is stated to have been buried at Cuil-Voke, and to have been
venerated
at Both, in the Diocese of Meath.
O'Hanlon - Lives of the Irish Saints - v9
d.
1509, has a special Mass prescribed for St.
Madelberta's feast.
6* These notices show the veneration in which this holy virgin had
translated from the Latin
:
O
God,
Prayer,
the Creator of innocence
and the lover
in •' Gesta Pontificum
Liege, Trajectensium
et Leodiensium," we learn, that the relics of St. Madalbert, St. Lambert, and of other saints, although enclosed in one and the same great loculus, yet were placed apart in three distinct and lesser compartments.
ss In his ' ' Benedictinum. " Martyrologium
56 In his Martyrology.
57 In his Menology. However, he errs greatly in the statement, that Maldeberta flourished in the year of Christ 612. It is certain she had not been born at that date. Moreover, he makes a still greater mistake, at the 25th of February, in stating, that her sister Aldetrude flourished about the year of Christ 840—or more than two centuries later ! For this statement, he incorrectly
49 At the 7th of September, in Greven's "
edition, are the words Madelbertae vir-
ginis ;" Hagenoyensis, " Item S. Madel- bertae Virginis ;" the Carthusian MS. at
Utrecht, "Madelbergis Virginis :" and with
these may be mentioned the Lubeck- quotes Joannes Molanus and Autbertus
Cologne and Molanus additions. The author of the Bruxelles Usuard mentions her at somewhat greater length, in these words: "Item depositio S. Madelbertae virginis, quae Leodii quiescit, filiae scilicet S. Waldetrudis et beatse Gudilse neptis. " However, the latter relationship is not so certain, and it has been rejected by Father Soller in his previous commentary on the Acts of St. Amalberga, widow, and mother
Miraeus, with other Belgian writers.
of St. Gudila, at the 10th of July. 50 In Martyrologio Universali. 51 In his German Martyrology. 52 In his Gallican
63 To these are prefixed the following Prayer or Collect : "Beatissimae Madelbergae
virginis solempnitatem praevenientes, tuam deprecamur Domine clementiam, ut per ejus
assiduas a cunciis criminibus nos
Martyrology.
53 Thus; "Apud Malbodium in Dicecesi
preces
absolvas. " After the Lessons follows this
Cameracensi S. Madelbertae virginis tertiae hujus Parthenonis^Abbatissae, cujus corpus post aliquot annos Leodium, S. Hucberto procurante, translatum est. "
is noted "circa A. DCCV. " 54 In his " Lignum Vita. "
" :
Praesta, Uomine, mem- quaesumus
In the margin
beatae Madelbergae, cujus diem depositionis recolimus ejus fidei constantiam subsequa- mur. Per/' &c.
64 From this, in the Bollandist account of
«
59 In " Fastis Belgicis et Burgundicis. "
58 jn
Natalibus Sanctorum Belgii. "
60 corum,"
61
which thus be may
In "Natalibus Sanctorum Canoni-
In Gynaeceo.
62 "
See O'Sullevan Beare's Historiae Catholicae Ibemiae Compendium," tomus i. , lib. iv. , cap. x. , p. 49.
Prayer
bris nostris cum exultatione proventum, ut
186 LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS.
[September 7.
beenheldintimesremote; andinthePropriaFestorum,printeda. d. 1623, and the Breviarium, printed a. d. 1636, at Liege, her festival is celebrated annually as one of a Double Rite, throughout all that diocese. About the beginning of that century, likewise, some change appears to have been made in her Liege Office, to render it more comformable to the Roman Rite 65 and
;
much about the same time, a similar change was introduced, and for a like reason, in the Mons and Maubeuge Offices, celebrated in their noble
collegiate churches. 66 In the Low Countries, they represent St. Madelbert in a group, with her father, St. Vincent of Soignies, and her mother St. Wal-
detrude, St. Aldetrude her sister, as also her brothers, St. Landry, Bishop of
6 Meaux, and St. Dentlin. ?
While the Church is irreformable in her doctrine and conservative in her moral teaching, she always finds abuses in the world that require reformation. To preserve evils because they are old and customary would be a great omission of duty and a crime. Wherefore, several of her noblest children, men and women, have from time to time figured in her annals, as reformers of lax discipline and negligence in religious practices. Others again have shone as exemplars of piety and fervour, transmitting holiness and constancy of purpose in their respective states of life, preserving happy traditions, for the edification and encouragement of numbers who desire to follow in their foot- steps. Such were the members of St. Madelberta's holy family in their age, and they have been lights for all succeeding ages.
Article II. —St. Elarius or Helair, Patron, Anchoret and Scribe of Monahincha, near Roscrea, County of Tipperary.
{Eighth
Centuries. ^
published Martyrology
Tallaght September.
and Ninth
The
of
1
records a festival in honour of Elair of Locha at the Cre, 7th
of
— although thus set down and as found in the Book of Leinster copy. The situation of Lough Crea is said first to have attracted the notice of the
celebrated St. Cronan3 before he commenced the erection of his chief
—t accord with the ii. of Nones for this month This, however, does no
"
establishment at Roscrea. In the midst of this — Cree"
religious Stagnum therewasan"insulamodica,"ormoderately-sizedIsland nowknownas Monahincha— and here St. Cronan,it is said, first built a cell. Monahincha lies towards the left, on the high road leading from Borris-in-Ossory to Roscrea ; but, the old church is hidden from view, owing to ornamental
which surround it in various directions. The — plantations greater religious
establishment, however, seems to have been fixed at Roscrea* even in the
our Saint, certain extracts are given to Abbatissa Malbtdii in llannonia. Corn- indicate the Collects, Prayers, Gradual, mentarius Proevius, sect, iii. , num. 20 to 23,
Gospel, Offertory, Communion, and Post Communion.
6s This is inferred by Father John Perier,
S. J. , from the Decree of a Diocesan Synod,
held at Liege, a. d. 1618, by Monseigneur Ferdinand, Elector of Cologne, Bishop and Prince of Liege, at Tit. x. , cap. v. These Decrees are to be found in "Spicilegium Ecclesiasticum Germanise," tomus vi„ pp. 771 et seq.
pp. 107, 108.
6? See Les Petits Bollandistes, " Vies des
Saints," tome x. , viie Jour de Septembre,
66 In their Proper Offices, printed at Douai, a. d. 1624, 1625, the Office of St. Madelberga in Nine Lessons differed little from that of Liege, in the last century. See "Acta Sanctorum," tomus
"Dublin vol. Penny Journal,"
p. 270.
No.
86,
iii. , Sep- tembris vii. De S. Madelberta Virgine et
ii. ,
p. 554. Article ii.
—
'See his Life at the 28th of April—
the day for his feast—in the Fourth Volume of this work, Art. i. , chap. ii.
* In the grave-yard adjoining it, the tomb of St. Cronan used to be Dointed out, and a mutilated stone cross with a figure carved on
it, but nearly effaced, is represented in the
p. xxxiii.
2
Thus at ii. Hon :
locha Cne.
—
Edited
by
Rev. Dr.
Kelly,
elaip
2
September 7. ] LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. 187
time of St. Cronan—when it is probable Monahincha became a dependent on it, about the beginning of the seventh century. Already have we referred to some remains of antiquity in this tovvn,s formerly a place of considerable
6
After St. Cronan, the earliest saint recorded as having connexion with Inis Loch-Cre,
historic importance, especially in our ecclesiastical annals.
i
-
Roscrea Church Ruins and Round Tower.
is Coluim or Colum? —resolvable into Columba. His period, however, has
not been determined ; but, it is probable, he preceded the present holy superior in point of time. St. Elarius or Helair is called the son of Fintan,
8
sprung from the race of Kein, and his brothers are said to have been Saints
AidanandConrach. 9 HismotheriscalledSinacha,thirdsistertothegreat St. Columbkille. 10 This latter statement of Colgan must be rejected, if we take into account the date assigned for the death of Elarius. While Sinacha must have been born in the earlier part of the sixth century, the birth of this
5 In the Life of St. Cronan are views of the Round Tower at Roscrea, and also of the exterior of St. Cronan's dismantled church, as it faces the public highway. The view here presented of the interior faces the grave-yard within and the modern Protes- tant church. It was sketched by the writer on the spot, May 1870, and drawn on the
-wood ; it has been since engraved by
Gregor Grey. 68
In a very interesting and learned lecture, delivered in the Catholic Club Hall of
Roscrea, January 8th, 1888, by Rev. James Halpin, C. C. , the lecturer thus summarises them: "In the long line of twenty-five
Abbots, extending for four hundred years, we find men who must have been very dis-
See Colgan's "Trias Thaumaturga," Quarta Appendix ad Acta S. Columbae, cap. ii. , num. 5, 6, 23, pp. 478, 479.
9 According to the Sanctilogium Genealo- gicum, cap. 36.
tinguished in their times, for one was called 1'
the Philosopher of Roscrea, in 827 ; '
another the Venerable Elder of Roscrea,'
'
in 1 1 19 ; and anothe—r was styled Roscrea,' in 1161. " "St. Cronan, of Roscrea," p. 12.
? His feast was held on the 15th of May, and in the Fifth Volume of this work, at that date, some notices of him may be found, at
Art. vi.
10
Sixth Volume of this work, Art. i.
See his Life, at the 9th of June, in the
Bishop of Patron
188 LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS.
[September 7.
presentElariustookplace,itisprobable,atleasttwohundredyearslater. The
feast of St. Hilair is found in the Martyrology of Marianus O'Gorman, at the
7th of September. In one place, Colgan notes a St. Hilarius Mocukein, a monk
a feast at the of 11 We cannot 7th September.
of to whom he Durrow,
assigns
be assured, however, that he was identical with the present Elarius or Helair. ' 2
On the — he and his
contrary, brothers,
St. Aid—ant and St.
or Conrachus * stated to have been of Kein's race * must have lived in the sixth century, if their mother was Sinecha, the sister of St. Columkille. The present saint was undoubtedly of a different family, and he was principally venerated at the place, now known as Monahincha, which the neighbouring
Conry
It lies in the parish of Corbally, barony
is now for the most
1
are remarkably beautiful in their architectural peculiarities. ? Moory soil
still extends around, notwithstanding that the waters of the lake have been completely drawn off; while the land is thoroughly drained and reclaimed into fine pasturage, and meadow. Rich grass grows over the soil. 18 Its remarkable old church is covered with a luxuriant growth of ivy, around the whole exterior ; but this has been removed from the interior, where all the wall surfaces may be seen. There are two most beautiful doors yet remaining, and almost entire ; one of these enters the nave, and the other a small choir. They are semi-circularly headed and elegantly jointed along the jamb-stones, with zig-zag carving around the arches. The fluted columns are surmounted by curious old sculptured heads. Through the ivy on the exterior corners of the nave may be traced projecting columns of rounded and chiselled stones. '9 The ruins stand in a tolerably well preserved state, in the centre of a grave-yard, overcrowded with human remains. 20 The
interior of the old church nave is occupied by a family tomb, and around it the floor has been levelled and gravelled ; while the landed proprietor of the estate, on which the ruins are situated, seems to have taken special pains to preserve the existing remains. 21 Beside the old Church of Monahincha are
,8
Water-drains, however, appear along
the surface, and the old togher or raised road
is yet traceable over the approaches to the
Holy Island. "
'9 This is a the writer never peculiarity
observed in any Irish Church of the same
age, although hehas minutely inspected some
hundreds, in various parts of Ireland. Mona- of August, or at the 12th of October. He hincha was visited in May, 1870, and the
1
people still call The Holy Island.
1
of and Ikerrin,
16 The
of
dried up, but a bog occupies its former site.
"See "Trias
County
Tipperary.
lough
The old ruins of Monahincha
Thaumaturga. " Quinta Appendix ad Acta S. Columboe, cap. iv. ,
sect, ii. , p. 507.
12 "
Although styled in the Sanctilogium
"S. Hilarius In- isensis," this island is not to be confounded
with Inis-Loch-Cre.
is stated to have been buried at Cuil-Voke, and to have been venerated at Both, in the Diocese of Meath.
14 He is said to have been buried in the monastery of Durrow in Meath, and to have been venerated, on the 23rd of February.
,s Another brother St. Cucumue is said to have been buried in Hy. All three are made brothers of St. Hilarius of Inis-Locha-Cre, by Colgan. See ibid. Quarta Appendix ad ActaS. Columbae,cap. ii. , num. 5,21,22, 23, 24, pp. 478, 479.
Genealogicum, cap. 36,
13 Colgan assigns him a feast at the 27th
16 See Dr. O'Donovan's "Annals of the
Four Masters," vol. i. , pp. 412, 413, and publication. For the history and other par-
n. (t), ibid.
17 Some of the local features have been
already described in the Life of St Cronan.
ticulars referring to Monahincha, and not here noticed, the reader is referred to that
work, pp. 667 to 669.
description here supplied is furnished from notes then made on the spot.
20 A stone wall, nearly circular, surrounds the cemetery, which rises on a level with the topmost ledge on this enclosure, and partly in- the shape of a flattened cone. A flight of
leads to the from the outside steps graveyard,
pasture. A curious old cross, dismounted
from its pedestal, lies on the right side of the
nuns, as the cemetery is entered.
2I
Inthelastcentury,thesehadbeenmuch neglected, at the time when Arehdall pre- pared his " Monasticon. Hibernicum," for
part
September 7. ] LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. 189
some ruins of an ancient
monastery.
22 Not far from the ruins, some
portion
of the former extensive lake may be seen ; but the inhabitants of the sur-
rounding country have a tradition, that all the vast tract of bog, now
extending for several miles towards a range of distant hills, was formerly covered with water, which circled the M Holy Island. "2^
The Church of Inis Lough Cre was dedicated to the St. Helair or Hilarius, whose festival is celebrated on this day, as we are informed. The terms by which he is distinguished in our records indicate, that while he led a life of strict observance and asceticism, he was also the writer of some
which at seem to be unknown. he — to that works, present Perhaps, belonged
band of Ccelicoli or Culdees, that lived on the smaller island 2< as distin-
2*—and of which no clear traces now remain
it is recorded, that the passage from one island to the other, in the twelfth century, was made by means of a boat. 26 Helair flourished after the middle of the eighth, and beginning of the ninth century. The death of this Elarius, Anchoret and Scribe, of Lough Crea, is entered in the Annals of the
2
Four Masters, at 802 ? in those of Clonmacnoise, at 804 in those of
guished
from the
greater
; yet,
;;
Ulster, at 806 ; but, as we are told by Dr. O' Donovan, rede, it should be 807. His age at the time of his departure is not known. His name and
festival are entered on this day, in the Martyrology of Donegal.
28
In the
table appended to this latter work, the name of our saint has been Latinised,
Helarius. ^ Although Inis-Loch-Cre does not figure very prominently in
our Irish the " Island " to have obtained as
Annals,3° Holy appears celebrity
12
a place of pilgrimage^ and to have had a resident superior^ in the twelfth
century. After the death of St. Cronan, the religious institute he. established at Roscrea appears to have flourished in piety and learning, for centuries
succeeding his period. A copy of the Four Gospels, called Glass-Kennic, or the Chain of St. Canice,33 is said to have been there preserved to the time of Archbishop Ussher. Also at Roscrea was recovered -the Book of Dimma,34
22 A arched with is large chamber, stone,
now used for a private vault, and there is
a flight of winding stone steps ascending to
the top of this vault, now covered over with
soil and rank grass. Traces of a mere ele-
vated story may be seen, and evidently con-
structed for domestic purposes. Ivy surrounds
this portion of the ruins. The whole struc- conveyed to Limerick. See Dr. O'Dono- ture had been well and solidly built.
23 The writer was told, at the time of his
visit, that English invaders crossed over this
lake in tin boats, and despoiled Monahincha
of its former treasures. . The monks there
were killed by Cromwell's soldiers, it was
stated; bub we find no such accc unt in any in piety and devotion, died on his pil- authentic record.
24 Known as Inchenabo, in Irish, and in Latin, " Insula Viventium. " Probably be- cause the celebrities, who lived there, were removed to the other island to die. when overtaken by a mortal illness.
25 See Giraldi Cambrensis' " Opera," vol.
v. , edited by James F. Dimock, M. A. , volume of this work.
Topographia Hibernica, dist. ii. , cap. iv. , pp. 80, 81.
•6
It should still be possible for antiquaries to discover some traces of the minor island,
34 The Rev. Philip Meagher, formerly parish priest of Birr, found it among the books of an uncle, who had been a clergy- man in Roscrea, and gave it to a Dr. Har-
in a portion of the lake or morass adjoining rison of Nenagh, who sold it to Henry Monahincha. Joseph Monck Mason, esq. , Librarian to
27 See Dr. O'Donovan's vol. edition,
i. ,
pp. 412,413, and n. (t), ibid.
28 Edited by Drs. Todd and Reeves, pp.
238, 239.
* 9 See ibid,, pp. 426, 427.
3° In A. D. 921, Flaithbheartach, son of
Inmainen, was taken by the foreigners, and
van's "Annals of the Four Masters," vol.
ii. , pp. 610, 611, and n. (b), ibid.
3I On the 2nd of January, A. D. 1 1 38,
Maelpadraig Ua Duigain, paragon of the wisdom of the Irish, chief lector of Ard- Macha, head of council of the West of Europe
grimage at the Island of Loch Cre. See
ibid. , pp. 1058, 1059, and nn. (o, p), ibid. 32 In a. d. 1 143, Macraith Ua Fidan, head of the Island of Loch-Cre, died. See
ibid. , pp. 1070, 1071.
33 His festival is held on the nth of Octo-
ber, where his life is given in the succeeding
190 LIVESOFTHEIRISHSAINTS. [September7.
a scribe, the son of i£ngus, the son of Carthin. Another work, known as the
Annals of Roscrea, was probably composed in the monastery there estab-
lished^5
A succession of Roscrea Abbots, sometimes styled Bishops, in our Annals, is recorded from a. d. 800 to 1174, when the parent insti- tution seems to have gradually declined, and little account is had re- garding it, when its an- cient bishopric merged into that of Killaloe. King John built a castle in the town, a. d. 1213. 36 A Franciscan Friary37 was founded there a. d.
Franciscan Church Ruins, Roscrea.
Friary contained two
acres, in which was a
house where the friars dwelt, with a dormitory, hall, the prior's chamber, a
chapel, a cemetery, a garden and two orchards, besides reprises, and in the lands ot Roscrea thirty acres of arable and pasture land. The whole was granted to Thomas, Earl of Ormond. 41 The Franciscan Friary was situated on the small stream which passes through Roscrea. The remains are still in a good state of preservation.
the King's Inns Society. In turn he parted with it to Sir William Betham. It had been
long preserved in Roscrea in a most curiously
wrought and ornamented box. An account
of it may be found in the "Transactions of
the Royal Irish Academy," by Henry Joseph
Monck Mason, as also in Sir William
"
36 See Archdall's Monasticon Hiberni-
cum," pp. 672 to 674.
37 The ruins of this building, taken from a
photograph, have been drawn on the wood and engraved, as here presented, by Gregor Grey.
38 According to the Ware Manuscripts, vol. 34, p. 160, as quoted by Archdall.
39 According to an Inquisition, taken on the 27th of December, in this year.
40 According to a document in the Chief Remembrancer's Office.
41 Here he built a large square castle, ad- joining the military barracks of Roscrea,
Betham's
"
Irish Antiquarian Researches. "
35 Among the Burgundian Library Manu- scripts,. Bruxelles, vol. xviii. , No. 5304, there isa verylong alphabetical Index of the Annals of Roscrea, made by " Frater Brendanus
Conorus," and accompanied by marginal references to the Annals of Donegal.
1490, by Mulruany na Feasoige O'Carrol, who was married to Bibiana,
the daughter of
Accord- ing to other accounts, she was the foundress, when she had become awidow. 38 Thechurch
was parochial, in 1 568,39 when to it was attached a third part of the rec- tory of Rosscuro and the alterages thereof, with the tithes of above thirty acres belonging to it. *
O'Dempsey.
The precincts of the Franciscan
September 7. ] LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. 191
Article III. —St. Sillan or Siollan, Bishop. In the published of 1 at the of we find a festival entered
2
7th September,
In that copy contained in the Book of Leinster,
Martyrology Tallagh,
in honour of Sillan, Bishop.
at the ii. day or before the Nones of this month, we find a similar record. 3
The Martyrology of Donegal/ also, at the 7th of September, simply registers thenameSiollan,Bishop. 5 IntheIrishCalendar,belongingtotheOrdnance Survey Records,6 we find a like notice.
Article IV. —Reputed Feast of St. Toit, of Church Island,
Lough Beg, County of Londonderry. The published Martyrology of
Toit of Loch
of holy men ; yet in such a manner, as apparently to connect the name with that of Sillan, Bishop. In that copy contained in the Book of Leinster, at the ii. Nones of this month, a like arrangement seems to be intended. 2 This Saint's place is now denominated Church Island, Lough beg, County of Londonderry. 3 We read in the Martyrology of Donegal/ also, that venera- tion was given at the 7th of September, to Toit, of Inis Toite, in Loch Bee, in Ui Tuitre.
ArticleV. —ReputedFeastofSiott. Wefindthename,Siott,set
1
down in the Martyrology of Donegal, as having been venerated at the 7th of
September. Indeed, we may doubt, if this be not some false insertion for the name Toit, already entered at this date.
ArticleVI. —St. Molaissi. AccordingtothepublishedMartyrologyof
1 Tallaght places
Eachach,
at the
7th
of in its list September,
that Molasi2 had a
1 we find it
ber. In that copy, contained in the Book of Leinster, this entry is at ii. of the Nones for this month. 3 It is thought, he may have been the same as St. Lasreus, or Lazarus/ the son of Ronan, son of Loam, son to Fergus, son to Conal Gulban, venerated at the 7th of September, or at the 16th of
Tallagh,
stated,
festival,
at the of
7th Septem-
December. 5 In the
6 there
of Molaissi, at the 7th of September.
a
nal," vol. ii. , No. —86, p. 269. »
Article hi. Edited by Rev. Dr. Kelly, p. xxxiii.
2 To this we find added ". i. Toitre for
and — Reeves, pp. 238, 239.
Martyrology
Donegal,
appears
simple entry,
Article VII. —St. Ultan. At the 7th of September, we find the name of Ultan, without any further designation, registered in the published Mar-
and in latter times, it served as a store-house for the soldiers' use. An engraving of it may be seen, in the "Dublin Penny Jour-
" Inis Church Island, in Lough beg, Derry,
(Ui Tuiitre). "
4 Edited by Drs. Todd and Reeves, pp.
238, 239.
Article v. —' Edited by Drs. Todd
:
Loch Eachach.
translated from the Latin
:
O
God,
Prayer,
the Creator of innocence
and the lover
in •' Gesta Pontificum
Liege, Trajectensium
et Leodiensium," we learn, that the relics of St. Madalbert, St. Lambert, and of other saints, although enclosed in one and the same great loculus, yet were placed apart in three distinct and lesser compartments.
ss In his ' ' Benedictinum. " Martyrologium
56 In his Martyrology.
57 In his Menology. However, he errs greatly in the statement, that Maldeberta flourished in the year of Christ 612. It is certain she had not been born at that date. Moreover, he makes a still greater mistake, at the 25th of February, in stating, that her sister Aldetrude flourished about the year of Christ 840—or more than two centuries later ! For this statement, he incorrectly
49 At the 7th of September, in Greven's "
edition, are the words Madelbertae vir-
ginis ;" Hagenoyensis, " Item S. Madel- bertae Virginis ;" the Carthusian MS. at
Utrecht, "Madelbergis Virginis :" and with
these may be mentioned the Lubeck- quotes Joannes Molanus and Autbertus
Cologne and Molanus additions. The author of the Bruxelles Usuard mentions her at somewhat greater length, in these words: "Item depositio S. Madelbertae virginis, quae Leodii quiescit, filiae scilicet S. Waldetrudis et beatse Gudilse neptis. " However, the latter relationship is not so certain, and it has been rejected by Father Soller in his previous commentary on the Acts of St. Amalberga, widow, and mother
Miraeus, with other Belgian writers.
of St. Gudila, at the 10th of July. 50 In Martyrologio Universali. 51 In his German Martyrology. 52 In his Gallican
63 To these are prefixed the following Prayer or Collect : "Beatissimae Madelbergae
virginis solempnitatem praevenientes, tuam deprecamur Domine clementiam, ut per ejus
assiduas a cunciis criminibus nos
Martyrology.
53 Thus; "Apud Malbodium in Dicecesi
preces
absolvas. " After the Lessons follows this
Cameracensi S. Madelbertae virginis tertiae hujus Parthenonis^Abbatissae, cujus corpus post aliquot annos Leodium, S. Hucberto procurante, translatum est. "
is noted "circa A. DCCV. " 54 In his " Lignum Vita. "
" :
Praesta, Uomine, mem- quaesumus
In the margin
beatae Madelbergae, cujus diem depositionis recolimus ejus fidei constantiam subsequa- mur. Per/' &c.
64 From this, in the Bollandist account of
«
59 In " Fastis Belgicis et Burgundicis. "
58 jn
Natalibus Sanctorum Belgii. "
60 corum,"
61
which thus be may
In "Natalibus Sanctorum Canoni-
In Gynaeceo.
62 "
See O'Sullevan Beare's Historiae Catholicae Ibemiae Compendium," tomus i. , lib. iv. , cap. x. , p. 49.
Prayer
bris nostris cum exultatione proventum, ut
186 LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS.
[September 7.
beenheldintimesremote; andinthePropriaFestorum,printeda. d. 1623, and the Breviarium, printed a. d. 1636, at Liege, her festival is celebrated annually as one of a Double Rite, throughout all that diocese. About the beginning of that century, likewise, some change appears to have been made in her Liege Office, to render it more comformable to the Roman Rite 65 and
;
much about the same time, a similar change was introduced, and for a like reason, in the Mons and Maubeuge Offices, celebrated in their noble
collegiate churches. 66 In the Low Countries, they represent St. Madelbert in a group, with her father, St. Vincent of Soignies, and her mother St. Wal-
detrude, St. Aldetrude her sister, as also her brothers, St. Landry, Bishop of
6 Meaux, and St. Dentlin. ?
While the Church is irreformable in her doctrine and conservative in her moral teaching, she always finds abuses in the world that require reformation. To preserve evils because they are old and customary would be a great omission of duty and a crime. Wherefore, several of her noblest children, men and women, have from time to time figured in her annals, as reformers of lax discipline and negligence in religious practices. Others again have shone as exemplars of piety and fervour, transmitting holiness and constancy of purpose in their respective states of life, preserving happy traditions, for the edification and encouragement of numbers who desire to follow in their foot- steps. Such were the members of St. Madelberta's holy family in their age, and they have been lights for all succeeding ages.
Article II. —St. Elarius or Helair, Patron, Anchoret and Scribe of Monahincha, near Roscrea, County of Tipperary.
{Eighth
Centuries. ^
published Martyrology
Tallaght September.
and Ninth
The
of
1
records a festival in honour of Elair of Locha at the Cre, 7th
of
— although thus set down and as found in the Book of Leinster copy. The situation of Lough Crea is said first to have attracted the notice of the
celebrated St. Cronan3 before he commenced the erection of his chief
—t accord with the ii. of Nones for this month This, however, does no
"
establishment at Roscrea. In the midst of this — Cree"
religious Stagnum therewasan"insulamodica,"ormoderately-sizedIsland nowknownas Monahincha— and here St. Cronan,it is said, first built a cell. Monahincha lies towards the left, on the high road leading from Borris-in-Ossory to Roscrea ; but, the old church is hidden from view, owing to ornamental
which surround it in various directions. The — plantations greater religious
establishment, however, seems to have been fixed at Roscrea* even in the
our Saint, certain extracts are given to Abbatissa Malbtdii in llannonia. Corn- indicate the Collects, Prayers, Gradual, mentarius Proevius, sect, iii. , num. 20 to 23,
Gospel, Offertory, Communion, and Post Communion.
6s This is inferred by Father John Perier,
S. J. , from the Decree of a Diocesan Synod,
held at Liege, a. d. 1618, by Monseigneur Ferdinand, Elector of Cologne, Bishop and Prince of Liege, at Tit. x. , cap. v. These Decrees are to be found in "Spicilegium Ecclesiasticum Germanise," tomus vi„ pp. 771 et seq.
pp. 107, 108.
6? See Les Petits Bollandistes, " Vies des
Saints," tome x. , viie Jour de Septembre,
66 In their Proper Offices, printed at Douai, a. d. 1624, 1625, the Office of St. Madelberga in Nine Lessons differed little from that of Liege, in the last century. See "Acta Sanctorum," tomus
"Dublin vol. Penny Journal,"
p. 270.
No.
86,
iii. , Sep- tembris vii. De S. Madelberta Virgine et
ii. ,
p. 554. Article ii.
—
'See his Life at the 28th of April—
the day for his feast—in the Fourth Volume of this work, Art. i. , chap. ii.
* In the grave-yard adjoining it, the tomb of St. Cronan used to be Dointed out, and a mutilated stone cross with a figure carved on
it, but nearly effaced, is represented in the
p. xxxiii.
2
Thus at ii. Hon :
locha Cne.
—
Edited
by
Rev. Dr.
Kelly,
elaip
2
September 7. ] LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. 187
time of St. Cronan—when it is probable Monahincha became a dependent on it, about the beginning of the seventh century. Already have we referred to some remains of antiquity in this tovvn,s formerly a place of considerable
6
After St. Cronan, the earliest saint recorded as having connexion with Inis Loch-Cre,
historic importance, especially in our ecclesiastical annals.
i
-
Roscrea Church Ruins and Round Tower.
is Coluim or Colum? —resolvable into Columba. His period, however, has
not been determined ; but, it is probable, he preceded the present holy superior in point of time. St. Elarius or Helair is called the son of Fintan,
8
sprung from the race of Kein, and his brothers are said to have been Saints
AidanandConrach. 9 HismotheriscalledSinacha,thirdsistertothegreat St. Columbkille. 10 This latter statement of Colgan must be rejected, if we take into account the date assigned for the death of Elarius. While Sinacha must have been born in the earlier part of the sixth century, the birth of this
5 In the Life of St. Cronan are views of the Round Tower at Roscrea, and also of the exterior of St. Cronan's dismantled church, as it faces the public highway. The view here presented of the interior faces the grave-yard within and the modern Protes- tant church. It was sketched by the writer on the spot, May 1870, and drawn on the
-wood ; it has been since engraved by
Gregor Grey. 68
In a very interesting and learned lecture, delivered in the Catholic Club Hall of
Roscrea, January 8th, 1888, by Rev. James Halpin, C. C. , the lecturer thus summarises them: "In the long line of twenty-five
Abbots, extending for four hundred years, we find men who must have been very dis-
See Colgan's "Trias Thaumaturga," Quarta Appendix ad Acta S. Columbae, cap. ii. , num. 5, 6, 23, pp. 478, 479.
9 According to the Sanctilogium Genealo- gicum, cap. 36.
tinguished in their times, for one was called 1'
the Philosopher of Roscrea, in 827 ; '
another the Venerable Elder of Roscrea,'
'
in 1 1 19 ; and anothe—r was styled Roscrea,' in 1161. " "St. Cronan, of Roscrea," p. 12.
? His feast was held on the 15th of May, and in the Fifth Volume of this work, at that date, some notices of him may be found, at
Art. vi.
10
Sixth Volume of this work, Art. i.
See his Life, at the 9th of June, in the
Bishop of Patron
188 LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS.
[September 7.
presentElariustookplace,itisprobable,atleasttwohundredyearslater. The
feast of St. Hilair is found in the Martyrology of Marianus O'Gorman, at the
7th of September. In one place, Colgan notes a St. Hilarius Mocukein, a monk
a feast at the of 11 We cannot 7th September.
of to whom he Durrow,
assigns
be assured, however, that he was identical with the present Elarius or Helair. ' 2
On the — he and his
contrary, brothers,
St. Aid—ant and St.
or Conrachus * stated to have been of Kein's race * must have lived in the sixth century, if their mother was Sinecha, the sister of St. Columkille. The present saint was undoubtedly of a different family, and he was principally venerated at the place, now known as Monahincha, which the neighbouring
Conry
It lies in the parish of Corbally, barony
is now for the most
1
are remarkably beautiful in their architectural peculiarities. ? Moory soil
still extends around, notwithstanding that the waters of the lake have been completely drawn off; while the land is thoroughly drained and reclaimed into fine pasturage, and meadow. Rich grass grows over the soil. 18 Its remarkable old church is covered with a luxuriant growth of ivy, around the whole exterior ; but this has been removed from the interior, where all the wall surfaces may be seen. There are two most beautiful doors yet remaining, and almost entire ; one of these enters the nave, and the other a small choir. They are semi-circularly headed and elegantly jointed along the jamb-stones, with zig-zag carving around the arches. The fluted columns are surmounted by curious old sculptured heads. Through the ivy on the exterior corners of the nave may be traced projecting columns of rounded and chiselled stones. '9 The ruins stand in a tolerably well preserved state, in the centre of a grave-yard, overcrowded with human remains. 20 The
interior of the old church nave is occupied by a family tomb, and around it the floor has been levelled and gravelled ; while the landed proprietor of the estate, on which the ruins are situated, seems to have taken special pains to preserve the existing remains. 21 Beside the old Church of Monahincha are
,8
Water-drains, however, appear along
the surface, and the old togher or raised road
is yet traceable over the approaches to the
Holy Island. "
'9 This is a the writer never peculiarity
observed in any Irish Church of the same
age, although hehas minutely inspected some
hundreds, in various parts of Ireland. Mona- of August, or at the 12th of October. He hincha was visited in May, 1870, and the
1
people still call The Holy Island.
1
of and Ikerrin,
16 The
of
dried up, but a bog occupies its former site.
"See "Trias
County
Tipperary.
lough
The old ruins of Monahincha
Thaumaturga. " Quinta Appendix ad Acta S. Columboe, cap. iv. ,
sect, ii. , p. 507.
12 "
Although styled in the Sanctilogium
"S. Hilarius In- isensis," this island is not to be confounded
with Inis-Loch-Cre.
is stated to have been buried at Cuil-Voke, and to have been venerated at Both, in the Diocese of Meath.
14 He is said to have been buried in the monastery of Durrow in Meath, and to have been venerated, on the 23rd of February.
,s Another brother St. Cucumue is said to have been buried in Hy. All three are made brothers of St. Hilarius of Inis-Locha-Cre, by Colgan. See ibid. Quarta Appendix ad ActaS. Columbae,cap. ii. , num. 5,21,22, 23, 24, pp. 478, 479.
Genealogicum, cap. 36,
13 Colgan assigns him a feast at the 27th
16 See Dr. O'Donovan's "Annals of the
Four Masters," vol. i. , pp. 412, 413, and publication. For the history and other par-
n. (t), ibid.
17 Some of the local features have been
already described in the Life of St Cronan.
ticulars referring to Monahincha, and not here noticed, the reader is referred to that
work, pp. 667 to 669.
description here supplied is furnished from notes then made on the spot.
20 A stone wall, nearly circular, surrounds the cemetery, which rises on a level with the topmost ledge on this enclosure, and partly in- the shape of a flattened cone. A flight of
leads to the from the outside steps graveyard,
pasture. A curious old cross, dismounted
from its pedestal, lies on the right side of the
nuns, as the cemetery is entered.
2I
Inthelastcentury,thesehadbeenmuch neglected, at the time when Arehdall pre- pared his " Monasticon. Hibernicum," for
part
September 7. ] LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. 189
some ruins of an ancient
monastery.
22 Not far from the ruins, some
portion
of the former extensive lake may be seen ; but the inhabitants of the sur-
rounding country have a tradition, that all the vast tract of bog, now
extending for several miles towards a range of distant hills, was formerly covered with water, which circled the M Holy Island. "2^
The Church of Inis Lough Cre was dedicated to the St. Helair or Hilarius, whose festival is celebrated on this day, as we are informed. The terms by which he is distinguished in our records indicate, that while he led a life of strict observance and asceticism, he was also the writer of some
which at seem to be unknown. he — to that works, present Perhaps, belonged
band of Ccelicoli or Culdees, that lived on the smaller island 2< as distin-
2*—and of which no clear traces now remain
it is recorded, that the passage from one island to the other, in the twelfth century, was made by means of a boat. 26 Helair flourished after the middle of the eighth, and beginning of the ninth century. The death of this Elarius, Anchoret and Scribe, of Lough Crea, is entered in the Annals of the
2
Four Masters, at 802 ? in those of Clonmacnoise, at 804 in those of
guished
from the
greater
; yet,
;;
Ulster, at 806 ; but, as we are told by Dr. O' Donovan, rede, it should be 807. His age at the time of his departure is not known. His name and
festival are entered on this day, in the Martyrology of Donegal.
28
In the
table appended to this latter work, the name of our saint has been Latinised,
Helarius. ^ Although Inis-Loch-Cre does not figure very prominently in
our Irish the " Island " to have obtained as
Annals,3° Holy appears celebrity
12
a place of pilgrimage^ and to have had a resident superior^ in the twelfth
century. After the death of St. Cronan, the religious institute he. established at Roscrea appears to have flourished in piety and learning, for centuries
succeeding his period. A copy of the Four Gospels, called Glass-Kennic, or the Chain of St. Canice,33 is said to have been there preserved to the time of Archbishop Ussher. Also at Roscrea was recovered -the Book of Dimma,34
22 A arched with is large chamber, stone,
now used for a private vault, and there is
a flight of winding stone steps ascending to
the top of this vault, now covered over with
soil and rank grass. Traces of a mere ele-
vated story may be seen, and evidently con-
structed for domestic purposes. Ivy surrounds
this portion of the ruins. The whole struc- conveyed to Limerick. See Dr. O'Dono- ture had been well and solidly built.
23 The writer was told, at the time of his
visit, that English invaders crossed over this
lake in tin boats, and despoiled Monahincha
of its former treasures. . The monks there
were killed by Cromwell's soldiers, it was
stated; bub we find no such accc unt in any in piety and devotion, died on his pil- authentic record.
24 Known as Inchenabo, in Irish, and in Latin, " Insula Viventium. " Probably be- cause the celebrities, who lived there, were removed to the other island to die. when overtaken by a mortal illness.
25 See Giraldi Cambrensis' " Opera," vol.
v. , edited by James F. Dimock, M. A. , volume of this work.
Topographia Hibernica, dist. ii. , cap. iv. , pp. 80, 81.
•6
It should still be possible for antiquaries to discover some traces of the minor island,
34 The Rev. Philip Meagher, formerly parish priest of Birr, found it among the books of an uncle, who had been a clergy- man in Roscrea, and gave it to a Dr. Har-
in a portion of the lake or morass adjoining rison of Nenagh, who sold it to Henry Monahincha. Joseph Monck Mason, esq. , Librarian to
27 See Dr. O'Donovan's vol. edition,
i. ,
pp. 412,413, and n. (t), ibid.
28 Edited by Drs. Todd and Reeves, pp.
238, 239.
* 9 See ibid,, pp. 426, 427.
3° In A. D. 921, Flaithbheartach, son of
Inmainen, was taken by the foreigners, and
van's "Annals of the Four Masters," vol.
ii. , pp. 610, 611, and n. (b), ibid.
3I On the 2nd of January, A. D. 1 1 38,
Maelpadraig Ua Duigain, paragon of the wisdom of the Irish, chief lector of Ard- Macha, head of council of the West of Europe
grimage at the Island of Loch Cre. See
ibid. , pp. 1058, 1059, and nn. (o, p), ibid. 32 In a. d. 1 143, Macraith Ua Fidan, head of the Island of Loch-Cre, died. See
ibid. , pp. 1070, 1071.
33 His festival is held on the nth of Octo-
ber, where his life is given in the succeeding
190 LIVESOFTHEIRISHSAINTS. [September7.
a scribe, the son of i£ngus, the son of Carthin. Another work, known as the
Annals of Roscrea, was probably composed in the monastery there estab-
lished^5
A succession of Roscrea Abbots, sometimes styled Bishops, in our Annals, is recorded from a. d. 800 to 1174, when the parent insti- tution seems to have gradually declined, and little account is had re- garding it, when its an- cient bishopric merged into that of Killaloe. King John built a castle in the town, a. d. 1213. 36 A Franciscan Friary37 was founded there a. d.
Franciscan Church Ruins, Roscrea.
Friary contained two
acres, in which was a
house where the friars dwelt, with a dormitory, hall, the prior's chamber, a
chapel, a cemetery, a garden and two orchards, besides reprises, and in the lands ot Roscrea thirty acres of arable and pasture land. The whole was granted to Thomas, Earl of Ormond. 41 The Franciscan Friary was situated on the small stream which passes through Roscrea. The remains are still in a good state of preservation.
the King's Inns Society. In turn he parted with it to Sir William Betham. It had been
long preserved in Roscrea in a most curiously
wrought and ornamented box. An account
of it may be found in the "Transactions of
the Royal Irish Academy," by Henry Joseph
Monck Mason, as also in Sir William
"
36 See Archdall's Monasticon Hiberni-
cum," pp. 672 to 674.
37 The ruins of this building, taken from a
photograph, have been drawn on the wood and engraved, as here presented, by Gregor Grey.
38 According to the Ware Manuscripts, vol. 34, p. 160, as quoted by Archdall.
39 According to an Inquisition, taken on the 27th of December, in this year.
40 According to a document in the Chief Remembrancer's Office.
41 Here he built a large square castle, ad- joining the military barracks of Roscrea,
Betham's
"
Irish Antiquarian Researches. "
35 Among the Burgundian Library Manu- scripts,. Bruxelles, vol. xviii. , No. 5304, there isa verylong alphabetical Index of the Annals of Roscrea, made by " Frater Brendanus
Conorus," and accompanied by marginal references to the Annals of Donegal.
1490, by Mulruany na Feasoige O'Carrol, who was married to Bibiana,
the daughter of
Accord- ing to other accounts, she was the foundress, when she had become awidow. 38 Thechurch
was parochial, in 1 568,39 when to it was attached a third part of the rec- tory of Rosscuro and the alterages thereof, with the tithes of above thirty acres belonging to it. *
O'Dempsey.
The precincts of the Franciscan
September 7. ] LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. 191
Article III. —St. Sillan or Siollan, Bishop. In the published of 1 at the of we find a festival entered
2
7th September,
In that copy contained in the Book of Leinster,
Martyrology Tallagh,
in honour of Sillan, Bishop.
at the ii. day or before the Nones of this month, we find a similar record. 3
The Martyrology of Donegal/ also, at the 7th of September, simply registers thenameSiollan,Bishop. 5 IntheIrishCalendar,belongingtotheOrdnance Survey Records,6 we find a like notice.
Article IV. —Reputed Feast of St. Toit, of Church Island,
Lough Beg, County of Londonderry. The published Martyrology of
Toit of Loch
of holy men ; yet in such a manner, as apparently to connect the name with that of Sillan, Bishop. In that copy contained in the Book of Leinster, at the ii. Nones of this month, a like arrangement seems to be intended. 2 This Saint's place is now denominated Church Island, Lough beg, County of Londonderry. 3 We read in the Martyrology of Donegal/ also, that venera- tion was given at the 7th of September, to Toit, of Inis Toite, in Loch Bee, in Ui Tuitre.
ArticleV. —ReputedFeastofSiott. Wefindthename,Siott,set
1
down in the Martyrology of Donegal, as having been venerated at the 7th of
September. Indeed, we may doubt, if this be not some false insertion for the name Toit, already entered at this date.
ArticleVI. —St. Molaissi. AccordingtothepublishedMartyrologyof
1 Tallaght places
Eachach,
at the
7th
of in its list September,
that Molasi2 had a
1 we find it
ber. In that copy, contained in the Book of Leinster, this entry is at ii. of the Nones for this month. 3 It is thought, he may have been the same as St. Lasreus, or Lazarus/ the son of Ronan, son of Loam, son to Fergus, son to Conal Gulban, venerated at the 7th of September, or at the 16th of
Tallagh,
stated,
festival,
at the of
7th Septem-
December. 5 In the
6 there
of Molaissi, at the 7th of September.
a
nal," vol. ii. , No. —86, p. 269. »
Article hi. Edited by Rev. Dr. Kelly, p. xxxiii.
2 To this we find added ". i. Toitre for
and — Reeves, pp. 238, 239.
Martyrology
Donegal,
appears
simple entry,
Article VII. —St. Ultan. At the 7th of September, we find the name of Ultan, without any further designation, registered in the published Mar-
and in latter times, it served as a store-house for the soldiers' use. An engraving of it may be seen, in the "Dublin Penny Jour-
" Inis Church Island, in Lough beg, Derry,
(Ui Tuiitre). "
4 Edited by Drs. Todd and Reeves, pp.
238, 239.
Article v. —' Edited by Drs. Todd
:
Loch Eachach.
