14 He was
probably
either Caylan, the founder of Neddrum, or
Cillin of Achadh-chail.
Cillin of Achadh-chail.
O'Hanlon - Lives of the Irish Saints - v6
See
tian Biography," edited by William Smith, LL. D. , and Henry Wace, M. A. , vol. i. , p. 583.
erected,
35 It seems most
servant of our saint, to whom Baert alludes
Adelgisus.
as a French having
name, he had arrived in France.
pro-
likely,
and who was bably associated -with St. Adelgisus, after
39 According to Molanus and Bucelin.
4° We the Bollandist editor has believe,
mistaken the character of the ccznobium here, as having been a small house to accommodate
Dictionary of Chris-
this is the new rials of St.
" the servant of
36 See " Histoire Literaire de la France," tome vii. , Siecle xi. , p. 190.
37 It is also called Oesia, Esia, and ^sia, bytheoldwriters. SeeBavdrand's"Novum Lexicon Geographicum," tomus i. , pp. 15,
278, 389.
3iJ This was well known, in the time when
the old writer of our saint's Acts lived ; yet, it appears to have been forgotten, when the Bollandists came to treat about the memo-
followers/
Annanus J over the
:
!
LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. [June 2.
together with his pious subjects, Corbican, Rodald, and Carebert, settled down, to praise Almighty God, and to proclaim that precious miracle, which
had inaugurated their religious enterprise, as also to thank unceasingly our Lord Jesus Christ, for his bountiful regard, towards these devoted
1
C H APTER II .
RETURN TO PICAKDY—HIS MISSIONARY CAREER— MEMORIALS—CONCLUSION.
When it was known in Ireland, that St. Adelgisus and his companions had taken up their residence at Cellula, certain Irish pilgrims set out with a St.
CERTAIN IRISH DISCIPLES WITH ST. ANNAN COME TO THE MONASTERY OF ST. ADELGISUS—LEGEND OF CORBICAN'S MISSION TO IRELAND, HIS DEATH, AND MIRACULOUS TRANSFER OF HIS BODY TO FRANCE—AUELGISUS VISITS ROME—
and
who exclaimed " Oh how good and pleasing it is for brothers to dwell
in a
they came to that place. There, they were joyously received by St. Adelgisus,
they passed
guided
providential manner,
sea,
together. " Kissing each other, in monastic fashion, they give thanks to the Almighty, and then partaking of food, the travellers rested for that night. When the next day had dawned, the blessed Annanus and his companions with St. Adelgisus and his brethren began to labour earnestly in the service of God. 2
At this time, the holy Priest Adelgisus built a church, in honour of St. Peter and of the other Apostles, and of all the Saints. Having finished its erection, he called his godson Corbican, and he said : "My dearly beloved son, Corbican, it behoves you to go beyond the sea to my country, and to
tell my father, mother, brothers and sisters, what you know regarding our
affairs. Conveytothemthismessage,thattheportionofmyinheritancewhich
remains must be sold, and that the product shall be sent here through you.
This, too, must you state, that never shall they see me more, unless they come
hither; but, you must return to me, for I shall proceed to visit the tombs of
the Apostles, St. Peter and St. Paul, at Rome. " Then, replied Corbican :
;
"
The holy Confessor Adelgisus said to him " Lo if death overtake thee,
My Father, if I should die on the way, what shall become of the treasure? "
:
direct my father and mother to place the treasure by thy side, to cover thee with a waxed linen cloth, and to set thy body in two hides of animals, sewed up on every side;3 afterwards, they shall commit your body to the deep and
"
four of five hermits ; perhaps, it is more holiness of life, suscipiente Madelgario,
likely, they dwelt in separate cells, but living qui postea Sanctus —Vincentius dictus est, "
near ench other, around a church. Hannoniae comiie. " Ilistoria Ecclesias- 41 See the Bollandists' "Acta Sancto- tica Gentis Scotorum," tomus i. , lib. i. ,
rum," tomus i. , Junii ii. De S. Adalgiso num. 8, p. 9.
sive Algiso Presbytei o, in Theoracia, Picar- 3 There can be little doubt, that the pre- dise Eegiuncula. Acta S. Algisi, cap. i. , sent is one of those incredible legends, so num. I to 8, pp. 223 to 225. Also, Appen- frequently met with in the Lives of the
dix, num. 22, — 228. 23, p.
•
CHAPTER ii. The Bollandist editor
Baert remarks, that elsewhere he finds no account of a saint so named.
2
Saints
however, there are several
; practices,
u. -ages of past times. In the present case, If we are to credit the statement of the manner of ancient interments is ex-
Dempster, St Adalgisus exercised holy posed,
offices in Belgium, and he was celebrated for 4 Some of these relics are enumerated, in
HIS DEATH AND BURIAL— w
HIS
!
like the present, incidentally alluded to, and which serve to throw some light on the
June 2. ]
LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS.
to Divine guidance, while, I trust to the Lord's clemency, that you shall be brought hither, in a direct course. " The renowned servant of God humbly obeyed the holy Father, and having received his blessing, Corbican set out on his journey. Through Almighty guidance, he came to the sea, which he crossed, and soon he brought the request of Adelgisus to his parents. These were greatly rejoiced, to have a pleasing and an authentic account of their son, and they readily complied with his request to effect the sale of his pro- perty. The proceeds were then given to Corbican, who was to transfer what had been obtained to his holy superior. But, when Corbican prepared for his return to Adelgisus, he began to waste in strength, and finding the chill of death approaching, he called the parents of his superior, and he told them what were the instructions of their son, in such a contingency. They promised toobeythesedirections. Soon,thehappydeathofCorbicantookplace,and while his body lay far from his holy superior, his soul was associated with the choirs of Heaven. Then were his remains covered with the waxed linen, thetrea- sure was placed by his side, and the skins enclosed all; while the parents of Adelgisus, mindful of their son's orders, had the body brought to the sea, where it was committed to the waves, and to the disposition ot Divine Providence. The old—writer of our saint's Acts—after moralizing on these particulars ot the Legend proceedstostate,thatAngelsguidedtheremainsofCorbicanover the sea, until in a direct course they floated onwards, to the place where Adalgisus lived at Cellula. While they were moving against the current of the River Isara, some shepherds on the bank, noticing the floating object and not knowing what it was, left their flocks, and endeavoured to draw it towards them. Yet,theireffortswereinvain; and,whiletheyfollowedtheunknown object to one part of the river, soon it eluded their grasp, by gliding away to another place. This caused them to wonder greatly; but, soon Father Adelgisus, who had a revelation of what had taken place, came to the river's brink. Towards him, instantly, the body of Corbican floated. Filled with thanksgiving, the soul of St. Adelgisus expanded in prayer, and receiving the remainsofhisfaithfuldisciple,theyweresoonbroughttohisoratory. Thetrea- sure was found beside his remains. There, Corbican was religiously interred, hymns and psalms were recited, and all glory was given to God, who had wrought such a stupendous miracle, to manifest the merits of his true servant.
Then, it is stated, that in fulfilment of a purpose he had formed and of a
vow he had long before made, the amiable lover of Christ Adelgisus set out
for Rome, asking Almighty protection on the way, that he might perform an act becoming his zeal and piety. When he arrived in the Eternal City, he went to the Basilica of St. Peter, and there he offered up prayers with great devotion, and tears coursed down his cheeks, when he knelt in the holy places. He desired most earnestly to receive sacred relics, so that he might bring them to that place, where he chose to serve the Almighty. In response to his wishes, he was favoured with a vision, in which the Blessed Apostle of our Lord Peter appeared, and brought him those sacred relics, which he had so eagerly requested. * Having visited the various oratories of the saints in Rome, the holy Priest Adelgisus, commending himself to Almighty protec- tion, prepared for his return. His heart was filled with gratitude for the favours he had received, and therefore he hastened homewards to his cell, where he devoted himself most assiduously to prayer and Divine meditation. There, too, he chastised the body and kept it in subjection, lest while he
the Legend of our saint's Acts, as objects of special veneration.
s Seethe Bollandists' "Acta Sanctorum,"
tomus i. , Junii ii. De S. Adalgisuo sive Algiso Presbytero, in Theoracia Picardise
Regiuncula, cap. ii. , sect. 9 to 16.
22 LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. [June 2.
preached to others he should become a castaway. * He spread the Gospel
of Christ throughout the territory of Hannonia, between the Rivers Isara and
6 he banished all traces of towards the middle of Helpra. Thence, idolatry,
the seventh century. He established there the Christian Faith firmly, and hebroughtmanywithinthefoldofHolyChurch. ? Whennotengagedonthe active duties of his mission, the saint spent his time, in prayer, meditation and pious exercises. Thus, was he duly prepared for that final summons from this life, the comforts and seductions of which he had so long abandoned. Theyearofhisdeceaseisnotonrecord; but,itoccurred,probablysometime
8 for his
ture is the 2nd of June. He was interred in the territory of Laon, and his tomb was rendered famous, through the many miracles he wrought, even after death. His remains were at last transferred to and buried in the church of St. Michael,10 which Count Eilbert restored and endowed about the year 970," in the wood of Therascia, and at the instigation of St. Forannan, whose feast
after the middle of the seventh The century.
day assigned
depar-
is celebrated on the of 30th day
April.
12 An arm of St.
Adalgisilus
was
pre-
served in the monastery, called Maricolis, according to Raysius,^ although 1
this matter has been called into question by Father Baert. * According to Molanus, Miraeus, Bucelin, Menard, Dorgan, Saussay, and Wion, the feast of
"
St. Adalgisus is set down, at the 2ndofJune. 15 Also, in the
Menologium
Scoticum,"16 of Thomas Dempster, his festival is on this day. At the same
date, in that anonymous List, published by O'Sullevan Beare, we find Algisus.
This name occurs, likewise, in Henry Fitzsimon's Catalogue, on the autho- rity of Molanus. 1 ? An error has been admitted by Camerarius, 18 who has placedthefestivalofAdalgisus,atthe22ndofJanuary. IntheMartyrology
of the Cathedral Church of the 10 Holy Trinity,
is on 2nd of June.
Dublin,
the feast of St.
Algisus
During the years of his exile, the holy man Adelgisus left his parents, friends, and native country, to live for the sake of Christ, and to hold daily communication with him, in the bonds of a pious brotherhood, while he regarded Heaven as his true country and home. The exchange was only the abandonment of transitory terrestial things for eternal and celestial rewards. His choice was that of the truly wise man, who despises the glit- tering but worthless baubles, which engage the desires and pursuits of mere worldlings, so that called to the end of his mortal career, the glories of
a heavenly Jerusalem dawned on his mental vision, and crowned his hopes of a blissful immortality.
Article II. —Reputed Festival of St. Colman Finn, of Kilclief Parish, Barony of Lecale, County of Down. According to tradition,
6
7 According to Bucelin.
8
According
9 According to Saussay, in his
ologium Gallicanum. "
I4 In his Commentarius Przevius to this saint's Acts, he states, that in a Manuscript
12 Art. i.
According
to Molanus.
to Molanus and Bucelin.
10
to have been established or repaired by St.
Here a Benedictine monastery is said
"
Catalogue
tery, there is no account of this relic, while the record professes to include all the relics there preserved, from A. n. 1586 to 1590. Seenum. 2.
Martyr-
*S See the Acts of this saint, in the Bollan- Malcalan, an Irishman, about the year 940. dists' collection Commentarius Praevius,
Hewas the first Abbot of St. Michael. SeeM.
Maxime de Montrond's " Dictionnaire des
Abbayes et Monasteres," &c, col. 527. Edi-
tionofl'AbbeMigne,Paris,1856,sm. fol.
11 "
See Histoire I. iteraire de la France,"
tome vii. , Siecle xi. , p. 190.
num. 3, and Appendix, num. 18 to 20.
l6 See Bishop Forbes'" Kalendars of Scot-
tish Saints," p. 201.
*» See O'Sullevan Beare's "Historic
Catholicse Ibernire Compendium," tomusi. , lib. iv. , cap. xi. , xii. , pp. 50, 52.
l8
See vol, iv. of this work, at that date, 13 In Hierogazophylacio Belgico.
According to Father Baert.
of Relics in this monas- preserved
I9 EditedbyJohnClarkeCrosthwaite,A. M. ,
and Rev. Dr. James Henthorn Todd, p. 122.
June 2. ] LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. 23
1
Kilclief, aparishinthebaroniesofUpperandLowerLecale,ontheeast
border of Ulster, boasts of an early ecclesiastical origin. The church here is said to have been founded by St. Patrick f while Eugenius and Niellus are held to have been its first ministers^ and his own disciples. * The village, whereitwasbuilt,standsonthesea-shore; whilethesurfacelies,alongthe west side of the entrance s or lower part of Lough Strangford channel, and
6 almosteverywherethisparishconsistsofgoodarableland. North-westofthe
Protestant church here, and which now occupies the original site, there is a townlandatpresentdenominatedtheGlebe,7 butconsistingofthreedistinct
and Carrowvannish. 8 it is Originally,
old viz. denominations,
: Drumroe, Carriff,
probable, Kilclief had been a small parish, consisting only of 1,484 acres ;
although presenting on the Ordnance Survey Maps five detached portions,^ which, perhaps, were formerly chapelries, added to augment its income. A Hospital for Lepers had been founded here under the patronage of St. Peter. 10 When allusion is made to this
Cill-cliath,
12 in our Annals. The word
place, signifies
" church of the
hurdles,"
probablyinreferencetoitsoriginalconstruction. ^ Wefind,however,that
a daimliag, or stone church, had been here, in or before the tenth century,
when it was burned. There, the parish church was dedicated to a St. Coelan,
or Kelan.
14 He was probably either Caylan, the founder of Neddrum, or
Cillin of Achadh-chail. 15 The original name Caolan admits of these varie-
16 ties.
He was probably son to Derinila, surnamed Cethuir-chich-each, *. <. , 1
of the Four Provinces, mentioned by St. yEngus the Culdee. ? In 1034,
'•
Ordnance Survey Townland Maps for the
Ballywoodan were incorporated with Kil- clief. See Third Report on Ecclesiastical
Revenue, a. d. 1836, p. 264.
10 See an article Dr. on Kilclief by Petrie,
Castle, with a wood engraving of it, in the
Article ii. — ' It is described, on the while, in lieu of them, the two Killards and
County of Down," sheets 31,32, 37, 38, 39, 45. The townland proper is in the barony
of Lower
Lecale,
and shown on sheets
32,
38, 39-
3 See Colgan's "Acta Sanctorum Hiber-
" Dublin Penny Journal," vol. i. , No. 49, nise," xiii. Januarii. Vita S. Alildi, p. 62, June 1st, 1833, pp 385, 386.
and n. 11 See Dr. O'Donovan's " Annals 7.
3 See " Trias Thaumaturga," Sexta Vita S. of the Four Masters," vol. ii. , at a. d.
Patricii, n. 35, p. no.
4 See ibid. , Quinta Appendix ad Acta S.
Patricii, cap. xxiii. , p. 265. Also, cap. xxiv. , p. 270.
s See ArchdalPs "Monasticon Hiberni-
See Parliamentary Gazetteer of Ire- land," vol. ii. , p. 373.
7 It consists of 400 acres, and it belonged formerlytotheArchdeaconry.
8
In 1592, these were called Spittle Quar- ter, Carrowreagh, and Fermeannes. " In the first of these quarter-lands is a plot called the spital-field, which, within memory, con- tained some vestiges of an ancient building. These were the remains of an Hospital of
"
1002, in Rev. Dr. O'Conor's "Rerum
cum," p. 122. 6"
13 Venerable Bede tells us, that " more Scotorum," churches were built of plank- wood and covered with thatch. See " His- toria Ecclesiastica Gentis Anglorum," lib. iii. , cap. xxv. However,stonechurcheswere built by the Scots or Irish, from the earliest Christian times, especially where stone mate- rials were found to abound more than timber.
14 According to the " Registrum Prene," p. 398, and "Regristrum Mey," lib. ii. ,
Lepers, which w—as standing here in the four- p. 214. ""
15 See Rev. Dr. Reeves' Ecclesiastical Antiquities of Down, Connor and Dromore," Appendix N, p. 216.
of Council, these five townlands were trans- P- 587.
teenth century. " Rev. Dr. Reeves' Eccle-
siastical Antiquities of Down, Connor, and
Dromore," Appendix N, pp. 217, 218.
9 These are called Ringreagh, in the heart of Down parish ; Cairowdressex and Com- ; Rossglass, with four parishes intervening ;
TM See Colgan's "Trias Thaumaturga," Sexta Vita S. Brigidse, n. I, p. 597.
*» In his tract, on the Mothers of the Irish Saints. See Colgan's "Acta Sanctorum and Ross, near Ardglass. In 1834, by Act Hiberniae," xx. Martii. Vita S. Muri, n. 6,
momreagh, in different parts of Bright
ferred respectively to the adjacent parishes,
18
See Rev. Dr. Reeves "Ecclesiastical
iooi. Also the
Tigernachi Annales," at
it
is called 11 or Cill-cleithe,
Hibernicarum Scriptores," tomus ii. , p. 270. 12
By the country people, it is generally called Killeeth.
24
LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. [June 2.
Cillchiath was annexed to the See lands of Down \ and, about the year 11 78, JohnDeCourcyconfirmedthepossessionofKLilclethtothebishop. About
the year 1183, Bishop Malachi granted the church of Killecleth to the Abbey of St. Patrick. 18 Near the site of the former church rises the old castle of Kilclief, in which the bishops of Down, at one time, resided. It seems to be a building of the fourteenth century, and it is still in good preservation, being
Kilclief Castle, County of Down.
well roofed. 1 ? The castle and lands of Kilclief were an an- cient See House and Manor, belonging to the BishopsofDown. 80 In the middle of the
21 lastcentury, thecas-
tle wasstill entire, and
22
covered with thatch. There was a chamber, in this castle, called the Hawk's Cham- ber -p and possibly, it may have been so
designated, from the figure of a fowl, re-
sembling a hawk, which was carved on a
stone chimney-piece, in a room on the se-
cond floor, and on which was cut, also,
in bas-relief, a Cross Patee. 2* Thefirstfloor is vaulted. It has two front wings, in one of which there was a stair-case, and in the other a stack of
2
closets. s Amongthe
many holy men, bearing the name of Colman, and mentioned in our Calen- dars, the writer can only discover the name of Colman Fionn, venerated at
"
Antiquities of Down, Connor and Dromore," n. (f), p. 38.
Ancient and Present State of the County
of Down," &c, chap, iii. , sect, i. , p. 24.
25 " The Lands surrounding the Castle are a fine Demense, and some of the best Land in the Barony, which with a Water Mill on them are held from the Bishop by the Revd. Peter Leslie ; and South is a Denomination of Land called Bishop Court, in Lease to Mr. cientandPresentStateoftheCountyof JusticeWard,—nearwhichareS/ieeJ>iandand
19 It was used as a granary, in 1847. See ibid. , Appendix N, p. 218.
20 The accompanxing illustration, drawn on the wood by William F. Wakeman, has been engraved by Mrs. Millard.
21 When Walter Harris wrote his " An-
Down," &c, which was published in Dublin, A. D. 1744, 8vo.
22
See ibid. , chap, iii. , sect, i. , pp. 23, 24. 23 According to the old natives, it was so called, because it was the place kept for the
Ballyhernan. " Ibid. , p. 24.
26 See at that date, in the Fourth Volume
of this work, Art. vii. But, no place has been assigned to him.
27 Also, at that date, there is a notice of this saint, but he is not there associated with Kilclief.
28 See Dr. O'Donovan's "Annals of the
Bishop's falconer and hawks.
Book in College Library, of 1622.
Visitation
** St Walter Harris'
description,
in
June 2. ]
LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. 25
the of 4th
April f
6 or
perhaps,
ColmanBan,atthe ofOctober. 2? We 19th
find a Colman Finn, an anchorite, whose death is set down, at a. d. 771 28 ;
yet, we are not informed, if a date or a place has been assigned to him, or a
rankamongtheIrishSaints. Thewriterisunabletofind,onwhatauthority,
the Rev. William Reeves connects, at this day, the church and saint heading
2
the present article 9 but, these are included, in our collection, resting on his ;
authority.
Article III. —St. Nainnid or Nainnidh, of Cluain h-Uinnsenn.
An is entry
of 1 at this date, Nainnid Tallagh,
in the
Cluana usend. However, the parentage and period of this saint seem to be
shrouded in obscurity. The place, called Cluain-Uinnseann is mentioned,
of Maeltuile—probably an ecclesiastic—in a. d. 871. It means, in English, " The Lawn or Meadow of the Ash Tree ;" however, its exact situation has not been identified. 3 There was a Nennidius or Nennius, who administered Holy Viaticum *- to the illustrious Virgin, St. Brigid,s Patroness of Kiidare,
6 He is the title Nennidh usually distinguished, by
a Hymn in praise of St. Brigid, commencing with these words " Audite
found,
Martyrology
2
in the Annals of the Four Masters, as having been connected with the death
when she died a. d.
Lamghlann or Lamhidhan ; and, to him, by some writers, has been attributed
523.
:
Virginis laudes. "? An allusion to that holy attendant will be found, at the
18th of 8 his feast seems day January; but,
referable,
April. 9 Wherefore, we may assume, that the present holy man was quite a
different person. On this day, a festival in honour of Nainnidh, said to have
been of Cluain
h-Uinnsenn,
is set down, in the of 10 Martyrology Donegal.
Article IV. —Reputed Festival of St. Cellach or Kellach, also
called St. Ceolath. \_Seventh Century. ] According to a Manuscript
Kalendar of Saints, belonging to the Benedictine Order, and according to 1
Dempster, a feast has been assigned to St. Ceolathus, second Bishop of 2
LichfieldinEngland,atthisdate. Already,atthe14thofFebruary,hisActs, so far as known, have been given, when treating about St. Cellach or Kellach, Bishop and Confessor. 3 There is allusion to him, by Thomas Dempster,* in his Ecclesiastical History of Scotland. Coella, Bishop of the Scottish nation, who succeeded Diuma, in the bishopric of the Mid-Angles, is commemorated on the 2nd day of June. 5 He left his bishopric and returned to Hy,6 as we
Four Masters," vol. i. , pp. 374, 375.
29 See "Ecclesiastical Antiquities of Down, Connor and Dromore," Appendix LL, p.
8
See the First Volume of this work, at that date, Art. ii.
9 See an account of him, in the Fourth Volume of this work, at that date, Art. ii.
379. — Article in.
" I0 Edited by Rev. Dr. Kelly,
Edited by Drs. Todd and Reeves, pp.
p. xxvi.
2 See Dr. O'Donovan's Edition, vol. i.
tian Biography," edited by William Smith, LL. D. , and Henry Wace, M. A. , vol. i. , p. 583.
erected,
35 It seems most
servant of our saint, to whom Baert alludes
Adelgisus.
as a French having
name, he had arrived in France.
pro-
likely,
and who was bably associated -with St. Adelgisus, after
39 According to Molanus and Bucelin.
4° We the Bollandist editor has believe,
mistaken the character of the ccznobium here, as having been a small house to accommodate
Dictionary of Chris-
this is the new rials of St.
" the servant of
36 See " Histoire Literaire de la France," tome vii. , Siecle xi. , p. 190.
37 It is also called Oesia, Esia, and ^sia, bytheoldwriters. SeeBavdrand's"Novum Lexicon Geographicum," tomus i. , pp. 15,
278, 389.
3iJ This was well known, in the time when
the old writer of our saint's Acts lived ; yet, it appears to have been forgotten, when the Bollandists came to treat about the memo-
followers/
Annanus J over the
:
!
LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. [June 2.
together with his pious subjects, Corbican, Rodald, and Carebert, settled down, to praise Almighty God, and to proclaim that precious miracle, which
had inaugurated their religious enterprise, as also to thank unceasingly our Lord Jesus Christ, for his bountiful regard, towards these devoted
1
C H APTER II .
RETURN TO PICAKDY—HIS MISSIONARY CAREER— MEMORIALS—CONCLUSION.
When it was known in Ireland, that St. Adelgisus and his companions had taken up their residence at Cellula, certain Irish pilgrims set out with a St.
CERTAIN IRISH DISCIPLES WITH ST. ANNAN COME TO THE MONASTERY OF ST. ADELGISUS—LEGEND OF CORBICAN'S MISSION TO IRELAND, HIS DEATH, AND MIRACULOUS TRANSFER OF HIS BODY TO FRANCE—AUELGISUS VISITS ROME—
and
who exclaimed " Oh how good and pleasing it is for brothers to dwell
in a
they came to that place. There, they were joyously received by St. Adelgisus,
they passed
guided
providential manner,
sea,
together. " Kissing each other, in monastic fashion, they give thanks to the Almighty, and then partaking of food, the travellers rested for that night. When the next day had dawned, the blessed Annanus and his companions with St. Adelgisus and his brethren began to labour earnestly in the service of God. 2
At this time, the holy Priest Adelgisus built a church, in honour of St. Peter and of the other Apostles, and of all the Saints. Having finished its erection, he called his godson Corbican, and he said : "My dearly beloved son, Corbican, it behoves you to go beyond the sea to my country, and to
tell my father, mother, brothers and sisters, what you know regarding our
affairs. Conveytothemthismessage,thattheportionofmyinheritancewhich
remains must be sold, and that the product shall be sent here through you.
This, too, must you state, that never shall they see me more, unless they come
hither; but, you must return to me, for I shall proceed to visit the tombs of
the Apostles, St. Peter and St. Paul, at Rome. " Then, replied Corbican :
;
"
The holy Confessor Adelgisus said to him " Lo if death overtake thee,
My Father, if I should die on the way, what shall become of the treasure? "
:
direct my father and mother to place the treasure by thy side, to cover thee with a waxed linen cloth, and to set thy body in two hides of animals, sewed up on every side;3 afterwards, they shall commit your body to the deep and
"
four of five hermits ; perhaps, it is more holiness of life, suscipiente Madelgario,
likely, they dwelt in separate cells, but living qui postea Sanctus —Vincentius dictus est, "
near ench other, around a church. Hannoniae comiie. " Ilistoria Ecclesias- 41 See the Bollandists' "Acta Sancto- tica Gentis Scotorum," tomus i. , lib. i. ,
rum," tomus i. , Junii ii. De S. Adalgiso num. 8, p. 9.
sive Algiso Presbytei o, in Theoracia, Picar- 3 There can be little doubt, that the pre- dise Eegiuncula. Acta S. Algisi, cap. i. , sent is one of those incredible legends, so num. I to 8, pp. 223 to 225. Also, Appen- frequently met with in the Lives of the
dix, num. 22, — 228. 23, p.
•
CHAPTER ii. The Bollandist editor
Baert remarks, that elsewhere he finds no account of a saint so named.
2
Saints
however, there are several
; practices,
u. -ages of past times. In the present case, If we are to credit the statement of the manner of ancient interments is ex-
Dempster, St Adalgisus exercised holy posed,
offices in Belgium, and he was celebrated for 4 Some of these relics are enumerated, in
HIS DEATH AND BURIAL— w
HIS
!
like the present, incidentally alluded to, and which serve to throw some light on the
June 2. ]
LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS.
to Divine guidance, while, I trust to the Lord's clemency, that you shall be brought hither, in a direct course. " The renowned servant of God humbly obeyed the holy Father, and having received his blessing, Corbican set out on his journey. Through Almighty guidance, he came to the sea, which he crossed, and soon he brought the request of Adelgisus to his parents. These were greatly rejoiced, to have a pleasing and an authentic account of their son, and they readily complied with his request to effect the sale of his pro- perty. The proceeds were then given to Corbican, who was to transfer what had been obtained to his holy superior. But, when Corbican prepared for his return to Adelgisus, he began to waste in strength, and finding the chill of death approaching, he called the parents of his superior, and he told them what were the instructions of their son, in such a contingency. They promised toobeythesedirections. Soon,thehappydeathofCorbicantookplace,and while his body lay far from his holy superior, his soul was associated with the choirs of Heaven. Then were his remains covered with the waxed linen, thetrea- sure was placed by his side, and the skins enclosed all; while the parents of Adelgisus, mindful of their son's orders, had the body brought to the sea, where it was committed to the waves, and to the disposition ot Divine Providence. The old—writer of our saint's Acts—after moralizing on these particulars ot the Legend proceedstostate,thatAngelsguidedtheremainsofCorbicanover the sea, until in a direct course they floated onwards, to the place where Adalgisus lived at Cellula. While they were moving against the current of the River Isara, some shepherds on the bank, noticing the floating object and not knowing what it was, left their flocks, and endeavoured to draw it towards them. Yet,theireffortswereinvain; and,whiletheyfollowedtheunknown object to one part of the river, soon it eluded their grasp, by gliding away to another place. This caused them to wonder greatly; but, soon Father Adelgisus, who had a revelation of what had taken place, came to the river's brink. Towards him, instantly, the body of Corbican floated. Filled with thanksgiving, the soul of St. Adelgisus expanded in prayer, and receiving the remainsofhisfaithfuldisciple,theyweresoonbroughttohisoratory. Thetrea- sure was found beside his remains. There, Corbican was religiously interred, hymns and psalms were recited, and all glory was given to God, who had wrought such a stupendous miracle, to manifest the merits of his true servant.
Then, it is stated, that in fulfilment of a purpose he had formed and of a
vow he had long before made, the amiable lover of Christ Adelgisus set out
for Rome, asking Almighty protection on the way, that he might perform an act becoming his zeal and piety. When he arrived in the Eternal City, he went to the Basilica of St. Peter, and there he offered up prayers with great devotion, and tears coursed down his cheeks, when he knelt in the holy places. He desired most earnestly to receive sacred relics, so that he might bring them to that place, where he chose to serve the Almighty. In response to his wishes, he was favoured with a vision, in which the Blessed Apostle of our Lord Peter appeared, and brought him those sacred relics, which he had so eagerly requested. * Having visited the various oratories of the saints in Rome, the holy Priest Adelgisus, commending himself to Almighty protec- tion, prepared for his return. His heart was filled with gratitude for the favours he had received, and therefore he hastened homewards to his cell, where he devoted himself most assiduously to prayer and Divine meditation. There, too, he chastised the body and kept it in subjection, lest while he
the Legend of our saint's Acts, as objects of special veneration.
s Seethe Bollandists' "Acta Sanctorum,"
tomus i. , Junii ii. De S. Adalgisuo sive Algiso Presbytero, in Theoracia Picardise
Regiuncula, cap. ii. , sect. 9 to 16.
22 LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. [June 2.
preached to others he should become a castaway. * He spread the Gospel
of Christ throughout the territory of Hannonia, between the Rivers Isara and
6 he banished all traces of towards the middle of Helpra. Thence, idolatry,
the seventh century. He established there the Christian Faith firmly, and hebroughtmanywithinthefoldofHolyChurch. ? Whennotengagedonthe active duties of his mission, the saint spent his time, in prayer, meditation and pious exercises. Thus, was he duly prepared for that final summons from this life, the comforts and seductions of which he had so long abandoned. Theyearofhisdeceaseisnotonrecord; but,itoccurred,probablysometime
8 for his
ture is the 2nd of June. He was interred in the territory of Laon, and his tomb was rendered famous, through the many miracles he wrought, even after death. His remains were at last transferred to and buried in the church of St. Michael,10 which Count Eilbert restored and endowed about the year 970," in the wood of Therascia, and at the instigation of St. Forannan, whose feast
after the middle of the seventh The century.
day assigned
depar-
is celebrated on the of 30th day
April.
12 An arm of St.
Adalgisilus
was
pre-
served in the monastery, called Maricolis, according to Raysius,^ although 1
this matter has been called into question by Father Baert. * According to Molanus, Miraeus, Bucelin, Menard, Dorgan, Saussay, and Wion, the feast of
"
St. Adalgisus is set down, at the 2ndofJune. 15 Also, in the
Menologium
Scoticum,"16 of Thomas Dempster, his festival is on this day. At the same
date, in that anonymous List, published by O'Sullevan Beare, we find Algisus.
This name occurs, likewise, in Henry Fitzsimon's Catalogue, on the autho- rity of Molanus. 1 ? An error has been admitted by Camerarius, 18 who has placedthefestivalofAdalgisus,atthe22ndofJanuary. IntheMartyrology
of the Cathedral Church of the 10 Holy Trinity,
is on 2nd of June.
Dublin,
the feast of St.
Algisus
During the years of his exile, the holy man Adelgisus left his parents, friends, and native country, to live for the sake of Christ, and to hold daily communication with him, in the bonds of a pious brotherhood, while he regarded Heaven as his true country and home. The exchange was only the abandonment of transitory terrestial things for eternal and celestial rewards. His choice was that of the truly wise man, who despises the glit- tering but worthless baubles, which engage the desires and pursuits of mere worldlings, so that called to the end of his mortal career, the glories of
a heavenly Jerusalem dawned on his mental vision, and crowned his hopes of a blissful immortality.
Article II. —Reputed Festival of St. Colman Finn, of Kilclief Parish, Barony of Lecale, County of Down. According to tradition,
6
7 According to Bucelin.
8
According
9 According to Saussay, in his
ologium Gallicanum. "
I4 In his Commentarius Przevius to this saint's Acts, he states, that in a Manuscript
12 Art. i.
According
to Molanus.
to Molanus and Bucelin.
10
to have been established or repaired by St.
Here a Benedictine monastery is said
"
Catalogue
tery, there is no account of this relic, while the record professes to include all the relics there preserved, from A. n. 1586 to 1590. Seenum. 2.
Martyr-
*S See the Acts of this saint, in the Bollan- Malcalan, an Irishman, about the year 940. dists' collection Commentarius Praevius,
Hewas the first Abbot of St. Michael. SeeM.
Maxime de Montrond's " Dictionnaire des
Abbayes et Monasteres," &c, col. 527. Edi-
tionofl'AbbeMigne,Paris,1856,sm. fol.
11 "
See Histoire I. iteraire de la France,"
tome vii. , Siecle xi. , p. 190.
num. 3, and Appendix, num. 18 to 20.
l6 See Bishop Forbes'" Kalendars of Scot-
tish Saints," p. 201.
*» See O'Sullevan Beare's "Historic
Catholicse Ibernire Compendium," tomusi. , lib. iv. , cap. xi. , xii. , pp. 50, 52.
l8
See vol, iv. of this work, at that date, 13 In Hierogazophylacio Belgico.
According to Father Baert.
of Relics in this monas- preserved
I9 EditedbyJohnClarkeCrosthwaite,A. M. ,
and Rev. Dr. James Henthorn Todd, p. 122.
June 2. ] LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. 23
1
Kilclief, aparishinthebaroniesofUpperandLowerLecale,ontheeast
border of Ulster, boasts of an early ecclesiastical origin. The church here is said to have been founded by St. Patrick f while Eugenius and Niellus are held to have been its first ministers^ and his own disciples. * The village, whereitwasbuilt,standsonthesea-shore; whilethesurfacelies,alongthe west side of the entrance s or lower part of Lough Strangford channel, and
6 almosteverywherethisparishconsistsofgoodarableland. North-westofthe
Protestant church here, and which now occupies the original site, there is a townlandatpresentdenominatedtheGlebe,7 butconsistingofthreedistinct
and Carrowvannish. 8 it is Originally,
old viz. denominations,
: Drumroe, Carriff,
probable, Kilclief had been a small parish, consisting only of 1,484 acres ;
although presenting on the Ordnance Survey Maps five detached portions,^ which, perhaps, were formerly chapelries, added to augment its income. A Hospital for Lepers had been founded here under the patronage of St. Peter. 10 When allusion is made to this
Cill-cliath,
12 in our Annals. The word
place, signifies
" church of the
hurdles,"
probablyinreferencetoitsoriginalconstruction. ^ Wefind,however,that
a daimliag, or stone church, had been here, in or before the tenth century,
when it was burned. There, the parish church was dedicated to a St. Coelan,
or Kelan.
14 He was probably either Caylan, the founder of Neddrum, or
Cillin of Achadh-chail. 15 The original name Caolan admits of these varie-
16 ties.
He was probably son to Derinila, surnamed Cethuir-chich-each, *. <. , 1
of the Four Provinces, mentioned by St. yEngus the Culdee. ? In 1034,
'•
Ordnance Survey Townland Maps for the
Ballywoodan were incorporated with Kil- clief. See Third Report on Ecclesiastical
Revenue, a. d. 1836, p. 264.
10 See an article Dr. on Kilclief by Petrie,
Castle, with a wood engraving of it, in the
Article ii. — ' It is described, on the while, in lieu of them, the two Killards and
County of Down," sheets 31,32, 37, 38, 39, 45. The townland proper is in the barony
of Lower
Lecale,
and shown on sheets
32,
38, 39-
3 See Colgan's "Acta Sanctorum Hiber-
" Dublin Penny Journal," vol. i. , No. 49, nise," xiii. Januarii. Vita S. Alildi, p. 62, June 1st, 1833, pp 385, 386.
and n. 11 See Dr. O'Donovan's " Annals 7.
3 See " Trias Thaumaturga," Sexta Vita S. of the Four Masters," vol. ii. , at a. d.
Patricii, n. 35, p. no.
4 See ibid. , Quinta Appendix ad Acta S.
Patricii, cap. xxiii. , p. 265. Also, cap. xxiv. , p. 270.
s See ArchdalPs "Monasticon Hiberni-
See Parliamentary Gazetteer of Ire- land," vol. ii. , p. 373.
7 It consists of 400 acres, and it belonged formerlytotheArchdeaconry.
8
In 1592, these were called Spittle Quar- ter, Carrowreagh, and Fermeannes. " In the first of these quarter-lands is a plot called the spital-field, which, within memory, con- tained some vestiges of an ancient building. These were the remains of an Hospital of
"
1002, in Rev. Dr. O'Conor's "Rerum
cum," p. 122. 6"
13 Venerable Bede tells us, that " more Scotorum," churches were built of plank- wood and covered with thatch. See " His- toria Ecclesiastica Gentis Anglorum," lib. iii. , cap. xxv. However,stonechurcheswere built by the Scots or Irish, from the earliest Christian times, especially where stone mate- rials were found to abound more than timber.
14 According to the " Registrum Prene," p. 398, and "Regristrum Mey," lib. ii. ,
Lepers, which w—as standing here in the four- p. 214. ""
15 See Rev. Dr. Reeves' Ecclesiastical Antiquities of Down, Connor and Dromore," Appendix N, p. 216.
of Council, these five townlands were trans- P- 587.
teenth century. " Rev. Dr. Reeves' Eccle-
siastical Antiquities of Down, Connor, and
Dromore," Appendix N, pp. 217, 218.
9 These are called Ringreagh, in the heart of Down parish ; Cairowdressex and Com- ; Rossglass, with four parishes intervening ;
TM See Colgan's "Trias Thaumaturga," Sexta Vita S. Brigidse, n. I, p. 597.
*» In his tract, on the Mothers of the Irish Saints. See Colgan's "Acta Sanctorum and Ross, near Ardglass. In 1834, by Act Hiberniae," xx. Martii. Vita S. Muri, n. 6,
momreagh, in different parts of Bright
ferred respectively to the adjacent parishes,
18
See Rev. Dr. Reeves "Ecclesiastical
iooi. Also the
Tigernachi Annales," at
it
is called 11 or Cill-cleithe,
Hibernicarum Scriptores," tomus ii. , p. 270. 12
By the country people, it is generally called Killeeth.
24
LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. [June 2.
Cillchiath was annexed to the See lands of Down \ and, about the year 11 78, JohnDeCourcyconfirmedthepossessionofKLilclethtothebishop. About
the year 1183, Bishop Malachi granted the church of Killecleth to the Abbey of St. Patrick. 18 Near the site of the former church rises the old castle of Kilclief, in which the bishops of Down, at one time, resided. It seems to be a building of the fourteenth century, and it is still in good preservation, being
Kilclief Castle, County of Down.
well roofed. 1 ? The castle and lands of Kilclief were an an- cient See House and Manor, belonging to the BishopsofDown. 80 In the middle of the
21 lastcentury, thecas-
tle wasstill entire, and
22
covered with thatch. There was a chamber, in this castle, called the Hawk's Cham- ber -p and possibly, it may have been so
designated, from the figure of a fowl, re-
sembling a hawk, which was carved on a
stone chimney-piece, in a room on the se-
cond floor, and on which was cut, also,
in bas-relief, a Cross Patee. 2* Thefirstfloor is vaulted. It has two front wings, in one of which there was a stair-case, and in the other a stack of
2
closets. s Amongthe
many holy men, bearing the name of Colman, and mentioned in our Calen- dars, the writer can only discover the name of Colman Fionn, venerated at
"
Antiquities of Down, Connor and Dromore," n. (f), p. 38.
Ancient and Present State of the County
of Down," &c, chap, iii. , sect, i. , p. 24.
25 " The Lands surrounding the Castle are a fine Demense, and some of the best Land in the Barony, which with a Water Mill on them are held from the Bishop by the Revd. Peter Leslie ; and South is a Denomination of Land called Bishop Court, in Lease to Mr. cientandPresentStateoftheCountyof JusticeWard,—nearwhichareS/ieeJ>iandand
19 It was used as a granary, in 1847. See ibid. , Appendix N, p. 218.
20 The accompanxing illustration, drawn on the wood by William F. Wakeman, has been engraved by Mrs. Millard.
21 When Walter Harris wrote his " An-
Down," &c, which was published in Dublin, A. D. 1744, 8vo.
22
See ibid. , chap, iii. , sect, i. , pp. 23, 24. 23 According to the old natives, it was so called, because it was the place kept for the
Ballyhernan. " Ibid. , p. 24.
26 See at that date, in the Fourth Volume
of this work, Art. vii. But, no place has been assigned to him.
27 Also, at that date, there is a notice of this saint, but he is not there associated with Kilclief.
28 See Dr. O'Donovan's "Annals of the
Bishop's falconer and hawks.
Book in College Library, of 1622.
Visitation
** St Walter Harris'
description,
in
June 2. ]
LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. 25
the of 4th
April f
6 or
perhaps,
ColmanBan,atthe ofOctober. 2? We 19th
find a Colman Finn, an anchorite, whose death is set down, at a. d. 771 28 ;
yet, we are not informed, if a date or a place has been assigned to him, or a
rankamongtheIrishSaints. Thewriterisunabletofind,onwhatauthority,
the Rev. William Reeves connects, at this day, the church and saint heading
2
the present article 9 but, these are included, in our collection, resting on his ;
authority.
Article III. —St. Nainnid or Nainnidh, of Cluain h-Uinnsenn.
An is entry
of 1 at this date, Nainnid Tallagh,
in the
Cluana usend. However, the parentage and period of this saint seem to be
shrouded in obscurity. The place, called Cluain-Uinnseann is mentioned,
of Maeltuile—probably an ecclesiastic—in a. d. 871. It means, in English, " The Lawn or Meadow of the Ash Tree ;" however, its exact situation has not been identified. 3 There was a Nennidius or Nennius, who administered Holy Viaticum *- to the illustrious Virgin, St. Brigid,s Patroness of Kiidare,
6 He is the title Nennidh usually distinguished, by
a Hymn in praise of St. Brigid, commencing with these words " Audite
found,
Martyrology
2
in the Annals of the Four Masters, as having been connected with the death
when she died a. d.
Lamghlann or Lamhidhan ; and, to him, by some writers, has been attributed
523.
:
Virginis laudes. "? An allusion to that holy attendant will be found, at the
18th of 8 his feast seems day January; but,
referable,
April. 9 Wherefore, we may assume, that the present holy man was quite a
different person. On this day, a festival in honour of Nainnidh, said to have
been of Cluain
h-Uinnsenn,
is set down, in the of 10 Martyrology Donegal.
Article IV. —Reputed Festival of St. Cellach or Kellach, also
called St. Ceolath. \_Seventh Century. ] According to a Manuscript
Kalendar of Saints, belonging to the Benedictine Order, and according to 1
Dempster, a feast has been assigned to St. Ceolathus, second Bishop of 2
LichfieldinEngland,atthisdate. Already,atthe14thofFebruary,hisActs, so far as known, have been given, when treating about St. Cellach or Kellach, Bishop and Confessor. 3 There is allusion to him, by Thomas Dempster,* in his Ecclesiastical History of Scotland. Coella, Bishop of the Scottish nation, who succeeded Diuma, in the bishopric of the Mid-Angles, is commemorated on the 2nd day of June. 5 He left his bishopric and returned to Hy,6 as we
Four Masters," vol. i. , pp. 374, 375.
29 See "Ecclesiastical Antiquities of Down, Connor and Dromore," Appendix LL, p.
8
See the First Volume of this work, at that date, Art. ii.
9 See an account of him, in the Fourth Volume of this work, at that date, Art. ii.
379. — Article in.
" I0 Edited by Rev. Dr. Kelly,
Edited by Drs. Todd and Reeves, pp.
p. xxvi.
2 See Dr. O'Donovan's Edition, vol. i.
