No More Learning

distinguish
another,
Swibert,
=* See his ""
'5 See Britannia Sancta," part i. , pp. 14s, 146.
*^
See "Lives of the Fathers, Martyrs and other principal Saints," vol. iii. March i.
'7 See " Lives of the Saints," vol. iii. , pp.
Life,
'^ See Rev. Alban Butler's Lives of the
'*
See "Lives of the Irish Saints," pp.
286, 287.
'9 See " Circle of the Seasons," p. 61.
at the of
24th April.
Fathers, Martyrs and other principal Saints," vol, iii,, March i.
'^
p. 140.
"3 See Venerable Bede's " Historia Eccle-
See J. B, Doyle's "Tours in Ulster, /
56 LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. [March i.
guished men, to spread the faith among the old Saxons. ^s Towards the close of the seventh century, the apostolic labours of St. Suitbert and his fellow- missionaries commenced among the Frisons. 3° Following the directions of St. Egbert, St. Willibrord^' and twelve missionaries, among whom was our saint, sailed for Frisia or Friesland, about the year 690, according to the very general opinion of historians. These apostolic men departed immediately from Ireland, and landed at Katwyck, at the mouth of the Rhine. ^^ Pepin d'Heristal,atthistime,wasacelebratedcharacterinFrenchHistory. 33 His power and influence even extended into the Netherlands. He was at first married to Plectrude,34 whom he divorced, and then he married Alpaide ;3S but, the former was restored to his favour, and she assumed the direction of affairs after the death of Pepin, who was Maire in the Royal Palace of the French Kingsfortwenty-eightyears. PepinhadcompelledRadbod,abouteighteen months before their arrival, to pay an annual tribute. 3S He had lately sub- dued some of the Netherland provinces, and he desired, moreover, to have the inhabitants won over to Christ Radbod, sovereign in the northern provinces, dared not oppose the preaching of those missionaries, who found so powerful a protector and so zealous a benefactor in his celebrated rival. The former had sued for a peace, which he obtained, by ceding his most im- portant possessions, to the Mayor of the Palace. Among these was that whole basin, between the Meuse and the Rhine, where now stand the towns of Leyden, Delft, Gouda, Brill, and Dordrecht, as also the city of Utrecht. 37 Here was found an admirable field for their labours, and soon the missioners' success answered Pepin's desires. In a short time, those apostolic men made great progress in the conversion of idolaters. To proceed more regularly and with higher authority, in so great a work, St. Willebrord went to Rome, where he visited Pope Sergius I. ,^^ to obtain his licence and blessing, for preaching the Gospel among the Gentiles. 39 Willebrord was ordained Arch- bishop of Utrecht, about a. d. 696, and he then returned to prosecute his labours. The ministry of St. Suitbert was exercised, chiefly in the southern parts of the present kingdom of Holland, in the northern parts of Brabant, in the countries of Cleves and Gueldres. The territory of the Frisians was formerly of great extent, reaching from the mouths of the Rhine and the Meuse, so far as Denmark and ancient Saxony. The zeal of St. Switbert was most untiring. He drew an incredible number of idolaters away from their pagan superstitions, and he reclaimed them from indulgence, in the most shameful vices and disorders. '*" For his modesty of behaviour and meekness of heart, Suibert was distinguished among the Frisian preachers of theWord. Hewasthereforeselectedtobecometheirbishop,andhewas
siastica Gentis Anglorum," lib. v. , cap. x. — " Monumenta Historica Britannica," vol.
i. , pp. 257, 258.
3° See ibid. , cap. xi. , pp. 258, 259.
3' See his Life, at the 7th of November. 3^ See Rev. S.
3S By her, Pepin had two sons, also, while one of these was named Charles Martel, and the other Childebrande.
^s xhe death of this Frisian king has been
variedly placed at a. d. 717, 718, or 719. See the Bollandists' "Acta Sanctormii," tomus 1, Martii L De S. Suitberto Epis- copo, sect, v. , num. 37, p. 76.
Baring-Gould's the Saints," vol. iii. , March i.
*' Lives of
33 See an interesting account of this
monarchand his achievements, by the writers
of " The Modem Part of an Universal His-
tory, from the earliest Accounts to the
present Time," vol. xix. The History of
France, chap. Ixviii,, sect, i. , pp. 257 to p. 211.
260. 39 See Bishop Challenor's "Britannia
3'» By her, he had two sons, Drogon, whom Sancta," part i. , p. 146.
he made Duke of Burgimdy, and Grimoalde, who was Mayor of the Palace to Childebert.
See Fredegarii Scholastic! , "Epitome et Chronicon, cap. loi.
*° These are accounts contained, more in detail in the Life, attributed to Marcellinus ; yet, how far they are genuine has been questioned.
37 See Rev. S. Baring- Gould's "Lives of the Saints," vol. iii. , March i. , p. 17.
38 j^e g^t from A. D. 687 to 701. See Sir Harris Nicolas' "Chronology of History,"
March i. ] LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS.
t^>i
sent over to be consecrated in Britain. At this time, St. Theodore,'*^ Arch-
bishop of Canterbury, had died/^ His successor, Berthwald, or Brihtwold,
He had
he sought fellow-helpers, during the time he was in England. *? Having obtained the Pontiff's permission, he retm-ned to the work of his ministry, furnished with holy reHcs. These he desired to make use of, when dedi- cating such churches as he should erect for the use of his new converts. ^^ The zealous Swibert, having been consecrated bishop, returned from Britain, and went over again to the Continent. Again he visited that flock, com- mitted to his care, but, desiring a wider field for missionary enterprise, he asked St. Willibrord to take charge of his people, while he went in search ot newconquestsfartheruptheRiverRhine. Notlongafterwards,hewentto the Boructuarians,'t9 or Boructarians, inhabiting that country, afterwards calledtheDuchyofBergandthecountryofLaMarck. 5° Thesepeople lived below Cologne, and near the Lower Rhine. Owing to his preaching, Suibert brought many among them to the way of truth. The Boructuarians, however, having been attacked and subdued by the ancient Saxons, those who had received the Word of God from Swibert were dispersed, after their territory had been subjected to horrible devastations. In Plectrude, Suibert found a zealous patroness, and her influence was specially directed, to second his eflbrts, with her powerful consort. ^^ The bishop repaired to Pepin, who
gave him a place of residence in a certain Island, formed by different channels of the Rhine. It was called Keiserswerdt, or " The Emperor's Island. " s^ It is situated, six miles below Dusseldorp, but the Rhine channel having changed its course, the place is no longer an island. There he built a monastery, and the place was for a long time called St. Swidbert's Isle. This religious site his successors afterwards possessed. The monastery flourished for many ages, but it was subsequently converted into a collegiate church of secular canons. s3 Although called, by many writers, the first bishop of Werda or Werden ; yet, it only appears, that he was consecrated as a regionary bishop,withouthavingbeenattachedtoanyfixedsee. Hewasaccustomed,
had gone beyond the sea, for the purpose of being consecrated. 43
not returned, when Suitbert reached the shores of Britain. Bishop Wilfrid^* then lived in exile among the Mercians, having been banished from his own see/s Byhim,Suitbertwaselevatedtothedignityofbishop,beforeAugust 31st, 693. '*^ As the fields were now white for the harvest, it seems probable,
4' His festival occurs on the 19th of Sep- tember.
4' After a rule as bishop of twenty-two years, he died A. D. 690, according to the " Anglo-Saxon Chronicle. " See " Monu- menta Historica Britannica," or Materials for the History of Britain, from the earliest Period to the end of the Reign of King Henry VH. Edited by Sir Thomas Duffus
Hardy, vol. i. , p. 323.
43 He was chosen Archbishop on the ist
of July, A. D. 692, and he was consecrated Archbishop, by Guodun, or Godwin, Bishop of the Gauls, on the 29th of June, a. d. 693. See ibid.
44 His festival is held on the 12th of
October. The greatest part of his remains
were translated from Ripon to Canterbury
in 959 by St. Odo : these were enshrined by
Lanfranc, and deposited on the north side
of the altar by St. Anselm. St. Wilfrid ryda or Bliththrude. See Historia Eccle- died on the 24th of April, A. D. 709. siastica Gentis Anglorum," lib. v. , cap. xi. ,
45 See an account of these transactions in p. 259.
Rev. Dr. Lingard's "Antiquities of the Anglo-Saxon Church," chap, v. , pp. 109 to 116.
'»* Marcellinus states, A. D. 695, but the Bollandists seem to give better reasons for the account, contained in the text. See " Acta Sanctorum," tomus i. , Martii i. De S. Suiberto Episcopo, sect, v. , num. 35, p. 76.
'•^ See Rev. S. Baring-Gould's "Lives of the Saints," vol. iii. , March i. , p. 17.
•s See Bishop Challenor's "Britannia
Sancta," part i. , p. 146. 49 See Venerable Bede's
"
siaslica Gentis Anglorum," lib. v. , cap. xi. ,
p. 259.
so See Rev. Alban Butler's
"
Lives of the
Fathers, Martyrs and other principal Saints," vol. iii. , March i.
si By Venerable Bede, she is called Blith- "
Historia Eccle-
58 LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. [March
as we are told by Radbod, to caution those monks, who were subject to him, againstdeceitfulpersuasionsandpubUccontentions; while,likeavaliantleader,
his followers were taught by him to qontend against tyrants and persecutors. He stood as David against Goliath, but armed alone with Faith, Hope and
Charity. Humble and meek, he was modest in prosperity, and patient in adversity.
His abstinence, his vigils, and his prayers, were incessant : he led a most continent—i. e. , a most holy and mortified—life, according to Vene- rableBede. 54 Hewroughtmanymiracles,asstatedinthevariousoffices,
composedinhishonour,asalsofollowingthebentofpopulartradition. Espe- cially was he believed, to have given relief to those affected with quinsy, or inflammation of the jaws ; and several attributed their cures from this pain- ful disease, to a devout intercession of St. Suitbert. It is probable, his repu- tation for effecting such cures commenced during his lifetime. His judgment, his compassion for sinners, his disinterestedness, and his liberality, are alike praised by Radbod. While he steadfastly reproved vice, yet was he indulgent to the sinner. His words were as honey, his preaching was most eloquent, his spiritual conferences were edifying. In his monastery reigned an angelic society. There ended his days, on the ist of ISIarch, and in the year 713, according to the accounts of most historians. 55 The Calen- darists are unanimous, in assigning his festival to this day. In the archiepis- copal province of Utrecht, and in all its suffiragan sees, his feast was honoured as a double rite, and it was celebrated with a special office. The best and most ancient copies of Venerable Bede's and Usuard'"s IMartyrologies have no mention of this saint's festival, for this day ; although, it is inserted, in some printededitions. Ado,theCologneMart}Tology,Molanus,Mirseus,Menard, James Mosander, Baronius, Franciscus Alaurolycus, Constantinus Felicius, Galesinus, the Gallic Martyrology of Saussay and the Roman ISlartyrology have all their respective commemorations of this holy missionary among the Frisians. 5^ At the ist of March, the anonymous Catalogue of Irish Saints enters Suitbertus. 57 According to the Epistle of Lutger, Pope Leo III. , when he visited Gaul and Germany, a. d. 803, came to Verden ; where, it is said, that having satisfied himself regarding the labours and miracles of St. Suitbert, the latter was solemnly enrolled by the Sovereign Pontiff in the list of holy Confessors. s^ In the year 1626, the relics of St. Swidbert, together with those of St. Willeic,59 his successor, were found in a silver shrine, at Keiserswerdt. Yet, some smaller portions have been given to other churches, by an Archbishop of Cologne. These have been held in very great venera- tion, by the faithful, especially by those living on the borders of the Lower Rhine.
Article III. —St. Baitan, Abbot of Clonmacnois, King's County.
[Seventh Century. ^ While severalheroes, poets, and philosophers, are not remem- bered after centuries pass away, the Saints of the Church are seldom forgot-
5^ In the language of that country, Keiser ssgeethe Bollandists' "Acta Sanctorum," means " Emperor," and Werdt, " an tomus i. , Martii i. De S. Suiberto Epis- Island. " copo, sect, viii,, num. 59, p. 83.
""
S3 See Rev. S. Baring-Gould's Lives of s? See O'Sullevan Eeare's Historioe
the Saints," vol. iii. , page 18. Catholicae Ibernije Compendium," tomus i. , "
s* See Historia Ecclesiastica Gentis lib. iv. , cap. xi. , p. 49.
Anglorum," lib. v. , cap. xi. , p. 259. ss See Surius, "De Probatis Sanctorum "
55 See Andreas de Chesne's Historias Historiis," tomus ii. , Martius i. Epistola
Francorum Scriptores Cocetanei," tomus ii. Breves Francorum Annales ab anno DCCVill. usque ad annum DCCC. At A. D. Dccxiil. , weread "Depositio Suitberti Episcopi. "
S. Ludgeri de S. Swiberto, cap. 9, pp.
36, 37.
59 See notices of him, at the 2nd of March, Article hi. —' See "Acta Sanctorum
March i. ] LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. 59
ten, especially in the celebrated places associated with their commemoration.
A few short notices, regarding this holy Abbot, are to be found in Father
work ^ while the BoUandists are still more brief, in their allusions Colgan's ;
to him,' Besides the name of this saint, as already given, he is variously named Boetan, Baotan, Buadan, Boedan, Baithan, Da-Buadoc, &c. 3 He is also called Boyhan, in the " Annals of Clonmacnoise. " He is said to have belonf^ed to the race of Hua-Cormaic ; and, he seems different-* from Boedan, son of Sinell, who has the further designation of Cluain-Andobhuir. s This latter,too,wasamemberoftheConmaicnianfamily. ^ Thepresentholyman appears to have been born, in some part of maritime Connemara,? in the province of Connaught. This was formerly known as Conmaicne-mhara, and subsequently it was called Irros or Erris. There was a Conmaicne or Con- macia, also, near Tuam, as likewise a Conmaicne Rein, afterwards called MuinterEoluis. Thisholymanwasborn,probablytowardsthecloseofthe
sixth,orbeginningoftheseventh,century. Hebecameamonk,atthecele- brated monastery of Clonmacnoise. Afterwards, he governed this same house in quality of abbot,^ having succeeded ^dlug, who died on the 26th of February, 651. 9 Our saint is also said to have discharged episcopal functions,intheChurchofClonmacnois. '° Heruledoverthechurchand monastery, at this place. Baican, Bishop of Cluan, is mentioned in the Martyrology of Tallagh," as having a festival on the ist of March, which it appears was the date for his death. Marianus O'Gorman, and his Scholiast, as also Maguire, concur in their statements. We read, in the Martyrology of Donegal," that Baotan, Mac Ua Corbmaic, Abbot of Cluain-mic-Nois, was venerated on this day. The year 660 is assigned for the death of this holy abbot, by the " Chronicon Scotorum," '3 and by the " Annals of Clonmac-
noise ;" ' but, A. D. 663, according to the Annals of Ulster,'5 and of the FourMasters. ^^ Thus,hewastranslatedtotheeternalfelicityoffaithful souls departed, about the time indicated.
Article IV. —St. Marnan, or Marnock, Bishop and Confessor, Aberkerdor, Scotland. iSixth a? id Seventh Centuriesi\ In various Scotch
Kalendars and Martyrologies, we find notices of St. Marnan, or Memanus, a Bishop and a Confessor, whose festival has been assigned to the Kalends, or
Hibemise," L Martii. De S. Baitano sive
Boetano, p. 437.
'See "Acta Sanctorum," tomus i. ,
Martii i. Among the pretermitted saints,
niae," Marcii i. De S. Baitano sive Boetano, nn. 2, 3, p. 437.
*
In filling this capacity, most of our Calendars and Annals mention him.
9 See his Acts, at the 26th of
" February.
According to the Martyrology of Tal- lagh.
''
Edited by Rev. Dr. Kelly, p. xvii.
" Edited by Drs. Todd and Reeves, pp.
61.
'3 At A. D. 660, we read, "BaedanMac
Ui Cormaic (whose tribe was of the Con-
maicne — Abbot of
Mara), Cluain-muc-Nois,
quievit. " \V. M. Hennessy's Edition, pp. 98, 99.
^^^ These state: "A. D. 660. Boyhan Mac Cowcomiick died. "
* The ' '
thus weaves his pedigree : Beodan, of abbas Cluano," is mentioned. See Dr.
p. 3.
3 See, Colgan's
"
Acta Sanctorum Hiber- nise," i. Martii. Vita S. Baitani, n. i. , p.
437.
* This is indicated by the name applied to
his "filius HuaCormaic also, father, ;" as,
because the place and day, where venerated, have a corresponding diversity.
60,
5 We are told,
venerated, at the 13th of December, and for this statement, he cites St. /Engus, ^larianus, and the Calendar of Cashel. However, this seems to be an incorrect quotation.
"
by Colgan,
that he was
Sanctilogium Genealogicum
'^ AtA. D. ' ' Baeta mc Cucormaicc 663,
Cluain-andobhuir, was son to Senell, son of Natfraich, son to Fiacrius, son of Alta, son to Ogaman, son of Fitchar, &c.
O'Conor's " Rerum Hibemicarum Scrip- tores," tomus iv. Annales Ultonienses, p. 56.
7 See Colgan's "Acta Sanctorum Hiber-
** "The Age of Christ, 663. The seventh
6o LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. [March i.
IStdayofMarch. HisnamehasalsothediminutiveterminationMarnoch or Mamock. ^ The old Breviary and Martyrology, for the use of Aberdeen
Church,seemtobethechiefsourcesforillustratinghisbiography. But,no- where do we clearly find the place or date for his nativity. The Bollandists have endeavoured to throw some light on his history, and yet only with an indifferent amount of success. ' That St. Marnan or Mamock was born in Ireland is sufficiently probable, although yet doubtful. According to Bishop Forbes,3 he seems to be identical with St. Erneneus, the son of Crasenus, the naughty and despised child, who sought to touch the hem of St. Colum- ba's-^ garment at Clonmacnoise. s If so, he is thought to be the Ernin, i. e. , Mernog of Rath-noi, in Ui Garchon, i. e. , in Fotharta of Leinster, and of Cill-Draighnech, in Ui Drona. *^ The Scottish writers, Dempster and Came- rarius, appear particularly to have placed the genuineness of his Acts in question, owing to their unaccountable statements, in reference to him. The latter tells us, that Marnan executed various labours in the Scottish Church. ' Aidan,^ King of the Scots, is said to have ruled during his period. In 593, JEthelfrith, or Ethelfrid, became King of the Northumbrians, and in 560 Ceawlin had began to reign over the West Saxons. 9 The latter, especially, was a renowned warrior, and he fought against the Britons, or the Picts, or theScots. Hisdevastationswereasourceofconstantalarm,andsoonKing Aidanwasobligedtoappearinarms,againsttheSaxonunitedforces. ^° Owing to their inferior numbers, his Scots were fearful, regarding the issue of a campaignthenplanned; however,theircouragewasgreatlyanimated,when St. Marnan, through whose advice King Aidan assumed the defensive, began to exhort the soldiers to place all their trust in the Lord of Hosts. Marnan then ordered them to make the sign of the cross on their foreheads ; and when the signal for battle was given, all rushed forward to the shock of anns, loudly invoking the name and aid of our Lord Jesus Christ. " Of this great engagement, it is said, that Sf. Columba, then living in the Island of Hy, had a Divine intuition, and to his prayers, and to those of St. Marnan, was the result piously attributed. " The Saxons were utterly routed, and an immense slaughter of them followed. Their chiefs and men turned in flight, while Ceaulin, Cuichelm and Crida perished. '3 This great battle was con- tested, A. D. 593. '* King Aidan fought, also, with ^thelfrith, who was not present in the foregoing engagement. 's in 603, a terrible battle took place,
'*
year of Diarmaid and Blathmac. Baetan' 'See
Mac-Ua-Corraaic, Abbot of Cluain-mic- " Monumenta Historica Britannica," vol. i. , Nois died. H—e was of the sept of Con- pp. 302, 305.
maicne-mara. " See Dr. O'Donovan's edi- "See the account of his wars, in the
vol. — Scottish Histories of Hector Boece and tion, i. , pp. 274, 275.