On the day following their demise, holy Bishop Declan came towards the city of Cashel, and he intended to have a
conference
with King ^ngus.
O'Hanlon - Lives of the Irish Saints - v7
Patrick said: " This young man, whose features are beautiful, is also brave in war We shall abound in his kingdom, and the Desii chiefs shall inherit these advan- tages for ever.
" This prophecy was afterwards literally fulfilled.
Then, St.
Declan and the chieftain Ferdinand or Fearghal, with the Decies people,
gave large tracts of land to St. Patrick, near the place where such incidents occurred, in the plain of Femhyn. 8 s A clear fountain of water was at the place, and this was called St. Patrick's Well,86 at the time when our saint's Acts were written. St. Patrick is said to have loved this place with unusual affection. Afterwards, returning thanks for the favours then received, the
Although
of our saint subjoin,
Behold, the Nan-Desii have
:
country, and its identification may be even possible.
8; See "Acta Sanctorum," tomus v. ,
332 LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. [July 24.
Irish Apostle retired with St. Declan accompanying him from the Decies
territory. They proceeded towards the city of Cashel, where King ^Engus 8
then dwelt. ?
The author of our saint's Acts relates a miracle, which happened at this
88
Whilst St. Declan was unguardedly and hastily advancing between his people and St. Patrick, his foot was badly lacerated by a piece of iron. Blood flowed profusely, and our saint felt unable to walk
perfectly, owing to his lameness. We are told, that the holy Bishops Albeus, the dear friend and companion of St. Declan, as also, a wise and holy man Seachnall,8^ a disciple of St. Patrick, felt troubled on account of that misfor- tune. Both expressed their sorrow for its occurence to the Irish Apostle. Very naturally, on hearing about the accident, this latter saint grieved much
meeting already alluded to.
and said
:
" O Lord, heal the foot of thy faithful servant, who hath laboured
greatly for thee, with those talents thou hast bestowed on him. " Beholding
the foot of St. Declan, St. Patrick then signed it with the mark of salvation.
Looking towards heaven, he prayed ; when immediately, the blood ceased to
flow, and the gaping wound began to contract. Then, the skin having closed,
only a slight mark afterwards appeared. Arising without difficulty, St. Declan
found his foot healed, and the saints of God gave thanks for the favour bestowed on him. By their acclamations, the multitude extolled those wonders wrought by God, on behalf of his true servant. ^ Such grateful manifestations, so frequently mentioned in the Acts of our Irish Saints when miracles took place, seem to have been adopted from a pious Christian usage, prevailing among believers in the earlier ages of the Church. 9' Saints Patrick, Albeus, Declan, with many other holy disciples, remained in the city of Cashel, with King /Kngus. While there, it is said, they promulgated many salutary laws, referring to ecclesiastical jurisdiction, to Christian morals, and to the further propaga- tion of Divine Faith. With the approval of King ^Engus and of all his people, the Irish Apostle decreed, that the archbishopric of Minister should have
2
itschiefseatinSt. Albeus'city. ^ TheyalsomarkedoutboundsforSt. Declan's
jurisdiction. This was commensurate with the Desies' territories. 93 The
Julii xxiv. De S. Declano Episcopo Aid-
moriae in Hibernia, cap. v. , sect. 43, 44, 45,
pp. 601, 602.
88 "
cione, modo dignitati ccepimus narrare ves- trse. "
8 > The author of our saint's Acts says of Seachnall, it is reported, that he was the first Bishop, who was interred in Ireland. His name is Latinized Secundums, likewise, and his festival occurs, at the 27th of November.
9° See "Acta Sanctorum," tomus v. , Julii xxiv. De S. Declano Episcopo Ard- "moriae in Hibernia, cap. vi. , sect. 46, p. 602.
9M Thus, we read about certain miracles,
Omnia," S. Augustini, tomus vii. De Civitate Dei, lib. , xxii. , cap. viii. , sect. 22. Benedic- tine edition, Parisiis, i836,etseq, small folio,
double columns. On the
Tuesday, Palladia, the sister of Paul, was miraculously healed, in like manner, and while St. Augustine was engaged preaching, his sermon was interrupted by the acclama-
The writer observes
culum, quod factum est in supradicta con-
Easter
Thanks
:
following
Quoddam mira-
wrought through the relics of St. Stephen,
the first Martyr, at Hippo, AD. 425. in the
time of St. Augustine. This illustrious mensium Vita:," p, I. Dublinii, 1626, Doctor relates, that on Easter Sun Jay morn-
ing, one, named Paul, praying before the
place where these relics had been deposited,
recovered his health and strength, before the
public view, and in a most miraculous way. now comprised in Munster. "—
The chureli then echoed widi acclamations,
the congregation crying out, " Thanks be to
(Jod : praised be the Lord ! " See
seem to be spoken of as distinct from each other, although the country of the Desii is Rev. Dr. Lanigan's "Ecclesiastical History of Ire- land, vol. i. , chap, vi. , sect, vii. , n. 69,
p. 2S6.
"
Opera
tions of the multitude exclaming, bj to God I"
"
»* Now known as Emly, formerly a city,
but now dwindled into a small village ; yet,
it seems to have been the earliest metropo-
litan See of Munster, until it merged into
Cashel, where a new cathedral had been
built, by Cormac Mac Cuillinan, King and
"
Bishop of Cashel. See Sir James Ware's
Archiepiscoporum Cas'-elien ium et Tua-
sin. fol.
9i " The people of Munster and the Desii
July 24. ] LIVES OF THE lttlSH SAINTS. 333
people he had therein converted to the Divine Faith were placed under his own spiritual rule. ^ While in other parts of Ireland, its people became subject to St. Patrick,95 the Decies people, under God, acknowledged the protection of
6
Wherefore, St. Patrick, all Ireland's Hierarch and Patron, is said to have pronounced a distich in the Irish language, and which as an oracular verse was to obtain the force of law j nor would the spiritual families of St. Albeus and of St. Declan undertake to render it by any Latin metrical translation . w The author of our saint's Acts also expresses his intention of giving it in the native idiom, as it had been composed and delivered by St. Patrick, and for the purpose of stamping it with greater authenticity and authority. Notwithstanding, these verses are thus incorrectly
their holy Patron, St. Declan. s
in the Irish 8 and in the Roman characters —
ss Treating about the people of the Decks,
language^
:
" Ailbhe umhal Padruigh Muomhan mo guchruth :
Declan Padruig na n Desi, na Desi ag Declan go bruth. "99
In these verses it was prophesied, that Albeus should be the second Patrick and Patron over Munster, and that Declan should be a second Patrick and Patron over the Desies, while the territory of that people should remain his diocese to the end of the world. Afterwards, the holy bishops bestowed their blessing on King yEngus, and proceeded to the sphere of their respective labours, in order to spread die Gospel throughout Ireland. On their depar-
100 The
Bat, in the copy of the Isidore Manuscript,
obtained at Rome, the word "Leometrice"
was wanting. The reading being rendered
printed,
received from them a kiss of
and the young Desies chief Feargall, or Ferdinand, having assembled at the place called Hynneon, the army and entire population of the Desies being in attendance, Christianity was proclaimed, and its laws were incorporated
ture,
-1
king
the
See '"Acta Sanctorum," tenuis v. ,
peace.
holy bishop Declan,
Juliixxiv. De S. Declano Episcopo Ard- m >r'ae in H. bernia, cap. vi. , sect. 47, p. 62.
conformable to this copy, and to Colgan's ""
the Acts of our saint state, ut ipsi in writing, in Trias Thaumaturga,'' Appen-
parochia episcopates ejus essent, quse est iii. , sect, xiv. , p. 201 ; it is to be suspected,
"
magna and clara.
96 In the Life of St. Declan, cap. 30, it is
stated, that the people of Desies showed the
same obedience to their patron, St. Declan,
that was exhibited towards St. Patrick, by
the Irish people in other places. Quoting
this passage, Rev. Dr. Lanigan says, that
the drift of this passage was to insinuate,
that Declan's See of Ardmore had been
exempt from the jurisdiction of Armagh. See
"
that the word Leometrice had been intro- duced by an inexact scribe.
98 The Irish distich in the text is thus en-
tered, in Smith's "Ancient and Present
State of the County a—nd City of Waterford,"
Ecclesiastical History of Ireland," vol. i. > chap, vi. , sect, vii. , n. 70, p. 286. I must confess myself at fault, in failing to derive that conclusion drawn by Dr. Lanigan from this
passage.
97 The Bollandist editor observes, that in
the Manuscript copy of our saint's Acts, in his possession, he found it distinctly stated,
"
trice in Latinum verti. " From this word
"
Leometrice," Papebroch, in treating the
nonluerunt pro se vel . . . Leomc-
Acts of St. Patrick, assumed as an
that the author of our saint's Acts did not write before the twelfth century ; for, it was during the reigns of Lewis VII. , or of Philip Augustus, Kings of France, that the poet Leo flourished. From him, according to the opinion of the best informed writers, the Leonine metre derived its origin and name,
100 This monastic is often practice
to in the Acts of our Irish Saints.
101
argument,
alluded
chap, i. , as follows
" Ailbe umal Padruig Mumhan, mo gach rath :
Declan Padruig Nan-Desii, ag De- clan go brath. "
Ussher gives these lines, also, in the Gaelic characters, with some slight difference. See " Britannicarum Ecclesiarum Antiquitates," cap. xvii. , p. 450.
99 The Bollandist editor observes, in an annotatation, on this verse ; that it vras wanting in the copy which he used, but that Father Harold supplied it from the Manu- script copy of St. Isidore in Rome, and just as it had been printed.
:
This statement serves to illustrate the character of Irish popular assemblies under the old clan system, when the people as well
as their chiefs were summoned together, in
order to frame and ratify laws in a public convention.
334
LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. [July 24.
with the territorial jurisprudence.
102
Julii xxiv. De S. Declano Fpiscopo Aid-
See "Acta Sanctorum," tomus v. ,
us of the Buidhe Chonnuil, or the Yellow Hague, which occurred in Ireland,A. D. 664, as related in Dr. O'Donovan's "Annals of the Four Masters," vol. i. , pp. 274 to 277. This is also alluded in the First Volume of
moriae in Hibernia, cap. vi. , sects. 47, 48,
49, p. 602. — Chapter III.
This
is de- scribed as "the yellow jaundice," in Dr.
Meredith Hanmer's
p- 7°-
Molagga or Laicin, chap. iii.
3 Rendered into the Latin words Atrium
(Usfidum, "the Hall of Spears
3
The description of this plague reminds
"
pestilence Chronicle of Ireland,"
to,
this work, at January 20th, in the Life of St.
:
101
The former chieftain Lebanus was deposed, as an opposer of Christianity, and with unanimous acclaim of all that people. His political influence became extinct, and he appears to have retired into private life. Thus was accomplished, what had been written theenemiesofGod "Periitmemoriaeorumcumsonitu. " Then
regarding
was it decreed, by St. Declan, by the chieftain Feargall, and by the Decies nobles, that the local chiefs should henceforth be inaugurated in that place, called Hynneon, in which Feargall had been at first elected to the chieftainry, and installed by the saints. The author of our saint's Acts tells us, that those who lived prior to his time related, how the chiefs of the Decies, even in the
102
A PESTILENCE BREAKS OUT IN MUNSTER—ST. DECLAIMS MIRACLE AT CASIIF. L—-HE FOUNDS MONASTIC ESTABLISHMENTS AT TEACH-DERCAN AND AT TARA—HE RETURNS THROUGH OSSORY TO THE SOUTHERN DECIES—HIS MIRACULOUS POWERS—FOUNDA- TIONS AT AND SUBSEQUENT CONDITION OF ARDMORE—ST. DECLAN IS VISITED BY ST. AILBHE—ST. DECLAN MIRACULOUSLY EXTINGUISHES A FIRE—A FLEET OF PAGAN PIRATES DESTROYED.
About this time, a dreadful pestilence ravaged Minister. It proved more
fatal, we are told, in the city of Cashel, than in other places. This plague 1
produced a yellow, colour over the people it attacked, and afterwards it caused their death. 2 At this period, seven nobles, who were detained as hostages by King ^Engus, happened to be confined in a certain castle. Their dungeon was situated in the western quarter of Cashel city, and it had been called in Irish Magh na nearglann. 3 One night, these seven hostages were carried off by the plague ; and, when the king heard of their death, he was very much grieved, for they were the sons of powerful nobles, who resided in remote extremities of his kingdom. He feared, therefore, lest unjust suspicions might fall upon him, because of their sudden death. Wherefore, he desired his people to conceal their knowledge concerning this matter.
On the day following their demise, holy Bishop Declan came towards the city of Cashel, and he intended to have a conference with King ^ngus. The latter was rejoiced to hear of our saint's approach. Calling
Declan before him, in the presence of his friends, ^Engus said : "We entreat you, O holy bishop and servant of the living God, as we have believed in the name of Christ through your preaching, that you would raise from the dead our seven hostages, who were deprived of life during the past night ; for, we fear,thatascandalshallcomeonourkingdom. Theirparentsmaysay,per- haps, that their sons were destroyed through our instrumentality, and this indeed should prove a great disgrace to us. " The holy Pontiff Declan said :
days of paganism, had been inaugurated, also, in this very same place.
CHAPTER III.
July 24. ] LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. 335
" O ray dear king, to raise the dead to life exceeds the infirmity of our nature, for such a miracle appertains only to Divine power; but, as you have bene- fited us, in the name of Christ, we shall visit their dead bodies, and pray for them to God, that he may accomplish whatever may be in accordance with his holy will. " Then, accompanied by some select disciples, and full of faith, St. Declan went to where the dead bodies lay. The king's servants preceded them. Thebodiesofthesedeceasednoblespresentedagreenandyellow colour/ The king also followed the bishop, who stood before the dead bodies. On entering the place where these corpses lay, St. Declan sprinkled them with
holy water, and he prayed fervently, but briefly, before those who were pre-
" O Lord Jesus Christ, only begotten Son of the living God,
sent. He said
for the glory of thy name, we pray thee, raise these dead men to life, that they may become neophytes and be confirmed in the faith, through our ministry. " Afterwards, the holy bishop knew in spirit, that their lives had been granted again to the dead men by our Lord. While beginning to move
:
:
he said to them " In the name of Jesus Christ, the Saviour of
their
mankind, arise to us, and give thanks and praise to God. " At these words, they immediately seemed to awake from the dead. They saluted all who were present. Wherefore, St. Declan presented them living and restored in health, to iEngus, son of Nadfraoich, and in presence of his people. 5
eyelids,
When this strange and great miracle had been wrought, Christ's name was
glorified by all, and his servant's sanctity was promulgated, not only through-
out Ireland, but even over the world. Rejoicing at this wonderful event,
6 to St. Declan for ever that castle, called 4 ' Atrium King^Engus presented
cuspidum," with a field immediately near, and surrounding it. Then, the
inhabitants of Cashel city earnestly entreated St. Declan, that he would
bestow his benediction on them, expel the pestilence, and intercede with
Christ, at the same time, in behalf of many infirm persons, who were infected
with the plague. On seeing their faith, the holy man entreated Christ for
them, and he blessed the air, on four different quarters, with the holy sign of
the cross. There was verified, what Declan said to his disciples, when about
toenterheaven " manusimponent,etbenehabebunt. " For, : Super aegros
after those signs made by St. Declan's hand, not only in Cashel, but in every
part of the province, where this plague had prevailed, those prostrated with it recovered, and their friends had the satisfaction of witnessing their perfect
restoration. The pestilence became extinct throughout that whole country, about the same time. This unlooked for event pleased the people, and even more than did that first miracle wrought by St. Declan. On seeing and hearing these things, the king bestowed special favours on our saint, and especially in publishing his decrees, that a large tribute should be paid by all futureKings of Cashel, as well as by himself, to St. Declan and to his successors. He also con- ferred another favour, described as the liberty 7 of his city and parish, in the presenceofmanyoftheMunsternobles. Afterwards,givinghisbenedictionto
King ^Engus, and to his nation, St. Declan returned to his own part of the 8
country.
On a particular occasion, St. Declan was invited to a feast, at a cer-
4 The Acts cadavera mortuorum. "
morise in Hibernia, pp. 602, 603.
6
vi. , sect.
7 P'rom such a remark, we
that this Life of St. Declan cannot claim to be of very ancient date, since it has refer- ence to a mediaeval custom of giving the free* dom of a city to distinguished persons.
say,
chronological
" erant coerulea et flava
the Race of Eibhear. " A
poem, by John O'Dugan with a Transla- tion by Michael Kearney, A. D. 1635, pp.
s See "Acta Sanctorum," tomus v. ,
Julii xxiv. De S. Declano Episcopo Aid- 14, 15.
cap.
50, 51, 52*
may conclude,
King Aongus, the son of Nadfraoich, is stated to have reigned thirty-six years over Munster. See John O'Daly's "Kings of
336 LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. [July 24.
tain rich pagan's house. This was situated, in a southern part of the plain, called Femhyn. The dweller was named Dercan. Desirous of turning the Christians into ridicule and to manifest indignity, this man had ordered his ser- vants to kill a dog, in a secret manner, and to bury its head and feet in the earth. Thefleshofthisanimal,beingcookedathisdesirebytheservants,it was set before St. Declan at the banquet. The master then invited our saint, in an assumedly courteous manner, to partake of this disgusting kind of food, stating it was mutton. When this flesh was placed on the table with bread, and in a conspicuous place among other viands, St. Declan lapsed into a light slumber beside his host. He was then aroused, that he might bless the table.
Regarding it in a silent manner, his disciples at length said to him : "Father, "
bless our meats. " The saint then replied
nearthatmeat. " Declanthenaskedtheattendants,whatkindofmeatit was, and how killed ? They told him a falsehood, in compliance with their master's instructions. Then the holy Bishop said, in the presence of all : "O Christ, my Lord, manifest in what manner I see the servant of the devil at this table, and prevent thy servant* from eating an unclean thing. " By per- mission of God, the holy man beheld a dog's paw through a portion of the flesh. He said therefore: "This is not the foot of a sheep, but of a dog. '' Although they had supposed the animal's paws buried in eartli
the attendants had unconsciously dressed one of these paws, with the rest of the meat. On witnessing such a discover}-, they ran to inform their master, Dercan. Hearing their report, this latter went immediately to St. Declan, and declared that he was a believer. He then presented himself with his family and town, to the holy Bishop for ever ; and, to his great joy, he and his people were baptized. Dercan also asked our saint, that he would bless some place within this territory, and which should afterwards bear his name in perpetuity. Then St. Declan blessed a ceitain stone near that habitation. 9 The saint
" If the chieftain and people of the Desies, going to war with their enemies, or to avenge any injury against another nation, shall pass around that stone, invariably they shall return invincible, and obtain a victory over their enemies. But evil must befall this people, if through pride they shall not pass around this stone, because being unworthy of victory, they ought not
then said
obtain it. " That
disciples.
brought
St. Ultan with him, from his 5 monastery. '
10
sect.
Meaning
Ilibernia, cap. vii. ,
55, 56, 57,
:
was then called Teach Dercain to it was after- ; but,
11* He afterwards Then,theholyBishopwenttohisancestralcountryofBreigh, inwhichThe-
8 I4
See "Acta Sanctorum. " tomus v. , Colgnn remarks, that the ancient writer
Julii xxiv. De S. Peclano Episcopo Aid- of our saint's Acts indicates, that he saw
village 11
to circumstances connected with this miracle. 12
wards named
Thither came the holy men, Conan, Mochoba, Ultan, son of Ere, and the son of Laisre,'3 to St. Declan, presenting themselves to God under his magis- tracy and rule. St. Declan founded a monastery in that village of Dercan, called Coninga, and there he placed those saints, already named, with other
Coninga, owing
morise in Ilibernia, cap. vi. , sects. 53, 54,
Declan's own disciples, from these words
"
ferlur nobis ex antiquis ejus disci- pulis," tbid. , n. 4.
p. 603. used, 9 From that time to the period, when the
author of our sanl's Acts wrote, it was called the Stone of St. Declan.
" the House of Declan. "
" At that time when the Life of St.
Declan had been wiitlen.
12 " Ab ilia ungula canina vocatur. "
n For an account of these different saint*,
Ave mity refer to Colgan's "Acta Sancto-
rum Hibernise," xiv. Martii. ^Vita S. UUani, p. 608.
' 5 Sec "Acta Sanctorum," tomus v. ,
:
Truly, do I see Satan's servant
Julii xxiv.
morise in
De S. Declano Episcopo Ard-
pp. 603, 604.
,0 Abo called Dreg and Breach, which
w,as a large and level district in East Meath,
comprising five cantreds, and extending northwards so far as the Cassan, now the
Annagassan stream, near Dundalk.
'7 Jn commenting on these words;
"
Et
16
;
nevertheless,
July 24. ] LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. 337
moria was situated. There, the King of Taraand the nobles of Breagh received him with great honour. For, being a native of that district, its people deemed and loved St. Declan as a countryman, and the ties of con-
sanguinity were acknowledged. It is said, that the holy man constructed a 1
monastery of Canons, ? in a field which was granted to him, and which had
been called after his name. 18 There, he left a celebrated Book of Gospels,
which he brought with him. This book was afterwards preserved in that
locality, with great honour, and miracles are said to have been wrought
through its instrumentality. Having blessed that place, our saint then retired
x into Munster. 9
While on his journey homewards through the Ossorian territory, St.
Declan turned towards a certain castle in which he purposed resting for the
night; but, the evil-disposed inhabitants of that fort, not alone inhospitably refused him admittance, but even drove him away by force, and loaded him
with reproaches.
Our saint, with his disciples, prayed to God, that in their
" Mine is
what is found written in Sacred
case
ment, and I will repay. " Accordingly, the inhabitants in that part of the country, to the number of three score, died on that night; only two men and ten women, who felt indignant at how others had treated our saint, were exemptfromthisfatalpunishment. Theselattercameinanhumblemanner to St. Declan, on the day following, and told him concerning the miserable deaths of their companions. Of this, however, he had a foreknowledge. Doing penance for their sins, the survivors presented the saint with lands and othergifts. Wherethedeadbodieshadbeenburied,heconstructedafamous
which was called Celcolum 20 The saint dherig.
might happen,
Scripture :
judg-
monastery,
superior a pious and holy man, from amongst his disciples.
appointed
21 which is Latinized Columbus
derived from the eastern part of Leinster. From him, this monastery obtained itsname. Havingblessedthatplace,St. DeclanreturnedtotheDeciester- ritories. On the evening of another day, our saint with his disciples came to that place already mentioned, and which was called Atrium Bressail. But, its inhabitants would not suffer him to enter their castle or fort. They had pre- viously hidden their vessels, so that our saint might not be able to pass over into his island. This dislike, which they bore to God's pious servant, was wholly unprovoked, on his part. But, the Almighty converted the sea into
Columdearg,
construxit ibi sanctus Declanus monasterium in agro sibi dato Canonicorum," &c, the Bollandist editor very correctly states, that there were no Canons in
Ireland,
of St. Declan, judged to be in the fifth or
sixth century, n. (b). Originally the title of
Canons was derived from the Greek word Kavwv, which has the signification of the
Roll or Catalogue of every church, wherein
the names of ecclesiastics were written, and
which meant the Rule for knowing to which
church they belonged. In this sense, it is
often used by the Council of Nice. The
Council of Antioch calls ayios /cavthv, or the Julii xxiv. De S. Declano Episcopo Sacred Roll ; while the Apostolical Canons
have KaraXoyos tepari/cos, or the Catalogue of the Clergy. Even, at an early date, all those whose names were set down in the Books of the Church, to entitle them to re- ceive maintenance from the church, such as
the monks, virgins and widows, &c, were known as Canonici. See Rev. Joseph Bing-
p. 604.
20 In Latin it is written, " Columbi Ruffi
Cella. " It has not been identified.
3I Under the many saints, called Colum, in the Irish Calendars, we do not find any one designated Colum Dearg, which means
Red Colum.
in the time
RurTus,
ties of the Christian Church," vol . i. , book i. ,
chap, v. , sect. 10, pp. 15, 16. London edi-
tion, 1878, 8vo.
l8 Weare thatin informed, by D'Achery,
the ancient Irish Canons, some of which he has edited, although there is frequent men-
tion of monks, clerics, and priests, there is no account of canons. See "Veterum
""
ham's OriginesEcclesiastical,orAntiqui- Inrelatingthiscircumstance,theauthor
as its He was called and whose was
aliquot Scriptorum, qui in Galliae Bibliothe- cis, maxime Benedictinorum latuerant Spici-
legium," &c, tomus i. , p. 492. Parisiis, 1655 to 1677.
I9 See "Acta Sanctorum," tomus v. ,
Ardmoriae in Hibemia, cap. vii. , sect. 58,
origin
338 LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. [J uly 24.
dry land, according to the prophetic expression, on account of that injustice offered to St. Declan, and because of his servant's holiness, when offering his prayers. The saint remained for that night in a deserted shed on the highway, not being even able to obtain any fire from the neighbouring inhabi- tants. 22 However, the Almighty was justly avenged on them. For, while they felt unwilling charitably to bestow fire for the use of God's servants; fire came on them around the sea, so that the inhabitants and their castle were
entirely consumed, owing to the Omnipotent's avenging wrath. ** We are next told, that on another day, while Bishop Declan had been proceeding on a
journey through the mountains of Gua, in the Decies' territory, ahorse under his chariot became so lame, that he could not walk. Then, seeing a distant herd of deer on the mountain, our saint ordered a servant, named Dor- managh, to bring one from that herd, which should be strong enough to put in harness, and to take the place of his jaded horse. Not doubting that he should find a tame deer, as the man of God had predicted, the servant pro- ceeded on his errand, and the herd quietly awaited his arrival, until he selected therefrom a strong stag. This animal bore the saint in his chariot, without exhibiting any signs of weariness that whole day, until the plain of Femhyn was reached. On arriving at a house of entertainment, St. Declan com- manded that stag to return to the herd ; and, when the holy man had thus spoken, the animal took his prescribed way in presence of all. St. Declan bestowed his blessing on Dormanagh,2* and gave him a town, called Magh-
gubra,25 in a northern part of the Decies' territory, and near the Eoghanaght 26
country.
gave large tracts of land to St. Patrick, near the place where such incidents occurred, in the plain of Femhyn. 8 s A clear fountain of water was at the place, and this was called St. Patrick's Well,86 at the time when our saint's Acts were written. St. Patrick is said to have loved this place with unusual affection. Afterwards, returning thanks for the favours then received, the
Although
of our saint subjoin,
Behold, the Nan-Desii have
:
country, and its identification may be even possible.
8; See "Acta Sanctorum," tomus v. ,
332 LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. [July 24.
Irish Apostle retired with St. Declan accompanying him from the Decies
territory. They proceeded towards the city of Cashel, where King ^Engus 8
then dwelt. ?
The author of our saint's Acts relates a miracle, which happened at this
88
Whilst St. Declan was unguardedly and hastily advancing between his people and St. Patrick, his foot was badly lacerated by a piece of iron. Blood flowed profusely, and our saint felt unable to walk
perfectly, owing to his lameness. We are told, that the holy Bishops Albeus, the dear friend and companion of St. Declan, as also, a wise and holy man Seachnall,8^ a disciple of St. Patrick, felt troubled on account of that misfor- tune. Both expressed their sorrow for its occurence to the Irish Apostle. Very naturally, on hearing about the accident, this latter saint grieved much
meeting already alluded to.
and said
:
" O Lord, heal the foot of thy faithful servant, who hath laboured
greatly for thee, with those talents thou hast bestowed on him. " Beholding
the foot of St. Declan, St. Patrick then signed it with the mark of salvation.
Looking towards heaven, he prayed ; when immediately, the blood ceased to
flow, and the gaping wound began to contract. Then, the skin having closed,
only a slight mark afterwards appeared. Arising without difficulty, St. Declan
found his foot healed, and the saints of God gave thanks for the favour bestowed on him. By their acclamations, the multitude extolled those wonders wrought by God, on behalf of his true servant. ^ Such grateful manifestations, so frequently mentioned in the Acts of our Irish Saints when miracles took place, seem to have been adopted from a pious Christian usage, prevailing among believers in the earlier ages of the Church. 9' Saints Patrick, Albeus, Declan, with many other holy disciples, remained in the city of Cashel, with King /Kngus. While there, it is said, they promulgated many salutary laws, referring to ecclesiastical jurisdiction, to Christian morals, and to the further propaga- tion of Divine Faith. With the approval of King ^Engus and of all his people, the Irish Apostle decreed, that the archbishopric of Minister should have
2
itschiefseatinSt. Albeus'city. ^ TheyalsomarkedoutboundsforSt. Declan's
jurisdiction. This was commensurate with the Desies' territories. 93 The
Julii xxiv. De S. Declano Episcopo Aid-
moriae in Hibernia, cap. v. , sect. 43, 44, 45,
pp. 601, 602.
88 "
cione, modo dignitati ccepimus narrare ves- trse. "
8 > The author of our saint's Acts says of Seachnall, it is reported, that he was the first Bishop, who was interred in Ireland. His name is Latinized Secundums, likewise, and his festival occurs, at the 27th of November.
9° See "Acta Sanctorum," tomus v. , Julii xxiv. De S. Declano Episcopo Ard- "moriae in Hibernia, cap. vi. , sect. 46, p. 602.
9M Thus, we read about certain miracles,
Omnia," S. Augustini, tomus vii. De Civitate Dei, lib. , xxii. , cap. viii. , sect. 22. Benedic- tine edition, Parisiis, i836,etseq, small folio,
double columns. On the
Tuesday, Palladia, the sister of Paul, was miraculously healed, in like manner, and while St. Augustine was engaged preaching, his sermon was interrupted by the acclama-
The writer observes
culum, quod factum est in supradicta con-
Easter
Thanks
:
following
Quoddam mira-
wrought through the relics of St. Stephen,
the first Martyr, at Hippo, AD. 425. in the
time of St. Augustine. This illustrious mensium Vita:," p, I. Dublinii, 1626, Doctor relates, that on Easter Sun Jay morn-
ing, one, named Paul, praying before the
place where these relics had been deposited,
recovered his health and strength, before the
public view, and in a most miraculous way. now comprised in Munster. "—
The chureli then echoed widi acclamations,
the congregation crying out, " Thanks be to
(Jod : praised be the Lord ! " See
seem to be spoken of as distinct from each other, although the country of the Desii is Rev. Dr. Lanigan's "Ecclesiastical History of Ire- land, vol. i. , chap, vi. , sect, vii. , n. 69,
p. 2S6.
"
Opera
tions of the multitude exclaming, bj to God I"
"
»* Now known as Emly, formerly a city,
but now dwindled into a small village ; yet,
it seems to have been the earliest metropo-
litan See of Munster, until it merged into
Cashel, where a new cathedral had been
built, by Cormac Mac Cuillinan, King and
"
Bishop of Cashel. See Sir James Ware's
Archiepiscoporum Cas'-elien ium et Tua-
sin. fol.
9i " The people of Munster and the Desii
July 24. ] LIVES OF THE lttlSH SAINTS. 333
people he had therein converted to the Divine Faith were placed under his own spiritual rule. ^ While in other parts of Ireland, its people became subject to St. Patrick,95 the Decies people, under God, acknowledged the protection of
6
Wherefore, St. Patrick, all Ireland's Hierarch and Patron, is said to have pronounced a distich in the Irish language, and which as an oracular verse was to obtain the force of law j nor would the spiritual families of St. Albeus and of St. Declan undertake to render it by any Latin metrical translation . w The author of our saint's Acts also expresses his intention of giving it in the native idiom, as it had been composed and delivered by St. Patrick, and for the purpose of stamping it with greater authenticity and authority. Notwithstanding, these verses are thus incorrectly
their holy Patron, St. Declan. s
in the Irish 8 and in the Roman characters —
ss Treating about the people of the Decks,
language^
:
" Ailbhe umhal Padruigh Muomhan mo guchruth :
Declan Padruig na n Desi, na Desi ag Declan go bruth. "99
In these verses it was prophesied, that Albeus should be the second Patrick and Patron over Munster, and that Declan should be a second Patrick and Patron over the Desies, while the territory of that people should remain his diocese to the end of the world. Afterwards, the holy bishops bestowed their blessing on King yEngus, and proceeded to the sphere of their respective labours, in order to spread die Gospel throughout Ireland. On their depar-
100 The
Bat, in the copy of the Isidore Manuscript,
obtained at Rome, the word "Leometrice"
was wanting. The reading being rendered
printed,
received from them a kiss of
and the young Desies chief Feargall, or Ferdinand, having assembled at the place called Hynneon, the army and entire population of the Desies being in attendance, Christianity was proclaimed, and its laws were incorporated
ture,
-1
king
the
See '"Acta Sanctorum," tenuis v. ,
peace.
holy bishop Declan,
Juliixxiv. De S. Declano Episcopo Ard- m >r'ae in H. bernia, cap. vi. , sect. 47, p. 62.
conformable to this copy, and to Colgan's ""
the Acts of our saint state, ut ipsi in writing, in Trias Thaumaturga,'' Appen-
parochia episcopates ejus essent, quse est iii. , sect, xiv. , p. 201 ; it is to be suspected,
"
magna and clara.
96 In the Life of St. Declan, cap. 30, it is
stated, that the people of Desies showed the
same obedience to their patron, St. Declan,
that was exhibited towards St. Patrick, by
the Irish people in other places. Quoting
this passage, Rev. Dr. Lanigan says, that
the drift of this passage was to insinuate,
that Declan's See of Ardmore had been
exempt from the jurisdiction of Armagh. See
"
that the word Leometrice had been intro- duced by an inexact scribe.
98 The Irish distich in the text is thus en-
tered, in Smith's "Ancient and Present
State of the County a—nd City of Waterford,"
Ecclesiastical History of Ireland," vol. i. > chap, vi. , sect, vii. , n. 70, p. 286. I must confess myself at fault, in failing to derive that conclusion drawn by Dr. Lanigan from this
passage.
97 The Bollandist editor observes, that in
the Manuscript copy of our saint's Acts, in his possession, he found it distinctly stated,
"
trice in Latinum verti. " From this word
"
Leometrice," Papebroch, in treating the
nonluerunt pro se vel . . . Leomc-
Acts of St. Patrick, assumed as an
that the author of our saint's Acts did not write before the twelfth century ; for, it was during the reigns of Lewis VII. , or of Philip Augustus, Kings of France, that the poet Leo flourished. From him, according to the opinion of the best informed writers, the Leonine metre derived its origin and name,
100 This monastic is often practice
to in the Acts of our Irish Saints.
101
argument,
alluded
chap, i. , as follows
" Ailbe umal Padruig Mumhan, mo gach rath :
Declan Padruig Nan-Desii, ag De- clan go brath. "
Ussher gives these lines, also, in the Gaelic characters, with some slight difference. See " Britannicarum Ecclesiarum Antiquitates," cap. xvii. , p. 450.
99 The Bollandist editor observes, in an annotatation, on this verse ; that it vras wanting in the copy which he used, but that Father Harold supplied it from the Manu- script copy of St. Isidore in Rome, and just as it had been printed.
:
This statement serves to illustrate the character of Irish popular assemblies under the old clan system, when the people as well
as their chiefs were summoned together, in
order to frame and ratify laws in a public convention.
334
LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. [July 24.
with the territorial jurisprudence.
102
Julii xxiv. De S. Declano Fpiscopo Aid-
See "Acta Sanctorum," tomus v. ,
us of the Buidhe Chonnuil, or the Yellow Hague, which occurred in Ireland,A. D. 664, as related in Dr. O'Donovan's "Annals of the Four Masters," vol. i. , pp. 274 to 277. This is also alluded in the First Volume of
moriae in Hibernia, cap. vi. , sects. 47, 48,
49, p. 602. — Chapter III.
This
is de- scribed as "the yellow jaundice," in Dr.
Meredith Hanmer's
p- 7°-
Molagga or Laicin, chap. iii.
3 Rendered into the Latin words Atrium
(Usfidum, "the Hall of Spears
3
The description of this plague reminds
"
pestilence Chronicle of Ireland,"
to,
this work, at January 20th, in the Life of St.
:
101
The former chieftain Lebanus was deposed, as an opposer of Christianity, and with unanimous acclaim of all that people. His political influence became extinct, and he appears to have retired into private life. Thus was accomplished, what had been written theenemiesofGod "Periitmemoriaeorumcumsonitu. " Then
regarding
was it decreed, by St. Declan, by the chieftain Feargall, and by the Decies nobles, that the local chiefs should henceforth be inaugurated in that place, called Hynneon, in which Feargall had been at first elected to the chieftainry, and installed by the saints. The author of our saint's Acts tells us, that those who lived prior to his time related, how the chiefs of the Decies, even in the
102
A PESTILENCE BREAKS OUT IN MUNSTER—ST. DECLAIMS MIRACLE AT CASIIF. L—-HE FOUNDS MONASTIC ESTABLISHMENTS AT TEACH-DERCAN AND AT TARA—HE RETURNS THROUGH OSSORY TO THE SOUTHERN DECIES—HIS MIRACULOUS POWERS—FOUNDA- TIONS AT AND SUBSEQUENT CONDITION OF ARDMORE—ST. DECLAN IS VISITED BY ST. AILBHE—ST. DECLAN MIRACULOUSLY EXTINGUISHES A FIRE—A FLEET OF PAGAN PIRATES DESTROYED.
About this time, a dreadful pestilence ravaged Minister. It proved more
fatal, we are told, in the city of Cashel, than in other places. This plague 1
produced a yellow, colour over the people it attacked, and afterwards it caused their death. 2 At this period, seven nobles, who were detained as hostages by King ^Engus, happened to be confined in a certain castle. Their dungeon was situated in the western quarter of Cashel city, and it had been called in Irish Magh na nearglann. 3 One night, these seven hostages were carried off by the plague ; and, when the king heard of their death, he was very much grieved, for they were the sons of powerful nobles, who resided in remote extremities of his kingdom. He feared, therefore, lest unjust suspicions might fall upon him, because of their sudden death. Wherefore, he desired his people to conceal their knowledge concerning this matter.
On the day following their demise, holy Bishop Declan came towards the city of Cashel, and he intended to have a conference with King ^ngus. The latter was rejoiced to hear of our saint's approach. Calling
Declan before him, in the presence of his friends, ^Engus said : "We entreat you, O holy bishop and servant of the living God, as we have believed in the name of Christ through your preaching, that you would raise from the dead our seven hostages, who were deprived of life during the past night ; for, we fear,thatascandalshallcomeonourkingdom. Theirparentsmaysay,per- haps, that their sons were destroyed through our instrumentality, and this indeed should prove a great disgrace to us. " The holy Pontiff Declan said :
days of paganism, had been inaugurated, also, in this very same place.
CHAPTER III.
July 24. ] LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. 335
" O ray dear king, to raise the dead to life exceeds the infirmity of our nature, for such a miracle appertains only to Divine power; but, as you have bene- fited us, in the name of Christ, we shall visit their dead bodies, and pray for them to God, that he may accomplish whatever may be in accordance with his holy will. " Then, accompanied by some select disciples, and full of faith, St. Declan went to where the dead bodies lay. The king's servants preceded them. Thebodiesofthesedeceasednoblespresentedagreenandyellow colour/ The king also followed the bishop, who stood before the dead bodies. On entering the place where these corpses lay, St. Declan sprinkled them with
holy water, and he prayed fervently, but briefly, before those who were pre-
" O Lord Jesus Christ, only begotten Son of the living God,
sent. He said
for the glory of thy name, we pray thee, raise these dead men to life, that they may become neophytes and be confirmed in the faith, through our ministry. " Afterwards, the holy bishop knew in spirit, that their lives had been granted again to the dead men by our Lord. While beginning to move
:
:
he said to them " In the name of Jesus Christ, the Saviour of
their
mankind, arise to us, and give thanks and praise to God. " At these words, they immediately seemed to awake from the dead. They saluted all who were present. Wherefore, St. Declan presented them living and restored in health, to iEngus, son of Nadfraoich, and in presence of his people. 5
eyelids,
When this strange and great miracle had been wrought, Christ's name was
glorified by all, and his servant's sanctity was promulgated, not only through-
out Ireland, but even over the world. Rejoicing at this wonderful event,
6 to St. Declan for ever that castle, called 4 ' Atrium King^Engus presented
cuspidum," with a field immediately near, and surrounding it. Then, the
inhabitants of Cashel city earnestly entreated St. Declan, that he would
bestow his benediction on them, expel the pestilence, and intercede with
Christ, at the same time, in behalf of many infirm persons, who were infected
with the plague. On seeing their faith, the holy man entreated Christ for
them, and he blessed the air, on four different quarters, with the holy sign of
the cross. There was verified, what Declan said to his disciples, when about
toenterheaven " manusimponent,etbenehabebunt. " For, : Super aegros
after those signs made by St. Declan's hand, not only in Cashel, but in every
part of the province, where this plague had prevailed, those prostrated with it recovered, and their friends had the satisfaction of witnessing their perfect
restoration. The pestilence became extinct throughout that whole country, about the same time. This unlooked for event pleased the people, and even more than did that first miracle wrought by St. Declan. On seeing and hearing these things, the king bestowed special favours on our saint, and especially in publishing his decrees, that a large tribute should be paid by all futureKings of Cashel, as well as by himself, to St. Declan and to his successors. He also con- ferred another favour, described as the liberty 7 of his city and parish, in the presenceofmanyoftheMunsternobles. Afterwards,givinghisbenedictionto
King ^Engus, and to his nation, St. Declan returned to his own part of the 8
country.
On a particular occasion, St. Declan was invited to a feast, at a cer-
4 The Acts cadavera mortuorum. "
morise in Hibernia, pp. 602, 603.
6
vi. , sect.
7 P'rom such a remark, we
that this Life of St. Declan cannot claim to be of very ancient date, since it has refer- ence to a mediaeval custom of giving the free* dom of a city to distinguished persons.
say,
chronological
" erant coerulea et flava
the Race of Eibhear. " A
poem, by John O'Dugan with a Transla- tion by Michael Kearney, A. D. 1635, pp.
s See "Acta Sanctorum," tomus v. ,
Julii xxiv. De S. Declano Episcopo Aid- 14, 15.
cap.
50, 51, 52*
may conclude,
King Aongus, the son of Nadfraoich, is stated to have reigned thirty-six years over Munster. See John O'Daly's "Kings of
336 LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. [July 24.
tain rich pagan's house. This was situated, in a southern part of the plain, called Femhyn. The dweller was named Dercan. Desirous of turning the Christians into ridicule and to manifest indignity, this man had ordered his ser- vants to kill a dog, in a secret manner, and to bury its head and feet in the earth. Thefleshofthisanimal,beingcookedathisdesirebytheservants,it was set before St. Declan at the banquet. The master then invited our saint, in an assumedly courteous manner, to partake of this disgusting kind of food, stating it was mutton. When this flesh was placed on the table with bread, and in a conspicuous place among other viands, St. Declan lapsed into a light slumber beside his host. He was then aroused, that he might bless the table.
Regarding it in a silent manner, his disciples at length said to him : "Father, "
bless our meats. " The saint then replied
nearthatmeat. " Declanthenaskedtheattendants,whatkindofmeatit was, and how killed ? They told him a falsehood, in compliance with their master's instructions. Then the holy Bishop said, in the presence of all : "O Christ, my Lord, manifest in what manner I see the servant of the devil at this table, and prevent thy servant* from eating an unclean thing. " By per- mission of God, the holy man beheld a dog's paw through a portion of the flesh. He said therefore: "This is not the foot of a sheep, but of a dog. '' Although they had supposed the animal's paws buried in eartli
the attendants had unconsciously dressed one of these paws, with the rest of the meat. On witnessing such a discover}-, they ran to inform their master, Dercan. Hearing their report, this latter went immediately to St. Declan, and declared that he was a believer. He then presented himself with his family and town, to the holy Bishop for ever ; and, to his great joy, he and his people were baptized. Dercan also asked our saint, that he would bless some place within this territory, and which should afterwards bear his name in perpetuity. Then St. Declan blessed a ceitain stone near that habitation. 9 The saint
" If the chieftain and people of the Desies, going to war with their enemies, or to avenge any injury against another nation, shall pass around that stone, invariably they shall return invincible, and obtain a victory over their enemies. But evil must befall this people, if through pride they shall not pass around this stone, because being unworthy of victory, they ought not
then said
obtain it. " That
disciples.
brought
St. Ultan with him, from his 5 monastery. '
10
sect.
Meaning
Ilibernia, cap. vii. ,
55, 56, 57,
:
was then called Teach Dercain to it was after- ; but,
11* He afterwards Then,theholyBishopwenttohisancestralcountryofBreigh, inwhichThe-
8 I4
See "Acta Sanctorum. " tomus v. , Colgnn remarks, that the ancient writer
Julii xxiv. De S. Peclano Episcopo Aid- of our saint's Acts indicates, that he saw
village 11
to circumstances connected with this miracle. 12
wards named
Thither came the holy men, Conan, Mochoba, Ultan, son of Ere, and the son of Laisre,'3 to St. Declan, presenting themselves to God under his magis- tracy and rule. St. Declan founded a monastery in that village of Dercan, called Coninga, and there he placed those saints, already named, with other
Coninga, owing
morise in Ilibernia, cap. vi. , sects. 53, 54,
Declan's own disciples, from these words
"
ferlur nobis ex antiquis ejus disci- pulis," tbid. , n. 4.
p. 603. used, 9 From that time to the period, when the
author of our sanl's Acts wrote, it was called the Stone of St. Declan.
" the House of Declan. "
" At that time when the Life of St.
Declan had been wiitlen.
12 " Ab ilia ungula canina vocatur. "
n For an account of these different saint*,
Ave mity refer to Colgan's "Acta Sancto-
rum Hibernise," xiv. Martii. ^Vita S. UUani, p. 608.
' 5 Sec "Acta Sanctorum," tomus v. ,
:
Truly, do I see Satan's servant
Julii xxiv.
morise in
De S. Declano Episcopo Ard-
pp. 603, 604.
,0 Abo called Dreg and Breach, which
w,as a large and level district in East Meath,
comprising five cantreds, and extending northwards so far as the Cassan, now the
Annagassan stream, near Dundalk.
'7 Jn commenting on these words;
"
Et
16
;
nevertheless,
July 24. ] LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. 337
moria was situated. There, the King of Taraand the nobles of Breagh received him with great honour. For, being a native of that district, its people deemed and loved St. Declan as a countryman, and the ties of con-
sanguinity were acknowledged. It is said, that the holy man constructed a 1
monastery of Canons, ? in a field which was granted to him, and which had
been called after his name. 18 There, he left a celebrated Book of Gospels,
which he brought with him. This book was afterwards preserved in that
locality, with great honour, and miracles are said to have been wrought
through its instrumentality. Having blessed that place, our saint then retired
x into Munster. 9
While on his journey homewards through the Ossorian territory, St.
Declan turned towards a certain castle in which he purposed resting for the
night; but, the evil-disposed inhabitants of that fort, not alone inhospitably refused him admittance, but even drove him away by force, and loaded him
with reproaches.
Our saint, with his disciples, prayed to God, that in their
" Mine is
what is found written in Sacred
case
ment, and I will repay. " Accordingly, the inhabitants in that part of the country, to the number of three score, died on that night; only two men and ten women, who felt indignant at how others had treated our saint, were exemptfromthisfatalpunishment. Theselattercameinanhumblemanner to St. Declan, on the day following, and told him concerning the miserable deaths of their companions. Of this, however, he had a foreknowledge. Doing penance for their sins, the survivors presented the saint with lands and othergifts. Wherethedeadbodieshadbeenburied,heconstructedafamous
which was called Celcolum 20 The saint dherig.
might happen,
Scripture :
judg-
monastery,
superior a pious and holy man, from amongst his disciples.
appointed
21 which is Latinized Columbus
derived from the eastern part of Leinster. From him, this monastery obtained itsname. Havingblessedthatplace,St. DeclanreturnedtotheDeciester- ritories. On the evening of another day, our saint with his disciples came to that place already mentioned, and which was called Atrium Bressail. But, its inhabitants would not suffer him to enter their castle or fort. They had pre- viously hidden their vessels, so that our saint might not be able to pass over into his island. This dislike, which they bore to God's pious servant, was wholly unprovoked, on his part. But, the Almighty converted the sea into
Columdearg,
construxit ibi sanctus Declanus monasterium in agro sibi dato Canonicorum," &c, the Bollandist editor very correctly states, that there were no Canons in
Ireland,
of St. Declan, judged to be in the fifth or
sixth century, n. (b). Originally the title of
Canons was derived from the Greek word Kavwv, which has the signification of the
Roll or Catalogue of every church, wherein
the names of ecclesiastics were written, and
which meant the Rule for knowing to which
church they belonged. In this sense, it is
often used by the Council of Nice. The
Council of Antioch calls ayios /cavthv, or the Julii xxiv. De S. Declano Episcopo Sacred Roll ; while the Apostolical Canons
have KaraXoyos tepari/cos, or the Catalogue of the Clergy. Even, at an early date, all those whose names were set down in the Books of the Church, to entitle them to re- ceive maintenance from the church, such as
the monks, virgins and widows, &c, were known as Canonici. See Rev. Joseph Bing-
p. 604.
20 In Latin it is written, " Columbi Ruffi
Cella. " It has not been identified.
3I Under the many saints, called Colum, in the Irish Calendars, we do not find any one designated Colum Dearg, which means
Red Colum.
in the time
RurTus,
ties of the Christian Church," vol . i. , book i. ,
chap, v. , sect. 10, pp. 15, 16. London edi-
tion, 1878, 8vo.
l8 Weare thatin informed, by D'Achery,
the ancient Irish Canons, some of which he has edited, although there is frequent men-
tion of monks, clerics, and priests, there is no account of canons. See "Veterum
""
ham's OriginesEcclesiastical,orAntiqui- Inrelatingthiscircumstance,theauthor
as its He was called and whose was
aliquot Scriptorum, qui in Galliae Bibliothe- cis, maxime Benedictinorum latuerant Spici-
legium," &c, tomus i. , p. 492. Parisiis, 1655 to 1677.
I9 See "Acta Sanctorum," tomus v. ,
Ardmoriae in Hibemia, cap. vii. , sect. 58,
origin
338 LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. [J uly 24.
dry land, according to the prophetic expression, on account of that injustice offered to St. Declan, and because of his servant's holiness, when offering his prayers. The saint remained for that night in a deserted shed on the highway, not being even able to obtain any fire from the neighbouring inhabi- tants. 22 However, the Almighty was justly avenged on them. For, while they felt unwilling charitably to bestow fire for the use of God's servants; fire came on them around the sea, so that the inhabitants and their castle were
entirely consumed, owing to the Omnipotent's avenging wrath. ** We are next told, that on another day, while Bishop Declan had been proceeding on a
journey through the mountains of Gua, in the Decies' territory, ahorse under his chariot became so lame, that he could not walk. Then, seeing a distant herd of deer on the mountain, our saint ordered a servant, named Dor- managh, to bring one from that herd, which should be strong enough to put in harness, and to take the place of his jaded horse. Not doubting that he should find a tame deer, as the man of God had predicted, the servant pro- ceeded on his errand, and the herd quietly awaited his arrival, until he selected therefrom a strong stag. This animal bore the saint in his chariot, without exhibiting any signs of weariness that whole day, until the plain of Femhyn was reached. On arriving at a house of entertainment, St. Declan com- manded that stag to return to the herd ; and, when the holy man had thus spoken, the animal took his prescribed way in presence of all. St. Declan bestowed his blessing on Dormanagh,2* and gave him a town, called Magh-
gubra,25 in a northern part of the Decies' territory, and near the Eoghanaght 26
country.
