This probably gave rise to the Padie 88 Fair, which is still
commemorated
in that neighbourhood,
8
and on the same day.
8
and on the same day.
O'Hanlon - Lives of the Irish Saints - v7
, n.
151, p.
200.
J° See Colgan's "Trias Thaumaturga,"
5<s See " Britannicarum Ecclesiarum And-
s' others,
$* The Irish form of this name was
and
Gherginn.
53 In Rev. Dr. J. F. S. Gordon's " Sco-
tichronicon," an engraving of it is intro- duced. See vol. i. , p. 40.
July 6. ] LIVES OE THE IRISH SAINTS. 77
St. Patrick's mission among the Irish to the early part of 432. According to
8 it should be incorrect to assign the death of Palladius to a. d. 431, which is supposed to have been that in which he left Rome, for his Irish mission. It would seem, however, to have taken place, not earlier than
c
a. d. 432 ; and, most probably, according to some, 9 it ought to be placed at
some later year. The mission of Palladius to the Scots believing in Christ
has been deferred to a. d. 433, by Matthew of Westminster,60 and by Matthew
of Paris l in which date, it may be assumed, his death should be f adopting
referred to a later year. About the year 450 is another period, to which it
2
has been assigned f but, it is not probable, that Palladius lived on to the
6 year last-mentioned. 3
To the 27th of January,64 a. d. 432, some writers have ascribed the death of Palladius. 6s The English Martyrology and Ferrarius notice a festival for him, at that date ; and which is the one, said to have found most favour with Irish Calendarists. 66 Yet, his chief feast was held on this day, the 6th of July, according to the Breviary of Aberdeen and several of the Scottish Calendars, such as in those of Arbuthnott,6? the Aberdeen Kalendar,68 and
Rev. Dr.
Lanigan,*
Martyrology,
King's Kalendar,7°
Dempster's Menologium
e9 Adam 12
Thomas
Scoticum,? Camerarius,? as also in the Scottish Kalendar of 1637. 73 At this
date, most writers of saints' Acts, have noticed the chief incidents of his life.
Among these may be quoted, Dean Cressy,74 Bishop Challenor,75 Rev. Alban
Butler,76 Rev. Dr. LanigatV7 Rev. P. J. Carew,78 Rev. M. J. Brenan, O. S. F. ,79
80 81 —and Les Petits Bollandistes.
Other festivals —
have been named
83
R. Chambers,
for his death viz. : December 15th, as also the 25th by the English
Index
57 This is the year in which he died, ac-
63 Thus, at Pridie Non. " Palladii — Epis-
copi Confessoris Apostoli Scotorum. "
quitates,"
Chronologicus, p. 516.
cording to Harris' Ware, vol. i. , "Arch- Ibid. , p. 118. 69 «
bishopsofArmagh,"p. 10. Thus "
Pridie N.
58 See Ecclesiastical History of Ire- Sancti Palladii Scotorum Apostoli," &c.
land," vol. i. , chap, i. , sect, xvi. , p. 39, and n. 149, pp. 44, 45 ; also chap, iv. , sect, xviii. , p. 198, and nn. 151, 153, pp. 200 to 202.
59 Among these is Tillemont, Le Sieur Le Nain, who discusses this matter in "Me- moirs pour servir a l'Histoire Ecclesiastique," tome xvi. , p. 784.
60
See "Flores Historiarum," p. 148. 61 "
:
Ibid. , 133.
70Thus "S. PadieorPalladiusapostile
:
of Scotland send be Pape —ccelestine ye first
Anglia grassante, tutaretur. K. B. B. T. "
See Chronica Majora," edited by Ibid. , p. 205.
"
Henry Richards Luard, M. A. , vol. i. , p. 181.
62 See Rev. Alban Butler's " Lives of the
6 Die. Sanctus Palladius EpiscopusetScotorumvelutApostolusmis- sus a —Ccelestino Romano Pontifice in Sco-
tiam. " Ibid. , p. 238.
—73 Thus : "6 e Prid. No. Palladius. " II|
Ibid. , p. 253.
74 See "Church History of Brittany," book ix. , chap, iii. , pp. 172 to 174.
75 See "A Memorial of British Piety,"
"
Lives of the Fathers, Martyrs and other principal Saints," vol. vii. , July vi.
77 See "Ecclesiastical History of Ire- land," vol. i. , chap, i. , sects, xv. , xvi. , pp. 33 to 47-
78 See " Ecclesiastical History of Ire-
land," chap, ii. , pp. 30 to 35.
" See " Ecclesiastical History of Ire-
Fathers, Martyrs and other principal Saints, vol. vii. , July vi.
"
63 Yet, this statement is followed in R.
"
Chambers' Book of Days," vol. ii. , July 6,
p. 25.
6* At this date, in the First Volume
of this work is a notice of that feast, at Art. ix.
65 See Rev. Dr. Lanigan's "Ecclesiastical
History of Ireland," vol. i. , chap, i. , sect,
xvi. , n. 149, p. 45.
66
See the Bollandists' "Acta Sanctorum," tomu'3 ii. , Julii vi. De S. Palladio, Epis. et Conf. Scotorum Apostolo, sect, i. , num. 4,
p. 101. 76 See
p. 287.
67 Thus, at ii. Non. S. —Paladei Scotorum land," chap, i. , pp. 5 to 7.
"
Apostoli et Episcopi. " Bishop Forbes' See "Book of Days," vol. ii. , July 6,
"
Kalendars of Scottish Saints," p. 102. p. 25.
82
vnder Eugenius 2. 423. " :
Ibid. ,
71 Thus " In Mernia Palladii Diaconi S. R. E. Cardinalis Scotorum Apostoli a S. Ccelestino papa missi, ut Scotos, diu antea in Christum credentes, a Pelngiana peste —in
72 Thus :
80
In Scotia Julii. —
p. 156.
78 LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. [July 6.
Calendars and by some writers. At none of the foregoing days, however, is the name of Palladius to be found in the Roman Martyrology, and it is omitted, likewise, from our best known Irish Calendars. Again, we are
that St. Patrick soon heard of the Scottish 8* missionary's death,
informed,
although then living at Auxerre, in Burgundy. This was through the instru- mentality of Augustine, Benedict and some others, who had left Ireland with Palladius. 8* This news they brought while St. Patrick was in Euboria. As to his having got that news at Auxerre, it is not worth controverting, unless
indeed,
one could
say
that Eboria and Auxerre were the same 86 St. place.
Patrick could not have got the account confirming the death of Palladius until
about a month after its occurrence; accordingly, his preparations for going to
Rome, the journey thither, and his proceedings there, must all be comprised
within the time which elapsed, between the middle of January and the latter
end of March. 87 Being certified, regarding Palladius' death, the Pope alluded to appointed St. Patrick to succeed him, in that charge of preaching the Gospel to the Irish nation.
During the early Christian ages in Scotland, pilgrimages were made to Fordoun, in order to obtain spiritual and temporal favours, through the inter- cession of St. Palladius. The feast of the saint, on the 6th of July, appears to have been held at Fordoun with great solemnity.
This probably gave rise to the Padie 88 Fair, which is still commemorated in that neighbourhood,
8
and on the same day. ? Within the chapel of St. Palladius, the bones of
that saint are said to be deposited,9° and in a niche, towards the east end of the building. King Kenneth III. of Scotland was killed a. d. 995,9I in that
2 while he was
Palladius, to which, among other shrines, he went, in order to perform penance for the part he had in the assassination of Dufifus,93 which happened at Dnnsinoen. 94 We are informed, by Hector Boethius,95 that St. Palladius' relics were kept at Fordun, in his days. It is stated, moreover, that those remains had been
enshrined by William Schevez, Archbishop of St. Andrew's, a. d. 1494. They weredepositedinasilvershrine,setwithdiamonds. Itisthought,also,that to this period the oldest part of St. Palladius' chapel at Fordoun belongs. According to tradition, that rich shrine was afterwards stolen, by the sacrile-
neighbourhood^
passing
81
See "Vies des Saints," tome viii. ,
pose, that this Tope could not attend to the
business of consulting St. Patrick until near
to the very day of his death,
88
This is the Scottish abbreviation for the name of Palladius.
8 ' See Bishop Forbes' u Kalendars of Scottish Saints," p. 429.
Quinta Vita S. Tatricii, lib. i. , cap. xxv. , Mearns.
vi* Jour de Juillet.
8i "
See Harris' Ware, vol. i. , Archbishops of Armagh," p. io. Also, O'Flaherty's " Ogygia Vindicated," chap. xvi.
8-> Hoh in the Dr. Lankan, in his
to Rev. Ecclesiastical History of Ireland," vol. i. , chap, i. , sect, xvi. , n. 149,
year 431, according "
to or from the shrine of St.
»° According to A. Jervise's interesting paper, No. III. Notices of the localities of "Arch- the Sculpture 1 Stone Monuments at St. Vigeans, Incbbrayoch, Pitmuies, and Men- 85 See Colgan's "Tiias Thaumaturga," muir in Angus, and of Fordoun in the
p. 45.
84 See Harris' Ware, vol. i. ,
bishops of Armagh," p. 11.
p. 48.
86
»» See William F. Skene's " Celtic Scot-
land : a History of Ancient Alban," vol. i. ,
book i. , chap, vii. , p. 380.
9* The Fordoun Stone is said to have been
raised as a memorial of his death. This occurred through the stratagem of Finella, wife to the Thane of the Mearns.
»* See "Proceedings of the Society of Antiquaries of Scotland," vol. ii. , pp. 464, 465.
» See William F. Skene's " Chronicles of
"
Ecclesiastical History of Ireland," vol. i. ,
Independently of a great difference in
the names, this should be in direct opposition
to Probus and to other writers. For these
often mention Auxerre, under its own name
of Antissiodorum. See Rev. Dr. Lanigan's
chap, iv. , sect, xviii. , p. 198, and n. 151, p. 200.
8? Pope Celestine I. died, on the 6th of April, a. d. 432. Now, we are not to sup-
July 6. ] LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. 79 gious Knight of Pitarron, from which time it is said, that the family fortunes
of the Wisharts began to decline. "
6
In the year 1886, a colossal statue of St.
Palladius, first Bishop of the Scots, was placed upon a pedestal prepared for it, fully thirty feet from the ground, outside the south transept of an ornate new church at Drumtochty, near Fordoun. 97 There tradition says the saint in lived and died, in the middle of the fifth 8
question century. 9
The world worships success, and often for no better reason do men become
distinguished in it ; but the true heroes of Christianity love to encounter
adversities, when knowing they engage on the field of duty, and that the Almighty proves his faithful servants here, only to crown them hereafter. We
should learn, however, to disregard human estimates, which mistake temporal fortune for a real good, while life eternal is the true reward for the close of a virtuous career.
ARTICLE II. —ST. DARERCA, OR ST. MONINNE, VIRGIN, OF CILL- TSLEIBHE, NOW K1LLEAVY, OF SLIABH CUILLIN, COUNTY OF ARMAGH.
[FIFTH OR SIXTH CENTURY. ]
CHAPTER I.
INTRODUCTION—WRITERS OF THE ACTS OF ST. DARERCA OR MONINNE—HER FAMILY AND BIRTH—BAPTIZED, CONFIRMED AND VEILED BY ST. PATRICK—SHE IS CALLED UPON TO FORM AN ASSOCIATION OF PIOUS FEMALES—UNDER THE DIRECTION OF
VISITS ST. BRIGID—HER — CONGREGATION AT ARDCONAIS THIS
ST. IBAR—SHE
PLACE SHE LEAVES, AND VISITS ST. BRIGID A SECOND TIME.
To spend a life in vanity and exterior adornment of the person is the occupation of many young and accomplished ladies. We are told of an
1 when a certain noble woman, who
used to put the clergy and humble people out of patience, while they waited her idleness in dressing. While looking in her glass one such Sunday, she suddenly saw in the reflection a demon behind her so ugly and staring, that she was almost frightened out of her wits. Afterwards, she thanked God for having given her such a lesson, while it corrected her passion for dress, and made her punctual in attending Divine service. 2 The religious habit requires not such loss of time to arrange, and the religious life is ever active to antici- pate the hours for praying to God. Far different are the desires and pursuits
instance,
although living
near the church
the Picts and Scots," pp. 175, 289.
95 SeeHistoriaeScotorum,' lib. vii. ,fol. 128. 96 See Rev. Dr. J. F. S. Gordon's " Scoti-
chronicon," vol. i. , p. 40.
57 This statue was the gift of James S.
Gammell, Esq. , of Drumtochty Castle, Kin- cardineshire. It is sculptured from a block of brown Portland stone, and it is boldly modelled to suit the position it stands in. The stone the sacred edifice is built of is raised near Brechin, and this warm-coloured material harmonizes and yet contrasts ad- mirably with the somewhat cold grey tone of
the sculptured statue,
ss This figure of Palladius stands nine feet in height, representing a bearded and some- what rugged-looking, low-mitred bishop; who, with a flowing cope thrown over his broad shoulders, grasps his ornamental ham- mered copper crozier in his left hand, as he raises his right in the act of giving the apos- tolic blessing. The statue is the work of Mr. Harry Hems, of Exeter. See " The Irish Builder" of December 1st, 1886, vol. xxviii. , No. 647, p. 324.
—Chapter i. —
Article II.
Livre du Chevalier de la Tour Landry, this story is told.
l
In
Le
8o LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS.
[July 6.
of the votaries of pleasure and fashion, from those pure aspirations and self- denying practices, which draw pious recluses from worldly vanities and deceits to the desert; where, with hearts fixed on the delights of heaven, all was not solitude in their beloved retreats.
As in the case of the present holy woman, such instances of self-sacrifice are numerous, even from the earliest periods of our national church. Some confusion seems to have arisen, however, when the present St. Darerca has been confounded with the religious sister of our great Apostle St. Patrick, and who was similarly named. Again, as we have seen at the preceding day, under her alias name of Moninna, she has been confounded with a St. Mod- wen or Modwenna, who is supposed to have flourished in the ninth century. Having there made an effort, to discriminate between these latter persons ; we are obliged to depend much on conjecture, as to those particulars, occurring in the Acts already mentioned, some of them referring very possibly to the present saint. As may be seen in the sequel, however, we are obliged to
admit chronological and other difficulties of statement, while endeavouring to investigate her period and career. The few reflected traditions or lights we have from independent sources rather serve to dazzle and perplex than to elucidate her history. We know, however, that a saint called Moninnehad been venerated on the 6th of July, and that her place was in the northern parts of Ireland. —This is stated, in the Feilire of St. ^Engus. 3 —Some commentaries traditional
annexed * although containing information are hardly to be regarded as altogether authentic. Colgan intended and also promised s the
publication of Acts, illustrating the biography of St. Darerca, or Moninna,6 at the 6th of July. i The Bollandists have published two different Acts of
St. Darerca or
Monynna, virgin,
at the 6th of 8 One of these is taken July.
from an Irish Manuscript, belonging to the Jesuit College at Salamanca,9 but its author's name has not been discovered. Its date is unknown, yet it
is thought to be of some considerable antiquity. This is followed by a less
10
attributed to Conchubran,
11
as already stated, at the preceding
reliable Life,
date. There, too, we have endeavoured to deal with both, in trying to dis- criminate between the Monenna, venerated on the 5th of this month, and the Monenna, whose feast has been set down, for the present day. Both l*
*6 See Alexander Vance's Romantic Epis-
odes of Chivalrie and Mediaeval France, pp.
Where her name occurs on the list, published by Charles MacDonnell, Esq. , as
"
S. Darercaequae et Moninna, 6 Jul. " ""
292, 293.
3 In the "Leabhar Breac copy, the 7 See Catalogus Actuum Sanctorum quae
following stanza occurs at this date, and MS. habentur, ordine Mensium et Dierum. "
it has b—een translated by Whitley Stokes,
8
See "Acta Sanctorum," tomus ii. ,
vi. DeS. Darercaseu in Monynna Virg.
LL. D.
:
Julii
Hibernia, Scotia, vel Anglia, pp. 200 to 312.
monnroe m Cflebi Cuibrro bacAin Aige
Sabaip buAit> geb gUvme Siuur* Tttuine m-Aipe.
9 The Bollandists have published this, in
four cnapters, containing forty-five para-
graphs.
,0
" Moninne of the mountain of Cuilenn (Slieve Guliion) was a fair pillar : she gained
" Taken from a Codex, belonging to the Cottonian Library, and classed as Cleopatra
asister A. 2. Thisis
of great Mary (the virgin). " "Transactions author, and it has been arranged in eight
a of — :
a ofthe Prologue
bright victory purity (she was)
of the Royal Irish Academy," Irish Manu- chapters, comprising seventy-eight para-
dar of Oengus, p. cix. 4 See ibid. , p. cxvi.
graphs,
" In the following notes; we shall quote
On the Calen-
script Series, vol. i. , parti.
pendix ad Acta S. Patricii, cap. xxiii. , Second Life of St. Modwenna.
,3 See " Lives of the and p. 270. Fathers, Martyrs
them as the Salamancan or First Life of St.
J° See Colgan's "Trias Thaumaturga,"
5<s See " Britannicarum Ecclesiarum And-
s' others,
$* The Irish form of this name was
and
Gherginn.
53 In Rev. Dr. J. F. S. Gordon's " Sco-
tichronicon," an engraving of it is intro- duced. See vol. i. , p. 40.
July 6. ] LIVES OE THE IRISH SAINTS. 77
St. Patrick's mission among the Irish to the early part of 432. According to
8 it should be incorrect to assign the death of Palladius to a. d. 431, which is supposed to have been that in which he left Rome, for his Irish mission. It would seem, however, to have taken place, not earlier than
c
a. d. 432 ; and, most probably, according to some, 9 it ought to be placed at
some later year. The mission of Palladius to the Scots believing in Christ
has been deferred to a. d. 433, by Matthew of Westminster,60 and by Matthew
of Paris l in which date, it may be assumed, his death should be f adopting
referred to a later year. About the year 450 is another period, to which it
2
has been assigned f but, it is not probable, that Palladius lived on to the
6 year last-mentioned. 3
To the 27th of January,64 a. d. 432, some writers have ascribed the death of Palladius. 6s The English Martyrology and Ferrarius notice a festival for him, at that date ; and which is the one, said to have found most favour with Irish Calendarists. 66 Yet, his chief feast was held on this day, the 6th of July, according to the Breviary of Aberdeen and several of the Scottish Calendars, such as in those of Arbuthnott,6? the Aberdeen Kalendar,68 and
Rev. Dr.
Lanigan,*
Martyrology,
King's Kalendar,7°
Dempster's Menologium
e9 Adam 12
Thomas
Scoticum,? Camerarius,? as also in the Scottish Kalendar of 1637. 73 At this
date, most writers of saints' Acts, have noticed the chief incidents of his life.
Among these may be quoted, Dean Cressy,74 Bishop Challenor,75 Rev. Alban
Butler,76 Rev. Dr. LanigatV7 Rev. P. J. Carew,78 Rev. M. J. Brenan, O. S. F. ,79
80 81 —and Les Petits Bollandistes.
Other festivals —
have been named
83
R. Chambers,
for his death viz. : December 15th, as also the 25th by the English
Index
57 This is the year in which he died, ac-
63 Thus, at Pridie Non. " Palladii — Epis-
copi Confessoris Apostoli Scotorum. "
quitates,"
Chronologicus, p. 516.
cording to Harris' Ware, vol. i. , "Arch- Ibid. , p. 118. 69 «
bishopsofArmagh,"p. 10. Thus "
Pridie N.
58 See Ecclesiastical History of Ire- Sancti Palladii Scotorum Apostoli," &c.
land," vol. i. , chap, i. , sect, xvi. , p. 39, and n. 149, pp. 44, 45 ; also chap, iv. , sect, xviii. , p. 198, and nn. 151, 153, pp. 200 to 202.
59 Among these is Tillemont, Le Sieur Le Nain, who discusses this matter in "Me- moirs pour servir a l'Histoire Ecclesiastique," tome xvi. , p. 784.
60
See "Flores Historiarum," p. 148. 61 "
:
Ibid. , 133.
70Thus "S. PadieorPalladiusapostile
:
of Scotland send be Pape —ccelestine ye first
Anglia grassante, tutaretur. K. B. B. T. "
See Chronica Majora," edited by Ibid. , p. 205.
"
Henry Richards Luard, M. A. , vol. i. , p. 181.
62 See Rev. Alban Butler's " Lives of the
6 Die. Sanctus Palladius EpiscopusetScotorumvelutApostolusmis- sus a —Ccelestino Romano Pontifice in Sco-
tiam. " Ibid. , p. 238.
—73 Thus : "6 e Prid. No. Palladius. " II|
Ibid. , p. 253.
74 See "Church History of Brittany," book ix. , chap, iii. , pp. 172 to 174.
75 See "A Memorial of British Piety,"
"
Lives of the Fathers, Martyrs and other principal Saints," vol. vii. , July vi.
77 See "Ecclesiastical History of Ire- land," vol. i. , chap, i. , sects, xv. , xvi. , pp. 33 to 47-
78 See " Ecclesiastical History of Ire-
land," chap, ii. , pp. 30 to 35.
" See " Ecclesiastical History of Ire-
Fathers, Martyrs and other principal Saints, vol. vii. , July vi.
"
63 Yet, this statement is followed in R.
"
Chambers' Book of Days," vol. ii. , July 6,
p. 25.
6* At this date, in the First Volume
of this work is a notice of that feast, at Art. ix.
65 See Rev. Dr. Lanigan's "Ecclesiastical
History of Ireland," vol. i. , chap, i. , sect,
xvi. , n. 149, p. 45.
66
See the Bollandists' "Acta Sanctorum," tomu'3 ii. , Julii vi. De S. Palladio, Epis. et Conf. Scotorum Apostolo, sect, i. , num. 4,
p. 101. 76 See
p. 287.
67 Thus, at ii. Non. S. —Paladei Scotorum land," chap, i. , pp. 5 to 7.
"
Apostoli et Episcopi. " Bishop Forbes' See "Book of Days," vol. ii. , July 6,
"
Kalendars of Scottish Saints," p. 102. p. 25.
82
vnder Eugenius 2. 423. " :
Ibid. ,
71 Thus " In Mernia Palladii Diaconi S. R. E. Cardinalis Scotorum Apostoli a S. Ccelestino papa missi, ut Scotos, diu antea in Christum credentes, a Pelngiana peste —in
72 Thus :
80
In Scotia Julii. —
p. 156.
78 LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. [July 6.
Calendars and by some writers. At none of the foregoing days, however, is the name of Palladius to be found in the Roman Martyrology, and it is omitted, likewise, from our best known Irish Calendars. Again, we are
that St. Patrick soon heard of the Scottish 8* missionary's death,
informed,
although then living at Auxerre, in Burgundy. This was through the instru- mentality of Augustine, Benedict and some others, who had left Ireland with Palladius. 8* This news they brought while St. Patrick was in Euboria. As to his having got that news at Auxerre, it is not worth controverting, unless
indeed,
one could
say
that Eboria and Auxerre were the same 86 St. place.
Patrick could not have got the account confirming the death of Palladius until
about a month after its occurrence; accordingly, his preparations for going to
Rome, the journey thither, and his proceedings there, must all be comprised
within the time which elapsed, between the middle of January and the latter
end of March. 87 Being certified, regarding Palladius' death, the Pope alluded to appointed St. Patrick to succeed him, in that charge of preaching the Gospel to the Irish nation.
During the early Christian ages in Scotland, pilgrimages were made to Fordoun, in order to obtain spiritual and temporal favours, through the inter- cession of St. Palladius. The feast of the saint, on the 6th of July, appears to have been held at Fordoun with great solemnity.
This probably gave rise to the Padie 88 Fair, which is still commemorated in that neighbourhood,
8
and on the same day. ? Within the chapel of St. Palladius, the bones of
that saint are said to be deposited,9° and in a niche, towards the east end of the building. King Kenneth III. of Scotland was killed a. d. 995,9I in that
2 while he was
Palladius, to which, among other shrines, he went, in order to perform penance for the part he had in the assassination of Dufifus,93 which happened at Dnnsinoen. 94 We are informed, by Hector Boethius,95 that St. Palladius' relics were kept at Fordun, in his days. It is stated, moreover, that those remains had been
enshrined by William Schevez, Archbishop of St. Andrew's, a. d. 1494. They weredepositedinasilvershrine,setwithdiamonds. Itisthought,also,that to this period the oldest part of St. Palladius' chapel at Fordoun belongs. According to tradition, that rich shrine was afterwards stolen, by the sacrile-
neighbourhood^
passing
81
See "Vies des Saints," tome viii. ,
pose, that this Tope could not attend to the
business of consulting St. Patrick until near
to the very day of his death,
88
This is the Scottish abbreviation for the name of Palladius.
8 ' See Bishop Forbes' u Kalendars of Scottish Saints," p. 429.
Quinta Vita S. Tatricii, lib. i. , cap. xxv. , Mearns.
vi* Jour de Juillet.
8i "
See Harris' Ware, vol. i. , Archbishops of Armagh," p. io. Also, O'Flaherty's " Ogygia Vindicated," chap. xvi.
8-> Hoh in the Dr. Lankan, in his
to Rev. Ecclesiastical History of Ireland," vol. i. , chap, i. , sect, xvi. , n. 149,
year 431, according "
to or from the shrine of St.
»° According to A. Jervise's interesting paper, No. III. Notices of the localities of "Arch- the Sculpture 1 Stone Monuments at St. Vigeans, Incbbrayoch, Pitmuies, and Men- 85 See Colgan's "Tiias Thaumaturga," muir in Angus, and of Fordoun in the
p. 45.
84 See Harris' Ware, vol. i. ,
bishops of Armagh," p. 11.
p. 48.
86
»» See William F. Skene's " Celtic Scot-
land : a History of Ancient Alban," vol. i. ,
book i. , chap, vii. , p. 380.
9* The Fordoun Stone is said to have been
raised as a memorial of his death. This occurred through the stratagem of Finella, wife to the Thane of the Mearns.
»* See "Proceedings of the Society of Antiquaries of Scotland," vol. ii. , pp. 464, 465.
» See William F. Skene's " Chronicles of
"
Ecclesiastical History of Ireland," vol. i. ,
Independently of a great difference in
the names, this should be in direct opposition
to Probus and to other writers. For these
often mention Auxerre, under its own name
of Antissiodorum. See Rev. Dr. Lanigan's
chap, iv. , sect, xviii. , p. 198, and n. 151, p. 200.
8? Pope Celestine I. died, on the 6th of April, a. d. 432. Now, we are not to sup-
July 6. ] LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. 79 gious Knight of Pitarron, from which time it is said, that the family fortunes
of the Wisharts began to decline. "
6
In the year 1886, a colossal statue of St.
Palladius, first Bishop of the Scots, was placed upon a pedestal prepared for it, fully thirty feet from the ground, outside the south transept of an ornate new church at Drumtochty, near Fordoun. 97 There tradition says the saint in lived and died, in the middle of the fifth 8
question century. 9
The world worships success, and often for no better reason do men become
distinguished in it ; but the true heroes of Christianity love to encounter
adversities, when knowing they engage on the field of duty, and that the Almighty proves his faithful servants here, only to crown them hereafter. We
should learn, however, to disregard human estimates, which mistake temporal fortune for a real good, while life eternal is the true reward for the close of a virtuous career.
ARTICLE II. —ST. DARERCA, OR ST. MONINNE, VIRGIN, OF CILL- TSLEIBHE, NOW K1LLEAVY, OF SLIABH CUILLIN, COUNTY OF ARMAGH.
[FIFTH OR SIXTH CENTURY. ]
CHAPTER I.
INTRODUCTION—WRITERS OF THE ACTS OF ST. DARERCA OR MONINNE—HER FAMILY AND BIRTH—BAPTIZED, CONFIRMED AND VEILED BY ST. PATRICK—SHE IS CALLED UPON TO FORM AN ASSOCIATION OF PIOUS FEMALES—UNDER THE DIRECTION OF
VISITS ST. BRIGID—HER — CONGREGATION AT ARDCONAIS THIS
ST. IBAR—SHE
PLACE SHE LEAVES, AND VISITS ST. BRIGID A SECOND TIME.
To spend a life in vanity and exterior adornment of the person is the occupation of many young and accomplished ladies. We are told of an
1 when a certain noble woman, who
used to put the clergy and humble people out of patience, while they waited her idleness in dressing. While looking in her glass one such Sunday, she suddenly saw in the reflection a demon behind her so ugly and staring, that she was almost frightened out of her wits. Afterwards, she thanked God for having given her such a lesson, while it corrected her passion for dress, and made her punctual in attending Divine service. 2 The religious habit requires not such loss of time to arrange, and the religious life is ever active to antici- pate the hours for praying to God. Far different are the desires and pursuits
instance,
although living
near the church
the Picts and Scots," pp. 175, 289.
95 SeeHistoriaeScotorum,' lib. vii. ,fol. 128. 96 See Rev. Dr. J. F. S. Gordon's " Scoti-
chronicon," vol. i. , p. 40.
57 This statue was the gift of James S.
Gammell, Esq. , of Drumtochty Castle, Kin- cardineshire. It is sculptured from a block of brown Portland stone, and it is boldly modelled to suit the position it stands in. The stone the sacred edifice is built of is raised near Brechin, and this warm-coloured material harmonizes and yet contrasts ad- mirably with the somewhat cold grey tone of
the sculptured statue,
ss This figure of Palladius stands nine feet in height, representing a bearded and some- what rugged-looking, low-mitred bishop; who, with a flowing cope thrown over his broad shoulders, grasps his ornamental ham- mered copper crozier in his left hand, as he raises his right in the act of giving the apos- tolic blessing. The statue is the work of Mr. Harry Hems, of Exeter. See " The Irish Builder" of December 1st, 1886, vol. xxviii. , No. 647, p. 324.
—Chapter i. —
Article II.
Livre du Chevalier de la Tour Landry, this story is told.
l
In
Le
8o LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS.
[July 6.
of the votaries of pleasure and fashion, from those pure aspirations and self- denying practices, which draw pious recluses from worldly vanities and deceits to the desert; where, with hearts fixed on the delights of heaven, all was not solitude in their beloved retreats.
As in the case of the present holy woman, such instances of self-sacrifice are numerous, even from the earliest periods of our national church. Some confusion seems to have arisen, however, when the present St. Darerca has been confounded with the religious sister of our great Apostle St. Patrick, and who was similarly named. Again, as we have seen at the preceding day, under her alias name of Moninna, she has been confounded with a St. Mod- wen or Modwenna, who is supposed to have flourished in the ninth century. Having there made an effort, to discriminate between these latter persons ; we are obliged to depend much on conjecture, as to those particulars, occurring in the Acts already mentioned, some of them referring very possibly to the present saint. As may be seen in the sequel, however, we are obliged to
admit chronological and other difficulties of statement, while endeavouring to investigate her period and career. The few reflected traditions or lights we have from independent sources rather serve to dazzle and perplex than to elucidate her history. We know, however, that a saint called Moninnehad been venerated on the 6th of July, and that her place was in the northern parts of Ireland. —This is stated, in the Feilire of St. ^Engus. 3 —Some commentaries traditional
annexed * although containing information are hardly to be regarded as altogether authentic. Colgan intended and also promised s the
publication of Acts, illustrating the biography of St. Darerca, or Moninna,6 at the 6th of July. i The Bollandists have published two different Acts of
St. Darerca or
Monynna, virgin,
at the 6th of 8 One of these is taken July.
from an Irish Manuscript, belonging to the Jesuit College at Salamanca,9 but its author's name has not been discovered. Its date is unknown, yet it
is thought to be of some considerable antiquity. This is followed by a less
10
attributed to Conchubran,
11
as already stated, at the preceding
reliable Life,
date. There, too, we have endeavoured to deal with both, in trying to dis- criminate between the Monenna, venerated on the 5th of this month, and the Monenna, whose feast has been set down, for the present day. Both l*
*6 See Alexander Vance's Romantic Epis-
odes of Chivalrie and Mediaeval France, pp.
Where her name occurs on the list, published by Charles MacDonnell, Esq. , as
"
S. Darercaequae et Moninna, 6 Jul. " ""
292, 293.
3 In the "Leabhar Breac copy, the 7 See Catalogus Actuum Sanctorum quae
following stanza occurs at this date, and MS. habentur, ordine Mensium et Dierum. "
it has b—een translated by Whitley Stokes,
8
See "Acta Sanctorum," tomus ii. ,
vi. DeS. Darercaseu in Monynna Virg.
LL. D.
:
Julii
Hibernia, Scotia, vel Anglia, pp. 200 to 312.
monnroe m Cflebi Cuibrro bacAin Aige
Sabaip buAit> geb gUvme Siuur* Tttuine m-Aipe.
9 The Bollandists have published this, in
four cnapters, containing forty-five para-
graphs.
,0
" Moninne of the mountain of Cuilenn (Slieve Guliion) was a fair pillar : she gained
" Taken from a Codex, belonging to the Cottonian Library, and classed as Cleopatra
asister A. 2. Thisis
of great Mary (the virgin). " "Transactions author, and it has been arranged in eight
a of — :
a ofthe Prologue
bright victory purity (she was)
of the Royal Irish Academy," Irish Manu- chapters, comprising seventy-eight para-
dar of Oengus, p. cix. 4 See ibid. , p. cxvi.
graphs,
" In the following notes; we shall quote
On the Calen-
script Series, vol. i. , parti.
pendix ad Acta S. Patricii, cap. xxiii. , Second Life of St. Modwenna.
,3 See " Lives of the and p. 270. Fathers, Martyrs
them as the Salamancan or First Life of St.
