Catalogus
through
ever gazed on, especially in the summer sea- son.
through
ever gazed on, especially in the summer sea- son.
O'Hanlon - Lives of the Irish Saints - v4
ii.
, p.
143.
"
See Hid. Secunda Vita S. Fechini, n. 4 p. 141.
,• ,,
5 See
Colgnii's
" Acta Sanctorum Hiber-
Article ix. — See "Acta Sanctorum,"
802 LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS.
[April 17.
St. Peter the Deacon is noticed, likewise, in the Scottish Kalendars ;' and, it would appear, that he had a church dedicated to his memory, at Kilchrenan. s At Kilpeter, also, there was a fair,* and this was the ancient name of Hous- ton, in the county of Renfrew.
Article X. —Reputed Festival of a St. Donan, Abbot, Scotland. TheBreviaryofAberdeen' hasanOfficewithNineLessons,takenfromthe Common of a Confessor, and of an Abbot, and this was recited in a church dedicated to St. Donan, when the 1 7th of April fell within Passion-tide ; but, the Office only had Three Lessons, if that day happened to be after Easter. There was a Prayer proper to this Office. Adam King mentions him, in the Kalendar published,' and Camerarius pronounces a high eulogy on his virtues of humility, of abstinence, of mortification, and of persevering prayer, even when infirm of health. 3 He is said to have been a great favourite of Duncan, King of Scotland, over whose actions he had considerable influ- ence. He is called "Abbas Tanglandiae. " He is said to have lived under King Machabius, a. d. 640, according to one account ; but, the Bollandists,* whonoticehim,atthisday,thinkitshouldbeinorabout1046. According to Thomas Dempster, this saint was Abbot in Achterles,5 of which he was patron f and Ferrarius follows this account. He died, a. d. 1044, according to Camerarius ; but, he lived in 1 140, according to Dempster. His bachul is said to have been used, for the purposes of healing ^ but, it was destroyed by the heretics. If we believe Dempster, this saint was the author of some works;^however,wecannotcreditthis,onhisunsupportedword. Whether this Donan differed from the Martyr of Eigg—also venerated on this day— may admit of question, as the authorities and dates are very uncertain re-
garding him.
Article XL—St. Marianus Scotus, Chronographus, of Ratisbon, IN Bavaria. The Acts of this illustrious man had been arranged, by Colgan,
for publication at this day. ' But, his chief festival has been assigned to the 9th of February, thought to have been the date for his death. In the first editionoftheEnglishMartyrology,whichFerrarius' andFitz-simon3 have followed, Marianus Scotus, Chronographus, is set down as a saint. However,
tomus ii. , Aprilis xvii. De S. Petro Dia- cono et S. Hermogene Ministro ejus. Mar- tyribus Antiochiae, p. 479.
' See Bishop Forbes' "Kalendars of Scot- tish Saints," p. 434.
3 See "OriginesParochialesScotise,"pars. ii. , pp. 120,826.
* Old " Statistical Account of Scotland,"
Scotia, p. 495.
s For this statement, he cites a Kalendar
vol. i. , p. 316. — Article x.
3 In the Scottish Entries in the Kalendar of David Camerarius, however, there is no notice of him, at this date. See ilnd. , pp.
226, 227. . .
See "Acta Sanctorum," tomus ii. , Ap- rilis xvii. De Sancto Donano, Abbate in
'
of April. "S. Don. ine Abot and Confe—ss, in Scotland vnder King Mac-
a. d.
= At
1509. 17th
habeda. " Bishop Scottish Saints," p. 150.
tisMysteriis, lib. i. , and, Regula Officii Eccle-
Printed at Edinburgh,
"
Forbes' Kalendars of
X\cx Vitse lib. i. Institutum,
DeS. Trinita-
" at the 17th of April,
undefined, in the
Menologium Scoticum,"
sia^ticii. — Article XI.
'
"
Patronus in Achterles.
'jHe states :
Thomse Dempsteri Baronia, cujus Sanctac Reliquiae elevatae xviii. Aprilis, et nundinae
—"
clesiastica Gentis Scotorum," tomus ii. .
lib. iv. , num. 377, p. 207.
' . See Bishop Forbes' " Kalendars of Scot-
tish Saints," pp. 325, 326.
* These are said to have been : Monas-
frequentes toto eo tractu. "
Historia Ec-
See notices of him, in the Life of St. Muricherodac, at the 17th of
January.
'
^ in his Catalogue of Irish Saints.
In his General Catalogue of Saints,
April i8. ] LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. 203
his name is omitted, in the second edition of the English Martyrology, as the Bollandists remark. TheActsofthispiousreclusehavebeengivenalready,
at the 30th day of January.
Article XII. —First Exhumation of the Body of St. Laurence O'TooLE, Archbishop of Dublin. The first removal of the remains of St. Laurence O'Toole took place at Eu, in Normandy, on the 17th of April, II 86. A further account, regarding this exhumation, will be found in our Life of this sjint, to be published, at the 14th of November.
Article XIII. —St. Moluanus of Druim Sneachta. Colgan appears to
have had a life of the saint here named ready for publication, at the 17th of
April. His feast seems to have been referred, to the 4th of August. " Hence, he would be likely to agree with St. Molua, Abbot of Clonfert Molua, in the
Queen's County.
Article XIV. —Reputed Festival of St. Ruadhan, Abbot of Lhorra, County of Tipperary. [Sixlh Cetttury. '] We are told, that the festival of St. Ruadhan, Abbot of Lhorra, had been observed, on the 17th of April. " We have already given his Life, at the 1 5th of this month.
(Si'gbtecntt) J3ap of 9pril.
ARTICLE I. —LIFE OF ST. LASERIAN, BISHOP AND PATRON OF LEIGHLIN DIOCESE.
[SIXTH AND SEVENTH CENTURIES. ] CHAPTER I.
introduction—authorities for ST. LASERIAN S ACTS—VARIATIONS OF NAME— FAMILY AND DESCENT OF THIS SAINT—IRELAND AND SCOTLAND IN FORMER TIMES—PROBABLE PERIOD OF ST. LASERIAN's BIRTH—A PART OF HIS YOUTHFUL LIFE SPENT IN SCOTLAND—MIRACLES—
ST. LASERIAN RETURNS TO IRELAND— taught by ABBOT MUNNU—PROVIDENTIAL MANIFESTATIONS.
we cannot make a pilgrimage to the existing shrines and venerate the
IF visible relics of our great national Saints, at the present day, it is
allowable, notwithstanding, to visit those highly interesting localities, still hallowed by association and memory with their cherished labours. The charms ofbeautiful scenery are nearly always—as in the present instance— allied with historic and religious remembrances. Time can hardly change the old landmarks of nature. In some instances, it would seem, that im-
<""
See rilis xvii.
Acta Sanctorum, tomus ii. , Ap- Among the pretermitted saints,
siumetDierum. " InthisCatalogue,heismen- tioned a second time, at the 4th of August, Article xiv. — See Harris' Ware, vol.
p. 476,
Article xiii. —See"Catalogus Actuum
Sanctorum quse MS. habentur,iordine Men-
" Writers of Book ii. , Ireland,"
I, chap, iii. ,
p. 17.
804 LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. [April i8.
proved features of interest attach to its passing cycles. ' Nearly thirty years
ago, the promenade of oiir ecclesiastical students from Carlow College was
directed along the Barrow's right bank,^ on the road to Old Leighlin. Yet,
never were we able to reach this historic spot, and return in time for the early
dinnerbell. However,faraswecouldtraveltowardstheancientchurchofSt.
Laserian, patron of Leighlin diocese, the scenery spread onward and upward,
in rich and varied outlines and prospects. Dark Mount Leinster and the Black
Stairs mountains were looming afar off and before us, with cloud or sunshine
alternately settling or flitting over their summits. Wooded slopes andcultivated
fields spread along either bank ; while Clogrennan, chequered over with
hedgerows and its well relieved contrasts of soil and surface colours, carried
our range of vision to a distance, which assuredly lent enchantment to the
view. Thus, every turn of the road revealed new beauties of landscape, and
almosteverymilehadhistoricinterestofitsown. Furtherwecannotlinger
on topics or associations, to which reminiscences of former happy hours
should carry us, for our present contribution must deal only with some
brief and imperfect notices, relating to the biography of Leighlin's Patron Saint.
Some Manuscript Lives of this noble Patron are extant. 3 Again, at the i8th of April, the Bollandists have published Acts of St. Laserian, taken from a MS. , which belonged to Father Henry Fitzsimon, a learned Irish Jesuit.
According to the discriminating editor, jpapebroke, this Life of our Saint was written by an unknown author—probably he was an Englishman—and after the eleventh century. The editor endeavours to prove these statements, from the circumstance of the name Scotia being found applied in it, to that part of Britain, now called Scotland, the inhabitants of which country formerly mi- grated from Ireland and overcame the Plots. The Bollandists had a Salaman- can MS. , likewise containing the Life of this Saint ; it was, however, some- what mutilated towards the end. To this authority, reference is often made, in appended notes. Somewhat differing from it was that one, in possession of Henry Fitzsimon. It was slightly interpolated, yet, was it regarded as more ornate in style. Conjecture has been advanced, that the Irish Franciscans of Louvain possessed a perfect copy of the former, which they might after- wards publish. •* As edited by Papebroke, he supposed the Acts to have been acompilationfrommoreancientIrishMSB. Itrequirednosm'allamountof correction, and this he promised in his annotations should be attempted. Like almost all other Lives of Irish Saints, it is filled with miracles and pro- digies, especially referring to our saint's infancy. Its train of narrative is con- fused, and in certain particulars, it is unworthy of credit. ' In some modern collections,theLifeofthisholyBishopwillbediscovered. ^ St. Laserianis
Article i. —Chapter i. — The present
biography of St. Laserian was at first written
for the Carlow College Magazine, and it ap- peared in successive Numbers of the First Volume. Someadditionsandemendations it has been
Stanza xliii.
3 There is such a Life of St. Lasrean, as
yet unpublished. See Rev. Dr. O'Conor's
" Bibliotheca MS. Stowensis," vol. i. , No.
lished. '
forpublication,forthepresentdate; but,in
consequence of his death, it did not after-
Sanctorum, quse MS. habentur, ordine Men- slum et Dierum. "
5 See " Acta Sanctorum," tomus ii. , Ap- rilis xviii. Acta S. Laseriani, sec. 3, p'^. ,,,
as now
That noble river flowed on our left,
26, p. 127.
•• seems to have had this Life Colgan
subjected to,
repiib-
ready
the most hath wards See " Actuum lovely country eye appear.
Catalogus
through
ever gazed on, especially in the summer sea- son. This river as the poet Spenser says,
„ , , , , , Great henps of salmons m his deepe
'
'^°^^TM^- —The"FaerieQueene,"Bookiv. ,Cantoxi. ,
„ , , , , °°'" TM°TM
° " Thus, in Butler's
Lives of the Fathers, Martyrs, and other principal Saints," St.
April i8. ] LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. 205
sometimes called Molassius, or Molaissus, being Latinized from the prefix
mo, signifying my, and Laisre, or Lasrean, his real name. ? This was likewise
the case, with respect to his namesake, the Abbot of Devenish, with whom
Hanmer has confomided our saint f but, they are altogether distinct persons. '
The year of St. Laserian's birth is not accurately known ; although the Bol-
landists suppose him, to have come into this world, about the year 566. Such
conclusion is drawn from certain calculations made by them. As, however,
St. Columba left Ireland for lona, about a. d. 563, and as the monk Fintan
Munnu, afterwards reputed master of our saint, was supposed to have lived
in Hy, at this time, Dr. Lanigan alludes to the Bollandists' computation, as
" a
mistake. "'"
to the Abbot Murin " was Ware,
huge
Jerusalem, elevated by the great Creator of all things to a bright effulgence of glory, Lasrean shone like the morning star, owing to the eminence of his virtues and merits. He is said to have been royally descended ; his father Cairel belonging to a noble family of Ulidia, in the northern part of Ireland. '^ His mother is called Gemma, and she is said to have been a daughter of . Edan, King of Scotia, and a niece to the King of Britain. 's This . i^dan, a renowned king of the British Scots, owed the Irish a great debt of gratitude ; because, after the untimely death of his father, Gebran, or Goran, being lianished, with his mother and family, from the paternal dominions, he was
Laserian, called by some Molaisre, is at the man cycle, than in the north, where
" In his storie I finde mention of a controversie betwune him and Lazerianus, who builded a Monasterie, in Stagno Hiber- niae Dai-ynis, in the north part of Ireland, so it is written in the Life of /txlanus ; after- wards he came to the River Berba (now called the Barrow), and then became Abbot of fifteene hundred monkes. "—
of Ireland," p. 123.
' The former is said to have flourished at a later period than the latter. . See Harris'
Ware, vol. i. , "Bishops of Leighlin," p. 454-
" at the 1st Colgan,
says
:
when treat- ing of St. Cadden (n. 12), calls the father of our saint Catellus, instead of Cairellus, as found in the Salamancan MS. , quoted by the Bollandists. In Ware, " De I'raesulibus Hibernioe," Laserian is said to have been son to Cairel de Blitha. Harris translates that our saint "was the son
For, according
being
St Laserian's instructor, during his younger years. " But, we must pursue the further traces of his biography. Among the citizens of the Heavenly
i8th of April. See vol. iv.
Speaking of St. Fintan Munnus, Hanmer
it was violently opposed.
See " Eccleaiis-
" Ecclesiastical
' See
Ireland," vol. ii. , chap, xv. , sec. ix. , n. 7, p.
"
See Harris' Ware, vol. i. , Leighlin," p. 454.
Lanigan's
History
of
tical of History
Ireland,"
vol.
ii. , chap, xv. ,
Bishops of
"Chronicle
this, bystating,
of Cairel by Blitha.
possible, that such was Ware's meaning, as his account of Laserian differs in many respects from that contained in the Life, as
"
published by the Bollandists. See
° He thinks, the Bollandists have no siastical History of Ireland," vol. ii. , chap.
authority for placing St. Fintan Munnu's
birth about the year 566. He also deems it
probable, that Laserian was nearly as old as
Fintan, who was young, at the time of Co-
lumkille's death, in 597. There is noaccount,
regarding the relationship of master and dis-
ciple between both saints, in the contest,
said to have taken place at the Whitefield.
"
Dr. Lanigan remarks, that Ware does
not tell us who this Murin was. He could
hardly have been St. Mums of Fahen, in the
county of Donegal, because this saint flou-
rished about the middle of the seventh cen-
tury. Perhaps, the person meant by the Reguli affinitatem ambivisse /Edanum, qua name of Murin was Murganius, Abbot of
Glean-Ussan. There is reason to think, that
Laserian studied rather in the south, where
the clergy were inclined to receive the Ro-
sec. ix. , nn. 59, 60, p. 403. ""
"
Dr. Lanigan thinks it
XV. , sec ix. , n. 58,0. 403.
'* According to Harris' Ware, vol. i. , our
saint's mother is said to have been "a daughter of some king of the Picts. "—"Bis-
hops of Leighlin," p. 454. Archdall, how- ever, calls her Blitha, in his "Monasticon
Hibernicum," p. 37 ;but, he gives no autho- rity for such an appellation, for his subse- quent reference to Colgan does not sus- tain it.
5" Mortua prima uxore Erca Hiberna ex qua S. Blaanus, infra memorandus, hujus S. Lasreani avunculus Britannici
February,
; alicujus
recuperandi regni patemi spem firmaret, baud incorigruum fuit. " See " Acta Sanc-
torum," tomus ii. , Aprilis xviii. , n. (c), p. 545-
Eccle-
206 LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. [April i8.
kindlyreceivedandprotectedbytheIrish,formorethanfortyyears. After- wards, through the efforts of St. Columba,'* he was restored, about a. d. 580, when over fifty years of age. V^et, these obligations were more than repaid, when his daughter Gemma, having married one of the Ulidian nobles, gave birth to St. Lasrean, or Molassius,'? afterwards the renowned Abbot of
Leighlin Monastery, in the province of Lagenia. Around this establishment, near the banks of the River Barrow, an episcopal city afterwards arose, giving title to a diocese, now united with the See of Kildare. '' The site selected was sheltered and picturesque, while it was happily chosen for re- ligious requirements.
As regards St. Laserian's family connections and early years, they seem to have been considerably identified with that country, now known as Scotland. '' But when Scotia, or the land of the Scots, was treated about, by writers in the earlier centuries of Christianity, they referred not to modern Scotland, but to ancient Ireland. " In after times, when the renown of the Scots extended over Europe, and when their name had passed to another country, their fame went with it. It served to make Caledonian Scotland more remarkable amongthenations,thanotherwisesheshouldhavebeen. " Hersonswere then reluctant to part with an honourable, but a falsely-acquired, birth-right. Everywhere over the European continent, when it had been torn by wars and revolutions, Scottish or Irish ecclesiastics and scholars were sought from Scotia, or Ireland, then known as the Land of Saints. Several religious houses were founded in their favour, so that the services of men highly distinguished might be retained in various districts. Some of these establishments even survived to later times. Not alone their early historic fame, but the digni- ties and emoluments of their foundations, accrued to that country, which at a later period bore the name of Scotia. '^ The exact period of St. Laserian's
' Through Divine admonition, this saint crowned ^dan king, a. d. 578, in the island of lona. Afterwards, Columba brought him
to Kynnatillus, with a hope of receiving the kingdom of Scotland, That hope was rea- lised within the lapse of two years. See
various lengthened dissertations and argu-
ments to prove, that Scotland had not been
peopled from Ireland, in opposition to what he deems "the very weak and silly asser-
" Historia Rerum Scotica- rum," lib. ix. St. Columba also befriended ^lidan during his absence, when this king ob- tained two victories over the Saxons, in the year 590 and 591. These triumphs were owing to the prayers of that holy Abbot.
See Adamnan's " Vita S. Columbse. "
' It is highly probable, St. Laserian be- longed to that Dalriad race, which colonized the western side of Scotland, bordering, ac- cording to Sir Walter Scott, "on a people
" Maitland's has also been started
Hector
Boeotius,
tlieory
by John Macpherson, D. D. , in his
with a name, and perhaps a descent, similar
totheirown. " See HistoryofScotland," See that modem, most elegantly written,
vol. i. , chap, i. , p. 8. and accurate work by John Hill Burton,
'*" " See Acta Sanctorum," tomus ii. , Ap-
rilis xviii. Vita S. Lasreani, sec. i. , and nn. (a, b, c), p. 543, 545.
'' For an interesting account, regarding
the former inhabitants of the British Islands,
the reader is referred to Augustin Thierry's
"History of the Norman Conquest," the twelfth century, and became a sort of
Book I. '""
in his "
head or metropolitan over a number of minor
houses, connected like itself, with originally
the priesthood who had wandered from Ire- land. In later times, and even down to its suppression in the year 1847, it was treated
and Anti- quities of Scotland,—" vol. i. , chap, xi. , xii. ,
Maitland,
History
xiii. , pp. 87 to 112 a work of
—considerable learning in many other respects enters upon
tions of our own writers, Fordun, Major, Boece, Lesley, Buchanan, etc. "
" Dissertation on the Origin, Antiquities, Lan- guage, Government, Manners, and Religion
of the Ancient Caledonians, their posterity the Picts, and the British and Irish Scots," Diss. viii. Heevenendeavourstoshow,that Ireland had been first peopled from Cale- donia, at p. loi. But these opinions have long been abandoned, by all enlightened Scottish historians, who have examined the earliest
and most authentic records. " ^"
TheHistoryofScotland,"vol. i. , chap. v. This writer relates, as an example of such unfairness, the transference of an affluent re ligious house at Ratisbon, or Regensburg, known as the Scottish
" It was enriched and enlarged at the beginning of
Monastery.
Critical
April i8. ] LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. 207
birth is unknown, and we have little or no account, regarding the earlier part ofhislife. ^5 Yet,inordertounfoldwithmoreaccuracyaseriesofevents,in connection with our saint's Acts, an inquiry ought first to be instituted, re-
the when Laserian's father '» had founded his kingdom in specting period,
It is said to have been at a subsequent time, that Gemma, our saint's mother, brought her son over to that country. '* Yet great historic shadows hover around those days, far removed from our times. St. Laserian's
nativity, by some authorities, has been assigned, to about a. d. 566 ; but, we are informed in the old Life,"' that prodigies marked various circumstances, connected with his birth. "* Shortly afterwards, a certain man, born blind, and who is called Sennach,'9 chanced to wash his face with water, which came in contact with the infant. Through Divine mercy, in the very act of ablu- tion, this man's sight was restored. The great St. Columkille is said to have left Ireland for the Hebrides in 563,3° probably a short time before the birth of Laserian. The religious establishment, which he founded at lona, is justly regarded as the true centre of all those most sacred and heart-stirring asso- ciations, connected with the introduction of Scottish Christianity, although
as exclusively belonging to natives of Scot- eightieth year. He was buried at Kilche- land. Its private annals, however, relate ran, where none of his predecessors had
"
Albyn. 's
how, so lately as the fifleeth century, the
Irish fought for its retention or restoration,
and were beaten. The local authorities were
clear that the Scottish Monastery belonged
to Scotland, and treated the partial posses-
sion of it by the Irish ecclesiastics as an in-
vasion. Theywerefinallydrivenoutin! 515. "
Pope Leo the Tenth is said to have issued
a Bull, restoring it to its presumed owners,
the inhabitants of Scotland. In a note to
the foregoing passage, the writer quotes for
his authority. Collection in the Scots Col-
leges abroad, by the late James Denistoun dun. /fedan lived to the age of fifty-six
of Denistoun, in the Advocates' Library. He
* Buchanan's Chronology places vEdan's death, at a. d. 604, after a reign of thirty- four years. See " Rerum Scoticarum Histo- ria, "lib. v. , p. 144. Yet, Papebroke says, that if from such a date we go backwards, through twenty-four complete years, which have been assigned for his reign, by Scotus, a poet of the eleventh century, we are biought to the year 580. At this period, Kynetillus, . /Edan's predecessor, died, according to For-
years. He was the maternal grandfather of St. Laserian.
"
See Hid. Secunda Vita S. Fechini, n. 4 p. 141.
,• ,,
5 See
Colgnii's
" Acta Sanctorum Hiber-
Article ix. — See "Acta Sanctorum,"
802 LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS.
[April 17.
St. Peter the Deacon is noticed, likewise, in the Scottish Kalendars ;' and, it would appear, that he had a church dedicated to his memory, at Kilchrenan. s At Kilpeter, also, there was a fair,* and this was the ancient name of Hous- ton, in the county of Renfrew.
Article X. —Reputed Festival of a St. Donan, Abbot, Scotland. TheBreviaryofAberdeen' hasanOfficewithNineLessons,takenfromthe Common of a Confessor, and of an Abbot, and this was recited in a church dedicated to St. Donan, when the 1 7th of April fell within Passion-tide ; but, the Office only had Three Lessons, if that day happened to be after Easter. There was a Prayer proper to this Office. Adam King mentions him, in the Kalendar published,' and Camerarius pronounces a high eulogy on his virtues of humility, of abstinence, of mortification, and of persevering prayer, even when infirm of health. 3 He is said to have been a great favourite of Duncan, King of Scotland, over whose actions he had considerable influ- ence. He is called "Abbas Tanglandiae. " He is said to have lived under King Machabius, a. d. 640, according to one account ; but, the Bollandists,* whonoticehim,atthisday,thinkitshouldbeinorabout1046. According to Thomas Dempster, this saint was Abbot in Achterles,5 of which he was patron f and Ferrarius follows this account. He died, a. d. 1044, according to Camerarius ; but, he lived in 1 140, according to Dempster. His bachul is said to have been used, for the purposes of healing ^ but, it was destroyed by the heretics. If we believe Dempster, this saint was the author of some works;^however,wecannotcreditthis,onhisunsupportedword. Whether this Donan differed from the Martyr of Eigg—also venerated on this day— may admit of question, as the authorities and dates are very uncertain re-
garding him.
Article XL—St. Marianus Scotus, Chronographus, of Ratisbon, IN Bavaria. The Acts of this illustrious man had been arranged, by Colgan,
for publication at this day. ' But, his chief festival has been assigned to the 9th of February, thought to have been the date for his death. In the first editionoftheEnglishMartyrology,whichFerrarius' andFitz-simon3 have followed, Marianus Scotus, Chronographus, is set down as a saint. However,
tomus ii. , Aprilis xvii. De S. Petro Dia- cono et S. Hermogene Ministro ejus. Mar- tyribus Antiochiae, p. 479.
' See Bishop Forbes' "Kalendars of Scot- tish Saints," p. 434.
3 See "OriginesParochialesScotise,"pars. ii. , pp. 120,826.
* Old " Statistical Account of Scotland,"
Scotia, p. 495.
s For this statement, he cites a Kalendar
vol. i. , p. 316. — Article x.
3 In the Scottish Entries in the Kalendar of David Camerarius, however, there is no notice of him, at this date. See ilnd. , pp.
226, 227. . .
See "Acta Sanctorum," tomus ii. , Ap- rilis xvii. De Sancto Donano, Abbate in
'
of April. "S. Don. ine Abot and Confe—ss, in Scotland vnder King Mac-
a. d.
= At
1509. 17th
habeda. " Bishop Scottish Saints," p. 150.
tisMysteriis, lib. i. , and, Regula Officii Eccle-
Printed at Edinburgh,
"
Forbes' Kalendars of
X\cx Vitse lib. i. Institutum,
DeS. Trinita-
" at the 17th of April,
undefined, in the
Menologium Scoticum,"
sia^ticii. — Article XI.
'
"
Patronus in Achterles.
'jHe states :
Thomse Dempsteri Baronia, cujus Sanctac Reliquiae elevatae xviii. Aprilis, et nundinae
—"
clesiastica Gentis Scotorum," tomus ii. .
lib. iv. , num. 377, p. 207.
' . See Bishop Forbes' " Kalendars of Scot-
tish Saints," pp. 325, 326.
* These are said to have been : Monas-
frequentes toto eo tractu. "
Historia Ec-
See notices of him, in the Life of St. Muricherodac, at the 17th of
January.
'
^ in his Catalogue of Irish Saints.
In his General Catalogue of Saints,
April i8. ] LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. 203
his name is omitted, in the second edition of the English Martyrology, as the Bollandists remark. TheActsofthispiousreclusehavebeengivenalready,
at the 30th day of January.
Article XII. —First Exhumation of the Body of St. Laurence O'TooLE, Archbishop of Dublin. The first removal of the remains of St. Laurence O'Toole took place at Eu, in Normandy, on the 17th of April, II 86. A further account, regarding this exhumation, will be found in our Life of this sjint, to be published, at the 14th of November.
Article XIII. —St. Moluanus of Druim Sneachta. Colgan appears to
have had a life of the saint here named ready for publication, at the 17th of
April. His feast seems to have been referred, to the 4th of August. " Hence, he would be likely to agree with St. Molua, Abbot of Clonfert Molua, in the
Queen's County.
Article XIV. —Reputed Festival of St. Ruadhan, Abbot of Lhorra, County of Tipperary. [Sixlh Cetttury. '] We are told, that the festival of St. Ruadhan, Abbot of Lhorra, had been observed, on the 17th of April. " We have already given his Life, at the 1 5th of this month.
(Si'gbtecntt) J3ap of 9pril.
ARTICLE I. —LIFE OF ST. LASERIAN, BISHOP AND PATRON OF LEIGHLIN DIOCESE.
[SIXTH AND SEVENTH CENTURIES. ] CHAPTER I.
introduction—authorities for ST. LASERIAN S ACTS—VARIATIONS OF NAME— FAMILY AND DESCENT OF THIS SAINT—IRELAND AND SCOTLAND IN FORMER TIMES—PROBABLE PERIOD OF ST. LASERIAN's BIRTH—A PART OF HIS YOUTHFUL LIFE SPENT IN SCOTLAND—MIRACLES—
ST. LASERIAN RETURNS TO IRELAND— taught by ABBOT MUNNU—PROVIDENTIAL MANIFESTATIONS.
we cannot make a pilgrimage to the existing shrines and venerate the
IF visible relics of our great national Saints, at the present day, it is
allowable, notwithstanding, to visit those highly interesting localities, still hallowed by association and memory with their cherished labours. The charms ofbeautiful scenery are nearly always—as in the present instance— allied with historic and religious remembrances. Time can hardly change the old landmarks of nature. In some instances, it would seem, that im-
<""
See rilis xvii.
Acta Sanctorum, tomus ii. , Ap- Among the pretermitted saints,
siumetDierum. " InthisCatalogue,heismen- tioned a second time, at the 4th of August, Article xiv. — See Harris' Ware, vol.
p. 476,
Article xiii. —See"Catalogus Actuum
Sanctorum quse MS. habentur,iordine Men-
" Writers of Book ii. , Ireland,"
I, chap, iii. ,
p. 17.
804 LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. [April i8.
proved features of interest attach to its passing cycles. ' Nearly thirty years
ago, the promenade of oiir ecclesiastical students from Carlow College was
directed along the Barrow's right bank,^ on the road to Old Leighlin. Yet,
never were we able to reach this historic spot, and return in time for the early
dinnerbell. However,faraswecouldtraveltowardstheancientchurchofSt.
Laserian, patron of Leighlin diocese, the scenery spread onward and upward,
in rich and varied outlines and prospects. Dark Mount Leinster and the Black
Stairs mountains were looming afar off and before us, with cloud or sunshine
alternately settling or flitting over their summits. Wooded slopes andcultivated
fields spread along either bank ; while Clogrennan, chequered over with
hedgerows and its well relieved contrasts of soil and surface colours, carried
our range of vision to a distance, which assuredly lent enchantment to the
view. Thus, every turn of the road revealed new beauties of landscape, and
almosteverymilehadhistoricinterestofitsown. Furtherwecannotlinger
on topics or associations, to which reminiscences of former happy hours
should carry us, for our present contribution must deal only with some
brief and imperfect notices, relating to the biography of Leighlin's Patron Saint.
Some Manuscript Lives of this noble Patron are extant. 3 Again, at the i8th of April, the Bollandists have published Acts of St. Laserian, taken from a MS. , which belonged to Father Henry Fitzsimon, a learned Irish Jesuit.
According to the discriminating editor, jpapebroke, this Life of our Saint was written by an unknown author—probably he was an Englishman—and after the eleventh century. The editor endeavours to prove these statements, from the circumstance of the name Scotia being found applied in it, to that part of Britain, now called Scotland, the inhabitants of which country formerly mi- grated from Ireland and overcame the Plots. The Bollandists had a Salaman- can MS. , likewise containing the Life of this Saint ; it was, however, some- what mutilated towards the end. To this authority, reference is often made, in appended notes. Somewhat differing from it was that one, in possession of Henry Fitzsimon. It was slightly interpolated, yet, was it regarded as more ornate in style. Conjecture has been advanced, that the Irish Franciscans of Louvain possessed a perfect copy of the former, which they might after- wards publish. •* As edited by Papebroke, he supposed the Acts to have been acompilationfrommoreancientIrishMSB. Itrequirednosm'allamountof correction, and this he promised in his annotations should be attempted. Like almost all other Lives of Irish Saints, it is filled with miracles and pro- digies, especially referring to our saint's infancy. Its train of narrative is con- fused, and in certain particulars, it is unworthy of credit. ' In some modern collections,theLifeofthisholyBishopwillbediscovered. ^ St. Laserianis
Article i. —Chapter i. — The present
biography of St. Laserian was at first written
for the Carlow College Magazine, and it ap- peared in successive Numbers of the First Volume. Someadditionsandemendations it has been
Stanza xliii.
3 There is such a Life of St. Lasrean, as
yet unpublished. See Rev. Dr. O'Conor's
" Bibliotheca MS. Stowensis," vol. i. , No.
lished. '
forpublication,forthepresentdate; but,in
consequence of his death, it did not after-
Sanctorum, quse MS. habentur, ordine Men- slum et Dierum. "
5 See " Acta Sanctorum," tomus ii. , Ap- rilis xviii. Acta S. Laseriani, sec. 3, p'^. ,,,
as now
That noble river flowed on our left,
26, p. 127.
•• seems to have had this Life Colgan
subjected to,
repiib-
ready
the most hath wards See " Actuum lovely country eye appear.
Catalogus
through
ever gazed on, especially in the summer sea- son. This river as the poet Spenser says,
„ , , , , , Great henps of salmons m his deepe
'
'^°^^TM^- —The"FaerieQueene,"Bookiv. ,Cantoxi. ,
„ , , , , °°'" TM°TM
° " Thus, in Butler's
Lives of the Fathers, Martyrs, and other principal Saints," St.
April i8. ] LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. 205
sometimes called Molassius, or Molaissus, being Latinized from the prefix
mo, signifying my, and Laisre, or Lasrean, his real name. ? This was likewise
the case, with respect to his namesake, the Abbot of Devenish, with whom
Hanmer has confomided our saint f but, they are altogether distinct persons. '
The year of St. Laserian's birth is not accurately known ; although the Bol-
landists suppose him, to have come into this world, about the year 566. Such
conclusion is drawn from certain calculations made by them. As, however,
St. Columba left Ireland for lona, about a. d. 563, and as the monk Fintan
Munnu, afterwards reputed master of our saint, was supposed to have lived
in Hy, at this time, Dr. Lanigan alludes to the Bollandists' computation, as
" a
mistake. "'"
to the Abbot Murin " was Ware,
huge
Jerusalem, elevated by the great Creator of all things to a bright effulgence of glory, Lasrean shone like the morning star, owing to the eminence of his virtues and merits. He is said to have been royally descended ; his father Cairel belonging to a noble family of Ulidia, in the northern part of Ireland. '^ His mother is called Gemma, and she is said to have been a daughter of . Edan, King of Scotia, and a niece to the King of Britain. 's This . i^dan, a renowned king of the British Scots, owed the Irish a great debt of gratitude ; because, after the untimely death of his father, Gebran, or Goran, being lianished, with his mother and family, from the paternal dominions, he was
Laserian, called by some Molaisre, is at the man cycle, than in the north, where
" In his storie I finde mention of a controversie betwune him and Lazerianus, who builded a Monasterie, in Stagno Hiber- niae Dai-ynis, in the north part of Ireland, so it is written in the Life of /txlanus ; after- wards he came to the River Berba (now called the Barrow), and then became Abbot of fifteene hundred monkes. "—
of Ireland," p. 123.
' The former is said to have flourished at a later period than the latter. . See Harris'
Ware, vol. i. , "Bishops of Leighlin," p. 454-
" at the 1st Colgan,
says
:
when treat- ing of St. Cadden (n. 12), calls the father of our saint Catellus, instead of Cairellus, as found in the Salamancan MS. , quoted by the Bollandists. In Ware, " De I'raesulibus Hibernioe," Laserian is said to have been son to Cairel de Blitha. Harris translates that our saint "was the son
For, according
being
St Laserian's instructor, during his younger years. " But, we must pursue the further traces of his biography. Among the citizens of the Heavenly
i8th of April. See vol. iv.
Speaking of St. Fintan Munnus, Hanmer
it was violently opposed.
See " Eccleaiis-
" Ecclesiastical
' See
Ireland," vol. ii. , chap, xv. , sec. ix. , n. 7, p.
"
See Harris' Ware, vol. i. , Leighlin," p. 454.
Lanigan's
History
of
tical of History
Ireland,"
vol.
ii. , chap, xv. ,
Bishops of
"Chronicle
this, bystating,
of Cairel by Blitha.
possible, that such was Ware's meaning, as his account of Laserian differs in many respects from that contained in the Life, as
"
published by the Bollandists. See
° He thinks, the Bollandists have no siastical History of Ireland," vol. ii. , chap.
authority for placing St. Fintan Munnu's
birth about the year 566. He also deems it
probable, that Laserian was nearly as old as
Fintan, who was young, at the time of Co-
lumkille's death, in 597. There is noaccount,
regarding the relationship of master and dis-
ciple between both saints, in the contest,
said to have taken place at the Whitefield.
"
Dr. Lanigan remarks, that Ware does
not tell us who this Murin was. He could
hardly have been St. Mums of Fahen, in the
county of Donegal, because this saint flou-
rished about the middle of the seventh cen-
tury. Perhaps, the person meant by the Reguli affinitatem ambivisse /Edanum, qua name of Murin was Murganius, Abbot of
Glean-Ussan. There is reason to think, that
Laserian studied rather in the south, where
the clergy were inclined to receive the Ro-
sec. ix. , nn. 59, 60, p. 403. ""
"
Dr. Lanigan thinks it
XV. , sec ix. , n. 58,0. 403.
'* According to Harris' Ware, vol. i. , our
saint's mother is said to have been "a daughter of some king of the Picts. "—"Bis-
hops of Leighlin," p. 454. Archdall, how- ever, calls her Blitha, in his "Monasticon
Hibernicum," p. 37 ;but, he gives no autho- rity for such an appellation, for his subse- quent reference to Colgan does not sus- tain it.
5" Mortua prima uxore Erca Hiberna ex qua S. Blaanus, infra memorandus, hujus S. Lasreani avunculus Britannici
February,
; alicujus
recuperandi regni patemi spem firmaret, baud incorigruum fuit. " See " Acta Sanc-
torum," tomus ii. , Aprilis xviii. , n. (c), p. 545-
Eccle-
206 LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. [April i8.
kindlyreceivedandprotectedbytheIrish,formorethanfortyyears. After- wards, through the efforts of St. Columba,'* he was restored, about a. d. 580, when over fifty years of age. V^et, these obligations were more than repaid, when his daughter Gemma, having married one of the Ulidian nobles, gave birth to St. Lasrean, or Molassius,'? afterwards the renowned Abbot of
Leighlin Monastery, in the province of Lagenia. Around this establishment, near the banks of the River Barrow, an episcopal city afterwards arose, giving title to a diocese, now united with the See of Kildare. '' The site selected was sheltered and picturesque, while it was happily chosen for re- ligious requirements.
As regards St. Laserian's family connections and early years, they seem to have been considerably identified with that country, now known as Scotland. '' But when Scotia, or the land of the Scots, was treated about, by writers in the earlier centuries of Christianity, they referred not to modern Scotland, but to ancient Ireland. " In after times, when the renown of the Scots extended over Europe, and when their name had passed to another country, their fame went with it. It served to make Caledonian Scotland more remarkable amongthenations,thanotherwisesheshouldhavebeen. " Hersonswere then reluctant to part with an honourable, but a falsely-acquired, birth-right. Everywhere over the European continent, when it had been torn by wars and revolutions, Scottish or Irish ecclesiastics and scholars were sought from Scotia, or Ireland, then known as the Land of Saints. Several religious houses were founded in their favour, so that the services of men highly distinguished might be retained in various districts. Some of these establishments even survived to later times. Not alone their early historic fame, but the digni- ties and emoluments of their foundations, accrued to that country, which at a later period bore the name of Scotia. '^ The exact period of St. Laserian's
' Through Divine admonition, this saint crowned ^dan king, a. d. 578, in the island of lona. Afterwards, Columba brought him
to Kynnatillus, with a hope of receiving the kingdom of Scotland, That hope was rea- lised within the lapse of two years. See
various lengthened dissertations and argu-
ments to prove, that Scotland had not been
peopled from Ireland, in opposition to what he deems "the very weak and silly asser-
" Historia Rerum Scotica- rum," lib. ix. St. Columba also befriended ^lidan during his absence, when this king ob- tained two victories over the Saxons, in the year 590 and 591. These triumphs were owing to the prayers of that holy Abbot.
See Adamnan's " Vita S. Columbse. "
' It is highly probable, St. Laserian be- longed to that Dalriad race, which colonized the western side of Scotland, bordering, ac- cording to Sir Walter Scott, "on a people
" Maitland's has also been started
Hector
Boeotius,
tlieory
by John Macpherson, D. D. , in his
with a name, and perhaps a descent, similar
totheirown. " See HistoryofScotland," See that modem, most elegantly written,
vol. i. , chap, i. , p. 8. and accurate work by John Hill Burton,
'*" " See Acta Sanctorum," tomus ii. , Ap-
rilis xviii. Vita S. Lasreani, sec. i. , and nn. (a, b, c), p. 543, 545.
'' For an interesting account, regarding
the former inhabitants of the British Islands,
the reader is referred to Augustin Thierry's
"History of the Norman Conquest," the twelfth century, and became a sort of
Book I. '""
in his "
head or metropolitan over a number of minor
houses, connected like itself, with originally
the priesthood who had wandered from Ire- land. In later times, and even down to its suppression in the year 1847, it was treated
and Anti- quities of Scotland,—" vol. i. , chap, xi. , xii. ,
Maitland,
History
xiii. , pp. 87 to 112 a work of
—considerable learning in many other respects enters upon
tions of our own writers, Fordun, Major, Boece, Lesley, Buchanan, etc. "
" Dissertation on the Origin, Antiquities, Lan- guage, Government, Manners, and Religion
of the Ancient Caledonians, their posterity the Picts, and the British and Irish Scots," Diss. viii. Heevenendeavourstoshow,that Ireland had been first peopled from Cale- donia, at p. loi. But these opinions have long been abandoned, by all enlightened Scottish historians, who have examined the earliest
and most authentic records. " ^"
TheHistoryofScotland,"vol. i. , chap. v. This writer relates, as an example of such unfairness, the transference of an affluent re ligious house at Ratisbon, or Regensburg, known as the Scottish
" It was enriched and enlarged at the beginning of
Monastery.
Critical
April i8. ] LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. 207
birth is unknown, and we have little or no account, regarding the earlier part ofhislife. ^5 Yet,inordertounfoldwithmoreaccuracyaseriesofevents,in connection with our saint's Acts, an inquiry ought first to be instituted, re-
the when Laserian's father '» had founded his kingdom in specting period,
It is said to have been at a subsequent time, that Gemma, our saint's mother, brought her son over to that country. '* Yet great historic shadows hover around those days, far removed from our times. St. Laserian's
nativity, by some authorities, has been assigned, to about a. d. 566 ; but, we are informed in the old Life,"' that prodigies marked various circumstances, connected with his birth. "* Shortly afterwards, a certain man, born blind, and who is called Sennach,'9 chanced to wash his face with water, which came in contact with the infant. Through Divine mercy, in the very act of ablu- tion, this man's sight was restored. The great St. Columkille is said to have left Ireland for the Hebrides in 563,3° probably a short time before the birth of Laserian. The religious establishment, which he founded at lona, is justly regarded as the true centre of all those most sacred and heart-stirring asso- ciations, connected with the introduction of Scottish Christianity, although
as exclusively belonging to natives of Scot- eightieth year. He was buried at Kilche- land. Its private annals, however, relate ran, where none of his predecessors had
"
Albyn. 's
how, so lately as the fifleeth century, the
Irish fought for its retention or restoration,
and were beaten. The local authorities were
clear that the Scottish Monastery belonged
to Scotland, and treated the partial posses-
sion of it by the Irish ecclesiastics as an in-
vasion. Theywerefinallydrivenoutin! 515. "
Pope Leo the Tenth is said to have issued
a Bull, restoring it to its presumed owners,
the inhabitants of Scotland. In a note to
the foregoing passage, the writer quotes for
his authority. Collection in the Scots Col-
leges abroad, by the late James Denistoun dun. /fedan lived to the age of fifty-six
of Denistoun, in the Advocates' Library. He
* Buchanan's Chronology places vEdan's death, at a. d. 604, after a reign of thirty- four years. See " Rerum Scoticarum Histo- ria, "lib. v. , p. 144. Yet, Papebroke says, that if from such a date we go backwards, through twenty-four complete years, which have been assigned for his reign, by Scotus, a poet of the eleventh century, we are biought to the year 580. At this period, Kynetillus, . /Edan's predecessor, died, according to For-
years. He was the maternal grandfather of St. Laserian.
