The latter grew up by degrees, and the Almighty seemed to supply every want,
incident
to his condition.
O'Hanlon - Lives of the Irish Saints - v2
— Article vi.
*
See book ii. ,
534 LIVES01THEIRISHSAINTS. [February15.
Article VII. —Saints Valentine and Marcellus, with Com- panions,Martyrs. The"Feilire"ofSt. ^ngus,'atthe14thofFebruary,
has a commemoration of Saints Valentine and Marcellus, together with eighty I others, martyrs. It is probable, St. ^ngus took the ancient Martyrology of EusebiusorofSt. Jeromeforhisauthority. Althoughwefind,aSt. Valentine,
bishop and martyr, at Baga and Taurus, in Spain ; a St. Valentine, at Ve- launensis, in Gaul ; a St. Valentine, priest and martyr, at Rome ; a St. Va-
lentine I. , bishop and martyr, at Imteramna, in Umbria ; a St. Valentine venerated at Gemmetis, in Gaul ; a St. Valentine, a Roman martyr, at Socuel-
lamus, in Spain ; a St. Valentine, a Roman martyr, at Hamedius and Armen-
teria, in Belgium ; a St. Valentine and xxiv. soldiers, martyrs, in Africa ;
yet, we do not meet with a St. Marcellus, commemorated by the Bollandists,
atthisdate. ^ Neitherdowefind80martyrcompanionsmentioned; although,
more martyrs than treble that number, in the aggregate, are venerated, at the 14th of February. It seems most probable, the allusion in St. Angus' " Feilire " refers to the celebrated St. Valentine, priest and martyr, who was beheaded at Rome, about the year 270. 3 From the facts already stated, and only having relation to one day, we may justly infer, how vast has been the number of those holy persons, who suffered martyrdom, in every age of the Church.
jfitteentft Bap of jfefiruarp*
ARTICLE I. —ST. BERACH OR BERACHIUS, ABBOT, PATRON OF KILBARRY, COUNTY OF ROSCOMMON.
[SIXTH OR SEVENTH CENTURY. ]
CHAPTER I.
INTRODUCTION—PROPHECY OF ST. PATRICK REGARDING ST. BERACH—ACTS OF THIS HOLY MAN—HIS FAMILY AND BIRTH—BAPTISM AND FOSTERAGE, BY HIS UNCLE, CRUIMHTHER FROECH—HIS EARLY EDUCATION—SENT TO ST. DAGvEUS FOR FURTHER INSTRUCTION—MIRACLES AND MERITS OF ST. BERACH.
incomprehensible wonders revealed, by Divine Providence, are
THE manifested to specially man,
in the
and most excellent
highest
manner, through the samts, who, from all eternity, are predestined and pre-
elected. These are, the creatures of earth, so grandly and greatly created, that exhibit chiefly the supreme wisdom, the infinite power, and the perfect
Article vn. —* The following rann. copied from the " Leabhar Breac," and translated into English, by Professor O'Looney, refers to the combat of these soldiers of Christ :—
;
Cxyi. kl I1-I
mA^celluf ^o pin^Gt) ;
In the field of Valentine,
Marcel his was tortured ;
In the kingdom of Christ were
planted
Eighty comely [martyr] cham-
pions.
=* See "Acta Sanctorum," tomus ii. , Feb-
|\oi
tlAlencme,
^Uich CiMi-c ^AocUrroAT),
1
Uxxjc. CAin cingex).
Fathers,MartyrsandotherPrincipalSaints," vol. ii. , February xiv.
niarii xiv.
3 See Rev. Alban Butler's
"
Lives of the
February 15. ] LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. 535
bounty, of God. In far western Ireland, so long buried in idolatry, the
Lord was pleased to raise up many holy persons, to make his designs miraculous, and to visit his children, lest these might be lost. Thus, within
the bounds of Connaught, he was pleased to light, as it were, a shining star, which should remove darkness, and show the way to those erring, or sitting in the shadows of death. Among such great luminaries, Berach seemed as a person sent by God, to prepare his paths through the desert of this world ; hismeritsweresuper-eminent; hewagedwaragainstthepowersofdarkness, by preaching, by reproof, by exhortation, by his visits to sinners, and, in fine, by his miracles. ^
Colgan has published the Acts of St. Berach, at the 15th of February. ^ They have been derived from two' distinct manuscripts. 3 One of these
belonged to the monastery of the island ;+ while, the other belonged to the church of which he was the patron. s Some manuscript Acts of this holy confessor,also,aretobefoundintheBodleianLibrary,atOxford. ^ Father John Bolland, after prefixing a commentary in six paragraphs, publishes a First Life of St. Berachius, or Berach, in four chapters, and thirty-one para- graphs, and a Second Life, in ten paragraphs. 7 These are merely republica- tions from Colgan. There is an Irish Life of St. Berach, transcribed by
Michael O'Clery, and preserved in the Burgundian Library, at Bruxelles. ^ So far as seen, by the writer, the Acts of this holy man appear to abound in
fables, and to have been drawn, chiefly from popular legends. The First
Life, as published, by Colgan, has a prayer to St. Berach appended, and it was probably composed as a sermon for his festival.
Before the birth of St. Berach, when the great Apostle of Ireland9 visited that part of the country, where he was destined to see the Hght, Gentiles and infidels were in possession of it. In vain, the herald of the Gospel soughttowithdrawthemfromerrorandsuperstition. Hisdiscipleswondered, that his admonitions and teaching should there fail ; but, in the spirit of
"
the man of God cried out
after me shall soon appear a man, to be born in these parts, and of this very race, who will remove error from among them, by his life and doctrine : not alone shall he convert this perverse and fierce clan, you now behold, but even many other people, such as these are, shall he bring as gentle lambs to Christ, through his powerful reasoning. " These words of the missionary jorophet were duly fulfilled.
The parents of St. Berach were of noble origin, and belonging to the
province of Connaught, they seem to have been Christians, at a time when Gentileerrorsstillabounded. BerachdescendedfromtheraceofDobhtha,
prophecy,
:
Brethren,
have a for patience while,
'
Article i. —Chapter i. — See his First
Life, in Colgan, chap. i.
=^ See "Acta Sanctorum Hibernise," XV.
Februarii. Vita S. Berachi, Abbatis, and Supplementum Vitse S. Berachi, pp. 340 to
348.
—3 this Ishall — Throughout article, designate
s This Life, originally in the Irish Ian- guage, has been translated into Latin, by
to their order of
one as the First or Latin Life, and the other
as the Second or Irish Life, or as the Sup-
plement.
4 In Lough Ree. The writer seems to
have been Augustin Magraidin, Canon Re- gular of the religious establisliment there, and who died, A. D. 1405. This Life is written, in Latin. It has narratives not found in the Second Life,
Vita S. Confessoris, et —Abbatis, MS. Bodl. Rawl.
according
publication
They are thus noticed
:
Berachi,
the former Life is more extended, yet it omits certain matters, con- tained in the Irish Life. The latter, how-
ever, is added, as a supplement to the First Life, inserted by Colgan.
^
Colgan. Although
folio. MS. Bodl. Rawl. B. 485, folio 130, veil. 4to, xiv. cent. 7 See "Acta Sanctorum," tomus ii. , xv.
Februarii, pp. 832 to 839.
^
Fol. 66.
9 See the Life of St. Patrick, at the lyih
of March.
B. 505, pp. 208 214, veil,
536 LIVESOFTHEIRISHSAINTS. [February15.
who belonged to the posterity of Brian, son of Eochaidh Muighmhedhoin. ^° According to the Irish Life of our saint, his father's name was Nemnald," sometimes rendered Nemnann and Nemnall. " Less correctly is he called Nendal. ^3 This name is likewise Latinized, Nemnaldus,^* Nemnannus, Nemnallus,andNendalus. ^s TheIrishgenealogies^^makeoursaint'sfather the son of Nemagen, son to Fintan, son of Malius, son to Dobtha, son of ^ngus, son to Ere Deirg, son of Brian, son to Euchad Moimeadhoin. ^7 Fionmaith,^^ or Finmath,'9 sister to Cruimhther Fraech, of Cluain Con- maicne, in Muinter-Eolais, was his mother, and also the parent of his holy sister,thevirginMiodhabhair. =° ThefatherofFinmaithwasCarthage,son to Nathy, son of Onchuo. ^^
Their holy relative, named Froegius, or Froech,^^ lived in a certain district, and there he occupied a cell. After reciting matins and lauds, he went out, about the middle of the night, and looking in the direction of Connaught, he beheld a globular and bright luminous halo surrounding the house of Nemnald, and of his wife, Fionmaith. Wondering what such a
^4
According to the translated Irish Life,
"S Constituting a great part of the subse- quent county of Leitrim, or the O'Roorke's Country. See ibid.
in Colgan.
** See Dr. " Ecclesiastical His- Lanigan's
^s ^^
According
to the First Life.
At chapter viii.
*7 See Colgan's "Acta Sanctorum Hiber-
niae," xv. Februarii, n. 3, p. 346.
*^
According to the First Life, she is called Finscad.
*9 Thus is she named in the Irish Life.
=°
See an account of her, at the 22nd of February.
tory of Ireland," vol. ii. , chap, xiv. , sect. vi. , nn. 82, 83, pp. 323 to 325.
^^^ See Archdall's "Monasticon Hibemi-
='
According to the tract of St. . ^ngus,
34, 35, 36, 37, 38.
-'> See Dr. Lanigan's "Ecclesiastical His-
tory of Ireland," vol. ii. , chap, xiv. , section vi. , and n. 82, pp. 323, 324.
•' On the Mothers of the Irish Saints. "
=="
Also called Cruimhther Froech. See
Froech said to one of his " Go to the house disciples,
spectacle portended,
of my brother-in-law, Nemnald, and inform me, if my sister hath given birth to a boy : if so, bring him to me. " Obeying this order, the messenger at once set out for the house, where, on his arrival, he found a very beautiful infantwithFionmaith. Havinglearnedfromthemessengerthoseinstructions, given by Froech, the child was accordingly sent to him. When the latter saw how highly gifted, by nature, his infant nephew was, he directed that baptism should be administered, in the church, so that the neophyte should be washed with the water of regeneration, and that thus he might be pre- sented to Christ.
ThechildwasbornataplacecalledGortnaluachra. ^3 itissaidtohave been called Cluan, and to have been in the territory of Conmacnie. This comprised several districts. One of the Conmacnies was in Leitrim. 24 It was known as Conmacne-Rein, and afterwards as Muinter-Eolas. ^s The locality is now called Cloon, in the barony of Mohill, and county of Leitrim,='^ as we are informed. It was situated near the River Clone, and, at present it gives name to a parish in the diocese of Ardagh. =^7 This large parish, so called, is partly in the barony of Mohill, and partly in that of Carrigallen. ^^ Here dwelt his uncle, Froech, who was very celebrated among the priests of Ireland. =9
The first name given to the child was Fintan, until he had been brought tothefont,byhisuncle,St. FroechorFrsegius,whobaptizedhim. The
" Thus was he related, by collateral de- scent, to Niall the Great, King of Ireland.
*' Thus is he named in the Irish Life.
*'
*3 In the First or Latin Life.
Ware, ii. , Antiquities of Ireland," chap, vii. , p. 48.
According to the Irish Calendars.
notices of him, at the 20th of December, =3 According to the Irish Life.
^'> See Harris' vol. "
cum," p. 407.
=' **
See it described, on the
Ordnance Survey Townland Maps for the County of Leitrim. " Sheets 25, 28, 29, 30, 32, 33,
February 15. ] LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. 537
parents had been required to know, what name ought to be imposed on their child, when they replied, it must be Berach. This being agreed to,
"
Froech said afterwards,
Rightly has this name been given to him, for he
shallbeasaint,andhisplaceshallbeinHeaven. " Wearefurnishedwith
an interpretation, for the name of Berach ; namely, that it has the significa-
tion of one, who takes a direct and an exact aim, at an object, or as reaching one, so to speak, with the point of a sword. 3° In Latin, this name is formu-
lated Berachius, Berachus, and Beragius, less correctly, also, he is called Berasius. Again, this name is thought to be written Berectus. When baptized, the mother naturally desired her infant to be sent home ; yet,
"
Know you, my dear sister, that no further care of this boy shall belong to you, for with me shall he remain, since God, who created him,isabletocausehisgrowth,withoutbeingsuckledbyamother. " To this strange request Fionmaith assented, and in a truly miraculous manner, Froech became a foster-father to the child.
The latter grew up by degrees, and the Almighty seemed to supply every want, incident to his condition. By Froech, also, was Berach taught the rudiments of learning, when a mere infant. As the child grew up, he evinced the most affectionate regard towards his uncle. His piety and his love for learning were very admirable, sothathistimewaswhollyengagedwithprayerandstudy. Hisintellectual and pious disposition, even at this early age, boded his future eminence and great sanctity. He laboured to imitate his holy relative, and in the course of time, no other child of earth seemed to equal him, in the practise of good
works.
St. Berach is unwarrantably said to have become a disciple of the illus-
trious St. Columkille,3'' in lona. s^ It is true, a certain monk, named Berachus, is mentioned in his Acts,33 as having received that holy abbot's benediction ; and, afterwards, as sailing, from Hy, to the Island of Ethica. Colgan thought it very probable, that Berach, the monk, might be identical with the present saint. However, in neither of his lives does any mention of St. Columba occur, nor anything to indicate, that our Berach had ever been a member of the lona community. 34
The child was only seven years, when he was sent to learn, at the school
of a holy man, called Dageus. 35 He lived, at Iniscaoin, in the present county of Louth. 3^ While there, the boy Berach went through an excellent course of studies, in sacred and secular learning. His after career was dis- tinguished,forconsummatewisdom. HisobediencetoSt. Dagaeuswasre- markable, while he became renowned for great virtues and miracles. 37
While St. Berach was the disciple of Bishop Daigh,38 the latter sent him to a certain mill, in Magh Muirtheimhne. 39 Some guests had arrived at Iniscaoin,4°andSt. Berachhadbeenappointedtowaitonthem. But,he
Froech said to her,
3° SeeColgan's "Acta Sanctorum Hiber-
nise," XV. Februarii. Prima Vita S. Berachi,
n. 2, p. 346.
3* See his Life, at the 9th of June.
32 See Colgan's "Trias Thaumaturga. " Quarta Appendix ad Acta S. Columbag, chap. X. , pp. 488, 501.
"
Ecclesiastical His- tory of Ireland," vol. ii. , chap, xiv. , sect.
vi. , and n. 86, pp. 323 to 325.
33 See an account of him, at the i8th of
August.
36 See Dr. Lanigan's "Ecclesiastical His-
tory of Ireland," vol. ii. , chap, xiv. , section
vi,, p. 323.
'^^ It is only from the Irish Life we learn,
that St. Berach was a disciple of St. Daggeus.
See chapters iii. , iv. v.
38 The son of Cairell.
39 This was also called Conal or ICinel-
Muirthemne, an ancient territory, compre-
bending the greatest part of the modern county of Louth. It is also called Hy-Conal, or Machaire Conal. See Harris' Ware, vol. ii. , "Antiquities of Ireland," chap, vii. , sect, i. , pp. 48, 52.
^o This is now a parish, partly in the ba- ronies of Louth and Upper Dundalk, and this portion may be traced on the "Ord- nance Survey Townland Maps for the
33 See Rev. Dr. Reeves' Adamnan's " Life of St. Columba," lib. i. , cap. 19, p. 48.
34 See Dr. Lanigan's
538 LIVESOFTHEIRISHSAINTS [February15.
wanted to have two measures of wheat ground, at the adjoining mill, so that hemighthaveflourtopreparebread. Therehefoundawoman,andaboy,
belonging to that territory. The legend in his Life relates, that these had a sack of oats, which they felt desirous to have ground. The saint asked permission to have his wants, on behalf of the guests, attended to, in the first turn, at the mill. This request, however, they refused. They even loaded himself and his master Dagaeus with reproaches. Afterwards, that wheat, which St. Berach brought, was put with their oats, into the hopper. Berach patiently awaited the result. Owing to the sanctity of this young disciple, a miraculous manifestation of Divine power took place ; for, as we are informed, the wheaten meal was issued, and in a ground state, without any admixture of oatmeal, which parted, on an opposite side. ^^ This caused greatastonishmenttothebeholders. But,anexemplarypunishmentawaited the mother and her son ; for, the latter fell soon afterwards into an adjoining stream, and was drowned, while, the former was overtaken with a grievous infirmity, which caused her death. A great outcry was raised against St. Berach, by the kindred of those who were dead, as if he had been the cause of such a calamity. For this, too, were they punished in a miraculous manner. However, in a more deprecatory mood, with tears and prayers, they sought the holy youth's assistance. Moved with compassion, Berach asked of God relief for those, who experienced punishment, and even he prayed that the deceased mother and her son might be restored to life. All this desire was accorded to his prayers. In gratitude to our Lord, for the favours thus miraculously conferred, the father of that son bestowed on God and on St. Bearach for ever, not alone the mill, which was called Mulend- eleand,'^^' but the village itself, which subsequently was denominated Raen- Beraigh. 43
CHAPTER IL
ST. BERACH IS RECOMMENDED BY ST. DAG^EUS TO PLACE HIMSELF UNDER ST. KEVIN— HIS JOURNEY THROUGH CRICH ROIS AND BREGIA—HE ARRIVES AT GLENDALOUGH, WHERE HE IS JOYFULLY RECEIVED BY ST. KEVIN—HIS NOVICESHIP AND MIRACLES, WHILE THERE—ST. BERACH RECEIVES AN ANGELIC ADMONITION TO REMOVE FROM ST. KEVIN'S MONASTERY.
After those miraculous occurrences at the mill, St. Berach returned to St.
Dagseus and to Iniskeen. He brought the flour thus wonderfully ground and separated. This meal not only served to regale the guests and the monks, but it was even increased in bulk, so as to feed many poor persons, who resorted to the monastery. When the master thus found his disciple so signally favoured and remarkably holy, Dagaeus deemed himself un- worthy to instruct so distinguished a person, whose guidance he should rather require. Dagceus seems to have recommended Berach to place him- self under the care of St. Coemgine or Kevin,^ who then ruled over the monasteryatGlendalough. Totheyouthhegaveabacillus^calledinIrish Bacullh-gearr,' with a cymbal or bell, called Clog-beraigh, or " the bell ot
County of Louth," Sheets 6, 1 1. The other portion lies in the barony of Farney, and
denominations of Ireland.
43 1 have not been able to identify this
"
Townland MajDs for the County of Mona-
this may be seen on the ghan. " Sheets29,32.
"*'
ology of Donegal. "
Ordnance Survey
place. Chapter ii.
—
This account is given in the
**
ofJune.
= **
the short crozier. " In Irish, This curious object is now
'*' At noclueseemsleftus present,
Martyr-
It means bv\CAl 5eA]\|\.
intheMuseumof? the
ing this locality, among the known towaland Academy. See an account of it, in
Irish Pro-
regard- preserved,
Royal "
'
See his
at the
3rd
Life,
February 15. ] LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS 539
Berach. " Atthattime,whentheIrishLifeotoursainthadbeenwritten,
both of these relics were religiously preserved at Glendalough. 3
When Berach had thus distinguished himself for piety and learning, at the school of Dagaeus, he resolved on removing to St. Kevin's monastery. The approval of Heaven itself seemed to determine this journey, for an angel was sent to conduct him on the way/ This led through the territory ofCrich-rois,5intheplainofMuirthemne. *^ ThenhepassedovertheRiver Boyne,7 and entered the district of Bregia. ^ It chanced, that the chieftain of this district had prepared a banquet, to which the King of Temoria^ had been invited. At this time, Berach suffered much from thirst, and asked a drink from the caterer, who was inhospitable enough to refuse it to the wearied traveller. The holy man bore this repulse patiently, and proceeded on his way ; however, when the King of Temoria came, as the legend in our sainfs Life relates, the steward found a succession of vessels, which he had filled, all empty, so that he was obliged to state what had occurred. Messengers were then sent after St. Berach with orders to induce his voluntary return. Complying with their request, the holy man blessed the ^° so that all the vessels to be found there were once more replenished. The regulus of Bregia, to commemorate this remarkable occurrence, bestowed on the saint a place in his territory, which was after-
"
wards known as Dysart-Beraigh," or the
When our saint arrived at Glendalough, St. Kevin seems to have had
some heavenly intuition regarding Berach's great merits. The latter at once entered the church to pray, while the holy abbot stood, with his monks,
:
before its doors. Kevin said to his companions " Behold a servant of
God,letusgoandsalutehim. " Kevinthenenquiredaboutthestranger's
*'
chieftain's
cellar,
reason for visiting him. Berach replied :
Connaught, hither, greatly desiring to obey the precepts of the holy father Kevin, and to drink from the cup of his sacred teaching. " Hearing this, KevingavethankstoGod. Heconfirmedtheyoungmaninhisvirtuous resolution, and received him most benignantly. He also assumed him as a
ceedings of the Royal Irish Academy," vol. viii. , p. 302.
3 The foregoing incidents are not given, in the First Life.
"* AsstatedintheFirstLife.
s This embraced a portion of the barony
ofFarney,inthecountyofMonaghan,and some of the adjoining districts of Meath and
111 ac ^lollA'peAchtoinn I'och^Ai-o
-d]A 'oeifceA|\c "bixeA^Vi b]\AonfccochAi5.
—
Mac Gillaseachlainn the peaceable
Over southern Breagh of dropping
"
the Four Masters," vol. i. , n. (1), p. 122.
^
flowers. "
These are to be distinguished, from the more royal family of O'Maelseachlainn ; and, after the English invasion, they sunk into poverty
Louth. See Dr. O'Donovan's
Annals of
This region is frequently mentioned in
the Irish Annals. See Z(5/rt'. , vol. vii. Index and obscurity. Sometimes, Magh Breagh Locorum, pp. 37, 38, 88. is transposed, into Breaghmaigh. See Dr.
7 In ancient records, this is sometimes O'Donovan's "Topographical Poems of called Boan, Boyn, Boandus, and more an- John O'Dubhagain and Giolla na Naomh ciently, as we are told, Buuinda. See the O'Huidhrin," pp. 4, 5, 12, 13, and n. (11), Bollandists' "Acta Sanctorum," tomus ii. , p. iii. , n. (55), p^ xiii. , n. (63), p. xv.
Februarii xv. , n. (e), p. 839. ^ The ancient name for Tara.
^ '° This was a large level plain or territory,
This legend may be valuable as a re-
in East Meath, which comprised five can-
cord of our ancient social usages, in Ireland,
" the townland denominations of Among
Ireland noted, it does not seem easy to
treds. to an old According
poem, quoted by Dr. Keating, it extended as far north as
the Casan, now the Anagassan stream, near
Dundalk, in the county of Louth. Over ever, may be known, through some local
South Breagh, the family of Mac GioUasech- lainn ruled. These are noted by O'Dugan, in his poem, as
tradition.
" This we learn from the First Life,
chapter the sixth, in Colgan.
Desert of Berach. "
I came from the bounds of
Thus rendered by Dr. O'Donovan
:
*'
identify this particular place ; which, how-
540
LIVESOFTHEIRISHSAINTS. [February15.
novice, giving him the religious habit, and taught him the institutes of a monastic Ufe. "
1 embrace the monastic state. '3 This was probably in the sixth century.
Then had hardly grown the future city, which sprung up, after St. Kevin hadcreateditsnucleus,byfoundingtherehischurchandmonastery. In
after ages, a succession of pious bishops, abbots and ecclesiastics gave it greatcelebrity; but,now,itsnumerousruinsonlyattestitsperishedstream
of human life. '* The first year of Berach's noviceship being sped, he entered
Having placed himself under the direction of St.
*
See book ii. ,
534 LIVES01THEIRISHSAINTS. [February15.
Article VII. —Saints Valentine and Marcellus, with Com- panions,Martyrs. The"Feilire"ofSt. ^ngus,'atthe14thofFebruary,
has a commemoration of Saints Valentine and Marcellus, together with eighty I others, martyrs. It is probable, St. ^ngus took the ancient Martyrology of EusebiusorofSt. Jeromeforhisauthority. Althoughwefind,aSt. Valentine,
bishop and martyr, at Baga and Taurus, in Spain ; a St. Valentine, at Ve- launensis, in Gaul ; a St. Valentine, priest and martyr, at Rome ; a St. Va-
lentine I. , bishop and martyr, at Imteramna, in Umbria ; a St. Valentine venerated at Gemmetis, in Gaul ; a St. Valentine, a Roman martyr, at Socuel-
lamus, in Spain ; a St. Valentine, a Roman martyr, at Hamedius and Armen-
teria, in Belgium ; a St. Valentine and xxiv. soldiers, martyrs, in Africa ;
yet, we do not meet with a St. Marcellus, commemorated by the Bollandists,
atthisdate. ^ Neitherdowefind80martyrcompanionsmentioned; although,
more martyrs than treble that number, in the aggregate, are venerated, at the 14th of February. It seems most probable, the allusion in St. Angus' " Feilire " refers to the celebrated St. Valentine, priest and martyr, who was beheaded at Rome, about the year 270. 3 From the facts already stated, and only having relation to one day, we may justly infer, how vast has been the number of those holy persons, who suffered martyrdom, in every age of the Church.
jfitteentft Bap of jfefiruarp*
ARTICLE I. —ST. BERACH OR BERACHIUS, ABBOT, PATRON OF KILBARRY, COUNTY OF ROSCOMMON.
[SIXTH OR SEVENTH CENTURY. ]
CHAPTER I.
INTRODUCTION—PROPHECY OF ST. PATRICK REGARDING ST. BERACH—ACTS OF THIS HOLY MAN—HIS FAMILY AND BIRTH—BAPTISM AND FOSTERAGE, BY HIS UNCLE, CRUIMHTHER FROECH—HIS EARLY EDUCATION—SENT TO ST. DAGvEUS FOR FURTHER INSTRUCTION—MIRACLES AND MERITS OF ST. BERACH.
incomprehensible wonders revealed, by Divine Providence, are
THE manifested to specially man,
in the
and most excellent
highest
manner, through the samts, who, from all eternity, are predestined and pre-
elected. These are, the creatures of earth, so grandly and greatly created, that exhibit chiefly the supreme wisdom, the infinite power, and the perfect
Article vn. —* The following rann. copied from the " Leabhar Breac," and translated into English, by Professor O'Looney, refers to the combat of these soldiers of Christ :—
;
Cxyi. kl I1-I
mA^celluf ^o pin^Gt) ;
In the field of Valentine,
Marcel his was tortured ;
In the kingdom of Christ were
planted
Eighty comely [martyr] cham-
pions.
=* See "Acta Sanctorum," tomus ii. , Feb-
|\oi
tlAlencme,
^Uich CiMi-c ^AocUrroAT),
1
Uxxjc. CAin cingex).
Fathers,MartyrsandotherPrincipalSaints," vol. ii. , February xiv.
niarii xiv.
3 See Rev. Alban Butler's
"
Lives of the
February 15. ] LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. 535
bounty, of God. In far western Ireland, so long buried in idolatry, the
Lord was pleased to raise up many holy persons, to make his designs miraculous, and to visit his children, lest these might be lost. Thus, within
the bounds of Connaught, he was pleased to light, as it were, a shining star, which should remove darkness, and show the way to those erring, or sitting in the shadows of death. Among such great luminaries, Berach seemed as a person sent by God, to prepare his paths through the desert of this world ; hismeritsweresuper-eminent; hewagedwaragainstthepowersofdarkness, by preaching, by reproof, by exhortation, by his visits to sinners, and, in fine, by his miracles. ^
Colgan has published the Acts of St. Berach, at the 15th of February. ^ They have been derived from two' distinct manuscripts. 3 One of these
belonged to the monastery of the island ;+ while, the other belonged to the church of which he was the patron. s Some manuscript Acts of this holy confessor,also,aretobefoundintheBodleianLibrary,atOxford. ^ Father John Bolland, after prefixing a commentary in six paragraphs, publishes a First Life of St. Berachius, or Berach, in four chapters, and thirty-one para- graphs, and a Second Life, in ten paragraphs. 7 These are merely republica- tions from Colgan. There is an Irish Life of St. Berach, transcribed by
Michael O'Clery, and preserved in the Burgundian Library, at Bruxelles. ^ So far as seen, by the writer, the Acts of this holy man appear to abound in
fables, and to have been drawn, chiefly from popular legends. The First
Life, as published, by Colgan, has a prayer to St. Berach appended, and it was probably composed as a sermon for his festival.
Before the birth of St. Berach, when the great Apostle of Ireland9 visited that part of the country, where he was destined to see the Hght, Gentiles and infidels were in possession of it. In vain, the herald of the Gospel soughttowithdrawthemfromerrorandsuperstition. Hisdiscipleswondered, that his admonitions and teaching should there fail ; but, in the spirit of
"
the man of God cried out
after me shall soon appear a man, to be born in these parts, and of this very race, who will remove error from among them, by his life and doctrine : not alone shall he convert this perverse and fierce clan, you now behold, but even many other people, such as these are, shall he bring as gentle lambs to Christ, through his powerful reasoning. " These words of the missionary jorophet were duly fulfilled.
The parents of St. Berach were of noble origin, and belonging to the
province of Connaught, they seem to have been Christians, at a time when Gentileerrorsstillabounded. BerachdescendedfromtheraceofDobhtha,
prophecy,
:
Brethren,
have a for patience while,
'
Article i. —Chapter i. — See his First
Life, in Colgan, chap. i.
=^ See "Acta Sanctorum Hibernise," XV.
Februarii. Vita S. Berachi, Abbatis, and Supplementum Vitse S. Berachi, pp. 340 to
348.
—3 this Ishall — Throughout article, designate
s This Life, originally in the Irish Ian- guage, has been translated into Latin, by
to their order of
one as the First or Latin Life, and the other
as the Second or Irish Life, or as the Sup-
plement.
4 In Lough Ree. The writer seems to
have been Augustin Magraidin, Canon Re- gular of the religious establisliment there, and who died, A. D. 1405. This Life is written, in Latin. It has narratives not found in the Second Life,
Vita S. Confessoris, et —Abbatis, MS. Bodl. Rawl.
according
publication
They are thus noticed
:
Berachi,
the former Life is more extended, yet it omits certain matters, con- tained in the Irish Life. The latter, how-
ever, is added, as a supplement to the First Life, inserted by Colgan.
^
Colgan. Although
folio. MS. Bodl. Rawl. B. 485, folio 130, veil. 4to, xiv. cent. 7 See "Acta Sanctorum," tomus ii. , xv.
Februarii, pp. 832 to 839.
^
Fol. 66.
9 See the Life of St. Patrick, at the lyih
of March.
B. 505, pp. 208 214, veil,
536 LIVESOFTHEIRISHSAINTS. [February15.
who belonged to the posterity of Brian, son of Eochaidh Muighmhedhoin. ^° According to the Irish Life of our saint, his father's name was Nemnald," sometimes rendered Nemnann and Nemnall. " Less correctly is he called Nendal. ^3 This name is likewise Latinized, Nemnaldus,^* Nemnannus, Nemnallus,andNendalus. ^s TheIrishgenealogies^^makeoursaint'sfather the son of Nemagen, son to Fintan, son of Malius, son to Dobtha, son of ^ngus, son to Ere Deirg, son of Brian, son to Euchad Moimeadhoin. ^7 Fionmaith,^^ or Finmath,'9 sister to Cruimhther Fraech, of Cluain Con- maicne, in Muinter-Eolais, was his mother, and also the parent of his holy sister,thevirginMiodhabhair. =° ThefatherofFinmaithwasCarthage,son to Nathy, son of Onchuo. ^^
Their holy relative, named Froegius, or Froech,^^ lived in a certain district, and there he occupied a cell. After reciting matins and lauds, he went out, about the middle of the night, and looking in the direction of Connaught, he beheld a globular and bright luminous halo surrounding the house of Nemnald, and of his wife, Fionmaith. Wondering what such a
^4
According to the translated Irish Life,
"S Constituting a great part of the subse- quent county of Leitrim, or the O'Roorke's Country. See ibid.
in Colgan.
** See Dr. " Ecclesiastical His- Lanigan's
^s ^^
According
to the First Life.
At chapter viii.
*7 See Colgan's "Acta Sanctorum Hiber-
niae," xv. Februarii, n. 3, p. 346.
*^
According to the First Life, she is called Finscad.
*9 Thus is she named in the Irish Life.
=°
See an account of her, at the 22nd of February.
tory of Ireland," vol. ii. , chap, xiv. , sect. vi. , nn. 82, 83, pp. 323 to 325.
^^^ See Archdall's "Monasticon Hibemi-
='
According to the tract of St. . ^ngus,
34, 35, 36, 37, 38.
-'> See Dr. Lanigan's "Ecclesiastical His-
tory of Ireland," vol. ii. , chap, xiv. , section vi. , and n. 82, pp. 323, 324.
•' On the Mothers of the Irish Saints. "
=="
Also called Cruimhther Froech. See
Froech said to one of his " Go to the house disciples,
spectacle portended,
of my brother-in-law, Nemnald, and inform me, if my sister hath given birth to a boy : if so, bring him to me. " Obeying this order, the messenger at once set out for the house, where, on his arrival, he found a very beautiful infantwithFionmaith. Havinglearnedfromthemessengerthoseinstructions, given by Froech, the child was accordingly sent to him. When the latter saw how highly gifted, by nature, his infant nephew was, he directed that baptism should be administered, in the church, so that the neophyte should be washed with the water of regeneration, and that thus he might be pre- sented to Christ.
ThechildwasbornataplacecalledGortnaluachra. ^3 itissaidtohave been called Cluan, and to have been in the territory of Conmacnie. This comprised several districts. One of the Conmacnies was in Leitrim. 24 It was known as Conmacne-Rein, and afterwards as Muinter-Eolas. ^s The locality is now called Cloon, in the barony of Mohill, and county of Leitrim,='^ as we are informed. It was situated near the River Clone, and, at present it gives name to a parish in the diocese of Ardagh. =^7 This large parish, so called, is partly in the barony of Mohill, and partly in that of Carrigallen. ^^ Here dwelt his uncle, Froech, who was very celebrated among the priests of Ireland. =9
The first name given to the child was Fintan, until he had been brought tothefont,byhisuncle,St. FroechorFrsegius,whobaptizedhim. The
" Thus was he related, by collateral de- scent, to Niall the Great, King of Ireland.
*' Thus is he named in the Irish Life.
*'
*3 In the First or Latin Life.
Ware, ii. , Antiquities of Ireland," chap, vii. , p. 48.
According to the Irish Calendars.
notices of him, at the 20th of December, =3 According to the Irish Life.
^'> See Harris' vol. "
cum," p. 407.
=' **
See it described, on the
Ordnance Survey Townland Maps for the County of Leitrim. " Sheets 25, 28, 29, 30, 32, 33,
February 15. ] LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. 537
parents had been required to know, what name ought to be imposed on their child, when they replied, it must be Berach. This being agreed to,
"
Froech said afterwards,
Rightly has this name been given to him, for he
shallbeasaint,andhisplaceshallbeinHeaven. " Wearefurnishedwith
an interpretation, for the name of Berach ; namely, that it has the significa-
tion of one, who takes a direct and an exact aim, at an object, or as reaching one, so to speak, with the point of a sword. 3° In Latin, this name is formu-
lated Berachius, Berachus, and Beragius, less correctly, also, he is called Berasius. Again, this name is thought to be written Berectus. When baptized, the mother naturally desired her infant to be sent home ; yet,
"
Know you, my dear sister, that no further care of this boy shall belong to you, for with me shall he remain, since God, who created him,isabletocausehisgrowth,withoutbeingsuckledbyamother. " To this strange request Fionmaith assented, and in a truly miraculous manner, Froech became a foster-father to the child.
The latter grew up by degrees, and the Almighty seemed to supply every want, incident to his condition. By Froech, also, was Berach taught the rudiments of learning, when a mere infant. As the child grew up, he evinced the most affectionate regard towards his uncle. His piety and his love for learning were very admirable, sothathistimewaswhollyengagedwithprayerandstudy. Hisintellectual and pious disposition, even at this early age, boded his future eminence and great sanctity. He laboured to imitate his holy relative, and in the course of time, no other child of earth seemed to equal him, in the practise of good
works.
St. Berach is unwarrantably said to have become a disciple of the illus-
trious St. Columkille,3'' in lona. s^ It is true, a certain monk, named Berachus, is mentioned in his Acts,33 as having received that holy abbot's benediction ; and, afterwards, as sailing, from Hy, to the Island of Ethica. Colgan thought it very probable, that Berach, the monk, might be identical with the present saint. However, in neither of his lives does any mention of St. Columba occur, nor anything to indicate, that our Berach had ever been a member of the lona community. 34
The child was only seven years, when he was sent to learn, at the school
of a holy man, called Dageus. 35 He lived, at Iniscaoin, in the present county of Louth. 3^ While there, the boy Berach went through an excellent course of studies, in sacred and secular learning. His after career was dis- tinguished,forconsummatewisdom. HisobediencetoSt. Dagaeuswasre- markable, while he became renowned for great virtues and miracles. 37
While St. Berach was the disciple of Bishop Daigh,38 the latter sent him to a certain mill, in Magh Muirtheimhne. 39 Some guests had arrived at Iniscaoin,4°andSt. Berachhadbeenappointedtowaitonthem. But,he
Froech said to her,
3° SeeColgan's "Acta Sanctorum Hiber-
nise," XV. Februarii. Prima Vita S. Berachi,
n. 2, p. 346.
3* See his Life, at the 9th of June.
32 See Colgan's "Trias Thaumaturga. " Quarta Appendix ad Acta S. Columbag, chap. X. , pp. 488, 501.
"
Ecclesiastical His- tory of Ireland," vol. ii. , chap, xiv. , sect.
vi. , and n. 86, pp. 323 to 325.
33 See an account of him, at the i8th of
August.
36 See Dr. Lanigan's "Ecclesiastical His-
tory of Ireland," vol. ii. , chap, xiv. , section
vi,, p. 323.
'^^ It is only from the Irish Life we learn,
that St. Berach was a disciple of St. Daggeus.
See chapters iii. , iv. v.
38 The son of Cairell.
39 This was also called Conal or ICinel-
Muirthemne, an ancient territory, compre-
bending the greatest part of the modern county of Louth. It is also called Hy-Conal, or Machaire Conal. See Harris' Ware, vol. ii. , "Antiquities of Ireland," chap, vii. , sect, i. , pp. 48, 52.
^o This is now a parish, partly in the ba- ronies of Louth and Upper Dundalk, and this portion may be traced on the "Ord- nance Survey Townland Maps for the
33 See Rev. Dr. Reeves' Adamnan's " Life of St. Columba," lib. i. , cap. 19, p. 48.
34 See Dr. Lanigan's
538 LIVESOFTHEIRISHSAINTS [February15.
wanted to have two measures of wheat ground, at the adjoining mill, so that hemighthaveflourtopreparebread. Therehefoundawoman,andaboy,
belonging to that territory. The legend in his Life relates, that these had a sack of oats, which they felt desirous to have ground. The saint asked permission to have his wants, on behalf of the guests, attended to, in the first turn, at the mill. This request, however, they refused. They even loaded himself and his master Dagaeus with reproaches. Afterwards, that wheat, which St. Berach brought, was put with their oats, into the hopper. Berach patiently awaited the result. Owing to the sanctity of this young disciple, a miraculous manifestation of Divine power took place ; for, as we are informed, the wheaten meal was issued, and in a ground state, without any admixture of oatmeal, which parted, on an opposite side. ^^ This caused greatastonishmenttothebeholders. But,anexemplarypunishmentawaited the mother and her son ; for, the latter fell soon afterwards into an adjoining stream, and was drowned, while, the former was overtaken with a grievous infirmity, which caused her death. A great outcry was raised against St. Berach, by the kindred of those who were dead, as if he had been the cause of such a calamity. For this, too, were they punished in a miraculous manner. However, in a more deprecatory mood, with tears and prayers, they sought the holy youth's assistance. Moved with compassion, Berach asked of God relief for those, who experienced punishment, and even he prayed that the deceased mother and her son might be restored to life. All this desire was accorded to his prayers. In gratitude to our Lord, for the favours thus miraculously conferred, the father of that son bestowed on God and on St. Bearach for ever, not alone the mill, which was called Mulend- eleand,'^^' but the village itself, which subsequently was denominated Raen- Beraigh. 43
CHAPTER IL
ST. BERACH IS RECOMMENDED BY ST. DAG^EUS TO PLACE HIMSELF UNDER ST. KEVIN— HIS JOURNEY THROUGH CRICH ROIS AND BREGIA—HE ARRIVES AT GLENDALOUGH, WHERE HE IS JOYFULLY RECEIVED BY ST. KEVIN—HIS NOVICESHIP AND MIRACLES, WHILE THERE—ST. BERACH RECEIVES AN ANGELIC ADMONITION TO REMOVE FROM ST. KEVIN'S MONASTERY.
After those miraculous occurrences at the mill, St. Berach returned to St.
Dagseus and to Iniskeen. He brought the flour thus wonderfully ground and separated. This meal not only served to regale the guests and the monks, but it was even increased in bulk, so as to feed many poor persons, who resorted to the monastery. When the master thus found his disciple so signally favoured and remarkably holy, Dagaeus deemed himself un- worthy to instruct so distinguished a person, whose guidance he should rather require. Dagceus seems to have recommended Berach to place him- self under the care of St. Coemgine or Kevin,^ who then ruled over the monasteryatGlendalough. Totheyouthhegaveabacillus^calledinIrish Bacullh-gearr,' with a cymbal or bell, called Clog-beraigh, or " the bell ot
County of Louth," Sheets 6, 1 1. The other portion lies in the barony of Farney, and
denominations of Ireland.
43 1 have not been able to identify this
"
Townland MajDs for the County of Mona-
this may be seen on the ghan. " Sheets29,32.
"*'
ology of Donegal. "
Ordnance Survey
place. Chapter ii.
—
This account is given in the
**
ofJune.
= **
the short crozier. " In Irish, This curious object is now
'*' At noclueseemsleftus present,
Martyr-
It means bv\CAl 5eA]\|\.
intheMuseumof? the
ing this locality, among the known towaland Academy. See an account of it, in
Irish Pro-
regard- preserved,
Royal "
'
See his
at the
3rd
Life,
February 15. ] LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS 539
Berach. " Atthattime,whentheIrishLifeotoursainthadbeenwritten,
both of these relics were religiously preserved at Glendalough. 3
When Berach had thus distinguished himself for piety and learning, at the school of Dagaeus, he resolved on removing to St. Kevin's monastery. The approval of Heaven itself seemed to determine this journey, for an angel was sent to conduct him on the way/ This led through the territory ofCrich-rois,5intheplainofMuirthemne. *^ ThenhepassedovertheRiver Boyne,7 and entered the district of Bregia. ^ It chanced, that the chieftain of this district had prepared a banquet, to which the King of Temoria^ had been invited. At this time, Berach suffered much from thirst, and asked a drink from the caterer, who was inhospitable enough to refuse it to the wearied traveller. The holy man bore this repulse patiently, and proceeded on his way ; however, when the King of Temoria came, as the legend in our sainfs Life relates, the steward found a succession of vessels, which he had filled, all empty, so that he was obliged to state what had occurred. Messengers were then sent after St. Berach with orders to induce his voluntary return. Complying with their request, the holy man blessed the ^° so that all the vessels to be found there were once more replenished. The regulus of Bregia, to commemorate this remarkable occurrence, bestowed on the saint a place in his territory, which was after-
"
wards known as Dysart-Beraigh," or the
When our saint arrived at Glendalough, St. Kevin seems to have had
some heavenly intuition regarding Berach's great merits. The latter at once entered the church to pray, while the holy abbot stood, with his monks,
:
before its doors. Kevin said to his companions " Behold a servant of
God,letusgoandsalutehim. " Kevinthenenquiredaboutthestranger's
*'
chieftain's
cellar,
reason for visiting him. Berach replied :
Connaught, hither, greatly desiring to obey the precepts of the holy father Kevin, and to drink from the cup of his sacred teaching. " Hearing this, KevingavethankstoGod. Heconfirmedtheyoungmaninhisvirtuous resolution, and received him most benignantly. He also assumed him as a
ceedings of the Royal Irish Academy," vol. viii. , p. 302.
3 The foregoing incidents are not given, in the First Life.
"* AsstatedintheFirstLife.
s This embraced a portion of the barony
ofFarney,inthecountyofMonaghan,and some of the adjoining districts of Meath and
111 ac ^lollA'peAchtoinn I'och^Ai-o
-d]A 'oeifceA|\c "bixeA^Vi b]\AonfccochAi5.
—
Mac Gillaseachlainn the peaceable
Over southern Breagh of dropping
"
the Four Masters," vol. i. , n. (1), p. 122.
^
flowers. "
These are to be distinguished, from the more royal family of O'Maelseachlainn ; and, after the English invasion, they sunk into poverty
Louth. See Dr. O'Donovan's
Annals of
This region is frequently mentioned in
the Irish Annals. See Z(5/rt'. , vol. vii. Index and obscurity. Sometimes, Magh Breagh Locorum, pp. 37, 38, 88. is transposed, into Breaghmaigh. See Dr.
7 In ancient records, this is sometimes O'Donovan's "Topographical Poems of called Boan, Boyn, Boandus, and more an- John O'Dubhagain and Giolla na Naomh ciently, as we are told, Buuinda. See the O'Huidhrin," pp. 4, 5, 12, 13, and n. (11), Bollandists' "Acta Sanctorum," tomus ii. , p. iii. , n. (55), p^ xiii. , n. (63), p. xv.
Februarii xv. , n. (e), p. 839. ^ The ancient name for Tara.
^ '° This was a large level plain or territory,
This legend may be valuable as a re-
in East Meath, which comprised five can-
cord of our ancient social usages, in Ireland,
" the townland denominations of Among
Ireland noted, it does not seem easy to
treds. to an old According
poem, quoted by Dr. Keating, it extended as far north as
the Casan, now the Anagassan stream, near
Dundalk, in the county of Louth. Over ever, may be known, through some local
South Breagh, the family of Mac GioUasech- lainn ruled. These are noted by O'Dugan, in his poem, as
tradition.
" This we learn from the First Life,
chapter the sixth, in Colgan.
Desert of Berach. "
I came from the bounds of
Thus rendered by Dr. O'Donovan
:
*'
identify this particular place ; which, how-
540
LIVESOFTHEIRISHSAINTS. [February15.
novice, giving him the religious habit, and taught him the institutes of a monastic Ufe. "
1 embrace the monastic state. '3 This was probably in the sixth century.
Then had hardly grown the future city, which sprung up, after St. Kevin hadcreateditsnucleus,byfoundingtherehischurchandmonastery. In
after ages, a succession of pious bishops, abbots and ecclesiastics gave it greatcelebrity; but,now,itsnumerousruinsonlyattestitsperishedstream
of human life. '* The first year of Berach's noviceship being sped, he entered
Having placed himself under the direction of St.
