No More Learning

already regarding it, in the Fifth Chapter of this biography.
teAbliA^
every night
ssonto
Ainmire, King of Erinn, and of Mauritius or Foccas 8o also called Falcus
King of the Romans. In order to test the supernatural prescience of Pope Gregory, or his abilities for literary criticism, the messengers ventured to expunge three of the stanzas, and to substitute others in their place, before
Pontiff. When thus that com- interpolated,
that Poem 8 * to the
position was presented to him, as Gregory had ordered the messenger to read
holy it, before himself and his assistants.
dressed to Boithin. See 204, and p.
Additional Notes A, pp. 220, 221.
7° According to the Preface of the Altus Prosator, in the beAbhan Irnuitm, it was
called in Irish TTl6rx5ein or Great Gem.
71 It was said to have been preserved after- wards in Torach Island, off the north-west coast of Ireland, and it was called the Great
The Pope continued standing until the
77 By this, we are to- probably suppose
the reigns of the monarchs, who are after- wards mentioned.
78 His reign over Scotland, extended from
A. D. 574 to a. d. 606. See Roderick "
79 His reign lasted twenty-seven years, from a. d. 568 to 594. See Dr. O'Donovan's "Annals of the Four Masters," vol. i. , pp. 206 to 221.
80 The scholiast on the Altus Prosator in
the Liber Hymnorum has it thus, as if
doubtful regarding the chronology. The
former Maurice commenced his reign over
the Roman Empire, A. D. 582, and closed it
A. D. 602. See an account of his acts in Gib-
bon's " of the Decline and Fall of History
the Roman Empire," vol. v. , chap, xlv. , xlvi. ,pp. 345to386. Phocas,whoimme- diately succeeded, commenced his reign, A. D. 602, and died A. D. 610. See ibid. , chap, xlvi. , pp. 383 to 388. Wherefore, it could only have been in the reign of the former, that the Altus Prosator had been composed by St. Columba, whose death occurred be- fore the latter commenced his reign.
76 See the LeAbhar* 1muiun, or " Book of
Hymns of the Ancient Church of Ireland," James Henthorn Todd, Fasciculus ii. ,
edited by Rev. Dr. James Henthorn Todd,
Fasciculus ii. , Preface, p. 204, and Addi-
tional Notes A, p. 220. Some'accounts have
it,thattheAltusProsatorhadbeencom-
posed, at the Nigra cellula, or Duibh Regies,
p. 224.
82
It is said to have been sent as an ex- change present, for the wooden cross, and fortheHymnsoftheWeek-book,transmitted to St. Columba by the Pope. See the Preface to Rev. Dr. Todd's edition of the Altus Prosator.
"
"Leabhar Breac," fol. 109a.
black church," of Derry, as stated in the
Ogygia," Scotia? Regum Ca-
O'Flaherty's
talogus Chronologo-Genealogicus, pp. 473 to 476.
—
526 LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. [June 9.
apocryphal stanzas 83 were recited, and on the reader commencing them, he immediately sat down, but he stood up once more when they were read, and he heard the remainder while on his feet. This was specially remarked, by some of the distinguished courtiers present, and they enquired from him the cause. He declared, that he stood, because he observed many Holy Angels standing at the side of the person who was reading, and when he came to the interpolated stanzas,84 the heavenly messengers disappeared, when he imme- diately sat down, but when the stanzas were finished, those good spirits again appearing, the Pope stood in reverence, until the lecture had finished. 8^ The disciples of Columba were quite astonished at this miraculous manifestation, and they were moved to compunction for the imposture they had practised.
They humbly sought pardon, while relating the true cause for the disappear- ance of that angelic vision, and they obtained it from the clement Pontiff. He
poem,
*3 In the Preface to Rev. Dr. Todd's edi-
tion, we read, that three chapters were put into the poem, and that these were made by
Gregory himself, viz. , Hie subiatus, and Orbem, and Vagatur.
84 We are informed, the reason why the first stanza of Altus Prosator has seven lines is, because it praises God ; since that odd number is suitable to Him, as it shows His inequality with His creatures. The other stanzas have six lines each, because in six
greatly praised
were created. There are sixteen syllables in each line. Another reason, assigned for the first stanza contain-
sung by the ancient Irish, and Indulgences seem to have been accorded to the devout reciters. The proper manner for reciting it is described to be, as it had been sung at that Deo—an —
all
days things
first, Quis potest Antiphon occurring at the end of the Hymn should
86 which had been to him while he presented ;
that
commanded the disciples of St. Columba to offer his thanks and courtesies, with indults 87 granted to the author from the Apostolic See. 88 Furthermore,
be sung between every two chapters or ing seven lines, is, that there are seven stanzas. It is added, that many graces are
grades in the Church, or that there are seven
gifts of the Holy Ghost, or that the number
conferred upon those reciting this Hymn, viz. : Angels are present while it is sung ; the Devil shall not know the path of him
seven signifies universality.
85 The Altus Prosator is composed in who sings it every day ; neither shall his
Rythm, of which there are two kinds, Arti- ficialis and Vulgaris. The former has the feet made with equal times, and equal divi- sion, and with equal weight, viz. , arcis and thesis ; and where the subsequent is for the precedent in the right of resolution. In the Vulgaris, there is a correspondence ofsylla- bles, in quatrains and half quatrains ; while thisHymnis composedinthelattermea- sure.
86
enemies perceive him that day on which he sings it ; and, moreover, there shall be no strife in that house where it is frequently
sung. It protects from every kind of death, except death on the pillow ; there shall be neither hunger nor nakedness in the place where it is frequently sung ; besides many other temporal and spiritual benefits accrue. There is a quatrain, on the lower margin of the "Leabhar Breac," fol. 109a, which thus
and it is —
One
while Columcille was alone with Boithin in Hy, they had no food but a sieve of oats, when the messengers of Pope Gregory ar- rived there. Our saint told Boithin to en- tertain them, while he went to the mill taking his burden from a certain stone, called Blathnat or Moelblatha, which was in the Regies, or monastery church of Hy. It was shown there, when the scholiast wrote this account. St. Columba composed —his Hymn, Adjutorlaborantium,ontheway butwhe- ther this was a distinct one from the Altus Prosator or not is doubtful, as narrated. However, it is stated, when he cast his first charge into the mill, he then extemporane-
legend regarding
it states, that reads in reference to this
ously composed the first chapter, and that while the sack of grain was being ground,
the other chapters followed in succession, until both the work of the mill and his own intellectual efforts were ended about the same time.
87 The Altus Prosator was often recited or
subject, coeval with the Manuscript itself:
geib 111 aLcu]' cobafecric, tlA t>Am cenc x>o •oeman r>up,
rhfpb S^bar* ipn bich, 11a cich na cinn^e yop cub.
" Sing the Altus seven times,
Yield not thy right to the hard de-
mon, Thereisnodiseaseintheworld,
"
No difficulty that it will not banish. See Colgan's "Trias Thaumaturga," Quinta Vita S. Columbce, lib. ii. , cap. \\ ; ,,
p. 412, and n. 12, p. 452.
88
June 9. LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. 527
it is related, the Pope considered, although the Triune God was admirably praised in His creatures throughout that Poem, He was not sufficiently so exalted in His attributes. To atone for such defect, St. Columba composed afterwards the Hymn " In te Christe," when the Sovereign Pontiffs criticism
had been reported thus by his disciples. ^
Furthermore, it is related, that having a desire to visit Rome, St. Columba
sent for St. Mochonna, chosing him from among all his other monks to be his companion. This was because he knew the learning and accomplishments
of that disciple. Both were honourably received by Pope St. Gregory ;9° and when the Sovereign Pontiff understood from the holy Abbot Columba the
name, dignity and holiness of his attendant, he desired, that the guest should
See of Tours- thensaidtobevacant requiredaprelateofstationandofmerit,Mochonna was selected to be its administrator. This city had been undercharge of the illustrious St. Martin^2 whose body had been there interred. St. Columba
be called Mauricius 9 1 — and as the thenceforward, episcopal
and the newly-appointed administrator, having accomplished the objects of their Roman pilgrimage, directed their course to Tours. At this time, the chiefs and people of that city knew not where the relics of their patron had been interred. However, the fame of Columba's sanctity and prophetic spirit had preceded him, and the inhabitants of Tours eagerly asked him with a promise of rich gifts, that he would deign to enlighten them on the matter, so that they might find their patron's tomb, and suitably honour his holy re- mains. The Abbot yielded to their prayers, and stated, that he would only accept a single treasure, which was to be found in St. Martin's grave. To this request assent was given, and Columba showed where the venerated body lay. The grave was opened, and there was found beside the remains a Missal. The people of Tours were hardly willing St. Columba should bear from them such a prize, and they demanded another favour before it was yielded, namely, that one of his companions—a good and suitable person— should be left them to govern the church of Tours. This, too, St. Columba was able to grant, and he then declared, that St. Mochonna had been destined by theSovereignPontifffortheSeeofTours. Suchannouncementgreatlypleased them, and he was allowed to take away the book so greatly valu—ed as belonging
—tin. 93 Onthe
whenMacarius anothername
to Blessed Mar night
ofthat
forMauricius firstenteredonthedutiesofhisnewappointment,St. Martin
is said to have appeared during their sleep to many of the clergy and people of Tours, warning them to pay as much respect and obedience to his successor as to himself were he still living. Macarius thus elevated to the episcopacy,94 is said to have governed that See most holily, for three years and half a-year. But, when the time of his dissolution approached, calling together his disci-
:
ples, he said to them u That hour, which I have eagerly desired from my
8* See Rev. Dr. Todd's LeabriAp Imttnth, or "Book of Hymns of the Ancient Irish Church," pp. 204, 222.
90 It is remarked, by Colgan, that if this visit of our saint to Rome took place, it must have been after the return of Columba from the Assembly at Drumcheat, as St. Gregory did not become Pope until a. d. 490, and his death is referred to March 12th, A. D. 604. St. Columba's departure from life is generally set down, at A. D. 597.
91 Colgan's version of Prince O'Donnell's
Life has it added, " seu peregrina vocabula
seu Latinum — seu ra- fastidiens, prseferens,
maturga," Quinta Vita S. Columbae, lib. iii. , cap. xxvii. , p. 435.
92 Patron of Tours, and whose feast occurs at the Iith of November.
93 The foregoing narrative is said to have
been taken from the Acts of St. Eugene,
Bishop of Ardstraw, and from the Legend of St. Mochonna. But, Colgan, who had
an epitome of St. Eugene's Life, declares, that he found in it no mention of these ac-
counts, nor had he in possession any such legend of St. Mochonna.
94 In the Catalogue of the Bishops of
Claudius
tione latentis mysterii," &c. "TriasThau- tion of a Mochonna, Macarius or Mauri-
day,
Tours,
by
Robert,
there is no men-
528 LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. [June 9.
youth now advances, my dear brethren, and I am about to go to Christ. This shallhappenwithinthreedays. " Thatannouncementfillednotonlyhisdis- ciples with grief, but also the citizens ; however, the saint exhorted them to have no sorrow for him about to die, since it pleased God, and rather to rejoice that his exile on earth was about to end. Having dismissed a crowd of spectators then present, when the exact time for his dissolution was near, only his clergy and monks were present. Then he had a most consoling vision. Suddenly appeared St. Martin, the patron of that See, as also St. Columba, coming from the Island of Iona, and above all, the Saviour of the world, Christ Jesus, with a host of the heavenly spirits, the Apostles, and other Saints. The dying prelate was enraptured with this glorious vision, and all the clergy and monks, who were around him, had their sight of that heavenly host, while ravishing hymns and canticles were heard. Then, too,
:
resounded these words, as if with one voice " Come with us, Macarius,
comewithus,todwellinthekingdomofthyFatherforever. " Thusinvited by the Angels, and visited by Christ, Macarius passed away to the joys of Heaven. When that heavenly band dispersed, St. Columba returned to his
own monastery through Divine agency. ? 5
About the middle of the year 593, our holy Abbot entertained the greatest
hope of his immediate departure from this life. It does not appear, however, that on this occasion he had been visited with sickness. ? 6 After returning from Ireland to his monastery at Iona, the glorious Abbot one day mani- fested a marvellous sweetness and radiance on his expressive countenance. ? ? Casting his eyes heavenwards, he was wholly replenished with joy and de- light j but, a little time afterwards, the joyousness of his face was converted into sadness and his aspect was changed into sorrow. Two of his monks, who were named respectively Lugneus Mocublai, and Pilu, a Saxon, saw this remarkable change, while standing at the door of his hut, which was situated
great 'entreaty,?
8 an
explanation
for that unwonted on appearance. Falling
When these perceived it, they felt greatly afflicted, because
on a little hill.
of their sad presentiment. They obtained of him, however, but not without
their knees and shedding tears, with a faithful promise of never revealing the
secret during the saint's lifetime, their eager curiosity was at length gratified.
At first, St. Columba said, that he did not wish to cause them more pain, because he saw them so dejected, and because he loved them most sincerely.
:
Afterwards,hespokeinthismanner "Tothispresentday,thricetenyears
of my peregrination in Britain have elapsed ; and in the meantime, for these many days, I have devotedly begged of God that he would be pleased at the end of this thirty years to finish my earthly pilgrimage, and to call me to my heavenly country. This was the cause of my joy ; for, I saw Angels sent from the throne of glory, to meet my soul after its departure out of my body. Lo !
being now suddenly stayed, they stand on a rock at the farther side of our sea, and they would come in haste for my soul, but they are not permitted to approach nearer ; for, what our Lord hath appeared to grant after my pray-
tius,asherenoticed.
95 See Colgan's "Trias Thaumaturga,
"
323; SecundaVitaS. Columba? ,cap. xxviii. , pp. 328, 329 ; Tertia Vita S. Columba;, cap. xxxix. , p. 335 ; Quarta Vita S. Columbx, lib. iii. , cap. xxii. , p. 369; Quinta Vita S. Columbse, lib. iii. , cap. xlvii. , p. 439.
QuintaVitaS. Columke, lib. iii. , cap. xxvii. , xxviii. , xxix. , xxx. , pp. 435> 436> and nn. 16, 17, 18, p. 453.
s8 See "A Dictionary of Christian Biogra- D. C. L. , LL. D. , and Henry Wace, M. A. ,
vol. i. , Art. Columba,
97 See Colgan's "Trias Thaumaturga,"
Prima Vita S. Columbse, cap. xvi. , pp. 322,
9s See Rev. Dr. Reeves' Adamnan's phy," &c, edited by William Smith, "Life of St. Columba," lib. iii. , cap. 22,
p.
603.
pp. 227, 228.
99 The Petits Bollandistes have " Dieu it,
touche par les prieres des Eglises de Bretagne
et d'Ecosse, &c.
—"Vies des
Saints,"
June 9. ] LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. 5*9
ing most earnestly for transition to Him on this very day, he hath now sud-
denlyaltered,onhearingtheprayersofmanychurchesforme. 99 Theyhave obtained and against my will, that four years more shall be added to the term
100 This sorrowful
grief; but, when those four years come to an end, without any preceding
sickness of body, I shall depart hence suddenly, and with God's blessing, I shall pass to the everlasting joys of Paradise, accompanied by holy Angels. " The event corresponded with his prediction.
The King of Scotland, Aidan, had seven sons, whose names are thus foundrecorded,viz. : twoEochaidhs,namely,EochaidhBuidheandEochaidh
of mortal my
pilgrimage.
delay
is the cause of
my present
101 beginningofthatwar,carriedonagainsttheMiathe,10* thesaintatonetime
Finn, Tuathal, Bran,
Baoithine, Conaing,
questioned King
touching
answered,
gart
Io6 should
reign
after him. The saint
consequently prophesied
in this
102 IQ
and Gartnat. 3 Before the
his successor. 1^ The monarch
Aidan
that he knew not which of his three sons, Arthur, Eochaid Find, or Doman-
:
manner " None of these three shall be successor in your kingdom for they
;
shall be all slain by their enemies in battle. Now, if you have any younger childrensendforthem; whenhe,whomourLordhathelectedtobeking,will rush suddenly into my arms. " Being called, Eochaid Buidhe ran to the saint, and rested on his bosom. 10? Kissing him, St. Columba said to his father, "This is he who shall survive, and shall be king after you, and his
children shall
reign
after him. " His sons Connadh loS Domhnall I09 Cerr, Braec,
tome vi. , ixe Jour de Juin, p. 542.
100 In the Rev. J. Golden's " St. Columba,
and other Poems," we read : —
" Their prayers prevailed, the Abbot's life prolonged
plete Works, vol. vi. These people seem to have been located on the southern borders of Scotland. Father Innes follows Fordun, who supposes the Mieatre to have been a por- tion of the British troops, in King Aidan's army. But such a supposition is inadmis- sible, if the identity of the Maiathai and of the Maeatse be allowed.
105 See Colgan's "Trias Thaumaturga," Quarta Vita S. Columba;, lib. i. , cap. ix. , p. 341; QuintaVitaS. Columbae,lib. ii. ,cap. xlii. , p. 417.
106
"
'°7 Besides the four sons mentioned in the text, Tighernach lias preserved the names of Bran and Conaing.
For four years more j which he longed
and death for
Withheld its claim and left him to renew
His glorious deeds, not long to last he knew. "
—"St. Columba," sect, xviii. , p. 33.
101 Bran was slain, A. D. 595, according to
the " Annales Ultonienses. " See Rev. Dr.
O'Conor's "Rerum Hibernicarum Scrip-
tores," tomus iv. , p. 33. Tighernach's An- See Scotichronicon," tomus i. , lib. iii. , cap. nals have it, A. D. 596. See ibid. , tomus ii. ,
p. 160.
10 - He was drowned, a. d. 621, according to the Annals of Ulster. See ibid. , tomus iv. , p. 41. Those of Tigernach have it at A. D. 622. See ibid. , tomus ii. , pp. 185, 186.
xxviii. , p. 132. Also, his daughter Fyn Even- nu was mother, by Conanrodus, the King of Demetia, and their son was St. Drostan. Arthur is not named in the Irish list.
103 TheIrishtractonthe"MenofAlba"
enumerates them : <\ot)aii cpA v-cacc mec
ber* . 1. T)A eoch-OAig . 1. eAcliAm buroe,
A^uf Oochoi-o jMotiti, CuacaL, bj\An, char, who reigned sixteen years. In his
VjAoinne, CoiiAing, Ajjur* jApcnAic. Ac- cording to the Book of Ballymote, fol. 84^, a, and Mac Firbis' Genealogical Manu-
script, at p. 401.
104 In the year of our Lord 196, reference is
made to the Caledonians and the Maiatai, in
his Fpitome of Dion Cassius, by Xiphilin. See lib. lxxvi. , cap. 12. Archbishop Ussher re-
work " Caledonia," vol. i. , book ii. , chap, v. , p. 284, Chalmers erroneously represents him as the son of a nondescript Eogan, of the house of Laarn. See n. (m).
*°9 See leAbhAfi bpeAcVmAcri Armyo y\y. The Irish version of the Historia Britonmn of Nennius, edited by Rev. Dr. James Hen- thorn Todd, and by the Hon. Algernon Herbert, pp. 278, 279.
1,0 They began to reign jointly in the IL
"
siarum Antiquitates," cap. xv. , p. 253. Com-
fers to the latter in his
Britannicarum Eccle-
a common one in the family,
Although
Domangart does not appear
enumeration of Aedan's sons. Fordun calls him Griffnus, and states, that he commanded his father's forces at the battle of Fethanleg.
1lS The immediate successor of Connadh Cerr, who reigned a quarter, was his son Fear-
in the Irish
53° LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. [June 9.
parsi. , p.
Dungall,
Dr. O'Conor's "Rerum Hibernicarum Scrip- tores," tomus ii. , Tigernachi Annales, p. 160.
1,1 St. Columba died most probably in 597, and the battle according to Adamnan occur- red in his lifetime.
1,4 Agreeably with the first clause of the
HibernicarumScriptores,"tomusiv. , p. 44.
"3
It seems not a little curious, that during his own lifetime, his son Connadh Cerr is called Rex Dalriada in the Annales Tiger- nachi, at a. d. 627. See ibid. , tomus ii. , p. 189.
110 were afterwards Kings of Dalriada. " 1 All of
with Conall and
which predictions fell out to be true, in due time, according to the saint's pro-
For Arthur and Eochaid Find were killed "2 soon afterwards, in the battle of the Miathe.