He
restored
a nun to life, it is said, in a church, which was called the Cell of the Mount.
O'Hanlon - Lives of the Irish Saints - v9
Finian, or Winnin, in Bishop Challenor's Brittania Sancta.
"
The Rev. Alban Butler has some notices of him,a3 as likewise the Rev. Dr. Lanigan,24 and mention likewise in the Petits Bollandistes. 2s
The Welch writers call him St. Winnin. 26 Thus, the word Fin of the Irish is changed by the Cambro-Britons into Win and Gwin. 2 ? Under this form of the name Bishop Forbes also treats of St. 'Finen. 28 The birth of this great man, and his future sanctity, are said to have been revealed to St. Patrick, a
long time before his birth.
He sprung from a most noble parentage. His
2 9 and his mother's Lassara. accounts, he was the son of Ultach, King of Ulster. 3°
father's name was
to some His parents seem to have been Christians. Probably, they received the faith, when St. Patrick had been engaged evangelizing that part of Ulster, where they dwelt. They belonged to the illustrious Aradean stock. St. Finnian is said to have sprung fromtheraceofFiatachFinn,or"FiatachtheFair,"monarchofErin. He ruled, only, for the very short period of three years, or from a. d. 37 to 39. 31
that first brought the Gospel into Ireland. " Also, on the word JTiTTOOApp, there is an
Irish comment thus in given
"
i. e. white hair was on him, i. e. Finden. "—Ibid. ,
Carpreus,
According
also with a Fridianus or Frigidianus, Bishop of Lucca, who is marked in the Roman Martyrology, and whose festival occurs on the 1 8th of November.
22
See Part ii. , at September 10th, pp. 124 to 126.
13 See the Second Volume of this work,
the 17th February, Art. xxvi.
'* See the Eighth Volume of this work,
at
at
See Catalogus Actuum Sanctorum quae MS. habentur, Ordine Mensium et Dierum. "
*' See "Acta Sanctorum Hiberniae," Martii
the 31st of August, Art. i. 's"
See Britannicarum Ecclesiarum Anti-
de Septembre, p. 2.
26 "
quitates," cap. xvii. , pp. 493, 494. 16 "
See Bishop Challenor's Britannia
English :
11 """
See fol. 147, 148.
See Scriptorum Illustrium Majoris Britanniae," &c. Centur. i. , cap, 74, and cent, xiv. , cap 19.
23 See Lives of the Fathers, Martyrs, and other principal Saints," vol. ix. , Sep- tember x.
24 See " Ecclesiastical History of Ireland," vol. ii. , chap, x. , sect. vi. and nn. , pp. 25 to 28.
23 See " Vies des Saints," tomexi. , xe Jour
xviii. Vita S. p. 649.
Fridiani, Appendix, cap. v. ,
28 See " Kalendars of Scottish
Saints,"
18
19 M
See Britannicarum Ecclesiarum Anti-
quitates," cap. xvii. , p. 494.
pp. 463 to 466.
29 St. Finnian of Movilla was son of
Cairbre, one of the Dal Fiatach, the royal family of Ulster, and he became the patron saint of the Ultonians. See Rev. William Reeves' "Ecclesiastical Antiquities of Down, Connor and Dromore. " Appendix
A, sect. iii.
3° See Mr. and Mrs. S. C Hallt
" Ireland : its Scenery, Character," &c, vol. iii. , Down, p. 16.
In Pars Hyemalis, fol. xxxviii.
*° " See
tembris x. p. 483.
Acta Sanctorum," tomus iii. , Sep- Among the pretermitted saints,
21
"
The Bollandists remark, likewise, that
Acta Sanctorum Hiberniae," Colgan
in his
not only confounds Finanus or Finnianus with Finbarrus, venerated at this day, but
8
In Ussher's Antiquities
Sancta," part ii. September 10th, p. 124. 87 See Archbishop Ussher's "Britanni-
carum Ecclesiarum Antiquitates," cap. xvii. , p. 494-
21
There is an
256 LIVESOFTHEIRISHSAIATS. [Septemberio.
"
31 See Dr. O'Donovan's
Four Masters," vol. i. , pp. 96 to 99.
32 The Tribe or Race of Fiatach Finn. This warlike tribe was seated in the present county of Down.
33 Mac Donlevy, who, in the twelfth century, offered such a brave resistance to Sir John De Courcy, in Ulster, was head of
'
this
34 Such is the pedigree made out for St.
family.
Finnian or Findian of Magbile, in the
"
Genealogic Sanctilogy," chap. xix.
35 See
Colgan's
" Acta Sanctorum
Hiberniae," xviii. Martii. Appendix ad
Acta S. Fridiani, cap. v. , p. 649.
36 " See that tract,
bo means of subsistence, and were
there
Incipit Catalogus Sanctorum Hiberniae, secundum diversa
the Dal Fiatach32 and our saint therefore descended,33
From this
belonged to the seed of Heremon. St. Finnian was the son of Corpre, son to Ailild, son of Trichem, son to Fieg, son of Imchad, son to Bressal, son of Serchad, son to Fiathach, Finn,34 the monarch of Ireland, already alluded to, who flourished in the beginning of the first age of Christianity. 35
born in Ireland, about the beginning of the sixth century.
The lustre of St. Finnian's virtues, however, was far greater that that dis- tinction drawn from his family and race. It seems likely, from early youth, he desired to lead a religious life. He is set down among the very foremost Saints of the second Class, in that ancient-Irish Catalogue, published by Ussher. Among those old Irish Saints,36 classed in three orders, we find the two Finnians : viz. , he of Clonard, and the present Saint. St. Finnian's first instructions in Christian piety and learning were drawn from a saintly Bishop, knownasColmanofDromore. 37 Hewasrecommendedbyhisparents,to
the care of that holy director, with whom he lived for some years, in the practice of entire obedience and humility. Afterwards, St. Finnian was directed to Coelan,38 the holy Abbot of Noendrum, or Endrum. This venerable Abbot on first seeing young Finian, discovered by a prophetic light his eminent sanctity. Therefore Coelan sought to excuse himself from receiving that disciple, whom he considered to be greatly his superior, both in virtue and grace.
However, he recommended St. Finnian to St. Nennidh or Nennio,39 a celebrated British Prelate. He lived at Candida Casa, in Scotland. This See was then called the great monastery/ St. Nennio is said to have sent his ships to Ireland, with which country, after leaving it, he still maintained close and friendly relations. In one of these Finnian was conveyed to Scot-
1
King,
That holy Prelate received the young man, who soon became one of his most
land. This was agreeably to what Finian had previously foretold/
beloved and favoured 2 disciples/
him the
habit, and trained him, for some years, in monastic discipline, and in the instruction of sacred letters. This course was intended to aid his career. In the study of these literary and religious exercises, he made great progress ;
Annals of the
There,
bishop gave
religious
disappointed in taking fish. He declared
Tempora," published by Archbishop that no person should thenceforth catch
Ussher, in
"
Britannicarum Ecclesiarum
fishes in it, and accordingly the stream changed its course. This tradition is
preserved by the people, that the Garnock in Stevenson has left its former bed dry. See the " New Statistical Account of Scot-
land," vol. v. Ayrshire, pp. 427, 428. Thence he is said to have sought Sacrum
Antiquitates," cap. xvii. , pp. 473, 474.
37 See his Life in the Sixth Volume of
this work, at the 7th June. Art. i.
# See his Acts at the 23rd of June, in the
Sixth Volume of this work. Art. i.
» Or Ninian. His festival comes on the
the
i6th of September, where an account of him may be found in the present volume.
*° See Archbishop Ussher's " Britanni-
carum Ecclesiarum Antiquitates,;' cap. xvii. ,
p. 494.
* l See Bishop Challenor's " Britannia
Sancta," part ii. , September 10th, p. 125. *3 The Breviary of Aberdeen has an account of St. Finnin's or Winnin's arrival and acts in Scotland, which does not accord with what we believe to be the more
probable one here recorded. It relates, that when Winnin landed with his com- panions, they came to a river called Gar- nock for the purpose of fishing, as they had
He was
September jo. ] LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. 257
but, more especially was he a proficient in the science of the Saints. 43 His intellect was illuminated with holy lights from on high. He was already favoured with the gift of miracles; and of these, some instances are recorded. « For the sake of further improvement, Finian travelled to Rome,45 after he had spent some time under Nennio's direction. There, he spent seven years, in the continual study of true wisdom. His faculties were doubtless further developed by his residence in the Eternal City. At the end of the time indicated, he was ordained a Priest. *6 This is referred to about the year 540/7 Returning homeward, he preached the gospel, it is said, to some Pagans, in the neighbourhood of Italy.
His preaching was confirmed with extraordinary miracles.
On arriving in Ireland, he founded the Church and Monastery of Magbile,
andmostprobablynotlaterthana. d. 540/8 HavingbeenconsecratedBishop, by his preaching and life, he very much edified that portion of God's church, and there planted the Gospel seed, destined in after times to fructify and greatly to increase.
CHAPTER II.
TIME WHEN ST. FINIAN FLOURISHED—HIS MIRACLES—FOUNDER OF MAGHBILE AND DRUIM-FIONN MONASTERIES—HIS RELATION AS MASTER TO SOME DISTINGUISHED IRISH SAINTS—HIS LAST ILLNESS AND DEATH—HIS FESTIVALS AND COMMEMORA- TIONS—CONCLUSION.
1
St. Finian flourished during the reign of Tuathal Maelgarb, King of Ireland. The spirit of prophecy was not wanting in this saint; since he foretold that
king's unhappy death. He lived also, during the reign of the succeeding monarch, Dermitius or Diarmaid. 2 His miracles were numerous and greatly celebrated.
He restored a nun to life, it is said, in a church, which was called the Cell of the Mount. The servant of a certain Bishop, that had been drowned, St. Finnian also resuscitated. He recalled to life, by his
Nemus — now Holywood — where he selected a place to dwell with his disciples. There as a result of his prayers a clear well bubbled up. In a good and holy age, we are told, he was chosen bishop by the clerics and people of his country, and having wrought many miracles, he was honourably interred in Kilwinne. This account ends with the sentence—" ubi nunc monachorum viget claritas et illorum virorum sanctitas perpetua. "
43 See Bishop Challoner's " Britannia Sancta," part ii. , September 10th, p. 125. . 44 The Aberdeen Breviary states, that in
praying, and laid the sick man down before him. After a little rest, the infirm youth recovered, and when they carried him home his pristine health was restored.
4s Such is the account left by John Cap-
grave. v
46 See Ussher's " Britannicarum Ecclesi-
arum Antiquitates," cap. xvii. , p. 494.
47 See ibid. > Index Chronologicus ad a. d.
48 "
gee Tjr# Lanigan's Ecclesiastical
History of Ireland," vol. ii. , chap, x. , sect.
'According to Capgrave, Kilwinnin, Scotland, a certain person Tuathal Maelgarbh reigned from a. d. 528
laboured under wliat was supposed to be an
incurable disease, but his friends brought
him to the basilica of St. Winni'n that he
might be cured. Now there stood outside
of the church a stone cross marvellously
constructed, which during his lifetime
Blessed V\ innin had erected in honour of began his reign to A. D. 565. Then he was blessed Brigida the virgin. To it they slain at Rath Bee by Aedh Dubh, King of fixed the sick youth. By advice of the Uladh. See William M. Hennessy's edition,
priests, his friends entered the church pp. 48 to 57.
"
Vol. IX—No. 5. R
dxl. , p. 529.
vi. ,p. 25. — Chapter ii.
to 538, according to Dr. O'Donovan's "Annals of the Four Masters,'' vol. i. , pp. 177 to 181.
2 The " Chronicum Scotorum," however, places the death of Tuathal Maelgarbh, at A. D. £44, wljen Diarmaid Mac Cerbhail
*58
LIVESOFTHEIRISHSAINTS. 'Septemberio.
prayers, Nathus,3 a Bishop, who died without having received the holy sacraments. He even raisecl to life a widow's son, who had been dead for three days, and wht> had departed this life without baptism. These are only afewofthesignsandwonderswhichhewrought. * Theplace,wherehis Abbey had been founded, was at the head of Strangford Lough, in the County of Down. It is rendered into Latin, as Campus arboris sacri.
"
Magh-bile, or Moville, also Movilla, may be literally translated
the field of
Moville Abbey, County Down.
In
only, as having been governed by Abbots. ? Domnagh-bile, in the County of Donegal, was afterwards called Magh-bile, and modernized Moville. Archdall 8 has strangely confounded Colgan's account of Magh-bile,9 or
3 This form of name seems resolvable into place occupied by a garden attached to Mr. the Irish Nathi or Nathe. There was a Jamison's house, three or four Irish yew
the aged tree. " s This word also signifies the plain of the tree or trees.
our Calendars, Martyrologies, and Annals, Maghbile is often mentioned, in a general and absolute manner, without any allusion to a second monastery bearing that name. After the year 731, Moville is noticed in our Annals
Bishop Nathi, of Cuil Saccaile, in Dala- radia, County of Down, venerated at the 1st of August. For notices of him, at that date, see the Eighth Volume of this work, Art. iv. A still more celebrated Patron of Achonry Diocese is venerated, at the 9th of August, where his Acts are to be found. Sec ibid. , Art. i. There is also a Nathe Bishop, whose feast occurs at the 28th October. However, in none of their Acts do we find a relation of the miracle recorded in the text.
4 See Bishop Challenor's " Britannia
Sancta," part ii. , September 10th, pp. 125, 126.
5 Close to the burying-ground, and in a
trees of immense size and age might be seen, and are said to have been much older than any of the buildings in their immediate neighbourhood. It is possible, that one of these may be the sacred tree, which gave the name to the place, or at all events, that the present trees are the descendants of the original ''aged tree. " See Mr. William Hugh Patterson's " Notice of some Ancient Tomb Stones at Movilla, County Down," P- 5-
6
According to Rev. Dr. Lanigan.
7 See Rev. William Reeves' " Ecclesias-
tical Antiquities of Down, Connor, and
Dromore," Appendix A, p. 152.
8 See Monasticon Ilibernicum, p. 103. " It
6
September io. ] LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. 259
Movilleof
10 withthatofMovilleinDown,thewellknownmonas-
Donegal,
flourishing period.
tery, which was governed by St. Finnian in the sixth century, and continued
in a — state to a still later — The 'remains of a later
monastery said to have been Augustinian T
11
12
are yet te be seen, at Moville,
in the County of Down. 3 Traces of its extensive foundations may still be clearly made out ; and of the ruins that remain, there are some, parts of
whichindicateahighfinishofworkmanship. However,theoriginalmonas-
tery and church remains of St. Finian have at present totally disappeared. The x
Index Topographicus * affixed to Colgan's Acta Sanctorum, represents Finnian as having lived at both Maghbiles ; viz. , that in the County of
Donegal,
County
colour of his hair, which was or light,
18 At a Maghbile,
of Down. This led Harris r s for astray,
and that in the
when alluding to those distinct places, he has both houses under the one St. Finian. 16 Sir James Ware was right in marking but one Maghbile or Moville, whichwassituatedinDown. Hisauthorityoughttohavebeenadheredto by Harris.
1"
This Saint is said to have been called Finnbar ? or white top," from the
to
famous school was attached to his monastery, and there several eminent
scholars were educated in the science of the saints. Although St. Nathy, Bishop and Patron of Achonry Diocese, is said to have been brought up in
the School of St. Finnian, Abbot of Clonard ; yet this seems irreconcilable with the time when that school had been established, towards the middle of
the sixth 1 ? It is more century.
probable,
Nathy
artist, with a very
narrative in connexion, to be found in Mr. and Mrs.
interesting
"
&c, vol. iii. , pp. 16 to 18. This has been faithfully copied and engraved by Mr. Gregor
Grey, to furnish the subject of the present illustration.
'3 In the grave-yard attached is the grave
Hall's
Ireland ; its Scenery, Character,"
inclining
golden.
that the Finian under whom studied had been the present saint. Also he was the illustrious St. Columkille's
3° preceptor ;
is there wrongly stated, that Colgan ascribes to St. Patrick the establishment of a monas-
tery at Domnach-bile, in Donegal; nor does he exhibit it as placed by St. Patrick under Aengus, son of Olild.
' See "Trias Thaumaturga," p. 181.
while he is said to have brought the Mosaic Law, and the whole Gospel, into Ireland. The early years of St. Columba were spent under the guidance and instruction of our saint. While there, and as a deac6n, Columba had been obliged to procure wine for the celebration of the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass, and this was brought as water in the first instance from the fountain. However, on blessing it, the water was miraculously changed
I0
Colgan states,that a monastery was there.
of the Rev. Archibald Warwick, the Presby- terian minister of the parish, hung for his participation in the rebellion of 1798. He was greatly beloved and respected by his
people, and regarding him, a most pathetic story is told in the work of Mr. and Mrs. Hall.
As to Moville, in Dr. much Donegal, Lanigan
doubts, as to whether it had ever been a
monastery ; for Colgan, although he thought
so, yej; could not make out any one abbot
placed over it.
"
At the Dissolution, it appears to have been possessed of seven townlands, and the spiritualities of sixteen and a half besides. Its possessions were granted to Viscount Claneboys.
12 There is a wood-cut illustration of this ruin, drawn by Mr. Burgess, a Belfast
' 4 The of that Index was compiler
owing to the identity of the names, lS In his list of Monasteries,
l6 Yet, Archdall
pretends to give the names of abbots at Moville in Donegal, such as Finnian,
Siollan, Aengus M'Loingsy, &c. Now, these are the same identical persons, he reckons at Moville in Down, with some othersnamed. Therealonetheyoughttobe.
J? In the Irish character written ponn
bA^.
l8 to ire's " he According Magu Calendar,"
had yellow hair.
19 See what has been stated already, in the
Life of St. Nathy, Patron of Achonry Diocese, at the 9th of August, in the Eighth Volume of this work, Art. i. , chap. i.
*°See Dr. Reeves' Adamnan's " Vita S. Columbae," lib. ii,, cap. i. , lib. iii. , cap. iv.
goes
further, and he even
deceived,
260 LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. [September io.
into wine. St. Finian and his community gave thanks to the Almighty for that miracle, which through humility the holy young deacon chose to ascribe
rather to the merits of his superior than to his own.
21
According to the Irish
32 and he afterwards from the assistants how such a highly superior quality of wine had
been found.
Besides Movilla, he was the founder of Druim-fionn, in the territory of
Conall Muirthemne, and now Dromin in Louth -p here the dispute between him and St. Columba respecting the manuscript of the Gospels is said to h'ave
Life of St. St. Finian had been the Columkille,
celebrant,
enquired
occurred. 24
Allusion has been already made25 to the circumstances related
26 and which are to have fomented the battle of Cuil- reported
in this
fable,
2? near
two years before the coming of St. Columba to Scotland. ^ In his Life of St. Columba, Adamnan relates a miraculous occurrence in connexion with
him, of a young man learning the Holy Scriptures in Scotia, and of a bishop Findbarr. Could this refer to the teaching of St. Finnian of Movilla,3° it
renders the legend, regarding the quarrel between him and St. Columba, both as to cause and effect, extremely improbable. 31 When St. Columba32 was a young man, and under the tuition of Finnion his master, the latter saw an in his
company,
Oremne,
Sligo,
in the
province
of
Connaught. *
8 Thatbattle took
place
33 and this he said to his other rt Now disciples :
angel
behold Columba coming, who for his merits deserves to have a denizen of Heaven for his companion. '^ The Irish Life states, that on leaving St. Finnian of Maghbile, St. Columba placed himself under a senior called Gemman. 35 In the Life of St. Fintan of Dunbleisch,36 there is a story told of this same St. Finnian refusing to lend him a copy of the Gospels. 37 The particular account has already been given, in the Life of the former saint. 38 ThisholybishopofMaghbilewasacontemporary. ofSt. Comgall,39 Abbot
21
Columba, in the Sixth Volume of this work,
See the Life of St. Columkille or tures. See the various testimonies collected by Colgan from the Lives of his disciples,
June ix. , Art. i. , chap.
The Rev. Alban Butler has some notices of him,a3 as likewise the Rev. Dr. Lanigan,24 and mention likewise in the Petits Bollandistes. 2s
The Welch writers call him St. Winnin. 26 Thus, the word Fin of the Irish is changed by the Cambro-Britons into Win and Gwin. 2 ? Under this form of the name Bishop Forbes also treats of St. 'Finen. 28 The birth of this great man, and his future sanctity, are said to have been revealed to St. Patrick, a
long time before his birth.
He sprung from a most noble parentage. His
2 9 and his mother's Lassara. accounts, he was the son of Ultach, King of Ulster. 3°
father's name was
to some His parents seem to have been Christians. Probably, they received the faith, when St. Patrick had been engaged evangelizing that part of Ulster, where they dwelt. They belonged to the illustrious Aradean stock. St. Finnian is said to have sprung fromtheraceofFiatachFinn,or"FiatachtheFair,"monarchofErin. He ruled, only, for the very short period of three years, or from a. d. 37 to 39. 31
that first brought the Gospel into Ireland. " Also, on the word JTiTTOOApp, there is an
Irish comment thus in given
"
i. e. white hair was on him, i. e. Finden. "—Ibid. ,
Carpreus,
According
also with a Fridianus or Frigidianus, Bishop of Lucca, who is marked in the Roman Martyrology, and whose festival occurs on the 1 8th of November.
22
See Part ii. , at September 10th, pp. 124 to 126.
13 See the Second Volume of this work,
the 17th February, Art. xxvi.
'* See the Eighth Volume of this work,
at
at
See Catalogus Actuum Sanctorum quae MS. habentur, Ordine Mensium et Dierum. "
*' See "Acta Sanctorum Hiberniae," Martii
the 31st of August, Art. i. 's"
See Britannicarum Ecclesiarum Anti-
de Septembre, p. 2.
26 "
quitates," cap. xvii. , pp. 493, 494. 16 "
See Bishop Challenor's Britannia
English :
11 """
See fol. 147, 148.
See Scriptorum Illustrium Majoris Britanniae," &c. Centur. i. , cap, 74, and cent, xiv. , cap 19.
23 See Lives of the Fathers, Martyrs, and other principal Saints," vol. ix. , Sep- tember x.
24 See " Ecclesiastical History of Ireland," vol. ii. , chap, x. , sect. vi. and nn. , pp. 25 to 28.
23 See " Vies des Saints," tomexi. , xe Jour
xviii. Vita S. p. 649.
Fridiani, Appendix, cap. v. ,
28 See " Kalendars of Scottish
Saints,"
18
19 M
See Britannicarum Ecclesiarum Anti-
quitates," cap. xvii. , p. 494.
pp. 463 to 466.
29 St. Finnian of Movilla was son of
Cairbre, one of the Dal Fiatach, the royal family of Ulster, and he became the patron saint of the Ultonians. See Rev. William Reeves' "Ecclesiastical Antiquities of Down, Connor and Dromore. " Appendix
A, sect. iii.
3° See Mr. and Mrs. S. C Hallt
" Ireland : its Scenery, Character," &c, vol. iii. , Down, p. 16.
In Pars Hyemalis, fol. xxxviii.
*° " See
tembris x. p. 483.
Acta Sanctorum," tomus iii. , Sep- Among the pretermitted saints,
21
"
The Bollandists remark, likewise, that
Acta Sanctorum Hiberniae," Colgan
in his
not only confounds Finanus or Finnianus with Finbarrus, venerated at this day, but
8
In Ussher's Antiquities
Sancta," part ii. September 10th, p. 124. 87 See Archbishop Ussher's "Britanni-
carum Ecclesiarum Antiquitates," cap. xvii. , p. 494-
21
There is an
256 LIVESOFTHEIRISHSAIATS. [Septemberio.
"
31 See Dr. O'Donovan's
Four Masters," vol. i. , pp. 96 to 99.
32 The Tribe or Race of Fiatach Finn. This warlike tribe was seated in the present county of Down.
33 Mac Donlevy, who, in the twelfth century, offered such a brave resistance to Sir John De Courcy, in Ulster, was head of
'
this
34 Such is the pedigree made out for St.
family.
Finnian or Findian of Magbile, in the
"
Genealogic Sanctilogy," chap. xix.
35 See
Colgan's
" Acta Sanctorum
Hiberniae," xviii. Martii. Appendix ad
Acta S. Fridiani, cap. v. , p. 649.
36 " See that tract,
bo means of subsistence, and were
there
Incipit Catalogus Sanctorum Hiberniae, secundum diversa
the Dal Fiatach32 and our saint therefore descended,33
From this
belonged to the seed of Heremon. St. Finnian was the son of Corpre, son to Ailild, son of Trichem, son to Fieg, son of Imchad, son to Bressal, son of Serchad, son to Fiathach, Finn,34 the monarch of Ireland, already alluded to, who flourished in the beginning of the first age of Christianity. 35
born in Ireland, about the beginning of the sixth century.
The lustre of St. Finnian's virtues, however, was far greater that that dis- tinction drawn from his family and race. It seems likely, from early youth, he desired to lead a religious life. He is set down among the very foremost Saints of the second Class, in that ancient-Irish Catalogue, published by Ussher. Among those old Irish Saints,36 classed in three orders, we find the two Finnians : viz. , he of Clonard, and the present Saint. St. Finnian's first instructions in Christian piety and learning were drawn from a saintly Bishop, knownasColmanofDromore. 37 Hewasrecommendedbyhisparents,to
the care of that holy director, with whom he lived for some years, in the practice of entire obedience and humility. Afterwards, St. Finnian was directed to Coelan,38 the holy Abbot of Noendrum, or Endrum. This venerable Abbot on first seeing young Finian, discovered by a prophetic light his eminent sanctity. Therefore Coelan sought to excuse himself from receiving that disciple, whom he considered to be greatly his superior, both in virtue and grace.
However, he recommended St. Finnian to St. Nennidh or Nennio,39 a celebrated British Prelate. He lived at Candida Casa, in Scotland. This See was then called the great monastery/ St. Nennio is said to have sent his ships to Ireland, with which country, after leaving it, he still maintained close and friendly relations. In one of these Finnian was conveyed to Scot-
1
King,
That holy Prelate received the young man, who soon became one of his most
land. This was agreeably to what Finian had previously foretold/
beloved and favoured 2 disciples/
him the
habit, and trained him, for some years, in monastic discipline, and in the instruction of sacred letters. This course was intended to aid his career. In the study of these literary and religious exercises, he made great progress ;
Annals of the
There,
bishop gave
religious
disappointed in taking fish. He declared
Tempora," published by Archbishop that no person should thenceforth catch
Ussher, in
"
Britannicarum Ecclesiarum
fishes in it, and accordingly the stream changed its course. This tradition is
preserved by the people, that the Garnock in Stevenson has left its former bed dry. See the " New Statistical Account of Scot-
land," vol. v. Ayrshire, pp. 427, 428. Thence he is said to have sought Sacrum
Antiquitates," cap. xvii. , pp. 473, 474.
37 See his Life in the Sixth Volume of
this work, at the 7th June. Art. i.
# See his Acts at the 23rd of June, in the
Sixth Volume of this work. Art. i.
» Or Ninian. His festival comes on the
the
i6th of September, where an account of him may be found in the present volume.
*° See Archbishop Ussher's " Britanni-
carum Ecclesiarum Antiquitates,;' cap. xvii. ,
p. 494.
* l See Bishop Challenor's " Britannia
Sancta," part ii. , September 10th, p. 125. *3 The Breviary of Aberdeen has an account of St. Finnin's or Winnin's arrival and acts in Scotland, which does not accord with what we believe to be the more
probable one here recorded. It relates, that when Winnin landed with his com- panions, they came to a river called Gar- nock for the purpose of fishing, as they had
He was
September jo. ] LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. 257
but, more especially was he a proficient in the science of the Saints. 43 His intellect was illuminated with holy lights from on high. He was already favoured with the gift of miracles; and of these, some instances are recorded. « For the sake of further improvement, Finian travelled to Rome,45 after he had spent some time under Nennio's direction. There, he spent seven years, in the continual study of true wisdom. His faculties were doubtless further developed by his residence in the Eternal City. At the end of the time indicated, he was ordained a Priest. *6 This is referred to about the year 540/7 Returning homeward, he preached the gospel, it is said, to some Pagans, in the neighbourhood of Italy.
His preaching was confirmed with extraordinary miracles.
On arriving in Ireland, he founded the Church and Monastery of Magbile,
andmostprobablynotlaterthana. d. 540/8 HavingbeenconsecratedBishop, by his preaching and life, he very much edified that portion of God's church, and there planted the Gospel seed, destined in after times to fructify and greatly to increase.
CHAPTER II.
TIME WHEN ST. FINIAN FLOURISHED—HIS MIRACLES—FOUNDER OF MAGHBILE AND DRUIM-FIONN MONASTERIES—HIS RELATION AS MASTER TO SOME DISTINGUISHED IRISH SAINTS—HIS LAST ILLNESS AND DEATH—HIS FESTIVALS AND COMMEMORA- TIONS—CONCLUSION.
1
St. Finian flourished during the reign of Tuathal Maelgarb, King of Ireland. The spirit of prophecy was not wanting in this saint; since he foretold that
king's unhappy death. He lived also, during the reign of the succeeding monarch, Dermitius or Diarmaid. 2 His miracles were numerous and greatly celebrated.
He restored a nun to life, it is said, in a church, which was called the Cell of the Mount. The servant of a certain Bishop, that had been drowned, St. Finnian also resuscitated. He recalled to life, by his
Nemus — now Holywood — where he selected a place to dwell with his disciples. There as a result of his prayers a clear well bubbled up. In a good and holy age, we are told, he was chosen bishop by the clerics and people of his country, and having wrought many miracles, he was honourably interred in Kilwinne. This account ends with the sentence—" ubi nunc monachorum viget claritas et illorum virorum sanctitas perpetua. "
43 See Bishop Challoner's " Britannia Sancta," part ii. , September 10th, p. 125. . 44 The Aberdeen Breviary states, that in
praying, and laid the sick man down before him. After a little rest, the infirm youth recovered, and when they carried him home his pristine health was restored.
4s Such is the account left by John Cap-
grave. v
46 See Ussher's " Britannicarum Ecclesi-
arum Antiquitates," cap. xvii. , p. 494.
47 See ibid. > Index Chronologicus ad a. d.
48 "
gee Tjr# Lanigan's Ecclesiastical
History of Ireland," vol. ii. , chap, x. , sect.
'According to Capgrave, Kilwinnin, Scotland, a certain person Tuathal Maelgarbh reigned from a. d. 528
laboured under wliat was supposed to be an
incurable disease, but his friends brought
him to the basilica of St. Winni'n that he
might be cured. Now there stood outside
of the church a stone cross marvellously
constructed, which during his lifetime
Blessed V\ innin had erected in honour of began his reign to A. D. 565. Then he was blessed Brigida the virgin. To it they slain at Rath Bee by Aedh Dubh, King of fixed the sick youth. By advice of the Uladh. See William M. Hennessy's edition,
priests, his friends entered the church pp. 48 to 57.
"
Vol. IX—No. 5. R
dxl. , p. 529.
vi. ,p. 25. — Chapter ii.
to 538, according to Dr. O'Donovan's "Annals of the Four Masters,'' vol. i. , pp. 177 to 181.
2 The " Chronicum Scotorum," however, places the death of Tuathal Maelgarbh, at A. D. £44, wljen Diarmaid Mac Cerbhail
*58
LIVESOFTHEIRISHSAINTS. 'Septemberio.
prayers, Nathus,3 a Bishop, who died without having received the holy sacraments. He even raisecl to life a widow's son, who had been dead for three days, and wht> had departed this life without baptism. These are only afewofthesignsandwonderswhichhewrought. * Theplace,wherehis Abbey had been founded, was at the head of Strangford Lough, in the County of Down. It is rendered into Latin, as Campus arboris sacri.
"
Magh-bile, or Moville, also Movilla, may be literally translated
the field of
Moville Abbey, County Down.
In
only, as having been governed by Abbots. ? Domnagh-bile, in the County of Donegal, was afterwards called Magh-bile, and modernized Moville. Archdall 8 has strangely confounded Colgan's account of Magh-bile,9 or
3 This form of name seems resolvable into place occupied by a garden attached to Mr. the Irish Nathi or Nathe. There was a Jamison's house, three or four Irish yew
the aged tree. " s This word also signifies the plain of the tree or trees.
our Calendars, Martyrologies, and Annals, Maghbile is often mentioned, in a general and absolute manner, without any allusion to a second monastery bearing that name. After the year 731, Moville is noticed in our Annals
Bishop Nathi, of Cuil Saccaile, in Dala- radia, County of Down, venerated at the 1st of August. For notices of him, at that date, see the Eighth Volume of this work, Art. iv. A still more celebrated Patron of Achonry Diocese is venerated, at the 9th of August, where his Acts are to be found. Sec ibid. , Art. i. There is also a Nathe Bishop, whose feast occurs at the 28th October. However, in none of their Acts do we find a relation of the miracle recorded in the text.
4 See Bishop Challenor's " Britannia
Sancta," part ii. , September 10th, pp. 125, 126.
5 Close to the burying-ground, and in a
trees of immense size and age might be seen, and are said to have been much older than any of the buildings in their immediate neighbourhood. It is possible, that one of these may be the sacred tree, which gave the name to the place, or at all events, that the present trees are the descendants of the original ''aged tree. " See Mr. William Hugh Patterson's " Notice of some Ancient Tomb Stones at Movilla, County Down," P- 5-
6
According to Rev. Dr. Lanigan.
7 See Rev. William Reeves' " Ecclesias-
tical Antiquities of Down, Connor, and
Dromore," Appendix A, p. 152.
8 See Monasticon Ilibernicum, p. 103. " It
6
September io. ] LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. 259
Movilleof
10 withthatofMovilleinDown,thewellknownmonas-
Donegal,
flourishing period.
tery, which was governed by St. Finnian in the sixth century, and continued
in a — state to a still later — The 'remains of a later
monastery said to have been Augustinian T
11
12
are yet te be seen, at Moville,
in the County of Down. 3 Traces of its extensive foundations may still be clearly made out ; and of the ruins that remain, there are some, parts of
whichindicateahighfinishofworkmanship. However,theoriginalmonas-
tery and church remains of St. Finian have at present totally disappeared. The x
Index Topographicus * affixed to Colgan's Acta Sanctorum, represents Finnian as having lived at both Maghbiles ; viz. , that in the County of
Donegal,
County
colour of his hair, which was or light,
18 At a Maghbile,
of Down. This led Harris r s for astray,
and that in the
when alluding to those distinct places, he has both houses under the one St. Finian. 16 Sir James Ware was right in marking but one Maghbile or Moville, whichwassituatedinDown. Hisauthorityoughttohavebeenadheredto by Harris.
1"
This Saint is said to have been called Finnbar ? or white top," from the
to
famous school was attached to his monastery, and there several eminent
scholars were educated in the science of the saints. Although St. Nathy, Bishop and Patron of Achonry Diocese, is said to have been brought up in
the School of St. Finnian, Abbot of Clonard ; yet this seems irreconcilable with the time when that school had been established, towards the middle of
the sixth 1 ? It is more century.
probable,
Nathy
artist, with a very
narrative in connexion, to be found in Mr. and Mrs.
interesting
"
&c, vol. iii. , pp. 16 to 18. This has been faithfully copied and engraved by Mr. Gregor
Grey, to furnish the subject of the present illustration.
'3 In the grave-yard attached is the grave
Hall's
Ireland ; its Scenery, Character,"
inclining
golden.
that the Finian under whom studied had been the present saint. Also he was the illustrious St. Columkille's
3° preceptor ;
is there wrongly stated, that Colgan ascribes to St. Patrick the establishment of a monas-
tery at Domnach-bile, in Donegal; nor does he exhibit it as placed by St. Patrick under Aengus, son of Olild.
' See "Trias Thaumaturga," p. 181.
while he is said to have brought the Mosaic Law, and the whole Gospel, into Ireland. The early years of St. Columba were spent under the guidance and instruction of our saint. While there, and as a deac6n, Columba had been obliged to procure wine for the celebration of the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass, and this was brought as water in the first instance from the fountain. However, on blessing it, the water was miraculously changed
I0
Colgan states,that a monastery was there.
of the Rev. Archibald Warwick, the Presby- terian minister of the parish, hung for his participation in the rebellion of 1798. He was greatly beloved and respected by his
people, and regarding him, a most pathetic story is told in the work of Mr. and Mrs. Hall.
As to Moville, in Dr. much Donegal, Lanigan
doubts, as to whether it had ever been a
monastery ; for Colgan, although he thought
so, yej; could not make out any one abbot
placed over it.
"
At the Dissolution, it appears to have been possessed of seven townlands, and the spiritualities of sixteen and a half besides. Its possessions were granted to Viscount Claneboys.
12 There is a wood-cut illustration of this ruin, drawn by Mr. Burgess, a Belfast
' 4 The of that Index was compiler
owing to the identity of the names, lS In his list of Monasteries,
l6 Yet, Archdall
pretends to give the names of abbots at Moville in Donegal, such as Finnian,
Siollan, Aengus M'Loingsy, &c. Now, these are the same identical persons, he reckons at Moville in Down, with some othersnamed. Therealonetheyoughttobe.
J? In the Irish character written ponn
bA^.
l8 to ire's " he According Magu Calendar,"
had yellow hair.
19 See what has been stated already, in the
Life of St. Nathy, Patron of Achonry Diocese, at the 9th of August, in the Eighth Volume of this work, Art. i. , chap. i.
*°See Dr. Reeves' Adamnan's " Vita S. Columbae," lib. ii,, cap. i. , lib. iii. , cap. iv.
goes
further, and he even
deceived,
260 LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. [September io.
into wine. St. Finian and his community gave thanks to the Almighty for that miracle, which through humility the holy young deacon chose to ascribe
rather to the merits of his superior than to his own.
21
According to the Irish
32 and he afterwards from the assistants how such a highly superior quality of wine had
been found.
Besides Movilla, he was the founder of Druim-fionn, in the territory of
Conall Muirthemne, and now Dromin in Louth -p here the dispute between him and St. Columba respecting the manuscript of the Gospels is said to h'ave
Life of St. St. Finian had been the Columkille,
celebrant,
enquired
occurred. 24
Allusion has been already made25 to the circumstances related
26 and which are to have fomented the battle of Cuil- reported
in this
fable,
2? near
two years before the coming of St. Columba to Scotland. ^ In his Life of St. Columba, Adamnan relates a miraculous occurrence in connexion with
him, of a young man learning the Holy Scriptures in Scotia, and of a bishop Findbarr. Could this refer to the teaching of St. Finnian of Movilla,3° it
renders the legend, regarding the quarrel between him and St. Columba, both as to cause and effect, extremely improbable. 31 When St. Columba32 was a young man, and under the tuition of Finnion his master, the latter saw an in his
company,
Oremne,
Sligo,
in the
province
of
Connaught. *
8 Thatbattle took
place
33 and this he said to his other rt Now disciples :
angel
behold Columba coming, who for his merits deserves to have a denizen of Heaven for his companion. '^ The Irish Life states, that on leaving St. Finnian of Maghbile, St. Columba placed himself under a senior called Gemman. 35 In the Life of St. Fintan of Dunbleisch,36 there is a story told of this same St. Finnian refusing to lend him a copy of the Gospels. 37 The particular account has already been given, in the Life of the former saint. 38 ThisholybishopofMaghbilewasacontemporary. ofSt. Comgall,39 Abbot
21
Columba, in the Sixth Volume of this work,
See the Life of St. Columkille or tures. See the various testimonies collected by Colgan from the Lives of his disciples,
June ix. , Art. i. , chap.
