This holy man is
supposed
to have been born, towards the close of the seventh century, trusting to certain statements of writers regarding him.
O'Hanlon - Lives of the Irish Saints - v8
* While
;—
the sword was emblematic of his martyrdom apeculiarinstinctofsearchingforthingsburied representstheotherpre- vailing popular tradition.
In the Martyrologies of Holland, Belgium and France, the feast of St. Jeron is this day commemorated. Likewise, in the Calendars of Galesinus, of Wion, of Bucelin, and in other Martyrologies, the feast of St. Iero or Hieron is set down, at the 17th of August. In Father Stephen White's work,'5 this saint is called Vero—probably through a misprint—and his martyrdom is assigned to this day. Convaeus registers at this date St. Ieron, an illus- trious martyr, at Egmond, in Holland. In the anonymous Catalogue of national saints, published by O'Sullevan Beare, we find Hieron, at the 17th of August. In like manner, on the authority of Molanus and Floratius, Father Henry Fitzsimon l6 enters Iheron, presbyter et martyr, at this same
date, In his Menologium Scotorum, Thomas Dempster has classed this holy 1
martyr, at the 17th of August, ? of course claiming him to be a Scotus belong- ing to Scotland.
In the foregoing narrative, we have to admire the manner in which the
Almighty is pleased to manifest his providential regard for the honour of those who are faithful to him until death, and to make known their merits on
earth, for the edification of the Church Militant, as they are rewarded for
ever in Heaven, and understood by the Church Triumphant, consisting of the Angels and Saints. No longer do these blessed spirits desire human applause, nor do they ambition honours among mortals ; neither envious nor jealous of those happy favours already obtained by others who rejoice before the throne of God, they have no desires that are not gratified, and no void of soul that is not filled with delights, which cannot be described or even con- ceived. What was all earthly suffering as compared with their present glory and happiness ?
Article II. '—St. Ernan, of Torach, now Tory Island, County of Donegal. A festival to honour Ernan is inserted in the Martyrology of
1 at the
;
—
the falcon a bird said to have
of He is called the son of Colman, in the August.
17th
SanctilogiumGenealogicum. AccordingtotheO'Clerys,hesprungfromthe race of Eoghan, son to Niall. From Eoghan he was the fifth in regular descent. He was born, most probably, in the beginning of the sixth century, and in the northern part of Ireland. He became a disciple of St. Columkille. *
Isolated, as Tory lies out in the ocean, it seems to have a history, and dating
Tallagh,
fromaremote
period.
3 Inthe
beginning
ofthesixth itwas century,
occupied
Hanover, 1843.
13 According to Roodscreen, Suffield.
14 See Rev. Dr. F. C. Husenbeth's Rebus in am/ssis Hiero s&pissime pollet
" Emblems of Saints," edition of Rev. Dr.
Augustus Jessopp, p. 113.
15 See "Apologia pro Hibernia," cap. ' iv. ,
p. 42.
16 See " Historic Catholicse Ibernise
Compendium," tomus i. , lib. iv. , cap. x. , xi. , pp. 48, 50, 55.
•'
malim cum ratione et majori Sancti laude Rebus in amissis Hiero sanctissime polles. " — " of
*? Thus is his festival noted :
Egmondse Hieronis presbyteri, Cymbrorum See his Life, in the Sixth Volume of this Apostoli et martyris, magnorum operum viri work, at the 9th of June, Art. i.
XVII. is
2
cujus caput Northvvici, passionis loco, re- quiescit. VV. ML. et ut dicebat ille. Gh.
Bishop Forbes'
Kalendars Scottish
Saints," p. 208. — Article II.
•
Edited by Rev. Dr. Kelly, p. xxxii. In that copy, as found in the Book of Leinster, at this date, the entry
eptiAin.
240 LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. [August i 7.
by the pagans, and it belonged to a chief, named Alild. This Island is in
the parish of Tullaghobegly, and barony of Kilmacrenan, being about nine miles from the nearest part of the Donegal coast. On the way, a vessel passes three s—maller islands, named Innisbofinn, Innisdooey—on which there is a cemetery and Innisbeg. There are two villages on the Island of Tory
; one called the East Town, and the other the West Town. This latter is the
principal one, containing the RoundTower and the Ecclesiastical ruins. * Steep rocks line the shores of this remote Island,5 which at certain times is inac- cessiblefromthemainland; andayachtorboatcanonlytouchinasmall
6 situated and sheltered cove, romantically
by
Doon, from its proximity to an ancient Dun or stronghold. The Island of
Tory is of very irregular shape f it is about three miles in length by one mile
in breadth, in its widest part; its superficial contents being about 1,200 acres,
of which 200 may be considered arable or pasture land. The soil is generally
""
held by the inhabitants on the old rundale tenure ; each tenant having a
portion of every kind of land, but no one a permanent possession of any separate part. This almost inaccessible spot is one of the earliest places men- tioned in the bardic history of Ireland, and it is the first referred to as being a stronghold of the Fomorian or African pirates, who made descents on the coasts of Ireland at a period so remote, that now it seems impossible to bring chronology to bear on it. In the accounts of those pirates, it is called
8 Torinis, or "Island of the Tower;" in other tracts, it is Torach, or the
"Towery;" while the inhabitants of the adjoining coasts of Donegal think it has derived this name from the tower-like cliffs, by which it is guarded on every side. This seems to be the correct explanation of the latter name ; for there are many lofty, isolated rocks on the opposite coast, and called by the natives tors or " towers. " A remarkably lofty one on the east side of this IslanditselfiscalledTormor,or"theGreatTower. "9 TheNemediansare also mentioned in connection with this Island, by the ancient bards and chroniclers. 10 As we have already seen, St. Columba :I founded a church on Tory or Torry Island ; off the north-western coast of Donegal, about the middle of the sixth century. According to some accounts, he also founded a religious house beside it. Whether St. Ernan accompanied his master to this Island, in the first instance, does not appear ; but, he was selected to plant Christianitythere,andafterwardshewasrecognisedasthelocalpatron. He was the first Abbot over the monastic establishment, on the Island of Tory
3 There is an account of "The Island of Rath," translated with notes by John
Tory ; its History and Antiquities," By O'Donovan, pp. 106, 107, n. (x).
Edmund Getty, M. R. I. A. , in the " Ulster Journal of Archaeology," vol. i. , pp. 27 to 37. Belfast, 1853, et seq. 4to.
4 A very interesting lithographed view of these objects, of part of the sea, and of dis-
taut mountains, is shown at p. 31.
5 An admirable map of the Island, litho-
graphed, is to be found, at p. 27, —and a wood-cut illustration occurs at p. 29. Ibid.
6
This is partially protected from the Atlantic waves, by a high pinnacle of rocks, called Tor-a-hauv.
7 A very accurate map of Tory Island illustrates the contribution of Mr. Getty. See part ii. , at p. 106, with a wood-cut illus- tration of a section on the shore.
» Mr. O'Donovan adds: "But though this is the true interpretation of its more modern name Torach, still I am convinced, that it was also called Torinis, i. e. , Tower Island, from a Cyclopean tower or fort erected on it at a very remote period, of
which no vestige is now traceable, and not, as some have supposed, from St. Columb-
—esiastical round
tower which still remains. " Ibid. p. 107.
,0 "
See the Ulster Journal of Archaeo-
logy," vol. i. The Island of Tory : its His- tory and Antiquities, by Edmund Getty, M. R. I. A. , part ii. , Pagan period, pp. 106 to 116.
" The feast of this great ccenobiarch is kept on the 9th of June. See his Life in the Sixth Volume of this work, at that date,
8
Columba, and in the " The Battle of Magh
So is it called, in the Irish Life of St.
cliffs, at a called Port- place
kille's Cloigtheach, or eccl
•August j
12
LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS.
or Torry.
7. ]
24T
Beside the village of thatched cottages are the Round Tower and a ruined church. 1* Of these, with other antiquities, the fullest description, and with admirable illustrations, have been given by Edmund Getty, M. R. I. A. h Only the fragments of two very small churches were found there by Mr. Hills. '5 After a careful examination of the Irish churches, this writer did not find except, perhaps, in one instance, the remains of seven churches only, in any one of eight particular places which had been visited by him. He therefore
Village and Ruins on Tory Island, County of Donegal.
concludes, that the name " Seven Churches," had no foundation in fact, and that its acceptance was only a fallacious popular opinion. The name of this
16
saint is already recorded, in the Martyrology of Donegal, 17th,asErnan,ofTorach. Thehistoricmemorandaofthisveryinteresting Island is well set forth in the "Ulster Journal of Archaeology,^ by a gentle-
man of acknowledged antiquarian research.
Article III. —St. Amor, or Amator, First Abbot of Amorbach, Bavaria. [Seventh and Eighth Centuries. ] Nothing seems to be known with certainty, regarding the country of St. Amor's birth ; yet, according to what appears to be an ancient tradition, he has been called a Scot, and if this statement be well founded, we should most probably claim him as an
Art. i. , chap. vi.
12 See Rev. William Reeves' Adamnan's
" Life of St. Columba. " Additional Notes,
G, p. 279.
13 Already, in the Sixth Chapter of St.
Columba's Life, at the 9th of June, have we
an —illustration of the presented enlarged
Mrs. Millard.
14 See the " Ulster Journal of Archaeo-
logy," vol. i. , The Island of Tory ; its His- tory and Antiquities, part Hi. , Ecclesiastical Period, pp. 142 to 158.
15 See an Article in the "Gentleman's Ma-
Round Tower.
— Here but from a different point of view it is grouped in the back- ground; the village, church and station cross appearing in the foreground. The drawing on the wood is by William F. -Wakeman ; the engraving was executed by
tecture of
gazine,"parti. , 1864.
16
"NotesontheArchi-
at the date, August
sect,
Edited by Drs. Todd and Reeves, pp.
Ireland,"
v. , pp. 551, 552.
222, 223.
v SeeEdmundGetty'sarticle, "Thelsland
of Tory; its History and Antiquities," part iii. , Ecclesiastical Period, pp. 152 to 158.
242 LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. [August 17.
Irishman. His personal history is equally obscure, as no early Acts of his Life have been hitherto discovered. The earliest known account of St. Amor is that to be found in the Chronicle of Meginfrid of Fulda, who flourished towards the close of the tenth century. From this, Trithemius x seems
chiefly to have drawn his notice of the saint. There are some notices of this saint
2
in the works of Wolfgangus Lazius, of Joannes Georgius ab Eckhart,3 and
ofFatherIgnatiusGropp. * TheBollandistshavegiventheActsofthisholy Abbot, at the 17th of August,5 the day assigned for his festival. These are in the form of a historical and critical commentary, comprised in seven sections, and containing seventy-one paragraphs. Notices of him are to be found, likewise, in Les Petits Bollandistes,6 and at this date. He is regarded as a Scotus—which in his early period meant an Irishman—by some old writers, yet they have not given us the exact place of his birth. Whether Amor or Amator was his original name has not been established ; but, if he were a Scotus, it seems most likely, that he had a different name, and bearing a more Celtic form, before he left Ireland, as the Continental people often changed the etymons of our missionaries, who went amongst them, into other designations more conformable to their usages or dialects. Inthecountryofhisadoption,AmorwasalsodesignatedthePilgrim, which means, that he came thither as a stranger. His being styled a Scotus caused Thomas Dempster and David Camerarius to claim him as a native of Scotland. According to other writers, he was a native of Aquitaine,? and
governed that ccenobium.
such is the statement of 8 who Gropp,
it, however, from tradition. He argues, moreover, that the name Amor or Amator, like that of Amandus or Amatus, with others similar, might betray his Aquitainic origin. This, however, is a very delusive supposition, as is the same deduc- tion from Amantia, the reputed name of his mother.
This holy man is supposed to have been born, towards the close of the seventh century, trusting to certain statements of writers regarding him. He is thought, also, to have embraced the monastic state in Fossey. He became a disciple of St. Pirmin,9 also a Scot, but at what time does not appear ; yet, he is said to have then With Saints Firmin and Burchard,10 St. Amor
in the dark forests of Bavaria. 11 He
wrought there, and he became so zealous in gaining souls to Christ, that he was regarded as an Apostle among his fellow labourers. To St. Pirmin has been generally attributed the founding of Amorbach monastery. It was
the word of
God,
Article hi. — ' In the First Book of his Annals.
2 " De Gentium aliquot Migrationibus, Sedibus fixis, Reliquiis, Linguarum Initiis et Immutationibus ac Dialectis," lib. vii. , p. 231. This learned work in Twelve Books
was published at Bide, 1557, and 1572, fol. Also at Francfort, 1600, fol.
3 In " Commentarii de Rebus Francire
Orientalis et Episcopatus Wirceburgensis,"
strenuously
s See "Acta Sanctorum," tomus 111- , Augusti xvii. De S. Amore vel Amatore, Primo Abbate Amorbacensi in Franconia, pp. 46oto475- „ .
preached
tomusi. , lib. xxi. , cap. xxxiv. 1727, two folio volumes.
Wurtzbourg,
xviie Jour d'Aout, p. 626.
7 This probably arose from the circum-
stance, that sonic writers have confounded St. Amor of Amorbach, venerated on this day, with St. Amor of Aquitaine, venerated on the 8th of October. However, they were both distinct persons.
4"
In /Etas mille Annorum antiquissimi
et regalis Monasterii B. M. Virg. in Amor- bach, Ord. S. Benedicti in Archidioecesi Moguntina Gloria et Honore coronata atque historica Methodo adumbrata, etc. , ex ejus- deni Monasterii Chartis et Documentis aliis- que probatis Autoribus eruta et probata," pars, i. , cap. i. This fine folio work, with plates, was published at Francfort in 1 736.
8 In " /Etas mille Annorum
antiquissimi
only gives
popular
„
See Les Vies des Saints," tome ix. ,
6"
et regalis Monasterii B. M. Virg. in Amor-
bach," &c, pars, i. , cap. i. , sect. 6.
» See an account of him, at the 3rd of November.
10 The feast of this holy man is celebrated on the 14th of October.
" See Les Petits Bollandistes " Vies des
e
Saints," tome ix. , xvii Jour d'Aout, p. 626.
August 17. ] LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. 243
situated at the Odenwald forest, between the Rivers Neckar and Maine, and on the confines of the Dioceses of Wurtzburgh and Mayence. To the latter
it is
12 Amorbach is now a town of Bavaria, and in the circle of the
subject.
Lower Mayne, about twenty miles south of AschafTenburg, and having a
of J3 toa of
population nearly 3,ooo. According conjecture Joannes Georgius
ab Eckhart, the name of this place is derived from these two words, Amer or
Ammer, a species of cherry, and Bach, which means a rivulet, so that in com-
bination, he resolves them into the designation of Amorbach. However,
this derivation appears to be extremely far-fetched, and hardly warranted,
since the more modern name of the rivulet is admitted to have been changed
into Mudt. 1 * Whether Amor left the monastery at Fossey of his own choice,
to attach himself to the mission at the Odenwald, or whether he had been
called there by order of his master, St. Pirmin, has not been determined.
In the year 724, it is said that St. Pirmin left Amorbach to the charge of St.
Amor, and then went himself to Reichenau,^ an Island in Lake Constance,
where he established a celebrated monastery. It has been stated, on the
best and oldest 16 that the Blessed Amor, the of St. Pirmin, authorities, disciple
had been set over the monastery of Amorbach, as its first Abbot. ^ St. Amor
is thought by some, to have been the first founder and Abbot of the ancient
monastery at Amorbach, which is supposed to derive its designation from
him. This latter opinion was a long-prevalent tradition among the people ; and, to it, the learned local historian Gropp assents. 18 Whether or not such
a name had been given to that place, while the saint was alive, or after his
death, is unknown. Some have imagined, that it was so called, by Suibert, the successor of St. Amor, in the monastery, to commemorate his master and
x
to honour him. 9 While he had charge of this establishment, at the earnest
request of St. Pirmin and of his monks, Duke Charles and Count Ruthard foundedanewmonastery. St. Amorsuperintendeditserection,andwhenit
had been completed, he was again appointed to the government of that house. A very particular friendship was established between our saint and the holy man Burchard, who at that time was engaged in spreading Christian truths
the at 20 There can be no but counsel
among people Wurtzburg.
12 Father Ignatius Gropp very exactly de- scribes its location and surroundings in his learned work, " /Etas mille Annorum anti-
doubt, by
et Monasterii B. M. quissimi regalis
Virg.
l8 Headds "
: Megenfridus chronogra-
in Amorbach," &c, pars, i. , cap. i.
•3 See " Gazetteer of the World," vol. i. ,
Christi — ibi converterunt, atque episcopates
phus et monachus Fuldensis, qui anno cmxc. floruit, sanctum Amorem primum abbatem fuisse, et loco nomen indidisse scri- bit. Varium exhinc appellationem sortitum est, quae varie scribitur *c pronunciatur : Amarbaricum, Amarbaracum, Amarba- cum, Amerbacum, Amerbachium, Am-
p. 233.
14 He adds
" Vetustissimum interim est hoc ccenobium, et Scotos primos incolas habuit, qui regionem, circa Verdam Saxoni- cam sitam, sub Carolo Magno ad fidem
fundamenta jecerunt. "
Wirceburgensis," xxxiv. p. 361.
tomus
i. ,
lib.
xxi. , cap.
— traditionem continuam edocti poribus per
:
"Commentarii de Rebus Francise Orientalis et Episcopatus
merbacum,
appellationis originem ab antiquissimis tem-
15 It lies four miles W. N. W. of Constanz.
See "Gazetteer of the World," vol. xi. ,
p. 254. 16
Meginfrid,
Fulda, has been quoted by Trithemius, for
this statement. He flourished towards the of their holy patron while he was living, close of the tenth century. Two other and the many miracles wrought there
the chronicler and Monk of
to the so named place
ancient records, quoted by Father Gropp in his History of Amorbach, confirm the fore- going account.
This is stated, in a Manuscript Chroni-
** On the authority of Cratepolius and Crantz, Bucelin has stated this in his Bene-
dictine Martyrology.
Amenbachium, &c. Com- munissime et certe Amorbacum, cujusmodi
" /Etas mille Annorum
Monasterii B. M.
'9 Another conjecture of Gropp is ad-
through their invocation after his death,
See ibid.
20
sumus. "
antiquis-
simi et
regalis
Virg.
in
Amorbach," &c, pars, i. , cap. i.
that
it, to mark their sense'of the great sanctity
duced,
pilgrims
244 LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. [August 17.
and mutual aid, both took part in those pious works, which were agreed upon forthespiritualgoodoftheirrespectivecommunities. Ithasbeenshownby the Bollandist Father Guilelmus Cuper, that some writers have confounded our saint with another St. Amor of Aquitaine and a confessor, whose feast occursonthe8thofOctober. ThelatterwasveneratedintheancientBene- dictine Abbey of Munster-Bilsen 21 and regarding him, an account may be
;
found in the learned work " of the Jesuit Father Barthe'lemy Fisen. How-
ever, while he
at the 8th of October 2 s ;
Molanus draws the distinction between both saints. 2^ But
Ferrarius,
2*
two distinct entries of both
yet, in his notes, at the mention of St. Amor, the Abbot,26 that writer states, they were but one and the same person. Such a statement is devoid of proof, and indeed the distinction has been solidly established by Father Ignatius Gropp, and by other writers. The mistake is accounted for in this manner. About the year 1446, a certain John Keck, a secular priest, in consequence of the great popular veneration for St. Amor at Amorbach, yet finding no written Life of him, or nothing but what came down in local tradition, felt greatly desirous to prosecute further enquiries about him, and thus to satisfy a pious curiosity, he entertained a desire to gather further information. Having heard, at last, that a St. Amor was venerated with great devotion at Munster-Bilsen, where his remains were preserved in a convent of nuns, he went thither, and learned that the Legend of St. Amor's Life was extant. That he pro- cured, and thought it had reference solely to St. Amor or Amorbach. He then requested some relics of their patron from the nuns, and the Abbess
gives
saints,
complied with his request. All this was accomplished by Keck, in perfect good faith, and satisfied that his devout intention had been fulfilled. Where- fore, he endeavoured to reconcile the Acts of St. Amor of Aquitain, with what had been locally related of St. Amor at Amorbach ; and, to promote still more devotion to the latter, he committed to writing those false accounts, whichhaveledlaterwriterstorepeathiserror. Whilepresidingoverthemonas- tery of Amorbach, the holy Abbot Amor was most desirous of establishing a school there for the instruction of boys, knowing well that the young are like to soft wax, which can be moulded easily to receive whatever impressions are made, and therefore, that Christian principles and practices must be instilled into their minds, and with great diligence, during their tender years. Nor did he neglect to provide for the teaching and training of young girls. His methods for instruction were wisely planned, because he managed to
cle of Wurtzburg.
21 He led a solitary life for some time in
the vicinity of M*aestricht. His sanctity and miracles caused him to be venerated by the people. He was buried at Bilsen, and some time after his interment, the sacred remains were transferred to the Abbatial Church of Munster-Bilsen, Latinized Belisia and Bellua. See Les Petits Bollandistes,
primum in lucem prodita ;—Flores Ecclesiae Leodiensis, sive Vitce vel Elogia Sanctorum et aliorum qui illustriori virtute banc Dicecesine exornarunt. " At p. 448, in the latter part, the notes on St. Amor of Aqui- taine are contained.
"3 In his work, "De Natalibus Sanctorum Belgii," at the 8th of October, where after eulogizing St. Amor of Bilsen, he adds in a
"Vies des Saints," tome xii. , viiie Jour note: "Fuit et alius ejus nominis Sanctus,
d'Octobre, pp. 153, 154.
22 The first edition of " Sancta Lena, Ro-
primus abbas Amarbachii, discipulus sancti Pirminii, quern Alemannia celebrat. "
manae Ecclesise
sive HistoiiaEcclesiae
2* In " rum. "
Filia;
Leodiensis," was issued at Liege, in 1642,
fob The second edition was published in
the same city in 1696, folio, and having for
Generalis Sancto-
:
26 He writes " Sed hie idem est cum
" its title :
Sancta Legia, Romance Ecclesioe Filia, sive Historiarum Ecclesias Leodiensis,
Partes duse ; Quarum prima ab ipso Auctore superiore ; nam fuit primus abbas Amor- aucta fuit atque recognita, et secunda nunc bacensis, et Belisiie objit. "
Catalogus
2s There we read
gros sancti Amoris presbyteri. Amorbaci in Gcrmania sancti Amoris abbatis. "
:
" Belisioe apud Tun-
August 17. ] LIVES OF THE IRISH SAlNTS. 245
cheer and encourage youth, by his gracious and agreeable manners ; he was playful and bland among his pupils, so that he was loved for his amiability and accessibility at all times. The children soon learned to delight in his society, and to feel happy when he taught them their prayers, catechism, and even higher subjects for their instruction ; while they willingly practised those rules he laid down, for the regulation of their lives and conduct. He had another object in view, which was to gain the affections of the parents, through the love he bore their children. Moreover, while the parents began to admire and practise the habits of their innocent offspring, they also judiciously left to Amor their direction and proficiency in sacred and secular instruction. Whenever any of his youthful disciples happened to be sick, the holy Abbot was sure to visit them, and always to afford both spiritual and material comfort and consolation. He was most solicitous to press on the people the necessity for having children newly born baptized without delay, and especially when they were weakly or ill. Frequently, in such cases, and
through his merits, their parents believed, that on being entered within the
Christian fold through his ministry, their children also received bodily health
and strength. So holy was Amor esteemed, that his time was greatly taken up with the reception of people, who flocked to him from all parts, to be healed of various diseases, through his prayers and merits. Especially those attacked
with fever sought his aid. Through the efficacy of his prayers and pious manner of living, a well which sprangjnear the church of the old monastery at Amorbach was reputed holy, and the people were accustomed to frequent
2
it, for the purpose of being relieved from various distempers. ? It was dedi-
cated to the Blessed Virgin Mary, and to that chapel which was near it, after the foundation of his new monastery, the saint was accustomed to resort and
22
pray to the Mother of our Lord.
Odenwald Forest for the care and attention bestowed upon themselves and their families, that they soon endowed the newly built monastery with tracts of land, then mostly covered with trees and thorns, and little cultivated. Nor was much time allowed the monks to labour in the fields about their new settlement. However, they rented those fields and lands to tenants, who were anxious to settle near them, and houses were built for their residence. In those early ages, the monasteries had a special attraction for the faithful, as charities were liberally dispensed by the monks to their neighbours in many acts of kindness. As time rolled on, the forests and wastes were cleared,
and brought into cultivation, while the surrounding population progressively increased. It is thought, by some, that the original foundation of that chapel was due to St. Pirmin and to his monks, who gave it the first dedication title. Afterwards, it was made a dependency on the monastery in Amorbach parish, and it became known as St. Amor's chapel, because he and his monks went thitherinprocessiontoprayattheBlessedVirgin'sshrine. Itwasajourney ofaboutone-halfhourfromthelargermonastery. Ithasbeenstated,that St. Amor ruled as Abbot over the of Amorbach
time. Long did the holy Abbot labour in the good work of assisting his
poorer neighbours, while he did not neglect the important duties of teaching his monks by word and example the higher Christian precepts. In fine, it
So grateful were the people living in the
monastery
His sanctity has been established by many miracles wrought during his life-
2 7 The people called it in their language
$u Sartct'jfimotssbnmn. 23 Father Gropp adds
posteris AD fontem sancti Amoris appel- lata sit. "
29 Such is the statement of Meginfrid, and it is confirmed by two old records quoted by Father Gropp.
" ut merito sacra ilia sedicula ob sancti Amoris frequentiam et impetratam salutiferam fonti virtutem a
:
forty
three 2 9 years.
246 LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. [August 17.
may be said, that St. Amor's monastery was the cradle of religion and learn- ing, from which bishops, pastors and doctors of the church were drawn. Many of these were renowned for their sanctity. They largely contributed to the conversion of different nations, and some of them obtained the laurel of martyrdom.
;—
the sword was emblematic of his martyrdom apeculiarinstinctofsearchingforthingsburied representstheotherpre- vailing popular tradition.
In the Martyrologies of Holland, Belgium and France, the feast of St. Jeron is this day commemorated. Likewise, in the Calendars of Galesinus, of Wion, of Bucelin, and in other Martyrologies, the feast of St. Iero or Hieron is set down, at the 17th of August. In Father Stephen White's work,'5 this saint is called Vero—probably through a misprint—and his martyrdom is assigned to this day. Convaeus registers at this date St. Ieron, an illus- trious martyr, at Egmond, in Holland. In the anonymous Catalogue of national saints, published by O'Sullevan Beare, we find Hieron, at the 17th of August. In like manner, on the authority of Molanus and Floratius, Father Henry Fitzsimon l6 enters Iheron, presbyter et martyr, at this same
date, In his Menologium Scotorum, Thomas Dempster has classed this holy 1
martyr, at the 17th of August, ? of course claiming him to be a Scotus belong- ing to Scotland.
In the foregoing narrative, we have to admire the manner in which the
Almighty is pleased to manifest his providential regard for the honour of those who are faithful to him until death, and to make known their merits on
earth, for the edification of the Church Militant, as they are rewarded for
ever in Heaven, and understood by the Church Triumphant, consisting of the Angels and Saints. No longer do these blessed spirits desire human applause, nor do they ambition honours among mortals ; neither envious nor jealous of those happy favours already obtained by others who rejoice before the throne of God, they have no desires that are not gratified, and no void of soul that is not filled with delights, which cannot be described or even con- ceived. What was all earthly suffering as compared with their present glory and happiness ?
Article II. '—St. Ernan, of Torach, now Tory Island, County of Donegal. A festival to honour Ernan is inserted in the Martyrology of
1 at the
;
—
the falcon a bird said to have
of He is called the son of Colman, in the August.
17th
SanctilogiumGenealogicum. AccordingtotheO'Clerys,hesprungfromthe race of Eoghan, son to Niall. From Eoghan he was the fifth in regular descent. He was born, most probably, in the beginning of the sixth century, and in the northern part of Ireland. He became a disciple of St. Columkille. *
Isolated, as Tory lies out in the ocean, it seems to have a history, and dating
Tallagh,
fromaremote
period.
3 Inthe
beginning
ofthesixth itwas century,
occupied
Hanover, 1843.
13 According to Roodscreen, Suffield.
14 See Rev. Dr. F. C. Husenbeth's Rebus in am/ssis Hiero s&pissime pollet
" Emblems of Saints," edition of Rev. Dr.
Augustus Jessopp, p. 113.
15 See "Apologia pro Hibernia," cap. ' iv. ,
p. 42.
16 See " Historic Catholicse Ibernise
Compendium," tomus i. , lib. iv. , cap. x. , xi. , pp. 48, 50, 55.
•'
malim cum ratione et majori Sancti laude Rebus in amissis Hiero sanctissime polles. " — " of
*? Thus is his festival noted :
Egmondse Hieronis presbyteri, Cymbrorum See his Life, in the Sixth Volume of this Apostoli et martyris, magnorum operum viri work, at the 9th of June, Art. i.
XVII. is
2
cujus caput Northvvici, passionis loco, re- quiescit. VV. ML. et ut dicebat ille. Gh.
Bishop Forbes'
Kalendars Scottish
Saints," p. 208. — Article II.
•
Edited by Rev. Dr. Kelly, p. xxxii. In that copy, as found in the Book of Leinster, at this date, the entry
eptiAin.
240 LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. [August i 7.
by the pagans, and it belonged to a chief, named Alild. This Island is in
the parish of Tullaghobegly, and barony of Kilmacrenan, being about nine miles from the nearest part of the Donegal coast. On the way, a vessel passes three s—maller islands, named Innisbofinn, Innisdooey—on which there is a cemetery and Innisbeg. There are two villages on the Island of Tory
; one called the East Town, and the other the West Town. This latter is the
principal one, containing the RoundTower and the Ecclesiastical ruins. * Steep rocks line the shores of this remote Island,5 which at certain times is inac- cessiblefromthemainland; andayachtorboatcanonlytouchinasmall
6 situated and sheltered cove, romantically
by
Doon, from its proximity to an ancient Dun or stronghold. The Island of
Tory is of very irregular shape f it is about three miles in length by one mile
in breadth, in its widest part; its superficial contents being about 1,200 acres,
of which 200 may be considered arable or pasture land. The soil is generally
""
held by the inhabitants on the old rundale tenure ; each tenant having a
portion of every kind of land, but no one a permanent possession of any separate part. This almost inaccessible spot is one of the earliest places men- tioned in the bardic history of Ireland, and it is the first referred to as being a stronghold of the Fomorian or African pirates, who made descents on the coasts of Ireland at a period so remote, that now it seems impossible to bring chronology to bear on it. In the accounts of those pirates, it is called
8 Torinis, or "Island of the Tower;" in other tracts, it is Torach, or the
"Towery;" while the inhabitants of the adjoining coasts of Donegal think it has derived this name from the tower-like cliffs, by which it is guarded on every side. This seems to be the correct explanation of the latter name ; for there are many lofty, isolated rocks on the opposite coast, and called by the natives tors or " towers. " A remarkably lofty one on the east side of this IslanditselfiscalledTormor,or"theGreatTower. "9 TheNemediansare also mentioned in connection with this Island, by the ancient bards and chroniclers. 10 As we have already seen, St. Columba :I founded a church on Tory or Torry Island ; off the north-western coast of Donegal, about the middle of the sixth century. According to some accounts, he also founded a religious house beside it. Whether St. Ernan accompanied his master to this Island, in the first instance, does not appear ; but, he was selected to plant Christianitythere,andafterwardshewasrecognisedasthelocalpatron. He was the first Abbot over the monastic establishment, on the Island of Tory
3 There is an account of "The Island of Rath," translated with notes by John
Tory ; its History and Antiquities," By O'Donovan, pp. 106, 107, n. (x).
Edmund Getty, M. R. I. A. , in the " Ulster Journal of Archaeology," vol. i. , pp. 27 to 37. Belfast, 1853, et seq. 4to.
4 A very interesting lithographed view of these objects, of part of the sea, and of dis-
taut mountains, is shown at p. 31.
5 An admirable map of the Island, litho-
graphed, is to be found, at p. 27, —and a wood-cut illustration occurs at p. 29. Ibid.
6
This is partially protected from the Atlantic waves, by a high pinnacle of rocks, called Tor-a-hauv.
7 A very accurate map of Tory Island illustrates the contribution of Mr. Getty. See part ii. , at p. 106, with a wood-cut illus- tration of a section on the shore.
» Mr. O'Donovan adds: "But though this is the true interpretation of its more modern name Torach, still I am convinced, that it was also called Torinis, i. e. , Tower Island, from a Cyclopean tower or fort erected on it at a very remote period, of
which no vestige is now traceable, and not, as some have supposed, from St. Columb-
—esiastical round
tower which still remains. " Ibid. p. 107.
,0 "
See the Ulster Journal of Archaeo-
logy," vol. i. The Island of Tory : its His- tory and Antiquities, by Edmund Getty, M. R. I. A. , part ii. , Pagan period, pp. 106 to 116.
" The feast of this great ccenobiarch is kept on the 9th of June. See his Life in the Sixth Volume of this work, at that date,
8
Columba, and in the " The Battle of Magh
So is it called, in the Irish Life of St.
cliffs, at a called Port- place
kille's Cloigtheach, or eccl
•August j
12
LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS.
or Torry.
7. ]
24T
Beside the village of thatched cottages are the Round Tower and a ruined church. 1* Of these, with other antiquities, the fullest description, and with admirable illustrations, have been given by Edmund Getty, M. R. I. A. h Only the fragments of two very small churches were found there by Mr. Hills. '5 After a careful examination of the Irish churches, this writer did not find except, perhaps, in one instance, the remains of seven churches only, in any one of eight particular places which had been visited by him. He therefore
Village and Ruins on Tory Island, County of Donegal.
concludes, that the name " Seven Churches," had no foundation in fact, and that its acceptance was only a fallacious popular opinion. The name of this
16
saint is already recorded, in the Martyrology of Donegal, 17th,asErnan,ofTorach. Thehistoricmemorandaofthisveryinteresting Island is well set forth in the "Ulster Journal of Archaeology,^ by a gentle-
man of acknowledged antiquarian research.
Article III. —St. Amor, or Amator, First Abbot of Amorbach, Bavaria. [Seventh and Eighth Centuries. ] Nothing seems to be known with certainty, regarding the country of St. Amor's birth ; yet, according to what appears to be an ancient tradition, he has been called a Scot, and if this statement be well founded, we should most probably claim him as an
Art. i. , chap. vi.
12 See Rev. William Reeves' Adamnan's
" Life of St. Columba. " Additional Notes,
G, p. 279.
13 Already, in the Sixth Chapter of St.
Columba's Life, at the 9th of June, have we
an —illustration of the presented enlarged
Mrs. Millard.
14 See the " Ulster Journal of Archaeo-
logy," vol. i. , The Island of Tory ; its His- tory and Antiquities, part Hi. , Ecclesiastical Period, pp. 142 to 158.
15 See an Article in the "Gentleman's Ma-
Round Tower.
— Here but from a different point of view it is grouped in the back- ground; the village, church and station cross appearing in the foreground. The drawing on the wood is by William F. -Wakeman ; the engraving was executed by
tecture of
gazine,"parti. , 1864.
16
"NotesontheArchi-
at the date, August
sect,
Edited by Drs. Todd and Reeves, pp.
Ireland,"
v. , pp. 551, 552.
222, 223.
v SeeEdmundGetty'sarticle, "Thelsland
of Tory; its History and Antiquities," part iii. , Ecclesiastical Period, pp. 152 to 158.
242 LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. [August 17.
Irishman. His personal history is equally obscure, as no early Acts of his Life have been hitherto discovered. The earliest known account of St. Amor is that to be found in the Chronicle of Meginfrid of Fulda, who flourished towards the close of the tenth century. From this, Trithemius x seems
chiefly to have drawn his notice of the saint. There are some notices of this saint
2
in the works of Wolfgangus Lazius, of Joannes Georgius ab Eckhart,3 and
ofFatherIgnatiusGropp. * TheBollandistshavegiventheActsofthisholy Abbot, at the 17th of August,5 the day assigned for his festival. These are in the form of a historical and critical commentary, comprised in seven sections, and containing seventy-one paragraphs. Notices of him are to be found, likewise, in Les Petits Bollandistes,6 and at this date. He is regarded as a Scotus—which in his early period meant an Irishman—by some old writers, yet they have not given us the exact place of his birth. Whether Amor or Amator was his original name has not been established ; but, if he were a Scotus, it seems most likely, that he had a different name, and bearing a more Celtic form, before he left Ireland, as the Continental people often changed the etymons of our missionaries, who went amongst them, into other designations more conformable to their usages or dialects. Inthecountryofhisadoption,AmorwasalsodesignatedthePilgrim, which means, that he came thither as a stranger. His being styled a Scotus caused Thomas Dempster and David Camerarius to claim him as a native of Scotland. According to other writers, he was a native of Aquitaine,? and
governed that ccenobium.
such is the statement of 8 who Gropp,
it, however, from tradition. He argues, moreover, that the name Amor or Amator, like that of Amandus or Amatus, with others similar, might betray his Aquitainic origin. This, however, is a very delusive supposition, as is the same deduc- tion from Amantia, the reputed name of his mother.
This holy man is supposed to have been born, towards the close of the seventh century, trusting to certain statements of writers regarding him. He is thought, also, to have embraced the monastic state in Fossey. He became a disciple of St. Pirmin,9 also a Scot, but at what time does not appear ; yet, he is said to have then With Saints Firmin and Burchard,10 St. Amor
in the dark forests of Bavaria. 11 He
wrought there, and he became so zealous in gaining souls to Christ, that he was regarded as an Apostle among his fellow labourers. To St. Pirmin has been generally attributed the founding of Amorbach monastery. It was
the word of
God,
Article hi. — ' In the First Book of his Annals.
2 " De Gentium aliquot Migrationibus, Sedibus fixis, Reliquiis, Linguarum Initiis et Immutationibus ac Dialectis," lib. vii. , p. 231. This learned work in Twelve Books
was published at Bide, 1557, and 1572, fol. Also at Francfort, 1600, fol.
3 In " Commentarii de Rebus Francire
Orientalis et Episcopatus Wirceburgensis,"
strenuously
s See "Acta Sanctorum," tomus 111- , Augusti xvii. De S. Amore vel Amatore, Primo Abbate Amorbacensi in Franconia, pp. 46oto475- „ .
preached
tomusi. , lib. xxi. , cap. xxxiv. 1727, two folio volumes.
Wurtzbourg,
xviie Jour d'Aout, p. 626.
7 This probably arose from the circum-
stance, that sonic writers have confounded St. Amor of Amorbach, venerated on this day, with St. Amor of Aquitaine, venerated on the 8th of October. However, they were both distinct persons.
4"
In /Etas mille Annorum antiquissimi
et regalis Monasterii B. M. Virg. in Amor- bach, Ord. S. Benedicti in Archidioecesi Moguntina Gloria et Honore coronata atque historica Methodo adumbrata, etc. , ex ejus- deni Monasterii Chartis et Documentis aliis- que probatis Autoribus eruta et probata," pars, i. , cap. i. This fine folio work, with plates, was published at Francfort in 1 736.
8 In " /Etas mille Annorum
antiquissimi
only gives
popular
„
See Les Vies des Saints," tome ix. ,
6"
et regalis Monasterii B. M. Virg. in Amor-
bach," &c, pars, i. , cap. i. , sect. 6.
» See an account of him, at the 3rd of November.
10 The feast of this holy man is celebrated on the 14th of October.
" See Les Petits Bollandistes " Vies des
e
Saints," tome ix. , xvii Jour d'Aout, p. 626.
August 17. ] LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. 243
situated at the Odenwald forest, between the Rivers Neckar and Maine, and on the confines of the Dioceses of Wurtzburgh and Mayence. To the latter
it is
12 Amorbach is now a town of Bavaria, and in the circle of the
subject.
Lower Mayne, about twenty miles south of AschafTenburg, and having a
of J3 toa of
population nearly 3,ooo. According conjecture Joannes Georgius
ab Eckhart, the name of this place is derived from these two words, Amer or
Ammer, a species of cherry, and Bach, which means a rivulet, so that in com-
bination, he resolves them into the designation of Amorbach. However,
this derivation appears to be extremely far-fetched, and hardly warranted,
since the more modern name of the rivulet is admitted to have been changed
into Mudt. 1 * Whether Amor left the monastery at Fossey of his own choice,
to attach himself to the mission at the Odenwald, or whether he had been
called there by order of his master, St. Pirmin, has not been determined.
In the year 724, it is said that St. Pirmin left Amorbach to the charge of St.
Amor, and then went himself to Reichenau,^ an Island in Lake Constance,
where he established a celebrated monastery. It has been stated, on the
best and oldest 16 that the Blessed Amor, the of St. Pirmin, authorities, disciple
had been set over the monastery of Amorbach, as its first Abbot. ^ St. Amor
is thought by some, to have been the first founder and Abbot of the ancient
monastery at Amorbach, which is supposed to derive its designation from
him. This latter opinion was a long-prevalent tradition among the people ; and, to it, the learned local historian Gropp assents. 18 Whether or not such
a name had been given to that place, while the saint was alive, or after his
death, is unknown. Some have imagined, that it was so called, by Suibert, the successor of St. Amor, in the monastery, to commemorate his master and
x
to honour him. 9 While he had charge of this establishment, at the earnest
request of St. Pirmin and of his monks, Duke Charles and Count Ruthard foundedanewmonastery. St. Amorsuperintendeditserection,andwhenit
had been completed, he was again appointed to the government of that house. A very particular friendship was established between our saint and the holy man Burchard, who at that time was engaged in spreading Christian truths
the at 20 There can be no but counsel
among people Wurtzburg.
12 Father Ignatius Gropp very exactly de- scribes its location and surroundings in his learned work, " /Etas mille Annorum anti-
doubt, by
et Monasterii B. M. quissimi regalis
Virg.
l8 Headds "
: Megenfridus chronogra-
in Amorbach," &c, pars, i. , cap. i.
•3 See " Gazetteer of the World," vol. i. ,
Christi — ibi converterunt, atque episcopates
phus et monachus Fuldensis, qui anno cmxc. floruit, sanctum Amorem primum abbatem fuisse, et loco nomen indidisse scri- bit. Varium exhinc appellationem sortitum est, quae varie scribitur *c pronunciatur : Amarbaricum, Amarbaracum, Amarba- cum, Amerbacum, Amerbachium, Am-
p. 233.
14 He adds
" Vetustissimum interim est hoc ccenobium, et Scotos primos incolas habuit, qui regionem, circa Verdam Saxoni- cam sitam, sub Carolo Magno ad fidem
fundamenta jecerunt. "
Wirceburgensis," xxxiv. p. 361.
tomus
i. ,
lib.
xxi. , cap.
— traditionem continuam edocti poribus per
:
"Commentarii de Rebus Francise Orientalis et Episcopatus
merbacum,
appellationis originem ab antiquissimis tem-
15 It lies four miles W. N. W. of Constanz.
See "Gazetteer of the World," vol. xi. ,
p. 254. 16
Meginfrid,
Fulda, has been quoted by Trithemius, for
this statement. He flourished towards the of their holy patron while he was living, close of the tenth century. Two other and the many miracles wrought there
the chronicler and Monk of
to the so named place
ancient records, quoted by Father Gropp in his History of Amorbach, confirm the fore- going account.
This is stated, in a Manuscript Chroni-
** On the authority of Cratepolius and Crantz, Bucelin has stated this in his Bene-
dictine Martyrology.
Amenbachium, &c. Com- munissime et certe Amorbacum, cujusmodi
" /Etas mille Annorum
Monasterii B. M.
'9 Another conjecture of Gropp is ad-
through their invocation after his death,
See ibid.
20
sumus. "
antiquis-
simi et
regalis
Virg.
in
Amorbach," &c, pars, i. , cap. i.
that
it, to mark their sense'of the great sanctity
duced,
pilgrims
244 LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. [August 17.
and mutual aid, both took part in those pious works, which were agreed upon forthespiritualgoodoftheirrespectivecommunities. Ithasbeenshownby the Bollandist Father Guilelmus Cuper, that some writers have confounded our saint with another St. Amor of Aquitaine and a confessor, whose feast occursonthe8thofOctober. ThelatterwasveneratedintheancientBene- dictine Abbey of Munster-Bilsen 21 and regarding him, an account may be
;
found in the learned work " of the Jesuit Father Barthe'lemy Fisen. How-
ever, while he
at the 8th of October 2 s ;
Molanus draws the distinction between both saints. 2^ But
Ferrarius,
2*
two distinct entries of both
yet, in his notes, at the mention of St. Amor, the Abbot,26 that writer states, they were but one and the same person. Such a statement is devoid of proof, and indeed the distinction has been solidly established by Father Ignatius Gropp, and by other writers. The mistake is accounted for in this manner. About the year 1446, a certain John Keck, a secular priest, in consequence of the great popular veneration for St. Amor at Amorbach, yet finding no written Life of him, or nothing but what came down in local tradition, felt greatly desirous to prosecute further enquiries about him, and thus to satisfy a pious curiosity, he entertained a desire to gather further information. Having heard, at last, that a St. Amor was venerated with great devotion at Munster-Bilsen, where his remains were preserved in a convent of nuns, he went thither, and learned that the Legend of St. Amor's Life was extant. That he pro- cured, and thought it had reference solely to St. Amor or Amorbach. He then requested some relics of their patron from the nuns, and the Abbess
gives
saints,
complied with his request. All this was accomplished by Keck, in perfect good faith, and satisfied that his devout intention had been fulfilled. Where- fore, he endeavoured to reconcile the Acts of St. Amor of Aquitain, with what had been locally related of St. Amor at Amorbach ; and, to promote still more devotion to the latter, he committed to writing those false accounts, whichhaveledlaterwriterstorepeathiserror. Whilepresidingoverthemonas- tery of Amorbach, the holy Abbot Amor was most desirous of establishing a school there for the instruction of boys, knowing well that the young are like to soft wax, which can be moulded easily to receive whatever impressions are made, and therefore, that Christian principles and practices must be instilled into their minds, and with great diligence, during their tender years. Nor did he neglect to provide for the teaching and training of young girls. His methods for instruction were wisely planned, because he managed to
cle of Wurtzburg.
21 He led a solitary life for some time in
the vicinity of M*aestricht. His sanctity and miracles caused him to be venerated by the people. He was buried at Bilsen, and some time after his interment, the sacred remains were transferred to the Abbatial Church of Munster-Bilsen, Latinized Belisia and Bellua. See Les Petits Bollandistes,
primum in lucem prodita ;—Flores Ecclesiae Leodiensis, sive Vitce vel Elogia Sanctorum et aliorum qui illustriori virtute banc Dicecesine exornarunt. " At p. 448, in the latter part, the notes on St. Amor of Aqui- taine are contained.
"3 In his work, "De Natalibus Sanctorum Belgii," at the 8th of October, where after eulogizing St. Amor of Bilsen, he adds in a
"Vies des Saints," tome xii. , viiie Jour note: "Fuit et alius ejus nominis Sanctus,
d'Octobre, pp. 153, 154.
22 The first edition of " Sancta Lena, Ro-
primus abbas Amarbachii, discipulus sancti Pirminii, quern Alemannia celebrat. "
manae Ecclesise
sive HistoiiaEcclesiae
2* In " rum. "
Filia;
Leodiensis," was issued at Liege, in 1642,
fob The second edition was published in
the same city in 1696, folio, and having for
Generalis Sancto-
:
26 He writes " Sed hie idem est cum
" its title :
Sancta Legia, Romance Ecclesioe Filia, sive Historiarum Ecclesias Leodiensis,
Partes duse ; Quarum prima ab ipso Auctore superiore ; nam fuit primus abbas Amor- aucta fuit atque recognita, et secunda nunc bacensis, et Belisiie objit. "
Catalogus
2s There we read
gros sancti Amoris presbyteri. Amorbaci in Gcrmania sancti Amoris abbatis. "
:
" Belisioe apud Tun-
August 17. ] LIVES OF THE IRISH SAlNTS. 245
cheer and encourage youth, by his gracious and agreeable manners ; he was playful and bland among his pupils, so that he was loved for his amiability and accessibility at all times. The children soon learned to delight in his society, and to feel happy when he taught them their prayers, catechism, and even higher subjects for their instruction ; while they willingly practised those rules he laid down, for the regulation of their lives and conduct. He had another object in view, which was to gain the affections of the parents, through the love he bore their children. Moreover, while the parents began to admire and practise the habits of their innocent offspring, they also judiciously left to Amor their direction and proficiency in sacred and secular instruction. Whenever any of his youthful disciples happened to be sick, the holy Abbot was sure to visit them, and always to afford both spiritual and material comfort and consolation. He was most solicitous to press on the people the necessity for having children newly born baptized without delay, and especially when they were weakly or ill. Frequently, in such cases, and
through his merits, their parents believed, that on being entered within the
Christian fold through his ministry, their children also received bodily health
and strength. So holy was Amor esteemed, that his time was greatly taken up with the reception of people, who flocked to him from all parts, to be healed of various diseases, through his prayers and merits. Especially those attacked
with fever sought his aid. Through the efficacy of his prayers and pious manner of living, a well which sprangjnear the church of the old monastery at Amorbach was reputed holy, and the people were accustomed to frequent
2
it, for the purpose of being relieved from various distempers. ? It was dedi-
cated to the Blessed Virgin Mary, and to that chapel which was near it, after the foundation of his new monastery, the saint was accustomed to resort and
22
pray to the Mother of our Lord.
Odenwald Forest for the care and attention bestowed upon themselves and their families, that they soon endowed the newly built monastery with tracts of land, then mostly covered with trees and thorns, and little cultivated. Nor was much time allowed the monks to labour in the fields about their new settlement. However, they rented those fields and lands to tenants, who were anxious to settle near them, and houses were built for their residence. In those early ages, the monasteries had a special attraction for the faithful, as charities were liberally dispensed by the monks to their neighbours in many acts of kindness. As time rolled on, the forests and wastes were cleared,
and brought into cultivation, while the surrounding population progressively increased. It is thought, by some, that the original foundation of that chapel was due to St. Pirmin and to his monks, who gave it the first dedication title. Afterwards, it was made a dependency on the monastery in Amorbach parish, and it became known as St. Amor's chapel, because he and his monks went thitherinprocessiontoprayattheBlessedVirgin'sshrine. Itwasajourney ofaboutone-halfhourfromthelargermonastery. Ithasbeenstated,that St. Amor ruled as Abbot over the of Amorbach
time. Long did the holy Abbot labour in the good work of assisting his
poorer neighbours, while he did not neglect the important duties of teaching his monks by word and example the higher Christian precepts. In fine, it
So grateful were the people living in the
monastery
His sanctity has been established by many miracles wrought during his life-
2 7 The people called it in their language
$u Sartct'jfimotssbnmn. 23 Father Gropp adds
posteris AD fontem sancti Amoris appel- lata sit. "
29 Such is the statement of Meginfrid, and it is confirmed by two old records quoted by Father Gropp.
" ut merito sacra ilia sedicula ob sancti Amoris frequentiam et impetratam salutiferam fonti virtutem a
:
forty
three 2 9 years.
246 LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. [August 17.
may be said, that St. Amor's monastery was the cradle of religion and learn- ing, from which bishops, pastors and doctors of the church were drawn. Many of these were renowned for their sanctity. They largely contributed to the conversion of different nations, and some of them obtained the laurel of martyrdom.
