No More Learning

I"
By Father Daniel Papebroke.
' 3 Guilelmus Marlot considers 1 hat the pre- sent Amandus may have been confounded with a certain Altimundus or Antimundus, alluded to by Matthseus de Pres, in his Chronicle of the Moiini, and who lived very poor and humble in a hut, not far from Rheims. Hehadsomelearning,however, and he became a priest. But, this cannot be allowed ; for the latter was destined to carry on missionary work among the Monni, and according to Malbranq he was conse- crated bishop of Teruanen. See De
Morinis," lib. ii. , cap. 39, 43, 44-
was the granted by
king,
and Amand returned to erect a
basilica,
health. 11 A
unlikely,
Amand'3 made one to
thaldus made a — to separate pilgrimage
Jerusalem, Romeincompanywithhim whetherbeforeorafteris notclear
—and that they both lived as intimate friends and companions, in this part of France. This latter man died the lifetime of 1 * by whom he was
holy during
Remigius,
s See "Vies des Saints," tome vii. ,
xvie Jour de Juin, p. 65.
6 They state " Amandus Domini nostri
Jesu Chiisti Asceta, Natione Scot gena," &c.
7 Venerated at the 1st of O tober. He
died, A. D. 533.
8 In Latin it is denominated Pulcher-
Mons.
? The date for the baptism of Clovis by
St. Remi has been assigned to a. d. 496, by
in his '• Histoire Ecclesias- tique," tome vii. , liv. xxx. , sect, xlvi. , pp.
88, 89.
w This appears to have been the earliest
form of Christian churches erected. Many
pilgrims to Rome seem to have brought that
fashion of building into their respective countries, when they returned home.
" The author of the old legend states, that
L'Abbe
Fleury,
682 LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. [June 16.
buried at Beaumont, where he had lived. Soon after his death, the fame of those miracles wrought at his tomb was spread abroad, and great numbers flocked thither to partake of such preternatural favours. In course of time, the Archbishop of Rheims, finding that the church was too small for the accommodation of such a pressure of visitants, resolved on building there another of larger dimensions. The people seem to have contributed their aid, by bringing well chiselled and squared stones for the building, while these were loaded on waggons or carts drawn by oxen. 's Some of these were drawnfromacrosstheRiverAisne. 16 Tothatchurch,greatnumbersresorted in after time, to pray before the bodies of the saints resting there, and in the old Legend of St. Amand's Life, a remarkable miracle is recorded of a woman receiving punishment for what was deemed to be a desecration. *? Various possessions and immunities were obtained for that church, which was held in specialreverencebythepeople. Thewholeoftheforegoingstatement,asfur- nished by theLegend, cannot be deemed very satisfactory, while tradition issilent
regarding St. Amand's particular connexion with St. Berthald, as furnished in the preceding Article. The ecclesiastical foundation known as Beaumont afterwards seems to have been annexed to Chaumont-Porcien, whither a por- tion of St. Amand's relics was 18 while another of his sacred
but most unexpectedly
hujus Rem. nsisFcclesia; Ho»pitaleconstituit ad Eusceptionem peregrinorumvelpauperum, congruis ad id rebus deputatis, cum con- sensu Coepiscoporum Remensis Dio—eceseos, atque subscriptionibus eorumuem. '' "Ilis-
released. Full of compunction for her fault, she entered the church once mote, - and prayed again at the shrines of the saints there interred. She then resolved on making a
conveyed, part x
remains had been conveyed to the Hospital s of St. Mary, at Rheims, and which was built near to the grand cathedral. 20 There they have been
preserved in a silver shrine, by nuns professing the Regular Rule of St. Augustine.
Article IV. —St. Aitheachan, or Athcain, of Inbher Colpthai, Colpe, County of Meath. [Probably in the Sixth Century. '] A
' 4 Hence, as we know the date for this
holy prelate's death, St. Aniand must have departed this life early in the sixth cen-
tury.
** A large stone, which had been drawn in
the cart of a poor widow and her son, so weighted their vehicle, that its axle broke in the ford of the river. However, the stone Was drawn- by two doves to the shore, according to the legend, and it was after- ward set up in the church, where it was held in veneration by the people.
16 This takes its rise near Beaulieu, in the Department of the Meuse, and it runs in a N. W. direction through a small portion of the Department of the Marne into that of the Ardennes. It falls into the River Oise, a little above Compeigne. See "Gazetteer of the World," vol. i. , pp. 105, 106.
'? The legend relates, that having offered
her devotions in the church, and seeing a
peai-tree loaded with pears near the monas-
tery, a certain woman desired to take wiih
bei much of its fruit ;
her hand was fastened to the branch, nor
could she remove it, until invoking the
assistance of St. Amand, at length she was Remensis Historia, a Flodoardo primum
perpetual offering of a fertile farm she had
to the church. This she did according to
the old custom of transfer ; "tradidit manu
propria et ramo et gleba. " This custom
uUefy prevailed in Ire and —where we
believe it yet holds —to take a sod of earth
with a twig fixed in it, and hand it from the
former proprietorto thenew possessor of lar. d.
18
According to F. J. Lietau's French Life of St. berthald, it has been assumed that St. Amand's relics were here, before they had been removed to Rheims. Father I'ape- broke is of opinion, however, that they had been brought direct to Rheims from Beau- mont.
19 This was founded and nobly endowed by Archbishop Hincmar, who flourished in the middle of the ninth century, according to Fl doardus, who adds : "Canonicis quoque
Metropolis
auetius digesta, demum aliunde accersitis plurimum aucta et tllustrata, et ad nos rum hoc s. rculum fideliler de. iucta," lib. iii. , cap. xxix.
toria Remensis," lib. iii. , cap. \. 30 "
See Guilelmus Marlots
LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. festivalinhonourofAitheachan,Colphtho,is setdownintheMartyrology
June 16. ]
683
of 1 at the 16th of The Tallagh, June.
with which this saint was
con- Lower Duleek, and county of Meath. It lies at the mouth of the River Boyne. Eithne, daughter of Concraidh, was his mother, it is further stated. Little seems to be known regarding the history of this saint, who flourished probably
in the sixth century. In the Martyrology of Donegal, 3 at this same date, his name appears as Athcain of Inbher Colpthai.
Article V. —St. Colman, Son of Roi, Abbot of Reachrainn, now Lambay Island, County of Dublin. {Probably in the Sixth Century. ~\ The name Colman mac Ro, Abbot of Rechraind, appears in the Martyrology
nected,
is further known as
Invercolp,
or
Colpe,
2 in the
barony
of
place,
1 at the 16th of The Rachraind here mentioned seems to be June.
Tallagh,
distinguishedfromRechreaorRechru,2 whichisthemodernRathlinonthe
maps, and it is called Raghery by the natives. This is a large Island, lying northofBallycastle,inthecountyofAntrim. Thepresentholymanisalso entered in the Mariyrologies of Marianus O'Gorman and of Maguire, at this same date, as Colman, son of Roi, of Reachrainn. Eithne, daughter of Concraidh, was his mother, and the mother of many other saints. It would seem, therefore, that the present saint must have been a brother to the one lastmentioned. Itmaybedoubtful,whetherthepresentReachrainnwasin the east of Bregia, now Lambay, off the coast of Dublin, or whether it is Rathlin orRahhareeIslandsoffthenortherncoastofAntrim. * Theformerappears most probable. It is supposed, that St. Columba was the first to build a church on Lambay Island, and that he dwelt there for a time. He then
The present saint is considered to have been that deacon, called Colman, placed by St. Columkille 5 over the church of Rachraind,6 in Eastern Breagh. 7 At present, it is known as the Island of Lambay. In former times, so early as the days of Pliny and ofPtolemy,it issaidtohavebornethenameofLimnusorLimni. 8 ThisIsland is in the parish of Portraine, and barony of Nethercross, lying off the east coast, in the county of Dublin. ^ It contains 595a. and $r. of area, statute measure. Its substratum contains conglomerated rocks of different kinds, but chiefly argillaceous schist, including fragments of other rock and sand-
stone. In some places, the schist is greatly contorted, while limestone and
selected a disciple to take charge of it.
l
Article iv. — Edited by Rev. Dr.
pp. 225, 235 to 239.
4 See Dr. O'Donovan's
"
xxvii.
2 This was the site of an ancient church,
Annals of the Four Masters," vol. i. , n. (z), p. 366.
Kelly, p.
s See his Life, at the 9th of June, in the brother of Milesius was buriea. See previous pages of this volume, Art. i. ,
said to have been built over the spot, where
illustrations of that locality, in William R. Wilde's "Beauties of the Boyne, and its Tributary, the Blackwater," chap, x. , p. 263.
Edited by Drs. Todd and Reeves, pp.
chap. iv.
6 See Rev. Dr. Reeves' Adamnan's " Life
of St. Columba," lib. ii. , cap. 41, and n. (b),
3
7 See
Colgan's
Thaumaturga. "
170 171.
Article v. — 1 Edited by Rev. Dr. i. , cap. lxv. , p. 403, and n. 66, p. 45. Also
Kelly, p. xxvii.
2 Thus denominated, in Adamnan's " Life
Quarta Appendix ad Acta S. Columba:, cap. x. , p. 489, ibid.
and n. (c), p. 29. - Rev. Dr. Reeves' edition.
See John D'Alton's "History of the
of St. Columba," lib. i. , cap. 5,
3 For an interesting account and engraved view of this Island the reader is referred to
9 It is shown, on the
"
Ordnance Survey
J.
B. " Tours in Ulster," chap, xii. , Doyle's
Townland Maps for the County of Dublin," sheet 9.
PP- 164, 165.
"
Trias
O'Donnell's or Quinta Vita S. Columba;, lib.
8
County of Dublin," p. 435.
684 LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. [June 16.
porphyry are abundant, alternating with and passing into greywacke. 10 Por- tions of the soil are very ferdle and capable of tillage, but the greater part is pasturage, on which herds and flocks graze. The botany of this Island is extremely interesting, and over it are small flowering wild plants in the sum- mer season. Its rocks are greatly frequented by sea-fowl, while its coasts
^SnnmJs'^
Lambay Island, County of Dublin.
abound in fish, especially crabs, oysters and lobsters. If the conjecture be correct, that the present St.
Colman was identical with St. Columba's disciple, he must have lived here about the middle of the sixth century. How long
he survived does not to be known. The of
at the 16th of June, has an entry of the present St. Colman, son of Roi, and also of Reachrainn.
Article VI. —St. Lugh, supposed to have been a Monk of Ioxa.
to the of 1 veneration was to at According Martyrology Tallagh, given Lugh,
the 16th of June. This Calendar describes him as having been a priest.
transferred to the wood, engraved by Mrs. Millard.
" Edited by Drs. Todd and Reeves, pp.
lib. ii. , cap. ix. , p. 130, and n. 30, p. 174. and the notices ol St. Meallan, at 28th of January, in the First volume of this work.
170, 171. — Article vi.
%
Quinta Appendix
*
Edited by Rev. Dr.
1 appear Martyrology Donegal,'
havebeenthe
2 a of disciple
thinkshe
St. Patrick, and whose feast may be assigned either to the 2nd of March, or to this date. 3 However, this opinion does not seem to be well supported ; and, in another place, the same writer sets him down as one of St. Columba's
10 The accompanying illustration of Lam- Kelly, p xxvii.
2"
bay Island is from a point of view on the See Trias Thaumaturga," Sexia Vita
mainland selected by William F. Wakeman S. Patricii, cap. xciii. , p. 86. and n. 104, p. on the spot. The drawing was by him 113. See also Septim. i Vita S. Patricii,
Colgan
may
Lugacius
of
Kill-airthir,
; See ibid.
Fatricii, cap. x. xi. i. . p. 266.
ad Acta S.
LIVES OF THE\TRISH SAINTS.
disciples. Thisseemstobemoreprobable,*andthathisbirthandparentage
June 16. ]
685
should be referred to Northern Britain.
The present holy man appears to
have been the St. Luga Ceanaladh, or Lugu-Cenealad,s whose parents lived
in a place called Artdaib-muirchol, and who was baptized by St. Columkille
at a fountain miraculously produced, and regarding whom a remarkable pre-
diction was announced. This was to the effect, that his early years should
be spent in dissipation, but that he should afterwards repent, and live to a
good old age, in the service of God. 6 We have no further particulars of his
life, but it has been thought he became a monk at Iona. ? For this supposi-
tion,however,wefindnosufficientauthorityadvanced. IntheMartyrology
8
of Donegal, at the 16th of June, is entered a festival of St. Lugh.
Article VII. —Festival of Translation of the Holy Virgins,
CUNIGENDA, MECHTUNDE, WaLRANDE, AND CHRISCONA, OR CHRISTIANA, Switzerland. The history of these pious virgins is not known with any
great degree of certainty; but, their memory and veneration have long sur- vived their period in popular tradition. About the age, year, or day of their death, nothing has been discovered. The Translation of their Relics, how- ever, has been assigned to June 16th. 1 Acts relating to the holy virgins Cunigenda, Mechtunde, Wilrande and Chriscona, or Christiana, are found in the Bollandists at this 2 These are said to have been the of
day. companions St. Ursula ; but this has been called in question, by Father Daniel Papebroke editor of their Acts. He judges from their names, that they must have been of German origin, and that their period of life must have been considerably
later. 3 In Switzerland, they seem to have arrived as strangers, and although claimed as Scottish virgins, by some writers, it is un—certain if they could have
4
been from Ireland. Following the local tra thought
Henricus Murer
dispensed from following it in detail, as regarding the present holy women, whose Acts have been greatly obscured. According to the tradition prevail-
from about the twelfth or thirteenth century
makes them
companions
of St.
Ursula;
J.
adopts quite
4 The reader is referred to the Life of St.
Columkille, in the present volume, at the 9th of June, Art. i. , and chap, x v. , for the list of
tiana, in Constantiensi Alemannire Dioecesi, tomus hi. , Junii xvi. , pp. 1 14 to 142. There
is a previous commentary, regarding their pilgrimage, cultus, elevation and Process. These Acts have been edited by Father Daniel Papebroke, S. J. The previous com- mentary is in ten paragraphs. The Process itself has been published by Father Hermann Crombach, S. J. , in eight chapters, compris- ing ninety-two paragraphs, with notes by Father Papebroke. A Legend follows, in twelve paragraphs, composed by Father Crombach.
3 Papebroke assigns it to about the ninth or
tenth century.
4 In " Helvetia Sancta," at p. 169. Pub-
lished A. D. 1648.
5 His German work has been translated
into French by LAbbe G. Beeteme, " Sainte Ursule et ses Onze Mille Vierges ou L'Europe Occidentale au Milieu du v«
his disciples, No. 78.
s See Colgan's "Trias Thaumaturga,
"
QuartaVita S. Columbce, lib. ii. , cap. x. ,
p. 352, and n. 11, p. 382. AlsoQuinta Vita
S. Columbae, lib. ii. , cap. lix. , p. 402.
6
the Life of St. Columkille, in the pre-
See a further account of this incident, in
sent volume, at the 9th of June, Art. i. ,
chap. xiii.
Colgan's Quarta Appendix
x. , pp. 491, 502.
? See
" Trias ad Acta S.
Thaumaturga," Columbse, cap.
8 Edited
by
Drs. Todd and Reeves,
pp.
170, 171. Article vii.
—
«
to the Pro- cessus Elevationis, in Latin, and printed at
According
Basle, 1505.
2 See "Acta Sanctorum," De Sanctis
while Rev. Dr.
H. Kessel 5
a different opinion, when treating of St. Ursula and her Eleven Thousand Virgins. As their festival belongs to the 21st of October, so we may well be
Virginibus Peregrinis, Cunigunde, Mech- Siecle. " Seconde Partie, chap, iv. , p. 166- tunde, Wilbrande, et Chrischona seu Chris- 6 The people formerly living in this quar-
—dition which is to date
686 LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS, [June 16.
ing in northern Switzerland , three noble virgins, named Cunigund, Mech- tunde and Christiana, otherwise called Chriscona, with their servant maid named Wilbrande, were in company with St. Ursula and her pilgrim com- panions, when they sailed upon the Rhine, after passing the Helvetian moun-
6 on their
to Basle or Basel. ' When
reached the old of city
way
strangers, likewise, to the people and their language. At length, they came to the mountain called Spelte by the people. As yet invalids, they felt worn and fatigued with their devious journey, when they reached a small village denominated Roppersweiler. However, before the others arrived there, the servant of God, Christina, who had been seized with a mortal illness, was obliged to rest at a spot not far from the banks of the Rhine. At length, her death approached, and raising her hands and eyes towards Heaven, she gave praise to the three persons of the Most Adorable Trinity, and thus rendered her soul to God. The inhabitants next sought to take her body for inter- ment in their neighbourhood, but they could not move it from the place where it lay. Then taking counsel together, they resolved to place the remains on a new chariot to which were yoked two heifers, that had not before been trained for bearing burdens. These animals are stated to have set out with the body, in the direction of a steep and rocky mountain, which wascleftontheirapproach. Thewainwasthusdrawntoacertainspot,on
Heaven that Christiana should be interred. " Soon the place of her deposi- tion was made renowned, by the miracle's wrought through her intercession. Filled with gratitude for those favours they received, the inhabitants built a church on that spot where she reposed. It was thenceforth dedicated to her memory. The other virgins sought a refuge at Roppersweiler in their debili- tatedstate,andatthecottageofaverypoorperson. Theinhabitantsofthat place received them very hospitably, believing they were pilgrims of high birthandofgreatvirtue. There,SaintsCunigunde,MechtundeandWibrande, having recovered their health, resolved on spending the rest of their days. When these were about to close, like true Christians and confirmed as they had been in Faith, they declared themselves ready to gain the crown of martyrdom, as they hadan inspiration, which wasdestined for their companions, but that it pleased the Divine bounty to reserve them for other labours and merits. Then, they desired a minister of the last Sacraments to attend on their dying moments. Having patiently and perserveringly contended
ter of Switzerland were called Helvetii, and 'There, according to some accounts, seve-
tains,
Augusta,8 near Basle, in the present Canton of Argau, those holy virgins fell sick. There they were obliged to remain for some time. When able to move, their journey was taken through a rough and an uncultivated land ; throughwoodsandvalleysandmountainsunknowntothem. Theywere
and there the heifers
astonished at these portents, and there they deemed it to be the will of
the of a ridge
mountain,
stopped.
their country Helvetia. With them Ca^ar ral of St. Ursula's companions died. See "
contended, in March, ab. u. c. 696. See the L'Abbe Beeteme's Sainte Ursule et ses "
Emperor Louis Napoleon's Histoire de Onze Mille Vierges," &c. Seconde Partie,
Jules Caesar," tome ii. , liv. iv. , chap, i. , p. 352.
chap, iv. , p. 166.
is now the
of a Canton
mountain was
7 This
so named, in north-western Switzerland. An tra Istein posita. " "Helvetia Sacra," p.
city
account of both may be found, in the
"Gazetteer of the World," vol. ii. , pp.
601,602.
8
It lies between Basle and Rheinfeld, but nearer to the latter. It is now called Augst, and formerly Augusta Rauracorum.
— Richensi con- inToparchia
capital
*°
According to Henricus Murer, this
"
they
10 The were people
169.
" We find from the Process of 1 that 504,
a large and heavy stone had been placed orer her remains. See Father Hermann Crombach's edition, cap. iv.
" This is denied, however, by Papebroke,
June 16. ] LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS.
687
against the enemy of their salvation, and commending themselves to God's mercy, they were fortified with all necessary graces.