Thewriterof
tne Life, as published by the Bollandists, has "Juniavum nomine, qui et ipse Britannica
—was told all this
by
July 28.
tne Life, as published by the Bollandists, has "Juniavum nomine, qui et ipse Britannica
—was told all this
by
July 28.
O'Hanlon - Lives of the Irish Saints - v7
The circumstances after- wards narrated in the text lead forcibly to the conclusion, that the place must have been in the northern part of Ireland.
states, that he presided for three years and a-half.
20 See Mabillon's "Acta Sanctorum Ordi-
nis S. Benedicti," tomus i. , soec. i. Vita S.
Samsonis, cap. xxxvii.
21
e
Saints," tome ix. , xxviii Jour de Juillet,
p. 85.
23
See Mabillon'sj" Acta Sanctorum Ordi-
SeeLesPetitsBollandistes "Viesdes
July 28. ] LIVES OE THE IRISH SAINTS. 415
waiting a passage, and the vessel being ready to sail, a favourable wind came from the north. The sailors then desired him to come on board, but Samson answered : "We should first have God's permission before we embark. " This greatly displeased them, but he said : "Go in peace, but as God wills it, returning to-day, we shall equally sail on to-morrow. " It so happened, that some sort of insanity had attacked an Abbot living in a neighbouring monastery, and messengers came to Samson to ask his pious intervention. He found the afflicted man bound, on his arrival ; but, soon was he restored bythesainttohisreasonandtohealth,bothofbodyandofmind. On recovery, he not only gave his monastery but all his substance to Samson. He even resolved to follow our saint to Britain, and thenceforth, he became
2
a constant companion. s Although refusing to become abbot there, Samson
promised the monks to send them a suitable person to be their superior ;
then bestowing his blessing on them, he proceeded to the port, where he expected to find the ship. Those who had left on the previous day found
the wind to veer suddenly in an opposite direction, and they were obliged to return. Now, feeling assured, that Samson had been inspired, they waited
his approach, and they expected a change of wind the next day. On his return from Ireland, Samson brought with him two horses, which appear to
The wind*»had changed for the
Island, in which Samson had previously lived.
Finding his father and his uncle on returning to Wales excelling in devotion
all the other brethren, he sent the latter relative to take the management of that
monastic institution in Ireland, and which had been transferred to him by
the former abbot. His uncle Umbrafel said, with great humility : "You
know, elect of God, that at your suggestion, we have left all carnal affections,
and that as you are altogether spiritual, so ought we to follow you not car-
" You brother indeed,
Then his uncle meekly
have been intended to draw his chariot.
desired 26 on that direction, early
he went on and a board, having
morning
prosperous voyage, on the day after their departure, their vessel reached that
but
Umbrafel, shall become an exile and a pilgrim. "
nally
spiritually. "
replied :
:
priest,
Then Samson
" Thanks be to God. " At this time, he was not a
but Samson
said
knew by Divine revelation, that he should become one in after time. He thenpartedforIreland,havingreceivedoursaint'sblessing. Withhisfather
2
and two other companions, ^ Samson journeyed to a wild desert on the
shores of the River Severn. Leaving his fellow travellers in a castle which they had there discovered, he goes further into the wilderness, and dwells in a secret cave which had an opening towards the east. There he lived a life of great abstinence, holding intercourse with angels, and every Lord's day visitingthethreebrotherswhom. hehadleftinthecastle. 28 There,too,Samson led an exceedingly mortified life ; he only consumed one loaf of bread each week, and his thirst was satisfied by a draught of water, procured from a well, which had first flowed from the earth, where his staff ha—d been fixed in the
whence it At the sprung.
of a 29 said to have been synod
ground
25 Regarding him, the old writer of St.
"
Samson's Life observes :
dem acta, et bonam conversationem post ruinam scio, sed nomen nescio. Referenti- bus autem mini de eo litteris transmarinis supra jam insignitis, in Penetale monasterio quievisse, atque inibi optimam et arduam vitam duxisse, certum teneo. "
26 See Les Petits Bollandistes' "Viesdes e
Saints," tome ix. , xxviii Jour de Juillet, p. 85.
8? See
"
of the Royal Institution
cujus bona qui-
who accompanied Samson from Ireland, and the brother of that priest, who had borne an evil mind towards him.
28 "At a time that I was in Britain," says the old writer, " the place was held in great reverence, and an oratory was built on the spot where holy Samson was wont to cele- brate Mass and to hold communion with
Christ every Sabbath day. "
request
2? These are said to have been, that Abbot
Journal
416 LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. [July 28.
held at Caerleon 3° by St. Dubricius—he became Abbot over a monastery founded by St. Germanus. Those ecclesiastics, who took part in it, con- sidered he should not devote himself alone to self-sacrifice and self-sanctifica- tion. Accordingly, he was summoned thither, and he obeyed the order. Then he reluctantly assumed the office, which had been imposed on him. Whether his consecration as bishop followed soon afterwards or not seems to be undetermined; but, some writers refer his consecration to a. d. 520, with- out his having been assigned to any fixed See. 31 While ruling over the monastery of St. Germanus, the latter holy prelate is said by some writers to have consecrated him as bishop, about the year 550. If this be admitted, such an incident must have happened, only a few years before the death of the venerable Archbishop. However, we find a very different account of this eventinhislife, asrelatedbytheoldwriterofhisActs.
ThewholecareerofSt. Samsonwasillustratedbymiracles. Onaparticular night, he had a vision, when he saw a great number of persons surrounding him, and among these were three bishops, having glittering mitres on their heads, and clothed in rich vestments. As they were entering a church, Samson humbly yet eagerly asked their names, and he was told, that they were St. Peter, St. James, the brother of our Lord, and St. John the Evangelist, and that they had been specially s^pt by our Lord Jesus Christ, to confirm the elect priest ofGod. Then,theyproceededindueformthroughthewholepontificalser- vice of his consecration, and having received their benediction, those bishops departed. On awaking, Samson had a conviction, that he had beeen con- secrated as bishop. The day appointed for his consecration had been fixed, itappears,fortheFeastdenominatedCathedraS. Petri. 32 ThelearnedArch- bishop Ussher totally errs, when he states, that St. Samson was set in the Cathedra B. Petri Apostoli. 33 According to an ancient decree and usage in the Cambrian Church, three bishops should be present to perform that function ; two were already appointed to assist, while the third consecrating bishop had not yet been named. However, St. Dubricius had a vision, in which an angel declared, that he should be the consecrating bishop, and that Samson should afterwards become an Archbishop. Whereupon, full of joy, Dubricius caused the chiefs of his congregation to understand what he had both seen and heard. Allthenagreed,heshouldbetheconsecratingprelate. Whenthetimearrived, behold a new miracle ! While Dubricius and his assistants were engaged at the ceremonies, a white dove appeared once more, and it remained immove- ableaboveSt. Samson'shead. 3* Amurmurofsurpriseescapedfromthewhole congregation, who witnessed this vision ; but the dove remained motionless and undisturbed, until the ceremonies were over. 35 Besides this portent,
Dubricius and his two assistants saw fire proceeding from the mouth and nostrils of Samson, while he sung the Mass. Moreover, from the first day of his
of Cornwall, 1869," No. x. , Chronicles of Cornish Saints, by the Rev. John Adams, M. A. , iv. S. Samson.
St. Peter's chair at Rome had been assigned to the 18th of January.
"
3i Sec
30 See Bishop Challoner's "Britannia quitates," cap. x. , p. 277.
"
31 See Rev. Alban Butler's "Lives of Saints," tome ix. , xxviii Jour dc Juillet,
Sancta,"part ii. , p. 42. 34 See Les Petits Bollandisles,
Vies des
the Fathers, Martyrs, and other principal Saints," vol. vii. , July xxviii.
32 In the early times of the Church, this festival was celebrated on the 22nd of Feb-
p. 87.
3s See Mabillon's "Acta Sanctorum
Ordinis S. Benedicti. " Vita S. Gildie, cap. v. , tomus i. , sax. i. , p. 1 30.
** See " Acta Sanctorum," tomus vi. , Julii de Sanctis, xv. Formerly, both the Antio- xxviii. I)e S. Samsone Episcopo Conf. chian and Roman feast of St. Peter's chair Dolae in Britannia At morica. Vila S. Sam-
fell on that day. In later ages, the feast of sonis, cap. , iv. , v. , pp. 581 to 584.
ruary.
See " S. Sermo Opera," Augustini,
Britannicarum Ecclesiarum Anti-
July 28. ] LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. 417
ordination as priest, whenever he chaunted the liturgy of the Holy Sacrifice,
Angels were present at the Altar, and they were seen by him. Even they
frequently broke the clean oblation with him, as he held the Bread of Angels
6
C H APTER II I.
A DEMONIAC HEALED IJY ST. SAMSON—THROUGH A VISION, SAMSON IS ADMONISHED TO LEAVE THE GREATER FOR THE LESSER BRITTANY—FOR A TIME HE RESIDES IN CORNWALL, WHERE MANY MIRACLES ARE WROUGHT—HE ARRIVES IN FRANCE —HIS RELIGIOUS HABITATION AT DOL—HIS INTERFERENCE ON BEHALF OF DISTRESSED PERSONS—HIS RECEPTION AT COURT BY KING CHILDEBERT—THE SEE OF DOL.
At one time, when St. Samson visited Bishop Dubricius, who had been in bad
health, the latter asked him to receive a certain Deacon, named Morinus. When
Samson saw that person, placing a sign of the cross on his forehead, accord-
ing to a usual custom, he then took that Deacon by the hand, and bestowed
onhimthekissofpeace. Afterawhile,inpresenceofDubriciusandofthe
"
in his hands. 3
Fishermen take into the net, dear Father, all the fish they can catch in the sea, and when these are landed, they separate the good from the bad. " Whereupon, Dubricius looked solemn and rather displeased, as he had a great regard for that Deacon, and he had entrusted him with the discharge of duties, requiring great care and trust. Yet, Samson had a Divine inspira- tion, regarding the future of that Deacon, whom he nevertheless received. The Legend relates, that a demon took possession of him, but Samson prayed for his release. Soon the afflicted cleric raged and foamed, when a fever attacked him, and he became delirious. This being notified to Samson, the
latter hastened to his bedside. On seeing him, the demoniac cried out : " Come, come, I entreat you, elect of God, and beseech your Lord for me, that I perish not ; for, on account of your miraculous virtue, and on account of my secret sins now unveiled, I am exhibited as unworthy to dwell with the saints, because from my infancy to this time, I have practised magic arts. Forthatdemon youhaveseenonmyshoulderhasbeenalwaysmyteacher, and he had caused me to indulge in habits most odious to the Almighty, and unknowntomen,untilthisverymoment. But,now,Iamnotlongerper- mitted to live in wickedness, and therefore, I beseech you, to pray the Lord our Saviour for my soul's redemption, even though it suffer torments. " He then made an open confession of all his sins, and poured forth floods of tears. Afterwards, he seemed more composed, and from that moment forward, the Deacon spoke not a word ; but, towards the middle of the night, while assist- ants prayed around his bedside, life departed. In the morning, Samson directed his body to be conveyed without the monastery, and to be buried. The holy man's charity ceased not, in constant prayer, and in fasting for three days and three nights, while he shed tears and beseeching the Almighty not to cast off the departed for ever, but to grant him rest, after his crimes had been penitentially expiated. When falling asleep after much fatigue, Samson had a vision, in which he was directed to bring the body within the monastery, when having celebrated Masses for the offending brother, full release from his sins
Chapter hi. —' In the Legend, he is an apparition presenting theappearance ofa represented as having been an iEthiops, or negro.
Deacon, he said :
ID
4 i8 LIVES OF 1HE IRISH SAINTS. [July 28.
hadbeenobtained. Atthattime,hissoulhadbeenadmittedtothehappinessof Heaven. 2 OneEasternightywhileSamsonwassingingtheMass,inanecstasy of fervour he fell into a trance, and then he saw a tall man appear, surrounded with a halo of glory, at his side. At first, surprised by such an apparition, the saint trembled, but he was soon reassured, when he heard these words
:
addressed to him " Be comforted, O saint of God, and have courage, for
thou art devoted to the Lord and beloved by him. Wherefore, without any fear, listen to the message of the Almighty, which I am commissioned to speak. Thou art not destined to remain any longer in this country, for thou must become a pilgrim, while in another place beyond the sea shalt thou be exalted in the Church, and be worthy of superior sacerdotal dignity. " These and other words of encouragement that Angel spoke, until the brothers arrived to assist at the morning office, when he took leave and in a graceful mannerleftSt. Samson. Thelatternowlearned,thatthroughHisheavenly messenger, the Almighty thus bade him to leave Wales and to part for Armo- rica. 4 Deeming that such a vision was not devoid of providential direction, the holy man revolved all that he had heard and seen in mind, and in a spirit of trust and faith, his resolution was soon formed. When the Easter office ended, he made instant preparations to visit his mother and his aunt. According to a promise he had long before given them, he now consecrated their churches and religious establishments. He also rejoiced, because his father and brothers were living most edifying lives in religion. But, it appears, that his sister had lapsed into grievous sin, and that she lived in a publiclyscandalousmanner. Notwithstandingthenearrelationship,hewas most reluctantly obliged to conquer fraternal affection and to excommunicate her.
His relatives and disciples were greatly distressed, when he resolved on leaving Greater Britain. However, he bade them farewell, when many persons accompanied him to a certain monastery called Doct,s in the Latin Life. Arriving there, he asked to be introduced to one of the wisest monks among
6
them, when one Juniavus, or Viniavus, or Vivianus, was brought to him, as
having the reputation of being divinely inspired, and as having the spirit of prophecy. On their first meeting, this man greeted Samson with profound respect, and gave thanks to God for his arrival. After a little conversation, themonkaskedthemotiveforSt. Samson'sjourney,andonlearningit, he
declared, that on no account should the holy pilgrim delay in prosecuting his travels, and that he should give praise to the Lord in the words of the Gospel. To a request, that he might be permitted to remain for a short time in their monastery, the monk replied, it was not expedient, that he should do so, for the monks there had relaxed their former rigorous rule, while Samson was
2 Such is the substance of an account, con- tained in what is called the Second Book of St. Samson's Acts. This appears to have been a Latin Lection or Sermon, delivered on his festival, to certain brethren who are addressed in it ; a great part of this dis- course is very diffuse and rhetorical, while the relation of a few legends, during his life- time and after his death, referring to St. Samson, is all it contains. See the Bollan- dists' "Acta Sanctorum," tomus vi. , Julii
xxviii. De S.
Conf. Dolse in Britannia Armoi ica, num. 7, 8, 9,
p. 589-
Samsone^ Episcopo
3 The meaning attaching to the words,
" cum quadam nocte Paschre Missam canta- ret," has the signification, that this happened during a dark hour in the morning.
4 Tigernomail—or whoever wrote the
Latin Life of our saint
Samson's father, "utnarrare postea suum patrem audivimus. " But, perhaps, the
writer means, that Enoch, his authority, heard this from Amwh.
s it is difficult to identify this place, in any part of Cornwall.
6 to a difference of in According writing,
variousLivesofSt. Samson.
Thewriterof
tne Life, as published by the Bollandists, has "Juniavum nomine, qui et ipse Britannica
—was told all this
by
July 28. ] LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. 419
so very perfect, that his rest among them should become a subject of reproach rather than of edification for them. Wherefore, he was recommended to pro- ceed in peace. However, he was destined to show forth the power of God, before he took shipping for the Continent. Whereupon, filled with admiration on account of the learning and wisdom of that devout monk, his admonition was received by Samson as if it had been an oracle from Heaven. Accordingly, there he left that ship, which had conveyed him to the place. He then filled a cart with his books and vestments. He harnessed to it the two horses which he had brought from Ireland, 7 and he knew not whither to move, but as the Lord directed. In obedience to the Divine command, Samson had crossed the Severn sea, with his cousin St. Maglorius, and many other — He is said to have been about
of assigned to a. d. 522 by some 8 when he had resolved on leaving Greater for Lesser Brittany. The time of his arrival in Cornwall was shortly after his consecration as bishop, and it should seem to coincide with the period of St. Petrock 9 and of St. Constantine;10 so that we may suppose, these three holy men often held spiritual conferences together. Memorials of their dwelling on Cornish soil still remain, and contiguous one to the other
pious companions. — forty-one years age at this period
near the northern coast.
On his journey, Samson proceeded and passed by a certain village
called Tricurium, where on the left hand side, he saw men worshipping in a
fane," and with profane rites, an abominable idol standing on the summit of
a lofty hill. 12 He then desired his company to wait, and to be silent, when
descendingfromhischariot. Takingtwocompanionswithhim,hehastened
to that spot, and gently admonished the idolaters and Guedian their chief,
that instead of adoring an image, they ought to worship the one God, who
created all things. Guedian, then told the man of God, that the people were
not guilty of " mathematics"—meaning magic—for with the stone they were
only playing and making merry. But, it was a relic of paganism, which
Samsoncouldnotendure,andheutteredthreatsofDivinevengeance. His
exhortations were received in a variety of ways, by the assembled multitude;
some deemed his interference with their worship inexcusable and deserving
their reproof; some were indignant ; o—thers mocked him ; while a few seemed
to take his pious admonitions seriously and the more especially, when the
power of God was manifested through him. Two remarkable miracles are
connected with those incidents ; one that of a boy, who had fallen from his
horse in the idolatrous village, and who had broken his neck, while his neigh-
boursbewailedsuchamisfortune. However,Samsontookoccasiontoobserve:
"
See, if your idol can lend any help to this dead youth ? but, if you promise to adore it no longer, I shall restore him to life, through God's assistance. " This request was agreed to by the multitude present, and Samson ordered
them to retire, until he had prayed for nearly two hours. Afterwards, in pre- sence of the multitude, the boy revived. Count Guedian and all his people
lingua cum illis Lux vocitabatur. "
7 See Right Rev. Patrick F. Moran's
" Probably one of those upright circular stone enclosures, which are to be found in Cornwall, as elsewhere in Great Britain and Ireland.
""Onthatmountain,"saysthenarrator, "I have myself been, and I have adored and have felt with my own hand the sign of the cross, which holy Samson himself en- graved with iron on a stone which stands there. "
I3 According to the Liber Landaven-
sis.
'* Dean Cressy maintains the affirmative
" Early Irish Missions," No. i. , p. 27. 8"
See Baillet's Les Vies des Saints,"
&c,tomevii. , xxviii. JourdeJuillet, sect.
iv. , pp. 808, 809. AParis, 1 701 et seq. t 8vo. Twelve Tomes.
9 His feast is held on the 4th of June. See at that date the Sixth Volume of this work, for his Acts, Art. ii.
10 See his Acts, in the Third Volume of this work, at the nth of March, the date for his festival, Art. ii.
42o LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. [July 28.
at once fell on their knees before Samson, and afterwards they utterly destroyed their former idol. Whereupon, the chief directed all to receive
baptismatthehandsofSt. Samson. Theyunanimouslycriedout "Behold
:
the Angel of the Lord divinely sent to us, so that we may be rescued from our errors ! But, yet O saint, we have a great trouble to bear. " Then they stated what was feared most by them. The legend of St. Samson's Life relates, that a huge and venomous serpent occupied a deep cave, in the neighbour- hood, and that no man dared to live in the villages adjacent, as it had killed so many persons. But the holy man told them to have faith in the Lord's name, while he should lead them to witness another miracle. Immediately, the multitude followed Samson, but more closely than others that youth who had been raised to life, and who had now designed to enter upon the clerical state.
The saint preceded that whole multitude, the youth guiding him ; when two
days afterwards, they approached the serpent's cavern, which lay beyond a river. There, he told the people to remain, while he crossed over with the boy. Thislatteryouthdeclaredhehadnofearoftheissue,astheAlmighty was ever present with Samson, and soon both arrived at the opening of that cave. There, the serpent then appeared, but he shrunk back in terror as Samson advanced. This animal the saint destroyed, when tying his linen cincture round the neck, Samson dragged the serpent from his cave, and threw his body down a steep precipice. Soon the youth rushed to tell Guedian andhispeoplewhathadhappened. TheyallapproachedSamsonwithgreat
reverence. He then recommended them to erect a
spot, where the Almighty had furnished such proof of his favours to them. After this occurrence, Samson retired to that cave, near the river, and there he lived a celestial life, constantly applying himself to prayer and fasting. One day, while he suffered much from thirst, owing to his mortified manner of living, and while praying earnestly to the Almighty, he saw a fountain run in a swift course from the adjoining rock. At once, he had a holy inspiration, that he owed such a favour to God's providence, and accordingly his prayers and praises were redoubled. Ever afterwards, that fountain, sacred to our saint, continued to flow without ceasing.
Whether Samson visited Cornwall on more than one occasion has not transpired, and how long he remained there is unrecorded. Many centuries after his time, a controversy arose, as to whether he brought with him the
1
from Great Britain, -* or not some
; while, moreover, writers maintain, that the only question to be determined is, whether he
archiepiscopal pall
brought this ensign of archiepiscopal dignity from York or from Menevia. x
According to Matthew of Paris, 5 our saint was archbishop of York, and according to Giraldus Cambrensis,16 he had been archbishop of Menevia;
however, there is not the slightest evidence extant, that his pontificate had ever been connected with either place. His destination was for Lesser
Brittany, however, but On his route he appears to have sojourned awhile in Cornwall. When there, he instructed numbers in the ways of holiness, and he healedmanyafflictedwithinfirmitiesofmindandofbody. Blessingswere freely bestowed on all who approached him for spiritual succour. In the Life of St. Petrock, the name of St. Samson incidentally occurs, as that of a
l6
a—s being certain "beyond all controversy. "
"Church History of Brittany," book xi. ,
chap, xxviii. , p. 252.
15 See Matthoei Parisiensis, Monachi Sancti
Albani, "Chronica Majora," edited by F. Dimock, M. A. , p. 102.
x? - Henry Richards Luard, M. A. , vol. ii. . See Davies Gilbert's "History of Cor
p. 459. wall," vol. iii. , p. 281.
monastery
x 3 near that
See "Itinerarium Kambriae," lib. ii. ,
He is there made the twenty-fifth insuccessionfromSt. David. GiraldiCam- brensis "Opera," vol. vi. , edited by James
cap. i.
July 28. ] LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. 421
hermit, who occupied a cell somewhere in the neighbourhood of Padstow, and who was highly esteemed for his zeal and holiness. A chapel called after oursaintwasatonetimeonthesiteofPlaceHousenearPadstowx? and,
;
it appears to be not improbable, that it had been the exact spot, where Samson had his cell or hermitage, at the time of St. Petrock's visit. As the holy man had received a Divine monition, to leave his own country, which was known as the Greater Britain, he now crossed over that channel, which sepa- ratesEnglandfromFrance. Inthislattercountrywashedesiredtowork out the designs of Providence. With many other Britons, he appears to have
fled from the and invasions of the 18
persecutions Anglo-Saxons. According
to one account, indeed, he left Cambrian Britain fo escape from a Saxon
who had invaded his
neighbourhood.
There are others who 20 state,
tyrant,^
that a strange pestilence having swept away the greater part of his flock, while war against the Saxons having exterminated the rest with fire and sword, Samson fled to Britany, but in pursuance of a Divine command. Tradition accuses him of carrying off with him into Brittany all the Manuscripts which he could collect. He employed the two horses he brought from Ireland to draw
British
them, Armorica,
his father Ammon23 remained in that 2* which monastery,
with other church 22 When Cornwall for requisites. leaving
hehadfounded. Onthisincident,however,thereareotherversionsofthestory. His father Amon, according to one account, and his cousin St. Magloire 25 had accompanied him to Armorica. 26 Another cousin of his, the celebrated
2 23 St. Maclou or Malo, ? followed, to aid him during his missionary labours.
Samson often interfered to assist the wretched, and to redress the people's
2^ as he was
sooner had he arrived at the port, than he beheld near it a small hut, and a poor man named Privatus weeping, while he was looking towards the sea. Our saint asked the cause for his sorrow, and received as an answer, that for three days and as many nights, he had watched for a deliverer the Almighty had promised to send ; also, that he had a wife covered with leprosy and a demoniac daughter, who waited for their restoration to health at that port. Whereupon, Samson entered their poor lodging, and praying for these afflicted persons, both were restored to health. ^
wrongs,
18 See L'Abbe Rohrbacher's " Histoire Universelle de l'Eglise Catholique," tome ix. , liv. xlv. , p. 251.
19 This is stated in the u Martyrologium Gallicanum," at the 28th of November :
Saxonem
versus minorem Britanniam, ut tutius Christo
"
serviret, pedem retraxit.
20 See Alford's " Fides Regia Britannica,
writer.
24 See Rev. John Adams' "Life of St.
Samson. "
2S His feast is referred to the 24th of
October.
26 " Dans cette sainte colonie de mission-
aires, on distingue principalement Saint Sam- son, Saint Malo, Saint Magloire et Saint Meen. "—L'Abbe" Rohrbacher's " Histoire
"Samson,
tyrannidem fugiens,
21 to Giraldus According
Cambrensis, was the Yellow Pestilence, " quam et phy- sici ictericiam dicunt passionem,"&c. Giraldi
especially distinguished
sive Annales Ecclesise Britannicse," &c, Universelle de l'Eglise Catholique," tome
tomus ii. , A. c. 559, sect, iv. , p. 68.
ix. , liv. xlv. , p. 251.
this 27 His feast on the th of occurs, 15
November.
28 "
See the Rev. Alban Butler's Lives of
Cambrensis "Opera," vol. vi. , edited by the Fathers, Martyrs, and other principal
James F. Dimock, M. A. Itinerarium Kam- brise, lib. ii. , cap. i. , p. 103.
22 "
Plaustrum ordinans ad portanda spiritualia utensilia sua atque volumina, suumque currum in duobus imponens equis, quern de Hibernia apud se asportaverat patriam pertransiens, Domino comitante, iter suumordinavit. "
23 If he be enumerated among the Cam- brian Saints has not been ascertained by the
Saints," vol. vii. , July xxviii.
29
See Right Rev. Patrick F. Moran's
for his No practical charity.
"Early Irish Missions," No. i. , p. 28.
3° Another very different account of this miracle of Samson is given by Pere Pierre le Bavd, that Privatus was a Prince of this country, "en douleur de sa femme qui es- toit Lepreuse et la fille demoniacle qu'il garit, selon histoire de luy. "—" Histoire de
Bretagne," chap, i. , p. 10.
21
422 LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. [July 28.
He then selected Dol, as a place for his residence, and he settled in the
Lesser Britain, generally called Britannic Armorica. His manner of life there
greatly edified the clergy and laity. Samson was soon regarded as a guest
divinely directed to reform the morals of the people, and to become their
guide in spiritual affairs. It is stated, that Childebert ruled as King of
France, 31 at the time of St. Samson's arrival in Armorica. In the Life of our
saint, he is called Hildebert. On his arrival in Brittany, Samson found the
inhabitants in great misery, as also in grief, for what had lately occurred.
Soon, Samson heard all the circumstances, and ever detesting injustice or
oppression, he resolved on an effort to protect the people. Jonas, their
native prince, had just been murdered by a tyrannical governor, Commorus,3a
byname,whohadusurpedtheprovince; andhissonJudualhadbeensentaway as a captive to King Hildebert.
states, that he presided for three years and a-half.
20 See Mabillon's "Acta Sanctorum Ordi-
nis S. Benedicti," tomus i. , soec. i. Vita S.
Samsonis, cap. xxxvii.
21
e
Saints," tome ix. , xxviii Jour de Juillet,
p. 85.
23
See Mabillon'sj" Acta Sanctorum Ordi-
SeeLesPetitsBollandistes "Viesdes
July 28. ] LIVES OE THE IRISH SAINTS. 415
waiting a passage, and the vessel being ready to sail, a favourable wind came from the north. The sailors then desired him to come on board, but Samson answered : "We should first have God's permission before we embark. " This greatly displeased them, but he said : "Go in peace, but as God wills it, returning to-day, we shall equally sail on to-morrow. " It so happened, that some sort of insanity had attacked an Abbot living in a neighbouring monastery, and messengers came to Samson to ask his pious intervention. He found the afflicted man bound, on his arrival ; but, soon was he restored bythesainttohisreasonandtohealth,bothofbodyandofmind. On recovery, he not only gave his monastery but all his substance to Samson. He even resolved to follow our saint to Britain, and thenceforth, he became
2
a constant companion. s Although refusing to become abbot there, Samson
promised the monks to send them a suitable person to be their superior ;
then bestowing his blessing on them, he proceeded to the port, where he expected to find the ship. Those who had left on the previous day found
the wind to veer suddenly in an opposite direction, and they were obliged to return. Now, feeling assured, that Samson had been inspired, they waited
his approach, and they expected a change of wind the next day. On his return from Ireland, Samson brought with him two horses, which appear to
The wind*»had changed for the
Island, in which Samson had previously lived.
Finding his father and his uncle on returning to Wales excelling in devotion
all the other brethren, he sent the latter relative to take the management of that
monastic institution in Ireland, and which had been transferred to him by
the former abbot. His uncle Umbrafel said, with great humility : "You
know, elect of God, that at your suggestion, we have left all carnal affections,
and that as you are altogether spiritual, so ought we to follow you not car-
" You brother indeed,
Then his uncle meekly
have been intended to draw his chariot.
desired 26 on that direction, early
he went on and a board, having
morning
prosperous voyage, on the day after their departure, their vessel reached that
but
Umbrafel, shall become an exile and a pilgrim. "
nally
spiritually. "
replied :
:
priest,
Then Samson
" Thanks be to God. " At this time, he was not a
but Samson
said
knew by Divine revelation, that he should become one in after time. He thenpartedforIreland,havingreceivedoursaint'sblessing. Withhisfather
2
and two other companions, ^ Samson journeyed to a wild desert on the
shores of the River Severn. Leaving his fellow travellers in a castle which they had there discovered, he goes further into the wilderness, and dwells in a secret cave which had an opening towards the east. There he lived a life of great abstinence, holding intercourse with angels, and every Lord's day visitingthethreebrotherswhom. hehadleftinthecastle. 28 There,too,Samson led an exceedingly mortified life ; he only consumed one loaf of bread each week, and his thirst was satisfied by a draught of water, procured from a well, which had first flowed from the earth, where his staff ha—d been fixed in the
whence it At the sprung.
of a 29 said to have been synod
ground
25 Regarding him, the old writer of St.
"
Samson's Life observes :
dem acta, et bonam conversationem post ruinam scio, sed nomen nescio. Referenti- bus autem mini de eo litteris transmarinis supra jam insignitis, in Penetale monasterio quievisse, atque inibi optimam et arduam vitam duxisse, certum teneo. "
26 See Les Petits Bollandistes' "Viesdes e
Saints," tome ix. , xxviii Jour de Juillet, p. 85.
8? See
"
of the Royal Institution
cujus bona qui-
who accompanied Samson from Ireland, and the brother of that priest, who had borne an evil mind towards him.
28 "At a time that I was in Britain," says the old writer, " the place was held in great reverence, and an oratory was built on the spot where holy Samson was wont to cele- brate Mass and to hold communion with
Christ every Sabbath day. "
request
2? These are said to have been, that Abbot
Journal
416 LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. [July 28.
held at Caerleon 3° by St. Dubricius—he became Abbot over a monastery founded by St. Germanus. Those ecclesiastics, who took part in it, con- sidered he should not devote himself alone to self-sacrifice and self-sanctifica- tion. Accordingly, he was summoned thither, and he obeyed the order. Then he reluctantly assumed the office, which had been imposed on him. Whether his consecration as bishop followed soon afterwards or not seems to be undetermined; but, some writers refer his consecration to a. d. 520, with- out his having been assigned to any fixed See. 31 While ruling over the monastery of St. Germanus, the latter holy prelate is said by some writers to have consecrated him as bishop, about the year 550. If this be admitted, such an incident must have happened, only a few years before the death of the venerable Archbishop. However, we find a very different account of this eventinhislife, asrelatedbytheoldwriterofhisActs.
ThewholecareerofSt. Samsonwasillustratedbymiracles. Onaparticular night, he had a vision, when he saw a great number of persons surrounding him, and among these were three bishops, having glittering mitres on their heads, and clothed in rich vestments. As they were entering a church, Samson humbly yet eagerly asked their names, and he was told, that they were St. Peter, St. James, the brother of our Lord, and St. John the Evangelist, and that they had been specially s^pt by our Lord Jesus Christ, to confirm the elect priest ofGod. Then,theyproceededindueformthroughthewholepontificalser- vice of his consecration, and having received their benediction, those bishops departed. On awaking, Samson had a conviction, that he had beeen con- secrated as bishop. The day appointed for his consecration had been fixed, itappears,fortheFeastdenominatedCathedraS. Petri. 32 ThelearnedArch- bishop Ussher totally errs, when he states, that St. Samson was set in the Cathedra B. Petri Apostoli. 33 According to an ancient decree and usage in the Cambrian Church, three bishops should be present to perform that function ; two were already appointed to assist, while the third consecrating bishop had not yet been named. However, St. Dubricius had a vision, in which an angel declared, that he should be the consecrating bishop, and that Samson should afterwards become an Archbishop. Whereupon, full of joy, Dubricius caused the chiefs of his congregation to understand what he had both seen and heard. Allthenagreed,heshouldbetheconsecratingprelate. Whenthetimearrived, behold a new miracle ! While Dubricius and his assistants were engaged at the ceremonies, a white dove appeared once more, and it remained immove- ableaboveSt. Samson'shead. 3* Amurmurofsurpriseescapedfromthewhole congregation, who witnessed this vision ; but the dove remained motionless and undisturbed, until the ceremonies were over. 35 Besides this portent,
Dubricius and his two assistants saw fire proceeding from the mouth and nostrils of Samson, while he sung the Mass. Moreover, from the first day of his
of Cornwall, 1869," No. x. , Chronicles of Cornish Saints, by the Rev. John Adams, M. A. , iv. S. Samson.
St. Peter's chair at Rome had been assigned to the 18th of January.
"
3i Sec
30 See Bishop Challoner's "Britannia quitates," cap. x. , p. 277.
"
31 See Rev. Alban Butler's "Lives of Saints," tome ix. , xxviii Jour dc Juillet,
Sancta,"part ii. , p. 42. 34 See Les Petits Bollandisles,
Vies des
the Fathers, Martyrs, and other principal Saints," vol. vii. , July xxviii.
32 In the early times of the Church, this festival was celebrated on the 22nd of Feb-
p. 87.
3s See Mabillon's "Acta Sanctorum
Ordinis S. Benedicti. " Vita S. Gildie, cap. v. , tomus i. , sax. i. , p. 1 30.
** See " Acta Sanctorum," tomus vi. , Julii de Sanctis, xv. Formerly, both the Antio- xxviii. I)e S. Samsone Episcopo Conf. chian and Roman feast of St. Peter's chair Dolae in Britannia At morica. Vila S. Sam-
fell on that day. In later ages, the feast of sonis, cap. , iv. , v. , pp. 581 to 584.
ruary.
See " S. Sermo Opera," Augustini,
Britannicarum Ecclesiarum Anti-
July 28. ] LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. 417
ordination as priest, whenever he chaunted the liturgy of the Holy Sacrifice,
Angels were present at the Altar, and they were seen by him. Even they
frequently broke the clean oblation with him, as he held the Bread of Angels
6
C H APTER II I.
A DEMONIAC HEALED IJY ST. SAMSON—THROUGH A VISION, SAMSON IS ADMONISHED TO LEAVE THE GREATER FOR THE LESSER BRITTANY—FOR A TIME HE RESIDES IN CORNWALL, WHERE MANY MIRACLES ARE WROUGHT—HE ARRIVES IN FRANCE —HIS RELIGIOUS HABITATION AT DOL—HIS INTERFERENCE ON BEHALF OF DISTRESSED PERSONS—HIS RECEPTION AT COURT BY KING CHILDEBERT—THE SEE OF DOL.
At one time, when St. Samson visited Bishop Dubricius, who had been in bad
health, the latter asked him to receive a certain Deacon, named Morinus. When
Samson saw that person, placing a sign of the cross on his forehead, accord-
ing to a usual custom, he then took that Deacon by the hand, and bestowed
onhimthekissofpeace. Afterawhile,inpresenceofDubriciusandofthe
"
in his hands. 3
Fishermen take into the net, dear Father, all the fish they can catch in the sea, and when these are landed, they separate the good from the bad. " Whereupon, Dubricius looked solemn and rather displeased, as he had a great regard for that Deacon, and he had entrusted him with the discharge of duties, requiring great care and trust. Yet, Samson had a Divine inspira- tion, regarding the future of that Deacon, whom he nevertheless received. The Legend relates, that a demon took possession of him, but Samson prayed for his release. Soon the afflicted cleric raged and foamed, when a fever attacked him, and he became delirious. This being notified to Samson, the
latter hastened to his bedside. On seeing him, the demoniac cried out : " Come, come, I entreat you, elect of God, and beseech your Lord for me, that I perish not ; for, on account of your miraculous virtue, and on account of my secret sins now unveiled, I am exhibited as unworthy to dwell with the saints, because from my infancy to this time, I have practised magic arts. Forthatdemon youhaveseenonmyshoulderhasbeenalwaysmyteacher, and he had caused me to indulge in habits most odious to the Almighty, and unknowntomen,untilthisverymoment. But,now,Iamnotlongerper- mitted to live in wickedness, and therefore, I beseech you, to pray the Lord our Saviour for my soul's redemption, even though it suffer torments. " He then made an open confession of all his sins, and poured forth floods of tears. Afterwards, he seemed more composed, and from that moment forward, the Deacon spoke not a word ; but, towards the middle of the night, while assist- ants prayed around his bedside, life departed. In the morning, Samson directed his body to be conveyed without the monastery, and to be buried. The holy man's charity ceased not, in constant prayer, and in fasting for three days and three nights, while he shed tears and beseeching the Almighty not to cast off the departed for ever, but to grant him rest, after his crimes had been penitentially expiated. When falling asleep after much fatigue, Samson had a vision, in which he was directed to bring the body within the monastery, when having celebrated Masses for the offending brother, full release from his sins
Chapter hi. —' In the Legend, he is an apparition presenting theappearance ofa represented as having been an iEthiops, or negro.
Deacon, he said :
ID
4 i8 LIVES OF 1HE IRISH SAINTS. [July 28.
hadbeenobtained. Atthattime,hissoulhadbeenadmittedtothehappinessof Heaven. 2 OneEasternightywhileSamsonwassingingtheMass,inanecstasy of fervour he fell into a trance, and then he saw a tall man appear, surrounded with a halo of glory, at his side. At first, surprised by such an apparition, the saint trembled, but he was soon reassured, when he heard these words
:
addressed to him " Be comforted, O saint of God, and have courage, for
thou art devoted to the Lord and beloved by him. Wherefore, without any fear, listen to the message of the Almighty, which I am commissioned to speak. Thou art not destined to remain any longer in this country, for thou must become a pilgrim, while in another place beyond the sea shalt thou be exalted in the Church, and be worthy of superior sacerdotal dignity. " These and other words of encouragement that Angel spoke, until the brothers arrived to assist at the morning office, when he took leave and in a graceful mannerleftSt. Samson. Thelatternowlearned,thatthroughHisheavenly messenger, the Almighty thus bade him to leave Wales and to part for Armo- rica. 4 Deeming that such a vision was not devoid of providential direction, the holy man revolved all that he had heard and seen in mind, and in a spirit of trust and faith, his resolution was soon formed. When the Easter office ended, he made instant preparations to visit his mother and his aunt. According to a promise he had long before given them, he now consecrated their churches and religious establishments. He also rejoiced, because his father and brothers were living most edifying lives in religion. But, it appears, that his sister had lapsed into grievous sin, and that she lived in a publiclyscandalousmanner. Notwithstandingthenearrelationship,hewas most reluctantly obliged to conquer fraternal affection and to excommunicate her.
His relatives and disciples were greatly distressed, when he resolved on leaving Greater Britain. However, he bade them farewell, when many persons accompanied him to a certain monastery called Doct,s in the Latin Life. Arriving there, he asked to be introduced to one of the wisest monks among
6
them, when one Juniavus, or Viniavus, or Vivianus, was brought to him, as
having the reputation of being divinely inspired, and as having the spirit of prophecy. On their first meeting, this man greeted Samson with profound respect, and gave thanks to God for his arrival. After a little conversation, themonkaskedthemotiveforSt. Samson'sjourney,andonlearningit, he
declared, that on no account should the holy pilgrim delay in prosecuting his travels, and that he should give praise to the Lord in the words of the Gospel. To a request, that he might be permitted to remain for a short time in their monastery, the monk replied, it was not expedient, that he should do so, for the monks there had relaxed their former rigorous rule, while Samson was
2 Such is the substance of an account, con- tained in what is called the Second Book of St. Samson's Acts. This appears to have been a Latin Lection or Sermon, delivered on his festival, to certain brethren who are addressed in it ; a great part of this dis- course is very diffuse and rhetorical, while the relation of a few legends, during his life- time and after his death, referring to St. Samson, is all it contains. See the Bollan- dists' "Acta Sanctorum," tomus vi. , Julii
xxviii. De S.
Conf. Dolse in Britannia Armoi ica, num. 7, 8, 9,
p. 589-
Samsone^ Episcopo
3 The meaning attaching to the words,
" cum quadam nocte Paschre Missam canta- ret," has the signification, that this happened during a dark hour in the morning.
4 Tigernomail—or whoever wrote the
Latin Life of our saint
Samson's father, "utnarrare postea suum patrem audivimus. " But, perhaps, the
writer means, that Enoch, his authority, heard this from Amwh.
s it is difficult to identify this place, in any part of Cornwall.
6 to a difference of in According writing,
variousLivesofSt. Samson.
Thewriterof
tne Life, as published by the Bollandists, has "Juniavum nomine, qui et ipse Britannica
—was told all this
by
July 28. ] LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. 419
so very perfect, that his rest among them should become a subject of reproach rather than of edification for them. Wherefore, he was recommended to pro- ceed in peace. However, he was destined to show forth the power of God, before he took shipping for the Continent. Whereupon, filled with admiration on account of the learning and wisdom of that devout monk, his admonition was received by Samson as if it had been an oracle from Heaven. Accordingly, there he left that ship, which had conveyed him to the place. He then filled a cart with his books and vestments. He harnessed to it the two horses which he had brought from Ireland, 7 and he knew not whither to move, but as the Lord directed. In obedience to the Divine command, Samson had crossed the Severn sea, with his cousin St. Maglorius, and many other — He is said to have been about
of assigned to a. d. 522 by some 8 when he had resolved on leaving Greater for Lesser Brittany. The time of his arrival in Cornwall was shortly after his consecration as bishop, and it should seem to coincide with the period of St. Petrock 9 and of St. Constantine;10 so that we may suppose, these three holy men often held spiritual conferences together. Memorials of their dwelling on Cornish soil still remain, and contiguous one to the other
pious companions. — forty-one years age at this period
near the northern coast.
On his journey, Samson proceeded and passed by a certain village
called Tricurium, where on the left hand side, he saw men worshipping in a
fane," and with profane rites, an abominable idol standing on the summit of
a lofty hill. 12 He then desired his company to wait, and to be silent, when
descendingfromhischariot. Takingtwocompanionswithhim,hehastened
to that spot, and gently admonished the idolaters and Guedian their chief,
that instead of adoring an image, they ought to worship the one God, who
created all things. Guedian, then told the man of God, that the people were
not guilty of " mathematics"—meaning magic—for with the stone they were
only playing and making merry. But, it was a relic of paganism, which
Samsoncouldnotendure,andheutteredthreatsofDivinevengeance. His
exhortations were received in a variety of ways, by the assembled multitude;
some deemed his interference with their worship inexcusable and deserving
their reproof; some were indignant ; o—thers mocked him ; while a few seemed
to take his pious admonitions seriously and the more especially, when the
power of God was manifested through him. Two remarkable miracles are
connected with those incidents ; one that of a boy, who had fallen from his
horse in the idolatrous village, and who had broken his neck, while his neigh-
boursbewailedsuchamisfortune. However,Samsontookoccasiontoobserve:
"
See, if your idol can lend any help to this dead youth ? but, if you promise to adore it no longer, I shall restore him to life, through God's assistance. " This request was agreed to by the multitude present, and Samson ordered
them to retire, until he had prayed for nearly two hours. Afterwards, in pre- sence of the multitude, the boy revived. Count Guedian and all his people
lingua cum illis Lux vocitabatur. "
7 See Right Rev. Patrick F. Moran's
" Probably one of those upright circular stone enclosures, which are to be found in Cornwall, as elsewhere in Great Britain and Ireland.
""Onthatmountain,"saysthenarrator, "I have myself been, and I have adored and have felt with my own hand the sign of the cross, which holy Samson himself en- graved with iron on a stone which stands there. "
I3 According to the Liber Landaven-
sis.
'* Dean Cressy maintains the affirmative
" Early Irish Missions," No. i. , p. 27. 8"
See Baillet's Les Vies des Saints,"
&c,tomevii. , xxviii. JourdeJuillet, sect.
iv. , pp. 808, 809. AParis, 1 701 et seq. t 8vo. Twelve Tomes.
9 His feast is held on the 4th of June. See at that date the Sixth Volume of this work, for his Acts, Art. ii.
10 See his Acts, in the Third Volume of this work, at the nth of March, the date for his festival, Art. ii.
42o LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. [July 28.
at once fell on their knees before Samson, and afterwards they utterly destroyed their former idol. Whereupon, the chief directed all to receive
baptismatthehandsofSt. Samson. Theyunanimouslycriedout "Behold
:
the Angel of the Lord divinely sent to us, so that we may be rescued from our errors ! But, yet O saint, we have a great trouble to bear. " Then they stated what was feared most by them. The legend of St. Samson's Life relates, that a huge and venomous serpent occupied a deep cave, in the neighbour- hood, and that no man dared to live in the villages adjacent, as it had killed so many persons. But the holy man told them to have faith in the Lord's name, while he should lead them to witness another miracle. Immediately, the multitude followed Samson, but more closely than others that youth who had been raised to life, and who had now designed to enter upon the clerical state.
The saint preceded that whole multitude, the youth guiding him ; when two
days afterwards, they approached the serpent's cavern, which lay beyond a river. There, he told the people to remain, while he crossed over with the boy. Thislatteryouthdeclaredhehadnofearoftheissue,astheAlmighty was ever present with Samson, and soon both arrived at the opening of that cave. There, the serpent then appeared, but he shrunk back in terror as Samson advanced. This animal the saint destroyed, when tying his linen cincture round the neck, Samson dragged the serpent from his cave, and threw his body down a steep precipice. Soon the youth rushed to tell Guedian andhispeoplewhathadhappened. TheyallapproachedSamsonwithgreat
reverence. He then recommended them to erect a
spot, where the Almighty had furnished such proof of his favours to them. After this occurrence, Samson retired to that cave, near the river, and there he lived a celestial life, constantly applying himself to prayer and fasting. One day, while he suffered much from thirst, owing to his mortified manner of living, and while praying earnestly to the Almighty, he saw a fountain run in a swift course from the adjoining rock. At once, he had a holy inspiration, that he owed such a favour to God's providence, and accordingly his prayers and praises were redoubled. Ever afterwards, that fountain, sacred to our saint, continued to flow without ceasing.
Whether Samson visited Cornwall on more than one occasion has not transpired, and how long he remained there is unrecorded. Many centuries after his time, a controversy arose, as to whether he brought with him the
1
from Great Britain, -* or not some
; while, moreover, writers maintain, that the only question to be determined is, whether he
archiepiscopal pall
brought this ensign of archiepiscopal dignity from York or from Menevia. x
According to Matthew of Paris, 5 our saint was archbishop of York, and according to Giraldus Cambrensis,16 he had been archbishop of Menevia;
however, there is not the slightest evidence extant, that his pontificate had ever been connected with either place. His destination was for Lesser
Brittany, however, but On his route he appears to have sojourned awhile in Cornwall. When there, he instructed numbers in the ways of holiness, and he healedmanyafflictedwithinfirmitiesofmindandofbody. Blessingswere freely bestowed on all who approached him for spiritual succour. In the Life of St. Petrock, the name of St. Samson incidentally occurs, as that of a
l6
a—s being certain "beyond all controversy. "
"Church History of Brittany," book xi. ,
chap, xxviii. , p. 252.
15 See Matthoei Parisiensis, Monachi Sancti
Albani, "Chronica Majora," edited by F. Dimock, M. A. , p. 102.
x? - Henry Richards Luard, M. A. , vol. ii. . See Davies Gilbert's "History of Cor
p. 459. wall," vol. iii. , p. 281.
monastery
x 3 near that
See "Itinerarium Kambriae," lib. ii. ,
He is there made the twenty-fifth insuccessionfromSt. David. GiraldiCam- brensis "Opera," vol. vi. , edited by James
cap. i.
July 28. ] LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. 421
hermit, who occupied a cell somewhere in the neighbourhood of Padstow, and who was highly esteemed for his zeal and holiness. A chapel called after oursaintwasatonetimeonthesiteofPlaceHousenearPadstowx? and,
;
it appears to be not improbable, that it had been the exact spot, where Samson had his cell or hermitage, at the time of St. Petrock's visit. As the holy man had received a Divine monition, to leave his own country, which was known as the Greater Britain, he now crossed over that channel, which sepa- ratesEnglandfromFrance. Inthislattercountrywashedesiredtowork out the designs of Providence. With many other Britons, he appears to have
fled from the and invasions of the 18
persecutions Anglo-Saxons. According
to one account, indeed, he left Cambrian Britain fo escape from a Saxon
who had invaded his
neighbourhood.
There are others who 20 state,
tyrant,^
that a strange pestilence having swept away the greater part of his flock, while war against the Saxons having exterminated the rest with fire and sword, Samson fled to Britany, but in pursuance of a Divine command. Tradition accuses him of carrying off with him into Brittany all the Manuscripts which he could collect. He employed the two horses he brought from Ireland to draw
British
them, Armorica,
his father Ammon23 remained in that 2* which monastery,
with other church 22 When Cornwall for requisites. leaving
hehadfounded. Onthisincident,however,thereareotherversionsofthestory. His father Amon, according to one account, and his cousin St. Magloire 25 had accompanied him to Armorica. 26 Another cousin of his, the celebrated
2 23 St. Maclou or Malo, ? followed, to aid him during his missionary labours.
Samson often interfered to assist the wretched, and to redress the people's
2^ as he was
sooner had he arrived at the port, than he beheld near it a small hut, and a poor man named Privatus weeping, while he was looking towards the sea. Our saint asked the cause for his sorrow, and received as an answer, that for three days and as many nights, he had watched for a deliverer the Almighty had promised to send ; also, that he had a wife covered with leprosy and a demoniac daughter, who waited for their restoration to health at that port. Whereupon, Samson entered their poor lodging, and praying for these afflicted persons, both were restored to health. ^
wrongs,
18 See L'Abbe Rohrbacher's " Histoire Universelle de l'Eglise Catholique," tome ix. , liv. xlv. , p. 251.
19 This is stated in the u Martyrologium Gallicanum," at the 28th of November :
Saxonem
versus minorem Britanniam, ut tutius Christo
"
serviret, pedem retraxit.
20 See Alford's " Fides Regia Britannica,
writer.
24 See Rev. John Adams' "Life of St.
Samson. "
2S His feast is referred to the 24th of
October.
26 " Dans cette sainte colonie de mission-
aires, on distingue principalement Saint Sam- son, Saint Malo, Saint Magloire et Saint Meen. "—L'Abbe" Rohrbacher's " Histoire
"Samson,
tyrannidem fugiens,
21 to Giraldus According
Cambrensis, was the Yellow Pestilence, " quam et phy- sici ictericiam dicunt passionem,"&c. Giraldi
especially distinguished
sive Annales Ecclesise Britannicse," &c, Universelle de l'Eglise Catholique," tome
tomus ii. , A. c. 559, sect, iv. , p. 68.
ix. , liv. xlv. , p. 251.
this 27 His feast on the th of occurs, 15
November.
28 "
See the Rev. Alban Butler's Lives of
Cambrensis "Opera," vol. vi. , edited by the Fathers, Martyrs, and other principal
James F. Dimock, M. A. Itinerarium Kam- brise, lib. ii. , cap. i. , p. 103.
22 "
Plaustrum ordinans ad portanda spiritualia utensilia sua atque volumina, suumque currum in duobus imponens equis, quern de Hibernia apud se asportaverat patriam pertransiens, Domino comitante, iter suumordinavit. "
23 If he be enumerated among the Cam- brian Saints has not been ascertained by the
Saints," vol. vii. , July xxviii.
29
See Right Rev. Patrick F. Moran's
for his No practical charity.
"Early Irish Missions," No. i. , p. 28.
3° Another very different account of this miracle of Samson is given by Pere Pierre le Bavd, that Privatus was a Prince of this country, "en douleur de sa femme qui es- toit Lepreuse et la fille demoniacle qu'il garit, selon histoire de luy. "—" Histoire de
Bretagne," chap, i. , p. 10.
21
422 LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. [July 28.
He then selected Dol, as a place for his residence, and he settled in the
Lesser Britain, generally called Britannic Armorica. His manner of life there
greatly edified the clergy and laity. Samson was soon regarded as a guest
divinely directed to reform the morals of the people, and to become their
guide in spiritual affairs. It is stated, that Childebert ruled as King of
France, 31 at the time of St. Samson's arrival in Armorica. In the Life of our
saint, he is called Hildebert. On his arrival in Brittany, Samson found the
inhabitants in great misery, as also in grief, for what had lately occurred.
Soon, Samson heard all the circumstances, and ever detesting injustice or
oppression, he resolved on an effort to protect the people. Jonas, their
native prince, had just been murdered by a tyrannical governor, Commorus,3a
byname,whohadusurpedtheprovince; andhissonJudualhadbeensentaway as a captive to King Hildebert.
