The Irish standard., 1909-05-08

It is almost beyond conception how
distinguished the Irish nation had be-
come both in religion and science in
those ages which Immediately followed
the apostleship of Saint Patrick. The
evidences of this great fact do not rest
solely on Irish writer's. The united
testimony of a multitude of foreign
writer's of various nations, ancient and
modern, from the time of the vener-
able Bede down to the present age,
furnishes proof that raise it beyond all
doubt
that had been founded in Ireland"
says the venerable Bede, "and which
were peopled with saints and learned
men, Ireland supplied all Europe, dur
ing these ages, with swarrns of ZEAL
our missionaries, who announced the
name of Jesus Christ among some ma
tions, and among others caused it to
-aeexiyes; s;%speh, have. been st. Fridolin, St.
Cataldus, Celins- Sedulius, st. Co
lul1ablsill, ST. Columbanus, st. Gall. st.
Fiacre, Saint F'ursey, Saint Arbogast,
st. N1aidulphus, st. Aidan, st. Colman.
ST. Ultan. st. Foilan, st. Killan, St.
Virgil, and others
Camden, all Englishman. says on
this subject: "The disciples of Pat
rick made SO great a progress in Chris
tionty that, in the following age, Ire
land was called the Island of Saints;
and none could be more holy or more
learned than the Irish monks, both i'll
their own country and Britain, who
sent swarms of most holy men into all
Europe. To them many monasteries
in Britain owe their origin. Saints
COLUMBIA, Ceilus- -Sedulius, Columbian
us, Colmanus, Aidanus, Gall. Kilian,
Maidulphus. and many others. who
We're from Ireland were renowned for
their sanctity and learning"
Saint Cataldus was born in Ireland,
and made his studies in the Colleges
of Lismore. Here" says Usher "lle
was the delight of foreign students,
who f1ocked to that celebrated seat Of
literature to hear him. Having per-
formed the functions Of Bishop of
Hathheny for some years, he under
took a voyage to Jerusalem, to visit
the Holy Sepulchre, and returning
through Italy, he re-esta blished the
true religion among the Tarentines.
who had abandoned it and returned to
the inpious worship of idols. The in
babitants of Tarenturn adopted him
as their patron saint, and on his death
erected a silver monument over his
tomb.
TT is likely" says Ware, that the
zeal of Saint Cataldus was not con-
fined to the city of Tarenturn, alone. as
he had been honored, according to
Volterranus. at Genoa. OH. Lake Le-
man, as bishop and professor; he must
therefore have passed through that
city, and made some stay in it on his
voyage to the Holy Land"
Sedulius was most. eminent scho1-
ar. who travelled through Europe,
studied and lectured at Rome. wrote
several works in prose and verse, some
of them theological, some historical
some biographical; he also wrote some
hymns, which were adopted by the
Council Of the Church Of Rome. The
works of Sedulius. were highly es-
teened by the ancients. to which a
council, composed of seventy bishops,
assembled at Rome during the ponti-
ficate of Gelssius, bears a favora BILE
testimony. we think highly. said
the fathers of the council, of the pas
chial work, written in heroic voice by
the venerable Sedulius."
Of the early works on religion, it
Is known that Sedulius wrote the fol-.
towing: Pascal. Poem and Feasts,"
written to the Abbot. of Macedonia,
comprising a series of letters on the
Gospels, in four books: Fourteen
sal