47 At the infant's
approach
towards that place, where he was to have been baptized, a fountain of water issued from the earth.
O'Hanlon - Lives of the Irish Saints - v5
Comgall, Abbot of Bangor.
It shall be our endeavour, to present a faithful record of our saint's Ufe, from those various published sources, by referring for confirmation of several state- ments given, to authorities bearing on the subject. It is stated, in St. Patrick's Life, by Jocelyn,^' that this holy Apostle had predicted St. Comgall's birth, and the foundation of his Abbey at Bangor, sixty years before accom- plishmentoftheformerevent. " Onthedaybeforeoursaint'sbirth,holy Macniseus,^3 Bishop of Connor, is said to have had a vision regarding him. For, on hearing the noise of horses and of a chariot passing, he said to his assistants, " This chariot carries a king. " They immediately went out to satisfy their curiosity, after such announcement; but, they soon returned with word to their Bishop, that the chariot contained only a man, named Sedna, and hiswifeBriga. Bothofthesehumblepersonswerewellknowntothem. The Bishop rephed, " My children, do not think I have spoken falsely to you, in this case. For that woman bears a king, who shall be born on to-morrow, at
^ In the paper Manuscript Vitse Sancto- rum ex Codice Inisensi. Vita S. Comgalli, pp. 46 to 50.
^ See " Collectanea Sacra," &c. The Vita S. Comgalli is in seventy paragraphs, pp. 303 to 316, but mispaged.
9 See "Scriptorum Illustrium Majoris Britannise," &c. , cent, i. , cap. 53, p. 452, cap. 6.
'° See " Relationum Kistoricarum de Rebus Anglicis. "
" See Bishop Challenor's "Britannia Sancta," part i. , p. 283, note.
"SeetheBollandists' " Acta Sanctorum," tomus ii. , Maiix. , pp. 579 to 58S.
'3 This is characterized, by Rev. Dr. Lani- gan, as "a trifling one. " See " Ecclesias- tical History of Ireland," vol. ii. , chap, x. , sect. xii. , n. 190, p. 64.
'* One of the latter was left for the editor's use, by Father Henry Fitzsimons of the Society of Jesus ; another was sent to them, from the College of Salamanca ; while the third had been communicated to them, by Father Hugh Ward, the Franciscan. See the BoUandists' Commentarius Proevius, at
May loth, sect. 3.
'5 His Life occurs, at the 21st of Novem-
ber.
'^ In his " Britannicarum Ecclesiarum
Antiquitates," cap. xiii. , p. 237.
'7 See " Catalogus aliquorum Sanctorum
Hibernise quas in MS. habentur. "
'^ See "Britannia Sancta," part i. , pp.
283 to 285.
"' See " Lives of the Fathers, Martyrs
and other principal Saints," vol. v. , May x.
=° See " Lives of the Saints," vol. v. , May x. , pp. 141 to 145.
"' Hestales: "Annorumsexagintacirculo complete, nascetur quidam filius vitae, Com- gallus nomine, quod interpretatur Pulchrum- pignus ; erit enim dilectus Deo et homini- bus, atque ob morum meritorumque pulchri- tudinem prospere jirocedet et regmabit cum Christo, inter ipsius pignora couiputandus. Ipse vero in loco luce prteostenso ecclesiam Sanctorum asdificabit, in qua innumera agmina filiorum lucis et vitas Christi servitio mancipanda coadunabit. "
" See Colgan's "Trias Thaumaturga,
"
154
He was a descendant from Aradius, Following the family pedigree, he was According to some accounts, St. Comgall was born, a. d. 506,3° 510,3' or 511 ; others have a. d. 513 ;3=^ while some writers place his birth, at a. d. 516,33 or 517. 34 This latter date 33 is probably the most correct, in the opinion of the Rev. Dr. Lanigan,36 ^nd it agrees better than the other computation, with some transactions of Comgall's
Life. 37 His birth occurred, in a northern part of the province of Ulster 3^
in a region known as Dailnaraidhe, or Dalaradia. 39 The place itself is denominated Mourne,4° and it now gives name to an estate, in the parish of Glynn. Thetrueplaceofoursaint'sbirth,wasintheterritoryofMaghera-
attached to the Prince of Dailnariade. the founder of that renowned family. ninth in descent from Fiacha Araidhe.
Sexta Vita S. Patricii, cap. Ixxxvd.
*3 His Acts occur, at the 3rd of Septem-
ber.
'* In the Vita Comgalli, ex MS. antiquo
et editione Sirini, cap. i. , num. 4, p. 582, is added, " Ipsa jam mulier Brigh crastino die oriente sole filium reverendissimum, cujus nomen dicetur Comgallus, pariet in oppido de Mourne," <S:c.
"5 After quoting a Latin passage, referring to the prediction of St. Macnissius, before the birth of St. Comgall, and taken from the Marsh MS. , called Liber Kilkenniensis, the Rev. Dr. Reeves adds : " Fleming, who has printed this Life from a MS. of Armagh, readsMurueinsteadofMeurne. " See,too, " Collectanea Sacra," num. 5, p. 304.
^* See "Acta Sanctorum," tome ii. , x. Maii. Vita Comgalli ex tribus Codicibus MS. n. i. , p. 580, Vita S. Comgalli ex MS. antiquo et editione Sirini, cap. i. , n. 4, pp. 582, 583-
writer in the O'Clerys' Martyrology, regard- ing St. Comgall's birth, "ergonatus 10 Maii an. 510. "
3^ See Colgan's "Trias Thaumaturga," Sexta Vita S. Patricii, n. no, p. 113.
33 See Archdall's " Monasticon Hiberni- cum," p. 106.
3-» See Rev. Dr. Reeves' "Adamnan's
"Life of St. Columba," lib. i. , cap. 49, n.
(e), p. 93-
35 It is the one found in the Annals of
Tigernach. See Rev. Dr. O'Conor's "Rerum Hibernicarum Scriptores," tomus ii. , p. 129.
3* He remarks, that in the supposition, St. Comgall has been born before 516, he should have been more than thirty-two years old, when he entered as a monk at Clonenagh, and still, by some additional years, he must have been younger than his master, St. Fintan.
37 See " Ecclesiastical History of Ireland," vol. ii. , cliap. X. , sect. xii. , n. 192, pp. 64, 65.
3^ For the place of his birth, see Rev. William Reeves' "Ecclesiastical Antiqui- ties of Down, Connor and Dromore," p.
'7 Mac Nisse died in 514, whereas Com-
gall was not born till 517, yet it serves to
show, that the Mourne of Antrim, and not
that of Down, was the birth-place of St. Comgall; Connor being about thirteen
miles distant, westwards, from Maghera- 269.
morne.
"* See the Boliandists' "Acta Sancto-
rum," tomus i. , Septembris iii. De Sancto Macnissio. Vita auctore incerto, num. 8, p. 665.
^9 See the " Martyrology of Donegal,' edited by Rev. Drs. Todd and Reeves, pp. 122, 123.
3° The Annals of Inisfallen have, at A. n. 51 1, " Nativitas Comgaill Benchair. "—Rev. Dr. O'Conor's " Rerum Hibernicarum Scriptorcs," tomus ii. , p. 5.
3' \Vc read from a calculation, made by a
39 The Vita S. Comgalli states: " De aquilonali Hiberniie regione, nomine Dail- nary naraidhe, quce est contra mare in aquilonari Provincias plaga Ultorum, Sanctus Abbas Comgallus ortus fuit," &c. —"Collec- tanea Sacra," &c. , ThoniK Sirini, num. I,
•»"
P- 303. —but mcorrectly—sup-
It is generally
posed, that St. Comgall was born in a part of that country, bordering on the sea, and in a town of Mourne, near Carlingford Lough.
• This district lies to the south of Inver
—
LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. [May 10.
sunrise f^ he shall be adorned with all virtues, and the world shall be illuminated, with the lustre of his miracles. ^s Not only shall many thousand monks obey him as a king, but also a great multitude of princes and people. " During a whole night antecedent to that morning of our saint's birth, a great light was seen by many persons, in the country. This radiance appeared around the place of his nativity. ^^ Although there is an anachronism in it,^7 this story, with some slight variations, is told in the Life of St. Mac Nesse. '^ Although of humble parentage, yet, it seems that St. Comgall descended from
the race of Irial, son to Conall Cearnach. =9 His father Sethna was a soldier
May io. ] LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. 155
morne/' It was situated, near the Irish Sea/* and in the eastern part ofAntrim County. Extendingsouth-westwardstoLoughNeagh,thatdistrictwasthehead- quarters of the Irish Picts, or Crutheni. '^s At Rathmore, near Antrim, is said to have been the fort of their kings. At a time, when his father was advanced in years, this birth is stated to have occurred. Being an only son, Comgall was much loved by his parents, from the very moment of his birth. 44 It is said, this infant was brought to receive the baptismal sacrament, at the hands of a priest, who by some accident had been deprived of sight. Yet, he dis- tinctly recollected the ritual words, serving for administration of this first sacrament. The name of this priest 45 was Fedelmid 4^ or Fedlimin.
47 At the infant's approach towards that place, where he was to have been baptized, a fountain of water issued from the earth. In it, the child was regenerated, whilst Angels were in attendance. The holy priest rejoiced greatly, at these miraculous portents ; and, bathing his face and eyes, in the water of this foun- tain, with full trust in the Lord's mercies, he miraculously recovered the use of sight.
After this incident, the ceremony of baptism is said to have been per- formed. The child received as a name Comgall,4^ in accordance with St. Patrick's prediction. The boy's parents dedicated him to God's service,49 thus imitating the action of Anna, with regard to Samuel,5° and from the very moment of his birth, he seemed to grow in grace and wisdom. One day, while our saint reposed near a heap of stones, and in a field where he laboured, a deep slumber ensued. Then his mother, who came to the place, saw a pillar of fire, resting on the boy, and extending towards Heaven. She was alarmed at this portent, and knew not what she should do ; she feared to approach, and yet she felt very unwilling to leave her son. While waiting to learn the result, her child awoke, his face emitting an extraordinary brilliancy. Then, Comgall said to his anxious guardian, " Fear not, mother, for I am in nomannerinjured,bythiscelestialfire. Yet,takecare,youdonotrelatethis visiontoanyperson,'duringthesedays. ''^^ Thiscommandhismotherobserved, for a time ; but, she related what she had seen, at a subsequent period. s^ Ano- ther time, Comgall is related, to have said to his father, while they were walk-
4? " Fedelmidum " is in Father Fitz- simon's Manuscript, and in the other Life " Fedlini. " Tliere is a " Fedlimius in the IrishCalendar,atthe9thofAugust. But, he appears to have been a bishop,
parish, with which it is in juxtaposition.
The denomination Magheramorne signifies
"the plain of Mourne. " Originally it had
been written nni5-6Ai\n, which is pronounced
Mourne. This is a lake, which is ninety
acres in extent, and it is situated, in the
north-east of Carrickfergus parish. See pignus," in the Life, taken from the three
" Ordnance Survey Townland Maps for the County of Antrim," sheet 46.
4=Accordingto the Manuscript, desip;nated Codex Kilkenniensis, in Marsh's Library,
Dublin, at fol. 90, b, a.
43 The Rev. Dr. Reeves remarks, that " in
Codices.
49 " Parentes vero ejus ambo in mandatis
Domini ambulantes sine querela, et in tertio gradu Catholicse EcclesiK, quod est legiti- num matrimonium conjugum, continenter stantes," &c. —"Acta Sanctorum," tomus
allusion to his parentage, Adamnan intro- ii. , x. Maii. Vita S. Comgalli ex tribus
duces St. Columkille addressing St. Com-
gall, in these words " tui secundum carnem :—
cognati Cruthinii populi. " "Ecclesiastical Antiquities of Down, Connor and Dromore," Appendixn. (u),pp. 269,270.
44 See "Acta Sanctorum," tomus ii. , x. Maii. Vita S. Comgalli, ex MS. et antiquo et editione Sirini, cap. i. , num. i, p. 5S2.
45 The identity of this priest has not been ascertained.
»* The Manuscript of Salamanca reads "Fedelmidium. "
Codicibus MSS. , num. 2, p. 580, and ex MS. antiquo et editione Sirini, n. 5, p. 583.
5o
48 xhis is interpreted to mean " carum
gggi_ Kings
S' This direction was probably intended for
extensiontothetermofhisnaturallife. See "Acta Sanctorum," tomus ii. , x. Maii. Vita S. Comgalli, ex trilsus Codicibus MSS. num. 3. p. 580.
== See ibid. Vita S. Comgalli, ex MS.
antiquo et editione Sirini, cap. i. , num. 6,
p. 583.
ss See ibid. Vita S. Comgalli, ex tribus
i.
156
LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. [May io.
ing, through a field, "Father, we should leave this- land with its cares. " His father, not agreeing in such opinion, the boy said, " Do you, dear father, cultivate this little farm, but I will go and seek from the Lord 53 another portion of land, larger and more productive. " It is said, that St. Comgall was required as a substitute for his father, who was already old, in a war, which the Dailnaraidian prince was about to wage against his enemies. 54 Although, unwilling to engage in warfare, our saint took up arms, to satisfy thedesireofhisparents; but,willingtosavehisservant'shandsandeyesfrom participating in scenes of bloodshed, so distasteful to the young conscript, the Almighty effected peace between both parties, thus preserving the soul and body of his chosen one from every danger. 55 At another time, our saint being in the camp of tlie Dailnaraidan prince, a fall of snow took place, during night ; but, it was remarked by all, that tlie snow did not descend over Com- gall, and those who were with him. It remained rather heaped up on every side around them, after the manner of a small fortification. Hereupon, the chief said, " From this day forward, Comgall with his people shall be free fromme,andfromsecularpower,hebeingasaintofGod. " Then,bestow- ing his benediction on the chieftain, Comgall returned to his own home. 5^ As
a consequence of the blessing, that chief became great and powerful.
When St. Comgall resolved on abandoning the secular habit, and on assuming that of an ecclesiastic, he received the rudiments of learning from a cleric, who lived in a country house. However, the life of this tutor did not tend to edification. The pupil undertook to correct the irregularities of his master, in the following symbolical manner. While the professor spent one of his nights in the commission of sin, Comgall betook himself to prayer, and practised other pious exercises • he then met his teacher, on the follow- ing day, with a garment purposely soiled. On being reproved for this want of cleanliness, he returned the following reply: "Is it more dangerous, master, to have our garment soiled, than our soul ? That defilement of soul and body, in which you spent last night, is worse than the condition of this habit. " Although it silenced, this reproof, however, did not correct the vices of his master ; and, hence, our saint resolved on leaving him, and those scenes of his early youth. Comgall wished to place himself under the direction of a most holy instructor. ^? Having directed his course toward Leix territory, in a northern part of the southern Leinster province, he there found an asylum,
in the celebrated monastery of Clonenagh.
It has been calculated,5S that our saint was at least thirty-two years of
age, when he became a disciple of St. Fintan,59 as this latter had been a dis- ciple of St. Columba,^°son of Crimtliann, afterwards abbot of Tirdaglas, and that he had not founded the monastery of Clonenagh, until about the year 548. ^' Again, according to the earliest computation, Columkille was not born, until the year 519, and this enters as an element of chronology, bearing on this enquiry. Most probably, Comgall would have looked out for a superior, not so much younger than himself ;^^ since, in assuming any other
Codicibus MSS. , num. 3, p. 580. In this Life, instead of walking through the field, it is said, " patre suo in proprio agro labor- ante, dixisse fcrtur," &c.
54 See "Acta S. inctorum,"tom ii. , x. Mail. Vita S Comgalli, ex MS. antiquo el editione Sirini, cap. i. , num. I. , p. 582.
55 . Seeil'id.
5* Sec ibid. , num. 7, p. 583.
57 See "Acta Sanctonnn," tomus ii. , x.
Maii. Vita S. Comgalli, ex MS. antiquo et
editione Sirini, cap. i. , num. 2, p. 582.
ss By the Rev. Dr. Lanigan.
^9 See his Life, in vol. ii. of this work, at
the 17th of February.
°° See his Life, at the 13th of December.
This Columba had been a scholar to St. Finnian of Clonard.
*'AdmillingthatSt. Comgallwasreceived there, in that very year, it seems to follow, that he was at least thirty-two years old, when he assumed the monastic habit.
*^ See Rev. Dr. Lanigan's " Ecclesiastical History of Ireland," vol. ii. , cap. x. , sect. xii. , n. 192, pp. 64, 65.
*3 See "Acta Sanctorum," tomus ii. , x. Mali. Vita S. Comgalli, ex MS. antiquo et editione Sirini, cap. i. , num. 8, p. 582.
our saint left Clonenagh. Dr. Lanigan also observes : " I do not know how this can be reconciled with the directions given him by St. Fintan to proceed forthwith to his own country, or with its being related that he actuallysetoutforthatpurpose. Isuspect that Clonmacnoise has been mistaken for
^"t Ibid. , num. p. 583.
9, —
^5 The Rev. Dr. Lanigan deems it very probable, that Comgall had not in the year 552 completed one-half of his monastic studies at Clonenagh. See "Ecclesiastical History of Ireland," vol. ii. , chap, x,, sect. xii. , n. 199, p. 66.
"^ According to the Life, in Father Flem- ing's "Collectanea Sacra," &c. , num. 11, p. recteTp<).
^^ See his Life, at the 9th of September.
*^ However, this statement has been con- tested by Rev. Dr. Lanigan, who observes, that as St. Kieran died a. d. 549, and as St. Comgall could not have been received at Clonenagh, at the earliest, before a. d. 548, while he spent many years there, the founder of Clonmacnoise must have been dead before
Connor.
It shall be our endeavour, to present a faithful record of our saint's Ufe, from those various published sources, by referring for confirmation of several state- ments given, to authorities bearing on the subject. It is stated, in St. Patrick's Life, by Jocelyn,^' that this holy Apostle had predicted St. Comgall's birth, and the foundation of his Abbey at Bangor, sixty years before accom- plishmentoftheformerevent. " Onthedaybeforeoursaint'sbirth,holy Macniseus,^3 Bishop of Connor, is said to have had a vision regarding him. For, on hearing the noise of horses and of a chariot passing, he said to his assistants, " This chariot carries a king. " They immediately went out to satisfy their curiosity, after such announcement; but, they soon returned with word to their Bishop, that the chariot contained only a man, named Sedna, and hiswifeBriga. Bothofthesehumblepersonswerewellknowntothem. The Bishop rephed, " My children, do not think I have spoken falsely to you, in this case. For that woman bears a king, who shall be born on to-morrow, at
^ In the paper Manuscript Vitse Sancto- rum ex Codice Inisensi. Vita S. Comgalli, pp. 46 to 50.
^ See " Collectanea Sacra," &c. The Vita S. Comgalli is in seventy paragraphs, pp. 303 to 316, but mispaged.
9 See "Scriptorum Illustrium Majoris Britannise," &c. , cent, i. , cap. 53, p. 452, cap. 6.
'° See " Relationum Kistoricarum de Rebus Anglicis. "
" See Bishop Challenor's "Britannia Sancta," part i. , p. 283, note.
"SeetheBollandists' " Acta Sanctorum," tomus ii. , Maiix. , pp. 579 to 58S.
'3 This is characterized, by Rev. Dr. Lani- gan, as "a trifling one. " See " Ecclesias- tical History of Ireland," vol. ii. , chap, x. , sect. xii. , n. 190, p. 64.
'* One of the latter was left for the editor's use, by Father Henry Fitzsimons of the Society of Jesus ; another was sent to them, from the College of Salamanca ; while the third had been communicated to them, by Father Hugh Ward, the Franciscan. See the BoUandists' Commentarius Proevius, at
May loth, sect. 3.
'5 His Life occurs, at the 21st of Novem-
ber.
'^ In his " Britannicarum Ecclesiarum
Antiquitates," cap. xiii. , p. 237.
'7 See " Catalogus aliquorum Sanctorum
Hibernise quas in MS. habentur. "
'^ See "Britannia Sancta," part i. , pp.
283 to 285.
"' See " Lives of the Fathers, Martyrs
and other principal Saints," vol. v. , May x.
=° See " Lives of the Saints," vol. v. , May x. , pp. 141 to 145.
"' Hestales: "Annorumsexagintacirculo complete, nascetur quidam filius vitae, Com- gallus nomine, quod interpretatur Pulchrum- pignus ; erit enim dilectus Deo et homini- bus, atque ob morum meritorumque pulchri- tudinem prospere jirocedet et regmabit cum Christo, inter ipsius pignora couiputandus. Ipse vero in loco luce prteostenso ecclesiam Sanctorum asdificabit, in qua innumera agmina filiorum lucis et vitas Christi servitio mancipanda coadunabit. "
" See Colgan's "Trias Thaumaturga,
"
154
He was a descendant from Aradius, Following the family pedigree, he was According to some accounts, St. Comgall was born, a. d. 506,3° 510,3' or 511 ; others have a. d. 513 ;3=^ while some writers place his birth, at a. d. 516,33 or 517. 34 This latter date 33 is probably the most correct, in the opinion of the Rev. Dr. Lanigan,36 ^nd it agrees better than the other computation, with some transactions of Comgall's
Life. 37 His birth occurred, in a northern part of the province of Ulster 3^
in a region known as Dailnaraidhe, or Dalaradia. 39 The place itself is denominated Mourne,4° and it now gives name to an estate, in the parish of Glynn. Thetrueplaceofoursaint'sbirth,wasintheterritoryofMaghera-
attached to the Prince of Dailnariade. the founder of that renowned family. ninth in descent from Fiacha Araidhe.
Sexta Vita S. Patricii, cap. Ixxxvd.
*3 His Acts occur, at the 3rd of Septem-
ber.
'* In the Vita Comgalli, ex MS. antiquo
et editione Sirini, cap. i. , num. 4, p. 582, is added, " Ipsa jam mulier Brigh crastino die oriente sole filium reverendissimum, cujus nomen dicetur Comgallus, pariet in oppido de Mourne," <S:c.
"5 After quoting a Latin passage, referring to the prediction of St. Macnissius, before the birth of St. Comgall, and taken from the Marsh MS. , called Liber Kilkenniensis, the Rev. Dr. Reeves adds : " Fleming, who has printed this Life from a MS. of Armagh, readsMurueinsteadofMeurne. " See,too, " Collectanea Sacra," num. 5, p. 304.
^* See "Acta Sanctorum," tome ii. , x. Maii. Vita Comgalli ex tribus Codicibus MS. n. i. , p. 580, Vita S. Comgalli ex MS. antiquo et editione Sirini, cap. i. , n. 4, pp. 582, 583-
writer in the O'Clerys' Martyrology, regard- ing St. Comgall's birth, "ergonatus 10 Maii an. 510. "
3^ See Colgan's "Trias Thaumaturga," Sexta Vita S. Patricii, n. no, p. 113.
33 See Archdall's " Monasticon Hiberni- cum," p. 106.
3-» See Rev. Dr. Reeves' "Adamnan's
"Life of St. Columba," lib. i. , cap. 49, n.
(e), p. 93-
35 It is the one found in the Annals of
Tigernach. See Rev. Dr. O'Conor's "Rerum Hibernicarum Scriptores," tomus ii. , p. 129.
3* He remarks, that in the supposition, St. Comgall has been born before 516, he should have been more than thirty-two years old, when he entered as a monk at Clonenagh, and still, by some additional years, he must have been younger than his master, St. Fintan.
37 See " Ecclesiastical History of Ireland," vol. ii. , cliap. X. , sect. xii. , n. 192, pp. 64, 65.
3^ For the place of his birth, see Rev. William Reeves' "Ecclesiastical Antiqui- ties of Down, Connor and Dromore," p.
'7 Mac Nisse died in 514, whereas Com-
gall was not born till 517, yet it serves to
show, that the Mourne of Antrim, and not
that of Down, was the birth-place of St. Comgall; Connor being about thirteen
miles distant, westwards, from Maghera- 269.
morne.
"* See the Boliandists' "Acta Sancto-
rum," tomus i. , Septembris iii. De Sancto Macnissio. Vita auctore incerto, num. 8, p. 665.
^9 See the " Martyrology of Donegal,' edited by Rev. Drs. Todd and Reeves, pp. 122, 123.
3° The Annals of Inisfallen have, at A. n. 51 1, " Nativitas Comgaill Benchair. "—Rev. Dr. O'Conor's " Rerum Hibernicarum Scriptorcs," tomus ii. , p. 5.
3' \Vc read from a calculation, made by a
39 The Vita S. Comgalli states: " De aquilonali Hiberniie regione, nomine Dail- nary naraidhe, quce est contra mare in aquilonari Provincias plaga Ultorum, Sanctus Abbas Comgallus ortus fuit," &c. —"Collec- tanea Sacra," &c. , ThoniK Sirini, num. I,
•»"
P- 303. —but mcorrectly—sup-
It is generally
posed, that St. Comgall was born in a part of that country, bordering on the sea, and in a town of Mourne, near Carlingford Lough.
• This district lies to the south of Inver
—
LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. [May 10.
sunrise f^ he shall be adorned with all virtues, and the world shall be illuminated, with the lustre of his miracles. ^s Not only shall many thousand monks obey him as a king, but also a great multitude of princes and people. " During a whole night antecedent to that morning of our saint's birth, a great light was seen by many persons, in the country. This radiance appeared around the place of his nativity. ^^ Although there is an anachronism in it,^7 this story, with some slight variations, is told in the Life of St. Mac Nesse. '^ Although of humble parentage, yet, it seems that St. Comgall descended from
the race of Irial, son to Conall Cearnach. =9 His father Sethna was a soldier
May io. ] LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. 155
morne/' It was situated, near the Irish Sea/* and in the eastern part ofAntrim County. Extendingsouth-westwardstoLoughNeagh,thatdistrictwasthehead- quarters of the Irish Picts, or Crutheni. '^s At Rathmore, near Antrim, is said to have been the fort of their kings. At a time, when his father was advanced in years, this birth is stated to have occurred. Being an only son, Comgall was much loved by his parents, from the very moment of his birth. 44 It is said, this infant was brought to receive the baptismal sacrament, at the hands of a priest, who by some accident had been deprived of sight. Yet, he dis- tinctly recollected the ritual words, serving for administration of this first sacrament. The name of this priest 45 was Fedelmid 4^ or Fedlimin.
47 At the infant's approach towards that place, where he was to have been baptized, a fountain of water issued from the earth. In it, the child was regenerated, whilst Angels were in attendance. The holy priest rejoiced greatly, at these miraculous portents ; and, bathing his face and eyes, in the water of this foun- tain, with full trust in the Lord's mercies, he miraculously recovered the use of sight.
After this incident, the ceremony of baptism is said to have been per- formed. The child received as a name Comgall,4^ in accordance with St. Patrick's prediction. The boy's parents dedicated him to God's service,49 thus imitating the action of Anna, with regard to Samuel,5° and from the very moment of his birth, he seemed to grow in grace and wisdom. One day, while our saint reposed near a heap of stones, and in a field where he laboured, a deep slumber ensued. Then his mother, who came to the place, saw a pillar of fire, resting on the boy, and extending towards Heaven. She was alarmed at this portent, and knew not what she should do ; she feared to approach, and yet she felt very unwilling to leave her son. While waiting to learn the result, her child awoke, his face emitting an extraordinary brilliancy. Then, Comgall said to his anxious guardian, " Fear not, mother, for I am in nomannerinjured,bythiscelestialfire. Yet,takecare,youdonotrelatethis visiontoanyperson,'duringthesedays. ''^^ Thiscommandhismotherobserved, for a time ; but, she related what she had seen, at a subsequent period. s^ Ano- ther time, Comgall is related, to have said to his father, while they were walk-
4? " Fedelmidum " is in Father Fitz- simon's Manuscript, and in the other Life " Fedlini. " Tliere is a " Fedlimius in the IrishCalendar,atthe9thofAugust. But, he appears to have been a bishop,
parish, with which it is in juxtaposition.
The denomination Magheramorne signifies
"the plain of Mourne. " Originally it had
been written nni5-6Ai\n, which is pronounced
Mourne. This is a lake, which is ninety
acres in extent, and it is situated, in the
north-east of Carrickfergus parish. See pignus," in the Life, taken from the three
" Ordnance Survey Townland Maps for the County of Antrim," sheet 46.
4=Accordingto the Manuscript, desip;nated Codex Kilkenniensis, in Marsh's Library,
Dublin, at fol. 90, b, a.
43 The Rev. Dr. Reeves remarks, that " in
Codices.
49 " Parentes vero ejus ambo in mandatis
Domini ambulantes sine querela, et in tertio gradu Catholicse EcclesiK, quod est legiti- num matrimonium conjugum, continenter stantes," &c. —"Acta Sanctorum," tomus
allusion to his parentage, Adamnan intro- ii. , x. Maii. Vita S. Comgalli ex tribus
duces St. Columkille addressing St. Com-
gall, in these words " tui secundum carnem :—
cognati Cruthinii populi. " "Ecclesiastical Antiquities of Down, Connor and Dromore," Appendixn. (u),pp. 269,270.
44 See "Acta Sanctorum," tomus ii. , x. Maii. Vita S. Comgalli, ex MS. et antiquo et editione Sirini, cap. i. , num. i, p. 5S2.
45 The identity of this priest has not been ascertained.
»* The Manuscript of Salamanca reads "Fedelmidium. "
Codicibus MSS. , num. 2, p. 580, and ex MS. antiquo et editione Sirini, n. 5, p. 583.
5o
48 xhis is interpreted to mean " carum
gggi_ Kings
S' This direction was probably intended for
extensiontothetermofhisnaturallife. See "Acta Sanctorum," tomus ii. , x. Maii. Vita S. Comgalli, ex trilsus Codicibus MSS. num. 3. p. 580.
== See ibid. Vita S. Comgalli, ex MS.
antiquo et editione Sirini, cap. i. , num. 6,
p. 583.
ss See ibid. Vita S. Comgalli, ex tribus
i.
156
LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. [May io.
ing, through a field, "Father, we should leave this- land with its cares. " His father, not agreeing in such opinion, the boy said, " Do you, dear father, cultivate this little farm, but I will go and seek from the Lord 53 another portion of land, larger and more productive. " It is said, that St. Comgall was required as a substitute for his father, who was already old, in a war, which the Dailnaraidian prince was about to wage against his enemies. 54 Although, unwilling to engage in warfare, our saint took up arms, to satisfy thedesireofhisparents; but,willingtosavehisservant'shandsandeyesfrom participating in scenes of bloodshed, so distasteful to the young conscript, the Almighty effected peace between both parties, thus preserving the soul and body of his chosen one from every danger. 55 At another time, our saint being in the camp of tlie Dailnaraidan prince, a fall of snow took place, during night ; but, it was remarked by all, that tlie snow did not descend over Com- gall, and those who were with him. It remained rather heaped up on every side around them, after the manner of a small fortification. Hereupon, the chief said, " From this day forward, Comgall with his people shall be free fromme,andfromsecularpower,hebeingasaintofGod. " Then,bestow- ing his benediction on the chieftain, Comgall returned to his own home. 5^ As
a consequence of the blessing, that chief became great and powerful.
When St. Comgall resolved on abandoning the secular habit, and on assuming that of an ecclesiastic, he received the rudiments of learning from a cleric, who lived in a country house. However, the life of this tutor did not tend to edification. The pupil undertook to correct the irregularities of his master, in the following symbolical manner. While the professor spent one of his nights in the commission of sin, Comgall betook himself to prayer, and practised other pious exercises • he then met his teacher, on the follow- ing day, with a garment purposely soiled. On being reproved for this want of cleanliness, he returned the following reply: "Is it more dangerous, master, to have our garment soiled, than our soul ? That defilement of soul and body, in which you spent last night, is worse than the condition of this habit. " Although it silenced, this reproof, however, did not correct the vices of his master ; and, hence, our saint resolved on leaving him, and those scenes of his early youth. Comgall wished to place himself under the direction of a most holy instructor. ^? Having directed his course toward Leix territory, in a northern part of the southern Leinster province, he there found an asylum,
in the celebrated monastery of Clonenagh.
It has been calculated,5S that our saint was at least thirty-two years of
age, when he became a disciple of St. Fintan,59 as this latter had been a dis- ciple of St. Columba,^°son of Crimtliann, afterwards abbot of Tirdaglas, and that he had not founded the monastery of Clonenagh, until about the year 548. ^' Again, according to the earliest computation, Columkille was not born, until the year 519, and this enters as an element of chronology, bearing on this enquiry. Most probably, Comgall would have looked out for a superior, not so much younger than himself ;^^ since, in assuming any other
Codicibus MSS. , num. 3, p. 580. In this Life, instead of walking through the field, it is said, " patre suo in proprio agro labor- ante, dixisse fcrtur," &c.
54 See "Acta S. inctorum,"tom ii. , x. Mail. Vita S Comgalli, ex MS. antiquo el editione Sirini, cap. i. , num. I. , p. 582.
55 . Seeil'id.
5* Sec ibid. , num. 7, p. 583.
57 See "Acta Sanctonnn," tomus ii. , x.
Maii. Vita S. Comgalli, ex MS. antiquo et
editione Sirini, cap. i. , num. 2, p. 582.
ss By the Rev. Dr. Lanigan.
^9 See his Life, in vol. ii. of this work, at
the 17th of February.
°° See his Life, at the 13th of December.
This Columba had been a scholar to St. Finnian of Clonard.
*'AdmillingthatSt. Comgallwasreceived there, in that very year, it seems to follow, that he was at least thirty-two years old, when he assumed the monastic habit.
*^ See Rev. Dr. Lanigan's " Ecclesiastical History of Ireland," vol. ii. , cap. x. , sect. xii. , n. 192, pp. 64, 65.
*3 See "Acta Sanctorum," tomus ii. , x. Mali. Vita S. Comgalli, ex MS. antiquo et editione Sirini, cap. i. , num. 8, p. 582.
our saint left Clonenagh. Dr. Lanigan also observes : " I do not know how this can be reconciled with the directions given him by St. Fintan to proceed forthwith to his own country, or with its being related that he actuallysetoutforthatpurpose. Isuspect that Clonmacnoise has been mistaken for
^"t Ibid. , num. p. 583.
9, —
^5 The Rev. Dr. Lanigan deems it very probable, that Comgall had not in the year 552 completed one-half of his monastic studies at Clonenagh. See "Ecclesiastical History of Ireland," vol. ii. , chap, x,, sect. xii. , n. 199, p. 66.
"^ According to the Life, in Father Flem- ing's "Collectanea Sacra," &c. , num. 11, p. recteTp<).
^^ See his Life, at the 9th of September.
*^ However, this statement has been con- tested by Rev. Dr. Lanigan, who observes, that as St. Kieran died a. d. 549, and as St. Comgall could not have been received at Clonenagh, at the earliest, before a. d. 548, while he spent many years there, the founder of Clonmacnoise must have been dead before
Connor.
