Festival
of the beginning of the Preaching of OUR Lord Jesus Christ.
O'Hanlon - Lives of the Irish Saints - v5
144.
'* See Bishop Challenor's "Britannia Sancta," part i. , p. 274.
's According to Father Michael Alford, in his learned work already quoted.
May I. ]
LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS.
53
5 ——
others prolong his existence, to the commencement of the seventh century. Thus, Adam King has recorded his demise, at a. d. 608, while Dempster im- putes to Baronius the date 615 ; however, Father Godefrid Henschenn could not find the latter statement in the work of Baronius. '^ The chief traces of his cultus in Scotland are in Asheg,^? in the parish of Strath,'^ in the Island of Skye
; in the Island of Berneray is the church of St. Asaph ;'9 also, in Killasaph ;^°
andinKilassie,orKilhassie,anoldburialplacenearLochRannoch. ^^ In the Martyrology of the Church of Aberdeen, ^= St. Asaph is commemorated, at the ist of May. ^3 Also, John Molanus notes,^+ in his annotations to Usuard, that in Scotia, St. Asaph the bishop, from whose name the See of St. Asaph is derived, had veneration given to him on this day.
Article XIV. St. Banban, Bishop. The Martyrology of Tallagh ' merely enters the name Banban, at the ist of I\Iay. From the postfix to this proper name, the calendarist seems to regard him, as having been invested with episcopal prerogatives. Referring to the same authority, the Bollandists " notice Banbanus bishop, at this date. There is a Banbhan, or Banan, son of Donnghal, son of Donngalbach, son to Urclosac, son of Tersen, son to Cor- ban, son of Ende, son to Dubdunad, son of Angan or Eugene, son of Fiacha Suighdhe, son to Feidhlimidh Reachtmhar. He was therefore a saint of the Desies race,3 if this be the person. This day, the Martyrology of Donegal ^ registers the festival of Banban, priest. Such account agrees with the
statement of Colgan, when enumerating many saints, called Bamban or Banban.
Article XV. Feast of St. Walburgis, or Walburge, Virgin and Abbess. \_Eighth Century. '] This holy Virgin is said to have been born among tlie West Saxons, in England, to have been daughter to the holy King, St. Richard, also a sister to Saints Willibald and Winebald, and to have been educated in Winburn monastery, in Dorsetshire, where she took the religious veil. At the request of her cousin, St. Boniface, she went with others into Germany. There she lived at Heidenheim, and passed away into everlast-
'* See "Acta Sanctorum," tomus i,, Maii i. De Sancto Asapho Episcopo in Wallia Boreah, num. 5, p. 83.
'7 It is said to have been primarily dedi- Gated to St. Asaph. See " New Staiistical Account of Scotland," vol. xxxi. , p. 305.
'* In it is Tobar Asheg, or St. Asaph's Well, considered superior to all the other springs. Ibid.
'9 It isrenderedCill Aisaim, in the "Origi- nes Parochiales Scutice,"vol. ii. , parti. ,p. 377.
°° Otherwise Kilasine.
^' See Bishop Forbes' " Kalendars of Scottish Saints," pp. 271, 272.
"Edited by David Laing, Esq. , F. S. A. Scot. See "Proceedings of the Society of Antiquaries of Scotland," vol. ii. , p. 263.
^3Thus: "Kl. Maij. In Vallia Sancti Aseph discipuli Sancti Kentigerni de quo ecclesia catliedralis in eadem prouincia cuins pacientia et vite sanctitudo illius regionis incolis viuendi normam egregiam et fidei constanciam admonuit. "
-' In his first edition, printed A. D. 1568,
there is nothing stated regarding St. Asaph but, his feast is inserted, in the second edi- tion, printed A. D. 15S3.
Article xiv. Kelly, p. xxiii. bAnbAn Cpf.
i.
^ See " Acta Sanctorum," tomus i. , Maii Among the pretermitted saints," p. 3.
— '
Edited by Rev. Dr. The Franciscan copy has
3 See Colgan's "'Acta Sanctorum Hiber- nije," xii. Januarii. Appendix ad Acta S. Iti^, cap. ii. , p. 73.
» Edited by Drs. Todd and Reeves, pp. 116, 117. In the table postfixed to this Martyrology C/'^;rif///«) within brackets and Italicized thus occurs after his name. See
ibid. , pp. 362, 363.
s See "Trias Thaumaturga," Septima
Vita S. Patricii, num. 67. See, also, Colgan's speculations, on a person named Barban, in " Acta Sanctorum Hibernite," Februarii vi. De S. Mele, Episcopo Ardachadensi, cap. iii. , p. 259, and n. 8, p. 262.
;
——
LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. [May
ing rest, on the 25th day of February, a. d. 779. ^ This saint, who is named Walburges, has been set down, at the ist of May, among the saints connected with Ireland, in the anonymous calendar, published by O'Sullevan Beare. ' The Bollandists make tiie present date a festival for the Elevation and Trans- lation of the body of St. Walburgis, at Eystad or Aichstadt,^ while they assign herNatalis,tothe25thofFebruary. * Herrelicsweredistributedtoseveral places in Germany, Holland, France and England, where various churches werededicatedinherhonour. s Itmaybe,thatIrelandhadsomeshare,in the possession of those sacred remains.
Article XVI. St. Suitbertus. Molanus and Henry Fitzsimon, at the I St of May, enter the festival of St. Suitbertus. ' On this day, how^ever, the Bollandists do not notice him.
Article XVII. St. Ronan, or Roman. The name of this saint is found recorded, in the Mart) rology of Tallagh,' at the ist of May ; although, through an evident error, it is written Roman. Referring to the same autho- rity, the Bollandists ^ merely notice Romanus ; but, they afterwards observe, there are six different Ronans, in the Irish calendars, while, among them no attempt is made to distinguish the present holy man. There is a festival in
honour of Ronan celebrated on this day, as is mentioned, in the Martyrology of Donegal. 3
Article XVIII. Feast of St. Philip, the Apostle. In the Feilire of St. iEngus,' we find the festival of the Apostle Philip entered, at the ist of May. Although called the Feast of his Nativity, a commentator on this statement, in the " Leabhar Breac," takes care to observe, that it was not his birth in the flesh, which is here meant, but rather the day for his death, as read in the Passions of the Apostles. ^ From another comment, it is stated, that for twenty years after the Ascension of our Lord Jesus Christ, he preached to the nations, and in the seventieth year of his age, he passed away to our Lord, in the city of Hieropolis. 3 This Apostle had three daugh- ters, who were virgins,* one of these were buried with him, in the aforesaid city, on his right hand, and another on his left. ^ The Acts of St. Philip, Apostle, are given by the Bollandists,^ with a previous learned commentary, at the ist day of May.
54
Article xv. — ' See Rev. Alban Butler's "Lives of the Fathers, Martyrs and other principal Saints," vol. v. , May i.
* See "Hisloiiae Catholicse Ibernise
Compendium," tomus i. , lib. iv. , cap. xi. ,
p. 50.
3 See "Acta Sanctorum," tomus i. , Maii tlie Royal Irish Academy," Irish Manuscript
i. Among the pretermitted saints, p. 2.
* At this date, Father Godefrid Ilenschena has published six different Lives of this
Saint.
sSee Rader's "Bavaria Sancta," tomus
iii. , p. 4.
Ar 1 icLE XVI. — • See O'Sullevan Beare's
Series, vol. i. , part i. , p. Ixxviii.
- See ibid. , p. Ixxxiii.
^The Commentator adds, "in regione
Scitarum. "
•
'I'he Commentator remarks : " Philipus hautem diaconus. uii. filias profetanles habuit non Philipus Apostolus. "
^'\'\\q Scholiast states, also, at this date : " lacobus frater Domini et Mathias Aposto- lus hie,"
'See " Acta Sanctorum," tomus i. , Maii
"IIi^torice CatholiccelberniaiCompendium," tomus i. , lib. iv. , cap. xii. , \\ 57.
Article xvii. —' Ld;led by Rev. Dr. Kelly, p. xxiii. The Franciscan copy enters
flonAni.
'See " Acta Sanctoi-um," tomus i. , Maii
i.
Among t! ie pretermitted saints, p. 3. ^Edited by Dri. Todd and Reeves, pp.
Il6, 117. — "
Article xviii. ' See Transactions of
———
May 2. ] LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. 55
Article XIX.
Festival of the beginning of the Preaching of OUR Lord Jesus Christ. Such is the record we find, in the FeiUre ' of St. ^ngus,attheistofMay. TheBoUandists^alsohaveenteredtliisfestival, at the same date, and on the authority of several ancient Martyrologies. 3 They refer the reader to Florentinius' notes on the Martyrology of St. Jerome, for a curious disquisition relating to this topic.
^tronlj JBay of iWap,
ARTICLE I. —ST. NEACHTAIN, OF CILL-UINCHE, COUNTY OF LOUTH, AND OF FENNOR, ON THE RIVER BOYNE, COUNTY OF MEATH.
[FIFTH CENTURY. ]
THIS holy pupil and near relation of St. Patrick had an early commemo- ration; for, his festival has been assigned to the 2nd of May, in the Feilire' of St. JEngus the Culdee. In the Martyrology of Tallagh,^ at this date, is also recorded, Neachtan of Cill Unchi, or Cell Funchi,3 in Conailibh, or Conaill,'* sometimes called Fidh Conaille. This latter place must have been situated, within the county of Louth ; over the greater part of which the terri- toryofConailleMuirtheimhneextended. TheBoUandistsnoticethisholy man, at the present date. s St. Nechtain, or Nectan, was the son ofLiam- hain,^ or Liamain,7 sister to St. Patrick. ^ For this reason, he was called Mac
Leamhua, or Mac Lemnai, His father was probably Restitutus, the Lombard. He was consequently a nephew to the great Irish Apostle, on the mother's side. It would seem, that the latter had charge of his early education and ecclesiastical training ; for, it has been very generally stated, that St. Nectan,
i. De S. Philippo Apostolo, Martyre, Hiera- poli in Phrygia, pp. 7 to 18.
Article xix. —•
copy, in " Transactions of the Royal Irish Academy," Irish Manuscript Series, vol. i. , parti. , p. Ixxviii.
* See " Acta Sanctorum," tomus i. , Mali i. Among the pretermitted saints, p. 3.
3 Among them are those of St. Jerome, of Corbie, ot Lucca, of Blumian, of Notlcer, of Wandelbert, of Tallagh, of Manuscripts, called the Barberinian, Augustan, and those belonging to the Monastery of St. Cyriacus and to the Queen of Sweden.
whom he went, with (the) death, after a long sigh, of Nechtan Patrick's pupil. "
" On tiie Calendar of Oengus," " Transac- tions of the Royal Irish Academy," vol. i. , part i. , p. Ixxviii.
^ Edited by Rev. Dr. Kelly, p. xxiii. In the Franciscan copy we find UeAchcAin o CibL imci 1 CotiAiLub.
3 Tiie " Leabhar Breac " gloss.
^ Tlie " Leabhar Breac " gloss.
s See "Acta Sanctorum," tomus i. ,
Maii ii. Among the pretermitted saints,
P- ^^T-
* This name is found Latinized as Liema-
'
See "Leabhar Breac "
Article i. — ' In the "Leabhar Breac nia ; but, it seems not to have been dis-
copy we read :
efcomLAT) Sacu^mii
Co CiM-pc iniAi\Anic LA'hec]'echu iAi\i'i]\c'hneCiTco
tleclicAin daLca Paci\aic
It is thus rendered by Dr. Whitley Stokes : "Saturninus' departure, unto Christ nigh
covered, that she had a feast in our Calen- dars.
7 She is so called, by the glossographer on the " Feilire," in tlie Lealjhar Breac copy, where lie asserts, that she was the daughter of Calpurn.
^ See his Life, at the 17th of March, in vol. iii. of this work, cliap. iii. , n. 64.
9 See "Trias Thaumaturga," Appendix
5^
LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. [May
theBishop,wasadiscipleofSt. Patrick. 9 AccordingtotheaccountsaboutSt. Nectain, he belonged to a place, known as Cill-Uinche, in Conaille-Muir- theimlme. Also, Fioneabhair-Abba was a locality associated with his memory. Here, it seems probable, was the chief place of his residence, when he had embraced a religious life. According to a gloss on the Feilire-Aenguis, Fionuabhair-Abba, or Findabair,'° was on the margin of the River Boyne, in Bregia. It may be Anglicized " the bright field of the river. " At present, it
is known as Fennor," in a small parish," bearing the same name, in the barony of Lower Duleek. '3 Here, there is an ancient church, surrounded by
^^>Wl
Fennor Old Church, near Slane, County of Meath.
a cemeter}','* which is still greatly frequented. Some massive blocks of a fine description of limestone have been inserted in the gable-wall best preserved, and over them is spread a luxurious growth of ivy. In passing along the Dublin road towards Slane,'5 the grey and ivied walls of Fennor cannot fail to impress
Quinta ad Acta S. Patricii, cap. iv. , num. 6, " These are shown in a sketch, taken by
the writer on the spot, in August, 1883, "The " Leabhar Breac " copy. drawn afterwards on the wood by William " In the Folio Volumes of G. V. Du F. Wakeman, and engraved by Mrs. Md-
p. 266.
Noyer's Sketches, vol. viii. , R. I. A. , there are drawings of this old church, with various details.
" Containing 1,127 acres. See " Parlia- mentary Gazetteer of Ireland," vol. ii. , p. 201.
lard.
'5 At the age of seven years, Dagobert,
King of Austrasia, was seized by Grimoald, Mayor of the Palace. He was shorn as a monk and banished to Ireland. Here his education was received in the Abbey of
'3 See the " Ordnance Survey Townland Slane. See "The Illustrated Dublin Jour-
Maps for the County of Meath," sheets 19, 26. The townland proper is shown, on the former sheet.
nal,'' vol. i. . No. 20, p. 312.
''•' See Rev. . X. Ci gan's " Eccle>iastical
History of the Diocese of Meatli, Ancient
—
May 2. ] LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS.
the beholder, and to awaken Catholic reminiscences. '^ The situation of the old church is one of great picturesqueness. This building measures fifty-five feet, by nineteen, and it had a chancel arch, twenty-two feet, from the east end. How long Nechtain lived here is not known. The Irish Apostle is stated to have been present, however, while he was dying. Nechtain then made his testament, it is said. '7 He called likewise for a drink. St. Patrick had a vision, manifesting his glory in Heaven, before he died. '^ If this account is to be received, St. Nechtain could not have reached a very advanced age, and he must have departed this life, about the middle of the fifth century. When his demise took place, his remains were deposited in Fennor. During the ninth and tenth centuries, some references to it are found in our Annals. 'y After the Anglo-Norman invasion, we find this place to have been converted into a parish church. "'"^ The present saint is patron, where his festival had been kept, on the 2nd of May •^'^ and here, too, we are told, his remains lie. ^^ On this day was venerated Neachtain, as we find set down, in the
Martyrology of Donegal. ^3
Article II. St. Germanus, Bishop and Martyr, in the Country OF the Ambiani, France. \_Fifth Century^ It is the fate of most subject countries—and Ireland forms no exception to the rule—to have not alone their material products appropriated by the dominant country, but even to have their men of sanctity and fair renown absorbed among the rank and file of the conquerors, although having a distinctive national existence. Thus it happens, that the present holy man has been set down as an Anglus, by comparativelymodernwriters;' althoughhisfatherisstatedtohavebeena prince of the nation of the Scots, in his more ancient Acts. These the BoUan-
and Modern," vol. i. , chap, xxiii. , pp. 136,
137.
'? By a Commentator on tlie Feilire of St.
^ngus.
'^ See " Transactions of the Royal Irish
tivitas consignata in lihro qui Fasti Sancto- mm inscribitur. " In the second edition of his Martyrology, Wilson somewhat variedly inserts liis commemoration: "Eodemdie in inferior! Germania depositio S. Germani
Academy," vol. i. , part i. Dr. Whitley Episcopi et Martyris, natione Angli, qui cum
Stokes' version, p. Ixxxiii.
'9 See Dr. O'Donovan's "Annals of the
Four Masters," at A. D. 804, 827, 833, 837, 843, 847, 882, 902, 1024.
in Brabantiam trajecisset ; inde in Frisiam, Chrisii tidem prxdicaturus, in mercedem gloriam martyrii adeptus est circiter annum Christi DCCL. " This account, Philip Alex- ander Ferrari seems to have copied, in his
^° See Rev. Anthony Cogan's "Ecclesias-
tical History of the Diocese of Meath, "Catalogus Generalis Sanctorum ;" and,
Ancient and Modern," vol. i. , chap, xxiii. ,
p. 137.
^' See Dr. O'Donovan's "Annals of the
Four Masters," vol. i. , n. (a), p. 414.
=^ Such is a statement of a commentator
on the Feilire, in the " Leabhar Breac. "
=3 Edited by Drs. Todd and Reeves, pp.
118, 119. Article11. —'Thus,JohnWilsonhas
it in the first edition of his "Martyrologium Anglicanum," at the 2nd of May: " In in- feriore Germania Festivitas S. Germani Episcopi et Martyris : hie Anglus natione, in inferiores illas provincias trajecit, Christi fidem prasdicaturus, ulsi tandem suam mer- cedem, martyrii scilicet coronam, adeptus est. Ejus Vita copiose manu exarata in quopiam Belgii monasterio extat, ut e Societate vene- rabilis Sacerdos testatur, atque hoc die Fes-
he adds another mistake, at this date, " In Anglia S. Germani Episcopi et Martyris ;" as if, indeed, St. Germanus either had been Bishop in England, or had there died. He also cites Heribert Rosweyde for his autho- rity, when writing' about the British Saints. However, Rosweyde treated in general on all those saints, whose Manuscript Lives weretobefoundintheBelgianLibraries. It is true, at the 2nd of May, he enters, " Ger- manus Anglus Episcopus et Martyr ;" not- withstanding. Father John Bolland declares, by the expression Anglus, Rosweyde only meant, one of the different nations, that were then subject to the English monarchy,
^ See "Acta Sanctorum," tomus i. , Mail ii. De S. Germano Episcopo Mart. apud Anibianos in Gallia, pp. 259 to 270.
^ A Prorogue introduces the Life of St.
57
LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. [May 2.
dists have published,^ at the 2nd of May, from various Manuscripts,? with annotations, and having a commentary * by Fatlier John BoUand prefixed. ' The Benedictines barely notice this Tract—supposed to have been written after the tenth century—and, as a tissue of prodigies, which have no other warrant than popular tradition. ^ It was printed, at first, by Pere Jean Cau- chie. 7 At the end of twenty years, in 1665, it was re-issued, with some changes. ^ ColganappearstohavepreparedaLifeofSt. Germanusforpub- lication, at the 2nd of May ; and, the name is so entered, in his list of unpub- lishedManuscripts. 9 HisLifeispubHshed,likewise,inthePetitsBoUandistes' collection.
'* See Bishop Challenor's "Britannia Sancta," part i. , p. 274.
's According to Father Michael Alford, in his learned work already quoted.
May I. ]
LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS.
53
5 ——
others prolong his existence, to the commencement of the seventh century. Thus, Adam King has recorded his demise, at a. d. 608, while Dempster im- putes to Baronius the date 615 ; however, Father Godefrid Henschenn could not find the latter statement in the work of Baronius. '^ The chief traces of his cultus in Scotland are in Asheg,^? in the parish of Strath,'^ in the Island of Skye
; in the Island of Berneray is the church of St. Asaph ;'9 also, in Killasaph ;^°
andinKilassie,orKilhassie,anoldburialplacenearLochRannoch. ^^ In the Martyrology of the Church of Aberdeen, ^= St. Asaph is commemorated, at the ist of May. ^3 Also, John Molanus notes,^+ in his annotations to Usuard, that in Scotia, St. Asaph the bishop, from whose name the See of St. Asaph is derived, had veneration given to him on this day.
Article XIV. St. Banban, Bishop. The Martyrology of Tallagh ' merely enters the name Banban, at the ist of I\Iay. From the postfix to this proper name, the calendarist seems to regard him, as having been invested with episcopal prerogatives. Referring to the same authority, the Bollandists " notice Banbanus bishop, at this date. There is a Banbhan, or Banan, son of Donnghal, son of Donngalbach, son to Urclosac, son of Tersen, son to Cor- ban, son of Ende, son to Dubdunad, son of Angan or Eugene, son of Fiacha Suighdhe, son to Feidhlimidh Reachtmhar. He was therefore a saint of the Desies race,3 if this be the person. This day, the Martyrology of Donegal ^ registers the festival of Banban, priest. Such account agrees with the
statement of Colgan, when enumerating many saints, called Bamban or Banban.
Article XV. Feast of St. Walburgis, or Walburge, Virgin and Abbess. \_Eighth Century. '] This holy Virgin is said to have been born among tlie West Saxons, in England, to have been daughter to the holy King, St. Richard, also a sister to Saints Willibald and Winebald, and to have been educated in Winburn monastery, in Dorsetshire, where she took the religious veil. At the request of her cousin, St. Boniface, she went with others into Germany. There she lived at Heidenheim, and passed away into everlast-
'* See "Acta Sanctorum," tomus i,, Maii i. De Sancto Asapho Episcopo in Wallia Boreah, num. 5, p. 83.
'7 It is said to have been primarily dedi- Gated to St. Asaph. See " New Staiistical Account of Scotland," vol. xxxi. , p. 305.
'* In it is Tobar Asheg, or St. Asaph's Well, considered superior to all the other springs. Ibid.
'9 It isrenderedCill Aisaim, in the "Origi- nes Parochiales Scutice,"vol. ii. , parti. ,p. 377.
°° Otherwise Kilasine.
^' See Bishop Forbes' " Kalendars of Scottish Saints," pp. 271, 272.
"Edited by David Laing, Esq. , F. S. A. Scot. See "Proceedings of the Society of Antiquaries of Scotland," vol. ii. , p. 263.
^3Thus: "Kl. Maij. In Vallia Sancti Aseph discipuli Sancti Kentigerni de quo ecclesia catliedralis in eadem prouincia cuins pacientia et vite sanctitudo illius regionis incolis viuendi normam egregiam et fidei constanciam admonuit. "
-' In his first edition, printed A. D. 1568,
there is nothing stated regarding St. Asaph but, his feast is inserted, in the second edi- tion, printed A. D. 15S3.
Article xiv. Kelly, p. xxiii. bAnbAn Cpf.
i.
^ See " Acta Sanctorum," tomus i. , Maii Among the pretermitted saints," p. 3.
— '
Edited by Rev. Dr. The Franciscan copy has
3 See Colgan's "'Acta Sanctorum Hiber- nije," xii. Januarii. Appendix ad Acta S. Iti^, cap. ii. , p. 73.
» Edited by Drs. Todd and Reeves, pp. 116, 117. In the table postfixed to this Martyrology C/'^;rif///«) within brackets and Italicized thus occurs after his name. See
ibid. , pp. 362, 363.
s See "Trias Thaumaturga," Septima
Vita S. Patricii, num. 67. See, also, Colgan's speculations, on a person named Barban, in " Acta Sanctorum Hibernite," Februarii vi. De S. Mele, Episcopo Ardachadensi, cap. iii. , p. 259, and n. 8, p. 262.
;
——
LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. [May
ing rest, on the 25th day of February, a. d. 779. ^ This saint, who is named Walburges, has been set down, at the ist of May, among the saints connected with Ireland, in the anonymous calendar, published by O'Sullevan Beare. ' The Bollandists make tiie present date a festival for the Elevation and Trans- lation of the body of St. Walburgis, at Eystad or Aichstadt,^ while they assign herNatalis,tothe25thofFebruary. * Herrelicsweredistributedtoseveral places in Germany, Holland, France and England, where various churches werededicatedinherhonour. s Itmaybe,thatIrelandhadsomeshare,in the possession of those sacred remains.
Article XVI. St. Suitbertus. Molanus and Henry Fitzsimon, at the I St of May, enter the festival of St. Suitbertus. ' On this day, how^ever, the Bollandists do not notice him.
Article XVII. St. Ronan, or Roman. The name of this saint is found recorded, in the Mart) rology of Tallagh,' at the ist of May ; although, through an evident error, it is written Roman. Referring to the same autho- rity, the Bollandists ^ merely notice Romanus ; but, they afterwards observe, there are six different Ronans, in the Irish calendars, while, among them no attempt is made to distinguish the present holy man. There is a festival in
honour of Ronan celebrated on this day, as is mentioned, in the Martyrology of Donegal. 3
Article XVIII. Feast of St. Philip, the Apostle. In the Feilire of St. iEngus,' we find the festival of the Apostle Philip entered, at the ist of May. Although called the Feast of his Nativity, a commentator on this statement, in the " Leabhar Breac," takes care to observe, that it was not his birth in the flesh, which is here meant, but rather the day for his death, as read in the Passions of the Apostles. ^ From another comment, it is stated, that for twenty years after the Ascension of our Lord Jesus Christ, he preached to the nations, and in the seventieth year of his age, he passed away to our Lord, in the city of Hieropolis. 3 This Apostle had three daugh- ters, who were virgins,* one of these were buried with him, in the aforesaid city, on his right hand, and another on his left. ^ The Acts of St. Philip, Apostle, are given by the Bollandists,^ with a previous learned commentary, at the ist day of May.
54
Article xv. — ' See Rev. Alban Butler's "Lives of the Fathers, Martyrs and other principal Saints," vol. v. , May i.
* See "Hisloiiae Catholicse Ibernise
Compendium," tomus i. , lib. iv. , cap. xi. ,
p. 50.
3 See "Acta Sanctorum," tomus i. , Maii tlie Royal Irish Academy," Irish Manuscript
i. Among the pretermitted saints, p. 2.
* At this date, Father Godefrid Ilenschena has published six different Lives of this
Saint.
sSee Rader's "Bavaria Sancta," tomus
iii. , p. 4.
Ar 1 icLE XVI. — • See O'Sullevan Beare's
Series, vol. i. , part i. , p. Ixxviii.
- See ibid. , p. Ixxxiii.
^The Commentator adds, "in regione
Scitarum. "
•
'I'he Commentator remarks : " Philipus hautem diaconus. uii. filias profetanles habuit non Philipus Apostolus. "
^'\'\\q Scholiast states, also, at this date : " lacobus frater Domini et Mathias Aposto- lus hie,"
'See " Acta Sanctorum," tomus i. , Maii
"IIi^torice CatholiccelberniaiCompendium," tomus i. , lib. iv. , cap. xii. , \\ 57.
Article xvii. —' Ld;led by Rev. Dr. Kelly, p. xxiii. The Franciscan copy enters
flonAni.
'See " Acta Sanctoi-um," tomus i. , Maii
i.
Among t! ie pretermitted saints, p. 3. ^Edited by Dri. Todd and Reeves, pp.
Il6, 117. — "
Article xviii. ' See Transactions of
———
May 2. ] LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. 55
Article XIX.
Festival of the beginning of the Preaching of OUR Lord Jesus Christ. Such is the record we find, in the FeiUre ' of St. ^ngus,attheistofMay. TheBoUandists^alsohaveenteredtliisfestival, at the same date, and on the authority of several ancient Martyrologies. 3 They refer the reader to Florentinius' notes on the Martyrology of St. Jerome, for a curious disquisition relating to this topic.
^tronlj JBay of iWap,
ARTICLE I. —ST. NEACHTAIN, OF CILL-UINCHE, COUNTY OF LOUTH, AND OF FENNOR, ON THE RIVER BOYNE, COUNTY OF MEATH.
[FIFTH CENTURY. ]
THIS holy pupil and near relation of St. Patrick had an early commemo- ration; for, his festival has been assigned to the 2nd of May, in the Feilire' of St. JEngus the Culdee. In the Martyrology of Tallagh,^ at this date, is also recorded, Neachtan of Cill Unchi, or Cell Funchi,3 in Conailibh, or Conaill,'* sometimes called Fidh Conaille. This latter place must have been situated, within the county of Louth ; over the greater part of which the terri- toryofConailleMuirtheimhneextended. TheBoUandistsnoticethisholy man, at the present date. s St. Nechtain, or Nectan, was the son ofLiam- hain,^ or Liamain,7 sister to St. Patrick. ^ For this reason, he was called Mac
Leamhua, or Mac Lemnai, His father was probably Restitutus, the Lombard. He was consequently a nephew to the great Irish Apostle, on the mother's side. It would seem, that the latter had charge of his early education and ecclesiastical training ; for, it has been very generally stated, that St. Nectan,
i. De S. Philippo Apostolo, Martyre, Hiera- poli in Phrygia, pp. 7 to 18.
Article xix. —•
copy, in " Transactions of the Royal Irish Academy," Irish Manuscript Series, vol. i. , parti. , p. Ixxviii.
* See " Acta Sanctorum," tomus i. , Mali i. Among the pretermitted saints, p. 3.
3 Among them are those of St. Jerome, of Corbie, ot Lucca, of Blumian, of Notlcer, of Wandelbert, of Tallagh, of Manuscripts, called the Barberinian, Augustan, and those belonging to the Monastery of St. Cyriacus and to the Queen of Sweden.
whom he went, with (the) death, after a long sigh, of Nechtan Patrick's pupil. "
" On tiie Calendar of Oengus," " Transac- tions of the Royal Irish Academy," vol. i. , part i. , p. Ixxviii.
^ Edited by Rev. Dr. Kelly, p. xxiii. In the Franciscan copy we find UeAchcAin o CibL imci 1 CotiAiLub.
3 Tiie " Leabhar Breac " gloss.
^ Tlie " Leabhar Breac " gloss.
s See "Acta Sanctorum," tomus i. ,
Maii ii. Among the pretermitted saints,
P- ^^T-
* This name is found Latinized as Liema-
'
See "Leabhar Breac "
Article i. — ' In the "Leabhar Breac nia ; but, it seems not to have been dis-
copy we read :
efcomLAT) Sacu^mii
Co CiM-pc iniAi\Anic LA'hec]'echu iAi\i'i]\c'hneCiTco
tleclicAin daLca Paci\aic
It is thus rendered by Dr. Whitley Stokes : "Saturninus' departure, unto Christ nigh
covered, that she had a feast in our Calen- dars.
7 She is so called, by the glossographer on the " Feilire," in tlie Lealjhar Breac copy, where lie asserts, that she was the daughter of Calpurn.
^ See his Life, at the 17th of March, in vol. iii. of this work, cliap. iii. , n. 64.
9 See "Trias Thaumaturga," Appendix
5^
LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. [May
theBishop,wasadiscipleofSt. Patrick. 9 AccordingtotheaccountsaboutSt. Nectain, he belonged to a place, known as Cill-Uinche, in Conaille-Muir- theimlme. Also, Fioneabhair-Abba was a locality associated with his memory. Here, it seems probable, was the chief place of his residence, when he had embraced a religious life. According to a gloss on the Feilire-Aenguis, Fionuabhair-Abba, or Findabair,'° was on the margin of the River Boyne, in Bregia. It may be Anglicized " the bright field of the river. " At present, it
is known as Fennor," in a small parish," bearing the same name, in the barony of Lower Duleek. '3 Here, there is an ancient church, surrounded by
^^>Wl
Fennor Old Church, near Slane, County of Meath.
a cemeter}','* which is still greatly frequented. Some massive blocks of a fine description of limestone have been inserted in the gable-wall best preserved, and over them is spread a luxurious growth of ivy. In passing along the Dublin road towards Slane,'5 the grey and ivied walls of Fennor cannot fail to impress
Quinta ad Acta S. Patricii, cap. iv. , num. 6, " These are shown in a sketch, taken by
the writer on the spot, in August, 1883, "The " Leabhar Breac " copy. drawn afterwards on the wood by William " In the Folio Volumes of G. V. Du F. Wakeman, and engraved by Mrs. Md-
p. 266.
Noyer's Sketches, vol. viii. , R. I. A. , there are drawings of this old church, with various details.
" Containing 1,127 acres. See " Parlia- mentary Gazetteer of Ireland," vol. ii. , p. 201.
lard.
'5 At the age of seven years, Dagobert,
King of Austrasia, was seized by Grimoald, Mayor of the Palace. He was shorn as a monk and banished to Ireland. Here his education was received in the Abbey of
'3 See the " Ordnance Survey Townland Slane. See "The Illustrated Dublin Jour-
Maps for the County of Meath," sheets 19, 26. The townland proper is shown, on the former sheet.
nal,'' vol. i. . No. 20, p. 312.
''•' See Rev. . X. Ci gan's " Eccle>iastical
History of the Diocese of Meatli, Ancient
—
May 2. ] LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS.
the beholder, and to awaken Catholic reminiscences. '^ The situation of the old church is one of great picturesqueness. This building measures fifty-five feet, by nineteen, and it had a chancel arch, twenty-two feet, from the east end. How long Nechtain lived here is not known. The Irish Apostle is stated to have been present, however, while he was dying. Nechtain then made his testament, it is said. '7 He called likewise for a drink. St. Patrick had a vision, manifesting his glory in Heaven, before he died. '^ If this account is to be received, St. Nechtain could not have reached a very advanced age, and he must have departed this life, about the middle of the fifth century. When his demise took place, his remains were deposited in Fennor. During the ninth and tenth centuries, some references to it are found in our Annals. 'y After the Anglo-Norman invasion, we find this place to have been converted into a parish church. "'"^ The present saint is patron, where his festival had been kept, on the 2nd of May •^'^ and here, too, we are told, his remains lie. ^^ On this day was venerated Neachtain, as we find set down, in the
Martyrology of Donegal. ^3
Article II. St. Germanus, Bishop and Martyr, in the Country OF the Ambiani, France. \_Fifth Century^ It is the fate of most subject countries—and Ireland forms no exception to the rule—to have not alone their material products appropriated by the dominant country, but even to have their men of sanctity and fair renown absorbed among the rank and file of the conquerors, although having a distinctive national existence. Thus it happens, that the present holy man has been set down as an Anglus, by comparativelymodernwriters;' althoughhisfatherisstatedtohavebeena prince of the nation of the Scots, in his more ancient Acts. These the BoUan-
and Modern," vol. i. , chap, xxiii. , pp. 136,
137.
'? By a Commentator on tlie Feilire of St.
^ngus.
'^ See " Transactions of the Royal Irish
tivitas consignata in lihro qui Fasti Sancto- mm inscribitur. " In the second edition of his Martyrology, Wilson somewhat variedly inserts liis commemoration: "Eodemdie in inferior! Germania depositio S. Germani
Academy," vol. i. , part i. Dr. Whitley Episcopi et Martyris, natione Angli, qui cum
Stokes' version, p. Ixxxiii.
'9 See Dr. O'Donovan's "Annals of the
Four Masters," at A. D. 804, 827, 833, 837, 843, 847, 882, 902, 1024.
in Brabantiam trajecisset ; inde in Frisiam, Chrisii tidem prxdicaturus, in mercedem gloriam martyrii adeptus est circiter annum Christi DCCL. " This account, Philip Alex- ander Ferrari seems to have copied, in his
^° See Rev. Anthony Cogan's "Ecclesias-
tical History of the Diocese of Meath, "Catalogus Generalis Sanctorum ;" and,
Ancient and Modern," vol. i. , chap, xxiii. ,
p. 137.
^' See Dr. O'Donovan's "Annals of the
Four Masters," vol. i. , n. (a), p. 414.
=^ Such is a statement of a commentator
on the Feilire, in the " Leabhar Breac. "
=3 Edited by Drs. Todd and Reeves, pp.
118, 119. Article11. —'Thus,JohnWilsonhas
it in the first edition of his "Martyrologium Anglicanum," at the 2nd of May: " In in- feriore Germania Festivitas S. Germani Episcopi et Martyris : hie Anglus natione, in inferiores illas provincias trajecit, Christi fidem prasdicaturus, ulsi tandem suam mer- cedem, martyrii scilicet coronam, adeptus est. Ejus Vita copiose manu exarata in quopiam Belgii monasterio extat, ut e Societate vene- rabilis Sacerdos testatur, atque hoc die Fes-
he adds another mistake, at this date, " In Anglia S. Germani Episcopi et Martyris ;" as if, indeed, St. Germanus either had been Bishop in England, or had there died. He also cites Heribert Rosweyde for his autho- rity, when writing' about the British Saints. However, Rosweyde treated in general on all those saints, whose Manuscript Lives weretobefoundintheBelgianLibraries. It is true, at the 2nd of May, he enters, " Ger- manus Anglus Episcopus et Martyr ;" not- withstanding. Father John Bolland declares, by the expression Anglus, Rosweyde only meant, one of the different nations, that were then subject to the English monarchy,
^ See "Acta Sanctorum," tomus i. , Mail ii. De S. Germano Episcopo Mart. apud Anibianos in Gallia, pp. 259 to 270.
^ A Prorogue introduces the Life of St.
57
LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. [May 2.
dists have published,^ at the 2nd of May, from various Manuscripts,? with annotations, and having a commentary * by Fatlier John BoUand prefixed. ' The Benedictines barely notice this Tract—supposed to have been written after the tenth century—and, as a tissue of prodigies, which have no other warrant than popular tradition. ^ It was printed, at first, by Pere Jean Cau- chie. 7 At the end of twenty years, in 1665, it was re-issued, with some changes. ^ ColganappearstohavepreparedaLifeofSt. Germanusforpub- lication, at the 2nd of May ; and, the name is so entered, in his list of unpub- lishedManuscripts. 9 HisLifeispubHshed,likewise,inthePetitsBoUandistes' collection.
