Then wearied in this hour of sorrow, she was at first silent, but afterwards kneeling, she thus broke forth in " All who alone doest
prayer : powerful God,
marvels, whom the powers of Heaven serve, whom the elements obey, on whom all creatures justly wait, I give Thee thanks with praise and blessing, since Thou hast vouchsafed to Thy handmaiden to lead her to the presence of her brother.
prayer : powerful God,
marvels, whom the powers of Heaven serve, whom the elements obey, on whom all creatures justly wait, I give Thee thanks with praise and blessing, since Thou hast vouchsafed to Thy handmaiden to lead her to the presence of her brother.
O'Hanlon - Lives of the Irish Saints - v8
However, one of the crowd noticing the strangers asked Donatus their names and whence came.
He answered " We
they modestly,
are both Scots ; my companion is named Andrew, and I am Donatus ; we are both as pilgrims travelling to Rome. " That person, who had heard the
: voicefromHeaven,immediatelycriedout "Citizens,thatmanispresent,
who has been called by the Almighty. " Public excitement and joy then
reached the highest pitch of enthusiasm,and rushing to embrace him, the people exclaimed with one voice, " Father Donatus, as you see, the Lord hath given theetous. Havepityonourpeople,andeffectivelyremovethediscordand scandal that have hitherto prevailed. Have compassion also on our labours, and do not decline, we humbly request, that mercy which Heaven has thus manifested. " In vain he protested, even with tears, to be allowed to proceed as an humble pilgrim to Rome, and he tried by various arguments to dissuade
e aS Saints," tome x. , xxii Jour d'Aout, p.
106. 26
According to Machiavelli, this city was more ancient than Florence. See
"
The colonists he placed there after- wards formed the main body of the ruffians collected by Cataline for his army. See C. Sallustii Crispi, "Catalina," cap. xliii. , lix. , lx.
29 Such is the account as contained in the work of the monk Blasius, Vita Donati Epis. " Classical Tour through Italy, An. et Conf. , a Manuscript in the Laurentian mdcccii. ," vol. iii. , chap, x. , p. 368. Library, Florence, Pluto, Codex ix. , col. 47 b.
Istoria Fiorentino," torn, i. , lib. ii. , p. 36, Ed. Londra, 1747.
2? See Rev, John Chetwode Eustace's
August 22. ] LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. 315
the people from their purpose. However, the faithful would hear of no refusal ; and, at last, knowing it to be in accordance with the Divine will, he
yielded to their request. Accordingly, Donat was elected Bishop of Fiesole,
where his virtues and merits rendered him so pleasing to the Almighty,* that
he has since been venerated as its patron saint. No sooner did he assume
that sacred office, than he laboured to discharge all its duties with a zeal,
prudence and moderation, which gained him the affections of his flock. His
noble simplicity of character and his affable manners were united with a piety
and judgment, altogether amiable and admirable. The good he encouraged,
the bad he reprehended ; his advice was wise and his judgments were just ;
he was liberal in bestowing alms ; he was assiduous in prayer ; he was
eloquent in exhortation, and true in word ; mild and benignant in courtesy
to all, it is not surprising, that he gained the affections both of his clergy and
1
CHAPTER II.
ST. DONATUS INDUCES ANDREW TO RECEIVE DEACON'S ORDERS—THE HOLY DISCIPLE BECOMES A GREAT FAVOURITE WITH THE PEOPLE OF FIESOLE—HE RESTORES A NOBLE LADY TO HEALTH—AFTERWARDS, HE IS PROMOTED TO THE OFFICE OF ARCHDEACON—HE RESTORES THE ANCIENT CHURCH OF ST. MARTIN DE MEN- SOLA—THERE HE GATHERS AROUND HIM A COMPANY OF MONKS—HIS GIFT OF MIRACLES.
Owing to the persuasion of St. Donat, Andrew became a Deacon to serve the church of Fiesule. At first, he was reluctant to accept that grade of orders, as through sincere humility he did not think himself worthy to advance from the ranks ot the laity. However, under the precept of obedience, united with argument and persuasion, he at length conformed to the wishes of his spiritual guide and master. His compliance likewise gave great satis- faction to the clergy and people of Fiesole, among whom he lived, and with
the people. *
whom he was especially popular.
himself to the other various duties assigned him. Thus, the faithful disciple who had followed Donatus from Ireland remained at his side until death,
servinghiminhumilityandgoodness. Suchwashismodestyandwisdom, that he was loved and trusted by the people of Fiesole no less than by his
master. Furthermore, Donatus had desired to promote him to the office of Archdeacon, so as to raise his rank and esteem in the people's eyes.
It so happened, that while Andrew was still a deacon, the beloved daughter of a noble and wealthy inhabitant of Fiesule had become paralyzed, while all that medical skill could avail had been tried in vain for her recovery.
At last, the father kneeling besought Bishop Donatus, and earnestly implored him to visit his house, and to place his hand on the girl's head. The Bishop
extended his hand, and raising the suppliant, by a sudden inspiration, he called Andrew to their presence. He then declared, that for his deacon was
30 See Les Petits Bollandistes, "Vies des Chapter ii. —' The festival of this first e
ber.
2 This feast occurs on the holy Martyr's
10th of August.
3 yox a very complete account of such
emulate the of the examples
Levites, St.
Stephen
x and St. 2 Laurence,
In his new position, he endeavoured to
holy
especially in looking after the wants of the poor, and in cheerfully devoting
Saints," tome x. , xxii Jour d'Aout, p. Martyr is celebrated, on the 26th of Decem-
106.
3t See " Acta Sanctorum," tomus
iv. , Augusti xxii. De S. Andrese Confessore,
&c. Acta, cap. i. , pp. 543, 544.
3 i6 LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. [August 22.
reserved that gift of healing, and then asked Andrew by a precept of obedience, to part with the noble for his house, and to effect the cure. Andrew obeyed accordingly, and when they had both entered the house, that girl was found reclining on a couch. The holy deacon fell upon his knees, and extending his hands towards Heaven prayed with great fervour; then, as if moved by a sudden impulse, he arose, and cried out with a loud voice : "Daughter arise, for our Lord Jesus Christ hath healed thee. " Immediately she arose, to the great astonishment of all present. Then, in a transport of gratitude, she threw herself at the feet of Andrew, kissing them, giving thanks to God and to his servant, through whose intervention she had been restored to strength. Soon the fame of that miracle spread abroad, and especially was Bishop Donatus gratified with the result. Knowing that Andrew was now a choice favourite of Heaven, he pressed on him the acceptance of the highest office in his church. The holy disciple had still a lowly opinion of his own merits ; how- ever, he humbly submitted his own will to that of his beloved Bishop. He was accordingly promoted to be Archdeacon, under him, in the church at Faesule.
When the seat of empire had been transferred from Rome to Constanti-
nople, a period ofgradual decay commenced,3 and this was soon followed by the invasion of successive hordes of barbarians, who swarmed into the fertile and civilized provinces of Italy/ Constant warfare left many of the cities desolate, and especially the churches were subjected to demolition and spoliation, even after the establishment of Christianity. * In the year of our Lord 395, the Emperor Theodosius divided the Imperial provinces into the EasternorByzantineEmpire,andintotheWesternorLatinEmpire. The invasionsoftheHuns6 werefollowedbythoseoftheGoths,? andafterwards these barbarians subverted the Roman Empire.
It happened one day, that the two attached friends, Donatus and
Andrew, were walking together round the foot of a hill at Fiesole, when they came to the banks of the little river Mensola, which flows beneath a certain height. It was crowned by a church dedicated to St. Martin. Ascending the hill, they found that ancient sanctuary in ruins, and on inquring the cause of this desolation from people in the neighbourhood, they learned that it had been laid waste in former days by the barbarous soldiers of Totila. 8 As he stood in his sadness among the broken walls, and bewailed the destruc- tion of that temple, the Bishop wept, and then in silent prayer Donatus entreatedofGod,tosendsomeonewhowouldrestoreHischurch. Thedeacon Andrew, standing by, and seeing the tears of his most holy father, inquired the cause for his sorrow. Then, lifting up his voice to Heaven, Donatus
:
cried aloud " Behold how Thy sanctuaries are laid low, and Thy high
places are made desolate, and Thy temple has become the den of robbers and of wicked men, who show tyranny against Thy house before the eyes of
events, the reader may consult Le Sieur Le De " Ilistoire des
Huns," &c,
Nain Tillemont's
"
Guignes' Histoire des Em- Paris, 1756, 4to.
pereuvs," &c. Second edition, Bruxelles, * The Goth Jornandes gives their early 1732 et seq. fol. achievements in Italy, in his Treatise " De
4 See Le Beau's "Histoire du Bas Em- Rebus Geticis. "
pire," tome vi. , edition de M. de Saint- Martin, Pans, 1827, 8vo.
s See Le Sieur Le Nain Tillemont's
8 This renowned Gothic leader invaded
Italy, during the reign of the Emperor
and towards the middle of Justinian, the
sixth century. The destruction of the city
of Florence and of its neighbouring towns is
"
astique," Bruxelles, 1732, et seq. fol.
Memoires pour servir a l'Histoire Ecclesi-
6
Their King Attila was called "the to be fuund set forth in Ughelli's "Italia
Scourge
by
Sacra,
iii. , col. 5.
of God
"
the Christians. See
' torn,
August 22. ] LIVES OE THE IRISH SAINTS. 317
allmen/' Hearingthesewords,andfilledwiththezealofcharity,Andrew humbly offered to the bishop his earnest service for the restoration of the
temple, and then, fixing his eyes on the ground, awaited his pleasure and commands. Donatus praised the devotion of the holy man, whose offer
corresponded with his own thought. He made the sign of the cross, with hands stretched over him. Blessing him in God's name, the Bishop said, that henceforth he was free to devote himself to a pious work, and that when he had restored the monastery, he might therein dedicate the remaining days of his life to the Lord, along with such of the brethren as he should
chose.
The basilica of St. Martin had almost gone into ruin at that time, but
St. Andrew restored it suitably to serve for purposes of public worship. Though the work seemed arduous for a poor and needy man ; yet,
strengthened by the holy bishop, Andrew began to clear the sacred place from brambles and from thorns, to search for the ancient foundations, and to dig out the stones of the old walls, hidden under the* rubbish. He also prepared new stones, cement, and other things necessary for the building, and with sedulous care. He sought alms from pious and faithful persons in the neigbourhood around ; he hired builders, with whom he laboured himself, continually prosecuting these labours in the restoration of the church, so far as his little body attenuated by fasting allowed.
In a short time, the basilica was not only restored, but enlarged ; more- over, the man of God bought lands sufficient for his small company of monks, with such sums as he could save by a holy parsimony, or earn through his own labours, and that of his brethren. During their labours, they lived on a most scanty subsistence, rejecting all superfluous things, that might soften andenervatetherigouroftheirpenitence. Afterthecompletionoftheirwork, he distributed the surplus funds among the poor, not allowing those offerings
he received to be hidden in chests, even to the amount of one iota ; for the
man of God thought avarice one of the greatest sins of which an ecclesiastic
could be guilty.
Having thus established his monastery near that of his master Donatus,
Andrewledaholylifeinthatplace,untilheattainedagoodoldage. Were we to relate all the miracles which God deigned to grant, in return for the prayers of this holy man, the account should expand beyond those limits usual in sacred writings. In San Martino a Mensola, St. Andrew drew around him a number of devoted men, who, invested with the religious garb, led a life ot austerityandpurity. Norcanthepenrecordthosegloriousdeedsofhisold age. His gift of working miracles was very extraordinary. He cast out demons, gave sight to the blind, health to the fevered, and strength to the infirm, so that they might live to render thanks to their Creator. Even the afflicted, who touched only his garments, received spiritual comfort, and often bodily health. 9 At San Martino de Mensola 10 the holy man lived, and there, too, he expected, with a tranquil mind, the approach of his latter end.
9 See the Bollandists' "Acta Sanctorum," the Benedictines of the Badia of Florence, tomus iv. , Augusti xxii. De S. Andrea along with all its annexations. About the
Confessore, &c. Acta, cap. ii. , pp. 544, 545-
10 The history and description of this
year 1070, Abbot Pietro II. , with the consent of his monks, instituted a Benedictine cloister there, granting to those clerics the old church
— and The at San church—with accompanying illustrations monastery. buildings
are given in Miss Margaret Stokes' interest- ingwork. There we are told, that several years after its foundation, it was ceded to
Martino a Mensola were restored, towards the end of the thirteenth century. See "Six Months in the Apennines," p. 266.
3i 8 LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. [August 22.
CHAPTER III.
SUPERNATURAL PREMONITION OF ST. ANDREW'S DEPARTURE—PROBABLE PERIOD OF HIS DEATH—HIS SISTER BRIGID IS MIRACULOUSLY TRANSPORTED FROM IRELAND TO HIS DEATH BED—THEIR LAST INTERVIEW—HIS DEATH AND BURIAL— RECOVERY OF HIS RELICS—MIRACLES WROUGHT AT HIS TOMB—HONOURS PAID TO HIM AFTER DEATH—CONCLUSION.
Thus favoured with supernatural powers by the Almighty, the mind of His holy servant Andrew received spiritual illumination also regarding his approach- ing dissolution. Having contracted a fever, he called all his brethren together, and affectionately exhorted them to preserve their souls in patience andperseverance,whilealwaysfearingthejudgmentofGod. Moreover,he desired them to serve the Lord in that place which he had selected. His moving admonitions greatly affected the children of his household, especially as they now understood their superior's term of life was fast drawing to a close.
It seems to be pretty well established, that St. Donatus and St. Andrew lived together in Fiesole about the middle of the ninth century ; although no certain date can be assigned for their respective dates of death. Never-
theless, as Grausolphus, Bishop of Fiesole, was present at the Council of x
Rome,heldin826, mostlikelyhewasimmediatelysucceededbyDonatus, 2
whonourishedthereasBishopforty-sevenyears, andhewasagainsucceeded by Zenobius Fesulanus, who, among other Bishops, subscribed an Epistle, which issued from the Council of Ravenna, a. d. 877. 3 It seems very pro- bable, as Andrew is said to have survived his master Donatus, and as he was a junior in age to him, that the date for his death must have been towards the close of the ninth century.
Having outlived the holy Bishop Donatus, his faithful friend and master,
St. Andrew was afterwards called to bliss. Just before his departure, the
memory of his childhood and of his native country came to his mind, and
above all others, he thought on his dearly loved sister Brigid, whom he had
left behind in Ireland, and whom he had not beheld for upwards of forty
years. He longed greatly to see her before his death. Mercifully willing
to comfort Andrew, the Lord was pleased to gratify that earnest desire. At
this time, Brigid was seated at her retired home, where she lived usually on
a frugal meal of salad and of small fishes. Then an angel came to her cham-
ber, and bore her in a miraculous manner to the bedside of Andrew. The
monks who stood around his couch were quite amazed, and they were struck
dumb at her appearance. In like manner, trembling and awe-struck, Brigid
gazed upon her aged and dying brother, as also on those who were there in
their strange costumes. She thought it was a vision. However, on lifting up
his eyes, Andrew knew what had happened, and looking upon her, he said
"
Chapter hi. —1 Under
Pope Eugenius II. , sixty-two bishops there assembled, and chiefly these were from Italy, and from the
provinces, which were subject to Louis,
Brigid, my beloved sister, long have I wished in my soul
in tender tones :
to see thee before I die, but all my hope was fading out as death approached, and I remembered the great distance between us. But the fount of eternal love has granted to me, a sinner, this great favour that thou hast now known.
2 to the account contained in According
his Acts.
3 Thisyearfrom the 22nd ofJulyit was held
to September, and it was occupied on dis- Emperor of the French. See L'Abbe cipline. See Sir Harris Nicolas' " Chrono-
"
Fleury's Histoire Ecclesiastique," tomex. , logy of History," Chronological List of
livre xlvii. , sect, xi. , pp. 250, 251. Councils, p. 231.
August 22. ] LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS.
319
Fear not, for it is in very deed and truth Andrew of Ireland, thy brother, whom thou beholdest before thee. Now thou shalt but for a short time see him, whom thou hast thought had long departed from this world. I trusted that God would grant my dying request through thy merits ; I always hoped thou wouldst come, a solitary and a penitent, to this place, where far from
my country, I have passed my days a feeble soldier, so that my shortcomings might be filled up by the measure of thy virtues. Behold herein the mercy of God. Fear not, but pray for me with all the fervour of thy soul. Behold thehourisathandandmysummonshascome. Abandonthyamazement, and know that what thou here seest is true. "
Then, awaking as it were from sleep, Brigid wept through joy, and fervour, andgrief; kissingherbrother'shand,sheheldittightly,butcouldnotspeak, so choked was she by sobs and sighs. She folded her brother in a chaste embrace, and crying out in prayer, she bathed him with her tears.
Then wearied in this hour of sorrow, she was at first silent, but afterwards kneeling, she thus broke forth in " All who alone doest
prayer : powerful God,
marvels, whom the powers of Heaven serve, whom the elements obey, on whom all creatures justly wait, I give Thee thanks with praise and blessing, since Thou hast vouchsafed to Thy handmaiden to lead her to the presence of her brother. All honour and glory be unto Thee. " Then turning to the
Then his raising
" Receive into
" O most holy brother, long years ago the best guide
dying man, she said
of my youth and the director and guardian of that life which through thy holy persuasion I have dedicated to the Lord, now I both rejoice and mourn at the same moment. For when I see thy weakness, I pity thee in my affection, and yet I grieve and mourn that thou shouldst go so soon from this miserable world wherein thou leavest me unconsoled. But, when I see with what great striving thou hast resisted the temptations of this life, and hast defeated the evil one, and in thy good deeds art justified before the Lord, I exult and rejoice. For the rest, I do but say : whatsoever days remain for me, after thou hast gone, I am resolved to dedicate to thy just will, following in thy footsteps so far as the weakness of my sinful frame allows. Iwilltarrypatientlyinthisplace,whithertheangeloftheLordhas
borne me, so long as God wills, but praying of thee, dearest brother, to entreat of Him, that He may grant a man's strength to aid my woman's frailty. And now, my brother ! be strong in the Lord, and show in death that strength in the cross, which thou didst bear in life. "
We have already seen in the Acts of this holy sister, St. Brigid, how she
was thus miraculously conveyed from Ireland to Fiesole, and how she
appeared at her brother's bed-side to console him when death was approach-
ing. She then expressed her intention of remaining in that place, and of
devotingtheremainderofherdaystotheserviceoftheAlmighty. When
she had spoken, and in the manner already related, the man of God,
strengthened by his sister's words, raised himself on his knees from the hair
couch on which he lay, and having clasped his hands on high, so far as his
failing strength allowed, he bade farewell to his sister and to his brethren.
O
having covered his eyes, he straightway died. The brethren, who with his sister were praying around him and expecting the hour of his departure, suddenly beheld a splendour of light descend upon the man of God from heaven. Owing to excessive brilliancy, it was more than their eyes could endure, and at the same time, the whole house was filled with a fragrant odour. Whenthatgreatlightreturnedtotheheavenwhenceitcame,and when they could look upon the holy corpse again, they saw Andrew laid
:
to heaven he
Christ, my Lord and Saviour, the spirit of Thy servant Andrew. " Then
eyes
prayed,
thy bosom,
Jesus
K^
320 LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. [August 22.
upon the bed, as if in sleep, his arms folded and crossed upon his breast. The monks then, according to their usual custom, reverently carried the body thence, and laid it on a bier opposite the altar, until such time as they could duly celebrate the funeral obsequies.
Meanwhile, all the people of Fiesole, male and female, young and old, as if summoned by a heavenly trumpet, left the city and hastened in crowds to themonasteryofSt. MartinontheMensola. Moreover,crowdsassembled from regions round about, to that place where the body lay. They kissed Andrew's hands and feet, in their reverence and devotion, carrying away with them as relics whatever little fragments of the holy man's gar- ments they could secure.
His body was buried in a chapel of the basilica of St. Martin, which he had restored. 4 At the shrine of St. Andrew, many miracles were after- wards wrought, in favour of the infirm and afflicted ; while numbers of the faithful from the country around, and pilgrims from afar, were accustomed to frequent his chapel, and to pray for spiritual and temporal blessings, through his merits and intercession.
When consigned to the earth, no particular mark seems to have indicated
that exact spot where his body lay ; or, at least, in course of time, all memory of it had passed away from popular traditions. However, a miracle revealed the secret, when a married lady of rank and great beauty, but of light character, died. She had been buried over the coffin of St. Andrew, and before his altar. In a vision, the holy man thrice appeared to a priest, who was chaplain to certain nuns at Fiesole, and warned him, that the remains of that lady should be removed, and that the chapel should be purified. As the priest at first had neglected that warning, he was suddenly struck with epilepsy, to the great horror of the nuns, who poured forth their prayers to St. Andrew for his recovery. He was thus restored to his former condition, when that priest declared what had happened in the vision. Then it was resolved, that the mortal and putrid remains of that lady should be removed, and this labour was effected with some difficulty and loathing by the grave diggers. Nevertheless, when that work had been accomplished, on digging somewhat deeper, the workmen found St. Andrew's coffin, in which his remains were freshly preserved, and from which an agreeable odour then emanated. 5 This event took place in the year 1285. The remains of St. Andrew were therefore raised from that grave, in which they had been so' long buried, and with great solemnity, they were placed before the high altar. 6 A handsome shrine had been prepared for their reception; and thenceforward, the veneration for our saint became more extended.
It is stated in the Latin Life of this saint, the miracles then
wrought so frequently were notified by testimony sufficiently convincing to the sovereign Pontiff at Rome, who did not hesitate canonically to inscribe Andrew's name in the Catalogue of the saints. However, confirmation of such statement is otherwise wanting ; yet, it seems to have been derived from an ancient local tradition. About the year 1380, a certain noble Florentine matron, having experienced the efficacy of St. Andrew's interces- sion, ordered a silver bust of the holy patron to be made, and on it were inscribed these characters: " T). Andreae natione Scoti, S. Donati
4 See Les Petits Bollandistes, " Vies des Confessore, prope Fesulas in Etruria, Acta, e
Saints," tome x. , xxii Jour d'Aout, cap. iv. , sect. 27, 28, 29, pp. 547, 548. 6"
106. See Les Petits Bollandistes, Vies des
p.
5 See the Bollandists' "Acta Sanctorum," Saints," tome x. , xxiie Jour d'Aout, p.
tomus iv. , Augusti xxii. De S. Andrea ro6.
August 22. ] LIVES Of THE IRISH SAINTS. 321
Episcopi Faesulani concivis, discipuli, comitis, ac Levitae. Claruit circa Annum dccclxxx. " This she brought, and with gratitude she placed it in the church of St, Martin at Mensula. However, as that sanctuary had been exposed to various depredations, the Benedictine monks at Florence translated it thither to their abbey, and for greater security. In it, they enclosed the middle part of St. Andrew's head. On solemn festivals, and on the octave of the Festival of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary, that relic was exposed on the high altar of their church; for veneration of the faithful.
From a time very remote, the people of Florence, of Fesule, and of that country around, had established a Confraternity, which assembled in the Church of St. Martin at Mensola, on Sundays and on Festival Days, to practise devotions, and to ask the intercession of St. Andrew. In lapse of time, that religious confraternity had dissolved; but, in 1473, a pious servant of God resolved on its revival, by associating women with men to perpetuate more those devout exercises. However, even the latter sodality fell away, owing to the casualties of intestine wars and pestilence. It was again revived, in 1600, owing to the pious zeal of Father Luke Bartolino, Abbot of the Florentine monastery, and he also ordered the ancient tomb of St. Andrew in the middle of St. Martin's Church to be restored. ' Honours were likewise paid to the memory of St. Andrew, long after his death, by the noble family of Mazzini, and in the Church of St. Donninus,8 where they erected a chapel dedicated specially to him. Also Leonardus Bonafides,9 afterwards raised to the see of Cor- tona, 1 * took care that a chapel in honour of St. Andrew should be erected in theChurchofSt. MartindeMensula; and,hetransferredtherelicsofour saint to the altar of that chapel with great solemnity. The Roman Pontiffs also granted various indulgences to the faithful who devoutly visited his shrine. Moreover, Leonardus restored the chapel of St. Andrew, and erected a marble altar in it, which was consecrated" in 1602, on the xv. of theAugustKalends. Infine,abouttheyeari6i3ori6i4,certainworkmen
repaired the confraternity room and chapel of St. Andrew; in which they were accustomed to assemble, and to celebrate the Office of the Blessed Virgin
Mary, who, with St. Andrew, was regarded as their particular patron. "
It may be inferred from the foregoing narrative, that the local veneration
for St. Andrew has been observed, especially in the country around Fesule, from the ninth to the present century. In the Calendars, he has been
recorded, and in many of them with high eulogy. Thus, the Florentine copy of Usuard has the feast of St. Andrew, deacon and minister to St. Donatus
x1 of Scotia, at the 22nd of August. While Dempster 3 and Camerarius *
7 The following inscription was placed there : —
D. o. M.
M. H. E. Virorum Societatis S. Andreas de Scotia, p. A. d. 1600.
D. o. m.
house of his order, A. D. 1545.
" The consecrating prelate was " R. D.
Alexander Burghus, Burgi S. Sepulchri episcopus," as we learn from an inscription on that altar.
" We are told by Placidus Puccinello, that the feast of St. Andrew was then cele- brated as a Double on the 23rd of August, "eoquod pridie propter Octavam Assump-
M. H. e.
Mulierum Societatis S. Andreae de Scotia, P. A. D. 1600.
8
Probably St. Donninus or Donnin tionis Deiparse impediatur. "
d'Avrilly, Martyr, and formerly honoured especiallyatPuy,onthe16thofJuly.
» He was a Carthusian monk.
10 He that and resigned see, however,
died at the extreme age of ninety-five in the Vol. VIII. —No. 6.
'3 In "Menologium Scoticum. " See Bishop Forbes' "Kalendars of Scottish Saints," pp. 207, 208.
'« In his lib. iii,
work,
"De Scotorum
Pietate,"
x
3 2 2 LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. [August 22.
assign the feast of St. Andrew, Archdeacon of Fesule, to the 4th of August, nearly all other Calendarists are agreed, that his festival belongs more properly to the present date. At the 22nd of August, this holy Archdeacon
1
is commemorated by Philip Ferrarius, * in words of eulogy, and he is fol-
lowed by Castellan. That this was his true festival has been shown by Placidus Puccinello, in the Life of St. Andrew, which is written in Italian. He proves it to have been an ancient custom for the Benedictine monks of the Abbey at Florence to expose, on the 22nd of August, a part of St. Andrew's head for public veneration of the faithful each year, on the high altar of their church. Moreover, on that same day, the Florentine monks went to the Church of St. Martin at Mensula, and there with the congregation, St. Andrew was solemnly reverenced by them, while the other part of his head was carried around in religious procession. Nor is this proof weakened owing to the circumstance, that a confraternity of working men, instituted to honour their patron saint, have selected the first Sunday after the 22nd of
Augustforaspecialreligiousceremony; becausetheydeemedSundaytobe a more suitable day for collecting a greater number of people to join in their devotions, and to add much more to the solemnity. This saint is pro- bably the Andreas mentioned in Henry Fitzsimon's list, but without a date
16 A notice of him occurs in the " Circle of 1
for his festival
the Seasons," and also at the present date. ?
being assigned.
Long after St. Andrew's time, we learn from certain Manuscripts remaining
to our own days, that the people of Florence, Fsesule and the neighbourhood, were accustomed to assemble, and to celebrate his Festival with great
devotion, as also to hear his panegyric pronounced by eloquent preachers. Although nearly forgotten in his native country, or at least not honoured in a
similar manner ; yet, among the heavenly choirs, and in the assembly of the saints, his glory remains perpetually preserved, while his virtues on earth have only their transitory record.
ARTICLE II—ST. GUNIFORT, MARTYR, IN ITALY. PROBABLY IN THE FOURTH OR FIFTH CENTURY. CHAPTER I.
INTRODUCTION—THE ANCIENT ACTS OF ST. GUNIFORT—VARIOUS WORKS IN WHICH HE IS COMMEMORATED—HIS NATIVE COUNTRY AND FAMILY—HIS EARLY PIETY— HIS BROTHER GUINIBALD AND HIS TWO SISTERS RESOLVE ON LEAVING THEIR HOMES TO SEEK MARTYRDOM AND TO SERVE THE LORD IN A STRANGE LAND—THEY ARRIVE AMONG THE —TEUTONS—THERE THF. Y ARE PERSECUTED, AND THE SISTERS SUFFER MARTYRDOM THE BROTHERS ARE APPREHENDED, BUT REFUSE TO RE- NOUNCE THEIR FAITH—THEY ARE SPARED FOR FURTHER SACRIFICES.
When we find human praise and ornamental garlands wreathed for
great worldlings in literary works of distinguished excellence or preserved on durable monuments of brass ; we may wonder, indeed, that the heroic actions of those soldiers of Christ, who suffered for His sake, have been passed over by authors in silence, since such records abound inglorious examples for mankind, and present noble models for the faithful. In pros-
15 See " Catalogus Gcneralis Sanctorum Compendium," tomus i. , lib. iv. , cap. xii. ,
Italiae. "
19 See •« Historic Catholic* Iberni* *7 See p. 235.
p. 52.
August 22. ] LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. 323
perity, they teach us humility, in adversity, they encourage us to fortitude. Moreover, while we extol the memory of the martyrs and saints, honour and praise is also rendered to the Almighty, and edification is given to the minds of all true Christians.
x
As the narrative in the old Acts of Gunifort is rather diffuse, abounding
in Scriptural quotations and pious reflections, as also digressive in imaginary dialogues and situations, which do not seem always based on authentic information supplied to the writer a we shall only select those statements,
;
that should amply gratify a desire to learn the most exact legend of his life
andmartyrdom. TheActsofSt. Guinefortus,Martyr,havebeenpublished3 almost from the very infancy of printing, and in the fifteenth century, by Boninus Mombritius,* or Mombrizio, a distinguished poet and scholar of Milan. He collected this account from an ancient Passionarium, found in a vellum Manuscript, preserved among the Lateran archives, and which he printed during the Pontificate of Pope Sixtus IV. s This holy martyr St. Gunifort is specially mentioned by Peter Paul Bosca in his Martyrology of
6
the Church of Milan ; as likewise, by Joannes Baptista Carisius
and by
Aloysius Tattus, in his Martyrology of the Church of Como, in Italy. Also
8
Ferrarius,7 Jacobus Gualla, and Petrus Galesinius have notices of him, at the
"
Historia Ecclesiastica Gentis Scotorum," Thomas Dempster inserts an account of St. Gunifort. * The Bollandists, likewise, present their Acts of St. Gunifort, at the 22nd of
present date, in their respective Martyrologies. In his
August.
10 These Acts, in two
Chapters,
have a
Prologue,
and are
comprised
in seventeen paragraphs. " Their author is unknown, nor can it be dis-
covered when or where he lived. The editor, Father William Cuper, S. J. ,
has given a previous critical commentary in fifteen paragraphs, and he has
added notes. A brief account of St. Gunifortis is given by Rev. S.
they modestly,
are both Scots ; my companion is named Andrew, and I am Donatus ; we are both as pilgrims travelling to Rome. " That person, who had heard the
: voicefromHeaven,immediatelycriedout "Citizens,thatmanispresent,
who has been called by the Almighty. " Public excitement and joy then
reached the highest pitch of enthusiasm,and rushing to embrace him, the people exclaimed with one voice, " Father Donatus, as you see, the Lord hath given theetous. Havepityonourpeople,andeffectivelyremovethediscordand scandal that have hitherto prevailed. Have compassion also on our labours, and do not decline, we humbly request, that mercy which Heaven has thus manifested. " In vain he protested, even with tears, to be allowed to proceed as an humble pilgrim to Rome, and he tried by various arguments to dissuade
e aS Saints," tome x. , xxii Jour d'Aout, p.
106. 26
According to Machiavelli, this city was more ancient than Florence. See
"
The colonists he placed there after- wards formed the main body of the ruffians collected by Cataline for his army. See C. Sallustii Crispi, "Catalina," cap. xliii. , lix. , lx.
29 Such is the account as contained in the work of the monk Blasius, Vita Donati Epis. " Classical Tour through Italy, An. et Conf. , a Manuscript in the Laurentian mdcccii. ," vol. iii. , chap, x. , p. 368. Library, Florence, Pluto, Codex ix. , col. 47 b.
Istoria Fiorentino," torn, i. , lib. ii. , p. 36, Ed. Londra, 1747.
2? See Rev, John Chetwode Eustace's
August 22. ] LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. 315
the people from their purpose. However, the faithful would hear of no refusal ; and, at last, knowing it to be in accordance with the Divine will, he
yielded to their request. Accordingly, Donat was elected Bishop of Fiesole,
where his virtues and merits rendered him so pleasing to the Almighty,* that
he has since been venerated as its patron saint. No sooner did he assume
that sacred office, than he laboured to discharge all its duties with a zeal,
prudence and moderation, which gained him the affections of his flock. His
noble simplicity of character and his affable manners were united with a piety
and judgment, altogether amiable and admirable. The good he encouraged,
the bad he reprehended ; his advice was wise and his judgments were just ;
he was liberal in bestowing alms ; he was assiduous in prayer ; he was
eloquent in exhortation, and true in word ; mild and benignant in courtesy
to all, it is not surprising, that he gained the affections both of his clergy and
1
CHAPTER II.
ST. DONATUS INDUCES ANDREW TO RECEIVE DEACON'S ORDERS—THE HOLY DISCIPLE BECOMES A GREAT FAVOURITE WITH THE PEOPLE OF FIESOLE—HE RESTORES A NOBLE LADY TO HEALTH—AFTERWARDS, HE IS PROMOTED TO THE OFFICE OF ARCHDEACON—HE RESTORES THE ANCIENT CHURCH OF ST. MARTIN DE MEN- SOLA—THERE HE GATHERS AROUND HIM A COMPANY OF MONKS—HIS GIFT OF MIRACLES.
Owing to the persuasion of St. Donat, Andrew became a Deacon to serve the church of Fiesule. At first, he was reluctant to accept that grade of orders, as through sincere humility he did not think himself worthy to advance from the ranks ot the laity. However, under the precept of obedience, united with argument and persuasion, he at length conformed to the wishes of his spiritual guide and master. His compliance likewise gave great satis- faction to the clergy and people of Fiesole, among whom he lived, and with
the people. *
whom he was especially popular.
himself to the other various duties assigned him. Thus, the faithful disciple who had followed Donatus from Ireland remained at his side until death,
servinghiminhumilityandgoodness. Suchwashismodestyandwisdom, that he was loved and trusted by the people of Fiesole no less than by his
master. Furthermore, Donatus had desired to promote him to the office of Archdeacon, so as to raise his rank and esteem in the people's eyes.
It so happened, that while Andrew was still a deacon, the beloved daughter of a noble and wealthy inhabitant of Fiesule had become paralyzed, while all that medical skill could avail had been tried in vain for her recovery.
At last, the father kneeling besought Bishop Donatus, and earnestly implored him to visit his house, and to place his hand on the girl's head. The Bishop
extended his hand, and raising the suppliant, by a sudden inspiration, he called Andrew to their presence. He then declared, that for his deacon was
30 See Les Petits Bollandistes, "Vies des Chapter ii. —' The festival of this first e
ber.
2 This feast occurs on the holy Martyr's
10th of August.
3 yox a very complete account of such
emulate the of the examples
Levites, St.
Stephen
x and St. 2 Laurence,
In his new position, he endeavoured to
holy
especially in looking after the wants of the poor, and in cheerfully devoting
Saints," tome x. , xxii Jour d'Aout, p. Martyr is celebrated, on the 26th of Decem-
106.
3t See " Acta Sanctorum," tomus
iv. , Augusti xxii. De S. Andrese Confessore,
&c. Acta, cap. i. , pp. 543, 544.
3 i6 LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. [August 22.
reserved that gift of healing, and then asked Andrew by a precept of obedience, to part with the noble for his house, and to effect the cure. Andrew obeyed accordingly, and when they had both entered the house, that girl was found reclining on a couch. The holy deacon fell upon his knees, and extending his hands towards Heaven prayed with great fervour; then, as if moved by a sudden impulse, he arose, and cried out with a loud voice : "Daughter arise, for our Lord Jesus Christ hath healed thee. " Immediately she arose, to the great astonishment of all present. Then, in a transport of gratitude, she threw herself at the feet of Andrew, kissing them, giving thanks to God and to his servant, through whose intervention she had been restored to strength. Soon the fame of that miracle spread abroad, and especially was Bishop Donatus gratified with the result. Knowing that Andrew was now a choice favourite of Heaven, he pressed on him the acceptance of the highest office in his church. The holy disciple had still a lowly opinion of his own merits ; how- ever, he humbly submitted his own will to that of his beloved Bishop. He was accordingly promoted to be Archdeacon, under him, in the church at Faesule.
When the seat of empire had been transferred from Rome to Constanti-
nople, a period ofgradual decay commenced,3 and this was soon followed by the invasion of successive hordes of barbarians, who swarmed into the fertile and civilized provinces of Italy/ Constant warfare left many of the cities desolate, and especially the churches were subjected to demolition and spoliation, even after the establishment of Christianity. * In the year of our Lord 395, the Emperor Theodosius divided the Imperial provinces into the EasternorByzantineEmpire,andintotheWesternorLatinEmpire. The invasionsoftheHuns6 werefollowedbythoseoftheGoths,? andafterwards these barbarians subverted the Roman Empire.
It happened one day, that the two attached friends, Donatus and
Andrew, were walking together round the foot of a hill at Fiesole, when they came to the banks of the little river Mensola, which flows beneath a certain height. It was crowned by a church dedicated to St. Martin. Ascending the hill, they found that ancient sanctuary in ruins, and on inquring the cause of this desolation from people in the neighbourhood, they learned that it had been laid waste in former days by the barbarous soldiers of Totila. 8 As he stood in his sadness among the broken walls, and bewailed the destruc- tion of that temple, the Bishop wept, and then in silent prayer Donatus entreatedofGod,tosendsomeonewhowouldrestoreHischurch. Thedeacon Andrew, standing by, and seeing the tears of his most holy father, inquired the cause for his sorrow. Then, lifting up his voice to Heaven, Donatus
:
cried aloud " Behold how Thy sanctuaries are laid low, and Thy high
places are made desolate, and Thy temple has become the den of robbers and of wicked men, who show tyranny against Thy house before the eyes of
events, the reader may consult Le Sieur Le De " Ilistoire des
Huns," &c,
Nain Tillemont's
"
Guignes' Histoire des Em- Paris, 1756, 4to.
pereuvs," &c. Second edition, Bruxelles, * The Goth Jornandes gives their early 1732 et seq. fol. achievements in Italy, in his Treatise " De
4 See Le Beau's "Histoire du Bas Em- Rebus Geticis. "
pire," tome vi. , edition de M. de Saint- Martin, Pans, 1827, 8vo.
s See Le Sieur Le Nain Tillemont's
8 This renowned Gothic leader invaded
Italy, during the reign of the Emperor
and towards the middle of Justinian, the
sixth century. The destruction of the city
of Florence and of its neighbouring towns is
"
astique," Bruxelles, 1732, et seq. fol.
Memoires pour servir a l'Histoire Ecclesi-
6
Their King Attila was called "the to be fuund set forth in Ughelli's "Italia
Scourge
by
Sacra,
iii. , col. 5.
of God
"
the Christians. See
' torn,
August 22. ] LIVES OE THE IRISH SAINTS. 317
allmen/' Hearingthesewords,andfilledwiththezealofcharity,Andrew humbly offered to the bishop his earnest service for the restoration of the
temple, and then, fixing his eyes on the ground, awaited his pleasure and commands. Donatus praised the devotion of the holy man, whose offer
corresponded with his own thought. He made the sign of the cross, with hands stretched over him. Blessing him in God's name, the Bishop said, that henceforth he was free to devote himself to a pious work, and that when he had restored the monastery, he might therein dedicate the remaining days of his life to the Lord, along with such of the brethren as he should
chose.
The basilica of St. Martin had almost gone into ruin at that time, but
St. Andrew restored it suitably to serve for purposes of public worship. Though the work seemed arduous for a poor and needy man ; yet,
strengthened by the holy bishop, Andrew began to clear the sacred place from brambles and from thorns, to search for the ancient foundations, and to dig out the stones of the old walls, hidden under the* rubbish. He also prepared new stones, cement, and other things necessary for the building, and with sedulous care. He sought alms from pious and faithful persons in the neigbourhood around ; he hired builders, with whom he laboured himself, continually prosecuting these labours in the restoration of the church, so far as his little body attenuated by fasting allowed.
In a short time, the basilica was not only restored, but enlarged ; more- over, the man of God bought lands sufficient for his small company of monks, with such sums as he could save by a holy parsimony, or earn through his own labours, and that of his brethren. During their labours, they lived on a most scanty subsistence, rejecting all superfluous things, that might soften andenervatetherigouroftheirpenitence. Afterthecompletionoftheirwork, he distributed the surplus funds among the poor, not allowing those offerings
he received to be hidden in chests, even to the amount of one iota ; for the
man of God thought avarice one of the greatest sins of which an ecclesiastic
could be guilty.
Having thus established his monastery near that of his master Donatus,
Andrewledaholylifeinthatplace,untilheattainedagoodoldage. Were we to relate all the miracles which God deigned to grant, in return for the prayers of this holy man, the account should expand beyond those limits usual in sacred writings. In San Martino a Mensola, St. Andrew drew around him a number of devoted men, who, invested with the religious garb, led a life ot austerityandpurity. Norcanthepenrecordthosegloriousdeedsofhisold age. His gift of working miracles was very extraordinary. He cast out demons, gave sight to the blind, health to the fevered, and strength to the infirm, so that they might live to render thanks to their Creator. Even the afflicted, who touched only his garments, received spiritual comfort, and often bodily health. 9 At San Martino de Mensola 10 the holy man lived, and there, too, he expected, with a tranquil mind, the approach of his latter end.
9 See the Bollandists' "Acta Sanctorum," the Benedictines of the Badia of Florence, tomus iv. , Augusti xxii. De S. Andrea along with all its annexations. About the
Confessore, &c. Acta, cap. ii. , pp. 544, 545-
10 The history and description of this
year 1070, Abbot Pietro II. , with the consent of his monks, instituted a Benedictine cloister there, granting to those clerics the old church
— and The at San church—with accompanying illustrations monastery. buildings
are given in Miss Margaret Stokes' interest- ingwork. There we are told, that several years after its foundation, it was ceded to
Martino a Mensola were restored, towards the end of the thirteenth century. See "Six Months in the Apennines," p. 266.
3i 8 LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. [August 22.
CHAPTER III.
SUPERNATURAL PREMONITION OF ST. ANDREW'S DEPARTURE—PROBABLE PERIOD OF HIS DEATH—HIS SISTER BRIGID IS MIRACULOUSLY TRANSPORTED FROM IRELAND TO HIS DEATH BED—THEIR LAST INTERVIEW—HIS DEATH AND BURIAL— RECOVERY OF HIS RELICS—MIRACLES WROUGHT AT HIS TOMB—HONOURS PAID TO HIM AFTER DEATH—CONCLUSION.
Thus favoured with supernatural powers by the Almighty, the mind of His holy servant Andrew received spiritual illumination also regarding his approach- ing dissolution. Having contracted a fever, he called all his brethren together, and affectionately exhorted them to preserve their souls in patience andperseverance,whilealwaysfearingthejudgmentofGod. Moreover,he desired them to serve the Lord in that place which he had selected. His moving admonitions greatly affected the children of his household, especially as they now understood their superior's term of life was fast drawing to a close.
It seems to be pretty well established, that St. Donatus and St. Andrew lived together in Fiesole about the middle of the ninth century ; although no certain date can be assigned for their respective dates of death. Never-
theless, as Grausolphus, Bishop of Fiesole, was present at the Council of x
Rome,heldin826, mostlikelyhewasimmediatelysucceededbyDonatus, 2
whonourishedthereasBishopforty-sevenyears, andhewasagainsucceeded by Zenobius Fesulanus, who, among other Bishops, subscribed an Epistle, which issued from the Council of Ravenna, a. d. 877. 3 It seems very pro- bable, as Andrew is said to have survived his master Donatus, and as he was a junior in age to him, that the date for his death must have been towards the close of the ninth century.
Having outlived the holy Bishop Donatus, his faithful friend and master,
St. Andrew was afterwards called to bliss. Just before his departure, the
memory of his childhood and of his native country came to his mind, and
above all others, he thought on his dearly loved sister Brigid, whom he had
left behind in Ireland, and whom he had not beheld for upwards of forty
years. He longed greatly to see her before his death. Mercifully willing
to comfort Andrew, the Lord was pleased to gratify that earnest desire. At
this time, Brigid was seated at her retired home, where she lived usually on
a frugal meal of salad and of small fishes. Then an angel came to her cham-
ber, and bore her in a miraculous manner to the bedside of Andrew. The
monks who stood around his couch were quite amazed, and they were struck
dumb at her appearance. In like manner, trembling and awe-struck, Brigid
gazed upon her aged and dying brother, as also on those who were there in
their strange costumes. She thought it was a vision. However, on lifting up
his eyes, Andrew knew what had happened, and looking upon her, he said
"
Chapter hi. —1 Under
Pope Eugenius II. , sixty-two bishops there assembled, and chiefly these were from Italy, and from the
provinces, which were subject to Louis,
Brigid, my beloved sister, long have I wished in my soul
in tender tones :
to see thee before I die, but all my hope was fading out as death approached, and I remembered the great distance between us. But the fount of eternal love has granted to me, a sinner, this great favour that thou hast now known.
2 to the account contained in According
his Acts.
3 Thisyearfrom the 22nd ofJulyit was held
to September, and it was occupied on dis- Emperor of the French. See L'Abbe cipline. See Sir Harris Nicolas' " Chrono-
"
Fleury's Histoire Ecclesiastique," tomex. , logy of History," Chronological List of
livre xlvii. , sect, xi. , pp. 250, 251. Councils, p. 231.
August 22. ] LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS.
319
Fear not, for it is in very deed and truth Andrew of Ireland, thy brother, whom thou beholdest before thee. Now thou shalt but for a short time see him, whom thou hast thought had long departed from this world. I trusted that God would grant my dying request through thy merits ; I always hoped thou wouldst come, a solitary and a penitent, to this place, where far from
my country, I have passed my days a feeble soldier, so that my shortcomings might be filled up by the measure of thy virtues. Behold herein the mercy of God. Fear not, but pray for me with all the fervour of thy soul. Behold thehourisathandandmysummonshascome. Abandonthyamazement, and know that what thou here seest is true. "
Then, awaking as it were from sleep, Brigid wept through joy, and fervour, andgrief; kissingherbrother'shand,sheheldittightly,butcouldnotspeak, so choked was she by sobs and sighs. She folded her brother in a chaste embrace, and crying out in prayer, she bathed him with her tears.
Then wearied in this hour of sorrow, she was at first silent, but afterwards kneeling, she thus broke forth in " All who alone doest
prayer : powerful God,
marvels, whom the powers of Heaven serve, whom the elements obey, on whom all creatures justly wait, I give Thee thanks with praise and blessing, since Thou hast vouchsafed to Thy handmaiden to lead her to the presence of her brother. All honour and glory be unto Thee. " Then turning to the
Then his raising
" Receive into
" O most holy brother, long years ago the best guide
dying man, she said
of my youth and the director and guardian of that life which through thy holy persuasion I have dedicated to the Lord, now I both rejoice and mourn at the same moment. For when I see thy weakness, I pity thee in my affection, and yet I grieve and mourn that thou shouldst go so soon from this miserable world wherein thou leavest me unconsoled. But, when I see with what great striving thou hast resisted the temptations of this life, and hast defeated the evil one, and in thy good deeds art justified before the Lord, I exult and rejoice. For the rest, I do but say : whatsoever days remain for me, after thou hast gone, I am resolved to dedicate to thy just will, following in thy footsteps so far as the weakness of my sinful frame allows. Iwilltarrypatientlyinthisplace,whithertheangeloftheLordhas
borne me, so long as God wills, but praying of thee, dearest brother, to entreat of Him, that He may grant a man's strength to aid my woman's frailty. And now, my brother ! be strong in the Lord, and show in death that strength in the cross, which thou didst bear in life. "
We have already seen in the Acts of this holy sister, St. Brigid, how she
was thus miraculously conveyed from Ireland to Fiesole, and how she
appeared at her brother's bed-side to console him when death was approach-
ing. She then expressed her intention of remaining in that place, and of
devotingtheremainderofherdaystotheserviceoftheAlmighty. When
she had spoken, and in the manner already related, the man of God,
strengthened by his sister's words, raised himself on his knees from the hair
couch on which he lay, and having clasped his hands on high, so far as his
failing strength allowed, he bade farewell to his sister and to his brethren.
O
having covered his eyes, he straightway died. The brethren, who with his sister were praying around him and expecting the hour of his departure, suddenly beheld a splendour of light descend upon the man of God from heaven. Owing to excessive brilliancy, it was more than their eyes could endure, and at the same time, the whole house was filled with a fragrant odour. Whenthatgreatlightreturnedtotheheavenwhenceitcame,and when they could look upon the holy corpse again, they saw Andrew laid
:
to heaven he
Christ, my Lord and Saviour, the spirit of Thy servant Andrew. " Then
eyes
prayed,
thy bosom,
Jesus
K^
320 LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. [August 22.
upon the bed, as if in sleep, his arms folded and crossed upon his breast. The monks then, according to their usual custom, reverently carried the body thence, and laid it on a bier opposite the altar, until such time as they could duly celebrate the funeral obsequies.
Meanwhile, all the people of Fiesole, male and female, young and old, as if summoned by a heavenly trumpet, left the city and hastened in crowds to themonasteryofSt. MartinontheMensola. Moreover,crowdsassembled from regions round about, to that place where the body lay. They kissed Andrew's hands and feet, in their reverence and devotion, carrying away with them as relics whatever little fragments of the holy man's gar- ments they could secure.
His body was buried in a chapel of the basilica of St. Martin, which he had restored. 4 At the shrine of St. Andrew, many miracles were after- wards wrought, in favour of the infirm and afflicted ; while numbers of the faithful from the country around, and pilgrims from afar, were accustomed to frequent his chapel, and to pray for spiritual and temporal blessings, through his merits and intercession.
When consigned to the earth, no particular mark seems to have indicated
that exact spot where his body lay ; or, at least, in course of time, all memory of it had passed away from popular traditions. However, a miracle revealed the secret, when a married lady of rank and great beauty, but of light character, died. She had been buried over the coffin of St. Andrew, and before his altar. In a vision, the holy man thrice appeared to a priest, who was chaplain to certain nuns at Fiesole, and warned him, that the remains of that lady should be removed, and that the chapel should be purified. As the priest at first had neglected that warning, he was suddenly struck with epilepsy, to the great horror of the nuns, who poured forth their prayers to St. Andrew for his recovery. He was thus restored to his former condition, when that priest declared what had happened in the vision. Then it was resolved, that the mortal and putrid remains of that lady should be removed, and this labour was effected with some difficulty and loathing by the grave diggers. Nevertheless, when that work had been accomplished, on digging somewhat deeper, the workmen found St. Andrew's coffin, in which his remains were freshly preserved, and from which an agreeable odour then emanated. 5 This event took place in the year 1285. The remains of St. Andrew were therefore raised from that grave, in which they had been so' long buried, and with great solemnity, they were placed before the high altar. 6 A handsome shrine had been prepared for their reception; and thenceforward, the veneration for our saint became more extended.
It is stated in the Latin Life of this saint, the miracles then
wrought so frequently were notified by testimony sufficiently convincing to the sovereign Pontiff at Rome, who did not hesitate canonically to inscribe Andrew's name in the Catalogue of the saints. However, confirmation of such statement is otherwise wanting ; yet, it seems to have been derived from an ancient local tradition. About the year 1380, a certain noble Florentine matron, having experienced the efficacy of St. Andrew's interces- sion, ordered a silver bust of the holy patron to be made, and on it were inscribed these characters: " T). Andreae natione Scoti, S. Donati
4 See Les Petits Bollandistes, " Vies des Confessore, prope Fesulas in Etruria, Acta, e
Saints," tome x. , xxii Jour d'Aout, cap. iv. , sect. 27, 28, 29, pp. 547, 548. 6"
106. See Les Petits Bollandistes, Vies des
p.
5 See the Bollandists' "Acta Sanctorum," Saints," tome x. , xxiie Jour d'Aout, p.
tomus iv. , Augusti xxii. De S. Andrea ro6.
August 22. ] LIVES Of THE IRISH SAINTS. 321
Episcopi Faesulani concivis, discipuli, comitis, ac Levitae. Claruit circa Annum dccclxxx. " This she brought, and with gratitude she placed it in the church of St, Martin at Mensula. However, as that sanctuary had been exposed to various depredations, the Benedictine monks at Florence translated it thither to their abbey, and for greater security. In it, they enclosed the middle part of St. Andrew's head. On solemn festivals, and on the octave of the Festival of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary, that relic was exposed on the high altar of their church; for veneration of the faithful.
From a time very remote, the people of Florence, of Fesule, and of that country around, had established a Confraternity, which assembled in the Church of St. Martin at Mensola, on Sundays and on Festival Days, to practise devotions, and to ask the intercession of St. Andrew. In lapse of time, that religious confraternity had dissolved; but, in 1473, a pious servant of God resolved on its revival, by associating women with men to perpetuate more those devout exercises. However, even the latter sodality fell away, owing to the casualties of intestine wars and pestilence. It was again revived, in 1600, owing to the pious zeal of Father Luke Bartolino, Abbot of the Florentine monastery, and he also ordered the ancient tomb of St. Andrew in the middle of St. Martin's Church to be restored. ' Honours were likewise paid to the memory of St. Andrew, long after his death, by the noble family of Mazzini, and in the Church of St. Donninus,8 where they erected a chapel dedicated specially to him. Also Leonardus Bonafides,9 afterwards raised to the see of Cor- tona, 1 * took care that a chapel in honour of St. Andrew should be erected in theChurchofSt. MartindeMensula; and,hetransferredtherelicsofour saint to the altar of that chapel with great solemnity. The Roman Pontiffs also granted various indulgences to the faithful who devoutly visited his shrine. Moreover, Leonardus restored the chapel of St. Andrew, and erected a marble altar in it, which was consecrated" in 1602, on the xv. of theAugustKalends. Infine,abouttheyeari6i3ori6i4,certainworkmen
repaired the confraternity room and chapel of St. Andrew; in which they were accustomed to assemble, and to celebrate the Office of the Blessed Virgin
Mary, who, with St. Andrew, was regarded as their particular patron. "
It may be inferred from the foregoing narrative, that the local veneration
for St. Andrew has been observed, especially in the country around Fesule, from the ninth to the present century. In the Calendars, he has been
recorded, and in many of them with high eulogy. Thus, the Florentine copy of Usuard has the feast of St. Andrew, deacon and minister to St. Donatus
x1 of Scotia, at the 22nd of August. While Dempster 3 and Camerarius *
7 The following inscription was placed there : —
D. o. M.
M. H. E. Virorum Societatis S. Andreas de Scotia, p. A. d. 1600.
D. o. m.
house of his order, A. D. 1545.
" The consecrating prelate was " R. D.
Alexander Burghus, Burgi S. Sepulchri episcopus," as we learn from an inscription on that altar.
" We are told by Placidus Puccinello, that the feast of St. Andrew was then cele- brated as a Double on the 23rd of August, "eoquod pridie propter Octavam Assump-
M. H. e.
Mulierum Societatis S. Andreae de Scotia, P. A. D. 1600.
8
Probably St. Donninus or Donnin tionis Deiparse impediatur. "
d'Avrilly, Martyr, and formerly honoured especiallyatPuy,onthe16thofJuly.
» He was a Carthusian monk.
10 He that and resigned see, however,
died at the extreme age of ninety-five in the Vol. VIII. —No. 6.
'3 In "Menologium Scoticum. " See Bishop Forbes' "Kalendars of Scottish Saints," pp. 207, 208.
'« In his lib. iii,
work,
"De Scotorum
Pietate,"
x
3 2 2 LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. [August 22.
assign the feast of St. Andrew, Archdeacon of Fesule, to the 4th of August, nearly all other Calendarists are agreed, that his festival belongs more properly to the present date. At the 22nd of August, this holy Archdeacon
1
is commemorated by Philip Ferrarius, * in words of eulogy, and he is fol-
lowed by Castellan. That this was his true festival has been shown by Placidus Puccinello, in the Life of St. Andrew, which is written in Italian. He proves it to have been an ancient custom for the Benedictine monks of the Abbey at Florence to expose, on the 22nd of August, a part of St. Andrew's head for public veneration of the faithful each year, on the high altar of their church. Moreover, on that same day, the Florentine monks went to the Church of St. Martin at Mensula, and there with the congregation, St. Andrew was solemnly reverenced by them, while the other part of his head was carried around in religious procession. Nor is this proof weakened owing to the circumstance, that a confraternity of working men, instituted to honour their patron saint, have selected the first Sunday after the 22nd of
Augustforaspecialreligiousceremony; becausetheydeemedSundaytobe a more suitable day for collecting a greater number of people to join in their devotions, and to add much more to the solemnity. This saint is pro- bably the Andreas mentioned in Henry Fitzsimon's list, but without a date
16 A notice of him occurs in the " Circle of 1
for his festival
the Seasons," and also at the present date. ?
being assigned.
Long after St. Andrew's time, we learn from certain Manuscripts remaining
to our own days, that the people of Florence, Fsesule and the neighbourhood, were accustomed to assemble, and to celebrate his Festival with great
devotion, as also to hear his panegyric pronounced by eloquent preachers. Although nearly forgotten in his native country, or at least not honoured in a
similar manner ; yet, among the heavenly choirs, and in the assembly of the saints, his glory remains perpetually preserved, while his virtues on earth have only their transitory record.
ARTICLE II—ST. GUNIFORT, MARTYR, IN ITALY. PROBABLY IN THE FOURTH OR FIFTH CENTURY. CHAPTER I.
INTRODUCTION—THE ANCIENT ACTS OF ST. GUNIFORT—VARIOUS WORKS IN WHICH HE IS COMMEMORATED—HIS NATIVE COUNTRY AND FAMILY—HIS EARLY PIETY— HIS BROTHER GUINIBALD AND HIS TWO SISTERS RESOLVE ON LEAVING THEIR HOMES TO SEEK MARTYRDOM AND TO SERVE THE LORD IN A STRANGE LAND—THEY ARRIVE AMONG THE —TEUTONS—THERE THF. Y ARE PERSECUTED, AND THE SISTERS SUFFER MARTYRDOM THE BROTHERS ARE APPREHENDED, BUT REFUSE TO RE- NOUNCE THEIR FAITH—THEY ARE SPARED FOR FURTHER SACRIFICES.
When we find human praise and ornamental garlands wreathed for
great worldlings in literary works of distinguished excellence or preserved on durable monuments of brass ; we may wonder, indeed, that the heroic actions of those soldiers of Christ, who suffered for His sake, have been passed over by authors in silence, since such records abound inglorious examples for mankind, and present noble models for the faithful. In pros-
15 See " Catalogus Gcneralis Sanctorum Compendium," tomus i. , lib. iv. , cap. xii. ,
Italiae. "
19 See •« Historic Catholic* Iberni* *7 See p. 235.
p. 52.
August 22. ] LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. 323
perity, they teach us humility, in adversity, they encourage us to fortitude. Moreover, while we extol the memory of the martyrs and saints, honour and praise is also rendered to the Almighty, and edification is given to the minds of all true Christians.
x
As the narrative in the old Acts of Gunifort is rather diffuse, abounding
in Scriptural quotations and pious reflections, as also digressive in imaginary dialogues and situations, which do not seem always based on authentic information supplied to the writer a we shall only select those statements,
;
that should amply gratify a desire to learn the most exact legend of his life
andmartyrdom. TheActsofSt. Guinefortus,Martyr,havebeenpublished3 almost from the very infancy of printing, and in the fifteenth century, by Boninus Mombritius,* or Mombrizio, a distinguished poet and scholar of Milan. He collected this account from an ancient Passionarium, found in a vellum Manuscript, preserved among the Lateran archives, and which he printed during the Pontificate of Pope Sixtus IV. s This holy martyr St. Gunifort is specially mentioned by Peter Paul Bosca in his Martyrology of
6
the Church of Milan ; as likewise, by Joannes Baptista Carisius
and by
Aloysius Tattus, in his Martyrology of the Church of Como, in Italy. Also
8
Ferrarius,7 Jacobus Gualla, and Petrus Galesinius have notices of him, at the
"
Historia Ecclesiastica Gentis Scotorum," Thomas Dempster inserts an account of St. Gunifort. * The Bollandists, likewise, present their Acts of St. Gunifort, at the 22nd of
present date, in their respective Martyrologies. In his
August.
10 These Acts, in two
Chapters,
have a
Prologue,
and are
comprised
in seventeen paragraphs. " Their author is unknown, nor can it be dis-
covered when or where he lived. The editor, Father William Cuper, S. J. ,
has given a previous critical commentary in fifteen paragraphs, and he has
added notes. A brief account of St. Gunifortis is given by Rev. S.
