Besides, we are informed, that old writers oftentimes
understood
a bishop, by the foregoing appellation.
O'Hanlon - Lives of the Irish Saints - v3
"
ARTICLE III.
p. 396. —'See "Acta Sanctorum
Hibernia:," xvii. Martii, p. 629. "»
According to Ussher, who, at the year See his Life, already set down for this
"
634» says :
annorum incipit : sub cujus initium. Cum- 3 See "Trias Thaumaturga. " Tertia miantis ad Selenium Hyensem abbatem, d—e Vita S. Patricii, cap. Ixi. , p. 36.
controversia Paschali, scripsit epistolam. "
Qtiintus Cyclus Paschalis 84. day, at chap. xix.
*
nn.
Ibid. ,
58, 59, p. 32.
March 17. ] LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. 833
regardinghim. ^ Theyconjecture,however,thathewasthediscipleofSt. Finnbarr,7 and that he afterwards governed the church of his master. He seems to have been buried there. ^ Veneration was given, at the 17th of March, to Nessan of Cork, as we read in the Martyrology of Tallagh,9 and, also, in that of Marianus 0'Gorman,'° Another festival has been assigned to him, at the ist of December, and to which day the reader is referred.
Article IV. —St. Conchend. This entry, in our lists of holy persons, wouldseemtohavebeenintendedforthenameofafemalesaint. Whether it has been rightly inserted here, notwithstanding, may admit of some doubt. However, the Martyrology of Tallagh^ registers Conchend, or Conchennia, ashavingafestival,atthe17thofMarch. IntheBollandists'noticeofthis account, they hesitatingly state, that she was a sister of St. Munna, or Mundus. ^
Article V,—St. Gobban, Son of Nascain, and Bishop. On the i7tli of March, his name is set down in the Martyrology of Tallagh,^ as Gobban mac Nasair ; this latter word, however, has been erroneously written for Nascain. Colgan enters a few particulars, regarding the present saint, at this date,^ when alluding to three brothers, greatly distinguished, for their renowned virtues, viz. : Gobbanus, a bishop, Straphanus,3 or Stephanus, a presbyter, and Lasren,4 whose father is called Nasca, or Nassau. These brothers are enumerated, among tlie twelve disciples of St. Mochudda, or Carthage,s Patron of Lismore. For their wonderful obedience to rule, they are praised ; and, in Muscraige of Munster did their master erect a monas- tery, in an island called Inis-pict, or Inis-puinc, where they were placed with Bishop Damangen,^ and other holy men. 7 Their period is referred to the end of the sixth century. ]\Iarianus O'Gorman has a notice of this saint. ^ We have recorded, in the Martyrology of Donegal,^ that on this day, Gobban, son of Nasc, had veneration paid him. He is styled, a bishop, by other authorities.
s See ibid. Quinta Appendix ad Acta S. Patricii, cap. xxiii. , p. 265.
* See "Acta Sanctorum," torn, ii. , Martii xvii. Among the pretermitted saints, p. 506. .
7 His feast occurs, on the 25th of Sep- tember.
p. xviii. However, in the Franciscan copy,
we find, JobbAnii]' pL riAfcii.
* See " Acta Sanctorum Hibernioe," xvii.
Martii. Vita S. Gobbani, p. 631, and nn. I to 10.
3 His feast is said to have been at Cluain-
mor, on the 23rd of May, on which day Sraffan is commemorated.
* The 25th of October, he is said to have
been venerated at Ard-mac-Nasca, on the
brink of Lough Laoigh, now Belfast Lough, in Uladh.
s His festival is kept, on the 14th of May.
6 He is thought to have been identical with Domaingen, Bishop of Tuaim Mus- craige, venerated on the 29th of April,
7 Colgan conjectures, that these and other disciples of St. Carthage here were the pilgrims of Innis Puine, invoked in the Litany attributed to St. yEngus the Culdee. See "Irish Ecclesiastical Record," vol. iii.
May, 1867, pp. 396, 397.
^ He is called " Gobanus fil Naski," by
this Martyrologist.
9 Edited by Drs. Todd and Reeves, pp.
80, 81 .
See
"
Irish Ecclesiastical Record," vol. iii.
^
In the book of Litanies, attributed to
St. ^ngus, we have invoked seventeen holy
bishops and seven liundred favoured servants
of God, who lie with Barri and Nessan,
whose names are written in the heavens.
May, 1867, pp. 390, 391.
5 Edited by Rev. Dr. Kelly, p, xviii. The
Franciscan copy has neffAnuf Coi\c<i- penpf,
'° He is called " Nessanus Corcagiensis,"
by this Martyrologist.
Article iv. —' Edited by Rev. Dr.
Kelly, p, xviii. The Franciscan copy has ConchenniA Uiyvjo.
" See "Acta Sanctorum," torn, ii. , Martii xvii. Among the pretermitted saints, p. 506.
Article v. —' Edited by Rev. Dr. Kelly,
7. G
834 LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. [March i8.
Article VI. —St, Failtigern or Faoiltigern, Virgin. An entry is found, in the Martyrology of Tallagh/ at the 17th of March, regarding St. Failtigern, a holy woman, whose personal history is involved in great obscurity. The Bollandists have a mere notice. " Faoiltighem, Virgin, is registered, also, in the Martyrology of Marianus 0'Gorman,3 and in that of Donegal,^ as having had veneration paid her, on this day.
Article VII. —St. Tigernach. A record is found, in the Martyrology of Tallagh^ at the 1 7th of March, and there this holy man is called a bishop. His age has not been ascertained. The Bollandists confess their ignorance
ofanyparticularsreferringtohim. " TheMartyrologyofMarianusO'Gorman^ and that of Donegal* state, that on this day was venerated Tigernach, a Priest.
Article VIII. -^Reputed Festival of Colonatus, Presbyter, and
Totuanus Dianus, at Wurtzburgh. Under such a heading, Canisius,
Galesinius, Wion, Bucelin, and Dempster,^ have entered a festival, for the 17th of March; and, the Bollandists state, they have little doubt, but that it refers to Colmanus and Toknanus, the companions of St. Kilian," whose Acts are to be found at the 8th of July. To that date, we refer the reader, for an account of their glorious martyrdom. There is a notice of St. Colonatus, in
Bishop Forbes' work. 3
Cigfiteeut! ) I3ap of i^arrfi*
ARTICLE I. —ST. COMMAN, OR CAIMAN, CONFESSOR. [POSSIBLY 0F THE SEVENTH CENTURY. ^
of holiness cheer men, in the prosecution of their good
EXAwMorPksL,EenScourage them in adversity, as in prosperity, give activity and energy to religious organizations, and increase the number of our Lord's
servants. Sanctity seems to have descended, as a family inheritance, in our island. St. Comman was of illustrious descent, belonging to the race of ConallGulban,andbeingsontoErnan. ^ Anaccountofthisholymanis
Article vi. —' Edited by Rev. Dr.
Kelly, p. xviii. In the Franciscan copy, we
See Acta Sanctorum," torn, ii. , Martii xvii. Among the pretermitted saints, p. 506.
* Edited by Drs. Todd and Reeves, pp.
Totnan. See Forbes' companion Bishop
507.
3 gee "Kalendars of Scottish Saints," p.
have, pAiicijepriA Uiyvgo. *"
'In his "Menologium Scoticum," he notes, at this day : At Her- bipolis, Colonatus, monk and martyr, Apostle of Franconia, together with his
3 She is called " liiin.
Failtegema Virgo," by
" *
Edited by Drs. Todd and Reeves, pp. 80, 81.
Kalendars of Scottish Saints," p. 194. See"ActaSanctorum,"torn,ii. , Martii xvii. Among the pretermitted saints, p.
Article vii. —' Edited
by
Rev. Dr.
Kelly, p. xviii. In the Franciscan copy,
this entry is thus given Ci5e]\nAchu]' ep.
305.
Three festivals are set down at the
See "Acta
xvii. Among the pretermitted saints, p. July.
and
*_
Sanctorum,"
ii. ,
17th
March,
May,
9th
506. 3"
The Sacred Genealogies
"Tigernachus Praesbi in the work of this writer.
torn,
is found entered,
Martii
of
20th of
of
80, 81. — Article viii.
—
thus trace his descent in the First Chapter :
*'
' i.
Article
S. Commanus filius Emani,filiiFiachna:,
March i8. ] LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. 83s
in the BolIandistsV and in Bishop Forbes' work. 3 He was a brother to St. Cummian—incorrectly supposed to have been St. Cummineus Albus^—and toSt. Becan,accordingtoColgan,whohasavagueaccountofhim. While St. Fergnai, uncle to our saint,—as Colgan thinks,—ruled over lona monas- tery, Comman became a monk in his Order, and was subject to his rule. Oursaintlived,afterwards,itissaid,tothetimeofAdamnan. s Herelated to this latter a miracle, regarding St. Columkille, which he had heard from the lips of Abbot Fergnai,^ and which miracle is recorded by Adamnan, in hisLifeofthegreatPictishApostle. ? AsAdamnanflourished,aboutA. D. 670, Colgan is of opinion, that our saint must be identical with the Comman,^
who is called bishop, by our Annalists, and who died in the year 676. 9 This
———
date, also as he assumes nearly coincides with that, determining the death
of his brothers Saints Commineus and Becan. These died respectively, according to Colgan's calculation, in the years, 668, and 675. '° Regarding
Comman's probable or conjectured episcopal rank, Colgan observes, that it matters not, because he was called Honorabilis Presbyter, or respectable
Presbyter,"byAdamnan; for,hemighthavebeenordainedabishop,after relating the miracle of St. Columkille to his biographer. A more shrewd remark might have been inserted, viz. , shortly before Adamnan had written this narrative.
Besides, we are informed, that old writers oftentimes understood a bishop, by the foregoing appellation. Colgan adds, that our different
him as having conversed with him. This
when Adamnan was young, and some years before Vita S. Commani, n. i,, p. 651. Also, 665. Adamnan was bom about the year
"
"Trias Thaumaturga, Quarta Appendix 625, and must have been younger than
ad Acta S. Columbse, cap. 3, p. 480, and cap. X. , p. 489.
'See "Acta Sanctorum," tomus ii. , Martii xvii. Among the pretermitted saints, p. 613.
filii Feradachii, filii Nennidii, filii Fergiissii,
—
Acta Sanctorum Hibemiae," xviii. Martii.
filii Conalli Gulbanii, tSrv. " "
Colgan's
conversation have might
occurred,
3 See "Kalendars of Scottish 307-
Saints," p.
9 O'Donovan's " Annals of the Four See,
His feast occurs, at the 24th of February.
He is also called St. Cuimine Plonn. See
Dr. Elrington's edition of Ussher's Works, Glendalough. At note (m) on Dairchell, vol.
quitates," cap. xvii. , p. 540.
" Britannicarum Ecclesiarum Anti-
Mr. O' Donovan remarks: "The death of this bishop, and of Coman is noticed in the Annals of Ulster under the year 677, and in
: theAnnalsofClonmacnoiseat674 "A. D.
677. Daircill mac Curetai Episcopiis GWxme- whose feast is assigned to the 2nd of da-locha, et Conan Episcopus Feman pan- March. sant,"—Ann. Ult. " A. D. 674. Darchill 'See, "Trias Thaumaturga. " Quarta mac Cuyletty, Bushop of Glendalogha,
vi. ,
5 His Life is given, at the 23rd of Sep- tember.
Vita, or Adamnan's Vita S. Columbaj, lib. ii. , cap. xix. , p. 368.
* Otherwise called St. Fergna Britt,
^
Searching for Coman of the Third Class,
died. Coman, Bishop, and Moyledoyer, Bushop, died. "—Ann. Clon. Ibid. I feel inclined to think, the Annals of Ulster
Ussher in his " says
call of Feman. Coman, Bishop
at
that Coman of Ferns was perhaps the Com- man called by Adamnan (/. 3, c. 19), hono- rabilis presbyter, whom Ussher seems to
improperly
According to the Four Masters, an entry re- garding the death of Maeldoghar, Bishop of Fearna, immediately follows the account of
Primordia,"
p. 968,
have supposed the same as Coman of the Coman's death. He is the Moyledoyer,
Third Class. But, Dr. Lanigan asks, as
only 665 Supposing
man of Adamnan to have been different from
Coman of Ferns, which is very probable, he might have been the priest Coman of the list. It is true, that Adamnan speaks of
of the Annals of Clonmacnoise.
'° See the Acts of both these saints, as
Colgan supposes, he has published, at the
Coman of Ferns did not die until
could he have belonged to said class, which lasted until ? " the Com-
678,
how
Comman, who, as he tells us, was maternal nephew of Virgnous, who, after governing
Hy
died in —"Eccle- 623. "
for
siastical History of Ireland," vol. iii. , chap, xvii. , sect, iii. , n. 36, p. 12,
25 years,
Masters," vol. i. , pp. 284, 285, where the death of a "Coman, bishop," is noted at
the year 676, with Dairchell, Bishop of
of and the 17th of March. 24th February,
" See Rev. William Reeves' Adamnan's "Life of St. Columba," lib. iii. , cap. 19, pp. 223 to 225.
"Edited by Rev. Dr. Kelly, p. xix,,
836 LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. [March 18.
Martyrologists—viz. , the Martyrology of Tallagh," that of Marianus
0'Gorman,'3 of Maguire, and of the O'Clerys^f—call this St. Comman,'^ a
Bishop ; althougli, the See which he governed, and the place where he was specially honoured, are unknown. '^ His feast was held, on the i8th day of March.
Article II. —St. Ercbrect, or Egbert, a Saxon. \FrohaUy in the Eighth Century? ^ On this day, Colgan publishes some accounts, regarding St. Ercbrect,orEcbert,anAnglo-Saxonsaint. ^ Heisthought,^tohavebeen no other than Ecbert,3 otherwise called Eatbert, the King of Northumbria,
after a
the year 757,^ or 758,7 in the Monastery of Lindisfarne, perfect in every practice of humiHty and obedience. Ele is said to have enriched the See of York, by founding there a remarkable library, and which he stored, with all the best books, that could be procured. It is said, he died, about the year 768,^ and that his Natalis is generally assigned to the 20th of August. 9 This, indeed, seems to preclude the idea of his having been the saint, marked in our Irish Calendars, at the i8th of March. Whoever the latter was, Colgan is of opinion, that he must have lived for some time in Ireland, or that his existence closed in our island, to account for the national honour paid him, by our early writers. According to the Martyrology of Tallagh,'° Ericbrit, the Saxon, had veneration paid him, at the i8th of March. Marianus O'Gorman" has a record of this holy man, yet nothing to indicate his personal identity.
where he is called Coemaii, a bishop. In sect, iii. , n. 36, p. 12.
twenty years' reign,
the Franciscan the is
copy, entry CAiniAnu]-
ep.
'3 He has the notice, CAHiiAniif, in one
place, and ComAnu]- ep. in another, as if separate persons are to be understood.
'^ See "Acta Sanctorum Hiber- Colgan's
nis," xviii. RIartii, n. 3, p. 651.
''' See Drs. Todd's and Reeves' pp. 80, 81.
edition,
Ilibernia;," xviii. Martii. Vita S. Ercbrecti,
p. 652. -
By Colgan.
3 Said, by Arnold Wion, to have been the
eighteenth king of Northumbria.
According to Arnold Wion's " Lignum
Vitre," lib. iv. , cap. 7.
5 This happened, in the third year of
King Kinulph's reign, according to Henry
'5 Although he had spoken of Coman of
Ferns, as a priest, and as having always
remained so, which appears from his having
tliought this Comman might have been the
Comman of Adamnan ; yet, in his " Index
Chronologicus," at A. D. 678, Ussher calls
him the bishop of Ferns. Ware also reckons
him the of but among bishops Ferns, places
his death, at 675, merely, perhaps, on con- jecture, and because he knew, that in the
year 67S the See of Ferns was occupied by Dirath, who succeeded INIaldogar, in 677. It is more tlmn probable, that those writers were mistaken in making him a bishop,
owing to their having met with a bishop of that name—the one of Colgan—and thence
of Huntingdon. See lib. iv.
"
Historia Anglicana,"
him with Coman of Ferns. In a list of the bishops of that See, for the
seventh as found in
century, Colgan's
"Trias Thaumaturga," Quarta Vita S. Erigidce, lib. ii. , n. 2, p. 564, no Coman ap- pears, nor according to the succession there marked could there have been any room for him. See Dr. Lanigan's "Ecclesiastical
History of Ireland," vol. iii. , chap, xvii. ,
^ to the Chronicle of Florence According
of Worcester. See, also Matthew of West- minster, in "Flores Historiarum," A. D. dclvii. , pp. 274, 275.
7 According to the Continuator of Ven. Bede's History, as mentioned in the Roman Breviary, Colgan observes, and Arnold Wion has the same account, " Lignum Vitos," lib. iv. , cap. 7.
9 to Menard's " According Hugo
confounding
*^ to the According
'^ desirous of an eternal crown,s re- obtaining
who,
linquished the temporal one, to his son, Osulph. Eadbert assumed the monastic tonsure and habit. He led a most praiseworthy life, from about
Article ii.
—
'See "Acta Sanctorum
English Martyrology, and Hugh Menard, at the 23rd of March.
ologium Benedictinum," lib. i. , obs.
" Edited by Rev. Dr. Kelly, p. xix. In
the Franciscan copy, we find, Gi\ecb]\eccup Sa. \o.
" He enters, e^\bei\iccuj* pue Ccbct\ciif, immediately after the insertion of three
Martyr-
March I S. ] LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS,. 837
Article III. —St; Connal, Bishop of Killconnal, and of Aughrim, County of Galway. \S71pposed to be of the Fifth Century^ Whether we may regard them, as possessing intrinsic value or not, the Acts of a St. Conall have been pubHshed, by Colgan, at the present date,' and the Bollan- dists insert some notices, expressed with caution and doubt, regarding him. =^ These seem to be justifiable enough, since the only document adduced is a Manuscript copy of the Acts of St. Patrick's Synod,3 which states, that Ethianus and Conallus ordained unworthy bishops, in the spacious plain of Hai,* and that they were reproved, in consequence, by the Irish Apostle, because they acted, without taking his advice. It is stated, that he predicted their churches should be insignificant, although the ordained d—id penance for
their offences. This eccl
—esiastic at an
towards the closeofthefifthcentury intheterritoryofHy-Many,inthesouthernpart of Connaught, if we can connect him, with the account previously given.
foreign saints, in his Calendar, viz. , . Al-evX- Anoep, eT)tiA|\T)Ui', 5^T^^t^"'OT* The first of these was Alexander, Bishop of Jem- salem, Bishop and Martyr, at Cresarea, in Palestine ; the second, St. Edward, King of England, and Martyr; and the third, was St. Gertrude, Virgin, of Nivelle. The festival of this latter holy woman is usually set down, at the—1 7th of March.
Article III. 'See, " Acta Sanctorum Hibernias," xviii. Martii. Vita S. Conalli, p. 632. .
= See "Acta Sanctorum," tomus ii. , Martii xviii.
ARTICLE III.
p. 396. —'See "Acta Sanctorum
Hibernia:," xvii. Martii, p. 629. "»
According to Ussher, who, at the year See his Life, already set down for this
"
634» says :
annorum incipit : sub cujus initium. Cum- 3 See "Trias Thaumaturga. " Tertia miantis ad Selenium Hyensem abbatem, d—e Vita S. Patricii, cap. Ixi. , p. 36.
controversia Paschali, scripsit epistolam. "
Qtiintus Cyclus Paschalis 84. day, at chap. xix.
*
nn.
Ibid. ,
58, 59, p. 32.
March 17. ] LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. 833
regardinghim. ^ Theyconjecture,however,thathewasthediscipleofSt. Finnbarr,7 and that he afterwards governed the church of his master. He seems to have been buried there. ^ Veneration was given, at the 17th of March, to Nessan of Cork, as we read in the Martyrology of Tallagh,9 and, also, in that of Marianus 0'Gorman,'° Another festival has been assigned to him, at the ist of December, and to which day the reader is referred.
Article IV. —St. Conchend. This entry, in our lists of holy persons, wouldseemtohavebeenintendedforthenameofafemalesaint. Whether it has been rightly inserted here, notwithstanding, may admit of some doubt. However, the Martyrology of Tallagh^ registers Conchend, or Conchennia, ashavingafestival,atthe17thofMarch. IntheBollandists'noticeofthis account, they hesitatingly state, that she was a sister of St. Munna, or Mundus. ^
Article V,—St. Gobban, Son of Nascain, and Bishop. On the i7tli of March, his name is set down in the Martyrology of Tallagh,^ as Gobban mac Nasair ; this latter word, however, has been erroneously written for Nascain. Colgan enters a few particulars, regarding the present saint, at this date,^ when alluding to three brothers, greatly distinguished, for their renowned virtues, viz. : Gobbanus, a bishop, Straphanus,3 or Stephanus, a presbyter, and Lasren,4 whose father is called Nasca, or Nassau. These brothers are enumerated, among tlie twelve disciples of St. Mochudda, or Carthage,s Patron of Lismore. For their wonderful obedience to rule, they are praised ; and, in Muscraige of Munster did their master erect a monas- tery, in an island called Inis-pict, or Inis-puinc, where they were placed with Bishop Damangen,^ and other holy men. 7 Their period is referred to the end of the sixth century. ]\Iarianus O'Gorman has a notice of this saint. ^ We have recorded, in the Martyrology of Donegal,^ that on this day, Gobban, son of Nasc, had veneration paid him. He is styled, a bishop, by other authorities.
s See ibid. Quinta Appendix ad Acta S. Patricii, cap. xxiii. , p. 265.
* See "Acta Sanctorum," torn, ii. , Martii xvii. Among the pretermitted saints, p. 506. .
7 His feast occurs, on the 25th of Sep- tember.
p. xviii. However, in the Franciscan copy,
we find, JobbAnii]' pL riAfcii.
* See " Acta Sanctorum Hibernioe," xvii.
Martii. Vita S. Gobbani, p. 631, and nn. I to 10.
3 His feast is said to have been at Cluain-
mor, on the 23rd of May, on which day Sraffan is commemorated.
* The 25th of October, he is said to have
been venerated at Ard-mac-Nasca, on the
brink of Lough Laoigh, now Belfast Lough, in Uladh.
s His festival is kept, on the 14th of May.
6 He is thought to have been identical with Domaingen, Bishop of Tuaim Mus- craige, venerated on the 29th of April,
7 Colgan conjectures, that these and other disciples of St. Carthage here were the pilgrims of Innis Puine, invoked in the Litany attributed to St. yEngus the Culdee. See "Irish Ecclesiastical Record," vol. iii.
May, 1867, pp. 396, 397.
^ He is called " Gobanus fil Naski," by
this Martyrologist.
9 Edited by Drs. Todd and Reeves, pp.
80, 81 .
See
"
Irish Ecclesiastical Record," vol. iii.
^
In the book of Litanies, attributed to
St. ^ngus, we have invoked seventeen holy
bishops and seven liundred favoured servants
of God, who lie with Barri and Nessan,
whose names are written in the heavens.
May, 1867, pp. 390, 391.
5 Edited by Rev. Dr. Kelly, p, xviii. The
Franciscan copy has neffAnuf Coi\c<i- penpf,
'° He is called " Nessanus Corcagiensis,"
by this Martyrologist.
Article iv. —' Edited by Rev. Dr.
Kelly, p, xviii. The Franciscan copy has ConchenniA Uiyvjo.
" See "Acta Sanctorum," torn, ii. , Martii xvii. Among the pretermitted saints, p. 506.
Article v. —' Edited by Rev. Dr. Kelly,
7. G
834 LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. [March i8.
Article VI. —St, Failtigern or Faoiltigern, Virgin. An entry is found, in the Martyrology of Tallagh/ at the 17th of March, regarding St. Failtigern, a holy woman, whose personal history is involved in great obscurity. The Bollandists have a mere notice. " Faoiltighem, Virgin, is registered, also, in the Martyrology of Marianus 0'Gorman,3 and in that of Donegal,^ as having had veneration paid her, on this day.
Article VII. —St. Tigernach. A record is found, in the Martyrology of Tallagh^ at the 1 7th of March, and there this holy man is called a bishop. His age has not been ascertained. The Bollandists confess their ignorance
ofanyparticularsreferringtohim. " TheMartyrologyofMarianusO'Gorman^ and that of Donegal* state, that on this day was venerated Tigernach, a Priest.
Article VIII. -^Reputed Festival of Colonatus, Presbyter, and
Totuanus Dianus, at Wurtzburgh. Under such a heading, Canisius,
Galesinius, Wion, Bucelin, and Dempster,^ have entered a festival, for the 17th of March; and, the Bollandists state, they have little doubt, but that it refers to Colmanus and Toknanus, the companions of St. Kilian," whose Acts are to be found at the 8th of July. To that date, we refer the reader, for an account of their glorious martyrdom. There is a notice of St. Colonatus, in
Bishop Forbes' work. 3
Cigfiteeut! ) I3ap of i^arrfi*
ARTICLE I. —ST. COMMAN, OR CAIMAN, CONFESSOR. [POSSIBLY 0F THE SEVENTH CENTURY. ^
of holiness cheer men, in the prosecution of their good
EXAwMorPksL,EenScourage them in adversity, as in prosperity, give activity and energy to religious organizations, and increase the number of our Lord's
servants. Sanctity seems to have descended, as a family inheritance, in our island. St. Comman was of illustrious descent, belonging to the race of ConallGulban,andbeingsontoErnan. ^ Anaccountofthisholymanis
Article vi. —' Edited by Rev. Dr.
Kelly, p. xviii. In the Franciscan copy, we
See Acta Sanctorum," torn, ii. , Martii xvii. Among the pretermitted saints, p. 506.
* Edited by Drs. Todd and Reeves, pp.
Totnan. See Forbes' companion Bishop
507.
3 gee "Kalendars of Scottish Saints," p.
have, pAiicijepriA Uiyvgo. *"
'In his "Menologium Scoticum," he notes, at this day : At Her- bipolis, Colonatus, monk and martyr, Apostle of Franconia, together with his
3 She is called " liiin.
Failtegema Virgo," by
" *
Edited by Drs. Todd and Reeves, pp. 80, 81.
Kalendars of Scottish Saints," p. 194. See"ActaSanctorum,"torn,ii. , Martii xvii. Among the pretermitted saints, p.
Article vii. —' Edited
by
Rev. Dr.
Kelly, p. xviii. In the Franciscan copy,
this entry is thus given Ci5e]\nAchu]' ep.
305.
Three festivals are set down at the
See "Acta
xvii. Among the pretermitted saints, p. July.
and
*_
Sanctorum,"
ii. ,
17th
March,
May,
9th
506. 3"
The Sacred Genealogies
"Tigernachus Praesbi in the work of this writer.
torn,
is found entered,
Martii
of
20th of
of
80, 81. — Article viii.
—
thus trace his descent in the First Chapter :
*'
' i.
Article
S. Commanus filius Emani,filiiFiachna:,
March i8. ] LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. 83s
in the BolIandistsV and in Bishop Forbes' work. 3 He was a brother to St. Cummian—incorrectly supposed to have been St. Cummineus Albus^—and toSt. Becan,accordingtoColgan,whohasavagueaccountofhim. While St. Fergnai, uncle to our saint,—as Colgan thinks,—ruled over lona monas- tery, Comman became a monk in his Order, and was subject to his rule. Oursaintlived,afterwards,itissaid,tothetimeofAdamnan. s Herelated to this latter a miracle, regarding St. Columkille, which he had heard from the lips of Abbot Fergnai,^ and which miracle is recorded by Adamnan, in hisLifeofthegreatPictishApostle. ? AsAdamnanflourished,aboutA. D. 670, Colgan is of opinion, that our saint must be identical with the Comman,^
who is called bishop, by our Annalists, and who died in the year 676. 9 This
———
date, also as he assumes nearly coincides with that, determining the death
of his brothers Saints Commineus and Becan. These died respectively, according to Colgan's calculation, in the years, 668, and 675. '° Regarding
Comman's probable or conjectured episcopal rank, Colgan observes, that it matters not, because he was called Honorabilis Presbyter, or respectable
Presbyter,"byAdamnan; for,hemighthavebeenordainedabishop,after relating the miracle of St. Columkille to his biographer. A more shrewd remark might have been inserted, viz. , shortly before Adamnan had written this narrative.
Besides, we are informed, that old writers oftentimes understood a bishop, by the foregoing appellation. Colgan adds, that our different
him as having conversed with him. This
when Adamnan was young, and some years before Vita S. Commani, n. i,, p. 651. Also, 665. Adamnan was bom about the year
"
"Trias Thaumaturga, Quarta Appendix 625, and must have been younger than
ad Acta S. Columbse, cap. 3, p. 480, and cap. X. , p. 489.
'See "Acta Sanctorum," tomus ii. , Martii xvii. Among the pretermitted saints, p. 613.
filii Feradachii, filii Nennidii, filii Fergiissii,
—
Acta Sanctorum Hibemiae," xviii. Martii.
filii Conalli Gulbanii, tSrv. " "
Colgan's
conversation have might
occurred,
3 See "Kalendars of Scottish 307-
Saints," p.
9 O'Donovan's " Annals of the Four See,
His feast occurs, at the 24th of February.
He is also called St. Cuimine Plonn. See
Dr. Elrington's edition of Ussher's Works, Glendalough. At note (m) on Dairchell, vol.
quitates," cap. xvii. , p. 540.
" Britannicarum Ecclesiarum Anti-
Mr. O' Donovan remarks: "The death of this bishop, and of Coman is noticed in the Annals of Ulster under the year 677, and in
: theAnnalsofClonmacnoiseat674 "A. D.
677. Daircill mac Curetai Episcopiis GWxme- whose feast is assigned to the 2nd of da-locha, et Conan Episcopus Feman pan- March. sant,"—Ann. Ult. " A. D. 674. Darchill 'See, "Trias Thaumaturga. " Quarta mac Cuyletty, Bushop of Glendalogha,
vi. ,
5 His Life is given, at the 23rd of Sep- tember.
Vita, or Adamnan's Vita S. Columbaj, lib. ii. , cap. xix. , p. 368.
* Otherwise called St. Fergna Britt,
^
Searching for Coman of the Third Class,
died. Coman, Bishop, and Moyledoyer, Bushop, died. "—Ann. Clon. Ibid. I feel inclined to think, the Annals of Ulster
Ussher in his " says
call of Feman. Coman, Bishop
at
that Coman of Ferns was perhaps the Com- man called by Adamnan (/. 3, c. 19), hono- rabilis presbyter, whom Ussher seems to
improperly
According to the Four Masters, an entry re- garding the death of Maeldoghar, Bishop of Fearna, immediately follows the account of
Primordia,"
p. 968,
have supposed the same as Coman of the Coman's death. He is the Moyledoyer,
Third Class. But, Dr. Lanigan asks, as
only 665 Supposing
man of Adamnan to have been different from
Coman of Ferns, which is very probable, he might have been the priest Coman of the list. It is true, that Adamnan speaks of
of the Annals of Clonmacnoise.
'° See the Acts of both these saints, as
Colgan supposes, he has published, at the
Coman of Ferns did not die until
could he have belonged to said class, which lasted until ? " the Com-
678,
how
Comman, who, as he tells us, was maternal nephew of Virgnous, who, after governing
Hy
died in —"Eccle- 623. "
for
siastical History of Ireland," vol. iii. , chap, xvii. , sect, iii. , n. 36, p. 12,
25 years,
Masters," vol. i. , pp. 284, 285, where the death of a "Coman, bishop," is noted at
the year 676, with Dairchell, Bishop of
of and the 17th of March. 24th February,
" See Rev. William Reeves' Adamnan's "Life of St. Columba," lib. iii. , cap. 19, pp. 223 to 225.
"Edited by Rev. Dr. Kelly, p. xix,,
836 LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. [March 18.
Martyrologists—viz. , the Martyrology of Tallagh," that of Marianus
0'Gorman,'3 of Maguire, and of the O'Clerys^f—call this St. Comman,'^ a
Bishop ; althougli, the See which he governed, and the place where he was specially honoured, are unknown. '^ His feast was held, on the i8th day of March.
Article II. —St. Ercbrect, or Egbert, a Saxon. \FrohaUy in the Eighth Century? ^ On this day, Colgan publishes some accounts, regarding St. Ercbrect,orEcbert,anAnglo-Saxonsaint. ^ Heisthought,^tohavebeen no other than Ecbert,3 otherwise called Eatbert, the King of Northumbria,
after a
the year 757,^ or 758,7 in the Monastery of Lindisfarne, perfect in every practice of humiHty and obedience. Ele is said to have enriched the See of York, by founding there a remarkable library, and which he stored, with all the best books, that could be procured. It is said, he died, about the year 768,^ and that his Natalis is generally assigned to the 20th of August. 9 This, indeed, seems to preclude the idea of his having been the saint, marked in our Irish Calendars, at the i8th of March. Whoever the latter was, Colgan is of opinion, that he must have lived for some time in Ireland, or that his existence closed in our island, to account for the national honour paid him, by our early writers. According to the Martyrology of Tallagh,'° Ericbrit, the Saxon, had veneration paid him, at the i8th of March. Marianus O'Gorman" has a record of this holy man, yet nothing to indicate his personal identity.
where he is called Coemaii, a bishop. In sect, iii. , n. 36, p. 12.
twenty years' reign,
the Franciscan the is
copy, entry CAiniAnu]-
ep.
'3 He has the notice, CAHiiAniif, in one
place, and ComAnu]- ep. in another, as if separate persons are to be understood.
'^ See "Acta Sanctorum Hiber- Colgan's
nis," xviii. RIartii, n. 3, p. 651.
''' See Drs. Todd's and Reeves' pp. 80, 81.
edition,
Ilibernia;," xviii. Martii. Vita S. Ercbrecti,
p. 652. -
By Colgan.
3 Said, by Arnold Wion, to have been the
eighteenth king of Northumbria.
According to Arnold Wion's " Lignum
Vitre," lib. iv. , cap. 7.
5 This happened, in the third year of
King Kinulph's reign, according to Henry
'5 Although he had spoken of Coman of
Ferns, as a priest, and as having always
remained so, which appears from his having
tliought this Comman might have been the
Comman of Adamnan ; yet, in his " Index
Chronologicus," at A. D. 678, Ussher calls
him the bishop of Ferns. Ware also reckons
him the of but among bishops Ferns, places
his death, at 675, merely, perhaps, on con- jecture, and because he knew, that in the
year 67S the See of Ferns was occupied by Dirath, who succeeded INIaldogar, in 677. It is more tlmn probable, that those writers were mistaken in making him a bishop,
owing to their having met with a bishop of that name—the one of Colgan—and thence
of Huntingdon. See lib. iv.
"
Historia Anglicana,"
him with Coman of Ferns. In a list of the bishops of that See, for the
seventh as found in
century, Colgan's
"Trias Thaumaturga," Quarta Vita S. Erigidce, lib. ii. , n. 2, p. 564, no Coman ap- pears, nor according to the succession there marked could there have been any room for him. See Dr. Lanigan's "Ecclesiastical
History of Ireland," vol. iii. , chap, xvii. ,
^ to the Chronicle of Florence According
of Worcester. See, also Matthew of West- minster, in "Flores Historiarum," A. D. dclvii. , pp. 274, 275.
7 According to the Continuator of Ven. Bede's History, as mentioned in the Roman Breviary, Colgan observes, and Arnold Wion has the same account, " Lignum Vitos," lib. iv. , cap. 7.
9 to Menard's " According Hugo
confounding
*^ to the According
'^ desirous of an eternal crown,s re- obtaining
who,
linquished the temporal one, to his son, Osulph. Eadbert assumed the monastic tonsure and habit. He led a most praiseworthy life, from about
Article ii.
—
'See "Acta Sanctorum
English Martyrology, and Hugh Menard, at the 23rd of March.
ologium Benedictinum," lib. i. , obs.
" Edited by Rev. Dr. Kelly, p. xix. In
the Franciscan copy, we find, Gi\ecb]\eccup Sa. \o.
" He enters, e^\bei\iccuj* pue Ccbct\ciif, immediately after the insertion of three
Martyr-
March I S. ] LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS,. 837
Article III. —St; Connal, Bishop of Killconnal, and of Aughrim, County of Galway. \S71pposed to be of the Fifth Century^ Whether we may regard them, as possessing intrinsic value or not, the Acts of a St. Conall have been pubHshed, by Colgan, at the present date,' and the Bollan- dists insert some notices, expressed with caution and doubt, regarding him. =^ These seem to be justifiable enough, since the only document adduced is a Manuscript copy of the Acts of St. Patrick's Synod,3 which states, that Ethianus and Conallus ordained unworthy bishops, in the spacious plain of Hai,* and that they were reproved, in consequence, by the Irish Apostle, because they acted, without taking his advice. It is stated, that he predicted their churches should be insignificant, although the ordained d—id penance for
their offences. This eccl
—esiastic at an
towards the closeofthefifthcentury intheterritoryofHy-Many,inthesouthernpart of Connaught, if we can connect him, with the account previously given.
foreign saints, in his Calendar, viz. , . Al-evX- Anoep, eT)tiA|\T)Ui', 5^T^^t^"'OT* The first of these was Alexander, Bishop of Jem- salem, Bishop and Martyr, at Cresarea, in Palestine ; the second, St. Edward, King of England, and Martyr; and the third, was St. Gertrude, Virgin, of Nivelle. The festival of this latter holy woman is usually set down, at the—1 7th of March.
Article III. 'See, " Acta Sanctorum Hibernias," xviii. Martii. Vita S. Conalli, p. 632. .
= See "Acta Sanctorum," tomus ii. , Martii xviii.
