The Catholic bulletin. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1911-1995, 1914-10-03
Especially Written for The Catholic
Bulletin by Ferdomnach Og.)

Bulletin by Ferdomnach og.)
The Manuscript Book of Armagh,
from which this edition is printed is
small square volume, measuring in
height seven and three-fOurths inches
in breadth five and three-fourths, and
thickness two and three-fourths inches.
1t consisted originally of 222 leaves of
vellum on each side of which the writ
ing is arranged mostly in double
columns. During it's long and check
cred history some leaves have been
lost and others misplaced, while por-
tions of the writing have become
illegible. The penmanship is of
extreme elegance and is admirable
throughout for it's distinctness and
uniformity The character is of the
type known as pointed Irish" which
is employed for the Latin as
we'll as for the Irish portions. The
Annals of the Four Masters tell us
that in the year 937 A. D., a case
(cumhdhach) was provided for it by
Donnchadh, son Of Flann, King of
Ireland. This case no longer exists.
When the book passed from it's last
hereditary keeper, it was in remark
able satchel of leather evidently of
great antiquity. This cannot have
been the case given by Donnchadh,
which was probably of silver or other
meta, like the famous cathach of st.
COLUMBIA, the great heirloom of the
O'Donnells. It's dimensions 02RX
12hX2A inches) are not adapted to
those of the Manuscript; it is not a
cumdhach or case but a satchel or
polaire. This polaire is still with the
Manuscript and has been reproduced
in the cover of the bound copies of
the present edition. The cover is of
leather and is ornamented with the
beautiful and intricate old Irish
tracery.
Contents of the Book.
The contents of the Book are: %
Documents, some in Irish, most in
Latin, relating to ST. Patrick; (2)
the Vulgate Latin New Testament, the
only complete copy of the New Tes-
lament as used in the Old Irish
Church and written by an Irish scribe
which has come down to us, and of
great value for biblical science; 90
Life and Dialogues and Epistles of
ST. Martin of Tours. The documents
relating to st. Patrick consist of his
Life by Muirchu; Tirechan's Memoirs
of the mission of St. Patrick; the Liber
Angeli, book of the rights and usages
of the Church of Armagh, and the
Confession of st. Patrick.
The Scribe.
There is no date entered in the
Manuscript, but the name of the
scribe, ,Ferdomnach, was written in
four places, always with the pious and
truly Irish formula, pro Ferdomnacho
ores, that is, pray for Ferdomnach
The name Ferdomnach means man
of God or of the Lord, in Latin, Wiz
Dominicus. 1t shows like many other
Irish names the influence which re
ligion exercised on the minds of the
ancient Irish. Thus, the family name
Gildea means servant of God, while
Mulholland means client of st. Col
umbkill, and Fitzpatrick, NormanizeG
form of the Irish MacGiolla Padruig
means son or descendant of the client
of st. Patrick.
The Annals of Ulster tell us that in
the year S45 the wise and excellent
scribe of Armagh, Ferdomnach, died
This, says DR.. Gwynn, is a true anC
modest encomium. 1t appears fain
- fc
work in this the solitary survivin:
example of his skill which no doub
was exercised in many like perform
ances which have disappeared. TIL
Reverend Charles Graves, Fellow o
Trinity College, Dublin, with wonder
full ingenuity and skill and after mos
careful study, identified the eXcellen
scribe mentioned in the Annals G
Ulster with the scribe of the Boo
of Armagh. DR.. Graves concludes tha
Ferdomnach completed the transcril
ton Of the Gospel of st. Matthew i
the year S07.
The Dignity of the Old Irish Scribe
In Pagan Ireland the man of learl
ing was accorded the highest homo
in the kingdom after the king himse
and he enjoyed many favors and priv
leges on account of his Office. S
Patrick preserved this national custol
as well as many others, in accordanc
with his policy, which aimed, not {
roofing up and blotting out wis
might be lawfully preserved, but b
baptizing as it were and Christiani
ing and directing to God the nations
life of the Gael. This wise policy hs
been followed by the Church and h
greatest Apostles at all times, and