for the Almighty had willed the
manifestation
and endurance to his glory,
^
and he rejoiced in the works, wrought by such faithful souls.
^
and he rejoiced in the works, wrought by such faithful souls.
O'Hanlon - Lives of the Irish Saints - v2
35.
^
Article viii. See the Bollandists'
"Acta Sanctorum," tomus ii. , Februarii '5 See Rt. Rev. Patrick Francis Moran's vii, De S. Tresano Presbytero. Commen-
"Spicilegium Ossoriense," vol. i. , art. ii. Patron Saints of the Diocese of Ossory, p.
Aharney, barony of Galmoy. The foregoing
places
are shown, on the " Ordnance Sur-
vey Townland Maps for the County of Kil-
kenny. " Sheets 4, 9.
7.
'^ "
See Statuta Dioecesis Ossoriensis. "
Article ix. See "De Statu Hominis veteris simul ac novte Ecclesise, et Infidelium Conversione," lib. i. , pars ii. , cap. iii. , sec.
^7 This small parish is in the barony of Shillelogher, and it is shown on the " Ord- nance Survey Maps for the County of Kil- kenny. " Sheets 19, 20, 23, 24. The town- land itself is marked on the three first sheets.
2, p. 147. ^"
'"
** "
See Rt. Rev. Patrick Francis Moran's
Spicilegium Ossoriense," vol. i. , art. ii. Patron Saints of the Diocese of Ossory, p. 8.
^9 See "Statuta Dioecesis Ossoriensis.
February, A. D. 791. See Historia Eccle- siastica Gentis Scotorum," tomus i. , lib. ii. ,
num. 141, p. 80.
'^ See "Acta Sanctorum, tomus ii. , Feb-
-^
See George Petrie's "Ecclesiastical
tarius historicus,—num. 7> P- 53' - '
In the preface to his work, De Mig- ratione Gentium," St. Burchard is said to have been a Scot.
^ By this writer, he is unauthorizedly
made a Scot, of his Scotia.
Dempster states, that St. Burchard died on the 2nd of
"
414 LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. [February 8.
Article X. —St. Colman, Mac-Ui-Tealduibh, Bishop, 'and Abbot OFClonard,CountyofMeath. [SixthorSeventhCentury^ Thissaint was bom, probably towards the close of the sixth century. Our Calendars andAnnalsdiffersomewhat,ingivingusthespellingofhispatronymic. By the Martyrology of Tallagh,^ at the 8th of February, he is called, Colman mac h. Thelluib. At the same date, the Martyrology of Donegal^ has Colman, Mac-Ui-Tealduibh. The Annals of Ulster call him, Mac Cudel- duibj thoseofClonmacnoisestylehim,MacVihelly; whilethoseofthe Four Masters denominate " son of Aiteldubh. '' He was a in
him, bishop 640, as we find him so designated, in an epistle, written from Rome,3 at that
date, and respecting the Paschal usage. '^ In the Annals of Clonmacnoise, the death of this saint, denominated Mac Vihelly, Bishop and Abbot of Clonard,isreferredtoa. d. 651; intheAnnalsoftheFourMasters,5andby Archdeacon Cotton,^ his demise is set down, at the 8th of February, a. d. 652 ; while the Annals of Ulster state, that he died, a. d. 653. 7 By all of theseauthorities,heisstyledAbbotofClonard. ^ Thatverysameyear,in which he died, and only a few short months afterwards, another holy Abbot of Clonard, known as St. Oissene Fota,9 went to Heaven.
Article XI. —Reputed Festival of Saints Gislarius, a Priest,
AND ChUNIBALDUS, COMPANIONS OF St. RuPERT, BiSHOP OF SaLTZBURGH, Bavaria. \Sixth or Seventh Century^ In the Carthusian Martyrology of Hermann Greuen, the festival of these saints has been assigned to the 8th of February. The BoUandists, however, reserve their Acts, for the 24th of September-^ and,atthatdate,also,furthernoticesofthemwillbefoundin our work.
Article XII. —Reputed Festival of St. Gunibald, Martyr and Pilgrim, Italy. \Fifth Century^ The BoUandists have no special notice of St. Gunibald, at this date, unless he is to be identified with Cunibald or Chunibald, who is only classed as a confessor. Among the Scottish saints, Dempster enters^ St. Gunibald, or Gunibaldus, a martyr and pilgrim, at the viii. of February. 2 Elsewhere, he tells us, on the authority of Jacobus Guallus,3 that St. Gunibald was born of a Scottish and noble race. When a
great persecution happened in the nation of Scotia, he even then desired
ruarii viii. Prsetermissi et in alios dies re-
jecti, p. 152.
s This promise has been fulfilled in * ' Acta
*"
See Fasti Ecclesise Hibemicae," vol.
iii. , p. 109.
'See " Annales Ultonienses. " Dr.
Sanctorum," tomus vi. , Octobris xiv. De O'Conor's " Rerum Hibernicarum Scrip-
S. Burchardo. Four historic sections pre- cede, and two distinct ancient Acts, The editor was Jacob Bueus, a priest of the Pre- monstratensian order, at Tongerloo,
Article x. —* Edited by Rev. Dr. Kelly, p. XV.
tores," torn, iv. , p. 52.
^ See Rev. Anthony Cogan's "Diocese
of Meath, Ancient and Modern," vol. i. , chap, ii. , p. 14.
» See notices o—f him, at the ist of May.
Article xi.
by them among the pretermitted saints, whose Acts are reserved for another day. See 3 See Ussher's "Veterum Epistolarum "Acta Sanctorum," tomus ii. , Februarii
="
Edited by Drs. Todd aud Reeves, pp. 42, 43-
Hibernicarum Sylloge," Epist. ix. , pp. 22, 23-
* See a further account of this matter, in
the Life of St. Diman or Dima Dubh, at
the 6th of January.
s See Dr. O'Donovan's edition, vol. i. ,
pp. 264, 265, and n. (u), ibid.
viii. , p. 152. — Article xii.
'
' are classed They
See
ticum," Bishop Forbes' " Kalendar of Scot-
tish Saints," p. 191.
»
For this statement, Dempster quotes Guallus.
3 in " Sanctuario Papiae. "
"Menologium
Sco-
February 9. ] LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. 415
death for the sake of Christ. But, fearing the displeasure of his parents, Gunibaldus, in company with his brother Gunifort* or GuniforLis,5 and two
sisters,setoutforGermany. TheretheyproclaimedthemselvesChristians, and even taught the Faith. The two sisters were apprehended, and were condemned to a cruel death. Their brothers exhorted them to constancy. Those ladies, distinguished for their nobility and beauty, but still more for their faith and love of virginity, overcame woman's timidity, while with eyes and hands directed to Heaven, they obtained martyrs' crowns. Afterwards, Gunibaldus and Gunifortis left Germany, and proceeded over the Alps, to the city, known as Camara,^ in Italy. Here, likewise, a great persecution hadbeenraisedagainsttheChristians. 7 Yet,theholyScottishpilgrimspro- claimed the faith of Christ, and urged many of the people to strive for the crown of martyrdom. Gunibaldus being apprehended, however, fell by the sword. This is thought to have occurred, about a. d. 417. ^ St. Gunifortis escaped from this persecution, only to suffer martyrdom, in Milan, at a period somewhat later. 9 Thus the brothers and sisters, who lived so reli- giously in life, were united again, and received into the glorious company of the martyrs in Heaven.
^mtft JBap of jfefjruarp^
ARTICLE L—THE BLESSED MARIANUS SCOTUS, OR ST. MUIREDHAC, . MAC ROBARTAIG, BENEDICTINE ABBOT OF RATISBON, BAVARIA.
[ELEVENTH CENTURY. ]
CHAPTER I.
before the period, when this most pious servant of God lived, the
LONG of the Lord had been sent
spirit forth, through holy
INTRODUCTION—ACTS OF MARIANUS SCOTUS—HIS FAMILY NAME AND ORIGIN—HIS EARLY EDUCATION AND DISPOSITIONS—HE LEAVES IRELAND, WITH SOME COM-
PANIONS—MARIANUS ARRIVES IN GERMANY, AND SETTLES IN RATISBON— COURSE OF STUDIES AND EXERCISES THERE—A MIRACLE REGARDING HIM RE- CORDED.
Irish missionaries on the Continent of Europe, and the face of the earth had been renewed,
^ See notices of him, at the 22nd of August.
as also in Charles Knight's "English Cyclo- psedia. " Geography, vol. ii. , cols. 256, 257.
7 If the received account of his time be
correct, this probably occurred during the inroads of the Goths or Huns.
^ See *' Historia Ecclesiastica Dempster's
Gentis Scotorum," tomus i. , lib. vii. , num. 576, pp. 309, 310.
; Scripta Sicily, and founded in the year after Rome terierunt omnia, siquse reliquit. " Indeed, 155. A further account of it may be had in too frequently, his statements are suspedoe. Baudrand's Philippus Ferrarius, "Novum /^^/, and they must always be received with
Lexicon Geographicum," tomus i. , p. 152, extreme caution.
s His feast has been assigned by Dempster
"
clesiastica Gentis Scotorum," tomus i. , lib.
to the 22nd of August. See vii. , num. 575, p. 309.
Historia Ec-
^ There is a of city
this name, and to the east of Olus. See William Smith's "Dictionary of Greek and Roman Geography," vol. i. , p. 486. I find no city or town of a corresponding name, now, or
Crete, bearing
9 it is singular to remark, that Dempster, who professes to place none in his Ecclesi- formerly known, in Italy ; yet, there was a astical History but such as were writers, Camarina, a town, on the southern shore of remarks of St. Gunibaldus " in*
HIS
41 6 LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. [February 9.
for the Almighty had willed the manifestation and endurance to his glory,
^
and he rejoiced in the works, wrought by such faithful souls. This is suffi-
ciently apparent, both from tradition and history. The ancient writer of the Acts of Blessed Marianus observes, that the light of the saints went out from Hibemia, though the whole world, and that above the people of all other nations, her pilgrim children were accustomed to test the most rigorous and
the most sunny climes. From the very days of the glorious Apostle, St. Peter,^ when dwelling in Rome, even to the close of the twelfth century, examples are cited, which serve to establish the truth of such conclusions.
This the Bollandists in their — the Acts of Blessed day, have, great work,
Marianus— Scotus,
and of St. Muirchertach3 or as he is there called Mur-
cheratus recluse, at Ratisbon. -* Those Acts are preceded by a previous
commentary, in three sections, consisting of twenty-four paragraphs, in which
allusions are made to other incidental subjects, such as to the growth of
Irish or Scottish monasteries, especially in Germany, and regarding that particular house, with which Blessed Marianus was connected, as also in-
cluding personal references to this distinguished man, and to the companions, who left Ireland before and about his period. At this date, Colgan has
passedover,incompletesilence,thecareeroftheBlessedMarianus. s Yet, one of the most interesting of biographical records is that, which treats about him. From this, we chiefly derive his personal history. ^ A memoir of Marianus and of his successors was composed by an Irish monk, living at Ratisbon, in Bavaria. 7 This has been carefully edited by Father John Boiand,^ a copy having been forwarded to him, by a Jesuit Father, Joannes Gamansius. 9 It had been taken from a manuscript, preserved in the Car- thusian monastery of Gaming,^° in Lower Austria. " It furnishes the follow- ingparticulars,concerningthehistoryofthisgoodman. TheRev. William Reeves has epitomized this account, Hkewise, in a very interesting paper on the subject of Marianus Scotus of Ratisbon, which had been prepared for one of the Royal Irish Academy's evening sessions. "
The real name of Marianus Scotus^3 was Muiredhach Mac Robartaigh. It is probable, this pious servant of God was born, in the earHer part of the
Article i. —Chapter i. —^ See Psalms, ciii. , 30, 31.
^ From him, St. Mansuetus, an early Irish Bishop of Toul, is said to have received ec- clesiastical training, and his future mission. See his Life at the 3rd of September.
interesting particulars, regarding the rise of 3 He is also called Muricherodac. His various Benedictine Irish or Scottish mon*
Life has been already given at the 17th of
January.
• See "Acta Sanctorum," tomus ii. , Feb-
ruarii ix. De B. Mariano Scoto, Abbate Ord. S. Benedicti, et B. Murcherato In- cluso, Ratisbonae in Bavaria, pp. 361 to 372.
5 In another place, however, he promised to produce his Acts, at the 17th of April. See "Acta Sanctorum Hibemia:," xvii. Januarii. De Muricherodaco clauso con-
fessore, n. p. ill.
^
In his "Bavaria Sancta,' Rader has edited some part of this Life, for he does not seem to have had a perfect copy. See tomus ii.
7 From certain historic personages alluded to, in this tract, it seems to have been com- piled towards the close of the twelfth, or
asteries in Germany.
^° **
early in the thirteenth, century, ^ *'
See Acta Sanctorum," tomus ii. , Feb«
ruarii ix;, pp. 365 to 372.
' Not only does this produce the Life of
Marianus Scotus, but, it also contains most
This place is Latinized,
Carthusia It is sometimes called
"
" This monastery was founded by Duke Albert, A. D. 1332. —It was secularized by Joseph II. in 1782. See Fez, SS. Rerum Austriae, tomus i. , col. 935. Also, Ersep
"
" This was read, on the 9th of April, and
it was published, in the "Natural Historv '
Review and Quarterly Journal of Science,
"
for July, i860. See, also,
the Royal Irish Academy," vol. vii. , pp.
290 to 301.
'3 Arnold Wion calls him
Gamnicensis.
Kemnick, and Gemnikho.
und Gruber's
Allgemeine Encyclopaedic," sub voce, G^ctamg.
num," in his work cap. 72.
"
Proceedings of
"
Lignum Vitae," lib. ii. ,
S. Maria-
February 9. ] LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. 417
eleventh century. He was a native of Tir Conaill, which corresponds with the modern county of Donegal. ^4 From his own \vritings, too. we have been
led to the discovery, that he belonged to the family of Mac Robhartaigh. These were hereditary guardians of the venerable Cathach of St. Cokimkille. 'S As such, they were herejiachs in Tyrconnell, and vassals of the O'Donells,
^^
of Drumhone, county of Donegal, is so called from Baile-mecc-Robhartaich.
Originally this was the possession of Mac Robhartach, Keeper of the Cathach. Ballymagrorty, in the parish of Templemore or Derry, has the same origin, ^^ At this present time, the name has been moulded into O'Rafferty, Rafferty, and M'Grotty;'^ and, although we have not been able to find the pedigree of the present Muiredhach, yet, we have reason to believe, he descended fromarespectablefamilyandrace. AlmostcontemporarywiththisMarianus was Donnall Mac Robartaigh, St. Columba's successor at Kells. His name is engraved on the silver case of the Cathach,^9 and his death is also re- cordedbytheFourMastersat1098. ^° Bythem,heiscalledO'Robhartaigh; but, this interchange of Mac and O' is common in early records. ^^
Marianus was remarkable, as well for the beauty of his countenance, as
forthestrengthofhisbody. Hishair,theancientauthorofhisActsstates,"^^
was glossy. But, he was chiefly distinguished, for his charming simplicity of manner, and for his unaffected piety. During the time of boyhood, he was carefully instructed by his parents, in sacred and secular Hterature, and in eloquence, with a view to his entering upon the clerical office. The very aspect of the holy youth inspired all beholders with a conviction, that the SpiritofGoddweltwithinhim. Inprocessoftime,heassumedthemonastic habit, but, seemingly without entering any regular order. ^3
the ancient princely rulers over that region.
Ballymagroarty, in the parish
At an early age—according to a custom usual in Ireland in his day—the parents of Marianus appear to have destined him for the Church, as his opening virtues showed clearly marks of a Divine vocation. Even when he
^4 Yet Dempster and Camerarius would fain claim him as a Scotchman.
^5 At present preserved in the Royal Irish Academy's Museum. It is a box of silver,
Cathach of Columkille. "
^^ In 1609, the Inquisition of Donegal
"
Island of Torro [Tory] whereof O'Roherertye is both herenagh and corbe. " w^ithvariousantiquecarvings,onits cover —Ultonia. Inquisitions. Appendix,No. V. ;
and sides. It contains worn membrane
fragments of the Scriptures, said to have
been written by the hand of St. Columkille.
'^ As of that are guardians reliquary, they
mentioned, in the "Annals of the Four
Masters. " Thus A. D. 1497, one of the
Patent Rolls of James I. , p. 382a. Among the general pardons during this same year, various members of the clan are mentioned, under the forms M
events in a battle, at the pass of Ballaghboy,
between the O'Donells and the Mac Dermots,
which proved —disastrous to the former, is
thus recorded: tlo be^riAt) beof Ati cacac
coLAim cibte AmAc, ajuj' -oo rnA^xbAX) a vii. , pp. 300, 301.
mAO|\ (. 1. lYiAj ^obA^vcAij). This is tran—s- .
lated into EngUsh by Dr. O'Donovan
•'TheCathachofColumkillewasalsotaken
fromthem; andMagroarty,thekeeperofit,
was slain. " Two years after this battle,
A. D. 1499, the Cathach was restored to the
O'Donells. In 1567, the same annalists pp. 88, 89.
chronicle a battle, between th—e O'Neills and " See the Bollandists' "Acta Sanctorum," O'Donells, at Farsetmore a low-water tomus ii. , ix. Februarii. Vita auctore Scoto ford, near Letterkenny. Among those that Monacho Ratispon. , cap. ii. , num. i, p. 366. fell was mA5|\AbAt\CAi5 aja mbAoi =3 See Rev. Dr. Reeves' Paper "On
iomcoiThe"o CACAije ColAim Citbe—. Marianus Scotus, of Ratisbon," in " Pro-
Rendered in O'Donovan's translation:
" ceedings of the Royal Irish Academy- vol.
"
who had the Vol. ii.
of the
vii. , p, 292.
Magroarty,
custody
:
Columba," p. 319.
finds the
'Ruertie, Magroertie, M'Groertie, Magrertee, and Roertie. See, in like manner, the Patent Rolls of James
I. , pp. 151b, 152a.
'*
able Paper on Marianus Scotus, in " Pro- ceedings of the Royal Irish Academy," vol.
^'
See the Rev. William Reeves' admir-
^^ See Rev. William Reeves' "Adam-
nan's Life of St. =°Seeibid. , p. 285.
DermotO'Robhartaich,AbbotofDur- row, died in 1 190. See Dr. O'Donovan's "Annals of the Four Masters," vol. iii. ,
2 f.
4x8 LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. [February 9.
was a boy, engaged in sacred and literary exercises, a certain aged and wise man, as if with an inspiration of his future useful and holy career, exclaimed
in the of presence
" O
beloved
the
In after life, these words were remembered by several school-fellows and
companions of Marianus, as prophetic of his course on earth ; and, when his fame brightened in distant Germany, from the wildly beautiful vallies and
mountains of romantic Donegal, numbers of his compatriots prepared to quit their native country, parents, and friends, to place themselves under his religious direction. '*
Taking two companions, called John and Candidus, he set out from Ireland, a. d. io67. ='5 Other writers increase the number of his fellow-
travellers. ^'^ Following older accounts, Dempster27 says, that St. Marianus, who differed from Marianus, the Inclusus and Historicus, came to Ratisbon, with
six companions, professing the monastic life. '^^ Murichodachus, a Benedictine monk,'9 is made the companion of St. Marianus from Scotia, by this writer ;3o
although, it is well known, the latter holy man arrived before him in Germany. He was an inclusus^^ in connexion with the monastery, in Ratisbon,3* lately founded by Frideric, or as others will have it, by Henry Burgravius 11. 33 As his ultimate object appears to have been a pilgrimage to Rome, it is likely, at first, Marianus had not decided on any fixed place, for a permanent re- sidence. Arriving, on their way, at Bamberg,34 the Irish pilgrims were kindly received, it is stated, however, very incorrectly, by Frederick, a son to Henry II. , Burgrave, and a grandson to St. Leopold,35 by Bertha, his mother, daughter to the latter. 3'^ However, Otho, who appears to have been once a canon at Bamberg, afterwards had received promotion to the see of Ratisbon, and at the time, when our saint and his companions arrived, he had been installed, as bishop. Another distinguished prelate of this name, and a Bishop of Bamberg, was greatly extolled for his holiness and zeal. 37
"* See the Bollandists' "Acta Sancto- 32 How strangely inaccurate Dempster rum," tomus ii. , Februarii ix. Vita B. was, in dealing with historic facts, may be
Marianus,
you shall attach to you, in Christ, many faithful people, and many pilgrims. "
Mariani, &c. , cap. iii. , p. 368.
^5 This is collected from the statement of
"
judged, when he states, that Muricherodac flourished a. d. 1 158, whiereas, in reality, he died about A. D. 1080, according to Rader.
33 See Dempster's "Historia Ecclesias-
tica Gentis Scotorum," tomus ii. , lib. xii. ,
num. 913, p. 483.
34 Here there is a magnificent Domkirche
or cathedral, founded in the year 1004, by Henry II. , and finished in 1012. See an
interesting account of this city, in Murray's "Handbook for Travellers in Southern
Germany," sect. x.
^
Article viii. See the Bollandists'
"Acta Sanctorum," tomus ii. , Februarii '5 See Rt. Rev. Patrick Francis Moran's vii, De S. Tresano Presbytero. Commen-
"Spicilegium Ossoriense," vol. i. , art. ii. Patron Saints of the Diocese of Ossory, p.
Aharney, barony of Galmoy. The foregoing
places
are shown, on the " Ordnance Sur-
vey Townland Maps for the County of Kil-
kenny. " Sheets 4, 9.
7.
'^ "
See Statuta Dioecesis Ossoriensis. "
Article ix. See "De Statu Hominis veteris simul ac novte Ecclesise, et Infidelium Conversione," lib. i. , pars ii. , cap. iii. , sec.
^7 This small parish is in the barony of Shillelogher, and it is shown on the " Ord- nance Survey Maps for the County of Kil- kenny. " Sheets 19, 20, 23, 24. The town- land itself is marked on the three first sheets.
2, p. 147. ^"
'"
** "
See Rt. Rev. Patrick Francis Moran's
Spicilegium Ossoriense," vol. i. , art. ii. Patron Saints of the Diocese of Ossory, p. 8.
^9 See "Statuta Dioecesis Ossoriensis.
February, A. D. 791. See Historia Eccle- siastica Gentis Scotorum," tomus i. , lib. ii. ,
num. 141, p. 80.
'^ See "Acta Sanctorum, tomus ii. , Feb-
-^
See George Petrie's "Ecclesiastical
tarius historicus,—num. 7> P- 53' - '
In the preface to his work, De Mig- ratione Gentium," St. Burchard is said to have been a Scot.
^ By this writer, he is unauthorizedly
made a Scot, of his Scotia.
Dempster states, that St. Burchard died on the 2nd of
"
414 LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. [February 8.
Article X. —St. Colman, Mac-Ui-Tealduibh, Bishop, 'and Abbot OFClonard,CountyofMeath. [SixthorSeventhCentury^ Thissaint was bom, probably towards the close of the sixth century. Our Calendars andAnnalsdiffersomewhat,ingivingusthespellingofhispatronymic. By the Martyrology of Tallagh,^ at the 8th of February, he is called, Colman mac h. Thelluib. At the same date, the Martyrology of Donegal^ has Colman, Mac-Ui-Tealduibh. The Annals of Ulster call him, Mac Cudel- duibj thoseofClonmacnoisestylehim,MacVihelly; whilethoseofthe Four Masters denominate " son of Aiteldubh. '' He was a in
him, bishop 640, as we find him so designated, in an epistle, written from Rome,3 at that
date, and respecting the Paschal usage. '^ In the Annals of Clonmacnoise, the death of this saint, denominated Mac Vihelly, Bishop and Abbot of Clonard,isreferredtoa. d. 651; intheAnnalsoftheFourMasters,5andby Archdeacon Cotton,^ his demise is set down, at the 8th of February, a. d. 652 ; while the Annals of Ulster state, that he died, a. d. 653. 7 By all of theseauthorities,heisstyledAbbotofClonard. ^ Thatverysameyear,in which he died, and only a few short months afterwards, another holy Abbot of Clonard, known as St. Oissene Fota,9 went to Heaven.
Article XI. —Reputed Festival of Saints Gislarius, a Priest,
AND ChUNIBALDUS, COMPANIONS OF St. RuPERT, BiSHOP OF SaLTZBURGH, Bavaria. \Sixth or Seventh Century^ In the Carthusian Martyrology of Hermann Greuen, the festival of these saints has been assigned to the 8th of February. The BoUandists, however, reserve their Acts, for the 24th of September-^ and,atthatdate,also,furthernoticesofthemwillbefoundin our work.
Article XII. —Reputed Festival of St. Gunibald, Martyr and Pilgrim, Italy. \Fifth Century^ The BoUandists have no special notice of St. Gunibald, at this date, unless he is to be identified with Cunibald or Chunibald, who is only classed as a confessor. Among the Scottish saints, Dempster enters^ St. Gunibald, or Gunibaldus, a martyr and pilgrim, at the viii. of February. 2 Elsewhere, he tells us, on the authority of Jacobus Guallus,3 that St. Gunibald was born of a Scottish and noble race. When a
great persecution happened in the nation of Scotia, he even then desired
ruarii viii. Prsetermissi et in alios dies re-
jecti, p. 152.
s This promise has been fulfilled in * ' Acta
*"
See Fasti Ecclesise Hibemicae," vol.
iii. , p. 109.
'See " Annales Ultonienses. " Dr.
Sanctorum," tomus vi. , Octobris xiv. De O'Conor's " Rerum Hibernicarum Scrip-
S. Burchardo. Four historic sections pre- cede, and two distinct ancient Acts, The editor was Jacob Bueus, a priest of the Pre- monstratensian order, at Tongerloo,
Article x. —* Edited by Rev. Dr. Kelly, p. XV.
tores," torn, iv. , p. 52.
^ See Rev. Anthony Cogan's "Diocese
of Meath, Ancient and Modern," vol. i. , chap, ii. , p. 14.
» See notices o—f him, at the ist of May.
Article xi.
by them among the pretermitted saints, whose Acts are reserved for another day. See 3 See Ussher's "Veterum Epistolarum "Acta Sanctorum," tomus ii. , Februarii
="
Edited by Drs. Todd aud Reeves, pp. 42, 43-
Hibernicarum Sylloge," Epist. ix. , pp. 22, 23-
* See a further account of this matter, in
the Life of St. Diman or Dima Dubh, at
the 6th of January.
s See Dr. O'Donovan's edition, vol. i. ,
pp. 264, 265, and n. (u), ibid.
viii. , p. 152. — Article xii.
'
' are classed They
See
ticum," Bishop Forbes' " Kalendar of Scot-
tish Saints," p. 191.
»
For this statement, Dempster quotes Guallus.
3 in " Sanctuario Papiae. "
"Menologium
Sco-
February 9. ] LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. 415
death for the sake of Christ. But, fearing the displeasure of his parents, Gunibaldus, in company with his brother Gunifort* or GuniforLis,5 and two
sisters,setoutforGermany. TheretheyproclaimedthemselvesChristians, and even taught the Faith. The two sisters were apprehended, and were condemned to a cruel death. Their brothers exhorted them to constancy. Those ladies, distinguished for their nobility and beauty, but still more for their faith and love of virginity, overcame woman's timidity, while with eyes and hands directed to Heaven, they obtained martyrs' crowns. Afterwards, Gunibaldus and Gunifortis left Germany, and proceeded over the Alps, to the city, known as Camara,^ in Italy. Here, likewise, a great persecution hadbeenraisedagainsttheChristians. 7 Yet,theholyScottishpilgrimspro- claimed the faith of Christ, and urged many of the people to strive for the crown of martyrdom. Gunibaldus being apprehended, however, fell by the sword. This is thought to have occurred, about a. d. 417. ^ St. Gunifortis escaped from this persecution, only to suffer martyrdom, in Milan, at a period somewhat later. 9 Thus the brothers and sisters, who lived so reli- giously in life, were united again, and received into the glorious company of the martyrs in Heaven.
^mtft JBap of jfefjruarp^
ARTICLE L—THE BLESSED MARIANUS SCOTUS, OR ST. MUIREDHAC, . MAC ROBARTAIG, BENEDICTINE ABBOT OF RATISBON, BAVARIA.
[ELEVENTH CENTURY. ]
CHAPTER I.
before the period, when this most pious servant of God lived, the
LONG of the Lord had been sent
spirit forth, through holy
INTRODUCTION—ACTS OF MARIANUS SCOTUS—HIS FAMILY NAME AND ORIGIN—HIS EARLY EDUCATION AND DISPOSITIONS—HE LEAVES IRELAND, WITH SOME COM-
PANIONS—MARIANUS ARRIVES IN GERMANY, AND SETTLES IN RATISBON— COURSE OF STUDIES AND EXERCISES THERE—A MIRACLE REGARDING HIM RE- CORDED.
Irish missionaries on the Continent of Europe, and the face of the earth had been renewed,
^ See notices of him, at the 22nd of August.
as also in Charles Knight's "English Cyclo- psedia. " Geography, vol. ii. , cols. 256, 257.
7 If the received account of his time be
correct, this probably occurred during the inroads of the Goths or Huns.
^ See *' Historia Ecclesiastica Dempster's
Gentis Scotorum," tomus i. , lib. vii. , num. 576, pp. 309, 310.
; Scripta Sicily, and founded in the year after Rome terierunt omnia, siquse reliquit. " Indeed, 155. A further account of it may be had in too frequently, his statements are suspedoe. Baudrand's Philippus Ferrarius, "Novum /^^/, and they must always be received with
Lexicon Geographicum," tomus i. , p. 152, extreme caution.
s His feast has been assigned by Dempster
"
clesiastica Gentis Scotorum," tomus i. , lib.
to the 22nd of August. See vii. , num. 575, p. 309.
Historia Ec-
^ There is a of city
this name, and to the east of Olus. See William Smith's "Dictionary of Greek and Roman Geography," vol. i. , p. 486. I find no city or town of a corresponding name, now, or
Crete, bearing
9 it is singular to remark, that Dempster, who professes to place none in his Ecclesi- formerly known, in Italy ; yet, there was a astical History but such as were writers, Camarina, a town, on the southern shore of remarks of St. Gunibaldus " in*
HIS
41 6 LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. [February 9.
for the Almighty had willed the manifestation and endurance to his glory,
^
and he rejoiced in the works, wrought by such faithful souls. This is suffi-
ciently apparent, both from tradition and history. The ancient writer of the Acts of Blessed Marianus observes, that the light of the saints went out from Hibemia, though the whole world, and that above the people of all other nations, her pilgrim children were accustomed to test the most rigorous and
the most sunny climes. From the very days of the glorious Apostle, St. Peter,^ when dwelling in Rome, even to the close of the twelfth century, examples are cited, which serve to establish the truth of such conclusions.
This the Bollandists in their — the Acts of Blessed day, have, great work,
Marianus— Scotus,
and of St. Muirchertach3 or as he is there called Mur-
cheratus recluse, at Ratisbon. -* Those Acts are preceded by a previous
commentary, in three sections, consisting of twenty-four paragraphs, in which
allusions are made to other incidental subjects, such as to the growth of
Irish or Scottish monasteries, especially in Germany, and regarding that particular house, with which Blessed Marianus was connected, as also in-
cluding personal references to this distinguished man, and to the companions, who left Ireland before and about his period. At this date, Colgan has
passedover,incompletesilence,thecareeroftheBlessedMarianus. s Yet, one of the most interesting of biographical records is that, which treats about him. From this, we chiefly derive his personal history. ^ A memoir of Marianus and of his successors was composed by an Irish monk, living at Ratisbon, in Bavaria. 7 This has been carefully edited by Father John Boiand,^ a copy having been forwarded to him, by a Jesuit Father, Joannes Gamansius. 9 It had been taken from a manuscript, preserved in the Car- thusian monastery of Gaming,^° in Lower Austria. " It furnishes the follow- ingparticulars,concerningthehistoryofthisgoodman. TheRev. William Reeves has epitomized this account, Hkewise, in a very interesting paper on the subject of Marianus Scotus of Ratisbon, which had been prepared for one of the Royal Irish Academy's evening sessions. "
The real name of Marianus Scotus^3 was Muiredhach Mac Robartaigh. It is probable, this pious servant of God was born, in the earHer part of the
Article i. —Chapter i. —^ See Psalms, ciii. , 30, 31.
^ From him, St. Mansuetus, an early Irish Bishop of Toul, is said to have received ec- clesiastical training, and his future mission. See his Life at the 3rd of September.
interesting particulars, regarding the rise of 3 He is also called Muricherodac. His various Benedictine Irish or Scottish mon*
Life has been already given at the 17th of
January.
• See "Acta Sanctorum," tomus ii. , Feb-
ruarii ix. De B. Mariano Scoto, Abbate Ord. S. Benedicti, et B. Murcherato In- cluso, Ratisbonae in Bavaria, pp. 361 to 372.
5 In another place, however, he promised to produce his Acts, at the 17th of April. See "Acta Sanctorum Hibemia:," xvii. Januarii. De Muricherodaco clauso con-
fessore, n. p. ill.
^
In his "Bavaria Sancta,' Rader has edited some part of this Life, for he does not seem to have had a perfect copy. See tomus ii.
7 From certain historic personages alluded to, in this tract, it seems to have been com- piled towards the close of the twelfth, or
asteries in Germany.
^° **
early in the thirteenth, century, ^ *'
See Acta Sanctorum," tomus ii. , Feb«
ruarii ix;, pp. 365 to 372.
' Not only does this produce the Life of
Marianus Scotus, but, it also contains most
This place is Latinized,
Carthusia It is sometimes called
"
" This monastery was founded by Duke Albert, A. D. 1332. —It was secularized by Joseph II. in 1782. See Fez, SS. Rerum Austriae, tomus i. , col. 935. Also, Ersep
"
" This was read, on the 9th of April, and
it was published, in the "Natural Historv '
Review and Quarterly Journal of Science,
"
for July, i860. See, also,
the Royal Irish Academy," vol. vii. , pp.
290 to 301.
'3 Arnold Wion calls him
Gamnicensis.
Kemnick, and Gemnikho.
und Gruber's
Allgemeine Encyclopaedic," sub voce, G^ctamg.
num," in his work cap. 72.
"
Proceedings of
"
Lignum Vitae," lib. ii. ,
S. Maria-
February 9. ] LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. 417
eleventh century. He was a native of Tir Conaill, which corresponds with the modern county of Donegal. ^4 From his own \vritings, too. we have been
led to the discovery, that he belonged to the family of Mac Robhartaigh. These were hereditary guardians of the venerable Cathach of St. Cokimkille. 'S As such, they were herejiachs in Tyrconnell, and vassals of the O'Donells,
^^
of Drumhone, county of Donegal, is so called from Baile-mecc-Robhartaich.
Originally this was the possession of Mac Robhartach, Keeper of the Cathach. Ballymagrorty, in the parish of Templemore or Derry, has the same origin, ^^ At this present time, the name has been moulded into O'Rafferty, Rafferty, and M'Grotty;'^ and, although we have not been able to find the pedigree of the present Muiredhach, yet, we have reason to believe, he descended fromarespectablefamilyandrace. AlmostcontemporarywiththisMarianus was Donnall Mac Robartaigh, St. Columba's successor at Kells. His name is engraved on the silver case of the Cathach,^9 and his death is also re- cordedbytheFourMastersat1098. ^° Bythem,heiscalledO'Robhartaigh; but, this interchange of Mac and O' is common in early records. ^^
Marianus was remarkable, as well for the beauty of his countenance, as
forthestrengthofhisbody. Hishair,theancientauthorofhisActsstates,"^^
was glossy. But, he was chiefly distinguished, for his charming simplicity of manner, and for his unaffected piety. During the time of boyhood, he was carefully instructed by his parents, in sacred and secular Hterature, and in eloquence, with a view to his entering upon the clerical office. The very aspect of the holy youth inspired all beholders with a conviction, that the SpiritofGoddweltwithinhim. Inprocessoftime,heassumedthemonastic habit, but, seemingly without entering any regular order. ^3
the ancient princely rulers over that region.
Ballymagroarty, in the parish
At an early age—according to a custom usual in Ireland in his day—the parents of Marianus appear to have destined him for the Church, as his opening virtues showed clearly marks of a Divine vocation. Even when he
^4 Yet Dempster and Camerarius would fain claim him as a Scotchman.
^5 At present preserved in the Royal Irish Academy's Museum. It is a box of silver,
Cathach of Columkille. "
^^ In 1609, the Inquisition of Donegal
"
Island of Torro [Tory] whereof O'Roherertye is both herenagh and corbe. " w^ithvariousantiquecarvings,onits cover —Ultonia. Inquisitions. Appendix,No. V. ;
and sides. It contains worn membrane
fragments of the Scriptures, said to have
been written by the hand of St. Columkille.
'^ As of that are guardians reliquary, they
mentioned, in the "Annals of the Four
Masters. " Thus A. D. 1497, one of the
Patent Rolls of James I. , p. 382a. Among the general pardons during this same year, various members of the clan are mentioned, under the forms M
events in a battle, at the pass of Ballaghboy,
between the O'Donells and the Mac Dermots,
which proved —disastrous to the former, is
thus recorded: tlo be^riAt) beof Ati cacac
coLAim cibte AmAc, ajuj' -oo rnA^xbAX) a vii. , pp. 300, 301.
mAO|\ (. 1. lYiAj ^obA^vcAij). This is tran—s- .
lated into EngUsh by Dr. O'Donovan
•'TheCathachofColumkillewasalsotaken
fromthem; andMagroarty,thekeeperofit,
was slain. " Two years after this battle,
A. D. 1499, the Cathach was restored to the
O'Donells. In 1567, the same annalists pp. 88, 89.
chronicle a battle, between th—e O'Neills and " See the Bollandists' "Acta Sanctorum," O'Donells, at Farsetmore a low-water tomus ii. , ix. Februarii. Vita auctore Scoto ford, near Letterkenny. Among those that Monacho Ratispon. , cap. ii. , num. i, p. 366. fell was mA5|\AbAt\CAi5 aja mbAoi =3 See Rev. Dr. Reeves' Paper "On
iomcoiThe"o CACAije ColAim Citbe—. Marianus Scotus, of Ratisbon," in " Pro-
Rendered in O'Donovan's translation:
" ceedings of the Royal Irish Academy- vol.
"
who had the Vol. ii.
of the
vii. , p, 292.
Magroarty,
custody
:
Columba," p. 319.
finds the
'Ruertie, Magroertie, M'Groertie, Magrertee, and Roertie. See, in like manner, the Patent Rolls of James
I. , pp. 151b, 152a.
'*
able Paper on Marianus Scotus, in " Pro- ceedings of the Royal Irish Academy," vol.
^'
See the Rev. William Reeves' admir-
^^ See Rev. William Reeves' "Adam-
nan's Life of St. =°Seeibid. , p. 285.
DermotO'Robhartaich,AbbotofDur- row, died in 1 190. See Dr. O'Donovan's "Annals of the Four Masters," vol. iii. ,
2 f.
4x8 LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. [February 9.
was a boy, engaged in sacred and literary exercises, a certain aged and wise man, as if with an inspiration of his future useful and holy career, exclaimed
in the of presence
" O
beloved
the
In after life, these words were remembered by several school-fellows and
companions of Marianus, as prophetic of his course on earth ; and, when his fame brightened in distant Germany, from the wildly beautiful vallies and
mountains of romantic Donegal, numbers of his compatriots prepared to quit their native country, parents, and friends, to place themselves under his religious direction. '*
Taking two companions, called John and Candidus, he set out from Ireland, a. d. io67. ='5 Other writers increase the number of his fellow-
travellers. ^'^ Following older accounts, Dempster27 says, that St. Marianus, who differed from Marianus, the Inclusus and Historicus, came to Ratisbon, with
six companions, professing the monastic life. '^^ Murichodachus, a Benedictine monk,'9 is made the companion of St. Marianus from Scotia, by this writer ;3o
although, it is well known, the latter holy man arrived before him in Germany. He was an inclusus^^ in connexion with the monastery, in Ratisbon,3* lately founded by Frideric, or as others will have it, by Henry Burgravius 11. 33 As his ultimate object appears to have been a pilgrimage to Rome, it is likely, at first, Marianus had not decided on any fixed place, for a permanent re- sidence. Arriving, on their way, at Bamberg,34 the Irish pilgrims were kindly received, it is stated, however, very incorrectly, by Frederick, a son to Henry II. , Burgrave, and a grandson to St. Leopold,35 by Bertha, his mother, daughter to the latter. 3'^ However, Otho, who appears to have been once a canon at Bamberg, afterwards had received promotion to the see of Ratisbon, and at the time, when our saint and his companions arrived, he had been installed, as bishop. Another distinguished prelate of this name, and a Bishop of Bamberg, was greatly extolled for his holiness and zeal. 37
"* See the Bollandists' "Acta Sancto- 32 How strangely inaccurate Dempster rum," tomus ii. , Februarii ix. Vita B. was, in dealing with historic facts, may be
Marianus,
you shall attach to you, in Christ, many faithful people, and many pilgrims. "
Mariani, &c. , cap. iii. , p. 368.
^5 This is collected from the statement of
"
judged, when he states, that Muricherodac flourished a. d. 1 158, whiereas, in reality, he died about A. D. 1080, according to Rader.
33 See Dempster's "Historia Ecclesias-
tica Gentis Scotorum," tomus ii. , lib. xii. ,
num. 913, p. 483.
34 Here there is a magnificent Domkirche
or cathedral, founded in the year 1004, by Henry II. , and finished in 1012. See an
interesting account of this city, in Murray's "Handbook for Travellers in Southern
Germany," sect. x.
