2 The
Bollandists
refer a further account to the 21st of October, 3 the chief feast of St.
O'Hanlon - Lives of the Irish Saints - v6
P.
Edmundus Hogan, S.
J.
operam conferenti- bus P.
P.
Bollandianis (Excerptum ex Ana- lectis Bollandianis.
) Praefatio, p.
14.
Brux- elles, 1882, 8vo.
10 Owing to this circumstance, and the ex-
we
Sletty.
" See a learned French tract, by Benja-
min Robert, " Etude Critique sur la Vie et
PCEuvre de Saint Patrick. " Deuxieme
Partie, pp. 35, 37, 39 to 42. Paris, 1884, 8vo.
used in the
bably infer, that Muirchu lived for some time under him in religious obedience at
assigned to a later date than the ninth or
tenth century, may safely be pronounced one
of the most venerable monuments of Chris-
tian antiquity now remaining in Europe. " —Advertisement to the le-abh^rx 1mumn "The Book of Hymns of the Ancient Church of Ireland," Fasciculus i. , p. i.
I3 See pars ii. , pp. 165 to 170.
I4 In a communication to the "Ulster
Weekly Examiner," dated Hollywood, March 17th, 1871.
pressions
text,
may pro-
I2
"This beautiful MS. , which cannot be
the greatest, the holy, vene-
252 LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. [June 8.
so, he flourished in the eighth century. The Rev. James O'Laverty has given • a word-for-word and line-for-line translation from the original Latin. The
popularity of this hymn among the old Irish, and its connection with Moville, made him desirous of obtaining, for use of the children, a metrical trans- lation, from the gifted pen of Denis Florence McCarthy. The request, con-
veyed through
a mutual
friend,
15 was most
obligingly
acceded 16 and with a to,
surprising command of versification, the poet has reproduced it, in an English
1
dress, closely adhering to the literal meaning. ^ Another metrical version of
18
it has appeared, in a local provincial paper.
'SJohn William Fitzpatrick, Esq. , so celebrated as a most successful writer of Irish Biographies and other works.
16 Sent in a letter, dated March 15th,
Now, it is sufficiently probable,
1871.
J 7 The following is the English metrical
me may holy Raphael plead— For me may all the angelic choirs for
ever intercede.
" May the great King's eternal halls re- ceive me freed from stain and sin,
That I the joys of Paradise may share with Christ therein.
"Glory for aye be given to God—for aye to Father and to Son—
For aye unto the Holy Ghost, with them in council one.
" V. May the most holy Saint Michael, the Prince of the Angels de-
fend us.
" R. Who to conduct our souls heaven-
ward
God from the highest doth send
us. "
: translation —
THE HYMN OF ST. COLMAN MACMURCHON, IN PRAISE OF ST. MICHAEL, THE ARCHANGEL.
"
"
"
"
"
"
No wild bird rising from the wave, no omen from the land or sea,
O blessed Trinity, shall shake my fixed trust in thee.
No name to God or demon given, no synonyme of sin or shame,
Shall make me cease to supplicate the Archangel Michael's name.
That he, by God the leader led, may meet my soul that awful day,
When from this body and this life it trembling takes its way.
Lest the demoniac power of him, who is at once the foot of pride
And prince of darkness, force it then from the true path aside.
May Michael the Archangel turn that hour, elsewhere so dark and sad,
18
we here give the text, as found in the "Leinster Independent" of April 8th, 1871.
HYMN OF ST. COLMAN MACMURCHON, IN PRAISE OF MICHAEL THE ARCHANGEL.
To one, when angels will rejoice, and " all the just be glad.
Him I besceeh that he avert from me the fiend's malignant face,
And lead me to the realm of rest in God's own dwelling-place.
In the Trinity my hope is fixed omen shall attract its flame ;
—
no
" May holy Michael, day and night, he knowing well my need, be nigh
To me in the of the place fellowship
good saints on high.
" May holy Michael, an approved as- sistant, when all else may fail,
Plead for me, sinner that I am, in thought and act so frail.
" May holy Michael, in his strength, my parting soul from harm defend,
And the Archangel I beseech still, Blessed Michael called by name, That he meet me, and be sent me, by
his leader God above,
When from this body and this life,
my soul shall seek the Throne of
Love, —
Lest the Minister of Violent —Deeds
the Prince of Darkness Foot of
Pride-
Seduce my soul from heavenly
thoughts, and into woe my foot-
steps guide.
May Blessed Michael, the Archangel,
at that hour assistance bring
To succour me, when choirs of angels
and the just rejoice and sing.
Till circled by the myriad saints in heaven, its flight doth end.
" For me may holy Gabriel pray—for
Lest it might not be generally known,
June 8. ] LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. 253
that the saint, whose name is prefixed to this article, was one of those priests, brothers to St. Colman. The Scholiast Preface informs us, that Colman Mac Murchon, with his brothers, afterwards returned to Ireland, where he appears to have died. 1 ? At a. d. 731, is recorded the death of Colman M'Murchon,
or son of
Murchon,
Abbot of
20 near Strangford Lough.
the church
This was occa-
founded sionally
local
by
St.
Finian,
Maghbile, 21 at the head of
Newtownards,
as we find an
in the Irish Annals. 22 From the — forward the
in the seventh
a
prelates year 731 year
bishop's See,
century,
— of several
whichthe"FourMasters"
at Colman'sdeath Movillaisnoticedinthe
place
who died in 731, a bishop, but only abbot. It does not follow, however,
thathewasnota We bishop.
" as
Annals," being governed by
abbots 23 donotcall
only. They Colman,
in the
Murchu Mac Ua Maichtene having been venerated on this day.
read,
Martyrology
Article VI. —St. Meadhran, Mac Ua Maichten, also called
MadrineorMedrain. ThenameMedranis theonlyentrywefindcon- 1
cerning him, in the Martyrology of Tallagh, at the 8th of June. The " Feilire " of St. ^Engus also announces the festival of St. Medran, with praise, at the 8th of June. * From a comment affixed, we are informed, that Medrdn and Murchu were sons of the grandson of —Mac Teni. The Scholiast adds,
3
however, that he knew not where these are viz. , buried. Still he charac-
terizesthepresentholymanasMedrariofDaireMicMarga. Weareunable
to identify this place. This day is entered in the Martyrology of Donegal,* thevenerationofMeadhran,MacUaMoichten. s InScotland,thememory
I beseech him that he banish from my
sight the vengeful face
Of the enemy, and lead me to the
good souls' resting-place.
May Holy Michael succour me by
night and day, and by restraints From every ill, adapt me to the
fellowship of the good saints.
May Holy Michael, loved assistant,
for me, frail being, intercede,
For I'm a sinner, dreadful sinner, and
in thought, and word, and deed ; May Holy Michael e'er defend me by
Of the Archangels, e'er defend us.
" E. Whom, to receive our souls at
death,
The Most High God doth ever
his and great
heavenly strength,
19 See Very Rev. Dr. James Henthorn Todd's teAbharv 1muin. The " Book of Hymns of the Ancient Church of Ireland," Fasciculus ii. , sect, viii. , pp. 165, 166.
20 See Dr. O'Donovan's " Annals of the Four Masters," vol. i. , pp. 328, 329.
And saints, in thousands, at the hour
when soul and body part at length ; May Holy Gabriel and Blessed Raphael pray for me in time of
need,
And may the angels and archangels
ever for me intercede
May the King of Kings' eternal halls
be op'ed to me when death has
riven vol.
The thread of life, that I, with Christ, may ever share the joys of heaven. Glory ever be to God, and to the
Father, and the Son,
And likewise to the Holy Ghost, the
148, 149. — Article vi.
«
Edited
Rev.
Dr.
three divines in council one. "
Kelly, p. xxvi.
2 See "Transactions of the Royal Irish
Academy," Irish Manuscript Series, vol. i. f part i. On the Calendar of Oengus, p. xciii.
3 See ibid. , p. xcix.
V. May Holy Michael, the most worthy
;
"
23 See Very Rev. James O'Laverty's Historical Account of the Diocese of
send us.
"Rushes, April 12, 1871. "
Oggygia.
21
His festival is ascribed to the loth of
September.
22 See Rev. Dr. Reeves' "Ecclesiastical
Antiquities of Down, Connor and Dromore," Appendix A, sect, iii. , pp. 151, 152.
Down and Connor, Ancient and Modern,"
16.
24 Edited by Drs. Todd and Reeves, pp.
ii. , p.
entry
of 2* of Donegal,
by
254 LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. [June 8.
of this saint was commemorated, as we find from the Kalendar of Drum-
6
mond, at the 8th of June.
Article VII. —Reputed Festival of St. Disibod, Bishop, Belgium. In the city of Mentz, Germany, St. Disibod, Bishop, was venerated, accord- ing to the English Martyrology of John Wilson, as also according to Demp-
ster, Wion, Dorgan, Menard and Saussay, in his Gallic Martyrology. The 1
Bollandists have an entry, to the foregoing effect, at this date, but they refer
to the 8th of July for his Acts. It seems pretty evident, that a mistake has
been committed, in substituting June here for July. At the 8th of June,
Thomas has entered in his " Dempster
2 the feast of St. Dysibod,BishopinBelgium. 3 Atthe8thofJuly,moreshallbefound
concerning him.
Article VIII. —St. Cormac h. Liathain. At this date, the Martyr-
of x a festival in honour of Cormac h. Liathain. His ology Tallagh registers
referable to the 21st of 2 Particulars June.
commemoration is more
regarding him will be found at that day.
Weare the told, by
148, 149.
5 Dr. Todd
Aeneae Martyrol,' meaning probably that the Feilire of /Engus (and it might have been added the Mart. Taml. also) calls him simply Medran,notMedranmacUaMaichten. "
'
It notices, that in Ireland, the Natalis of
mitted saints, p. 53.
2 The French called it by this name, and
the Germans have it Hessen. It was a por- vince in Germany, in the circle of the Rhine. See Bavdrand's " Novum Lexicon Geogra- phicum," tomusi. , p. 340.
3 At this date,—their Acts may be found,
Article x. « See " Acta Sanctorum,"
tomus ii. , Junii viii. Among the preter- mitted saints, p. 52.
2 See " Historian Catholicae Iberniae Com- pendium," tomus i. , lib. iv. , cap. xi. , p. 50.
in a note
:
" The more
xxvi.
says
recent hand notes here, Medranus juxta S.
Kelly, p.
the holy Confessors Medrain and Murchon,
was celebrated, at this date. See Bishop
Forbes'
"
Kalendarsof Scottish Saints," p.
15. See, also, p. —382. •
Article vii. See "Acta Sancto-
rum," tomus ii. , Junii viii. Among the pre-
termitted
a
saints, p. 52.
Thus : "In Belgio Dysibodi episcopi,
qui multum in Hirlandia ad abolendos ne- fariae impietatis ritus adlaboravit. VV. Sur. " 3 See Bishop Forbes' " Kalendars of Scot-
properly
Article IX. —Festival of Translation to the Breirenavien Monastery of Four Bodies belonging to the Company of Ursulines.
panions, connected with the Sodality of St. Ursula, were translated to the Breirenavien Monastery in Hassia or Hesse.
2 The Bollandists refer a further account to the 21st of October, 3 the chief feast of St. Ursula and her companions.
Article X. —St. Columba. On the authority of the Florarian Manu- script,asalsoonthatofCamerarius,theBollandists* haveanoticeofSt. Columba, Abbot in Scotia, at this date, but they refer his Acts to the 9th of June. In the anonymous list of Irish Saints, published by O'Sullevan Beare,2 we find the name of St. Columba, at the 8th of June. On Henry Fitzsimon's
1 who
under the Abbot Henry II. , and in the year 1142, the bodies of Four Com-
4 Edited by Drs. Todd and Reeves, pp.
tish Saints," p. 202—. Article viii.
Bollandists,
quote
Galenius for the that account,
'3
Menologium Scotorum,"
'
«
Edited by Rev. Dr.
See Colgan's "Trias Thaumaturga," Quarta Vita S. Columbae, lib. i. , cap. vi. , n.
45, p, 374. —
Article ix. Sanctorum,"
See " Acta
tomusii. , Juniiviii. Amongthepreter-
June 9. ] LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. 255
list, at the same date, on the authorities of Joceline and of Floratius, we find a Columba,Abbas. 3 Thismaybeintendedtorepresentavigilfeastforthe great St. Columba, Abbot of Iona. *
Article XI. —Festival of Holy Job's Death. As we have already seen,
1 at the 8th of there is a Festival, which June,
in the " of St. Feilire';"
iEngus,
commemorates the reception after victory and white battle of Holy Job. Nor
are we left to infer, without warrant, that this entry means his passing away
2 Elsewhere, we have not been able to find such a feast in other Calendars.
Article XII. —St. Muician. A festival in honour of Muician, was
1
celebrated on this day, as we find recorded in the Martyrology of Donegal. Appended to his name in the table, we meet these words, Subulcus, Porcia- nus. a Nothing more seems to be known regarding him.
I^mtfr JBap oi 3une,
ARTICLE I. —LIFE OF ST. COLUMKILLE OR COLUMBA, ABBOT OF IONA, AND APOSTLE OF CALEDONIA.
[SIXTH CENTURY. ]
CHAPTER I.
INTRODUCTION—ANCIENT MANUSCRIPT LIVES OF ST. COLUMBA OR COLUMKILLE IN IRELAND, GREAT BRITAIN, AND ON THE CONTINENT—PRINTED ACTS OF THE HOLY APOSTLE OF CALEDONIA—PROPHECIES RELATING TO HIM—THE DESCENT AND FAMILY OF ST. COLUMBA—HIS BIRTH AND BAPTISM—VARIOUS NAMES GIVEN TO HIM.
from earth to Heaven on this
day.
3 See ibid. ,
2 The scholiast adds to the word
Series vol. i.
xciii.
p.
On the Calendar of
Oengus,
ibid. , pp. 454, 455.
illustrious Apostle of Caledonia, as ranked in order of time, lived after some remarkable because had
THE
been born before him, and he belonged, with these thus distinguished, to the second-class of Irish Saints. Among this noble band, none achieved more than he did the characteristics of true greatness. His highly intellectual power of thought was united with the most lofty and holy aspirations. As the illustrious missionary of Ireland to a kindred people, and as the renowned archimandrite of both Scotias, his career was marked by vast and super- natural works. The Apostles, likewise, proved their laborious and fruitful missions by their miracles. And, while the Holy Fathers bear one common testimony to the existence of miracles, in the early Christian Church ; it is
cap. xii. , p. 53.
—Ai|MCiu, Ibid. , p.
Drs. Todd
4 See his Life succeeding, at 9th day of June, Art. i.
Article xi. — * See "Transactions of the Royal Irish Academy," Irish Manuscript
i. e. , ad caelum in hoc die exiit. " xcix.
persons commemorated, they
Article xii. — 1 Edited and Reeves, pp. 148, 149.
s See
by
256 LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. [June 9.
not so very unwarrantable to believe, that St. Columba's great holiness and great enterprises were also approved, by such wonderful effects of God's
grace. Yet,wearenotpreparedtostate,thatallthosepersonalaccounts,which have come down to us since his time, are deserving of equal consideration ; discrimination must be used, in sifting the mass of materials, which have accumulated for his Life, and which are preserved in our public archives. Thus, we shall endeavour to extract, whatever appears most authentic, rela- tively to his transactious, after having first briefly recounted the chief sources, fromwhichsuchnoticesmaybestbedrawn. Tothecivilandecclesiastical historians, and to the literary men of our time, we are mainly indebted for that information, which has shed such a halo of renown, on one of the greatest Christian missionaries, born within the British Islands.
Various Manuscript copies of the Life of St. Columkille exist, in the different Libraries of Ireland. There is a Vita S. Columbse, by Adamnan, in Marsh's Library, Dublin ; and, it is given with those twenty-six other Lives
of Irish Saints, contained in a vellum folio Manuscript.
1
There are several
Manuscripts preserved in the Royal Irish Academy, and which contain
accounts of St. Columkille. Thus, the large folio vellum Codex, known as
the Leabhar 2 contains an account of the birth,
Breac, parentage, education,
vocation, and exile, of St. Columkille. Among the O'Longan Manuscripts, belonging to the Royal Irish Academy, there are Lives of St. Columkille. 3 The Messrs. Hodges and Smith's collection of Manuscripts, belonging to the Royal Irish Academy, contains an imperfect copy of Manus O'Donnell's Life of St. Columkille. 4 Besides, there are other accounts regarding our saint. s In Great Britain, and especially in England, we find many of these Manu- scripts. The Libraries of Oxford 6 and of Cambridge J Universities have copies. The Duke of Buckingham's collection of Manuscripts at Stowe 8 contained an ancient, but an imperfect,' Life of our saint, in the Irish lan- guage. Its age is uncertain, but probably it is referable to the twelfth cen-
10 AVitaS. totheDukeof isin tury. Columbse, belonging Devonshire,
Article i. —Chapter i. — • This is of the thirteenth century, but it is erroneously styled the Codex Kilkenniensis. Adamnan's Lifeofoursaintisfromfol. 39to51.
2 Classed No. 40, 6.
3 One copy is in vol. vi. , at p. 186, of the
Catalogue of the Cottonian MSS. , it is marked No. 13. Moreover, a Vita S. Colum- boe Abbatis et —Confessoris, MS. Cott. Tiber. E. i. F. f 180b 182. Besidesthereis aMS. Bodl. Tanner. 15, Ff. 108, 113, veil, folio, xv. cent. This is the same text as printed in
MSS. Another is in the MS. classed No. 39, 6. Another small 4X0 paper MS. classed No. 204, is a transcript, taken from the MS. last described, with blank leaves to fill up the part wanting, in case a
more perfect copy should be found.
4 It is in a small 4to paper MS. and classed
No. 203, in the Royal Irish Academy.
s The viii. vol. of O'Longan MSS. in the Royal Irish Academy, contains a story of Colum Cille, of Comgall, of Cainneach, and ofCruinthear Dathi, or Nathi. This is a monastic story about fasting and abstinence.
See p. 118.
6 Thus, among the Oxford University MSS. we find, Vita S. Columbse Abbatis. MS. Bodl. Rawl. B. 505, pp. 61, 73, veil. fol. xiv. cent. Also, MS. Bodl. Rawl. B. 485, f. 94, veil. 4to, xiv. cent. Likewise, Vita S. Co- lumbse Saxonice MS. Cott. Jul. A. x. veil.
8vo, ix. cent. This is the concluding portion of St. Columba's Life in Saxon. In Smith's
" Nova In Legenda Anglise. "
O'Longan
Capgrave's
addition to these is a Vita S. Columbce per
Magnum O'DonellumTirconallkePrincipem, Hibernice. MS. Bodl. Rawl. b. 101. A Latin translation of this Life is printed by Colgan.
? We here find enumerated: Vita S. Columbre, Saxonice, MS. C. C. C. Cant. 196 (ol.
10 Owing to this circumstance, and the ex-
we
Sletty.
" See a learned French tract, by Benja-
min Robert, " Etude Critique sur la Vie et
PCEuvre de Saint Patrick. " Deuxieme
Partie, pp. 35, 37, 39 to 42. Paris, 1884, 8vo.
used in the
bably infer, that Muirchu lived for some time under him in religious obedience at
assigned to a later date than the ninth or
tenth century, may safely be pronounced one
of the most venerable monuments of Chris-
tian antiquity now remaining in Europe. " —Advertisement to the le-abh^rx 1mumn "The Book of Hymns of the Ancient Church of Ireland," Fasciculus i. , p. i.
I3 See pars ii. , pp. 165 to 170.
I4 In a communication to the "Ulster
Weekly Examiner," dated Hollywood, March 17th, 1871.
pressions
text,
may pro-
I2
"This beautiful MS. , which cannot be
the greatest, the holy, vene-
252 LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. [June 8.
so, he flourished in the eighth century. The Rev. James O'Laverty has given • a word-for-word and line-for-line translation from the original Latin. The
popularity of this hymn among the old Irish, and its connection with Moville, made him desirous of obtaining, for use of the children, a metrical trans- lation, from the gifted pen of Denis Florence McCarthy. The request, con-
veyed through
a mutual
friend,
15 was most
obligingly
acceded 16 and with a to,
surprising command of versification, the poet has reproduced it, in an English
1
dress, closely adhering to the literal meaning. ^ Another metrical version of
18
it has appeared, in a local provincial paper.
'SJohn William Fitzpatrick, Esq. , so celebrated as a most successful writer of Irish Biographies and other works.
16 Sent in a letter, dated March 15th,
Now, it is sufficiently probable,
1871.
J 7 The following is the English metrical
me may holy Raphael plead— For me may all the angelic choirs for
ever intercede.
" May the great King's eternal halls re- ceive me freed from stain and sin,
That I the joys of Paradise may share with Christ therein.
"Glory for aye be given to God—for aye to Father and to Son—
For aye unto the Holy Ghost, with them in council one.
" V. May the most holy Saint Michael, the Prince of the Angels de-
fend us.
" R. Who to conduct our souls heaven-
ward
God from the highest doth send
us. "
: translation —
THE HYMN OF ST. COLMAN MACMURCHON, IN PRAISE OF ST. MICHAEL, THE ARCHANGEL.
"
"
"
"
"
"
No wild bird rising from the wave, no omen from the land or sea,
O blessed Trinity, shall shake my fixed trust in thee.
No name to God or demon given, no synonyme of sin or shame,
Shall make me cease to supplicate the Archangel Michael's name.
That he, by God the leader led, may meet my soul that awful day,
When from this body and this life it trembling takes its way.
Lest the demoniac power of him, who is at once the foot of pride
And prince of darkness, force it then from the true path aside.
May Michael the Archangel turn that hour, elsewhere so dark and sad,
18
we here give the text, as found in the "Leinster Independent" of April 8th, 1871.
HYMN OF ST. COLMAN MACMURCHON, IN PRAISE OF MICHAEL THE ARCHANGEL.
To one, when angels will rejoice, and " all the just be glad.
Him I besceeh that he avert from me the fiend's malignant face,
And lead me to the realm of rest in God's own dwelling-place.
In the Trinity my hope is fixed omen shall attract its flame ;
—
no
" May holy Michael, day and night, he knowing well my need, be nigh
To me in the of the place fellowship
good saints on high.
" May holy Michael, an approved as- sistant, when all else may fail,
Plead for me, sinner that I am, in thought and act so frail.
" May holy Michael, in his strength, my parting soul from harm defend,
And the Archangel I beseech still, Blessed Michael called by name, That he meet me, and be sent me, by
his leader God above,
When from this body and this life,
my soul shall seek the Throne of
Love, —
Lest the Minister of Violent —Deeds
the Prince of Darkness Foot of
Pride-
Seduce my soul from heavenly
thoughts, and into woe my foot-
steps guide.
May Blessed Michael, the Archangel,
at that hour assistance bring
To succour me, when choirs of angels
and the just rejoice and sing.
Till circled by the myriad saints in heaven, its flight doth end.
" For me may holy Gabriel pray—for
Lest it might not be generally known,
June 8. ] LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. 253
that the saint, whose name is prefixed to this article, was one of those priests, brothers to St. Colman. The Scholiast Preface informs us, that Colman Mac Murchon, with his brothers, afterwards returned to Ireland, where he appears to have died. 1 ? At a. d. 731, is recorded the death of Colman M'Murchon,
or son of
Murchon,
Abbot of
20 near Strangford Lough.
the church
This was occa-
founded sionally
local
by
St.
Finian,
Maghbile, 21 at the head of
Newtownards,
as we find an
in the Irish Annals. 22 From the — forward the
in the seventh
a
prelates year 731 year
bishop's See,
century,
— of several
whichthe"FourMasters"
at Colman'sdeath Movillaisnoticedinthe
place
who died in 731, a bishop, but only abbot. It does not follow, however,
thathewasnota We bishop.
" as
Annals," being governed by
abbots 23 donotcall
only. They Colman,
in the
Murchu Mac Ua Maichtene having been venerated on this day.
read,
Martyrology
Article VI. —St. Meadhran, Mac Ua Maichten, also called
MadrineorMedrain. ThenameMedranis theonlyentrywefindcon- 1
cerning him, in the Martyrology of Tallagh, at the 8th of June. The " Feilire " of St. ^Engus also announces the festival of St. Medran, with praise, at the 8th of June. * From a comment affixed, we are informed, that Medrdn and Murchu were sons of the grandson of —Mac Teni. The Scholiast adds,
3
however, that he knew not where these are viz. , buried. Still he charac-
terizesthepresentholymanasMedrariofDaireMicMarga. Weareunable
to identify this place. This day is entered in the Martyrology of Donegal,* thevenerationofMeadhran,MacUaMoichten. s InScotland,thememory
I beseech him that he banish from my
sight the vengeful face
Of the enemy, and lead me to the
good souls' resting-place.
May Holy Michael succour me by
night and day, and by restraints From every ill, adapt me to the
fellowship of the good saints.
May Holy Michael, loved assistant,
for me, frail being, intercede,
For I'm a sinner, dreadful sinner, and
in thought, and word, and deed ; May Holy Michael e'er defend me by
Of the Archangels, e'er defend us.
" E. Whom, to receive our souls at
death,
The Most High God doth ever
his and great
heavenly strength,
19 See Very Rev. Dr. James Henthorn Todd's teAbharv 1muin. The " Book of Hymns of the Ancient Church of Ireland," Fasciculus ii. , sect, viii. , pp. 165, 166.
20 See Dr. O'Donovan's " Annals of the Four Masters," vol. i. , pp. 328, 329.
And saints, in thousands, at the hour
when soul and body part at length ; May Holy Gabriel and Blessed Raphael pray for me in time of
need,
And may the angels and archangels
ever for me intercede
May the King of Kings' eternal halls
be op'ed to me when death has
riven vol.
The thread of life, that I, with Christ, may ever share the joys of heaven. Glory ever be to God, and to the
Father, and the Son,
And likewise to the Holy Ghost, the
148, 149. — Article vi.
«
Edited
Rev.
Dr.
three divines in council one. "
Kelly, p. xxvi.
2 See "Transactions of the Royal Irish
Academy," Irish Manuscript Series, vol. i. f part i. On the Calendar of Oengus, p. xciii.
3 See ibid. , p. xcix.
V. May Holy Michael, the most worthy
;
"
23 See Very Rev. James O'Laverty's Historical Account of the Diocese of
send us.
"Rushes, April 12, 1871. "
Oggygia.
21
His festival is ascribed to the loth of
September.
22 See Rev. Dr. Reeves' "Ecclesiastical
Antiquities of Down, Connor and Dromore," Appendix A, sect, iii. , pp. 151, 152.
Down and Connor, Ancient and Modern,"
16.
24 Edited by Drs. Todd and Reeves, pp.
ii. , p.
entry
of 2* of Donegal,
by
254 LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. [June 8.
of this saint was commemorated, as we find from the Kalendar of Drum-
6
mond, at the 8th of June.
Article VII. —Reputed Festival of St. Disibod, Bishop, Belgium. In the city of Mentz, Germany, St. Disibod, Bishop, was venerated, accord- ing to the English Martyrology of John Wilson, as also according to Demp-
ster, Wion, Dorgan, Menard and Saussay, in his Gallic Martyrology. The 1
Bollandists have an entry, to the foregoing effect, at this date, but they refer
to the 8th of July for his Acts. It seems pretty evident, that a mistake has
been committed, in substituting June here for July. At the 8th of June,
Thomas has entered in his " Dempster
2 the feast of St. Dysibod,BishopinBelgium. 3 Atthe8thofJuly,moreshallbefound
concerning him.
Article VIII. —St. Cormac h. Liathain. At this date, the Martyr-
of x a festival in honour of Cormac h. Liathain. His ology Tallagh registers
referable to the 21st of 2 Particulars June.
commemoration is more
regarding him will be found at that day.
Weare the told, by
148, 149.
5 Dr. Todd
Aeneae Martyrol,' meaning probably that the Feilire of /Engus (and it might have been added the Mart. Taml. also) calls him simply Medran,notMedranmacUaMaichten. "
'
It notices, that in Ireland, the Natalis of
mitted saints, p. 53.
2 The French called it by this name, and
the Germans have it Hessen. It was a por- vince in Germany, in the circle of the Rhine. See Bavdrand's " Novum Lexicon Geogra- phicum," tomusi. , p. 340.
3 At this date,—their Acts may be found,
Article x. « See " Acta Sanctorum,"
tomus ii. , Junii viii. Among the preter- mitted saints, p. 52.
2 See " Historian Catholicae Iberniae Com- pendium," tomus i. , lib. iv. , cap. xi. , p. 50.
in a note
:
" The more
xxvi.
says
recent hand notes here, Medranus juxta S.
Kelly, p.
the holy Confessors Medrain and Murchon,
was celebrated, at this date. See Bishop
Forbes'
"
Kalendarsof Scottish Saints," p.
15. See, also, p. —382. •
Article vii. See "Acta Sancto-
rum," tomus ii. , Junii viii. Among the pre-
termitted
a
saints, p. 52.
Thus : "In Belgio Dysibodi episcopi,
qui multum in Hirlandia ad abolendos ne- fariae impietatis ritus adlaboravit. VV. Sur. " 3 See Bishop Forbes' " Kalendars of Scot-
properly
Article IX. —Festival of Translation to the Breirenavien Monastery of Four Bodies belonging to the Company of Ursulines.
panions, connected with the Sodality of St. Ursula, were translated to the Breirenavien Monastery in Hassia or Hesse.
2 The Bollandists refer a further account to the 21st of October, 3 the chief feast of St. Ursula and her companions.
Article X. —St. Columba. On the authority of the Florarian Manu- script,asalsoonthatofCamerarius,theBollandists* haveanoticeofSt. Columba, Abbot in Scotia, at this date, but they refer his Acts to the 9th of June. In the anonymous list of Irish Saints, published by O'Sullevan Beare,2 we find the name of St. Columba, at the 8th of June. On Henry Fitzsimon's
1 who
under the Abbot Henry II. , and in the year 1142, the bodies of Four Com-
4 Edited by Drs. Todd and Reeves, pp.
tish Saints," p. 202—. Article viii.
Bollandists,
quote
Galenius for the that account,
'3
Menologium Scotorum,"
'
«
Edited by Rev. Dr.
See Colgan's "Trias Thaumaturga," Quarta Vita S. Columbae, lib. i. , cap. vi. , n.
45, p, 374. —
Article ix. Sanctorum,"
See " Acta
tomusii. , Juniiviii. Amongthepreter-
June 9. ] LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. 255
list, at the same date, on the authorities of Joceline and of Floratius, we find a Columba,Abbas. 3 Thismaybeintendedtorepresentavigilfeastforthe great St. Columba, Abbot of Iona. *
Article XI. —Festival of Holy Job's Death. As we have already seen,
1 at the 8th of there is a Festival, which June,
in the " of St. Feilire';"
iEngus,
commemorates the reception after victory and white battle of Holy Job. Nor
are we left to infer, without warrant, that this entry means his passing away
2 Elsewhere, we have not been able to find such a feast in other Calendars.
Article XII. —St. Muician. A festival in honour of Muician, was
1
celebrated on this day, as we find recorded in the Martyrology of Donegal. Appended to his name in the table, we meet these words, Subulcus, Porcia- nus. a Nothing more seems to be known regarding him.
I^mtfr JBap oi 3une,
ARTICLE I. —LIFE OF ST. COLUMKILLE OR COLUMBA, ABBOT OF IONA, AND APOSTLE OF CALEDONIA.
[SIXTH CENTURY. ]
CHAPTER I.
INTRODUCTION—ANCIENT MANUSCRIPT LIVES OF ST. COLUMBA OR COLUMKILLE IN IRELAND, GREAT BRITAIN, AND ON THE CONTINENT—PRINTED ACTS OF THE HOLY APOSTLE OF CALEDONIA—PROPHECIES RELATING TO HIM—THE DESCENT AND FAMILY OF ST. COLUMBA—HIS BIRTH AND BAPTISM—VARIOUS NAMES GIVEN TO HIM.
from earth to Heaven on this
day.
3 See ibid. ,
2 The scholiast adds to the word
Series vol. i.
xciii.
p.
On the Calendar of
Oengus,
ibid. , pp. 454, 455.
illustrious Apostle of Caledonia, as ranked in order of time, lived after some remarkable because had
THE
been born before him, and he belonged, with these thus distinguished, to the second-class of Irish Saints. Among this noble band, none achieved more than he did the characteristics of true greatness. His highly intellectual power of thought was united with the most lofty and holy aspirations. As the illustrious missionary of Ireland to a kindred people, and as the renowned archimandrite of both Scotias, his career was marked by vast and super- natural works. The Apostles, likewise, proved their laborious and fruitful missions by their miracles. And, while the Holy Fathers bear one common testimony to the existence of miracles, in the early Christian Church ; it is
cap. xii. , p. 53.
—Ai|MCiu, Ibid. , p.
Drs. Todd
4 See his Life succeeding, at 9th day of June, Art. i.
Article xi. — * See "Transactions of the Royal Irish Academy," Irish Manuscript
i. e. , ad caelum in hoc die exiit. " xcix.
persons commemorated, they
Article xii. — 1 Edited and Reeves, pp. 148, 149.
s See
by
256 LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. [June 9.
not so very unwarrantable to believe, that St. Columba's great holiness and great enterprises were also approved, by such wonderful effects of God's
grace. Yet,wearenotpreparedtostate,thatallthosepersonalaccounts,which have come down to us since his time, are deserving of equal consideration ; discrimination must be used, in sifting the mass of materials, which have accumulated for his Life, and which are preserved in our public archives. Thus, we shall endeavour to extract, whatever appears most authentic, rela- tively to his transactious, after having first briefly recounted the chief sources, fromwhichsuchnoticesmaybestbedrawn. Tothecivilandecclesiastical historians, and to the literary men of our time, we are mainly indebted for that information, which has shed such a halo of renown, on one of the greatest Christian missionaries, born within the British Islands.
Various Manuscript copies of the Life of St. Columkille exist, in the different Libraries of Ireland. There is a Vita S. Columbse, by Adamnan, in Marsh's Library, Dublin ; and, it is given with those twenty-six other Lives
of Irish Saints, contained in a vellum folio Manuscript.
1
There are several
Manuscripts preserved in the Royal Irish Academy, and which contain
accounts of St. Columkille. Thus, the large folio vellum Codex, known as
the Leabhar 2 contains an account of the birth,
Breac, parentage, education,
vocation, and exile, of St. Columkille. Among the O'Longan Manuscripts, belonging to the Royal Irish Academy, there are Lives of St. Columkille. 3 The Messrs. Hodges and Smith's collection of Manuscripts, belonging to the Royal Irish Academy, contains an imperfect copy of Manus O'Donnell's Life of St. Columkille. 4 Besides, there are other accounts regarding our saint. s In Great Britain, and especially in England, we find many of these Manu- scripts. The Libraries of Oxford 6 and of Cambridge J Universities have copies. The Duke of Buckingham's collection of Manuscripts at Stowe 8 contained an ancient, but an imperfect,' Life of our saint, in the Irish lan- guage. Its age is uncertain, but probably it is referable to the twelfth cen-
10 AVitaS. totheDukeof isin tury. Columbse, belonging Devonshire,
Article i. —Chapter i. — • This is of the thirteenth century, but it is erroneously styled the Codex Kilkenniensis. Adamnan's Lifeofoursaintisfromfol. 39to51.
2 Classed No. 40, 6.
3 One copy is in vol. vi. , at p. 186, of the
Catalogue of the Cottonian MSS. , it is marked No. 13. Moreover, a Vita S. Colum- boe Abbatis et —Confessoris, MS. Cott. Tiber. E. i. F. f 180b 182. Besidesthereis aMS. Bodl. Tanner. 15, Ff. 108, 113, veil, folio, xv. cent. This is the same text as printed in
MSS. Another is in the MS. classed No. 39, 6. Another small 4X0 paper MS. classed No. 204, is a transcript, taken from the MS. last described, with blank leaves to fill up the part wanting, in case a
more perfect copy should be found.
4 It is in a small 4to paper MS. and classed
No. 203, in the Royal Irish Academy.
s The viii. vol. of O'Longan MSS. in the Royal Irish Academy, contains a story of Colum Cille, of Comgall, of Cainneach, and ofCruinthear Dathi, or Nathi. This is a monastic story about fasting and abstinence.
See p. 118.
6 Thus, among the Oxford University MSS. we find, Vita S. Columbse Abbatis. MS. Bodl. Rawl. B. 505, pp. 61, 73, veil. fol. xiv. cent. Also, MS. Bodl. Rawl. B. 485, f. 94, veil. 4to, xiv. cent. Likewise, Vita S. Co- lumbse Saxonice MS. Cott. Jul. A. x. veil.
8vo, ix. cent. This is the concluding portion of St. Columba's Life in Saxon. In Smith's
" Nova In Legenda Anglise. "
O'Longan
Capgrave's
addition to these is a Vita S. Columbce per
Magnum O'DonellumTirconallkePrincipem, Hibernice. MS. Bodl. Rawl. b. 101. A Latin translation of this Life is printed by Colgan.
? We here find enumerated: Vita S. Columbre, Saxonice, MS. C. C. C. Cant. 196 (ol.
