Tag Archives: Father of Irish monasticism

Posted in Irish church history

St. Enda: The real man of Aran – 21st March

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”Teaghlach Éinne” is the name of an old monastic ruin on the Aran islands, off the coast of Galway. The name means “the household of Enda. Now St. Enda of Aran is believed to be buried here, either under the altar or close by in the chapel interior.

St. Enda (or Éanna, Éinne or Endeus), was the succeeding warrior king of Oriel in Ulster, in the 5th and 6th centuries AD. His father was King Conall Dearg of Oriel which is in south and mid-Ulster today. The reigning king Enda successfully defended the territoty of Oriel against raids from neighbouring clans. On his return from once such successful battle, he passed by the monastic community of his sister Fanchea. There, Enda was attracted to one of consecrated young virgins. But the abbess Fanchea persuaded Enda to renounce his worldly ways and pursue the religious life. Enda thus decided to embrace the monastic life. He became a student at St Ailbe’s monastery at Emly. He later studied at Ninian’s Candida Casa in Scotland. He also would have travelled to Rome for a time.

Foundation on Inis Mór, Aran Islands

On his return to Ireland, Enda settled on the lonely Aran islands to build and develop his monastic life. He founded a monastery of ”Teaghlach Éinne” at Killeany (Cill Éanna) on Inishmore, which is the bigger of the three Aran islands on the west coast of Ireland. Edna received the lands on Inis Mór (Inishmore), from his relative, King Áengus of Munster. Edna also established other monastic sites on the island, creating a spiritual centre of learning that attracted many pilgrims and scholars from further afield. Some noteable students that came to the island were Ciarán of Clonmacnoise, Jarlath of Tuam, and Carthage, who later built monasteries at Lismore. Enda’s reputation grew widespread and even Brendan the Navigator got his blessing before he set sail to the new world (mentioned in the Navigatio Sancti Brendani).

The ruin at Teaghlach Éinne, is believed to have been originally built around the 8th or 9th century. It is a simple stone structure with a round-headed doorway. The chapel has altars and several stone slabs with carved Gaelic inscriptions. The cemetery contains the graves of some of St. Enda’s disciples.

Teaghlach Éinne is amongst the oldest and intact examples of early Irish monastic architecture. The monastic chapel reflects the influence of Romanesque and Celtic styles. This monastic site represents the legacy of St. Enda and his monks. These monks contributed to the preservation and dissemination of knowledge, culture and faith in Ireland and beyond during the Dark Ages. Because of his many disciples, Enda along with Finnian of Clonard are regarded as the patriarchs of Irish monasticism.

The church celebrates his memory on the 21st March

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Posted in Irish church history

Saint Finnian of Clonard, the maestro of Irish disciples and the ascetic father – 12th December

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St. Finnian (‘Fionáin’ in Irish), was an early monastic saint. He lived from about 470 to 549.

St. Finnian of Clonard is considered the maestro of the Irish saints; notable students include Colmcille of Iona, Ciarán of Clonmacnois and St, Canice (Kenneth). His monastic foundation at Clonard (Cluain Eraird in Irish) was very influential as a centre of theological learning, before the invasion of the Vikings and before the synods of Cashel, Rathbreasail and Kells, that changed the monastery centre into a diocese.

Finnian was born at Myshal in Carlow, at the foot of Mount Leinster. His father, called Rudraigh, was a noble  Ulsterman. His Leinster mother was called Telach. While she was pregnant, she had a vivid dream of a bright flying flame that drew very near to her, entering one moment in her mouth, before flying away gloriously, to all the corners of Ireland Ireland, attracting a huge flock of birds that followed. Telach told Rudraigh of the vivid dream, and he predicted that Finnian would become an influential professor and mentor. Finnian later became one of the greatest fathers of the Irish monasticism.

The boy was educated first by Bishop Fortchernn of Trim, a disciple of St. Patrick. Finnian proceeded to Wales to grow in virtue and study spirituality under the great saints of Wales; his teachers included great fathers such as St. David, St. Gildas the Wise, and, especially, St. Cadoc. Finnian spent thirty years in Wales according to the Salamanca MS. He also studied for awhile in the French monastic centre of St. Martin in Tours in Gaul. Here Finnian learned the life of ascetic austerity for spiritual gain.

Finnian returned to Ireland, first to Aghowle near Shillelagh in County Wicklow, where King Oengus of Leinster gave him a site to build a church. He traversed Ireland, preaching, teaching, and founding churches, as far south as Skellig Michael islands, eight miles off the coast of Co. Kerry. He went north eastwards to Dunmanogue on the river Barrow, in Co. Kildare. He stopped by the town of Kildare, visiting at St Brigid’s monastery. St. Finnian was esteemed by St. Brigid, who gifted him with a gold ring on his departure.

By the year 520 Finnian arrived at Clonard, (Erard’s Meadow in English). He was led to this place by an angel. Clonard, which is situated on the River Boyne in present day Co. Meath. It was between the former royal province of Meath and the province of Leinster. Here Finnian received a large tract of land and built monastic site, entering into a life devoted to study, mortification, and prayer. He had a big following of monks. They include the “twelve apostles of Ireland”,

Finnian had a strong theological reputation and the Clonard monastery became a centre of Biblical studies, becoming the largest and the most important in Ireland. He became the first abbot and organized life according to the Welsh monastic model. This form of monasticism was based on the traditions of the holy fathers of the East. This may explain somewhat how the Celtic liturgical observance came to Ireland. St. Patrick having permission from the Pope to evangelise Ireland, brought with him the roman rite, and later through the influence of St. Finnian, the Celtic observance may have come the norm.

”The Penitential” compiled by St. Finnian, roots out sin and bad habits while cultivating virtue. Under the influence of Welsh saints and, originally, St. John Cassian in France, Finnian compiled the first known Irish Penitentiary, which later influenced St. Columbanus in his written works. St. Finnian himself slept on the bare earthen floor in his cell without anything for a pillow, to prop his head. One of his disciples recounts that the venerable abbot became emaciated from a prolonged and extreme ascetic life. So much so, his ribs could easily be seen protruding the lining of his tunic.

The site of the former monastic centre of St. Finnian is located in the grounds of the Church of Ireland at Clonard. St. Finnian is said to have died in the great plague of 549-550. He is celebrated on 12th December in the Catholic liturgy.

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