No More Learning

is
March 2. ] LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS, 87
his learning and polite accomplishments. Treated with all the distinction that became his rank, and introduced to the best society, it was hoped, by his parents, that loava should be married to some honourable and exemplary lady j but, his own inclinations led him to decline such an alliance, since he had already in secret cherished a desire, to devote himself wholly to a reli- gious life. '9 His uncle, Paul Aurelian, born of an illustrious Welsh family, was a fellow-student with St. Gildas,'^° at the Monastery of St. Iltut. ^^ He passedoverthesea,withtwelvepriests; and,atfirst,herestedintheIsleof Ushant. *^ Thence he proceeded to the country about Leon,^3 where he acquired the high esteem of the religious King Victur. The latter sent him to Childebert, and soon afterwards he was consecrated, as the first Bishop of Leon. ^4 loava had notice of this change, by letters received from the Greater Britain ; and, he took occasion to leave Ireland, with as much secrecy as possible, by taking only two servants, who embarked on a vessel with him. ^s It was steered towards Ushant, and even it reached within sight of this island. A tempest arose, however, and it drove our saint far from the shore, and near to Llandevenec,*^ where St. Winwaloe^^ had founded a monastery, over which he presided as abbot. ^^ loava landed, at the mouth of the Faovian River, and then announcing his name, country and purpose, when he met the holy Abbot Judulus, loava was cordially received. Having re- embarked, he and his servants were conducted to the monastery of the former. Soon the young exile dismissed his Irish dependants. St. loava passed his novitiate under St, Judulus, in the monastery of Llanaterenecan,^9 or as it is Latinized, Landtuenecanum. 3° There, too, he assumed the religious habit,and,induecourse,heaspiredtoahigherofficeintheChurch. St. loava led an anchoretical life, in the country of Ack,3i before he lived in the Island of Baaz. At Leon, he received priest's orders, from his uncle, St. Paul. 3* Joava was then sent to resume his religious ministrations, in the monasteryatLandteuenecanum. SoontheAbbotJudulusappointedhimto govern the parish of Barspars,33 then wanting a pastor. At first, great diffi- culties beset his administration, for the whole country about Cornuaille, in which it was situated, had been a prey to Pagan superstitions,34 and the
and instructive learning, conveyed in the
" edited Rev. Williams, Barddas," by J.
Ap. Ithel, M. A. , vols, i. , ii.
'9 The Bollandists —notice some
the monastic exiles, who grew old, but could
not die in the wild paradise of their first
biogra- phical inconsistencies chiefly of a chrono-
settlement, and which held fast its Scoto-
logical order—in that Prologue, which they
prefix to St. loava's Acts, Haddan,
^° See his Life, at the 29th of January,
^^ His feast is held, on the 6th of Novem- ber.
^ North-westwards, off the coast, in the present department of Finistere, France. S. Michel is noted on it, as marked on Alexander Keith " Atlas
"
Remains," p. 264.
'^ He died on the 3rd of March, A,D, 529. =^ See Rt, Rev. Patrick F, Moran's
"Early Irish Missions," No. i. , p. 32.
^^ See Rev. S. Baring-Gould's "Lives of
Johnston's Royal ofModernGeography. " France,No,10, dists'
"
Corisopitan,
Acta Sanctorum," tomus i. , Martii
"3 It is situated in Lower Bretagne, near the sea,
=' See Dom, Gui Alexis Lobineau's " His-
toire de Bretagne," tome i. , liv. ii. , num.
cxci. , p. 74,
=sOneaccounthasit, thathetravelled
with Paulinien, who is apparently no other than the foregoing Paul, when he sailed to Lesser Britain. See ibid. , num. ccix. ,
p. 76.
"* This was near the harbour of Brest, in
ii, De S. loava sive Jovino, &c. , n. (c), p.
141,
3' See Rev. Alban Butler's "Lives of
the Fathers, Martyrs and other principal Saints," vol. iii. , March ii.
^2SeeRev. S. Baring-Gould's"Livesof the Saints," vol. iii. , March ii. , p. 22.
33 This lies about eleven leagues, towards the south, from St. Paul's City of Leon.
34 Cicero, who flourished B. C. 43, speaks of the Gaulish Druids, with one of whom.
Brittany, and it was called the Glastonbury
of that " the final of province, resting-place
British customs until the ninth century. "—
the Saints," vol. iii. , March ii. , p. 22.
^o xhis was an ancient Abbey of the Diocese of See the BoUan-
88 LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. [March 2.
people were very ignorant regarding the Christian doctrine. However, owing
to the eloquence, example, reproaches and prayers of their new pastor, the inhabitants were converted from their former errors and evil ways. Here
lived, at the time, in a castle, called Kerar-Roue, or Ker-ar,35 a nobleman andaChristian,namedAristagnus. 3^ Anephewofthischieftain,andsonof his sister, was the Toparch of Le Foil. He was very hostile to our saint, because he had brought over so many to the true Faith. DissembHng his vindictive purpose, he resolved on finding an opportunity to effect his
revenge; and,hearingthatameetingofholyabbots,belongingtoCornuaille, should soon be held, near his own territories, with a pretended zeal for the interests of religion, the false Toparch led an armed band to that place, appointed for this conference. A holy Irish priest, named Taidoc,37 had already destroyed some pagan temples in the neighbourhood, and he was then engaged offering the Christians' sacrifice. Joava and Judulus3S happened to be present. All were attacked by an armed party, under the leadership of their local tyrant. Taidoc had just pronounced the words " Nobis quoque peccatoribus," when the myrmidons rushed in, and murdered him at the altar. Judulus and others perished by the sword. The surviving religious present sought safety in flight. Divine punishment fell immediately on the wicked chief,39 who is said to have been seized with a sudden madness, while other marks of Divine displeasure followed his impious and murderous intent. St. loava escaped the slaughter, however, and reached in safety his parish of Barsparz, but he experienced a deep sorrow for the death of St. Judulus and his holy religious. '*" Before this time, St. Paul governed an island monastery in the Morbihan,^' and the people now sent an embassy to Ker-paol, where he then dwelt, to ask his interposition. He exhorted them, to do penance, and he promised to visit their country. When they had departed, with such a message, St. Paul and certain companions set out on a journey, towards the parish of Plougaran,^' and at a spot, afterwards known as Mouster-Paul,^3 he turned aside to pray. There he had a vision, and a beautiful young man seemed to admonish him, that the journey should be prosecuted, and that it must have a successful issue. Then, too, laova, having had a premonition, that his uncle was on the way to Le Fou, set out and met him, at a place, called Coatgarz, where after the usual salutes were exchanged, they embraced each other. St. Paul then felt a thirst, and he ordered St. laova to strike an adjoining rock with his staff, when a clear and most refreshing fountain issued. Both drank from it, and they sung our Lord's praises, at that place. When they approached Le Fou, a great crowd of people came forth to. meet them. To these, St. Paul preached the Christian Faith, the necessity for
Divitiacus ^Eduus, he was acquainted. This
man not only professed an intimate know-
ledge of the system of nature, which the Greeks called physiology, but also he fore-
told future events, partly by augury, and partly by conjecture. See " De Divina- tione," lib. i.
is assigned for him, and possibly as he died away from his own country. There is
another Taodhog, of Tech-Taodhog, vene- rated on the 13th of July. See "Acta Sanctorum Hiberniae," Martii ii. Vita S. Jaova, Episcopi Leonensis, n. 5, p. 443.
38 Colgan remarks, that he found nothing more regarding him, than what is here re- lated. See ibid. , n. 6.
39 See Rt. Rev. Patrick F. Moran's
"Early Irish Missions," No. i. , p. 32.
•° The account of this massacre is to be
found in the Lessons of the Leon Breviary. «See Rt. Rev. Patrick F. Moran's
of Leon, and in the direction of Brest. •^ Or the Monastery of Paul.
35 It is scarcely two leagues from the "
parish of Leon. See the Bollandists' Acta
Sanctorum," tomus i. , Martii ii. De S.
loava seu Jovino, &c. , n. (d), p. 141.
3* This name seems derivable from the
'*""
Greek, signifying good or chaste. " See
ibid. , n. (f ).
" Irish Early
37
Colgan
thinks he was the same as St.
No.
*" It is four leagues distant from the city
Taeda MacColgan, whose name is found in ""
the Tallagh Martyrology, edited by Rev. Dr. Kelly (See p. xiv. ) ; because, no place
Missions,"
i. , p. 32.
March 2. ] LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. 89
doing penance, and for renouncing pagan practices, in the name of Jesus Christ, All were moved, through the force of his exhortations, and cried out withonevoice,thattheyshouldbecomethoroughlyrepentant. Thenorder- ing an altar to be prepared, and St. loava having finished the Holy Sacrifice, St. Paul wrought a wonderful miracle, in relieving the district, from the presence of a dragon, which had there caused great terror and loss of life. Afterwards, he visited the Toparch, from whom he expelled a demon, and marking him with a sign of the cross, that Dynast was instructed in the Christian doctrine. Then he was baptized by St. loava, while St. Paul, who assisted, gave him that same name, which he bore himself. The Toparch's whole family followed this example. His mother ran in great joy to acquaint her brother, Aristagnus, with the news of her son's restoration and of his baptism. Aristagnus requested St. Paul and St. loava to visit him, and they consented ; when, on their arrival, the chieftain, with a large train, came out to meet them. He not only received them most courteously, but he even promised, in his nephew's name, that he should expiate a former offence. Nor did the Toparch refuse to execute this promise, made by his uncle. A fine monastery was then erected, to perpetuate their memory, on that very spot, where St. Taidoc and St. Judulus had been martyred. Joava was chosenasitsfirstabbot,44attherequestoftheToparchofLeFou. Aftera few years, the building was completed, and liberally endowed. It was con- secratedbytheBishopofCornouaille. Joavawasdirected,byhisuncle,St. Paul, to reside in the Isle of Baz,45 as we are told ; but, for this statement, we find no corresponding warranty, derivable from the old Acts. 4^ It was known in after times as St. Mary's Monastery of Doulas,47 Daoulane or Daouz- Glas,4^ which is interpreted as " the monastery of the two wounds. " 49 "We may well pass over some fabulous accounts, referring to St. Paul's return ; but, it must suffice to state, that St. laova collected a numerous company of monksatDaoulane,andhislifewasthereacauseforgreatedification. The evil one, however, envying his success, in freeing the province from heathenish thraldom, forced him at length to resign the rectorship of Barsparz to Tuseran, or Tusuran,5° the son of Aristagnus. Having instructed the latter, in the right manner of ruling his parish and monastery, Joava asked leave fromhisreligious,toseekhisunclePaul,atLeon. Hewasjoyfullyreceived there.
He is stated, to have been created a Canon of the Cathedral Church. s^ Soon he was destined for a higher dignity. Being chosen as Bishop of Leon, St. Paul invited Joava to aid him, in sanctifying his people. s^ The senior now desired to spend his life in retirement, and his canons advised, that the assistant bishop should assume the responsibility of government. Then, St. Sampson53 ruled over the see of Dol, and he was regarded as the Metropo- litan of Britany. By him, it is stated, Joava was consecrated bishop. St.
4* See Rt. Rev. Patrick F. Moran's of St. Augustine. It belonged to the Dio-
"
45 See Rev. S.
the Saints," vol. iii. , March ii. , p. 22.
4* However, this appears to be founded on the Lessons of the old Breviary of Leon.
"
5° If this person belong to the list of saints, 47 See Rt. Rev. Patrick F. Moran's it does not seem possible to identify him,
Early Irish Missions," No. i. , pp. 32, 33.
cese of Corispotensis, in Armoric Comou-
aille,
the bishops there, as also in a Catalogue of the Gaulish Monasteries,
Baring-Gould's
" Lives of
as Claudius Robert shows in his list of
Early Irish Missions," No. i. , p. 33.
from the Calendars. Hugh Menard, in his Benedictine Martyrology, at the 25th of
November, has a Blessed Toussan, Monk of Cluny, but seemingly different from the present Tuseran.
s' See the Lessons in the Breviary of Leon. I
s^ See Rt. Rev. Patrick F. Moran's " Early Irish Missions," No. i. , p. 33.
48 The Bollandists suppose, in referring to this passage, that as Albert Le Grande wrote his account from certain knowledge, it may be inferred, that the compilers of the Catalogue of all the Gaulish Churches, de- nominated PouUie, have omitted the names of many monasteries and churches.
49 It became a house for Canons Regular
90 LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. [March 2.
Paul soon retired from his see, to the monastery of Baaz, being weighed down with old age and infirmities. S4 While Joava diligently exercised his
episcopal duties at Leon,5s the people he had left experienced the horrors of a famine, for three successive years, and were obliged to bring breadstuffs, from the most remote parts of Britany. Recognising this scarcity, as a punishment for their ingratitude towards our saint, they sent some of the Ocismiis^ to Leon, who requested his forgiveness, and return to their place, so that they might receive his benediction. Forgetful of injuries, the holy man was only too anxious to repay good for evil. He returned to their country, and no sooner had he prayed for increased prosperity there, than the earth and its fruits seemed to revive, and abundance followed. While here, in the presbytery of Barzparz, loava was stricken with a fever, which, after a few days access, deprived him of all strength. The third day before his death, a Divine intuition conveyed this intelligence to St. KenanS7 of Plou-kernaw, and to St. Paul, then residing in the Island Monastery of Baaz. The former instantly set out for Barzparz, to administer every spiritual succour to loava, and to arrange for his honourable interment. Our saint was greatly consoled, on his arrival, and piously received the Church Sacra- ments, through Kenan's ministry. Then blessing those around him, the holy bishopgavedirectionsabouthisinterment. Afterwards,extendinghishands towards heaven, he rendered his soul to his Creator, on the 2nd day of March. St. JoavaonlyruledovertheancientseeofLeon,foroneyearand seventy days,^^ while he died, a. d, 554,^9 or 555. ^° The body was washed after his death, and clothed in pontifical garments. Then, it was laid on a new couch, or litter, according to his previous directions, and borne by animals, along the great road, leading from Barzparz, until these arrived at a place, called Porz-arr charz, where they stopped of their own accord. There, the bier seemed violently agitated, and a loud sound was heard; yet, the animals advanced about five hundred paces onwards, to where a grave had been prepared miraculously for the remains. Here, they were buried, and a splendid temple, called after St. loava, was subsequently erected. In course of time, his relics were transferred to the Cathedral Church of Leon, where they were religiously preserved. As nothing occurs, in our Irish Calendars, at this date, in reference to St. laova or Jovinus, Colgan thinks his name may have undergone some change among the Gauls, where he lived and died, away from his own country. ^' He is the special patron of two parishes,^^ one called Ker-iouen,^3 and the other St. louan,^* in Leon diocese. ^s There, his
S3 See his Life, at the 28th of July. the 5th, and of St. Cianan or Kenan, Bishop
s< See Rt. Rev, Patrick F. Moran's of Duleek, at the 24th, of Norember.
"Early Irish Missions," No. i. , p. 33. ss Yet, nothing regarding these seventy
ss In his Catalogue of the Bishops of days, as the Bollandists remark, can be
I>eon, Joava is omitted from it, by Claudius
Robert, most probably, as Colgan states, because he administered that see, while St. Paul v/as living. See "Acta Sanctonim HibernizE," Martii ii. Vita S. laovre, Epis- copi Leonensis, n. 9, p. 443.
s* These were an ancient people of Bre- tagne, who lived near Leon and Treguier. See CjEsar " Commentariorum de Bello Gallico," lib. iii. , cap. ix.
57 There is some question about this saint's identity. The reader is referred to what has
" found in the Acts of St. Paul. See Acta
Sanctorum," tomus i. , Martii ii. De S.
loava sive Jovino, &c. , n. (m), p. 141.
S9 Such is the date found in the Breviary
of Leon,
been
already
written about St. Cienan or
de la Bretagne," p. 71.
"^^ This lay on the shore of the British Sea,
and about seven French leagues from the city of Leon.
Kenan, Abbot, in the second vol. of this
Work, Art. i. , at the 25th of February. See,
also, the notices of St. Cienan or Kenan, at
^^ This is called St. lahona, in the des-
" *'
*°
Early Irish Missions," No. i. , p. 33.
See Rt. Rev. Patrick F. Moran's
See "Acta Sanctorum Hibernice,"
Martii ii. Vita S. laovse Episcopi Leonen-
sis, n. i, p. 443.
^^
See Lobineau's "Les Vies des Saints
March 2. ] LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. 91
feast has been celebrated on the 2nd of March, the anniversary of his death, and with an office of nine Lessons, as contained in the Legendary of the Cathedral. It might be desired, that his Acts^^ were better expurgated, as they contain legends, which, instead of heightening the interest for judicious readers, tend rather to depreciate their authenticity and value, when subjected to the process of just criticism.
ArticleIV. —St,FergnaBritt,AbbotofIona. {SixthandSeventh Centuries. '] The Acts of St. Fergna, or Fergnaus, drawn from various writers, have been published by Colgan, at the 2nd of March. '' In like
manner, the BoUandists follow his authority, taking exceptions to some of those attributed Acts. ^ Bishop Forbes has certain notices regarding him. 3
"
The surname Brit, which signifies a Briton," was derived, in Colgan's
opinion, from his having lived in Britain ; but, the Rev. Dr. Reeves thinks, that probably more is implied in such an epithet, than is found recorded. * He belonged to the race of Conall Gulban, son to Niall,5 and he was son to Failbe, belonging to the family of Enna Boghaine. Fergna was born, pro- bably after or about the middle of the sixth century, having been a member of the community in St. Columba's time. ^ He is called Virgnous, by Adam- nan, who describes him as being a youth of ardent piety. 7 St. ^ngus the Culdee and the Calendar of Cashel designate him, by an epithet^ meaning " white " or " fair. " He appears to have presided over the religious com- munity, at Iona, from a. d. 605, to 623, having immediately succeeded St. Laisren, or Laisrien,9 who died on the i6th of September, in the former year. It is said, that St. Fergna had lived for some time with St. Lugudius,^° Abbot of Cluain-Finchuil, or Cluain-Fiacul," in Ireland;" but, this Fergnous or Vergnous is clearly a different person. Both are confounded, however, by
Colgan, who represents St. Fergna, as the disciple of St. Columkille. *3 He was the fourth abbot, in succession ; but, not so nearly related, to St.
Columba,'4 as his predecessors. The contemporaneous incidents of his rule have been noted, by the Rev. Dr. Reeves. 's For additional particulars
cription of the Benefices of France. The BoUandists think, it wa. s the place of our saint's first burial.
*s See Rt. Rev. Patrick F. Moran's
" Early Irish Missions," No. i. , p. 33.
^ The Rev. Alban Butler observes, that
his Life, copied by Albert the Great, from
"
^ gee Rev. William Reeves' Adamnan's
" de—serves no
Acts, regard. "
See notices of him, at this date,
older
Article iv. See Acta Sanctorum
a
Clonfeakle, parish situated,
'''
Hibernise," Martii ii. De S. Fergna sive Fergnao, Abbate Hiensi et Episcopo, ex variis, pp. 448 to 450.
'See "Acta Sanctonam," tomus i. , Martii ii. Among the pretermitted saints, p. 125.
3 See "Kalendars of Scottish Saints," p.
336.
4 See Adamnan's "Life of St. Columba,"
Additional Notes, O, p. 372.
5 His pedigree is given from the " Sancti-
logic Genealogy," chap, i. , in Colgan's '3 See "Trias Thaumaturga. " Quarta
"Trias Thaumaturga. " Quarta Appendix ad Acta S. Columbse, cap. iii. , p. 481, cap. X. , p. 492.
Appendix ad Acta S. Columbee, cap. x.