No More Learning

9 See "Trias Thaumaturga," Appendix
5^
LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. [May
theBishop,wasadiscipleofSt. Patrick. 9 AccordingtotheaccountsaboutSt. Nectain, he belonged to a place, known as Cill-Uinche, in Conaille-Muir- theimlme. Also, Fioneabhair-Abba was a locality associated with his memory. Here, it seems probable, was the chief place of his residence, when he had embraced a religious life. According to a gloss on the Feilire-Aenguis, Fionuabhair-Abba, or Findabair,'° was on the margin of the River Boyne, in Bregia. It may be Anglicized " the bright field of the river. " At present, it
is known as Fennor," in a small parish," bearing the same name, in the barony of Lower Duleek. '3 Here, there is an ancient church, surrounded by
^^>Wl
Fennor Old Church, near Slane, County of Meath.
a cemeter}','* which is still greatly frequented. Some massive blocks of a fine description of limestone have been inserted in the gable-wall best preserved, and over them is spread a luxurious growth of ivy. In passing along the Dublin road towards Slane,'5 the grey and ivied walls of Fennor cannot fail to impress
Quinta ad Acta S. Patricii, cap. iv. , num. 6, " These are shown in a sketch, taken by
the writer on the spot, in August, 1883, "The " Leabhar Breac " copy. drawn afterwards on the wood by William " In the Folio Volumes of G. V. Du F. Wakeman, and engraved by Mrs. Md-
p. 266.
Noyer's Sketches, vol. viii. , R. I. A. , there are drawings of this old church, with various details.
" Containing 1,127 acres. See " Parlia- mentary Gazetteer of Ireland," vol. ii. , p. 201.
lard.
'5 At the age of seven years, Dagobert,
King of Austrasia, was seized by Grimoald, Mayor of the Palace. He was shorn as a monk and banished to Ireland. Here his education was received in the Abbey of
'3 See the " Ordnance Survey Townland Slane. See "The Illustrated Dublin Jour-
Maps for the County of Meath," sheets 19, 26. The townland proper is shown, on the former sheet.
nal,'' vol. i. . No. 20, p. 312.
''•' See Rev. . X. Ci gan's " Eccle>iastical
History of the Diocese of Meatli, Ancient
—
May 2. ] LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS.
the beholder, and to awaken Catholic reminiscences. '^ The situation of the old church is one of great picturesqueness. This building measures fifty-five feet, by nineteen, and it had a chancel arch, twenty-two feet, from the east end. How long Nechtain lived here is not known. The Irish Apostle is stated to have been present, however, while he was dying. Nechtain then made his testament, it is said. '7 He called likewise for a drink. St. Patrick had a vision, manifesting his glory in Heaven, before he died. '^ If this account is to be received, St. Nechtain could not have reached a very advanced age, and he must have departed this life, about the middle of the fifth century. When his demise took place, his remains were deposited in Fennor. During the ninth and tenth centuries, some references to it are found in our Annals. 'y After the Anglo-Norman invasion, we find this place to have been converted into a parish church. "'"^ The present saint is patron, where his festival had been kept, on the 2nd of May •^'^ and here, too, we are told, his remains lie. ^^ On this day was venerated Neachtain, as we find set down, in the
Martyrology of Donegal. ^3
Article II. St. Germanus, Bishop and Martyr, in the Country OF the Ambiani, France. \_Fifth Century^ It is the fate of most subject countries—and Ireland forms no exception to the rule—to have not alone their material products appropriated by the dominant country, but even to have their men of sanctity and fair renown absorbed among the rank and file of the conquerors, although having a distinctive national existence. Thus it happens, that the present holy man has been set down as an Anglus, by comparativelymodernwriters;' althoughhisfatherisstatedtohavebeena prince of the nation of the Scots, in his more ancient Acts. These the BoUan-
and Modern," vol. i. , chap, xxiii. , pp. 136,
137.
'? By a Commentator on tlie Feilire of St.
^ngus.
'^ See " Transactions of the Royal Irish
tivitas consignata in lihro qui Fasti Sancto- mm inscribitur. " In the second edition of his Martyrology, Wilson somewhat variedly inserts liis commemoration: "Eodemdie in inferior! Germania depositio S. Germani
Academy," vol. i. , part i. Dr. Whitley Episcopi et Martyris, natione Angli, qui cum
Stokes' version, p. Ixxxiii.
'9 See Dr. O'Donovan's "Annals of the
Four Masters," at A. D. 804, 827, 833, 837, 843, 847, 882, 902, 1024.
in Brabantiam trajecisset ; inde in Frisiam, Chrisii tidem prxdicaturus, in mercedem gloriam martyrii adeptus est circiter annum Christi DCCL. " This account, Philip Alex- ander Ferrari seems to have copied, in his
^° See Rev. Anthony Cogan's "Ecclesias-
tical History of the Diocese of Meath, "Catalogus Generalis Sanctorum ;" and,
Ancient and Modern," vol. i. , chap, xxiii. ,
p. 137.
^' See Dr. O'Donovan's "Annals of the
Four Masters," vol. i. , n. (a), p. 414.
=^ Such is a statement of a commentator
on the Feilire, in the " Leabhar Breac. "
=3 Edited by Drs. Todd and Reeves, pp.
118, 119. Article11. —'Thus,JohnWilsonhas
it in the first edition of his "Martyrologium Anglicanum," at the 2nd of May: " In in- feriore Germania Festivitas S. Germani Episcopi et Martyris : hie Anglus natione, in inferiores illas provincias trajecit, Christi fidem prasdicaturus, ulsi tandem suam mer- cedem, martyrii scilicet coronam, adeptus est. Ejus Vita copiose manu exarata in quopiam Belgii monasterio extat, ut e Societate vene- rabilis Sacerdos testatur, atque hoc die Fes-
he adds another mistake, at this date, " In Anglia S. Germani Episcopi et Martyris ;" as if, indeed, St. Germanus either had been Bishop in England, or had there died. He also cites Heribert Rosweyde for his autho- rity, when writing' about the British Saints. However, Rosweyde treated in general on all those saints, whose Manuscript Lives weretobefoundintheBelgianLibraries. It is true, at the 2nd of May, he enters, " Ger- manus Anglus Episcopus et Martyr ;" not- withstanding. Father John Bolland declares, by the expression Anglus, Rosweyde only meant, one of the different nations, that were then subject to the English monarchy,
^ See "Acta Sanctorum," tomus i. , Mail ii. De S. Germano Episcopo Mart. apud Anibianos in Gallia, pp. 259 to 270.
^ A Prorogue introduces the Life of St.
57
LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. [May 2.
dists have published,^ at the 2nd of May, from various Manuscripts,? with annotations, and having a commentary * by Fatlier John BoUand prefixed. ' The Benedictines barely notice this Tract—supposed to have been written after the tenth century—and, as a tissue of prodigies, which have no other warrant than popular tradition. ^ It was printed, at first, by Pere Jean Cau- chie. 7 At the end of twenty years, in 1665, it was re-issued, with some changes. ^ ColganappearstohavepreparedaLifeofSt. Germanusforpub- lication, at the 2nd of May ; and, the name is so entered, in his list of unpub- lishedManuscripts. 9 HisLifeispubHshed,likewise,inthePetitsBoUandistes' collection. '° InthelatelypublishedEnglish"DictionaryofChristianBiogra- phy,""therearesomenoticesofthissaint. InthetimesoftheEmperorJovian
or Jovinian,'^ who became a protector of the Church, when he succeeded the impious Julian the apostate, '^ it is stated, in the Acts of our saint, that Ger- manusi'-^ who was bishop of Auxerre lived ; however, it may well be ques- tioned, if the latter were even born, at that early period. On more than one occasion, we have alluded to the mission of this holy bishop to Britain, 'S whither he went in order to combat the Pelagian heresy, which there began to spread, as also to confirm the British Christians in the faith. We seem to have no means left for discovering the original name of the present saint. All we learn from his Acts is, that he was the son of a noble father of the Scots' na- tion, while this man was named Audin'^—probably Aedan '7—andofamother, called Aquila. Tiieir son was distinguished for his beautiful features and mein.
He was yet very young, at that time, when St. Germanus of Auxcne visited Britain. '^ This latter holy bishop was about to leave for his own country,'?
58
Germanus, given in seven chapters, com- prising twenty-five paragraphs.
^ Tliis is given, in thirleeii paragraphs.
5 The Acts proper are ended with Historia Translationuii), aactore D. Joanne Cauchio nupcr composita, ut in Officio Ecclesiastico recitaretur.
* See " Ilistoire Literaire de la France," &c. , tomevii. , Siecle xi. , p. 191.
7 Premonstrant and Cure of St, Germain, at Amiens.
and he expired in great agony on the follow- ing night, in the thirty-first year of his age. See Berti's " Ecclesiastics Histori. e Brevia- rium," soec. iv. , cap. v. , p. 124.
'^ His Life is given, among the " Lives of the English Saiuts," by the Tractarian writers, and there, it is stated, that he was born, probably about the year 378. See p. 15. He departed this life, on the 31st of July, A. D. 448, having been a bishop for thirty years and twenty-five days. About forty years after his death, his Acts were
* See ibid.
9 According to " Catalogus Actuum Sanc- written by Constantius, a presbyter of
torum quK MS. habenlur, ordine Mensium et Dierum.
Lyons. See " Gallia Christiana," tonius xii. , p. 262.
'5 His first mission thither is usually as- signed to A. D. 429, in company with St. " Edited by William Smilii, D. C. L. , Loup, Bishop of Troyes. See his Acts, in
•"See "Vies des Saints," tome v. , Se- conde Jour de Mai, pp. 259 to 264.
LL. D. , and Henry Wace, M. A. See vol. ii. , p. 656.
'^ He was a commander in the Imperial Guaid, and he was proclaimed Emperor on the fifth of the July Kalends, A. D. 363. He only retained the dignity for eight months, and he died on the eleventh of the March Kalends, A. D.
364, while journeying to Con- stantinople. The most common opinion is, that he inhaled the fumes of charcoal in his room, \vhere the body was found lifeless. See
the Christian Brothers' "Historical Class- Book," Roman Empire from Coiistaiilinc to Theodosius, A. D. 337-379, sect. 12, p. 223.
'^ He began to lule A. D. 361, but he was mortally wounded in a battle fought against the Persians, on the 27th ofJune, A. D. 363,
L'Abbe Rohrbacher's '"Vies des Saints, pour tous les jours de I'Annee," tome iv. , p. 285.
"Latinized Audinus, called "Anglus na- tione," by Rosweyd, on the authority of Bel- gian Manuscripts, while "other accounts make him Scotch (i. e. Irish) by birth. " "Dictionary of Christian Biography," edited by William Smith, D. C. L. , LL. D. , and Henry Wace, M. A. , vol. ii. , p. 656.
'? 'I'hiswasaverycommonname,among the ancient Irish.
'*It must be remarked, that in company with St. . Severus, bishop of Treves, he visited Britain a second time, A. D. 446, See Dr. John Lingard's "History of England," vol. i. , chap, i. , p. 58.
—
;—
May 2. ]
LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS.
59
when he happened to make the acquaintance of that Scotian family, yet buried in the darkness of Gentile error. His charitable sympathies were deeply moved, and he prayed most earnestly to God for their conversion. These prayers were found to be effective ; while, the strangers were supernaturally moved to visit St. Gerraanus, and to invite him to their house. This invitation he graciously accepted. When he arrived there, he expounded to them, at great length, the principles and practices of Christianity. Audin and Aquila, with their whole family, believed, and they were accordingly baptized. So greatly interested was St. Germanus with their angelic and beautiful son, that he insisted on becoming godfather, and on giving his own name to tlie youth, at the sacred font. ^° After the holy bishop's departure for France, the parents took care, that their son should be trained in the practice of every virtue, while no pains were spared, in giving him a most finished education. Soon, he excelled most other students in learning and wisdom ; while giving himself entirely to the Almighty's service, he became remarkable for the elo- quence and unction, with which he gained over other souls to love the great Creator. So distinguished was he for works of cuarity, that in every poor person he seemed to recognise the Father of the poor, Christ our Redeemer. He bestowed meat and drink—even what was necessary for his own support on all necessitous persons. Every class, that came in contact with him, received religious instruction, and became convinced of Christian obligations, which they joyfully laboured to discharge. The persuasiveness of his dis- course and the sweetness of his disposition were incentives to imitate his gloriousexample. Toguardagainsteviltemptations,thesaintwasconstantly engaged, in watching and prayer ; but, his patience, meekness and charity were specially admired. His holy conversation charmed all, who were privileged to hear him. Modesty and reservegave him a mastery, overhis actions and over his spiritual enemies. It seemed evident to all, that he was destined for a high sphere of usefulness, in the Church. Guided by Divine Grace, heresolvedto abandon a worldly course of living, and to embrace the clerical state. Where his ordination took place is not recorded. But, he had no sooner been called to labour in the ministry, than he possessed the gift of miracles, giving sight to the blind, and hearing to the deaf, restoring the lame, and cleansing lepers ; he healed the paralysed and sick, he dispossessed demons, while he even raised the dead to life. His miracles in converting souls to God were still more admirable, while preaching the Gospel of Christ. Thus, the fame of blessed Germanuswashappilydiffused,inhisowncountry. There,theAngelofthe Lord appeared to hun, after he had become a priest, urging him to leave his parents and natal soil, and to seek Gaul, as the scene for his future labours. '^' His chief object was to rejoin his godflither, Germanus, whose wisdom and piety he had so greatly reverenced. When, like another Abraham, he had resolved on taking this course, coming to the sea-shore, he found no vessel, or crew, to bear him over the deep ocean. Then he prayed, that God might furnish him with some means, to visit St. Germanus, and immediately a chariot was seen, into which the pilgrim of great fliith entered. He poured
'9 About this time, the Romans, under the Patrician Aetiiis, were engaged in an effort to subdue the people of Armorica. St. Ger- manus laboured to procure peace for Gaul but, at the time of his death, a great part of Armorica remained independent. See Henri Martin's "Historic de France," tome i. , liv. vii. Gaule Roniaine, pp. 363, 364.
rum," tomus i. , Maii ii. Vita S. Germani, ex variis Codicibus MSS. , cap. i. , with notes, pp. 261 to 263.
-' While Rosweyd believes our saint, to have been identical with Eloquius, others suppose him, to have been a companion of St. Bouiiace, in the eighth century. See " Dictionary of Christian Biography," edited
="> See the Bollandists' "Acta Sancto- by William Smith, D. C. L. , LL. D. , and
"
6o LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. [Mat 2.
forth this aspiration : " Thy way, O Lord, is in the sea, and thy paths in many waters. Lead me, O Lord, as tliou hast led thy people, the children of Israel, through the Red Seaj^"^ with thy faithful servants, Moyses and Aaron ; for, it is thine to will, and to be able to help me, thou, who alone reignest world without end. " Having said these words, a great miracle was wrought ; for, the chariot began to sail like a well-appointed ship, over the waves. ^3 On the shore to which the saint was wafted, it happened, that a great number of people were in company with a judge, at a place, called Flammenville,^+ near Dieppe, and all were astonished on seemg Germanus approach, in that manner, through the waves. They were greatly divided in opinion ; some thought him to be Neptune, the pagan deity of the seas, while others pronounced him to be a magician. ^5 The holy servant of God assured them, that he had been brought among them, in that miraculous manner, through tlie Almighty power, and he exhorted the multitude to believe in God. The judge alone obstin- ately entreated the people, to distrust the advice given by a magician, but in vain. All declared their willingness, to accept the doctrine which Germanus taught, and they promised him obedience. The incredulous judge was punislied for his impiety. Having suffered great agony, soon afterwards he died. ''^ There can hardly by any question, but that many legendary accounts have been introduced, while stating the Acts of Germanus ; and among these may be reckoned his encounter with a dragon or great serpent, which he
destroyed in that part of the country he visited. "^7 It is said, he also brought to life a boy, that had been killed by the monster. The prefect of that pro- vince, wlio was called Maximinian, became a convert to the faith, with more than six hundred otlier pagans, who were baptized by St. Germanus, as a con- sequence of those miracles. There he remained, for three months and some days, performing various miracles, in favour of afflicted persons, while in- structing his neophytes in the principles of the Cliristian religion. Then, greatly to their regret, he signified to his converts, that the work of the Lord must be prosecuted in other regions. He yet ])romised to return, when he saw how they bewailed his departure. Frequently, he travelled by sea, to gain souls to Christ. His exalted virtues and great labours soon caused his ele- vation to the episcopal state ; and, especially, did he resolve to employ his talents, and to devote himself, in spreading among the people of Gaul a knowledge of the true God, while withdrawing them from the blighting influ- ences of paganism. Engaging on such labours, the zealous servant ot Christ met with great opposition and persecution, while visiting various towns and villages. He resolutely went among a ferocious people, then living on the
Henry Wace, M. A. , vol. ii. , p. 656.
="= See Exodus xiv.
'3 This may be regarded as one of the idle
Legends, handed down by popular tradi- tion. Even the c^irly Breton writers of his- tory "ont tour-a-tour mis a contribution la fable, les livres sacres, I'histoire, et, dans les temps plus modernes, les romans de la table ronde, et les legendes, autre espece de ro- mans. "—M. Dam's " Ilistoire de Bretagne," tome i. , liv. i. , pp. 19, 20. Paris, 1826, 8vo.
Gauloise, p. 90.
''^ See the Bollandists' "Acta Sancto-
rum," tomus i. , Maii ii. Vita S. Germani, ex variis Codicibus MSS. , cap. ii. , iii. , with notes, pp. 163 to 165.
"7 It seems most probable, that this legend gave rise to his representation in works of art, as clothed in episcopal dress, while holding his stole as a leash over a hydra, having seven heads.
=^ this River rises on the western face of the Vosges, and passing Treves or Trier, it ^•i See " Les Petits Bollandistes, Vies des joins the Rhine at Coblenz. See William Smith's "Dictionary of Greek and Roman
Saints," tome v. Seconde Jour de Mai, p. 260.
Geography," vol. ii. , pp. 373, 374.
'' During the domination of the Roman=; in able for being addicted to magic. See Gaul, this city was the chief seat of their Pre- Amedce Thierry's " ili. sioire des Gaulois, feet, and it became very celebrated for its &c,, tome ii. , Partic ii. , chap. i. Famille schools and civilization. During the fourth
'5 Armorica and Bretagne were remark-
May 2. ] LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. 6i
Mosella, or Moselle f^ and, he travelled on to Treves,^'? where already so vast a number of Christian Martyrs had been slain, that the river had been made red with their blood. Passing through those parts, it is stated, that St. Severinus,3° Arclibishop of Cologne—having already heard of his wonderful labours and fortitude—received him with open arms, and insisted on his con- secration as bishop, to share in spreading the Gospel, in building cluirches, and in superintending the efforts of other ]uiests. However, it is thought,3' that the real consecrator of our saint was the St. Severius, Bishop of Treves, who was in Britain, with St. Germanus of Auxerre. 3^ Severinus is said to have obliged Germanus to remain with him, for some days, and then to have pro- moted him to the episcopal dignity. Afterwards, this holy man applied him- self most sedulously to Apostolic labours of every kind. Healing afflictions of mind and of body, ordaining priests and founding congregations, he gained all hearts to Christ. Germanus is said to have preached the Gospel in Frisia, and in the provinces of Lower Germany, while he wrought many miracles. 33 The holy man felt a great desire, according to his legend, to visit the tomb of the Apostles, Saints Peter and Paul, at Rome. 34 There, he prayed with intense fervour, and he was favoured with a vision. Those holy Apostles appeared to him and said : " Courage, Germanus, brother in our Apostolate, labour and be comforted, nor cease to spread the seed of the Divine Word and of the Faith among the people, that you may be a partaker of the eternal reward. A grand return for your works is reserved ; but, for your confirmation in the Faith, a great trial awaits you, while the point of the hostile sword shall be turned againstyoutodrawyourblood. " Foratime,GermanusremainedinRome, and during several days spent there, he visited the churches. One night, he returned to the Church of St. Peter, and with warm devotion, he saw and kissed it? sacred places. He then prepared to leave Rome. He sought Spain as thatcountry,whereheexpectedthecrownofmartyrdom. There,paganism and Arianism were both at work, to ravage the fold; but, the holy bishop preached the Gospel, in season and out of season, with superabounding fruit. He wrought numberless miracles ; he baptized many persons ; he built vari- ous churches ; he overturned idols and their temples. Especially in Tolosa,3S he is said to have left behind him a distinguished fame. Finding the Faith to be greatly increased among the people of Spain, owing to his own and the preachingofotherpiousmen,heresolvedondeparture. Hepassedbyship, to the British seas. Wishing to conceal his great actions and merits from the knowledge of the inhabitants, who had already received him, he found this, however, to be impossible. Among his countrymen, he spent a year and
century, its Bishops occupied a distinguished station in the Church. It is situated on the River Moselle, and under the name of Augusta Trevirorum, it became the Roman capital of Gallia Belgica. See "Gazetteer of the World," vol. xiii. , pp. i6i, 162.
This latter is supposed to have lived too late, after the time of St. Germain, to have con- secrated him bishop.
^i gy the Bollandists.
s^ £)ui-ing the time of his second visit. This St. Germanus was a disciple to St. Loup, Bishop of Troyes.