The following books should be consulted by those who
wish to follow out this curious subject in detail:—
The “Vitae Patrum Eremiticorum.”
The “Acta Sanctorum.” The Bollandists
are, of course, almost exhaustive of any subject on
which they treat. But as they are difficult
to find, save in a few public libraries, the “Acta
Sanctorum” of Surius, or of Aloysius Lipommasius,
may be profitably consulted. Butler’s
“Lives of the Saints” is a book common
enough, but of no great value.
M. de Montalembert’s “Moines d’Occident,”
and Ozanam’s “Etudes Germaniques,”
may be read with much profit.
Dr. Reeves’ edition of Adamnan’s “Life
of St. Columba,” published by the Irish Archaeological
and Celtic Society, is a treasury of learning, which
needs no praise of mine.
The lives of St. Cuthbert and St. Godric may be found
among the publications of the Surtees Society.
{12} About A.D. 368. See the details in Ammianus
Marcellinus, lib. xxviii.
{15} In the Celtic Irish Church, there seems to have
been no other pattern. The hermits who became
abbots, with their monks, were the only teachers of
the people—one had almost said, the only
Christians. Whence, as early as the sixth century,
if not the fifth, they, and their disciples of Iona
and Scotland, derived their peculiar tonsure, their
use of bells, their Eastern mode of keeping the Paschal
feast, and other peculiarities, seemingly without the
intervention of Rome, is a mystery still unsolved.
{17a} A book which, from its bearing on present problems,
well deserves translation.
{17b} “Vitae Patrum.” Published
at Antwerp, 1628.
{23} He is addressing our Lord.
{24} “Agentes in rebus.” On the
Emperor’s staff?
{27} St. Augustine says, that Potitianus’s
adventure at Treves happened “I know not when.”
His own conversation with Potitianus must have happened
about A.D. 385, for he was baptized April 25, A.D.
387. He does not mention the name of Potitianus’s
emperor: but as Gratian was Augustus from A.D.
367 to A.D. 375, and actual Emperor of the West till
A.D. 383, and as Treves was his usual residence, he
is most probably the person meant: but if not,
then his father Valentinian.
{29} See the excellent article on Gratian in Smith’s
Dictionary, by Mr. Means.
{30} I cannot explain this fact: but I have
seen it with my own eyes.
{32} I use throughout the text published by Heschelius,
in 1611.
{33} He is said to have been born at Coma, near Heracleia,
in Middle Egypt, A.D. 251.
{34} Seemingly the Greek language and literature.
{35} I have thought it more honest to translate [Greek
text] by “training,” which is now, as
then, its true equivalent; being a metaphor drawn
from the Greek games by St. Paul, 1 Tim. iv. 8.
