Brioc, and its fair was held, on the first day of May,-*" said to have been the date for the
translation
of his relics.
O'Hanlon - Lives of the Irish Saints - v5
That Sunday, which fell on the last day of July, A.
D.
1 166—although the body of our saint was not entire, at this period —a translation of his relics took place.
It was conducted in a solemn and publicmanner,inpresenceofHenryII.
,KingofEngland.
Mostprobably, at this time, the relics of St.
Brieuc were deposed in that shrine, where Peter, Bishop of Brieuc, afterwards discovered tliem, and from which they could not be removed, without a goldsmith's assistance.
Besides Henry II.
, King of England, Conon, Count of Bretagne, William, Bishop of Angers, William, Abbot of St.
Serge, William, Abbot of St.
Aubin, Hugh, Abbot of St.
Nicholas, William, Abbot of St.
Maur-sur-Loire, and William, Abbot of All Saints, at Angers, were assembled on this interesting occasion.
^^
In the year 1210, while Philip was king over France, and Peter was bishop at St. Brieuc, this latter had been apprized by his clergy, from the time of his appointment to the See, that the diocesan Patron's holy relics had been preserved, in the church of St. Sergius and St. Bacchus. The bishop resolved, by labouring effectually, to procure, at least, a part of these precious remains. He was informed, that no other relic belonging to holy Brieuc had been preserved in the church to which he was collated, and which had its name from our saint, except- ing a bell and a band, or fillet, that formerly belonged to or had some connec- tion with the venerated patron. On hearing this. Bishop Peter went to Angers, in order to accomplish the object of his most earnest desires. He prudently resolved, to request the presence of the bishop and leading clergy of that city, at an interview, together with the abbot and brothers of the monastery of St. Sergius and St. Bacchus. To this assembly also were in- vited persons of distinction, in that part of the country. He greatly desired to secureaunanimousexpressionofassent,forhispiousrequest. Accordingly,all were assembled in the church of Angers, at an appointed day and hour. There, Bishop Peter preached a most eloquent sermon from the holy Scriptures, to the great delight and edification of his audience. So persuasive were his words, we are told, that if this bishop had sought the greater part of their monastery, its monks would have yielded to his demand, so powerfully were their hearts moved by his impressive eloquence. But, temporal gifts were notanobjectofambitionfortheBishopofBrieuc. Thisprelatedeclared,he
'° Regarding that portion of them, once corpus S. Brioci Confessoris Episcopi in
preserved at Angers, nothing now re- mains.
^' That cliurch has no present existence, but within it had been erected a chapel, for- mcrly dedicated to our saint.
ecclesiaB. Sergii. qureest Andegavis, ethono- rifice repositum in eadem Eccltsia, officium prasbente Guilelmo Andegavensium Epis- copo, assistentibus Guillelmo ejusdem Ec- desire Abbate, Guillelmo B. Albini, Hu- gone S. Nicolai, Guillelmo B. Manri Abba- ti bus, cum multo Cleri populique tripudio, Guillclmus Omnium Sanctorum Abbas huic Translationi inteifuit, et Conanus Comes Biitaiinia. ' See I. obineau's Vies des Saints de Bretagne," par M. 1 Abbe Tres-
p. 92.
^' The account of this solemn translation
is thus described, in a charter, beloni;iiig to
the same monastery, and edited by Mabillon.
It runs in the following terms :" Hcnricus,
Rex Anglorum, et Dux Normannorum et
Aquitnnorum, et Come; Andcgavorum, om-
niluis Sanctre Eccle>ia; Dei tiliis salutem. vaux, pp. 85, 86, and n. (l) ibid. Also, Noverit universitas vestra, quod anno ab " Acta Sanctorum," tomus L Maii i. Acta Incarnationc Domini MCLXVi et regni nos- S. Brioci. Commentarius PoEvius. , sect. 7, trix. ,pridie Kalendas Augusti, Luna xxx. ,
die Dominica, me presente translatum est "^ It is most likely, thi? rscription was in
May I. ]
LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS.
35
only desired a part of the holy patron's remains, such object being the sole mo- tiveofhispresentvisittoAngers. Ifthevenerableabbotoftheplacewould graciously hear his petition, he engaged, that the church of St. Brieuc should feel for ever indebted to that of his abbey. As St. Brieuc's chief pastor, the bishop ottered with grateful thanks, the advantages of an inseparable alliance, which should continue through ages yet to come, between both religious establishments. The abbot then retired to hold a conference with his reli- gious. At first, he feared to comply with the bishop's request, lest he might incur the saint's displeasure. However, on matured deliberation, he con- sidered it inexpedient, to refuse the reasonable request of his pious supplicant. This latter resolution obtained, in fine, the unanimous concurrence of all his brethren. Inorderthathemightavoidoppositionfromanyrecusantorwounded feeling, which might be manifested in or out of the monastery, on account of this partition[of our saint's remains, the abbot selected a time, for accomplish- ment of his resolution, when all the inmates of his house had retired to rest, and after a recital of the midnight office. When they had retired, the abbot received anew assurances given to him by Bishop Peter. He caused these
promises to be repeated in presence of chosen witnesses, who had already heard the first guarantees offered. After Matins had been concluded, and while the monks sought retirement and rest in their dormitories, the Abbot and Fathers, who were conscious regarding what must succeed, repaired to the church,beingclothedwithwhitegarments. Theyremovedthatsilvershrine, containing our saint's relics, from the top of their altar, and in presence of the Bishop. By aid of a goldsmith, the reliquary was soon opened. Then, St. Brioc's remains were found enclosed, and within a covering made of deer-skin. A marble tablet was discovered, and on it was found engraved an inscription to this effect : " Here lies the body of the most holy Confessor Brioc, Bishop of Brittan}^, which had been brought by Ylispodius, King of the Bretons, to this church, which, at that time, was his chapel. "^3 On reading this inscrip- tion, all who were present—not being sufficiently instructed regarding past history—were surprised to hear the name of a king, hitherto little known to them. His kingdom, nevertheless, extended as far as Vendomois, according to ancient and authentic records. When the shrine had been opened, a most agreeable odour was diffused around the jolace, in which these assistants officiated. The abbot then presented the Breton Bishop with an arm, two ribs, and a joint of St. Brieuc's neck. ^4 These remains were received, as an incomparable treasure. They were placed in a precious vase, and committed to the care of the treasurer of Angers church. This man was a particular friend to Bishop Peter. Being now ready to take his departure, as the chief object of his desire had thus been happily effected, on the following morning, the prelate assisted at the holy sacrifice of Mass, and then began to think of returning to his episcopal See. He hastened to resume the homeward jour- ney, as a vigilant guardian of his precious treasure. The bishop and clergy of Angers accompanied him in solemn procession towards the city gates, while they sang hymns and canticles in praise of that illustrious saint, whose relicswerethenbeingremoved,andtothatcitywhichborehisname. We cannot feel surprised, that full of joy on account of having such a treasure, Bishop Peter had a dream, while asleep on that very night, and regarding
Latin, the original of which may be found thus rendered, in the Bollandists' collection, at the 1st of May. It runs as follows: "Hie jacet corpus Beatissimi Confessoris Brioci Episcopi Britannia;, quod detulit ad basilicam istam, quae tunc temporis erat ca-
pella sua, Yh'spodius Rex Britannorum. " Lobineau has rendered it into French.
-'See Les Petits Bollandistes, "Vies des Saints," tome v. Premier Jour de Mai. p. 196.
'S Mabillon relates, that the monastery of
36 LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. [May i.
a matter, which had afforded him such agreeable occupation during the pre- viousday. Heimagined,thatsurroundedbyanastonishinghght,St. Brioc had appeared to liim and said : "Take care, my son, that those rehcsbe pre- served with due honour in my church. " On receiving this admonition, the bishop sent innnediately word to the St. Brieux clergy and people, to warn them about his happy return, and requesting them to be ready for reception of their holy patron's remains, on the i8th of October, the festival day of St Luke. In obedience to their pious bishop's command, a vast multitude of persons on the day appointed came to meet him, with all the religious solem- nity and joy, that could be desired or imagined. Among the rest, Alain I. , Count of Pentiiievre, of Gonello, Guingamp, Avaugour, &c. , son to Henry, Count of Penthievre and to Matilda of Vendome, assisted at this grand cere- mony. The Count prostrated himself on earth, to venerate the holy relics of St. Bricuc, He even received them, and bore them within his own arms, to the cathedral church. ^5 it is said, that at the moment of entrance into this edifice, the sacred relics were heard to emit sounds, as if they had been animated, and as if they had made an effort to issue from that vase, in which they had been carried. Such strange prodigy was regarded as an indication of joy, manifested by St. Brieuc, when a portion of his remains entered a place, that formerly had been so dear to him, where he had received so many graces from Heaven, and where God's power had been manifested by wonderful miracles accorded to the people's faith, and to their holy patron's prayers. ^^
The monument dedicated to this saint, in St. Sergius' and St. Bacchus' church, which had been erected into a parish, was destroyed some years previous to the revolution of 1789. It is said,this Vandalic act was intended to prevent certain superstitious practices. At present, St. Brioc's ring is preserved in Brieuc. The mayor and his corporate civic companions proceeded with certain public ceremonies to kiss his ring, on the annual return of each May-day. =7 Before the French revolution, the sacred relics of this saint were enclosed in a silver shrine, and they were saved from profanation, at that iconoclastic period. In the year 1820, Monseigneur Hyacinthe de Qu^len—afterwards Bishop of Paris, and at that time. Coadjutor of the same See ^^—presented a beautiful reliquary of gilt bronze, for the reception of our saint's relics. That prelate had been a priest of St. Brieux diocese, and an honorary canon of the same church. In the reliquary presented, the saint's remains are now preserved. ^9
He was venerated, as the principal patron of that diocese and city, which bore his name. In works of art, he was often represented with a purse or aumoniire; and, he was regarded as the special patron of purse-makers, pro- bably because this branch of industry had flourished formerly in the city of St. Brieuc. 3° The festival of St. Brieux had been formerly celebrated, on the ist of May, as found in ancient Manuscripts. 3^ Molanus and other writers 3* have fixed his chief festival, at the ist of May. Still, the name of St. Brieuc is not found in the Roman Martyrology. However, it occurs in the Martyrologies
St. Brioc, founded in the sixth century, be- came converted into an episcopal seat and city. See " AnnalesOrdinis S. Benedicti," tomus i. , lib. vi. , sect, xxv. , p. 152.
^* See "Acta Sanctorum," tomus i. . Mail i. , Acta S. Brioci. Historia Translationis, sect. I, 2, 3, p. 94.
''^ See Lot)ine. iu's "Vies des Saints de Bretap;ne," par M. L'Abbe TresY. iux, tome i. , p. 82, and n. (2), p. 85. Ibid.
^9 See Lobineau's "Viesdes Saints de Bretagne," par M. L'Abbe Tresvaux, tome i. , pp. 82 to 85, and n. (i). Ibid.
3° See Les Petits Bollandists' "Vies des Saints," tome v. . Premier Jour de Mai, p. 196. •
3' In Manuscriptis Cassinensi, S. Bene- dicti, et in Romano Ducis Altempsii.
^- See " Acta Sanctorum," tomus i. , Maii i. , Acta S. Brioci, Comnientarius Prxvius,
'* He then bore for title Archbishop of sect.
Trajanopolis.
91.
33 According to Albert de Grand, who
2, p.
.
of France, as also in Anglo-Saxon Litanies of the seventh century. St. Brioc's festival was celebrated, likewise, on the 29th of April. 33 It has probably- happened, that Sausiajus has transferred his feast to the 30th of April. 3+ His office is recited, in the dioceses of Tours, Rennes, Nantes and Quimper. Heretofore, St. Brioc was equally honoured in those of Dol, Treguier, Saint- Pol de Leon and Saint-Malo. St. Brioc's whole ecclesiastical office,35 having a proper Prayer,3^ had been recited, and continued during the octave, in the diocese of St. Brieuc;37 while, the feast of St. Philip and St. James, Apostles —occurring also on the ist of May—was transferred to the first festival day, not pre-occupied by the recital of a Nine Lesson Office. But, since the year 1804, St. Brioc's feast has been assigned to the second Sunday after Easter.
The chief Celtic nations seem to have specially honoured this holy man. The anonymous calendar, and Henry Fitzsimon's List of Irish Saints,3S have classed the present holy bishop among them. 39 There are two parish churches in St. Malo's ancient diocese, and these acknowledge our saint, as their patron, viz. , that of St. Brieuc, near Montmuran, and that of St. Brieuc, at Mauron. The parish of St. Breock in Cornwall and on the River Camel, was dedicated to St.
Brioc, and its fair was held, on the first day of May,-*" said to have been the date for the translation of his relics. '*^ St. Brioc was venerated as a patron, in many places of Scotland. '^^ Thus, he was patron of Rothesay, where his name is preserved in St. Brock's Fair, on the first Wednes- day in May. 'IS At the i6th of November is Bryak—? Brioc—fair, but it is assignedtonoparticularplace. '*'^ ThesamededicationoccursinInchbrayoch, an island in the South Esk, just below Montrosc^s Dunrod, in Kircud- brightshire, was dedicated to St. Mary and St. Brioc*^ A cliapel was dedica- ted to a St. Breagh,t7 in the barony of Forth, and county of Wexford, towards the close of the seventeenth century. No date is assigned for his feast. The church was pulled down, not very long ago, and a schoolhouse was erected on its site. Some time about 1680, or probably before it, certain miraculous accidents are said to have happened. The Almighty demonstrated his indig- nation with signal severity, against the contemners and scoffers of his beatified servants, to the confusion and immediate chastisement of the impious blas- phemers at this place. The incident is not mentioned, although in the neigh- bourhood, it seems to have been well known. The violators of things and
May I. ]
LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS.
37
cites the Breviary of Laon, a diocese in Ar- moric Britain.
3-* According to Henschenn.
35 It was published at St. Brieux, a. d. MDCXXi. , by authority of Andrew le Pore, Bishop of St. Brieuc.
3^ The following is the prayer: "Bea-
tissimi Confessoris tui atque Pontificis and Ecclesiastical Documents relating to
Brioci, quaesumus Domine, precibus adjuve- mur in cujus meritis semper es gloriosus et vehementerglorificandus. "—"ActaSancto- rum," tomus i. , Mail i. , Acta S. Brioci, Com- mentarius Preevius, sect, i. , p. 91.
37 It is stated, that the Lessons were to be
found in very old Breviaries. " Sed quo-
niam non ea sermonis erat puritas, quse
legentes non offenderet, recitantibus que
fastidium non ingeneraret, quod erat inso-
lens et barbarum, germane Latinitati sic
restituere conati sumus, ut et humilior non
esset oratio, et ab Ecclesias lenitate non sent saint's name is meant for St. Brioc or St. abesset. " Bridget?
3* Thelatter notes, Briocus a quo S. Brieve in *^ See '
'
A Brief Description of the barony
Anglia, Echard i. , RTaii Mol.
39 See O'SulIevan Beare's Historic Catho-
licas Ibernise Compendium," tomus iv. , cap. xi. , xii. , pp. 50, 53.
i. , lib.
'•° See Smith's and Wace's *' Dictionary of Christian Biography," vol. i. , p. 338.
Great Britain and Ireland," Appendix B, vol. i. , p. 31, and cf. ii. , 'j'i,, 86.
''- SeeBishopForbes'"KalendarsofScot- tish Saints," p. 291.
'See Haddan's and Stubbs' "Councils
'3 See " Origines Parochiales Scotias," vol. ii. , pp. 223, 239.
"* The Aberdeen Ahnanack of 1665, in the list of Faires of Fayre Scotland,
"•= See Preface to "Regisirum Vetus de Aberbrothock," pp. 28, 339.
''* See "Liber Sanctas Crucis, " p. 20.
"^ Herbert F. Here asks, whether the pre-
—
LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. [May i.
places dedicated to Divine service are specially rebuked/^ Moreover, Arnold Wion, Dorganius, Menard, and Bucelinus, in their Martyrologies, as also An- tonius Yepez, in his Benedictine Chronicle, at the year 556, state, that our saint and those monasteries he founded might be claimed by the Benedictines. If, as has been supposed, St. Brioc was initiated to the reHgious life, and had received his early education in Ireland ; or, if he founded monasteries in Ceretica, the same pious rule established by St. David of Menevia must have beenfollowed,bythisholypatronofBrieuccity. TheBritonsofArmoricaand of Cambria seem to have followed the same religious order of life, in the time of Germanus of Auxerre, who is said to have been the master of St. Brioc. This being admitted, the latter must have been St. Benedict's senior by many years. 43 The founder of the Benedictine order, first saw the light, in the year 480. Wherefore, at the first Benedictine age, the learned Father John Mabillon5° prefers placing our saint, among those pretermitted ; because, as he had already observed, the monasteries in Armoric Britain were not subject univer- sally to his order, in the time of St. Brioc. Nor could he find anything cer- tain, from ancient documents, about his religious foundation, except the statement, that it was built in the sixth century. 51
Article III. St. Ultan, Abbot of Fosse, in Belgium. [^Seventh Century. '] Already in a previous volume, we have given the Life of St. Fursey,' Abbot of Lagny, at some length ; and, as having a close relation with that remarkable saint's career, we must associate his brothers. Saints Foillan and Ultan. A distinct feast for the latter holy man belongs to this date. An ancient Manuscript copy * of St. Ado's Martyrology, preserved in the monastery of St. Laurence, at Liege, has this statement, with a lengthened eulogy of St. Ultan, embracing the particulars of his Life. This is found, also, transcribed into a Manuscript copy of Florarius, relating to the saints. It agrees with the generally received accounts. Allusion is made to St. Ultan,
at an early period, in the work of Venerable Bede. 3 Constantine Ghinius ^ noticesSt. Ultan,amongtheholyCanons. AttheistofMay,theBenedic- tines and Bollandists s have the Acts of St. Ultan,^ Abbot at Fosse and Per- rone. While the former claim him, as a Benedictine Saint, Father Godefrid Henschen denies it, and asserts, that those celebrated brothers only followed the monastic rule,? which prevailed in Ireland, during th. eir period. Mirseus has a notice of him at this date. ^ It would seem, that Colgan had prepared
38
of Fort, in the county of Wexford, togetlier
with a Relation of the Disposition and some
peculiar Customs of the Ancient and Present
Native Inhabitants thereof. "—"Journal of
the Kilkenny and . South-ea. -t of Ireland rum. "
ArchKological Society. " New Series, vol. iv. , part i. , p. 69, and n. (6).
*9 See Father Hennschenn's remarks, in " Acta Sanctorum," tomus i. , Mali i. De S. Brioco. Commenlarius Praevius, sect. 6, p. 92.
5° In " Acta Sanctorum Ordinis S. Bene- dicti. "
s' See Mabillon's "Annales Ordinis S. Benedicti," tomus i. , lib. vi. , sect, xxv. ,
s See "Acta Sanctorum," tomus i. , Mali i. De S. Ultano Abbate Fossis et Pe- ronre, pp. 1 18, 119.
*" Legendurn ejus Elogium historicum sreculosecuiulo Benedictino, et in Actis SS. Boliandianis ad diem primam Mail. "—Cri- tices pagii apud Baronius, " Annates Ecclesi- astici," tome xi. , A. i). 654, sect. viii.
' Ilensciien sup["Osed this to be the rule established by St. Columbanus—we pre- sunie to say, he meant St. Columba, Abbot of lona.
* See " Festi Belgici et Burgundici," pp. 223, 224.
p. 152. — Article III.
' See his Life, in vol. i. , of this work, at January xvi.
' It has been interpolated, however, by
later writers.
^ ,See " Historia Ecclesiastica Gentis An-
glorum," lib. iii. , cap. xix.
^ " In Natalibus Sanctorum Canonico-
May I. ]
LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS.
39
materials to give the Life of this saint, for the ist of May ;9 and, at this date, Bishop Challenor '° has placed St. Uitan. He is also known by the name of Outain," the French rendering for Ultanus. The ancient Lives of St. Fursey throw most light on his history. The later Life of St. Fursey, written by John Desmay, has also allusion to this holy man. It may be observed, that Saints Foillan and Ultan were brothers to St. Fursey, and the name of the father was Fintan, dynast over one of the small principalities in Munster.
Else- where, we have seen, that they were said to be sons to the King of Lein- ster," but this is incorrect. However, we are told, they were children to Hugh Bannin, King of Munster, according to the History of the Saints of Ireland. '3 Ultan was the eldest of the three brothers; and all received the benefit of a most excellent education. The brothers Ultan and Foillan remained with their parents, while St. Fursey was absent on the western isles of Ireland ; and, both continued to lead religious lives, notwithstanding the many dissipations of society, and the temptations, to which they were exposed. On the return of their brother, however, he persuaded them to embrace the monastic profession. Under his direction, they passed some time at Cno- bersburg,^4nowBurghCastle,'^intheshireofSuffolk,inEngland. Here,a religious establishment was formed, owing to the munificence of King Sige- frid, their patron and protector. St. Fullen was set over this house, while both his brothers sought a penitential retirement, in a neighbouring desert. There, for a whole year,'^ St. Fursey and St. Ultan lived as anchorites. This happened, during the reign of Sigebert over East Anglia. '? Afterwards, St. Fursey resolved on leaving England for France, in consequence of the dis- orders created by Penda, King of the Mercians. Taking with him Saints Ultan and Foillan, with other companions, according to some accounts, St. Fursey went over to Gaul, in the year 640, or perhaps somewhat later. There, he founded a monastery at Lagny. Other statements arrange it, that having been charged to look after the religious establishment in Britain,'^ his brothers did not accompany him to Gaul ; but, that they arrived there, only after his death. It is even said, that St. Fursey, after his arrival in Gaul, resolved to go back,
in order to visit them in England, but his death occurred, before he could accomplish that purpose. After the demise of St. Fursey, in France, about the year 650, his brothers. Saints Ultan and Foillan, arc thought to have left England for the Continent. According to one account, St. Foillan, excited by the desire and intentions of his brother Fursey, went to Rome, in order to receive the Pontifical Benediction from Pope Martin I. , who then sat in the Chair of Peter.
In the year 1210, while Philip was king over France, and Peter was bishop at St. Brieuc, this latter had been apprized by his clergy, from the time of his appointment to the See, that the diocesan Patron's holy relics had been preserved, in the church of St. Sergius and St. Bacchus. The bishop resolved, by labouring effectually, to procure, at least, a part of these precious remains. He was informed, that no other relic belonging to holy Brieuc had been preserved in the church to which he was collated, and which had its name from our saint, except- ing a bell and a band, or fillet, that formerly belonged to or had some connec- tion with the venerated patron. On hearing this. Bishop Peter went to Angers, in order to accomplish the object of his most earnest desires. He prudently resolved, to request the presence of the bishop and leading clergy of that city, at an interview, together with the abbot and brothers of the monastery of St. Sergius and St. Bacchus. To this assembly also were in- vited persons of distinction, in that part of the country. He greatly desired to secureaunanimousexpressionofassent,forhispiousrequest. Accordingly,all were assembled in the church of Angers, at an appointed day and hour. There, Bishop Peter preached a most eloquent sermon from the holy Scriptures, to the great delight and edification of his audience. So persuasive were his words, we are told, that if this bishop had sought the greater part of their monastery, its monks would have yielded to his demand, so powerfully were their hearts moved by his impressive eloquence. But, temporal gifts were notanobjectofambitionfortheBishopofBrieuc. Thisprelatedeclared,he
'° Regarding that portion of them, once corpus S. Brioci Confessoris Episcopi in
preserved at Angers, nothing now re- mains.
^' That cliurch has no present existence, but within it had been erected a chapel, for- mcrly dedicated to our saint.
ecclesiaB. Sergii. qureest Andegavis, ethono- rifice repositum in eadem Eccltsia, officium prasbente Guilelmo Andegavensium Epis- copo, assistentibus Guillelmo ejusdem Ec- desire Abbate, Guillelmo B. Albini, Hu- gone S. Nicolai, Guillelmo B. Manri Abba- ti bus, cum multo Cleri populique tripudio, Guillclmus Omnium Sanctorum Abbas huic Translationi inteifuit, et Conanus Comes Biitaiinia. ' See I. obineau's Vies des Saints de Bretagne," par M. 1 Abbe Tres-
p. 92.
^' The account of this solemn translation
is thus described, in a charter, beloni;iiig to
the same monastery, and edited by Mabillon.
It runs in the following terms :" Hcnricus,
Rex Anglorum, et Dux Normannorum et
Aquitnnorum, et Come; Andcgavorum, om-
niluis Sanctre Eccle>ia; Dei tiliis salutem. vaux, pp. 85, 86, and n. (l) ibid. Also, Noverit universitas vestra, quod anno ab " Acta Sanctorum," tomus L Maii i. Acta Incarnationc Domini MCLXVi et regni nos- S. Brioci. Commentarius PoEvius. , sect. 7, trix. ,pridie Kalendas Augusti, Luna xxx. ,
die Dominica, me presente translatum est "^ It is most likely, thi? rscription was in
May I. ]
LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS.
35
only desired a part of the holy patron's remains, such object being the sole mo- tiveofhispresentvisittoAngers. Ifthevenerableabbotoftheplacewould graciously hear his petition, he engaged, that the church of St. Brieuc should feel for ever indebted to that of his abbey. As St. Brieuc's chief pastor, the bishop ottered with grateful thanks, the advantages of an inseparable alliance, which should continue through ages yet to come, between both religious establishments. The abbot then retired to hold a conference with his reli- gious. At first, he feared to comply with the bishop's request, lest he might incur the saint's displeasure. However, on matured deliberation, he con- sidered it inexpedient, to refuse the reasonable request of his pious supplicant. This latter resolution obtained, in fine, the unanimous concurrence of all his brethren. Inorderthathemightavoidoppositionfromanyrecusantorwounded feeling, which might be manifested in or out of the monastery, on account of this partition[of our saint's remains, the abbot selected a time, for accomplish- ment of his resolution, when all the inmates of his house had retired to rest, and after a recital of the midnight office. When they had retired, the abbot received anew assurances given to him by Bishop Peter. He caused these
promises to be repeated in presence of chosen witnesses, who had already heard the first guarantees offered. After Matins had been concluded, and while the monks sought retirement and rest in their dormitories, the Abbot and Fathers, who were conscious regarding what must succeed, repaired to the church,beingclothedwithwhitegarments. Theyremovedthatsilvershrine, containing our saint's relics, from the top of their altar, and in presence of the Bishop. By aid of a goldsmith, the reliquary was soon opened. Then, St. Brioc's remains were found enclosed, and within a covering made of deer-skin. A marble tablet was discovered, and on it was found engraved an inscription to this effect : " Here lies the body of the most holy Confessor Brioc, Bishop of Brittan}^, which had been brought by Ylispodius, King of the Bretons, to this church, which, at that time, was his chapel. "^3 On reading this inscrip- tion, all who were present—not being sufficiently instructed regarding past history—were surprised to hear the name of a king, hitherto little known to them. His kingdom, nevertheless, extended as far as Vendomois, according to ancient and authentic records. When the shrine had been opened, a most agreeable odour was diffused around the jolace, in which these assistants officiated. The abbot then presented the Breton Bishop with an arm, two ribs, and a joint of St. Brieuc's neck. ^4 These remains were received, as an incomparable treasure. They were placed in a precious vase, and committed to the care of the treasurer of Angers church. This man was a particular friend to Bishop Peter. Being now ready to take his departure, as the chief object of his desire had thus been happily effected, on the following morning, the prelate assisted at the holy sacrifice of Mass, and then began to think of returning to his episcopal See. He hastened to resume the homeward jour- ney, as a vigilant guardian of his precious treasure. The bishop and clergy of Angers accompanied him in solemn procession towards the city gates, while they sang hymns and canticles in praise of that illustrious saint, whose relicswerethenbeingremoved,andtothatcitywhichborehisname. We cannot feel surprised, that full of joy on account of having such a treasure, Bishop Peter had a dream, while asleep on that very night, and regarding
Latin, the original of which may be found thus rendered, in the Bollandists' collection, at the 1st of May. It runs as follows: "Hie jacet corpus Beatissimi Confessoris Brioci Episcopi Britannia;, quod detulit ad basilicam istam, quae tunc temporis erat ca-
pella sua, Yh'spodius Rex Britannorum. " Lobineau has rendered it into French.
-'See Les Petits Bollandistes, "Vies des Saints," tome v. Premier Jour de Mai. p. 196.
'S Mabillon relates, that the monastery of
36 LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. [May i.
a matter, which had afforded him such agreeable occupation during the pre- viousday. Heimagined,thatsurroundedbyanastonishinghght,St. Brioc had appeared to liim and said : "Take care, my son, that those rehcsbe pre- served with due honour in my church. " On receiving this admonition, the bishop sent innnediately word to the St. Brieux clergy and people, to warn them about his happy return, and requesting them to be ready for reception of their holy patron's remains, on the i8th of October, the festival day of St Luke. In obedience to their pious bishop's command, a vast multitude of persons on the day appointed came to meet him, with all the religious solem- nity and joy, that could be desired or imagined. Among the rest, Alain I. , Count of Pentiiievre, of Gonello, Guingamp, Avaugour, &c. , son to Henry, Count of Penthievre and to Matilda of Vendome, assisted at this grand cere- mony. The Count prostrated himself on earth, to venerate the holy relics of St. Bricuc, He even received them, and bore them within his own arms, to the cathedral church. ^5 it is said, that at the moment of entrance into this edifice, the sacred relics were heard to emit sounds, as if they had been animated, and as if they had made an effort to issue from that vase, in which they had been carried. Such strange prodigy was regarded as an indication of joy, manifested by St. Brieuc, when a portion of his remains entered a place, that formerly had been so dear to him, where he had received so many graces from Heaven, and where God's power had been manifested by wonderful miracles accorded to the people's faith, and to their holy patron's prayers. ^^
The monument dedicated to this saint, in St. Sergius' and St. Bacchus' church, which had been erected into a parish, was destroyed some years previous to the revolution of 1789. It is said,this Vandalic act was intended to prevent certain superstitious practices. At present, St. Brioc's ring is preserved in Brieuc. The mayor and his corporate civic companions proceeded with certain public ceremonies to kiss his ring, on the annual return of each May-day. =7 Before the French revolution, the sacred relics of this saint were enclosed in a silver shrine, and they were saved from profanation, at that iconoclastic period. In the year 1820, Monseigneur Hyacinthe de Qu^len—afterwards Bishop of Paris, and at that time. Coadjutor of the same See ^^—presented a beautiful reliquary of gilt bronze, for the reception of our saint's relics. That prelate had been a priest of St. Brieux diocese, and an honorary canon of the same church. In the reliquary presented, the saint's remains are now preserved. ^9
He was venerated, as the principal patron of that diocese and city, which bore his name. In works of art, he was often represented with a purse or aumoniire; and, he was regarded as the special patron of purse-makers, pro- bably because this branch of industry had flourished formerly in the city of St. Brieuc. 3° The festival of St. Brieux had been formerly celebrated, on the ist of May, as found in ancient Manuscripts. 3^ Molanus and other writers 3* have fixed his chief festival, at the ist of May. Still, the name of St. Brieuc is not found in the Roman Martyrology. However, it occurs in the Martyrologies
St. Brioc, founded in the sixth century, be- came converted into an episcopal seat and city. See " AnnalesOrdinis S. Benedicti," tomus i. , lib. vi. , sect, xxv. , p. 152.
^* See "Acta Sanctorum," tomus i. . Mail i. , Acta S. Brioci. Historia Translationis, sect. I, 2, 3, p. 94.
''^ See Lot)ine. iu's "Vies des Saints de Bretap;ne," par M. L'Abbe TresY. iux, tome i. , p. 82, and n. (2), p. 85. Ibid.
^9 See Lobineau's "Viesdes Saints de Bretagne," par M. L'Abbe Tresvaux, tome i. , pp. 82 to 85, and n. (i). Ibid.
3° See Les Petits Bollandists' "Vies des Saints," tome v. . Premier Jour de Mai, p. 196. •
3' In Manuscriptis Cassinensi, S. Bene- dicti, et in Romano Ducis Altempsii.
^- See " Acta Sanctorum," tomus i. , Maii i. , Acta S. Brioci, Comnientarius Prxvius,
'* He then bore for title Archbishop of sect.
Trajanopolis.
91.
33 According to Albert de Grand, who
2, p.
.
of France, as also in Anglo-Saxon Litanies of the seventh century. St. Brioc's festival was celebrated, likewise, on the 29th of April. 33 It has probably- happened, that Sausiajus has transferred his feast to the 30th of April. 3+ His office is recited, in the dioceses of Tours, Rennes, Nantes and Quimper. Heretofore, St. Brioc was equally honoured in those of Dol, Treguier, Saint- Pol de Leon and Saint-Malo. St. Brioc's whole ecclesiastical office,35 having a proper Prayer,3^ had been recited, and continued during the octave, in the diocese of St. Brieuc;37 while, the feast of St. Philip and St. James, Apostles —occurring also on the ist of May—was transferred to the first festival day, not pre-occupied by the recital of a Nine Lesson Office. But, since the year 1804, St. Brioc's feast has been assigned to the second Sunday after Easter.
The chief Celtic nations seem to have specially honoured this holy man. The anonymous calendar, and Henry Fitzsimon's List of Irish Saints,3S have classed the present holy bishop among them. 39 There are two parish churches in St. Malo's ancient diocese, and these acknowledge our saint, as their patron, viz. , that of St. Brieuc, near Montmuran, and that of St. Brieuc, at Mauron. The parish of St. Breock in Cornwall and on the River Camel, was dedicated to St.
Brioc, and its fair was held, on the first day of May,-*" said to have been the date for the translation of his relics. '*^ St. Brioc was venerated as a patron, in many places of Scotland. '^^ Thus, he was patron of Rothesay, where his name is preserved in St. Brock's Fair, on the first Wednes- day in May. 'IS At the i6th of November is Bryak—? Brioc—fair, but it is assignedtonoparticularplace. '*'^ ThesamededicationoccursinInchbrayoch, an island in the South Esk, just below Montrosc^s Dunrod, in Kircud- brightshire, was dedicated to St. Mary and St. Brioc*^ A cliapel was dedica- ted to a St. Breagh,t7 in the barony of Forth, and county of Wexford, towards the close of the seventeenth century. No date is assigned for his feast. The church was pulled down, not very long ago, and a schoolhouse was erected on its site. Some time about 1680, or probably before it, certain miraculous accidents are said to have happened. The Almighty demonstrated his indig- nation with signal severity, against the contemners and scoffers of his beatified servants, to the confusion and immediate chastisement of the impious blas- phemers at this place. The incident is not mentioned, although in the neigh- bourhood, it seems to have been well known. The violators of things and
May I. ]
LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS.
37
cites the Breviary of Laon, a diocese in Ar- moric Britain.
3-* According to Henschenn.
35 It was published at St. Brieux, a. d. MDCXXi. , by authority of Andrew le Pore, Bishop of St. Brieuc.
3^ The following is the prayer: "Bea-
tissimi Confessoris tui atque Pontificis and Ecclesiastical Documents relating to
Brioci, quaesumus Domine, precibus adjuve- mur in cujus meritis semper es gloriosus et vehementerglorificandus. "—"ActaSancto- rum," tomus i. , Mail i. , Acta S. Brioci, Com- mentarius Preevius, sect, i. , p. 91.
37 It is stated, that the Lessons were to be
found in very old Breviaries. " Sed quo-
niam non ea sermonis erat puritas, quse
legentes non offenderet, recitantibus que
fastidium non ingeneraret, quod erat inso-
lens et barbarum, germane Latinitati sic
restituere conati sumus, ut et humilior non
esset oratio, et ab Ecclesias lenitate non sent saint's name is meant for St. Brioc or St. abesset. " Bridget?
3* Thelatter notes, Briocus a quo S. Brieve in *^ See '
'
A Brief Description of the barony
Anglia, Echard i. , RTaii Mol.
39 See O'SulIevan Beare's Historic Catho-
licas Ibernise Compendium," tomus iv. , cap. xi. , xii. , pp. 50, 53.
i. , lib.
'•° See Smith's and Wace's *' Dictionary of Christian Biography," vol. i. , p. 338.
Great Britain and Ireland," Appendix B, vol. i. , p. 31, and cf. ii. , 'j'i,, 86.
''- SeeBishopForbes'"KalendarsofScot- tish Saints," p. 291.
'See Haddan's and Stubbs' "Councils
'3 See " Origines Parochiales Scotias," vol. ii. , pp. 223, 239.
"* The Aberdeen Ahnanack of 1665, in the list of Faires of Fayre Scotland,
"•= See Preface to "Regisirum Vetus de Aberbrothock," pp. 28, 339.
''* See "Liber Sanctas Crucis, " p. 20.
"^ Herbert F. Here asks, whether the pre-
—
LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. [May i.
places dedicated to Divine service are specially rebuked/^ Moreover, Arnold Wion, Dorganius, Menard, and Bucelinus, in their Martyrologies, as also An- tonius Yepez, in his Benedictine Chronicle, at the year 556, state, that our saint and those monasteries he founded might be claimed by the Benedictines. If, as has been supposed, St. Brioc was initiated to the reHgious life, and had received his early education in Ireland ; or, if he founded monasteries in Ceretica, the same pious rule established by St. David of Menevia must have beenfollowed,bythisholypatronofBrieuccity. TheBritonsofArmoricaand of Cambria seem to have followed the same religious order of life, in the time of Germanus of Auxerre, who is said to have been the master of St. Brioc. This being admitted, the latter must have been St. Benedict's senior by many years. 43 The founder of the Benedictine order, first saw the light, in the year 480. Wherefore, at the first Benedictine age, the learned Father John Mabillon5° prefers placing our saint, among those pretermitted ; because, as he had already observed, the monasteries in Armoric Britain were not subject univer- sally to his order, in the time of St. Brioc. Nor could he find anything cer- tain, from ancient documents, about his religious foundation, except the statement, that it was built in the sixth century. 51
Article III. St. Ultan, Abbot of Fosse, in Belgium. [^Seventh Century. '] Already in a previous volume, we have given the Life of St. Fursey,' Abbot of Lagny, at some length ; and, as having a close relation with that remarkable saint's career, we must associate his brothers. Saints Foillan and Ultan. A distinct feast for the latter holy man belongs to this date. An ancient Manuscript copy * of St. Ado's Martyrology, preserved in the monastery of St. Laurence, at Liege, has this statement, with a lengthened eulogy of St. Ultan, embracing the particulars of his Life. This is found, also, transcribed into a Manuscript copy of Florarius, relating to the saints. It agrees with the generally received accounts. Allusion is made to St. Ultan,
at an early period, in the work of Venerable Bede. 3 Constantine Ghinius ^ noticesSt. Ultan,amongtheholyCanons. AttheistofMay,theBenedic- tines and Bollandists s have the Acts of St. Ultan,^ Abbot at Fosse and Per- rone. While the former claim him, as a Benedictine Saint, Father Godefrid Henschen denies it, and asserts, that those celebrated brothers only followed the monastic rule,? which prevailed in Ireland, during th. eir period. Mirseus has a notice of him at this date. ^ It would seem, that Colgan had prepared
38
of Fort, in the county of Wexford, togetlier
with a Relation of the Disposition and some
peculiar Customs of the Ancient and Present
Native Inhabitants thereof. "—"Journal of
the Kilkenny and . South-ea. -t of Ireland rum. "
ArchKological Society. " New Series, vol. iv. , part i. , p. 69, and n. (6).
*9 See Father Hennschenn's remarks, in " Acta Sanctorum," tomus i. , Mali i. De S. Brioco. Commenlarius Praevius, sect. 6, p. 92.
5° In " Acta Sanctorum Ordinis S. Bene- dicti. "
s' See Mabillon's "Annales Ordinis S. Benedicti," tomus i. , lib. vi. , sect, xxv. ,
s See "Acta Sanctorum," tomus i. , Mali i. De S. Ultano Abbate Fossis et Pe- ronre, pp. 1 18, 119.
*" Legendurn ejus Elogium historicum sreculosecuiulo Benedictino, et in Actis SS. Boliandianis ad diem primam Mail. "—Cri- tices pagii apud Baronius, " Annates Ecclesi- astici," tome xi. , A. i). 654, sect. viii.
' Ilensciien sup["Osed this to be the rule established by St. Columbanus—we pre- sunie to say, he meant St. Columba, Abbot of lona.
* See " Festi Belgici et Burgundici," pp. 223, 224.
p. 152. — Article III.
' See his Life, in vol. i. , of this work, at January xvi.
' It has been interpolated, however, by
later writers.
^ ,See " Historia Ecclesiastica Gentis An-
glorum," lib. iii. , cap. xix.
^ " In Natalibus Sanctorum Canonico-
May I. ]
LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS.
39
materials to give the Life of this saint, for the ist of May ;9 and, at this date, Bishop Challenor '° has placed St. Uitan. He is also known by the name of Outain," the French rendering for Ultanus. The ancient Lives of St. Fursey throw most light on his history. The later Life of St. Fursey, written by John Desmay, has also allusion to this holy man. It may be observed, that Saints Foillan and Ultan were brothers to St. Fursey, and the name of the father was Fintan, dynast over one of the small principalities in Munster.
Else- where, we have seen, that they were said to be sons to the King of Lein- ster," but this is incorrect. However, we are told, they were children to Hugh Bannin, King of Munster, according to the History of the Saints of Ireland. '3 Ultan was the eldest of the three brothers; and all received the benefit of a most excellent education. The brothers Ultan and Foillan remained with their parents, while St. Fursey was absent on the western isles of Ireland ; and, both continued to lead religious lives, notwithstanding the many dissipations of society, and the temptations, to which they were exposed. On the return of their brother, however, he persuaded them to embrace the monastic profession. Under his direction, they passed some time at Cno- bersburg,^4nowBurghCastle,'^intheshireofSuffolk,inEngland. Here,a religious establishment was formed, owing to the munificence of King Sige- frid, their patron and protector. St. Fullen was set over this house, while both his brothers sought a penitential retirement, in a neighbouring desert. There, for a whole year,'^ St. Fursey and St. Ultan lived as anchorites. This happened, during the reign of Sigebert over East Anglia. '? Afterwards, St. Fursey resolved on leaving England for France, in consequence of the dis- orders created by Penda, King of the Mercians. Taking with him Saints Ultan and Foillan, with other companions, according to some accounts, St. Fursey went over to Gaul, in the year 640, or perhaps somewhat later. There, he founded a monastery at Lagny. Other statements arrange it, that having been charged to look after the religious establishment in Britain,'^ his brothers did not accompany him to Gaul ; but, that they arrived there, only after his death. It is even said, that St. Fursey, after his arrival in Gaul, resolved to go back,
in order to visit them in England, but his death occurred, before he could accomplish that purpose. After the demise of St. Fursey, in France, about the year 650, his brothers. Saints Ultan and Foillan, arc thought to have left England for the Continent. According to one account, St. Foillan, excited by the desire and intentions of his brother Fursey, went to Rome, in order to receive the Pontifical Benediction from Pope Martin I. , who then sat in the Chair of Peter.
