St. Columban, the Irish Saint who saved Europe – 23rd November

The holy Abbot Columban, was a widely known Irish monk in mainland Europe in the early Middle Ages. He is Europe’s missionary Saint, with experience in France, Switzerland and Italy. He coined the phrase ”totius Europae” with relation to Europe’s Christian identity. This phrase he penned in one of his epistles to Pope Gregory the Great around 600 A.D.

Columban was born in 543 A.D, and was home schooled in the liberal arts. He later went to boarding school under the stewardship of Abbot Sinell in Cleenish which is in the old Tyrkennedy country in present day Fermanagh in Ireland’s mid Ulster. Under the abbot, Columban studied scripture, before going on to enter into the monastic life in Bangor under abbot Comgall. Bangor was an ecclesial centre in the north of Ireland, and was known for prayer, study and an ascetic life. It was at Bangor, where Columban was ordained a priest. He would later bring christianity back to mainland Europe, at a time when the Roman empire had collapsed. This was a difficult and dark time in Europe, with pagan worship on the rise.

Columban was to become a missionary while on ”Peregrinatio Pro Christo”. Around the year 590 A.D, he left Bangor with twelve companions, and set out for the Breton coast of France. The Breton coast is present day Brittany or ”Bretagne” where St. Patrick would have grown up. “Bretagne” was the land that was historically known as British Armorica. Patrick was Roman British… but in the present day, Britany is a reclaimed French province. The Roman empire in Patrick’s days still held sway in Western Europe, when he was born in 386 A.D. Now however in 590 A.D. the King of the Franks of Austrasia granted to Columban and the monks some uncultivated land at the old Roman fortress of Annegray which now lay in ruins. Within a few months the monks managed to cultivate the land, and convert the ruins into a hermitage. From Annegray their re-evangelization of Europe began to take root. Living in great austerity, they managed to build up the monastery, attracting pilgrims and those looking to do penitence. They cultivated the land and they cultivated the souls of those seeking spiritual nourishment. They built another monastery nearby at Luxeuil. It became an Irish cultural monastic centre. They also build a monastery at Fontaine.

After about twenty years at Luxeuil, Columban wrote his Columban monastic rule: ”Regula Monachorum”. In another writing called ”De poenitentiarum misura taxanda”, Columban introduced Confession and private penance to France and beyond. This involved a type of tariffed penance, whereby there was a proportion of penance according to the gravity of the sin. Columban practice the Celtic Easter practice in France which became disputed at the Synod at Chalon-sur-Saône in 603. Columban played it down at the Synod, seeking to address more serious ecclesial matters. Columban had already requested support of his practice of the Celtic Easter observation, in his epistles to Pope Gregory the Great.

It was when Columban reprimanded King Theodoric of France for adultery, that he found himself and his monks exiled from France in 610. They were put on a ship destined to cross the English Channel, but the winds kept pushing their ship to the French coast. So the ship sailed up the coast and entered the Rhine river. Columban and his companions ended up near Zurich in Switzerland for quite a number of years. It was at Bregenze where St. Gall and St. Columban parted company after many years on mission together, evangelizing the Alemanni, near Lake Constance. St. Gall was Columban’s right hand man, but preferred to stay in Switzerland instead of continuing on the ”Peregrinatio pro Christo” to Italy.

Having arrived in Italy, Columban and his companions met with a warm welcome at the Lombard Royal Court despite the considerable difficulties in Italy. The Arian heresy was prevalent, and northern Italy was in schism with Rome. At around 613 A.D. the King of the Lombards granted a plot of land in Bobbio, in the Trebbia Valley to Columban, who founded a new monastery and a reputable cultural centre. Here Columban lived out the remainder of his days.

Columban and his monks cultivated the land wherever they went and from there they cultivated the souls of those seeking spiritual nourishment. Thus Columban and his companions saved Europe. He died on 23rd November 615 and he is remembered by the church on this day.

Facebooktwitterredditpinterestlinkedinmailby feather

St. Machar, an Irish monk in Aberdeen – 13th November

Saint Machar died in 600 AD. (C.E. – Christian Era). He was the son of Fiachna, an Ulster Prince. Machar was baptised by St Colman of Kilmacduagh, and was then given the baptism name of Mochumma, a name which has a sense of endearment about it.

St. Machar is said to have cured seven lepers and to have turned a fierce wild boar into stone. Columba determined that Mochumma should be sent away to do mission in eastern Scotland among  the Picts. The ‘’Seanchaí’’, pronounced Shankey, (Ancient Celtic folklore-tellers) relate that St Columba gave Mochumma instructions to search for a place where a river formed the shape of a “crosier” and establish himself there. The site of the present St. Machar’s Cathedral, in Aberdeen, is an uncanny fit to Colum Cille’s instructions. St. Ternan (a disciple of St. Ninian) had already established Christianity in this area in the fifth century, and the further missionary efforts of St. Machar in Aberdeenshire cemented Christianity successfully. St. Machar being Irish, would have founded a monastery, according to the Celtic traditions, and was the abbot, with equal prestige and authority to a bishop. This monastic site would later become the Cathedral site of St. Machar.

Let us fast forwarding into medieval and then also relatively recent history… Shortly after Scotland’s war of independence, the construction and progress of the Cathedral was continued under among others Bishop Alexander Kinnimund (1355-80) and Bishop William Elphinstone (1431-1514). In his lifetime the cathedral was enlarged. The nave and towers on the west, now form the modern church. To the east of the nave, there was a crossing which had one large central tower. There was also a choir to its east and transepts pointing north and south. In 1520 a ceiling of panelled oak bearing 48 heraldic shields was commissioned by Bishop Gavin Dunbar (1518-1532).

Sadly, with the advent of more recent history, General Monck led Cromwell’s troops into Aberdeen in 1654. Looking for material for his fort he removed the stones from the now empty and destroyed bishop’s palace to the east, and from the disused choir space… Enough said!

St. Machar is celebrated in the Scottish liturgical calendar on the 13th November

Facebooktwitterredditpinterestlinkedinmailby feather

An English Saint who brought Irish dancing to the Netherlands??? – 7th November

St Willibrord (AD 658-739) was bishop, missionary and is patron of the Benelux countries. Willibrord, from Northumbria in present day UK, was trained and ordained a priest abroad in Ireland. In Ireland he made many Irish contacts for future missions on mainland Europe. Willibrord was one of the first missionaries to the Benelux countries, (the Netherlands and Luxemburg to be more precise).

Willibrord was an anglo saxon, from Yorkshire and recieved his Catholic education after being weened from his Mother. St Wilfrid at Ripon was his teacher and guide. Wilfrid, was a leading light at the Synod of Whitby, A.D. 664, promoting the roman rite over the Celtic traditions, and over the Celtic Easter. Willibrord was professed at fifteen and in 678 he was sent to Rath Melsigi in Ireland for further studies and formation. Rath Melsigi was an important monastic settlement in Ireland for the Anglo-Saxons. After twelve years in Ireland, Willibrord was ordained priest in 690, and he then immediately returned to England.

Missionary priest

After some time, Willibrord set out for Iona in Scotland, to promote the use of the roman rite among the people of what was then the Dal Riada kingdom. From there, with a band of monks they all went to Frisia which is in present day Netherlands. In Frisia they were well received by Pepin of Herstal, duke and prince of the Franks.

Mission mandate of Pope Sergius I

Before he began his mission in Frisia, Willibrord went to Rome to obtain approval from Pope Sergius I, for his mission and to take with him some relics for the future new churches to be. Willibrord’s mission was a success and in 695, with Pepin’s recommendation, he was consecrated in Rome as the archbishop of the Frisians.

A new monastic centre at Echternach

In 701 Willibrord established a new missionary monastery at Echternach in Luxemburg. He did this with the help of some monks from Ireland. This centre became an important library and scriptorium in the Frankish empire. Duke Pepin died in 714, to be succeeded by a pagan Frisian prince Radbod, who drove Willibrord out of Frisia for a time, until Radbod died in 719.

Method in his missionary madness

Willibrord’s missionary methods worked like this… In Denmark he bought thirty slave-boys to bring up as Christians. In Heligoland he discarded a pagan custom, of drawing water with the strictest silence, for Willibrord baptised three persons at the well, in full voice.

The Saint’s influence after his death

Willibrord died in his early eighties at his monastery at Echternach. He became venerated as a saint and pilgrims came to his grave. An annual dancing procession takes place in Echternach on Whit Tuesday to honour St. Willibrord. Professor Dáibhí Ó Cróinín, of the NUIG university in Galway in the west of Ireland, believes there is a connection through Willibrord, between Irish and Echternach manuscripts and also a connection between the dancing procession in Ethernach and an influence of Irish dancing.

The church universal celebrates St. Willibrord on the 7th of November

Facebooktwitterredditpinterestlinkedinmailby feather

All Ireland Feast Day Champions: An Eclectic team of Irish Saints – 6th November

The Feast of All Irish Saints was instituted in 1921, by Pope Benedict XV. It was a huge privilege already to have twenty five new Irish saints recognised by Rome in 1902, albeit via an informal procedure. Therefore, the oft misplaced idea, that Ireland has saints only by hearsay tradition does not really hold. We shall explain, while first listing off our canonized saints…

Examples formally canonised Irish Saints are

  1. Saint Malachy
  2. Saint Lawrence O’Toole
  3. Saint Oliver Plunkett
  4. Saint Charles of Mount Argus

An Irish monk, Fergal, also known as St. Virgil of Salzburg, is an 8th-century missionary scholar who was also formally canonized in 1233 by Pope Gregory IX. Formally canonised saints are when there is a solemn public affair in publicising the recognition of someone as a saint. Now Pope St. John Paul Magno canonised many saints in this way, after a careful and rigorous process of authenticity and verification.

Examples of informally canonised Irish Saints via the process of what is called Cultus Confirmation:

1) Assicus from Elphin
2) Carthach the Elder from Lismore
3) Colman from Cloyne
4) Colman from Dromore
5) Colman from Kilmacduagh
6) Conleth from Kildare
7) Déclán from Ardmore
8) Aidan from Ferns
9) Éogan from Ardstraw
10) Fachanan from Kilfenora
11) Felim from Kilmore
12) Finbarr from Cork
13) Flannán mac Toirrdelbaig from Killaloe
14) Jarlath from Tuam
15) Ciarán from Clonmacnois
16) Laserian from Leighlin
17) Mac Nisse from Connor
18) Macartan from Clogher
19) Muiredach from Killala
20) Nathy from Achonry
21) Oran from Iona
22) Kevin from Glendalough
23) Comgall from Bangor
24) Finnian from Clonard
25) Albert from Cashel (8th cent.)

All twenty five saints were recognised in 19 June 1902 by the universal church. They are our all Ireland champion saints.

Cultus confirmation is also called equipollent (equivalent) canonization, which consists in decreeing an Office and Mass by the pope in honour of the saint, (Benedict XIV, l, c., xliii, no 14). The Congregation for the Causes of Saints (CCS), instituted in 1969, has the competence to consider such an honour. Ordinarily someone whose cultus has been confirmed is considered “Blessed”. In some cases, the decree grants the title as “Saint”.

The rules instituted by Pope Benedict XIV, on the conditions for an equipollent canonization:
1) Existence of an ancient cultus of the person: namely evidence of an immemorial public veneration (cultus ab immemorabili tempore) of the person at least one hundred years before the publication of the decree.
2) Reliable and constant attestation to the virtues or martyrdom of the person by credible historians.
3) Uninterrupted fame of the person as a miracle worker: the claimed saint maintains a reputation for performing miracles that have continued without exception of the centuries.
These criteria ensure only claimed saints of authentic merit veneration and canonisation.

Finally there are those who are saints of the ”pre-congregation canonization” type; being proclaimed a saint by popular devotion and recognised as such by a local bishop. St. Mel of Ardagh is an example of this category.

So there you have it, we have many recognised saints. What a great privilege it is to be part of the land of saints and scholars. We celebrate all Irish Saints day on the 6th November.

Facebooktwitterredditpinterestlinkedinmailby feather

St. Malachy, a priest, prophet and reformer of the Irish ecclesial church – 3rd November

St. Malachy was of noble birth whose family surname was Ua Morgair. He was born in Armagh in 1094. His Irish baptism name was Máel-M’áedóc. His father, Mugrón, was ard-fher légind (chief lector or chief scholar) of Armagh. His family was of an ecclesiastical line of Cenél Conaill, a dynasty of Uí Néill.

He received his formation from Ímar Ua hÁedacáin, a reform-minded monk who would became abbot of the church of SS Peter and Paul at Armagh. Malachy was ordained deacon by Ímar c.1118, soon after the reform synod of Rath Breasail in 1111. He was ordained a priest by the comarba Pátraic (Successor of St. Patrick), by Cellach (Celsus) in 1119. Cellach was son of Áed, a strong advocate for reform. Malachy advanced his studies in sacred liturgy and theology, at the large diocese of Lismore, a predominantly Gaelic diocese, and a pro-reform foundation. He studied for two years under St. Malchus. There, Malachy also came into contact with Máel-Ísu Ua hAinmire, bishop of the small diocese of Waterford, which was a predominantly viking diocese. Máel-Ísu Ua hAimnire was a strong advocate of reform in the Irish church. Máel-Ísu was a Benedictine monk who had studied at Winchester and was well informed on Roman canonical and liturgical practice. Malachy became the Abbot of Bangor, in 1123.

St. Malachy became Archbishop of Armagh, in 1132. But he was unable to take possession of his see for two years. During three years in possession at Armagh, St. Malachy restored church discipline promoted the Roman Liturgy adopted, in favour of the Celtic traditions. Malachy re-established Christian morals, to the point that he felt able to resign in 1138, with the view to return to the diocese of Connor.

He travelled to Rome in 1139 via Great Britain, and France, visiting St. Bernard at Clairvaux. He sought from Pope Innocent, palliums for the Sees of Armagh and Cashel. He did not succeed in this request but Malachy became the legate for Ireland. His role was to oversee church reform. On his return trip, at Clairvaux he was given five monks for the Mellifount abbey to be (1142). During this period Malachy travelled across Ireland in the role of papal legate, promoting church reform and establishing of Augustinian chapters at some of the Irish cathedrals.

Malachy convened in 1148 a synod at Inis Pátraic in Dublin. There a decision was made in principle to seek four pallia – for Armagh, Cashel, Dublin, and Tuam. Malachy undertook a journey to meet Pope Eugenius in France. But he fell ill in Clairvaux dying in the care of St. Bernard, on 2 November. His quest for pallia and the diocesan organisation he had promoted was later realised at the synod of Kells–Mellifont in 1152.

Finally, Malachy has some prophetic gifts… For example he prophesied that Ireland would suffer at the hands of England, oppression, persecution, and calamities, for seven centuries; notwithstanding this Ireland would preserve her faithfulness to the Catholic church amidst the trials. After this prolonged oppressive period, Ireland would be delivered from the foreigners, who would find themselves subject to chastisements. Catholic Ireland would greatly help bring back England to the Catholic Faith which Protestants endeavoured eliminate.

Malachy was formally canonized by Pope Clement (III), on 6 July, 1199. His feast is celebrated on 3 November.

Facebooktwitterredditpinterestlinkedinmailby feather

Blessed Dominic Collins; another Corkonian hero – 31st October

Dominic Collins was born into an illustrious Catholic family in Youghal, East Cork in 1566.  His father and his brother were mayors of the town. His family were the owners of the townland called Labranche. Dominic was brought up piously in the Catholic faith. When he reached manhood, at twenty two years of age, he sailed to France, enlisting in the army of the Duke of Mercoeur. He longed to fight for the Catholic League against the Huguenots in Brittany.  He served for five years with distinction and rose through the ranks. His outstanding achievement was the capturing of a strategic castle at Lapena. From this success he was appointed military governor of Lapena.

Dominic proved to be an honest and brave governor.  Later when Henry IV of France tried to bribe him with 2,000 ducats to hand back the castle, it was to no avail.  Dominic strategically handed the castle to a the Spanish general, Don Juan del Aguila, a loyal supporter of Philip II, Catholic King of Spain. For this Dominc Collins earned a pension, and a trip to Spain to serve King Phillip II.

King Philip II had placed him in the garrison at La Coruña in Galicia near Santiago de Compostella. Dominic became captain of the marines and served eight years. Although it was a time of peace, he found himself battling a spiritual battle. At La Coruña in 1598, Dominic encountered a Irish Jesuit priest by the name of Thomas White.

Vocation

Father White had come to Spain from Clonmel, founding the Irish College at Salamanca for the formation of Irish priests.  He was now the chaplain of the Irish seminary in Spain. Fr. White wrote of his encounter with Dominic, and it is paraphrased like this:

”Dominic was struggling to find satisfaction, peace and joy as a captain of the marines, and felt God calling him to renounce the world and its vanities. He particularly felt called to the Jesuit order of priests”.

Dominic was a late vocationer, and this would make the transition from a comfortable military life to a ascetic religious life rather difficult. Dominic would have to prove himself, and so he did. He joined on December the 8th as a novice in 1598 in Santiago de Compostela in Northern Spain. The novice house at Santiago was struck by a plague. Many members fled for fear of catching a disease. Collins bravely stayed, tending to the sick for two months. A report sent to Rome by his superiors describe the Irishman as man of sound judgment and great physical strength, mature, prudent and sociable. He was also hot-headed and stubborn.

Collins encounters the English foe in 1601

The context of his Kinsale visit was this… There was the divide and conquer strategy of Ireland by the English. An Irish chief by the name of Donal O’Sullivan Beare was holding the forth at Dunboy Castle in Cork. Chieftains Hugh O’Neill and Red Hugh O’Donnell headed to Kinsale in Cork to confront the English army. At the same time, in 1601 King Philip III of Spain sent a Spanish envoy to help the Irish patriots. Irish Jesuit, Brother Collins sailed with this Spanish envoy. Collins’s ship finally reached Ireland on 1st December 1601 at Castlehaven, not far from Kinsale.

Lord Mountjoy and his English army laid siege to Kinsale. O’Neill, O’Donnell and O’Sullivan Beare, converged on Kinsale.  Brother Dominic along with the Spanish soldiers joined with O’Sullivan Beare.  An Irish attack at dawn on Christmas Eve, by O’Neill and O’Donnell failed badly, due to a hasty approach, which resulted in a big disadvantage for the Irish army. They suffered a humiliating defeat, with no possible help from the Spaniards who where stationed elsewhere.

O’Neill and O’Donnell’s armies retreated back to Ulster while O’Sullivan Beare and his army retreated to the Beara peninsula. Dominic Collins accompanied O’Sullivan to Bearhaven, to the safety of Dunboy Castle, overlooking Beare Island. Dunboy castle was the fort that O’Sullivan decided to make a last stand against the foreign invaders of Lord Mountjoy and Sir George Carew, the ‘’president of Munster’’. At Dunboy Castle Dominic encountered Fr. Archer, an Irish Jesuit priest, who also had set out from Spain and had then escaped Kinsale.

O’Sullivan’s strategy was effective against the English army, as George Carew struggled to get a foothold in that region. The Irish army were expecting more assistance from Spain. After six months the English army decided to make a landing by sea. On 6th June 1602 Carew with 4,000 English troops made an unexpected landing on a sandy beach just below the castle.  It was an unusual calm day by the sea, and it favoured the English. By Carew’s testimony, O’Sullivan’s men put up a brave fight.

On 17th June Dunboy castle was under heavy attack by the English. Dominic Collins, knowing that Carew wanted to hold to ransom a Jesuit, offered a peace treaty settlement. But Carew was not an honourable Englishman and as soon as they deal was agreed, that it was already torn asunder. Dominic Collins was taking prisoner.  

The English resumed heavy artillery attack on the remaining ruins and into the crypt.  After a bitter siege, with heavy casualties, the castle was blown up as a desperate attempt to take out English leaders. The Irish lost and the O’Sullivan’s retreated to the glen. Dominic Collins, Thomas Taylor, and Turlough Roe MacSwiney were taken for questioning. The rest were swiftly hanged, seventy men and all.

Interrogation

Taylor and MacSwiney were soon after executed. But Dominic Collins, was consider to be a promising prospect for apostacy. Carew felt if he could turn the Jesuit to renounce his Catholic and embrace the fight for the Queen of England, it would be their resounding victory.  Dominic was savagely tortured by Carew. He was also promised rich rewards and high ecclesiastical office by Lord Mountjoy for renouncing the Catholic faith. Some family members visited him, to encourage him to save his life and fain a conversion. It was a psychological battle but Dominic Collins rejected all pressures and he happily accepted a martyr’s death.

Dominic was taken by Carew to his hometown of Youghal on 31st October 1602. The Irishman knelt at the foot of the gallows joyfully saying: “Hail, holy cross, so long desired by me!” He then preached to the crowd, urging them to remain faithful to the Holy Roman Church.

Dominic Collins was then left hanging for many hours, the rope eventually snapped and his body collapsed to the ground. As night fell, local Catholics took his remains and buried him reverently in a secret place. Dominc’s Collin has since been venerated as a martyr in Youghal. Many favours and cures were attributed to his intercession. He is remembered on 31st October in the church liturgical calendar for the Cloyne diocese.

Facebooktwitterredditpinterestlinkedinmailby feather

St. Otteran (Odhran) one of the original monks of Iona – 27th October

Otteran was of royal Irish lineage and was a kinsman of St. Columba of Tír Conaill (Donegal) in the 5th century. Columba founded the monastery on Iona in Western Scotland, and he had brought with him many monks. Otteran was an abbot in Meath, which was the royal Irish province. In those days there were five proud provinces of Ireland. Otteran can very well have visited Iona before Columba, before the mission there had properly begun. Columba was of the royal family descendent of the Dál Riada. The island of Iona would have been part of the Irish Dál Riada kingdom. Columba founded a very influential monastic settlement on this island. It would have been reasonably central via the sea to its borders which included north eastern Ireland & parts of western Scotland. The Dalriada colony stretched from western Scotland known as Argyll today, and extended over the Irish sea into Antrim and Down Patrick. In Iona, began the beginning of that wonderful manuscript the Book of Kells. With the invasion of the vikings, as described in “An Leabhar Breac” this book project had to be moved to Kells in Ireland for completion.

For sure Otteran was present with Columba and the monks on Iona. The oldest remaining church on Iona is named after St. Otteran located by his tomb, called Reilig Odhráin. He worked in Iona evangelising the people of Scotland. An Irish Calendar from 800 A.D. written by Oengus the Culdee testifies his death. Otteran or Oran (Irish Odhran, = `the pale faced one’) is mentioned to be the first monk who died on the missionary island.

Otterran is ‘’Titular Guardian’’ of Viking ancestors’ ashes

Otteran was the first Christian to be buried in the old pagan cemetery on Iona. The vikings had long carried their deceased leaders to be buried there.  Iona is also the place of repose for over fifty kings and a handful of princes.  The norsemen chose Otteran (the viking pronunciation), with the titular guardian of their ancestors’ ashes, and patron of Waterford city in 1096.

The Irish Martyrologies tell us that saint Otteran is honoured on October 27th as a monk of Hy, a kinsman of St. Columba. Otteran’s died in 548 AD and his tomb is greatly revered in Iona. He is recognised as a saint through the process of Cultus confirmation (equipollent canonization) since 1902 by Pope Leo XIII

Facebooktwitterredditpinterestlinkedinmailby feather

Blessed Thaddeus McCarthy, the bishop bedevilled by misfortunes – 25th October

Thaddeus McCarthy was a bishop twice over, yet he never got the opportunity to properly govern his entrusted flock. Thaddeus was born into Irish nobility at Innishannon, Cork in 1455. He studied in France, and later served in a tribunal in Rome. He was appointed a bishop at only 27, an age that required a special dispensation from the pope. Unfortunately, this appointment proved a big blunder, as the diocese still had its former bishop, whom was presumed dead. Bishop McCarthy travelled back to Ireland with his official papal appointment papers, only to find bishop O’Driscoll still alive and governing the diocese. This did not go down well for either men. There was already bad blood between the McCarthy and the O’Driscoll families, and the existing bishop O’Driscoll took great offence to McCarthy’s claim as bishop. It was a big disappointment for Thaddeus McCarthy, and an embarrassment for Rome. O’Driscoll accused McCarthy of being an imposter, and Rome recognised a mistake had been made. McCarthy’s appointment was rescinded.

After eight years in limbo, and personal suffering which included later excommunication, Pope Innocent VIII finally brought McCarthy back to the fold. He gave McCarthy a second appointment as Bishop, this time of the diocese of Cloyne, in Cork. Justice having been finally secured, McCarthy travelled back to his new diocese, only to discover that an imposter by the name of Fitzgerald had usurped his office. McCarthy tried to take possession of his cathedral, but was impeded by armed men who barred the entrance. McCarthy had to walk from town to town in his diocese, with proof of papal papers declaring him the real bishop. His own family wanted to help with arms, but Thaddeus refused their offer, as it seemed absurd to take up his seat through the use of violence. This caused a rift between him and the his own family.

McCarthy went back to Rome. This time he secured authorization for military support, as he sought to take possession of his diocese. However, on his homecoming to Ireland, he travelled as a pilgrim disguised as a pauper. The Bishop McCarthy was now 37 years old, and worn out from years of fighting to do what God had called him to do, and serve the diocese. Thaddeus died a pilgrim near Turin and was to be buried in a pauper’s grave, save for a supernatural act. A light emanated from his dead body… The local bishop was called, and he testified that he had dreamed of a bishop ascending into heaven. On examination of the body, they discovered his bishop’s ring. The result was that they buried him in the cathedral of Ivrea, near Turin.  Many miracles have been associated with him ever since.

Blessed Thaddeus McCarthy never governed his diocese, nor ordained any priest. However, he did give his life for God, and is today known as the “White Martyr of Munster”, as he ultimately won him a pauper’s death crowned with glory. He is the model for those who may be discouraged by lack of success. It’s better to be faithful than to be successful. He has a recognised status of being Blessed by way of Cultus Confirmation; 26 August 1895 by Pope Leo XIII.

Bishop Thaddeus McCarthy died on 25th October in 1492.  

Facebooktwitterredditpinterestlinkedinmailby feather

An Irish Monk who became a Saint in Switzerland: St. Gall – 16th October

St. Columbanus was the most outstanding Irish missionary monk in Europe, during the era of the declining roman empire, when the Barbarians began to make incursions into the former roman territory. Columbanus left the monastery at Bangor, County Down, with twelve other monks, of whom St. Gall is the most notable. Columbanus and Gall share good fortunes and bad for twenty years. Gall was a type of right hand man in the missionary expedition, having the unique ability to communicate in a German dialect, enabling him to communicate with German speaking nobles and Barbarians.

During one of their early missions in France, they found themselves being expelled from the territory and put onboard a rowing ship at Nantes, but the ship was blown back to land again, and so they travelled north east and journeyed up the Rhine against the current. They passed to the river Aare and onto the shores of Lake Zurich.

It was at Zurich that Gall gained notoriety. Having witnessed idolatry by a Germanic tribe to Woden, one of the Norse gods. Woden is known as a deity of war, of human wisdom, and of poetry; influencing Anglo-Saxon culture as well as that of the Vikings. Gall not only preached against such idolatry, but set fire to the temple, and threw sacrificial material into the lake. For that reason there was a plan to murder Gall. The team of Irish monks had to flee and they made for Lake Constance, where they then journeyed more until they encountered a priest at Arbon, by the name of Fr. Willimar. This hospitable priest gave counsel as to where the Irish group could settle. They then found themselves, heading across the lake at Bregenz in Austria, on the fertile mountainside plains. There they encountered more Germanic barbarians offering worship to false gods. Again, St. Gall did the same as before; preaching against idolatry, and smashing the statues of the temple. All the idolatrous imagery were thrown to the bottom of the sea. The temple was a former Christian church. The Barbarians were not happy. Reprisal was on the cards, but Gall won many converts, and St. Columbanus rededicated the Christian church, with holy water, holy oils and holy relics, before celebrating mass there.

St. Gall was a good fisherman and mender of nets, providing well for the community. A reprisal came to fruition, as the barbarians hoodwinked Gunzo the local Duke to expel the Irish monks for interfering with fishing and gaming rights. Two other of the Irish monks, were looking for a lost cow, were assassinated, and so the monks had to once again take flight.

At this point Gall and Columbanus part company, under difficult circumstances. Gall felt unfit and sick and would not continue with Columbanus. He therefore gave the strict command that Gall would not celebrate Mass while Columbanus lived. It was a painful obedience. Gall returned to Fr. Willimar at Arbon, and recovered his health. He was given a suitable hermitage on fertile land. He built there a chapel in honour of the Blessed virgin Mary.

Later the local clergy in that region unanimously chose St. Gall to be the succeeding Bishop of Constance, under the promotional influence of Gunzo the local duke. It was the Duke’s way of returning a big favour, as Gall healed his daughter, Fridaburga. The episcopal offer was declined, as Gall could not celebrate under obedience the Holy Mass, and he was not a native to the land. Gall proposed a native deacon who served him well, and reverend John was elected as bishop.

Within a few short years, St. Gaul had a premonition of St. Columbanus’ death at Bobbio in the north of Italy. Columbanus had already regretted his former heated discussion on the parting of Gall with his prohibition of celebrating the Holy Mass. He therefore had sent some monks from his death bed with his staff to gift to St. Gall. Because of the premonition, Gall had already celebrated Mass for the repose of the soul of late Columbanus, just three years after they parted Bregenz.

The hermitage of St. Gall grew into a monastery with the passing of time, then a city, and then a diocese, and finally the Canton of St. Gallen. Today the monastic library boasts a collection of mediaeval Irish manuscripts. The Irish monk who left Bangor so many years before, became St. Gall of Switzerland. His memory is celebrated on the 16th of October. St. Gall died in 630 A.D.

Facebooktwitterredditpinterestlinkedinmailby feather

St. Canice; the ascetic Irish Saint – 11th October

Canice, also known as Cainnech or Kenneth in Scotland is one of the greatest Irish ascetics and most venerated saints in Ireland after St. Patrick and St. Brigid. He was ascetic in the sence that he live as a hermit in solitude on islands doing penance. He is patron of Kilkenny, as sometimes he is referred simply as Kenny. Canice was a man of great eloquence and learning, he wrote a commentary on the Gospels, known for centuries as ‘’Glas-Chainnigh’’, or the “Chain of St. Canice”. He established monasteries in Ireland and Scotland.

Canice was born in 515 or 516, at Glengiven, in present day Co. Derry and died at Aghaboe, in Laoise in 600. He was descended from Ui-Dalainn, a Waterford tribe (at Inis-Doimhle on the Suir). The father was a bard who settled at Glengiven with his mother Maul in Cinachta under its chief. The early years of Canice were spent tending to the chieftain’s flocks. God then called Canice to pastor His faithful elect. Soon Canice became a disciple of St. Finnian of Clonard and studied at his monastery, a centre of ascetics. Later Canice lived at Glasnevin Monastery near present day north Dublin city where he became friends with the great ascetics Sts. Ciaran and Comgal under the tuition of St. Mobhi.

When a plague broke out in Ireland the saint moved for a while to Wales where he stayed at Llancarvan Monastery under St. Cadoc. There he continued his religious formation and in c. 545 he was ordained priest. Canice went to Rome for a blessing from the reigning pontiff. He then returned to Ireland and established an important monastery at ‘’Aghaboe’’ in County Laois. ‘’Aghaboe” means “the little field of a cow.” Under St. Canice, Aghaboe became the chief monastery and spiritual centre of Ossory. After 562 St. Canice moved to Scotland, where he is known as St. Kenneth. There he built a great monastery on Inchkenneth (“Kenneth’s Isle”) to the north of Iona in Argyl and Bute. He made the monastery of Inchkenneth his mission centre. St. Kenneth became a friend of St. Columba of Iona, and together they travelled through the country, preaching and baptizing Picts. Columbia and Kenneth visited King Brude of the Picts and performed successful missionary work. St. Kenneth’s name is recalled in the ruins of an ancient church, Kil-Chainnech on Tiree Island.

The saint liked to live as a hermit on small islands. He loved to communicate with nature and animals. Thus, once he ordered mice to go away when they nibbled his shoes; on another occasion he rebuked birds for making a loud noise on a Sunday – and they instantly obeyed their master. A deer solicitously held the saint’s personal copy of the Bible on its horns while he was reading it. That was clever use of his time, doing spiritual reading while in transit. We could take a leaf of out his book, and perhaps while in transit we could read a spiritual book, or listen to a spiritual lecture while driving from A to B.

St. Canice died at the monastery of Aghaboe in the 600. He is celebrated in Ireland on the 11th October, as well as being celebrated in Scotland and Wales.

Facebooktwitterredditpinterestlinkedinmailby feather