When he had nothing to give in the shape of alms, he enriched the souls of many by his expositions of the Divine word, and by
exhortations
full of consolation and fervour.
O'Hanlon - Lives of the Irish Saints - v1
See ?
3/^.
, pp.
432, 433.
The father of this latter was Deman, son
to Nuathaill, son to Mutalan, son to Can-
talan, son to Fiengalac, son to Nied, son to
'• a Dal-Buain. See Rev. Wm. Buan, quo
Reeves' "Ecclesiastical Antiquities of Down,
Connor, and Dromore. " Appendix S. , p. '
/3/V/, pp. 236, 237.
'See Colgan's "Trias Thaumaturga. "
Scptima Vita S. Patricii, n. 219, p. 183. Vol. I,
Vicar, pp. 236, 237.
^In a letter to the writer, headed
237.
5 See
"
Statistical Account or Parochial Survey of Ireland," vol. ii. , No. xiii. Pa-
"Glenavy, 2nd May, 1873," the Rev. George Pye, P. P. , thus states the popular belief, while furnishing — particu-
descriptive
lars regarding this place: "There is no vestige of the old church of Glenavy. A tradition ^exists, that the Protestant church is on the site of the old one. It is divided by a river from what is supposed to be the
old cemetery, where, according to Reeves, were buried the three sisters. These are said to be the sisters of St. Comgall, abbot
there
'It is on the "Ordnance represented
Survey Townland Maps for the County of Antrim. " Sheets 58, 59, 62, 63.
2D
and founder of Bangor.
Maheramorne, near Lame.
was a religious house in Glenavy, to which the three sisters retired. There is no ruin whatever on the spot. "
He came from
Perhaps
402 LIVES OE THE IRISH SAINTS. [January 22
Massereene, and in the county of Antrim. At a place called Camus^° Comhgaill," those holy women are also said to have been venerated. This, by others, is also thought to be the spot where their bodies had been interred. The holy virgins' names are included in the calendar compiled by the Rev. William Reeves. " They are likewise entered in the Kalendar of Drum- mond -p but, apparently in a most incorrect manner, at the xi. of the Februar}- kalends, which corresponds with this date. Thus in early ages, and in the same family, we find many saints, while from the fifth to the eighth century Ireland appeared to realize the glorious vision of a church which St. John had in Patmos. ^<
ArticleV. —St. LonanFinn. LonanFinnoccursintheMartyrolog>'
of Donegal' on this day. Nothing more is recorded. A nearly similar
entry is made, in the Martyrology of Tallagh,^ at the 22nd of January; but in the published copy, we find Lonan (fann) corrected to (fionn). The latter ""
appellation usually designates
Article VI. —Reputed Festival of St. Erlulph, Bishop of Verdun,
AND Martyr. [Eighth a? id Ninth Centuries? \ On this day, according to
Ferrarius' and Dempster,^ St. Erlulph, Bishop of Verdun and martyr,^ was honoured with a festival. But Colgan, who gives his acts, thought better to assignthemtothe2nddayofFebruary. * Theremoremaybelearnedre- garding this devoted missionary.
Article VII. —Reputed Festival of St. Adalgisus, or Algisus, Priest,inTheoracia,aDistrictinPicardy. Afeasthasbeenassigned to this day' for the saint, whose name appears at the head of this article, as statedbytheBoUandists. ^ Buthisfestivalseemsmoreproperlyreferable to the 2nd of June,3 where his life will be found.
'°
This is identified with Camus, in Derry,
quoque sancte virgines Comgaill et sanctus confessor Colman hodie ad Christum migra- verunt. "—Bishop Forbes' " Kalendars of Scottish Saints," p. 3.
" In a note at this passage Dr. Todd says : ' ' The more recent hand has added here, AT Ai|\e fin AX)ei|\ Oieiiguf, erj'echc ingen
Historia Ecclesiastica Gentis Scoto- rum," lib. v.
or in of In the pupils religion Comhgall.
whiteness" or fairness. "
by John O'Donovan, in a marginal note to the *' Irish Calendar of Saints," p. 14.
'
the to\vnland of Camus, in the parish of Article v. — Edited by Drs. Todd and
Macosquin, and barony of Coleraine, re- Reeves, p. 25. ''*
This valuable hagiographical manuscript,
belonging to the I. 0. S. collection, is now
preserved in the R. I. A. This must be History of Ireland," chap, i. , p. 13.
presented on the Ordnance Survey Towti- Edited by Rev. Dr. Kelly, p. xiii. In the land Maps for the County of Londonderry. " Franciscan copy, this entry reads tonAn
Sheets 7, 8, 11, 12. On Sheet 7 of the pnt». — townland Lower Camus may be seen the Article vi.
" Ruins of a church" immediately on the ralis Sanctorum. "
""" south banks of the pastoral Bann. "
'See "Catalogus Gene-
* See " Acta Sanctorum "See "Ecclesiastical Antiquities of dies rejecti, p. 389.
annotations to Felire {Dublin MS. , are called Blaisse, Coma, and Boga. "
they
tomus ii. , xxii. Januarii. Praetermissi et in alios
Down, Connor, and Dromore," Appendix
LL. , p. 376.
'3 Thus: xi. Kal. "Apud Hiberniam
3See "Acta . Sanctorum Junii," of the
BoUandists, tomusi. ,ii. Junii, pp. 222to22S. There they have rightly inserted his acts.
' See Rev. Sylvester Maione's "Church
3 In his " Menologicum Scoticura" Demp-
ster enters Erlulf as a bishop and confessor, '"
CliomgAilL It is for this reason that at Verdun. See Bishop Forbes' Kalen-
yEngus says, The decease of the daughters of Comhgall. ' These are the words of
^ngus in his Felire or Martyrology ; he
calls the three * of Comh- virgins daughters
gall,' because they were the foster-children
dars of Scottish Saints," p, 190.
*See "Acta Sanctorum Hibemioc," xxii.
Januarii, p. 153, and ii. Februarii, pp. 240,
241. De S. Verdensi et ErlulphoEpiscopo
Martyre.
Article vn. —" By Camerarius.
Januarii,"
January 23. ] LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS.
403
Ctomtp'-tftirtr Bap of Sanuarp*
ARTICLE I. —ST. MAIMBOD, MARTYR, IN FRANCE.
{PROBABLY IN THE NINTH CENTURY. ^
Aportrait-painter or a sculptor usually desires to copy after the fairest
features and the most forms. The in like man- graceful biographer,
ner, should be pleased when he has for his subject a person possessing the highest moral perfections. These he finds in every true saint, but more especially in every noble martyr venerated by the faithful. The BoUandists
have published Acts of Saint Maimbod,' from a MS. , belonging to the church of Besan9on, and from Chifflet. Colgan has also republished them at this day. ^
The period of this saint seems to have been about the ninth century. 3 From various accounts we learn, that he was a native and wore the habit or dress+ of Scotia or Ireland. ^ Of illustrious birth and rank, he was entirely devoted to God's service from his youth, and distinguished by the exercise of all Christian virtues. Maimbod was remarkable, also, for personal beauty and elegance of form. These advantages of birth, rank, and figure he little valued, rather preferring that his soul should be adorned with the virtues of humility and of self-denial. He considered worldly things as mean and transitory. He knew, that a Christian's highest ambition should be eternal rewards. At what period of life he resolved on setting out from Ireland has not transpired. Maimbod's object in leaving his native country appears to have been the acquisition of greater perfection, and a subjection of his will to God's designs. He likewise desired to visit certain shrines and places, where the relics of saints and martyrs were preserved. During this pilgrim- age, he exercised extraordinary mortification and resolution in overcoming temptations. With joy of spirit, he endured cold, hunger, and thirst ; and whilst exteriorly he was scantily clothed, interiorly his soul was inflamed with an ever-burning love of the Creator, and a great zeal to promote whatever contributed to His honour and glory. He always denied himself luxuries, and often bodily necessaries. In him, the flesh was always subject to the spirit. It would appear, that Maimbod had been elevated to the clerical state before leaving Ireland, and that he was distinguished for wisdom,
holiness, and ecclesiastical learning.
Art. 1. —'They are found in ten para- graphs. See"ActaSanctorum,"tomusii. , xxiii. Januarii. Vita S. Maimbodi, pp. 542
He cultivated the love of poverty to
sec. vii. , n. 68, p. 363. <Fromtheterm"habitu,"anditsap-
plication in our saint's acts, the Bollandist
editor rightly infers, that the costume of the
to 544. ^""
See Acta Sanctorum Hibernian," xxiii. Scots and Gauls was different. See
Acta
Januarii. Vita S. Maimbodi, pp. 155 to Sanctorum Januarii," tomus ii. , xxiii. Acta
157, with notes.
3 The time is not mentioned, and it can
only be inferred that it was not long before his remains had been removed by order of Berengarius, who is said to have lived about
S. Maimbodi, n. (b), p. 543.
sxhe Scotia, whence the acts bring him,
is represe'nted as that which was the country of St. Columbanus, St. Deicolus, and of St. Columbinus. These holy men had dis-
"
A. D. 900. See Dr. Lanigan's Ecciesiasti- tinguished themselves especially in Bur-
cal History of Ireland," vol iii. , cap. xxii. , gundy.
404 LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. [January 23.
such a degree, that whatever he received from others he bestowed upon the poor.
When he had nothing to give in the shape of alms, he enriched the souls of many by his expositions of the Divine word, and by exhortations full of consolation and fervour. ^
Having visited many places, renowned for their connection with eminent
saints, he came at length to the Burgundian territory,? where the relics of many servants of God were enshrined, and among them, several belonging to his own country. The author of St. Mairabod's Acts, who appears to have been a Frenchman, takes great care to enumerate the many holy martyrs and confessors,^ who adorned and blessed his country by their labours, virtues, and constant patronage. Among the Irish saints in France
are specially named Columbanus,9 Dichull,'° Columbin," and AnatoUus. " While in the province of Burgundy,^3 Maimbod became the guest of a certain nobleman, who, aware of his great virtues and the efficacy of his
prayers, requested this holy pilgrim to accept something whereby the donor mightberememberedinhispetitionsbeforeGod. Thesaintdeclared,that as he had an humble trust in the Almighty's constant favours, he had no need for the goods of this transitory world. But that he might not seem to undervalue the kind intentions of his host, Maimbod consented to accejjt the present of a pair of gloves. '^ Then, bestowing his benediction on this
'See Colgan's "Acta Sanctoram Hiber- n. 9, p. 157. For particulars, regarding
niffi," xxiii. Januarii. Vita S. Maimbodi, cap. i. , ii. , iii. , iv. , v. , pp. 155, 156.
this great saint, the reader is referred to his Life, which will be found at the 21st of November.
See the Acts of St. Deicolus, at the
625. ''
^ See ibid. , cap. vi. , p. 1 56.
^ '°
Among these are mentioned Saints Fer-
reolus and Ferrutius, martyrs under Severus,
A. D. 211 or 212, and alluded to by St.
Gregory of Tours. Their feast is kept on
the 1 6th of June. Again, St. Iraeneus, with
his martyred companions, at Lyons, under
the same emperor, and in the beginning of
the same century. Their feast is kept on
the 2nd of June. His feast is held on the as given by Colgan at the 1 8th of January. 28th of June and on the 23rd of August. According to Menard and Galesinus the Saints Felix, Fortunatus, and Achilles at Natalis of St. Columbin occurs on the 13th Valence, martyrs, and whose feasts are of September. Trithemius treats of him celebrated on'the 23rd of April ; Saints Au- in his work, " De Viris illustribus ordinis dochius and Thirsus at . ^dua, whose feasts S. Benedict! ," lib. iii. , cap. 77. This saint, occur on the 24th of September ; St. Mam- however, is a different person from Colum-
metus, the Cappadocian Martyr, whose banus the monk, who was a disciple to St. ''
Benignus, martyr, most probably imder Au- reliaus, about the year 272, and on the ist of November, near Dijon : all of these are alluded to by the writer, as saints greatly
''
feast is assigned to the 1 7th of August ; St. Columbanus, abbot. See Colgan's Acta
Acta Sanctorum Hibernise," xxiii. Januarii. Vita
" Colgan gives the Acts of Anatolius, at the 3rd of February, and to that date the reader is referred for further notices regard- ing this saint.
venerated in France. See Colgan's
S. Maimbodi, nn. 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, ''
'^ The name is derived from the
dians, who settled in Switzerland and a part of Franche-Comte, in the beginning of the
157. Also the Boliandists' Acta Sanctorum Januarii," tomus ii. , xxiii. Acta S. Maim-
Burgun-
"Acta Sanctoi-um Hibemise," xxiii. Januarii,
from the last edition of the Gennan.
London, 1762.
'* In the acts of our saint, the word used
to signify gloves is "Wantos," from the
p.
bodi, nn. (c, d, e, f, g, h, i), pp. 543, 544. fifth century. Thence spreading themselves
And Rev. Alban Butler's " Lives of the
Fathers, Martyrs, and other Principal Saints," at the date of various festivals com- memorated.
9 His festival occurs at the 2ist of Novem- ber. It appears from his acts, that St. Columbanus, who died A. D. 615, was from the same Scotia as Maimbod. See Colgan's
towards the Rhone and Soane, they erected
l8th of January. He died about the year
For particulars regarding St. Columbin, the disciple and successor of St. Deicolus in
the rule of Lure Monastery, in Burgundy, and when he died, the reader is referred to the 6th chapter of the Acts of St. Deicolus,
Sanctorum Hibemire," xxiii. Januarii, nn. 10, II, p. 157.
an independent kingdom, which was gradu- ally reduced by the king of the Franks. SeeDr. A. F. '' New ol
Busching's System Geography," vol. ii. , p. 420. Translat—ed
January 23. ] LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. 405
noble, and on all the members of his family, the holy man resumed his
devout pilgrimage. '5
Having gone to the Church of St. Peter, Prince of the Apostles, to offer
up his prayers, Maimbod came to the village of Dominipetra,^^ eight miles distant from Besancon. ^7 At this place some banditti were to be found, dead to every sense of Christian or human feeling, and ready at all times to commit most atrocious crimes. These men were robbers, and lived by waylaying and plundering pilgrims and travellers, who visited this place. Having seen Maimbod wearing his gloves, and supposing from such indica- tion of worldly comfort, that he must be possessed of money, they watched his departure and pursued him beyond the village. They overtook him at a fountain, called Colebrunnia, which, in the Teutonic dialect, means " cold water. " On seeing them approach with menacing aspect, the servant of God
saluted them in this manner " beloved : Hail,
brethren,
be with you; declare to me why you approach in such a manner. The
mercy of God can assist you in your necessities. ^' To this salutation, and to
the charitable aspirations of Maimbod, the robbers replied only by inflicting on him blows and wounds, with swords and clubs, until he fell lifeless on the
ground. His soul, however, winged its flight to Heaven. The perpetrators of this barbarous murder, finding nothing about his person worth seizing, were then filled with disappointment and remorse, for the cruel atrocity they had committed. ^^
The people of that neighbourhood, having found the remains of the holy pilgrim, removed them for sepulture to the Church of St. Peter, where he had so lately offered up prayers. His relics were afterwards rendered famous, owing to many miracles wrought at his tomb. By request of a certain count, named Adzo, after some time, Berengarius, Bishop of Besangon, had the remains of our saint removed to Monbelligard or Montbelliard. '? The ceremony of this translation was performed by the Coadjutor-Bishop of Besangon, named Stephen, and who had been formerly Deacon of St. John the Evangelist's church, in that city. ^° He was advanced to this dignity, in consequence of Archbishop Berengarius having lost his sight, which, it is said,
^^
Many miracles were afterwards wrought at the tomb of our saint. ^^ Berengarius likewise instituted a festival to his honour, on the 23rd of January, the day of this holy man's death. '3
The name of St. Maimbod was inscribed in the Dyptics of Besan^on church, with notices of many other saints, who were held in especial veneration in
was miraculously restored, on this occasion.
" \V
or which has a Wans,
'^ "Acta vSanctoram Colgan's
anion,"
"
"
Hibemise," xxiii. Januarii. Vita S. Maimbodi, cap.
Belgian
like meaning.
vocant. " See Colgan's "Acta Sanctorum viii. , ix. , p. 156.
Galli and Hispani ^a«/'i? M
Hibemise," xxiii. Januarii, n. 13, p. 157, ''It is now a town in the department of
and the Bollandists'
Acta Sanctorum Doubs, near the River Alan. In 1841, it
Januarii," tomus ii. , xxiii. , n. (n), p. 544. '5 See Colgan's "Acta Sanctorum Hiber-
niae," xxiii. Januarii. Vita S. Maimbodi, cap. vi. , vii. , p. 156.
'*
It was also called Chrysopholis, accord- ing to the Jesuit Peter Francis Ghifflet, " Vesontionis," lib. i. , cap. xii.
had a population of 4,948 inhabitants. See "Gazetteer of the World," vol. ix. , p. 349. TMThe present cathedral of Besangon is
dedicated to St. John. See "Gazetteer of the World," vol. ii. , p. 720.
°'
This is stated by Chifflet, who relates also that he was the forty-first bishop over
"
''Charnage's Histoire de la Ville et Besan^on. "Vesontionis," par. ii.
Diocese de Besancon," in 2 vols. , 4to, was
published in 1750. A great deal of curious information regarding it may be found in
"
Recherches Archeologiques sur les Monuments de Besancon," published
in 1842.
^^This is stated by Autbertus Miraeus,
"In Fastis Begicis et Burgundicis," at x, Cal. Febr.
^'^Molanus, in his additions to Usuard, Galesinus, Ferrarius, and the Dyptics of Besangon Church pive this as the date fw
Delacroix's
the of the Lord grace
4o6 LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. [January 23.
that archdiocese. ^4 This martyrdom of our saint took place, at or before the
year 900 to —lived about this time. ^5 ; since, according Chifflet, Berengarius
MaimbodwasalsoknownbythenameofMaingol acommondesignation,
amongst the Scots or ancient Irish. ^^ By some martyrologists he is called
Maimboldus, and by other writers Maibodus. ^7 A distinguished writer
"^^ observes, tl^^t
when we read of the
Christian benefits obtained Continental countries through the agency of Scotia and of the Scots in the early ages of our national Church, these must be attributed to Ireland and to Irishmen. For the Island of Saints tlien many had visited to acquire learning in her schools. From these numbers migrated to diffuse knowledge
and the science of the saints through more distant countries.
Article II. —St. Mocelloc, or Mocheallog, of Telach Olainn, ORTuALACHUalann. TheMartyrologyofTallagh'mentionsMocelloco
Thilaig Ualann as having been venerated on the 23rd ofJanuary. Although the name of this place occurs twice in Dr. O'Donovan's " Annals of the Four
Tullyallen Church Ruins, County Louth.
Masters," yet has it eluded identification with any modern locality, even after thelearnededitor'sresearch. '' Mochealldg,3ofTualachUalann,*isenteredin
his festival.
'*Saussay in the canum. "
"
Martyrologium Galli-
p. xiii. In the Franciscan copy this entry reads, tll'Dchelloc o chibAig u^ilAnD.
"See Dr. O'Donovan's edition, vol. i. , n.
'5 As Archbishop of Besanjon.
'* See Colgan's " Acta Sanctorum Hiber-
nise," xxiii. Januarii, n. I, p. 157.
The father of this latter was Deman, son
to Nuathaill, son to Mutalan, son to Can-
talan, son to Fiengalac, son to Nied, son to
'• a Dal-Buain. See Rev. Wm. Buan, quo
Reeves' "Ecclesiastical Antiquities of Down,
Connor, and Dromore. " Appendix S. , p. '
/3/V/, pp. 236, 237.
'See Colgan's "Trias Thaumaturga. "
Scptima Vita S. Patricii, n. 219, p. 183. Vol. I,
Vicar, pp. 236, 237.
^In a letter to the writer, headed
237.
5 See
"
Statistical Account or Parochial Survey of Ireland," vol. ii. , No. xiii. Pa-
"Glenavy, 2nd May, 1873," the Rev. George Pye, P. P. , thus states the popular belief, while furnishing — particu-
descriptive
lars regarding this place: "There is no vestige of the old church of Glenavy. A tradition ^exists, that the Protestant church is on the site of the old one. It is divided by a river from what is supposed to be the
old cemetery, where, according to Reeves, were buried the three sisters. These are said to be the sisters of St. Comgall, abbot
there
'It is on the "Ordnance represented
Survey Townland Maps for the County of Antrim. " Sheets 58, 59, 62, 63.
2D
and founder of Bangor.
Maheramorne, near Lame.
was a religious house in Glenavy, to which the three sisters retired. There is no ruin whatever on the spot. "
He came from
Perhaps
402 LIVES OE THE IRISH SAINTS. [January 22
Massereene, and in the county of Antrim. At a place called Camus^° Comhgaill," those holy women are also said to have been venerated. This, by others, is also thought to be the spot where their bodies had been interred. The holy virgins' names are included in the calendar compiled by the Rev. William Reeves. " They are likewise entered in the Kalendar of Drum- mond -p but, apparently in a most incorrect manner, at the xi. of the Februar}- kalends, which corresponds with this date. Thus in early ages, and in the same family, we find many saints, while from the fifth to the eighth century Ireland appeared to realize the glorious vision of a church which St. John had in Patmos. ^<
ArticleV. —St. LonanFinn. LonanFinnoccursintheMartyrolog>'
of Donegal' on this day. Nothing more is recorded. A nearly similar
entry is made, in the Martyrology of Tallagh,^ at the 22nd of January; but in the published copy, we find Lonan (fann) corrected to (fionn). The latter ""
appellation usually designates
Article VI. —Reputed Festival of St. Erlulph, Bishop of Verdun,
AND Martyr. [Eighth a? id Ninth Centuries? \ On this day, according to
Ferrarius' and Dempster,^ St. Erlulph, Bishop of Verdun and martyr,^ was honoured with a festival. But Colgan, who gives his acts, thought better to assignthemtothe2nddayofFebruary. * Theremoremaybelearnedre- garding this devoted missionary.
Article VII. —Reputed Festival of St. Adalgisus, or Algisus, Priest,inTheoracia,aDistrictinPicardy. Afeasthasbeenassigned to this day' for the saint, whose name appears at the head of this article, as statedbytheBoUandists. ^ Buthisfestivalseemsmoreproperlyreferable to the 2nd of June,3 where his life will be found.
'°
This is identified with Camus, in Derry,
quoque sancte virgines Comgaill et sanctus confessor Colman hodie ad Christum migra- verunt. "—Bishop Forbes' " Kalendars of Scottish Saints," p. 3.
" In a note at this passage Dr. Todd says : ' ' The more recent hand has added here, AT Ai|\e fin AX)ei|\ Oieiiguf, erj'echc ingen
Historia Ecclesiastica Gentis Scoto- rum," lib. v.
or in of In the pupils religion Comhgall.
whiteness" or fairness. "
by John O'Donovan, in a marginal note to the *' Irish Calendar of Saints," p. 14.
'
the to\vnland of Camus, in the parish of Article v. — Edited by Drs. Todd and
Macosquin, and barony of Coleraine, re- Reeves, p. 25. ''*
This valuable hagiographical manuscript,
belonging to the I. 0. S. collection, is now
preserved in the R. I. A. This must be History of Ireland," chap, i. , p. 13.
presented on the Ordnance Survey Towti- Edited by Rev. Dr. Kelly, p. xiii. In the land Maps for the County of Londonderry. " Franciscan copy, this entry reads tonAn
Sheets 7, 8, 11, 12. On Sheet 7 of the pnt». — townland Lower Camus may be seen the Article vi.
" Ruins of a church" immediately on the ralis Sanctorum. "
""" south banks of the pastoral Bann. "
'See "Catalogus Gene-
* See " Acta Sanctorum "See "Ecclesiastical Antiquities of dies rejecti, p. 389.
annotations to Felire {Dublin MS. , are called Blaisse, Coma, and Boga. "
they
tomus ii. , xxii. Januarii. Praetermissi et in alios
Down, Connor, and Dromore," Appendix
LL. , p. 376.
'3 Thus: xi. Kal. "Apud Hiberniam
3See "Acta . Sanctorum Junii," of the
BoUandists, tomusi. ,ii. Junii, pp. 222to22S. There they have rightly inserted his acts.
' See Rev. Sylvester Maione's "Church
3 In his " Menologicum Scoticura" Demp-
ster enters Erlulf as a bishop and confessor, '"
CliomgAilL It is for this reason that at Verdun. See Bishop Forbes' Kalen-
yEngus says, The decease of the daughters of Comhgall. ' These are the words of
^ngus in his Felire or Martyrology ; he
calls the three * of Comh- virgins daughters
gall,' because they were the foster-children
dars of Scottish Saints," p, 190.
*See "Acta Sanctorum Hibemioc," xxii.
Januarii, p. 153, and ii. Februarii, pp. 240,
241. De S. Verdensi et ErlulphoEpiscopo
Martyre.
Article vn. —" By Camerarius.
Januarii,"
January 23. ] LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS.
403
Ctomtp'-tftirtr Bap of Sanuarp*
ARTICLE I. —ST. MAIMBOD, MARTYR, IN FRANCE.
{PROBABLY IN THE NINTH CENTURY. ^
Aportrait-painter or a sculptor usually desires to copy after the fairest
features and the most forms. The in like man- graceful biographer,
ner, should be pleased when he has for his subject a person possessing the highest moral perfections. These he finds in every true saint, but more especially in every noble martyr venerated by the faithful. The BoUandists
have published Acts of Saint Maimbod,' from a MS. , belonging to the church of Besan9on, and from Chifflet. Colgan has also republished them at this day. ^
The period of this saint seems to have been about the ninth century. 3 From various accounts we learn, that he was a native and wore the habit or dress+ of Scotia or Ireland. ^ Of illustrious birth and rank, he was entirely devoted to God's service from his youth, and distinguished by the exercise of all Christian virtues. Maimbod was remarkable, also, for personal beauty and elegance of form. These advantages of birth, rank, and figure he little valued, rather preferring that his soul should be adorned with the virtues of humility and of self-denial. He considered worldly things as mean and transitory. He knew, that a Christian's highest ambition should be eternal rewards. At what period of life he resolved on setting out from Ireland has not transpired. Maimbod's object in leaving his native country appears to have been the acquisition of greater perfection, and a subjection of his will to God's designs. He likewise desired to visit certain shrines and places, where the relics of saints and martyrs were preserved. During this pilgrim- age, he exercised extraordinary mortification and resolution in overcoming temptations. With joy of spirit, he endured cold, hunger, and thirst ; and whilst exteriorly he was scantily clothed, interiorly his soul was inflamed with an ever-burning love of the Creator, and a great zeal to promote whatever contributed to His honour and glory. He always denied himself luxuries, and often bodily necessaries. In him, the flesh was always subject to the spirit. It would appear, that Maimbod had been elevated to the clerical state before leaving Ireland, and that he was distinguished for wisdom,
holiness, and ecclesiastical learning.
Art. 1. —'They are found in ten para- graphs. See"ActaSanctorum,"tomusii. , xxiii. Januarii. Vita S. Maimbodi, pp. 542
He cultivated the love of poverty to
sec. vii. , n. 68, p. 363. <Fromtheterm"habitu,"anditsap-
plication in our saint's acts, the Bollandist
editor rightly infers, that the costume of the
to 544. ^""
See Acta Sanctorum Hibernian," xxiii. Scots and Gauls was different. See
Acta
Januarii. Vita S. Maimbodi, pp. 155 to Sanctorum Januarii," tomus ii. , xxiii. Acta
157, with notes.
3 The time is not mentioned, and it can
only be inferred that it was not long before his remains had been removed by order of Berengarius, who is said to have lived about
S. Maimbodi, n. (b), p. 543.
sxhe Scotia, whence the acts bring him,
is represe'nted as that which was the country of St. Columbanus, St. Deicolus, and of St. Columbinus. These holy men had dis-
"
A. D. 900. See Dr. Lanigan's Ecciesiasti- tinguished themselves especially in Bur-
cal History of Ireland," vol iii. , cap. xxii. , gundy.
404 LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. [January 23.
such a degree, that whatever he received from others he bestowed upon the poor.
When he had nothing to give in the shape of alms, he enriched the souls of many by his expositions of the Divine word, and by exhortations full of consolation and fervour. ^
Having visited many places, renowned for their connection with eminent
saints, he came at length to the Burgundian territory,? where the relics of many servants of God were enshrined, and among them, several belonging to his own country. The author of St. Mairabod's Acts, who appears to have been a Frenchman, takes great care to enumerate the many holy martyrs and confessors,^ who adorned and blessed his country by their labours, virtues, and constant patronage. Among the Irish saints in France
are specially named Columbanus,9 Dichull,'° Columbin," and AnatoUus. " While in the province of Burgundy,^3 Maimbod became the guest of a certain nobleman, who, aware of his great virtues and the efficacy of his
prayers, requested this holy pilgrim to accept something whereby the donor mightberememberedinhispetitionsbeforeGod. Thesaintdeclared,that as he had an humble trust in the Almighty's constant favours, he had no need for the goods of this transitory world. But that he might not seem to undervalue the kind intentions of his host, Maimbod consented to accejjt the present of a pair of gloves. '^ Then, bestowing his benediction on this
'See Colgan's "Acta Sanctoram Hiber- n. 9, p. 157. For particulars, regarding
niffi," xxiii. Januarii. Vita S. Maimbodi, cap. i. , ii. , iii. , iv. , v. , pp. 155, 156.
this great saint, the reader is referred to his Life, which will be found at the 21st of November.
See the Acts of St. Deicolus, at the
625. ''
^ See ibid. , cap. vi. , p. 1 56.
^ '°
Among these are mentioned Saints Fer-
reolus and Ferrutius, martyrs under Severus,
A. D. 211 or 212, and alluded to by St.
Gregory of Tours. Their feast is kept on
the 1 6th of June. Again, St. Iraeneus, with
his martyred companions, at Lyons, under
the same emperor, and in the beginning of
the same century. Their feast is kept on
the 2nd of June. His feast is held on the as given by Colgan at the 1 8th of January. 28th of June and on the 23rd of August. According to Menard and Galesinus the Saints Felix, Fortunatus, and Achilles at Natalis of St. Columbin occurs on the 13th Valence, martyrs, and whose feasts are of September. Trithemius treats of him celebrated on'the 23rd of April ; Saints Au- in his work, " De Viris illustribus ordinis dochius and Thirsus at . ^dua, whose feasts S. Benedict! ," lib. iii. , cap. 77. This saint, occur on the 24th of September ; St. Mam- however, is a different person from Colum-
metus, the Cappadocian Martyr, whose banus the monk, who was a disciple to St. ''
Benignus, martyr, most probably imder Au- reliaus, about the year 272, and on the ist of November, near Dijon : all of these are alluded to by the writer, as saints greatly
''
feast is assigned to the 1 7th of August ; St. Columbanus, abbot. See Colgan's Acta
Acta Sanctorum Hibernise," xxiii. Januarii. Vita
" Colgan gives the Acts of Anatolius, at the 3rd of February, and to that date the reader is referred for further notices regard- ing this saint.
venerated in France. See Colgan's
S. Maimbodi, nn. 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, ''
'^ The name is derived from the
dians, who settled in Switzerland and a part of Franche-Comte, in the beginning of the
157. Also the Boliandists' Acta Sanctorum Januarii," tomus ii. , xxiii. Acta S. Maim-
Burgun-
"Acta Sanctoi-um Hibemise," xxiii. Januarii,
from the last edition of the Gennan.
London, 1762.
'* In the acts of our saint, the word used
to signify gloves is "Wantos," from the
p.
bodi, nn. (c, d, e, f, g, h, i), pp. 543, 544. fifth century. Thence spreading themselves
And Rev. Alban Butler's " Lives of the
Fathers, Martyrs, and other Principal Saints," at the date of various festivals com- memorated.
9 His festival occurs at the 2ist of Novem- ber. It appears from his acts, that St. Columbanus, who died A. D. 615, was from the same Scotia as Maimbod. See Colgan's
towards the Rhone and Soane, they erected
l8th of January. He died about the year
For particulars regarding St. Columbin, the disciple and successor of St. Deicolus in
the rule of Lure Monastery, in Burgundy, and when he died, the reader is referred to the 6th chapter of the Acts of St. Deicolus,
Sanctorum Hibemire," xxiii. Januarii, nn. 10, II, p. 157.
an independent kingdom, which was gradu- ally reduced by the king of the Franks. SeeDr. A. F. '' New ol
Busching's System Geography," vol. ii. , p. 420. Translat—ed
January 23. ] LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. 405
noble, and on all the members of his family, the holy man resumed his
devout pilgrimage. '5
Having gone to the Church of St. Peter, Prince of the Apostles, to offer
up his prayers, Maimbod came to the village of Dominipetra,^^ eight miles distant from Besancon. ^7 At this place some banditti were to be found, dead to every sense of Christian or human feeling, and ready at all times to commit most atrocious crimes. These men were robbers, and lived by waylaying and plundering pilgrims and travellers, who visited this place. Having seen Maimbod wearing his gloves, and supposing from such indica- tion of worldly comfort, that he must be possessed of money, they watched his departure and pursued him beyond the village. They overtook him at a fountain, called Colebrunnia, which, in the Teutonic dialect, means " cold water. " On seeing them approach with menacing aspect, the servant of God
saluted them in this manner " beloved : Hail,
brethren,
be with you; declare to me why you approach in such a manner. The
mercy of God can assist you in your necessities. ^' To this salutation, and to
the charitable aspirations of Maimbod, the robbers replied only by inflicting on him blows and wounds, with swords and clubs, until he fell lifeless on the
ground. His soul, however, winged its flight to Heaven. The perpetrators of this barbarous murder, finding nothing about his person worth seizing, were then filled with disappointment and remorse, for the cruel atrocity they had committed. ^^
The people of that neighbourhood, having found the remains of the holy pilgrim, removed them for sepulture to the Church of St. Peter, where he had so lately offered up prayers. His relics were afterwards rendered famous, owing to many miracles wrought at his tomb. By request of a certain count, named Adzo, after some time, Berengarius, Bishop of Besangon, had the remains of our saint removed to Monbelligard or Montbelliard. '? The ceremony of this translation was performed by the Coadjutor-Bishop of Besangon, named Stephen, and who had been formerly Deacon of St. John the Evangelist's church, in that city. ^° He was advanced to this dignity, in consequence of Archbishop Berengarius having lost his sight, which, it is said,
^^
Many miracles were afterwards wrought at the tomb of our saint. ^^ Berengarius likewise instituted a festival to his honour, on the 23rd of January, the day of this holy man's death. '3
The name of St. Maimbod was inscribed in the Dyptics of Besan^on church, with notices of many other saints, who were held in especial veneration in
was miraculously restored, on this occasion.
" \V
or which has a Wans,
'^ "Acta vSanctoram Colgan's
anion,"
"
"
Hibemise," xxiii. Januarii. Vita S. Maimbodi, cap.
Belgian
like meaning.
vocant. " See Colgan's "Acta Sanctorum viii. , ix. , p. 156.
Galli and Hispani ^a«/'i? M
Hibemise," xxiii. Januarii, n. 13, p. 157, ''It is now a town in the department of
and the Bollandists'
Acta Sanctorum Doubs, near the River Alan. In 1841, it
Januarii," tomus ii. , xxiii. , n. (n), p. 544. '5 See Colgan's "Acta Sanctorum Hiber-
niae," xxiii. Januarii. Vita S. Maimbodi, cap. vi. , vii. , p. 156.
'*
It was also called Chrysopholis, accord- ing to the Jesuit Peter Francis Ghifflet, " Vesontionis," lib. i. , cap. xii.
had a population of 4,948 inhabitants. See "Gazetteer of the World," vol. ix. , p. 349. TMThe present cathedral of Besangon is
dedicated to St. John. See "Gazetteer of the World," vol. ii. , p. 720.
°'
This is stated by Chifflet, who relates also that he was the forty-first bishop over
"
''Charnage's Histoire de la Ville et Besan^on. "Vesontionis," par. ii.
Diocese de Besancon," in 2 vols. , 4to, was
published in 1750. A great deal of curious information regarding it may be found in
"
Recherches Archeologiques sur les Monuments de Besancon," published
in 1842.
^^This is stated by Autbertus Miraeus,
"In Fastis Begicis et Burgundicis," at x, Cal. Febr.
^'^Molanus, in his additions to Usuard, Galesinus, Ferrarius, and the Dyptics of Besangon Church pive this as the date fw
Delacroix's
the of the Lord grace
4o6 LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. [January 23.
that archdiocese. ^4 This martyrdom of our saint took place, at or before the
year 900 to —lived about this time. ^5 ; since, according Chifflet, Berengarius
MaimbodwasalsoknownbythenameofMaingol acommondesignation,
amongst the Scots or ancient Irish. ^^ By some martyrologists he is called
Maimboldus, and by other writers Maibodus. ^7 A distinguished writer
"^^ observes, tl^^t
when we read of the
Christian benefits obtained Continental countries through the agency of Scotia and of the Scots in the early ages of our national Church, these must be attributed to Ireland and to Irishmen. For the Island of Saints tlien many had visited to acquire learning in her schools. From these numbers migrated to diffuse knowledge
and the science of the saints through more distant countries.
Article II. —St. Mocelloc, or Mocheallog, of Telach Olainn, ORTuALACHUalann. TheMartyrologyofTallagh'mentionsMocelloco
Thilaig Ualann as having been venerated on the 23rd ofJanuary. Although the name of this place occurs twice in Dr. O'Donovan's " Annals of the Four
Tullyallen Church Ruins, County Louth.
Masters," yet has it eluded identification with any modern locality, even after thelearnededitor'sresearch. '' Mochealldg,3ofTualachUalann,*isenteredin
his festival.
'*Saussay in the canum. "
"
Martyrologium Galli-
p. xiii. In the Franciscan copy this entry reads, tll'Dchelloc o chibAig u^ilAnD.
"See Dr. O'Donovan's edition, vol. i. , n.
'5 As Archbishop of Besanjon.
'* See Colgan's " Acta Sanctorum Hiber-
nise," xxiii. Januarii, n. I, p. 157.
