Being obliged to bend before the power of his enemies, on departing from Luxeu, he appointed a man of
approved
virtue, named Eustasius,^ to succeed in the government of^his monastery.
O'Hanlon - Lives of the Irish Saints - v1
ii.
, cap.
98.
described by Sir Thomas Duffus Hardy.
5 Lib. xxiv. , cap. i. , and the following Vita S. Deicoli, sive DeicolDe, Abbatis
'° See "
Januarii. Acta S. Deicoli. These are con- toria Literaria facile et perspicua Methdo
chapters.
' " In Observationibus ad Martyrologium
Benedictinum"ad18Januarii.
7 In his supplement.
Lutrensis in Burgundia, auctore anonymo MS. Lutreus. Vita S. Deicoli, MS. Bibl. deI'EcoledeMedecine,Montpellier. Vita S. Deicoli, Abbatis Lutrensis, auctore Monacho anonymo ad an. 620. MS. loel.
® Bollandus published this life from a MS.
belonging to Luxeu. It was furnished by listerc.
P^re Chiffet. " Colgan quotes as authorities, Vincentius,
peculiarities in the
Prologus auctoris. "
Scriptorum
Ecclesiasticorum His-
JANUARY i8. ] LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. 363
The Benedictines, in their collection of saints' acts have published the life of St. Deicolus. '3 A memoir of this holy abbot will also be found, in Adrien Baillet's"^ and Rev. Alban Butler's Lives of the Saints,'5as also in those lately issued by the Anglican clergyman. Rev, S. Baring-Gould. '^ Another form of the holy abbot's name was Deel, Deld, Dielf, Dieu or Diel, Deile or Diey ;'7 and under such varied denomination in spelling, we have the early Irish Dichul or Dichuill transformed into some corresponding change, pro- bably peculiar to the genius of the ancient GauUsh or Celtic dialect.
St. Dichul, or as Latinized Deicolus, the elder brother of St. Gallus, was born in Ireland towards the middle of the sixth century. He is said to have been the brother of St. Columban,'^ on the mother's side. However this be, an early attachment seems to have been formed between both, grounded on feelings not alone of relationship, but originating more from the pure love of Godandofreligion,whichdistinguishedtheseholypersons. Theanonymous author of our saint's acts, before entering on the immediate subject of his treatise, gives a preliminary chapter regarding the patron saints of various French cities. '^ However historically interesting this may be, it is not im- mediately relevant to the chief subj ect of his memoir.
Having cursorily alluded to the several places in France and to their
respective patron saints, the anonymous author of Dichul's acts observes, that the time and order of his narrative naturally led him to the territory
near Besangon. Here a spot most signally and spiritually favoured was known on the margin of the Vosges forests. This place was named Luxeu.
During the reign of Sigebert,'^° King of the French, pious fervour had been greatly diminished, not only among secular clergy, but even among inhabi- tants of the cloisters, throughout nearly the whole of France and Germany. Thus, according to the prophet Baruch, although "the stars have given light in
their watches,"^' by an increasing negligence, darkness had prevailed.
They began to grow dim, and the charity of many waxed cold with a pre- valence of iniquity and irreligious customs, so that fervent spiritual persons were rarely found. The Redeemer of this world, our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ, seeing His Church left a prey to the sloth and carelessness of
lib. xxiv. , cap. ii. Petrus, lib. ii. , cap. 98, sometimes called Columbanus, godson and and Belfortius, in his supplement, as also disciple to St. Deicolus. The St. Gallus
other Menologic writers. See " Acta Sanctorum Hibemioe," xviii. Januarii. Vita S. Deicoli. Prologus Auctoris, pp. 115, 116, and nn. I, 2, 3, p. 125, ibid.
»3 See "Acta Sanctorum Ordinis S. Benedicti," tomus ii. , pp. 102 to 116. This life has previous observations in thirty- six
or Deel.
'5 See "Lives of the Fathers, Martyrs
and other Principal Saints," vol. i. , xviii.
mentioned was the great Apostle of Switzer- land whose feast occurs on the i6th of Oc- tober, at which day his acts will be found in a subsequent volume of this work.
" Acta Sanctorum Hiber-
paragraphs.
'• See "Les Vies des
i. , pp. 116, 117, and nn. 4 to 26, p. 126, ibid.
'° He was the son of Clothaire
pp. 222 to 224. St. Diel or Deile, St. Diey of Austrasia, and he was murdered by
January.
'* "
assassins in the fourteenth year of his reign, a. d. 578.
*'
Cap. iii. , v. 34. The ancient writer of our saint's acts quotes this passage, as taken from the prophet Jeremias, in accordance withacustomoftheancientfathers,who considered the book of Baruch as a part of the prophecy of Jeremias. They usually quoted it under the name of this latter,
Baruch was secretary and disciple to Jere-
mias. He was learned in the and a law,
man of noble extraction. See R. P. Jacobi
See Lives of the Saints," vol. i. ,
Januaryxviii. , pp. 208to283.
'7 This saint is commemorated in the
Roman Martyrology, and by Father Stephen White, in "Apologia pro Hibernia," cap. ii. , p. 14 and cap. iv. , p. 38.
'* his familiars are reckoned " Among
ge- minos uterinos fratres Galium et Deicolam. "
"
turam," tomus i. , p. 383.
Saints,"
tome
i. ,
I. , King
Vita S. Deicoli, cap. ii. The Columbanus Tirini, here noticed wasdifferentfromtheColumbin,
Commentarius in Sacram Scrip-
'' See
niae," xviii. Januarii. Vita S. Deicoli, cap.
Colgan's
304 LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. [January i8.
some faithless pastors, had ordained, that a luminary should emerge from the distant shores of Ireland^^—lying westwards from his country—to spread bright rays over the plains of France. This great luminary was no other than St. Columbanus,='3 the illustrious compatriot of all those who were natives of Scotia. ^* The learning and virtues of this distinguished saint are next alluded to, as also the influence which he exercised in bringing many other disciples with him to distant parts. The amount of sacred and profane knowledge attributed to St. Columbanus tends to give us a most favourable idea regarding the state of our Irish schools at that early period. ^5 Little is known respecting the early training and particular place of St. Dichul's
nativity.
One incident is related, serving to illustrate the piety of his tender years.
The serene calm of a happy conscience, which Dichul experienced in his
youth, and the happy dispositions of his soul, are best expressed in the anecdote recorded of him by his biographers. St. Columban one day asked
"
ofDichul "Becauseno was,
Being inflamed with missionary zeal, St. Dichul left his native country as one of the twelve companions of Columban. It is even said he lived with this master in the kingdom of the East Angles, for a short period. ^7 When Columbanus abandoned England for France, where he founded the Monas- tery of Luxeu, in the desert of the Vosges Mountains, St. Dichul was the faithful companion of his wanderings and of his retirement.
CHAPTER II.
ST, COLUMBANUS ESTABLISHES HIS MONASTERY AT LUXEU—HE AND HIS COMMUNITY DRIVEN FROM THAT PLACE—ST. DICHUL'S INFIRMITIES PREVENT HIM FROM AC- COMPANYING HIS SUPERIOR—THEY PART AT VEPRAS, WITH AFFECTIONATE AND RELIGIOUS SADNESS—ST. DICHUL'S TRAVELS AND SUFFERINGS—A FOUNTAIN OF WATER MIRACULOUSLY PRODUCED.
When the great St. Columbanus, through royal bounty, obtained permission to reside in the kingdom of Burgundy, at first he choose to live a sort of
eremitical life with a few companions in the wilderness. But after a while,
Why
hewas ? " The always smiling reply
him,
person can deprive me of my God. "^^
^ Colgan alludes to a passage taken from
torum Hibemiae," xviii. Januarii. Vita S. Deicoli, n. 28, p. 126.
'3 See his Life at the 2 1st of November.
'^ Words used by the writer of these acts are, "egregium Scotigenarum omnium pa-
false geographical position to one Island, " Hibemia Insula inter Brittaniam et His-
paniam" (lib. i. , cap. ii. ), yet states, "a Scottorum gentibus colitur. " In the very opening of his history the Venerable Bede speaks of Hibemia, as an island, coming next in size to Britannia, and having a pure air and a temperate climate. It abounded in milk and honey ; the vine was then culti- vated in it ; fish, fowl, and beasts of the
this "de occiduis Hibemiae writer,
parti- bus," to show, that St. Columbanus and his companions were natives of Ireland. He adds, that the authors of every age and nation accord in a like statement. This fact he intended to establish in the notes and appendix to his life of St. Columbanus at the 2 1 St November. See "Acta Sane-
triotam.
"
In nearly all the ancient writers,
lib. i. , cap. i. , pp. 23, 24.
's Xhe author of our saint's acts, when
treating of Columbanus, remarks on his great mental and intellectual gifts, as also on those influences he exercised over the minds of others.
=* See Baillet's " Vies des Saints. "
'' Petrus de Natalibus, in his life oi
the Hibemi are cadled Scoti. Thus does
the poet Claudianus, in "Panegyris De
Quarto Consulatu Honorii," write :
•'
Scotorum cumulus flevit glacialis leme. "
—Line
Again Paulus Orosius, while a-. signing a
33.
*' Haec autem proprie patria Scotorum est. " See " Historia Ecclesiastica Gentis Anglorum,"
chase it produced. He then adds
:
January i8. ] LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. 305
by Divine admonition, he resolved to embrace the monastic state, according to primitive ecclesiastical institutes, rather than seek the gratification of his own private wishes. ' Being more desirous to increase the flock of Christ, than seeking solely to secure his own salvation, like a trusty soldier of the cross, he began to build a monastery at a place afterwards called Luxeu. '
Having here wholly resigned himself to God's will, and having exactly ful- filled all the requirements of heaven, the venerable abbot began to infuse the
same spirit into the souls of his disciples. By his words and works, he sought to gather a harvest of souls for the everlasting kingdom ; as he had cherished those Divine graces, that had been planted in their hearts. In a short time, such was the great success which attended his labours, that an angelic band of over three hundred monks had been collected. These were prepared to wage war against the powers of darkness, clad with the breastplate of Faith, thehelmetofHope,andtheshieldofholyCharity. Butothers,whodesired to maintain an old order of things, could not bear to behold their saintly manner of life and conversation. As Achab and Jezabel had formerly per- secuted the prophet Elias ;3 so, inflamed with envy did the instruments of Satan in this present instance excite the jealousy and ill-feeling of King Theodoric*andofQueenBrunechilde,sagainsttheservantofGod. Anorder was promulgated for Coluniban's banishment from the kingdom of Burgundy, as related in the book of his life, by Jonas.
Being obliged to bend before the power of his enemies, on departing from Luxeu, he appointed a man of approved virtue, named Eustasius,^ to succeed in the government of^his monastery.
Deicolus passed twenty years of life in Luxeu, and in the exercise of most austere penance and devotion, under the rule of his beloved master, until the latter had been driven from his monastery with all his disciples in the year 610. Dichul was still desirous to share the misfortunes of the religious, who were thus rudely and unjustly expelled ; but as he had attained at that time a very advanced age, he found himself utterly unable to make the painful journey on foot, to which the rest of his brethren were obliged to submit. With weary step and tottering limbs, he was able to advance only a few miles
Deicolus, says, that our saint had departed from Britain with St. Columbanus' com- panions, and that he was obliged to remain behind owing to the weakness of his feet. But for "Britannia," the word "Gallia" should be written, since it is evident, that after Columbanus had lived many years in
Gaul, he set out—from that country for Italy.
bert was vanquished by his brother Theo- doric or Thierriin theyear 612. Theodoric did not long survive his victory,
5 Brunecliiilde or Brunchaut was a proud, ambitious woman. She was grandmother to Theodoric and Theodobert. She go- verned the kingdom of Burgundy and Austrasia with absolute sway, during the
Chapter
'
II. The author of our saint's
"
of her un- grandchildren. Being
acts says of Columbanus, succinctus cu-
cuUa non cucuUo, omnimodis nisum dedit. "
By " cucuUa" he seems to mean that cap
which monks were accustomed to wear on
their heads ; and by " cucuUo" he appears
to indicate that garment which others wore
to preserve themselves from rain or cold.
"
M. Alfred Maury has given an admir- able description of the Jura and its monas-
minority
popular among the nobles of both kingdoms, shortly after the death of Theodoric, she fell into the hands of Clotaire, who became sole monarch of France in 613. He aban- doned her to the vengeance of the nobles, who generally hated her. They treated her in a most cruel manner. After exposing her to the insults of their soldiers in the camp, she was tied by a leg and an arm to the tail of an untamed horse, which setting off at full speed quickly dashed out her brains. Her mangled body was afterwards reduced to ashes. Her remains were in- terred in the abbey of St. Martin, at Autun.
teries in his
de la Gaule," p. 181.
"
Histoire des Grandes Forets
3 See iii. Kings, xviii. , xix.
* This Theodoric was King of Burgundy, and his brother Theodobert was Kmg of Austrasia, after the death of their father
Childebert, which occurred A. D. 596. Theo-
'
* March.
Vol. I.
See notices of this saint at the 29th of X
3o6 LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. [January i8.
from Luxeu, whren he became utterly exhausted. It grieved Columban ex- ceedingly to- i)e obliged to leave his dear relative and faithful disciple behind, but the necessities of the case were such as to offer him no other alternative. However, before leaving Dichul, Columbanus exacted a solemn engagement, that he would not return to Luxeu. In virtue of the obedience due to his superior, this promise was made and religiously observed. Leaving the old man to supply his wants as best he could in the wilds around him, Columban and his disciples pursued their journey with bitter feelings of regret, yet with an assurance, that in bowing to those dispensations of Providence, they were necessarily obliged to sacrifice their most tender and touching impulses of nature.
That place where Columbanus parted from our saint was denominated
Vepras,7 according to his biographer, and probably owing to the circumstance of its abounding in thorns and brambles. It was situated about two miles
from Luxeu. Here casting himself at the feet of his brother and superior, Dichul sought permission to remain in the place where he was. Under the circumstances, this request could not well be refused. With these affec- tionate expressions, St. Columban commended him to the protection of
*'
May the Almighty, for whose love you have left your native country and in all matters have been ever obedient to me, vouchsafe, that hereafter we may both rejoice in His glorified presence. " The mutual love entertained for each other caused a lengthened leave-taking and copious floods of tears. ^ The holy superior gave his benediction to the faithful dis- ciple, in these words, *' May the Lord from Sion bless thee, that thou mayest behold the riches of Jerusalem, all the days of thy life. " On saying this, Columbanus immediately resumed his journey. His disciple was destined by God to remain in the kingdom of Burgundy for the salvation of many souls. 9 St. Deicolus thus found himself left alone, and solely in God's presence. He resolved immediately to obey the Divine will, when it should be known to
Divine Providence,
the medium of devout and humble
'° while Afterwards,
him, through
rambling through unknown and woody thickets, anxiously seeking out a place suitable for human habitation, he came to a certain arid spot. Being then
tormented with thirst, he knelt down for a considerable time, while offering his prayers to the Creator. The staff on which he leaned sank gradually deeper into the earth, until at length a fountain began to flow. This watered the neighbouring lands with its clear stream. Afterwards it was called by thenameofoursaint,andtheinhabitantsofthatcountryaroundheldit in great reverence. It was to be seen at that precise time, when the author of our saint's acts wrote. " Dichul felt consoled, and gave thanks to God for this favour bestowed on him. He then drank copiously from the well. This was the first miracle, wrought by the Almighty through Deicolus. In succeeding ages, it specially caused the saint's memory to be held in bene-
diction.
? This place was situated in the ancient
Sancta," part i. , p. 53.
" In terse and harmonious language, an
Irish poet, John Fraser, has described the characteristics of the sacred fountains, in an
kingdom of Burgundy. *"
See Rev. S. Baring-Gould's Lives of the Saints," vol. i. , January xviii. , p. 280.
9 Before the state- commencing foregoing
admirable ballad — commencing,
—
wells
ttient,
remarks,
holy
the
wells —
the author of our saint's acts
"The
cool, the fresh, the pure
the
that he had diverged somewhat from the
A thousand ages rolled away, and still was with a view to show what God liad been those founts endure," &c.
Hayes'
particulars of Deicola's biography, but this
— The Wells. See Edward to effect, and afterwards that he ""
pleased Holy
might adhere more closely to his theme. "Ballads of Ireland," vol. i. , p. 7.
" See Bishop Clia,lloner's "Britannia
prayers,
living
January i8. ] LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. 307
The Lord is truly wonderful in his saints, and faithful to all his promises.
Our Saviour Himself in the says
" Therefore I
unto
all whatsoever you ask when ye pray, beheve that you shall receive, and they shallcomeuntoyou. "" WhereforehathHefulfilledsuchpromise,thusper- petuating faith in His servant, and with much honour giving him renown among the people. And that Divine Lord, who formerly produced water from the rock for use of the Israelites, '3 likewise caused rivulets of water to abound in dry and fertile spots, on account of those prayers offered up by
his holy worshipper.
ST. DICHUL GUIDED TO LURE BY A SWINEHERD—THE CHIEFTAIN WEIFHAR—THE SAINT CALUMNIATED AND INJURED—PUNISHMENT INFLICTED ON WEIFHAR— HIS DEATH—AT THE REQUEST OF HIS WIDOW, BERTHILDE, ST. DICHUL INTER- POSES ON HIS BEHALF—SHE AFTERWARDS ENDOWS HIS MONASTERY—HUNTING ADVENTURE OF KING CLOTAIRE II—HE BEFRIENDS THE HOLY ABBOT.
While the forlorn man wandered without any well-defined track through
the woods, and sought a place where he might conveniently reside, suddenly he observed a herd of swine with their keeper. The swineherd was sur- prised to behold a man of tall stature,^ and habited in a monkish dress, which he had never before seen. He began to ask our saint who he was, whence he came, and what object he had in travelling thus without a guide or companion through such a vast desert. The man of God calmly replied : " Do not fear, my friend, I am a stranger, and I bear the habit of a nvonk. I desire to be conducted immediately to any place in this neighbourhood, where it might be possible to live, if you have the charity to assist me in such a selection. " The swineherd returned for answer, that he did not knowofanyhabitableplacenearerthanLuthra. ^ Thislocalitywasnota great way off, and being marshy, it abounded sufficiently in streams. The
saint asked, if he could act as a guide to show him that place. The herd
replied, he would willingly do so only for his animals, which could not be
"
left Avithout a caretaker during his absence. Deicolus said, My son, do
not refuse me a small portion of your time. If you are disposed to go with me, you shall certainly find you will not lose even the least one of your animals. " The swineherd consented to a proposal made by the stranger religious, with a dashing gaiety, as has been said,3 peculiar to the Irish even at the present day. The saint struck his staff firmly into the ground. Then his guide preceding directed Dichul's course to the place already indicated.
*' Mark xi. , 24.
" See Exodus, xvii. , 6.
having died 'A. d. 635, according to St. Theodore, in his life of St. Magnus. See
—'These
acts convey an idea, that St. Deicolus was
"Acta Sanctorum Hibemiae,"
Chap. hi.
expressions
in his
Colgan's
xviii. Januarii. Vita S. Deicoli, n. 36, p. 126.
over the ordinary height. That he was
older than his brother Gallus
appears pro-
' This is now called Lure, the place by
French. It is situated near Luxeu, in the
province of Burgundy. A noble monastery was afterwards built there,
3 See Le Comte de Montalembert's " Les
Moines d'Occident," tome ii. , liv. ix. , chap, v. , p. 558.
bable, from the circumstance of this latter
being able to prosecute his journey, when
the more feeble Deicolus had been obliged to remain. At the time of his expulsion from Luxeu in 6io, Gallus was sufficiently robust. This is pretty evident, because he survived that event over twenty years,
Gospel,
say
you,
things
CHAPTER III.
3o8 LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. [January i8.
After an hour's absence, the swineherd, wishing to see his charge, returned to the place he left. According to the saint's promise, his animals were found collected around the staff, and lying down, having satiated themselves with food. Not even one among the whole number was found to be missing. *
During his wanderings through those deserts, among the Vosges chain of mountains, Dichul thus came to the present site of Lure. This region
then belonged to a nobleman, named Weifhar, one of King Thierry's vassals. At the time this country was covered with dense forests, which served as coverts for wild beasts. But, as a small chapel, dedicated to St. Martin,s and served by a priest, had been here . erected, Dichul thought of construct- ing a rude hut beside some clear fountains of water in that neighbourhood. '^ For some cause unknown, the forlorn stranger was persecuted with calumniesandannoyances. TheaffectionsofWeifharwereestrangedfrom him. St. Martin's chapel was situated on a mountainous declivity, and here the illustrious soldier of Christ—at stated times had been accustomed to officiate. Some of his — for it would seem he had collected com-
himself to God's service, and had crucified himself to the world. He was careful in all his religious exercises to observe Gospel precepts, not per- forming his good actions before men, so as to be observed by them.
Wherefore he sought an opportunity of offering up his prayers to God in silence, and at an hour when he should least be noticed. Although the
church doors were found closed at that particular time, when he went alone
to offer up the Holy Sacrifice of Mass, yet, by a miracle, it happened that they opened wide to give him admission. This even occurred without any human intervention.
Such a circumstance, becoming known to the priest, caused him to complain in a public manner, that he could not live in this place on account of the stranger monk, who had there established himself A numerous congregation, who had been accustomed to resort to that church, asked their
disciples
panions in his retirement accompanied him. Our saint had wholly devoted
what should be done in this case. He " I know not what replied,
priest
incantations are used by this strange monk, who lurks in these woods, for
he is often in the habit of solitarily resorting to this church at midnight to offer up his prayers, and while the doors are firmly bolted. " He then threatened to eject Dichul from the church, and even to use force if neces- sary. His congregation advised this priest to have patience for a while, until it should be ascertained whether the monk was a true servant of the Almighty or merely an impostor. If they discovered him to be the latter, they promised he should be banished immediately from the neighbourhood. ' Meantime, our saint, who disregarded human threats, continued his earnest
*In concluding the foregoing account, the author of our saint's acts exclaims : " Oh ! the true merit of a holy man, whom even irrational animals obey, when he reasonably seeks God! For God raises up His own among the faithful ; and as He is supreme over all things, the Lord wished man to be constituted superior to the lesser
Vita
5 The feast of St. Martin is kept on the nth of November. See his life given at
Saints," vol. xi. , November xi.
*
Eleven centuries after these events, the abbot of Lure was classed among the princes of the Holy Roman Empire. —" La France Ecclesiastique," A. D. 1788. Art. " Cha- pitres Nobles de Lure et de Murbach reunis," p. 78.
' The writer of our saint's acts thus ex-
claims: "Behold bow the elements
and do not resist those who cling to the omnipotent God ! He, who after the Re- surrection entered among His disciples, the doors being shut, caused the closed doors to be opened lor his servant Deicolus. "
of creation. " See " Acta Colgan's
objects
Sanctorum Hibernije," xviii. Januarii. S. Deicoli, cap. iii. , pp. 118, 119.
obey,
"
of the Fathers, Martyrs, and other Principal
that day in the Rev. Alban B. itler's
Lives
January i8. ] LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS.
309
prayers to God both Ijy day and night. As usual he entered the church.
His enemies, having opened its doors and windows, placed a great heap of thorns, briars, and thistles before the entrances, to discover whether God's holy servant should be molested by them, or otherwise, on the next renewal of his attempt. But the holy man triumphed over their malevolent intentions. He entered the church without any difficulty, for neither the wisdom nor counsels of the wicked can prevail against God. The enemies of our saint, however, sent a deputation, who complained of his conduct to the lord of the soil,Weifhar. ^ Ithadbeenstated,thathischapelwassoughttobeconverted into an oratory by the monk. This noble then dwelt at a place, called in Latin, " Villa Callonis. " He expressed indignation against the unfriended stranger. Afterwards, St. Dichul was treated with the most barbarous in- humanity. But, a most painful disease attacked the cruel chieftain, as a
just punishment for persecuting this holy man. The seigneur's wife, Berthilde, reproached her husband for his conduct. She advised him to
sendimmediatelyforoursaint,toseeif, owingtotheprayersandforgiveness of this injured man, such great pain might be removed, and death be averted.
5 Lib. xxiv. , cap. i. , and the following Vita S. Deicoli, sive DeicolDe, Abbatis
'° See "
Januarii. Acta S. Deicoli. These are con- toria Literaria facile et perspicua Methdo
chapters.
' " In Observationibus ad Martyrologium
Benedictinum"ad18Januarii.
7 In his supplement.
Lutrensis in Burgundia, auctore anonymo MS. Lutreus. Vita S. Deicoli, MS. Bibl. deI'EcoledeMedecine,Montpellier. Vita S. Deicoli, Abbatis Lutrensis, auctore Monacho anonymo ad an. 620. MS. loel.
® Bollandus published this life from a MS.
belonging to Luxeu. It was furnished by listerc.
P^re Chiffet. " Colgan quotes as authorities, Vincentius,
peculiarities in the
Prologus auctoris. "
Scriptorum
Ecclesiasticorum His-
JANUARY i8. ] LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. 363
The Benedictines, in their collection of saints' acts have published the life of St. Deicolus. '3 A memoir of this holy abbot will also be found, in Adrien Baillet's"^ and Rev. Alban Butler's Lives of the Saints,'5as also in those lately issued by the Anglican clergyman. Rev, S. Baring-Gould. '^ Another form of the holy abbot's name was Deel, Deld, Dielf, Dieu or Diel, Deile or Diey ;'7 and under such varied denomination in spelling, we have the early Irish Dichul or Dichuill transformed into some corresponding change, pro- bably peculiar to the genius of the ancient GauUsh or Celtic dialect.
St. Dichul, or as Latinized Deicolus, the elder brother of St. Gallus, was born in Ireland towards the middle of the sixth century. He is said to have been the brother of St. Columban,'^ on the mother's side. However this be, an early attachment seems to have been formed between both, grounded on feelings not alone of relationship, but originating more from the pure love of Godandofreligion,whichdistinguishedtheseholypersons. Theanonymous author of our saint's acts, before entering on the immediate subject of his treatise, gives a preliminary chapter regarding the patron saints of various French cities. '^ However historically interesting this may be, it is not im- mediately relevant to the chief subj ect of his memoir.
Having cursorily alluded to the several places in France and to their
respective patron saints, the anonymous author of Dichul's acts observes, that the time and order of his narrative naturally led him to the territory
near Besangon. Here a spot most signally and spiritually favoured was known on the margin of the Vosges forests. This place was named Luxeu.
During the reign of Sigebert,'^° King of the French, pious fervour had been greatly diminished, not only among secular clergy, but even among inhabi- tants of the cloisters, throughout nearly the whole of France and Germany. Thus, according to the prophet Baruch, although "the stars have given light in
their watches,"^' by an increasing negligence, darkness had prevailed.
They began to grow dim, and the charity of many waxed cold with a pre- valence of iniquity and irreligious customs, so that fervent spiritual persons were rarely found. The Redeemer of this world, our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ, seeing His Church left a prey to the sloth and carelessness of
lib. xxiv. , cap. ii. Petrus, lib. ii. , cap. 98, sometimes called Columbanus, godson and and Belfortius, in his supplement, as also disciple to St. Deicolus. The St. Gallus
other Menologic writers. See " Acta Sanctorum Hibemioe," xviii. Januarii. Vita S. Deicoli. Prologus Auctoris, pp. 115, 116, and nn. I, 2, 3, p. 125, ibid.
»3 See "Acta Sanctorum Ordinis S. Benedicti," tomus ii. , pp. 102 to 116. This life has previous observations in thirty- six
or Deel.
'5 See "Lives of the Fathers, Martyrs
and other Principal Saints," vol. i. , xviii.
mentioned was the great Apostle of Switzer- land whose feast occurs on the i6th of Oc- tober, at which day his acts will be found in a subsequent volume of this work.
" Acta Sanctorum Hiber-
paragraphs.
'• See "Les Vies des
i. , pp. 116, 117, and nn. 4 to 26, p. 126, ibid.
'° He was the son of Clothaire
pp. 222 to 224. St. Diel or Deile, St. Diey of Austrasia, and he was murdered by
January.
'* "
assassins in the fourteenth year of his reign, a. d. 578.
*'
Cap. iii. , v. 34. The ancient writer of our saint's acts quotes this passage, as taken from the prophet Jeremias, in accordance withacustomoftheancientfathers,who considered the book of Baruch as a part of the prophecy of Jeremias. They usually quoted it under the name of this latter,
Baruch was secretary and disciple to Jere-
mias. He was learned in the and a law,
man of noble extraction. See R. P. Jacobi
See Lives of the Saints," vol. i. ,
Januaryxviii. , pp. 208to283.
'7 This saint is commemorated in the
Roman Martyrology, and by Father Stephen White, in "Apologia pro Hibernia," cap. ii. , p. 14 and cap. iv. , p. 38.
'* his familiars are reckoned " Among
ge- minos uterinos fratres Galium et Deicolam. "
"
turam," tomus i. , p. 383.
Saints,"
tome
i. ,
I. , King
Vita S. Deicoli, cap. ii. The Columbanus Tirini, here noticed wasdifferentfromtheColumbin,
Commentarius in Sacram Scrip-
'' See
niae," xviii. Januarii. Vita S. Deicoli, cap.
Colgan's
304 LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. [January i8.
some faithless pastors, had ordained, that a luminary should emerge from the distant shores of Ireland^^—lying westwards from his country—to spread bright rays over the plains of France. This great luminary was no other than St. Columbanus,='3 the illustrious compatriot of all those who were natives of Scotia. ^* The learning and virtues of this distinguished saint are next alluded to, as also the influence which he exercised in bringing many other disciples with him to distant parts. The amount of sacred and profane knowledge attributed to St. Columbanus tends to give us a most favourable idea regarding the state of our Irish schools at that early period. ^5 Little is known respecting the early training and particular place of St. Dichul's
nativity.
One incident is related, serving to illustrate the piety of his tender years.
The serene calm of a happy conscience, which Dichul experienced in his
youth, and the happy dispositions of his soul, are best expressed in the anecdote recorded of him by his biographers. St. Columban one day asked
"
ofDichul "Becauseno was,
Being inflamed with missionary zeal, St. Dichul left his native country as one of the twelve companions of Columban. It is even said he lived with this master in the kingdom of the East Angles, for a short period. ^7 When Columbanus abandoned England for France, where he founded the Monas- tery of Luxeu, in the desert of the Vosges Mountains, St. Dichul was the faithful companion of his wanderings and of his retirement.
CHAPTER II.
ST, COLUMBANUS ESTABLISHES HIS MONASTERY AT LUXEU—HE AND HIS COMMUNITY DRIVEN FROM THAT PLACE—ST. DICHUL'S INFIRMITIES PREVENT HIM FROM AC- COMPANYING HIS SUPERIOR—THEY PART AT VEPRAS, WITH AFFECTIONATE AND RELIGIOUS SADNESS—ST. DICHUL'S TRAVELS AND SUFFERINGS—A FOUNTAIN OF WATER MIRACULOUSLY PRODUCED.
When the great St. Columbanus, through royal bounty, obtained permission to reside in the kingdom of Burgundy, at first he choose to live a sort of
eremitical life with a few companions in the wilderness. But after a while,
Why
hewas ? " The always smiling reply
him,
person can deprive me of my God. "^^
^ Colgan alludes to a passage taken from
torum Hibemiae," xviii. Januarii. Vita S. Deicoli, n. 28, p. 126.
'3 See his Life at the 2 1st of November.
'^ Words used by the writer of these acts are, "egregium Scotigenarum omnium pa-
false geographical position to one Island, " Hibemia Insula inter Brittaniam et His-
paniam" (lib. i. , cap. ii. ), yet states, "a Scottorum gentibus colitur. " In the very opening of his history the Venerable Bede speaks of Hibemia, as an island, coming next in size to Britannia, and having a pure air and a temperate climate. It abounded in milk and honey ; the vine was then culti- vated in it ; fish, fowl, and beasts of the
this "de occiduis Hibemiae writer,
parti- bus," to show, that St. Columbanus and his companions were natives of Ireland. He adds, that the authors of every age and nation accord in a like statement. This fact he intended to establish in the notes and appendix to his life of St. Columbanus at the 2 1 St November. See "Acta Sane-
triotam.
"
In nearly all the ancient writers,
lib. i. , cap. i. , pp. 23, 24.
's Xhe author of our saint's acts, when
treating of Columbanus, remarks on his great mental and intellectual gifts, as also on those influences he exercised over the minds of others.
=* See Baillet's " Vies des Saints. "
'' Petrus de Natalibus, in his life oi
the Hibemi are cadled Scoti. Thus does
the poet Claudianus, in "Panegyris De
Quarto Consulatu Honorii," write :
•'
Scotorum cumulus flevit glacialis leme. "
—Line
Again Paulus Orosius, while a-. signing a
33.
*' Haec autem proprie patria Scotorum est. " See " Historia Ecclesiastica Gentis Anglorum,"
chase it produced. He then adds
:
January i8. ] LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. 305
by Divine admonition, he resolved to embrace the monastic state, according to primitive ecclesiastical institutes, rather than seek the gratification of his own private wishes. ' Being more desirous to increase the flock of Christ, than seeking solely to secure his own salvation, like a trusty soldier of the cross, he began to build a monastery at a place afterwards called Luxeu. '
Having here wholly resigned himself to God's will, and having exactly ful- filled all the requirements of heaven, the venerable abbot began to infuse the
same spirit into the souls of his disciples. By his words and works, he sought to gather a harvest of souls for the everlasting kingdom ; as he had cherished those Divine graces, that had been planted in their hearts. In a short time, such was the great success which attended his labours, that an angelic band of over three hundred monks had been collected. These were prepared to wage war against the powers of darkness, clad with the breastplate of Faith, thehelmetofHope,andtheshieldofholyCharity. Butothers,whodesired to maintain an old order of things, could not bear to behold their saintly manner of life and conversation. As Achab and Jezabel had formerly per- secuted the prophet Elias ;3 so, inflamed with envy did the instruments of Satan in this present instance excite the jealousy and ill-feeling of King Theodoric*andofQueenBrunechilde,sagainsttheservantofGod. Anorder was promulgated for Coluniban's banishment from the kingdom of Burgundy, as related in the book of his life, by Jonas.
Being obliged to bend before the power of his enemies, on departing from Luxeu, he appointed a man of approved virtue, named Eustasius,^ to succeed in the government of^his monastery.
Deicolus passed twenty years of life in Luxeu, and in the exercise of most austere penance and devotion, under the rule of his beloved master, until the latter had been driven from his monastery with all his disciples in the year 610. Dichul was still desirous to share the misfortunes of the religious, who were thus rudely and unjustly expelled ; but as he had attained at that time a very advanced age, he found himself utterly unable to make the painful journey on foot, to which the rest of his brethren were obliged to submit. With weary step and tottering limbs, he was able to advance only a few miles
Deicolus, says, that our saint had departed from Britain with St. Columbanus' com- panions, and that he was obliged to remain behind owing to the weakness of his feet. But for "Britannia," the word "Gallia" should be written, since it is evident, that after Columbanus had lived many years in
Gaul, he set out—from that country for Italy.
bert was vanquished by his brother Theo- doric or Thierriin theyear 612. Theodoric did not long survive his victory,
5 Brunecliiilde or Brunchaut was a proud, ambitious woman. She was grandmother to Theodoric and Theodobert. She go- verned the kingdom of Burgundy and Austrasia with absolute sway, during the
Chapter
'
II. The author of our saint's
"
of her un- grandchildren. Being
acts says of Columbanus, succinctus cu-
cuUa non cucuUo, omnimodis nisum dedit. "
By " cucuUa" he seems to mean that cap
which monks were accustomed to wear on
their heads ; and by " cucuUo" he appears
to indicate that garment which others wore
to preserve themselves from rain or cold.
"
M. Alfred Maury has given an admir- able description of the Jura and its monas-
minority
popular among the nobles of both kingdoms, shortly after the death of Theodoric, she fell into the hands of Clotaire, who became sole monarch of France in 613. He aban- doned her to the vengeance of the nobles, who generally hated her. They treated her in a most cruel manner. After exposing her to the insults of their soldiers in the camp, she was tied by a leg and an arm to the tail of an untamed horse, which setting off at full speed quickly dashed out her brains. Her mangled body was afterwards reduced to ashes. Her remains were in- terred in the abbey of St. Martin, at Autun.
teries in his
de la Gaule," p. 181.
"
Histoire des Grandes Forets
3 See iii. Kings, xviii. , xix.
* This Theodoric was King of Burgundy, and his brother Theodobert was Kmg of Austrasia, after the death of their father
Childebert, which occurred A. D. 596. Theo-
'
* March.
Vol. I.
See notices of this saint at the 29th of X
3o6 LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. [January i8.
from Luxeu, whren he became utterly exhausted. It grieved Columban ex- ceedingly to- i)e obliged to leave his dear relative and faithful disciple behind, but the necessities of the case were such as to offer him no other alternative. However, before leaving Dichul, Columbanus exacted a solemn engagement, that he would not return to Luxeu. In virtue of the obedience due to his superior, this promise was made and religiously observed. Leaving the old man to supply his wants as best he could in the wilds around him, Columban and his disciples pursued their journey with bitter feelings of regret, yet with an assurance, that in bowing to those dispensations of Providence, they were necessarily obliged to sacrifice their most tender and touching impulses of nature.
That place where Columbanus parted from our saint was denominated
Vepras,7 according to his biographer, and probably owing to the circumstance of its abounding in thorns and brambles. It was situated about two miles
from Luxeu. Here casting himself at the feet of his brother and superior, Dichul sought permission to remain in the place where he was. Under the circumstances, this request could not well be refused. With these affec- tionate expressions, St. Columban commended him to the protection of
*'
May the Almighty, for whose love you have left your native country and in all matters have been ever obedient to me, vouchsafe, that hereafter we may both rejoice in His glorified presence. " The mutual love entertained for each other caused a lengthened leave-taking and copious floods of tears. ^ The holy superior gave his benediction to the faithful dis- ciple, in these words, *' May the Lord from Sion bless thee, that thou mayest behold the riches of Jerusalem, all the days of thy life. " On saying this, Columbanus immediately resumed his journey. His disciple was destined by God to remain in the kingdom of Burgundy for the salvation of many souls. 9 St. Deicolus thus found himself left alone, and solely in God's presence. He resolved immediately to obey the Divine will, when it should be known to
Divine Providence,
the medium of devout and humble
'° while Afterwards,
him, through
rambling through unknown and woody thickets, anxiously seeking out a place suitable for human habitation, he came to a certain arid spot. Being then
tormented with thirst, he knelt down for a considerable time, while offering his prayers to the Creator. The staff on which he leaned sank gradually deeper into the earth, until at length a fountain began to flow. This watered the neighbouring lands with its clear stream. Afterwards it was called by thenameofoursaint,andtheinhabitantsofthatcountryaroundheldit in great reverence. It was to be seen at that precise time, when the author of our saint's acts wrote. " Dichul felt consoled, and gave thanks to God for this favour bestowed on him. He then drank copiously from the well. This was the first miracle, wrought by the Almighty through Deicolus. In succeeding ages, it specially caused the saint's memory to be held in bene-
diction.
? This place was situated in the ancient
Sancta," part i. , p. 53.
" In terse and harmonious language, an
Irish poet, John Fraser, has described the characteristics of the sacred fountains, in an
kingdom of Burgundy. *"
See Rev. S. Baring-Gould's Lives of the Saints," vol. i. , January xviii. , p. 280.
9 Before the state- commencing foregoing
admirable ballad — commencing,
—
wells
ttient,
remarks,
holy
the
wells —
the author of our saint's acts
"The
cool, the fresh, the pure
the
that he had diverged somewhat from the
A thousand ages rolled away, and still was with a view to show what God liad been those founts endure," &c.
Hayes'
particulars of Deicola's biography, but this
— The Wells. See Edward to effect, and afterwards that he ""
pleased Holy
might adhere more closely to his theme. "Ballads of Ireland," vol. i. , p. 7.
" See Bishop Clia,lloner's "Britannia
prayers,
living
January i8. ] LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. 307
The Lord is truly wonderful in his saints, and faithful to all his promises.
Our Saviour Himself in the says
" Therefore I
unto
all whatsoever you ask when ye pray, beheve that you shall receive, and they shallcomeuntoyou. "" WhereforehathHefulfilledsuchpromise,thusper- petuating faith in His servant, and with much honour giving him renown among the people. And that Divine Lord, who formerly produced water from the rock for use of the Israelites, '3 likewise caused rivulets of water to abound in dry and fertile spots, on account of those prayers offered up by
his holy worshipper.
ST. DICHUL GUIDED TO LURE BY A SWINEHERD—THE CHIEFTAIN WEIFHAR—THE SAINT CALUMNIATED AND INJURED—PUNISHMENT INFLICTED ON WEIFHAR— HIS DEATH—AT THE REQUEST OF HIS WIDOW, BERTHILDE, ST. DICHUL INTER- POSES ON HIS BEHALF—SHE AFTERWARDS ENDOWS HIS MONASTERY—HUNTING ADVENTURE OF KING CLOTAIRE II—HE BEFRIENDS THE HOLY ABBOT.
While the forlorn man wandered without any well-defined track through
the woods, and sought a place where he might conveniently reside, suddenly he observed a herd of swine with their keeper. The swineherd was sur- prised to behold a man of tall stature,^ and habited in a monkish dress, which he had never before seen. He began to ask our saint who he was, whence he came, and what object he had in travelling thus without a guide or companion through such a vast desert. The man of God calmly replied : " Do not fear, my friend, I am a stranger, and I bear the habit of a nvonk. I desire to be conducted immediately to any place in this neighbourhood, where it might be possible to live, if you have the charity to assist me in such a selection. " The swineherd returned for answer, that he did not knowofanyhabitableplacenearerthanLuthra. ^ Thislocalitywasnota great way off, and being marshy, it abounded sufficiently in streams. The
saint asked, if he could act as a guide to show him that place. The herd
replied, he would willingly do so only for his animals, which could not be
"
left Avithout a caretaker during his absence. Deicolus said, My son, do
not refuse me a small portion of your time. If you are disposed to go with me, you shall certainly find you will not lose even the least one of your animals. " The swineherd consented to a proposal made by the stranger religious, with a dashing gaiety, as has been said,3 peculiar to the Irish even at the present day. The saint struck his staff firmly into the ground. Then his guide preceding directed Dichul's course to the place already indicated.
*' Mark xi. , 24.
" See Exodus, xvii. , 6.
having died 'A. d. 635, according to St. Theodore, in his life of St. Magnus. See
—'These
acts convey an idea, that St. Deicolus was
"Acta Sanctorum Hibemiae,"
Chap. hi.
expressions
in his
Colgan's
xviii. Januarii. Vita S. Deicoli, n. 36, p. 126.
over the ordinary height. That he was
older than his brother Gallus
appears pro-
' This is now called Lure, the place by
French. It is situated near Luxeu, in the
province of Burgundy. A noble monastery was afterwards built there,
3 See Le Comte de Montalembert's " Les
Moines d'Occident," tome ii. , liv. ix. , chap, v. , p. 558.
bable, from the circumstance of this latter
being able to prosecute his journey, when
the more feeble Deicolus had been obliged to remain. At the time of his expulsion from Luxeu in 6io, Gallus was sufficiently robust. This is pretty evident, because he survived that event over twenty years,
Gospel,
say
you,
things
CHAPTER III.
3o8 LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. [January i8.
After an hour's absence, the swineherd, wishing to see his charge, returned to the place he left. According to the saint's promise, his animals were found collected around the staff, and lying down, having satiated themselves with food. Not even one among the whole number was found to be missing. *
During his wanderings through those deserts, among the Vosges chain of mountains, Dichul thus came to the present site of Lure. This region
then belonged to a nobleman, named Weifhar, one of King Thierry's vassals. At the time this country was covered with dense forests, which served as coverts for wild beasts. But, as a small chapel, dedicated to St. Martin,s and served by a priest, had been here . erected, Dichul thought of construct- ing a rude hut beside some clear fountains of water in that neighbourhood. '^ For some cause unknown, the forlorn stranger was persecuted with calumniesandannoyances. TheaffectionsofWeifharwereestrangedfrom him. St. Martin's chapel was situated on a mountainous declivity, and here the illustrious soldier of Christ—at stated times had been accustomed to officiate. Some of his — for it would seem he had collected com-
himself to God's service, and had crucified himself to the world. He was careful in all his religious exercises to observe Gospel precepts, not per- forming his good actions before men, so as to be observed by them.
Wherefore he sought an opportunity of offering up his prayers to God in silence, and at an hour when he should least be noticed. Although the
church doors were found closed at that particular time, when he went alone
to offer up the Holy Sacrifice of Mass, yet, by a miracle, it happened that they opened wide to give him admission. This even occurred without any human intervention.
Such a circumstance, becoming known to the priest, caused him to complain in a public manner, that he could not live in this place on account of the stranger monk, who had there established himself A numerous congregation, who had been accustomed to resort to that church, asked their
disciples
panions in his retirement accompanied him. Our saint had wholly devoted
what should be done in this case. He " I know not what replied,
priest
incantations are used by this strange monk, who lurks in these woods, for
he is often in the habit of solitarily resorting to this church at midnight to offer up his prayers, and while the doors are firmly bolted. " He then threatened to eject Dichul from the church, and even to use force if neces- sary. His congregation advised this priest to have patience for a while, until it should be ascertained whether the monk was a true servant of the Almighty or merely an impostor. If they discovered him to be the latter, they promised he should be banished immediately from the neighbourhood. ' Meantime, our saint, who disregarded human threats, continued his earnest
*In concluding the foregoing account, the author of our saint's acts exclaims : " Oh ! the true merit of a holy man, whom even irrational animals obey, when he reasonably seeks God! For God raises up His own among the faithful ; and as He is supreme over all things, the Lord wished man to be constituted superior to the lesser
Vita
5 The feast of St. Martin is kept on the nth of November. See his life given at
Saints," vol. xi. , November xi.
*
Eleven centuries after these events, the abbot of Lure was classed among the princes of the Holy Roman Empire. —" La France Ecclesiastique," A. D. 1788. Art. " Cha- pitres Nobles de Lure et de Murbach reunis," p. 78.
' The writer of our saint's acts thus ex-
claims: "Behold bow the elements
and do not resist those who cling to the omnipotent God ! He, who after the Re- surrection entered among His disciples, the doors being shut, caused the closed doors to be opened lor his servant Deicolus. "
of creation. " See " Acta Colgan's
objects
Sanctorum Hibernije," xviii. Januarii. S. Deicoli, cap. iii. , pp. 118, 119.
obey,
"
of the Fathers, Martyrs, and other Principal
that day in the Rev. Alban B. itler's
Lives
January i8. ] LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS.
309
prayers to God both Ijy day and night. As usual he entered the church.
His enemies, having opened its doors and windows, placed a great heap of thorns, briars, and thistles before the entrances, to discover whether God's holy servant should be molested by them, or otherwise, on the next renewal of his attempt. But the holy man triumphed over their malevolent intentions. He entered the church without any difficulty, for neither the wisdom nor counsels of the wicked can prevail against God. The enemies of our saint, however, sent a deputation, who complained of his conduct to the lord of the soil,Weifhar. ^ Ithadbeenstated,thathischapelwassoughttobeconverted into an oratory by the monk. This noble then dwelt at a place, called in Latin, " Villa Callonis. " He expressed indignation against the unfriended stranger. Afterwards, St. Dichul was treated with the most barbarous in- humanity. But, a most painful disease attacked the cruel chieftain, as a
just punishment for persecuting this holy man. The seigneur's wife, Berthilde, reproached her husband for his conduct. She advised him to
sendimmediatelyforoursaint,toseeif, owingtotheprayersandforgiveness of this injured man, such great pain might be removed, and death be averted.
