The Irish standard., 1893-01-14
&c, EA RNI N1.
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Tt, Ia. III IN 1.
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named Brann, who converted Caradoc,
who was taken prisoner BY the Romans
aud came back to preach the Gospel in
England. I said to my friend: Don't
you suppose ought: to know something
about the Church that was founded in
England by one Of my ancestors"
St. Columbanus was one Of the great
est missionaries who ever lived. He
took twelve monks with him, and pass
ing through Britain. went to France. In
every spot OF Gaul, Flanders. Germany
aud North Italy, you will find evidences
OF the missionary work done by Colum-
banus and his disciples. There is We
hicle used in France called a hacre, SO
called from the fact OF its being first
used by those who went to seek the ser
vice t.f st. Fiach, one Of the disciples OF
St. Columbanus.
Amongst the many monasterles e.
tablished by Columbanus are those of
Lucerne, Annegray and Luxeuil. and
be left as Bishop of Warzburg, st. Kilian.
Columbanus was also man OF great
courage; he went into theoourt Of Queen
Brunehault, and upbraided her with the
corruption Of the court. The Irish monk
not only founded monasteries for the
men, but converts for the women, and
there is en- historical thesis that ireland
reconverted Europe to Christianity, and
that means to civilization, and the litera-
ture of Europe got its poetry from Ire
land.
You will find that the discovery OF
America it not absolutely due to an Irish
man, was certainly brought about by an
Irishman. Columbus, as we read in his life,
sailed often. to Ireland, then called "Ul-
tuna Thule" St. Brendan certainly has
left a legend of the discovery o. America,
if he did not actually discover it; and Co.
iumbus heard this. He heard that cer-
tain nayigators had found a land called
sly. Brazil" Columbus returned to
Italy with his mind filed with this story
from which he got the inspiration that
led to the discovery of America. And it
may also be proved that to the literature
of Ireland Dante is indebted for his idea
of purgatory as pictured in his great
poem the "Inferno,' which idea was evil
IDENTIFY taken from "3t. Patrick's Purga-
tory"
think / have said sufficient to show
that Celtic influence upon the literature,
science aud cultivation of Europe was
extraordinary, and cannot be exagges-
ated. sSpencer's FAIRY Queen was
written in Ireland; the idea of Queen
Nab was taken from the Irish, and
Shakespeare's "Pnck,'' was undoubtedly
taken from the Irish 'sPooka.'' Both
those ideas and traditions are taken from
Ireland; and if such were Celtic influ-
enees in the past VIII should not greater
things be done in the future? The Cell
tic mind is logical and clear, and has the
gift of expressing thoughts with beauty
characteristic of the Celt, as is proven by
our influence on English literature. The
best comedies 10 the English language
are written by Irishmen, as FOE instance
s:.The School for Scandal" and 'She
Stops to Conquer The best speeches
in the English language are by Irishmen;
no English orator ever equalled Grattan,
Burke and Curran. A nation cannot de-
velop itself fully in fifty years; and fifty
years ago, Ireland was not dead indeed,
but slumbering; while now she has al
most achieved her Legislative indepen-
dence. I would like to see her get moro
than that, but half loaf is better than
no bread. The national spirit III this
time, having thus re- awakened and be-
come so intensified, I see no reason why
the glories Of the future should not
equal those Of the past.