RELICS OF IRISH MISSIONARIES.

New Zealand Tablet, Volume XIX, Issue 15, 9 January 1891, Page 11

RELICS OF IRISH MISSIONARIES.

Miss Margaret Stokes has, we (Nation) learn from the Daily Express, enriched the museum with some relics of St. Columbanus and bis successors which she gathered last winter in the Saint's ancient home at Bobbio. She went there in continuation of tboso pious and patriotic labours that resulted in her imperishable book on " Early Christian Art " in Ireland. Her pilgrimage was rewarded. She found there several traces of Celtic art. Among these were the ornamental interlacing on the tomb of Attala, Columbanus's successor. " The tomb proves that the Celtic missionaries wherever they went brought the traditional Celtic style of ornamentation with them, which we can see here at home displayed so abundantly in the Book of Kells and the other celebrated monuments of Irish Art.'" This ornamentation Miss Stokes haa carefully copied, and she has presented copies to the Museum. She found traces of Celtic Art at Lucca also, in the Church of St. Martin. At Bobbio also are preserved St. Columbanus's bell and. wooden cup, photogiaphs of which were made by Miss Stokes and added to the collection. She also photographed the Saint's tumb, which was erected in the 15th cenUiry. The most important find, however, was the tomb of Cummian, an Irish abbot, who was born early in the seventh century, and lute in life found his way to the place which St. Oolumbanus had saoctified He was a student of Clonmacooise. la Lombardy be became a great friend of the famous King Liutprand, and at his death the king erected the tomb to his memory. Mies Stones took rubbings of the monument, and has given a copy to the Museum. Tbis is her translation of the inscription to the memory of this son of Early Christian Erin :— Here the sacred remains of the blessed Cummian are dissolved, Whose soul, penetrating to heaven, rejoices with angels. He waß great in dignity, grace, and beauty. Scotia Bent him to the confines of Italy in his old age. He remained at Bobio, constrained by the love of the Lord, Where, following the rule of the venerable Columbanus, In watching, fasting unceasingly, sedulouß in prayer, Four Olmypiads and the circle of one year He lived in such blessedness, that he may now be believed to be happy. Gentle, piudent, pious with the brethren, peacjable with all men, The years of bis life were nine times ten, Also oqc lustrum and four months. Hut, renowned Father, be a powerful intercessor For the most pious King Liutprand, who to thee In devotion decorated tnis precions stone, That it might be manifest where thy precions body lies. Cummian, Bishop, buried here XIV. Kal. Sep. (August l'Jth). John the Master made thf>. Words of praise are a weak reward lor the devotion to the relics of Ireland's proudest past, of which these relics, rescued for the instruction of the Ireland of the present, are the conquest.