Machteni, in the
Martyrology
of Tallagh,* at the 8th of June.
O'Hanlon - Lives of the Irish Saints - v6
, col.
634, l'Abbe Migne's edition,
22 See Rev. Alban Butler's " Lives of the Fathers, Martyrs and other principal Saints,"
having governed the Church of Meaux for
forty-six years. See Dom. Toussaints Du vol. vi. , June viii.
*3 On the left bank of the Seine, the capital
of Aube Department, containing a splendid
Her chief feast is held on the 6th of De-
cember. She departed this life on the 3rd "Gazetteer of the World," vol. xiii. , p.
" tome i. , liv, i.
Plessis'
Histoire de l'Eglise de Meaux,"
'•
cathedral, the seat of an Archbishop. See
of April, about the year 655. See ibid.
'» However, we do not find this word, under either form in the Dictionnaire Celti- que of M. Bullet, in his " Memoires sur la
176.
2« His festival occurs, at the 29th of
January,
2s St. Poma, Virgin of Chalons-sur-Marne,
geus. "
ai "
In Pensees Chretiennes et Morales,"
he " Elle enfanta a Saint says : Jesus-Christ
Faron, son frere, que je ne puis nommer sans confusion ei sans consolation : sans
voirs ; sans confusion, parce qu'il m'accable mon infirmite par l'example de ses vertus. Diocese de Meaux, ce que tu dois a Fare e—st inestimable
; tu lui dois Saint Faron. "
248 LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. [June 8.
cises. From this place, she occasionally visited Chalons, and she withdrew often to the pious virgins of the community of Sainte-Pome. 25 She communi- cated to them that Divine fire of love, with which her heart was filled, repeat-
ing often these beautiful words " Oh vile, despicable and infected is earth
:
to me, when I look upon Heaven ! Vanity of vanities and all is vanity,
except to serve God, and to love Him only ! " The reputation of Syra's great sanctity soon spread through all the surrounding country. A request was made to her, that she would quit her cell to visit a community of women, which
hadrelaxedreligiousfervour,inorderthatagainshemightrestoreit. Through humility, not conceiving herself called to become a religious reformer, and doubting her powers of persuasion, she hesitated for a long time. How-
ever, to promote God's greater glory in the salvation of souls, she accepted the mission, at last, and she laboured zealously to effect the desired change. She succeeded, in an admirable manner, not less to her own astonishment, than to that of others, who knew the disagreeable nature of her task. Having thus restored order in that community, she returned to her little cell, near the tomb of St. Savinien. There she buried herself in exercises of penitence to
She departed on the 8th of June, sometime in the 2
!
26 The tocrownSt. sooncalledher Almighty, willing Syra,
theendofher
away from this life.
seventh century. It is said, by some writers, ? the year of her departure was
days.
640 to itwasa. d. ; according Dempster,
28 Her was
body buried,
643.
according to one statement, in the small chapel she had built, near the tomb
of St. Savinien. It was deposited within a stone coffin. Another account has it, that she departed this life at or near Meaux, where her spiritual fathers, St. Fiacre and St. Faro, lived. A part of St. Syra's relics remain in theplace,wheresheissaidtohavedied,atTroyes. There,too,wasbuilta small church, greatly frequented by pilgrims, while numberless miracles were wrought at her tomb. 2 ? A part of her relics were transferred to Troyes. A long time after her death, during the episcopate of Jean d'Aubinac and Jean d'Auxey at Troyes, her remains were in a shrine of brass, adorned with chas- ings of silver, and with several small images. In the year 1300, Henri de Noa, dean of Troyes, established a rich foundation to celebrate annually, in the church at Troyes, the festival of St. Syra, with an Office of Nine Lessons. In the seventeenth century, her coffin was to be seen, in the little chapel consecratedtohermemory. AccordingtotheRev. AlbanButler,3°shewas
is venerated on the 27th of June and on the
8th of August.
26 If we are to believe Dempster, she
wrote " De Sancta Monica," lib. i. , "Me-
"
Exhortationes ad These are stated, to be kept in the religious houses dedicated to her in Champaigne. See " Historia Ecclesias- tica Gentis bcotorum," tonius ii. , lib. xvii. ,
"
Regia Campanis celebrata est Syria terris,
Cujus quisque piam percipit seger openi.
Linquit arenosos per te gravis hernia renes,
Sanatur meritis fraclio quaeque tuis. Talibus ore meam serves cruciatibus
alvum :
Credimus es tanti vera medela
mali
Ora pro nobis summum, pia Syria,
Regem,
Ut scrupuloso curet viscera nostra
gravi. "
ditationes," lib. i. , and Sorores," lib. i.
num. 1057, p. 577.
27 See Les Petiis Bollandistes'
"
Vies des Saints," tome vi. , viiie Jour de Juin, p.
:
530.
28 See " Historia Ecclesiastica Gentis Sco-
torum," tomus ii. , lib. xvii,, num. 1037,
P. 577- 3»FromanoldManuscript,weinsertthe
following verses, referring to St. Syria, whose intercession was deemed to be spe-
cially pow—erful for the cure of very painful
From the word Regia, in the foregoing line, Menard considers the saint invoked to have been of royal descent, and not to be distin- guished from that Syria, the sister of St.
diseases
:
Fiacre,
and
daughter
to the Scottish
king.
June 8. ] LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. 249
honoured at Troyes on the 8th of June p1 while her festival was kept at Meaux, on the 23rd of October. 32 In Champagne, it is said several churches and religious houses have been dedicated to her. 33 In Scotland, this holy woman was likewise venerated, as we find an entry in the Kalendar of Adam King, at the 8th of June, regarding S. Syre, sister to S. Fiacre. 34 Her festival is inserted in the " Menologium Scotorum "3S of Thomas Dempster. 36 Her feast is also entered, in the Gallic Martyrology of Saussaye. The name of St. Syra, Virgin, occurs in Butler's Lives of the Saints,37 and in the Circle of
The shrine of St. was cast in the Syra
the 8 at the 8th of Seasons,3
June.
flames, on the 2 7th of March, 1 794 ; but, it pleased the Almighty, to preserve
the remains of His servant. Her relics were authenticated in 1826, and in 1835. Portions of St. Syra's remains are yet preserved in the Parishes of St.
Martin-es-Vignes, of Rilly-Sainte-Syre, of Chene, and of Jully-le-Chatel. 39 Irrespective of foreign testimonies, we do not know, that the present saint had been honoured in Ireland,40 at this date.
Article IV. —St. Airmedach, or Ermedhach, Abbot of Cong,
County of Mavo. On the 8th of in the of
Regular
of the Order of St. 6 The ruins at Augustine.
Cong
^ are
yet seen,
30 See "Lives of the Fathers, Martyrs Kelly, p. xxvi.
and other principal Saints," vol. vi. , June viii. 31 At this date, in Manuscript Martyrolo-
2
There is an engraving, with a descrip-
gies belonging
to and to the Carme- Troyes
Grose's " of vol. Antiquities Ireland," ii. , p.
81. The view is from an original drawing,
by Bigari.
3 His feast has been assigned to the 17th
of April, where a further account of him and of Cong may be found in Volume iv. of this work, at that date, Art. ii.
* See Dr. O'Donovan's "Annals of the
5 See William F. Wakeman's Tourists'
Guide to Ireland," p. 275.
6 An various
account of the Congrega-
tions belonging to the Augustinian Order may be found in " Histoire Complete et Costumes des Ordres Monastiques, Reli- gieux et Militaires, et des Congregations Seculieres des deux Sexes ;" par le R. P. Helyot, avec Notice, Annotationis et Com- plement, par V. Philipon de la Madelaine, tomeii. , pp. 261 to 335.
7 Forillustrations anda descriptionof them, the tourist is referred to " Handbook of the Midland Great Western Railway, and Guide to Connemara and the West of Ireland,"
pp. 61 to 64.
lite Monastery at Cologne, this feast is en-
32 See, also, our notices of St. Syra or St. Sira, at the same day.
" tered :
In territorio Tricassinensi B. Syrise matronae. "
"
Gentis Scotorum," tomus ii. , lib. xvii. , num.
33 See Dempster's
Historia Ecclesiastica
1037, p. 577-
34 See Bishop Forbes'
tish Saints," p. 154-
36 See Bishop Forbes' "Kalendars of Scot-
tish Saints," p. 202.
37 See vol. vi. , viii. June.
38 See p. 160.
39 See Les Petits Bollandistes, "Vies des
Saints," tomevi. , viiie Juin, pp. 530, 531.
40 The Rev. Alban Butler states, that in
of our Island, she had been vene- rated, on the 8th of June. See " Lives of the Fathers, Martyrs and other principal Saints,"
55 :" In Thus
Campania Syrae regis filiae, S. Fiacrii sororis, ML. BT. "
some
parts
vol. vi. , June vii—i. Article iv.
'
Edited by Rev. Dr.
1 June, Martyrology Tallagh,
appearsthenameAirmedachaCunga. ThisplaceisnowknownasCong,
delightfully situated at the head of Lough Corrib, and in the county of Mayo. 2 About its early ecclesiastical history, little appears to be known ; but, it is
probable, a bishop had been here, from an early period. The founder seems to have been a St. Molocus, or as otherwise called St. Loichen,3 whose name is found to be connected with the place. But his period does not appear to have been discovered. In n14, Cunga was destroyed by fire;4 and, as Gilla-Keerin O'Roda and O'Draeda, two of its Erenachs or Conventual superiors, are stated to have died, a. d. 1 127-28, it is not improbable, 5 that some time within these dates, a fine abbey was founded, which belonged to Canons
tion of Cong Abbey, County of Mayo, in
Four Masters," vol. ii. , pp. 998, 999. ""
Kalendars of Scot-
250 LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. [June 8.
inagoodstateofpreservation; and,theyareatrulypicturesquegroup,ina district celebrated for the loveliness of its natural features. They have
undergone restoration, at the instance and expense of the lately deceased
public-spirited proprietor, Sir Benjamin Lee Guinness. 8 Though not exactly an island, Cong is surrounded by water ; while the town or rather village is
situated upon an isthmus, by which Loughs Corrib and Mask are divided. "
TheoldnameCunga,inIrish,means aneck,"sothatthesiteisveryappro-
priately described, as indeed, many of the Celtic denominations preserved in Ireland are indicative of the local peculiarities connected with them. 9 The
delightfully situated village of Cong is remarkably rich in scenery, natural wonders, and antiquities. Here, there is a curious cave , called u the Pigeon Hole," to which a flight of stone steps descends, from the upper surface of the
nificent mansion, while
a — the feast of
while, at the bottom, runs a subterraneous river, that petrifies
blocks. 10 We find, set down in the of 11 Martyrology Donegal,
ground outside ;
Article V. —St. Murchon, or Murchu, Mac Ua Maichtene.
Except our knowledge, that the present holy man lived at an early period, nothing seems to have been discovered, to ascertain his identity and place.
into
that a festival in honour of Ermedhach, Abbot of Conga, was celebrated on this day.
transparent
The festival of Murchu is announced in the " Feilire" of St.
8th of June, and in terms denoting its importance. A comment adds, that he was son of Ua-Mathcene, and that his city was in Ui-Faelain. 2 The exact locality, however, is not specified. Another saint, called Murchu, is venerated, also, in our Martyrologies, at the 12th ofJune. 3 This name appears as Murchon Mac h.
Machteni, in the Martyrology of Tallagh,* at the 8th of June. However, the patronymic does not give a clue to his remote ancestry. He is also commemorated, in the Martyrology ©f Marianus O'Gorman ; but, without any particulars, to indicate his date or history. Notwithstanding, it seems probable enough, that he flourished in the seventh century, and that he was addicted to literary pursuits. This may be gleaned, from some detached indications, as existing in an undoubtedly ancient and genuine
document. An ancient writer of St. Patrick's Acts, called Machutenus in Latin,5 issupposedtohavebeenidenticalwithMuirchuMaccuMactheni,a copy of whose Vita S. Patricii 6 is to be found in that very old Manuscript,
8 He purchased the estate on which they are situated, and near Cong he built a mag-
In English: "The reception of the Holy Job after victory and white battle : the feast
of Medran
Murchu with
well all resident Irish landlord. His son and successor has been created Lord
Ardilaun.
9 See William F. Wakeman's "Tourists'
Guide to Ireland," p. 275.
Bishop Pococke said it was the most b—eautiful place he had seen in all his travels. " Rev. G. Hansbrow's " Improved Topo- graphical and Historical Hibernian Gazet-
teer," p. 180.
" Edited by Drs. Todd and Reeves,
the duties of a
good
Transactions
10 "
of the Royal Irish Academy," Irish Manu-
script Series, vol. i. , part i. On the Calendar
of Oengus, by Whitley Stokes, LL. D. , p.
xciii.
3
See ibid. , p. xcix.
3 As his feast does not occur in the
" Feilire," at this date, he is probably later in point of time than the present holy man.
* Edited by Rev. Dr. Kelly, p. xxvi.
pp. 148, 149. — Article v. —
s
See Colgan's "Trias Thaumaturga,"
ad Acta S. Patricii.
copy we find
:
4if«iciu innoem 1oib
it has been
lished, in the "Analecta Bollandiana," tomus
i. , p. 531, etseq.
1 An entry in it notices the election of the
Abbot of St. James' Monastery of Erfurth, A. D. 1332.
discharging
great solace, great grace. "
"
'""
In the
Leabhar Breac
Appendix 6
lArvmbuAiT) Aguf bAnch<\ch
Veil meo]\Ain ino|\ troTOnAT) t? eil murchon comofuvcri.
Lately
ably edited,
and
pub-
^Engus,
1 at the
June 8. ] LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. 251
knownastheBookofArmagh. ItiswritteninTwoBooks,anditcontains
Forty-one chapters. Another copy is to be found in a Manuscript, contain- ing Lives of Saints, and formerly belonging to the Irish Monastery, without the walls of Wurzbourg. 7 This latter Life of St. Patrick is more complete than the former. 8 The writer announces, that although many authors before himself had written the Acts of our Irish Apostle; yet, they did not succeed in givingaverycertainhistoryorbiographyofthesaint. MuirchuMaccumach- teni is said to have been a contemporary of Aid, Bishop over Sletty, who died about the year 698. It was at the suggestion or command of this latter person, that he wrote the Acts of St. Patrick, as they are contained in the Book of Armagh. 9 Nay more, the writer declares, that Aid dictated the work
for him xo this seems ; but,
that he with criticism and directed,
to
assistance, the actual compiler, who used uncertain authorities, and who en-
deavoured to abridge, as also to reconcile, some inconsistencies of narrative.
The style is very archaic, but as some contrarieties of detail are observable in
the text, this latter is thought to have been added to by a later scribe, in the
copies preserved. Muirchu is found to have used the very ancient Confessio
S. Patricii, and in his Life are discovered the introduction of oral traditions.
From it appear to be drawn many of those legends, which are to be found in
the Acts of St. Patrick, while the Irish words met with do not receive any
Latin 11 The"Liber 13 now in explanation. Hymnorum," preserved Trinity
Latin,
and in Irish " The of St. Colman in characters, Hymn M'Murchon,
only
mean,
College, Dublin—of which the late Dr. Todd, edited a portion —contains in
So far as the editor knew, it was never previously printed, nor did he find any other copy of it elsewhere. This Hymn has been ascribed to the three sons of Murchu of the Connacians, or of Connaught ; the eldest of those having been Colman, a bishop, while the other two were priests. From the ancedotes preserved in the Scholiast's Pre- face, the editor thinks it probable, that the author and his brothers belonged to the number of Irish ecclesiastics, who devoted themselves to literary labours or monastic retirement on the Continent of Europe, during the eighth and following centuries. Among the bright spirits that move around the
"
Throne of God, St. Michael the Archangel, after
rable Virgin," as we find styled the Mother of our Lord, seems to have held the highest place in the affections of our forefathers. And, to this day, many of theoldIrisharecalledafterhisname. Itisthoughttobemostprobable,that the writer was the Colman Mac-Murchon, or son of Murchu, abbot of Movilla, to whom the scholiast has ascribed the authorship of that interesting hymn. If
praise of Michael the Archangel. "13
8
It gives the five first additional para- graphs, which owing to the loss of a folio are missing from the Book of Armagh. It also explains many obscure passages in the
text of that old Manuscript. "
9 See Vita Sancti Patricii Hibernorum Apostoli Auctore Muirchu Mac-cumach- theni et Tirechani Collectanea de S. Patri- cio. " Nunc primum integra ex Libro Arma- chano ope Codicis Bruxellensis edidit R. P. Edmundus Hogan, S. J. operam conferenti- bus P. P. Bollandianis (Excerptum ex Ana- lectis Bollandianis. ) Praefatio, p. 14. Brux- elles, 1882, 8vo.
10 Owing to this circumstance, and the ex-
we
Sletty.
" See a learned French tract, by Benja-
min Robert, " Etude Critique sur la Vie et
PCEuvre de Saint Patrick. " Deuxieme
Partie, pp. 35, 37, 39 to 42. Paris, 1884, 8vo.
used in the
bably infer, that Muirchu lived for some time under him in religious obedience at
assigned to a later date than the ninth or
tenth century, may safely be pronounced one
of the most venerable monuments of Chris-
tian antiquity now remaining in Europe. " —Advertisement to the le-abh^rx 1mumn "The Book of Hymns of the Ancient Church of Ireland," Fasciculus i. , p. i.
I3 See pars ii. , pp. 165 to 170.
I4 In a communication to the "Ulster
Weekly Examiner," dated Hollywood, March 17th, 1871.
pressions
text,
may pro-
I2
"This beautiful MS. , which cannot be
the greatest, the holy, vene-
252 LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. [June 8.
so, he flourished in the eighth century. The Rev. James O'Laverty has given • a word-for-word and line-for-line translation from the original Latin. The
popularity of this hymn among the old Irish, and its connection with Moville, made him desirous of obtaining, for use of the children, a metrical trans- lation, from the gifted pen of Denis Florence McCarthy. The request, con-
veyed through
a mutual
friend,
15 was most
obligingly
acceded 16 and with a to,
surprising command of versification, the poet has reproduced it, in an English
1
dress, closely adhering to the literal meaning. ^ Another metrical version of
18
it has appeared, in a local provincial paper.
'SJohn William Fitzpatrick, Esq. , so celebrated as a most successful writer of Irish Biographies and other works.
16 Sent in a letter, dated March 15th,
Now, it is sufficiently probable,
1871.
J 7 The following is the English metrical
me may holy Raphael plead— For me may all the angelic choirs for
ever intercede.
" May the great King's eternal halls re- ceive me freed from stain and sin,
That I the joys of Paradise may share with Christ therein.
"Glory for aye be given to God—for aye to Father and to Son—
For aye unto the Holy Ghost, with them in council one.
" V. May the most holy Saint Michael, the Prince of the Angels de-
fend us.
" R. Who to conduct our souls heaven-
ward
God from the highest doth send
us. "
: translation —
THE HYMN OF ST. COLMAN MACMURCHON, IN PRAISE OF ST. MICHAEL, THE ARCHANGEL.
"
"
"
"
"
"
No wild bird rising from the wave, no omen from the land or sea,
O blessed Trinity, shall shake my fixed trust in thee.
No name to God or demon given, no synonyme of sin or shame,
Shall make me cease to supplicate the Archangel Michael's name.
That he, by God the leader led, may meet my soul that awful day,
When from this body and this life it trembling takes its way.
Lest the demoniac power of him, who is at once the foot of pride
And prince of darkness, force it then from the true path aside.
May Michael the Archangel turn that hour, elsewhere so dark and sad,
18
we here give the text, as found in the "Leinster Independent" of April 8th, 1871.
HYMN OF ST. COLMAN MACMURCHON, IN PRAISE OF MICHAEL THE ARCHANGEL.
To one, when angels will rejoice, and " all the just be glad.
Him I besceeh that he avert from me the fiend's malignant face,
And lead me to the realm of rest in God's own dwelling-place.
In the Trinity my hope is fixed omen shall attract its flame ;
—
no
" May holy Michael, day and night, he knowing well my need, be nigh
To me in the of the place fellowship
good saints on high.
" May holy Michael, an approved as- sistant, when all else may fail,
Plead for me, sinner that I am, in thought and act so frail.
" May holy Michael, in his strength, my parting soul from harm defend,
And the Archangel I beseech still, Blessed Michael called by name, That he meet me, and be sent me, by
his leader God above,
When from this body and this life,
my soul shall seek the Throne of
Love, —
Lest the Minister of Violent —Deeds
the Prince of Darkness Foot of
Pride-
Seduce my soul from heavenly
thoughts, and into woe my foot-
steps guide.
May Blessed Michael, the Archangel,
at that hour assistance bring
To succour me, when choirs of angels
and the just rejoice and sing.
Till circled by the myriad saints in heaven, its flight doth end.
" For me may holy Gabriel pray—for
Lest it might not be generally known,
June 8. ] LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. 253
that the saint, whose name is prefixed to this article, was one of those priests, brothers to St. Colman. The Scholiast Preface informs us, that Colman Mac Murchon, with his brothers, afterwards returned to Ireland, where he appears to have died. 1 ? At a. d. 731, is recorded the death of Colman M'Murchon,
or son of
Murchon,
Abbot of
20 near Strangford Lough.
the church
This was occa-
founded sionally
local
by
St.
Finian,
Maghbile, 21 at the head of
Newtownards,
as we find an
in the Irish Annals. 22 From the — forward the
in the seventh
a
prelates year 731 year
bishop's See,
century,
— of several
whichthe"FourMasters"
at Colman'sdeath Movillaisnoticedinthe
place
who died in 731, a bishop, but only abbot. It does not follow, however,
thathewasnota We bishop.
" as
Annals," being governed by
abbots 23 donotcall
only. They Colman,
in the
Murchu Mac Ua Maichtene having been venerated on this day.
read,
Martyrology
Article VI. —St. Meadhran, Mac Ua Maichten, also called
MadrineorMedrain. ThenameMedranis theonlyentrywefindcon- 1
cerning him, in the Martyrology of Tallagh, at the 8th of June. The " Feilire " of St. ^Engus also announces the festival of St. Medran, with praise, at the 8th of June. * From a comment affixed, we are informed, that Medrdn and Murchu were sons of the grandson of —Mac Teni. The Scholiast adds,
3
however, that he knew not where these are viz. , buried. Still he charac-
terizesthepresentholymanasMedrariofDaireMicMarga. Weareunable
to identify this place. This day is entered in the Martyrology of Donegal,* thevenerationofMeadhran,MacUaMoichten. s InScotland,thememory
I beseech him that he banish from my
sight the vengeful face
Of the enemy, and lead me to the
good souls' resting-place.
May Holy Michael succour me by
night and day, and by restraints From every ill, adapt me to the
fellowship of the good saints.
May Holy Michael, loved assistant,
for me, frail being, intercede,
For I'm a sinner, dreadful sinner, and
in thought, and word, and deed ; May Holy Michael e'er defend me by
Of the Archangels, e'er defend us.
" E. Whom, to receive our souls at
death,
The Most High God doth ever
his and great
heavenly strength,
19 See Very Rev. Dr. James Henthorn Todd's teAbharv 1muin. The " Book of Hymns of the Ancient Church of Ireland," Fasciculus ii. , sect, viii. , pp. 165, 166.
20 See Dr. O'Donovan's " Annals of the Four Masters," vol. i. , pp. 328, 329.
And saints, in thousands, at the hour
when soul and body part at length ; May Holy Gabriel and Blessed Raphael pray for me in time of
need,
And may the angels and archangels
ever for me intercede
May the King of Kings' eternal halls
be op'ed to me when death has
riven vol.
The thread of life, that I, with Christ, may ever share the joys of heaven. Glory ever be to God, and to the
Father, and the Son,
And likewise to the Holy Ghost, the
148, 149. — Article vi.
«
Edited
Rev.
Dr.
three divines in council one. "
Kelly, p. xxvi.
2 See "Transactions of the Royal Irish
Academy," Irish Manuscript Series, vol. i. f part i. On the Calendar of Oengus, p. xciii.
3 See ibid. , p. xcix.
V. May Holy Michael, the most worthy
;
"
23 See Very Rev.
22 See Rev. Alban Butler's " Lives of the Fathers, Martyrs and other principal Saints,"
having governed the Church of Meaux for
forty-six years. See Dom. Toussaints Du vol. vi. , June viii.
*3 On the left bank of the Seine, the capital
of Aube Department, containing a splendid
Her chief feast is held on the 6th of De-
cember. She departed this life on the 3rd "Gazetteer of the World," vol. xiii. , p.
" tome i. , liv, i.
Plessis'
Histoire de l'Eglise de Meaux,"
'•
cathedral, the seat of an Archbishop. See
of April, about the year 655. See ibid.
'» However, we do not find this word, under either form in the Dictionnaire Celti- que of M. Bullet, in his " Memoires sur la
176.
2« His festival occurs, at the 29th of
January,
2s St. Poma, Virgin of Chalons-sur-Marne,
geus. "
ai "
In Pensees Chretiennes et Morales,"
he " Elle enfanta a Saint says : Jesus-Christ
Faron, son frere, que je ne puis nommer sans confusion ei sans consolation : sans
voirs ; sans confusion, parce qu'il m'accable mon infirmite par l'example de ses vertus. Diocese de Meaux, ce que tu dois a Fare e—st inestimable
; tu lui dois Saint Faron. "
248 LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. [June 8.
cises. From this place, she occasionally visited Chalons, and she withdrew often to the pious virgins of the community of Sainte-Pome. 25 She communi- cated to them that Divine fire of love, with which her heart was filled, repeat-
ing often these beautiful words " Oh vile, despicable and infected is earth
:
to me, when I look upon Heaven ! Vanity of vanities and all is vanity,
except to serve God, and to love Him only ! " The reputation of Syra's great sanctity soon spread through all the surrounding country. A request was made to her, that she would quit her cell to visit a community of women, which
hadrelaxedreligiousfervour,inorderthatagainshemightrestoreit. Through humility, not conceiving herself called to become a religious reformer, and doubting her powers of persuasion, she hesitated for a long time. How-
ever, to promote God's greater glory in the salvation of souls, she accepted the mission, at last, and she laboured zealously to effect the desired change. She succeeded, in an admirable manner, not less to her own astonishment, than to that of others, who knew the disagreeable nature of her task. Having thus restored order in that community, she returned to her little cell, near the tomb of St. Savinien. There she buried herself in exercises of penitence to
She departed on the 8th of June, sometime in the 2
!
26 The tocrownSt. sooncalledher Almighty, willing Syra,
theendofher
away from this life.
seventh century. It is said, by some writers, ? the year of her departure was
days.
640 to itwasa. d. ; according Dempster,
28 Her was
body buried,
643.
according to one statement, in the small chapel she had built, near the tomb
of St. Savinien. It was deposited within a stone coffin. Another account has it, that she departed this life at or near Meaux, where her spiritual fathers, St. Fiacre and St. Faro, lived. A part of St. Syra's relics remain in theplace,wheresheissaidtohavedied,atTroyes. There,too,wasbuilta small church, greatly frequented by pilgrims, while numberless miracles were wrought at her tomb. 2 ? A part of her relics were transferred to Troyes. A long time after her death, during the episcopate of Jean d'Aubinac and Jean d'Auxey at Troyes, her remains were in a shrine of brass, adorned with chas- ings of silver, and with several small images. In the year 1300, Henri de Noa, dean of Troyes, established a rich foundation to celebrate annually, in the church at Troyes, the festival of St. Syra, with an Office of Nine Lessons. In the seventeenth century, her coffin was to be seen, in the little chapel consecratedtohermemory. AccordingtotheRev. AlbanButler,3°shewas
is venerated on the 27th of June and on the
8th of August.
26 If we are to believe Dempster, she
wrote " De Sancta Monica," lib. i. , "Me-
"
Exhortationes ad These are stated, to be kept in the religious houses dedicated to her in Champaigne. See " Historia Ecclesias- tica Gentis bcotorum," tonius ii. , lib. xvii. ,
"
Regia Campanis celebrata est Syria terris,
Cujus quisque piam percipit seger openi.
Linquit arenosos per te gravis hernia renes,
Sanatur meritis fraclio quaeque tuis. Talibus ore meam serves cruciatibus
alvum :
Credimus es tanti vera medela
mali
Ora pro nobis summum, pia Syria,
Regem,
Ut scrupuloso curet viscera nostra
gravi. "
ditationes," lib. i. , and Sorores," lib. i.
num. 1057, p. 577.
27 See Les Petiis Bollandistes'
"
Vies des Saints," tome vi. , viiie Jour de Juin, p.
:
530.
28 See " Historia Ecclesiastica Gentis Sco-
torum," tomus ii. , lib. xvii,, num. 1037,
P. 577- 3»FromanoldManuscript,weinsertthe
following verses, referring to St. Syria, whose intercession was deemed to be spe-
cially pow—erful for the cure of very painful
From the word Regia, in the foregoing line, Menard considers the saint invoked to have been of royal descent, and not to be distin- guished from that Syria, the sister of St.
diseases
:
Fiacre,
and
daughter
to the Scottish
king.
June 8. ] LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. 249
honoured at Troyes on the 8th of June p1 while her festival was kept at Meaux, on the 23rd of October. 32 In Champagne, it is said several churches and religious houses have been dedicated to her. 33 In Scotland, this holy woman was likewise venerated, as we find an entry in the Kalendar of Adam King, at the 8th of June, regarding S. Syre, sister to S. Fiacre. 34 Her festival is inserted in the " Menologium Scotorum "3S of Thomas Dempster. 36 Her feast is also entered, in the Gallic Martyrology of Saussaye. The name of St. Syra, Virgin, occurs in Butler's Lives of the Saints,37 and in the Circle of
The shrine of St. was cast in the Syra
the 8 at the 8th of Seasons,3
June.
flames, on the 2 7th of March, 1 794 ; but, it pleased the Almighty, to preserve
the remains of His servant. Her relics were authenticated in 1826, and in 1835. Portions of St. Syra's remains are yet preserved in the Parishes of St.
Martin-es-Vignes, of Rilly-Sainte-Syre, of Chene, and of Jully-le-Chatel. 39 Irrespective of foreign testimonies, we do not know, that the present saint had been honoured in Ireland,40 at this date.
Article IV. —St. Airmedach, or Ermedhach, Abbot of Cong,
County of Mavo. On the 8th of in the of
Regular
of the Order of St. 6 The ruins at Augustine.
Cong
^ are
yet seen,
30 See "Lives of the Fathers, Martyrs Kelly, p. xxvi.
and other principal Saints," vol. vi. , June viii. 31 At this date, in Manuscript Martyrolo-
2
There is an engraving, with a descrip-
gies belonging
to and to the Carme- Troyes
Grose's " of vol. Antiquities Ireland," ii. , p.
81. The view is from an original drawing,
by Bigari.
3 His feast has been assigned to the 17th
of April, where a further account of him and of Cong may be found in Volume iv. of this work, at that date, Art. ii.
* See Dr. O'Donovan's "Annals of the
5 See William F. Wakeman's Tourists'
Guide to Ireland," p. 275.
6 An various
account of the Congrega-
tions belonging to the Augustinian Order may be found in " Histoire Complete et Costumes des Ordres Monastiques, Reli- gieux et Militaires, et des Congregations Seculieres des deux Sexes ;" par le R. P. Helyot, avec Notice, Annotationis et Com- plement, par V. Philipon de la Madelaine, tomeii. , pp. 261 to 335.
7 Forillustrations anda descriptionof them, the tourist is referred to " Handbook of the Midland Great Western Railway, and Guide to Connemara and the West of Ireland,"
pp. 61 to 64.
lite Monastery at Cologne, this feast is en-
32 See, also, our notices of St. Syra or St. Sira, at the same day.
" tered :
In territorio Tricassinensi B. Syrise matronae. "
"
Gentis Scotorum," tomus ii. , lib. xvii. , num.
33 See Dempster's
Historia Ecclesiastica
1037, p. 577-
34 See Bishop Forbes'
tish Saints," p. 154-
36 See Bishop Forbes' "Kalendars of Scot-
tish Saints," p. 202.
37 See vol. vi. , viii. June.
38 See p. 160.
39 See Les Petits Bollandistes, "Vies des
Saints," tomevi. , viiie Juin, pp. 530, 531.
40 The Rev. Alban Butler states, that in
of our Island, she had been vene- rated, on the 8th of June. See " Lives of the Fathers, Martyrs and other principal Saints,"
55 :" In Thus
Campania Syrae regis filiae, S. Fiacrii sororis, ML. BT. "
some
parts
vol. vi. , June vii—i. Article iv.
'
Edited by Rev. Dr.
1 June, Martyrology Tallagh,
appearsthenameAirmedachaCunga. ThisplaceisnowknownasCong,
delightfully situated at the head of Lough Corrib, and in the county of Mayo. 2 About its early ecclesiastical history, little appears to be known ; but, it is
probable, a bishop had been here, from an early period. The founder seems to have been a St. Molocus, or as otherwise called St. Loichen,3 whose name is found to be connected with the place. But his period does not appear to have been discovered. In n14, Cunga was destroyed by fire;4 and, as Gilla-Keerin O'Roda and O'Draeda, two of its Erenachs or Conventual superiors, are stated to have died, a. d. 1 127-28, it is not improbable, 5 that some time within these dates, a fine abbey was founded, which belonged to Canons
tion of Cong Abbey, County of Mayo, in
Four Masters," vol. ii. , pp. 998, 999. ""
Kalendars of Scot-
250 LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. [June 8.
inagoodstateofpreservation; and,theyareatrulypicturesquegroup,ina district celebrated for the loveliness of its natural features. They have
undergone restoration, at the instance and expense of the lately deceased
public-spirited proprietor, Sir Benjamin Lee Guinness. 8 Though not exactly an island, Cong is surrounded by water ; while the town or rather village is
situated upon an isthmus, by which Loughs Corrib and Mask are divided. "
TheoldnameCunga,inIrish,means aneck,"sothatthesiteisveryappro-
priately described, as indeed, many of the Celtic denominations preserved in Ireland are indicative of the local peculiarities connected with them. 9 The
delightfully situated village of Cong is remarkably rich in scenery, natural wonders, and antiquities. Here, there is a curious cave , called u the Pigeon Hole," to which a flight of stone steps descends, from the upper surface of the
nificent mansion, while
a — the feast of
while, at the bottom, runs a subterraneous river, that petrifies
blocks. 10 We find, set down in the of 11 Martyrology Donegal,
ground outside ;
Article V. —St. Murchon, or Murchu, Mac Ua Maichtene.
Except our knowledge, that the present holy man lived at an early period, nothing seems to have been discovered, to ascertain his identity and place.
into
that a festival in honour of Ermedhach, Abbot of Conga, was celebrated on this day.
transparent
The festival of Murchu is announced in the " Feilire" of St.
8th of June, and in terms denoting its importance. A comment adds, that he was son of Ua-Mathcene, and that his city was in Ui-Faelain. 2 The exact locality, however, is not specified. Another saint, called Murchu, is venerated, also, in our Martyrologies, at the 12th ofJune. 3 This name appears as Murchon Mac h.
Machteni, in the Martyrology of Tallagh,* at the 8th of June. However, the patronymic does not give a clue to his remote ancestry. He is also commemorated, in the Martyrology ©f Marianus O'Gorman ; but, without any particulars, to indicate his date or history. Notwithstanding, it seems probable enough, that he flourished in the seventh century, and that he was addicted to literary pursuits. This may be gleaned, from some detached indications, as existing in an undoubtedly ancient and genuine
document. An ancient writer of St. Patrick's Acts, called Machutenus in Latin,5 issupposedtohavebeenidenticalwithMuirchuMaccuMactheni,a copy of whose Vita S. Patricii 6 is to be found in that very old Manuscript,
8 He purchased the estate on which they are situated, and near Cong he built a mag-
In English: "The reception of the Holy Job after victory and white battle : the feast
of Medran
Murchu with
well all resident Irish landlord. His son and successor has been created Lord
Ardilaun.
9 See William F. Wakeman's "Tourists'
Guide to Ireland," p. 275.
Bishop Pococke said it was the most b—eautiful place he had seen in all his travels. " Rev. G. Hansbrow's " Improved Topo- graphical and Historical Hibernian Gazet-
teer," p. 180.
" Edited by Drs. Todd and Reeves,
the duties of a
good
Transactions
10 "
of the Royal Irish Academy," Irish Manu-
script Series, vol. i. , part i. On the Calendar
of Oengus, by Whitley Stokes, LL. D. , p.
xciii.
3
See ibid. , p. xcix.
3 As his feast does not occur in the
" Feilire," at this date, he is probably later in point of time than the present holy man.
* Edited by Rev. Dr. Kelly, p. xxvi.
pp. 148, 149. — Article v. —
s
See Colgan's "Trias Thaumaturga,"
ad Acta S. Patricii.
copy we find
:
4if«iciu innoem 1oib
it has been
lished, in the "Analecta Bollandiana," tomus
i. , p. 531, etseq.
1 An entry in it notices the election of the
Abbot of St. James' Monastery of Erfurth, A. D. 1332.
discharging
great solace, great grace. "
"
'""
In the
Leabhar Breac
Appendix 6
lArvmbuAiT) Aguf bAnch<\ch
Veil meo]\Ain ino|\ troTOnAT) t? eil murchon comofuvcri.
Lately
ably edited,
and
pub-
^Engus,
1 at the
June 8. ] LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. 251
knownastheBookofArmagh. ItiswritteninTwoBooks,anditcontains
Forty-one chapters. Another copy is to be found in a Manuscript, contain- ing Lives of Saints, and formerly belonging to the Irish Monastery, without the walls of Wurzbourg. 7 This latter Life of St. Patrick is more complete than the former. 8 The writer announces, that although many authors before himself had written the Acts of our Irish Apostle; yet, they did not succeed in givingaverycertainhistoryorbiographyofthesaint. MuirchuMaccumach- teni is said to have been a contemporary of Aid, Bishop over Sletty, who died about the year 698. It was at the suggestion or command of this latter person, that he wrote the Acts of St. Patrick, as they are contained in the Book of Armagh. 9 Nay more, the writer declares, that Aid dictated the work
for him xo this seems ; but,
that he with criticism and directed,
to
assistance, the actual compiler, who used uncertain authorities, and who en-
deavoured to abridge, as also to reconcile, some inconsistencies of narrative.
The style is very archaic, but as some contrarieties of detail are observable in
the text, this latter is thought to have been added to by a later scribe, in the
copies preserved. Muirchu is found to have used the very ancient Confessio
S. Patricii, and in his Life are discovered the introduction of oral traditions.
From it appear to be drawn many of those legends, which are to be found in
the Acts of St. Patrick, while the Irish words met with do not receive any
Latin 11 The"Liber 13 now in explanation. Hymnorum," preserved Trinity
Latin,
and in Irish " The of St. Colman in characters, Hymn M'Murchon,
only
mean,
College, Dublin—of which the late Dr. Todd, edited a portion —contains in
So far as the editor knew, it was never previously printed, nor did he find any other copy of it elsewhere. This Hymn has been ascribed to the three sons of Murchu of the Connacians, or of Connaught ; the eldest of those having been Colman, a bishop, while the other two were priests. From the ancedotes preserved in the Scholiast's Pre- face, the editor thinks it probable, that the author and his brothers belonged to the number of Irish ecclesiastics, who devoted themselves to literary labours or monastic retirement on the Continent of Europe, during the eighth and following centuries. Among the bright spirits that move around the
"
Throne of God, St. Michael the Archangel, after
rable Virgin," as we find styled the Mother of our Lord, seems to have held the highest place in the affections of our forefathers. And, to this day, many of theoldIrisharecalledafterhisname. Itisthoughttobemostprobable,that the writer was the Colman Mac-Murchon, or son of Murchu, abbot of Movilla, to whom the scholiast has ascribed the authorship of that interesting hymn. If
praise of Michael the Archangel. "13
8
It gives the five first additional para- graphs, which owing to the loss of a folio are missing from the Book of Armagh. It also explains many obscure passages in the
text of that old Manuscript. "
9 See Vita Sancti Patricii Hibernorum Apostoli Auctore Muirchu Mac-cumach- theni et Tirechani Collectanea de S. Patri- cio. " Nunc primum integra ex Libro Arma- chano ope Codicis Bruxellensis edidit R. P. Edmundus Hogan, S. J. operam conferenti- bus P. P. Bollandianis (Excerptum ex Ana- lectis Bollandianis. ) Praefatio, p. 14. Brux- elles, 1882, 8vo.
10 Owing to this circumstance, and the ex-
we
Sletty.
" See a learned French tract, by Benja-
min Robert, " Etude Critique sur la Vie et
PCEuvre de Saint Patrick. " Deuxieme
Partie, pp. 35, 37, 39 to 42. Paris, 1884, 8vo.
used in the
bably infer, that Muirchu lived for some time under him in religious obedience at
assigned to a later date than the ninth or
tenth century, may safely be pronounced one
of the most venerable monuments of Chris-
tian antiquity now remaining in Europe. " —Advertisement to the le-abh^rx 1mumn "The Book of Hymns of the Ancient Church of Ireland," Fasciculus i. , p. i.
I3 See pars ii. , pp. 165 to 170.
I4 In a communication to the "Ulster
Weekly Examiner," dated Hollywood, March 17th, 1871.
pressions
text,
may pro-
I2
"This beautiful MS. , which cannot be
the greatest, the holy, vene-
252 LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. [June 8.
so, he flourished in the eighth century. The Rev. James O'Laverty has given • a word-for-word and line-for-line translation from the original Latin. The
popularity of this hymn among the old Irish, and its connection with Moville, made him desirous of obtaining, for use of the children, a metrical trans- lation, from the gifted pen of Denis Florence McCarthy. The request, con-
veyed through
a mutual
friend,
15 was most
obligingly
acceded 16 and with a to,
surprising command of versification, the poet has reproduced it, in an English
1
dress, closely adhering to the literal meaning. ^ Another metrical version of
18
it has appeared, in a local provincial paper.
'SJohn William Fitzpatrick, Esq. , so celebrated as a most successful writer of Irish Biographies and other works.
16 Sent in a letter, dated March 15th,
Now, it is sufficiently probable,
1871.
J 7 The following is the English metrical
me may holy Raphael plead— For me may all the angelic choirs for
ever intercede.
" May the great King's eternal halls re- ceive me freed from stain and sin,
That I the joys of Paradise may share with Christ therein.
"Glory for aye be given to God—for aye to Father and to Son—
For aye unto the Holy Ghost, with them in council one.
" V. May the most holy Saint Michael, the Prince of the Angels de-
fend us.
" R. Who to conduct our souls heaven-
ward
God from the highest doth send
us. "
: translation —
THE HYMN OF ST. COLMAN MACMURCHON, IN PRAISE OF ST. MICHAEL, THE ARCHANGEL.
"
"
"
"
"
"
No wild bird rising from the wave, no omen from the land or sea,
O blessed Trinity, shall shake my fixed trust in thee.
No name to God or demon given, no synonyme of sin or shame,
Shall make me cease to supplicate the Archangel Michael's name.
That he, by God the leader led, may meet my soul that awful day,
When from this body and this life it trembling takes its way.
Lest the demoniac power of him, who is at once the foot of pride
And prince of darkness, force it then from the true path aside.
May Michael the Archangel turn that hour, elsewhere so dark and sad,
18
we here give the text, as found in the "Leinster Independent" of April 8th, 1871.
HYMN OF ST. COLMAN MACMURCHON, IN PRAISE OF MICHAEL THE ARCHANGEL.
To one, when angels will rejoice, and " all the just be glad.
Him I besceeh that he avert from me the fiend's malignant face,
And lead me to the realm of rest in God's own dwelling-place.
In the Trinity my hope is fixed omen shall attract its flame ;
—
no
" May holy Michael, day and night, he knowing well my need, be nigh
To me in the of the place fellowship
good saints on high.
" May holy Michael, an approved as- sistant, when all else may fail,
Plead for me, sinner that I am, in thought and act so frail.
" May holy Michael, in his strength, my parting soul from harm defend,
And the Archangel I beseech still, Blessed Michael called by name, That he meet me, and be sent me, by
his leader God above,
When from this body and this life,
my soul shall seek the Throne of
Love, —
Lest the Minister of Violent —Deeds
the Prince of Darkness Foot of
Pride-
Seduce my soul from heavenly
thoughts, and into woe my foot-
steps guide.
May Blessed Michael, the Archangel,
at that hour assistance bring
To succour me, when choirs of angels
and the just rejoice and sing.
Till circled by the myriad saints in heaven, its flight doth end.
" For me may holy Gabriel pray—for
Lest it might not be generally known,
June 8. ] LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. 253
that the saint, whose name is prefixed to this article, was one of those priests, brothers to St. Colman. The Scholiast Preface informs us, that Colman Mac Murchon, with his brothers, afterwards returned to Ireland, where he appears to have died. 1 ? At a. d. 731, is recorded the death of Colman M'Murchon,
or son of
Murchon,
Abbot of
20 near Strangford Lough.
the church
This was occa-
founded sionally
local
by
St.
Finian,
Maghbile, 21 at the head of
Newtownards,
as we find an
in the Irish Annals. 22 From the — forward the
in the seventh
a
prelates year 731 year
bishop's See,
century,
— of several
whichthe"FourMasters"
at Colman'sdeath Movillaisnoticedinthe
place
who died in 731, a bishop, but only abbot. It does not follow, however,
thathewasnota We bishop.
" as
Annals," being governed by
abbots 23 donotcall
only. They Colman,
in the
Murchu Mac Ua Maichtene having been venerated on this day.
read,
Martyrology
Article VI. —St. Meadhran, Mac Ua Maichten, also called
MadrineorMedrain. ThenameMedranis theonlyentrywefindcon- 1
cerning him, in the Martyrology of Tallagh, at the 8th of June. The " Feilire " of St. ^Engus also announces the festival of St. Medran, with praise, at the 8th of June. * From a comment affixed, we are informed, that Medrdn and Murchu were sons of the grandson of —Mac Teni. The Scholiast adds,
3
however, that he knew not where these are viz. , buried. Still he charac-
terizesthepresentholymanasMedrariofDaireMicMarga. Weareunable
to identify this place. This day is entered in the Martyrology of Donegal,* thevenerationofMeadhran,MacUaMoichten. s InScotland,thememory
I beseech him that he banish from my
sight the vengeful face
Of the enemy, and lead me to the
good souls' resting-place.
May Holy Michael succour me by
night and day, and by restraints From every ill, adapt me to the
fellowship of the good saints.
May Holy Michael, loved assistant,
for me, frail being, intercede,
For I'm a sinner, dreadful sinner, and
in thought, and word, and deed ; May Holy Michael e'er defend me by
Of the Archangels, e'er defend us.
" E. Whom, to receive our souls at
death,
The Most High God doth ever
his and great
heavenly strength,
19 See Very Rev. Dr. James Henthorn Todd's teAbharv 1muin. The " Book of Hymns of the Ancient Church of Ireland," Fasciculus ii. , sect, viii. , pp. 165, 166.
20 See Dr. O'Donovan's " Annals of the Four Masters," vol. i. , pp. 328, 329.
And saints, in thousands, at the hour
when soul and body part at length ; May Holy Gabriel and Blessed Raphael pray for me in time of
need,
And may the angels and archangels
ever for me intercede
May the King of Kings' eternal halls
be op'ed to me when death has
riven vol.
The thread of life, that I, with Christ, may ever share the joys of heaven. Glory ever be to God, and to the
Father, and the Son,
And likewise to the Holy Ghost, the
148, 149. — Article vi.
«
Edited
Rev.
Dr.
three divines in council one. "
Kelly, p. xxvi.
2 See "Transactions of the Royal Irish
Academy," Irish Manuscript Series, vol. i. f part i. On the Calendar of Oengus, p. xciii.
3 See ibid. , p. xcix.
V. May Holy Michael, the most worthy
;
"
23 See Very Rev.
