224 He is called Colgu Mackealluigh, in
the Second Life, attributed to the Albot
" Trias Thaumaturga," Quarta Vita S.
the Second Life, attributed to the Albot
" Trias Thaumaturga," Quarta Vita S.
O'Hanlon - Lives of the Irish Saints - v6
41, pp.
77 to 79, andnn.
(a,b,c,d,e,f, g,h,i,k,1).
Celtic wakes and funerals had been a custom
of long standing.
179 Father John Colgan treats of him as a
saint at the 20th of February. See "Acta
Sanctorum Hibemiae," xx. Februarii. De B. i. , cap. 35. In this text, we have the Latin
cap. x. ,
Colga,
Cellach,
word is "Paruchia," according to fol. 11,
185 The subject of the present anecdote is mentioned again at cap. iii. , lib. 15, under similar circumstances.
form of the name Colga, while in the title we have the Irish in the genitive.
187 This is the reading in lib. iii. , cap. 15.
Colgen is the genitive of this name, where it
is again mentioned, in lib. i. , cap. 43. Thus,
too, Colgan, the hagiologist's name, is pro-
perly Mac Colgan, "son of Colgan. "
185 He is so called in Adamnan's text, lib.
See Vita S.
42o
LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. [June 9.
Weare
shehadbeenrearedat Ullenforatime. 20? Shehada Magh
daugh-
told, ter, likewise,
whowascalledFailinn. 208 This
20Q
2I°tothe inhabiting an extensive tract in the modern counties of GalwayandMayo. 2'2 TheirpedigreeisderivedfromFiachraFollsnathach,213 the son of Eochaidh Muighmheadhoin, King of Ireland, 214 and of his wife
Fiachrach tribe,
211
relating
Mongfmn.
In
this
anecdote,
and in
there is an admirable agreement of the biographer of St. Columba with the
Irish genealogies. He was asked by the holy Abbot, who had an illumina-
tion regarding the spiritual condition of Cuillenn, whether Colga knew if his
mother were religious or otherwise. 216 Then the monk very readily answered
him, that he had always thought his mother to be good, and to have borne
such a character. The saint then spoke the following prophetic words :
" now return to
21 ? and
ing her very grievous sin, which she does not wish to confess to any man. "
In obedience to these words, he sailed for Ireland. When Colgu interrogated his mother closely, though she at first denied, she at last confessed her sin. She wondered very much, at what had been revealed to Columba, regarding her. She therefore resolved to make a candid and a sincere confession of her sins, so that she might receive the grace of absolution, and thenceforward have her conscience disburdened from her concealed guilt. Doing penance,
according to the judgment of the saint, she was absolved. But, Colga, re- turning to the saint, remained with him for some days, and then, asking about
Quickly
Scotia,
interrogate your
mother
closely regard-
his own destiny, received this answer from the saint
which you love, you shall be head of a certain church 2l8 for many years, and when at length you shall see your butler 2I ? playing for a company of friends
at and supper,
twisting
:
the 22°inacircleroundhis 221 knowthat tap neck,
you
"Life of St. Columba," lib. i. , cap. 35, and nn. (a, b), pp. 65, 66.
194 This was probably a custom of some among the monastic brethren, who kept memoranda or note-books, as most intelli-
gent persons do at the present day,
'55 The Bollandists have thrown all the chapters of Adamnan into a continuous nar- rative, and they have discarded the tituli, so
the
cedent necessary to explain it, as in the pre- sent instance.
196 See Colgan's "Trias Thaumaturga," Quarta Vita S. Columbae, lib. ii. , cap. vii. , p. 352, and n. 8, p. 382 ; Quinta Vita S.
Columbse, lib. ii. , cap. lviii. , pp. 419, 420. ,97 The Greek word occurs sixteen times
in the New Testament
press what the Vulgate renders "benedictio,"
in the sense of a present. See Du Cange's "" Glossarium Mediae et Infirmae Latinitatis,
'" These are called "sudes," and were the stakes or uprights, which formed the skeleton of the hurdle wall.
ao° See Rev. Dr. Reeves' Adamnan's
"Life of St. Columba," lib. ii. , cap. 7.
p. 114.
as not to
dix ad Acta S. Colmani, — ii. ,
However, owing to this plan, they occasionally create adefectintheirtext,byomittingtheante-
248. Also called Colga sometimes con- found—edwithCailtanorCoelten,amonkat Iona and he is alluded to in the Second Volume of this work, at February 25th, Art.
interrupt
reading.
cap. p.
;
27, it is employed by the Septuagint to ex-
and in 1 Sam. xxv. ,
Acta Sanctorum Huber- ts From such account, we may fairly in- niae," xx. Februarii. De S. Colgo sive fer, that many houses were built closely Colgano, Abbate de Kill Colgan in Conna-
sub voce.
together, in the towns and villages of Ire- land, at this early period. It is likely, also,
that they were very numerous, throughout the length and breadth of the land ; while the inhabitants enjoyed, for the most part, peace and pi osperi'y.
See Colgan's cia, cap. iii. , p. 381.
90t
His feast was held on the 20th of
Colga
giving
Hy
the descent of 2Is Colga,
belonged
" In your own country,
Februaiy, according to Colgan's "Acta Sanctorum Hiberniae," Februarii iii. Appen-
xa
iii. , whereafulleraccountofhimisgiven.
'°3
Said to have been Patron of Kdcolgan, a Parish in Kilmacduagh diocese.
a04 Said to have been of Cluain Colgan, at Athcluana-Meadhraidhe. He is dignified with a title " the chaste. "
*°5 In Irish Tjpdi$ni§e.
**
In that tract, attributed to St. ^Engus the Culdee, and intituled "De Matribus Sanctorum Hibernire. "
a°7
"
ao*
From her the parish of Killealy, in the
diocese of Kilmacduagh, derives its name. It
issituatedin thebaronyof Drumkellin, south-
east of the town of Galway, and it is de- scribed, on the " Ordnance Survey Town-
June 9. ] LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. 421
must soon die. " This same prophesy of the holy man, was exactly fulfilled,
as it was foretold to 222 At one Columba sat in his hut or cell Colga. time,
engaged in writing,223 while two of his monks, Colgu,224 the son of Cellach, and Lugneus Mocublai 22 s stood at the door. Suddenly, as if in alarm, the
:!
holy Abbot's countenance changed, and he exclaimed " Help help ! " At
that a monk had fallen from the of a round moment, top
226 at monastery,
Durrow, in Ireland. 22 ? There a great house 228 had been erected. An Angel who stood between the brothers instantly disappeared, and as instantly
in to save that monk from appeared Durrow,
Abbotrelatedwhathadoccurred,andafterwardsheadded "Mostwonder-
falling
Colgu and Lugneus asked the reason for St. Columba's exclamation. The holy
:
ful and scarcely credible is the velocity of Angels, more than equalling the lightning in swiftness. For that messenger of Heaven, who a moment ago stood between both of you while the monk was falling, flew in the twinkling of an eye to his assistance, and raised him up before he touched the ground. Norhashewhofellreceivedtheslightestfractureorwound. Irepeat,how miraculous was not this swift and opportune intervention, which could bring immediate assistance soon as a word was spoken, although so great a dis- tance interposed by land and by sea. 23° It has been inferred,231 that in for- mer times a round tower stood at Durrow, from the circumstance related of that monk having fallen from the highest top of the great round house, and having been miraculously rescued from death by an Angel, before he came to the ground. 232 However, if such had been the- case, in former times, all traces of that round tower have been swept away and destroyed. The old crosses are yet the solitary sentinels, reminding us of the Ages of Faith. 233
Through the efficacy of St. Columba's prayers, and in the name of our Lord
he healed — under various diseases. 234 A fine Jesus Christ, persons suffering
young man, named Lugneus 23S
land Maps for the County of Galway," sheet
103.
209 The name occurs again in Adamnan's
"
Life of St. Columba," at lib. iii. , cap. 20, in_the same connexion.
236 of the who was afterwards prior
p. 342, and n. 58, p. 376.
2I7 That is, "ad Hibemiam," as shown in
the next sentence.
2l8
Said to be Cill-Colgan, at Ath-cliath- Medraidh. Near this place, too, was the church of his sister Failinn, and it was called Killealy.
2,s> Probably the same as the monastic officer, called Cellarius, in the Lives of seve- ral Irish S. iints.
210
According
to the "
Genealogic
Meno-
ix.
-11 The Hi pAchrxAcli, as written in
Irish.
212 "
See John O'Donovan's Tribes and
logy," cap.
Customs of and 220 a leather tube in which the Hy-Fiachrach," especially Probably
the Map prefixed.
2,3 He was brother to the celebrated Niall
of the Nine Hostages, who ruled over Ire- land from A. D. 379 to A. D. 405. See Ur. O'Donovan's "Annals of the Four Masters," vol. i. , pp. 126, 127.
214 He ruled eight years from a. d. 358 to a. d. 365, according to Dr. O'Donovan's
"
mead or wine was drawn.
221 The meaning of this obscure passage
seems to be : when you see your butler making merry in a supper of his friends, and twirling the ladle round in the strainer, &c. The difficulty arises from our imperfect knowledge, concerning the domestic utensils of the early natives.
222 See Rev. Dr. Reeves' Adamnan s " Life of St. Columba," lib. i. , cap. 17, and nn. (b, c, d, e, f, g), pp. 45to 47.
Annals of the Four Masters," vol. i. , pp.
124, 125.
215 There was also a Colgevo or Colganus,
son to Kellach, and a monk in—Iona. He
sei-ms to have been identified but incor-
rectly—with the present saint, and that, too,
by his learned namesake John Colgan. See
"Trias Thaumaturga," Quarta Appendix
ad Acta S. Columbae, cap. iii. , pp. 488, cap. xv. , p. 367 ; Quinta Vita S. Columbse,
501.
2,6 See
lib. ii. , cap. cv. , p. 428.
224 He is called Colgu Mackealluigh, in
the Second Life, attributed to the Albot
" Trias Thaumaturga," Quarta Vita S. Columbae, lib. i. , cap. xvii. ,
Colgan's
to the 22^ Then ground.
223 See Colgan's "Trias Thaumaturga,"
Prima Vita S. Columbse, cap. x. , p. 322
; Secunda Vita S. Columbas, cap. xxii. , p. 327 ; Tertia Vita S. Columbse, cap. xxxv. , p. 334; Quarta Vita. S. Columbse, lib. iii. ,
422 LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. [June 9.
monastery on Elena Island 23? —coming one day to the saint, complained of a bleeding at the nose. For many months, it had often bled profusely.
Having invited him to come near, and pressing his nostrils with two fingers of his right hand, the saint blessed him. From the moment he received the Abbot's blessing until the last day of his life, a drop of blood never came afterwards from his nose. 238 Hearing some person shouting across the strait,
: oneday,thesaintspokethefollowingwords "Thatmanwhoisshoutingis
much to be pitied, for he is coming to ask us for some cure 23^ for the disease
and after this manner " I beseech thee, O Lord, be favourable to me, and
:
let not the soul of my pious servant be taken out of this mortal life, before the course of my days. " After praying thus, Columba held his peace for a little.
" This my loving child shall not only escape danger, at this crisis of his infirmity ; but, he shall moreover live for
° ;
but, it were better for him this day to have true penance for his sins, since at the close of this week he shall die. " Those who were pre- sent told such words to the unhappy man, when he arrived. 2 * 1 Yet slighting them, the stranger received what he had asked, and departed quickly; but, before the end of that same week, he died, according to the prophetic word of the saint. 2*2 Another time, the saint's faithful attendant Diarmit sickened even to death, and the saint went to visit him in that extremity. 243 Standing by the bedside, Columba invoked Christ's holy name. He prayed, also,
of his body 24
Then opening his blessed lips, he said
:
Cummin, by Colgan, who gives Colgu a festival at February 20th. See ibid. , n. 1 7,
223 Interpreted "Alius Blai,"in the Second
Life. Colgan remarks, that he has little
doubt, but that the present Lugneus was some one of three saints, occurring in the
and nn. (a, b, c, d, e, f, g, h, i, k, 1), pp. 215 to 217.
231 By Dr. George Petrie. See "Eccle- siastical Architecture and Round Towers of Ireland," part ii. , sect, iii. , subs. 3, pp. 387
Irish Calendars, viz. at the 20th of :
to 389.
233 See ibid.
233 See Rev. " Diocese
ary, Lugneus, Priest, of Kill-Tarsna, at
the 25th of April ; Lugneus, Confessor, of
Letter or Letrach : and at the 31st of Decem-
ber, Lugneus, a Deacon. See ibid. , cap.
xxii. , and n. 18, pp. 327, 331. As the Pa-
tronymic is written by Adamnan, it may be
chap, xix. , pp. 543 to 546.
234 See Rev. Thomas lanes' "Civil and
Ecclesiastical History of Scotland," book ii. , sect, xlvi. , p. 196.
233 He is surnamed Mocumin, in the title of Adamnan's chapter.
236 When he was an old man.
237Notidentified. Mr. Reevesgivessome interesting details regarding Elochare, or
"
nepos Blai. "
Latinized
225 The title to this
of Adamnan
chapter reads in the following manner :
"De Angelo Domini qui alicui Fratri la: so de Monas- terii culmine rotundi in Roboreti Campo
"
" tured, may be Elona. See Adamnan's Life
Janu-
Anthony Cogan's
of Meath, Ancient and Modern," vol. ii. ,
opportune tarn cito subvenerat. "
227 The Rev. Dr. Reeves argues, that the of St. Columba," lib. ii. , cap. 18, and nn.
present chapter of Adamnan supplies a most
valuable link in the History of the Irish
Round Towers, which are supposed to date
back to the sixth century, and he thinks, that P- 354 5 Quinta Vita S. Columbae, lib. ii. ,
it points to their primary use as monastic cap. lxxxv. , p. 425. ""
abodes, known by the name Monasterium Rotundum. "
228 The magna or major domus is supposed to have* been contradistinguished from the humble cells.
"* This anecdote is thus related by Noiker
Balbulus: " Et ecce in ipsius momenti turga,'' Quaita Vita S. Columbae. lib. i. , cap.
atomo, ita ruenti homini subventum est ab
Angelo, quasi—non scriptori, sed fabro sem- per adesset. " Canisius, "Antiquae Lec- tiones,"tomusv. ,p. 853.
230 See Rev. William Reeves' Adamnan's
"Life of St. lib. Columba,"
iii. , cap. 15,
243 See
Colgan's
" Trias
Thaumaturga,"
the Island of Saints," which it is conjec-
(a, b, c), pp. 127, 128.
238 See Colgan's "Trias Thaumaturga,"
QuartaVita S. Columbae, lib. ii. , cap. xviii. ,
239 Adamnan uses the expressions ad carnaiia medicamenta. "
240 It would seem from this anecdote, that St. Columba's monastery was resorted to for the relief of bodily infirmities.
xxvii. ,p. 344. Also, Quinta Vita S. Co- lumbae, lib. ii. , cap. xcvi. , p. 427.
24i
See Rev. Dr. Reeves' Adamnan's "LifeofSt. Columba,''lib. i. , cap. 27,and nn. (a, b), pp. 55, 56.
2<I See this account, in " Trias Thauma-
June 9. ] LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. 423
many years, after my death. 2<4 Diarmit was delivered incontinently from his
2 disease ; and, in good health, he survived the saint many a long year. *5
Wherejwood abounded, as a more convenient material to procure than stone,
the Irish were accustomed to use 21* 6 even when as did St. it, building churches,
Finian on the Island of Lindisfarne. It is a well-known fact, that such had
2*? even from the date of the first introduction of
into Northern Britain. The small cells, which surrounded the church,249 were frequently constructed of upright posts, to which planks were nailed ; or sometimes, stakes and rods were used, through which oziers and twigs were interwoven, while oratories and chapels even were formed in this manner,
duringtheprimitivetimesofChristianityintheseislands. 250 Itisprobable, that the interstices were covered with moistened clay, much in the manner of
It was — present day. probably
been the custom in
Ireland,
Christianity to our Island, and St. Columba 2«8 no doubt brought the practice
even at the
for some such purpose, that Columba sent 2SI to a place called Delcross 252
in Irish erecting partitions cabins,
thesituationofwhichisunknown. Thiswelearn,however,thathisearliest cell in Iona was formed of planks. The holy saint at that time desired some of his monks, to fetch from the fields of a certain countryman253 some rods 2 54 and twigs, for the building of a cell. 255 They brought their boat well laden with these materials. All who returned signified to the saint, that the farmer felt greatly grieved at the matter, in regard of the loss he thereby
" How can corn grow, against the nature of this country, :
" Fearing the man should be scandalized
sustained. Then the saint said
by us, let there be nine measures of barley carried to him, and let him sow these in his fields, even at this present time. " The corn being sent and de- livered with the former errand, that man, named Findchan, received it grate-
:
fully, but he said
when sown in midsummer. " To whom his wife answered *' Do as the saint hath commanded, to whom our Lord will grant what thing soever he shall de-
:
:
mand. " The messengers likewise added " Holy Columba sent us to you
with this gift, and with the following counsel. Let that man trust in God's
2-~° Founders of the first church erected in
'•
Britain built on Ynswitrin,
pel lam inferius per circuitum virgis torquatis muros perficientis. " See William of Malmes-
"" bury's account in Ussher's Works, vol.
v. , pp. 26, 132.
251 See Rev. Dr. Reeves' Adamnan's
"Life of St. Columba," lib. ii. , cap. 30, p. 144.
Vita S. Quarta
lib.
P- 357 > Vita Quinta S. Columbse, lib. ii. ,
cap. Ii. , p. 418.
*-u See " Life of St. Columba, Founder of
Hy," written by Adamnan, Ninth Abbot of that Monastery, Edited by William Reeves, D. D. , M. R. I. A. , &c, book ii. , chap, xxxi. , p. 57. Edinburgh, 1874, 8vo.
246 Thus
:
" more Scottorum, non de
oeAig pof, promontory of thorns. The ancient Irish Life refers this anecdote to the of " On a cenain
Columbse,
ii. , cap. xxx. ,
"
2)5 See Rev. Dr. Reeves' Adamnan's nn. (a, b, c, d, e), pp. 106, 107.
sed de robore sec—to totam
atque harundine texit. " Bede's Historia Ecclesiastica Centis Anglorum," lib.
Celtic wakes and funerals had been a custom
of long standing.
179 Father John Colgan treats of him as a
saint at the 20th of February. See "Acta
Sanctorum Hibemiae," xx. Februarii. De B. i. , cap. 35. In this text, we have the Latin
cap. x. ,
Colga,
Cellach,
word is "Paruchia," according to fol. 11,
185 The subject of the present anecdote is mentioned again at cap. iii. , lib. 15, under similar circumstances.
form of the name Colga, while in the title we have the Irish in the genitive.
187 This is the reading in lib. iii. , cap. 15.
Colgen is the genitive of this name, where it
is again mentioned, in lib. i. , cap. 43. Thus,
too, Colgan, the hagiologist's name, is pro-
perly Mac Colgan, "son of Colgan. "
185 He is so called in Adamnan's text, lib.
See Vita S.
42o
LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. [June 9.
Weare
shehadbeenrearedat Ullenforatime. 20? Shehada Magh
daugh-
told, ter, likewise,
whowascalledFailinn. 208 This
20Q
2I°tothe inhabiting an extensive tract in the modern counties of GalwayandMayo. 2'2 TheirpedigreeisderivedfromFiachraFollsnathach,213 the son of Eochaidh Muighmheadhoin, King of Ireland, 214 and of his wife
Fiachrach tribe,
211
relating
Mongfmn.
In
this
anecdote,
and in
there is an admirable agreement of the biographer of St. Columba with the
Irish genealogies. He was asked by the holy Abbot, who had an illumina-
tion regarding the spiritual condition of Cuillenn, whether Colga knew if his
mother were religious or otherwise. 216 Then the monk very readily answered
him, that he had always thought his mother to be good, and to have borne
such a character. The saint then spoke the following prophetic words :
" now return to
21 ? and
ing her very grievous sin, which she does not wish to confess to any man. "
In obedience to these words, he sailed for Ireland. When Colgu interrogated his mother closely, though she at first denied, she at last confessed her sin. She wondered very much, at what had been revealed to Columba, regarding her. She therefore resolved to make a candid and a sincere confession of her sins, so that she might receive the grace of absolution, and thenceforward have her conscience disburdened from her concealed guilt. Doing penance,
according to the judgment of the saint, she was absolved. But, Colga, re- turning to the saint, remained with him for some days, and then, asking about
Quickly
Scotia,
interrogate your
mother
closely regard-
his own destiny, received this answer from the saint
which you love, you shall be head of a certain church 2l8 for many years, and when at length you shall see your butler 2I ? playing for a company of friends
at and supper,
twisting
:
the 22°inacircleroundhis 221 knowthat tap neck,
you
"Life of St. Columba," lib. i. , cap. 35, and nn. (a, b), pp. 65, 66.
194 This was probably a custom of some among the monastic brethren, who kept memoranda or note-books, as most intelli-
gent persons do at the present day,
'55 The Bollandists have thrown all the chapters of Adamnan into a continuous nar- rative, and they have discarded the tituli, so
the
cedent necessary to explain it, as in the pre- sent instance.
196 See Colgan's "Trias Thaumaturga," Quarta Vita S. Columbae, lib. ii. , cap. vii. , p. 352, and n. 8, p. 382 ; Quinta Vita S.
Columbse, lib. ii. , cap. lviii. , pp. 419, 420. ,97 The Greek word occurs sixteen times
in the New Testament
press what the Vulgate renders "benedictio,"
in the sense of a present. See Du Cange's "" Glossarium Mediae et Infirmae Latinitatis,
'" These are called "sudes," and were the stakes or uprights, which formed the skeleton of the hurdle wall.
ao° See Rev. Dr. Reeves' Adamnan's
"Life of St. Columba," lib. ii. , cap. 7.
p. 114.
as not to
dix ad Acta S. Colmani, — ii. ,
However, owing to this plan, they occasionally create adefectintheirtext,byomittingtheante-
248. Also called Colga sometimes con- found—edwithCailtanorCoelten,amonkat Iona and he is alluded to in the Second Volume of this work, at February 25th, Art.
interrupt
reading.
cap. p.
;
27, it is employed by the Septuagint to ex-
and in 1 Sam. xxv. ,
Acta Sanctorum Huber- ts From such account, we may fairly in- niae," xx. Februarii. De S. Colgo sive fer, that many houses were built closely Colgano, Abbate de Kill Colgan in Conna-
sub voce.
together, in the towns and villages of Ire- land, at this early period. It is likely, also,
that they were very numerous, throughout the length and breadth of the land ; while the inhabitants enjoyed, for the most part, peace and pi osperi'y.
See Colgan's cia, cap. iii. , p. 381.
90t
His feast was held on the 20th of
Colga
giving
Hy
the descent of 2Is Colga,
belonged
" In your own country,
Februaiy, according to Colgan's "Acta Sanctorum Hiberniae," Februarii iii. Appen-
xa
iii. , whereafulleraccountofhimisgiven.
'°3
Said to have been Patron of Kdcolgan, a Parish in Kilmacduagh diocese.
a04 Said to have been of Cluain Colgan, at Athcluana-Meadhraidhe. He is dignified with a title " the chaste. "
*°5 In Irish Tjpdi$ni§e.
**
In that tract, attributed to St. ^Engus the Culdee, and intituled "De Matribus Sanctorum Hibernire. "
a°7
"
ao*
From her the parish of Killealy, in the
diocese of Kilmacduagh, derives its name. It
issituatedin thebaronyof Drumkellin, south-
east of the town of Galway, and it is de- scribed, on the " Ordnance Survey Town-
June 9. ] LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. 421
must soon die. " This same prophesy of the holy man, was exactly fulfilled,
as it was foretold to 222 At one Columba sat in his hut or cell Colga. time,
engaged in writing,223 while two of his monks, Colgu,224 the son of Cellach, and Lugneus Mocublai 22 s stood at the door. Suddenly, as if in alarm, the
:!
holy Abbot's countenance changed, and he exclaimed " Help help ! " At
that a monk had fallen from the of a round moment, top
226 at monastery,
Durrow, in Ireland. 22 ? There a great house 228 had been erected. An Angel who stood between the brothers instantly disappeared, and as instantly
in to save that monk from appeared Durrow,
Abbotrelatedwhathadoccurred,andafterwardsheadded "Mostwonder-
falling
Colgu and Lugneus asked the reason for St. Columba's exclamation. The holy
:
ful and scarcely credible is the velocity of Angels, more than equalling the lightning in swiftness. For that messenger of Heaven, who a moment ago stood between both of you while the monk was falling, flew in the twinkling of an eye to his assistance, and raised him up before he touched the ground. Norhashewhofellreceivedtheslightestfractureorwound. Irepeat,how miraculous was not this swift and opportune intervention, which could bring immediate assistance soon as a word was spoken, although so great a dis- tance interposed by land and by sea. 23° It has been inferred,231 that in for- mer times a round tower stood at Durrow, from the circumstance related of that monk having fallen from the highest top of the great round house, and having been miraculously rescued from death by an Angel, before he came to the ground. 232 However, if such had been the- case, in former times, all traces of that round tower have been swept away and destroyed. The old crosses are yet the solitary sentinels, reminding us of the Ages of Faith. 233
Through the efficacy of St. Columba's prayers, and in the name of our Lord
he healed — under various diseases. 234 A fine Jesus Christ, persons suffering
young man, named Lugneus 23S
land Maps for the County of Galway," sheet
103.
209 The name occurs again in Adamnan's
"
Life of St. Columba," at lib. iii. , cap. 20, in_the same connexion.
236 of the who was afterwards prior
p. 342, and n. 58, p. 376.
2I7 That is, "ad Hibemiam," as shown in
the next sentence.
2l8
Said to be Cill-Colgan, at Ath-cliath- Medraidh. Near this place, too, was the church of his sister Failinn, and it was called Killealy.
2,s> Probably the same as the monastic officer, called Cellarius, in the Lives of seve- ral Irish S. iints.
210
According
to the "
Genealogic
Meno-
ix.
-11 The Hi pAchrxAcli, as written in
Irish.
212 "
See John O'Donovan's Tribes and
logy," cap.
Customs of and 220 a leather tube in which the Hy-Fiachrach," especially Probably
the Map prefixed.
2,3 He was brother to the celebrated Niall
of the Nine Hostages, who ruled over Ire- land from A. D. 379 to A. D. 405. See Ur. O'Donovan's "Annals of the Four Masters," vol. i. , pp. 126, 127.
214 He ruled eight years from a. d. 358 to a. d. 365, according to Dr. O'Donovan's
"
mead or wine was drawn.
221 The meaning of this obscure passage
seems to be : when you see your butler making merry in a supper of his friends, and twirling the ladle round in the strainer, &c. The difficulty arises from our imperfect knowledge, concerning the domestic utensils of the early natives.
222 See Rev. Dr. Reeves' Adamnan s " Life of St. Columba," lib. i. , cap. 17, and nn. (b, c, d, e, f, g), pp. 45to 47.
Annals of the Four Masters," vol. i. , pp.
124, 125.
215 There was also a Colgevo or Colganus,
son to Kellach, and a monk in—Iona. He
sei-ms to have been identified but incor-
rectly—with the present saint, and that, too,
by his learned namesake John Colgan. See
"Trias Thaumaturga," Quarta Appendix
ad Acta S. Columbae, cap. iii. , pp. 488, cap. xv. , p. 367 ; Quinta Vita S. Columbse,
501.
2,6 See
lib. ii. , cap. cv. , p. 428.
224 He is called Colgu Mackealluigh, in
the Second Life, attributed to the Albot
" Trias Thaumaturga," Quarta Vita S. Columbae, lib. i. , cap. xvii. ,
Colgan's
to the 22^ Then ground.
223 See Colgan's "Trias Thaumaturga,"
Prima Vita S. Columbse, cap. x. , p. 322
; Secunda Vita S. Columbas, cap. xxii. , p. 327 ; Tertia Vita S. Columbse, cap. xxxv. , p. 334; Quarta Vita. S. Columbse, lib. iii. ,
422 LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. [June 9.
monastery on Elena Island 23? —coming one day to the saint, complained of a bleeding at the nose. For many months, it had often bled profusely.
Having invited him to come near, and pressing his nostrils with two fingers of his right hand, the saint blessed him. From the moment he received the Abbot's blessing until the last day of his life, a drop of blood never came afterwards from his nose. 238 Hearing some person shouting across the strait,
: oneday,thesaintspokethefollowingwords "Thatmanwhoisshoutingis
much to be pitied, for he is coming to ask us for some cure 23^ for the disease
and after this manner " I beseech thee, O Lord, be favourable to me, and
:
let not the soul of my pious servant be taken out of this mortal life, before the course of my days. " After praying thus, Columba held his peace for a little.
" This my loving child shall not only escape danger, at this crisis of his infirmity ; but, he shall moreover live for
° ;
but, it were better for him this day to have true penance for his sins, since at the close of this week he shall die. " Those who were pre- sent told such words to the unhappy man, when he arrived. 2 * 1 Yet slighting them, the stranger received what he had asked, and departed quickly; but, before the end of that same week, he died, according to the prophetic word of the saint. 2*2 Another time, the saint's faithful attendant Diarmit sickened even to death, and the saint went to visit him in that extremity. 243 Standing by the bedside, Columba invoked Christ's holy name. He prayed, also,
of his body 24
Then opening his blessed lips, he said
:
Cummin, by Colgan, who gives Colgu a festival at February 20th. See ibid. , n. 1 7,
223 Interpreted "Alius Blai,"in the Second
Life. Colgan remarks, that he has little
doubt, but that the present Lugneus was some one of three saints, occurring in the
and nn. (a, b, c, d, e, f, g, h, i, k, 1), pp. 215 to 217.
231 By Dr. George Petrie. See "Eccle- siastical Architecture and Round Towers of Ireland," part ii. , sect, iii. , subs. 3, pp. 387
Irish Calendars, viz. at the 20th of :
to 389.
233 See ibid.
233 See Rev. " Diocese
ary, Lugneus, Priest, of Kill-Tarsna, at
the 25th of April ; Lugneus, Confessor, of
Letter or Letrach : and at the 31st of Decem-
ber, Lugneus, a Deacon. See ibid. , cap.
xxii. , and n. 18, pp. 327, 331. As the Pa-
tronymic is written by Adamnan, it may be
chap, xix. , pp. 543 to 546.
234 See Rev. Thomas lanes' "Civil and
Ecclesiastical History of Scotland," book ii. , sect, xlvi. , p. 196.
233 He is surnamed Mocumin, in the title of Adamnan's chapter.
236 When he was an old man.
237Notidentified. Mr. Reevesgivessome interesting details regarding Elochare, or
"
nepos Blai. "
Latinized
225 The title to this
of Adamnan
chapter reads in the following manner :
"De Angelo Domini qui alicui Fratri la: so de Monas- terii culmine rotundi in Roboreti Campo
"
" tured, may be Elona. See Adamnan's Life
Janu-
Anthony Cogan's
of Meath, Ancient and Modern," vol. ii. ,
opportune tarn cito subvenerat. "
227 The Rev. Dr. Reeves argues, that the of St. Columba," lib. ii. , cap. 18, and nn.
present chapter of Adamnan supplies a most
valuable link in the History of the Irish
Round Towers, which are supposed to date
back to the sixth century, and he thinks, that P- 354 5 Quinta Vita S. Columbae, lib. ii. ,
it points to their primary use as monastic cap. lxxxv. , p. 425. ""
abodes, known by the name Monasterium Rotundum. "
228 The magna or major domus is supposed to have* been contradistinguished from the humble cells.
"* This anecdote is thus related by Noiker
Balbulus: " Et ecce in ipsius momenti turga,'' Quaita Vita S. Columbae. lib. i. , cap.
atomo, ita ruenti homini subventum est ab
Angelo, quasi—non scriptori, sed fabro sem- per adesset. " Canisius, "Antiquae Lec- tiones,"tomusv. ,p. 853.
230 See Rev. William Reeves' Adamnan's
"Life of St. lib. Columba,"
iii. , cap. 15,
243 See
Colgan's
" Trias
Thaumaturga,"
the Island of Saints," which it is conjec-
(a, b, c), pp. 127, 128.
238 See Colgan's "Trias Thaumaturga,"
QuartaVita S. Columbae, lib. ii. , cap. xviii. ,
239 Adamnan uses the expressions ad carnaiia medicamenta. "
240 It would seem from this anecdote, that St. Columba's monastery was resorted to for the relief of bodily infirmities.
xxvii. ,p. 344. Also, Quinta Vita S. Co- lumbae, lib. ii. , cap. xcvi. , p. 427.
24i
See Rev. Dr. Reeves' Adamnan's "LifeofSt. Columba,''lib. i. , cap. 27,and nn. (a, b), pp. 55, 56.
2<I See this account, in " Trias Thauma-
June 9. ] LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. 423
many years, after my death. 2<4 Diarmit was delivered incontinently from his
2 disease ; and, in good health, he survived the saint many a long year. *5
Wherejwood abounded, as a more convenient material to procure than stone,
the Irish were accustomed to use 21* 6 even when as did St. it, building churches,
Finian on the Island of Lindisfarne. It is a well-known fact, that such had
2*? even from the date of the first introduction of
into Northern Britain. The small cells, which surrounded the church,249 were frequently constructed of upright posts, to which planks were nailed ; or sometimes, stakes and rods were used, through which oziers and twigs were interwoven, while oratories and chapels even were formed in this manner,
duringtheprimitivetimesofChristianityintheseislands. 250 Itisprobable, that the interstices were covered with moistened clay, much in the manner of
It was — present day. probably
been the custom in
Ireland,
Christianity to our Island, and St. Columba 2«8 no doubt brought the practice
even at the
for some such purpose, that Columba sent 2SI to a place called Delcross 252
in Irish erecting partitions cabins,
thesituationofwhichisunknown. Thiswelearn,however,thathisearliest cell in Iona was formed of planks. The holy saint at that time desired some of his monks, to fetch from the fields of a certain countryman253 some rods 2 54 and twigs, for the building of a cell. 255 They brought their boat well laden with these materials. All who returned signified to the saint, that the farmer felt greatly grieved at the matter, in regard of the loss he thereby
" How can corn grow, against the nature of this country, :
" Fearing the man should be scandalized
sustained. Then the saint said
by us, let there be nine measures of barley carried to him, and let him sow these in his fields, even at this present time. " The corn being sent and de- livered with the former errand, that man, named Findchan, received it grate-
:
fully, but he said
when sown in midsummer. " To whom his wife answered *' Do as the saint hath commanded, to whom our Lord will grant what thing soever he shall de-
:
:
mand. " The messengers likewise added " Holy Columba sent us to you
with this gift, and with the following counsel. Let that man trust in God's
2-~° Founders of the first church erected in
'•
Britain built on Ynswitrin,
pel lam inferius per circuitum virgis torquatis muros perficientis. " See William of Malmes-
"" bury's account in Ussher's Works, vol.
v. , pp. 26, 132.
251 See Rev. Dr. Reeves' Adamnan's
"Life of St. Columba," lib. ii. , cap. 30, p. 144.
Vita S. Quarta
lib.
P- 357 > Vita Quinta S. Columbse, lib. ii. ,
cap. Ii. , p. 418.
*-u See " Life of St. Columba, Founder of
Hy," written by Adamnan, Ninth Abbot of that Monastery, Edited by William Reeves, D. D. , M. R. I. A. , &c, book ii. , chap, xxxi. , p. 57. Edinburgh, 1874, 8vo.
246 Thus
:
" more Scottorum, non de
oeAig pof, promontory of thorns. The ancient Irish Life refers this anecdote to the of " On a cenain
Columbse,
ii. , cap. xxx. ,
"
2)5 See Rev. Dr. Reeves' Adamnan's nn. (a, b, c, d, e), pp. 106, 107.
sed de robore sec—to totam
atque harundine texit. " Bede's Historia Ecclesiastica Centis Anglorum," lib.
