Fearing the Lord in loving him, and loving our neighbour in fearing him ; the offices of charity are fairly exercised towards man, while the
reverence
of hearts tends only to its great object.
O'Hanlon - Lives of the Irish Saints - v1
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. Albert found that his beloved brother, or companion, St. Erhard,
Reginsburg,
is
city indifferently
had just departed this life. Joined to the deceased by ties of country and
missionary labours, as also by a strong sympathy of friendship, natural affection, and Divine Grace,—possibly even by relationship,—St. Albert earnestly entreated the Almighty, that he might find a union in the tomb
with a holy fellow-labourer, who had happily rested far away from their island home. This prayer was heard. When Albert departed from life at Ratisbon his remains were honourably deposited in a tomb, only seven feet distant from the body of St. Erhard. ^ He had been interred within the same city," and church. 3 From what has been said regarding Saints Erhard and
s St. Virgil flourished in Bavaria, as St. Vitalis, St. Cuniald and St. Gisilarius, Bishop of Saltzburg, about the year 744 to at the 20th October, the 8th of February, 748. This appears from the letters of Pope and the 24th of September, that all these Zachery to St. Boniface, Archbishop of saints had been Irishmen by birth.
Mentz. See Baronius "Annales Eccle-
siastici," tomus ix. , pp. 139, 164. St.
Virgil lived afterwards to A. d. 784, when
Colgan tells us he died on the 1st of De-
cember, at which day his Acts were to ap-
pear. The reader is referred to the 27th of v. , vi. , viii. , and nn. 3, 5, 6, pp. 39, 41.
November, for particulars relating to this celebrated saint's life.
** Colgan assumes, that this John had been an Irishman. He promised also to show in the acts of St. Rupert, at the 27th of March,
and in those of his disciples and companions,
—as this
—'We Erhard's tomb.
Chap. hi.
that St. Albert's remains were at the head of St.
*
Also Dr. Lanigan's "Ecclesiastical History of Ireland," vol. iii. , chap, xviii. , and n. 104, pp, iii, 112, 113.
3 This church belonged to the community of nuns, and it had been founded by St. Erard. It seems to have been the one of
See Colgan's "Acta Sanctonim Hiber- niae," viii. Januarii. Vita S. Alberti, §§ iv. ,
learn, too,
iii
*
After alluding to Erhard's missionary
^
Colgan constantly assumes, that St. Erhard, St. Albert and St. Hildulph were three brothers.
5 The following are particulars, as related
career, he being regarded as a bishop of
LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. [January 8.
Albert, by the German writers, Bruner, Rader and Hundius,^ it would appear, that the acts of both those holy men were formerly extant. Nearly all writers agree, that Saints Albert, Erard and Hildulph were Irishmen,s Saint Albert, as also his companions,^ flourished about the year 750, according to Colgan; yet the previous century is more likely to have been their period.
As Albert and Erhard were the companions of childhood and an early home, as they were probably members of the same family, as both supported and afterwards resigned episcopal honours to engage together on a pilgrimage for the sake of Christ, as both wished to avoid worldly distinction for the purpose of being freer to engage in pious exercises and contemplation ; so the surviving missionary, Albert, most earnestly desired, that in death he might not be separated from his dearly-loved companion, Erhard. His pious request was granted, and since in life he despised honours, so after death his remains were venerated, and the miracles wrought at his tomb rendered him illustrious. 7 Not knowing the day nor year of his death, Colgan thinks it very probable, that Albert's festival should be observjed on the same day and month, devoted to the religious commemoration of) his fellow-labourer, St. Erhard. ^ In point of fact, this true date was the 8th of January. Tradition also coincides, at least throughout the Irish Church. In the Acts of St. Erhard, we have an account, respecting a remarkable miracle wrought at the tomb of St. Albert. Slightly differing in some respects, this narrative is substantially identical, as given by two different wTiters. s In the time of St.
^° a certain
St. Aldalrecus," happened to be custodian of the lower monastic church.
Wolfgang,
pious nun,
named and who was a niece of Gunegund,
seven monasteries established by him held in greatest regard. On account of its situation in the city, it was known as the Church of the Lower Monastery. It belonged to a com- munity of female religious, who desired to become canonesses, as were the sisterhood connected with the Upper Monastery. In the time of St. Wolfgang, both houses were reformed. The Emperor Henry II. was a munificent benefactor to both foundations. See Wiguleus Hundius, " In Metropoli," tomus iii. In the work of reform, St. Wolfgang introduced nuns of the Benedic- tine order, and over these it is said he placed as first abbess, Brigid, a pious daughter to the Emperor St. Henry. She seems to have received her name from our Irish St. Brigid, and this may afford additional confirmation for St. Erard's nationality : he probably taught the Bavarians to respect her name and memory. Even the daughters of royal houses justly rejoiced in being called after the illustrious Irish abbess St. Brigid.
Erhard and of St. Albert. He says, that they were brothers, and born in Ireland, as
currently related, although this seemed not admissible to other writers. It appeared to him, that one being charged with the care of Ardagh, and the other with that of Cashel, both willingly laid down the office and charge to undertake this missionary pilgrimage.
^ In one particular passage, Hundius writes, that Albert, Archbishop of Cashelj was "Anglicus," but this word must have
"
been hastily inserted for
"Scotus. " Alittlebeforeit,hehadstated, that Erhard was "natione Scotus," and that
with his brothers, Hildulph and Albert, besides many others, he wished to engage o—n
a pilgrimage, having left his bishopric. "Catalogus Episcoporum Ratisbonensium. "
''
Ardagh, and of Scottish origin, as also to by Conradus de Montepuellarum.
that of his and '° This man was consecrated
brothers, Hildulph Albert, holy
with their other companions, Hundius treats
about the mistakes of Aventinus, respecting the birth-place of those brothers. He then adds, other writers assert, that they were Scots, belonging to Ireland, and not natives of Norica. For further information, the
reader is referred to their respective Acts in "
Catalogus Episcoporum Ratisbonensium. " s Bruner gives the summarized Acts of St.
Bishop of Ratisbon, a. d. 968, and he died a. d. 994. HisNataliswasobservedthereonthe 31st of October. See " Martyrologium
Romanum," sub die, and the notes of Baronius. See his Life in Rev. Alban Butler's "Lives of the Fathers, Martyrs and other Principal Saints," vol. x. , October xxxi.
" He was Bishop of Strasburg, and he died
Acta Sanctorum Hiber- nise," viii. Januarii. Vita S. Alberti, cap. vii. ,
^ See Colgan's viii. , p. 39.
Hibernus," or
January 8. ] LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. 113
It seemed to her one night, that tears flowed from the eyes of an image of our cnicified Redeemer/^ which stood near St. Erhard's tomb. She also
heard these
words,
" Do not allow the caretakers of this church to cut off so
negligently that linen in which St. Erhard's remains are shrouded ; for he
thatrestsinthistombisgrfeatlyesteemedbytheAlmighty. " Itseems,God
Himself thus intimated His injunction to the faithful, that no want of reverence
shouldbemanifestedtowardsanyrelicofSt. Erhard. Bothclergyandpeople
were imconscious, however, regarding any desecration of sacred objects.
A certain woman Erhard to relieve her from a "
holy importuned pearl" which covered her eyes and which deprived her of sight. ^3 The saint at last
appeared to her. He then said " If you deserve to have your vision re- stored, prostrate yourself at the distance of seven feet from my tomb, and there you may find relief from one, who, greater than I am,^4 will restore you to sight. This pious woman obeyed such a direction, and thus she recovered the faculty of vision, through the merits of St. Albert. Thus it would appear, that St. Erhard desired the companion of his pilgrimage, labours and merits, during life, to share with him the power of working miracles after death. Such objects and powers were agreeable to the ordinances of God. ^s
It has been justly remarked, that the whole history, regarding St. Albert
and his remains involved in ^^ This is the more companions, great obscurity.
to be regretted, since St. Albert has been so long venerated as the Patron Saint of a most important and celebrated ancient Irish diocese. This, too, ranks foremost amongst the sees of the Munster province. However, we can have little doubt, that during life his virtues and labours were especially approved by the Almighty. Enjoying the fruition of heavenly delights, for many past ages, his prayers and patronage must continue to afford spiritual comforts, whenever he. is devoutly importuned by the faithful children of his diocese. Yet, to the faithful abroad he was endeared, because leaving the comforts of home, he became a pilgrim for the sake of Christ. ^7
no ambition, but the desire to sanctify himself, and to teach others by example and precept to despise worldly riches and honours. In no grade, whether of
sacerdotal, episcopal, missionary or monastic life, was he found otherwise
than self-sacrificing and angelic. Meek to all, he was too great and magnani- mous to feel proud of his attainments and position. A Confessor and an
Apostle, he had the spirit of a martyr ; for although he contended not to blood, his life was slowly but surely wasted, in the service of his neighbour.
on the 8th of July, a. d. 973. See Bruner,
he had seen this crucifix. He relates very diffusely the miracle here noticed more briefly, and doubtless it came to him from some reliable source. Bruner has incorrectly stated, that St. Albert's and St. Erard's re- mains had been deposited in the same tomb.
'3 In the Acts of St. Erhard, written by Paul, and published by Bollandus and Colgan, lib. ii. , cap. ii. , we are told, that the person in whose favour this miracle had been wrought, spent her time in continual vigils and tears. She was a matron, as we read, whose mind became detached from all thoughts of earth. These practices caused a whiteness, or as commonly called a "pearl," to grow over her eyes, so as to deprive her
of sight. Importunately she besought St. Erhard to restore her vision, as necessary to enable her to keep watch over church pro- perties committed to her care,
'"* These words of St. Erard, recorded by
Paul, may refer to Albert having been older, or more distinguished for his virtues or
miracles, or perhaps for his dignity, Albert
having been an archbishop, and Erard, at
most, simply a bishop.
'= Conradus de Montepuellarum, Vita S.
Erhardi, Episcopi. , cap. iii.
'* See " Harris' Ware," vol. i. , "Arch-
bishops of Cashel," p. 463.
'7 We can hardly doubt, that the favourite
Christian name of Albert, so much in vogue among the Germans, had its origin in their veneration for our Irish saint, who was an
early patron of their country.
" '^
Annales Boicorum," lib. viii. ^
The ancient writer Paul declares, that
Vol. I.
I
He had
114 LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. [January 8.
ARTICLE II. —ST. ERARD OR ERHARD, MISSIONARY AT RATISBON, IN BAVARIA.
[SEVENTH CENTURY. ']
CHAPTER I.
INTRODUCTION—^WRITERS OF ST. ERARD's ACTS—HIS COUNTRY AND RACE—DERIVATION OF HIS NAME.
Illustrious saints, who are destined by the Almighty greatly to advance his honour among men, begin almost from childhood to increase their store
of virtues as they grow in strength. They begin a warfare against the pas- sions,anddirecttheirpowersofresistancetosuppressvices; whiletheyac-
quire self-control to master temptations, and to despise worldly attractions. Prayer and fasting become the means for extinguishing pride and vain-glory,
for repelling luxury, and the promptings of selfishness. Delighting in the company of the good, and sedulous in sounding the Divine praises, they re- gard not the malice of enemies, nor the tongues of detractors. To friends
theylendawillingassistance,andeventofoes; theyrejoicewiththosewho are in joy; they grieve with those in affliction ; seeking every means to be- come more advanced in knowledge and virtue, they neglect no ascertained duty. Early years are not weak in effort, when the soul and will are rightly directed : then do children put away the things that please children, for their desires become matured, and their energies are beyond the feebleness of mere childhood.
Fearing the Lord in loving him, and loving our neighbour in fearing him ; the offices of charity are fairly exercised towards man, while the reverence of hearts tends only to its great object. When young persons start into the years of discretion with such purposes, they tread in the paths of life eternal. Numerous Acts of St. Erard, written at greater or lesser length, had been in circulation before Colgan published his account of this very celebrated missionarypreacher. ^ BesidessixdifferentLives,whichhehadtodrawfrom, he possessed many more compendious notices, taken from breviaries and other sources. Six chief acts alluded to, were those three published by Bol- landus ; the fourth was found in a German manuscript codex belonging to theMonasteryofSt. UdalricofAugusta; thefifthfromanancientGerman manuscript of the Carthusian Monastery, at Mentz ; the sixth was found in the " Legenda Germanica Sanctorum," printed at Strasburg a. d. 1478. These latter three are not printed by Colgan, as he found nothing in them worthy of being added to those he chose to select for publication. The second of those Acts, published by the Bollandists, he also omitted, thinking it did not materially increase information, sufficiently afforded by the first and third Life. ^ Paulus or Paululus^ wrote a tract, dedicated to the Abbess Heilika,4 in a prologue. Then follow thS first book, in three chapters, and
Art. II. —Chap. I. —'See "Acta Sane-
torum Hibemiae," viii. Januarii. Vita S.
Erardi, pp. 22 to 38.
^
Paulus Bernriedensis, who wrote the Lives of Pope St. Gregory VII. and of the Blessed Herluca. See Bollandus' "Acta Sanctorum Januarii," tomus i. , viii. Ja-
See ibid. , n. i. , p. 28.
3 It is thought by Colgan, that he nuarii. Preface to St. Erard's Acts, p. 533.
flourished towards or after the close of the
eleventh century. He mentions St. Wolf- Halika, daughter to Henry I. , Duke of
gang, who died towards the close of the
tenth, and Pope Leo. IX. , who died after
the middle of the eleventh century. Joannes
Gamansius supposes him to have been lib. viii. This valuable work of the
'* This religious woman may have been
Bavaria. She is said to have been a virgin consecrated to God, by Andrew Brunner, in "Annales Virtutis et Fortunae Boiorum,"
January 8. ] LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. 115
an epilogue : afterwards, a second book, relating St. Erhard's miracles, and in two chapters, may be found. Next, a tract of Conradus,s a Montepuella-
nim, in three chapters, succeeds, as also an appendix, in four chapters, together with many learned illustrative notes, and lessons. The Breviaries of Aus-
burg,^ Wurtzburg7 and Ratisbon are printed as authorities, by Colgan, who introduces the Acts of St. Erard, compiled by Paul and Conrad, at the 8th of January. The Bollandists have collected the Acts of this saint and pub- lished them, at this same date.
A very excellent summary of St. Erard's acts will be found written by
Harris; althoughheacknowledges,thattheAnnalsofIrelandseemtobe
altogether silent regarding his history and that of his reputed brothers, St. AlbertandSt. Hidulph. TheremarksofHarris,however,areequallypreju- diced and unjust, when he asserts, their ignorant monkish biographers, in the dark ages, had little regard to chronological exactness, provided they could relate a sufficient number of miracles,^ Now, it seems most probable, that the Monk Paul, who wrote in the eleventh, and Conradus De Montepuella- rum,9 who wrote about the beginning of the fourteenth century, had very conflicting and uncertain records, from which to compile their respective accounts. From one or other of those, not very ancient writers, epitomes have since been prepared. However, although various historic difficulties, relating to the saintly brothers or companions, have not been cleared up, some learned German and French writers have put their history in a tolerably chiaro-oscuro light.
Nearly all the writers of this holy missioner's Acts are agreed, that he was
In all fairness, it must be stated, however, that certain writers assign to different other nations the honour of his nativity. Thus Camerarius would place his birth to the credit of modem Scotia. ^+ Narbon is said to have been the spot, where he was bom, in some particular lives. Some of the
and bom in ancient Scotia or Ireland. '° In some of the
of Scottish
German Calendars, and in two diiferent versions of the Augsburgh Breviary, he is said to have been a Scotus in nationality. " In the Breviary of Wurtz- burgh,and in that of Ratisbon, the same statement appears ; while according to this latter authority, it is expressly said, Scotia or Hibernia nvas an ocean island. " Various other German writers, who are quoted by Colgan,^3 assert, that not only was Erard a Scot, but likewise one from Ireland.
race,
learned Jesuit treats the History of Bavaria
from the first known accounts to the begin-
ning of the year 1 3 14. It appeared at
Possevino, in "Apparatus Sacer" state. He lived before the year 1340. He was the writer of several learned works.
was afterwards printed.
^ Printed there in 1625.
in three
printed A. D. 1626, 1627 and 1629. See St. Pius V. , but a more modern Breviary
Munich,
volumes, respectively
approvedbyPope
"
Bibliotheca Scriptorum Socie- tatis Jesu. " Yet, it would seem more in accordance with her place, period and posi- tion, to regard her as. Halica, daughter to the Count Palatine a Wittelspach, and who immediately succeeded Bertha, as abbess
over the Lower Monastery, at Ratisbon.
See Hundius, in "Metropoli," tomus ii. ,
Additions of Gewoldus. The latter abbess than that his country was Scotia, that is, as died A. D. 1 120. See "Acta Sanctorum Conrad explains himself, Ireland, or Scotia
Alegambe's
Januarii," n. (a), p. 535.
s He was rector of the College at Vieima,
as he states in the third chapter of his Life of St. Erard. Afterwards, he became a Canon in the Church of Ratisbon, as Gesner, in "Bibliotheca," and Antonio
Major, cap. ii.
" See Colgan's "Acta Sanctorum Hiber-
nise," viii. Januarii. Vita S. Erardi, p. 32. " See ibid. , p. 33.
'3 See z^/^. , Appendix, cap. iv,, pp. 37, 38, 'See"DeStatuHominis. "
^Theancientonewas
^
See Harris' Ware, vol. i. ,
"Bishops of
Ardagh," p. 248.
» Harris incorrectly renders this Conrad
of Montpellier.
'° In his Life, as written by Conrad De
Montepuellarum, nothing more is stated.
ii6 LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS.
[Januarys.
most celebrated historians, such as Rader,^5 Marcus Velserus, Christopher Phrseislebius, Brunner,^^ make our saint a native of Ireland. ^?
Such is the statement, as found in the first Life, written by Paulus or Paululus. Again, he is called a Nervian. ^^ In one instance, an old Life writes him down as a Gothus, or Goth, when a Scotus or Scot was manifestly intended. He is said to have been descended from the nation " Niemio- rum,"accordingtoaPaderbornMS. ; butBoUandusconjectures,thatinstead of this, we should read, that he was descended from the nation " Hiber- norum," i. e. , "of the Irish. " It has been also stated that he was a Bavarian. ^? There appears to have been a very strange commingling of errors,^° in all that has been written, in reference to the birth-place of this saint. ^' « St. Erard's being a native of Ireland can scarcely admit of question, unless we are to reject the authority of almost all wTiters, who have treated about him.
Having deeply studied this subject, Bollandus states, as the most pro- bable opinion, that Erard was an Irishman. Colgan conjectures that Narbon means Ardboe or Arboe—sometimes aspirated Hardboe—near Lough Neagh, in the county of Tyrone, as this was formerly a town of some note. Harris adopts this opinion. ^^ More likely, an error of statement has been committed by the old Avriter. Dr. Lanigan suspects, however, that Narbon is a corruption of Nardach,23 that is, of Ardach or Ardagh, where Erard is said to have been bishop. ^+ To test this matter by historic enquiry presents real difficulties. In opposition to the testimonies already cited, there is no authority worth mentioning, except that of St. Hidulfs Life, published in the Benedictine Acts, in which Erard is said to have been bom at Ratis- bon. For this statement, there is no foundation whatsoever, unless it should be argued, because Erard spent his last years and died in that city, it was therefore the place of his birth. Nor was his companion Hildulf ev—en a
native of that place. Nothing could have induc many
Germans re-
—edso markableas,severalareforindustryandresearch whenwritingSt. Erard's Lives, compiling breviaries, histories and other tracts to deprive their country
'S See "Bavaria Sancta," tomus i. , p. alluding to his having been of a family, 42, where some doubt is expressed about settled at a place called Narbon, some other this matter ; but in his additions to tomus Lives or legends, not published by Colgan,
"
ii. , p. 56, all ambiguity is removed by have Narbonae in Scotia natus. "
his being considered a native of Hibernia.
Marcus Velserus was the author of a work
printed at Venice, in folio, A. D. 1594.
''See Hugo Menardus, in
"
It was adorned with different
and intituled " Rerum Augustanarum Vin- delicarum, Libri Octo. " In the same city,
"
gium Benedictinum," xi. Julii, when treating
about St. Hildulph.
^° Some writers have that one or thought,
both of St. Erard's parents may have been
natives of Ireland, while the saint himself
engravings,
A. D. 1590, in 4to, appeared,
Antiquse Augustae-Vindelicorum duplo auc-
tiores quam ante acutse, et in tres partes dis-
tributse ; cum notis Marci Velseri Matthsei Hiberniae," viii. Januarii. Vita S. Erardi.
Inscriptiones
F. Aug. Vind. " In the city of Nuremburg, A. D. 1682, "Opera Historica et Philologica" of Velserus issued in folio, under the editor- ship of Cr. Arnold. See Brunet's "Manuel
^^
country of St. Erard, " Acta Sanctorum
du Libraire," tome v. , p. 11 18.
Appendix, cap. iv. , pp. 37, 38, also at n. 5, p. 28.
^^ "
See Harris' Ware, vol. i. , Bishops of
Ardagh," p. 249.
=3 The N prefixed is a contraction of «a,
'* See "Rerum
Boicarum,"
tomus
so that " Narbonensis " "of signifies
lib. v. ,
'7 See Bollandus in his Prologue to the
Acts of St. Erard and Albert, in "Acta
Sanctorum Januarii," tomus i. , viii. Ja-
nuarii, pp. 533, 534.
Erhardus, qui gloria fortis interpre- tari potest, Narbonensis gentilitate, Nervius civilitate, genere Scoticus fuit," lib. i. , cap.
and "
Nardachensis,
" if it werethe
»8 "
i. Instead of
"
Narbonensis
108.
p. 690.
gentilitate," p.
i. ,
"of;"
Arbon,"
original reading, would mean "of Ardagh. " As to "Nervius civilitate," perhaps the author intended to say, that Erard had spent some time in the territory of the Nervii, in which there were some Irish establishments,
^^ See " Ecclesiastical History of Ire- land," vol. iii. , chap, xviii. , sec. vii.
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. Albert found that his beloved brother, or companion, St. Erhard,
Reginsburg,
is
city indifferently
had just departed this life. Joined to the deceased by ties of country and
missionary labours, as also by a strong sympathy of friendship, natural affection, and Divine Grace,—possibly even by relationship,—St. Albert earnestly entreated the Almighty, that he might find a union in the tomb
with a holy fellow-labourer, who had happily rested far away from their island home. This prayer was heard. When Albert departed from life at Ratisbon his remains were honourably deposited in a tomb, only seven feet distant from the body of St. Erhard. ^ He had been interred within the same city," and church. 3 From what has been said regarding Saints Erhard and
s St. Virgil flourished in Bavaria, as St. Vitalis, St. Cuniald and St. Gisilarius, Bishop of Saltzburg, about the year 744 to at the 20th October, the 8th of February, 748. This appears from the letters of Pope and the 24th of September, that all these Zachery to St. Boniface, Archbishop of saints had been Irishmen by birth.
Mentz. See Baronius "Annales Eccle-
siastici," tomus ix. , pp. 139, 164. St.
Virgil lived afterwards to A. d. 784, when
Colgan tells us he died on the 1st of De-
cember, at which day his Acts were to ap-
pear. The reader is referred to the 27th of v. , vi. , viii. , and nn. 3, 5, 6, pp. 39, 41.
November, for particulars relating to this celebrated saint's life.
** Colgan assumes, that this John had been an Irishman. He promised also to show in the acts of St. Rupert, at the 27th of March,
and in those of his disciples and companions,
—as this
—'We Erhard's tomb.
Chap. hi.
that St. Albert's remains were at the head of St.
*
Also Dr. Lanigan's "Ecclesiastical History of Ireland," vol. iii. , chap, xviii. , and n. 104, pp, iii, 112, 113.
3 This church belonged to the community of nuns, and it had been founded by St. Erard. It seems to have been the one of
See Colgan's "Acta Sanctonim Hiber- niae," viii. Januarii. Vita S. Alberti, §§ iv. ,
learn, too,
iii
*
After alluding to Erhard's missionary
^
Colgan constantly assumes, that St. Erhard, St. Albert and St. Hildulph were three brothers.
5 The following are particulars, as related
career, he being regarded as a bishop of
LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. [January 8.
Albert, by the German writers, Bruner, Rader and Hundius,^ it would appear, that the acts of both those holy men were formerly extant. Nearly all writers agree, that Saints Albert, Erard and Hildulph were Irishmen,s Saint Albert, as also his companions,^ flourished about the year 750, according to Colgan; yet the previous century is more likely to have been their period.
As Albert and Erhard were the companions of childhood and an early home, as they were probably members of the same family, as both supported and afterwards resigned episcopal honours to engage together on a pilgrimage for the sake of Christ, as both wished to avoid worldly distinction for the purpose of being freer to engage in pious exercises and contemplation ; so the surviving missionary, Albert, most earnestly desired, that in death he might not be separated from his dearly-loved companion, Erhard. His pious request was granted, and since in life he despised honours, so after death his remains were venerated, and the miracles wrought at his tomb rendered him illustrious. 7 Not knowing the day nor year of his death, Colgan thinks it very probable, that Albert's festival should be observjed on the same day and month, devoted to the religious commemoration of) his fellow-labourer, St. Erhard. ^ In point of fact, this true date was the 8th of January. Tradition also coincides, at least throughout the Irish Church. In the Acts of St. Erhard, we have an account, respecting a remarkable miracle wrought at the tomb of St. Albert. Slightly differing in some respects, this narrative is substantially identical, as given by two different wTiters. s In the time of St.
^° a certain
St. Aldalrecus," happened to be custodian of the lower monastic church.
Wolfgang,
pious nun,
named and who was a niece of Gunegund,
seven monasteries established by him held in greatest regard. On account of its situation in the city, it was known as the Church of the Lower Monastery. It belonged to a com- munity of female religious, who desired to become canonesses, as were the sisterhood connected with the Upper Monastery. In the time of St. Wolfgang, both houses were reformed. The Emperor Henry II. was a munificent benefactor to both foundations. See Wiguleus Hundius, " In Metropoli," tomus iii. In the work of reform, St. Wolfgang introduced nuns of the Benedic- tine order, and over these it is said he placed as first abbess, Brigid, a pious daughter to the Emperor St. Henry. She seems to have received her name from our Irish St. Brigid, and this may afford additional confirmation for St. Erard's nationality : he probably taught the Bavarians to respect her name and memory. Even the daughters of royal houses justly rejoiced in being called after the illustrious Irish abbess St. Brigid.
Erhard and of St. Albert. He says, that they were brothers, and born in Ireland, as
currently related, although this seemed not admissible to other writers. It appeared to him, that one being charged with the care of Ardagh, and the other with that of Cashel, both willingly laid down the office and charge to undertake this missionary pilgrimage.
^ In one particular passage, Hundius writes, that Albert, Archbishop of Cashelj was "Anglicus," but this word must have
"
been hastily inserted for
"Scotus. " Alittlebeforeit,hehadstated, that Erhard was "natione Scotus," and that
with his brothers, Hildulph and Albert, besides many others, he wished to engage o—n
a pilgrimage, having left his bishopric. "Catalogus Episcoporum Ratisbonensium. "
''
Ardagh, and of Scottish origin, as also to by Conradus de Montepuellarum.
that of his and '° This man was consecrated
brothers, Hildulph Albert, holy
with their other companions, Hundius treats
about the mistakes of Aventinus, respecting the birth-place of those brothers. He then adds, other writers assert, that they were Scots, belonging to Ireland, and not natives of Norica. For further information, the
reader is referred to their respective Acts in "
Catalogus Episcoporum Ratisbonensium. " s Bruner gives the summarized Acts of St.
Bishop of Ratisbon, a. d. 968, and he died a. d. 994. HisNataliswasobservedthereonthe 31st of October. See " Martyrologium
Romanum," sub die, and the notes of Baronius. See his Life in Rev. Alban Butler's "Lives of the Fathers, Martyrs and other Principal Saints," vol. x. , October xxxi.
" He was Bishop of Strasburg, and he died
Acta Sanctorum Hiber- nise," viii. Januarii. Vita S. Alberti, cap. vii. ,
^ See Colgan's viii. , p. 39.
Hibernus," or
January 8. ] LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. 113
It seemed to her one night, that tears flowed from the eyes of an image of our cnicified Redeemer/^ which stood near St. Erhard's tomb. She also
heard these
words,
" Do not allow the caretakers of this church to cut off so
negligently that linen in which St. Erhard's remains are shrouded ; for he
thatrestsinthistombisgrfeatlyesteemedbytheAlmighty. " Itseems,God
Himself thus intimated His injunction to the faithful, that no want of reverence
shouldbemanifestedtowardsanyrelicofSt. Erhard. Bothclergyandpeople
were imconscious, however, regarding any desecration of sacred objects.
A certain woman Erhard to relieve her from a "
holy importuned pearl" which covered her eyes and which deprived her of sight. ^3 The saint at last
appeared to her. He then said " If you deserve to have your vision re- stored, prostrate yourself at the distance of seven feet from my tomb, and there you may find relief from one, who, greater than I am,^4 will restore you to sight. This pious woman obeyed such a direction, and thus she recovered the faculty of vision, through the merits of St. Albert. Thus it would appear, that St. Erhard desired the companion of his pilgrimage, labours and merits, during life, to share with him the power of working miracles after death. Such objects and powers were agreeable to the ordinances of God. ^s
It has been justly remarked, that the whole history, regarding St. Albert
and his remains involved in ^^ This is the more companions, great obscurity.
to be regretted, since St. Albert has been so long venerated as the Patron Saint of a most important and celebrated ancient Irish diocese. This, too, ranks foremost amongst the sees of the Munster province. However, we can have little doubt, that during life his virtues and labours were especially approved by the Almighty. Enjoying the fruition of heavenly delights, for many past ages, his prayers and patronage must continue to afford spiritual comforts, whenever he. is devoutly importuned by the faithful children of his diocese. Yet, to the faithful abroad he was endeared, because leaving the comforts of home, he became a pilgrim for the sake of Christ. ^7
no ambition, but the desire to sanctify himself, and to teach others by example and precept to despise worldly riches and honours. In no grade, whether of
sacerdotal, episcopal, missionary or monastic life, was he found otherwise
than self-sacrificing and angelic. Meek to all, he was too great and magnani- mous to feel proud of his attainments and position. A Confessor and an
Apostle, he had the spirit of a martyr ; for although he contended not to blood, his life was slowly but surely wasted, in the service of his neighbour.
on the 8th of July, a. d. 973. See Bruner,
he had seen this crucifix. He relates very diffusely the miracle here noticed more briefly, and doubtless it came to him from some reliable source. Bruner has incorrectly stated, that St. Albert's and St. Erard's re- mains had been deposited in the same tomb.
'3 In the Acts of St. Erhard, written by Paul, and published by Bollandus and Colgan, lib. ii. , cap. ii. , we are told, that the person in whose favour this miracle had been wrought, spent her time in continual vigils and tears. She was a matron, as we read, whose mind became detached from all thoughts of earth. These practices caused a whiteness, or as commonly called a "pearl," to grow over her eyes, so as to deprive her
of sight. Importunately she besought St. Erhard to restore her vision, as necessary to enable her to keep watch over church pro- perties committed to her care,
'"* These words of St. Erard, recorded by
Paul, may refer to Albert having been older, or more distinguished for his virtues or
miracles, or perhaps for his dignity, Albert
having been an archbishop, and Erard, at
most, simply a bishop.
'= Conradus de Montepuellarum, Vita S.
Erhardi, Episcopi. , cap. iii.
'* See " Harris' Ware," vol. i. , "Arch-
bishops of Cashel," p. 463.
'7 We can hardly doubt, that the favourite
Christian name of Albert, so much in vogue among the Germans, had its origin in their veneration for our Irish saint, who was an
early patron of their country.
" '^
Annales Boicorum," lib. viii. ^
The ancient writer Paul declares, that
Vol. I.
I
He had
114 LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. [January 8.
ARTICLE II. —ST. ERARD OR ERHARD, MISSIONARY AT RATISBON, IN BAVARIA.
[SEVENTH CENTURY. ']
CHAPTER I.
INTRODUCTION—^WRITERS OF ST. ERARD's ACTS—HIS COUNTRY AND RACE—DERIVATION OF HIS NAME.
Illustrious saints, who are destined by the Almighty greatly to advance his honour among men, begin almost from childhood to increase their store
of virtues as they grow in strength. They begin a warfare against the pas- sions,anddirecttheirpowersofresistancetosuppressvices; whiletheyac-
quire self-control to master temptations, and to despise worldly attractions. Prayer and fasting become the means for extinguishing pride and vain-glory,
for repelling luxury, and the promptings of selfishness. Delighting in the company of the good, and sedulous in sounding the Divine praises, they re- gard not the malice of enemies, nor the tongues of detractors. To friends
theylendawillingassistance,andeventofoes; theyrejoicewiththosewho are in joy; they grieve with those in affliction ; seeking every means to be- come more advanced in knowledge and virtue, they neglect no ascertained duty. Early years are not weak in effort, when the soul and will are rightly directed : then do children put away the things that please children, for their desires become matured, and their energies are beyond the feebleness of mere childhood.
Fearing the Lord in loving him, and loving our neighbour in fearing him ; the offices of charity are fairly exercised towards man, while the reverence of hearts tends only to its great object. When young persons start into the years of discretion with such purposes, they tread in the paths of life eternal. Numerous Acts of St. Erard, written at greater or lesser length, had been in circulation before Colgan published his account of this very celebrated missionarypreacher. ^ BesidessixdifferentLives,whichhehadtodrawfrom, he possessed many more compendious notices, taken from breviaries and other sources. Six chief acts alluded to, were those three published by Bol- landus ; the fourth was found in a German manuscript codex belonging to theMonasteryofSt. UdalricofAugusta; thefifthfromanancientGerman manuscript of the Carthusian Monastery, at Mentz ; the sixth was found in the " Legenda Germanica Sanctorum," printed at Strasburg a. d. 1478. These latter three are not printed by Colgan, as he found nothing in them worthy of being added to those he chose to select for publication. The second of those Acts, published by the Bollandists, he also omitted, thinking it did not materially increase information, sufficiently afforded by the first and third Life. ^ Paulus or Paululus^ wrote a tract, dedicated to the Abbess Heilika,4 in a prologue. Then follow thS first book, in three chapters, and
Art. II. —Chap. I. —'See "Acta Sane-
torum Hibemiae," viii. Januarii. Vita S.
Erardi, pp. 22 to 38.
^
Paulus Bernriedensis, who wrote the Lives of Pope St. Gregory VII. and of the Blessed Herluca. See Bollandus' "Acta Sanctorum Januarii," tomus i. , viii. Ja-
See ibid. , n. i. , p. 28.
3 It is thought by Colgan, that he nuarii. Preface to St. Erard's Acts, p. 533.
flourished towards or after the close of the
eleventh century. He mentions St. Wolf- Halika, daughter to Henry I. , Duke of
gang, who died towards the close of the
tenth, and Pope Leo. IX. , who died after
the middle of the eleventh century. Joannes
Gamansius supposes him to have been lib. viii. This valuable work of the
'* This religious woman may have been
Bavaria. She is said to have been a virgin consecrated to God, by Andrew Brunner, in "Annales Virtutis et Fortunae Boiorum,"
January 8. ] LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. 115
an epilogue : afterwards, a second book, relating St. Erhard's miracles, and in two chapters, may be found. Next, a tract of Conradus,s a Montepuella-
nim, in three chapters, succeeds, as also an appendix, in four chapters, together with many learned illustrative notes, and lessons. The Breviaries of Aus-
burg,^ Wurtzburg7 and Ratisbon are printed as authorities, by Colgan, who introduces the Acts of St. Erard, compiled by Paul and Conrad, at the 8th of January. The Bollandists have collected the Acts of this saint and pub- lished them, at this same date.
A very excellent summary of St. Erard's acts will be found written by
Harris; althoughheacknowledges,thattheAnnalsofIrelandseemtobe
altogether silent regarding his history and that of his reputed brothers, St. AlbertandSt. Hidulph. TheremarksofHarris,however,areequallypreju- diced and unjust, when he asserts, their ignorant monkish biographers, in the dark ages, had little regard to chronological exactness, provided they could relate a sufficient number of miracles,^ Now, it seems most probable, that the Monk Paul, who wrote in the eleventh, and Conradus De Montepuella- rum,9 who wrote about the beginning of the fourteenth century, had very conflicting and uncertain records, from which to compile their respective accounts. From one or other of those, not very ancient writers, epitomes have since been prepared. However, although various historic difficulties, relating to the saintly brothers or companions, have not been cleared up, some learned German and French writers have put their history in a tolerably chiaro-oscuro light.
Nearly all the writers of this holy missioner's Acts are agreed, that he was
In all fairness, it must be stated, however, that certain writers assign to different other nations the honour of his nativity. Thus Camerarius would place his birth to the credit of modem Scotia. ^+ Narbon is said to have been the spot, where he was bom, in some particular lives. Some of the
and bom in ancient Scotia or Ireland. '° In some of the
of Scottish
German Calendars, and in two diiferent versions of the Augsburgh Breviary, he is said to have been a Scotus in nationality. " In the Breviary of Wurtz- burgh,and in that of Ratisbon, the same statement appears ; while according to this latter authority, it is expressly said, Scotia or Hibernia nvas an ocean island. " Various other German writers, who are quoted by Colgan,^3 assert, that not only was Erard a Scot, but likewise one from Ireland.
race,
learned Jesuit treats the History of Bavaria
from the first known accounts to the begin-
ning of the year 1 3 14. It appeared at
Possevino, in "Apparatus Sacer" state. He lived before the year 1340. He was the writer of several learned works.
was afterwards printed.
^ Printed there in 1625.
in three
printed A. D. 1626, 1627 and 1629. See St. Pius V. , but a more modern Breviary
Munich,
volumes, respectively
approvedbyPope
"
Bibliotheca Scriptorum Socie- tatis Jesu. " Yet, it would seem more in accordance with her place, period and posi- tion, to regard her as. Halica, daughter to the Count Palatine a Wittelspach, and who immediately succeeded Bertha, as abbess
over the Lower Monastery, at Ratisbon.
See Hundius, in "Metropoli," tomus ii. ,
Additions of Gewoldus. The latter abbess than that his country was Scotia, that is, as died A. D. 1 120. See "Acta Sanctorum Conrad explains himself, Ireland, or Scotia
Alegambe's
Januarii," n. (a), p. 535.
s He was rector of the College at Vieima,
as he states in the third chapter of his Life of St. Erard. Afterwards, he became a Canon in the Church of Ratisbon, as Gesner, in "Bibliotheca," and Antonio
Major, cap. ii.
" See Colgan's "Acta Sanctorum Hiber-
nise," viii. Januarii. Vita S. Erardi, p. 32. " See ibid. , p. 33.
'3 See z^/^. , Appendix, cap. iv,, pp. 37, 38, 'See"DeStatuHominis. "
^Theancientonewas
^
See Harris' Ware, vol. i. ,
"Bishops of
Ardagh," p. 248.
» Harris incorrectly renders this Conrad
of Montpellier.
'° In his Life, as written by Conrad De
Montepuellarum, nothing more is stated.
ii6 LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS.
[Januarys.
most celebrated historians, such as Rader,^5 Marcus Velserus, Christopher Phrseislebius, Brunner,^^ make our saint a native of Ireland. ^?
Such is the statement, as found in the first Life, written by Paulus or Paululus. Again, he is called a Nervian. ^^ In one instance, an old Life writes him down as a Gothus, or Goth, when a Scotus or Scot was manifestly intended. He is said to have been descended from the nation " Niemio- rum,"accordingtoaPaderbornMS. ; butBoUandusconjectures,thatinstead of this, we should read, that he was descended from the nation " Hiber- norum," i. e. , "of the Irish. " It has been also stated that he was a Bavarian. ^? There appears to have been a very strange commingling of errors,^° in all that has been written, in reference to the birth-place of this saint. ^' « St. Erard's being a native of Ireland can scarcely admit of question, unless we are to reject the authority of almost all wTiters, who have treated about him.
Having deeply studied this subject, Bollandus states, as the most pro- bable opinion, that Erard was an Irishman. Colgan conjectures that Narbon means Ardboe or Arboe—sometimes aspirated Hardboe—near Lough Neagh, in the county of Tyrone, as this was formerly a town of some note. Harris adopts this opinion. ^^ More likely, an error of statement has been committed by the old Avriter. Dr. Lanigan suspects, however, that Narbon is a corruption of Nardach,23 that is, of Ardach or Ardagh, where Erard is said to have been bishop. ^+ To test this matter by historic enquiry presents real difficulties. In opposition to the testimonies already cited, there is no authority worth mentioning, except that of St. Hidulfs Life, published in the Benedictine Acts, in which Erard is said to have been bom at Ratis- bon. For this statement, there is no foundation whatsoever, unless it should be argued, because Erard spent his last years and died in that city, it was therefore the place of his birth. Nor was his companion Hildulf ev—en a
native of that place. Nothing could have induc many
Germans re-
—edso markableas,severalareforindustryandresearch whenwritingSt. Erard's Lives, compiling breviaries, histories and other tracts to deprive their country
'S See "Bavaria Sancta," tomus i. , p. alluding to his having been of a family, 42, where some doubt is expressed about settled at a place called Narbon, some other this matter ; but in his additions to tomus Lives or legends, not published by Colgan,
"
ii. , p. 56, all ambiguity is removed by have Narbonae in Scotia natus. "
his being considered a native of Hibernia.
Marcus Velserus was the author of a work
printed at Venice, in folio, A. D. 1594.
''See Hugo Menardus, in
"
It was adorned with different
and intituled " Rerum Augustanarum Vin- delicarum, Libri Octo. " In the same city,
"
gium Benedictinum," xi. Julii, when treating
about St. Hildulph.
^° Some writers have that one or thought,
both of St. Erard's parents may have been
natives of Ireland, while the saint himself
engravings,
A. D. 1590, in 4to, appeared,
Antiquse Augustae-Vindelicorum duplo auc-
tiores quam ante acutse, et in tres partes dis-
tributse ; cum notis Marci Velseri Matthsei Hiberniae," viii. Januarii. Vita S. Erardi.
Inscriptiones
F. Aug. Vind. " In the city of Nuremburg, A. D. 1682, "Opera Historica et Philologica" of Velserus issued in folio, under the editor- ship of Cr. Arnold. See Brunet's "Manuel
^^
country of St. Erard, " Acta Sanctorum
du Libraire," tome v. , p. 11 18.
Appendix, cap. iv. , pp. 37, 38, also at n. 5, p. 28.
^^ "
See Harris' Ware, vol. i. , Bishops of
Ardagh," p. 249.
=3 The N prefixed is a contraction of «a,
'* See "Rerum
Boicarum,"
tomus
so that " Narbonensis " "of signifies
lib. v. ,
'7 See Bollandus in his Prologue to the
Acts of St. Erard and Albert, in "Acta
Sanctorum Januarii," tomus i. , viii. Ja-
nuarii, pp. 533, 534.
Erhardus, qui gloria fortis interpre- tari potest, Narbonensis gentilitate, Nervius civilitate, genere Scoticus fuit," lib. i. , cap.
and "
Nardachensis,
" if it werethe
»8 "
i. Instead of
"
Narbonensis
108.
p. 690.
gentilitate," p.
i. ,
"of;"
Arbon,"
original reading, would mean "of Ardagh. " As to "Nervius civilitate," perhaps the author intended to say, that Erard had spent some time in the territory of the Nervii, in which there were some Irish establishments,
^^ See " Ecclesiastical History of Ire- land," vol. iii. , chap, xviii. , sec. vii.
