^ This is Colgan's statement, for which we can find no
authority
; although, Fintan was either buried, or venerated, at this place, as some of our Martyrologists relate.
O'Hanlon - Lives of the Irish Saints - v2
See M.
Mignet's
654 LIVESOFTHEIRISHSAINTS. [February20.
your son,4° and Joseph,4i yQ^j. coimtrymaii, through God's mercy, enjoy good health, and may your Reverence learn, that all your friends, who live with us,'*^servetheLordinaneffectivemanner. Still,Iknownotwhatdissen-
tion may happen among us ; for, through diabolic instigation, some differ- ences have lately arisen, between King Charles and King Offa,43 so that commerce has been at a stand, as navigation has been interdicted on both sides. ^* Therearepersonswhosay,thatwearetobesenttothoseparts,to treat about peace ; but, I entreat your very holy prayers, that we may be strengthened the more, whether going or remaining. I know not how I have been to blame, because I have not deserved to receive your most welcome letters, for a long time ;'»5 however, I believe that I experience the very necessary prayers of your holiness, each day of my life. I sent to you, be- loved, some oW^ which now can scarcely be had in Britain, so that you might divide47 it among the bishops, for the utility o—f men or in honour of
God. I—
have also sent as a from gift,
Charles I entreat that
for him fifty sicles-^^ for the brethren as alms, and fifty sides of my own as an alms. To the southern brothers of Balthuminega,49 I have sent thirty sides, as the king's alms, and thirty as my own, with twenty sides from the Pater-familias of Areida,5° and twenty of my own as an alms, with three sides of pure silver, through as many anchorets, that all the brethren may pray for me, and for my Lord King Charles, that God may preserve him for the defence of His Church, and for the praise and glory of His name. May the Almighty Lord hear you praying for His holy Church, and cause you to advancehappilytoeternalsalvation. "^! Thecircumstancesofcountry,time,
<° From this expression, Colgan infers, A. D. DccLxxv. , pp. 278, 279.
that St. Alcuin had been the disciple of St. s This shows the existence of a previous
Colga. Yet, Dr. Lanigan thinks this very epistolary correspondence, the letters of
which seem unfortunately to have been lost, ^^ This would appear to have been olive-oil
used for sacramental purposes.
•*7 This seems to indicate, that the restric-
4' From the Irish Annals, Colgan gives
the names of many so-called, about this
time. He holds it, as most probable, that
the person here named may have been obtained from Gaul direct ; although the
inconclusive, since, it does not appear, that Alcuin had ever been in Ireland. See "Ecclesiastical History of Ireland," vol. iii. , chap, xx. , sect, v. , n. 42, p. 231.
Joseph Ua Cearnaigh, Abbot of Clonmac- noise, and one of the Kianachta Breagli, whose death is recorded at a. d. 789 nr/6^ 794, in Dr. O'Donovan's "Annals of the Four Masters," vol. i. , pp. 396, 397.
4^ These expressions refer, doubtless, to
numbers of the Irishmen, who were living
then in France. Dr. Lanigan is of opinion, Ware, vol. iii,, The Writers of Ireland, that either through Joseph, who it appears book i,, chap, v. , n. A, p. 51. IJut, the
had studied under Colcu, or through those other friends alluded to in the text, Alcuin learned so greatly to esteem our saint, that an epistolary correspondence took place be- tween these two great men. See "Eccle- siastical History of Ireland," vol. iii. , chap. XX. , sect. v. n. 43, p. 231.
^3 the and in the He ruled over Mercians,
latter half of the eighth century, he raised
them to a greater degree of real power, than Mercia had held, even during the momen- tary dominion of Penda, See Edward A.
vol, i. , chap, ii,, p, 39.
* To this allusion is made by Matthew of
He suggests, that Bailechuinnigh might be read instead of it. This be either
Freeman's "
— towns and churches to be found in the diocese of Ossory, and in the southern part of Ireland. This, however, he only throws
of the Norman Con- quest of England, its causes and results,"
out, as a loose The modern conjecture.
names of both these latter places are Kil- kenny and Aghaboe. However, Dr. Lani« gan is of opinion, that Baldhuinega, "the
History
Westminster. See "Flores Historiarum," town" or "place of Dhuninega," was
King
you pray
tions then placed upon vessels, prevented the Saxons and Francks from that free inter-
change of goods, whereby olive-oil could be
friendly relations existing between the Scots
and Gauls did not prevent the exchange of
this or any other commodity.
^^ This was an old Jewish coin, said to be
worth, when in silver, each, about two
side's relative value was no doubt greater in
the time of Charlemagne.
^9 Colgan remarks, that as he cannot find
a place similarly named, in either Ireland, England or Scotland, he thinks we may set this word down as the error of some copyist.
shillings and sixpence of our money ; when in gold, about fifteen shillings. See Harris*
might Kill-Channigh or Achadhbo-Channigh
February 21. ] LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. 655
name, piety and learning, induce Colgan to believe, the present St. Colga, must have been St. Alcuin's correspondent. This fact alone—if well estab- lished—must prove him to have attained even an European celebity. How- ever, other holy men of his name, in Ireland, lived contemporaneously with him. 52 There is a simple entry, Colgu Mac h. Dunechda, found in the Martyrology of Tallagh,53 at the 20th of February. Marianus O'Gorman has a like notice, at this particular date. In a similar manner, the Martyrology of Donegal54 registers on this day, Colga Mac Ua Duinechda,55 />. Lector of Cluain-mac-nois. This is likely to have been the day of his death, and the year is variedly set down, as a. d. 789, 791, or 794. Thus, in close contact with our authentic Annals, and in a great scholar's correspondence, as also in his own preserved works, we are taken from the dreamland of fable ; and, we find the portraiture of the inner as of the outer life, which discloses this saint to have been no mythic personage of romance.
Article IX. —Reputed Translation of St. Gall's Relics, Switzer- land. Dempster^ notes, at the 20th of February, the festival of St. Gall,* Eremite, Abbot and Apostle, in Helvetia. s Ado, Galesinus, Hermann
Greuen, Wion and Ferrarius, have the entry of some festival, in his honour, at this same date. Colgan-* and the Bollandists^ also notice it. A manu- script Florarius places the Translation of his Relics, at this day ; while, in like manner, his feast is to be found in the chief Martyrologies written and printed. ^
Ciuent! )-'4fir! dt Bap of jfrtruari? *
ARTICLE I. —ST. COLMAN, BISHOP AND CONFESSOR OF ARD-BO, COUNTY OF TYRONE.
[PROBABLY IN THE SIXTH CENTURY. '^
saints are exact in all the duties of their calling, as being obliged to
THE an account one give day
to that
great Master,
who has allotted to each
the same as Eismore, the old Irish name for
whichwas or "A Dunsginne Dunsginna,
going epistle, from the Cottonian Library,
copyist, unacquainted with the Irish Ian- guage, might have easily made a mistake in
atOxford. See "ActaSanctonmi Colgan's
Hibernise," xx. Feljruarii, nn. I to i8, p.
380.
5= At this has noted a very date, Colgan
St. Colgo or Colgan, Abbot of Kill- Colgan, in Connaught, as also a Blessed Colgo or
Colgan, son to Kellach. See ibid. , pp. 380 to 382, Yet, there is no warrant for their festivals being so placed. As they are mentioned in St. Columkille's Life, at the 9th of June, the reader may find there a more particular account of them.
53 Edited by Rev. Dr. Kelly, p. xvi.
S4 Edited by Drs. Todd and Reeves, pp.
writing this name. "—
tory of Ireland," vol. iii. , chap, xx. , sect. v. , n. 45, p. 232. Dr. Lanigan considers, moreover, that as Lismore was a great place of resort for English students, so it was pro- bable, that Alcuin's reason for sending money to that establishment was to show his gratitude for the attention bestowed on his countrymen there residing.
5° Colgan supposes the original word here
should be Aredii, instead of Areidae, in the
document, as published. He thinks, too, the Pater-familias must have been the Abbot of St. Aredius' monastery, which was a former name for the of in
54, 55.
S5 in a note Dr. Todd says, at this word,
monastery Attane, the diocese of Limoges, in France, as stated
' Marianvocat * MarianO'Gorman Caolcu,'
calls him Caolchu. ' But in the Brussels MS. of M. O'Gorman as copied by Mr. Curry, the name is written Colchu. "
by Claude Robert, in his catalogue of the
bishops, belonging to that See.
5" Ussher obtained his copy of the fore-
"Ecclesiastical His-
Duinechda—"The later hand inserts here,
6s6 LIVESOFTHEIRISHSAINTS. [February21.
one that respective station in life he is destined to fill. Notices regarding this holy bishop will be found, at the i8th of the present month. The Bol- landists record him, likewise, at this date. '' Fuller in detail, than we have already given his genealogy, is the following pedigree : St. Colman of Ard-bo was the son of Aedh, son to Guaire, son of Amalgaidh, son to Muiredach, son of Carthann, son to Ere, son of Echaidh, son of Colla Uais, son of Eochaidh Domlenn, son to Cairbre Liifecar, according to the Sanctilogic
" Colman Airdi bo for bru Locha Eachach" is set in the Genealogy. do^vn,
Martyrology of Tallagh,"^ at the 21st of February. This place, now called Arboe, is in the county of Londonderry,3 according to William M. Hennessy.
Yet, its locality must be sought for, rather near Lough Neagh, in the county ofTyrone. Onitswesternshorearetheruinsofanancientabbey,aswe
Ancient Cross of Arboe.
are told, which form an interesting, and a picturesque feature ; while, the walls of an old church are yet standing. 4 However, the remains at Arboe are very insignificant. Yet, there is a richly-carved cross, containing in various compartments several emblematical figures. It stands on a double- gradated pedestal ; and, on the front centre, there is a representation of the
Article IX. —* See "Menologium Sco- ticum. "
ruani xx. Among the pretermitted saints, p. 170.
ibid.
Article i. —* See "Acta Sanctorum,"
tomus iii. , Februariixxi. Among the pre* termittcd saints, p. 234.
= For full of this particulars
^ See
great Apostle, the reader is referred to his Life, at the 1 6th
of October.
3 See Bishop Forbes' '* Kalendars of the
Scottish Saints," p. 192.
^ See "Acta Sanctorum Hibemia:," xx.
Februarii. De S. Galli Abbatis Monasterii Sangallensis Translatione, pp. 382 to 383.
=
Edited by Rev. Dr. Kelly, p. xvi.
5 See
*•
Acta Sanctorum," tomus iii. , Feb.
Topographical Dictiolial^
3 Appended in his
logy of Donegal. " * **
copy
of the *'
Martyro*
See Lewis'
of Ireland," vol. i. , p. 39.
February 21. ] LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. 657
crucifixion, with accessory figures present at this solemn scene. We are not aware, that the other figures have been, as yet, described. Under the arms
of the cross, there is a raised compartment, with graceful interlacings on the entablature. One of the upper circular quarter-bands of the crossed arms is
broken away : otherwise, this most elegant Irish cross is tolerably perfect. s We read in the Calendar of Cashel, and in the Martyrologies of Maguire and of Donegal,^ as having a festival at this date, Colman of Ard-bo, on the margin of Loch Eachach, in Ulster.
ArticleII. —St. Fintan,AbbotandBishopofClonfert. [Probably in the Sixth Century? ^ Although ruling over many churches and monasteries, according to our native Martyrologists, this saint has not been distinguished, in any biographies or Acts, whereby some doubts regarding him could more easily be dissipated. ^ Colgan has an unsatisfactory account, at the 21st of February. So, likewise, do the Bollandists appear to consider. ^ For, it is said, that he presided over Leamchuill church,3 in the Queen's County. This erection adjoined the barony of Fassaghdining, within the boundaries of Kilkenny County.
^ This is Colgan's statement, for which we can find no authority ; although, Fintan was either buried, or venerated, at this place, as some of our Martyrologists relate. We next find it mentioned, that he pre- sided over Clonenagh Monastery ; yet, it is difficult to reconcile this state- ment with subsequent accounts regarding him. s It has been asserted,^ that our saint flourished, towards the close of the sixth century. However, as this holy man cannot be confounded with Fintan Maeldubh,7 who, being succes- sor to the great St. Fintan,^ died in the year 625, nor with that other St. Fintan Munnu, who again succeeded, and who died in 634 f Dr. Lanigan suggests, that a chronological difficulty might be avoided, by supposing our saint to have been a at ^° Some authorities
simple monk, living Clonenagh.
state, that he either founded or governed a church at Cluain-aithchen, or
Clonkeen," in Leix. A very probable conjecture has been hazarded, that this latter place may have been mistaken for Clonenagh ; and, if such be the
case, a difficulty which arises by placing him at Clonenagh, might disappear. " Colgan gives us to understand, that having abandoned Ciuain-aithchin, ac- cording to a promise made,^3 he returned to Clonenagh Monastery, or, at
5 The accompanying drawing of it, by
William F. Wakeman, has been engraved
by Gregor Grey, Dublin.
nise," xvii. Februarii. Vita S. Fintani.
See Dr. Lanigan's Ecclesiastical His- tory of Ireland," vol. ii. chap, xii,, sect, xi. , n. 174, pp. 231, 232, and the Life of St. Fintan of Clonenagh, at the lythofFeb- ruary. Also, ibid. ^ chap, xiv. , sect, ii. , n. 17, pp. 305* 306.
reader is referred to St. Fintan's Life, chap,
i. , at the 17th of February.
I strongly suspect, that Cluainaith-
chin has been mistaken for Cluainedhnech
(Clonenagh). The Calendar of Cashel,
^
Edited by Drs. Todd and Reeves, pp.
54, 55.
Article ii. — See "Acta Sanctorum
Hiberniae," xxi. Februarii. Vita S. Fintani, p. 385.
= See "Acta Sanctorum," tomusiii. , Feb- ruarii xxi. Among the pretermitted saints, p. 235.
3 Leamchuill was situated on the confines of Leix and Ui-duach territories, in Lein- ster.
* See Archdall's "Monasticon Hiberni- cum," p. 595, and note (b).
5
" Primus enim Abbas de
which mentions it, has not F. Corach at Clonenagh ; and vice versa in most of those, that have Clonenagh, we do not find Cluain- aithchin. In this hypothesis the difficulty arising from placing him at Clonenagh will
Colgan says : Cluaineidhnech,"&c.
^ By Sir James Ware.
—Dr. " Ecclesiastica disappear. " Lanigan's
7
See his Life,
at the 20th of October.
^
^ See his Life, already given, at the 17th of the present month. He is thought to
History of Ireland," vol. ii. , chap, xiv. , sect, ii. , n. 18, p. 306.
^^ It is related, that when he first set out on his travels for Connaught, his monks
have died before A. D.
9 See
Colgan's
590.
" Acta Sanctorum Hiber-
Appendix, cap. iv,, p. 356. '° "
" For a fuller account of this place, the
'^ "
2U
65S LIVESOFTHEIRISHSAINTS. [February21
least, that he was buried, at this latter place. It is said, that our saint dis- charged the double office of Abbot and Bishop, over the monastery and see of Clonfert. ^4 Our Fintan became bishop, it has been supposed, after the death of Moenninnius. ^5 Nevertheless, Dr. Lanigan does not assert, that our saint was his immediate successor. ^^ to the same he
According authority, followed St. Brendan,'7 as Abbot ;'^ and, our saint was afterwards succeeded at
Clonfert,'9 by the Abbots, Colman, the son of Comgall, and by Senach Garbh. *° The Scholiast on St. ^ngus seems to intimate, that Fintan and his two suc-
cessors were — to the Order of St.
"
we do not read about any other community of monks, in this age, thus dis-
monks, belonging Benedict, called, nigri Domini"" apparently in allusion to their black habits
and,
were no Benedictines then in
1 6th of May.
Ordres Monastiques, Religieux et Militaires,
et des Congregations seculieres de Tun et de
I'autre sexe, qui ont ete etablies jusqu' k
present ; contenant leur origine, leur founda-
tion, leur progres, les evenemens les plus
considerables qui y sont arrives ; la deca-
dence des uns et leur suppression ; I'agran-
dissement des autres, par le moien des
differentes Reformes qui y ont ete introdui-
tes les vies de leurs Fondateurs et de leurs :
Reformateurs : avec des Figures qui repre- sentent tous les differens habillemens de ces OrdresetdecesCongregations. " Tomev. ,
part iv. , chap, ii. , p. 12.
=''* The first mention of black monks, in
England, occurs in the deed of King Ethel- bald for the Monastery of Croyland, A. D.
"
Historia," pp. 2 to 4. Gale's "Rerum Anglicarum Scriptorum
Veterum," tomus i.
=5 Thus, we find Irish Dubks, Latinized
in
'8
^GQtbid. , n. 6, p. 385.
'9 See Harris' vol. Ware,
Clonfert," p. 638.
i. ,
*' of Bishops
'°
Such, according to Colgan, is the state-
ment of the Scholiast on dingus, or rather
that of ^ngus himself, in comments affixed
to his Festilogy, at the 21st of February.
'*
Fintanus Corach, Senachus Garbh, &c,, Colmanus amicabilis filius Comgelli erant tres nigri Domini, successive unus post
Thus,
alterum, in eadem Abbatia succedentes. " '*
See Acta Sanctorum Hibernia;," xxi. Februarii, n. 7, p. 385.
^^ A Scholiast on St. that ^Engus says,
"nigri,"
English "swarthy persons;"
;
Colgan explains the foregoing words, as an But, he ought to have known, that there
nor in ^^ and that the black England,
tinguished by their garments. allusion to the Benedictine liabit.
the Scholiast on St. ^ngus, who uses those expressions, meant in that passage the colour of a religious dress, he must have written at a time when such colour became peculiar to some monks, in Ireland, perhaps as late as the eleventh century ; and, he supposed, that the then practice had been also that of the ancients. Perhaps, Dr. Lanigan urges, he alluded not to the habit, but to the colour of those persons' skins, as having been of a blackish hue. Nothing was more usual in Ireland, than to denominate men from their
"
Ireland,
habit was not prescribed to that order anywhere,^3 at that early period. ^+ If
complexion. ^5 But, the phrase,
domini," seems to indicate the Benedictine
murmured, but were consoled when he pro- mised in the name of God, or gave them a security, that dead or alive his body should
"
return to them. See Acta Sanctorum
Hibernise," xxi. Februarii. Vita S. Fintani,
p. 385.
'* Dr. Lanigan remarks: "The only
authority I can find for making Fintan Corach predecessor at Clonfert of Senach
and Colman is Aengus Kalideus, or rathei", I think (ahhough Colgan is of a different opinion), a later scholiast on Aengus. He does not call them bishops ; yet, as Fintan was one, it is probable that so were the two latter, who are omitted by Ware, but men- tioned by Harris (at Clonfert). "—" Eccle- . siastical History of Ireland," vol. ii. , chap. xiv. , sect, ii. , n. 22, p. 306.
*5 The feast of St. Moennennius or Moi-
nennus occurs, on the ist of March.
'^ "
See Colgan's Acta Sanctorum Hiber-
nias," xxi. Februarii, n, 5, p. 385.
'' The feast of St. Brendan is kept, on the
Fintan, Senach and Colman were three black Doms, " tres nigri Domini. "
^^
Thus, William of Malmesbury writes, that Wilfrid, Bishop of York, was the first, who established the true mode of celebrating the Pasch in Northumbria, the Scots being
ejected, who introduced Antiphonaries into the Church music, and who brought the Benedictine Rule among the monks of his diocese. See "De Gestis Pontificum Ang- lorum," lib. iii.
=^3
"
Saint Benoit n' a rien determine sur
la couleur de I'habillement ; mais il paroit
par d'anciennes peintures que la robe que
les anciens Benedictins pori—oient etoit blan- "
che, et le scapulaire noir. " Histoire des
716. See Ingulfs
as are they
February 21. ] LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS, 659
Order, the members of which, as also some other monks, began, in the middle
ages, to be distinguished from those of the mendicant orders, by the title, ""
Dominiis," contracted into Domnus. "^'^ It is thought very probable, that the Scholiast's intention was to exhibit Fintan, and his companions, as Bene- dictines, in which case we may suppose, that the writer belonged to that order. ^7 However, these conjectures of Dr. Lanigan are crude, and by no means conclusive, for the establishment of some opinions. In the first place,
*'
tres nigri Domini," should be referable to the complexions of three successive Abbots ; it would seem applicable solely to their habits. Secondly, why suppose a Benedictine monk capable of a downright forgery, even to procure a doubtful addition to the renown of his order ? Thirdly, is it not more probable, Colgan was correct in his opinion, as to the authorship of a passage in the MS. before him, than Dr. Lanigan, who did not see the original ? Again, if the commentary had been a pro- duction of Maguire, or the Scholiast on ^ngus, was the Dean of Cl®gher and the Canon of Armagh, or, whoever the writer had been, a Benedictine ? It
is said, that St. Fintan acquired the surname, Corach, either on account of
his continual charge of place and residence ; or, because of a promise, given
^ tohisbrethren,thatheshouldreturntoClonenaghf or,perhaps,because
of his melodious voice, by which he was distinguished for exactitude and de- votion, whereby he performed sacred chaunts in celebrating Divine praises. This he did, at the margin of a fountain, according to St. ^ngus. The word
"
it is not likely, that the phrase,
Corach, in the Irish idiom, signifies, under different respects, the ""
volatile,"
the giver of a promise," or the melodious. " It is said, our saint also in-
troduced, among his monks, a new style for singing psalms and sacred canti-
cles. ^9 In the discharge of different duties and religious pursuits, St. ^Engus
declares he prolonged life, to the unusual term of one hundred and thirty
years. 3° The exact date of his death is not known ; but, it is a conjecture
of Colgan, that he flourished, about the end of the sixth century. s^ Our
Martyrologists place his festival, at the 21st of February; thus, St. ^ngus
"
the Culdee in his
of Donegal,34 Duald Mac Firbis,35 enter Fintann Corach. In the ancient
Feilire,"32 the Martyrology of Tallagh,33 the Martyrology Martyrology of the Cathedral Church of the Holy Trinity, Dublin,36 t—he
festival of St. —
Fintan, Confessor, occurs,
at the ix. of the Kalends of March
2 1 St of February although it is not in the prefixed Calendar. Even, —
at the ix. of the March Kalends whichisthe21stofFebruary theKalendarofDrummondrelates,thatthe Natalis of St. Fintan was celebrated on this day, in Ireland. 37 A consider-
Scotland, he was reverenced. —Thus,
•
The calling of Findtan the right* eous
"Post contemptum mundi. "
On the appropriate feast, with
fervour,
Of Virilus [and] Jucundus.
33 Edited by Rev. Dr. Kelly, p. xvi.
34 Edited by Drs. Todd and Reeves, pp.
54, 55.
and again i^/««j, "whites," or, "fair-corn- plexionecj. "
^^
It is changed by the French into Dom, such as in the cases, Dom Mabillon, Dom Montfaucon, &c.
^7 See "Ecclesiastical History of Ire- land," vol. ii. , chap, xiv. , sect, ii. , n. 22, pp. 306, 307,
^^ The Calendar of Cashel assigns this as
the particular reason for his acquiring the name, Corach.
^9 This Maguire indicates, with hesitancy, n his Martyrology, at the 2 1st of February.
3° At the 2 1st of February.
3'
According to Harris' Ware, vol. i. , Bishops of Clonfert. "
C. ioc. kl. Co5Ai|\m priDCAin cIio^ai^
po]^c concempcuTn tnuiToi 1 -peiL CAin coLIahtoi
Ui|\uli 1iicutToi.
654 LIVESOFTHEIRISHSAINTS. [February20.
your son,4° and Joseph,4i yQ^j. coimtrymaii, through God's mercy, enjoy good health, and may your Reverence learn, that all your friends, who live with us,'*^servetheLordinaneffectivemanner. Still,Iknownotwhatdissen-
tion may happen among us ; for, through diabolic instigation, some differ- ences have lately arisen, between King Charles and King Offa,43 so that commerce has been at a stand, as navigation has been interdicted on both sides. ^* Therearepersonswhosay,thatwearetobesenttothoseparts,to treat about peace ; but, I entreat your very holy prayers, that we may be strengthened the more, whether going or remaining. I know not how I have been to blame, because I have not deserved to receive your most welcome letters, for a long time ;'»5 however, I believe that I experience the very necessary prayers of your holiness, each day of my life. I sent to you, be- loved, some oW^ which now can scarcely be had in Britain, so that you might divide47 it among the bishops, for the utility o—f men or in honour of
God. I—
have also sent as a from gift,
Charles I entreat that
for him fifty sicles-^^ for the brethren as alms, and fifty sides of my own as an alms. To the southern brothers of Balthuminega,49 I have sent thirty sides, as the king's alms, and thirty as my own, with twenty sides from the Pater-familias of Areida,5° and twenty of my own as an alms, with three sides of pure silver, through as many anchorets, that all the brethren may pray for me, and for my Lord King Charles, that God may preserve him for the defence of His Church, and for the praise and glory of His name. May the Almighty Lord hear you praying for His holy Church, and cause you to advancehappilytoeternalsalvation. "^! Thecircumstancesofcountry,time,
<° From this expression, Colgan infers, A. D. DccLxxv. , pp. 278, 279.
that St. Alcuin had been the disciple of St. s This shows the existence of a previous
Colga. Yet, Dr. Lanigan thinks this very epistolary correspondence, the letters of
which seem unfortunately to have been lost, ^^ This would appear to have been olive-oil
used for sacramental purposes.
•*7 This seems to indicate, that the restric-
4' From the Irish Annals, Colgan gives
the names of many so-called, about this
time. He holds it, as most probable, that
the person here named may have been obtained from Gaul direct ; although the
inconclusive, since, it does not appear, that Alcuin had ever been in Ireland. See "Ecclesiastical History of Ireland," vol. iii. , chap, xx. , sect, v. , n. 42, p. 231.
Joseph Ua Cearnaigh, Abbot of Clonmac- noise, and one of the Kianachta Breagli, whose death is recorded at a. d. 789 nr/6^ 794, in Dr. O'Donovan's "Annals of the Four Masters," vol. i. , pp. 396, 397.
4^ These expressions refer, doubtless, to
numbers of the Irishmen, who were living
then in France. Dr. Lanigan is of opinion, Ware, vol. iii,, The Writers of Ireland, that either through Joseph, who it appears book i,, chap, v. , n. A, p. 51. IJut, the
had studied under Colcu, or through those other friends alluded to in the text, Alcuin learned so greatly to esteem our saint, that an epistolary correspondence took place be- tween these two great men. See "Eccle- siastical History of Ireland," vol. iii. , chap. XX. , sect. v. n. 43, p. 231.
^3 the and in the He ruled over Mercians,
latter half of the eighth century, he raised
them to a greater degree of real power, than Mercia had held, even during the momen- tary dominion of Penda, See Edward A.
vol, i. , chap, ii,, p, 39.
* To this allusion is made by Matthew of
He suggests, that Bailechuinnigh might be read instead of it. This be either
Freeman's "
— towns and churches to be found in the diocese of Ossory, and in the southern part of Ireland. This, however, he only throws
of the Norman Con- quest of England, its causes and results,"
out, as a loose The modern conjecture.
names of both these latter places are Kil- kenny and Aghaboe. However, Dr. Lani« gan is of opinion, that Baldhuinega, "the
History
Westminster. See "Flores Historiarum," town" or "place of Dhuninega," was
King
you pray
tions then placed upon vessels, prevented the Saxons and Francks from that free inter-
change of goods, whereby olive-oil could be
friendly relations existing between the Scots
and Gauls did not prevent the exchange of
this or any other commodity.
^^ This was an old Jewish coin, said to be
worth, when in silver, each, about two
side's relative value was no doubt greater in
the time of Charlemagne.
^9 Colgan remarks, that as he cannot find
a place similarly named, in either Ireland, England or Scotland, he thinks we may set this word down as the error of some copyist.
shillings and sixpence of our money ; when in gold, about fifteen shillings. See Harris*
might Kill-Channigh or Achadhbo-Channigh
February 21. ] LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. 655
name, piety and learning, induce Colgan to believe, the present St. Colga, must have been St. Alcuin's correspondent. This fact alone—if well estab- lished—must prove him to have attained even an European celebity. How- ever, other holy men of his name, in Ireland, lived contemporaneously with him. 52 There is a simple entry, Colgu Mac h. Dunechda, found in the Martyrology of Tallagh,53 at the 20th of February. Marianus O'Gorman has a like notice, at this particular date. In a similar manner, the Martyrology of Donegal54 registers on this day, Colga Mac Ua Duinechda,55 />. Lector of Cluain-mac-nois. This is likely to have been the day of his death, and the year is variedly set down, as a. d. 789, 791, or 794. Thus, in close contact with our authentic Annals, and in a great scholar's correspondence, as also in his own preserved works, we are taken from the dreamland of fable ; and, we find the portraiture of the inner as of the outer life, which discloses this saint to have been no mythic personage of romance.
Article IX. —Reputed Translation of St. Gall's Relics, Switzer- land. Dempster^ notes, at the 20th of February, the festival of St. Gall,* Eremite, Abbot and Apostle, in Helvetia. s Ado, Galesinus, Hermann
Greuen, Wion and Ferrarius, have the entry of some festival, in his honour, at this same date. Colgan-* and the Bollandists^ also notice it. A manu- script Florarius places the Translation of his Relics, at this day ; while, in like manner, his feast is to be found in the chief Martyrologies written and printed. ^
Ciuent! )-'4fir! dt Bap of jfrtruari? *
ARTICLE I. —ST. COLMAN, BISHOP AND CONFESSOR OF ARD-BO, COUNTY OF TYRONE.
[PROBABLY IN THE SIXTH CENTURY. '^
saints are exact in all the duties of their calling, as being obliged to
THE an account one give day
to that
great Master,
who has allotted to each
the same as Eismore, the old Irish name for
whichwas or "A Dunsginne Dunsginna,
going epistle, from the Cottonian Library,
copyist, unacquainted with the Irish Ian- guage, might have easily made a mistake in
atOxford. See "ActaSanctonmi Colgan's
Hibernise," xx. Feljruarii, nn. I to i8, p.
380.
5= At this has noted a very date, Colgan
St. Colgo or Colgan, Abbot of Kill- Colgan, in Connaught, as also a Blessed Colgo or
Colgan, son to Kellach. See ibid. , pp. 380 to 382, Yet, there is no warrant for their festivals being so placed. As they are mentioned in St. Columkille's Life, at the 9th of June, the reader may find there a more particular account of them.
53 Edited by Rev. Dr. Kelly, p. xvi.
S4 Edited by Drs. Todd and Reeves, pp.
writing this name. "—
tory of Ireland," vol. iii. , chap, xx. , sect. v. , n. 45, p. 232. Dr. Lanigan considers, moreover, that as Lismore was a great place of resort for English students, so it was pro- bable, that Alcuin's reason for sending money to that establishment was to show his gratitude for the attention bestowed on his countrymen there residing.
5° Colgan supposes the original word here
should be Aredii, instead of Areidae, in the
document, as published. He thinks, too, the Pater-familias must have been the Abbot of St. Aredius' monastery, which was a former name for the of in
54, 55.
S5 in a note Dr. Todd says, at this word,
monastery Attane, the diocese of Limoges, in France, as stated
' Marianvocat * MarianO'Gorman Caolcu,'
calls him Caolchu. ' But in the Brussels MS. of M. O'Gorman as copied by Mr. Curry, the name is written Colchu. "
by Claude Robert, in his catalogue of the
bishops, belonging to that See.
5" Ussher obtained his copy of the fore-
"Ecclesiastical His-
Duinechda—"The later hand inserts here,
6s6 LIVESOFTHEIRISHSAINTS. [February21.
one that respective station in life he is destined to fill. Notices regarding this holy bishop will be found, at the i8th of the present month. The Bol- landists record him, likewise, at this date. '' Fuller in detail, than we have already given his genealogy, is the following pedigree : St. Colman of Ard-bo was the son of Aedh, son to Guaire, son of Amalgaidh, son to Muiredach, son of Carthann, son to Ere, son of Echaidh, son of Colla Uais, son of Eochaidh Domlenn, son to Cairbre Liifecar, according to the Sanctilogic
" Colman Airdi bo for bru Locha Eachach" is set in the Genealogy. do^vn,
Martyrology of Tallagh,"^ at the 21st of February. This place, now called Arboe, is in the county of Londonderry,3 according to William M. Hennessy.
Yet, its locality must be sought for, rather near Lough Neagh, in the county ofTyrone. Onitswesternshorearetheruinsofanancientabbey,aswe
Ancient Cross of Arboe.
are told, which form an interesting, and a picturesque feature ; while, the walls of an old church are yet standing. 4 However, the remains at Arboe are very insignificant. Yet, there is a richly-carved cross, containing in various compartments several emblematical figures. It stands on a double- gradated pedestal ; and, on the front centre, there is a representation of the
Article IX. —* See "Menologium Sco- ticum. "
ruani xx. Among the pretermitted saints, p. 170.
ibid.
Article i. —* See "Acta Sanctorum,"
tomus iii. , Februariixxi. Among the pre* termittcd saints, p. 234.
= For full of this particulars
^ See
great Apostle, the reader is referred to his Life, at the 1 6th
of October.
3 See Bishop Forbes' '* Kalendars of the
Scottish Saints," p. 192.
^ See "Acta Sanctorum Hibemia:," xx.
Februarii. De S. Galli Abbatis Monasterii Sangallensis Translatione, pp. 382 to 383.
=
Edited by Rev. Dr. Kelly, p. xvi.
5 See
*•
Acta Sanctorum," tomus iii. , Feb.
Topographical Dictiolial^
3 Appended in his
logy of Donegal. " * **
copy
of the *'
Martyro*
See Lewis'
of Ireland," vol. i. , p. 39.
February 21. ] LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. 657
crucifixion, with accessory figures present at this solemn scene. We are not aware, that the other figures have been, as yet, described. Under the arms
of the cross, there is a raised compartment, with graceful interlacings on the entablature. One of the upper circular quarter-bands of the crossed arms is
broken away : otherwise, this most elegant Irish cross is tolerably perfect. s We read in the Calendar of Cashel, and in the Martyrologies of Maguire and of Donegal,^ as having a festival at this date, Colman of Ard-bo, on the margin of Loch Eachach, in Ulster.
ArticleII. —St. Fintan,AbbotandBishopofClonfert. [Probably in the Sixth Century? ^ Although ruling over many churches and monasteries, according to our native Martyrologists, this saint has not been distinguished, in any biographies or Acts, whereby some doubts regarding him could more easily be dissipated. ^ Colgan has an unsatisfactory account, at the 21st of February. So, likewise, do the Bollandists appear to consider. ^ For, it is said, that he presided over Leamchuill church,3 in the Queen's County. This erection adjoined the barony of Fassaghdining, within the boundaries of Kilkenny County.
^ This is Colgan's statement, for which we can find no authority ; although, Fintan was either buried, or venerated, at this place, as some of our Martyrologists relate. We next find it mentioned, that he pre- sided over Clonenagh Monastery ; yet, it is difficult to reconcile this state- ment with subsequent accounts regarding him. s It has been asserted,^ that our saint flourished, towards the close of the sixth century. However, as this holy man cannot be confounded with Fintan Maeldubh,7 who, being succes- sor to the great St. Fintan,^ died in the year 625, nor with that other St. Fintan Munnu, who again succeeded, and who died in 634 f Dr. Lanigan suggests, that a chronological difficulty might be avoided, by supposing our saint to have been a at ^° Some authorities
simple monk, living Clonenagh.
state, that he either founded or governed a church at Cluain-aithchen, or
Clonkeen," in Leix. A very probable conjecture has been hazarded, that this latter place may have been mistaken for Clonenagh ; and, if such be the
case, a difficulty which arises by placing him at Clonenagh, might disappear. " Colgan gives us to understand, that having abandoned Ciuain-aithchin, ac- cording to a promise made,^3 he returned to Clonenagh Monastery, or, at
5 The accompanying drawing of it, by
William F. Wakeman, has been engraved
by Gregor Grey, Dublin.
nise," xvii. Februarii. Vita S. Fintani.
See Dr. Lanigan's Ecclesiastical His- tory of Ireland," vol. ii. chap, xii,, sect, xi. , n. 174, pp. 231, 232, and the Life of St. Fintan of Clonenagh, at the lythofFeb- ruary. Also, ibid. ^ chap, xiv. , sect, ii. , n. 17, pp. 305* 306.
reader is referred to St. Fintan's Life, chap,
i. , at the 17th of February.
I strongly suspect, that Cluainaith-
chin has been mistaken for Cluainedhnech
(Clonenagh). The Calendar of Cashel,
^
Edited by Drs. Todd and Reeves, pp.
54, 55.
Article ii. — See "Acta Sanctorum
Hiberniae," xxi. Februarii. Vita S. Fintani, p. 385.
= See "Acta Sanctorum," tomusiii. , Feb- ruarii xxi. Among the pretermitted saints, p. 235.
3 Leamchuill was situated on the confines of Leix and Ui-duach territories, in Lein- ster.
* See Archdall's "Monasticon Hiberni- cum," p. 595, and note (b).
5
" Primus enim Abbas de
which mentions it, has not F. Corach at Clonenagh ; and vice versa in most of those, that have Clonenagh, we do not find Cluain- aithchin. In this hypothesis the difficulty arising from placing him at Clonenagh will
Colgan says : Cluaineidhnech,"&c.
^ By Sir James Ware.
—Dr. " Ecclesiastica disappear. " Lanigan's
7
See his Life,
at the 20th of October.
^
^ See his Life, already given, at the 17th of the present month. He is thought to
History of Ireland," vol. ii. , chap, xiv. , sect, ii. , n. 18, p. 306.
^^ It is related, that when he first set out on his travels for Connaught, his monks
have died before A. D.
9 See
Colgan's
590.
" Acta Sanctorum Hiber-
Appendix, cap. iv,, p. 356. '° "
" For a fuller account of this place, the
'^ "
2U
65S LIVESOFTHEIRISHSAINTS. [February21
least, that he was buried, at this latter place. It is said, that our saint dis- charged the double office of Abbot and Bishop, over the monastery and see of Clonfert. ^4 Our Fintan became bishop, it has been supposed, after the death of Moenninnius. ^5 Nevertheless, Dr. Lanigan does not assert, that our saint was his immediate successor. ^^ to the same he
According authority, followed St. Brendan,'7 as Abbot ;'^ and, our saint was afterwards succeeded at
Clonfert,'9 by the Abbots, Colman, the son of Comgall, and by Senach Garbh. *° The Scholiast on St. ^ngus seems to intimate, that Fintan and his two suc-
cessors were — to the Order of St.
"
we do not read about any other community of monks, in this age, thus dis-
monks, belonging Benedict, called, nigri Domini"" apparently in allusion to their black habits
and,
were no Benedictines then in
1 6th of May.
Ordres Monastiques, Religieux et Militaires,
et des Congregations seculieres de Tun et de
I'autre sexe, qui ont ete etablies jusqu' k
present ; contenant leur origine, leur founda-
tion, leur progres, les evenemens les plus
considerables qui y sont arrives ; la deca-
dence des uns et leur suppression ; I'agran-
dissement des autres, par le moien des
differentes Reformes qui y ont ete introdui-
tes les vies de leurs Fondateurs et de leurs :
Reformateurs : avec des Figures qui repre- sentent tous les differens habillemens de ces OrdresetdecesCongregations. " Tomev. ,
part iv. , chap, ii. , p. 12.
=''* The first mention of black monks, in
England, occurs in the deed of King Ethel- bald for the Monastery of Croyland, A. D.
"
Historia," pp. 2 to 4. Gale's "Rerum Anglicarum Scriptorum
Veterum," tomus i.
=5 Thus, we find Irish Dubks, Latinized
in
'8
^GQtbid. , n. 6, p. 385.
'9 See Harris' vol. Ware,
Clonfert," p. 638.
i. ,
*' of Bishops
'°
Such, according to Colgan, is the state-
ment of the Scholiast on dingus, or rather
that of ^ngus himself, in comments affixed
to his Festilogy, at the 21st of February.
'*
Fintanus Corach, Senachus Garbh, &c,, Colmanus amicabilis filius Comgelli erant tres nigri Domini, successive unus post
Thus,
alterum, in eadem Abbatia succedentes. " '*
See Acta Sanctorum Hibernia;," xxi. Februarii, n. 7, p. 385.
^^ A Scholiast on St. that ^Engus says,
"nigri,"
English "swarthy persons;"
;
Colgan explains the foregoing words, as an But, he ought to have known, that there
nor in ^^ and that the black England,
tinguished by their garments. allusion to the Benedictine liabit.
the Scholiast on St. ^ngus, who uses those expressions, meant in that passage the colour of a religious dress, he must have written at a time when such colour became peculiar to some monks, in Ireland, perhaps as late as the eleventh century ; and, he supposed, that the then practice had been also that of the ancients. Perhaps, Dr. Lanigan urges, he alluded not to the habit, but to the colour of those persons' skins, as having been of a blackish hue. Nothing was more usual in Ireland, than to denominate men from their
"
Ireland,
habit was not prescribed to that order anywhere,^3 at that early period. ^+ If
complexion. ^5 But, the phrase,
domini," seems to indicate the Benedictine
murmured, but were consoled when he pro- mised in the name of God, or gave them a security, that dead or alive his body should
"
return to them. See Acta Sanctorum
Hibernise," xxi. Februarii. Vita S. Fintani,
p. 385.
'* Dr. Lanigan remarks: "The only
authority I can find for making Fintan Corach predecessor at Clonfert of Senach
and Colman is Aengus Kalideus, or rathei", I think (ahhough Colgan is of a different opinion), a later scholiast on Aengus. He does not call them bishops ; yet, as Fintan was one, it is probable that so were the two latter, who are omitted by Ware, but men- tioned by Harris (at Clonfert). "—" Eccle- . siastical History of Ireland," vol. ii. , chap. xiv. , sect, ii. , n. 22, p. 306.
*5 The feast of St. Moennennius or Moi-
nennus occurs, on the ist of March.
'^ "
See Colgan's Acta Sanctorum Hiber-
nias," xxi. Februarii, n, 5, p. 385.
'' The feast of St. Brendan is kept, on the
Fintan, Senach and Colman were three black Doms, " tres nigri Domini. "
^^
Thus, William of Malmesbury writes, that Wilfrid, Bishop of York, was the first, who established the true mode of celebrating the Pasch in Northumbria, the Scots being
ejected, who introduced Antiphonaries into the Church music, and who brought the Benedictine Rule among the monks of his diocese. See "De Gestis Pontificum Ang- lorum," lib. iii.
=^3
"
Saint Benoit n' a rien determine sur
la couleur de I'habillement ; mais il paroit
par d'anciennes peintures que la robe que
les anciens Benedictins pori—oient etoit blan- "
che, et le scapulaire noir. " Histoire des
716. See Ingulfs
as are they
February 21. ] LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS, 659
Order, the members of which, as also some other monks, began, in the middle
ages, to be distinguished from those of the mendicant orders, by the title, ""
Dominiis," contracted into Domnus. "^'^ It is thought very probable, that the Scholiast's intention was to exhibit Fintan, and his companions, as Bene- dictines, in which case we may suppose, that the writer belonged to that order. ^7 However, these conjectures of Dr. Lanigan are crude, and by no means conclusive, for the establishment of some opinions. In the first place,
*'
tres nigri Domini," should be referable to the complexions of three successive Abbots ; it would seem applicable solely to their habits. Secondly, why suppose a Benedictine monk capable of a downright forgery, even to procure a doubtful addition to the renown of his order ? Thirdly, is it not more probable, Colgan was correct in his opinion, as to the authorship of a passage in the MS. before him, than Dr. Lanigan, who did not see the original ? Again, if the commentary had been a pro- duction of Maguire, or the Scholiast on ^ngus, was the Dean of Cl®gher and the Canon of Armagh, or, whoever the writer had been, a Benedictine ? It
is said, that St. Fintan acquired the surname, Corach, either on account of
his continual charge of place and residence ; or, because of a promise, given
^ tohisbrethren,thatheshouldreturntoClonenaghf or,perhaps,because
of his melodious voice, by which he was distinguished for exactitude and de- votion, whereby he performed sacred chaunts in celebrating Divine praises. This he did, at the margin of a fountain, according to St. ^ngus. The word
"
it is not likely, that the phrase,
Corach, in the Irish idiom, signifies, under different respects, the ""
volatile,"
the giver of a promise," or the melodious. " It is said, our saint also in-
troduced, among his monks, a new style for singing psalms and sacred canti-
cles. ^9 In the discharge of different duties and religious pursuits, St. ^Engus
declares he prolonged life, to the unusual term of one hundred and thirty
years. 3° The exact date of his death is not known ; but, it is a conjecture
of Colgan, that he flourished, about the end of the sixth century. s^ Our
Martyrologists place his festival, at the 21st of February; thus, St. ^ngus
"
the Culdee in his
of Donegal,34 Duald Mac Firbis,35 enter Fintann Corach. In the ancient
Feilire,"32 the Martyrology of Tallagh,33 the Martyrology Martyrology of the Cathedral Church of the Holy Trinity, Dublin,36 t—he
festival of St. —
Fintan, Confessor, occurs,
at the ix. of the Kalends of March
2 1 St of February although it is not in the prefixed Calendar. Even, —
at the ix. of the March Kalends whichisthe21stofFebruary theKalendarofDrummondrelates,thatthe Natalis of St. Fintan was celebrated on this day, in Ireland. 37 A consider-
Scotland, he was reverenced. —Thus,
•
The calling of Findtan the right* eous
"Post contemptum mundi. "
On the appropriate feast, with
fervour,
Of Virilus [and] Jucundus.
33 Edited by Rev. Dr. Kelly, p. xvi.
34 Edited by Drs. Todd and Reeves, pp.
54, 55.
and again i^/««j, "whites," or, "fair-corn- plexionecj. "
^^
It is changed by the French into Dom, such as in the cases, Dom Mabillon, Dom Montfaucon, &c.
^7 See "Ecclesiastical History of Ire- land," vol. ii. , chap, xiv. , sect, ii. , n. 22, pp. 306, 307,
^^ The Calendar of Cashel assigns this as
the particular reason for his acquiring the name, Corach.
^9 This Maguire indicates, with hesitancy, n his Martyrology, at the 2 1st of February.
3° At the 2 1st of February.
3'
According to Harris' Ware, vol. i. , Bishops of Clonfert. "
C. ioc. kl. Co5Ai|\m priDCAin cIio^ai^
po]^c concempcuTn tnuiToi 1 -peiL CAin coLIahtoi
Ui|\uli 1iicutToi.
