No More Learning

165 See Ecclesiastical History of Ire-
"
land," vol. ii. , chap, xii. , sect, xiv. , p.
:
In Scotia Sancti —
See " Emblems of the Saints,'' third
Additional Notes L,
168 See "Les Moines d'Occident," tome
iii. , liv. xi. , chap, vii. , p. 283.
169 See " Kalendars of Scottish Saints," p.
306.
*'• Among them, at Idus Junii v. —June
p. 310,
June 9. ] LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. 547
moon records various Irish
Saints,
1 ? with their festival celebrations. The
Manuscript Culdee Antiphonarium of Armagh Metropolitan Church, classed
11 12
B. 1, 1, refers to his chief feast. ? Also, a Manuscript, classed B. 3, i, ? as
J 73 another classed B. 1 3, 75 have distinct allusions to his office.
also one classed B.
nous,
of no less holy conversation, a certain vision he had: "This last
of — to the immortal pillar many churches, departed
J
, 74 and one classed B. Some visions which certain holy men had, at that very hour of the saint's
happy passage
fromthis
arerelated
St. Columba's 1? 6 biographers.
3, io,
3, i2,
and venerable servant of Christ named or 1 ? 8 son of Lugudius Leugadius,
Tailchan, who was both wise and just. '79 This holy monk,l8° not without great sorrow, related to a dear companion and a pious man, named Virg-
18'
personally present illuminated with a celestial and an angelical brightness. Even the spacious air was lighted to the very skies with the wonderful splen- dour of holy Angels. These were sent from the Heavens in great numbers, and they descended to conduct his holy soul to everlasting rest. I heard, likewise, most sweet hymns and harmonious canticles, that resounded melo- diously at the same time, while Columba's beatified spirit was moving upwards, surroundedbyafullchoirofascendingAngels. " Thisangelicalmanifesta- tionVirgnousl82 learnedfromthemouthoftheaforesaidholyoldman,who hadbeenfavouredwithsucharemarkablevision. Virgnousaboutthissame time came from l83 and he
by
In a certain Irish monastery, called Clonfinchoil,'77 there lived a very holy
life,
the
joys of Heaven, a—nd I saw in spirit all the Isle of Hy where I was never
St.
midnight, Columba,
Ireland,
Himba. 18* Before the time of Adamnan,lSs this account was even committed
to writing.
186
9th—Officium Sancti Columbse Abbatis, ix. Lectiones.
l<iachrach, as having been the oldest name forRos-na-Riogh,nowthetownlaudofRos- narea, in the parish of Knockcommon, on
173 It contains, at June 9th—Ides v. — and finally to Ros-na-Righ.
spent
171 At June the 9th in its Calendar, it has
notice of an Officium Columbse Abbatis ix.
Lectiones. — — nance Survey Townland Maps for the
172 It contains, at June the 9th Ides v. County of Meath," sheet 19. Afterwards Officium Columbce Abbatis, ix. Lectiones. its name was changed to Esgar Brannain,
Sancti Columbia, Abbatis, ix. Lect.
174 It contains, at June 9th—Ides v. —Co-
lumbse Abbatis et Conf. , ix. Lect.
175 This contains at June 10th, Ides iv. ,
Translatio Sanctorum Patricii, Columbse et
Brigida? , ix. Lect.
176 See Colgan's "Trias Thaumaturga," Irish writers, in reference to the monastic
Secunda Vita S. Columbae, cap. xxxvi. , p. profession.
330, and n. 21, p. 331; Tertia Vita S. Co- 180 The Calendars fail us in trying to estab- lumbae, cap. xli. , p. 335 ; Quarta Vita S. lish his correct identification.
Columbae, lib. iii. , cap. xxiii. , p. 370, and nn. 25, 26, p. 3S6 ; Quinta Vita S. Co- lumbia, lib. iii. , cap. Ix. , p. 442.
" Meadow of the White Hazel. " Colgan has identified it with Cluain-fiacul, now Clonfeakle, in the county of Tyrone, and diocese of Armagh. See "Acta Sanctorum
Hibernise," Martii ii. De S. Lugadio Ab- bate de Cluain-Finchuil sive Cluain-Fiacul, n. 8, p. 453. However, the Rev. Dr. Reeves does not admit the correctness of this iden- tification ; but he rather seems to think, Clonfinchoil may be the same as Ross Finn- chuill, which is mentioned in an ancient Irish tale intituled Cathreim Dathi Jkic
181 The Irish form of this name is F'eargna, but he does not appear to be more particu- larly identified.
182 He often this account he had repeated
heard, regarding the vision of Angels, to St. Columba's bereaved monks.
183 Adamnan has it " de Scotia remi-
gans. "
xa» ThispiousservantofChristlivedwith-
out reproach and in obedience, for many years among the brethren ; and, he led an anchoretical life for fully twelve additional years, in a hermitage at Muirbulcmar. This place was probably near a sheltered bay in Ardnamurchan or not far from it. Prince O'Donnell, who also relates this anecdote,
177 This has been as interpreted meaning
the rest of his in the Island of days
the River Boyne. It is shown on the
"
Ord-
178 See an account of him, at the 2nd of
March, the date supposed for his festival, in the Third Volume of this work, Art. vi.
" Christi miles," the term soldier of Christ
179 By Adamnan, he is styled
senex
being frequently used by him and by other
3,
54S LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. [June 9. Another ancient and religious servant of Christ being a holy monk, named
18 ? related a vision to Adamnan in his 88 and with no small youth,'
Ferreolus,
protestation and asseveration regarding its truth. That holy man was
80 1?
named Ernene,' of Mocufirroide's race, and he was interred in Drum-
home,101 withmanyothermonksofSt. Columkille,wheretheyawaitahappy
" That night of St. Columba's happy passage out of this life, while I and others with me were engaged fishing in the fish-abound-
resurrection. He said
:
river of Finn 102 we saw all the ing Valley,
atmospheric expanse suddenly illuminated. Being greatly moved, with the suddenness of this miraculous
light, we turned our eyes towards the east. Lo ! there appeared, as it were,
a great fiery pillar, that ascending heavenwards, seemed to illuminate all the world, as the noon's bright sun on a summer's day. When that pillar had penetrated to the Heavens, then darkness ensued, as if nature had been veiled in mourning after the sunset. Neither did this vision appear to us alone ; for many other fishers apart, who were moving about the different river-
These visions at the glorious appeared
They were terrified at these portents,
whichawakenedsomuchourwonderandadmiration. "10* Itis stated,also,
that St. Maidoc,IQ5 Bishop of Ferns, was rapt into Heaven during his lifetime,
to behold the glorious reception given to holy Columba by the Angels imme- diately after his decease. 106 These very remarkable monstrances of the glory
St. Columba enjoys before God are sufficient to establish that high degree of
10 merit he has obtained near the Eternal's throne. ?
The matins office being ended, and with emotions too sad for expression, his sacred remains were carried back from the church, by the monks and
1 ^ as beheld it. they reported,
pools,
very hour of our Patron's departure.
has it " Bulgmara alias Murbulg" in Colgan's "TiiasThaumaturga," QuintaVita S. Columba? , lib. iii. , cap. lx. , p. 442.
,8s Adamnan heard it told to himself by several very aged men, to whom Virgnous had personally communicated it.
keel, on the west side of Donegal. It flows eastwards past Stranorlar and Castlefinn, becoming the boundary between the coun- ties of Donegal and Tyrone, until at Lifford it receives the Mourne. Thence turning
northwards, it empties into Lough Foyle. Near its source the Finn is a mountain
186 See Rev. Dr. Reeves' Adamnan's " Life
of St. Columba," lib. iii. , cap. 23, and nn. stream,
(a, b, c, d, e, f, g, h), pp. 235 to 237.
188 Adamnan was born a. d. 624. Ferreolus was " valde senex," when he related this anecdote to Adamnan.
189 He has not been correctly identified with any of the holy men so named in our Irish Calendars.
15,0 Probably this name has been a com- pound of mac «a pr>-1loiT)e, or the corvca KAifJe, the Race of Raide, which Tirechan
ties, much
187 There are saints
scribed on the Continental Calendars.
Latinizes as Regiones Roide, in the Armacanus," fob II.
"
Liber
proved cultivation. " "Parliamentary Ga- zetteer of Ireland," vol. ii. , pp. 215, 216.
193 A pool in a river near St. Dega's monastery is called Piscina Berathi, in " Acta Sanctorum," tomus iii. , Augusti, p. 660^.
'94 This account is also to be found in Colgan's "Trias Thaumaturga," Tertia Vita S. Columbse, cap. xhi. , p. 335 ; Quart a Vita S. Columba;, lib. iii. , cap. xxiii. , p. 371 ; and nn. 27, 28, 29, 30, p. 386 ; and Quinta Vita S. Columba? , lib. iii. , cap. lxi. , p. 442.
195 See an account of this vision in the
Life of St. Aedan or Maidoc, Patron and
Bishop of Ferns, county of Wexford, clinp. v. , Art. i. , in the First Volume of this wok,
at the 31st of January.
196 This account is given by Prince
O'Donnell, in Colgan's "Trias Thauma- turga," Quinta Vita S. Columbre, lib. iii. , cap. lxii. , and n. 34, pp. 442, 453.
197 See Rev. Dr.
Reeves' Adamnan's
'9* Nowa
hugh, and county of Donegal, between Ballyshannon and the town of Donegal. A small island on the northern confines of the parish is called St. Ernan's Island, but the name is of modern application. See it marked, on " Ordnance Survey Townland Maps for the County of Donegal," sheet 99.
192 Also known as ^learm pnne in Irish,
and it is a picturesque glen in th—e parish of
parish,
in the
barony
ofTir-
bearing
this name in-
and— im- beauty, very considerably
—oge. The River Finn Latinized "Life of St. Columba," lib. iii. , cap. 23, Kilteev
Fenda rises from lakes and springs which pp. 237 to 239, with nn. (i, k, 1, flow into Lough Finn, in the parish of Inish- p. q)«
m, n, o,
"
of its run, it traverses a vale of many ameni-
but over the lower and larger part
June 9. ] LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS.
549
with a sweet symphony of psalms, towards his little cell. 1 ? 8 His obsequies were solemnized, with no less honour than devotion, for three whole days and
three nights. This time being spent in proclaiming the Divine praises, the venerable body of their glorious patron was wrapped in a clean shroud of fine
I0° and
tomb, and with great veneration deposited in the earth, to rise again with
uncloudedandeternal 201 Hereit brightness.
202 The narrative had been
the facts. On a certain time, one of the monks, after a simple manner, said to
:
the venerable Abbot " It is thought that all the people of these provinces
will sail to this Isle of Hy, to celebrate your funeral obsequies, and that they
shall fill this entire Island. " " answered the " it must not be My son," saint,
as you say, for a crowd of people shall not be able by any means, to come
hither, for the celebration of my obsequies ; only my own familiar monks
shall perform my funeral rites, and sing my requiem. " Which prophetical announcement,DivineOmnipotenceputinexecution. For,duringthethree days of St. Columba's wake and solemn funeral, so boisterous a wind blew, that it was not possible for any to go out in boats towards the sea, or to cross from the mainland. 20* Immediately after the saint's sepulture, how- ever, the wind ceased, and the sea became perfectly calm.
Another fact must not be omitted, as manifesting the popular character
ofColumba. to certain 2°s in the Irish in Owing poems, composed language
praise of the holy man, and owing to the invocation of his name, 200 some lay
persons, though of a profligate and sanguinary character, were saved from the handsoftheirenemies. Thesehadsurroundedinthenighttimethathouse,
in which they were singing such hymns. The beleaguered men escaped safely through flames, swords and spears. Wonderful to be told ! only a few, who had despised those commemorations of the holy man, and who had refused to join in reciting such hymns, perished in that hostile assault. It was not at one time nor in one place, not two or three witnesses, though the law requires no more,20? as Adamnan remarks,208 that testified to this event ; but, at different times and in several places, both in Ireland and Britain, undoubted evidence had been furnished, that the constant recital of St. Columba's praises obtained even temporal security for all those who practised
203
linen,
placed
in a coffin
prepared.
200 It was interred in an
appropriate
may
the saint had prophesied concerning the aforesaid three days of his obse-
quies.
communicated,
203 of by persons cognizant
such a devotion. It is stated, that during the holy Abbot's lifetime,
a
'98 See Colgan's "Trias Thaumaturga," Vita Prima S. Columbae, cap. xx. , p. 323 ; Secunda Vita S. Columbae, cap. xxxvii. , p. 330; Quarta Vita S. Columbae, lib. iii. , cap. xxiii. , p. 371 ; Quinta Vita S. Colum- bae, lib. iii. , cap. lxiii. , p. 442.
l TM See Father John Mabillon's "Annales Ordinis S. Benedicti," tomus i. , lib. ix. , sect, ix. , p. 249.
edition of his "Life of St. Columbi," lib.
iii. , cap, 23, pp. 239, 240, and n. (d).
20* " SeeLeComtedeMontalembert's Les
Moines d'Occident," tome iii. , liv. xi. , chap, viii. , pp. 291, 292.
20S These are identified, by Prince O'Don- nell, with the panegyric of Dalian Forgaill. See " Trias Thaumaturga," Quinta Vita S. Columbae, lib. iii. , cap. xlvii. , p. 444.
206 The most famous, among all the Irish
panegyrical poems, was the Ambhra Co- lumbkille.
307 " In ore duorum vel trium testium stet omne verbum. "
-. 00 After his death, the remains were de-
posed in a Ratabusta—a coffin or tomb—as
variously interpreted.
501 See Rev. Dr. Reeves' Adamnan's
"Life of St. Columba," lib. iii. , cap. 23, p. 239, with nn. (a, b, c).
2o8
See Rev. Dr. Reeves' version of his
202 See "Trias Colgan's
" Life of St. Columba," lib. i. . cap. i. , and n.
(f), p. 17.
Thaumaturga," Vita Prima S. Columbae, cap. xx. , p. 323 ; Secunda Vita S. Columbae, cap. xxxviii. , Vita S. Columbae, lib. iii. , cap. xxiii. , p. 371 ; Quinta Vita S. Columbae,
lib. iii. , cap. lxiv. , p. 442.
2°3 To Adamnan. See Rev. Dr. Reeves'
2(^
It is said, about the year 592.
P- 33°
5
Quarta
His feast has been set down, at the
notbeamissto what relate,
2I0
29th of January. See notices of him in the
First Volume of this work, at that date, Ait. v
550 LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. [June q.
noble Irish panegyric had been composed by a celebrated poet, Dalian For-
210 It was called in Irish the Amhra Choluimcille, signifying in Latin, " Laudes S. Columbae. "211 This Irish poem is still in existence. 2" Copies of it are to be found in some of our most ancient Manuscripts. In the Leabhar na h-Uidre 2I3 is to be seen that very antique panegyric. The gloss which as usual is interlined is not 21 * and the text with its
gaill.
very copious ;
has been published and translated into English, by a competent Irish scholar. 21 *
The language is very archaic. 216 So eulogistic of St. Columba had it been, that Dalian it is said was forbidden to publish it during his lifetime ; and, if such be the case, it seems likely enough, that additions were made to it after Columba'sdeath. Thus,thedepartureofColumkilleispatheticallyalludedto
in certain lines of Dalian, the quoted by
O'Clerys,
O'Donovan. 218 " Like the cure of a physician without light, like the separa-
tion of marrow from the bone, like a to a without the 2I 9 are song harp ceis,
we after being deprived of our noble. "
Before the death of St. Columkille, many monasteries and churches are
reputedtohavebeenfoundedbyhiminIreland. Atleast,severalhavelong
borne his name, while his veneration has been specially connected with them
as Patron. The following is a list of these ecclesiastical establishments,
biography, places,
sionary is said to have erected churches or religious houses.
although probably the enumeration is not complete. In a previous part of this 220 we have alluded to various where the mis-
has collected the names of either directly or indirectly, the founder.
221 of which it is
However, in the first instance, we
Colgan
sixty-six, 222
stated,
he was
prefer to follow the orderly arrangement and investigations of Rev. Dr. Reeves. —3
and we have no doubt, such a course must
prove
more to the " acceptable gene-
ral reader. The ascertained number of his erectio—
ns is
described by the last-named writer. 1. Durrow. This is a parish
a" "
See Trias Thaumaturga," Quinta copious Indexes, pp. 1 to 76. By John
as in the King's County, celebrated as being the site of one,2'6 which was among the most ancient of the monasteries established by St. Columkille, in Ireland. We have already, on more than one occasion, alluded to it in the foregoing
Vita S. Columbae, lib. iii. , cap. lxvii. ,
p. 444.
213 It is referred to by O'Curry, as one of
the most ancient and beautiful specimens of ancient Irish poetry. See " Lectures on the Manuscript Materials of Ancient Iri^h History," Lect. ii. , p. 29, Lect. viii. , p. 177, Lect. x. , p. 218, Lect. xix. , p. 406.
2. 3 It is remarkable, that even at that
early period of the compliation of the Leab- har nah-Uidhre, this celebrated poem should
have required a gloss to make it intelli-
gible.
3. 4 However, it is most important, both in
a philological and historical point of view, because of the many more ancient composi- tions quoted in it, for the explanation of words. These compositions, therefore, must have been still in existence, at the time it had been written.
"5 See " Amra Choluim Chilli of Dalian Forgaill," now printed for the first time
O'Beirne Crowe, A. B. , &c, &c. Dublin, 1871, Royal 8vo.
"6 This is stated in Michael O'CIery's Irish Glossaries. See Professor Eugene O'Curry 's " Lectures on the "Manuscript Materials of Ancient Iris—h History," Lect. viii. , p. 177.
Irish in Lebop na riwope, a Grammatical Analysis of the Text and
amm oo bic cpuic
from the
a MS.