See "Annales Ordinis S. Benedicti,"
tomus ii. , lib, xxix. , sec. iv. , p. 458.
7S See ibid. , lib. xxviii. , sec. xciv,, p.
454.
^^ The description of this mortuary chapel
and its position are very interesting, as re- lated by Mabillon.
**
'^ ** See Mabillon's
Annales Ordinis S. Benedicti," tomus ii. , lib. xxviii. , sec. xciii. ,
See
die iii. Maii.
Breviarium Romanum," pars verna,
sec. xxvii. , p. 472.
78 Marianus Scottus, however, places the
death of Abbot of at the xiv. Egil, Fulda,
of the July Kalends, A. D. 826, and Raban is then said to have succeeded him, for twenty years. See "Chronicon. " Pertz's " Monu- menta Germanise Historica," tomus v. , p.
550.
79 Rudolf sets this event down, " ab In-
7° He
wine, mixed with water, were to be conse- crated, in the Eucharistic Sacrifice.
7' See Mabillon's "Annales Ordinis S. Benedicti," tomus ii. , lib. xxviii. , sec. xciv. , xcv. , pp. 454, 455.
7» See "Histoire Literaire de la France,"
infers,
that unfermented bread and
" De that it Computo,"
Annales Or- dinis S. Benedicti," tomus ii. , lib. xxix. ,
77 According to Mabillon's
February 4. ] LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. 307
Raban did for Fulda, when he was called to preside over that abbey. Not alone was strict discipline observed, in the establishment ; but, the reputa- tion of its schools greatly increased ; the number and piety of the monks advanced ; their new abbot possessed unbounded influence with kings, princes and distinguished prelates. The rites and ceremonies of its church were performed, with becoming magnificence, while literature was highly cultivated, not alone by the abbot, but, by celebrated teachers, he had se- lectedandtrained,forthispurpose. HolyRab—an'smeritandlearningwere extolled,notalonebytheGaulsandGermans whothenformedtheunited Empire of the Franks—but, even the Italians and other nations re-echoed hisfame. ^° Greatmultitudesofpersons,clergyandlaity,desiroustoseek and hear him, flocked to Fulda. The sons of princes, nobles and citizens were sent thither, to receive instruction. A great number of distinguished men, in after-life, were his pupils. ^' Magnificent donations and exalted honors were conferred on the monastery, and on its masters, by powerful patrons. Toacquirethefriendshiporeventheacquaintanceoftheillustrious Raban was an object of ambition ; while, on his part, never was a moment unemployed—for the love of God never allows man to be idle^^—in looking aftertheinterestsofhismonastery. Theimprovementandcomfortofhis monks and pupils, were always kept in view. It seems a matter of wonder, how Raban could have found time to compose so many, and such voluminous treatises. Yet, this time he economized, by a judicious system. He was accustomed to take charge of the library, to copy out notes for his own use, and to fill the laborious office of notary, in reference to the great establish- menthegoverned. Onehundredandfiftymonkswerelivingunderhim, atonetime,accordingtoMeginfrid. ^3 TheBlessedRaban'surbanityand gentleness won all hearts, within and without the immediate sphere of his influence. Soonafterhisappointmentasabbot,abouta. d. 822,^'^hefinished
eight books of Commentaries on St. Matthew's Gospel, for the use of those, who had not ready access to the writings of the Holy Fathers, or who could
not readily comprehend their subtile and mystical teaching. ^5 His labours servedtolightenthoseoffutureScripturalcommentators.