*" Molanus states, that he was buried in
the Monastery of St.
the Monastery of St.
O'Hanlon - Lives of the Irish Saints - v4
place
Berlin's fine monastery, at St. Omer.
' This Life is taken " ex Ordinario MS. et
Breviario Ecclesise S. Audomari. "
'
The author assigns his motives for writ- ing it, in the opening paragraph.
' See his work, " De Morinis," tomus i. , lib. iv. , en p. 55.
5 In his work, " Factorum
'° His and are not known.
treats about the rare sanctity of this devoted lady,'
" Acta Sanctorum Hiber-
Diciorumque "InSuisExemplis,"tituloDePaupertate.
family origin
See Les I'etits Bollandistes, Vies des
Mirabilium," lib. i. , cap. 4. '
"
The Life of this Saint is there in Nine Lessons.
Saints," tome iv. , xii. • Jour. d'Avril, p. 353.
Article VI. —' Printed,A. D.
1515.
" Their festival is kept, on the 23rd of October, where their Acts will be found.
'
Henschenn wrote, A. D. 'See"ActaS. anctorum, tomusii. , Ap-
rilis xii. De SancloErkembodone, Eplscopo
Teruanensi et Abbate Sithiuensi, in Bclgio,
In Vie des Saints de Cambrai et d'Arras. "
' See an account of him, in " Histoire Literaire de la France," tome xv. Douzieme
It was unpublished, when Godefrid
" Father Henschenn thinks the name of our saint to be manifestly ot Teutonic origin ; thus, Eryhen-bode, he translates, by the
"
Latin words, industrium cautumque
ministrum. " A stronger argument is to be found, in the statement, that in the Manu- script Acts, as also in the printed ones of
Luglius and Luglianus, no mention of St. Erkembodon's name appears.
pp. 92 to 94. '"
Vol. IV. —No, 3.
I
1675.
130 LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. [April 12.
as had been allowable to infer from a certain manuscript he read, since he
was a companion to Luglius and Luglianus," who came as royal missionaries fromHibernia. " Likethem,hewasattackedbymurderers,robbed,beaten
and left for dead, at a place called Seyrendal, near Ferfay, in the canton of Norrent-Fontes. It is stated, that after the departure of the assassins, he came to the use of his senses ; and then, hastily covering the bodies of both Irish Martyrs with brandies, Erkembodon went immediately to Thdrouanne, where St. Bain, '3 the Bishop, then lived, and who heard from him all that happened. ''* He lived, afterwards, in the monastery of Sithiii, at St. Omer,'5 and under St. Bertin. '* There, with an admirable spirit of religion, he laboured to emulate the virtues of his great master. He practised all monas- ticexercises,andwiththegreatestexactness. Hewaspresent,atthedeath- bed scene of St. Bertin, who passed out of this life, having exceeded the age of one hundred years. The monk John places his demise, at 698, while other modern writers state, that he died on the 5th of September, a. d. 709. '' In succession to him were first Rigobert, and afterwards Erlefrid. '^ With the unanimous suffrages of the monks, at St. Omer, St. Erkembobe was elected to succeed the last deceased Abbot, in the year 717. '' Meantime, owing to thegreatageofSt. Bertin,andhisinabilitytodischargeallthedutiesofhis
important charge, Rigobert
=° and Erlefrid " had been chosen his life- during
time, as coadjutors. While Erkembode maintained that exact discipline,
which had hitherto distinguished the monks, who dwelt in the monastery at
Sithiii, he fulfilled all the duties his new position required, and with true fide-
lity. By example and precept, he inspired the perfection of virtue, and he provided with prudence for the wants of his monastic brethren. In those
times, violent and oppressive acts often interrupted that peace, which should
reign in all religious communities ; but, the holy Abbot, with great wisdom and forecast, procured and defended the rights and immunities of his house. He even obtained a charter''' from King Chilperic II. , who, from having been a cleric, became a monarch, in 715. ^3 This deed conferred several important privileges on his monastery. Again, Thierry IV. , or Theodoric the younger,^*
'3 His feast occurs, on the 20th of June. '< According to some writeis, St. Erkem-
He does not appear to have lived very long, as assistant Abbot.
" Some writers regard him as third Abbot of Sithiu, in succession to St. Bertin.
" It begins: "Chilpericus Rex Francorum. Si facta parentum," &c. According to the Chronicle of Iperius, it was granted, in the
third year of his reign.
'3 He died, a. d. 720, after an unquiet rule.
bode belonged to a family of the Morini
;
while his zeal and piety, it is thought, urged him to become a guide and companion to St.
Luglius and Luglianus, in that part of the country.
'S Called after St. Omer, or St. Audmar, formerly a monk of Luxeuil, and afterwards the founder of a monastery, in honour of the Blessed Virgin Mary, at the former place. His festival is held, on the 9th of September.
'' His feast occurs, at the 5th September. '7 See Rev. Alban Butler's " Lives of the
Fathers, Martyrs and other principal Saints," vol. ix. , September v.
"' Erkembode had succeeded him, A. D. 718, as proved by Mabillon, in his " Annales Ordinis S. Benedicti," tomus ii. , lib. xx. , sect. XXV. , p. 52.
' According to the Life, published by the
"
Premiere Race dite des Merovingiens, sect,
vi. , p. 55.
^* He is reputed to have been King, from
A. D. 721to737. See"CEuvresCompletes" de Bossuet, Eveque de Meaux. Tome x. Abrege de I'Histoire de France, Liv. i. , Thierri IV. [An. 721], col. I183 to 1185. Abbe Migne's Edition, a. d. 1856, 1857, small fol.
°s The first of these is edited, by Mirseus, in "Notitia Ecclesiarum Belgii," cap. xiii. The other is to be found in " De
Morinis,"lib. iv. , cap. Iviii.
''See Mabillon's "Annales Ordinis S.
Benedicti," tomus ii. , lib. xx. , sect, xxv. , p. S2.
monk
John.
See the Bollandists' "Acta
Malbranq,
Sanctorum," tomus ii. , Aprilis xii. , sect. 5,
p. 183.
°°
Bertin, on the Catalogue of Abbots of Sithiu.
By some, he is classed as second to St.
See L. -P. Anquetil's
Historic de France,"
April 12. ] LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. 131
a cousin, and successor to the formef King, confirmed such immunities, in twodistinctcharters. 's Thesedecreed,thatnopublicjudgeshouldenterthe
monastery of Sithiii, or its i)recincts, to hear causes, or to exact composi- tions, nor otherwise to distrain or seize goods, or men, belonging to the monaster}-, whether in the capacity of freemen or of servants. '* St. Erkem- bode was called, in the year, 720,'' to be bishop over the See of Thdrouanne, by the clergy and people of that diocese, on the death of Ravenger, its pre- vious occupant. '* Nevertheless, Sl Erkembode had direction of the com- munity at Sithiu. All its religious were bound by ties of the most sincere affection to their saintly abbot. '' The work commenced at St. Omer was prosecuted with great success. He built many churches and monasteries, in that part of the country, which belonged to the Morini. From a certain man, named Rigobert, our saint bought villages, which are noted in ancient charters. 3° These were intended, for the endowment of the monastery at Sithiu ; yet, in course of time, such properties were divided between the monastery of St. Bertin, and the Church of St. Audomar. Those places are called Sechiac J' or Sethcas,'' Kelmias 33 or Kelmas, 3« Stracto 35 or Straho,3* with houses and appurtenances,'' and Belrinium,3* in the city of Thdrouanne. This, however, does not seem to be a complete enumeration. 39 Among his diocesans, as among his monks, confidence in his prudence and virtue pre- vailed. Great miracles are not found recorded, by ancient writers; however, the Monk John, who flourished only in the twelfth century, has no doubt, but ,that Erkembode performed many, in his lifetime. Among the people of Thdrouanne, he proved himself a true disciple of his Divine Master ; for, he consoled the poor and afflicted, while he watched and prayed incessantly. Thither many persons flocked to adore God in public, or to devote them- selves to prayer and monastic perfection in solitude. The country of the
Morini, hitherto so uncultivated and neglected, assumed that character for Christian faith and morality, which it long continued to preserve. Thanks to the zeal and solicitude of the holy bishop, who had well cultivated the Lord's vineyard, and who had well employed the treasures of his Master, the fruits
of salvation increased, day by day, and they were rapidly multiplied. The moment of reward and of triumph now approached, and earthly things were
•f However, in the Chronicle of Iperius,
he is said to have have become Bishop, in the
third year of King Theodoric, which must have been A. D. 722 or 723.
"
— De Natalibus Sanctorum
at this date.
" The name ^ven, by the Monk John. ^ So called, m the Cfhronicle of Iperius.
" According to the Monk John,
" The name given it, in the Chronicle of
* . Molanus writes
in Episcopum Teruanensem est sublimatus : in quo simul et in . ^bbatia per annos viginti
et sex resedit. "
piscum Leodredingas
latter denomination is rendered Lederselle.
Belgii,"
*• it" The Monk John places
:
" Post sexenninm vero
These two latter afterwards be- longed to the Church of St. Audomar.
'' "
See Les Petits Bollandistes, Vies des
Saints," tome iv. , xii« Jour, d'Aviil, p. 354. * Thus do we read, in the Chronicle of
s. iper flu-
Iperius:
" Charta sic Domino at- incipit :
vium Quantiam. " He adds, likewise, " cum
adjacentiis suis, quae sunt in p. igo Pontivo, in loco nuncupate Monte super fltivium Alte-
qne Apostolico Patri Krkembodoni Episcopo
jam. " The Chronicle ol Ipcnus slates :
"
Bel-
emptori et ejus Congregationi, &c. Actum rinumnuncest PrioratusMajuiisMonasterii. "
Sithiu monasterio III. , KaL w See the Bollandists' "Acta Sanctorum,"
publice Sep-
temb. anno III. Domini nostri Theodonci tomus ii. De Sancto Erkembodone, Ac.
gloriosi Rcgi. "
" So it is named, bjr the Monk John.
" So called, in the Chronicle of Iperius,
which states, that it was on the River Ag- mona.
Vita, sect. 4, with notes, pp. 93, 94.
*" Molanus states, that he was buried in
the Monastery of St. Audomar, or in the Basilica of St. Mary, which St. Audomar had formerly dedicated, and which then be-
Iperius.
" The Monk John adds
" et infra Mem- mansiones," &c. The
:
13* LIVES OF THE IJilSH SAINTS. [April i a.
to be exchanged for the joys of Henven. After governing the diocese of Thdrouanne, for twenty-six years, witli \^rcM. sanctity and prudence, St. Erkem-
bode departed this life, on the tath of April, A. n. 734, according to Ferri de lucres ;a. u. 740, according to Le Cointe; but, in a. u. 743, according to the Bollnndists. His remains were placed, by the clergy and people of St. Omer, in its ("hurcli of Our Lady, aiul before the i)rincipal altar, dedicated to tiie Holy Mother of (lod. *" Numberless miracles were wrought before his tomb, and owing to the iiitorccssioii of St. Erkembode. To sucn a degree were the
pious ofl'crin^s of the laitlilul c;irried, (hat these not only sufficed to repair the ancient churcii, l)ut even to build a second cathedral, of far greater magnifi- cence. ThetraditionsoftheMoriniyetpointoutthetombofSt. Erkembode, in the Church of NOtre-Danic, at St. Omer. It is at the lower part of the win- dow, on the Gospel side, towards the north, and opposite to the choir. It is raised, also, on two figures of lions. In shape, it is square, and it is without ornament ; a. large block of freestone rudely carved, and covered by another
large stone, form the object, so greatly venerated by pious pilgrims. This vene-
rable tomb bears evidence of a simple devotion among the people, who were
accustomed to apply their bodies to the stone^ when they hoped for relief
from their corporal aifiiction. In many places, as a consequence, the hard
stoneappearstohavebecomeworn. TherelicsoftheholyBishopescaped
the desecrations, committed by the populace, in 1793, and yet they continue
as objects of veneration, in the line Church of N6tre-l)anie. Monscig-
ncur lie la Tour-d'AuverKUel. aumgu. iy has since autheniicated them. *'
On this day, the memory of Si. iMkcinboclon is celebrated, in
the Martyroiofiies of J'lorarius, in llu' niKliiioiis of (irevon and of
Molamis to Usuard, in the mon. in. M ihmoK. i. s of VVioii, Dorian,
MenanI, Ihicclin also, in the Callii M. iUm. m > . 1 Sau-^siiv, in the Ger- ;
nuiiiic one of Cani. sius, in the Jiel,nic MarlM > Minis, Molanus, Willott ; as also, iinuany oilier mcdiaival and iiHHuiu uoik;^. '- intheetli- tion of the Roman Iheviary, used in lielnium, the Lessons for the Common Olhce of a Bishop and Coiil- :,:,,. i . nc i. ikcn Im hi', iV. l. i. wln. li is icsiKlt-d as a Double. . Such are the i. i' 1 i. n. 'w n, n il ilu- > hu-i m. unii i. iis pii si 1 \ cil, in reference 10 lM'kenili<"l"n, \\ . kis'w, that 111 his d. iy, this s. imi u. r. nKi- sinj; to (loil, anil tli:il iir wis IimihiI lo I. ,- just ; that the Lord in< n . is( il Mrs S1II"S I'll llini. . niil lAl. -lulcS i III. li \ , lll. ll lu' lilllih ! 1. 1 \ I 111! Ill I ;. Ill's si; 111 , . li id 111 llir iinsrihi' ul Isiiii's lu- u. is iii. ii'nilu'ii : . iiul lli. il, iii liiir, ho obt. lined a crown ot eternal glory.
Ai<T,icLB VII. —-FiAST or St. Julius, Pope. [Fourth Century. ] In
longed 111 t)ip Ciiilidlinl Cnnoniof St. Aurto- mar. 1 Ic ml. ls, 1 li,u lii. srpulchw was showa
April, as taken from the Leabhar Breac t— ^^^ ^
cmrc V>'qv"'^'h« o««e4m
SAb r11W1p"^» 1r'•"'1^
" A difficult work Christ allotted to the con- so-inled of the Cross, llishop Julius, Abbot ol{ilic) people, iioblc chief of I'cter's See. "
'In Tliiee chiiplers, and fourteen para-
th««,wlilol,i,is. i,
u :,
high Altar,
iiH. l, on the n. 'Naia-
Ihe fcMt ol Ills I ,. ,„ .
vi. of the Sc|vifmliri 1. 1 libui . Sanctiiniai Icljiii,
in
,u ih. ' Seo " Lc» I'eliu ll(llUn^ii^l.
\
Saints,"tomeiv, xii"Jour,il'Av:;
*' Seethe Itollmiilisu' "Actii . Siiiu. ioi mil," tomus ii. , Aiuilisxii. l. )e Snnoto ICikembuu- done, &c. Commcntnrius pfivvius, sect. l,
p. oa.
,
,1
'*
Articlk vti. — The followini; is a stania, Aooorviini; to the Roman Pontifical, and
with its Kngllsh translation, at the lath of other authorities.
gmplis. '"
See Acta Sanctorum," tomus
ii. ,
Ap-
rilis \n„ pp. tJJ to 86,
April 12. ] UVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. 133
the Irish," as in the universal, Church, had been observed the Festival of St. Julius, who was Pope, a. d. 337. when his career as Roman Pontiff com- menced, to A. D. 35 », when it closed. During the time he presided over the Church, he eftected great things for the glory of God, and for the interests of religion. His Acts are contained,* in the BoUandists' work,' at the lath of April. HisfatheriscalledRusticus,orRusticius,*andhisdistinguishedson was a Roman, by birth. He w;is born, probably, towards the close of the third century. The zeal of St. Julius for the interests of Christianity caused himtobeelectedPope,onthedemiseofSt. Mark. Hisinvestituredates fromthe6thofFebruary,a. d. 337. DuringthetermofhisPontiticate,the dangerous Arian heresy prevailed in the East. . A great number of orthodox and holy bishops there had been suffering persecution for justice' sake ; and even they had been violently expelled from their Sees, in many instances. ' Among others, the illustrious St. Athanasius,* who had been chosen for the bishopric of Alexandria, in 326, opposed with great real and eloquence tl>e heresiac Arius, and his confederates. ' The Emperor ol Constantius favoured Arius, and his friend Eusebius, Bishop of Niomedia ; and, in a cabalistic Council, held at Tyre, in August, 335, a sentence of deposition was pro- nounced against the holy Patriarch. * He was banished to Triers, then the chief city of Belgic Gaul. * Every possible effort was made by the . Brians, to misinform the Sovereign Pontiff, regarding their proceedings and designs. They even sent deputies to procure the condemnation of St. Alhansius, . by the Pope, who assembled a Council at Rome, in 340,'° in order to hear the whole case. But, the Arians refused to assist there, and they convened a pretended Council at Antioch, during the year 341, when they appointed the intended bishop of Alexandri. i, a Capp,idocian named Gregory, to fill the
the place of St. Athanasius. " However, after a i>atient investigation, Pope Julius confirmed the latter in his See, and wrote a very |X)werful letter to the Oriental Eusebian bishops, in confirmation of this decision. '* Yet, finding theip still obstinate, he moved Coivstans, Emperor of the West, to ask the concurrence of his brother Constantius, ruling in the East, to assemble a General Council at Sardica, in Illyricura. This was opened in May, accord-
* See " Les Petiti BoUamlUles, Vies dcs Saints,'* *c. . tome ir. , p. 35a.
* He i» vcnenled, by the Church, on the and o( May.
tinstique," tome iii. , b*b. xiL, «ect. xiv. , pp.
263 lo 169.
'• The substtnce of this is given, in Rev.
' An account of these transactions will be " "*
Alban
and other iv. , April xii.
Saints," vol.
(band, in the Opera S. Athanasii. tomus i. Historia Arianwum, ad Mooachoa, p. 349, and Apologia Cootra Arianoa, pp. 14a, 199,
" Mansi has published three letters, which are intended to prove this as the true date. See Supplcmentum ad Concilia, tomus i.
'* Sec R. 1'. Cabassutii, '• Nolitia Joaimis
EcclesioMica liisloriarum, Concilorum, et
Canonum," kc, p. 138.
' An account of this Oecumenical Council
"
is to be found in Socrates, Historia Eccle-
siastica," lib. ii. cap. xvi
'• "
see Sir Harris Nicolas' Chronology
• A
and progress of Arianism will be found, in
Thence he relumed, ia the year 338, after an exile of two yean, and four months. See LAbb<i Kleury^ "Histoire EcclcMas- tiqac," tome iii. . lib. xii. , sect, iii. , p. 335.
'• See the Hollamiists' " Acta Sanctorum. " tomus ii. , Aprilis xii. De Sancto Julio Ro- mano Pontitice, cap. ii. , num. 6, p. 84.
" Sec L'Abbc " Histoire Eccle- Fleury's
»ery interesting
account of the
origin
the Kev. John
sal Church History,' vol. i. .
Berlin's fine monastery, at St. Omer.
' This Life is taken " ex Ordinario MS. et
Breviario Ecclesise S. Audomari. "
'
The author assigns his motives for writ- ing it, in the opening paragraph.
' See his work, " De Morinis," tomus i. , lib. iv. , en p. 55.
5 In his work, " Factorum
'° His and are not known.
treats about the rare sanctity of this devoted lady,'
" Acta Sanctorum Hiber-
Diciorumque "InSuisExemplis,"tituloDePaupertate.
family origin
See Les I'etits Bollandistes, Vies des
Mirabilium," lib. i. , cap. 4. '
"
The Life of this Saint is there in Nine Lessons.
Saints," tome iv. , xii. • Jour. d'Avril, p. 353.
Article VI. —' Printed,A. D.
1515.
" Their festival is kept, on the 23rd of October, where their Acts will be found.
'
Henschenn wrote, A. D. 'See"ActaS. anctorum, tomusii. , Ap-
rilis xii. De SancloErkembodone, Eplscopo
Teruanensi et Abbate Sithiuensi, in Bclgio,
In Vie des Saints de Cambrai et d'Arras. "
' See an account of him, in " Histoire Literaire de la France," tome xv. Douzieme
It was unpublished, when Godefrid
" Father Henschenn thinks the name of our saint to be manifestly ot Teutonic origin ; thus, Eryhen-bode, he translates, by the
"
Latin words, industrium cautumque
ministrum. " A stronger argument is to be found, in the statement, that in the Manu- script Acts, as also in the printed ones of
Luglius and Luglianus, no mention of St. Erkembodon's name appears.
pp. 92 to 94. '"
Vol. IV. —No, 3.
I
1675.
130 LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. [April 12.
as had been allowable to infer from a certain manuscript he read, since he
was a companion to Luglius and Luglianus," who came as royal missionaries fromHibernia. " Likethem,hewasattackedbymurderers,robbed,beaten
and left for dead, at a place called Seyrendal, near Ferfay, in the canton of Norrent-Fontes. It is stated, that after the departure of the assassins, he came to the use of his senses ; and then, hastily covering the bodies of both Irish Martyrs with brandies, Erkembodon went immediately to Thdrouanne, where St. Bain, '3 the Bishop, then lived, and who heard from him all that happened. ''* He lived, afterwards, in the monastery of Sithiii, at St. Omer,'5 and under St. Bertin. '* There, with an admirable spirit of religion, he laboured to emulate the virtues of his great master. He practised all monas- ticexercises,andwiththegreatestexactness. Hewaspresent,atthedeath- bed scene of St. Bertin, who passed out of this life, having exceeded the age of one hundred years. The monk John places his demise, at 698, while other modern writers state, that he died on the 5th of September, a. d. 709. '' In succession to him were first Rigobert, and afterwards Erlefrid. '^ With the unanimous suffrages of the monks, at St. Omer, St. Erkembobe was elected to succeed the last deceased Abbot, in the year 717. '' Meantime, owing to thegreatageofSt. Bertin,andhisinabilitytodischargeallthedutiesofhis
important charge, Rigobert
=° and Erlefrid " had been chosen his life- during
time, as coadjutors. While Erkembode maintained that exact discipline,
which had hitherto distinguished the monks, who dwelt in the monastery at
Sithiii, he fulfilled all the duties his new position required, and with true fide-
lity. By example and precept, he inspired the perfection of virtue, and he provided with prudence for the wants of his monastic brethren. In those
times, violent and oppressive acts often interrupted that peace, which should
reign in all religious communities ; but, the holy Abbot, with great wisdom and forecast, procured and defended the rights and immunities of his house. He even obtained a charter''' from King Chilperic II. , who, from having been a cleric, became a monarch, in 715. ^3 This deed conferred several important privileges on his monastery. Again, Thierry IV. , or Theodoric the younger,^*
'3 His feast occurs, on the 20th of June. '< According to some writeis, St. Erkem-
He does not appear to have lived very long, as assistant Abbot.
" Some writers regard him as third Abbot of Sithiu, in succession to St. Bertin.
" It begins: "Chilpericus Rex Francorum. Si facta parentum," &c. According to the Chronicle of Iperius, it was granted, in the
third year of his reign.
'3 He died, a. d. 720, after an unquiet rule.
bode belonged to a family of the Morini
;
while his zeal and piety, it is thought, urged him to become a guide and companion to St.
Luglius and Luglianus, in that part of the country.
'S Called after St. Omer, or St. Audmar, formerly a monk of Luxeuil, and afterwards the founder of a monastery, in honour of the Blessed Virgin Mary, at the former place. His festival is held, on the 9th of September.
'' His feast occurs, at the 5th September. '7 See Rev. Alban Butler's " Lives of the
Fathers, Martyrs and other principal Saints," vol. ix. , September v.
"' Erkembode had succeeded him, A. D. 718, as proved by Mabillon, in his " Annales Ordinis S. Benedicti," tomus ii. , lib. xx. , sect. XXV. , p. 52.
' According to the Life, published by the
"
Premiere Race dite des Merovingiens, sect,
vi. , p. 55.
^* He is reputed to have been King, from
A. D. 721to737. See"CEuvresCompletes" de Bossuet, Eveque de Meaux. Tome x. Abrege de I'Histoire de France, Liv. i. , Thierri IV. [An. 721], col. I183 to 1185. Abbe Migne's Edition, a. d. 1856, 1857, small fol.
°s The first of these is edited, by Mirseus, in "Notitia Ecclesiarum Belgii," cap. xiii. The other is to be found in " De
Morinis,"lib. iv. , cap. Iviii.
''See Mabillon's "Annales Ordinis S.
Benedicti," tomus ii. , lib. xx. , sect, xxv. , p. S2.
monk
John.
See the Bollandists' "Acta
Malbranq,
Sanctorum," tomus ii. , Aprilis xii. , sect. 5,
p. 183.
°°
Bertin, on the Catalogue of Abbots of Sithiu.
By some, he is classed as second to St.
See L. -P. Anquetil's
Historic de France,"
April 12. ] LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. 131
a cousin, and successor to the formef King, confirmed such immunities, in twodistinctcharters. 's Thesedecreed,thatnopublicjudgeshouldenterthe
monastery of Sithiii, or its i)recincts, to hear causes, or to exact composi- tions, nor otherwise to distrain or seize goods, or men, belonging to the monaster}-, whether in the capacity of freemen or of servants. '* St. Erkem- bode was called, in the year, 720,'' to be bishop over the See of Thdrouanne, by the clergy and people of that diocese, on the death of Ravenger, its pre- vious occupant. '* Nevertheless, Sl Erkembode had direction of the com- munity at Sithiu. All its religious were bound by ties of the most sincere affection to their saintly abbot. '' The work commenced at St. Omer was prosecuted with great success. He built many churches and monasteries, in that part of the country, which belonged to the Morini. From a certain man, named Rigobert, our saint bought villages, which are noted in ancient charters. 3° These were intended, for the endowment of the monastery at Sithiu ; yet, in course of time, such properties were divided between the monastery of St. Bertin, and the Church of St. Audomar. Those places are called Sechiac J' or Sethcas,'' Kelmias 33 or Kelmas, 3« Stracto 35 or Straho,3* with houses and appurtenances,'' and Belrinium,3* in the city of Thdrouanne. This, however, does not seem to be a complete enumeration. 39 Among his diocesans, as among his monks, confidence in his prudence and virtue pre- vailed. Great miracles are not found recorded, by ancient writers; however, the Monk John, who flourished only in the twelfth century, has no doubt, but ,that Erkembode performed many, in his lifetime. Among the people of Thdrouanne, he proved himself a true disciple of his Divine Master ; for, he consoled the poor and afflicted, while he watched and prayed incessantly. Thither many persons flocked to adore God in public, or to devote them- selves to prayer and monastic perfection in solitude. The country of the
Morini, hitherto so uncultivated and neglected, assumed that character for Christian faith and morality, which it long continued to preserve. Thanks to the zeal and solicitude of the holy bishop, who had well cultivated the Lord's vineyard, and who had well employed the treasures of his Master, the fruits
of salvation increased, day by day, and they were rapidly multiplied. The moment of reward and of triumph now approached, and earthly things were
•f However, in the Chronicle of Iperius,
he is said to have have become Bishop, in the
third year of King Theodoric, which must have been A. D. 722 or 723.
"
— De Natalibus Sanctorum
at this date.
" The name ^ven, by the Monk John. ^ So called, m the Cfhronicle of Iperius.
" According to the Monk John,
" The name given it, in the Chronicle of
* . Molanus writes
in Episcopum Teruanensem est sublimatus : in quo simul et in . ^bbatia per annos viginti
et sex resedit. "
piscum Leodredingas
latter denomination is rendered Lederselle.
Belgii,"
*• it" The Monk John places
:
" Post sexenninm vero
These two latter afterwards be- longed to the Church of St. Audomar.
'' "
See Les Petits Bollandistes, Vies des
Saints," tome iv. , xii« Jour, d'Aviil, p. 354. * Thus do we read, in the Chronicle of
s. iper flu-
Iperius:
" Charta sic Domino at- incipit :
vium Quantiam. " He adds, likewise, " cum
adjacentiis suis, quae sunt in p. igo Pontivo, in loco nuncupate Monte super fltivium Alte-
qne Apostolico Patri Krkembodoni Episcopo
jam. " The Chronicle ol Ipcnus slates :
"
Bel-
emptori et ejus Congregationi, &c. Actum rinumnuncest PrioratusMajuiisMonasterii. "
Sithiu monasterio III. , KaL w See the Bollandists' "Acta Sanctorum,"
publice Sep-
temb. anno III. Domini nostri Theodonci tomus ii. De Sancto Erkembodone, Ac.
gloriosi Rcgi. "
" So it is named, bjr the Monk John.
" So called, in the Chronicle of Iperius,
which states, that it was on the River Ag- mona.
Vita, sect. 4, with notes, pp. 93, 94.
*" Molanus states, that he was buried in
the Monastery of St. Audomar, or in the Basilica of St. Mary, which St. Audomar had formerly dedicated, and which then be-
Iperius.
" The Monk John adds
" et infra Mem- mansiones," &c. The
:
13* LIVES OF THE IJilSH SAINTS. [April i a.
to be exchanged for the joys of Henven. After governing the diocese of Thdrouanne, for twenty-six years, witli \^rcM. sanctity and prudence, St. Erkem-
bode departed this life, on the tath of April, A. n. 734, according to Ferri de lucres ;a. u. 740, according to Le Cointe; but, in a. u. 743, according to the Bollnndists. His remains were placed, by the clergy and people of St. Omer, in its ("hurcli of Our Lady, aiul before the i)rincipal altar, dedicated to tiie Holy Mother of (lod. *" Numberless miracles were wrought before his tomb, and owing to the iiitorccssioii of St. Erkembode. To sucn a degree were the
pious ofl'crin^s of the laitlilul c;irried, (hat these not only sufficed to repair the ancient churcii, l)ut even to build a second cathedral, of far greater magnifi- cence. ThetraditionsoftheMoriniyetpointoutthetombofSt. Erkembode, in the Church of NOtre-Danic, at St. Omer. It is at the lower part of the win- dow, on the Gospel side, towards the north, and opposite to the choir. It is raised, also, on two figures of lions. In shape, it is square, and it is without ornament ; a. large block of freestone rudely carved, and covered by another
large stone, form the object, so greatly venerated by pious pilgrims. This vene-
rable tomb bears evidence of a simple devotion among the people, who were
accustomed to apply their bodies to the stone^ when they hoped for relief
from their corporal aifiiction. In many places, as a consequence, the hard
stoneappearstohavebecomeworn. TherelicsoftheholyBishopescaped
the desecrations, committed by the populace, in 1793, and yet they continue
as objects of veneration, in the line Church of N6tre-l)anie. Monscig-
ncur lie la Tour-d'AuverKUel. aumgu. iy has since autheniicated them. *'
On this day, the memory of Si. iMkcinboclon is celebrated, in
the Martyroiofiies of J'lorarius, in llu' niKliiioiis of (irevon and of
Molamis to Usuard, in the mon. in. M ihmoK. i. s of VVioii, Dorian,
MenanI, Ihicclin also, in the Callii M. iUm. m > . 1 Sau-^siiv, in the Ger- ;
nuiiiic one of Cani. sius, in the Jiel,nic MarlM > Minis, Molanus, Willott ; as also, iinuany oilier mcdiaival and iiHHuiu uoik;^. '- intheetli- tion of the Roman Iheviary, used in lielnium, the Lessons for the Common Olhce of a Bishop and Coiil- :,:,,. i . nc i. ikcn Im hi', iV. l. i. wln. li is icsiKlt-d as a Double. . Such are the i. i' 1 i. n. 'w n, n il ilu- > hu-i m. unii i. iis pii si 1 \ cil, in reference 10 lM'kenili<"l"n, \\ . kis'w, that 111 his d. iy, this s. imi u. r. nKi- sinj; to (loil, anil tli:il iir wis IimihiI lo I. ,- just ; that the Lord in< n . is( il Mrs S1II"S I'll llini. . niil lAl. -lulcS i III. li \ , lll. ll lu' lilllih ! 1. 1 \ I 111! Ill I ;. Ill's si; 111 , . li id 111 llir iinsrihi' ul Isiiii's lu- u. is iii. ii'nilu'ii : . iiul lli. il, iii liiir, ho obt. lined a crown ot eternal glory.
Ai<T,icLB VII. —-FiAST or St. Julius, Pope. [Fourth Century. ] In
longed 111 t)ip Ciiilidlinl Cnnoniof St. Aurto- mar. 1 Ic ml. ls, 1 li,u lii. srpulchw was showa
April, as taken from the Leabhar Breac t— ^^^ ^
cmrc V>'qv"'^'h« o««e4m
SAb r11W1p"^» 1r'•"'1^
" A difficult work Christ allotted to the con- so-inled of the Cross, llishop Julius, Abbot ol{ilic) people, iioblc chief of I'cter's See. "
'In Tliiee chiiplers, and fourteen para-
th««,wlilol,i,is. i,
u :,
high Altar,
iiH. l, on the n. 'Naia-
Ihe fcMt ol Ills I ,. ,„ .
vi. of the Sc|vifmliri 1. 1 libui . Sanctiiniai Icljiii,
in
,u ih. ' Seo " Lc» I'eliu ll(llUn^ii^l.
\
Saints,"tomeiv, xii"Jour,il'Av:;
*' Seethe Itollmiilisu' "Actii . Siiiu. ioi mil," tomus ii. , Aiuilisxii. l. )e Snnoto ICikembuu- done, &c. Commcntnrius pfivvius, sect. l,
p. oa.
,
,1
'*
Articlk vti. — The followini; is a stania, Aooorviini; to the Roman Pontifical, and
with its Kngllsh translation, at the lath of other authorities.
gmplis. '"
See Acta Sanctorum," tomus
ii. ,
Ap-
rilis \n„ pp. tJJ to 86,
April 12. ] UVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. 133
the Irish," as in the universal, Church, had been observed the Festival of St. Julius, who was Pope, a. d. 337. when his career as Roman Pontiff com- menced, to A. D. 35 », when it closed. During the time he presided over the Church, he eftected great things for the glory of God, and for the interests of religion. His Acts are contained,* in the BoUandists' work,' at the lath of April. HisfatheriscalledRusticus,orRusticius,*andhisdistinguishedson was a Roman, by birth. He w;is born, probably, towards the close of the third century. The zeal of St. Julius for the interests of Christianity caused himtobeelectedPope,onthedemiseofSt. Mark. Hisinvestituredates fromthe6thofFebruary,a. d. 337. DuringthetermofhisPontiticate,the dangerous Arian heresy prevailed in the East. . A great number of orthodox and holy bishops there had been suffering persecution for justice' sake ; and even they had been violently expelled from their Sees, in many instances. ' Among others, the illustrious St. Athanasius,* who had been chosen for the bishopric of Alexandria, in 326, opposed with great real and eloquence tl>e heresiac Arius, and his confederates. ' The Emperor ol Constantius favoured Arius, and his friend Eusebius, Bishop of Niomedia ; and, in a cabalistic Council, held at Tyre, in August, 335, a sentence of deposition was pro- nounced against the holy Patriarch. * He was banished to Triers, then the chief city of Belgic Gaul. * Every possible effort was made by the . Brians, to misinform the Sovereign Pontiff, regarding their proceedings and designs. They even sent deputies to procure the condemnation of St. Alhansius, . by the Pope, who assembled a Council at Rome, in 340,'° in order to hear the whole case. But, the Arians refused to assist there, and they convened a pretended Council at Antioch, during the year 341, when they appointed the intended bishop of Alexandri. i, a Capp,idocian named Gregory, to fill the
the place of St. Athanasius. " However, after a i>atient investigation, Pope Julius confirmed the latter in his See, and wrote a very |X)werful letter to the Oriental Eusebian bishops, in confirmation of this decision. '* Yet, finding theip still obstinate, he moved Coivstans, Emperor of the West, to ask the concurrence of his brother Constantius, ruling in the East, to assemble a General Council at Sardica, in Illyricura. This was opened in May, accord-
* See " Les Petiti BoUamlUles, Vies dcs Saints,'* *c. . tome ir. , p. 35a.
* He i» vcnenled, by the Church, on the and o( May.
tinstique," tome iii. , b*b. xiL, «ect. xiv. , pp.
263 lo 169.
'• The substtnce of this is given, in Rev.
' An account of these transactions will be " "*
Alban
and other iv. , April xii.
Saints," vol.
(band, in the Opera S. Athanasii. tomus i. Historia Arianwum, ad Mooachoa, p. 349, and Apologia Cootra Arianoa, pp. 14a, 199,
" Mansi has published three letters, which are intended to prove this as the true date. See Supplcmentum ad Concilia, tomus i.
'* Sec R. 1'. Cabassutii, '• Nolitia Joaimis
EcclesioMica liisloriarum, Concilorum, et
Canonum," kc, p. 138.
' An account of this Oecumenical Council
"
is to be found in Socrates, Historia Eccle-
siastica," lib. ii. cap. xvi
'• "
see Sir Harris Nicolas' Chronology
• A
and progress of Arianism will be found, in
Thence he relumed, ia the year 338, after an exile of two yean, and four months. See LAbb<i Kleury^ "Histoire EcclcMas- tiqac," tome iii. . lib. xii. , sect, iii. , p. 335.
'• See the Hollamiists' " Acta Sanctorum. " tomus ii. , Aprilis xii. De Sancto Julio Ro- mano Pontitice, cap. ii. , num. 6, p. 84.
" Sec L'Abbc " Histoire Eccle- Fleury's
»ery interesting
account of the
origin
the Kev. John
sal Church History,' vol. i. .
