Hugh MacCaghwell

Hugh MacCaghwell (Irish: Aodh MacCathmhaoil, Latin: Cavellus) (1571 – 22 September 1626), was an Irish Franciscan theologian and archbishop of Armagh.

Life

He was born at Saul, County Down, and received his earliest education in his native place, and then passed to a famous school in the Isle of Man. On his return to Ireland he was selected by Hugh O'Neill, The O'Neill, 2nd Earl of Tyrone, as tutor to his sons Henry and Hugh.

He was sent by the Earl as special messenger to the Court of Spain to solicit aid for the Ulster forces. During his stay at Salamanca, where the Court then resided, he frequented the schools of the university and took doctor's degrees in divinity. Soon afterwards he entered the Franciscan Order. He enjoyed a great reputation as a theologian, and his commentaries on the theologian Duns Scotus (1266-1308) were held in high repute. Nicolaus Vernulæus says that he was conspicuous for his virtues and that his holiness of life and profound learning made him the miracle of his time. It was principally due to his great influence at the Spanish Court that the Irish Franciscan College of St. Anthony was founded at Leuven (Louvain).

After his entry into the order, Hugh taught for some time in the University of Salamanca, then he was appointed superior and lecturer at St. Anthony's, Leuven. Among his pupils were John Colgan, Patrick Fleming, Hugh Ward, and Anthony Hickey. He was summoned to Rome to lecture in the convent of Aracoeli; but his energies were not limited to his work as professor. He was employed by the pope on several commissions.

He gave substantial help to Luke Wadding in founding and developing St. Isidore's and the Ludovisi colleges for Irish students. On 17 March, 1626, Pope Urban VIII, passing over all the other candidates, nominated MacCaghwell Archbishop of Armagh and Primate of All Ireland; the consecration took place on 7 June, in the church of St. Isidore. Thomas Walsh, Archbishop of Cashel, was consecrated at the same time. The consecrating prelate was Cardinal Gabriel de Trejo, a great friend of the Irish.

His health had been much weakened by his duties and the austerities he practised. In making the visitations of the provinces of the order he always travelled on foot, and passed much time in prayer and fasting. While making preparation for his departure for his arduous mission he was seized with fever and died.

He was buried in the church of St. Isidore, and his friend Don John O'Neill, Earl of Tyrone, had a monument placed over his grave. Nicolaus Vernulæus delivered an oration before the university commemorating the virtues and learning of the archbishop, which was published at Cologne, 1657.

Works

MacCathmhaoil composed four Christmas carols in Irish, and wrote Latin and theological works. In his "Apologia pro Johanne Duns-Scoto", he engaged in Franciscan defence of Duns Scotus against the Dominican-inspired attacks of Bovius and Cornelius Jansen, claiming Scotus as an Irishman. He also wrote a work in Irish, which was printed at the Irish press in the college of St. Anthony's, Leuven, in 1618, entitled "Scathain sacramunthe na Aithrighe", or "Tractatus de Poenitentia et Indulgentiis", that is, "The Mirror of the Sacrament of Penance".

* "Scáthain Sacrameinte na hAithridhe" [or "Tractatus de Poenitentia et Indulgentiis"] (Louvain 1618)
* "Scoti Commentaria in quatuor libros Sententiarum" (2 vols., folio, Antwerp 1620) to this work is prefixed a life of Scotus
* "Scoti Commentaria seu Reportata Parisiensia"
* "Apologiam pro eodum vindicando ab injuriis allatis per Abrahamum Bzovium" (q.d.)
* "Apologiam Apologiae supradictae pro Johanne Scoto Scriptae, in respondet Nicolao Jansenio Belgae Ord. Praedicatorum, Abrahami Bzovii partes suscipienti, no sine gravi Scoti et regni Hiberniae injuria. Prodiit Parisiis sub nomine Hugonis Magnesii discipuli Cavelli apud Michaelum Sonnium, anno 1623 (Paris 1623)
* "Quæstiones quodilibetales"
* "Quæstiones in libros de anima"
* "Quaestiones in Metaphysicam &c" (Venice 1625)

Criticism

* Paul Walsh, "Gleanings from Irish MSS" (1930; 2nd edn. 1933).
* Tomás Ó Cléirigh, "Aodh Mac Aingil agus an Scoil Nua-Gheadhilge i Lobháin" [Louvain] (Baile Atha Claith: An Gúm 1936; 1985).
* Canneach Ó Maonaigh, ed., "Scáthán Shacramuinte na hAithridhe", Institúid Ardéin, DIAS 1952 1952, p.5; Cronin, p.61.
*Michael Cronin, "Translating Ireland: Tranlsations, Languages, Cultures" (Cork UP 1996), p.61.

References

* [http://www.newadvent.org/cathen/09484b.htm "Catholic Encyclopedia" article]
* [http://users.bart.nl/~roestb/franciscan/franauth.htm#_Toc427571019 Franaut entry]
*fr icon [http://www.scholasticon.fr/nomenM.htm#mccaghwell Biography]
* [http://www.ulsterhistory.co.uk/mcaingil.htm Aodh MacCathmhaoil: Scholar, Poet, Bishop]