century, and he was the
disciple
of St.
O'Hanlon - Lives of the Irish Saints - v8
Edited by Henry Richards
Luard, M. A.
38" "
See Trias Thaumaturga Sexta Ap-
pendix ad Acta S. Patricii. This Treatise
is divided into four parts, with a Prologue
and Notes, pp. 273 to 289.
3'At the xiii. of the Kalends of March (Feb-
ruary 17th), the following entry occurs, in the published Martyrology of Tallagh : " Loman in Ath Truim cum sociis, i. e. ,
Patricii Hostiarii, Laurech mac Cuanach, Fortchern ocus Coelochtra, Aedha, Aedha, Aedha Cormaci Eps, Conani, Cuimaeni Eps, Lacteani sac, Ossani, ocus Sarani Conaill ocus Colmani, ocus Lactani Eps, Finnseghi Vir. Hi omnes in Ath Truim requiescunt . " —Rev. Dr. Kelly's "Calendar of Irish Saints," &c, p. xvi.
40 "Acta Sanctorum Hiber- Colgan's
niae," xxvii. Februarii, nn. 13 and 16, p.
Patricius S. Irland, de
27 There is a MS. , De Patricii Purgatorio.
98
There is a French MS. of the fifteenth
century, Le Purgatoire de S. Patrice.
39 There is a MS. , Patricii Purgatorium.
30 There is a Description du Purgatoire de St. Patrice, in Manuscript.
31 There is a MS. , Patricius de Purgatorio.
33 There is a MS. , David Scotus de Pur- gatorio Patricii.
33 One is a MS. , " Historia eorum quae
contingerunt Georgio de Ungaria filio cujus-
dam in S. Magnatis Ungarici Purgatorio
Purgatorio.
Patricii. Visiones Georgii militis in purga-
tioni S. Patricii. " Again, there is "Nar- 366.
ratio Georgii Hungari S. Patricii Purga- toriorium in Hibernia visitante, Anno 1353," Germanice.
41 See James Wills' "Lives of Illustrious
and Distinguished Irishmen," vol. i. , part ii. , p. 224.
In the Libraries at Bamberg,26 at
55 See ibid. , p. 458.
"
36 See Jacobus de Voragine,
ut nihil perperam adhibitum semotumve :
haec aurea nitidis excutitur formis claretque
Legenda
August 24. ] LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. 359
wise venerated on this day. We do not find this saint's name occurring at
either of these days, in the copy of the Irish Calendar, formerly belonging to the Ordnance Survey Office, Phoenix Park. Neither is it to be met with, in
the Martyrology of Donegal. ^
Article III. —St. Rodan, Bishop of Kill-Rodan, County of Sligo.
[FifthCentury^ Thisholymanissupposedtohaveflourishedintheearly
times of Irish Christianity. Although the Martyrology of Tallagh has cele-
brated his festival, at the 18th of l January ;
2 At
taker of cattle, and while leading that pastoral or eremitical life, he was
constantly engaged in prayer. From that humble position, St. Patricks rescued him, to serve in the works of his great mission. It would seem, that his
early education had been neglected, supposing this to have been the man to whom allusion has been made. After learning the rudiments, when he had been sufficiently instructed, from being a tender of flocks, Rodan became a spiri-
tual shepherd. In the Tripartite Life of St. Patrick, he is styled the noble pres- byter Rodan,* and a church was erected for him, and for other disciples,5 in theterritoryofHuaNoella,6bytheillustriousApostleofIreland. Thatregion is now represented by the modern barony of Tirerrill, in the present County of Sligo. There, in a place called Domhacha,? St. Patrick erected a church, whichwentbythenameofSencheallDumhaighe. Amongthedisciplesof St. Patrick, we meet with a saint of this name. He is called Bishop of Seancheall, in Connaught. 8 His feast has been assigned to the 24th of August. 9 It is also probable, that he was the Bishop of Rodan of Muraisk, 10 a district in the barony of Tireagh, and county of Sligo. It extended from the Rive—r Easkey to Dunnacoy. 11 He was set over the church of Kill- Rodain called after him—in the former territory of Myresch-aigle. " At present, the site of Kill-Rodain has not been discovered, nor is it known how long he lived in that place. In the Irish Life of St. Patrick, his church in
yet,
more correct to follow the authority of Marianus O'Gorman, and to place St.
Rodan's feast at the of 24th
August.
first,
he was a or care- shepherd
42 At the ix. of the Kalends of September,
August 24th, we there find, separate entries of two distinct Patricks, who are placed in different lines, and, in the following order : "PatriciiAbbocusEp. Riusdela. " After- wards, "Patricii hostiarii ocus Abb, Aird- macha. " SeeRev. Dr. Kelly's"Catalogue of Irish Saints," &c, p. xxxii.
« Published by Rev. Drs. Todd and
l
Seewhathasbeenalready stated regarding St. Rottan, venerated at l8th of January, in the First Volume of this
6 Likewise known as Tir-Oilella, the land
or territory of Oilell. See " The Topo-
graphical Poems of John O'Dubhagain and Giolla na Naomh O'Huidhrin," edited
by John O'Donovan, LL. D. , n. 254, p. xxxvi.
7InthedistrictofMurrisk,thereisstilla townland called Dunheakin.
8 See Colgan's "Trias Thaumaturga," Quinta Appendix, and Acta S. Patricii, cap. xxiii. , p. 266.
» See ibid.
Reeves. — Articlehi.
work, Art. vi.
2 11
See Colgan's "Trias Thaumaturga," Sexta Vita S. Patricii, n. 150, p. 115.
plain," in English.
See John O'Donovan's teabhar* tia
8
See his Life, March xvii. , in the Third
Volume of this Art. work,
12 See
" Trias
xiii.
4 See Colgan's "Trias Thaumaturga," Septima Vita S. Patricii, pars, ii. , cap. Hi. ,
Septima Vita S. Patricii, pars, ii. , cap. xli. , P- 135-
s Besides St. Rodan, the noble priest, are
named Macetus, Cetchenus, and Matona, O'Donovan astray, in his " Genealogies, the sister of Benignus. To Matona, St. Tribes, and Customs of Hy-Fiachrach, Patrick and St. Rodan gave the veil of commonly called O'Dowda's Country. " virginity, and to the care of Rodan she was Addenda, P. , n. (q), p. 471.
committed. '3 See Miss M. F. Cusack's " Life of St.
i. , chap.
Colgan's
Thaumaturga,"
10
we are that it is informed,
Muirisc in Irish signifies the "Sea-
3-CeA|\c, or the Book of Rights, n. (e), p. 19.
p. 136, and cap. xcix. , pp. 142, 143. This, however, is a wrong interpretation, as that Myresch-Aigle was in Mayo. It also led Dr.
360
LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS.
[August 24.
T
Muirisk is called Cillespuig-Rodain 3 and in an Irish Poem, quoted in the ;
1
Annals of the Four Masters, * the present holy man is called Rodan, son of
Braga, while he is described as St. Patrick's shepherd. This holy bishop,
during his life, and also after his death, was distinguished by miraculous 1
favours,procuredthroughhismerits. * ItismentionedintheMartyrologyof Marianus O'Gorman, as also in that of Donegal,16 how a festival in honour of Rodan, a Bishop, was celebrated at this date. The name of Rodan is found Latinized Romulus, in some Calendars.
Article IV. —St. Merchard or Yarchard, of Kincardine, Scot-
land. [Probably Fifth or Sixth Century. '] The present holy man is found among the Saints of Scotland ; but, we are doubtful as to whether or not his origin should be referred to Ireland. Under various forms of name, such as Merchard, Yarchard, Irchard, Erthad, and Erchad, he is presented to our notice. The Bollandists have the fullest statements regarding him, at the
13
24th day of August. These are contained in a historic Sylloge, consisting
of eleven paragraphs. However, the Breviary of Aberdeen, which was
printed in the year 1509, is alleged to be their chief authority for his Acts.
Already, at the 24th of July, Dempster has placed the festival of this holy
bishop, named Erthad,3 and his Natalis is also set down at this date.
Ferrarius has followed such statement4 By Camerarius, Erchadus or
Erthadus is noticed, at the 24th of Augusts Again, a learned Scotch Jesuit,
Father Patrick Ninian Wemyss, had given a Scottish Menology to the
Bollandists, and in it was found, at this same date, the name of Bishop
Erthad, which he states to have been thus entered in the Scotch Festilogies.
Bishop Forbes has some biographical particulars regarding Merchard or
6
Yarchard ;
and, on the authority of the Aberdeen Breviary, this Irchardus
is stated to have been born in in Kincardin 8 Tolmaid,? Oneyll, among
barbarous and untaught people. There from his early days, he rebuked unbelievers, and he preached virtue. He likewise addicted himself to the practices of prayer, vigils and fasting. He was ordained a Priest by St. Ternan,' who made him coadjutor and penitentiary, in all the provinces
under his 10 It is jurisdiction.
stated,
that soon Yarchard went afterwards,
» The Bollandists remark, that this place was unknown to them.
Patrick, Apostle of Ireland. " William M. Hennessy's translation of the Tripartite Life, part ii. , p. 2.
14 See Dr. O'Donovan's edition, vol. i. , at A. D. 448, pp. 138, 139.
15 See Colgan's "Trias Thaumaturga," Sexta Vita S. Patricii, cap. cxlii. , p. 96.
8
western district of Aberdeenshire. It com- prehends all the upper part of the basin of the River Dee, as much of the central portion of that basin as belongs to Aberdeenshire, a small part of the lower portion of that basin, and a small part of the right side of the central portion of the basin of the Don. See " The Imperial Gazetteer of Scotland, Topo- graphical, Statistical and Historical," vol. ii. , p. 223.
9 His festival is kept, on the I2th of June. At that date, notices of him may be found, in the Sixth Volume of this work, Art. ii.
century, and he was the disciple of St. Palladius, who became Apostle of the Picts, in 431, as may be seen in Acts of the latter, at the 6th of July, in the Seventh Volume of this work,
Art. i.
" This statement, to be found in the
16
Edited by Drs. Todd and Reeves, pp.
"
226, 227. —* Article iv.
Acta Sanctorum," De S. Irchardo, seu Ethardo vel Erchado, Ep. et Conf. in Scotia,
PP- 773. 774-
2
Compiled by Father William Cuper, SJ. 3 See a notice in the Seventh Volume of
this work, at that date, Art. xiii.
lib. Hi. , p. 168.
6
See "Kalendars of Scottish Saints," PP- 397. 466.
See tomus iv. , Augusti xxiv.
4 In "
Generalis Sanctorum. " 5 In his book, " De Scotorum Fortitudine, Doctrina, Pietate, ac de Ortu et Progressu Hseresis in Regnis Scotias et Anglise,"
,0 St. Ternan lived in the fifth
Catalogus
Kincardine-O'Neil forms the south-
August 24. ] LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. 361
to Rome, where he was consecrated bishop by Pope Gregory," who gave him faculties for a mission in his own country, and who bestowed his
blessing, when the saint took his departure. On returning to Scotland, he passed through the province of Pictavia or Poitou in Gaul. " There he found many of the Picti or natives of Poitou, who had been subjugated by the Galli. He remained among those people for three years. St. Yarchard was the instrument chosen by the Almighty for restoring them to their
belief,^ owing to the prudence and sanctity he manifested, and as due also 1
to his spirit of faith and prayer. * Afterwards, he fell sick, but he humbly besought God to spare his life, until he returned to his own country. He
passed through the countries of Anglia and of Scotia, and preached along the way. At length, he came to the hill of Kincardine Oneyll. There he
to heavenly delights, his most pure life was prolonged in the presence of Christ, so that he obtained the lasting and great happiness of life eternal. 16 When St. Yarchard -perceived that his death was approaching, he desired his body to be placed in a chariot drawn by two horses. His remains were ordered to be deposited where the chariot stopped. When this order was obeyed, and the corpse had been deposited on the chariot, it is said to have moved to a considerable distance beyond the River Dee, when mechanically itceasedtoproceed. Therethebodywastakenfromthebierandinterred.
1
In that place, called Kincardin, ? a fine church was afterwards erected, and
there the Saint was specially venerated, as it had been considered the spot miraculously designed for his sepulture. Besides Kincardine Oneyll, asso-
received his 1* Hewas a by compatriots.
was
cardine, in the Diocese of Aberdeen. His memory was deemed to be worthy ofpiousvenerationandcelebration,inthatplace. Thedespicableandvain desires of this world he thought deserving only of his disdain, while attached
honourably
at bishop Kin-
Breviary of Aberdeen, is irreconcilable with the account of Yarchard having been the
disciple of St. Ternan. Pope St. Gregory I. , or the Great, did not ascend the pontifical throne, until A. D. 590, and he died on the 1 2th of March, A. D. 604. See Rev. Alban' Butler's "Lives of the Fathers, Martyrs and other principal Saints," vol. iii. , March xii.
M In the fifth century, the heresiarchs
Pelagius and Celestius had spread many errors on the doctrine of Divine Grace, while
in Gaul and Britain, Pelagianism, as the
heresy had been generally called, greatly
prevailed. These are probably the errors to
which allusion is here made. See Vossius,
"
Historia de Controversiis quas Pelagius ejusque Reliquiae moverunt," Leyden, 1618, 4to.
IS See the "Breviarium Aberdonensis," Pars vEstiva, lect. v. , fol. lxxxix.
l6 The Aberdeen Martyrology thus states
" According to an Irish Tract on the Picts, and a legend contained in the Book of Lecain, the progenitors of the Picts came originally from Thrace, under the guidance of six brothers, and these
passed through the Romans until they came to Gaul, where they built the city of Pictaris, thus called from the Picts. Thence they passed into Ireland, and finally a colony went into Scot- land. But, other versions of this story are to be found in "Chronicles of the Picts, Chronicles of the Scots, and other early Memorials of Scottish History," edited by William F. Skene, LL. D. See Preface,
it:
" Qui caduca et vana huius mundi cal-
sect, iv. , pp. xcvi. , xcvii.
13 Lont; before this time, St. Hilary,
Bishop of Poitiers, had laboured there in the effort to expel Arianism from his diocese,
cando et celestibus desideriis inherendo
pauper Christi purissimam in presente elegit
vitam ut largam eterne vite consequeretur
beatitudinem. " See "Proceedings of the Society of Antiquaries of Scotland," vol. ii. , p. 267. Calendar of Scottish Saints, corn- municated by David Laing, Esq. , F. S. A. , Scotland, and extracted from the Aberdeen
Martyrology.
1? This parish of Kincardine-O'Neil is
situated in the Kincardine-O'Neil district of Aberdeenshire. The River Dee traces the
south-western boundary, dividing this parish from Aboyne and Birse. See an excellent
"
account of it in The Imperial Gazetteer of
Scotland, Topographical, Statistical and
Historical," vol. ii. , p. 223.
l8
and
"
in January of the year 367, or, as some
think, 368, he died at Po—itiers, amidst the
honour and respect of all. " VeryRev. Canon
Richard Travers Smith's " Church in Roman
Gaul," chap, xviii. , p. 223. London, n. d. , 8vo.
This lies wholly in Inverness-shire.
362 LIVES OE THE IRISH SAINTS. [August 24.
ciated with him in the Breviary of Aberdeen, there was a parish of Kincardine, 18 at the time of the Reformation, annexed to Abernethy,^ on the River Spey, and a sea-port town bearing that name,10 in the parish of Tulliallan in Perth-
shire ; another was in Ross-shire, parish
21
fourteen miles from Tain
another
23 county,
was in Monteith 32 two miles from Doune and that district, ; lastly,
which takes its name from the ancient castle, which was once a royal resi-
dence. These various local dedications manifest the great influence this holy
bishop exercised during life, the cause of that honour in which he was held
2
after his decease. * In the Martyrology for the use of the Church of Aber-
of the
26
amongScottishwriters, andveneratedonthe4thofJuly,whileheflourished
in the year 933, and while Malcolm I. was King over Scotland. 2? Were we to admit his account, it is clear, the Saint who is there introduced cannot be classed with the present St. Merchard or Yarchard ; while even the data furnished by the Breviary of Aberdeen shows its chronology and personages introduced to be irreconcilable. However, it seems most probable, the present holy bishop's time may be referred to the fifth or sixth century.
ArticleV. —St. SeginorSeighein. Scantjusticehasbeenmetedto many of our holy men, in human records ; although their careers were not unnoted by traits of a sublime and noble character, during their life-time.
1 andof 2 or Donegal register Segin
cardine.
" tomus
20
It stands on the shore of the Frith of
9* the feast of St. Yarchard is set down at the ix.
deen,
Kalends, or at the 24th of August. Notwithstanding the foregoing state- ments, Dempster will have it, that St. Irchardus or Ethardus, had been noted
The of Martyrologies
Tallagh
as having been venerated at the 24th of August; but, without giving
further information regarding him.
Article VI. —St. Faelan or Foilanus, Confessor. At the 24th of August, a festival in honour of Faelan or Foilanus, a confessor, is set down in
the of 1 of Marianus of Cathal
2 Maguire,
Martyrologies Tallagh, and of Donegal. 3
O'Gorman,
19 This highland parish is partly in Moray-
shire and partly in Inverness-shire. It
is sometimes known as the united parish
of Abernethy and Kinchardine or Kin- lib. i. ; and Allegorias Sacras, lib. i. See
Forth, and about 22 miles south-west of
Perth.
21
This Kincardine lies on the northern
border of Ross-shire, and it comprises two
detached portions of Cromartyshire.
32
It is situated about the middle of the southern verge of Perthshire.
23 Kincardineshire is popularly called the Mearns, and it is a maritime county on the east side of Scotland. It is naturally divided into four districts—the Grampian, the Dee- side, the How of Mearns and the Coast-side.
Article v.
Edited
In the Book of Leinster
24 See Bishop Forbes'
Scottish Saints," p. 466.
"
Kalendars of
•
Edited by Rev. Dr. In the Book of Leinster
Foillani, Appendix, cap. i. , p. 104.
3 Edited by Drs. Todd and Reeves,
p. 226, 227.
2 See
ix. Kl. Septembris :— "In Scotia Sancti niae," xvi. Januarii. De Inventione S.
asThe ofAberdeenstatesat Martyrology
Colgan's
Yarchardi episcopi apud Kyncardin Aber- donensis dyocesis. Cuius memoria pie censetur esse veneranda et laudibus dignis
extollenda. "
day
September
86
turas in Biblia, lib. i. ; De Divina Essentia,
According to Dempster, he wrote Lec- Historia Ecclesiastica Gentis Scotorum,"
lib. v.
2? He was assassinated, A. D. 953, at Fet-
teressoe, by one of the Moray men, in revenge for the death of his chief Cellach. See Rev. Dr. James Taylor's " Pictorial History of Scotland," vol. i. , chap, iv. , p. 35. —
•
i. ,
Rev. Dr. copy we find entered at this date Segini.
Kelly, p. xxxii.
2
Edited by Drs. Todd and Reeves,
p. 226, 227. — Article vi.
Kelly, p. xxxii. copy p*eLani.
by
"ActaSanctorumHibcr-
;
Seighein,
August 14. ] LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. 363 ArticleVII. —St. Abban. AfestivalinhonorofAbban,ismetwith
in the of 1 published Martyrology Tallagh
,
at the of The same 24th August.
entry is to be found in the Book of Leinster copy. "
Article VIII. —Reputed Feast of St. Geldarius, or Gildarius.
The simple entry, Geldarius, without any other designation, appears in the 1
published Martyrology of Tallagh, at the 24th August. In like manner, the
name is entered in the Book of Leinster 2 and as classed the Irish copy, among
Saints. This is probably the St. Gildard, a priest, who formerly gave singular edification to the inhabitants of the parish of Lurcy-le-Bourg,3 in the diocese of Nevers, France, and where he died on the 24th of August. The Bollandists have notices of him, taken from old Martyrologies, on this day/ Little seems to be known, regarding his personal history. In some of the ancient Martyrologies, his name is associated with that of St. Patrick, Abbot, in the territory of Nivernais. Thus, in the editions to the Martyrology of Usuard, edited by the Jesuit Father Soller, we find such entries in the
Codex of Centule, 5 and in that of Rheims.
Luard, M. A.
38" "
See Trias Thaumaturga Sexta Ap-
pendix ad Acta S. Patricii. This Treatise
is divided into four parts, with a Prologue
and Notes, pp. 273 to 289.
3'At the xiii. of the Kalends of March (Feb-
ruary 17th), the following entry occurs, in the published Martyrology of Tallagh : " Loman in Ath Truim cum sociis, i. e. ,
Patricii Hostiarii, Laurech mac Cuanach, Fortchern ocus Coelochtra, Aedha, Aedha, Aedha Cormaci Eps, Conani, Cuimaeni Eps, Lacteani sac, Ossani, ocus Sarani Conaill ocus Colmani, ocus Lactani Eps, Finnseghi Vir. Hi omnes in Ath Truim requiescunt . " —Rev. Dr. Kelly's "Calendar of Irish Saints," &c, p. xvi.
40 "Acta Sanctorum Hiber- Colgan's
niae," xxvii. Februarii, nn. 13 and 16, p.
Patricius S. Irland, de
27 There is a MS. , De Patricii Purgatorio.
98
There is a French MS. of the fifteenth
century, Le Purgatoire de S. Patrice.
39 There is a MS. , Patricii Purgatorium.
30 There is a Description du Purgatoire de St. Patrice, in Manuscript.
31 There is a MS. , Patricius de Purgatorio.
33 There is a MS. , David Scotus de Pur- gatorio Patricii.
33 One is a MS. , " Historia eorum quae
contingerunt Georgio de Ungaria filio cujus-
dam in S. Magnatis Ungarici Purgatorio
Purgatorio.
Patricii. Visiones Georgii militis in purga-
tioni S. Patricii. " Again, there is "Nar- 366.
ratio Georgii Hungari S. Patricii Purga- toriorium in Hibernia visitante, Anno 1353," Germanice.
41 See James Wills' "Lives of Illustrious
and Distinguished Irishmen," vol. i. , part ii. , p. 224.
In the Libraries at Bamberg,26 at
55 See ibid. , p. 458.
"
36 See Jacobus de Voragine,
ut nihil perperam adhibitum semotumve :
haec aurea nitidis excutitur formis claretque
Legenda
August 24. ] LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. 359
wise venerated on this day. We do not find this saint's name occurring at
either of these days, in the copy of the Irish Calendar, formerly belonging to the Ordnance Survey Office, Phoenix Park. Neither is it to be met with, in
the Martyrology of Donegal. ^
Article III. —St. Rodan, Bishop of Kill-Rodan, County of Sligo.
[FifthCentury^ Thisholymanissupposedtohaveflourishedintheearly
times of Irish Christianity. Although the Martyrology of Tallagh has cele-
brated his festival, at the 18th of l January ;
2 At
taker of cattle, and while leading that pastoral or eremitical life, he was
constantly engaged in prayer. From that humble position, St. Patricks rescued him, to serve in the works of his great mission. It would seem, that his
early education had been neglected, supposing this to have been the man to whom allusion has been made. After learning the rudiments, when he had been sufficiently instructed, from being a tender of flocks, Rodan became a spiri-
tual shepherd. In the Tripartite Life of St. Patrick, he is styled the noble pres- byter Rodan,* and a church was erected for him, and for other disciples,5 in theterritoryofHuaNoella,6bytheillustriousApostleofIreland. Thatregion is now represented by the modern barony of Tirerrill, in the present County of Sligo. There, in a place called Domhacha,? St. Patrick erected a church, whichwentbythenameofSencheallDumhaighe. Amongthedisciplesof St. Patrick, we meet with a saint of this name. He is called Bishop of Seancheall, in Connaught. 8 His feast has been assigned to the 24th of August. 9 It is also probable, that he was the Bishop of Rodan of Muraisk, 10 a district in the barony of Tireagh, and county of Sligo. It extended from the Rive—r Easkey to Dunnacoy. 11 He was set over the church of Kill- Rodain called after him—in the former territory of Myresch-aigle. " At present, the site of Kill-Rodain has not been discovered, nor is it known how long he lived in that place. In the Irish Life of St. Patrick, his church in
yet,
more correct to follow the authority of Marianus O'Gorman, and to place St.
Rodan's feast at the of 24th
August.
first,
he was a or care- shepherd
42 At the ix. of the Kalends of September,
August 24th, we there find, separate entries of two distinct Patricks, who are placed in different lines, and, in the following order : "PatriciiAbbocusEp. Riusdela. " After- wards, "Patricii hostiarii ocus Abb, Aird- macha. " SeeRev. Dr. Kelly's"Catalogue of Irish Saints," &c, p. xxxii.
« Published by Rev. Drs. Todd and
l
Seewhathasbeenalready stated regarding St. Rottan, venerated at l8th of January, in the First Volume of this
6 Likewise known as Tir-Oilella, the land
or territory of Oilell. See " The Topo-
graphical Poems of John O'Dubhagain and Giolla na Naomh O'Huidhrin," edited
by John O'Donovan, LL. D. , n. 254, p. xxxvi.
7InthedistrictofMurrisk,thereisstilla townland called Dunheakin.
8 See Colgan's "Trias Thaumaturga," Quinta Appendix, and Acta S. Patricii, cap. xxiii. , p. 266.
» See ibid.
Reeves. — Articlehi.
work, Art. vi.
2 11
See Colgan's "Trias Thaumaturga," Sexta Vita S. Patricii, n. 150, p. 115.
plain," in English.
See John O'Donovan's teabhar* tia
8
See his Life, March xvii. , in the Third
Volume of this Art. work,
12 See
" Trias
xiii.
4 See Colgan's "Trias Thaumaturga," Septima Vita S. Patricii, pars, ii. , cap. Hi. ,
Septima Vita S. Patricii, pars, ii. , cap. xli. , P- 135-
s Besides St. Rodan, the noble priest, are
named Macetus, Cetchenus, and Matona, O'Donovan astray, in his " Genealogies, the sister of Benignus. To Matona, St. Tribes, and Customs of Hy-Fiachrach, Patrick and St. Rodan gave the veil of commonly called O'Dowda's Country. " virginity, and to the care of Rodan she was Addenda, P. , n. (q), p. 471.
committed. '3 See Miss M. F. Cusack's " Life of St.
i. , chap.
Colgan's
Thaumaturga,"
10
we are that it is informed,
Muirisc in Irish signifies the "Sea-
3-CeA|\c, or the Book of Rights, n. (e), p. 19.
p. 136, and cap. xcix. , pp. 142, 143. This, however, is a wrong interpretation, as that Myresch-Aigle was in Mayo. It also led Dr.
360
LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS.
[August 24.
T
Muirisk is called Cillespuig-Rodain 3 and in an Irish Poem, quoted in the ;
1
Annals of the Four Masters, * the present holy man is called Rodan, son of
Braga, while he is described as St. Patrick's shepherd. This holy bishop,
during his life, and also after his death, was distinguished by miraculous 1
favours,procuredthroughhismerits. * ItismentionedintheMartyrologyof Marianus O'Gorman, as also in that of Donegal,16 how a festival in honour of Rodan, a Bishop, was celebrated at this date. The name of Rodan is found Latinized Romulus, in some Calendars.
Article IV. —St. Merchard or Yarchard, of Kincardine, Scot-
land. [Probably Fifth or Sixth Century. '] The present holy man is found among the Saints of Scotland ; but, we are doubtful as to whether or not his origin should be referred to Ireland. Under various forms of name, such as Merchard, Yarchard, Irchard, Erthad, and Erchad, he is presented to our notice. The Bollandists have the fullest statements regarding him, at the
13
24th day of August. These are contained in a historic Sylloge, consisting
of eleven paragraphs. However, the Breviary of Aberdeen, which was
printed in the year 1509, is alleged to be their chief authority for his Acts.
Already, at the 24th of July, Dempster has placed the festival of this holy
bishop, named Erthad,3 and his Natalis is also set down at this date.
Ferrarius has followed such statement4 By Camerarius, Erchadus or
Erthadus is noticed, at the 24th of Augusts Again, a learned Scotch Jesuit,
Father Patrick Ninian Wemyss, had given a Scottish Menology to the
Bollandists, and in it was found, at this same date, the name of Bishop
Erthad, which he states to have been thus entered in the Scotch Festilogies.
Bishop Forbes has some biographical particulars regarding Merchard or
6
Yarchard ;
and, on the authority of the Aberdeen Breviary, this Irchardus
is stated to have been born in in Kincardin 8 Tolmaid,? Oneyll, among
barbarous and untaught people. There from his early days, he rebuked unbelievers, and he preached virtue. He likewise addicted himself to the practices of prayer, vigils and fasting. He was ordained a Priest by St. Ternan,' who made him coadjutor and penitentiary, in all the provinces
under his 10 It is jurisdiction.
stated,
that soon Yarchard went afterwards,
» The Bollandists remark, that this place was unknown to them.
Patrick, Apostle of Ireland. " William M. Hennessy's translation of the Tripartite Life, part ii. , p. 2.
14 See Dr. O'Donovan's edition, vol. i. , at A. D. 448, pp. 138, 139.
15 See Colgan's "Trias Thaumaturga," Sexta Vita S. Patricii, cap. cxlii. , p. 96.
8
western district of Aberdeenshire. It com- prehends all the upper part of the basin of the River Dee, as much of the central portion of that basin as belongs to Aberdeenshire, a small part of the lower portion of that basin, and a small part of the right side of the central portion of the basin of the Don. See " The Imperial Gazetteer of Scotland, Topo- graphical, Statistical and Historical," vol. ii. , p. 223.
9 His festival is kept, on the I2th of June. At that date, notices of him may be found, in the Sixth Volume of this work, Art. ii.
century, and he was the disciple of St. Palladius, who became Apostle of the Picts, in 431, as may be seen in Acts of the latter, at the 6th of July, in the Seventh Volume of this work,
Art. i.
" This statement, to be found in the
16
Edited by Drs. Todd and Reeves, pp.
"
226, 227. —* Article iv.
Acta Sanctorum," De S. Irchardo, seu Ethardo vel Erchado, Ep. et Conf. in Scotia,
PP- 773. 774-
2
Compiled by Father William Cuper, SJ. 3 See a notice in the Seventh Volume of
this work, at that date, Art. xiii.
lib. Hi. , p. 168.
6
See "Kalendars of Scottish Saints," PP- 397. 466.
See tomus iv. , Augusti xxiv.
4 In "
Generalis Sanctorum. " 5 In his book, " De Scotorum Fortitudine, Doctrina, Pietate, ac de Ortu et Progressu Hseresis in Regnis Scotias et Anglise,"
,0 St. Ternan lived in the fifth
Catalogus
Kincardine-O'Neil forms the south-
August 24. ] LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. 361
to Rome, where he was consecrated bishop by Pope Gregory," who gave him faculties for a mission in his own country, and who bestowed his
blessing, when the saint took his departure. On returning to Scotland, he passed through the province of Pictavia or Poitou in Gaul. " There he found many of the Picti or natives of Poitou, who had been subjugated by the Galli. He remained among those people for three years. St. Yarchard was the instrument chosen by the Almighty for restoring them to their
belief,^ owing to the prudence and sanctity he manifested, and as due also 1
to his spirit of faith and prayer. * Afterwards, he fell sick, but he humbly besought God to spare his life, until he returned to his own country. He
passed through the countries of Anglia and of Scotia, and preached along the way. At length, he came to the hill of Kincardine Oneyll. There he
to heavenly delights, his most pure life was prolonged in the presence of Christ, so that he obtained the lasting and great happiness of life eternal. 16 When St. Yarchard -perceived that his death was approaching, he desired his body to be placed in a chariot drawn by two horses. His remains were ordered to be deposited where the chariot stopped. When this order was obeyed, and the corpse had been deposited on the chariot, it is said to have moved to a considerable distance beyond the River Dee, when mechanically itceasedtoproceed. Therethebodywastakenfromthebierandinterred.
1
In that place, called Kincardin, ? a fine church was afterwards erected, and
there the Saint was specially venerated, as it had been considered the spot miraculously designed for his sepulture. Besides Kincardine Oneyll, asso-
received his 1* Hewas a by compatriots.
was
cardine, in the Diocese of Aberdeen. His memory was deemed to be worthy ofpiousvenerationandcelebration,inthatplace. Thedespicableandvain desires of this world he thought deserving only of his disdain, while attached
honourably
at bishop Kin-
Breviary of Aberdeen, is irreconcilable with the account of Yarchard having been the
disciple of St. Ternan. Pope St. Gregory I. , or the Great, did not ascend the pontifical throne, until A. D. 590, and he died on the 1 2th of March, A. D. 604. See Rev. Alban' Butler's "Lives of the Fathers, Martyrs and other principal Saints," vol. iii. , March xii.
M In the fifth century, the heresiarchs
Pelagius and Celestius had spread many errors on the doctrine of Divine Grace, while
in Gaul and Britain, Pelagianism, as the
heresy had been generally called, greatly
prevailed. These are probably the errors to
which allusion is here made. See Vossius,
"
Historia de Controversiis quas Pelagius ejusque Reliquiae moverunt," Leyden, 1618, 4to.
IS See the "Breviarium Aberdonensis," Pars vEstiva, lect. v. , fol. lxxxix.
l6 The Aberdeen Martyrology thus states
" According to an Irish Tract on the Picts, and a legend contained in the Book of Lecain, the progenitors of the Picts came originally from Thrace, under the guidance of six brothers, and these
passed through the Romans until they came to Gaul, where they built the city of Pictaris, thus called from the Picts. Thence they passed into Ireland, and finally a colony went into Scot- land. But, other versions of this story are to be found in "Chronicles of the Picts, Chronicles of the Scots, and other early Memorials of Scottish History," edited by William F. Skene, LL. D. See Preface,
it:
" Qui caduca et vana huius mundi cal-
sect, iv. , pp. xcvi. , xcvii.
13 Lont; before this time, St. Hilary,
Bishop of Poitiers, had laboured there in the effort to expel Arianism from his diocese,
cando et celestibus desideriis inherendo
pauper Christi purissimam in presente elegit
vitam ut largam eterne vite consequeretur
beatitudinem. " See "Proceedings of the Society of Antiquaries of Scotland," vol. ii. , p. 267. Calendar of Scottish Saints, corn- municated by David Laing, Esq. , F. S. A. , Scotland, and extracted from the Aberdeen
Martyrology.
1? This parish of Kincardine-O'Neil is
situated in the Kincardine-O'Neil district of Aberdeenshire. The River Dee traces the
south-western boundary, dividing this parish from Aboyne and Birse. See an excellent
"
account of it in The Imperial Gazetteer of
Scotland, Topographical, Statistical and
Historical," vol. ii. , p. 223.
l8
and
"
in January of the year 367, or, as some
think, 368, he died at Po—itiers, amidst the
honour and respect of all. " VeryRev. Canon
Richard Travers Smith's " Church in Roman
Gaul," chap, xviii. , p. 223. London, n. d. , 8vo.
This lies wholly in Inverness-shire.
362 LIVES OE THE IRISH SAINTS. [August 24.
ciated with him in the Breviary of Aberdeen, there was a parish of Kincardine, 18 at the time of the Reformation, annexed to Abernethy,^ on the River Spey, and a sea-port town bearing that name,10 in the parish of Tulliallan in Perth-
shire ; another was in Ross-shire, parish
21
fourteen miles from Tain
another
23 county,
was in Monteith 32 two miles from Doune and that district, ; lastly,
which takes its name from the ancient castle, which was once a royal resi-
dence. These various local dedications manifest the great influence this holy
bishop exercised during life, the cause of that honour in which he was held
2
after his decease. * In the Martyrology for the use of the Church of Aber-
of the
26
amongScottishwriters, andveneratedonthe4thofJuly,whileheflourished
in the year 933, and while Malcolm I. was King over Scotland. 2? Were we to admit his account, it is clear, the Saint who is there introduced cannot be classed with the present St. Merchard or Yarchard ; while even the data furnished by the Breviary of Aberdeen shows its chronology and personages introduced to be irreconcilable. However, it seems most probable, the present holy bishop's time may be referred to the fifth or sixth century.
ArticleV. —St. SeginorSeighein. Scantjusticehasbeenmetedto many of our holy men, in human records ; although their careers were not unnoted by traits of a sublime and noble character, during their life-time.
1 andof 2 or Donegal register Segin
cardine.
" tomus
20
It stands on the shore of the Frith of
9* the feast of St. Yarchard is set down at the ix.
deen,
Kalends, or at the 24th of August. Notwithstanding the foregoing state- ments, Dempster will have it, that St. Irchardus or Ethardus, had been noted
The of Martyrologies
Tallagh
as having been venerated at the 24th of August; but, without giving
further information regarding him.
Article VI. —St. Faelan or Foilanus, Confessor. At the 24th of August, a festival in honour of Faelan or Foilanus, a confessor, is set down in
the of 1 of Marianus of Cathal
2 Maguire,
Martyrologies Tallagh, and of Donegal. 3
O'Gorman,
19 This highland parish is partly in Moray-
shire and partly in Inverness-shire. It
is sometimes known as the united parish
of Abernethy and Kinchardine or Kin- lib. i. ; and Allegorias Sacras, lib. i. See
Forth, and about 22 miles south-west of
Perth.
21
This Kincardine lies on the northern
border of Ross-shire, and it comprises two
detached portions of Cromartyshire.
32
It is situated about the middle of the southern verge of Perthshire.
23 Kincardineshire is popularly called the Mearns, and it is a maritime county on the east side of Scotland. It is naturally divided into four districts—the Grampian, the Dee- side, the How of Mearns and the Coast-side.
Article v.
Edited
In the Book of Leinster
24 See Bishop Forbes'
Scottish Saints," p. 466.
"
Kalendars of
•
Edited by Rev. Dr. In the Book of Leinster
Foillani, Appendix, cap. i. , p. 104.
3 Edited by Drs. Todd and Reeves,
p. 226, 227.
2 See
ix. Kl. Septembris :— "In Scotia Sancti niae," xvi. Januarii. De Inventione S.
asThe ofAberdeenstatesat Martyrology
Colgan's
Yarchardi episcopi apud Kyncardin Aber- donensis dyocesis. Cuius memoria pie censetur esse veneranda et laudibus dignis
extollenda. "
day
September
86
turas in Biblia, lib. i. ; De Divina Essentia,
According to Dempster, he wrote Lec- Historia Ecclesiastica Gentis Scotorum,"
lib. v.
2? He was assassinated, A. D. 953, at Fet-
teressoe, by one of the Moray men, in revenge for the death of his chief Cellach. See Rev. Dr. James Taylor's " Pictorial History of Scotland," vol. i. , chap, iv. , p. 35. —
•
i. ,
Rev. Dr. copy we find entered at this date Segini.
Kelly, p. xxxii.
2
Edited by Drs. Todd and Reeves,
p. 226, 227. — Article vi.
Kelly, p. xxxii. copy p*eLani.
by
"ActaSanctorumHibcr-
;
Seighein,
August 14. ] LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. 363 ArticleVII. —St. Abban. AfestivalinhonorofAbban,ismetwith
in the of 1 published Martyrology Tallagh
,
at the of The same 24th August.
entry is to be found in the Book of Leinster copy. "
Article VIII. —Reputed Feast of St. Geldarius, or Gildarius.
The simple entry, Geldarius, without any other designation, appears in the 1
published Martyrology of Tallagh, at the 24th August. In like manner, the
name is entered in the Book of Leinster 2 and as classed the Irish copy, among
Saints. This is probably the St. Gildard, a priest, who formerly gave singular edification to the inhabitants of the parish of Lurcy-le-Bourg,3 in the diocese of Nevers, France, and where he died on the 24th of August. The Bollandists have notices of him, taken from old Martyrologies, on this day/ Little seems to be known, regarding his personal history. In some of the ancient Martyrologies, his name is associated with that of St. Patrick, Abbot, in the territory of Nivernais. Thus, in the editions to the Martyrology of Usuard, edited by the Jesuit Father Soller, we find such entries in the
Codex of Centule, 5 and in that of Rheims.
