Category Archives: Irish church history

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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 Colman of Kilmacduagh, 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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St. Patrick: Patron of the Gaels – 17th March

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St. Patrick is Ireland’s famed saint.

St. Patrick was born in 385 A.D. and grew up among the Britons, in a region called British Armorica. His father, was Calphurnius, a deacon. His mother was Conchessa, a close relative of Saint Martin of Tours.

Now Patrick’s Story is this. He was captured by the Irish King Nial who often would capture noble offspring from the Roman empire, as a ransom for Irish national security. This system was one of the principle reasons the Roman empire did not encroach on Irish soil, even though they had planned to. King Nial had taken many hostages on the day he kidnapped Patrick from the British Amorica coastline. Patrick two sisters Lupita and Derereca, were also kidnapped. In St. Patrick’s confessions he mentioned the sailing distance between Ireland and his homeland, saying ‘’We forthwith sailed, and, in a three days’ run, we took the land’’. That’s a considerable distance…

Now for his first time he finds himself among the Irish. The boy Patrick found himself sold as a slave to Milcho, and he was to Shepard sheep in the Slemish mountains of Antrim in the northeast of Ireland. It was there he gave himself to a life of prayer, being so far from home at sixteen years of age. He turned to God, praying 100 times a day, and a 100 times a night. It was during his spell as a slave, where he learned to speak ‘’as Gaeilge’’, as Milcho’s son, and two daughters would speak and befriend this curious looking foreigner. It was from them, Patrick learned the Irish customs, traditions and culture. His six years as a slave in Ireland prepared him somewhat for a future mission which God had in mind.

One night in a dream, he heard an angel called Victor, speak to him. The angel Victor gave Patrick advice, on how to free himself from slavery, and about a ship waiting for him a good distance away. Milcho would not let Patrick free without a ransom. So the angel Victor told Patrick to follow a certain boar who would uproot a lump of gold, large enough for the ransom. Patrick got the gold to give to his master, and was allowed to go. But Milcho soon regretted his decision, and in vain went searching for his former faithful slave boy. Patrick would find a waiting ship, that would set sail out of Ireland upon waiting a favourable wind. With some time and adventures, Patrick made it back to his homeland amongst the Britons whom lived there.

The second trip to Ireland would come much later, but in a dream Patrick could here the cry of the Irish to return and walk with them again. Patrick would have underwent formation for priesthood, in preparation for his future Irish mission. He spent four years in Tours, where St. Martin received him like a son. The future patron saint of Ireland was tonsured at Tours by St. Martin. Reverend Patrick was to spend a further eight years with hermits at Lerins under St. Germanus of Auxerre. It was St. Germanus who sent Rev. Patrick to Rome. The angel Victor had also told Patrick to prepare his mission to Ireland. When he arrived in Rome, Rev. Patrick was honourably received by Pope Celestian, who despatched him to Ireland, with a mission team and relics of the saints. In Rome, the patron saint elect met St. Ciarán and St. Declan who went to Ireland on minor apostolic missions before him. Patrick on his return trip to Ireland as Bishop, headed to the Gaels with his team, via the English Channel and with his bishop’s staff, call the staff of Jesus. The Most Rev. Patrick was coming to Ireland with apostolic authority. The Bishop of Ireland and his prelates would sail by Wales, along the Irish Sea. As they sailed along the Welsh coast, he received the prophecy of St. David.

Now Patrick already knowing the customs of Ireland from his time as a slave, and he knew how to speak Irish well, so he had a great advantage. He arrived in Ireland with his apostolic mission team. Patrick knew where to go, and lit the paschal fire on the hill of Slane. This fire was seen at the royal Tara hill, and the Irish King Leary was angry and called his pagan advisors (the ‘’Draoi’’), what it meant? For the pagans, Patrick’s lit fire was a bad omen, as the paschal fire would overthrow their kingdom as a new kingdom of Christianity was to be ushered in.

Now the rest became history, and a good account of this history can be found accessible to us thanks to Fr. Patrick Peyton, an Irish priest who found the Family Theatre Production company in the United States in the 1950s. Peyton’s devotion to St. Patrick lead to the short film production called Trial at Tara which we can view here. Its about 20+ minutes long, and the acting is of good quality.

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St. Aengus of the Irish Céile Dé movement – 11th March

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St. Aengus lived around the 8th and 9th century. He heralds from Clonenagh, Co. Laois. He went to monastic school close to present day Mountrath, under the direction of St. Fintan.

He lived as a hermit, at Dysert-beagh by the banks of the river Nore. The word ‘’Dysert’’ comes from the original Irish ‘’An Díseart’’, meaning hermitage. At his small hermitage, he grew close to God, through an austere life & solitude. He became a spouse of God, hence he took on the Irish title, ‘’Céile Dé’’. In his prayer life, he experienced the presence of Holy angels. He moved and built a hermitage a little further away from his original one in Clonenagh, and settled in a more isolated placed near Maryborough called Dysert-Enos, which takes its earlier Irish form for Hermitage of Aengus.

He loved the solitude, and the austere life, feeling the benefits of being a spouse of God. But he also gained a big following. This raised a great challenge to his life of solitude, as he was constantly interrupted by a stream of visitors. He therefore abandoned his new hermitage and went to live discreetly as a lay brother in a monastery in Tallaght, south Dublin. St. Maelruain was the abbot, and he was unaware that Aengus was in his midst, as Aengus did not reveal his true identity.

But Aengus was found out with time, as his qualities were so good, that it became evident that the stranger was someone of note.  This came about one day, when Aengus went to assist of a young monk student during a particularly challenging lesson. Upon the discovery of the very gifted ‘’lay brother’’, Maelruain collaborated with him to produce the “Martyrology of Tallaght”, which gives an account of the Irish saints. This work was done around the year 790 and is the eldest of the Irish martyrologies. St. Aengus went on to produce his notable ‘’Feliré’’, which poetically celebrates the saints of Ireland, and was inserted into the ‘’Leabhar Breac’’.  The ‘’Feliré’” is one of the primary sources of information on the early Irish saints.

Aengus and Maelruain are considered the founders of the Céilí Dé movement, which was a reform movement seeking a purer and more austere monastic life. After St. Maelruain passed away, Aengus returned to Clonenagh and remained at Dysert-beagh where he passed away on Friday, 11 March, 824.

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St. Senan – the wise apostle of Ireland – 8th March

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St. Senan, was a very notable Irish saints of his time. Senan is counted among “the twelve apostles of Ireland” whom were schooled under Saint Finnian of Clonard. Senan was born of Christian parents Ercan & Congella in the fifth century close to Kilrush in today’s Co. Clare. His name “Senan” is old Gaelic for “a little wise elder”. The Irish word ‘’sean’’ pronounced ”shan”, usually denotes old or elder, before a noun; the s & e together creates an ‘’sh’’ sound phonetically. The anglicized name does not have the sh sound.

Senan’s birth was prophesised by St. Patrick to both Ercan & Congella. His mother Congella gave birth to him while sauntering through the woods. As she walked, her body went into labour. She quickly grasped a tree branch, which suddenly blossomed. It was a sign that Congella was to give birth to this holy man, ‘’Senán Mac gEircinn’’.

At a young age, Senan looked after his father’s herds. When he grew older, he became a monk at a monastery in Kilrush. His spiritual guide was Cassidan until he was advanced enough to enter the monastery of Kilmanagh, Co. Kilkenny to conclude his formation under St. Natalis. Along his training process St. Senan had opportunities to visit other Irish monasteries, like that of St. Kevin of Glendalough for example. When formation concluded, Senan was ordained a priest. He dived straight into active mission. Senan established his premier monastery at Enniscorthy, Co. Wexford around 510 A.D. There is a also townland called Templeshannon in Wexford that is named after Senan (“Senan’s Temple”).

He was a typical ‘’Peregrinatio Pro Christo’’, always on the pilgrim path for love of Christ. It is believed that St. Senan travelled to Rome and parts of present day France. He had stopped of at the great monastery of St. Martin of Tours, cousin of St. Patrick. On his return trip to Ireland, Senan paid a visit to St. David in Wales, at Meniva. He returned to Ireland in 520 A.D. to continue active apostolic mission.

He made a foundation at Inishcarra, near Cork where he was joined by some Italian monks. Eventually after 535 A.D. on the advice of an angle, Senan settled on Scattery Island, south of Kilrush quay, near the Shannon River estuary. Here he founded his most renowned monastery, containing five churches. At this place, St. Senan drove away a giant sea monster from the island. The sea monster had long terrorized local inhabitants, making the island impassable. St. Senan first decisive action was to place all his hope in God, before the saint courageously approached the monster, making the sign of the cross while commanding it to depart in the name of Jesus, for all time.

With his miracles on tap, and his ascetic life style, he attracted a big following. They include St. Brendan the navigator. With so many disciple monks coming to Scattery, it gave ample opportunity to establishing other monasteries starting from small communities of twelve monks. Scattery Island in this way became the mother ship of Senan’s monasteries. 

After his repose, Senan was buried on the Island at his principal monastery. He became venerated throughout Ireland down the ages. Today you can visit what is believed to be St. Sennan’s grave, known as “St. Senan’s bed” placed within a confined chapel space on the island of Scattery.

We celebrate St. Senan on the 8th of March

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St. Ciarán of Saighir – the austere abbot and premier Irish born saint – 5th March

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St. Ciarán of Saighir, alongside Ailbhe, Iban, and Declan were the four pre-patrician Irish Saints. That is, they were evangelising in Ireland before St. Patrick began his Irish mission. St. Ciarán of Saighir is also one of the twelve Irish apostles who studied under St. Finnan of Clonard. He is also known as St. Ciarán the Elder, and he is considered “the first-born of the Irish saints”. Ciarán’s father was Luaigne, a noble in Ossory. Ciarán’s mother was Liadan whom was from Cork. During her pregnancy, she had a dream of a star falling from the sky and resting on her. It was a prelude for her child to be, as Ciarán was to be specially gifted. Ciarán grew up bright & holy being loved by all. He was fond of animals, but most of all he treasured God. Ciarán met St. Patrick in Rome, and he was to become Patrick’s precursor in Ireland. In effect he was a type of John the Baptist figure. St. Patrick gave him a bell to help him on his Irish mission as when the bell sounded, it would mark the spot where God desired the foundation of a great spiritual centre. This eventually happened at Saighir.

Initially at Saighir, by a water spring, Ciarán built a hermitage of wattle, thin branches and mud plaster. The roof was thatched with grass and leaves. In his early days at his hermitage in the woods, injured wild animals such as wolves, deer and the like, would seek Ciarán’s help, having no fear for their lives in his presence. They in turn would help him too. Often doing tasks, difficult for a mere man. In this way Ciarán of Saighir is similar to St. Kevin of Glendalough. 

His strict diet was herbs and barley bread, with a drink of only water. Ciarán imitated the spiritual life of the Desert Fathers, and modelled himself on St. John the Baptist, wearing animal skins and sleeping on the ground. He had angels minister to him from childhood. He lived a life of prayer, fasting and abstinence.

With this austere life style, he attracted a following of disciples. He became the first Abbot at his large monastery at Saighir beside this hermitage in present day Co. Offaly. The monastery became a centre of learning and preaching. His mother Liadan, with other holy women, came to live nearby in a convent.

One day St. Patrick visited St. Ciarán’s monastery with a few of his men. Ciarán was not expecting such a visit, and food was scarce at the monastery. This pre-patrician saint, prayed to God to provide, and his supplies of food multiplied miraculously, for he knew a great patron for Ireland had arrived.

On his deathbed, Ciarán predicted to his monks that in the future, the faith in Ireland would be distorted and the monasteries supressed. This was fulfilled with the advent of the Anglo-Norman invasion and at the protestant Reformation. The monastery at Saighir became the seat of the Diocese of Ossory for several centuries. Today the monastic ruins can be visited in the village of Clareen, in Co. Offaly. The water there has miraculous medicinal properties as Local residents say that the water that gathers around the cross cures warts.

Ciarán of Saighir reposed in the Lord around 530 A.D. The church celebrates Ciarán the elder on the 5th of 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. Fintan of Clonenagh; the austere Irish monk – 17th February

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Fintan of Clonenagh was born about 524. He studied under St. Colman in Terryglass in north Tipperary. The Irish for Terryglass is Tír Dhá Ghlas, (which means ‘land of the two streams’). In 550 Fintan settled along the Slieve Bloom Mountains in the solitude. His dwelling was near present day Portlaois town. Fintan set up an oratory which attracted numerous disciples, and formed his own austere rule. Such austerities along with miracles recalled the apostolic ages. Fintan founded his monastery at Clonenagh in Co. Laois. Among his disciples were St. Comgall of Bangor, St Colmán of Oughaval, and St Aengus the Culdee. Culdee in Irish is Céile Dé which in Irish which means spouse of God.

A thaumaturge, Fintan was a prophet, and performed miracles. For his austere living Fintan is considered an Irish equivalent to St. Benedict. Fintan is also considered as the “Father of Irish Monks”. According to a disciple Oengus, Fintan lived on “bread of woody barley and clayey water of clay”. Despite the hardships, Fintan’s monastery flourished with young monks from all over Ireland. The monastery of Clonenagh was an important seat of learning with students coming from all over Europe. Among the disciples at Clonenagh was St Comgall, founder of Bangor moastery. There was Oengus, the disciple of Fintan, who became an associate of St Maelruain of Tallaght and was also a member of the Céilí Dé reform movement. Fintan was succeeded by Fintan Maeldubh at the Abbey of Clonenagh.

At St. Fintan’s Tree in Clonenagh, there is a well that sprung up in in a field and the farmer who lived close by, refused people a visit to this holy well. So much so, that the well miraculously transferred itself to St. Fintan’s tree. It became known as “The Money Tree” as people hammered coins into its bark with prayerful intentions. This tree was blown down in a storm in 1994.

The lost Book of Clonenagh is a source cited by Geoffrey Keating in his Foras Feasa ar Éirinn (The General History of Ireland) regarding the Synod of Rath Breasail which was to lay the foundations stones for the current diocese structure in Ireland.

Fintan died on 17th February, around the year 603.

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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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Bridget is Mary of the Gaels, and no goddess nor fairy of the Gaels – 1st February

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The growing trend of promoting Brigid as a goddess who later adopted Christianity does not hold water. The goddess status is a popularised belief without any real foundation. To claim Bridget was once a goddess, is to align her with fallen angels, who are unclean spirits and fairies. Jesus came to drive out unclean spirits, who are the implacable enemy of God. Perhaps people see her as a goddess for the miracles she performed in her day. But there again we can consider St. Peter in the book of Acts 10:24-26, when he suffered a similar fate…It recounts: ”The following day he entered Caesarea. Now Cornelius was waiting anxiously for them and had called together his relatives and close friends. So when Peter came in, Cornelius met him, fell at his feet, and worshiped him. But Peter helped him up, saying, “Stand up. I too am a mere mortal”.

Lets take a look at St. Bridget. Who was she?

Bridget is the virtuous woman and saint, born of human stock and generated from Christian parents. Ancient sources tell us that Brigid belonged to the early age of Christianity in Ireland as St. Patrick himself baptised St. Brigid. She is known as Mary of the Gaels. Her parents were Catholics of noble birth. Brigid was born at Faughart, Dundalk formerly of the province of Ulster. She lived 80 years, a life of virtue from the cradle to the grave. The name Brigid means virtuous in Irish. She travelled by chariot, establishing religious houses in Ireland, gaining thirteen thousand nuns under her rule.

She founded a monastery in Kildare, the place name which means church of oak. The ancient book called ”Leabhar Breac” mentions the building of this monastery at the time of St. Brigid. At this monastery the religious wrote some things of note about their Brigid’s life. These various testimonies were later compiled and fully published one hundred years after she passed from this world. Her biography ‘’The Life of St. Brigid’’ was written by Cogitosus and here are some points of interest on St. Brigid:

1) She milked one cow three times a day to feed three abbots. 2) She replaced a king’s lost fox with another one, who miraculously knew the same tricks as that fox that was lost. 3) Brigid found a secret store of honey under the floor boards just in time to give to a beggar who was came knocking at her door. 4) A leper came to Brigid’s door looking for beer, but Brigid had no beer to offer him. So she got some water and called down God’s blessing on the water. With her faith in Jesus Christ, the water became changed into a fine beverage.

St. Brigid was so virtuous, its easy to see how she recieved the venerated title of Mary of the Gaels. In the 8th century her feast day was celebrated in Luxemburg. Her feast day is recorded in the Calendar of St. Willibrord. Her relics are Venerated in the abbey of San Maurice in Switzerland. Also, Bridewell in London is named after Brigid, for Bride is the anglicised form of Brigid.

The story of St. Brigid’s Cross

Brigid was attending to a dying pagan noble, who was falling in and out of sleep. Brigid at one point took some rushes from the ground and began to weave them into a Cross. The noble man was curious, and in his feeble condition wanted to know what she was making? He somehow felt better in the presence of Brigid’s Cross. She used her Cross to explain Christianity and the salvific power of Christ, so that men could reach salvation. This noble pagan was open to hearing more, and he became baptised before he died.

St. Brigid foretold St. Patrick of St. Colmcille who would convert the Gaels in the north west of Ireland. These three saints are now buried together in Downpatrick in Ulster.

St. Brigid is Mary of the Gaels, and no goddess or fairy of the Gaels. Her feast day is celebrated on the 1st February, she is a national patron saint of Ireland

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St. Aiden of Ferns, known as Maedóc the disciple of St. David – 30th January

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St. Aidan is one of the 25 Irish Saints recognised in 19 June 1902 by the universal church via a process of cultus confirmation. This saint helps us to glimpse the close relationship that existed between the Gaels and the Welsh.

Aidan was born c558 on Inisbrefny, in Cavan. He was baptised Aedan. His parents Sedua and Eithne, from the noble families of the O’Neils and O’Briens, later called him Mo-Aidh-og, which means “My little Hugh” or its like saying my little Aed. His Irish name became Maodhóg or in old Irish Maedóc which he is now commonly known as. Maedóc was held hostage as a child by Aedh Ainmire, High-King of Ireland to ensure his family’s loyalty. He was later released, and he directed his life towards the religious, following his childhood inclinations.

Maedóc studied for several years in Wales under St. David at Menevia in Pembrokeshire. David is patron saint of Wales. Maedóc was listed in the Welsh triads as one of David’s three most faithful disciples. To give you a few stories recounted about St. Maedóc during his time in Wales, we have 1) by accident he broke a jug of ale destined for his fellow monks over a meal; but making the sign of the cross over the broken jug, it became repaired and thus he was able to serve his monks. 2) At another time in Wales, a yoke given to Maedóc by David’s steward which was not sufficient in size to fit around the necks of his oxen. Maedóc miraculously accommodated them which permitted him to travel with material to Llanddewi Velfrey.

Maedóc later returned to Ireland. At the same time, there was a victory at Dunbolg, Co. Wicklow, in 598, in which the High King Aedh was slain by Prince Brandrub of Leinster. In thanksgiving the prince gifted Maedóc lands in Wexford, for his prayers attributed to the victory. Aedh was a pagan king, and did not do himself any favours. Prince Brandub belonged to the dynasty of Uí Chennselaig, whose domain was the territory of Ferns. Maedóc’s monastic foundation was became known as Fearna-nor-Maedhog

St. Maedóc died on 31st January 632 on Lough Melvin’s shore, Co. Leitrim. His relics are held inside the tomb at the cathedral crypt in Ferns. St. Edan’s Cathedral in Ferns remains the seat of Church of Ireland diocese.

At the synod of Ráith Bressail in 1111, Ferns became one of five episcopal sees in Leinster. The diocese of Ferns is equivalent to the earlier kingdom of Uí Chennselaig over the territory of Ferns.


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