The Irish standard., 1909-05-08
Brief Sketches Of Some of the Holy Men of Ireland Fam
ousFor Their Sanctity and Learning Back in
the Sixth Century.
TESTIMONY OF FOREIGN SCHOLARS IS ADDUCED
The Followers of the Great Apostle Made Such Progress
in Christianity That They Spread the Faith
Throughout Europe.

. Books in Prose on the Epistles of St
Paul.; "The Miracles of Christ" in
three volumes; "Sedulius, an Irish
| man." and one volume on the Epis-
ties.
Moore has the following in refer
ence to this learned man: "A far loft
Ter flight of sacred song was at the
same time (ffth century, ventured by
an Irish writer abroad, the poet ShieI
Gin Irish, Sedhuil, Latinized Sedulius).
Among other writings of acknowl-
edged merit he was the author of a
spirited poem in iambics, upon the
life Of Christ. From this poem the
Catholic Church has selected some of
her most beautiful hymns" ~
Sedulius wrote in 54s. more than
century before the time of ST. Greg
ory. Hildephronsus, Archbishop of
Toledo. says of our author that "he
was an evangelical poet, an eloquent
orator. and a Catholic writer, Some
Church historians say that the Church
inserted "a Eolis ortus Cardine,'' and
Hosts Herodes Impe." ftaken from
the writings Of Sedulius), in the brew
iary Of hymns, the first at the nativi-
ty of Our Savior, and the last at Epi-
phany, with the "Salve, Sancte Parens,
Enixa Puerpera Regem," which is used
as an Introit at the Masses of the
Blessed Virgin. 1t is said that Seduli-
us was, in 42s, Bishop of Oreta, in
Spain.
st. F'ridolinus, the son Of an Irish
king, having embraced monastic life,
left Ireland, and Travelled through va
rious parts of Europe, giving missions
in Germany and France, about the
end Of the fifth century, and in the
time Of Clovis, first Christian king Of
called "Frdolinus the Traveller" AZ
ter preaching the Gospel in different
parts of Gaul, he withdrew for some
time to the Monastery Of st. Hilary, at
Poitiers, of which he was created Su-
perior.
He afterwards founded eight relig-
ious houses in Thuringia, Alsace and
strasbourg, and, on the frontiers of
Switzerland, six of which were dedi-
Gated to st. Hillary, for whom Fri
dolinus had particular devotion. He
also founded monastery for women
on an island in the Rhine, called Seek
ing. where he was inferred in 514.
Saint Columbkille or COLUMBIA, was
born at Gartan, in the country Of Tyr
connel, in 524 He learned the divine
Scriptures and the lessons of an as
cetic life under the holy bishop, st.
Finian, in his great school at Cluan
iraid, where there were at that time
three thousand students.
Being advanced to the order of
priesthood in 546, he began to give ad-
| mirable lessons of piety and sacred
learning, and in a short time formed
many disciples. He founded, about
the year $50. the great monastery of
Dairmagh, now called Durrough,
which original name signifies "Field
of Oaks" and besides many smaller,
those Of Doire, or Derry, and Of Sord.
or Swords, about six miles from Dub
lin.
King Dermot. being offended at the
zeal Of COLUMBIA in reproving public
vices, the holy abbot left his native
country, and passed into North Brit
ain. now called Scotland. He took
along with him. twelve disciples, and
arrived there in 5s5; the ninth of the
reign Of Bridius. the son of Mei1och-
on. the most powerful king of the
Picts; which nation the saint recovered
from .idolatry to the faith of Christ by
his preaching, virtues and miracles.
The Picts having embraced the faith
gave st. Columbia the island Of Hy, or
Iona, on WHICH he built the great mon
.astery which was for several ages the
chief seminary of Scotland. and cson-
4 -;i41ilz. I. n o. 3a.- ~