We are inclined to forgive Giraldus half his malice and slanders, in consideration of that tribute to the artistic genius of our early Christian artists. The "Book of Kildare" is, unfortunately, lost, being destroyed very probably in that age of fierce, fanatical fury which spared nothing Catholic that could be desecrated. However another "gem of purest ray serene" has been saved, namely, the "Book of Kells." All that Cambrensis has said of the "Book of Kildare" may be applied to its surviving rival, which is safely housed and most carefully protected by the accomplished Irish scholar, Rev. Dr. Todd, in whose charge, as Librarian of T.C.D., it is lodged. Westwood, in his great work, entitled "Palæographia Sacra," gives us his estimate of the style in which the MS. is illuminated :—“Ireland may justly be proud of the 'Book of Kells.' This copy of the Gospels, traditionally said to have belonged to St. Columba, is unquestionably the most elaboratelyexecuted manuscript of early art now in existence....At a period when the fine arts may be said to have been almost extinct in Italy and other parts of the Continent, namely, from the fifth to the end of the eighth century, the art of ornamenting MSS. had a perfection almost miraculous in Ireland....The invention and skill displayed, the neatness, the precision and delicacy far surpass all that is to be found in ancient MSS. executed by Continental artists....The artists who executed the MSS. were also the originators of the stone crosses....The style and ornament in both classes of monuments is essentially the same."

It is well to bear in mind such testimonies to the artistic capabilities of the Irish race, now that a Royal Commission has reported against the demand made by the representatives of the Irish people for a Central Institution of Science and Art in Dublin. Whilst seven millions have been lavished on the Kensington Museum and on art training for the benefit of English artisans, a people of higher intelligence and artistic capabilities of a much superior order, are denied their right to equal privileges, or even to an approximation thereto. A writer in an able Conservative journal says, significantly: "It will be asked to-day, how would an Irish Legislature disposing of Irish revenues in Dublin deal with such a question ?"

66

NOTE. The reader who is interested in the subject of Irish ornamentation will find very valuable information in Miss Stokes' "Notes on Ornamentation," printed in the beautifully-illuminated work, "The Cromlech of Howth." The paper referred to treats of the Book of Kildare," the "Book of Kells," the "Book of Durrow," the "Garland of Howth," which is still older than the books of St. Columba; the "Book of Dimna," the "Book of St. Moling," the "Liber Hymnorum," the "Book of Armagh," &c.

(To be continued).

CORRESPONDENCE.

[We have been favoured with the following letter, which was addressed to the Rev. C. P. MEEHAN, of this City. We are deeply grateful to this distinguished Antiquarian, and to his correspondent, for the valuable information contained in this letter, and we trust that we may be honoured with many similar communications from other districts.]

Larne, March 17, 1869.

MY DEAR SIR,-Seeing by an advertisement in "Notes and Queries" that Archdall's "Monast. Hib." was to be republished, with notes, in the "Irish Ecclesiastical Record," I ordered from the publisher this month's number of that periodical; and not knowing any other channel by which to communicate with Archdall's Editor, I venture to trouble you with the following identification, of which you may make any use you please :—

"Irish Ecc. Record," p. 289. "Achadhdubthuigh, in Maghli, a small territory near the river Bann"-is stated by Archdall in the text to be "now unknown;" and the Editor in his note does not name any place precisely as the location of this religious house-merely stating that it was "on the west side of the river Bann." I am happy to be able to supply this deficiency. The place referred to is the present Aghadowey, in the county Derry, which quite suits the etymological construction of the Irish word, and also the position of the ancient territory Magh-li, which was near the Bann, and on the west side of that river. But this identification is, I think, rendered complete by the following extract from the Patent Rolls of James I. :

"2nd James I. part 2, dorso. lv. 5, 3rd April.-Grant from the King to Sir George Carewe, Knt., Vice-Chamberlain to the Queen. Site, &c., of the late Hospital or Termoe of St. Goury, of Aghadowey, in O'Kane's country, &c."

Now, I think, there can be very little doubt that the "St. Goury" of the Patent Rolls was identical with the "St. Goar" of Archdall; and therefore "Aghadowey" in the Patent Rolls must also be identical with the "Achadhdubthuigh" of Archdall.

Excuse this intrusion on the part of,

Dear Sir,

Yours very sincerely,
CLASSAN PORTER,

Rev. C. P. MEEHAN.

LITURGICAL QUESTIONS.

We have been asked:

Ist. Can the Apostolical Blessing, with Plenary Indulgence, in Articulo Mortis, be given more than once to the dying in their last illness?

2nd. Is it necessary to use the form assigned in the Ritual for that blessing?

3rd. What conditions are requisite to gain the usual Indulgences granted to the faithful for their dying moments?

I. To the first question we reply that the Apostolical Blessing may be given each time that the sick person is in danger of death. This is expressly declared in the Papal Indult: Quoties aliquem, in mortis articulo constitutum esse contigerit, ....toties Apostolicam benedictionem impertiri valeas." Even whilst the same danger of death continues it is sometimes lawful to repeat the Apostolical Benediction, viz.—if there be prudent grounds for doubting whether the Indulgences had been as yet gained by the sick person, either through defect in the ceremonies, or through want of some of the other conditions requisite for gaining such Plenary Indulgences. Without some such prudent doubt, the blessing should not be repeated, for the Sacred Congregation has more than once declared that the Indulgences attached to such Blessing, in articulo mortis, can be obtained but once; see, for instance, in Prinzivalli's collection, the decrees of 23rd April, 1675; 5th April, 1841; 12th February, 1842; and 12th March, 1855.

2. As regards the second question, the Form of Benediction marked in the Ritual, and prescribed by Benedict XIV., must be observed. This not only results from the constitution Pia Mater, published on the subject by Benedict XIV., but also from the Decree of the Congregation of Indulgences of 5th April, 1841, already referred to, which expressly declares that such Indulgences, in articulo mortis, are not granted, even when a priest, through defect of a "Ritual," and without any fault of his, is unable to use the prescribed form. Except in the case of necessity, the Confiteor should be sad, even although it had been already said a short time before, in the administration of the Holy Viaticum or Extreme Unction. The Priest should wear the surplice and purple stole: entering the room of the sick person he should say Pax huic domi, &c., and then he should give the usual aspersion of holy water, reciting the antiphon, "Asperges me," &c. Should the danger of death seem imminent, the Rubric assigns the portions of the formula which may be omitted, and, if necessary, the simple form may

then be used:-" Indulgentiam Plenariam et remissionem omnium peccatorum tibi concedo, in nomine Patris et Filii et Spiritus Sancti. Amen." The Constitution of Benedict XIV. adds, that the priest should excite the person sick to fervent acts of contrition and charity; however, the Apostolical Blessing may be given even to those who are deprived of the use of their faculties, for, according to the same Constitution, the habitual intention suffices for gaining these Indulgences in articulo mortis.

3. Although the Plenary Indulgences attached to the Apostolical Benediction can be gained but once, the other usual Indulgences may be gained as often as the prescribed conditions are fulfilled. For gaining the Indulgences attached to crucifixes or beads, &c., it is only prescribed that the dying person, being in the state of grace, should invoke the sacred name of Jesus. Sixtus the Fifth grants a special Plenary Indulgence to those who, having had the custom during life of invoking the holy names of Jesus and Mary, should also invoke them at the hour of death; and, if unable to pronounce them with the lips, would at least desire to invoke them, at the same time accepting death in resignation of God's adorable will, and in atonement for all past offences. We will only add on this subject of Indulgences at the moment of death, a decree of Benedict XIV., of 30th May, 1744, which is inserted in the authentic Collection of Prinzivalli, p. 89; it is as follows:-" Urbis et Orbis. Sanctissimus Dominus Noster Benedictus XIV., die 30. Maii, 1744, benigne declaravit Imaginem Crucifixi Domini nostri Jesu Christi, quae Parochis pro impertienda benedictione cum Indulgentia Plenaria in articulo mortis decernitur, etiam ipsimet Parocho, cui concessa est, in articulo mortis constituto, qui singula in decreto eidem expedito injuncta peregerit, pari modo suffragari, sive per se sive per alium ejusmodi Imago eidem porrigatur.”

'This holds good even in the case that the sick person may be prevented by his illness from receiving the Holy Communion or Viaticum.

I. - DECREE

DOCUMENTS.

EXTENDING TO

THE WHOLE

CHURCH, THE OFFICE OF ST. PAUL OF THE
CROSS.

DECRETUM.

URBIS ET ORBIS.

Inconfusibilis Evangelii Praeco extitit profecto Sanctus Paulus a Cruce, qui a Domino hisce propemodum temporibus, undecima nempe hora, ad erudiendam plebem suam missus, mercedem plenam et supereffluentem accepit. Hic enim Christi passionibus communicans et per Urbes ac pagos pertransiens verbum vitae in aeternitatis cibum alendae Christifidelium familiae dispendebat, doctrinae opportunitate et veritate infirma confirmabat, disrupta consolidabat, et depravata convertebat; donec in exultatione metens quod in lacrimis seminaverat, manipulos plenissimos obiens in aeterna tabernacula portavit; spiritum vero suum Alumnis, quos sub Crucis Vexillo congregaverat, reliquit ut in Vineae cultura continuo adlaborarent.

Dextera autem Dei ad superos exaltatus in gloriae hujus indicium portentis inter mortales resplenduit, quibus permotus Sanctissimus Dominus Noster PIUS PAPA IX audito consilio Eminentissimorum et Reverendissimorum Sanctae Romane Ecclesiae Cardinalium, Sacrorumque Antistitum, qui Anno 1867 ex universo terrarum orbe ad colendum saeculare Principum Apostolorum Natalitium frequentissimi in Urbem convenerant, Apostolicum hunc Virum in Sanctorum Albo adscripsit.

Post amplissimos Altarium honores Ei tributos permulti ex iisdem Sanctae Romanae Ecclesiae Patribus Cardinalibus, Sacrorumque Antistitibus quo facilius Christifideles ad Crucis amorem ita excitarentur, ut nil aliud scire judicarent nisi Jesum et hunc Crucifixum, a Sanctissimo Domino Nostro PIO PAPA IX postularunt ut Officium et Missam Sancti Pauli a Cruce Congregationis Clericorum Excalceatorum a Cruce et Passione Domini Nostri Jesu Christi Institutoris ad universam extenderet Ecclesiam. Eorum postulationibus a me subscripto Sacrorum Rituum Congregationis Secretario eidem Sanctissimo Domino Nostro fidelissime relatis, Sanctitas Sua Apostolica auctoritate decrevit ut deinceps festum Sancti Pauli a Cruce cum Officio et Missa pro Clero Urbis approbatis die 11 Julii anni superius memorati sub ritu duplici minori quotannis die 28 Aprilis ab omnibus tam de Clero saeculari, quam Regu