He took up his abode, in
and Ecclesiastical Documents relating to
The Codex is classed vol.
and Ecclesiastical Documents relating to
The Codex is classed vol.
O'Hanlon - Lives of the Irish Saints - v3
It seems likely, this holy missioner was born in the north of Ireland,^ early in the sixth century, and that he spent some time there, under St.
Columba's religious discipline.
Again, Dempster^ has notices of St.
Fethuo, and among other gratuitous
statements,
this man is made an and the writer of " ad holy abbot,? Epistolse
Patres in lona," lib. i. According to John Lesley,'" he lived in the year 606.
At the 12th day of March, with a eulogy for his piety, zeal, erudition, and
extraordinary evangelical labours, David Camerarius has noticed St. Fetno,"
Confessor " his real name is and he is said to have died ; but, Fiachna,'^
about th—e year 580. '+ Miracles were wrought at his sepulchre's Colgan
—been set down for Fethuo's or supposes althoughthe12thofMarchhas
be the Fiechnon, or Fiachna, venerated in our Irish Calendars, at the 30th of March, or the Fetchchuo, commemorated, at the 23rd of July, or at the 2nd
Fecoenon's feast by foreign Martyrologists that in reality, he may of August. '^
^ See his
at the of
Life, 31st August.
Fethuo and Rus—
of Adamnan, St. Coluin-
9 See his Scottish History, lib. iv. , p. 158. '° ''
— were the two sons of Rodan. See Rev. Dr. Reeves' Adamnan's " Life of St. Columba,"
See Historia Ecclesiastica Gentis Sco- torum," tomus i. , lib. iii. , num. 257, p. 154. "These are thus enumerated: Docu-
Additional Notes, A, p. 245, and n. (1. )
^ "Historia Ecclesiastica Gentis See
Scotorum," tomus i. , lib. vi. , num. 535, p.
293.
» " inter Sodo- Dempster adds, et puto
renses illos Scotos montanos. "
"
1^2. "
menta Fidei ad
Conciones, lib. i. , Commentaria in Scriptu- ras, lib. i. , Acta Legationis, lib. i.
"See
Forbes' " Scottish Saints," p. 194.
'' See Boethius,
* See
Bishop
Kalendars of Life, at the 9th
Articlexiii. —' Seehis of June.
See "Historia Scotorum," lib. iv. , p.
Camerarius, "
at
Northanhumbros, lib. i. ,
p. 116. He quotes Hystorie Scotorum," lib. ix. , fol. 166 a. ed. 1575. The feast of St. Ni-
man occurs, at the i6th of September.
By this name, he is so called, likewise, in the Dunkeld Litany, in the English Martyrology, and by Ferrarius.
" See Bishop Forbes' " Kalendars of Scottish Saints," p. 235.
'3 See ibid. , p. 336.
"» According to John Wilson's English
3 See "Acta Sanctorum
Martii. De S. Fetchuone, sive Fiechnone,
Scotorum et Pictorum Apostolo, ex variis, pp. 588, 589.
"
Acta Sanctorum," tomus ii. , Martii xii. Among the pretermitted saints, p. 103. s See "Kalendars of Scottish Saints," p.
33^*'
This Irish word denotes "a wolf. "
7 According to an addition in Codex B.
Hibernije," xii.
ba's missionary companions to Scotland
Martyrology, Phillip rius.
Ferrarius and Camera-
'5 So it is stated, by Camerarius. See " De Statu Hominis Veteris simul ac novae Eccle- siae, et Infidelium Conversione," lib. i. , cap.
iii. , sect. 2, p. 165.
'« See " Acta Sanctorum Hibemise," xii.
Y
338 LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS: [March 13.
Article XIV. —St. - Indreachtach or Innrechtach O'Finachtain,
Abbot of Iona, Scotland, and Martyr. \_Ninth Century. '] We learn,
from the Annals of Innisfallen,' that the surname of this holy man was Uo
Finachta or Ua Finachtain. ^ Idreachtach O'Finachtain is called Coarb of
Columbkille,3 and from this it has been inferred, he was abbot over London-
derry Monastery, in the olden time. * However, this title he obtained, because
he was the twenty-first Abbot of Hy, and he held office a. d. 849, in which
year he went to Ireland, with St. Columba's relics. s As the date of his pre-
decessor's death is not recorded, although we know, that Diarmait, the
twentieth abbot, visited Ireland, on a similar errand ; it cannot be known,
when St. Innrechtach began his rule, over the Iona monks. He was regarded
as an eminent sage. On the 12th of March, a. d. 852, he suffered martyrdom,
among the Saxons, according to the Annals of the Four Masters. ^ He was
on his way to Rome. 7 According to the Annals of Ulster,^ the date for his
departure to Christ is a. d. 853, while the Rev. Dr. Reeves places it, at a. d.
A
ARTICLE I. —ST. MOCH^MHOG, OR MOCHCEMOC, ALSO CALLED PUL- CHERIUS, ABBOT OF LIATH-MORE, OR LIATH-MOCH^MHOG, NOW LEIGH, IN THE PARISH OF TWO MILE BORRIS, COUNTY OF TIP- PERARY.
[SIXTH AND SEVENTH CENTURIES. ^ CHAPTER I.
INTRODUCTION—VARIOUS ACTS OF ST. MOCHCEMOC—HIS PARENTAGE, BIRTH AND EARLY EDUCATION—HIS STUDIES AND ORDINATION, AT BANGOR—HE IS SENT TO FOUND A MONASTERY, WHICH HE ERECTS AT ANNATRIM.
the Irish, as among the Jews of old, it was customary to record the of remarkable and St. Ambrose finds a
854. 9
legend,
by
Malmesbury,
misdates his
martyrdom, by
AMONG
'°
William of
one hundred and sixty-five years, and places it near Glastonbury. "
Cf)irteeutl) Ba^ of ilarrO*
pedigrees holy persons.
reason for this ancient practice, by stating, that the writers of the Sacred
Scriptures not only desired to praise the morals of great individuals, but even to show how virtues and renown have descended as an heirloom from their
Martii. De S. Fetchuone sive
&c. , and nn. 6, 7, pp. 588, 589.
Fieclinone,
* See Dr. O'Donovan's vol. edition,
See Bishop Forbes' "Kalendars of Scottish Saints," p. 468.
^ At a. d. dcccliii. " Heres Columbe
'7 Article XIV. — At a. d. 840.
° See Rev. Dr. Reeves' Adamnan's " Life
of St. Columba. " Additional Notes 390;
(O), p.
3HisLife
See "Memoir of the City and North-
Saxones "Annales Ulto- martyrizatur. "—
Western Liberties of sect. 2, p. 27.
nienses," p. 222.
' See his edition of Adamnan's " Life of
St. Columba. " Additional Notes (O), p.
occurs,
atthe
of
9th June.
Londonderry," partii. , 5 See Dr. O'Conor's " Rerum Hibemica-
390.
" Yet in
" tomus iv. Annales Ulto-
rum
nienses, a. d. DCCcxlviii. , p. 219.
Scriptores,
"
Manuscript,
See Iladdan's and Stubb's "Councils
pp. 486, 487.
cille, sapiens, optimus, lY. , Id. Marcii apud
i. ,
March 13. ] LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. 339
ancestors. ^ We have reason to believe, as in case of the present saint, that the genealogies of our holy persons descend to us from more reliable sources, than do the wonderful miracles too frequently attributed to them, through those unauthenticated stories collected by so many legend-mongers.
There is an Irish Life of St. Mochoevog, transcribed by Michael O'Clery, among the Burgundian Manuscripts, at Bruxelles. ^ There is also a Vita S. Mochcemoci, but imperfect at the beginning. This is marked fol. 49, in a
Trinity College, Dublin, Manuscript. 3 Likewise, in that Manuscript of Marsh's Library, Dublin, and which has been called, but incorrectly, the Codex Kilkenniensis, there is a Vita S. Mochcemoci seu Pulcherii Abbatis, Liatmorensis, in Hibernia. * Pulcherius is regarded as a Latin rendering of theIrishname. Anidea,thatthelegendaryLifeofSt. Mochoemoc,aspub-
lished, had been written by one of his contemporary disciples, seems un- founded, s Fleming has published Acts of this holy abbot,^ but without any critical acumen. The Life of St. Mochoemoc or Pulcherius, extracted from the Codex Kilkenniensis,7 has been published by Colgan. ^ The Bollandists,^ likewise, reproduce these Acts. A commentary, in five paragraphs, precedes this account. '" Bishop Challoner," the Rev. Alban Butler," and the Rev. S. Baring-Gould'3 have their respective Lives of this renowned saint.
The father of St. Mochoemoc was Beoan, son of Mellan, son to Nessan, son of Ere, son to Cuinned,'4 son of Finnchoemy, son to Coemscrag,'^ and thus is the genealogy"^ continued to the family of Conmhaicne,'^ belonging to the province of Connaught. ''^ His mother was Nessa, the sister of St. Ita,'9 and daughter to Keannfoelad, son to Cormac. She descended from the Decies race. It happened, however, that Beoan, who was a renowned artificer in wood and stone, as also a brave warrior, had incurred the dis- pleasure of some enemies, who drove him from the place of his birth, and who compelled him to find a refuge in Munster.
He took up his abode, in
and Ecclesiastical Documents relating to
The Codex is classed vol. iv. , part ii. , p. 1 79. This was copied by Professor Eugene O'Curry, and it has been translated into Eng- lish, by Professor O'Looney, who has kindly afforded us the use of his Manuscript.
chapters is added. See pp. 589 to 599. 'See "Acta Sanctorum," tomus ii. ,
Great Britain and Ireland," vol. iii. , p. 139.
" '
"
Lives of the Saints," vol. iii. , p. 245 *"
and other principal Saints," vol. iii. , March xiii.
'3 See "Lives of the Saints," vol. iii. ,
March 13, pp. 245 to 249.
'^ Others have it Cared,
's to the " Genea- According Sanctilogic
logy," chapter xxvi. The Psalter and Calendar of Cashel agree with this account, '* The Psalter Mac Richard, Bodleian Library, Oxford, has at fol. 9, the genea-
logy of St. Mochemog.
'7 From this tribe, many of our saints
spring, and some noble families,
'^ Dr. Lanigan remarks, that Conmaicne
was the name of various districts in this
province, and chiefly in the county of Gal- way. See "Ecclesiastical History of Ire-
land," vol. iii. , chap, xvii. , sect. v. , n. 58, p. 29. '» Her Life will be found, at the 15th of
January.
=° This district is now represented, by the
i.
Mochcemoco,
cherio, Abbate LiatmorensiinHibernia, pp.
280 to 288.
'° This copy, collated with Colgan's Life, ,
had been obtained by them from the Very Rev. Hugh Ward,
—— Chapter
Article
Opera," Homilia, lib. i. , in Lucam.
3
< From fol. 81 10*85.
s Such is the opinion of Rev. S. Baring-
Gould, who thinks it cannot have been written, before the twelfth century. See
"See "Britannia Sancta," part i. , pp. 72, 173.
It is classed E.
3.
11,
1
"See "Lives of the Fathers, Martyrs
See Collectanea Sacra," in 30 para- graphs, pp. 380 to 391.
^ This belonged to the Friars Minor, and
the author of it is tliought, by Colgan, to
have lived contemporaneously with St. Mo-
choemoc and St. Canice. He is thought,
hkewise, to have written the Acts of St. Ita,
for January 15th, of St. Maidoc, for January
31st, and of St. Fintan, at February 17th, as
also other Lives in the collection. The
style is rude, and the language sometimes
ungrammatical ; but, the phrases are often
antique, while the ablative absolute is used
on occasions for the nominative case.
"
See
Martu. Vita S. Mochcemoci Abbatis de Liath-mor, in Helia. An Appendix, in five
Acta Sanctorum Hibemise," xiii.
'
i. See
Martii xiii.
De S.
seu Pul-
340 LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. [March 13
a territory called Corcoic, in the country of Hua-Conaill-Gabhra,=° and it is incorrectly said to have belonged to the Corcobhaiscinn people. ^^
Here, he seems to have become acquainted with a beautiful, virtuous, and noble woman, named Nessa, who had desired to lead a life of virginity. Yet,
through a prophetic spirit, her sister St. Ita^^ knew, that the Almighty willed hertobethewifeofBeoan. Thisunionwassoonaccomplished,andthe husband was most tenderly attached to his spouse. For a time, they were childless, but, one day, after the artificer had completed a building for St. Ita, she asked him, what reward he desired. Beoan reminded her, that no heir had been born since his marriage, and he entreated her, to pray for the birth
of a son. Then said the to " You shall have a holy virgin him,
son, Meantime,
Oh, dearl sister, have you not declared to us, that he
by God and by men. " This prophecy was afterwards fulfilled.
a certain cruel king, named Crunnmhoel, from the southern part of Hua- Conaill, undertook a hostile incursion against the Corcoche Tuath. With a large force, he commenced the work of devastation and slaughter. Beoan was obliged to take up arms, with his adopted tribesmen ; but, he fell, in an engagement, which ensued, and he was then beheaded, according to a bar- barous practice of conquerors, at the time. In profound grief, his wife came to the battle-field, where she found the mangled remains of her husband. Taking the head, and recognising his ghastly features, she bore it in tears to
"
St. Ita, crying out,
should leave a son to succeed him, and now he is slain, while I am still left
""
childless ? Ita said, Sister, weep not, for God is able to assist us, and to
ratify my promise. Go, therefore, and attach this head to Beoan's body. " Nessa declared, that she could not identify it, so great had been the number
" In the name of the most Trinity, call him thrice, by his own name, when he shall arise and come to
of the slain. the Then,
holy virgin replied,
Holy
the he shall head,
to
' O
you. Afterwards, replacing
have you called me, for I had gone to my rest ? '
as directed, and Beoan was restored to his former vitality and health. Both went to St. Ita, and they returned thanks. She asked Beoan, whether he should prefer to remain in this life, or to go at once to heaven. He declared, that in comparison with the rewards of eternal life, he deemed all this world
" It is
as smoke. Ita However,
that the reward I
promised you
said,
should be paid. " Then washing his wounds, no trace of them subsequently
appeared, and blessing him, she sent Beoan and his wife away to their own house. Soon afterwards, Nessa conceived, and when the time of our saint's birth approached, a wonderful miracle was wrought, in favour of St. Fachnan, or Fachannan,='3 of Ross-alithre. ^* Resolved on paying a visit to St. Ita, and
accompanied by her husband, she sat in a chariot.
"
saint, Truly, king, the child she bears, through God's grace, shall be great in the kingdom of Heaven. " On returning to their home, the child came to light, and soon
to her nuns,
and see, who is the occupant. " The messengers reported, that her sister Nessa was in it. Then said the " it sounds beneath a for
barony of Connello, in the county of Lime-
Limerick. Professor O'Looney's copy has it Corcoic.
^^ Her father is called Faelan, in Pro- fessor O'Looney's Life.
'^ See his Life, at the 14th of August.
133, 134, 143.
"
Topographical Poems of
rick. See the
John O'Dubhagain and GioUa na Naomh
O'Huidhrin," edited by Dr. O'Donovan, n. 692, p. Ixxvii.
^* Now the town of Ross, in the parish so called, in the baronies of East Carbery, at the Life of St. Senan, which is given on Ibane and Barryroe. The parish is des- cribed, on the " Ordnance Survey Townland Maps for the County of Cork," Sheets I2i,
=' The reader is referred to what has been
already stated, in regard to their territory,
the 8th of March, chap, i. , nn. 33, 34, 36, 37. Yet, the present account, in Colgan's Acts, makes it extend, into the county of
right,
"
that chariot approaching resounds beneath a king, go ye out
say "
you,
woman, why All this was accomplished,
Verily," cried out Ita
beloved
March 13. ] LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. 341
this news was conveyed to St. Ita. With great joy, she exclaimed, that Beoan deserved to have a son, who should be exalted before God and before men, and whose memory should not fade from recollection. She added,
" He shall be beautiful and old. " his first name was Whereupon,
this was
570. ^7 From the font of baptism, his life was illustrated by miracles and graces. One day, as his mother Nessa went out from the house, and left her infant sleeping within it, on looking back, she saw a globe of fire settle over the roof. Quickly returning and crying out, the fire vanished and did not reappear; while, looking at the infant, she found him rosy-cheeked and smiling, so that all who heard her account concluded, that the Holy Spirit came specially to visit her beloved child.
likewise,
^s
which was applied to him by St. Ita. The year of his birth is not known ; however, it could not have been later than 550, as his aunt Ita died a. d.
Coemhghin ;
but,
almost
immediately,
dropped
for
Mochcemog,^^
the ofGod grace
so that, as he is
spiritual and'we carnal, he is unsuited for our worldliness, nor can he live
with us. " she " him and he shall be Immediately replied, Bring hither,
fostered by myself. " They consented to this arrangement. Mochoemhog was trained up from the time he was a child, in the fear and love of God, by
St. Ita, who took charge of her nephew, during twenty years. She educated him for the priesthood, and while prosecuting his studies, she also watched most sedulously over his morals. She had a foreknowledge, that he should found a monastery, in a certain place, whence he should take his departure for heaven, and that there a city, of which he must be patron, should after-
"
The thencameto St. Ita and parents
said, miraculously shines in your little favourite, and in our son ;
wards be built. All
pious matron, let it be as thou wiliest. "
having received the blessing of his aunt, it was next deemed necessary, that the holy young man should be committed to the care of St. Comgall,^^ who lived in his monastery of Benchor, in the province of Ulster. Mochoemog set out, with five other companions, and they were all joyfully received by the illustrious abbot. While here, Mochoemog had many distinguished school-fellows. He lived for several years, under the discipline of that great saint, whose name, as a teacher and coenobite, had extended all over Ireland. In Bangor, he was ordained a priest, after he had passed through the requi- site course of preparation.
*s This " handsome signifies,
and of Down. See " Acta diocese county
Sanctorum HiberniK," Martii xiii. , n. ir,
**
bom. " Meaning, "my Choem "or "my Choe-
mog. "
1^7
this,
Ita told her
young ward,
her,
Oh,
While St. Comgall and his disciple St. Puldierius were one day engaged
at prayer, the Prior of the monastery had been abroad, and he came in a
fright to acquaint them, that he had seen, when returning home, a great
multitude of devils around their monastery. They laid, as it were, a close
siege to it, on all sides ; whereas, he could discover but one devil over the
castle of Rath-leamain,29 where the neighbouring king kept his court. This
one even appeared to be idle. St. Mochoemoc, on hearing this, cried out to
"
Father, let us arise, and return thanks to God, because our brethren are so faithful in his service, that the devil assembles all his hellish troops to wage war against them ; for, where Satan is served, he thinks one evil spirit sufficient to maintain his usurpation, and this same one appears to
St. Comgall,
p. 557. I am informed, by Rev. James See Dr. Lanigan's "Ecclesiastical O'Laverty, P. P. , Hollywood, that such a
History of Ireland," vol. iii. , chap, xvii. ,
sect, v. , p. 23.
rath once stood near the town of Bangor, but that it had been levelled down over thirty years ago, no trace of it now remain- ing.
** »9
See his Life, at the loth of May. According to Colgan, this was in the
"O
lady,
and he said to
With the consent of his parents, and
342 LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. [March 13.
be idle ; but, where men bravely resist his tyranny, he employs all his forces against them. Thus, as a king sends the brave ones of his army to contend against his stoutest enemies, who are in arms against him, so does he send only a messenger, where no opposition is offered. " St. Comgall approved very much his disciple's sentiments. Joining with him in prayer, Comgall obtained from God, and for the encouragement of his brethren, that their eyes should be opened to discern those infernal legions, and to see them put
to flight by their prayers. 3° Comgall ordered, likewise, that Mochcemog should go to the left, while he would take the right, side of the monastery.
When casting forth the demons, Comgall commanded them, in Christ's name, neveragaintoassemblethere,untilthedayofjudgment. Accordingtothis
mandate, they fled away from the monastery of Bangor 31 and, in doing so,
;
they alighted on the castle of Rath-leamain, where the King of Ultonia re-
sided. There they settled, as if guarding it with a garrison force.
On witnessing this miracle, St. Comgall deemed it right, to send out a number of his disciples, so that he might establish houses, in different parts
of Ireland. Being arrived at an eminent degree of religious perfection, Mochcemog was commissioned, and sent with other monks, to found an in-
"
stitute for these religious.
My son," said the abbot to our saint, on his
departure,
" it is
necessary
that
you
should become the fatlier of spiritual
others, and that you should erect a house for God's service, wherever he may
decree. " Then going forth, with his colony, Mochcemog journeyed to
Leinster. The place he first pitched on for this purpose, was Enachtruim, TiowAnatrim,3^onMountBladhma,atpresentSlieveBloom. Hereaman,
named Bronach,33 sought to prevent him from building ; but, the saint said, he should carry out his purpose, while he declared, that opponent should be banished, with his generation, from the country, and by its chieftain. All this was literally fulfilled, and there Mochcemog began to build cells, which he afterwards resigned to St. Coemhan, for whom this place was specially des- tined by the Almighty. 34
CHAPTER II.
ST.
statements,
this man is made an and the writer of " ad holy abbot,? Epistolse
Patres in lona," lib. i. According to John Lesley,'" he lived in the year 606.
At the 12th day of March, with a eulogy for his piety, zeal, erudition, and
extraordinary evangelical labours, David Camerarius has noticed St. Fetno,"
Confessor " his real name is and he is said to have died ; but, Fiachna,'^
about th—e year 580. '+ Miracles were wrought at his sepulchre's Colgan
—been set down for Fethuo's or supposes althoughthe12thofMarchhas
be the Fiechnon, or Fiachna, venerated in our Irish Calendars, at the 30th of March, or the Fetchchuo, commemorated, at the 23rd of July, or at the 2nd
Fecoenon's feast by foreign Martyrologists that in reality, he may of August. '^
^ See his
at the of
Life, 31st August.
Fethuo and Rus—
of Adamnan, St. Coluin-
9 See his Scottish History, lib. iv. , p. 158. '° ''
— were the two sons of Rodan. See Rev. Dr. Reeves' Adamnan's " Life of St. Columba,"
See Historia Ecclesiastica Gentis Sco- torum," tomus i. , lib. iii. , num. 257, p. 154. "These are thus enumerated: Docu-
Additional Notes, A, p. 245, and n. (1. )
^ "Historia Ecclesiastica Gentis See
Scotorum," tomus i. , lib. vi. , num. 535, p.
293.
» " inter Sodo- Dempster adds, et puto
renses illos Scotos montanos. "
"
1^2. "
menta Fidei ad
Conciones, lib. i. , Commentaria in Scriptu- ras, lib. i. , Acta Legationis, lib. i.
"See
Forbes' " Scottish Saints," p. 194.
'' See Boethius,
* See
Bishop
Kalendars of Life, at the 9th
Articlexiii. —' Seehis of June.
See "Historia Scotorum," lib. iv. , p.
Camerarius, "
at
Northanhumbros, lib. i. ,
p. 116. He quotes Hystorie Scotorum," lib. ix. , fol. 166 a. ed. 1575. The feast of St. Ni-
man occurs, at the i6th of September.
By this name, he is so called, likewise, in the Dunkeld Litany, in the English Martyrology, and by Ferrarius.
" See Bishop Forbes' " Kalendars of Scottish Saints," p. 235.
'3 See ibid. , p. 336.
"» According to John Wilson's English
3 See "Acta Sanctorum
Martii. De S. Fetchuone, sive Fiechnone,
Scotorum et Pictorum Apostolo, ex variis, pp. 588, 589.
"
Acta Sanctorum," tomus ii. , Martii xii. Among the pretermitted saints, p. 103. s See "Kalendars of Scottish Saints," p.
33^*'
This Irish word denotes "a wolf. "
7 According to an addition in Codex B.
Hibernije," xii.
ba's missionary companions to Scotland
Martyrology, Phillip rius.
Ferrarius and Camera-
'5 So it is stated, by Camerarius. See " De Statu Hominis Veteris simul ac novae Eccle- siae, et Infidelium Conversione," lib. i. , cap.
iii. , sect. 2, p. 165.
'« See " Acta Sanctorum Hibemise," xii.
Y
338 LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS: [March 13.
Article XIV. —St. - Indreachtach or Innrechtach O'Finachtain,
Abbot of Iona, Scotland, and Martyr. \_Ninth Century. '] We learn,
from the Annals of Innisfallen,' that the surname of this holy man was Uo
Finachta or Ua Finachtain. ^ Idreachtach O'Finachtain is called Coarb of
Columbkille,3 and from this it has been inferred, he was abbot over London-
derry Monastery, in the olden time. * However, this title he obtained, because
he was the twenty-first Abbot of Hy, and he held office a. d. 849, in which
year he went to Ireland, with St. Columba's relics. s As the date of his pre-
decessor's death is not recorded, although we know, that Diarmait, the
twentieth abbot, visited Ireland, on a similar errand ; it cannot be known,
when St. Innrechtach began his rule, over the Iona monks. He was regarded
as an eminent sage. On the 12th of March, a. d. 852, he suffered martyrdom,
among the Saxons, according to the Annals of the Four Masters. ^ He was
on his way to Rome. 7 According to the Annals of Ulster,^ the date for his
departure to Christ is a. d. 853, while the Rev. Dr. Reeves places it, at a. d.
A
ARTICLE I. —ST. MOCH^MHOG, OR MOCHCEMOC, ALSO CALLED PUL- CHERIUS, ABBOT OF LIATH-MORE, OR LIATH-MOCH^MHOG, NOW LEIGH, IN THE PARISH OF TWO MILE BORRIS, COUNTY OF TIP- PERARY.
[SIXTH AND SEVENTH CENTURIES. ^ CHAPTER I.
INTRODUCTION—VARIOUS ACTS OF ST. MOCHCEMOC—HIS PARENTAGE, BIRTH AND EARLY EDUCATION—HIS STUDIES AND ORDINATION, AT BANGOR—HE IS SENT TO FOUND A MONASTERY, WHICH HE ERECTS AT ANNATRIM.
the Irish, as among the Jews of old, it was customary to record the of remarkable and St. Ambrose finds a
854. 9
legend,
by
Malmesbury,
misdates his
martyrdom, by
AMONG
'°
William of
one hundred and sixty-five years, and places it near Glastonbury. "
Cf)irteeutl) Ba^ of ilarrO*
pedigrees holy persons.
reason for this ancient practice, by stating, that the writers of the Sacred
Scriptures not only desired to praise the morals of great individuals, but even to show how virtues and renown have descended as an heirloom from their
Martii. De S. Fetchuone sive
&c. , and nn. 6, 7, pp. 588, 589.
Fieclinone,
* See Dr. O'Donovan's vol. edition,
See Bishop Forbes' "Kalendars of Scottish Saints," p. 468.
^ At a. d. dcccliii. " Heres Columbe
'7 Article XIV. — At a. d. 840.
° See Rev. Dr. Reeves' Adamnan's " Life
of St. Columba. " Additional Notes 390;
(O), p.
3HisLife
See "Memoir of the City and North-
Saxones "Annales Ulto- martyrizatur. "—
Western Liberties of sect. 2, p. 27.
nienses," p. 222.
' See his edition of Adamnan's " Life of
St. Columba. " Additional Notes (O), p.
occurs,
atthe
of
9th June.
Londonderry," partii. , 5 See Dr. O'Conor's " Rerum Hibemica-
390.
" Yet in
" tomus iv. Annales Ulto-
rum
nienses, a. d. DCCcxlviii. , p. 219.
Scriptores,
"
Manuscript,
See Iladdan's and Stubb's "Councils
pp. 486, 487.
cille, sapiens, optimus, lY. , Id. Marcii apud
i. ,
March 13. ] LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. 339
ancestors. ^ We have reason to believe, as in case of the present saint, that the genealogies of our holy persons descend to us from more reliable sources, than do the wonderful miracles too frequently attributed to them, through those unauthenticated stories collected by so many legend-mongers.
There is an Irish Life of St. Mochoevog, transcribed by Michael O'Clery, among the Burgundian Manuscripts, at Bruxelles. ^ There is also a Vita S. Mochcemoci, but imperfect at the beginning. This is marked fol. 49, in a
Trinity College, Dublin, Manuscript. 3 Likewise, in that Manuscript of Marsh's Library, Dublin, and which has been called, but incorrectly, the Codex Kilkenniensis, there is a Vita S. Mochcemoci seu Pulcherii Abbatis, Liatmorensis, in Hibernia. * Pulcherius is regarded as a Latin rendering of theIrishname. Anidea,thatthelegendaryLifeofSt. Mochoemoc,aspub-
lished, had been written by one of his contemporary disciples, seems un- founded, s Fleming has published Acts of this holy abbot,^ but without any critical acumen. The Life of St. Mochoemoc or Pulcherius, extracted from the Codex Kilkenniensis,7 has been published by Colgan. ^ The Bollandists,^ likewise, reproduce these Acts. A commentary, in five paragraphs, precedes this account. '" Bishop Challoner," the Rev. Alban Butler," and the Rev. S. Baring-Gould'3 have their respective Lives of this renowned saint.
The father of St. Mochoemoc was Beoan, son of Mellan, son to Nessan, son of Ere, son to Cuinned,'4 son of Finnchoemy, son to Coemscrag,'^ and thus is the genealogy"^ continued to the family of Conmhaicne,'^ belonging to the province of Connaught. ''^ His mother was Nessa, the sister of St. Ita,'9 and daughter to Keannfoelad, son to Cormac. She descended from the Decies race. It happened, however, that Beoan, who was a renowned artificer in wood and stone, as also a brave warrior, had incurred the dis- pleasure of some enemies, who drove him from the place of his birth, and who compelled him to find a refuge in Munster.
He took up his abode, in
and Ecclesiastical Documents relating to
The Codex is classed vol. iv. , part ii. , p. 1 79. This was copied by Professor Eugene O'Curry, and it has been translated into Eng- lish, by Professor O'Looney, who has kindly afforded us the use of his Manuscript.
chapters is added. See pp. 589 to 599. 'See "Acta Sanctorum," tomus ii. ,
Great Britain and Ireland," vol. iii. , p. 139.
" '
"
Lives of the Saints," vol. iii. , p. 245 *"
and other principal Saints," vol. iii. , March xiii.
'3 See "Lives of the Saints," vol. iii. ,
March 13, pp. 245 to 249.
'^ Others have it Cared,
's to the " Genea- According Sanctilogic
logy," chapter xxvi. The Psalter and Calendar of Cashel agree with this account, '* The Psalter Mac Richard, Bodleian Library, Oxford, has at fol. 9, the genea-
logy of St. Mochemog.
'7 From this tribe, many of our saints
spring, and some noble families,
'^ Dr. Lanigan remarks, that Conmaicne
was the name of various districts in this
province, and chiefly in the county of Gal- way. See "Ecclesiastical History of Ire-
land," vol. iii. , chap, xvii. , sect. v. , n. 58, p. 29. '» Her Life will be found, at the 15th of
January.
=° This district is now represented, by the
i.
Mochcemoco,
cherio, Abbate LiatmorensiinHibernia, pp.
280 to 288.
'° This copy, collated with Colgan's Life, ,
had been obtained by them from the Very Rev. Hugh Ward,
—— Chapter
Article
Opera," Homilia, lib. i. , in Lucam.
3
< From fol. 81 10*85.
s Such is the opinion of Rev. S. Baring-
Gould, who thinks it cannot have been written, before the twelfth century. See
"See "Britannia Sancta," part i. , pp. 72, 173.
It is classed E.
3.
11,
1
"See "Lives of the Fathers, Martyrs
See Collectanea Sacra," in 30 para- graphs, pp. 380 to 391.
^ This belonged to the Friars Minor, and
the author of it is tliought, by Colgan, to
have lived contemporaneously with St. Mo-
choemoc and St. Canice. He is thought,
hkewise, to have written the Acts of St. Ita,
for January 15th, of St. Maidoc, for January
31st, and of St. Fintan, at February 17th, as
also other Lives in the collection. The
style is rude, and the language sometimes
ungrammatical ; but, the phrases are often
antique, while the ablative absolute is used
on occasions for the nominative case.
"
See
Martu. Vita S. Mochcemoci Abbatis de Liath-mor, in Helia. An Appendix, in five
Acta Sanctorum Hibemise," xiii.
'
i. See
Martii xiii.
De S.
seu Pul-
340 LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. [March 13
a territory called Corcoic, in the country of Hua-Conaill-Gabhra,=° and it is incorrectly said to have belonged to the Corcobhaiscinn people. ^^
Here, he seems to have become acquainted with a beautiful, virtuous, and noble woman, named Nessa, who had desired to lead a life of virginity. Yet,
through a prophetic spirit, her sister St. Ita^^ knew, that the Almighty willed hertobethewifeofBeoan. Thisunionwassoonaccomplished,andthe husband was most tenderly attached to his spouse. For a time, they were childless, but, one day, after the artificer had completed a building for St. Ita, she asked him, what reward he desired. Beoan reminded her, that no heir had been born since his marriage, and he entreated her, to pray for the birth
of a son. Then said the to " You shall have a holy virgin him,
son, Meantime,
Oh, dearl sister, have you not declared to us, that he
by God and by men. " This prophecy was afterwards fulfilled.
a certain cruel king, named Crunnmhoel, from the southern part of Hua- Conaill, undertook a hostile incursion against the Corcoche Tuath. With a large force, he commenced the work of devastation and slaughter. Beoan was obliged to take up arms, with his adopted tribesmen ; but, he fell, in an engagement, which ensued, and he was then beheaded, according to a bar- barous practice of conquerors, at the time. In profound grief, his wife came to the battle-field, where she found the mangled remains of her husband. Taking the head, and recognising his ghastly features, she bore it in tears to
"
St. Ita, crying out,
should leave a son to succeed him, and now he is slain, while I am still left
""
childless ? Ita said, Sister, weep not, for God is able to assist us, and to
ratify my promise. Go, therefore, and attach this head to Beoan's body. " Nessa declared, that she could not identify it, so great had been the number
" In the name of the most Trinity, call him thrice, by his own name, when he shall arise and come to
of the slain. the Then,
holy virgin replied,
Holy
the he shall head,
to
' O
you. Afterwards, replacing
have you called me, for I had gone to my rest ? '
as directed, and Beoan was restored to his former vitality and health. Both went to St. Ita, and they returned thanks. She asked Beoan, whether he should prefer to remain in this life, or to go at once to heaven. He declared, that in comparison with the rewards of eternal life, he deemed all this world
" It is
as smoke. Ita However,
that the reward I
promised you
said,
should be paid. " Then washing his wounds, no trace of them subsequently
appeared, and blessing him, she sent Beoan and his wife away to their own house. Soon afterwards, Nessa conceived, and when the time of our saint's birth approached, a wonderful miracle was wrought, in favour of St. Fachnan, or Fachannan,='3 of Ross-alithre. ^* Resolved on paying a visit to St. Ita, and
accompanied by her husband, she sat in a chariot.
"
saint, Truly, king, the child she bears, through God's grace, shall be great in the kingdom of Heaven. " On returning to their home, the child came to light, and soon
to her nuns,
and see, who is the occupant. " The messengers reported, that her sister Nessa was in it. Then said the " it sounds beneath a for
barony of Connello, in the county of Lime-
Limerick. Professor O'Looney's copy has it Corcoic.
^^ Her father is called Faelan, in Pro- fessor O'Looney's Life.
'^ See his Life, at the 14th of August.
133, 134, 143.
"
Topographical Poems of
rick. See the
John O'Dubhagain and GioUa na Naomh
O'Huidhrin," edited by Dr. O'Donovan, n. 692, p. Ixxvii.
^* Now the town of Ross, in the parish so called, in the baronies of East Carbery, at the Life of St. Senan, which is given on Ibane and Barryroe. The parish is des- cribed, on the " Ordnance Survey Townland Maps for the County of Cork," Sheets I2i,
=' The reader is referred to what has been
already stated, in regard to their territory,
the 8th of March, chap, i. , nn. 33, 34, 36, 37. Yet, the present account, in Colgan's Acts, makes it extend, into the county of
right,
"
that chariot approaching resounds beneath a king, go ye out
say "
you,
woman, why All this was accomplished,
Verily," cried out Ita
beloved
March 13. ] LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. 341
this news was conveyed to St. Ita. With great joy, she exclaimed, that Beoan deserved to have a son, who should be exalted before God and before men, and whose memory should not fade from recollection. She added,
" He shall be beautiful and old. " his first name was Whereupon,
this was
570. ^7 From the font of baptism, his life was illustrated by miracles and graces. One day, as his mother Nessa went out from the house, and left her infant sleeping within it, on looking back, she saw a globe of fire settle over the roof. Quickly returning and crying out, the fire vanished and did not reappear; while, looking at the infant, she found him rosy-cheeked and smiling, so that all who heard her account concluded, that the Holy Spirit came specially to visit her beloved child.
likewise,
^s
which was applied to him by St. Ita. The year of his birth is not known ; however, it could not have been later than 550, as his aunt Ita died a. d.
Coemhghin ;
but,
almost
immediately,
dropped
for
Mochcemog,^^
the ofGod grace
so that, as he is
spiritual and'we carnal, he is unsuited for our worldliness, nor can he live
with us. " she " him and he shall be Immediately replied, Bring hither,
fostered by myself. " They consented to this arrangement. Mochoemhog was trained up from the time he was a child, in the fear and love of God, by
St. Ita, who took charge of her nephew, during twenty years. She educated him for the priesthood, and while prosecuting his studies, she also watched most sedulously over his morals. She had a foreknowledge, that he should found a monastery, in a certain place, whence he should take his departure for heaven, and that there a city, of which he must be patron, should after-
"
The thencameto St. Ita and parents
said, miraculously shines in your little favourite, and in our son ;
wards be built. All
pious matron, let it be as thou wiliest. "
having received the blessing of his aunt, it was next deemed necessary, that the holy young man should be committed to the care of St. Comgall,^^ who lived in his monastery of Benchor, in the province of Ulster. Mochoemog set out, with five other companions, and they were all joyfully received by the illustrious abbot. While here, Mochoemog had many distinguished school-fellows. He lived for several years, under the discipline of that great saint, whose name, as a teacher and coenobite, had extended all over Ireland. In Bangor, he was ordained a priest, after he had passed through the requi- site course of preparation.
*s This " handsome signifies,
and of Down. See " Acta diocese county
Sanctorum HiberniK," Martii xiii. , n. ir,
**
bom. " Meaning, "my Choem "or "my Choe-
mog. "
1^7
this,
Ita told her
young ward,
her,
Oh,
While St. Comgall and his disciple St. Puldierius were one day engaged
at prayer, the Prior of the monastery had been abroad, and he came in a
fright to acquaint them, that he had seen, when returning home, a great
multitude of devils around their monastery. They laid, as it were, a close
siege to it, on all sides ; whereas, he could discover but one devil over the
castle of Rath-leamain,29 where the neighbouring king kept his court. This
one even appeared to be idle. St. Mochoemoc, on hearing this, cried out to
"
Father, let us arise, and return thanks to God, because our brethren are so faithful in his service, that the devil assembles all his hellish troops to wage war against them ; for, where Satan is served, he thinks one evil spirit sufficient to maintain his usurpation, and this same one appears to
St. Comgall,
p. 557. I am informed, by Rev. James See Dr. Lanigan's "Ecclesiastical O'Laverty, P. P. , Hollywood, that such a
History of Ireland," vol. iii. , chap, xvii. ,
sect, v. , p. 23.
rath once stood near the town of Bangor, but that it had been levelled down over thirty years ago, no trace of it now remain- ing.
** »9
See his Life, at the loth of May. According to Colgan, this was in the
"O
lady,
and he said to
With the consent of his parents, and
342 LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. [March 13.
be idle ; but, where men bravely resist his tyranny, he employs all his forces against them. Thus, as a king sends the brave ones of his army to contend against his stoutest enemies, who are in arms against him, so does he send only a messenger, where no opposition is offered. " St. Comgall approved very much his disciple's sentiments. Joining with him in prayer, Comgall obtained from God, and for the encouragement of his brethren, that their eyes should be opened to discern those infernal legions, and to see them put
to flight by their prayers. 3° Comgall ordered, likewise, that Mochcemog should go to the left, while he would take the right, side of the monastery.
When casting forth the demons, Comgall commanded them, in Christ's name, neveragaintoassemblethere,untilthedayofjudgment. Accordingtothis
mandate, they fled away from the monastery of Bangor 31 and, in doing so,
;
they alighted on the castle of Rath-leamain, where the King of Ultonia re-
sided. There they settled, as if guarding it with a garrison force.
On witnessing this miracle, St. Comgall deemed it right, to send out a number of his disciples, so that he might establish houses, in different parts
of Ireland. Being arrived at an eminent degree of religious perfection, Mochcemog was commissioned, and sent with other monks, to found an in-
"
stitute for these religious.
My son," said the abbot to our saint, on his
departure,
" it is
necessary
that
you
should become the fatlier of spiritual
others, and that you should erect a house for God's service, wherever he may
decree. " Then going forth, with his colony, Mochcemog journeyed to
Leinster. The place he first pitched on for this purpose, was Enachtruim, TiowAnatrim,3^onMountBladhma,atpresentSlieveBloom. Hereaman,
named Bronach,33 sought to prevent him from building ; but, the saint said, he should carry out his purpose, while he declared, that opponent should be banished, with his generation, from the country, and by its chieftain. All this was literally fulfilled, and there Mochcemog began to build cells, which he afterwards resigned to St. Coemhan, for whom this place was specially des- tined by the Almighty. 34
CHAPTER II.
ST.
