,
eveques ou des pretres Irlandais pour y venerer le tombeau du saint qui —a laisse de si precieux souvenirs en Irlande.
eveques ou des pretres Irlandais pour y venerer le tombeau du saint qui —a laisse de si precieux souvenirs en Irlande.
O'Hanlon - Lives of the Irish Saints - v6
In a word, all connected with the apparel shows perfect coincidence with the most approved taste.
The account of grand solemnities at Lemenc, in 1854, will be found con-
In this little brochure, we are informed concerning ceremonies accompanying the celebration of St. Cornelius' Feast, in the Church at Lemenc, on Sunday,
1 whic—h
oftheCityofS. Concord" theauthor'srealnamebeingtheCountdeFirnix.
tainedina
pamphlet,*
purports
tohavebeen
written, by
the second of the month in 1 s Some months had day July, 854. 4
elapsed since the relics were brought from Rome, while some delay was deemed necessary for preparing the ceremonial. On other occasions, it was held on that Sunday, immediately following the 4th of June, each year. Special care was taken to embellish the shrine. *3 The relics of blessed Cornelius were exposed that year, with more than ordinary magnificence. On Saturday, July 1st, 1854, the saint was replaced upon his altar, and next day his festival was celebrated with grand solemnity. At the early hour of four o'clock the follow- ing morning, Sunday, July 2nd, the faithful assembled around the shrine, which contained the relics of the blessed Archbishop of Armagh. In the morning, the church was filled ; but, in the evening, a still more numerous throng crowded to hear the panegyric of the saint, and to assist at the bene- diction given by the Lord Archbishop, who desired to take part in the festival.
An imposing procession was organized, and its march occupied a duration of twohours. Itledalongaroad,conductingtoSt. Louis-of-the-Mount,towards the cross of St. Cornelius. This was the end of the pilgrimage. The little statue of St. Cornelius, enriched with a portion of his holy relics, was borne by the celebrant. ** The author afterwards proceeds to relate, that a chapel hadbeenerectednearthecrossofSt. Concord thatitwasdecoratedwithall
;
luxuries of the field, that its columns were of boxwood, and its carpet of moss ;
while the wild flowers enhanced and embellished these verdant ornaments.
Art also was put in requisition, yet, through regard for the locality, it left first rank to nature. Some artificial bouquets were mixed with their inimitable
originals, and seemed placed there, to show the Creator's incomparable skill. Long ribbons were fixed on the summit of pillars, being destined to hang in gracefulfestoons; but,aninvisiblearchitectraisedtheminacontrarymanner, into elegant arcades, by which he divided into compartments of light the azure vault of the firmament. Above this rustic tabernacle, which had not
years, as a military chaplain ; and, we may truly say, that it was worthy of the guardian of the holy relics, to present this distinctive
badge.
during the month of July in the same year, Published at Chambery ; Government Print- ing Office, 1854.
*3 The following particulars are taken from this account,
41
It is intituled, in the English translation
from the French " A Tribute of language,
"A Tribute respect to the Blessed Cornelius. Arch- of Respect to the Blessed Cornelius," &c,
bishop of Armagh, Prelate of Ireland, who died in the odour of sanctity, at Lemenc ter-
ritory of the city of Chambery, the 4th June, 1 1 76, returning from Rome, where had gone on tbe affairs of his diocese. " Plis Relics are
exposed for public veneration in a chapel of theparochialchurchofLemenc. Theres- toration of that shrine, which contains them, took place in 1854, and on that occasion the present pamphlet was written, at Chambery,
proceeds to give an account regarding the local religious institutions, in the neighbour- hood of Lemenc. This portion of his little
work is extremely interesting. He then de- scribes that religious procession, in honour of St. Concord, in July, 1854, at which he hadthehappinessofassisting,
** A hymn proper for this occasion, and of recent composition, was entoned in honour of our saint.
43 The author of the
pamphlet,
"AnInhabitant
June 4. ] LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. 109
any other covering, the sport of elements appeared intentional, so'graceful and well supported it had been, as if designing to concur in the festal decora- tions. Owing to another attention of this amiable Providence, who often condescends to enter into the minutest details, especially on like occasions
; a light cloud, which did not make day in the least appear sombre, interposed between the sun and the worshippers/s The statue of St. Concord was placed by the celebrant on the rustic altar, when the procession had there arrived. Amid broken rocks, with which the ground in this place is strewn, an im-
mense surrounding crowd, by the diversity of its attitude, originality of its situation, and a uniform piety that appeared predominant, formed a picture, as striking as it was new. Raised on the heights of the Red Cross, men looked down on that rich valley, which extended from Chambery46 to the Lake of
Lemenc and St. Louis-of-the-Mount, near Chambery.
Bourget. Joining mortification to recollections, worshippers knelt on the naked rock, and had rough stones for benches. A return of the processionists
obliged them to descend by a sharp and deep ravine, especially remarkable, forunevennessofthesoil,4? andnumerousobstaclesthatwereopposedalong
45 A statue of the Blessed
the middle of this rural sanctuary.
8 passage. *
their
It was an account of the foregoing solemnities,4? which accidently reached
Virgin occupied
46 called Camerinum. See Lemenc be as a suburb of
" Anciently
Chroniqve de Savoye," liv. i. , chap, x. ,
p. 6.
47 The included illustration, copied from
and oratory of St. Concord. In fact, may regarded
Chambery.
48 After some pious reflections, the writer
adds: "Arrived at the end of our descent, the assistants, before taking their places, came to venerate, under fresh foliage, the holy relics
a local photograph and drawn on the wood,
by William F. Wakeman, has been engraved
by Mrs. Millard. The foreground repre- borne by the priest ; then the procession
sents Chambery ; on the rising ground in the middle distance and to the left is Lemenc,
having reformed, took the road to Aix,
chanting a sublime psalm entoned to the air
with its Church of St. Concord
beyond which rises St. Louis-of-the-Mount, probasti me,'" &c. See Most Rev. Dr
; immediately
whither are made to the cross pilgrimages
of the ' It was the ' Domine Magnificat.
110 LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS.
[June 4.
the Most Rev. Dr. Dixon,50 Archbishop of Armagh, that induced him to
write afterwards a valuable little work. 51 Towards the close of that
and about the end of December, few days before starting for Ireland, he re- ceived a communication,52 through the secretary of the Bishop," of St.
Maurienne, in Savoy, referring to St. Concord. A reply, containing some historic notices of him, wa—s sent to Monsieur de St. Sulpice. Then Dr. Dixonhadresolvedatonce havingbeenbeforeundeterminedinthematter —togohomethroughChambery,5* wherehecouldvisittheshrineoftheholy Archbishop. Healsohopedtoprocure,fromtheguardiansofConcord's blessedremains,aconsiderablerelicforhischurchofArmagh. Hearrived in Chambery, late on the night of Saturday, the 13th of January. 55 On the next morning, having celebrated the holy mysteries in a church belonging to the Capuchin Fathers, himself and his travelling companion were visited after breakfast by the pious Count de Firnex,56 accompanied by his son. The Irish ecclesiastics were visited, at the same time, by Monsieur de St. Sulpice. The parish priest of Lemenc also came to visit them. The Archbishop arranged with him, to celebrate Mass in his church, at the altar of Cornelius, Archbishop of Armagh, on the following morning, which was Monday. After- wards, the Most Rev. Dr. Dixon and his companion went to pay their respects to his Grace the Archbishop ofChambery. 57 This prelate was very devoted to blessed Concord ; yet, he graciously permitted, that Dr. Dixon should take with him a considerable relic of his holy predecessor. Early on Monday morning, the parish priest of Lemenc, accompanied by the Vicar-General and the Diocesan Chancellor, waited on the Irish prelate at his hotel. They con- ductedhimtotheresidenceoftheparishpriest,atLemenc. 58 Herehewaited, until a grand procession, composed of male and female confraternities of the
Dixon's "Blessed Cornelius," &c, pp. 90 governs it, a relic of Blessed Concord.
to 93.
49 An Irish gentleman, who had been re-
siding in Rome for some time, directed his attention to an extract, which he had trans- lated from the Courier des Alpes—a news-
referring
50 He was then at Rome, being invited in common with other Bishops of the Catholic world, to take part in solemnities accom- panying the celebrated decree, defining the doctrine of the Immaculate Conception of the Blessed Virgin, and published by Pope Pius IX. , on the memorable 8th of Decem- ber, 1854.
" The Blessed
They shall not cease to invoke their holy pro- tector for the prosperity of religion in Ire- land, and according to the intentions of its venerated primate.
"
paperpublished
to the celebrations of July, 1854.
"hi the name the of
in —and Chambery
(Signed),
&c. 52 It was to this effect, after giving the local traditions regarding their patron : "We have at Chambery but very few details on the life and labours of this holy personage. De- sirous of publishing a more complete Life of the Blessed Cornelius, commonly called Concord, the parish priest of Lemenc, and a great number of pious persons supplicate Monseigneur, the Archbishop of Armagh, his worthy and august successor, to have the kindness to transmit to them the documents which may be preserved in Ireland on the pontificate of the holy Archbishop, and on the church of Armagh at that epoch. The sup- pliants would be happy to offer to the church of Armagh, and to the august Pontiff who
de liv. i. , "Chroniqve Savoye," chap.
s1
Intituled,
Cornelius,"
54 A in the
description
of will be found Chambery
Suppliants, "A. De St. Sulpice,
" Canon Chancellor of the Archbishoprit of Chambery. "
53 His Lordship had been residing in the
Vatican, and he was then preparing for a return to his diocese.
xxvii. , p. 24.
55 See " The Blessed Cornelius," &c, in
the xi. chapter, which has for its heading,
" How—I came to hear of the Blessed Cor-
nelius visit to his relics at Chambery. "
6
s The Count came to present a number of
small pamphlets to the Archbishop, and of which this visitor was the author. The book was entitled, "A Tribute to the Blessed Concord. " It had been written during the precedingyear. Asanappendixtohischap- ter, Dr. Dixon published the greater part of this brochure, in an English dress, for which he felt indebted to a good religious, belong- ing to the Convent of the Sacred Heart, at Armagh.
year,
June 4. ]
LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. m
Blessed Concord, dressed in their habits and carrying several standards, formed in front of the house, whence they walked before him down to the church. 59 The Archbishop of Armagh was obliged to stop at the entrance of Blessed Cornelius' chapel, until the parish priest read an address to him in French. To this, the Archbishop replied in a few words of the same language. Then, approaching an altar, on which the body of the blessed Archbishop rested in a handsome shrine, dressed out with rich pontifical ornaments, Dr. Dixon celebrated Mass, assisted by the Vicar-General and Chancellor, in full canonicals. After Mass, he was obliged to put on a mitre of the Archbishop ofChambery,andwithapastoralstaffinhandhewenttothehighaltar. There he gave benediction, with the most Holy Sacrament, to a devout throng, who had assembled to see the successor of Blessed Concord.
Having partaken of the good parish priest's hospitality, whose kindness and attention to the
Archbishop and to all the clergy present on the occasion, could not be sur- passed ; Dr. Dixon afterwards went to visit that house, and he saw the room, in which Blessed Cornelius died. 60 From this house, the strangers went to visit a convent of the Carmelite nuns; this community, too, had a special interest for them. 61 They had been good enough to prepare, in a beautiful case, relics 62 of the holy man, intended as a present for the church at Armagh. All this was done privately, that the people belonging to the parish might not begenerallyawareofwhathadhappened; because,greataswastheirrespect for the Blessed Concord's successor, they would hardly have endured to see so much of the bones of their revered patron and protector taken away from them. In the evening, the Irish travellers prepared to set out,63 from Cham- bery for Lyons. Thus, it had been granted to a very worthy successor of that holy Archbishop, to make known in Ireland the glorious sepulchre, where his bones repose, and to restore to his diocese a portion of these bones, after
neur," printed at Chambery in 1881, 241110. It has been reprinted, with"; some additions from an abridged Life of the saint, issued in 1809, for the use of the Confraternity of the Blessed Cornelius.
59 When all had arrived it was found there,
thronged by the parishioners, at that early hour, and the choir was practising its best music.
57 By him, they were invited to dine ; and, it was a great gratification to meet at dinner the venerated successor of St. Francis of Sales, the Bishop of Annecy,'who, like the Irish pilgrims, was on his way home from the Eternal
City.
58 Having as a travelling companion the
Rev. Michael O'Hea of the Diocese of
Dublin, on returning from Italy, by way of Turin and the Mount Cenis Tunnel, both
6o
In his day, it had been a Benedictine
stayed at Chambery the evening of Novem- monastery ; then it was occupied by nuns of ber the 9th, 1886, and on the morning of the Visitation Order. These kept a board-
the day following we had the happiness of being allowed to celebrate Mass in St. Concord's church, Lemenc. The writer was privileged, by officiating in the special chapel of St. Concord, and on the altar be- hind which were the beautiful new shrine and relics of the holy Archbishop. Nothing could he more kind than those attentions of the hospitable and excellent Cure of the Parish of Lemenc, Fr. Dumont, who in- sisted on our remaining to breakfast with him, having showed us over his most in- texesting church, standing on the site of a pagan temple of ancient Gaul, and which is now converted into a cryptic chapel. From him we received much valuable information about the church of which he was pastor, and regarding its patron. He^also presented us with a small "Vie de Saint Concord," Hymnes, Cantiques et Prieres en son Hon-
ing school, and the young ladies would in-
sist on marking the occasion of the Irish
Archbishop's visit, by a formal address, which was pronounced viva voce by one of them.
6l Tothesegoodnunshadbeencommitted
the office of dressing the Blessed Cornelius
in certain new pontifical ornaments, which he then wore.
62
These were a bone of the thigh, and a portion of a rib, taken from the Blessed Cor- nelius' remains.
63 Before bidding farewell to the worthy
parish priest of Lemenc, the Archbishop left some alms with him, to be distributed among the poor of his flock. This was an humble return to that parish, for a great spiritual treasure ; and, thanks to God, the^voyagers were enabled to bring home safely their prized treasure to Ireland. The small "Vie
ii2 LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS.
[June 4.
ofsevenhundred 6* ThoserelicsofBlessedConcordarenow long lapse years.
carefully preserved in Ireland : a portion of the rib at the Presentation Con-
vent, in Drogheda, and a thigh-bone, at the Sacred Heart Convent, near Armagh. The Most Rev. Dr. Dixon tells us, also, that he applied to the Sacred Con- gregation of Rites in Rome, for permisson to have the office of this saint celebrated in Armagh diocese, under the same rite, as that observed at Cham- bery. There, Novenas and various devout practices, in honour of Blessed Concord, have been long established.
Not only the religious world, but every student of human nature, ought to take a special interest in the study of a saint's acts and character. We
cannot doubt, but during life, the prayers of this holy Prelate were frequently
offered, both at home and abroad, not for himself alone, but for many others,
who sought his good offices. The pious stranger people, who were under his special patronage, and who loved in life as after death their Irish pilgrim prelate, still share with Ireland that veneration, which must continue to re- ceive increase with the coming of future generations.
Article II. —St. Petrock, Abbot, and Patron of Bodmin, Corn- wall. \_Sixth Century. ] At an early period, and soon after St. Patrick's mission had succeeded in Ireland, the rocky lands of Cornwall were overspread by missionaries from our Island, and these strangers have left the impress of their names on her hills, valleys and churches. We shall here endeavour, to illustrate and fill up such scanty outlines,' with some probable and consistent materials, which older writers furnish, regarding the biography of one well re- memberedamongherearliestofmissionaries. Possibly,theremighthavebeen two saints, each bearing the name of Petrock ; for, we find some irreconcilable dates in his Acts. However, we are now only concerned with the holy man, who flourished undoubtedly, so early as the sixth century. The Church his-
torian,
Thomas
Fuller, regards him,
as " the
Captain
of the Cornish Saints 1 f*
but, this eulogy may be taken to signify a missionary career, passed in Corn-
wall,withouthishavingbeenbornthere. ; Asummaryofthefewthistoricalfacts,
which have been handed down to us, regarding Petrock, and stripped of the
traditional fancies, in which they were clothed, are furnished from an old Life
of the saint, by John Leland. 2 By the French, he is called Perreux. 3 Manu-
script Acts of this saint are extant. * John Capgrave has given us the Life of
this patriarch 5 and John of Teignmouth wrote an ancient life. 6 St. Petrock
;
has been noticed, by the antiquary John Leland, in his Commentaries on
8
British Writers,? and this account has been reproduced by Bishop Tanner.
de Saint Concord " states :"
depuis lors, on voit venir a Lemenc des 172 b 174. Also, that published in the
annee, — MS. Cottonian Tiber. E. i ff. Chaque Confessore,
"Acta Sanctorum," at the 4th of June, ex MS. Cod. Rubese Vallis. See Sir Thomas
Duffus Hardy's "Descriptive Catalogue of Materials relating to the History of Great
Britain and Ireland," vol. i. , part i. , p. 117.
s See "Nova Legenda Anglice," Pridie Nonas Junii, fol. cclxvi. , cclxvii.
6"
It is quoted by Ussher, in Britannica-
the year m. dcxlviii. ," endeavoured by rum Ecclesiarum Antiquitates," cap. xiv. .
,
eveques ou des pretres Irlandais pour y venerer le tombeau du saint qui —a laisse de si precieux souvenirs en Irlande. " "Notice sur la Vie et le culte de Saint Concord," p. 20.
64 See Most Rev. Dr. Dixon's "Blessed
Cornelius," &c—, chap, xi. , pp. 68 to 75. r
Article ii. See "Church-History of Britain; from the Birth of Jesus Christ until
Thomas Fuller, vi. centurie, Book i. , sect. II, p. 42.
p. 292.
' See Commentarii de Scriptoribus Bri-
tannicis," auctore Leland o Londin- Joanne
2 In his
Itinerary,
"Ex Vila Petroci" vol.
ate. Ex Autographo Lelandino nunc primus 3 See Les Petits Bollandistes, Vies des edidit Antonius Hall, A. M. , Coll. Reg. Saints," tome vi. , ive. Jour de Juin, p. 441. Oxon. Socius, tomus i. , cap. xxxv. , pp. 61,
viii. , p. 52.
"
Thus we find, De S. Petroco, Abbate et 62. Oxonii, 1709, 8vo.
"
June 4. ] LIVES OE THE IRISH SAINTS. 113 At this day, as appears from the posthumous list, Colgan intended to publish
10 and edited
his Acts. These will be in the Bollandist found,
by Father Godefrid Henschen;11 while, they are published from a Manuscript Life,attributedtoJohnofTinmouth. Wefindanaccountofthisholyman, Dean 12 Rev. Alban 1* the Petits 1*
collection,
Cressy, Butler, Bollandistes, and Rev. S. Baring-Gould. 15 John of Tinmouth, Capgrave and Ussher call St. Petrock a Cumbrian : but, as he has been commonly named Corinius, which is said to have been an equivalent for Cornubiensis, these writers think the word Camber must have been a mistake for Camber. Suasius incorrectly calls him a Cimber. 16 The Welsh document, " Bonedd y Saint," declares, that his father was named Clement, and that he was a Cornish prince. According to Dr. Thomas Fuller, Petrok was a Welsh-Irish-Cornish man,
1
having his birth in Wales, and his breeding in Ireland. ? However, St.
Petrock was a native of Wales, and of royal extraction, according to most accounts. The Rev. John Adams regards him, however, as being a Cornish-
likewise, by
man. 18
According
to his
Itinerary,
an old Life of this 10 the author had saint,
seen, supplies information, that Petrock was by race, if not by birth, a Cam-
ber. Designated simply as a Camber, this word may signify a native of either
Wales or Cornwall f° and, accordingly, he is claimed, as a denizen, by both
countries. Some of the Welsh writers maintain, that he was born of princely
parentage in Wales ; while nearly all authors are agreed, that he was son to
Clement, said to have been a prince or chief, in Wales or Cornwall. The
time of his birth is regarded as having occurred, in the very early part of the
sixth century, if not late in the fifth. He was more ennobled for his virtues,
however, than he had been distinguished, owing to his family connexions.
Such was his life from childhood, and so closely did he imitate St. Peter's
faith and works, that he seemed not without a Divine presage, to have re-
ceived a name derived from that of the Apostle. These graces, God had
conferred on him, were so extraordinary, that he was admired and loved by
all. Ever modest and humble, he was a cheerful giver ; he was fervent in
charity, and assiduous in all the duties of religion. According to some writers,
Petrock was a of St. Patrick 21 this seems to be a more than
disciple ; but,
doubtful statement. Upon the death of his father, his people insisted on
Petrock succeeding in the kingdom. He was resolved, however, to choose
the better He wished to part.
give up
an
earthly,
for a crown. 22 heavenly
8
See his "Bibliotheca Britannico-Hiber-
to the mode of that Age, wherein all British sailed over into Ireland (as the English in
nica," p. 594.
to the "
Sanctorum quae MS. habentur, ordine Men-
sium et Dierum. "
9
According
Catalogus
Actuum
did into there to have France),
10
" He has a previous commentary, with notices of his cultus and the different trans-
lations of his body, in 5 paragraphs, with
notes, illustrating the Acts, from John of Tinmouth.
" See Dean " Church of Cressy's History
Brittany" book x. , chap. xxiv. , pp. 223 to 225. 13 See "Lives of the Fathers, Martyrs and
after-ages
their Education in all learned sciences. Who would have thought to have found Helicon amongst the Bogs, as indeed it was at that
See "Acta Sanctorum," tomus i. , Junii
De S. Petroco Abbate, in Cornubia time? "
—"The of the Worthies of History
iv.
Britannioe Provincia, pp. 399 to 402.
England :" endeavoured by Thomas Fuller,
D. D. , first printed in 1662. A new edition
with a few explanatory Notes, by John Nichols, F. S. A. , Lond. , Edinb. & Perth,
other principal Saints," vol. v. , June iv. 14 "
" Petrocus
it, genere
See Vies des Saints," tome vi. , ive. Jour de Juin, pp. 401, 402.
I9 There we have Camber. " See vol. viii. , p. 52.
15 See " Lives of the Saints," vol. v. , June 4> P- 35*
20 In the Itinerary of William of Worces- ter, it is stated: "Sanctus Petrocus, rex patriae Cumborum id est partis borialis regni
16
17 This writer
See Father Godefrid Henschen's n. (a). quaintly adds, "according
Anglise," p. 101. 2I See Borlase's
of
"History Cornwall,'
vol. ii.
The Worthies of Wales Generall,
p. 563. l8 See
of the Institution of Royal
"Journal
Cornwall, 1868," No. ix. , Chronicles of Cor- nish Saints, No. ii. , S. Petrock.
II
ii4 LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. [June 4.
In consequence of this resolution, he retired from the world. He left the
royal inheritance to his younger brother. 23 A hermit, who lived in a very
holymanner,hadbeenatfirst aninhabitantofBosmanach. Hisnamehas
been Latinized Guronus. 2* This solitary, named also St. Gorran, or Guron,25
had an humble abode in a small hut, which he left to St. Petroc. 26 It is stated,
that he lived in a valley. He settled afterwards, most probably in Gorran
parish, perhaps, at Polgorran, or Gorran's Pool, a little northwards from the
2 28
church. ? It is said, that St. Petrock professed a monastic life, under the
Rule ofSt. Bennet,2? at Bodmin, then called Brosmana, that is, the "mansion oftheMonks. ''3° Withsixtyothercompanions,St. Petrocembracedamonas-
tic life, in his native country. There, he remained, for some years ; yet, it is not known, where that monastery, in which he dwelt, had been located. After the lapse of those years, he left his hermitage, resolved on going else- where to study theology. When St. Petrock reached the age of an adult, 31 with favouring winds he passed over into Ireland, there to improve himself in theknowledgeofHolyScripture. Helefttheshipinaharbour,whereitsafely remained. 32 Several excellent Masters then flourished, in that Island. Here, he became a great proficient in Sacred Letters, "reading good Authors there,"35andinthescienceofthesaintsheadvancedtoperfection. Inturn, he became a teacher. It is said, St. Finian ? 4 had previously spent thirty years of his life in Britain ; and, when returning to his native land, that he was accompanied, by many British Christians, who were afterwards held in great veneration for their sanctity, by the Church in Ireland. As the time of his return corresponds with the time of Petrock's migration to Ireland, we may suppose, that our saint was one of the companions of that Finian alluded to, or, at all events, that he was attracted to our Island by him, there to pursue his studies under such guidance, at Clonard, in Meath. This was the most famous school in the Island, established at that time. It was founded by St. Finian, about a. d. 520. This institution soon became a kind of university, for the whole country. The fame of the founder's good works, it is said, drew many great men to him from divers parts of the land, as to an admirable sanctuary ofallwisdom. TheydesiredtolearninhisschoolthesacredScripturesand theecclesiasticalinstitutes. 35 ThemonasteryatClonard,atthattime,boasted of many teachers and students. These were famous, in their generation, for sanctity and learning. It is said, that no less than 3,000 scholars studied there, during the course of St. Finian's presidency. 36 The account in the old
sect, i. , p. 380.
3° We know, that a conventual establish- ment, which was associated with his name, existed in subsequent times, near the site of thepresentparishchurch. Perhaps,wemay conjecture, that the scene of his retirement must have been at that place. Besides the copious fountain, which still flows in that
33
John of Tinmouth, in the Bollandists' '"Acta Sanctorum,"tomusi. ,Juniiiv. ,p. 400.
23 This is stated in William of Worcester's
Itinerary, p. 101.
24 See John Leland's " Commentarii de
See the Life of our saint, attributed to
Scriptoribus Britannicis," tomus i. , cap. pleasant valley, we may picture to ourselves
xxxv. , p. 61.
25 He is probably the same as St. Guier,
or Guerir, to whom a church was formerly dedicated, in Cornwall, not far from Padstow.
" De
the young recluse, deepening his religious ardour by devotion, and acquiring day by day a firmer establishment, in the love of our Lord.
3I See Leland's "Commentarii de John
26 See Lelandi Joannis
Antiquarii
Rebus Britannicis Collectanea," vol. i. , p. 75. Scriptoribus Britannicis," tomus i. , cap.
37 The parish seems to have derived its denomination from him. See Whitaker's "Cathedrals of Cornwall," vol. i. , p. 36.
38 By Dugdale.
=9 We are told, that the Monks followed this Rule, until the time of Athelstan. The rule of St. Bennet, however, was not known in Cornwall, so early as the sixth century.
xxxv. , p.
The account of grand solemnities at Lemenc, in 1854, will be found con-
In this little brochure, we are informed concerning ceremonies accompanying the celebration of St. Cornelius' Feast, in the Church at Lemenc, on Sunday,
1 whic—h
oftheCityofS. Concord" theauthor'srealnamebeingtheCountdeFirnix.
tainedina
pamphlet,*
purports
tohavebeen
written, by
the second of the month in 1 s Some months had day July, 854. 4
elapsed since the relics were brought from Rome, while some delay was deemed necessary for preparing the ceremonial. On other occasions, it was held on that Sunday, immediately following the 4th of June, each year. Special care was taken to embellish the shrine. *3 The relics of blessed Cornelius were exposed that year, with more than ordinary magnificence. On Saturday, July 1st, 1854, the saint was replaced upon his altar, and next day his festival was celebrated with grand solemnity. At the early hour of four o'clock the follow- ing morning, Sunday, July 2nd, the faithful assembled around the shrine, which contained the relics of the blessed Archbishop of Armagh. In the morning, the church was filled ; but, in the evening, a still more numerous throng crowded to hear the panegyric of the saint, and to assist at the bene- diction given by the Lord Archbishop, who desired to take part in the festival.
An imposing procession was organized, and its march occupied a duration of twohours. Itledalongaroad,conductingtoSt. Louis-of-the-Mount,towards the cross of St. Cornelius. This was the end of the pilgrimage. The little statue of St. Cornelius, enriched with a portion of his holy relics, was borne by the celebrant. ** The author afterwards proceeds to relate, that a chapel hadbeenerectednearthecrossofSt. Concord thatitwasdecoratedwithall
;
luxuries of the field, that its columns were of boxwood, and its carpet of moss ;
while the wild flowers enhanced and embellished these verdant ornaments.
Art also was put in requisition, yet, through regard for the locality, it left first rank to nature. Some artificial bouquets were mixed with their inimitable
originals, and seemed placed there, to show the Creator's incomparable skill. Long ribbons were fixed on the summit of pillars, being destined to hang in gracefulfestoons; but,aninvisiblearchitectraisedtheminacontrarymanner, into elegant arcades, by which he divided into compartments of light the azure vault of the firmament. Above this rustic tabernacle, which had not
years, as a military chaplain ; and, we may truly say, that it was worthy of the guardian of the holy relics, to present this distinctive
badge.
during the month of July in the same year, Published at Chambery ; Government Print- ing Office, 1854.
*3 The following particulars are taken from this account,
41
It is intituled, in the English translation
from the French " A Tribute of language,
"A Tribute respect to the Blessed Cornelius. Arch- of Respect to the Blessed Cornelius," &c,
bishop of Armagh, Prelate of Ireland, who died in the odour of sanctity, at Lemenc ter-
ritory of the city of Chambery, the 4th June, 1 1 76, returning from Rome, where had gone on tbe affairs of his diocese. " Plis Relics are
exposed for public veneration in a chapel of theparochialchurchofLemenc. Theres- toration of that shrine, which contains them, took place in 1854, and on that occasion the present pamphlet was written, at Chambery,
proceeds to give an account regarding the local religious institutions, in the neighbour- hood of Lemenc. This portion of his little
work is extremely interesting. He then de- scribes that religious procession, in honour of St. Concord, in July, 1854, at which he hadthehappinessofassisting,
** A hymn proper for this occasion, and of recent composition, was entoned in honour of our saint.
43 The author of the
pamphlet,
"AnInhabitant
June 4. ] LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. 109
any other covering, the sport of elements appeared intentional, so'graceful and well supported it had been, as if designing to concur in the festal decora- tions. Owing to another attention of this amiable Providence, who often condescends to enter into the minutest details, especially on like occasions
; a light cloud, which did not make day in the least appear sombre, interposed between the sun and the worshippers/s The statue of St. Concord was placed by the celebrant on the rustic altar, when the procession had there arrived. Amid broken rocks, with which the ground in this place is strewn, an im-
mense surrounding crowd, by the diversity of its attitude, originality of its situation, and a uniform piety that appeared predominant, formed a picture, as striking as it was new. Raised on the heights of the Red Cross, men looked down on that rich valley, which extended from Chambery46 to the Lake of
Lemenc and St. Louis-of-the-Mount, near Chambery.
Bourget. Joining mortification to recollections, worshippers knelt on the naked rock, and had rough stones for benches. A return of the processionists
obliged them to descend by a sharp and deep ravine, especially remarkable, forunevennessofthesoil,4? andnumerousobstaclesthatwereopposedalong
45 A statue of the Blessed
the middle of this rural sanctuary.
8 passage. *
their
It was an account of the foregoing solemnities,4? which accidently reached
Virgin occupied
46 called Camerinum. See Lemenc be as a suburb of
" Anciently
Chroniqve de Savoye," liv. i. , chap, x. ,
p. 6.
47 The included illustration, copied from
and oratory of St. Concord. In fact, may regarded
Chambery.
48 After some pious reflections, the writer
adds: "Arrived at the end of our descent, the assistants, before taking their places, came to venerate, under fresh foliage, the holy relics
a local photograph and drawn on the wood,
by William F. Wakeman, has been engraved
by Mrs. Millard. The foreground repre- borne by the priest ; then the procession
sents Chambery ; on the rising ground in the middle distance and to the left is Lemenc,
having reformed, took the road to Aix,
chanting a sublime psalm entoned to the air
with its Church of St. Concord
beyond which rises St. Louis-of-the-Mount, probasti me,'" &c. See Most Rev. Dr
; immediately
whither are made to the cross pilgrimages
of the ' It was the ' Domine Magnificat.
110 LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS.
[June 4.
the Most Rev. Dr. Dixon,50 Archbishop of Armagh, that induced him to
write afterwards a valuable little work. 51 Towards the close of that
and about the end of December, few days before starting for Ireland, he re- ceived a communication,52 through the secretary of the Bishop," of St.
Maurienne, in Savoy, referring to St. Concord. A reply, containing some historic notices of him, wa—s sent to Monsieur de St. Sulpice. Then Dr. Dixonhadresolvedatonce havingbeenbeforeundeterminedinthematter —togohomethroughChambery,5* wherehecouldvisittheshrineoftheholy Archbishop. Healsohopedtoprocure,fromtheguardiansofConcord's blessedremains,aconsiderablerelicforhischurchofArmagh. Hearrived in Chambery, late on the night of Saturday, the 13th of January. 55 On the next morning, having celebrated the holy mysteries in a church belonging to the Capuchin Fathers, himself and his travelling companion were visited after breakfast by the pious Count de Firnex,56 accompanied by his son. The Irish ecclesiastics were visited, at the same time, by Monsieur de St. Sulpice. The parish priest of Lemenc also came to visit them. The Archbishop arranged with him, to celebrate Mass in his church, at the altar of Cornelius, Archbishop of Armagh, on the following morning, which was Monday. After- wards, the Most Rev. Dr. Dixon and his companion went to pay their respects to his Grace the Archbishop ofChambery. 57 This prelate was very devoted to blessed Concord ; yet, he graciously permitted, that Dr. Dixon should take with him a considerable relic of his holy predecessor. Early on Monday morning, the parish priest of Lemenc, accompanied by the Vicar-General and the Diocesan Chancellor, waited on the Irish prelate at his hotel. They con- ductedhimtotheresidenceoftheparishpriest,atLemenc. 58 Herehewaited, until a grand procession, composed of male and female confraternities of the
Dixon's "Blessed Cornelius," &c, pp. 90 governs it, a relic of Blessed Concord.
to 93.
49 An Irish gentleman, who had been re-
siding in Rome for some time, directed his attention to an extract, which he had trans- lated from the Courier des Alpes—a news-
referring
50 He was then at Rome, being invited in common with other Bishops of the Catholic world, to take part in solemnities accom- panying the celebrated decree, defining the doctrine of the Immaculate Conception of the Blessed Virgin, and published by Pope Pius IX. , on the memorable 8th of Decem- ber, 1854.
" The Blessed
They shall not cease to invoke their holy pro- tector for the prosperity of religion in Ire- land, and according to the intentions of its venerated primate.
"
paperpublished
to the celebrations of July, 1854.
"hi the name the of
in —and Chambery
(Signed),
&c. 52 It was to this effect, after giving the local traditions regarding their patron : "We have at Chambery but very few details on the life and labours of this holy personage. De- sirous of publishing a more complete Life of the Blessed Cornelius, commonly called Concord, the parish priest of Lemenc, and a great number of pious persons supplicate Monseigneur, the Archbishop of Armagh, his worthy and august successor, to have the kindness to transmit to them the documents which may be preserved in Ireland on the pontificate of the holy Archbishop, and on the church of Armagh at that epoch. The sup- pliants would be happy to offer to the church of Armagh, and to the august Pontiff who
de liv. i. , "Chroniqve Savoye," chap.
s1
Intituled,
Cornelius,"
54 A in the
description
of will be found Chambery
Suppliants, "A. De St. Sulpice,
" Canon Chancellor of the Archbishoprit of Chambery. "
53 His Lordship had been residing in the
Vatican, and he was then preparing for a return to his diocese.
xxvii. , p. 24.
55 See " The Blessed Cornelius," &c, in
the xi. chapter, which has for its heading,
" How—I came to hear of the Blessed Cor-
nelius visit to his relics at Chambery. "
6
s The Count came to present a number of
small pamphlets to the Archbishop, and of which this visitor was the author. The book was entitled, "A Tribute to the Blessed Concord. " It had been written during the precedingyear. Asanappendixtohischap- ter, Dr. Dixon published the greater part of this brochure, in an English dress, for which he felt indebted to a good religious, belong- ing to the Convent of the Sacred Heart, at Armagh.
year,
June 4. ]
LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. m
Blessed Concord, dressed in their habits and carrying several standards, formed in front of the house, whence they walked before him down to the church. 59 The Archbishop of Armagh was obliged to stop at the entrance of Blessed Cornelius' chapel, until the parish priest read an address to him in French. To this, the Archbishop replied in a few words of the same language. Then, approaching an altar, on which the body of the blessed Archbishop rested in a handsome shrine, dressed out with rich pontifical ornaments, Dr. Dixon celebrated Mass, assisted by the Vicar-General and Chancellor, in full canonicals. After Mass, he was obliged to put on a mitre of the Archbishop ofChambery,andwithapastoralstaffinhandhewenttothehighaltar. There he gave benediction, with the most Holy Sacrament, to a devout throng, who had assembled to see the successor of Blessed Concord.
Having partaken of the good parish priest's hospitality, whose kindness and attention to the
Archbishop and to all the clergy present on the occasion, could not be sur- passed ; Dr. Dixon afterwards went to visit that house, and he saw the room, in which Blessed Cornelius died. 60 From this house, the strangers went to visit a convent of the Carmelite nuns; this community, too, had a special interest for them. 61 They had been good enough to prepare, in a beautiful case, relics 62 of the holy man, intended as a present for the church at Armagh. All this was done privately, that the people belonging to the parish might not begenerallyawareofwhathadhappened; because,greataswastheirrespect for the Blessed Concord's successor, they would hardly have endured to see so much of the bones of their revered patron and protector taken away from them. In the evening, the Irish travellers prepared to set out,63 from Cham- bery for Lyons. Thus, it had been granted to a very worthy successor of that holy Archbishop, to make known in Ireland the glorious sepulchre, where his bones repose, and to restore to his diocese a portion of these bones, after
neur," printed at Chambery in 1881, 241110. It has been reprinted, with"; some additions from an abridged Life of the saint, issued in 1809, for the use of the Confraternity of the Blessed Cornelius.
59 When all had arrived it was found there,
thronged by the parishioners, at that early hour, and the choir was practising its best music.
57 By him, they were invited to dine ; and, it was a great gratification to meet at dinner the venerated successor of St. Francis of Sales, the Bishop of Annecy,'who, like the Irish pilgrims, was on his way home from the Eternal
City.
58 Having as a travelling companion the
Rev. Michael O'Hea of the Diocese of
Dublin, on returning from Italy, by way of Turin and the Mount Cenis Tunnel, both
6o
In his day, it had been a Benedictine
stayed at Chambery the evening of Novem- monastery ; then it was occupied by nuns of ber the 9th, 1886, and on the morning of the Visitation Order. These kept a board-
the day following we had the happiness of being allowed to celebrate Mass in St. Concord's church, Lemenc. The writer was privileged, by officiating in the special chapel of St. Concord, and on the altar be- hind which were the beautiful new shrine and relics of the holy Archbishop. Nothing could he more kind than those attentions of the hospitable and excellent Cure of the Parish of Lemenc, Fr. Dumont, who in- sisted on our remaining to breakfast with him, having showed us over his most in- texesting church, standing on the site of a pagan temple of ancient Gaul, and which is now converted into a cryptic chapel. From him we received much valuable information about the church of which he was pastor, and regarding its patron. He^also presented us with a small "Vie de Saint Concord," Hymnes, Cantiques et Prieres en son Hon-
ing school, and the young ladies would in-
sist on marking the occasion of the Irish
Archbishop's visit, by a formal address, which was pronounced viva voce by one of them.
6l Tothesegoodnunshadbeencommitted
the office of dressing the Blessed Cornelius
in certain new pontifical ornaments, which he then wore.
62
These were a bone of the thigh, and a portion of a rib, taken from the Blessed Cor- nelius' remains.
63 Before bidding farewell to the worthy
parish priest of Lemenc, the Archbishop left some alms with him, to be distributed among the poor of his flock. This was an humble return to that parish, for a great spiritual treasure ; and, thanks to God, the^voyagers were enabled to bring home safely their prized treasure to Ireland. The small "Vie
ii2 LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS.
[June 4.
ofsevenhundred 6* ThoserelicsofBlessedConcordarenow long lapse years.
carefully preserved in Ireland : a portion of the rib at the Presentation Con-
vent, in Drogheda, and a thigh-bone, at the Sacred Heart Convent, near Armagh. The Most Rev. Dr. Dixon tells us, also, that he applied to the Sacred Con- gregation of Rites in Rome, for permisson to have the office of this saint celebrated in Armagh diocese, under the same rite, as that observed at Cham- bery. There, Novenas and various devout practices, in honour of Blessed Concord, have been long established.
Not only the religious world, but every student of human nature, ought to take a special interest in the study of a saint's acts and character. We
cannot doubt, but during life, the prayers of this holy Prelate were frequently
offered, both at home and abroad, not for himself alone, but for many others,
who sought his good offices. The pious stranger people, who were under his special patronage, and who loved in life as after death their Irish pilgrim prelate, still share with Ireland that veneration, which must continue to re- ceive increase with the coming of future generations.
Article II. —St. Petrock, Abbot, and Patron of Bodmin, Corn- wall. \_Sixth Century. ] At an early period, and soon after St. Patrick's mission had succeeded in Ireland, the rocky lands of Cornwall were overspread by missionaries from our Island, and these strangers have left the impress of their names on her hills, valleys and churches. We shall here endeavour, to illustrate and fill up such scanty outlines,' with some probable and consistent materials, which older writers furnish, regarding the biography of one well re- memberedamongherearliestofmissionaries. Possibly,theremighthavebeen two saints, each bearing the name of Petrock ; for, we find some irreconcilable dates in his Acts. However, we are now only concerned with the holy man, who flourished undoubtedly, so early as the sixth century. The Church his-
torian,
Thomas
Fuller, regards him,
as " the
Captain
of the Cornish Saints 1 f*
but, this eulogy may be taken to signify a missionary career, passed in Corn-
wall,withouthishavingbeenbornthere. ; Asummaryofthefewthistoricalfacts,
which have been handed down to us, regarding Petrock, and stripped of the
traditional fancies, in which they were clothed, are furnished from an old Life
of the saint, by John Leland. 2 By the French, he is called Perreux. 3 Manu-
script Acts of this saint are extant. * John Capgrave has given us the Life of
this patriarch 5 and John of Teignmouth wrote an ancient life. 6 St. Petrock
;
has been noticed, by the antiquary John Leland, in his Commentaries on
8
British Writers,? and this account has been reproduced by Bishop Tanner.
de Saint Concord " states :"
depuis lors, on voit venir a Lemenc des 172 b 174. Also, that published in the
annee, — MS. Cottonian Tiber. E. i ff. Chaque Confessore,
"Acta Sanctorum," at the 4th of June, ex MS. Cod. Rubese Vallis. See Sir Thomas
Duffus Hardy's "Descriptive Catalogue of Materials relating to the History of Great
Britain and Ireland," vol. i. , part i. , p. 117.
s See "Nova Legenda Anglice," Pridie Nonas Junii, fol. cclxvi. , cclxvii.
6"
It is quoted by Ussher, in Britannica-
the year m. dcxlviii. ," endeavoured by rum Ecclesiarum Antiquitates," cap. xiv. .
,
eveques ou des pretres Irlandais pour y venerer le tombeau du saint qui —a laisse de si precieux souvenirs en Irlande. " "Notice sur la Vie et le culte de Saint Concord," p. 20.
64 See Most Rev. Dr. Dixon's "Blessed
Cornelius," &c—, chap, xi. , pp. 68 to 75. r
Article ii. See "Church-History of Britain; from the Birth of Jesus Christ until
Thomas Fuller, vi. centurie, Book i. , sect. II, p. 42.
p. 292.
' See Commentarii de Scriptoribus Bri-
tannicis," auctore Leland o Londin- Joanne
2 In his
Itinerary,
"Ex Vila Petroci" vol.
ate. Ex Autographo Lelandino nunc primus 3 See Les Petits Bollandistes, Vies des edidit Antonius Hall, A. M. , Coll. Reg. Saints," tome vi. , ive. Jour de Juin, p. 441. Oxon. Socius, tomus i. , cap. xxxv. , pp. 61,
viii. , p. 52.
"
Thus we find, De S. Petroco, Abbate et 62. Oxonii, 1709, 8vo.
"
June 4. ] LIVES OE THE IRISH SAINTS. 113 At this day, as appears from the posthumous list, Colgan intended to publish
10 and edited
his Acts. These will be in the Bollandist found,
by Father Godefrid Henschen;11 while, they are published from a Manuscript Life,attributedtoJohnofTinmouth. Wefindanaccountofthisholyman, Dean 12 Rev. Alban 1* the Petits 1*
collection,
Cressy, Butler, Bollandistes, and Rev. S. Baring-Gould. 15 John of Tinmouth, Capgrave and Ussher call St. Petrock a Cumbrian : but, as he has been commonly named Corinius, which is said to have been an equivalent for Cornubiensis, these writers think the word Camber must have been a mistake for Camber. Suasius incorrectly calls him a Cimber. 16 The Welsh document, " Bonedd y Saint," declares, that his father was named Clement, and that he was a Cornish prince. According to Dr. Thomas Fuller, Petrok was a Welsh-Irish-Cornish man,
1
having his birth in Wales, and his breeding in Ireland. ? However, St.
Petrock was a native of Wales, and of royal extraction, according to most accounts. The Rev. John Adams regards him, however, as being a Cornish-
likewise, by
man. 18
According
to his
Itinerary,
an old Life of this 10 the author had saint,
seen, supplies information, that Petrock was by race, if not by birth, a Cam-
ber. Designated simply as a Camber, this word may signify a native of either
Wales or Cornwall f° and, accordingly, he is claimed, as a denizen, by both
countries. Some of the Welsh writers maintain, that he was born of princely
parentage in Wales ; while nearly all authors are agreed, that he was son to
Clement, said to have been a prince or chief, in Wales or Cornwall. The
time of his birth is regarded as having occurred, in the very early part of the
sixth century, if not late in the fifth. He was more ennobled for his virtues,
however, than he had been distinguished, owing to his family connexions.
Such was his life from childhood, and so closely did he imitate St. Peter's
faith and works, that he seemed not without a Divine presage, to have re-
ceived a name derived from that of the Apostle. These graces, God had
conferred on him, were so extraordinary, that he was admired and loved by
all. Ever modest and humble, he was a cheerful giver ; he was fervent in
charity, and assiduous in all the duties of religion. According to some writers,
Petrock was a of St. Patrick 21 this seems to be a more than
disciple ; but,
doubtful statement. Upon the death of his father, his people insisted on
Petrock succeeding in the kingdom. He was resolved, however, to choose
the better He wished to part.
give up
an
earthly,
for a crown. 22 heavenly
8
See his "Bibliotheca Britannico-Hiber-
to the mode of that Age, wherein all British sailed over into Ireland (as the English in
nica," p. 594.
to the "
Sanctorum quae MS. habentur, ordine Men-
sium et Dierum. "
9
According
Catalogus
Actuum
did into there to have France),
10
" He has a previous commentary, with notices of his cultus and the different trans-
lations of his body, in 5 paragraphs, with
notes, illustrating the Acts, from John of Tinmouth.
" See Dean " Church of Cressy's History
Brittany" book x. , chap. xxiv. , pp. 223 to 225. 13 See "Lives of the Fathers, Martyrs and
after-ages
their Education in all learned sciences. Who would have thought to have found Helicon amongst the Bogs, as indeed it was at that
See "Acta Sanctorum," tomus i. , Junii
De S. Petroco Abbate, in Cornubia time? "
—"The of the Worthies of History
iv.
Britannioe Provincia, pp. 399 to 402.
England :" endeavoured by Thomas Fuller,
D. D. , first printed in 1662. A new edition
with a few explanatory Notes, by John Nichols, F. S. A. , Lond. , Edinb. & Perth,
other principal Saints," vol. v. , June iv. 14 "
" Petrocus
it, genere
See Vies des Saints," tome vi. , ive. Jour de Juin, pp. 401, 402.
I9 There we have Camber. " See vol. viii. , p. 52.
15 See " Lives of the Saints," vol. v. , June 4> P- 35*
20 In the Itinerary of William of Worces- ter, it is stated: "Sanctus Petrocus, rex patriae Cumborum id est partis borialis regni
16
17 This writer
See Father Godefrid Henschen's n. (a). quaintly adds, "according
Anglise," p. 101. 2I See Borlase's
of
"History Cornwall,'
vol. ii.
The Worthies of Wales Generall,
p. 563. l8 See
of the Institution of Royal
"Journal
Cornwall, 1868," No. ix. , Chronicles of Cor- nish Saints, No. ii. , S. Petrock.
II
ii4 LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. [June 4.
In consequence of this resolution, he retired from the world. He left the
royal inheritance to his younger brother. 23 A hermit, who lived in a very
holymanner,hadbeenatfirst aninhabitantofBosmanach. Hisnamehas
been Latinized Guronus. 2* This solitary, named also St. Gorran, or Guron,25
had an humble abode in a small hut, which he left to St. Petroc. 26 It is stated,
that he lived in a valley. He settled afterwards, most probably in Gorran
parish, perhaps, at Polgorran, or Gorran's Pool, a little northwards from the
2 28
church. ? It is said, that St. Petrock professed a monastic life, under the
Rule ofSt. Bennet,2? at Bodmin, then called Brosmana, that is, the "mansion oftheMonks. ''3° Withsixtyothercompanions,St. Petrocembracedamonas-
tic life, in his native country. There, he remained, for some years ; yet, it is not known, where that monastery, in which he dwelt, had been located. After the lapse of those years, he left his hermitage, resolved on going else- where to study theology. When St. Petrock reached the age of an adult, 31 with favouring winds he passed over into Ireland, there to improve himself in theknowledgeofHolyScripture. Helefttheshipinaharbour,whereitsafely remained. 32 Several excellent Masters then flourished, in that Island. Here, he became a great proficient in Sacred Letters, "reading good Authors there,"35andinthescienceofthesaintsheadvancedtoperfection. Inturn, he became a teacher. It is said, St. Finian ? 4 had previously spent thirty years of his life in Britain ; and, when returning to his native land, that he was accompanied, by many British Christians, who were afterwards held in great veneration for their sanctity, by the Church in Ireland. As the time of his return corresponds with the time of Petrock's migration to Ireland, we may suppose, that our saint was one of the companions of that Finian alluded to, or, at all events, that he was attracted to our Island by him, there to pursue his studies under such guidance, at Clonard, in Meath. This was the most famous school in the Island, established at that time. It was founded by St. Finian, about a. d. 520. This institution soon became a kind of university, for the whole country. The fame of the founder's good works, it is said, drew many great men to him from divers parts of the land, as to an admirable sanctuary ofallwisdom. TheydesiredtolearninhisschoolthesacredScripturesand theecclesiasticalinstitutes. 35 ThemonasteryatClonard,atthattime,boasted of many teachers and students. These were famous, in their generation, for sanctity and learning. It is said, that no less than 3,000 scholars studied there, during the course of St. Finian's presidency. 36 The account in the old
sect, i. , p. 380.
3° We know, that a conventual establish- ment, which was associated with his name, existed in subsequent times, near the site of thepresentparishchurch. Perhaps,wemay conjecture, that the scene of his retirement must have been at that place. Besides the copious fountain, which still flows in that
33
John of Tinmouth, in the Bollandists' '"Acta Sanctorum,"tomusi. ,Juniiiv. ,p. 400.
23 This is stated in William of Worcester's
Itinerary, p. 101.
24 See John Leland's " Commentarii de
See the Life of our saint, attributed to
Scriptoribus Britannicis," tomus i. , cap. pleasant valley, we may picture to ourselves
xxxv. , p. 61.
25 He is probably the same as St. Guier,
or Guerir, to whom a church was formerly dedicated, in Cornwall, not far from Padstow.
" De
the young recluse, deepening his religious ardour by devotion, and acquiring day by day a firmer establishment, in the love of our Lord.
3I See Leland's "Commentarii de John
26 See Lelandi Joannis
Antiquarii
Rebus Britannicis Collectanea," vol. i. , p. 75. Scriptoribus Britannicis," tomus i. , cap.
37 The parish seems to have derived its denomination from him. See Whitaker's "Cathedrals of Cornwall," vol. i. , p. 36.
38 By Dugdale.
=9 We are told, that the Monks followed this Rule, until the time of Athelstan. The rule of St. Bennet, however, was not known in Cornwall, so early as the sixth century.
xxxv. , p.
