No More Learning

The " Know then, my dear leper replied :
brother, that God sent thee hither, to wash me in that fountain, and lastly to bury me
'
Which words being spoken, he gave up the ghost. As the Christian washed that leper, in the miraculous water, there remained not one spot of leprosy upon him. So burying him, the Christian de- parted. This is said to have occurred, at the place, aftei-wards known as Clonmac- noise, between Meath and Connaught. Afterwards, when St. Munis returned from
is called Mac Ui- Mocuruntir, rede,
family
Runtir, by Adamnan, in lib. i. , ch. xviii.
T- The Book of Armagh states, that the three Magi, who opposed St. Patrick, were membersofthisrace; and,itappears,that the locale of the family was at Clonkeen, in Fer-Ross. See Rev. Dr. Reeves' Adam- nan's " Life of St. Columba," lib. i. , cap. xviii. , p. 47, n. (c. )
75 In his Second Preface to the Life of St.
: Columba, Adamnan says of him " Prose-
lytus Brito, homo sanctus, sancti Patricii
in that pla(^.
episcopi discipulus. " See *' Trias Thauma- Rome, with sacred relics, he saw there a 2Z
ran to this effect :
the believing, let him be in the place he has taken. "
7» We are told, by Jocelyn, that St.
and
that person, and providing him with all necessaries of life. This leper, living with the saint, being deprived of his bodily
health, laboured by frequent prayers, and by other exercises of piety, to procure and to preserve the health of his soul. Fearing to be offensive to others, he withdrew from the company of men, and lived a solitary life, in a great hollow tree. One day, he requested a Christian, that passed by, to bring him out from a neighbouring place a
Mochta, the devoted,
72 2 LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. [March 17.
departed from that locality, for a place he was destined to render so
celebrated, as the seat of Ireland's primatial See ; notwithstanding, that the good people of Louth appear to have had a most earnest desire, to retain
theirgreatmissionaryamongthem. LongafterSt. Patrick'sdeparture,they used to point out Leach-Mochta, or " Mochta's stone," which was a remark- able rock, where the two saints were accustomed to raeet,^° for their mutual edification. ^' Here, likewise, the glorious Apostle of Ireland often visited Mochta,^^ and they engaged, in various holy conversations and counsels. ^3 There, too, St. Mochta lived, afterwards, until the time of his death.
CHAPTER XXII.
ST. PATRICK IS SAID TO HAVE PRESIDED OVER THE SEE OF CLOGHER—HE IS REPORTED TO HAVE VISITED BRITAIN, AND THE ISLE OF MAN—BAPTISM OF THE PRINCESS
ST. PATRICK RETURNS TO IRELAND—HE TOWARDS* JOURNEYS — ARMAGH,
MUNESSA—
AND RECEIVES FROM DAIRE THE SITE FOR HIS GREAT CATHEDRAL ST. PATRICK MEASURES OUT ITS BOUNDARIES—VARIOUS WONDERFUL EVENTS ARE RECORDED, AFTER ITS ESTABLISHMENT.
It has been thought, that St. Patrick spent about two years in Louth, and in some of the adjoining districts of Ulster. Following his system, in placing the foundation of Armagh, at a. d. 445, Ussher brings St. Patrick to Louth, in the year 443. ' Upon a similar principle, Dr. Lanigan thinks 453 preferable, for his own theory. Our saint departed from Munster, as it has been supposed, in the year 452. For his progress towards Ulster, as also for his delay in Maghinis, his stay at Louth, and in other places, it has been computed,^ that we may allow, at least, another year to have elapsed, if not a longer time.
According to some accounts, the Irish Apostle governed the See of Clogher,
about the middle of the fifth century. 3
great light, surrounding the spot, during the silence of night, and where that leper had
been buried, while Angels, keeping watch, were singing canticles. At a subsequent
Afterwards, the holy man, named
siastical History of Ireland," vol. i. , chap, vi. , sect, xii. , n. 121, p. 309.
^3 gee Colgan's "Trias Thaumaturga. " Tertia Vita S. Patricii, cap. lix. , pp. 25, 26, cap. ixxii. , p. 27, cap. Ixxix. , pp. 27, 28. Quarta Vita S. Patricii, cap. Ixxvii. , p. 44, and nn. 49, 50, 51, pp. 49, 50, cap. Ixxx. , Ixxxi. , Ixxxii. , pp. 45, 46, and nn. 59, 60,
time, St. Kieran founded a great religious
establishment there, and he paid marked
honour to the relics of the buried leper.
See Sixth Life, chap, cxiii. , pp. 90, 91.
See, also, the Seventh Life, lib. i. , chap. 61, 62, 63, 64, 65, p. 50. Quinta Vita S.
'
xxiv. , XXV. , p. 132.
^° The Irish Tripartite has it, that Patrick 52, 53, and nn. 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, p. 63.
used to come every day, from the east, or
from Ard-Phadraig, while Mochta used to
come from the west, or from Lughmadh.
Sexta Vita S. Patricii, cap. Ixxiii. , p. 81, cap. cxiii. , pp. 90, 91, cap. cxxxii. , cxxxiii. , p. 94, and n. 134, p. 114, cap. cli. , clii. , pp. 98, 99, and nn. 156, 157, 158, 159, pp. 115, 116. Septima Vita S. Patricii, lib. iii. , cap. Ivi. , pp. 159, 160, cap. Ivii. , Iviii, lix. , Ix. , Ixi. , Ixii. , Ixiii. , Ixiv. , Ixv. , IxvL, Ixvii. ,
**'
See Septima Vita S. Patricii, lib. iii. ,
cap. Ixv. , Ixvi. , Ixvii. , and nn. 96, 97, 98,
p. 185.
*^
In direct opposition, not only to the
Tripartite, but to Jocelyn, Archdall makes pp. 160 to 162, and nn. 84 to 98, p. 187. St. Patrick himself the founder of the Also Miss Cusack's " Life of St. Patrick,
monastery of Louth. See "Monasticon Apostle of Ireland," pp. 477 to 483, with
Hibernicum," p. 469. He mistook what accompanying notes—'. they stated, about the saint, on quitting that Chapter xxii.
part of the country, when he gave up the church and ecclesiastical property of Ard- patrick, to Mocteus. In the opinion of Dr. Lanigan,that account, regarding the addition of such possessions to the house, at Louth,
seems referable to those times, when monas-
teries were richly endowed. See
' See his " Index Chro
"
By Rev. Dr. Lanigan. See his Eccle- siastical History of Ireland," vol. i. , chap. vi. , sect, xiii. , and n. 134, pp. 312, 313.
3 See Harris' Ware, vol. i. , "Bishops of Clogher," pp. 176, 177.
Eccle-
Patricii, lib. ii. , cap. ix. , x. , xi. , xii. , pp.
nologicus," ad A. D. ccccxliii. and ccccxlv. *''
March 17. ] LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. 723
Carthan or Maccarthen—classed among St. Patrick's disciples^—succeeded, when he is said to have been old. s The Tripartite Life, in that passage re- ferring to him, does not treat about the foundation of Armagh, during an intervention of many chapters. *^ But, there seems to be some anachronism in the narrative order, nor are we reUably informed, that any saint specially presided over the See of Clogher, in those early days.
Seeing that the harvest was great in Ireland, while the workmen were
few, our saint took shipping, in order to reach Britain, as we are told, there
to gather many co-assistants and fellow-workmen, to aid hini in cultivating
our Lord's vineyard. 7 In those days, the Arian heresy, and Pelagianism, took great root in Britain.
These pestilent dogmas the blessed bishop en-
deavoured to extirpate. With signs and sermons, he laboured, in bringing the people to the former integrity of Faith. It is said, that he repaired
various monasteries, destroyed by the pagans, that he built others, and furnished them with monks. These lived, according to the rule of life he assignedthem. Itwashiscustom,wearetold,notonlyincities,buteven
in the principal towns, to install bishops, selected from among his disciples. This he did, to the end, that the faithful should not be deprived of the Sacrament of Confirmation. He desired, they always should have present for their services, one who could minister in the episcopal office ; while the dioceses being not too extended, the presence and the care of their pastors should be better supplied. ^ Heforetold manyadverseand prosperous things, that should happen ; and, especially did he predict the future sanctity of Blessed David,9theninhismother'swomb. Manyplaceswererenderedillustrious, there, through his miracles, and redolent of memories, connected with his holy life and conversation. Among his miracles, while in Britain, a very conspicuous onewasthis. Acertainevil-doer,namedMelinus,likeSimontheMagician, asserting himself to be a God, attempted to fly by magic arts in the air. At the prayers of the saint, however, he fell headlong, was dashed in pieces, and so he miserably perished. '" The Rev. Dr. Lanigan is of opinion, not- withstanding, that A. D. 427 to 432 included the only period, to which we
could assign any preaching of St. Patrick, in Britain. A young lady of great beauty, and named Memessa," or Munessa'^—called also Muneria'3—was-
then disturbed the is to by Saxons, thought
"Trias Thaumaturga, Quinta Appendix Rev. Dr. Lanigan's Ecclesiastical Histoiy ad Acta S. Patricii, cap. xxiii. , p. 268. He of Ireland," vol. i. , chap, vi. , num. xi. , n.
* His name is found in Tiiechan's
list, where he is called Carthen. See Colgan's
is even said to have been with St. Patrick,
1 1 8, pp. 305 to 307.
^ His feast at the ist of March, occurs,
'°
See Sexta Vita S. Patricii, cap. xcii. , p. 86. Jocelyn states, that St. Germanus, a wise and holy disciple of St. Patrick, was consecrated a bishop, and placed over the church of Man, and that his See was estab- lished, at a certain promontory, afterwards known as Patrick's Island, because our Apostle had dwelt there for some time. The Rt. Rev. Dr. Moran is of opinion, that the bishop in question was no other than the St. Germain of Auxerre, who visited Britain a second time in 448, who laboured in Ire- land, under the guidance of St. Patrick, as
also in Wales, and probably in the Isle of "
in
See Ussher's "
Primordia," cap.
Italy. xvii. , p. 856.
s See Jocelyn or Sexta Vita S. Patricii,
cap. cxliii. , p. 96. The Tripartite makes
mention of this appointment. See Septima
Vita S. Patricii, lib. iii. , cap. iii. , p. 149.
*
It seems to convey the impi-ession, how- ever, that the See of Armagh then existed.
^ The Lat—in Tripartite Life states, that St. Patrick not only thrice, but more frequently — visited Britain. We are even told, that he went into other European nations and regions, beyond the sea, for the purpose of bringing holy men and virgins, to assist in the works of his mission, espe- cially as those were attracted, by the fame of his labours and miracles, they having a desire to see him, and to embrace his holy
doctrine or rules for their manner of living.
Man. See Irish Saints in Great Britain," chap, i. , p, lo.
*
The state of Britain, however, being
See Vita Tertia S. Patricii, cap. Ixxviii. , p. 27, and nn. 74, 75, p. 34. Colgan deems
refute such statements as the foregoing. See ""
'' '^
According to Jocelyn.
724 LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. [March 17.
daughter to a great prince, in Britain/'* By contemplating the works of creation, she had attained to such a perfect knowledge, and love of the
Creator, that for his sake, she despised all worldly things. Her parents laboured very much, but neither by fair nor by foul means could they enforce her, ever to contract with any of the great lords, that were suiters for the honour of her companionship, so constant was she in the purpose of dedicating her virginity to the great Maker of all things. We arc told, that her familiars even resorted to magic arts, that their purposes might be effected. Seeing no persuasions could prevail with their daughter, her parents sent her into Ire- land, where St. Patrick, then so celebrated, accepted her profession of Faith, and was destined to take her under his charge. ^s The saint received her with great joy, instructed her in the Christian Religion, and after she had abjured paganism, he baptized her. After receiving the Blessed Sacrament, by way of Holy Viaticum, and being engaged in devout prayer, she yielded
was carried —to her
holy virgin by Angels heavenly
soul. This
—Spouse. '^ TheIrishApostlehadherburiedinthatplace nowunknown'^
her
up pure
where she departed to Christ, and there a cell was soon afterwards built,
where holy virgins consecrated to the service of God lived, according to his
prediction. '^ On Patrick's return from Britannia,'? it is traditionally believed, that he converted Eubonia, or the Isle of Man,'^° which then was subject to
Britain, as Jocelyn states, while others have it inhabited by Irish people. ^' According to some authorities, Romulus^^ and Coindrus'^s were the first preachers of the Divine Word, in this place f* while others relate,^^ that St. Patrick was the proto-missionary among the Manx. ''^ The like labours he
this, or Monessa, to be the right form for her name, Asaintthusnamed,isfoundinour
Calendars,atthe4thofSeptember. Ness, or Nessa, is another rendering of her name. '3 She is thus named by Probus, in the
Fifth Life, Ub. ii. , cap. xxv. , p. 59.
'* Dr. Lanigan thinks, it may be doubted, whether the Britain, here alluded to by
Probus, or by his earlier authorities, was not rather Belgic than insular Britain.
'S Dr. Lanigan remarks, that no clue, as
to the time when this happened, can be ob-
tained.
'^
See Sexta Vita S. Patricii, cap. clix. , p. 100.
'? It is difficult to ascertain, from the statement in the Latin Tripartite Life, whether or not, this place is to be distin-
guished from Coll-na-ningean, near Armagh. '^TheFifthLifeadds,thatthememory
'9 This is called "propria patria," by Jocelyn.
^° About the year 440 or 444, it is said St.
Patrick founded a church in the Isle of
when the Britons it were Man, inhabiting
He St. Germanus over the appointed bishop
islanders in 448. Under this prelate and his successors, the inhabitants continued for
many years, free from foreign invaders, until it fell at last under the sway of the Scots or Northmen. From Germanus, the Cathedral
in Peel Castle and the parish of Kirk Ger- man are named. At Peel are the ruins of a church, once consecrated to St. Patrick. See "The Illustrated Guide and Visitor's Companion through the Isle of Man. " By a Resident, pp. 5, 6, 22.
"See Nenuius "Historia Britonum," cap. viii.
"
Ruanadh, copied into the
Donegal," from Marianus, at the iStli of November.
'3 Also called Conindrius, Connidrius, Coindrius, Coninnri, or Conderius, whose feast is set down at the 1 7th of November. Both of these holy men are alluded to, as having been ordained to succeed St. Ger- manus, the first bishop of Man. See Ussher's "Index Chronologicus," at a. d.
ccccLxxiv. ,p. 522.
'^ Thus Probus " docuemnt states, primi
verbum Dei et baptismum in Euonia, et per eos conversi sunt homines insuloe ad Catlio- licam fidem. "—" Quinta Vita S. Patricii," lib. ii. , cap. xi. , p. 53. In the Fourth Life, they are not expressly said to have been the first Apostles in the island. See cap. Ixxxi.
woman was venerated there, at
of that
theactualtimeofwriting. Seelib. ii. ,cap. XXV. , p. 59.
holy
faith,
and had aban-
our " fidem Catholi- garding saint, primus
converted to the true
doned the superstitious rites of the Dmids. cam predicasse fertur Mannensibus. " See
" This missionary seems to be the Roman
^5 The " Chronicon Mannias " re- states,
" Celtre Norma- Johnstone's Antiquitates
nic? e," p. 43.
"* "
See Ussher's Britannicarum Eccle-
siarum Antiquitates," cap. xv. , pp. 335,
336.
*' Ussher has copied this statement, in his
Martyrology of
March 17. ] LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. 725
accomplished, as we are told, in several other isles. Through the prayers of Patrick, all venemous animals were driven from those islands, that preserved their faith. But, the dwellers in some other lands, being aliened from the faith, afterwards renounced the law of God, which Patrick preached unto them. ComingbackintoIreland,hebroughtwithhimmanylearnedand religious men, as we are told by Jocelyn. Thirty of these missionaries were installed by him, as bishops over several Episcopal Sees. ^7 Those laboured assiduously in the Lord's vineyard. In obedience to the direction he had received from an Angel, Patrick left Louth,^^ moving onward, and towards Magh-Macha,^9 or as more usually called, Machaire-Arda-Macha,3° for that place and district, known as the Height of Macha ;3i for, it was so called, from a celebrated woman, Macha Mongruadh,32 foundress of the royal fort Emania,33
" Primordia," cap. xvii. , pp. 870, 872. See, For rarely then should we be seen apart. likewise, Harris' Ware, vol. i. , "Arch- Nor yet remote, lest we should meet no
bishops of Armagh," p. 22.
^^ The journey of St. Patrick from Louth,
towards the north, is thus poetically de- scribed : —
" Patrick then, Obedient as that Patriarch Sire who faced
At God's command the desert, northward went
In holy silence. Soon to him was lost That green and purple meadow-sea, em-
bayed
'Twixt two descending woody promonto-
ries,
Its outlet girt with isles of rock, its shores All white with meadow-sweet. Not once
he turned,
Climbing the uplands rough, or crossing streams
Swoll'n by the melted snows. The brethren
paced
Behind, Benignus first, his psalmist, next Secknall, his bishop, next his brehon Ere, Mochta, his priest, and Sinell of the Bells, Rodan, his shepherd, Essa, Bite and Tas-
sach.
Workers of might in iron and in stone, God-taught to build the churches of the
Faith
With wisdom, and with heart-delighting
craft
Mac Cairthen last, the giant meek that oft On shoulders broad had borne him through
more. '
At Clochar soon he placed him. There
long years
Mac Cairthen sat its bishop.
" As they went.
Oft through the woodlands rang the battle
shout ;
And twice there rose above the distant hill The smoke of town new-fired. Yet, none
the less,
Spring-touched, the blackbird sang ; green,
grassy lawns
The cowslips changed to golden ; and grey
rock,
And river's marge with primroses were
starred ;
Here shook the windflower , there the blue-
bells gleamed
As though a patch of sky had fallen on
earth. "
;
the floods.
His rest was nigh.
That hour a stream they
crossed,
Deep stream, and, 'neath his load, the
giant sighed : Saint Patrick said,
sigh ;'
*
Thou wert not wont to
According to Lynch's translation, there has *'
He mates
* OldI
been adde^, regarding this place : Long
answered,
Ofthem
my
has been the of Emania. " prerogative
How many hast thou left in churches housed
' Whereintheyruleandrest? Thesaint
'
replied,
Thee also will I leave within a church
For rule and rest ; not to mine own too near,
grow.
Thus, Colgan writes some description of its noble ruins. " Emania prope Ardmacham, nunc fossis latls, vestigiis muroram eminentibus,
e—truderibuspristinumredolens. splendorem.