Sigisbert
is held to have been an Irishman by
birth.
birth.
O'Hanlon - Lives of the Irish Saints - v7
'] The learned Bollandist, John Baptist Soller, gives us the
Since faith, according to the Apostle James, is
"
Actsofthis — in six
saint, comprised paragraphs,
atthe nthof
July.
1 Hetells
—t Dempster elsewhere characterized by the Bollandist as a faithless us, tha
writer has placed the festival of this holy man at the 9th of November, in his Scottish Menology. Dempster makes him an uncle by the mother's side to King Eugenius. Again, he has placed the festival of Drostan, monk, at St.
Andrews, in Scotland, on the 14th of December. 2 Nor does he assign any reason for placing a St. Drostan, at both these days, and in a different form of words ; neither does he remark at either of those days a distinction between both, or whether they be one and the same person. Soller imagines, that Dempster, who raked together many things, had disposed these festivals according to his usual custom, by a mere arbitrary process. Ferrarius appears to have inserted the words of Dempster, and with little alteration, in his general Catalogue. 3 At this date, notices of him may be found in Rev. S.
theSaints,"vol. vii. ,JulyII,p. 280.
60 Thus " S. Hildulfi Archi- : Depositio
pnesulis, Mediano monasterio quiescentis, gloriosae sanctitatis viri. "
:
6sThus "TruerisHildulphiArchiepis-
61
episcopi et confessoris.
Scottish Saints,—" p. 205. »
62
tomus hi. , Julii xi.
fessore in Scotia, pp. 198 to 200.
piscopi
et confessoris. "
2 We find notices of a St. Drostan, son to Conanrod, the King of Demetia's son, by Fyn Wennem, daughter to King Aidus of Scotland, who flourished in the time of St. Columba. See Rev. Dr. Reeves' Adamnan's " Life of St. Columba," lib. i. , cap. 9, n. (d), p. 35.
3 Arnold Wion enumerates him the among
monks who were sons of kings,—"quorum locus professions ignoratur. " "Lignum
Thus
Thus : "Treviris B. Hildulfi Archie-
Article ii. See "Acta Sanctorum,"
:
"Treviris, S. Hildulfi, "
ejus
urbis
63 Thus " Treviris S. Hildulfi episcopi
:
et confessoris, qui cum gregem sibi commis- sum sanctitate vitse et sapientiae doctrina
rexisset, taedio hujus vitse episcopatum abdi- cans, in saltu Vosagi multorum pater effectus
monachorum, clarus miraculis, quievit in "
pace.
64 Thus : "Treviris S. Hildulfi episcopi
et confessoris," &c.
copi °6
VV. "
See Bishop Forbes' "Kalendars of
De S. Drostano, Con-
202 LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. [J uly i i .
Baring-Gould'swork. * Sollerwasundersomedoubt,whetherSt. Drostan's
feast should be assigned to the nth of July. However, being moved by the
authority of Sirinus, who gave a short history of this saint,s and even by that 6
of Dempster, he appeals to the consent of churches belonging to his nation, as also, finding the festival of this saint, assigned to this day, in two editions of the English Martyrology, by Wilson. 7 Sufficient evidence has been estab- lished,toassertthevenerationduetothissaint. Sirinuswillnotallow,how- ever, that the Benedictine Order, to which Wilson says our saint belonged, had been established in Scotland, in the sixth century. Until this time, the rule of St. Columba, Abbot of Iona, prevailed there ; and even Mabillon does not enumerate Drostan among saints belonging to the Benedictine Order. There are conflicting accounts, also, regarding our saint. Thus, John Major 8 tells us, that Aidan, King of the Scots, grieved so much at the death of St. Columba,3 that he survived that saint only for a short time. Eugenius then succeededhiminthekingdom. Inthesetimes,St. Drostan,whowasuncle to the king on the mother's side, led a monastic life. He was famous for his miracles. From the obscurity of his manner in expressing himself, how- ever, Major leaves us in doubt, as to whether Drostan was an uncle on the mother's side to Aidan or to Eugene. But, Lesley explains this more clearly He says, that Drostan was uncle on the mother's side to Aidan the King, and
that disdaining the fleeting things of this world, he retired to a monastery. By the example of his great sanctity, he drew many to the profession of a
good life. 10 Some particulars, also, are to be gleaned from Hector Boetius, regarding this saint. 11 The Scottish writers generally agree, that St. Drostan flourished about the end of the sixth century, and at the beginning of the seventh. The Scottish writers thus appearing almost unanimous in these accounts, Soller wonders why O'Sheerin wishes to claim St. Drostan, as an Irishman. Speaking about St. Drostan, Sirin says, he was born and educated in Ireland, as also was his sister Fedhelmia. She was mother to King Aidan, and a daughter to Fethelmius, a nobleman of Connaght origin. These par- ticulars are gleaned from a book, treating on the Mothers of the Kings and illustrious and from the Life of St.
Abbot. 12
in the opinion of O'Sheerin, it is most probable, this St. Drostan lived for the most part in Ireland, and that he was identical with that saint, to whom a parochial church had been dedicated. This was called Kill-Drostan,^ or the "cellofDrostan,"inElphindiocese. 1* TothesestatementsofSirinus,Soller
Cormac,
See his "Historia Majoris Britannia? tarn Angliae quam Scotiae," lib. ii. , cap. vii. , p. 68,
9 See his Life in the Sixth Volume of this work, at the 9th of June, Art. i.
,0 See his work, " De Origine, Moribus, et Rebus Gestis Scotorum," lib. iv. , num. xlix. , p. 145.
"In "Scotorum Hystorise," lib. ix. , fol. clxxvii.
"
His feast occufs on the 26th of March, estate sprevit mundi vanitates, ibidem when a brief notice may be found in the
Irishmen,
Wherefore,
Vitse," lib. iv. , cap. xxvi.
4 See "Lives of Saints," vol. vii. , July
II, p. 278.
5 Taken from the Breviary of Aberdeen.
6"
See Historia Ecclesiastica Gentis Sco-
torum,"tomus i. , lib. iv. , num. 375, p. 206. 7 The following is Wilson's account as
8
" commemoratio S. Dro'stani Confessoris, qui in eodem regno natus e regio sanguine, et
rendered by Sirinus into Latin :
In Scotia,
Aidani regis avunculus existens, in juvenili
monasteriumingressus, S. Benedicti habitum suscepit, in quo statu adeo in humilitate et
perfectione excelluit, ut in Scotia Albiensi et Hibernia celeberrimae famse fuerit, donee plenus sanctitate et miraculis, diem clausit circa annum Christi DC; ubi multa fuere antiquitus altaria et sacella in ejus honorem dicata. " These words are not to be found, however, in the later edition of Wilsons work, published in 1640.
Third Volume of this work. His chief
festival, however, is on the 13th of Decem- ber.
' 3 By some this is placed in the neighbour- hood of Elgin. See Rev. S. Baring-Gould's
"
Lives of the Saints," vol. vii. , July 1 1, p. 278.
,4 See "Acta Sanctorum," tomus iii. , Julii xi. De S. Drostano, num. 4, p.
199.
July i i . ]
LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS.
203
adds, that he had no means for calling them in doubt, nor for confirming
them ; although he could not conceal the fact, that no commemoration of St.
Drostan occurred in the Irish Catalogues of Saints, collected with great
diligence by the Jesuits, Fathers Henry Fitzsimon and Stephen White.
However, he is willing to allow a claim of the Irish to this saint, if Scotch-
men do not object ; but, he says, both Ireland and Scotland may challenge
St. Drostan, for many reasons adduced by Sirinus. What more may be learned
regardingSt. Drostan,canbefoundintheBreviaryofAberdeen. Insub-
stance, this work treats thus regarding the saint. It is there stated, that St.
Drostan was descended from a royal race of the Scots. In early youth he
cultivated pious dispositions. When he had come to a mature age, having
heard concerning the mystery of our Lord's Incarnation and Passion, being
filled with the Holy Ghost, he endeavoured to serve the Almighty, with all
the affection of his soul. His parents found, that the boy Drostan was con-
secrated to God by a deep affection. They sent him to be instructed in
liberal studies to his uncle by the mother's side, St. Columba, who then
dwelt in Ireland. Afterwards, our saint took the religious habit at Dal-
quongale, as stated in the Aberdeen Breviary, but in Dal-Congaile,as corrected
in a marginal note. On the death of his superior, St. Drostan was elected Abbot,
in his place. While he filled this position, for some time, Drostan laboured to
advance the spiritual life of those monks, over whom he presided, by that exam-
ple of life and doctrine he set them. Some time having elapsed, he betook him-
selftoaremoteScottishdesert. However,hedidnotforsaketheflockcom-
mitted to his charge; but rather, he committed it to the supreme Pastor of souls.
There he led the life of a hermit. He built a church, in a place called Glenu-
x
Eske. s According to the Gospel precepts, he thus left all things for Christ.
Drostan cared not for the dignities of this earth, nor for regal honours, which he
might enjoy, owing to the advantages of his birth ; he renounced an earthly kingdom and a human principality, that he might run to the embraces of his Saviour. A certain priest, named Sion, being deprived of sight, was restored to its use, through St. Drostan's merits. The holy man became a despiserof the world, a follower of Christ, a lover of the desert, a conqueror over the old enemy of our race. He always invoked Divine assistance against the snares of his latent enemy, who endeavoured to lay nets of temptation for him. He alwaysaspiredtothejoysofHeaven. And,thathemightneveryieldtothe devil, he bore a severe martyrdom of corporal maceration, while his heart overflowed with compunction of spirit. Through the way of this present life, he aimed at the rewards of life eternal, and the holy man deserved to enter into a deathless life. Having finished his mortal career, in all holiness and
5 ' 16
there to enjoy the happiness of all true saints. 1 ? Owing to his imperfect Acts, Soller did not care to investigate more closely the age in which St. Drostan lived, or theworksheperformed. Thatlearnedwriter,however,wishedtobemore exactly instructed, regarding what place or church he had formerly inhabited, where he had been buried, or with what peculiar honour he had been vene- rated ; since that general consent—asseverated by Dempster—bore as little weight with him as the announcement, already alluded to, that Drostan was venerated at St. Andrews, in Scotland. It would not be easy to discover, whether the church of Aberdeen, truly or falsely, celebrates St. Drostan's festival at the 14th of December. At the nth day of July, Camerarius enters
purity, he departed to "The bosom of his Father and his God,
j s Otherwise Glen-esk. 16
written in a
1? See " Acta Sanctorum," tomus Hi.
xi. De S. Drostano, num. 5, 6, pp 20°-
Gray's "Poems," Elegy Country Churchyard.
Julii i99>
2o 4 LIVES OP THE IRISH SAINTS.
a feast 18 for St. Drostan, Abbot and Confessor. T 9 He is also invoked in a
Litany.
30 The death of this man has been holy
21 placed by Wilson,
Culdee
at the year 600, while Dempster
have notices of this holy man, who was especially venerated in their country.
23 and
Article III. —St. Sigisbert, Comfessor, and St. Placidus, Martyr, Dissentis, Switzerland. {Sixth and Seventh Centuries? ^ Although one of these holy servants of Christ was born in Ireland and the other was a native of Switzerland ; yet, as their companionship in life, and the church honours paid to their memory, give both a claim to be remembered on this day, so it is intended to relate some particulars regarding them. Both these holy men were especially venerated in the Grisons, Switzerland ; but, their existence seems to have been unknown to all the other preceding Martyrolo-
gists, until Ferrarius drew the account from the Records of their church at
Chur, and from their Proper Office there recited. The Bollandists give their
Acts 2 at the present date. 3 The notices, as contained in the Bollandists,
are in part, however, of a legendary character. There is a notice of these
saintsinRev. S. Baring-Gould'swork. * Thereisanaccountoftheminthe
DisentisAnnals. 5 Theformerofthesesaintsmusthavebeenborntowardsthe
close of the sixth century. St.
Sigisbert is held to have been an Irishman by
birth. Thenamehereceivedinbaptismwasprobablydifferent. Somehave
supposed, that his Teutonic name refutes the supposition of his having been
an Irishman. 6 as we have seen in numberless the names of But, instances,
Irish saints have been changed into forms more familiar to people living on
the Continent. His education is said to have been received at Bangor, and
this is probable enough if we accept the succeeding statements regarding
18
Thus : "Sanctus Drostanus Abbas et Confessor. "
" See Bishop Forbes' " Kalendars of Scot- tish Saints," p. 239.
20
torum. "
2
In ten paragraphs.
3 See " Acta Sanctorum," tomus iii. , Julii
xi. I)e SS. Placido Martyre et Sigisberto Confessore in Tenitorio Curiensi in Rhretia. Sylloge ex Breviario Curiensi et Ferrario, pp. 238 to 240.
* See "Lives of the Saints," vol. vii. , July 11, pp. 280, 281.
s See in " Die Wallfartsorte d. Schweiz,"
by Burgener, 1867.
6 At this very day was celebrated the feast
of St. Dathi, Bishop of Ravenna, as Galesi- nus states. The form of his name is
According to Iladdan and Stubbs, Councils and Ecclesiastical Documents, relating to Great Britain and Ireland," vol.
"
ii. , part i. , App. C. 21 "
In his Martyrologium Anglicanum. " 22 In his "HistoriaEcclesiasticaGentis Sco-
torum," tomus i. , lib. iv. , num. 375, p. 2C6. 23 In his work, " De Origine, Moribus et
Rebus Gestis Scotorum," lib. iv. , num. xlix. , p. 145.
s* In his "Historia Britannia? tarn Majoris
and this is no that yet proof
r.
Anglise quam Scotiae," lib. ii. , cap. vii. , p. 69. Edinburgi, —1740, 4to.
altogether Irish,
he was a native of Ireland.
'
Article ill. He states: "In territo-
rio Curiensi —Platidi martyris et Sigisberti Confessori? . " "Catalogus Gcneialis Sane-
7 His Lifeisset downat the 21st ofNo- vember.
2*
has it, at a. d. 606.
The Scottish writers
heismentioned
styled Drostanus, or Dronstanus, the former being the more approved form for writing and pronouncing his name. Although Sirin remarks, that the Breviary of Aberdeen is sufficiently filled with errors, we are obliged to give what it states respecting our saint. We are told, towards the end, that the bones of this holy confessor, Drostan, were buried at Aberdeen, in a stone tomb ; and that there, many, who were afflicted with divers kinds of diseases, had been restored to health through his merits.
Thus,
by John Lesley
John Major,
him. When St. Columbanus? and St. Gaul 8 went on their
into Switzerland, Sigisbert is said to have accompanied them, forming one of
8 9
See his Life, at the 16th of October. This is stated, by an old writer of St.
apostolic
mission
[July
24 whomheis by
July 1 1• ] LIVESOFTHEIRISHSAINTS. 2 5
the twelve missionaries, who then left their native country. 9 According to some accounts, St. Sigisbert was a disciple of St. Columbanus, and he accom-
panied the latter everywhere, sharing both in his consolations and tribulations. He lived as a monk at Luxeuil—it is said for twenty years—having been trainedundertheruleofSt. Columban. BeforethepersecutionoftheBur- gundian King, he is stated to have left that monastery. He accompanied his beloved master, during his peregrinations through France, and accom-
him into Switzerland. 10 When St. Columbanus went to
panied Bobbio,
Sigisbert is thought to have remained in the Alps. Whether this arrest was
owing to a secret inspiration from on high, or an inability to proceed, is not known. He traversed eastwardly the heights of Crispalt, the northern summit of Mount St. Gothard. This must have been a difficult and fatiguing journey, through such deep valleys and stupendous mountains. He found a site that pleased him near the sources of the Vorder-Rhine, in a long valley, between
12
great height grew there, and this was an object especially venerated by the
heathens. At his prayer, the people proceeded to cut it down, but this order
nearly cost his life, for an irritated pagan, deeming it to be a sacrilegious act, threw an axe at the saint's head. The stroke escaped him, however, as he
made a sign of the cross. This miracle, joined to the great austerity of his life, caused Sigisbert to be universally venerated. Among his converts was one
that culminate in the Todi and the 11 He settled Scopi.
the
there, having called the place the desert.
Latin, and in French Dissentis. He built a small chapel and cell for himself in 613 at the foot of a mountain, bearing the name Vaccareccia, near a spring of limpid water. This was formed by the trunks and branches of trees. He there erected a small oratory in honour of the Mother of God. For the most part, the people living in that district were idolaters. By word and example, however, the holy solitary brought them to a knowledge of the true Faith. He was overjoyed to find, that the people renounced their false gods, cutting downthegroves,andoverturningthetemplesdedicatedtothem. Atreeof
snowy ridges
He was wealthy and powerful. Through curiosity, he went one day to hear Sigisbert preaching. This became the occasion for a grace which wrought his conversion. He was
moved to tears, and casting himself at the preacher's feet, he prayed to
become a Christian. He was received with great joy by Sigisbert, who
instructedandbaptizedhim. Soonafterwards,theconvertexpressedadesire
to lead a still more perfect life. He then offered to the Almighty and to the
BlessedVirginallhistemporalpossessions. Heplacedhimselfimmediately under the direction of Sigisbert. Soon he was joined by other monks. 1 * As
the number of his disciples began to increase, Sigisbert built another oratory, which he dedicated to St. Martin. He constructed cells around it, in which to lodge his monks. They became united in the strictest rules of Christian
called Placidus, who lived in a castle called Tremisium. 1?
Gall's Life, found in the monastery of Sele-
eremi amatorum. "
JI See Rev. S. " Lives of Baring-Gould's
the Saints," vol. vii. , July n, p. 281.
I2
The old Life of St. Gall, edited by Father O'Sheerin, may be seen in the " Col- lectanea Sacra," of Father Christopher Fleming, in the commentaries affixed to the Life of St. Columban, num. 81.
on the River Main, in
This contains some inaccuracies, however, such as stating that they left Ireland in the
time of Pope Gregory. They arrived in Franee long before his incumbency.
10
The old writer of Vita S. Galli states, that St. Columban came to Ursaria, which
the time when he wrote. He adds regarding
"
Columbanus; Ibi reliquit Sigebertum
genstad,
Germany.
was a
'3 Franciscus Guillimann adds: "
in Helvetia, also called Ursella and Urania, where he constructed a church, and that it was known as St. Columban's at
city
eaque tenebat omnia—, quae nunc Disertinoe regionis
It was designated Disertina in
" nominantur. " De Rebus
Helvetiae," lib. See Rev. S. Daring-Gould's "Lives of
iv. , cap. ii. , p. 425. l*
2o6 LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. [July ii,
charity, and practised the most heroic virtues. He there established, not alone the rule of St. Columban, but introduced likewise his spirit ; for, by example as by words, he never failed to animate his brethren, in all the per- fections of their state. He also consecrated those immense solitudes around him to God and to his Holy Mother. However, a local Count, whose name wasVictortheFirstjs resentedthisintrusion—asheruledoverallRhaetial6 —and he resolved on taking possession of those lands, with which Placidus hadendowedthemonastery. Thelatterwenttohimwithacomplaintand remonstrance. With the freedom of another John the Baptist, Placide also reproached him with living a sinful life in company with an abandoned woman. He chose to be offended with Placidus, and in revenge, he ordered some of his retainers to beset the way by which he was to return. In a passionate mood, this chief ordered them to murder his visitor, and to smite off the head of Placidus. as we are on the nth of 1 ?
However,
Rhine, over a bridge, he and some of his servants fell into the river, when they
weresweptalongbythetorrentanddrowned. Thelossofhisdeardisciple
Placidus brought great affliction to the heart of Sigisbert. On the very spot
where he had been murdered, the people of that country afterwards built a
magnificent church in honour of the martyr, and it lasted for many subse-
This, told, happened July. the barbarous and unjust Count did not long survive.
18
very year when his glorious master St. Columbanus passed away to bliss.
quent centuries.
It is said, that St. Sigisbert departed this life in 613, the
Others have the date for his placed
at a. d. T 9 He was buried 615.
departure
in the same tomb with Placidus, so that while they were closely united in
charity and conversation during life, they were not separated when both had beenremovedfromtheirreligiouscommunity. Sigebertisregardedastheir apostle by the Grisons, in that portion of Switzerland. In 621, the Abbey of
20
Disentis was
No less than five
wrought at the tomb of St. Sigisbert and of St. Placidus. To honour their relics, a marble sarcophagus was made by orders of King Pepin. It is said, that Tello, who is reputed to have been a son of Victor and afterwards Bishop of Chur,22 endeavoured to make reparation for the cruelty of his father. Everywhere this bishop propagated devotion to St. Placidus. The veil which wrapped the head of St. Placidus had long been preserved as a relic in that place. The graves of these saints were visited in 781, by Charlemagne and by liis Empress Hildegarde. Frequent pilgrimages took place to the Abbey of Dissentis, when prayers were offered before the shrine of its patron saints. Among the illustrious visitors was St. Charles Borromeo, who undertook a
founded, parishes
were
subject
to it. 21
Miracles were
frequently
the Saints," vol. vii. , July 1 1, p. 281.
'5 He lived at a place, called Willinga, which was a castle situated on the other
bankoftheRhine. Itisnowinruins.
,6 See Franciscus Guillimann, "De Rebus
Helvetian," lib. iv. , cap. ii. , p. 425.
17 See Franciscus Guillimann, "Dc Rebus
20
The Abbot Dom. Albert Funsi of this
Helvttiae," lib. iv. , cap. ii. , p. 425.
x8
At a — recent comparatively period
an
Tremi-
enormous avalanche frequent among those
Alpine Mountains—buried it, and the people
living around it, so that the place where it
stood cannot now be known. See Les Petit!
Kollandistes, " Vies des Saints," tome viii. ,
e
xi Jour de Juillet, p. 249.
19 See Mabillon's "Annales Ordinis S. Benedicti,"tomus i. ,lib. xi.
Since faith, according to the Apostle James, is
"
Actsofthis — in six
saint, comprised paragraphs,
atthe nthof
July.
1 Hetells
—t Dempster elsewhere characterized by the Bollandist as a faithless us, tha
writer has placed the festival of this holy man at the 9th of November, in his Scottish Menology. Dempster makes him an uncle by the mother's side to King Eugenius. Again, he has placed the festival of Drostan, monk, at St.
Andrews, in Scotland, on the 14th of December. 2 Nor does he assign any reason for placing a St. Drostan, at both these days, and in a different form of words ; neither does he remark at either of those days a distinction between both, or whether they be one and the same person. Soller imagines, that Dempster, who raked together many things, had disposed these festivals according to his usual custom, by a mere arbitrary process. Ferrarius appears to have inserted the words of Dempster, and with little alteration, in his general Catalogue. 3 At this date, notices of him may be found in Rev. S.
theSaints,"vol. vii. ,JulyII,p. 280.
60 Thus " S. Hildulfi Archi- : Depositio
pnesulis, Mediano monasterio quiescentis, gloriosae sanctitatis viri. "
:
6sThus "TruerisHildulphiArchiepis-
61
episcopi et confessoris.
Scottish Saints,—" p. 205. »
62
tomus hi. , Julii xi.
fessore in Scotia, pp. 198 to 200.
piscopi
et confessoris. "
2 We find notices of a St. Drostan, son to Conanrod, the King of Demetia's son, by Fyn Wennem, daughter to King Aidus of Scotland, who flourished in the time of St. Columba. See Rev. Dr. Reeves' Adamnan's " Life of St. Columba," lib. i. , cap. 9, n. (d), p. 35.
3 Arnold Wion enumerates him the among
monks who were sons of kings,—"quorum locus professions ignoratur. " "Lignum
Thus
Thus : "Treviris B. Hildulfi Archie-
Article ii. See "Acta Sanctorum,"
:
"Treviris, S. Hildulfi, "
ejus
urbis
63 Thus " Treviris S. Hildulfi episcopi
:
et confessoris, qui cum gregem sibi commis- sum sanctitate vitse et sapientiae doctrina
rexisset, taedio hujus vitse episcopatum abdi- cans, in saltu Vosagi multorum pater effectus
monachorum, clarus miraculis, quievit in "
pace.
64 Thus : "Treviris S. Hildulfi episcopi
et confessoris," &c.
copi °6
VV. "
See Bishop Forbes' "Kalendars of
De S. Drostano, Con-
202 LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. [J uly i i .
Baring-Gould'swork. * Sollerwasundersomedoubt,whetherSt. Drostan's
feast should be assigned to the nth of July. However, being moved by the
authority of Sirinus, who gave a short history of this saint,s and even by that 6
of Dempster, he appeals to the consent of churches belonging to his nation, as also, finding the festival of this saint, assigned to this day, in two editions of the English Martyrology, by Wilson. 7 Sufficient evidence has been estab- lished,toassertthevenerationduetothissaint. Sirinuswillnotallow,how- ever, that the Benedictine Order, to which Wilson says our saint belonged, had been established in Scotland, in the sixth century. Until this time, the rule of St. Columba, Abbot of Iona, prevailed there ; and even Mabillon does not enumerate Drostan among saints belonging to the Benedictine Order. There are conflicting accounts, also, regarding our saint. Thus, John Major 8 tells us, that Aidan, King of the Scots, grieved so much at the death of St. Columba,3 that he survived that saint only for a short time. Eugenius then succeededhiminthekingdom. Inthesetimes,St. Drostan,whowasuncle to the king on the mother's side, led a monastic life. He was famous for his miracles. From the obscurity of his manner in expressing himself, how- ever, Major leaves us in doubt, as to whether Drostan was an uncle on the mother's side to Aidan or to Eugene. But, Lesley explains this more clearly He says, that Drostan was uncle on the mother's side to Aidan the King, and
that disdaining the fleeting things of this world, he retired to a monastery. By the example of his great sanctity, he drew many to the profession of a
good life. 10 Some particulars, also, are to be gleaned from Hector Boetius, regarding this saint. 11 The Scottish writers generally agree, that St. Drostan flourished about the end of the sixth century, and at the beginning of the seventh. The Scottish writers thus appearing almost unanimous in these accounts, Soller wonders why O'Sheerin wishes to claim St. Drostan, as an Irishman. Speaking about St. Drostan, Sirin says, he was born and educated in Ireland, as also was his sister Fedhelmia. She was mother to King Aidan, and a daughter to Fethelmius, a nobleman of Connaght origin. These par- ticulars are gleaned from a book, treating on the Mothers of the Kings and illustrious and from the Life of St.
Abbot. 12
in the opinion of O'Sheerin, it is most probable, this St. Drostan lived for the most part in Ireland, and that he was identical with that saint, to whom a parochial church had been dedicated. This was called Kill-Drostan,^ or the "cellofDrostan,"inElphindiocese. 1* TothesestatementsofSirinus,Soller
Cormac,
See his "Historia Majoris Britannia? tarn Angliae quam Scotiae," lib. ii. , cap. vii. , p. 68,
9 See his Life in the Sixth Volume of this work, at the 9th of June, Art. i.
,0 See his work, " De Origine, Moribus, et Rebus Gestis Scotorum," lib. iv. , num. xlix. , p. 145.
"In "Scotorum Hystorise," lib. ix. , fol. clxxvii.
"
His feast occufs on the 26th of March, estate sprevit mundi vanitates, ibidem when a brief notice may be found in the
Irishmen,
Wherefore,
Vitse," lib. iv. , cap. xxvi.
4 See "Lives of Saints," vol. vii. , July
II, p. 278.
5 Taken from the Breviary of Aberdeen.
6"
See Historia Ecclesiastica Gentis Sco-
torum,"tomus i. , lib. iv. , num. 375, p. 206. 7 The following is Wilson's account as
8
" commemoratio S. Dro'stani Confessoris, qui in eodem regno natus e regio sanguine, et
rendered by Sirinus into Latin :
In Scotia,
Aidani regis avunculus existens, in juvenili
monasteriumingressus, S. Benedicti habitum suscepit, in quo statu adeo in humilitate et
perfectione excelluit, ut in Scotia Albiensi et Hibernia celeberrimae famse fuerit, donee plenus sanctitate et miraculis, diem clausit circa annum Christi DC; ubi multa fuere antiquitus altaria et sacella in ejus honorem dicata. " These words are not to be found, however, in the later edition of Wilsons work, published in 1640.
Third Volume of this work. His chief
festival, however, is on the 13th of Decem- ber.
' 3 By some this is placed in the neighbour- hood of Elgin. See Rev. S. Baring-Gould's
"
Lives of the Saints," vol. vii. , July 1 1, p. 278.
,4 See "Acta Sanctorum," tomus iii. , Julii xi. De S. Drostano, num. 4, p.
199.
July i i . ]
LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS.
203
adds, that he had no means for calling them in doubt, nor for confirming
them ; although he could not conceal the fact, that no commemoration of St.
Drostan occurred in the Irish Catalogues of Saints, collected with great
diligence by the Jesuits, Fathers Henry Fitzsimon and Stephen White.
However, he is willing to allow a claim of the Irish to this saint, if Scotch-
men do not object ; but, he says, both Ireland and Scotland may challenge
St. Drostan, for many reasons adduced by Sirinus. What more may be learned
regardingSt. Drostan,canbefoundintheBreviaryofAberdeen. Insub-
stance, this work treats thus regarding the saint. It is there stated, that St.
Drostan was descended from a royal race of the Scots. In early youth he
cultivated pious dispositions. When he had come to a mature age, having
heard concerning the mystery of our Lord's Incarnation and Passion, being
filled with the Holy Ghost, he endeavoured to serve the Almighty, with all
the affection of his soul. His parents found, that the boy Drostan was con-
secrated to God by a deep affection. They sent him to be instructed in
liberal studies to his uncle by the mother's side, St. Columba, who then
dwelt in Ireland. Afterwards, our saint took the religious habit at Dal-
quongale, as stated in the Aberdeen Breviary, but in Dal-Congaile,as corrected
in a marginal note. On the death of his superior, St. Drostan was elected Abbot,
in his place. While he filled this position, for some time, Drostan laboured to
advance the spiritual life of those monks, over whom he presided, by that exam-
ple of life and doctrine he set them. Some time having elapsed, he betook him-
selftoaremoteScottishdesert. However,hedidnotforsaketheflockcom-
mitted to his charge; but rather, he committed it to the supreme Pastor of souls.
There he led the life of a hermit. He built a church, in a place called Glenu-
x
Eske. s According to the Gospel precepts, he thus left all things for Christ.
Drostan cared not for the dignities of this earth, nor for regal honours, which he
might enjoy, owing to the advantages of his birth ; he renounced an earthly kingdom and a human principality, that he might run to the embraces of his Saviour. A certain priest, named Sion, being deprived of sight, was restored to its use, through St. Drostan's merits. The holy man became a despiserof the world, a follower of Christ, a lover of the desert, a conqueror over the old enemy of our race. He always invoked Divine assistance against the snares of his latent enemy, who endeavoured to lay nets of temptation for him. He alwaysaspiredtothejoysofHeaven. And,thathemightneveryieldtothe devil, he bore a severe martyrdom of corporal maceration, while his heart overflowed with compunction of spirit. Through the way of this present life, he aimed at the rewards of life eternal, and the holy man deserved to enter into a deathless life. Having finished his mortal career, in all holiness and
5 ' 16
there to enjoy the happiness of all true saints. 1 ? Owing to his imperfect Acts, Soller did not care to investigate more closely the age in which St. Drostan lived, or theworksheperformed. Thatlearnedwriter,however,wishedtobemore exactly instructed, regarding what place or church he had formerly inhabited, where he had been buried, or with what peculiar honour he had been vene- rated ; since that general consent—asseverated by Dempster—bore as little weight with him as the announcement, already alluded to, that Drostan was venerated at St. Andrews, in Scotland. It would not be easy to discover, whether the church of Aberdeen, truly or falsely, celebrates St. Drostan's festival at the 14th of December. At the nth day of July, Camerarius enters
purity, he departed to "The bosom of his Father and his God,
j s Otherwise Glen-esk. 16
written in a
1? See " Acta Sanctorum," tomus Hi.
xi. De S. Drostano, num. 5, 6, pp 20°-
Gray's "Poems," Elegy Country Churchyard.
Julii i99>
2o 4 LIVES OP THE IRISH SAINTS.
a feast 18 for St. Drostan, Abbot and Confessor. T 9 He is also invoked in a
Litany.
30 The death of this man has been holy
21 placed by Wilson,
Culdee
at the year 600, while Dempster
have notices of this holy man, who was especially venerated in their country.
23 and
Article III. —St. Sigisbert, Comfessor, and St. Placidus, Martyr, Dissentis, Switzerland. {Sixth and Seventh Centuries? ^ Although one of these holy servants of Christ was born in Ireland and the other was a native of Switzerland ; yet, as their companionship in life, and the church honours paid to their memory, give both a claim to be remembered on this day, so it is intended to relate some particulars regarding them. Both these holy men were especially venerated in the Grisons, Switzerland ; but, their existence seems to have been unknown to all the other preceding Martyrolo-
gists, until Ferrarius drew the account from the Records of their church at
Chur, and from their Proper Office there recited. The Bollandists give their
Acts 2 at the present date. 3 The notices, as contained in the Bollandists,
are in part, however, of a legendary character. There is a notice of these
saintsinRev. S. Baring-Gould'swork. * Thereisanaccountoftheminthe
DisentisAnnals. 5 Theformerofthesesaintsmusthavebeenborntowardsthe
close of the sixth century. St.
Sigisbert is held to have been an Irishman by
birth. Thenamehereceivedinbaptismwasprobablydifferent. Somehave
supposed, that his Teutonic name refutes the supposition of his having been
an Irishman. 6 as we have seen in numberless the names of But, instances,
Irish saints have been changed into forms more familiar to people living on
the Continent. His education is said to have been received at Bangor, and
this is probable enough if we accept the succeeding statements regarding
18
Thus : "Sanctus Drostanus Abbas et Confessor. "
" See Bishop Forbes' " Kalendars of Scot- tish Saints," p. 239.
20
torum. "
2
In ten paragraphs.
3 See " Acta Sanctorum," tomus iii. , Julii
xi. I)e SS. Placido Martyre et Sigisberto Confessore in Tenitorio Curiensi in Rhretia. Sylloge ex Breviario Curiensi et Ferrario, pp. 238 to 240.
* See "Lives of the Saints," vol. vii. , July 11, pp. 280, 281.
s See in " Die Wallfartsorte d. Schweiz,"
by Burgener, 1867.
6 At this very day was celebrated the feast
of St. Dathi, Bishop of Ravenna, as Galesi- nus states. The form of his name is
According to Iladdan and Stubbs, Councils and Ecclesiastical Documents, relating to Great Britain and Ireland," vol.
"
ii. , part i. , App. C. 21 "
In his Martyrologium Anglicanum. " 22 In his "HistoriaEcclesiasticaGentis Sco-
torum," tomus i. , lib. iv. , num. 375, p. 2C6. 23 In his work, " De Origine, Moribus et
Rebus Gestis Scotorum," lib. iv. , num. xlix. , p. 145.
s* In his "Historia Britannia? tarn Majoris
and this is no that yet proof
r.
Anglise quam Scotiae," lib. ii. , cap. vii. , p. 69. Edinburgi, —1740, 4to.
altogether Irish,
he was a native of Ireland.
'
Article ill. He states: "In territo-
rio Curiensi —Platidi martyris et Sigisberti Confessori? . " "Catalogus Gcneialis Sane-
7 His Lifeisset downat the 21st ofNo- vember.
2*
has it, at a. d. 606.
The Scottish writers
heismentioned
styled Drostanus, or Dronstanus, the former being the more approved form for writing and pronouncing his name. Although Sirin remarks, that the Breviary of Aberdeen is sufficiently filled with errors, we are obliged to give what it states respecting our saint. We are told, towards the end, that the bones of this holy confessor, Drostan, were buried at Aberdeen, in a stone tomb ; and that there, many, who were afflicted with divers kinds of diseases, had been restored to health through his merits.
Thus,
by John Lesley
John Major,
him. When St. Columbanus? and St. Gaul 8 went on their
into Switzerland, Sigisbert is said to have accompanied them, forming one of
8 9
See his Life, at the 16th of October. This is stated, by an old writer of St.
apostolic
mission
[July
24 whomheis by
July 1 1• ] LIVESOFTHEIRISHSAINTS. 2 5
the twelve missionaries, who then left their native country. 9 According to some accounts, St. Sigisbert was a disciple of St. Columbanus, and he accom-
panied the latter everywhere, sharing both in his consolations and tribulations. He lived as a monk at Luxeuil—it is said for twenty years—having been trainedundertheruleofSt. Columban. BeforethepersecutionoftheBur- gundian King, he is stated to have left that monastery. He accompanied his beloved master, during his peregrinations through France, and accom-
him into Switzerland. 10 When St. Columbanus went to
panied Bobbio,
Sigisbert is thought to have remained in the Alps. Whether this arrest was
owing to a secret inspiration from on high, or an inability to proceed, is not known. He traversed eastwardly the heights of Crispalt, the northern summit of Mount St. Gothard. This must have been a difficult and fatiguing journey, through such deep valleys and stupendous mountains. He found a site that pleased him near the sources of the Vorder-Rhine, in a long valley, between
12
great height grew there, and this was an object especially venerated by the
heathens. At his prayer, the people proceeded to cut it down, but this order
nearly cost his life, for an irritated pagan, deeming it to be a sacrilegious act, threw an axe at the saint's head. The stroke escaped him, however, as he
made a sign of the cross. This miracle, joined to the great austerity of his life, caused Sigisbert to be universally venerated. Among his converts was one
that culminate in the Todi and the 11 He settled Scopi.
the
there, having called the place the desert.
Latin, and in French Dissentis. He built a small chapel and cell for himself in 613 at the foot of a mountain, bearing the name Vaccareccia, near a spring of limpid water. This was formed by the trunks and branches of trees. He there erected a small oratory in honour of the Mother of God. For the most part, the people living in that district were idolaters. By word and example, however, the holy solitary brought them to a knowledge of the true Faith. He was overjoyed to find, that the people renounced their false gods, cutting downthegroves,andoverturningthetemplesdedicatedtothem. Atreeof
snowy ridges
He was wealthy and powerful. Through curiosity, he went one day to hear Sigisbert preaching. This became the occasion for a grace which wrought his conversion. He was
moved to tears, and casting himself at the preacher's feet, he prayed to
become a Christian. He was received with great joy by Sigisbert, who
instructedandbaptizedhim. Soonafterwards,theconvertexpressedadesire
to lead a still more perfect life. He then offered to the Almighty and to the
BlessedVirginallhistemporalpossessions. Heplacedhimselfimmediately under the direction of Sigisbert. Soon he was joined by other monks. 1 * As
the number of his disciples began to increase, Sigisbert built another oratory, which he dedicated to St. Martin. He constructed cells around it, in which to lodge his monks. They became united in the strictest rules of Christian
called Placidus, who lived in a castle called Tremisium. 1?
Gall's Life, found in the monastery of Sele-
eremi amatorum. "
JI See Rev. S. " Lives of Baring-Gould's
the Saints," vol. vii. , July n, p. 281.
I2
The old Life of St. Gall, edited by Father O'Sheerin, may be seen in the " Col- lectanea Sacra," of Father Christopher Fleming, in the commentaries affixed to the Life of St. Columban, num. 81.
on the River Main, in
This contains some inaccuracies, however, such as stating that they left Ireland in the
time of Pope Gregory. They arrived in Franee long before his incumbency.
10
The old writer of Vita S. Galli states, that St. Columban came to Ursaria, which
the time when he wrote. He adds regarding
"
Columbanus; Ibi reliquit Sigebertum
genstad,
Germany.
was a
'3 Franciscus Guillimann adds: "
in Helvetia, also called Ursella and Urania, where he constructed a church, and that it was known as St. Columban's at
city
eaque tenebat omnia—, quae nunc Disertinoe regionis
It was designated Disertina in
" nominantur. " De Rebus
Helvetiae," lib. See Rev. S. Daring-Gould's "Lives of
iv. , cap. ii. , p. 425. l*
2o6 LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. [July ii,
charity, and practised the most heroic virtues. He there established, not alone the rule of St. Columban, but introduced likewise his spirit ; for, by example as by words, he never failed to animate his brethren, in all the per- fections of their state. He also consecrated those immense solitudes around him to God and to his Holy Mother. However, a local Count, whose name wasVictortheFirstjs resentedthisintrusion—asheruledoverallRhaetial6 —and he resolved on taking possession of those lands, with which Placidus hadendowedthemonastery. Thelatterwenttohimwithacomplaintand remonstrance. With the freedom of another John the Baptist, Placide also reproached him with living a sinful life in company with an abandoned woman. He chose to be offended with Placidus, and in revenge, he ordered some of his retainers to beset the way by which he was to return. In a passionate mood, this chief ordered them to murder his visitor, and to smite off the head of Placidus. as we are on the nth of 1 ?
However,
Rhine, over a bridge, he and some of his servants fell into the river, when they
weresweptalongbythetorrentanddrowned. Thelossofhisdeardisciple
Placidus brought great affliction to the heart of Sigisbert. On the very spot
where he had been murdered, the people of that country afterwards built a
magnificent church in honour of the martyr, and it lasted for many subse-
This, told, happened July. the barbarous and unjust Count did not long survive.
18
very year when his glorious master St. Columbanus passed away to bliss.
quent centuries.
It is said, that St. Sigisbert departed this life in 613, the
Others have the date for his placed
at a. d. T 9 He was buried 615.
departure
in the same tomb with Placidus, so that while they were closely united in
charity and conversation during life, they were not separated when both had beenremovedfromtheirreligiouscommunity. Sigebertisregardedastheir apostle by the Grisons, in that portion of Switzerland. In 621, the Abbey of
20
Disentis was
No less than five
wrought at the tomb of St. Sigisbert and of St. Placidus. To honour their relics, a marble sarcophagus was made by orders of King Pepin. It is said, that Tello, who is reputed to have been a son of Victor and afterwards Bishop of Chur,22 endeavoured to make reparation for the cruelty of his father. Everywhere this bishop propagated devotion to St. Placidus. The veil which wrapped the head of St. Placidus had long been preserved as a relic in that place. The graves of these saints were visited in 781, by Charlemagne and by liis Empress Hildegarde. Frequent pilgrimages took place to the Abbey of Dissentis, when prayers were offered before the shrine of its patron saints. Among the illustrious visitors was St. Charles Borromeo, who undertook a
founded, parishes
were
subject
to it. 21
Miracles were
frequently
the Saints," vol. vii. , July 1 1, p. 281.
'5 He lived at a place, called Willinga, which was a castle situated on the other
bankoftheRhine. Itisnowinruins.
,6 See Franciscus Guillimann, "De Rebus
Helvetian," lib. iv. , cap. ii. , p. 425.
17 See Franciscus Guillimann, "Dc Rebus
20
The Abbot Dom. Albert Funsi of this
Helvttiae," lib. iv. , cap. ii. , p. 425.
x8
At a — recent comparatively period
an
Tremi-
enormous avalanche frequent among those
Alpine Mountains—buried it, and the people
living around it, so that the place where it
stood cannot now be known. See Les Petit!
Kollandistes, " Vies des Saints," tome viii. ,
e
xi Jour de Juillet, p. 249.
19 See Mabillon's "Annales Ordinis S. Benedicti,"tomus i. ,lib. xi.
