On the
Calendar
of
Oengus, p.
Oengus, p.
O'Hanlon - Lives of the Irish Saints - v8
It was called the Regies of Peter and Paul.
It seems then to have been surrounded by a number of separate habitations, in which the monks lived as anchorites ; and they assembled there to engage in the public exercises of prayer and sacrifice.
The Abbot had his dwelling near the church of St. Peter and St. Paul, where he practised the usual devotions. In the year 1134, this saint under- took a pilgrimage to Rome, in which city he died. 15 Nor does he seem to have long survived his advent to that city ; since the date last mentioned is that assigned for his departure from this life. Marianus O'Gorman and the
Probably, during the latter of these fires, the great monastery
l6 have set down this
Abbot in their
holy
His festival has been celebrated, on the 13th day of August, ? probably the
date for his death.
Much as the city of Armagh may have improved in the style and character
of its more modern buildings for the past few centuries, yet must we regret, that so many venerable ecclesiastical structures and establishments of the earlier ages have now totally disappeared. Among these were the church and monasteryre-erectedbyoursaint. Someoftheirruinsexistedinthebeginning of the last century. The Presbyterians of the Congregation at Armagh built
18 on the site of the ancient church and
of St. Peter and St. Paul, it being in part erected with the ruined materials. 9 A nearly similar result might be chronicled, regarding numbers of the ancient
monuments formerly in Ireland.
Article II. —St. Wigbertus or Wickburtus, Missionary in Frisia. \_Eighth Century. \ The earliest notices of this holy man are to be found in
O'Clerys
respective Martyrologies. 1
their new church in
1722,
monastery T
11 We learn, however, that a portion of Lismor-Mochuda, was burn—ed in the beginning of the Lent of this year. See ibid.
12
See ibid. , pp. 1012, J013, and n. (o), ibid.
13 Or twelfth of the Calends of Novem- ber.
14 See ibid. , pp. 1022 to 1025. See also note (b), ibid.
xs See ibid. , pp. 1046, 1047.
16
^ In reference to Dr. Stuart relates these,
They enter him simply as 1omhA|\U4 h -Ae-OAgxym, at this date. Seethe "Martyr- ology of Donegal," edited by Rev. Drs. Todd and
name is affixed the note " of Kilmore," John O'Donovan, the meaning of which is
not so unless it that obvious, may signify,
he was from or had some connection with Kilmore.
"
Acta Sanctorum Hiber- niae," Martii xxxi. , n. 3, p. 796.
,8 See Thomas Whiterow's " Historical and Literary Memorials of Presbyterianism
*» See Colgan's
Reeves, pp. 218, 219.
earn ? ' per day
great
in Ireland (1623-1731)," chap, xlvi. , -torical Memoirs of the City of Armagh," p. 343- chap, xxvi. , pp. 489, 490.
the following amusing anecdote
:
" While
the workmen were engaged in preparing the
materials, Dean Swift, accompanied by a
friend, went to the place, and found the
masonsbusilyoccupiedinsmoothinganum-
ber of
grotesque heads and the figures of cherubs, which probably had been sculptured in the days of Imar O'Haedagain. 'See,' said Swift, 'these fanatic Puritans are chiselling Popery out of the very stones. ' 'Pray,' added he, addressing himself to a sawyer, who was then cutting some timber on the premises, ' how much do
To his
you by pence, please your
curiously-carved stones,
adorned with
'Fifteen Reverence. ' ' Fifteen why, I can get in Dublin a better
pence !
sawyer
I, please your Reverence, can produce a parson who preaches better sermons than the Dean of St. Patrick's, though he is only paid
£40 a-year, whilst the Dean receives ^700. ' Pleased with the sawyer's humour, the Dean presented him with half-a-crown. "—" His-
to work all
day
for ' Arid tenpence. '
1 88 LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS.
[August 13.
thewritingsofVenerableBede. 1 ThePetitsBollandistes* haveinserted some accounts of this missionary and confesser when treating about St. Wigbert or Wictberecht, Abbot of Fritzlar, in the Electorate of Hesse, at the 13thofAugust. Theymention,thatMabillonspeaksofseveralsaintsbear- ing this name ; and, in the first place, about the present one, who is the most ancient,andwhowentfromIrelandtoFrisia. Molanusdevotesaparagraph to this St. Wigbert, at the 13th of August^ and he is represented as a Martyr in Fostelandia. Also, Miraeus, Wilson, Ferrarius, Menard, and Ghinius have a similar record regarding him. Colgan intended publishing the Acts of St. Wigbertus, Martyr, at the 12th or 13th of August/ Nevertheless, some erroneous tradition must have been put into circulation ; for, although this holy missionary laboured among a pagan people for some time, his blood was not shed for Christ on the field ofhis gospelling. The Bollandists have notices of this holy man, at the 13th of August,* while they are careful to distinguish him from another St. Wicbert, Wichbert, Wippert, Wigberch or Vigeberecht—as he is variedly called—and whose feast occurs, especially in Germany, on this same day. More complete details regarding the latter
6
have been recorded, and he was likewise an Anglo-Saxon. This coincidence
of names and of festivals, on the same day, has caused much confusion of state- mentbywriterswhohavereferredtothem. Thelastnamed,Wigbert,was Abbot over two monasteries, which he built in Germany : first, over Fritzlar, three miles from Cassel, and afterwards over Ortdorf, in the same province of Hesse. ? The saint connected with Ireland by residence seems to have been an Anglo-Saxon, by birth and race ; and, most probably, he was born towards the close of the seventh century. This holy servant of Christ, at an early
age, evinced a great contempt for the world's enjoyments ;
and, in after
companions there ; but, whether or not both left England at the same time is not so clear. However, St. Wigbert lived in Ireland for many years, which he spent in humble retirement, and serving God as a hermit. About the year
years,
distinguished
great learning.
Egbert
hewas
WhenSt.
8 went
forhis
to Ireland, where he lived the life of a recluse, St. Wicbert was one of his
10
from Ireland to preach among the old Continental Saxons ; and, with great
zeal, they spread truths of Christianity, chiefly among the people of the Low Countries. Desirous, no doubt, of emulating their fervour and labours, not- withstanding his love for holy solitude, still the saint resolved to engage in a great work of active charity ; and, his soul yearned to spread Christianity amongthosegentilesofnorthernEurope. Withsuchanobjectinview,he went to Frisia, where he preached the Gospel among the pagans for two
690, St. Willibrord,9 St. Suitbert,
and several other missionaries, set out
Article ii. — See " Historia Ecclesi-
astica Gentis Anglorum," lib. v. , cap. io,
p. 403.
a See " Les Vies des Saints," tome ix. ,
xiiie Jour d'Aout, p. 532.
3 See "Natales Sanctorum Belgii," p. 176.
4 This appears from the list of his post-
"
Catalogus Actuum Sanctorum quae MS. habentur, ordine Men-
sium et Dierum. "
5 See "Acta Sanctorum," tomus iii. ,
Augusti xiii. Among the pretermitted saints,
Latin Acts by Servatus Lupus, Abbot, with
a Preface and three chapters, containing thirty paragraphs, illustrated with editorial
notes by Father John Baptist Soller, pp. 132 to 137.
7 See notices of him, in Rev. Alban
Butler's " Lives of the Fathers, Martyrs and
other principal Saints," vol. viii. , August xii. 8 See his Life, in the Fourth Volume of
this work, at the 24th of April, the day for his feast, Art. i.
' See his Life, at the 7th of November, the date for his feast.
,0 See the Third Volume of this work, at
the 1st of March, the day for his festival, Art. ii.
humous Manuscripts:
p.
2.
6 See ibid. De S. Wigberto Presb. Conf.
in Germania. A previous commentary is given in eight paragraphs. Then follow his
August 13. ]
LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. 189
At that time, Radbod was their ruler, and he was hostile to Wherefore, meeting with little encouragement or success in the work of conversion, Wigbert returned to that place whence he proceeded, when trying to fill the office of missioner. There once more he gave himself to the Almighty, in the true spirit of recollection and prayer. That he became an Abbot has been stated, but on no good authority can such a conjecture befounded. Nevertheless,hisexampleandvirtuesledmanytoimitatehim,
and he laboured with great fruit among those people, who knew him so well, and who could thus appreciate his merits. Nor is there any warrant for styling him a Martyr, as some writers have done ; since it is most probable, he passed the remainder of his days peaceably in Ireland. His death has been assigned to a. d. 747 ; however, this date refers rather to Wigbert, whose Acts have been written by Servatus Lupus," a priest who lived under Rabanus Maurus, 12 at Mentz, and who afterwards was Abbot at Ferrieres. ^ In the Calendar of National Missionary Saints compiled by Convseus, St. Wicbertus is set down as a Martyr, in Fostilandia. But, no date has been
1
mentioned for his festival. * In the anonymous Calendar of Irish Saints,
whole years. such efforts.
published by
Beare,
13th
Seasons. "
1^ atthe
of thenameofWick- August,
O'Sullevan
bertusoccurs. Heisalsocommemorated,atthisdate,inthe"Circleofthe
16
Article III. —St. Maidoc, or Modemoc, Abbot of Fiddown,
CountyofKilkenny. InthecopyoftheMartyrologyofTallagh,found
in the Book of at this a feast is entered for this saint. 1 The Leinster, date,
2
published Martyrology of Tallagh, also, at the 13th of August, registers a
festival in honour of Momedoc Feda duin, or Fiddown, County of Kilkenny.
Some notices of him have been already given, at the 18th of May. 3 At " ,;
the 13th of August, in the Feilire * of St. yEngus, there is commemoration of Momedoc, with a distinctive eulogy. An Irish comment is attached, and which states, likewise, that he was of Fidh Duin, in the south of Ossory. s He is also commemorated, at this date in the Kalendar of Drummond. 6
Article IV. —St. Molacca, Son of Cairthenn. Veneration was
given, at the 13th of August to Moloca mac Cairthen, as we find entered in
the of1Intheof2
"
by Baluse.
12
See an account of his Life and works,
nipobcur triApcir* tXauiirvbuiL Achoi-oen
CorluAg At)bul u^r-al HlomoetJoc mint) n 5-Aet>el.
published Martyrology Tallagh.
Martyrology
Donegal,
His works were published and edited
Whitley Stokes, LL. D. :—
in the Second Volume of this work, at the
4th of February, Art iv.
13
"
place is three leagues from Mon-
targis, in Gratinois, in the diocese of Sens.
See Rev. Alban Butler's "Lives of the diadem of the Gael. "—"Transactions of Fathers, Martyrs and other principal
Saints," vol. viii. , August xii.
_This
14 See O'Sullevan Beare's " Historiae
Catholicse Ibernia Compendium," tomus lib. iv. , cap. x„ p. 48.
« See ibid. ,
the marvellous was his Hippolitus martyr,
3
Edited by Rev. Dr. Kelly, p. xxxii.
Kelly, p. xxxii. In that copy found in the Book of
cap. xi. ,p. 50. See p. 226.
ScottishSaints, thus,attheIdesof
August
:
1
Article hi. —1 Thus : X)Wn-
«« Apud Hibemiam Sancti confessoris Mome-
doc Natale celebratur," p. 21.
3
that date, Art. iv.
See the Fifth Volume of this work, at
Leinster, we read, moloca mac CApchim>, and under this latter word is Ceacpen.
« In the * Leabhar Breac "
following rann, with English translation by
2
pp. 2x8, 219.
i. ,
tnome'ooc ipex>&
ij ee ibid. , p. cxxxi.
copy is the
Edited by Rev. Drs. Todd and Reeves,
troop. With a host vast, noble, My-Maedoc,
the Royal Irish Academy," Irish Manuscript
Series, vol. i. , part i.
On the Calendar of
Oengus, p. cxxiii.
s
6 See Bishop Forbes' "Kalendars of "
Article iv. —j Edited Rev. Dr. by
iqo LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. [August 13.
this saint is set down as Molacca, son of Cairthenn. There is a Molaga, of Saingel, adds the Calendarist, and who tells us that he belonged to the race of Conall Eachluath, who was of the posterity of Corbmac Cas, son to Oilioli Olum. There are different holy men bearing the name of Molacus or Molagius, tantamount to Molacca. Colgan supposes the present may possibly be identified with a Molocus, surnamed the Devout, of Inis-tiprad, near Limerick, and who assisted at the obsequies of St. Senan, Abbot of Iniscathy, about the middle of the sixth century. 3 He is recorded by Marianus O'Gorman, at the same date.
Article V. —St. Brigid of Cuainaoi, or Cluana diailama. At the 13th of August, St. Brigid of Cluana diailama is in the Rev. Dr. Kelly's
August, the Martyrologies'of Marianus O'Gorman, of Charles Maguire, and of Donegal,^ record a festival for St. Brigid of Cluainaoi or Cluain-ai. There is a church, called Cluainaoi, in the diocese of Derry. In the county of Londonderry alone, there are no less than four townlands, respectively called Clooney. AnotherClooneywasnearClonardinMeath/anditistheonly place so denominated in that county.
1 In that contained in the Book ofLeinster, copy
version of this
the place is differently entered. 2 Her location is styled Cluain-diolama, by Colgan. Itdoesnotappearwithwhatexistingtownlanddenominationthe name Cluain-diolama or Cluana diailama can be identified. At the 13th of
Martyrology.
Article VI. —St. Dianlann. The simple entry, Dianlann, appears in 1
the Martyrology of Donegal, at the 13th of August. Elsewhere, no notice of such a saint is to be found ; and, I am inclined to think, that a mistake has been made by the O'Clerys, in setting down the name of a saint, for that of the place Diamluma, as noted already in connection with the St. Brigid, venerated on this day.
Article VII. —St. Lucan. —We find the simple record, Lucan, in the
of 1 at this date. more seems to be known Martyrology Donegal, Nothing
regarding him.
Article VIII. —Feast of St. Hippolitus and of his Companions, Martyrs, at Rome. In the Irish Church, at the 13th of August, the festival of St. Hippolitus, with that of his companions, in number nineteen, and of either sex, was observed. They suffered under the Emperor Decius,
3 See "Acta Sanctorum Hibernix," viii. Martii. Vita S. Senani, cap. xliii, and n. 31,
Article vii. — ' Edited by Drs. Todd
and Reeves, pp. 218, 219.
a A note, Dr. Todd, at the denomina- by
tion Lucan: "After this word the second
hand adds momAO'ooj;. Mar. , /Eh. , M. Tarn. ExS. ALnact Marl , 'mo rVUet>05
pp. 533, 536. — Article v.
'
See "Calendar of
Irish
Saints," p. xxxii.
3 Thus: bpigiCAe Ct. T)iAnlu»n\.
3 Edited by Rev. Drs. Todd and Reeves, miomi SAOitieal,' avnog pop a foil,
pp. 218, 219.
* "Ut constat ex Vita S. Columbee de
S. — 612. Brigidae, cap. i. , p.
(' Momaedog chief of the Gael,' this is his
Tirdaglas, caput 26. "—Colgan's "Trias Thaumaturga," Appendix Quarta ad Acta
festival), ct est alius a sequcnte 15, etiam a Fcrnensi 31 Jan. , meaning that the Momae- dog (' my little Aedh') is different from the Aedhmentionedonthe
Article vi.
and Reeves, pp. 218, 219.
of Ferns,
15th by Moedhog
' Edited Drs. Todd and from Aedh or
Jan. 31. "
ofthismonth,
August 14. ] LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. 191
at Rome. 1 For a full account of these soldiers of Christ, who vanquished in B2
their blood, the reader is referred to the Bollandists, who record their Acts, at this date, as given in Ado's Martyrology, and by Petrus Calus or Calotius,3 of the Order of Preachers. A previous commentary, in Four Sections and of Forty-five paragraphs, serves to elucidate their history.
jfourtttntb Bap ot aujpraik
ARTICLE I. — ST. FACHTNA, OR FACHTNAN, FIRST BISHOP AND PATRON OF THE DIOCESE OF ROSS.
[SIXTH CENTURY. ']
CHAPTER I.
INTRODUCTION—RACE AND ORIGIN OF ST. FACHTNAN—HIS EARLY YEARS UNNOTICED— HE FOUNDS A MONASTERY AT ROSS AND A CELEBRATED SCHOOL—FIRST BISHOP OF ROSS—LEGENDS REGARDING HIM—RESTORATION OF HIS SIGHT.
is greatly to be regretted, that so many of our Irish Saints, whose names ITand festivals have come down to our times and with a veneration growing as ages advance, should yet remain devoid of any distinctive record, to give details regarding their personal traits of character and of their life- labours. The more have we to lament these losses to our ecclesiastical history, when such holy persons are venerated, not alone in parishes and particular localities, but when they are reverently commemorated as Patrons of our Dioceses. Yet, in the latter case, as in the present instance, only a few indirect allusions in the Lives of other saints give any clue to the period and incidents, which serve as the sole memorials for a few brief and unsatis-
factory conjectural observations.
About the beginning of the sixth century, St. Fachtna or Fachtnan must
x
saints, who were his contemporaries, have been preserved, and that those narratives refer to him, in a casual manner, to note his age and place of residence. Still in obscurity are the incidents of St. Fachtnan's early youth and education, and even of his ordination as a Priest, as also of the opening events of his career when a missionary. Although it has been stated, that our saint had been educated by St. Barr* or Finnbar,s who established a school at Loch-Eirce f yet, the latter is thought to have lived after his time. ? Some of our ancient Calendars state, that Fachtna Mongach was Abbot of Dair Inis Maolanfaidh, in the country of the Decies, in Munster, and that he was iden-
Articleviii. —x Seethe"Feilire"ofSt.
"
-rEngus, in
Academy," Irish Manuscript Series, vol i. , part i. On the Calendar of Oengus. By
Whitley Stokes, L. L. D. , pp. cxxiii. , cxxxi.
3 See "Acta tomus Sanctorum," iii. ,
Augusti xiii. De Sanctis Martyribus Ro- manis Hippolyto, Concordia, ac xix. aliis, pp. 4 to 15.
have been born what concerns his ; but,
2 and native has not place
parentage
transpired. 3 It is something, however, to avail of, that the Acts of other
3 He
flourished,
about the end of the
was surnamed Mongach,
or as authors hairy,
Transactions of the Royal Irish
—Chapter
I.
*
By
Dr.
thirteenth Article
century.
— Meredith Hanmerhe is "also called Faughua
and Faughuanus. See "Chronicle of Ire-
land," pp. 118, 119.
2 IntheBookof heis Lecain, however,
said to have belonged to the sept of
Lugad.
3 According to some accounts, Fachnan
i.
192 LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. [August 14.
8
and, if such were the case, it seems most likely that the period of his abbacy at Molana preceded that of his episcopacy. However, this identity does not seem to be very certain ;
while much confusion has prevailed regarding the accounts transmitted to us
by previous writers.
That Saint Fachnan of Ross was a bishop depends on good authority j
but, when or where he was consecrated does not appear. Many of our writers on the Acts of the Saints do not even mention him, and notices are even omitted by the Bollandists. An opinion has been very generally enter- tained, that he became Abbot of Dairinis Moelanfaidh, now Molana, a small island in the River Blackwater, and within the present County of Waterford. 9 This statement, likewise, has been drawn from the ancient Calendar of Cashel, which seems to contain a local tradition. The question, however, is open to further investigation.
Treating about the Bishops of Ross,10 we are told, by Sir James Ware,11 thatSt. Fachnanflourishedinthebeginningofthesixthcentury. Theplace is also known as Rosscarbery, from the former district in which it was situated ; and even still it gives name to the Barony of East Carbery, where we find
tical with Fachtnan, Bishop of Ros-alethir ;
it placed, in the County of Cork.
The usual signification of Ross is
sense " a but it wood,"
12 the
of East
in the barony of Ibane and Barryroe, ? in the West Riding of the County of
Cork. When Ross obtained episcopal rank, St. Fachtnan is supposed to have been consecrated as first bishop of that See. 18 From a period very
u a
promontory,"
or "
in a
some accident of
peninsula ;" significations. By
secondary custom,
as we are twochiefmeaningsarenowrestrictedinpointoflocality; for,inthesouthern half of Ireland ros is generally understood in the sense of " wood ;" in the north such application is lost, and it means only "a peninsula. "^ However, as Ross stands on a rocky eminence, and as wooded banks flank the long and narrow bay which lies near it, the name is at present appropriate under either application. The situation of the town on the sea and its environs is very beau- tiful ; but that inlet, which bears the name of Roscarbery harbour, is both narrow and shallow in that part which approaches the town. 14 We are told, moreover, that this ancient foundation was near the Vergivium sea. 1 * The
also has other
told,
parish
of Ross is
situated, partly
in the 1
barony
Carbery,
16 and
partly
explain it, while others think his appellative
p. 140.
,0 to Walter Harris: "Ross According
a verdant ; as some — signifieth plain or, say,
a place where Heath or Broom grows," &c.
Harris' Ware, vol. i. , "Bishops of Ross,"
p. 583.
" At cap. xxix.
" In Dr. Patrick W. Joyce's "Origin and History of Irish Names of Places," part iv. , chap, iii. , p. 429.
"3 Yet in three examples quoted, Ross has
should be written Mac
Mongach,
or son
See Rev. Dr. Mongach. Lanigan's
of "Eccle-
siastical History of Ireland," vol. ii. , chap. xii. , sect, iv. , p. 193.
4 He is styled incorrectly St. Finlass of Cork, in a brief notice of saints, in Rev. S. Baring-Gould's work, " Lives of the Saints,"
vol. viii. , August 14, p. 140.
5 His Life is set down, at the 25th of Sep-
tember, in the Ninth Volume of this work, Art. i.
"
6
According to an ancient Life of this saint,
a peninsula," in the Ibid.
in
quoted Colgan's
nke," Martii xxvi.
"Acta Sanctorum Hiber- De S. Garvano Abbate,
p. 750-
7 See Rev. Dr. Lanigan's
"
Ecclesiastical History of Ireland," vol. ii. , chap, xii. ,
,6
This portion of it contains 12,403a.
sect, iv. , p. 193, and n. 44, p.
The Abbot had his dwelling near the church of St. Peter and St. Paul, where he practised the usual devotions. In the year 1134, this saint under- took a pilgrimage to Rome, in which city he died. 15 Nor does he seem to have long survived his advent to that city ; since the date last mentioned is that assigned for his departure from this life. Marianus O'Gorman and the
Probably, during the latter of these fires, the great monastery
l6 have set down this
Abbot in their
holy
His festival has been celebrated, on the 13th day of August, ? probably the
date for his death.
Much as the city of Armagh may have improved in the style and character
of its more modern buildings for the past few centuries, yet must we regret, that so many venerable ecclesiastical structures and establishments of the earlier ages have now totally disappeared. Among these were the church and monasteryre-erectedbyoursaint. Someoftheirruinsexistedinthebeginning of the last century. The Presbyterians of the Congregation at Armagh built
18 on the site of the ancient church and
of St. Peter and St. Paul, it being in part erected with the ruined materials. 9 A nearly similar result might be chronicled, regarding numbers of the ancient
monuments formerly in Ireland.
Article II. —St. Wigbertus or Wickburtus, Missionary in Frisia. \_Eighth Century. \ The earliest notices of this holy man are to be found in
O'Clerys
respective Martyrologies. 1
their new church in
1722,
monastery T
11 We learn, however, that a portion of Lismor-Mochuda, was burn—ed in the beginning of the Lent of this year. See ibid.
12
See ibid. , pp. 1012, J013, and n. (o), ibid.
13 Or twelfth of the Calends of Novem- ber.
14 See ibid. , pp. 1022 to 1025. See also note (b), ibid.
xs See ibid. , pp. 1046, 1047.
16
^ In reference to Dr. Stuart relates these,
They enter him simply as 1omhA|\U4 h -Ae-OAgxym, at this date. Seethe "Martyr- ology of Donegal," edited by Rev. Drs. Todd and
name is affixed the note " of Kilmore," John O'Donovan, the meaning of which is
not so unless it that obvious, may signify,
he was from or had some connection with Kilmore.
"
Acta Sanctorum Hiber- niae," Martii xxxi. , n. 3, p. 796.
,8 See Thomas Whiterow's " Historical and Literary Memorials of Presbyterianism
*» See Colgan's
Reeves, pp. 218, 219.
earn ? ' per day
great
in Ireland (1623-1731)," chap, xlvi. , -torical Memoirs of the City of Armagh," p. 343- chap, xxvi. , pp. 489, 490.
the following amusing anecdote
:
" While
the workmen were engaged in preparing the
materials, Dean Swift, accompanied by a
friend, went to the place, and found the
masonsbusilyoccupiedinsmoothinganum-
ber of
grotesque heads and the figures of cherubs, which probably had been sculptured in the days of Imar O'Haedagain. 'See,' said Swift, 'these fanatic Puritans are chiselling Popery out of the very stones. ' 'Pray,' added he, addressing himself to a sawyer, who was then cutting some timber on the premises, ' how much do
To his
you by pence, please your
curiously-carved stones,
adorned with
'Fifteen Reverence. ' ' Fifteen why, I can get in Dublin a better
pence !
sawyer
I, please your Reverence, can produce a parson who preaches better sermons than the Dean of St. Patrick's, though he is only paid
£40 a-year, whilst the Dean receives ^700. ' Pleased with the sawyer's humour, the Dean presented him with half-a-crown. "—" His-
to work all
day
for ' Arid tenpence. '
1 88 LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS.
[August 13.
thewritingsofVenerableBede. 1 ThePetitsBollandistes* haveinserted some accounts of this missionary and confesser when treating about St. Wigbert or Wictberecht, Abbot of Fritzlar, in the Electorate of Hesse, at the 13thofAugust. Theymention,thatMabillonspeaksofseveralsaintsbear- ing this name ; and, in the first place, about the present one, who is the most ancient,andwhowentfromIrelandtoFrisia. Molanusdevotesaparagraph to this St. Wigbert, at the 13th of August^ and he is represented as a Martyr in Fostelandia. Also, Miraeus, Wilson, Ferrarius, Menard, and Ghinius have a similar record regarding him. Colgan intended publishing the Acts of St. Wigbertus, Martyr, at the 12th or 13th of August/ Nevertheless, some erroneous tradition must have been put into circulation ; for, although this holy missionary laboured among a pagan people for some time, his blood was not shed for Christ on the field ofhis gospelling. The Bollandists have notices of this holy man, at the 13th of August,* while they are careful to distinguish him from another St. Wicbert, Wichbert, Wippert, Wigberch or Vigeberecht—as he is variedly called—and whose feast occurs, especially in Germany, on this same day. More complete details regarding the latter
6
have been recorded, and he was likewise an Anglo-Saxon. This coincidence
of names and of festivals, on the same day, has caused much confusion of state- mentbywriterswhohavereferredtothem. Thelastnamed,Wigbert,was Abbot over two monasteries, which he built in Germany : first, over Fritzlar, three miles from Cassel, and afterwards over Ortdorf, in the same province of Hesse. ? The saint connected with Ireland by residence seems to have been an Anglo-Saxon, by birth and race ; and, most probably, he was born towards the close of the seventh century. This holy servant of Christ, at an early
age, evinced a great contempt for the world's enjoyments ;
and, in after
companions there ; but, whether or not both left England at the same time is not so clear. However, St. Wigbert lived in Ireland for many years, which he spent in humble retirement, and serving God as a hermit. About the year
years,
distinguished
great learning.
Egbert
hewas
WhenSt.
8 went
forhis
to Ireland, where he lived the life of a recluse, St. Wicbert was one of his
10
from Ireland to preach among the old Continental Saxons ; and, with great
zeal, they spread truths of Christianity, chiefly among the people of the Low Countries. Desirous, no doubt, of emulating their fervour and labours, not- withstanding his love for holy solitude, still the saint resolved to engage in a great work of active charity ; and, his soul yearned to spread Christianity amongthosegentilesofnorthernEurope. Withsuchanobjectinview,he went to Frisia, where he preached the Gospel among the pagans for two
690, St. Willibrord,9 St. Suitbert,
and several other missionaries, set out
Article ii. — See " Historia Ecclesi-
astica Gentis Anglorum," lib. v. , cap. io,
p. 403.
a See " Les Vies des Saints," tome ix. ,
xiiie Jour d'Aout, p. 532.
3 See "Natales Sanctorum Belgii," p. 176.
4 This appears from the list of his post-
"
Catalogus Actuum Sanctorum quae MS. habentur, ordine Men-
sium et Dierum. "
5 See "Acta Sanctorum," tomus iii. ,
Augusti xiii. Among the pretermitted saints,
Latin Acts by Servatus Lupus, Abbot, with
a Preface and three chapters, containing thirty paragraphs, illustrated with editorial
notes by Father John Baptist Soller, pp. 132 to 137.
7 See notices of him, in Rev. Alban
Butler's " Lives of the Fathers, Martyrs and
other principal Saints," vol. viii. , August xii. 8 See his Life, in the Fourth Volume of
this work, at the 24th of April, the day for his feast, Art. i.
' See his Life, at the 7th of November, the date for his feast.
,0 See the Third Volume of this work, at
the 1st of March, the day for his festival, Art. ii.
humous Manuscripts:
p.
2.
6 See ibid. De S. Wigberto Presb. Conf.
in Germania. A previous commentary is given in eight paragraphs. Then follow his
August 13. ]
LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. 189
At that time, Radbod was their ruler, and he was hostile to Wherefore, meeting with little encouragement or success in the work of conversion, Wigbert returned to that place whence he proceeded, when trying to fill the office of missioner. There once more he gave himself to the Almighty, in the true spirit of recollection and prayer. That he became an Abbot has been stated, but on no good authority can such a conjecture befounded. Nevertheless,hisexampleandvirtuesledmanytoimitatehim,
and he laboured with great fruit among those people, who knew him so well, and who could thus appreciate his merits. Nor is there any warrant for styling him a Martyr, as some writers have done ; since it is most probable, he passed the remainder of his days peaceably in Ireland. His death has been assigned to a. d. 747 ; however, this date refers rather to Wigbert, whose Acts have been written by Servatus Lupus," a priest who lived under Rabanus Maurus, 12 at Mentz, and who afterwards was Abbot at Ferrieres. ^ In the Calendar of National Missionary Saints compiled by Convseus, St. Wicbertus is set down as a Martyr, in Fostilandia. But, no date has been
1
mentioned for his festival. * In the anonymous Calendar of Irish Saints,
whole years. such efforts.
published by
Beare,
13th
Seasons. "
1^ atthe
of thenameofWick- August,
O'Sullevan
bertusoccurs. Heisalsocommemorated,atthisdate,inthe"Circleofthe
16
Article III. —St. Maidoc, or Modemoc, Abbot of Fiddown,
CountyofKilkenny. InthecopyoftheMartyrologyofTallagh,found
in the Book of at this a feast is entered for this saint. 1 The Leinster, date,
2
published Martyrology of Tallagh, also, at the 13th of August, registers a
festival in honour of Momedoc Feda duin, or Fiddown, County of Kilkenny.
Some notices of him have been already given, at the 18th of May. 3 At " ,;
the 13th of August, in the Feilire * of St. yEngus, there is commemoration of Momedoc, with a distinctive eulogy. An Irish comment is attached, and which states, likewise, that he was of Fidh Duin, in the south of Ossory. s He is also commemorated, at this date in the Kalendar of Drummond. 6
Article IV. —St. Molacca, Son of Cairthenn. Veneration was
given, at the 13th of August to Moloca mac Cairthen, as we find entered in
the of1Intheof2
"
by Baluse.
12
See an account of his Life and works,
nipobcur triApcir* tXauiirvbuiL Achoi-oen
CorluAg At)bul u^r-al HlomoetJoc mint) n 5-Aet>el.
published Martyrology Tallagh.
Martyrology
Donegal,
His works were published and edited
Whitley Stokes, LL. D. :—
in the Second Volume of this work, at the
4th of February, Art iv.
13
"
place is three leagues from Mon-
targis, in Gratinois, in the diocese of Sens.
See Rev. Alban Butler's "Lives of the diadem of the Gael. "—"Transactions of Fathers, Martyrs and other principal
Saints," vol. viii. , August xii.
_This
14 See O'Sullevan Beare's " Historiae
Catholicse Ibernia Compendium," tomus lib. iv. , cap. x„ p. 48.
« See ibid. ,
the marvellous was his Hippolitus martyr,
3
Edited by Rev. Dr. Kelly, p. xxxii.
Kelly, p. xxxii. In that copy found in the Book of
cap. xi. ,p. 50. See p. 226.
ScottishSaints, thus,attheIdesof
August
:
1
Article hi. —1 Thus : X)Wn-
«« Apud Hibemiam Sancti confessoris Mome-
doc Natale celebratur," p. 21.
3
that date, Art. iv.
See the Fifth Volume of this work, at
Leinster, we read, moloca mac CApchim>, and under this latter word is Ceacpen.
« In the * Leabhar Breac "
following rann, with English translation by
2
pp. 2x8, 219.
i. ,
tnome'ooc ipex>&
ij ee ibid. , p. cxxxi.
copy is the
Edited by Rev. Drs. Todd and Reeves,
troop. With a host vast, noble, My-Maedoc,
the Royal Irish Academy," Irish Manuscript
Series, vol. i. , part i.
On the Calendar of
Oengus, p. cxxiii.
s
6 See Bishop Forbes' "Kalendars of "
Article iv. —j Edited Rev. Dr. by
iqo LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. [August 13.
this saint is set down as Molacca, son of Cairthenn. There is a Molaga, of Saingel, adds the Calendarist, and who tells us that he belonged to the race of Conall Eachluath, who was of the posterity of Corbmac Cas, son to Oilioli Olum. There are different holy men bearing the name of Molacus or Molagius, tantamount to Molacca. Colgan supposes the present may possibly be identified with a Molocus, surnamed the Devout, of Inis-tiprad, near Limerick, and who assisted at the obsequies of St. Senan, Abbot of Iniscathy, about the middle of the sixth century. 3 He is recorded by Marianus O'Gorman, at the same date.
Article V. —St. Brigid of Cuainaoi, or Cluana diailama. At the 13th of August, St. Brigid of Cluana diailama is in the Rev. Dr. Kelly's
August, the Martyrologies'of Marianus O'Gorman, of Charles Maguire, and of Donegal,^ record a festival for St. Brigid of Cluainaoi or Cluain-ai. There is a church, called Cluainaoi, in the diocese of Derry. In the county of Londonderry alone, there are no less than four townlands, respectively called Clooney. AnotherClooneywasnearClonardinMeath/anditistheonly place so denominated in that county.
1 In that contained in the Book ofLeinster, copy
version of this
the place is differently entered. 2 Her location is styled Cluain-diolama, by Colgan. Itdoesnotappearwithwhatexistingtownlanddenominationthe name Cluain-diolama or Cluana diailama can be identified. At the 13th of
Martyrology.
Article VI. —St. Dianlann. The simple entry, Dianlann, appears in 1
the Martyrology of Donegal, at the 13th of August. Elsewhere, no notice of such a saint is to be found ; and, I am inclined to think, that a mistake has been made by the O'Clerys, in setting down the name of a saint, for that of the place Diamluma, as noted already in connection with the St. Brigid, venerated on this day.
Article VII. —St. Lucan. —We find the simple record, Lucan, in the
of 1 at this date. more seems to be known Martyrology Donegal, Nothing
regarding him.
Article VIII. —Feast of St. Hippolitus and of his Companions, Martyrs, at Rome. In the Irish Church, at the 13th of August, the festival of St. Hippolitus, with that of his companions, in number nineteen, and of either sex, was observed. They suffered under the Emperor Decius,
3 See "Acta Sanctorum Hibernix," viii. Martii. Vita S. Senani, cap. xliii, and n. 31,
Article vii. — ' Edited by Drs. Todd
and Reeves, pp. 218, 219.
a A note, Dr. Todd, at the denomina- by
tion Lucan: "After this word the second
hand adds momAO'ooj;. Mar. , /Eh. , M. Tarn. ExS. ALnact Marl , 'mo rVUet>05
pp. 533, 536. — Article v.
'
See "Calendar of
Irish
Saints," p. xxxii.
3 Thus: bpigiCAe Ct. T)iAnlu»n\.
3 Edited by Rev. Drs. Todd and Reeves, miomi SAOitieal,' avnog pop a foil,
pp. 218, 219.
* "Ut constat ex Vita S. Columbee de
S. — 612. Brigidae, cap. i. , p.
(' Momaedog chief of the Gael,' this is his
Tirdaglas, caput 26. "—Colgan's "Trias Thaumaturga," Appendix Quarta ad Acta
festival), ct est alius a sequcnte 15, etiam a Fcrnensi 31 Jan. , meaning that the Momae- dog (' my little Aedh') is different from the Aedhmentionedonthe
Article vi.
and Reeves, pp. 218, 219.
of Ferns,
15th by Moedhog
' Edited Drs. Todd and from Aedh or
Jan. 31. "
ofthismonth,
August 14. ] LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. 191
at Rome. 1 For a full account of these soldiers of Christ, who vanquished in B2
their blood, the reader is referred to the Bollandists, who record their Acts, at this date, as given in Ado's Martyrology, and by Petrus Calus or Calotius,3 of the Order of Preachers. A previous commentary, in Four Sections and of Forty-five paragraphs, serves to elucidate their history.
jfourtttntb Bap ot aujpraik
ARTICLE I. — ST. FACHTNA, OR FACHTNAN, FIRST BISHOP AND PATRON OF THE DIOCESE OF ROSS.
[SIXTH CENTURY. ']
CHAPTER I.
INTRODUCTION—RACE AND ORIGIN OF ST. FACHTNAN—HIS EARLY YEARS UNNOTICED— HE FOUNDS A MONASTERY AT ROSS AND A CELEBRATED SCHOOL—FIRST BISHOP OF ROSS—LEGENDS REGARDING HIM—RESTORATION OF HIS SIGHT.
is greatly to be regretted, that so many of our Irish Saints, whose names ITand festivals have come down to our times and with a veneration growing as ages advance, should yet remain devoid of any distinctive record, to give details regarding their personal traits of character and of their life- labours. The more have we to lament these losses to our ecclesiastical history, when such holy persons are venerated, not alone in parishes and particular localities, but when they are reverently commemorated as Patrons of our Dioceses. Yet, in the latter case, as in the present instance, only a few indirect allusions in the Lives of other saints give any clue to the period and incidents, which serve as the sole memorials for a few brief and unsatis-
factory conjectural observations.
About the beginning of the sixth century, St. Fachtna or Fachtnan must
x
saints, who were his contemporaries, have been preserved, and that those narratives refer to him, in a casual manner, to note his age and place of residence. Still in obscurity are the incidents of St. Fachtnan's early youth and education, and even of his ordination as a Priest, as also of the opening events of his career when a missionary. Although it has been stated, that our saint had been educated by St. Barr* or Finnbar,s who established a school at Loch-Eirce f yet, the latter is thought to have lived after his time. ? Some of our ancient Calendars state, that Fachtna Mongach was Abbot of Dair Inis Maolanfaidh, in the country of the Decies, in Munster, and that he was iden-
Articleviii. —x Seethe"Feilire"ofSt.
"
-rEngus, in
Academy," Irish Manuscript Series, vol i. , part i. On the Calendar of Oengus. By
Whitley Stokes, L. L. D. , pp. cxxiii. , cxxxi.
3 See "Acta tomus Sanctorum," iii. ,
Augusti xiii. De Sanctis Martyribus Ro- manis Hippolyto, Concordia, ac xix. aliis, pp. 4 to 15.
have been born what concerns his ; but,
2 and native has not place
parentage
transpired. 3 It is something, however, to avail of, that the Acts of other
3 He
flourished,
about the end of the
was surnamed Mongach,
or as authors hairy,
Transactions of the Royal Irish
—Chapter
I.
*
By
Dr.
thirteenth Article
century.
— Meredith Hanmerhe is "also called Faughua
and Faughuanus. See "Chronicle of Ire-
land," pp. 118, 119.
2 IntheBookof heis Lecain, however,
said to have belonged to the sept of
Lugad.
3 According to some accounts, Fachnan
i.
192 LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. [August 14.
8
and, if such were the case, it seems most likely that the period of his abbacy at Molana preceded that of his episcopacy. However, this identity does not seem to be very certain ;
while much confusion has prevailed regarding the accounts transmitted to us
by previous writers.
That Saint Fachnan of Ross was a bishop depends on good authority j
but, when or where he was consecrated does not appear. Many of our writers on the Acts of the Saints do not even mention him, and notices are even omitted by the Bollandists. An opinion has been very generally enter- tained, that he became Abbot of Dairinis Moelanfaidh, now Molana, a small island in the River Blackwater, and within the present County of Waterford. 9 This statement, likewise, has been drawn from the ancient Calendar of Cashel, which seems to contain a local tradition. The question, however, is open to further investigation.
Treating about the Bishops of Ross,10 we are told, by Sir James Ware,11 thatSt. Fachnanflourishedinthebeginningofthesixthcentury. Theplace is also known as Rosscarbery, from the former district in which it was situated ; and even still it gives name to the Barony of East Carbery, where we find
tical with Fachtnan, Bishop of Ros-alethir ;
it placed, in the County of Cork.
The usual signification of Ross is
sense " a but it wood,"
12 the
of East
in the barony of Ibane and Barryroe, ? in the West Riding of the County of
Cork. When Ross obtained episcopal rank, St. Fachtnan is supposed to have been consecrated as first bishop of that See. 18 From a period very
u a
promontory,"
or "
in a
some accident of
peninsula ;" significations. By
secondary custom,
as we are twochiefmeaningsarenowrestrictedinpointoflocality; for,inthesouthern half of Ireland ros is generally understood in the sense of " wood ;" in the north such application is lost, and it means only "a peninsula. "^ However, as Ross stands on a rocky eminence, and as wooded banks flank the long and narrow bay which lies near it, the name is at present appropriate under either application. The situation of the town on the sea and its environs is very beau- tiful ; but that inlet, which bears the name of Roscarbery harbour, is both narrow and shallow in that part which approaches the town. 14 We are told, moreover, that this ancient foundation was near the Vergivium sea. 1 * The
also has other
told,
parish
of Ross is
situated, partly
in the 1
barony
Carbery,
16 and
partly
explain it, while others think his appellative
p. 140.
,0 to Walter Harris: "Ross According
a verdant ; as some — signifieth plain or, say,
a place where Heath or Broom grows," &c.
Harris' Ware, vol. i. , "Bishops of Ross,"
p. 583.
" At cap. xxix.
" In Dr. Patrick W. Joyce's "Origin and History of Irish Names of Places," part iv. , chap, iii. , p. 429.
"3 Yet in three examples quoted, Ross has
should be written Mac
Mongach,
or son
See Rev. Dr. Mongach. Lanigan's
of "Eccle-
siastical History of Ireland," vol. ii. , chap. xii. , sect, iv. , p. 193.
4 He is styled incorrectly St. Finlass of Cork, in a brief notice of saints, in Rev. S. Baring-Gould's work, " Lives of the Saints,"
vol. viii. , August 14, p. 140.
5 His Life is set down, at the 25th of Sep-
tember, in the Ninth Volume of this work, Art. i.
"
6
According to an ancient Life of this saint,
a peninsula," in the Ibid.
in
quoted Colgan's
nke," Martii xxvi.
"Acta Sanctorum Hiber- De S. Garvano Abbate,
p. 750-
7 See Rev. Dr. Lanigan's
"
Ecclesiastical History of Ireland," vol. ii. , chap, xii. ,
,6
This portion of it contains 12,403a.
sect, iv. , p. 193, and n. 44, p.
