" " Historia
Ecclesiatica
Gentis Scotorum,"tomus i.
O'Hanlon - Lives of the Irish Saints - v6
108, sect, lxvii.
, lxviii.
, lxix.
, pp.
116 to 1 18.
, lib.
xxii.
, sect.
i.
to viii.
, pp.
125 to 129, sect, xiv.
, xv.
, pp.
133,134, sect, xvii.
, xviii.
, pp.
135, 136, sect.
xxvi.
to xxxii.
, pp.
139 to 143, sect.
lix.
, lx.
, pp.
155, 156, sect, lxiii.
, Ixiv.
, pp.
1 57, 159, sect.
lxviii.
, pp.
160, 161, sect.
Ixxiii.
, p.
163, lib.
xxiii.
, sect, x.
, pp.
170 to 172.
43 See " Histoire Ecclesiastique," tome
142 LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. [June 5.
8
FranQois le Petit/ severally present notices. There are Lives of St. Boniface,
of greater or lesser length, in the works of Bishop Challenor,4^ of Rev. Alban
Butler,
Winifrid or
Catho-
and — of Ger- Mentz, Apostle
50 and in Les Petits Bollandistes. 51 Rev.
—— Ch. A.
52
lic curd of Goetingue, Ozanam,53 Le Dr. Hoefer's "Nouvelle Biographie Gdndrale,"54 and Rev. S. Baring-Gould,55 have accounts of this celebrated Christian missionary, Lately has been published an English Life of St.
52 " Intituled
Bonefacius, Martyr, Archbishop
of
many. 56 The writings which are extant of St. Boniface himself especially
his Epistles "—will probably give us the most accurate insight, regarding his
inner life and thoughts ; so that, in the attempt to investigate his history,
those writings must have a chief share in our consideration.
Much controversy has been raised, regarding the questions of descent and race, as also on the place where this great German Apostle was born. Car- dinal Bellarmin s8 makes St. Boniface an Englishman; but, his editor Labbe & remarks, that others call him Scotus. Among these are Hieronymous. 60 That the great Apostle of Germany had been an Anglo-Saxon was understood, by many of the ancients, 61 and by most of the modern German 62 and French 63 historians. This, however, does not appear to have been the opinion of our early Irish writers. St. Boniface is classed among the Scots' saints, by Adam
6^ and
statements. At the year 723, Marianus Scotus records 66 him as being a Scottus. Inthemarginaladditiontothetext,madeinMarianus'sownhand, St. Boniface is said to have been from Ireland. 6? Proofs of St. Boniface,
Chretienne," tome ii. , chap. i. assumed the task, their project was aban- 48 See "Grande Chronique de Hol- doned.
King,
by Camerarius,
65 who various authorities to establish their quote
lande. "
4> See " Britannia Sancta,'' part i. , June
5th, pp. 339 tc 344.
58 See "Operum," tomus vii. De Scrip- toribus Ecclesiastic is, p. 255.
59 In a subjoined historical Disserta- tion.
60 See "De Bono Statu Religiosi," lib. ii. , cap, 30.
50 See
"
Lives of the Fathers, Martyrs and
other principal saints," vol. vi. , June v. "e
51 See Vies des Saints," tome vi. , v Jour de Juin, pp. 459 to 464.
01 it :
Thus, his Life, by the Utrecht priest has
" Beatus Bonifacius solum in gentitale
Boniface, Apotre des Alle-
mands, sa Vie, ses CEuvres," Mayence, insula, quae Britannia dicitur, habuit ; quam
1845.
53 In his work " Etudes Germaniques. "
54 See tome vi. , cols. 576, 577.
modo incolit gens Anglorum, quae—a Saxoni-
bus traxisse originem putatur. " Cap. i. , sect. 6. The Third Life of St. Boniface tells
us of Winfrid, "nobilique prosapia Anglo- rum oriundus,"sect. i.
62 See Ranke, in his "Ecclesiasti- Leopold
cal and Political History of the Popes of
Rome," translated by Sarah Austin, vol. i. ,
chap, i. , p. 16.
"
55 See
"
Lives of the Saints," vol. vi. , June
5, pp. 41 to 54.
56 Its contents are : I. His
Early Days. II. He goes to Rome, III. He goes to BavariaandFriesland. IV. Heretu—rnsto Germany. V. Letter of Bonifacius No. 20. VI. Labours in Thuringia and Bavaria. VII. Provincial Synods held. VIII. Pro- gress of the Mission. IX. The Martyrdom.
65 See
tome iv. , p. 92.
Appendix. The author of St. Willibrord" read
:
S. Boniface Scotisman of apostle —
is announced as the writer. It is published by Messrs. Burns and Oates, London.
57 These have been edited by Serarius,
with notes, and they have been published in "
germanie mart, in frisland vnder leo ye 3. "
the Bibliotheca Patruum. " They are to
" 66
be found, in the Coliectio Conciliorum,"
with notes by Labbe, Sirmond and Binius,
together with Epistles of the Sovereign Pontiffs. The Bollandistshad the intention, at first, to publish them, with various read- ings, under the supervision of one of their Jesuit Fathers, Joannes Grothusius; but, his
death and that others had occurring, finding,
hi. , cap. iv. , pp. 152, 153.
In his "Chronicon," at A. D. 723.
MJuramentum Sancti Scotti Archiepiscopi Bonifatii vsic) in ecclesia Sancti Petri Apos- l—oli coram Papa Gregorio Secundo. "
" Mouumenta Germanise Histoiica,"
tomus v. , p. 546.
6? See Pertz's edition of his "Chronicon,"
J.
Seiters,
Histoire Literaire de la France,"
64 In his Kalendar, at the 5th of June, we ""
Bishop Forbes' Saints," p. 154.
"
Kalendars of Scottish
65 See " De Scotorum Fortitudine," lib.
where we read
:
" Iste enim Bonifatius de
June 5. ] LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. M3
Archbishop of Mayence, having been a Scotus are discoverable, even from Popes' Letters and Councils. 68 Thus various passages from Pontifical letters
are cited by Marianus, addressed to the Irish Boniface, Archbishop of
Mentz. 69 RecordingthedestructionofthemonasteriesatSt. GallandFulda,
in the Hungarian incursions, Marianus Scotus links these great monasteries
together, as founded by Scottish or Irish saints, and one of these is expressly
named Boniface. 7° According to John of Trittenheim, St. Boniface was a
1
and his statement is unquestionably of considerable weight
St. Winfrid—afterwards called Boniface 75 is said by English writers generally, to have been born, in the west of England. The saint himself seems to intimate very distinctly, that he was born in transmarine Saxonland,? 6 which can only have reference to England. It is probable, that his parents left Ireland for that country, and at a period when there were most cordial and reciprocal feelings of friendship existing between the Anglo-Saxons and the Irish. 77 The date assigned for his birth is about a. d. 680. ? 8 Most
Scot by birth, 7
2 We have it on excellent that the father and authority,
and
mother of Boniface were Scots,73 only a term synonymous for Irish. 7'* They seem, likewise, to have been persons of some di—stinction.
importance. ?
Hibemia, missus est cum Willebrordo Ang-
the traditions of the spiritual children of St Boniface, which is the strongest confirmation that we could ask of Marianus's authority in
lico Episcopo, ut in vita ejus Willebrordi
legitur. "—Ibid.
08 See Mariani Scotti " Chronicon," edited
—
73 Thomas Dempster denying the state-
byG. Waitz, in "MonumentaGermanicxHis- "
torica,
Scriptorum, tomusv. , pp. 546, 547
69 Thus we read " ad : Epistola Gregorii
ment that St. Boniface was a native of
Eng- ibi enim educatus, non natus, piscopum. " Again, "Epistola Zachariae nam Scotum faciunt nostrates, et praeterea Wilhelmus Heda, Jo. a Beca, Anton. Pos- sevinus, vir pius, et polyhistor. torn. I. Ap- par. Sacri pag. ccclxiii. Hie—ron. Platus, lib. 11. , Stat. Kelig. , cap. xxx.
" " Historia Ecclesiatica Gentis Scotorum,"tomus i. , lib.
Bonifacium Scottum Moguntinum Archie-
land, adds :
"
Papae ad Bonifacium Scottum Archiepisco- pum Moguntinum data nonas Januarias,"
"
Papae ad Bonifacium Scottum Archiepisco-
&c. Likewise :
Alia epistola Zachariae
pum Moguntinum. "
7° Thus, at a. d. 937, we find: "Monas- ii. , num. 130, p. 71.
teria sanctorum Scottorum, Sancti Galli et sancti Bonifacii, igne consumuntur," ibid. , P- 554-
71 See his work, " De Scriptoribus Eccle- siasticis. "
72 In a communication on this question, ad-
dressed to the Editor of "The Irish Ecclesi-
astical Record," and intituled, "Was St.
Boniface an Irishman? " the Most Rev. lica luce illustravit. " Patrick F. Moran. then Bishop of Ossory,
and now Cardinal Archbishop of Sydney,
thus writes concerning Trithemius " He
:
held i—n his hand the traditions of Mentz and Fulda that is, of the See of St. Boniface, and of the great monastery which he founded. It appears to me, that it would be alike strange to suppose that if St. Boniface were a Saxon, the traditions of Mentz and Fulda would assign him to Ireland, as thatLuxeuil and Bobbio would conspire to assign to England their great patron and founder St. Columbanus. But, it is said, that Trithe- mius cites Marianus, and evidently consulted his chronicle. It is to be presumed, indeed, that it was so : but whilst Trithemius accepts as correct the statements of Marianus rela- ting to St. Boniface, he becomes voucher to us that those statements are conformable to
manise Historica," tomus v. , pp. 545, 546. M See Matthew of Pans " Chronica
this particular. " No. 3, p. 189.
Third Series, vol. v. ,
"
nus Scotus, alluding to Pope Gregory II. ,
"
74 In his
Chronicon," at A. D. 715, Maria-
has the following statement :
castus et sapiens, qui Bonifacium, patre at- que etiam matre Scottum, ordinavit Episco- pum ad sedem Moguntinum, et per eum in Germania verbum salutis prsedicavit, gen- temque iliam in tenebris sedentem evange-
Hie erat vir
—"Monumenta Ger-
Majora," edited by Henry Richards Luard, M. A. , vol. i. , p. 341.
76
mentions the transmarine Saxonland "in qua natus et nutritus fui. " According to the First Epistle to Pope Zachary, which is numbered 134 in Serarius, and in Labbe's "Collectio Conciliorum," tomus vi. , col. 1494, num. 5.
St. Boniface, writing to PopeZachary,
77 It is a fact well known, at present, that the children born of Irish parents in England
and Scotland, —
if not in
in a vast number—
of call themselves cases,
the generality
Irish, and would resent the attempt to im- pose on them the name of Englishmen or of Scotchmen. The historic recollections of the
past should give us to understand, that the
i 44 LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. [June 5.
English writers assert, that his birth occurred at Cridiantum,79 or Creditor), contracted to Kirton, in Devonshire. For this statement, we find no authority, among the most ancient writers of his Life, in Germany. —When baptized, he issaidtohavereceivedthenameofWynfrithorWinfrid sometimeswritten Winnifred ; but, this statement is not found, in the earlier Acts of this saint. 8o
While an infant, his mother's love for the child was so great, that she nursed
and cherished him with extraordinary care; the father sharing this affection
with such excess, as to prefer him to his other children. 81 In very tender
years, the child was wonderfully affected by the appearance of any person or
object, that directed his attention towards the love and service of God. He
was particularly solicitous to enquire about the proper means to shape his
futurecourseoflife. Itwascustomaryinhisageandcountrytoholdstations
or make visits to domiciliary
private houses,
82 where truths were religious
taught to the family. Whenever any priest or cleric came to his father's house,
the young Winfrid was delighted to confer with such visitor on heavenly
things. Moreover, he was earnestly desirous, at an early age, to quit the
world and all its vanities. His chief object was to consecrate himself to
God in a religious profession. When he was as yet but four or five years old, 83
the young Winfrid seemed to have a great desire for the monastic state, and he
learned to despise all things, that were merely terrestrial. His father had in-
tended, however, thathischild shouldbe addicted to some worldly pursuit, and
that he should succeed to the possession of a family patrimony. After some time,
Winfrid's intention was discovered to his dissatisfied father. The latter sought
by all means to divert him from it, partly urging him by threats, not to leave
the paternal home, and partly holding out by blandishments, how much more
preferable it should be, that he followed a secular calling. F. very expedient
was devised, to alter the child's resolution, but in vain ; for, Winfrid earnestly
desired to addict himself to sacred studies, and to unite with them a con-
templative life. Being visited with a sudden sickness, which brought him to
death's door, the father of Winfrid acknowledged this visitation came from
the hand of God, and that it was a correction for opposing the call of Heaven,
8 given to his son. *
Being now thirteen years of age, the father of Boniface sent his son to the
86 that this
house was on the site of a Roman camp, called Isca Danmoniorum, on the
of now Exeter. 85 It is monastery Adescancaster,
said,
religious
Exe River. In the seventh
century,
it was called 87 more corn- Exanceaster,
Anglo-Normans have been the common op-
pressors of the ancient Saxons and Irish, who been called Ctiritan, is known in Scottish
were formerly on exceedingly good terms. It is easy to understand, how the social and race relations have changed since the earlier
ages.
78 See Rev. Alban Butler's "Lives of the
Fathers, Martyrs and other principal saints," vol. vi. . June v.
history as Bonifacius.
8l See Willibald's Life of St. Boniface,
chap, i. , num. 5.
Sa See Les Petits " Vies Bollandistes,
des Saints," tome vi. , v Jour de Juin, p. 459.
statu religiosi,'' lib. ii. . cap. 30.
** See Les Petits Bollandistes, " Vies des
Devonshire, Joannis Janssonii "Novus Saints," tome vi. , v* Jour de Juin, p. Atlas, sive Theatrum Orbis Terrarum," 459.
Devon- shire, states, it was "ad Credenum," scil. fluvium. —See "Britannia," Danmonioe or
Hieronymus Flatus has—the words.
esset. " " quinquennis De Bono
? 9 William —
Cambden, describing
p. 134.
80 It has been suggested, by his Eminence
Cardinal Moran, that it is far from being im- probable, that both the Saxon name Wini- frid, and the Latin Bonifacius may be no- thing more than translations or adaptations of an original Celtic name. Thus, a saint
8s Now a city of Devonshire.
86 By Father Ilenschenn. in n. (a), to
Willibald's Life of St. Boniface, chap, i. , p.
462.
8? The root of this word was not Anglo-
Saxon, as Henschenn supposes; it came from the Celto-British word Exe, closely
registered in the Irish Kalendars, as having
83 "adhuc
June 5. ]
LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. 145
Close,?
Exeter,
and under Abbot Wolfhard. it was intended he There,
state,
Wolfhard,
Excester. 88
to some
8? the
Winfred received his education in a monastery,? which stood on the site of the Cathedral
monly
According
accounts,
young
1 at
should be educated, under the holy Abbot Wolfhard, to whom he was given in charge. Winfrid remained many years with him ; and, while still very young, he desired to learn wisdom from the example and counsel of his superiors. It was soon rendered manifest, that he had been divinely called to the religious
Grandisson.
91 The Rev. Dr.
in his "
of Exeter," says : "In Exeter, long before the Conquest, the place of interment was in
Oliver,
History
Chapter, we find an ordinance of Pope Inno-
in a conference with his 2 assent monks,? gave
and the Abbot
totheearnestprayerofWinfrid. Astrongimpressionwasmadeonhismind, owingtotheholyinfluencesthatsurroundedhim. Attheearlyageofseven, his intellect became developed by the assiduity he devoted to his studies, while his modesty and gravity of deportment were an index of the solid vir- tues he had acquired. He became a model student and a vessel of election, at one and the same time. Every moment of his existence was well spent. His disciplined soul answered to the highest expectations of his religious teachers, and his naturally good dispositions were a preservative against the effeminacy which vice engenders. Perfectly pure were all his intentions, and an abun- dance of Divine Grace kept him chaste and sober ; each day was he engaged accumulating merits, while he was preparing that store of learning and of vir- tue, destined to serve for the successful prosecution of his future Apostolic career. It was soon found, that his masters were unable to teach their pupil in that monastery, where his course had been commenced. ? 3 Thence, for further improvement, with consent of the Abbot Wolfhard and his community, Winfrid entered the monastery of Nutscelle,? * or Huntcell. It was flourishing, at that time, in regular discipline, under the rule of Abbot Winbercht. Here he studied under another master, and he became endeared to all the monks.
He applied himself anew to the service of God, and to all the details of sacred and profane learning. He was versed in Grammar and Rhetoric, in historic studies and in the measures of poetry. He united fasting with prayer; while he cherished the virtues of humility and obedience, with a spirit of charity towards his brethren and the rest of mankind. ? 5 Especially to enquire what
corresponding with the Irish, Isca, which and was especially so during the pestilence
means water.
88
Latinized Exonia.
89 See "The Irish Builder," vol. xxviii. ,
No. 639,p. 225. '
90 According to the account of Bishop led to the opening of a new cemetery in the
old Prisonhay on St. Bartholomew's Day,
24th August, 1637. "
92 Willi bald adds: "et eorum accepta
(sicut regularis vitse poposcit ordo) benedic- the Close : nay, among the archives of our tione," &c. Life of St. Boniface, chap, i. ,
num. 7.
9, John of Trittenhem states, that St.
Boniface had been sent by his parents —to an
evi- Capituli et Episcopi i. e. , that to no one dently a mistake for Nutscelle when he was may it be lawful to build cemeteries below only five years old. It seems, however, the
cent III. between Jan. 1 198 and 1216,'atnulli
liceat construere infra cemeteria terminos
parochse Exoniensis ecclesire sine assensu English monastery, called Mischele
of 1636. The accumulation of corpses, and the mounds of earth, to use the energetic language of Bishop John Hall, threatened to
buryindecorouslytheveryCathedral. This
'—' —
the boundaries of the Parochial Church of
Exeter without consent of the Chapter and
Bishop. ' This privilege had been conceded,
however, to the various religious houses, and fate with all the rest, during the time of the
Bishop Grandisson, on the 31st March, 1354,
extended this licence to St. John's Hospital.
But the Close, which Bishop Grandisson
styles 'commune civitatis poliandrum,'
i. e. , 'the common burying-place of the cap. i. , sect. 6.
city,' became at last an intolerable nuisance, 9fi St. Boniface is claimed as a Benedictine
holy student was many years older, at that particular time of his life.
94 This monastery underwent a common
Danish devastations. It was never since re- stored. We know not, at present, even the place where it stood.
95 See his Life by the Utrecht priest,
146 LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. [June 5.
he must do to secure his soul, was a subject for conversation. Daily medita- tationsheexercised,onthegreattruthsofeternity. Meantime,hisdevotional and literary exercises, were alternated with manual labour, according to the
constitutions of the
holy
Father Benedict. ^6
He observed witli
Incessantly he meditated on the
tion, the whole discipline of a regular life.
Holy Scriptures; and he learned their triple interpretation, ? so that he was
competent to expound them for the instruction even of his masters. These instructions appear to have been given in the shape of lectures ; since his
biographer relates, that when the fame of his learning went aboard, among
the monasteries of holy men and women, numbers of these religious wished to
profitbyhisteaching,andflockedtohearhisinstructions. Tiiespiritoflight
and of charity seemed to come from his lips, and to descend into the hearts of
his hearers; while food for pious reflections and resolves was afforded and to
thoseofbothsexes,whowerepresent. Heinspiredatasteforspiritualscrip-
tural reading, with a desire to penetrate the hidden mysteries, and he furnished
motives to excite divine love. His noble example gave earnestness and faith
to his teaching ; so that, while his affability and charity caused him to be
esteemed by all who knew him, his rare abilities and facile mode of teaching
werethoroughlyadmired. Havingacquiredsuchprofoundandvariederudi-
tion, we should not feel surprised, that Winfrid had been promoted, at thirty,
to the holy order of Priesthood, as that seems to have been the canonical
age, at the period of which we treat. This happened about the year 710 °8
or IO° theWest a and 101 712. 99 Ina, Kingof Saxons, good pious ruler, reigned,
at the time.
Some dissensions had unhappily prevailed in the kingdom and in the
Church, when the king advised the holding of a Synod by the ecclesiastical superiors. Tothis,hesuggested,thattheclergyshouldbeinvited. Accord-
ingly, an assembly was convoked, and when the questions which were to be discussed had been proposed, the different grades of the Ecclesiastical order and the faithful who were present deemed it just to consult their Primate, by sending delegates to him. For this errand, the Abbot Winbercht of Nutsceile
Monastery,
the Abbot Wintra of
T °2 and the Abbot Disselburg Monastery,
BeerwaldI03 of IO+ Glastonbury Monastery,
boreames-
the West Saxons, to Berchtwald or Brithwald,105 at that time Archbishop of
He
to treat with him, about those ecclesiastical controversies, which had been con- sidered. So great was the opinion his superiors already entertained of Win- frid's capacity and knowledge, that young as he was in the ministry, his
They
sage from the king to the Archbishop of Canterbury, and it required judgment and delicacy to accommodate matters. Among others, Winfrid had been chosen, and he was sent by the fathers of this Synod, held in the province of
over this See from a. d.
deputation set out on their journey to Kent. The purpose of this visit was
Canterbury.
presided
693
monk,byJohnofTrittenhem.
43 See " Histoire Ecclesiastique," tome
142 LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. [June 5.
8
FranQois le Petit/ severally present notices. There are Lives of St. Boniface,
of greater or lesser length, in the works of Bishop Challenor,4^ of Rev. Alban
Butler,
Winifrid or
Catho-
and — of Ger- Mentz, Apostle
50 and in Les Petits Bollandistes. 51 Rev.
—— Ch. A.
52
lic curd of Goetingue, Ozanam,53 Le Dr. Hoefer's "Nouvelle Biographie Gdndrale,"54 and Rev. S. Baring-Gould,55 have accounts of this celebrated Christian missionary, Lately has been published an English Life of St.
52 " Intituled
Bonefacius, Martyr, Archbishop
of
many. 56 The writings which are extant of St. Boniface himself especially
his Epistles "—will probably give us the most accurate insight, regarding his
inner life and thoughts ; so that, in the attempt to investigate his history,
those writings must have a chief share in our consideration.
Much controversy has been raised, regarding the questions of descent and race, as also on the place where this great German Apostle was born. Car- dinal Bellarmin s8 makes St. Boniface an Englishman; but, his editor Labbe & remarks, that others call him Scotus. Among these are Hieronymous. 60 That the great Apostle of Germany had been an Anglo-Saxon was understood, by many of the ancients, 61 and by most of the modern German 62 and French 63 historians. This, however, does not appear to have been the opinion of our early Irish writers. St. Boniface is classed among the Scots' saints, by Adam
6^ and
statements. At the year 723, Marianus Scotus records 66 him as being a Scottus. Inthemarginaladditiontothetext,madeinMarianus'sownhand, St. Boniface is said to have been from Ireland. 6? Proofs of St. Boniface,
Chretienne," tome ii. , chap. i. assumed the task, their project was aban- 48 See "Grande Chronique de Hol- doned.
King,
by Camerarius,
65 who various authorities to establish their quote
lande. "
4> See " Britannia Sancta,'' part i. , June
5th, pp. 339 tc 344.
58 See "Operum," tomus vii. De Scrip- toribus Ecclesiastic is, p. 255.
59 In a subjoined historical Disserta- tion.
60 See "De Bono Statu Religiosi," lib. ii. , cap, 30.
50 See
"
Lives of the Fathers, Martyrs and
other principal saints," vol. vi. , June v. "e
51 See Vies des Saints," tome vi. , v Jour de Juin, pp. 459 to 464.
01 it :
Thus, his Life, by the Utrecht priest has
" Beatus Bonifacius solum in gentitale
Boniface, Apotre des Alle-
mands, sa Vie, ses CEuvres," Mayence, insula, quae Britannia dicitur, habuit ; quam
1845.
53 In his work " Etudes Germaniques. "
54 See tome vi. , cols. 576, 577.
modo incolit gens Anglorum, quae—a Saxoni-
bus traxisse originem putatur. " Cap. i. , sect. 6. The Third Life of St. Boniface tells
us of Winfrid, "nobilique prosapia Anglo- rum oriundus,"sect. i.
62 See Ranke, in his "Ecclesiasti- Leopold
cal and Political History of the Popes of
Rome," translated by Sarah Austin, vol. i. ,
chap, i. , p. 16.
"
55 See
"
Lives of the Saints," vol. vi. , June
5, pp. 41 to 54.
56 Its contents are : I. His
Early Days. II. He goes to Rome, III. He goes to BavariaandFriesland. IV. Heretu—rnsto Germany. V. Letter of Bonifacius No. 20. VI. Labours in Thuringia and Bavaria. VII. Provincial Synods held. VIII. Pro- gress of the Mission. IX. The Martyrdom.
65 See
tome iv. , p. 92.
Appendix. The author of St. Willibrord" read
:
S. Boniface Scotisman of apostle —
is announced as the writer. It is published by Messrs. Burns and Oates, London.
57 These have been edited by Serarius,
with notes, and they have been published in "
germanie mart, in frisland vnder leo ye 3. "
the Bibliotheca Patruum. " They are to
" 66
be found, in the Coliectio Conciliorum,"
with notes by Labbe, Sirmond and Binius,
together with Epistles of the Sovereign Pontiffs. The Bollandistshad the intention, at first, to publish them, with various read- ings, under the supervision of one of their Jesuit Fathers, Joannes Grothusius; but, his
death and that others had occurring, finding,
hi. , cap. iv. , pp. 152, 153.
In his "Chronicon," at A. D. 723.
MJuramentum Sancti Scotti Archiepiscopi Bonifatii vsic) in ecclesia Sancti Petri Apos- l—oli coram Papa Gregorio Secundo. "
" Mouumenta Germanise Histoiica,"
tomus v. , p. 546.
6? See Pertz's edition of his "Chronicon,"
J.
Seiters,
Histoire Literaire de la France,"
64 In his Kalendar, at the 5th of June, we ""
Bishop Forbes' Saints," p. 154.
"
Kalendars of Scottish
65 See " De Scotorum Fortitudine," lib.
where we read
:
" Iste enim Bonifatius de
June 5. ] LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. M3
Archbishop of Mayence, having been a Scotus are discoverable, even from Popes' Letters and Councils. 68 Thus various passages from Pontifical letters
are cited by Marianus, addressed to the Irish Boniface, Archbishop of
Mentz. 69 RecordingthedestructionofthemonasteriesatSt. GallandFulda,
in the Hungarian incursions, Marianus Scotus links these great monasteries
together, as founded by Scottish or Irish saints, and one of these is expressly
named Boniface. 7° According to John of Trittenheim, St. Boniface was a
1
and his statement is unquestionably of considerable weight
St. Winfrid—afterwards called Boniface 75 is said by English writers generally, to have been born, in the west of England. The saint himself seems to intimate very distinctly, that he was born in transmarine Saxonland,? 6 which can only have reference to England. It is probable, that his parents left Ireland for that country, and at a period when there were most cordial and reciprocal feelings of friendship existing between the Anglo-Saxons and the Irish. 77 The date assigned for his birth is about a. d. 680. ? 8 Most
Scot by birth, 7
2 We have it on excellent that the father and authority,
and
mother of Boniface were Scots,73 only a term synonymous for Irish. 7'* They seem, likewise, to have been persons of some di—stinction.
importance. ?
Hibemia, missus est cum Willebrordo Ang-
the traditions of the spiritual children of St Boniface, which is the strongest confirmation that we could ask of Marianus's authority in
lico Episcopo, ut in vita ejus Willebrordi
legitur. "—Ibid.
08 See Mariani Scotti " Chronicon," edited
—
73 Thomas Dempster denying the state-
byG. Waitz, in "MonumentaGermanicxHis- "
torica,
Scriptorum, tomusv. , pp. 546, 547
69 Thus we read " ad : Epistola Gregorii
ment that St. Boniface was a native of
Eng- ibi enim educatus, non natus, piscopum. " Again, "Epistola Zachariae nam Scotum faciunt nostrates, et praeterea Wilhelmus Heda, Jo. a Beca, Anton. Pos- sevinus, vir pius, et polyhistor. torn. I. Ap- par. Sacri pag. ccclxiii. Hie—ron. Platus, lib. 11. , Stat. Kelig. , cap. xxx.
" " Historia Ecclesiatica Gentis Scotorum,"tomus i. , lib.
Bonifacium Scottum Moguntinum Archie-
land, adds :
"
Papae ad Bonifacium Scottum Archiepisco- pum Moguntinum data nonas Januarias,"
"
Papae ad Bonifacium Scottum Archiepisco-
&c. Likewise :
Alia epistola Zachariae
pum Moguntinum. "
7° Thus, at a. d. 937, we find: "Monas- ii. , num. 130, p. 71.
teria sanctorum Scottorum, Sancti Galli et sancti Bonifacii, igne consumuntur," ibid. , P- 554-
71 See his work, " De Scriptoribus Eccle- siasticis. "
72 In a communication on this question, ad-
dressed to the Editor of "The Irish Ecclesi-
astical Record," and intituled, "Was St.
Boniface an Irishman? " the Most Rev. lica luce illustravit. " Patrick F. Moran. then Bishop of Ossory,
and now Cardinal Archbishop of Sydney,
thus writes concerning Trithemius " He
:
held i—n his hand the traditions of Mentz and Fulda that is, of the See of St. Boniface, and of the great monastery which he founded. It appears to me, that it would be alike strange to suppose that if St. Boniface were a Saxon, the traditions of Mentz and Fulda would assign him to Ireland, as thatLuxeuil and Bobbio would conspire to assign to England their great patron and founder St. Columbanus. But, it is said, that Trithe- mius cites Marianus, and evidently consulted his chronicle. It is to be presumed, indeed, that it was so : but whilst Trithemius accepts as correct the statements of Marianus rela- ting to St. Boniface, he becomes voucher to us that those statements are conformable to
manise Historica," tomus v. , pp. 545, 546. M See Matthew of Pans " Chronica
this particular. " No. 3, p. 189.
Third Series, vol. v. ,
"
nus Scotus, alluding to Pope Gregory II. ,
"
74 In his
Chronicon," at A. D. 715, Maria-
has the following statement :
castus et sapiens, qui Bonifacium, patre at- que etiam matre Scottum, ordinavit Episco- pum ad sedem Moguntinum, et per eum in Germania verbum salutis prsedicavit, gen- temque iliam in tenebris sedentem evange-
Hie erat vir
—"Monumenta Ger-
Majora," edited by Henry Richards Luard, M. A. , vol. i. , p. 341.
76
mentions the transmarine Saxonland "in qua natus et nutritus fui. " According to the First Epistle to Pope Zachary, which is numbered 134 in Serarius, and in Labbe's "Collectio Conciliorum," tomus vi. , col. 1494, num. 5.
St. Boniface, writing to PopeZachary,
77 It is a fact well known, at present, that the children born of Irish parents in England
and Scotland, —
if not in
in a vast number—
of call themselves cases,
the generality
Irish, and would resent the attempt to im- pose on them the name of Englishmen or of Scotchmen. The historic recollections of the
past should give us to understand, that the
i 44 LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. [June 5.
English writers assert, that his birth occurred at Cridiantum,79 or Creditor), contracted to Kirton, in Devonshire. For this statement, we find no authority, among the most ancient writers of his Life, in Germany. —When baptized, he issaidtohavereceivedthenameofWynfrithorWinfrid sometimeswritten Winnifred ; but, this statement is not found, in the earlier Acts of this saint. 8o
While an infant, his mother's love for the child was so great, that she nursed
and cherished him with extraordinary care; the father sharing this affection
with such excess, as to prefer him to his other children. 81 In very tender
years, the child was wonderfully affected by the appearance of any person or
object, that directed his attention towards the love and service of God. He
was particularly solicitous to enquire about the proper means to shape his
futurecourseoflife. Itwascustomaryinhisageandcountrytoholdstations
or make visits to domiciliary
private houses,
82 where truths were religious
taught to the family. Whenever any priest or cleric came to his father's house,
the young Winfrid was delighted to confer with such visitor on heavenly
things. Moreover, he was earnestly desirous, at an early age, to quit the
world and all its vanities. His chief object was to consecrate himself to
God in a religious profession. When he was as yet but four or five years old, 83
the young Winfrid seemed to have a great desire for the monastic state, and he
learned to despise all things, that were merely terrestrial. His father had in-
tended, however, thathischild shouldbe addicted to some worldly pursuit, and
that he should succeed to the possession of a family patrimony. After some time,
Winfrid's intention was discovered to his dissatisfied father. The latter sought
by all means to divert him from it, partly urging him by threats, not to leave
the paternal home, and partly holding out by blandishments, how much more
preferable it should be, that he followed a secular calling. F. very expedient
was devised, to alter the child's resolution, but in vain ; for, Winfrid earnestly
desired to addict himself to sacred studies, and to unite with them a con-
templative life. Being visited with a sudden sickness, which brought him to
death's door, the father of Winfrid acknowledged this visitation came from
the hand of God, and that it was a correction for opposing the call of Heaven,
8 given to his son. *
Being now thirteen years of age, the father of Boniface sent his son to the
86 that this
house was on the site of a Roman camp, called Isca Danmoniorum, on the
of now Exeter. 85 It is monastery Adescancaster,
said,
religious
Exe River. In the seventh
century,
it was called 87 more corn- Exanceaster,
Anglo-Normans have been the common op-
pressors of the ancient Saxons and Irish, who been called Ctiritan, is known in Scottish
were formerly on exceedingly good terms. It is easy to understand, how the social and race relations have changed since the earlier
ages.
78 See Rev. Alban Butler's "Lives of the
Fathers, Martyrs and other principal saints," vol. vi. . June v.
history as Bonifacius.
8l See Willibald's Life of St. Boniface,
chap, i. , num. 5.
Sa See Les Petits " Vies Bollandistes,
des Saints," tome vi. , v Jour de Juin, p. 459.
statu religiosi,'' lib. ii. . cap. 30.
** See Les Petits Bollandistes, " Vies des
Devonshire, Joannis Janssonii "Novus Saints," tome vi. , v* Jour de Juin, p. Atlas, sive Theatrum Orbis Terrarum," 459.
Devon- shire, states, it was "ad Credenum," scil. fluvium. —See "Britannia," Danmonioe or
Hieronymus Flatus has—the words.
esset. " " quinquennis De Bono
? 9 William —
Cambden, describing
p. 134.
80 It has been suggested, by his Eminence
Cardinal Moran, that it is far from being im- probable, that both the Saxon name Wini- frid, and the Latin Bonifacius may be no- thing more than translations or adaptations of an original Celtic name. Thus, a saint
8s Now a city of Devonshire.
86 By Father Ilenschenn. in n. (a), to
Willibald's Life of St. Boniface, chap, i. , p.
462.
8? The root of this word was not Anglo-
Saxon, as Henschenn supposes; it came from the Celto-British word Exe, closely
registered in the Irish Kalendars, as having
83 "adhuc
June 5. ]
LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. 145
Close,?
Exeter,
and under Abbot Wolfhard. it was intended he There,
state,
Wolfhard,
Excester. 88
to some
8? the
Winfred received his education in a monastery,? which stood on the site of the Cathedral
monly
According
accounts,
young
1 at
should be educated, under the holy Abbot Wolfhard, to whom he was given in charge. Winfrid remained many years with him ; and, while still very young, he desired to learn wisdom from the example and counsel of his superiors. It was soon rendered manifest, that he had been divinely called to the religious
Grandisson.
91 The Rev. Dr.
in his "
of Exeter," says : "In Exeter, long before the Conquest, the place of interment was in
Oliver,
History
Chapter, we find an ordinance of Pope Inno-
in a conference with his 2 assent monks,? gave
and the Abbot
totheearnestprayerofWinfrid. Astrongimpressionwasmadeonhismind, owingtotheholyinfluencesthatsurroundedhim. Attheearlyageofseven, his intellect became developed by the assiduity he devoted to his studies, while his modesty and gravity of deportment were an index of the solid vir- tues he had acquired. He became a model student and a vessel of election, at one and the same time. Every moment of his existence was well spent. His disciplined soul answered to the highest expectations of his religious teachers, and his naturally good dispositions were a preservative against the effeminacy which vice engenders. Perfectly pure were all his intentions, and an abun- dance of Divine Grace kept him chaste and sober ; each day was he engaged accumulating merits, while he was preparing that store of learning and of vir- tue, destined to serve for the successful prosecution of his future Apostolic career. It was soon found, that his masters were unable to teach their pupil in that monastery, where his course had been commenced. ? 3 Thence, for further improvement, with consent of the Abbot Wolfhard and his community, Winfrid entered the monastery of Nutscelle,? * or Huntcell. It was flourishing, at that time, in regular discipline, under the rule of Abbot Winbercht. Here he studied under another master, and he became endeared to all the monks.
He applied himself anew to the service of God, and to all the details of sacred and profane learning. He was versed in Grammar and Rhetoric, in historic studies and in the measures of poetry. He united fasting with prayer; while he cherished the virtues of humility and obedience, with a spirit of charity towards his brethren and the rest of mankind. ? 5 Especially to enquire what
corresponding with the Irish, Isca, which and was especially so during the pestilence
means water.
88
Latinized Exonia.
89 See "The Irish Builder," vol. xxviii. ,
No. 639,p. 225. '
90 According to the account of Bishop led to the opening of a new cemetery in the
old Prisonhay on St. Bartholomew's Day,
24th August, 1637. "
92 Willi bald adds: "et eorum accepta
(sicut regularis vitse poposcit ordo) benedic- the Close : nay, among the archives of our tione," &c. Life of St. Boniface, chap, i. ,
num. 7.
9, John of Trittenhem states, that St.
Boniface had been sent by his parents —to an
evi- Capituli et Episcopi i. e. , that to no one dently a mistake for Nutscelle when he was may it be lawful to build cemeteries below only five years old. It seems, however, the
cent III. between Jan. 1 198 and 1216,'atnulli
liceat construere infra cemeteria terminos
parochse Exoniensis ecclesire sine assensu English monastery, called Mischele
of 1636. The accumulation of corpses, and the mounds of earth, to use the energetic language of Bishop John Hall, threatened to
buryindecorouslytheveryCathedral. This
'—' —
the boundaries of the Parochial Church of
Exeter without consent of the Chapter and
Bishop. ' This privilege had been conceded,
however, to the various religious houses, and fate with all the rest, during the time of the
Bishop Grandisson, on the 31st March, 1354,
extended this licence to St. John's Hospital.
But the Close, which Bishop Grandisson
styles 'commune civitatis poliandrum,'
i. e. , 'the common burying-place of the cap. i. , sect. 6.
city,' became at last an intolerable nuisance, 9fi St. Boniface is claimed as a Benedictine
holy student was many years older, at that particular time of his life.
94 This monastery underwent a common
Danish devastations. It was never since re- stored. We know not, at present, even the place where it stood.
95 See his Life by the Utrecht priest,
146 LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. [June 5.
he must do to secure his soul, was a subject for conversation. Daily medita- tationsheexercised,onthegreattruthsofeternity. Meantime,hisdevotional and literary exercises, were alternated with manual labour, according to the
constitutions of the
holy
Father Benedict. ^6
He observed witli
Incessantly he meditated on the
tion, the whole discipline of a regular life.
Holy Scriptures; and he learned their triple interpretation, ? so that he was
competent to expound them for the instruction even of his masters. These instructions appear to have been given in the shape of lectures ; since his
biographer relates, that when the fame of his learning went aboard, among
the monasteries of holy men and women, numbers of these religious wished to
profitbyhisteaching,andflockedtohearhisinstructions. Tiiespiritoflight
and of charity seemed to come from his lips, and to descend into the hearts of
his hearers; while food for pious reflections and resolves was afforded and to
thoseofbothsexes,whowerepresent. Heinspiredatasteforspiritualscrip-
tural reading, with a desire to penetrate the hidden mysteries, and he furnished
motives to excite divine love. His noble example gave earnestness and faith
to his teaching ; so that, while his affability and charity caused him to be
esteemed by all who knew him, his rare abilities and facile mode of teaching
werethoroughlyadmired. Havingacquiredsuchprofoundandvariederudi-
tion, we should not feel surprised, that Winfrid had been promoted, at thirty,
to the holy order of Priesthood, as that seems to have been the canonical
age, at the period of which we treat. This happened about the year 710 °8
or IO° theWest a and 101 712. 99 Ina, Kingof Saxons, good pious ruler, reigned,
at the time.
Some dissensions had unhappily prevailed in the kingdom and in the
Church, when the king advised the holding of a Synod by the ecclesiastical superiors. Tothis,hesuggested,thattheclergyshouldbeinvited. Accord-
ingly, an assembly was convoked, and when the questions which were to be discussed had been proposed, the different grades of the Ecclesiastical order and the faithful who were present deemed it just to consult their Primate, by sending delegates to him. For this errand, the Abbot Winbercht of Nutsceile
Monastery,
the Abbot Wintra of
T °2 and the Abbot Disselburg Monastery,
BeerwaldI03 of IO+ Glastonbury Monastery,
boreames-
the West Saxons, to Berchtwald or Brithwald,105 at that time Archbishop of
He
to treat with him, about those ecclesiastical controversies, which had been con- sidered. So great was the opinion his superiors already entertained of Win- frid's capacity and knowledge, that young as he was in the ministry, his
They
sage from the king to the Archbishop of Canterbury, and it required judgment and delicacy to accommodate matters. Among others, Winfrid had been chosen, and he was sent by the fathers of this Synod, held in the province of
over this See from a. d.
deputation set out on their journey to Kent. The purpose of this visit was
Canterbury.
presided
693
monk,byJohnofTrittenhem.
