The accomplished chronicler, Folcuin,^
mentions
him with praise.
O'Hanlon - Lives of the Irish Saints - v8
iii.
,
ix. ,
71 He is honoured as a saint and martyr,
while he has place in some Calendars on the
20th of August.
73 Now supposed to be Winmore. See
William Camden's "Britannia. " Edmund
cap.
p. 185.
Afterwards, as we are informed,
79 This is stated by Simon of Durham and
In the royal
"
Jour d'Aout, p. 304,
Vies des
August 5. ] LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. 85
had been surreptitiously conveyed thither. His niece Osfrida, wife of Etheldred, King of Mercia, translated the rest of St. Oswald's body to the
monasteryofBardney,inLincolnshire. However,duringtheDanishinvasions,
in a. d.
ferred to
80 it was found to have the relics of St. Oswald trans- necessary
tion
"
by Whitley Stokes,
LL. D. :—
90 Thus at Nonis " In Augusti :
910, Gloucester,
81 where the church of St. Peter had been founded
by
Elfleda, Countess of Mercia, and daughter to King Alfred. During the Danish
wars, the church and shrine were greatly injured; but, in the time of Arch- bishopTurstan,bothwererestored. 82 AmonumentwaserectedtoSt. Oswald, and it is still to be seen there, in a chapel of the Cathedral between two pillars. In 1 22 1, a part of the relics was translated to the Abbey of St. Winoc's Berg, in Flanders, and with great solemnity, it was deposited there by Adam, Bishop of Terouanne. During the wars in Flanders, consequent on the Reformation, those precious relics of the good and heroic English King were burned by the Calvinists. 8 3 Not alone in Great Britain, but also in Ireland, the memory of St. Oswaldwasheldingreatveneration. Norwasthiscommemorationowing to the arrival of the Anglo-Normans in the twelfth century, because centuries before that period, he is found inscribed on our ancient calendars. In the u Feilire" of St. ^Engus,84 this monarch is entered at the 5th of August and with commendation of his sanctity. The scholiast adds to this notice, that he was designated Fland Fina (" of the wine ") son of Ossa. 8s In the published
86
copyoftheMartyrologyofTallagh, theentriesforthe5thdayofAugustare
wanting, and we are referred to another codex for them. However, in the
Book of Leinster copy, at this same date, we find King Oswald 8 ? heading the
list of the Irish Saints. On the Continent of Europe, likewise, St. Oswald was
commemorated, especially in Belgium and Germany. At the 5th day of August,
his chief festival is noted in the Martyrologies of Usuard and Wandelbert, as
also in the Florarium Sanctorum, and in the English Martyrology of John
Wilson. In an ancient Manuscript Martyrology, formerly belonging to the Church of St. Mary and the Martyrs at Treves, 88 his feast is entered. 8 ? Refer-
ring to the account of Venerable Bede, Oswald is commemorated, on this day, in the Roman Martyrology. * The feast of St. Oswald is celebrated in the Scottish Calendars, at the 5 th day of August : thus, in the Kalendar of Drummond, 91 in the Kalendarium de Hyrdmanistoun,02 in the Kalendarium
by Ingulph.
80 See Les Petits Bollandistes " Vies des
Academy. " Irish Manuscripts, vol. i. , part i. On the Calendar of Oengus, p. cxxii.
Saints," tome ix. , ve Jour d'Aout,p. 304, n. i. •' u "
8s In Irish ^Lano pitiA mac OfA. — p. cxxix.
Ibid. ,
82
See Willelmi Malmesbiriensis Monachi
See the Polychronicon Ranulphi
Higden Monachi Cestrensis, edited by Rev.
Joseph Rawson Lumby, B. D. , vol. vi. , pp.
60, 61.
86 Thus noticed : "Non. Deestquintus dies videndus in alio codice. "— Rev. Dr. Kelly's edition, p. xxxi.
8? Thus entered, 0]*uuaIt>i ftegif.
"De Gestis Pontificum
Anglorum,"
edited
88 Allusion is made to this Father by
by N. E. S. A. Hamilton, lib. iv. , p. 293.
John Mabillon, " Annales Ordinis S. Benedicti,"
83 See Les Petits
'• Vies des
tomus lib. iii. ,
CefAt) An efvenci
Anglia sancti Oswaldi, Regis cujus actus Venerabilis
-Arvolij;
Martyr- ologium Romanum Gregorii XIII. " jussu
Bollandistes,
sect,
See the Bollandists' "Acta Sanctorum,"
Saints," tome ix. , ve Jour d'Aout, p. 304, n.
4"
In the Leabhar Breac" copy we find
the following stanza, and its English transla-
s*
conmac coem-OAi tAhopMlc noem nAilme
<\rvo|\ij; SaxAn fAervoAi.
Herentius splendid suffering deserves a
Beda commemorat. "—" Presbyter
loveable commemoration, with holy Oswald
whom w—e implore, over-King of the free
Regis Anglorum. "
of Scottish Saints, p. 20.
^ Thus : —" Nonse Sancti Oswaldi Regis et
Saxons. "
** Transactions of the Irish Royal
Martyris. "
Ibid.
p. 44.
xlviii. ,
xxxi. , p. 637.
tomusii. , Augustiv. DeS. OswaldoRege
ac Mart. Commentarius proevius, sect, v. ,
pp. 91, 92.
editum, &c. Editio novissima, p. 1 13.
91
Nonae
Sancti Asvaldi
Thus —
:
"
Aug. BishopForbes'Kalendars
86 LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS.
[August 5.
de Nova Farina^ in the Kalendarium de Arbuthnott,94 in the Kalendarium Breviarii Aberdonensis,9s and in Adam King's Kalendar. 96 It seems probable, that on other days, moreover, there were feasts to commemorate the Trans- lation of different relics of St. Oswald. Various manuscripts preserved in Trinity College, Dublin, have offices, and in different forms, to celebrate this holy King and Martyr. 97 In these are to be found proper lessons. In the Sarum Office he is also commemorated. Various monasteries, churches and chapels, especially in England, have been dedicated to this pious monarch. One ot these is known as Kirk-Oswald, near the river Itun, in Cumberland ; one was at Silecester, near the Picts' Wall in Northumberland another was
;
at Bardeney in Lincolnshire ; the monastery of Nosthil,98 in Yorkshire, was consecrated to him ; while in Gloucester his memory was preserved, likewise, and in religious memorials. 99 Among the heroes and saints of most enduring fame, the Anglo-Saxons have ever regarded their truly great King Oswald. Moreover, the Universal Church has enrolled him on the list of her holy Martyrs.
Article III. —St. Abel, Bishop and Confessor, Belgium. [Eighth Century. '] As the law of nature has had its first Abel, on whom our Divine
Redeemer has bestowed the title of 1 so hath the law of Just,
grace produced
another Abel, in whom justice and holiness so abounded, that such perfec-
tions have procured through his ministry the salvation of many others.
Because the saint has been called a 2 there are some who present Scotus,
contend that he was a native of Scotland ; but, besides very ancient tradition and records all the circumstances of his career serve to assure us, that he was a native of Ireland, for in his day Scotia Minor had few missionaries available for missionary enterprises on the European Continent. How- ever, while Bucelin sets Abel down as a German,« Alford classes him as an Englishman,s allowing him to have been a disciple of St. Boniface,6 the great Apostle of Germany, whom he assumes to have been a native of England. TheveryearlyaccountofSt. Abel,andformerlytobefoundat Rheims before the tenth century, was even then lost, when the judicious and critical Fulcuinus or Folquin,? who had personally inspected the records of
"
93 Thus — Nonse Oswualdi Regis et
:
Martyris. " Ibid. , p. 74.
94 Thus:—"Nonse S. Oswaldi Regis et
Martyris. " Ibid. p. 103.
95 Thus : "Nonse S. Oswaldi Regis et
Martyris,ix. lect. "—Ibid. ,p. 119.
96 Thus : "Aug. 5. S. Osualde, King of
Ingland, Mart. under Constantine 3. "— ibid. , p. 159.
97 In Trinity College, Dublin, a Manu- script, classed B. 3, 9, thus records the office,
Brittany," Book xv. , chap, xi. , num. II, p.
Augusti 5, Nonas. Sancti Oswaldi, Regis et
Mart. ix. Lect. Another Manuscript there,
classed B. 3, 12, contains at Augusti 5, Nonas, work contains an account of its Abbots. Oswaldi regis et Mart. ix. Lect. In the latter This has been published by D'Achery, in part of this MS. , there is an office for St. his "Spicilegium," tomus vi. , pp. 544 et Oswald, in iii. Lessons, with a Prayer. An- seq.
other Manuscript in Trinity College, Dublin, and classed B. 3, 13, contains at August the 5th, Nonas, Sancti Oswaldi regis et mart. iii. Lect.
4 In his Benedictine Martyrology.
98 Yorkshire.
"SeeDean "
Cressy's Church-History
According to Camden, when treating on
of
6Seehis
life,
at the of inthe 5th June,
361. — Article III 2u
'
See Genesis, iv. 4.
In his Martyrologium Gallicanum,"
Saussay writes, "is natione Scotus. "
:i Thus,anearlywriter,whohadthevery best sources for information, and who lived little more than two hundred years after Abel's death in the same place, the Abbot
" hunc eum- dem Abel, et nostrum fuisse, et Scottum, —et
of Lobbes, Fulcuinus, states
episcopum, facili ratione probavimus. "
"
s When treating about the Third Synod of St. Boniface, held at Mayence, a. d. 745, and in which the name of Abel is met with, in that joint letter of correction to Ethelbald, King of the Mercians.
Chronicon Laubiensi," chap, vii. , which
:
August 5. ] LiyES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. 87
that ancient church, declares he was a Scot, a bishop, and also an inmate of his own monastery, at Lobbes. 8 Notices of this holy man find place in many collections of Saint history.
The accomplished chronicler, Folcuin,^ mentions him with praise. A single paragraph only is devoted to his record by
Molanus. 10 He has been commemorated, likewise, by Father John 1112 1
Mabillon, by Mirreus, by Castellan,^ and by Ferrarius. * At the 5th of August, the Bollandists's have inserted the Acts of St. Abel, Bishop and
Confessor, in a Historic Sylloge of three sections, containing twenty-nine
20
16 In the sixth volume of the Acts of the some Belgian saints,
paragraphs.
account of St. Abel, Bishop and Confessor, may be found. 1 ? This apostolic man is celebrated in the work of Abbe Destombes,,8 andin Les Petits Bol- landistes. 1 ^
According to some accounts, when he was of an age to travel,
of Saints
patriots, Abel went to France, in order to serve God in a more perfect
manner. 23 Other accounts have that Abel was one of the twelve
it, priests
2
that followed the illustrious St. Egbert, -* afterwards Archbishop of York,
when by a Divine revelation he left that monastery in Ireland, over which he presided as Abbot, to go into Gaul, there to preach the Gospel to those idolatrouspeoplewhohadnotyetaknowledgeofthetrueGod. Afterwards, Egbert and his companions sought the court of Pepin d'Heristal, who then governed the country in quality of Mayor of the Palace. At that time, Radbod, who ruled over Frisia, had been subdued by him ; but, the people there had not yet received the truths of Christianity. Admiring their zeal, that religious potentate sent them thither to preach the Gospel. This was a mission which required great courage and patience, as the inhabitants were very barbarous, and strongly prejudiced against the introduction of any form of worship that tended to overthrow their old superstitious usages and rites. Nevertheless, the fortitude of Abel was such as to brave the perils that there awaited him ; for, his life was often in danger, but he feared not death,
provided he could accomplish the will of his heavenly Father. He preached the Gospel of Jesus Christ with great force and eloquence, and for long he labouredtogainsoulstotheChurch. Itisprobable,thatAbelhadbeena religious for some time, in the Abbey of Lobbes 5s and, Father Mabillon
following
the
example
Fursey,
Foillan,
Sixth Volume of this work, Art. i.
1 He was Abbot of Lobbes, in the tenth
;
l8 "
See Vies des Saints des Dioceses de
Cambrai et dArras. "
century. 8""
x9
See Vies des Saints," tome ix. ve Jour
See D'Achery's Spicilegium, vi. , Chronicon Lobiense, cap. vii.
tomus
9 He died a. d. , 990. See Le Dr. Hoefer's
" Nouvelle Biographie Generate" Tome
xviii. , col. 56, 57.
d'Aout, p. 304, as also pp. 332 to 334.
2» See his Life, at the 1 6th of January, in
the First Volume of this work, Art. i.
2I His feast occurs on the 30th of October,
az
He
on the 1st of May, at which date his life is to be seen, in the Fifth Volume of this work, Art. hi.
^ See Les Petits Bollandistes, " Vies des Saints," tome ix. , ve Jour d'Aout, p. 333.
24 His feast is on the kept
.
_
10
See the "Natales Sanctorum Belgii,"
at this day, pp. 171, 172.
" In " Acta Sanctorum Ordinis S. Bene-
dicti,'* saec. iii. , pars, i. , Appendix, p. 568.
12
13
14 In "
In Fastis Belgicis, et Burgendicis.
In his Universal
Martyrology. Generalis Sanctorum. "
Augusti v. De S. Abele Epis. Confessore in
Laubiense Ccenobio in Hannonia, pp. n1
to 117.
16
These have been compiled by Father John Pinius.
17 See " Acta Sanctorum Belgii Selecta," tomus vi. Augusti v.
at which date there are notices of him, in the
Catalogus
15 See " Acta Sanctorum," tomus i. ,
24th April,
21 and 22 his com- Ultan,
is honoured at Fosse, in Belgium,
Fourth Volume of this work, Art. i.
25 The Bollandists furnish an account of this celebrated abbey when treating on St. Ulgisus, in the" Acta Sanctorum," tomus i. , Februarii iv. , p. 498, and also in tomus ii. , Februarii vii. , when giving an account of
St. Amulwin, at p. 82.
88 LIVES OF 7HE IRISH SAINTS.
[August 5.
states, that he flourished there while Erminus56 was Abbots This latter holy man ruled for nearly twenty-five years, having departed this life on the
vii. of the May Kalends, a. d. 737-
28
Abel is regarded as the Apostle of the
BelgicProvincesofLiegeandofHainaut. 2* Weareinformed,moreover,that
he was a man profoundly read in the Sacred Scriptures, and that he was
remarkable for his virtues. 3° The City of Rheims has main-
many always tained a high position among the ecclesiastical centres of Christianity in
28
See ibid.
Cathedral of Rheims, France.
thirds of their contemplated height-120 metres. The simplicity and proportion of the numberless lines; the solidity of the structure combined with the most graceful details ; the delicate and exquisite carving of its statues and bas-reliefs ; the intricate tracery and regular forms of its doors, windows and bays; the rare beauty of its stained glass and fine paintings, are altogether subjects for the study and admiration
76 He is venerated on the 25th of April.
2
7See "Annates Ordinis S. Benedicti," tomus ii. lib. xxi. , sect, xxxvi. p. 103.
doardo primum auctius digesta, demum aliunde accersitis pluriimun aucta et illus- trata, et ad nostrum hoc Speculum fTdeliter deducta," tomus i. , Lille, 1666, fol.
32 St. or St. the chief Remy, Remigius,
patron of this city, is venerated on the 1st of October.
33 The accompanying illustration taken from an approved engraving has been drawn by William F. Wakeman on the wood, engraved by Mrs. Millard.
89 See "
Saussay's Martyrologium
Galli-
canum," at Augusti v.
30 See Trithemius, " De Viris Illustrious
Ordinis S. Benedicti," lib. iii. , chap. 298.
31 The history of this See is obscure, but
it is well set forth in Dom. Guillaume Mar-
lot's
"
Metropolis Remensis Historia a Flo-
France. This ancient city had an existence during
the Roman occupation of Gaul. From an early period it kept a succession
1
of prelates^ and after the
conversion of Clovis it had been selected as that place, where the kings of France were consecrated. The most ancient church there has been dedicated to St. Remy,32 and it is re- markable for its large nave
and fine stained-glass win-
dows. But the Cathedral of Rheims is one of the most mar- vellous creations of Gothic design, attributed to Robert deCourcy, its first architect, who began its erection about the commencement of the thirteenth century. It is distinguished above all other buildings for its noble facade, flanked by two stately towers. 33 These, however, are still in- complete, and are thought to have reached only two-
great
August 5. ] LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. 89
of all beholders. 34 While St. Rigobert35 was Archbishop of Rheims, one Milo, only a tonsured cleric,36 had been unjustly intruded there during his lifetime by Charles Martel. 3? This usurpation was long maintained; even after the action taken by St. Boniface,38 in the council held at Soissons, in 744. After the death of St. Rigobert, St. Abel has been classed in the series of prelates connected with the see of Rheims, according to Fulcuinus. He declares, how he learned from the very erudite Archbishop Adalberon, that Abel had been a bishop of Rheims, while in that see he acquired and ordained in several instances, as had been stated in old records and in tradition. 3^ Notwithstanding, many have supposed that Abel was only a chorepiscopus in that city. 4° Moreover, Archbishop Adalberon stated to Fulcuinus, that it was a custom prevailing to his own time in the Church at Rheims, to have the names of all his predecessors enrolled on the Dyptics, so that they should be prayed for among deceased persons during the solemn celebrationofMass. Nevertheless,it wasadmitted,thatAbel'snamewas not to be found on that list ; but, Fulcuinus supposes, that being only for a
short time in possession of the See, and for Christ's sake willing to relinquish it, the church records happened to be silent regarding him. 41 That Abel was created Archbishop of Rheims has been stated by Flodoard,42 in his History of that See ; and, as we are informed, when the great Council of Soissons, which opened on the 3rd of March, a. d. 744, assembled under the presidency of St. Boniface. Among the other decrees there passed,43 it was resolved to appoint suitable prelates to fill some sees which were then vacant, and that of Rheims among the rest. St. Boniface, then apostolic Legate for that part of Europe, knowing well the merits of Abel, whose reputation had been extended throughout all the Low Countries, greatly desired him to succeed in the great metropolitan See of Rheims. Also, Boniface made application to procure the Pallium for him, and at the same time for Grimon, Archbishop of Rouen, and for Hunebert, Archbishop of Sens.
However, it seems probable, that the disturbed state of affairs then pre- vailing,44 afterwards caused Boniface to ask the Pallium only for Grimon. Besides, we have it on the authority of Flodoard,45 that certain charters
34 See Elisee Reclus' " Nouvelle Geo- graphie Universelle," tome ii. , liv. ii. , chap, xi. , sect, v. , pp. 705 to 709.
35 Also called Robert. He had a festival, on the 4th day of January.
36 Nevertheless, he had become bishop of Treves, and thus he illegally occupied both sees for forty years. St. Rigobert was after- wards permitted to revisit Rheims, but he was not allowed to govern there. He died at Germicourt on the 4th of January a. d.
39 In the "
vi. , such is the account, and contained in the Chronicon Laubiensi of Fulcuinus, cap. vii.
40 According to Flodoard, in " Historia Ecclesia? Remensis. " Lib. ii. , chap. xvi.
See l'Abbe " Histoire Ec- Fleury's
43 See a further account of that
in the Life of St. Boniface, Sixth Volume of this Work, at June 5O1, Art. i. , chap. iii.
733.
clesiastique,"tomeix. ,liv. xli. , sect,xxix. , pp. 168, 169.
council,
37 This renowned Maire du Palais is greatly distinguished for his victory over the Saracens, in a great battle fought between Tours and Poitiers in
44 See " Histoire de Longueral's
He also con- quered the Frisons in J^- After the death of King Thierry II. , he held the reins of
296.
4s This celebrated and — accomplished
writer, who flourished from a. d. 894 year of his birth—to the 28th of March, a. d.
732.
the date for his death—
the title Duke of France. He died a. d. most valuable works has left us the " His-
government during the interregnum, under 966—
among
other
741. See Bossuet's de France," Liv. i.
"
Abrege de l'Histoire .
toria Ecclesise Remensis," which was first
published at Rheims in 1580, 4to. How- ever, a better addition of Couvenier or Col-
vener appeared at Douai, in 16 17, 8vo.
38 See his life, in the Sixth Volume of this work, at June 5th, Art. i.
Spicilegium" D'Acherii,
tomus
4I See D'Acherii "
vi. , Fulcuinus, Chronicon Laubiensi. , cap. vii.
42 See " Historia Ecclesice Remensis," lib. ii. , cap. xvi.
l'Eglise Gallicane," tome iv.
ix. ,
71 He is honoured as a saint and martyr,
while he has place in some Calendars on the
20th of August.
73 Now supposed to be Winmore. See
William Camden's "Britannia. " Edmund
cap.
p. 185.
Afterwards, as we are informed,
79 This is stated by Simon of Durham and
In the royal
"
Jour d'Aout, p. 304,
Vies des
August 5. ] LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. 85
had been surreptitiously conveyed thither. His niece Osfrida, wife of Etheldred, King of Mercia, translated the rest of St. Oswald's body to the
monasteryofBardney,inLincolnshire. However,duringtheDanishinvasions,
in a. d.
ferred to
80 it was found to have the relics of St. Oswald trans- necessary
tion
"
by Whitley Stokes,
LL. D. :—
90 Thus at Nonis " In Augusti :
910, Gloucester,
81 where the church of St. Peter had been founded
by
Elfleda, Countess of Mercia, and daughter to King Alfred. During the Danish
wars, the church and shrine were greatly injured; but, in the time of Arch- bishopTurstan,bothwererestored. 82 AmonumentwaserectedtoSt. Oswald, and it is still to be seen there, in a chapel of the Cathedral between two pillars. In 1 22 1, a part of the relics was translated to the Abbey of St. Winoc's Berg, in Flanders, and with great solemnity, it was deposited there by Adam, Bishop of Terouanne. During the wars in Flanders, consequent on the Reformation, those precious relics of the good and heroic English King were burned by the Calvinists. 8 3 Not alone in Great Britain, but also in Ireland, the memory of St. Oswaldwasheldingreatveneration. Norwasthiscommemorationowing to the arrival of the Anglo-Normans in the twelfth century, because centuries before that period, he is found inscribed on our ancient calendars. In the u Feilire" of St. ^Engus,84 this monarch is entered at the 5th of August and with commendation of his sanctity. The scholiast adds to this notice, that he was designated Fland Fina (" of the wine ") son of Ossa. 8s In the published
86
copyoftheMartyrologyofTallagh, theentriesforthe5thdayofAugustare
wanting, and we are referred to another codex for them. However, in the
Book of Leinster copy, at this same date, we find King Oswald 8 ? heading the
list of the Irish Saints. On the Continent of Europe, likewise, St. Oswald was
commemorated, especially in Belgium and Germany. At the 5th day of August,
his chief festival is noted in the Martyrologies of Usuard and Wandelbert, as
also in the Florarium Sanctorum, and in the English Martyrology of John
Wilson. In an ancient Manuscript Martyrology, formerly belonging to the Church of St. Mary and the Martyrs at Treves, 88 his feast is entered. 8 ? Refer-
ring to the account of Venerable Bede, Oswald is commemorated, on this day, in the Roman Martyrology. * The feast of St. Oswald is celebrated in the Scottish Calendars, at the 5 th day of August : thus, in the Kalendar of Drummond, 91 in the Kalendarium de Hyrdmanistoun,02 in the Kalendarium
by Ingulph.
80 See Les Petits Bollandistes " Vies des
Academy. " Irish Manuscripts, vol. i. , part i. On the Calendar of Oengus, p. cxxii.
Saints," tome ix. , ve Jour d'Aout,p. 304, n. i. •' u "
8s In Irish ^Lano pitiA mac OfA. — p. cxxix.
Ibid. ,
82
See Willelmi Malmesbiriensis Monachi
See the Polychronicon Ranulphi
Higden Monachi Cestrensis, edited by Rev.
Joseph Rawson Lumby, B. D. , vol. vi. , pp.
60, 61.
86 Thus noticed : "Non. Deestquintus dies videndus in alio codice. "— Rev. Dr. Kelly's edition, p. xxxi.
8? Thus entered, 0]*uuaIt>i ftegif.
"De Gestis Pontificum
Anglorum,"
edited
88 Allusion is made to this Father by
by N. E. S. A. Hamilton, lib. iv. , p. 293.
John Mabillon, " Annales Ordinis S. Benedicti,"
83 See Les Petits
'• Vies des
tomus lib. iii. ,
CefAt) An efvenci
Anglia sancti Oswaldi, Regis cujus actus Venerabilis
-Arvolij;
Martyr- ologium Romanum Gregorii XIII. " jussu
Bollandistes,
sect,
See the Bollandists' "Acta Sanctorum,"
Saints," tome ix. , ve Jour d'Aout, p. 304, n.
4"
In the Leabhar Breac" copy we find
the following stanza, and its English transla-
s*
conmac coem-OAi tAhopMlc noem nAilme
<\rvo|\ij; SaxAn fAervoAi.
Herentius splendid suffering deserves a
Beda commemorat. "—" Presbyter
loveable commemoration, with holy Oswald
whom w—e implore, over-King of the free
Regis Anglorum. "
of Scottish Saints, p. 20.
^ Thus : —" Nonse Sancti Oswaldi Regis et
Saxons. "
** Transactions of the Irish Royal
Martyris. "
Ibid.
p. 44.
xlviii. ,
xxxi. , p. 637.
tomusii. , Augustiv. DeS. OswaldoRege
ac Mart. Commentarius proevius, sect, v. ,
pp. 91, 92.
editum, &c. Editio novissima, p. 1 13.
91
Nonae
Sancti Asvaldi
Thus —
:
"
Aug. BishopForbes'Kalendars
86 LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS.
[August 5.
de Nova Farina^ in the Kalendarium de Arbuthnott,94 in the Kalendarium Breviarii Aberdonensis,9s and in Adam King's Kalendar. 96 It seems probable, that on other days, moreover, there were feasts to commemorate the Trans- lation of different relics of St. Oswald. Various manuscripts preserved in Trinity College, Dublin, have offices, and in different forms, to celebrate this holy King and Martyr. 97 In these are to be found proper lessons. In the Sarum Office he is also commemorated. Various monasteries, churches and chapels, especially in England, have been dedicated to this pious monarch. One ot these is known as Kirk-Oswald, near the river Itun, in Cumberland ; one was at Silecester, near the Picts' Wall in Northumberland another was
;
at Bardeney in Lincolnshire ; the monastery of Nosthil,98 in Yorkshire, was consecrated to him ; while in Gloucester his memory was preserved, likewise, and in religious memorials. 99 Among the heroes and saints of most enduring fame, the Anglo-Saxons have ever regarded their truly great King Oswald. Moreover, the Universal Church has enrolled him on the list of her holy Martyrs.
Article III. —St. Abel, Bishop and Confessor, Belgium. [Eighth Century. '] As the law of nature has had its first Abel, on whom our Divine
Redeemer has bestowed the title of 1 so hath the law of Just,
grace produced
another Abel, in whom justice and holiness so abounded, that such perfec-
tions have procured through his ministry the salvation of many others.
Because the saint has been called a 2 there are some who present Scotus,
contend that he was a native of Scotland ; but, besides very ancient tradition and records all the circumstances of his career serve to assure us, that he was a native of Ireland, for in his day Scotia Minor had few missionaries available for missionary enterprises on the European Continent. How- ever, while Bucelin sets Abel down as a German,« Alford classes him as an Englishman,s allowing him to have been a disciple of St. Boniface,6 the great Apostle of Germany, whom he assumes to have been a native of England. TheveryearlyaccountofSt. Abel,andformerlytobefoundat Rheims before the tenth century, was even then lost, when the judicious and critical Fulcuinus or Folquin,? who had personally inspected the records of
"
93 Thus — Nonse Oswualdi Regis et
:
Martyris. " Ibid. , p. 74.
94 Thus:—"Nonse S. Oswaldi Regis et
Martyris. " Ibid. p. 103.
95 Thus : "Nonse S. Oswaldi Regis et
Martyris,ix. lect. "—Ibid. ,p. 119.
96 Thus : "Aug. 5. S. Osualde, King of
Ingland, Mart. under Constantine 3. "— ibid. , p. 159.
97 In Trinity College, Dublin, a Manu- script, classed B. 3, 9, thus records the office,
Brittany," Book xv. , chap, xi. , num. II, p.
Augusti 5, Nonas. Sancti Oswaldi, Regis et
Mart. ix. Lect. Another Manuscript there,
classed B. 3, 12, contains at Augusti 5, Nonas, work contains an account of its Abbots. Oswaldi regis et Mart. ix. Lect. In the latter This has been published by D'Achery, in part of this MS. , there is an office for St. his "Spicilegium," tomus vi. , pp. 544 et Oswald, in iii. Lessons, with a Prayer. An- seq.
other Manuscript in Trinity College, Dublin, and classed B. 3, 13, contains at August the 5th, Nonas, Sancti Oswaldi regis et mart. iii. Lect.
4 In his Benedictine Martyrology.
98 Yorkshire.
"SeeDean "
Cressy's Church-History
According to Camden, when treating on
of
6Seehis
life,
at the of inthe 5th June,
361. — Article III 2u
'
See Genesis, iv. 4.
In his Martyrologium Gallicanum,"
Saussay writes, "is natione Scotus. "
:i Thus,anearlywriter,whohadthevery best sources for information, and who lived little more than two hundred years after Abel's death in the same place, the Abbot
" hunc eum- dem Abel, et nostrum fuisse, et Scottum, —et
of Lobbes, Fulcuinus, states
episcopum, facili ratione probavimus. "
"
s When treating about the Third Synod of St. Boniface, held at Mayence, a. d. 745, and in which the name of Abel is met with, in that joint letter of correction to Ethelbald, King of the Mercians.
Chronicon Laubiensi," chap, vii. , which
:
August 5. ] LiyES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. 87
that ancient church, declares he was a Scot, a bishop, and also an inmate of his own monastery, at Lobbes. 8 Notices of this holy man find place in many collections of Saint history.
The accomplished chronicler, Folcuin,^ mentions him with praise. A single paragraph only is devoted to his record by
Molanus. 10 He has been commemorated, likewise, by Father John 1112 1
Mabillon, by Mirreus, by Castellan,^ and by Ferrarius. * At the 5th of August, the Bollandists's have inserted the Acts of St. Abel, Bishop and
Confessor, in a Historic Sylloge of three sections, containing twenty-nine
20
16 In the sixth volume of the Acts of the some Belgian saints,
paragraphs.
account of St. Abel, Bishop and Confessor, may be found. 1 ? This apostolic man is celebrated in the work of Abbe Destombes,,8 andin Les Petits Bol- landistes. 1 ^
According to some accounts, when he was of an age to travel,
of Saints
patriots, Abel went to France, in order to serve God in a more perfect
manner. 23 Other accounts have that Abel was one of the twelve
it, priests
2
that followed the illustrious St. Egbert, -* afterwards Archbishop of York,
when by a Divine revelation he left that monastery in Ireland, over which he presided as Abbot, to go into Gaul, there to preach the Gospel to those idolatrouspeoplewhohadnotyetaknowledgeofthetrueGod. Afterwards, Egbert and his companions sought the court of Pepin d'Heristal, who then governed the country in quality of Mayor of the Palace. At that time, Radbod, who ruled over Frisia, had been subdued by him ; but, the people there had not yet received the truths of Christianity. Admiring their zeal, that religious potentate sent them thither to preach the Gospel. This was a mission which required great courage and patience, as the inhabitants were very barbarous, and strongly prejudiced against the introduction of any form of worship that tended to overthrow their old superstitious usages and rites. Nevertheless, the fortitude of Abel was such as to brave the perils that there awaited him ; for, his life was often in danger, but he feared not death,
provided he could accomplish the will of his heavenly Father. He preached the Gospel of Jesus Christ with great force and eloquence, and for long he labouredtogainsoulstotheChurch. Itisprobable,thatAbelhadbeena religious for some time, in the Abbey of Lobbes 5s and, Father Mabillon
following
the
example
Fursey,
Foillan,
Sixth Volume of this work, Art. i.
1 He was Abbot of Lobbes, in the tenth
;
l8 "
See Vies des Saints des Dioceses de
Cambrai et dArras. "
century. 8""
x9
See Vies des Saints," tome ix. ve Jour
See D'Achery's Spicilegium, vi. , Chronicon Lobiense, cap. vii.
tomus
9 He died a. d. , 990. See Le Dr. Hoefer's
" Nouvelle Biographie Generate" Tome
xviii. , col. 56, 57.
d'Aout, p. 304, as also pp. 332 to 334.
2» See his Life, at the 1 6th of January, in
the First Volume of this work, Art. i.
2I His feast occurs on the 30th of October,
az
He
on the 1st of May, at which date his life is to be seen, in the Fifth Volume of this work, Art. hi.
^ See Les Petits Bollandistes, " Vies des Saints," tome ix. , ve Jour d'Aout, p. 333.
24 His feast is on the kept
.
_
10
See the "Natales Sanctorum Belgii,"
at this day, pp. 171, 172.
" In " Acta Sanctorum Ordinis S. Bene-
dicti,'* saec. iii. , pars, i. , Appendix, p. 568.
12
13
14 In "
In Fastis Belgicis, et Burgendicis.
In his Universal
Martyrology. Generalis Sanctorum. "
Augusti v. De S. Abele Epis. Confessore in
Laubiense Ccenobio in Hannonia, pp. n1
to 117.
16
These have been compiled by Father John Pinius.
17 See " Acta Sanctorum Belgii Selecta," tomus vi. Augusti v.
at which date there are notices of him, in the
Catalogus
15 See " Acta Sanctorum," tomus i. ,
24th April,
21 and 22 his com- Ultan,
is honoured at Fosse, in Belgium,
Fourth Volume of this work, Art. i.
25 The Bollandists furnish an account of this celebrated abbey when treating on St. Ulgisus, in the" Acta Sanctorum," tomus i. , Februarii iv. , p. 498, and also in tomus ii. , Februarii vii. , when giving an account of
St. Amulwin, at p. 82.
88 LIVES OF 7HE IRISH SAINTS.
[August 5.
states, that he flourished there while Erminus56 was Abbots This latter holy man ruled for nearly twenty-five years, having departed this life on the
vii. of the May Kalends, a. d. 737-
28
Abel is regarded as the Apostle of the
BelgicProvincesofLiegeandofHainaut. 2* Weareinformed,moreover,that
he was a man profoundly read in the Sacred Scriptures, and that he was
remarkable for his virtues. 3° The City of Rheims has main-
many always tained a high position among the ecclesiastical centres of Christianity in
28
See ibid.
Cathedral of Rheims, France.
thirds of their contemplated height-120 metres. The simplicity and proportion of the numberless lines; the solidity of the structure combined with the most graceful details ; the delicate and exquisite carving of its statues and bas-reliefs ; the intricate tracery and regular forms of its doors, windows and bays; the rare beauty of its stained glass and fine paintings, are altogether subjects for the study and admiration
76 He is venerated on the 25th of April.
2
7See "Annates Ordinis S. Benedicti," tomus ii. lib. xxi. , sect, xxxvi. p. 103.
doardo primum auctius digesta, demum aliunde accersitis pluriimun aucta et illus- trata, et ad nostrum hoc Speculum fTdeliter deducta," tomus i. , Lille, 1666, fol.
32 St. or St. the chief Remy, Remigius,
patron of this city, is venerated on the 1st of October.
33 The accompanying illustration taken from an approved engraving has been drawn by William F. Wakeman on the wood, engraved by Mrs. Millard.
89 See "
Saussay's Martyrologium
Galli-
canum," at Augusti v.
30 See Trithemius, " De Viris Illustrious
Ordinis S. Benedicti," lib. iii. , chap. 298.
31 The history of this See is obscure, but
it is well set forth in Dom. Guillaume Mar-
lot's
"
Metropolis Remensis Historia a Flo-
France. This ancient city had an existence during
the Roman occupation of Gaul. From an early period it kept a succession
1
of prelates^ and after the
conversion of Clovis it had been selected as that place, where the kings of France were consecrated. The most ancient church there has been dedicated to St. Remy,32 and it is re- markable for its large nave
and fine stained-glass win-
dows. But the Cathedral of Rheims is one of the most mar- vellous creations of Gothic design, attributed to Robert deCourcy, its first architect, who began its erection about the commencement of the thirteenth century. It is distinguished above all other buildings for its noble facade, flanked by two stately towers. 33 These, however, are still in- complete, and are thought to have reached only two-
great
August 5. ] LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. 89
of all beholders. 34 While St. Rigobert35 was Archbishop of Rheims, one Milo, only a tonsured cleric,36 had been unjustly intruded there during his lifetime by Charles Martel. 3? This usurpation was long maintained; even after the action taken by St. Boniface,38 in the council held at Soissons, in 744. After the death of St. Rigobert, St. Abel has been classed in the series of prelates connected with the see of Rheims, according to Fulcuinus. He declares, how he learned from the very erudite Archbishop Adalberon, that Abel had been a bishop of Rheims, while in that see he acquired and ordained in several instances, as had been stated in old records and in tradition. 3^ Notwithstanding, many have supposed that Abel was only a chorepiscopus in that city. 4° Moreover, Archbishop Adalberon stated to Fulcuinus, that it was a custom prevailing to his own time in the Church at Rheims, to have the names of all his predecessors enrolled on the Dyptics, so that they should be prayed for among deceased persons during the solemn celebrationofMass. Nevertheless,it wasadmitted,thatAbel'snamewas not to be found on that list ; but, Fulcuinus supposes, that being only for a
short time in possession of the See, and for Christ's sake willing to relinquish it, the church records happened to be silent regarding him. 41 That Abel was created Archbishop of Rheims has been stated by Flodoard,42 in his History of that See ; and, as we are informed, when the great Council of Soissons, which opened on the 3rd of March, a. d. 744, assembled under the presidency of St. Boniface. Among the other decrees there passed,43 it was resolved to appoint suitable prelates to fill some sees which were then vacant, and that of Rheims among the rest. St. Boniface, then apostolic Legate for that part of Europe, knowing well the merits of Abel, whose reputation had been extended throughout all the Low Countries, greatly desired him to succeed in the great metropolitan See of Rheims. Also, Boniface made application to procure the Pallium for him, and at the same time for Grimon, Archbishop of Rouen, and for Hunebert, Archbishop of Sens.
However, it seems probable, that the disturbed state of affairs then pre- vailing,44 afterwards caused Boniface to ask the Pallium only for Grimon. Besides, we have it on the authority of Flodoard,45 that certain charters
34 See Elisee Reclus' " Nouvelle Geo- graphie Universelle," tome ii. , liv. ii. , chap, xi. , sect, v. , pp. 705 to 709.
35 Also called Robert. He had a festival, on the 4th day of January.
36 Nevertheless, he had become bishop of Treves, and thus he illegally occupied both sees for forty years. St. Rigobert was after- wards permitted to revisit Rheims, but he was not allowed to govern there. He died at Germicourt on the 4th of January a. d.
39 In the "
vi. , such is the account, and contained in the Chronicon Laubiensi of Fulcuinus, cap. vii.
40 According to Flodoard, in " Historia Ecclesia? Remensis. " Lib. ii. , chap. xvi.
See l'Abbe " Histoire Ec- Fleury's
43 See a further account of that
in the Life of St. Boniface, Sixth Volume of this Work, at June 5O1, Art. i. , chap. iii.
733.
clesiastique,"tomeix. ,liv. xli. , sect,xxix. , pp. 168, 169.
council,
37 This renowned Maire du Palais is greatly distinguished for his victory over the Saracens, in a great battle fought between Tours and Poitiers in
44 See " Histoire de Longueral's
He also con- quered the Frisons in J^- After the death of King Thierry II. , he held the reins of
296.
4s This celebrated and — accomplished
writer, who flourished from a. d. 894 year of his birth—to the 28th of March, a. d.
732.
the date for his death—
the title Duke of France. He died a. d. most valuable works has left us the " His-
government during the interregnum, under 966—
among
other
741. See Bossuet's de France," Liv. i.
"
Abrege de l'Histoire .
toria Ecclesise Remensis," which was first
published at Rheims in 1580, 4to. How- ever, a better addition of Couvenier or Col-
vener appeared at Douai, in 16 17, 8vo.
38 See his life, in the Sixth Volume of this work, at June 5th, Art. i.
Spicilegium" D'Acherii,
tomus
4I See D'Acherii "
vi. , Fulcuinus, Chronicon Laubiensi. , cap. vii.
42 See " Historia Ecclesice Remensis," lib. ii. , cap. xvi.
l'Eglise Gallicane," tome iv.
