The water of this well was used for curing the ague ; it
is to be presumed, at a period, when that disease was more prevalent in Ireland, than it is at present.
is to be presumed, at a period, when that disease was more prevalent in Ireland, than it is at present.
O'Hanlon - Lives of the Irish Saints - v9
5 This County
6 This
was also written
bishop, styled St. Macculindus, is commemorated at this date by Rev. Alban
;
amabilis. Hie erat stabilis, et constans in fide: ut Petrus doctor egregius, et vas elec- tionis ut Paulus : virilis ut Andreas, diuina gratia plenus ut Joannes. Quid moror in verbis ? nam omnibus Apostolis erat con- similis ; per omnia illorum stquens vestigia, Qui felici commercio, caduca pro seternis. peritura commutauit mansuris. Vbi inter
—" Transactions of the
place
Lusga.
holy
Butler. ? Bishop Forbes has a notice of him, likewise, in his u Kalendars of Scottish Saints. " 8 By some writers, this saint is called the son of Cathmoga, and by others of Cathbad. But, MacCuilind or MacCullin is the name by which he is generally known, and hence we are allowed to assume, that he was son to a man named Cullin. We are well inclined to disbelieve the story of his descent horn an unknown King, and the circumstance related regarding his origin, as found in the Second Lesson of his Office. The O'Clerys state, that Cuinnigh was his first name,s> and that he belonged to the race of Tadhg, son to Cian, son of Oihll Olum. 10 This of course over- leaps his genealogy for many generations. Under the head of Lusca, Duald Mac Firbis enters Mac Cuilinn, of Lusca. 11 We are that Luachan
bishop told,
Moc Cuilinn was his proper name, and that Cainnigh, Caindigh, or Caindedh, washisfirstname. ThisSaintislikewisecalledCinneadh,Cuindedhe,Cuin- nigh and Cainnech. According to the Office, from his mother when baptised he received the name of Maculinus, and he was carefully instructed in a course of studies. As he advanced in years, his morals were exemplary, and
his religious dispositions were manifested in prayer, vigils, and fasting. Even while a youth, miracles are attributed to him, and his fame for sanctity was
very generally diffused. We can well afford to pass over what is vague and obscure in his office, with the names of unknown persons and reported
verba quibus sancti Presulis congrua laude Stokes
enerramus gesta. Erat enim aspectu pair of champions divides (this clay), the angelicus : in sermone verax et nitidus : in feast of Sciath here we have : Colomb of iudicio iustus. Nulli odibilis cunctis fair Ross Glandae. "
cetcmos Dei sanctos et electos, in regno Ordnance Survey Records, p. 131.
patris sui fulget tanquam sol, et tanquam scintilla in arundineto discurret : nationes judicabit : et cum vero justitia? sole electos
"
^ See Lives of the Fathers, Martyrs,
and other Principal Saints," vol ix. , Sep- tember 6.
8 See
9 See " of edited Martyrology Donegal,"
by Rev. Drs. Todd and Reeves, pp. 236, 237.
10
Oilill Olum, King of Munster, died a. D 234, according to Dr. O'Donovan's " Annals of the Four Masters," vol. i. , pp.
112,113.
" See "Transactions of the Royal Irish
cum
sancto viuit in secula saeculorum.
et Amen.
congregabit. Qui
patre,
3 In the Leabh—ar Breac copy, we find the
p. 379.
following rami
LufCAi la TTUcc Cuilirro Cam -oecheng Acr\enx)Ai peil ScecVu func Im-oi Colum rtuirf 51L 5I&1V041.
:
spiritu
Academy," Irish Manuscript Series, vol. i. , Thus translated into English by Dr. Whitley part i. , pp. 120, 131.
:
" With Mac Cuilinn of Lusk a fair
Royal Irish Academy," Irish Manuscript Series, vol. i. , part i. On the calendar of
Oengus, p. cxxxvi.
4
Edited by Rev. Dr. Kelly, p. xxxiii.
5 In that copy found in the Book of Lein- ster, we read at this date, ttlACCulin-o epf
LurcA.
*
See "Extracts for the County of Dublin. "
September 6. ] LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. 169
acts, that have no authentication in other historic documents. We may accept, however, the traditions regarding his charity and kindness towards the poor and strangers ; that his preaching effected the conversion of many sinners and led them on to the path of salvation ; that he was assiduous in study, and in his devotions. It is stated, moreover, that he laboured much, in founding churches and monasteries ; and that he left the province of
Leinster,
to become a
disciple
of a St.
Gregory,
12 who dwelt in the district
J
written Carbrinum 3 and under such direction, he read the Gospel and
;
Epistle, by which we are probably to understand a curriculum of theology and of Sacred Scripture. While there, it is related, that he procured the restoration of sight to the blind son, and the use of speech to the dumb
of a certain named Acchoreus. 1 * Other miracles of his daughter* Regulus,
are also reported. Next we are told, that Maculin went over to Scotland, where he wrought many celebrated prodigies, such as that of delivering the country from the ravages of a monstrous beast, and for which he received the thanks and gratitude of all the Albanians. Thence he is said to have undertaken a journey to Rome, where Pope Gregory then presided, and where by him, through angelic monition, Maculin was promoted to the epis- copal dignity. On that occasion, a remarkable light from Heaven seemed to be diffused around them. Afterwards, Pope Gregory directed him to return to his own province, and to seek the place where his resurrection was to be. An led him to a
angel
heerectedamonastery. Again,byangelicinspiration,itissaid,hefounded a monastery designated Albamense,16 and in it he remained for some time. He is stated, likewise, to have founded twelve monasteries, but in what particular places, we do not find mentioned in St. Maculin's Proper Office. An ancient Life of St. Ciaran, of Clonmacnois, states, that it
was Mac Cuilinn and Odhran of
province
1? who told Ciaran,18 that his life should be a short one. As he died towards the middle of the sixth century, if the Mac Cuilinn alluded to be identical—as would seem—with the present holy man, our saint must have lived before that time ! St. Maculinus became Bishop of Lusk,x9 but under what circumstances, and at what
time, we are not creditably informed. In one particular Manuscript, he is styled an Archbishop ; but this is likely to be an error. The village of Lusk,
12
This was probably the locally celebrated Gregory of the Golden month, who has been from time immemorial venerated along the south-western and western shores of Ireland, although his name is not to be found in our calendars.
13 No district in Ireland is known to have
•' His feast occurs, on the 2nd of October.
,8 His festival occurs, at the 9th of Sep- tember. See at that date, his Acts in the present volume, Art. i.
I9 The commentator, on that copy of the Feilire of St. /Engus in the Leabhar Brea—c
Manuscript, thus attempts in an Irish not—e
:
house prius. A house was made of weeds
prius, et ab eo uominatur lusca quasi weed-
house, because what is now called ttch used
formerly to he called ca. Whence ulcha
borne such a denomination but, probably ;
translated Stokes, LL. D. by Whitley
and town called 1 * where Durpconyle,
Lettrech,
to account for the origin of this name " A for which, in the form of Carbry, there are house of lustoc, i. e. , of ragweed (? ). i. e. . a equivalents in the south and west of house and weed diustoic (? ), for he had no
it is a transcriber's error for Carbreum, and
Ireland.
14 Such a personage does not turn up in
our annals.
15 No such name is known in Irish topo-
graphy ; but, it seems to have been incor-
rectly written or altered, from the original by the scribe who copied our Saint's Proper
Office, and who was evidently unacquainted with the Iri>h language and history.
16 Such local denomination in Ireland is unknown.
'
beard' quasi ol-cha cheek-house'), whence
'
also cerd-cha (' artisan-house,'
Lnsca, then i. e. ca. lalamlusca, i. e. earth. "--" Transactions of the Royal Irish
Academy," Irish Manuscript Series, vol. i. , part i. On the Calendar of Oengus, by Whitley Stokes, LL. D. , p. cxliii.
forge '). house of
170 LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. [September 6.
in the parish of the same denomination, is situated in the Barony of Bal-
rothery East, and County of Dublin. It is a place of undoubted antiquity,
and the present cemetery and Protestant Church occupy the site of the more
primitive monastic establishment. The church there is of medieval erection.
Before the latest alterations, the interior consisted of two aisles, divided by
a range of seven arches, which had been built up, the east end only having
been used as a for 20 in the eastern the windows place worship. Except part,
had been closed with masonry, and the whole body of the fabric wore a chill and neglected air. The north aisle was 150 feet in length. In the west end is a square embattled turret, and attached to three of its angles are rounded towers, finishing with the graduated parapets, so often observable in the
Church and Round Tower of Lusk.
ecclesiastical and medieval edifices of Ireland. 21 On the fourth angle there is a fine round tower, attached to the embattled turret, and it rises near the site of the more ancient church. 22 It is of greater altitude than the other towers, and it seems to be the most ancient part of the structure. It is of greater diameter than is usual in most of those curious fabrics, although the height is not equal to many of the same class throughout Ireland. 2 3 A very learned authority, on subjects connected with the civil and ecclesiasttcal History of Ireland, says, that St. Maccullinn, as he was its first bishop, is undoubtedly the patron Saint of Lusk. The terms found in his Proper Office lead to an inference, that when settled at Lusk, Macalin was surrounded
20 There is a spirited wood-engraving of a Grey. It represents the church as lately sketch by Samuel Lover, Esq. , R. I LA. , restored, and differing from that presented showing the church of Lusk, its eastern in a previous engraving, in the Second
window, and a portion of the turret, in the " Irish Penny Magazine," vol. i-, No. 19, Saturday, May nth, 1832, p. 145.
21 The present illustration of Lusk church and Round Tower is drawn from a photo- graph on the wood, engraved by Gregor
Volume of this work, at the 20th of February, Art. i.
"See Mr. and Mrs. S. C. Hall's "Ireland :
its Scenery, Character," &c, vol. ii. , p. 347. "
23 See J. N. Brewer's Beauties of Ire- land," voli. , pp. 253, 254-
September 6. ] LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. 171
with numbers of just men, who probably lived in a community life under his direction. Moreover, it is asserted, that when he had there exercised ponti- fical functions, Angels appeared, and marked out the boundaries for a ceme- tery ; and therefore an impression went among the people, that whoesoever might be interred there should escape the punishment of Hell in the future life. At that place St. Maculin afterwards lived, while many flocked to him as a master of the spiritual life, and others presented themselves to him with their monasteries for his guidance. However, Maculin desired rather to be a subject himself, than to rule ; and, he selected a venerable man, named Eolangus,24 whom he wished to serve and select as his superior. This latter had a presentiment of his intention, and was rejoiced to receive Maculin and
said to his " Let our disciples;
his At that companions.
time, Eolang
religious guests be hospitably entertained, but on to-morrow, let them return
whencetheycame. Ishallnotaddressthemuntilaftersevendays,whenI shall go to the village of Lusk. " When this had been reported by the ministers to Maculin, he set out the next day, and, as Eolang had directed, towards his own habitation. Wherefore, when seven days had elapsed, according to his promise, Eolang went to Lusk,where, falling at the feet of its
:
holysuperior,hesaid "TotheeandtoGod,Iofferbothmyselfandmy
"
would desire always to be your subject. " Eolang answered " And thus I
monastery. " Then,intears,Maculinreplied:
expostulate, in demanding from you a reward, that in the same place our
"
you. If hitherto it—has greatly troubled me, that I have not had a suitable
resurrection shall be. " Maculin replied :
superior or prelate to whom should I always be a subject and subjected,
without being deemed unworthy ? " Then returned Eolang tk To-day I
:
commit you to the care of that Sovereign Ruler, whom all superiors obey. For, as to no one but Himself has been given an ecclesiastical superiority over you, so to none but Himself does He wish you to be a servant. " Soon, in the same place, our Lord Jesus Christ, with a choir of Angels, appeared to
them. Thencriedout " Eolang :
My God,
Immediately, taking Maculin by the right hand, our Lord raised him aloft.
Wholly astonished and filled with anxiety lest his friend was about to be
:
removed from this life, Eolang cried out with emotion " O glorious King,
who reigneth in Heaven, deign to leave him for some time longer on earth ! "
Then the Lord released him, and a wonderful effulgence shone about Macu-
lin's hand, which could not even be seen on account of that very brightness.
Through humility, the saint afterwards wore a glove on the hand so honoured ;
but in proportion to the great exercise of that virtue, so much the more was
he exalted in the of God and man. It is 2 * that Maculin of Lusk sight stated,
visited Scotland twice, and that there he was held in repute. So far as we can understand an evidently faulty construction in the Office, St. Maculin left the Monastery of Lusk to one Kuda and the disciples. But when the day of his departure approached, the holy Bishop went to his former place which he blessed ; and there having received the Sacraments for the dying, he closed this life, while the Angels were heard singing canticles of praise. Moreover, it is related, that on the day of his death, the sun did not set for the fifteen days succeeding. This, doubtless, is chiefly the exaggeration of popular
24 We find two holy men of this name day ; and the other, Eolaing, of Lecan, in
mentioned in our Calendars : the one, Eolang of Achadh-bo, whose feast occurs on the 5th of September, where we have already treated about him, on the previous
Meath, whose festival was held, on the 29th of December.
2S According to the Acts, preserved in the Library of Trinity College, Dublin.
ThisIdidnotexpect,asI :
This request the Lord will grant
receivefrommethis man. " just
i7* LIVESOFTHEIRISHSAINTS. [September6.
tradition. His funeral obsequies were celebrated with great solemnity, by a multitude of Irish clergy and laity. At first, his remains seem to have been
conveyed to the cemetery, where so many of his congregation and where other saints repose. We are unable to state, because of the involved and
imperfect composition in the account, whether the becoming coffin or shrine, in which his body had been laid, and to which allusion is made, was
deposited in the grave-yard, or placed within the church of Lusk, owing to 26
2? which termed " Luska "in being
a translation of the saint's body. According to tradition, however, it is
said his remains were in a deposited
vault,
the Irish language, is supposed to have given name to the present Village of
Lusk, in Balruddery Barony, County of Dublin. In the parish of Lusk there
is a well, called Tubbercalleen, and it is supposed to have been originally a holy well, being so called from St. Calleen, or Caillin, a former saint of the
but, for over one hundred years, preceding the year 1843, these practices had been discontinued.
The water of this well was used for curing the ague ; it
is to be presumed, at a period, when that disease was more prevalent in Ireland, than it is at present. We are told, that at this well, th—ere were two stones, which according to popular tradition bore the impress one of our Saint's hand, and the other of his foot. Other legends, connected with the
2 memory of this saint, were then current in the neighbourhood of Lusk. 9
From certain criteria, Dr. Todd shows that the year of this saint's death occurred in a. d. 496. 3° Yet, the Annals of Ulster and the Chronicon Scotorum have entered the death of Chinneadha or Mic Cuilind at a. d. 497. 3I The latter authority states, that an eclipse of the sun happened on the same year; but Roderick O'Flaherty has rightly added in the margin of the MS. 496. Again, in the corresponding entry in the Annals of Tighemach, and in the same Codex, a similar correction has been made. Archdall mistook Mageoghegan's translation of the Annals of Clonmacnoise, and has made St. Macculind to have died, a. d. 497, while Cuynea M'Cathmoa is made to die in a. d. 498. 32 These are only two forms, however, of our present saint's name. This statement of Archdall seems to have led Dr Lanigan to think, two several persons were constituted bishops of Lusk, in the fifth century, but on no respectable authority he could discover. 33 Elsewhere he enquires, if a certain Culeneus could have been identical with St. MacCulindus, Bishop of Lusk, and whose feast was held on the present day. 34 The reader must at once perceive how utterly irreconcilable are the statements, that St.
26 See the " Irish Penny Magazine," vol. Thomas Campbell, 25th August, 1843, an(l "
p. 273.
^ See " The Book of Obits and
28
tember, the day of our Saint's festival, and stations were then performed at it :
primitive Irish Church.
It used to be visited by people, on the 6th Sep-
i. , No. 19, p. 146. It must be remarked, are entered in the Dublin Memorandums," "
that the valuable Illustrations of Irish
in this excellent — Topography," periodical,
Martyr- are from the pen of John D'Alton a name ology the Cathedral Church of the Holy
honourably connected with Irish history
and antiquities.
27 At present, under the square tower,
attached to the church, is a crypt or vaulted chapel ; and, it may be, that within it the body of St. Macculind had been formerly
deposited.
of
Trinity. " EditedbyJohnClarkeCrosthwaite and Rev. Dr. Todd. Introduction, n. (e) p. xlviii.
" Butler assigns his death to this year. See Lives of the Fathers, Martyrs, and other Principal Saints," vol. ix. , September 6th. He quotes Colgan's MSS. , to which he
appears to have, had access.
28
Notes by Mr. O'Donovan, in the volume
" 32 entitled, Dublin Memorandums," pp. 278,
279, belonging to the Irish Ordnance Sur- vey Office, now in the Royal Irish Academy.
* 9 The foregoing particulars in the text are derived from a communication signed
See "Monasticum Ilibernicum," p. 251. 3! lie remarks that Colgan makes no men-
tion of them.
34 See "Ecclesiastical History of Ireland,
vol i. , chap vii. , sect, v. , n. 36, p. 338.
'•
September 6. ] LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. 173
Maculind—died towards the close of the fifth century—as stated by our Irish annalists and that he had been consecrated bishop at Rome by Pope Gregory. The first Sovereign Pontiff bearing that name filled the chair of St. Peter, from a. d. 590 to a. d. 604. 35 The death of St. Maculind is recorded at a. d. 497, in the Annals of Innisfallen,36 and by the Four Masters. 37 He went to his rest in the same year, according to Diuild Mac Firbis. 38 How- ever, in the "Chronicum Scotorum," at this date, we find no such entry; but, at a. d. 544, there is notice of the "Quies" of Mac Cuilind and of Odhran from Lethracha. 39 In the Martyrology of Tallagh, at the iii. of the Nones, or 6th of September, his feast is entered. 40 What Mac Firbis says is, "quies Cuindid son of Cathbadh, i. e. Mac Cuilind, Bishop of Lusca, &c, September 6. " At the same date, his name appears in the Martyrology of Donegal,41asMacCuilinn,Bishop,ofLusc. IntheIrishCalendarbelonging to the Irish Ordnance Survey, and now transferred to the Royal Irish Academy Library, his commemoration is at this date. 43 At the 6th of September, the Bollandists remark,^ how Greven announces the feast of a bishop, called Mastulinus, in Ireland j while he is named in like manner, in their Manuscript Florarium Sanctorum, but without giving him a place. Not finding such a name in any Catalogue of Irish Saints, nor in any other authority, they pass him over, at this date; apparently not reflecting, that such an entry had been the error of a scribe for the name of Macculindus. This holy man is specially commemorated among the Cistercians. 44 At the 6th of September, St. Mac Cuillinn was venerated in Scotland, and his feast is entered in the Kalendar of Drummond. 45 This holy man had an office,40 specially to commemorate his virtues, and to distinguish him among our Saints. 4 ? This office of nine lessons is assigned to him as a Bishop and Con- fessor. 48 In Scotland, the parish of Macalen or Macallan, now annexed to
Knockandhu, or Knockando,40 has been called after MacCallan, and dedi-
35 This was the year of his death.
36 See Rev. Dr. O'Conor's "Rerum Hiber- nicarum Scriptores," tomus ii. Annales Inisfallensis, p. 4.
37 See Dr, O'Donovan's edition, vol i. , p.
See Proceedings of the Royal Irish Academy," Irish MSS. Series, vol. i. , part i. , pp. 120, 121.
39 Thus : Quier true Cuilmt) ocur O-onan O lecrvacViA. See William M. Hennessy's edition, pp. 48, 49.
40 Thus: "Mac Cuilinn Esp. Luscca. "
"
See Rev. Dr. Kelly's Calendar of Irish
Saints," p. xxxiii.
41 Edited by Rev. Drs. Todd and Reeves,
pp. 236, 237.
.
4<5 According to a MS. in T. C. D. , classed B. 1-4, which records at September the 6th, Ides viii. , Sancti Maculini Epis. et Conf. , ix. Lect. , &c. This is entered in a compara- tively recent hand. In T. C. D. , a MS. classed B. 3. I. records at September the 6th, Ides viii. , Maculini Epis. et Conf. ix. Lect. In a MS. classed B. 3. 13. in T. C. D. , we find at September the 6th, Ides viii. , Sancti Maculini Epis. non. Lect. In T. C. D. , a MS. classed B. 3. 10. records at Septem- ber 6th, Ides viii. , Sancti Maculini Epis. et Conf. ix. Lect. A MS. in T. C. D. , and classed B. 3. 12. , contains at September 6th, Ides viii. , Sancti Maculini, Archiepis. , ix. Lect. A MS. in T. C. D. , classed B. 1. 2. , has at September 6th, Ides viii. , Sancti Maculini Epis. et Conf. , Duplex fin per constit.
47 This office is denominated Vita S. Maculini. It is in Nine Lessons, and classed among the Trinity College, Dublin, Manu-
scripts, E, 3. 8. This is elegantly and legibly written, or rather letter-traced.
404, note (k). 38 "
42
See the viii. of the Ides of September
(September 6th). We find, "mac Cml/m
erp lurga cdinij-aceT) airim aoir cr\iofC
An can x>o cua-—it) an ceppoj; fo t>o cumeintrie. 407.
6 This
was also written
bishop, styled St. Macculindus, is commemorated at this date by Rev. Alban
;
amabilis. Hie erat stabilis, et constans in fide: ut Petrus doctor egregius, et vas elec- tionis ut Paulus : virilis ut Andreas, diuina gratia plenus ut Joannes. Quid moror in verbis ? nam omnibus Apostolis erat con- similis ; per omnia illorum stquens vestigia, Qui felici commercio, caduca pro seternis. peritura commutauit mansuris. Vbi inter
—" Transactions of the
place
Lusga.
holy
Butler. ? Bishop Forbes has a notice of him, likewise, in his u Kalendars of Scottish Saints. " 8 By some writers, this saint is called the son of Cathmoga, and by others of Cathbad. But, MacCuilind or MacCullin is the name by which he is generally known, and hence we are allowed to assume, that he was son to a man named Cullin. We are well inclined to disbelieve the story of his descent horn an unknown King, and the circumstance related regarding his origin, as found in the Second Lesson of his Office. The O'Clerys state, that Cuinnigh was his first name,s> and that he belonged to the race of Tadhg, son to Cian, son of Oihll Olum. 10 This of course over- leaps his genealogy for many generations. Under the head of Lusca, Duald Mac Firbis enters Mac Cuilinn, of Lusca. 11 We are that Luachan
bishop told,
Moc Cuilinn was his proper name, and that Cainnigh, Caindigh, or Caindedh, washisfirstname. ThisSaintislikewisecalledCinneadh,Cuindedhe,Cuin- nigh and Cainnech. According to the Office, from his mother when baptised he received the name of Maculinus, and he was carefully instructed in a course of studies. As he advanced in years, his morals were exemplary, and
his religious dispositions were manifested in prayer, vigils, and fasting. Even while a youth, miracles are attributed to him, and his fame for sanctity was
very generally diffused. We can well afford to pass over what is vague and obscure in his office, with the names of unknown persons and reported
verba quibus sancti Presulis congrua laude Stokes
enerramus gesta. Erat enim aspectu pair of champions divides (this clay), the angelicus : in sermone verax et nitidus : in feast of Sciath here we have : Colomb of iudicio iustus. Nulli odibilis cunctis fair Ross Glandae. "
cetcmos Dei sanctos et electos, in regno Ordnance Survey Records, p. 131.
patris sui fulget tanquam sol, et tanquam scintilla in arundineto discurret : nationes judicabit : et cum vero justitia? sole electos
"
^ See Lives of the Fathers, Martyrs,
and other Principal Saints," vol ix. , Sep- tember 6.
8 See
9 See " of edited Martyrology Donegal,"
by Rev. Drs. Todd and Reeves, pp. 236, 237.
10
Oilill Olum, King of Munster, died a. D 234, according to Dr. O'Donovan's " Annals of the Four Masters," vol. i. , pp.
112,113.
" See "Transactions of the Royal Irish
cum
sancto viuit in secula saeculorum.
et Amen.
congregabit. Qui
patre,
3 In the Leabh—ar Breac copy, we find the
p. 379.
following rami
LufCAi la TTUcc Cuilirro Cam -oecheng Acr\enx)Ai peil ScecVu func Im-oi Colum rtuirf 51L 5I&1V041.
:
spiritu
Academy," Irish Manuscript Series, vol. i. , Thus translated into English by Dr. Whitley part i. , pp. 120, 131.
:
" With Mac Cuilinn of Lusk a fair
Royal Irish Academy," Irish Manuscript Series, vol. i. , part i. On the calendar of
Oengus, p. cxxxvi.
4
Edited by Rev. Dr. Kelly, p. xxxiii.
5 In that copy found in the Book of Lein- ster, we read at this date, ttlACCulin-o epf
LurcA.
*
See "Extracts for the County of Dublin. "
September 6. ] LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. 169
acts, that have no authentication in other historic documents. We may accept, however, the traditions regarding his charity and kindness towards the poor and strangers ; that his preaching effected the conversion of many sinners and led them on to the path of salvation ; that he was assiduous in study, and in his devotions. It is stated, moreover, that he laboured much, in founding churches and monasteries ; and that he left the province of
Leinster,
to become a
disciple
of a St.
Gregory,
12 who dwelt in the district
J
written Carbrinum 3 and under such direction, he read the Gospel and
;
Epistle, by which we are probably to understand a curriculum of theology and of Sacred Scripture. While there, it is related, that he procured the restoration of sight to the blind son, and the use of speech to the dumb
of a certain named Acchoreus. 1 * Other miracles of his daughter* Regulus,
are also reported. Next we are told, that Maculin went over to Scotland, where he wrought many celebrated prodigies, such as that of delivering the country from the ravages of a monstrous beast, and for which he received the thanks and gratitude of all the Albanians. Thence he is said to have undertaken a journey to Rome, where Pope Gregory then presided, and where by him, through angelic monition, Maculin was promoted to the epis- copal dignity. On that occasion, a remarkable light from Heaven seemed to be diffused around them. Afterwards, Pope Gregory directed him to return to his own province, and to seek the place where his resurrection was to be. An led him to a
angel
heerectedamonastery. Again,byangelicinspiration,itissaid,hefounded a monastery designated Albamense,16 and in it he remained for some time. He is stated, likewise, to have founded twelve monasteries, but in what particular places, we do not find mentioned in St. Maculin's Proper Office. An ancient Life of St. Ciaran, of Clonmacnois, states, that it
was Mac Cuilinn and Odhran of
province
1? who told Ciaran,18 that his life should be a short one. As he died towards the middle of the sixth century, if the Mac Cuilinn alluded to be identical—as would seem—with the present holy man, our saint must have lived before that time ! St. Maculinus became Bishop of Lusk,x9 but under what circumstances, and at what
time, we are not creditably informed. In one particular Manuscript, he is styled an Archbishop ; but this is likely to be an error. The village of Lusk,
12
This was probably the locally celebrated Gregory of the Golden month, who has been from time immemorial venerated along the south-western and western shores of Ireland, although his name is not to be found in our calendars.
13 No district in Ireland is known to have
•' His feast occurs, on the 2nd of October.
,8 His festival occurs, at the 9th of Sep- tember. See at that date, his Acts in the present volume, Art. i.
I9 The commentator, on that copy of the Feilire of St. /Engus in the Leabhar Brea—c
Manuscript, thus attempts in an Irish not—e
:
house prius. A house was made of weeds
prius, et ab eo uominatur lusca quasi weed-
house, because what is now called ttch used
formerly to he called ca. Whence ulcha
borne such a denomination but, probably ;
translated Stokes, LL. D. by Whitley
and town called 1 * where Durpconyle,
Lettrech,
to account for the origin of this name " A for which, in the form of Carbry, there are house of lustoc, i. e. , of ragweed (? ). i. e. . a equivalents in the south and west of house and weed diustoic (? ), for he had no
it is a transcriber's error for Carbreum, and
Ireland.
14 Such a personage does not turn up in
our annals.
15 No such name is known in Irish topo-
graphy ; but, it seems to have been incor-
rectly written or altered, from the original by the scribe who copied our Saint's Proper
Office, and who was evidently unacquainted with the Iri>h language and history.
16 Such local denomination in Ireland is unknown.
'
beard' quasi ol-cha cheek-house'), whence
'
also cerd-cha (' artisan-house,'
Lnsca, then i. e. ca. lalamlusca, i. e. earth. "--" Transactions of the Royal Irish
Academy," Irish Manuscript Series, vol. i. , part i. On the Calendar of Oengus, by Whitley Stokes, LL. D. , p. cxliii.
forge '). house of
170 LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. [September 6.
in the parish of the same denomination, is situated in the Barony of Bal-
rothery East, and County of Dublin. It is a place of undoubted antiquity,
and the present cemetery and Protestant Church occupy the site of the more
primitive monastic establishment. The church there is of medieval erection.
Before the latest alterations, the interior consisted of two aisles, divided by
a range of seven arches, which had been built up, the east end only having
been used as a for 20 in the eastern the windows place worship. Except part,
had been closed with masonry, and the whole body of the fabric wore a chill and neglected air. The north aisle was 150 feet in length. In the west end is a square embattled turret, and attached to three of its angles are rounded towers, finishing with the graduated parapets, so often observable in the
Church and Round Tower of Lusk.
ecclesiastical and medieval edifices of Ireland. 21 On the fourth angle there is a fine round tower, attached to the embattled turret, and it rises near the site of the more ancient church. 22 It is of greater altitude than the other towers, and it seems to be the most ancient part of the structure. It is of greater diameter than is usual in most of those curious fabrics, although the height is not equal to many of the same class throughout Ireland. 2 3 A very learned authority, on subjects connected with the civil and ecclesiasttcal History of Ireland, says, that St. Maccullinn, as he was its first bishop, is undoubtedly the patron Saint of Lusk. The terms found in his Proper Office lead to an inference, that when settled at Lusk, Macalin was surrounded
20 There is a spirited wood-engraving of a Grey. It represents the church as lately sketch by Samuel Lover, Esq. , R. I LA. , restored, and differing from that presented showing the church of Lusk, its eastern in a previous engraving, in the Second
window, and a portion of the turret, in the " Irish Penny Magazine," vol. i-, No. 19, Saturday, May nth, 1832, p. 145.
21 The present illustration of Lusk church and Round Tower is drawn from a photo- graph on the wood, engraved by Gregor
Volume of this work, at the 20th of February, Art. i.
"See Mr. and Mrs. S. C. Hall's "Ireland :
its Scenery, Character," &c, vol. ii. , p. 347. "
23 See J. N. Brewer's Beauties of Ire- land," voli. , pp. 253, 254-
September 6. ] LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. 171
with numbers of just men, who probably lived in a community life under his direction. Moreover, it is asserted, that when he had there exercised ponti- fical functions, Angels appeared, and marked out the boundaries for a ceme- tery ; and therefore an impression went among the people, that whoesoever might be interred there should escape the punishment of Hell in the future life. At that place St. Maculin afterwards lived, while many flocked to him as a master of the spiritual life, and others presented themselves to him with their monasteries for his guidance. However, Maculin desired rather to be a subject himself, than to rule ; and, he selected a venerable man, named Eolangus,24 whom he wished to serve and select as his superior. This latter had a presentiment of his intention, and was rejoiced to receive Maculin and
said to his " Let our disciples;
his At that companions.
time, Eolang
religious guests be hospitably entertained, but on to-morrow, let them return
whencetheycame. Ishallnotaddressthemuntilaftersevendays,whenI shall go to the village of Lusk. " When this had been reported by the ministers to Maculin, he set out the next day, and, as Eolang had directed, towards his own habitation. Wherefore, when seven days had elapsed, according to his promise, Eolang went to Lusk,where, falling at the feet of its
:
holysuperior,hesaid "TotheeandtoGod,Iofferbothmyselfandmy
"
would desire always to be your subject. " Eolang answered " And thus I
monastery. " Then,intears,Maculinreplied:
expostulate, in demanding from you a reward, that in the same place our
"
you. If hitherto it—has greatly troubled me, that I have not had a suitable
resurrection shall be. " Maculin replied :
superior or prelate to whom should I always be a subject and subjected,
without being deemed unworthy ? " Then returned Eolang tk To-day I
:
commit you to the care of that Sovereign Ruler, whom all superiors obey. For, as to no one but Himself has been given an ecclesiastical superiority over you, so to none but Himself does He wish you to be a servant. " Soon, in the same place, our Lord Jesus Christ, with a choir of Angels, appeared to
them. Thencriedout " Eolang :
My God,
Immediately, taking Maculin by the right hand, our Lord raised him aloft.
Wholly astonished and filled with anxiety lest his friend was about to be
:
removed from this life, Eolang cried out with emotion " O glorious King,
who reigneth in Heaven, deign to leave him for some time longer on earth ! "
Then the Lord released him, and a wonderful effulgence shone about Macu-
lin's hand, which could not even be seen on account of that very brightness.
Through humility, the saint afterwards wore a glove on the hand so honoured ;
but in proportion to the great exercise of that virtue, so much the more was
he exalted in the of God and man. It is 2 * that Maculin of Lusk sight stated,
visited Scotland twice, and that there he was held in repute. So far as we can understand an evidently faulty construction in the Office, St. Maculin left the Monastery of Lusk to one Kuda and the disciples. But when the day of his departure approached, the holy Bishop went to his former place which he blessed ; and there having received the Sacraments for the dying, he closed this life, while the Angels were heard singing canticles of praise. Moreover, it is related, that on the day of his death, the sun did not set for the fifteen days succeeding. This, doubtless, is chiefly the exaggeration of popular
24 We find two holy men of this name day ; and the other, Eolaing, of Lecan, in
mentioned in our Calendars : the one, Eolang of Achadh-bo, whose feast occurs on the 5th of September, where we have already treated about him, on the previous
Meath, whose festival was held, on the 29th of December.
2S According to the Acts, preserved in the Library of Trinity College, Dublin.
ThisIdidnotexpect,asI :
This request the Lord will grant
receivefrommethis man. " just
i7* LIVESOFTHEIRISHSAINTS. [September6.
tradition. His funeral obsequies were celebrated with great solemnity, by a multitude of Irish clergy and laity. At first, his remains seem to have been
conveyed to the cemetery, where so many of his congregation and where other saints repose. We are unable to state, because of the involved and
imperfect composition in the account, whether the becoming coffin or shrine, in which his body had been laid, and to which allusion is made, was
deposited in the grave-yard, or placed within the church of Lusk, owing to 26
2? which termed " Luska "in being
a translation of the saint's body. According to tradition, however, it is
said his remains were in a deposited
vault,
the Irish language, is supposed to have given name to the present Village of
Lusk, in Balruddery Barony, County of Dublin. In the parish of Lusk there
is a well, called Tubbercalleen, and it is supposed to have been originally a holy well, being so called from St. Calleen, or Caillin, a former saint of the
but, for over one hundred years, preceding the year 1843, these practices had been discontinued.
The water of this well was used for curing the ague ; it
is to be presumed, at a period, when that disease was more prevalent in Ireland, than it is at present. We are told, that at this well, th—ere were two stones, which according to popular tradition bore the impress one of our Saint's hand, and the other of his foot. Other legends, connected with the
2 memory of this saint, were then current in the neighbourhood of Lusk. 9
From certain criteria, Dr. Todd shows that the year of this saint's death occurred in a. d. 496. 3° Yet, the Annals of Ulster and the Chronicon Scotorum have entered the death of Chinneadha or Mic Cuilind at a. d. 497. 3I The latter authority states, that an eclipse of the sun happened on the same year; but Roderick O'Flaherty has rightly added in the margin of the MS. 496. Again, in the corresponding entry in the Annals of Tighemach, and in the same Codex, a similar correction has been made. Archdall mistook Mageoghegan's translation of the Annals of Clonmacnoise, and has made St. Macculind to have died, a. d. 497, while Cuynea M'Cathmoa is made to die in a. d. 498. 32 These are only two forms, however, of our present saint's name. This statement of Archdall seems to have led Dr Lanigan to think, two several persons were constituted bishops of Lusk, in the fifth century, but on no respectable authority he could discover. 33 Elsewhere he enquires, if a certain Culeneus could have been identical with St. MacCulindus, Bishop of Lusk, and whose feast was held on the present day. 34 The reader must at once perceive how utterly irreconcilable are the statements, that St.
26 See the " Irish Penny Magazine," vol. Thomas Campbell, 25th August, 1843, an(l "
p. 273.
^ See " The Book of Obits and
28
tember, the day of our Saint's festival, and stations were then performed at it :
primitive Irish Church.
It used to be visited by people, on the 6th Sep-
i. , No. 19, p. 146. It must be remarked, are entered in the Dublin Memorandums," "
that the valuable Illustrations of Irish
in this excellent — Topography," periodical,
Martyr- are from the pen of John D'Alton a name ology the Cathedral Church of the Holy
honourably connected with Irish history
and antiquities.
27 At present, under the square tower,
attached to the church, is a crypt or vaulted chapel ; and, it may be, that within it the body of St. Macculind had been formerly
deposited.
of
Trinity. " EditedbyJohnClarkeCrosthwaite and Rev. Dr. Todd. Introduction, n. (e) p. xlviii.
" Butler assigns his death to this year. See Lives of the Fathers, Martyrs, and other Principal Saints," vol. ix. , September 6th. He quotes Colgan's MSS. , to which he
appears to have, had access.
28
Notes by Mr. O'Donovan, in the volume
" 32 entitled, Dublin Memorandums," pp. 278,
279, belonging to the Irish Ordnance Sur- vey Office, now in the Royal Irish Academy.
* 9 The foregoing particulars in the text are derived from a communication signed
See "Monasticum Ilibernicum," p. 251. 3! lie remarks that Colgan makes no men-
tion of them.
34 See "Ecclesiastical History of Ireland,
vol i. , chap vii. , sect, v. , n. 36, p. 338.
'•
September 6. ] LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. 173
Maculind—died towards the close of the fifth century—as stated by our Irish annalists and that he had been consecrated bishop at Rome by Pope Gregory. The first Sovereign Pontiff bearing that name filled the chair of St. Peter, from a. d. 590 to a. d. 604. 35 The death of St. Maculind is recorded at a. d. 497, in the Annals of Innisfallen,36 and by the Four Masters. 37 He went to his rest in the same year, according to Diuild Mac Firbis. 38 How- ever, in the "Chronicum Scotorum," at this date, we find no such entry; but, at a. d. 544, there is notice of the "Quies" of Mac Cuilind and of Odhran from Lethracha. 39 In the Martyrology of Tallagh, at the iii. of the Nones, or 6th of September, his feast is entered. 40 What Mac Firbis says is, "quies Cuindid son of Cathbadh, i. e. Mac Cuilind, Bishop of Lusca, &c, September 6. " At the same date, his name appears in the Martyrology of Donegal,41asMacCuilinn,Bishop,ofLusc. IntheIrishCalendarbelonging to the Irish Ordnance Survey, and now transferred to the Royal Irish Academy Library, his commemoration is at this date. 43 At the 6th of September, the Bollandists remark,^ how Greven announces the feast of a bishop, called Mastulinus, in Ireland j while he is named in like manner, in their Manuscript Florarium Sanctorum, but without giving him a place. Not finding such a name in any Catalogue of Irish Saints, nor in any other authority, they pass him over, at this date; apparently not reflecting, that such an entry had been the error of a scribe for the name of Macculindus. This holy man is specially commemorated among the Cistercians. 44 At the 6th of September, St. Mac Cuillinn was venerated in Scotland, and his feast is entered in the Kalendar of Drummond. 45 This holy man had an office,40 specially to commemorate his virtues, and to distinguish him among our Saints. 4 ? This office of nine lessons is assigned to him as a Bishop and Con- fessor. 48 In Scotland, the parish of Macalen or Macallan, now annexed to
Knockandhu, or Knockando,40 has been called after MacCallan, and dedi-
35 This was the year of his death.
36 See Rev. Dr. O'Conor's "Rerum Hiber- nicarum Scriptores," tomus ii. Annales Inisfallensis, p. 4.
37 See Dr, O'Donovan's edition, vol i. , p.
See Proceedings of the Royal Irish Academy," Irish MSS. Series, vol. i. , part i. , pp. 120, 121.
39 Thus : Quier true Cuilmt) ocur O-onan O lecrvacViA. See William M. Hennessy's edition, pp. 48, 49.
40 Thus: "Mac Cuilinn Esp. Luscca. "
"
See Rev. Dr. Kelly's Calendar of Irish
Saints," p. xxxiii.
41 Edited by Rev. Drs. Todd and Reeves,
pp. 236, 237.
.
4<5 According to a MS. in T. C. D. , classed B. 1-4, which records at September the 6th, Ides viii. , Sancti Maculini Epis. et Conf. , ix. Lect. , &c. This is entered in a compara- tively recent hand. In T. C. D. , a MS. classed B. 3. I. records at September the 6th, Ides viii. , Maculini Epis. et Conf. ix. Lect. In a MS. classed B. 3. 13. in T. C. D. , we find at September the 6th, Ides viii. , Sancti Maculini Epis. non. Lect. In T. C. D. , a MS. classed B. 3. 10. records at Septem- ber 6th, Ides viii. , Sancti Maculini Epis. et Conf. ix. Lect. A MS. in T. C. D. , and classed B. 3. 12. , contains at September 6th, Ides viii. , Sancti Maculini, Archiepis. , ix. Lect. A MS. in T. C. D. , classed B. 1. 2. , has at September 6th, Ides viii. , Sancti Maculini Epis. et Conf. , Duplex fin per constit.
47 This office is denominated Vita S. Maculini. It is in Nine Lessons, and classed among the Trinity College, Dublin, Manu-
scripts, E, 3. 8. This is elegantly and legibly written, or rather letter-traced.
404, note (k). 38 "
42
See the viii. of the Ides of September
(September 6th). We find, "mac Cml/m
erp lurga cdinij-aceT) airim aoir cr\iofC
An can x>o cua-—it) an ceppoj; fo t>o cumeintrie. 407.
