^^ See Colgan's "Acta
Sanctorum
Hiber-
nise," ix.
nise," ix.
O'Hanlon - Lives of the Irish Saints - v1
This agreed in every important point with the Alexandrian cal- culation.
Such an improvement was unknown, however, to the British Chris-
_
*
This sufficiently appears from the sequel.
siastica Gentis Anglorum," lib. iii. , cap. 25,
p. 233.
'° See Cressy's "Church History of Brit-
tany," xv. book, chap, xvii. , p. 368.
"See the Life of St. Chad at the 7th of
this month.
"The ancient "Annales Cambrifc," edited
by the Rev. John Williams, ab Ithel M. A. for the Master of the Rolls, note under a. d.
In the work already quoted the reader will
find a description of Lindisfarne, and some
fine copper-plate engravings of its antiquities,
vol. i. Frontispiece, vol. iv. , pp. 93 to 97, with
a view of Holy Island Castle, taken in 1773 ;
and pp. 109 to 122, with three distinct views
of ancient monastic ruins there, and each
taken from adifferentpointof view, a. D. 1773. ~' See Bartholomieide Cotton Monachi Nor-
wicensis "Historia Anglicana;" a. D. (449— 1298), necnon ejusdeni "Liber de Archie- piscopis et Episcopis Anglio:,'' p. 413. Edited by Henry Richards Luard, M. A. London,
1859. 8vo.
" Pasca commutatur diem Domi- super
**
See Venerable Bede's "Historia Eccle-
'^ gee Bcde's "Historia Ecclesiastica
Gentis Anglorum," lib. iii. , cap. 25, p. 233. '^ There were a few other variations in the Paschal canons, which contributed still more toperplexthissubject. Theymaybeseenin
Smith's Bede, App. ix. , p. 698.
siastica Gentis Anglorum," lib. iii. , cap. 17, ? •204.
5 See Venerable Bede's "Historia Eccle-
453,
nicum Papa Leone episcopo Roma;," p. 3. St. Patrick brought most probably the older form of observance into Ireland,
L
'
Hibemise," Januarii. Vita S. Finani, n. 6, p. 45.
"
toria Ecclesiastica Gentis Anglorum," lib. iii. ,
146
LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS.
[January 9.
tians. Atthatperiod,thesewerewhollyemployedinopposingtheircountr/s invaders. They continued to observe the ancient cycle of Sulpicius Severus.
This had become peculiar to themselves. Hence, it occasionally happened, that Easter, and other festivals of the year depending on that solemnity, were celebrated at different times by the Saxon Christians. As these had been instructed by Scottish, by Roman, or by Gallic missionaries,'^ so did their obser- vances vary, and in accordance with the practice of their respective teachers. '^ It is not easy to determine, from the order of his composition, whether by a man of ferocious or rough mind, Bede intended to describe Finan or Ronan. The context seems to favour an allusion to the former but the
;
phrase used by him to denote Ronan's mode of arguing,'^ a mode very unbe- coming towards a bishop, might incline one to think that he alluded to Ronan. He appears to have been a very persistent and acute disputant. It is difficult to believe the Scoto-Irish prelates and clergy would have fixed upon St. Finan as their champion were he man of rough disposition. Colgan says,^^ that this
Ronan here alluded to had been revered in Armoric Brittany, on the ist of June," and this seems to form a very probable ground for supposition.
CHAPTER II.
ST. FINAN BAPTIZES PEADA, PRINCE OF THE MIDDLE-ANGLES—HE SENDS MISSIONARIES AMONG THESE PEOPLE—ST. FINAN CONSECRATES DIUMA AS BISHOP—HE BAPTIZES SIGEBERT, KING OF THE EAST SAXONS—HE CONSECRATES ST. CHAD AS BISHOP— VARIOUS SAINTS CALLED FINAN IN THE IRISH CALENDARS—WRITINGS ATTRIBUTED TO THE PRESENT ST. FINAN—HIS DEATH—HIS DIFFERENT COMMEMORATIONS— CONCLUSION.
Notwithstanding this Paschal diversity, justly considered a great inconve- nience, there was no breach of communion, nor did Finan disturb the con- scienceofthosewhopreferredtheRomancomputation. Thisprelatehad the happiness to baptize Peada, Prince of the Middle-Angles, and son to Penda, Pagan King of the Mercians. Peada had come to the court of the Northumbrian King Os\vin, for the purpose of obtaining in marriage his daughter, the Princess Alchfleda. ' His proposal would not be agreed to, unless he and his subjects should become Christians. Peada listened to the Word of God, and he was so convinced of the truth, that he declared himself willing to become a convert, even should the princess be refused to him in marriage. Accordingly Peada and all his companions and suite, were baptized
by Finan. Having obtained four learned and worthy priests, for the instruc- tion of his subjects, the prince returned with joy to his o\vn country. Those priests were Cedd, Add, Betti, and Diuma. The three former are said to
"^
have been English, and the last was an Irishman.
however, notv^ithstanding the statement of Venerable Bede,3 that Cedda,^
'5 See Dr. " of Lingard's History Eng-
land," vol. i. , chap, ii. , a. d. 656, p. 99.
'* See what has been already observed on this subject in the Life of St. Diman Dubh,
Bishop of Connor, at the 6th of January.
'7 The words are "acerbiorem castigando. "
''
Historia Ecclesiastica Gentis Anglo- rum," lib. iii. , cap. 25, p. 233.
ix.
four Northumbrian Bede expressly priests.
states, however, that Diuma was not a North- umbrian or an Englishman, but an Irishman or Scot. Nor does Dr. Lingard say a word about Finan, nor the part he had in the con- version of Peada, nor of his having supplied those priests to the Middle-Angles,
3 " Erant autem presbyteri Cedda et Adda et Betti et Diuma, quorum ultimus natione
See
'* See "Acta Sanctorum
'9 See noti—ces of him at that day.
'
Chap. ii. See what has been already
stated in the Life of St. Chad, at the 7th of this month.
218.
* Bede declares that this Cedda spent some
time with St. Egbert in Ireland, when both 'Dr. Lmgard, in his "History of the were young men. See ? ^/</. , lib. iv. , cap. 3,
Anglo-Saxon Church," chap, i. , calls them p. 267.
Scotus, coeteri fuere de Anglis.
See
''
His-
cap. 21, p.
It has been maintained,
January 9. ] LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. 147
Adda,s and Betta, as well as Diuma, belonged to Scotia or Hibemia,^ of which
country St. Finan himself was a native. ? With great success, these holy mis-
sionaries preached among the Middle-Angles, and brought many of them to a knowledge of the true Faith. ^
In the very commencement of his episcopacy, St. Finan must have bap-
tized Peada and his household, as we have already seen. 9 Henry of Hunting-
don relates this occurrence,^" and it is assigned to the year 653.
In a short time the missionaries converted so many persons that about two years after the opening of their mission, Diuma was elected and consecrated bishop, by St. Finan. The latter prelate placed him newly consecrated over the Middle-Angles and the Mercians. Our saint also baptized Sigebert, King of the East Saxons, as we have already seen in the Life of St. Chad. " The latter was consecrated by St. Finan, and appointed Bishop of the East Saxons. Various saints bearing the name Finan or Fionan occur in the Irish calendars. '^ The present is one, not the least distinguished among them,
owing to the fact of his having had so important a share in the conversion of the Northern Saxons, and because of his having been so specially noticed by Venerable Bede.
It is remarkable, Dempster^3 falsely cites Hector Boetius as an authority for the statement, that St. Finan composed a tract under the title " Monita Salutaria ad Ferguhardium," lib. i. Demochares^+ and Lesley's have some laudatorynoticesofthisholyman,intheirrespectiveworks; whilethelearned Ussher'^ does not forget to introduce notices regarding him, in his comprehen- sive work referring to the history of the British Churches. '7 Bale has asserted that the present St. Finan wrote a treatise on the Paschal rite. '^ But this statement is not supported by any more worthy authority. By some writers, the present saint is incorrectly called Sinan or Sinanus. 's Such error arose, probably by mistaking the initial letter F. for S. , as written in old manuscripts. Many of the early English^" and Scottish chroniclers mention this holy bishop with very laudatory phrases.
5 Adda is said to have been brother to the Eramian, at the 12th, and a St. Fionnan, at illustrious priest Ultan, who was abbot over the 13th of February ; a St. Fionan, the
a monastery called "Ad Caprse Caput. " See ibid. , lib. iii. , cap. 21, pp. 218, 219.
*
Such is the statement of Florence of Wor- cester ad annum 664.
In all
missionaries who had gone over from Ireland to assist St. Aidan in establishing his North- umbrian mission.
9 See Life of St. Chad, at the 7th of Janu-
ary. MatthewofWestminsterstatesthisfact,
under the year 650. See " Flores Historia-
rum," p. 226. Yet, Florence of Worcester
defers the death of St. Aidan to the 31st of
August, A. D. 652, when St. Finan received
his mission, —and was ordained through
Scotic agency —doubtless with the sanction
Leper, at the i6th of March ; a St. Fionan, the Crooked, of Kennity ; a St. Fionan, at the 4th of October ; a St. Fionan of Rath, at the 25th of November ; and a St. Fionan
^
Colgan's
pendix ad Acta S. Finani, cap. i. , p. 46.
'3 See " Historia Ecclesiastica Gentis
Scotorum,"lib. vi.
"* " De Sacrificio Missse," cap. xv. , xxxix. 'S " Historia Scotioe," lib. iv.
"^ See " Britannicarum Ecclesiarum Anti-
quitates,''pp, 78, 681, 697, 919, 964. Dublin edition, A. D. 1639.
^^ See Colgan's "Acta Sanctorum Hiber-
nise," ix. Januarii. Appendix ad Acta S.
of the Holy See
from life.
after St. Aidan's departure
See Harris' Ware, vol. ii. , Writers of Ireland," book i. , chap, iv. , p. 33.
'°
Lib. iii.
'9 Among others, by Antonius Possevinus,
"In and "De Apparatu,'' by Trithemius,
Viris Illustribus Ordinis Benedicti. "
*° "
See Venerable Bede's Historia Eccle-
Colgan's
Caue,
Todd's and Dr. Reeves' edition of the
"
probability,
Finan was one of those
" Acta Sanctorum
" At the
" 7th January.
" Acta Sanctorum Hiber-
' See
nice," ix. Januarii. Vita S. Finani, n. 9, p. 46.
at the 8th of December. See Dr.
of
Thus there is a St. Fionan, bishop, at the
8th of January ; a St. Fionan of Saxonland,
at the 9th of January ; a St. Fionan, son of siastica Gentis Anglorum," lib. iii. , cap. 17,
tyrology of Donegal," pp. 418, 419.
Finani, cap. iii. , p. 48.
'^ "
Also Hiberniae," Ap-
Mar-
148 LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. [January 9.
After he had gained many Gentiles to the true Faith, and had ruled over
the See of Lindisfarne for about ten years, St. Finan was called away to the
bliss of immortality, in the year 656^' or 659,^* according to some writers. Others again assign his death to 600 or 601. =3 The Irish calendarists place his festival at the 9th of January. =4
Although by birth and descent this saint was Irish; yet the entry of
occurs in the
Marianus O'Gorman likewise commemorates him at the same date.
Saxon, is set down in the Martyrology of Donegal,^? as being venerated on
this day. He was the second Bishop of Lindisfarne,^^ and he is regarded as an Apostle among the Saxons of the midland and north-eastern parts of England. Hence his distinctive appellation.
English and Scotch writers^9 have his feast recorded at the 17th of
February. 3° At this date, the reader will find some additional observations.
However, it is said, neither of the foregoing dates represents the exact day of his death.
For learning, holiness of life, indefatigable zeal and earnestness of purpose, this great missionary was a light to many people, who had heretofore remained in the shadow of Paganism. Over princes and people he exercised great spiritual influence. In the activity of episcopal rule, and in his solicitude for the souls of men, he was a bright example of austerity and self-denial, in public and private life.
Article III. —St. Guaire, Beg, Patron of Aghadowy or Aghadoey,
County of Londonderry. [Probably m the Seventh Century. '] The spirit
of holiness, from an early period, has consecrated many a lonely spot in old Ireland. The situation of that church, belonging to Guaire Beg, of
Achadh-Dubhthaigh, in Magh-Li, is exactly pointed out in our calendars. It arose near the banks of the Bann, on the west side, between Loch-n-Each- dhach* and the sea. This saint belonged to the race of CoUa Uais, monarch of Erin. His feast is registered in the Martyrology of Donegal^ on this day. It is recorded, in the Martyrology of Tallagh3as Guare "bic," for "beg," which means " small " or " little ;" probably in allusion to his stature, or want of distinction. He was son of Lasreu, son of Ferguss, son of Loegare, or
Finan, Saxon,
Martyrology
of
Tallagh,=s
at the of 9th
p. 204, cap. 21, 22, pp. 218 to 222, cap. 25, p. 233. Florence of Worcester, Matthew of Westminster, " Flores Historiarum," A. D. 651, 652, pp. 226 to 228. Nicholas Harps-
p. 45, and nn. 12, 13, p. 46.
's Edited by Rev. Dr, Kelly, p. xii.
"* In the Franciscan copy wc find pri Am
Sax.
feld's " Historia
"
xxxi. Arnold Wion '^ See Father
Anglicana Ecclesiastica, cap. xxviii. ,
by
White's "
p. Apolo-
ssec. vii. ,
"
noise.
" The " Annals of Ulster" and " Annals
Stephen
gia pro Hibemia," cap. v. , p. 66.
Lignum Vitae," lib. ii. , cap. xxi.
" to the " Aimals of Clonmac- According
*» Thus the " """
of the Four Masters. "
edition, vol. i. , n
'3 This diversity of date may have been
Camerarius " De Pietate Scotorum," at the 17th of February,
(q),
—which is a mistake
See Dr. O'Donovan's
pp. 268 to 271.
^ saint the—
In ranking this among disciples
caused by the equivocal statement of Vene-
rable Bede (lib. iii. , cap. 27), that St. Aidan this day. See Trias Thaumaturga," Quarta died, having been a bishop for seventeen Appendix ad Acta S. Columbse, cap. x. , p. years. Elsewhere it is insinuated, that he 490. —'
began to govern the See of Lindisfarne A. D. 63s, and that he died A. D. 651. St. Finan's ten years of episcopal rule should therefore extend to A. D. 60 X.
"* See Colgan's Acta Sanctorum Hiber- nise," ix. Januarii. Vita S. Finani, cap. vii. ,
Art. III.
The
ancient name for
Lough
»7 Edited Drs. Todd and Reeves, ii.
English Martyrology," Dempster, lib. vi. , De Scriptoribus ScotisB,
of St. Coluraba
Colgan
promised to have something about him at "
•
Neagh.
'Edited by Drs. Todd and Reeves, p. Ii.
3 Edited by Rev. Dr. Kelly, p. xii. In the Franciscan copy we read 5tiAi|\e bic
=^ January.
Finan, a
January 9. ] LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. 149
Laeghaire,'^ son to Fiachra Tort, founder of the Hy-Tuirtre, son of CoUa Uais, monarch of Ireland, from a. d. 327 to 33 1. ^ This saint was cousin to another St. Guaire, surnamed Mor. ^ Magh Li was the name of a territory extending from Bir to Camus, on the west side of the River Bann, where the Fir-Lii, a section of Colla Uais' descendants settled at an early period. Under the year of the world 2550, when Parthalon died, it is mentioned in our Annals, as having been one of the Irish plains cleared of wood ; but in what particular year is not recorded. 7 In the seventh century, as we are told, St. Guarius or Goar founded a religious establishment here, as a cell to the priory or abbey erected by him at Agivey. This latter became a grange to the Abbey of St. Mary-de-la-Foutse, or Mecasquin, in 1172. ^ The present saint was venerated in Aghadowy parish, county of Londonderry, and it is not improbable he was the actual founder of its church. 9 For this erection would hardly appear to have been established by a namesake and
relative called Guaire the " Great" or "
of '° From the January.
Big,"
whose feast occurs at the 22nd
this latter saint seems to
for
have been a cousin to the one venerated on this day.
'' "
See Colgan's Acta Sanctorum Hiber-
nise," xxxi. Januarii. Vita S. Maidoci. Ap-
pendix, cap. iv. , p. 223.
s See Dr. Reeves' edition of Archbishop
of Ireland," vol. i. , pp. 15, 16, for a further
interesting account of this parish.
9 The situation of Aghadowey old church
was probably that of the modern Protestant
genealogy given
both,
Ruins of Agivy Church, Cc. Londonderry.
Those ruins belonging to the old church at Agivy measure 74 feet in length by 28 in width. " About the year 1830, there was a square tower included in the length : it was 40 feet in height. People in the neighbour-
Colton's "Visitation of the Diocese of church in the townland and parish of the
Derry," n. (w), p. 80.
* See his feast at the 27th of January.
7 See Dr. O'Donovan's "Annals of the
Four Masters," vol. i. , pp. 6 to 9. There,
however, it is incorrectly said, that Magh been later in time than the present saint.
"
Lii was in Ui-Mac-Uais-Brcagh ; Breagh there was no such place. (a), ibid.
for in See n.
" The accompanying view is taken from the west, by Mr. Jordan, of Ballymoney, county of Antrim. It is engraved by George A. Hanlon, Dublin.
*See Lewis' "Topographical Dictionary
^"^r
''
same name. See Ordnance Survey Town-
land Maps of the County of Sheet 12.
Londonderry.
'° By one generation he appears to have
150 LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. January 9. ]
hood had been previously in the habit of picking out some of its large stones to place at the heads of graves. About the date indicated, a thoughtless boy,
amusing himself by taking out some stones, brought down a part of the wall. He had scarcely escaped from danger, when the tower fell.
_
*
This sufficiently appears from the sequel.
siastica Gentis Anglorum," lib. iii. , cap. 25,
p. 233.
'° See Cressy's "Church History of Brit-
tany," xv. book, chap, xvii. , p. 368.
"See the Life of St. Chad at the 7th of
this month.
"The ancient "Annales Cambrifc," edited
by the Rev. John Williams, ab Ithel M. A. for the Master of the Rolls, note under a. d.
In the work already quoted the reader will
find a description of Lindisfarne, and some
fine copper-plate engravings of its antiquities,
vol. i. Frontispiece, vol. iv. , pp. 93 to 97, with
a view of Holy Island Castle, taken in 1773 ;
and pp. 109 to 122, with three distinct views
of ancient monastic ruins there, and each
taken from adifferentpointof view, a. D. 1773. ~' See Bartholomieide Cotton Monachi Nor-
wicensis "Historia Anglicana;" a. D. (449— 1298), necnon ejusdeni "Liber de Archie- piscopis et Episcopis Anglio:,'' p. 413. Edited by Henry Richards Luard, M. A. London,
1859. 8vo.
" Pasca commutatur diem Domi- super
**
See Venerable Bede's "Historia Eccle-
'^ gee Bcde's "Historia Ecclesiastica
Gentis Anglorum," lib. iii. , cap. 25, p. 233. '^ There were a few other variations in the Paschal canons, which contributed still more toperplexthissubject. Theymaybeseenin
Smith's Bede, App. ix. , p. 698.
siastica Gentis Anglorum," lib. iii. , cap. 17, ? •204.
5 See Venerable Bede's "Historia Eccle-
453,
nicum Papa Leone episcopo Roma;," p. 3. St. Patrick brought most probably the older form of observance into Ireland,
L
'
Hibemise," Januarii. Vita S. Finani, n. 6, p. 45.
"
toria Ecclesiastica Gentis Anglorum," lib. iii. ,
146
LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS.
[January 9.
tians. Atthatperiod,thesewerewhollyemployedinopposingtheircountr/s invaders. They continued to observe the ancient cycle of Sulpicius Severus.
This had become peculiar to themselves. Hence, it occasionally happened, that Easter, and other festivals of the year depending on that solemnity, were celebrated at different times by the Saxon Christians. As these had been instructed by Scottish, by Roman, or by Gallic missionaries,'^ so did their obser- vances vary, and in accordance with the practice of their respective teachers. '^ It is not easy to determine, from the order of his composition, whether by a man of ferocious or rough mind, Bede intended to describe Finan or Ronan. The context seems to favour an allusion to the former but the
;
phrase used by him to denote Ronan's mode of arguing,'^ a mode very unbe- coming towards a bishop, might incline one to think that he alluded to Ronan. He appears to have been a very persistent and acute disputant. It is difficult to believe the Scoto-Irish prelates and clergy would have fixed upon St. Finan as their champion were he man of rough disposition. Colgan says,^^ that this
Ronan here alluded to had been revered in Armoric Brittany, on the ist of June," and this seems to form a very probable ground for supposition.
CHAPTER II.
ST. FINAN BAPTIZES PEADA, PRINCE OF THE MIDDLE-ANGLES—HE SENDS MISSIONARIES AMONG THESE PEOPLE—ST. FINAN CONSECRATES DIUMA AS BISHOP—HE BAPTIZES SIGEBERT, KING OF THE EAST SAXONS—HE CONSECRATES ST. CHAD AS BISHOP— VARIOUS SAINTS CALLED FINAN IN THE IRISH CALENDARS—WRITINGS ATTRIBUTED TO THE PRESENT ST. FINAN—HIS DEATH—HIS DIFFERENT COMMEMORATIONS— CONCLUSION.
Notwithstanding this Paschal diversity, justly considered a great inconve- nience, there was no breach of communion, nor did Finan disturb the con- scienceofthosewhopreferredtheRomancomputation. Thisprelatehad the happiness to baptize Peada, Prince of the Middle-Angles, and son to Penda, Pagan King of the Mercians. Peada had come to the court of the Northumbrian King Os\vin, for the purpose of obtaining in marriage his daughter, the Princess Alchfleda. ' His proposal would not be agreed to, unless he and his subjects should become Christians. Peada listened to the Word of God, and he was so convinced of the truth, that he declared himself willing to become a convert, even should the princess be refused to him in marriage. Accordingly Peada and all his companions and suite, were baptized
by Finan. Having obtained four learned and worthy priests, for the instruc- tion of his subjects, the prince returned with joy to his o\vn country. Those priests were Cedd, Add, Betti, and Diuma. The three former are said to
"^
have been English, and the last was an Irishman.
however, notv^ithstanding the statement of Venerable Bede,3 that Cedda,^
'5 See Dr. " of Lingard's History Eng-
land," vol. i. , chap, ii. , a. d. 656, p. 99.
'* See what has been already observed on this subject in the Life of St. Diman Dubh,
Bishop of Connor, at the 6th of January.
'7 The words are "acerbiorem castigando. "
''
Historia Ecclesiastica Gentis Anglo- rum," lib. iii. , cap. 25, p. 233.
ix.
four Northumbrian Bede expressly priests.
states, however, that Diuma was not a North- umbrian or an Englishman, but an Irishman or Scot. Nor does Dr. Lingard say a word about Finan, nor the part he had in the con- version of Peada, nor of his having supplied those priests to the Middle-Angles,
3 " Erant autem presbyteri Cedda et Adda et Betti et Diuma, quorum ultimus natione
See
'* See "Acta Sanctorum
'9 See noti—ces of him at that day.
'
Chap. ii. See what has been already
stated in the Life of St. Chad, at the 7th of this month.
218.
* Bede declares that this Cedda spent some
time with St. Egbert in Ireland, when both 'Dr. Lmgard, in his "History of the were young men. See ? ^/</. , lib. iv. , cap. 3,
Anglo-Saxon Church," chap, i. , calls them p. 267.
Scotus, coeteri fuere de Anglis.
See
''
His-
cap. 21, p.
It has been maintained,
January 9. ] LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. 147
Adda,s and Betta, as well as Diuma, belonged to Scotia or Hibemia,^ of which
country St. Finan himself was a native. ? With great success, these holy mis-
sionaries preached among the Middle-Angles, and brought many of them to a knowledge of the true Faith. ^
In the very commencement of his episcopacy, St. Finan must have bap-
tized Peada and his household, as we have already seen. 9 Henry of Hunting-
don relates this occurrence,^" and it is assigned to the year 653.
In a short time the missionaries converted so many persons that about two years after the opening of their mission, Diuma was elected and consecrated bishop, by St. Finan. The latter prelate placed him newly consecrated over the Middle-Angles and the Mercians. Our saint also baptized Sigebert, King of the East Saxons, as we have already seen in the Life of St. Chad. " The latter was consecrated by St. Finan, and appointed Bishop of the East Saxons. Various saints bearing the name Finan or Fionan occur in the Irish calendars. '^ The present is one, not the least distinguished among them,
owing to the fact of his having had so important a share in the conversion of the Northern Saxons, and because of his having been so specially noticed by Venerable Bede.
It is remarkable, Dempster^3 falsely cites Hector Boetius as an authority for the statement, that St. Finan composed a tract under the title " Monita Salutaria ad Ferguhardium," lib. i. Demochares^+ and Lesley's have some laudatorynoticesofthisholyman,intheirrespectiveworks; whilethelearned Ussher'^ does not forget to introduce notices regarding him, in his comprehen- sive work referring to the history of the British Churches. '7 Bale has asserted that the present St. Finan wrote a treatise on the Paschal rite. '^ But this statement is not supported by any more worthy authority. By some writers, the present saint is incorrectly called Sinan or Sinanus. 's Such error arose, probably by mistaking the initial letter F. for S. , as written in old manuscripts. Many of the early English^" and Scottish chroniclers mention this holy bishop with very laudatory phrases.
5 Adda is said to have been brother to the Eramian, at the 12th, and a St. Fionnan, at illustrious priest Ultan, who was abbot over the 13th of February ; a St. Fionan, the
a monastery called "Ad Caprse Caput. " See ibid. , lib. iii. , cap. 21, pp. 218, 219.
*
Such is the statement of Florence of Wor- cester ad annum 664.
In all
missionaries who had gone over from Ireland to assist St. Aidan in establishing his North- umbrian mission.
9 See Life of St. Chad, at the 7th of Janu-
ary. MatthewofWestminsterstatesthisfact,
under the year 650. See " Flores Historia-
rum," p. 226. Yet, Florence of Worcester
defers the death of St. Aidan to the 31st of
August, A. D. 652, when St. Finan received
his mission, —and was ordained through
Scotic agency —doubtless with the sanction
Leper, at the i6th of March ; a St. Fionan, the Crooked, of Kennity ; a St. Fionan, at the 4th of October ; a St. Fionan of Rath, at the 25th of November ; and a St. Fionan
^
Colgan's
pendix ad Acta S. Finani, cap. i. , p. 46.
'3 See " Historia Ecclesiastica Gentis
Scotorum,"lib. vi.
"* " De Sacrificio Missse," cap. xv. , xxxix. 'S " Historia Scotioe," lib. iv.
"^ See " Britannicarum Ecclesiarum Anti-
quitates,''pp, 78, 681, 697, 919, 964. Dublin edition, A. D. 1639.
^^ See Colgan's "Acta Sanctorum Hiber-
nise," ix. Januarii. Appendix ad Acta S.
of the Holy See
from life.
after St. Aidan's departure
See Harris' Ware, vol. ii. , Writers of Ireland," book i. , chap, iv. , p. 33.
'°
Lib. iii.
'9 Among others, by Antonius Possevinus,
"In and "De Apparatu,'' by Trithemius,
Viris Illustribus Ordinis Benedicti. "
*° "
See Venerable Bede's Historia Eccle-
Colgan's
Caue,
Todd's and Dr. Reeves' edition of the
"
probability,
Finan was one of those
" Acta Sanctorum
" At the
" 7th January.
" Acta Sanctorum Hiber-
' See
nice," ix. Januarii. Vita S. Finani, n. 9, p. 46.
at the 8th of December. See Dr.
of
Thus there is a St. Fionan, bishop, at the
8th of January ; a St. Fionan of Saxonland,
at the 9th of January ; a St. Fionan, son of siastica Gentis Anglorum," lib. iii. , cap. 17,
tyrology of Donegal," pp. 418, 419.
Finani, cap. iii. , p. 48.
'^ "
Also Hiberniae," Ap-
Mar-
148 LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. [January 9.
After he had gained many Gentiles to the true Faith, and had ruled over
the See of Lindisfarne for about ten years, St. Finan was called away to the
bliss of immortality, in the year 656^' or 659,^* according to some writers. Others again assign his death to 600 or 601. =3 The Irish calendarists place his festival at the 9th of January. =4
Although by birth and descent this saint was Irish; yet the entry of
occurs in the
Marianus O'Gorman likewise commemorates him at the same date.
Saxon, is set down in the Martyrology of Donegal,^? as being venerated on
this day. He was the second Bishop of Lindisfarne,^^ and he is regarded as an Apostle among the Saxons of the midland and north-eastern parts of England. Hence his distinctive appellation.
English and Scotch writers^9 have his feast recorded at the 17th of
February. 3° At this date, the reader will find some additional observations.
However, it is said, neither of the foregoing dates represents the exact day of his death.
For learning, holiness of life, indefatigable zeal and earnestness of purpose, this great missionary was a light to many people, who had heretofore remained in the shadow of Paganism. Over princes and people he exercised great spiritual influence. In the activity of episcopal rule, and in his solicitude for the souls of men, he was a bright example of austerity and self-denial, in public and private life.
Article III. —St. Guaire, Beg, Patron of Aghadowy or Aghadoey,
County of Londonderry. [Probably m the Seventh Century. '] The spirit
of holiness, from an early period, has consecrated many a lonely spot in old Ireland. The situation of that church, belonging to Guaire Beg, of
Achadh-Dubhthaigh, in Magh-Li, is exactly pointed out in our calendars. It arose near the banks of the Bann, on the west side, between Loch-n-Each- dhach* and the sea. This saint belonged to the race of CoUa Uais, monarch of Erin. His feast is registered in the Martyrology of Donegal^ on this day. It is recorded, in the Martyrology of Tallagh3as Guare "bic," for "beg," which means " small " or " little ;" probably in allusion to his stature, or want of distinction. He was son of Lasreu, son of Ferguss, son of Loegare, or
Finan, Saxon,
Martyrology
of
Tallagh,=s
at the of 9th
p. 204, cap. 21, 22, pp. 218 to 222, cap. 25, p. 233. Florence of Worcester, Matthew of Westminster, " Flores Historiarum," A. D. 651, 652, pp. 226 to 228. Nicholas Harps-
p. 45, and nn. 12, 13, p. 46.
's Edited by Rev. Dr, Kelly, p. xii.
"* In the Franciscan copy wc find pri Am
Sax.
feld's " Historia
"
xxxi. Arnold Wion '^ See Father
Anglicana Ecclesiastica, cap. xxviii. ,
by
White's "
p. Apolo-
ssec. vii. ,
"
noise.
" The " Annals of Ulster" and " Annals
Stephen
gia pro Hibemia," cap. v. , p. 66.
Lignum Vitae," lib. ii. , cap. xxi.
" to the " Aimals of Clonmac- According
*» Thus the " """
of the Four Masters. "
edition, vol. i. , n
'3 This diversity of date may have been
Camerarius " De Pietate Scotorum," at the 17th of February,
(q),
—which is a mistake
See Dr. O'Donovan's
pp. 268 to 271.
^ saint the—
In ranking this among disciples
caused by the equivocal statement of Vene-
rable Bede (lib. iii. , cap. 27), that St. Aidan this day. See Trias Thaumaturga," Quarta died, having been a bishop for seventeen Appendix ad Acta S. Columbse, cap. x. , p. years. Elsewhere it is insinuated, that he 490. —'
began to govern the See of Lindisfarne A. D. 63s, and that he died A. D. 651. St. Finan's ten years of episcopal rule should therefore extend to A. D. 60 X.
"* See Colgan's Acta Sanctorum Hiber- nise," ix. Januarii. Vita S. Finani, cap. vii. ,
Art. III.
The
ancient name for
Lough
»7 Edited Drs. Todd and Reeves, ii.
English Martyrology," Dempster, lib. vi. , De Scriptoribus ScotisB,
of St. Coluraba
Colgan
promised to have something about him at "
•
Neagh.
'Edited by Drs. Todd and Reeves, p. Ii.
3 Edited by Rev. Dr. Kelly, p. xii. In the Franciscan copy we read 5tiAi|\e bic
=^ January.
Finan, a
January 9. ] LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. 149
Laeghaire,'^ son to Fiachra Tort, founder of the Hy-Tuirtre, son of CoUa Uais, monarch of Ireland, from a. d. 327 to 33 1. ^ This saint was cousin to another St. Guaire, surnamed Mor. ^ Magh Li was the name of a territory extending from Bir to Camus, on the west side of the River Bann, where the Fir-Lii, a section of Colla Uais' descendants settled at an early period. Under the year of the world 2550, when Parthalon died, it is mentioned in our Annals, as having been one of the Irish plains cleared of wood ; but in what particular year is not recorded. 7 In the seventh century, as we are told, St. Guarius or Goar founded a religious establishment here, as a cell to the priory or abbey erected by him at Agivey. This latter became a grange to the Abbey of St. Mary-de-la-Foutse, or Mecasquin, in 1172. ^ The present saint was venerated in Aghadowy parish, county of Londonderry, and it is not improbable he was the actual founder of its church. 9 For this erection would hardly appear to have been established by a namesake and
relative called Guaire the " Great" or "
of '° From the January.
Big,"
whose feast occurs at the 22nd
this latter saint seems to
for
have been a cousin to the one venerated on this day.
'' "
See Colgan's Acta Sanctorum Hiber-
nise," xxxi. Januarii. Vita S. Maidoci. Ap-
pendix, cap. iv. , p. 223.
s See Dr. Reeves' edition of Archbishop
of Ireland," vol. i. , pp. 15, 16, for a further
interesting account of this parish.
9 The situation of Aghadowey old church
was probably that of the modern Protestant
genealogy given
both,
Ruins of Agivy Church, Cc. Londonderry.
Those ruins belonging to the old church at Agivy measure 74 feet in length by 28 in width. " About the year 1830, there was a square tower included in the length : it was 40 feet in height. People in the neighbour-
Colton's "Visitation of the Diocese of church in the townland and parish of the
Derry," n. (w), p. 80.
* See his feast at the 27th of January.
7 See Dr. O'Donovan's "Annals of the
Four Masters," vol. i. , pp. 6 to 9. There,
however, it is incorrectly said, that Magh been later in time than the present saint.
"
Lii was in Ui-Mac-Uais-Brcagh ; Breagh there was no such place. (a), ibid.
for in See n.
" The accompanying view is taken from the west, by Mr. Jordan, of Ballymoney, county of Antrim. It is engraved by George A. Hanlon, Dublin.
*See Lewis' "Topographical Dictionary
^"^r
''
same name. See Ordnance Survey Town-
land Maps of the County of Sheet 12.
Londonderry.
'° By one generation he appears to have
150 LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. January 9. ]
hood had been previously in the habit of picking out some of its large stones to place at the heads of graves. About the date indicated, a thoughtless boy,
amusing himself by taking out some stones, brought down a part of the wall. He had scarcely escaped from danger, when the tower fell.
