''Dempster has the same statement in "
Historia
Ecclesiastica Gentis Scotorum,"
sia:," &c.
sia:," &c.
O'Hanlon - Lives of the Irish Saints - v1
{SEVENTH AND EIGHTH CEN7URIES.
\
CHAPTER I.
INTRODUCTION—NAME AND PARENTAGE OF ST. FOILAN—HIS BIOGRAPHIES—NARRA- TIVES REGARDING HIS BIRTH, BAPTISM, AND EARLY EDUCATION—HIS RELIGIOUS LIFE UNDER THE THE ABBOT MUNDUS.
people of Scotland, as well as those of Ireland, have an ecclesias-
THE
tical and a civil of which
they may justly
feel This proud.
history,
might be allowed, although episodes in the course of narrative are often
clouded and infelicitous. A saint, connected with so great a military event as the victory at Bannockbum—attributed to his intercession—must excite
an interest, beyond that occasioned by narrating the facts of his Hfe. Through the virtues and miracles of this holy abbot, Hibemia and Albania acquired new glories. Ireland and Scotland combine most interesting historic asso- ciations. The
" Land of brown heath and shaggy wood, Land of the mountain and the flood,'"
has received no inconsiderable amount of Christian blessings and missionary benefit from the Major and older Scotia.
This holy missionar/s name is variously spelt, according to the different authorities cited by Bishop Forbes. ^ It is found ^^Titten Felanus,3 Foelanus,*
Faelan,5 Foilanus,^ Fillanus, Filanus,? Filane,^Phillane,9Fulanus. '° Foilan or FaolanisthemoreIrishmodeofwTitingthissaint'sname. " InScotlandhe
Art. XI. —' Edited by Drs. Todd and Reeves. See pp. 10, 11.
' Edited Rev, Dr. xii. In by Kelly, p.
Donegal, as hkewise St. ^ngus.
*Colgan.
"> Camerarius " De Statu Hominis veteris
the Franciscan copy we can decipher simul ac Novae Ecclesiae et Sanctis Regni CitLeAn. . . . The latter addition is nearly Scotise," lib. i. , cap. iii. , § 2, pp. 120 to 122,
"
altogether obliterated. and Dempster, Article i. —Chap, r. —' Sir Walter Gentis Scotorum. "
"« Scott's Lay of the Last Minstrel," Canto
Historia Ecclesiastica
vi. , § ii.
»
King,
9 The Retours of the seventeenth century. '"Some Charters.
" In the Irish language our saint is called,
See "Kalendars of Scottish Saints," p. 342.
3 The "
" Breviary
a transmutation of the at one diphthong,
of Aberdeen" and the Kalendarium Drummondiense. "
by
time, Faolan, again Faelan, and also Foelan. Hence, in Latin, he may be called Failanus,
*The "Sanctorale" of the Aberdeen Breviary.
and more correctly still, Foelanus. See "
5 The of Martyrologies Tallagh
and of
Colgan's
"Acta Sanctorum ix. Hibemiae,
January 9. ] LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. 135
is known more generally as Fillan, and there likewise his memory is greatly held
in regard.
The most detailed narrative of his Acts we can find is that contained in
the Breviary of Aberdeen, and in additions to it by Camerarius, Dempster, ColganandBishopForbes. " TheBollandists'3andRev. AlbanButler^4in- sert, likewise, some short notices of St. Filan, Felan or Foelan, abbot in Scotland. The father of our saint was named Feradach,^s Colgan supposes him to have been a prince in the Ulster province, or of some place adjoining. At least, he belonged to the family of Fiatach Finn. "^^ His mother was St. Kentigema, whose acts and origin have been already treated, at the 7th day ofthismonth. Theirson,whohasacquiredsuchcelebrityinScotland,was a native of Ireland. In this island he was bom, probably towards the close of the seventh century. '7
The Breviary of Aberdeen recounts a curious story, regarding the saint's earliest infancy. But, we may well question the truth of a prodigy, which is found related in the Chronicle of ^^ and afterwards Camerarius. '9
Paisley, by
His father, as the legend tells us, considering his child to be a monster, had ordered him to be thrown into a neighbouring lake. There he remained for a whole year, during which time he was sustained by angels. Through a Divine revelation, Foelan was found by a holy bishop, named Ybarus or Ibar,whiletheinfantwasplayingwiththeseministersofGod, Liftingthe child carefully from the lake, Ibar took charge of Foelan's maintenance and instruction in the knowledge of holy things. Where this lake was situated
does not appear from the narrative. FoillanwasbaptizedbythisholymanIbar. HecouldnothavebeenSt.
Ibar, who, according to some accounts, flourished in Ireland, before the ar-
rival of St. in the fifth ^° and to other state- Patrick, century, who, according
ments, died A. D. 500. ^' Equally futile is the conjecture of Colgan, that he might have been St. lomhar or Imar Ua h-Aedhagain or O'Hagan,^^ who lived in the eleventh century. Yet, the context of our saint's acts seems to favour a supposition, that all we have hitherto described took place in Ireland, where likewise he made a religious profession, under the direction of another holy instructor, called Mundus.
When the saint grew up, he was transferred from the care of Ibar, and he was given in charge to this good abbot, named Mundus. ^3 Under their joint
Januarii. Vita S. Foilani, n. 3, p. 50.
Januarii, n. i. , p. 49.
" See "Kalendars of Scottish 34110346,
'^ See " Acta Sanctorum Hiber- Colgan's
Saints," pp.
•3 In seven paragraphs. See "Acta v,, p, 49,
Sanctorum Januarii," tomus i. , ix, Januarii, Vita S. Filani seu Felani, pp. 594, 595.
"*See "Lives of the Fathers, Martyrs, and other Principal Saints," vol, i,, ix. January,
'^See " De Statu hominis Veteris simul ac Nov£e Ecclesiae," &c. , lib, i. , cap. iii,, § 2, pp. 120, 121,
^^ This appears, it is said, from the Life of St, Kieran of Saigir (cap, 7), from the 'S Camerarius has the false reading, Life of St. Declan (cap. 12 and 23), and Feriath. Perhaps he meant Feredachius, from the Life of St. Brigid, by St, Ultan
of the family of Fiatach Finn. See " De
Statu hominis Veteris simul ac Novae Ec-
clesise," &c,, lib, i,, cap. iii. , § 2, p. 120, recte.
'^ Thus his race was Ultonian.
'7 This may be collected from the facts of
his mother's death, A,D, 728, and of his
grandfather's, which occurred A,D. 713,
Wherefore, Camerarius falls into an error,
when this saint died A, D, See stating 649,
Colgan's "Acta Sanctorum Hibemiae," ix,
(cap, 22),
^' ''
nise," ix. Januarii. Vita S. Foilani, cap. iv,,
See Dr, O'Donovan's Annals of the
Four Masters," vol. i,, pp, 162, 163. The Acts of this saint are given ^at the 23rd of
April,
^- See notices of him at^the 13th of August,
However, it must be allowed, Colgan thinks the baptizer of St, Foillan should be dis- tinguishable from both those just mentioned,
'-"^ Forbes seems to consider him as Bishop
identical with St. Mun, or Fintan Munnu
136 LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. [January 9.
direction, St. Foilan made great spiritual progress. A conjecture has been offered, that St, Mundus was brother to St. Foilan. The disciple's fame for
extraordinary sanctity was not only known to his brethren in the monastery, but it was soon diffused over all the country. Having received the monastic
rule and habit from Abbot Mundus, desiring to indulge more in heavenly contemplation, our saint built a cell near the monastery. '"'^ On a certain oc-
casion, when supper was ready in the refectory, a little messenger was des- patched to announce this news to Foilan. Peeping through a chink in the cell, the servant was surprised to see the blessed monk writing in the dark, while his left hand afforded a clear light to his right hand. This he told to
the monastic brethren. Foelan had a supernatural knowledge regarding this secret information ; and, by Divine permission, an accident happened to
the servant. Although displeased respecting the servant's want of secrecy, yet Foilan was afterwards moved with compassion, and he restored the use of that sight which the messenger had lost. ^s
A great deal of doubt prevails with regard to the St. Mundus, who was the master of our saint. In one passage, Colgan seems to regard them both as the sons of Feredach. ^* But again, he inclines to an opinion, that the baptizer must have been St. Fintan Munnu, and the son of Tulchan. '? Camerarius more widely errs against chronology, when he makes this St. Mundus,'^ an abbot in the territory of Argyle, in Scotland, and who died a. d. 962. ="9 In this latter case, it is easy to understand, that St. Foilan could not have been his disciple, much less, that he could have succeeded Mundus3° as the ruler of a monastery. A Scottish authors' says Fillan was brought up in virtue and literature, in the Monastery of Pittenweem,3^ and that a short time before his death he retired to the solitary desert of Tyrus.
venerated on the 21st of October, at Kil- mund, and Dissert, and Teach Munnu, now Taghmon, county of Wexford. See "Ka-
lendars of Scottish Saints," pp. 344, 415, 416.
* According to the Rev. Alban Butler, this was not far from St. Andrew's in Scot-
to have presided over a holy community of 234 disciples. The Martyrology of Tallagh, at the 2 1st October, enumerates two or three
Foilans amongst them, when expressing theirindividualnames. However,thetime in which this St. Mundus flourished hardly admits of supposition, that our saint could have been his disciple. St. Kentigema, mother to this saint, and who died in the year 728, must have lived to a very gieat age, if her son Foilan were a disciple to this St. Mundus, who died in the year 634.
'^Camerarius places the death of St. Foilan or Fillan at a. d. 649. See "De Statu hominis Veteris simul ac Novae Eccle- siae," &c. , lib. i. , cap. iii. , § 2, p. 122, and pp. 181, 182.
land. See
"
Lives of the Fathers, Martyrs,
and other Principal Saints," vol. i. , ix.
January.
'S
Breviary of Aberdeen. "
'* There was a Mundus, son to Feradach,
of the Dalfiatach family in Ulster, according
to the " " xix. Menologic Genealogy, chap.
"
Colgan says he considers there is no reason
to object to this person being master of St.
Foilan. On the contrary, he thinks it highly
probable ; and for a reason, that both the
latter Mundus and our saint, were sons to
this same Feradach. Consequently they lib. xii. num. 854.
were brothers. Feradach was also father of 3° Camerarius says he erected many mona- those holy virgins, whose Natalis is cele- steries in Albania or Scotland. His feast
brated on the 23rd of March, according to the Martyrologists. See Colgan's "Acta Sanctorum Hibemiae," ix. Januarii, n. 8, p.
Then is celebrated the feast of the Daughters of Feradach.
"7 A St. Mundus son to Tulchan, and a man of renowned sanctity, flourished in Ire- land, about A. D. 626. He died in the year 634, according to our Annals. He is said
is assigned to the 15th of April. See " De Statu hominis Veteris simul ac Novae Eccle-
50.
3> See McKenzie's Lives of the Scottish Writers," vol. i. , p. 272.
''Dempster has the same statement in " Historia Ecclesiastica Gentis Scotorum,"
sia:," &c. , lib. i. , cap. iii. , § 2, pp. 181, 182. "
3* There is a description and a copper- plate engraving of the mediaeval Pittenweem
Priory in Grose's "Antiquitiesof Scotland," vol. ii. , pp. 282, 283.
January 9. ] LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. 137
CHAPTER II.
ST. FOELAN SUCCEEDS ST. MUNDUS AS ABBOT—SAID TO HAVE VISITED HIS UNCLE ST. CONGAN—RETIREMENT AT GLENDORCHY—HIS CONNEXION WITH SCOTLAND.
When the blessed father Mundus died, by unanimous consent of the '
brethren, the holy monk Faolan, although reluctant, was elected abbot over the monastery. This he governed wisely, for his virtues and good
example instructed his brethren in all holiness, chastity, and humility. Those who believed in Christ, he regarded as true and special friends. He exercised hospitality, through love for God and in the noblest spirit of charity.
After his baptism, and probably during the early stages of youth, St. Kentigerna was careful to rear her offspring in the most tender sentiments
residence, at Loughelch, in Northern Erchadia or Argyle. Here it is thought all lived together for a time. 3 Again, we are informed, that in obedience to
an angelic message,'* St. Foelan went to his uncle, St. Congan, living at a place called Sirach or Siracht, in the upper parts of Glendeochquhy, or Glendorche. Whether this place was in Ireland or in Scotland has been disputed. But, it must be allowed, there are accounts in the acts of this
saint which have been confused, very probably owing to the ignorance of those early waiters who have treated about him and his relatives.
While Camerarius calls the place of our saint's retirement Sira, not far from Glendorchy, this latter district he localizes in Fife, and he associates St. Fillan with Pittenweem. Again the place is called Sirach. s On the other hand, Colgan has Cerete, the desert of Sirach, at Glendorche, formerly a forest, on the confines of the counties of Tyrone and Fermanagh, in the Ulster province. ^ Wherever this spot may have been situated, we are told the site for a basilica had been Divinely pointed out to him, with his seven
serving clerics. 7 There he was given altogether to prayer, contemplation, and exercises of penance. It would not be easy to account for the great veneration in which St. Faolan was held throughout Scotland, unless he lived for a considerable time in that country. As we know his mother Kentigerna chose it for a place of residence, and, as it is stated, other relations were there domiciled, every motive urges us to believe the present saint selected Cale- donia as a theatre for his missionary labours.
While at Glendorchy, St. Foelan, with his little dog, drove away a ferocious
of ^ It is said she had a piety.
named
^vith his sister and her sons, emigrated to Scotland. There he took up his
Chap. II. —' See Colgan's "Acta Sane-
torum Hibemise," ix. Januarii, Vita S.
Foilani, cap. i. , ii. , iii. , p. 49.
*
See notices regarding him at the 13th of October.
3 See Bishop Forbes' "Kalendars of Scot-
bourhood of Pittenweem, with his store of
cheap hterature, influenced the boy with a strong desire to learn the bookselhng busi- ness. See "Archibald Constable and his
Literary Correspondents," a Memorial by his son Thomas Constable, vol. i.
' He tells that there was a wood us, large
tish
* "
Saints," p. 310.
of Aberdeen. " sSee Bishop Challoner's
known
by
this name, on the confines of these
From the etymology of this word,
Breviary
"Britannia Sancta," part i. , p. 20. At Cambee, in the neighbourhood of Pittenweem, the celebrated
Scottish publisher, Archibald Constable, was bom, a. d. 1774. The arrival of an itinerant Edinburgh stationer in the neigh*
counties.
brother,
Comgan
or
Congan,^ who,
he interprets it as the "dark" or "shady
""" valley. See Acta Sanctorum Hibemise,
ix. Januarii, n. 9, p. 50.
^ " Breviary of Aberdeen;"
138 LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. [January 9.
boar that had devastated this district. He also converted many of the people there from the errors of Gentilism. While building the basilica at Glendorchy, wains and oxen were used to draw materials. A miraculous occurrence is related, which enabled the saint to prosecute his good work without inter- ruption. ^ It must be observed, however, that a certain St. Faolan, surnamed " the Stammerer," is stated to have belonged to Rath-Erran, in Alba, and also to Cill-Fhaelain,9 in Laoighs, of Leinster. ^° Now, it seems just possible, he was really the saint so greatly venerated in Scotland, and to whom so many churches and places have been dedicated. He is also said to have been a leper. " Yet, the authority of Bishop Forbes determines the proba- bility of greater celebrity to St. Faolan or Fillan, whose feast is celebrated on this day. "
For the most part, Scottish historians^3 endeavour to claim this saint as a native of Scotland. This pretension, however, cannot fairly be allowed. ^* This Colgan attempts to show, but in the effort he seems to admit very inappropriate chronologies. But, it would seem he rather quoted popularly national names to prove the force of historic tradition, in favour of his arguments. First, St. Foelan's mother was Kentigerna, daughter to a king of
Leinster, as already appears from the life of this holy widow, 's and from an ac- count,foundinScottishdocuments,citedbyCamerariushimself Secondly,he
was baptized by St. Ibar, who was an Irishman. This Colgan promised to show, in his notes to the acts of St. Ibar, bishop, at the 23rd of April. Thirdly, our saint was a disciple of St. Mundus, who he assumes not to have been a Scottish, but an Irish saint. This would appear, from Colgan's note to the present Acts, as also from a Life of St. Mundus and corresponding notes, which it was intended to publish at the 21st of October. Fourthly, because the natalis of our saint was observed in Ireland on the same day as in Scotland, viz. , on the 9th of January, at Cluain Moescna, in the region of Feratulach, according to St. -^ngus, to Marianus O'Gorman, the Commentator on . ^ngus, the Martyrology of Tallagh and Cashel, at the same day. While, therefore, St. Foilan is venerated in Scotland, because he reposed there, he is also reverenced in Ireland, because he was a native and an abbot belong- ing to our country. Fifthly, the natalis of our saint's sisters, who are called daughterstoFeradach,isobservedinIreland,onthe23rdofMarch. This must appear, from what has been previously observed, and from notes to St. Kentigerna's Life, published at the 7th of January. And lastly, Foelan is expressly numbered among our Irish saints, at the 9th of January, by the Martyrologies of Tallagh, and of Cashel, as also by the Commentator on ^ngus. ^^ Thus, while Ireland is honoured by his birth, education, and training, Scotland deserves a participation in the honour acquired, owing to his missionary career, his death there occurring, while his tomb and relics
8
"Breviary of Aberdeen. "
9 Now Kilwhelan, an old and venerated,
but long disused, graveyard, near the slope of the White Mountain, on the Cullinagh range, in the Queen's County.
*" His feast is observed on the 20th of June, where some notices of him will be found.
ing and leprosy might be monstrosities,
referable to St. Faolan, who is venerated on
the 20th of June.
'^
See "Kalendars of Scottish Saints," p. 344.
'-^ Such as Camerarius and Dempster.
'* Chatelain confounds the present St. Foelan with St. Finan of Lindisfarne, pro-
" The '*
St. Faelan, venerated at this day, that it had been prophesied of him, he should be born with a stone in his and his
Breviary
bably
of Aberdeen" relates of
because their festivals occur on the same day.
mouth,
considered by his father as a monster, may
'* See " Acta Sanctorum ix. Hibemiae,"
being explain why the natural defects of stammer-
Januarii, n. 2, p. 50.
'S At the 7th of January,
January 9. ] LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. 139
had been preserved, with so many great benefits conferred on his adopted
country.
St. Foelan seems to have laboured at missionary work in Scotland.
Bishop Forbes tells us, that the chief scene of his labours was in the parishes of Glendochart and Killen, in the uplands of Perthshire. There a river and strath are called after him. The saint's cave is yet shown at Pittenweem,'^ in Fifeshire. This seems to indicate his close connexion with the locaHty. '^ There is a place of worship dedicated to him at the chapel-yard, parish of Largs. '9 In Wigtown there is a Kilphillane. ^° In the parish of Largs, and in the lands of Skelmorlie or Cunningham, are the lands of St. Fillan's Well. *^ There was a chapel of St. Phillane, within the castle of Down, and another chapel of St. Phillane, without the same fortress, on the banks of the Teith. ^^
St. Philan is said to have had a
dedicated to — in monastery, him, Knapdale,
whereSt. —Cathalduswaseducated. ^3 ThereisaKillellan acorruptionof
Kill-Fillan near Lochalsh, formerly in Northern Argyle, now Ross-shire,^*
where our saint is said to have built a church in honour of his uncle, St. Congan. ^s Srowan has a fair called Feile Fhaolain. There is a parish, called Killallan or Killellan—a corruption of Kill-Fillan—in Renfrewshire, Scotland. *^ Near the kirk there is a large stone, with a hollow in the middle. This is called St. Fillan's Seat and a little distant from there is
; it,
a spring called Fillan's Well. ^7 At the close of the last century, a local minister had it filled up, to prevent devotions there practised. Here there is a fair in the month of January. The time for holding it is called indiffe- rently, Fillan's Day, or Fillan's Fair. ^^ The "Kalendarium Drummondiense" states that Felan departed to Christ, in Ireland, on the 9th of January. At
" KalendariumdeArbuthnott,"inthe KalendariumBreviariiAberdonensis,"
the same day, his feast occurs in the ""
Kalendarium de Culenros," in the
in Adam in King's Kalendar,
" as also Menologium Scoticum,"
Dempster's
in the Scottish entries in the " Kalendar of David Camerarius. "^? Dempster
tells us, that his natalis was particularly observed at Lough Levin, and he is called Abbot in Argyle. From some of the foregoing authorities we learn, also, that his office was contained in Nine Lessons. s*'
'7 In a note to the Rev. Alban Butler's
account of this samt, his place is called
Pettinuine, where his memory was greatly
revered, before the beginning of the seven-
teenth century. The county of Fife was
celebrated for its many fine religious estab-
lishments, which the fanatics of the previous
century demolished, crying, "Pull down,
pull down. The crow's nest must be utterly
exterminated, lest they should return, and
attempt again to renew their settlement. "
Such is the statement in " MS. Memoirs on
the Scottish Saints," formerly preserved in
the Scots' College, Paris, fol. 7. The author
^* "
St. Phillan's is the alternative name of i. , p. 316. This, the oldest work on the
was a missionary priest in Scotland, in 1609.
Statistical Account of Scotland," vol.
'*
the parish of Forgan in Fifeshire, although the church had a subsequent dedication to St. Andrew, as we see by a confirmation of Pope Adrian IV.
subject, was printed in Edinburgh, A. D. 1 791 to 1799.
"^ Here it is stated, that St. Felan, Abbot
sensuality and vice might be restrained.
*> Forbes' "Kalendar of Scottish Bishop
Samts," pp. i, 53, 95, in, 141, 190, 233.
in the " Prioratus S. Andree," p. 51.
19 "Origines Parochiales Scotise," vol. i. ,
p. 89. ^°
" Retours, Wigtown, 37.
of from the earliest Strathfillane,
"
Retours, Ayr, 258. Retours, Perth, 97.
, given
Registrum
years, practised such rigid bodily discipline, that in after-time he was an example of how
"
*3Dempster's HistoriaEcclesiasticaGen-
tis Scotoram," vol. i. , lib. iii. , p. 163. *"
See Origines Parochiales Scotise," vol. ii. , p. 395.
•*
^s See Bishop Forbes Kalendars of
Scottish Saints," pp. 310, 344 to 346.
''
Bishop Forbes adds,
Kilkoan and Killellan, the churches of Con-
gan and Fillan, bear testimony to the truth
of the legend.
CHAPTER I.
INTRODUCTION—NAME AND PARENTAGE OF ST. FOILAN—HIS BIOGRAPHIES—NARRA- TIVES REGARDING HIS BIRTH, BAPTISM, AND EARLY EDUCATION—HIS RELIGIOUS LIFE UNDER THE THE ABBOT MUNDUS.
people of Scotland, as well as those of Ireland, have an ecclesias-
THE
tical and a civil of which
they may justly
feel This proud.
history,
might be allowed, although episodes in the course of narrative are often
clouded and infelicitous. A saint, connected with so great a military event as the victory at Bannockbum—attributed to his intercession—must excite
an interest, beyond that occasioned by narrating the facts of his Hfe. Through the virtues and miracles of this holy abbot, Hibemia and Albania acquired new glories. Ireland and Scotland combine most interesting historic asso- ciations. The
" Land of brown heath and shaggy wood, Land of the mountain and the flood,'"
has received no inconsiderable amount of Christian blessings and missionary benefit from the Major and older Scotia.
This holy missionar/s name is variously spelt, according to the different authorities cited by Bishop Forbes. ^ It is found ^^Titten Felanus,3 Foelanus,*
Faelan,5 Foilanus,^ Fillanus, Filanus,? Filane,^Phillane,9Fulanus. '° Foilan or FaolanisthemoreIrishmodeofwTitingthissaint'sname. " InScotlandhe
Art. XI. —' Edited by Drs. Todd and Reeves. See pp. 10, 11.
' Edited Rev, Dr. xii. In by Kelly, p.
Donegal, as hkewise St. ^ngus.
*Colgan.
"> Camerarius " De Statu Hominis veteris
the Franciscan copy we can decipher simul ac Novae Ecclesiae et Sanctis Regni CitLeAn. . . . The latter addition is nearly Scotise," lib. i. , cap. iii. , § 2, pp. 120 to 122,
"
altogether obliterated. and Dempster, Article i. —Chap, r. —' Sir Walter Gentis Scotorum. "
"« Scott's Lay of the Last Minstrel," Canto
Historia Ecclesiastica
vi. , § ii.
»
King,
9 The Retours of the seventeenth century. '"Some Charters.
" In the Irish language our saint is called,
See "Kalendars of Scottish Saints," p. 342.
3 The "
" Breviary
a transmutation of the at one diphthong,
of Aberdeen" and the Kalendarium Drummondiense. "
by
time, Faolan, again Faelan, and also Foelan. Hence, in Latin, he may be called Failanus,
*The "Sanctorale" of the Aberdeen Breviary.
and more correctly still, Foelanus. See "
5 The of Martyrologies Tallagh
and of
Colgan's
"Acta Sanctorum ix. Hibemiae,
January 9. ] LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. 135
is known more generally as Fillan, and there likewise his memory is greatly held
in regard.
The most detailed narrative of his Acts we can find is that contained in
the Breviary of Aberdeen, and in additions to it by Camerarius, Dempster, ColganandBishopForbes. " TheBollandists'3andRev. AlbanButler^4in- sert, likewise, some short notices of St. Filan, Felan or Foelan, abbot in Scotland. The father of our saint was named Feradach,^s Colgan supposes him to have been a prince in the Ulster province, or of some place adjoining. At least, he belonged to the family of Fiatach Finn. "^^ His mother was St. Kentigema, whose acts and origin have been already treated, at the 7th day ofthismonth. Theirson,whohasacquiredsuchcelebrityinScotland,was a native of Ireland. In this island he was bom, probably towards the close of the seventh century. '7
The Breviary of Aberdeen recounts a curious story, regarding the saint's earliest infancy. But, we may well question the truth of a prodigy, which is found related in the Chronicle of ^^ and afterwards Camerarius. '9
Paisley, by
His father, as the legend tells us, considering his child to be a monster, had ordered him to be thrown into a neighbouring lake. There he remained for a whole year, during which time he was sustained by angels. Through a Divine revelation, Foelan was found by a holy bishop, named Ybarus or Ibar,whiletheinfantwasplayingwiththeseministersofGod, Liftingthe child carefully from the lake, Ibar took charge of Foelan's maintenance and instruction in the knowledge of holy things. Where this lake was situated
does not appear from the narrative. FoillanwasbaptizedbythisholymanIbar. HecouldnothavebeenSt.
Ibar, who, according to some accounts, flourished in Ireland, before the ar-
rival of St. in the fifth ^° and to other state- Patrick, century, who, according
ments, died A. D. 500. ^' Equally futile is the conjecture of Colgan, that he might have been St. lomhar or Imar Ua h-Aedhagain or O'Hagan,^^ who lived in the eleventh century. Yet, the context of our saint's acts seems to favour a supposition, that all we have hitherto described took place in Ireland, where likewise he made a religious profession, under the direction of another holy instructor, called Mundus.
When the saint grew up, he was transferred from the care of Ibar, and he was given in charge to this good abbot, named Mundus. ^3 Under their joint
Januarii. Vita S. Foilani, n. 3, p. 50.
Januarii, n. i. , p. 49.
" See "Kalendars of Scottish 34110346,
'^ See " Acta Sanctorum Hiber- Colgan's
Saints," pp.
•3 In seven paragraphs. See "Acta v,, p, 49,
Sanctorum Januarii," tomus i. , ix, Januarii, Vita S. Filani seu Felani, pp. 594, 595.
"*See "Lives of the Fathers, Martyrs, and other Principal Saints," vol, i,, ix. January,
'^See " De Statu hominis Veteris simul ac Nov£e Ecclesiae," &c. , lib, i. , cap. iii,, § 2, pp. 120, 121,
^^ This appears, it is said, from the Life of St, Kieran of Saigir (cap, 7), from the 'S Camerarius has the false reading, Life of St. Declan (cap. 12 and 23), and Feriath. Perhaps he meant Feredachius, from the Life of St. Brigid, by St, Ultan
of the family of Fiatach Finn. See " De
Statu hominis Veteris simul ac Novae Ec-
clesise," &c,, lib, i,, cap. iii. , § 2, p. 120, recte.
'^ Thus his race was Ultonian.
'7 This may be collected from the facts of
his mother's death, A,D, 728, and of his
grandfather's, which occurred A,D. 713,
Wherefore, Camerarius falls into an error,
when this saint died A, D, See stating 649,
Colgan's "Acta Sanctorum Hibemiae," ix,
(cap, 22),
^' ''
nise," ix. Januarii. Vita S. Foilani, cap. iv,,
See Dr, O'Donovan's Annals of the
Four Masters," vol. i,, pp, 162, 163. The Acts of this saint are given ^at the 23rd of
April,
^- See notices of him at^the 13th of August,
However, it must be allowed, Colgan thinks the baptizer of St, Foillan should be dis- tinguishable from both those just mentioned,
'-"^ Forbes seems to consider him as Bishop
identical with St. Mun, or Fintan Munnu
136 LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. [January 9.
direction, St. Foilan made great spiritual progress. A conjecture has been offered, that St, Mundus was brother to St. Foilan. The disciple's fame for
extraordinary sanctity was not only known to his brethren in the monastery, but it was soon diffused over all the country. Having received the monastic
rule and habit from Abbot Mundus, desiring to indulge more in heavenly contemplation, our saint built a cell near the monastery. '"'^ On a certain oc-
casion, when supper was ready in the refectory, a little messenger was des- patched to announce this news to Foilan. Peeping through a chink in the cell, the servant was surprised to see the blessed monk writing in the dark, while his left hand afforded a clear light to his right hand. This he told to
the monastic brethren. Foelan had a supernatural knowledge regarding this secret information ; and, by Divine permission, an accident happened to
the servant. Although displeased respecting the servant's want of secrecy, yet Foilan was afterwards moved with compassion, and he restored the use of that sight which the messenger had lost. ^s
A great deal of doubt prevails with regard to the St. Mundus, who was the master of our saint. In one passage, Colgan seems to regard them both as the sons of Feredach. ^* But again, he inclines to an opinion, that the baptizer must have been St. Fintan Munnu, and the son of Tulchan. '? Camerarius more widely errs against chronology, when he makes this St. Mundus,'^ an abbot in the territory of Argyle, in Scotland, and who died a. d. 962. ="9 In this latter case, it is easy to understand, that St. Foilan could not have been his disciple, much less, that he could have succeeded Mundus3° as the ruler of a monastery. A Scottish authors' says Fillan was brought up in virtue and literature, in the Monastery of Pittenweem,3^ and that a short time before his death he retired to the solitary desert of Tyrus.
venerated on the 21st of October, at Kil- mund, and Dissert, and Teach Munnu, now Taghmon, county of Wexford. See "Ka-
lendars of Scottish Saints," pp. 344, 415, 416.
* According to the Rev. Alban Butler, this was not far from St. Andrew's in Scot-
to have presided over a holy community of 234 disciples. The Martyrology of Tallagh, at the 2 1st October, enumerates two or three
Foilans amongst them, when expressing theirindividualnames. However,thetime in which this St. Mundus flourished hardly admits of supposition, that our saint could have been his disciple. St. Kentigema, mother to this saint, and who died in the year 728, must have lived to a very gieat age, if her son Foilan were a disciple to this St. Mundus, who died in the year 634.
'^Camerarius places the death of St. Foilan or Fillan at a. d. 649. See "De Statu hominis Veteris simul ac Novae Eccle- siae," &c. , lib. i. , cap. iii. , § 2, p. 122, and pp. 181, 182.
land. See
"
Lives of the Fathers, Martyrs,
and other Principal Saints," vol. i. , ix.
January.
'S
Breviary of Aberdeen. "
'* There was a Mundus, son to Feradach,
of the Dalfiatach family in Ulster, according
to the " " xix. Menologic Genealogy, chap.
"
Colgan says he considers there is no reason
to object to this person being master of St.
Foilan. On the contrary, he thinks it highly
probable ; and for a reason, that both the
latter Mundus and our saint, were sons to
this same Feradach. Consequently they lib. xii. num. 854.
were brothers. Feradach was also father of 3° Camerarius says he erected many mona- those holy virgins, whose Natalis is cele- steries in Albania or Scotland. His feast
brated on the 23rd of March, according to the Martyrologists. See Colgan's "Acta Sanctorum Hibemiae," ix. Januarii, n. 8, p.
Then is celebrated the feast of the Daughters of Feradach.
"7 A St. Mundus son to Tulchan, and a man of renowned sanctity, flourished in Ire- land, about A. D. 626. He died in the year 634, according to our Annals. He is said
is assigned to the 15th of April. See " De Statu hominis Veteris simul ac Novae Eccle-
50.
3> See McKenzie's Lives of the Scottish Writers," vol. i. , p. 272.
''Dempster has the same statement in " Historia Ecclesiastica Gentis Scotorum,"
sia:," &c. , lib. i. , cap. iii. , § 2, pp. 181, 182. "
3* There is a description and a copper- plate engraving of the mediaeval Pittenweem
Priory in Grose's "Antiquitiesof Scotland," vol. ii. , pp. 282, 283.
January 9. ] LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. 137
CHAPTER II.
ST. FOELAN SUCCEEDS ST. MUNDUS AS ABBOT—SAID TO HAVE VISITED HIS UNCLE ST. CONGAN—RETIREMENT AT GLENDORCHY—HIS CONNEXION WITH SCOTLAND.
When the blessed father Mundus died, by unanimous consent of the '
brethren, the holy monk Faolan, although reluctant, was elected abbot over the monastery. This he governed wisely, for his virtues and good
example instructed his brethren in all holiness, chastity, and humility. Those who believed in Christ, he regarded as true and special friends. He exercised hospitality, through love for God and in the noblest spirit of charity.
After his baptism, and probably during the early stages of youth, St. Kentigerna was careful to rear her offspring in the most tender sentiments
residence, at Loughelch, in Northern Erchadia or Argyle. Here it is thought all lived together for a time. 3 Again, we are informed, that in obedience to
an angelic message,'* St. Foelan went to his uncle, St. Congan, living at a place called Sirach or Siracht, in the upper parts of Glendeochquhy, or Glendorche. Whether this place was in Ireland or in Scotland has been disputed. But, it must be allowed, there are accounts in the acts of this
saint which have been confused, very probably owing to the ignorance of those early waiters who have treated about him and his relatives.
While Camerarius calls the place of our saint's retirement Sira, not far from Glendorchy, this latter district he localizes in Fife, and he associates St. Fillan with Pittenweem. Again the place is called Sirach. s On the other hand, Colgan has Cerete, the desert of Sirach, at Glendorche, formerly a forest, on the confines of the counties of Tyrone and Fermanagh, in the Ulster province. ^ Wherever this spot may have been situated, we are told the site for a basilica had been Divinely pointed out to him, with his seven
serving clerics. 7 There he was given altogether to prayer, contemplation, and exercises of penance. It would not be easy to account for the great veneration in which St. Faolan was held throughout Scotland, unless he lived for a considerable time in that country. As we know his mother Kentigerna chose it for a place of residence, and, as it is stated, other relations were there domiciled, every motive urges us to believe the present saint selected Cale- donia as a theatre for his missionary labours.
While at Glendorchy, St. Foelan, with his little dog, drove away a ferocious
of ^ It is said she had a piety.
named
^vith his sister and her sons, emigrated to Scotland. There he took up his
Chap. II. —' See Colgan's "Acta Sane-
torum Hibemise," ix. Januarii, Vita S.
Foilani, cap. i. , ii. , iii. , p. 49.
*
See notices regarding him at the 13th of October.
3 See Bishop Forbes' "Kalendars of Scot-
bourhood of Pittenweem, with his store of
cheap hterature, influenced the boy with a strong desire to learn the bookselhng busi- ness. See "Archibald Constable and his
Literary Correspondents," a Memorial by his son Thomas Constable, vol. i.
' He tells that there was a wood us, large
tish
* "
Saints," p. 310.
of Aberdeen. " sSee Bishop Challoner's
known
by
this name, on the confines of these
From the etymology of this word,
Breviary
"Britannia Sancta," part i. , p. 20. At Cambee, in the neighbourhood of Pittenweem, the celebrated
Scottish publisher, Archibald Constable, was bom, a. d. 1774. The arrival of an itinerant Edinburgh stationer in the neigh*
counties.
brother,
Comgan
or
Congan,^ who,
he interprets it as the "dark" or "shady
""" valley. See Acta Sanctorum Hibemise,
ix. Januarii, n. 9, p. 50.
^ " Breviary of Aberdeen;"
138 LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. [January 9.
boar that had devastated this district. He also converted many of the people there from the errors of Gentilism. While building the basilica at Glendorchy, wains and oxen were used to draw materials. A miraculous occurrence is related, which enabled the saint to prosecute his good work without inter- ruption. ^ It must be observed, however, that a certain St. Faolan, surnamed " the Stammerer," is stated to have belonged to Rath-Erran, in Alba, and also to Cill-Fhaelain,9 in Laoighs, of Leinster. ^° Now, it seems just possible, he was really the saint so greatly venerated in Scotland, and to whom so many churches and places have been dedicated. He is also said to have been a leper. " Yet, the authority of Bishop Forbes determines the proba- bility of greater celebrity to St. Faolan or Fillan, whose feast is celebrated on this day. "
For the most part, Scottish historians^3 endeavour to claim this saint as a native of Scotland. This pretension, however, cannot fairly be allowed. ^* This Colgan attempts to show, but in the effort he seems to admit very inappropriate chronologies. But, it would seem he rather quoted popularly national names to prove the force of historic tradition, in favour of his arguments. First, St. Foelan's mother was Kentigerna, daughter to a king of
Leinster, as already appears from the life of this holy widow, 's and from an ac- count,foundinScottishdocuments,citedbyCamerariushimself Secondly,he
was baptized by St. Ibar, who was an Irishman. This Colgan promised to show, in his notes to the acts of St. Ibar, bishop, at the 23rd of April. Thirdly, our saint was a disciple of St. Mundus, who he assumes not to have been a Scottish, but an Irish saint. This would appear, from Colgan's note to the present Acts, as also from a Life of St. Mundus and corresponding notes, which it was intended to publish at the 21st of October. Fourthly, because the natalis of our saint was observed in Ireland on the same day as in Scotland, viz. , on the 9th of January, at Cluain Moescna, in the region of Feratulach, according to St. -^ngus, to Marianus O'Gorman, the Commentator on . ^ngus, the Martyrology of Tallagh and Cashel, at the same day. While, therefore, St. Foilan is venerated in Scotland, because he reposed there, he is also reverenced in Ireland, because he was a native and an abbot belong- ing to our country. Fifthly, the natalis of our saint's sisters, who are called daughterstoFeradach,isobservedinIreland,onthe23rdofMarch. This must appear, from what has been previously observed, and from notes to St. Kentigerna's Life, published at the 7th of January. And lastly, Foelan is expressly numbered among our Irish saints, at the 9th of January, by the Martyrologies of Tallagh, and of Cashel, as also by the Commentator on ^ngus. ^^ Thus, while Ireland is honoured by his birth, education, and training, Scotland deserves a participation in the honour acquired, owing to his missionary career, his death there occurring, while his tomb and relics
8
"Breviary of Aberdeen. "
9 Now Kilwhelan, an old and venerated,
but long disused, graveyard, near the slope of the White Mountain, on the Cullinagh range, in the Queen's County.
*" His feast is observed on the 20th of June, where some notices of him will be found.
ing and leprosy might be monstrosities,
referable to St. Faolan, who is venerated on
the 20th of June.
'^
See "Kalendars of Scottish Saints," p. 344.
'-^ Such as Camerarius and Dempster.
'* Chatelain confounds the present St. Foelan with St. Finan of Lindisfarne, pro-
" The '*
St. Faelan, venerated at this day, that it had been prophesied of him, he should be born with a stone in his and his
Breviary
bably
of Aberdeen" relates of
because their festivals occur on the same day.
mouth,
considered by his father as a monster, may
'* See " Acta Sanctorum ix. Hibemiae,"
being explain why the natural defects of stammer-
Januarii, n. 2, p. 50.
'S At the 7th of January,
January 9. ] LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. 139
had been preserved, with so many great benefits conferred on his adopted
country.
St. Foelan seems to have laboured at missionary work in Scotland.
Bishop Forbes tells us, that the chief scene of his labours was in the parishes of Glendochart and Killen, in the uplands of Perthshire. There a river and strath are called after him. The saint's cave is yet shown at Pittenweem,'^ in Fifeshire. This seems to indicate his close connexion with the locaHty. '^ There is a place of worship dedicated to him at the chapel-yard, parish of Largs. '9 In Wigtown there is a Kilphillane. ^° In the parish of Largs, and in the lands of Skelmorlie or Cunningham, are the lands of St. Fillan's Well. *^ There was a chapel of St. Phillane, within the castle of Down, and another chapel of St. Phillane, without the same fortress, on the banks of the Teith. ^^
St. Philan is said to have had a
dedicated to — in monastery, him, Knapdale,
whereSt. —Cathalduswaseducated. ^3 ThereisaKillellan acorruptionof
Kill-Fillan near Lochalsh, formerly in Northern Argyle, now Ross-shire,^*
where our saint is said to have built a church in honour of his uncle, St. Congan. ^s Srowan has a fair called Feile Fhaolain. There is a parish, called Killallan or Killellan—a corruption of Kill-Fillan—in Renfrewshire, Scotland. *^ Near the kirk there is a large stone, with a hollow in the middle. This is called St. Fillan's Seat and a little distant from there is
; it,
a spring called Fillan's Well. ^7 At the close of the last century, a local minister had it filled up, to prevent devotions there practised. Here there is a fair in the month of January. The time for holding it is called indiffe- rently, Fillan's Day, or Fillan's Fair. ^^ The "Kalendarium Drummondiense" states that Felan departed to Christ, in Ireland, on the 9th of January. At
" KalendariumdeArbuthnott,"inthe KalendariumBreviariiAberdonensis,"
the same day, his feast occurs in the ""
Kalendarium de Culenros," in the
in Adam in King's Kalendar,
" as also Menologium Scoticum,"
Dempster's
in the Scottish entries in the " Kalendar of David Camerarius. "^? Dempster
tells us, that his natalis was particularly observed at Lough Levin, and he is called Abbot in Argyle. From some of the foregoing authorities we learn, also, that his office was contained in Nine Lessons. s*'
'7 In a note to the Rev. Alban Butler's
account of this samt, his place is called
Pettinuine, where his memory was greatly
revered, before the beginning of the seven-
teenth century. The county of Fife was
celebrated for its many fine religious estab-
lishments, which the fanatics of the previous
century demolished, crying, "Pull down,
pull down. The crow's nest must be utterly
exterminated, lest they should return, and
attempt again to renew their settlement. "
Such is the statement in " MS. Memoirs on
the Scottish Saints," formerly preserved in
the Scots' College, Paris, fol. 7. The author
^* "
St. Phillan's is the alternative name of i. , p. 316. This, the oldest work on the
was a missionary priest in Scotland, in 1609.
Statistical Account of Scotland," vol.
'*
the parish of Forgan in Fifeshire, although the church had a subsequent dedication to St. Andrew, as we see by a confirmation of Pope Adrian IV.
subject, was printed in Edinburgh, A. D. 1 791 to 1799.
"^ Here it is stated, that St. Felan, Abbot
sensuality and vice might be restrained.
*> Forbes' "Kalendar of Scottish Bishop
Samts," pp. i, 53, 95, in, 141, 190, 233.
in the " Prioratus S. Andree," p. 51.
19 "Origines Parochiales Scotise," vol. i. ,
p. 89. ^°
" Retours, Wigtown, 37.
of from the earliest Strathfillane,
"
Retours, Ayr, 258. Retours, Perth, 97.
, given
Registrum
years, practised such rigid bodily discipline, that in after-time he was an example of how
"
*3Dempster's HistoriaEcclesiasticaGen-
tis Scotoram," vol. i. , lib. iii. , p. 163. *"
See Origines Parochiales Scotise," vol. ii. , p. 395.
•*
^s See Bishop Forbes Kalendars of
Scottish Saints," pp. 310, 344 to 346.
''
Bishop Forbes adds,
Kilkoan and Killellan, the churches of Con-
gan and Fillan, bear testimony to the truth
of the legend.
