See
Scriptorum
Illustrium Majoris Britanniae," &c.
O'Hanlon - Lives of the Irish Saints - v9
] LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS.
253 Article XIV.
—St.
Darerca.
—The Martyrology of Tallagh,' mentions,
that S. Darerca was venerated, at the
2 The
of of Donegal has her feast, at this same day.
him, and by Castellan, at the 9th of September. about St. Boisil, at the 23rd February. *
1
Already have we treated
9th
September.
Martyrology
Article XV. —St. Diomman,—The simple entry, Diomman, without
further is met with in the designation,
1 at the
of
ofSeptember. NocorrespondingnoticeisfoundinthepublishedMartyr-
ology of Tallagh.
Article XVI. —St. Cainchomrach, Abbot of Iona. {Tenth Century. } Cainchomrach, Abbot of Iona, is said to have been venerated at the 9th of
He seems to have exercised that office, while
Coarb of Columkille and Adamnan, presided over Iona and Raphoe. 2 He is also called Caenchomhrae, by the O'Clerys, who state that he died a. d. 945. 3
Article XVII. —St. Boisil, Prior of Melrose, Scotland. —A festival of St. Boisil, who is called Basilius, by Hugh Menard, has been placed by
September.
Robhartach,
1
Centb JBap of September.
ARTICLE I. —ST. FINIAN, FINNIA, FINNEN, FINNBARR, OR FINNIAN, BISHOP OF MOVILLE, COUNTY OF DOWN.
[SIXTH CENTURY. ]
CHAPTER I .
INTRODUCTION—WRITERS ON ST. FINIAN's ACTS—HIS FAMILY DESCENT—EARLY INSTRUCTORS—SAID TO HAVE BEEN IN SCOTLAND, AND A DISCIPLE OF NENNIO OR NENNIUS—RECORDED VISIT TO ROME, WHERE HE HAD BEEN ORDAINED—RETURN TO IRELAND.
this illustrious saint deserves to be admired and loved, is clear
from a comparison made, that in. manners and life he was like unto THAT 1
8
This, indeed, is conferring on him a very great encomium. That he was greatly reverenced, in the early Irish Church, is
Article xv. —* Edited by Drs. Todd iii. , Septembris ix. Among the preter-
James the Apostle.
and Reeves, pp. 242, 243. Article xvl—1 See
mitted Saints, p. 325.
2 See the Second Volume of this at work,
that date, Art. x. —
" Trias Thaumaturga," Quinta Appendix ad Acta
S. Columbse, iii. , sect, v. , cap.
Article Chapter ' This is to be found in the folios of an ancient vellum book —known as the Book of Leinster—and now preserved in the Franciscan Library, Dublin. Among these, also, the Martyrology of St.
p. 501.
See Dr. Reeves' Adamnan's "Life of St. Columba. " Additional notes, O,
p. 393.
3 See Dr. O'Donovan's edition, vol. ii. ,
pp. 656, 657. Article xvii.
Bollandists. See
i. , i.
2
Colgan's
Martyrology
Donegal,
9th
— Maelruain of Tallagh is included. 'z
"
This is noticed by . the See "The Martyrology of Donegal," Acta Sanctorum," tomus edited by Drs. Todd and Reeves, pp. 44, 45.
*54 LIVESOFTHEIRISHSAINTS. [Septemberio.
proved, not only from the regard in which he was held by exalted contem- poraries ; but, also, from the fact, of not less than four distinct festivals
having been noted, by our hagiologists, to revere his memory, viz. , the nth of Februarys the i8th of March/ the ioth of September, and the 18th of November. Hisname,however,takesdifferentforms,andhence,too,itis probable, some mistakes have been admitted, in this order of festivals ; or rather, as we may assume, because two saints, whose names closely correspond, may have been confounded in the accounts of different writers. * Thus, with the present Bishop of Moville, St. Fridian or Frigidian, Bishop of Lucca, has
6
been considered identical.
both were distinct persons ;? and while the present date is the chief festival for St. Finian, Abbot of Magh Bile or Moville; the 18th of November is that for the feast of St. Fridian or Frigidian, Bishop of Lucca. It is no diffi- cult matter to understand, how the medieval writers may have erred, in seeking materials for the acts of St. Fridian, and by assuming they were in part to be found in those Irish traditions, which had reference to the present St. Finian. However, it must be allowed, that his acts have been greatly confused, and in some respects they seem conflicting and contradictory.
There is a Latin Vita S. Finiani, among the Burgundian Library Manu-
8
scripts, Bruxelles ;
but, from Mr. S. Bindon's brief description, it is not
3 See at that date, in the Second Volume of this work, Art. xvi.
4 See Art. viii. in the Third Volume of this work, at that date.
s Colgan accounts for the nominal changes,
by stating, that where Irish writers have a
double nn, in place of the letter n, they are
used to substitute d: hence for Finn and
Finnian, they write Find and Findian.
Wherefore, the Italians, by transposing the
letters n and i, have converted n into r,
so that for Findianus we find Fridianus,
and by a further corruption, they have con-
verted Fridianus into Frigdianus and
Frigidianus. This supposition, however, is
too fanciful to be readily accepted.
Finnian and Findbarr are names indiscrimi-
nately applied to the Bishop of Maghbile ; Fourthly, Fridian and Finnian are said to
have had the same master, Mugentius, as Maguire and the Commentator on yEngus state. Fifthly, both are stated to have ruled over the monastery of Maghbile or Macbil. Sixthly, because, some circumstanc«s related in their acts apply to one and the other.
7 At present, it is only necessary to state, that while Fridian or Frigidian was buried at Lucca, Finnnian of Maghbile is said to have been interred in Damh-inis.
8
9 In the Leab—har Breac copy is the fol-
6
Such seems to have been the opinion of
Colgan, in " Acta Sanctorum Hibemiae. "
Vita S. Fridiani Episcopi, Appendix, cap. i. f
p. 642. Thefollowingarehisinconclusive reasons : first, because, Fridian is said to have been of royal Ultonian origin, in his Acts, and by Franciotti, Ghinius and Per- notti, with other writers treating about him ; while a similar origin is assigned for the present Finnian by Capgrave, the Sanctilo- gium Genealogicum, cap. 9, by Selbach, by the Psalter of Cashel, and by others. Secondly, because Fridianus and Finnian flourished about the middle of the sixth century, in the time of Pope Pelagius 1. Thirdly, because Fridianus has been called
the Irish writers Finnian and
as also by Franciotti in his Life ; while
by
Findbarr,
However, to us it seems well established, that
possible to determine which of the Finians is there meant, as many so called
""
are in our Irish Calendars. In the Feilire of St. ^Engus,9 at the ioth of
September, this saint is commemorated with a high eulogy. The scholiast has added two explanatory comments. 10 The Life of this holy man is to be
In vol. xxii. , at fol. 83.
lowing stanza
Clii •oengoin conglAme ConiAchc cA^faI fit>e Suitnan&j\iummatl pnt)bApr» muigebile.
Thus rendered into English by Whitley Stokes, LL. D. : "A body of red gold with purity ; over a sea came he : a sage for whom Irelan—d is (was) sad : Findbarr of
of the
Magh Bile. " "Transactions Royal
Irish Academy," Irish Manuscript Series, vol. i. On the Calendar of Oengus, p. cxxxvii.
10 One of these, at the word congL&ine,
has in Irish and Latin what is thus rendered
into " with i. e. , with the English, purity,
Gospel which is the new law ; for it is he
:
September io. ] LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. 255
p. cxliv.
in
u Novo
Legenda Angliae,"
11 and it is 12
from some
copied
1
who succeeded St. Aidan, * Bishop of Lindisfarne, on the death of the latter
in 651. Archbishop Ussher gives us some account of this St. Finnio, Find- barrus, or Vinnianus. 15 Colgan intended his Acts for publication, at the 10th
found,
acts written by John of Teignmouth. John Bale, Protestant Bishop of Ossory, includes this saint in his work, but confounds him with St. Finan'3
Capgrave's
16 and also at the 18th of November. ^ The of Breviary
of
Aberdeen has Lessons recording this holy man. '
of the British Churches, 1 ? he treats about our St. Finian. The Bollandists, 20 who notice the festival of St. Finanus, Bishop and Confessor, at the 10th of September, think it not improbable, that he is the same person as Finbarr,
September,
mentioned by some as having been venerated on this day.
" 22 account of St. Finian, or Winnin, in Bishop Challenor's Brittania Sancta. "
The Rev. Alban Butler has some notices of him,a3 as likewise the Rev. Dr. Lanigan,24 and mention likewise in the Petits Bollandistes. 2s
The Welch writers call him St. Winnin. 26 Thus, the word Fin of the Irish is changed by the Cambro-Britons into Win and Gwin. 2 ? Under this form of the name Bishop Forbes also treats of St. 'Finen. 28 The birth of this great man, and his future sanctity, are said to have been revealed to St. Patrick, a
long time before his birth.
He sprung from a most noble parentage. His
2 9 and his mother's Lassara. accounts, he was the son of Ultach, King of Ulster. 3°
father's name was
to some His parents seem to have been Christians. Probably, they received the faith, when St. Patrick had been engaged evangelizing that part of Ulster, where they dwelt. They belonged to the illustrious Aradean stock. St. Finnian is said to have sprung fromtheraceofFiatachFinn,or"FiatachtheFair,"monarchofErin. He ruled, only, for the very short period of three years, or from a. d. 37 to 39. 31
that first brought the Gospel into Ireland. " Also, on the word JTiTTOOApp, there is an
Irish comment thus in given
"
i. e. white hair was on him, i. e. Finden. "—Ibid. ,
Carpreus,
According
also with a Fridianus or Frigidianus, Bishop of Lucca, who is marked in the Roman Martyrology, and whose festival occurs on the 1 8th of November.
22
See Part ii. , at September 10th, pp. 124 to 126.
13 See the Second Volume of this work,
the 17th February, Art. xxvi.
'* See the Eighth Volume of this work,
at
at
See Catalogus Actuum Sanctorum quae MS. habentur, Ordine Mensium et Dierum. "
*' See "Acta Sanctorum Hiberniae," Martii
the 31st of August, Art. i. 's"
See Britannicarum Ecclesiarum Anti-
de Septembre, p. 2.
26 "
quitates," cap. xvii. , pp. 493, 494. 16 "
See Bishop Challenor's Britannia
English :
11 """
See fol. 147, 148.
See Scriptorum Illustrium Majoris Britanniae," &c. Centur. i. , cap, 74, and cent, xiv. , cap 19.
23 See Lives of the Fathers, Martyrs, and other principal Saints," vol. ix. , Sep- tember x.
24 See " Ecclesiastical History of Ireland," vol. ii. , chap, x. , sect. vi. and nn. , pp. 25 to 28.
23 See " Vies des Saints," tomexi. , xe Jour
xviii. Vita S. p. 649.
Fridiani, Appendix, cap. v. ,
28 See " Kalendars of Scottish
Saints,"
18
19 M
See Britannicarum Ecclesiarum Anti-
quitates," cap. xvii. , p. 494.
pp. 463 to 466.
29 St. Finnian of Movilla was son of
Cairbre, one of the Dal Fiatach, the royal family of Ulster, and he became the patron saint of the Ultonians. See Rev. William Reeves' "Ecclesiastical Antiquities of Down, Connor and Dromore. " Appendix
A, sect. iii.
3° See Mr. and Mrs. S. C Hallt
" Ireland : its Scenery, Character," &c, vol. iii. , Down, p. 16.
In Pars Hyemalis, fol. xxxviii.
*° " See
tembris x. p. 483.
Acta Sanctorum," tomus iii. , Sep- Among the pretermitted saints,
21
"
The Bollandists remark, likewise, that
Acta Sanctorum Hiberniae," Colgan
in his
not only confounds Finanus or Finnianus with Finbarrus, venerated at this day, but
8
In Ussher's Antiquities
Sancta," part ii. September 10th, p. 124. 87 See Archbishop Ussher's "Britanni-
carum Ecclesiarum Antiquitates," cap. xvii. , p. 494-
21
There is an
256 LIVESOFTHEIRISHSAIATS. [Septemberio.
"
31 See Dr. O'Donovan's
Four Masters," vol. i. , pp. 96 to 99.
32 The Tribe or Race of Fiatach Finn. This warlike tribe was seated in the present county of Down.
33 Mac Donlevy, who, in the twelfth century, offered such a brave resistance to Sir John De Courcy, in Ulster, was head of
'
this
34 Such is the pedigree made out for St.
family.
Finnian or Findian of Magbile, in the
"
Genealogic Sanctilogy," chap. xix.
35 See
Colgan's
" Acta Sanctorum
Hiberniae," xviii. Martii. Appendix ad
Acta S. Fridiani, cap. v. , p. 649.
36 " See that tract,
bo means of subsistence, and were
there
Incipit Catalogus Sanctorum Hiberniae, secundum diversa
the Dal Fiatach32 and our saint therefore descended,33
From this
belonged to the seed of Heremon. St. Finnian was the son of Corpre, son to Ailild, son of Trichem, son to Fieg, son of Imchad, son to Bressal, son of Serchad, son to Fiathach, Finn,34 the monarch of Ireland, already alluded to, who flourished in the beginning of the first age of Christianity. 35
born in Ireland, about the beginning of the sixth century.
The lustre of St. Finnian's virtues, however, was far greater that that dis- tinction drawn from his family and race. It seems likely, from early youth, he desired to lead a religious life. He is set down among the very foremost Saints of the second Class, in that ancient-Irish Catalogue, published by Ussher. Among those old Irish Saints,36 classed in three orders, we find the two Finnians : viz. , he of Clonard, and the present Saint. St. Finnian's first instructions in Christian piety and learning were drawn from a saintly Bishop, knownasColmanofDromore. 37 Hewasrecommendedbyhisparents,to
the care of that holy director, with whom he lived for some years, in the practice of entire obedience and humility. Afterwards, St. Finnian was directed to Coelan,38 the holy Abbot of Noendrum, or Endrum. This venerable Abbot on first seeing young Finian, discovered by a prophetic light his eminent sanctity. Therefore Coelan sought to excuse himself from receiving that disciple, whom he considered to be greatly his superior, both in virtue and grace.
However, he recommended St. Finnian to St. Nennidh or Nennio,39 a celebrated British Prelate. He lived at Candida Casa, in Scotland. This See was then called the great monastery/ St. Nennio is said to have sent his ships to Ireland, with which country, after leaving it, he still maintained close and friendly relations. In one of these Finnian was conveyed to Scot-
1
King,
That holy Prelate received the young man, who soon became one of his most
land. This was agreeably to what Finian had previously foretold/
beloved and favoured 2 disciples/
him the
habit, and trained him, for some years, in monastic discipline, and in the instruction of sacred letters. This course was intended to aid his career. In the study of these literary and religious exercises, he made great progress ;
Annals of the
There,
bishop gave
religious
disappointed in taking fish. He declared
Tempora," published by Archbishop that no person should thenceforth catch
Ussher, in
"
Britannicarum Ecclesiarum
fishes in it, and accordingly the stream changed its course. This tradition is
preserved by the people, that the Garnock in Stevenson has left its former bed dry. See the " New Statistical Account of Scot-
land," vol. v. Ayrshire, pp. 427, 428. Thence he is said to have sought Sacrum
Antiquitates," cap. xvii. , pp. 473, 474.
37 See his Life in the Sixth Volume of
this work, at the 7th June. Art. i.
# See his Acts at the 23rd of June, in the
Sixth Volume of this work. Art. i.
» Or Ninian. His festival comes on the
the
i6th of September, where an account of him may be found in the present volume.
*° See Archbishop Ussher's " Britanni-
carum Ecclesiarum Antiquitates,;' cap. xvii. ,
p. 494.
* l See Bishop Challenor's " Britannia
Sancta," part ii. , September 10th, p. 125. *3 The Breviary of Aberdeen has an account of St. Finnin's or Winnin's arrival and acts in Scotland, which does not accord with what we believe to be the more
probable one here recorded. It relates, that when Winnin landed with his com- panions, they came to a river called Gar- nock for the purpose of fishing, as they had
He was
September jo. ] LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. 257
but, more especially was he a proficient in the science of the Saints. 43 His intellect was illuminated with holy lights from on high. He was already favoured with the gift of miracles; and of these, some instances are recorded. « For the sake of further improvement, Finian travelled to Rome,45 after he had spent some time under Nennio's direction. There, he spent seven years, in the continual study of true wisdom. His faculties were doubtless further developed by his residence in the Eternal City. At the end of the time indicated, he was ordained a Priest. *6 This is referred to about the year 540/7 Returning homeward, he preached the gospel, it is said, to some Pagans, in the neighbourhood of Italy.
His preaching was confirmed with extraordinary miracles.
On arriving in Ireland, he founded the Church and Monastery of Magbile,
andmostprobablynotlaterthana. d. 540/8 HavingbeenconsecratedBishop, by his preaching and life, he very much edified that portion of God's church, and there planted the Gospel seed, destined in after times to fructify and greatly to increase.
CHAPTER II.
TIME WHEN ST. FINIAN FLOURISHED—HIS MIRACLES—FOUNDER OF MAGHBILE AND DRUIM-FIONN MONASTERIES—HIS RELATION AS MASTER TO SOME DISTINGUISHED IRISH SAINTS—HIS LAST ILLNESS AND DEATH—HIS FESTIVALS AND COMMEMORA- TIONS—CONCLUSION.
1
St. Finian flourished during the reign of Tuathal Maelgarb, King of Ireland. The spirit of prophecy was not wanting in this saint; since he foretold that
king's unhappy death. He lived also, during the reign of the succeeding monarch, Dermitius or Diarmaid. 2 His miracles were numerous and greatly celebrated. He restored a nun to life, it is said, in a church, which was called the Cell of the Mount. The servant of a certain Bishop, that had been drowned, St. Finnian also resuscitated. He recalled to life, by his
Nemus — now Holywood — where he selected a place to dwell with his disciples. There as a result of his prayers a clear well bubbled up. In a good and holy age, we are told, he was chosen bishop by the clerics and people of his country, and having wrought many miracles, he was honourably interred in Kilwinne. This account ends with the sentence—" ubi nunc monachorum viget claritas et illorum virorum sanctitas perpetua. "
43 See Bishop Challoner's " Britannia Sancta," part ii. , September 10th, p. 125. . 44 The Aberdeen Breviary states, that in
praying, and laid the sick man down before him. After a little rest, the infirm youth recovered, and when they carried him home his pristine health was restored.
4s Such is the account left by John Cap-
grave. v
46 See Ussher's " Britannicarum Ecclesi-
arum Antiquitates," cap. xvii. , p. 494.
47 See ibid. > Index Chronologicus ad a. d.
48 "
gee Tjr# Lanigan's Ecclesiastical
History of Ireland," vol. ii. , chap, x. , sect.
'According to Capgrave, Kilwinnin, Scotland, a certain person Tuathal Maelgarbh reigned from a. d. 528
laboured under wliat was supposed to be an
incurable disease, but his friends brought
him to the basilica of St. Winni'n that he
might be cured. Now there stood outside
of the church a stone cross marvellously
constructed, which during his lifetime
Blessed V\ innin had erected in honour of began his reign to A. D. 565. Then he was blessed Brigida the virgin. To it they slain at Rath Bee by Aedh Dubh, King of fixed the sick youth. By advice of the Uladh. See William M. Hennessy's edition,
priests, his friends entered the church pp. 48 to 57.
"
Vol. IX—No. 5. R
dxl. , p. 529.
vi. ,p. 25. — Chapter ii.
to 538, according to Dr. O'Donovan's "Annals of the Four Masters,'' vol. i.
that S. Darerca was venerated, at the
2 The
of of Donegal has her feast, at this same day.
him, and by Castellan, at the 9th of September. about St. Boisil, at the 23rd February. *
1
Already have we treated
9th
September.
Martyrology
Article XV. —St. Diomman,—The simple entry, Diomman, without
further is met with in the designation,
1 at the
of
ofSeptember. NocorrespondingnoticeisfoundinthepublishedMartyr-
ology of Tallagh.
Article XVI. —St. Cainchomrach, Abbot of Iona. {Tenth Century. } Cainchomrach, Abbot of Iona, is said to have been venerated at the 9th of
He seems to have exercised that office, while
Coarb of Columkille and Adamnan, presided over Iona and Raphoe. 2 He is also called Caenchomhrae, by the O'Clerys, who state that he died a. d. 945. 3
Article XVII. —St. Boisil, Prior of Melrose, Scotland. —A festival of St. Boisil, who is called Basilius, by Hugh Menard, has been placed by
September.
Robhartach,
1
Centb JBap of September.
ARTICLE I. —ST. FINIAN, FINNIA, FINNEN, FINNBARR, OR FINNIAN, BISHOP OF MOVILLE, COUNTY OF DOWN.
[SIXTH CENTURY. ]
CHAPTER I .
INTRODUCTION—WRITERS ON ST. FINIAN's ACTS—HIS FAMILY DESCENT—EARLY INSTRUCTORS—SAID TO HAVE BEEN IN SCOTLAND, AND A DISCIPLE OF NENNIO OR NENNIUS—RECORDED VISIT TO ROME, WHERE HE HAD BEEN ORDAINED—RETURN TO IRELAND.
this illustrious saint deserves to be admired and loved, is clear
from a comparison made, that in. manners and life he was like unto THAT 1
8
This, indeed, is conferring on him a very great encomium. That he was greatly reverenced, in the early Irish Church, is
Article xv. —* Edited by Drs. Todd iii. , Septembris ix. Among the preter-
James the Apostle.
and Reeves, pp. 242, 243. Article xvl—1 See
mitted Saints, p. 325.
2 See the Second Volume of this at work,
that date, Art. x. —
" Trias Thaumaturga," Quinta Appendix ad Acta
S. Columbse, iii. , sect, v. , cap.
Article Chapter ' This is to be found in the folios of an ancient vellum book —known as the Book of Leinster—and now preserved in the Franciscan Library, Dublin. Among these, also, the Martyrology of St.
p. 501.
See Dr. Reeves' Adamnan's "Life of St. Columba. " Additional notes, O,
p. 393.
3 See Dr. O'Donovan's edition, vol. ii. ,
pp. 656, 657. Article xvii.
Bollandists. See
i. , i.
2
Colgan's
Martyrology
Donegal,
9th
— Maelruain of Tallagh is included. 'z
"
This is noticed by . the See "The Martyrology of Donegal," Acta Sanctorum," tomus edited by Drs. Todd and Reeves, pp. 44, 45.
*54 LIVESOFTHEIRISHSAINTS. [Septemberio.
proved, not only from the regard in which he was held by exalted contem- poraries ; but, also, from the fact, of not less than four distinct festivals
having been noted, by our hagiologists, to revere his memory, viz. , the nth of Februarys the i8th of March/ the ioth of September, and the 18th of November. Hisname,however,takesdifferentforms,andhence,too,itis probable, some mistakes have been admitted, in this order of festivals ; or rather, as we may assume, because two saints, whose names closely correspond, may have been confounded in the accounts of different writers. * Thus, with the present Bishop of Moville, St. Fridian or Frigidian, Bishop of Lucca, has
6
been considered identical.
both were distinct persons ;? and while the present date is the chief festival for St. Finian, Abbot of Magh Bile or Moville; the 18th of November is that for the feast of St. Fridian or Frigidian, Bishop of Lucca. It is no diffi- cult matter to understand, how the medieval writers may have erred, in seeking materials for the acts of St. Fridian, and by assuming they were in part to be found in those Irish traditions, which had reference to the present St. Finian. However, it must be allowed, that his acts have been greatly confused, and in some respects they seem conflicting and contradictory.
There is a Latin Vita S. Finiani, among the Burgundian Library Manu-
8
scripts, Bruxelles ;
but, from Mr. S. Bindon's brief description, it is not
3 See at that date, in the Second Volume of this work, Art. xvi.
4 See Art. viii. in the Third Volume of this work, at that date.
s Colgan accounts for the nominal changes,
by stating, that where Irish writers have a
double nn, in place of the letter n, they are
used to substitute d: hence for Finn and
Finnian, they write Find and Findian.
Wherefore, the Italians, by transposing the
letters n and i, have converted n into r,
so that for Findianus we find Fridianus,
and by a further corruption, they have con-
verted Fridianus into Frigdianus and
Frigidianus. This supposition, however, is
too fanciful to be readily accepted.
Finnian and Findbarr are names indiscrimi-
nately applied to the Bishop of Maghbile ; Fourthly, Fridian and Finnian are said to
have had the same master, Mugentius, as Maguire and the Commentator on yEngus state. Fifthly, both are stated to have ruled over the monastery of Maghbile or Macbil. Sixthly, because, some circumstanc«s related in their acts apply to one and the other.
7 At present, it is only necessary to state, that while Fridian or Frigidian was buried at Lucca, Finnnian of Maghbile is said to have been interred in Damh-inis.
8
9 In the Leab—har Breac copy is the fol-
6
Such seems to have been the opinion of
Colgan, in " Acta Sanctorum Hibemiae. "
Vita S. Fridiani Episcopi, Appendix, cap. i. f
p. 642. Thefollowingarehisinconclusive reasons : first, because, Fridian is said to have been of royal Ultonian origin, in his Acts, and by Franciotti, Ghinius and Per- notti, with other writers treating about him ; while a similar origin is assigned for the present Finnian by Capgrave, the Sanctilo- gium Genealogicum, cap. 9, by Selbach, by the Psalter of Cashel, and by others. Secondly, because Fridianus and Finnian flourished about the middle of the sixth century, in the time of Pope Pelagius 1. Thirdly, because Fridianus has been called
the Irish writers Finnian and
as also by Franciotti in his Life ; while
by
Findbarr,
However, to us it seems well established, that
possible to determine which of the Finians is there meant, as many so called
""
are in our Irish Calendars. In the Feilire of St. ^Engus,9 at the ioth of
September, this saint is commemorated with a high eulogy. The scholiast has added two explanatory comments. 10 The Life of this holy man is to be
In vol. xxii. , at fol. 83.
lowing stanza
Clii •oengoin conglAme ConiAchc cA^faI fit>e Suitnan&j\iummatl pnt)bApr» muigebile.
Thus rendered into English by Whitley Stokes, LL. D. : "A body of red gold with purity ; over a sea came he : a sage for whom Irelan—d is (was) sad : Findbarr of
of the
Magh Bile. " "Transactions Royal
Irish Academy," Irish Manuscript Series, vol. i. On the Calendar of Oengus, p. cxxxvii.
10 One of these, at the word congL&ine,
has in Irish and Latin what is thus rendered
into " with i. e. , with the English, purity,
Gospel which is the new law ; for it is he
:
September io. ] LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. 255
p. cxliv.
in
u Novo
Legenda Angliae,"
11 and it is 12
from some
copied
1
who succeeded St. Aidan, * Bishop of Lindisfarne, on the death of the latter
in 651. Archbishop Ussher gives us some account of this St. Finnio, Find- barrus, or Vinnianus. 15 Colgan intended his Acts for publication, at the 10th
found,
acts written by John of Teignmouth. John Bale, Protestant Bishop of Ossory, includes this saint in his work, but confounds him with St. Finan'3
Capgrave's
16 and also at the 18th of November. ^ The of Breviary
of
Aberdeen has Lessons recording this holy man. '
of the British Churches, 1 ? he treats about our St. Finian. The Bollandists, 20 who notice the festival of St. Finanus, Bishop and Confessor, at the 10th of September, think it not improbable, that he is the same person as Finbarr,
September,
mentioned by some as having been venerated on this day.
" 22 account of St. Finian, or Winnin, in Bishop Challenor's Brittania Sancta. "
The Rev. Alban Butler has some notices of him,a3 as likewise the Rev. Dr. Lanigan,24 and mention likewise in the Petits Bollandistes. 2s
The Welch writers call him St. Winnin. 26 Thus, the word Fin of the Irish is changed by the Cambro-Britons into Win and Gwin. 2 ? Under this form of the name Bishop Forbes also treats of St. 'Finen. 28 The birth of this great man, and his future sanctity, are said to have been revealed to St. Patrick, a
long time before his birth.
He sprung from a most noble parentage. His
2 9 and his mother's Lassara. accounts, he was the son of Ultach, King of Ulster. 3°
father's name was
to some His parents seem to have been Christians. Probably, they received the faith, when St. Patrick had been engaged evangelizing that part of Ulster, where they dwelt. They belonged to the illustrious Aradean stock. St. Finnian is said to have sprung fromtheraceofFiatachFinn,or"FiatachtheFair,"monarchofErin. He ruled, only, for the very short period of three years, or from a. d. 37 to 39. 31
that first brought the Gospel into Ireland. " Also, on the word JTiTTOOApp, there is an
Irish comment thus in given
"
i. e. white hair was on him, i. e. Finden. "—Ibid. ,
Carpreus,
According
also with a Fridianus or Frigidianus, Bishop of Lucca, who is marked in the Roman Martyrology, and whose festival occurs on the 1 8th of November.
22
See Part ii. , at September 10th, pp. 124 to 126.
13 See the Second Volume of this work,
the 17th February, Art. xxvi.
'* See the Eighth Volume of this work,
at
at
See Catalogus Actuum Sanctorum quae MS. habentur, Ordine Mensium et Dierum. "
*' See "Acta Sanctorum Hiberniae," Martii
the 31st of August, Art. i. 's"
See Britannicarum Ecclesiarum Anti-
de Septembre, p. 2.
26 "
quitates," cap. xvii. , pp. 493, 494. 16 "
See Bishop Challenor's Britannia
English :
11 """
See fol. 147, 148.
See Scriptorum Illustrium Majoris Britanniae," &c. Centur. i. , cap, 74, and cent, xiv. , cap 19.
23 See Lives of the Fathers, Martyrs, and other principal Saints," vol. ix. , Sep- tember x.
24 See " Ecclesiastical History of Ireland," vol. ii. , chap, x. , sect. vi. and nn. , pp. 25 to 28.
23 See " Vies des Saints," tomexi. , xe Jour
xviii. Vita S. p. 649.
Fridiani, Appendix, cap. v. ,
28 See " Kalendars of Scottish
Saints,"
18
19 M
See Britannicarum Ecclesiarum Anti-
quitates," cap. xvii. , p. 494.
pp. 463 to 466.
29 St. Finnian of Movilla was son of
Cairbre, one of the Dal Fiatach, the royal family of Ulster, and he became the patron saint of the Ultonians. See Rev. William Reeves' "Ecclesiastical Antiquities of Down, Connor and Dromore. " Appendix
A, sect. iii.
3° See Mr. and Mrs. S. C Hallt
" Ireland : its Scenery, Character," &c, vol. iii. , Down, p. 16.
In Pars Hyemalis, fol. xxxviii.
*° " See
tembris x. p. 483.
Acta Sanctorum," tomus iii. , Sep- Among the pretermitted saints,
21
"
The Bollandists remark, likewise, that
Acta Sanctorum Hiberniae," Colgan
in his
not only confounds Finanus or Finnianus with Finbarrus, venerated at this day, but
8
In Ussher's Antiquities
Sancta," part ii. September 10th, p. 124. 87 See Archbishop Ussher's "Britanni-
carum Ecclesiarum Antiquitates," cap. xvii. , p. 494-
21
There is an
256 LIVESOFTHEIRISHSAIATS. [Septemberio.
"
31 See Dr. O'Donovan's
Four Masters," vol. i. , pp. 96 to 99.
32 The Tribe or Race of Fiatach Finn. This warlike tribe was seated in the present county of Down.
33 Mac Donlevy, who, in the twelfth century, offered such a brave resistance to Sir John De Courcy, in Ulster, was head of
'
this
34 Such is the pedigree made out for St.
family.
Finnian or Findian of Magbile, in the
"
Genealogic Sanctilogy," chap. xix.
35 See
Colgan's
" Acta Sanctorum
Hiberniae," xviii. Martii. Appendix ad
Acta S. Fridiani, cap. v. , p. 649.
36 " See that tract,
bo means of subsistence, and were
there
Incipit Catalogus Sanctorum Hiberniae, secundum diversa
the Dal Fiatach32 and our saint therefore descended,33
From this
belonged to the seed of Heremon. St. Finnian was the son of Corpre, son to Ailild, son of Trichem, son to Fieg, son of Imchad, son to Bressal, son of Serchad, son to Fiathach, Finn,34 the monarch of Ireland, already alluded to, who flourished in the beginning of the first age of Christianity. 35
born in Ireland, about the beginning of the sixth century.
The lustre of St. Finnian's virtues, however, was far greater that that dis- tinction drawn from his family and race. It seems likely, from early youth, he desired to lead a religious life. He is set down among the very foremost Saints of the second Class, in that ancient-Irish Catalogue, published by Ussher. Among those old Irish Saints,36 classed in three orders, we find the two Finnians : viz. , he of Clonard, and the present Saint. St. Finnian's first instructions in Christian piety and learning were drawn from a saintly Bishop, knownasColmanofDromore. 37 Hewasrecommendedbyhisparents,to
the care of that holy director, with whom he lived for some years, in the practice of entire obedience and humility. Afterwards, St. Finnian was directed to Coelan,38 the holy Abbot of Noendrum, or Endrum. This venerable Abbot on first seeing young Finian, discovered by a prophetic light his eminent sanctity. Therefore Coelan sought to excuse himself from receiving that disciple, whom he considered to be greatly his superior, both in virtue and grace.
However, he recommended St. Finnian to St. Nennidh or Nennio,39 a celebrated British Prelate. He lived at Candida Casa, in Scotland. This See was then called the great monastery/ St. Nennio is said to have sent his ships to Ireland, with which country, after leaving it, he still maintained close and friendly relations. In one of these Finnian was conveyed to Scot-
1
King,
That holy Prelate received the young man, who soon became one of his most
land. This was agreeably to what Finian had previously foretold/
beloved and favoured 2 disciples/
him the
habit, and trained him, for some years, in monastic discipline, and in the instruction of sacred letters. This course was intended to aid his career. In the study of these literary and religious exercises, he made great progress ;
Annals of the
There,
bishop gave
religious
disappointed in taking fish. He declared
Tempora," published by Archbishop that no person should thenceforth catch
Ussher, in
"
Britannicarum Ecclesiarum
fishes in it, and accordingly the stream changed its course. This tradition is
preserved by the people, that the Garnock in Stevenson has left its former bed dry. See the " New Statistical Account of Scot-
land," vol. v. Ayrshire, pp. 427, 428. Thence he is said to have sought Sacrum
Antiquitates," cap. xvii. , pp. 473, 474.
37 See his Life in the Sixth Volume of
this work, at the 7th June. Art. i.
# See his Acts at the 23rd of June, in the
Sixth Volume of this work. Art. i.
» Or Ninian. His festival comes on the
the
i6th of September, where an account of him may be found in the present volume.
*° See Archbishop Ussher's " Britanni-
carum Ecclesiarum Antiquitates,;' cap. xvii. ,
p. 494.
* l See Bishop Challenor's " Britannia
Sancta," part ii. , September 10th, p. 125. *3 The Breviary of Aberdeen has an account of St. Finnin's or Winnin's arrival and acts in Scotland, which does not accord with what we believe to be the more
probable one here recorded. It relates, that when Winnin landed with his com- panions, they came to a river called Gar- nock for the purpose of fishing, as they had
He was
September jo. ] LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. 257
but, more especially was he a proficient in the science of the Saints. 43 His intellect was illuminated with holy lights from on high. He was already favoured with the gift of miracles; and of these, some instances are recorded. « For the sake of further improvement, Finian travelled to Rome,45 after he had spent some time under Nennio's direction. There, he spent seven years, in the continual study of true wisdom. His faculties were doubtless further developed by his residence in the Eternal City. At the end of the time indicated, he was ordained a Priest. *6 This is referred to about the year 540/7 Returning homeward, he preached the gospel, it is said, to some Pagans, in the neighbourhood of Italy.
His preaching was confirmed with extraordinary miracles.
On arriving in Ireland, he founded the Church and Monastery of Magbile,
andmostprobablynotlaterthana. d. 540/8 HavingbeenconsecratedBishop, by his preaching and life, he very much edified that portion of God's church, and there planted the Gospel seed, destined in after times to fructify and greatly to increase.
CHAPTER II.
TIME WHEN ST. FINIAN FLOURISHED—HIS MIRACLES—FOUNDER OF MAGHBILE AND DRUIM-FIONN MONASTERIES—HIS RELATION AS MASTER TO SOME DISTINGUISHED IRISH SAINTS—HIS LAST ILLNESS AND DEATH—HIS FESTIVALS AND COMMEMORA- TIONS—CONCLUSION.
1
St. Finian flourished during the reign of Tuathal Maelgarb, King of Ireland. The spirit of prophecy was not wanting in this saint; since he foretold that
king's unhappy death. He lived also, during the reign of the succeeding monarch, Dermitius or Diarmaid. 2 His miracles were numerous and greatly celebrated. He restored a nun to life, it is said, in a church, which was called the Cell of the Mount. The servant of a certain Bishop, that had been drowned, St. Finnian also resuscitated. He recalled to life, by his
Nemus — now Holywood — where he selected a place to dwell with his disciples. There as a result of his prayers a clear well bubbled up. In a good and holy age, we are told, he was chosen bishop by the clerics and people of his country, and having wrought many miracles, he was honourably interred in Kilwinne. This account ends with the sentence—" ubi nunc monachorum viget claritas et illorum virorum sanctitas perpetua. "
43 See Bishop Challoner's " Britannia Sancta," part ii. , September 10th, p. 125. . 44 The Aberdeen Breviary states, that in
praying, and laid the sick man down before him. After a little rest, the infirm youth recovered, and when they carried him home his pristine health was restored.
4s Such is the account left by John Cap-
grave. v
46 See Ussher's " Britannicarum Ecclesi-
arum Antiquitates," cap. xvii. , p. 494.
47 See ibid. > Index Chronologicus ad a. d.
48 "
gee Tjr# Lanigan's Ecclesiastical
History of Ireland," vol. ii. , chap, x. , sect.
'According to Capgrave, Kilwinnin, Scotland, a certain person Tuathal Maelgarbh reigned from a. d. 528
laboured under wliat was supposed to be an
incurable disease, but his friends brought
him to the basilica of St. Winni'n that he
might be cured. Now there stood outside
of the church a stone cross marvellously
constructed, which during his lifetime
Blessed V\ innin had erected in honour of began his reign to A. D. 565. Then he was blessed Brigida the virgin. To it they slain at Rath Bee by Aedh Dubh, King of fixed the sick youth. By advice of the Uladh. See William M. Hennessy's edition,
priests, his friends entered the church pp. 48 to 57.
"
Vol. IX—No. 5. R
dxl. , p. 529.
vi. ,p. 25. — Chapter ii.
to 538, according to Dr. O'Donovan's "Annals of the Four Masters,'' vol. i.
