39 The
monastery
of Amorbach, and the well of St.
O'Hanlon - Lives of the Irish Saints - v8
, xvii Jour d'Aout, p.
626.
August 17. ] LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. 243
situated at the Odenwald forest, between the Rivers Neckar and Maine, and on the confines of the Dioceses of Wurtzburgh and Mayence. To the latter
it is
12 Amorbach is now a town of Bavaria, and in the circle of the
subject.
Lower Mayne, about twenty miles south of AschafTenburg, and having a
of J3 toa of
population nearly 3,ooo. According conjecture Joannes Georgius
ab Eckhart, the name of this place is derived from these two words, Amer or
Ammer, a species of cherry, and Bach, which means a rivulet, so that in com-
bination, he resolves them into the designation of Amorbach. However,
this derivation appears to be extremely far-fetched, and hardly warranted,
since the more modern name of the rivulet is admitted to have been changed
into Mudt. 1 * Whether Amor left the monastery at Fossey of his own choice,
to attach himself to the mission at the Odenwald, or whether he had been
called there by order of his master, St. Pirmin, has not been determined.
In the year 724, it is said that St. Pirmin left Amorbach to the charge of St.
Amor, and then went himself to Reichenau,^ an Island in Lake Constance,
where he established a celebrated monastery. It has been stated, on the
best and oldest 16 that the Blessed Amor, the of St. Pirmin, authorities, disciple
had been set over the monastery of Amorbach, as its first Abbot. ^ St. Amor
is thought by some, to have been the first founder and Abbot of the ancient
monastery at Amorbach, which is supposed to derive its designation from
him. This latter opinion was a long-prevalent tradition among the people ; and, to it, the learned local historian Gropp assents. 18 Whether or not such
a name had been given to that place, while the saint was alive, or after his
death, is unknown. Some have imagined, that it was so called, by Suibert, the successor of St. Amor, in the monastery, to commemorate his master and
x
to honour him. 9 While he had charge of this establishment, at the earnest
request of St. Pirmin and of his monks, Duke Charles and Count Ruthard foundedanewmonastery. St. Amorsuperintendeditserection,andwhenit
had been completed, he was again appointed to the government of that house. A very particular friendship was established between our saint and the holy man Burchard, who at that time was engaged in spreading Christian truths
the at 20 There can be no but counsel
among people Wurtzburg.
12 Father Ignatius Gropp very exactly de- scribes its location and surroundings in his learned work, " /Etas mille Annorum anti-
doubt, by
et Monasterii B. M. quissimi regalis
Virg.
l8 Headds "
: Megenfridus chronogra-
in Amorbach," &c, pars, i. , cap. i.
•3 See " Gazetteer of the World," vol. i. ,
Christi — ibi converterunt, atque episcopates
phus et monachus Fuldensis, qui anno cmxc. floruit, sanctum Amorem primum abbatem fuisse, et loco nomen indidisse scri- bit. Varium exhinc appellationem sortitum est, quae varie scribitur *c pronunciatur : Amarbaricum, Amarbaracum, Amarba- cum, Amerbacum, Amerbachium, Am-
p. 233.
14 He adds
" Vetustissimum interim est hoc ccenobium, et Scotos primos incolas habuit, qui regionem, circa Verdam Saxoni- cam sitam, sub Carolo Magno ad fidem
fundamenta jecerunt. "
Wirceburgensis," xxxiv. p. 361.
tomus
i. ,
lib.
xxi. , cap.
— traditionem continuam edocti poribus per
:
"Commentarii de Rebus Francise Orientalis et Episcopatus
merbacum,
appellationis originem ab antiquissimis tem-
15 It lies four miles W. N. W. of Constanz.
See "Gazetteer of the World," vol. xi. ,
p. 254. 16
Meginfrid,
Fulda, has been quoted by Trithemius, for
this statement. He flourished towards the of their holy patron while he was living, close of the tenth century. Two other and the many miracles wrought there
the chronicler and Monk of
to the so named place
ancient records, quoted by Father Gropp in his History of Amorbach, confirm the fore- going account.
This is stated, in a Manuscript Chroni-
** On the authority of Cratepolius and Crantz, Bucelin has stated this in his Bene-
dictine Martyrology.
Amenbachium, &c. Com- munissime et certe Amorbacum, cujusmodi
" /Etas mille Annorum
Monasterii B. M.
'9 Another conjecture of Gropp is ad-
through their invocation after his death,
See ibid.
20
sumus. "
antiquis-
simi et
regalis
Virg.
in
Amorbach," &c, pars, i. , cap. i.
that
it, to mark their sense'of the great sanctity
duced,
pilgrims
244 LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. [August 17.
and mutual aid, both took part in those pious works, which were agreed upon forthespiritualgoodoftheirrespectivecommunities. Ithasbeenshownby the Bollandist Father Guilelmus Cuper, that some writers have confounded our saint with another St. Amor of Aquitaine and a confessor, whose feast occursonthe8thofOctober. ThelatterwasveneratedintheancientBene- dictine Abbey of Munster-Bilsen 21 and regarding him, an account may be
;
found in the learned work " of the Jesuit Father Barthe'lemy Fisen. How-
ever, while he
at the 8th of October 2 s ;
Molanus draws the distinction between both saints. 2^ But
Ferrarius,
2*
two distinct entries of both
yet, in his notes, at the mention of St. Amor, the Abbot,26 that writer states, they were but one and the same person. Such a statement is devoid of proof, and indeed the distinction has been solidly established by Father Ignatius Gropp, and by other writers. The mistake is accounted for in this manner. About the year 1446, a certain John Keck, a secular priest, in consequence of the great popular veneration for St. Amor at Amorbach, yet finding no written Life of him, or nothing but what came down in local tradition, felt greatly desirous to prosecute further enquiries about him, and thus to satisfy a pious curiosity, he entertained a desire to gather further information. Having heard, at last, that a St. Amor was venerated with great devotion at Munster-Bilsen, where his remains were preserved in a convent of nuns, he went thither, and learned that the Legend of St. Amor's Life was extant. That he pro- cured, and thought it had reference solely to St. Amor or Amorbach. He then requested some relics of their patron from the nuns, and the Abbess
gives
saints,
complied with his request. All this was accomplished by Keck, in perfect good faith, and satisfied that his devout intention had been fulfilled. Where- fore, he endeavoured to reconcile the Acts of St. Amor of Aquitain, with what had been locally related of St. Amor at Amorbach ; and, to promote still more devotion to the latter, he committed to writing those false accounts, whichhaveledlaterwriterstorepeathiserror. Whilepresidingoverthemonas- tery of Amorbach, the holy Abbot Amor was most desirous of establishing a school there for the instruction of boys, knowing well that the young are like to soft wax, which can be moulded easily to receive whatever impressions are made, and therefore, that Christian principles and practices must be instilled into their minds, and with great diligence, during their tender years. Nor did he neglect to provide for the teaching and training of young girls. His methods for instruction were wisely planned, because he managed to
cle of Wurtzburg.
21 He led a solitary life for some time in
the vicinity of M*aestricht. His sanctity and miracles caused him to be venerated by the people. He was buried at Bilsen, and some time after his interment, the sacred remains were transferred to the Abbatial Church of Munster-Bilsen, Latinized Belisia and Bellua. See Les Petits Bollandistes,
primum in lucem prodita ;—Flores Ecclesiae Leodiensis, sive Vitce vel Elogia Sanctorum et aliorum qui illustriori virtute banc Dicecesine exornarunt. " At p. 448, in the latter part, the notes on St. Amor of Aqui- taine are contained.
"3 In his work, "De Natalibus Sanctorum Belgii," at the 8th of October, where after eulogizing St. Amor of Bilsen, he adds in a
"Vies des Saints," tome xii. , viiie Jour note: "Fuit et alius ejus nominis Sanctus,
d'Octobre, pp. 153, 154.
22 The first edition of " Sancta Lena, Ro-
primus abbas Amarbachii, discipulus sancti Pirminii, quern Alemannia celebrat. "
manae Ecclesise
sive HistoiiaEcclesiae
2* In " rum. "
Filia;
Leodiensis," was issued at Liege, in 1642,
fob The second edition was published in
the same city in 1696, folio, and having for
Generalis Sancto-
:
26 He writes " Sed hie idem est cum
" its title :
Sancta Legia, Romance Ecclesioe Filia, sive Historiarum Ecclesias Leodiensis,
Partes duse ; Quarum prima ab ipso Auctore superiore ; nam fuit primus abbas Amor- aucta fuit atque recognita, et secunda nunc bacensis, et Belisiie objit. "
Catalogus
2s There we read
gros sancti Amoris presbyteri. Amorbaci in Gcrmania sancti Amoris abbatis. "
:
" Belisioe apud Tun-
August 17. ] LIVES OF THE IRISH SAlNTS. 245
cheer and encourage youth, by his gracious and agreeable manners ; he was playful and bland among his pupils, so that he was loved for his amiability and accessibility at all times. The children soon learned to delight in his society, and to feel happy when he taught them their prayers, catechism, and even higher subjects for their instruction ; while they willingly practised those rules he laid down, for the regulation of their lives and conduct. He had another object in view, which was to gain the affections of the parents, through the love he bore their children. Moreover, while the parents began to admire and practise the habits of their innocent offspring, they also judiciously left to Amor their direction and proficiency in sacred and secular instruction. Whenever any of his youthful disciples happened to be sick, the holy Abbot was sure to visit them, and always to afford both spiritual and material comfort and consolation. He was most solicitous to press on the people the necessity for having children newly born baptized without delay, and especially when they were weakly or ill. Frequently, in such cases, and
through his merits, their parents believed, that on being entered within the
Christian fold through his ministry, their children also received bodily health
and strength. So holy was Amor esteemed, that his time was greatly taken up with the reception of people, who flocked to him from all parts, to be healed of various diseases, through his prayers and merits. Especially those attacked
with fever sought his aid. Through the efficacy of his prayers and pious manner of living, a well which sprangjnear the church of the old monastery at Amorbach was reputed holy, and the people were accustomed to frequent
2
it, for the purpose of being relieved from various distempers. ? It was dedi-
cated to the Blessed Virgin Mary, and to that chapel which was near it, after the foundation of his new monastery, the saint was accustomed to resort and
22
pray to the Mother of our Lord.
Odenwald Forest for the care and attention bestowed upon themselves and their families, that they soon endowed the newly built monastery with tracts of land, then mostly covered with trees and thorns, and little cultivated. Nor was much time allowed the monks to labour in the fields about their new settlement. However, they rented those fields and lands to tenants, who were anxious to settle near them, and houses were built for their residence. In those early ages, the monasteries had a special attraction for the faithful, as charities were liberally dispensed by the monks to their neighbours in many acts of kindness. As time rolled on, the forests and wastes were cleared,
and brought into cultivation, while the surrounding population progressively increased. It is thought, by some, that the original foundation of that chapel was due to St. Pirmin and to his monks, who gave it the first dedication title. Afterwards, it was made a dependency on the monastery in Amorbach parish, and it became known as St. Amor's chapel, because he and his monks went thitherinprocessiontoprayattheBlessedVirgin'sshrine. Itwasajourney ofaboutone-halfhourfromthelargermonastery. Ithasbeenstated,that St. Amor ruled as Abbot over the of Amorbach
time. Long did the holy Abbot labour in the good work of assisting his
poorer neighbours, while he did not neglect the important duties of teaching his monks by word and example the higher Christian precepts. In fine, it
So grateful were the people living in the
monastery
His sanctity has been established by many miracles wrought during his life-
2 7 The people called it in their language
$u Sartct'jfimotssbnmn. 23 Father Gropp adds
posteris AD fontem sancti Amoris appel- lata sit. "
29 Such is the statement of Meginfrid, and it is confirmed by two old records quoted by Father Gropp.
" ut merito sacra ilia sedicula ob sancti Amoris frequentiam et impetratam salutiferam fonti virtutem a
:
forty
three 2 9 years.
246 LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. [August 17.
may be said, that St. Amor's monastery was the cradle of religion and learn- ing, from which bishops, pastors and doctors of the church were drawn. Many of these were renowned for their sanctity. They largely contributed to the conversion of different nations, and some of them obtained the laurel of martyrdom. 3° St. Amor is said to have attained to the eighty-third year of his age, and this has been inferred from the data set down in his traditional acts. The death of this holy Abbot has been generally referred to a. d. 767 or 777. 31 He departed this life on the 17th of August, about the year 767 according to the calculation of Gropp, and in the seventy-third year of his age. 33 On this day, his commemoration is found in the Benedictine Martyrologies of Bucelin and of Benedict Cherle. However, the Bollandist Father Guilielmus Cuper thinks it not unlikely he may have lived to a. d. 777. 33 About two hundred years after the foundation of Amorbach, the Huns or Hungarians over-ran nearly all parts of Germany, putting the inhabitants to the sword, and reducing their habitations to ashes. About the beginning of the tenth century, the Diocese of Wurtzburg was exposed to their ravages. Thus, in 910, in 915, and in 923 especially, they subjected eastern France, Alsace, the Suevi and Saxony to their sway 3< and during some one of those
;
years, Amorbach was invaded, some of its monks were killed, and others
sought safety in flight, while the house itself was set on fire. Such outrages
were repeated in succeeding ages, even when the monastery had been partially rebuilt. No doubt, many of the early charters and records of this
house had been destroyed during these mediaeval ravages. If any remained,
they were probably wholly lost, when the peasant rebellion during the Bran- denburg and Swedish wars broke out, Germany having suffered for a long time duringtheReformationdisturbancesinthesixteenthcentury. Thepeople,
in succeeding times, observed the practice of visiting that place as pilgrims, 35 and the fame of St. Amor in their estimation became so established, that crowds flocked to celebrate his festival, as well in the cloisters, as in the town itself, and with great solemnity. Moreover, as mementoes of their visit, various votive presents and tokens were set up in his old chapel ; while many of these snowed manifest signs of age and decay, in the fifteenth century. St. Amor's virtues and miracles were so divulged, that people came from the most distant places to pray at his well. This fountain was within the sacred edifice itself, and on the northern side. It flowed in a clear and full stream. A stone, level with the pavement of the church, covered it ; but, this caused no obstruction to those who passed near; while a round excavation, about one foot in diameter, allowed access to the water, which could be drawn by means ofacupfastenedtotheorifice. Throughasubterraneanchannel,theoutflow came into a cistern before the church door, in which the pilgrims often washed themselves,36 and returned rejoicing to their homes. A metrical
30 Father adds to the Gropp
" Acta tomus iii. , xvii. Sanctorum," Augusti
De S. Amore vel Amatore, Primo Abbate
Amorbacensi, &c, sect, iv. , pp. 468, 469. 3* AccordingtoTrithemius.
3s Father Gropp relates, that when
Ludovicus was Abbot over Amorbach, in the year 1273, a certain noble Henricus de Rosenberg lived at the church of St. Amor,
foregoing " In hoc uno Sanctorum adeo Patrum successores et filii infelices sumus, quodtantarumvirtutumetprreclaregestorum cognitio ad nos integra non pervenit, tern- porum ac bellorum injuriis plurimum oblit-
terata. "
31 "
See Les Petits Bollandistes, Vies des
account
:
Saints," tome ix. , xviie Jour d'Aout, and this is found mentioned in an old
626.
32 See " MtU mille Annorum
simi et Monasterii 13. M. regalis
33 See his disquisition on this subject, in
Manuscript.
p.
Virg. Amorbach, &c, pars, i. , cap. i. , p. 37.
Father,
3? This has been inserted by Father Gropp
antiquis-
in
" In the name of the
the Son, and of the Holy Ghost. "
Holy and of
36 In thus invoked the doingso, they
Trinity,
August 17. ] LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. 247
description of the site, with miraculous properties of this holy well, has been composed in Latin Hexameter verse, at considerable length, and as found in
an ancient Manuscripts From the local allusions, it may be suspected this had been the composition of one familiar with the surroundings, and probably he was a monk, belonging to the monastery at Amorbach. Another short Latin poem or anagram, supposed by Gropp to have been written by the same person, is extant. 38 The celebrated monastery of Amorbach is at pre- sent the residence of the Prince of Leiningen.
39 The monastery of Amorbach, and the well of St. Amor, had been objects for the veneration of pilgrims who went thither to pray. Many of these had been afflicted with various diseases, and we have recorded the names of persons who received benefits and relief, at different dates, from a. d. 1446 to the year 17 12. The particulars are set down, by Father Ignatius Gropp, as taken from an account of the Priest, John Keck, who lived towards the close of the fifteenth century, as also from the statementsoflaterwriters. However,manyotherscouldberecorded,40which were solely written not on parchment or paper, but in the grateful hearts of
the faithful, who received such benefits through St. Amor's intercession, and which favours continued to be granted even down to the present time.
Article IV. —St. Temhnen, Monk and Martyr, of Magheralin. This holy martyr seems to have flourished at an early period in the Irish Church. The ^Feilire" 1 of St. on this " the death of
^Engus, day, gives Teimnen,theMonk. " Thescholiastadds,thathewasamartyrfromLinn
Luachain, on the—brink of Cassan Linde. 2 " Temmian, mon,"—for mona-
chus, "a monk"
in his History already mentioned.
38
*
It is addressed to young people thus :
dered
:
"
historica Methoda adum-
Fons sancti Amoris peregrini salutifer et dos. "
peratae —" et memoriam. "
yEtas mille Annorum
By transposition a —
of the
it is ren-
antiquissimi et regalis Monasterii B. M. Virg. in Amorbach, Ord. S. Benedict! in Archidiaecesi Gloria et Honore
Morsus infantis aegri sano ; certe pro- dest, fili. "
Afterwards, the poet explains his own m—ean-
is the record in the of at
:
ing more fully in the following verse copy,
are the and the following stanza,
" Infantis /Egri morbus dum pectora mordet.
English translation of Whitley Stokes, LL. D. , at the 17th of August :—
llocher1 ttt marvcin amine-}*
nioj\pem icnoich caLait> L4cleir\ cam cen chinam CAimchm Ceunne-n mariAij*.
" Mammes the martyr suffered great pain on a hard cross : with a fair, crimeless fo—l- lowing Monk TeimneVs bed-death. " "Transactions of the Royal Irish Academy," Irish Manuscript Series, vol. i. , part i. On the Calendar of Oengus, p. cxxiv.
Mordet et cutem.
exilem, quae tegit ossa,
Dos ego magna adsum, morsus sacroque repente,
Hos (certe prodest) sano liquore meo.
Ergo veni dilecte, veni formosule FILL
Sanantem bibe. "
succum
si
sitis,
inde
39 See Les Petits Bollandistes " Vies des 2
letters,
Moguntina
simple
Martyrology Tallagh,3
— modi anathemata, quae singulis annis afferri
et appendi ibidem solent in perennem recu-
cxxxi.
3 Edited by Rev. Dr. Kelly, p. xxxii. In
that copy of the same Martyrology, as found
48 Father Gropp adds : "Alia testantur
appensae in ejus sacello variae imagines, ITionAcln.
figurae cereae, fulcra subalaria, aliaque hujus- 4 By a more recent hand, that has added
Saints," tome ix. , xviie Jour d'Aout, p. 626.
sanitatis alteriusve beneficii testem
coronata
brata, etc. , ex ejusdem Monasterii Chartis et Documents aliisque probatis Autoribus eruta et probata," pars, i. , cap. i. , pp. 42, etseq.
x
Article iv. — In the "Leabhar Breac"
Seeifo'd. , p.
atque
in the Book of Leinster, we read Cemiani
248 LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. [August 17.
the 17th of August. In reference to this holy man, it has been suggested/
first, that the Temhnen here mentioned may be the same as St. Hieron, a
priest who was martyred by the Norsemen in 856, and who is commemorated,
on this day,5 in Holland; or secondly, that the name may not be different from
thatofErnan,diminutivefromIemorHeronn,meaning"iron. "6 However,he
is sufficiently well distinguished in the entries given from two of our most
ancient Calendars. There is, therefore, no necessity to seek for any foreign
saint, nor for any person bearing the name Ernan or Ferreolus. But there
seems, nevertheless, some confusion, as we have already had Temnen, of
Linn Uachaille, at the 7 th of August. ? It is possible, that there may have been
two bearing a like name, and that by an error in the gloss of Marianus
O'Gorman, they are both said to be of Linn Uachaille. In the Martyrology of
Tamlacht, at 7th August, we have "Temnanus Linn dtiachil," and at the 17th
of " Temmianus monachus," which seems to indicate that were August, they
two different persons. In the text of Marianus O'Gorman, we have simply "Temnan," in both places; but, in both, the gloss tells us, that he was of Linn Uachaille. 8 His name occurs in the Martyrology of Donegal,? at this same date, under the title of Temhnen, Monk and Martyr, of Linn Uachille. 10 This place has been now identified with the present parish of Magheralin or Maralin, lying partly in the Barony of O'Neilland East, County of Armagh, but chiefly in that of Lower Iveagh, County of Down. 11 This old church of Linn Uachille has often been noticed in our Annals, as having been despoiled by the Northmen. 12 It is probable, that during one of their forays, the saint here named had obtained his crown of martyrdom.
Article V. —St. Beccan, possibly of Kilbeggan, County of 1
Westmeath. TheMartyrologyofTallagh, simplyentersthename—Beccan, Sci, at the 17th of August. —Except the inference, that he flourished proba- bly before the ninth century no other conjecture appears safe to hazard.
2 Wehavealreadyseen,atthe5thdayofApril, thataSt. BecanorBegain,
the son of Cule, was venerated, and he was connected with Imlech-Fiaich,3 in Fera-Cul-Breagh, now Emlach, in the present County of Meath. Although, according to some conjectural accounts, he is thought to have founded a monastery at Kilbeggan, in the present County of Westmeath ; yet, of the different saints bearing this name and mentioned in our Irish Calendars, all have some distinction of epithet, but none are remarked as having been con- nected with Kilbeggan. It seems most probable, however, that this place
a note at this saint's name in the O'Clerys'
copy of the Martyrology of Donegal.
5 See his Acts, in Art. i. , at this date.
6 This same name is Latinized Ferreolus
by Adamnan, in Vita S. Columbse, lib. iii. , cap. 23, p. 237, Rev. Dr. Reeves' edition.
1 See at this date, in the present Volume, Art. iii.
10 A note by Drs. Todd and Reeves, tells us at this word, Linn Uachaille^ that the more recent hand has written here an ex-
planatory or an enquiring note, the substance of which has been embodied in our text.
11 "
See Lewis' Topographical Dictionary
of Ireland," vol. ii. , p. 334.
u See Rev. William Reeves' " Ecclesias-
8 "An idem et Hieron, Mart, Holland, tical Antiquities of Down, Connor and
&ne cepnan flop aca Ann, quasi diminu- tivum ab Heronn. Ferreolus, unde Ieron—n juxtaAdamnan,"whichmaybetranslated
"Is he the same as Ileiron, a martyr of Holland ? or is the name that is here Ernan, a sort of diminutive from Heronn, Ferreolus, unde Ieronn according to Adamnan. "
» Edited by Drs. Todd and Reeves, pp. 220,221.
Dromore," n. (i), pp. no, 1 11, and Appen- dix LL, p. 379
1
Article v. — Edited by Rev. Dr.
Kelly, p. xxxii. In that copy found in the Book of Leinster, we also find beccAin, without the addition of Sci, which stands for "saint. "
2
See at that date, in the Fourth Volume of this work, Art. i.
August i 7. ]
LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. 249
took its denomination from a church built there by, or dedicated to, a St, Beccan. Now, two differently entered saints of this name occur, on this day, in our Calendars, and as they have no distinction of patronymic or of place, it may be, that one or the other had been connected with Kilbeggan. Beside this town, and on an eminence within some rich pasture fields, the old cemetery is to be seen. There it was lately enclosed with a strong iron and wire fence, having an entrance-gate between cut-stone piers. * The grave- yard is full of modern head-stones, but few vestiges of ancient ones are now
Kilbeggan Old Graveyard, County of Westmeath.
to be seen. This is said to have had a church on its site, and the place is yet called The Relick, or Reilig,s which signifies a graveyard. Near this, a
Cistercian 6 to have been monastery appears
founded,? by
about the year 1200, and it was supplied with monks from the Abbey of
Mellifont,intheCountyofLouth. WehavearecordofsomeAbbots,who governed that house in Kilbeggan, to the last Abbot, whose possessions were
JO
confiscated, after Inquisition made,9 during the reign of King Henry VIII. From the enumeration given, it would seem, that it had acquired a very ample revenue from houses and lands. It is stated, that the Abbot and Canons had voluntarily surrendered this Abbey to him, with its church,
belfry
and 11 In the time of cemetery.
Queen
Elizabeth, some of these
3"6 See Rev. Anthony Cogan's Ecclesias-
Of this, however, there is no account in •'
tical History of the Diocese of Meath, the tract of Sir James Ware, Coenobia
Ancient and Modern," vol. i. , chap, xxiii. , p. 136.
4 The accompanying illustration of this burial-place was sketched by the writer on the spot in August, 1888. It was afterwards drawn on the wood by William F. Wake- man, and engraved by Mrs. Millard.
5 The term is said to be a derivative from
Cisterciensia Hibemise. "
7 It was called the Abbey of the River of
God.
8
According to Allemande.
9 On the 30th of November, 1539.
10 See Mervyn Archdall's " Monasticon Hibernicum," pp. 717, 718.
11 According to an Inquisition taken in
the Latin word mains. "
" re-
the third of Edward VI. 's year
Reliqttia, signifying
reign.
" At the annual rent of £6 15s. as stated
the Dalton 8 family,
2 $6 LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. [August 17.
possessions were rented to Robert Dillon and to his heirs, /*;/ capites King
James I. granted I the site and landed property of the monastery to Sir
Oliver Lambert, who is said to have pulled down its walls. 14 At this same
the of 1*recordsBeccan. ThenaddstheCalen- date, Martyrology Donegal,
darist : this may be Beccan, son to Saran, who descends from the race of Colla-da-chrioch. •
Article VI. —St. Beccan. There is another Beccan mentioned in the
of x andof Martyrologies Tallagh
2atthe of Inthat 17th August.
Donegal,
copy of the former, inserted in the Book of Leinster, 3 we find also the double
entry of such a name, but without further designation, in either case. Article VII. —St. Tocha, or Tuchai. The name of Tuchai, was
1
venerated at the 17th of August, as we find in the Martyrology of Tallagh.
In that of
Donegal,
2 the name is written Tocha.
Article VIIT. —St. Fortheto. We have reason to suspect, some incorrection has been admitted, in entering a saint's name here, and in the present form. Veneration was given to Fortheto, at the 17th of August, as
1
It must be admitted, however, that the name is given with identical spelling in that copy found in the Book of Leinster,2 and at this same date. The O'Clerys seem to have had doubts about admitting that unusual form of an Irish name into
their Calendar.
Article IX. —St. Eoin of St. John's, County of Down. It should be understood, that the proper name Eoin, in Irish, is equivalent to the
we read in the published Martyrology of Tallagh.
x
records a festival at the In the beginning of the fourteenth century, his place seems to have been known as the Chapel of Styoun, now St. John's Point. This is a detached townland in the parish of Rathmullan. 3 At this same date, the name occurs in the Martyrology of Donegal/Eoin,sonofCarlan,ofTigh-Eoin,inUladh. Thisplacehasbeen identifiedwithSt. John's,intheCountyofDown. s Intheyear1183,itwould seem to have been designated Stechian, in the time of James I. Stion, and at the time of the Dissolution, it was called the Chapel of St. John of Jerusalem. This ancient chapel belonged to a very antique class of ecclesiastical build-
The
17th of August, to honour St. Eoani mic Carlain.
English
name
John.
Martyrology
of
Tallagh 3
in the Chief Remembrancer's Office.
13 By letters patent, in the fourth year of
the entry Cuchai.
3
Edited by Drs. Todd and Reeves, pp. 222, 223.
his reign.
14
See Rev. Anthony Cogan's
"Diocese of
Article viii. — " Kelly, p.
August 17. ] LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. 243
situated at the Odenwald forest, between the Rivers Neckar and Maine, and on the confines of the Dioceses of Wurtzburgh and Mayence. To the latter
it is
12 Amorbach is now a town of Bavaria, and in the circle of the
subject.
Lower Mayne, about twenty miles south of AschafTenburg, and having a
of J3 toa of
population nearly 3,ooo. According conjecture Joannes Georgius
ab Eckhart, the name of this place is derived from these two words, Amer or
Ammer, a species of cherry, and Bach, which means a rivulet, so that in com-
bination, he resolves them into the designation of Amorbach. However,
this derivation appears to be extremely far-fetched, and hardly warranted,
since the more modern name of the rivulet is admitted to have been changed
into Mudt. 1 * Whether Amor left the monastery at Fossey of his own choice,
to attach himself to the mission at the Odenwald, or whether he had been
called there by order of his master, St. Pirmin, has not been determined.
In the year 724, it is said that St. Pirmin left Amorbach to the charge of St.
Amor, and then went himself to Reichenau,^ an Island in Lake Constance,
where he established a celebrated monastery. It has been stated, on the
best and oldest 16 that the Blessed Amor, the of St. Pirmin, authorities, disciple
had been set over the monastery of Amorbach, as its first Abbot. ^ St. Amor
is thought by some, to have been the first founder and Abbot of the ancient
monastery at Amorbach, which is supposed to derive its designation from
him. This latter opinion was a long-prevalent tradition among the people ; and, to it, the learned local historian Gropp assents. 18 Whether or not such
a name had been given to that place, while the saint was alive, or after his
death, is unknown. Some have imagined, that it was so called, by Suibert, the successor of St. Amor, in the monastery, to commemorate his master and
x
to honour him. 9 While he had charge of this establishment, at the earnest
request of St. Pirmin and of his monks, Duke Charles and Count Ruthard foundedanewmonastery. St. Amorsuperintendeditserection,andwhenit
had been completed, he was again appointed to the government of that house. A very particular friendship was established between our saint and the holy man Burchard, who at that time was engaged in spreading Christian truths
the at 20 There can be no but counsel
among people Wurtzburg.
12 Father Ignatius Gropp very exactly de- scribes its location and surroundings in his learned work, " /Etas mille Annorum anti-
doubt, by
et Monasterii B. M. quissimi regalis
Virg.
l8 Headds "
: Megenfridus chronogra-
in Amorbach," &c, pars, i. , cap. i.
•3 See " Gazetteer of the World," vol. i. ,
Christi — ibi converterunt, atque episcopates
phus et monachus Fuldensis, qui anno cmxc. floruit, sanctum Amorem primum abbatem fuisse, et loco nomen indidisse scri- bit. Varium exhinc appellationem sortitum est, quae varie scribitur *c pronunciatur : Amarbaricum, Amarbaracum, Amarba- cum, Amerbacum, Amerbachium, Am-
p. 233.
14 He adds
" Vetustissimum interim est hoc ccenobium, et Scotos primos incolas habuit, qui regionem, circa Verdam Saxoni- cam sitam, sub Carolo Magno ad fidem
fundamenta jecerunt. "
Wirceburgensis," xxxiv. p. 361.
tomus
i. ,
lib.
xxi. , cap.
— traditionem continuam edocti poribus per
:
"Commentarii de Rebus Francise Orientalis et Episcopatus
merbacum,
appellationis originem ab antiquissimis tem-
15 It lies four miles W. N. W. of Constanz.
See "Gazetteer of the World," vol. xi. ,
p. 254. 16
Meginfrid,
Fulda, has been quoted by Trithemius, for
this statement. He flourished towards the of their holy patron while he was living, close of the tenth century. Two other and the many miracles wrought there
the chronicler and Monk of
to the so named place
ancient records, quoted by Father Gropp in his History of Amorbach, confirm the fore- going account.
This is stated, in a Manuscript Chroni-
** On the authority of Cratepolius and Crantz, Bucelin has stated this in his Bene-
dictine Martyrology.
Amenbachium, &c. Com- munissime et certe Amorbacum, cujusmodi
" /Etas mille Annorum
Monasterii B. M.
'9 Another conjecture of Gropp is ad-
through their invocation after his death,
See ibid.
20
sumus. "
antiquis-
simi et
regalis
Virg.
in
Amorbach," &c, pars, i. , cap. i.
that
it, to mark their sense'of the great sanctity
duced,
pilgrims
244 LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. [August 17.
and mutual aid, both took part in those pious works, which were agreed upon forthespiritualgoodoftheirrespectivecommunities. Ithasbeenshownby the Bollandist Father Guilelmus Cuper, that some writers have confounded our saint with another St. Amor of Aquitaine and a confessor, whose feast occursonthe8thofOctober. ThelatterwasveneratedintheancientBene- dictine Abbey of Munster-Bilsen 21 and regarding him, an account may be
;
found in the learned work " of the Jesuit Father Barthe'lemy Fisen. How-
ever, while he
at the 8th of October 2 s ;
Molanus draws the distinction between both saints. 2^ But
Ferrarius,
2*
two distinct entries of both
yet, in his notes, at the mention of St. Amor, the Abbot,26 that writer states, they were but one and the same person. Such a statement is devoid of proof, and indeed the distinction has been solidly established by Father Ignatius Gropp, and by other writers. The mistake is accounted for in this manner. About the year 1446, a certain John Keck, a secular priest, in consequence of the great popular veneration for St. Amor at Amorbach, yet finding no written Life of him, or nothing but what came down in local tradition, felt greatly desirous to prosecute further enquiries about him, and thus to satisfy a pious curiosity, he entertained a desire to gather further information. Having heard, at last, that a St. Amor was venerated with great devotion at Munster-Bilsen, where his remains were preserved in a convent of nuns, he went thither, and learned that the Legend of St. Amor's Life was extant. That he pro- cured, and thought it had reference solely to St. Amor or Amorbach. He then requested some relics of their patron from the nuns, and the Abbess
gives
saints,
complied with his request. All this was accomplished by Keck, in perfect good faith, and satisfied that his devout intention had been fulfilled. Where- fore, he endeavoured to reconcile the Acts of St. Amor of Aquitain, with what had been locally related of St. Amor at Amorbach ; and, to promote still more devotion to the latter, he committed to writing those false accounts, whichhaveledlaterwriterstorepeathiserror. Whilepresidingoverthemonas- tery of Amorbach, the holy Abbot Amor was most desirous of establishing a school there for the instruction of boys, knowing well that the young are like to soft wax, which can be moulded easily to receive whatever impressions are made, and therefore, that Christian principles and practices must be instilled into their minds, and with great diligence, during their tender years. Nor did he neglect to provide for the teaching and training of young girls. His methods for instruction were wisely planned, because he managed to
cle of Wurtzburg.
21 He led a solitary life for some time in
the vicinity of M*aestricht. His sanctity and miracles caused him to be venerated by the people. He was buried at Bilsen, and some time after his interment, the sacred remains were transferred to the Abbatial Church of Munster-Bilsen, Latinized Belisia and Bellua. See Les Petits Bollandistes,
primum in lucem prodita ;—Flores Ecclesiae Leodiensis, sive Vitce vel Elogia Sanctorum et aliorum qui illustriori virtute banc Dicecesine exornarunt. " At p. 448, in the latter part, the notes on St. Amor of Aqui- taine are contained.
"3 In his work, "De Natalibus Sanctorum Belgii," at the 8th of October, where after eulogizing St. Amor of Bilsen, he adds in a
"Vies des Saints," tome xii. , viiie Jour note: "Fuit et alius ejus nominis Sanctus,
d'Octobre, pp. 153, 154.
22 The first edition of " Sancta Lena, Ro-
primus abbas Amarbachii, discipulus sancti Pirminii, quern Alemannia celebrat. "
manae Ecclesise
sive HistoiiaEcclesiae
2* In " rum. "
Filia;
Leodiensis," was issued at Liege, in 1642,
fob The second edition was published in
the same city in 1696, folio, and having for
Generalis Sancto-
:
26 He writes " Sed hie idem est cum
" its title :
Sancta Legia, Romance Ecclesioe Filia, sive Historiarum Ecclesias Leodiensis,
Partes duse ; Quarum prima ab ipso Auctore superiore ; nam fuit primus abbas Amor- aucta fuit atque recognita, et secunda nunc bacensis, et Belisiie objit. "
Catalogus
2s There we read
gros sancti Amoris presbyteri. Amorbaci in Gcrmania sancti Amoris abbatis. "
:
" Belisioe apud Tun-
August 17. ] LIVES OF THE IRISH SAlNTS. 245
cheer and encourage youth, by his gracious and agreeable manners ; he was playful and bland among his pupils, so that he was loved for his amiability and accessibility at all times. The children soon learned to delight in his society, and to feel happy when he taught them their prayers, catechism, and even higher subjects for their instruction ; while they willingly practised those rules he laid down, for the regulation of their lives and conduct. He had another object in view, which was to gain the affections of the parents, through the love he bore their children. Moreover, while the parents began to admire and practise the habits of their innocent offspring, they also judiciously left to Amor their direction and proficiency in sacred and secular instruction. Whenever any of his youthful disciples happened to be sick, the holy Abbot was sure to visit them, and always to afford both spiritual and material comfort and consolation. He was most solicitous to press on the people the necessity for having children newly born baptized without delay, and especially when they were weakly or ill. Frequently, in such cases, and
through his merits, their parents believed, that on being entered within the
Christian fold through his ministry, their children also received bodily health
and strength. So holy was Amor esteemed, that his time was greatly taken up with the reception of people, who flocked to him from all parts, to be healed of various diseases, through his prayers and merits. Especially those attacked
with fever sought his aid. Through the efficacy of his prayers and pious manner of living, a well which sprangjnear the church of the old monastery at Amorbach was reputed holy, and the people were accustomed to frequent
2
it, for the purpose of being relieved from various distempers. ? It was dedi-
cated to the Blessed Virgin Mary, and to that chapel which was near it, after the foundation of his new monastery, the saint was accustomed to resort and
22
pray to the Mother of our Lord.
Odenwald Forest for the care and attention bestowed upon themselves and their families, that they soon endowed the newly built monastery with tracts of land, then mostly covered with trees and thorns, and little cultivated. Nor was much time allowed the monks to labour in the fields about their new settlement. However, they rented those fields and lands to tenants, who were anxious to settle near them, and houses were built for their residence. In those early ages, the monasteries had a special attraction for the faithful, as charities were liberally dispensed by the monks to their neighbours in many acts of kindness. As time rolled on, the forests and wastes were cleared,
and brought into cultivation, while the surrounding population progressively increased. It is thought, by some, that the original foundation of that chapel was due to St. Pirmin and to his monks, who gave it the first dedication title. Afterwards, it was made a dependency on the monastery in Amorbach parish, and it became known as St. Amor's chapel, because he and his monks went thitherinprocessiontoprayattheBlessedVirgin'sshrine. Itwasajourney ofaboutone-halfhourfromthelargermonastery. Ithasbeenstated,that St. Amor ruled as Abbot over the of Amorbach
time. Long did the holy Abbot labour in the good work of assisting his
poorer neighbours, while he did not neglect the important duties of teaching his monks by word and example the higher Christian precepts. In fine, it
So grateful were the people living in the
monastery
His sanctity has been established by many miracles wrought during his life-
2 7 The people called it in their language
$u Sartct'jfimotssbnmn. 23 Father Gropp adds
posteris AD fontem sancti Amoris appel- lata sit. "
29 Such is the statement of Meginfrid, and it is confirmed by two old records quoted by Father Gropp.
" ut merito sacra ilia sedicula ob sancti Amoris frequentiam et impetratam salutiferam fonti virtutem a
:
forty
three 2 9 years.
246 LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. [August 17.
may be said, that St. Amor's monastery was the cradle of religion and learn- ing, from which bishops, pastors and doctors of the church were drawn. Many of these were renowned for their sanctity. They largely contributed to the conversion of different nations, and some of them obtained the laurel of martyrdom. 3° St. Amor is said to have attained to the eighty-third year of his age, and this has been inferred from the data set down in his traditional acts. The death of this holy Abbot has been generally referred to a. d. 767 or 777. 31 He departed this life on the 17th of August, about the year 767 according to the calculation of Gropp, and in the seventy-third year of his age. 33 On this day, his commemoration is found in the Benedictine Martyrologies of Bucelin and of Benedict Cherle. However, the Bollandist Father Guilielmus Cuper thinks it not unlikely he may have lived to a. d. 777. 33 About two hundred years after the foundation of Amorbach, the Huns or Hungarians over-ran nearly all parts of Germany, putting the inhabitants to the sword, and reducing their habitations to ashes. About the beginning of the tenth century, the Diocese of Wurtzburg was exposed to their ravages. Thus, in 910, in 915, and in 923 especially, they subjected eastern France, Alsace, the Suevi and Saxony to their sway 3< and during some one of those
;
years, Amorbach was invaded, some of its monks were killed, and others
sought safety in flight, while the house itself was set on fire. Such outrages
were repeated in succeeding ages, even when the monastery had been partially rebuilt. No doubt, many of the early charters and records of this
house had been destroyed during these mediaeval ravages. If any remained,
they were probably wholly lost, when the peasant rebellion during the Bran- denburg and Swedish wars broke out, Germany having suffered for a long time duringtheReformationdisturbancesinthesixteenthcentury. Thepeople,
in succeeding times, observed the practice of visiting that place as pilgrims, 35 and the fame of St. Amor in their estimation became so established, that crowds flocked to celebrate his festival, as well in the cloisters, as in the town itself, and with great solemnity. Moreover, as mementoes of their visit, various votive presents and tokens were set up in his old chapel ; while many of these snowed manifest signs of age and decay, in the fifteenth century. St. Amor's virtues and miracles were so divulged, that people came from the most distant places to pray at his well. This fountain was within the sacred edifice itself, and on the northern side. It flowed in a clear and full stream. A stone, level with the pavement of the church, covered it ; but, this caused no obstruction to those who passed near; while a round excavation, about one foot in diameter, allowed access to the water, which could be drawn by means ofacupfastenedtotheorifice. Throughasubterraneanchannel,theoutflow came into a cistern before the church door, in which the pilgrims often washed themselves,36 and returned rejoicing to their homes. A metrical
30 Father adds to the Gropp
" Acta tomus iii. , xvii. Sanctorum," Augusti
De S. Amore vel Amatore, Primo Abbate
Amorbacensi, &c, sect, iv. , pp. 468, 469. 3* AccordingtoTrithemius.
3s Father Gropp relates, that when
Ludovicus was Abbot over Amorbach, in the year 1273, a certain noble Henricus de Rosenberg lived at the church of St. Amor,
foregoing " In hoc uno Sanctorum adeo Patrum successores et filii infelices sumus, quodtantarumvirtutumetprreclaregestorum cognitio ad nos integra non pervenit, tern- porum ac bellorum injuriis plurimum oblit-
terata. "
31 "
See Les Petits Bollandistes, Vies des
account
:
Saints," tome ix. , xviie Jour d'Aout, and this is found mentioned in an old
626.
32 See " MtU mille Annorum
simi et Monasterii 13. M. regalis
33 See his disquisition on this subject, in
Manuscript.
p.
Virg. Amorbach, &c, pars, i. , cap. i. , p. 37.
Father,
3? This has been inserted by Father Gropp
antiquis-
in
" In the name of the
the Son, and of the Holy Ghost. "
Holy and of
36 In thus invoked the doingso, they
Trinity,
August 17. ] LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. 247
description of the site, with miraculous properties of this holy well, has been composed in Latin Hexameter verse, at considerable length, and as found in
an ancient Manuscripts From the local allusions, it may be suspected this had been the composition of one familiar with the surroundings, and probably he was a monk, belonging to the monastery at Amorbach. Another short Latin poem or anagram, supposed by Gropp to have been written by the same person, is extant. 38 The celebrated monastery of Amorbach is at pre- sent the residence of the Prince of Leiningen.
39 The monastery of Amorbach, and the well of St. Amor, had been objects for the veneration of pilgrims who went thither to pray. Many of these had been afflicted with various diseases, and we have recorded the names of persons who received benefits and relief, at different dates, from a. d. 1446 to the year 17 12. The particulars are set down, by Father Ignatius Gropp, as taken from an account of the Priest, John Keck, who lived towards the close of the fifteenth century, as also from the statementsoflaterwriters. However,manyotherscouldberecorded,40which were solely written not on parchment or paper, but in the grateful hearts of
the faithful, who received such benefits through St. Amor's intercession, and which favours continued to be granted even down to the present time.
Article IV. —St. Temhnen, Monk and Martyr, of Magheralin. This holy martyr seems to have flourished at an early period in the Irish Church. The ^Feilire" 1 of St. on this " the death of
^Engus, day, gives Teimnen,theMonk. " Thescholiastadds,thathewasamartyrfromLinn
Luachain, on the—brink of Cassan Linde. 2 " Temmian, mon,"—for mona-
chus, "a monk"
in his History already mentioned.
38
*
It is addressed to young people thus :
dered
:
"
historica Methoda adum-
Fons sancti Amoris peregrini salutifer et dos. "
peratae —" et memoriam. "
yEtas mille Annorum
By transposition a —
of the
it is ren-
antiquissimi et regalis Monasterii B. M. Virg. in Amorbach, Ord. S. Benedict! in Archidiaecesi Gloria et Honore
Morsus infantis aegri sano ; certe pro- dest, fili. "
Afterwards, the poet explains his own m—ean-
is the record in the of at
:
ing more fully in the following verse copy,
are the and the following stanza,
" Infantis /Egri morbus dum pectora mordet.
English translation of Whitley Stokes, LL. D. , at the 17th of August :—
llocher1 ttt marvcin amine-}*
nioj\pem icnoich caLait> L4cleir\ cam cen chinam CAimchm Ceunne-n mariAij*.
" Mammes the martyr suffered great pain on a hard cross : with a fair, crimeless fo—l- lowing Monk TeimneVs bed-death. " "Transactions of the Royal Irish Academy," Irish Manuscript Series, vol. i. , part i. On the Calendar of Oengus, p. cxxiv.
Mordet et cutem.
exilem, quae tegit ossa,
Dos ego magna adsum, morsus sacroque repente,
Hos (certe prodest) sano liquore meo.
Ergo veni dilecte, veni formosule FILL
Sanantem bibe. "
succum
si
sitis,
inde
39 See Les Petits Bollandistes " Vies des 2
letters,
Moguntina
simple
Martyrology Tallagh,3
— modi anathemata, quae singulis annis afferri
et appendi ibidem solent in perennem recu-
cxxxi.
3 Edited by Rev. Dr. Kelly, p. xxxii. In
that copy of the same Martyrology, as found
48 Father Gropp adds : "Alia testantur
appensae in ejus sacello variae imagines, ITionAcln.
figurae cereae, fulcra subalaria, aliaque hujus- 4 By a more recent hand, that has added
Saints," tome ix. , xviie Jour d'Aout, p. 626.
sanitatis alteriusve beneficii testem
coronata
brata, etc. , ex ejusdem Monasterii Chartis et Documents aliisque probatis Autoribus eruta et probata," pars, i. , cap. i. , pp. 42, etseq.
x
Article iv. — In the "Leabhar Breac"
Seeifo'd. , p.
atque
in the Book of Leinster, we read Cemiani
248 LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. [August 17.
the 17th of August. In reference to this holy man, it has been suggested/
first, that the Temhnen here mentioned may be the same as St. Hieron, a
priest who was martyred by the Norsemen in 856, and who is commemorated,
on this day,5 in Holland; or secondly, that the name may not be different from
thatofErnan,diminutivefromIemorHeronn,meaning"iron. "6 However,he
is sufficiently well distinguished in the entries given from two of our most
ancient Calendars. There is, therefore, no necessity to seek for any foreign
saint, nor for any person bearing the name Ernan or Ferreolus. But there
seems, nevertheless, some confusion, as we have already had Temnen, of
Linn Uachaille, at the 7 th of August. ? It is possible, that there may have been
two bearing a like name, and that by an error in the gloss of Marianus
O'Gorman, they are both said to be of Linn Uachaille. In the Martyrology of
Tamlacht, at 7th August, we have "Temnanus Linn dtiachil," and at the 17th
of " Temmianus monachus," which seems to indicate that were August, they
two different persons. In the text of Marianus O'Gorman, we have simply "Temnan," in both places; but, in both, the gloss tells us, that he was of Linn Uachaille. 8 His name occurs in the Martyrology of Donegal,? at this same date, under the title of Temhnen, Monk and Martyr, of Linn Uachille. 10 This place has been now identified with the present parish of Magheralin or Maralin, lying partly in the Barony of O'Neilland East, County of Armagh, but chiefly in that of Lower Iveagh, County of Down. 11 This old church of Linn Uachille has often been noticed in our Annals, as having been despoiled by the Northmen. 12 It is probable, that during one of their forays, the saint here named had obtained his crown of martyrdom.
Article V. —St. Beccan, possibly of Kilbeggan, County of 1
Westmeath. TheMartyrologyofTallagh, simplyentersthename—Beccan, Sci, at the 17th of August. —Except the inference, that he flourished proba- bly before the ninth century no other conjecture appears safe to hazard.
2 Wehavealreadyseen,atthe5thdayofApril, thataSt. BecanorBegain,
the son of Cule, was venerated, and he was connected with Imlech-Fiaich,3 in Fera-Cul-Breagh, now Emlach, in the present County of Meath. Although, according to some conjectural accounts, he is thought to have founded a monastery at Kilbeggan, in the present County of Westmeath ; yet, of the different saints bearing this name and mentioned in our Irish Calendars, all have some distinction of epithet, but none are remarked as having been con- nected with Kilbeggan. It seems most probable, however, that this place
a note at this saint's name in the O'Clerys'
copy of the Martyrology of Donegal.
5 See his Acts, in Art. i. , at this date.
6 This same name is Latinized Ferreolus
by Adamnan, in Vita S. Columbse, lib. iii. , cap. 23, p. 237, Rev. Dr. Reeves' edition.
1 See at this date, in the present Volume, Art. iii.
10 A note by Drs. Todd and Reeves, tells us at this word, Linn Uachaille^ that the more recent hand has written here an ex-
planatory or an enquiring note, the substance of which has been embodied in our text.
11 "
See Lewis' Topographical Dictionary
of Ireland," vol. ii. , p. 334.
u See Rev. William Reeves' " Ecclesias-
8 "An idem et Hieron, Mart, Holland, tical Antiquities of Down, Connor and
&ne cepnan flop aca Ann, quasi diminu- tivum ab Heronn. Ferreolus, unde Ieron—n juxtaAdamnan,"whichmaybetranslated
"Is he the same as Ileiron, a martyr of Holland ? or is the name that is here Ernan, a sort of diminutive from Heronn, Ferreolus, unde Ieronn according to Adamnan. "
» Edited by Drs. Todd and Reeves, pp. 220,221.
Dromore," n. (i), pp. no, 1 11, and Appen- dix LL, p. 379
1
Article v. — Edited by Rev. Dr.
Kelly, p. xxxii. In that copy found in the Book of Leinster, we also find beccAin, without the addition of Sci, which stands for "saint. "
2
See at that date, in the Fourth Volume of this work, Art. i.
August i 7. ]
LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. 249
took its denomination from a church built there by, or dedicated to, a St, Beccan. Now, two differently entered saints of this name occur, on this day, in our Calendars, and as they have no distinction of patronymic or of place, it may be, that one or the other had been connected with Kilbeggan. Beside this town, and on an eminence within some rich pasture fields, the old cemetery is to be seen. There it was lately enclosed with a strong iron and wire fence, having an entrance-gate between cut-stone piers. * The grave- yard is full of modern head-stones, but few vestiges of ancient ones are now
Kilbeggan Old Graveyard, County of Westmeath.
to be seen. This is said to have had a church on its site, and the place is yet called The Relick, or Reilig,s which signifies a graveyard. Near this, a
Cistercian 6 to have been monastery appears
founded,? by
about the year 1200, and it was supplied with monks from the Abbey of
Mellifont,intheCountyofLouth. WehavearecordofsomeAbbots,who governed that house in Kilbeggan, to the last Abbot, whose possessions were
JO
confiscated, after Inquisition made,9 during the reign of King Henry VIII. From the enumeration given, it would seem, that it had acquired a very ample revenue from houses and lands. It is stated, that the Abbot and Canons had voluntarily surrendered this Abbey to him, with its church,
belfry
and 11 In the time of cemetery.
Queen
Elizabeth, some of these
3"6 See Rev. Anthony Cogan's Ecclesias-
Of this, however, there is no account in •'
tical History of the Diocese of Meath, the tract of Sir James Ware, Coenobia
Ancient and Modern," vol. i. , chap, xxiii. , p. 136.
4 The accompanying illustration of this burial-place was sketched by the writer on the spot in August, 1888. It was afterwards drawn on the wood by William F. Wake- man, and engraved by Mrs. Millard.
5 The term is said to be a derivative from
Cisterciensia Hibemise. "
7 It was called the Abbey of the River of
God.
8
According to Allemande.
9 On the 30th of November, 1539.
10 See Mervyn Archdall's " Monasticon Hibernicum," pp. 717, 718.
11 According to an Inquisition taken in
the Latin word mains. "
" re-
the third of Edward VI. 's year
Reliqttia, signifying
reign.
" At the annual rent of £6 15s. as stated
the Dalton 8 family,
2 $6 LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. [August 17.
possessions were rented to Robert Dillon and to his heirs, /*;/ capites King
James I. granted I the site and landed property of the monastery to Sir
Oliver Lambert, who is said to have pulled down its walls. 14 At this same
the of 1*recordsBeccan. ThenaddstheCalen- date, Martyrology Donegal,
darist : this may be Beccan, son to Saran, who descends from the race of Colla-da-chrioch. •
Article VI. —St. Beccan. There is another Beccan mentioned in the
of x andof Martyrologies Tallagh
2atthe of Inthat 17th August.
Donegal,
copy of the former, inserted in the Book of Leinster, 3 we find also the double
entry of such a name, but without further designation, in either case. Article VII. —St. Tocha, or Tuchai. The name of Tuchai, was
1
venerated at the 17th of August, as we find in the Martyrology of Tallagh.
In that of
Donegal,
2 the name is written Tocha.
Article VIIT. —St. Fortheto. We have reason to suspect, some incorrection has been admitted, in entering a saint's name here, and in the present form. Veneration was given to Fortheto, at the 17th of August, as
1
It must be admitted, however, that the name is given with identical spelling in that copy found in the Book of Leinster,2 and at this same date. The O'Clerys seem to have had doubts about admitting that unusual form of an Irish name into
their Calendar.
Article IX. —St. Eoin of St. John's, County of Down. It should be understood, that the proper name Eoin, in Irish, is equivalent to the
we read in the published Martyrology of Tallagh.
x
records a festival at the In the beginning of the fourteenth century, his place seems to have been known as the Chapel of Styoun, now St. John's Point. This is a detached townland in the parish of Rathmullan. 3 At this same date, the name occurs in the Martyrology of Donegal/Eoin,sonofCarlan,ofTigh-Eoin,inUladh. Thisplacehasbeen identifiedwithSt. John's,intheCountyofDown. s Intheyear1183,itwould seem to have been designated Stechian, in the time of James I. Stion, and at the time of the Dissolution, it was called the Chapel of St. John of Jerusalem. This ancient chapel belonged to a very antique class of ecclesiastical build-
The
17th of August, to honour St. Eoani mic Carlain.
English
name
John.
Martyrology
of
Tallagh 3
in the Chief Remembrancer's Office.
13 By letters patent, in the fourth year of
the entry Cuchai.
3
Edited by Drs. Todd and Reeves, pp. 222, 223.
his reign.
14
See Rev. Anthony Cogan's
"Diocese of
Article viii. — " Kelly, p.
