Reference
is made to him in the Martyrolo-
gies of ^ngus, of Tallagh, of Marianus O'Gorman, of Maguire, and of Donegal.
gies of ^ngus, of Tallagh, of Marianus O'Gorman, of Maguire, and of Donegal.
O'Hanlon - Lives of the Irish Saints - v2
TheoldabbeyofSt.
Symphorian^s had been rebuilt, by Adalbero 11.
,'^ Bishop of Metz, who had a great esteem for Fingen.
^7 Over it, this holy man was placed, in the year 991 ; and, with the assistance of the Empress Dowager Adelhaide,'^ a protectress of Fingen,
3 Edited by Drs. Todd and Reeves, pp.
38, 39.
* See the Bollandists' " Acta Sanctorum,''
tomus i. , Februarii v. , p. 593.
the history of this holy abbot. See idid.
^3 In the Life of Thierri I. , Bishop of
Metz, by Sigebert, there is not a single word about St. Fingene.
^^ See " Histoire " tome Ecclesiastique,
xii. , liv. Iviii. , sec. Ix. , p. 435.
^^ in the Charter of Otho III. , published
by Colgan, it is said regarding our saint, that he was " Abbas primus nomine Fingenius Hi- berniensis natione," &c. This shows, the monastery of St. Symphronian was different from the monastery of St. Felix. Cathroe was the first abbot of the latter, and Fingen of the former, after its restoration. See "Acta Sanctorum Hibemise," v. Februarii. De S. Fingeno Abbate, p. 258, and n. 19.
""^ He died December 15th, a. d. 1005,
and he was buried in St. Symphronien.
See an account of this bishop in Fleury's
*'
Histoire Ecclesiastique," tome xii,, liv. Ivii. , sec. xxxviii. , pp. 291, 292.
^7 See the Bollandists' "Acta Sancto-
rum," tomus i. , Februarii v. Praetermissi
et in alios dies rejecti, p. 593.
'^
s Thus is he called man.
^
by
Marianus O'Gor-
Cathal Maguire also notes him in the Calendar.
7 See " Histoire Literaire de la France," tomus vi. Dixieme Siecle, p. 437.
^
See his Life at the 6th of March.
"
9 See
tomus iv. , lib. 1. , sec. Ixi. , p. 74, lib. lii. ,
Annales Ordinis S. Benedicti,"
sec. xii. , p. 154, sec. xly. , p. 169, and sec. Ixviii. , p. 180.
'° See Mabillon's " Annales Ordinis S. Benedicti," tomus iv. , lib. 1. , sec. Ixi. , p. 74.
" The authors of the "Histoire Literaire de la France" expressly call this St. Fingen an Irishman. See tomus vi, Dixieme Siecle, p. 437,
" His more ancient Life is lost, it is thought, and this is the more to be regretted, since it seems to be the chief authority for
She was daughter to Edward, King of
356 LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. [February 5.
and of the Irish Benedictines, and grandmother to Otho III. , ^9 as yet only king,^° Adalbero obtained from the sovereign a confirmation of the rights and possessions of this establishment. Conditions were imposed, that the Irishman Fingen, its first abbot, and his successors, should not have any other than Irish monks, so long as these could be found, but, in case they could not, the admittance of monks belonging to any other nation was allowed ; and, that prayers should be constantly offered there for the king's soul, for those of his parents, for the existing bishop and for his successors. This deed^' was signed by the king, at Frankfort, on the 25th of January, A. D. 992, in the ninth year of his reign, and in the 5th Indiction. ^^^ There is a short epistle of Fingen, still extant, in the library of St. Remigius of Rheims, to Fastradis a nun, concerning a monk, named Guilier. This was found by Mabillon, who seems to have pubHshed the letter in its entirety. =^3 Fingen was sent to re-establish the monastery of St. Peter and St. Vitonus, now St. Vannes, at Verdunj^-^ not long after he had been set over St. Symphorian. AtVerdun,hefixedsomeIrishmonks. Sevenofthesewerethere,under his direction, when the celebrated Richard, dean of the diocese of Rheims, and Frederic, who had been Count of Verdun, applied to him in looi, for permission to become members of this house. It is stated, that they first went to consult St. Odilo, at Clugni, for direction, and he advised them to becomemonksundertheholyAbbotFingen. ^s Theanonymousauthorof a Life of Richard pretends, that on his and Frederic's first going to Fingen's monastery of St. Vannes, they did not find there a very regular observance of religious rule. However, this story, about the defect of regular obser- vance, is rejected altogether by Mabillon,^^ who shows, that Fingen was a very holy man, and that he could not be deficient in enforcing regularity, in the monastery over which he presided. ^7 It seems probable, Richard's and Frederick's reason for having consulted Odilo was, that on their first going to Verdun, they found another monastery there, lately founded by Bishop Wigfrid, which seemed to them more convenient, although the monastic observancewasnotasregular,asinFingen's,atSt. Vannes. Thislatterwas small and deficient in buildings. As they were persons of high rank in the world, Fingen at first was loth to receive them. He was afraid, that they could not put up with the poverty and strict discipline of the monastery.
At he with their "^^ The
of
length, however, complied
England, sister to Athelstan, and Edmund, King of England, wife to Otho I. , and mother of Otho II.
^9 He reigned from A. d. 983 to 1002. See Sir Harris Nicolas' "Chronology of History," p. 392.
/° Although, the Charter so designates
him, Otho II. , who ruled from A. D. 973,
and, who died, A. D. 983, named him sue-
cessor in the empire; yet, various writers
style him sometimes King of the Romans,
and sometimes King of Germany. See
request.
saying
Fleury,
"
Historical Class-Book," by the Christian
Bishop and Chancellor, for Willigius, or Wildegisus, who was elected Archbishop of Mayence a. d. 983, and who died A. D. looi, as Claudius Robert states, when writing about the archbishops of that see. Sttibid. and n. 20.
=3 See "Annales Ordinis S. Benedicti," tomus iv. , lib. lii. , sec. xlv. , p. 169.
=^* Hughes de Flavigni, who finished his Chronicle at A. D. Iioi, speaking of St. Fingen, refers to the lost Life of Thierri I. , Bishop of Metz, for fuller details regarding his history.
=s See Fleury's "Histoire Ecclesiastique," tome xii,, liv, Iviii. , sec. Ix. , p. 435.
**
See "Annales Ordinis S. Benedicti," tomus iv. , lib. Hi. , sec. xii. , pp. 153, 154.
=7 We may feel assured, that Odilo would not have counselled them, to place them- selves under Fingen, were his disciples not
religiously strict in the matter of discipline.
Brothers, pp. 272, 273. Third edition, en-
larged, Dublin, 1863, 8vo.
='
Having got a copy of this diploma from the archives of the Church of Metz, through the kindness of Meuris, bishop of that see,
Colgan has annexed it to the Acts of Fingen. "
See Acta Sanctorum Hibemiae," v. Feb- ruarii. De B. Fingeno, Abbate, p. 258.
=" The witness is subscribing
Hildebald,
'^ See
Fleury's
**Histoire
Ecclesiastique,"
February 5. ] LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. 357
that Odilon sent Richard and Frederick back to St. Vannes, under the per- suasion,thattheywouldreformtheestabHshment,'^is quiteamistake; for,
they could not be expected to do so, while they remained only simple monks,3° The Irish abbot instructed and trained his disciples so well, that they became two of the greatest and most useful men of their times. Richard especially was very much distinguished. St. Fingen, three years after he had received Richard,3^ died in the year 1004,32 and was succeeded by his holy disciple. It is singular, that in the Irish annals, the death of a Finghin, or Finguine,33 called Abbot of Roscrea, is marked, at a. d. 1005. 34 This date comes so near that of the death of our St. Fingen, that it might fairly be suspected they were one and the same person. 35 The day of St. Fingen's death was pro- bably the 8th of October, at which he is praised in the Necrologium of St. ClementofMetz,asabbot,havingbeenburiedinitschurch. Tofinishthis account of Irish ecclesiastics, who were distinguished in foreign countries, during the tenth century, which is supposed to have been a dark age, we shall add a curious circumstance related, regarding St. Gerard, Bishop of Toul. This prelate, in 986, gave a retreat, in his diocese, to several Greeks, who, mixed with Irishmen, performed the Church Service, in their own language. They all officiated, according to the Greek rite. Hence, we see,
that the Irish ecclesiastics still continued to cultivate Greek literature, and,
at a time, likewise, when learning had not been in the most flourishing state on the Continent.
ArticleIV. —St. Dubhthach,Priest,SonofDubhan. Thesimple entry of Dubtach, sac, occurs in the Martyrology of Tallagh,^ at the 5th of February. Fromthiswemayinfer,thathehadnotpassedtotheepiscopal order, the contraction meaning that he was a priest. On this day, according to the Martyrology of Donegal,^ was venerated, Dubhthach, son of Dubhan, son of Maeluidhir. He descended from the race of Conall Gulban, son of
man is to be found in the " of Genealogy
Niall. 3 The
of this
theSaintsofIreland. "'^ Thegrandfatherofthisholyman,Moeludhir,wasson
pedigree
holy
to Ferguss, son of Baithectra, son to Dichovasius, son of Congall, son to Falvey, son of Foelan, son of Aidan, son to Ginntech, son of Lugad, son to EnniusBogun,sonofConallGulban. Itwillthusbeseen,thathecame from a most respectable stock.
Reference is made to him in the Martyrolo-
gies of ^ngus, of Tallagh, of Marianus O'Gorman, of Maguire, and of Donegal. 5 It seems pretty clear, that the present saint cannot be confounded
tome xii. , liv. Iviii. , sec. Ix. , p. 435. ^9 See ibid.
v. , n. 37, p. 409.
3' This happened A. D. looi, and, conse-
3S Remarking on this coincidence, Dr.
observes ** that Fin- Lanigan : Might it be,
had from Roscrea to — gen gone superintend
the establishment of St. Felix at Metz? " "Ecclesiastical History of Ireland," vol.
iii. , chap, xxiii. , —sect, v. , n. 38, p. 410.
3° See Dr.
"Ecclesiastical His- tory of Ireland," vol, iii. , chap, xxiii. , sec.
See
pp. 3 In a note, Dr. Todd says at this word
Lanigan's
Article iv. Fingen died about three months after he Kelly, p. xiv.
'^
Edited Rev. Dr. by
quently Fleury mistakes in stating, that
had received Richard into the ^ Edited Drs. Todd and Reeves,
" monastery. by Histoire Ecclesiastique," tome xii. , 40, 41.
liv. Iviii. , sec. be, p. 435.
He should have
" The more recent hand adds, *Pres- byter, Mart. Taml. ,' />. , the Mart. Taml. styles him priest ; 'Dubhtach, sac. '"
4Seethefirstchapter. Theaccountalso
is in " Trias " given Colgan's Thaumaturga.
Quarta Appendix ad Acta S. Columbae, cap. iii. , p. 480.
s See Colgan's "Trias Thaumaturga. "
about three
3^ See Mabillon's "Annales Ordinis S.
Benedicti," tomus iv. , lib. Iii. , sec. xlv. , p. 169.
33 Thus is his name written in the "Annals of Ulster. "
34 See Dr. O'Donovan's "Annals of the Four Masters," vol. ii. , pp. 754, 755.
said,
years.
Niall^
358 LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS'. [February 5.
with the prelate, who is styled Duach, or Dubthach I. ,^ Archbishop of Ar- magh,7 by our historians, although Colgan is inconsiderate enough to do so, and to cite for this later opinion the authorities of the Martyrologies of Tallagh and of Marianus O'Gorman, at the 5 th of February, and at the 8th ofOctober. ^ Judgingbythegenealogicaldescentmadeoutforthepresent
saint, he probably flourished, some time during the ninth century ; but, it does not seem possible to throw any further light on his history.
ArticleV. —St. Cera,Virgin,ofRaithMoentich. Whatthefuture
may reveal is only vaguely presented to the mind of many a holy virgin ; herleadingideaistosaveherownsoul,andthesoulsofmanyothers. She,
feels, too, that under the directing hand of God, this holy inspiration must
assume in due a definite and time,
'^ The of Martyrology
practical shape.
Tallagh^^ registers a feast for Caera of Raith Moentich, at the 5th of February.
The place here named, and with which she appears to have had relations, has not been identified. There is a district, formerly kno\vn as Moentach, and which is situated to the south of Lifford, on the borders of Tyrone and Donegal counties. 3 Cera, virgin^—simply thus written—is recorded in the
Martyrology of Donegal,s as having a festival, at this date. Nothing more seems to be known regarding her.
Article VI. —St. Liadnan, Abbot of Fobhar, or Fore, County of
Westmeath. We find registered, on this day, in the Martyrologies of Tallagh,' andofDonegal,^Liadnan,AbbotofFobhar. 3 Thisplaceisnowknownas Fore,inthecountyofWestmeath. Wearetold,thattheancientnameof Fore was Baile-Fobhair,^ and that it had, likewise, the denomination of Belli Fechin or Bilefechin. But, the etymological inferences, drawn from the local etymon, in a modern work,5 are fanciful and extravagant, in the extreme. *^ The original meaning having become obsolete, as we are asked to believe, ecclesiastics changed Baal-Fechin to Belli Fechin, and ultimately to Fechin, as agreeing with the name of the saint,7 and to Bile, the name of the place.
Appendix Quarta ad Acta S. Columbae, cap. iii. ,. p. 480.
^ He is said to have been Primate of the
Irish Church, from A. D. 497 to 513, thus
an of sixteen See having incumbency years.
s Edited by Drs. Todd and Reeves, pp.
40, 41.
Article vi. —^ Edited by Rev. Dr.
"" Edited Harris' Ware, vol. i. , "Archbishops of pp. 38, 39.
by
Rev. Drs. Todd and
Reeves,
Armagh," p. 36.
7 In the second chapter of St. Tighernach's
Life, he is called the Venerable Duach, the
3 See Rev. A. Cogan's " Diocese of Meath, Ancient and Modem," vol. iii. , chap. Ixxiv. , n,, p. 562.
illustrious
^ *' See
of Patrick's see. Acta Sanctorum Hibemise," xiii.
^ Marcus Keane " Fobhair is trans- says :
lated sick, injirm, weak—ihn? , answering to
Archbishop
n. — 62. Januarii, 10, p.
'
Baal Fechan—
or in humiliation. "
s See Marcus Keane's "Towers and
Article v.
See that biography, *'Nano Nagle :
very interesting Her Life, her Labours, and their Fruits," by Rev. "William
firmity,
Temples of Ancient Ireland ; their Origin Hutch, D. D. , chap, ii. , p. 14. Dublin, and History discussed from a new point of
1875. 8vo. view," p. 90.
"^ Edited by Rev. Dr. Kelly, p. xiv.
It is supposed there, that Fee has the
3 See Dr. O'Donovan's "Annals of the Four Masters," vol. vi. , n. (p), p. 2350.
^ Dr. Todd says in a note at this word,
Virgin. "The latter hand
meaning of "feebleness" or "weakness," and that the other part of the word has a connexion with Baal, the Pagan deity.
This is to " Baal in humi- thought represent
liation. "
7 See his Life, at the 20th of January.
tTlAomcic ; Mart. Taml.
'
"
a Mit At Rath Maointich' from the
adds,
Kelly, p. xiv.
or under in- Baal, Achad,
February 5. ] LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. 359
Article VII. —St. Baothan, Son of Colman. The identification of
this holy man appears to be attended with difficulty, since we only find him
distinguished as Baetain mac Colmain, in the Martyrology of Tallagh. '' He
It is mentioned, on this day, in
Article VIII. —Reputed Festival of St. Modan. In the " Meno-
logium Scoticum," Dempster places the festival of St. Modan, Bishop in Scotia,atthe5thofFebruary. ^ Inanotherwork,hisfestivalisnotassigned to any particular day ; but, his period, by some is referred to a. d. 535, and by others, it is stated, more probably to 803. His place is said to be doubt- ful ; although he was venerated, at Brechin. = Hence, we may regard him as identical with the holy bishop, so named, at the previous day, whatever warrant there may be, for placing his feast at the present date.
Article IX. —St. Eachtach or Hechtach, Virgin. Chastity has ever been held in universal esteem. In Pagan Rome, as at Dephi, vestals, dedicated to their divinities, watched the sacred fires, and ministered in the temples. When these were polluted with sin, death was the doom of any wretch who insulted the priestess. ^ Nature planted deeply in the heart of man reverence for the pure-minded maiden, but Christianity consecrated the religiousvirgintothetrueGod. AccordingtotheMartyrologiesofTallagh^ and of Donegal,3 on this day was venerated, Hectach, or Eachtach, a virgin. No place has been given in connexion with her name.
Article X. —Festival of St. Agatha, Virgin and Martyr. [Third Century. '] The Irish Church honoured this illustrious virgin and
"
Leabhar Breac,"andtranslatedbyProfessorO'Looney. Itisfromthe"Feilire"of St. -^nguss. Herfestivalisreferredtothe5thdayofFebruary,whenshe
lived before, or during, the ninth century.
the of Martyrology
son of was venerated. Colman,3
=^ that
In the table postfixed to this Martyrology {yuvencus\ within brackets and
Donegal, italicised, occurs after his name.
3 Edited by Drs. Todd and Reeves, pp.
38, 39.
* See the Bollandists' " Acta Sanctorum,''
tomus i. , Februarii v. , p. 593.
the history of this holy abbot. See idid.
^3 In the Life of Thierri I. , Bishop of
Metz, by Sigebert, there is not a single word about St. Fingene.
^^ See " Histoire " tome Ecclesiastique,
xii. , liv. Iviii. , sec. Ix. , p. 435.
^^ in the Charter of Otho III. , published
by Colgan, it is said regarding our saint, that he was " Abbas primus nomine Fingenius Hi- berniensis natione," &c. This shows, the monastery of St. Symphronian was different from the monastery of St. Felix. Cathroe was the first abbot of the latter, and Fingen of the former, after its restoration. See "Acta Sanctorum Hibemise," v. Februarii. De S. Fingeno Abbate, p. 258, and n. 19.
""^ He died December 15th, a. d. 1005,
and he was buried in St. Symphronien.
See an account of this bishop in Fleury's
*'
Histoire Ecclesiastique," tome xii,, liv. Ivii. , sec. xxxviii. , pp. 291, 292.
^7 See the Bollandists' "Acta Sancto-
rum," tomus i. , Februarii v. Praetermissi
et in alios dies rejecti, p. 593.
'^
s Thus is he called man.
^
by
Marianus O'Gor-
Cathal Maguire also notes him in the Calendar.
7 See " Histoire Literaire de la France," tomus vi. Dixieme Siecle, p. 437.
^
See his Life at the 6th of March.
"
9 See
tomus iv. , lib. 1. , sec. Ixi. , p. 74, lib. lii. ,
Annales Ordinis S. Benedicti,"
sec. xii. , p. 154, sec. xly. , p. 169, and sec. Ixviii. , p. 180.
'° See Mabillon's " Annales Ordinis S. Benedicti," tomus iv. , lib. 1. , sec. Ixi. , p. 74.
" The authors of the "Histoire Literaire de la France" expressly call this St. Fingen an Irishman. See tomus vi, Dixieme Siecle, p. 437,
" His more ancient Life is lost, it is thought, and this is the more to be regretted, since it seems to be the chief authority for
She was daughter to Edward, King of
356 LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. [February 5.
and of the Irish Benedictines, and grandmother to Otho III. , ^9 as yet only king,^° Adalbero obtained from the sovereign a confirmation of the rights and possessions of this establishment. Conditions were imposed, that the Irishman Fingen, its first abbot, and his successors, should not have any other than Irish monks, so long as these could be found, but, in case they could not, the admittance of monks belonging to any other nation was allowed ; and, that prayers should be constantly offered there for the king's soul, for those of his parents, for the existing bishop and for his successors. This deed^' was signed by the king, at Frankfort, on the 25th of January, A. D. 992, in the ninth year of his reign, and in the 5th Indiction. ^^^ There is a short epistle of Fingen, still extant, in the library of St. Remigius of Rheims, to Fastradis a nun, concerning a monk, named Guilier. This was found by Mabillon, who seems to have pubHshed the letter in its entirety. =^3 Fingen was sent to re-establish the monastery of St. Peter and St. Vitonus, now St. Vannes, at Verdunj^-^ not long after he had been set over St. Symphorian. AtVerdun,hefixedsomeIrishmonks. Sevenofthesewerethere,under his direction, when the celebrated Richard, dean of the diocese of Rheims, and Frederic, who had been Count of Verdun, applied to him in looi, for permission to become members of this house. It is stated, that they first went to consult St. Odilo, at Clugni, for direction, and he advised them to becomemonksundertheholyAbbotFingen. ^s Theanonymousauthorof a Life of Richard pretends, that on his and Frederic's first going to Fingen's monastery of St. Vannes, they did not find there a very regular observance of religious rule. However, this story, about the defect of regular obser- vance, is rejected altogether by Mabillon,^^ who shows, that Fingen was a very holy man, and that he could not be deficient in enforcing regularity, in the monastery over which he presided. ^7 It seems probable, Richard's and Frederick's reason for having consulted Odilo was, that on their first going to Verdun, they found another monastery there, lately founded by Bishop Wigfrid, which seemed to them more convenient, although the monastic observancewasnotasregular,asinFingen's,atSt. Vannes. Thislatterwas small and deficient in buildings. As they were persons of high rank in the world, Fingen at first was loth to receive them. He was afraid, that they could not put up with the poverty and strict discipline of the monastery.
At he with their "^^ The
of
length, however, complied
England, sister to Athelstan, and Edmund, King of England, wife to Otho I. , and mother of Otho II.
^9 He reigned from A. d. 983 to 1002. See Sir Harris Nicolas' "Chronology of History," p. 392.
/° Although, the Charter so designates
him, Otho II. , who ruled from A. D. 973,
and, who died, A. D. 983, named him sue-
cessor in the empire; yet, various writers
style him sometimes King of the Romans,
and sometimes King of Germany. See
request.
saying
Fleury,
"
Historical Class-Book," by the Christian
Bishop and Chancellor, for Willigius, or Wildegisus, who was elected Archbishop of Mayence a. d. 983, and who died A. D. looi, as Claudius Robert states, when writing about the archbishops of that see. Sttibid. and n. 20.
=3 See "Annales Ordinis S. Benedicti," tomus iv. , lib. lii. , sec. xlv. , p. 169.
=^* Hughes de Flavigni, who finished his Chronicle at A. D. Iioi, speaking of St. Fingen, refers to the lost Life of Thierri I. , Bishop of Metz, for fuller details regarding his history.
=s See Fleury's "Histoire Ecclesiastique," tome xii,, liv, Iviii. , sec. Ix. , p. 435.
**
See "Annales Ordinis S. Benedicti," tomus iv. , lib. Hi. , sec. xii. , pp. 153, 154.
=7 We may feel assured, that Odilo would not have counselled them, to place them- selves under Fingen, were his disciples not
religiously strict in the matter of discipline.
Brothers, pp. 272, 273. Third edition, en-
larged, Dublin, 1863, 8vo.
='
Having got a copy of this diploma from the archives of the Church of Metz, through the kindness of Meuris, bishop of that see,
Colgan has annexed it to the Acts of Fingen. "
See Acta Sanctorum Hibemiae," v. Feb- ruarii. De B. Fingeno, Abbate, p. 258.
=" The witness is subscribing
Hildebald,
'^ See
Fleury's
**Histoire
Ecclesiastique,"
February 5. ] LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. 357
that Odilon sent Richard and Frederick back to St. Vannes, under the per- suasion,thattheywouldreformtheestabHshment,'^is quiteamistake; for,
they could not be expected to do so, while they remained only simple monks,3° The Irish abbot instructed and trained his disciples so well, that they became two of the greatest and most useful men of their times. Richard especially was very much distinguished. St. Fingen, three years after he had received Richard,3^ died in the year 1004,32 and was succeeded by his holy disciple. It is singular, that in the Irish annals, the death of a Finghin, or Finguine,33 called Abbot of Roscrea, is marked, at a. d. 1005. 34 This date comes so near that of the death of our St. Fingen, that it might fairly be suspected they were one and the same person. 35 The day of St. Fingen's death was pro- bably the 8th of October, at which he is praised in the Necrologium of St. ClementofMetz,asabbot,havingbeenburiedinitschurch. Tofinishthis account of Irish ecclesiastics, who were distinguished in foreign countries, during the tenth century, which is supposed to have been a dark age, we shall add a curious circumstance related, regarding St. Gerard, Bishop of Toul. This prelate, in 986, gave a retreat, in his diocese, to several Greeks, who, mixed with Irishmen, performed the Church Service, in their own language. They all officiated, according to the Greek rite. Hence, we see,
that the Irish ecclesiastics still continued to cultivate Greek literature, and,
at a time, likewise, when learning had not been in the most flourishing state on the Continent.
ArticleIV. —St. Dubhthach,Priest,SonofDubhan. Thesimple entry of Dubtach, sac, occurs in the Martyrology of Tallagh,^ at the 5th of February. Fromthiswemayinfer,thathehadnotpassedtotheepiscopal order, the contraction meaning that he was a priest. On this day, according to the Martyrology of Donegal,^ was venerated, Dubhthach, son of Dubhan, son of Maeluidhir. He descended from the race of Conall Gulban, son of
man is to be found in the " of Genealogy
Niall. 3 The
of this
theSaintsofIreland. "'^ Thegrandfatherofthisholyman,Moeludhir,wasson
pedigree
holy
to Ferguss, son of Baithectra, son to Dichovasius, son of Congall, son to Falvey, son of Foelan, son of Aidan, son to Ginntech, son of Lugad, son to EnniusBogun,sonofConallGulban. Itwillthusbeseen,thathecame from a most respectable stock.
Reference is made to him in the Martyrolo-
gies of ^ngus, of Tallagh, of Marianus O'Gorman, of Maguire, and of Donegal. 5 It seems pretty clear, that the present saint cannot be confounded
tome xii. , liv. Iviii. , sec. Ix. , p. 435. ^9 See ibid.
v. , n. 37, p. 409.
3' This happened A. D. looi, and, conse-
3S Remarking on this coincidence, Dr.
observes ** that Fin- Lanigan : Might it be,
had from Roscrea to — gen gone superintend
the establishment of St. Felix at Metz? " "Ecclesiastical History of Ireland," vol.
iii. , chap, xxiii. , —sect, v. , n. 38, p. 410.
3° See Dr.
"Ecclesiastical His- tory of Ireland," vol, iii. , chap, xxiii. , sec.
See
pp. 3 In a note, Dr. Todd says at this word
Lanigan's
Article iv. Fingen died about three months after he Kelly, p. xiv.
'^
Edited Rev. Dr. by
quently Fleury mistakes in stating, that
had received Richard into the ^ Edited Drs. Todd and Reeves,
" monastery. by Histoire Ecclesiastique," tome xii. , 40, 41.
liv. Iviii. , sec. be, p. 435.
He should have
" The more recent hand adds, *Pres- byter, Mart. Taml. ,' />. , the Mart. Taml. styles him priest ; 'Dubhtach, sac. '"
4Seethefirstchapter. Theaccountalso
is in " Trias " given Colgan's Thaumaturga.
Quarta Appendix ad Acta S. Columbae, cap. iii. , p. 480.
s See Colgan's "Trias Thaumaturga. "
about three
3^ See Mabillon's "Annales Ordinis S.
Benedicti," tomus iv. , lib. Iii. , sec. xlv. , p. 169.
33 Thus is his name written in the "Annals of Ulster. "
34 See Dr. O'Donovan's "Annals of the Four Masters," vol. ii. , pp. 754, 755.
said,
years.
Niall^
358 LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS'. [February 5.
with the prelate, who is styled Duach, or Dubthach I. ,^ Archbishop of Ar- magh,7 by our historians, although Colgan is inconsiderate enough to do so, and to cite for this later opinion the authorities of the Martyrologies of Tallagh and of Marianus O'Gorman, at the 5 th of February, and at the 8th ofOctober. ^ Judgingbythegenealogicaldescentmadeoutforthepresent
saint, he probably flourished, some time during the ninth century ; but, it does not seem possible to throw any further light on his history.
ArticleV. —St. Cera,Virgin,ofRaithMoentich. Whatthefuture
may reveal is only vaguely presented to the mind of many a holy virgin ; herleadingideaistosaveherownsoul,andthesoulsofmanyothers. She,
feels, too, that under the directing hand of God, this holy inspiration must
assume in due a definite and time,
'^ The of Martyrology
practical shape.
Tallagh^^ registers a feast for Caera of Raith Moentich, at the 5th of February.
The place here named, and with which she appears to have had relations, has not been identified. There is a district, formerly kno\vn as Moentach, and which is situated to the south of Lifford, on the borders of Tyrone and Donegal counties. 3 Cera, virgin^—simply thus written—is recorded in the
Martyrology of Donegal,s as having a festival, at this date. Nothing more seems to be known regarding her.
Article VI. —St. Liadnan, Abbot of Fobhar, or Fore, County of
Westmeath. We find registered, on this day, in the Martyrologies of Tallagh,' andofDonegal,^Liadnan,AbbotofFobhar. 3 Thisplaceisnowknownas Fore,inthecountyofWestmeath. Wearetold,thattheancientnameof Fore was Baile-Fobhair,^ and that it had, likewise, the denomination of Belli Fechin or Bilefechin. But, the etymological inferences, drawn from the local etymon, in a modern work,5 are fanciful and extravagant, in the extreme. *^ The original meaning having become obsolete, as we are asked to believe, ecclesiastics changed Baal-Fechin to Belli Fechin, and ultimately to Fechin, as agreeing with the name of the saint,7 and to Bile, the name of the place.
Appendix Quarta ad Acta S. Columbae, cap. iii. ,. p. 480.
^ He is said to have been Primate of the
Irish Church, from A. D. 497 to 513, thus
an of sixteen See having incumbency years.
s Edited by Drs. Todd and Reeves, pp.
40, 41.
Article vi. —^ Edited by Rev. Dr.
"" Edited Harris' Ware, vol. i. , "Archbishops of pp. 38, 39.
by
Rev. Drs. Todd and
Reeves,
Armagh," p. 36.
7 In the second chapter of St. Tighernach's
Life, he is called the Venerable Duach, the
3 See Rev. A. Cogan's " Diocese of Meath, Ancient and Modem," vol. iii. , chap. Ixxiv. , n,, p. 562.
illustrious
^ *' See
of Patrick's see. Acta Sanctorum Hibemise," xiii.
^ Marcus Keane " Fobhair is trans- says :
lated sick, injirm, weak—ihn? , answering to
Archbishop
n. — 62. Januarii, 10, p.
'
Baal Fechan—
or in humiliation. "
s See Marcus Keane's "Towers and
Article v.
See that biography, *'Nano Nagle :
very interesting Her Life, her Labours, and their Fruits," by Rev. "William
firmity,
Temples of Ancient Ireland ; their Origin Hutch, D. D. , chap, ii. , p. 14. Dublin, and History discussed from a new point of
1875. 8vo. view," p. 90.
"^ Edited by Rev. Dr. Kelly, p. xiv.
It is supposed there, that Fee has the
3 See Dr. O'Donovan's "Annals of the Four Masters," vol. vi. , n. (p), p. 2350.
^ Dr. Todd says in a note at this word,
Virgin. "The latter hand
meaning of "feebleness" or "weakness," and that the other part of the word has a connexion with Baal, the Pagan deity.
This is to " Baal in humi- thought represent
liation. "
7 See his Life, at the 20th of January.
tTlAomcic ; Mart. Taml.
'
"
a Mit At Rath Maointich' from the
adds,
Kelly, p. xiv.
or under in- Baal, Achad,
February 5. ] LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. 359
Article VII. —St. Baothan, Son of Colman. The identification of
this holy man appears to be attended with difficulty, since we only find him
distinguished as Baetain mac Colmain, in the Martyrology of Tallagh. '' He
It is mentioned, on this day, in
Article VIII. —Reputed Festival of St. Modan. In the " Meno-
logium Scoticum," Dempster places the festival of St. Modan, Bishop in Scotia,atthe5thofFebruary. ^ Inanotherwork,hisfestivalisnotassigned to any particular day ; but, his period, by some is referred to a. d. 535, and by others, it is stated, more probably to 803. His place is said to be doubt- ful ; although he was venerated, at Brechin. = Hence, we may regard him as identical with the holy bishop, so named, at the previous day, whatever warrant there may be, for placing his feast at the present date.
Article IX. —St. Eachtach or Hechtach, Virgin. Chastity has ever been held in universal esteem. In Pagan Rome, as at Dephi, vestals, dedicated to their divinities, watched the sacred fires, and ministered in the temples. When these were polluted with sin, death was the doom of any wretch who insulted the priestess. ^ Nature planted deeply in the heart of man reverence for the pure-minded maiden, but Christianity consecrated the religiousvirgintothetrueGod. AccordingtotheMartyrologiesofTallagh^ and of Donegal,3 on this day was venerated, Hectach, or Eachtach, a virgin. No place has been given in connexion with her name.
Article X. —Festival of St. Agatha, Virgin and Martyr. [Third Century. '] The Irish Church honoured this illustrious virgin and
"
Leabhar Breac,"andtranslatedbyProfessorO'Looney. Itisfromthe"Feilire"of St. -^nguss. Herfestivalisreferredtothe5thdayofFebruary,whenshe
lived before, or during, the ninth century.
the of Martyrology
son of was venerated. Colman,3
=^ that
In the table postfixed to this Martyrology {yuvencus\ within brackets and
Donegal, italicised, occurs after his name.
