colour itself was aptly considered to be typical of the virginal purity of our saints, and it was more remarkable, because in that part of the country the stone
formation
presented a colour black as the very soot of chimneys.
O'Hanlon - Lives of the Irish Saints - v5
The king told them to speak, and he motioned for silence duringtheirnarrative.
Themessengersenterminutelyintoalltheincidents of their journey, and especially dwell in detail on the adventure, which led them immediately to the haunts of Dympna.
Most of the court attendants were present, but nothing could exceed the king's delight, when he was assured his daughter Avas yet living and in safety, for he had feared she was lost to him for ever, if not actually dead.
His spirits began to revive, and all who surrounded him, as a matter of course, began to offer him their best con- gratulations.
Immediately on receiving this intelligence, the king gave orders to pre- pare what was necessary for his journey to the place, where the holy Dympna and her companions sought a fancied repose and solitude. Perseverance is usually crowned with success, in finding what has been long and earnestly sought ; nor is desire exhausted by continuance, says a holy writer. ''^ but it is rather increased, and if by delay it ceased to live, we can hardly conceive how it could deserve the name of desire. Little time elapsed until the wicked king reached the dwelling of his virtuous daughter. We can hardly conceive the astonishment and dread his sudden apparition excited in the mind of the pure Dympna. On seeing her, however, he joyously saluted the chaste spouse of Christ. But, her angelic look could not suppress the promptings of former passion within his breast. The demon of impurity raged furiously within his insensate soul, and inflamed his looks with indications of the fell resolve, it had shamefully instigated. How greatly contrasted with the modest and
noble expression of his daughter's countenance, whose trembling figure and shrinking glances were modestly averted from a gaze, that boded evil import and manifestations of perverse passion, which her very soul abhorred ! Meantime, the furious servant of Belial had resolved, that no opposition on the part of his daughter should change his purpose. If she refused his loathed proffers of marriage, he supposed that threats of punishment and death should overcome the firmest resolutions, one of her tender age and sex could form. And, it was ever thus, from the times of old, when ungovernable passion hur- ried men to deeds of injury and persecution, against the just and innocent. King David, on yielding to the concupiscence of his eyes, when conceiving a violent passion for Bethsabee, had doomed the innocent husband Urias to death, and had employed Joab, the captain of his army, to devise means for
its accomplishment. '*?
All the beauty and grace of her deceased mother seemed to reappear in
the child's face and figure, and to return with renewed force to the king's ima- gination, when he ventured to address his daugliter, in soothing and loving accents. Yet, virtue presents such an impregnable barrier to the assaults of evil desire, that even her father feared to look directly on his daughter's chaste countenance, whilst these words were uttered : " O my ilearly beloved daughter, Dympna, my delight, my passion, and my desire, what wish or ne- cessity forced you to despise the honours attending on your noble station, or to prefer, as a mendicant, unknown and foreign lands, to the country of your
vailed in Irelan<l, at a very early age. ^' II. Kings, xi.
<* St. Gregory. ^* III. Kings, xxi.
May 15. ] LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS.
307
nativity ? What wise or foolish persuasion seduced you to forget filial duty and a royal parent, and to adopt as your flither this old and decrepid priest, whose behests you obey in all matters ? Had you remained with me, you should have dwelt in a royal court, and enjoyed a kingdom after my death, instead of a miserable hut, buried in the midst of a thicket and presenting every external appearance of neglect and poverty. Wherefore, prepare to obey my orders immediately, and wisely seek that country, which you so foolishly abandoned. Ifyouwillinglyassenttoyourfixther'swishes,youshallholda first rank in his estimation, above all the noble matrons and maidens of his kingdom. Crowned with a royal diadem, I shall direct a fine temple to be constructed of marble, wliere you shall be venerated as a goddess, and I shall order a superb statue representing you to be e'"ected therein, which will be ornamented with gold and precious stones. If i. free person or slave of any sex or condition neglect to worship you, or offer the homage of due venera- tion, as my decree shall prescribe and direct, just punishment shall inevitably await such a dereliction of duty. "
While the holy virgin was preparing to reply, the blessed servant of God, Gerebern, anticipated her wishes, with the spirit and virtue of another Elias, who reprehended the sinful intercourse existing between Achab and Jezabel. '*^ While his voice and manner manifested an abhorrence for the infamous pro- posals of this potentate, the venerable priest, like a true admirer of modesty, applied the following words : " O most wicked king, designer of the highest infamy, enemy of all virtue, and impersonation of the worst species of crime, why do you vainly labour to turn tlie pure mind of this holy virgin from the ways of purity ? Unhappy and shameless man, why are you hostile to that virginity, so dear to God and to the angels, and which confers honour and distinction on persons of all ages? When growing in the minds of infants and children, it nourishes holy innocence ; it restrains evil desires, and pre- vents the lapse of youth and adults ; in mature and aged persons, it preserves honour and increases sanctity. I pray you for these reasons, to exhort and admonish this maiden, that she should ever love, acquire, and preserve, such a virtue, and constantly maintain it, to the latest hour of her life. Chastity is a useful treasure for all virtuous persons, and when lost, it can scarcely be restoredtoitprimitivebloom. Donotdisgraceyourroyalrank,byacrime, whichoughtrenderyouanabominationandareproachamongkings; donot presume to repeat words, which are a scandal and detestation, not only to the pure and chaste, but even to luxurious livers and impure persons. I rest satis- fied and convinced, that your daughter Dympna's pure and faithful mind has already despised whatever evil pleasures or promises the world might offer, through her love for God ; nor will she be terrified by threats, nor allured by blandishmentsorseduction. And,probably,youwouldberestrainedfromthis base passion, had you dreaded the sword of Phinees, who, led by a zeal for justice, punished wicked sinners against the Divine law, who were both run through with the sword. "'t9 In the printed Legend of our saint's Life, we are told, in addition, that St. Gerebern admonished the holy maiden, never to yield her consent to the king, her father, lest she might incur the indignation of that Heavenly King, her Spouse, whose delights she had already tasted, and whose companionship she should constantly enjoy.
Those words of sage counsel had hardly been spoken, when the execrable tyrant kindled into a perfect frenzy, which appeared to be directed princi- pally against the anointed priest of the Lord. The king sought advice from
*9 Numbers, xxv. , 7, 8. Virginis subversorem, apud Regem pariter 5» " Tanquam reum et maleficum ac beatse accusabant," observes Canon Peter.
3o8 LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. [May 15.
his counsellors in this dilemma. He passionately reminded them, that the venerable priest had been able to prevail upon his daughter, to resist all those seductionsandthreats,whichafatherhadvainlyurged. Hiswickedadvisers, like those who sought the blood of our Divine Redeemer, were unanimously ofaccord, that Gerebern deserved death. 5° They resolved, not only to extin- guish die lamp of Dympna's chastity, which shone so brightly, whether in a
hiding place, or publicly exposed to view; and, they supposed by procuring the death of her director, the virgin of Christ might yet be induced to give her consent, with a renewal of her father's previous proposals. However cruel this advice seemed to be, the tyrant king gave orders to his willing ad- herents, that they should behead the venerable Gerebern, who had so effec- tively contributed to disarrange all plans for his proposed illicit nuptials.
The serfs attending on the king inflamed his anger and their own, by clamorous and senseless observations of the nature already recorded. Blinded with rage and passion, like the young of lions, they reproached God's servant in the following words, while the sword was already drawn for his execution : "Hoary monsler, why must daring be carried to such a degree of temerity, that one like you of humble rank and family should not feel ashamed to re- proach our sovereign master, the king, by the sound of such empty words? Is it not sufficient for you, O wretch, to divert the thoughts of his daughter Dympna, from giving her consent to this marriage, and to urge her by per- suasion in seeking this distant province, without also uttering reproaches, calculated to rouse the king's fury and indignation ? Unfortunate man, is it becoming your gray hairs, to reprehend the faults of another, without correct- ing your own ? Shall the king be obliged to pine away with grief, which you have been the means of prolonging? By your evil counsels, you have pre- vented fruition of that love, which oppresses his soul. With the sophistical words now breathed, you manifest a proud, an indiscreet, and a rebellious spirit so greatly out of chraracter with your advanced years, and when you should act obediently to the royal decrees. "5'
These were the words of base sycophants, who felt their temporal interests best promoted, by yielding a slavish submission to a tyrant's behests. But, the resolute servant of God, animated with the spirit of religious fortitude, and who was neither afraid nor desirous of dying, at once replied with a noble courage : " O people, without reflection or prudence, a false tongue cannot convict that man of guilt, whose conscience does not reproach himself with crime; why therefore do you load me with unjust charges of being a vile and guilty person, when I only seek to prevent an odious sin ? You, as the mem- bers of his body, well understand what evil power exists in your head, who is a despotic king. If any man happen to see another viciously inclined, is he not bound to correct those faults of his neighbour, to the fullest extent in his power ? And if, when often admonished, the culprit will not abandon those vices, ought he not be avoided as a Heathen and a Publican ? Those limbs, which cannot be healed by gentle medicinal applications, must be re- moved by a painful stroke of the surgeon's knife, before the whole body becomes infected ; and a crime must be reproved bitterly, when amendment does not follow the milder method of cure. "
The wicked advisers of tlie king were rendered more furious than ever, on hearing these words. Their reply was couched in the following terms : " How long must the delusion of evil be permitted to remain in you ? O in- sensate man, will your tongue still give vent to folly ? Miserable wretch, are
S' The Canon Peter, in the Acts of both tlie classic historical writers, by introducing our saints, appears to have imitated some of imaginative dialogues, which are considered
May 15. ] LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. 309
you not aware, that it behoves a king to curb the pride of his subjects, and especially to punish the audacity of man, with a just measure of severity, when he has so crully deceived his sovereign ? Now learn, soon as you pos- sibly can, to induce consent to a marriage, on the part of an ill-advised girl, whose mind you have alienated from her father's love. Otherwise, know this, that having been convicted in presence of the king, you shall suffer capital punishment, if you neglect to persuade her to obedience. The door for par- don is more easily opened, when atonement is made for a crime once com- mitted. " The most reverend priest, unarmed, except with the shield of faith, and in the midst of the king's guards, gloriously replied ; " O sons of dark- ness, far be it from my soul, to form the mind of my pupil to vice, when I ought to instruct her in every virtue ; and how could I place before her incen- tives to horrible passion and impurity, when by word and example, I should suggest the preservation of hallowed chastity ? As her noble purpose of religion and honour should receive a father's support, and never be under- mined, by deadly and unnatural influence ; so he, who trusts the faith of a faithlessperson,mayexpecttosufferinhisbestanddearestinterests. Like- wise, he, who knows what treasures of grace have been received from a reli- gious life, ought in proportion confidently sow a greater quantity of good seed. Although you may threaten me with death of the most refined cruelty'; yet, the fervent love of Christ, which is never separated from a filial fear, should teach His true lovers the just application of that principle, when in- jury is sought to be inflicted for sustaining the dictates of Divine law. He who permits Christianity to be oppressed by the impious dissolves or separates himself from the body of Christ, and does not contend with necessary valour against the adversaries of firm faith. "
When his executioners heard these words, resolving on his instant death, and conscious of the king's approval, they rushed upon the holy and innocent priest, and laying violent hands on him, the head fell from his shoulders with a stroke of the sword. Thus, our glorious martyr of Christ triumj^hed over theassaultsofhismercilessenemies,andheobtainedagloriouscrown. We are naturally led to compare his end with that of John the Baptist, whom Herod, when inflamed with wine and lust, doomed to destruction, at the suggestion of the wicked Herodias, who had been the spouse to his brother Philip. s^ Like John, the just man of God was now beheaded. The circum- stances attending their respective deaths were nearly alike ; although John, being the precursor of our Divine Saviour, on the score of sanctity, excelled Gerebern in perfection and merits, for the Baptist was more like an angel than a man. The grace of the Lord had sanctified John \\\ his mother's womb, to fit him for preaching, for baptizing and preparing the way of the Lord in the wilderness ; while, the holy priest Gerebern was predestined to eternal life from before the world's creation, lie being intended to sow the seed of the Divine Word, and delegated to preach penance in the desert, where i)eople flocked to hear the words of wisdom from his lips. The true Nazarene of Christ, clad in camel-hair garments, neither drank wine or vinegar, nor par- took of any generous food, from the period of his infancy ; our venerable priest, who was also an example of sanctity, not only abstained from what was unlawful and unclean, but mortified himself in food, drink, and by penitential
exercises. The holy preacher John, who rose like the evening star, to bring in the fulness of grace, wished to correct and save Herod, inflamed with evil desires, and not amenable to advice or entreaty; while Gerebern, the wor-
appropriate to circumstances and characters, in his narrative, appertaining to the various persons figuring s* Mark, vi.
3IO LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. [May 15.
shipper of God, the impersonation of integrity, the example of chastity, and the hater of base debauchery, courageously reprehended the pagan king, whose desires were so unnatural and enormous. This correction, however, wastheresultofperfectcharity,withoutanytingeofenvyorbitterness. Both saints were continent and just, lovers of retirement and vindicators of chastity. Both incurred the displeasure of a king, and fell beneath the stroke of an executioner, in defence of purity, and at the instigation of wicked courtiers. Both were united in the mode of punishment, as in the measure of reward ; and these glorious victors present examples of courage and constancy, in life and death, to the end of time. Their holy lives deserved a heroic exit from this world. They triumphed over death, when yielding to the temporary pressure of man's tyranny, and found their reward in those realms, where sin and suffering obtain no place, and where just deeds receive their final recog- nition and vindication.
CHAPTER III.
THE KING ORDERS DYMPNA TO APPEAR BEFORE HIM—HIS THREATS AND PROMISES— THEY ARE INDIGNANTLY REJECTED BY THE HOLY VIRGIN—IN A FIT OF FRENZY, THE KING DRAWS HIS SWORD AND CUTS OFF THE HEAD OF HIS DAUGHTER—ST. DYMPNA AND ST. GEREBI. RN ARE DECENTLY INTERRED BY THE INHABITANTS OF THAT PLACE—DISENTOMBMENT OF THEIR VENERABLE RELICS—THE PEOPLE OF SANTEN STEAL THE RELICS OF ST. DYMPNA AND OF ST. GEREBERN—THE FORMER REMAINS RECOVERED BY THE PEOPLE OF GHEEL—MIRACLES WROUGHT WHILST REMOVING THEM TO THAT CITY—THE PEOPLE OF GHEEL BUILD A NEW CHURCH AND PREPARE A GOLDEN SHRINE TO HONOUR THEIR GLORIOUS PATRONESS- TRANSLATION OF HER RELICS—ST. DYMPNA's MIRACLES IN BEHALF OF THE AFFLICTED.
Notwithstanding that cruel death, inflicted on the good priest, Gerebern, such cruelty did not appease the passion of Dympna's father. He then ordered the holy virgin, to be brought into his presence. With an oppressed spirit, her tearful eyes lamenting the murder of her holy protector, and full of agitation, arising from the position in which she was now placed, the maiden's beautiful countenance became flushed with a tinge of carmine. This greatly enhancedtheagreeableex[)ressionofhermodestandsorrowinglooks. Such accidental circumstances added fuel to that unhappy flame, which burned within the king's breast. Wherefore, in most persuasive accents, he essayed the following words : " O my dearest daughter, Dympna, why do you permit yourfathertobesolongharassed,bysuchaloadofsorrow? Whydoyou reject his addresses, and abhor one who languishes with love, excited by your beautitul appearance? My dearest, only give me your consent, and I laith- fully promise, to procure you all the comfort and wealth my kingdom can afford. I will decree, moreover, that you shall be numbered among the most venerated goddesses ' of my realm, and that your name must be renowned, throughout its whole extent, while you reign over it in common with myself. " To these observations, the glorious saint, who rather desired to suffer for God's sake than to enjoy the delights of a temjioral kingdom, replied with becoming indignation : "O unhappy and cruel man, why do you seek by fal- laciousarguments,tosubvertmyvowsofvirginity? Doyouthink,Oaban-
ChapterIII. —' Thiscasual remark CanonPeterwasverylittleacquaintedwith sufficiently establishes the inference, that the nature of ancient Irish Mythology.
May 15. ] LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS.
311
doned king, that a love of worldly delights could prevail on me to renounce my firm purpose, and to offend my spouse, Jesus Christ, by polluting my body? Do not for a moment believe, that any feminine weakness can take possession of my mind : I despise all the phantoms of human honour, and I desire with my whole heart those promises of Jesus Christ, which engaged all my affections. I little value the honour of being esteemed a goddess and of acquiring a statue. Do not urge me, by further persuasion, for it is much easier to retain a treasure one securely possesses, than to recover it when
lost. "
This wicked king, whose mind was debased by idolatry and by its cognate
handmaid of impurity, laboured like his instigator, the Devil, to sow tares within the mind of a daughter, whose affections were brightened by the steady effulgence of Christian virtues. Then, kindling into anger, he said : " Per- verse daughter, do not wrong my patience, I beseech you, with such cavilling
:
grant instantly what I demand, or you shall feel the weight of a father's indig- nation, like that detestable director, who, for his contumacious and rebellious opposition to my orders, has already ended his life miserably, having suffered the loss of his head. With such an example before you, and in the flower of youth, consult for your own safety, by sacrificing and offering incense on the altars of our gods, or rest assured, that your punishment will consign you to lasting infamy. Henceforth, no daughter of a king will refuse to obey the positive commands of a father, after the miserable warning you shall afford. " But, the holy virgin of venerable memory, so far from being affrighted with those menaces indicating her approaching doom, fearlessly replied : " O de- testable tyrant, why have you dared to butcher the ordained priest of God, in whom no fault could be found ? With all who were witnesses of your cruelty, can you hope to escape the Divine judgments ? I detest your gods and goddesses, as false, and commit myself wholly to the adoration of our Lord Jesus Christ, with the love of whom my soul is inflamed. He is my spouse, my glory, my salvation, my desire and delight, nor have I any other pleasure but in Him : He is altogether sufficient for me, as whole hosts oi angelic spirits delight to look upon and serve Him. As the decree of your sentence seems to demand, that a person must be condemned, not by just
laws, but by bad precedents, exercise whatever tyranny you design against me; for the Lord's sake, I am prepared to bear with a contented mind whatever punishment you wish to inflict. Neither can difference of death 01 distance of place separate those, who are united in the bonds of true faith, and among whom a Christian sympathy of disposition exists. "
This reply excited the utmost fury of the king, vvho conceived his autho rity set at defiance by his daughter, and who, as it is said, felt it necessary to have her beheaded, in order to ap])ease the requirements of his false gods. But, all his servants, through love and pity for their young princess, shrunk from executing the unnatural order for putting her to death. It was also thought, that a reaction in the feelings of their master, after his daughter's murder, should induce him to take vengeance on her executioners, when she could not be restored again to life. The tyrant, however, unmindful of the common instincts of humanity, and forgetting the maxim of those kings of old,
" To spare the humble, and the proud subdue,"
resolved to stain his own hands, in the blood of his youtliful and virtuous daughter. Could this pagan king only appreciate the sublime virtue of the
' Job, xxxi. , I. says, •' Quo accinctus fuerat pugione funesto, 3 The Life of our saint by Canon Peter sacrum 'caput virginis gloriosae, divini re-
312 LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. [May 15.
Patriarch Job, who entered into a compact with his eyes, not even to look upon a virgin,^ with unholy desires, he ought have hesitated to plunge into those unnatural deeds of cruelty to which he was urged, by idols erected in his heart—base passion, unbridled lust, and soul-destroying pleasures. Draw- ing a skein'^ from his side, he furiously struck off the head of this noble daughter, while she continued imploring tlie divine mercy, on behalf of her immortal soul. '* It is generally supposed, that St. Dympna received the crown of martyrdom, in the fifteenth year of her age, and on the 30th of ISIay.
Canon Peter, the author of St. Dympna's acts, passes over in profound silence all reference to tlie year and century in which this holy martyr lived or suffered. 5 Saussay, in his Gallic Martyrology, thinks, tliat St. Dympna and St. Gerebern were crowned with martyrdom when Charles Martel ruled over France, which would place the date of their death some time after the year 700. In a rhythmical Life, printed in the vernacular language, the martyrdom of this holy virgin is set down at the year 600, and in the time of Duke Pippin, after this powerful man had been major-domo in the palaces of Clotaire II. , of Kings Dagobert and S. Sigebert, from about the year 620 to the year 640. Henschenius favours this latter supposition, that their martyrdom occurred in the seventh century; for, at that time, those places immediately adjoining Gheel and Antwerp had begun to receive the light of Christianity.
The Life of St. Dympna, by Canon Peter, tells us, that after this infamous transaction, the king and his attendants returned to their own country, leav- ing the dead bodies of Dympna and Gerebern over the ground, to become the prey of wild beasts and birds. We may wonder, indeed, at this final issue of an action, surpassing in atrocity almost every conceivable deed of in- humanity, when an infuriate parent could tints abandon every feeling of virtue and jiarental honour, by sinking into the lowest depths of cruelty and infamy. Ungovernable passion urged a father, however, to that series of wicked acts, in vindication of a supposed affront, and through a mistaken sense of his duty. Yet, most glorious and agreeable in the sight of God and of His Angels, was the death of those happy martyrs, who, as they loved and respected each other in life, were not separated in deatii. Having drank the bitter chalice of Christ's own passion in suffering, they now live united in
spectus implorantis misericoidiam, amputa- pagano," p. 83. And again, in the " Iiidi- vit," etc. The word " pugio" means a ciihis Sanctorum Belgii," |>. 25: " Sancta
dagger, a poinard ; and the peculiarly Irish form of this weapon was called in our native tongue, Daiger or Scian. Many different specimens of this weapon may be seen in the Museum of tlie Royal Irish Academy. Although most of the shorter varieties were specially formed lor sialjbing or thrusting yet, several have sharj) edges on both sides, and served for the purposes of cutting or hacking. There is an interesting antiqua- rian di-quisition, with beautiful woodcut illustrations, on this subject, in Sir William R. \Vilde's " Catalogue of the Antitiuities in the Museum of the Royal Irish Academy,"
Class V, pp. 439 to 488.
In Molanus' Usuardus, we find the fol-
lowing notices of St. Dympna : —"May 15. In Brabantia, villa qure Ghclc nuncupatur, sanctae Dympna; virginis ct martyris. ILec ' propter fidcm ct amorem castitatis, dccol- lata est a proprio genitoic, rege Ilyberniw
Dympna, virgo et martyr, filia fuit regis Hy- berniie gentillis, qui mortua uxore sua ipsam voluit habere uxorem. Sed ipsa propter fidem, et castitatis amorem, clam fugit per Antverpiam, in villam Ghele, ubi tandem invcnta, a proprio genitore decollata e. -t, cum Gereberno presliytero, circa annum scxcentesinium. Festum ejus celebrant Canonici Glielenses die decimo quinto Maii. Locus est disecesis Buscoducensis, in Kem- jiinia Brabantii^ : ubi obessi a dremonibus per ejus merita liberantur. Qua etiam de causa pingilur tenens demonem alligatum. Vulgo Digna dicitur, ut videtur durior pro-
nunciatio. "
s in an old printed legend of her Acts, it
is written, " decollati circa annum l>omini sexingcntcssinium. " But, we are obliged to conjecture, whether the writer must be understood as intending to use " scptingen- tcsimus " or " sexcentesimus annus. "
;
May 15. ] LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS.
313
perpetual and heavenly felicity. The providence of God so decreed, that the bodies of these holy martyrs, although remaining unburied for some time, should be preserved, from the devouring beasts and birds. At length, some inhabitants, belonging to the adjoining country, knowing how gloriously the champions of Christ had contended in their last agony, and moved with pity for their unjust murder, had the bodies of St. Dympna and of St. Gerebern placed in a cave,^ with some degree of reverence and decency. Such was the custom of interment in that part of the country, at the time this martyrdom
took place.
But, after a lapse of many years, the clergy and people of the country
around Gheel assembled together, through a desire of honouring God, in ex- huming the bodies of those holy martyrs, who had so gloriously perished by the sword of an infidel. It was resolved, as tradition yet pointed out their place of sepulture, that the light should no longer rest within tliat hidden cave, where their remains had been first deposited. And, indeed, those pious persons of every rank and age were richly rewarded, by the wonderful miracles, which it pleased Christ to operate through His servants' intercession. The very first effort made to disemtomb their relics was attended by the exhibition of a wonderful sight, surpassing the comprehension, as it did the previous experi- ence, of those who were spectators. These were in utter astonishment, when the workmen removed an obstructing heap of earth with their implements. The labourers discovered two most hti:\v\i\W\\ sa7-cophagi^ whiter than the drift- ing snow, and carved from stone, as if by the hands of angel sculptors.
colour itself was aptly considered to be typical of the virginal purity of our saints, and it was more remarkable, because in that part of the country the stone formation presented a colour black as the very soot of chimneys. With- out much difficulty, and in a manner to excite the admiration of all present, these monuments were drawn from their place of concealment, and carefully scrutinized by the attending crowd. No trace of a fracture or joint could be found in them ; so that it seemed, as if the bodies of our saints had been en- closed, within one great mass of concrete stone. The multitude felt joyful beyond measure, having had the happiness of witnessing such a wonderful sight, as had not before blessed the gaze of mortals ; but yet, they regretted this circumstance, which seemed to prevent them from feasting their eyes
with a view of the beatified remains enclosed. The people gave praise to God, in admiration of His almighty power, and shed tears of devout emotion, while conferring with each other, on the possibility of exposing the sainted relics, witliout breaking or damaging their beautiful stone encasements. '' An Omni- potent Ruler had designed, in His own good time, the train of events by which the faith and piety of His people might be rewarded; and, a balm of fragrant odour was afterwards diffused among the faithful, who flocked from distant parts to pray before the shrines of these holy martyrs, and who after- wards returned to their homes, in the increased enjoyment of corporal health and spiritual consolation.
Before proceeding to write the second part of his tract, givmg a history of the miracles of St. Dympna, Canon Peter offers an interesting prologue, explaining
* It was probably formed in the earth, and served as a grave, for the Martyrs.
tati divinse quas ubi vult iiideficiens opera-
tur, tarn evidens attribuere miraculum actiones gratiarum communiter cum gaudio referentes Domino nostro Jesu Christo, qui vivit et regnat per omnia SKCula sseculorum.
7 After giving the foregoing description,
Canon Peter abruptly ends the first part of St.
Dympna's and of St. Gereliern's Acts with
the following sentence: "Quod cernentes 'Amen. "—"Acta Sanctorum," tomus iii. , ad occulum, discutiendo diutius, rationishu- xv. Maii. Acta SS. Dymnnse et Gereberni, mans nuUatenus iiigenio factum esse, potes- cap. iii. , p. 486.
The
;
314
LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. [May 15.
his motives for adding this narrative, as the complement of his assumed task. It would be much more desirable, he says, to finish a work, which, in the opinion of a person esteemed for wisdom, must conduce to a worthy issue, than to leave it imperfect, by negligently yielding to reprehensible idleness. Justly might envious and carping people point a finger of scorn to the inert workman, and cry out: "Behold one who laid the foundations of a building, and could not finish it. " As Bishop Guido urged the inception of his task, so Canon Peter felt bonnd to complete his account of the saint's miracles, through the same influence, lest in the ordinary course of passing events, theirrecollectionshouldaltogetherfadefrommemory. Byapreceptofthe Old Law, the priests were obliged to offer the tail of a victim in sacrifice,^ and the holy Josejjh wore a garment reaching to his heels,9 which, according to St. Gregory, must have the mystic signification of i)erfectinga good work, and of bringing it to a happy consummation. When resolving to put on record a few things, from the many which might be recorded, we should always recol- lect, that the evidences of a laudable life and of a just conversation must not besought from the glitter of appearance, but in good and holy works. Many votaries of this world do not practise the latter, but even speciously feigning to do so, they are adverse to the just and righteous. Whilst the apostle Peter walked with dry feet over the azure billows of a tempestuous sea,'° his co- labourer in doctrine and fellow-sufferer in death, St. Paul, was shipwrecked on the ocean. " Yet, as a wicked generation demanded signs, there was a just reason for relating some few of those miracles, which were so numerous. Coming to the knowledge of the writer, from a chain of ancient tradition, a volume of large size could scarcely contain a full and perfect account of them. It is a laudable and useful undertaking to commit the trials and triumphs of the saints to writing : for by this practice, the glory of God becomes more known and widely diffused, the majesty of Jesus Christ is glorified in these wonders, and the faithful are commonly induced to aspire after perfection. As the Sicilian tyrants experienced no greater torment, than the expressive looks of those, who felt disaffected to their rule ; so might the Canon Peter find him- self exposed to unbearable reproach and unjust comment, if, when informed by others, he did not relate even what escaped his own observation. St. Mark and St. Luke, who are deserving of honour for writing their Gospels, recorded much of what they had only heard and not seen. Canon Peter deprecates condemnation from his studious and cultivated readers, if he deliver in plain and prosaic language, the principal facts of this narrative, as he did not aim at surprising by eloquence ; and having neither mastered the rules of rhetoric, as laid down by Donatus and Priscian, nor imbibed the full spirit and elegant colouring of Ciceronian elociuence, he thought indulgence might well be claimed, if he failed not in his efforts to instruct, rather than to please. After these preliminary observations, he presents the reader with an account of what occurred, in reference to the relics and special intercession of our illustrious saint, at Gheel; and the following statements will include the sub- stance ofhis interesting narrative.
Having religiously deposed the recovered relics of our holy virgin, St. Dympna, and those of the blessed Gerebern, a knowledge of the miracles, which it pleased Almighty God to accomplish through their intercession, was widely diffused amongst distant nations and people. From that time forward, we are assured, whatever i)etitioncr approached their shrines, in single- ness of heart and purity of faith, was healed from any infirmity of mind or
' Leviticus, iii. , 9. '° MaUhew, xiv. , 29. 9 Genesis, xli. ,42. " Acts, xxvii.
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body wliich afflicted him, and that a salutary effect always resulted from the prayer of his petition. The fame of these miracles reached the people of Santen,atownsituatedontheRiverRhine. Someinhabitantsofthisplace, through a blind impulse of zeal and piety, had resolved in conclave, that the relics of our saints should be obtained for their town, if possible. Nor were they overscrupulous, as to whether their object should be accomplished surreptitiously or by open force. They considered that a thousand blessings should enrich their town and neighbourhood, if they could only procure those relics, which people from different parts of the world venerated and held in such love and respect.
Wherefore, having assembled a large force of brave and strong men, the Santen people marched towards the site of Gheel, then a rural village or fort. Pretending they came for the sole purpose of offering devotions before the shrines of St. Dympna and of St. Gerebern, during their hours of prayer, these pilgrims carefully informed themselves about the position and opportunities presented,duringthefewdayskeptinvigilneartheshrines. Havingawaited a favourable opportunity, waggons were procured, and the precious bodies of the saints, in their stone coffins, were laid thereon, while the guardians of these holy relics had their attention directed towards other matters. To secure impunity, in consequence of their action, the overjoyed depredators began a hasty retreat, in the direction of their homes. But, an alarm was soon communicated to all the inhabitants of the surrounding country, who hastily assembled with arms in their hands. In a state of the greatest excitement, the plunderers were then pursued. The alarmed bearers of our saints' bodies, having heard the tumult surging from behind, felt that they must contend withaninfuriatedandalargebodyofmen. Thetwostonecoffins,borneby them,werespeedilyremovedfromtheirwaggons. Havingbeendeposited on the ground, that coffin which contained the remains of St. Gerebern was broken in pieces; while that one which contained the precious relics of St, Dympna remained entire. The plunderers continued their flight, having se-
cured the remains of St. Gerebern, and having left his broken coffin behind them. When approaching the town of Santen, a message was sent before them, to the inhabitants of that place. The townspeople came forth to con- gratulate the fortunate fugitives, on their safe arrival; although the latter felt much fatigued, after their long journey, and owing to the fear of failing in their hazardous adventure. Immediately all the people set out in a solemn procession, to meet the sacred relics, bearing with them waxen tapers, thuri- bles, and a processional cross. Chaunting hymns and canticles, the rejoicing multitude brought the-newly acquired treasure to their church, where the remains of St. Gerebern were deposited, with all due honour and respect.
Meantime, those pursuers, who followed the fugitives from Gheel, came to that spot, where the broken tomb of St. Gerebern was found, together with the unprofaned relics of St. Dympna, which yet remained within their stone coffin. Feeling some degree of consolation, in having recovered the body of this holy virgin, the Gheel people prepared to bring it back to their church. But, to their great surprise, it was f^ound to remain immovable, and fastened as it were to the ground, notwithstanding the great force employed, when en- deavouring to raise it. In this dilemma, the multitude was ignorant of what course should be adopted ; for, it was found, that even the strength of horses availed little, in their effort to procure a removal of St. Dympna's sarcopha-
gus. Soon afterwards, an aged woman living in that neighbourhood heard a voice, speaking to her in ravishing accents during the night, while she was asleep : " Arise early on to-morrow, yoke the young calf, which remains in your byre to the waggon, and desire your son to remove the coffin of St.
3i6 LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. [May 15.
Dympna. " When tliis woman awoke, she wondered much at the words thus heard. She arose, however, at an early liour on the following morning. Hav- ing called her son, this woman told him all the particulars of what had occur- red during her sleep. She urged the young man to fulfil, wliat appeared to be an accomplishment of lieavenly intimation, as to the issue of her vision. When the son had been told this by his mother, believing her to be demented, he entreated she would be silent on that subject. He told her, the people must hold both of them in derision, if her advice had been followed. But, his mother, full of confidence in the issue, immediately yoked to the Avaggon a young calf, whose horns and hoofs had not yet grown. When the son could not be induced to obey her instructions, she drove the animal towards that place, where several astonished rustics stood around the coffin. Both young and old, considering the woman to be idiotic or simple, followed her with sneering observations ; whilst, at the same time, they had a curiosity to wit- ness the result of her supposed foolish efforts. When she came to the spot, where all the exertions of men and horses had been vainly tried, invoking the Divine blessing, the woman told them about her vision of the preceding night. She besought them also to wait, imtil the body of the holy virgin should be placed on the waggon, which might bear it to the proper place of its destination. Some of the people burst into laughter, supposing the good woman to have a sort of mania about her strange proposal. At length, with great diffidence, they assented to her request, and then found the body could beremoved,withouttheslightestdifficulty. Whentheirwaggonproceededon its way, the wondering multitude accompanied it to the church, with every demonstration of rejoicing and of profound reverence. They saw an animal, apparently little fitted for such a great load as the heavy stone coffin, advan- cing with ease along the road. Accusing themselves of being unworthy, on account of their sins, to bear the blessed remains of their holy virgin and patroness, the multitude unanimously gave thanks to God, who often chooses the weak things of this world to confound the strong.
After some time had elapsed, St. Dynipna's original church, which was of small dimensions, and not larger in size than an humble hut," obtained such importance and renown, that the magistrates, nobles, and wealthy citizens of Gheel, resolved on building anew and magnificent structure, in honour of our saint. They unanimously decreed, likewise, that means should be provided, for furni-shing a splendid golden reliquary, to received the venerated remains of their holy virgin and martyr. They considered it should be unworthy their religious feeling, good taste, and public spirit, if they suffered her body to lie enclosed in a stone chest, when the whole country echoed with reports of miracles, wrought through her intercession. As our saint was a vessel of
election, most precious in the siglit of God; so the inhabitants of Gheel thought it must become them, to collect gold, silver and precious stones, and to form from these materials a propitiatory vessel of most pure gold, '3 in which the holy remains might thenceforth repose with greater honour. Having spiritedly accomplished this object, their next course was to ask the Bishop of Cambray to arrange a grand ceremonial, for the translation of St. Dynipna's relics. This request was graciously and cordially complied with ; and, the prelate gave necessary directions for such a ceremony as they required, by appointing both the day and hour for its jierformance. That venerable bishop, clothed in full pontificals, a great number of abbots, clerics, nobles, with the populace of both sexes, and of every age, rank, and condition, attended on
" This account must forcibly remind the of many primitive Irish churches, the ruins reader to recollect the contracted dimensions of which yet exist.
May I S. J LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. 317
this occasion. The body of St. Dynipna was taken from her stone cofifin, and placed in a golden shrine, wrought by skilful artists. Thus, the Jewish legis- lator, Moses, set up the brazen serpent on a pole, in the desert, so that those persons, who had been bitten by fiery serpents, when looking on that image, might be healed from their wounds. '^ It would seem, that Canon Peter, after diligent search through the popular books of history in his day, and even among these less known, could not record the date of this grand cele- bration, nor give the names of those distinguished persons, who participated in that ceremony. But, he was able to aver with certainty, that when the beautiful stone sarcophagus, having previously no joint or fracture, was broken, the remains of this venerable virgin and martyr of Christ were found within it. When the bishop of that diocese approached with religious rever- ence and awe to raise the relics, he found a red tile resting over the breast of our saint, and bearing the following inscript'on : " Here lies the holy virgin and martyr, Dympna. "^s It seemed mystically to indicate that bright robe of chastity, which adorned the virgin, so that her body should issue from the white marble sarcophagus, and that the colour of a martyr should be desig- nated by the red tile, which covered her breast. This translation of her re- mains took place, on the 15th of May, according to popular tradition, and some centuries after her martyrdom. '^
In point of fact, a sort of necessity required the people of Gheel, to place the remains of their patron saint, in a golden case. It is probable, the doubt, expressed by a particular individual, was also entertained by many incredu- lous persons. For we are told, while the people bore that coffin containing our saint's relics, a certain unlettered and sceptical man uttered these words of doubt and reproach, before the pious multitude : " Oh ! what folly hath taken possession of you, to carry this coffin, while you are ignorant whether ornotitcontainsthehonouredrelicsofSt. Dympna? " Whenthesewords were heard, the porters felt somewhat distrustful, and having set down her sacred remains, they stood there for some time. Then, having endeavoured once more to raise the precious burden on their shoulders, the body of our holy virgin, as if fastened to the ground, remained perfectly immovable. Even with an increased number of strong men, the bearers could not move it, though they almost exhausted themselves with fatigue, in making the effort. When they had laboured for a long time in vain, one of them vexed at this delay remarked, that it must have occurred, on account of the want of faith already expressed. These words of pious reproof induced all who were pre- sent, to betake themselves to the arms of prayer. Falling on their knees, they humbly besought our holy virgin and rjiartyr, that she would allow them todepartwiththeirdearly-prizedtreasure. Havingfinishedthisprayer,they arose and put their hands to the coffin ; when, to their renewed surprise, they found, what had resisted their first efforts was capable of being moved to any place, without a feeling of the slightest weight or inconvenience. This circumstance made it apparent to all, that faith, found united with persever- ingprayer,canbringstrengthtotheweak. Thus,Eliseusstruckwithblind- ness a whole army of the Syrian king, when their monarch had sent them withhorsesandchariotstoarresttheholyprophet. ^7 Asermonwaspreached before the rejoicing multitude, when the relics of St. Dympna were brought in procession without her church.
'3 See Exodus, xxv. , 17.
'* Numbers, xxi. , 9.
'S Canon Peter gives it thus in Latin:
'* This day was that of St. Gerebern's and of her martyrdom. See Father Stephen White's " Apologia pro Hibernia," cap. iv. ,
"Hie jacet sancta Virgo et Martyr, p. 42.
Dympna. "
'' IV. Kings, vi.
3i8 LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. [May 15.
It seems, that the Church of St. Dympna had been anciently roofed with \YOod—probably shingled—and that a certain pious man, who was accustomed to the business of plastering, and who lived by manual labour on other days of the week, was accustomed to spend his Sundays in repairing the roof of this structure, when its materials were worn widi age, or when it was pervious to the rain. He always devoted particular care, to stopping the chinks and crannies, without earthly fee or reward, and only induced by his own devout feelings towards the holy Dympna, who had been so signally favoured as the servant of God. This good man trusted to obtain mercy and salvation, being the faithful client of our glorious martyr. However, on a certain Sabbath- day, when he had climbed the roof to proceed with his usual labours of re- paration, it so happened, that he cut off his own thumb, with an iron instru- ment he had been using. When diis separated member rolled from the roof to the ground, that poor man invoked devoutly the name and aid of his holy patroness. Immediately, in the most miraculous manner, the missing thumb was restored to its former position ; and pain being altogether removed, not
even a trace of the wound remained on the plasterer's hand.
A certain waggon-maker,'^ named Henry Suagher, often prayed to St. Dympna during his working hours. This man was unjustly arrested, guarded and committed to prison, where he was cruelly chained to a wall by a cliain hanging from his neck. Deprived of any hope througli human relief, he began to conceive the idea of liberation, by addressing St. Dympna with pious tears and supplications. While persisting in these prayers and lamen- tations, the glorious Virgin Dympna appeared and wonderfully consoled him ; for, having broken the chain and opened the door of his prison, she directed the captive to escape. Thus was the man delivered from the power of his cruel masters, and he ever gratefully preserved a recollection of the blessings
of liberty bestowed on him by his glorious deliverer, the virgin and martyr of God,St. Dympna.
A certain woman, supposed to have been possessed by a wicked spirit, terrified all her friends and neighbours, by her screams and threatening actions. Charitably-disposed persons believed the just Creator would not suffer this miserable woman to perish everlastingly, for her mischievous pro- pensities and horrid outcries ; but, they supposed, that He would accept her temporal sufferings, as a means of atonement, to relieve her from future evil influences. Her friends, taking counsel together, and entertaining a great devotion towards St. Dympna, resolved to bring this poor creature to the shrine, where it was believed no wicked spirit could long prevail by his malici- ous arts. The afflicted woman was accordingly laid down, before the body of our holy saint, while her weeping friends poured forth prayers to Dympna. To their great joy and admiration, the possessed woman recovered the use of her senses, and with great delight she was conducted home, perfectly restored to health and to tiie exercise of her mental faculties.
Canon Peter thought it desirable, to proclaim another of these wonders wrought by God through the intercession of His holy servant, St. Dympna, in the case of a certain nun, who was twice afflicted with a disease, called the sacredfire. '^'^ This was a wasting kind of disease, separating and rotting away
'* Latinized in the text, Carpentator. At this word, Ilensclicnius tell. , us, that in the title to the chapter, where the account given in the text is contained, he found the head- ing, " Carpentarius. " The history of our saint's miracles, by Canon Peter, is con- tained in eleven cbajiters, the titles of which are omitted by Ilenschcnius as being un-
necessary,
"' The writer tells us, that this peculiar
form of disease " sacer ignis," is also known amongst the first physicians as the " ignis Persicus," the "ignis infernalis," and by the Greeks the word esttr—or . is the editor Hensclienius corrects his author, " A((Tr7jp Cnrtv, torris, lilio,"—is applied to denote it.
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flesh from the bones, under a hvidly-coloured skin. After running on for some time, a great and burning pain is felt, which brings the unfortunate sufferer to the very jaws of death. Yet, even when death is most desired by the patient, it is deferred until the limbs are wasted away, when it seizes on the vitals. The holy nun already spoken of suffered from this most dreadful malady, so that her body was reduced to a deplorable state of weakness. Hav- ing a great devotion for St. Dympna, she visited the shrine of this holy virgin and martyr, and through the Divine clemency, that consuming fire ceased, and her health was restored. On returning to her dwelling, after some time, the nun apprehended a return of this disease, as a painful burning heat was felt in that part of her body, which had been at first indisposed. Again, with devout confidence, this religious sought the shrine of her holy patroness, and after a long time spent in earnest prayer, the nun returned home perfectly cured. Not long after this occurrence, a boy was attacked with the sacredfire. His friends brought him near the body of St. Dympna. At the moment when he arrived, a priest happened to be engaged preaching to the people.
Certain pious men, on seeing the wretched state of this child, offered their prayers for his recovery of health, through the intercession of St. Dympna. The sacred fire was extinguished immediately, and the boy was restored to the full enjoy-
ment of health.
Few persons seem to recollect, that the sacred Scriptures warn parents to
have a care of their children, and that these should be well and religiously educated in their youth,^° so that they may not be seduced afterwards into error and crime. The venerable Sarah, wife of the patriarch Abraham, did not neglect this admonition, when she saw Ismael, son of Agar, playing with her only beloved son, Isaac ; but, with a just severity, and being lauded by the Almighty for this act, she banished the strange boy from her house.
Immediately on receiving this intelligence, the king gave orders to pre- pare what was necessary for his journey to the place, where the holy Dympna and her companions sought a fancied repose and solitude. Perseverance is usually crowned with success, in finding what has been long and earnestly sought ; nor is desire exhausted by continuance, says a holy writer. ''^ but it is rather increased, and if by delay it ceased to live, we can hardly conceive how it could deserve the name of desire. Little time elapsed until the wicked king reached the dwelling of his virtuous daughter. We can hardly conceive the astonishment and dread his sudden apparition excited in the mind of the pure Dympna. On seeing her, however, he joyously saluted the chaste spouse of Christ. But, her angelic look could not suppress the promptings of former passion within his breast. The demon of impurity raged furiously within his insensate soul, and inflamed his looks with indications of the fell resolve, it had shamefully instigated. How greatly contrasted with the modest and
noble expression of his daughter's countenance, whose trembling figure and shrinking glances were modestly averted from a gaze, that boded evil import and manifestations of perverse passion, which her very soul abhorred ! Meantime, the furious servant of Belial had resolved, that no opposition on the part of his daughter should change his purpose. If she refused his loathed proffers of marriage, he supposed that threats of punishment and death should overcome the firmest resolutions, one of her tender age and sex could form. And, it was ever thus, from the times of old, when ungovernable passion hur- ried men to deeds of injury and persecution, against the just and innocent. King David, on yielding to the concupiscence of his eyes, when conceiving a violent passion for Bethsabee, had doomed the innocent husband Urias to death, and had employed Joab, the captain of his army, to devise means for
its accomplishment. '*?
All the beauty and grace of her deceased mother seemed to reappear in
the child's face and figure, and to return with renewed force to the king's ima- gination, when he ventured to address his daugliter, in soothing and loving accents. Yet, virtue presents such an impregnable barrier to the assaults of evil desire, that even her father feared to look directly on his daughter's chaste countenance, whilst these words were uttered : " O my ilearly beloved daughter, Dympna, my delight, my passion, and my desire, what wish or ne- cessity forced you to despise the honours attending on your noble station, or to prefer, as a mendicant, unknown and foreign lands, to the country of your
vailed in Irelan<l, at a very early age. ^' II. Kings, xi.
<* St. Gregory. ^* III. Kings, xxi.
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nativity ? What wise or foolish persuasion seduced you to forget filial duty and a royal parent, and to adopt as your flither this old and decrepid priest, whose behests you obey in all matters ? Had you remained with me, you should have dwelt in a royal court, and enjoyed a kingdom after my death, instead of a miserable hut, buried in the midst of a thicket and presenting every external appearance of neglect and poverty. Wherefore, prepare to obey my orders immediately, and wisely seek that country, which you so foolishly abandoned. Ifyouwillinglyassenttoyourfixther'swishes,youshallholda first rank in his estimation, above all the noble matrons and maidens of his kingdom. Crowned with a royal diadem, I shall direct a fine temple to be constructed of marble, wliere you shall be venerated as a goddess, and I shall order a superb statue representing you to be e'"ected therein, which will be ornamented with gold and precious stones. If i. free person or slave of any sex or condition neglect to worship you, or offer the homage of due venera- tion, as my decree shall prescribe and direct, just punishment shall inevitably await such a dereliction of duty. "
While the holy virgin was preparing to reply, the blessed servant of God, Gerebern, anticipated her wishes, with the spirit and virtue of another Elias, who reprehended the sinful intercourse existing between Achab and Jezabel. '*^ While his voice and manner manifested an abhorrence for the infamous pro- posals of this potentate, the venerable priest, like a true admirer of modesty, applied the following words : " O most wicked king, designer of the highest infamy, enemy of all virtue, and impersonation of the worst species of crime, why do you vainly labour to turn tlie pure mind of this holy virgin from the ways of purity ? Unhappy and shameless man, why are you hostile to that virginity, so dear to God and to the angels, and which confers honour and distinction on persons of all ages? When growing in the minds of infants and children, it nourishes holy innocence ; it restrains evil desires, and pre- vents the lapse of youth and adults ; in mature and aged persons, it preserves honour and increases sanctity. I pray you for these reasons, to exhort and admonish this maiden, that she should ever love, acquire, and preserve, such a virtue, and constantly maintain it, to the latest hour of her life. Chastity is a useful treasure for all virtuous persons, and when lost, it can scarcely be restoredtoitprimitivebloom. Donotdisgraceyourroyalrank,byacrime, whichoughtrenderyouanabominationandareproachamongkings; donot presume to repeat words, which are a scandal and detestation, not only to the pure and chaste, but even to luxurious livers and impure persons. I rest satis- fied and convinced, that your daughter Dympna's pure and faithful mind has already despised whatever evil pleasures or promises the world might offer, through her love for God ; nor will she be terrified by threats, nor allured by blandishmentsorseduction. And,probably,youwouldberestrainedfromthis base passion, had you dreaded the sword of Phinees, who, led by a zeal for justice, punished wicked sinners against the Divine law, who were both run through with the sword. "'t9 In the printed Legend of our saint's Life, we are told, in addition, that St. Gerebern admonished the holy maiden, never to yield her consent to the king, her father, lest she might incur the indignation of that Heavenly King, her Spouse, whose delights she had already tasted, and whose companionship she should constantly enjoy.
Those words of sage counsel had hardly been spoken, when the execrable tyrant kindled into a perfect frenzy, which appeared to be directed princi- pally against the anointed priest of the Lord. The king sought advice from
*9 Numbers, xxv. , 7, 8. Virginis subversorem, apud Regem pariter 5» " Tanquam reum et maleficum ac beatse accusabant," observes Canon Peter.
3o8 LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. [May 15.
his counsellors in this dilemma. He passionately reminded them, that the venerable priest had been able to prevail upon his daughter, to resist all those seductionsandthreats,whichafatherhadvainlyurged. Hiswickedadvisers, like those who sought the blood of our Divine Redeemer, were unanimously ofaccord, that Gerebern deserved death. 5° They resolved, not only to extin- guish die lamp of Dympna's chastity, which shone so brightly, whether in a
hiding place, or publicly exposed to view; and, they supposed by procuring the death of her director, the virgin of Christ might yet be induced to give her consent, with a renewal of her father's previous proposals. However cruel this advice seemed to be, the tyrant king gave orders to his willing ad- herents, that they should behead the venerable Gerebern, who had so effec- tively contributed to disarrange all plans for his proposed illicit nuptials.
The serfs attending on the king inflamed his anger and their own, by clamorous and senseless observations of the nature already recorded. Blinded with rage and passion, like the young of lions, they reproached God's servant in the following words, while the sword was already drawn for his execution : "Hoary monsler, why must daring be carried to such a degree of temerity, that one like you of humble rank and family should not feel ashamed to re- proach our sovereign master, the king, by the sound of such empty words? Is it not sufficient for you, O wretch, to divert the thoughts of his daughter Dympna, from giving her consent to this marriage, and to urge her by per- suasion in seeking this distant province, without also uttering reproaches, calculated to rouse the king's fury and indignation ? Unfortunate man, is it becoming your gray hairs, to reprehend the faults of another, without correct- ing your own ? Shall the king be obliged to pine away with grief, which you have been the means of prolonging? By your evil counsels, you have pre- vented fruition of that love, which oppresses his soul. With the sophistical words now breathed, you manifest a proud, an indiscreet, and a rebellious spirit so greatly out of chraracter with your advanced years, and when you should act obediently to the royal decrees. "5'
These were the words of base sycophants, who felt their temporal interests best promoted, by yielding a slavish submission to a tyrant's behests. But, the resolute servant of God, animated with the spirit of religious fortitude, and who was neither afraid nor desirous of dying, at once replied with a noble courage : " O people, without reflection or prudence, a false tongue cannot convict that man of guilt, whose conscience does not reproach himself with crime; why therefore do you load me with unjust charges of being a vile and guilty person, when I only seek to prevent an odious sin ? You, as the mem- bers of his body, well understand what evil power exists in your head, who is a despotic king. If any man happen to see another viciously inclined, is he not bound to correct those faults of his neighbour, to the fullest extent in his power ? And if, when often admonished, the culprit will not abandon those vices, ought he not be avoided as a Heathen and a Publican ? Those limbs, which cannot be healed by gentle medicinal applications, must be re- moved by a painful stroke of the surgeon's knife, before the whole body becomes infected ; and a crime must be reproved bitterly, when amendment does not follow the milder method of cure. "
The wicked advisers of tlie king were rendered more furious than ever, on hearing these words. Their reply was couched in the following terms : " How long must the delusion of evil be permitted to remain in you ? O in- sensate man, will your tongue still give vent to folly ? Miserable wretch, are
S' The Canon Peter, in the Acts of both tlie classic historical writers, by introducing our saints, appears to have imitated some of imaginative dialogues, which are considered
May 15. ] LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. 309
you not aware, that it behoves a king to curb the pride of his subjects, and especially to punish the audacity of man, with a just measure of severity, when he has so crully deceived his sovereign ? Now learn, soon as you pos- sibly can, to induce consent to a marriage, on the part of an ill-advised girl, whose mind you have alienated from her father's love. Otherwise, know this, that having been convicted in presence of the king, you shall suffer capital punishment, if you neglect to persuade her to obedience. The door for par- don is more easily opened, when atonement is made for a crime once com- mitted. " The most reverend priest, unarmed, except with the shield of faith, and in the midst of the king's guards, gloriously replied ; " O sons of dark- ness, far be it from my soul, to form the mind of my pupil to vice, when I ought to instruct her in every virtue ; and how could I place before her incen- tives to horrible passion and impurity, when by word and example, I should suggest the preservation of hallowed chastity ? As her noble purpose of religion and honour should receive a father's support, and never be under- mined, by deadly and unnatural influence ; so he, who trusts the faith of a faithlessperson,mayexpecttosufferinhisbestanddearestinterests. Like- wise, he, who knows what treasures of grace have been received from a reli- gious life, ought in proportion confidently sow a greater quantity of good seed. Although you may threaten me with death of the most refined cruelty'; yet, the fervent love of Christ, which is never separated from a filial fear, should teach His true lovers the just application of that principle, when in- jury is sought to be inflicted for sustaining the dictates of Divine law. He who permits Christianity to be oppressed by the impious dissolves or separates himself from the body of Christ, and does not contend with necessary valour against the adversaries of firm faith. "
When his executioners heard these words, resolving on his instant death, and conscious of the king's approval, they rushed upon the holy and innocent priest, and laying violent hands on him, the head fell from his shoulders with a stroke of the sword. Thus, our glorious martyr of Christ triumj^hed over theassaultsofhismercilessenemies,andheobtainedagloriouscrown. We are naturally led to compare his end with that of John the Baptist, whom Herod, when inflamed with wine and lust, doomed to destruction, at the suggestion of the wicked Herodias, who had been the spouse to his brother Philip. s^ Like John, the just man of God was now beheaded. The circum- stances attending their respective deaths were nearly alike ; although John, being the precursor of our Divine Saviour, on the score of sanctity, excelled Gerebern in perfection and merits, for the Baptist was more like an angel than a man. The grace of the Lord had sanctified John \\\ his mother's womb, to fit him for preaching, for baptizing and preparing the way of the Lord in the wilderness ; while, the holy priest Gerebern was predestined to eternal life from before the world's creation, lie being intended to sow the seed of the Divine Word, and delegated to preach penance in the desert, where i)eople flocked to hear the words of wisdom from his lips. The true Nazarene of Christ, clad in camel-hair garments, neither drank wine or vinegar, nor par- took of any generous food, from the period of his infancy ; our venerable priest, who was also an example of sanctity, not only abstained from what was unlawful and unclean, but mortified himself in food, drink, and by penitential
exercises. The holy preacher John, who rose like the evening star, to bring in the fulness of grace, wished to correct and save Herod, inflamed with evil desires, and not amenable to advice or entreaty; while Gerebern, the wor-
appropriate to circumstances and characters, in his narrative, appertaining to the various persons figuring s* Mark, vi.
3IO LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. [May 15.
shipper of God, the impersonation of integrity, the example of chastity, and the hater of base debauchery, courageously reprehended the pagan king, whose desires were so unnatural and enormous. This correction, however, wastheresultofperfectcharity,withoutanytingeofenvyorbitterness. Both saints were continent and just, lovers of retirement and vindicators of chastity. Both incurred the displeasure of a king, and fell beneath the stroke of an executioner, in defence of purity, and at the instigation of wicked courtiers. Both were united in the mode of punishment, as in the measure of reward ; and these glorious victors present examples of courage and constancy, in life and death, to the end of time. Their holy lives deserved a heroic exit from this world. They triumphed over death, when yielding to the temporary pressure of man's tyranny, and found their reward in those realms, where sin and suffering obtain no place, and where just deeds receive their final recog- nition and vindication.
CHAPTER III.
THE KING ORDERS DYMPNA TO APPEAR BEFORE HIM—HIS THREATS AND PROMISES— THEY ARE INDIGNANTLY REJECTED BY THE HOLY VIRGIN—IN A FIT OF FRENZY, THE KING DRAWS HIS SWORD AND CUTS OFF THE HEAD OF HIS DAUGHTER—ST. DYMPNA AND ST. GEREBI. RN ARE DECENTLY INTERRED BY THE INHABITANTS OF THAT PLACE—DISENTOMBMENT OF THEIR VENERABLE RELICS—THE PEOPLE OF SANTEN STEAL THE RELICS OF ST. DYMPNA AND OF ST. GEREBERN—THE FORMER REMAINS RECOVERED BY THE PEOPLE OF GHEEL—MIRACLES WROUGHT WHILST REMOVING THEM TO THAT CITY—THE PEOPLE OF GHEEL BUILD A NEW CHURCH AND PREPARE A GOLDEN SHRINE TO HONOUR THEIR GLORIOUS PATRONESS- TRANSLATION OF HER RELICS—ST. DYMPNA's MIRACLES IN BEHALF OF THE AFFLICTED.
Notwithstanding that cruel death, inflicted on the good priest, Gerebern, such cruelty did not appease the passion of Dympna's father. He then ordered the holy virgin, to be brought into his presence. With an oppressed spirit, her tearful eyes lamenting the murder of her holy protector, and full of agitation, arising from the position in which she was now placed, the maiden's beautiful countenance became flushed with a tinge of carmine. This greatly enhancedtheagreeableex[)ressionofhermodestandsorrowinglooks. Such accidental circumstances added fuel to that unhappy flame, which burned within the king's breast. Wherefore, in most persuasive accents, he essayed the following words : " O my dearest daughter, Dympna, why do you permit yourfathertobesolongharassed,bysuchaloadofsorrow? Whydoyou reject his addresses, and abhor one who languishes with love, excited by your beautitul appearance? My dearest, only give me your consent, and I laith- fully promise, to procure you all the comfort and wealth my kingdom can afford. I will decree, moreover, that you shall be numbered among the most venerated goddesses ' of my realm, and that your name must be renowned, throughout its whole extent, while you reign over it in common with myself. " To these observations, the glorious saint, who rather desired to suffer for God's sake than to enjoy the delights of a temjioral kingdom, replied with becoming indignation : "O unhappy and cruel man, why do you seek by fal- laciousarguments,tosubvertmyvowsofvirginity? Doyouthink,Oaban-
ChapterIII. —' Thiscasual remark CanonPeterwasverylittleacquaintedwith sufficiently establishes the inference, that the nature of ancient Irish Mythology.
May 15. ] LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS.
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doned king, that a love of worldly delights could prevail on me to renounce my firm purpose, and to offend my spouse, Jesus Christ, by polluting my body? Do not for a moment believe, that any feminine weakness can take possession of my mind : I despise all the phantoms of human honour, and I desire with my whole heart those promises of Jesus Christ, which engaged all my affections. I little value the honour of being esteemed a goddess and of acquiring a statue. Do not urge me, by further persuasion, for it is much easier to retain a treasure one securely possesses, than to recover it when
lost. "
This wicked king, whose mind was debased by idolatry and by its cognate
handmaid of impurity, laboured like his instigator, the Devil, to sow tares within the mind of a daughter, whose affections were brightened by the steady effulgence of Christian virtues. Then, kindling into anger, he said : " Per- verse daughter, do not wrong my patience, I beseech you, with such cavilling
:
grant instantly what I demand, or you shall feel the weight of a father's indig- nation, like that detestable director, who, for his contumacious and rebellious opposition to my orders, has already ended his life miserably, having suffered the loss of his head. With such an example before you, and in the flower of youth, consult for your own safety, by sacrificing and offering incense on the altars of our gods, or rest assured, that your punishment will consign you to lasting infamy. Henceforth, no daughter of a king will refuse to obey the positive commands of a father, after the miserable warning you shall afford. " But, the holy virgin of venerable memory, so far from being affrighted with those menaces indicating her approaching doom, fearlessly replied : " O de- testable tyrant, why have you dared to butcher the ordained priest of God, in whom no fault could be found ? With all who were witnesses of your cruelty, can you hope to escape the Divine judgments ? I detest your gods and goddesses, as false, and commit myself wholly to the adoration of our Lord Jesus Christ, with the love of whom my soul is inflamed. He is my spouse, my glory, my salvation, my desire and delight, nor have I any other pleasure but in Him : He is altogether sufficient for me, as whole hosts oi angelic spirits delight to look upon and serve Him. As the decree of your sentence seems to demand, that a person must be condemned, not by just
laws, but by bad precedents, exercise whatever tyranny you design against me; for the Lord's sake, I am prepared to bear with a contented mind whatever punishment you wish to inflict. Neither can difference of death 01 distance of place separate those, who are united in the bonds of true faith, and among whom a Christian sympathy of disposition exists. "
This reply excited the utmost fury of the king, vvho conceived his autho rity set at defiance by his daughter, and who, as it is said, felt it necessary to have her beheaded, in order to ap])ease the requirements of his false gods. But, all his servants, through love and pity for their young princess, shrunk from executing the unnatural order for putting her to death. It was also thought, that a reaction in the feelings of their master, after his daughter's murder, should induce him to take vengeance on her executioners, when she could not be restored again to life. The tyrant, however, unmindful of the common instincts of humanity, and forgetting the maxim of those kings of old,
" To spare the humble, and the proud subdue,"
resolved to stain his own hands, in the blood of his youtliful and virtuous daughter. Could this pagan king only appreciate the sublime virtue of the
' Job, xxxi. , I. says, •' Quo accinctus fuerat pugione funesto, 3 The Life of our saint by Canon Peter sacrum 'caput virginis gloriosae, divini re-
312 LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. [May 15.
Patriarch Job, who entered into a compact with his eyes, not even to look upon a virgin,^ with unholy desires, he ought have hesitated to plunge into those unnatural deeds of cruelty to which he was urged, by idols erected in his heart—base passion, unbridled lust, and soul-destroying pleasures. Draw- ing a skein'^ from his side, he furiously struck off the head of this noble daughter, while she continued imploring tlie divine mercy, on behalf of her immortal soul. '* It is generally supposed, that St. Dympna received the crown of martyrdom, in the fifteenth year of her age, and on the 30th of ISIay.
Canon Peter, the author of St. Dympna's acts, passes over in profound silence all reference to tlie year and century in which this holy martyr lived or suffered. 5 Saussay, in his Gallic Martyrology, thinks, tliat St. Dympna and St. Gerebern were crowned with martyrdom when Charles Martel ruled over France, which would place the date of their death some time after the year 700. In a rhythmical Life, printed in the vernacular language, the martyrdom of this holy virgin is set down at the year 600, and in the time of Duke Pippin, after this powerful man had been major-domo in the palaces of Clotaire II. , of Kings Dagobert and S. Sigebert, from about the year 620 to the year 640. Henschenius favours this latter supposition, that their martyrdom occurred in the seventh century; for, at that time, those places immediately adjoining Gheel and Antwerp had begun to receive the light of Christianity.
The Life of St. Dympna, by Canon Peter, tells us, that after this infamous transaction, the king and his attendants returned to their own country, leav- ing the dead bodies of Dympna and Gerebern over the ground, to become the prey of wild beasts and birds. We may wonder, indeed, at this final issue of an action, surpassing in atrocity almost every conceivable deed of in- humanity, when an infuriate parent could tints abandon every feeling of virtue and jiarental honour, by sinking into the lowest depths of cruelty and infamy. Ungovernable passion urged a father, however, to that series of wicked acts, in vindication of a supposed affront, and through a mistaken sense of his duty. Yet, most glorious and agreeable in the sight of God and of His Angels, was the death of those happy martyrs, who, as they loved and respected each other in life, were not separated in deatii. Having drank the bitter chalice of Christ's own passion in suffering, they now live united in
spectus implorantis misericoidiam, amputa- pagano," p. 83. And again, in the " Iiidi- vit," etc. The word " pugio" means a ciihis Sanctorum Belgii," |>. 25: " Sancta
dagger, a poinard ; and the peculiarly Irish form of this weapon was called in our native tongue, Daiger or Scian. Many different specimens of this weapon may be seen in the Museum of tlie Royal Irish Academy. Although most of the shorter varieties were specially formed lor sialjbing or thrusting yet, several have sharj) edges on both sides, and served for the purposes of cutting or hacking. There is an interesting antiqua- rian di-quisition, with beautiful woodcut illustrations, on this subject, in Sir William R. \Vilde's " Catalogue of the Antitiuities in the Museum of the Royal Irish Academy,"
Class V, pp. 439 to 488.
In Molanus' Usuardus, we find the fol-
lowing notices of St. Dympna : —"May 15. In Brabantia, villa qure Ghclc nuncupatur, sanctae Dympna; virginis ct martyris. ILec ' propter fidcm ct amorem castitatis, dccol- lata est a proprio genitoic, rege Ilyberniw
Dympna, virgo et martyr, filia fuit regis Hy- berniie gentillis, qui mortua uxore sua ipsam voluit habere uxorem. Sed ipsa propter fidem, et castitatis amorem, clam fugit per Antverpiam, in villam Ghele, ubi tandem invcnta, a proprio genitore decollata e. -t, cum Gereberno presliytero, circa annum scxcentesinium. Festum ejus celebrant Canonici Glielenses die decimo quinto Maii. Locus est disecesis Buscoducensis, in Kem- jiinia Brabantii^ : ubi obessi a dremonibus per ejus merita liberantur. Qua etiam de causa pingilur tenens demonem alligatum. Vulgo Digna dicitur, ut videtur durior pro-
nunciatio. "
s in an old printed legend of her Acts, it
is written, " decollati circa annum l>omini sexingcntcssinium. " But, we are obliged to conjecture, whether the writer must be understood as intending to use " scptingen- tcsimus " or " sexcentesimus annus. "
;
May 15. ] LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS.
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perpetual and heavenly felicity. The providence of God so decreed, that the bodies of these holy martyrs, although remaining unburied for some time, should be preserved, from the devouring beasts and birds. At length, some inhabitants, belonging to the adjoining country, knowing how gloriously the champions of Christ had contended in their last agony, and moved with pity for their unjust murder, had the bodies of St. Dympna and of St. Gerebern placed in a cave,^ with some degree of reverence and decency. Such was the custom of interment in that part of the country, at the time this martyrdom
took place.
But, after a lapse of many years, the clergy and people of the country
around Gheel assembled together, through a desire of honouring God, in ex- huming the bodies of those holy martyrs, who had so gloriously perished by the sword of an infidel. It was resolved, as tradition yet pointed out their place of sepulture, that the light should no longer rest within tliat hidden cave, where their remains had been first deposited. And, indeed, those pious persons of every rank and age were richly rewarded, by the wonderful miracles, which it pleased Christ to operate through His servants' intercession. The very first effort made to disemtomb their relics was attended by the exhibition of a wonderful sight, surpassing the comprehension, as it did the previous experi- ence, of those who were spectators. These were in utter astonishment, when the workmen removed an obstructing heap of earth with their implements. The labourers discovered two most hti:\v\i\W\\ sa7-cophagi^ whiter than the drift- ing snow, and carved from stone, as if by the hands of angel sculptors.
colour itself was aptly considered to be typical of the virginal purity of our saints, and it was more remarkable, because in that part of the country the stone formation presented a colour black as the very soot of chimneys. With- out much difficulty, and in a manner to excite the admiration of all present, these monuments were drawn from their place of concealment, and carefully scrutinized by the attending crowd. No trace of a fracture or joint could be found in them ; so that it seemed, as if the bodies of our saints had been en- closed, within one great mass of concrete stone. The multitude felt joyful beyond measure, having had the happiness of witnessing such a wonderful sight, as had not before blessed the gaze of mortals ; but yet, they regretted this circumstance, which seemed to prevent them from feasting their eyes
with a view of the beatified remains enclosed. The people gave praise to God, in admiration of His almighty power, and shed tears of devout emotion, while conferring with each other, on the possibility of exposing the sainted relics, witliout breaking or damaging their beautiful stone encasements. '' An Omni- potent Ruler had designed, in His own good time, the train of events by which the faith and piety of His people might be rewarded; and, a balm of fragrant odour was afterwards diffused among the faithful, who flocked from distant parts to pray before the shrines of these holy martyrs, and who after- wards returned to their homes, in the increased enjoyment of corporal health and spiritual consolation.
Before proceeding to write the second part of his tract, givmg a history of the miracles of St. Dympna, Canon Peter offers an interesting prologue, explaining
* It was probably formed in the earth, and served as a grave, for the Martyrs.
tati divinse quas ubi vult iiideficiens opera-
tur, tarn evidens attribuere miraculum actiones gratiarum communiter cum gaudio referentes Domino nostro Jesu Christo, qui vivit et regnat per omnia SKCula sseculorum.
7 After giving the foregoing description,
Canon Peter abruptly ends the first part of St.
Dympna's and of St. Gereliern's Acts with
the following sentence: "Quod cernentes 'Amen. "—"Acta Sanctorum," tomus iii. , ad occulum, discutiendo diutius, rationishu- xv. Maii. Acta SS. Dymnnse et Gereberni, mans nuUatenus iiigenio factum esse, potes- cap. iii. , p. 486.
The
;
314
LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. [May 15.
his motives for adding this narrative, as the complement of his assumed task. It would be much more desirable, he says, to finish a work, which, in the opinion of a person esteemed for wisdom, must conduce to a worthy issue, than to leave it imperfect, by negligently yielding to reprehensible idleness. Justly might envious and carping people point a finger of scorn to the inert workman, and cry out: "Behold one who laid the foundations of a building, and could not finish it. " As Bishop Guido urged the inception of his task, so Canon Peter felt bonnd to complete his account of the saint's miracles, through the same influence, lest in the ordinary course of passing events, theirrecollectionshouldaltogetherfadefrommemory. Byapreceptofthe Old Law, the priests were obliged to offer the tail of a victim in sacrifice,^ and the holy Josejjh wore a garment reaching to his heels,9 which, according to St. Gregory, must have the mystic signification of i)erfectinga good work, and of bringing it to a happy consummation. When resolving to put on record a few things, from the many which might be recorded, we should always recol- lect, that the evidences of a laudable life and of a just conversation must not besought from the glitter of appearance, but in good and holy works. Many votaries of this world do not practise the latter, but even speciously feigning to do so, they are adverse to the just and righteous. Whilst the apostle Peter walked with dry feet over the azure billows of a tempestuous sea,'° his co- labourer in doctrine and fellow-sufferer in death, St. Paul, was shipwrecked on the ocean. " Yet, as a wicked generation demanded signs, there was a just reason for relating some few of those miracles, which were so numerous. Coming to the knowledge of the writer, from a chain of ancient tradition, a volume of large size could scarcely contain a full and perfect account of them. It is a laudable and useful undertaking to commit the trials and triumphs of the saints to writing : for by this practice, the glory of God becomes more known and widely diffused, the majesty of Jesus Christ is glorified in these wonders, and the faithful are commonly induced to aspire after perfection. As the Sicilian tyrants experienced no greater torment, than the expressive looks of those, who felt disaffected to their rule ; so might the Canon Peter find him- self exposed to unbearable reproach and unjust comment, if, when informed by others, he did not relate even what escaped his own observation. St. Mark and St. Luke, who are deserving of honour for writing their Gospels, recorded much of what they had only heard and not seen. Canon Peter deprecates condemnation from his studious and cultivated readers, if he deliver in plain and prosaic language, the principal facts of this narrative, as he did not aim at surprising by eloquence ; and having neither mastered the rules of rhetoric, as laid down by Donatus and Priscian, nor imbibed the full spirit and elegant colouring of Ciceronian elociuence, he thought indulgence might well be claimed, if he failed not in his efforts to instruct, rather than to please. After these preliminary observations, he presents the reader with an account of what occurred, in reference to the relics and special intercession of our illustrious saint, at Gheel; and the following statements will include the sub- stance ofhis interesting narrative.
Having religiously deposed the recovered relics of our holy virgin, St. Dympna, and those of the blessed Gerebern, a knowledge of the miracles, which it pleased Almighty God to accomplish through their intercession, was widely diffused amongst distant nations and people. From that time forward, we are assured, whatever i)etitioncr approached their shrines, in single- ness of heart and purity of faith, was healed from any infirmity of mind or
' Leviticus, iii. , 9. '° MaUhew, xiv. , 29. 9 Genesis, xli. ,42. " Acts, xxvii.
May 15. ] LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS.
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body wliich afflicted him, and that a salutary effect always resulted from the prayer of his petition. The fame of these miracles reached the people of Santen,atownsituatedontheRiverRhine. Someinhabitantsofthisplace, through a blind impulse of zeal and piety, had resolved in conclave, that the relics of our saints should be obtained for their town, if possible. Nor were they overscrupulous, as to whether their object should be accomplished surreptitiously or by open force. They considered that a thousand blessings should enrich their town and neighbourhood, if they could only procure those relics, which people from different parts of the world venerated and held in such love and respect.
Wherefore, having assembled a large force of brave and strong men, the Santen people marched towards the site of Gheel, then a rural village or fort. Pretending they came for the sole purpose of offering devotions before the shrines of St. Dympna and of St. Gerebern, during their hours of prayer, these pilgrims carefully informed themselves about the position and opportunities presented,duringthefewdayskeptinvigilneartheshrines. Havingawaited a favourable opportunity, waggons were procured, and the precious bodies of the saints, in their stone coffins, were laid thereon, while the guardians of these holy relics had their attention directed towards other matters. To secure impunity, in consequence of their action, the overjoyed depredators began a hasty retreat, in the direction of their homes. But, an alarm was soon communicated to all the inhabitants of the surrounding country, who hastily assembled with arms in their hands. In a state of the greatest excitement, the plunderers were then pursued. The alarmed bearers of our saints' bodies, having heard the tumult surging from behind, felt that they must contend withaninfuriatedandalargebodyofmen. Thetwostonecoffins,borneby them,werespeedilyremovedfromtheirwaggons. Havingbeendeposited on the ground, that coffin which contained the remains of St. Gerebern was broken in pieces; while that one which contained the precious relics of St, Dympna remained entire. The plunderers continued their flight, having se-
cured the remains of St. Gerebern, and having left his broken coffin behind them. When approaching the town of Santen, a message was sent before them, to the inhabitants of that place. The townspeople came forth to con- gratulate the fortunate fugitives, on their safe arrival; although the latter felt much fatigued, after their long journey, and owing to the fear of failing in their hazardous adventure. Immediately all the people set out in a solemn procession, to meet the sacred relics, bearing with them waxen tapers, thuri- bles, and a processional cross. Chaunting hymns and canticles, the rejoicing multitude brought the-newly acquired treasure to their church, where the remains of St. Gerebern were deposited, with all due honour and respect.
Meantime, those pursuers, who followed the fugitives from Gheel, came to that spot, where the broken tomb of St. Gerebern was found, together with the unprofaned relics of St. Dympna, which yet remained within their stone coffin. Feeling some degree of consolation, in having recovered the body of this holy virgin, the Gheel people prepared to bring it back to their church. But, to their great surprise, it was f^ound to remain immovable, and fastened as it were to the ground, notwithstanding the great force employed, when en- deavouring to raise it. In this dilemma, the multitude was ignorant of what course should be adopted ; for, it was found, that even the strength of horses availed little, in their effort to procure a removal of St. Dympna's sarcopha-
gus. Soon afterwards, an aged woman living in that neighbourhood heard a voice, speaking to her in ravishing accents during the night, while she was asleep : " Arise early on to-morrow, yoke the young calf, which remains in your byre to the waggon, and desire your son to remove the coffin of St.
3i6 LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. [May 15.
Dympna. " When tliis woman awoke, she wondered much at the words thus heard. She arose, however, at an early liour on the following morning. Hav- ing called her son, this woman told him all the particulars of what had occur- red during her sleep. She urged the young man to fulfil, wliat appeared to be an accomplishment of lieavenly intimation, as to the issue of her vision. When the son had been told this by his mother, believing her to be demented, he entreated she would be silent on that subject. He told her, the people must hold both of them in derision, if her advice had been followed. But, his mother, full of confidence in the issue, immediately yoked to the Avaggon a young calf, whose horns and hoofs had not yet grown. When the son could not be induced to obey her instructions, she drove the animal towards that place, where several astonished rustics stood around the coffin. Both young and old, considering the woman to be idiotic or simple, followed her with sneering observations ; whilst, at the same time, they had a curiosity to wit- ness the result of her supposed foolish efforts. When she came to the spot, where all the exertions of men and horses had been vainly tried, invoking the Divine blessing, the woman told them about her vision of the preceding night. She besought them also to wait, imtil the body of the holy virgin should be placed on the waggon, which might bear it to the proper place of its destination. Some of the people burst into laughter, supposing the good woman to have a sort of mania about her strange proposal. At length, with great diffidence, they assented to her request, and then found the body could beremoved,withouttheslightestdifficulty. Whentheirwaggonproceededon its way, the wondering multitude accompanied it to the church, with every demonstration of rejoicing and of profound reverence. They saw an animal, apparently little fitted for such a great load as the heavy stone coffin, advan- cing with ease along the road. Accusing themselves of being unworthy, on account of their sins, to bear the blessed remains of their holy virgin and patroness, the multitude unanimously gave thanks to God, who often chooses the weak things of this world to confound the strong.
After some time had elapsed, St. Dynipna's original church, which was of small dimensions, and not larger in size than an humble hut," obtained such importance and renown, that the magistrates, nobles, and wealthy citizens of Gheel, resolved on building anew and magnificent structure, in honour of our saint. They unanimously decreed, likewise, that means should be provided, for furni-shing a splendid golden reliquary, to received the venerated remains of their holy virgin and martyr. They considered it should be unworthy their religious feeling, good taste, and public spirit, if they suffered her body to lie enclosed in a stone chest, when the whole country echoed with reports of miracles, wrought through her intercession. As our saint was a vessel of
election, most precious in the siglit of God; so the inhabitants of Gheel thought it must become them, to collect gold, silver and precious stones, and to form from these materials a propitiatory vessel of most pure gold, '3 in which the holy remains might thenceforth repose with greater honour. Having spiritedly accomplished this object, their next course was to ask the Bishop of Cambray to arrange a grand ceremonial, for the translation of St. Dynipna's relics. This request was graciously and cordially complied with ; and, the prelate gave necessary directions for such a ceremony as they required, by appointing both the day and hour for its jierformance. That venerable bishop, clothed in full pontificals, a great number of abbots, clerics, nobles, with the populace of both sexes, and of every age, rank, and condition, attended on
" This account must forcibly remind the of many primitive Irish churches, the ruins reader to recollect the contracted dimensions of which yet exist.
May I S. J LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. 317
this occasion. The body of St. Dynipna was taken from her stone cofifin, and placed in a golden shrine, wrought by skilful artists. Thus, the Jewish legis- lator, Moses, set up the brazen serpent on a pole, in the desert, so that those persons, who had been bitten by fiery serpents, when looking on that image, might be healed from their wounds. '^ It would seem, that Canon Peter, after diligent search through the popular books of history in his day, and even among these less known, could not record the date of this grand cele- bration, nor give the names of those distinguished persons, who participated in that ceremony. But, he was able to aver with certainty, that when the beautiful stone sarcophagus, having previously no joint or fracture, was broken, the remains of this venerable virgin and martyr of Christ were found within it. When the bishop of that diocese approached with religious rever- ence and awe to raise the relics, he found a red tile resting over the breast of our saint, and bearing the following inscript'on : " Here lies the holy virgin and martyr, Dympna. "^s It seemed mystically to indicate that bright robe of chastity, which adorned the virgin, so that her body should issue from the white marble sarcophagus, and that the colour of a martyr should be desig- nated by the red tile, which covered her breast. This translation of her re- mains took place, on the 15th of May, according to popular tradition, and some centuries after her martyrdom. '^
In point of fact, a sort of necessity required the people of Gheel, to place the remains of their patron saint, in a golden case. It is probable, the doubt, expressed by a particular individual, was also entertained by many incredu- lous persons. For we are told, while the people bore that coffin containing our saint's relics, a certain unlettered and sceptical man uttered these words of doubt and reproach, before the pious multitude : " Oh ! what folly hath taken possession of you, to carry this coffin, while you are ignorant whether ornotitcontainsthehonouredrelicsofSt. Dympna? " Whenthesewords were heard, the porters felt somewhat distrustful, and having set down her sacred remains, they stood there for some time. Then, having endeavoured once more to raise the precious burden on their shoulders, the body of our holy virgin, as if fastened to the ground, remained perfectly immovable. Even with an increased number of strong men, the bearers could not move it, though they almost exhausted themselves with fatigue, in making the effort. When they had laboured for a long time in vain, one of them vexed at this delay remarked, that it must have occurred, on account of the want of faith already expressed. These words of pious reproof induced all who were pre- sent, to betake themselves to the arms of prayer. Falling on their knees, they humbly besought our holy virgin and rjiartyr, that she would allow them todepartwiththeirdearly-prizedtreasure. Havingfinishedthisprayer,they arose and put their hands to the coffin ; when, to their renewed surprise, they found, what had resisted their first efforts was capable of being moved to any place, without a feeling of the slightest weight or inconvenience. This circumstance made it apparent to all, that faith, found united with persever- ingprayer,canbringstrengthtotheweak. Thus,Eliseusstruckwithblind- ness a whole army of the Syrian king, when their monarch had sent them withhorsesandchariotstoarresttheholyprophet. ^7 Asermonwaspreached before the rejoicing multitude, when the relics of St. Dympna were brought in procession without her church.
'3 See Exodus, xxv. , 17.
'* Numbers, xxi. , 9.
'S Canon Peter gives it thus in Latin:
'* This day was that of St. Gerebern's and of her martyrdom. See Father Stephen White's " Apologia pro Hibernia," cap. iv. ,
"Hie jacet sancta Virgo et Martyr, p. 42.
Dympna. "
'' IV. Kings, vi.
3i8 LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. [May 15.
It seems, that the Church of St. Dympna had been anciently roofed with \YOod—probably shingled—and that a certain pious man, who was accustomed to the business of plastering, and who lived by manual labour on other days of the week, was accustomed to spend his Sundays in repairing the roof of this structure, when its materials were worn widi age, or when it was pervious to the rain. He always devoted particular care, to stopping the chinks and crannies, without earthly fee or reward, and only induced by his own devout feelings towards the holy Dympna, who had been so signally favoured as the servant of God. This good man trusted to obtain mercy and salvation, being the faithful client of our glorious martyr. However, on a certain Sabbath- day, when he had climbed the roof to proceed with his usual labours of re- paration, it so happened, that he cut off his own thumb, with an iron instru- ment he had been using. When diis separated member rolled from the roof to the ground, that poor man invoked devoutly the name and aid of his holy patroness. Immediately, in the most miraculous manner, the missing thumb was restored to its former position ; and pain being altogether removed, not
even a trace of the wound remained on the plasterer's hand.
A certain waggon-maker,'^ named Henry Suagher, often prayed to St. Dympna during his working hours. This man was unjustly arrested, guarded and committed to prison, where he was cruelly chained to a wall by a cliain hanging from his neck. Deprived of any hope througli human relief, he began to conceive the idea of liberation, by addressing St. Dympna with pious tears and supplications. While persisting in these prayers and lamen- tations, the glorious Virgin Dympna appeared and wonderfully consoled him ; for, having broken the chain and opened the door of his prison, she directed the captive to escape. Thus was the man delivered from the power of his cruel masters, and he ever gratefully preserved a recollection of the blessings
of liberty bestowed on him by his glorious deliverer, the virgin and martyr of God,St. Dympna.
A certain woman, supposed to have been possessed by a wicked spirit, terrified all her friends and neighbours, by her screams and threatening actions. Charitably-disposed persons believed the just Creator would not suffer this miserable woman to perish everlastingly, for her mischievous pro- pensities and horrid outcries ; but, they supposed, that He would accept her temporal sufferings, as a means of atonement, to relieve her from future evil influences. Her friends, taking counsel together, and entertaining a great devotion towards St. Dympna, resolved to bring this poor creature to the shrine, where it was believed no wicked spirit could long prevail by his malici- ous arts. The afflicted woman was accordingly laid down, before the body of our holy saint, while her weeping friends poured forth prayers to Dympna. To their great joy and admiration, the possessed woman recovered the use of her senses, and with great delight she was conducted home, perfectly restored to health and to tiie exercise of her mental faculties.
Canon Peter thought it desirable, to proclaim another of these wonders wrought by God through the intercession of His holy servant, St. Dympna, in the case of a certain nun, who was twice afflicted with a disease, called the sacredfire. '^'^ This was a wasting kind of disease, separating and rotting away
'* Latinized in the text, Carpentator. At this word, Ilensclicnius tell. , us, that in the title to the chapter, where the account given in the text is contained, he found the head- ing, " Carpentarius. " The history of our saint's miracles, by Canon Peter, is con- tained in eleven cbajiters, the titles of which are omitted by Ilenschcnius as being un-
necessary,
"' The writer tells us, that this peculiar
form of disease " sacer ignis," is also known amongst the first physicians as the " ignis Persicus," the "ignis infernalis," and by the Greeks the word esttr—or . is the editor Hensclienius corrects his author, " A((Tr7jp Cnrtv, torris, lilio,"—is applied to denote it.
May 15. ] LIVES OP THE IRISH SAINTS.
319
flesh from the bones, under a hvidly-coloured skin. After running on for some time, a great and burning pain is felt, which brings the unfortunate sufferer to the very jaws of death. Yet, even when death is most desired by the patient, it is deferred until the limbs are wasted away, when it seizes on the vitals. The holy nun already spoken of suffered from this most dreadful malady, so that her body was reduced to a deplorable state of weakness. Hav- ing a great devotion for St. Dympna, she visited the shrine of this holy virgin and martyr, and through the Divine clemency, that consuming fire ceased, and her health was restored. On returning to her dwelling, after some time, the nun apprehended a return of this disease, as a painful burning heat was felt in that part of her body, which had been at first indisposed. Again, with devout confidence, this religious sought the shrine of her holy patroness, and after a long time spent in earnest prayer, the nun returned home perfectly cured. Not long after this occurrence, a boy was attacked with the sacredfire. His friends brought him near the body of St. Dympna. At the moment when he arrived, a priest happened to be engaged preaching to the people.
Certain pious men, on seeing the wretched state of this child, offered their prayers for his recovery of health, through the intercession of St. Dympna. The sacred fire was extinguished immediately, and the boy was restored to the full enjoy-
ment of health.
Few persons seem to recollect, that the sacred Scriptures warn parents to
have a care of their children, and that these should be well and religiously educated in their youth,^° so that they may not be seduced afterwards into error and crime. The venerable Sarah, wife of the patriarch Abraham, did not neglect this admonition, when she saw Ismael, son of Agar, playing with her only beloved son, Isaac ; but, with a just severity, and being lauded by the Almighty for this act, she banished the strange boy from her house.
