people,
mentioned
by Olaus, lib.
O'Hanlon - Lives of the Irish Saints - v2
Illustrations ber of her spiritual daughters contained in of Irish Topography, No.
xxxv.
, p.
274.
A Father Hugh Ward s " Dissertatio Historica spirited wood engraving of the Round de Patria S.
Rumoldi," sec.
10, p.
186.
Tower and Priory, from a sketch by F.
R.
Edited by Father Thomas O'Sheerin, O.
S.
F,
^*See
"
100
LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS.
[February i.
^ See Rev, S.
" Lives of the Saints," vol. ii. , February 1st, p. 17.
^ By Cogilosus.
Baring-Gould's
7"= Le Comte de Montalembert observes,
** "
^^ This concourse of devout women was
the
not confined to our saint's native province ; but, as has been remarked,'^^ persons of both sexes came in great numbers, from all the provmces of Ire-
land to her monastery. 70 To those strangers arriving on temporary visits, she was accustomed to exercise the most liberal hospitality ; especially to- wards church dignitaries and religious, who came to confer with her on matters of religious concern. Numbers of persons, in the higher walks of life, souglit her advice, and felt honoured by her notice. These individuals never applied for the favour of her prayers, without obtaining a compliance with their requests. Having, in due course of time laid foundations for a large monastery, she proceeded with the work of its erection ; in which un- dertaking, we may suppose, she met the willing co-operation and assistance of the Leinster king and neighbouring people, who loved and revered this noble virgin for her extraordinary virtues and merits. When completed, this
coenobium furnished accommodation to several pious females, living under
her rule. Afterwards, it became the parent nunnery of many houses, already established by her, and subsequently built throughout our island. 7^^ It would seem, that soon after the erection of her first monastery at Kildare, Crimthann, King of Leinster, died, and obtained the rites of sepulture in or near iu^
Numbers of infirm and poor flocked to Kildare, seeking relief from their various necessities ; and many anecdotes are related, regarding the charities ofSt. Brigid,especiallytowardsthisforlornclassofpersons. Withthecourse of time, several houses began to appear around her religious establishment, as it became necessary to provide for the necessities of those, who came from a distance, or, who were brought from more immediate districts, to assist at the pious exercises and public celebrations of her conventual institute. By degrees, from being merely a village, Kildare became a very considerable town; and,atlength,itshabitationsextendedinnumberandsize,sothatit ranked as a city, at a period somewhat later. 73 St. Brigid traced out a line of demarkation, likewise, around the city, within which boundary refuge was
tobeobtained,byanyfugitive; and,hisclaimtoprotectionwasconsequently allowed, by all those, who respected the ordinances and memory of their lUus-
that she was called Hibernice Doniina, as we find her styled in the Fifth Life (cap. iii. ) And in the Rythm of St. Columba, com-
enlarging
original buildings.
D'innombrables couvents de femmes font remont—er leur ongine a I'abbesse de Kil- dare. " "Les Moines d'Occident," tome ii. , liv. ix. , chap, i. , p. 463.
7' Such had been the reputation of St.
Brigid for eminent sanctity, that Abbot Jo-
annes de Bruxella or Mauburnus Livria-
cenis, in " Venatorio Canonicorum Regu-
larium," tells us, that a great number of
monasteries, and about thirteen thousand
nuns,flourished underthisholysuperior'srule.
So likewise, Benedictus Haeftenus cites this
auvhoriiy, "Disquisition. Monasticarum,"
lib. i. , tract 6. disqu. 3. Colgan thinks we dare so much frequented, that the many must here understand, that if our saint pre-
sided over so many nuns, she must have go- verned them, not in one house, but in dif-
buildings erected about the nunnery, during her life formed a town ; which in time be- came so considerable as to be the place
ferent monasteries, spread throughout Ire-
land, she being superior over all that ob-
served the Rule, which she is said to have book vii. , p. 321. written. Hence, it must have happened,
posed in praise of her, she is called Regina.
See
seu Epilogus Magnalium SanctK Brigida? ,
Trias Thaumaturga. " Anagraphse
sec. xlvii. , p. 639.
72
"
Trias
See Colgan's
Quarta Vita S. Brigidse.
ens sepultus est apud S. Brigidam in suo monasterio,"lib. ii. , cap. xii. ,p. 552- Such is the statement of the author—supposed to be Animosus—and he was well acquainted with the topography, history and traditions of Kildare.
73 " The reputation of her sanctity, and of her power of working miracles, made Kil-
o—f the Cathedral and of the Episcopal See. " "
Warner's History of Ireland,' vol. i. ^
"
Thaumaturga," Et ipse mori-
February i. ] LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS, loi
trious civic foundress. 7^ It is also remarked, that Kildare was the metropolitan see of Leinster, at two different periods. In the first instance, while St. Brigid lived, in that city ; yet, afterwards during the time of Brandiibh, King of Leinster, and about the year 578, the archiepiscopate is said to have been transferredtoFems. ^s Itisuncertain,whenithadbeenremovedfromthe latter place ; but, it is supposed to be sufficiently established as a fact, that its withdrawal from Ferns did not occur until after St. Moling's death,7^ in the year 696. 77 Again, it is assumed, that this dignity had been restored to
Kildare. before a. d. 1097, according to testimonies derived from our national
Annals. 78 It }^as been inferred,79 Hkewise, that the author of St. — Brigid's
Fourth Life must have flourished, while Kildare was a metropolitan see
not, however, at the first, but during the latter period. For, he adopts a common opinion, that the bodies of Saints Brigid, Columkille and Patrick were deposited in a common tomb, at Down, in Ulster. ^°
Soon did the people living around her convent begin to experience the protection afforded by Brigid's presence among them. On the eve of a
"
certain solemnity, while she lived in the
maiden, who appears to have been her proiei^e, brought an offering for her patroness. On presenting this gift, the maiden remarked, that she should be obliged to return home immediately, to take charge of her parents' house and flocks. Her father and mother desired to spend that holy vigil at Kil- dare. Theabbesstoldtheirdaughtertoremain,andthatherparentsshould come after her, while the Almighty would protect their temporal substance. According to St. Brigid's prediction, the maiden's parents followed her, and
^^
together all the family celebrated this festival.
taking advantage of their absence, came in the middle of the night and stole away their cattle. These they drove towards the Liffey. This river was found to have been so greatly swollen, that the water flowed over its banks. The robbers laboured in vain, during a great part of the night, to urge the terrified cattle through this flood. Then, taking off their garments, which with other effects they tied with cords to the horns of the cattle, those free-
74 See Cogitosus, xiv.
**
Vita S. Brigidas," cap.
Mac-an-tsaeir Ua Brolchain,a]earned doctor, Bishop of Kildare and of Leinster, died.
"
75 For such statements, Colgan refers to
Cogitosus, in his Prologue to the Life of St.
Brigid ; also to chap. 36 of the same Life ;
and to his own affixed notes 18 to Ussher See O'Donovan's " Annals of the Four
Masters," vol. ii. , pp. 954, 955, 988, 989. This latter appears to have been successor to the former in the see of Kildare ; for, in Ussher's " Veterum Epistolarum Hibemi- carum Sylloge," epist. 34, we find the name
in his
"
I, ; Primordia Ecclesiarum Britanni-
carura," cap. xvii,, p. 965 ; and to the author of St. Brigid's Fourth Life, lib. ii. ,
cap. 3.
7* It appears, from the Life of St. Moling,
whose festival occurs at the 17th of June, Ferdomnachus Episcopus Lageniensium that this saint had been constituted Arch- subscribed to an epistle, written by the
bishop of Leinster, in the see of Ferns, by Brandubh, son of Eathach, King of Leinster. 77 According to the "Annals of the Four
Masters," St. Maedhog, first bishop of Ferns, died a. d. 624 ; St. Dachu Luachra, Abbot of Ferns, died A. D. 652; Tuenog, Abbot of Ferns, died 662 ; Maeldoghar, Bishop of Ferns, died 676 ; Diraith, Bishop of Ferns, died 690 ; and St. Moling Luachra, Bishop of Ferns, died 696. See O'Dono- van's Edition, vol. i. , pp. 246 to 249, 264, 265, 272, 273, 284, 285, 294, 295, 298, 299.
^^ At 1097, we read, that Maelbrighde
people of Waterford to Anslem, Archbishop of Canterbury. See pp. 91 to 93.
7' By Colgan.
^° See Colgan's "Trias Thaumaturga. " Vita Quarta S. Brigidse, lib. ii. , cap. xxx. , xcix. , pp. 554, 562, 563, and nn. 13, 14, pp. 565, . 566, ibid.
Cell of the Oak,"^' a certain young
However, certain thieves,
Feardom- hnach, the most distinguished of the senior
And, at the year mo, departed
jurisconsults, [and] lector of Cill-dara. "
^'
This is the English nomenclature of the
Latinized Kildaria, and Cill Dara, in Irish.
C^o// or A7// signifies "a cell," and Dara,
"the oak," or its genitive case "of the oak. "
8=^
See Rev. S. Baring-Gould's "Lives of the Saints," vol. ii. , February 1st, p. 19.
loa LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. [February i,
booters intended to swim across the river, when the animals should be urged into its waters. The cattle directed their course towards St. Brigid's monastery, instead of that place, whither it had been intended to drive them. ^3 The robbers followed after hoping to secure their prey. To the great confusion of these thieves, at day-break their guilt was manifested to many, who knew them personally. They made an humble confession of their sins, however, in Kildare, at the instance of St. Brigid. ^^ The owners of the herd drove their cattle homewards, and thus, according to our saint's prophecy, their substance was preserved ; while both the perpetrators of and sufferers from an intended injury acknowledged the interposition of Divine Providence, in such a remarkable incident. ^s
Again, on the eve of a festival, a girl brought alms to St. Brigid. De- livering her gift, she said, it would be necessary to return towards her home,
as her foster-father, an old and a paralytic man, had been left alone, nor had he any person to care the house or milk his cows. Brigid counselled her to remain there, however, for that night. Her visitor did so, and returned home on the following day, after having received Holy Eucharist. The cows and calves were found feeding apart in the fields, nor did the former seem to suffer in the least degree, as a consequence of their not having been milked. The old man acknowledged, likewise, that during the night his foster-daughter dwelt with our saint, the cattle continued to feed on their pasturage, while he remained awake the whole time since her departure. ^*^ This did not seem to extend beyond the interval of a single hour. It was
a mystery, only known to the Almighty, who had thus miraculously disposed the result. ^7
On a particular day, certain insolent and idle ruffians approached our
a particular person. These miscreants asked—it is probable in mockery— a blessing from Brigid, and she, in her turn, requested them to put away their emblems. This, however, they refused to do. Seeing the form of badge adopted,ourpiousabbesswasshocked; nevertheless,shemarkedthemwith a sign of the cross, not for the purpose of blessing them, but to counteract those designs entertained against their fellow-creatures. The rufhans de- parted with their brutal instincts aroused. Finding a poor man on their
way, they attacked, murdered, and afterwards, as they thought, beheaded him. However, this turned out to be their phantasy, for that man escaped unhurt and through the midst of his enemies until he reached his own house. After a close investigation, these persecutors found neither his head, nor body, nor any traces of blood. Wherefore they said to each other " A
saint. Wearing diabolical badges on their heads, they intended the death of
'3 This account is contained in Professor
O'Looney's Irish Life of St. Brigid, pp. 27, 28.
:
Vita S. Brigidse, sec. 27, p. 516. Secunda Vita S. Brigidae, cap. xvii. , p. 520, ibid,
^^ When relating this occurrence, in his usual manner, Abbate D. Giacomo Certani stantially detailed in Abbate D. Giacomo compares the paralytic to those Northern
^* The foregoing narrative is very circum-
Certani's " La Santiti Prodigiosa. Vita di S. Brigida Ibernese. " Libro Quarto, pp.
people, mentioned by Olaus, lib. ii. , cap. 14, and whose eyes are accommodated to see throughout the night. See " La Santit^ Prodigiosa. Vita di S. Brigida Ibernese. " Libro Quarto, pp. 279, 280.
^7 See Colgan's "Trias Thaumaturga. " Quarta Vita S. Brigidae, lib. ii. , cap. v. , p. 551. Also, Vita Tertia S. Brigidae, cap. xlviii. , p. 552, ibid. In the Metrical Life, we are told, tnat the sun seemed to shine without cessation, during the whole time of
27s to 279.
®s See Colgan's "Trias Thaumaturga.
"
Vita Quarta S. Brigidae, lib. ii. , cap. iv. ,
PP- 550. 551- Vita Tertia S. Brigidae, . cap.
xlvii. , pp. 531, 532, ibid. Sexta Vita S.
Brigidae, sect, xxxvi. , p. 589, ibid. It is
likely enough, from the similarity of most
circumstances narrated, that the foregoing
narrative is only a different version of what
is related in our saint's acts, by the authors this girl's absence from home. See Sexta
of her First and Second Lives. See Prima Vita S. Brigidae, sect, xxxvii. , p. 590.
February i. ] LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS, 103
miracle hath taken place, through the providence of God, and St. Brigid's merits, for we have not killed this man, although the contrary seemed to be the case. " For a long time, the celebrity of this circumstance was noised about through that part of the country. Those vagabonds afterwards laid aside their emblems, and united in praising the Almighty, while magnifying St. Brigid's extraordinary prerogatives. ^^ The foregoing events, as related,^? apparently occurred before St. Brigid took her journey into Munster with Bishop Ere of Slane ;9o and therefore, we may deem it sufficiently probable, she had been living at Kildare, antecedent to this excursion.
The social relations of men were often disturbed by violence and treachery
at that early period. A chieftain, who lived in the plain of the Liffey, came
towards our saint, asking her blessing. This the holy virgin specially be- stowed on him. With great joy, the chief returned to his castle. But during the night, a daring and hostile man entered the fort, while its occupants wereasleep. Takingalightfromits candlestick,9^hesoughttheslumbering chieftain. He was found with a sword, laid on the pillow, beside him. Seizing this sword of the chieftain, his enemy plunged it with great force three several times, as he thought, into the owner's heart, and afterwards he fled. The castle inmates aroused soon discovered what had taken place. They sent forth loud cries and lamentations, supposing their chief had been slain. The latter, however, seemed to awaken as it were from sleep, and it was found the wound he received was not of a dangerous character. He
"
consoled his friends by saying :
Cease your lamentations, for St. Brigid's
blessing, which I obtained to-day, hath preserved me from this great danger. " The chieftain, to manifest his gratitude for that miraculous escape, visited St.
Brigid. thanking her and offering her valuable presents, on the following day. Our saint established peace, afterwards, between the chief and that enemy, who sought his life, as also among their posterity. This too was continued for an indefinite period. 92 Thus her mediation, through God's blessing, was both effective and lasting. Can we doubt, therefore, as her protection over her people was so powerful on earth, that it will be less exercised in heaven, on behalf of those, who devoutly invoke her vigilant advocacy ? Too fre- quently, alas ! do we forget the powerful assistance our great national saints can render us before the throne of God.
^* See Colgan's "Trias Thaumaturga. " Vita Quarta S. Brigidse, lib. ii. , cap. xl. , p. 556. From the manner in which this same occurrence is related, in our saint's Third Life, it would seem, that these dia- bolical emblems subjected the bearers to certain unchristian engagements or incanta- tions. The signs, borne by those vagrants,
in all probability, represented obscene or monstrous figures, typifying certain hea-
and died A. D. $14. "—Sir William Robert Wilde's "Beauties of the Boyne, and its Tributary, the Blackwater," chap, vii. , p.
175.
9' In these, and like incidental notices,
we have some idea given regarding the do-
mestic economy of our ancestors, at least, at the period, in which those documents relat-
ing to ancient usages were composed,
^2 See Colgan's "Trias Thaumaturga. "
thenish superstitions. See Vita Tertia S. Vita Quarta S. Brigidse, lib. ii. , cap. xli. ,
Brigidae, cap. Ixix. , and n. 41, pp. 535, 544, ibid. I rather think this is the miracle al- luded to, in St. Brigid's First Life, section xxxiii. , and in her Second Life, cap. xxiii. Colgan refers these latter accounts to the performance of a miracle, somewhat similar . in details.
^9 In the Third and Fourth Lives of the saint.
90 Ere "was consecrated hj St. Patrick,
p, 556. Our saint's Third Life states, that
thechief was accompanied bysome women—
—and a re- tinue, when he visited St. Brigid. It would seem, that the castle in which he slept was not his own, as it is said to have been situ- ated on the road to his own domicile. See
probably members of his family
Vita Tertia S. ibid.
Brigidae, cap. Ixx. , p. 535,
104 LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. [February i.
CHAPTER VII.
ST. BRIGID'S intimacy with ST. PATRICK—ARMAGH—FOUNDATION OF ST. BRIGID THERE—HER MIRACLES—VISION REGARDING ST. PATRICK'S LAST RESTING-PLACE— HER SPIRIT OF SUBLIME RECOLLECTION AND HER GREAT CHARITY—SHE DESIRES THE INTRODUCTION OF THE ROMAN RITE FOR IRELAND.
Although some doubts have been expressed, that St. Brigid could have taken a very distinguished part in Irish Church affairs, during the Hfetime of
our venerable Apostle ; yet, to us, it seems perfectly reconcileable, not only with our early narratives, but with received chronology, that the glorious daughter of Erin might have had interviews with her illustrious director, both before and after the time of her foundation at Kildare. To determine ex- actly dates for the following written incidents is, however, a matter of great difficulty. We must endeavour conjecturally to place them in their order of
occurrence, so far as probabilities will allow us to continue. Perhaps, the
arrangement, with better lights of view, might admit of various alterations
or adaptations. After certain miraculous occurrences, related in her acts,
took place—the date or locality unnoted—it is said our saint went towards
the northern of Ireland, accompanied St. Patrick. ' On a certain part by
day, while the great Irish Apostle in the plain of Lemhuin^ preached God's holy word from a hilP to the people there, at a place called Einnabhair,'^ or
"the- white field," St. Brigid slept. She was probably very young at this time. After his sermon had been concluded,5 St. Patrick asked her why she had fallen asleep while the sacred word of God was announced. ^ Then the
" O father, for- give me ; O most pious Lord, spare me, for during this hour, I have had a vision. " The illustrious missionary desired her to tell what she had seen.
"
I, your servant, have beheld four ploughs, ploughing the whole of Ireland, while sowers were scattering seed. 7 This latter immediately sprung up and began to ripen, when rivulets of fresh milk filled the furrows, while the sowers themselves were clothed in white garments. After this, I saw others plough, and those who ploughed
appeared black. ^ They destroyed, with their plough-shares, the growing
'
Chapter vii. — See Colgan's "Trias 150, and n. 11, p. 184.
humble virgin, on her knees, asked his pardon. She said
:
Whereupon, the devout virgin announced :
"
Thaumaturga, Tertia Vita S. Brigidae,
cap. Ivii. , p. 533. Quarta Vita S. Brigidae, lib. ii. , cap. xxvii. , pp. 553, 554.
"The fort of Augher and the village of
s The Acts of St. Patrick relate, that this sermon lasted three days and three nights, at the hill of Finnabhair at Lemhuin. It was in the county of Tyrone and d. ocese of Clogher. The River Blackwater ran through it. Finnabhair is now corrui)tly called Fin-
Ballygawley are in it. Clogher lay on its
western and the church of Errigle-Keeroge
on its northern boundary. Its other name, dermore, a townland in the parish and ba-
'*
Clossach, is frequently mentioned in O'Mel- rony of Clogher. See
lan's Irish "Journal of the Wars of 1641 ;" Townland Maps for the County of Tyrone,"
"
in Colton's Visitation," p. 126 ; in the Sheets 58, 64.
••Book of Rights," p. 152 ; in the "Irish ^ To Brigid, it is said, the time of the
Topographical Poems" of O'Dugan and sermon did not seem to be more than one
O'Huidhrin, p. xxi. , n. (119). See Miss hour. "
M. F. Cusack's Life of St. Patrick, 7 In the Sixth Metrical Life of St. Brigid, Apostle of Ireland," p. 451, n. 2. it is stated, the white sowers came from the
3 So the Seventh Life of St. Patrick East,
states. *See
In her Sixth Metrical Life, in Colgan's
"Trias
Joceline's or Sexta Vita S. Patricii, cap.
Trias— St. is made Thaumaturga," Brigid
Colgan's
Thaumaturga,"
to say xcvi. ,pp. 86,87,andn. 105,p. 113. This ,, ^. . , ^
place was situated in the ancient territory of Liemania, sometimes called Magh-Lemna,
or Clossach, by others. See ibid.
^*See
"
100
LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS.
[February i.
^ See Rev, S.
" Lives of the Saints," vol. ii. , February 1st, p. 17.
^ By Cogilosus.
Baring-Gould's
7"= Le Comte de Montalembert observes,
** "
^^ This concourse of devout women was
the
not confined to our saint's native province ; but, as has been remarked,'^^ persons of both sexes came in great numbers, from all the provmces of Ire-
land to her monastery. 70 To those strangers arriving on temporary visits, she was accustomed to exercise the most liberal hospitality ; especially to- wards church dignitaries and religious, who came to confer with her on matters of religious concern. Numbers of persons, in the higher walks of life, souglit her advice, and felt honoured by her notice. These individuals never applied for the favour of her prayers, without obtaining a compliance with their requests. Having, in due course of time laid foundations for a large monastery, she proceeded with the work of its erection ; in which un- dertaking, we may suppose, she met the willing co-operation and assistance of the Leinster king and neighbouring people, who loved and revered this noble virgin for her extraordinary virtues and merits. When completed, this
coenobium furnished accommodation to several pious females, living under
her rule. Afterwards, it became the parent nunnery of many houses, already established by her, and subsequently built throughout our island. 7^^ It would seem, that soon after the erection of her first monastery at Kildare, Crimthann, King of Leinster, died, and obtained the rites of sepulture in or near iu^
Numbers of infirm and poor flocked to Kildare, seeking relief from their various necessities ; and many anecdotes are related, regarding the charities ofSt. Brigid,especiallytowardsthisforlornclassofpersons. Withthecourse of time, several houses began to appear around her religious establishment, as it became necessary to provide for the necessities of those, who came from a distance, or, who were brought from more immediate districts, to assist at the pious exercises and public celebrations of her conventual institute. By degrees, from being merely a village, Kildare became a very considerable town; and,atlength,itshabitationsextendedinnumberandsize,sothatit ranked as a city, at a period somewhat later. 73 St. Brigid traced out a line of demarkation, likewise, around the city, within which boundary refuge was
tobeobtained,byanyfugitive; and,hisclaimtoprotectionwasconsequently allowed, by all those, who respected the ordinances and memory of their lUus-
that she was called Hibernice Doniina, as we find her styled in the Fifth Life (cap. iii. ) And in the Rythm of St. Columba, com-
enlarging
original buildings.
D'innombrables couvents de femmes font remont—er leur ongine a I'abbesse de Kil- dare. " "Les Moines d'Occident," tome ii. , liv. ix. , chap, i. , p. 463.
7' Such had been the reputation of St.
Brigid for eminent sanctity, that Abbot Jo-
annes de Bruxella or Mauburnus Livria-
cenis, in " Venatorio Canonicorum Regu-
larium," tells us, that a great number of
monasteries, and about thirteen thousand
nuns,flourished underthisholysuperior'srule.
So likewise, Benedictus Haeftenus cites this
auvhoriiy, "Disquisition. Monasticarum,"
lib. i. , tract 6. disqu. 3. Colgan thinks we dare so much frequented, that the many must here understand, that if our saint pre-
sided over so many nuns, she must have go- verned them, not in one house, but in dif-
buildings erected about the nunnery, during her life formed a town ; which in time be- came so considerable as to be the place
ferent monasteries, spread throughout Ire-
land, she being superior over all that ob-
served the Rule, which she is said to have book vii. , p. 321. written. Hence, it must have happened,
posed in praise of her, she is called Regina.
See
seu Epilogus Magnalium SanctK Brigida? ,
Trias Thaumaturga. " Anagraphse
sec. xlvii. , p. 639.
72
"
Trias
See Colgan's
Quarta Vita S. Brigidse.
ens sepultus est apud S. Brigidam in suo monasterio,"lib. ii. , cap. xii. ,p. 552- Such is the statement of the author—supposed to be Animosus—and he was well acquainted with the topography, history and traditions of Kildare.
73 " The reputation of her sanctity, and of her power of working miracles, made Kil-
o—f the Cathedral and of the Episcopal See. " "
Warner's History of Ireland,' vol. i. ^
"
Thaumaturga," Et ipse mori-
February i. ] LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS, loi
trious civic foundress. 7^ It is also remarked, that Kildare was the metropolitan see of Leinster, at two different periods. In the first instance, while St. Brigid lived, in that city ; yet, afterwards during the time of Brandiibh, King of Leinster, and about the year 578, the archiepiscopate is said to have been transferredtoFems. ^s Itisuncertain,whenithadbeenremovedfromthe latter place ; but, it is supposed to be sufficiently established as a fact, that its withdrawal from Ferns did not occur until after St. Moling's death,7^ in the year 696. 77 Again, it is assumed, that this dignity had been restored to
Kildare. before a. d. 1097, according to testimonies derived from our national
Annals. 78 It }^as been inferred,79 Hkewise, that the author of St. — Brigid's
Fourth Life must have flourished, while Kildare was a metropolitan see
not, however, at the first, but during the latter period. For, he adopts a common opinion, that the bodies of Saints Brigid, Columkille and Patrick were deposited in a common tomb, at Down, in Ulster. ^°
Soon did the people living around her convent begin to experience the protection afforded by Brigid's presence among them. On the eve of a
"
certain solemnity, while she lived in the
maiden, who appears to have been her proiei^e, brought an offering for her patroness. On presenting this gift, the maiden remarked, that she should be obliged to return home immediately, to take charge of her parents' house and flocks. Her father and mother desired to spend that holy vigil at Kil- dare. Theabbesstoldtheirdaughtertoremain,andthatherparentsshould come after her, while the Almighty would protect their temporal substance. According to St. Brigid's prediction, the maiden's parents followed her, and
^^
together all the family celebrated this festival.
taking advantage of their absence, came in the middle of the night and stole away their cattle. These they drove towards the Liffey. This river was found to have been so greatly swollen, that the water flowed over its banks. The robbers laboured in vain, during a great part of the night, to urge the terrified cattle through this flood. Then, taking off their garments, which with other effects they tied with cords to the horns of the cattle, those free-
74 See Cogitosus, xiv.
**
Vita S. Brigidas," cap.
Mac-an-tsaeir Ua Brolchain,a]earned doctor, Bishop of Kildare and of Leinster, died.
"
75 For such statements, Colgan refers to
Cogitosus, in his Prologue to the Life of St.
Brigid ; also to chap. 36 of the same Life ;
and to his own affixed notes 18 to Ussher See O'Donovan's " Annals of the Four
Masters," vol. ii. , pp. 954, 955, 988, 989. This latter appears to have been successor to the former in the see of Kildare ; for, in Ussher's " Veterum Epistolarum Hibemi- carum Sylloge," epist. 34, we find the name
in his
"
I, ; Primordia Ecclesiarum Britanni-
carura," cap. xvii,, p. 965 ; and to the author of St. Brigid's Fourth Life, lib. ii. ,
cap. 3.
7* It appears, from the Life of St. Moling,
whose festival occurs at the 17th of June, Ferdomnachus Episcopus Lageniensium that this saint had been constituted Arch- subscribed to an epistle, written by the
bishop of Leinster, in the see of Ferns, by Brandubh, son of Eathach, King of Leinster. 77 According to the "Annals of the Four
Masters," St. Maedhog, first bishop of Ferns, died a. d. 624 ; St. Dachu Luachra, Abbot of Ferns, died A. D. 652; Tuenog, Abbot of Ferns, died 662 ; Maeldoghar, Bishop of Ferns, died 676 ; Diraith, Bishop of Ferns, died 690 ; and St. Moling Luachra, Bishop of Ferns, died 696. See O'Dono- van's Edition, vol. i. , pp. 246 to 249, 264, 265, 272, 273, 284, 285, 294, 295, 298, 299.
^^ At 1097, we read, that Maelbrighde
people of Waterford to Anslem, Archbishop of Canterbury. See pp. 91 to 93.
7' By Colgan.
^° See Colgan's "Trias Thaumaturga. " Vita Quarta S. Brigidse, lib. ii. , cap. xxx. , xcix. , pp. 554, 562, 563, and nn. 13, 14, pp. 565, . 566, ibid.
Cell of the Oak,"^' a certain young
However, certain thieves,
Feardom- hnach, the most distinguished of the senior
And, at the year mo, departed
jurisconsults, [and] lector of Cill-dara. "
^'
This is the English nomenclature of the
Latinized Kildaria, and Cill Dara, in Irish.
C^o// or A7// signifies "a cell," and Dara,
"the oak," or its genitive case "of the oak. "
8=^
See Rev. S. Baring-Gould's "Lives of the Saints," vol. ii. , February 1st, p. 19.
loa LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. [February i,
booters intended to swim across the river, when the animals should be urged into its waters. The cattle directed their course towards St. Brigid's monastery, instead of that place, whither it had been intended to drive them. ^3 The robbers followed after hoping to secure their prey. To the great confusion of these thieves, at day-break their guilt was manifested to many, who knew them personally. They made an humble confession of their sins, however, in Kildare, at the instance of St. Brigid. ^^ The owners of the herd drove their cattle homewards, and thus, according to our saint's prophecy, their substance was preserved ; while both the perpetrators of and sufferers from an intended injury acknowledged the interposition of Divine Providence, in such a remarkable incident. ^s
Again, on the eve of a festival, a girl brought alms to St. Brigid. De- livering her gift, she said, it would be necessary to return towards her home,
as her foster-father, an old and a paralytic man, had been left alone, nor had he any person to care the house or milk his cows. Brigid counselled her to remain there, however, for that night. Her visitor did so, and returned home on the following day, after having received Holy Eucharist. The cows and calves were found feeding apart in the fields, nor did the former seem to suffer in the least degree, as a consequence of their not having been milked. The old man acknowledged, likewise, that during the night his foster-daughter dwelt with our saint, the cattle continued to feed on their pasturage, while he remained awake the whole time since her departure. ^*^ This did not seem to extend beyond the interval of a single hour. It was
a mystery, only known to the Almighty, who had thus miraculously disposed the result. ^7
On a particular day, certain insolent and idle ruffians approached our
a particular person. These miscreants asked—it is probable in mockery— a blessing from Brigid, and she, in her turn, requested them to put away their emblems. This, however, they refused to do. Seeing the form of badge adopted,ourpiousabbesswasshocked; nevertheless,shemarkedthemwith a sign of the cross, not for the purpose of blessing them, but to counteract those designs entertained against their fellow-creatures. The rufhans de- parted with their brutal instincts aroused. Finding a poor man on their
way, they attacked, murdered, and afterwards, as they thought, beheaded him. However, this turned out to be their phantasy, for that man escaped unhurt and through the midst of his enemies until he reached his own house. After a close investigation, these persecutors found neither his head, nor body, nor any traces of blood. Wherefore they said to each other " A
saint. Wearing diabolical badges on their heads, they intended the death of
'3 This account is contained in Professor
O'Looney's Irish Life of St. Brigid, pp. 27, 28.
:
Vita S. Brigidse, sec. 27, p. 516. Secunda Vita S. Brigidae, cap. xvii. , p. 520, ibid,
^^ When relating this occurrence, in his usual manner, Abbate D. Giacomo Certani stantially detailed in Abbate D. Giacomo compares the paralytic to those Northern
^* The foregoing narrative is very circum-
Certani's " La Santiti Prodigiosa. Vita di S. Brigida Ibernese. " Libro Quarto, pp.
people, mentioned by Olaus, lib. ii. , cap. 14, and whose eyes are accommodated to see throughout the night. See " La Santit^ Prodigiosa. Vita di S. Brigida Ibernese. " Libro Quarto, pp. 279, 280.
^7 See Colgan's "Trias Thaumaturga. " Quarta Vita S. Brigidae, lib. ii. , cap. v. , p. 551. Also, Vita Tertia S. Brigidae, cap. xlviii. , p. 552, ibid. In the Metrical Life, we are told, tnat the sun seemed to shine without cessation, during the whole time of
27s to 279.
®s See Colgan's "Trias Thaumaturga.
"
Vita Quarta S. Brigidae, lib. ii. , cap. iv. ,
PP- 550. 551- Vita Tertia S. Brigidae, . cap.
xlvii. , pp. 531, 532, ibid. Sexta Vita S.
Brigidae, sect, xxxvi. , p. 589, ibid. It is
likely enough, from the similarity of most
circumstances narrated, that the foregoing
narrative is only a different version of what
is related in our saint's acts, by the authors this girl's absence from home. See Sexta
of her First and Second Lives. See Prima Vita S. Brigidae, sect, xxxvii. , p. 590.
February i. ] LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS, 103
miracle hath taken place, through the providence of God, and St. Brigid's merits, for we have not killed this man, although the contrary seemed to be the case. " For a long time, the celebrity of this circumstance was noised about through that part of the country. Those vagabonds afterwards laid aside their emblems, and united in praising the Almighty, while magnifying St. Brigid's extraordinary prerogatives. ^^ The foregoing events, as related,^? apparently occurred before St. Brigid took her journey into Munster with Bishop Ere of Slane ;9o and therefore, we may deem it sufficiently probable, she had been living at Kildare, antecedent to this excursion.
The social relations of men were often disturbed by violence and treachery
at that early period. A chieftain, who lived in the plain of the Liffey, came
towards our saint, asking her blessing. This the holy virgin specially be- stowed on him. With great joy, the chief returned to his castle. But during the night, a daring and hostile man entered the fort, while its occupants wereasleep. Takingalightfromits candlestick,9^hesoughttheslumbering chieftain. He was found with a sword, laid on the pillow, beside him. Seizing this sword of the chieftain, his enemy plunged it with great force three several times, as he thought, into the owner's heart, and afterwards he fled. The castle inmates aroused soon discovered what had taken place. They sent forth loud cries and lamentations, supposing their chief had been slain. The latter, however, seemed to awaken as it were from sleep, and it was found the wound he received was not of a dangerous character. He
"
consoled his friends by saying :
Cease your lamentations, for St. Brigid's
blessing, which I obtained to-day, hath preserved me from this great danger. " The chieftain, to manifest his gratitude for that miraculous escape, visited St.
Brigid. thanking her and offering her valuable presents, on the following day. Our saint established peace, afterwards, between the chief and that enemy, who sought his life, as also among their posterity. This too was continued for an indefinite period. 92 Thus her mediation, through God's blessing, was both effective and lasting. Can we doubt, therefore, as her protection over her people was so powerful on earth, that it will be less exercised in heaven, on behalf of those, who devoutly invoke her vigilant advocacy ? Too fre- quently, alas ! do we forget the powerful assistance our great national saints can render us before the throne of God.
^* See Colgan's "Trias Thaumaturga. " Vita Quarta S. Brigidse, lib. ii. , cap. xl. , p. 556. From the manner in which this same occurrence is related, in our saint's Third Life, it would seem, that these dia- bolical emblems subjected the bearers to certain unchristian engagements or incanta- tions. The signs, borne by those vagrants,
in all probability, represented obscene or monstrous figures, typifying certain hea-
and died A. D. $14. "—Sir William Robert Wilde's "Beauties of the Boyne, and its Tributary, the Blackwater," chap, vii. , p.
175.
9' In these, and like incidental notices,
we have some idea given regarding the do-
mestic economy of our ancestors, at least, at the period, in which those documents relat-
ing to ancient usages were composed,
^2 See Colgan's "Trias Thaumaturga. "
thenish superstitions. See Vita Tertia S. Vita Quarta S. Brigidse, lib. ii. , cap. xli. ,
Brigidae, cap. Ixix. , and n. 41, pp. 535, 544, ibid. I rather think this is the miracle al- luded to, in St. Brigid's First Life, section xxxiii. , and in her Second Life, cap. xxiii. Colgan refers these latter accounts to the performance of a miracle, somewhat similar . in details.
^9 In the Third and Fourth Lives of the saint.
90 Ere "was consecrated hj St. Patrick,
p, 556. Our saint's Third Life states, that
thechief was accompanied bysome women—
—and a re- tinue, when he visited St. Brigid. It would seem, that the castle in which he slept was not his own, as it is said to have been situ- ated on the road to his own domicile. See
probably members of his family
Vita Tertia S. ibid.
Brigidae, cap. Ixx. , p. 535,
104 LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. [February i.
CHAPTER VII.
ST. BRIGID'S intimacy with ST. PATRICK—ARMAGH—FOUNDATION OF ST. BRIGID THERE—HER MIRACLES—VISION REGARDING ST. PATRICK'S LAST RESTING-PLACE— HER SPIRIT OF SUBLIME RECOLLECTION AND HER GREAT CHARITY—SHE DESIRES THE INTRODUCTION OF THE ROMAN RITE FOR IRELAND.
Although some doubts have been expressed, that St. Brigid could have taken a very distinguished part in Irish Church affairs, during the Hfetime of
our venerable Apostle ; yet, to us, it seems perfectly reconcileable, not only with our early narratives, but with received chronology, that the glorious daughter of Erin might have had interviews with her illustrious director, both before and after the time of her foundation at Kildare. To determine ex- actly dates for the following written incidents is, however, a matter of great difficulty. We must endeavour conjecturally to place them in their order of
occurrence, so far as probabilities will allow us to continue. Perhaps, the
arrangement, with better lights of view, might admit of various alterations
or adaptations. After certain miraculous occurrences, related in her acts,
took place—the date or locality unnoted—it is said our saint went towards
the northern of Ireland, accompanied St. Patrick. ' On a certain part by
day, while the great Irish Apostle in the plain of Lemhuin^ preached God's holy word from a hilP to the people there, at a place called Einnabhair,'^ or
"the- white field," St. Brigid slept. She was probably very young at this time. After his sermon had been concluded,5 St. Patrick asked her why she had fallen asleep while the sacred word of God was announced. ^ Then the
" O father, for- give me ; O most pious Lord, spare me, for during this hour, I have had a vision. " The illustrious missionary desired her to tell what she had seen.
"
I, your servant, have beheld four ploughs, ploughing the whole of Ireland, while sowers were scattering seed. 7 This latter immediately sprung up and began to ripen, when rivulets of fresh milk filled the furrows, while the sowers themselves were clothed in white garments. After this, I saw others plough, and those who ploughed
appeared black. ^ They destroyed, with their plough-shares, the growing
'
Chapter vii. — See Colgan's "Trias 150, and n. 11, p. 184.
humble virgin, on her knees, asked his pardon. She said
:
Whereupon, the devout virgin announced :
"
Thaumaturga, Tertia Vita S. Brigidae,
cap. Ivii. , p. 533. Quarta Vita S. Brigidae, lib. ii. , cap. xxvii. , pp. 553, 554.
"The fort of Augher and the village of
s The Acts of St. Patrick relate, that this sermon lasted three days and three nights, at the hill of Finnabhair at Lemhuin. It was in the county of Tyrone and d. ocese of Clogher. The River Blackwater ran through it. Finnabhair is now corrui)tly called Fin-
Ballygawley are in it. Clogher lay on its
western and the church of Errigle-Keeroge
on its northern boundary. Its other name, dermore, a townland in the parish and ba-
'*
Clossach, is frequently mentioned in O'Mel- rony of Clogher. See
lan's Irish "Journal of the Wars of 1641 ;" Townland Maps for the County of Tyrone,"
"
in Colton's Visitation," p. 126 ; in the Sheets 58, 64.
••Book of Rights," p. 152 ; in the "Irish ^ To Brigid, it is said, the time of the
Topographical Poems" of O'Dugan and sermon did not seem to be more than one
O'Huidhrin, p. xxi. , n. (119). See Miss hour. "
M. F. Cusack's Life of St. Patrick, 7 In the Sixth Metrical Life of St. Brigid, Apostle of Ireland," p. 451, n. 2. it is stated, the white sowers came from the
3 So the Seventh Life of St. Patrick East,
states. *See
In her Sixth Metrical Life, in Colgan's
"Trias
Joceline's or Sexta Vita S. Patricii, cap.
Trias— St. is made Thaumaturga," Brigid
Colgan's
Thaumaturga,"
to say xcvi. ,pp. 86,87,andn. 105,p. 113. This ,, ^. . , ^
place was situated in the ancient territory of Liemania, sometimes called Magh-Lemna,
or Clossach, by others. See ibid.
