Tag Archives: St. Patrick

Posted in Irish church history

St. Kelly of Armagh, ‘’Naomh Ceallach’’, (St Celsus): the wrestling administrator – 1st April

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Kelly was born in 1080. His name in Irish is Ceallach Mac Aedha. He was heir, to a lay administration, known as ‘’coarb’’ of St. Patrick. This role was the family heirloom of Clann Sínaigh, who took control of the administration of the abbacy of Armagh, to keep the monastic settlement from the foreign Viking hands. This was after the historic period of great instability in the Gaelic kingdom. In that epoch, there were seismic ethnic incursions in Ireland, that we find narrated in the ‘’Book of Invasions’’. This book encapsulates a difficult situation for the Gaels, wrought by the Vikings, who as the book recounts, arrived in Ireland ‘’wave after wave after wave’’. The Norse Vikings took hold of Dublin and Waterford, and later the Danes arrived and despoiled the established Catholic sees in Ireland. The nation’s formerly established diocese became depleted of bishops and priests.

The Clann Sínaigh had took control of the Abbey of Armagh for security, and did financially well from this arrangement. Then in 1091, Kelly became the family lay administrator of Armagh. But he took the unusual step to priestly ordination and chose the celibate life, with a view to reigning in the reform, introduced by Pope Gregory VIII across Europe. To explain; lay administrative control of abbeys were a feature in Europe, after the fall of the roman empire. But Pope Gregory VII (1073-85) wished to replace the lay administration with the administrative role of a diocesan bishop.

Around that same era, in England, strong Norman archbishops like Lanfranc and St Anselm were appointed to the see of Canterbury. They had support from the growing Norse community in Dublin and Waterford. Anselm consecrated Samuel Ó h-Ainglí as bishop for Dublin and consecrated Malchus as the first bishop of Waterford.

After Pope Gregory, a momentum built up in Ireland regarding reform. The 1st Synod of Cashel (1101) was presided over by King Muircheartach Ó Briain in Ireland at the request of Lanfranc and Anselm. The reform momentum was led by bishop of Meath, Maol Muire Ó Dunáin, who was appointed papal legate to Ireland by Pope Paschal II (1099-1117). This 1st synod of Cashel enacted decrees against lay investiture, and against the idea of a lay administrator.

Then in 1106 bishop Maol Muire Ó Dunáin ordained Kelly as a bishop. He was present at the Synod of Rathbreasail in 1111, which also promoted the reforms of synod of Cashel on a nationwide level. The momentum was gaining ground. Cashel and Armagh were to be the two recognised archdioceses in Ireland pending approval from Rome. The synod of Rathbreasail begin the re-establishment of the diocese structure in Ireland.

All of this momentum was the backdrop in whom Kelly found himself as administrating bishop of Armagh, and set him on a collision course of family rivalry upon the now defunct hereditary practices. Kelly had also to simultaneously wrestle the diocese of Dublin from the Norse influence, and their loyalty to Canterbury. It was around this time, that bishop Kelly appointed a young monk named Malachy, ‘’Maolmhaodhóg Ua Morgair’’ to act as his vicar in Armagh. When bishop Kelly returned to Armagh in 1122, he felt that Malachy would make a suitable bishop. Malachy was sent to Lismore, an influential monastic centre with Benedictine influences from England and the continent.

In a shrewd move, bishop Kelly later appointed Malachy as successor to Armagh. In this way, the hereditary succession of the coarbs of Armagh from his Clan was broken, with a successor outside the family hegemony. In 1129 Kelly died at Ardpatrick and was buried in Lismore. Malachy was left with the difficulties of wrestling control as bishop from Kelly’s next of kin, Muircheartach. He only took control of Armagh after Muircheartach’s died in 1134, thanks to the support from Cinél Eoghain. This support secured the see of Armagh, from the next of kin, Niall of the Clann Sínaigh, the would-be successor to Muircheartach. With the see of Armagh now assured, Bishop Malachy appointed as his own successor, Gilla Mac Líag, abbot of Derry. And the rest is history…

St. Kelly of Armagh is celebrated on the 1st of April in the church calendar.

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Posted in Irish church history

St. Macartan of Clogher: The Staff of St. Patrick – 24th March

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Aidus Macartan grew up in the South Mid Ulster region, of pagan parents. He was the son of Caerthen, and Saint Bridget was his niece.

Aidus Macartan (Aedh MacCairthinn) converted to Christianity after having travelled south to Leitrim to hear St. Patrick preach. Soon afterwards, Ireland’s patron saint baptised Aidus. This happened at Drumlease, near Dromahair and Macartan was to become St. Patrick’s ‘’Tréanfhear’’ which is Irish for strong man”. When the patron saint grew old, Macartan became known as the “staff of Patrick”. He supported St. Patrick’s faltering steps as they traversed on mission over the Irish topography with its hillocks, mountains, marshlands, rivers and streams.

When St. Patrick was crossing a stream at the druidic stronghold of Clogher, Macartan, acting as his staff was showing signs of old age himself. The Irish patron saint perceived Macartan’s weariness of travel. After a short discussion, the Primate of Ireland agreed to Macartan’s wish to found a church not to far from the see of Armagh diocese. A close proximity would be ideal, as both men could then remain in communication as friends and as prelates.

St. Macartan was appointed the first Bishop of the diocese of Clogher, and St. Patrick left his apostle a reliquary containing a fragment of the True Cross, known as the ”Domhnach Airgid”. He also gave Macartan his ‘’Bachal-Íosa” which means the staff of Jesus. A monastery was then founded near an ancient fort in Rathmore.

At that time, Eochad reigned as King of Clogher, and he had in his possession an idol stone called the Gold Stone or ‘’Cloch Ór’’, in which his principal seat of power is named. This stone was a ceremonial stone originally used by the druids. Macartan’s appointment as bishop did not go down well with King Eochad. The jealous King desired to expel St. Macartan and give his monastery to his kinsman Tigernach of Clones. Eochad created problems for Macartan, seizing an ox that was essential as a type of cargo haulier for the monastery monks. The cruel Eochad tied the ox to a a large and heavy stone. Soon enough the ox became hungry and could be heard lowing for food. A prophet advisor to the king warned Eochad that all his land within hearing distance of the ox’s lowing would soon become the monastic property of St. Macartan. So, Eochad tried to circumvent this prophecy by sending his son Cairpre to force Macartan from the King’s territory. Cairpre failed to execute his mission, so the king went in person, drawing his sword to force the issue. But Eochad’s arm became paralysed in the act of raising his sword against the venerable servant of God. The queen made herself present to prevent Eochad harming St. Macartan, pleading with the bishop to show clemency on her husband. Her pleas were granted as St. Macartan sprinkled her husband with Holy Water. This act restored the king to full mobility health. In exchange and thanksgiving, king Eochad submitted himself in obedience to St. Macartan, endowing the monastery with a large tract of regal land. Thus the prophetic warning was fulfilled regarding lowing ox heard across the lands. When Saint Macartan died, he was succeeded as bishop by Tigernach of Clones. The Good God works marvels…

Another anecdote we have of Macartan is that one day, there appeared in an unnatural bright light, a woman troubled by a demon. The bishop was able to offer help to the afflicted woman with his apostolic office. The bishop restored this bedevilled woman to full health, in mind, body and spirit. All her familiar family and friends who witnessed her tremendous recovery the following day, were astonished.

Another anecdote we have is that St. Macartan was an avid reader of scriptures. One evening in his cell, as the light declined, God granted him a powerful light like a star, equal to the strength of the sunshine. This light penetrated into the cell, and Macartan was able to continue with his studies and prayer until the dawn.

Our final Anecdote is, of a time when Macartan had meagre food for certain wayfarers. This incident was a great embarrassment having little food to entertain guests. The saint prayed for divine help, and in the night the corn rained down like manna from Heaven on his monastery. Additionally, a clear fountain suddenly sprang up where there was none before. This became a baker’s dream as the  bread produced from such grain from heaven tasted as sweet as honey and the water was flavoured like wine.

We conclude our research on St Macartan, who spent his remaining years as bishop and abbot giving sermons on the gospel in the regions of Tyrone and Fermanagh. He passed away in the year 506 from natural causes and is believed to buried at Clogher, in Co Tyrone. His memory is celebrated on 24th. March.



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St. David of Wales and the Irish influence – 1st March

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St. David is the national saint of Wales. He lived in the 6th century and his mother Non was Irish. David’s mother became a devout Christian and later became a nun. She had David baptised by the Irish St. Ailbhe of Emily. She also had her son educated by a monk called St Paulinus and later David founded the monastery at Meniva in Pembrokeshire, in south Wales.

How this monastery came about is fascinating. St. David lit a fire on the grounds of Meniva where he was directed to, by an angel. At that time, a pagan druid named Baya, ruled those lands and beyond with an iron fist. Upon seeing the fire lit, Baya was filled with dread, for he knew it was a Christian fire that would take possession of the land. Baya only granted the land of Meniva to St. David after Baya’s troops failed to expel him.

The Irish connection with Meniva is quite strong. The monastery was built on the promenade and was frequented by Irish pilgrims. For example, there is St. Senanus who ploughed the land using himself for an ox. St. Brendan took a retreat there, after his long sea voyage to the Americas. St. Modomnoch brought back from Meniva the culture of honey bees to the Irish monasteries. St. Aidan of Ferns was a close and early disciple of St. David when founding the monastery at Meniva. St Aidan was even an abbot at Meniva for a spell.

We have biographical accounts in ‘’The life of St. David’’ written by Rhygy-Farch. This author wrote on the saint some centuries later. He depicts David’s mother Non as a type of Mary of Wales. David, is depicted as a Christ-like figure, whose birth was prophesised to St. Patrick by an angel. David was a thaumaturge, a mathematician, a musician and theologian, as well as curing the blindness of a teacher with a simple touch.

St. David was known for drinking only water, refraining from beer. His monks were called the water drinkers, and were known for austere living. St. David encouraged all his monks to be their own ox when ploughing the land. He lived on vegetables and herbs.

David advised Welsh soldiers battling against the Saxon to wear leeks in their hats so that they knew who to strike and who not to. This advice gave rise to the depiction of the saint with the leek, which is the national emblem of Wales.

A great miracle attributed to St. David was that while preaching to a large and gathering crowd, many of those who came, could not hear or see David very well. Suddenly, a white dove landed on his shoulders, and the earth beneath him began to rise upwards forming a hill which enabled his voice to travel further, and the crowds at the back rows could now see him as well.

It was along the coast of Wales near Meniva where was St. Patrick foretold of the future Saint David to be. It was St. Patrick’s return trip to the Irish, this time as a missionary. When St. David was canonised a saint in 1120 by Pope Callistus II, the Pope declared that two pilgrimages to the national holy shrine of Wales at Meniva is equal to one to Rome.

St. David feast day is celebrated on 1st March

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St. Mel of Ardagh; nephew of St. Patrick – 7th February

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St. Mel was no film director, but he did follow Christ, inspired by His Passion. St. Mel of Ardagh was companion and nephew of St Patrick of British Amorica. Mel and his brothers Melchu, Munis and Rioch accompanied their uncle Patrick to Ireland as missionaries with approval from Rome. They are the sons of their father Conis, and their mother Darerca, sister of Saint Patrick. The ‘’Memoir of Tíreachán’’ and the ‘’Tripartite Life’’, mentions that St Patrick came to Ardagh, in Co Longford.

South of the river Inney, west of Lough Rea, Patrick founded a church at Forgnaidhe. There in Ardagh, he placed Mel as bishop, with his brother Melchu to assist him. Patrick’s other sister St. Lupita also remained at Ardagh as a house keeper. Her presence there was short lived as St. Patrick later felt it better that St. Lupita lived elsewhere, so as not to give opportunity of unfounded gossip by pagans. She moved to Brí Leith where she founded a monastery for religious sisters at Drum Chea on Sliabh Golry.

Mel was a traveling missionary, supporting himself by working with his hands. He was generous with the poor, giving away much of his income, living only on what was essential. On Mel and Melchu’s first missionary journey, they blessed St. Brigid in her mother’s womb and foretold her future greatness. It was Mel who later “gave Brigid the veil”. He also made her an abbess of a monastery.

Ardagh was a diocese established by St. Patrick. But it was formally recognised as a diocese much later at the Synod of Kells (1152). Although St. Patrick established diocese in Ireland, he founded many monasteries and with time and cultural influences, the Irish church became more monastic as the diocesan model faded into the background. St. Mel died in 488, leaving a flourishing influential institution. Shortly after his death, Mel was so regarded as a saint by the local faithful for his authentic witness to Christ. His sainthood is of the pre-congregation canonization type, being proclaimed a saint by popular devotion and recognised as such in this case by a succeeding bishop.

St. Mel of Ardagh is celebrated on the 7th February

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