The Irish standard., 1902-11-29


asteries of Ireland were not mere
refugees for the idle or the weary,
but, on the contrary, the homes Of
Study and rigorous discipline, and
that they had in training great num-
bers of active intellects and heroic
souls, is clearly shown by the best of
all tests-the number, the character,
and the words of the men who from
their halls went forth as missionaries
into the world.
History has preserved the names
of many of those men, and a record
Of their labors; but Of hundreds of
others, pious, Jealous, learned and
fearless, who preached and taught
and toiled, who warred against Pag-
anism and corruption, among fierce
and ignorant peoples, all we know is
that they lived and worked, and left
great results behind them. They
formed the Crowds of Irishmen
who flung themselves abroad wher-
ever knowledge was to be spread or
vice was to be combated seeking for
themselves neither fame nor honor,
nor aiming at any other end save the
extension of the Faith.
"What shall I say" exclaims an
ancient writer, Eric of Auxerre, ''con-
cerning the Irish, who despising the
dangers of the deep and stormy seas,
have migrated to our shore in whole
hosts of philosophers" OF them, st.
Bernard. in his Life of st. Malachy,"
an Irish saint, says that they spread
themselves over the earth like unto
an inundation. Moshiem, the ecclesi-
astical historian, says: ''That the Irish
were lovers of learning, and distin-
guished themselves in those times of
ignorance beyond all other European
nations, travelling through the most
distant lands with a view to improve
and communicate their knowledge, is
a fact with which 1 have long been
acquainted" Ireland" says Moreri,
''has given tho most distinguished pro
fessors to the most famous universi-
ties of Europe"
Father Dominicus O'Daly, the his
torian of the Geraldine family,
writes: eve (the Irish) were distin-
guished above all other nations for
the cultivation of literature. We
were the fountain source whence the
tide of art and science sprung and in
undated Europe. The great univer-
sity of Paris and that of Pavia were
created by Irishmen. Charlemagne
employed Clement, Albinus and AL
cuin to relume the quenched lamp OF
science in his dominions, and these
men were of the Irish nation. Ok.
ford, Lindisfarne and Malmesbury,
in England, originated with the same
people. Germany, too, stands indebt'
ed to our saints and sages for similar
institutions"
The celebrated DR.. Lynch, Bishop
of Killala, an erudite and able writer
says: GAIL the world knows that the
Irish went over, not one by one, but
in crowds to Britain, Gaul, Belgium
and Germany, to convert the inhabit
ants Of those regions to the Christian
religion, and bring them under the
obedience of the Pope" Montalem
bert says that the exertions of thu
Irish "were so undeniable as to leave
France, Switzerland and Belgium
under debt of everlasting gratitude.
The Irish monks "felt themselves un
der the imperious necessity of spread
ing themselves without, of seeking o
carrying knowledge and faith afar
and OF penetrating into the most dis
tant regions to combat Paganism."
Without quoting more on this point
let us name few of the most emi
1ent Of those Irish missionaries an
scholars, alumni of the Irish schools
ST. COLUMBANUS, founder Of til
great monastery of Luexeuil. on tn
confines of Austria and Burgund!
and great number Of subordinat
establishments; ST. COLUMBKILLE
the Apostle of the Picts, and founde
of Iona: ST. AIDAN of Iona, preache
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