Donegal Ireland

The Purgatory is mentioned by Matthew of Paris in his history, and early found its way into Italian literature. It became a well-known subject for popular books in Spain and France. Numerous pilgrims from various parts of Europe, many of high rank, visited the Purgatory. In 1497 the cave was closed by the order of the Pope, who had received a hostile account of it from a Dutch monk. But pilgrims continued to flock to the cave from all parts of Europe ; and in 1503 the Archbishop of Armagh appealed to Pope Pius III. to withdraw the prohibition of Alexander VI Papal Bull was accordingly issued granting liberal indulgences to pilgrims visiting the sacred spot. A monastery had been founded in very early times in Lough Derg, on an island close to that in which the cave was situated, and had shared in the celebrity of the spot. In 1632 the Government having decided to stop the pilgrimages, destroyed the monastic buildings. This attempt was unsuccessful. In Queen Annes reign an Act of Parliament constituted all pilgrimages to St Patricks Purgatory unlawful assemblies punishable with a fine, but the pilgrimages still continued. During the last fifty years a modern monastery has been built with a Hospice for the accommodation of pilgrims, which many persons visit each year. The pilgrimage opens yearly on the first of June and closes on August the 15th. Mr. Baring-Gould devotes an article in Curious Myths of the Middle Ages to St Patricks Purgatory ; he concludes that the story is founded on the ancient myths of descents into Hell prevalent among many peoples. The descents of Herakles, Orpheus, Odysseus, and Aeneas, arc classical instances, while many others occur in the mythologies of different races

Posted on April 15th, 2008 under Architecture. Tags: alexander VI papal bull, Architecture, Donegal, matthew of parris, pope pius III, st. patrick purgatory. Comments: 5