''^
Cinnia, also, had a sister, named Derfraechia or Derrichia,^s> who is aggregated Article hi.
Cinnia, also, had a sister, named Derfraechia or Derrichia,^s> who is aggregated Article hi.
O'Hanlon - Lives of the Irish Saints - v2
Between the im- pulses of nature and grace a severe mental conflict is often experienced.
The devil urges to the prosecution of a first evil design, by filling the ima-
gination with illusions and pleasures of his suggestion. But, the grace of God proves still more effectual in a dangerous juncture, and when sought for with earnestness. Betaking oneself to prayer, and entreating Divine protec- tion to preserve from sin, will secure a victory over the very strongest temp- tation. With scorched feet, our saint returned to her bed. The holy Brigid happened to be awake, while her religious daughter endured this painful trial of constancy. Yet, the pious abbess did not break silence. On the follow- ing day, Derlugdacha confessed her sin of thought to the sainted abbess.
"
Brigid then said to her :
My daughter, I have witnessed your contest, but
because you have nobly resisted, and have subjected your feet, to the action
of material fire, you shall not be tempted, henceforward, with carnal desires,
while the flames of hell shall not affect you, at a future period. " Then, St.
Brigid applied a sign of the cross on Derlugdacha's feet, and healed them,^°
so that no trace or mark remained, to indicate their having suffered by fire. =^^
Because of her fortitude and fidelity, Derlugdacha was specially called St.
Brigid's alunma, or foster-child, and on account of efforts made to emulate
the virtues of her holy superioress. Among all other religious daughters,
under the Abbess of Kildare, a particular affection seems to have been enter-
tained for her alumiia. This regard was cordially returned by our saint.
Such was Derlugdacha's remarkable and fervent love towards God, and
devotedness towards her superioress, that she desired to depart from this
world, on that day, when St. Brigid was about to be called to her everlasting
reward. For, when this holy servant of Christ had been pressed down with
the weight of advancing years, Brigid's favourite foster-child one day said to
"
My mother and mistress, I desire to go with you instantly
her superioress :
toGod'skingdom. " Towhichthesaintlyandvenerablemotherabbessre-
" It shall not so
year, and when it will have expired, you shall die on the anniversary day of my departure, and the same date must commemorate my festival and thine. " This prophecy was duly fulfilled. ^^ Thus, united in life and love with the venerable Brigid, as our saint desired to obtain a closer union with her superioress, at the death and final triumph of the latter ; so, Derlugdacha obtained the object of her petition, although in a manner somewhat modified. The Almighty, who unalterably guards his own wise decrees, is yet attentive to the pious desires of his petitioners, and he becomes the rewarder of all virtues. As his spouses were engaged in the exercises and pursuit of piety, sowasitmeet,thattheyshouldbeeverlastinglyandunitedlycrowned. But, he wished Derlugdacha, the favourite scholar of Brigid, to survive her holy mistress, for the exact term of one year. She wept over the bier of Kildare's great abbess. God obliged our saint to exercise the office of superioress over that institution, and to become St. Brigid's immediate successor there, during a very short interval. Such duties Derlugdacha efficiently discharged, andsheacquiredtherebyanadditionaldegreeofmerit; for,whenherallotted
plied :
happen,
but shall succeed me as abbess for one you
=° See Rev. S.
'* Lives of
allusion is made—had personal attractions, superior to these of other nuns under St.
See Colgan's "Trias Thaumaturga.
Quinta Vita S. Brigidce, lib. ii. , cap. Ixv. ,
p. 560. Tertia Vita S. 13rigidse, cap. xcix. ,
pp. 539, 540, ibid. Sexta Vita S. Brigidae,
sec. Ixi. , pp. 594, 595, ibid. In the latter
life, it is said, that Derlugdacha—to whom 541, 542, ibid. . ^ and n. 79, p. 545, ibid.
Baring-Gould's
the Saints," vol. ii. , February i. , p. 23.
^' "
Brigid's rule.
" See Colgan's "Trias Thaumaturga. "
Quarta Vita S. Brigidse, lib. ii. , cap. xcvii. , p. 562, and n. 22, p. 566, ibid. See, also, Vita Tertia S. Brigidse, cap. cxxxii. , pp,
228 LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. [February i.
term of life had expired, she departed from riiis world, on the very anniversary day of St. Brigid's decease. While both saints enjoy a united society in
happiness inexpressible, so are they commemorated on earth, and on the same festival day, the ist of February. This is attested, not only by Irish,
but even by foreign ^vriters. ^3 St. Derlugdacha's memory has been preserved in benediction, we are told, not alone at Kildare in Ireland,^^^ but even at Frisingan'5 and in Scotland. Her death has been assigned to a. d. 524, by
Colgan, as he places St. Brigid's departure at the year immediately preceding,
^"5
A. D. 5 23.
526,^7 according as the death of St. Brigid may be computed, while he allows herfestivaltohavebeenundoubtedlyontheistofFebruary. TheRev. Thomas Innes'^ and Bishop Forbes=9 have notices of her at this date. The Irish and Scottish Kalendars commemorate St. Derlughdacha, or Derlugtach.
Her mere name, Derlugach, is noticed in the Martyrology of Tallagh,3° at the ist of February. In the anonymous Calendar of Irish Saints published byO'SullivanBeare,3^atthisday,Derludahaisentered. IntheMartyrology of Donegal,3^ on this day, we read that Derlughach, Abbess of Cill Dara, and the next in succession after Brighit, was venerated. Another feast of this same virgin Darlugtach was celebrated in Scodand on the 1st of October. 33 In pursuing a course of penitence, let the sinner after conversion become a follower of Christ by virtuous deeds, as hitherto evil promptings had urged the following of Satan by inclining to sin. When the clouds are darkest they often only foretoken a change, which covers the earth in a livery oftheverywhitestsnow. Notwithstanding,thesinner'slapseintocrimes, yet may he rest assured, that God will pardon those very offences, of which
he has truly repented. Living a holy life and dying a holy death, subse- quently, a merciful Lord adopts the prodigal, and restores him to favour.
Article III. —St. Cinnia, Keine, Cinni, Kinnia, or Cinne, Virgin, of Druim-Dubhain, near Clogher. [Fifth Century? ^ When religious enclosure guards the pious nun from this world's snares, the ties of domestic affection, which should bind such a one to her relatives and friends, are stronger than ever. For them she prays, and for their listlessness she makes amends. In her self-imposed seclusion, she asserts that true liberty of action, which brings her under the immediate
protection of God. This was even the case, during the infancy of the Irish Church, to which period holy Cinnia belonged. At the present
'3 Our Irish Martyrologies of Tallagh, of Charles Maguire, of Marianus Gorman, and of Donegal, place her festival at the 1st of February, and likewise, Fitzsimon in his
Dr. Lanigan observes, that Derlugdacha died in the year 524 or
catalogue of saints. The Frisingen Breviary, Hanmer, in his Chronicle of Ireland," and Capgrave in his "Vita S. Brigidse" relate the miracles, already recorded, respecting Derlugdacha. It must be remarked, that Camerarius, by an evident error, assigns the natalisiox this saint to the 1st of De- cember.
'* Ferrarius notes her, in his calendar, at
the 1st of February.
"S Her being revered at Frisengen was
probably owing to her connexions with St. Brigid, whose memory was most highly re- spected in Germany. See "Ecclesiastical History of Ireland," vol. i. , chap, ix. , sect.
vii. , and n. 99, pp. 460, 461, 462. '* **
See Colgan's Acta Sanctorum Iliber- niae," i. Februarii. Vita S. Derlugdachae, pp. 229, 230, and nn. 5, 6, 7, ibid.
-^ This is the date, noted by Rev. S. Bar- ""
ing-Gould. See Lives of the Saints," vol.
ii. , February i. , p. 22. ^^ "
See Civil and Ecclesiastical History of Scotland," book ii. , sec. ix. , p. 128.
"9 See "Kalendars of Scottish Saints,"
pp. 321, 322.
30 Edited by Rev, Dr. Kelly, p. xiv.
3» See " Historige Catholicse Ibemise
Compendium," tomus i. , lib. iv. , cap. xi. ,
p. 49.
3^ Edited by Drs. Todd and Reeves, pp.
36, 37.
33 For further notices, the reader is re-
ferred to that date.
February i. ] LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. 229
date, the particulars of this holy woman's Acts have been noticed, in various collections of Saints' Lives. Thus, O'Sullivan Beare alludes to St. Cinnia. ^ Father John Colgan has an account of her, in his great national work. '* TheBollandistspresenttheActsofSt. Cinnia,orKinnia,virgin,in three paragraphs. 3 Under the name Kiennta, the Irish Cistercian Monk has noticed this saint. ^ The Rev. Alban Butler has devoted a short para- graph to record her. s Mrs. Anastasia O'Byme gives some brief notices of
this saint. *^ Our — to a noble and
ful hou
or Cinne as this
woman is
—se.
Kinnia, Cinnia,7
Patrick, lib. v. , cap. ii.
the son of Muredach, was King of Ultonia, whereas the present Eochaidh was King of
Oirgiell.
^^
Also a ruler over Orgiell.
^3 He in like manner was the son of Deo*
dat, son of Rochad, son to Colla Dachrioch, according to the " Menelogic Sanctilogy,"
chap. xiii. St. Cinnia's sister, Derfraechia, orDerrichia,hasalikepedigree. Shewas mother to St. Tigernach of Clones. See
Drs. Todd and " of Reeves, Martyrology.
Donegal," pp. 94, 95.
'* He was destined to die, prematurely
without leaving any heir to succeed him.
distinguished subject belonged
very
power- holy variedly styled^ was the daughter of Echa, Eochaidh or Eochod,9 son of Crim- thann,^° and who ruled over a very extensive tract of country, in the northern parts of Ireland. " This district was known as Orgiell. Her grandfather
was named Crimthann," the son of Fieg. ^3 He gave name to a family, known as the Hy-Crimthann, formerly very powerful in Ulster. King Echa or Echu had two sons and two daughters. One of his sons, Bressal, re- mained unconverted, at the preaching of St. Patrick ; and, thus, he incurred Divine displeasure, in a very remarkable manner. ^-^ The other son, Carbre,^5 surnamed Damh-airgid, became a convert, when St. Patrick preached the
Gospel, near Clogher. He sought the grace of baptism, and the Irish Apostle prophesied, that he should abound in wealth and temporal pros-
perity ; while blessed by God, he was proclaimed, likewise, the father of several princes^^ and saints of OrgielV7 who should descend from him.
''^
Cinnia, also, had a sister, named Derfraechia or Derrichia,^s> who is aggregated Article hi. —^ In his Acts of St. Catillus. Lib. v. , cap. iii. Now Eochaidh,
^
Februarii. Acta S. Cinnia, sive Kinnia,
Virgine, pp. 234, 235. This is gleaned from various sources, and it is illustrated by notes.
3 See "Acta Sanctorum," tomus i. , i.
Februarii. Vita S. Cinnise, pp. 96, 97.
* See " Lives of the Irish Saints," p. II.
s See "Lives of the Fathers, Martyrs
See "Acta Sanctorum Hibernise," i.
and Other ruary i.
"^
Principal
Saints," vol. ii. , Feb-
See "Saints of Ireland," February i. , pp. 18, 19.
7 The letter c before z, in Irish, has the sound of k in English.
^ The present virgin has sometimes been called—incorrectly, however—the sister of
See O'Flaherty's Ixxvi,, p. 364.
"
Ogygia,"pars iii. , cap.
St. Patrick.
"
Cynnenum means Cinna-
^5 He had seven sons, the following of whom I find named in O'Flaherty. Dami- nus, Natsluagh, Cormac, Longseach, Ud- hirus, Imchad. Set ibid. , p. 365.
naomh, or holy Cynna or Cynnia. Being of royal parentage she was also called
Ricinne or Richinne, i. e. , royal Cynna. From Richinne was formed Richell—a, an- other pretended sister of the saint. " Rev.
"
Michael J. O'Farrell's
Patrick, Apostle and Patron of Ireland,"
^^
whom the MacMahons sprung, and Cormac,
Popular Life of St.
from whom the Maguires descended, are al-
luded to by Colgan.
^7 See the names and pedigree of several
in Appendix ad Acta S. Endsei, cap. iv. , pp. "
chap, xiii. , n. , p. 186. New York, 1863, 713, 714. Colgan's Acta Sanctorum Hi-
i2mo.
9 The name is Latinized Echodius. See
Dr. Lanigan's "Ecclesiastical History of Ireland," vol. i. , chap, vi. , sec. iii. , p. 266. '° See Miss Mary F. Cusack's "Life of
St. Patrick, Apostle of Ireland," p. 453.
" O'Sullevan Beare, in his Acts of St. Patrick, has committed a mistake, in calling
Eochaidh's father Muredach and his brother
berniae. "
^^ See Colgan's "Trias Thaumaturga. "
Septima Vita S. Patricii, pars iii. , cap. vi. , p. 150.
*9 Her feast is assigned to the 23rd of
March, or to the nth of November. See
Colgan's "Acta Sanctorum Hiberniae," xxi. Martii. Vita S. Endsei. Appendix, cap.
iv. , p- 713-
Only two of his sons, Natsluagh, from
230 LIVES OF 2HE IRISH SAINTS. [February i.
tothecompanyofsaintedIrishwomen. St. Kinniaissaidtohavereceived baptism at the hands of St. Patrick. ^° This holy Cinnia was not alone numbered among the Irish Apostle's converts to the Faith ; but, she even took the veil of virginity from his hands, and, consequently, she may be re-
garded as one of his spiritual children.
=^^
In the Acts of St. Patrick are re-
lated the following incidents. When he came unto the country of Neyll,''"
as afterwards called, a king named Echu, was the reigning dynast of a parti-
cular district. He belonged to the family of Oirgiell, and his whole house seemed to be moved with varied emotions, at the approach of the strange missionary. Her father wished his daughter Cinnia to espouse a certain Cormac,^3 son of Carbre, and descended from the great Niell, King of Ire- land. Some holy instinct urged her to refuse her consent, as she was des- tined for a nobler spouse. ^* Providence at last brought a release from these importunities. When Saint Patrick, on his first arrival in the territory about Clogher, met the king's daughter, Keine, in the forest, he preached to the innocent girl, who yearned after divine love, though as yet she knew it not. ^s The illustrious Apostle soon became acquainted with the happy dispositions ofthisyoungmaiden. TheDynastEchuhadintendedatafittingtime,to give in a suitable marriage contract,^^ his beloved daughter, Cynnia. This damsel unfolded to the saint her father's purpose, and he exhorted her to deserve the reward of virginity even an hundred-fold. Therefore, rejecting worldly nuptials, she determined to give herself an undefiled offering to her celestial spouse, and to cherish him in her heart. The king, beholding her thus steadily to preserve her virgin purity, called to him the saint, and thus
"» See Rev. Alban Butler's *' Lives of the niae," Februarii i. De S. Cinnia sive Kin- Fathers, Martyrs and Other Principal nia, Virgine, sec. i. , ii. , iii. , pp. 234, 235.
spake :
my daughter
long
" I had determined that
should continue to me a descending progeny, for the confirmation of my kingdom, and the solace of mine age ; but the succession is cut off, and mine hope is defeated by thee ; if therefore, thou wilt promise to me the heavenly kingdom, yet, not compel me unwillingly to receive baptism, my daughter shall become the servant of thyGod,evenasthouhastexhortedher; otherwise,willInotbeprevented in my desire, nor shall thy preaching prevail. " =7 And the saint confiding in,
**
Lives of the Irish Saints," by a Cistercian Monk,
Aubrey De Vere bea—utifully resolves in :
Saints," vol, ii. , February
i. Also,
*s
verse her state of mind
No arduous was thing
II.
p.
*' See Colgan's "Trias Thaumaturga. "
"Forher
ere she yet
QuintaAppendix xxiii. , p. 269.
ad Acta S.
" Patricii, cap.
faith,
heard
In heart believing ; and as when a babe Marks some bright shape, if near or far,
unknown,
And stretches forth a witless hand to
clasp
Phantom or form, even so with wild sur-
mise,
And guesses erring first, and questions
apt,
She chased the flying light, and round it
closed Atlast,andsubstancefoundit;"
" of Saint Patrick. " Saint Patrick Legends
and King Eochaidh, p. 151.
"''See this account in "Trias Thauma-
of the Four Masters," vol. i. , pp. 180 to turga. " Septima Vita S. Patricii, lib. iii,,
182, and n. (z), ibid. cap, vii. , p. 150, and n. 15, p. 184,
" The meaning is not, that it then be-
longed to the posterity of Neill, which was true, however, some ages after St. Patrick's
time. Then, it belonged to the Oirgiallians, who were a very potent clan or tribe in Ulster.
"3 He was called Cormac Caech, and he was father to Tuathal Maelgarbh, who was King of Ireland for eleven years, and who was slain in 538, by Maelmor, tutor of Diar- maidMacCearbhaill,whosucceeded. The AnnalsofUlsterplaceTuathal's deathat A. D. 543 ; those of Clonmacnoise at 547 ; those of
and the Chronicon Sco- torum have it 544. Dr. O'Donovan's thinks the latter is the true date. See "Annals
"^
See Colgan's "Acta Sanctorum Hiber- "^ The saint, knowing Eochaidh's heart.
Tighernach
February i. ] LIVES OF THE IRISH SAIJSITS, 231
and committing all to, the Lord, faithfully promised what the king required,'^ forheknewhowProvidencehaddecreed. Topoeticlicencemustbeas- signed some portion of the following narrative, for elsewhere we cannot find its authentication. She resolves to embrace a religious life, but the king, who loves his daughter, will not consent to her leaving him, as his only son has been taken prisoner, and retained for a hostage by a neighbouring chief. ^9 As he speaks, however, his son returns, accompanied by a joyous embassy from his conqueror, who has been converted by Patrick, and bringing with him that king's daughter as his bride. 3° Eochaidh thereupon conforms to
Keine's desire, and consents to the conversion of his people. 3^ After the conversion of the virgin Cinnia, St. Patrick commended her to the care of the holy virgin Cathuberis,3=^ who first of all women in Ireland had received fromhimtheveil; andtowhom,beingplacedoverthemonasteryofDruim- dubhan,33 with a great multitude of virgins serving Christ, the saint himself addressed an exhortatory epistle. 34 The holy virgin Cuthuberis is also called Ethemoria,35inasubsequentpassagebyJocelyn. s^ St. Patrickthendeparts,
"which miracle had hardened more," ac- cepts his conditions, saying :—
** Far otherwise than in that way thou weet'st,
Thy daughter's prayers shall speed thee. With thy word
mirable biography, so pleasingly and so learnedly compiled, the incidents relating to St. Cinnia are taken from Jocelyn's account. See "A Popular Life of Saint Patrick,
Apostle and Patron of Ireland," chap, xiii. ,
pp. 185, 186.
3' The king even agreed to believe him-
I close, that word to frustrate. God be self, yet "upon conditions. " They were
with thee !
Thou living, I return not.
that he should be admitted to hea-
well. "
Fare thee
of Saint
;
Experience taught I love not rigid bond and written pledge. 'Tis well to brand mark on or
lamb :
are of lion breed and of my house Kings ;
'Tis known there never yet was king bap- tized.
This pact concluded, preach within my realm
faith and wed my daughter to thy Thy ;
God. "
—
Patrick," p. 159.
=8
"
Aubrey
De Vere's
"Legends
of Aubrey De Ve—re ;
and, in the words of
King Eochaidh
*' *
:
"
Sexta Vita S. Patri-
your sheep
See Jocelyn's or
cii," cap. Ixxix,, and n. 81, p. 1 12, ibid.
^^ So is the incident related, in the lines
Within three weeks my son was trapped and snared
By Aodh of Hy Briuin, him whose hosts Number my warriors fourfold. Three
—Aubrey De Vere's "Legends of Saint Patrick. " King Eochaidh's Choice, p. 159. 32 This is the name given to her by She is also called Cetamaria.
long years
Beyond west
those
mountains in the Lightly Eochaidh spoke
Hostage he lies.
'
Jocelyn.
See Dr. Lanigan's "Ecclesiastical History
purple
Andturned butshakenchinthat ;
betrayed
Which lived beneath his lightness.
grief
of Ireland," vol. i. , chap, vi. , sec. iii. , p. 266.
33 This place was near Clogher. It has been incorrectly written Druim Duchain by
Sudden thronged High on the neighbouring hills a jubilant
some scribes. ^^- 34 In the Acts of St.
gination with illusions and pleasures of his suggestion. But, the grace of God proves still more effectual in a dangerous juncture, and when sought for with earnestness. Betaking oneself to prayer, and entreating Divine protec- tion to preserve from sin, will secure a victory over the very strongest temp- tation. With scorched feet, our saint returned to her bed. The holy Brigid happened to be awake, while her religious daughter endured this painful trial of constancy. Yet, the pious abbess did not break silence. On the follow- ing day, Derlugdacha confessed her sin of thought to the sainted abbess.
"
Brigid then said to her :
My daughter, I have witnessed your contest, but
because you have nobly resisted, and have subjected your feet, to the action
of material fire, you shall not be tempted, henceforward, with carnal desires,
while the flames of hell shall not affect you, at a future period. " Then, St.
Brigid applied a sign of the cross on Derlugdacha's feet, and healed them,^°
so that no trace or mark remained, to indicate their having suffered by fire. =^^
Because of her fortitude and fidelity, Derlugdacha was specially called St.
Brigid's alunma, or foster-child, and on account of efforts made to emulate
the virtues of her holy superioress. Among all other religious daughters,
under the Abbess of Kildare, a particular affection seems to have been enter-
tained for her alumiia. This regard was cordially returned by our saint.
Such was Derlugdacha's remarkable and fervent love towards God, and
devotedness towards her superioress, that she desired to depart from this
world, on that day, when St. Brigid was about to be called to her everlasting
reward. For, when this holy servant of Christ had been pressed down with
the weight of advancing years, Brigid's favourite foster-child one day said to
"
My mother and mistress, I desire to go with you instantly
her superioress :
toGod'skingdom. " Towhichthesaintlyandvenerablemotherabbessre-
" It shall not so
year, and when it will have expired, you shall die on the anniversary day of my departure, and the same date must commemorate my festival and thine. " This prophecy was duly fulfilled. ^^ Thus, united in life and love with the venerable Brigid, as our saint desired to obtain a closer union with her superioress, at the death and final triumph of the latter ; so, Derlugdacha obtained the object of her petition, although in a manner somewhat modified. The Almighty, who unalterably guards his own wise decrees, is yet attentive to the pious desires of his petitioners, and he becomes the rewarder of all virtues. As his spouses were engaged in the exercises and pursuit of piety, sowasitmeet,thattheyshouldbeeverlastinglyandunitedlycrowned. But, he wished Derlugdacha, the favourite scholar of Brigid, to survive her holy mistress, for the exact term of one year. She wept over the bier of Kildare's great abbess. God obliged our saint to exercise the office of superioress over that institution, and to become St. Brigid's immediate successor there, during a very short interval. Such duties Derlugdacha efficiently discharged, andsheacquiredtherebyanadditionaldegreeofmerit; for,whenherallotted
plied :
happen,
but shall succeed me as abbess for one you
=° See Rev. S.
'* Lives of
allusion is made—had personal attractions, superior to these of other nuns under St.
See Colgan's "Trias Thaumaturga.
Quinta Vita S. Brigidce, lib. ii. , cap. Ixv. ,
p. 560. Tertia Vita S. 13rigidse, cap. xcix. ,
pp. 539, 540, ibid. Sexta Vita S. Brigidae,
sec. Ixi. , pp. 594, 595, ibid. In the latter
life, it is said, that Derlugdacha—to whom 541, 542, ibid. . ^ and n. 79, p. 545, ibid.
Baring-Gould's
the Saints," vol. ii. , February i. , p. 23.
^' "
Brigid's rule.
" See Colgan's "Trias Thaumaturga. "
Quarta Vita S. Brigidse, lib. ii. , cap. xcvii. , p. 562, and n. 22, p. 566, ibid. See, also, Vita Tertia S. Brigidse, cap. cxxxii. , pp,
228 LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. [February i.
term of life had expired, she departed from riiis world, on the very anniversary day of St. Brigid's decease. While both saints enjoy a united society in
happiness inexpressible, so are they commemorated on earth, and on the same festival day, the ist of February. This is attested, not only by Irish,
but even by foreign ^vriters. ^3 St. Derlugdacha's memory has been preserved in benediction, we are told, not alone at Kildare in Ireland,^^^ but even at Frisingan'5 and in Scotland. Her death has been assigned to a. d. 524, by
Colgan, as he places St. Brigid's departure at the year immediately preceding,
^"5
A. D. 5 23.
526,^7 according as the death of St. Brigid may be computed, while he allows herfestivaltohavebeenundoubtedlyontheistofFebruary. TheRev. Thomas Innes'^ and Bishop Forbes=9 have notices of her at this date. The Irish and Scottish Kalendars commemorate St. Derlughdacha, or Derlugtach.
Her mere name, Derlugach, is noticed in the Martyrology of Tallagh,3° at the ist of February. In the anonymous Calendar of Irish Saints published byO'SullivanBeare,3^atthisday,Derludahaisentered. IntheMartyrology of Donegal,3^ on this day, we read that Derlughach, Abbess of Cill Dara, and the next in succession after Brighit, was venerated. Another feast of this same virgin Darlugtach was celebrated in Scodand on the 1st of October. 33 In pursuing a course of penitence, let the sinner after conversion become a follower of Christ by virtuous deeds, as hitherto evil promptings had urged the following of Satan by inclining to sin. When the clouds are darkest they often only foretoken a change, which covers the earth in a livery oftheverywhitestsnow. Notwithstanding,thesinner'slapseintocrimes, yet may he rest assured, that God will pardon those very offences, of which
he has truly repented. Living a holy life and dying a holy death, subse- quently, a merciful Lord adopts the prodigal, and restores him to favour.
Article III. —St. Cinnia, Keine, Cinni, Kinnia, or Cinne, Virgin, of Druim-Dubhain, near Clogher. [Fifth Century? ^ When religious enclosure guards the pious nun from this world's snares, the ties of domestic affection, which should bind such a one to her relatives and friends, are stronger than ever. For them she prays, and for their listlessness she makes amends. In her self-imposed seclusion, she asserts that true liberty of action, which brings her under the immediate
protection of God. This was even the case, during the infancy of the Irish Church, to which period holy Cinnia belonged. At the present
'3 Our Irish Martyrologies of Tallagh, of Charles Maguire, of Marianus Gorman, and of Donegal, place her festival at the 1st of February, and likewise, Fitzsimon in his
Dr. Lanigan observes, that Derlugdacha died in the year 524 or
catalogue of saints. The Frisingen Breviary, Hanmer, in his Chronicle of Ireland," and Capgrave in his "Vita S. Brigidse" relate the miracles, already recorded, respecting Derlugdacha. It must be remarked, that Camerarius, by an evident error, assigns the natalisiox this saint to the 1st of De- cember.
'* Ferrarius notes her, in his calendar, at
the 1st of February.
"S Her being revered at Frisengen was
probably owing to her connexions with St. Brigid, whose memory was most highly re- spected in Germany. See "Ecclesiastical History of Ireland," vol. i. , chap, ix. , sect.
vii. , and n. 99, pp. 460, 461, 462. '* **
See Colgan's Acta Sanctorum Iliber- niae," i. Februarii. Vita S. Derlugdachae, pp. 229, 230, and nn. 5, 6, 7, ibid.
-^ This is the date, noted by Rev. S. Bar- ""
ing-Gould. See Lives of the Saints," vol.
ii. , February i. , p. 22. ^^ "
See Civil and Ecclesiastical History of Scotland," book ii. , sec. ix. , p. 128.
"9 See "Kalendars of Scottish Saints,"
pp. 321, 322.
30 Edited by Rev, Dr. Kelly, p. xiv.
3» See " Historige Catholicse Ibemise
Compendium," tomus i. , lib. iv. , cap. xi. ,
p. 49.
3^ Edited by Drs. Todd and Reeves, pp.
36, 37.
33 For further notices, the reader is re-
ferred to that date.
February i. ] LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. 229
date, the particulars of this holy woman's Acts have been noticed, in various collections of Saints' Lives. Thus, O'Sullivan Beare alludes to St. Cinnia. ^ Father John Colgan has an account of her, in his great national work. '* TheBollandistspresenttheActsofSt. Cinnia,orKinnia,virgin,in three paragraphs. 3 Under the name Kiennta, the Irish Cistercian Monk has noticed this saint. ^ The Rev. Alban Butler has devoted a short para- graph to record her. s Mrs. Anastasia O'Byme gives some brief notices of
this saint. *^ Our — to a noble and
ful hou
or Cinne as this
woman is
—se.
Kinnia, Cinnia,7
Patrick, lib. v. , cap. ii.
the son of Muredach, was King of Ultonia, whereas the present Eochaidh was King of
Oirgiell.
^^
Also a ruler over Orgiell.
^3 He in like manner was the son of Deo*
dat, son of Rochad, son to Colla Dachrioch, according to the " Menelogic Sanctilogy,"
chap. xiii. St. Cinnia's sister, Derfraechia, orDerrichia,hasalikepedigree. Shewas mother to St. Tigernach of Clones. See
Drs. Todd and " of Reeves, Martyrology.
Donegal," pp. 94, 95.
'* He was destined to die, prematurely
without leaving any heir to succeed him.
distinguished subject belonged
very
power- holy variedly styled^ was the daughter of Echa, Eochaidh or Eochod,9 son of Crim- thann,^° and who ruled over a very extensive tract of country, in the northern parts of Ireland. " This district was known as Orgiell. Her grandfather
was named Crimthann," the son of Fieg. ^3 He gave name to a family, known as the Hy-Crimthann, formerly very powerful in Ulster. King Echa or Echu had two sons and two daughters. One of his sons, Bressal, re- mained unconverted, at the preaching of St. Patrick ; and, thus, he incurred Divine displeasure, in a very remarkable manner. ^-^ The other son, Carbre,^5 surnamed Damh-airgid, became a convert, when St. Patrick preached the
Gospel, near Clogher. He sought the grace of baptism, and the Irish Apostle prophesied, that he should abound in wealth and temporal pros-
perity ; while blessed by God, he was proclaimed, likewise, the father of several princes^^ and saints of OrgielV7 who should descend from him.
''^
Cinnia, also, had a sister, named Derfraechia or Derrichia,^s> who is aggregated Article hi. —^ In his Acts of St. Catillus. Lib. v. , cap. iii. Now Eochaidh,
^
Februarii. Acta S. Cinnia, sive Kinnia,
Virgine, pp. 234, 235. This is gleaned from various sources, and it is illustrated by notes.
3 See "Acta Sanctorum," tomus i. , i.
Februarii. Vita S. Cinnise, pp. 96, 97.
* See " Lives of the Irish Saints," p. II.
s See "Lives of the Fathers, Martyrs
See "Acta Sanctorum Hibernise," i.
and Other ruary i.
"^
Principal
Saints," vol. ii. , Feb-
See "Saints of Ireland," February i. , pp. 18, 19.
7 The letter c before z, in Irish, has the sound of k in English.
^ The present virgin has sometimes been called—incorrectly, however—the sister of
See O'Flaherty's Ixxvi,, p. 364.
"
Ogygia,"pars iii. , cap.
St. Patrick.
"
Cynnenum means Cinna-
^5 He had seven sons, the following of whom I find named in O'Flaherty. Dami- nus, Natsluagh, Cormac, Longseach, Ud- hirus, Imchad. Set ibid. , p. 365.
naomh, or holy Cynna or Cynnia. Being of royal parentage she was also called
Ricinne or Richinne, i. e. , royal Cynna. From Richinne was formed Richell—a, an- other pretended sister of the saint. " Rev.
"
Michael J. O'Farrell's
Patrick, Apostle and Patron of Ireland,"
^^
whom the MacMahons sprung, and Cormac,
Popular Life of St.
from whom the Maguires descended, are al-
luded to by Colgan.
^7 See the names and pedigree of several
in Appendix ad Acta S. Endsei, cap. iv. , pp. "
chap, xiii. , n. , p. 186. New York, 1863, 713, 714. Colgan's Acta Sanctorum Hi-
i2mo.
9 The name is Latinized Echodius. See
Dr. Lanigan's "Ecclesiastical History of Ireland," vol. i. , chap, vi. , sec. iii. , p. 266. '° See Miss Mary F. Cusack's "Life of
St. Patrick, Apostle of Ireland," p. 453.
" O'Sullevan Beare, in his Acts of St. Patrick, has committed a mistake, in calling
Eochaidh's father Muredach and his brother
berniae. "
^^ See Colgan's "Trias Thaumaturga. "
Septima Vita S. Patricii, pars iii. , cap. vi. , p. 150.
*9 Her feast is assigned to the 23rd of
March, or to the nth of November. See
Colgan's "Acta Sanctorum Hiberniae," xxi. Martii. Vita S. Endsei. Appendix, cap.
iv. , p- 713-
Only two of his sons, Natsluagh, from
230 LIVES OF 2HE IRISH SAINTS. [February i.
tothecompanyofsaintedIrishwomen. St. Kinniaissaidtohavereceived baptism at the hands of St. Patrick. ^° This holy Cinnia was not alone numbered among the Irish Apostle's converts to the Faith ; but, she even took the veil of virginity from his hands, and, consequently, she may be re-
garded as one of his spiritual children.
=^^
In the Acts of St. Patrick are re-
lated the following incidents. When he came unto the country of Neyll,''"
as afterwards called, a king named Echu, was the reigning dynast of a parti-
cular district. He belonged to the family of Oirgiell, and his whole house seemed to be moved with varied emotions, at the approach of the strange missionary. Her father wished his daughter Cinnia to espouse a certain Cormac,^3 son of Carbre, and descended from the great Niell, King of Ire- land. Some holy instinct urged her to refuse her consent, as she was des- tined for a nobler spouse. ^* Providence at last brought a release from these importunities. When Saint Patrick, on his first arrival in the territory about Clogher, met the king's daughter, Keine, in the forest, he preached to the innocent girl, who yearned after divine love, though as yet she knew it not. ^s The illustrious Apostle soon became acquainted with the happy dispositions ofthisyoungmaiden. TheDynastEchuhadintendedatafittingtime,to give in a suitable marriage contract,^^ his beloved daughter, Cynnia. This damsel unfolded to the saint her father's purpose, and he exhorted her to deserve the reward of virginity even an hundred-fold. Therefore, rejecting worldly nuptials, she determined to give herself an undefiled offering to her celestial spouse, and to cherish him in her heart. The king, beholding her thus steadily to preserve her virgin purity, called to him the saint, and thus
"» See Rev. Alban Butler's *' Lives of the niae," Februarii i. De S. Cinnia sive Kin- Fathers, Martyrs and Other Principal nia, Virgine, sec. i. , ii. , iii. , pp. 234, 235.
spake :
my daughter
long
" I had determined that
should continue to me a descending progeny, for the confirmation of my kingdom, and the solace of mine age ; but the succession is cut off, and mine hope is defeated by thee ; if therefore, thou wilt promise to me the heavenly kingdom, yet, not compel me unwillingly to receive baptism, my daughter shall become the servant of thyGod,evenasthouhastexhortedher; otherwise,willInotbeprevented in my desire, nor shall thy preaching prevail. " =7 And the saint confiding in,
**
Lives of the Irish Saints," by a Cistercian Monk,
Aubrey De Vere bea—utifully resolves in :
Saints," vol, ii. , February
i. Also,
*s
verse her state of mind
No arduous was thing
II.
p.
*' See Colgan's "Trias Thaumaturga. "
"Forher
ere she yet
QuintaAppendix xxiii. , p. 269.
ad Acta S.
" Patricii, cap.
faith,
heard
In heart believing ; and as when a babe Marks some bright shape, if near or far,
unknown,
And stretches forth a witless hand to
clasp
Phantom or form, even so with wild sur-
mise,
And guesses erring first, and questions
apt,
She chased the flying light, and round it
closed Atlast,andsubstancefoundit;"
" of Saint Patrick. " Saint Patrick Legends
and King Eochaidh, p. 151.
"''See this account in "Trias Thauma-
of the Four Masters," vol. i. , pp. 180 to turga. " Septima Vita S. Patricii, lib. iii,,
182, and n. (z), ibid. cap, vii. , p. 150, and n. 15, p. 184,
" The meaning is not, that it then be-
longed to the posterity of Neill, which was true, however, some ages after St. Patrick's
time. Then, it belonged to the Oirgiallians, who were a very potent clan or tribe in Ulster.
"3 He was called Cormac Caech, and he was father to Tuathal Maelgarbh, who was King of Ireland for eleven years, and who was slain in 538, by Maelmor, tutor of Diar- maidMacCearbhaill,whosucceeded. The AnnalsofUlsterplaceTuathal's deathat A. D. 543 ; those of Clonmacnoise at 547 ; those of
and the Chronicon Sco- torum have it 544. Dr. O'Donovan's thinks the latter is the true date. See "Annals
"^
See Colgan's "Acta Sanctorum Hiber- "^ The saint, knowing Eochaidh's heart.
Tighernach
February i. ] LIVES OF THE IRISH SAIJSITS, 231
and committing all to, the Lord, faithfully promised what the king required,'^ forheknewhowProvidencehaddecreed. Topoeticlicencemustbeas- signed some portion of the following narrative, for elsewhere we cannot find its authentication. She resolves to embrace a religious life, but the king, who loves his daughter, will not consent to her leaving him, as his only son has been taken prisoner, and retained for a hostage by a neighbouring chief. ^9 As he speaks, however, his son returns, accompanied by a joyous embassy from his conqueror, who has been converted by Patrick, and bringing with him that king's daughter as his bride. 3° Eochaidh thereupon conforms to
Keine's desire, and consents to the conversion of his people. 3^ After the conversion of the virgin Cinnia, St. Patrick commended her to the care of the holy virgin Cathuberis,3=^ who first of all women in Ireland had received fromhimtheveil; andtowhom,beingplacedoverthemonasteryofDruim- dubhan,33 with a great multitude of virgins serving Christ, the saint himself addressed an exhortatory epistle. 34 The holy virgin Cuthuberis is also called Ethemoria,35inasubsequentpassagebyJocelyn. s^ St. Patrickthendeparts,
"which miracle had hardened more," ac- cepts his conditions, saying :—
** Far otherwise than in that way thou weet'st,
Thy daughter's prayers shall speed thee. With thy word
mirable biography, so pleasingly and so learnedly compiled, the incidents relating to St. Cinnia are taken from Jocelyn's account. See "A Popular Life of Saint Patrick,
Apostle and Patron of Ireland," chap, xiii. ,
pp. 185, 186.
3' The king even agreed to believe him-
I close, that word to frustrate. God be self, yet "upon conditions. " They were
with thee !
Thou living, I return not.
that he should be admitted to hea-
well. "
Fare thee
of Saint
;
Experience taught I love not rigid bond and written pledge. 'Tis well to brand mark on or
lamb :
are of lion breed and of my house Kings ;
'Tis known there never yet was king bap- tized.
This pact concluded, preach within my realm
faith and wed my daughter to thy Thy ;
God. "
—
Patrick," p. 159.
=8
"
Aubrey
De Vere's
"Legends
of Aubrey De Ve—re ;
and, in the words of
King Eochaidh
*' *
:
"
Sexta Vita S. Patri-
your sheep
See Jocelyn's or
cii," cap. Ixxix,, and n. 81, p. 1 12, ibid.
^^ So is the incident related, in the lines
Within three weeks my son was trapped and snared
By Aodh of Hy Briuin, him whose hosts Number my warriors fourfold. Three
—Aubrey De Vere's "Legends of Saint Patrick. " King Eochaidh's Choice, p. 159. 32 This is the name given to her by She is also called Cetamaria.
long years
Beyond west
those
mountains in the Lightly Eochaidh spoke
Hostage he lies.
'
Jocelyn.
See Dr. Lanigan's "Ecclesiastical History
purple
Andturned butshakenchinthat ;
betrayed
Which lived beneath his lightness.
grief
of Ireland," vol. i. , chap, vi. , sec. iii. , p. 266.
33 This place was near Clogher. It has been incorrectly written Druim Duchain by
Sudden thronged High on the neighbouring hills a jubilant
some scribes. ^^- 34 In the Acts of St.
