43 See "De Probatis
Sanctorum
Vitis,"
vol.
vol.
O'Hanlon - Lives of the Irish Saints - v7
,
LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS.
[J uly 8.
1
assigned to this day, by Camerarius, as the Bollandists remark ; while by
Castellan, it has been relegated to the 8th of September, as having been held inDisemberg,nearSpanheim,inthedioceseofMayence. TheBollandists
ArticleXIII. —ReputedFestivalofaSt. Bicce. Venerationwas
refer its celebration to the 8th of July.
Saints, published by O'Sullevan Beare, these names, Wilchibaldus, Dissibo- dus, Kalian, Bibianus and Totnanus, occur, at the 7th of July. But, I sus- pect typographical error and a misplaced festival, at least so far as concerns most of them.
given to Bicce, at this date, according to the Martyrology of Tallagh. where, we find no corresponding entry, in any other Calendar.
®fgl)tb J3ap of Snip*
1
Else-
ARTICLE I. —THE ACTS OF ST. KILIAN, APOSTLE OF FRANCONIA, MARTYR AND BISHOP, AS ALSO OF HIS COMPANIONS, ST. COLMAN, PRIEST, AND ST. TOTNAN, DEACON, MARTYRS.
\SEVENTH CENTURY. ]
CHAPTER I.
INTRODUCTION—MANUSCRIPT AND PUHLTSHED ACTS OF THOSE HOLY MARTYRS—THE
2
In the anonymous Calendar of Irish
ST. KILIAN'S FAMILY AND HIS EARLY EDUCATION— HE EMBRACES THE ECCLESIASTICAL STATE—HIS PREACHING AND LABOURS IN IRELAND—WITH ELEVEN OTHER COMPANIONS HE LEAVES FOR FRANCE AND GER-
COUNTRY OF THEIR BIRTH—
MANY—HE TRAVELS TO WURTZBURG—PAGANISM THERE PREVAILING.
MANY
aspire to heroic fame, but, impelled thereto through motives of
humanambition whilethe
werehumblein their own estimation, yet exalted in the sight of God, and they are revered by just persons, because they ended virtuous lives, through the treacherous and evil machinations of those who conspired their death. Many seek for know- ledge, by relying too much on their own abilities, and without asking for those Heavenly lights, which can alone effectually dispel the darkness of mental vision ; but, St. Kilian is regarded as one of the Irish Doctors on account of his learning, while he turned this learning to forward noble aims, by observing the Divine Commandments, and by labouring with zeal for the extension of
God's kingdom, among the unenlightened and unbelievers.
The Life of St. Kilian, Apostle of Franconia, has been written, at a period not long after his death ; while various Manuscript Acts, relating to him and to his companions, have been preserved to our own times. With his Acts are
Articlexii. —x See"Acta Sanctorum," tomus ii. , Julii vii. Among the prctcr- mitted feasts, p. 452.
2 See " Historioe Catholicce Ibemiae Com- pendium," tomus i. , lib. iv. , cap. xi. , p. 50.
;
present holy martyrs
Article xiii. —* Edited by Rev. Dr. Kelly, p. xxviii.
Article i. —Chapter 1. —See Father
Stephen White's " Apologia pro Hibernia," cap. v. , p. 66.
July 8. ]
LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. 123
usually associated those of his companions in martyrdom, Saints Colman and
Totnan. There is a Harleian 2 Vita S. Kiliani. 3 in a vellum Manuscript large
folio, belonging to the twelfth century. This Life has been interpolated,
however, with subsequent additions. * There is a Tract,* De S. Kiliano cum
Sociis 6 and it seems to have been an of the suis, Martyribus, abridgment
8
formerpiece. AnAdmontManuscript7 containsadifferentVitaS. Kiliani, and this has been published by the Bollandists,? from a Manuscript in their
Sociorumque ejus,
in the National 10 Paris in that of the of Library, ; city
collated with other 10 as also with the text of Manuscripts,
possession,
Canisius " and of Mabillon. " There is another Admont Manuscript, con-
taining Passio Chiliani, Martyris, et aliorum Sociorum ejus. ^ Among the Arundel Manuscripts, in the British Museum, there is a thirteenth century
1 * "
Tract, Legenda
in festo S. Kiliani xs it is short, and of ;" but, apparently
no great value. 16
Kiliani. 18 There are various copies of a Manuscript intituled, Vita S. Kiliani
Metz 2° in that of the Duke of ;
21 Bruxelles two copies of his Burgundy, ;
in "
iv. , pars ii. , p. 625, and also by Sera-
rius, in Opera, p. 329, Ed. Mogunt, a. d. 161 1, fob Surius has issued it, in " De Pro-
batis Sanctorum Vitis," vol. iv. , Julii viii. , pp. 135 to 138.
4 It has been published by the Bollan- dists, in "Acta Sanctorum," tomus ii. , Julii viii.
by Canisius, tomus
Antiquos
Lectiones,"
5 It is in
printed Capgtave's
" Nova Le-
or fourteenth It is classed century.
5278,
There is an account by Sander 1 ? regarding a Vita S.
Acts are at Bamberg 22 three at Vienna -p two copies at Hamburg 2* one
;
at 2* oneat copy Stuttgart,
and one at Lilienfeld. 20
Windberg,
;
20 oneat 2? oneatRebdorf,28 Wurtzburg,
11 In " Lectiones," tomus iv. , Antiquce
8 Numbered 2801, in ff
3 This has a Prologue, commencing parsii. , p. 625.
genda Anglise," but it does not occur in
" 20
This is a vellum 8vo.
54l>56.
" Sanctorum Martyrum certamina. " Then
the Passio commences with the words :
" Beatus Kilianus, Scotorum genere," &c.
Expl. Passio. —" manifeste curabimus, ad
laudem et gloriam Domini nostri Jesu quidam paterfamilias, genere Saxo, nomine
Christi, qui cum Patre et Spiritu Sancto vivit et regnat Deus per infinita ssecula sseculorum. Amen. " This has been printed
:
Uuillgis," &c. Thus described in Charles
Purton Cooper's Appendix A.
14 It is a small vellum folio, classed 198.
'5 At fob 28.
10 "
It begins : Sanctus Kilianus, Scotus
nobilis.
*7 In his work, " Bibliotheca Belgica
John of Teignmouth's Sanctilogium," as
found among the Cottonian MSS. Tiber.
E. i. , and among the Bodleian MSS. Tan- it is classed 8942.
ner, 15. 6"
Intituled, Legenta S. Kiliani, and S.
It begins with these words : Beatus
Kilianus, genere Scotorum, nobilibus ortus
parentibus ;" and it ends with these words :
23
Intituled, S. Chiliani Vita, S. Kiliani ejusque Sociorum Passines, and also a Life of St. Kilian, in German.
24 Intituled, Historia S. Chiliani, as also, Passio S. Kiliani et Sociorum ejus.
25 Intituled, Brevissima Epitome Vitse S.
"
corpora Sanctorum revelavit, et visum re-
cepit. "
i Headed " Passio S. Cholomani, Passio
:
S. Kyliani episcopi. "
8 This begins with these words " Fuit Kiliani aliorumque. :
vir vitse venerabilis nomine Killena, quern
Scotti—ca tellus de magno edidit genere. "
Expl. regnante Pippino, primo Orientalium Francorum Rege feliciter. "
26
Intituled, Vitaa Sanctorum Kiliani Epis- copi Wirzburgensis, Kolomani Presbyten et Totnani Martyrum.
27 See Thomas Duffus Hardy's "Descrip-
tive of Materials to the Catalogue relating
History of Great Britain and Ireland to the
end of the reign of Henry VII," vol. i. ,part i. , PP. 339 to 341.
9 In "Acta Sanctorum," tomus viii. , pp. 612 to 614.
ii. , Julii
10 Ex MSS. Monasteriorum Windburgen- sis et Rebdorfensis.
12 In " Acta Sanctorum Ordinis S. Bene- dicti," tomus ii. , ssec. ii. , pp. 991 to 993.
13 It begins with these words " Fuit in Britannia insula, provincia Northanumbrana
Manuscripta," p. 262. 18 "
It begins with :
bilis in Hibernia, Kilianus. " Ex MSS. In- sulis, apud Claudium Doresmieulx.
19 One is on vellum, and of the thirteenth
57. olim Colbert.
21
This is of the eighteenth century, and
22
Kiliani Ep. et Sociorum Passio.
Fuit vir vitae venera-
124 LIVES OF THE IRISH SAJATS. [July 8.
The Acts of this Martyrdom of St. Kilian and of his companions are thought to have been written by P2gilvvald,3° a monk of St. Burchard's, at
1
This biography, however, has been interpolated, nor do we know if an original copy of it can now be found. John of Erford 3a also wrote the Life of our saint, in Latin verse. 33
St. Kilian and his companions, Martyrs, are commemorated in the
" 34 andin Atthe8thof Hystorie plurimorum Sanctorum," Capgrave. W
July, Lippeloo notices them,36 as also Baillet,37 and in the Benedictine collec-
tion 38 are to be found. The learned writer Nicolaus Serarius they Jesuit
has admirably illustrated the Acts of these Martyrs,^ m some historic and dogmatic notes, he has added to the Lives of the Saints, as published by Surius. The Acts of St. Kilian and of his companions are also preserved in
given a previous commentary,48 with notes appended to those Acts. The first in order of these is that found substantially in the Admont Manuscript^ and the second is that, which is met with in the Harleian Manuscript. s° This has been attributed to the monk Egilvvardus. 51 The Bollandists obtained
28 Intituled, Vitse Sanctorum Kiliani Epis- 39 His notes were issued in 1598.
copi Wirzhurgensis, Kolomani Presbyteri et 40 See "Antique Lectiones," tomus iv. , Totnani Mariyrum. See Charles Purton pars ii. , p. 628.
Wurtzburg. 3
40 but the Life as issued here is
Martyrs have been published by John Bale,42 as also by Laurence Surius,43 in eleven paragraph? ; but, according to his method, abbreviating original docu- ments and polishing their style ;44 by Molanus also, by Mabillon,45 and by Baronius. Messingham*6 has published the Life of St. Kilian, with notes. The Bollandists have issued the Acts of those holy Martyrs, at the 8th day of July. 47 Their editor has been Father John Baptist Soller, S. J. , who has
Canisius,
interpolated.
holy
Cooper's Supplement to Appendix A. , p. 63.
29 Intituled, Vita S. Kyliani.
3° He wrote the Life of St. Burchard.
31 In that Life of our saint, attributed te
41
According to the learned critic Pagius. He remarks, also, that in St. Kilian's authentic Life the day for his death is not found.
him, and published by the Bollandists, at
the close, the writer promises to write a Life cimaquarta, num. xxiii. , xxiiii. , pp. 196,
ofSt. Burchard.
32 He was a monk in the Monastery of St.
Stephen, and he lived in the fourteenth cen-
197.
43 See "De Probatis Sanctorum Vitis,"
vol. iv. , viii. Julii, pp. 135 to 138.
44 Without a consciousness of the fact,
tury.
33 Serrarius saw a copy of it, but he only he has thus very considerably lessened the
furnishes the following short specimen :—
"Sanctorum merita norunt compungere mentes.
Cura solicita studiove pio recolen- tes. "
value of his work. "
47 See ** Acta Sanctorum," tomus ii. , Julii 34 Published at Louvain, a. d. 1485. See viii. De S. Kiliano Episc. et Martyre,
fol. xciii. , xciiii.
3s See " Nova Legenda Anglise," fol. ccxiii.
36 See "Vitze Sanctorum," vol. iii. , pp. 101 to 106.
3? See " Les Vies des Saints," tome ii. ,
Colomano seu Colonato et Totnano ejus Sociis. Herbipoli in Franconia.
48 In six sections, and fifty-nine para-
graphs.
49 This is contained in nine paragraphs.
Throughout the succeeding part of this bio- graphy, we shall allude to this as the First
pp. 129 to 132.
38 See Mabillon and D'Achery's "Acta Life of St. Kilian.
s° There is a Prologue of the Author, and saec ii. , A. D. 600 to 700. The Acts proper afterwards follow two chapters, comprising are in 12 paragraphs; there are previous twenty-three paragraphs. To this we shall
observations in 3 paragraphs, pp. 991 to allude in succeeding pages, as the Second
993-
Sanctorum Ordinis S. Benedicti," tomus ii. ,
4 1 The Acts of those
42 See " Illustrium Scriptorum
Majoris Brytanniai," Posterior Pars, Centuaria De-
45 See Annales Ordinis S. Benedicti,"
tomus i. , lib. xvii. , num. lxviii. , pp. 586,
See Florilegium Insula; Sanctorum," pp. 318 to 330.
587.
46 "
LifeofSt. Kilian.
July 8. ] LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. "5
3 which they have used in collation with those of Acts," published by Canisius and Mabillon. The Acts of St. Kilian and of his com- panions are to be found in the works of Dr. Meredith Hanmer,5* Dean
6
Cressey," of Bishop Challenor,s of Rev. Alban Butler,57 and of Rev.
by
they are separated from him in veneration. One record left us regarding St. Kilian's Life, presents the statement, that he was a Scotus from Ireland. 61 Some of the Scotch writers have preferred a claim for his birth having occurred in Scotland, from the account of his being set down as a Scotus. That he was a native of Ireland is almost universally admitted ; but, we have
Killinus, Killenus, Chillianus, Cilianus, Ccelianus, Chilianus, Quillianus, Kyllena and Killena. By the Germans he is called Kulhn. 6 3 In like manner, the names of his companions in suffering have been confused by various writers : thus, we find Colman and Totnan written Colmann and Totmann ;
other
Manuscripts^
8 Hubert M'Laughlin. *
"
60 The second Life is still more explicit :
That St. Kilian—as also inferentially
his
Colman nnd St. Totnan—had belonged to the Scottish land by birth
59
race co is stated in the ancient Acts. The latter holy Martyrs, as subor- dinate to St. Kilian, are often not mentioned in accounts of his mission, or
62
or Kilianus as Latinized, has been varied by different writers of his Acts to
no account of the part of it to which he belonged.
The name of St. Kilian,
58 See
to the of Mabillon. 61 A talented native in a
51
As it comes to us, it appears to abound in errors, if we are not to deem these attribu-
table to interpolation.
53 One of these was obtained " a nostro
proegrandiValcellensiseu Moretianocodice. " Another is described as "puriora Acta ex schedis IUustrissimi Episcopi Lindani. "
53 The most ancient of our Martyr's Acts are supposed to have been written after the time of St. Raban Maur—who lived in the early part of the ninth century—and for sufficient reasons adduced by Father Sober.
54 See " Chronicle of Ireland," pp. 155,
156.
55 See "The Church History of Brittany,"
book xxiii. , chap, xxv. , pp. 613 to 615.
s6 See " Brittannia Sancta," part ii. , pp.
24 to 27.
57 See " Lives of the Fathers, Martyrs,
and other principal Saints, vol. vii. , July viii.
"
Biographical Sketches of Ancient Irish Saints," sect, xii. , pp. 182 to 192.
59 The Bollandists' first Life have it: "Fuit vir vitse venerabilis, nomine Killinus quem Scottica tellus de magno ededit genere," &c.
According
opinion
poet,
entitled, "St. Kilian," or " A Lay of the
early Missionary Days," gives the following particulars—probably founded on local tra- dition—concerning his place of birth in Breffney. However, we are inclined to be- lieve, that this has reference rather to a St. Caillin, who was venerated on the 13th of November. How the infancy of St. Kilian had been passed is thus described :
" Nursed beneath an Irish mountain, by an Irish mother's hand,
Beatus Kilianus, Scotorum genere nobili- bus ortus parentibus, divinae tamen gratias factus et nobilitate clarissimus. "
61 The Second Life afterwards continues its account of St. Kilian, as being of Scottish
"
origin :
sula est maris Oceani, fcecunda
bis, sed sanctissimis clarior viris ; ex qui bus Columbano gaudet Italia, Gallo ditatur Ale- mannia ; Kibano Teutonica nobilitatur Francia. "
—"
Scotia, quae et Hibernia dicitur in-
quidem gle-
companions
in
Martyrdom, St.
Where the wild Borora whispers to the meadows of the land,
Taught the music of the harper and the anthems of the blest,
Kilian grew as grows the ash-tree by the ruins of the west.
Winter stars that light in splendour
Eire's calm and and solemn
Might have borrowed their chaste brightness from the gleaming of his
eye;
The young lily bending lowly when
the dew is in the air,
Was a type of his meek spirit when
his young lips moved in prayer. "
63 See Bishop Challerior's " Britannia
Sancta," part ii. , p. 24.
6* To this list seems to be added in the
Second Life Columbanus and Gallus. Sige- bert, Reginus, and others quoted by Sera- rius, add to or take away some of those names, or vary them into many forms.
"
A Wreath of Shamrocks : Ballads, Songs and Legends," by John K. Casey (Leo), pp. 116 to 131.
composition
sky,
and
126 LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. [July 8.
Calan and Totmann ; Colonatus and Tothnanus Colanan and Tornanan j;
DolomannandTholraannj ColomannandTolmann. Again,theirnamesare written as Colonat and Tothnat. Other persons have been added to these, as companions of St. Kilian, such as Gallonus, Arnuuales and Donanus. 6* St. Kilian and his companions in martyrdom are also variedly noticed, in some of the Calendars ; but, it is correct to state, that the three soldiers of Christ who travelled together, and who alone were put to death at Wurtz- burg, were Saints Kilian, Colman and Totnan, while such has been the con- tinued and universally received tradition of the clergy and people, who regard them as their special patrons. 65
St. Kilian was of an illustrious family, and, it is even stated, that this vene-
rable martyr was of royal descent. 66 The respectability of his origin is 6
vouched for, by the ancient writers of his Acts. 7 There are no data in his
we can even — decide on the Acts, notwithstanding, whereby approximately
period of h—is birth; but, probably it was a little before and certainly not much after the middle of the seventh century.
Almost from his infancy, St. Kilian had a taste for study, and for the
acquirement of knowledge, especially that tending to inform his mind on sub- jects of highest interest to every true Christian. His talents for the acquisi-
tion of learning manifested themselves, by progress and perseverance in his studies ; while the latter were directed in a more especial manner to those branches of knowledge, which might enable him to gain souls for Christ. Especially, he applied with untiring endeavours, to the study of Holy Scrip- ture. On all occasions, he sought the direction of the Holy Ghost, to enlighten his mind on those matters, that were "hard to be understood, which the unlearned and unstable wrest, as they do also other Scriptures, to their own destruction. 68 With diffidence in his own judgment, and in his powers of understanding, Kilian referred all natural and acquired penetration to that Almighty Being, from whom he received it ; and hence, he was deemed worthy those superior gifts of intellect and of disposition, which placed him in advance of so many students, who applied to sacred erudition. After a most excellent course of instruction, which it appears his parents took care to procure for him, it has been asserted, that at an early age, Kilian devoted
himself to the monastic 6? Such was the he made in profession. progress
obedience, abstemiousness, prayer and vigil, that it was deemed expedient for
him to take sacred orders, and he was advanced accordingly through the
various grades. Having attained the dignity of the priesthood, he was care-
ful to discharge well its duties. His charities and other good works became
conspicuous ; while his brethren, admiring his great virtues, desired he should
succeed to a higher charge. 7° Having embraced the monastic life, he is said to
have some 1 However, it has been doubted if there be governed monastery. 7
2
sufficient evidence, to establish such a conclusion ;7
while Father Soller
65 See the Bollandists' " Acta Sancto-
rum," tomusii. , Julii viii. DeS. KilianoEpis. et Martyre, Colomano seu Colonato et Tot-
name of this writer,
68
nano 66 "
Sociis. Herbipoli in Franconia. In Hiberniaregio sanguine natu? . "
—
ii. Peter, iii. , 16.
69 According to the Second Life,
7° This is stated in his Second Life. »'
ejus
Molanus. See, also, Lippelo, Surius and I . anig—an, I do not find any particular men-
B. ironius. linn. "
67 But according to the depreciatory vol. iii. , chap, xviii. , sect, x. , p. 115.
account, given by Dr. Meredith Hanmer, a certain writer " saith he was a king's base
7a Trithemius goes so far as to state, that he was both monk and abbot in the monastery of Iona. This statement is wholly ground- less.
"
We are not further enlightened regarding the
sonne. " See
Chronicle of Ireland," p. 155.
"Of which, however," adds Rev. Dr. "
"Ecclesiastical History of Ireland,"
July 8. ] LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. 127
thinks it to be just as likely, that neither was St. Kilian an abbot, nor were his companions monks. St. Kilian's pastoral labours, after his call to the sacred ministry, were continued for several years ; while many souls were converted from evil courses, during their exercise. At last, he had a Divine
:
admonition,7^ and he heard these words " He that desires to come after
me, let him deny himself, take up his cross, and follow me. " 74
Already, St. Kilian had announced the Gospel with much fruit in his own country. According to some accounts, he was there advanced to the epis-
copal dignity. 75 This, too, seems most probable, from all we can learn, in reference to his career. As an effective and a persuasive preacher, he acquiredgreatrenown. AmongtheIrishclergy,hewaslookeduponasthe most erudite scholar, their country could possibly produce ; although the fame of Irish seminaries for learning was even then diffused over most European countries. The zeal of Kilian, for the propagation of Divine Faith among the pagans, induced him to think of leaving his family, friends and native country. Proposing his design to his companions,76 and pointing out with earnestness and eloquence the unhappy condition of those, who were yet asleep in sin and ignorance, and in whose ears the voice of Gospel heralds had not yet resounded ; our saint created a like desire in the souls of eleven amongthem,andtheseresolvedtoaccompanyhim. 77 Thechiefoneamong them was a priest, named Colman, who afterwards suffered martyrdom
together with St. Kilian. A Deacon, named Totnam, also the companion of his suffering,78 was one of those companions. The year 686 is that most correctly set down for their departure from Ireland ; and, it has been con- jectured, that St. Kilian was mature in years, at that period. A few months before this, John V. 7 ? had been raised to the Pontificate. On setting out, their course was directed first to Britain. Thence, they sailed for the shores ofFrance. 80 On landing, they proceeded towards Franconia, which lay
beyond
theRhine. At cametothe length, they
siteof This
Wurtzburg,
then
only
which is there crossed by a fine bridge.
place
"
73 This is stated in the First Life.
74 St. Matt, xvi.
LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS.
[J uly 8.
1
assigned to this day, by Camerarius, as the Bollandists remark ; while by
Castellan, it has been relegated to the 8th of September, as having been held inDisemberg,nearSpanheim,inthedioceseofMayence. TheBollandists
ArticleXIII. —ReputedFestivalofaSt. Bicce. Venerationwas
refer its celebration to the 8th of July.
Saints, published by O'Sullevan Beare, these names, Wilchibaldus, Dissibo- dus, Kalian, Bibianus and Totnanus, occur, at the 7th of July. But, I sus- pect typographical error and a misplaced festival, at least so far as concerns most of them.
given to Bicce, at this date, according to the Martyrology of Tallagh. where, we find no corresponding entry, in any other Calendar.
®fgl)tb J3ap of Snip*
1
Else-
ARTICLE I. —THE ACTS OF ST. KILIAN, APOSTLE OF FRANCONIA, MARTYR AND BISHOP, AS ALSO OF HIS COMPANIONS, ST. COLMAN, PRIEST, AND ST. TOTNAN, DEACON, MARTYRS.
\SEVENTH CENTURY. ]
CHAPTER I.
INTRODUCTION—MANUSCRIPT AND PUHLTSHED ACTS OF THOSE HOLY MARTYRS—THE
2
In the anonymous Calendar of Irish
ST. KILIAN'S FAMILY AND HIS EARLY EDUCATION— HE EMBRACES THE ECCLESIASTICAL STATE—HIS PREACHING AND LABOURS IN IRELAND—WITH ELEVEN OTHER COMPANIONS HE LEAVES FOR FRANCE AND GER-
COUNTRY OF THEIR BIRTH—
MANY—HE TRAVELS TO WURTZBURG—PAGANISM THERE PREVAILING.
MANY
aspire to heroic fame, but, impelled thereto through motives of
humanambition whilethe
werehumblein their own estimation, yet exalted in the sight of God, and they are revered by just persons, because they ended virtuous lives, through the treacherous and evil machinations of those who conspired their death. Many seek for know- ledge, by relying too much on their own abilities, and without asking for those Heavenly lights, which can alone effectually dispel the darkness of mental vision ; but, St. Kilian is regarded as one of the Irish Doctors on account of his learning, while he turned this learning to forward noble aims, by observing the Divine Commandments, and by labouring with zeal for the extension of
God's kingdom, among the unenlightened and unbelievers.
The Life of St. Kilian, Apostle of Franconia, has been written, at a period not long after his death ; while various Manuscript Acts, relating to him and to his companions, have been preserved to our own times. With his Acts are
Articlexii. —x See"Acta Sanctorum," tomus ii. , Julii vii. Among the prctcr- mitted feasts, p. 452.
2 See " Historioe Catholicce Ibemiae Com- pendium," tomus i. , lib. iv. , cap. xi. , p. 50.
;
present holy martyrs
Article xiii. —* Edited by Rev. Dr. Kelly, p. xxviii.
Article i. —Chapter 1. —See Father
Stephen White's " Apologia pro Hibernia," cap. v. , p. 66.
July 8. ]
LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. 123
usually associated those of his companions in martyrdom, Saints Colman and
Totnan. There is a Harleian 2 Vita S. Kiliani. 3 in a vellum Manuscript large
folio, belonging to the twelfth century. This Life has been interpolated,
however, with subsequent additions. * There is a Tract,* De S. Kiliano cum
Sociis 6 and it seems to have been an of the suis, Martyribus, abridgment
8
formerpiece. AnAdmontManuscript7 containsadifferentVitaS. Kiliani, and this has been published by the Bollandists,? from a Manuscript in their
Sociorumque ejus,
in the National 10 Paris in that of the of Library, ; city
collated with other 10 as also with the text of Manuscripts,
possession,
Canisius " and of Mabillon. " There is another Admont Manuscript, con-
taining Passio Chiliani, Martyris, et aliorum Sociorum ejus. ^ Among the Arundel Manuscripts, in the British Museum, there is a thirteenth century
1 * "
Tract, Legenda
in festo S. Kiliani xs it is short, and of ;" but, apparently
no great value. 16
Kiliani. 18 There are various copies of a Manuscript intituled, Vita S. Kiliani
Metz 2° in that of the Duke of ;
21 Bruxelles two copies of his Burgundy, ;
in "
iv. , pars ii. , p. 625, and also by Sera-
rius, in Opera, p. 329, Ed. Mogunt, a. d. 161 1, fob Surius has issued it, in " De Pro-
batis Sanctorum Vitis," vol. iv. , Julii viii. , pp. 135 to 138.
4 It has been published by the Bollan- dists, in "Acta Sanctorum," tomus ii. , Julii viii.
by Canisius, tomus
Antiquos
Lectiones,"
5 It is in
printed Capgtave's
" Nova Le-
or fourteenth It is classed century.
5278,
There is an account by Sander 1 ? regarding a Vita S.
Acts are at Bamberg 22 three at Vienna -p two copies at Hamburg 2* one
;
at 2* oneat copy Stuttgart,
and one at Lilienfeld. 20
Windberg,
;
20 oneat 2? oneatRebdorf,28 Wurtzburg,
11 In " Lectiones," tomus iv. , Antiquce
8 Numbered 2801, in ff
3 This has a Prologue, commencing parsii. , p. 625.
genda Anglise," but it does not occur in
" 20
This is a vellum 8vo.
54l>56.
" Sanctorum Martyrum certamina. " Then
the Passio commences with the words :
" Beatus Kilianus, Scotorum genere," &c.
Expl. Passio. —" manifeste curabimus, ad
laudem et gloriam Domini nostri Jesu quidam paterfamilias, genere Saxo, nomine
Christi, qui cum Patre et Spiritu Sancto vivit et regnat Deus per infinita ssecula sseculorum. Amen. " This has been printed
:
Uuillgis," &c. Thus described in Charles
Purton Cooper's Appendix A.
14 It is a small vellum folio, classed 198.
'5 At fob 28.
10 "
It begins : Sanctus Kilianus, Scotus
nobilis.
*7 In his work, " Bibliotheca Belgica
John of Teignmouth's Sanctilogium," as
found among the Cottonian MSS. Tiber.
E. i. , and among the Bodleian MSS. Tan- it is classed 8942.
ner, 15. 6"
Intituled, Legenta S. Kiliani, and S.
It begins with these words : Beatus
Kilianus, genere Scotorum, nobilibus ortus
parentibus ;" and it ends with these words :
23
Intituled, S. Chiliani Vita, S. Kiliani ejusque Sociorum Passines, and also a Life of St. Kilian, in German.
24 Intituled, Historia S. Chiliani, as also, Passio S. Kiliani et Sociorum ejus.
25 Intituled, Brevissima Epitome Vitse S.
"
corpora Sanctorum revelavit, et visum re-
cepit. "
i Headed " Passio S. Cholomani, Passio
:
S. Kyliani episcopi. "
8 This begins with these words " Fuit Kiliani aliorumque. :
vir vitse venerabilis nomine Killena, quern
Scotti—ca tellus de magno edidit genere. "
Expl. regnante Pippino, primo Orientalium Francorum Rege feliciter. "
26
Intituled, Vitaa Sanctorum Kiliani Epis- copi Wirzburgensis, Kolomani Presbyten et Totnani Martyrum.
27 See Thomas Duffus Hardy's "Descrip-
tive of Materials to the Catalogue relating
History of Great Britain and Ireland to the
end of the reign of Henry VII," vol. i. ,part i. , PP. 339 to 341.
9 In "Acta Sanctorum," tomus viii. , pp. 612 to 614.
ii. , Julii
10 Ex MSS. Monasteriorum Windburgen- sis et Rebdorfensis.
12 In " Acta Sanctorum Ordinis S. Bene- dicti," tomus ii. , ssec. ii. , pp. 991 to 993.
13 It begins with these words " Fuit in Britannia insula, provincia Northanumbrana
Manuscripta," p. 262. 18 "
It begins with :
bilis in Hibernia, Kilianus. " Ex MSS. In- sulis, apud Claudium Doresmieulx.
19 One is on vellum, and of the thirteenth
57. olim Colbert.
21
This is of the eighteenth century, and
22
Kiliani Ep. et Sociorum Passio.
Fuit vir vitae venera-
124 LIVES OF THE IRISH SAJATS. [July 8.
The Acts of this Martyrdom of St. Kilian and of his companions are thought to have been written by P2gilvvald,3° a monk of St. Burchard's, at
1
This biography, however, has been interpolated, nor do we know if an original copy of it can now be found. John of Erford 3a also wrote the Life of our saint, in Latin verse. 33
St. Kilian and his companions, Martyrs, are commemorated in the
" 34 andin Atthe8thof Hystorie plurimorum Sanctorum," Capgrave. W
July, Lippeloo notices them,36 as also Baillet,37 and in the Benedictine collec-
tion 38 are to be found. The learned writer Nicolaus Serarius they Jesuit
has admirably illustrated the Acts of these Martyrs,^ m some historic and dogmatic notes, he has added to the Lives of the Saints, as published by Surius. The Acts of St. Kilian and of his companions are also preserved in
given a previous commentary,48 with notes appended to those Acts. The first in order of these is that found substantially in the Admont Manuscript^ and the second is that, which is met with in the Harleian Manuscript. s° This has been attributed to the monk Egilvvardus. 51 The Bollandists obtained
28 Intituled, Vitse Sanctorum Kiliani Epis- 39 His notes were issued in 1598.
copi Wirzhurgensis, Kolomani Presbyteri et 40 See "Antique Lectiones," tomus iv. , Totnani Mariyrum. See Charles Purton pars ii. , p. 628.
Wurtzburg. 3
40 but the Life as issued here is
Martyrs have been published by John Bale,42 as also by Laurence Surius,43 in eleven paragraph? ; but, according to his method, abbreviating original docu- ments and polishing their style ;44 by Molanus also, by Mabillon,45 and by Baronius. Messingham*6 has published the Life of St. Kilian, with notes. The Bollandists have issued the Acts of those holy Martyrs, at the 8th day of July. 47 Their editor has been Father John Baptist Soller, S. J. , who has
Canisius,
interpolated.
holy
Cooper's Supplement to Appendix A. , p. 63.
29 Intituled, Vita S. Kyliani.
3° He wrote the Life of St. Burchard.
31 In that Life of our saint, attributed te
41
According to the learned critic Pagius. He remarks, also, that in St. Kilian's authentic Life the day for his death is not found.
him, and published by the Bollandists, at
the close, the writer promises to write a Life cimaquarta, num. xxiii. , xxiiii. , pp. 196,
ofSt. Burchard.
32 He was a monk in the Monastery of St.
Stephen, and he lived in the fourteenth cen-
197.
43 See "De Probatis Sanctorum Vitis,"
vol. iv. , viii. Julii, pp. 135 to 138.
44 Without a consciousness of the fact,
tury.
33 Serrarius saw a copy of it, but he only he has thus very considerably lessened the
furnishes the following short specimen :—
"Sanctorum merita norunt compungere mentes.
Cura solicita studiove pio recolen- tes. "
value of his work. "
47 See ** Acta Sanctorum," tomus ii. , Julii 34 Published at Louvain, a. d. 1485. See viii. De S. Kiliano Episc. et Martyre,
fol. xciii. , xciiii.
3s See " Nova Legenda Anglise," fol. ccxiii.
36 See "Vitze Sanctorum," vol. iii. , pp. 101 to 106.
3? See " Les Vies des Saints," tome ii. ,
Colomano seu Colonato et Totnano ejus Sociis. Herbipoli in Franconia.
48 In six sections, and fifty-nine para-
graphs.
49 This is contained in nine paragraphs.
Throughout the succeeding part of this bio- graphy, we shall allude to this as the First
pp. 129 to 132.
38 See Mabillon and D'Achery's "Acta Life of St. Kilian.
s° There is a Prologue of the Author, and saec ii. , A. D. 600 to 700. The Acts proper afterwards follow two chapters, comprising are in 12 paragraphs; there are previous twenty-three paragraphs. To this we shall
observations in 3 paragraphs, pp. 991 to allude in succeeding pages, as the Second
993-
Sanctorum Ordinis S. Benedicti," tomus ii. ,
4 1 The Acts of those
42 See " Illustrium Scriptorum
Majoris Brytanniai," Posterior Pars, Centuaria De-
45 See Annales Ordinis S. Benedicti,"
tomus i. , lib. xvii. , num. lxviii. , pp. 586,
See Florilegium Insula; Sanctorum," pp. 318 to 330.
587.
46 "
LifeofSt. Kilian.
July 8. ] LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. "5
3 which they have used in collation with those of Acts," published by Canisius and Mabillon. The Acts of St. Kilian and of his com- panions are to be found in the works of Dr. Meredith Hanmer,5* Dean
6
Cressey," of Bishop Challenor,s of Rev. Alban Butler,57 and of Rev.
by
they are separated from him in veneration. One record left us regarding St. Kilian's Life, presents the statement, that he was a Scotus from Ireland. 61 Some of the Scotch writers have preferred a claim for his birth having occurred in Scotland, from the account of his being set down as a Scotus. That he was a native of Ireland is almost universally admitted ; but, we have
Killinus, Killenus, Chillianus, Cilianus, Ccelianus, Chilianus, Quillianus, Kyllena and Killena. By the Germans he is called Kulhn. 6 3 In like manner, the names of his companions in suffering have been confused by various writers : thus, we find Colman and Totnan written Colmann and Totmann ;
other
Manuscripts^
8 Hubert M'Laughlin. *
"
60 The second Life is still more explicit :
That St. Kilian—as also inferentially
his
Colman nnd St. Totnan—had belonged to the Scottish land by birth
59
race co is stated in the ancient Acts. The latter holy Martyrs, as subor- dinate to St. Kilian, are often not mentioned in accounts of his mission, or
62
or Kilianus as Latinized, has been varied by different writers of his Acts to
no account of the part of it to which he belonged.
The name of St. Kilian,
58 See
to the of Mabillon. 61 A talented native in a
51
As it comes to us, it appears to abound in errors, if we are not to deem these attribu-
table to interpolation.
53 One of these was obtained " a nostro
proegrandiValcellensiseu Moretianocodice. " Another is described as "puriora Acta ex schedis IUustrissimi Episcopi Lindani. "
53 The most ancient of our Martyr's Acts are supposed to have been written after the time of St. Raban Maur—who lived in the early part of the ninth century—and for sufficient reasons adduced by Father Sober.
54 See " Chronicle of Ireland," pp. 155,
156.
55 See "The Church History of Brittany,"
book xxiii. , chap, xxv. , pp. 613 to 615.
s6 See " Brittannia Sancta," part ii. , pp.
24 to 27.
57 See " Lives of the Fathers, Martyrs,
and other principal Saints, vol. vii. , July viii.
"
Biographical Sketches of Ancient Irish Saints," sect, xii. , pp. 182 to 192.
59 The Bollandists' first Life have it: "Fuit vir vitse venerabilis, nomine Killinus quem Scottica tellus de magno ededit genere," &c.
According
opinion
poet,
entitled, "St. Kilian," or " A Lay of the
early Missionary Days," gives the following particulars—probably founded on local tra- dition—concerning his place of birth in Breffney. However, we are inclined to be- lieve, that this has reference rather to a St. Caillin, who was venerated on the 13th of November. How the infancy of St. Kilian had been passed is thus described :
" Nursed beneath an Irish mountain, by an Irish mother's hand,
Beatus Kilianus, Scotorum genere nobili- bus ortus parentibus, divinae tamen gratias factus et nobilitate clarissimus. "
61 The Second Life afterwards continues its account of St. Kilian, as being of Scottish
"
origin :
sula est maris Oceani, fcecunda
bis, sed sanctissimis clarior viris ; ex qui bus Columbano gaudet Italia, Gallo ditatur Ale- mannia ; Kibano Teutonica nobilitatur Francia. "
—"
Scotia, quae et Hibernia dicitur in-
quidem gle-
companions
in
Martyrdom, St.
Where the wild Borora whispers to the meadows of the land,
Taught the music of the harper and the anthems of the blest,
Kilian grew as grows the ash-tree by the ruins of the west.
Winter stars that light in splendour
Eire's calm and and solemn
Might have borrowed their chaste brightness from the gleaming of his
eye;
The young lily bending lowly when
the dew is in the air,
Was a type of his meek spirit when
his young lips moved in prayer. "
63 See Bishop Challerior's " Britannia
Sancta," part ii. , p. 24.
6* To this list seems to be added in the
Second Life Columbanus and Gallus. Sige- bert, Reginus, and others quoted by Sera- rius, add to or take away some of those names, or vary them into many forms.
"
A Wreath of Shamrocks : Ballads, Songs and Legends," by John K. Casey (Leo), pp. 116 to 131.
composition
sky,
and
126 LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. [July 8.
Calan and Totmann ; Colonatus and Tothnanus Colanan and Tornanan j;
DolomannandTholraannj ColomannandTolmann. Again,theirnamesare written as Colonat and Tothnat. Other persons have been added to these, as companions of St. Kilian, such as Gallonus, Arnuuales and Donanus. 6* St. Kilian and his companions in martyrdom are also variedly noticed, in some of the Calendars ; but, it is correct to state, that the three soldiers of Christ who travelled together, and who alone were put to death at Wurtz- burg, were Saints Kilian, Colman and Totnan, while such has been the con- tinued and universally received tradition of the clergy and people, who regard them as their special patrons. 65
St. Kilian was of an illustrious family, and, it is even stated, that this vene-
rable martyr was of royal descent. 66 The respectability of his origin is 6
vouched for, by the ancient writers of his Acts. 7 There are no data in his
we can even — decide on the Acts, notwithstanding, whereby approximately
period of h—is birth; but, probably it was a little before and certainly not much after the middle of the seventh century.
Almost from his infancy, St. Kilian had a taste for study, and for the
acquirement of knowledge, especially that tending to inform his mind on sub- jects of highest interest to every true Christian. His talents for the acquisi-
tion of learning manifested themselves, by progress and perseverance in his studies ; while the latter were directed in a more especial manner to those branches of knowledge, which might enable him to gain souls for Christ. Especially, he applied with untiring endeavours, to the study of Holy Scrip- ture. On all occasions, he sought the direction of the Holy Ghost, to enlighten his mind on those matters, that were "hard to be understood, which the unlearned and unstable wrest, as they do also other Scriptures, to their own destruction. 68 With diffidence in his own judgment, and in his powers of understanding, Kilian referred all natural and acquired penetration to that Almighty Being, from whom he received it ; and hence, he was deemed worthy those superior gifts of intellect and of disposition, which placed him in advance of so many students, who applied to sacred erudition. After a most excellent course of instruction, which it appears his parents took care to procure for him, it has been asserted, that at an early age, Kilian devoted
himself to the monastic 6? Such was the he made in profession. progress
obedience, abstemiousness, prayer and vigil, that it was deemed expedient for
him to take sacred orders, and he was advanced accordingly through the
various grades. Having attained the dignity of the priesthood, he was care-
ful to discharge well its duties. His charities and other good works became
conspicuous ; while his brethren, admiring his great virtues, desired he should
succeed to a higher charge. 7° Having embraced the monastic life, he is said to
have some 1 However, it has been doubted if there be governed monastery. 7
2
sufficient evidence, to establish such a conclusion ;7
while Father Soller
65 See the Bollandists' " Acta Sancto-
rum," tomusii. , Julii viii. DeS. KilianoEpis. et Martyre, Colomano seu Colonato et Tot-
name of this writer,
68
nano 66 "
Sociis. Herbipoli in Franconia. In Hiberniaregio sanguine natu? . "
—
ii. Peter, iii. , 16.
69 According to the Second Life,
7° This is stated in his Second Life. »'
ejus
Molanus. See, also, Lippelo, Surius and I . anig—an, I do not find any particular men-
B. ironius. linn. "
67 But according to the depreciatory vol. iii. , chap, xviii. , sect, x. , p. 115.
account, given by Dr. Meredith Hanmer, a certain writer " saith he was a king's base
7a Trithemius goes so far as to state, that he was both monk and abbot in the monastery of Iona. This statement is wholly ground- less.
"
We are not further enlightened regarding the
sonne. " See
Chronicle of Ireland," p. 155.
"Of which, however," adds Rev. Dr. "
"Ecclesiastical History of Ireland,"
July 8. ] LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. 127
thinks it to be just as likely, that neither was St. Kilian an abbot, nor were his companions monks. St. Kilian's pastoral labours, after his call to the sacred ministry, were continued for several years ; while many souls were converted from evil courses, during their exercise. At last, he had a Divine
:
admonition,7^ and he heard these words " He that desires to come after
me, let him deny himself, take up his cross, and follow me. " 74
Already, St. Kilian had announced the Gospel with much fruit in his own country. According to some accounts, he was there advanced to the epis-
copal dignity. 75 This, too, seems most probable, from all we can learn, in reference to his career. As an effective and a persuasive preacher, he acquiredgreatrenown. AmongtheIrishclergy,hewaslookeduponasthe most erudite scholar, their country could possibly produce ; although the fame of Irish seminaries for learning was even then diffused over most European countries. The zeal of Kilian, for the propagation of Divine Faith among the pagans, induced him to think of leaving his family, friends and native country. Proposing his design to his companions,76 and pointing out with earnestness and eloquence the unhappy condition of those, who were yet asleep in sin and ignorance, and in whose ears the voice of Gospel heralds had not yet resounded ; our saint created a like desire in the souls of eleven amongthem,andtheseresolvedtoaccompanyhim. 77 Thechiefoneamong them was a priest, named Colman, who afterwards suffered martyrdom
together with St. Kilian. A Deacon, named Totnam, also the companion of his suffering,78 was one of those companions. The year 686 is that most correctly set down for their departure from Ireland ; and, it has been con- jectured, that St. Kilian was mature in years, at that period. A few months before this, John V. 7 ? had been raised to the Pontificate. On setting out, their course was directed first to Britain. Thence, they sailed for the shores ofFrance. 80 On landing, they proceeded towards Franconia, which lay
beyond
theRhine. At cametothe length, they
siteof This
Wurtzburg,
then
only
which is there crossed by a fine bridge.
place
"
73 This is stated in the First Life.
74 St. Matt, xvi.
