33 did not sit in the
Apostolic
See until a.
O'Hanlon - Lives of the Irish Saints - v1
107
cognised as the chief see, within the Munster province. It has been main- tained, there was neither a bishop nor an archbishop over Cashel in the eighth century—most Ukely his time was the seventh—when Albert is thought to have flourished.
The title, Archbishop of Munster, having been first annexed to Emly,
was
Albert or Ailbe
which see had sometimes been called Archbishops he may thus have ac- quired the title Archprelate of Munster, or of Cashel, when this city was re- cognised as Metropohtan for the province. '3
Cashel obtained its ecclesiastical distinction, it is asserted, only about the close of the ninth century. Hence, certain writers, referred to by Colgan, in his acts of St. Albert, might suppose him to have deserved the title, Arch- bishop over Cashel,'* during his life-time, thus anticipating a subsequent for- mation of this see.
In order to divest themselves of all temporal honours, St. Albert, with
his companions, Erhard and Hildulph,'5 resolved on emigrating to a distant country, where they might remain unknown to their kindred. We are told,
that St. Erhard, Bishop of Ardagh,'^ in the territory of Teffia,'? St. Albert, Archbishop of Cashel, and St. Hildulph, associated with themselves nineteen other holy companions. Their missionary tour seems referable to the seventh century. Those Irish missionaries, including our saint, all set out on their travels. Through France and Germany they passed,'^ nor did they rest until they had arrived at Rome, the parent and nurse of our holy religion. Here, according to the custom of our country, and of the time, these pious pilgrims acknowledged with reverence its apostolic privileges, as highly dis- tinguishing this city among other cities of the world. '»
It appears to us, that we must regard the missionary tour to the Continent, by St. Albert, St. Erard, and St. Hildulph, as the consequence of a close companionship and friendship in Ireland among these holy men. Even, if divided by distant stations, they were resolved to engage in a holy and ad- venturous career for the sake of Christ.
afterwards,
it has been
asserted,
transferred to Cashel. —
Hence, although
might
have been
over— the only bishop Emly
prelates
of
O'Dubhegain and O'Huidhrin," edited by Dr. O'Donovan, n. 35, p. ix.
'^
Rader, the Bavarian writer, seems to have regarded the Blessed Albertus as St. photograph, by Frederick W. Mares, Erhard's companion, and moreover as a kinsman. But the historian is of opinion,
'3 Colgan gives parallel cases, regarding similar titular applications on the Continent.
Januarii. Vita St. Alberti, n. 2, p. 41. Also, Dr. Lanigan's "Ecclesiastical History of
Ireland," vol. iii. , chap, xviii. , § viii. , n. 103, p. 112.
'5 Hildulph is said, by some writers, to
have been a younger brother to both Erhard
The accompanying engraving, by Messrs. Jacquet et Bisson, Paris, is copied from a
Dublin.
'See •' Acta Sanctorum Hibemige," viii.
that both changed the darkness of Scotia
for the light of Germany. We are told, that Albert did not remain very long until he went to Rome. See "Bavaria Sancta," tomus i. , p. 63. The Jesuit, Matthew Rader, wrote "Bavaria Sancta," in three folio vols. It was published a. d. 1615-27, with 60, 44 and 20 plates of Raph. Sadeler.
and Albert.
'* ""
This see is situated in the county of Longford, and it was founded by St. Mel, a Briton, in the fifth century. See his Life at the 6th of February.
•' In St. Patrick's time this was a large
He also published the work Bavaria Pia,
in a fol. vol. , a. d. 1628, with 16 plates of
Raph. Sadeler. These were issued at
Monaci. A Munich edition of the fore-
going works in four vols, contains inferior
territory, extending into the present counties
of Westmeath and Longford. The river
Ethne, now the Inny, divided it into
two parts, north and south ; the former in-
eluded the greater part of Longford county, 444.
"
meath. See "Topographical Poems of niae" viii. Januarii. Vita S. Alberti, §
and the
latter,
the western half of "West-
'9 See Colgan's
Acta Sanctorum Hiber-
However conflicting are accounts
proofs. See Jacques-Charles Brunet's
" Manuel Du Libraire et de I'Amateur de
Livres," tome iv. See also Dr. Hoefer's
Nouvelle Biographic, tome xli. , pp. 443,
"
Rader" Art.
io8 LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. [January 8.
regarding them, some few circumstances transpire, which serve nearly to determine the period of their mission. Nor does it seem to be very clearly
ascertained, that all three left Ireland, at the same time, although they were after^vards associated on the Continent. Indeed it would rather appear, that Hildulf preceded Erard f° for we learn, that Hildulph had attained some marked distinction, when visited in Germany, by St. Albert and St. Erard. Again, St. Hildulph is said to have lived seven years and six months with St. Deodatus, in the valley of Galilee. Now this companionship at latest must have preceded a. d. 679^' or 680, when Deodatus died in the arms of St. Hildulph,^^ who survived him for twenty-eight years. The latter departed to Christ, A. D. 707. 23 Again, it is related, that Arbogast, Florentius,
Hildulph and Deodatus came together from Scotia, or Ireland, in the time of King Dagobert 1. ^+ It would appear, that this band of apostolic men had preached the Gospel, both in France and Germany, long before the illustrious St. Boniface^s had been able to reach the theatre of his zeal and labours. "^^ Dagobert I. , at the age of twenty-five or twenty-six years,^^ began his reign A. D. 628. He died at the age of thirty-five years, about the year 638, and with him ended the glory of the Merovingian Kings. During his time, Hildulph was Bishop of Treves, according to an ancient manuscript life of the saint. 2^ we are informed, that Aldaricus or
Besides, Ethiconus, Atticonus, who flourished in the time of Childeric II. , King of France,^^ had been married to Berswinda, a sister to the Queen, and this marriage must have taken place before the monarch's death, about the year 673. 3° Erard, the contemporary both of Albert and Hildulph, baptized Odilia, the daughter of Ethicus and Berswinda. Therefore, the most probable conjecture, to be drawn from historic accounts, favovus a supposition, that as St. Odilia flourished about the beginning of the eighth century,3' so St. Albert, St. Erard,
iii. , p. 39.
*° See Colgan's "Acta Sanctorum Hi-
It is to be found, in the pages of Surius'
"De Probatis Sanctorum Vitis," tomus ix. ,
p. 184, and of Lippeloo.
^5 His feast occurs at the 5th of Jime.
bemise," viii. Januarii. Vita St. Erardi, authore Paulo, lib. i. , cap. 11, p. 24, and Vita St. Erardi, authore Conrado, cap. Ii, p. 30. Conrad erred very considerably, in his estimate of the time, when these holy men flourished on the Continent.
^
This did not happen until about the
Replaces Hildulph as Bishop of Triers, during the Pontificate of Leo in. Hildulph was dead
=' See "Histoire de Anquetil's
long before this period. Even Pepin, and and his two sons Charlemagne and Charles flourished long after Hildulph's time. Pope Leo III. ruled from A. D. 796 to 816. His Pontificate occupies a considerable number of pages in Baronius' "Annales Ecclesiastici," tomus ix. , pp. 408 to 563.
^ This is confirmed by the fragment of a Nevers, at the 19th of June, in Surius, "De MS. Life of St. Odilia, published in Du- Probatis Sanctorum Vitis," tomus vi. , Chesne's "Historise Francorum Scriptores," pp. 275 to 279. This is further . confirmed, tomus i. , as also in a Preface to the
^' See the Life of St. Deodatus, Bishop of
by a Carthusian manuscript of Cologne.
^ See Rev. Alban Butler's "Lives of the
Fathers,MartyrsandotherPrincipalSaints," vol. vi. , Junexix.
^3 This is stated by Claudius Robertus,
"
Chronicon" of Albert of Strasburg. The author of the latter fragment is not known.
30Aldaricus Ethico was the son of
Lundesius,thesonofErcheonald,whodied about the year 660. See " Acta Sanctorum
"In Catologo Episcoporum Ecclesise Januarii," tomus i. , viii. Januarii. Vita S. Nivemensis," and in Grassius, "Com- Erhardi. Commentarius Praevius, § 8, p.
pendium Surii," as also in Menard's "Ob-
servationes," at the xi. of July, the day of his feast.
534.
31 Such is the opinion of Mireeus,', "In
"
See like- =* Such is the statement, contained in a wise Cornelius Grassius, "Compendium
Fastis Belgicis et Burgundicis. Life of Florentius, at the 7th of November. Surii," at the 13th of December.
year 716. See Baronius "Aimales Ecclesi-
astici," tomus ix. , p. 9.
France," Premiere Race dite des Merovingiens, § v. , p. 52. Also Mascou's "History of the
Ancient Germans," translated by Thomas Lediard, vol. ii. , book xv. , §§ iii. to vii. , pp. 243 to 249.
^* This Colgan promised to publish at the nth of July. See "Acta Sanctorum Hi-
bemise," viii. Januarii, Appendix ad Vitas S. Erardi, cap. iii. , pp. 35, 36.
January 8. ] - LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. 109
and St. Hildulph lived contemporaneously in France or Germany, towards the close of the seventh century.
An anonymous wTiter of St. Erard's Acts^^ has greatly erred, and confused
contemporaneous chronology, when he asserts, that the subject of his memoir flourished in the time of Pepin and his son Charlemagne, as also in the time of Pope Leo IX. Now Pepin died a. d. 768, whereas Pope Leo IX.
33 did not sit in the Apostolic See until a. d. 1049. The latter Pontifif died a. d. 1054. 34
Both Paul and Conrad, the mediaeval writers of St. Erard's Acts, labour under a mistake, when they bring Erard, Hildulph and Albert or Adalbert to the Continent, in the time of Pepin or Pipen, the father of Charlemagne. 35 Likewise, it is stated, that a missionary army of holy men, adorned with all virtues, contended in the Lord's warfare, throughout the wide extent of dominion, established by those Christian potentates. Then serenely amid the clash of arms and the storms of battle, many holy men from Hibemia, known as the Major Scotia,36 dispersed themselves over points the most distant in France and Germany. To the most inhospitable climates, and among the rudest people, they travelled, opening their eyes to the hght of Faith, and dispelling the errors and shadows of barbarism. St. Albert and St. Erard were associates in this good work, and when it had been happily prosecuted, the latter directed his course to Norica,37 so called, owing to its westward situation, or as Colgan thinks, eastward. Because the language and style of its people were regarded as uncouth, it was called Bavaria,3^
3^ See the Second Life of St. Erard,
published by Bollandus at the 8th ofJanuary.
"Acta Sanctorum Januarii," tomus i. , pp.
539 to 541. The Bollandist writer calls this
"
turpissimus contra chronologiam error," n. (a), p. 540.
33 Conrad de Montepuellarum, who takes
this writer to task, also mistakes St. Erard's
period, and while he corrects certain chrono-
logical errors, he falls into others, as for in-
stance making Henry III. , Emperor of
Germany, the immediate successor of Otho
III. Henry II. succeeded the last-named
potentate, a. d. 1003. See Guinefolle's
"
Histoire d'Allemagne, depuis les Temps les plus recules jusq'a I'annee 1838," par Kohlrausch. Quatrieme Epoque, pp. 117, 118.
Proper, according to the "Atlas Classica. " The river Danube seems to have been the boundary between both provinces. See the map " Romanum Imperium," No. 48. It
seems strange, that the German historian,
Kohlrausch, when treating about the intro-
duction of Christianity into Germany, for-
gets altogether the earlier apostleship of St. Albert and St. Erard, when introducing the
names of Saints Kilian, Emmeran, Rupert, Boniface and Willibrod, as among the first
"
34 And on the 19th of April. See Berti's Historise Ecclesiasticae Breviarium," pars.
"
ii, ssec. xi. , cap. i. , p. 46.
" Germaniae Libri Antiquse
35 On account of his
zeal and
religious magnanimous virtues, Charlemagne is classed among the saints. Molanus, Miraeus and
others assign his feast to the 28th of January.
Tres," lib. iii. , cap. xxx. , pp. 612 to 616 ; "
He is venerated at Aix la
near
^neus " Historia Bohemica," Sylvius,
pp. 126 to 217, in the fine collection of Chroni- cles intituled " Witichindi Saxonis Rerum ab Henrico et Ottone I. Impp. Gestarum libri iii. , una cum aliis quibusdam raris et antehac non lectis diversorum autorum his- toriis ab anno salutis D. ccc, usque ad prse- sentem setatem : quorum catalogus proxima mediaeval writer, Conrad de Montepuel- patebit pagina. " This folio volume was
the Rhine, in Northern Germany. One of
the most learned and interesting biographies
ever written is Capefigue's "Charlemagne. "
See, likewise, Greenwood's "First Book of the History of the Germans," chap. xiv. § iii. , pp. 856 to 873.
3* These are remarks borrowed from the
larum.
37 This province was formerly included in
Bavaria. It lay to the south of Bavaria
Chapelle,
missionaries in that country. d'Allemagne, depuis les Temps les plus recules jusqu'a I'annee 1838," par Kohlrausch, traduite de I'AUemand sur la onzieme edi- tion, par A. Guinefolle. Deuxieme Epoque, pp. 77, 78.
3^ The Boii, afterwards called Boiarii, were the ancient inhabitants of that country about modern Bavaria. See, on this sub- ject, that very learned work of Philippus
Cluverius,
as also in the additions to it Vindelicia et Norica," cap. iii. , pp. 727, 728. Also,
printed at Basfe, A. D. 1532. John Aventinus wrote the Annals of Bavaria. But the first edition printed in folio at Ingolstad a. d.
Histoire
no LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. [January 8.
Then taking leave of St. Albert, his fellow-labourer, to spread the orthodox Faith, Erard visited the square-formed city39 of Ratisbon,+° vulgarly called Imbripolis, from the river Imbre or Regen,-*^ on which it was built.
A certain writer-^^ states, that St. Albert was the companion of St. Erhard,
and not—his brother. St. Albert is called by this author a bishop of As-
sadensis but most likely the introduction of this word is a mistake for
Casselensis. '*3 It is stated by Hundius, that these brothers came to Rome
about the time when Pope Adrian or Pope Leo III. occupied the Apostolic
See. Their visit to the Eternal City should therefore be placed between a. d.
772, and A. D. 8I6. '^'^ By other writers, however, it is thought they must have
lived, at least a century before that period, and this latter opinion seems
altogether more probable.
Having received the Pope's benediction and necessary faculties to preach
the Gospel among the people of their special mission, these brothers, we are told, directed their course towards Germany. Here the younger brother, Hildulph, is said to have been elected to the Archiepiscopal See of Treves.
1554 is imperfect. That published at Basil.
Regis. A. D. 1580, 1615 in folio is preferred;
as also that issued at Frankfort 1627 in folio.
Some abridgments and versions in German
have appeared ; but the texts both in Latin
and German differ much from the manu-
scripts left by Aventin. The best edition is
that of Leipsic A. D. 17 10 in folio. It is
It maybe found well representedJn two maps
prefixed to this second volume of Zeiller's "
Topographise. "
*=Hund "In Syllabo Ratisbonensi. "
Wiguleus Hund, who lived from 15 14 to "
intituled " Annalium Aventinus, Jo.
contineus primordia Christianse Religionis
per Bojariam et loca quaedam vicina. " It
^appeared Ingolstadt,
1582 ; next it was issued at Munich, A. D. 1620, with additions by Gewold, in three
Bojorum L. VII. , item ejus abacus atque vetustiss.
first in folio at A. D.
Latinorumper digitosnumerandi consuetudo.
cum prsef. N. Hi. Gundling. " See Jean volumes and at— a. d.
; again Ratisbon, 1719,
George Theodore Graesse's "Tresor de in three folio volumes
Livres Rares et Precieux ou Nouveau Dic-
however, is incorrect.
edition, This writer also
"
tionnaire 260, 261.
tome
i. , pp.
left in
Bibliographique,"
Geographisch- —
39 Georgius Branus in tomus i. "Theatri an historical and a political descrip-
Urbium," calls it "urbem quartanorum. " tion of Bavaria. See M. le Dr. Hoefer's
'' '' Aventinus thinks it was called civitas
Nouvelle Biographie Generale depuis les
quadrata," after the Fourth Legion. A very exact idea of this city and its public build-
Temps les plus recules jusqu'a nos jours. " tome XXV. , p. 549.
*3 A Latin composition, in metre, is to be willbefoundinthefinecopper-plateen- foundinRade—r'swork,andreferringtothe
ings, as existing in the seventeenth century, gravings, and description given in German
three saints
"A tenebris Alberti trahit tua patria nomen,
Quamvis es, patriae hierarcha tuae
Et radios totum spargis peregrinus in orbem
Quid nisi caelestis sol tua vita facit ? Hildulphi germanus eras, germanus Er-
hardi,
Tertius ambobus non pietate minor,
Hildulphum rapuit Trevir, duo Boica texit, "—
"
bung und Abbildung der vomehmsten
by Math. Zeiller
Topographise Beschrei-
Oerter," vol. ii. , pp. 44 to 58.
*° An opinion has been advanced, that the
city was so named, from trading rafts there
collected ; but others are not satisfied with
Ratisposita," on account of its strength, and the beauty of its buildings. The whole of this matter, about which so much differ- ence of opinion prevails, is ably reviewed in the notes of Bollandus (t. v. x. y. ), "Acta Sanctorum Januarii," tomus i. , viii. Janu- arii. , p. 543.
""^"
Imperii" terms it Castra Regina. See See Berti's Ecclesiasticae Historiae
the position of the Dukedom and Palatinate Breviarium," pars, i. , sec. viii. , cap. i. , p.
such a derivation. Thus Conrad has it "
' The German name of this city is Regens- burgh— Regen signifying "rain," and Burgh "a city :" but most likely, as being placed on the river Regen, which there flows into the Danube, it is so called. The " Notitia
Raderus, ut ipse testatur ex Hundio in Metropoli, Conrado de Montepuellarum, in officio S. Erhard, Christophano, Scriptoribus Vitae Sancti Erhardi et Marco Velsero, libro
quinto, RerumBoicarum. "
of in the " Bavaria,
Topographia
Bavariae. "
190.
1588, published
Metropolis Salisburgensis
manuscript,
Politische Beschreibung von Baiem"
:
Boica non divos hos rapit, hosce parit. "
See Bavaria Sancta," torn, i. , p. 63.
To this extract ' ' Haec Colgan adds,
this latter
LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS.
'
Januarys. ]
This honour he unwillingly received. Afterwards he retired to solitudes, among the Vosges mountains, to lead a life of lowliness and contemplation.
Erhard and Albert were companions for a time, and spent their days engaged in the exercises of a religious life. Finding, however, that the expectations of the people and clergy were directed for their advancement to episcopal honours, both holy men resolved on exiling themselves to more distant
places.
solvedonmakingapilgrimagetotheHolyLand. Withsevencompanions he visited Jerusalem and other places adjoining it. These localities were held in great veneration, by the faithful, owing to their connection with the life and death of our Adorable Redeemer. Whilst here, one of his com-
panions, named Gillapatrick, died, far away from his native country. Our saint shed abundance of tears, and offered up many fervent prayers, at the
shrines or places, where Christian pilgrims usually congregated. We are not informed how long St. Albert remained in the Holy Land ; but he returned
thence to Germany and came to Saltzburg, as Colgan thinks, probably to visit his celebrated countryman, St. Virgil. '*s This opinion, however, does
not seem to be well-grounded. Another of his companions, named John, died it is said in the city of Saltzburg. He was interred, where his fellow- countrymen. Saints Rupert, Vitalis, Cuniald and Gizolarius closed their
mortal pilgrimage. -*^
CHAPTER III.
ST. ALBERT GOES TO RATISBON—HIS DEATH AND INTERMENT THERE—A MIRACLE WROUGHT AT HIS TOMB—CONCLUSION.
On — at
arriving Ratisbon,
Erhard is said to have retired to Ratisbon in Bavaria. Albert re-
or
called, St.
cognised as the chief see, within the Munster province. It has been main- tained, there was neither a bishop nor an archbishop over Cashel in the eighth century—most Ukely his time was the seventh—when Albert is thought to have flourished.
The title, Archbishop of Munster, having been first annexed to Emly,
was
Albert or Ailbe
which see had sometimes been called Archbishops he may thus have ac- quired the title Archprelate of Munster, or of Cashel, when this city was re- cognised as Metropohtan for the province. '3
Cashel obtained its ecclesiastical distinction, it is asserted, only about the close of the ninth century. Hence, certain writers, referred to by Colgan, in his acts of St. Albert, might suppose him to have deserved the title, Arch- bishop over Cashel,'* during his life-time, thus anticipating a subsequent for- mation of this see.
In order to divest themselves of all temporal honours, St. Albert, with
his companions, Erhard and Hildulph,'5 resolved on emigrating to a distant country, where they might remain unknown to their kindred. We are told,
that St. Erhard, Bishop of Ardagh,'^ in the territory of Teffia,'? St. Albert, Archbishop of Cashel, and St. Hildulph, associated with themselves nineteen other holy companions. Their missionary tour seems referable to the seventh century. Those Irish missionaries, including our saint, all set out on their travels. Through France and Germany they passed,'^ nor did they rest until they had arrived at Rome, the parent and nurse of our holy religion. Here, according to the custom of our country, and of the time, these pious pilgrims acknowledged with reverence its apostolic privileges, as highly dis- tinguishing this city among other cities of the world. '»
It appears to us, that we must regard the missionary tour to the Continent, by St. Albert, St. Erard, and St. Hildulph, as the consequence of a close companionship and friendship in Ireland among these holy men. Even, if divided by distant stations, they were resolved to engage in a holy and ad- venturous career for the sake of Christ.
afterwards,
it has been
asserted,
transferred to Cashel. —
Hence, although
might
have been
over— the only bishop Emly
prelates
of
O'Dubhegain and O'Huidhrin," edited by Dr. O'Donovan, n. 35, p. ix.
'^
Rader, the Bavarian writer, seems to have regarded the Blessed Albertus as St. photograph, by Frederick W. Mares, Erhard's companion, and moreover as a kinsman. But the historian is of opinion,
'3 Colgan gives parallel cases, regarding similar titular applications on the Continent.
Januarii. Vita St. Alberti, n. 2, p. 41. Also, Dr. Lanigan's "Ecclesiastical History of
Ireland," vol. iii. , chap, xviii. , § viii. , n. 103, p. 112.
'5 Hildulph is said, by some writers, to
have been a younger brother to both Erhard
The accompanying engraving, by Messrs. Jacquet et Bisson, Paris, is copied from a
Dublin.
'See •' Acta Sanctorum Hibemige," viii.
that both changed the darkness of Scotia
for the light of Germany. We are told, that Albert did not remain very long until he went to Rome. See "Bavaria Sancta," tomus i. , p. 63. The Jesuit, Matthew Rader, wrote "Bavaria Sancta," in three folio vols. It was published a. d. 1615-27, with 60, 44 and 20 plates of Raph. Sadeler.
and Albert.
'* ""
This see is situated in the county of Longford, and it was founded by St. Mel, a Briton, in the fifth century. See his Life at the 6th of February.
•' In St. Patrick's time this was a large
He also published the work Bavaria Pia,
in a fol. vol. , a. d. 1628, with 16 plates of
Raph. Sadeler. These were issued at
Monaci. A Munich edition of the fore-
going works in four vols, contains inferior
territory, extending into the present counties
of Westmeath and Longford. The river
Ethne, now the Inny, divided it into
two parts, north and south ; the former in-
eluded the greater part of Longford county, 444.
"
meath. See "Topographical Poems of niae" viii. Januarii. Vita S. Alberti, §
and the
latter,
the western half of "West-
'9 See Colgan's
Acta Sanctorum Hiber-
However conflicting are accounts
proofs. See Jacques-Charles Brunet's
" Manuel Du Libraire et de I'Amateur de
Livres," tome iv. See also Dr. Hoefer's
Nouvelle Biographic, tome xli. , pp. 443,
"
Rader" Art.
io8 LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. [January 8.
regarding them, some few circumstances transpire, which serve nearly to determine the period of their mission. Nor does it seem to be very clearly
ascertained, that all three left Ireland, at the same time, although they were after^vards associated on the Continent. Indeed it would rather appear, that Hildulf preceded Erard f° for we learn, that Hildulph had attained some marked distinction, when visited in Germany, by St. Albert and St. Erard. Again, St. Hildulph is said to have lived seven years and six months with St. Deodatus, in the valley of Galilee. Now this companionship at latest must have preceded a. d. 679^' or 680, when Deodatus died in the arms of St. Hildulph,^^ who survived him for twenty-eight years. The latter departed to Christ, A. D. 707. 23 Again, it is related, that Arbogast, Florentius,
Hildulph and Deodatus came together from Scotia, or Ireland, in the time of King Dagobert 1. ^+ It would appear, that this band of apostolic men had preached the Gospel, both in France and Germany, long before the illustrious St. Boniface^s had been able to reach the theatre of his zeal and labours. "^^ Dagobert I. , at the age of twenty-five or twenty-six years,^^ began his reign A. D. 628. He died at the age of thirty-five years, about the year 638, and with him ended the glory of the Merovingian Kings. During his time, Hildulph was Bishop of Treves, according to an ancient manuscript life of the saint. 2^ we are informed, that Aldaricus or
Besides, Ethiconus, Atticonus, who flourished in the time of Childeric II. , King of France,^^ had been married to Berswinda, a sister to the Queen, and this marriage must have taken place before the monarch's death, about the year 673. 3° Erard, the contemporary both of Albert and Hildulph, baptized Odilia, the daughter of Ethicus and Berswinda. Therefore, the most probable conjecture, to be drawn from historic accounts, favovus a supposition, that as St. Odilia flourished about the beginning of the eighth century,3' so St. Albert, St. Erard,
iii. , p. 39.
*° See Colgan's "Acta Sanctorum Hi-
It is to be found, in the pages of Surius'
"De Probatis Sanctorum Vitis," tomus ix. ,
p. 184, and of Lippeloo.
^5 His feast occurs at the 5th of Jime.
bemise," viii. Januarii. Vita St. Erardi, authore Paulo, lib. i. , cap. 11, p. 24, and Vita St. Erardi, authore Conrado, cap. Ii, p. 30. Conrad erred very considerably, in his estimate of the time, when these holy men flourished on the Continent.
^
This did not happen until about the
Replaces Hildulph as Bishop of Triers, during the Pontificate of Leo in. Hildulph was dead
=' See "Histoire de Anquetil's
long before this period. Even Pepin, and and his two sons Charlemagne and Charles flourished long after Hildulph's time. Pope Leo III. ruled from A. D. 796 to 816. His Pontificate occupies a considerable number of pages in Baronius' "Annales Ecclesiastici," tomus ix. , pp. 408 to 563.
^ This is confirmed by the fragment of a Nevers, at the 19th of June, in Surius, "De MS. Life of St. Odilia, published in Du- Probatis Sanctorum Vitis," tomus vi. , Chesne's "Historise Francorum Scriptores," pp. 275 to 279. This is further . confirmed, tomus i. , as also in a Preface to the
^' See the Life of St. Deodatus, Bishop of
by a Carthusian manuscript of Cologne.
^ See Rev. Alban Butler's "Lives of the
Fathers,MartyrsandotherPrincipalSaints," vol. vi. , Junexix.
^3 This is stated by Claudius Robertus,
"
Chronicon" of Albert of Strasburg. The author of the latter fragment is not known.
30Aldaricus Ethico was the son of
Lundesius,thesonofErcheonald,whodied about the year 660. See " Acta Sanctorum
"In Catologo Episcoporum Ecclesise Januarii," tomus i. , viii. Januarii. Vita S. Nivemensis," and in Grassius, "Com- Erhardi. Commentarius Praevius, § 8, p.
pendium Surii," as also in Menard's "Ob-
servationes," at the xi. of July, the day of his feast.
534.
31 Such is the opinion of Mireeus,', "In
"
See like- =* Such is the statement, contained in a wise Cornelius Grassius, "Compendium
Fastis Belgicis et Burgundicis. Life of Florentius, at the 7th of November. Surii," at the 13th of December.
year 716. See Baronius "Aimales Ecclesi-
astici," tomus ix. , p. 9.
France," Premiere Race dite des Merovingiens, § v. , p. 52. Also Mascou's "History of the
Ancient Germans," translated by Thomas Lediard, vol. ii. , book xv. , §§ iii. to vii. , pp. 243 to 249.
^* This Colgan promised to publish at the nth of July. See "Acta Sanctorum Hi-
bemise," viii. Januarii, Appendix ad Vitas S. Erardi, cap. iii. , pp. 35, 36.
January 8. ] - LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. 109
and St. Hildulph lived contemporaneously in France or Germany, towards the close of the seventh century.
An anonymous wTiter of St. Erard's Acts^^ has greatly erred, and confused
contemporaneous chronology, when he asserts, that the subject of his memoir flourished in the time of Pepin and his son Charlemagne, as also in the time of Pope Leo IX. Now Pepin died a. d. 768, whereas Pope Leo IX.
33 did not sit in the Apostolic See until a. d. 1049. The latter Pontifif died a. d. 1054. 34
Both Paul and Conrad, the mediaeval writers of St. Erard's Acts, labour under a mistake, when they bring Erard, Hildulph and Albert or Adalbert to the Continent, in the time of Pepin or Pipen, the father of Charlemagne. 35 Likewise, it is stated, that a missionary army of holy men, adorned with all virtues, contended in the Lord's warfare, throughout the wide extent of dominion, established by those Christian potentates. Then serenely amid the clash of arms and the storms of battle, many holy men from Hibemia, known as the Major Scotia,36 dispersed themselves over points the most distant in France and Germany. To the most inhospitable climates, and among the rudest people, they travelled, opening their eyes to the hght of Faith, and dispelling the errors and shadows of barbarism. St. Albert and St. Erard were associates in this good work, and when it had been happily prosecuted, the latter directed his course to Norica,37 so called, owing to its westward situation, or as Colgan thinks, eastward. Because the language and style of its people were regarded as uncouth, it was called Bavaria,3^
3^ See the Second Life of St. Erard,
published by Bollandus at the 8th ofJanuary.
"Acta Sanctorum Januarii," tomus i. , pp.
539 to 541. The Bollandist writer calls this
"
turpissimus contra chronologiam error," n. (a), p. 540.
33 Conrad de Montepuellarum, who takes
this writer to task, also mistakes St. Erard's
period, and while he corrects certain chrono-
logical errors, he falls into others, as for in-
stance making Henry III. , Emperor of
Germany, the immediate successor of Otho
III. Henry II. succeeded the last-named
potentate, a. d. 1003. See Guinefolle's
"
Histoire d'Allemagne, depuis les Temps les plus recules jusq'a I'annee 1838," par Kohlrausch. Quatrieme Epoque, pp. 117, 118.
Proper, according to the "Atlas Classica. " The river Danube seems to have been the boundary between both provinces. See the map " Romanum Imperium," No. 48. It
seems strange, that the German historian,
Kohlrausch, when treating about the intro-
duction of Christianity into Germany, for-
gets altogether the earlier apostleship of St. Albert and St. Erard, when introducing the
names of Saints Kilian, Emmeran, Rupert, Boniface and Willibrod, as among the first
"
34 And on the 19th of April. See Berti's Historise Ecclesiasticae Breviarium," pars.
"
ii, ssec. xi. , cap. i. , p. 46.
" Germaniae Libri Antiquse
35 On account of his
zeal and
religious magnanimous virtues, Charlemagne is classed among the saints. Molanus, Miraeus and
others assign his feast to the 28th of January.
Tres," lib. iii. , cap. xxx. , pp. 612 to 616 ; "
He is venerated at Aix la
near
^neus " Historia Bohemica," Sylvius,
pp. 126 to 217, in the fine collection of Chroni- cles intituled " Witichindi Saxonis Rerum ab Henrico et Ottone I. Impp. Gestarum libri iii. , una cum aliis quibusdam raris et antehac non lectis diversorum autorum his- toriis ab anno salutis D. ccc, usque ad prse- sentem setatem : quorum catalogus proxima mediaeval writer, Conrad de Montepuel- patebit pagina. " This folio volume was
the Rhine, in Northern Germany. One of
the most learned and interesting biographies
ever written is Capefigue's "Charlemagne. "
See, likewise, Greenwood's "First Book of the History of the Germans," chap. xiv. § iii. , pp. 856 to 873.
3* These are remarks borrowed from the
larum.
37 This province was formerly included in
Bavaria. It lay to the south of Bavaria
Chapelle,
missionaries in that country. d'Allemagne, depuis les Temps les plus recules jusqu'a I'annee 1838," par Kohlrausch, traduite de I'AUemand sur la onzieme edi- tion, par A. Guinefolle. Deuxieme Epoque, pp. 77, 78.
3^ The Boii, afterwards called Boiarii, were the ancient inhabitants of that country about modern Bavaria. See, on this sub- ject, that very learned work of Philippus
Cluverius,
as also in the additions to it Vindelicia et Norica," cap. iii. , pp. 727, 728. Also,
printed at Basfe, A. D. 1532. John Aventinus wrote the Annals of Bavaria. But the first edition printed in folio at Ingolstad a. d.
Histoire
no LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. [January 8.
Then taking leave of St. Albert, his fellow-labourer, to spread the orthodox Faith, Erard visited the square-formed city39 of Ratisbon,+° vulgarly called Imbripolis, from the river Imbre or Regen,-*^ on which it was built.
A certain writer-^^ states, that St. Albert was the companion of St. Erhard,
and not—his brother. St. Albert is called by this author a bishop of As-
sadensis but most likely the introduction of this word is a mistake for
Casselensis. '*3 It is stated by Hundius, that these brothers came to Rome
about the time when Pope Adrian or Pope Leo III. occupied the Apostolic
See. Their visit to the Eternal City should therefore be placed between a. d.
772, and A. D. 8I6. '^'^ By other writers, however, it is thought they must have
lived, at least a century before that period, and this latter opinion seems
altogether more probable.
Having received the Pope's benediction and necessary faculties to preach
the Gospel among the people of their special mission, these brothers, we are told, directed their course towards Germany. Here the younger brother, Hildulph, is said to have been elected to the Archiepiscopal See of Treves.
1554 is imperfect. That published at Basil.
Regis. A. D. 1580, 1615 in folio is preferred;
as also that issued at Frankfort 1627 in folio.
Some abridgments and versions in German
have appeared ; but the texts both in Latin
and German differ much from the manu-
scripts left by Aventin. The best edition is
that of Leipsic A. D. 17 10 in folio. It is
It maybe found well representedJn two maps
prefixed to this second volume of Zeiller's "
Topographise. "
*=Hund "In Syllabo Ratisbonensi. "
Wiguleus Hund, who lived from 15 14 to "
intituled " Annalium Aventinus, Jo.
contineus primordia Christianse Religionis
per Bojariam et loca quaedam vicina. " It
^appeared Ingolstadt,
1582 ; next it was issued at Munich, A. D. 1620, with additions by Gewold, in three
Bojorum L. VII. , item ejus abacus atque vetustiss.
first in folio at A. D.
Latinorumper digitosnumerandi consuetudo.
cum prsef. N. Hi. Gundling. " See Jean volumes and at— a. d.
; again Ratisbon, 1719,
George Theodore Graesse's "Tresor de in three folio volumes
Livres Rares et Precieux ou Nouveau Dic-
however, is incorrect.
edition, This writer also
"
tionnaire 260, 261.
tome
i. , pp.
left in
Bibliographique,"
Geographisch- —
39 Georgius Branus in tomus i. "Theatri an historical and a political descrip-
Urbium," calls it "urbem quartanorum. " tion of Bavaria. See M. le Dr. Hoefer's
'' '' Aventinus thinks it was called civitas
Nouvelle Biographie Generale depuis les
quadrata," after the Fourth Legion. A very exact idea of this city and its public build-
Temps les plus recules jusqu'a nos jours. " tome XXV. , p. 549.
*3 A Latin composition, in metre, is to be willbefoundinthefinecopper-plateen- foundinRade—r'swork,andreferringtothe
ings, as existing in the seventeenth century, gravings, and description given in German
three saints
"A tenebris Alberti trahit tua patria nomen,
Quamvis es, patriae hierarcha tuae
Et radios totum spargis peregrinus in orbem
Quid nisi caelestis sol tua vita facit ? Hildulphi germanus eras, germanus Er-
hardi,
Tertius ambobus non pietate minor,
Hildulphum rapuit Trevir, duo Boica texit, "—
"
bung und Abbildung der vomehmsten
by Math. Zeiller
Topographise Beschrei-
Oerter," vol. ii. , pp. 44 to 58.
*° An opinion has been advanced, that the
city was so named, from trading rafts there
collected ; but others are not satisfied with
Ratisposita," on account of its strength, and the beauty of its buildings. The whole of this matter, about which so much differ- ence of opinion prevails, is ably reviewed in the notes of Bollandus (t. v. x. y. ), "Acta Sanctorum Januarii," tomus i. , viii. Janu- arii. , p. 543.
""^"
Imperii" terms it Castra Regina. See See Berti's Ecclesiasticae Historiae
the position of the Dukedom and Palatinate Breviarium," pars, i. , sec. viii. , cap. i. , p.
such a derivation. Thus Conrad has it "
' The German name of this city is Regens- burgh— Regen signifying "rain," and Burgh "a city :" but most likely, as being placed on the river Regen, which there flows into the Danube, it is so called. The " Notitia
Raderus, ut ipse testatur ex Hundio in Metropoli, Conrado de Montepuellarum, in officio S. Erhard, Christophano, Scriptoribus Vitae Sancti Erhardi et Marco Velsero, libro
quinto, RerumBoicarum. "
of in the " Bavaria,
Topographia
Bavariae. "
190.
1588, published
Metropolis Salisburgensis
manuscript,
Politische Beschreibung von Baiem"
:
Boica non divos hos rapit, hosce parit. "
See Bavaria Sancta," torn, i. , p. 63.
To this extract ' ' Haec Colgan adds,
this latter
LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS.
'
Januarys. ]
This honour he unwillingly received. Afterwards he retired to solitudes, among the Vosges mountains, to lead a life of lowliness and contemplation.
Erhard and Albert were companions for a time, and spent their days engaged in the exercises of a religious life. Finding, however, that the expectations of the people and clergy were directed for their advancement to episcopal honours, both holy men resolved on exiling themselves to more distant
places.
solvedonmakingapilgrimagetotheHolyLand. Withsevencompanions he visited Jerusalem and other places adjoining it. These localities were held in great veneration, by the faithful, owing to their connection with the life and death of our Adorable Redeemer. Whilst here, one of his com-
panions, named Gillapatrick, died, far away from his native country. Our saint shed abundance of tears, and offered up many fervent prayers, at the
shrines or places, where Christian pilgrims usually congregated. We are not informed how long St. Albert remained in the Holy Land ; but he returned
thence to Germany and came to Saltzburg, as Colgan thinks, probably to visit his celebrated countryman, St. Virgil. '*s This opinion, however, does
not seem to be well-grounded. Another of his companions, named John, died it is said in the city of Saltzburg. He was interred, where his fellow- countrymen. Saints Rupert, Vitalis, Cuniald and Gizolarius closed their
mortal pilgrimage. -*^
CHAPTER III.
ST. ALBERT GOES TO RATISBON—HIS DEATH AND INTERMENT THERE—A MIRACLE WROUGHT AT HIS TOMB—CONCLUSION.
On — at
arriving Ratisbon,
Erhard is said to have retired to Ratisbon in Bavaria. Albert re-
or
called, St.
