Attracta

ON ST. ATTRACTA, OR TARAHATA, VIRGIN IN IRELAND.

5th CENTURY OF CHRIST

Attracta, or Tarahata, Virgin in Ireland (St.)

By G. H.

[1] The manuscript Florarium of the Saints presents on February 9 St. Tarahata the Virgin, about whom on the same day Hermann Greven has the following in his Supplement to Usuard: St. Tarahata is venerated on February 9, In Ireland, Tarahata the Virgin. And Canisius: Likewise in Ireland, St. Tarahata the Virgin. Ferrarius calls her Tarnutha, citing only Canisius in his Notes. The same Ferrarius writes the following for February 4: by others on the 4th, In England, St. Taraghta the Virgin, and notes that he records her from the English Martyrology and the Scottish Calendar, on the authority of Dempster. Dempster inscribed her thus on that day in his Scottish Menologion: Taraghta the Virgin. MA — by which abbreviation he professes to designate the English Martyrology. But in Wilson's English Martyrology, the name Taraghta is absent. Our Lahier follows Ferrarius in the Menologion of Virgins, and indeed places St. Taragta the Virgin in England on the fourth day; but on the ninth, In Ireland, St. Tarnutha, ^a Virgin of great virtues and merits. But on February 3 the name Taharatta is inscribed in the Irish Calendar of our Henry Fitzimon. and February 3.

[2] John Colgan, in his work on the Saints of Ireland, assigns this day to St. Attracta, and believes her to be the same who is elsewhere called St. Tarahata or Tharacta, she is believed to be the same as St. Attracta, both because the name Tharacta is found nowhere else among the Irish Saints, and because there is no other name more similar than that of Attracta. But the sources he cites as distinct for Tarahata — Hermann Greven and the augmented Usuard — are one and the same Greven in his additions to Usuard. The same Colgan adds that St. Attracta, according to Irish hagiographers, is venerated on August 11, August 11, and is assigned to that day in the Martyrologies of Marian Gorman, Cathal Maguire, and those of Tallaght and Donegal; and that her feast day is celebrated on that day in the church of Killsaile in the region of Crichchonvill, according to the gloss on Marian. churches dedicated to her. He also reports that ^a church is dedicated to St. Attracta in the region of Lugnia, ^a convent in the region of the Gregraighe in the diocese of Achad, and ^a chapel of the same name in the diocese of Tuam in the parish of Balla — all of which places are situated in the province of Connacht.

[3] Concerning St. Attracta, the author of the Tripartite Life of St. Patrick relates the following in Part 2: consecrated to God by St. Patrick, Having duly arranged the affairs of the Church, St. Patrick proceeded to the region of the Gregraighe, to the lake of Techet, and having instructed and converted the people there, he laid the foundations of ^a church in ^a place commonly called Druimnea. Afterwards, in the same region of the Gregraighe, he founded ^a convent called Kill-Athracta, which took its name from the holy Virgin Athracta, daughter of Talan son of Cathbad, whom the love of the Son of God drew to consecrate her virginity to God and to receive the veil from the hand of St. Patrick, in the field formerly called Dromanna, today called Machaire. She imitated her own brother St. Coeman of Airdne-Coemhain, who also, at the preaching of St. Patrick, sending farewell to the world, imitating her brother St. Coeman, enlisted in the army of Christ, and grew into ^a man of outstanding holiness. The man of God placed this Virgin in charge of the aforesaid convent and left her ^a chalice with ^a dish or paten as an aid to the sacred furnishings. Between him and this Virgin there also fell from heaven ^a chasuble, which St. Patrick declared had been sent in view of the merits of the holy Virgin; she, on the contrary, attributed it as conferred by the extraordinary merits of the most holy Bishop.

[4] What is here called ^a chasuble is called ^a veil by Jocelin in his Life of St. Patrick: she receives ^a veil sent from heaven, On ^a certain occasion, he says, when St. Patrick had consecrated two Virgins in ^a field situated on the borders of the Gregraighe, ^a certain veil, destined from heaven, fell into the lap of Patrick. The Saint, taking it up with the greatest devotion, offered it to the Virgin who had been consecrated second. But she, judging herself unworthy of such ^a gift, so holy ^a favor, said to the holy Bishop: Since this good gift and perfect donation, descending from the Father of lights, was not sent to me, ^a sinner, I think it fitting that you should keep it, to whom it was brought, or bestow it upon another who is better than I. The Saint, applauding the humility of the Virgin, placed that veil upon her head, commanding her to wear it always until she should be brought into the bridal chamber of her bridegroom. The Virgin acquiesced to the command of the Bishop, and living holily, rested in the Lord with ^a most holy end.

[5] The father of St. Attracta is said above to be Talan, son of Cathbad, who in other sources is the son of Saran, Prince of Dalaradia in Ulster, descended from ^a royal family, and grandson of Coelbad, the last King of Ireland from the stock of Ir. In some accounts Talan is the son of Dubhtach, grandson of Ross of the stock of Corb, and great-grandson of King Fergus. In other sources St. Attracta is called the daughter of Saran, in others the daughter of Tigernach. Consult Colgan, number 2 in the Notes, who adds that he does not resolve this dispute. St. Coeman, who is called the brother of St. Attracta, is venerated according to the Irish Martyrologies on June 12 in the church of Airdne-Coemhain near Wexford in Leinster. she flourished in the 5th century. Both flourished in the fifth century of Christ.

[6] A mutilated Life of St. Attracta, lacking its beginning and end, was published by Colgan from an insular codex. He conjectures that its anonymous author the Acts were written by an unskilled man appears to be ^a Cistercian monk of the monastery of Boyle in Connacht, and therefore to have lived not before the year 1100; and that whoever he was, he is not greatly to be commended either for his style or for his reliability in sincerely reporting events. With this caution from Colgan applied, we venture to present the same Life, omitting toward the end some things that Colgan himself judged to be insipid, as many Irish items are.

LIFE

Published from manuscript by John Colgan.

Attracta, or Tarahata, Virgin in Ireland (St.)

BHL Number: 7986

By an anonymous author, from Colgan.

CHAPTER I.

Flight from marriage and homeland. A cell built.

[1] Moreover (he says), while still ^a child, St. Attracta, ^a holy girl, at ^a tender age, infused with the grace of the Holy Spirit, she wore down her body with fasting, prayers, and continual almsgiving. She scorned the fleeting glory of the world, when she saw the children of our first parent weighed down by the burden of sin in the valley of tears and misery.

[2] When her parents wished to give her in marriage, because of the importunity of suitors seeking her hand, she flees from marriage, and she appeared exceedingly beautiful to those who beheld her — she herself, not consenting that the marriage-bed of her bridegroom Jesus Christ be defiled by anyone, taught by the grace of the Godhead, did not hesitate to flee secretly the borders of her birthplace and her father's kingdom and the pleasantness and splendid feasts of that kingdom. She came to the borders of Connacht, content with the company of only two — namely, ^a handmaid named Mitain and ^a servant named Mochain. she comes to Connacht; And so she deprived the land of her birth of her presence, that she might more freely devote herself to God, and desiring ^a solitary life among strangers, she resolved to traverse roads unknown to her, that there might be greater merit from the lack of sight of friends.

[3] Meanwhile, as she was retracing those same regions, on her first arrival she vowed to God that she would preserve perpetual chastity, she vows chastity, and declared herself committed to hospitality, promising that she would not have ^a dwelling anywhere devoted to hospitality, except where the meeting-point of seven roads should appear most clearly, so that she might minister the necessities of life to those converging from all directions, as far as her ability could extend to this end, maintaining ^a common hospice for all.

[4] It happened that one day her aforesaid servant, after sunrise, while the sun gleamed in its purple splendor according to its custom, having completed his early morning duties, was walking alone in ^a dense wood, in isolated parts, and observed the meeting-point of seven broad roads, on account of the meeting-point of seven roads found, as if there had been the passage of people there for ^a long time. At this sight, marveling at such ^a thing, he pondered silently within himself that his Lady, by divine revelation, was obtaining her desire before God. Coming to her as quickly as possible with swift course, falling prostrate on the ground at her knees before her, blessing her, he narrated this unusual discovery to her in humble and eloquent speech. When she had given him ^a respectful hearing, she inspected those seven roads converging at one place; and then, believing through the glorious Majesty that she was requited by her bridegroom, she raised her hands to heaven and offered grateful thanks to God. she gives thanks to God. Moreover, she spoke these words to her aforesaid follower: I make you ^a serf of this piece of ground, as its first discoverer in my name,

and I give it to you and grant it to your posterity; and indeed in this place you and your posterity shall be hospitable, and living fire will never fail there until the end of the world, by my promise and my God's commitment to the work. And in the same place she graciously obtained from the inhabitants of the land permission to dwell, for they had seen her to be wise in her words, and she builds ^a dwelling there; and her living countenance, and she herself appeared honorable to all. They loved her with such great affection as ^a companion dear and beautiful to them, that whenever she would spring forth to accomplish some business of hers, at her pleasant arrival all the bystanders were accustomed to take it as ^a favorable omen and familiar prognostication. loved by the local people; Her acquaintances and neighbors also loved her as if she drew her origin from among them; and in her name and that of the most holy Trinity and the glorious Blessed Virgin, ^a Church was built there.

[5] After some interval of time, in the novelty of her arrival in Connacht, it happened that while she was passing through and making ^a circuit through the lands, seeking where she might prepare ^a dwelling for herself, the holy Virgin turned aside to Blessed Conall of Druim, the son of her mother, having gone to St. Conall, ^a kinsman, and on the borders of his church, because of the pleasantness of the place, she wished ^a shelter to be built for herself. It was then the season of Lent, during which St. Conall was accustomed always to recite his hours standing in cold water, and to pass the whole of Lent in this way. It seemed to him that the said Virgin, on account of the excessive beauty of the place, desired an oratory to be built, and he said silently to himself: This is the one whom the true prophets foretold, that ^a certain Virgin devoted and dear to God, of wondrous holiness, would come from the northern parts like ^a living spark, who by her miraculousness and bright shining fame, especially since she was ^a stranger, would be called the morning star. And indeed, until it should happen that the stars of the sky, the sands of the sea, the leaves of the trees, and the dense groves could be counted, the diverse works of her miracles, for every kind of illness, could not be numbered, with divine mercy cooperating, because to all who are oppressed by any sickness and seek the remedy of reconciliation, she attentively offers timely aid.

[6] Having considered these things, he sent for Dachonna, that he might dispatch him to the Virgin to entreat her not to build an edifice on the borders of his church out of love for God. she is not permitted to erect an oratory there. Dachonna approached her for this purpose, blessing her and explaining the matter. At which she said to him: Since I have been asked, out of love for my God, not to delay in leaving these places, I will do what you ask and will not refuse what you command. Nevertheless, St. Conall first of all, who sent you on this business, will feel the sharpness of my judgment. And, if it pleases God, with vehement desire I wish that when some come to his church for the purpose of fasting, one person from Lugnia may obtain from God as much as ^a hundred others. Moreover, I will that father and son shall never serve there at the same time. Likewise, I will that no grain, wheat, or barley shall grow in his church. I do not deny that the sound of ^a bell shall come among your dwellings, which will diminish or entirely deprive you both of your first-fruits. And so it happened. For ^a monastery of monks was built among their dwellings, which deprived them of their first-fruits. She likewise spoke many harsh words to Dachonna, which are not written here.

CHAPTER II.

A diabolical monster vanquished. A paten received from heaven.

[7] At another time, when the entire region of Lugnia had been devastated by ^a single beast of bestial ferocity, to such ^a degree that no inhabitant remained there invited by the chieftain of Lugnia — except for those who were in the mountains and in caves — the king who then reigned in that region, named Bec, hearing of the eminent signs and wonders performed by the aforesaid Virgin in the novelty of her arrival, sent various messengers to her, that she might deign to come to speak with him. When the aforesaid messengers found her engaged in her prayers in her oratory, they knelt and with humble words greeted her on behalf of the King. And she replied to the greetings: Thanks be to God. The messengers explained to her that the aforesaid King had something secret that he wished to confide to her discretion, humbly entreating her to deign to come to him, moved by divine piety. We further report to your holiness that he is an illustrious and most excellent man. To which she said: Go before me and announce my coming, for tomorrow, if my God helps me, I shall visit him. When the aforesaid messengers had returned, they related all these things in order to the King. On the next day, when the King was taking comfort in the courtyard of his fortress, he saw the holy Virgin coming to him with measured steps and with ^a small but honorable retinue. As soon as he recognized her, he fell to the ground and kissed her feet, unburdening himself of the afflictions that had befallen him and the losses caused by the savage ferocity and madness of the beast. Your fame, he said, growing most widely throughout all parts of Ireland, has made known to me that you are ^a handmaid of God, and that whatever you effectively ask of him, you are known to obtain without any delay. and having been asked for her patronage, Knowing and understanding this, I wish and grant that the inhabitants of this region shall forever be subject to your holiness and your successors in the giving of first-fruits, and that by the supplications of your holiness, offered with attentive mind for us before the throne of the most excellent Majesty, we may be helped against this pestilence. Moreover, if through the constant outpourings of your prayer I feel your aid, I by royal pledge and with vehement desire wish and grant that you hold as alms from me and my followers the land now inhabited by the beast, and after you, those who hold your place in these lands. She said: He who created the world from nothing and fashioned man from the clay of the earth in his own image is powerful to commit all these things to swift effect.

[8] It is reported that when this resolution had been determined, the Virgin went to the outer wall of the boundary of the place where the fierce beast was; and kneeling, a diabolical monster, with all the intensity of her mind she prayed to God in silence, that what the aforesaid King had ardently desired might come to pass for the glory of his name. When she had said this, the holy Virgin caught sight of the beast, which had the face of ^a dragon. When the awakened beast sensed the Saint, it let out roars like ^a lion; it gnashed

its teeth, which were like ^a boar's in sharpness but greater in length. It was indeed horrible in appearance and in the terror of its body, in the form of ^a monstrous beast, so that each of its hairs, as if fixed upright, hung straight down, emitting fiery sparks with its remarkable breath. It had ears as wide as ^a ram's, large and red eyes shining like ^a lamp, wide nostrils, ^a horse's mane, and ^a straight neck; swift on its feet in walking, the color of ^a stag's head; all its limbs like ^a bear's, trembling with overwhelming desire to devour the holy Virgin with indescribable ferocity. Ablaze with cruelty, it rushed upon the holy Virgin with ^a straight stride and ^a fierce neck. She, fortifying herself with the sign of the holy Cross, she overcomes it with the sign of the holy Cross, fierce and armed with cruelty, the beast set itself against her. The holy Virgin, seeing the enormous gape of the beast's mouth, extended her hand with her staff, which the beast itself swallowed up to the elbow along with the staff. By the impulse of the Virgin and with divine mercy cooperating, the beast expired. In that place ^a basilica was built in the Virgin's honor.

[9] When St. Patrick was passing near the places where the Virgin was, when St. Patrick was about to celebrate Mass, banishing the barrenness of all Ireland, in those days wishing certain holy men to be ordained as priests and bishops, he had the holy Virgin Attracta summoned to him. When all were vested for the solemnities of Mass, and the ministers came to the altar to place the sacred chalice, it was discovered that the ministers had accidentally lost the chalice's paten. When the Saint heard this, he was about to lay aside the sacred vestment. Then the holy Virgin Attracta said: she obtains ^a paten by divine intervention, Since you have begun ^a holy work and ^a divine ministry, do not desist from so holy ^a purpose, for the Lord is powerful to help you. Then St. Patrick and the others began the confession, and it happened that the holy Virgin, while bowing down for the confession, felt some weight upon her shoulders; raising her hand to it, she found ^a paten figured in the form of ^a Cross, which she presented to St. Patrick on bended knees.

[10] After St. Patrick had ordained the holy men and had brought so sacred ^a matter to its conclusion, he said to the holy Virgin: It is manifest that the Lord your God has given so fitting ^a conclusion to your desire, on account of the miraculous Cross impressed upon it, and this is manifest to me. Guard this image diligently, which today we have had on the paten of the chalice, for it was given to you from above by God, and the holy Cross will be called by your name, and the rest of the Irish will honor it with veneration. Its dignity and miraculous nature will excel the signs of almost all the other Saints. We bless it now, we offer sacrifice with it, and we glorify it most attentively in honor of the Most High God who sent it to us.

CHAPTER III.

A lake dried up. The dead raised. Stags tamed.

[11] Not long after this, it happened that the King of Connacht held hostages from the entire territory of Lugnia. The army of Lugnia, enclosed by the men of Connacht, When the magnates of the said territory attempted to recover them by force, they gathered ^a great multitude and came to the places where the hostages were imprisoned, and took them back with them by armed force, and also devastated the entire territory. Then all the elders of Connacht pursued the same men of Lugnia to ^a lake called Techet, where they could find no safe passage. But the elders of Connacht surrounded them on both sides, like walls of encirclement, so that they could neither advance nor retreat. The King of Lugnia, having his dwelling near the Virgin's shelter, went to her and explained in order what had happened. The holy Attracta, hastening with him, came to the perimeter of the men of Lugnia, circling around them, and comforting them with the sweetest exhortations, she said: Do not be afraid, but rather do what I urge. Believe in the one God alone, who is the creator of all things and who is powerful to defend you from all danger and set you free, whose handmaid and servant I am. And they believed her according to her word. To them she said: Be my followers, and let none of you look behind him, but walk with ^a straight step after me. she leads them dry-shod through the middle of the lake; Having said this, she came to the shore and, kneeling and raising her eyes to heaven, prayed that the Almighty might deign to help those who believed anew in God, and that he would not delay in leading them safely through the same lake, free from the danger of water, as the Israelites through the Red Sea. When these words had been spoken, she beheld all the waters driven away, and as far as the human eye could see, the shore appeared on both sides. Then the entire multitude of the men of Lugnia, with the aforesaid hostages and the spoils of all the men of Connacht, had ^a safe passage through the lake, except for the servant of ^a certain drummer, who was drowned by the force of the current.

[12] When the drummer realized that his servant had perished, he confronted the Virgin with such words: that unless she returned his servant, he would defame her throughout the regions of the world. Moved by shame, she said: I promise you your servant according to your wish, and that you will be delightful to the ears of all in your art, because of the great desire aroused by your strings. The drummer did not accept this at all, threatening to bring infamy upon her. Then, when the Virgin of Christ had heard his words, she turned rosy or glowing purple from modesty. She went to secluded places, invoking that name from which all good things proceed, that the drowned man, being restored to life, might be given back to his former health. Then the Virgin, engaged in this labor, going here and there, admonished by an Angel, beheld the Angel of the Lord speaking these words to her: The Lord your God has grown weary of you; but nevertheless you have obtained your wish. Go quickly to the place where the drowned man of God, St. Foelan, lies; she restores to life those who had drowned — St. Foelan, in the name of the Lord your God raise him from his sleep, that he may yet be revived by the divine spirit, for he was ^a strong athlete of God. When she went to the place at the Angel's bidding, she found him lying as if asleep, bearing three stones of wondrous arrangement in his hands and mouth. And after she touched him, he immediately rose up, restored to his former health, as if he had risen from an ecstasy. And she kept him in her retinue for ^a long time. Similarly, she restored the drummer's servant to him alive, and the drummer's servant. and so all the men of Lugnia were not well disposed to the King of Connacht.

[13] But as her fame grew, as it is reported by the manifold and brighter narrative and recounting of men and by the most brilliant miracles, through her were performed illustrious and extraordinary miracles and innumerable wonders, with divine mercy cooperating, obtaining with an expansive heart whatever she strove to gain unworthily for anyone. At that time there reigned especially in the borders of Connacht one called Ceannfaelad, holding its entire sovereignty universally. When he was urged by all the princes and the more powerful men of his territory who were subject to him, he decreed that they should build for him ^a splendid fortress, for ^a new fortress, which by the beauty of its design would surpass the other buildings in the same kingdom, so that its shining decoration and sculpture would appear pleasant and delightful in the sight of men. Moreover, the aforesaid King commanded his servants by royal decree that all persons of his territory, whether of ecclesiastical immunity, or of servile condition, or of civil status, should come with diligent work to the construction of the aforesaid fortress and labor for their excellent Lord, rendering timely aid for so royal ^a work and one necessary for royal dignity. When this royal exaction had been published throughout all the secular parts of the kingdom of Connacht, and especially to St. Attracta the Virgin compelled to contribute her labor

whose life we write here, the decrees of the same King were set forth in writing. Flatterers addressed the Virgin on this matter, saying that the King had commanded her, by obligation of the royal edict, to deign to provide necessities for her part, just as the other Saints of the same kingdom, for the construction of the aforesaid fortress. the chieftain beseeches her in vain; When the Virgin heard this, burning with anger, she went to the King with swift step, offering him in ^a familiar conversation ^a relaxation of the undue service and unaccustomed obligation, in view of the divine Majesty, saying that from every part of the world ships driven by ^a mighty wind would come to the port of the said fortress, bearing precious goods from unknown lands, where unusual merchandise might be obtained more abundantly, and that no one except those of his blood would ever hold this kingdom. She offered him these and many other things that are not written in this book; but the proud — nay, insane — King, with poor counsel, spurned them completely.

[14] When she had been refused, moved with vehement anger, she went to the nearby wood with St. Nathi she cuts wood and with ^a few of her people and horses, to cut wood sufficient for the quantity commanded. The Virgin therefore commanded her servants to load her horses with the aforesaid wood. Then, when the horses were brought at the Virgin's command, one of her servants, moved by pity for his wretched animal, burst out with these words: If these logs were carried upon those stags you see rubbing themselves against the trees in your sight, to the presence of the King inflated with pride, to humble his arrogance, since they ought not to be carried on our poor horses! When the Virgin heard this, she fell prostrate on the ground, beseeching her supreme Creator she summons stags by prayer and lays burdens upon them that he might grant the servant's request. And so it happened. For immediately the wild stags came, meek and gentle, to the Virgin of Christ, humbly taking up their burdens and walking tamely on their way with their loads. It happened, however, by divine permission, that the ropes binding all their loads broke, and they had no other ropes with which to tie the loads. The Virgin, devoted to God, after rebuking her servants for such negligence, thrust her hands into her tresses tied with slender hairs and pulled out ^a few hairs, by means of which — though slender and slight, and though the tale is wonderful to relate — the wood was carried on the aforesaid stags to the city of the said King.