57 This too has been
advanedd
by Rev.
O'Hanlon - Lives of the Irish Saints - v7
, p.
450.
*8
This person seems to have no other his- toric or traditional record than the present one, such as it is. There is a saint Duileach of Clochar venerated in our Calendars, at the 1 7th of November, but it is not likely he can be identical with the Dualach mentioned in the text,
8» See "Acta Sanctorum," tomus v. ,
:
"Discipuli
July 24. ] LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. 339
Declan, together with that clisciple, who thus had been restored to the use of his limb. Our saint then addressed Dualach, who had cured this disciple,
:
inthefollowingwords "Youhavepromisedtobecomeasurgeoninthecase
of this limb, and in the name of Christ and of Declan, the Lord hath willingly bestowed health on your patient by his power, while in obedience you bound the fracture. Wherefore, from this moment, you shall prove a most skilful physician ; and your posterity, until the end of time, shall become approved and respectable physicians. If they shall sign any infirm person with a sign of the cross in my name, and in that of Christ, God's grace shall assist patients, through their healing practices, provided they entertain no hatred to mortal man, nor place their hearts on obtaining an exorbitant fee. " The author of our saint's Acts assures us, that according to the holy bishop's promise, the descendants of that man, whether male or female, were distinguished as skilful medical practitioners, through all subsequent time. Their entire family and kindred, likewise, served the successors of St. Declan. 29
While the saint was journeying in the western part of Femhyn plain, and near the river Suir's course, some persons carrying an infant to be baptized by a certain priest, met him. Filled with the spirit of prophecy, Declan said,
" Wait
persons who bore the child, not having indicated to the holy bishop or to
any of his servants the occasion of their journey, were greatly surprised. St. DeclancalledthatinfantSabe. "3° Hisfriendsremarked,thatneitheravessel31 nor salt could be found, to serve for the child's baptism, at that place in which
sign of the cross over it, while he mentally offered a prayer. Immediately, the earth which he held in his hands assumed a whitish and salt appearance,
before all the spectators present. These admired the Omnipotent's wonders, and those gifts bestowed on his great servant. The holy prelate there
on those seeing
persons :
here,
I shall
baptize
this infant. " Those holy
they were. 32 AVhereupon, the bishop said
vessel, which is the adjoining river, and by the power of Christ, salt shall be given to us. For this infant shall be holy and a wonder-worker before God and man, while through him with God's grace many miracles shall be wrought. " Atthistime,theystoodontheRiverSuir'sbanks,andataplace called Herend. 33 This was far from any village. Weare told, that taking some earth in his hands, St. Declan moistened it with saliva, and made a
baptized that infant, and bestowed on him the name of Kiaran. 3 *
Julii xxiv. De S. Declano Episcopo Ard- at the time when the writer of these Acts
said to those who were
"
the
nourish this spiritual son, and, in due course of time, deliver him to Catholics for instruction, because he shall be a luminous pillar in Christ's Church. " We are then told, that this Kieran, was son to Heodach, and that after a venerable old age, and the performance of many miracles, he departed this life, in a holy place, being buried in his celebrated monastery, called Tibrada, 3 5 now Tubbrid, in the baronies of Ififa and Offa West, in the county of Tipperary.
baptism,
holy bishop
present :
Carefully
morise in Hibernia, cap. viii. , sect. 62, 63, p. 605.
30 We cannot find any saint bearing this
name in our Irish Calendars. The nearest
approach to it seems to be Suibhne, and seven different holy men so called are vene- rated at different days.
31 Probably, by this term is meant a church font.
32 The relations of such incidents as these serve to illustrate our ancient religious rites and the ceremonies accompanying baptism,
lived.
33 if this be the correct form of name for
the locality, it now seems to be obsolete or unknown.
34 See an account of him, and of his place, at the 10th of November.
3S As Anglicised, this place may be deno- minated "the fountains. " The Bollandist editor remarks, that in the course of his read-
ing,
respecting this monastery, or was he able sufficiently to pronounce who was the holy
:
" We have both a long and a wide
he had not hitherto found mention made
After his
34o LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. [July 24. T—his place was situated —on the western part of the Decies, and in its diocese
between the mountains ofCua and and now that Crost,
6
of Waterford
the tribe of people there it was called Hayth. 3 The wife of a certain villager
came with an offer of her service to St. Declan's monastery, not far from the
city. She furtively took what is indifferently called in the Latin Life of our
a " Habellum,"37 or " Kabellum," which formed a of that saint, large portion
tribute due to the holy bishop. But, in presence of those who were passing
along the way, the earth swallowed her up, she being thus punished for injuries
inflicted on the monastic revenue, not only in the present instance, but on
former occasions. The legend further adds, that although she was thus
swallowedupwithintheearth,thestolenobjectejectedfromits bosomwas
converted into a stone, and in the view of all who were present. Meantime,
the holy bishop knew in spirit all that had occurred ; and, he related these
events to his brethren, who had being living with him in the monastery.
Those persons, who were present at the time of this miraculous occurrence,
speedily brought the stone to St. Declan, and they gave him an account of
what had been witnessed. Thenceforward, St. Declan's reputation was greatly
magnified by all, and his power when absent was respected, as much as if he
8
were present. 3
According to some accounts, St. Declan founded a seminary, so early as
416, and the light of Christianity proceeded from it to all the contiguous dis- tricts, which lay around Ardmore. 3$ This place was called in the Irish lan- guage, after the name of our saint, Ardmor Daglain,* and had its origin, when he began there to establish a monastery. The exact date for his foundation cannot now be ascertained, with any great degree of accuracy ; but, probably, it was either towards the close of the fifth or the beginning of
the sixth century.
At all events, it seems to have had existence before the
long
but, it
which took
the community in question continued to remain there is unknown ;
death of St.
Ailbe,
place early
seems that its members have 2 It is probable, long ages ago disappeared/
supposed/*3 that the ancient monastery of Ardmore followed St. Declan's
person here named Kieran. There were Handbook for Youghal," containing Notes many saints having the same name, among and Records of the Ancient Religious
the Irish, concerning whom, and various other homonymous saints, we have a refer- ence in the Introduction to the Monastical History of Ireland, edited at Paris, in the year 1690, at p. 6.
36 See "Acta Sanctorum," tomus v. , xxiv. Julii. De S. Declano Episcopo Ard- mnrise in Hibernia, cap. viii. , sect. 64, 65,
p. 605.
37 The Bollandist editor observes that he
Foundations, and the Historical Annals of
the Town," p. x. Youghal, John Lindsay, 1858, 8vo.
4° In Irish -djvomori "OedshLain. See
knew not what "habellum" meant, but tember," A. D. 541. Yet, in a note to this*
when in subsequent passages it is constantly
passage, the learned editor observes : "In the Annals of Ulster, and the Bodleian copy of the Annals of Innisfallen, the death of Ailbhe is entered under the year 526, which seems the true year ; but it is repeated in the Annals of Ulster at 541," ibid. , n. (c),
*3 More than likely, the isolated position of Ardmore, and the probability of no parti- cular chronicle having been compiled in its monastery, leave the place without any his- toric record in our Irish Annals,
43 By the Bollandist editor.
"
tribute which was paid to St. Declan, he
written
Kabellum," and as it refers to a
"
thinks the reading should be
which has the meaning of a sum of money or of some tribute which had been taken from the monastery of St. Declan.
38 The author of our saint's Life tells us, that the object, thus converted into a stone, was preserved through future time, and in a conspicuous position. It stood within the cemetery of St. Declan, at his city of Ard- more, as a memorial of that miracle.
gabellam,"
44 According to the Annals of Youghal, » See the Rev. Samuel Hayman's "New understood to have been compiled by the
in the sixth 1 How century. '*
Ussher's
"
Britannicarum Ecclcsiarum Anti-
quitates,"cap. xvii. , p. 450.
41 In Dr. O'Donovan's "Annals of the
Four Masters," vol. i. , pp. 182, 183, we find
"
St. Ailbhe, Archbishop of Imleach-Inbhair, died on 12th day of Sep-
it stated, that
among
July 24. ] LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. 34i
peculiar rule or institute ; while a famous school is said to have existed in connexion with it. 44 A small city subsequently sprung up at Ardmore 4S
of its history
6 —after the time of St. Declan— ; yet,
little seems to be
Besides the ecclesiastical remains,*? there were trac—es of a castle there, in the beginning of the last century. At present Ardmore situated to the west of
has dwindled into a small 8
a bay similarly named— fishery town,* containing
however, many good houses. *9 It rises over a cliff-bound coast, and it has a
harbour possessing many natural advantages ; but, no pier or quay is there constructed to shelter vessels. There is not even a slip, which
should be of great service, and which might readily be planned to haul up boats. 50 To the east the bay is open, but on the south and west, there
St. Declan's Catholic Church and Town of Ardmore.
is partial shelter from the ocean currents and storms, owing to the position of Ardmore Head. It is stated, morever, that Ardmore had been constituted an episcopal See,51 by St. Declan ; as also, that he was its first Bishop, not alone his Acts relate, but it has been the constant local tradition, that he exercised such an office after he had become Abbot. Again, it is related, that he was immediately succeeded by St. Ultan. Long after Ultan's
Rev. Samuel Hayman, A. B. Third Series,
peared, and in the last century, plate iv.
48 A recent and an extended account of this place may be met with, in the Rev. Samuel Hayman's "New Handbook for
Youghal," pp. ix. to xv.
49 A view of the town and of the Catholic
church—dedicated to St. Declan—in the
foreground is here presented from a photo-
p.
I.
45 There is an interesting account of Ard-
more parish, and of its Antiquities to be
"
Present State of the County and City of
Waterford," chap, iii. , pp. 46 to 50.
46 In his work, " De Hiberniaet Antiqui- tatibus ejus," Sir James Ware has no notice of
seen in Dr. Charles Smith's
Ancient and
graph, procured for the author by Very Rev. the religious foundation here, in the Monas- John Walsh, P. P. That view has been
teriologia Hibernica, at cap. xxvi.
"
Ancient and present State of the County and City of Waterford," oppo- site to p. 92, there is a copperplate engrav- ing of Ardmore Round Tower, as it then ap-
drawn by William F. Wakeman on the wood, engraved by Mrs. Millard
5° See " Parliamentary Gazetteer of Ire-
land," vol, i. , p. 61.
51 It is classed among the more ancient
47 In Smith's
known/
342 LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. [July 24.
time,Eugene52isknowntohavebeenBishophere,in1174; andinthisyear, along with Donat, Abbot of Maig, and Gregory of Cuanga, he was a sub- scribing witness to a charter granted to the Monastery of St. Finbar at Cork, byDermot,KingofMunster,sontothefounder. " Again,itisstated,that Moel-ettrimO'Duibhe-Rathra5* becameBishopofArdmore,anddieda. d.
1203.
This ancient See was annexed to that ofLismore,55 from which town,
it is only twelve miles distant. A certain writer maintains, there was a
monastery of Augustinian Canons Regular, at this place •& but, he advances
no authority, to sustain that opinion. " It is more than doubtful, if that monastery—at first established by St. Declan—afterwards belonged to Canons Regular, or whether, like so many other houses of a similar kind in Ireland, it became simply a parochial residence.
It is recorded, that the wife of a certain rich man, named Fintan, was without offspring, even to an advanced age. The couple came to St. Declan, and entreated him to beg of God, that they might be favoured with children. On their part, to procure his favour, they engaged to offer alms, and to per- form pious works. They declared, moreover, that they had most unbounded confidence, in theefiicacy of St. Declan's prayers. The bishop then bestowed
sumed, that his successors in the monastery claimed their fealty in likemanner. s The holy Albeus,5? Archbishop of Munster, knowing that the period of his
his blessing on them. He also said
<c Fulfil what you have promised, and through God's bounty, you shall be blessed with children. " After this pro- mise and benediction of the holy bishop, they returned to their house. Soon after this event, the wife of Fintan conceived, and in due course, two sons were born to her ; and these were named respectively Eoch and Fiacha. They and their posterity became St. Declan's dependants, and it is to be pre-
8
:
"
and pay a visit to my beloved companion and fellow-servant in Christ, Bishop
Declan, before I die. " Then Ailbe proceeded on his journey, to accomplish that purpose which he thus expressed. An Angel came to St. Declan, and told him, that the holy old man, his friend Albeus, was coming to visit him.
On learning it, the saintly Prelate Declan told his people to prepare every- thing necessary to receive his pious guest. Afterwards, he went from his own
60
Sees of Ireland, by Rev. Robert King, in his 58 The Acts of our saint remark, that this "Primer of the Church History of Ireland," dependency continued, "usque ad finem
departure was approaching, said to his disciples :
Brethren, I desire to see
that he might meet St. Albeus. On his arrival mere, St. Albeus was honourably received by St. Declan and by his people. Subsequently, Albeus remained fourteen days with our saint. This interval was spent in a mutual interchange of spiritual offices, and in holy
city, to a place called Druim luchtri,
vol. iii. , Appendix, No. ix. , p. 996.
5* To him has been attributed a Life of St.
Cuthbert.
53 See Rev. Samuel Hayman's "New before St. Patrick's coming, a. d. 432. See
Handbook for Youghal," p. xi.
s* It is probable, that with this name, the
list of the Bishops of this ancient See closes. See ibid.
55 When such union took place is not agrees,
known with certainty ; but, it has been thought by some writers, that Ardmore was
not a separate episcopal See, in the year
1152.
s6 See the '' Historia Monastica Hiber-
niae," p. 54, published at Paris in 1690.
57 This too has been advanedd by Rev.
Samuel Hayman, A. B. , in his "AnnaUf ol Youghal," Third Series, p. I.
6o
In a subsequent passage, the name of this place is written, " Druim luchri. " It seems probable enough, that this had been the name formerly given to that dividing chain of hills on the borders of the barony of Decies within Drum, and the barony of
I ><cies without Drum, in the present county ol Waterford.
6l Now a town and parish, in the barony
seculi. "
59 TJssher infers, that St. Albeus is not
"
Britannicarum Ecclesiarum Antiquitates," cap. xvi. , p. 409, and cap. xvii. , p. 453. Also Index Chronologicus, a. d. dxxxii. , p. 528. In this opinion of Ussher, Dr. Lanigan
likely to have preached the faith in Ireland,
July 24. ] LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. 343
charity, to the great interior consolation of those great servants of God. After such term was at an end, the venerable Ailbe returned to his own city,
61
at Emly,
which was situated on the great Munster plain ; when, with a con-
siderable number of people, St. Declan accompanied his departing guest to the
aforesaid Druim luchri. There,' St. Ailbe requested our saint's return towards
his own city. Having a presentiment, that they would not again behold each
other in this life, and full of mutual affection, these celebrated saints burst
into a flood of tears, on the instant. Offering up their prayers to God for its
long continuance, the holy prelates renewed the old fraternal alliance, already
existing between themselves and their disciples. Then, St. Albeus blessed
the Decies' city, its people, and its clerics, when St. Declan in turn bestowed
like spiritual favours on Bishop Ailbe and his charge. With the kiss of peace,
and with a sorrowful but holy resignation, having true love for God and for
their neighbour implanted in their breasts, these holy bishops and their dis-
ciples parted from each other, and returned to the places of their respective
62
habitations.
At one time, the Fort 6 3 f a Decies' chieftain, who was named Canicus,
tookfire,andtheflamesbeganragingtoafearfuldegree. VenerableBishop Declan, who felt much concerned at this accident, ran towards the castle. Taking in his hand that remarkable staff already mentioned, and with which he miraculously removed the sea, Declan threw it from the place where he stood, towards the burning edifice. By Divine permission, the staff flew through air, and fell over the topping flames and into the very middle of the forti- fication,which,atthattime,hadbeenhalfconsumed. Inaninstantaneous manner, the fire was extinguished. The distance between that place where our saint stood and the burning castle was computed, as a long mile, and
the name of Cuirt. 6^ On this witnessing
near the a spot lay
grove, bearing
miracle, the chieftain Canic, with all others present, were in admiration, and
they gave thanks to God. 6s This castle, here alluded to, was situated not
far from the River Suir, and on its southern bank. It was at a place which,
"
in our saint's Acts, is Latinized, Collis Stabilis. " But, that place, from
which St. Declan threw his staff, was situated near a shallow or ford of the same river, and it was opposite to the monastery of certain holy virgins, who
were — to this Canic. 66 Their daughters
locha 68 derived from its local probably
6? bore the name monastery Magh-
of Clanwilliam, and in the South Riding of the county of Tipperary. This ancient
episcopal seat had a long line of bishops,
obsolete. The grove in question grew not far from the present Clonmel.
6s After relating this miracle, the Acts of our saint state regarding the chieftain Canic,
voluntatem sancti Declani complevit. "
until merged in that of Cashel, a. d. 1568. ""
See an account of it in the Parliamentary Gazetteer of Ireland," vol. ii. , pp. 176, 177.
66
The Very Rev. David B. Mulcahy, P. P. „
62 Ware "Declanum vero says:
post
of of Antrim, and a native Moyarget, county
of Waterford diocese, informs the writer, by letter dated January 27th, 1890, that after a good deal of search, hefound those nuns in the Calendar, at the 24th of September, as
Albeum decessisse, testatur Vitse ejus de-
scriptor, De anno nihil traditum reperi. "
"
Opuscula adscripta S. Patricio," Annota-
tiones, p. 106. Both the Annals of Ulster
and those of Innisfallen place the death of InghetiA CAitroigh. He also states, that Ailbe, in the year 527. See Rev. Dr CAnroigh, in Irish, is the genitive case for
Lanigan's "Ecclesiastical History of Ire-
land," vol. i. , chap, i. , sect, xi. , p. 24, and
CAiiroech—identical with Caihc or Cain- nech.
6?
It is said to have been the site for a convent of Augustinian nuns, granted at the Life, it may be likely this mansion had only dissolution to Sir Henry Radcliffe. This
sect, xii. , p. 26.
63 Although called a castle, in the Latin
been constructed of wood, as were many of
the old Irish residences of chiefs and of their
people.
6* Most probably this name has become
parish of Molough was a particle of New- castle benefice in the diocese of Lismore.
See "Parliamentary Gazetteer of. Ireland," vol. ii. , p. 782.
.
position.
6
9 The writer of our saint's
344 LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. [July 24.
Acts informs us, that in his day, on account of the miracle wrought, a heap of stones, with a cross, had been there erected. The memorial was called Vlu,7° but it is difficult to determine the exact meaning of this old Celtic word.
At a certain time, a fleet was manned by pagans, who directed their course towards St. Declan's monastery, wishing to despoil the local inhabitants of their substance. All these people ran to their saintly and venerable old bishop, to entreat the interposition of his prayers with Heaven, in their behalf. Know-
1
ing the happiness, good dispositions, and holy charity of his disciple, Ultan 7 —whoalreadyhasbeenmentioned—St. DeclanorderedhiminGod'sname to sign against the fleet with the symbol of salvation. At this time, having his right hand engaged in the performance of some work, at the command of his venerable superior, holy brother Ultan signed against the fleet with his left hand, when instantly, all those vessels were swallowed by the sea, sinking " as lead in the mighty waters. ? a " On witnessing this miracle,? * all the Christians were filled with joy, and they were still more confirmed in their faith regardingtheMostHolyTrinity. ? * TheywereloudintheirpraisesofGod's servant, by whom these and many other miracles were wrought. They called* him their preacher and bishop. Between St. Declan and his disciple St. Ultan arose a pious contention regarding this miracle; for, the disciple wished to refer it altogther to his master's merits, while on the contrary, the master would attribute its performance solely to the virtues of his disciple.
After St. Declan's death, the same St. Uitan became second Abbot of Ard- more, and he is said also, to have wrought many miracles, as well as his more celebrated predecessor. ? *
CHAPTER IV.
BISHOP DECLAN'S RELATIONS WITH ST. PATRICK—THE BUILDING AND CONSECRATION OF A LEVITIANA OR AN ORATORY BY ST. DECLAN—HIS NUMEROUS MIRACLES- HE BUILDS A HERMITAGE NEAR THE SEA-SHORE, AND HE RETIRES TO IT—HIS PREPARATION FOR DEATH—HIS HOLY DEPARTURE—FESTIVALS AND COMMEMORA- TIONS—ANTIQUITIES AT ARDMORE—MEMORIALS OF ST. DECLAN—CONCLUSION.
Having destroyed the temples of idols, and converted Gentiles to the true Faith, St. Declan built churches to God, while he consecrated and ordained
*• "
It is found Latinized, Campus Stagni. "
At Newcastle, near the great bend of the River Suir, are the ruins of a religious house,
in tYlogh locha, now Molough, according to the Very Rev. David B. Mulcahy, who ap- pears to have most satisfactorily identified the locality.
<J It is now known as Moloughabbey, a
townland in the small parish of Molough, in
the barony of Iffa and Offa West. This
parish and the townland are described, on the
73TheLifeofoursaintstates: "etstatim
mare omnes illas naves absorpsit quasi saccos
plombo plenos. " Then follows the legen-
dary account, that those submerged bodies of the pagan sailors were changed into large rocks, which were to be seen out in the sea, and not far from the shore, in his time. Describing these in an article published in the Pall Mall Gatette, now many years back, Miss Hraddon writes: "A black acre of half-sunken rocks is the haunt of the wliist- ling whaup and of a grim foraging party of hoodie craws, which are highly partial to mussels, and are said to open these luxuries by taking the shell into the air and letting it fall on the stones below. "
"
Ordnance Survey Townland Maps for the
County of Tipperary," sheet 88.
70 This place has been rendered into Latin
"
11 *
Acervus Sancti Declani," by the old writer
of the>e Acts. In English, this should mean,
the Mound or Cairn of St. Declan. "
7
The author of our saint's Acts —
He
his chanties, towards the little ones and poor of Christ.
7" See Exodus, xv. , 10.
71
is
said to have been remarkable for
that inhistime,theScots bywhomheunder-
—when
approach of danger, were accustomed to
stands the Irish
l ,ray> "The left hand of Ultan be against
seeing
says,
or the hearing
July 24. ] LIVES OE THE IRISH SAINTS. 345
several ecclesiastics. It has been generally asserted and believed, that St. Declan became the bishop of his own people, the Desii, whom he first brought toaknowledgeofDivinetruth. But,theperiodwhenhelabouredthereisnot so clearly ascertained. Whatever amount of uncertainty regards the state- St. Declan has been classed the of St. Patrick. 1 How-
among disciples
ment,
ever, this does not appear, from any of the ancient Lives of the great Irish
Apostle; and, although, during his sojourn upon earth, the reputation of our saint was very great, it has been supposed, that the omission of such an eminent person's name, had he really been one of St. Patrick's disciples,
should have been a strange circumstance.
2
The author of St. Declan's Life,
however, brings both distinguished personages into close relations of amity and intercourse.
The most holy Patrick, Archbishop of the Irish, sent one of his disciples, charged with a commission to venerable Declan. But, on coming to the southern part of the Decies' country, that disciple was drowned in a certain river,calledLuch. Hearingofhisdeath,BishopDeclanwasmuchafflicted.
:
He said M Truly do I grieve in spirit, that the most holy man's messenger,
who was sent to me, has been taken off by a sudden death, and in my part of the country. Nor can he bear back my communication to his illustrious master. Wherefore, you shall immediately place me in a chariot, that I may assist at his obsequies, and that our holy father, and his master St. Patrick, may hear of my regard for him. " "That river, in which the messenger had been drowned, was only two miles distant from St. Declan's city. The
drowned man had already been placed in a coffin, that his corpse might be interred in St. Declan's cemetery. But, with his attendants, having met those who bore the dead body, Declan ordered them to place it on the ground. This order was obeyed, for they supposed the holy bishop was about to sing an office for the dead over him, and on that spot. 3 Approaching the coffin, and lifting the shroud from the dead man's face, Declan beheld it swollen and discoloured, as usually happens in the case of drowned persons. He shed tears, and he then prayed mentally for some time, the crowd around not hearing what had been said. He afterwards spoke these words in presence
" In the name of the Most Holy Trinity, and undivided unity of the Father, Son and Holy Ghost, whose sweet and light yoke I bear, arise before us,forChristhathgrantedthylife tome. " Atthosewordsofthevenerable Bishop, St. Patrick's disciple arose from the coffin. He then blessed our saint and all those that stood around him. Bishop Declan then raised and tenderly embraced him, while our saint's disciples followed their master's example. At the time this accident which caused his death occurred,
that messenger complained of a weakly constitution, like to a man recovering from some infirmity; but, after his restoration to life, he became healthy and robust. He returned with St. Declan to his city, and remained with him some days, with manifestations of truest love. Great joy was felt in Ardmore, as a consequence of this miracle ; so that the name Christ and St. Declan's
it. " By pronouncing such words, we are who adds, that we may conclude, St.
of all
:
informed, the power of God was frequently manifested.
? s See "Acta Sanctorum," tomus v. , Julii xxiv. De S. Declano Episcopo Ardmoriae in Hibernia, cap. ix. , sects. 71, 72, pp. 606, 607.
Declan became distinguished during some part of the sixth century, calculating from the times of his disciples and friends, of whom some records remain. See " Eccle-
siastical History of Ireland," vol. i. , chap, i. , sect, xii. , pp. 26, 27.
3 The Life has it: " Putabant omnes, quod sanctus Episcopus vellet officium mor- tuorum inibi cantare pro illo. "
Chapter iv. "
—
T
See "Trias Colgan's
Thaumaturga,
S. Patricii, cap. xxiii. , p. 269.
4 See " Acta Sanctorum," tomus v. , Julii
Quinta Appendix ad Acta
3 Such is the opinion of Rev. Dr. Lanigan,
346 LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. [July 24.
*8
This person seems to have no other his- toric or traditional record than the present one, such as it is. There is a saint Duileach of Clochar venerated in our Calendars, at the 1 7th of November, but it is not likely he can be identical with the Dualach mentioned in the text,
8» See "Acta Sanctorum," tomus v. ,
:
"Discipuli
July 24. ] LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. 339
Declan, together with that clisciple, who thus had been restored to the use of his limb. Our saint then addressed Dualach, who had cured this disciple,
:
inthefollowingwords "Youhavepromisedtobecomeasurgeoninthecase
of this limb, and in the name of Christ and of Declan, the Lord hath willingly bestowed health on your patient by his power, while in obedience you bound the fracture. Wherefore, from this moment, you shall prove a most skilful physician ; and your posterity, until the end of time, shall become approved and respectable physicians. If they shall sign any infirm person with a sign of the cross in my name, and in that of Christ, God's grace shall assist patients, through their healing practices, provided they entertain no hatred to mortal man, nor place their hearts on obtaining an exorbitant fee. " The author of our saint's Acts assures us, that according to the holy bishop's promise, the descendants of that man, whether male or female, were distinguished as skilful medical practitioners, through all subsequent time. Their entire family and kindred, likewise, served the successors of St. Declan. 29
While the saint was journeying in the western part of Femhyn plain, and near the river Suir's course, some persons carrying an infant to be baptized by a certain priest, met him. Filled with the spirit of prophecy, Declan said,
" Wait
persons who bore the child, not having indicated to the holy bishop or to
any of his servants the occasion of their journey, were greatly surprised. St. DeclancalledthatinfantSabe. "3° Hisfriendsremarked,thatneitheravessel31 nor salt could be found, to serve for the child's baptism, at that place in which
sign of the cross over it, while he mentally offered a prayer. Immediately, the earth which he held in his hands assumed a whitish and salt appearance,
before all the spectators present. These admired the Omnipotent's wonders, and those gifts bestowed on his great servant. The holy prelate there
on those seeing
persons :
here,
I shall
baptize
this infant. " Those holy
they were. 32 AVhereupon, the bishop said
vessel, which is the adjoining river, and by the power of Christ, salt shall be given to us. For this infant shall be holy and a wonder-worker before God and man, while through him with God's grace many miracles shall be wrought. " Atthistime,theystoodontheRiverSuir'sbanks,andataplace called Herend. 33 This was far from any village. Weare told, that taking some earth in his hands, St. Declan moistened it with saliva, and made a
baptized that infant, and bestowed on him the name of Kiaran. 3 *
Julii xxiv. De S. Declano Episcopo Ard- at the time when the writer of these Acts
said to those who were
"
the
nourish this spiritual son, and, in due course of time, deliver him to Catholics for instruction, because he shall be a luminous pillar in Christ's Church. " We are then told, that this Kieran, was son to Heodach, and that after a venerable old age, and the performance of many miracles, he departed this life, in a holy place, being buried in his celebrated monastery, called Tibrada, 3 5 now Tubbrid, in the baronies of Ififa and Offa West, in the county of Tipperary.
baptism,
holy bishop
present :
Carefully
morise in Hibernia, cap. viii. , sect. 62, 63, p. 605.
30 We cannot find any saint bearing this
name in our Irish Calendars. The nearest
approach to it seems to be Suibhne, and seven different holy men so called are vene- rated at different days.
31 Probably, by this term is meant a church font.
32 The relations of such incidents as these serve to illustrate our ancient religious rites and the ceremonies accompanying baptism,
lived.
33 if this be the correct form of name for
the locality, it now seems to be obsolete or unknown.
34 See an account of him, and of his place, at the 10th of November.
3S As Anglicised, this place may be deno- minated "the fountains. " The Bollandist editor remarks, that in the course of his read-
ing,
respecting this monastery, or was he able sufficiently to pronounce who was the holy
:
" We have both a long and a wide
he had not hitherto found mention made
After his
34o LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. [July 24. T—his place was situated —on the western part of the Decies, and in its diocese
between the mountains ofCua and and now that Crost,
6
of Waterford
the tribe of people there it was called Hayth. 3 The wife of a certain villager
came with an offer of her service to St. Declan's monastery, not far from the
city. She furtively took what is indifferently called in the Latin Life of our
a " Habellum,"37 or " Kabellum," which formed a of that saint, large portion
tribute due to the holy bishop. But, in presence of those who were passing
along the way, the earth swallowed her up, she being thus punished for injuries
inflicted on the monastic revenue, not only in the present instance, but on
former occasions. The legend further adds, that although she was thus
swallowedupwithintheearth,thestolenobjectejectedfromits bosomwas
converted into a stone, and in the view of all who were present. Meantime,
the holy bishop knew in spirit all that had occurred ; and, he related these
events to his brethren, who had being living with him in the monastery.
Those persons, who were present at the time of this miraculous occurrence,
speedily brought the stone to St. Declan, and they gave him an account of
what had been witnessed. Thenceforward, St. Declan's reputation was greatly
magnified by all, and his power when absent was respected, as much as if he
8
were present. 3
According to some accounts, St. Declan founded a seminary, so early as
416, and the light of Christianity proceeded from it to all the contiguous dis- tricts, which lay around Ardmore. 3$ This place was called in the Irish lan- guage, after the name of our saint, Ardmor Daglain,* and had its origin, when he began there to establish a monastery. The exact date for his foundation cannot now be ascertained, with any great degree of accuracy ; but, probably, it was either towards the close of the fifth or the beginning of
the sixth century.
At all events, it seems to have had existence before the
long
but, it
which took
the community in question continued to remain there is unknown ;
death of St.
Ailbe,
place early
seems that its members have 2 It is probable, long ages ago disappeared/
supposed/*3 that the ancient monastery of Ardmore followed St. Declan's
person here named Kieran. There were Handbook for Youghal," containing Notes many saints having the same name, among and Records of the Ancient Religious
the Irish, concerning whom, and various other homonymous saints, we have a refer- ence in the Introduction to the Monastical History of Ireland, edited at Paris, in the year 1690, at p. 6.
36 See "Acta Sanctorum," tomus v. , xxiv. Julii. De S. Declano Episcopo Ard- mnrise in Hibernia, cap. viii. , sect. 64, 65,
p. 605.
37 The Bollandist editor observes that he
Foundations, and the Historical Annals of
the Town," p. x. Youghal, John Lindsay, 1858, 8vo.
4° In Irish -djvomori "OedshLain. See
knew not what "habellum" meant, but tember," A. D. 541. Yet, in a note to this*
when in subsequent passages it is constantly
passage, the learned editor observes : "In the Annals of Ulster, and the Bodleian copy of the Annals of Innisfallen, the death of Ailbhe is entered under the year 526, which seems the true year ; but it is repeated in the Annals of Ulster at 541," ibid. , n. (c),
*3 More than likely, the isolated position of Ardmore, and the probability of no parti- cular chronicle having been compiled in its monastery, leave the place without any his- toric record in our Irish Annals,
43 By the Bollandist editor.
"
tribute which was paid to St. Declan, he
written
Kabellum," and as it refers to a
"
thinks the reading should be
which has the meaning of a sum of money or of some tribute which had been taken from the monastery of St. Declan.
38 The author of our saint's Life tells us, that the object, thus converted into a stone, was preserved through future time, and in a conspicuous position. It stood within the cemetery of St. Declan, at his city of Ard- more, as a memorial of that miracle.
gabellam,"
44 According to the Annals of Youghal, » See the Rev. Samuel Hayman's "New understood to have been compiled by the
in the sixth 1 How century. '*
Ussher's
"
Britannicarum Ecclcsiarum Anti-
quitates,"cap. xvii. , p. 450.
41 In Dr. O'Donovan's "Annals of the
Four Masters," vol. i. , pp. 182, 183, we find
"
St. Ailbhe, Archbishop of Imleach-Inbhair, died on 12th day of Sep-
it stated, that
among
July 24. ] LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. 34i
peculiar rule or institute ; while a famous school is said to have existed in connexion with it. 44 A small city subsequently sprung up at Ardmore 4S
of its history
6 —after the time of St. Declan— ; yet,
little seems to be
Besides the ecclesiastical remains,*? there were trac—es of a castle there, in the beginning of the last century. At present Ardmore situated to the west of
has dwindled into a small 8
a bay similarly named— fishery town,* containing
however, many good houses. *9 It rises over a cliff-bound coast, and it has a
harbour possessing many natural advantages ; but, no pier or quay is there constructed to shelter vessels. There is not even a slip, which
should be of great service, and which might readily be planned to haul up boats. 50 To the east the bay is open, but on the south and west, there
St. Declan's Catholic Church and Town of Ardmore.
is partial shelter from the ocean currents and storms, owing to the position of Ardmore Head. It is stated, morever, that Ardmore had been constituted an episcopal See,51 by St. Declan ; as also, that he was its first Bishop, not alone his Acts relate, but it has been the constant local tradition, that he exercised such an office after he had become Abbot. Again, it is related, that he was immediately succeeded by St. Ultan. Long after Ultan's
Rev. Samuel Hayman, A. B. Third Series,
peared, and in the last century, plate iv.
48 A recent and an extended account of this place may be met with, in the Rev. Samuel Hayman's "New Handbook for
Youghal," pp. ix. to xv.
49 A view of the town and of the Catholic
church—dedicated to St. Declan—in the
foreground is here presented from a photo-
p.
I.
45 There is an interesting account of Ard-
more parish, and of its Antiquities to be
"
Present State of the County and City of
Waterford," chap, iii. , pp. 46 to 50.
46 In his work, " De Hiberniaet Antiqui- tatibus ejus," Sir James Ware has no notice of
seen in Dr. Charles Smith's
Ancient and
graph, procured for the author by Very Rev. the religious foundation here, in the Monas- John Walsh, P. P. That view has been
teriologia Hibernica, at cap. xxvi.
"
Ancient and present State of the County and City of Waterford," oppo- site to p. 92, there is a copperplate engrav- ing of Ardmore Round Tower, as it then ap-
drawn by William F. Wakeman on the wood, engraved by Mrs. Millard
5° See " Parliamentary Gazetteer of Ire-
land," vol, i. , p. 61.
51 It is classed among the more ancient
47 In Smith's
known/
342 LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. [July 24.
time,Eugene52isknowntohavebeenBishophere,in1174; andinthisyear, along with Donat, Abbot of Maig, and Gregory of Cuanga, he was a sub- scribing witness to a charter granted to the Monastery of St. Finbar at Cork, byDermot,KingofMunster,sontothefounder. " Again,itisstated,that Moel-ettrimO'Duibhe-Rathra5* becameBishopofArdmore,anddieda. d.
1203.
This ancient See was annexed to that ofLismore,55 from which town,
it is only twelve miles distant. A certain writer maintains, there was a
monastery of Augustinian Canons Regular, at this place •& but, he advances
no authority, to sustain that opinion. " It is more than doubtful, if that monastery—at first established by St. Declan—afterwards belonged to Canons Regular, or whether, like so many other houses of a similar kind in Ireland, it became simply a parochial residence.
It is recorded, that the wife of a certain rich man, named Fintan, was without offspring, even to an advanced age. The couple came to St. Declan, and entreated him to beg of God, that they might be favoured with children. On their part, to procure his favour, they engaged to offer alms, and to per- form pious works. They declared, moreover, that they had most unbounded confidence, in theefiicacy of St. Declan's prayers. The bishop then bestowed
sumed, that his successors in the monastery claimed their fealty in likemanner. s The holy Albeus,5? Archbishop of Munster, knowing that the period of his
his blessing on them. He also said
<c Fulfil what you have promised, and through God's bounty, you shall be blessed with children. " After this pro- mise and benediction of the holy bishop, they returned to their house. Soon after this event, the wife of Fintan conceived, and in due course, two sons were born to her ; and these were named respectively Eoch and Fiacha. They and their posterity became St. Declan's dependants, and it is to be pre-
8
:
"
and pay a visit to my beloved companion and fellow-servant in Christ, Bishop
Declan, before I die. " Then Ailbe proceeded on his journey, to accomplish that purpose which he thus expressed. An Angel came to St. Declan, and told him, that the holy old man, his friend Albeus, was coming to visit him.
On learning it, the saintly Prelate Declan told his people to prepare every- thing necessary to receive his pious guest. Afterwards, he went from his own
60
Sees of Ireland, by Rev. Robert King, in his 58 The Acts of our saint remark, that this "Primer of the Church History of Ireland," dependency continued, "usque ad finem
departure was approaching, said to his disciples :
Brethren, I desire to see
that he might meet St. Albeus. On his arrival mere, St. Albeus was honourably received by St. Declan and by his people. Subsequently, Albeus remained fourteen days with our saint. This interval was spent in a mutual interchange of spiritual offices, and in holy
city, to a place called Druim luchtri,
vol. iii. , Appendix, No. ix. , p. 996.
5* To him has been attributed a Life of St.
Cuthbert.
53 See Rev. Samuel Hayman's "New before St. Patrick's coming, a. d. 432. See
Handbook for Youghal," p. xi.
s* It is probable, that with this name, the
list of the Bishops of this ancient See closes. See ibid.
55 When such union took place is not agrees,
known with certainty ; but, it has been thought by some writers, that Ardmore was
not a separate episcopal See, in the year
1152.
s6 See the '' Historia Monastica Hiber-
niae," p. 54, published at Paris in 1690.
57 This too has been advanedd by Rev.
Samuel Hayman, A. B. , in his "AnnaUf ol Youghal," Third Series, p. I.
6o
In a subsequent passage, the name of this place is written, " Druim luchri. " It seems probable enough, that this had been the name formerly given to that dividing chain of hills on the borders of the barony of Decies within Drum, and the barony of
I ><cies without Drum, in the present county ol Waterford.
6l Now a town and parish, in the barony
seculi. "
59 TJssher infers, that St. Albeus is not
"
Britannicarum Ecclesiarum Antiquitates," cap. xvi. , p. 409, and cap. xvii. , p. 453. Also Index Chronologicus, a. d. dxxxii. , p. 528. In this opinion of Ussher, Dr. Lanigan
likely to have preached the faith in Ireland,
July 24. ] LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. 343
charity, to the great interior consolation of those great servants of God. After such term was at an end, the venerable Ailbe returned to his own city,
61
at Emly,
which was situated on the great Munster plain ; when, with a con-
siderable number of people, St. Declan accompanied his departing guest to the
aforesaid Druim luchri. There,' St. Ailbe requested our saint's return towards
his own city. Having a presentiment, that they would not again behold each
other in this life, and full of mutual affection, these celebrated saints burst
into a flood of tears, on the instant. Offering up their prayers to God for its
long continuance, the holy prelates renewed the old fraternal alliance, already
existing between themselves and their disciples. Then, St. Albeus blessed
the Decies' city, its people, and its clerics, when St. Declan in turn bestowed
like spiritual favours on Bishop Ailbe and his charge. With the kiss of peace,
and with a sorrowful but holy resignation, having true love for God and for
their neighbour implanted in their breasts, these holy bishops and their dis-
ciples parted from each other, and returned to the places of their respective
62
habitations.
At one time, the Fort 6 3 f a Decies' chieftain, who was named Canicus,
tookfire,andtheflamesbeganragingtoafearfuldegree. VenerableBishop Declan, who felt much concerned at this accident, ran towards the castle. Taking in his hand that remarkable staff already mentioned, and with which he miraculously removed the sea, Declan threw it from the place where he stood, towards the burning edifice. By Divine permission, the staff flew through air, and fell over the topping flames and into the very middle of the forti- fication,which,atthattime,hadbeenhalfconsumed. Inaninstantaneous manner, the fire was extinguished. The distance between that place where our saint stood and the burning castle was computed, as a long mile, and
the name of Cuirt. 6^ On this witnessing
near the a spot lay
grove, bearing
miracle, the chieftain Canic, with all others present, were in admiration, and
they gave thanks to God. 6s This castle, here alluded to, was situated not
far from the River Suir, and on its southern bank. It was at a place which,
"
in our saint's Acts, is Latinized, Collis Stabilis. " But, that place, from
which St. Declan threw his staff, was situated near a shallow or ford of the same river, and it was opposite to the monastery of certain holy virgins, who
were — to this Canic. 66 Their daughters
locha 68 derived from its local probably
6? bore the name monastery Magh-
of Clanwilliam, and in the South Riding of the county of Tipperary. This ancient
episcopal seat had a long line of bishops,
obsolete. The grove in question grew not far from the present Clonmel.
6s After relating this miracle, the Acts of our saint state regarding the chieftain Canic,
voluntatem sancti Declani complevit. "
until merged in that of Cashel, a. d. 1568. ""
See an account of it in the Parliamentary Gazetteer of Ireland," vol. ii. , pp. 176, 177.
66
The Very Rev. David B. Mulcahy, P. P. „
62 Ware "Declanum vero says:
post
of of Antrim, and a native Moyarget, county
of Waterford diocese, informs the writer, by letter dated January 27th, 1890, that after a good deal of search, hefound those nuns in the Calendar, at the 24th of September, as
Albeum decessisse, testatur Vitse ejus de-
scriptor, De anno nihil traditum reperi. "
"
Opuscula adscripta S. Patricio," Annota-
tiones, p. 106. Both the Annals of Ulster
and those of Innisfallen place the death of InghetiA CAitroigh. He also states, that Ailbe, in the year 527. See Rev. Dr CAnroigh, in Irish, is the genitive case for
Lanigan's "Ecclesiastical History of Ire-
land," vol. i. , chap, i. , sect, xi. , p. 24, and
CAiiroech—identical with Caihc or Cain- nech.
6?
It is said to have been the site for a convent of Augustinian nuns, granted at the Life, it may be likely this mansion had only dissolution to Sir Henry Radcliffe. This
sect, xii. , p. 26.
63 Although called a castle, in the Latin
been constructed of wood, as were many of
the old Irish residences of chiefs and of their
people.
6* Most probably this name has become
parish of Molough was a particle of New- castle benefice in the diocese of Lismore.
See "Parliamentary Gazetteer of. Ireland," vol. ii. , p. 782.
.
position.
6
9 The writer of our saint's
344 LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. [July 24.
Acts informs us, that in his day, on account of the miracle wrought, a heap of stones, with a cross, had been there erected. The memorial was called Vlu,7° but it is difficult to determine the exact meaning of this old Celtic word.
At a certain time, a fleet was manned by pagans, who directed their course towards St. Declan's monastery, wishing to despoil the local inhabitants of their substance. All these people ran to their saintly and venerable old bishop, to entreat the interposition of his prayers with Heaven, in their behalf. Know-
1
ing the happiness, good dispositions, and holy charity of his disciple, Ultan 7 —whoalreadyhasbeenmentioned—St. DeclanorderedhiminGod'sname to sign against the fleet with the symbol of salvation. At this time, having his right hand engaged in the performance of some work, at the command of his venerable superior, holy brother Ultan signed against the fleet with his left hand, when instantly, all those vessels were swallowed by the sea, sinking " as lead in the mighty waters. ? a " On witnessing this miracle,? * all the Christians were filled with joy, and they were still more confirmed in their faith regardingtheMostHolyTrinity. ? * TheywereloudintheirpraisesofGod's servant, by whom these and many other miracles were wrought. They called* him their preacher and bishop. Between St. Declan and his disciple St. Ultan arose a pious contention regarding this miracle; for, the disciple wished to refer it altogther to his master's merits, while on the contrary, the master would attribute its performance solely to the virtues of his disciple.
After St. Declan's death, the same St. Uitan became second Abbot of Ard- more, and he is said also, to have wrought many miracles, as well as his more celebrated predecessor. ? *
CHAPTER IV.
BISHOP DECLAN'S RELATIONS WITH ST. PATRICK—THE BUILDING AND CONSECRATION OF A LEVITIANA OR AN ORATORY BY ST. DECLAN—HIS NUMEROUS MIRACLES- HE BUILDS A HERMITAGE NEAR THE SEA-SHORE, AND HE RETIRES TO IT—HIS PREPARATION FOR DEATH—HIS HOLY DEPARTURE—FESTIVALS AND COMMEMORA- TIONS—ANTIQUITIES AT ARDMORE—MEMORIALS OF ST. DECLAN—CONCLUSION.
Having destroyed the temples of idols, and converted Gentiles to the true Faith, St. Declan built churches to God, while he consecrated and ordained
*• "
It is found Latinized, Campus Stagni. "
At Newcastle, near the great bend of the River Suir, are the ruins of a religious house,
in tYlogh locha, now Molough, according to the Very Rev. David B. Mulcahy, who ap- pears to have most satisfactorily identified the locality.
<J It is now known as Moloughabbey, a
townland in the small parish of Molough, in
the barony of Iffa and Offa West. This
parish and the townland are described, on the
73TheLifeofoursaintstates: "etstatim
mare omnes illas naves absorpsit quasi saccos
plombo plenos. " Then follows the legen-
dary account, that those submerged bodies of the pagan sailors were changed into large rocks, which were to be seen out in the sea, and not far from the shore, in his time. Describing these in an article published in the Pall Mall Gatette, now many years back, Miss Hraddon writes: "A black acre of half-sunken rocks is the haunt of the wliist- ling whaup and of a grim foraging party of hoodie craws, which are highly partial to mussels, and are said to open these luxuries by taking the shell into the air and letting it fall on the stones below. "
"
Ordnance Survey Townland Maps for the
County of Tipperary," sheet 88.
70 This place has been rendered into Latin
"
11 *
Acervus Sancti Declani," by the old writer
of the>e Acts. In English, this should mean,
the Mound or Cairn of St. Declan. "
7
The author of our saint's Acts —
He
his chanties, towards the little ones and poor of Christ.
7" See Exodus, xv. , 10.
71
is
said to have been remarkable for
that inhistime,theScots bywhomheunder-
—when
approach of danger, were accustomed to
stands the Irish
l ,ray> "The left hand of Ultan be against
seeing
says,
or the hearing
July 24. ] LIVES OE THE IRISH SAINTS. 345
several ecclesiastics. It has been generally asserted and believed, that St. Declan became the bishop of his own people, the Desii, whom he first brought toaknowledgeofDivinetruth. But,theperiodwhenhelabouredthereisnot so clearly ascertained. Whatever amount of uncertainty regards the state- St. Declan has been classed the of St. Patrick. 1 How-
among disciples
ment,
ever, this does not appear, from any of the ancient Lives of the great Irish
Apostle; and, although, during his sojourn upon earth, the reputation of our saint was very great, it has been supposed, that the omission of such an eminent person's name, had he really been one of St. Patrick's disciples,
should have been a strange circumstance.
2
The author of St. Declan's Life,
however, brings both distinguished personages into close relations of amity and intercourse.
The most holy Patrick, Archbishop of the Irish, sent one of his disciples, charged with a commission to venerable Declan. But, on coming to the southern part of the Decies' country, that disciple was drowned in a certain river,calledLuch. Hearingofhisdeath,BishopDeclanwasmuchafflicted.
:
He said M Truly do I grieve in spirit, that the most holy man's messenger,
who was sent to me, has been taken off by a sudden death, and in my part of the country. Nor can he bear back my communication to his illustrious master. Wherefore, you shall immediately place me in a chariot, that I may assist at his obsequies, and that our holy father, and his master St. Patrick, may hear of my regard for him. " "That river, in which the messenger had been drowned, was only two miles distant from St. Declan's city. The
drowned man had already been placed in a coffin, that his corpse might be interred in St. Declan's cemetery. But, with his attendants, having met those who bore the dead body, Declan ordered them to place it on the ground. This order was obeyed, for they supposed the holy bishop was about to sing an office for the dead over him, and on that spot. 3 Approaching the coffin, and lifting the shroud from the dead man's face, Declan beheld it swollen and discoloured, as usually happens in the case of drowned persons. He shed tears, and he then prayed mentally for some time, the crowd around not hearing what had been said. He afterwards spoke these words in presence
" In the name of the Most Holy Trinity, and undivided unity of the Father, Son and Holy Ghost, whose sweet and light yoke I bear, arise before us,forChristhathgrantedthylife tome. " Atthosewordsofthevenerable Bishop, St. Patrick's disciple arose from the coffin. He then blessed our saint and all those that stood around him. Bishop Declan then raised and tenderly embraced him, while our saint's disciples followed their master's example. At the time this accident which caused his death occurred,
that messenger complained of a weakly constitution, like to a man recovering from some infirmity; but, after his restoration to life, he became healthy and robust. He returned with St. Declan to his city, and remained with him some days, with manifestations of truest love. Great joy was felt in Ardmore, as a consequence of this miracle ; so that the name Christ and St. Declan's
it. " By pronouncing such words, we are who adds, that we may conclude, St.
of all
:
informed, the power of God was frequently manifested.
? s See "Acta Sanctorum," tomus v. , Julii xxiv. De S. Declano Episcopo Ardmoriae in Hibernia, cap. ix. , sects. 71, 72, pp. 606, 607.
Declan became distinguished during some part of the sixth century, calculating from the times of his disciples and friends, of whom some records remain. See " Eccle-
siastical History of Ireland," vol. i. , chap, i. , sect, xii. , pp. 26, 27.
3 The Life has it: " Putabant omnes, quod sanctus Episcopus vellet officium mor- tuorum inibi cantare pro illo. "
Chapter iv. "
—
T
See "Trias Colgan's
Thaumaturga,
S. Patricii, cap. xxiii. , p. 269.
4 See " Acta Sanctorum," tomus v. , Julii
Quinta Appendix ad Acta
3 Such is the opinion of Rev. Dr. Lanigan,
346 LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. [July 24.
