In the
Martyrology of Tallagh,^ as published by the Rev.
Martyrology of Tallagh,^ as published by the Rev.
O'Hanlon - Lives of the Irish Saints - v3
With consent of his Abbot, Romaric had founded a convent for holy women, on his patrimonial lands,andthesenunsfollowed,likewise,theruleofSt.
Columban.
Having neglected some matters, which Eustasius deemed to be of importance, both Amatus and Romaric had been reproved by our saint.
Therefore, Agrestin thought he should be able to influence them, against the holy Abbot of Luxeu, and, he partially succeeded, by the force of his persuasions.
He
Agrestin repeated
charges,
repUed :
presence
of
desired, likewise, to have St. Fara on his side ; but, this Abbess wisely rejected his calumnies, for she knew too well the great virtues of Eustasius. However, various manifestations of an extraordinary character were visited on those, who took part with Agrestin ; and, a visible mark of God's dis-
pleasure was soon inflicted, on the unfortunate delinquent. Shortly before the expiration of that year,"^^ he was slain, with a blow —of an axe by his
or not
commit himself to decide he had intended to dishonour. Amatus and Romaric then sought reconciliation with our saint, while the Gaulish bishops began to favour the Columbian institute. Foremost among these was St. Eligius,^9 Bishop of Noyon. The term of pilgrimage on earth was now aj> proaching for St. Eustace, and while he was still actively engaged, in found- ing houses of his Order, the infirmities of his body increased. He told the disciples, that his desire was to leave behind him the sufferings of this life j and, then directing all his aspirations towards Heaven, he received the Holy Viaticum, with gicat devotion, and bade a last adieu to the monks, who stood sorrowing at his bed-side. He foretold the day of his death, and, thus, he passed away resignedly, to the bright rewards of the blessed. St. Eustasius died, on the 29th day of i\iarch,7° a. d. 625,7^ and, he was succeeded, by St. Wandelbert,72inthegovernmentofhisAbbey,atBobbio. TherelicsofSt. Eustace, were preserved, in ihe Benedictine Abbey of Vergaville, in the
's The Bolhudists remark, that this
name was a common one, in the seventh
**
century.
** He was
venerated,
on the
13th
of
Sep-
Probably A. D. 623.
^ His feast occurs, at the 1st of Decem-
ber.
'° See " Histoire Ecclesiastique,* Fleury's
tome viii. , liv. xxxvii. , sect, xxvii. , p. 265.
tember.
*' His feast occurs, at the 8th of Decern.
ber.
"
7* His feast occurs, at the 2nd of May.
'' See
Circle of the Seasons," p. 89.
Jonas
March 29. ] LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. 1005
diocese of Metz, until its destruction, a. d. 1792. 73 It had long been the
custom, for pilgrims to resort thither, while many possessed and demented personswereknowntohavebeenhealedathisshrine. Therelicshadbeen
removed therefrom, when the religious quitted their monastery ; nor were they kept, without considerable risk, owing to the infidel spirit of that time. They were carried away, and concealed, by the last Abbess, Madame de la Marche, in the house of M. Labrosse, Curi of Suriauville, where they remained for many years. They were surrendered by him, in 1804, on the return of security, to Mgr. Antoine Eustache Osmond, Bishop of Nancy \ and, they were perfectly authenticated, by the cure's testimony", and by that of other witnesses. The relics of St. Eustace were placed, in two shrines, in the Benedictine priory of Flavigny-sur-Moselle, in Meurthe, a. d. 1834; but, at present, there appear to be some doubts entertained, regarding those portions, which in reality belonged to our saint. However, the following are enumerated, viz. : first, the chief bone of the body ; secondly, that of the left groin, but incomplete ; thirdly, the lower part of a thigh-bone j fourthy, the upper part of the right femoral-bone ; fifthly, the left shoulder-bone ; and sixthly, the left shoulder-blade. In 1670, the bones of St. Eustace and of St. Walbert74 were exchanged, between Luxeuil and Vergaville. At the latter place, no remains of our saint now exist, but the old Abbey has been levelled to the ground. ^s The feast of St. Eustacius is kept, on the 29th of March. This is not to be found, indeed, in the genuine Martyrologies of Venerable Bede, nor of Usuard. However, besides the insertion met with, in the Roman Martyrology 3 we are able to ascertain, that it was entered, in many very ancient Calendars. Among others may be quoted, that of Ado? ^ and the edition of Usuard, edited by Greuen, by Molanus, and by others. A Manuscript copy of Florarius has doubtfully entered the statement, about his presiding over six hundred monks, or over two hundred. Notker enters this festival, and he states, that our saint was of Burgundy, and belonged to the monastery of Luxovium. For this latter word, Bellinus has incorrectly sub-
stituted "
Lugdunensis
Monasterii," and Petrus de Natalibus ^^ has " Lima-
ciensis monasterii. " The feast of Eustasius is entered, likewise, by Galesinus,
Maurilycus, Felicius, Canisius, Trithemius,? ^ Wion, Menard, Dorgain,
Bucelin, and by the author of Kalendarium Sanctorum Ordinis S. Benedicti. 79 At Luxeu, on the 29th of Marchj St. Eustasius, Abbot, who followed St.
Columbanus from Scotia, according to Dempster ^° and happily ended his life in Burgundy, had a commemoration. ^^ He is classed by the writer
quoted, among the Scottish saints. ^^ In like manner, the Martyrology, for the use of the Church of Aberdeen,^3 places his festival, at the 4th of the
" 8ee "Les Petits tomeiv. , Mars. 29,p. 50.
''' Also called Waldebert.
«° In " Scoticum. " Menologium
75 See " Les Petits
tome iv,, Mars. 29, pp. 50, 5 li
rities, the Bollandist commentatot adds J
" At fuisse S. Eustasium mox Burgundum
ex Actis constabit. Concludimus hunc
Commentarium cum disticho hoc Wandel*
1^ He
2
" S. Eustasii Ab- Depositio
ix. , cap.
^3 it states
:
Ipso
die
deposicio
Sancti
BoUandistes," &c. j
BoUandistes," &Ci,
says
batis, discipuli S. Columbani, qui patre berti : ferme sexcentorum extitit monochorum, et
vitce sanctitate conspicuus, etiam miraculis
claruit. "
" Lib. ivi, cap. it.
7' " De Virus lUustribus Ordinis S. tiene-
dicti," cap. 70.
» He follows Petrus De J^'atalibus, ^ho
supposing Eustasius to be another person, has it, that he died, on the V. of the Octobef Ides. See lib. 2.
Eustasius quarti virtutis Idude cortlscat, Abba Columbaimo nituit qui rite Magistro;**
—
Martii xxix, Commentarius prtevius, nUpii
^'
Afterenumeratingtheforegoingautho'
See "Acta Sanctorum," tomus iii;,
4, $, p. 785.
^'^
See Bishop Forbes*
''
Kalendars df
Scottish Saints," p. 194. "
ioo6 LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS.
[March 29.
April Kalends, while it has a feast of St. Columban, at the same day. ^^ However, while citing two old authorities, viz. , Ado,^s and a Manuscript Calendar of the Breviary of St. Waldetrude, for a similar statement, the Bol-
feast of his disciple, St. Eustasius, which belongs to the 29th of March.
landists ^^ that yet consider,
to some
which in reality belongs to the 21st of November, had been placed on the
owing
error,
the festival of the
master,
This, indeed, seems to be the proper explanation. The " Circle of the "
Seasons ^^ notes it at this date. In an eulogy, pronounced on the illustrious Eustace, and prefixed to his Life, by Jonas,^^ we are informed, that he never
ceased exhorting and preaching to his disciples, to make their election sure, by the performance of good works, and especially, by those of mortification,
and denial, while despising all earthly things. Under his guardianship, his monks were not depressed by sorrow, nor were they elated by excessive joy.
Love and respect were blended together, towards their holy superior ; for, his wholesome doctrine fortified their souls, with words of wisdom and moderation, while his own candour was communicated to those spiritual children, who always prepared their hearts, in a spirit of humility, penitence, and charity, to receive the best gifts of God, sought from earnest and devout prayers.
Article VI. —St. Aedan, or Aedhan, of Derrybrughas, County of Armagh. TheBollandists,^ontheauthorityoftheMartyrologiesofTallagh and of Marianus O'Gorman, place the festival, Aidanus de doire Bruchaisse, at the 29th of March. Aedan Dairi Brucais is now known as Derrybrughas,^^ alias,Killyman,3intheCountyofArmagh; and,athischurch,whichseems to have existed from the seventh century, the present saint was venerated. '* An entry occurs, in the Martyrology of Tallagh,s at the 29th of March, Aedan Dairi Brucais. St. Edan, Bishop and Confessor, was venerated, at the 29th of March f and, formerly, he had an Office of nine Lessons, as we learn, from an old Kalendar. ? We read, in the Martyrology of Donegal ^ that on this day was venerated, Aedhan, of Doire Bmchaisi, or Doire Bru- chuse. 9
Article VII. —Festival of St. Gregory of Nazianzum. At the 29th
Eustacij abbatis monasterij Luxouiensis. Item Sancti Columbani. "
ii. , pp. 493, 494. A portion of this parish is in the barony of Oneilland West, and this is marked, on the " Ordnance Survey Town- land Maps for the County of Armagh," Sheets l, 4 ; while another portion is in the barony of Middle Dungannon, and this is noted, on the " Ordnance Survey Townland MapsfortheCountyofTytone, Sheets46,
47> 54) 55-
* See Dr. O'Donovan's " Annals of the
Four Masters," vol. i. , pp. 294, 295, and tt. (e. ) Ibid.
^* See "Proceedings of the Society of Antiquaries of Scotland," vol. ii. Edited by David Laing, Esq. , F. S. A. Scot. , p. 263.
'^s " Coenobii Leodiensis ad S. Lauren- tium. "
^ See "Acta Sanctorum," tomus iii. ,
Martii xxix. feasts, p. 768.
87 See p. 89. ^' See "Acta
Among
the
pretermitted
Martii xxix. , — Article vi.
'
Martii xxix. mitted saints, p. 766.
at this date,
tomus
the Among preter-
btxticcAf,
* Or Kal. iv.
"
This townland is in the parish of Drum- among the Codices of Trinity College
iii. ,
Aprilis.
' In the Manuscript, classed B. 3. 12,
tomus
See "Acta Sanctorum,"
Sanctorum," p 786.
the Franciscan we read, ^etJAn
copy, "Ooipe
cree, and barony of Oneilland West. It is
shown, on the " Ordnance Survey Townland
Maps for the County of Armagh," Sheet 5- 3 See an account of this parish, in the
Library, Dublin.
^Edited by Drs. Todd and Reeves, pp.
88, 89.
' I find the following mimoranduHt, also,
in William M. Hennessy's copy of this work.
*'
Parliamentary Gazetteer of Ireland," vol.
s Edited iii. , by
Rev. Dr. xx. In Kelly, p.
March 29. ] LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. 1007
of March, we find, in the Feilire ^ of St. ^(Engus, a commemoration of the festivalofthegreatSt. GregoryofNazianzum. TheBollandists,'likewise,
citing the Manuscript Martyrology of Treves, of Saints Martin and of Maxi- minus, have his festival at this date ; although, they state, that the 9th of May is set apart, for his chief feast.
Article VIII. —St. Mac Lubhnain, Physician. On the 29th of
the of ^ entersthenameofMacLumaniLiaich. March, Martyrology Tallagh
Quoting the foregoing authority, together with that of Marianus O'Gorman, the Bollandists ^ enter a festival, for Maclubnanus Liaich, at the same date.
The Martyrology of Donegal,3 at this day, records the designation, with Mac Lubhnain, as Physician, having veneration paid to him.
Article IX. —Feast of a Reputed St. Lerra, Virgin.
In the
Martyrology of Tallagh,^ as published by the Rev. Dr. Kelly, there is a St. '^
Lerra, Virgin, entered at the 29th of March. But, in the published Martyr- ology of Donegal, I find no such notice.
Article X. —Reputed Festival of St. Baldred, Priest and
Hermit, in Scotland. \Seventh and Eighth Centuries^ Some of the
Scottish historians and Calendarists, such as John Major, Hector Boece,
Camerarius, and Lesley, have entered the festival of this holy man, at the
29thofMarch. JohnWilson^andFerrarius^haveasimilarnotice,atthe
same date. 3 Already have we given his Acts, at the 6th of this month. After
the death of St. Kentigern, about a. d. 530, St. Baldred, his suffragan, became
famous, in Laudonia. At the 29th day of March, a St. Baldred, Confessor,
and Bishop of Glasgow, who had great authority and favour among Dynasts and princes, is commemorated. * Worn out with extreme age, he is said to
havedied,inthehouseoftheparishpriestofAldhame. Theplaceofhis interment was concealed, by a miraculous phantasy. 5 This saint is called^
" Airudh brosga, Derrybrusk, County Fer-
managh. " —
Article vii. From the Leabhar
Breac copy, Professor O'Looney has fur-
nished the following stanza, with the Eng- lish translation :—
K), 1111. kL t4 Lich irijeii mbAici pAif fltiAig moip CO ]:eli
1 fell/ pi% CO ruA^i 5^1501^ tiAjpem.
" At the feast of the daughter of Buite
The passion of a numerous host, who had been chaste,
On the feast of a pure perfect man,
Gregory of Nazarene (Nazi- anzum)i"
*"
See Acta Sanctoriiin," tonius iii. ,
Martii xxix. the
Among pretermitted
'See "Acta SanctorUm," tomus iii. , Martii xxix. Among the pretermitted feasts, p. 766.
3 Edited by Drs. Todd and Reeves, pp. 88, 89.
—
feasts, p. 767* Article viii.
rum. " Yet, in his notes, Baltred, at this
date, is distinguished from Baldred, of the 6th of March.
3 See the Bollandists' "Acta Sanctorum,'* tomus i. , Martii vi; De Sanctis Anachore- tis Balthero Presbytero et Bilfrido Aurifabro, in Scotia et AngUa, sect, iv. , num. 18, p. 452.
* See Scottish Entries in the Kalendar of David Camerarius. Bishop Forbes' "Kal* endars of Scottish Saints," p. 236.
'
—
Kelly, p. XX. In the Franciscan copy, we * See Breviarium Aberdonense. Pars find, rriAC LumnAin, at this day. Hyemalis, fol. Ixiii. , Ixiiii.
'Edited by Rev. Dr.
Article ix.
»
See
xx. The Francis-
p.
can copy seems to read, tA^XA Hip, at this
date.
*
It is probable, this entry has reference
to the Virgin, Lassar, already commemo- rated, at this date.
Article X. —' In his "
Anglicanum. " ^"
Martyrologium
In his Catalogus Generalis Sancto-
ioo8 LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS.
[March 30.
Baltherus. 7 At a. d. 756, Simeon of Durham, gives the date for his death. We cannot be sure, however, that tliis Celtic saint was an Irishman by birth.
Cfiirtietft laap of ilarrft*
ARTICLE I. —ST. TOLA, ABBOT AND BISHOP OF DISERT TOLA [SEVENTH AND EIGHTH CENTURIES. \
the present pious servant of Christ was a useful worker, in his
hardly
The father of this saint was named Dunchad. He was son to Ernin,3 son of Garuan, according to the Psalter* and Calendar of Cashel. The latter even more fully traces his family line. s Thus, it informs us, that Garuan was son to Senan, son of Muredach, son to Failgluin, son of Brogan, son to CorbmacGalengi,^sonofTadge,sontoKien. 7 ThepedigreeofSt. Tolais drawn from the race of Kien, son to Olild Olum, and he descended from the
illustrious Galengi family. ^ This tribe, according to the supposition of Dr. Lanigan, inhabited some of those districts known as Galenga, or Gallen.
There was a Gallen, or Galien, which comprised a great part of Carlow and Kildare counties, with some of the Queen's County. As the situation of that place, where our saint commenced his career, was not far removed from this latter district, according to the same authority, it is not improbable, Tola had his birth within that territory. 9 It is likely enough, that he was born, after the middle of the seventh century. For many years, our saint led the life of a hermit, at a place called Disert Tola," or Tola's Desert. According to the
THAT
be doubted. has collected some Colgan
Master's can
vineyard,
particulars, with a view to supply his Acts, at the present date. ' The Bol- landists merely notice him, also, as Tola, Bishop of Disert Tola, surnamed TheDevout. ^ HisActshadescapedtheresearchesofColgan; and,hence, very few circumstances, concerning his life, are recorded. However, that writer had no doubt, the Acts of our saint were extant, in his time, although hehadbeenunabletoprocurethem. For,notonlyhisfestivalday,buthis race, the places in which he had been venerated, and the year of his death, had been recorded, by our early Martyrologists and Annalists.
' In Fragmentum Historise de Pontifici- bus Eboracensibus.
7 See Mabillon's "Acta Sanctorum
Ordinis S. Benedict! ," pars, ii. , p. 508.
s At chapter vii.
* From him descend the Galenga tribe.
—' " * i. See Acta Sanctorum
The state : O'Clerj's
He
Article
Hibemioe," xxx. Martii. De S. Tola, Ab-
'"'"
See Acta Sanctorum," tomus iii. , See Dr. Lanigan's Ecclesiastical His*
Martii xxx. Among the pretermitted tory of Ireland," vol. iii. , chap; xixi, sect;
bate et Episcopo, pp. 793, 794.
saints, p. 796;
3 According to Rev* Anthony Cogan, this
holy man, whom he regards as Bishop of Cldnard, was son of Dunchadh, of the
'•
worthy soldier of Christi" See "Ecclesiastical History of the Diocese of Meath, Ancient and Modefti,"
vol. ii, pp. 15, 30, 2t.
< Colgan attributes its authorship to Cor*
mac,KingandArchbishopofMunster.
viii. , n. 106, p. 173.
Galengi family, and a
' See
*'
Acta Sanctoram Hibernioe," xxx»
Martii, n. 3, p. 794.
to the race of Corbmac, son to Tadhgj son to
Cian, son of Oilioll Olum*
*°
"
Alluding to this place, in Harris' Warcj
Bishops of Kildare," at p; 382, we
vol. ii,
thus read :
in the county of Tipperary instead of the cctunty of J/frtM ; but he is guilty of a worse error m putting it in Colgan's mouth to say, that this St. Tola, founder of the Abbey of Desert' Tola^ had been before Tola the Abbot of Ardbreccain, which Colgan expressly
"
Al! emaH(ie\>\&ct\. h Desert- Told
belonged
March 30. ] LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS, 1009
CalendarofCashel,"thatplacewassituatedinMeath; but,otherauthorities
place it within the Dalcassian territory, in the northern part of Munster. " It
was supposed '3 to have been, in Dealbhna,^* or Delvin, and situated in the
present Garrycastle barony. King's County. The true site, however, is said
to have been at Dysart Taula,'5 in the parish of Killoolagh, barony of Delvin, inthecountyofWestmeath. '^ Atthisplace,helivedaneremiticallife,for
some years ;'7 and, according to one account, he built a monastery, in the eighth century. ^^ Such was the fame of his sanctity, that many disciples wereattractedthither; and,overthese,heexercisedtheruleofAbbot. The site of this old church is still pointed out, but its walls have been uprooted.
Itisassumed,thatamonastery\yasattheplace; whilethis,andtheancient cemetery, have been sacrilegiously profaned. ^9
Afterwards, St. Tola was assumed to a higher dignity, having been called upon to preside over Clonard see, in Meath. ^° Apparently referring to this holy man, it is said, in Harris' Ware,*' that Tola Mac-Dunchad was Bishop of Clonard and of Kildare. However, it may be admitted, that Kildara =* has slipped in,*3 instead of Disert-Tola. ** Hence proceeded the mistake of
Harris, who made him bishop, not only of Clonard,*^ but, likewise, of Kil- dare. '^ Elsewhere, we do not find the latter place mentioned, in reference
to our saint. ^7 Although, perhaps, a contemporary with Tola, Bishop of Ardbraccan, in Meath, who died a. d. 760, our saint was a different person.
He also lived at a time, posterior to that, when flourished Tolua, or Toluan,
denieth, and saith that our Tola was not
Abbot of Ardbreccain, but another Tola, who
'^ "
See L. Aug. Alemand's Histoire
Monastique d'Irlande," p. 68. "
'9 See Rev. A. Cogan's Diocese of
Meath, Ancient and vol. iii. , Modem,"
chap. Ixxiv. , p. 560.
^ Colgan doubts not, but that his name
had been venerated in Clonard church, over which he presided, although no mention of this circumstance occurs, as he states, in our Irish records.
died in the year 760. "
" See
" Acta Sanctorum Hiber-
Colgan's
nise," XXX. Martii, nn. 4, 5, p. 794.
" The Rev. Dr. Lanigan remarks, that it lay, perhaps, at the boundary of both provinces. In former times, Meath and Munster met each other, in what is now called the King's County, which has been
'' See vol. " i. ,
139- *^
in the
which Colgan has, in "Trias Thauma-
turga," p. 629, of the bishops, abbots, &c. , of Kildare, from the beginning down to the
thirteenth century, at Quinta Appendix ad Acta S. BrigidiE, cap. ii. , no St. Tola is reckoned among them.
^3 enume- In that where Colgan
rates the of Clonard, at the 23rd of Bishops
February, when treating about S. Finian. See "Acta Sanctoram Hibernise," p. 407.
** But, regarding such statement. Dr. Lanigan remarks : "In Tola's Acts at 30th March, in which Colgan collected every- thing he could find concerning him, Kildare
made of that up districts,
of those provinces.
This Dealbhna was, in all probability, the one
the —
M'Coghlan's country
"
of Meath,"
'3 Rev. Dr. By
minute Catalogue,
who thinks, that this may be deduced from the circumstance, related by the Four Masters, at A. D. 1034, about Garten, Lord of Dealbhna, having been killed by some of his subjects, when
*'
Again,
very
entering the church of Disert-Tola.
surnamed
Eathra,
or barony of Garrycastle. "
passage,
48, 49.
'5 It it marked, on the
Meath," p. 139. Again, at Bishops of Kildare," p. 382.
Lanigan,
Ecclesiastical History of Ireland," vol. iii. , chap. , xix. ,
sect, viii. , n. 107, pp. 173, 174.
'* Harris enumerates seven territories in
Ireland, which were called Dealbhna, usually Anglicized, Delvin. To distinguish them, there were different other names affixed. See Harris' Ware, vol.
Agrestin repeated
charges,
repUed :
presence
of
desired, likewise, to have St. Fara on his side ; but, this Abbess wisely rejected his calumnies, for she knew too well the great virtues of Eustasius. However, various manifestations of an extraordinary character were visited on those, who took part with Agrestin ; and, a visible mark of God's dis-
pleasure was soon inflicted, on the unfortunate delinquent. Shortly before the expiration of that year,"^^ he was slain, with a blow —of an axe by his
or not
commit himself to decide he had intended to dishonour. Amatus and Romaric then sought reconciliation with our saint, while the Gaulish bishops began to favour the Columbian institute. Foremost among these was St. Eligius,^9 Bishop of Noyon. The term of pilgrimage on earth was now aj> proaching for St. Eustace, and while he was still actively engaged, in found- ing houses of his Order, the infirmities of his body increased. He told the disciples, that his desire was to leave behind him the sufferings of this life j and, then directing all his aspirations towards Heaven, he received the Holy Viaticum, with gicat devotion, and bade a last adieu to the monks, who stood sorrowing at his bed-side. He foretold the day of his death, and, thus, he passed away resignedly, to the bright rewards of the blessed. St. Eustasius died, on the 29th day of i\iarch,7° a. d. 625,7^ and, he was succeeded, by St. Wandelbert,72inthegovernmentofhisAbbey,atBobbio. TherelicsofSt. Eustace, were preserved, in ihe Benedictine Abbey of Vergaville, in the
's The Bolhudists remark, that this
name was a common one, in the seventh
**
century.
** He was
venerated,
on the
13th
of
Sep-
Probably A. D. 623.
^ His feast occurs, at the 1st of Decem-
ber.
'° See " Histoire Ecclesiastique,* Fleury's
tome viii. , liv. xxxvii. , sect, xxvii. , p. 265.
tember.
*' His feast occurs, at the 8th of Decern.
ber.
"
7* His feast occurs, at the 2nd of May.
'' See
Circle of the Seasons," p. 89.
Jonas
March 29. ] LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. 1005
diocese of Metz, until its destruction, a. d. 1792. 73 It had long been the
custom, for pilgrims to resort thither, while many possessed and demented personswereknowntohavebeenhealedathisshrine. Therelicshadbeen
removed therefrom, when the religious quitted their monastery ; nor were they kept, without considerable risk, owing to the infidel spirit of that time. They were carried away, and concealed, by the last Abbess, Madame de la Marche, in the house of M. Labrosse, Curi of Suriauville, where they remained for many years. They were surrendered by him, in 1804, on the return of security, to Mgr. Antoine Eustache Osmond, Bishop of Nancy \ and, they were perfectly authenticated, by the cure's testimony", and by that of other witnesses. The relics of St. Eustace were placed, in two shrines, in the Benedictine priory of Flavigny-sur-Moselle, in Meurthe, a. d. 1834; but, at present, there appear to be some doubts entertained, regarding those portions, which in reality belonged to our saint. However, the following are enumerated, viz. : first, the chief bone of the body ; secondly, that of the left groin, but incomplete ; thirdly, the lower part of a thigh-bone j fourthy, the upper part of the right femoral-bone ; fifthly, the left shoulder-bone ; and sixthly, the left shoulder-blade. In 1670, the bones of St. Eustace and of St. Walbert74 were exchanged, between Luxeuil and Vergaville. At the latter place, no remains of our saint now exist, but the old Abbey has been levelled to the ground. ^s The feast of St. Eustacius is kept, on the 29th of March. This is not to be found, indeed, in the genuine Martyrologies of Venerable Bede, nor of Usuard. However, besides the insertion met with, in the Roman Martyrology 3 we are able to ascertain, that it was entered, in many very ancient Calendars. Among others may be quoted, that of Ado? ^ and the edition of Usuard, edited by Greuen, by Molanus, and by others. A Manuscript copy of Florarius has doubtfully entered the statement, about his presiding over six hundred monks, or over two hundred. Notker enters this festival, and he states, that our saint was of Burgundy, and belonged to the monastery of Luxovium. For this latter word, Bellinus has incorrectly sub-
stituted "
Lugdunensis
Monasterii," and Petrus de Natalibus ^^ has " Lima-
ciensis monasterii. " The feast of Eustasius is entered, likewise, by Galesinus,
Maurilycus, Felicius, Canisius, Trithemius,? ^ Wion, Menard, Dorgain,
Bucelin, and by the author of Kalendarium Sanctorum Ordinis S. Benedicti. 79 At Luxeu, on the 29th of Marchj St. Eustasius, Abbot, who followed St.
Columbanus from Scotia, according to Dempster ^° and happily ended his life in Burgundy, had a commemoration. ^^ He is classed by the writer
quoted, among the Scottish saints. ^^ In like manner, the Martyrology, for the use of the Church of Aberdeen,^3 places his festival, at the 4th of the
" 8ee "Les Petits tomeiv. , Mars. 29,p. 50.
''' Also called Waldebert.
«° In " Scoticum. " Menologium
75 See " Les Petits
tome iv,, Mars. 29, pp. 50, 5 li
rities, the Bollandist commentatot adds J
" At fuisse S. Eustasium mox Burgundum
ex Actis constabit. Concludimus hunc
Commentarium cum disticho hoc Wandel*
1^ He
2
" S. Eustasii Ab- Depositio
ix. , cap.
^3 it states
:
Ipso
die
deposicio
Sancti
BoUandistes," &c. j
BoUandistes," &Ci,
says
batis, discipuli S. Columbani, qui patre berti : ferme sexcentorum extitit monochorum, et
vitce sanctitate conspicuus, etiam miraculis
claruit. "
" Lib. ivi, cap. it.
7' " De Virus lUustribus Ordinis S. tiene-
dicti," cap. 70.
» He follows Petrus De J^'atalibus, ^ho
supposing Eustasius to be another person, has it, that he died, on the V. of the Octobef Ides. See lib. 2.
Eustasius quarti virtutis Idude cortlscat, Abba Columbaimo nituit qui rite Magistro;**
—
Martii xxix, Commentarius prtevius, nUpii
^'
Afterenumeratingtheforegoingautho'
See "Acta Sanctorum," tomus iii;,
4, $, p. 785.
^'^
See Bishop Forbes*
''
Kalendars df
Scottish Saints," p. 194. "
ioo6 LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS.
[March 29.
April Kalends, while it has a feast of St. Columban, at the same day. ^^ However, while citing two old authorities, viz. , Ado,^s and a Manuscript Calendar of the Breviary of St. Waldetrude, for a similar statement, the Bol-
feast of his disciple, St. Eustasius, which belongs to the 29th of March.
landists ^^ that yet consider,
to some
which in reality belongs to the 21st of November, had been placed on the
owing
error,
the festival of the
master,
This, indeed, seems to be the proper explanation. The " Circle of the "
Seasons ^^ notes it at this date. In an eulogy, pronounced on the illustrious Eustace, and prefixed to his Life, by Jonas,^^ we are informed, that he never
ceased exhorting and preaching to his disciples, to make their election sure, by the performance of good works, and especially, by those of mortification,
and denial, while despising all earthly things. Under his guardianship, his monks were not depressed by sorrow, nor were they elated by excessive joy.
Love and respect were blended together, towards their holy superior ; for, his wholesome doctrine fortified their souls, with words of wisdom and moderation, while his own candour was communicated to those spiritual children, who always prepared their hearts, in a spirit of humility, penitence, and charity, to receive the best gifts of God, sought from earnest and devout prayers.
Article VI. —St. Aedan, or Aedhan, of Derrybrughas, County of Armagh. TheBollandists,^ontheauthorityoftheMartyrologiesofTallagh and of Marianus O'Gorman, place the festival, Aidanus de doire Bruchaisse, at the 29th of March. Aedan Dairi Brucais is now known as Derrybrughas,^^ alias,Killyman,3intheCountyofArmagh; and,athischurch,whichseems to have existed from the seventh century, the present saint was venerated. '* An entry occurs, in the Martyrology of Tallagh,s at the 29th of March, Aedan Dairi Brucais. St. Edan, Bishop and Confessor, was venerated, at the 29th of March f and, formerly, he had an Office of nine Lessons, as we learn, from an old Kalendar. ? We read, in the Martyrology of Donegal ^ that on this day was venerated, Aedhan, of Doire Bmchaisi, or Doire Bru- chuse. 9
Article VII. —Festival of St. Gregory of Nazianzum. At the 29th
Eustacij abbatis monasterij Luxouiensis. Item Sancti Columbani. "
ii. , pp. 493, 494. A portion of this parish is in the barony of Oneilland West, and this is marked, on the " Ordnance Survey Town- land Maps for the County of Armagh," Sheets l, 4 ; while another portion is in the barony of Middle Dungannon, and this is noted, on the " Ordnance Survey Townland MapsfortheCountyofTytone, Sheets46,
47> 54) 55-
* See Dr. O'Donovan's " Annals of the
Four Masters," vol. i. , pp. 294, 295, and tt. (e. ) Ibid.
^* See "Proceedings of the Society of Antiquaries of Scotland," vol. ii. Edited by David Laing, Esq. , F. S. A. Scot. , p. 263.
'^s " Coenobii Leodiensis ad S. Lauren- tium. "
^ See "Acta Sanctorum," tomus iii. ,
Martii xxix. feasts, p. 768.
87 See p. 89. ^' See "Acta
Among
the
pretermitted
Martii xxix. , — Article vi.
'
Martii xxix. mitted saints, p. 766.
at this date,
tomus
the Among preter-
btxticcAf,
* Or Kal. iv.
"
This townland is in the parish of Drum- among the Codices of Trinity College
iii. ,
Aprilis.
' In the Manuscript, classed B. 3. 12,
tomus
See "Acta Sanctorum,"
Sanctorum," p 786.
the Franciscan we read, ^etJAn
copy, "Ooipe
cree, and barony of Oneilland West. It is
shown, on the " Ordnance Survey Townland
Maps for the County of Armagh," Sheet 5- 3 See an account of this parish, in the
Library, Dublin.
^Edited by Drs. Todd and Reeves, pp.
88, 89.
' I find the following mimoranduHt, also,
in William M. Hennessy's copy of this work.
*'
Parliamentary Gazetteer of Ireland," vol.
s Edited iii. , by
Rev. Dr. xx. In Kelly, p.
March 29. ] LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. 1007
of March, we find, in the Feilire ^ of St. ^(Engus, a commemoration of the festivalofthegreatSt. GregoryofNazianzum. TheBollandists,'likewise,
citing the Manuscript Martyrology of Treves, of Saints Martin and of Maxi- minus, have his festival at this date ; although, they state, that the 9th of May is set apart, for his chief feast.
Article VIII. —St. Mac Lubhnain, Physician. On the 29th of
the of ^ entersthenameofMacLumaniLiaich. March, Martyrology Tallagh
Quoting the foregoing authority, together with that of Marianus O'Gorman, the Bollandists ^ enter a festival, for Maclubnanus Liaich, at the same date.
The Martyrology of Donegal,3 at this day, records the designation, with Mac Lubhnain, as Physician, having veneration paid to him.
Article IX. —Feast of a Reputed St. Lerra, Virgin.
In the
Martyrology of Tallagh,^ as published by the Rev. Dr. Kelly, there is a St. '^
Lerra, Virgin, entered at the 29th of March. But, in the published Martyr- ology of Donegal, I find no such notice.
Article X. —Reputed Festival of St. Baldred, Priest and
Hermit, in Scotland. \Seventh and Eighth Centuries^ Some of the
Scottish historians and Calendarists, such as John Major, Hector Boece,
Camerarius, and Lesley, have entered the festival of this holy man, at the
29thofMarch. JohnWilson^andFerrarius^haveasimilarnotice,atthe
same date. 3 Already have we given his Acts, at the 6th of this month. After
the death of St. Kentigern, about a. d. 530, St. Baldred, his suffragan, became
famous, in Laudonia. At the 29th day of March, a St. Baldred, Confessor,
and Bishop of Glasgow, who had great authority and favour among Dynasts and princes, is commemorated. * Worn out with extreme age, he is said to
havedied,inthehouseoftheparishpriestofAldhame. Theplaceofhis interment was concealed, by a miraculous phantasy. 5 This saint is called^
" Airudh brosga, Derrybrusk, County Fer-
managh. " —
Article vii. From the Leabhar
Breac copy, Professor O'Looney has fur-
nished the following stanza, with the Eng- lish translation :—
K), 1111. kL t4 Lich irijeii mbAici pAif fltiAig moip CO ]:eli
1 fell/ pi% CO ruA^i 5^1501^ tiAjpem.
" At the feast of the daughter of Buite
The passion of a numerous host, who had been chaste,
On the feast of a pure perfect man,
Gregory of Nazarene (Nazi- anzum)i"
*"
See Acta Sanctoriiin," tonius iii. ,
Martii xxix. the
Among pretermitted
'See "Acta SanctorUm," tomus iii. , Martii xxix. Among the pretermitted feasts, p. 766.
3 Edited by Drs. Todd and Reeves, pp. 88, 89.
—
feasts, p. 767* Article viii.
rum. " Yet, in his notes, Baltred, at this
date, is distinguished from Baldred, of the 6th of March.
3 See the Bollandists' "Acta Sanctorum,'* tomus i. , Martii vi; De Sanctis Anachore- tis Balthero Presbytero et Bilfrido Aurifabro, in Scotia et AngUa, sect, iv. , num. 18, p. 452.
* See Scottish Entries in the Kalendar of David Camerarius. Bishop Forbes' "Kal* endars of Scottish Saints," p. 236.
'
—
Kelly, p. XX. In the Franciscan copy, we * See Breviarium Aberdonense. Pars find, rriAC LumnAin, at this day. Hyemalis, fol. Ixiii. , Ixiiii.
'Edited by Rev. Dr.
Article ix.
»
See
xx. The Francis-
p.
can copy seems to read, tA^XA Hip, at this
date.
*
It is probable, this entry has reference
to the Virgin, Lassar, already commemo- rated, at this date.
Article X. —' In his "
Anglicanum. " ^"
Martyrologium
In his Catalogus Generalis Sancto-
ioo8 LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS.
[March 30.
Baltherus. 7 At a. d. 756, Simeon of Durham, gives the date for his death. We cannot be sure, however, that tliis Celtic saint was an Irishman by birth.
Cfiirtietft laap of ilarrft*
ARTICLE I. —ST. TOLA, ABBOT AND BISHOP OF DISERT TOLA [SEVENTH AND EIGHTH CENTURIES. \
the present pious servant of Christ was a useful worker, in his
hardly
The father of this saint was named Dunchad. He was son to Ernin,3 son of Garuan, according to the Psalter* and Calendar of Cashel. The latter even more fully traces his family line. s Thus, it informs us, that Garuan was son to Senan, son of Muredach, son to Failgluin, son of Brogan, son to CorbmacGalengi,^sonofTadge,sontoKien. 7 ThepedigreeofSt. Tolais drawn from the race of Kien, son to Olild Olum, and he descended from the
illustrious Galengi family. ^ This tribe, according to the supposition of Dr. Lanigan, inhabited some of those districts known as Galenga, or Gallen.
There was a Gallen, or Galien, which comprised a great part of Carlow and Kildare counties, with some of the Queen's County. As the situation of that place, where our saint commenced his career, was not far removed from this latter district, according to the same authority, it is not improbable, Tola had his birth within that territory. 9 It is likely enough, that he was born, after the middle of the seventh century. For many years, our saint led the life of a hermit, at a place called Disert Tola," or Tola's Desert. According to the
THAT
be doubted. has collected some Colgan
Master's can
vineyard,
particulars, with a view to supply his Acts, at the present date. ' The Bol- landists merely notice him, also, as Tola, Bishop of Disert Tola, surnamed TheDevout. ^ HisActshadescapedtheresearchesofColgan; and,hence, very few circumstances, concerning his life, are recorded. However, that writer had no doubt, the Acts of our saint were extant, in his time, although hehadbeenunabletoprocurethem. For,notonlyhisfestivalday,buthis race, the places in which he had been venerated, and the year of his death, had been recorded, by our early Martyrologists and Annalists.
' In Fragmentum Historise de Pontifici- bus Eboracensibus.
7 See Mabillon's "Acta Sanctorum
Ordinis S. Benedict! ," pars, ii. , p. 508.
s At chapter vii.
* From him descend the Galenga tribe.
—' " * i. See Acta Sanctorum
The state : O'Clerj's
He
Article
Hibemioe," xxx. Martii. De S. Tola, Ab-
'"'"
See Acta Sanctorum," tomus iii. , See Dr. Lanigan's Ecclesiastical His*
Martii xxx. Among the pretermitted tory of Ireland," vol. iii. , chap; xixi, sect;
bate et Episcopo, pp. 793, 794.
saints, p. 796;
3 According to Rev* Anthony Cogan, this
holy man, whom he regards as Bishop of Cldnard, was son of Dunchadh, of the
'•
worthy soldier of Christi" See "Ecclesiastical History of the Diocese of Meath, Ancient and Modefti,"
vol. ii, pp. 15, 30, 2t.
< Colgan attributes its authorship to Cor*
mac,KingandArchbishopofMunster.
viii. , n. 106, p. 173.
Galengi family, and a
' See
*'
Acta Sanctoram Hibernioe," xxx»
Martii, n. 3, p. 794.
to the race of Corbmac, son to Tadhgj son to
Cian, son of Oilioll Olum*
*°
"
Alluding to this place, in Harris' Warcj
Bishops of Kildare," at p; 382, we
vol. ii,
thus read :
in the county of Tipperary instead of the cctunty of J/frtM ; but he is guilty of a worse error m putting it in Colgan's mouth to say, that this St. Tola, founder of the Abbey of Desert' Tola^ had been before Tola the Abbot of Ardbreccain, which Colgan expressly
"
Al! emaH(ie\>\&ct\. h Desert- Told
belonged
March 30. ] LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS, 1009
CalendarofCashel,"thatplacewassituatedinMeath; but,otherauthorities
place it within the Dalcassian territory, in the northern part of Munster. " It
was supposed '3 to have been, in Dealbhna,^* or Delvin, and situated in the
present Garrycastle barony. King's County. The true site, however, is said
to have been at Dysart Taula,'5 in the parish of Killoolagh, barony of Delvin, inthecountyofWestmeath. '^ Atthisplace,helivedaneremiticallife,for
some years ;'7 and, according to one account, he built a monastery, in the eighth century. ^^ Such was the fame of his sanctity, that many disciples wereattractedthither; and,overthese,heexercisedtheruleofAbbot. The site of this old church is still pointed out, but its walls have been uprooted.
Itisassumed,thatamonastery\yasattheplace; whilethis,andtheancient cemetery, have been sacrilegiously profaned. ^9
Afterwards, St. Tola was assumed to a higher dignity, having been called upon to preside over Clonard see, in Meath. ^° Apparently referring to this holy man, it is said, in Harris' Ware,*' that Tola Mac-Dunchad was Bishop of Clonard and of Kildare. However, it may be admitted, that Kildara =* has slipped in,*3 instead of Disert-Tola. ** Hence proceeded the mistake of
Harris, who made him bishop, not only of Clonard,*^ but, likewise, of Kil- dare. '^ Elsewhere, we do not find the latter place mentioned, in reference
to our saint. ^7 Although, perhaps, a contemporary with Tola, Bishop of Ardbraccan, in Meath, who died a. d. 760, our saint was a different person.
He also lived at a time, posterior to that, when flourished Tolua, or Toluan,
denieth, and saith that our Tola was not
Abbot of Ardbreccain, but another Tola, who
'^ "
See L. Aug. Alemand's Histoire
Monastique d'Irlande," p. 68. "
'9 See Rev. A. Cogan's Diocese of
Meath, Ancient and vol. iii. , Modem,"
chap. Ixxiv. , p. 560.
^ Colgan doubts not, but that his name
had been venerated in Clonard church, over which he presided, although no mention of this circumstance occurs, as he states, in our Irish records.
died in the year 760. "
" See
" Acta Sanctorum Hiber-
Colgan's
nise," XXX. Martii, nn. 4, 5, p. 794.
" The Rev. Dr. Lanigan remarks, that it lay, perhaps, at the boundary of both provinces. In former times, Meath and Munster met each other, in what is now called the King's County, which has been
'' See vol. " i. ,
139- *^
in the
which Colgan has, in "Trias Thauma-
turga," p. 629, of the bishops, abbots, &c. , of Kildare, from the beginning down to the
thirteenth century, at Quinta Appendix ad Acta S. BrigidiE, cap. ii. , no St. Tola is reckoned among them.
^3 enume- In that where Colgan
rates the of Clonard, at the 23rd of Bishops
February, when treating about S. Finian. See "Acta Sanctoram Hibernise," p. 407.
** But, regarding such statement. Dr. Lanigan remarks : "In Tola's Acts at 30th March, in which Colgan collected every- thing he could find concerning him, Kildare
made of that up districts,
of those provinces.
This Dealbhna was, in all probability, the one
the —
M'Coghlan's country
"
of Meath,"
'3 Rev. Dr. By
minute Catalogue,
who thinks, that this may be deduced from the circumstance, related by the Four Masters, at A. D. 1034, about Garten, Lord of Dealbhna, having been killed by some of his subjects, when
*'
Again,
very
entering the church of Disert-Tola.
surnamed
Eathra,
or barony of Garrycastle. "
passage,
48, 49.
'5 It it marked, on the
Meath," p. 139. Again, at Bishops of Kildare," p. 382.
Lanigan,
Ecclesiastical History of Ireland," vol. iii. , chap. , xix. ,
sect, viii. , n. 107, pp. 173, 174.
'* Harris enumerates seven territories in
Ireland, which were called Dealbhna, usually Anglicized, Delvin. To distinguish them, there were different other names affixed. See Harris' Ware, vol.
