,
beginning
of the twelfth century
n.
n.
O'Hanlon - Lives of the Irish Saints - v6
, p.
350, and nn.
6, 7, 8, pp.
353.
354, 5°-6.
27 Among some nephews of St. Coemgen, by his sister Coeltigerna, or, as some call
her, Coemaca, we find St. Dagan of Inver-
34 The pseude-antiquary Dr. Ledwich
"
daoile, who lived until A. D. 639. See Dr. ''"
dulity,"—"Antiquities of Ireland," p. 174. 3s Yet, whenever it suited his convenience, Ledwich is not ashamed to leave his incon- sistency on record. Thus he gives a pomp- ous account of the Irish schools and studies, not only in the sixth century, but so far back as the middle of the fifth. It is difficult to discover, how he could reconcile that barbar-
ous state of his country with his praises of
the Asiatic and Greek missionaries, whom
he brings at a very early period to Ireland. See sect. 7. Again, he tells us, that there was certainly a Christian Church in Ireland, during the fourth and beginning of the fifth century; and,thatletterswerethenandthere known and cultivated.
36 To these statements of Ledwich, the
O'Donovan's Annals of the Four Masters, vol. i. , pp. 256, 257. Yet, he does not ap-
Glinndalachse sustinuit crucem, ita ut
rit requiem post tribulationes. " This passage
has no apparent connection with what we all, St. Patrick from any interference with find in the context as to St. Brigid, unless it
should be considered as a sort of comparison
between the watchfulness of the two saints.
If the author alluded to a transaction in St.
Brigid's lifetime, Coemgen would, accord-
ing to him, have been a grown-up man be-
fore her death, and so he might justly be scribes them as naked and the greatest supposedtohavebeenbornin498.
29 See his "Ecclesiastical History of Ire-
land, "vol. ii. , chap, x. , sect, x. , n. 146, pp.
45, 46.
3° See Bishop Tanner's " Bibliotheca Bri-
tannico-Hibernica," &c, p. 187.
31 The pedigree and family connections of
ofsavages,eveninthesixthcentury. Asto the recording of genealogies, it did not re- quire any great degree of learning, but was practised by the most ancient nations chiefly of the East, from some of whom, together with many other practices, it was derived to the Irish, with whom, as none but an incor-
repere-
"
St. Kevin are mentioned in Colgan's Acta rigible sceptic will dare to deny, it was a
Sanctorum Hibernije," xii. Martii, De S. favourite sort of study. Strange that Dagano Abbate et Episcop, cap . i. , p. 584, Ledwich, who is so fond of the Asiatics, andnn. 1, 2, 3, 45, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, p. couldexpressadisbeliefofit, anddidnot
rather use it as an argument to prove, that we had b—een instructed by Eastern mis- sionaries. "Ecclesiastical History of Ire- land," vol. ii. , chap, x. , sect, x. , n. 148, pp. 47, 48-
33 The Salmancan Manuscript says, that
the parents of our saint were of noble Hugh Ward.
birth. 38 Thus is his name written in the "Acta
586.
32 See Harris Ware, vol. i. , "Bishops of
Glendaloch," p. 373. See, also, vol. ii. , "Writers of Ireland," book i. , chap, hi. , p. 21. . . . . .
to believe that a barbarous people, naked and ignorant as American Indians, should have preserved the pedigree of St. Kevin, is too much for the most stupid cre-
says :
Rev. Dr. " When he wishes Lanigan replies :
to keep out Rome and Palladius, and, above
the early Christianity of Ireland, he repre- sents the Irish as Christians and civilized long before anyone from Rome came among us ; but when he takes it into his head to drive a saint, ex. c. Kevin, not only out of the calen- dar, but likewise out of existence, he de-
3? According to the Manuscript of Father
32 LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. [June 3.
race of Laeghaire Lore, monarch of Erin, and from whom the Leinstermen are descended. His mother's name was Coenhella,40 or Caemell. 41 How- ever, the Acts of St. Kevin state, that his father sprang from the royal race of Leinster Kings ; but, to lead a more pious life, he left his friends and inherit- ance, while he sustained himself, by the labour of his hands/2 What was still much better, than nobility or titles, this saint's parents were just and faith- ful persons, in the sight of God and men/3
It is related, as one of the legends of his Acts, that an Angel appeared
:
to Coenhella, during her sleep, and said to her " O happy woman, thou
shaltbringforthason,andthoushaltcallhisnameCoemgen. Heshallbe dear, both to God and men, and he shall be a Father over many monks. The grace of the Holy Spirit shall abound in his place ; but, immediately after his birth, let him be brought to the baptismal font. "44 According to the heavenly
messenger's advice, the infant was brought for the purpose of being baptized, by certain persons. These, too, were accosted by an Angel of God, on the way; and,heappearedtothem,intheshapeofabeautifulyoungman. He asked those, who bore the child, what purpose they had in view. Those
persons replied, they were on their way, towards a certain holy priest, who lived an eremitical life in the neighbourhood, and that they wished him to
perform the baptismal rite for the infant. It is said, moreover, that Angel breathed on the child, and signed him, in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost. Then praying, he bestowed a benediction on the future saint. ^ Afterwards, the bearers of the infant visited a holy Priest, named Cronan. 46 He enquired, on what business they had come. They
"
holy infant needs not a repetition of baptism,47 for he has been baptized by a
answered, that he might baptize the child. Whereupon, he replied :
This
While those present were in admira-
related, that the Angel appeared, not to the
mother, but to St. Kevin's father. It is a
characteristic of Irish Hagiological accounts,
that scarcely any of our most celebrated
saints are found, whose births had not been
previously revealed to one parent or to both
parents, by an Angel; or, occasionally, to some other holy individual.
4i A remark is offered by Baert, that if
this be a fiction, it is made to correspond says, that the infant was blessed by an Angel,
better and holier person than I am. "-»8
Breviora. "
39 So state the O'Clerys.
40
longing to Father Hujjh Ward.
According to the Manuscript Life, be-
41 She was the daughter of Ceannfhionnan, son to Ceisi, son of Lugaidh. See Bishop Forbes' "Kalendars of Scottish Saints," p. 302.
with other passages in the published Life ;
for, the circumstance ofa cow, being mira-
culousiy sent by God for the infant's nourish-
ment, seems to indicate the poverty of St.
Kevin's parents. But again, if they were mentioned, as there were so many saints poor, Baert enquires, how they could have bearing this name, to be found in the Irish
stated in the Life. See Acta Sanctorum," history be discovered, it might tend greatly tomus i. , Junii iii. De S. Coemgino sive to indicate the period of our saint's birth. Keivino, Abbate de Glindelacensi in Hiber- 4? If an infusion or use of water were not nia, cap. i. , n. (a), p. 313. This apparent in question, a mere breathing alone, could incongruity, however, can easily be recon- not have sufficed for the administration of ciled. In certain parts of Wicklow County, Baptism, according to the doctrine of the at the present day, the mountains are only Church. Hence, the writer of our saint's
been owners of a flock of sheep, as Calendars. Could this particular Cronan's "
suitable for the pasturage of sheep and goats ; while, these animals form the chief stock of several peasants and farmers. The circum- stances and pastoral customs there, at the time of St. Kevin's birth, must have been more primitive, but, perhaps, nearly iden- tical.
43 See ibid. t cap. i. , num. i. , p. 312.
44 Iu another copy of our saint's Life, it is
Acts must have fallen into a great error, or he must have unaccountably overlooked the ne- cessary matter for baptismal ablution,
48 In the " Acta Breviora," it is said, the
infant received both an unction and breath-
ing from the Angel, and afterwards, that he had been washed in the saving waters of a neighbouring fountain, which thenceforward afforded health to the sick.
45 The Salmancan Manuscript merely
on the way, when he was brought to be
baptized.
46 Baert remarks, that nothing more can
be known regarding the Cronan here
June 3. ] LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. 33
tion at what Cronan said, the Priest asked, if any one had met them on the way. Then, they told him, that a young man blessed the infant, and called himCoemgen,49orKevin,5° asthenameisdifferentlyspelled,51althoughthe
" This was the Angel of the Lord, who baptized the child, and as the Angel named him, so shall he be always called Coemgen,ss which in Latin means, Pulcher-genitus ; for, he
"
shall be most beautiful. 5+ Then, the holy old man Cronan, looking upon
:
the boy, and being filled with a prophetic spirit, cried out " O beautiful
child of God, may the Almighty Lord bless thee; I shall be thy first monk, and I give thee my place with all my effects. "55 Then having prayed and blessed the infant, this spiritual treasure was brought back to his parents. 56
We are told, that during St. Kevin's infancy, a white cow was miraculously
"
pronunciation is the same. 52 The Priest then said
:
*> The Rev. Dr. Ledwich says, that the
name Coemhgen was unknown until after
the thirteentli century, and he would fain
make us imagine, that it meant not a man Irish C was always the same as K. The but a mountain. See "Antiquities of Ire- letter Mwith the aspirate annexed (either H
land," p. 174. Were he better read, he might or a point) sounds like V. The diphthong
have found the name of Coemgen the senior,
He ridi- the moun- tain Keun at Glendaloch was metamor- phosed into St. Kevin. " Thus he proceeds : " Keun is the name of many mountains in Wales noticed by Camden. " Then, he refers to Lhuyd (Adversar), who reckons Ceun,
CE has been generally modified into the singlesoundE. TheletterGaspiratedin the middle of a word almost loses its sound as in Tighearna, which becomes Tierna. See Vallancey's "Irish Grammar," at the letter G.
53 Instead of that name, in some editions of Giraldus Cambrensis it is written Keiwin.
even in our present saint's Acts.
"
culously asserts, moreover, that
a Welsh word, " meaning
"
in that the Master of published by
among
names of mountains. Thus, does Dr. Cambrensis "Opera," vol. v. Edited by
"
back,
those denominations that enter into the
However,
Lanigan refer to his absurd statements : James F. Dimock, M. A. ,
Topographia Suppose a person, treating of our mighty Hibernica," Dist. ii. , cap. xxviii. , p. 113. antiquary, should write his name Leadwich, It is found spelled, also, Koemin, Coemin, as an ingenious author, who conceals him- and even Caymin ; but, these in reality are self under the signature Anonymous, has all one and the same name. See Colgan s done ; or that even it were written Lead- " Acta Sanctorum Hibernise," Februarii xv. wig, it would be immediately understood as Vita S. Berachi Abbatis, cap. vi. , ix. , p.
the name of the antiquary; unless some one 34i.
should be so foolish as to think, that it was 54 The Rev. Dr. Ledwich alleges, that the
not the name of a man, but a compound of "
lead and wig, taking, agreeably to a very n—ot intimate his beauty but diminutive size. "
"
usual
trope, wig
for what is contained under "
Antiquities of Ireland," p. 174. His
it. Similar to this folly is the Doctor's mode subsequent remarks are simply puerile.
of arguing. He was striving to show, that 55 In the " Acta Breviora," the following
St. Coemgen was neither a saint nor a man, is said to have been Colman's prophecy :
but a mere mountain in the county of Wick- " The whole of this province shall serve thee
low. . . . And, it is thus that this bare- as its Patron for ever, and when its inhabi-
faced quack has the effrontery to substitute tants first become insensible to your honour,
his lies for history ! Or is an accidental a foreign enemy shall come, and eradicate
likeness betweentheWelshwordCeunand
themindiversways. " Fromsuchpassages,
the name Kevin to be received as a proof of it has been supposed, that this Life of the
the non-existence of a person of the highest saint must have been written in the time of
reputation, ana who is mentioned over and or after HenryII. 's invasion, or perhaps,
over in numberless documen—ts long prior to when it had been intended to remove the
the Doctor's "
13th century. " Ecclesiastical Episcopal seat from Glendalough, in the
History of Ireland," vol. ii. , chap, x. , sect, x.
, beginning of the twelfth century
n. 147, pp. 46, 47. 56 See the Rev. S. Baring-Gould's
s°
Kalendars of Scottish 52 It is scarcely necessary to add, that the
Bishop Forbes' Saints,'' p. 302.
the Rolls, he is called Keivin. See Giraldi
Coemgen, or Coemghen, signifies Pul- "Lives of the Saints, vol. v. , June iii. ,
cher-genitus or Fair begotten. See Ussher's
" p.
28.
Britannicarum Ecclesiarum Antiquitates," cap. xvii. , p. 494.
51 Thus : Caoimhghen, Coemgen, Keevin, Keevinus, Keuvinus, and Koemgenus. See
57 See "Acta Sanctorum," tomus i. , Junii iii. De S. Coemgeno sive Keivino, &c, cap. i. , num. 1, 2, 3, and n. (a), pp. 312, 317.
58 Such providential manifestations are
imaginary
saint " has a name which "does
34 LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. [June 3.
senttohisparents'house,eachmorningandevening. 57 Withthemilkof
this animal, the child was nourished. It was not known, whence the animal
came, or whither she went, at other times ; but, two large vessels of milk
wereobtainedfromhereachday. Thiscircumstancecausednolittledegree
of interest to be excited in the neighbourhood, regarding that child, in whose
favour such wonders were wrought. 38 In the shorter Acts of our saint, it is
said, that his parents lived in this place, for two years. When Coemgen
attained sufficient age, he was employed in tending, with other shepherds, the
sheep of his parents. While thus employed, some poor persons one day
came to him, and stated, from an account heard regarding his sanctity, they
hoped he would afford them some relief. In the presence of certain persons,
the holy youth delivered four sheep to those paupers. When evening came,
and the flock had been counted over, still it was found, that the number of
sheep remained complete. Thus, it would appear, the Almighty wished to
reward this charity of his servant, and to avert all blame from him, because
of his great liberality. Coemgen felt greatly strengthened in the love of God,
after this occurrence. 3! ? It is that when seven of 6° our saint stated, years age,
was sent by his parents to receive a literary and religious training from a holy
man called 61 who was a Briton Petrocus,
by havinglefthispaternalkingdom,Petrocus62embracedamonasticlife. About
A. D. 498,^ he is said to have been distinguished for sanctity, in Ireland.
his parents, many miracles were wrought through him. These are not written, it is alleged, so that thus his biographer might sooner arrive at those incidents, con- nectedwithoursaint'smorematureage. Seeingsomanyindicationsofsanctity in their son, the boy's parents placed him under direction of three holy men,
which
The writer of Kevin's Life says, that while his youth was spent in the house of
Here,
he remained for
twenty years,
expired
who dwelt in a cell. 65 Guided
these venerable
66 who were
his studies with the
6? 68 and Eogoin, Lochan,
Enna,
69 our saint
celebrated Irish saints, as appear from their various Acts.
siarum Antiquitates," p. 526.
65 The locality is not specified.
66 Harris calls them "
59 See ibid. , num.
3, 4, p 312.
Dogain, Lochan,
by
seniors, prosecuted
named,
"
often related, in reference to the infancy of Chronologicus. See Britannicarum Eccle-
60 At a. d. dv. See Ussher's " Britanni- and yEneas or Enna. " Harris Ware, vol. i. ,
carum Ecclesiarum Antiquitates," Index " Bishops of Glendaloch," p. 373. Dogain
Chronologicus, p. 524. is probably a misprint for Eogain. Arch-
61
See ibid. , cap. xiv. , p. 292. Having dall copies this mistake, in his notice of
spoken regarding this Petrocus, and the time he remained in Ireland, Ussher afterwards adds to his account concerning this holy
Glendalogh. See "Monasticon Hiberni- cum," p. 765.
6
? Baert observes, that among many bear- ing this name, the Eugenius or Eogain, here spoken of, appears to have been one, num- bered among the disciples of a St. Fintan,
Briton's residence in Ireland :
"
Quo tem-
pore S. Coemgenum sive Keyvinum, Glin- delacensem postea Abbatem (de que in xvii.
capite erit dicendum) a septimo usque ad afterwards Bishop of Ardstra. However, as duodecimum aetatis annum, in Uteris ac Sanc- this saint flourished beyond the middle of the
tis moribus ab eo fuisse — Vitse sixth institutum, century,
he is not to be considered a
Coemgeni scriptor memorat. " See ibid. , Addenda qusedam omissa, p. 506.
62
His feast occurs, at the 4th of June, at which day, his Life is given in this Volume, Art. ii.
vol. ii. , chap, x. , sect, x. , n. 150, p. 48. of Colgan, it is impossible to discover, if 64 According to Ussher, in his Index the person here mentioned beoneof them.
63 However, according to Dr. Lanigan, it
is probable, that Ussher's chief reason for
assigning Petrocus' term in Ireland, between
the dates he mentions, was because, St.
Kevin is said to have been his scholar. See
his "Ecclesiastical History of Ireland," many Lochans mentioned, in both tomes
birth. He lived as a and hermit,
in a. d. 6* 5i8.
senior in respect of age, but rather, on ac- count of his office ; for, as St. Kevin is said to have been born in 498, the age of Eogoin could not have been very advanced, unless as Baert remarks, we are willing to assign very extraordinary ages to Saints Fintan and Eugenius, such as we find attributed to St. Kevin himself.
68
This master is called Lochran, in the Sal- mancan Manuscript. Although there are
June 3. ] LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. 35
greatest diligence. A local tradition has it, that St. Kevin lived near Bray,7° inthecountyofWicklow,beforehewenttoGlendalough. Nothingisdis-
tinctly known regarding Eogoin, Lochan and Enna, although it may fairly be supposed, they lived not very far distant from the home of St. Kevin's
We are told, shortly after this period, and in the bloom of youth, that our
saint was greatly distinguished for his comely appearance. While engaged at work, with the brethren of his cell, the young novice was one day seen by a youthful and beautiful maiden. She then conceived a particular affection forhim. Atfirst,thisfemalebegantomanifestgreatfriendshiptowardsour saint ; but, dissembling her real object for some time, she endeavoured to engage the love of this holy youth, by her looks, her words, and sometimes, by her messages. However, Kevin rejected these several advances. Thus baffled and disappointed, the maiden sought an opportunity, and found him alone. The brethren being at work in the wood, Kevin separated from them. Soon was he found in a solitude by that young female, who had followed the band of workmen. Seizing an opportunity, that now presented itself, she approached our holy youth. With words of affection, and with blandish- ments, capable of overcoming one less firmly resolved, she sought to tempt him from that course of life, he had voluntarily embraced. But, Kevin,
aiming himself with a sign of the cross, and being filled with the graces of the
Holy Spirit, at once fled from the maiden's solicitations. He sought conceal-
ment within a wood. Here, the pious youth buried himself among some
nettles. Yet, having discovered his place of concealment, the girl followed
him thither, when binding a bundle of nettles, our saint repelled her further
advances,bystrikingherseveraltimeswiththem. 73 Thesenettlesstungher
severely. 74 In fine, she became repentant, for indulging her former thoughts.
Prostrate on her knees, she asked pardon from God, and from the saint.
Kevin offered up his prayers for her. Afterwards, she promised to dedicate
hervirginitytoGod,andinpresenceofhisservantKevin. Atthismoment,
the brethren coming up were in admiration, at what they had heard and seen.
The maiden modestly related, what had taken place before their arrival : and,
on learning this, the brethren were more confirmed in their love for holy purity.
Thenceforward, that female became distinguished for great prudence and
sanctity. During the whole of her subsequent life, she diligently observed the wise and holy admonitions of blessed Kevin. 75
church still exists.
1 This event of our saint's life is said to have occurred in his twelfth
parents. ?
year, and consequently, assuming the earliest chronology, about A. D. 510. 7
2
" By that Lake, whose gloomy shore Skylark never warbles o'er,
Where the cliff hangs high and
steep,
Young St. Kevin stole to sleep, "&c.
"Poetical Works," vol. iii. , Irish Melodies, 7 See Rev. Dr. Lanigan's Ecclesiastical p. 294.
History of Ireland," vol. ii. , chap, x. , sect. 74 There is, indeed, very little similarity
x. , n. 151, p. 48. between the principal circumstances, related 2
** The history of Enna, Eanna, or ^Eneas, is not known further, from any available
"
Vita S. Coemgeni, cap. i. , n. (g),
source. See
Junii iii.
p. 313.
7° Even the site is shown, where a ruined —
Acta Sanctorum," tomus i. ,
1"
7 According to Ussher's Index Chronolo- in the prose Life of St. Kevin, and in the
"
gicus, in
quitates," p. 525. Baert tells us, the histo- riun of the British Churches had this account
''
from the
73 A reader of the
Britannicarum Ecclesiarum Anti-
poetical legend. Nevertheless, the account furnished in the text, is the only narrative found in St. Kevin's published Acts, that would account for the origin of a popular tradition, connected with "St. Kevin's
Bed," over the lake of Glendalough.
75 See "Acta Sanctorum," tomus i. ,
Acta Breviora. "
will perhaps call to mind, that local legend re- garding St. Kevin, which Moore has wedded
foregoing passage
to immortal — and which commences verse,
with these lines
iii. Vita S.
Junii Coemgeni, cap. i. ,
p. 312.
num.
5,
:
36
LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. [June 3.
There is a local tradition, that when St. Kevin resolved on retir- ing from the world, to commence his religious course of life, he selected for such a purpose, that retired and deep valley, now known as Lug-
6 Whether this was the place of his noviceship or not is unknown, gela. ?
but it seems to be sufficiently probable. ? ? It must be observed, accord-
ing to the peasantry living near the district of Lough Tay, county of 8
Wicklow, St. Kevin is said to have founded a monastery,? in the upper part of this romantic valley, before he retired to Glendalough. The site of this cell or monastery is yet pointed out, on a delightful spot, adjoining the
^wosgS\K^
Ruins at Luggela, County of Wicklow.
watersofLoughTay,wheretheAnnamoeRiverentersit, andonthatbeau-
tiful lawn, extending in front of Luggala Lodge. Hardly a vestige of the old building now remains. 7^ A shapeless pile of stones, just rising over the
76 There are some beautiful illustrations of Luggelaw and its adjoining Lough Dan in
"
: its Character," &c, vol. ii.
27 Among some nephews of St. Coemgen, by his sister Coeltigerna, or, as some call
her, Coemaca, we find St. Dagan of Inver-
34 The pseude-antiquary Dr. Ledwich
"
daoile, who lived until A. D. 639. See Dr. ''"
dulity,"—"Antiquities of Ireland," p. 174. 3s Yet, whenever it suited his convenience, Ledwich is not ashamed to leave his incon- sistency on record. Thus he gives a pomp- ous account of the Irish schools and studies, not only in the sixth century, but so far back as the middle of the fifth. It is difficult to discover, how he could reconcile that barbar-
ous state of his country with his praises of
the Asiatic and Greek missionaries, whom
he brings at a very early period to Ireland. See sect. 7. Again, he tells us, that there was certainly a Christian Church in Ireland, during the fourth and beginning of the fifth century; and,thatletterswerethenandthere known and cultivated.
36 To these statements of Ledwich, the
O'Donovan's Annals of the Four Masters, vol. i. , pp. 256, 257. Yet, he does not ap-
Glinndalachse sustinuit crucem, ita ut
rit requiem post tribulationes. " This passage
has no apparent connection with what we all, St. Patrick from any interference with find in the context as to St. Brigid, unless it
should be considered as a sort of comparison
between the watchfulness of the two saints.
If the author alluded to a transaction in St.
Brigid's lifetime, Coemgen would, accord-
ing to him, have been a grown-up man be-
fore her death, and so he might justly be scribes them as naked and the greatest supposedtohavebeenbornin498.
29 See his "Ecclesiastical History of Ire-
land, "vol. ii. , chap, x. , sect, x. , n. 146, pp.
45, 46.
3° See Bishop Tanner's " Bibliotheca Bri-
tannico-Hibernica," &c, p. 187.
31 The pedigree and family connections of
ofsavages,eveninthesixthcentury. Asto the recording of genealogies, it did not re- quire any great degree of learning, but was practised by the most ancient nations chiefly of the East, from some of whom, together with many other practices, it was derived to the Irish, with whom, as none but an incor-
repere-
"
St. Kevin are mentioned in Colgan's Acta rigible sceptic will dare to deny, it was a
Sanctorum Hibernije," xii. Martii, De S. favourite sort of study. Strange that Dagano Abbate et Episcop, cap . i. , p. 584, Ledwich, who is so fond of the Asiatics, andnn. 1, 2, 3, 45, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, p. couldexpressadisbeliefofit, anddidnot
rather use it as an argument to prove, that we had b—een instructed by Eastern mis- sionaries. "Ecclesiastical History of Ire- land," vol. ii. , chap, x. , sect, x. , n. 148, pp. 47, 48-
33 The Salmancan Manuscript says, that
the parents of our saint were of noble Hugh Ward.
birth. 38 Thus is his name written in the "Acta
586.
32 See Harris Ware, vol. i. , "Bishops of
Glendaloch," p. 373. See, also, vol. ii. , "Writers of Ireland," book i. , chap, hi. , p. 21. . . . . .
to believe that a barbarous people, naked and ignorant as American Indians, should have preserved the pedigree of St. Kevin, is too much for the most stupid cre-
says :
Rev. Dr. " When he wishes Lanigan replies :
to keep out Rome and Palladius, and, above
the early Christianity of Ireland, he repre- sents the Irish as Christians and civilized long before anyone from Rome came among us ; but when he takes it into his head to drive a saint, ex. c. Kevin, not only out of the calen- dar, but likewise out of existence, he de-
3? According to the Manuscript of Father
32 LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. [June 3.
race of Laeghaire Lore, monarch of Erin, and from whom the Leinstermen are descended. His mother's name was Coenhella,40 or Caemell. 41 How- ever, the Acts of St. Kevin state, that his father sprang from the royal race of Leinster Kings ; but, to lead a more pious life, he left his friends and inherit- ance, while he sustained himself, by the labour of his hands/2 What was still much better, than nobility or titles, this saint's parents were just and faith- ful persons, in the sight of God and men/3
It is related, as one of the legends of his Acts, that an Angel appeared
:
to Coenhella, during her sleep, and said to her " O happy woman, thou
shaltbringforthason,andthoushaltcallhisnameCoemgen. Heshallbe dear, both to God and men, and he shall be a Father over many monks. The grace of the Holy Spirit shall abound in his place ; but, immediately after his birth, let him be brought to the baptismal font. "44 According to the heavenly
messenger's advice, the infant was brought for the purpose of being baptized, by certain persons. These, too, were accosted by an Angel of God, on the way; and,heappearedtothem,intheshapeofabeautifulyoungman. He asked those, who bore the child, what purpose they had in view. Those
persons replied, they were on their way, towards a certain holy priest, who lived an eremitical life in the neighbourhood, and that they wished him to
perform the baptismal rite for the infant. It is said, moreover, that Angel breathed on the child, and signed him, in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost. Then praying, he bestowed a benediction on the future saint. ^ Afterwards, the bearers of the infant visited a holy Priest, named Cronan. 46 He enquired, on what business they had come. They
"
holy infant needs not a repetition of baptism,47 for he has been baptized by a
answered, that he might baptize the child. Whereupon, he replied :
This
While those present were in admira-
related, that the Angel appeared, not to the
mother, but to St. Kevin's father. It is a
characteristic of Irish Hagiological accounts,
that scarcely any of our most celebrated
saints are found, whose births had not been
previously revealed to one parent or to both
parents, by an Angel; or, occasionally, to some other holy individual.
4i A remark is offered by Baert, that if
this be a fiction, it is made to correspond says, that the infant was blessed by an Angel,
better and holier person than I am. "-»8
Breviora. "
39 So state the O'Clerys.
40
longing to Father Hujjh Ward.
According to the Manuscript Life, be-
41 She was the daughter of Ceannfhionnan, son to Ceisi, son of Lugaidh. See Bishop Forbes' "Kalendars of Scottish Saints," p. 302.
with other passages in the published Life ;
for, the circumstance ofa cow, being mira-
culousiy sent by God for the infant's nourish-
ment, seems to indicate the poverty of St.
Kevin's parents. But again, if they were mentioned, as there were so many saints poor, Baert enquires, how they could have bearing this name, to be found in the Irish
stated in the Life. See Acta Sanctorum," history be discovered, it might tend greatly tomus i. , Junii iii. De S. Coemgino sive to indicate the period of our saint's birth. Keivino, Abbate de Glindelacensi in Hiber- 4? If an infusion or use of water were not nia, cap. i. , n. (a), p. 313. This apparent in question, a mere breathing alone, could incongruity, however, can easily be recon- not have sufficed for the administration of ciled. In certain parts of Wicklow County, Baptism, according to the doctrine of the at the present day, the mountains are only Church. Hence, the writer of our saint's
been owners of a flock of sheep, as Calendars. Could this particular Cronan's "
suitable for the pasturage of sheep and goats ; while, these animals form the chief stock of several peasants and farmers. The circum- stances and pastoral customs there, at the time of St. Kevin's birth, must have been more primitive, but, perhaps, nearly iden- tical.
43 See ibid. t cap. i. , num. i. , p. 312.
44 Iu another copy of our saint's Life, it is
Acts must have fallen into a great error, or he must have unaccountably overlooked the ne- cessary matter for baptismal ablution,
48 In the " Acta Breviora," it is said, the
infant received both an unction and breath-
ing from the Angel, and afterwards, that he had been washed in the saving waters of a neighbouring fountain, which thenceforward afforded health to the sick.
45 The Salmancan Manuscript merely
on the way, when he was brought to be
baptized.
46 Baert remarks, that nothing more can
be known regarding the Cronan here
June 3. ] LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. 33
tion at what Cronan said, the Priest asked, if any one had met them on the way. Then, they told him, that a young man blessed the infant, and called himCoemgen,49orKevin,5° asthenameisdifferentlyspelled,51althoughthe
" This was the Angel of the Lord, who baptized the child, and as the Angel named him, so shall he be always called Coemgen,ss which in Latin means, Pulcher-genitus ; for, he
"
shall be most beautiful. 5+ Then, the holy old man Cronan, looking upon
:
the boy, and being filled with a prophetic spirit, cried out " O beautiful
child of God, may the Almighty Lord bless thee; I shall be thy first monk, and I give thee my place with all my effects. "55 Then having prayed and blessed the infant, this spiritual treasure was brought back to his parents. 56
We are told, that during St. Kevin's infancy, a white cow was miraculously
"
pronunciation is the same. 52 The Priest then said
:
*> The Rev. Dr. Ledwich says, that the
name Coemhgen was unknown until after
the thirteentli century, and he would fain
make us imagine, that it meant not a man Irish C was always the same as K. The but a mountain. See "Antiquities of Ire- letter Mwith the aspirate annexed (either H
land," p. 174. Were he better read, he might or a point) sounds like V. The diphthong
have found the name of Coemgen the senior,
He ridi- the moun- tain Keun at Glendaloch was metamor- phosed into St. Kevin. " Thus he proceeds : " Keun is the name of many mountains in Wales noticed by Camden. " Then, he refers to Lhuyd (Adversar), who reckons Ceun,
CE has been generally modified into the singlesoundE. TheletterGaspiratedin the middle of a word almost loses its sound as in Tighearna, which becomes Tierna. See Vallancey's "Irish Grammar," at the letter G.
53 Instead of that name, in some editions of Giraldus Cambrensis it is written Keiwin.
even in our present saint's Acts.
"
culously asserts, moreover, that
a Welsh word, " meaning
"
in that the Master of published by
among
names of mountains. Thus, does Dr. Cambrensis "Opera," vol. v. Edited by
"
back,
those denominations that enter into the
However,
Lanigan refer to his absurd statements : James F. Dimock, M. A. ,
Topographia Suppose a person, treating of our mighty Hibernica," Dist. ii. , cap. xxviii. , p. 113. antiquary, should write his name Leadwich, It is found spelled, also, Koemin, Coemin, as an ingenious author, who conceals him- and even Caymin ; but, these in reality are self under the signature Anonymous, has all one and the same name. See Colgan s done ; or that even it were written Lead- " Acta Sanctorum Hibernise," Februarii xv. wig, it would be immediately understood as Vita S. Berachi Abbatis, cap. vi. , ix. , p.
the name of the antiquary; unless some one 34i.
should be so foolish as to think, that it was 54 The Rev. Dr. Ledwich alleges, that the
not the name of a man, but a compound of "
lead and wig, taking, agreeably to a very n—ot intimate his beauty but diminutive size. "
"
usual
trope, wig
for what is contained under "
Antiquities of Ireland," p. 174. His
it. Similar to this folly is the Doctor's mode subsequent remarks are simply puerile.
of arguing. He was striving to show, that 55 In the " Acta Breviora," the following
St. Coemgen was neither a saint nor a man, is said to have been Colman's prophecy :
but a mere mountain in the county of Wick- " The whole of this province shall serve thee
low. . . . And, it is thus that this bare- as its Patron for ever, and when its inhabi-
faced quack has the effrontery to substitute tants first become insensible to your honour,
his lies for history ! Or is an accidental a foreign enemy shall come, and eradicate
likeness betweentheWelshwordCeunand
themindiversways. " Fromsuchpassages,
the name Kevin to be received as a proof of it has been supposed, that this Life of the
the non-existence of a person of the highest saint must have been written in the time of
reputation, ana who is mentioned over and or after HenryII. 's invasion, or perhaps,
over in numberless documen—ts long prior to when it had been intended to remove the
the Doctor's "
13th century. " Ecclesiastical Episcopal seat from Glendalough, in the
History of Ireland," vol. ii. , chap, x. , sect, x.
, beginning of the twelfth century
n. 147, pp. 46, 47. 56 See the Rev. S. Baring-Gould's
s°
Kalendars of Scottish 52 It is scarcely necessary to add, that the
Bishop Forbes' Saints,'' p. 302.
the Rolls, he is called Keivin. See Giraldi
Coemgen, or Coemghen, signifies Pul- "Lives of the Saints, vol. v. , June iii. ,
cher-genitus or Fair begotten. See Ussher's
" p.
28.
Britannicarum Ecclesiarum Antiquitates," cap. xvii. , p. 494.
51 Thus : Caoimhghen, Coemgen, Keevin, Keevinus, Keuvinus, and Koemgenus. See
57 See "Acta Sanctorum," tomus i. , Junii iii. De S. Coemgeno sive Keivino, &c, cap. i. , num. 1, 2, 3, and n. (a), pp. 312, 317.
58 Such providential manifestations are
imaginary
saint " has a name which "does
34 LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. [June 3.
senttohisparents'house,eachmorningandevening. 57 Withthemilkof
this animal, the child was nourished. It was not known, whence the animal
came, or whither she went, at other times ; but, two large vessels of milk
wereobtainedfromhereachday. Thiscircumstancecausednolittledegree
of interest to be excited in the neighbourhood, regarding that child, in whose
favour such wonders were wrought. 38 In the shorter Acts of our saint, it is
said, that his parents lived in this place, for two years. When Coemgen
attained sufficient age, he was employed in tending, with other shepherds, the
sheep of his parents. While thus employed, some poor persons one day
came to him, and stated, from an account heard regarding his sanctity, they
hoped he would afford them some relief. In the presence of certain persons,
the holy youth delivered four sheep to those paupers. When evening came,
and the flock had been counted over, still it was found, that the number of
sheep remained complete. Thus, it would appear, the Almighty wished to
reward this charity of his servant, and to avert all blame from him, because
of his great liberality. Coemgen felt greatly strengthened in the love of God,
after this occurrence. 3! ? It is that when seven of 6° our saint stated, years age,
was sent by his parents to receive a literary and religious training from a holy
man called 61 who was a Briton Petrocus,
by havinglefthispaternalkingdom,Petrocus62embracedamonasticlife. About
A. D. 498,^ he is said to have been distinguished for sanctity, in Ireland.
his parents, many miracles were wrought through him. These are not written, it is alleged, so that thus his biographer might sooner arrive at those incidents, con- nectedwithoursaint'smorematureage. Seeingsomanyindicationsofsanctity in their son, the boy's parents placed him under direction of three holy men,
which
The writer of Kevin's Life says, that while his youth was spent in the house of
Here,
he remained for
twenty years,
expired
who dwelt in a cell. 65 Guided
these venerable
66 who were
his studies with the
6? 68 and Eogoin, Lochan,
Enna,
69 our saint
celebrated Irish saints, as appear from their various Acts.
siarum Antiquitates," p. 526.
65 The locality is not specified.
66 Harris calls them "
59 See ibid. , num.
3, 4, p 312.
Dogain, Lochan,
by
seniors, prosecuted
named,
"
often related, in reference to the infancy of Chronologicus. See Britannicarum Eccle-
60 At a. d. dv. See Ussher's " Britanni- and yEneas or Enna. " Harris Ware, vol. i. ,
carum Ecclesiarum Antiquitates," Index " Bishops of Glendaloch," p. 373. Dogain
Chronologicus, p. 524. is probably a misprint for Eogain. Arch-
61
See ibid. , cap. xiv. , p. 292. Having dall copies this mistake, in his notice of
spoken regarding this Petrocus, and the time he remained in Ireland, Ussher afterwards adds to his account concerning this holy
Glendalogh. See "Monasticon Hiberni- cum," p. 765.
6
? Baert observes, that among many bear- ing this name, the Eugenius or Eogain, here spoken of, appears to have been one, num- bered among the disciples of a St. Fintan,
Briton's residence in Ireland :
"
Quo tem-
pore S. Coemgenum sive Keyvinum, Glin- delacensem postea Abbatem (de que in xvii.
capite erit dicendum) a septimo usque ad afterwards Bishop of Ardstra. However, as duodecimum aetatis annum, in Uteris ac Sanc- this saint flourished beyond the middle of the
tis moribus ab eo fuisse — Vitse sixth institutum, century,
he is not to be considered a
Coemgeni scriptor memorat. " See ibid. , Addenda qusedam omissa, p. 506.
62
His feast occurs, at the 4th of June, at which day, his Life is given in this Volume, Art. ii.
vol. ii. , chap, x. , sect, x. , n. 150, p. 48. of Colgan, it is impossible to discover, if 64 According to Ussher, in his Index the person here mentioned beoneof them.
63 However, according to Dr. Lanigan, it
is probable, that Ussher's chief reason for
assigning Petrocus' term in Ireland, between
the dates he mentions, was because, St.
Kevin is said to have been his scholar. See
his "Ecclesiastical History of Ireland," many Lochans mentioned, in both tomes
birth. He lived as a and hermit,
in a. d. 6* 5i8.
senior in respect of age, but rather, on ac- count of his office ; for, as St. Kevin is said to have been born in 498, the age of Eogoin could not have been very advanced, unless as Baert remarks, we are willing to assign very extraordinary ages to Saints Fintan and Eugenius, such as we find attributed to St. Kevin himself.
68
This master is called Lochran, in the Sal- mancan Manuscript. Although there are
June 3. ] LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. 35
greatest diligence. A local tradition has it, that St. Kevin lived near Bray,7° inthecountyofWicklow,beforehewenttoGlendalough. Nothingisdis-
tinctly known regarding Eogoin, Lochan and Enna, although it may fairly be supposed, they lived not very far distant from the home of St. Kevin's
We are told, shortly after this period, and in the bloom of youth, that our
saint was greatly distinguished for his comely appearance. While engaged at work, with the brethren of his cell, the young novice was one day seen by a youthful and beautiful maiden. She then conceived a particular affection forhim. Atfirst,thisfemalebegantomanifestgreatfriendshiptowardsour saint ; but, dissembling her real object for some time, she endeavoured to engage the love of this holy youth, by her looks, her words, and sometimes, by her messages. However, Kevin rejected these several advances. Thus baffled and disappointed, the maiden sought an opportunity, and found him alone. The brethren being at work in the wood, Kevin separated from them. Soon was he found in a solitude by that young female, who had followed the band of workmen. Seizing an opportunity, that now presented itself, she approached our holy youth. With words of affection, and with blandish- ments, capable of overcoming one less firmly resolved, she sought to tempt him from that course of life, he had voluntarily embraced. But, Kevin,
aiming himself with a sign of the cross, and being filled with the graces of the
Holy Spirit, at once fled from the maiden's solicitations. He sought conceal-
ment within a wood. Here, the pious youth buried himself among some
nettles. Yet, having discovered his place of concealment, the girl followed
him thither, when binding a bundle of nettles, our saint repelled her further
advances,bystrikingherseveraltimeswiththem. 73 Thesenettlesstungher
severely. 74 In fine, she became repentant, for indulging her former thoughts.
Prostrate on her knees, she asked pardon from God, and from the saint.
Kevin offered up his prayers for her. Afterwards, she promised to dedicate
hervirginitytoGod,andinpresenceofhisservantKevin. Atthismoment,
the brethren coming up were in admiration, at what they had heard and seen.
The maiden modestly related, what had taken place before their arrival : and,
on learning this, the brethren were more confirmed in their love for holy purity.
Thenceforward, that female became distinguished for great prudence and
sanctity. During the whole of her subsequent life, she diligently observed the wise and holy admonitions of blessed Kevin. 75
church still exists.
1 This event of our saint's life is said to have occurred in his twelfth
parents. ?
year, and consequently, assuming the earliest chronology, about A. D. 510. 7
2
" By that Lake, whose gloomy shore Skylark never warbles o'er,
Where the cliff hangs high and
steep,
Young St. Kevin stole to sleep, "&c.
"Poetical Works," vol. iii. , Irish Melodies, 7 See Rev. Dr. Lanigan's Ecclesiastical p. 294.
History of Ireland," vol. ii. , chap, x. , sect. 74 There is, indeed, very little similarity
x. , n. 151, p. 48. between the principal circumstances, related 2
** The history of Enna, Eanna, or ^Eneas, is not known further, from any available
"
Vita S. Coemgeni, cap. i. , n. (g),
source. See
Junii iii.
p. 313.
7° Even the site is shown, where a ruined —
Acta Sanctorum," tomus i. ,
1"
7 According to Ussher's Index Chronolo- in the prose Life of St. Kevin, and in the
"
gicus, in
quitates," p. 525. Baert tells us, the histo- riun of the British Churches had this account
''
from the
73 A reader of the
Britannicarum Ecclesiarum Anti-
poetical legend. Nevertheless, the account furnished in the text, is the only narrative found in St. Kevin's published Acts, that would account for the origin of a popular tradition, connected with "St. Kevin's
Bed," over the lake of Glendalough.
75 See "Acta Sanctorum," tomus i. ,
Acta Breviora. "
will perhaps call to mind, that local legend re- garding St. Kevin, which Moore has wedded
foregoing passage
to immortal — and which commences verse,
with these lines
iii. Vita S.
Junii Coemgeni, cap. i. ,
p. 312.
num.
5,
:
36
LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. [June 3.
There is a local tradition, that when St. Kevin resolved on retir- ing from the world, to commence his religious course of life, he selected for such a purpose, that retired and deep valley, now known as Lug-
6 Whether this was the place of his noviceship or not is unknown, gela. ?
but it seems to be sufficiently probable. ? ? It must be observed, accord-
ing to the peasantry living near the district of Lough Tay, county of 8
Wicklow, St. Kevin is said to have founded a monastery,? in the upper part of this romantic valley, before he retired to Glendalough. The site of this cell or monastery is yet pointed out, on a delightful spot, adjoining the
^wosgS\K^
Ruins at Luggela, County of Wicklow.
watersofLoughTay,wheretheAnnamoeRiverentersit, andonthatbeau-
tiful lawn, extending in front of Luggala Lodge. Hardly a vestige of the old building now remains. 7^ A shapeless pile of stones, just rising over the
76 There are some beautiful illustrations of Luggelaw and its adjoining Lough Dan in
"
: its Character," &c, vol. ii.
