He then made a public
profession
of the true Faith.
O'Hanlon - Lives of the Irish Saints - v7
Caillin, who was venerated on the 13th of November.
How the infancy of St.
Kilian had been passed is thus described :
" Nursed beneath an Irish mountain, by an Irish mother's hand,
Beatus Kilianus, Scotorum genere nobili- bus ortus parentibus, divinae tamen gratias factus et nobilitate clarissimus. "
61 The Second Life afterwards continues its account of St. Kilian, as being of Scottish
"
origin :
sula est maris Oceani, fcecunda
bis, sed sanctissimis clarior viris ; ex qui bus Columbano gaudet Italia, Gallo ditatur Ale- mannia ; Kibano Teutonica nobilitatur Francia. "
—"
Scotia, quae et Hibernia dicitur in-
quidem gle-
companions
in
Martyrdom, St.
Where the wild Borora whispers to the meadows of the land,
Taught the music of the harper and the anthems of the blest,
Kilian grew as grows the ash-tree by the ruins of the west.
Winter stars that light in splendour
Eire's calm and and solemn
Might have borrowed their chaste brightness from the gleaming of his
eye;
The young lily bending lowly when
the dew is in the air,
Was a type of his meek spirit when
his young lips moved in prayer. "
63 See Bishop Challerior's " Britannia
Sancta," part ii. , p. 24.
6* To this list seems to be added in the
Second Life Columbanus and Gallus. Sige- bert, Reginus, and others quoted by Sera- rius, add to or take away some of those names, or vary them into many forms.
"
A Wreath of Shamrocks : Ballads, Songs and Legends," by John K. Casey (Leo), pp. 116 to 131.
composition
sky,
and
126 LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. [July 8.
Calan and Totmann ; Colonatus and Tothnanus Colanan and Tornanan j;
DolomannandTholraannj ColomannandTolmann. Again,theirnamesare written as Colonat and Tothnat. Other persons have been added to these, as companions of St. Kilian, such as Gallonus, Arnuuales and Donanus. 6* St. Kilian and his companions in martyrdom are also variedly noticed, in some of the Calendars ; but, it is correct to state, that the three soldiers of Christ who travelled together, and who alone were put to death at Wurtz- burg, were Saints Kilian, Colman and Totnan, while such has been the con- tinued and universally received tradition of the clergy and people, who regard them as their special patrons. 65
St. Kilian was of an illustrious family, and, it is even stated, that this vene-
rable martyr was of royal descent. 66 The respectability of his origin is 6
vouched for, by the ancient writers of his Acts. 7 There are no data in his
we can even — decide on the Acts, notwithstanding, whereby approximately
period of h—is birth; but, probably it was a little before and certainly not much after the middle of the seventh century.
Almost from his infancy, St. Kilian had a taste for study, and for the
acquirement of knowledge, especially that tending to inform his mind on sub- jects of highest interest to every true Christian. His talents for the acquisi-
tion of learning manifested themselves, by progress and perseverance in his studies ; while the latter were directed in a more especial manner to those branches of knowledge, which might enable him to gain souls for Christ. Especially, he applied with untiring endeavours, to the study of Holy Scrip- ture. On all occasions, he sought the direction of the Holy Ghost, to enlighten his mind on those matters, that were "hard to be understood, which the unlearned and unstable wrest, as they do also other Scriptures, to their own destruction. 68 With diffidence in his own judgment, and in his powers of understanding, Kilian referred all natural and acquired penetration to that Almighty Being, from whom he received it ; and hence, he was deemed worthy those superior gifts of intellect and of disposition, which placed him in advance of so many students, who applied to sacred erudition. After a most excellent course of instruction, which it appears his parents took care to procure for him, it has been asserted, that at an early age, Kilian devoted
himself to the monastic 6? Such was the he made in profession. progress
obedience, abstemiousness, prayer and vigil, that it was deemed expedient for
him to take sacred orders, and he was advanced accordingly through the
various grades. Having attained the dignity of the priesthood, he was care-
ful to discharge well its duties. His charities and other good works became
conspicuous ; while his brethren, admiring his great virtues, desired he should
succeed to a higher charge. 7° Having embraced the monastic life, he is said to
have some 1 However, it has been doubted if there be governed monastery. 7
2
sufficient evidence, to establish such a conclusion ;7
while Father Soller
65 See the Bollandists' " Acta Sancto-
rum," tomusii. , Julii viii. DeS. KilianoEpis. et Martyre, Colomano seu Colonato et Tot-
name of this writer,
68
nano 66 "
Sociis. Herbipoli in Franconia. In Hiberniaregio sanguine natu? . "
—
ii. Peter, iii. , 16.
69 According to the Second Life,
7° This is stated in his Second Life. »'
ejus
Molanus. See, also, Lippelo, Surius and I . anig—an, I do not find any particular men-
B. ironius. linn. "
67 But according to the depreciatory vol. iii. , chap, xviii. , sect, x. , p. 115.
account, given by Dr. Meredith Hanmer, a certain writer " saith he was a king's base
7a Trithemius goes so far as to state, that he was both monk and abbot in the monastery of Iona. This statement is wholly ground- less.
"
We are not further enlightened regarding the
sonne. " See
Chronicle of Ireland," p. 155.
"Of which, however," adds Rev. Dr. "
"Ecclesiastical History of Ireland,"
July 8. ] LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. 127
thinks it to be just as likely, that neither was St. Kilian an abbot, nor were his companions monks. St. Kilian's pastoral labours, after his call to the sacred ministry, were continued for several years ; while many souls were converted from evil courses, during their exercise. At last, he had a Divine
:
admonition,7^ and he heard these words " He that desires to come after
me, let him deny himself, take up his cross, and follow me. " 74
Already, St. Kilian had announced the Gospel with much fruit in his own country. According to some accounts, he was there advanced to the epis-
copal dignity. 75 This, too, seems most probable, from all we can learn, in reference to his career. As an effective and a persuasive preacher, he acquiredgreatrenown. AmongtheIrishclergy,hewaslookeduponasthe most erudite scholar, their country could possibly produce ; although the fame of Irish seminaries for learning was even then diffused over most European countries. The zeal of Kilian, for the propagation of Divine Faith among the pagans, induced him to think of leaving his family, friends and native country. Proposing his design to his companions,76 and pointing out with earnestness and eloquence the unhappy condition of those, who were yet asleep in sin and ignorance, and in whose ears the voice of Gospel heralds had not yet resounded ; our saint created a like desire in the souls of eleven amongthem,andtheseresolvedtoaccompanyhim. 77 Thechiefoneamong them was a priest, named Colman, who afterwards suffered martyrdom
together with St. Kilian. A Deacon, named Totnam, also the companion of his suffering,78 was one of those companions. The year 686 is that most correctly set down for their departure from Ireland ; and, it has been con- jectured, that St. Kilian was mature in years, at that period. A few months before this, John V. 7 ? had been raised to the Pontificate. On setting out, their course was directed first to Britain. Thence, they sailed for the shores ofFrance. 80 On landing, they proceeded towards Franconia, which lay
beyond
theRhine. At cametothe length, they
siteof This
Wurtzburg,
then
only
which is there crossed by a fine bridge.
place
"
73 This is stated in the First Life.
74 St. Matt, xvi. , 24.
75 We read in the First Life of St. Kilian, ut exinde pontificate didicissit regere cut-
village,
81
is now
This city is surrounded by a lofty
disertimscribit in Martyrologio Beda . . . Et Paulo post. Lectionarius Moguntinus liber enumerat Colonatum, Gallonem, Ar- nuuildem, Presbyteros, Totnatum Diaco- num, septemque alios. " Serarius, in Vita S.
Kiliani, notis.
79 He only ruled one year from A. D. 685 to
686. See Sir Harris Nicolas' "Chronology of History," p. 210.
8o However, Thadaeus, Abbot of the
present 82 in which there was a castle.
a small
the capital of the circle of Lower Franconia, and a handsome city of Bavaria, very pleasantly situated, chiefly on the right bank of the River Main,
men," &c. The Bollandist editor, Father Soller, thinks, for reasons he assigns, that St. Kilian had been consecrated as bishop in his
"
own country. See "Acta Sanctorum, tomus
ii. , Julii viii. De S. Kiliano Episc. et
Martyre, Colomano seu Colonato et Totnano
ejus Sociis. Herbipoli in Franconia, Com-
mentarius Prsevius, sect, ii. , num. 9, IO IJ >>
pp. 601, 602.
ts In the First Life, their names are thus
incorrectly given : "id est Lonato ac Gal- lone at Arnuvalle presbyteris et Totnano diacano," &c.
77 We read "qui quod mente conceperat pro- positum, sociis communicans, invenit omnes non tantum sed divini
impellentes. " Baronius' Annales Ecclesi- astici," tomus xii. , A. D. 686, sect, vii. , p. 500. 78 "De sancti Kiliani duos fuisse
sociis,
Scots, at Ratisbon writes
:
" Ad—Flandriam
consentientes, spiritus
topolis, and also Praxipolis; afterwards Her-
bipolis; also Wirtziburgum, Wirziburgum
and Wirceburgum, in the vernacular German
Wurtzburg.
82 In the an in- Topographia Meriani,
caloresuccens—os,ipsumqui hortabaturad opus teresting account of this city may be found, " 83"
8l
Its first name is said to have been Mus-
comitatu
Canisius' Antiquce Lectiones," tomus iv. , Fragmen-
prospero "
pervenerunt. " turn Chronicum, p. 473.
See GazetteeroftheWorld,"vol. xiv. ,
p. 562.
b4 See "The or Popular Encyclopedia;
I2 8 LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. [July 8.
wall and deep ditches, as also having six gates. On the opposite bank is the 8
citadel or castle of Marienburg, situated on a rock 400 feet in height. * The soil around this city is very fertile, producing much grain, while fine vine- yards abound in its vicinity, along the hills over the valley of the Maine. ** Wurtzburg was then ruled by a potentate, whose name we do not learn ; but
who was succeeded by a person of distinction named Gozbert
Regarding his origin or station, little appears to be known. ? Paganism universally prevailed among the people, in that part of Germany, at the time of their arrival. 88 The Irish evangelists, if not highly successful at first, yet hadgoodhopesforthefuture. Thinkinghisprospectsofsuccesssufficiently flattering, the holy missionary Kilian adopted measures, which seemed to him best calculated to carry out his designs for the conversion of that nation.
CHAPTER II.
THE HOLY MISSIONARIES PREACH WITH GREAT EFFECT AT WURTZBURG—DUKE GOSBERT'S CONVERSION—SAINTS KILIAN, COLMAN AND TOTNAN JOURNEY TO ROME —FAVOURABLY RECEIVED BV POPE CONAN —COMMISSIONED TO PREACH THE GOSPEL IN FRANCONIA—GEILANE, THE WIFE OF GOSBERT, PLANS THEIR DEATH—MARTYR- DOM OF THE SAINTS— REMARKABLE VISITATIONS OF GOD ON ALL THOSE WHO WERE INSTRUMENTAL IN IT—HONOURS AFTERWARDS PAID TO THEIR MEMORY—THEIR RELICS—MEMORIALS OF THE MARTYRS IN GERMANY AND IN IRELAND, AND IN OTHER COUNTRIES—THEIR FESTIVALS—CONCLUSION.
The missionaries directed their course towards Wurtzburg, then ruled over by Duke Gosbertus. Although a Pagan, he had a mind gifted with superior intel- ligence. It is stated^ that he had a great veneration for Diana, who was the goddess he chiefly worshipped. Meantime, the zealous missionaries had applied themselves to the study of a strange language ; and such were the graces granted to them by the Almighty, that in a short time, not only did they learn it very perfectly, but they were able to speak it with fluency. Here they began to proclaim in a public manner, the great mission on which they were sent, and to carry out the objects for which they had cheerfully aban- doned their native country, already subdued to that Faith its first great Apostle St. Patrick had announced. The gratitude of a people, rescued from pagan darkness and idolatry, had excited in the minds of those mo—st devoted servants of God an earnest—desire to bestow upon other nations now sunk in the same dismal shades that gift which should profit more than all other
advantages a nation might enjoy. Such were the feelings, and such the pur- poses, by which their present course had been directed. After these declara-
tions, they began to explain the nature and doctrines of the Christian religion,
contrasting it in the most favourable light with pagan errors, and showing the debasing influence of these latter over men's minds and passions. The
Conversations Lexicon," vol. vii. , p. 128.
*5 Like many of the kings and chiefs of the micklle ages, but for the Acts of the Saints, Gosbert and his wife Geilana should dis-
appear from history.
& So is he called, in the Martyrology of
Notker.
"
8? Mabillon states Gosbertum regionis the Life of St. K—ilian. Notatio 14.
ducem, Iletani semoris filium, Ruodis nepo- CHAPTER
'
This is not stated, in the
tern, quern RabanusinMartyrologiojudicem, Sigcbertus principem Wirtziburgensium vo-
—"Annates Ordinis S. Benedicti,"
cat. "
tomus i. , lib. xvii. , num. lxviii. , p. 587.
88
Serrarius has given a very learned I )is- quisition on the idolatrous worship, which then prevailed in Franconia, in his notes to
II.
*5
86
8
or Cospert.
JUly 8. ] LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. 129
novelty of their doctrines, combined with the learning, eloquence and per- suasiveness of their preachers, attracted immense crowds of persons to hear them. These listened with great respect, and felt very anxious to have a repetition of arguments and explanations offered, by their newly arrived Apostles.
The report of Kilian's eloquence no sooner reached the ears of Prince Gozbert, than he hastened to increase and personally to influence the number of auditors. He procured an immediate interview with the holy Bishop. The latter improved the occasion, by laying before him those arguments establishing the great truths of Christianity. He dwelt on the nature and attributes of God ; on the mystery of the Holy Trinity ; and on the general plan of salvation, in which Christ took upon Himself our human nature, and suffered on the cross at the hands of Jews. This movement on Gosbert's part—in the beginning, perhaps, the result of mere curiosity—proved an occasion for opening the king's eyes to the light of Faith. The first inter- view led to continued and more prolonged conferences, concerning religious subjects.
After receiving all necessary explanations and instructions, this Prince conceived a most exalted idea of the doctrine taught by the saint. He admired, too, that spirit of self-sacrifice which could thus impel men to aban- don friends, home and native country, to encounter in its propagation those perils of various kinds, to which they had necessarily been exposed. Gosbert encouraged the missionaries to labour anew in a field, which then afforded such happy expectations and results.
He then made a public profession of the true Faith. He sought and obtained the sacrament of regeneration, at the instance of St. Kilian. He is said to have been baptized, with many
1 others,onthedayprevioustothatofourLord'sResurrection, andwhich
corresponded with Holy Saturday.
The example given by the Prince induced numbers to seek the baptismal
font. Christianity soon began to spread among the people. In less than two years after this event, idolatry had altogether disappeared from Wurtz- burg city, and from its dependent territories, while the Christian religion was thus proudly established, instead of the former Gentile superstitions. After making himself acquainted with the wants of the inhabitants, and the neces- sitiesoftheircondition,St. KilianthenundertookajourneytoRome. He resolved to seek the Pontifical sanction, for opening there his new mission. 2 Colman and Totnam were his companions on the way. They arrived at Rome, a. d. 686, according to the most probable accounts. On their arrival
there, they found the holy See in possession of Pope John V. 's successor, who was named Conon. 3 Kilian was examined by the Pontiff, regarding his
religious profession and doctrine. * However, there appears to be no reason for supposing, that the Pope had any grounds for suspecting his orthodoxy. s Those strangers were graciously received by the Pope. St. Kilian revealed
First Life of St. Kilian, and Serrarius ap- pears to have wasted his researches, in try- ing to ascertain why this day had been chosen. See Art. 15, in his annotations on our saint's Acts.
3
this resolve had been formed in Flanders "ubi
per Angelicam visionem revelatum fuit bea-
tissimo Kiliano, ut per Alemaniam iter
Pontefici," tomo secondo, An. 686.
* Probably, to discover whether or not, he had been infected with any leaven of Pelagian heresy, and which had prevailed to some extent among people inhabiting the
The Abbot Thadaeus seems to imply, that
dirigeret versus Romam ; et sic pervenit
British Isles.
s Such is the
of Father Soller, in this relation found in his
^ Romam. "—
opinion
"
tomus iv. Fragmentum Chronicon Thadaei
about
Canisius,
Antiquae Lectiones,"
treating Acts.
Vol. VII. —No. 3.
2
Abbatis, Scotorum Ratisbonse, p. 473.
3 « yn eletto Pontefice a '21 Ottobre del
—"
686. " De Novaes' Storia de Sommi
130 LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. [July 8.
his projects and purposes, for approval of the Sovereign Pontiff. Being satisfied on the score of his orthodoxy, this Pope is said to have created him a regionary Bishop, but without assigning him to any fixed See. He con- ferred upon St. Kilian, however, full powers for regulating all religious obser- vances, and in such a manner, as rendered his authority wholly independent of any other episcopal jurisdiction, saving only the rights and privileges of
the Roman Church, and that obedience he owed its Chief.
wise obtained permission to preach with apostolic authority.
The saint like- It has been
stated,
years,
6 that St. Kilian served St. Peter's church for some
which were spent in the Eternal City, and that he was then appointed Bishop of Herbi- polis,7 in Franconia. However this may be, for that country he took his departure from Rome, resolving to devote himself with apostolic abandon- ment, to cares and labours, inseparably connected with his new mission. Colman and Totnan bore St. Kilian company, on his return to Germany. It is said, that they left Columbanus 8 in Italy, when he had parted from Gallus,9 who was prostrate from the effects of a fever in Germany. 10 But, as this statement presents an anachronism, perhaps the better way to treat it should be to consider, that for the founder of Bobbio we should substitute his place, which was among the Apennines, and on the direct route from Rome to their German destination. In his travels, St. Kilian is believed to have met St. Fiacre 1X—who is said formerly to have been a servant to his father—but these holy men were not allowed the opportunity of a very prolonged inter-
view. " Hurriedtimeobligedeachtohastenindifferentdirections.
A usage, similar to that existing among the Jews, had been commonly prac- tised by the people of Wurtzburg ; and, it was exemplified in Prince Gosbert's owncondition. Hehadtakentowifethewidowofhisownbrother. Hername was Geilana—sometimes called Geilane, and Geila. ^ The prince entertained the strongest sentiments of love and attachment towards his consort; but, for some time, Kilian thought it imprudent to disturb the conscience of his convert, who still remained in good faith regarding the lawfulness of his mar-
Its
By Molanus.
St. Kilian, an Irishman and a contemporary. See Rev. Alban Butler's "Lives of the
Fathers, Martyrs and other principal Saints," vol. viii. , August xxx.
,3 See Mabillon's "Annales Ordinis S.
Benedict! ," tomus i. , lib. xvii. , num. lxviii. ,
p. 587.
M Serrarius has a on this long Disquisition
marriage in his Life of St. Kilian, Art. 16,
validity,
6
7 The former name for Wurtzburgh.
8
His festival occurs, at the 2ist of Novem- ber. He died a. d. 615.
9 His feast is held, on the 16th of October.
He died before the middle of the seventh
century. 10
to the Second Life.
" His festival was held on the 30th of
August, and he died about A. D. 670.
According
moreover, now came into 1 * It soon was St. question.
riage.
Kilian's duty, to explain the church discipline on this point. Having first grounded his new convert in the doctrines and faith, he had embraced ; Kilian then endeavoured to explain to this prince, the false and objectionable natureofthatconnection,formedwithhisfemalecompanion. Thishedid, but in the most gentle and persuasive manner ; for, he knew, that the most tender and sensitive natural feelings of Gosbert must be stirred. Yet was it necessary, to teach him the true Christian doctrine and practice for his correc- tion. When the matter was first proposed to him, the king felt a great
repugnance to the idea of separation ; but, being assured, it had become a
matter of necessity, if he wished to live in a manner becoming his profession,
all difficulties seemed to remove from his mind, and Gozbert consented to
the divorce. He signified this assent, but with the Christian's spirit of self-
j
sacrifice. s This determination of the king soon came to the knowledge of
ld " This account refers, however, to another ,s His words are thus reported :
Audivi
17, 18.
July[8. ] LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. 131
Geilane. She was not disposed to acquiesce in this arrangement, however, without putting into practice all the artifices of a woman, whose worldly interests and conscientious scruples were by no means violently opposed. Her arguments and artifices, notwithstanding, were of little avail, as the Prince's sternresolutionswerenotthentobeovercome. 16 Hereupon,sheburnedwith an insatiable fury, against the ministers of Jesus Christ, and she resolved upon seizing the first occasion for effecting a deadly revenge. This opportunity was soon presented.
The Prince being called away on a military expedition, in the year 689,
1 ? who were hired to execute her scheme of vengeance. These abandoned wretches acted with too much fide- lity to her instructions. Although St. Kilian and his companions are said to
18
havehadamiraculouswarning, concerningthisdesignagainsttheirlives;they
did not think of saving themselves by flight, or even of seeking a protection, which the ruler and people of Wurtzburg would be willing to afford. St. Kilian exhorted his companions to constancy, assuring them that the soul at least would prove invulnerable, to any assaults of their temporal enemies. The holy missionaries applied themselves to making the best preparations
possible, by prayer a—nd fasting, while anticipating their coming danger. On
to some
his wicked consort found hardened
assassins,
9 othersa. d. 6892° whilstSt. Kilianandhiscompanions,ColmanandTotnan —some writers adding others to the number—were together in the same apartment, their assassins entered with drawn swords. Their intentions were at once apparent, from a stern determination, manifested in the demoni- acal expression of their countenances. St. Kilian offered himself first to the executioners' strokes, and he was instantly laid lifeless at their feet. His companions, who were present, fell in like manner, but only to arise with
31
According to the First Life of St. Kilian,itissaid,theywerebeheaded. Toremovealltracesmanifesting this deed of butchery, the martyrs' bodies were removed, under cover of the night,andthecorpseswereinterredinthemostprivatemanner. Thecross, the book of the Gospels, with other books and movables, which belonged to
the 8th of —
day July according
writers,
according
greater glory in a world beyond the grave.
were thrown into the same 23 grave.
them,
However, a religious woman, Burgunda by name,23 had a cell near that
oratory, in which the holy Martyrs were accustomed to pray ; and, during
"
pater, te docente, quia Dominus Jesus monet,
nihil preferendum suo amori, non patrem,
non matrem, non filios, non uxorem, et
idcirco quamvis unice diligam junctam mini
uxorem, propono tamen divinum amorem. the Second Life, than here presented. Sed non adest mihi otium inquirendi qualiter
eam dimittam, quia contra hostes nostrse reipublicse festino, cum autem fuero reversus,
Father Soller suspects it to be an interpola- tion.
inventa —
opportunitate dimittendi, seperabor
martino nell' anno
688. "
Moroni's Diziona-
ab ilia. " Messingham's
sulae Sanctorum," Vita S. Kiliani, p. 321.
16 It seems rather inexplicable, that St. Kiliandidnot seek a dispensation, in this peculiar case, from the Sovereign Pontiff,
Erudizione Storico-Ecclesiastica, xiv. , Art. Colomano.
20 See Baronius' "Annates Ecclesias- tici. " —
2I
clination, to exercise it for what seems to have been very sufficient reason.
17 In the First Life only one assassin is
the of their l'assion was Some year 689.
writers, such as Werner, have placed it at A. D. 694, while others, with Sigibert, have it so late as A. D. 697.
thus mentioned,
"
accessit lictor ad eos, ense
Florilegium
According to local tradition affirmed whohadpower,andmostprobablythein- a—lsoinanepitaphcomposedfortheMartyrs
acuto ad Dei22 ashasa quasi prseparatus jugulandos Serrarius, usual,
disquisition on amicos," &c. In most of the other Lives, the books that had been buried, in his edi-
the "carnifices ber.
are put in the plural num-
j
a. d. 688, to
l8 This is not mentioned in the First Life, but it is given in a more detailed manner in
:
'« Thus " Essi ricevettero la palma del
—
". In- riodi vol.
132 LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. [July 8.
her vigils, she seems to have witnessed the murderers proceeding to engage in their nefarious project. Her curiosity and suspicions were the more awakened on their return, so that she went to the spot where the martyrdom took place. There, she only found their blood, in which she steeped a linen cloth, and this she buried in that place, where she knew the bodies to have been covered over with earth. 2* Still, Burgunda resolved on keeping it a secret, lest the wicked Geilane should remove them to any other spot, and for greater concealment. That holy woman continued to frequent, but by stealth, that place where the bodies of the holy martyrs had been committed to the earth, and there she prayed beside their remains. In order to remove all suspicion calculated to reveal their tragical end, that wicked woman, who was the principal author of their murder, caused a report to be industriously circulated throughout the city, that St. Kilian and his companions had left it secretly, and that it was impossible to discover, whither they had retired, or forwhatpurpose. Meantime,toremoveeverytracewhichmightservetoreveal the spot where their remains had been deposited, Geilane conceived the idea of forming a frame-work of planks over their grave, and on these she caused a stable to be built for horses. 2* That place—of sepulture might have remained unknown to all
whendeathwasabout to remove her from this life revealed it to some faithful companions who
— hadnot
persons, Burgunda
surrounded her.
Shortly after the occurrence of their martyrdom, Gozbert himself returned
to Wurtzburg, and he was told, that no trace of the Christian missionaries was to be found. Being astonished at their mysterious departure, he caused instant enquiries, and a search to be made throughout the whole province, to dis- cover the place of their retreat. The fraudful Geilane at last persuaded her husband, that he should little concern himself about such migratory, worth- less and unceremonious visitors, so that he soon became indifferent on the matter, and as we may well imagine his scruples on the score of his marriage weresoonremoved. Whenthosemattersasrelatedbydegreesfadedfrom popular recollection, still the crime of that murder though hidden became revealed,andinamostmiraculousmanner. Bothofthosewretches,who had perpetrated that barbarous deed, were at length discovered, and through amanifestjudgmentofHeaven. Inaveryremarkableway,Divinejustice was soon visited upon them. One of the murderers put an end to his own
: existencebythesword,whilehecriedout "OKilian,youbitterlypersecute
me, since fire consumes me ; what I have done, I cannot conceal ; I see the sword, stained with your blood, now about to slay myself. " The horrors of a guilty conscience crowded the mind of his fellow assassin with fearful images, both by day and night ; and, in fine, these tormented him, in such a manner, that every glimpse ot reason was extinguished, and he became a raving maniac. He ran publicly through the streets, confessing the deed he
tion of St. Kilian's Life, Art. 19. ibi stabulala super sepulcra Martyrum, nee
23 The account of this holy woman's inter- stercora nee urinam jacerent honorem
erence differs greatly in the First and Martyribus exhibentia, ut quod de Capite
Second Lives of St. Kilian.
2* Nothing of this regarding Burgunda, or what follows, is to be found in the First Liie,
which makes it be suspected as an interpola- tion in the Life attributed to Egilward.
25 What is not to be found in the First Life has been here introduced into the Second, and it was most probably only a
1'ropheta vaticinatus est, hoc in eis membris
reperietur. Cognovit, inquiens, bos posses- sorum suum, et asinus praesepe Domini sui ;
Israel non cognovit. "
"
fuere, posteris rclatum, quod animalia
popular legend.
Ferunt tamen ab his, qui
26
tained in an ancient Life of St. Kilian, pub- lished by Surius, Serrarius, Canisius, and Mcssingham, written, it is supposed, by
Egilwaid, and found, also, in Mabillon and the Bollandists,
Some of these particulars are not con-
July 8. ] LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. 133
had committed, tearing himself in a shocking manner, and crying out, that
St. Kilianhadtorturedhimwithfire. Hewasinstantlyarrested,andbrought
before the Prince, who began to deliberate whether or not he was a fit subject
for the punishment his crime seemed to deserve. One of Gosbert's courtiers,
however, who was in favour with Geilane, counselled her husband to leave the
chastisement of this wretch to the Christians' God. To this advice the Prince
inclined. That courtier had in view an idea of teaching the Prince to doubt
the miraculous dispensation of Providence, and to incline once more to the
worshipofthegoddessDiana. Totheoldpracticeofpaganismthecourtier
was secretly inclined, although he had professed Christianity, to gain Goz-
26
bert's confidence.
The unhappy Prince again returned to the superstitions and idolatrous prac- tices of his pagan ancestors. The vengeance of Heaven was at length vindi- cated, by the unhappy end of the wicked Geilane. An evil spirit took possession of her, and continued to torment her so long as life lasted. She was often heard exclaiming : "lam justly tormented, because I have mur- dered innocent men; I am rightly tortured, because I prepared tortures for them. O Kilian, you persecute me fiercely, O Kolman, you add fire, O Totnan, you supply the flames. It is enough for you to have conquered; tooheavilyareyourinjuriesavenged. OKilian,youaresocalledfromthe
chalice,
2? buta
very
bitter
cup you pour
outforme. " Thenshe tothat raged
Gozbert unhappily yielded to his worst persuasions.
degree,thatherattendantscouldscarcerestrainher. ThepeopleoftheEastern
Franks afterwards drove her son Hetnan from the kingdom. In a short time
after St.
" Nursed beneath an Irish mountain, by an Irish mother's hand,
Beatus Kilianus, Scotorum genere nobili- bus ortus parentibus, divinae tamen gratias factus et nobilitate clarissimus. "
61 The Second Life afterwards continues its account of St. Kilian, as being of Scottish
"
origin :
sula est maris Oceani, fcecunda
bis, sed sanctissimis clarior viris ; ex qui bus Columbano gaudet Italia, Gallo ditatur Ale- mannia ; Kibano Teutonica nobilitatur Francia. "
—"
Scotia, quae et Hibernia dicitur in-
quidem gle-
companions
in
Martyrdom, St.
Where the wild Borora whispers to the meadows of the land,
Taught the music of the harper and the anthems of the blest,
Kilian grew as grows the ash-tree by the ruins of the west.
Winter stars that light in splendour
Eire's calm and and solemn
Might have borrowed their chaste brightness from the gleaming of his
eye;
The young lily bending lowly when
the dew is in the air,
Was a type of his meek spirit when
his young lips moved in prayer. "
63 See Bishop Challerior's " Britannia
Sancta," part ii. , p. 24.
6* To this list seems to be added in the
Second Life Columbanus and Gallus. Sige- bert, Reginus, and others quoted by Sera- rius, add to or take away some of those names, or vary them into many forms.
"
A Wreath of Shamrocks : Ballads, Songs and Legends," by John K. Casey (Leo), pp. 116 to 131.
composition
sky,
and
126 LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. [July 8.
Calan and Totmann ; Colonatus and Tothnanus Colanan and Tornanan j;
DolomannandTholraannj ColomannandTolmann. Again,theirnamesare written as Colonat and Tothnat. Other persons have been added to these, as companions of St. Kilian, such as Gallonus, Arnuuales and Donanus. 6* St. Kilian and his companions in martyrdom are also variedly noticed, in some of the Calendars ; but, it is correct to state, that the three soldiers of Christ who travelled together, and who alone were put to death at Wurtz- burg, were Saints Kilian, Colman and Totnan, while such has been the con- tinued and universally received tradition of the clergy and people, who regard them as their special patrons. 65
St. Kilian was of an illustrious family, and, it is even stated, that this vene-
rable martyr was of royal descent. 66 The respectability of his origin is 6
vouched for, by the ancient writers of his Acts. 7 There are no data in his
we can even — decide on the Acts, notwithstanding, whereby approximately
period of h—is birth; but, probably it was a little before and certainly not much after the middle of the seventh century.
Almost from his infancy, St. Kilian had a taste for study, and for the
acquirement of knowledge, especially that tending to inform his mind on sub- jects of highest interest to every true Christian. His talents for the acquisi-
tion of learning manifested themselves, by progress and perseverance in his studies ; while the latter were directed in a more especial manner to those branches of knowledge, which might enable him to gain souls for Christ. Especially, he applied with untiring endeavours, to the study of Holy Scrip- ture. On all occasions, he sought the direction of the Holy Ghost, to enlighten his mind on those matters, that were "hard to be understood, which the unlearned and unstable wrest, as they do also other Scriptures, to their own destruction. 68 With diffidence in his own judgment, and in his powers of understanding, Kilian referred all natural and acquired penetration to that Almighty Being, from whom he received it ; and hence, he was deemed worthy those superior gifts of intellect and of disposition, which placed him in advance of so many students, who applied to sacred erudition. After a most excellent course of instruction, which it appears his parents took care to procure for him, it has been asserted, that at an early age, Kilian devoted
himself to the monastic 6? Such was the he made in profession. progress
obedience, abstemiousness, prayer and vigil, that it was deemed expedient for
him to take sacred orders, and he was advanced accordingly through the
various grades. Having attained the dignity of the priesthood, he was care-
ful to discharge well its duties. His charities and other good works became
conspicuous ; while his brethren, admiring his great virtues, desired he should
succeed to a higher charge. 7° Having embraced the monastic life, he is said to
have some 1 However, it has been doubted if there be governed monastery. 7
2
sufficient evidence, to establish such a conclusion ;7
while Father Soller
65 See the Bollandists' " Acta Sancto-
rum," tomusii. , Julii viii. DeS. KilianoEpis. et Martyre, Colomano seu Colonato et Tot-
name of this writer,
68
nano 66 "
Sociis. Herbipoli in Franconia. In Hiberniaregio sanguine natu? . "
—
ii. Peter, iii. , 16.
69 According to the Second Life,
7° This is stated in his Second Life. »'
ejus
Molanus. See, also, Lippelo, Surius and I . anig—an, I do not find any particular men-
B. ironius. linn. "
67 But according to the depreciatory vol. iii. , chap, xviii. , sect, x. , p. 115.
account, given by Dr. Meredith Hanmer, a certain writer " saith he was a king's base
7a Trithemius goes so far as to state, that he was both monk and abbot in the monastery of Iona. This statement is wholly ground- less.
"
We are not further enlightened regarding the
sonne. " See
Chronicle of Ireland," p. 155.
"Of which, however," adds Rev. Dr. "
"Ecclesiastical History of Ireland,"
July 8. ] LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. 127
thinks it to be just as likely, that neither was St. Kilian an abbot, nor were his companions monks. St. Kilian's pastoral labours, after his call to the sacred ministry, were continued for several years ; while many souls were converted from evil courses, during their exercise. At last, he had a Divine
:
admonition,7^ and he heard these words " He that desires to come after
me, let him deny himself, take up his cross, and follow me. " 74
Already, St. Kilian had announced the Gospel with much fruit in his own country. According to some accounts, he was there advanced to the epis-
copal dignity. 75 This, too, seems most probable, from all we can learn, in reference to his career. As an effective and a persuasive preacher, he acquiredgreatrenown. AmongtheIrishclergy,hewaslookeduponasthe most erudite scholar, their country could possibly produce ; although the fame of Irish seminaries for learning was even then diffused over most European countries. The zeal of Kilian, for the propagation of Divine Faith among the pagans, induced him to think of leaving his family, friends and native country. Proposing his design to his companions,76 and pointing out with earnestness and eloquence the unhappy condition of those, who were yet asleep in sin and ignorance, and in whose ears the voice of Gospel heralds had not yet resounded ; our saint created a like desire in the souls of eleven amongthem,andtheseresolvedtoaccompanyhim. 77 Thechiefoneamong them was a priest, named Colman, who afterwards suffered martyrdom
together with St. Kilian. A Deacon, named Totnam, also the companion of his suffering,78 was one of those companions. The year 686 is that most correctly set down for their departure from Ireland ; and, it has been con- jectured, that St. Kilian was mature in years, at that period. A few months before this, John V. 7 ? had been raised to the Pontificate. On setting out, their course was directed first to Britain. Thence, they sailed for the shores ofFrance. 80 On landing, they proceeded towards Franconia, which lay
beyond
theRhine. At cametothe length, they
siteof This
Wurtzburg,
then
only
which is there crossed by a fine bridge.
place
"
73 This is stated in the First Life.
74 St. Matt, xvi. , 24.
75 We read in the First Life of St. Kilian, ut exinde pontificate didicissit regere cut-
village,
81
is now
This city is surrounded by a lofty
disertimscribit in Martyrologio Beda . . . Et Paulo post. Lectionarius Moguntinus liber enumerat Colonatum, Gallonem, Ar- nuuildem, Presbyteros, Totnatum Diaco- num, septemque alios. " Serarius, in Vita S.
Kiliani, notis.
79 He only ruled one year from A. D. 685 to
686. See Sir Harris Nicolas' "Chronology of History," p. 210.
8o However, Thadaeus, Abbot of the
present 82 in which there was a castle.
a small
the capital of the circle of Lower Franconia, and a handsome city of Bavaria, very pleasantly situated, chiefly on the right bank of the River Main,
men," &c. The Bollandist editor, Father Soller, thinks, for reasons he assigns, that St. Kilian had been consecrated as bishop in his
"
own country. See "Acta Sanctorum, tomus
ii. , Julii viii. De S. Kiliano Episc. et
Martyre, Colomano seu Colonato et Totnano
ejus Sociis. Herbipoli in Franconia, Com-
mentarius Prsevius, sect, ii. , num. 9, IO IJ >>
pp. 601, 602.
ts In the First Life, their names are thus
incorrectly given : "id est Lonato ac Gal- lone at Arnuvalle presbyteris et Totnano diacano," &c.
77 We read "qui quod mente conceperat pro- positum, sociis communicans, invenit omnes non tantum sed divini
impellentes. " Baronius' Annales Ecclesi- astici," tomus xii. , A. D. 686, sect, vii. , p. 500. 78 "De sancti Kiliani duos fuisse
sociis,
Scots, at Ratisbon writes
:
" Ad—Flandriam
consentientes, spiritus
topolis, and also Praxipolis; afterwards Her-
bipolis; also Wirtziburgum, Wirziburgum
and Wirceburgum, in the vernacular German
Wurtzburg.
82 In the an in- Topographia Meriani,
caloresuccens—os,ipsumqui hortabaturad opus teresting account of this city may be found, " 83"
8l
Its first name is said to have been Mus-
comitatu
Canisius' Antiquce Lectiones," tomus iv. , Fragmen-
prospero "
pervenerunt. " turn Chronicum, p. 473.
See GazetteeroftheWorld,"vol. xiv. ,
p. 562.
b4 See "The or Popular Encyclopedia;
I2 8 LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. [July 8.
wall and deep ditches, as also having six gates. On the opposite bank is the 8
citadel or castle of Marienburg, situated on a rock 400 feet in height. * The soil around this city is very fertile, producing much grain, while fine vine- yards abound in its vicinity, along the hills over the valley of the Maine. ** Wurtzburg was then ruled by a potentate, whose name we do not learn ; but
who was succeeded by a person of distinction named Gozbert
Regarding his origin or station, little appears to be known. ? Paganism universally prevailed among the people, in that part of Germany, at the time of their arrival. 88 The Irish evangelists, if not highly successful at first, yet hadgoodhopesforthefuture. Thinkinghisprospectsofsuccesssufficiently flattering, the holy missionary Kilian adopted measures, which seemed to him best calculated to carry out his designs for the conversion of that nation.
CHAPTER II.
THE HOLY MISSIONARIES PREACH WITH GREAT EFFECT AT WURTZBURG—DUKE GOSBERT'S CONVERSION—SAINTS KILIAN, COLMAN AND TOTNAN JOURNEY TO ROME —FAVOURABLY RECEIVED BV POPE CONAN —COMMISSIONED TO PREACH THE GOSPEL IN FRANCONIA—GEILANE, THE WIFE OF GOSBERT, PLANS THEIR DEATH—MARTYR- DOM OF THE SAINTS— REMARKABLE VISITATIONS OF GOD ON ALL THOSE WHO WERE INSTRUMENTAL IN IT—HONOURS AFTERWARDS PAID TO THEIR MEMORY—THEIR RELICS—MEMORIALS OF THE MARTYRS IN GERMANY AND IN IRELAND, AND IN OTHER COUNTRIES—THEIR FESTIVALS—CONCLUSION.
The missionaries directed their course towards Wurtzburg, then ruled over by Duke Gosbertus. Although a Pagan, he had a mind gifted with superior intel- ligence. It is stated^ that he had a great veneration for Diana, who was the goddess he chiefly worshipped. Meantime, the zealous missionaries had applied themselves to the study of a strange language ; and such were the graces granted to them by the Almighty, that in a short time, not only did they learn it very perfectly, but they were able to speak it with fluency. Here they began to proclaim in a public manner, the great mission on which they were sent, and to carry out the objects for which they had cheerfully aban- doned their native country, already subdued to that Faith its first great Apostle St. Patrick had announced. The gratitude of a people, rescued from pagan darkness and idolatry, had excited in the minds of those mo—st devoted servants of God an earnest—desire to bestow upon other nations now sunk in the same dismal shades that gift which should profit more than all other
advantages a nation might enjoy. Such were the feelings, and such the pur- poses, by which their present course had been directed. After these declara-
tions, they began to explain the nature and doctrines of the Christian religion,
contrasting it in the most favourable light with pagan errors, and showing the debasing influence of these latter over men's minds and passions. The
Conversations Lexicon," vol. vii. , p. 128.
*5 Like many of the kings and chiefs of the micklle ages, but for the Acts of the Saints, Gosbert and his wife Geilana should dis-
appear from history.
& So is he called, in the Martyrology of
Notker.
"
8? Mabillon states Gosbertum regionis the Life of St. K—ilian. Notatio 14.
ducem, Iletani semoris filium, Ruodis nepo- CHAPTER
'
This is not stated, in the
tern, quern RabanusinMartyrologiojudicem, Sigcbertus principem Wirtziburgensium vo-
—"Annates Ordinis S. Benedicti,"
cat. "
tomus i. , lib. xvii. , num. lxviii. , p. 587.
88
Serrarius has given a very learned I )is- quisition on the idolatrous worship, which then prevailed in Franconia, in his notes to
II.
*5
86
8
or Cospert.
JUly 8. ] LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. 129
novelty of their doctrines, combined with the learning, eloquence and per- suasiveness of their preachers, attracted immense crowds of persons to hear them. These listened with great respect, and felt very anxious to have a repetition of arguments and explanations offered, by their newly arrived Apostles.
The report of Kilian's eloquence no sooner reached the ears of Prince Gozbert, than he hastened to increase and personally to influence the number of auditors. He procured an immediate interview with the holy Bishop. The latter improved the occasion, by laying before him those arguments establishing the great truths of Christianity. He dwelt on the nature and attributes of God ; on the mystery of the Holy Trinity ; and on the general plan of salvation, in which Christ took upon Himself our human nature, and suffered on the cross at the hands of Jews. This movement on Gosbert's part—in the beginning, perhaps, the result of mere curiosity—proved an occasion for opening the king's eyes to the light of Faith. The first inter- view led to continued and more prolonged conferences, concerning religious subjects.
After receiving all necessary explanations and instructions, this Prince conceived a most exalted idea of the doctrine taught by the saint. He admired, too, that spirit of self-sacrifice which could thus impel men to aban- don friends, home and native country, to encounter in its propagation those perils of various kinds, to which they had necessarily been exposed. Gosbert encouraged the missionaries to labour anew in a field, which then afforded such happy expectations and results.
He then made a public profession of the true Faith. He sought and obtained the sacrament of regeneration, at the instance of St. Kilian. He is said to have been baptized, with many
1 others,onthedayprevioustothatofourLord'sResurrection, andwhich
corresponded with Holy Saturday.
The example given by the Prince induced numbers to seek the baptismal
font. Christianity soon began to spread among the people. In less than two years after this event, idolatry had altogether disappeared from Wurtz- burg city, and from its dependent territories, while the Christian religion was thus proudly established, instead of the former Gentile superstitions. After making himself acquainted with the wants of the inhabitants, and the neces- sitiesoftheircondition,St. KilianthenundertookajourneytoRome. He resolved to seek the Pontifical sanction, for opening there his new mission. 2 Colman and Totnam were his companions on the way. They arrived at Rome, a. d. 686, according to the most probable accounts. On their arrival
there, they found the holy See in possession of Pope John V. 's successor, who was named Conon. 3 Kilian was examined by the Pontiff, regarding his
religious profession and doctrine. * However, there appears to be no reason for supposing, that the Pope had any grounds for suspecting his orthodoxy. s Those strangers were graciously received by the Pope. St. Kilian revealed
First Life of St. Kilian, and Serrarius ap- pears to have wasted his researches, in try- ing to ascertain why this day had been chosen. See Art. 15, in his annotations on our saint's Acts.
3
this resolve had been formed in Flanders "ubi
per Angelicam visionem revelatum fuit bea-
tissimo Kiliano, ut per Alemaniam iter
Pontefici," tomo secondo, An. 686.
* Probably, to discover whether or not, he had been infected with any leaven of Pelagian heresy, and which had prevailed to some extent among people inhabiting the
The Abbot Thadaeus seems to imply, that
dirigeret versus Romam ; et sic pervenit
British Isles.
s Such is the
of Father Soller, in this relation found in his
^ Romam. "—
opinion
"
tomus iv. Fragmentum Chronicon Thadaei
about
Canisius,
Antiquae Lectiones,"
treating Acts.
Vol. VII. —No. 3.
2
Abbatis, Scotorum Ratisbonse, p. 473.
3 « yn eletto Pontefice a '21 Ottobre del
—"
686. " De Novaes' Storia de Sommi
130 LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. [July 8.
his projects and purposes, for approval of the Sovereign Pontiff. Being satisfied on the score of his orthodoxy, this Pope is said to have created him a regionary Bishop, but without assigning him to any fixed See. He con- ferred upon St. Kilian, however, full powers for regulating all religious obser- vances, and in such a manner, as rendered his authority wholly independent of any other episcopal jurisdiction, saving only the rights and privileges of
the Roman Church, and that obedience he owed its Chief.
wise obtained permission to preach with apostolic authority.
The saint like- It has been
stated,
years,
6 that St. Kilian served St. Peter's church for some
which were spent in the Eternal City, and that he was then appointed Bishop of Herbi- polis,7 in Franconia. However this may be, for that country he took his departure from Rome, resolving to devote himself with apostolic abandon- ment, to cares and labours, inseparably connected with his new mission. Colman and Totnan bore St. Kilian company, on his return to Germany. It is said, that they left Columbanus 8 in Italy, when he had parted from Gallus,9 who was prostrate from the effects of a fever in Germany. 10 But, as this statement presents an anachronism, perhaps the better way to treat it should be to consider, that for the founder of Bobbio we should substitute his place, which was among the Apennines, and on the direct route from Rome to their German destination. In his travels, St. Kilian is believed to have met St. Fiacre 1X—who is said formerly to have been a servant to his father—but these holy men were not allowed the opportunity of a very prolonged inter-
view. " Hurriedtimeobligedeachtohastenindifferentdirections.
A usage, similar to that existing among the Jews, had been commonly prac- tised by the people of Wurtzburg ; and, it was exemplified in Prince Gosbert's owncondition. Hehadtakentowifethewidowofhisownbrother. Hername was Geilana—sometimes called Geilane, and Geila. ^ The prince entertained the strongest sentiments of love and attachment towards his consort; but, for some time, Kilian thought it imprudent to disturb the conscience of his convert, who still remained in good faith regarding the lawfulness of his mar-
Its
By Molanus.
St. Kilian, an Irishman and a contemporary. See Rev. Alban Butler's "Lives of the
Fathers, Martyrs and other principal Saints," vol. viii. , August xxx.
,3 See Mabillon's "Annales Ordinis S.
Benedict! ," tomus i. , lib. xvii. , num. lxviii. ,
p. 587.
M Serrarius has a on this long Disquisition
marriage in his Life of St. Kilian, Art. 16,
validity,
6
7 The former name for Wurtzburgh.
8
His festival occurs, at the 2ist of Novem- ber. He died a. d. 615.
9 His feast is held, on the 16th of October.
He died before the middle of the seventh
century. 10
to the Second Life.
" His festival was held on the 30th of
August, and he died about A. D. 670.
According
moreover, now came into 1 * It soon was St. question.
riage.
Kilian's duty, to explain the church discipline on this point. Having first grounded his new convert in the doctrines and faith, he had embraced ; Kilian then endeavoured to explain to this prince, the false and objectionable natureofthatconnection,formedwithhisfemalecompanion. Thishedid, but in the most gentle and persuasive manner ; for, he knew, that the most tender and sensitive natural feelings of Gosbert must be stirred. Yet was it necessary, to teach him the true Christian doctrine and practice for his correc- tion. When the matter was first proposed to him, the king felt a great
repugnance to the idea of separation ; but, being assured, it had become a
matter of necessity, if he wished to live in a manner becoming his profession,
all difficulties seemed to remove from his mind, and Gozbert consented to
the divorce. He signified this assent, but with the Christian's spirit of self-
j
sacrifice. s This determination of the king soon came to the knowledge of
ld " This account refers, however, to another ,s His words are thus reported :
Audivi
17, 18.
July[8. ] LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. 131
Geilane. She was not disposed to acquiesce in this arrangement, however, without putting into practice all the artifices of a woman, whose worldly interests and conscientious scruples were by no means violently opposed. Her arguments and artifices, notwithstanding, were of little avail, as the Prince's sternresolutionswerenotthentobeovercome. 16 Hereupon,sheburnedwith an insatiable fury, against the ministers of Jesus Christ, and she resolved upon seizing the first occasion for effecting a deadly revenge. This opportunity was soon presented.
The Prince being called away on a military expedition, in the year 689,
1 ? who were hired to execute her scheme of vengeance. These abandoned wretches acted with too much fide- lity to her instructions. Although St. Kilian and his companions are said to
18
havehadamiraculouswarning, concerningthisdesignagainsttheirlives;they
did not think of saving themselves by flight, or even of seeking a protection, which the ruler and people of Wurtzburg would be willing to afford. St. Kilian exhorted his companions to constancy, assuring them that the soul at least would prove invulnerable, to any assaults of their temporal enemies. The holy missionaries applied themselves to making the best preparations
possible, by prayer a—nd fasting, while anticipating their coming danger. On
to some
his wicked consort found hardened
assassins,
9 othersa. d. 6892° whilstSt. Kilianandhiscompanions,ColmanandTotnan —some writers adding others to the number—were together in the same apartment, their assassins entered with drawn swords. Their intentions were at once apparent, from a stern determination, manifested in the demoni- acal expression of their countenances. St. Kilian offered himself first to the executioners' strokes, and he was instantly laid lifeless at their feet. His companions, who were present, fell in like manner, but only to arise with
31
According to the First Life of St. Kilian,itissaid,theywerebeheaded. Toremovealltracesmanifesting this deed of butchery, the martyrs' bodies were removed, under cover of the night,andthecorpseswereinterredinthemostprivatemanner. Thecross, the book of the Gospels, with other books and movables, which belonged to
the 8th of —
day July according
writers,
according
greater glory in a world beyond the grave.
were thrown into the same 23 grave.
them,
However, a religious woman, Burgunda by name,23 had a cell near that
oratory, in which the holy Martyrs were accustomed to pray ; and, during
"
pater, te docente, quia Dominus Jesus monet,
nihil preferendum suo amori, non patrem,
non matrem, non filios, non uxorem, et
idcirco quamvis unice diligam junctam mini
uxorem, propono tamen divinum amorem. the Second Life, than here presented. Sed non adest mihi otium inquirendi qualiter
eam dimittam, quia contra hostes nostrse reipublicse festino, cum autem fuero reversus,
Father Soller suspects it to be an interpola- tion.
inventa —
opportunitate dimittendi, seperabor
martino nell' anno
688. "
Moroni's Diziona-
ab ilia. " Messingham's
sulae Sanctorum," Vita S. Kiliani, p. 321.
16 It seems rather inexplicable, that St. Kiliandidnot seek a dispensation, in this peculiar case, from the Sovereign Pontiff,
Erudizione Storico-Ecclesiastica, xiv. , Art. Colomano.
20 See Baronius' "Annates Ecclesias- tici. " —
2I
clination, to exercise it for what seems to have been very sufficient reason.
17 In the First Life only one assassin is
the of their l'assion was Some year 689.
writers, such as Werner, have placed it at A. D. 694, while others, with Sigibert, have it so late as A. D. 697.
thus mentioned,
"
accessit lictor ad eos, ense
Florilegium
According to local tradition affirmed whohadpower,andmostprobablythein- a—lsoinanepitaphcomposedfortheMartyrs
acuto ad Dei22 ashasa quasi prseparatus jugulandos Serrarius, usual,
disquisition on amicos," &c. In most of the other Lives, the books that had been buried, in his edi-
the "carnifices ber.
are put in the plural num-
j
a. d. 688, to
l8 This is not mentioned in the First Life, but it is given in a more detailed manner in
:
'« Thus " Essi ricevettero la palma del
—
". In- riodi vol.
132 LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. [July 8.
her vigils, she seems to have witnessed the murderers proceeding to engage in their nefarious project. Her curiosity and suspicions were the more awakened on their return, so that she went to the spot where the martyrdom took place. There, she only found their blood, in which she steeped a linen cloth, and this she buried in that place, where she knew the bodies to have been covered over with earth. 2* Still, Burgunda resolved on keeping it a secret, lest the wicked Geilane should remove them to any other spot, and for greater concealment. That holy woman continued to frequent, but by stealth, that place where the bodies of the holy martyrs had been committed to the earth, and there she prayed beside their remains. In order to remove all suspicion calculated to reveal their tragical end, that wicked woman, who was the principal author of their murder, caused a report to be industriously circulated throughout the city, that St. Kilian and his companions had left it secretly, and that it was impossible to discover, whither they had retired, or forwhatpurpose. Meantime,toremoveeverytracewhichmightservetoreveal the spot where their remains had been deposited, Geilane conceived the idea of forming a frame-work of planks over their grave, and on these she caused a stable to be built for horses. 2* That place—of sepulture might have remained unknown to all
whendeathwasabout to remove her from this life revealed it to some faithful companions who
— hadnot
persons, Burgunda
surrounded her.
Shortly after the occurrence of their martyrdom, Gozbert himself returned
to Wurtzburg, and he was told, that no trace of the Christian missionaries was to be found. Being astonished at their mysterious departure, he caused instant enquiries, and a search to be made throughout the whole province, to dis- cover the place of their retreat. The fraudful Geilane at last persuaded her husband, that he should little concern himself about such migratory, worth- less and unceremonious visitors, so that he soon became indifferent on the matter, and as we may well imagine his scruples on the score of his marriage weresoonremoved. Whenthosemattersasrelatedbydegreesfadedfrom popular recollection, still the crime of that murder though hidden became revealed,andinamostmiraculousmanner. Bothofthosewretches,who had perpetrated that barbarous deed, were at length discovered, and through amanifestjudgmentofHeaven. Inaveryremarkableway,Divinejustice was soon visited upon them. One of the murderers put an end to his own
: existencebythesword,whilehecriedout "OKilian,youbitterlypersecute
me, since fire consumes me ; what I have done, I cannot conceal ; I see the sword, stained with your blood, now about to slay myself. " The horrors of a guilty conscience crowded the mind of his fellow assassin with fearful images, both by day and night ; and, in fine, these tormented him, in such a manner, that every glimpse ot reason was extinguished, and he became a raving maniac. He ran publicly through the streets, confessing the deed he
tion of St. Kilian's Life, Art. 19. ibi stabulala super sepulcra Martyrum, nee
23 The account of this holy woman's inter- stercora nee urinam jacerent honorem
erence differs greatly in the First and Martyribus exhibentia, ut quod de Capite
Second Lives of St. Kilian.
2* Nothing of this regarding Burgunda, or what follows, is to be found in the First Liie,
which makes it be suspected as an interpola- tion in the Life attributed to Egilward.
25 What is not to be found in the First Life has been here introduced into the Second, and it was most probably only a
1'ropheta vaticinatus est, hoc in eis membris
reperietur. Cognovit, inquiens, bos posses- sorum suum, et asinus praesepe Domini sui ;
Israel non cognovit. "
"
fuere, posteris rclatum, quod animalia
popular legend.
Ferunt tamen ab his, qui
26
tained in an ancient Life of St. Kilian, pub- lished by Surius, Serrarius, Canisius, and Mcssingham, written, it is supposed, by
Egilwaid, and found, also, in Mabillon and the Bollandists,
Some of these particulars are not con-
July 8. ] LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. 133
had committed, tearing himself in a shocking manner, and crying out, that
St. Kilianhadtorturedhimwithfire. Hewasinstantlyarrested,andbrought
before the Prince, who began to deliberate whether or not he was a fit subject
for the punishment his crime seemed to deserve. One of Gosbert's courtiers,
however, who was in favour with Geilane, counselled her husband to leave the
chastisement of this wretch to the Christians' God. To this advice the Prince
inclined. That courtier had in view an idea of teaching the Prince to doubt
the miraculous dispensation of Providence, and to incline once more to the
worshipofthegoddessDiana. Totheoldpracticeofpaganismthecourtier
was secretly inclined, although he had professed Christianity, to gain Goz-
26
bert's confidence.
The unhappy Prince again returned to the superstitions and idolatrous prac- tices of his pagan ancestors. The vengeance of Heaven was at length vindi- cated, by the unhappy end of the wicked Geilane. An evil spirit took possession of her, and continued to torment her so long as life lasted. She was often heard exclaiming : "lam justly tormented, because I have mur- dered innocent men; I am rightly tortured, because I prepared tortures for them. O Kilian, you persecute me fiercely, O Kolman, you add fire, O Totnan, you supply the flames. It is enough for you to have conquered; tooheavilyareyourinjuriesavenged. OKilian,youaresocalledfromthe
chalice,
2? buta
very
bitter
cup you pour
outforme. " Thenshe tothat raged
Gozbert unhappily yielded to his worst persuasions.
degree,thatherattendantscouldscarcerestrainher. ThepeopleoftheEastern
Franks afterwards drove her son Hetnan from the kingdom. In a short time
after St.
