ani m^iati dicun- tur qui sua
inutiliter
profundunt.
O'Hanlon - Lives of the Irish Saints - v4
xii.
, p.
55.
"
natalis Lafriani Abbatis et Confessoris. " quoted
Confessore,''
an old is poem
Molaissi, a flame of fire,
Son ofMaithgliem of Monadh, &c. "
and afterwards,
In Hibernia '5 In — of
proof which,
The BoUandist, Papebroke, remarks, that these different entries must be understood. as referring to the same person. The writer of the Horarian MS. inserts, "Lafriani Ab- batis," without any addition of the place to which he belonged. He then duplicates this
"
:
9' See Edition by Drs. Todd and Reeves, pp. 104 to 107.
"Seep. 109.
9^ Thus at xiv. Kl. Mail. Apud Hiberniam
Hispania. "
April 1. 8. ] LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. 229
Bicknor, Archbishop, the day of St. Laserian's departure is prescribed to be held as a Double, throughout the province of Dublin. ''' In the diocese of
Leighlin, of which this holy Abbot and Bishop is special patron, this festival is celebrated, as a Double of the first class, with an a Octave. The feast itself
occurs, on the i8th of April. In our ancient Kalendars, at this date, his office has an honoured place ;'°° and, it was celebrated with Nine Lessons,'"' although, indeed, we find, it had a lesser number. '" If the relics of Saint Laserian had been preserved, in the old church of Leighlin, after his deposi- tion, it is possible, they were taken away, or destroyed, during the tenth, or eleventh ccntury. '°3 Still, the churcii, in which they lay, may have escaped desecration, or destruction. At present, the modern Catholic Church, in the Town of Leighlin. Bridge, has been properly dedicated to our saint, as the local patron ; we know not, if elsewhere, any other church has been placed under his invocation.
This great servant of God, like many other holy prelates, appears to have united the active to the contemplative life, as we may learn, from the record
of those various saints' Acts, which have come down to our times.
the founders of our early churches were not only men, practised in the devout exercises of prayer, meditation and austere penance ; they laboured much to build material edifices, in honour of the. Almighty, while preparing tiieir own and other souls, to become living temples of the Holy Ghost. There can be no manner of doubt, but their example and instruction served to spread the Gospel seeds of Divine truth, in the minds of their i)riniitive and docile people, whose manners were not corrupted, by many so-called refinements of modern civilization. It is true, that a life of virtue and earnestness must en- counter trials and opposition, at all times, and under the most favourable cir- cumstances ; but, the testimony of a serene conscience and the resolute efforts of a will rightly directed must ultimately triumph, in the contest of Faithandgoodworks. Withsuchmotivesandmeansforexertionandself- sacrifice, the saints have always laboured, with zeal and efficacy, in their Master's household. Having well ordered their personal concerns, example inspirits other men to admire and afterwards imitate those, who seem to
Sanctus episcopus et Confessor La-ren glo- riose adChri>tumconscenclit. "—BishopFur- bes"'Kalendarsof Scott shSaint? ,"pp. 10, II.
"When giving us this information, we find the following in. -iccurate statement, in a note appended, as found in Harris' edition
"*'
" The sense of these dou- ble festival are (x/r) when, to the greater honour of the Saint the . Anthems are ordered to be rehearsed entire before and after each whereas in common festivals, only the beginning of the Anthem is repeated before and after the psalm. And there arc nine lessons repealed in the service—whereas
;
in others there are but three" Vol. i. ,
" Bishops of leighlin," p. 454. It should have Ijeen said, that in common festivals, which are not doubles, the banning of the Anthem or Antiphonis repeated before each psalm ; but, it is repeated entire, after each psalm; and, it is not true, that in all festival. *, not doubles, there are only three lessons. Even, in the Double Offices, duiini^ thereci- lal of Little Hours, the . Antipiion is only re- cited ill part Ijeioie, but entire after those diflTerent ps. ilms, therein occurring. At least, such is the usage, according to the Roman rite.
Thus, the Manusciipt in Trinity Col- lege, Dublin, and which is classeil B. i, i. ,
formerly belonging lotiieCuldee Aniiphona- riumof Armagh Metropolitan Church, has, in its Calendar list, April 18, Kal. xiv. , Maii. Sancti Laseriani episcopi et confessoris, iSrc. ;
18, Kal. xviii. Maii. ijancti L. aseriani
In Trinity College, Dublin, a MS. classed B. I, 4, contains, nt A|)ril the l8lh, K. il. xiv. , Maii. Sancti La^eriani Epis. et
Conf. Patron, Leigldenensis, Ijuplex, ix.
the l8th, Kal. xiv. , Mai, . Sancti Lasiiani. Epis. et Conf. ix. I. ect. per const. Dublin.
""
Thus, a . MS. in Trinity College, Dub. lin, and classed B. 3, 12, contains, at April 18th, Kal. xiv. Maii, Lasriani, Epis. et Conf iii. I. ect.
'"r Inthe years 916, 978, and 982, Leighlin
was plundered. In the year 1060, it was
totally d,;stroyed, by fire. See Archdalls
"
of Ware s works
also, a -Manuscript, in
psalm
;
:
Duh- lin, and chissed B. I, 3, contains, at April
et Conf. Duplex fin. ""
; also, a MS. in
Lect.
lin, and classed B. 3, 13, contains, . it April
Monasticon Hibemicum. "
Trinity Colle(,'e,
Trinity Collcsje,
Dub-
Indeed,
Epis.
ajo LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. [April i8.
move in this world, but with thoughts happily intent, on the prospect of future inheritance and reward. So we may account for the great religious influences and results, which fostered piety in the early Christian ages of our National Church, and which have not ceased to bring forth good fruit, even through the most unpromising seasons of her temporal misfortune, distress, and persecution.
Article II. —St. Cogitosus, Sapiens, or the Wise. Much uncer-
tainty prevails, regarding the identity of this wise and holy man, as recorded in our Irish Calendars. The Bollandists, who enter his festival, at this date,
profess their want of knowledge respecting him ;' and, therefore, nothing have they asserted, to clear up the mystery. This wise man is thought, by some, to have lived, and to have written, in the sixth century ; on the sup- position, that he had been a nephew of the great St. Brigid,' the Patroness of Ireland. There are other accounts,^ however, that might lead to the sup- position, this holy man did not even belong to Ireland. Such statements are notlikelytobecorrect; for,besidestheknowledgewehave,thatsomeper- sons, so named, lived in our Island, we find, also, the entry of Cogitosus, Sapiens, or the Wise, inserted in the Martyrology of Tallagh,^ at the i8th of April. He is considered to have been the writer of St. Brigid's Life ;5 yet, this is very doubtful. Several authors seem to assume his near family rela- tionship, with the illustrious Abbess of Kildare,^ and, to have been the com- poser of that Life, which was first published, by Canisius. ' However, while the Rev. Dr. Lanigan will not admit, that Cogitosus the author flourished, so early as the sixth century -^ yet, there are intrinsic evidences, in his biogra- phical Tract to show, that his place in history cannot be later than the begin- ning of the ninth century ;9 for, the holy relics of St. Brigid were at Kildare,'° when he wrote. " Possevin" and Mirseus'3 have notices of Cogitosus, whose
Life of St. Brigid has been published, by Messingham,'^ and by Colgan. 's
'
Article ii. — See "Acta Sanctorum,"
Kildare, a. d. 835.
"> That lived before the said de- Cogitosus
vastation is evident, first, from his not mak- ing, in his minute description of the church at Kildare, the least allusion to its having
been ever destroyed, or to the spoliation of the shrines of St. Brigid and Conleath, which
tomus ii. ,
mitted saints, p. 521.
the
"
See her Life, already published, at the
3
Thus, the Bollandists notice, at the pre-
"
Aprilis
xviii.
Among
preter-
1st day of February, with allusions to Cogi-
tosus, and his Life of St. Brigid, chap. i.
sent day:
Turonis, /<f//«r /h MS. Tornacensi et pridie
in Lcetiensi ; ubi diximus, nimnulhis apud the city of Kildare and its suburbs were a
Cogitosi Episcopi depositio
he represents as being very splendid and rich; and, secondly, from liis stating, that
Turoiiensesfuerit Episcopus Cogitosus, nos non posse assequi, quis hie inteliigatur. "
* Edited by Rev Dr. Kelly, p. xxi.
Inthe Franciscan copy, at xiiii. Kal. Mali, we
find Cogicopi e^pc.
5
According to Colgan.
' Who is said to have died, about A. D.
523, in the time of the Elder Juslinus.
*
period.
'Some time after the beginning of the
ninth century, the remains of St. Brigid were removed to Down, then a safe place, to guard them against the fury of the heathen
Danes. ' See Colgan 's "Trias Thaumaturga," at pp. 565, 629. These Danes first ravaged
place of refuge, in which there could not be
the least apprehension of any hostile attack ;
" Nullus carnalis adversarius, nee concursus
timetur hostium. " Now, remarks Dr.
Lanigan, Cogitosus could not have written
in this manner, after the year 836, nor even
after 831 (832), in which year Kildare was
plundered by Keilach, son of Bran," See
" of vol. Eccle-iastical History Ireland," i. ,
chap, viii. , sect. ii„ n. 18, pp. 379, 380. " See his Vita S. Brigida;, cap. xxxv.
"
In Apparatu Sacro.
'3 In "Auctario, cap. 117, p. 205.
< In Florilegium Insulse Sanctorum. " See
pp. 189 to 207.
'S He remarks, that the editions of
Canisius and of Messingham abound in errors.
1 In his "
tomus v. His description of this church of Kildare plainly refers to a time, much later than that
Aniiqua; Lectiones,"
April i8. ] LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. 231
From a certain phrase,'* in the memoir of St. Brigid, some writers maintain,"? thatCogitosuswashernephew. '^ Someintrinsicevidenceofnepotisticand early authorship is to be found, it is supposed, where Cogitosus speaks of
miracles, wrought through the power of St. Brigid, and which, not only he had heard about, but which he had even actually seen. '9 Yet, from the context, in this passage, it can only be rightly inferred, that the writer witnessed these supernatural wonders, after the holy virgin's departure from this life ; and, it seems most probable, they took place through her intercession, and in her convent, or in that church, where St. Brigid's venerable body had been de- posed,''' and where the faithful had an opportunity of visiting her shrine. '' Her relics were undoubtedly at Kildare, when Cogitosus penned or pro- nounced her panegyric. Yet, such supposed relationship may be rejected, for many reasons. Especially, Colgan could not be induced to admit it, on account of having in his possession two Menologic genealogies, in which four- teen saints of St. Brigid's family and kindred are enumerated, and there he finds no mention of Cogitosus's name, or even that of any nephew belonging to her. Besides, Brigid's different Acts, written in the Irish language, and by ancient authors, relate, that saint's father had seven sons by his wife, and that he had no daughter besides Brigid. Also, there are internal evidences in his work to show, that Cogitosus lived at too late a period, to have been St Brigid's nephew, in the ordinary course of nature. '' The Latin word
" sometimes nepos," moreover,
or a luxurious orriotousman. '* However,Cogitosusmighthavecalledhimselfaculpable spendthrift, not on account of having lived a luxurious life, but because of his having trifled with time, or of his having wasted precious moments, in his own humble opinion. This may have been his conscientious conjecture, although in reality, he may have spent his days piously and religiously, after the example of many other holy men, who called themselves great sinners, and who be- of serious offences. It is supposed, Cogitosus was a monk at Kildare,'' owing to his finished and detailed account of the church, in that place, for which he seems to have had a special regard ; and, because he frequently calls those persons bretiiren, for
whom his Life of St. Brigid had been particularly written. His description of the religious institutions and privileges of that protected city are supposed to
lieved—even when living regularly—that they were guilty
••
' See Posseviuo, "In Apparatu Sacro. "
"Gerard Vossius, however, explains the wordi alluded to in a difTerent sense. " Sed fortasse ob adolescentiam luxuriose trans- actam, culpabiltm se nepotem vocat, uti Hora- tiusdixitdiscinctumnepvtem: aquanotione
. apud Senecam et Tertull.
ani m^iati dicun- tur qui sua inutiliter profundunt. "— "Ue Historicis Latinis," lib. lii. , p. 624.
''See Secunda Vita S. Brigidae, cap.
Towards the close of his Life of St.
Cogitoso
which succession is mentioned in terms,
which indicate a of time, but long lapse
likewise, he represents the bishop of that See as chief over the Leinster prelates. This the bishop of Kildare was not, at least, until after the sixth century, bee Ussher's "Primor- dia," p. 965.
"
Brigid, we reaii : pro
Orate me nepote culpahili," &c.
xxxii. , in " Trias at Thaumaturga,
Epodon
p. S^S- "The words of Cogitosus are "in suo
monasterio, ubi ejus venerabile corpus re- "
quiescit.
" It was raised, near the altar of that
church, where her mortal remains were de-
posited. See Rev. P. J. Carew's " Ecclesi-
astical History of Ireland," chap. vi. p. 242.
"
In his prologue, Cogitosus speaks not only regarding a succession of Bishops at Kildare after Conlacth, who died in 5 19, and
signifies
a wasteful
spendthrift. '^
'' Thus, Horace says
:
—
. ou. . TM. , . «,. »
•< ,-, 1 .
Q""^ ='"' ^"""^ "* Chremes, terra
premam, „ Distmctus aut perdam ut nepos.
—
'5 Thus, he must have learned many popu- lar traditions regarding St. Brigid, and cur- rent probably during tlie two or three cen- turies, immediately succeeding her death, and in that locality, with which the illustrious virgin was most inseparably connected. Even, at (he present day, various legends of St. Brigid are preserved among thepeasantry, through various parts of Ireland, and espe- cially in Kildare.
Liber. Ode i, 33, 34.
'* See Cicero pro Quint, num. 12.
232 LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. [April i8.
be applicable, only to some period after the sixth century,'^ and he cannot be placed, at a later epoch, than the beginning of the ninth century, for reasons
already given. '? Cogitosus flourished, a. d. 530, according to Cardinal Bel- larmin, who ranks him among the ecclesiastical writers. ^^ A conjecture, that
Cogitosus flourished, about the year 550, has been offered ;'» and, Sir James Ware 3° accepts apparently this period, for his living. In his Prologue to this biography, Cogitosus informs us, he was urged to undertake the labour of re- cording St. Brigid's virtues and Acts. He calls her a virgin of holy and revered memory. Afterthemanneroflearnedauthors,heendeavouredtocomply
with this request, by assuming his pen, while distrusting his own knowledge, abilit)', and powers of composition, to attempt so difficult and so delicate a task;
yet, confiding in Almighty power, which can magnify the smallest object, and which caused the poor widow's house to be filled from her scant measure of oil and meal, he could not refuse humble obedience, when compelled by the prayers of his brethren. In order to avoid a charge of contumacy, he thought it advisable, to put on record, some few among many incidents handed down through those preceding him,3' and which he considered the best authenti- cated. While doing so, and without ambiguity, he thought, in the eyes of all persons, those virtues oi her must shine forth, and manifest the many and great graces bestowed on Brigid. Not that the writer expected, his asserted want of memory, his incompetency and rude style, should suffice, for a proper ful- fihnent of this obligation, imposed on him ; but, he trusted, that the good faith and daily prayers of his brethren should supply his literary deficiency. '' Wiien the fame of Brigid's extraordinary virtues and wonderful actions were spread abroad, from all the different Irish provinces, an innumerable multi- tude of either sex eagerly flocked to record their vows, on the plains of the Liffey. 33 Upon the firm foundations of Faith, this holy virgin raised her monastery, wliich was pre-eminent among the Churches of Ireland. The roof- tree of this institute towered high, above other religious houses of the Scots, as from one sea to the other her rule extended, throughout the whole Island. 34
,
°' The
of St. — — Festilogy ^ngus composed
"Trias Secunda Vita S. Thaumaturga. "
Brigidoe, n. 3, p. 525.
'^ Perhaps, it was in consequence of pre-
vious preparation by retirement, prayer and contemplation, on his own part, as well as
on that of his brethren, that Cogitosus had been induced to undertake his task, as St.
probably about the year 800 declares, that . St. Brigid's church at Kildare then retained
its dazzling splendour.
"' See Dr. Lanigan's "Ecclesiastical His-
tory of Ireland," vol. i. , chap, viii. , sec. ii. , n. 18, pp. 379, 380.
°' See "
De
tomus vii. toribus Ecclesiasticis, p. 200.
is said to have undertaken the
of his Gospel, when urged by his brethren, and when they had engaged to fast and pray together, for the successful and happy issue
Operum,'*
Scrip- John
writing
°' In his Index to Lives of Irish Saints, Mes-
singham is followed by Colgan. He refers the
author's period to this time, and thinks him,
to have been a contemporary of St. Brigid. Prologomina in Mattseum, Opera Omnia," See ''Florilegium Insulae . Sanctorum. "
'" See " De Scriptoribus Hibernise," lib. i. , cap. ii.
3' Colgan thinks, Cogitosus here indicates, that oiliers before his time compiled the Acts of St. Brigid. As St. Ultan, and St. Aleran, or Areran, surnamed the Wise, wrote the . -Kcts of this saint, and flourished about the time of Cogitosus, they may have been alluded to ; but, on this matter, he would not pronounce a definite op nion. At least, says Colgan, he had written a hymn already published by himself, in which the virtues and miracles of Bri^jid were briefly sketched.
Cogitosus gives a few particulars regarding her, which are not there to be found. See
tomus iv. , p. 3. Editio Benedictina. Also,
of his assumed work. See St. Jerome's "
S. Chrysostomi "Opeia," Homilia 67.
33 This river has its source in the moun-
lains of 'Wicklow, whence diverging by a tortuous course, through a part of Kildare County, it falls into the Irish Sea, at Dublin. A wide and fertile plain extends along its banks, for the greater part of its course; and this was formerly called Magh Liffe, La- tinized Campus Liffciis. On this plain, the church and nunnery of St. Brigid at Kildare were situated. Tliey lay about twenty miles distant from Dublin.
34 jn this place, and in other passages, Cogitosus use-i the terms Hiberniensium and Scotorum, as being synonymous. 'When he
April i8. ] LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. 233
While the holy Abbess provided for the spiritual wants of those subject to
her, and while with mature consideration, she evinced solicitude for various
churches dependent on her, in many districts ; Brigid considered it necessary to obtain the services of a bishop, to consecrate churches, and to confer ecclesiasticalorders. Sheselectedforthisoffice,andinvitedforitsassump- tion, an illustrious man, and a holy solitary, adorned with all virtues, and through whom the Almighty wrought many miracles. Him she called from the desert, and from a life of seclusion, so that, with herself, he might govern religious establishments, founded at Kiidare, in his capacity of bishop, and that the priestly order sliould not be wanting, in the churches or institutions shehadbuilt. 35 ThePrologueofCogitosusends,byhisagainasserting,that being compelled by his brethren, he would endeavour to relate, in a compen- dious manner, the virtues of this holy virgin Brigid, and those wonderful events of her early and subsequent career, without having much regard for any order his narrative might take. He intended this Tract, to be merely an
abridgment, rather than a complete biography. 3' However, there is nothing in the words of Cogitosus to warrant a conclusion, that his narrative had been drawn from written sources. Giraldus Cambrensis borrowed -'' much Irom the Life of St. Brigid, by Cogitosus, especially in reference to what he relates, in reference to her, and to the city of Kiidare, with which she had been con- nected. It has been maintained, by Dr. Ledwich, tliat the Life of St. Brigid, by Cogitosus, is suppositious,^* and unworthy of credit. 39 Not understanding ordinary terms, used in the art ot criticism, what Ledwich wishes to convey seems to be, that the tract of Cogitosus had been written in the twelfth cen- tury,onaccountofanallusiontoKiidarechurch. ThisLedwichincorrectly supposed, to have been built of stone,*" from the architectural description left ot it ;' although a phrase is used •' to show, that it was constructed of wood. « It might have been known,** that Cogitosus only related some of St.
Brigid's Acts, virtues, and miracles. speak:> of the church at Kiidare, as being
"
This he has done, in the form of a inolevit. "
omniumHibemiensiumEcclc- siarum,' he understands it as conitituting the largest or most important church, or he
^See ibid. S. Frologus
518.
caputpaene
Cogitosus, p.
» Especially, in "Topc^aphiaHlberniae. " alludes to its standing, in cunnexion wuhes- See J. S. Brewer's "Giraldi Cambrensis
tablishments, destineti for religious women.
For, in this age, before the Monasteries of
Bangor, Clonmacnoise, Kathen, Lismore,
Durrow, Clonfert, \c. , were founded, with
the exception of the church at Armagh, there
was hardly any other in Ireland, larger or
better budt, than that at Kiidare. What See Wtc/. , p. 368. added greatly to the importance of thislatter
city, two religious congregations were then established ; one oftiiese had been intended for nuns, and the other for monks. See
Colgan's"TriasThaumatuga. 'ViuSecunda
tosus, and the prelate to whom he alludes is Conlacth, first bishop of Kiidare. Cogito-
•'
£t postea sic unctum caput et principale omnium Kpiscoporum et bea- tissima puellarum prnc palis lelici comitalu inter se et gubcrnaculis omnium viriutum suam erexit principatcm Eccle. . iam ; ambo- rum meritis sua cathedra Episcopalis et
*> " Could not there be architecture with- out stone ? " enquires Dr. I,inigan. Allusion is then m. ide to Germany, where many fine houses are built, without eitherstune or brick.
Ledwich probably thought, that the word ""
paries," or parietes," used by Cogitosus, should l;e understood of stone. . See " Trias
Thaumaturga. " Setunda Vita S. Brigida, cap. xxxv. , pp, 523, 524.
< By Ccguosus.
«» That of "parietes tabulati. "
*3 ' • The fact is," as I t. Laiiigan remaiks, " that Cogitosus has not a word about stone in his descri|)tion of the church. " See"Ec- clesiisiical History of Ireland," vol.
S. n. 4, Brigidae,
p. 525.
33 Evidently, such i. > the meaning of Cogi-
sus there says :
puellaris, ,ic si vitis I'uctifcr. idiffusa undique chap, viii. , . sec. ii. , n. 18, p. 380. ramis crescentibus, in tola Hibernlensi iiLsula
Opera," vol. v.
^ See his so-called "
Antiquities
of Ire-
land," p. 166.
^ Yet, in another place, he inquires, why this author of St. Brigid's Acts does not in-
sertspecialparticulars. relalive toSt. Patrick.
i. ,
334
LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS [April i8.
panegyric, and which can hardly be considered a professed biography of the illustrious virgin. Cogitosus does not even tell us, in what part of Ireland the holy Abbess was born, nor does he enter particularly into historical facts, re- lating to the subject of his praise. With the exception of giving her father's and mother's names, or of mentioning Macchille,t5 from whom she received the veil, as also Conlaeth,** Bishop of Kildare; the author of St. Brigids second Life does not even introduce to our notice any of her contemporaries.
Hence, there is no sufficient reason, why we should expect any special account of St. Patrick,47 from Cogitosus. 48 Colgan thinks it most probable,
he lived before a. d. 580 ;49 he believes, also, there are internal evidences, in the tract itself, to indicate its author having been in the world, not loiig after St. Brigid'sdemise. Oneoftheseproofsisdrawn,fromthatpassageinhispro- logue to her Life, where it is said, that the prelates and abbesses of Kildare were foremost, and ruled in happy succession, over other Irish Bishops and
Abbesses. 5° It is asserted, however, that this is an over-charged statement of Cogitosus, anxious to exalt Kildare, supposed to have been his native dio- cese, and without other corroboration to sustain it. s^ St. Conlaeth departed this hfe in 5 ig.
"
natalis Lafriani Abbatis et Confessoris. " quoted
Confessore,''
an old is poem
Molaissi, a flame of fire,
Son ofMaithgliem of Monadh, &c. "
and afterwards,
In Hibernia '5 In — of
proof which,
The BoUandist, Papebroke, remarks, that these different entries must be understood. as referring to the same person. The writer of the Horarian MS. inserts, "Lafriani Ab- batis," without any addition of the place to which he belonged. He then duplicates this
"
:
9' See Edition by Drs. Todd and Reeves, pp. 104 to 107.
"Seep. 109.
9^ Thus at xiv. Kl. Mail. Apud Hiberniam
Hispania. "
April 1. 8. ] LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. 229
Bicknor, Archbishop, the day of St. Laserian's departure is prescribed to be held as a Double, throughout the province of Dublin. ''' In the diocese of
Leighlin, of which this holy Abbot and Bishop is special patron, this festival is celebrated, as a Double of the first class, with an a Octave. The feast itself
occurs, on the i8th of April. In our ancient Kalendars, at this date, his office has an honoured place ;'°° and, it was celebrated with Nine Lessons,'"' although, indeed, we find, it had a lesser number. '" If the relics of Saint Laserian had been preserved, in the old church of Leighlin, after his deposi- tion, it is possible, they were taken away, or destroyed, during the tenth, or eleventh ccntury. '°3 Still, the churcii, in which they lay, may have escaped desecration, or destruction. At present, the modern Catholic Church, in the Town of Leighlin. Bridge, has been properly dedicated to our saint, as the local patron ; we know not, if elsewhere, any other church has been placed under his invocation.
This great servant of God, like many other holy prelates, appears to have united the active to the contemplative life, as we may learn, from the record
of those various saints' Acts, which have come down to our times.
the founders of our early churches were not only men, practised in the devout exercises of prayer, meditation and austere penance ; they laboured much to build material edifices, in honour of the. Almighty, while preparing tiieir own and other souls, to become living temples of the Holy Ghost. There can be no manner of doubt, but their example and instruction served to spread the Gospel seeds of Divine truth, in the minds of their i)riniitive and docile people, whose manners were not corrupted, by many so-called refinements of modern civilization. It is true, that a life of virtue and earnestness must en- counter trials and opposition, at all times, and under the most favourable cir- cumstances ; but, the testimony of a serene conscience and the resolute efforts of a will rightly directed must ultimately triumph, in the contest of Faithandgoodworks. Withsuchmotivesandmeansforexertionandself- sacrifice, the saints have always laboured, with zeal and efficacy, in their Master's household. Having well ordered their personal concerns, example inspirits other men to admire and afterwards imitate those, who seem to
Sanctus episcopus et Confessor La-ren glo- riose adChri>tumconscenclit. "—BishopFur- bes"'Kalendarsof Scott shSaint? ,"pp. 10, II.
"When giving us this information, we find the following in. -iccurate statement, in a note appended, as found in Harris' edition
"*'
" The sense of these dou- ble festival are (x/r) when, to the greater honour of the Saint the . Anthems are ordered to be rehearsed entire before and after each whereas in common festivals, only the beginning of the Anthem is repeated before and after the psalm. And there arc nine lessons repealed in the service—whereas
;
in others there are but three" Vol. i. ,
" Bishops of leighlin," p. 454. It should have Ijeen said, that in common festivals, which are not doubles, the banning of the Anthem or Antiphonis repeated before each psalm ; but, it is repeated entire, after each psalm; and, it is not true, that in all festival. *, not doubles, there are only three lessons. Even, in the Double Offices, duiini^ thereci- lal of Little Hours, the . Antipiion is only re- cited ill part Ijeioie, but entire after those diflTerent ps. ilms, therein occurring. At least, such is the usage, according to the Roman rite.
Thus, the Manusciipt in Trinity Col- lege, Dublin, and which is classeil B. i, i. ,
formerly belonging lotiieCuldee Aniiphona- riumof Armagh Metropolitan Church, has, in its Calendar list, April 18, Kal. xiv. , Maii. Sancti Laseriani episcopi et confessoris, iSrc. ;
18, Kal. xviii. Maii. ijancti L. aseriani
In Trinity College, Dublin, a MS. classed B. I, 4, contains, nt A|)ril the l8lh, K. il. xiv. , Maii. Sancti La^eriani Epis. et
Conf. Patron, Leigldenensis, Ijuplex, ix.
the l8th, Kal. xiv. , Mai, . Sancti Lasiiani. Epis. et Conf. ix. I. ect. per const. Dublin.
""
Thus, a . MS. in Trinity College, Dub. lin, and classed B. 3, 12, contains, at April 18th, Kal. xiv. Maii, Lasriani, Epis. et Conf iii. I. ect.
'"r Inthe years 916, 978, and 982, Leighlin
was plundered. In the year 1060, it was
totally d,;stroyed, by fire. See Archdalls
"
of Ware s works
also, a -Manuscript, in
psalm
;
:
Duh- lin, and chissed B. I, 3, contains, at April
et Conf. Duplex fin. ""
; also, a MS. in
Lect.
lin, and classed B. 3, 13, contains, . it April
Monasticon Hibemicum. "
Trinity Colle(,'e,
Trinity Collcsje,
Dub-
Indeed,
Epis.
ajo LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. [April i8.
move in this world, but with thoughts happily intent, on the prospect of future inheritance and reward. So we may account for the great religious influences and results, which fostered piety in the early Christian ages of our National Church, and which have not ceased to bring forth good fruit, even through the most unpromising seasons of her temporal misfortune, distress, and persecution.
Article II. —St. Cogitosus, Sapiens, or the Wise. Much uncer-
tainty prevails, regarding the identity of this wise and holy man, as recorded in our Irish Calendars. The Bollandists, who enter his festival, at this date,
profess their want of knowledge respecting him ;' and, therefore, nothing have they asserted, to clear up the mystery. This wise man is thought, by some, to have lived, and to have written, in the sixth century ; on the sup- position, that he had been a nephew of the great St. Brigid,' the Patroness of Ireland. There are other accounts,^ however, that might lead to the sup- position, this holy man did not even belong to Ireland. Such statements are notlikelytobecorrect; for,besidestheknowledgewehave,thatsomeper- sons, so named, lived in our Island, we find, also, the entry of Cogitosus, Sapiens, or the Wise, inserted in the Martyrology of Tallagh,^ at the i8th of April. He is considered to have been the writer of St. Brigid's Life ;5 yet, this is very doubtful. Several authors seem to assume his near family rela- tionship, with the illustrious Abbess of Kildare,^ and, to have been the com- poser of that Life, which was first published, by Canisius. ' However, while the Rev. Dr. Lanigan will not admit, that Cogitosus the author flourished, so early as the sixth century -^ yet, there are intrinsic evidences, in his biogra- phical Tract to show, that his place in history cannot be later than the begin- ning of the ninth century ;9 for, the holy relics of St. Brigid were at Kildare,'° when he wrote. " Possevin" and Mirseus'3 have notices of Cogitosus, whose
Life of St. Brigid has been published, by Messingham,'^ and by Colgan. 's
'
Article ii. — See "Acta Sanctorum,"
Kildare, a. d. 835.
"> That lived before the said de- Cogitosus
vastation is evident, first, from his not mak- ing, in his minute description of the church at Kildare, the least allusion to its having
been ever destroyed, or to the spoliation of the shrines of St. Brigid and Conleath, which
tomus ii. ,
mitted saints, p. 521.
the
"
See her Life, already published, at the
3
Thus, the Bollandists notice, at the pre-
"
Aprilis
xviii.
Among
preter-
1st day of February, with allusions to Cogi-
tosus, and his Life of St. Brigid, chap. i.
sent day:
Turonis, /<f//«r /h MS. Tornacensi et pridie
in Lcetiensi ; ubi diximus, nimnulhis apud the city of Kildare and its suburbs were a
Cogitosi Episcopi depositio
he represents as being very splendid and rich; and, secondly, from liis stating, that
Turoiiensesfuerit Episcopus Cogitosus, nos non posse assequi, quis hie inteliigatur. "
* Edited by Rev Dr. Kelly, p. xxi.
Inthe Franciscan copy, at xiiii. Kal. Mali, we
find Cogicopi e^pc.
5
According to Colgan.
' Who is said to have died, about A. D.
523, in the time of the Elder Juslinus.
*
period.
'Some time after the beginning of the
ninth century, the remains of St. Brigid were removed to Down, then a safe place, to guard them against the fury of the heathen
Danes. ' See Colgan 's "Trias Thaumaturga," at pp. 565, 629. These Danes first ravaged
place of refuge, in which there could not be
the least apprehension of any hostile attack ;
" Nullus carnalis adversarius, nee concursus
timetur hostium. " Now, remarks Dr.
Lanigan, Cogitosus could not have written
in this manner, after the year 836, nor even
after 831 (832), in which year Kildare was
plundered by Keilach, son of Bran," See
" of vol. Eccle-iastical History Ireland," i. ,
chap, viii. , sect. ii„ n. 18, pp. 379, 380. " See his Vita S. Brigida;, cap. xxxv.
"
In Apparatu Sacro.
'3 In "Auctario, cap. 117, p. 205.
< In Florilegium Insulse Sanctorum. " See
pp. 189 to 207.
'S He remarks, that the editions of
Canisius and of Messingham abound in errors.
1 In his "
tomus v. His description of this church of Kildare plainly refers to a time, much later than that
Aniiqua; Lectiones,"
April i8. ] LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. 231
From a certain phrase,'* in the memoir of St. Brigid, some writers maintain,"? thatCogitosuswashernephew. '^ Someintrinsicevidenceofnepotisticand early authorship is to be found, it is supposed, where Cogitosus speaks of
miracles, wrought through the power of St. Brigid, and which, not only he had heard about, but which he had even actually seen. '9 Yet, from the context, in this passage, it can only be rightly inferred, that the writer witnessed these supernatural wonders, after the holy virgin's departure from this life ; and, it seems most probable, they took place through her intercession, and in her convent, or in that church, where St. Brigid's venerable body had been de- posed,''' and where the faithful had an opportunity of visiting her shrine. '' Her relics were undoubtedly at Kildare, when Cogitosus penned or pro- nounced her panegyric. Yet, such supposed relationship may be rejected, for many reasons. Especially, Colgan could not be induced to admit it, on account of having in his possession two Menologic genealogies, in which four- teen saints of St. Brigid's family and kindred are enumerated, and there he finds no mention of Cogitosus's name, or even that of any nephew belonging to her. Besides, Brigid's different Acts, written in the Irish language, and by ancient authors, relate, that saint's father had seven sons by his wife, and that he had no daughter besides Brigid. Also, there are internal evidences in his work to show, that Cogitosus lived at too late a period, to have been St Brigid's nephew, in the ordinary course of nature. '' The Latin word
" sometimes nepos," moreover,
or a luxurious orriotousman. '* However,Cogitosusmighthavecalledhimselfaculpable spendthrift, not on account of having lived a luxurious life, but because of his having trifled with time, or of his having wasted precious moments, in his own humble opinion. This may have been his conscientious conjecture, although in reality, he may have spent his days piously and religiously, after the example of many other holy men, who called themselves great sinners, and who be- of serious offences. It is supposed, Cogitosus was a monk at Kildare,'' owing to his finished and detailed account of the church, in that place, for which he seems to have had a special regard ; and, because he frequently calls those persons bretiiren, for
whom his Life of St. Brigid had been particularly written. His description of the religious institutions and privileges of that protected city are supposed to
lieved—even when living regularly—that they were guilty
••
' See Posseviuo, "In Apparatu Sacro. "
"Gerard Vossius, however, explains the wordi alluded to in a difTerent sense. " Sed fortasse ob adolescentiam luxuriose trans- actam, culpabiltm se nepotem vocat, uti Hora- tiusdixitdiscinctumnepvtem: aquanotione
. apud Senecam et Tertull.
ani m^iati dicun- tur qui sua inutiliter profundunt. "— "Ue Historicis Latinis," lib. lii. , p. 624.
''See Secunda Vita S. Brigidae, cap.
Towards the close of his Life of St.
Cogitoso
which succession is mentioned in terms,
which indicate a of time, but long lapse
likewise, he represents the bishop of that See as chief over the Leinster prelates. This the bishop of Kildare was not, at least, until after the sixth century, bee Ussher's "Primor- dia," p. 965.
"
Brigid, we reaii : pro
Orate me nepote culpahili," &c.
xxxii. , in " Trias at Thaumaturga,
Epodon
p. S^S- "The words of Cogitosus are "in suo
monasterio, ubi ejus venerabile corpus re- "
quiescit.
" It was raised, near the altar of that
church, where her mortal remains were de-
posited. See Rev. P. J. Carew's " Ecclesi-
astical History of Ireland," chap. vi. p. 242.
"
In his prologue, Cogitosus speaks not only regarding a succession of Bishops at Kildare after Conlacth, who died in 5 19, and
signifies
a wasteful
spendthrift. '^
'' Thus, Horace says
:
—
. ou. . TM. , . «,. »
•< ,-, 1 .
Q""^ ='"' ^"""^ "* Chremes, terra
premam, „ Distmctus aut perdam ut nepos.
—
'5 Thus, he must have learned many popu- lar traditions regarding St. Brigid, and cur- rent probably during tlie two or three cen- turies, immediately succeeding her death, and in that locality, with which the illustrious virgin was most inseparably connected. Even, at (he present day, various legends of St. Brigid are preserved among thepeasantry, through various parts of Ireland, and espe- cially in Kildare.
Liber. Ode i, 33, 34.
'* See Cicero pro Quint, num. 12.
232 LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. [April i8.
be applicable, only to some period after the sixth century,'^ and he cannot be placed, at a later epoch, than the beginning of the ninth century, for reasons
already given. '? Cogitosus flourished, a. d. 530, according to Cardinal Bel- larmin, who ranks him among the ecclesiastical writers. ^^ A conjecture, that
Cogitosus flourished, about the year 550, has been offered ;'» and, Sir James Ware 3° accepts apparently this period, for his living. In his Prologue to this biography, Cogitosus informs us, he was urged to undertake the labour of re- cording St. Brigid's virtues and Acts. He calls her a virgin of holy and revered memory. Afterthemanneroflearnedauthors,heendeavouredtocomply
with this request, by assuming his pen, while distrusting his own knowledge, abilit)', and powers of composition, to attempt so difficult and so delicate a task;
yet, confiding in Almighty power, which can magnify the smallest object, and which caused the poor widow's house to be filled from her scant measure of oil and meal, he could not refuse humble obedience, when compelled by the prayers of his brethren. In order to avoid a charge of contumacy, he thought it advisable, to put on record, some few among many incidents handed down through those preceding him,3' and which he considered the best authenti- cated. While doing so, and without ambiguity, he thought, in the eyes of all persons, those virtues oi her must shine forth, and manifest the many and great graces bestowed on Brigid. Not that the writer expected, his asserted want of memory, his incompetency and rude style, should suffice, for a proper ful- fihnent of this obligation, imposed on him ; but, he trusted, that the good faith and daily prayers of his brethren should supply his literary deficiency. '' Wiien the fame of Brigid's extraordinary virtues and wonderful actions were spread abroad, from all the different Irish provinces, an innumerable multi- tude of either sex eagerly flocked to record their vows, on the plains of the Liffey. 33 Upon the firm foundations of Faith, this holy virgin raised her monastery, wliich was pre-eminent among the Churches of Ireland. The roof- tree of this institute towered high, above other religious houses of the Scots, as from one sea to the other her rule extended, throughout the whole Island. 34
,
°' The
of St. — — Festilogy ^ngus composed
"Trias Secunda Vita S. Thaumaturga. "
Brigidoe, n. 3, p. 525.
'^ Perhaps, it was in consequence of pre-
vious preparation by retirement, prayer and contemplation, on his own part, as well as
on that of his brethren, that Cogitosus had been induced to undertake his task, as St.
probably about the year 800 declares, that . St. Brigid's church at Kildare then retained
its dazzling splendour.
"' See Dr. Lanigan's "Ecclesiastical His-
tory of Ireland," vol. i. , chap, viii. , sec. ii. , n. 18, pp. 379, 380.
°' See "
De
tomus vii. toribus Ecclesiasticis, p. 200.
is said to have undertaken the
of his Gospel, when urged by his brethren, and when they had engaged to fast and pray together, for the successful and happy issue
Operum,'*
Scrip- John
writing
°' In his Index to Lives of Irish Saints, Mes-
singham is followed by Colgan. He refers the
author's period to this time, and thinks him,
to have been a contemporary of St. Brigid. Prologomina in Mattseum, Opera Omnia," See ''Florilegium Insulae . Sanctorum. "
'" See " De Scriptoribus Hibernise," lib. i. , cap. ii.
3' Colgan thinks, Cogitosus here indicates, that oiliers before his time compiled the Acts of St. Brigid. As St. Ultan, and St. Aleran, or Areran, surnamed the Wise, wrote the . -Kcts of this saint, and flourished about the time of Cogitosus, they may have been alluded to ; but, on this matter, he would not pronounce a definite op nion. At least, says Colgan, he had written a hymn already published by himself, in which the virtues and miracles of Bri^jid were briefly sketched.
Cogitosus gives a few particulars regarding her, which are not there to be found. See
tomus iv. , p. 3. Editio Benedictina. Also,
of his assumed work. See St. Jerome's "
S. Chrysostomi "Opeia," Homilia 67.
33 This river has its source in the moun-
lains of 'Wicklow, whence diverging by a tortuous course, through a part of Kildare County, it falls into the Irish Sea, at Dublin. A wide and fertile plain extends along its banks, for the greater part of its course; and this was formerly called Magh Liffe, La- tinized Campus Liffciis. On this plain, the church and nunnery of St. Brigid at Kildare were situated. Tliey lay about twenty miles distant from Dublin.
34 jn this place, and in other passages, Cogitosus use-i the terms Hiberniensium and Scotorum, as being synonymous. 'When he
April i8. ] LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. 233
While the holy Abbess provided for the spiritual wants of those subject to
her, and while with mature consideration, she evinced solicitude for various
churches dependent on her, in many districts ; Brigid considered it necessary to obtain the services of a bishop, to consecrate churches, and to confer ecclesiasticalorders. Sheselectedforthisoffice,andinvitedforitsassump- tion, an illustrious man, and a holy solitary, adorned with all virtues, and through whom the Almighty wrought many miracles. Him she called from the desert, and from a life of seclusion, so that, with herself, he might govern religious establishments, founded at Kiidare, in his capacity of bishop, and that the priestly order sliould not be wanting, in the churches or institutions shehadbuilt. 35 ThePrologueofCogitosusends,byhisagainasserting,that being compelled by his brethren, he would endeavour to relate, in a compen- dious manner, the virtues of this holy virgin Brigid, and those wonderful events of her early and subsequent career, without having much regard for any order his narrative might take. He intended this Tract, to be merely an
abridgment, rather than a complete biography. 3' However, there is nothing in the words of Cogitosus to warrant a conclusion, that his narrative had been drawn from written sources. Giraldus Cambrensis borrowed -'' much Irom the Life of St. Brigid, by Cogitosus, especially in reference to what he relates, in reference to her, and to the city of Kiidare, with which she had been con- nected. It has been maintained, by Dr. Ledwich, tliat the Life of St. Brigid, by Cogitosus, is suppositious,^* and unworthy of credit. 39 Not understanding ordinary terms, used in the art ot criticism, what Ledwich wishes to convey seems to be, that the tract of Cogitosus had been written in the twelfth cen- tury,onaccountofanallusiontoKiidarechurch. ThisLedwichincorrectly supposed, to have been built of stone,*" from the architectural description left ot it ;' although a phrase is used •' to show, that it was constructed of wood. « It might have been known,** that Cogitosus only related some of St.
Brigid's Acts, virtues, and miracles. speak:> of the church at Kiidare, as being
"
This he has done, in the form of a inolevit. "
omniumHibemiensiumEcclc- siarum,' he understands it as conitituting the largest or most important church, or he
^See ibid. S. Frologus
518.
caputpaene
Cogitosus, p.
» Especially, in "Topc^aphiaHlberniae. " alludes to its standing, in cunnexion wuhes- See J. S. Brewer's "Giraldi Cambrensis
tablishments, destineti for religious women.
For, in this age, before the Monasteries of
Bangor, Clonmacnoise, Kathen, Lismore,
Durrow, Clonfert, \c. , were founded, with
the exception of the church at Armagh, there
was hardly any other in Ireland, larger or
better budt, than that at Kiidare. What See Wtc/. , p. 368. added greatly to the importance of thislatter
city, two religious congregations were then established ; one oftiiese had been intended for nuns, and the other for monks. See
Colgan's"TriasThaumatuga. 'ViuSecunda
tosus, and the prelate to whom he alludes is Conlacth, first bishop of Kiidare. Cogito-
•'
£t postea sic unctum caput et principale omnium Kpiscoporum et bea- tissima puellarum prnc palis lelici comitalu inter se et gubcrnaculis omnium viriutum suam erexit principatcm Eccle. . iam ; ambo- rum meritis sua cathedra Episcopalis et
*> " Could not there be architecture with- out stone ? " enquires Dr. I,inigan. Allusion is then m. ide to Germany, where many fine houses are built, without eitherstune or brick.
Ledwich probably thought, that the word ""
paries," or parietes," used by Cogitosus, should l;e understood of stone. . See " Trias
Thaumaturga. " Setunda Vita S. Brigida, cap. xxxv. , pp, 523, 524.
< By Ccguosus.
«» That of "parietes tabulati. "
*3 ' • The fact is," as I t. Laiiigan remaiks, " that Cogitosus has not a word about stone in his descri|)tion of the church. " See"Ec- clesiisiical History of Ireland," vol.
S. n. 4, Brigidae,
p. 525.
33 Evidently, such i. > the meaning of Cogi-
sus there says :
puellaris, ,ic si vitis I'uctifcr. idiffusa undique chap, viii. , . sec. ii. , n. 18, p. 380. ramis crescentibus, in tola Hibernlensi iiLsula
Opera," vol. v.
^ See his so-called "
Antiquities
of Ire-
land," p. 166.
^ Yet, in another place, he inquires, why this author of St. Brigid's Acts does not in-
sertspecialparticulars. relalive toSt. Patrick.
i. ,
334
LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS [April i8.
panegyric, and which can hardly be considered a professed biography of the illustrious virgin. Cogitosus does not even tell us, in what part of Ireland the holy Abbess was born, nor does he enter particularly into historical facts, re- lating to the subject of his praise. With the exception of giving her father's and mother's names, or of mentioning Macchille,t5 from whom she received the veil, as also Conlaeth,** Bishop of Kildare; the author of St. Brigids second Life does not even introduce to our notice any of her contemporaries.
Hence, there is no sufficient reason, why we should expect any special account of St. Patrick,47 from Cogitosus. 48 Colgan thinks it most probable,
he lived before a. d. 580 ;49 he believes, also, there are internal evidences, in the tract itself, to indicate its author having been in the world, not loiig after St. Brigid'sdemise. Oneoftheseproofsisdrawn,fromthatpassageinhispro- logue to her Life, where it is said, that the prelates and abbesses of Kildare were foremost, and ruled in happy succession, over other Irish Bishops and
Abbesses. 5° It is asserted, however, that this is an over-charged statement of Cogitosus, anxious to exalt Kildare, supposed to have been his native dio- cese, and without other corroboration to sustain it. s^ St. Conlaeth departed this hfe in 5 ig.
