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She found a cave,? at a lonely place called Opacum, near Lobaco, high among the mountains. 8 There she passed a term of years, and died, during the latterhalfoftheninthcentury. 9 Theinhabitantsofthatcountry,venerating her as a saint, buried her remains, and built a church in her name, on the site of her hermitage. This was called S. Brigida. Her Natalis was cele- brated there in after years with great solemnity. The Pieve or parochial district of Lobaco owns two filial parishes, St. Brigid at Lobaco, and St.
Minatus at Pagnoli. Again, there is an ancient Church of San Martino, of
Tours, beneath the shelter of the walls of Castel Lobaco IQ and here, also, the ;
memory of our Irish St. Brigid was held in especial reverence. In his
"
festival was observed on the 1st of February, that she was renowned for
sanctity in 802, that she was miraculously brought to Italy, that her writings
have perished, and that he is unable to find when she died. It seems very piobable, however, that our Irish St. Brigid's festival abroad may have been confoundedwiththatofthegreatSt. Brigid,PatronessofIreland; otherwise it is difficult to conceive how such a coincidence could have occurred, as to cause both their feasts to fall on the same day.
Article VI. —Reputed Feast of Donart, Bishop of Murthlac andAberdeen,Scotland. TheScottishhistorianHectorBoecealluding
of Murthlach and states, that he was Aberdeen,
Historia Ecclesiastica Gentis Scotorum,"" Dempster asserts, that her
to 1 a former Bean,
bishop
succeeded in that sacred office by Donortius, who lived in the see for no less
than forty-two years, and who died with the reputation of sanctity. Camerarius2
6 In the Florentine Val d'Arno, and sur-
rounded by the most romantic mountain
scenery.
7 In her delightful volume, " Six Months
in the Apennines," Miss Margaret Stokes has furnished a faithful description of it in her
Letter from Florence, dated January, 1890, pp. 270 to 276.
8 St. Brigid's hermitage is near the present church of the Madonna del Sasso. A path and a flight of steps lead down to it from the priest's garden. A little altar in the side of that cave now be—ars the inscription,
I0 The present little church of S. Martino in Baco rises beneath the old low square tower of Castel Lobaco, and near it is a grove of tall cypress trees. The church is a simple quadrangular building, without transepts or side aisles ; the porch and a tiny round apse at the east end, with an old baptismal font on the north wall, are the only features of interest it now possesses, The priest's house and garden are annexed to it. An engraving, Fig. 92, Church ot St. Brigid at Lobaco, is to be found in Miss Margaret Stokes' very interesting book ; as also another, 91, San
:
sculptured on a shield Fig. representing
11
Grotta nella quale S. Brigida sorella di S. Donato
Faceva penitentiis nel secolo nono. "
Martino a Lobaco, with an outline sketch of the surrounding scene.
However, a mistake has occurred here, in
to have founded the episcopal See of Mart- hillach (Mortlach) in the seventh year of his reign, and to have nominated Beyn to be
making St. Brigid sister of St. Donatus, and
not, as was the case, to his Archdeacon St. its first bishop. See Joannis de Fordun,
Andrew. An of the cave, engraving
" Chronica Gentis Scotorum," lib. iv. ,
Fig. 93, may be seen in Miss Stokes' work, at
cap. xl. , pp. 182, 183. The English translation
of this edition has his notice, at p. 175.
2 Thus at the 19th of August, in his Calen- Months in the Apennines," pp. 250 to dar is entered "Sanctus (sic) Donotius
p. 275.
9 See Miss Margaret Stokes' "Six
253. Episcopus
Aberdonensis. "
"
i. —, lib. ii. , num. 166, '
See tomus
Article VI. King Malcolm is said
p.
93.
W\
304 LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. [August 20.
andDempsternoticehimatthe19thand20thofAugust. Ferrariusand Castellanappeartoacceptthemasauthorities. TheBollandists,whofound his name inscribed at the 19th of August, in a Manuscript Kalendar of Irish Saints which they possessed, still notice him at this date,4 but they cautiously refrain from placing Donortius among the Beatified. 5 His period is said to havebeena. d. 1098. However,wearetold,hishistoryrestsonthedoubtful authorities of Dempster, Camerarius, Conseus and Leslie, drawing their infor-
6
Article VII. —Reputed Festival of St. Stolbrand, Martyr,
1
Island of May, Scotland. [Ninth Century. . ] According to Camerarius, St. Stolbrandus was a Bishop and Martyr, massacred by the Danes in the Island of May,2 Scotland. The Bollandists have a notice of him, at the 20th of August, quoting that author. 3 However, we can only refer to what has been already written, at the 4th of March,4 regarding St. Adrian and his com- panions, martyrs at that same place, and in the ninth century.
Article VIII. —Commemoration of St. Malachy O'Morgair,
Archbishop of Armagh. [Twelfth Century]. The additions to Usuard
1
enter a commemoration for St. Malachy O'Morgair, whose chief feast is cele-
bratedonthe3rdofNovember,accordingtotheRomanMartyrology. The
2
Bollandists thus note the present feast.
Article IX. —Festival of the Martyrdom of Dioscorus, Martyr
at Alexandria. At the 20th of August, the Irish Church commemorated
St. Dioscorus, Martyr, at Alexandria, as we find him eulogized by St. ^Engus, in the " Feilire. " 1 To this entry of his name, a comment has been added. 2
mation from Boece.
3" atthe2 totheof
In his Menologium Scotorum,"
20th of August, we find " Aberdoniae
Donortii Murthlacensis, S. episcopi qui
According Breviary Aberdeen, Pars Hyemalis, fol. lxii. b.
3 See "Acta Sanctorum," tomus iv. , Augusti xx. Among the pretermitted saints,
Beano successit. B. "—Bishop Forbes' " Ka- lendars of Scottish Saints," pp. 209 and p. 2.
239.
* See "Acta Sanctorum," tomus iv. ,
Augustixx. AmongthepretermittedSaints,
4 See the Third Volume of this work, at
4th of March, Art. —ii.
l
,
p.
See the Eleventh Volume of this work for his Life, at the 3rd
2.
s Thus the opinion is written : "Utinam
Article viii. of November, Art. i.
nobis licuisset inspicere documenta e quibus ilium accepit Ferrarius, vel addidisset ipse-
2
See "Acta Sanctorum," tomus iv. , Augusti xx. Among the pretermitted feasts,
met, cujus temporis ac notoe ea fuerint ; quae
siquidem satis antiqua ac bona esse con-
staret, praesulem hunc aliis Sanctis annume- stanza is transcribed from Leabhar Breac
rassemus : verum quia novimus, hagiologos quosdam nimis esse faciles ac profuse libera- les in multiplicando titulum sancti ; liceat nobis desiderare certiora testimonia, quibus verus, legitimus ac religiosus hujus viri cultus antiquus et immemorabilis stabiliri
queat. "
6 See Bishop Forbes' " Kalendars of
'
copy : the English translation furnished by Whitley Stokes, LL. D. :—
nochef mop "OiAfcopup dp Cropc cmj; Afpervou pAwpit bpeo ip&mpu CoinoppUiAjuo 501-011.
Scottish Saints,"— 326. p.
' Article vii. At
with a
Sanc- fair host" Transactions of the Royal
Irish Academy,"Irish ManuscriptSeries, vol. i. , part i. On the Calendar of Oengus, p. cxxiv.
August, in his Calendar is entered tusStolbrandusEpiscopusetMartyraDanis in Maia Insula. "— Bishop Forbes' " Kalen- dars of Scottish Saints, p. 239.
the 20th
of
" —"
marvellous,
great,
:
day
P- 5- — Article ix.
The Irish following
"Greatly suffered Dioscorus for Christ champion who is most manly.
a
flame that is most
— Pamphilius,
August 21. ] LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. 305
The Bollandist Father Joannes Pinius commemorates this holy martyr, at the
same date, on the authority of various martyrologies ; although he states, that the age, when this athlete of Christ lived, was totally unknown to him, as were also his acts. 3
ArticleX. —FeastofSt. Pamphilius,BishopandMartyr. Inthe
""
Feilire of St. ^Engus, at the 20th of August, the Festival of St. Pamphilius
has been honoured. 1 He was both a and 2 He seems, Bishop Martyr.
Father Joannes Pinius states, to have been venerated with many holy
martyrs—called confessors—at Synnada,
other Martyrologists, at this same date, as seen in the Acta Sanctorum oftheBollandists. 3 Littleappearstohavebeenknownwithcertaintyabout Pampilius and his companions ? yet, the scholiast on the Leabhar Breac copy of the " Feilire " calls Pamphilus a Bishop and a Martyr.
Etoentp-jffrsit JBap of august.
ARTICLE I. —ST. SINACH OR SENACH, BISHOP OFCLONARD, COUNTY OF MEATH.
[SIXTH CENTUR Y. ]
can be more remarkable than that air of solitude and NOTHdIesNertGion, which at present surrounds the site of places, once hallowed by the living presence of our saints, and where they had gathered
around them so many disciples and scholars, to learn discipline and wisdom in their cloisters and schools. Such is the feeling that must fill the pious pilgrim, who visits the sites of those holy places. But for the authentic records of our ecclesiastical annals, we might well be inclined to question their populousness and celebrity in past ages. These remarks are especially applicable to the place of this saint.
In the of 1 a festival is entered at the 21st of Martyrology Tallagh,
in honour of Sinach, Bishop, it is said, of Cluand Iraird. 2
August, In the very early
and known as the "
In Latin
turn monachos in Thcbaide yEgypti. "— Arco, Maximo Confessore, Pamphilio,
metrical Calendar of St.
2"
Aengus,
Feilire,"
3 we are
in Raban and Phrygia, according to
Prespiter qui habebat cen- partim Martyribus, partim Conf. Piricio,
:
Ibid. , p. cxxxii.
3 See " Acta Sanctorum," tomus iv. , Au-
gusti xx. De Sancto Dioscoro M. Alexan-
Colouo, Confessore. Item de Diomede,
Agatico, Zelo, Synnadse in Phrygia, p. 36. 4 Father Pinius observes, that those, not
specially noted as Confessors, it seems to
dria, p. 35. — Article x.
'
See "Transactions of the
be as regarded
Royal Irish Academy," Irish Manuscript Series, vol. i. , pars i. On the Calendar of
Oengus, by Whitley Stokes, LL. D. , p. cxxiv.
2
See
3 See tomus iv. , August! xx. De SS.
x
Edited by
Rev. Dr.
ibid. , p.
cxxxii.
inaifvo.
""
him, may Article
2
In the Book of Leinster copy, at this 3 In that copy found in the " Leabhar
— p. xxxii.
Martyrs.
I.
Kelly,
same date, we read Sinach epr Cluam
306 LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. [August 21.
recommended on the 21st of August, to ask the prayers of the eloquent bishopofClonard,Senach. Itseemsprobable,likewise,thatsomefurther
light has been afforded, regarding his connexion with another place in ancient Meath. Acommentatoronthecopyofthiscalendar,foundintheLeabhar Breac, has added, that Senach was tutor of Ailbe, and successor of Finden, and that his place was in Cluain Fota Fine, in Fir Tulach, i. e. , Cluain Fota Librein. 4
St.
Senach was born, probably about the earlier part of the sixth century. When the holy founder of Clonard, St. Finian, had established his celebrated school there, he became tutor to many of the great saints of Ireland. The family origin of the present holy person is not known ; but according to the following account, Senach appears to have been abducted from his parents, if they were then living, and at a very early age.
IntheLifeofSt. s of Finnian,
it is 6 thatatone stated,
Clonard,
time, some wicked persons came by night to the place where he then
dwelt, called Escair Branain ;? and they brought with them a boy, who
being wearied with travelling was left upon the glebe, belonging to St. Finnian's Church. This holy man, on the following morning, came to the
boy, and after giving him proper instructions, he received tonsure, at the instance of the abbot. We are told, that having a prophetic knowledge, this boy should succeed as abbot ; St. Finnian gave him every necessary instruction, and imbued his mind with a knowledge of letters. Following
the order of the biographical narrative, we are led to infer, that the early lessons of Senach were received at Escair-Branain or Ard-bren-n Domnuich,
8
It is supposed, that St. Finian did not leave that place, until about a. d. , 530 ;9 when, it is likely, those then under his tuition followed their master to his
new foundation at Clonard. 10
It would appear, that our saint afterwards studied at Clonard," and that
St. Finian reposed great confidence in him. Here, too, Senach had the
great advantage of companionship with that galaxy of holy, learned and eminent men, who subsequently shed such a lustre on the glorious Irish
12
Church of the sixth century.
We are told, that St. Finnian, wishing to know how his disciples were
and which at a later time received the denomination of Airdleac.
Breac," the following stanza occurs, at this date, and the English tra—nslation is given by
within the bounds of Meath, and not far from the River Boyne ; while it seems to
Whitley Stokes, LL. D.
5uit) i£eil Uincencn OochunpiAm ^iCAnmAin
ercop Senach ruiUnn ctuana Ipairvo atjoaiI.
"Beseech on Vincentius' feast to help thy
soul bishop Senach the eloquent, of vast
"
Clonard. "— Transactions of the Royal
Irish Academy,"Irish Manuscript Series, vol. i. , part i. On the Calendar of Oengus, p. exxiv.
4
See ibid. , p. exxxii.
5 His Life is written, at the I2th of De-
cember, the date for his chief feast.
6 See Colgan's "Acta Sanctorum Hiber- nise," xxiii. Februarii. Vita S. Finniani seu Finneni Abbatisde Cluain-Eraird, cap. xvii. ,
of
Clonard, although afterwards a dependency of the latter monastery. In the Litany of dingus, he invokes the prayers of twelve belonging to St. Finnian's family, interred at Ard-bren-ndomnuich.
p. 395.
:
have in date the foundation preceded
cient and Modern," vol. i. , chap, ii. , We are informed, that this place was p. 12.
8
See ibid. , n. 21, p. 398. 9 See Rev. Dr. Lanigan's
"
Ecclesiastical History of Ireland," vol. i. , chap, ix. , sect.
viii. , p. 465.
10
tion of Clonard, at a. d. 544. See " Biitan- nicarum Ecclesiaium Antiquitates," Index Chronologicus, p. 530.
" See Colgan's "Acta Sanctorum Iliber-
nia. ," xxiii. Februarii. Vita S. Finniani,
cap. xix. , p. 395.
M See Rev. Anthony Cohan's " Ecclesias-
tical History of the Diocese of Meath, An-
Archbishop Ussher places the founda-
August 21. ] LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. 307
employed, sent Senach one day to see them at their several tasks. Our
saint found them all engaged at work, although differently employed ; some
being occupied in manual labour, while others were studying the Holy
Scriptures. Among them, St. Columba,^ son to Crimthann, was found in
prayer, with his hands extended towards Heaven, while birds alighted on
him. When Senach related this circumstance to his master, Finnian said :
" He it is, who shall administer the holy Sacrament to me, at the hour of
1
my departure. " '* It seems most likely, that Senach lived under the rule and
discipline of his celebrated master, St. Finian, until the latter departed this
life, on the 12th of December, and about the middle of the sixth century. 15
Senach profited so much by those lessons of piety and of learning he had
received in earlier years, that in course of time, he became the chosen suc-
16
cessor of Finnian.
Whether or not, Senach immediately succeeded St. Finnian, as Abbot of
Clonard, is unknown ; however, our saint enjoyed this dignity not long after his death, and we may suppose, his character well qualified him. He also discharged the office of Bishop. The Martyrology of Donegal,^
at the 21st of August, styles him Senach, Bishop, of Cluain-fhoda Fine, in Fir-tulach, i. e. , Cluain-fhoda Librein. However, an error committed by the commentator on the "Feilire" of ^Engus, as found in the Leabhar Breac copy, appears to have led the O'Clerys to mistake the locality, which had special connexion with the memory of this holy prelate. We do not know of any Finnen connected with Cluain-fhoda Fine or Cluain-fhoda Librein, now Clonfad, in the barony of Fertullagh, and county of Westmeath,18 whereas St. Finian was the well-known patron of Clonard in the county of Meath. To this latter place must be assigned the present holy man, notwith- standing contrary statements. But, it must not be forgotten, that the relics of St. Finian were long preserved at Clonfad,^ and it is thought, also, that he founded its monastery, although St. Etchen20 is held to have been its chief
patron. The present saint seems to have succeeded soon after St. Finian's death, and to have had a long term of rule, both over the monastery, and as
monastery of Cluain-foda Libren is supposed to have perished during the Danish wars, although it seems to have remained to the close of the tenth
He died on the 21st of a. d. 2 - At this same day August, 587.
bishop.
year is the following record, "St. Seanach, Bishop of Cluain-Iriard, died. 22 Probably this saint was connected both with Clonfad, or Cluain-foda-fine in Westmeath, as likewise with Clonard, in the county of Meath. 23 The
century.
24 UndertheheadofCluain
Foda-Fine,
2s DualdMacFirbislikewise
13 His festival occurs, at 13th of Decern- ber.
14 See Colgan's "Acta Sanctorum Hiber-
nise," xxiii. Februarii. VitaS. Finniani, cap.
^ This is a locality, about five miles and
a-half south-east from Mullingar, in the
county of Westmeath, and making some claims to have been an ancient bishopric.
xx. , p. 395. See
Parliamentary Gazetteer of Ireland,"
*3 While the Four Masters place his death at A. D. 548, the Annals of Inisfallen have it A. D. 551, and Rev. Dr. Lanigan, at a. d.
"
20
See an account of him, in the Second
<j$2. See
n. 74, pp. 24, 25.
Volume of this work, at the nth of Feb-
ruary, Art. ii.
ZI "
See Colgan's Acta Sanctorum Hiber-
nise," xxiii. Februarii. Vita S. Finniani, Appendix, cap. i. , p. 406.
Ecclesiastical History of Ire- land," vol. ii. , chap, x. , sect, v. , p. 22, and
16
See Colgan's "Acta Sanctorum Hiber-
nix," xxiii. Februarii. Vita S. Finniani,
22
See Dr. O'Donovan's Annals of the
cap. xvii. , p. 395. Four Masters," vol. i. , pp. 212, 213.
J? Edited by Drs. Todd and 2* See Rev. A. ** Diocese Reeves, pp. Cogan's
226, 227.
18
See Dr. O'Donovan's "Annals of the Four Masters," vol. i. , n. (n), p. 452.
of Meath, Ancientand Modern," vol. iii. , chap.
lxxiv. , p. 555.
s*
"
vol. i. , p. 440.
See#*tf. , p. 556.
3 o8 LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. [August 21.
enters Senach, bishop, adding that he was from Cluain-foda-fine, in Fera tulach, i. e. , Cluain foda-Librein. We are informed, moreover, that the
Article II. —St. Celba, or Caelbadh,of Ctll-Caelbadh, probably
comarb and disciple of St. Finnen of Clonal d, was this bishop Senach. The feast of St. Senaich is entered in the Kalendar of Drummond2
21st of August.
Kilbeg or Kilmainhambeg, County of Meath. The published 1
Martyrology of Tallagh, registers Celba, at the 21st of August. In that copy, contained in the Book of Leinster, this name is united
2
with that of another saint, at the present date. From the following
account of his locality, lying on the north side of Ceananus, now Kells, in
the County of Meath, it may be possible to identify his church. The Martyrology of Donegal mentions Caelbadh, of Cill Caelbaidh, on the north side of Ceananus,* as having been venerated, at this same date. Kilbeg5 or Kilmainham-beg,6 a parish in the barony of Lower Kells, and in the County of Meath, seems to be the most probable identification for the site of this saint's former church. It appears also to have given name to
that place.
Article III. —St. Masse, or Maisse, Virgin. Sheltered from the
baneful influence of a corrupt world, this holy Virgin grew each day in goodness, unconscious of evil, and in innocence like the angel who watched over her.