Several similar
denominations
are to be found in
Ireland.
Ireland.
O'Hanlon - Lives of the Irish Saints - v3
i68, 169.
in more, inquit,hdhvi\t S. Lactinus strenuus pugil ; (quod non fuit exigua car- nis castigatio) sine intermissione in vigiliis stare, pro Momoniorum defensione. " Col- gan's "Acta Sanctoram Hibernias," xix. Martii. Vita S. Lactini, cap. viii. , p. 657.
"
" Acta Sanctonmi
Colgan's Hibernioe,"
xix.
35
Ilibemia S. Lactini Episcopi & Confessoris. "
& Confessoris in Hibernia. "
March 19. ] LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. 849
Joannes Kerkested,^^ have distinguished him, by such a dignity ; but, whether he held it, at Freshford, or in some other place, is not easily ascer- tainable. If he were a bishop, Dr. Lanigan believes, that Achadh-ur must have been his See ; for, he is always called Lactinus of Achadh-ur. 39 Besides, the monastery of Achadh-ur, another church denominated Belach-abrat,'t° or Belach-Febhrat, seems to have been connected, in some measure, with our saint, as Colgan remarks.
The ruins of Lislaughtin''^ priory are to be seen in northern Kerry, This
was founded for Franciscans, or Brothers Minor of the Strict Observance, in
1464, by O'Connor Kerry, according to some writers, or in 1478, as others have stated. Th6 steeple, choir and other parts of this priory stood, in the last century. The parish church, at this place, is said to have been dedicated to an Irish saint, named Laghtin, who died in 62 2. -t^ He must therefore be identical with St. Lactean of Achad Ur, according to Colgan. But, it is urged, that he incorrectly confounded our saint, with the Abbot Lactean, who was a neighbour to St. Senan of Iniscathy, and with a Lacten, who succeeded St. Molua, at Clonfert Molua. t3
St. Lactinus departed this life, on the 19th day of March,'i+ and in the
3^ "
pilatione extaiite in Bibliotlieca Vaticana,
agens de prcccipuis Hiberniic Episcopis &'
Abbatibus, non solum Episcoptitn, sed mor-
tuoniin siiscitatorem Jacit : S. Lactenus tean, mentioned in St. Senan's Life ; yet,
yoaitncs
iii. , chap,
etiam Kerkested in sua com-
siastical of
History Ireland,"
xvii. , sect, v. , n. 69, p. 27.
vol.
Although Dr.
Monachus & Episcopus Hibernice morluum
as the latter saint lived to at least the year
resuscitavit. "—Colgan's
Hibernise," xix. Martii.
cap. vii. , pp. 656, 657.
"Acta Sanctorum Vita S. Lactini,
to and to about the Colgan,
39 See Dr.
tory of Ireland," vol. iii. , chap, xvii. , sect. v. , n. 69, p. 27.
'^° The church, here called Belach-abrat, by Colgan, in his Acts of our saint (cap. ix. ,
is named
P- 657), Belach-febhrat,
Lanigan's
" Ecclesiastical His-
5S0, according
year 560, according to Dr. Lanigan himself, we might well suppose it possible, that Lac- tean could havesurvived his friend St. Senan, for a term of forty-two or even for a term of sixty-two years. The circumstance of Lac- tean being called abbot in St. Senan's Acts could not furnish a solid objection ; for,
in our such title Martyrologies. Speaking of this Bealach-
may
as — supposed, having
Feabhradh church, Mr. O'Donovan re- marks, that "it is probably the place now
called Ballagharay, or Ballaghawry, a town- land situated in the west of the parish of
of — or Kilbolane, barony Orbhraighe, Orrery,
and county of Cork. " "Annals of the
Four Masters," vol. i. , n. (g), p. 245,
^' This townland, situated in the parish of
Aghavallen, and barony of Iraghticonnor, is
''
Ordnance Survey Townland Maps lor the County of Kerry," Sheets 2,
3. 6.
"^ See Smith's "Natural and Civil His- after whom Lis-lachtin church, in the
tory of Kerry," chap, viii. , p. 227.
"
^3
have lived down to 623. He was a different
person, and was, I am sure, the Lactean or
Lachtin, from whom the church of Lis-lach-
tin in Kerry, not far from Iniscatthy, got its
name. Colgan has also confounded him in Osraighe, and of Bealach Feabhrat. He with Lacten, who succeeded St. Molua at descended from the race of Conaire, son to Clonfert Molua. For this he had no autho- Moghlamha, Monarch of Erinn, who be- rity, except the mere similarity of name. longed to the seed of Heremon. His name There were Lactens or Lactans enough to
succeed Molua without removing the one of
Achadh-ur to Clonfert Molua, of which no
mention occurs i—n the Calendars, where
treating of him. " Dr. Lanigan's "Eccle-
shown, on the
But this Lactean cannot be supposed to
diocese of Ardfert, had been named. For farther particulars, see the Life of St. Senan, at the 8th of March.
Lanigan's opinion is very probable, that our saint was a different person from the Lac-
be
reference to some future period of his life
this mode of speaking about a certain
person being common enough, amongst our writers of the Lives of Irish saints. It might be even possible, that a Lactean, who sur-
could have been an abbot
vived to
during St. Senan's lifetime
this case, such a person must have attained a very advanced age. However, I entirely agree in opinion with Dr. Lanigan, that our saint was altogether different from the St. Lactean, mentioned in St. Senan's Acts ; and that this latter Lactean was the saint
622,
t4 The Martyrology of Donegal, as edited by Drs. Todd and Reeves, on this day re- cords the name of Lachtain, of Achadh-ur
is Latinized, Lactantius, and he is called
the successor of Molua, in the table ap-
pended to the Donegal JNIartyrology. See
at pp. 80, 81, and, likewise, pp. 430, 431.
^3 read in
At this year, we O'Donovan's
although,
;
in
3H
850 LIVES OP THE IRISH SAINTS. [March 19.
year 622/5 according to our Irish Annalists, and Martyrologists. Thus, St. ^ngus the Culdee,*^ the Martyrology of Tallagh,*? the Calendar of Cashel,*^ the Martyrologies of Marianus 0'Gorman-i9 and of Maguire,s° as also that of
the O'ClerySjS^ refer his feast to this date ; while, the Martyrologies of the Carthusians, of Canisius, of Ferrarius, of Florarius, of Father Henry Fitz- simon,52 and of Herman Greuen,53 accord. A notice of this saint is in Bishop Forbes' work. 54 Not only during his life, but even after the death
of St. Lactean, miracles were wrought through his intercession. Especially, at a place, called Liosnascaith—now identical with Lisnaskea—in the
diocese of Cashel, this was noticeable. Here, many infirm persons were cured from various diseases, at a well, which had been consecrated to his memory. Colgan tells us, he had accounts of these miracles, and of other supernatural incidents, from the lips of persons, who had experienced the efficacy of our saint's intercession. As the special patron of this place, St. Lactinus was often invoked on behalf of paralytics, and of possessed persons, while his merits were found effectual, against incantations and diabolical
agency. 55
Article II. —The Feast of St. Joseph, Confessor, the Fosterer of OUR Lord Jesus Christ. Such is the title given to the chaste spouse of the
"
Feilire" of St. . ^ngus, at this date, which it seems was his festival day in the early Irish Church, as it is yet throughout Christendom. TheBollandists,'variousotherhagiologists,andtheancient Fathers, treat largely and learnedly, regarding his race, vocation, and reli-
gious culture.
Article III. —The Feast of St. Gregory. The "Feilire" of St. . ^ngus has this festival entered, at the 19th of March; and, the Bollandists
Blessed Virgin Mary, in the
" Annals of the Four Masters," vol. i. , and n. (g), pp. 244, 245 : "St. Lachtnain, son of
Torben, Abbot of Achadh-Ur, died on the loth \recte 19th] of March. " It would appear, that Colgan's copy of the Four Masters had the 19th of March, the correct day. Thus he writes, "i". Lactantis IJiiiis Torbaii, Abbas de Achadh ur obiit die 19. Martii. ^^
'^ The Calendar of Cashel
toctis, alias Lactinus de Achadk ur. "
" LaC'
*^ The following stanza, for this day, from ""
'•9 Marianus O'Gorman has " S. Lactanus
de in AcJiadur in Ossoria, et dc Bdach-febh- rat. "
^o Maguire notices him as Ladaniis de AcJiadhur in Ossoria.
S' The following notice of him is given in
" LaccAin, niAC Coii\- bein, Abb ^chAno iii|v, i)i-On\A5iib, Aguf 6 l)hex>lAch VeAbi\Ac <Xnno 'Doniir>i, 622. "
the "Feilire," in the Leabhar Breac copy, with the English translation, has been furnished by Professor O'Looney :-*-
:
Lachtain, son of Torben, abbot of Achadh
Ur, in Ossory, and of Bealach Feabhrath, a. d. 622. "
s^ in hjg Y\? ,\. of Irish saints. See O'Sullevan Beare's "Historise Catholics IbemiK Compendium," tomus i. , lib. iv. , cap. xi. , p. 50, and cap. xii. , p. 55.
S4 See " Kalendars of Scottish Saints," p. 377, and we find, in the Kalendar of Drum- mond, at the 19th of March, or xiv. Kal. : In Hibemia, the Holy Confessors Lactin and Auxaile, Disciples of St. Patrick, Apostle and Bishop of the Scots, went to Christ the same day. See pp. 7, S, ibid.
-A. X1 111. kU lYIolAchcoc La 5|M5ui|\ In 5i\AT) speic Af -oi. xu
lofep Ainm if uAifLiu <Mt)iu AiAinx) ipi.
" Molachtoc, with Gregory
The beloved hero who is most
illustrious,
Joseph a name yet more noble ThebeautifulfostererofJesus. "
The Molachtoc alluded to has been iden-
lifted, in an accompanying comment, as St. Lachtin of Achad ur,
53 in his Manuscript Martyrology.
ss See Colgan's "Acta Sanctorum Hiber- •? The Martyrology of Tallagh, edited by nice," xix. Martii. Vita S. Lactini, cap.
"
Uir. " The Franciscan copy has lACCAnu]'
Dr. Kelly, p. xix. , enters oe ^Xcli&TDh-uip.
Lactain Achaidh
ix. , and n. 9, p. 657.
O'Clery's Calendar
"
—'See "Acta
Article 11. Sanctorum,"
tomus iii. , Martii xix. De Sancto Josepho
writes,
March 19. ] LIVES OP THE IRISH SAINTS. 8
notice the Ordination of St. Gregory, as occurring in the Martyrology of
Tallagh, at the same date. ^ They are in doubt, however, respecting the particular saint of the name, to whom reference is made. The Ordination of
Gregory the Great is inscribed, in the Roman Martyrology, at the 3rd of Sep- tember, and his chief feast occurs on the 1 2th of March.
ArticleIV. —St. Mella,Cluanahi,orofCluain-hi. Onthe19th
of March, we find on record, in the Martyrology of Tallagh,^ Mella Cluana hi. The BoUandists observe,^ in noting this record, that Colgan, in the Acts
of St. Meldan, or Mellan, has mentioned a place called Cluain-aoi, about which they are ignorant. The name Meallai, of Cluain-hi, likewise occurs,
intheMartyrologyofDonegal,^ashavingafestivalatthisdate. Thisplace
is probably identical with a townland, called Clooney,"* in the parish of Clon-
dermot,5 and not far from the city of Londonderry. Here, likewise, are the ruins of an old church.
Several similar denominations are to be found in
Ireland. There is also Clonee,^ a post-town in the parish and barony ot Dunboyne, about seven miles from Dublin, but in the county of Meath, as
also one in the parish of Trim, and in the barony of Lower Moyfenrath. ? There is an old church at Clone,^ near Ferns, in the barony of Scarawalsh,9 in the county of Wexford. Various other places have denominations corre- sponding with the preceding, in the different counties of Ireland.
Article V. —St. Mochua, of Arasnai, or Airisna. The Martyrology ofTallagh^entersMochuaArasnai,atthe19thdayofMarch. TheBoUan- dists merely note his name, place and festival, thus, Mochua de Airis-nai. The time when he lived does not appear to have been discovered. The Martyrology of Donegal^ mentions Mochua, of Airisna, as having been venerated,onthisday. Underthedenomination,itwillbefounddifficultto identify his locality.
Article VI. —Feast of St. Auxilius, Bishop of Kilossey, County
OF KiLDARE. \Fifth Century^ There are memoirs of this holy bishop, in
Colgan's work,^ at this day. It was dedicated to the memory of St. Auxilius, BishopofKilossey,asweareinformed. HisLifewillbefound,atthe27th
sponso Deiparae Virginis,'sect. pp. 4 to 25.
i.
xiii. ,
Survey Townland Maps for the County of Meath,"
Article lil. —» See "Acta Sanctorum," tomus iii. , Martii xix. Prcetermissi et in alios dies rejecti, p. 2.
Sheets 50, 51,53.
? See «/^J(/. , Sheet 41.
^ Of this cliurch and its details, there are
in V. Du
drawings George Noyer's Sketches,
preserved in the Royal Irish Academy. See vol. vii. , Nos. 48, 49, 50, 51.
^ It is on tiie "Ordnance described,
Survey Townland Maps for the County of
Article iv. — ' Edited
by
Rev.
Dr.
Kelly, p. xix. The Franciscan copy has
meLlA 'oe CluAin hi.
^
See "Acta tomus Sanctorum," iii. ,
^^artii xix. Among the pretermitted saints. p. 3.
3 Edited by Drs. Todd and Reeves, pp.
80, 81. An inaccurate statement occurs in
the table, appended to this Martyrology, viz. : that this saint has not been noticed at the 19th of March, in the body of the work. See«i^/(/. , pp. 444, 445.
* It is shown, on the " Ordnance Survey Townland Maps for the County of London- derry," Sheet 20.
Wexford," Sheet—s 15, 20. '
to
'^ It is on the "Ordnance noted,
'See "Acta Sanctorum sin the barony of Tirkeeran. It is de- Ilibernire," xix. Martii. Vita S. Auxilii,
scribed on Sheets 13, 14, 20, 21, 22. Ibid, cap. vii. , and n. 6, 7, pp. 657, 658, 659.
Article v. Edited by Rev. Dr.
Kelly, p. xix. The Franciscan copy enters
tTlochuA 'oe ^jMfnAi.
^
See "Acta Sanctorum," tomus iii. ,
Martii xix. Among the pretermitted saints,
p. 3.
^ Edited by Drs. Todd and Reeves, pp.
So, 81. — Article vi.
852 LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. [March 19.
of August, and, he is classed, among the disciples of St. Patrick. ^ The present holy man is said to have been stationed, near the River Liffey, and at the place now known as Killashee, near the town of Naas,3 in the county of Kildare. In the cemetery, at this place, may be seen the Protestant church,
Killashee Church and Round Tower, County of Kildare.
which has been formed from a mediaeval erection, having a curious square tower, at one end, and this is surmounted by a stunted Round Tower. The
arrangement of the building is in a debased style of masonry ; yet, there are interesting features there, for the antiquary's study. '^ Our saint lived, in the early Apostolic times of our Irish Church, and the Bollandists notice him, as an assistant, at some one of St. Patrick's Synods. s The Martyrology of
Tallagh^ enters Auxilinus, at the 19th of March.
Article VII. —Reputed Festival of St. Gero, Cologne, Germany. {Tenth Century. '] According to Dempster,^ St. Gero—if not a Scot—was abbot over the Scottish Monastery of St. Pantaleon,= at Cologne. But, it
"
''See Colgan's "Trias Thaumaturga. Quinta Appendix ad Acta S. Particii, cap. xxiii. , p. 265.
William F. Wakeman, and engraved by Mrs. Millard.
5 See "Acta Sanctorum," tomus iii. ,
Martii xix. Among the pretermitted saints,
P-3-
* Edited by the Rev. Dr. Kelly, p. xix.
The Franciscan copy has ^Xuxibni]".
"
Article vii. — See Historia Eccle-
siastica Gentis Scotorum," torn, i. , lib. vii. ,
num. 5S1, p. 312.
^ that this was a Dempster pretends,
foundation, made in favour of his nation, by Wilhehnus, brotherto Achaius, Kingof Scot-
3 *« Within a mile of Naas, in 454, Saint Patrick founded an abbey for his nephew St. Auxil, who gave it his name, Kill auxaile ; it is now called Killishee, a parish
son's
* The
—Raw- Statistical Survey of the County of
'
church in the diocese of Kildare. "
"
Kildare. " Introduction, p. vi.
illustration is from an original sketch of the late George Petrie, LL. D. , copied on the wood, by his pupil,
accompanying
March 20. ] LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. 853
was altogether an Irish foundation. This holy man is said to have flourished, A. D, 990, while his prudence and continence were greatly esteemed. He is said to have repaired the monastery, and to have adorned the church there, as also, to have elegantly ornamented the datistrum. '^ He was venerated on the 19thofMarch. Atthisdate,theBollandiststakenonoticeofhisfestival. The writings of this holy man have perished, if we are to credit Dempster ; although, it is not to be assumed, that all his distinguished men have been writers, as he so readily supposes.
Article VIII. —Reputed Feast of St. Mansuet, a Bishop of the
Britons. {^Pifth Century,'] Great uncertainty prevails, regarding this holy man, who is inscribed in the Scottish Menology of Thomas Dempster,^ although omitted from his Ecclesiastical History of the Nation of the Scots. Afterwards, he is entered in the Catalogue of Ferrarius. If we are to believe theformerwriter,hewasaScotchman,andabishopinArgadia. ^ Thisis noticed by the Bollandists, at the 19th of March,3 although they are unable
"
to fix his feast, at this date. There is an account of
Britannorum," who subscribed to the Council of Tours, held a. d. 461. To this, he seems to have been invited, while an exile in France, from the See and country to which he originally belonged, and while the Anglo-Saxons wereengagedindevastating,especiallythemaritimepartsofBritain. Adson, or Ason,4 Abbot of Montier-en-Der, undertook to writes the Life of St. Man- suetus, first Bishop of Toul, who was then thought to have been a disciple of the Apostle St. Peter, but who, in reality, only flourished in the fourth century. This work was in two parts : the first part contained the traditional Life of St. Mansui, and the second was a relation of his miracles. But, the foregoing part is not reconcilable with the facts of history ; while many of the subse- quent miracles seem to be well authenticated. The 3rd of September seems to be the day assigned for his festival. We have merely recorded his name, at the 20th of March, as there may be a possibility of Mansuetus, or Maunsy,. having been of Irish birth.
Cluentietl) IBay of ilajrrl)*
ARTICLE I. —ST. CUTHBERT, BISHOP OF LINDISFARNE. [SEVENTH CENTURY. '\
CHAPTER I.
INTRODUCTION—VENERABLE BEDE'S LIFE OF ST. CUTHBERT—OTHER AUTHORITIES AND A—CTS RELATING TO THIS HOLY MAN—QUESTION ABOUT THE COUNTRY OF HIS BIRTH TRADITIONS REGARDING THE IRISH LOCALITY FOR HIS NATIVITY, ORIGIN AND
FAMILY.
ENGLAND, Scotland, and Ireland contend, and with some appearance
of in certain deductions drawn various for the reason, by writers,
land, after a successful expedition against the Lombards, which Charlemagne con- ducted.
socius sanctorum Perpetui Turonensis, Guy- axi Rhotomagensis, Thalassii Andegauensis, Victurii Cen—omanensis, B. Theodori Archi-
3 For the statement, in the text, Demp- episcopi. " "Menologium Scoticum. "
ster quotes the Ac—ts of Cologne.
Article viiL 'Restates: "InArga-
"
Bishop Forbes' Kalendars of Scottish
Saints," p. 195.
^ Now in Scotland. Argyle,
3 gee "Acta Sanctorum," tomus iii. ,
dia Mansueti
Concilio I. Turonensi in Gallia promovit,
episcopi, qui
rem
Christianam,
Mansuetus Episcopus
854 LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. [March 20.
honour of St. Cuthbert's nativity ; but, the weight of evidence tends to estabhsh the probable condusion, that he was born in our own island.
]\Iany modern writers have expended much learning and ingenuity, on developing or in elucidating the incidents of this illustrious man's career.
According to a statement of the Comte de Montalembert, nothing is known
with certainty, regarding the place of his birth, or the rank of his family. ' As the great and learned Father of English Ecclesiastical History was the first known authority, in relating the incidents of St. Cuthbert's life, and as Venerable Bede does not tell us the country of his nativity, so many writers of his Acts are silent on this subject. Among these authors, we find Bishop Challenor,^ who has a notice of this holy man.
Several Manuscript copies of St. Cuthbert's Life, by the Venerable Bede, have been preserved, in various public libraries. Some of these refer to the Prose3 and others to a Metrical Life,* by the same author. The last- mentioned, however, is thought to have been the first composed ; indeed, this is almost certain, from the reference which is made by him to a pane- gyric, in metre, of the holy Cuthbert. The preface, and the Life of our saint, by Bede, are dedicated to the most holy Father Edfrid, Bishop of Lindis- farne, who died about a. d. 724, according to William of Malmesbury, and Hapsfeld, as also, to the whole congregation of brethren, who served God in that island. It appears to have been written, at their request ; and materials for this Life were obtained, from most reliable authorities, and through careful inquiries, diligently prosecuted. Having digested his work, the venerable author declares, he frequently submitted what had been written, to his most
Martii xix. Among the pretermitted saints, i. ff. I23b. -I53. , veil.
in more, inquit,hdhvi\t S. Lactinus strenuus pugil ; (quod non fuit exigua car- nis castigatio) sine intermissione in vigiliis stare, pro Momoniorum defensione. " Col- gan's "Acta Sanctoram Hibernias," xix. Martii. Vita S. Lactini, cap. viii. , p. 657.
"
" Acta Sanctonmi
Colgan's Hibernioe,"
xix.
35
Ilibemia S. Lactini Episcopi & Confessoris. "
& Confessoris in Hibernia. "
March 19. ] LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. 849
Joannes Kerkested,^^ have distinguished him, by such a dignity ; but, whether he held it, at Freshford, or in some other place, is not easily ascer- tainable. If he were a bishop, Dr. Lanigan believes, that Achadh-ur must have been his See ; for, he is always called Lactinus of Achadh-ur. 39 Besides, the monastery of Achadh-ur, another church denominated Belach-abrat,'t° or Belach-Febhrat, seems to have been connected, in some measure, with our saint, as Colgan remarks.
The ruins of Lislaughtin''^ priory are to be seen in northern Kerry, This
was founded for Franciscans, or Brothers Minor of the Strict Observance, in
1464, by O'Connor Kerry, according to some writers, or in 1478, as others have stated. Th6 steeple, choir and other parts of this priory stood, in the last century. The parish church, at this place, is said to have been dedicated to an Irish saint, named Laghtin, who died in 62 2. -t^ He must therefore be identical with St. Lactean of Achad Ur, according to Colgan. But, it is urged, that he incorrectly confounded our saint, with the Abbot Lactean, who was a neighbour to St. Senan of Iniscathy, and with a Lacten, who succeeded St. Molua, at Clonfert Molua. t3
St. Lactinus departed this life, on the 19th day of March,'i+ and in the
3^ "
pilatione extaiite in Bibliotlieca Vaticana,
agens de prcccipuis Hiberniic Episcopis &'
Abbatibus, non solum Episcoptitn, sed mor-
tuoniin siiscitatorem Jacit : S. Lactenus tean, mentioned in St. Senan's Life ; yet,
yoaitncs
iii. , chap,
etiam Kerkested in sua com-
siastical of
History Ireland,"
xvii. , sect, v. , n. 69, p. 27.
vol.
Although Dr.
Monachus & Episcopus Hibernice morluum
as the latter saint lived to at least the year
resuscitavit. "—Colgan's
Hibernise," xix. Martii.
cap. vii. , pp. 656, 657.
"Acta Sanctorum Vita S. Lactini,
to and to about the Colgan,
39 See Dr.
tory of Ireland," vol. iii. , chap, xvii. , sect. v. , n. 69, p. 27.
'^° The church, here called Belach-abrat, by Colgan, in his Acts of our saint (cap. ix. ,
is named
P- 657), Belach-febhrat,
Lanigan's
" Ecclesiastical His-
5S0, according
year 560, according to Dr. Lanigan himself, we might well suppose it possible, that Lac- tean could havesurvived his friend St. Senan, for a term of forty-two or even for a term of sixty-two years. The circumstance of Lac- tean being called abbot in St. Senan's Acts could not furnish a solid objection ; for,
in our such title Martyrologies. Speaking of this Bealach-
may
as — supposed, having
Feabhradh church, Mr. O'Donovan re- marks, that "it is probably the place now
called Ballagharay, or Ballaghawry, a town- land situated in the west of the parish of
of — or Kilbolane, barony Orbhraighe, Orrery,
and county of Cork. " "Annals of the
Four Masters," vol. i. , n. (g), p. 245,
^' This townland, situated in the parish of
Aghavallen, and barony of Iraghticonnor, is
''
Ordnance Survey Townland Maps lor the County of Kerry," Sheets 2,
3. 6.
"^ See Smith's "Natural and Civil His- after whom Lis-lachtin church, in the
tory of Kerry," chap, viii. , p. 227.
"
^3
have lived down to 623. He was a different
person, and was, I am sure, the Lactean or
Lachtin, from whom the church of Lis-lach-
tin in Kerry, not far from Iniscatthy, got its
name. Colgan has also confounded him in Osraighe, and of Bealach Feabhrat. He with Lacten, who succeeded St. Molua at descended from the race of Conaire, son to Clonfert Molua. For this he had no autho- Moghlamha, Monarch of Erinn, who be- rity, except the mere similarity of name. longed to the seed of Heremon. His name There were Lactens or Lactans enough to
succeed Molua without removing the one of
Achadh-ur to Clonfert Molua, of which no
mention occurs i—n the Calendars, where
treating of him. " Dr. Lanigan's "Eccle-
shown, on the
But this Lactean cannot be supposed to
diocese of Ardfert, had been named. For farther particulars, see the Life of St. Senan, at the 8th of March.
Lanigan's opinion is very probable, that our saint was a different person from the Lac-
be
reference to some future period of his life
this mode of speaking about a certain
person being common enough, amongst our writers of the Lives of Irish saints. It might be even possible, that a Lactean, who sur-
could have been an abbot
vived to
during St. Senan's lifetime
this case, such a person must have attained a very advanced age. However, I entirely agree in opinion with Dr. Lanigan, that our saint was altogether different from the St. Lactean, mentioned in St. Senan's Acts ; and that this latter Lactean was the saint
622,
t4 The Martyrology of Donegal, as edited by Drs. Todd and Reeves, on this day re- cords the name of Lachtain, of Achadh-ur
is Latinized, Lactantius, and he is called
the successor of Molua, in the table ap-
pended to the Donegal JNIartyrology. See
at pp. 80, 81, and, likewise, pp. 430, 431.
^3 read in
At this year, we O'Donovan's
although,
;
in
3H
850 LIVES OP THE IRISH SAINTS. [March 19.
year 622/5 according to our Irish Annalists, and Martyrologists. Thus, St. ^ngus the Culdee,*^ the Martyrology of Tallagh,*? the Calendar of Cashel,*^ the Martyrologies of Marianus 0'Gorman-i9 and of Maguire,s° as also that of
the O'ClerySjS^ refer his feast to this date ; while, the Martyrologies of the Carthusians, of Canisius, of Ferrarius, of Florarius, of Father Henry Fitz- simon,52 and of Herman Greuen,53 accord. A notice of this saint is in Bishop Forbes' work. 54 Not only during his life, but even after the death
of St. Lactean, miracles were wrought through his intercession. Especially, at a place, called Liosnascaith—now identical with Lisnaskea—in the
diocese of Cashel, this was noticeable. Here, many infirm persons were cured from various diseases, at a well, which had been consecrated to his memory. Colgan tells us, he had accounts of these miracles, and of other supernatural incidents, from the lips of persons, who had experienced the efficacy of our saint's intercession. As the special patron of this place, St. Lactinus was often invoked on behalf of paralytics, and of possessed persons, while his merits were found effectual, against incantations and diabolical
agency. 55
Article II. —The Feast of St. Joseph, Confessor, the Fosterer of OUR Lord Jesus Christ. Such is the title given to the chaste spouse of the
"
Feilire" of St. . ^ngus, at this date, which it seems was his festival day in the early Irish Church, as it is yet throughout Christendom. TheBollandists,'variousotherhagiologists,andtheancient Fathers, treat largely and learnedly, regarding his race, vocation, and reli-
gious culture.
Article III. —The Feast of St. Gregory. The "Feilire" of St. . ^ngus has this festival entered, at the 19th of March; and, the Bollandists
Blessed Virgin Mary, in the
" Annals of the Four Masters," vol. i. , and n. (g), pp. 244, 245 : "St. Lachtnain, son of
Torben, Abbot of Achadh-Ur, died on the loth \recte 19th] of March. " It would appear, that Colgan's copy of the Four Masters had the 19th of March, the correct day. Thus he writes, "i". Lactantis IJiiiis Torbaii, Abbas de Achadh ur obiit die 19. Martii. ^^
'^ The Calendar of Cashel
toctis, alias Lactinus de Achadk ur. "
" LaC'
*^ The following stanza, for this day, from ""
'•9 Marianus O'Gorman has " S. Lactanus
de in AcJiadur in Ossoria, et dc Bdach-febh- rat. "
^o Maguire notices him as Ladaniis de AcJiadhur in Ossoria.
S' The following notice of him is given in
" LaccAin, niAC Coii\- bein, Abb ^chAno iii|v, i)i-On\A5iib, Aguf 6 l)hex>lAch VeAbi\Ac <Xnno 'Doniir>i, 622. "
the "Feilire," in the Leabhar Breac copy, with the English translation, has been furnished by Professor O'Looney :-*-
:
Lachtain, son of Torben, abbot of Achadh
Ur, in Ossory, and of Bealach Feabhrath, a. d. 622. "
s^ in hjg Y\? ,\. of Irish saints. See O'Sullevan Beare's "Historise Catholics IbemiK Compendium," tomus i. , lib. iv. , cap. xi. , p. 50, and cap. xii. , p. 55.
S4 See " Kalendars of Scottish Saints," p. 377, and we find, in the Kalendar of Drum- mond, at the 19th of March, or xiv. Kal. : In Hibemia, the Holy Confessors Lactin and Auxaile, Disciples of St. Patrick, Apostle and Bishop of the Scots, went to Christ the same day. See pp. 7, S, ibid.
-A. X1 111. kU lYIolAchcoc La 5|M5ui|\ In 5i\AT) speic Af -oi. xu
lofep Ainm if uAifLiu <Mt)iu AiAinx) ipi.
" Molachtoc, with Gregory
The beloved hero who is most
illustrious,
Joseph a name yet more noble ThebeautifulfostererofJesus. "
The Molachtoc alluded to has been iden-
lifted, in an accompanying comment, as St. Lachtin of Achad ur,
53 in his Manuscript Martyrology.
ss See Colgan's "Acta Sanctorum Hiber- •? The Martyrology of Tallagh, edited by nice," xix. Martii. Vita S. Lactini, cap.
"
Uir. " The Franciscan copy has lACCAnu]'
Dr. Kelly, p. xix. , enters oe ^Xcli&TDh-uip.
Lactain Achaidh
ix. , and n. 9, p. 657.
O'Clery's Calendar
"
—'See "Acta
Article 11. Sanctorum,"
tomus iii. , Martii xix. De Sancto Josepho
writes,
March 19. ] LIVES OP THE IRISH SAINTS. 8
notice the Ordination of St. Gregory, as occurring in the Martyrology of
Tallagh, at the same date. ^ They are in doubt, however, respecting the particular saint of the name, to whom reference is made. The Ordination of
Gregory the Great is inscribed, in the Roman Martyrology, at the 3rd of Sep- tember, and his chief feast occurs on the 1 2th of March.
ArticleIV. —St. Mella,Cluanahi,orofCluain-hi. Onthe19th
of March, we find on record, in the Martyrology of Tallagh,^ Mella Cluana hi. The BoUandists observe,^ in noting this record, that Colgan, in the Acts
of St. Meldan, or Mellan, has mentioned a place called Cluain-aoi, about which they are ignorant. The name Meallai, of Cluain-hi, likewise occurs,
intheMartyrologyofDonegal,^ashavingafestivalatthisdate. Thisplace
is probably identical with a townland, called Clooney,"* in the parish of Clon-
dermot,5 and not far from the city of Londonderry. Here, likewise, are the ruins of an old church.
Several similar denominations are to be found in
Ireland. There is also Clonee,^ a post-town in the parish and barony ot Dunboyne, about seven miles from Dublin, but in the county of Meath, as
also one in the parish of Trim, and in the barony of Lower Moyfenrath. ? There is an old church at Clone,^ near Ferns, in the barony of Scarawalsh,9 in the county of Wexford. Various other places have denominations corre- sponding with the preceding, in the different counties of Ireland.
Article V. —St. Mochua, of Arasnai, or Airisna. The Martyrology ofTallagh^entersMochuaArasnai,atthe19thdayofMarch. TheBoUan- dists merely note his name, place and festival, thus, Mochua de Airis-nai. The time when he lived does not appear to have been discovered. The Martyrology of Donegal^ mentions Mochua, of Airisna, as having been venerated,onthisday. Underthedenomination,itwillbefounddifficultto identify his locality.
Article VI. —Feast of St. Auxilius, Bishop of Kilossey, County
OF KiLDARE. \Fifth Century^ There are memoirs of this holy bishop, in
Colgan's work,^ at this day. It was dedicated to the memory of St. Auxilius, BishopofKilossey,asweareinformed. HisLifewillbefound,atthe27th
sponso Deiparae Virginis,'sect. pp. 4 to 25.
i.
xiii. ,
Survey Townland Maps for the County of Meath,"
Article lil. —» See "Acta Sanctorum," tomus iii. , Martii xix. Prcetermissi et in alios dies rejecti, p. 2.
Sheets 50, 51,53.
? See «/^J(/. , Sheet 41.
^ Of this cliurch and its details, there are
in V. Du
drawings George Noyer's Sketches,
preserved in the Royal Irish Academy. See vol. vii. , Nos. 48, 49, 50, 51.
^ It is on tiie "Ordnance described,
Survey Townland Maps for the County of
Article iv. — ' Edited
by
Rev.
Dr.
Kelly, p. xix. The Franciscan copy has
meLlA 'oe CluAin hi.
^
See "Acta tomus Sanctorum," iii. ,
^^artii xix. Among the pretermitted saints. p. 3.
3 Edited by Drs. Todd and Reeves, pp.
80, 81. An inaccurate statement occurs in
the table, appended to this Martyrology, viz. : that this saint has not been noticed at the 19th of March, in the body of the work. See«i^/(/. , pp. 444, 445.
* It is shown, on the " Ordnance Survey Townland Maps for the County of London- derry," Sheet 20.
Wexford," Sheet—s 15, 20. '
to
'^ It is on the "Ordnance noted,
'See "Acta Sanctorum sin the barony of Tirkeeran. It is de- Ilibernire," xix. Martii. Vita S. Auxilii,
scribed on Sheets 13, 14, 20, 21, 22. Ibid, cap. vii. , and n. 6, 7, pp. 657, 658, 659.
Article v. Edited by Rev. Dr.
Kelly, p. xix. The Franciscan copy enters
tTlochuA 'oe ^jMfnAi.
^
See "Acta Sanctorum," tomus iii. ,
Martii xix. Among the pretermitted saints,
p. 3.
^ Edited by Drs. Todd and Reeves, pp.
So, 81. — Article vi.
852 LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. [March 19.
of August, and, he is classed, among the disciples of St. Patrick. ^ The present holy man is said to have been stationed, near the River Liffey, and at the place now known as Killashee, near the town of Naas,3 in the county of Kildare. In the cemetery, at this place, may be seen the Protestant church,
Killashee Church and Round Tower, County of Kildare.
which has been formed from a mediaeval erection, having a curious square tower, at one end, and this is surmounted by a stunted Round Tower. The
arrangement of the building is in a debased style of masonry ; yet, there are interesting features there, for the antiquary's study. '^ Our saint lived, in the early Apostolic times of our Irish Church, and the Bollandists notice him, as an assistant, at some one of St. Patrick's Synods. s The Martyrology of
Tallagh^ enters Auxilinus, at the 19th of March.
Article VII. —Reputed Festival of St. Gero, Cologne, Germany. {Tenth Century. '] According to Dempster,^ St. Gero—if not a Scot—was abbot over the Scottish Monastery of St. Pantaleon,= at Cologne. But, it
"
''See Colgan's "Trias Thaumaturga. Quinta Appendix ad Acta S. Particii, cap. xxiii. , p. 265.
William F. Wakeman, and engraved by Mrs. Millard.
5 See "Acta Sanctorum," tomus iii. ,
Martii xix. Among the pretermitted saints,
P-3-
* Edited by the Rev. Dr. Kelly, p. xix.
The Franciscan copy has ^Xuxibni]".
"
Article vii. — See Historia Eccle-
siastica Gentis Scotorum," torn, i. , lib. vii. ,
num. 5S1, p. 312.
^ that this was a Dempster pretends,
foundation, made in favour of his nation, by Wilhehnus, brotherto Achaius, Kingof Scot-
3 *« Within a mile of Naas, in 454, Saint Patrick founded an abbey for his nephew St. Auxil, who gave it his name, Kill auxaile ; it is now called Killishee, a parish
son's
* The
—Raw- Statistical Survey of the County of
'
church in the diocese of Kildare. "
"
Kildare. " Introduction, p. vi.
illustration is from an original sketch of the late George Petrie, LL. D. , copied on the wood, by his pupil,
accompanying
March 20. ] LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. 853
was altogether an Irish foundation. This holy man is said to have flourished, A. D, 990, while his prudence and continence were greatly esteemed. He is said to have repaired the monastery, and to have adorned the church there, as also, to have elegantly ornamented the datistrum. '^ He was venerated on the 19thofMarch. Atthisdate,theBollandiststakenonoticeofhisfestival. The writings of this holy man have perished, if we are to credit Dempster ; although, it is not to be assumed, that all his distinguished men have been writers, as he so readily supposes.
Article VIII. —Reputed Feast of St. Mansuet, a Bishop of the
Britons. {^Pifth Century,'] Great uncertainty prevails, regarding this holy man, who is inscribed in the Scottish Menology of Thomas Dempster,^ although omitted from his Ecclesiastical History of the Nation of the Scots. Afterwards, he is entered in the Catalogue of Ferrarius. If we are to believe theformerwriter,hewasaScotchman,andabishopinArgadia. ^ Thisis noticed by the Bollandists, at the 19th of March,3 although they are unable
"
to fix his feast, at this date. There is an account of
Britannorum," who subscribed to the Council of Tours, held a. d. 461. To this, he seems to have been invited, while an exile in France, from the See and country to which he originally belonged, and while the Anglo-Saxons wereengagedindevastating,especiallythemaritimepartsofBritain. Adson, or Ason,4 Abbot of Montier-en-Der, undertook to writes the Life of St. Man- suetus, first Bishop of Toul, who was then thought to have been a disciple of the Apostle St. Peter, but who, in reality, only flourished in the fourth century. This work was in two parts : the first part contained the traditional Life of St. Mansui, and the second was a relation of his miracles. But, the foregoing part is not reconcilable with the facts of history ; while many of the subse- quent miracles seem to be well authenticated. The 3rd of September seems to be the day assigned for his festival. We have merely recorded his name, at the 20th of March, as there may be a possibility of Mansuetus, or Maunsy,. having been of Irish birth.
Cluentietl) IBay of ilajrrl)*
ARTICLE I. —ST. CUTHBERT, BISHOP OF LINDISFARNE. [SEVENTH CENTURY. '\
CHAPTER I.
INTRODUCTION—VENERABLE BEDE'S LIFE OF ST. CUTHBERT—OTHER AUTHORITIES AND A—CTS RELATING TO THIS HOLY MAN—QUESTION ABOUT THE COUNTRY OF HIS BIRTH TRADITIONS REGARDING THE IRISH LOCALITY FOR HIS NATIVITY, ORIGIN AND
FAMILY.
ENGLAND, Scotland, and Ireland contend, and with some appearance
of in certain deductions drawn various for the reason, by writers,
land, after a successful expedition against the Lombards, which Charlemagne con- ducted.
socius sanctorum Perpetui Turonensis, Guy- axi Rhotomagensis, Thalassii Andegauensis, Victurii Cen—omanensis, B. Theodori Archi-
3 For the statement, in the text, Demp- episcopi. " "Menologium Scoticum. "
ster quotes the Ac—ts of Cologne.
Article viiL 'Restates: "InArga-
"
Bishop Forbes' Kalendars of Scottish
Saints," p. 195.
^ Now in Scotland. Argyle,
3 gee "Acta Sanctorum," tomus iii. ,
dia Mansueti
Concilio I. Turonensi in Gallia promovit,
episcopi, qui
rem
Christianam,
Mansuetus Episcopus
854 LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. [March 20.
honour of St. Cuthbert's nativity ; but, the weight of evidence tends to estabhsh the probable condusion, that he was born in our own island.
]\Iany modern writers have expended much learning and ingenuity, on developing or in elucidating the incidents of this illustrious man's career.
According to a statement of the Comte de Montalembert, nothing is known
with certainty, regarding the place of his birth, or the rank of his family. ' As the great and learned Father of English Ecclesiastical History was the first known authority, in relating the incidents of St. Cuthbert's life, and as Venerable Bede does not tell us the country of his nativity, so many writers of his Acts are silent on this subject. Among these authors, we find Bishop Challenor,^ who has a notice of this holy man.
Several Manuscript copies of St. Cuthbert's Life, by the Venerable Bede, have been preserved, in various public libraries. Some of these refer to the Prose3 and others to a Metrical Life,* by the same author. The last- mentioned, however, is thought to have been the first composed ; indeed, this is almost certain, from the reference which is made by him to a pane- gyric, in metre, of the holy Cuthbert. The preface, and the Life of our saint, by Bede, are dedicated to the most holy Father Edfrid, Bishop of Lindis- farne, who died about a. d. 724, according to William of Malmesbury, and Hapsfeld, as also, to the whole congregation of brethren, who served God in that island. It appears to have been written, at their request ; and materials for this Life were obtained, from most reliable authorities, and through careful inquiries, diligently prosecuted. Having digested his work, the venerable author declares, he frequently submitted what had been written, to his most
Martii xix. Among the pretermitted saints, i. ff. I23b. -I53. , veil.
