Accordingly Peada and all his
companions
and suite, were baptized
by Finan.
by Finan.
O'Hanlon - Lives of the Irish Saints - v1
iii.
Lesley, lib.
xxvii.
, is quoted by the Rev.
Alban Butler, as an authority for the foregoing statement, as also Boelius, lib.
xiv.
See " Lives of the Fathers, Martyrs, and other Principal Saints," vol.
i.
, ix.
January.
^3 it was used at the consecration of Right Rev. Bishop Lynch, by the consecrating prelate, the Right Rev. Bishop de Char- bonnel of Toronto, in the presence of a vast
History congregation.
144 LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. [January 9.
issue was fraught with triumph, right gloriously prevailing against the efforts of human might and despotic power. So should the warrior, especially in
the trying moment of battles and danger, strengthen his soul by spiritual exercises, and trust his valour and his safety to the protection of the Lord of Hosts.
ARTICLE II. —ST. FINAN, BISHOP OF LINDISFARNE, AND APOSTLE IN NORTHUMBRIA.
\SEVENTH CENTURY. \
CHAPTER I.
INTRODUCTION—THE COUNTRY AND FATHER OF ST. FINAN—A MONK AT lONA—CON- SECRATED AS BISHOP THERE AND SENT TO SUCCEED ST. AIDAN AT LINDISFARNE— HE BUILDS A CHURCH OF WOOD ON THAT ISLAND—HIS INTIMACY WITH KING OSWIN—CONTROVERSY BETWEEN HIMSELF AND RONAN, AN IRISHMAN, ON THE PASCHAL QUESTION—OBSERVATIONS ON THIS SUBJECT.
That wonderful centre of Irish missionary enterprise, at lona, continued to
inherit the spirit and zeal of its great founder, St. Columkille, long after he had passed to enjoy an eternal reward. In a great measure Scotland had been evangelized, her pastors having been largely recruited from the clerical schools of Ireland. To lona constant accessions of novices and students repaired, during the sixth and the succeeding century. In the latter age, Irish missioners made their first successful inroads on the border-lands of Northum- bria, to extirpate Pagan errors. Soon their conquests extended, until the whole Saxon Heptarchy began to experience the happy results of their labours.
The Acts of this holy missionary have been collected from Venerable Bede and other writers by Colgan. ' It must be admitted, that one of the most distinguished Apostles of the ancient Kingdom of Northumbria was St. Finan, a native of Ireland. He is called the son of Rimed or Ryves. In what part of our island he was born, or where his earliest education had been received, does not seem to have transpired. Our first accounts of him are, that he was a monk in the Monastery of lona. Here he remained probably for a very considerable time, under the jurisdiction of Seghine, the fifth abbot in succession from the great St. Columkille. Seghine ruled over this house from A. D. 6i23 to 652, a period of twenty-nine years. ' While under his guardianship, St. Finan must have been greatly distinguished for his zeal and virtues ; for wlien St. Aidan,3 the first Bishop of Lindisfame, died on the 31st of August, A. D. 651,'^ Finan was chosen as his immediate successor. He was consecrated bishop at lona, and sent at once to assume the duties of his new pastoral charge.
The Island of Lindisfame lay near the sea-shore, and only a short distance from the eastern coast of Northumbria. s St. Aidan had already erected a religious establishment there. Yet it seems to have been of very humble
Art. II. —Chap. i. —'See "Acta Sane- The " Chronicon Scotorum," so ably
torum Hibernise," ix. Januarii. Vita S. Fi- edited by W. M. Hennessy, M. R. I. A. ,
nani, pp. 43 to 48. places his death at A. D. 648. See pp. 90, 91.
*
See Rev. William Reeves' Adamnan's s At low tide it is easily reached on foot
"Life of St. Columba. " Additional Notes from the main shore, "twice an island and "
O, pp. 373 to 375. Yet the Chronicon twice a continent in one day. " See Grose's Scotorum" places his death under the year "Antiquities of England and Wales," vol. 649. See pp. 92, 93. iv. , p. 109.
3 See his Life at the 31st of August.
January 9. ]
LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. 145
pretensions. ^ St. Finan's first care was to build a more suitable church, for aseewhichhadbecomesodistinguished. Hewasbothconsecratedandsenton his new mission by the Scots,? as the Irish were then called \ and from lona he brought the ecclesiastical lore and discipline, which had been there taught. ^
In this isle of Lindisfarne he built a church for the episcopal see. Accord- ing to the Scottish fashion he constructed it, not of stone, but of hewn timber, and he covered it with reeds. This church was afterwards dedicated by the Most Reverend Archbishop Theodore to the honour of St. Peter, the Apostle. But Eadbert, who in following times was bishop of that place, took away the thatch. He caused it to be covered all over, both roof and walls, with plates of lead. 9 King Oswry, or Oswin, was the king who ruled over this northern district, when our saint began his mission ;'° and that local monarch was a zealous seconder of Finan's exertions, to spread the Gospel
among his Anglo-Saxon and British subjects. "
Soon after St. Finan's arrival, the disputed Paschal question was again
revived, owing to some persons who had come from Kent or France. These
had asserted, that the Irish computation differed from that of the universal
Church. Amongthemwasanardentabettorofthemoregeneralpractice.
Ronan, an Irishman, had learned the true Paschal method in France and Italy. "
While he brought over several persons to his system, this Ronan was not able
to convince Fman. Rather by his reproofs was our saint rendered still more
persistent. '^ Nearly all the Saxon kingdoms, with the exception of Sussex, had
already heard the instructions of Christian missionaries, towards the middle
of the seventh century. The missionaries in England had come from different
countries. While they taught a like doctrine, they disagreed regarding several
points of ecclesiastical discipline. Their most important difference affected
the canonical time for celebrating Easter. During several centuries this
questionhaddisturbedthepeaceoftheChurch. ThatEastertimedepended
on the commencement of the equinoctial lunation was universally admitted.
The Roman astronomers maintained that lunation might begin as early as the
fifth, but according to the Alexandrian computation it could not commence
beforetheeighthdayofMarch. Inconsequenceofthisdiversityofopinion,
when the new moon fell on the fifth, sixth, or seventh of that month, the
Latins celebrated the feast of Easter a full lunation before the Greek Chris-
tians. ''* Towards the middle of the sixth century, weary of the disputes
occasioned by these different computations, the Roman Church had adopted a
new cycle. This agreed in every important point with the Alexandrian cal- culation. Such an improvement was unknown, however, to the British Chris-
_
*
This sufficiently appears from the sequel.
siastica Gentis Anglorum," lib. iii. , cap. 25,
p. 233.
'° See Cressy's "Church History of Brit-
tany," xv. book, chap, xvii. , p. 368.
"See the Life of St. Chad at the 7th of
this month.
"The ancient "Annales Cambrifc," edited
by the Rev. John Williams, ab Ithel M. A. for the Master of the Rolls, note under a. d.
In the work already quoted the reader will
find a description of Lindisfarne, and some
fine copper-plate engravings of its antiquities,
vol. i. Frontispiece, vol. iv. , pp. 93 to 97, with
a view of Holy Island Castle, taken in 1773 ;
and pp. 109 to 122, with three distinct views
of ancient monastic ruins there, and each
taken from adifferentpointof view, a. D. 1773. ~' See Bartholomieide Cotton Monachi Nor-
wicensis "Historia Anglicana;" a. D. (449— 1298), necnon ejusdeni "Liber de Archie- piscopis et Episcopis Anglio:,'' p. 413. Edited by Henry Richards Luard, M. A. London,
1859. 8vo.
" Pasca commutatur diem Domi- super
**
See Venerable Bede's "Historia Eccle-
'^ gee Bcde's "Historia Ecclesiastica
Gentis Anglorum," lib. iii. , cap. 25, p. 233. '^ There were a few other variations in the Paschal canons, which contributed still more toperplexthissubject. Theymaybeseenin
Smith's Bede, App. ix. , p. 698.
siastica Gentis Anglorum," lib. iii. , cap. 17, ? •204.
5 See Venerable Bede's "Historia Eccle-
453,
nicum Papa Leone episcopo Roma;," p. 3. St. Patrick brought most probably the older form of observance into Ireland,
L
'
Hibemise," Januarii. Vita S. Finani, n. 6, p. 45.
"
toria Ecclesiastica Gentis Anglorum," lib. iii. ,
146
LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS.
[January 9.
tians. Atthatperiod,thesewerewhollyemployedinopposingtheircountr/s invaders. They continued to observe the ancient cycle of Sulpicius Severus.
This had become peculiar to themselves. Hence, it occasionally happened, that Easter, and other festivals of the year depending on that solemnity, were celebrated at different times by the Saxon Christians. As these had been instructed by Scottish, by Roman, or by Gallic missionaries,'^ so did their obser- vances vary, and in accordance with the practice of their respective teachers. '^ It is not easy to determine, from the order of his composition, whether by a man of ferocious or rough mind, Bede intended to describe Finan or Ronan. The context seems to favour an allusion to the former but the
;
phrase used by him to denote Ronan's mode of arguing,'^ a mode very unbe- coming towards a bishop, might incline one to think that he alluded to Ronan. He appears to have been a very persistent and acute disputant. It is difficult to believe the Scoto-Irish prelates and clergy would have fixed upon St. Finan as their champion were he man of rough disposition. Colgan says,^^ that this
Ronan here alluded to had been revered in Armoric Brittany, on the ist of June," and this seems to form a very probable ground for supposition.
CHAPTER II.
ST. FINAN BAPTIZES PEADA, PRINCE OF THE MIDDLE-ANGLES—HE SENDS MISSIONARIES AMONG THESE PEOPLE—ST. FINAN CONSECRATES DIUMA AS BISHOP—HE BAPTIZES SIGEBERT, KING OF THE EAST SAXONS—HE CONSECRATES ST. CHAD AS BISHOP— VARIOUS SAINTS CALLED FINAN IN THE IRISH CALENDARS—WRITINGS ATTRIBUTED TO THE PRESENT ST. FINAN—HIS DEATH—HIS DIFFERENT COMMEMORATIONS— CONCLUSION.
Notwithstanding this Paschal diversity, justly considered a great inconve- nience, there was no breach of communion, nor did Finan disturb the con- scienceofthosewhopreferredtheRomancomputation. Thisprelatehad the happiness to baptize Peada, Prince of the Middle-Angles, and son to Penda, Pagan King of the Mercians. Peada had come to the court of the Northumbrian King Os\vin, for the purpose of obtaining in marriage his daughter, the Princess Alchfleda. ' His proposal would not be agreed to, unless he and his subjects should become Christians. Peada listened to the Word of God, and he was so convinced of the truth, that he declared himself willing to become a convert, even should the princess be refused to him in marriage.
Accordingly Peada and all his companions and suite, were baptized
by Finan. Having obtained four learned and worthy priests, for the instruc- tion of his subjects, the prince returned with joy to his o\vn country. Those priests were Cedd, Add, Betti, and Diuma. The three former are said to
"^
have been English, and the last was an Irishman.
however, notv^ithstanding the statement of Venerable Bede,3 that Cedda,^
'5 See Dr. " of Lingard's History Eng-
land," vol. i. , chap, ii. , a. d. 656, p. 99.
'* See what has been already observed on this subject in the Life of St. Diman Dubh,
Bishop of Connor, at the 6th of January.
'7 The words are "acerbiorem castigando. "
''
Historia Ecclesiastica Gentis Anglo- rum," lib. iii. , cap. 25, p. 233.
ix.
four Northumbrian Bede expressly priests.
states, however, that Diuma was not a North- umbrian or an Englishman, but an Irishman or Scot. Nor does Dr. Lingard say a word about Finan, nor the part he had in the con- version of Peada, nor of his having supplied those priests to the Middle-Angles,
3 " Erant autem presbyteri Cedda et Adda et Betti et Diuma, quorum ultimus natione
See
'* See "Acta Sanctorum
'9 See noti—ces of him at that day.
'
Chap. ii. See what has been already
stated in the Life of St. Chad, at the 7th of this month.
218.
* Bede declares that this Cedda spent some
time with St. Egbert in Ireland, when both 'Dr. Lmgard, in his "History of the were young men. See ? ^/</. , lib. iv. , cap. 3,
Anglo-Saxon Church," chap, i. , calls them p. 267.
Scotus, coeteri fuere de Anglis.
See
''
His-
cap. 21, p.
It has been maintained,
January 9. ] LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. 147
Adda,s and Betta, as well as Diuma, belonged to Scotia or Hibemia,^ of which
country St. Finan himself was a native. ? With great success, these holy mis-
sionaries preached among the Middle-Angles, and brought many of them to a knowledge of the true Faith. ^
In the very commencement of his episcopacy, St. Finan must have bap-
tized Peada and his household, as we have already seen. 9 Henry of Hunting-
don relates this occurrence,^" and it is assigned to the year 653.
In a short time the missionaries converted so many persons that about two years after the opening of their mission, Diuma was elected and consecrated bishop, by St. Finan. The latter prelate placed him newly consecrated over the Middle-Angles and the Mercians. Our saint also baptized Sigebert, King of the East Saxons, as we have already seen in the Life of St. Chad. " The latter was consecrated by St. Finan, and appointed Bishop of the East Saxons. Various saints bearing the name Finan or Fionan occur in the Irish calendars. '^ The present is one, not the least distinguished among them,
owing to the fact of his having had so important a share in the conversion of the Northern Saxons, and because of his having been so specially noticed by Venerable Bede.
It is remarkable, Dempster^3 falsely cites Hector Boetius as an authority for the statement, that St. Finan composed a tract under the title " Monita Salutaria ad Ferguhardium," lib. i. Demochares^+ and Lesley's have some laudatorynoticesofthisholyman,intheirrespectiveworks; whilethelearned Ussher'^ does not forget to introduce notices regarding him, in his comprehen- sive work referring to the history of the British Churches. '7 Bale has asserted that the present St. Finan wrote a treatise on the Paschal rite. '^ But this statement is not supported by any more worthy authority. By some writers, the present saint is incorrectly called Sinan or Sinanus. 's Such error arose, probably by mistaking the initial letter F. for S. , as written in old manuscripts. Many of the early English^" and Scottish chroniclers mention this holy bishop with very laudatory phrases.
5 Adda is said to have been brother to the Eramian, at the 12th, and a St. Fionnan, at illustrious priest Ultan, who was abbot over the 13th of February ; a St. Fionan, the
a monastery called "Ad Caprse Caput. " See ibid. , lib. iii. , cap. 21, pp. 218, 219.
*
Such is the statement of Florence of Wor- cester ad annum 664.
In all
missionaries who had gone over from Ireland to assist St. Aidan in establishing his North- umbrian mission.
9 See Life of St. Chad, at the 7th of Janu-
ary. MatthewofWestminsterstatesthisfact,
under the year 650. See " Flores Historia-
rum," p. 226. Yet, Florence of Worcester
defers the death of St. Aidan to the 31st of
August, A. D. 652, when St. Finan received
his mission, —and was ordained through
Scotic agency —doubtless with the sanction
Leper, at the i6th of March ; a St. Fionan, the Crooked, of Kennity ; a St. Fionan, at the 4th of October ; a St. Fionan of Rath, at the 25th of November ; and a St. Fionan
^
Colgan's
pendix ad Acta S. Finani, cap. i. , p. 46.
'3 See " Historia Ecclesiastica Gentis
Scotorum,"lib. vi.
"* " De Sacrificio Missse," cap. xv. , xxxix. 'S " Historia Scotioe," lib. iv.
"^ See " Britannicarum Ecclesiarum Anti-
quitates,''pp, 78, 681, 697, 919, 964. Dublin edition, A. D. 1639.
^^ See Colgan's "Acta Sanctorum Hiber-
nise," ix. Januarii. Appendix ad Acta S.
of the Holy See
from life.
after St. Aidan's departure
See Harris' Ware, vol. ii. , Writers of Ireland," book i. , chap, iv. , p. 33.
'°
Lib. iii.
'9 Among others, by Antonius Possevinus,
"In and "De Apparatu,'' by Trithemius,
Viris Illustribus Ordinis Benedicti. "
*° "
See Venerable Bede's Historia Eccle-
Colgan's
Caue,
Todd's and Dr. Reeves' edition of the
"
probability,
Finan was one of those
" Acta Sanctorum
" At the
" 7th January.
" Acta Sanctorum Hiber-
' See
nice," ix. Januarii. Vita S. Finani, n. 9, p. 46.
at the 8th of December. See Dr.
of
Thus there is a St. Fionan, bishop, at the
8th of January ; a St. Fionan of Saxonland,
at the 9th of January ; a St. Fionan, son of siastica Gentis Anglorum," lib. iii. , cap. 17,
tyrology of Donegal," pp. 418, 419.
Finani, cap. iii. , p. 48.
'^ "
Also Hiberniae," Ap-
Mar-
148 LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. [January 9.
After he had gained many Gentiles to the true Faith, and had ruled over
the See of Lindisfarne for about ten years, St. Finan was called away to the
bliss of immortality, in the year 656^' or 659,^* according to some writers. Others again assign his death to 600 or 601. =3 The Irish calendarists place his festival at the 9th of January. =4
Although by birth and descent this saint was Irish; yet the entry of
occurs in the
Marianus O'Gorman likewise commemorates him at the same date.
Saxon, is set down in the Martyrology of Donegal,^? as being venerated on
this day. He was the second Bishop of Lindisfarne,^^ and he is regarded as an Apostle among the Saxons of the midland and north-eastern parts of England. Hence his distinctive appellation.
English and Scotch writers^9 have his feast recorded at the 17th of
February. 3° At this date, the reader will find some additional observations.
However, it is said, neither of the foregoing dates represents the exact day of his death.
For learning, holiness of life, indefatigable zeal and earnestness of purpose, this great missionary was a light to many people, who had heretofore remained in the shadow of Paganism. Over princes and people he exercised great spiritual influence. In the activity of episcopal rule, and in his solicitude for the souls of men, he was a bright example of austerity and self-denial, in public and private life.
Article III. —St. Guaire, Beg, Patron of Aghadowy or Aghadoey,
County of Londonderry. [Probably m the Seventh Century. '] The spirit
of holiness, from an early period, has consecrated many a lonely spot in old Ireland. The situation of that church, belonging to Guaire Beg, of
Achadh-Dubhthaigh, in Magh-Li, is exactly pointed out in our calendars. It arose near the banks of the Bann, on the west side, between Loch-n-Each- dhach* and the sea. This saint belonged to the race of CoUa Uais, monarch of Erin. His feast is registered in the Martyrology of Donegal^ on this day. It is recorded, in the Martyrology of Tallagh3as Guare "bic," for "beg," which means " small " or " little ;" probably in allusion to his stature, or want of distinction. He was son of Lasreu, son of Ferguss, son of Loegare, or
Finan, Saxon,
Martyrology
of
Tallagh,=s
at the of 9th
p. 204, cap. 21, 22, pp. 218 to 222, cap. 25, p. 233. Florence of Worcester, Matthew of Westminster, " Flores Historiarum," A. D. 651, 652, pp. 226 to 228. Nicholas Harps-
p. 45, and nn. 12, 13, p. 46.
's Edited by Rev. Dr, Kelly, p. xii.
"* In the Franciscan copy wc find pri Am
Sax.
feld's " Historia
"
xxxi. Arnold Wion '^ See Father
Anglicana Ecclesiastica, cap. xxviii. ,
by
White's "
p. Apolo-
ssec.
^3 it was used at the consecration of Right Rev. Bishop Lynch, by the consecrating prelate, the Right Rev. Bishop de Char- bonnel of Toronto, in the presence of a vast
History congregation.
144 LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. [January 9.
issue was fraught with triumph, right gloriously prevailing against the efforts of human might and despotic power. So should the warrior, especially in
the trying moment of battles and danger, strengthen his soul by spiritual exercises, and trust his valour and his safety to the protection of the Lord of Hosts.
ARTICLE II. —ST. FINAN, BISHOP OF LINDISFARNE, AND APOSTLE IN NORTHUMBRIA.
\SEVENTH CENTURY. \
CHAPTER I.
INTRODUCTION—THE COUNTRY AND FATHER OF ST. FINAN—A MONK AT lONA—CON- SECRATED AS BISHOP THERE AND SENT TO SUCCEED ST. AIDAN AT LINDISFARNE— HE BUILDS A CHURCH OF WOOD ON THAT ISLAND—HIS INTIMACY WITH KING OSWIN—CONTROVERSY BETWEEN HIMSELF AND RONAN, AN IRISHMAN, ON THE PASCHAL QUESTION—OBSERVATIONS ON THIS SUBJECT.
That wonderful centre of Irish missionary enterprise, at lona, continued to
inherit the spirit and zeal of its great founder, St. Columkille, long after he had passed to enjoy an eternal reward. In a great measure Scotland had been evangelized, her pastors having been largely recruited from the clerical schools of Ireland. To lona constant accessions of novices and students repaired, during the sixth and the succeeding century. In the latter age, Irish missioners made their first successful inroads on the border-lands of Northum- bria, to extirpate Pagan errors. Soon their conquests extended, until the whole Saxon Heptarchy began to experience the happy results of their labours.
The Acts of this holy missionary have been collected from Venerable Bede and other writers by Colgan. ' It must be admitted, that one of the most distinguished Apostles of the ancient Kingdom of Northumbria was St. Finan, a native of Ireland. He is called the son of Rimed or Ryves. In what part of our island he was born, or where his earliest education had been received, does not seem to have transpired. Our first accounts of him are, that he was a monk in the Monastery of lona. Here he remained probably for a very considerable time, under the jurisdiction of Seghine, the fifth abbot in succession from the great St. Columkille. Seghine ruled over this house from A. D. 6i23 to 652, a period of twenty-nine years. ' While under his guardianship, St. Finan must have been greatly distinguished for his zeal and virtues ; for wlien St. Aidan,3 the first Bishop of Lindisfame, died on the 31st of August, A. D. 651,'^ Finan was chosen as his immediate successor. He was consecrated bishop at lona, and sent at once to assume the duties of his new pastoral charge.
The Island of Lindisfame lay near the sea-shore, and only a short distance from the eastern coast of Northumbria. s St. Aidan had already erected a religious establishment there. Yet it seems to have been of very humble
Art. II. —Chap. i. —'See "Acta Sane- The " Chronicon Scotorum," so ably
torum Hibernise," ix. Januarii. Vita S. Fi- edited by W. M. Hennessy, M. R. I. A. ,
nani, pp. 43 to 48. places his death at A. D. 648. See pp. 90, 91.
*
See Rev. William Reeves' Adamnan's s At low tide it is easily reached on foot
"Life of St. Columba. " Additional Notes from the main shore, "twice an island and "
O, pp. 373 to 375. Yet the Chronicon twice a continent in one day. " See Grose's Scotorum" places his death under the year "Antiquities of England and Wales," vol. 649. See pp. 92, 93. iv. , p. 109.
3 See his Life at the 31st of August.
January 9. ]
LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. 145
pretensions. ^ St. Finan's first care was to build a more suitable church, for aseewhichhadbecomesodistinguished. Hewasbothconsecratedandsenton his new mission by the Scots,? as the Irish were then called \ and from lona he brought the ecclesiastical lore and discipline, which had been there taught. ^
In this isle of Lindisfarne he built a church for the episcopal see. Accord- ing to the Scottish fashion he constructed it, not of stone, but of hewn timber, and he covered it with reeds. This church was afterwards dedicated by the Most Reverend Archbishop Theodore to the honour of St. Peter, the Apostle. But Eadbert, who in following times was bishop of that place, took away the thatch. He caused it to be covered all over, both roof and walls, with plates of lead. 9 King Oswry, or Oswin, was the king who ruled over this northern district, when our saint began his mission ;'° and that local monarch was a zealous seconder of Finan's exertions, to spread the Gospel
among his Anglo-Saxon and British subjects. "
Soon after St. Finan's arrival, the disputed Paschal question was again
revived, owing to some persons who had come from Kent or France. These
had asserted, that the Irish computation differed from that of the universal
Church. Amongthemwasanardentabettorofthemoregeneralpractice.
Ronan, an Irishman, had learned the true Paschal method in France and Italy. "
While he brought over several persons to his system, this Ronan was not able
to convince Fman. Rather by his reproofs was our saint rendered still more
persistent. '^ Nearly all the Saxon kingdoms, with the exception of Sussex, had
already heard the instructions of Christian missionaries, towards the middle
of the seventh century. The missionaries in England had come from different
countries. While they taught a like doctrine, they disagreed regarding several
points of ecclesiastical discipline. Their most important difference affected
the canonical time for celebrating Easter. During several centuries this
questionhaddisturbedthepeaceoftheChurch. ThatEastertimedepended
on the commencement of the equinoctial lunation was universally admitted.
The Roman astronomers maintained that lunation might begin as early as the
fifth, but according to the Alexandrian computation it could not commence
beforetheeighthdayofMarch. Inconsequenceofthisdiversityofopinion,
when the new moon fell on the fifth, sixth, or seventh of that month, the
Latins celebrated the feast of Easter a full lunation before the Greek Chris-
tians. ''* Towards the middle of the sixth century, weary of the disputes
occasioned by these different computations, the Roman Church had adopted a
new cycle. This agreed in every important point with the Alexandrian cal- culation. Such an improvement was unknown, however, to the British Chris-
_
*
This sufficiently appears from the sequel.
siastica Gentis Anglorum," lib. iii. , cap. 25,
p. 233.
'° See Cressy's "Church History of Brit-
tany," xv. book, chap, xvii. , p. 368.
"See the Life of St. Chad at the 7th of
this month.
"The ancient "Annales Cambrifc," edited
by the Rev. John Williams, ab Ithel M. A. for the Master of the Rolls, note under a. d.
In the work already quoted the reader will
find a description of Lindisfarne, and some
fine copper-plate engravings of its antiquities,
vol. i. Frontispiece, vol. iv. , pp. 93 to 97, with
a view of Holy Island Castle, taken in 1773 ;
and pp. 109 to 122, with three distinct views
of ancient monastic ruins there, and each
taken from adifferentpointof view, a. D. 1773. ~' See Bartholomieide Cotton Monachi Nor-
wicensis "Historia Anglicana;" a. D. (449— 1298), necnon ejusdeni "Liber de Archie- piscopis et Episcopis Anglio:,'' p. 413. Edited by Henry Richards Luard, M. A. London,
1859. 8vo.
" Pasca commutatur diem Domi- super
**
See Venerable Bede's "Historia Eccle-
'^ gee Bcde's "Historia Ecclesiastica
Gentis Anglorum," lib. iii. , cap. 25, p. 233. '^ There were a few other variations in the Paschal canons, which contributed still more toperplexthissubject. Theymaybeseenin
Smith's Bede, App. ix. , p. 698.
siastica Gentis Anglorum," lib. iii. , cap. 17, ? •204.
5 See Venerable Bede's "Historia Eccle-
453,
nicum Papa Leone episcopo Roma;," p. 3. St. Patrick brought most probably the older form of observance into Ireland,
L
'
Hibemise," Januarii. Vita S. Finani, n. 6, p. 45.
"
toria Ecclesiastica Gentis Anglorum," lib. iii. ,
146
LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS.
[January 9.
tians. Atthatperiod,thesewerewhollyemployedinopposingtheircountr/s invaders. They continued to observe the ancient cycle of Sulpicius Severus.
This had become peculiar to themselves. Hence, it occasionally happened, that Easter, and other festivals of the year depending on that solemnity, were celebrated at different times by the Saxon Christians. As these had been instructed by Scottish, by Roman, or by Gallic missionaries,'^ so did their obser- vances vary, and in accordance with the practice of their respective teachers. '^ It is not easy to determine, from the order of his composition, whether by a man of ferocious or rough mind, Bede intended to describe Finan or Ronan. The context seems to favour an allusion to the former but the
;
phrase used by him to denote Ronan's mode of arguing,'^ a mode very unbe- coming towards a bishop, might incline one to think that he alluded to Ronan. He appears to have been a very persistent and acute disputant. It is difficult to believe the Scoto-Irish prelates and clergy would have fixed upon St. Finan as their champion were he man of rough disposition. Colgan says,^^ that this
Ronan here alluded to had been revered in Armoric Brittany, on the ist of June," and this seems to form a very probable ground for supposition.
CHAPTER II.
ST. FINAN BAPTIZES PEADA, PRINCE OF THE MIDDLE-ANGLES—HE SENDS MISSIONARIES AMONG THESE PEOPLE—ST. FINAN CONSECRATES DIUMA AS BISHOP—HE BAPTIZES SIGEBERT, KING OF THE EAST SAXONS—HE CONSECRATES ST. CHAD AS BISHOP— VARIOUS SAINTS CALLED FINAN IN THE IRISH CALENDARS—WRITINGS ATTRIBUTED TO THE PRESENT ST. FINAN—HIS DEATH—HIS DIFFERENT COMMEMORATIONS— CONCLUSION.
Notwithstanding this Paschal diversity, justly considered a great inconve- nience, there was no breach of communion, nor did Finan disturb the con- scienceofthosewhopreferredtheRomancomputation. Thisprelatehad the happiness to baptize Peada, Prince of the Middle-Angles, and son to Penda, Pagan King of the Mercians. Peada had come to the court of the Northumbrian King Os\vin, for the purpose of obtaining in marriage his daughter, the Princess Alchfleda. ' His proposal would not be agreed to, unless he and his subjects should become Christians. Peada listened to the Word of God, and he was so convinced of the truth, that he declared himself willing to become a convert, even should the princess be refused to him in marriage.
Accordingly Peada and all his companions and suite, were baptized
by Finan. Having obtained four learned and worthy priests, for the instruc- tion of his subjects, the prince returned with joy to his o\vn country. Those priests were Cedd, Add, Betti, and Diuma. The three former are said to
"^
have been English, and the last was an Irishman.
however, notv^ithstanding the statement of Venerable Bede,3 that Cedda,^
'5 See Dr. " of Lingard's History Eng-
land," vol. i. , chap, ii. , a. d. 656, p. 99.
'* See what has been already observed on this subject in the Life of St. Diman Dubh,
Bishop of Connor, at the 6th of January.
'7 The words are "acerbiorem castigando. "
''
Historia Ecclesiastica Gentis Anglo- rum," lib. iii. , cap. 25, p. 233.
ix.
four Northumbrian Bede expressly priests.
states, however, that Diuma was not a North- umbrian or an Englishman, but an Irishman or Scot. Nor does Dr. Lingard say a word about Finan, nor the part he had in the con- version of Peada, nor of his having supplied those priests to the Middle-Angles,
3 " Erant autem presbyteri Cedda et Adda et Betti et Diuma, quorum ultimus natione
See
'* See "Acta Sanctorum
'9 See noti—ces of him at that day.
'
Chap. ii. See what has been already
stated in the Life of St. Chad, at the 7th of this month.
218.
* Bede declares that this Cedda spent some
time with St. Egbert in Ireland, when both 'Dr. Lmgard, in his "History of the were young men. See ? ^/</. , lib. iv. , cap. 3,
Anglo-Saxon Church," chap, i. , calls them p. 267.
Scotus, coeteri fuere de Anglis.
See
''
His-
cap. 21, p.
It has been maintained,
January 9. ] LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. 147
Adda,s and Betta, as well as Diuma, belonged to Scotia or Hibemia,^ of which
country St. Finan himself was a native. ? With great success, these holy mis-
sionaries preached among the Middle-Angles, and brought many of them to a knowledge of the true Faith. ^
In the very commencement of his episcopacy, St. Finan must have bap-
tized Peada and his household, as we have already seen. 9 Henry of Hunting-
don relates this occurrence,^" and it is assigned to the year 653.
In a short time the missionaries converted so many persons that about two years after the opening of their mission, Diuma was elected and consecrated bishop, by St. Finan. The latter prelate placed him newly consecrated over the Middle-Angles and the Mercians. Our saint also baptized Sigebert, King of the East Saxons, as we have already seen in the Life of St. Chad. " The latter was consecrated by St. Finan, and appointed Bishop of the East Saxons. Various saints bearing the name Finan or Fionan occur in the Irish calendars. '^ The present is one, not the least distinguished among them,
owing to the fact of his having had so important a share in the conversion of the Northern Saxons, and because of his having been so specially noticed by Venerable Bede.
It is remarkable, Dempster^3 falsely cites Hector Boetius as an authority for the statement, that St. Finan composed a tract under the title " Monita Salutaria ad Ferguhardium," lib. i. Demochares^+ and Lesley's have some laudatorynoticesofthisholyman,intheirrespectiveworks; whilethelearned Ussher'^ does not forget to introduce notices regarding him, in his comprehen- sive work referring to the history of the British Churches. '7 Bale has asserted that the present St. Finan wrote a treatise on the Paschal rite. '^ But this statement is not supported by any more worthy authority. By some writers, the present saint is incorrectly called Sinan or Sinanus. 's Such error arose, probably by mistaking the initial letter F. for S. , as written in old manuscripts. Many of the early English^" and Scottish chroniclers mention this holy bishop with very laudatory phrases.
5 Adda is said to have been brother to the Eramian, at the 12th, and a St. Fionnan, at illustrious priest Ultan, who was abbot over the 13th of February ; a St. Fionan, the
a monastery called "Ad Caprse Caput. " See ibid. , lib. iii. , cap. 21, pp. 218, 219.
*
Such is the statement of Florence of Wor- cester ad annum 664.
In all
missionaries who had gone over from Ireland to assist St. Aidan in establishing his North- umbrian mission.
9 See Life of St. Chad, at the 7th of Janu-
ary. MatthewofWestminsterstatesthisfact,
under the year 650. See " Flores Historia-
rum," p. 226. Yet, Florence of Worcester
defers the death of St. Aidan to the 31st of
August, A. D. 652, when St. Finan received
his mission, —and was ordained through
Scotic agency —doubtless with the sanction
Leper, at the i6th of March ; a St. Fionan, the Crooked, of Kennity ; a St. Fionan, at the 4th of October ; a St. Fionan of Rath, at the 25th of November ; and a St. Fionan
^
Colgan's
pendix ad Acta S. Finani, cap. i. , p. 46.
'3 See " Historia Ecclesiastica Gentis
Scotorum,"lib. vi.
"* " De Sacrificio Missse," cap. xv. , xxxix. 'S " Historia Scotioe," lib. iv.
"^ See " Britannicarum Ecclesiarum Anti-
quitates,''pp, 78, 681, 697, 919, 964. Dublin edition, A. D. 1639.
^^ See Colgan's "Acta Sanctorum Hiber-
nise," ix. Januarii. Appendix ad Acta S.
of the Holy See
from life.
after St. Aidan's departure
See Harris' Ware, vol. ii. , Writers of Ireland," book i. , chap, iv. , p. 33.
'°
Lib. iii.
'9 Among others, by Antonius Possevinus,
"In and "De Apparatu,'' by Trithemius,
Viris Illustribus Ordinis Benedicti. "
*° "
See Venerable Bede's Historia Eccle-
Colgan's
Caue,
Todd's and Dr. Reeves' edition of the
"
probability,
Finan was one of those
" Acta Sanctorum
" At the
" 7th January.
" Acta Sanctorum Hiber-
' See
nice," ix. Januarii. Vita S. Finani, n. 9, p. 46.
at the 8th of December. See Dr.
of
Thus there is a St. Fionan, bishop, at the
8th of January ; a St. Fionan of Saxonland,
at the 9th of January ; a St. Fionan, son of siastica Gentis Anglorum," lib. iii. , cap. 17,
tyrology of Donegal," pp. 418, 419.
Finani, cap. iii. , p. 48.
'^ "
Also Hiberniae," Ap-
Mar-
148 LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. [January 9.
After he had gained many Gentiles to the true Faith, and had ruled over
the See of Lindisfarne for about ten years, St. Finan was called away to the
bliss of immortality, in the year 656^' or 659,^* according to some writers. Others again assign his death to 600 or 601. =3 The Irish calendarists place his festival at the 9th of January. =4
Although by birth and descent this saint was Irish; yet the entry of
occurs in the
Marianus O'Gorman likewise commemorates him at the same date.
Saxon, is set down in the Martyrology of Donegal,^? as being venerated on
this day. He was the second Bishop of Lindisfarne,^^ and he is regarded as an Apostle among the Saxons of the midland and north-eastern parts of England. Hence his distinctive appellation.
English and Scotch writers^9 have his feast recorded at the 17th of
February. 3° At this date, the reader will find some additional observations.
However, it is said, neither of the foregoing dates represents the exact day of his death.
For learning, holiness of life, indefatigable zeal and earnestness of purpose, this great missionary was a light to many people, who had heretofore remained in the shadow of Paganism. Over princes and people he exercised great spiritual influence. In the activity of episcopal rule, and in his solicitude for the souls of men, he was a bright example of austerity and self-denial, in public and private life.
Article III. —St. Guaire, Beg, Patron of Aghadowy or Aghadoey,
County of Londonderry. [Probably m the Seventh Century. '] The spirit
of holiness, from an early period, has consecrated many a lonely spot in old Ireland. The situation of that church, belonging to Guaire Beg, of
Achadh-Dubhthaigh, in Magh-Li, is exactly pointed out in our calendars. It arose near the banks of the Bann, on the west side, between Loch-n-Each- dhach* and the sea. This saint belonged to the race of CoUa Uais, monarch of Erin. His feast is registered in the Martyrology of Donegal^ on this day. It is recorded, in the Martyrology of Tallagh3as Guare "bic," for "beg," which means " small " or " little ;" probably in allusion to his stature, or want of distinction. He was son of Lasreu, son of Ferguss, son of Loegare, or
Finan, Saxon,
Martyrology
of
Tallagh,=s
at the of 9th
p. 204, cap. 21, 22, pp. 218 to 222, cap. 25, p. 233. Florence of Worcester, Matthew of Westminster, " Flores Historiarum," A. D. 651, 652, pp. 226 to 228. Nicholas Harps-
p. 45, and nn. 12, 13, p. 46.
's Edited by Rev. Dr, Kelly, p. xii.
"* In the Franciscan copy wc find pri Am
Sax.
feld's " Historia
"
xxxi. Arnold Wion '^ See Father
Anglicana Ecclesiastica, cap. xxviii. ,
by
White's "
p. Apolo-
ssec.
