iv, 7"
the reader is referred to Lewis'
August 30.
the reader is referred to Lewis'
August 30.
O'Hanlon - Lives of the Irish Saints - v8
240.
hymn Florilegium
Messing- Insula Sanctorum"
"
Lucernse novas specula Illustrator Hibernia, liorruscat Meldis insula Tanta- lucis presentia,
Ilia misit Ftacrium,
Haec missum habet radium, Habent commune gaudium, Haec patrem, ilia filium. "
ists, in their "Acta Sanctorum," tomus vi. , Augusti xxx. De S. Fiacrio Eremita Conf. in Territorio Meldensi in Gallia. Commen- tarius prsevius, sect, i. , num. 9, pp. 599, 600.
" 29 Scotorum
hymn,
published a more accurate version of this, than had hitherto appeared, in
12
their preface to St. Fiacre's Acts. * In many of the French Breviaries the
Office of St. Fiacre, or a commemoration in their Calendars, is to be found.
Proper Lessons are also given, and several Latin hymns composed to
honour him have been published. In the "Missae Propriae Sanctorum
Hibemiae," collected and published, by Father Nicholas Anthony O'Kenny
at Paris, in 1736; at the 30th of August is placed the Missa S. Facrii con-
fessoris, Hyberniae principis, ecclesiae et dicecesis Meldensis in Gallia
patroni generalis. This also contains an elegant Latin hymn, inserted as a
sequence, and before the Gospel. It enumerates the principal actions of our
1 saint. **
From the sixth, to the seventh, eighth, and ninth centuries, the missionary spirit of our countrymen was most active in Europe. Truly was Ireland the "Insula Sanctorum," in those days. Within the island itself, nearly every locality had its school of learning and sanctity ; while an impetus was given to the desire of extending such beneficent blessings to more distant lands. Our annals and calendars largely record the number of holy abbots, and religious, venerated as saints. Even foreign writers acknowledge obligations due to Ireland, for the growth and cultivation of literature and
hoc nomine
Regis quarti —'"
is also in given
'*»
"Ecclesiastical and Literary History of Ire-
Campbell, in his Strictures on the land," sect, vii. , p. 117, gives a part of it
Vita S. Fiacrii, p. 392.
I32 See " Acta Sanctorum," tomus vi. ,
Augusti xxx. De S. Fiacrio Eremita Conf.
in Commen- Gallia.
which — with its follows,
translation:
metrical
Territorio Meldensi
English
in
tarius pnevius, sect. i.
'3I The ham's
The Bollandists have
num.
133 It has been published by the Bolland-
,
6, p. 599.
w See Alcuin's "Vita S. Wilibrodi," at
7th of November, Surius, " De Probatis Sanc- torum Vitis," tomus vi.
August 30. ] LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. 447
religion. ^* In France, more particularly, where St. Fiacre spent the far greater portion of his life, and where the lustre of his virtues and miracles so long survived his time, the Irish missionaries were recognized as infusing new fervour and piety among the people. There, numbers cultivated the Lord's vineyard, and left behind them lasting memorials of their labours and merits.
Article II—St. Loarn, Priest, of Achadh-mor,—now Aghavower,
or Aghamore, County of Mayo [Fifth Century']. In the published 1
Martyrology of Tallagh, a festival occurs, at the 30th of August, in honour
of Loarn, Priest, of Achadh-moir. In that copy, as found in the Book of
2
Leinster, the record is nearly identical, for this same date. Loarn was the
son of Ernasc,3 who lived in the western province of Ireland, when St. Patrick's missionary course led him thither. * At that time, Loarn seems to have been a youth of good and pious dispositions. He received the gift of
The
Divine Faith, and he then became a disciple of the great Apostle. 5 incident is thus related. The illustrious missionary, after leaving Kierra-
6 came to Airne. ? Here he found both Ernasc and Kierragia
gia Airtech,
Loarn sitting under a shady tree. To them the Apostle opened the welcome
message of salvation, and, in return, he was kindly received, with twelve of his companions. They were invited to spend a week at that place. During
Loarn to write an 8 His alphabet.
his there, St. Patrick sojourn
taught
instruction in letters and piety was rapid, and to the end of his life, it
was in still greater progress. Moreover, the youth was celebrated for holi- ness and the gifts of God's spirit. It appears probable, that he was ordained priest by the Irish Apostle, although this is not recorded in the Acts of the latter. However,St. Patrickhaddesiredtoestablishachurchinthatpartofthe country. This place is now known as Aghavower or Aghamore, 9 a parish in the barony of Costello, and County of Mayo. Near this place, too, Saint Patrick designed the measure and spot where a church should be erected. It rose near a fountain, called in Irish Tober Muena. The church was designated Seincheall, meaning the "oldcill," or church. 10 When Saint Patrick had there laid the foundations of a church, in due course of time, Loarn over it.
presided
In the of Martyrology Donegal,
Priest of Achadh-mor.
12 Loarn is commemorated on this
day,
as a
n.
Article ii. —*
Edited
by
Rev Dr.
teAbVur* x\&
Kelly, 5-Cea|\c,
or Book of
Rights,
xxxiii.
102.
The Irish were not unlettered at this
time, nor for many previous centuries ; but, it seems probable, they had a different form of writing from that used by their early Christian missionaries. However, the mean- ing of this passage may be, that Loam's education in the knowledge of letters had been deferred to that time.
9 This extensive parish, containing 22,820 acres, is described on the "Ordnance Survey
Townland Maps for the county of Mayo," sheets 72, 81, 82, 92, 93.
I0 See Colgan's "Trias Thaumaturga,"
Septima Vita S. Patricii, pars ii. , cap. lviii. ,
(f). p. 28
p.
Thus : LoAfvn r^c 4chAi-o moir*.
3 See Colgan's "Trias Thaumaturga," Septima Vita S. Patricii, pars, ii. , cap. lvii. ,
p. 137.
4 See the Third Volume of this work, at
March 17th. Art i. , Life of St. Patrick, Apostle and Chief Patron of Ireland, chap. xii.
s See Colgan's "Trias Thaumaturga," Quinta Appendix ad Acta S. Patricii, cap. xxiii. , p. 267.
6 This territory was in the north-west of the county of Roscommon, and it extended into the adjoining barony of Costello, in the county of Mayo. See the Third Volume of this work, at the 171b of March. Art Life of St. Patrick, Apostle and Chief Patron of Ireland, chap, xii. , n. 21.
» See ibid. ,n. 29. Also John O'Donovan's
p. 137.
" See Lewis's
Some of our modern writers call it a 11 monastery.
i. ,
"Topographical Dictionary of Ireland," vol. i. , p. 18.
" Edited by Rev. Drs. Todd and Reeves, pp. 228, 229.
448 LIVES OE THE IRISH SAIN7S. [August 30.
Article III. —St. Muadan of Airegal Muadain, now thought to be
Errigal,CountyofMonaghan. —InthepublishedMartyrologyofTallagh,1 at the 29th of August, a festival is set down—instead of at the 30th of
ist—in honour
of Leinster copy of the Martyrology, the correct entry is only to be found, at
a In treating about certain saints bearing the name of Muadan
Modain, and Bishop of Carnfurbhuidhbe, in Connaught. —He observes, that
day.
of Muadan of Airecail Muadain. in the Book However,
the latter
or Modan,3 Colgan especially notices a holy Abbot, called Modan, vener- ated on the 4th of February/ and another known as Modan, Abbot of Kill-
6
to A. D. he is to be from Saint and refer his period 561, distinguished
Muadan of Aregal Muodain, in Ulster, whose feast is assigned to the 30th of August. The Bollandists ? have notices of a Saint Modan, at the 30th of
August ; but, they do not pretend to throw any light on his history, nor do
they add anything more than an allusion to the authority of Colgan. There
are three parishes in Ireland called by the name Errigal, or Arrigle,
either simply or in composition. The first of these, and called as
announced, is situated in the barony of Coleraine, and county
of The second is • in the of Londonderry. Errigal- Kerogue, barony
Clogher, county of Tyrone. The third is known as Errigal-Trough, a parish, partly in the barony of Clogher and county of Tyrone, but chiefly in that of Trough, county of Monaghan. 8 The place of the present saint has been identified with Errigal, county of Monaghan, by William M. Hennessy. 9 There is a wild and high mountain, known as Errigal, near Gweedore, in the county of Donegal. It is 2,466 feet above the level of the sea, and can be ascended in two hours. Midway up, there is an immense belt of broken stones, unrelieved by a single vestige of vegetation. The mountain narrows towards the top to a mere rugged path of a few inches in width, with an awful abyss on either side. The view from the summitis magnificent,extendingoveraperfectseaofmountainsasfaras Knocklayde, near Ballycastle, county of Antrim, and Benbulben and Bengore, near Sligo, while the whole coast for miles lies at one's feet. In the Martyr- ologies of Marianus O'Gorman and of Donegal, 10 his name occurs on the 30th
w—hiletheIrishcalendarsplacethelatteratMarchioths correctlythe6th
of August, as Muadan, Bishop of Airegal, Muadain.
ll
In the
Martyrology of Cathal Maguire, there is a festival for this saint, at the
30th of August. However, by this writer, he is not entered as a bishop,
neither is he so designated in the Martyrology of Tallagh. The Bollandist
editor, Father John Pinius, finding no record of his death, thinks it possible he flourished in the northern province of Ireland, during the sixth century, or
in some other nearly succeeding it. 12
Article ill. —' Edited by Rev. Dr. Kelly,
p. xxxiii.
2, Thus : muATjan <U\icail tttuAo«\n.
3 See an account of him, at the 4th of February, in the Second Volume of this work, Art. ii.
For the festival of this saint, the pud-
copo, in Ultonia Hiberniae, p. 565.
8 por a detailed account of these several
parishes
"Topographical Dictionary of Ireland," vol. i. , pp. 608 to 610.
9 See "Proceedings of the Royal Irish Academy," Irish MSS. Series, vol. i. , part i,p. 84,n-i.
»o EditedbyRev. Drs. ToddandReeves,
pp. 228, 229.
"See Colgan's "Acta Sanctorum
Hiberniae," iv. Februarii. Vita S. Modani,
n. 6, p. 253.
« See " Acta Sanctorum," tomus vi. ,
See Acta Sanctorum," tomus vi. , Augusti xxx. De S. Modano, fortasse Augustixxx. De S. Modano fortasse Epis- Episcopo in Ultonia Hiberniae, p. 565.
4" See Colgan's
niae," iv. Februarii. pp. 252, 253.
Acta Sanctorum Hiber- DeS. Modano Abbate,
s This is one of the many typographical errors that disfigure Colgan's printed works.
6
See an account of this St. Modan or
Muadan, in the Third Volume of this work,
at the 6th of March, Art.
iv, 7"
the reader is referred to Lewis'
August 30. ] LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. 449
lished Martyrology of Tallagh has the 29th of August ; but this seems only a misplacement of the entry, which should be for the 30th of this month.
Article IV. —St. Cronan op Cluain-an-dobhair, King's County. — 1
It is recorded in the published Martyrology of Tallagh, that at the 30th of August, veneration was given to Cronan, of Cluain-an-dobhair, or as it is written, Cluana andobhair. In that copy contained in the Book of Leinster,
2
ated somewhere in the present King's County, says that eminent Irish topo-
grapher, Dr. John O'Donovan; but, it has not yet been identified. * It may be, that the topographical designation has now become obsolete ; or, if not, it should probably be sought for in the neighbourhood of Birr. The festival
of this saint is entered, likewise, in the Martyrology of Donegal,$ as that of Cronan, Cluana an dobair. His humble grave bears no monument, but he requires no memorials beyond those which exist in survival lessons he taught to bring many others to be wise unto salvation.
the entry is nearly similar.
Cluain-an-dobhair, or Cluain-in-dibhair,3 is situ-
Article V. —St. Firdacrich, or Fer-da-chrioch. —Tne simple entry 1
of Firdacrich appears in the published Martyrology of Tallagh, at the 30th ofAugust. Asimilarnoticeissetdown,inthatcopyoftheMartyrologyto be seen in the Book of Leinster. 3 In the Martyrology of Donegal,? at this same date, his name is entered as Fir-da-chrioch.
Article VI. —Festival of St. Agatha, Virgin and Martyr. —In the
Irish Church, the memory of St. Agatha, Virgin and Martyr, was specially commemorated on the 30th of August, as recorded in the " Feilire * of St. jfEngus. " This festival appears to have been a translation of her relics, with
those of other named saints,
and 2 Eulogius.
Fructuosus,
At the 21st day of January, the Bollandists 3 commemorate saints similarly
named, excepting Maurice, placed at the 22nd of September, in the Roman Martyrology. Tobothdaystheyreferforfurtherelucidation.
—Article VII. —Feast of the Translation of St. Wilibrord's Relics.
From the additions to Usuard's Martyrology by Greven, the Bollandists
Article iv. —l Edited
*
: Stokes, LL. D —
~° «A <\ AcriA *Um 5 5
Kelly, p.
xxxiii.
2 Thus CnouAn cUiAin &x\ X)obon. :
3 This place is alluded to in the " Annals of the Four Masters," at a. d. 507, when the battle of Druim-Deargaighe was fought and
. .
"son of Niaff, over Foilghe Berraidhe. Afterwards, the land from Cluain-in Dibhair to the Hill of Uis-
gained by Fiacha,
by
Rev. Dr. translation is
by Whitley
Mauricius,
Augurius,
" A delightful virgin Agatha, who is a sun neachinWestmeathbelongedtotheCinel- toyoursaints; totherewardabo—verewards Fiachach, his tribe. See Dr. O'Donovan's she ran with her noble sisters. " "Trans-
" edition, vol. i. , pp. 164 to 167. actions of the Royal Irish Academy Irish
4 By the Four Masters it is again alluded Manuscript Series, vol. i. , part i.
On the To this a
et
to, at A. D. 843, 938, and 942. —Ibid, n (d).
Calendar of Oengus, p. cxxvi.
—is affixed:
comment "Agatha
martyr. " Ibid. , p. cxxxv.
s Edited
by
228, 229. Article v.
Drs Todd and
— Kelly, p. xxxiii.
l
2 is found in According to what
Reeves, pp. Edited by Rev. Dr.
i. , uirgo
2
3 Edited by Drs. Todd and Reeves, pp.
228, 229. —x Article vi.
the Spanish work of Antonio Domenec on the General History of Saints, belonging to the
Thus: pefvoAqYicri.
"
copy is the following stanza : The English
Principality of Catalonia, lib. i. , fol. 83.
3 See "Acta Sanctorum," tomus vi. , Augusti xxx. Among the pretermitted saints,
p. 544.
Vol. VIII. —No. 8.
1 f
In the
Leabhar Breac"
1
•A-opeich bu<vm UArbu<yoaib ConArech^bWA1b.
"51^ ^WnoemAib
45o LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS, [August 31.
notice a translation of the Relics of St. Willibrord, Bishop, at the 30th of August. His chief feast is set down in the Roman Martyrology, at the 7th
3
Article VIII. —Reputed Feast of St. Aidanus, Apostle of North-
—The 1 the of have noted umbria. Bollandists, quoting authority Camerarius,
St. Aidan, Confessor, and Bishop of Lindisfarne, at this date, although stating his festival has been placed in the Roman Breviary, at the 31st of August. In the anonymous list of Irish Saints, published by O'Sullevan Beare,s we find. Aidanus, entered at the 30th of August, but this is probably a mistake ; for, it should be noted on the following day—that which is recog-
nised as specially dedicated to his memory.
C6frtp*ff)rait JBap of august
ARTICLE I. —ST. AIDAN, OR AEDHAN, APOSTLE OF THE NORTH- UMBRIANS, AND FIRST BISHOP OF LINDISFARNE.
SEVENTH CENTURY. CHAPTER I.
INTRODUCTION—WRITERS OF ST. ATDAN'S ACTS—HIS IRISH ORIGIN AND EARLY MONASTIC LIFE IN IONA—HIS POSITION THERE—FIRST INTRODUCTION OF CHRISTIANITY IN ENGLAND—ANGLO-SAXON INVASION—ST. AIDAN IS CHOSEN tO PREACH THE GOSPEL IN NORTHUMBRIA.
of the truest character has ever distinguished the Apostles of
of November.
HEROISM with the errors of
nations, overspread paganism
and
idolatry.
Such
evils have taken root in the sensual desires and habits of poor degraded
humanity, and having been the growth of ages and of successive generations
ofmen,it requiresmorethanmortalpowerandmortalcouragetowagean effective war with such passions and prejudices. No doubt, successful mis- sionaries among the heathens were endowed with great force of character and admirable natural qualifications to undertake the task ; but Divine inspira- tion was necessary to inflame their souls with a burning zeal and a sublime charity, to rescue their fellow-men from ignorance and vice. Again, a pre- vious course of religious discipline and training, with humble submission to those placed over them by the Almighty as guides and teachers, most gene- rally produced those great athletes of Christ, who in turn were enabled through His graces to sow the good seed in the hearts of others, and to pro- claim His glorious doctrines and morality among the infidels of their time.
Article viii. —' See "Acta Sanc-
torum," tomus vi. , Augusti xxx. Among the
pretermitted saints, p. 544.
3 See " Historic Catholicce Iberniae
Compendium," tomus i. , lib. 4, cap. xi. , p. 50.
Article vii. — ' See" Acta
Sanctorum," tomus vi. , Augusti xxx. Among the preter-
mitted saints, p. 544.
a See also, at the same date, the Eleventh
Volume of this work, for notices of this holy man.
August 31. ] LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. 451
We shall see in the course of this narrative, how providentially St. Aidan had been destined for such a mission, and how faithfully he responded to the Divine call.
It is very satisfactory to know, that in treating about the present zealous Apostle of Northumbria, we have the chief incidents of his glorious career
recorded, on the most unquestionable authority, and that too from a remote period, traced back nearly approaching to the time when he flourished. The Life of St. Aidan, Bishop of Lindisfarne, was first written by Venerable Bede,
1 anditisincludedinhisEcclesiasticalHistoryoftheEnglishNation. Indeed,
from this noble work, all subsequent writers have mostly drawn their accounts of the present holy bishop ; and therefore, it shall form the basis, on which
chiefly rest the subsequent particulars of his biography. The Venerable Bede was born in Northumbria,2 a. d. 673, about twenty-two years after the death of St. Aidan. At the early age of seven, he was placed, under the care of Abbot Benedicts in the Abbey of Wearmouth ;4 and afterwards, he
under the rule of
5 the first Abbot of
6 While
Ceolfrid,
Article i. —Chapter i. — z See "The the
Jarrow.
residing
lived,
in both places, Bede had exceptional facilities for acquiring all requisite and authentic information, regarding the holy founder of Lindisfarne.
Miscellaneous Works of Venerable Bede, in the original Latin, collated with the Manuscripts, and various printed Edi-
tions, accompanied by a new English Translation o( the Historical Works, and a Life of the Author," By the Rev. J. A. Giles, D. C. L. , late Fellow of C. C. C. , Ox- ford, London, 1843, six vols- 8vo. Vol. ii. , " Historia Ecclesiastica Gentis Anglorum," lib. iii. , cap. iii. to xvii. , cap. xxvi. ; and vol. iii. , lib. iv. , cap. xxiii. , xxvii. To this edi- tion is reference made, in notes to the pre- sent Life.
2
The ancient kingdom of Northumbria lay north of the River Humber, and extended to the southern limits of that country inha- bited by the Picts and Scots.
3 The feast of this holy man, an Anglo-
Saxon by birth and origin, is kept on the
12th of January. Having visited Rome, he afterwards took the religious habit, in the celebratedmonasteryofLerins, in France. There he remained for two years, when he returned to Rome, a. d. 668. He afterwards accompanied St. Theodore, Archbishop of Canterbury, to England, and had charge of the monastery of St. Peter and St. Paul, near thatcity; butheresolvedonreturningagain to Rome, where he wished to acquire new experiences and lights regarding matters of Church discipline, and on divers monastic institutions. Whereupon he visited many places in Italy. He afterwards set out for England, and having been there favourably received by Egfrid, King of Northumbria, Benedict built two monasteries, those of Wearmouth and of Jarrow, formerly called Girwy. As these lay near to each other, he was appointed superior over both monas- teries. However, he took care to select two persons of eminent piety, Esterwinand Ceol- fridor Ceolfroid,to serve under him, and these
Churchveneratesassaints. St. Benedict taught his religious all those prac- tices of devotion, which he had observed in the Roman convents, and which he had learned in other houses visited by him. He wished especially to introduce the monastic life, as he saw it practised in France and Italy. In his monastery, he established a
college, in which he taught publicly, and soon he had six hundred monks who attended his lectures.
4 It is now known as Monk-Wearmouth,
owing to the foundation of a Benedictine
monastery, about A. D. 674, by Biscop, a Saxon noble, who obtained from Egfrid a grant of land near the River Wear, for the erection of an Abbey, dedicated to St. Peter. It was situated also at the mouth of that river, in Durham, and on the north bank. In the reign of Ethelred, that monastery was destroyed by the Danes.
s He is venerated as a saint, on the 25th
of September.
6 This place, in Durham, is of great anti-
quity, and it appears to have been formerly a Roman station, as numerous remains and
inscriptions discovered attest. Afterwards, the Saxons occupied that site. Egfrid granted forty hides of land to St.
hymn Florilegium
Messing- Insula Sanctorum"
"
Lucernse novas specula Illustrator Hibernia, liorruscat Meldis insula Tanta- lucis presentia,
Ilia misit Ftacrium,
Haec missum habet radium, Habent commune gaudium, Haec patrem, ilia filium. "
ists, in their "Acta Sanctorum," tomus vi. , Augusti xxx. De S. Fiacrio Eremita Conf. in Territorio Meldensi in Gallia. Commen- tarius prsevius, sect, i. , num. 9, pp. 599, 600.
" 29 Scotorum
hymn,
published a more accurate version of this, than had hitherto appeared, in
12
their preface to St. Fiacre's Acts. * In many of the French Breviaries the
Office of St. Fiacre, or a commemoration in their Calendars, is to be found.
Proper Lessons are also given, and several Latin hymns composed to
honour him have been published. In the "Missae Propriae Sanctorum
Hibemiae," collected and published, by Father Nicholas Anthony O'Kenny
at Paris, in 1736; at the 30th of August is placed the Missa S. Facrii con-
fessoris, Hyberniae principis, ecclesiae et dicecesis Meldensis in Gallia
patroni generalis. This also contains an elegant Latin hymn, inserted as a
sequence, and before the Gospel. It enumerates the principal actions of our
1 saint. **
From the sixth, to the seventh, eighth, and ninth centuries, the missionary spirit of our countrymen was most active in Europe. Truly was Ireland the "Insula Sanctorum," in those days. Within the island itself, nearly every locality had its school of learning and sanctity ; while an impetus was given to the desire of extending such beneficent blessings to more distant lands. Our annals and calendars largely record the number of holy abbots, and religious, venerated as saints. Even foreign writers acknowledge obligations due to Ireland, for the growth and cultivation of literature and
hoc nomine
Regis quarti —'"
is also in given
'*»
"Ecclesiastical and Literary History of Ire-
Campbell, in his Strictures on the land," sect, vii. , p. 117, gives a part of it
Vita S. Fiacrii, p. 392.
I32 See " Acta Sanctorum," tomus vi. ,
Augusti xxx. De S. Fiacrio Eremita Conf.
in Commen- Gallia.
which — with its follows,
translation:
metrical
Territorio Meldensi
English
in
tarius pnevius, sect. i.
'3I The ham's
The Bollandists have
num.
133 It has been published by the Bolland-
,
6, p. 599.
w See Alcuin's "Vita S. Wilibrodi," at
7th of November, Surius, " De Probatis Sanc- torum Vitis," tomus vi.
August 30. ] LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. 447
religion. ^* In France, more particularly, where St. Fiacre spent the far greater portion of his life, and where the lustre of his virtues and miracles so long survived his time, the Irish missionaries were recognized as infusing new fervour and piety among the people. There, numbers cultivated the Lord's vineyard, and left behind them lasting memorials of their labours and merits.
Article II—St. Loarn, Priest, of Achadh-mor,—now Aghavower,
or Aghamore, County of Mayo [Fifth Century']. In the published 1
Martyrology of Tallagh, a festival occurs, at the 30th of August, in honour
of Loarn, Priest, of Achadh-moir. In that copy, as found in the Book of
2
Leinster, the record is nearly identical, for this same date. Loarn was the
son of Ernasc,3 who lived in the western province of Ireland, when St. Patrick's missionary course led him thither. * At that time, Loarn seems to have been a youth of good and pious dispositions. He received the gift of
The
Divine Faith, and he then became a disciple of the great Apostle. 5 incident is thus related. The illustrious missionary, after leaving Kierra-
6 came to Airne. ? Here he found both Ernasc and Kierragia
gia Airtech,
Loarn sitting under a shady tree. To them the Apostle opened the welcome
message of salvation, and, in return, he was kindly received, with twelve of his companions. They were invited to spend a week at that place. During
Loarn to write an 8 His alphabet.
his there, St. Patrick sojourn
taught
instruction in letters and piety was rapid, and to the end of his life, it
was in still greater progress. Moreover, the youth was celebrated for holi- ness and the gifts of God's spirit. It appears probable, that he was ordained priest by the Irish Apostle, although this is not recorded in the Acts of the latter. However,St. Patrickhaddesiredtoestablishachurchinthatpartofthe country. This place is now known as Aghavower or Aghamore, 9 a parish in the barony of Costello, and County of Mayo. Near this place, too, Saint Patrick designed the measure and spot where a church should be erected. It rose near a fountain, called in Irish Tober Muena. The church was designated Seincheall, meaning the "oldcill," or church. 10 When Saint Patrick had there laid the foundations of a church, in due course of time, Loarn over it.
presided
In the of Martyrology Donegal,
Priest of Achadh-mor.
12 Loarn is commemorated on this
day,
as a
n.
Article ii. —*
Edited
by
Rev Dr.
teAbVur* x\&
Kelly, 5-Cea|\c,
or Book of
Rights,
xxxiii.
102.
The Irish were not unlettered at this
time, nor for many previous centuries ; but, it seems probable, they had a different form of writing from that used by their early Christian missionaries. However, the mean- ing of this passage may be, that Loam's education in the knowledge of letters had been deferred to that time.
9 This extensive parish, containing 22,820 acres, is described on the "Ordnance Survey
Townland Maps for the county of Mayo," sheets 72, 81, 82, 92, 93.
I0 See Colgan's "Trias Thaumaturga,"
Septima Vita S. Patricii, pars ii. , cap. lviii. ,
(f). p. 28
p.
Thus : LoAfvn r^c 4chAi-o moir*.
3 See Colgan's "Trias Thaumaturga," Septima Vita S. Patricii, pars, ii. , cap. lvii. ,
p. 137.
4 See the Third Volume of this work, at
March 17th. Art i. , Life of St. Patrick, Apostle and Chief Patron of Ireland, chap. xii.
s See Colgan's "Trias Thaumaturga," Quinta Appendix ad Acta S. Patricii, cap. xxiii. , p. 267.
6 This territory was in the north-west of the county of Roscommon, and it extended into the adjoining barony of Costello, in the county of Mayo. See the Third Volume of this work, at the 171b of March. Art Life of St. Patrick, Apostle and Chief Patron of Ireland, chap, xii. , n. 21.
» See ibid. ,n. 29. Also John O'Donovan's
p. 137.
" See Lewis's
Some of our modern writers call it a 11 monastery.
i. ,
"Topographical Dictionary of Ireland," vol. i. , p. 18.
" Edited by Rev. Drs. Todd and Reeves, pp. 228, 229.
448 LIVES OE THE IRISH SAIN7S. [August 30.
Article III. —St. Muadan of Airegal Muadain, now thought to be
Errigal,CountyofMonaghan. —InthepublishedMartyrologyofTallagh,1 at the 29th of August, a festival is set down—instead of at the 30th of
ist—in honour
of Leinster copy of the Martyrology, the correct entry is only to be found, at
a In treating about certain saints bearing the name of Muadan
Modain, and Bishop of Carnfurbhuidhbe, in Connaught. —He observes, that
day.
of Muadan of Airecail Muadain. in the Book However,
the latter
or Modan,3 Colgan especially notices a holy Abbot, called Modan, vener- ated on the 4th of February/ and another known as Modan, Abbot of Kill-
6
to A. D. he is to be from Saint and refer his period 561, distinguished
Muadan of Aregal Muodain, in Ulster, whose feast is assigned to the 30th of August. The Bollandists ? have notices of a Saint Modan, at the 30th of
August ; but, they do not pretend to throw any light on his history, nor do
they add anything more than an allusion to the authority of Colgan. There
are three parishes in Ireland called by the name Errigal, or Arrigle,
either simply or in composition. The first of these, and called as
announced, is situated in the barony of Coleraine, and county
of The second is • in the of Londonderry. Errigal- Kerogue, barony
Clogher, county of Tyrone. The third is known as Errigal-Trough, a parish, partly in the barony of Clogher and county of Tyrone, but chiefly in that of Trough, county of Monaghan. 8 The place of the present saint has been identified with Errigal, county of Monaghan, by William M. Hennessy. 9 There is a wild and high mountain, known as Errigal, near Gweedore, in the county of Donegal. It is 2,466 feet above the level of the sea, and can be ascended in two hours. Midway up, there is an immense belt of broken stones, unrelieved by a single vestige of vegetation. The mountain narrows towards the top to a mere rugged path of a few inches in width, with an awful abyss on either side. The view from the summitis magnificent,extendingoveraperfectseaofmountainsasfaras Knocklayde, near Ballycastle, county of Antrim, and Benbulben and Bengore, near Sligo, while the whole coast for miles lies at one's feet. In the Martyr- ologies of Marianus O'Gorman and of Donegal, 10 his name occurs on the 30th
w—hiletheIrishcalendarsplacethelatteratMarchioths correctlythe6th
of August, as Muadan, Bishop of Airegal, Muadain.
ll
In the
Martyrology of Cathal Maguire, there is a festival for this saint, at the
30th of August. However, by this writer, he is not entered as a bishop,
neither is he so designated in the Martyrology of Tallagh. The Bollandist
editor, Father John Pinius, finding no record of his death, thinks it possible he flourished in the northern province of Ireland, during the sixth century, or
in some other nearly succeeding it. 12
Article ill. —' Edited by Rev. Dr. Kelly,
p. xxxiii.
2, Thus : muATjan <U\icail tttuAo«\n.
3 See an account of him, at the 4th of February, in the Second Volume of this work, Art. ii.
For the festival of this saint, the pud-
copo, in Ultonia Hiberniae, p. 565.
8 por a detailed account of these several
parishes
"Topographical Dictionary of Ireland," vol. i. , pp. 608 to 610.
9 See "Proceedings of the Royal Irish Academy," Irish MSS. Series, vol. i. , part i,p. 84,n-i.
»o EditedbyRev. Drs. ToddandReeves,
pp. 228, 229.
"See Colgan's "Acta Sanctorum
Hiberniae," iv. Februarii. Vita S. Modani,
n. 6, p. 253.
« See " Acta Sanctorum," tomus vi. ,
See Acta Sanctorum," tomus vi. , Augusti xxx. De S. Modano, fortasse Augustixxx. De S. Modano fortasse Epis- Episcopo in Ultonia Hiberniae, p. 565.
4" See Colgan's
niae," iv. Februarii. pp. 252, 253.
Acta Sanctorum Hiber- DeS. Modano Abbate,
s This is one of the many typographical errors that disfigure Colgan's printed works.
6
See an account of this St. Modan or
Muadan, in the Third Volume of this work,
at the 6th of March, Art.
iv, 7"
the reader is referred to Lewis'
August 30. ] LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. 449
lished Martyrology of Tallagh has the 29th of August ; but this seems only a misplacement of the entry, which should be for the 30th of this month.
Article IV. —St. Cronan op Cluain-an-dobhair, King's County. — 1
It is recorded in the published Martyrology of Tallagh, that at the 30th of August, veneration was given to Cronan, of Cluain-an-dobhair, or as it is written, Cluana andobhair. In that copy contained in the Book of Leinster,
2
ated somewhere in the present King's County, says that eminent Irish topo-
grapher, Dr. John O'Donovan; but, it has not yet been identified. * It may be, that the topographical designation has now become obsolete ; or, if not, it should probably be sought for in the neighbourhood of Birr. The festival
of this saint is entered, likewise, in the Martyrology of Donegal,$ as that of Cronan, Cluana an dobair. His humble grave bears no monument, but he requires no memorials beyond those which exist in survival lessons he taught to bring many others to be wise unto salvation.
the entry is nearly similar.
Cluain-an-dobhair, or Cluain-in-dibhair,3 is situ-
Article V. —St. Firdacrich, or Fer-da-chrioch. —Tne simple entry 1
of Firdacrich appears in the published Martyrology of Tallagh, at the 30th ofAugust. Asimilarnoticeissetdown,inthatcopyoftheMartyrologyto be seen in the Book of Leinster. 3 In the Martyrology of Donegal,? at this same date, his name is entered as Fir-da-chrioch.
Article VI. —Festival of St. Agatha, Virgin and Martyr. —In the
Irish Church, the memory of St. Agatha, Virgin and Martyr, was specially commemorated on the 30th of August, as recorded in the " Feilire * of St. jfEngus. " This festival appears to have been a translation of her relics, with
those of other named saints,
and 2 Eulogius.
Fructuosus,
At the 21st day of January, the Bollandists 3 commemorate saints similarly
named, excepting Maurice, placed at the 22nd of September, in the Roman Martyrology. Tobothdaystheyreferforfurtherelucidation.
—Article VII. —Feast of the Translation of St. Wilibrord's Relics.
From the additions to Usuard's Martyrology by Greven, the Bollandists
Article iv. —l Edited
*
: Stokes, LL. D —
~° «A <\ AcriA *Um 5 5
Kelly, p.
xxxiii.
2 Thus CnouAn cUiAin &x\ X)obon. :
3 This place is alluded to in the " Annals of the Four Masters," at a. d. 507, when the battle of Druim-Deargaighe was fought and
. .
"son of Niaff, over Foilghe Berraidhe. Afterwards, the land from Cluain-in Dibhair to the Hill of Uis-
gained by Fiacha,
by
Rev. Dr. translation is
by Whitley
Mauricius,
Augurius,
" A delightful virgin Agatha, who is a sun neachinWestmeathbelongedtotheCinel- toyoursaints; totherewardabo—verewards Fiachach, his tribe. See Dr. O'Donovan's she ran with her noble sisters. " "Trans-
" edition, vol. i. , pp. 164 to 167. actions of the Royal Irish Academy Irish
4 By the Four Masters it is again alluded Manuscript Series, vol. i. , part i.
On the To this a
et
to, at A. D. 843, 938, and 942. —Ibid, n (d).
Calendar of Oengus, p. cxxvi.
—is affixed:
comment "Agatha
martyr. " Ibid. , p. cxxxv.
s Edited
by
228, 229. Article v.
Drs Todd and
— Kelly, p. xxxiii.
l
2 is found in According to what
Reeves, pp. Edited by Rev. Dr.
i. , uirgo
2
3 Edited by Drs. Todd and Reeves, pp.
228, 229. —x Article vi.
the Spanish work of Antonio Domenec on the General History of Saints, belonging to the
Thus: pefvoAqYicri.
"
copy is the following stanza : The English
Principality of Catalonia, lib. i. , fol. 83.
3 See "Acta Sanctorum," tomus vi. , Augusti xxx. Among the pretermitted saints,
p. 544.
Vol. VIII. —No. 8.
1 f
In the
Leabhar Breac"
1
•A-opeich bu<vm UArbu<yoaib ConArech^bWA1b.
"51^ ^WnoemAib
45o LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS, [August 31.
notice a translation of the Relics of St. Willibrord, Bishop, at the 30th of August. His chief feast is set down in the Roman Martyrology, at the 7th
3
Article VIII. —Reputed Feast of St. Aidanus, Apostle of North-
—The 1 the of have noted umbria. Bollandists, quoting authority Camerarius,
St. Aidan, Confessor, and Bishop of Lindisfarne, at this date, although stating his festival has been placed in the Roman Breviary, at the 31st of August. In the anonymous list of Irish Saints, published by O'Sullevan Beare,s we find. Aidanus, entered at the 30th of August, but this is probably a mistake ; for, it should be noted on the following day—that which is recog-
nised as specially dedicated to his memory.
C6frtp*ff)rait JBap of august
ARTICLE I. —ST. AIDAN, OR AEDHAN, APOSTLE OF THE NORTH- UMBRIANS, AND FIRST BISHOP OF LINDISFARNE.
SEVENTH CENTURY. CHAPTER I.
INTRODUCTION—WRITERS OF ST. ATDAN'S ACTS—HIS IRISH ORIGIN AND EARLY MONASTIC LIFE IN IONA—HIS POSITION THERE—FIRST INTRODUCTION OF CHRISTIANITY IN ENGLAND—ANGLO-SAXON INVASION—ST. AIDAN IS CHOSEN tO PREACH THE GOSPEL IN NORTHUMBRIA.
of the truest character has ever distinguished the Apostles of
of November.
HEROISM with the errors of
nations, overspread paganism
and
idolatry.
Such
evils have taken root in the sensual desires and habits of poor degraded
humanity, and having been the growth of ages and of successive generations
ofmen,it requiresmorethanmortalpowerandmortalcouragetowagean effective war with such passions and prejudices. No doubt, successful mis- sionaries among the heathens were endowed with great force of character and admirable natural qualifications to undertake the task ; but Divine inspira- tion was necessary to inflame their souls with a burning zeal and a sublime charity, to rescue their fellow-men from ignorance and vice. Again, a pre- vious course of religious discipline and training, with humble submission to those placed over them by the Almighty as guides and teachers, most gene- rally produced those great athletes of Christ, who in turn were enabled through His graces to sow the good seed in the hearts of others, and to pro- claim His glorious doctrines and morality among the infidels of their time.
Article viii. —' See "Acta Sanc-
torum," tomus vi. , Augusti xxx. Among the
pretermitted saints, p. 544.
3 See " Historic Catholicce Iberniae
Compendium," tomus i. , lib. 4, cap. xi. , p. 50.
Article vii. — ' See" Acta
Sanctorum," tomus vi. , Augusti xxx. Among the preter-
mitted saints, p. 544.
a See also, at the same date, the Eleventh
Volume of this work, for notices of this holy man.
August 31. ] LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. 451
We shall see in the course of this narrative, how providentially St. Aidan had been destined for such a mission, and how faithfully he responded to the Divine call.
It is very satisfactory to know, that in treating about the present zealous Apostle of Northumbria, we have the chief incidents of his glorious career
recorded, on the most unquestionable authority, and that too from a remote period, traced back nearly approaching to the time when he flourished. The Life of St. Aidan, Bishop of Lindisfarne, was first written by Venerable Bede,
1 anditisincludedinhisEcclesiasticalHistoryoftheEnglishNation. Indeed,
from this noble work, all subsequent writers have mostly drawn their accounts of the present holy bishop ; and therefore, it shall form the basis, on which
chiefly rest the subsequent particulars of his biography. The Venerable Bede was born in Northumbria,2 a. d. 673, about twenty-two years after the death of St. Aidan. At the early age of seven, he was placed, under the care of Abbot Benedicts in the Abbey of Wearmouth ;4 and afterwards, he
under the rule of
5 the first Abbot of
6 While
Ceolfrid,
Article i. —Chapter i. — z See "The the
Jarrow.
residing
lived,
in both places, Bede had exceptional facilities for acquiring all requisite and authentic information, regarding the holy founder of Lindisfarne.
Miscellaneous Works of Venerable Bede, in the original Latin, collated with the Manuscripts, and various printed Edi-
tions, accompanied by a new English Translation o( the Historical Works, and a Life of the Author," By the Rev. J. A. Giles, D. C. L. , late Fellow of C. C. C. , Ox- ford, London, 1843, six vols- 8vo. Vol. ii. , " Historia Ecclesiastica Gentis Anglorum," lib. iii. , cap. iii. to xvii. , cap. xxvi. ; and vol. iii. , lib. iv. , cap. xxiii. , xxvii. To this edi- tion is reference made, in notes to the pre- sent Life.
2
The ancient kingdom of Northumbria lay north of the River Humber, and extended to the southern limits of that country inha- bited by the Picts and Scots.
3 The feast of this holy man, an Anglo-
Saxon by birth and origin, is kept on the
12th of January. Having visited Rome, he afterwards took the religious habit, in the celebratedmonasteryofLerins, in France. There he remained for two years, when he returned to Rome, a. d. 668. He afterwards accompanied St. Theodore, Archbishop of Canterbury, to England, and had charge of the monastery of St. Peter and St. Paul, near thatcity; butheresolvedonreturningagain to Rome, where he wished to acquire new experiences and lights regarding matters of Church discipline, and on divers monastic institutions. Whereupon he visited many places in Italy. He afterwards set out for England, and having been there favourably received by Egfrid, King of Northumbria, Benedict built two monasteries, those of Wearmouth and of Jarrow, formerly called Girwy. As these lay near to each other, he was appointed superior over both monas- teries. However, he took care to select two persons of eminent piety, Esterwinand Ceol- fridor Ceolfroid,to serve under him, and these
Churchveneratesassaints. St. Benedict taught his religious all those prac- tices of devotion, which he had observed in the Roman convents, and which he had learned in other houses visited by him. He wished especially to introduce the monastic life, as he saw it practised in France and Italy. In his monastery, he established a
college, in which he taught publicly, and soon he had six hundred monks who attended his lectures.
4 It is now known as Monk-Wearmouth,
owing to the foundation of a Benedictine
monastery, about A. D. 674, by Biscop, a Saxon noble, who obtained from Egfrid a grant of land near the River Wear, for the erection of an Abbey, dedicated to St. Peter. It was situated also at the mouth of that river, in Durham, and on the north bank. In the reign of Ethelred, that monastery was destroyed by the Danes.
s He is venerated as a saint, on the 25th
of September.
6 This place, in Durham, is of great anti-
quity, and it appears to have been formerly a Roman station, as numerous remains and
inscriptions discovered attest. Afterwards, the Saxons occupied that site. Egfrid granted forty hides of land to St.
