Whether the present holy man is to be distinguished from the Saint Enan, whose festival occurs at this same day, and notices of whom
immediately
follow, may be questioned.
O'Hanlon - Lives of the Irish Saints - v1
See
Vita S. Anmichadi, n. I, p. 206.
^* His feast occurs at the 24th of March. '7 In "The Irish Penny Magazine," vol.
i. , No. 36, pp. 281, 282, will be found a
wood-cut. An interesting article, fro—m the
pen of John D'Alton, accompanies it the subject being Iniscaltra or Holy Island.
'^ The occurring to- following paragraph,
" By Colgan this is supposed to be pro-
bable, for the following reasons, i. There
was another holy man descended from this
family, who was celebrated for his learning
and piety, and who was bishop of the church
of Clonfert, situated in the same part of the
country. His death is recorded in the tions of his native country. After describ- "Annals of the Four Masters," at A. D.
A. D.
" " Silanmchadia, Silanchia, a Territory
in the C. of Galway, comprehending the Barony of Longford, the country of the O'Maddens. " Harris' Ware, vol. ii. , "An-
tiquities of Ireland," chap, vii. , sec. i. , p. 53.
Hirsaugiensi,
1045.
1 1 where he is " Anmcha O'h 17, called,
Anmchadha, Bishop of Ard-fearta-Breniaun. " See O'Donovan's edition, vol. ii. , pp. 1002,
ing these ruins, and recording historical
renders " Anmchadus it,
1003. Colgan
O'Hanmchadha . i. de stirpe Anmchadi Episcopus de Cluainferta S. Brandani, obiit anno U17," n. i, p. 206.
"
Acta Sanctorum Hiberniae. " xxx. Januarii.
wards the conclusion of the article in ques- tion, is alike creditable to the literary repu-
tation, correct judgment, taste, and religious feeling of this writer, our lamented and venerable deceased friend, who has signally served to popularize the history and tradi-
on the island, Mr. D'Alton
notices, bearing
*'
writes :
that crowded upon me when years since I sat down amidst the consecrated shades of these ^venerable ruins ; the birds were rust- ling through their ivied walls, and the withered leaves of autumn were crackling
Never can I forget the feelings
5o8 LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. [January 30.
in which it Hes, and it is situated in the barony of Leitrim and county of Galway. '9 Theislandcontainsover45statuteacres.
Florence of Worcester relates, that on a certain occasion, some guests aiTiving at this monastery, Corcran appointed our saint to exercise the duties of host or entertainer. After partaking of food, some of those guests retired, while others remained warming themselves at the fire. ^° These persons asked for some drink, biit this being a demand, not perhaps conformable with established discipline in the house, our saint, with much reluctance, assented to their request. ^^ Previous to his compliance, however, he sent some of this drink to obtain the blessing of his superior. Being interrogated on the following day by Corcran,^^ to elicit his reasons for acting in this manner, our saint related the request which had been preferred to him, and his subsequent compliance with it. To punish him for such a breach of discipline, the abbot ordered his disciple to leave Ireland, and to become an exile in a foreign country. Our saint immediately obeyed this severe in- junction, and sailed for a distant land. As a monk he travelled to Germany, andenteredFuldaorFuldemonastery. ^3 ThusembracingtheBenedictine rule and discipline, which had been established in this religious enclosure, he lived there as a recluse, and shut up in a stone cell, avoiding all intercourse with the world. He continued for a long time in a state of complete abnega- tion and holy self-sacrifice. ^* While in this retreat, our saint was a perfect model for all the religious brethren, being remarked for his strict adherence to rule, his perfect obedience, his profound humility, and his rigorous pen- ances. His soul seemed to aspire, without restraint, to the contemplation of heavenly things ; he endeavoured in all his prayers and meditations to exclude distractions caused by worldly thoughts and concerns. Passing such kind of life, he attained an advanced age ; and finally, he departed to
the haven of his rest and his aspirations, on the 30th day of January, a. d.
in the wind—meet for their covering sepul-
;
^' "Bibere ab eo These petierunt. "
words are explained by Colgan, as if the strangers had asked him to take part of what
they had before them. Yet, they might be understood to mean that, although the meal
was over, they applied to him for some
drink. See " Ecclesiastical His- Lanigan's
tory of Ireland," vol. iii. , chap, xxiv,, sec. ii. , n. 17, p. 445.
^^
It is presumed, that this was the Cor- cran, who wrote a poem on the relics and virtues of St. Gormgal of Ard-Oilean. See further notices regarding him, in the Acts of this latter saint, which occur at the 5th of August.
^3 This celebrated abbey and town are
situated on the River Fulde, near the boun-
dary of Bavaria, and in Hessen Nassau, Northern Germany. The abbot, to the
closing of the last century, was primate of the abbeys in the German Emjiire, perpe- tual chancellor of the emperor, and sovereign over a small territory, lying between Hesse, Franconia, and Thuringia. See "Encyclo- paedia Britannica," vol. vii. , Art. Fulde, p. 492. Dublin edition, 1792.
^"^ Colgan's "Acta Sanctorum Hibemise," xxx. Januarii. Vita S. Anmichadi, cap. i. , ii. , p. 205.
chral pavement—and I bethought me of the time wlien these religious houses were sup- pressed, and the consummation of royal robbery and sacrilege by which that act was accompanied. The event has cast a shadow through centuries that have ensued
we even yet stand within its penumbra, and I confess the indignation which rose within me at that early period of my life, neither has the advance of years chilled, nor has the ex- perience of professional intercourse with the ecclesiastical records of my country, fami-
liarized into patient endurance. "
'9 See " Ordnance Survey Townland Maps
fortheCountyofGalway. " Sheet136.
^°
a reader of the opening lines in that exceed-
This incident will probably remind many
ingly interesting poem, "The Monks of Kilcrea. "
" Three monks sat by a bogwood fire ! If ^^ if * * ^a H.
Whoever past, be he baron or squire, Was free to call at the abbey, and stay, Nor guerdon nor gift for his lodging
pay,
Although he t—arried a week with its holy
Quire! " Fytte i. , stanza i.
January 30. ] LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. 509
1 043. =^5 This is the day assigned for his natahs and festival, according to the generahty of writers f^ but CratepoUus says, a feast occurs in his honour at the ist of February. =^7 Ferrarius assigns to him a festival on both the days already mentioned. ^^ St. Amnichad was buried at Fulda, or, as sometimes >\Titten, Fulden. ^9 Sixteen years after this death of our saint, his more celebrated countryman, Marianus Scotus, the Chronologist, succeeded him as a religious in the monastery of Fulda,3° and relates in his writings, that fortenyearshedailycelebratedMassoverthetombofSt. Anmichad. He says, moreover, that supernatural light and heavenly psalmody were frequently seen or heard above the place of our saint's sepulture, during this same period. He even declares, a certain religious brother of the monastery, named William, prayed in his own hearing, that our saint would bestow a blessing upon him. During this same night, in a vision, Amnichad appeared, resplendent with celestial light. Standing on his tomb, the blessed apparition gave a blessing with extended hands to the monk. This was related to Marianus by the brother himself, after its occurrence. During the whole night, when this vision took place, the Chronographer declares, a most agreeable odour
was diffused through that chamber, in which he reposed. 3^ We are thus
taught from the example of this holy penitent,, how even slight faults are to be atoned for, when, as Marianus O'Gonnan learned from his superior, Tighernach—or as called Tigernacb Borchecb^^—an offence of such a nature caused Anmchad's exile from his native country. This Tighernach is sup- posed to have been a saint,33 according to the Martyrologies of Marianus O'Gorman and of Donegal, and not that celebrated Annalist bearing the same name, and who flourished much about the same period, yet a little
*5 Marianus Scottus, the first who has written regarding this saint, says at 1043,
•'
^7 In his work, "De Episcopis Germanise," this writer has entered his feast at the Ka- lends or 1st day of February, and by him this saint is called Annuchadus. Hugo
Menard in his " Benedicti- Martyrologium
Animchadus Scottus monachus et inclusus obiit 3. Kal. Februarii in JNIonasterio Ful- densi. " See Chronicon, edited Professor
by
G. Waitz, in " Monumenta Germanicfe His-
num," places his feast at the same date; as "
torica. " Scriptorum, tomus v. , p. 557. Flor-
"
ence of Worcester also writes,
Animchadus Scotus Monachus et inclusus in Fulda obiit. " Trithemius in " Chronicon Hirsaugiensis," places his death in the same year, and in his work, " De viris Illustribus,"
likewise Christopher Browerus' Antiquit. Mildens," lib. i. , cap. 20.
" 3° lib. iii,, cap. 244, remarks of this saint, Mo-
ritur an. Domini 1043, tertio Calend. Febr. "
The English Martyrology says, that he died on the 30th of of January, about A. D. 1043. Wion, also, assigns the death of this saint to the 30th of January, 1043. Besides those already cited, Camerarius, Dempster, and
Such is the statement of Colgan, both in his text and in a note, where he says, this information may be collected from Marianus Scotus himself, who relates, that Anmichad died a. d. 1043, and that he, Marianus, became a recluse, A. D. 1059, in the cell of Anmichad. See "Acta Sanc- torum Hiberniae," xxx. Januarii. Vita S. Anmichadi, cap. iv. , p. 205, and n. 7, p. 206.
3' Florence of Worcester observes, that
the foregoing particulars are related by Marianus in his Chronicle.
3= See Mariani Scotti Chronicon, edited - by Professor G. Waitz, in "Monumenta GermaniiB Historica. " Scriptorum, tomus v. , p. 557-
33 See St. Tighernach's festival at the I3tli
others are of accord. See Colgan's
"
Acta
Sanctorum Hibernite," xxx. Januarii. Vita
S. Anmichadi, cap. iii. , iv. , pp, 205, 206,
and nn. 5, 6, ibid.
^^ "
In Henry Fitzsimon's Catalogus Ali-
quoram Sanctorum Iberniae," Aminachad's festival is placed at this date, on the autho-
rity of the English Martyrology. Father Stephen White omits to notice his feast.
See "Apologia pro Hibernia," cap. iv. , p. 43. In Dempster's "Menologium Scoti-
"
cum," we read at this date,
of the monk Anmichad, at Fulda. " See Bishop Forbes' " Kalendars of the Scottish Saints," p. 191.
of May. He 878 to 881.
Anno 1043.
the deposition
is thought to have died of the plague, A. D. 1061. See Dr. O'Donovan's "Annals of the Four Masters," vol. ii,, pp.
'^
In his "Catalogus Generalis Sancto- nmi. "
-9 See Bishop Challenor's " Britannia Sancta," part i. , p. 85.
5IO LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. [January 30.
later in point of time. 3* Such extraordinary rigour as Anmchad practised in the expiation of sin, which his soul abhorred, should be a lesson to all
Christian penitents. It is our greatest enemy, and our most deadly one, especially when it overcomes us in matters of serious concern ; let us there-
fore have courage to resist by constant watchfulness, and if we fail in any point, a resolute effort is again required, and a suitable course of penance, to purge the soul from further taint and disorders. Such were the decided and effectual remedies of our early ascetics and religious.
Article II. —St. Momhernog of Glenn Faidhle, probably Glen- EALY, IN Hy-Garchon, County OF WicKLOW.
Whether the present holy man is to be distinguished from the Saint Enan, whose festival occurs at this same day, and notices of whom immediately follow, may be questioned. We find entered in the Martyrology of Donegal,'' on the 30th of January, Mom- hernog,ofGlenn-Faidhle,inUiGarchon. Thisdistrictissaidtohavebeen
Glenealy Church Ruins, Co. Wicklow.
in Forthuatha^ of Leinster. The Glen of Imail and Glendalough were in- cluded in this latter territory. 3 We know not of any other place more likely to be identified with the present saint than Glenealy,^ in the county of
3* His death is recorded at A. D. lo88. of Rights," n. (d), p. 207. Some of the See Dr. O'Donovan's " Annals of the Four people here would appear to have been
Masters," vol. ii. , pp. 930, 931.
Article iL —'Edited by Drs. Todd and
Reeves, pp. 30, 31.
^This word means "the stranger tribe. "
It is supposed to have been an alias name
for Ui-Mail, in the barony of Upper Talbots-
town and of Wicklow. See Dr. county
slaves, while the free people of Forthuatha
Laighean bore various surnames, given at full length in the Books of Leacan and Bally-
mote. See ibid. , n. (c), p. 223.
3 See Dr. O'Donovan's "Annals of the
Four Masters," vol. i. , n, (w), p. 379.
* The townland and of
village Glenealy
O'Donovan's " Leabhar na g-Ceart, or Book are marked on Sheets 24, 30. Glenealy
January 30. ] LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. 511
Wicklows It may also be a question, if this saint were at all different from
of Colman and Coemaca—or, according to a better account, Coeltigerna— sister to St. Kevin of Glendalough. '^ Again, it is possible, he is not to be distinguished from a St. Enan of this place, and who is venerated at the 29th of December, where notices are to be found. The scenery around is
remarkably beautiful. Near the picturesquely-situated village of Glenealy, an old graveyard of small dimensions, and greatly overcrowded in consequence of interments, may be seen. A murmuring hill-side stream runs along one of its boundaries. The site of the former old church was exceedingly well
selected, and a part of its walls has not altogether disappeared. Fragments
of the east and west gables remain; yet the north and south side-walls are
completely levelled, and it is difficult to find a portion not covered with
earth. Place for a small window, at some distance from the ground, appears ;
but the mass of —allows it to be more than dis- superincumbent ivy hardly
tinguishable. On its interior, the church Avhich seems to have bee—n quadrangular, or which may have probably consisted of a choir and nave measures interiorly 57 feet in length, and 15 feet in breadth. The walls measure over two feet in thickness. 7 Several ash and hawthorn trees of growth rise over and around the graveyard, which is approached from the high road, by a very narrow passage, fenced on either side. ^ In Scotland
this saint was likewise held in veneration ;9 but the exact period when he lived seems to be unknown. The great probabiUty is, he flourished at an early date.
Article III,—St. Enan, Son of Gemman, of Rosmore, County of
Wexford. No nation on earth has struggled so long, so heroically, and so
successfully, to preserve for her children the blessings of religion and educa- tion as Ireland. Her roofless fanes, her rifled shrines, her ruined abbeys,
her desolate monasteries, remind us of her by-gone glories. But to-day her splendid churches, colleges, convents, and monasteries, that have sprung up all over the land within the last quarter of a century, proclaim her present
youthful energy, and point to a still more glorious future. Among her past holy ones, a St. Enan, of Rois Moir, was venerated, on the 30th of
belongs to the parish bearing the same name, are presumably to be found in the " Book of in the baronies of Arklow and Newcastle. Leinster," now kept in Trinity College, Dub- See "Ordnance Survey Townland Maps for lin. While the whole is undergoing an the County of Wicklow," Sheets 24, 25, elaborate process of supervision, under the 30, 31. joint editorship of Professor O'Looney and
5SeeanaccountofitinLewis'"Topo- Mr. JosephO'Longan,astrictorderofthe
aSt. Menochus,ofGleannfaidhleandofRosmorMenoic,whowastheson
" wfEngus,hislocalityiscalledRosRind. ^ WilliamM. Hennessyidentifieshis
January, according to the Martyrology of Tallagh. ^ In the
Feihre" of St.
graphical Dictionary of Ireland," vol. i. , pp. 653, 654.
*
Board prevents the extraction of any part, until the labour be completed. Hereafter, the author hopes to supply in an appendix,
See Colgan's "Acta Sanctorum Hiber-
nise," (xii. Martii. Vita S. Dagani, nn. 2, the diurnal extracts henceforward missing,
8, 9, lo, p. 586.
7 The accompanying engraving by Mr.
Gregor Grey, of Dublin, reproduces a sketch of the author in June, 1871.
and to resume when he arrives at that part belonging to the Franciscans. This promise, however, assumes, that all parts shall be
completed, in due form.
*^ The foregoing notes were taken, during
a visit to this place.
9 See Bishop Forbes' "Kalendars of Scot-
tish — Saints," p. 427.
'
Article hi.
Kelly, p. xiv. The entries from this day, in the Irish copy of this Martyrology extant,
The following stanza and its literal Eng- lish translation have bee—n furnished by Pro-
Edited by Rev. Dr.
fessor Bryan O'Looney
-d. 111. kU
:
cec
CAejA A|\ inA|\ciiA
moi\civA monfuf •do|\u|' Amflum &! ^ un Am-^x
en^n ^\oii- tMnt> foluf.
large
512 LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. [January 30.
place with Rosmore, in the county of Wexford, as we find in a note appended
tohiscopyoftheMartyrologyofDonegal. 3 Thepresentsaintissetdown in that calendar and on this day, as Enan, son of Gemnian. He is said to
havebeenveneratedatRosmore,4inUi-Deagha,inUi-Cinnsealaigh. s Yet in another passage and within brackets, his place, Ros-mor, is said to have
been [in Luighne]. It is stated by the compiler of a table, appended to this
Martyrology. The same compiler then enquires: [" Is he the writer of the
:
Life of Brigid, etc. , and of the Book of Kilkenny ? " He adds " And it
seems likely to be so, though he is called Eminus in Jocelin, —not Ennanus. "P
The
Kalends, St. Enan, Confessor, passed away to Heaven, in Ireland. ? The worldling considers the life of a saint to be folly, and his end without honour.
saint not be different from the present may
also
called Enan of Glenn Faidhle, now Glenely, in the county ofWicklow. The Drummond Kalendar tells us, that on this day, iii. of the February
—
Mohernog
probably
But the Christian faithful " Behold how exclaim,
are numbered
among
they the children of God, and their lot is among the saints. "^
Article IV. —St. Glastian or Makglastian, Bishop and Confessor, INScotland. TheKalendarsandhagiographicalwritersofScotlandhave some imperfect notices o^ a St. Glastian or Makglastian, at the 30th of January. Adam King calls him by the latter name, and tells us, that he was a bishop in Scotland under King Achaius. ^ The Kalendar of the Aberdeen Breviary notes him as Glascianus, a bishop and confessor, having an office with nine lessons. ^ Dempster calls him Maglastian, a bishop, in Kyntyre, at this date. 3 Yet, regarding the life of this holy man, we have no details. '^ He is knoAvn, however, in the parish of Kinglassie or Kinglassin, near Kirk- caldy. 5 Some trace the name from a saint called Glass, and they point out a fountain of fine water, denominated St. Glass's well. ^ Kilmaglas or Kilma- lash? is another name for the parish of Strachur,^ and it indicates a dedica- tion to this saint in Argyleshire. Lesley states,9 that with the reputation of
B. iii. kl.
Fifty and one hundred martyrs Who ennobled the door of
martyrdom
He fasted with a number of the
old mercenaries
Enan of bright Ros Rind.
Saints," p. 143.
* See /(^/(/. , p. 112.
3 Edited by Drs, Todd and Reeves, pp.
30, 31.
* Under any form, whether Ross or Ros-
more, I cannot find such a denomination on
''
Aberdeen, which runs in these terms :
"Grant, we beseech Thee, Almighty God,
that we, who celebrate the anniversary of Blessed Glascianus, Thy confessor and bishop, may, by the intercession of his de- vout prayers, be deemed meet t—o attain to eternal joys, through our Lord. " See ibid. , p. 356.
s Frequent mention is made of this place in the "Register of Dunfermline," pp. 56, 57, 59, 63, 64, 66, 81, 172, 175, 207, 418.
^ "Old Statistical Survey of Scotland. "
Vol. iv. , p. 501, and " New Statistical Sur-
vey of Scotland. " Fife, p. 194.
^ It is not far from the ferry of Lochf)me,
Ordnance Survey Townland Maps for the County of Wexford. "
jecture.
*
the
5 Inanote to the "
ofDone- gal," Dr. Todd says at this word Ui Ceitin- sealaigh. *'Here the more recent hand adds, -A5 \\o An c-eriAn -oo ^'c^Mob becA'6 riA nAotti. 'This is the Enan who wrote theLivesoftheSaints,'" Wemaypresume, however, that this is added by way of con-
See 23? </. , pp. 406, 407.
Martyrology
Macfarlane's "Geographical Collections. " 7 See Bishop —Forbes' "Kalendars of Three vols, of MSS. , in the Advocates'
Scottish Saints. " Kalendarium Drumon- diense, p. 4.
^Wisdom, v. ,—4, 5.
Article IV.
Bishop Forbes' "Kalendars of Scottish
vol. ii. , part i. , p. 77.
» "De et et Rebus Origine, Moribus,
gestis Scotorum," lib. v.
'
See his "Kalendar" in
3 See
"
Menologium Scoticum," /i5/i'. , p.
19? .
'* There is a collect in the
Breviary
of
Library, Edinburgh. ^"
See Origines Parochiales Scotise,"
January 30. ] LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. 513
great erudition, Glacianus flourished during the reign of Achaius. ^" This bishop is said to have been iUustrious, and not without the reputation of
sanctity. " Among the pretermitted saints, the BoUandists class him at this date. " HisfeastisplacedbyGeruadiusatthe21stofJune,andbyCame- rarius at the ist of September. '3 It is possible that the present saint may have been Irish by birth and education, although this cannot be asserted, for want of further biographical particulars.
ArticleV. —St. Euskbius,MonkatSt. Gall,Switzerland. [Ninth
Century. ^ Not content with cherishing their religion at home, the Irish, as far as possible, would extend its blessings to the whole human race. ^ This hasbeenmanifestedineveryclimeandregionoftheworld. Itwasespecially the case, during the time of Charles II. , denominated the Bald, and his brothers Lothaire and Louis,'' when despising the dangers of ocean, a whole swarm of philosophers flocked towards Gallia and Germania from Hibemia, as a Continental writer bears witness. 3 Colgan has collected and published, at this day, the acts of our present saint,^ who he thinks should rather be calledEuchadiuSjSthanEusebius—. ^ Inspiredwithzealandreligiousfeeling,
the Irish —called Eusebius? whatever Scot, may
have been the name in his
nativecountry dedicatedhimselftotheserviceofChrist,and,wemayfairly
presume, his piety was developed at an early age. ^ He wished to follow in the footsteps of his compatriots, notable among whom was St. Gall,9 the celebrated Apostle of Switzerland. Eusebius was probably born early in the ninth century, although this is only a conjectural date for the occurrence. But it is generally thought that towards or about the middle of that age, he leftfriendsandnativecountryathome,whensettingoutforGaul. ^° After- wards he sought the renowned monastery, established at St.
Vita S. Anmichadi, n. I, p. 206.
^* His feast occurs at the 24th of March. '7 In "The Irish Penny Magazine," vol.
i. , No. 36, pp. 281, 282, will be found a
wood-cut. An interesting article, fro—m the
pen of John D'Alton, accompanies it the subject being Iniscaltra or Holy Island.
'^ The occurring to- following paragraph,
" By Colgan this is supposed to be pro-
bable, for the following reasons, i. There
was another holy man descended from this
family, who was celebrated for his learning
and piety, and who was bishop of the church
of Clonfert, situated in the same part of the
country. His death is recorded in the tions of his native country. After describ- "Annals of the Four Masters," at A. D.
A. D.
" " Silanmchadia, Silanchia, a Territory
in the C. of Galway, comprehending the Barony of Longford, the country of the O'Maddens. " Harris' Ware, vol. ii. , "An-
tiquities of Ireland," chap, vii. , sec. i. , p. 53.
Hirsaugiensi,
1045.
1 1 where he is " Anmcha O'h 17, called,
Anmchadha, Bishop of Ard-fearta-Breniaun. " See O'Donovan's edition, vol. ii. , pp. 1002,
ing these ruins, and recording historical
renders " Anmchadus it,
1003. Colgan
O'Hanmchadha . i. de stirpe Anmchadi Episcopus de Cluainferta S. Brandani, obiit anno U17," n. i, p. 206.
"
Acta Sanctorum Hiberniae. " xxx. Januarii.
wards the conclusion of the article in ques- tion, is alike creditable to the literary repu-
tation, correct judgment, taste, and religious feeling of this writer, our lamented and venerable deceased friend, who has signally served to popularize the history and tradi-
on the island, Mr. D'Alton
notices, bearing
*'
writes :
that crowded upon me when years since I sat down amidst the consecrated shades of these ^venerable ruins ; the birds were rust- ling through their ivied walls, and the withered leaves of autumn were crackling
Never can I forget the feelings
5o8 LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. [January 30.
in which it Hes, and it is situated in the barony of Leitrim and county of Galway. '9 Theislandcontainsover45statuteacres.
Florence of Worcester relates, that on a certain occasion, some guests aiTiving at this monastery, Corcran appointed our saint to exercise the duties of host or entertainer. After partaking of food, some of those guests retired, while others remained warming themselves at the fire. ^° These persons asked for some drink, biit this being a demand, not perhaps conformable with established discipline in the house, our saint, with much reluctance, assented to their request. ^^ Previous to his compliance, however, he sent some of this drink to obtain the blessing of his superior. Being interrogated on the following day by Corcran,^^ to elicit his reasons for acting in this manner, our saint related the request which had been preferred to him, and his subsequent compliance with it. To punish him for such a breach of discipline, the abbot ordered his disciple to leave Ireland, and to become an exile in a foreign country. Our saint immediately obeyed this severe in- junction, and sailed for a distant land. As a monk he travelled to Germany, andenteredFuldaorFuldemonastery. ^3 ThusembracingtheBenedictine rule and discipline, which had been established in this religious enclosure, he lived there as a recluse, and shut up in a stone cell, avoiding all intercourse with the world. He continued for a long time in a state of complete abnega- tion and holy self-sacrifice. ^* While in this retreat, our saint was a perfect model for all the religious brethren, being remarked for his strict adherence to rule, his perfect obedience, his profound humility, and his rigorous pen- ances. His soul seemed to aspire, without restraint, to the contemplation of heavenly things ; he endeavoured in all his prayers and meditations to exclude distractions caused by worldly thoughts and concerns. Passing such kind of life, he attained an advanced age ; and finally, he departed to
the haven of his rest and his aspirations, on the 30th day of January, a. d.
in the wind—meet for their covering sepul-
;
^' "Bibere ab eo These petierunt. "
words are explained by Colgan, as if the strangers had asked him to take part of what
they had before them. Yet, they might be understood to mean that, although the meal
was over, they applied to him for some
drink. See " Ecclesiastical His- Lanigan's
tory of Ireland," vol. iii. , chap, xxiv,, sec. ii. , n. 17, p. 445.
^^
It is presumed, that this was the Cor- cran, who wrote a poem on the relics and virtues of St. Gormgal of Ard-Oilean. See further notices regarding him, in the Acts of this latter saint, which occur at the 5th of August.
^3 This celebrated abbey and town are
situated on the River Fulde, near the boun-
dary of Bavaria, and in Hessen Nassau, Northern Germany. The abbot, to the
closing of the last century, was primate of the abbeys in the German Emjiire, perpe- tual chancellor of the emperor, and sovereign over a small territory, lying between Hesse, Franconia, and Thuringia. See "Encyclo- paedia Britannica," vol. vii. , Art. Fulde, p. 492. Dublin edition, 1792.
^"^ Colgan's "Acta Sanctorum Hibemise," xxx. Januarii. Vita S. Anmichadi, cap. i. , ii. , p. 205.
chral pavement—and I bethought me of the time wlien these religious houses were sup- pressed, and the consummation of royal robbery and sacrilege by which that act was accompanied. The event has cast a shadow through centuries that have ensued
we even yet stand within its penumbra, and I confess the indignation which rose within me at that early period of my life, neither has the advance of years chilled, nor has the ex- perience of professional intercourse with the ecclesiastical records of my country, fami-
liarized into patient endurance. "
'9 See " Ordnance Survey Townland Maps
fortheCountyofGalway. " Sheet136.
^°
a reader of the opening lines in that exceed-
This incident will probably remind many
ingly interesting poem, "The Monks of Kilcrea. "
" Three monks sat by a bogwood fire ! If ^^ if * * ^a H.
Whoever past, be he baron or squire, Was free to call at the abbey, and stay, Nor guerdon nor gift for his lodging
pay,
Although he t—arried a week with its holy
Quire! " Fytte i. , stanza i.
January 30. ] LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. 509
1 043. =^5 This is the day assigned for his natahs and festival, according to the generahty of writers f^ but CratepoUus says, a feast occurs in his honour at the ist of February. =^7 Ferrarius assigns to him a festival on both the days already mentioned. ^^ St. Amnichad was buried at Fulda, or, as sometimes >\Titten, Fulden. ^9 Sixteen years after this death of our saint, his more celebrated countryman, Marianus Scotus, the Chronologist, succeeded him as a religious in the monastery of Fulda,3° and relates in his writings, that fortenyearshedailycelebratedMassoverthetombofSt. Anmichad. He says, moreover, that supernatural light and heavenly psalmody were frequently seen or heard above the place of our saint's sepulture, during this same period. He even declares, a certain religious brother of the monastery, named William, prayed in his own hearing, that our saint would bestow a blessing upon him. During this same night, in a vision, Amnichad appeared, resplendent with celestial light. Standing on his tomb, the blessed apparition gave a blessing with extended hands to the monk. This was related to Marianus by the brother himself, after its occurrence. During the whole night, when this vision took place, the Chronographer declares, a most agreeable odour
was diffused through that chamber, in which he reposed. 3^ We are thus
taught from the example of this holy penitent,, how even slight faults are to be atoned for, when, as Marianus O'Gonnan learned from his superior, Tighernach—or as called Tigernacb Borchecb^^—an offence of such a nature caused Anmchad's exile from his native country. This Tighernach is sup- posed to have been a saint,33 according to the Martyrologies of Marianus O'Gorman and of Donegal, and not that celebrated Annalist bearing the same name, and who flourished much about the same period, yet a little
*5 Marianus Scottus, the first who has written regarding this saint, says at 1043,
•'
^7 In his work, "De Episcopis Germanise," this writer has entered his feast at the Ka- lends or 1st day of February, and by him this saint is called Annuchadus. Hugo
Menard in his " Benedicti- Martyrologium
Animchadus Scottus monachus et inclusus obiit 3. Kal. Februarii in JNIonasterio Ful- densi. " See Chronicon, edited Professor
by
G. Waitz, in " Monumenta Germanicfe His-
num," places his feast at the same date; as "
torica. " Scriptorum, tomus v. , p. 557. Flor-
"
ence of Worcester also writes,
Animchadus Scotus Monachus et inclusus in Fulda obiit. " Trithemius in " Chronicon Hirsaugiensis," places his death in the same year, and in his work, " De viris Illustribus,"
likewise Christopher Browerus' Antiquit. Mildens," lib. i. , cap. 20.
" 3° lib. iii,, cap. 244, remarks of this saint, Mo-
ritur an. Domini 1043, tertio Calend. Febr. "
The English Martyrology says, that he died on the 30th of of January, about A. D. 1043. Wion, also, assigns the death of this saint to the 30th of January, 1043. Besides those already cited, Camerarius, Dempster, and
Such is the statement of Colgan, both in his text and in a note, where he says, this information may be collected from Marianus Scotus himself, who relates, that Anmichad died a. d. 1043, and that he, Marianus, became a recluse, A. D. 1059, in the cell of Anmichad. See "Acta Sanc- torum Hiberniae," xxx. Januarii. Vita S. Anmichadi, cap. iv. , p. 205, and n. 7, p. 206.
3' Florence of Worcester observes, that
the foregoing particulars are related by Marianus in his Chronicle.
3= See Mariani Scotti Chronicon, edited - by Professor G. Waitz, in "Monumenta GermaniiB Historica. " Scriptorum, tomus v. , p. 557-
33 See St. Tighernach's festival at the I3tli
others are of accord. See Colgan's
"
Acta
Sanctorum Hibernite," xxx. Januarii. Vita
S. Anmichadi, cap. iii. , iv. , pp, 205, 206,
and nn. 5, 6, ibid.
^^ "
In Henry Fitzsimon's Catalogus Ali-
quoram Sanctorum Iberniae," Aminachad's festival is placed at this date, on the autho-
rity of the English Martyrology. Father Stephen White omits to notice his feast.
See "Apologia pro Hibernia," cap. iv. , p. 43. In Dempster's "Menologium Scoti-
"
cum," we read at this date,
of the monk Anmichad, at Fulda. " See Bishop Forbes' " Kalendars of the Scottish Saints," p. 191.
of May. He 878 to 881.
Anno 1043.
the deposition
is thought to have died of the plague, A. D. 1061. See Dr. O'Donovan's "Annals of the Four Masters," vol. ii,, pp.
'^
In his "Catalogus Generalis Sancto- nmi. "
-9 See Bishop Challenor's " Britannia Sancta," part i. , p. 85.
5IO LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. [January 30.
later in point of time. 3* Such extraordinary rigour as Anmchad practised in the expiation of sin, which his soul abhorred, should be a lesson to all
Christian penitents. It is our greatest enemy, and our most deadly one, especially when it overcomes us in matters of serious concern ; let us there-
fore have courage to resist by constant watchfulness, and if we fail in any point, a resolute effort is again required, and a suitable course of penance, to purge the soul from further taint and disorders. Such were the decided and effectual remedies of our early ascetics and religious.
Article II. —St. Momhernog of Glenn Faidhle, probably Glen- EALY, IN Hy-Garchon, County OF WicKLOW.
Whether the present holy man is to be distinguished from the Saint Enan, whose festival occurs at this same day, and notices of whom immediately follow, may be questioned. We find entered in the Martyrology of Donegal,'' on the 30th of January, Mom- hernog,ofGlenn-Faidhle,inUiGarchon. Thisdistrictissaidtohavebeen
Glenealy Church Ruins, Co. Wicklow.
in Forthuatha^ of Leinster. The Glen of Imail and Glendalough were in- cluded in this latter territory. 3 We know not of any other place more likely to be identified with the present saint than Glenealy,^ in the county of
3* His death is recorded at A. D. lo88. of Rights," n. (d), p. 207. Some of the See Dr. O'Donovan's " Annals of the Four people here would appear to have been
Masters," vol. ii. , pp. 930, 931.
Article iL —'Edited by Drs. Todd and
Reeves, pp. 30, 31.
^This word means "the stranger tribe. "
It is supposed to have been an alias name
for Ui-Mail, in the barony of Upper Talbots-
town and of Wicklow. See Dr. county
slaves, while the free people of Forthuatha
Laighean bore various surnames, given at full length in the Books of Leacan and Bally-
mote. See ibid. , n. (c), p. 223.
3 See Dr. O'Donovan's "Annals of the
Four Masters," vol. i. , n, (w), p. 379.
* The townland and of
village Glenealy
O'Donovan's " Leabhar na g-Ceart, or Book are marked on Sheets 24, 30. Glenealy
January 30. ] LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. 511
Wicklows It may also be a question, if this saint were at all different from
of Colman and Coemaca—or, according to a better account, Coeltigerna— sister to St. Kevin of Glendalough. '^ Again, it is possible, he is not to be distinguished from a St. Enan of this place, and who is venerated at the 29th of December, where notices are to be found. The scenery around is
remarkably beautiful. Near the picturesquely-situated village of Glenealy, an old graveyard of small dimensions, and greatly overcrowded in consequence of interments, may be seen. A murmuring hill-side stream runs along one of its boundaries. The site of the former old church was exceedingly well
selected, and a part of its walls has not altogether disappeared. Fragments
of the east and west gables remain; yet the north and south side-walls are
completely levelled, and it is difficult to find a portion not covered with
earth. Place for a small window, at some distance from the ground, appears ;
but the mass of —allows it to be more than dis- superincumbent ivy hardly
tinguishable. On its interior, the church Avhich seems to have bee—n quadrangular, or which may have probably consisted of a choir and nave measures interiorly 57 feet in length, and 15 feet in breadth. The walls measure over two feet in thickness. 7 Several ash and hawthorn trees of growth rise over and around the graveyard, which is approached from the high road, by a very narrow passage, fenced on either side. ^ In Scotland
this saint was likewise held in veneration ;9 but the exact period when he lived seems to be unknown. The great probabiUty is, he flourished at an early date.
Article III,—St. Enan, Son of Gemman, of Rosmore, County of
Wexford. No nation on earth has struggled so long, so heroically, and so
successfully, to preserve for her children the blessings of religion and educa- tion as Ireland. Her roofless fanes, her rifled shrines, her ruined abbeys,
her desolate monasteries, remind us of her by-gone glories. But to-day her splendid churches, colleges, convents, and monasteries, that have sprung up all over the land within the last quarter of a century, proclaim her present
youthful energy, and point to a still more glorious future. Among her past holy ones, a St. Enan, of Rois Moir, was venerated, on the 30th of
belongs to the parish bearing the same name, are presumably to be found in the " Book of in the baronies of Arklow and Newcastle. Leinster," now kept in Trinity College, Dub- See "Ordnance Survey Townland Maps for lin. While the whole is undergoing an the County of Wicklow," Sheets 24, 25, elaborate process of supervision, under the 30, 31. joint editorship of Professor O'Looney and
5SeeanaccountofitinLewis'"Topo- Mr. JosephO'Longan,astrictorderofthe
aSt. Menochus,ofGleannfaidhleandofRosmorMenoic,whowastheson
" wfEngus,hislocalityiscalledRosRind. ^ WilliamM. Hennessyidentifieshis
January, according to the Martyrology of Tallagh. ^ In the
Feihre" of St.
graphical Dictionary of Ireland," vol. i. , pp. 653, 654.
*
Board prevents the extraction of any part, until the labour be completed. Hereafter, the author hopes to supply in an appendix,
See Colgan's "Acta Sanctorum Hiber-
nise," (xii. Martii. Vita S. Dagani, nn. 2, the diurnal extracts henceforward missing,
8, 9, lo, p. 586.
7 The accompanying engraving by Mr.
Gregor Grey, of Dublin, reproduces a sketch of the author in June, 1871.
and to resume when he arrives at that part belonging to the Franciscans. This promise, however, assumes, that all parts shall be
completed, in due form.
*^ The foregoing notes were taken, during
a visit to this place.
9 See Bishop Forbes' "Kalendars of Scot-
tish — Saints," p. 427.
'
Article hi.
Kelly, p. xiv. The entries from this day, in the Irish copy of this Martyrology extant,
The following stanza and its literal Eng- lish translation have bee—n furnished by Pro-
Edited by Rev. Dr.
fessor Bryan O'Looney
-d. 111. kU
:
cec
CAejA A|\ inA|\ciiA
moi\civA monfuf •do|\u|' Amflum &! ^ un Am-^x
en^n ^\oii- tMnt> foluf.
large
512 LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. [January 30.
place with Rosmore, in the county of Wexford, as we find in a note appended
tohiscopyoftheMartyrologyofDonegal. 3 Thepresentsaintissetdown in that calendar and on this day, as Enan, son of Gemnian. He is said to
havebeenveneratedatRosmore,4inUi-Deagha,inUi-Cinnsealaigh. s Yet in another passage and within brackets, his place, Ros-mor, is said to have
been [in Luighne]. It is stated by the compiler of a table, appended to this
Martyrology. The same compiler then enquires: [" Is he the writer of the
:
Life of Brigid, etc. , and of the Book of Kilkenny ? " He adds " And it
seems likely to be so, though he is called Eminus in Jocelin, —not Ennanus. "P
The
Kalends, St. Enan, Confessor, passed away to Heaven, in Ireland. ? The worldling considers the life of a saint to be folly, and his end without honour.
saint not be different from the present may
also
called Enan of Glenn Faidhle, now Glenely, in the county ofWicklow. The Drummond Kalendar tells us, that on this day, iii. of the February
—
Mohernog
probably
But the Christian faithful " Behold how exclaim,
are numbered
among
they the children of God, and their lot is among the saints. "^
Article IV. —St. Glastian or Makglastian, Bishop and Confessor, INScotland. TheKalendarsandhagiographicalwritersofScotlandhave some imperfect notices o^ a St. Glastian or Makglastian, at the 30th of January. Adam King calls him by the latter name, and tells us, that he was a bishop in Scotland under King Achaius. ^ The Kalendar of the Aberdeen Breviary notes him as Glascianus, a bishop and confessor, having an office with nine lessons. ^ Dempster calls him Maglastian, a bishop, in Kyntyre, at this date. 3 Yet, regarding the life of this holy man, we have no details. '^ He is knoAvn, however, in the parish of Kinglassie or Kinglassin, near Kirk- caldy. 5 Some trace the name from a saint called Glass, and they point out a fountain of fine water, denominated St. Glass's well. ^ Kilmaglas or Kilma- lash? is another name for the parish of Strachur,^ and it indicates a dedica- tion to this saint in Argyleshire. Lesley states,9 that with the reputation of
B. iii. kl.
Fifty and one hundred martyrs Who ennobled the door of
martyrdom
He fasted with a number of the
old mercenaries
Enan of bright Ros Rind.
Saints," p. 143.
* See /(^/(/. , p. 112.
3 Edited by Drs, Todd and Reeves, pp.
30, 31.
* Under any form, whether Ross or Ros-
more, I cannot find such a denomination on
''
Aberdeen, which runs in these terms :
"Grant, we beseech Thee, Almighty God,
that we, who celebrate the anniversary of Blessed Glascianus, Thy confessor and bishop, may, by the intercession of his de- vout prayers, be deemed meet t—o attain to eternal joys, through our Lord. " See ibid. , p. 356.
s Frequent mention is made of this place in the "Register of Dunfermline," pp. 56, 57, 59, 63, 64, 66, 81, 172, 175, 207, 418.
^ "Old Statistical Survey of Scotland. "
Vol. iv. , p. 501, and " New Statistical Sur-
vey of Scotland. " Fife, p. 194.
^ It is not far from the ferry of Lochf)me,
Ordnance Survey Townland Maps for the County of Wexford. "
jecture.
*
the
5 Inanote to the "
ofDone- gal," Dr. Todd says at this word Ui Ceitin- sealaigh. *'Here the more recent hand adds, -A5 \\o An c-eriAn -oo ^'c^Mob becA'6 riA nAotti. 'This is the Enan who wrote theLivesoftheSaints,'" Wemaypresume, however, that this is added by way of con-
See 23? </. , pp. 406, 407.
Martyrology
Macfarlane's "Geographical Collections. " 7 See Bishop —Forbes' "Kalendars of Three vols, of MSS. , in the Advocates'
Scottish Saints. " Kalendarium Drumon- diense, p. 4.
^Wisdom, v. ,—4, 5.
Article IV.
Bishop Forbes' "Kalendars of Scottish
vol. ii. , part i. , p. 77.
» "De et et Rebus Origine, Moribus,
gestis Scotorum," lib. v.
'
See his "Kalendar" in
3 See
"
Menologium Scoticum," /i5/i'. , p.
19? .
'* There is a collect in the
Breviary
of
Library, Edinburgh. ^"
See Origines Parochiales Scotise,"
January 30. ] LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. 513
great erudition, Glacianus flourished during the reign of Achaius. ^" This bishop is said to have been iUustrious, and not without the reputation of
sanctity. " Among the pretermitted saints, the BoUandists class him at this date. " HisfeastisplacedbyGeruadiusatthe21stofJune,andbyCame- rarius at the ist of September. '3 It is possible that the present saint may have been Irish by birth and education, although this cannot be asserted, for want of further biographical particulars.
ArticleV. —St. Euskbius,MonkatSt. Gall,Switzerland. [Ninth
Century. ^ Not content with cherishing their religion at home, the Irish, as far as possible, would extend its blessings to the whole human race. ^ This hasbeenmanifestedineveryclimeandregionoftheworld. Itwasespecially the case, during the time of Charles II. , denominated the Bald, and his brothers Lothaire and Louis,'' when despising the dangers of ocean, a whole swarm of philosophers flocked towards Gallia and Germania from Hibemia, as a Continental writer bears witness. 3 Colgan has collected and published, at this day, the acts of our present saint,^ who he thinks should rather be calledEuchadiuSjSthanEusebius—. ^ Inspiredwithzealandreligiousfeeling,
the Irish —called Eusebius? whatever Scot, may
have been the name in his
nativecountry dedicatedhimselftotheserviceofChrist,and,wemayfairly
presume, his piety was developed at an early age. ^ He wished to follow in the footsteps of his compatriots, notable among whom was St. Gall,9 the celebrated Apostle of Switzerland. Eusebius was probably born early in the ninth century, although this is only a conjectural date for the occurrence. But it is generally thought that towards or about the middle of that age, he leftfriendsandnativecountryathome,whensettingoutforGaul. ^° After- wards he sought the renowned monastery, established at St.
