No More Learning

^
See "Lives of the Saints," vol. iii. , March 29, pp. 498 to 501.
''
Lives of the Fathers, Martyrs and
Saints de I'Ancien et du Nouveau Testa- ment," &c. , tomeiv. , XXIX*- Jour de Mars, pp. 47 to 51.
" Their names were. Gall, Deicola, Co- lumban the Younger, Cummin, Legisbevt, Lua, Neemias, Eccouan, Kilian, Henoch, Florentin, and Domitial.
primogenia
March 2g. ] LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. 999
the illustrious Patriarch. Afterwards, despite the protest of his daughter, Count Cagneric Avished her to marry, and he had actually affianced her. The holy woman was so troubled in mind, that her eyesight was lost, through ex- cessive weeping, and her health greatly declined. When Brunechilde,^3 and Thierry,^* King of Burgundy, had driven^s St. Columban from the government of that monastery,^^ Eustace succeeded him in station, a. d. 6ii. ^7 Hebe- cameexceedinglypopular,whilstfaithfullypresiding. Underhisgentlerule, the monks were consoled, for the loss of their first superior ; and, all their austerities were borne, with great cheerfulness, in their solitude, so holy and prudent was Eustasius. In consequence of this, he soon had the pleasure of finding six hundred religious under his happy direction. ^^ In the year 610, when St. Columban was about to embark for Ireland, at Nantz, he had written to St. Eustacius, then in charge of the monastery, at Luxeuil, words-
*'
to the following effect :
sentiments from the others, send him away. " By order of Clothaire II. , '9 Eustasius travelled into Italy, to recall Columbanus, who had predicted his
Du Pin's "Nouvelle Bibliotheque des xiii. , p. 294.
&c. , tome vi. ,
'S This happened in 610.
Alzog's "Manual of Universal Church His-
^^ "
See Fleury's Histoire Ecclesiastique,"
tomeviii. , liv. xxxvii. , sect, viii. , p. 22S, and, also, Rev. Dr. Lanigan's "Ecclesiastical History of Ireland," vol. ii. , chap, xiii. , sect. xiii. , p. 295.
Auterers Ecclesiastiques," p. 5.
"• Also called Theodoric.
tory,"
ii. ,
2, Epoch i, part i. ,
''' When he had ruled over
the Saints," vol. iii. , March 29, p. 498. "
twenty years. "
Period
^= See Rev. S. Baring-Gould's
"
Lives of
vol.
chap, i. , sect. 157, p. 75. Dublin edition.
for about '7 See Circle of the Seasons," p. 89.
^3 See Rev. Dr. Lanigan's Ecclesiastical
History of Ireland," vol. ii. , chap, xiii. , sect.
xiii. , p. 295.
=** He lived then, on the extreme confines
of Gaul, near the ocean, and his wife Leode- gunda was also then and there living,
Paul Guerin's " Petits Bollan- '9 The events of this monarch's reign may
'* See
distes," &c. , tome iv. , p. 47.
]ilgr.
If there be one among you, who holds different
'° This intheyear613. Thekingmostearnestlydesired,thattheillustriousAbbot of Bobbio should come to his court. Clothaire told Eustasius, moreover, that he might take any of the nobles to vouch for the monarch's good inten- tions, and that all his expenses should be defrayed from the public treasury. Eustasius undertook this journey—probably in 614—and he found Coin :n- banus, as it has been thought, at Bobbio, where his great monastery had beensolatelyestablished. ^^ Thetwosaintshadthehappinessoncemoreof falling on each other's necks, in a fraternal embrace,^* according to the monastic usage. Columban detained his guest, for some days ; and, during this time, Eustace received excellent advice, regarding the discipline of his monastery, and the government of his brethren. Columbanus having refused to return, Eustace went back to the king, with an apology from his former Abbot. He explained St. Columban's reasons, for declining to comply with the royal request ; while he bore a message of supplication, that Clotaire should extend his protection to Luxeu. He was even the bearer of a letter to the king, in which, with his usual freedom and candour, Columban administered some wholesome reproofs, regarding certain irregularities of life, which re- quired reformation. This advice was kindly and humbly received, by the monarch. ^3 While on his way to the court of Clothaire,^^ on a certain occasion, after returning from Italy, Eustace passed once more the castle of Oppigny, where St. Fare 's had suffered so much. Her father Chagneric
" Her festival is kept, on the 7th of De- cember.
'3 She is called, likewise, Brunehaut. See
accession to the of the whole French sovereignty
monarchy.
happened
See Rev. John
it,
" Histoire de
France. " Premiere Race dite des Mero- called, likewise, by ancient writers, Burgua-
be in L- P. found,
Anquetil's
''S a native of Burgundy, she is Being
vingiens, sect, iv. , pp. 50 to 52.
=" "
See Rev, Dr. Lanigan's Ecclesiastical
History of Ireland," vol. ii. , chap, xiii. , sect.
1000 LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. [March 29.
endeavoured to excuse himself, when reproved by his visitor; but, soon Eustace found out his dissimulation, as Fara signified her constant piurpose, to dedicate herself entirely to God. She even told him, that on the night preceding his arrival, she had a vision regarding his appearance, while a voice proclaimed, at the same time, she was to observe whatever he should command, and that she should be healed from her loss of sight. Kneeling down in prayer, then rising and making the sign of the cross over St. Fara's
eyes,Eustacehadcompassiononher,andofferedherconsolation. Heeven
wrought a miracle, by restoring her sight, and by removing entirely the fever, which consumed her. ^^ Then, commending her to the care of her mother,
he promised, on returning from the court of Clotaire, to give her the religious veil. But, Chagneric still wished to oppose the decree of Heaven, even after herconvalescence. Takingcounselwithafemalecompanion,whoagreedto fly with her from home, Fara escaped to the basilica of St. Peter. Soon her father sent young men, to drag her thence by force, and they threatened her withdeath. Faradeclaredherwillingnesstodie,inliierixedresolutionofpre- servinghervirginityforGod'ssake. However,Eustasiushadreturned,atthe criticaltime; when,reproachingherfatherforhisprevarication,theAbbot's influence prevailed, on behalf of St. Fara. In fine, the obstinacy of her parent was overcome, and she obtained permission to become a nun. ^7 Gondoald, or Gundobald, Bishop of Meaux, gave her the religious veil, when this happened, in 614. ^^ A religious house was afterwards erected at a place, called in Latin, Eboriacum, or Evoriaca, supposed to have been derived from anoriginalCelticname. ItlaybetweentheconfluxoftheRiversAubetin and the great Morin. Here arose the celebrated religious house of Fare- moutier,=9 and, subsequently, the forest near it got the same appellation. The monastery was founded double, and St. Eustasius sent from Luxeu St. Cag- noald,3° there to have ecclesiastical charge. Eustace still continued his rule over the celebrated Abbey, of which already he had charge ; while Clotaire took it under his protection, and liberally endowed it. He set apart an annual income for its support, and he gave a grant of land to the Abbot, which enabled him to extend its bounds. A great number of monks resorted thither, to karn the discipline and practise the rules of St. Columban. Meantime, Eustace began a course of instructions and missions, for the people living around his monastery ; while he had the happiness of gaining many sinners, to the service of Christ. A Council was held at Bonneuil-Sur- Marne,atwhichsomebishopsassisted. s^ Thiswasconvened,attheexpress desire of Clothaire IL, and Eustace was nominated to preach the Gospel, among people, not yet subjected to its influence, and especially were the Bavarians objects of his solicitude. ^^ Among these was a tribe of pagans, known as wood-worshippers, and otherwise called the Varasques,33 who in-
"
tique," tome viii. , liv. xxxvii. , sect, xv. , p.
dofora. See Fleury's
Histoire Ecciesias-
at the spot, and that originally the Abbey was called Brige, from a Celtic word,
"a the signifying bridge. " Hence, county
south of the Marne was called Brie.
30 jji 620, he was appointed Bishop of Laon. See Rev. Alban Butler's " Lives of
the Fathers, Martyrs and other principal Saints," vol. xii. December vii. Life of St. Fara, V. , Abbess,
3i See Rev. S. Baring-Gould's "Lives of
the Saints," vol. iii. , March 29, p. 499.
3=* See what has been related of them
already, in the Life of St. Rupert, Bishop of Salubourg, at the 27th of Marcli,
has written her Life. The . Bollandists assign her feast, to the 3rd of
.
April.
** See Mabillon's "Annales Ordinis S.
Benedict! ," tomus i. , Ub. xi. , sect, ix. , p. 304.
^^^See "Les Petitis Bollandistes, Vies des Saints," &c. , tome iv. , Mars. 29, p. 47. ** See Rev. Alban Butler's " Lives of the
243. Jonas
. Fathers, Martyrs and other principal Saints," vol. xii. December vii.
"9 Du Plessis supposes, that there was then as ijx his time a bridge over the river,
March 29. ] LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. looi
habitedthebanksoftheDoubs,nearBaume. Otherstherehadembraced
the heretical opinions of Photin and Bonose, who deemed Jesus Christ as a
mere man, and the Holy Ghost, not as a person, but as the virtue of God.
The holy missionary travelled among the Boii, or Bavarians, at the extremity
of northern for St. Severin ='• had not Gaul,
this over people
entirely brought toChristianity. 35 Hepreachedsuccessfullyamongthosepeople,andhecon- verted many to the Christian faith. Some have thought, that when returning
from this mission, he inaugurated in his Abbey that institution of perpetual praise, of which St. Bernard makes mention. s^ Soon, however, he was obliged to return for Luxeuil, as this establishment could not well dispense withtheservicesofitsestimableandenergeticAbbot. But,hemadepro- vision, notwithstanding, for all the wants of the newly-established Apostolate, bysendingwiseandzealousmentolabourthere. WhenreturningtoLuxeu, he came to the house of a certain man, named Gundeon, or Gundoin, who lived in a villa, called Mosa, because it was on the banks of the river so denominated. Gundoin was distinguished for his rank and riches. Eustasius asked to see his children, after he had been gratefully received by the owner, and two of his sons were presented. 37 But, the Abbot enquired if he had other children, and then the father acknowledged, he had one daughter, named Salaberga,3^ who had lost her sight. When our saint had seen her, he asked, if the young maiden aspired with all her soul to the love of God ; and, on her replying in the affirmative, he asked her to fast for two days, and to prepare her mind, by an act of Faith. Afterwards, when St. Eustasius applied holy oil to her eyes, Salaberga received the gift of vision.
Thence- forward, in gratitude for this cure, and owing to her naturally pious disposi- tions, the holy woman led a most pious and exemplary life. 39 One of his companions, while preaching among the Bavarians, Avas St. Agilus,4° by the French called, likewise, St. Aile,-*^ who subsequently governed the monastery of Rebais, in the diocese of Meaux. St, Eustasius cured him from a violent fever. The patronage of Clotaire II. , and of the Frankish nobility, was ex- tended to the great monastery of Luxeuil, during the ten years it remained, underthegovernmentofSt. Eustacius; for,themonarchhadlearnedgreatly to respect St. Columban and his^disciples. ^^ Besides the honour, which our Abbot brought to literature, by his preaching, and through the care he bestowed, in forming a great number of renowned scholars ; he rendered an important service to ecclesiastical and general science, also, by writing himself, and in employingseveralofhismonks,tocopyexcellentbooksofantiquity. 43 This was a period, when Luxeuil became most flourishing, and when it had attained the highest degree of reputation. Lyons, Autun, Langres, Chalons-sur-Marne, and Strasbourg, sent young men there, to receive a secular and religious education. It was a school of virtue and of wisdom. It was also fruitful, in
33 The name, as Latinized by Jonas, is Warasci.
3* His feast is held, on the 8th of Ja- nuary.
35 See "Les Petits Bollandistes," (Sic, tome iv. , Mars. 29, p. 48.
3' See Mabillon's "Annales Ordinis S.
Benedicti," tomus i. , lib. xi. , sect, xii. , pp.
305, 306,
''" His father ivas one of the Agnoald,
principallords at the court of Childebert IL,
King of Austrasia and of Burgundy.
36 In Vita S. Malachias *' His feast is on the of Episcopi, cap. kept, 30th
vi. , num. 12. August,
37 These were Leudumus, the Elder, who
- " Le roi des Franks continua de prote-
ses et dota de vastes—
ger disciples, posses-
sions le monastere de Luxeuil. " Henri
Martin's "Histoire de France depuis les
Temps les plus recules jusqu'en 1789," tome ii. , liv. x. Gaule Franke, p. 128.
afterwards became a monk, and then
of Tullen, and Fulculf, the younger, having the cognomen Bodo.
38 His feast occurs, on the 20th of Sep- tember.
Bishop
1002 LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. [March 29.
sending- forth great servants of the Church, such as St Cagnoald/* Bishop of Laon; St. Achaire,<5 Bishop of Noyon; St. Rachanarius,*^ Bishop of Autun;+7
St. Audomar,^^ Bishop of Therouanne; St. Donat,<9 Bishop of Besancon ; with many other holy Abbots and missionaries. The disciples of St. Eustace flourished, like the seed of Abraham ; lilies grew where thorns had sprung ; reeds and rushes were replaced by myrtles ; a sweet odour of virtue and of civilization perfumed the desert spots, cultivated by laborious hands and by pure souls living in it. s° This house had a happy influence, moreover, in regulating the discipline and practices of many other monasteries, into which relaxation of order had been admitted. After the example of their great master, the missionary spirit moved many of his disciples, to spread that institute, in still more distant lands. However, among the dangers, which threatened this monastery, was one introduced by a brother, named Agrestin. This man had been Secretary to King Thierry, the former persecutor of St. Columban. 1 le had entered the monastery, and had bestowed his possesions uponthecommunity. Afterawhile,heappearstohavebecomedissatisfied with the monotony and austerity of monastic life. s'' Being of a restless turn, he desired to engage, on the more active exercises of the mission. At first, Eustace sought to divert him from this purpose, for he had an intuition, that Agrestin had not the requisite qualities, to procure success as a missionary. He set before the aspirant, the humility both of Moyses s^ and of Jeremias,53 who, although specially called by God to the work of the ministry, yet wished to avoid a responsibility, which was so great. S4 Urged, however, by
his importunities, at last, the Abbot gave a reluctant assent. Agrestin entered Bavaria, likewise, but he was most unsuccessful there, in calling the people to the reformation of their lives ; and, as the tall plane tree, he bore no fruit, although his words, like its broad leaves, were loudly echoed by the vagrantwinds. ss Thence,AgrestinwenttoIstrias^andtoAquileia. 57 The latter was formerly a rich town, near the Adriatic Sea, but, at present, it is
s^ In the
of Lombardy, he embraced the schism of the Three Chapters,^? which about this time disturbed greatly the peace of the Church. Moreover, he en- deavoured to influence St. Attala,*° who had succeeded St. Columban, as second Abbot of Bobbio, by urging him to embrace similar opinions. In this, however, he was unsuccessful ; although he wrote a special letter to
reduced to the condition of an being
insignificant village.
province
« One of these Manuscripts, then written at Luxeu, was afterwards to be seen, in the church of St. Peter, at Beauvais. See " Historie Literaire de la France," &c. , tome iii. , Siecle vii. , p. 537.
4* His feast occurs, on the 6th of Septem- ber.
•ts The 27th of November is his festival
day.
•«* His festival has been assigned, to the •
14th of February.
*'^ He is thought to have left it for the See
of Basle.
4* His feast is kept, on the 9th of Sep-
tember.
49 His feasts are on the 23rd of July, and
on the 7th of August.
s° See " Les Petits Bollandistes," &c. ,
S' See Exodus iii.
gee Fleury's Histoire Ecdesiastique," tome viii. , liv. xxxvii. , sect, xxvi. , pp. 262, 263.
auctore lona, cap. ii. , num. 8, pp. 787, 7S8.
tome iv. . Mars. 29, p. 48.
5' See Rev. S. Baring-Gould's
"
His festival occurs, on the loth of March,
*'
In a. d. 614, he succeeded his father Agilius, and he reigned for twelve years.
Lives of the Saints," vol. iii. , March 29, pp. 499,
500.
- **
s^ See Jeremias i. S4 "
^s See " Acta Sanctorum," tomus iii. , Martii xxix. De S. Eustasio, &c. Vita
^* A of within country Italy,
Illyricum, and reduced to the condition of a Roman
province, B. C. 175.
S7 it was formerly the capital of Lom-
hardy.
ss jt was reduced by the Huns, during the
Lower Empire.
S9 See Mabillon's " Annales Ordinis S.
Benedicti," tomus i. , lib. xi. , sect, iv. , pp. 299, 300, and sect, xxxii. , p. 317.
March 29. ] LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. 1003
Attala, which he sent through Aureus, Notary of Adaldoaldus,^^ King of the Lombards. Having read this letter, which Attala deemed to be supremely
ridiculous, he gave it to Jonas, who possessed it for many years, in a secret place ; but, he acknowledges it to have been lost, through want of care, at the time he wrote about Eustasius. Afterwards, Agrestin returned to Luxeuil, wherehemadeanefforttodisturbhisformercompanions. TheholyAbbot
tried every charitable effort, he could devise, to reclaim the delinquent, from
the error of his ways. This was all in vain, when St. Eustace, remembering
the words of St. Columban, commanded Agrestin to leave the community,
which he did, but still retaining vengeful and malicious feelings at heart.
ThisexpulsionnaturallyirritatedAgrestin; and,hebegantospreadcalum-
nious imputations, against the holy Abbot, while even he took exception to
the rules and discipline of his religious institute. In such an unhappy frame
of mind, he endeavoured to seek out such persons, as might sustain his
peculiarviews. Amongthose,wholentafavouringeartosuchslanders,was
Abellinus, Bishop of Geneva. ^^ Besides, he influenced other prelates to
share his prejudices ; and thus, a party was formed, in favour of Agrestin, who was his near relation. An effort was made, to bring the monarch
Clothaire over, to their way of thinking ; but, he would not readily accept charges, made against the holy institute of St. Columban, its Abbot at
Luxeuil, and his spiritual sons. He was willing, however, to take the advice of the bishops, on this matter. Accordingly, a Council was convened, at Macon,^3 and Clothaire II. invited the prelates of the Burgundian province , to attend it. ^* Among the chief adversaries of the holy Abbot was one Warnacharius. ^s However, on the very day appointed for that Synod, he was removed, by a sudden death, from the man, whose cause he espoused, andthislessenedtheinfluenceofAgrestin. Theaccuserwascalledupon,to prefer his charges against the institute, at Luxeuil, and the Abbot Eustace was summoned to hear them. From all we can learn, the plaintiff had little reliance on the strength of his case ; while his powers of mind or of speech were very mediocre, and his own authority influenced few persons. Commencing to
"
established usages, which are not those of the whole Church. " But, his
charges, for the most part, were insignificant and groundless. Thus, the plaintiff accused his former companions of heresy, by making the sign of the cross on their spoons, when eating, and by asking a blessing, on leaving or enteringamonasticbuilding. Hewasasked,ifhehadanyobjections,more deserving the Synod's attention. He then accused the Columban monks of multiplying collects and prayers at Mass, thus distracting the faithful, who were accustomed to other observances. But, the Abbot was enabled to defend those practices, and he had little difficulty in procuring a favourable verdictfromthebishops,whowereassembled; for,hereplied,withdignity and effect, as also with a familiar knowledge of the Sacred Scriptures, and in a style, very different from that of his intemperate accuser. However, the latter would insist on further charges. He complained, especially, that the Irish tonsure was an inovation, which should not be tolerated in France, as it consisted, in shaving the crown from ear to ear, thus differing from the Roman tonsure, whereby only the top of the crown was shaved, and from the
open the case, Agrestin said :
I have discovered, that Columbanus has
See Paul the Deacon's work, "De Rebus
lib. Longobardinis," iv. , cap. 43, 44.
Baring-Gould's Bollandists think the Latin word, in the text,
of Liguria was not subject to King Clothaire. *3 in Mre. L. EUies Du Pin's List of Councils, for the Seventh Century, this one
is omitted, as it is in many other Histories. '^ See "Les Petits Bollandi«ts, Vies des Saints," &c. , tome iv. , xxix. Jour de Mars,
'"^ See Rev. S.
tlie Saints," vol. iii. , March 29, p. 500. The
•'
Genuensis," applicable to Genoa, which
deem to be incorrect, as this city
they rightly
p.
49.
" Lives of
•
1004 LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. [March 29. Grecian practice, which required the whole head to be shaved. When
whose wife it was— whether servant, reported, truly
does not
the Abbot then
" In
such
these bishops, I, the disciple and successor of him, whose institute thou con- demnest, cite thee to appear before him, within a year, at the tribunal of God, to plead thy cause against him, and to learn to know the justice of God, whose servant thou hast attempted to calumniate. ^' The solemnity of this appeal had an effect, even upon the prelates, who leant to the side of Agrestin. They urged him, to be reconciled to his former Abbot. The latter, who was gentleness itself, consented to give him the kiss of peace. But, this goodness did not benefit Agrestin. Hopeless of succeeding, at Luxeuil, he was urged, by a species of madness, to rage still more against the institutes of Columban. He sowed revolt and calumny, in other monasteries, which had proceeded, like Luxeuil, from the colonizing genius of Colum- banus, as at Remiremont and Faremoutier. At the former place, St. Amatus^^ wasthefirstAbbot; and,hewassucceeded,bytheholyRomaric. ^7 The youth of St. Amatr. s had been spent, in the exercises of the monastery, at Aganum, until he w:. s called to preside over Remiremont, or Romberg, in Lorrain. This was in the diocese of Toul. St. Romaric had been a noble, at the court of Theodobert ; but, he entered the Columbian institute, at Luxeu, where he lived under the rule of St. Eustace. With consent of his Abbot, Romaric had founded a convent for holy women, on his patrimonial lands,andthesenunsfollowed,likewise,theruleofSt. Columban. Having neglected some matters, which Eustasius deemed to be of importance, both Amatus and Romaric had been reproved by our saint. Therefore, Agrestin thought he should be able to influence them, against the holy Abbot of Luxeu, and, he partially succeeded, by the force of his persuasions. He
Agrestin repeated
charges,
repUed :
presence
of
desired, likewise, to have St. Fara on his side ; but, this Abbess wisely rejected his calumnies, for she knew too well the great virtues of Eustasius. However, various manifestations of an extraordinary character were visited on those, who took part with Agrestin ; and, a visible mark of God's dis-
pleasure was soon inflicted, on the unfortunate delinquent.