contigit
mihi offendare caput lapidi, ut morti comigua jacerem.
O'Hanlon - Lives of the Irish Saints - v9
Cam-
autem tabemaculoruni ob hoc dictus. eo quod in eo Romani exeicitus quodam tem- pore tabernacula sua ibi statueiunt hyemali frigore, et de hoc nominatus est campus
Ireland. SeeColgan's Trias Thaumaturga. " l'rima Vita S. Patricii, Scholia Veteris . ^choliastae, n. $e, p. 4.
"The old scholiast on St. Fiach's Hymn does not mention Lupita as sister of St. Patrick.
' are called the s« ns 'By Probus, they
of King Rethmit. See ibid. , Quinta Vita S. Patricii. lib. i. , cap. xii. , p. 48 (rede), and n. 10, p. 62. In the Tripartite Life, how-
pus
— we read Tabern, id est, campus tabemaculoruni. " ever,
Britonom
Colgan's
"
Trias Thaumaturga," p. 1 1, and cap. i. ,
n. 2. Also Tertia Vita S- Patricii,
profecti, coeperunt prediia incendiis vicinas regiones vastare. " Ibid. ,
p. 21.
8
See Colgan's "Trias Thaumaturga,"
Secunda Vita S. Patricii, cap. vii. , p. II. 119. In some Manuscript Lives of St. Also, Tertia Vita S. Patricii, cap. vii. , p. Patrick, the British King's name is set down 21. Sexta Vita S. Patricii, cap. vi. , p. 66. as Sectmacius ; but under none of the forms
Septima Vita S. Patricii, pars i, cap. viii. , already given does his place in British his-
p.
118.
tory appear.
"Fectmagii Regis
septem filii ex palria relegati in Armon'cain Lethaniensem — el
:
Septima Vita S. Patrtcii, pars i. , cap. xvi. , p.
September 27. ] LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. 611
northern parts of Ireland. r 3
Another Life records only the capture of his
sister Lupita, with others, who were sold there, whe—n the Apostle of Ire—land
1
was only seven years old. * It seems difficult if not impossible to
reconcile the various discrepancies of narrative in the many Lives of St. Patrick.
In that Book on the Mothers of the Irish Saints, attributed to ^Engus the
1 * it is stated that
seven named Sechnall,16 1? 8
Culdee, sons,
Lupait, respectively
the sister of St. was the mother of Patrick,
20
nan,'9 Darigoc, Ausille,
21 and the Priest
asserted, that Lupait is an error for the true name of Liemania or Liamain. 23
This is sought to be verified, owing to the discovery of a very ancient tomb-
2'* which bears an 2* to it with one of her inscription supposed identify
stone,
sons named Lugnad or Lugna. 26 This St. Lugna or Lugnath is set down as
"" "2 the luctmaire or pilot of St. Patrick.
7 It is thought, that while the Apostle
13 The Second, Third, and Fourth Lives of St. Patrick expressly state, that it was a Scottish or Irish fleet, which led away the captives on this occasion from Britain, the coasts of which they were accustomed to
mitius and Comitius or Connetus, to Restitutes of the Lombards, and it may be assumed ihey were also the children of his wi'eLiemania. See"TriasThaumaturga," pars Li. , cap. vi. , p. 130, and cap. xviii. , p. 131.
23 The whole of St. Patrick's rela- subject
tives is treated by Colgan in his " Trias
Thaumaturga. " Quinta Appendix ad Acta S. Patricii, cap. i. , ii. , iii. , iv. , v. , pp. 219 to 232.
See " Trias Thauma- Colgan's
ravage.
turga," Secunda Vita S. Patricii, cap. xi. , p. 12. Tertia Vita S. Patricii, cap. xi. , p. 22. Quarta Vita S. Patricii, cap. xv. , p. 37. Septima Vita S. Patricii, pars i. , cap. xvi. , P- "9-
24 Found on the Island of
14 See Colgan's "Trias Thaumaturga," in Lough Corrib, County of Galway, and in
Quarta Vita S. Patricii, cap. xv. , p. 37. However, this differs from the Apostle's own account in his Book of Confessions, where he states the age to be sixteen, when he was brought a captive to Ireland.
St. Patrick, Apostle of Ireland," Introduc-
tion, chap, hi. , pp. 112, 113.
16
Or Seachnall, said to have been bishop of Dunshaughlin, and whose feast occurs at the 27th of November.
17 Or Neachtain, son of Ua Baird, vene- rated on the 22nd of April, where notices of him may be found in the Fourth Volume of this work, Art. iii.
front of the small and ancient Cyclopean church known as Templepatrick.
15 See Miss Mary F. Cusack's " Life of
deeply cut, are thought to date back to
the beginning of the aixth century. The
letters are thus read : Lie Lugnaedon Macclmenue, translated, "The stone of Lugnaed, son of Limania. " Lugnaedon is
the Celtic genitive of Lugnad or Lugna, reported to have been the youngest of Liamain's or Limania's seven sons. It is on an upright pillar of dark limestone. Both the ancient church of Templepatrick and the
monument of Lugnaedon Mace Lmenuch,
are represented by two beautiful wood
in Dr. Petrie's "Round engravings George
Towers and Ancient Architecture of Ire- land," part ii. , sect, iii. , sub. sec. I. , pp. 164, 165.
26 In the following passage of the Leabhar Breac," it is stated : Cpuimchep
18 His name does not Calendars.
appear
in our Irish
19 His name is not found in the Irish Calendars.
20 Under this form, the name is not in the Irish Calendars.
"
7 mac a pechan) 111 pechcm<vd mac in Daint), oc pepcaib Uine |? eic, pop Loch mepoch*. " Cruimther Lugnai (i. e. the foster-son of Patrick and son of his sister) was the seventh son of the Bard, 22 His feast—if such there be—cannot and located at Ferta of Tir Feic, on Lough
21 Auxilius has a double festival where mention is made of him, first, at the 19th of March, in the Third Volume, Art. vi. , and in the Eighth Volume of this work, at
bugnAi (. 1. oaIcapac|\ai5
August 27th, Art. i.
be fixed. However, there is a festival for a
Mask. "—Fol. 9, a.
27 In a — Flann of the Monastery are poem by
the lines :
Priest of Cilltarsna, in the First Volume of this work, at the 20th of January, Art. v. At the 25th of April, there are notices of a Lugna of Letir, Art. vi. At the 31st of December, our Calendars record a Lughna, the Deacon. The Septima Vita S. Patricii adds two other sons, named Dier-
St.
Lugna,
Nechtan, Dabonna,' Mogor-
or 23 It has been Lugnath Lugna.
25 The characters inscribed on
it,
and
a DpogAn pepibm'de pcoiLe,
a CpuimcherLugna LuAmaipe.
"
Brogan, the scribe of his school, Cruimther Lugna his pilot. '*
Inis-an-ghoill,
LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS.
[September 27.
was in the western part of Connaught, with a sister named Nitria and fifteen disciples called Franks, 28 he may have appointed one of these, and he, Lugnat, to a station on Lough Mask, in the immediate neighbourhood of Inchaguile,
2
where the tomb to which allusion has been made was found, ? As already
stated, in the Life of St. Patrick, Liemania's husband was called Restitutus Hua-Baird or Longobardus, because he belonged to the nation of the Lombards ; yet it is supposed from her parentage, she could not have been the Sister of St, Patrick. Neither is the name or feast of Liemania to be found in our Irish Calendars, if she is distinguishable from Lupit or Lupita.
She was sold in the district known as Connallia Murthemnensis 3° or
Conaille Muirthemne, now that part of the County Louth, extending from the Cuailgne or Cooley mountains to the River Boyne. 31 The Tripartite Life of St. Patrick states, that while he had been sold to Milchon, son to Buan, the dynast of Dalaradia, his two sisters Lupita and Tigrida were sold in the terri- toryofConallMurthemne. Nevertheless,St. Patrickknewnotofhissisters' captivity ; neither did they of their brother's servitude. 32 A curious romantic legend is told33 about her being brought as a spouse by Milchuo, to her brother
St Patrick, who owing to the white mark caused through the wound already alluded to recognised her as his sister. According to oue account, St. Patrick had five sisters,3* and of these Lupait, who is first named, is said to have been a virgin. 3*
While in Ireland, Lupita lived for a time with her nephew, St. Mel,36
Bishop of Ardagh, so that she might profit by his teaching and example, in the exercise of a spiritual life. Although this was in accordance with a custom
of the primitive church, 3 ? it gave scandal to some ; and while St. Patrick was in the southern part of Teffia, he resolved on visiting St. Mel, to ascertain
28 See the account contained in Colgan's
" Trias Thaumaturga," Septima Vita S.
Patricii, lib. ii. , cap. 1. , p. 136, and nn. 98,
99, loo, p. 177.
in oratione totam noctem transigerent. Luce autem orla, ipse in fronte ancillae vestigia cicatiicis intendit. Atque ei interrogante, quae causa h*c esset, ilia respondens dixit ; Tempore quo fueram puella in Britiania in patria mea Nemthor.
contigit mihi offendare caput lapidi, ut morti comigua jacerem. Hoc
2
»See the ingenious argument of Dr.
George Petrie, on this subject, and his cor-
rection of Colgan's text by referring to the
Annotations of Tirechan, in the Book of frater metis, cui Succet vocabulum erat
Armagh, in " Round Towers and Ancient
Architecture of Ireland," part ii. , sect, iii. , subs. 1.
"
Trias Thaumaturga," Secunda Vita S. Patricii, cap. xii. , p. 12. Septima Vita S. Patricii, pais i. , cap. xvi. ,
p. 119.
31 See the Rev. Dr. James Henthorn
Todd's " St. Patrick, Apostle of Ireland," chap, ii. , n. 2, p. 361.
i* See Colgan's ". Tri. is Thaumaturga," Septima Vita S. Patricii, pars i. , cap. xvi. , p. 119.
33 It is thus related, in the Second Life of St. Patrick, after the statement that the Gentiles were accustomed to release their slaves after seven years had passed in servitude, unless they chose to continue in
"
Cogitans autem Miliuc, quomodo eum (sal. PatriciumJ obtineret, voluit ancillam ipsi adjungere. Dehir. c ancilla
sibi desponsata, paratoque ejus convivio, in
domo separatim nocte nuptiarum collocati sunt. Tunc ille ancilla predicavit, ut simul
aspectans, caput meum manu sua signavit, et statimvulnussanatumest. Atillesubridens, ait ; Ego sum ille frater tuus, qui te sanam feci : sed ista nostra conjunctio facta est Dei misericordia, ut postquam dispersi surnui per cantivitatem simul iterum convenissemus. Post haec itaque Deo gratias agentes, imii pal. un deseruini petunt, ibidem Deum orantes. "—Colgan's 'Trias Thaumaturga," Secunda Vita S. Patricii, cap. xvi. , xvii. , p. 12. The same account is given ill Quarta Vita S. Patricii, cap. xx. , p. 37, as also in Septima Vila S. Patricii, pars, i. , cap. xxi. , p. 120.
34
They are written in the following order : viz. Lupait, Agris, Liamain, Darerca, and Cinnenam.
35 See Archbishop Ussher's Britanni- caruin Ecclesiarum Antiquitate. N," cap. xvii. , p. 429.
36 See his Acts in the Second Volume of this work, at his feast day, February 6th, Art. i. 37 According to Jocelyn. See Colgan's
Sexta Vita S. Patricii, cap. cii. , p. 89.
30 See Colgan's
that state.
September 27. ] LIVES 0I< THE IRISH SAINTS.
whether any truth could be in the rumours spread abroad, which however the Irish Apostle did not credit. A miracle wrought in their favour satisfied himregardingtheinnocenceofhissisterandhernephew. Nevertheless,he deemed it advisable, that both should live in
k< Men should dwell apart from women, lest occasion of scandal arise for the weak, and least our 1 ,ord's name be injured through us, which God avert. "& Where- upon he ordered that Mel should live at Ardagh, and Lupita at Druimheo, to
the east of a mountain called Brileith, which separated both places. 39
Lupait founded a monastery for religious women on the eastern side of Armagh,"butatwhatperiodisnotstated. Itseemsprobable,theselectionof
such a site was owing to a desire she naturally entertained, that it might have the advantage of St. Patrick's supervision and direction. From him also, it is said she received the veil. 41 There was a church, called Temple na fearta, 42 near the city of Armagh, and, according to Harris4 3 a nunnery was there founded by St. Patrick,44 in the fifth century. It is said, St. Patrick employed his sister Lupita in weaving or embroidering vestments and in arranging linens, for altar 4* In this work she was assisted
by
purposes.
In Ussher's Tripartite version, 4 ? it is said, that St. Lupita was buried at the
eastern side of the city of Armagh. By some writers, the place has been called Temple na Fearta. Others place her remains at Armagh. But, as the former place is very near the latter, this difference of statement can be easily recon- ciled. ThefollowingcuriousaccountisgivenbyWard,thataboutthemiddle of the seventeenth century, the body of St. Lupita was found in an upright position, and between two crosses, one before and the other behind,"4* while these remains were buried under the ruins of the old chu—rch of Temple
49 Herfestivalwasheld,o—
38 See
Hibernise," Februarii vi. De S. Mele Epis- copo Ardachadensi, cap. ix. , p. 261.
39 See Colgan's "Trias Thaumaturga,"
Septima p. 133.
Vita S.
quitates," cap. xvii, p. 429. 4* See " Sancti Rumoldi
Colgan's
Patricii, part ii. , cap. xxix. ,
Martyris Inclyti," &c. Dissertatio Historica de Patria S.
40 See Ussher's " Britannicarum Eccle-
siarum Antiquitates," cap. xvii. , p. 429. 49 See Archdall's Monasiicon Hiberni-
"
44 See Arch-dall at Temple-fartagh, in Monasticon Hibernicum," p. 32.
45 See " Trias Colgan's
suum S. Patricium ad convertendam Hirlan-
diam properantem secuta, ita vixit, ut
41 " See Colgan's
Trias Thaumaturga. " cum," p. 32.
ad Acta S.
4- RenderedChurchoftheMiracles.
QuintaAppendix xxiii. , p. 269.
23 SurveyTownlandMapsfortheCountyFer-
43 See Harris' Ware, vol.
tiesofIreland,"
"
Sheet "
ii. , chap, xxxviii. , p. 269.
:
fratrem
Thaumaturga. " Secunda Vita S. Patricii, n. 2, p. 16.
"
Bishop Kalendars of Scottish Saints," p. 212.
Antiqui-
managh," 5' Thus
15.
Lupitse virginis, quae
52 He writes: " S. Lupita, virgo Scota, sister of Patrick, and Ere, daughter of Divi Patricii Scoti, apostoli Hibernise soror
uterina. fratrem suum ad evangelicum opus
proficiscentem secuta, magnorunv laborum
particeps evasit, et in divorum album relata
ab colitur. " — Thomas utraque gente
Dempster's
46 "The three embroideres^es, Lupait,
Daire, and Cruimthiris, made with their own pure hands the vestments and altar linens used during the Holy Sacrifice in the churches of Erin. "—Most Rev. Dr.
" Insula Sanctorum etDoctorum; or Ireland's Ancient
Healy's
"
separate houses, saying :
nthe ot not 27th September although
Fartagh.
set down in the O'Clery's Calendar at Innis-Lothair. This place is said to be identical with Inish-Lirroo, or Inish Lougher,s° on Lough Erne. It lies within the parish of Devenish, in the barony of Magheraboy, and in the County of Fermanagh. At the 27th of September, the feast of Lupita, a virgin, is recorded in Thomas " 1 in his
Dempster's Menologium Scoticum,"* although
2
allusion to her in another work,s while stating that she flourished in 592, he
" Acta Sanctorum Schools and Scholars," 66, chap, iii. , p.
Rumoldi, sect. 10, num. 9, p. 184. "
5° It contains acres, Patricii, cap. 36
roods and
other 6 holy virgins/
Dublin, 1890, 8vo.
47 See " Britannicarum Ecclesiarum Ami-
3
perches ; while it is shown on the Ordnance
sanctissimis adnumeretur. "— Forbes'
Historia Ecclesiastica Gentis
•'
614 LIVESOETHEIRISHSAIATS. [September27.
says the day for her cultus is unceitain. 53 We are informed by Ferrarius,54
that the holy Virgin, Lupita, was venerated in Ireland, on the 27th of September. Arturus ss and Castellans6 enter, at this date, the celebration of
Lupita's feast.
The strength cf high purpose and stern resolve is combined with the most
attractiveself-denialandretirementinthelifeofatruereligious. Thesevere
discipline and austerity of regular rule become a reproach to the weak ones of this world, who love its comforts, conveniences and luxuries. The fashions and frivolities of every age are rightly set down as folly, while the service of God chiefly occupies the time and thoughts of those holy women, who trust in Him alone as their Preserver and Guide, in the quiet seclusion of their cloisters. Thence, too, they soon pass away to everlasting rewards and final
rest.
ArticleII. —St. Fionntain,orFintan. Nothingparticularappears to be known regarding this St. Fionntain, whose name occurs, in the Irish Calendars at this date. 1 The entry of Fintan's feast at the present day is
2
Among the many holy men having the same name, and without any other designa- tion, it seems difficult to know when and where he lived. On the peninsula of Howth, in the vicinity of Dublin, and at a considerable elevation on the Hill,
noticed, in a line of Marianus O'Gorman's Irish metrical Festilogy,
3* be seen the small church or of a St. Fintan. It is —
to havebe—enformedoutofthe"survivals"ofatleasttwochurches itmaybe of more one of which was of much greater dimensions than the present church, and the other was about the same size as the structure now extant.
may oratory supposed
The " St. Fintan's" present
on the site of that oratory. An examination of the foundations shows, that they are laid at two levels. Evidence for such conclusions are seemingly afforded, by the pecu- liar stone dressings of the apertures, such as found in the door, small windows, and interior recesses. There is a gable over the western door, now covered with ivy, but having an ope for a bell in its upper part ; while between it and the door-way, there is a recessed circular window. The whole of the interior had been plastered with mortar, and the exterior was dashed ; but, both the mortar and the dashing have fallen off, leaving only an indication
Scetorum," tomus ii. , lib. xi. , num. 800, p.
433.
53 "Dies cultus incertus. "
it now stands, measures internally 16 feet 6 inches in length on the north side, and
54 See "
of the west end is 8 feet 1 inch, and it
narrows at the eastern end to 7 feet 7 inches.
This contraction is remarkable. Moreover,
Catalogus 55 In his Gynaeceum.
56 In his Gene—ral Martyrology. '
Colgan's
Ak th
i. i:. 11.
See
" Acta Sane-
it is what is called internally, by
builders
—
Generalis Sanctorum. "
16 feet 8 inches on the south.
The
breadth
torum Hiberniaj," xvii Februarii. Appendix
au Vitani S. Fintani, cap. i.
autem tabemaculoruni ob hoc dictus. eo quod in eo Romani exeicitus quodam tem- pore tabernacula sua ibi statueiunt hyemali frigore, et de hoc nominatus est campus
Ireland. SeeColgan's Trias Thaumaturga. " l'rima Vita S. Patricii, Scholia Veteris . ^choliastae, n. $e, p. 4.
"The old scholiast on St. Fiach's Hymn does not mention Lupita as sister of St. Patrick.
' are called the s« ns 'By Probus, they
of King Rethmit. See ibid. , Quinta Vita S. Patricii. lib. i. , cap. xii. , p. 48 (rede), and n. 10, p. 62. In the Tripartite Life, how-
pus
— we read Tabern, id est, campus tabemaculoruni. " ever,
Britonom
Colgan's
"
Trias Thaumaturga," p. 1 1, and cap. i. ,
n. 2. Also Tertia Vita S- Patricii,
profecti, coeperunt prediia incendiis vicinas regiones vastare. " Ibid. ,
p. 21.
8
See Colgan's "Trias Thaumaturga,"
Secunda Vita S. Patricii, cap. vii. , p. II. 119. In some Manuscript Lives of St. Also, Tertia Vita S. Patricii, cap. vii. , p. Patrick, the British King's name is set down 21. Sexta Vita S. Patricii, cap. vi. , p. 66. as Sectmacius ; but under none of the forms
Septima Vita S. Patricii, pars i, cap. viii. , already given does his place in British his-
p.
118.
tory appear.
"Fectmagii Regis
septem filii ex palria relegati in Armon'cain Lethaniensem — el
:
Septima Vita S. Patrtcii, pars i. , cap. xvi. , p.
September 27. ] LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. 611
northern parts of Ireland. r 3
Another Life records only the capture of his
sister Lupita, with others, who were sold there, whe—n the Apostle of Ire—land
1
was only seven years old. * It seems difficult if not impossible to
reconcile the various discrepancies of narrative in the many Lives of St. Patrick.
In that Book on the Mothers of the Irish Saints, attributed to ^Engus the
1 * it is stated that
seven named Sechnall,16 1? 8
Culdee, sons,
Lupait, respectively
the sister of St. was the mother of Patrick,
20
nan,'9 Darigoc, Ausille,
21 and the Priest
asserted, that Lupait is an error for the true name of Liemania or Liamain. 23
This is sought to be verified, owing to the discovery of a very ancient tomb-
2'* which bears an 2* to it with one of her inscription supposed identify
stone,
sons named Lugnad or Lugna. 26 This St. Lugna or Lugnath is set down as
"" "2 the luctmaire or pilot of St. Patrick.
7 It is thought, that while the Apostle
13 The Second, Third, and Fourth Lives of St. Patrick expressly state, that it was a Scottish or Irish fleet, which led away the captives on this occasion from Britain, the coasts of which they were accustomed to
mitius and Comitius or Connetus, to Restitutes of the Lombards, and it may be assumed ihey were also the children of his wi'eLiemania. See"TriasThaumaturga," pars Li. , cap. vi. , p. 130, and cap. xviii. , p. 131.
23 The whole of St. Patrick's rela- subject
tives is treated by Colgan in his " Trias
Thaumaturga. " Quinta Appendix ad Acta S. Patricii, cap. i. , ii. , iii. , iv. , v. , pp. 219 to 232.
See " Trias Thauma- Colgan's
ravage.
turga," Secunda Vita S. Patricii, cap. xi. , p. 12. Tertia Vita S. Patricii, cap. xi. , p. 22. Quarta Vita S. Patricii, cap. xv. , p. 37. Septima Vita S. Patricii, pars i. , cap. xvi. , P- "9-
24 Found on the Island of
14 See Colgan's "Trias Thaumaturga," in Lough Corrib, County of Galway, and in
Quarta Vita S. Patricii, cap. xv. , p. 37. However, this differs from the Apostle's own account in his Book of Confessions, where he states the age to be sixteen, when he was brought a captive to Ireland.
St. Patrick, Apostle of Ireland," Introduc-
tion, chap, hi. , pp. 112, 113.
16
Or Seachnall, said to have been bishop of Dunshaughlin, and whose feast occurs at the 27th of November.
17 Or Neachtain, son of Ua Baird, vene- rated on the 22nd of April, where notices of him may be found in the Fourth Volume of this work, Art. iii.
front of the small and ancient Cyclopean church known as Templepatrick.
15 See Miss Mary F. Cusack's " Life of
deeply cut, are thought to date back to
the beginning of the aixth century. The
letters are thus read : Lie Lugnaedon Macclmenue, translated, "The stone of Lugnaed, son of Limania. " Lugnaedon is
the Celtic genitive of Lugnad or Lugna, reported to have been the youngest of Liamain's or Limania's seven sons. It is on an upright pillar of dark limestone. Both the ancient church of Templepatrick and the
monument of Lugnaedon Mace Lmenuch,
are represented by two beautiful wood
in Dr. Petrie's "Round engravings George
Towers and Ancient Architecture of Ire- land," part ii. , sect, iii. , sub. sec. I. , pp. 164, 165.
26 In the following passage of the Leabhar Breac," it is stated : Cpuimchep
18 His name does not Calendars.
appear
in our Irish
19 His name is not found in the Irish Calendars.
20 Under this form, the name is not in the Irish Calendars.
"
7 mac a pechan) 111 pechcm<vd mac in Daint), oc pepcaib Uine |? eic, pop Loch mepoch*. " Cruimther Lugnai (i. e. the foster-son of Patrick and son of his sister) was the seventh son of the Bard, 22 His feast—if such there be—cannot and located at Ferta of Tir Feic, on Lough
21 Auxilius has a double festival where mention is made of him, first, at the 19th of March, in the Third Volume, Art. vi. , and in the Eighth Volume of this work, at
bugnAi (. 1. oaIcapac|\ai5
August 27th, Art. i.
be fixed. However, there is a festival for a
Mask. "—Fol. 9, a.
27 In a — Flann of the Monastery are poem by
the lines :
Priest of Cilltarsna, in the First Volume of this work, at the 20th of January, Art. v. At the 25th of April, there are notices of a Lugna of Letir, Art. vi. At the 31st of December, our Calendars record a Lughna, the Deacon. The Septima Vita S. Patricii adds two other sons, named Dier-
St.
Lugna,
Nechtan, Dabonna,' Mogor-
or 23 It has been Lugnath Lugna.
25 The characters inscribed on
it,
and
a DpogAn pepibm'de pcoiLe,
a CpuimcherLugna LuAmaipe.
"
Brogan, the scribe of his school, Cruimther Lugna his pilot. '*
Inis-an-ghoill,
LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS.
[September 27.
was in the western part of Connaught, with a sister named Nitria and fifteen disciples called Franks, 28 he may have appointed one of these, and he, Lugnat, to a station on Lough Mask, in the immediate neighbourhood of Inchaguile,
2
where the tomb to which allusion has been made was found, ? As already
stated, in the Life of St. Patrick, Liemania's husband was called Restitutus Hua-Baird or Longobardus, because he belonged to the nation of the Lombards ; yet it is supposed from her parentage, she could not have been the Sister of St, Patrick. Neither is the name or feast of Liemania to be found in our Irish Calendars, if she is distinguishable from Lupit or Lupita.
She was sold in the district known as Connallia Murthemnensis 3° or
Conaille Muirthemne, now that part of the County Louth, extending from the Cuailgne or Cooley mountains to the River Boyne. 31 The Tripartite Life of St. Patrick states, that while he had been sold to Milchon, son to Buan, the dynast of Dalaradia, his two sisters Lupita and Tigrida were sold in the terri- toryofConallMurthemne. Nevertheless,St. Patrickknewnotofhissisters' captivity ; neither did they of their brother's servitude. 32 A curious romantic legend is told33 about her being brought as a spouse by Milchuo, to her brother
St Patrick, who owing to the white mark caused through the wound already alluded to recognised her as his sister. According to oue account, St. Patrick had five sisters,3* and of these Lupait, who is first named, is said to have been a virgin. 3*
While in Ireland, Lupita lived for a time with her nephew, St. Mel,36
Bishop of Ardagh, so that she might profit by his teaching and example, in the exercise of a spiritual life. Although this was in accordance with a custom
of the primitive church, 3 ? it gave scandal to some ; and while St. Patrick was in the southern part of Teffia, he resolved on visiting St. Mel, to ascertain
28 See the account contained in Colgan's
" Trias Thaumaturga," Septima Vita S.
Patricii, lib. ii. , cap. 1. , p. 136, and nn. 98,
99, loo, p. 177.
in oratione totam noctem transigerent. Luce autem orla, ipse in fronte ancillae vestigia cicatiicis intendit. Atque ei interrogante, quae causa h*c esset, ilia respondens dixit ; Tempore quo fueram puella in Britiania in patria mea Nemthor.
contigit mihi offendare caput lapidi, ut morti comigua jacerem. Hoc
2
»See the ingenious argument of Dr.
George Petrie, on this subject, and his cor-
rection of Colgan's text by referring to the
Annotations of Tirechan, in the Book of frater metis, cui Succet vocabulum erat
Armagh, in " Round Towers and Ancient
Architecture of Ireland," part ii. , sect, iii. , subs. 1.
"
Trias Thaumaturga," Secunda Vita S. Patricii, cap. xii. , p. 12. Septima Vita S. Patricii, pais i. , cap. xvi. ,
p. 119.
31 See the Rev. Dr. James Henthorn
Todd's " St. Patrick, Apostle of Ireland," chap, ii. , n. 2, p. 361.
i* See Colgan's ". Tri. is Thaumaturga," Septima Vita S. Patricii, pars i. , cap. xvi. , p. 119.
33 It is thus related, in the Second Life of St. Patrick, after the statement that the Gentiles were accustomed to release their slaves after seven years had passed in servitude, unless they chose to continue in
"
Cogitans autem Miliuc, quomodo eum (sal. PatriciumJ obtineret, voluit ancillam ipsi adjungere. Dehir. c ancilla
sibi desponsata, paratoque ejus convivio, in
domo separatim nocte nuptiarum collocati sunt. Tunc ille ancilla predicavit, ut simul
aspectans, caput meum manu sua signavit, et statimvulnussanatumest. Atillesubridens, ait ; Ego sum ille frater tuus, qui te sanam feci : sed ista nostra conjunctio facta est Dei misericordia, ut postquam dispersi surnui per cantivitatem simul iterum convenissemus. Post haec itaque Deo gratias agentes, imii pal. un deseruini petunt, ibidem Deum orantes. "—Colgan's 'Trias Thaumaturga," Secunda Vita S. Patricii, cap. xvi. , xvii. , p. 12. The same account is given ill Quarta Vita S. Patricii, cap. xx. , p. 37, as also in Septima Vila S. Patricii, pars, i. , cap. xxi. , p. 120.
34
They are written in the following order : viz. Lupait, Agris, Liamain, Darerca, and Cinnenam.
35 See Archbishop Ussher's Britanni- caruin Ecclesiarum Antiquitate. N," cap. xvii. , p. 429.
36 See his Acts in the Second Volume of this work, at his feast day, February 6th, Art. i. 37 According to Jocelyn. See Colgan's
Sexta Vita S. Patricii, cap. cii. , p. 89.
30 See Colgan's
that state.
September 27. ] LIVES 0I< THE IRISH SAINTS.
whether any truth could be in the rumours spread abroad, which however the Irish Apostle did not credit. A miracle wrought in their favour satisfied himregardingtheinnocenceofhissisterandhernephew. Nevertheless,he deemed it advisable, that both should live in
k< Men should dwell apart from women, lest occasion of scandal arise for the weak, and least our 1 ,ord's name be injured through us, which God avert. "& Where- upon he ordered that Mel should live at Ardagh, and Lupita at Druimheo, to
the east of a mountain called Brileith, which separated both places. 39
Lupait founded a monastery for religious women on the eastern side of Armagh,"butatwhatperiodisnotstated. Itseemsprobable,theselectionof
such a site was owing to a desire she naturally entertained, that it might have the advantage of St. Patrick's supervision and direction. From him also, it is said she received the veil. 41 There was a church, called Temple na fearta, 42 near the city of Armagh, and, according to Harris4 3 a nunnery was there founded by St. Patrick,44 in the fifth century. It is said, St. Patrick employed his sister Lupita in weaving or embroidering vestments and in arranging linens, for altar 4* In this work she was assisted
by
purposes.
In Ussher's Tripartite version, 4 ? it is said, that St. Lupita was buried at the
eastern side of the city of Armagh. By some writers, the place has been called Temple na Fearta. Others place her remains at Armagh. But, as the former place is very near the latter, this difference of statement can be easily recon- ciled. ThefollowingcuriousaccountisgivenbyWard,thataboutthemiddle of the seventeenth century, the body of St. Lupita was found in an upright position, and between two crosses, one before and the other behind,"4* while these remains were buried under the ruins of the old chu—rch of Temple
49 Herfestivalwasheld,o—
38 See
Hibernise," Februarii vi. De S. Mele Epis- copo Ardachadensi, cap. ix. , p. 261.
39 See Colgan's "Trias Thaumaturga,"
Septima p. 133.
Vita S.
quitates," cap. xvii, p. 429. 4* See " Sancti Rumoldi
Colgan's
Patricii, part ii. , cap. xxix. ,
Martyris Inclyti," &c. Dissertatio Historica de Patria S.
40 See Ussher's " Britannicarum Eccle-
siarum Antiquitates," cap. xvii. , p. 429. 49 See Archdall's Monasiicon Hiberni-
"
44 See Arch-dall at Temple-fartagh, in Monasticon Hibernicum," p. 32.
45 See " Trias Colgan's
suum S. Patricium ad convertendam Hirlan-
diam properantem secuta, ita vixit, ut
41 " See Colgan's
Trias Thaumaturga. " cum," p. 32.
ad Acta S.
4- RenderedChurchoftheMiracles.
QuintaAppendix xxiii. , p. 269.
23 SurveyTownlandMapsfortheCountyFer-
43 See Harris' Ware, vol.
tiesofIreland,"
"
Sheet "
ii. , chap, xxxviii. , p. 269.
:
fratrem
Thaumaturga. " Secunda Vita S. Patricii, n. 2, p. 16.
"
Bishop Kalendars of Scottish Saints," p. 212.
Antiqui-
managh," 5' Thus
15.
Lupitse virginis, quae
52 He writes: " S. Lupita, virgo Scota, sister of Patrick, and Ere, daughter of Divi Patricii Scoti, apostoli Hibernise soror
uterina. fratrem suum ad evangelicum opus
proficiscentem secuta, magnorunv laborum
particeps evasit, et in divorum album relata
ab colitur. " — Thomas utraque gente
Dempster's
46 "The three embroideres^es, Lupait,
Daire, and Cruimthiris, made with their own pure hands the vestments and altar linens used during the Holy Sacrifice in the churches of Erin. "—Most Rev. Dr.
" Insula Sanctorum etDoctorum; or Ireland's Ancient
Healy's
"
separate houses, saying :
nthe ot not 27th September although
Fartagh.
set down in the O'Clery's Calendar at Innis-Lothair. This place is said to be identical with Inish-Lirroo, or Inish Lougher,s° on Lough Erne. It lies within the parish of Devenish, in the barony of Magheraboy, and in the County of Fermanagh. At the 27th of September, the feast of Lupita, a virgin, is recorded in Thomas " 1 in his
Dempster's Menologium Scoticum,"* although
2
allusion to her in another work,s while stating that she flourished in 592, he
" Acta Sanctorum Schools and Scholars," 66, chap, iii. , p.
Rumoldi, sect. 10, num. 9, p. 184. "
5° It contains acres, Patricii, cap. 36
roods and
other 6 holy virgins/
Dublin, 1890, 8vo.
47 See " Britannicarum Ecclesiarum Ami-
3
perches ; while it is shown on the Ordnance
sanctissimis adnumeretur. "— Forbes'
Historia Ecclesiastica Gentis
•'
614 LIVESOETHEIRISHSAIATS. [September27.
says the day for her cultus is unceitain. 53 We are informed by Ferrarius,54
that the holy Virgin, Lupita, was venerated in Ireland, on the 27th of September. Arturus ss and Castellans6 enter, at this date, the celebration of
Lupita's feast.
The strength cf high purpose and stern resolve is combined with the most
attractiveself-denialandretirementinthelifeofatruereligious. Thesevere
discipline and austerity of regular rule become a reproach to the weak ones of this world, who love its comforts, conveniences and luxuries. The fashions and frivolities of every age are rightly set down as folly, while the service of God chiefly occupies the time and thoughts of those holy women, who trust in Him alone as their Preserver and Guide, in the quiet seclusion of their cloisters. Thence, too, they soon pass away to everlasting rewards and final
rest.
ArticleII. —St. Fionntain,orFintan. Nothingparticularappears to be known regarding this St. Fionntain, whose name occurs, in the Irish Calendars at this date. 1 The entry of Fintan's feast at the present day is
2
Among the many holy men having the same name, and without any other designa- tion, it seems difficult to know when and where he lived. On the peninsula of Howth, in the vicinity of Dublin, and at a considerable elevation on the Hill,
noticed, in a line of Marianus O'Gorman's Irish metrical Festilogy,
3* be seen the small church or of a St. Fintan. It is —
to havebe—enformedoutofthe"survivals"ofatleasttwochurches itmaybe of more one of which was of much greater dimensions than the present church, and the other was about the same size as the structure now extant.
may oratory supposed
The " St. Fintan's" present
on the site of that oratory. An examination of the foundations shows, that they are laid at two levels. Evidence for such conclusions are seemingly afforded, by the pecu- liar stone dressings of the apertures, such as found in the door, small windows, and interior recesses. There is a gable over the western door, now covered with ivy, but having an ope for a bell in its upper part ; while between it and the door-way, there is a recessed circular window. The whole of the interior had been plastered with mortar, and the exterior was dashed ; but, both the mortar and the dashing have fallen off, leaving only an indication
Scetorum," tomus ii. , lib. xi. , num. 800, p.
433.
53 "Dies cultus incertus. "
it now stands, measures internally 16 feet 6 inches in length on the north side, and
54 See "
of the west end is 8 feet 1 inch, and it
narrows at the eastern end to 7 feet 7 inches.
This contraction is remarkable. Moreover,
Catalogus 55 In his Gynaeceum.
56 In his Gene—ral Martyrology. '
Colgan's
Ak th
i. i:. 11.
See
" Acta Sane-
it is what is called internally, by
builders
—
Generalis Sanctorum. "
16 feet 8 inches on the south.
The
breadth
torum Hiberniaj," xvii Februarii. Appendix
au Vitani S. Fintani, cap. i.
