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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