The Irish standard. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn. ;) 1886-1920, 1893-07-01

Crucifed, and one of it's sons, st. Killian
OF Inniscarra, became the apostle of
Franconia, and his name is still honored
in the Martyrology Of Europe Indeed,
our Southern school was one of the
time. What Bangor was to Ulster, Cork
was to Munster guiding light, an oasis
in the desert.
The education given in schools such as
that of Cork was Of very extensive
character and, according to recent
writer, it was beyond doubt. the best of
its kind in. any part of the civilized world.
This is high praise. One fact abundantly
iustifies it. Men came from all nations
in hundreds to seek it, and in those days
OF slow aud difficult travelling by land
and by sea, they we're not likely tojour-
ney long distances to seek what they
might have found nearer their own
homes. The, course of studies embraced
the Irish language and literature, the
Greek and Roman classics, foreign Ian
guages, the physical sciences. and for
ecc]esiastics, theology, science and sacred
scripture We have the highest suthor-
ity for the statement that there is scarcely
an eminent ecclesiastic from the fifth
century who was not distinguished for
his knowledge Of the Gaelic language
and history. Most of the books which
have come down to us from that period,
show that these Irish writer's possessed q
large and accurate knowledge of the
Latin, and still more perhaps, OF the
Greek language, and recent investiga-
tions have brought to light in Germany
and Italy manuscripts of Horace and
Ovid, as we'll as of the Old and New
Testaments, whose delicate tracery
proves an Irish hand. In a celebrated
controversy Of the seventh century Irish
writer's gained brilliant distinction for
their knowledge of astronomy, whilst the
large number of references to foreign
works, ancient and modern, proved the
wealth of Irish librariss, .ae well as their
owners intinate acqnaintanoe with them.
The School OF Cork continued to -four
ish after the death OF St. Finn Barr for
upwards OF Ave centuries. Ia A. D. 664
the famous Oolman O'Cluasaghes was
professor 81 ibis school, and il was he
who wrote the Liber Hymnorum, or Book
of Hymns, which is still preserved in the
library of Trinity College, Dublin. This
old manuscript volume is written in q
magnificent Irish hand and splendidly
illuminated. Professor O'Curry regarded
it as ''certainly one of the most valuable
ecclesiastical documents IN Europe" 1t
was written as ''shield of protection"
against the ravages of the Buidhechair,
or yellow disease, which ragged in Ireland
in the year 664 and which cleft only one
out of every three persons alive in Erin :
In it's present form the hymn consists OF
fifty-two lines, with an added prayer, but
it is quite evident that it originally con-
sisted OF forty-six stanzas, the remaining
six, asking the blessing and projection of
the patron saints OF Ireland Patrick,
Bridget. ColumciAe and Adamnan, being
subsequently, added. The language ie,
with one or two exceptions, the very old.
est form of the Gaedhlic which has come
down to US, and as DR.. Todd remarks,
ssit fully confirms the early date assigned
to it by the Scholiast.'
When the plague was at it's highest,
Colman and his pupils left the School Of
Cork, and as the Scholiast informs US,
they went to 50 certain island in the sea
OF Erin, j.. 8. because the plague did
not extend further than nine waves from
the land, as the learned relate" 1t was
on their voyage to this unknown island
that the hymn was composed; and som
writer's affirm that Colman composed
only the first stanza, his pupils compos-
ing the remaining forty five. The poem
beginsthus.
May the blessing of God come ulon us, j
May the Son OF Mary screen US;
May He protect US this night
Wherever we go--though great our numbers.
The writer then invokes the interces-
sion Of the patriarchs, the prophets, the
apostles, the Blessed Virgin, ST. Joseph,
ST Stephen and many other saints Of
the New Testament by name. The ref
erence to the Blessed Virgin and to st.
Joseph is as follows: s7s So .- }5''..@4
Mary, Joseph, guard us
With the spirit of Stephen;
May it deliver rs from every difhculty
To invoke the name Of Ignatius.
From the seventh to the ninth century
We find but scant mention made Of the
5School Of Cork by the old writer's st.
AenRuas describes it in the year 800 as
still filed with monks and scholars, and
in his Felire Of Festiology he oommem-
crates Seventeen holy bishops" and quite
. fabulous number Of 'spriests and other
degrees, educated in that school, who
rest ats Cork with Finn Barr and Nessan. :
During the Danish occupation OF Ireland,
a. Oh - norlr xwra 3 ,11nn6nrad fnrr