Ryan's History and
Antiquities
of the County Carlow,' chap, ii.
O'Hanlon - Lives of the Irish Saints - v4
628.
3' In a note annexed to this account,
" Hie nos deserit MS. Salamantic. reliqua parte mutilum. "
3' He was Pope, from the latter part of October, in the year 626, to the year 638,
when he died on the 12th of October, having reigned nearly thirteen years. . See Berti's
Papebroke writes
:
Eccles. Sec. cap. I, pp. 170, 171. This Pon-
tiff has been rendered . celebrated, in con-
nexion with a controversy regarding the
Monothelite Heresy. "Audiit immerito
tanquam Monothelita," writes this author,
"
propterea quod ad schisma vitandum no- luerit mentionem fieri unius, nee duplicis in Christo operationis, aut voluntatis. "
*° Dr. Lanigan seems to doubt, that St. Laserian visited Rome, in the time of Pope Gregory the Great. He considers, it was not so well founded, on reasonable evidence, as
"
Ecclesiasticae Historias Breviarium. " Sept.
April i8. ] LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. 217
a dignitary of such exalted rank, the more humbly he entertained opinions regarding himself, the more was his modesty manifested towards all others. But, according to the words of our Blessed Saviour Himself, a city situated on a high mountain cannot be concealed ; so that, notwithstanding the per- sonal humility of our saint, the Lord was pleased to illustrate his life, by many miracles. While Laserian was prosecuting his way towards Ireland, and ap- proaching Dublin city,*' by that beautiful Bayt^ which opens on the Irish sea, he recollected having forgotten a Book of Gospels, which had been left at a place, whence he embarked. Whereupon, he ordered a St. Mochomet '3 to returnforit. Thisorderthediscipleshowedhimselfreadytoobey. Tomani- fest his pleasure, at such ready obedience, Laserian told him, as an example proving the greatness of this virtue for others, Mochomet should be borne on a stone across the sea. When this substitute for a vessel had been pointed out, according to the legend, his disciple embarked thereon ; and, having passed over the ocean, Mochomet returned with the missing book, which Laserian afterwards presented to his disciple, as a gift. We must suppose, indeed, such an account could only have been taken from some idle traditional fiction, current among the people, and long after a time when St. Laserian lived.
While this renowned Legate discharged the special duties of his office
in Ireland, his ministry was supematurally distinguished. Through his prayers, we are informed, that a certain Felan,<< King of Leinster, had been cured of a cancer in the foot. Again, Laserian exorcised a possessed person, and liberated him from demoniacal influences. It once happened, that a prince, named Cothinus,''5 invaded the rights of a monk, who came with his
complaint regarding such injustice to St. Laserian. The king delayed making necessary satisfaction for some days. Our saint then predicted in Irish verse a sudden vengeance, which was destined for this monarch ; and, as a conse- quence, he died during the night following. At one time, when visiting the house of Felan, the Leinster King, Laserian asked for a draught of water. A servant then denied, that any water remained in the well, and he came from it, withanemptyvessel. Beingurgedtoreturnoncemore,thisservantfound the well completely dry. Thenceforth, it continued totally devoid of water, according to a received tradition.
that mission which brought Laserian thither,
" after the Synod of Maghlene. See Ec-
clesiastical History of Ireland," vol. ii. , chap. XV. , sec. ix. , n. 64, p. 404.
<' Dublin must have been an insignificant place, in the time of Laserian, and it could hardly be regarded as a city. This term, as applied to it, however, may serve to indicate
the comparatively modern period, when his published Acts had been first writ- tiin, and when the number of houses and inhabitants in Dublin had
considerably
increased.
** The accompanying illustration, drawn
on the spot by William F. Wakeman, and
transferred by him to the wood, represents
it from Killiney Hill, over Dalkey, with Howlh and the north shore in the distance. Engraved by Mrs. Millard.
** Papebroke says, this cannot be that St.
Mochaciooc, or Pulcherius, whose life had
been given, at the 13th of March ; for, when ordinate chiefs, living near Old Leighlin, a young man of twenty, his aunt, St. Ita, and having charge of that district, where the died, about A. D. 569. Hence, he flourished, monk resided.
atanearlierperiodthanoursaint. But,the Editor justly observes, this is one of the usual miracles, recorded in the Lives of Irish Saints, and yet little deserving of credence.
" In a Life of St. Berach, at the 15th of February, we learn, that Felan, fourtfi and youngest son to Colman, son to Cairbre, King of Leinster, was yet a boy, when his father died at Sliabh Mairge, A. D. 576. After three brothers and a nephew, he reigned to the year 665. See Colgan's " Acta -Sanctorum xv. Februarii.
Hiberniae,"
Prima Vita S. Berachi, n, 10, p. 346. Also,
Dr. O'Donovan's " Annals of the Four Masters," vol. i. , pp. 208, 209, and n. (t). Likewise, pp. 278, 279, and n. (c). Ibid, The
"
record" Foylan mac Colman," King of Leinster, to have
"Annals of Clonmacnoise
died, at A. D. 663.
*^ We do not find his place in Irish his-
tory; but,probably,hewa«oneofthesub-
2i8 LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. [April i8.
CHAPTER III.
THE YEW-TREE BROUGHT TO OLD LEIGHLIN MONASTERY—A RUSTIC BECOMES A VERY SKILFUL ARTISAN, TO CONSTRUCT AN ORATORY AT THIS,TLACE—ANGELIC CANTI- CLES HEARD—ANCIENT DENOMINATIONS OF THIS LOCALITY—THE PASCHAL CON- TROVERSY—SYNOD ASSEMBLED AT MAGHLENE, OR WHITEFIELD—AGREEMENT BETWEEN ST. LASERIAN AND ST. FINTAN—LETTER OF POPE HONORIUS, IN 635— ST. LASERIAN'S DEATH AND INTERMENT—FOUNDATION OF THE CHURCH, WITH ITS SUBSEQUENT HISTORY, AND THAT OF THE SEE OF LEIGHLIN—A POPULAR LEGEND REGARDING THE OLD CATHEDRAL—FESTIVAL AND OFFICE OF ST. LASERIAN —CONCLUSION.
ANimmense yew-tree grew, in a certain part of Leinster. This seemed to furnish suitable materials, to be fashioned for ecclesiastical uses. Although the pious men of all Ireland earnestly desired the wood of this tree, for church building ; yet, such a bond of fraternal charity existed among them, that none dared to cut it down, without having obtained universal con- sent from all others. Wherefore, to utilize its wood for pious purposes, the most celebrated religious superiors, with their disciples, agreed to assemble where the tree grew, there to pour forth prayers, and to fast. They hoped it should fall down, while the petitions of him, whose merits were deemed most grateful to God, were offered. The roots seemed to move, as each one in succession recited his prayers ; but, when it came to St. Laserian's turn for fasting and prayer, this tree toppled to the earth. However, as the roots had been previously moved, by the fasting and pfayers of other holy men, and as some preparation had thus been made for its expected fall, a doubt arose, whether St. Laserian could fairly claim the whole of this yew-tree. The matter, as we are told, was left for adjudication to the holy Pontiff, and to the reigningKingCranmal. ' Thismonarchdecided,saysthelegend,thatashe had captured two stags while hunting, a plank should be attached to these animals, and that the whole tree should be drawn, wheresoever their course might be directed. Such injunction having been complied with, and a plank having been placed on the neck of each stag, the animals moved off towards
Leighlinmonastery. Thither,also,theremainderofthistreewasbrought. We should observe, that some of the very improbable circumstances here, as elsewhere, narrated, and extracted from St. Laserian's old Life, have no special claim on the judicious reader's credence. When an architect was yet wanting
: toconstructanoratorythere,ashepherdissaidtohaveexclaimed "Would
that I were an artist, for then should I finish the work without wages. " Here-
:
upon,St. Laseriananswered "IfitpleasestheAlmighty'sgoodness,Hecan
easily make you one. " Then, our saint, taking the shepherd's hands within his own, and blessing them, the rustic became a very skilful artisan, and he built a beautiful oratory. When Laserian prepared to dedicate this sacred struc- ture, the citizens of heavenly Jerusalem were heard singing canticles, on the night of its dedication. Strains of ravishing harmony were heard, even by many, who lived at a great distance from that place. It has been ascertained, that the local designation of Old Leighlin, in Irish, was Sean Leithglinn, to
Chapter hi. — Colgan, in his "Trias who died, it is said, before his uncle Foilan, Thaumaturga," Vita Sexta S. Brigida;, n. who was successor to Cranmal here men- 12, calls this Cranmal, third son of Colman. tioned. The year of Cranmal's death is not
The beginning of his reign is assigned, to the year 610, when his second brother, Ronan, died. See Ur. O'Donovan's "Annals
of the Four Masters," vol. i. , pp. 236, 237. This Ronan left a son named Crimthann,
stated. Unless, therefore, Foilan is called king by anticipation, accovints contained in the text should precede those, found in the latter part of the narrative, which has been related in a former paragraph.
APRtt i8. ] LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. 219
distinguish this place from Leighlin-bridge,' known as Leithglinn a Droichits Still,themeaningofLeithglinnis notlocallyunderstoodbytheinhabitants. In the Annals of the Four Masters, and in the Irish Calendar of the O'Clerys, its orthography is varied, without disturbing the pronunciation. * The name " Lethglennia," applied to it, appears to have been derived from Maglene, or the " Plain of Lene, or Lennia," after which its celebrated Synod has been called. s From the present old cathedral tower, the " Whitefield" is pointed out beneath it ; and here, tradition maintains, the clergy assembled, to deli- berate concerning questions of grave ecclesiastical importance. The heads of most, among the religious men then in Ireland, are said to have assisted. *
The most ancient records attest, that the Feast of our Divine Lord's Resur- rection dates from the establishment of Christianity, and that it goes back to the time of the Apostles, who were living, and near the place, at the time of that great event, which in a most special manner served to prepare the triumphs of the Gospel. It concluded the Lenten fasts, and Easter Sunday with its octave was regarded as a holy week, while the Paschal solemnities and customs were deemed the most august celebrations of the year. ? However, that precise time, which should be fixed for Faster, was a subject of warm discus- sion and dispute, even in the earliest ages of the Church. Thus, as we learn, St.
">
ruled over the Holy See," to confer with him on the Paschal question ;" since, there was a conflict of opinion and practice, between the Eastern and Western Churches, - on this important point of discipline. The former insisted on celebrating the feast,atthesametimewhentheJewsobservedtheirPasch. '3 TheAsiatics professed to have received their usage, from St. John the Evangelist "* and from St. Pliilip ;'s while the Western Churches very generally referred their
'This place was intended to serve as a IrishOrdnanceSurveyOfEce. andnowbelong- fortified pass, soon after the Anglo-Normans ing to the Royal Iriah Academy Library, arrived in our country. There is a very where they are preserved,
' The called or place, anciently Lethglin,
Whitefield, is said to have been the site of
Polycarp,' Bishop of Smyrna, went toRome,'while Pope Anicetus
beautiful of copper-plateengraving
Leighlin- bridge and of the Black Castle, as appearing from across the River Barrow, in Grose's
"Antiquities of Ireland," vol. ii. , p. 93. This view was copied, after one taken by Lieutenant Daniel Grose, in It
sents the south-west aspect.
3 From a different stand-point to that
taken by Grose, or north-east, the Barrow bridge, with the Black Castle lying beyond
may be seen in the "The Irish Penny Journal," vol. I, No. 9. The article accom- panying it was written, by our departed friend, George Petrie, LL. D. , in his own pe- culiarly happy vein of composition. His
St. Cobban's Abbey, at Old Leighlin. See "
it,
pictorial
of much picturesque beauty, and ofacha- racter very likely to impress itself on the memory. " To the erection of this old castle
in 1 181, Leighlin-bridge owns its origin. The subsequent history of this locality is given, by the accomplbhed writer. SeeMd. , pp. 65, 66.
* Thus we read, Leth Glenn, Leith Glinn, Leith Glenn, Leath Gleann, Leith Glion, Leith Glinne, Leiih Glin. It has been
Latinized, Lethglinnia, Lethglennens is, Lethghlennia, and Leighliensis.
' SeeMr. T. O'Connor'scomraunicationof
June 22nd, 1839, as found in the "County of Cailow Letters," once preserved in the
is venerated, at the 17th of April.
illustration is described as
"
a scene
sided over the Church,
"See " Breviarium Romanum," Pars,
Hiemalis. xxvi. Januarii, Noct. ii. , Lect. iv.
"While the Mother Church, atjerusa- lem, continued to observe the Sabbath, or seventh day, the converted Jews celebrated, also, the Sunday, as the Lord's Day, and in memory of Christ's resurrection from the dead. The Church of Antioch only kept Sunday, or the first day of the week. See Rev. John Alrog's "Manual of Universal Church History," vol. i. , Period i. . Epoch i. , Part i. , chap. 4, sect. 56, p. 147.
"•
His feast occurs, at the 27th of De- cember.
'S He is venerated, at the 1st of May.
''
Their festival is held, on the 29th of June.
1792. repre-
' See L'Abbe " Dictionnaire de Bergier's
Theologie," tome iii. . Art. Paques, pp. 598, 599.
Ryan's History and Antiquities of the County Carlow,' chap, ii. , p. 24.
'
< About A. D. 162.
""
His feast occurs, at the 26th of January,
He
" From a. d. 157 to 168, this Pontiff pre-
July.
'^ See ibid. °' "
LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. [April i«.
traditions, on the subject, to St. Peter and St. Paul. '* In the second century, Pope St. Pius l. ,^^ who sat from a. d. 142 to a. d. 157,'' had issued a Decree, that Easter should be celebrated on a Sunday ; and. Pope St. Victor I. ,'9 who ruled from a. d. 192 to a. d. 202,'° confirmed that decree. ^' However, a vio- lent contest arose, about the year 194, between the latter Pope and Polycrates, Bishop of Ephesus, who resolved, with a Council assembled by him, to cele- brateEaster,onthe14thdayofthemooninMarch. ThePopethreatened these Orientals with excommunication ; but, he was dissuaded from this pur- pose, by St. Irenaeus, Bishop of Lyons, and by some other holy Bishops, who represented the probability of a schism, and on a difference, which touched no dogma of Christianity. ^^ These differences were settled, by a decree of the Council of Nice, which was held, in 325 ; and, this confirmed the Roman rule. Thefatherstheredecided,thatthefestivalshouldbecelebratedevery- where,onthefirstSunday,afterthespringfullmoon. However,itwasdiffi- cult to fix the precise day. The Bishop of Alexandria was commissioned, by Pope St. Leo \. p to calculate the Easter beforehand, and to communicate such result to the Apostolic See, so that it might be proclaimed to the whole Church. ^4 Thus, the fathers of Nice wisely put an end to an unseemly dis- crepancy. They decreed, that the Easter should be celebrated uniformly, on theSundaywhichnextfollowsthe14thdayofthefirst month,accordingto
theJewishcomputation. Thiswasregulatedbythelunarday,occurringon the 2 1st of March, or the next in succession to it. Again, the decree pro- vided, that the feast should not be celebrated on the same day, as that adopted by the Jews. The ancient British Church still celebrated Easter Sunday, however, from the 14th to the 20th of the moon ; because, as the Britons were then harassed by the Saxons, and as they were almost precluded from com- municating with Italy or the Continent, on account of wars prevailing there, they continued to use the old cycle,^5 and they were ignorant, in a great mea- sure, of any improvement. '^^ In England, ecclesiastics and laics differed widely, on this matter of observance. While some Christians were mourning in com- memoration of the others were — in the resu—rrection of the
Passion, rejoicing,
a
Blessed Saviour. Thus, Queen Eanfleda "^ Kentish lady
with her
fol-
lowers, was still fasting and keeping Palm-Sunday, when her husband Oswy,=* the King of Northumbria, had done fasting, and was keeping his Easter. ''' This might have occurred, in any of the years 645, 647, 648, or 651, when the 14th of the moon fell on Sunday ; but, the exact date, to which allusion is made, has not been determined. About the beginning of the seventh cen-
tury, it is thought, that St. Laurence,^" Archbishop of Canterbury, took a journey into Ireland, for the purpose of bringing the Catholics of this country, to adopt the Roman practice for celebrating Easter. 3' His pastoral care, as
' His feast occurs, on the nth of July.
'* "
See Sir Harris Nicolas' Chronology of
History," p. 211.
"' His festival is celebrated, on the 28th of
Ecclesiastica Gentis Anglorum," lib. iii. , cap. 4.
-^
See Rev. Dr. Lingard's "Antiqui- ties of the Anglo-Saxon Church," chap, i. , p. 36.
"' She had been educated, by Roman dis- ciples.
'*
He, with the majority of his subjects, had derived the knowledge of Christianity, from the Irish or Scots. See Rev. Dr.
Lingard's "History of England," vol. i. , chap, ii. , p. 100.
°' See Venerable Bede's account,
30 His feast occurs, at the 2nd of Feb-
ruary.
31 See "Britannia Sancta," by Bishop
Challoner, part i. , p. 97.
See Breviarium Romanum," Pars.
Estiva, xxviii. Julii, Officiura, Lect. v.
'^ "
See Rev. John Alzog's M. inual of
UniversalChurchHistory,"vol. i. , Periodi. ,
Epoch i. . Part 2, chap. 5, sect. 93, p. 310. 'T' He ruled from A. D. 440 to 461. See
Sir Harris Nicholas' tory," p. 210.
"
Chronology of His-
"*See "Opera," S. Leoni Magni. Epis- tola 121.
^^ See Venerable Bede's " Historia
April i8. ] LIVES OF THE IRISH SAWTS. »ti
we are told,3= extended to the Scots inhabiting Ireland. '^ Whether that Arch- bishop saw Laserian cannot be discovered ; but, it is probable, some means ofcommunicationhadbeenestablishedbetweenthem. ThefirstPaschwas celebratedamongtheSaxons,asweareinformed,ina. d. 665;34 but,bythis we are to understand, in conformity with the generally accepted Western rite. The Roman usage, for celebrating Easter, prevailed throughout England, from A. D. 673,35 and by degrees, the Irish and Scots conformed to the same practice. However, as we are informed, nearly another century had elapsed, before the Pasch was changed to the Sunday among the Britons. This happened, through theinterventionofthemanofGod,Elbodugus,intheyear768. 3^ Notwith- standing all the foregoing dififerences and changes, other adjustments had to take place, before the regulation of Easter-tide was finally settled. Pope Gregory XIII. 3? was the great reformer of our Church Calendar in 1582 ; for, accumulated errors, from an 89 minutes' excess of the 19 years' cycle, made thecalendarmoonfallfourdayslaterthantherealmoon. Hence,adepar- ture from the Old to the New style. 3^ This was simply the old enactment of the Canon Law, as established in the Catholic Church, and which was laid down by the General Council of Nice. For Calendar and ecclesiastical pur- poses, an imaginary moon 39 movement has been devised. I'hus, the moon refened to in the rule regarding Easter is not tliat real moon, which shines in our system. Nor is it that mean moon of the astronomers, which is regarded as moving at a uniform rate, so as invariably to run through ;iil its phases, in a period of 29 days, and about 12 hours. This is the average period, de-
. scribed by the real moon of the firmament. ''" It was only during the last
century, the reformation of the Gregorian Calendar had been adopted in
England,*' and during the reign of George II. , in 1 75I. ''' It was received in Ireland, in 1781, thirty years later, when introduced by an Act of the Irish Parliament,^ passed in tlie reign of George III. However, Ireland had already practically adopted the English statute, relating to the calendar, from the year 1752, when ib provisions came into force.
^ By Venerable Bede.
^ See "Historia Ecc'. esiastica Gentis An-
glomm," lib. ii. , cap. 4.
"See "Annales Cambriae," edited hy
Rev. John Williams ab Ithel, M. A. , p. 8.
35 Then the National Council at Hart-
goriati Calendar, acted in the full belief, that the " moon," referred to in the rules rcgaid- ing the celebration of Easter, was the real moon of the firmament.
*' Then was enacted, the English statute
24th of George II. , chap. 22, for changing from the Old to the New style. It enacted,
"
from the 2nd September, 1752 . . . the said Feast of Piaster should be observed
according to the calendar, tables, and rules thereunto annexe<l. " The calendar for
March, annexed to that English act, has this note: "The numbers here prefixed to the several days between the 21st day of March and the l8th day of April, both inclusive, de- note the days upon which those full moons do fall which happened upon or next after the 21st day of Marth in those years of which they are respectively the golden num- hers. AndtheSundayletternextfollowing any such full moon points out Easter Day
"
for that
*^ It is known, as the 21st and 22nd of
ferd, under Archbishop Theodore, adopted
the canon : "'That we all jointly keep Eas- that
ter Day, on the Lord's Day, after the 14th day of the moon, in the first day.
* See ' Aimales Cambriae," edited by Rev. John Williams ab Ithel, M. A. , p. 10.
^ He sat in St. Peter's chair, from a. d.
1572 to 1585.
3* See tlie account contained, in Sir Harris
Nicolas'
"
Chronology of History," pp. 34
to 39.
3' This is regarded, as moving with a
period, sometimes of 29, and sometimes of
30days.
*> To an article on the Almanac, in Dr.
Ijirdner's "Museum of Science and Art," the reader is referred, for a popular exposi-
year.
tion, on the principles of chronometric George III. , chap. 8.
science. There, this matter is fully ex- plained, and it deserves careful study.
*' It has been remarked, by Professor de
" In Ussher's " Britannicarum Ecclesia-
rum Antiquitates," cap. xvii. , pp. 479 to 484, a learhed and succinct statement of this
Morgan, thatthestatesmentowhomEngland subject will be found, with various refer- is indebted for the introduction of the Ore- ences to the works of ancient writers.
233 LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. [April i8.
The disputed Paschal question <4 having been specially agitated, during our saint's epoch, he is thought to have visited Rome a second
time, to consult regarding this observance, He thus acted, at the re- quest of some, among the Irish clergy. This journey, however, could not have been undertaken, at the desire of either King ^dan, or of St. Columba, both of whom were then dead. The Bollandist Editor, Papebroke, supposes that Cummineus, Abbot of Hy, was a chief procurer of this visit. *' It seems to be inferred, also, from an epistle written to the monks of lona, in which Cummineus excuses himself from observing the Roman Pasch, and in opposition to their received custom. *^ When this question had been maturely
a was convoked in or " under the investigated, Synod MagJene, Whitefield,"
heights of Mount Marge, and near the Barrow banks. '" But, when it was proposed there to observe Easter for the future, after the prevailing practice of the Universal Church, a certain monk moved, that the consideration of this matter should be submitted to the Roman See. *^ St. Laserian defended, with great energy and success, the Roman method of Paschal computation, at this Synod ; and, its assembled fathers deputed him to proceed, as their delegate, to the Holy City. 9 The year thus indicated is computed to have been 630,5° when nearly the Universal Church celebrated Easter on the 24th ofMarch. TheBritonsandIrishwerethesoleexceptions. Theseobserved the Paschal festival, on the 21st of April, being entirely attached to St. Columba's practice, of adopting the Quartadeciman Cycle, which had caused the difference of nearly a month to intervene, between the respective rites. '"
During this, or the year following, St. Laserian is thought to have returned as Legate, and to have presided in that capacity over a Synod,'" convened at Leighlin. 53 In our saint's Acts, although we have an account, concerning the honours and dignities conferred on him by Pope Honorius, yet we find no mention made, about such an important Synod. '* Regarding this celebrated
*s His biography will be found, in Colgan's "Acta Sanctorum Hiberniae. " xxvi. Feb- ruarii. Vita S. Cuminei. His Life may be seen likewise, at the 24th of February.
*' " of the letter," In consequence Pope's
writes the Rev. James G. nffney, "a synod was at once convened at Old Leighlin, the
as seems by verbal discrepancies—from some less perfect copy of this celebrated Epistle, than the one used by Ussher.
"The Very Rev. Monsignor Moran's
" on the Doctrines and Dis- Essays Origin,
ciplineof the Early Irish Church," part iii. , chap, iii. , p. 141.
5° " Annus ille serae Christianae DCXXX.
3' In a note annexed to this account,
" Hie nos deserit MS. Salamantic. reliqua parte mutilum. "
3' He was Pope, from the latter part of October, in the year 626, to the year 638,
when he died on the 12th of October, having reigned nearly thirteen years. . See Berti's
Papebroke writes
:
Eccles. Sec. cap. I, pp. 170, 171. This Pon-
tiff has been rendered . celebrated, in con-
nexion with a controversy regarding the
Monothelite Heresy. "Audiit immerito
tanquam Monothelita," writes this author,
"
propterea quod ad schisma vitandum no- luerit mentionem fieri unius, nee duplicis in Christo operationis, aut voluntatis. "
*° Dr. Lanigan seems to doubt, that St. Laserian visited Rome, in the time of Pope Gregory the Great. He considers, it was not so well founded, on reasonable evidence, as
"
Ecclesiasticae Historias Breviarium. " Sept.
April i8. ] LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. 217
a dignitary of such exalted rank, the more humbly he entertained opinions regarding himself, the more was his modesty manifested towards all others. But, according to the words of our Blessed Saviour Himself, a city situated on a high mountain cannot be concealed ; so that, notwithstanding the per- sonal humility of our saint, the Lord was pleased to illustrate his life, by many miracles. While Laserian was prosecuting his way towards Ireland, and ap- proaching Dublin city,*' by that beautiful Bayt^ which opens on the Irish sea, he recollected having forgotten a Book of Gospels, which had been left at a place, whence he embarked. Whereupon, he ordered a St. Mochomet '3 to returnforit. Thisorderthediscipleshowedhimselfreadytoobey. Tomani- fest his pleasure, at such ready obedience, Laserian told him, as an example proving the greatness of this virtue for others, Mochomet should be borne on a stone across the sea. When this substitute for a vessel had been pointed out, according to the legend, his disciple embarked thereon ; and, having passed over the ocean, Mochomet returned with the missing book, which Laserian afterwards presented to his disciple, as a gift. We must suppose, indeed, such an account could only have been taken from some idle traditional fiction, current among the people, and long after a time when St. Laserian lived.
While this renowned Legate discharged the special duties of his office
in Ireland, his ministry was supematurally distinguished. Through his prayers, we are informed, that a certain Felan,<< King of Leinster, had been cured of a cancer in the foot. Again, Laserian exorcised a possessed person, and liberated him from demoniacal influences. It once happened, that a prince, named Cothinus,''5 invaded the rights of a monk, who came with his
complaint regarding such injustice to St. Laserian. The king delayed making necessary satisfaction for some days. Our saint then predicted in Irish verse a sudden vengeance, which was destined for this monarch ; and, as a conse- quence, he died during the night following. At one time, when visiting the house of Felan, the Leinster King, Laserian asked for a draught of water. A servant then denied, that any water remained in the well, and he came from it, withanemptyvessel. Beingurgedtoreturnoncemore,thisservantfound the well completely dry. Thenceforth, it continued totally devoid of water, according to a received tradition.
that mission which brought Laserian thither,
" after the Synod of Maghlene. See Ec-
clesiastical History of Ireland," vol. ii. , chap. XV. , sec. ix. , n. 64, p. 404.
<' Dublin must have been an insignificant place, in the time of Laserian, and it could hardly be regarded as a city. This term, as applied to it, however, may serve to indicate
the comparatively modern period, when his published Acts had been first writ- tiin, and when the number of houses and inhabitants in Dublin had
considerably
increased.
** The accompanying illustration, drawn
on the spot by William F. Wakeman, and
transferred by him to the wood, represents
it from Killiney Hill, over Dalkey, with Howlh and the north shore in the distance. Engraved by Mrs. Millard.
** Papebroke says, this cannot be that St.
Mochaciooc, or Pulcherius, whose life had
been given, at the 13th of March ; for, when ordinate chiefs, living near Old Leighlin, a young man of twenty, his aunt, St. Ita, and having charge of that district, where the died, about A. D. 569. Hence, he flourished, monk resided.
atanearlierperiodthanoursaint. But,the Editor justly observes, this is one of the usual miracles, recorded in the Lives of Irish Saints, and yet little deserving of credence.
" In a Life of St. Berach, at the 15th of February, we learn, that Felan, fourtfi and youngest son to Colman, son to Cairbre, King of Leinster, was yet a boy, when his father died at Sliabh Mairge, A. D. 576. After three brothers and a nephew, he reigned to the year 665. See Colgan's " Acta -Sanctorum xv. Februarii.
Hiberniae,"
Prima Vita S. Berachi, n, 10, p. 346. Also,
Dr. O'Donovan's " Annals of the Four Masters," vol. i. , pp. 208, 209, and n. (t). Likewise, pp. 278, 279, and n. (c). Ibid, The
"
record" Foylan mac Colman," King of Leinster, to have
"Annals of Clonmacnoise
died, at A. D. 663.
*^ We do not find his place in Irish his-
tory; but,probably,hewa«oneofthesub-
2i8 LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. [April i8.
CHAPTER III.
THE YEW-TREE BROUGHT TO OLD LEIGHLIN MONASTERY—A RUSTIC BECOMES A VERY SKILFUL ARTISAN, TO CONSTRUCT AN ORATORY AT THIS,TLACE—ANGELIC CANTI- CLES HEARD—ANCIENT DENOMINATIONS OF THIS LOCALITY—THE PASCHAL CON- TROVERSY—SYNOD ASSEMBLED AT MAGHLENE, OR WHITEFIELD—AGREEMENT BETWEEN ST. LASERIAN AND ST. FINTAN—LETTER OF POPE HONORIUS, IN 635— ST. LASERIAN'S DEATH AND INTERMENT—FOUNDATION OF THE CHURCH, WITH ITS SUBSEQUENT HISTORY, AND THAT OF THE SEE OF LEIGHLIN—A POPULAR LEGEND REGARDING THE OLD CATHEDRAL—FESTIVAL AND OFFICE OF ST. LASERIAN —CONCLUSION.
ANimmense yew-tree grew, in a certain part of Leinster. This seemed to furnish suitable materials, to be fashioned for ecclesiastical uses. Although the pious men of all Ireland earnestly desired the wood of this tree, for church building ; yet, such a bond of fraternal charity existed among them, that none dared to cut it down, without having obtained universal con- sent from all others. Wherefore, to utilize its wood for pious purposes, the most celebrated religious superiors, with their disciples, agreed to assemble where the tree grew, there to pour forth prayers, and to fast. They hoped it should fall down, while the petitions of him, whose merits were deemed most grateful to God, were offered. The roots seemed to move, as each one in succession recited his prayers ; but, when it came to St. Laserian's turn for fasting and prayer, this tree toppled to the earth. However, as the roots had been previously moved, by the fasting and pfayers of other holy men, and as some preparation had thus been made for its expected fall, a doubt arose, whether St. Laserian could fairly claim the whole of this yew-tree. The matter, as we are told, was left for adjudication to the holy Pontiff, and to the reigningKingCranmal. ' Thismonarchdecided,saysthelegend,thatashe had captured two stags while hunting, a plank should be attached to these animals, and that the whole tree should be drawn, wheresoever their course might be directed. Such injunction having been complied with, and a plank having been placed on the neck of each stag, the animals moved off towards
Leighlinmonastery. Thither,also,theremainderofthistreewasbrought. We should observe, that some of the very improbable circumstances here, as elsewhere, narrated, and extracted from St. Laserian's old Life, have no special claim on the judicious reader's credence. When an architect was yet wanting
: toconstructanoratorythere,ashepherdissaidtohaveexclaimed "Would
that I were an artist, for then should I finish the work without wages. " Here-
:
upon,St. Laseriananswered "IfitpleasestheAlmighty'sgoodness,Hecan
easily make you one. " Then, our saint, taking the shepherd's hands within his own, and blessing them, the rustic became a very skilful artisan, and he built a beautiful oratory. When Laserian prepared to dedicate this sacred struc- ture, the citizens of heavenly Jerusalem were heard singing canticles, on the night of its dedication. Strains of ravishing harmony were heard, even by many, who lived at a great distance from that place. It has been ascertained, that the local designation of Old Leighlin, in Irish, was Sean Leithglinn, to
Chapter hi. — Colgan, in his "Trias who died, it is said, before his uncle Foilan, Thaumaturga," Vita Sexta S. Brigida;, n. who was successor to Cranmal here men- 12, calls this Cranmal, third son of Colman. tioned. The year of Cranmal's death is not
The beginning of his reign is assigned, to the year 610, when his second brother, Ronan, died. See Ur. O'Donovan's "Annals
of the Four Masters," vol. i. , pp. 236, 237. This Ronan left a son named Crimthann,
stated. Unless, therefore, Foilan is called king by anticipation, accovints contained in the text should precede those, found in the latter part of the narrative, which has been related in a former paragraph.
APRtt i8. ] LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. 219
distinguish this place from Leighlin-bridge,' known as Leithglinn a Droichits Still,themeaningofLeithglinnis notlocallyunderstoodbytheinhabitants. In the Annals of the Four Masters, and in the Irish Calendar of the O'Clerys, its orthography is varied, without disturbing the pronunciation. * The name " Lethglennia," applied to it, appears to have been derived from Maglene, or the " Plain of Lene, or Lennia," after which its celebrated Synod has been called. s From the present old cathedral tower, the " Whitefield" is pointed out beneath it ; and here, tradition maintains, the clergy assembled, to deli- berate concerning questions of grave ecclesiastical importance. The heads of most, among the religious men then in Ireland, are said to have assisted. *
The most ancient records attest, that the Feast of our Divine Lord's Resur- rection dates from the establishment of Christianity, and that it goes back to the time of the Apostles, who were living, and near the place, at the time of that great event, which in a most special manner served to prepare the triumphs of the Gospel. It concluded the Lenten fasts, and Easter Sunday with its octave was regarded as a holy week, while the Paschal solemnities and customs were deemed the most august celebrations of the year. ? However, that precise time, which should be fixed for Faster, was a subject of warm discus- sion and dispute, even in the earliest ages of the Church. Thus, as we learn, St.
">
ruled over the Holy See," to confer with him on the Paschal question ;" since, there was a conflict of opinion and practice, between the Eastern and Western Churches, - on this important point of discipline. The former insisted on celebrating the feast,atthesametimewhentheJewsobservedtheirPasch. '3 TheAsiatics professed to have received their usage, from St. John the Evangelist "* and from St. Pliilip ;'s while the Western Churches very generally referred their
'This place was intended to serve as a IrishOrdnanceSurveyOfEce. andnowbelong- fortified pass, soon after the Anglo-Normans ing to the Royal Iriah Academy Library, arrived in our country. There is a very where they are preserved,
' The called or place, anciently Lethglin,
Whitefield, is said to have been the site of
Polycarp,' Bishop of Smyrna, went toRome,'while Pope Anicetus
beautiful of copper-plateengraving
Leighlin- bridge and of the Black Castle, as appearing from across the River Barrow, in Grose's
"Antiquities of Ireland," vol. ii. , p. 93. This view was copied, after one taken by Lieutenant Daniel Grose, in It
sents the south-west aspect.
3 From a different stand-point to that
taken by Grose, or north-east, the Barrow bridge, with the Black Castle lying beyond
may be seen in the "The Irish Penny Journal," vol. I, No. 9. The article accom- panying it was written, by our departed friend, George Petrie, LL. D. , in his own pe- culiarly happy vein of composition. His
St. Cobban's Abbey, at Old Leighlin. See "
it,
pictorial
of much picturesque beauty, and ofacha- racter very likely to impress itself on the memory. " To the erection of this old castle
in 1 181, Leighlin-bridge owns its origin. The subsequent history of this locality is given, by the accomplbhed writer. SeeMd. , pp. 65, 66.
* Thus we read, Leth Glenn, Leith Glinn, Leith Glenn, Leath Gleann, Leith Glion, Leith Glinne, Leiih Glin. It has been
Latinized, Lethglinnia, Lethglennens is, Lethghlennia, and Leighliensis.
' SeeMr. T. O'Connor'scomraunicationof
June 22nd, 1839, as found in the "County of Cailow Letters," once preserved in the
is venerated, at the 17th of April.
illustration is described as
"
a scene
sided over the Church,
"See " Breviarium Romanum," Pars,
Hiemalis. xxvi. Januarii, Noct. ii. , Lect. iv.
"While the Mother Church, atjerusa- lem, continued to observe the Sabbath, or seventh day, the converted Jews celebrated, also, the Sunday, as the Lord's Day, and in memory of Christ's resurrection from the dead. The Church of Antioch only kept Sunday, or the first day of the week. See Rev. John Alrog's "Manual of Universal Church History," vol. i. , Period i. . Epoch i. , Part i. , chap. 4, sect. 56, p. 147.
"•
His feast occurs, at the 27th of De- cember.
'S He is venerated, at the 1st of May.
''
Their festival is held, on the 29th of June.
1792. repre-
' See L'Abbe " Dictionnaire de Bergier's
Theologie," tome iii. . Art. Paques, pp. 598, 599.
Ryan's History and Antiquities of the County Carlow,' chap, ii. , p. 24.
'
< About A. D. 162.
""
His feast occurs, at the 26th of January,
He
" From a. d. 157 to 168, this Pontiff pre-
July.
'^ See ibid. °' "
LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. [April i«.
traditions, on the subject, to St. Peter and St. Paul. '* In the second century, Pope St. Pius l. ,^^ who sat from a. d. 142 to a. d. 157,'' had issued a Decree, that Easter should be celebrated on a Sunday ; and. Pope St. Victor I. ,'9 who ruled from a. d. 192 to a. d. 202,'° confirmed that decree. ^' However, a vio- lent contest arose, about the year 194, between the latter Pope and Polycrates, Bishop of Ephesus, who resolved, with a Council assembled by him, to cele- brateEaster,onthe14thdayofthemooninMarch. ThePopethreatened these Orientals with excommunication ; but, he was dissuaded from this pur- pose, by St. Irenaeus, Bishop of Lyons, and by some other holy Bishops, who represented the probability of a schism, and on a difference, which touched no dogma of Christianity. ^^ These differences were settled, by a decree of the Council of Nice, which was held, in 325 ; and, this confirmed the Roman rule. Thefatherstheredecided,thatthefestivalshouldbecelebratedevery- where,onthefirstSunday,afterthespringfullmoon. However,itwasdiffi- cult to fix the precise day. The Bishop of Alexandria was commissioned, by Pope St. Leo \. p to calculate the Easter beforehand, and to communicate such result to the Apostolic See, so that it might be proclaimed to the whole Church. ^4 Thus, the fathers of Nice wisely put an end to an unseemly dis- crepancy. They decreed, that the Easter should be celebrated uniformly, on theSundaywhichnextfollowsthe14thdayofthefirst month,accordingto
theJewishcomputation. Thiswasregulatedbythelunarday,occurringon the 2 1st of March, or the next in succession to it. Again, the decree pro- vided, that the feast should not be celebrated on the same day, as that adopted by the Jews. The ancient British Church still celebrated Easter Sunday, however, from the 14th to the 20th of the moon ; because, as the Britons were then harassed by the Saxons, and as they were almost precluded from com- municating with Italy or the Continent, on account of wars prevailing there, they continued to use the old cycle,^5 and they were ignorant, in a great mea- sure, of any improvement. '^^ In England, ecclesiastics and laics differed widely, on this matter of observance. While some Christians were mourning in com- memoration of the others were — in the resu—rrection of the
Passion, rejoicing,
a
Blessed Saviour. Thus, Queen Eanfleda "^ Kentish lady
with her
fol-
lowers, was still fasting and keeping Palm-Sunday, when her husband Oswy,=* the King of Northumbria, had done fasting, and was keeping his Easter. ''' This might have occurred, in any of the years 645, 647, 648, or 651, when the 14th of the moon fell on Sunday ; but, the exact date, to which allusion is made, has not been determined. About the beginning of the seventh cen-
tury, it is thought, that St. Laurence,^" Archbishop of Canterbury, took a journey into Ireland, for the purpose of bringing the Catholics of this country, to adopt the Roman practice for celebrating Easter. 3' His pastoral care, as
' His feast occurs, on the nth of July.
'* "
See Sir Harris Nicolas' Chronology of
History," p. 211.
"' His festival is celebrated, on the 28th of
Ecclesiastica Gentis Anglorum," lib. iii. , cap. 4.
-^
See Rev. Dr. Lingard's "Antiqui- ties of the Anglo-Saxon Church," chap, i. , p. 36.
"' She had been educated, by Roman dis- ciples.
'*
He, with the majority of his subjects, had derived the knowledge of Christianity, from the Irish or Scots. See Rev. Dr.
Lingard's "History of England," vol. i. , chap, ii. , p. 100.
°' See Venerable Bede's account,
30 His feast occurs, at the 2nd of Feb-
ruary.
31 See "Britannia Sancta," by Bishop
Challoner, part i. , p. 97.
See Breviarium Romanum," Pars.
Estiva, xxviii. Julii, Officiura, Lect. v.
'^ "
See Rev. John Alzog's M. inual of
UniversalChurchHistory,"vol. i. , Periodi. ,
Epoch i. . Part 2, chap. 5, sect. 93, p. 310. 'T' He ruled from A. D. 440 to 461. See
Sir Harris Nicholas' tory," p. 210.
"
Chronology of His-
"*See "Opera," S. Leoni Magni. Epis- tola 121.
^^ See Venerable Bede's " Historia
April i8. ] LIVES OF THE IRISH SAWTS. »ti
we are told,3= extended to the Scots inhabiting Ireland. '^ Whether that Arch- bishop saw Laserian cannot be discovered ; but, it is probable, some means ofcommunicationhadbeenestablishedbetweenthem. ThefirstPaschwas celebratedamongtheSaxons,asweareinformed,ina. d. 665;34 but,bythis we are to understand, in conformity with the generally accepted Western rite. The Roman usage, for celebrating Easter, prevailed throughout England, from A. D. 673,35 and by degrees, the Irish and Scots conformed to the same practice. However, as we are informed, nearly another century had elapsed, before the Pasch was changed to the Sunday among the Britons. This happened, through theinterventionofthemanofGod,Elbodugus,intheyear768. 3^ Notwith- standing all the foregoing dififerences and changes, other adjustments had to take place, before the regulation of Easter-tide was finally settled. Pope Gregory XIII. 3? was the great reformer of our Church Calendar in 1582 ; for, accumulated errors, from an 89 minutes' excess of the 19 years' cycle, made thecalendarmoonfallfourdayslaterthantherealmoon. Hence,adepar- ture from the Old to the New style. 3^ This was simply the old enactment of the Canon Law, as established in the Catholic Church, and which was laid down by the General Council of Nice. For Calendar and ecclesiastical pur- poses, an imaginary moon 39 movement has been devised. I'hus, the moon refened to in the rule regarding Easter is not tliat real moon, which shines in our system. Nor is it that mean moon of the astronomers, which is regarded as moving at a uniform rate, so as invariably to run through ;iil its phases, in a period of 29 days, and about 12 hours. This is the average period, de-
. scribed by the real moon of the firmament. ''" It was only during the last
century, the reformation of the Gregorian Calendar had been adopted in
England,*' and during the reign of George II. , in 1 75I. ''' It was received in Ireland, in 1781, thirty years later, when introduced by an Act of the Irish Parliament,^ passed in tlie reign of George III. However, Ireland had already practically adopted the English statute, relating to the calendar, from the year 1752, when ib provisions came into force.
^ By Venerable Bede.
^ See "Historia Ecc'. esiastica Gentis An-
glomm," lib. ii. , cap. 4.
"See "Annales Cambriae," edited hy
Rev. John Williams ab Ithel, M. A. , p. 8.
35 Then the National Council at Hart-
goriati Calendar, acted in the full belief, that the " moon," referred to in the rules rcgaid- ing the celebration of Easter, was the real moon of the firmament.
*' Then was enacted, the English statute
24th of George II. , chap. 22, for changing from the Old to the New style. It enacted,
"
from the 2nd September, 1752 . . . the said Feast of Piaster should be observed
according to the calendar, tables, and rules thereunto annexe<l. " The calendar for
March, annexed to that English act, has this note: "The numbers here prefixed to the several days between the 21st day of March and the l8th day of April, both inclusive, de- note the days upon which those full moons do fall which happened upon or next after the 21st day of Marth in those years of which they are respectively the golden num- hers. AndtheSundayletternextfollowing any such full moon points out Easter Day
"
for that
*^ It is known, as the 21st and 22nd of
ferd, under Archbishop Theodore, adopted
the canon : "'That we all jointly keep Eas- that
ter Day, on the Lord's Day, after the 14th day of the moon, in the first day.
* See ' Aimales Cambriae," edited by Rev. John Williams ab Ithel, M. A. , p. 10.
^ He sat in St. Peter's chair, from a. d.
1572 to 1585.
3* See tlie account contained, in Sir Harris
Nicolas'
"
Chronology of History," pp. 34
to 39.
3' This is regarded, as moving with a
period, sometimes of 29, and sometimes of
30days.
*> To an article on the Almanac, in Dr.
Ijirdner's "Museum of Science and Art," the reader is referred, for a popular exposi-
year.
tion, on the principles of chronometric George III. , chap. 8.
science. There, this matter is fully ex- plained, and it deserves careful study.
*' It has been remarked, by Professor de
" In Ussher's " Britannicarum Ecclesia-
rum Antiquitates," cap. xvii. , pp. 479 to 484, a learhed and succinct statement of this
Morgan, thatthestatesmentowhomEngland subject will be found, with various refer- is indebted for the introduction of the Ore- ences to the works of ancient writers.
233 LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. [April i8.
The disputed Paschal question <4 having been specially agitated, during our saint's epoch, he is thought to have visited Rome a second
time, to consult regarding this observance, He thus acted, at the re- quest of some, among the Irish clergy. This journey, however, could not have been undertaken, at the desire of either King ^dan, or of St. Columba, both of whom were then dead. The Bollandist Editor, Papebroke, supposes that Cummineus, Abbot of Hy, was a chief procurer of this visit. *' It seems to be inferred, also, from an epistle written to the monks of lona, in which Cummineus excuses himself from observing the Roman Pasch, and in opposition to their received custom. *^ When this question had been maturely
a was convoked in or " under the investigated, Synod MagJene, Whitefield,"
heights of Mount Marge, and near the Barrow banks. '" But, when it was proposed there to observe Easter for the future, after the prevailing practice of the Universal Church, a certain monk moved, that the consideration of this matter should be submitted to the Roman See. *^ St. Laserian defended, with great energy and success, the Roman method of Paschal computation, at this Synod ; and, its assembled fathers deputed him to proceed, as their delegate, to the Holy City. 9 The year thus indicated is computed to have been 630,5° when nearly the Universal Church celebrated Easter on the 24th ofMarch. TheBritonsandIrishwerethesoleexceptions. Theseobserved the Paschal festival, on the 21st of April, being entirely attached to St. Columba's practice, of adopting the Quartadeciman Cycle, which had caused the difference of nearly a month to intervene, between the respective rites. '"
During this, or the year following, St. Laserian is thought to have returned as Legate, and to have presided in that capacity over a Synod,'" convened at Leighlin. 53 In our saint's Acts, although we have an account, concerning the honours and dignities conferred on him by Pope Honorius, yet we find no mention made, about such an important Synod. '* Regarding this celebrated
*s His biography will be found, in Colgan's "Acta Sanctorum Hiberniae. " xxvi. Feb- ruarii. Vita S. Cuminei. His Life may be seen likewise, at the 24th of February.
*' " of the letter," In consequence Pope's
writes the Rev. James G. nffney, "a synod was at once convened at Old Leighlin, the
as seems by verbal discrepancies—from some less perfect copy of this celebrated Epistle, than the one used by Ussher.
"The Very Rev. Monsignor Moran's
" on the Doctrines and Dis- Essays Origin,
ciplineof the Early Irish Church," part iii. , chap, iii. , p. 141.
5° " Annus ille serae Christianae DCXXX.
