Refusing to do so, he was consigned to a dark and
loathsome
prison, where he was loaded with chains, and left without food for several days and nights.
O'Hanlon - Lives of the Irish Saints - v8
i.
4EditedbyRev.
Drs.
ToddandReeves,
pp. 208, 209. "
Article vi. —' See Historic Catholic*
Ibernise Compendium. " Tomus i. , Lib. iv. ,
cap. xi. , p. 50.
* See "Acta Sanctorum, Tomusi. Augusti
6 See
part i. , pp. 102, 103, 104, 105.
of the Royal Irish Academy. " Irish MSS. Series. Vol. i. ,
7 Edited
"
i. Among the pretermitted saints, p. 3.
by 208, 209.
pp.
Article v.
x
Edited by
Rev. Dr.
Article vii. — Reeves, pp. 208, 209.
"Proceedings
;
Uchcni
Vochipbe.
a Sec ibid. , pp. 472, 473.
The Irish word
Kelly,
'
Edited Drs. Todd and by
20 LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS.
[August i.
Marianas O'Gorman, of Maguire and of Donegal, 1 veneration was
at the ist of August, to Soicheall. In the opinion of the compiler of the latter Calendar, he was that bishop Soicheall, who is mentioned as an assistant in the Life of St. Patrick. 2 His church was called Bois-leac-mor, now known as Baslick,3 in the barony of Castlereagh, and county of Roscommon. It was
in the district and deanery of Siol Muiredhaigh, Diocese of Elphin. The remains of the old parish church* are situated within a cemetery enclosed by
iron
railings,
and still used forjinterments. 5 sets Sacell down as a Colgan
6 Other accounts have him as
Baslick is one of considerable extent,8 and formerly it was a vicarage, as also a part of the benefice and prebend of Ballintober. 9
ArticleIX. —FestivalforSt. Peregrinus. FromoneoftheEpistlesof
1
St. Jerome it would seem, that the British Christians were specially addicted
"
bishop.
bishop
or abbot. ? The of parish
Heaven stands open," he says with a touch of ""
to religious pilgrimage.
irony, in Britain as well as at Jerusalem ; and, in another place, speaking
u
the Britons, though divided from the rest of the world, quit their western sun and go in quest of a climate, which they know nothing of, unless by report, and from the history of the Bible. " 2 The Irish of a later period were accustomed to emulate their practice. Among the holy pilgrims, Colgan 3 desired to commemorate at the ist of August,* was one, who is claimed to have been Irish, although his family name does not appeartobeknown. Therearesomanyincongruousstatements,however, regarding the period and the acts of this pious hermit, that it becomes difficult to decide on their authenticity or authority. The fame of this holy pilgrim has been set forth by Sylvanus Razzius and Caesar Franchiotti,
when treating about the saints of Etruria. The whole foundation for most of the modern accounts rests on the so-called Life of Peregrinus, printed at Modena, but of very little authority. Some doubts have been entertained
regarding his nationality, and we should require better authority for the following statement. At Modena and Lucca, in Italy, was celebrated on this day a festival to honour the Pilgrim son of a King, and who was also a hermit, according to Thomas Dempster,s claiming him as a Scottish saint. Again, in his Ecclesiastical History of Scotland, Dempster alludes to an
anonymous Italian Life of Peregrinus, which Peregrinus Capius published,
of pilgrimages, he says, that
subac/i, signifies "merry "or "joyful. "
3 See Dr. O'Donovan's '• Annals of the
FourMasters,"vol. i. , n. (b. )p. 311. Articleviii. —-1 EditedbyDrs. Toddand
Article ix. —' See " 2 See Colgan's " Trias Thaumaturga," Ad Paulinum.
Reeves, pp. 208, 209.
: Opera. "Epist. 13.
Epist : 17. St. Jerome was born about the year 331, of an honourable and a Catholic family, and he departed this Ballintobber. See Arch'lall's " Monasticon life, on the 30th of September, a. d. 419.
Vita S.
8 ibid. ii. , cap. lii. , p. See
Septima
136, and n. 104, p. 177.
lib.
Patricii,
3 Formerly it was in the old barony of
Hibernicum," p. 601.
* See "Trias Thaumaturga," n. I04,p. 177. s See Lewis' Topographical Dictionary of
Ireland, vol. i. , p. 188.
6
See "Trias Thaumaturga. " Quinta Ap- penctix ad Acta S. Patricii, cap. xxiii. , p. 267. 7 An abbey was formerly here, during and probably before the eighth century, as we
See Rev. S. Baring-Gould's "Lives of the Saints," vol. ix. September 30, pp. 450 to 464.
find the death of Coimac, son of Muirghius, torum " Mutinae et Luca> Peregrini Regis
:
Abbot of Baisleac, recorded at a. d. 800. filii et Eremite. " " Carp. "—bishop Forbes' See Dr. O'Dovovan's V Annals of the Four " Kalendars of Scottish Saints," p. 207.
Masters," vol. i. , pp. 410, 411. 8 It comprises 15,396 acres.
^See"ParliamentaryGazetteerofIreland," vol. i. , p. 227.
. 3 See "
qua? MS. habentur, Ordine Mcnsium et Dierum. "
< As stated by Charles McDonnell, Esq.
s Thus entered in his Menologhim Sco-
Catalogus
Actuum Sanctorum
given,
August i. ] LIVES OE THE IRISH SAINTS. 21
and which is said to abound in fables. However, in reference to the subject of his special biography, the Scottish writer does not scruple to add in- ventions of his own. 6 In another work, the Etruria Regalis,? Dempster has likewise a notice of this holy pilgrim. The Bollandists have supplied some
records at this same regardinghim,
8 his has become so date; but, history
obscure, that they deem those Acts 9 concerning him to abound in fables.
These are published from two different copies, closely agreeing however, and
a critical commentary is prefixed in ten paragraphs.
In Les Pe—tits Bollan-
" IO
Vies des — are notices of this St.
also called
distes, Saints,"
Peregrin
Pe'legrin and Pelegrini the hermit, at this 1st day of August. Various con-
jectures have been offered regarding the period of St. Peregrinus ; while
some writers have suggested the fourth century, others have the fifth, sixth or seventh, and others a much later date. His native country has also been questioned. Those Acts which have been published seem to indicate, that
11
soon after the light of the Gospel began to shine in northern Scotia,
there was a superior king named Romanus, of illustrious descent, married to a
named
their possessions, they had no heir a favour they earnestly besought of 1me Almighty. ^ Theirprayerswereheard,whentheyhadaheavenlymonition, that a son should be born to them, and that his name should be Peregrinus. From his very birth, miracles announced his future sanctity. His education was carefully attended to, and his youthful aspirations were directed less to earthlythantoheavenlythings. Attheageoffifteen,deathdeprivedhimof both parents. Then, the barons of the kingdom proposed, that he should reign over them ; but, he declared his intention to follow the advice con- tained in the Gospel : "If you desire to be perfect, go and sell all that you possess and give to the poor, then come and follow rae. " This he put into
noble
spouse,
who— riches and
Plantula, possessed honours,
practice ; and, dividing the proceeds among poor orphans and widows, he took the pilgrim's staff and habit, setting out during the night, and taking his way towards Jerusalem, in order to visit the place where the body of our Lord Jesus Christ had been consigned to the sepulchre. On the way, he
underwent great privations, and having fallen into the hands of robbers, they beat him with clubs, and left him only half alive. For this action, they were
miraculously punished, but they afterwards repented of their crime, through the exhortation of the holy pilgrim. He travelled into Palestine, and he dwelt in other provinces, during the period of his exile. Much of what is
1
stated, however, regarding his adventures, is clearly fabulous. * It is related
in the Acts, that Peregnuus visited all the chief places in Judea rendered
venerable, owing to their connexion with the Annunciation, Birth, Baptism, Death, Sepulture and Ascension of our Divine Lord ; as also that place in
the Desert, called Quarantena, where Christ fasted forty days and forty
• while he went to the tained a special veneration.
6 See " Historia Ecclesiastica Gentis Scotorum," tomus ii. , lib. xv. , num. 1005,
of St. for whom he enter- Catherine,
nights
oratory
His life was also one of continuous austerity,
1-
7 This work was printed at the expense
10 See Tome ix. , p. 176.
"The Acts state, "Scotia ab Aquilone sita est. "
" Les Petis Bollandists, write in their
PP- 53°> S3
of Mr. Thomas
" C'eta—it un prince issu du sang royal dTrlande. "
Tome ix. Premier Jour d'Aout, p. 176.
I3 According to Father Stephen White Peregrinus was son to a king of old Scotia,
who resolved as a pilgrim to leave his native country. See "Apologia pro Hibernia," cap. iv. , p. 40.
Coke,
afterwards Earl of
"Vies des Saints" of
Peregrin ;
Leicester. It was published at Florence, in
two volumes folio, a. d. 1723.
8
See "Acta Sanctorum," tomus i. , Au- gusti i. De S. Peregrino Confessore apud Alpes, Mutinam inter et Lucam in Italia,
pp. 75 to 80,
9
They are in eighteen paragraphs.
18 but for
22 LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. [August i.
abstinence and prayer. He was tempted by the Devil, but the assault was
victoriously repelled. In fine, he is said to have spent forty years in a grove and unmolested by any human creature ; thus resembling the Israelites, who wandered over forty years through the Desert, before they entered the land of promise. Afterwards, the account has it, that Palestine had been then in the hands of Infidels, 1 * when our saint resolved to announce the religion of Christ even in the court of Soldan or Saladin, and among the Saracens. This so enraged them, that he was dragged from a pulpit, with a rope about his neck, into one of their mosques or synagogues, so that he might offer incense to Mahomet.
Refusing to do so, he was consigned to a dark and loathsome prison, where he was loaded with chains, and left without food for several days and nights. From this dungeon, he was miraculously released bytheLord. Thenfollowsanaccountofhowtheholypilgrimunderwent an ordeal by fire before Soldan and the Saracens, without his suffering any hurt, which caused the king to magnify the Lord of the Christians, and to dismiss his servant, with gifts and honours. Soldan asked his prayers, moreover, and all those Saracens who were spectators of the wonders wrought were wholly astonished. Afterwards, Peregrinus intended to preach the Gospel to other Saracens ; but, he heard a voice from heaven, and which pro- claimed to him, that he should leave Palestine for Italy, where he was to meet with the place destined for his rest. On the shore, he found a ship ready to sail, and in this he embarked ; but, the legend relates, that the Devil raised a storm, and urged the sailors to cast Peregrinus into the sea. This they did accordingly ; however, the servant of God was miraculously rescued from the boiling waves. He landed at Ancona, where he was hospitably received
by the people, and there he dwelt in an hospital assigned for the poor.
Afterwards, he resolved on visiting the shrines of the Apostles St. Peter and
St. Paul, as also the tomb of St. Nicholas. It is stated, likewise, that he
went to the mountain of Gargano, where the church of St. Michael the
16 1
Archangel had been built. ? While he prayed before its altar, he heard
thevoiceofanangelsayingtohim "Gotothedarkwoodandthitheryou :
shall safely journey ; yet, those passing through it are killed by Devils, whom you shall put to flight from that place, whence you shall attain to the crown
of eternal life. " When Peregrinus declared his willingness to obey, a bright star was presented to his view, and he was told to follow it for guidance to thatwood. Thestardisappeared,whenhehadcometothespotindicated, and he heard a voice from heaven " Behold the of trial. "
On arriving there, he chose for his habitation a solitude among the Italian Alps,
near Modena. 18 to his was on a mountain According Ferrarius, hermitage
14
See "Dempster's Historia Ecclesiastica Gentis Scotorum," tomus ii. , lib. xv. , num. 1005, p. 530.
from the fifth century, when St. Michael the Archangel admonished the bishop of Siponto in a vision to erect it. The place
it,
Mahomet, born in 569, and dying in 632, had founded a new and fanatical sect, that spread over Arabia and throughout the
'•
adjoining countries. See Ockley's
of the Saracens," pp. 5 to 61. Bonn's edition.
16
Monte-de-Sant-Angelo,
in these terms
ritio Sancti Michaelis Archangeli. "—" Mar-
one of pilgrimage, and devout clients of St. Michael then continued to frequent his church, See Father John Mabillon 's " Acta Sanc-
torum Ordinis S. Benedicti," sec. iii. , pars.
:
tyrologium Romanum Gregorii xiii. ,"&c. p. 65. Editio Novissima, Romae, 1878, fol.
11 This is stated to have existed there
i. , p. 85,
n.
4.
History
saying, place thy
15 Some accounts have
Mahometans, whose celebrated Prophet the Capitanate, near Manfredonia, within
that these were
is now known as
His local feast there is thus recorded in
the Roman Martyrology, at the 8th of May, records and documents. The place is still
" In monte Gargano Appa-
in
the former Kingdom of Naples. This his- toryis confirmed bySigebert, in his Chronicle, but there are conflicting dates for its occur- rence among various writers. The learned Mabillon visited that part of Italy, where he made a critical examination of the old
August i. ] LIVES OE THE IRISH SAINTS. 23
called Letho, or Lethus, mentioned by Livy, as that part of the Apennine mountains, where Hannibal passed into Italy, between Modena and Lucca. 1 ^ From him, a chain of the hills is called Monti di Santi 20
Apennine Pellegrini. There, for forty years, he led a most austere and eremitical life, while he was distinguished for his great virtues. 21 In that place, a host of demons sought to terrify the holy pilgrim, by horrible phantasms and noises ; but he, invoking the Divine assistance, put them all to flight. Moreover, the whole province of Lombardy, and also those districts of Tuscany and of Romandiola, that had heretofore been subject to demoniac influences, were thenceforth released from such incantations. When the evil spirits had been banished, the holy pilgrim gave thanks to God, and he called that desert Silva Romanesca. There,too,heenteredacavern,whichhadbeenoccupiedby a female leopard and by her cubs ; while, wonderful to relate ! when Pere-
grinus came thither, they prostrated themselves at his feet, and quietly left of their own accord. Then he took possession of that cave, and there he led a solitary life. Only once each day was he known to partake of food or drink ; he fed on wild herbs and roots, which the leopard is said to have brought him, while his drink was simply the dews that came from heaven. Moreover, it is stated, that after a long time had elapsed, Peregrinus left that cavern, and having found a hollow tree near, he entered into the cavity and remained there for seven years, miraculously supported by food and drink from heaven. Next, we are told, that when the Blessed Peregrinus had lived ninety-seven years, nine months and twenty-three days, he wrote on the bark or fibre of wood the series of his 22 down an
following address to the Almighty : "O Lord Jesus Christ, eternal Father, hear my prayers ; I entreat thy majesty, Lord Jesus, King of Heaven and Earth, who has said to thy Apostles, whatever you shall ask the Father in my name shall be given to you, so do you graciously hear in heaven who- soever shall invoke me against hail or snow, or against plague or tribulation. "
Immediately, the greatest possible brilliancy of light covered the sky, and
is not at all probable, and it seems to rest on no reliable authority. Again, Dempster has a. d. 464, as that of his death. In his work on the Saints of
actions, setting
account regarding his birth and native land. Then, he offered up the
a voice from Heaven was heard " O saying :
faithful
rejoice and be glad, for thy name is witten in the Book of Life, whatever thou prayest for in my name shall be granted you by my Father who is in Heaven. Andwhoevershallhavetheeasanadvocatemustobtainwhathe justlydemands. " Then,goingonhisknees,andraisinghishandsandarms aloft, Peregrinus gave ma -y thanks to God, and concluded by commending his soul to the Lord. He departed thus happily, and his spirit was conducted to bliss by multitudes of the angelic choirs. One Italian writer 2 3 has assigned , the departure from life of this holy pilgrim, to a. d. 364 but, this early date
;
18
For a description of this city, the reader is referred to the Rev. John Chetwode Eustace's "Classical Tour through Italy," vol. i,, chap, vi. , pp. 249 to 255. In the large copper-plate map prefixed to that work, may be found the site of San Pelle-
, grino, on the summit of the Apennines, and on the high road leading from Modena to Lucca.
p. 176.
2I
See Father Stephen White's "Apologia pro Hibernia," cap. iv. , p. 40.
22
However incredible this statement appears to be, Dempster has fastened on it for the additional invention, that Peregrinus wrote on similar material a Book of Prayers and the Mode for Praying, as also another Book of Meditations, which he asserts had
** Ferrarius adds: "apud Caferonianre been preserved to his own time. See
"
Historia Ecclesiastica Gentis Scotorum," tomus ii. , lib. , xv. , num. 1005, p. 531.
23 Jacobillus, in his Lives of the Saints of Umbria. . :. . . .
regionis confinia, cujus caput est Castrum novum. "
80
See Les Petits Bollandistes, "Vies des Saints," tome ix. , Premier Jour d'Aout,
Peregrinus,
servant,
24 LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. [August i.
Lucca, Caesar Franchiotti has placed the death of this holy pilgrim, at the year 543 ; yet, even this period cannot be reconciled with the Acts and their narrative as published. According to Ferrarius, he departed this life, on
2
the1stofAugust. Accordingtoanotheraccount,*atthetimeofhisdeath,
Geminumus, Bishop of Modena, and Alexius, Bishop of Pisa, with all the other bishops and clergy of Etruria, as also Severinus, Archbishop of Ravenna,
and other Cisalpine prelates to the number of twenty-seven, were present to solemnize his obsequies. 25 While some have asserted, that the body of the holy pilgrim had been buried in Lucca, Ferrarius states, that it reposes in that place where he lived so long, and over it a chapel had been erected, on thesummitofthemountain. Thither,pilgrimswereaccustomedtoresort, even to the seventeenth century, when he wrote. The ancient chapel of the holy pilgrim had become ruinous, owing to the prevalence of plagues and wars during the middle ages, while those obstacles prevented pilgrims from undertaking distant journeys to it. At length, in the year 1462, a noble family of Lucca undertook the work of restoration. 26 Among the Patrons of the country around Modena and Lucca, this saint is honoured with great devotion. At the 1st of August, in the Rev. Alban Butler's work,3? we find entered St. Pellegrini or Perigrinus, Hermit. This feast also occurs in the Circle of the Seasons. '8 When conscience appeals to a highly cultivated Christian intellect to labour first for the mansions of the blest, a person so called is ready to forsake home and its natural attractions. As in the present instance, great numbers of holy persons at all times have devoted themselves to serve Christ in foreign lands, and with a truly Apostolic spirit, to bring the blessings of religion and good example to barbarous nations, or into countries already Christian, where there are yet opportunities for serving God and our neighbour, with a perfect detachment from human ties and earthly allurements.
Article X. —St. Mica, of Ernaidhe, orErniudhe, probably Urney,
of 8 as to Irnuidhe. The form of this which tyrology Donegal, belonging name,
occurs in Irish topographical denominations, is usually written Urney or Nurney. There is a parish, bearing the latter name, partly within the baronies of
Carlow and Forth, but chiefly in the barony of East Idrone, in the present County of Carlow. The western part of Nurney Parish is bounded by the Barrow, and it consists of the beautiful and fertile portion of that river's basin. 3 Besides the of about and within an
intheCountyofTyrone. The of 1 recordsafestival Martyrology Tallagh
to honour Mica, of Ernaidhe—usually Anglicized Urney—at the 1st of August. The place here named has been identified with Urney, in the County of Tyrone, by William M. Hennessy ; but, there are many other localities in Ireland similarly denominated. In like manner, his feast is entered in the Mar-
village, consisting fifty houses,
3< That of Dempster. See " Historia i. Au<;usti i. De S. Peregrino Confessore,
EcclcsiasticaGentisScotorum. "Tomusii. ,
&c. CommentariusCriticus,num. 2,p. 76.
27 See "Lives of the Fathers,
35 The Bollandist editor Father John and other principal Saints," vol. viii.
lib. num. XV. ,
1005, p. 531.
Martyrs
Baptist Soller sufficiently absurd figments of Dempster.
refutes
those
August i.
36 The Bollandists add: "
cultu, hactenus perseverante, satis certa p. xxx. In the Book of Leinster, at the
sunt, quibus alia multa adjiciunt Mutinenses
et Lucenses, ut videre est apud populates
historicos Vedrianum et Franciottum, de
fundi proprietate, Mutinensine ditioni an 208, 209.
Fucensi adscribendus sit, haud obscure 3 See " decertantes. "—" Acta Sanctorum. " Tomus land. " vol. iii. , p. 42.
Atque
hcec de
by
Rev. Dr.
Kelly,
3B
See p. 214. Article x. —1 Edited
Calends of August, is the rendering Ulicae -drvorie alias epnait).
3
Edited by Drs. Todd and Reeves, pp.
Parliamentary
Gazetteer of Ire-
August i. ] LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. 25
enclosed graveyard, there is a Protestant church of hewn stone, erected in 1788 by a gift of ^500 from the Board of First Fruits; but, in the earlier part of this century, its steeple was shattered by lightning, and the Board of Ecclesiastical Commissioners granted ^17 for its repair. * This was doubless the elevated site of a more ancient church, every trace of which has now disappeared. Within the graveyard are the remains of a rude stone cross; but, without the boundary wall, and in a valley beneath, there is a very perfect stone cross, rising on a pedestal to the height of about six feet. s The edges are raised, and it has a rudely cut boss in the centre, with a
Old Cross, at Nurney, County of Carlow.
circular band connecting the arms at the upper part. Over it rises a very
large and finely spreading ash-tree, yet there is no tradition remaining among thevillagesregardingthiscross,whichpossiblymarkedaTermon. Nearit runs a small rivulet, which afterwards flows onwards towards the River Barrow, about two miles distant. From the graveyard elevation, there is a very picturesque view, over a beautiful and fertile tract, and to a considerable distance. However, it cannot be asserted, that the Mica, venerated on this day, had been in any way connected with this locality.
Article XI. —St. Cineadh, or Kinath, Abbot of Durrow, King's County. [EighthCentury>. ] Atthe1stofAugust,Colganintendedtotreat concerning Cineadh or Kinath. He was a son to Cumasgach,1 and he was
4 See Lewis' "Topographical Dictionary ofIreland," vol. ii. , p. 445.
s The annexed drawing, taken by the writer, on the occasion of a visit to the spot
in October, 1889, has been transferred William F. Wakeman to the wood, engraved
by Mrs. Millard. Articlexi. —'See"TriasThaumaturga,"
Quinta Appendix ad Acta S. Columbae, cap. iv. , sect, i. , ii. , p. 507.
2 See his Life, in tha Sixth. Volume of . this work, at the 9th day of June, Art. i.
by
3 See Dr.
pp. 208, 209. "
Article vi. —' See Historic Catholic*
Ibernise Compendium. " Tomus i. , Lib. iv. ,
cap. xi. , p. 50.
* See "Acta Sanctorum, Tomusi. Augusti
6 See
part i. , pp. 102, 103, 104, 105.
of the Royal Irish Academy. " Irish MSS. Series. Vol. i. ,
7 Edited
"
i. Among the pretermitted saints, p. 3.
by 208, 209.
pp.
Article v.
x
Edited by
Rev. Dr.
Article vii. — Reeves, pp. 208, 209.
"Proceedings
;
Uchcni
Vochipbe.
a Sec ibid. , pp. 472, 473.
The Irish word
Kelly,
'
Edited Drs. Todd and by
20 LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS.
[August i.
Marianas O'Gorman, of Maguire and of Donegal, 1 veneration was
at the ist of August, to Soicheall. In the opinion of the compiler of the latter Calendar, he was that bishop Soicheall, who is mentioned as an assistant in the Life of St. Patrick. 2 His church was called Bois-leac-mor, now known as Baslick,3 in the barony of Castlereagh, and county of Roscommon. It was
in the district and deanery of Siol Muiredhaigh, Diocese of Elphin. The remains of the old parish church* are situated within a cemetery enclosed by
iron
railings,
and still used forjinterments. 5 sets Sacell down as a Colgan
6 Other accounts have him as
Baslick is one of considerable extent,8 and formerly it was a vicarage, as also a part of the benefice and prebend of Ballintober. 9
ArticleIX. —FestivalforSt. Peregrinus. FromoneoftheEpistlesof
1
St. Jerome it would seem, that the British Christians were specially addicted
"
bishop.
bishop
or abbot. ? The of parish
Heaven stands open," he says with a touch of ""
to religious pilgrimage.
irony, in Britain as well as at Jerusalem ; and, in another place, speaking
u
the Britons, though divided from the rest of the world, quit their western sun and go in quest of a climate, which they know nothing of, unless by report, and from the history of the Bible. " 2 The Irish of a later period were accustomed to emulate their practice. Among the holy pilgrims, Colgan 3 desired to commemorate at the ist of August,* was one, who is claimed to have been Irish, although his family name does not appeartobeknown. Therearesomanyincongruousstatements,however, regarding the period and the acts of this pious hermit, that it becomes difficult to decide on their authenticity or authority. The fame of this holy pilgrim has been set forth by Sylvanus Razzius and Caesar Franchiotti,
when treating about the saints of Etruria. The whole foundation for most of the modern accounts rests on the so-called Life of Peregrinus, printed at Modena, but of very little authority. Some doubts have been entertained
regarding his nationality, and we should require better authority for the following statement. At Modena and Lucca, in Italy, was celebrated on this day a festival to honour the Pilgrim son of a King, and who was also a hermit, according to Thomas Dempster,s claiming him as a Scottish saint. Again, in his Ecclesiastical History of Scotland, Dempster alludes to an
anonymous Italian Life of Peregrinus, which Peregrinus Capius published,
of pilgrimages, he says, that
subac/i, signifies "merry "or "joyful. "
3 See Dr. O'Donovan's '• Annals of the
FourMasters,"vol. i. , n. (b. )p. 311. Articleviii. —-1 EditedbyDrs. Toddand
Article ix. —' See " 2 See Colgan's " Trias Thaumaturga," Ad Paulinum.
Reeves, pp. 208, 209.
: Opera. "Epist. 13.
Epist : 17. St. Jerome was born about the year 331, of an honourable and a Catholic family, and he departed this Ballintobber. See Arch'lall's " Monasticon life, on the 30th of September, a. d. 419.
Vita S.
8 ibid. ii. , cap. lii. , p. See
Septima
136, and n. 104, p. 177.
lib.
Patricii,
3 Formerly it was in the old barony of
Hibernicum," p. 601.
* See "Trias Thaumaturga," n. I04,p. 177. s See Lewis' Topographical Dictionary of
Ireland, vol. i. , p. 188.
6
See "Trias Thaumaturga. " Quinta Ap- penctix ad Acta S. Patricii, cap. xxiii. , p. 267. 7 An abbey was formerly here, during and probably before the eighth century, as we
See Rev. S. Baring-Gould's "Lives of the Saints," vol. ix. September 30, pp. 450 to 464.
find the death of Coimac, son of Muirghius, torum " Mutinae et Luca> Peregrini Regis
:
Abbot of Baisleac, recorded at a. d. 800. filii et Eremite. " " Carp. "—bishop Forbes' See Dr. O'Dovovan's V Annals of the Four " Kalendars of Scottish Saints," p. 207.
Masters," vol. i. , pp. 410, 411. 8 It comprises 15,396 acres.
^See"ParliamentaryGazetteerofIreland," vol. i. , p. 227.
. 3 See "
qua? MS. habentur, Ordine Mcnsium et Dierum. "
< As stated by Charles McDonnell, Esq.
s Thus entered in his Menologhim Sco-
Catalogus
Actuum Sanctorum
given,
August i. ] LIVES OE THE IRISH SAINTS. 21
and which is said to abound in fables. However, in reference to the subject of his special biography, the Scottish writer does not scruple to add in- ventions of his own. 6 In another work, the Etruria Regalis,? Dempster has likewise a notice of this holy pilgrim. The Bollandists have supplied some
records at this same regardinghim,
8 his has become so date; but, history
obscure, that they deem those Acts 9 concerning him to abound in fables.
These are published from two different copies, closely agreeing however, and
a critical commentary is prefixed in ten paragraphs.
In Les Pe—tits Bollan-
" IO
Vies des — are notices of this St.
also called
distes, Saints,"
Peregrin
Pe'legrin and Pelegrini the hermit, at this 1st day of August. Various con-
jectures have been offered regarding the period of St. Peregrinus ; while
some writers have suggested the fourth century, others have the fifth, sixth or seventh, and others a much later date. His native country has also been questioned. Those Acts which have been published seem to indicate, that
11
soon after the light of the Gospel began to shine in northern Scotia,
there was a superior king named Romanus, of illustrious descent, married to a
named
their possessions, they had no heir a favour they earnestly besought of 1me Almighty. ^ Theirprayerswereheard,whentheyhadaheavenlymonition, that a son should be born to them, and that his name should be Peregrinus. From his very birth, miracles announced his future sanctity. His education was carefully attended to, and his youthful aspirations were directed less to earthlythantoheavenlythings. Attheageoffifteen,deathdeprivedhimof both parents. Then, the barons of the kingdom proposed, that he should reign over them ; but, he declared his intention to follow the advice con- tained in the Gospel : "If you desire to be perfect, go and sell all that you possess and give to the poor, then come and follow rae. " This he put into
noble
spouse,
who— riches and
Plantula, possessed honours,
practice ; and, dividing the proceeds among poor orphans and widows, he took the pilgrim's staff and habit, setting out during the night, and taking his way towards Jerusalem, in order to visit the place where the body of our Lord Jesus Christ had been consigned to the sepulchre. On the way, he
underwent great privations, and having fallen into the hands of robbers, they beat him with clubs, and left him only half alive. For this action, they were
miraculously punished, but they afterwards repented of their crime, through the exhortation of the holy pilgrim. He travelled into Palestine, and he dwelt in other provinces, during the period of his exile. Much of what is
1
stated, however, regarding his adventures, is clearly fabulous. * It is related
in the Acts, that Peregnuus visited all the chief places in Judea rendered
venerable, owing to their connexion with the Annunciation, Birth, Baptism, Death, Sepulture and Ascension of our Divine Lord ; as also that place in
the Desert, called Quarantena, where Christ fasted forty days and forty
• while he went to the tained a special veneration.
6 See " Historia Ecclesiastica Gentis Scotorum," tomus ii. , lib. xv. , num. 1005,
of St. for whom he enter- Catherine,
nights
oratory
His life was also one of continuous austerity,
1-
7 This work was printed at the expense
10 See Tome ix. , p. 176.
"The Acts state, "Scotia ab Aquilone sita est. "
" Les Petis Bollandists, write in their
PP- 53°> S3
of Mr. Thomas
" C'eta—it un prince issu du sang royal dTrlande. "
Tome ix. Premier Jour d'Aout, p. 176.
I3 According to Father Stephen White Peregrinus was son to a king of old Scotia,
who resolved as a pilgrim to leave his native country. See "Apologia pro Hibernia," cap. iv. , p. 40.
Coke,
afterwards Earl of
"Vies des Saints" of
Peregrin ;
Leicester. It was published at Florence, in
two volumes folio, a. d. 1723.
8
See "Acta Sanctorum," tomus i. , Au- gusti i. De S. Peregrino Confessore apud Alpes, Mutinam inter et Lucam in Italia,
pp. 75 to 80,
9
They are in eighteen paragraphs.
18 but for
22 LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. [August i.
abstinence and prayer. He was tempted by the Devil, but the assault was
victoriously repelled. In fine, he is said to have spent forty years in a grove and unmolested by any human creature ; thus resembling the Israelites, who wandered over forty years through the Desert, before they entered the land of promise. Afterwards, the account has it, that Palestine had been then in the hands of Infidels, 1 * when our saint resolved to announce the religion of Christ even in the court of Soldan or Saladin, and among the Saracens. This so enraged them, that he was dragged from a pulpit, with a rope about his neck, into one of their mosques or synagogues, so that he might offer incense to Mahomet.
Refusing to do so, he was consigned to a dark and loathsome prison, where he was loaded with chains, and left without food for several days and nights. From this dungeon, he was miraculously released bytheLord. Thenfollowsanaccountofhowtheholypilgrimunderwent an ordeal by fire before Soldan and the Saracens, without his suffering any hurt, which caused the king to magnify the Lord of the Christians, and to dismiss his servant, with gifts and honours. Soldan asked his prayers, moreover, and all those Saracens who were spectators of the wonders wrought were wholly astonished. Afterwards, Peregrinus intended to preach the Gospel to other Saracens ; but, he heard a voice from heaven, and which pro- claimed to him, that he should leave Palestine for Italy, where he was to meet with the place destined for his rest. On the shore, he found a ship ready to sail, and in this he embarked ; but, the legend relates, that the Devil raised a storm, and urged the sailors to cast Peregrinus into the sea. This they did accordingly ; however, the servant of God was miraculously rescued from the boiling waves. He landed at Ancona, where he was hospitably received
by the people, and there he dwelt in an hospital assigned for the poor.
Afterwards, he resolved on visiting the shrines of the Apostles St. Peter and
St. Paul, as also the tomb of St. Nicholas. It is stated, likewise, that he
went to the mountain of Gargano, where the church of St. Michael the
16 1
Archangel had been built. ? While he prayed before its altar, he heard
thevoiceofanangelsayingtohim "Gotothedarkwoodandthitheryou :
shall safely journey ; yet, those passing through it are killed by Devils, whom you shall put to flight from that place, whence you shall attain to the crown
of eternal life. " When Peregrinus declared his willingness to obey, a bright star was presented to his view, and he was told to follow it for guidance to thatwood. Thestardisappeared,whenhehadcometothespotindicated, and he heard a voice from heaven " Behold the of trial. "
On arriving there, he chose for his habitation a solitude among the Italian Alps,
near Modena. 18 to his was on a mountain According Ferrarius, hermitage
14
See "Dempster's Historia Ecclesiastica Gentis Scotorum," tomus ii. , lib. xv. , num. 1005, p. 530.
from the fifth century, when St. Michael the Archangel admonished the bishop of Siponto in a vision to erect it. The place
it,
Mahomet, born in 569, and dying in 632, had founded a new and fanatical sect, that spread over Arabia and throughout the
'•
adjoining countries. See Ockley's
of the Saracens," pp. 5 to 61. Bonn's edition.
16
Monte-de-Sant-Angelo,
in these terms
ritio Sancti Michaelis Archangeli. "—" Mar-
one of pilgrimage, and devout clients of St. Michael then continued to frequent his church, See Father John Mabillon 's " Acta Sanc-
torum Ordinis S. Benedicti," sec. iii. , pars.
:
tyrologium Romanum Gregorii xiii. ,"&c. p. 65. Editio Novissima, Romae, 1878, fol.
11 This is stated to have existed there
i. , p. 85,
n.
4.
History
saying, place thy
15 Some accounts have
Mahometans, whose celebrated Prophet the Capitanate, near Manfredonia, within
that these were
is now known as
His local feast there is thus recorded in
the Roman Martyrology, at the 8th of May, records and documents. The place is still
" In monte Gargano Appa-
in
the former Kingdom of Naples. This his- toryis confirmed bySigebert, in his Chronicle, but there are conflicting dates for its occur- rence among various writers. The learned Mabillon visited that part of Italy, where he made a critical examination of the old
August i. ] LIVES OE THE IRISH SAINTS. 23
called Letho, or Lethus, mentioned by Livy, as that part of the Apennine mountains, where Hannibal passed into Italy, between Modena and Lucca. 1 ^ From him, a chain of the hills is called Monti di Santi 20
Apennine Pellegrini. There, for forty years, he led a most austere and eremitical life, while he was distinguished for his great virtues. 21 In that place, a host of demons sought to terrify the holy pilgrim, by horrible phantasms and noises ; but he, invoking the Divine assistance, put them all to flight. Moreover, the whole province of Lombardy, and also those districts of Tuscany and of Romandiola, that had heretofore been subject to demoniac influences, were thenceforth released from such incantations. When the evil spirits had been banished, the holy pilgrim gave thanks to God, and he called that desert Silva Romanesca. There,too,heenteredacavern,whichhadbeenoccupiedby a female leopard and by her cubs ; while, wonderful to relate ! when Pere-
grinus came thither, they prostrated themselves at his feet, and quietly left of their own accord. Then he took possession of that cave, and there he led a solitary life. Only once each day was he known to partake of food or drink ; he fed on wild herbs and roots, which the leopard is said to have brought him, while his drink was simply the dews that came from heaven. Moreover, it is stated, that after a long time had elapsed, Peregrinus left that cavern, and having found a hollow tree near, he entered into the cavity and remained there for seven years, miraculously supported by food and drink from heaven. Next, we are told, that when the Blessed Peregrinus had lived ninety-seven years, nine months and twenty-three days, he wrote on the bark or fibre of wood the series of his 22 down an
following address to the Almighty : "O Lord Jesus Christ, eternal Father, hear my prayers ; I entreat thy majesty, Lord Jesus, King of Heaven and Earth, who has said to thy Apostles, whatever you shall ask the Father in my name shall be given to you, so do you graciously hear in heaven who- soever shall invoke me against hail or snow, or against plague or tribulation. "
Immediately, the greatest possible brilliancy of light covered the sky, and
is not at all probable, and it seems to rest on no reliable authority. Again, Dempster has a. d. 464, as that of his death. In his work on the Saints of
actions, setting
account regarding his birth and native land. Then, he offered up the
a voice from Heaven was heard " O saying :
faithful
rejoice and be glad, for thy name is witten in the Book of Life, whatever thou prayest for in my name shall be granted you by my Father who is in Heaven. Andwhoevershallhavetheeasanadvocatemustobtainwhathe justlydemands. " Then,goingonhisknees,andraisinghishandsandarms aloft, Peregrinus gave ma -y thanks to God, and concluded by commending his soul to the Lord. He departed thus happily, and his spirit was conducted to bliss by multitudes of the angelic choirs. One Italian writer 2 3 has assigned , the departure from life of this holy pilgrim, to a. d. 364 but, this early date
;
18
For a description of this city, the reader is referred to the Rev. John Chetwode Eustace's "Classical Tour through Italy," vol. i,, chap, vi. , pp. 249 to 255. In the large copper-plate map prefixed to that work, may be found the site of San Pelle-
, grino, on the summit of the Apennines, and on the high road leading from Modena to Lucca.
p. 176.
2I
See Father Stephen White's "Apologia pro Hibernia," cap. iv. , p. 40.
22
However incredible this statement appears to be, Dempster has fastened on it for the additional invention, that Peregrinus wrote on similar material a Book of Prayers and the Mode for Praying, as also another Book of Meditations, which he asserts had
** Ferrarius adds: "apud Caferonianre been preserved to his own time. See
"
Historia Ecclesiastica Gentis Scotorum," tomus ii. , lib. , xv. , num. 1005, p. 531.
23 Jacobillus, in his Lives of the Saints of Umbria. . :. . . .
regionis confinia, cujus caput est Castrum novum. "
80
See Les Petits Bollandistes, "Vies des Saints," tome ix. , Premier Jour d'Aout,
Peregrinus,
servant,
24 LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. [August i.
Lucca, Caesar Franchiotti has placed the death of this holy pilgrim, at the year 543 ; yet, even this period cannot be reconciled with the Acts and their narrative as published. According to Ferrarius, he departed this life, on
2
the1stofAugust. Accordingtoanotheraccount,*atthetimeofhisdeath,
Geminumus, Bishop of Modena, and Alexius, Bishop of Pisa, with all the other bishops and clergy of Etruria, as also Severinus, Archbishop of Ravenna,
and other Cisalpine prelates to the number of twenty-seven, were present to solemnize his obsequies. 25 While some have asserted, that the body of the holy pilgrim had been buried in Lucca, Ferrarius states, that it reposes in that place where he lived so long, and over it a chapel had been erected, on thesummitofthemountain. Thither,pilgrimswereaccustomedtoresort, even to the seventeenth century, when he wrote. The ancient chapel of the holy pilgrim had become ruinous, owing to the prevalence of plagues and wars during the middle ages, while those obstacles prevented pilgrims from undertaking distant journeys to it. At length, in the year 1462, a noble family of Lucca undertook the work of restoration. 26 Among the Patrons of the country around Modena and Lucca, this saint is honoured with great devotion. At the 1st of August, in the Rev. Alban Butler's work,3? we find entered St. Pellegrini or Perigrinus, Hermit. This feast also occurs in the Circle of the Seasons. '8 When conscience appeals to a highly cultivated Christian intellect to labour first for the mansions of the blest, a person so called is ready to forsake home and its natural attractions. As in the present instance, great numbers of holy persons at all times have devoted themselves to serve Christ in foreign lands, and with a truly Apostolic spirit, to bring the blessings of religion and good example to barbarous nations, or into countries already Christian, where there are yet opportunities for serving God and our neighbour, with a perfect detachment from human ties and earthly allurements.
Article X. —St. Mica, of Ernaidhe, orErniudhe, probably Urney,
of 8 as to Irnuidhe. The form of this which tyrology Donegal, belonging name,
occurs in Irish topographical denominations, is usually written Urney or Nurney. There is a parish, bearing the latter name, partly within the baronies of
Carlow and Forth, but chiefly in the barony of East Idrone, in the present County of Carlow. The western part of Nurney Parish is bounded by the Barrow, and it consists of the beautiful and fertile portion of that river's basin. 3 Besides the of about and within an
intheCountyofTyrone. The of 1 recordsafestival Martyrology Tallagh
to honour Mica, of Ernaidhe—usually Anglicized Urney—at the 1st of August. The place here named has been identified with Urney, in the County of Tyrone, by William M. Hennessy ; but, there are many other localities in Ireland similarly denominated. In like manner, his feast is entered in the Mar-
village, consisting fifty houses,
3< That of Dempster. See " Historia i. Au<;usti i. De S. Peregrino Confessore,
EcclcsiasticaGentisScotorum. "Tomusii. ,
&c. CommentariusCriticus,num. 2,p. 76.
27 See "Lives of the Fathers,
35 The Bollandist editor Father John and other principal Saints," vol. viii.
lib. num. XV. ,
1005, p. 531.
Martyrs
Baptist Soller sufficiently absurd figments of Dempster.
refutes
those
August i.
36 The Bollandists add: "
cultu, hactenus perseverante, satis certa p. xxx. In the Book of Leinster, at the
sunt, quibus alia multa adjiciunt Mutinenses
et Lucenses, ut videre est apud populates
historicos Vedrianum et Franciottum, de
fundi proprietate, Mutinensine ditioni an 208, 209.
Fucensi adscribendus sit, haud obscure 3 See " decertantes. "—" Acta Sanctorum. " Tomus land. " vol. iii. , p. 42.
Atque
hcec de
by
Rev. Dr.
Kelly,
3B
See p. 214. Article x. —1 Edited
Calends of August, is the rendering Ulicae -drvorie alias epnait).
3
Edited by Drs. Todd and Reeves, pp.
Parliamentary
Gazetteer of Ire-
August i. ] LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. 25
enclosed graveyard, there is a Protestant church of hewn stone, erected in 1788 by a gift of ^500 from the Board of First Fruits; but, in the earlier part of this century, its steeple was shattered by lightning, and the Board of Ecclesiastical Commissioners granted ^17 for its repair. * This was doubless the elevated site of a more ancient church, every trace of which has now disappeared. Within the graveyard are the remains of a rude stone cross; but, without the boundary wall, and in a valley beneath, there is a very perfect stone cross, rising on a pedestal to the height of about six feet. s The edges are raised, and it has a rudely cut boss in the centre, with a
Old Cross, at Nurney, County of Carlow.
circular band connecting the arms at the upper part. Over it rises a very
large and finely spreading ash-tree, yet there is no tradition remaining among thevillagesregardingthiscross,whichpossiblymarkedaTermon. Nearit runs a small rivulet, which afterwards flows onwards towards the River Barrow, about two miles distant. From the graveyard elevation, there is a very picturesque view, over a beautiful and fertile tract, and to a considerable distance. However, it cannot be asserted, that the Mica, venerated on this day, had been in any way connected with this locality.
Article XI. —St. Cineadh, or Kinath, Abbot of Durrow, King's County. [EighthCentury>. ] Atthe1stofAugust,Colganintendedtotreat concerning Cineadh or Kinath. He was a son to Cumasgach,1 and he was
4 See Lewis' "Topographical Dictionary ofIreland," vol. ii. , p. 445.
s The annexed drawing, taken by the writer, on the occasion of a visit to the spot
in October, 1889, has been transferred William F. Wakeman to the wood, engraved
by Mrs. Millard. Articlexi. —'See"TriasThaumaturga,"
Quinta Appendix ad Acta S. Columbae, cap. iv. , sect, i. , ii. , p. 507.
2 See his Life, in tha Sixth. Volume of . this work, at the 9th day of June, Art. i.
by
3 See Dr.
