3' Tlie primitive monastery here is said to have been in tlie grave- yard, now seen at Bangor ; and, a sHght
depression
there is thought to indi- cate that circular valhun, which once surrounded the building.
O'Hanlon - Lives of the Irish Saints - v5
, p.
393 ; Lanigan's Ecclesi- astical History, 1829.
4.
Beanchor—Vita Comgalli.
5.
Beanchair—L'Abbe Ma- Geoghegan, 1758.
6.
Bennchor—O'Fla-
* It is said, in Cormac's "Glossary," to
have been so named from Bece, a favourite
dog of Brecan, that was drowned with his
master, in that celebrated whirlpool, called herty's Ogygia, 1685. 7. Bennchair—Col- Coirebreacain or Corevrecan, " the caul- gan, 1647. 8. Benchorensis—O'Donnell, dron of Brecan. " It lies between Ireland lib. ii. , 24, 1520. 9. Bennchoria—Dr.
and the Island of Rathlin, being now called Sloghnamara, "the gulf of the sea. "
O'Conor, in Annals of the Four Masters, 1826. lo. Bennchorum—Hiberniae Antiquse etNovaeNomenclatura,1771. II. Bencho-
5 This name is said to have been derived
from Bicne, a servant to Conal Cearnach, rium Monast. —Colgan, 1647. 12. Ben- who was drowned there, while driving some chorense Coenobium—Ussher, Primordia. cows, which had been carried off, from Scot- 13. benncoijA—Cormac Mac Cuilenain, land. This incident is related in a romantic 908, Annals of the Four Masters, 1636.
story, which has for title Tain-bo-Fraich, or the " Spoil of the Cows of Froech," as found in the " Book of Leinster. "
14. benncAii\—Tigernach, 1088, Annals of Boyle. 15. ben'ochAH\—Tigernach, 1088, Annals of the Four Masters, 1636. 16.
* This is found in the Dinnseanchus or benchAij\—Tigernach, 1088. 17. benc4n\ " History of Forts," of which romantic tract, —Old Book of St. Caillin, 1516. 18. ben- there are various Irish copies, all of which choi|\—Annals of Inisfallen. 19. be<in- are still unpublished. chui|\—Annals of Ulster. 20. "bennchAi^
' At the dissolution, Bangor was found to Annals of Ulster, Annals of the Four Mas- be possessed of the temporalities and ters, 1636. 21. ben'ocAiA. 22. ben'oc^nA. spiritualities of thirty-four townlands, to- 23. beiTochui^A. 24. bennclniii\—Annals gether with the tithes of nine rectories or of the Four Masters, 1636. 25. beAnnchAiyv chapels. —Jeoffrey Keating, 1629. 26. beAnncAH\
** In some loose sheets, which the writer Duald Mc Firbis' Pedigrees, 1666. 27. has examined, at the Ordnance Survey benco|A—Haliday's Map, 181 1.
Office, Phoenix Park, Dublin, John O'Dono- 9 In the First Life of St. Comgall, as pub- van has given the varied orthography for this lished by the Bollandists, it is alluded to, as town, from ancient and modern authorities, "ad ostium fluvii, nomine Bice. " See quotedbyhim. Thesesheetsareintituled,
"Correspondence, &c. , concerning Names of Places, Antiquities, &c. , in the County Down. " The following is a digest : i. Bangor—Ecclesiastical Annals, 1623 ; His- toryoftheCountyofDown,1744; L'Abbe Ma-Geoghegan, 1758 : Hibernise Antiquse et Novoe Nomenclatura, 1771 ; Beaufort's Memoir, 1792 : Seward, 1795 ; Archdall's Monasticon, 1786; Dubourdieu's Stat. Sur- vey, 1802 ; Carlisle, 1810 ; County Map, l8n ; Abstract of Population, 1821 ; Post Office List, 1825 ; Lanigan's Ecclesiastical History, 1829 ; Irish Ecclesiastical Register, 1830. 2. Banchor—Sir James Ware, 1600; L'Abbe Ma-Geoghegan, 1758; Hiberniae
num. 7, p. 581.
'° The fullest and best account of this re-
nowned place, and of its associations, we now possess, is in the Rev. James O'Laverty's learned work, " An Historical Account of the Diocese of Down and Connor, Ancient and Modern," vol. ii. , under the heading, The United Parish of Newtownards, Bangor, Donaghadee, and^Comber, pp. i to 155, and Appendix, pp. iv. to xlv. , containing a re- print of the Bobbio Missal and the Antipho- narium Benchorense.
" After citing the Latin, from our saint's Second Life, the Rev. Dr. Lanigan observes " By regione UlLorum in this passage is to be understood the particular territory anciently
—:
LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. 159
strand of Inver Bece * or Inver Becne s— had its name from a curious legend. ^ On its banks did St. Comgall resolve to found his great establishment, which in after times became so renowned as the monastery of Bennchor. 7 This was the place, now known as the town of Bangor,^ situated at the inden- tation of a bay,5 bearing the same name. '° The parish to which it gives title is within the baronies of Castlereagh and Ards, in the most northern part of the present county of Down, This locality was in the region, called Altitudo Ultorum "—now known as Ards '^—in the province of Ulster. In a short time, so great a number of monks flocked to his establishment, that they
p. 67.
'-Sir James Ware renders it, "nunc
vulgo The Ardes. "—" De Hibernia et Anti- quitatibus ejus," cap. xxvi. , p. 180.
'3 Such is the account of St. Bernard, in his " Vita S. Malachire," cap. vi. , sect. 12, of the Benedictine edition.
••t See " Acta Sanctorum," tomus ii. , x. Maii. Vita S. Comgalli, in MS. antiquae et editione Sirini, cap. i. , n. 12, p- 583.
'5 See it shown, on the " Ordnance Survey
Townland Maps for the County of Down,"
sheets i, 2, 3, 5,6,
'6 Containing 4,069 acres, 3 roods, i perch. '7 This portion contains 12,957 acres, I
rood, I perch—the total area of the parish be- ing 17,027 acres, o rood, and 2 perches. See the Name Sheets of Bangor Parish, County of Down, now in the Ordnance Survey Office, Phccnix Park, Dublin. —
"8 He says "a pulchro choro. " " De and 558.
Hibernia, et Antiquitatibus ejus," cap. xxvi. , p. 180.
'9 The Rev. Dr. Lanigan shrewdly re- marks: "But if the name was originally Benchor, will this etymology be correct ? "
*' Ecclesiastical History of Ireland," vol. ii. , chap, x. , sect, xii. , n. 198, p. 66.
'"' See "Ancient and Present State of the County of Down," p. 64.
=Mn Harris Ware, the foundation of this monastery is placed at A. D. 555, vol. ii. , " Antiquities of Ireland," chap, xxxviii. , p. 265. Archdall has also the same date, in " Monasticon Hiberaicum," p. 106.
°* The Annals of Inisfallen state, that Bangor was founded in 557.
'9 The Rev. Dr. Lanigan remarks " From what has been seen concerning the
—:
i6o LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. [May io.
could not find accommodation in this monastery. Our saint thereupon was obh'ged to build other houses, not only in the northern province, but, even in other provinces of Ireland. Many thousand monks are said to have lived, under his rule and discipline. '3 Of all these houses, however, Bangor monas- tery was the most celebrated, and the largest ; and here, in course of time, a city grew around this hive of religious wisdom and sanctity. '* The parish of Bangor 's is bounded on the north, by Belfast Lough ; on the east, by Donoghadeeparish; onthesouth,byNewtownardsparish; andonthewest, by a portion of this latter parish, as likewise by that of Hollywood. The part of the parish,'^ in the barony of Lower Castlereagh, is divided into seven town- landsandbyapartofBangorBogtownland. Thatpart,'? inthebaronyof Ards, is divided into twenty-two townlands, and the remaining part of Bangor Bog townland. The Copeland Islands also belong to this part of the parish. Sir James Ware says, that the place got its name from a Beautiful Choir,'^ which is the same as Banchor, in Irish. '9 This statement has been repeated by Walter Harris, who states, that Bangor took its name, a Puldiro
Choro, or from its fair and white choir ; it being called so, owing to the elegance of the building, erected of lime and stone, which is said to have been the first of the sort, built in the province of Ulster. ^° However, this does not represent at all its original denomination. ^' The name Bangor is in reality a modification of Banagher, and the two forms of denomination are frequently exchanged. ^^ The root of the word seems to be Beanna^'^'i the Irish for " Horns," or local appearances, having the character of peaks, or crests of hills, or of mountains. According to some accounts, St. Comgall com- menced the foundation of a monastic institute and church, at this place, in the year 551 ^t or 552 ;'5 others have it, at 554,^^ ^^^^27 ^^^^^s ^^8,^9 559,30
called Ulidia, and by other provinces of -' Having recorded this statement of Ireland various districts in the northern Harris, the Rev. Mr. Reeves appositely re-
parts," &c. See " Ecclesiastical History of
Ireland," vol. ii. , chap, x. , sect, xii. , n. 201,
marks : " The building referred to is that which St. Bernard states was erected by Malachi; andthusbyaneventofthetwelfth century, Harris accounts for a name that existed in the sixth ! "—" Ecclesiastical Anti- quities of Down, Connor and Dromore," Appendix H, p. 199.
^' See what has been already stated, in vol. ii. of this work, at 28th of February, Art. i.
*3 In the Irish characters, written 'beAnnA.
-* See Colgan's "Acta Sanctorum Hiber- iiise," xxix. Januarii. Vita S. Gildse Badonici, Abbatis et Confessoris, &c. , n. 13, p. 192.
=5 At the year 552, " the church of Benn- char was founded, by Comhgall of Bcann- char," according to Dr. O'Donovan's "An- nals of the Four Masters," vol. i. , pp. l88, 189.
^* The erection of this church is en- tered in the Ulster Annals, at the years 554
Church at Bangor, County of Down.
be safer to aver, that its location could not have been very remote from the spot indicated by him. 35 It was known, in former times, as the Vale of Angels;36 nor, could such a designation fairly apply to the site in- dicated, since the Protestant church rises on a conspicu- ous eminence, which overlooks the town. The latter is spread along a narrow skirt of sea-coast.
Here, for fifty years, the holy su- perior ruled over his large community, with great sanctity, and keeping a most perfect monasticdis- cipline. He wrought many miracles, and some of these are
given, in different Acts, as published by the Bollandists. At one time, being in a retired place, after fasting for three
,
May io. ] LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. i6i
and 561.
3' Tlie primitive monastery here is said to have been in tlie grave- yard, now seen at Bangor ; and, a sHght depression there is thought to indi- cate that circular valhun, which once surrounded the building. Along its western site flows a stream, through the centre of the town. This turned the Abbot's mill, in former times, as has been conjectured. It passes an ancient well, overshadowed by a huge old thorn, and the water in it is popularly sup- posed to possess healing powers. 3^ A learned authority 33 has apparently referred the site of the ancient church, founded by St. Comgall, at Bangor, to the exact locale of the present Protestant church j34 but, perhaps, it might
whole days, he felt weak and thirsty; when a certain mendicant leper came to him, and seeking relief from his necessities. This man observed the saint
time that Comgall may have arrived at 3° According to Rev. Dr. O'Conor, Clonenagh, and the number of years which Bangor was founded in 555 or 559. See he is said to have spent there, the founda- " Rerum Hibernicarum Scriptores," tomus tion of Bangor cannot consistently with these ii. , Tigernaci Annales, n. 19, p. 129. At
and other circumstances, be carried fur- ther back than the year 558. "—•" Ecclesias- tical History of Ireland," vol, ii. , chap. x. sect, xii. , n. 199, p. 66.
the year 559, Ussher says, " Benchorensis Ecclesia in (jltonia fundata. " Index Chro- nologius, " Britannicarum Ecclesiavum An- tiquitates," p. 531. Elsewhere, he states,
See " An Historical Account of the Diocese of Down and Connor," vol. ii. , p. 124.
36 This was derived from the vision of St. Patrick, who beheld while on a hill a great number of angels descending from Heaven to a valley that was beneath it. See Colgan's " Trias Thaumaturga," Jocelyn's Sexta Vita S. Patricii, cap. xcviii. , p. 88.
'' Hisidentityhasnotbeenascertained,
^s
This allusion furnishes us with some idea of the manner in which monastic cells were formerly lighted, although the windows were probably apertures, unprotected from the admission of external air, especially dur- ing the day-time.
^' See "Acta Sanctorum," tomus ii. , x. Maii. Vita S. Comgalli, ex MS. antique et editione Sirini, cap. ii. , num. 13, 14, pp. 5S3, 5S4.
° Thus he says, in the poem which is thus translated:—*' Patrick of the fort of Macha loves," &c. :
33 In vol. iv. of this work, at the 8th of
April, in Article i. , treating about St. Cenn-
faoladh. Abbot of Bangor, some reasons are
givenforanothersite, theredescribed,as
being more probably the monastic residence,
in olden times. However, the Rev. James
O Laverty states, that it was there a more See " Martyrology of Donegal," edited by modem Augustinian monastery had stood. Rev. Drs. Todd and Reeves, p. 122, 123.
" Circa annum vero dlv. vel DLIX. Bean- chorensis Ecclesise fundationem," &c. Ibid. , cap. xvii. , p. 494.
3' In the Annals of Clonmacnoise, it is re- fcrred to the year 561.
3^ The Rev. James O'Laverty, who records the foregoing local features, adds, this " may be only the last remains of a tradition that St. Comgall, or one of his sainted successors, pronounced over it the benediction which is still preserved in the old Irish Missal found at Bobbio, which has been published by Mabillon. "—"Historical Account of the Diocese of Down and Connor, Ancient and Modern," vol. ii. , pp. 124, 125.
33 See the Rev. William Reeves' " Eccle- siastical Antiquities of Down, Connor and Dromore," p. 13, and n. (p), ibid,
^ It is represented in the accompanying illustration, draw on the spot by W iJliam F. Wakeman, and transferred by him to the wood, engraved by Mrs. Millard.
—
i62 LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. [May io*
engaged in prayer, with his eyes and hands directed towards Heaven. Having faith as to the result of a certain action, that man found himself cured from his leprosy. With great joy, he afterwards informed the saint about Avhat had occurred. Comgall desired him to give thanks to God, to go in peace, and to inform no person regarding what had happened. But this latter admonition was not observed, by the man, whose heart was too full of gratitude, for the favour he had received. One night, a certain young monk, named Meldan,37 came to St. Comgall, who was there in his cell, to relate something of im- portance. When Meldan approached, he saw the whole inner part of Com- gall's cell filled with a bright flame, which burst forth through the windows,^^ and with all the lustre of a noonday sun. The young man did not dare to approach, but signing himself with the cross, he retired ; and, on the follow- ing day, having a knowledge of what had occurred, Comgall called the monk to him. The holy superior requested Meldan to conceal during his life, what had been seen, on the previous night. As in the former instance, however, thisadmonitionwasnotobeyed. 39 CuimineofCoindoirestates,itwasevery Sunday only, that Comgall used to eat food. ''° However, such statement
must be understood to mean, that only on this day did he partake of a full meal, or take generous nourishment. One day, Comgall, with his own hands, was engaged in making a wooden coffin, in which the brethren were to be placed, when death approached. One of the monks, Enan,'*' by name, said, " Father, you do a good work for the brethren, about to repose in this coffin, since it must aid them to obtain salvation ; would that I were permitted to depart this life in it. " Comgall replied, " Be it so, brother, according to thy wish ; as, from this coffin thou shalt depart to Heaven. " It so happened, that brother was sent to a place, far distant from Bangor monastery, and while there, he died. However, St. Comgall ordered his body to be conveyed to Bangor ; where, through the prayers of our holy Abbot, the monk was restored to life. The resuscitated brother frequently told his fellow-monks
" Comhgall, head of Uladh, loves, Noble is every name that he named, Ablessingonthebodyofthesage, Every Sunday he used to eat. "
May io. ] LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS.
what he had seen and heard, after his first departure from hfe. " I was," said he, " brought towards Heaven, by two Angels, sent from God ; and, whilst on the way, behold other Angels came to meet us, saying, " Bear this soul to its body, for Comgall, God's servant, hath asked it. Therefore, bear it to Comgall, with whom the monk shall live, unto an old age. "'*^ He lived, for many subsequent years ; and, at the close of life, his soul ascended to Heaven, while his body reposed in that coffin, made by our saint.
Some thieves were in the habit of stealing vegetables and fruit, raised by the monks, who laboured with their hands, while praying with great fervour. 'is The monks complained to their Abbot, that the brethren and their guests were thus deprived of the produce procured by their labours. On the follow- ing night, Comgall made a sign of the cross over his garden. At the same time, he said, " O Omnipotent God, who art able to do all things, deprive of their sight those thieves, who enter here, that they may wander about inside of this garden, until induced to confess their guilt. " Accordingly, on that night, when those robbers entered the enclosure, they became blind ; and, they wandered about the garden, in ignorance of a place, where they might find an exit. At last, moved to penitence for their crime, they called for help, andthenbroughttheirill-acquiredstoretothemonks. Therobbersmadea public reparation for their crimes. Afterwards, becoming true penitents, and assuming the monastic habit, they embraced St. Comgairs rule. 44 St. Comgall is described in the Martyrology of Donegal,45 as being a man full of grace and of God's love, who fostered and educated very many other saints, as he kindled and lighted up an unquenchable fire of God's love, in their hearts and intheirminds. ^^ Aholyanchoriteandavenerableoldman,namedCritan,47 visited St. Comgall, at the Easter festival. While the Abbot was offering up the Holy Sacrifice of Mass, his visitor saw a bright vision of Angels. These celestial spirits sometimes touched the hands, mouth, and head, of our saint, as also the altar and chalice, while they joined in his benedictions. Feeling a sensation of thirst, and after a long fast, Critan desired in heart, that he might be able to allay this thirst, by taking some liquor, which had been first tasted by our saint. Through the spirit of prophecy, our Abbot knew the desires of his friend. Having ended the Holy Sacrifi. ce, Comgall entered the house, where having tasted some liquor, he called a servant, named Segenus. The saint then said to him, " Bear this liquor to the holy old man, Critan, whoisthirsty,andlethimdrinkwiththankstoGod. Saytohim,fromme, that he is a faithful and a patient man. " For this mark of our saint's atten- tion, Critan gave thanks to God-^^ A brother of the monastery, named Crimacthan,49 who was servant to the Abbot, having left the latter in his cell
He then retirfed to his own dormi-
past the baths. " "An Historical Account of the Diocese of Down and Connor, An- cient and Modern," vol. ii. , p. 129.
"* See "Acta Sanctorum," tomus ii. , x. Maii. Vita S. Comgalli, ex MS. antiquo et editione Sirini, cap. ii. , num. i6, p. 584.
^^ See Drs. Todd and Reeves' edition, pp. 122, 123.
** This is stated to be evident from the old books of Erin.
"'' Whohewasisnotknown.
"^ See "Acta Sanctorum," tomus ii. , x. Maii. Vita S. Comgalli, ex MS. antiquo et. brethren, or were tending the mill, which editione Sirini, cap. ii. , num. 17, p. 5S3. we may fairly suppose, was turned by the Also, Vita S. Comgall;, ex tribus Codicibus
stream, which now, sadly diminished, flows MSS. , num. 5, p. 581.
for the night, afterwards shut the door.
*' His identity is not known.
*^ See "Acta Sanctorum," tomus ii. . x. Maii. Vita S. Comgalli, ex MS. antiquo et editione Sirini, cap. ii. , num. 15, p. 584.
3 Speaking of the varied occupations of the monks living at Bangor, the Rev. James O'Laverty writes : " Some delivered in the schools those lectures that attracted the crowds of students, who, in turn, diffused gratuitously, in some distant land, the knowledge which they had gratuitously re-
while others were engaged in manu- facturing the various articles required by the
ceived
;
—
163
164
LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. [May io.
toiy. Wishing to see if the saint slept, he returned after a short interval. While standing at the door of the cell,5° he was enabled to discover that the saint slept ; but, in a short time, the whole apartment seemed brilliantly illuminated. Comgall arose immediately, when his face beamed with a wonderful beauty and witli a serene expression. He next engaged in prayer. Afterwards, our saint said to the brother without, " O Crimacthan, why art thou there ? Depart instantly, telling no person what thou hast seen ; and, for such presumption, on to-morrow, a penance shall be imposed on thee. " The brother departed, with much fear; and, on the day following, he was
subjected to a penance, in expiation for his fault. s'
Owing to the great number of disciples that embraced his institute, Comgall
has always been regarded as one of the principal fathers of our Irish Church. Hisnumerousmiracleshavegreatlyaddedtohiscelebrity. Ithasbeenobserved, that our saint drew up a particular rule for the direction of his institution, and thatitwasreckonedamongtheprincipalcodes5^prevailinginIreland. Comgall isnamedamongeightchiefframersofmonasticrules. 53 Theothersevenmen- tioned are St. Patrick, St. Brigid, St. Brendan, St. Kieran, St. Columkille, St. Molassius, and St. Adamnan.
* It is said, in Cormac's "Glossary," to
have been so named from Bece, a favourite
dog of Brecan, that was drowned with his
master, in that celebrated whirlpool, called herty's Ogygia, 1685. 7. Bennchair—Col- Coirebreacain or Corevrecan, " the caul- gan, 1647. 8. Benchorensis—O'Donnell, dron of Brecan. " It lies between Ireland lib. ii. , 24, 1520. 9. Bennchoria—Dr.
and the Island of Rathlin, being now called Sloghnamara, "the gulf of the sea. "
O'Conor, in Annals of the Four Masters, 1826. lo. Bennchorum—Hiberniae Antiquse etNovaeNomenclatura,1771. II. Bencho-
5 This name is said to have been derived
from Bicne, a servant to Conal Cearnach, rium Monast. —Colgan, 1647. 12. Ben- who was drowned there, while driving some chorense Coenobium—Ussher, Primordia. cows, which had been carried off, from Scot- 13. benncoijA—Cormac Mac Cuilenain, land. This incident is related in a romantic 908, Annals of the Four Masters, 1636.
story, which has for title Tain-bo-Fraich, or the " Spoil of the Cows of Froech," as found in the " Book of Leinster. "
14. benncAii\—Tigernach, 1088, Annals of Boyle. 15. ben'ochAH\—Tigernach, 1088, Annals of the Four Masters, 1636. 16.
* This is found in the Dinnseanchus or benchAij\—Tigernach, 1088. 17. benc4n\ " History of Forts," of which romantic tract, —Old Book of St. Caillin, 1516. 18. ben- there are various Irish copies, all of which choi|\—Annals of Inisfallen. 19. be<in- are still unpublished. chui|\—Annals of Ulster. 20. "bennchAi^
' At the dissolution, Bangor was found to Annals of Ulster, Annals of the Four Mas- be possessed of the temporalities and ters, 1636. 21. ben'ocAiA. 22. ben'oc^nA. spiritualities of thirty-four townlands, to- 23. beiTochui^A. 24. bennclniii\—Annals gether with the tithes of nine rectories or of the Four Masters, 1636. 25. beAnnchAiyv chapels. —Jeoffrey Keating, 1629. 26. beAnncAH\
** In some loose sheets, which the writer Duald Mc Firbis' Pedigrees, 1666. 27. has examined, at the Ordnance Survey benco|A—Haliday's Map, 181 1.
Office, Phoenix Park, Dublin, John O'Dono- 9 In the First Life of St. Comgall, as pub- van has given the varied orthography for this lished by the Bollandists, it is alluded to, as town, from ancient and modern authorities, "ad ostium fluvii, nomine Bice. " See quotedbyhim. Thesesheetsareintituled,
"Correspondence, &c. , concerning Names of Places, Antiquities, &c. , in the County Down. " The following is a digest : i. Bangor—Ecclesiastical Annals, 1623 ; His- toryoftheCountyofDown,1744; L'Abbe Ma-Geoghegan, 1758 : Hibernise Antiquse et Novoe Nomenclatura, 1771 ; Beaufort's Memoir, 1792 : Seward, 1795 ; Archdall's Monasticon, 1786; Dubourdieu's Stat. Sur- vey, 1802 ; Carlisle, 1810 ; County Map, l8n ; Abstract of Population, 1821 ; Post Office List, 1825 ; Lanigan's Ecclesiastical History, 1829 ; Irish Ecclesiastical Register, 1830. 2. Banchor—Sir James Ware, 1600; L'Abbe Ma-Geoghegan, 1758; Hiberniae
num. 7, p. 581.
'° The fullest and best account of this re-
nowned place, and of its associations, we now possess, is in the Rev. James O'Laverty's learned work, " An Historical Account of the Diocese of Down and Connor, Ancient and Modern," vol. ii. , under the heading, The United Parish of Newtownards, Bangor, Donaghadee, and^Comber, pp. i to 155, and Appendix, pp. iv. to xlv. , containing a re- print of the Bobbio Missal and the Antipho- narium Benchorense.
" After citing the Latin, from our saint's Second Life, the Rev. Dr. Lanigan observes " By regione UlLorum in this passage is to be understood the particular territory anciently
—:
LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. 159
strand of Inver Bece * or Inver Becne s— had its name from a curious legend. ^ On its banks did St. Comgall resolve to found his great establishment, which in after times became so renowned as the monastery of Bennchor. 7 This was the place, now known as the town of Bangor,^ situated at the inden- tation of a bay,5 bearing the same name. '° The parish to which it gives title is within the baronies of Castlereagh and Ards, in the most northern part of the present county of Down, This locality was in the region, called Altitudo Ultorum "—now known as Ards '^—in the province of Ulster. In a short time, so great a number of monks flocked to his establishment, that they
p. 67.
'-Sir James Ware renders it, "nunc
vulgo The Ardes. "—" De Hibernia et Anti- quitatibus ejus," cap. xxvi. , p. 180.
'3 Such is the account of St. Bernard, in his " Vita S. Malachire," cap. vi. , sect. 12, of the Benedictine edition.
••t See " Acta Sanctorum," tomus ii. , x. Maii. Vita S. Comgalli, in MS. antiquae et editione Sirini, cap. i. , n. 12, p- 583.
'5 See it shown, on the " Ordnance Survey
Townland Maps for the County of Down,"
sheets i, 2, 3, 5,6,
'6 Containing 4,069 acres, 3 roods, i perch. '7 This portion contains 12,957 acres, I
rood, I perch—the total area of the parish be- ing 17,027 acres, o rood, and 2 perches. See the Name Sheets of Bangor Parish, County of Down, now in the Ordnance Survey Office, Phccnix Park, Dublin. —
"8 He says "a pulchro choro. " " De and 558.
Hibernia, et Antiquitatibus ejus," cap. xxvi. , p. 180.
'9 The Rev. Dr. Lanigan shrewdly re- marks: "But if the name was originally Benchor, will this etymology be correct ? "
*' Ecclesiastical History of Ireland," vol. ii. , chap, x. , sect, xii. , n. 198, p. 66.
'"' See "Ancient and Present State of the County of Down," p. 64.
=Mn Harris Ware, the foundation of this monastery is placed at A. D. 555, vol. ii. , " Antiquities of Ireland," chap, xxxviii. , p. 265. Archdall has also the same date, in " Monasticon Hiberaicum," p. 106.
°* The Annals of Inisfallen state, that Bangor was founded in 557.
'9 The Rev. Dr. Lanigan remarks " From what has been seen concerning the
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i6o LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. [May io.
could not find accommodation in this monastery. Our saint thereupon was obh'ged to build other houses, not only in the northern province, but, even in other provinces of Ireland. Many thousand monks are said to have lived, under his rule and discipline. '3 Of all these houses, however, Bangor monas- tery was the most celebrated, and the largest ; and here, in course of time, a city grew around this hive of religious wisdom and sanctity. '* The parish of Bangor 's is bounded on the north, by Belfast Lough ; on the east, by Donoghadeeparish; onthesouth,byNewtownardsparish; andonthewest, by a portion of this latter parish, as likewise by that of Hollywood. The part of the parish,'^ in the barony of Lower Castlereagh, is divided into seven town- landsandbyapartofBangorBogtownland. Thatpart,'? inthebaronyof Ards, is divided into twenty-two townlands, and the remaining part of Bangor Bog townland. The Copeland Islands also belong to this part of the parish. Sir James Ware says, that the place got its name from a Beautiful Choir,'^ which is the same as Banchor, in Irish. '9 This statement has been repeated by Walter Harris, who states, that Bangor took its name, a Puldiro
Choro, or from its fair and white choir ; it being called so, owing to the elegance of the building, erected of lime and stone, which is said to have been the first of the sort, built in the province of Ulster. ^° However, this does not represent at all its original denomination. ^' The name Bangor is in reality a modification of Banagher, and the two forms of denomination are frequently exchanged. ^^ The root of the word seems to be Beanna^'^'i the Irish for " Horns," or local appearances, having the character of peaks, or crests of hills, or of mountains. According to some accounts, St. Comgall com- menced the foundation of a monastic institute and church, at this place, in the year 551 ^t or 552 ;'5 others have it, at 554,^^ ^^^^27 ^^^^^s ^^8,^9 559,30
called Ulidia, and by other provinces of -' Having recorded this statement of Ireland various districts in the northern Harris, the Rev. Mr. Reeves appositely re-
parts," &c. See " Ecclesiastical History of
Ireland," vol. ii. , chap, x. , sect, xii. , n. 201,
marks : " The building referred to is that which St. Bernard states was erected by Malachi; andthusbyaneventofthetwelfth century, Harris accounts for a name that existed in the sixth ! "—" Ecclesiastical Anti- quities of Down, Connor and Dromore," Appendix H, p. 199.
^' See what has been already stated, in vol. ii. of this work, at 28th of February, Art. i.
*3 In the Irish characters, written 'beAnnA.
-* See Colgan's "Acta Sanctorum Hiber- iiise," xxix. Januarii. Vita S. Gildse Badonici, Abbatis et Confessoris, &c. , n. 13, p. 192.
=5 At the year 552, " the church of Benn- char was founded, by Comhgall of Bcann- char," according to Dr. O'Donovan's "An- nals of the Four Masters," vol. i. , pp. l88, 189.
^* The erection of this church is en- tered in the Ulster Annals, at the years 554
Church at Bangor, County of Down.
be safer to aver, that its location could not have been very remote from the spot indicated by him. 35 It was known, in former times, as the Vale of Angels;36 nor, could such a designation fairly apply to the site in- dicated, since the Protestant church rises on a conspicu- ous eminence, which overlooks the town. The latter is spread along a narrow skirt of sea-coast.
Here, for fifty years, the holy su- perior ruled over his large community, with great sanctity, and keeping a most perfect monasticdis- cipline. He wrought many miracles, and some of these are
given, in different Acts, as published by the Bollandists. At one time, being in a retired place, after fasting for three
,
May io. ] LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. i6i
and 561.
3' Tlie primitive monastery here is said to have been in tlie grave- yard, now seen at Bangor ; and, a sHght depression there is thought to indi- cate that circular valhun, which once surrounded the building. Along its western site flows a stream, through the centre of the town. This turned the Abbot's mill, in former times, as has been conjectured. It passes an ancient well, overshadowed by a huge old thorn, and the water in it is popularly sup- posed to possess healing powers. 3^ A learned authority 33 has apparently referred the site of the ancient church, founded by St. Comgall, at Bangor, to the exact locale of the present Protestant church j34 but, perhaps, it might
whole days, he felt weak and thirsty; when a certain mendicant leper came to him, and seeking relief from his necessities. This man observed the saint
time that Comgall may have arrived at 3° According to Rev. Dr. O'Conor, Clonenagh, and the number of years which Bangor was founded in 555 or 559. See he is said to have spent there, the founda- " Rerum Hibernicarum Scriptores," tomus tion of Bangor cannot consistently with these ii. , Tigernaci Annales, n. 19, p. 129. At
and other circumstances, be carried fur- ther back than the year 558. "—•" Ecclesias- tical History of Ireland," vol, ii. , chap. x. sect, xii. , n. 199, p. 66.
the year 559, Ussher says, " Benchorensis Ecclesia in (jltonia fundata. " Index Chro- nologius, " Britannicarum Ecclesiavum An- tiquitates," p. 531. Elsewhere, he states,
See " An Historical Account of the Diocese of Down and Connor," vol. ii. , p. 124.
36 This was derived from the vision of St. Patrick, who beheld while on a hill a great number of angels descending from Heaven to a valley that was beneath it. See Colgan's " Trias Thaumaturga," Jocelyn's Sexta Vita S. Patricii, cap. xcviii. , p. 88.
'' Hisidentityhasnotbeenascertained,
^s
This allusion furnishes us with some idea of the manner in which monastic cells were formerly lighted, although the windows were probably apertures, unprotected from the admission of external air, especially dur- ing the day-time.
^' See "Acta Sanctorum," tomus ii. , x. Maii. Vita S. Comgalli, ex MS. antique et editione Sirini, cap. ii. , num. 13, 14, pp. 5S3, 5S4.
° Thus he says, in the poem which is thus translated:—*' Patrick of the fort of Macha loves," &c. :
33 In vol. iv. of this work, at the 8th of
April, in Article i. , treating about St. Cenn-
faoladh. Abbot of Bangor, some reasons are
givenforanothersite, theredescribed,as
being more probably the monastic residence,
in olden times. However, the Rev. James
O Laverty states, that it was there a more See " Martyrology of Donegal," edited by modem Augustinian monastery had stood. Rev. Drs. Todd and Reeves, p. 122, 123.
" Circa annum vero dlv. vel DLIX. Bean- chorensis Ecclesise fundationem," &c. Ibid. , cap. xvii. , p. 494.
3' In the Annals of Clonmacnoise, it is re- fcrred to the year 561.
3^ The Rev. James O'Laverty, who records the foregoing local features, adds, this " may be only the last remains of a tradition that St. Comgall, or one of his sainted successors, pronounced over it the benediction which is still preserved in the old Irish Missal found at Bobbio, which has been published by Mabillon. "—"Historical Account of the Diocese of Down and Connor, Ancient and Modern," vol. ii. , pp. 124, 125.
33 See the Rev. William Reeves' " Eccle- siastical Antiquities of Down, Connor and Dromore," p. 13, and n. (p), ibid,
^ It is represented in the accompanying illustration, draw on the spot by W iJliam F. Wakeman, and transferred by him to the wood, engraved by Mrs. Millard.
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i62 LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. [May io*
engaged in prayer, with his eyes and hands directed towards Heaven. Having faith as to the result of a certain action, that man found himself cured from his leprosy. With great joy, he afterwards informed the saint about Avhat had occurred. Comgall desired him to give thanks to God, to go in peace, and to inform no person regarding what had happened. But this latter admonition was not observed, by the man, whose heart was too full of gratitude, for the favour he had received. One night, a certain young monk, named Meldan,37 came to St. Comgall, who was there in his cell, to relate something of im- portance. When Meldan approached, he saw the whole inner part of Com- gall's cell filled with a bright flame, which burst forth through the windows,^^ and with all the lustre of a noonday sun. The young man did not dare to approach, but signing himself with the cross, he retired ; and, on the follow- ing day, having a knowledge of what had occurred, Comgall called the monk to him. The holy superior requested Meldan to conceal during his life, what had been seen, on the previous night. As in the former instance, however, thisadmonitionwasnotobeyed. 39 CuimineofCoindoirestates,itwasevery Sunday only, that Comgall used to eat food. ''° However, such statement
must be understood to mean, that only on this day did he partake of a full meal, or take generous nourishment. One day, Comgall, with his own hands, was engaged in making a wooden coffin, in which the brethren were to be placed, when death approached. One of the monks, Enan,'*' by name, said, " Father, you do a good work for the brethren, about to repose in this coffin, since it must aid them to obtain salvation ; would that I were permitted to depart this life in it. " Comgall replied, " Be it so, brother, according to thy wish ; as, from this coffin thou shalt depart to Heaven. " It so happened, that brother was sent to a place, far distant from Bangor monastery, and while there, he died. However, St. Comgall ordered his body to be conveyed to Bangor ; where, through the prayers of our holy Abbot, the monk was restored to life. The resuscitated brother frequently told his fellow-monks
" Comhgall, head of Uladh, loves, Noble is every name that he named, Ablessingonthebodyofthesage, Every Sunday he used to eat. "
May io. ] LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS.
what he had seen and heard, after his first departure from hfe. " I was," said he, " brought towards Heaven, by two Angels, sent from God ; and, whilst on the way, behold other Angels came to meet us, saying, " Bear this soul to its body, for Comgall, God's servant, hath asked it. Therefore, bear it to Comgall, with whom the monk shall live, unto an old age. "'*^ He lived, for many subsequent years ; and, at the close of life, his soul ascended to Heaven, while his body reposed in that coffin, made by our saint.
Some thieves were in the habit of stealing vegetables and fruit, raised by the monks, who laboured with their hands, while praying with great fervour. 'is The monks complained to their Abbot, that the brethren and their guests were thus deprived of the produce procured by their labours. On the follow- ing night, Comgall made a sign of the cross over his garden. At the same time, he said, " O Omnipotent God, who art able to do all things, deprive of their sight those thieves, who enter here, that they may wander about inside of this garden, until induced to confess their guilt. " Accordingly, on that night, when those robbers entered the enclosure, they became blind ; and, they wandered about the garden, in ignorance of a place, where they might find an exit. At last, moved to penitence for their crime, they called for help, andthenbroughttheirill-acquiredstoretothemonks. Therobbersmadea public reparation for their crimes. Afterwards, becoming true penitents, and assuming the monastic habit, they embraced St. Comgairs rule. 44 St. Comgall is described in the Martyrology of Donegal,45 as being a man full of grace and of God's love, who fostered and educated very many other saints, as he kindled and lighted up an unquenchable fire of God's love, in their hearts and intheirminds. ^^ Aholyanchoriteandavenerableoldman,namedCritan,47 visited St. Comgall, at the Easter festival. While the Abbot was offering up the Holy Sacrifice of Mass, his visitor saw a bright vision of Angels. These celestial spirits sometimes touched the hands, mouth, and head, of our saint, as also the altar and chalice, while they joined in his benedictions. Feeling a sensation of thirst, and after a long fast, Critan desired in heart, that he might be able to allay this thirst, by taking some liquor, which had been first tasted by our saint. Through the spirit of prophecy, our Abbot knew the desires of his friend. Having ended the Holy Sacrifi. ce, Comgall entered the house, where having tasted some liquor, he called a servant, named Segenus. The saint then said to him, " Bear this liquor to the holy old man, Critan, whoisthirsty,andlethimdrinkwiththankstoGod. Saytohim,fromme, that he is a faithful and a patient man. " For this mark of our saint's atten- tion, Critan gave thanks to God-^^ A brother of the monastery, named Crimacthan,49 who was servant to the Abbot, having left the latter in his cell
He then retirfed to his own dormi-
past the baths. " "An Historical Account of the Diocese of Down and Connor, An- cient and Modern," vol. ii. , p. 129.
"* See "Acta Sanctorum," tomus ii. , x. Maii. Vita S. Comgalli, ex MS. antiquo et editione Sirini, cap. ii. , num. i6, p. 584.
^^ See Drs. Todd and Reeves' edition, pp. 122, 123.
** This is stated to be evident from the old books of Erin.
"'' Whohewasisnotknown.
"^ See "Acta Sanctorum," tomus ii. , x. Maii. Vita S. Comgalli, ex MS. antiquo et. brethren, or were tending the mill, which editione Sirini, cap. ii. , num. 17, p. 5S3. we may fairly suppose, was turned by the Also, Vita S. Comgall;, ex tribus Codicibus
stream, which now, sadly diminished, flows MSS. , num. 5, p. 581.
for the night, afterwards shut the door.
*' His identity is not known.
*^ See "Acta Sanctorum," tomus ii. . x. Maii. Vita S. Comgalli, ex MS. antiquo et editione Sirini, cap. ii. , num. 15, p. 584.
3 Speaking of the varied occupations of the monks living at Bangor, the Rev. James O'Laverty writes : " Some delivered in the schools those lectures that attracted the crowds of students, who, in turn, diffused gratuitously, in some distant land, the knowledge which they had gratuitously re-
while others were engaged in manu- facturing the various articles required by the
ceived
;
—
163
164
LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. [May io.
toiy. Wishing to see if the saint slept, he returned after a short interval. While standing at the door of the cell,5° he was enabled to discover that the saint slept ; but, in a short time, the whole apartment seemed brilliantly illuminated. Comgall arose immediately, when his face beamed with a wonderful beauty and witli a serene expression. He next engaged in prayer. Afterwards, our saint said to the brother without, " O Crimacthan, why art thou there ? Depart instantly, telling no person what thou hast seen ; and, for such presumption, on to-morrow, a penance shall be imposed on thee. " The brother departed, with much fear; and, on the day following, he was
subjected to a penance, in expiation for his fault. s'
Owing to the great number of disciples that embraced his institute, Comgall
has always been regarded as one of the principal fathers of our Irish Church. Hisnumerousmiracleshavegreatlyaddedtohiscelebrity. Ithasbeenobserved, that our saint drew up a particular rule for the direction of his institution, and thatitwasreckonedamongtheprincipalcodes5^prevailinginIreland. Comgall isnamedamongeightchiefframersofmonasticrules. 53 Theothersevenmen- tioned are St. Patrick, St. Brigid, St. Brendan, St. Kieran, St. Columkille, St. Molassius, and St. Adamnan.
