^6
He observed witli
Incessantly he meditated on the
tion, the whole discipline of a regular life.
He observed witli
Incessantly he meditated on the
tion, the whole discipline of a regular life.
O'Hanlon - Lives of the Irish Saints - v6
Waitz, in "MonumentaGermanicxHis- "
torica,
Scriptorum, tomusv. , pp. 546, 547
69 Thus we read " ad : Epistola Gregorii
ment that St. Boniface was a native of
Eng- ibi enim educatus, non natus, piscopum. " Again, "Epistola Zachariae nam Scotum faciunt nostrates, et praeterea Wilhelmus Heda, Jo. a Beca, Anton. Pos- sevinus, vir pius, et polyhistor. torn. I. Ap- par. Sacri pag. ccclxiii. Hie—ron. Platus, lib. 11. , Stat. Kelig. , cap. xxx. " " Historia Ecclesiatica Gentis Scotorum,"tomus i. , lib.
Bonifacium Scottum Moguntinum Archie-
land, adds :
"
Papae ad Bonifacium Scottum Archiepisco- pum Moguntinum data nonas Januarias,"
"
Papae ad Bonifacium Scottum Archiepisco-
&c. Likewise :
Alia epistola Zachariae
pum Moguntinum. "
7° Thus, at a. d. 937, we find: "Monas- ii. , num. 130, p. 71.
teria sanctorum Scottorum, Sancti Galli et sancti Bonifacii, igne consumuntur," ibid. , P- 554-
71 See his work, " De Scriptoribus Eccle- siasticis. "
72 In a communication on this question, ad-
dressed to the Editor of "The Irish Ecclesi-
astical Record," and intituled, "Was St.
Boniface an Irishman? " the Most Rev. lica luce illustravit. " Patrick F. Moran. then Bishop of Ossory,
and now Cardinal Archbishop of Sydney,
thus writes concerning Trithemius " He
:
held i—n his hand the traditions of Mentz and Fulda that is, of the See of St. Boniface, and of the great monastery which he founded. It appears to me, that it would be alike strange to suppose that if St. Boniface were a Saxon, the traditions of Mentz and Fulda would assign him to Ireland, as thatLuxeuil and Bobbio would conspire to assign to England their great patron and founder St. Columbanus. But, it is said, that Trithe- mius cites Marianus, and evidently consulted his chronicle. It is to be presumed, indeed, that it was so : but whilst Trithemius accepts as correct the statements of Marianus rela- ting to St. Boniface, he becomes voucher to us that those statements are conformable to
manise Historica," tomus v. , pp. 545, 546. M See Matthew of Pans " Chronica
this particular. " No. 3, p. 189.
Third Series, vol. v. ,
"
nus Scotus, alluding to Pope Gregory II. ,
"
74 In his
Chronicon," at A. D. 715, Maria-
has the following statement :
castus et sapiens, qui Bonifacium, patre at- que etiam matre Scottum, ordinavit Episco- pum ad sedem Moguntinum, et per eum in Germania verbum salutis prsedicavit, gen- temque iliam in tenebris sedentem evange-
Hie erat vir
—"Monumenta Ger-
Majora," edited by Henry Richards Luard, M. A. , vol. i. , p. 341.
76
mentions the transmarine Saxonland "in qua natus et nutritus fui. " According to the First Epistle to Pope Zachary, which is numbered 134 in Serarius, and in Labbe's "Collectio Conciliorum," tomus vi. , col. 1494, num. 5.
St. Boniface, writing to PopeZachary,
77 It is a fact well known, at present, that the children born of Irish parents in England
and Scotland, —
if not in
in a vast number—
of call themselves cases,
the generality
Irish, and would resent the attempt to im- pose on them the name of Englishmen or of Scotchmen. The historic recollections of the
past should give us to understand, that the
i 44 LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. [June 5.
English writers assert, that his birth occurred at Cridiantum,79 or Creditor), contracted to Kirton, in Devonshire. For this statement, we find no authority, among the most ancient writers of his Life, in Germany. —When baptized, he issaidtohavereceivedthenameofWynfrithorWinfrid sometimeswritten Winnifred ; but, this statement is not found, in the earlier Acts of this saint. 8o
While an infant, his mother's love for the child was so great, that she nursed
and cherished him with extraordinary care; the father sharing this affection
with such excess, as to prefer him to his other children. 81 In very tender
years, the child was wonderfully affected by the appearance of any person or
object, that directed his attention towards the love and service of God. He
was particularly solicitous to enquire about the proper means to shape his
futurecourseoflife. Itwascustomaryinhisageandcountrytoholdstations
or make visits to domiciliary
private houses,
82 where truths were religious
taught to the family. Whenever any priest or cleric came to his father's house,
the young Winfrid was delighted to confer with such visitor on heavenly
things. Moreover, he was earnestly desirous, at an early age, to quit the
world and all its vanities. His chief object was to consecrate himself to
God in a religious profession. When he was as yet but four or five years old, 83
the young Winfrid seemed to have a great desire for the monastic state, and he
learned to despise all things, that were merely terrestrial. His father had in-
tended, however, thathischild shouldbe addicted to some worldly pursuit, and
that he should succeed to the possession of a family patrimony. After some time,
Winfrid's intention was discovered to his dissatisfied father. The latter sought
by all means to divert him from it, partly urging him by threats, not to leave
the paternal home, and partly holding out by blandishments, how much more
preferable it should be, that he followed a secular calling. F. very expedient
was devised, to alter the child's resolution, but in vain ; for, Winfrid earnestly
desired to addict himself to sacred studies, and to unite with them a con-
templative life. Being visited with a sudden sickness, which brought him to
death's door, the father of Winfrid acknowledged this visitation came from
the hand of God, and that it was a correction for opposing the call of Heaven,
8 given to his son. *
Being now thirteen years of age, the father of Boniface sent his son to the
86 that this
house was on the site of a Roman camp, called Isca Danmoniorum, on the
of now Exeter. 85 It is monastery Adescancaster,
said,
religious
Exe River. In the seventh
century,
it was called 87 more corn- Exanceaster,
Anglo-Normans have been the common op-
pressors of the ancient Saxons and Irish, who been called Ctiritan, is known in Scottish
were formerly on exceedingly good terms. It is easy to understand, how the social and race relations have changed since the earlier
ages.
78 See Rev. Alban Butler's "Lives of the
Fathers, Martyrs and other principal saints," vol. vi. . June v.
history as Bonifacius.
8l See Willibald's Life of St. Boniface,
chap, i. , num. 5.
Sa See Les Petits " Vies Bollandistes,
des Saints," tome vi. , v Jour de Juin, p. 459.
statu religiosi,'' lib. ii. . cap. 30.
** See Les Petits Bollandistes, " Vies des
Devonshire, Joannis Janssonii "Novus Saints," tome vi. , v* Jour de Juin, p. Atlas, sive Theatrum Orbis Terrarum," 459.
Devon- shire, states, it was "ad Credenum," scil. fluvium. —See "Britannia," Danmonioe or
Hieronymus Flatus has—the words.
esset. " " quinquennis De Bono
? 9 William —
Cambden, describing
p. 134.
80 It has been suggested, by his Eminence
Cardinal Moran, that it is far from being im- probable, that both the Saxon name Wini- frid, and the Latin Bonifacius may be no- thing more than translations or adaptations of an original Celtic name. Thus, a saint
8s Now a city of Devonshire.
86 By Father Ilenschenn. in n. (a), to
Willibald's Life of St. Boniface, chap, i. , p.
462.
8? The root of this word was not Anglo-
Saxon, as Henschenn supposes; it came from the Celto-British word Exe, closely
registered in the Irish Kalendars, as having
83 "adhuc
June 5. ]
LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. 145
Close,?
Exeter,
and under Abbot Wolfhard. it was intended he There,
state,
Wolfhard,
Excester. 88
to some
8? the
Winfred received his education in a monastery,? which stood on the site of the Cathedral
monly
According
accounts,
young
1 at
should be educated, under the holy Abbot Wolfhard, to whom he was given in charge. Winfrid remained many years with him ; and, while still very young, he desired to learn wisdom from the example and counsel of his superiors. It was soon rendered manifest, that he had been divinely called to the religious
Grandisson.
91 The Rev. Dr.
in his "
of Exeter," says : "In Exeter, long before the Conquest, the place of interment was in
Oliver,
History
Chapter, we find an ordinance of Pope Inno-
in a conference with his 2 assent monks,? gave
and the Abbot
totheearnestprayerofWinfrid. Astrongimpressionwasmadeonhismind, owingtotheholyinfluencesthatsurroundedhim. Attheearlyageofseven, his intellect became developed by the assiduity he devoted to his studies, while his modesty and gravity of deportment were an index of the solid vir- tues he had acquired. He became a model student and a vessel of election, at one and the same time. Every moment of his existence was well spent. His disciplined soul answered to the highest expectations of his religious teachers, and his naturally good dispositions were a preservative against the effeminacy which vice engenders. Perfectly pure were all his intentions, and an abun- dance of Divine Grace kept him chaste and sober ; each day was he engaged accumulating merits, while he was preparing that store of learning and of vir- tue, destined to serve for the successful prosecution of his future Apostolic career. It was soon found, that his masters were unable to teach their pupil in that monastery, where his course had been commenced. ? 3 Thence, for further improvement, with consent of the Abbot Wolfhard and his community, Winfrid entered the monastery of Nutscelle,? * or Huntcell. It was flourishing, at that time, in regular discipline, under the rule of Abbot Winbercht. Here he studied under another master, and he became endeared to all the monks.
He applied himself anew to the service of God, and to all the details of sacred and profane learning. He was versed in Grammar and Rhetoric, in historic studies and in the measures of poetry. He united fasting with prayer; while he cherished the virtues of humility and obedience, with a spirit of charity towards his brethren and the rest of mankind. ? 5 Especially to enquire what
corresponding with the Irish, Isca, which and was especially so during the pestilence
means water.
88
Latinized Exonia.
89 See "The Irish Builder," vol. xxviii. ,
No. 639,p. 225. '
90 According to the account of Bishop led to the opening of a new cemetery in the
old Prisonhay on St. Bartholomew's Day,
24th August, 1637. "
92 Willi bald adds: "et eorum accepta
(sicut regularis vitse poposcit ordo) benedic- the Close : nay, among the archives of our tione," &c. Life of St. Boniface, chap, i. ,
num. 7.
9, John of Trittenhem states, that St.
Boniface had been sent by his parents —to an
evi- Capituli et Episcopi i. e. , that to no one dently a mistake for Nutscelle when he was may it be lawful to build cemeteries below only five years old. It seems, however, the
cent III. between Jan. 1 198 and 1216,'atnulli
liceat construere infra cemeteria terminos
parochse Exoniensis ecclesire sine assensu English monastery, called Mischele
of 1636. The accumulation of corpses, and the mounds of earth, to use the energetic language of Bishop John Hall, threatened to
buryindecorouslytheveryCathedral. This
'—' —
the boundaries of the Parochial Church of
Exeter without consent of the Chapter and
Bishop. ' This privilege had been conceded,
however, to the various religious houses, and fate with all the rest, during the time of the
Bishop Grandisson, on the 31st March, 1354,
extended this licence to St. John's Hospital.
But the Close, which Bishop Grandisson
styles 'commune civitatis poliandrum,'
i. e. , 'the common burying-place of the cap. i. , sect. 6.
city,' became at last an intolerable nuisance, 9fi St. Boniface is claimed as a Benedictine
holy student was many years older, at that particular time of his life.
94 This monastery underwent a common
Danish devastations. It was never since re- stored. We know not, at present, even the place where it stood.
95 See his Life by the Utrecht priest,
146 LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. [June 5.
he must do to secure his soul, was a subject for conversation. Daily medita- tationsheexercised,onthegreattruthsofeternity. Meantime,hisdevotional and literary exercises, were alternated with manual labour, according to the
constitutions of the
holy
Father Benedict.
^6
He observed witli
Incessantly he meditated on the
tion, the whole discipline of a regular life.
Holy Scriptures; and he learned their triple interpretation, ? so that he was
competent to expound them for the instruction even of his masters. These instructions appear to have been given in the shape of lectures ; since his
biographer relates, that when the fame of his learning went aboard, among
the monasteries of holy men and women, numbers of these religious wished to
profitbyhisteaching,andflockedtohearhisinstructions. Tiiespiritoflight
and of charity seemed to come from his lips, and to descend into the hearts of
his hearers; while food for pious reflections and resolves was afforded and to
thoseofbothsexes,whowerepresent. Heinspiredatasteforspiritualscrip-
tural reading, with a desire to penetrate the hidden mysteries, and he furnished
motives to excite divine love. His noble example gave earnestness and faith
to his teaching ; so that, while his affability and charity caused him to be
esteemed by all who knew him, his rare abilities and facile mode of teaching
werethoroughlyadmired. Havingacquiredsuchprofoundandvariederudi-
tion, we should not feel surprised, that Winfrid had been promoted, at thirty,
to the holy order of Priesthood, as that seems to have been the canonical
age, at the period of which we treat. This happened about the year 710 °8
or IO° theWest a and 101 712. 99 Ina, Kingof Saxons, good pious ruler, reigned,
at the time.
Some dissensions had unhappily prevailed in the kingdom and in the
Church, when the king advised the holding of a Synod by the ecclesiastical superiors. Tothis,hesuggested,thattheclergyshouldbeinvited. Accord-
ingly, an assembly was convoked, and when the questions which were to be discussed had been proposed, the different grades of the Ecclesiastical order and the faithful who were present deemed it just to consult their Primate, by sending delegates to him. For this errand, the Abbot Winbercht of Nutsceile
Monastery,
the Abbot Wintra of
T °2 and the Abbot Disselburg Monastery,
BeerwaldI03 of IO+ Glastonbury Monastery,
boreames-
the West Saxons, to Berchtwald or Brithwald,105 at that time Archbishop of
He
to treat with him, about those ecclesiastical controversies, which had been con- sidered. So great was the opinion his superiors already entertained of Win- frid's capacity and knowledge, that young as he was in the ministry, his
They
sage from the king to the Archbishop of Canterbury, and it required judgment and delicacy to accommodate matters. Among others, Winfrid had been chosen, and he was sent by the fathers of this Synod, held in the province of
over this See from a. d.
deputation set out on their journey to Kent. The purpose of this visit was
Canterbury.
presided
693
monk,byJohnofTrittenhem. See"Cata- logus Scriptorum Ecclesiasticorum," fol. li. , b.
" Distinguished as Literal, Topological and Anagogical or Mystical.
*» This is the chronology adopted by the Bollandists, and by many other authori-
""Histermofruledatesfromabout688 to 726. In the year 727, he resigned the government of his kingdom to his kinsman Aethelhard, and went to Rome, where with the consent and desire of Pope Gregory, he established a house, called " Schola
rum," and near it, he built a church, in honour of the Blessed Virgin Mary, in which the Saxon English coming to Rome cele- brated the Divine Mysteries, and also where dying they received Christian burial. See
*8 See l'Abbe
siastique," tome ix. , liv. xli. , sect, xxxv. , p. 179.
Anglo-
Fleury's
" Histoire Eccle-
ies.
100 He is venerated as a saint, and a Matthew of Westminster's "Flores His-
festival has been assigned to him, at the 6th toriarum," p. 265.
of ,oa day February.
By
Otho it is written
Wessesburgh,
werechosen.
great perfec-
to a. d. 1. 106 The 73
June 5. ] LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. i47
talents and prudence marked him as a most suitable representative. Regard- ing his commission, Winfrid discharged it, to the great satisfaction of King
Ina and the Prelates ; for having clearly explained what was necessary to be known and decided, it pleased the Archbishop to accord with the king and the ecclesiastics assembled at the Synod, who received the returned message and messengers with great rejoicing.
His reputation thus exalted, Winfrid might have risen to high honours,
in his own province, but other aspirations had now taken possession of his soul. 10 ? He made such extraordinary progress in sacred learning and
religious perfection, under the holy Abbot Winbert, as to be judged a capable master and a teacher for others. But, one great desire consumed his soul, as news had been received of the great conversions effected, through the zeal of St. Willibrordandothermissionaries,inthenorthernpartsofGermany. 108 At that time, a common descent and speaking a common language eminently qualified the Anglo-Saxons to become Christian guides, for the pagans who dwelt in those regions. This mission, however, involved the sacrifice of Win- frid leaving parents, friends, and home, as also worldly comforts,100 to venture
his life among a strange and an uncivilized people. He dwelt long on the purpose held in view, and at last he resolved to open his mind on that subject to the Abbot Winbercht. His earnest prayer was, to be allowed permission tofollowwhathedeemedthedesignsofProvidence. Foratime,Winbercht was opposed to the entreaties of his subject, while admiring his disinterested- ness and devotedness. With some difficulty, Winfrid obtained from his Abbot and from the religious leave to visit Frisia. 110 There, he intended to extend theGospelamonginfidels. Hewasallowedtotakewithhimtwoorthreeof the monks, to sustain the labours of his adventurous journey; and accordingly, they proceeded towards London, 111 even at that time a city of great trade and commerce. Here,theywereenabledtosecureavessel,inwhichtheytook
A
the mouth of the Rhine, 113 where Dorstat or Doeistadt stood, then a flourish-
and by others Tisselbourg. The Bollandist Rhine and the Weser. The people who in- editor deems it to be Tisburie, in Wilt- habit it are now distinguished as East and shire. West Frieslanders.
103 He is said to have been Abbot, a. d. 1,1 In Willibald's Life of St. Boniface, it 705. See "Monasticon Anglicarum," is called Lundenwic. This also was the
passage.
prosperous
wind
brought
them to the Islands of 112 and to Frisia,
Life of our
116 See of Trittenham's " John
110
but now almost obliterated from historical 11 '* The memory.
ing emporium, dateassignedforthisadventurouscourseisabouttheyear716. 115 Oursaint being inflamed with zeal for the glory of God, and for the salvation of souls, desired so preach God's word in Germany,116 of which vast country he was destined to become the Apostle.
P- I*
104 In Somerset.
I0= He is venerated as a saint, and his
feast occurs at the 9th of January.
106
See an account of him, in Venerable Bede's " Historia Ecclesiastica Gentis An- glorum," lib. v. , cap. iv , xxiv.
name given to it by the Anglo-Saxons, as
Cambden states, when treating about Mid-
dlesex.
112
Thus is it expressed, in the Life, by the Utrecht priest, cap. i. , sect. 7.
"3 According to the Third Life of St.
Boniface, sect. 2.
114 See Rev. S. "Lives of Baring-Gould's
the Saints," vol. vi. , June 5, p. 43.
115 to the of the According computation
Bollandists. See, also, l'Abbe Fluery's
" tome liv. xli. , ix. ,
107 See Rev. S.
the Saints," vol. vi. , June 5, p. 42.
108 See Charles " Knight's
" Lives of
Baring-Gould's
English Cyclo- pedia of Biography," vol. i. , col. 819.
" Histoire
109 See St. Benedict's the Utrecht Life, by
Ecclesiastique, priest, cap. i. , sect. 6, 7. Also, the Third sect, xxxv. , p. 180.
sect. i.
This country extended between the
Catalogus Scriptorum Ecclesiasticorum," fol. li. , b,
saint,
148 LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. [June 5.
CHAPTER II.
STATE OF FRISIA AT THIS PERIOD—WINFRID LEAVES ENGLAND FOR THAT MISSION— HE RETURNS UNSUCCESSFUL—GOES TO HIS MONASTERY—DECLINES TO BECOME ITS ABBOT—HE OBTAINS COMMENDATORY LETTERS FROM DANIEL BISHOP OF WINCHESTER—BONIFACE PROCEEDS TO FRANCE, AND THENCE HE TRAVELS TO ROME—FAVOURABLY RECEIVED BY POPE ST. GREGORY II. —OBTAINS FROM HIM A COMMISSION TO PREACH THE GOSPEL IN GERMANY—ST. GREGORY OF UTRECHT HIS DISCIPLE—WINFRID'S MISSION AMONG THE THURINGIANS—HE TRAVELS INTO FRISIA AND HESSE—AGAIN HE VISITS ROME, WHERE HE IS CONSECRATED BISHOP AND NAMED BONIFACE—HIS RETURN TO GERMANY—IN HESSE HE CUTS DOWN THE TREE OF JUPITER.
That time, however, proved unfavourable for Winfrid's enterprise, although the Faith had made some progress in the Low Countries. The French mission- aries had already established churches and congregations in several parts.
St. 1 of was towardsthe Amongthese, Eligius, Bishop Noyon, distinguished,
2
middle of the seventh century. Later on, St. Wulfran resigned his dignity of
Archbishop of Sens, in the year 695, when he proceeded to Friesland. There
horriblesuperstitionsprevailed. Amongothers,thepagansofthatcountrywere accustomed to sacrifice human victims to propitiate demons, while they were barbarous to a degree in their habits and usages. Frisia 3 had been subjected by the French, under Pepin of Heristal, 4 during the dynasty of the Merovin- gians. 5 Towards the year 678, St. Wilfrid commenced a mission among the Frisons, favoured by their King Algise ; he baptized numbers of their chiefs
and thousands of the 6
many people. However,
of these We have already
the
the vast continued to remain addicted to idolatry and paganism. ?
proportion
that St.
8 had desired to leave in
Ireland, person, preach
seen,
Gospel, among the barbarous people of Northern Europe ; but, he was diverted from this purpose, owing to a vision he had, that the field was
destined for other reapers. Yet, one of his companions, named Wicbert,' had gone to Frisia, where for two years, he preached the Gospel of Christ
among the pagans. However, Radbod was then King of Frisia, and when Wigbert reached his territories about a. d. 688, he was opposed by that ruler, and he was obliged to seek Ireland again, without having achieved much suc- cess. St. 10 St.
Swibert,
Egbert
Afterwards, Willibrord,
11 and their ven- companions,
Chapter 11 — • He is venerated, on the
1st of December. See an account of his life
and missionary career, in Les Petits Bollan- versations Lexicon," &c, vol. iii. , Art.
" Vies des
2
His career and labours are related to the end of his life, A. D. 720. See ibid. , tome iii. , pp.
to
542 546.
distes,
to
15.
Saints,"
tome xiv. ,
pp. 4
France, p. 250.
6 See lAbbe "Historie Ec- Fleury's
clesiastique," tome ix. , liv. xl. , sect, iv. ,
P- »5-
7 The Vita III. S. Bonefacii has it
" maxima diis et dcemonibus cascato parte
His feast occurs at the 20th of March.
3 The extent of Frisia is set forth in the
accurate translation from German into nesciebat. "
French of Mon. l'Abbe G. Beeteme's
"
Sainte Ursule et ses onze mille Vieiges
ou l'Europe occidentale au Milieu du ve Sie-
cle Monographic historique et critique," par
J. H. Kessel Dr. en Theologie. See the
map, Europe Occidentale au milieu du
ve Siecle, in the Appendix. Its geographi- Volume of this work, Art. ii.
13
cal conditions had undergone no material They are said to have landed at the
changes to the time of St. Boniface. mouth of the Rhine, and to have travelled 4 Also called Pepin the Big, Duke of thence to Utrecht, a town built by the
France, and Mayor over the king's palace. 5 See " The Popular Encyclopedia or Con-
corde — et seternre felicitatis viam serviebat,
Sect.
8 See his Life, at the 24th of April, in the
Fourth Volume of this work, Art. i.
9 His festival occurs at the 13th ofAugust,
when notices of him will be found.
10 See his Life, at the 7th of November. " See his Life, at the 1st of March, Third
2, p. 482.
to
June 5-]" LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. 149
tured upon a similar enterprise ;" and, although they encountered much
opposition, notwithstanding they were enabled to erect the standard of Faith
among that uncivilized and pagan people. About the year 696, St. Wille-
brordwasconsecratedBishopofUtrecht. ^ Thenewly-plantedChurchof
Christ had been severely persecuted by the tyrant, Radbod, who had formerly
heard the instructions of St. Wulfran, and who had even come to the baptismal
font to receive when he a 1 '* He then baptism, opposed capriciousobjection.
withdrew, with apparently doubts about the course adopted, but continuing
to favour the idolatrous — of his for the remainder of his — usages country, days.
However, Pepin of Heristel who virtually ruled France about this time
had conquered a considerable part of Frieseland, and he compelled Radbod to pay him tribute ; while the southern part of that territory remained subject totheFranks. 16 Radboddrovethereligiousfromtheirmonasteries,helevelled their churches and houses; while, he erected pagan temples and shrines to re- placethem. '7 ThisfierceDynastwascompelled,however,toconfinehisabso- luteruletothenorthernterritoryofFrisia. Still,hedidnotwhollypreventSt. Willibrord from preaching to his subjects ; and, what is even more strange, he sometimes heard himself that Christian missionary's discourses.
Pepin of Heristel had departed this life in December, a. d.
torica,
Scriptorum, tomusv. , pp. 546, 547
69 Thus we read " ad : Epistola Gregorii
ment that St. Boniface was a native of
Eng- ibi enim educatus, non natus, piscopum. " Again, "Epistola Zachariae nam Scotum faciunt nostrates, et praeterea Wilhelmus Heda, Jo. a Beca, Anton. Pos- sevinus, vir pius, et polyhistor. torn. I. Ap- par. Sacri pag. ccclxiii. Hie—ron. Platus, lib. 11. , Stat. Kelig. , cap. xxx. " " Historia Ecclesiatica Gentis Scotorum,"tomus i. , lib.
Bonifacium Scottum Moguntinum Archie-
land, adds :
"
Papae ad Bonifacium Scottum Archiepisco- pum Moguntinum data nonas Januarias,"
"
Papae ad Bonifacium Scottum Archiepisco-
&c. Likewise :
Alia epistola Zachariae
pum Moguntinum. "
7° Thus, at a. d. 937, we find: "Monas- ii. , num. 130, p. 71.
teria sanctorum Scottorum, Sancti Galli et sancti Bonifacii, igne consumuntur," ibid. , P- 554-
71 See his work, " De Scriptoribus Eccle- siasticis. "
72 In a communication on this question, ad-
dressed to the Editor of "The Irish Ecclesi-
astical Record," and intituled, "Was St.
Boniface an Irishman? " the Most Rev. lica luce illustravit. " Patrick F. Moran. then Bishop of Ossory,
and now Cardinal Archbishop of Sydney,
thus writes concerning Trithemius " He
:
held i—n his hand the traditions of Mentz and Fulda that is, of the See of St. Boniface, and of the great monastery which he founded. It appears to me, that it would be alike strange to suppose that if St. Boniface were a Saxon, the traditions of Mentz and Fulda would assign him to Ireland, as thatLuxeuil and Bobbio would conspire to assign to England their great patron and founder St. Columbanus. But, it is said, that Trithe- mius cites Marianus, and evidently consulted his chronicle. It is to be presumed, indeed, that it was so : but whilst Trithemius accepts as correct the statements of Marianus rela- ting to St. Boniface, he becomes voucher to us that those statements are conformable to
manise Historica," tomus v. , pp. 545, 546. M See Matthew of Pans " Chronica
this particular. " No. 3, p. 189.
Third Series, vol. v. ,
"
nus Scotus, alluding to Pope Gregory II. ,
"
74 In his
Chronicon," at A. D. 715, Maria-
has the following statement :
castus et sapiens, qui Bonifacium, patre at- que etiam matre Scottum, ordinavit Episco- pum ad sedem Moguntinum, et per eum in Germania verbum salutis prsedicavit, gen- temque iliam in tenebris sedentem evange-
Hie erat vir
—"Monumenta Ger-
Majora," edited by Henry Richards Luard, M. A. , vol. i. , p. 341.
76
mentions the transmarine Saxonland "in qua natus et nutritus fui. " According to the First Epistle to Pope Zachary, which is numbered 134 in Serarius, and in Labbe's "Collectio Conciliorum," tomus vi. , col. 1494, num. 5.
St. Boniface, writing to PopeZachary,
77 It is a fact well known, at present, that the children born of Irish parents in England
and Scotland, —
if not in
in a vast number—
of call themselves cases,
the generality
Irish, and would resent the attempt to im- pose on them the name of Englishmen or of Scotchmen. The historic recollections of the
past should give us to understand, that the
i 44 LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. [June 5.
English writers assert, that his birth occurred at Cridiantum,79 or Creditor), contracted to Kirton, in Devonshire. For this statement, we find no authority, among the most ancient writers of his Life, in Germany. —When baptized, he issaidtohavereceivedthenameofWynfrithorWinfrid sometimeswritten Winnifred ; but, this statement is not found, in the earlier Acts of this saint. 8o
While an infant, his mother's love for the child was so great, that she nursed
and cherished him with extraordinary care; the father sharing this affection
with such excess, as to prefer him to his other children. 81 In very tender
years, the child was wonderfully affected by the appearance of any person or
object, that directed his attention towards the love and service of God. He
was particularly solicitous to enquire about the proper means to shape his
futurecourseoflife. Itwascustomaryinhisageandcountrytoholdstations
or make visits to domiciliary
private houses,
82 where truths were religious
taught to the family. Whenever any priest or cleric came to his father's house,
the young Winfrid was delighted to confer with such visitor on heavenly
things. Moreover, he was earnestly desirous, at an early age, to quit the
world and all its vanities. His chief object was to consecrate himself to
God in a religious profession. When he was as yet but four or five years old, 83
the young Winfrid seemed to have a great desire for the monastic state, and he
learned to despise all things, that were merely terrestrial. His father had in-
tended, however, thathischild shouldbe addicted to some worldly pursuit, and
that he should succeed to the possession of a family patrimony. After some time,
Winfrid's intention was discovered to his dissatisfied father. The latter sought
by all means to divert him from it, partly urging him by threats, not to leave
the paternal home, and partly holding out by blandishments, how much more
preferable it should be, that he followed a secular calling. F. very expedient
was devised, to alter the child's resolution, but in vain ; for, Winfrid earnestly
desired to addict himself to sacred studies, and to unite with them a con-
templative life. Being visited with a sudden sickness, which brought him to
death's door, the father of Winfrid acknowledged this visitation came from
the hand of God, and that it was a correction for opposing the call of Heaven,
8 given to his son. *
Being now thirteen years of age, the father of Boniface sent his son to the
86 that this
house was on the site of a Roman camp, called Isca Danmoniorum, on the
of now Exeter. 85 It is monastery Adescancaster,
said,
religious
Exe River. In the seventh
century,
it was called 87 more corn- Exanceaster,
Anglo-Normans have been the common op-
pressors of the ancient Saxons and Irish, who been called Ctiritan, is known in Scottish
were formerly on exceedingly good terms. It is easy to understand, how the social and race relations have changed since the earlier
ages.
78 See Rev. Alban Butler's "Lives of the
Fathers, Martyrs and other principal saints," vol. vi. . June v.
history as Bonifacius.
8l See Willibald's Life of St. Boniface,
chap, i. , num. 5.
Sa See Les Petits " Vies Bollandistes,
des Saints," tome vi. , v Jour de Juin, p. 459.
statu religiosi,'' lib. ii. . cap. 30.
** See Les Petits Bollandistes, " Vies des
Devonshire, Joannis Janssonii "Novus Saints," tome vi. , v* Jour de Juin, p. Atlas, sive Theatrum Orbis Terrarum," 459.
Devon- shire, states, it was "ad Credenum," scil. fluvium. —See "Britannia," Danmonioe or
Hieronymus Flatus has—the words.
esset. " " quinquennis De Bono
? 9 William —
Cambden, describing
p. 134.
80 It has been suggested, by his Eminence
Cardinal Moran, that it is far from being im- probable, that both the Saxon name Wini- frid, and the Latin Bonifacius may be no- thing more than translations or adaptations of an original Celtic name. Thus, a saint
8s Now a city of Devonshire.
86 By Father Ilenschenn. in n. (a), to
Willibald's Life of St. Boniface, chap, i. , p.
462.
8? The root of this word was not Anglo-
Saxon, as Henschenn supposes; it came from the Celto-British word Exe, closely
registered in the Irish Kalendars, as having
83 "adhuc
June 5. ]
LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. 145
Close,?
Exeter,
and under Abbot Wolfhard. it was intended he There,
state,
Wolfhard,
Excester. 88
to some
8? the
Winfred received his education in a monastery,? which stood on the site of the Cathedral
monly
According
accounts,
young
1 at
should be educated, under the holy Abbot Wolfhard, to whom he was given in charge. Winfrid remained many years with him ; and, while still very young, he desired to learn wisdom from the example and counsel of his superiors. It was soon rendered manifest, that he had been divinely called to the religious
Grandisson.
91 The Rev. Dr.
in his "
of Exeter," says : "In Exeter, long before the Conquest, the place of interment was in
Oliver,
History
Chapter, we find an ordinance of Pope Inno-
in a conference with his 2 assent monks,? gave
and the Abbot
totheearnestprayerofWinfrid. Astrongimpressionwasmadeonhismind, owingtotheholyinfluencesthatsurroundedhim. Attheearlyageofseven, his intellect became developed by the assiduity he devoted to his studies, while his modesty and gravity of deportment were an index of the solid vir- tues he had acquired. He became a model student and a vessel of election, at one and the same time. Every moment of his existence was well spent. His disciplined soul answered to the highest expectations of his religious teachers, and his naturally good dispositions were a preservative against the effeminacy which vice engenders. Perfectly pure were all his intentions, and an abun- dance of Divine Grace kept him chaste and sober ; each day was he engaged accumulating merits, while he was preparing that store of learning and of vir- tue, destined to serve for the successful prosecution of his future Apostolic career. It was soon found, that his masters were unable to teach their pupil in that monastery, where his course had been commenced. ? 3 Thence, for further improvement, with consent of the Abbot Wolfhard and his community, Winfrid entered the monastery of Nutscelle,? * or Huntcell. It was flourishing, at that time, in regular discipline, under the rule of Abbot Winbercht. Here he studied under another master, and he became endeared to all the monks.
He applied himself anew to the service of God, and to all the details of sacred and profane learning. He was versed in Grammar and Rhetoric, in historic studies and in the measures of poetry. He united fasting with prayer; while he cherished the virtues of humility and obedience, with a spirit of charity towards his brethren and the rest of mankind. ? 5 Especially to enquire what
corresponding with the Irish, Isca, which and was especially so during the pestilence
means water.
88
Latinized Exonia.
89 See "The Irish Builder," vol. xxviii. ,
No. 639,p. 225. '
90 According to the account of Bishop led to the opening of a new cemetery in the
old Prisonhay on St. Bartholomew's Day,
24th August, 1637. "
92 Willi bald adds: "et eorum accepta
(sicut regularis vitse poposcit ordo) benedic- the Close : nay, among the archives of our tione," &c. Life of St. Boniface, chap, i. ,
num. 7.
9, John of Trittenhem states, that St.
Boniface had been sent by his parents —to an
evi- Capituli et Episcopi i. e. , that to no one dently a mistake for Nutscelle when he was may it be lawful to build cemeteries below only five years old. It seems, however, the
cent III. between Jan. 1 198 and 1216,'atnulli
liceat construere infra cemeteria terminos
parochse Exoniensis ecclesire sine assensu English monastery, called Mischele
of 1636. The accumulation of corpses, and the mounds of earth, to use the energetic language of Bishop John Hall, threatened to
buryindecorouslytheveryCathedral. This
'—' —
the boundaries of the Parochial Church of
Exeter without consent of the Chapter and
Bishop. ' This privilege had been conceded,
however, to the various religious houses, and fate with all the rest, during the time of the
Bishop Grandisson, on the 31st March, 1354,
extended this licence to St. John's Hospital.
But the Close, which Bishop Grandisson
styles 'commune civitatis poliandrum,'
i. e. , 'the common burying-place of the cap. i. , sect. 6.
city,' became at last an intolerable nuisance, 9fi St. Boniface is claimed as a Benedictine
holy student was many years older, at that particular time of his life.
94 This monastery underwent a common
Danish devastations. It was never since re- stored. We know not, at present, even the place where it stood.
95 See his Life by the Utrecht priest,
146 LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. [June 5.
he must do to secure his soul, was a subject for conversation. Daily medita- tationsheexercised,onthegreattruthsofeternity. Meantime,hisdevotional and literary exercises, were alternated with manual labour, according to the
constitutions of the
holy
Father Benedict.
^6
He observed witli
Incessantly he meditated on the
tion, the whole discipline of a regular life.
Holy Scriptures; and he learned their triple interpretation, ? so that he was
competent to expound them for the instruction even of his masters. These instructions appear to have been given in the shape of lectures ; since his
biographer relates, that when the fame of his learning went aboard, among
the monasteries of holy men and women, numbers of these religious wished to
profitbyhisteaching,andflockedtohearhisinstructions. Tiiespiritoflight
and of charity seemed to come from his lips, and to descend into the hearts of
his hearers; while food for pious reflections and resolves was afforded and to
thoseofbothsexes,whowerepresent. Heinspiredatasteforspiritualscrip-
tural reading, with a desire to penetrate the hidden mysteries, and he furnished
motives to excite divine love. His noble example gave earnestness and faith
to his teaching ; so that, while his affability and charity caused him to be
esteemed by all who knew him, his rare abilities and facile mode of teaching
werethoroughlyadmired. Havingacquiredsuchprofoundandvariederudi-
tion, we should not feel surprised, that Winfrid had been promoted, at thirty,
to the holy order of Priesthood, as that seems to have been the canonical
age, at the period of which we treat. This happened about the year 710 °8
or IO° theWest a and 101 712. 99 Ina, Kingof Saxons, good pious ruler, reigned,
at the time.
Some dissensions had unhappily prevailed in the kingdom and in the
Church, when the king advised the holding of a Synod by the ecclesiastical superiors. Tothis,hesuggested,thattheclergyshouldbeinvited. Accord-
ingly, an assembly was convoked, and when the questions which were to be discussed had been proposed, the different grades of the Ecclesiastical order and the faithful who were present deemed it just to consult their Primate, by sending delegates to him. For this errand, the Abbot Winbercht of Nutsceile
Monastery,
the Abbot Wintra of
T °2 and the Abbot Disselburg Monastery,
BeerwaldI03 of IO+ Glastonbury Monastery,
boreames-
the West Saxons, to Berchtwald or Brithwald,105 at that time Archbishop of
He
to treat with him, about those ecclesiastical controversies, which had been con- sidered. So great was the opinion his superiors already entertained of Win- frid's capacity and knowledge, that young as he was in the ministry, his
They
sage from the king to the Archbishop of Canterbury, and it required judgment and delicacy to accommodate matters. Among others, Winfrid had been chosen, and he was sent by the fathers of this Synod, held in the province of
over this See from a. d.
deputation set out on their journey to Kent. The purpose of this visit was
Canterbury.
presided
693
monk,byJohnofTrittenhem. See"Cata- logus Scriptorum Ecclesiasticorum," fol. li. , b.
" Distinguished as Literal, Topological and Anagogical or Mystical.
*» This is the chronology adopted by the Bollandists, and by many other authori-
""Histermofruledatesfromabout688 to 726. In the year 727, he resigned the government of his kingdom to his kinsman Aethelhard, and went to Rome, where with the consent and desire of Pope Gregory, he established a house, called " Schola
rum," and near it, he built a church, in honour of the Blessed Virgin Mary, in which the Saxon English coming to Rome cele- brated the Divine Mysteries, and also where dying they received Christian burial. See
*8 See l'Abbe
siastique," tome ix. , liv. xli. , sect, xxxv. , p. 179.
Anglo-
Fleury's
" Histoire Eccle-
ies.
100 He is venerated as a saint, and a Matthew of Westminster's "Flores His-
festival has been assigned to him, at the 6th toriarum," p. 265.
of ,oa day February.
By
Otho it is written
Wessesburgh,
werechosen.
great perfec-
to a. d. 1. 106 The 73
June 5. ] LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. i47
talents and prudence marked him as a most suitable representative. Regard- ing his commission, Winfrid discharged it, to the great satisfaction of King
Ina and the Prelates ; for having clearly explained what was necessary to be known and decided, it pleased the Archbishop to accord with the king and the ecclesiastics assembled at the Synod, who received the returned message and messengers with great rejoicing.
His reputation thus exalted, Winfrid might have risen to high honours,
in his own province, but other aspirations had now taken possession of his soul. 10 ? He made such extraordinary progress in sacred learning and
religious perfection, under the holy Abbot Winbert, as to be judged a capable master and a teacher for others. But, one great desire consumed his soul, as news had been received of the great conversions effected, through the zeal of St. Willibrordandothermissionaries,inthenorthernpartsofGermany. 108 At that time, a common descent and speaking a common language eminently qualified the Anglo-Saxons to become Christian guides, for the pagans who dwelt in those regions. This mission, however, involved the sacrifice of Win- frid leaving parents, friends, and home, as also worldly comforts,100 to venture
his life among a strange and an uncivilized people. He dwelt long on the purpose held in view, and at last he resolved to open his mind on that subject to the Abbot Winbercht. His earnest prayer was, to be allowed permission tofollowwhathedeemedthedesignsofProvidence. Foratime,Winbercht was opposed to the entreaties of his subject, while admiring his disinterested- ness and devotedness. With some difficulty, Winfrid obtained from his Abbot and from the religious leave to visit Frisia. 110 There, he intended to extend theGospelamonginfidels. Hewasallowedtotakewithhimtwoorthreeof the monks, to sustain the labours of his adventurous journey; and accordingly, they proceeded towards London, 111 even at that time a city of great trade and commerce. Here,theywereenabledtosecureavessel,inwhichtheytook
A
the mouth of the Rhine, 113 where Dorstat or Doeistadt stood, then a flourish-
and by others Tisselbourg. The Bollandist Rhine and the Weser. The people who in- editor deems it to be Tisburie, in Wilt- habit it are now distinguished as East and shire. West Frieslanders.
103 He is said to have been Abbot, a. d. 1,1 In Willibald's Life of St. Boniface, it 705. See "Monasticon Anglicarum," is called Lundenwic. This also was the
passage.
prosperous
wind
brought
them to the Islands of 112 and to Frisia,
Life of our
116 See of Trittenham's " John
110
but now almost obliterated from historical 11 '* The memory.
ing emporium, dateassignedforthisadventurouscourseisabouttheyear716. 115 Oursaint being inflamed with zeal for the glory of God, and for the salvation of souls, desired so preach God's word in Germany,116 of which vast country he was destined to become the Apostle.
P- I*
104 In Somerset.
I0= He is venerated as a saint, and his
feast occurs at the 9th of January.
106
See an account of him, in Venerable Bede's " Historia Ecclesiastica Gentis An- glorum," lib. v. , cap. iv , xxiv.
name given to it by the Anglo-Saxons, as
Cambden states, when treating about Mid-
dlesex.
112
Thus is it expressed, in the Life, by the Utrecht priest, cap. i. , sect. 7.
"3 According to the Third Life of St.
Boniface, sect. 2.
114 See Rev. S. "Lives of Baring-Gould's
the Saints," vol. vi. , June 5, p. 43.
115 to the of the According computation
Bollandists. See, also, l'Abbe Fluery's
" tome liv. xli. , ix. ,
107 See Rev. S.
the Saints," vol. vi. , June 5, p. 42.
108 See Charles " Knight's
" Lives of
Baring-Gould's
English Cyclo- pedia of Biography," vol. i. , col. 819.
" Histoire
109 See St. Benedict's the Utrecht Life, by
Ecclesiastique, priest, cap. i. , sect. 6, 7. Also, the Third sect, xxxv. , p. 180.
sect. i.
This country extended between the
Catalogus Scriptorum Ecclesiasticorum," fol. li. , b,
saint,
148 LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. [June 5.
CHAPTER II.
STATE OF FRISIA AT THIS PERIOD—WINFRID LEAVES ENGLAND FOR THAT MISSION— HE RETURNS UNSUCCESSFUL—GOES TO HIS MONASTERY—DECLINES TO BECOME ITS ABBOT—HE OBTAINS COMMENDATORY LETTERS FROM DANIEL BISHOP OF WINCHESTER—BONIFACE PROCEEDS TO FRANCE, AND THENCE HE TRAVELS TO ROME—FAVOURABLY RECEIVED BY POPE ST. GREGORY II. —OBTAINS FROM HIM A COMMISSION TO PREACH THE GOSPEL IN GERMANY—ST. GREGORY OF UTRECHT HIS DISCIPLE—WINFRID'S MISSION AMONG THE THURINGIANS—HE TRAVELS INTO FRISIA AND HESSE—AGAIN HE VISITS ROME, WHERE HE IS CONSECRATED BISHOP AND NAMED BONIFACE—HIS RETURN TO GERMANY—IN HESSE HE CUTS DOWN THE TREE OF JUPITER.
That time, however, proved unfavourable for Winfrid's enterprise, although the Faith had made some progress in the Low Countries. The French mission- aries had already established churches and congregations in several parts.
St. 1 of was towardsthe Amongthese, Eligius, Bishop Noyon, distinguished,
2
middle of the seventh century. Later on, St. Wulfran resigned his dignity of
Archbishop of Sens, in the year 695, when he proceeded to Friesland. There
horriblesuperstitionsprevailed. Amongothers,thepagansofthatcountrywere accustomed to sacrifice human victims to propitiate demons, while they were barbarous to a degree in their habits and usages. Frisia 3 had been subjected by the French, under Pepin of Heristal, 4 during the dynasty of the Merovin- gians. 5 Towards the year 678, St. Wilfrid commenced a mission among the Frisons, favoured by their King Algise ; he baptized numbers of their chiefs
and thousands of the 6
many people. However,
of these We have already
the
the vast continued to remain addicted to idolatry and paganism. ?
proportion
that St.
8 had desired to leave in
Ireland, person, preach
seen,
Gospel, among the barbarous people of Northern Europe ; but, he was diverted from this purpose, owing to a vision he had, that the field was
destined for other reapers. Yet, one of his companions, named Wicbert,' had gone to Frisia, where for two years, he preached the Gospel of Christ
among the pagans. However, Radbod was then King of Frisia, and when Wigbert reached his territories about a. d. 688, he was opposed by that ruler, and he was obliged to seek Ireland again, without having achieved much suc- cess. St. 10 St.
Swibert,
Egbert
Afterwards, Willibrord,
11 and their ven- companions,
Chapter 11 — • He is venerated, on the
1st of December. See an account of his life
and missionary career, in Les Petits Bollan- versations Lexicon," &c, vol. iii. , Art.
" Vies des
2
His career and labours are related to the end of his life, A. D. 720. See ibid. , tome iii. , pp.
to
542 546.
distes,
to
15.
Saints,"
tome xiv. ,
pp. 4
France, p. 250.
6 See lAbbe "Historie Ec- Fleury's
clesiastique," tome ix. , liv. xl. , sect, iv. ,
P- »5-
7 The Vita III. S. Bonefacii has it
" maxima diis et dcemonibus cascato parte
His feast occurs at the 20th of March.
3 The extent of Frisia is set forth in the
accurate translation from German into nesciebat. "
French of Mon. l'Abbe G. Beeteme's
"
Sainte Ursule et ses onze mille Vieiges
ou l'Europe occidentale au Milieu du ve Sie-
cle Monographic historique et critique," par
J. H. Kessel Dr. en Theologie. See the
map, Europe Occidentale au milieu du
ve Siecle, in the Appendix. Its geographi- Volume of this work, Art. ii.
13
cal conditions had undergone no material They are said to have landed at the
changes to the time of St. Boniface. mouth of the Rhine, and to have travelled 4 Also called Pepin the Big, Duke of thence to Utrecht, a town built by the
France, and Mayor over the king's palace. 5 See " The Popular Encyclopedia or Con-
corde — et seternre felicitatis viam serviebat,
Sect.
8 See his Life, at the 24th of April, in the
Fourth Volume of this work, Art. i.
9 His festival occurs at the 13th ofAugust,
when notices of him will be found.
10 See his Life, at the 7th of November. " See his Life, at the 1st of March, Third
2, p. 482.
to
June 5-]" LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. 149
tured upon a similar enterprise ;" and, although they encountered much
opposition, notwithstanding they were enabled to erect the standard of Faith
among that uncivilized and pagan people. About the year 696, St. Wille-
brordwasconsecratedBishopofUtrecht. ^ Thenewly-plantedChurchof
Christ had been severely persecuted by the tyrant, Radbod, who had formerly
heard the instructions of St. Wulfran, and who had even come to the baptismal
font to receive when he a 1 '* He then baptism, opposed capriciousobjection.
withdrew, with apparently doubts about the course adopted, but continuing
to favour the idolatrous — of his for the remainder of his — usages country, days.
However, Pepin of Heristel who virtually ruled France about this time
had conquered a considerable part of Frieseland, and he compelled Radbod to pay him tribute ; while the southern part of that territory remained subject totheFranks. 16 Radboddrovethereligiousfromtheirmonasteries,helevelled their churches and houses; while, he erected pagan temples and shrines to re- placethem. '7 ThisfierceDynastwascompelled,however,toconfinehisabso- luteruletothenorthernterritoryofFrisia. Still,hedidnotwhollypreventSt. Willibrord from preaching to his subjects ; and, what is even more strange, he sometimes heard himself that Christian missionary's discourses.
Pepin of Heristel had departed this life in December, a. d.
