Peter requested him to consecrate Amasianus, a convert to the
Christian
Religion, as first Bishop of Tarentum.
O'Hanlon - Lives of the Irish Saints - v5
pp.
261, 262.
3' See " Ecclesiastical History of Ireland,"
May 10. ]
LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS.
appointed by our saint might have been among the number. 38 it is still more probable, however, that Sen Rathen, or Slianraghan, had been the city of Cathaldus, for this reason, that it was situated near Lismore, in accordance with what IS stated. 39 However, Colgan admits the claims of Rathcormaic
195
Another locality was known as Rath- cormaic ;3s and the third was named Rath-Ronain. 36 It is not unlikely that either of the two first-named places had been the See of Cathaldus, since Kathen of Meath might have been occupied, by our saint, after tlie expulsion ot Mochudda, or Carthage ;37 and, as many monks belonging to this place became Abbots and Bishops, in various parts of Ireland, those twelve bishops
many places, greatly dilapidated.
Shanraghan Old Church, County of Tipperary.
and Rath-Ronain, for the like reason. These three places are said, likewise, to have been comprised, within the territory of Meltridis, who was supposed to have been chief over the Desii, while Rathen of Meath could not have belonged to this chieftain. '*"
he be confounded with St. Cataldus ; since, not only are the parents of both distinct, the places for their death different, but all the
Information relative to the Antiquities of the
County of Tipperary, collected during the
progress of the Ordnance Survey in 1840,"
vol. i. , Letter of John O'Donovan, dated circumstances related in their respective
September, 5th, 1840, pp. 44 to 46.
3S This Colgan learned, through corres- pondence with Dr. Patrick Comerford,
Bishop of Lismore.
3* This is now a parish, in the Barony of Iffa
Acts show them to have been altogether distinguishable, so that he. wlio is called Car- thagus by the Irish, cannot be confounded with the saint, named Cathaldus, by the Italians.
3^ Such is Colgan's conjecture. See "Acta Sanctorum Hibernice," viii. Martii, n- 2, p. 555-
and Offa West, and it is shown on the " Ord-
nance Survey Townland Maps for the County
of Tipperary," sheets 76,77,82, 83. The 39 In his Life, by Moroni, lib. 1. ,
townland proper is marked on sheet 77.
37 His Life will be found, at the 14th of May, the day set apart for his feast. Nor can
cap. v. , vii.
<° See Colgan's " Acta Sanctorum Hiber-
nise," viii. Martii, n. 2, p. 555.
196 LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. [May 10.
Having discharged the duties of his episcopate for some years, and with great fidehty to his trust, the saint resolved on undertaking a pilgrimage, to visit the Holy Sepulchre, at Jerusalem/' Having called together twelve bishops, he disclosed this design to them, while he com- mitted his flock to their charge. He embarked on board a vessel, while habited in a pilgrim's garb, and without a single attendant ; so that, as the author of his Life remarks, he could not be distinguished from any ordinary person, but for the majesty of his mein and a certain nobility of countenance, which are said to have characterized him. After many labours and dangers, he arrived at Jerusalem. There, he visited the Holy Sepulchre, and other places, which have been rendered illustrious, by the miracles and presence of Christ. He then came to a resolution, he would not return to his native country. Being desirous of leading a solitary life —one then much practised in the east —he besought the Almighty, with prayers and tears, that he might be per- mitted to spend his remaining days, in some lonely wood or hermitage of Palestine. He was anxious, also, to remove the burden of the pastoral office, and the care of souls, to other shoulders ; that thus, he might die on the soil, consecrated by our Saviour's forty days' fast, and among a people, where souvenirs of Christ's visible presence on earth might be found. -^^ But, the Lord had otherwise ordained ; for, whilst engaged in a recital of Matins, before the morning sun arose, Cataldus had a vision. 43 In this, the Deity ordered him to direct his course towards Tarentum, where the Apostles, St. Peter and St. Mark, had first laid a foundation for the Christian Religion.
Ever obedient to the Divine will, Cathaldus embarked on board a vessel, without any delay. When wafted out into the open sea, and not far from a port, at which he disembarked, he foretold the approach of a tempest. '** When this storm took place, contrary to general expectation, he appeased it by recurring to prayer. '^s A certain youth, who had ascended the mast to connect a broken cable, fell from his elevated position, and he was killed on the spot ; but, Cataldus afterwards restored him to life. *^ The accounts which follow, as found in most of his biographies, do not appear to be well connected; however, it seems somewhat improbable, that on his way from Ireland to Italy, Cataldus may have filled some distinguished positions, at Geneva, near
theLakeofLeman. Itisstated,^? thatasprelateandprofessorofthatcity, he was there venerated. ''^ Notwithstanding, this account wants further confir- mation, as also the supposition, that he had even travelled to the Holy Land. 9 Some persons were of opinion,5° that when Cataldus left Palestine for Italy, he had been accompanied by Euprepius s' —afterwards called Leuctius s^ Bishop of Brundusiuni, and by Barsanophrius,53 the Eremite. s-* However, as may easily be seen, their respective periods do not harmonize. It will only be sufficient to remark, that besides our saint having left Ireland, in the seventh
*' See "Officium S. Cataldi," Lect. v.
*^ See Moroni's " Vita S. Cataldi," lib. i. , cap. ix.
*3 Dempster says, "a Sancto Petro in somnis monitus," he set out for Italy. See " Historia Ecclesinstica Gentis Scotorum," tomus i. , lib. iii. , num. 278, p. 164.
*•• See Joannes Juvenis, " Ue Antiquitate etVariaTarentinorumFonuna,"lib. viii. , cap. 2.
«s See " Officium S. Cataldi," Lect. v.
<* See Moroni's " Vita S. Cataldi," lib. i. , cap. X.
<7 By Raph. Volaterranus, in Commentar. Urban, lib. iii.
^ See Sir James Ware, " De Scriptoribus
HiberniK," lib. i. , cap. i. , p. 6.
*' This is stated, by Joannes Juvenis, in
" De Antiquitate, et Varia Tarentinorum Fortuna," lib. viii. , cap. 2.
5° According to Bartholomew JNIoroni.
s> His festival is kept, on the ilth of January. See " Martyrologium Romanum," at that date.
s-- jjelived,inthetimeofTheodosusthe Great, about A. D. 380.
ss His feast is kept, on the llth of April. See Les Petits Bollandistes, "Vies des Sainis," tomeiv. , xi^ jourd'Avril, p. 327.
s* \\^ lived about the time of Justinian, A. I). 584.
55 Thomas Dempster has published the
—
—
May io. ] LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS.
197
century, those already named as his companions ss could not even have been contemporaries. Others say, that DonatuSjS^ who was the brother ofCatal- dus, came with him to Japygia,57 where he was made Bishop of Lupias ;5' while both lived eremitical lives together, at a little town, afterwards called by thenameofoursaint. S9 Ashavingcarefullyexaminedthem,Moroniremarks, that these accounts were not to be found, in the records of Tarentum church. However, this writer saw, near Lupias, an old citadel called Cataldus, with a church, and a small cave hollowed out, after the manner of a crypt. The Lupias people cherished a tradition, that our saint frequently prayed, and offered up the Holy Sacrifice of Mass in it. ^°
When Cataldus arrived in Italy, he is thought^' to have landed at
the mouth of a river, called by the inhabitants, St. Peter de Bibagna ;
owing to a tradition, that St. Peter the Apostle, on his way from Antioch to Rome, disembarked at this same place, Avhere he celebrated Mass in a chapel, which remained there, even to the seventeenth century. At that period, also, the ruins of a town, named Fellini, might be seen on the summit of a hill, near INLanduri; at which, when the saint approached on his way to Tarentum, he met a girl, tending a small flock by the wayside. Shewasdeafanddumb. ^* Ofthesefactsthesaintwasapprized,whenhe saw her inattentive to an enquiry he made, about the direct course to Taren- tum. Wherefore, he wrought a miracle in her favour, whereby she was restored to the use both of hearing and of speech . ^3 As the evening was about to close, this woman manifested her gratitude, by requesting the saint to remain in her house, until the day following. The news of this miracle having reached the people of Fellini, their veneration towards the servant of God was wonderfully increased ; and, it was manifested, in a manner most consoling to his heart, by their embracing truths of the Christian Religion. Cataldus
following Latin lines, on the Scottish Patron Saints of the Italian cities, and those verses are ascribed to Galcottus Picus, the excellent Prince of Miiandula. See his "Historia Ecclesiastica Gentis Scotorum," tomus i. , lib. iii. , num. 278, pp. 164, 165 :
" Lux tenebras, aurum plumbum, sic Scotia leriien
Vincit, doctrina, religione, viris. Clara etenim Innocuo pietas est Ro-
mula pi imo,
Tu, Bonifaci, isto clarus in orbe
nites,
Cyriacus decorat sedem, atque exor-
nat eandem :
Multi alii proceres, purpureique
patres.
Inde Tarentinis pergit radiare Catal-
dus,
Donatus Lupios frater et inde
docet ;
Inde Columbanus Bobii fundamina
jecit,
Casta Fluentina Brigida in urbe
sonat,
Faesulae ab Andrea et Donato lumina
ducunt.
Sancte Faventinos Aemiliane beas,
Et Gunifortis Ticinum corpora gau- det,
. Clara domus Plint te, Gunibalde, canit.
Dempstero Veneti assurgunl, et bella loquuntur
Parthenopes Scotos maitia corda duces.
Lanea sus, Celebris dira olim clade Ravenna,
Laudem horum Tarrus sanguino- lentus habet.
Hos sanctos fortesque simul colit Ausonis ora. "
s* His feast occurs, at the 22nd of Oc- tober, where some account of him will be found.
s? The promontory of Japigia is at the south-eastern extremity of Italy, and shown on the ancient Map, in Rev. Fathers Catrou's and Rouille's " Roman History : with Notes Historical, Geographical, and Critical," &c. , vol. ii. , Book xvii. , p. 179.
ss Lupia is not far from this point, but more northerly, and on the eastern shore of Calabria. See ibid.
59 . See Colgan's "Acta Sanctorum Hiber- nice," Martii viii. , n. 13, p. 556.
*° See Moroni's "Vita S. Cataldi," lib. i. , cap. xi.
*' By Moroni, in Vita S. Cataldi, lib. i. , cap. xii.
^- See Joannes Juvenis, " De Antiquitate et Vaiia Tarentmorum. Fortuna," lib. viii. , cap. 2.
*3 See " Officium S. Cataldi," Lect. v.
198 LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. [May 10.
remained among them for some days, that he might perfect a work, so hap- pily begun. ^4
In the year before Christ 700, an old Greek colony, founded by Lacede- monian Parthenii, had been planted in Lower Italy. Their city was called Tarentum, one of the most flourishing and opulent cities of Magna Grsecia. ^s For a long time, the Tarentines were jealous of the growing power of the Romans, and they engaged Pyrrhus, King of Epirus, to land in Italy, where he carried on war with that warlike people, and with varied success. ^* The Brutii had Tarentum with other cities, in this part of Italy. ^7 At last, this city was taken by the Romans, in the year of Rome, 481,^^ and B. C. 262. Afterwards, through treachery it was surrendered to Hannibal, during the Carthaginian war, and before Christ 199 f^ but, again, it was recovered by the Romans,'° under Fabius. 7' The Tarentines were tlien reduced to the condi- tion of Roman colonists, when they became remarkable for their idleness and effeminacy of manners. 7^ In the sixth century of the Christian era, they were subdued by the Goths. However, Tarentum was recaptured from the Goths, by the Romans, a. d. 553. 73 in order to accomplish the object of his mis- sion, Cathaklus set out for the city of Tarentum, at the time, as Dr. Lanigan supposes,74 when Romoald, Duke of Beneventum, had expelled the Greeks
from that city, and under his presidency, which lasted from 671 to 687. 75 The Norman invaders afterwards dominated, in southern Italy, and in turn gave way, before the rival pretensions of Spain and France. 7^ When the Irish missionary reached the city of Tarentum, he was informed, that its citizens had already received the rudiments of faith, at an early period, from the Apos- tle St. Peter and his disciple St. Mark, and as is thought, about the year of our Lord 45. Having left St. Mark there, on going to Rhegium, St.
Peter requested him to consecrate Amasianus, a convert to the Christian Religion, as first Bishop of Tarentum. He only ruled one year and a few months over that See, when as piously believed, he was called to the bliss of immortality. 77
A doubt is expressed, however, as to whether the inhabitants of Tarentum were, for the most part, addicted to idolatry,? ^ as Moroni's Life declares, referring our saint's entrance into this city, to the year of our Lord 1 70. 79 That is not at all improbable ; for paganism lingered in many particular districts and remote localities of the Roman Empire, to a period even later than the
*^ See Moroni's " Vita S. Catakli," lib. i. cap. xii.
525. '• See "Ecclesiastical History of Ire- ** See an account of this war, by the land," vol. iii. , chap, xviii. , sect, xi. , n,
'^ See "Italia Sacra," tomus ix. Taren- tina Metropolis, col. Ii6.
'^See Baionius' " Annales Ecclesiastici," Conversations Lexicon," &c. , vol. vi. p. tomus vii. , num. xv. , p. 367.
''s See "The Popular Encyclopedia or ;
authors of "Ancient Universal History,"
&c. , vol. X. , cap. xxxix. , sect, ii. , pp. 334
to 344.
*'^ SeePietro Giannone's "Civil History of
the Kingdom of Nnples," translated into English, by Captain James Ogilvie, vol. i. , Book i. , chap, iv. , sect, iii. , p. 18. London, 1729, 1731, ibl.
''^ SeeRev. FathersCatrou'sandRouille's "Roman History: with Notes Historical, Geographical, and Critical," vol. ji. , Book xxii. , sect, xv. , p. 494. English transla- tion.
** Sec " Ancient Universal History," vol. . , chap, xli. , sect, i. , p. 3.
70 See ibid. , pp. 19^0 21.
Before Christ 196.
141, p. 129.
7S See " Rerum Italicarum Scriptores,"
tomus i. De Gestis Langobardorum, Pauli
Diaconi, lib. vi. , cap. ii.
'* See Lady Morgan's " Italy," vol. ii. ,
chap, xxiv. , pp. 360, 361.
^^ See Ughelli's " Italia Sacra," tomus ix.
Tarentina Metropolis, col. 120.
? * This story might . igree well enough,
with the supposition of Moroni and others, that St. Cataldus arrived at Tarentum about the year 170. But, as the hypothesis is false, so are its concomitant parts.
"» De Burgo has retained this tale, whereas he lays down, erroneously, indeed, that St. Cataldus died, about a. d. 492. .
^ See Rev. Dr. Lanigan's " Ecclesiastical
,
p. 490.
May 10. ] LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS.
199
seventh centur)'. It is stated, that when he entered the eastern gate of the city, Cathaldus met a bhnd man, from whom he made enquiries, regarding tlie introduction of religion there, and the state of its inhabitants, at that time. He was then given to understand, that the people had nearly altoge- therrelapsedintotheerrorsofpaganism. ^° Understandingfromtheblind man, that although an unbeliever, he had nevertheless some yearnings after truth,^' Cathaldus said to him : " If thou believest in the Holy Trinity, and if thou art baptized in its name, thou shalt immediately receive light of body as of mind. "^^ The blind man replied : " I believe, sir, because it was not through hardness of heart, nor obstinacy of spirit, that I have been a wor- shipper of idols to this time ; but, owing to a want of priests and of Christian institutes, for it is now a long time since our city has had its Bishop and Pastor. " On expressing these words, our saint baptized this blind man, who, at the same time, received the gift of sight. ^3 Being blind from the time of his birth, that man felt transported with delight, when he gazed on new objects around him, and he ran immediately to announce what had occurred,toothercitizensofTarentum. Heinvitedthemalltocomeand see the stranger, from whose hands he had received the Sacrament of Bap- tism. ^+ Full of astonishment, the citizens followed that man to the place where Cataldus remained. He appeared to be revolving in thought the course for future proceedings. The minds of the people, it would appear, had already received some tincture from the former lessons of Divine faith. Therefore, were they more easily impressed with truths of the Christian Religion, announced by their new Apostle. Soon was he appointed to rule over them as Bishop. ^5 Great numbers among the inhabitants received Baptism, and all expressed sorrow for the commission of their former crimes. ^^ The most general consent of writers refers the episcopate of Cataldus, at Tarentum, to the close of the seventh century f^ and, such an inference seems more proba- ble, than are those accounts derived from confused traditions, which place it, at an earlier period.
CHAPTER III.
MISSIONARY LABOURS OF ST. CATALDUS IN ITALY—WRITINGS ATTRIBUTED TO HIM— LAST ADMONITIONS TO THE CLERGY AND CHIEF MEN OF TARENTUM—HIS DEATH AND INTERMENT—VARIOUS MIRACLES THEN AND AFTERWARDS WROUGHT THROUGH HIS INTERCESSION—FINDING AND TRANSLATION OF HIS RELICS HONOURS PAID TO HIS MEMORY IN TARENTUM—HIS REPUTED PROPHECIES VENERATION THROUGHOUT ITALY AND FRANCE—HIS COMMEMORATION IN OFFICES, CALENDARS AND MARTYROLOGIES—CONCLUSION.
The first seeds of the Gospel, being this happily sown, produced abundant fruit ; for, not only in a short time were all the people of Tarentum withdrawn from a worship of idols, but, the inhabitants of that country around it heard .
History of Ireland," vol. iii. , chap, xviii. , sect, xi. , p. 122, n. 140, p. 127.
8' See "Officium S. Cataldi," Lect. v.
*° See Joannes Juvenis, " De Antiqui- tate et Varia Tarentinorum Fortuna," lib. viii. , cap. 2.
''s SeeMoroni's"VitaS. Cataldi,"lib. i. , cap. xiii.
^^ See " Officium S. Cataldi," Lect. v.
^^ See Ughelli's " Italia Sacra," tomus ix. Tarentina Metropolis, col. 121.
^^ See Moroni's " Vita S. Cataldi," lib. i. , cap. xiv.
^' SeeDi. Richard R. Madden's " Shrines andSepulchresoftheOldandNewWorld," vol. ii. , chap, v. , p. 154.
—
200 LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. [May io.
the preaching of Cataldus. ' It hastened their conformity to practices of Christian faith. The whole appearance of Tarentum and of its neighbouring districts soon assumed a great change. Nobles and plebeians rivalled each other in the practice of virtue—the city which was heretofore a sink of abominations became the cradle of heroic acts—the inhabitants formerly addicted to the sins of luxury and debauchery were now distinguished for chastity and sobriety—where the temples had been frequented by idolatrous worshippers, and Imd been profaned by the practice of pagan rites, there peo- ple were now assembled to celebrate the Divine mysteries, and solemnities of theChristianReligion. UnderGod,Catalduswastherecognisedinstrument
of this great social revolution. In his life and actions were mirrored forth those virtues, which were required to sanctify his people, and the mute elo- quence of his example gave confirmation doubly strong to his public admoni- tions and exhortations. ^ In all these towns and cities of his bishopric, he ordainedPriests,Deacons,andotherinferiorclergy. Heremainedconstantly in the churches, where he was engaged in the exercises of prayer and of preaching ; while the duties of his pastoral charge were performed with all solicitude and charity, for he gave aid and counsel to widows and orphans, as also to destitute and suffering numbers, belonging to his fold. 3
Ithasbeenstated,thattheholybishopleftsomewritingsbehindhim. On the doubtful authority of Dempsterj-^ Cataldus is made the author of a Book of Homilies, addressed to the people, and a Book of Visions ;5 but, there is no ground for attributing a work on either subject to him. What passes under the title of his Prophecies is of a sufficiently spurious character, and it rests on no very trustworthy foundation. At last, Cathaldus perceived his end approach- ing. Then,hecalledtogetherthepriestsandchiefmenofTarentum,address- ing them in these following words,^ calculated to confirm their faith -J " You know, dearly beloved brethren, that I have not been driven of my own accord to this your city, from remote bounds of the Western Ocean; but, when I was at Jerusalem, the Lord Jesus Christ deigned to address me, and He commanded me to adopt a different course of life, from that which I had resolved on, and which seemed to me a better one, for securing my salvation. I was told, that I should go to Tarentum without delay, where Peter, Prince of the Apos- tles, with his disciple and interpreter, Mark, had laid the foundations of faith.
I most willingly did as I had been commanded : and, I came to you, bidding farewell to my country, and to the church of Rachau, where I well knew, my children liad been anxious for the return of their father, whilst bearing his aljsence with great inquietude. With Divine assistance, I liave restored the faith of Christ, almost extinguished; nor have I ceased, with tears and prayers, to strengthen the pliant minds of the people in Tarentum, and to encourage themintheperfectionofaChristianlife, havingabandonediUusionsofvice. But, now I truly know, that hereafter, when I am dead, great and powerful enemies shall arise against you ; who, endeavouring to divide members of the
Catholic Church by heretical sophistries, shall attempt to lead into former errors my flock, collected together with so much labour. Wherefore, against
Chapter hi. — ' See " Officium S. Cataldi," Lect. v.
' See Moroni's "Vita S. Cataldi," lib. i. , cap. XV.
" Homilias ad Populum," lib. i. , and " De Visionibus Suis. " lib. i.
'See " Officium S. Cataldi," Lect. vi.
Scotorum," tomus i. , lib. iii. , num. 278, Tarentinorum Fortuna," lib. viii. , cap. 2.
p. 164. ^ See Moroni's "Vita S. Cataldi," lib. i. ,
3 Their titles, according to Dempster, are, cap. xviii.
' According to Joannes Juvenis, these accounts are drawn from an ancient Life of * See " Historia Ecclesiastica Genlis St. Cataldus.
3' See " Ecclesiastical History of Ireland,"
May 10. ]
LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS.
appointed by our saint might have been among the number. 38 it is still more probable, however, that Sen Rathen, or Slianraghan, had been the city of Cathaldus, for this reason, that it was situated near Lismore, in accordance with what IS stated. 39 However, Colgan admits the claims of Rathcormaic
195
Another locality was known as Rath- cormaic ;3s and the third was named Rath-Ronain. 36 It is not unlikely that either of the two first-named places had been the See of Cathaldus, since Kathen of Meath might have been occupied, by our saint, after tlie expulsion ot Mochudda, or Carthage ;37 and, as many monks belonging to this place became Abbots and Bishops, in various parts of Ireland, those twelve bishops
many places, greatly dilapidated.
Shanraghan Old Church, County of Tipperary.
and Rath-Ronain, for the like reason. These three places are said, likewise, to have been comprised, within the territory of Meltridis, who was supposed to have been chief over the Desii, while Rathen of Meath could not have belonged to this chieftain. '*"
he be confounded with St. Cataldus ; since, not only are the parents of both distinct, the places for their death different, but all the
Information relative to the Antiquities of the
County of Tipperary, collected during the
progress of the Ordnance Survey in 1840,"
vol. i. , Letter of John O'Donovan, dated circumstances related in their respective
September, 5th, 1840, pp. 44 to 46.
3S This Colgan learned, through corres- pondence with Dr. Patrick Comerford,
Bishop of Lismore.
3* This is now a parish, in the Barony of Iffa
Acts show them to have been altogether distinguishable, so that he. wlio is called Car- thagus by the Irish, cannot be confounded with the saint, named Cathaldus, by the Italians.
3^ Such is Colgan's conjecture. See "Acta Sanctorum Hibernice," viii. Martii, n- 2, p. 555-
and Offa West, and it is shown on the " Ord-
nance Survey Townland Maps for the County
of Tipperary," sheets 76,77,82, 83. The 39 In his Life, by Moroni, lib. 1. ,
townland proper is marked on sheet 77.
37 His Life will be found, at the 14th of May, the day set apart for his feast. Nor can
cap. v. , vii.
<° See Colgan's " Acta Sanctorum Hiber-
nise," viii. Martii, n. 2, p. 555.
196 LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. [May 10.
Having discharged the duties of his episcopate for some years, and with great fidehty to his trust, the saint resolved on undertaking a pilgrimage, to visit the Holy Sepulchre, at Jerusalem/' Having called together twelve bishops, he disclosed this design to them, while he com- mitted his flock to their charge. He embarked on board a vessel, while habited in a pilgrim's garb, and without a single attendant ; so that, as the author of his Life remarks, he could not be distinguished from any ordinary person, but for the majesty of his mein and a certain nobility of countenance, which are said to have characterized him. After many labours and dangers, he arrived at Jerusalem. There, he visited the Holy Sepulchre, and other places, which have been rendered illustrious, by the miracles and presence of Christ. He then came to a resolution, he would not return to his native country. Being desirous of leading a solitary life —one then much practised in the east —he besought the Almighty, with prayers and tears, that he might be per- mitted to spend his remaining days, in some lonely wood or hermitage of Palestine. He was anxious, also, to remove the burden of the pastoral office, and the care of souls, to other shoulders ; that thus, he might die on the soil, consecrated by our Saviour's forty days' fast, and among a people, where souvenirs of Christ's visible presence on earth might be found. -^^ But, the Lord had otherwise ordained ; for, whilst engaged in a recital of Matins, before the morning sun arose, Cataldus had a vision. 43 In this, the Deity ordered him to direct his course towards Tarentum, where the Apostles, St. Peter and St. Mark, had first laid a foundation for the Christian Religion.
Ever obedient to the Divine will, Cathaldus embarked on board a vessel, without any delay. When wafted out into the open sea, and not far from a port, at which he disembarked, he foretold the approach of a tempest. '** When this storm took place, contrary to general expectation, he appeased it by recurring to prayer. '^s A certain youth, who had ascended the mast to connect a broken cable, fell from his elevated position, and he was killed on the spot ; but, Cataldus afterwards restored him to life. *^ The accounts which follow, as found in most of his biographies, do not appear to be well connected; however, it seems somewhat improbable, that on his way from Ireland to Italy, Cataldus may have filled some distinguished positions, at Geneva, near
theLakeofLeman. Itisstated,^? thatasprelateandprofessorofthatcity, he was there venerated. ''^ Notwithstanding, this account wants further confir- mation, as also the supposition, that he had even travelled to the Holy Land. 9 Some persons were of opinion,5° that when Cataldus left Palestine for Italy, he had been accompanied by Euprepius s' —afterwards called Leuctius s^ Bishop of Brundusiuni, and by Barsanophrius,53 the Eremite. s-* However, as may easily be seen, their respective periods do not harmonize. It will only be sufficient to remark, that besides our saint having left Ireland, in the seventh
*' See "Officium S. Cataldi," Lect. v.
*^ See Moroni's " Vita S. Cataldi," lib. i. , cap. ix.
*3 Dempster says, "a Sancto Petro in somnis monitus," he set out for Italy. See " Historia Ecclesinstica Gentis Scotorum," tomus i. , lib. iii. , num. 278, p. 164.
*•• See Joannes Juvenis, " Ue Antiquitate etVariaTarentinorumFonuna,"lib. viii. , cap. 2.
«s See " Officium S. Cataldi," Lect. v.
<* See Moroni's " Vita S. Cataldi," lib. i. , cap. X.
<7 By Raph. Volaterranus, in Commentar. Urban, lib. iii.
^ See Sir James Ware, " De Scriptoribus
HiberniK," lib. i. , cap. i. , p. 6.
*' This is stated, by Joannes Juvenis, in
" De Antiquitate, et Varia Tarentinorum Fortuna," lib. viii. , cap. 2.
5° According to Bartholomew JNIoroni.
s> His festival is kept, on the ilth of January. See " Martyrologium Romanum," at that date.
s-- jjelived,inthetimeofTheodosusthe Great, about A. D. 380.
ss His feast is kept, on the llth of April. See Les Petits Bollandistes, "Vies des Sainis," tomeiv. , xi^ jourd'Avril, p. 327.
s* \\^ lived about the time of Justinian, A. I). 584.
55 Thomas Dempster has published the
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May io. ] LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS.
197
century, those already named as his companions ss could not even have been contemporaries. Others say, that DonatuSjS^ who was the brother ofCatal- dus, came with him to Japygia,57 where he was made Bishop of Lupias ;5' while both lived eremitical lives together, at a little town, afterwards called by thenameofoursaint. S9 Ashavingcarefullyexaminedthem,Moroniremarks, that these accounts were not to be found, in the records of Tarentum church. However, this writer saw, near Lupias, an old citadel called Cataldus, with a church, and a small cave hollowed out, after the manner of a crypt. The Lupias people cherished a tradition, that our saint frequently prayed, and offered up the Holy Sacrifice of Mass in it. ^°
When Cataldus arrived in Italy, he is thought^' to have landed at
the mouth of a river, called by the inhabitants, St. Peter de Bibagna ;
owing to a tradition, that St. Peter the Apostle, on his way from Antioch to Rome, disembarked at this same place, Avhere he celebrated Mass in a chapel, which remained there, even to the seventeenth century. At that period, also, the ruins of a town, named Fellini, might be seen on the summit of a hill, near INLanduri; at which, when the saint approached on his way to Tarentum, he met a girl, tending a small flock by the wayside. Shewasdeafanddumb. ^* Ofthesefactsthesaintwasapprized,whenhe saw her inattentive to an enquiry he made, about the direct course to Taren- tum. Wherefore, he wrought a miracle in her favour, whereby she was restored to the use both of hearing and of speech . ^3 As the evening was about to close, this woman manifested her gratitude, by requesting the saint to remain in her house, until the day following. The news of this miracle having reached the people of Fellini, their veneration towards the servant of God was wonderfully increased ; and, it was manifested, in a manner most consoling to his heart, by their embracing truths of the Christian Religion. Cataldus
following Latin lines, on the Scottish Patron Saints of the Italian cities, and those verses are ascribed to Galcottus Picus, the excellent Prince of Miiandula. See his "Historia Ecclesiastica Gentis Scotorum," tomus i. , lib. iii. , num. 278, pp. 164, 165 :
" Lux tenebras, aurum plumbum, sic Scotia leriien
Vincit, doctrina, religione, viris. Clara etenim Innocuo pietas est Ro-
mula pi imo,
Tu, Bonifaci, isto clarus in orbe
nites,
Cyriacus decorat sedem, atque exor-
nat eandem :
Multi alii proceres, purpureique
patres.
Inde Tarentinis pergit radiare Catal-
dus,
Donatus Lupios frater et inde
docet ;
Inde Columbanus Bobii fundamina
jecit,
Casta Fluentina Brigida in urbe
sonat,
Faesulae ab Andrea et Donato lumina
ducunt.
Sancte Faventinos Aemiliane beas,
Et Gunifortis Ticinum corpora gau- det,
. Clara domus Plint te, Gunibalde, canit.
Dempstero Veneti assurgunl, et bella loquuntur
Parthenopes Scotos maitia corda duces.
Lanea sus, Celebris dira olim clade Ravenna,
Laudem horum Tarrus sanguino- lentus habet.
Hos sanctos fortesque simul colit Ausonis ora. "
s* His feast occurs, at the 22nd of Oc- tober, where some account of him will be found.
s? The promontory of Japigia is at the south-eastern extremity of Italy, and shown on the ancient Map, in Rev. Fathers Catrou's and Rouille's " Roman History : with Notes Historical, Geographical, and Critical," &c. , vol. ii. , Book xvii. , p. 179.
ss Lupia is not far from this point, but more northerly, and on the eastern shore of Calabria. See ibid.
59 . See Colgan's "Acta Sanctorum Hiber- nice," Martii viii. , n. 13, p. 556.
*° See Moroni's "Vita S. Cataldi," lib. i. , cap. xi.
*' By Moroni, in Vita S. Cataldi, lib. i. , cap. xii.
^- See Joannes Juvenis, " De Antiquitate et Vaiia Tarentmorum. Fortuna," lib. viii. , cap. 2.
*3 See " Officium S. Cataldi," Lect. v.
198 LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. [May 10.
remained among them for some days, that he might perfect a work, so hap- pily begun. ^4
In the year before Christ 700, an old Greek colony, founded by Lacede- monian Parthenii, had been planted in Lower Italy. Their city was called Tarentum, one of the most flourishing and opulent cities of Magna Grsecia. ^s For a long time, the Tarentines were jealous of the growing power of the Romans, and they engaged Pyrrhus, King of Epirus, to land in Italy, where he carried on war with that warlike people, and with varied success. ^* The Brutii had Tarentum with other cities, in this part of Italy. ^7 At last, this city was taken by the Romans, in the year of Rome, 481,^^ and B. C. 262. Afterwards, through treachery it was surrendered to Hannibal, during the Carthaginian war, and before Christ 199 f^ but, again, it was recovered by the Romans,'° under Fabius. 7' The Tarentines were tlien reduced to the condi- tion of Roman colonists, when they became remarkable for their idleness and effeminacy of manners. 7^ In the sixth century of the Christian era, they were subdued by the Goths. However, Tarentum was recaptured from the Goths, by the Romans, a. d. 553. 73 in order to accomplish the object of his mis- sion, Cathaklus set out for the city of Tarentum, at the time, as Dr. Lanigan supposes,74 when Romoald, Duke of Beneventum, had expelled the Greeks
from that city, and under his presidency, which lasted from 671 to 687. 75 The Norman invaders afterwards dominated, in southern Italy, and in turn gave way, before the rival pretensions of Spain and France. 7^ When the Irish missionary reached the city of Tarentum, he was informed, that its citizens had already received the rudiments of faith, at an early period, from the Apos- tle St. Peter and his disciple St. Mark, and as is thought, about the year of our Lord 45. Having left St. Mark there, on going to Rhegium, St.
Peter requested him to consecrate Amasianus, a convert to the Christian Religion, as first Bishop of Tarentum. He only ruled one year and a few months over that See, when as piously believed, he was called to the bliss of immortality. 77
A doubt is expressed, however, as to whether the inhabitants of Tarentum were, for the most part, addicted to idolatry,? ^ as Moroni's Life declares, referring our saint's entrance into this city, to the year of our Lord 1 70. 79 That is not at all improbable ; for paganism lingered in many particular districts and remote localities of the Roman Empire, to a period even later than the
*^ See Moroni's " Vita S. Catakli," lib. i. cap. xii.
525. '• See "Ecclesiastical History of Ire- ** See an account of this war, by the land," vol. iii. , chap, xviii. , sect, xi. , n,
'^ See "Italia Sacra," tomus ix. Taren- tina Metropolis, col. Ii6.
'^See Baionius' " Annales Ecclesiastici," Conversations Lexicon," &c. , vol. vi. p. tomus vii. , num. xv. , p. 367.
''s See "The Popular Encyclopedia or ;
authors of "Ancient Universal History,"
&c. , vol. X. , cap. xxxix. , sect, ii. , pp. 334
to 344.
*'^ SeePietro Giannone's "Civil History of
the Kingdom of Nnples," translated into English, by Captain James Ogilvie, vol. i. , Book i. , chap, iv. , sect, iii. , p. 18. London, 1729, 1731, ibl.
''^ SeeRev. FathersCatrou'sandRouille's "Roman History: with Notes Historical, Geographical, and Critical," vol. ji. , Book xxii. , sect, xv. , p. 494. English transla- tion.
** Sec " Ancient Universal History," vol. . , chap, xli. , sect, i. , p. 3.
70 See ibid. , pp. 19^0 21.
Before Christ 196.
141, p. 129.
7S See " Rerum Italicarum Scriptores,"
tomus i. De Gestis Langobardorum, Pauli
Diaconi, lib. vi. , cap. ii.
'* See Lady Morgan's " Italy," vol. ii. ,
chap, xxiv. , pp. 360, 361.
^^ See Ughelli's " Italia Sacra," tomus ix.
Tarentina Metropolis, col. 120.
? * This story might . igree well enough,
with the supposition of Moroni and others, that St. Cataldus arrived at Tarentum about the year 170. But, as the hypothesis is false, so are its concomitant parts.
"» De Burgo has retained this tale, whereas he lays down, erroneously, indeed, that St. Cataldus died, about a. d. 492. .
^ See Rev. Dr. Lanigan's " Ecclesiastical
,
p. 490.
May 10. ] LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS.
199
seventh centur)'. It is stated, that when he entered the eastern gate of the city, Cathaldus met a bhnd man, from whom he made enquiries, regarding tlie introduction of religion there, and the state of its inhabitants, at that time. He was then given to understand, that the people had nearly altoge- therrelapsedintotheerrorsofpaganism. ^° Understandingfromtheblind man, that although an unbeliever, he had nevertheless some yearnings after truth,^' Cathaldus said to him : " If thou believest in the Holy Trinity, and if thou art baptized in its name, thou shalt immediately receive light of body as of mind. "^^ The blind man replied : " I believe, sir, because it was not through hardness of heart, nor obstinacy of spirit, that I have been a wor- shipper of idols to this time ; but, owing to a want of priests and of Christian institutes, for it is now a long time since our city has had its Bishop and Pastor. " On expressing these words, our saint baptized this blind man, who, at the same time, received the gift of sight. ^3 Being blind from the time of his birth, that man felt transported with delight, when he gazed on new objects around him, and he ran immediately to announce what had occurred,toothercitizensofTarentum. Heinvitedthemalltocomeand see the stranger, from whose hands he had received the Sacrament of Bap- tism. ^+ Full of astonishment, the citizens followed that man to the place where Cataldus remained. He appeared to be revolving in thought the course for future proceedings. The minds of the people, it would appear, had already received some tincture from the former lessons of Divine faith. Therefore, were they more easily impressed with truths of the Christian Religion, announced by their new Apostle. Soon was he appointed to rule over them as Bishop. ^5 Great numbers among the inhabitants received Baptism, and all expressed sorrow for the commission of their former crimes. ^^ The most general consent of writers refers the episcopate of Cataldus, at Tarentum, to the close of the seventh century f^ and, such an inference seems more proba- ble, than are those accounts derived from confused traditions, which place it, at an earlier period.
CHAPTER III.
MISSIONARY LABOURS OF ST. CATALDUS IN ITALY—WRITINGS ATTRIBUTED TO HIM— LAST ADMONITIONS TO THE CLERGY AND CHIEF MEN OF TARENTUM—HIS DEATH AND INTERMENT—VARIOUS MIRACLES THEN AND AFTERWARDS WROUGHT THROUGH HIS INTERCESSION—FINDING AND TRANSLATION OF HIS RELICS HONOURS PAID TO HIS MEMORY IN TARENTUM—HIS REPUTED PROPHECIES VENERATION THROUGHOUT ITALY AND FRANCE—HIS COMMEMORATION IN OFFICES, CALENDARS AND MARTYROLOGIES—CONCLUSION.
The first seeds of the Gospel, being this happily sown, produced abundant fruit ; for, not only in a short time were all the people of Tarentum withdrawn from a worship of idols, but, the inhabitants of that country around it heard .
History of Ireland," vol. iii. , chap, xviii. , sect, xi. , p. 122, n. 140, p. 127.
8' See "Officium S. Cataldi," Lect. v.
*° See Joannes Juvenis, " De Antiqui- tate et Varia Tarentinorum Fortuna," lib. viii. , cap. 2.
''s SeeMoroni's"VitaS. Cataldi,"lib. i. , cap. xiii.
^^ See " Officium S. Cataldi," Lect. v.
^^ See Ughelli's " Italia Sacra," tomus ix. Tarentina Metropolis, col. 121.
^^ See Moroni's " Vita S. Cataldi," lib. i. , cap. xiv.
^' SeeDi. Richard R. Madden's " Shrines andSepulchresoftheOldandNewWorld," vol. ii. , chap, v. , p. 154.
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200 LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. [May io.
the preaching of Cataldus. ' It hastened their conformity to practices of Christian faith. The whole appearance of Tarentum and of its neighbouring districts soon assumed a great change. Nobles and plebeians rivalled each other in the practice of virtue—the city which was heretofore a sink of abominations became the cradle of heroic acts—the inhabitants formerly addicted to the sins of luxury and debauchery were now distinguished for chastity and sobriety—where the temples had been frequented by idolatrous worshippers, and Imd been profaned by the practice of pagan rites, there peo- ple were now assembled to celebrate the Divine mysteries, and solemnities of theChristianReligion. UnderGod,Catalduswastherecognisedinstrument
of this great social revolution. In his life and actions were mirrored forth those virtues, which were required to sanctify his people, and the mute elo- quence of his example gave confirmation doubly strong to his public admoni- tions and exhortations. ^ In all these towns and cities of his bishopric, he ordainedPriests,Deacons,andotherinferiorclergy. Heremainedconstantly in the churches, where he was engaged in the exercises of prayer and of preaching ; while the duties of his pastoral charge were performed with all solicitude and charity, for he gave aid and counsel to widows and orphans, as also to destitute and suffering numbers, belonging to his fold. 3
Ithasbeenstated,thattheholybishopleftsomewritingsbehindhim. On the doubtful authority of Dempsterj-^ Cataldus is made the author of a Book of Homilies, addressed to the people, and a Book of Visions ;5 but, there is no ground for attributing a work on either subject to him. What passes under the title of his Prophecies is of a sufficiently spurious character, and it rests on no very trustworthy foundation. At last, Cathaldus perceived his end approach- ing. Then,hecalledtogetherthepriestsandchiefmenofTarentum,address- ing them in these following words,^ calculated to confirm their faith -J " You know, dearly beloved brethren, that I have not been driven of my own accord to this your city, from remote bounds of the Western Ocean; but, when I was at Jerusalem, the Lord Jesus Christ deigned to address me, and He commanded me to adopt a different course of life, from that which I had resolved on, and which seemed to me a better one, for securing my salvation. I was told, that I should go to Tarentum without delay, where Peter, Prince of the Apos- tles, with his disciple and interpreter, Mark, had laid the foundations of faith.
I most willingly did as I had been commanded : and, I came to you, bidding farewell to my country, and to the church of Rachau, where I well knew, my children liad been anxious for the return of their father, whilst bearing his aljsence with great inquietude. With Divine assistance, I liave restored the faith of Christ, almost extinguished; nor have I ceased, with tears and prayers, to strengthen the pliant minds of the people in Tarentum, and to encourage themintheperfectionofaChristianlife, havingabandonediUusionsofvice. But, now I truly know, that hereafter, when I am dead, great and powerful enemies shall arise against you ; who, endeavouring to divide members of the
Catholic Church by heretical sophistries, shall attempt to lead into former errors my flock, collected together with so much labour. Wherefore, against
Chapter hi. — ' See " Officium S. Cataldi," Lect. v.
' See Moroni's "Vita S. Cataldi," lib. i. , cap. XV.
" Homilias ad Populum," lib. i. , and " De Visionibus Suis. " lib. i.
'See " Officium S. Cataldi," Lect. vi.
Scotorum," tomus i. , lib. iii. , num. 278, Tarentinorum Fortuna," lib. viii. , cap. 2.
p. 164. ^ See Moroni's "Vita S. Cataldi," lib. i. ,
3 Their titles, according to Dempster, are, cap. xviii.
' According to Joannes Juvenis, these accounts are drawn from an ancient Life of * See " Historia Ecclesiastica Genlis St. Cataldus.
