visited the four
quarters
of the world,
you shall die notwithstanding, in your
village of Lettir.
you shall die notwithstanding, in your
village of Lettir.
O'Hanlon - Lives of the Irish Saints - v7
iv.
, cap.
xi.
, p.
50,
101
The foregoing statement in the text has
:
In Saxonia sancti Willebaldi
;
the second was to the
priini Eistetensis Episcopi," Sec.
ologium Roraanum Gregorii XIII. ," p. 97. Romae, 1878, fol. ed.
'*
Martyr*
u8 LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS.
[July 7,
10
Calendar of Irish Saints, published by O'Sullevan Beare, ? this great saint's
name is written Wilchibald, where it is entered, at the 7th of July. As a Scottish saint, Thomas Dempster has likewise entered the feast of this holy
bishop, in his Calendar,
at the 7th of July.
110
111
In summing up the virtues of St. Willibald, one of his biographers, Bishop Philip, states, that he was bountiful in alms-giving, assiduous in vigils, devout in prayer, perfect in charity, filled with a humane spirit, distinguished for his learning, fluent in eloquence, and most holy in conversation. The serenity of his looks mani- fested the candour of his mind, while his gentle words indicated a kindly heart j and all his exterior appearance conveyed truthfully the reign of sanc-
in his soul.
tity
Article III. —St. Cronia, Cronae or Croine Beg, Virgin, of
Tempull-Crone,CountyofDonegal. Thesimpleentry,Cronae,occurs 1
in the Martyrology of Tallagh, at the 7th of July. There is nothing more to
indicateherplaceorperiod,inthatrecord. TheBollandists2 receivedfrom
Father Thomas O'Sheerin their notice of Crona parva or Crona parva virgo,
for entry, at this date. We are told, she belonged to the race of Conall
Gulban,sonto Niall. This St. Cronia, virgin, was the daughter of Diermit,
son to Garuan, son to Brandub, son to Malge, son to Ennius Bogun, the son
ofConallGulban. AccordingtotheSanctilogiumandSelvacius,thisvirgin
was venerated, on the 7th of July, in the church of Tempull Crone, within
the district of Tyrconnell. 3 Hence then, her church is to be sought for in
the extreme north-western districts of Ireland. It is now identified with
Templecroan,4 a most extensive parish,* in the barony of Boylagh, and county
of 6 The church of this no doubt, derived its name from this Donegal. parish,
present saint. Yet, we cannot discover, in what manner she had relation
with it. The greater part of that dreary district, known as " the Rosses,"? lies within the parish of Templecroan. A wilderness of rugged mountain wastes and heaths are broken towards the west, into abrupt and rocky heights. Several islands, separated by inlets of the sea, are scattered along the western
8
coast of the mainland.
a festival is entered in honour of Croine Beg, virgin, of Tempull Croine, in Tir Conaill.
Article IV. —St. Comgell or Coimgell, Virgin, and Daughter to Diarmaid. In the holiness of woman's life, the poor may discover a wealth of resources, where good will predominates ; while the rich may find
In the Martyrology of Donegal, at this same date,
1,0 The Menologium Scoticum.
" Kalendars of
Article hi. Edited by Rev. Dr. Black's "Guide to Belfast, the Giants'
111 Thus : "In Thuringia Vvillibakli Eis- tetensis episcopi primi, et gentis Apostoli,
s It contains 52,921 acres. These include
4. 355a. or. 37p. , on Aran Island; 989a. ir.
27p. of the Gweedore tideway and under ;
VV. F. "—Bishop Forbes'
Loughs, 2,896a. I r. 9p.
Scottish Saints,"—
p. 205.
There is a
good Map
of this district in
x
See "Acta Sanctorum," tomus ii. , Julii vii. Among the pretermitted saints, p. 452.
3 See Colgan's "Trias Thaumaturga," Quarta Appendix ad Vitam S. Columbse, cap. iii. , p. 480.
4 It is described, on the " Ordnance Stir-
veyTownland Maps for the County of Done- gal," sheets 32, 40, 41, 48, 49, 50, 56, 57, 58.
Kelly, p. xxviii.
2
6
Causeway and the North of Ireland. " Edin-
burgh, 1872, l2mo.
7 It comprises a total area of about thirty
square miles, which is well described in
Eraser's "Handbook for Travellers in Ire*
land. " No. 146, pp. 601 10603. 8"
See Lewis' Topographical Dictionary of Ireland," vol. ii. , pp. 603, 604.
9 Edited by Drs. Todd and Reeves, pp. 188, 189.
July 7. ] LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. 119 by contrast, the sad waste of their wearisome idleness, and the empty results
1
on this day, Comgell ingen Diarmata, or Comgell, daughter to Diarmaid, was com-
of a profitless industry. According to the Martyrology of Tallagh,
memorated. Accordingtotheentryforthisday,andwhichtheBollandists acknowledge as having been received from Father Thomas O'Sheerin, Com- gella, the daughter of Diermitu, was sister to the preceding Crona. The name of this pious lady has been Latinized Candida; and, it has been supposed, as
occurring in our Irish Calendars, that it comes nearest in phonetic pronuncia- tion to that of a St. Keevil, venerated in Ballybrennan parish, county of Wexford. St. Keevil'swellisthereknown,andapatronwasformerlyheld
onthe27thofAugust. 3 AccordingtotheMartyrologyofDonegal,*venera-
tion was paid at the 7th of July to Coimgell, virgin, and daughter of Diar- maid.
Article V. —St. Fiadabair, or Fiadhabhair, of Uachtar-achadh, now Ballinamore, Countv Leitrim. At the 7th of July, the Martyr-
x
records a festival to honour Fiadabair, of Uachtair Achaid. This district comprised the entire of the parish of Oughteragh, or Ballina- more, in the north of the barony of Carrigallen, and county of Leitrim. 2 Father Thomas O'Sheerin furnished the Bollandists 3 with a notice of a Fiadabaria, for this day. Again, in the Martyrology of Donegal,* at the same date, the name appears, as Fiadhabhair, of Uachtar-achadh, in Cinel Luachain.
Article VI. —St. Tingmaich or Trighmeach, Bishop. We find en-
1
tered, in the Martyrology of Tallagh, Tingmaich, at this day. Neither his
Article VII. —Reputed Festival for St. Medran and St. Odhrain. These holy brothers were illustrious for their sanctity. However, it is not likely, they should be commemorated at this date ; but, from the meagre data and unreliable references to them in various records, we follow only in the wake of other writers. At present, their Acts are not known to be extant. Hence, it is difficult to give reliable particulars regarding them. Notices of these two
ology of Tallagh
norhis
at the 7 th of July, there is a festival in honour of Trighmeach, a Bishop. Fur- nishedwiththeentrybyFatherO'Sheerin,theBollandists3 haveTrigmechus Episcopus, at the present date.
place
period appears
tobeknown. Inthe
Martyrology
saints,
Article iv. — 1 Kelly, p. xxviii.
2
7th
by Rev.
the Bollandists' great
Julii vii. Among the pretermitted feasts, p. 452
4 Edited by Drs. Todd and Reeves, pp.
on the
Edited
of are contained l in July,
See', Acta Sanctorum," tomus ii. , Julii vii. Among the pretermitted feasts, p. 452, 3 See "Letters containing Information rela- tive to the Antiquities of theCounty of Wex- ford, collected during the Progress of the
188, 189. Article vi. —
*
Edited by Rev. Dr.
Ordnance Survey in 1840," vol. i. John Kelly, p. xxviii.
O'Donovan's
2 Edited Drs. Todd and by
4
280.
Edited by Drs. Todd and Reeves, pp.
188, 189. Article v. —1
Letter, p.
Reeves, pp s See "Acta Sanctorum," tomus ii. ,
Edited
See Dr. O'Donovan's "Annals of the
Kelly, p. xxviii. 2
Article vii.
—
by
Rev.
Dr.
vii.
Julii p. 452.
Among
the
pretermitted saints, ' In two sections, by
Dr.
Four vol. Masters,"
n.
3 See "Acta Sanctorum," tomus ii. ,
188, 189.
iv. ,
(c), p. 719.
of 2 Donegal,
3
LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS.
[July 7.
work f although it is stated, that we look in vain for a record of them, in any of the Irish Calendars, whether published or in Manuscript. In the Universal
Martyrology of Castellan, there is an entry of St. Medranus alone, at this
date; while, the feast of his brother St. Odranus is referred, to the nth of
October. This arrangement he appears to have adopted, from different
annotations of Colgan, yet which do not seem mutually to accord. Thus, in
one instance, St. Medranus or Medragius, besides being regarded as a monk
under St. Kieran,3 of Saigir, is also classed among St. Patrick's disciples. *
There, however, he is assigned a feast, for the 6th of June,5 at which date,
we have already noticed a St. Medhran or Medrain, Bishop. Elsewhere, he
is mentioned, as Medhranus or Medhragius, in connexion with a brother,
named Odranus,6 and both of these are stated to have been sons of Mac-
craith, son to Trochall, son of Esomon, son to Daigrse, son of Nuadhat, &c.
However, another pair of brothers, St. Medranus and St. Murchu, are vene-
rated on the 8th of and these are called sons of Hua Macten. 8 day June,?
Again, both St. Medranus and St. Odranus, the sons of Maccraith, are men- tioned, as belonging to the race of Cairbre Baschaoin, and thus they become related to St. Senan of Inis-cathaigh. There, while the feast of the former is thought to be on the 6th or 8th of June ; the festival of the latter has been assigned to the 2nd or to the -26th of October. 9 According to the account contained in the Life of St. Kieran of Saighir, proceeding from Muscraige Thire, and from the village of Lettir, St. Medran and St. Odhrain were brothers, who came to visit his monastery. The province of Connaught they specially desired to seek, and there they intended to settle, at a place called Tulach-ruaidh. But, St. Medran chose to remain at Saigir, to become a dis- ciple of St. Kiaran the Elder, in his monastery. For this change of purpose, he was reproached by Odhran, who besought St. Kieran to refuse Medran admission. St. Kieran replied: "Let the Lord decide between you, if he should remain here or depart with you. Let him now hold a lamp in his hand, and if it be kindled into a flame with his breath, he ought to remain here, but, if otherwise, let him depart with you. " Immediately, Median's breath lighted the lamp, and accordingly, he remained at Saighir, to the end of his days, and with a reputation for great sanctity. Then, St. Kieran said
:
to Odhran " Hear me, brother Odhran, I tell you truly, that even if you
10
Wherefore, return and remain there, because from thy name,
work, notices will be found of both in Ait. v. , vi.
visited the four quarters of the world,
you shall die notwithstanding, in your
village of Lettir.
11
Father John Baptist Soller, S. J. 2"
See Acta Sanctorum," tomus ii. , Julii
vii. De SS. Medrano et Odrano Fiat.
ConfessoribusLethreci in Ilibernia, pp. 477, niae," Martii v. Vita S. Kierani Fpiscopi
478.
3 See his Life, in the Third Volume of
thiswork,atthe5thofMarch,Art. i.
4 See Colgan's "Trias Thaumaturga," Quinta Appendix ad Acta S. Patricii, cap.
xxiii. , p. 268.
s In the Sixth Volume of this work,
Art. vi.
et Confessoris. cap. xxviii. , p. 461, and nn. 31, 32, p. 465.
»See//-/>/. , Martiiviii. ,AppendixadVitam S. Senani, cap. iiL, p. 542 rteU 53$.
6
According to the Genealogic Pedigrees
rhundi plagas circumiveris," &c. A curious question arises from this passage in tiie old Life: Did the writer believe, there were lour great Continents then known in Ire- land to exist ? It seems most probable, that besides the geographical knowledge of Europe, Asia and Africa, then undoubtedly possessed, that of (beat Ireland, or the pre* sent American Continent, was equally a fact of which the early Irish had cognizance long before the age of Christopher Columbus.
ofthe Irish Saints, chap, xvii. , tiiese are re-
spectively called St. Medhragius of Saigir
and St. Odhranus the Master. The former as we are told is called Medhranus, also, in various Irish Calendars, as may be seen by referring to the 6th and 8th of June.
"i At that date, in the Sixth Volume of this
8 See " Acta Sanctorum iber- Colgan's 1 1
10
The Latin words are: "et si quatuor
July 7. ]
LIVES OF THE IRISH SAIN1S.
that village shall henceforward be distinguished/' And so it happened. According to the word of Kieran, Odhran returned to that place, where he erected a religious establishment. The latter was Abbot over that monas- tery in Muscraigia, or Muskerry. It was called from him Leitter Odhrain. There, he was distinguished for great virtue, and many miracles, as hath been recorded in his Life. 12 There, too, he passed away from this earth, to enjoy the rewards of eternal bliss.
Article VIII. —Reputed Festival of St. Boisilus. At the Nones
or 1 of in the Scottish Kalendar De Nova Farina, there is an 7th day July,
entryofSt. Bosiliusandofhiscompanions. Atthisdate,likewise,theBol-
2 a Codex Usuardinus has a feast—and as landists, quoting Altempsianus,
they remark very unintelligibly entered—for Boisilus cum Maria Virgine. To them, he does not appear different from St. Boisilus, whose festival occurs on
the 23rd of January.
Article IX. —Reputed Festival of a Translation of St. Kenti-
gern, Bishop, Scotland. In Greven, and in the Manuscript Florarius
Sanctorum, there is a Translation of St. Kentigern, Bishop, recorded, at the
7th of July. A well known feast for this holy Scottish prelate is at the 13th of
1 as the Bollandists 2 observe. His chief however, is at the January, festival,
13th ofNovember. 3
Article X. —Reputed Feast of St. Colman. Father Henry Fitzsimon
1
has a Colmanus, at the 7th of July, as he quotes from the Life of St.
Kilian. This festival belongs more properly to the ensuing day.
Article XI. —Reputed Festival for a Translation of the Eleven Thousand Virgins and Martyrs. In the Florarius Sanctorum, it is stated, that at Cologne on the 7th of July took place a Translation — we may pre- sume relating to the Relics-—of the Eleven Thousand Virgin Martyrs con-
from the Cologne Martyrologies. However, they refer to the 21st of Octo-
2
ber, as destined to relate all that need be stated regarding those Ursuline
Virgins and Martyrs.
Article XII. —Reputed Festival for Saints Wilchibaldus, Disi- bodus, Kalian, Bibianus, Totnanus. A feast for St. Disibodus has been
11
It is also written Lettren, in St. the reader is referred to that date, in the Kieran's Life. First Volume of this work, Art. ii.
nected with that The city.
1 at this
but they wonder how, if it were true, the notice should have been omitted
12 2 This statement, taken from the old
Acts of St. Kieran, proves, that formerly
suchabiographyhadbeencomposed. Itis one of the many ancient tracts, which have since been lost.
See "Acta Sanctorum," tomus ii. , Julii vii. Among the pretermitted saints, p. 449.
3 bee his Act—s given at that date.
—
Sociorum. " Bishop Forbes' Kalendarsof dium," tomus
viii. Article—
*"" Thus: Bosilii et
Historic Catholicae Iberniae
"
See "Acta Sanctorum," tomus ii. , Julii vii. Among the pretermitted feasts, p. 449.
Compen- cap. p. 53.
Scottish Saints," p. 73.
2
Article ix.
—
l
For some notices
of
him,
the same
Bollandists,
day,
record such an
entry;
*
Article x. See O'Sullevan Beare's
i. , lib. iv. ,
Article XI. — * See "Acta Sancto-
rum," tomus ii. , Julii vii. Among the pre- tcrmitted saints, p. 452.
2
For their Acts, the reader is referred to
day.
ii. ,
LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS.
[J uly 8.
1
assigned to this day, by Camerarius, as the Bollandists remark ; while by
Castellan, it has been relegated to the 8th of September, as having been held inDisemberg,nearSpanheim,inthedioceseofMayence. TheBollandists
ArticleXIII. —ReputedFestivalofaSt. Bicce. Venerationwas
refer its celebration to the 8th of July.
Saints, published by O'Sullevan Beare, these names, Wilchibaldus, Dissibo- dus, Kalian, Bibianus and Totnanus, occur, at the 7th of July. But, I sus- pect typographical error and a misplaced festival, at least so far as concerns most of them.
given to Bicce, at this date, according to the Martyrology of Tallagh. where, we find no corresponding entry, in any other Calendar.
®fgl)tb J3ap of Snip*
1
Else-
ARTICLE I. —THE ACTS OF ST. KILIAN, APOSTLE OF FRANCONIA, MARTYR AND BISHOP, AS ALSO OF HIS COMPANIONS, ST. COLMAN, PRIEST, AND ST. TOTNAN, DEACON, MARTYRS.
\SEVENTH CENTURY. ]
CHAPTER I.
INTRODUCTION—MANUSCRIPT AND PUHLTSHED ACTS OF THOSE HOLY MARTYRS—THE
2
In the anonymous Calendar of Irish
ST. KILIAN'S FAMILY AND HIS EARLY EDUCATION— HE EMBRACES THE ECCLESIASTICAL STATE—HIS PREACHING AND LABOURS IN IRELAND—WITH ELEVEN OTHER COMPANIONS HE LEAVES FOR FRANCE AND GER-
COUNTRY OF THEIR BIRTH—
MANY—HE TRAVELS TO WURTZBURG—PAGANISM THERE PREVAILING.
MANY
aspire to heroic fame, but, impelled thereto through motives of
humanambition whilethe
werehumblein their own estimation, yet exalted in the sight of God, and they are revered by just persons, because they ended virtuous lives, through the treacherous and evil machinations of those who conspired their death. Many seek for know- ledge, by relying too much on their own abilities, and without asking for those Heavenly lights, which can alone effectually dispel the darkness of mental vision ; but, St. Kilian is regarded as one of the Irish Doctors on account of his learning, while he turned this learning to forward noble aims, by observing the Divine Commandments, and by labouring with zeal for the extension of
God's kingdom, among the unenlightened and unbelievers.
The Life of St. Kilian, Apostle of Franconia, has been written, at a period not long after his death ; while various Manuscript Acts, relating to him and to his companions, have been preserved to our own times. With his Acts are
Articlexii. —x See"Acta Sanctorum," tomus ii. , Julii vii. Among the prctcr- mitted feasts, p. 452.
2 See " Historioe Catholicce Ibemiae Com- pendium," tomus i. , lib. iv. , cap. xi. , p. 50.
;
present holy martyrs
Article xiii. —* Edited by Rev. Dr. Kelly, p. xxviii.
Article i. —Chapter 1. —See Father
Stephen White's " Apologia pro Hibernia," cap. v. , p. 66.
July 8. ]
LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. 123
usually associated those of his companions in martyrdom, Saints Colman and
Totnan. There is a Harleian 2 Vita S. Kiliani. 3 in a vellum Manuscript large
folio, belonging to the twelfth century. This Life has been interpolated,
however, with subsequent additions. * There is a Tract,* De S. Kiliano cum
Sociis 6 and it seems to have been an of the suis, Martyribus, abridgment
8
formerpiece. AnAdmontManuscript7 containsadifferentVitaS. Kiliani, and this has been published by the Bollandists,? from a Manuscript in their
Sociorumque ejus,
in the National 10 Paris in that of the of Library, ; city
collated with other 10 as also with the text of Manuscripts,
possession,
Canisius " and of Mabillon. " There is another Admont Manuscript, con-
taining Passio Chiliani, Martyris, et aliorum Sociorum ejus. ^ Among the Arundel Manuscripts, in the British Museum, there is a thirteenth century
1 * "
Tract, Legenda
in festo S. Kiliani xs it is short, and of ;" but, apparently
no great value. 16
Kiliani. 18 There are various copies of a Manuscript intituled, Vita S. Kiliani
Metz 2° in that of the Duke of ;
21 Bruxelles two copies of his Burgundy, ;
in "
iv. , pars ii. , p. 625, and also by Sera-
rius, in Opera, p. 329, Ed. Mogunt, a. d. 161 1, fob Surius has issued it, in " De Pro-
batis Sanctorum Vitis," vol. iv. , Julii viii. , pp. 135 to 138.
4 It has been published by the Bollan- dists, in "Acta Sanctorum," tomus ii. , Julii viii.
by Canisius, tomus
Antiquos
Lectiones,"
5 It is in
printed Capgtave's
" Nova Le-
or fourteenth It is classed century.
5278,
There is an account by Sander 1 ? regarding a Vita S.
Acts are at Bamberg 22 three at Vienna -p two copies at Hamburg 2* one
;
at 2* oneat copy Stuttgart,
and one at Lilienfeld. 20
Windberg,
;
20 oneat 2? oneatRebdorf,28 Wurtzburg,
11 In " Lectiones," tomus iv. , Antiquce
8 Numbered 2801, in ff
3 This has a Prologue, commencing parsii. , p. 625.
101
The foregoing statement in the text has
:
In Saxonia sancti Willebaldi
;
the second was to the
priini Eistetensis Episcopi," Sec.
ologium Roraanum Gregorii XIII. ," p. 97. Romae, 1878, fol. ed.
'*
Martyr*
u8 LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS.
[July 7,
10
Calendar of Irish Saints, published by O'Sullevan Beare, ? this great saint's
name is written Wilchibald, where it is entered, at the 7th of July. As a Scottish saint, Thomas Dempster has likewise entered the feast of this holy
bishop, in his Calendar,
at the 7th of July.
110
111
In summing up the virtues of St. Willibald, one of his biographers, Bishop Philip, states, that he was bountiful in alms-giving, assiduous in vigils, devout in prayer, perfect in charity, filled with a humane spirit, distinguished for his learning, fluent in eloquence, and most holy in conversation. The serenity of his looks mani- fested the candour of his mind, while his gentle words indicated a kindly heart j and all his exterior appearance conveyed truthfully the reign of sanc-
in his soul.
tity
Article III. —St. Cronia, Cronae or Croine Beg, Virgin, of
Tempull-Crone,CountyofDonegal. Thesimpleentry,Cronae,occurs 1
in the Martyrology of Tallagh, at the 7th of July. There is nothing more to
indicateherplaceorperiod,inthatrecord. TheBollandists2 receivedfrom
Father Thomas O'Sheerin their notice of Crona parva or Crona parva virgo,
for entry, at this date. We are told, she belonged to the race of Conall
Gulban,sonto Niall. This St. Cronia, virgin, was the daughter of Diermit,
son to Garuan, son to Brandub, son to Malge, son to Ennius Bogun, the son
ofConallGulban. AccordingtotheSanctilogiumandSelvacius,thisvirgin
was venerated, on the 7th of July, in the church of Tempull Crone, within
the district of Tyrconnell. 3 Hence then, her church is to be sought for in
the extreme north-western districts of Ireland. It is now identified with
Templecroan,4 a most extensive parish,* in the barony of Boylagh, and county
of 6 The church of this no doubt, derived its name from this Donegal. parish,
present saint. Yet, we cannot discover, in what manner she had relation
with it. The greater part of that dreary district, known as " the Rosses,"? lies within the parish of Templecroan. A wilderness of rugged mountain wastes and heaths are broken towards the west, into abrupt and rocky heights. Several islands, separated by inlets of the sea, are scattered along the western
8
coast of the mainland.
a festival is entered in honour of Croine Beg, virgin, of Tempull Croine, in Tir Conaill.
Article IV. —St. Comgell or Coimgell, Virgin, and Daughter to Diarmaid. In the holiness of woman's life, the poor may discover a wealth of resources, where good will predominates ; while the rich may find
In the Martyrology of Donegal, at this same date,
1,0 The Menologium Scoticum.
" Kalendars of
Article hi. Edited by Rev. Dr. Black's "Guide to Belfast, the Giants'
111 Thus : "In Thuringia Vvillibakli Eis- tetensis episcopi primi, et gentis Apostoli,
s It contains 52,921 acres. These include
4. 355a. or. 37p. , on Aran Island; 989a. ir.
27p. of the Gweedore tideway and under ;
VV. F. "—Bishop Forbes'
Loughs, 2,896a. I r. 9p.
Scottish Saints,"—
p. 205.
There is a
good Map
of this district in
x
See "Acta Sanctorum," tomus ii. , Julii vii. Among the pretermitted saints, p. 452.
3 See Colgan's "Trias Thaumaturga," Quarta Appendix ad Vitam S. Columbse, cap. iii. , p. 480.
4 It is described, on the " Ordnance Stir-
veyTownland Maps for the County of Done- gal," sheets 32, 40, 41, 48, 49, 50, 56, 57, 58.
Kelly, p. xxviii.
2
6
Causeway and the North of Ireland. " Edin-
burgh, 1872, l2mo.
7 It comprises a total area of about thirty
square miles, which is well described in
Eraser's "Handbook for Travellers in Ire*
land. " No. 146, pp. 601 10603. 8"
See Lewis' Topographical Dictionary of Ireland," vol. ii. , pp. 603, 604.
9 Edited by Drs. Todd and Reeves, pp. 188, 189.
July 7. ] LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. 119 by contrast, the sad waste of their wearisome idleness, and the empty results
1
on this day, Comgell ingen Diarmata, or Comgell, daughter to Diarmaid, was com-
of a profitless industry. According to the Martyrology of Tallagh,
memorated. Accordingtotheentryforthisday,andwhichtheBollandists acknowledge as having been received from Father Thomas O'Sheerin, Com- gella, the daughter of Diermitu, was sister to the preceding Crona. The name of this pious lady has been Latinized Candida; and, it has been supposed, as
occurring in our Irish Calendars, that it comes nearest in phonetic pronuncia- tion to that of a St. Keevil, venerated in Ballybrennan parish, county of Wexford. St. Keevil'swellisthereknown,andapatronwasformerlyheld
onthe27thofAugust. 3 AccordingtotheMartyrologyofDonegal,*venera-
tion was paid at the 7th of July to Coimgell, virgin, and daughter of Diar- maid.
Article V. —St. Fiadabair, or Fiadhabhair, of Uachtar-achadh, now Ballinamore, Countv Leitrim. At the 7th of July, the Martyr-
x
records a festival to honour Fiadabair, of Uachtair Achaid. This district comprised the entire of the parish of Oughteragh, or Ballina- more, in the north of the barony of Carrigallen, and county of Leitrim. 2 Father Thomas O'Sheerin furnished the Bollandists 3 with a notice of a Fiadabaria, for this day. Again, in the Martyrology of Donegal,* at the same date, the name appears, as Fiadhabhair, of Uachtar-achadh, in Cinel Luachain.
Article VI. —St. Tingmaich or Trighmeach, Bishop. We find en-
1
tered, in the Martyrology of Tallagh, Tingmaich, at this day. Neither his
Article VII. —Reputed Festival for St. Medran and St. Odhrain. These holy brothers were illustrious for their sanctity. However, it is not likely, they should be commemorated at this date ; but, from the meagre data and unreliable references to them in various records, we follow only in the wake of other writers. At present, their Acts are not known to be extant. Hence, it is difficult to give reliable particulars regarding them. Notices of these two
ology of Tallagh
norhis
at the 7 th of July, there is a festival in honour of Trighmeach, a Bishop. Fur- nishedwiththeentrybyFatherO'Sheerin,theBollandists3 haveTrigmechus Episcopus, at the present date.
place
period appears
tobeknown. Inthe
Martyrology
saints,
Article iv. — 1 Kelly, p. xxviii.
2
7th
by Rev.
the Bollandists' great
Julii vii. Among the pretermitted feasts, p. 452
4 Edited by Drs. Todd and Reeves, pp.
on the
Edited
of are contained l in July,
See', Acta Sanctorum," tomus ii. , Julii vii. Among the pretermitted feasts, p. 452, 3 See "Letters containing Information rela- tive to the Antiquities of theCounty of Wex- ford, collected during the Progress of the
188, 189. Article vi. —
*
Edited by Rev. Dr.
Ordnance Survey in 1840," vol. i. John Kelly, p. xxviii.
O'Donovan's
2 Edited Drs. Todd and by
4
280.
Edited by Drs. Todd and Reeves, pp.
188, 189. Article v. —1
Letter, p.
Reeves, pp s See "Acta Sanctorum," tomus ii. ,
Edited
See Dr. O'Donovan's "Annals of the
Kelly, p. xxviii. 2
Article vii.
—
by
Rev.
Dr.
vii.
Julii p. 452.
Among
the
pretermitted saints, ' In two sections, by
Dr.
Four vol. Masters,"
n.
3 See "Acta Sanctorum," tomus ii. ,
188, 189.
iv. ,
(c), p. 719.
of 2 Donegal,
3
LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS.
[July 7.
work f although it is stated, that we look in vain for a record of them, in any of the Irish Calendars, whether published or in Manuscript. In the Universal
Martyrology of Castellan, there is an entry of St. Medranus alone, at this
date; while, the feast of his brother St. Odranus is referred, to the nth of
October. This arrangement he appears to have adopted, from different
annotations of Colgan, yet which do not seem mutually to accord. Thus, in
one instance, St. Medranus or Medragius, besides being regarded as a monk
under St. Kieran,3 of Saigir, is also classed among St. Patrick's disciples. *
There, however, he is assigned a feast, for the 6th of June,5 at which date,
we have already noticed a St. Medhran or Medrain, Bishop. Elsewhere, he
is mentioned, as Medhranus or Medhragius, in connexion with a brother,
named Odranus,6 and both of these are stated to have been sons of Mac-
craith, son to Trochall, son of Esomon, son to Daigrse, son of Nuadhat, &c.
However, another pair of brothers, St. Medranus and St. Murchu, are vene-
rated on the 8th of and these are called sons of Hua Macten. 8 day June,?
Again, both St. Medranus and St. Odranus, the sons of Maccraith, are men- tioned, as belonging to the race of Cairbre Baschaoin, and thus they become related to St. Senan of Inis-cathaigh. There, while the feast of the former is thought to be on the 6th or 8th of June ; the festival of the latter has been assigned to the 2nd or to the -26th of October. 9 According to the account contained in the Life of St. Kieran of Saighir, proceeding from Muscraige Thire, and from the village of Lettir, St. Medran and St. Odhrain were brothers, who came to visit his monastery. The province of Connaught they specially desired to seek, and there they intended to settle, at a place called Tulach-ruaidh. But, St. Medran chose to remain at Saigir, to become a dis- ciple of St. Kiaran the Elder, in his monastery. For this change of purpose, he was reproached by Odhran, who besought St. Kieran to refuse Medran admission. St. Kieran replied: "Let the Lord decide between you, if he should remain here or depart with you. Let him now hold a lamp in his hand, and if it be kindled into a flame with his breath, he ought to remain here, but, if otherwise, let him depart with you. " Immediately, Median's breath lighted the lamp, and accordingly, he remained at Saighir, to the end of his days, and with a reputation for great sanctity. Then, St. Kieran said
:
to Odhran " Hear me, brother Odhran, I tell you truly, that even if you
10
Wherefore, return and remain there, because from thy name,
work, notices will be found of both in Ait. v. , vi.
visited the four quarters of the world,
you shall die notwithstanding, in your
village of Lettir.
11
Father John Baptist Soller, S. J. 2"
See Acta Sanctorum," tomus ii. , Julii
vii. De SS. Medrano et Odrano Fiat.
ConfessoribusLethreci in Ilibernia, pp. 477, niae," Martii v. Vita S. Kierani Fpiscopi
478.
3 See his Life, in the Third Volume of
thiswork,atthe5thofMarch,Art. i.
4 See Colgan's "Trias Thaumaturga," Quinta Appendix ad Acta S. Patricii, cap.
xxiii. , p. 268.
s In the Sixth Volume of this work,
Art. vi.
et Confessoris. cap. xxviii. , p. 461, and nn. 31, 32, p. 465.
»See//-/>/. , Martiiviii. ,AppendixadVitam S. Senani, cap. iiL, p. 542 rteU 53$.
6
According to the Genealogic Pedigrees
rhundi plagas circumiveris," &c. A curious question arises from this passage in tiie old Life: Did the writer believe, there were lour great Continents then known in Ire- land to exist ? It seems most probable, that besides the geographical knowledge of Europe, Asia and Africa, then undoubtedly possessed, that of (beat Ireland, or the pre* sent American Continent, was equally a fact of which the early Irish had cognizance long before the age of Christopher Columbus.
ofthe Irish Saints, chap, xvii. , tiiese are re-
spectively called St. Medhragius of Saigir
and St. Odhranus the Master. The former as we are told is called Medhranus, also, in various Irish Calendars, as may be seen by referring to the 6th and 8th of June.
"i At that date, in the Sixth Volume of this
8 See " Acta Sanctorum iber- Colgan's 1 1
10
The Latin words are: "et si quatuor
July 7. ]
LIVES OF THE IRISH SAIN1S.
that village shall henceforward be distinguished/' And so it happened. According to the word of Kieran, Odhran returned to that place, where he erected a religious establishment. The latter was Abbot over that monas- tery in Muscraigia, or Muskerry. It was called from him Leitter Odhrain. There, he was distinguished for great virtue, and many miracles, as hath been recorded in his Life. 12 There, too, he passed away from this earth, to enjoy the rewards of eternal bliss.
Article VIII. —Reputed Festival of St. Boisilus. At the Nones
or 1 of in the Scottish Kalendar De Nova Farina, there is an 7th day July,
entryofSt. Bosiliusandofhiscompanions. Atthisdate,likewise,theBol-
2 a Codex Usuardinus has a feast—and as landists, quoting Altempsianus,
they remark very unintelligibly entered—for Boisilus cum Maria Virgine. To them, he does not appear different from St. Boisilus, whose festival occurs on
the 23rd of January.
Article IX. —Reputed Festival of a Translation of St. Kenti-
gern, Bishop, Scotland. In Greven, and in the Manuscript Florarius
Sanctorum, there is a Translation of St. Kentigern, Bishop, recorded, at the
7th of July. A well known feast for this holy Scottish prelate is at the 13th of
1 as the Bollandists 2 observe. His chief however, is at the January, festival,
13th ofNovember. 3
Article X. —Reputed Feast of St. Colman. Father Henry Fitzsimon
1
has a Colmanus, at the 7th of July, as he quotes from the Life of St.
Kilian. This festival belongs more properly to the ensuing day.
Article XI. —Reputed Festival for a Translation of the Eleven Thousand Virgins and Martyrs. In the Florarius Sanctorum, it is stated, that at Cologne on the 7th of July took place a Translation — we may pre- sume relating to the Relics-—of the Eleven Thousand Virgin Martyrs con-
from the Cologne Martyrologies. However, they refer to the 21st of Octo-
2
ber, as destined to relate all that need be stated regarding those Ursuline
Virgins and Martyrs.
Article XII. —Reputed Festival for Saints Wilchibaldus, Disi- bodus, Kalian, Bibianus, Totnanus. A feast for St. Disibodus has been
11
It is also written Lettren, in St. the reader is referred to that date, in the Kieran's Life. First Volume of this work, Art. ii.
nected with that The city.
1 at this
but they wonder how, if it were true, the notice should have been omitted
12 2 This statement, taken from the old
Acts of St. Kieran, proves, that formerly
suchabiographyhadbeencomposed. Itis one of the many ancient tracts, which have since been lost.
See "Acta Sanctorum," tomus ii. , Julii vii. Among the pretermitted saints, p. 449.
3 bee his Act—s given at that date.
—
Sociorum. " Bishop Forbes' Kalendarsof dium," tomus
viii. Article—
*"" Thus: Bosilii et
Historic Catholicae Iberniae
"
See "Acta Sanctorum," tomus ii. , Julii vii. Among the pretermitted feasts, p. 449.
Compen- cap. p. 53.
Scottish Saints," p. 73.
2
Article ix.
—
l
For some notices
of
him,
the same
Bollandists,
day,
record such an
entry;
*
Article x. See O'Sullevan Beare's
i. , lib. iv. ,
Article XI. — * See "Acta Sancto-
rum," tomus ii. , Julii vii. Among the pre- tcrmitted saints, p. 452.
2
For their Acts, the reader is referred to
day.
ii. ,
LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS.
[J uly 8.
1
assigned to this day, by Camerarius, as the Bollandists remark ; while by
Castellan, it has been relegated to the 8th of September, as having been held inDisemberg,nearSpanheim,inthedioceseofMayence. TheBollandists
ArticleXIII. —ReputedFestivalofaSt. Bicce. Venerationwas
refer its celebration to the 8th of July.
Saints, published by O'Sullevan Beare, these names, Wilchibaldus, Dissibo- dus, Kalian, Bibianus and Totnanus, occur, at the 7th of July. But, I sus- pect typographical error and a misplaced festival, at least so far as concerns most of them.
given to Bicce, at this date, according to the Martyrology of Tallagh. where, we find no corresponding entry, in any other Calendar.
®fgl)tb J3ap of Snip*
1
Else-
ARTICLE I. —THE ACTS OF ST. KILIAN, APOSTLE OF FRANCONIA, MARTYR AND BISHOP, AS ALSO OF HIS COMPANIONS, ST. COLMAN, PRIEST, AND ST. TOTNAN, DEACON, MARTYRS.
\SEVENTH CENTURY. ]
CHAPTER I.
INTRODUCTION—MANUSCRIPT AND PUHLTSHED ACTS OF THOSE HOLY MARTYRS—THE
2
In the anonymous Calendar of Irish
ST. KILIAN'S FAMILY AND HIS EARLY EDUCATION— HE EMBRACES THE ECCLESIASTICAL STATE—HIS PREACHING AND LABOURS IN IRELAND—WITH ELEVEN OTHER COMPANIONS HE LEAVES FOR FRANCE AND GER-
COUNTRY OF THEIR BIRTH—
MANY—HE TRAVELS TO WURTZBURG—PAGANISM THERE PREVAILING.
MANY
aspire to heroic fame, but, impelled thereto through motives of
humanambition whilethe
werehumblein their own estimation, yet exalted in the sight of God, and they are revered by just persons, because they ended virtuous lives, through the treacherous and evil machinations of those who conspired their death. Many seek for know- ledge, by relying too much on their own abilities, and without asking for those Heavenly lights, which can alone effectually dispel the darkness of mental vision ; but, St. Kilian is regarded as one of the Irish Doctors on account of his learning, while he turned this learning to forward noble aims, by observing the Divine Commandments, and by labouring with zeal for the extension of
God's kingdom, among the unenlightened and unbelievers.
The Life of St. Kilian, Apostle of Franconia, has been written, at a period not long after his death ; while various Manuscript Acts, relating to him and to his companions, have been preserved to our own times. With his Acts are
Articlexii. —x See"Acta Sanctorum," tomus ii. , Julii vii. Among the prctcr- mitted feasts, p. 452.
2 See " Historioe Catholicce Ibemiae Com- pendium," tomus i. , lib. iv. , cap. xi. , p. 50.
;
present holy martyrs
Article xiii. —* Edited by Rev. Dr. Kelly, p. xxviii.
Article i. —Chapter 1. —See Father
Stephen White's " Apologia pro Hibernia," cap. v. , p. 66.
July 8. ]
LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. 123
usually associated those of his companions in martyrdom, Saints Colman and
Totnan. There is a Harleian 2 Vita S. Kiliani. 3 in a vellum Manuscript large
folio, belonging to the twelfth century. This Life has been interpolated,
however, with subsequent additions. * There is a Tract,* De S. Kiliano cum
Sociis 6 and it seems to have been an of the suis, Martyribus, abridgment
8
formerpiece. AnAdmontManuscript7 containsadifferentVitaS. Kiliani, and this has been published by the Bollandists,? from a Manuscript in their
Sociorumque ejus,
in the National 10 Paris in that of the of Library, ; city
collated with other 10 as also with the text of Manuscripts,
possession,
Canisius " and of Mabillon. " There is another Admont Manuscript, con-
taining Passio Chiliani, Martyris, et aliorum Sociorum ejus. ^ Among the Arundel Manuscripts, in the British Museum, there is a thirteenth century
1 * "
Tract, Legenda
in festo S. Kiliani xs it is short, and of ;" but, apparently
no great value. 16
Kiliani. 18 There are various copies of a Manuscript intituled, Vita S. Kiliani
Metz 2° in that of the Duke of ;
21 Bruxelles two copies of his Burgundy, ;
in "
iv. , pars ii. , p. 625, and also by Sera-
rius, in Opera, p. 329, Ed. Mogunt, a. d. 161 1, fob Surius has issued it, in " De Pro-
batis Sanctorum Vitis," vol. iv. , Julii viii. , pp. 135 to 138.
4 It has been published by the Bollan- dists, in "Acta Sanctorum," tomus ii. , Julii viii.
by Canisius, tomus
Antiquos
Lectiones,"
5 It is in
printed Capgtave's
" Nova Le-
or fourteenth It is classed century.
5278,
There is an account by Sander 1 ? regarding a Vita S.
Acts are at Bamberg 22 three at Vienna -p two copies at Hamburg 2* one
;
at 2* oneat copy Stuttgart,
and one at Lilienfeld. 20
Windberg,
;
20 oneat 2? oneatRebdorf,28 Wurtzburg,
11 In " Lectiones," tomus iv. , Antiquce
8 Numbered 2801, in ff
3 This has a Prologue, commencing parsii. , p. 625.
