The Irish standard. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn. ;) 1886-1920, 1909-11-27
An IRISH SC|ENT|STOF
THE EIGHTH CENTURY
St. Virgilius Declared the
Earth is Spherical Long Be-
fore Calico or Copernicus
were Born--He Taught the
Existence of Antipodes and
was Charged with Heresy
by Ecclesiastics, but the
Pope Made Him Bishop.

One Of the most distinguished of the
Irish missionaries who preached the
Gospel in Germany about the middle
Of the eighth century, along with 81.
Boniface, was the celebrated and
learned F'eargal, commonly called Vir-
gillius, the most learned man of his
time. BY Bruschius he is styled most
learned and pious of doctrine" and
other German writer's speak of him in
like manner. Feargal, the Irish name
of Virsillius, is the same as O'Farrell.
He was born of an illustrious Irish
family-probably in the south of Ire
land, as there is still at Lismore holy
well called "Virgillius Well"-and
raised to the priesthood before he left
Ireland. He arrived in France about
the year 743 and was most graciously
received by Pepin, son of Charles Mar
tel, then mayor of the palace. Pepin,
who was father of the famous Charlie
magne, became greatly attached to the
Irish monk, and detained him for two
years at Carisiacum, near Compeigne
on the Disc. He then sent him and
his companion with strong. letters of
recommendation to the Court Of Otilo
Duke Of Bavaria. At that period Ba-
varia had been partially converted by
the labors" Of St. 'Boniface.
Much, however, remained to be
DONE, ana It was the wish of Pep;a
that Duke Otilo should avail himself
Of the services of the two Irish priests,
Of whose zeal and learning he had
ample proofs in the conversion of his
own subjects. The Duke received the
friends Of Pepin with much consider
alton. He entrusted them with his
confidence and kept them near him,
self, and on his recommendation St.
Farrell was appointed abbot of st.
Peters Monastery at salzburg. While
IN this position a difference occurred
between himself and st. Boniface. The
cause Of this was: In the year 746 a
priest not thoroughly conversant with
the Latin language in administering
baptisns, made use of this form: EGO
te Baptizo in nomine Patria, ct Fila,
ct Spiritua sancti."
The case was referred to st. Boni-
face, who declared that the baptism
was invalid, and ordered those so bap-
tized to be baptized again. st. Farrell
and his Irish friend, Sidonius, after
ward Archbishop of Bavaria, knew
how jealous the Church has always
been about rebaptizing those once val
idly baptized, and declared that, in
their opinion, the baptism in question
was valid. st. Boniface, however, per-
sisted in his opinion. The matter was
referred to Pope Zachary. His deci-
sion, sent by letter to st. Boniface, de-
clares distinctly that If the minister
of the Sacrament, through ignorance
of Latin, and not from any heretical
purpose Of introducing new form,
pronounced the words as given above,
the baptism must be held to be valil
This question being settled, another
cause Of trouble succeeded. st. Far
rell was q great astronomer, far in
advance Of his age, for he taught the
sphericity Of the earth and the exist
ence of the Antipodes long before Co.
pernicus or his system was known. A
false view Of this theory was sent to
Rome, charging him with teaching
that there was another world and an
other sun. This was certainly not tho
teaching of Farrell. According to him.
1t was the same world and the same
sun and moon, and the same race Oi
men who dwelt in the opposite re-
sions of the world. st. Farrell ex-
planned the real meaning of his words
to the satisfaction of the Pope, for we
find no further mention of the contro-
versy, and in short time afterwar'1
(76e) he was promoted to the See of
salzburg.
It is interesting to know that an
Irish monk should be the first to en-
tertain a true notion of the existence
Of the antipodes and the sphericity OF
the earth. Though these things are
clearly understood now, it was a bold
doctrine in the eighth century, AMI
proves to US the surprising philosophi-
csl and geographical requirements OF