Aiier-
wards, he published a curious description of it, with an account of the superstitious osage to which the people converted the relic.
wards, he published a curious description of it, with an account of the superstitious osage to which the people converted the relic.
O'Hanlon - Lives of the Irish Saints - v4
, cliap.
vi.
, p.
47.
'3 According to Dr. Todd, in the Donegal
740.
? Edited by Drs. Todd and Reeves, pp.
98, 99.
Article iv. —« Edited byRev. Dr. Kelly.
In the Franciscan copy, we read -p^iilbe Martyrology, a more recent hand adds, eApcAi.
p. 740. —' Article hi.
Edited by Rev. Dr. Kelly,
^XexjAni IUac u Quibne. ^"
See Trias Thaumaturga," Quinta Ap- pendix ad Acta S. Columbce, cap. iv. , sect.
* See his Life, at the of 31st
January.
s See " Acta Sanctorum Hibernise," xxxi.
Januarii, cap. i. , p. 221.
''
April 8. ] LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. 8i
Failbe, or Falve,' Abbot of lona, Colgan s refers to Falveus, Abbas Erdamen- sis, who died in the year 766, and, who was venerated, as he states, at the 8th
of February, whereas his meaning apparently was, at the 8th of April. In the Annals of the Four Masters,* we have the death of Failbhe Erdaimh entered, at the year 766. There is no identification of his place. The Bollandists,5 with a misprint of date, notice Falbeus Erdamensis, at the 8th of April. The festival, in honour of Failbhe,* was celebrated, on this day, as we find a re- cord, in the Martyrology of Donegal. ?
Article V. —St. Ronan, son of Fergus. He is mentioned, as Ronan Mac Fergus, in the published Martyrology of Tallagh," at the 8th of April, with the repetitionofaword,asRonanMacmicFergusa. TheBollandists,"quoting the same authority, seem erroneously to call him Conanus filius Fergussii, a C having been substituted for R, in the first letter of his name. We read, in the Martyrology of Donegal,^ that Ronan, son of Fergus, had veneration paid him, at this date.
Article VI. —St. Januarius, Martyr. The holy Martyr Januarius ""
is noticed, in the Feilire of St . (Engus, as having been venerated in Ire- land. He suffered for the faith in Africa, with other companions, thus named,
in the ancient Martyrology of St. Jerome, viz. : Timorius, Januarius, Maca- rius, Connexus, Maxima, and Concessa. With several variations of names and entries, other ancient Calendars record this feast. The BoUandists treat of those African Martyrs, at the 8th of April,' yet without being able to throw much light on their history.
Article VII. —St. Tigernach, or Tighernan, of Aired, now
Errew, of Loch Conn, County of Mayo. On the 8th of April, in the
Martyrology of Tallagh,' we find the festival of Tigernach, Airidh. The
BoUandists also repeat this insertion, at the same date. ' His place is now
known, as Errew, on Lough Conn, in the parish of Crossmolina. s and in the
barony of Tirawley> The present saint must have flourished, towards the latter end of the fifth century, taking his pedigree, as given in the Book of
Lecan,5 for a basis of calculation. There, he is said to have been son of
'
His feast occurs, at the 10th of March.
5 SeeCoIgan's " Acta Sanctorum Hiber- iriae,"x. Mariii, De S. Failbeo sive Falveo
' Edited by Drs. Todd and Reeves, pp.
'
See "Acta Sanctorum," tomus i. , Aprilis viii. , De Sanctis Martyri- bus, Timorio, Januario, Macario, Connexo, Maxima, et Concessa, Carthagine et alibi in
Abbate Hiensi, p. 576, and n. 4.
*
See Dr. O'Donovan's Edition, voL L, pp. 368, 369.
}
more recent hand adds ©lATJAiTh, Mar. , Ci5ei\n4ch Ainit).
5 See "Acta Sanctorum," tonnis i. , Aprilis viii. Among the pretermitted feasts, p. 740. ' In a note, Dr. Todd here " The
says,
Africa, p. 745. — ARTICLE VII.
'
Rev. Dr. Editedby Kelly,
that Mariantis Gorman calls him "Failbhe of Erdamh," but epoAirfi is there added as a gloss. "
' Edited by Drs. Todd and Reeves, pp.
' Thus " de Aredh. " See : Tigemacus
"Acta Sanctorum," tomus i. , Aprilis viii. Among the |)retermitted feasts, p. 740,
^ This very extensive parish is described, on the " Ordnance Survey Townland Maps
Sheets
for the County of Mayo," 27, 28, 29,
30, 36, 37, 38, 39, 45, 46, 47, 48, 58, 59. The townland of Errew is on sheets 38, 47.
See Dr. O'Donovan's "Annals of the
Four Masters," Vol. iii. , n. (d) p. 3. : At fol. 46.
meaning
98, 99. — Article v.
Edited by Rev. Dr. Kelly, p. XX. In the Franciscan copy, it is non^ni
tn<jc ITepgnA.
'See "ActaSanctorum,"tomusi. , Aprilis
viii. Among the pretermitted saints, p. 740.
'
98, 99. — Article vi.
xx. In the Franciscan we find p. copy,
r
82 LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS.
[April's.
Ninnidh, son to Cairpri, son of Amhalgaidh, son to Fiachra, son of Eochaidh, monarch of Ireland. * He descended from the race of CoUa Uais, monarch
ofErinn,accordingtotheO'Clerys'Calendar. ' Thecelebratedgenealogist, Duald or Dubhaltach Mac Firbisigh, of Lecan, traces his descent from GioUa Phadraig, by whom St. Tighearnan of Errew was fostered. ^ On a point of Errew townland, stretching into Loch Conn, stood the ancient church of St.
On its site are the ruins of a modern Abbey of considerable extent, but now nearly decayed. Formerly, it was dedicated to the same saint. '° That extensive and romantic sheet of water, known as Lough Conn," lends an inexpressible charm to the neighbourhood. A holy well, called Tobar
Tighearnan. 9
Lough Conn, County of Mayo.
Tigheman, and dedicated to the patron, is situated to the south of Killeen townland. " A relic, known as Mias Tighearnain, or " St. Tighearnain's Dish," had been preserved for ages, in the family of O'Flynn, who are said to have been herenachs, or hereditary warders, of Errew. That object was held in the
' See O'Donovan's " John
A
hermit dwelt, who many a year had trod
Genealogies, Tribes,andCustomsofHy-Fiachrach,"n. (a),
p. 12.
"
'See MartyrologyofDonegal,"byRev.
Drs. Todd and Reeves, pp. 98, 99.
*
See John O'Donovan's "Genealogies, Tribes and Customs of Hy-Fiachrach," pp. ioi to 103.
' To this primitive saint and to his place ofresidencemightprobablybeappliedthe descripticm, given by the following lines of a
—
In lonely cottage walled with mossy sod,
-Close by a little spring's perpetual rill.
With sacred solitude that pine-clad hill.
And loved with holy images to fill
distinguished Irish poetess
Mares, drawn on tlie wood, by Wiliiam F. Wakeraan, and it was engraved, by Mrs.
"
:
was Millard.
— His soul enrapt. " Mrs. Henry Tighe's
stanza xxxv.
Psyche," Canto iii. ,
"> The Barretts are said to have erected it.
"Theaccompanyingillustration, taken
from a Frederick H. Photograph, by
"
It is marked, on the "Ordnance Survey
Townland Maps for the County of Mayo," Sheet 38.
April 8. ] LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. 83
highest veneration, as a relic of the family's patron saint. '' This day is recorded, in the Martyrology of Donegal,'* a festival in honour of Tighernan, of Air^d, at Loch Con. In the Annals of the Four Masters, '5 at the year 1413, the church of Airech-Locha-Con was profaned, by Robert Mac Wattin, for therehetookHenryBarrettaprisoner,andcarriedhimthencebyforce. But, the violator of this sanctuary passed not a night, in which St. Tighearnan of
Airech, the patron, did not appear to him, in a vision, and demand the pri- soner. This request of the saint was at length complied with, and Robert
Mac Wattin granted a quarter of land to Tighearnan Airech, for ever, as an eric for the violation of its sanctuary.
Article VIII. — Reputed Festival of St. Adamnan, Abbot of Iona,
Scotland. \Sei'aith and Eighth Cmturiesi\ According to Bucelin, at this daywascelebratedtheFeastofSt. Adamnan. ' HewasAbbotofIona,but the Irish and English Calendars have his festival, at the 23rd September. ' The Bollandists have a notice of him, at this date ;3 but, they seem to con- found, St. Adamnan, Abbot of Coldin^ham,* who has a feast on the 31st of January, as, also, on the 2nd of September, with St. Adamnan, Abbot of Iona, altogether a distinct personage.
Article IX. —Reputed Festival of St. Celestine I. , Pope and Confessor. \_Fourth and Eifth Centuries. \ The commemoration of this holy Pontiff has been assigned, to the 8th of April, by the Greeks, while it is con-
' tained,also,invariousFastioftheLatins,astheBollandists remark,atthis
date. Already have we given his Acts, at the 6th of April.
Article X. —Reputed Festival of St. Dima, or Dioma, Monk of Iona, and First Missionary Bishop among the Mercians and Mid- land Angles. \Seventh Century^ At the 22nd of February, some notices of this holy disciple of St. Columkille, have been given; and, to these, the reader is referred. Again, as we are informed, Camerarius has a feast for this St. Dima, a monk from Iona, and afterwards a bishop in England, at the 8th of April.
" Becoming very poor, daring a hard it not the only similar, relic of Tirawley,
summer, when provisions were exceedingly dear, the owners were induL-ed to sell it to
Mr. Knox, of Rappa Castle, and there it
preserved by the Knox family. See John O'Donovan's "Genealogies, Tribes and
Customs of Hy-Fiachrach," n. (a), p. 12, and
afterwards remained. It appears, however, n. (i), pp. 239, 240.
that lent it to the who '* Edited Drs. Todd and
Reeves, pp.
gentlem. in peasantry, by were accustomed to swear upon it, at limes ; 98, 99,
but, the Rev. Ur. Lyons got temporary pos- session of it, on such an occasion.
Aiier-
wards, he published a curious description of it, with an account of the superstitious osage to which the people converted the relic. He restored it to R. ippa Castle, on condition it should never again be lent to the
peasantry, for any superstitious purposes.
This enijagement was undertaken, and
honourably fulfilled, by the proprietor of Rappa Castle, who set a high value on this
' See Dr. O'Donovan's Edition, vol. iv. , pp. 812, 813, and—nn. (q, r, s). Ibid,
Mias Tigheamain, as
the primitive Irish Church.
a monument of It is the chief,
mitted saints, —740. p.
being
Article viu. of September.
'
See his Life, at the 23rd
' The Bollandists state, incorrectly, at the 2nd September.
' See "Acta Sanctorum," tomus i. , Aprilis viii. Among the pretermitted saints, p. 741,
* See his Life—, at the 31st ofJanuary, '
Article Ix. See "Acta Sanctorum," tomus i. , Aprilis viii. Among the preter-
'
A&ticlk xi. Thus he is entered
: iix
^
LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. [April 9.
Article XI. —Reputed Festival of the Elevation of the Priest Chroninus,orChronanus. QuotingtheauthorityofHectorBoetiusand of Florarius, Dempster speaks of the Elevation of Chroninus ; and, again, he is called Chronanus, at the 8th of April. The Bollandists,' who have a double entry, at this date, are of opinion, that he must be the Chromanus, Presbyter, alluded to by Camerarius, at May 15th, in his Scottish Calendar ; while they refer us, to what had been stated, in relation to a Chronanus Monachus," found among the pretermitted saints, at the 8th of March. 3
^iutl) Bap of april.
ARTICLE I. —ST. WALDETRUDE, WALTRUDE, OR VAUTRUDE, PATRONESS OF MONS, AND OF HAYNAULT, BELGIUM.
[SEVENTH CENTURY. ]
holy woman has been held in great veneration, not alone in the
Colgan appears to have collected her Acts, for publication, at the same date,' and even he promised to treat about her very fully ;' however, he did not
live to publish the Life of St. Waldetrude, whom he regards as deserving a place among our Irish Saints,^ although it is admitted, she was French, or Gallic Belgian, by birth and descent. The Bollandists have an account of
the pious princess,'* in a Life,5 taken from ancient Manuscripts. An old bio- graphyofthisholywomanhasbeen"publishedbyFatherMabillon. * The Fourth Volume of " Acta Sanctorum Belgii," has inserted the Acts ' of St.
city Mons, THIS of
of which she is
Low Countries, where her festival is celebrated, on the 9th day of April.
Waldetrude,^ Hannonia, at the 9th of April. s
Notices of this holy woman
are
"
Rev. Alban 'o Butler,
by
the Petits
and Rev. by
given by —Chronanipresbyteri
Bollandistes,"
" Forbes'
elevatio. B. T. Florar. " Menologium Scotorum. " See Bishop
Herimanno Abbate S. Martini Tornacensis," in four sections.
"
They add : "nam in Indice prsefixo vide-
tur idem statui. "
3 S«e "Acta Sanctorum," tomusi. jAprilis
viii. Among the pretermitted feasts. See p.
740, and, also,—p. 741.
and it contains
196. '
Kalendars of Scottish
Saints," p.
5 This Life has a
Three Chapters, comprising sixteen para- graphs, with accompanying notes,
'
i. See
? These are contained in a Prologue, and ""
'
' In his " Acta Sanctorum," belonging to the Benedictine Order, tomus ii. , saec. ii. , at this date.
Article
Sanctorum quje MS. habentur, ordire Men-
"
sium et Dierum.
' See " Acta Sanctorum Hibemiae," Feb-
ruarii iii. Translatio S. Waldetrudis Abba- tissae, p. 249.
' The principal reasons assigned are, be- cause she had been married to an Irish bus- band, and that of Irish blood, on the father's lide, were some of her childien, ranked as saints.
* See "Acta Sanctorum," tomus i. , Aprilisix. Aprevious commentaryprecedes it,, in eight sections, with an Appendix, "ex
Herimanno Abbate S. Martini Tornacen- sis. "
^ Her Acts are comprised in a previous commentary, of three sections, by J. BoUan- dus and Cornelius Smet, with an address to the reader, by this latter writer. Then fol- lows a Life of the saint, by an anonymous author, and this is taken from old MSS.
Catalogus
Actuum three followed an ex chapters, by Appendix,
special patroness,
but
throughout
the
' See pp. 414 to 450. '" "
Prologue,
See LivesoftheFathers,Martyrsand other Principal S. iints," vol. iv. , April ix.
"See the "Viesdes Saints," toine iv. , Avril g^pp. ^^gS. toaoi.
April 9. ] LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. 85
S. Baring-Gould. " This virtuous female was a relation of King Dagobert, who ruled in France, towards the middle of the seventh century. She was the daughter of St. Walbert and of the princess St. Bertille,"3 elder sister to St. Aldegondes,'* who presided over a great religious establishment, at Mau- beuge. SlWaldetrudewasremarkable,forherpersonalbeautyandgraceful manners; but,stillmore,forhermodestyandloveofpurity. Yet,aneligible match having been presented to her parents, a husband was selected for her, at an early age. She married an Irish warrior, called Maelceadar, also named Madelgaire, Count of Hannonia, or Hainault, who is venerated as a saint. 's He was one of the principal lords of KingJDagobert's court,"' and, after mar- riage, both pious spouses seemed to rival each other, in the practice of every virtue. Their charities to the poor were largely and frequently bestowed ; they exercised hospitality in their home ; and their love for holy purposes seemed to be insatiable. Marriages between the Irish and the Gauls were not unusual, about the period when this holy woman '? lived. St. Waldetrude is thought to have visited Ireland, most probably in company with her husband, whose native place was there. It is said, his mission thither was to bring with him many holy and learned men, to spread the Gospel in France, and that—it wasundertakenbyadviceofKingDagobertI. "' Havingbornehimtwosons St Landric,'9 Bishop of Meaux, and St. Dentelinus,=° Patron of Resa, near the Rhine—and two daughters—St. Aldetrude"' and St. Madelberta,"'—moved chiefly by his wife's persuasions, both of those holy spouses, by mutual consent, agreed to embrace a religious life. " He entered the monastic state at Hau- mont, near Maubeuge ; and, in religion, he took the name of Vincent. Among the saints of Flanders, he is honoured, on the 20th of September, and called St. Vincent of Soignies. Before his wife Waldetrude had retired from the world, she was subject to various annoyances and calumnies ; but, the Almighty consoled her, even with celestial visions. Under direction of the holy Abbot, St. Gislen, or St. Guislain,"* she led a life ofgreat piety and exact rule. This was not sufficient, however, for her zeal and fervour. After two years spent in such a manner, and all her worldly affairs being regulated, she proposed embracing a still more perfect state. Through an illustrious man, named Hildulf,^' and a relative by marriage,** she procured a suitable place, whereon she might build a religious house. St. Waldetrude assumed the religious habit, from St. Aubert,'' bishop of Canibray, in 636. Encouraged by his opinion and authority, she founded a nunnery for pious women, and this was dedicated to the Blessed Virgin Mary. Among them, St. Waldetrude shoneasabrightparticularstar. '* Shethenlivedinasmallandsolitarycell,at thatplace,LatinizedCastrilocus; afterwards,itwasknownasCastriloo,and
"See "Lives of the
voL "Seeher atthe iv. , Life,
Bertilie ou Bertille, son cpouse, p. 237.
'* Her feast occurs, on the 30th ofJanuary. 5 At the 14th of July.
" The celebrated French King, Dagobert
L, died, on the 19th of January, a. d. 638.
'' See
Colgan's
nise," viii. Januarii, Vita S. Eraidi, n. 5. , p. 28.
' See " Les Petits Bollandistes," &c. , tome viii. , xiv. Jour de Juillet, p. 292.
trudis, Abbatissae, p. 249.
'* He is venerated, at the 9th of October,
in the town called after him, on the River
Hayne.
's He is venerated as a saint, at the 23rd
of
"" tivaL
*» His least at the occurs,
"J He departed this life, on the 13th of December, about the year 670.
" to Baldericus, in his Chroni According
cle of Cambray, lib. ii. , cap. zxxix.
Saints,"
25th
February.
April 9, p. 131.
3 Botii are venerated, on the l8th of Sep-
tember, as may be seen in " Les Petits Bol-
landistes," tome xi. Saint Walbert et Sainte niae," iii. Februarii, Translatio S. Walde-
" Acta Sanctorum Hiber-
June,
17th April. The 14th of July is assigned for his fes-
»»
feast,
'' See
Colgan's
" Acta Sanctorum Hiber-
of
The 7th of September is the date for her
*
the 18th of April.
His wife is called Aya, venerated on
. '
See tomus i. , Aprilis ix. Among the
86 LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS.
[April 9.
now it is called Mons. 's This city was the capital of Hainault ; while, from 'St. Waltrude and her religious comrnunity, its origin has been derived. Her life was illustrated with miracles, and she had frequent angelic visions. She was remarkable for her spirit of prayer, and her fasts were most rigorous. Her life was passed in a little cell, where she suffered much temptation and interior trials. Her meekness and patience were admired, by all her associates ; but, her fidelity to God's laws was her great characteristic. She loved
poverty, and, with it, she enjoyed all the greater peace and spiritual consola- tion. St. Waltrude departed this life, on the 9th day of April,3° a. d. 686. She was interred at Mons, where her relics are yet enshrined, in a rich and wondrouslycarved casket. Her monastic foundation was afterwards regarded as a Collegiate Institution, for canonesses of noble birth. 3' Three distinct translations of her relics are recorded : one, at the 3rd of February,3" another, at the 12th of August,33 and again, on the 2nd of November. 34 When this holy woman was canonized is uncertain ; but. Pope Alexander IH. allowed St. Bernard, to erect an altar in her honour. 3s Truly she belonged to a family of saints.
Article II. —St. Brogan or Brocan. Brocan is the simple entry to . be met with, in the Martyrology of Tallagh,' at the 9th of April. In the
The Old Church of Kilbeg, near Bandon, County Cork.
" Acta Sanctorum " of the Bollandists,'' following the same authority, the name of Brocanus is found, on this day. The Life of Bairrfe 3 states,* that a Brogan,
'^ See Rev. Alban Butler's " Lives of the Fathers, Martyrs and other principal Saints," vol. iv. , April ix.
" Lives of
Article 11.
3° The " Petits Rollandistes" have it "le Kelly, p. xxi.
'3 According to Dr. Todd, in the Donegal
740.
? Edited by Drs. Todd and Reeves, pp.
98, 99.
Article iv. —« Edited byRev. Dr. Kelly.
In the Franciscan copy, we read -p^iilbe Martyrology, a more recent hand adds, eApcAi.
p. 740. —' Article hi.
Edited by Rev. Dr. Kelly,
^XexjAni IUac u Quibne. ^"
See Trias Thaumaturga," Quinta Ap- pendix ad Acta S. Columbce, cap. iv. , sect.
* See his Life, at the of 31st
January.
s See " Acta Sanctorum Hibernise," xxxi.
Januarii, cap. i. , p. 221.
''
April 8. ] LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. 8i
Failbe, or Falve,' Abbot of lona, Colgan s refers to Falveus, Abbas Erdamen- sis, who died in the year 766, and, who was venerated, as he states, at the 8th
of February, whereas his meaning apparently was, at the 8th of April. In the Annals of the Four Masters,* we have the death of Failbhe Erdaimh entered, at the year 766. There is no identification of his place. The Bollandists,5 with a misprint of date, notice Falbeus Erdamensis, at the 8th of April. The festival, in honour of Failbhe,* was celebrated, on this day, as we find a re- cord, in the Martyrology of Donegal. ?
Article V. —St. Ronan, son of Fergus. He is mentioned, as Ronan Mac Fergus, in the published Martyrology of Tallagh," at the 8th of April, with the repetitionofaword,asRonanMacmicFergusa. TheBollandists,"quoting the same authority, seem erroneously to call him Conanus filius Fergussii, a C having been substituted for R, in the first letter of his name. We read, in the Martyrology of Donegal,^ that Ronan, son of Fergus, had veneration paid him, at this date.
Article VI. —St. Januarius, Martyr. The holy Martyr Januarius ""
is noticed, in the Feilire of St . (Engus, as having been venerated in Ire- land. He suffered for the faith in Africa, with other companions, thus named,
in the ancient Martyrology of St. Jerome, viz. : Timorius, Januarius, Maca- rius, Connexus, Maxima, and Concessa. With several variations of names and entries, other ancient Calendars record this feast. The BoUandists treat of those African Martyrs, at the 8th of April,' yet without being able to throw much light on their history.
Article VII. —St. Tigernach, or Tighernan, of Aired, now
Errew, of Loch Conn, County of Mayo. On the 8th of April, in the
Martyrology of Tallagh,' we find the festival of Tigernach, Airidh. The
BoUandists also repeat this insertion, at the same date. ' His place is now
known, as Errew, on Lough Conn, in the parish of Crossmolina. s and in the
barony of Tirawley> The present saint must have flourished, towards the latter end of the fifth century, taking his pedigree, as given in the Book of
Lecan,5 for a basis of calculation. There, he is said to have been son of
'
His feast occurs, at the 10th of March.
5 SeeCoIgan's " Acta Sanctorum Hiber- iriae,"x. Mariii, De S. Failbeo sive Falveo
' Edited by Drs. Todd and Reeves, pp.
'
See "Acta Sanctorum," tomus i. , Aprilis viii. , De Sanctis Martyri- bus, Timorio, Januario, Macario, Connexo, Maxima, et Concessa, Carthagine et alibi in
Abbate Hiensi, p. 576, and n. 4.
*
See Dr. O'Donovan's Edition, voL L, pp. 368, 369.
}
more recent hand adds ©lATJAiTh, Mar. , Ci5ei\n4ch Ainit).
5 See "Acta Sanctorum," tonnis i. , Aprilis viii. Among the pretermitted feasts, p. 740. ' In a note, Dr. Todd here " The
says,
Africa, p. 745. — ARTICLE VII.
'
Rev. Dr. Editedby Kelly,
that Mariantis Gorman calls him "Failbhe of Erdamh," but epoAirfi is there added as a gloss. "
' Edited by Drs. Todd and Reeves, pp.
' Thus " de Aredh. " See : Tigemacus
"Acta Sanctorum," tomus i. , Aprilis viii. Among the |)retermitted feasts, p. 740,
^ This very extensive parish is described, on the " Ordnance Survey Townland Maps
Sheets
for the County of Mayo," 27, 28, 29,
30, 36, 37, 38, 39, 45, 46, 47, 48, 58, 59. The townland of Errew is on sheets 38, 47.
See Dr. O'Donovan's "Annals of the
Four Masters," Vol. iii. , n. (d) p. 3. : At fol. 46.
meaning
98, 99. — Article v.
Edited by Rev. Dr. Kelly, p. XX. In the Franciscan copy, it is non^ni
tn<jc ITepgnA.
'See "ActaSanctorum,"tomusi. , Aprilis
viii. Among the pretermitted saints, p. 740.
'
98, 99. — Article vi.
xx. In the Franciscan we find p. copy,
r
82 LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS.
[April's.
Ninnidh, son to Cairpri, son of Amhalgaidh, son to Fiachra, son of Eochaidh, monarch of Ireland. * He descended from the race of CoUa Uais, monarch
ofErinn,accordingtotheO'Clerys'Calendar. ' Thecelebratedgenealogist, Duald or Dubhaltach Mac Firbisigh, of Lecan, traces his descent from GioUa Phadraig, by whom St. Tighearnan of Errew was fostered. ^ On a point of Errew townland, stretching into Loch Conn, stood the ancient church of St.
On its site are the ruins of a modern Abbey of considerable extent, but now nearly decayed. Formerly, it was dedicated to the same saint. '° That extensive and romantic sheet of water, known as Lough Conn," lends an inexpressible charm to the neighbourhood. A holy well, called Tobar
Tighearnan. 9
Lough Conn, County of Mayo.
Tigheman, and dedicated to the patron, is situated to the south of Killeen townland. " A relic, known as Mias Tighearnain, or " St. Tighearnain's Dish," had been preserved for ages, in the family of O'Flynn, who are said to have been herenachs, or hereditary warders, of Errew. That object was held in the
' See O'Donovan's " John
A
hermit dwelt, who many a year had trod
Genealogies, Tribes,andCustomsofHy-Fiachrach,"n. (a),
p. 12.
"
'See MartyrologyofDonegal,"byRev.
Drs. Todd and Reeves, pp. 98, 99.
*
See John O'Donovan's "Genealogies, Tribes and Customs of Hy-Fiachrach," pp. ioi to 103.
' To this primitive saint and to his place ofresidencemightprobablybeappliedthe descripticm, given by the following lines of a
—
In lonely cottage walled with mossy sod,
-Close by a little spring's perpetual rill.
With sacred solitude that pine-clad hill.
And loved with holy images to fill
distinguished Irish poetess
Mares, drawn on tlie wood, by Wiliiam F. Wakeraan, and it was engraved, by Mrs.
"
:
was Millard.
— His soul enrapt. " Mrs. Henry Tighe's
stanza xxxv.
Psyche," Canto iii. ,
"> The Barretts are said to have erected it.
"Theaccompanyingillustration, taken
from a Frederick H. Photograph, by
"
It is marked, on the "Ordnance Survey
Townland Maps for the County of Mayo," Sheet 38.
April 8. ] LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. 83
highest veneration, as a relic of the family's patron saint. '' This day is recorded, in the Martyrology of Donegal,'* a festival in honour of Tighernan, of Air^d, at Loch Con. In the Annals of the Four Masters, '5 at the year 1413, the church of Airech-Locha-Con was profaned, by Robert Mac Wattin, for therehetookHenryBarrettaprisoner,andcarriedhimthencebyforce. But, the violator of this sanctuary passed not a night, in which St. Tighearnan of
Airech, the patron, did not appear to him, in a vision, and demand the pri- soner. This request of the saint was at length complied with, and Robert
Mac Wattin granted a quarter of land to Tighearnan Airech, for ever, as an eric for the violation of its sanctuary.
Article VIII. — Reputed Festival of St. Adamnan, Abbot of Iona,
Scotland. \Sei'aith and Eighth Cmturiesi\ According to Bucelin, at this daywascelebratedtheFeastofSt. Adamnan. ' HewasAbbotofIona,but the Irish and English Calendars have his festival, at the 23rd September. ' The Bollandists have a notice of him, at this date ;3 but, they seem to con- found, St. Adamnan, Abbot of Coldin^ham,* who has a feast on the 31st of January, as, also, on the 2nd of September, with St. Adamnan, Abbot of Iona, altogether a distinct personage.
Article IX. —Reputed Festival of St. Celestine I. , Pope and Confessor. \_Fourth and Eifth Centuries. \ The commemoration of this holy Pontiff has been assigned, to the 8th of April, by the Greeks, while it is con-
' tained,also,invariousFastioftheLatins,astheBollandists remark,atthis
date. Already have we given his Acts, at the 6th of April.
Article X. —Reputed Festival of St. Dima, or Dioma, Monk of Iona, and First Missionary Bishop among the Mercians and Mid- land Angles. \Seventh Century^ At the 22nd of February, some notices of this holy disciple of St. Columkille, have been given; and, to these, the reader is referred. Again, as we are informed, Camerarius has a feast for this St. Dima, a monk from Iona, and afterwards a bishop in England, at the 8th of April.
" Becoming very poor, daring a hard it not the only similar, relic of Tirawley,
summer, when provisions were exceedingly dear, the owners were induL-ed to sell it to
Mr. Knox, of Rappa Castle, and there it
preserved by the Knox family. See John O'Donovan's "Genealogies, Tribes and
Customs of Hy-Fiachrach," n. (a), p. 12, and
afterwards remained. It appears, however, n. (i), pp. 239, 240.
that lent it to the who '* Edited Drs. Todd and
Reeves, pp.
gentlem. in peasantry, by were accustomed to swear upon it, at limes ; 98, 99,
but, the Rev. Ur. Lyons got temporary pos- session of it, on such an occasion.
Aiier-
wards, he published a curious description of it, with an account of the superstitious osage to which the people converted the relic. He restored it to R. ippa Castle, on condition it should never again be lent to the
peasantry, for any superstitious purposes.
This enijagement was undertaken, and
honourably fulfilled, by the proprietor of Rappa Castle, who set a high value on this
' See Dr. O'Donovan's Edition, vol. iv. , pp. 812, 813, and—nn. (q, r, s). Ibid,
Mias Tigheamain, as
the primitive Irish Church.
a monument of It is the chief,
mitted saints, —740. p.
being
Article viu. of September.
'
See his Life, at the 23rd
' The Bollandists state, incorrectly, at the 2nd September.
' See "Acta Sanctorum," tomus i. , Aprilis viii. Among the pretermitted saints, p. 741,
* See his Life—, at the 31st ofJanuary, '
Article Ix. See "Acta Sanctorum," tomus i. , Aprilis viii. Among the preter-
'
A&ticlk xi. Thus he is entered
: iix
^
LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. [April 9.
Article XI. —Reputed Festival of the Elevation of the Priest Chroninus,orChronanus. QuotingtheauthorityofHectorBoetiusand of Florarius, Dempster speaks of the Elevation of Chroninus ; and, again, he is called Chronanus, at the 8th of April. The Bollandists,' who have a double entry, at this date, are of opinion, that he must be the Chromanus, Presbyter, alluded to by Camerarius, at May 15th, in his Scottish Calendar ; while they refer us, to what had been stated, in relation to a Chronanus Monachus," found among the pretermitted saints, at the 8th of March. 3
^iutl) Bap of april.
ARTICLE I. —ST. WALDETRUDE, WALTRUDE, OR VAUTRUDE, PATRONESS OF MONS, AND OF HAYNAULT, BELGIUM.
[SEVENTH CENTURY. ]
holy woman has been held in great veneration, not alone in the
Colgan appears to have collected her Acts, for publication, at the same date,' and even he promised to treat about her very fully ;' however, he did not
live to publish the Life of St. Waldetrude, whom he regards as deserving a place among our Irish Saints,^ although it is admitted, she was French, or Gallic Belgian, by birth and descent. The Bollandists have an account of
the pious princess,'* in a Life,5 taken from ancient Manuscripts. An old bio- graphyofthisholywomanhasbeen"publishedbyFatherMabillon. * The Fourth Volume of " Acta Sanctorum Belgii," has inserted the Acts ' of St.
city Mons, THIS of
of which she is
Low Countries, where her festival is celebrated, on the 9th day of April.
Waldetrude,^ Hannonia, at the 9th of April. s
Notices of this holy woman
are
"
Rev. Alban 'o Butler,
by
the Petits
and Rev. by
given by —Chronanipresbyteri
Bollandistes,"
" Forbes'
elevatio. B. T. Florar. " Menologium Scotorum. " See Bishop
Herimanno Abbate S. Martini Tornacensis," in four sections.
"
They add : "nam in Indice prsefixo vide-
tur idem statui. "
3 S«e "Acta Sanctorum," tomusi. jAprilis
viii. Among the pretermitted feasts. See p.
740, and, also,—p. 741.
and it contains
196. '
Kalendars of Scottish
Saints," p.
5 This Life has a
Three Chapters, comprising sixteen para- graphs, with accompanying notes,
'
i. See
? These are contained in a Prologue, and ""
'
' In his " Acta Sanctorum," belonging to the Benedictine Order, tomus ii. , saec. ii. , at this date.
Article
Sanctorum quje MS. habentur, ordire Men-
"
sium et Dierum.
' See " Acta Sanctorum Hibemiae," Feb-
ruarii iii. Translatio S. Waldetrudis Abba- tissae, p. 249.
' The principal reasons assigned are, be- cause she had been married to an Irish bus- band, and that of Irish blood, on the father's lide, were some of her childien, ranked as saints.
* See "Acta Sanctorum," tomus i. , Aprilisix. Aprevious commentaryprecedes it,, in eight sections, with an Appendix, "ex
Herimanno Abbate S. Martini Tornacen- sis. "
^ Her Acts are comprised in a previous commentary, of three sections, by J. BoUan- dus and Cornelius Smet, with an address to the reader, by this latter writer. Then fol- lows a Life of the saint, by an anonymous author, and this is taken from old MSS.
Catalogus
Actuum three followed an ex chapters, by Appendix,
special patroness,
but
throughout
the
' See pp. 414 to 450. '" "
Prologue,
See LivesoftheFathers,Martyrsand other Principal S. iints," vol. iv. , April ix.
"See the "Viesdes Saints," toine iv. , Avril g^pp. ^^gS. toaoi.
April 9. ] LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. 85
S. Baring-Gould. " This virtuous female was a relation of King Dagobert, who ruled in France, towards the middle of the seventh century. She was the daughter of St. Walbert and of the princess St. Bertille,"3 elder sister to St. Aldegondes,'* who presided over a great religious establishment, at Mau- beuge. SlWaldetrudewasremarkable,forherpersonalbeautyandgraceful manners; but,stillmore,forhermodestyandloveofpurity. Yet,aneligible match having been presented to her parents, a husband was selected for her, at an early age. She married an Irish warrior, called Maelceadar, also named Madelgaire, Count of Hannonia, or Hainault, who is venerated as a saint. 's He was one of the principal lords of KingJDagobert's court,"' and, after mar- riage, both pious spouses seemed to rival each other, in the practice of every virtue. Their charities to the poor were largely and frequently bestowed ; they exercised hospitality in their home ; and their love for holy purposes seemed to be insatiable. Marriages between the Irish and the Gauls were not unusual, about the period when this holy woman '? lived. St. Waldetrude is thought to have visited Ireland, most probably in company with her husband, whose native place was there. It is said, his mission thither was to bring with him many holy and learned men, to spread the Gospel in France, and that—it wasundertakenbyadviceofKingDagobertI. "' Havingbornehimtwosons St Landric,'9 Bishop of Meaux, and St. Dentelinus,=° Patron of Resa, near the Rhine—and two daughters—St. Aldetrude"' and St. Madelberta,"'—moved chiefly by his wife's persuasions, both of those holy spouses, by mutual consent, agreed to embrace a religious life. " He entered the monastic state at Hau- mont, near Maubeuge ; and, in religion, he took the name of Vincent. Among the saints of Flanders, he is honoured, on the 20th of September, and called St. Vincent of Soignies. Before his wife Waldetrude had retired from the world, she was subject to various annoyances and calumnies ; but, the Almighty consoled her, even with celestial visions. Under direction of the holy Abbot, St. Gislen, or St. Guislain,"* she led a life ofgreat piety and exact rule. This was not sufficient, however, for her zeal and fervour. After two years spent in such a manner, and all her worldly affairs being regulated, she proposed embracing a still more perfect state. Through an illustrious man, named Hildulf,^' and a relative by marriage,** she procured a suitable place, whereon she might build a religious house. St. Waldetrude assumed the religious habit, from St. Aubert,'' bishop of Canibray, in 636. Encouraged by his opinion and authority, she founded a nunnery for pious women, and this was dedicated to the Blessed Virgin Mary. Among them, St. Waldetrude shoneasabrightparticularstar. '* Shethenlivedinasmallandsolitarycell,at thatplace,LatinizedCastrilocus; afterwards,itwasknownasCastriloo,and
"See "Lives of the
voL "Seeher atthe iv. , Life,
Bertilie ou Bertille, son cpouse, p. 237.
'* Her feast occurs, on the 30th ofJanuary. 5 At the 14th of July.
" The celebrated French King, Dagobert
L, died, on the 19th of January, a. d. 638.
'' See
Colgan's
nise," viii. Januarii, Vita S. Eraidi, n. 5. , p. 28.
' See " Les Petits Bollandistes," &c. , tome viii. , xiv. Jour de Juillet, p. 292.
trudis, Abbatissae, p. 249.
'* He is venerated, at the 9th of October,
in the town called after him, on the River
Hayne.
's He is venerated as a saint, at the 23rd
of
"" tivaL
*» His least at the occurs,
"J He departed this life, on the 13th of December, about the year 670.
" to Baldericus, in his Chroni According
cle of Cambray, lib. ii. , cap. zxxix.
Saints,"
25th
February.
April 9, p. 131.
3 Botii are venerated, on the l8th of Sep-
tember, as may be seen in " Les Petits Bol-
landistes," tome xi. Saint Walbert et Sainte niae," iii. Februarii, Translatio S. Walde-
" Acta Sanctorum Hiber-
June,
17th April. The 14th of July is assigned for his fes-
»»
feast,
'' See
Colgan's
" Acta Sanctorum Hiber-
of
The 7th of September is the date for her
*
the 18th of April.
His wife is called Aya, venerated on
. '
See tomus i. , Aprilis ix. Among the
86 LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS.
[April 9.
now it is called Mons. 's This city was the capital of Hainault ; while, from 'St. Waltrude and her religious comrnunity, its origin has been derived. Her life was illustrated with miracles, and she had frequent angelic visions. She was remarkable for her spirit of prayer, and her fasts were most rigorous. Her life was passed in a little cell, where she suffered much temptation and interior trials. Her meekness and patience were admired, by all her associates ; but, her fidelity to God's laws was her great characteristic. She loved
poverty, and, with it, she enjoyed all the greater peace and spiritual consola- tion. St. Waltrude departed this life, on the 9th day of April,3° a. d. 686. She was interred at Mons, where her relics are yet enshrined, in a rich and wondrouslycarved casket. Her monastic foundation was afterwards regarded as a Collegiate Institution, for canonesses of noble birth. 3' Three distinct translations of her relics are recorded : one, at the 3rd of February,3" another, at the 12th of August,33 and again, on the 2nd of November. 34 When this holy woman was canonized is uncertain ; but. Pope Alexander IH. allowed St. Bernard, to erect an altar in her honour. 3s Truly she belonged to a family of saints.
Article II. —St. Brogan or Brocan. Brocan is the simple entry to . be met with, in the Martyrology of Tallagh,' at the 9th of April. In the
The Old Church of Kilbeg, near Bandon, County Cork.
" Acta Sanctorum " of the Bollandists,'' following the same authority, the name of Brocanus is found, on this day. The Life of Bairrfe 3 states,* that a Brogan,
'^ See Rev. Alban Butler's " Lives of the Fathers, Martyrs and other principal Saints," vol. iv. , April ix.
" Lives of
Article 11.
3° The " Petits Rollandistes" have it "le Kelly, p. xxi.
