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Posted in Irish church history

The Ascetic noble and saint – Colman of Kilmacduagh – October 29th

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Image source from https://www.santodelgiorno.it/san-colman-di-kilmacduagh/

The material below has been distilled from

Omnium Sanctorum Hiberniae

The Martyrology of Donegal, refers to Bishop Colman Mac Duagh of the diocese of Cill Mic Duach in Connaught. Colman was of the Fiachra race, and the son of Eochaid Muidhmheadoin. Our Fiachra saint was a man of immense virtues and miracles.

His story is like a drama which unfolds, beholds, and must be told.

In the 6th century, a woman called Rhinagh was at an advanced stage of pregnancy. A king of Connaught developed a jealous hatred of Rhinagh after hearing a prophecy of authority, about her soon to be born son, the St. Colman to be. According to a prophecy, Rhinagh’s son was destined to surpass in greatness, all within the Fiachra clan dynasty. This king also called Colman, was father of prince Guaire, and relative of the child to be born. The King wished the child to be done away with… Now fearing the hostile jealous king, Rhinagh fled in a panic in an attempt save her unborn child. The jealous king pursued her, and his minions took her, and put a heavy stone tied around her neck. They then cast her into the deep depths of the river Kiltartan… However, the mother to be, was preserved from drowning, by some miracle.

Rhinagh gave birth to her son in secret at a place called Corker near Gort, in County Galway. Her boy was born with a thousand blessings which time has brought to ripeness. The concerned mother placed her baby under a shelter of an ash tree, and waited irritably for someone who might baptise her new born child. It happened that two aged pilgrim religious men past by, seeing the anxious mother. One was blind, the other was lame. They both could not procure any water to administer baptism, so they called out for Divine assistance. Suddenly a fountain spring gushed forth from beneath the shelter of the ash tree. The two religious were able to baptise the child and name him Colman at Corker, at the Holy Well which now bears his name. Then having washed themselves in the well spring waters of the two religious men were cured of blindness and infirmity. These indebted monks, recognising the greatness of the child, intreated the mother to commend Colman to their care, for his protection and education. Under the distressing circumstances of being a fugitive, Rhinagh was only too happy to entrust her son into their care. She recognised that Colman would be kept from harm from a hostile and jealous king. The child lived a life largely unknown for many years from this point. We can see that it somewhat reflects that of the child Jesus who fled to Egypt, and later lived in Nazareth a private life until his public ministry began.

Colman reappears later in the maturity of life on ”Inis Mór”, also known as the island of the Saints – “Ara-na-Naomh.” St. Enda was the abbot there and his foundation had a reputation for piety that rivalled St. Colmcille’s foundation at Iona. Two churches on the island are ascribed to St. Colman, both by “history and tradition according to Dr. Kelly. The austere and solitude life on Aranmore, practiced by the holy disciples of St Enda, was not sufficient for the generous soul of Colman. So by the end of the sixth century, he left the island, to spearhead a new religious foundation of greater solitude and austerity.

We must appreciate that Ireland was very much a forested country in this era, and St. Colman Mac Duagh pursued isolation to be found in the Burren forests. The global weather was much more Mediterranean like in what can only be described as another world. At the Burren forests, Colman found the perfect seclusion to be alone with God. Here he lived the desert life like that of John the Baptist. He was resolved to practice penance and contemplation in complete solitude and retirement of his hermitage.

A historian Colgan narrates that St Colman retired to Burren forests, accompanied by a religious attendant, while king Colman was still at large.  It was therefore a grave matter to conceal the place of his hermitage. Colman constructed a small oratory at the foot of the cliff of Ceanaille. Tradition tells of a cave used for his hermitage with a fountain of water that provided him with drink. Colman ate wild herbs of the forest, and he wore skins of the wild deer as raiment. His fasts, prayers and vigils, were frequent.

In the solitude, Colman was often absorbed in ecstasy of the most abundant spiritual consolations. He also suffered moments of aridity though, when God seemed to have forsaken him. The historian Keating narrated that Colman settled into the desert wilderness for the sake of increased devotion. His only creature comforts were the religious company of his attendant, a rooster, a mouse, and a fly. The Rooster gave him notice of the time of night prayer by his crowing. The mouse, kept him from sleeping above five hours a day; for any relaxing or dosing off on his ascetic life, that mouse would come along and scratch Colman’s ear until he was perfectly re-awakened. The fly was like his reading attendant, having the sense to crawl along the lines of his spiritual readings; and if the Saint had tired eyes, the fly would stop awhile, marking the first letter of the following  sentence, directing Colman back to where he finished reading.

Colman lived in his Burren hermitage for seven years in  complete isolation and unknown… The time came however when he would leave the solitude, as he was made a bishop of his people. Prince Guaire succeeded the throne of Connaught, as King Colman and Guaire’s older brother passed away. Guaire of the Hy Fiachra clan proved to be a good Godly King, and a great friend to Colman; for they were kinsmen. There family friendship proved to be a powerful combination.

King Guaire, with patient effort and divine help, discovered the Burren hermitage. The sanctity of the place, made a big impression on him. It was King Guaire would soon urge Colman to accept the episcopal charge of the territory of Aidhne. Colgan, narrates this episode, taking details from the Menology of Aengus, thus paraphrased:

It happened that St. Colman, on Easter morning, recited his prayers and celebrated the Holy Mass. Expecting a feast, he asked his attendant if there was anything special to eat for the great feast of the Risen Lord. The attendant had only been able to procure some small wild fowl and some herbs. Colman saw his attend pining for something worthy of a feast. So the saint left this famished attendant in the hands of God. Colman prayed that if it be the divine will, God would send heaven’s servants to supply a feast and strengthen his attendant’s faith.

King Guaire meanwhile was hosting a royal banquet at his palace some great distance away at Durlus. When all the notable people present were ready to partake, something mysterious happened. Before sitting down to the feast, King Guaire gave an impressive speech. “Oh, would it pleased Heaven that this banquet were set before some true servants of God who require it; as for us, we might easily be provided with another.” Well no sooner had he uttered such words, the dishes were raised from the tables and removed, as if by invisible hands. The banquet guests and attendants were dumb struck. The king marvelled, ordering his guards, to follow the dishes, to determine if possible their new destination. All the King’s men followed the dishes in hot pursuit. They were then followed by a crowd of passing witnesses. The dishes finally arrived at Colman’s Burren hermitage, and were arranged in the open space in the woodland. Colman and his attendant exclaimed, ” O father, behold the reward of thy patience! Let us thankfully partake of the food sent us by our good God.” Colman, first investigated where such dishes had come from, and an angel recounted that the feast was sent in answer to his prayers, and through the generosity of the king. Suddenly His Majesty, King Guaire with his subjects and the gathered crowd of witnesses arrived on the scene.

All were in astonishment at discovering the secluded hermitage and the banquet laid before Colman and his attendant, who were on the point of feasting on the bountiful  providence of the Lord. Before the crowds could join them, Colman desired that his starving attendant could enjoy the delights set before him there and then without any further waiting. The king’s men and the crowd were momentarily unable to advance to their place at the banquet. The limestone ledges bear, to this day, the footprints of the crowds whose feet sank and anchored into the stone ground. Colgan, narrates this phenomenon in folklore which happened at a place called ” Bohir na Maes,” which is Irish for the road of the Dishes.

The holy character of the Burren hermitage won for Colman, much public acclaim among his clansmen. His fame for austerity and miracles became well known among the Fiachra race. What is more Colman was one of their own, from the noblest of the tribes of Hy Fiachrach. King Guaire, urgently requested St. Colman to found a monastery, and be accept an episcopal charge of the territory of his kinsman. With the monastery built, the abbot was elected by an apostolic mandate to the dignity of bishop. Colman exercised episcopal jurisdiction, coextensive with the territory of his race. It extended over the territory of Aidhne, the patrimony of the southern Hy Fiachrach, becoming the boundaries of the diocese of Kilmacduagh. The site of Colman’s monastery and cathedral was miraculously pointed out to him.

Image source Oct 29 – St Colman of Kilmacduagh (560-632) – Catholicireland.netCatholicireland.net

Colgan narrates; “his cincture fell on a certain place, not far from his former cell, and there he built his monastery, which, from his name, is commonly called Kilmacduagh.” The location had the qualities of solitude and was dangerous for the public to reach. It became a refuge to many desperately fleeing from one problem or other. The date of the foundations of this monastery at Kilmacduagh is given as A.D. 610.

Bishop Colman would often reminisce over the solitude he once enjoyed, and wished to have it all back to be able to enjoy the divine communion which he often had with God. He found himself as bishop, despising the praises and admiration of all. Bishop Colman lived out the remainder of his days in the secluded little valley of Oughtmama in the Burren. The rugged mountains rise steeply round this valley, completely hiding it from the public access.

Colman gave up his soul to his Maker on the 29th of October A.D. 632, in the pontificate of Honorius I. The festival of St. Colman Mac Duagh has been observed in the diocese of Kilmacduagh from time immemorial on the 29th of October.

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St. Ciaran of Clonmacnoise – The influential cowboy Saint – 9th September

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Much of the information is taken from

The Project Gutenberg eBook of The Latin & Irish Lives Of Ciaran by R.A. Stewart-Macalister

We also gleaned information from Omni Sanctorum Hiberniae indicated by [… ]

[Ciarán of Clonmacnoise is listed as one of the 12 Apostles of Ireland. He is monastic founder of Clonmacnoise of the sixth century] He was baptised and catechised by deacon Diarmiad, and received formation by St. Finnian, before he was ordained priest at the monastery of St. Enda. [Ciarán went on to establish some monasteries in Ireland, and his Clonmacnoise foundation of great centre for Christian learning in the Celtic world, second only to the famed Iona foundation in Scotland.]

Ciaran of Clonmacnoise was founder of an outstanding influential monastery; the monastic university of Clonmacnoise along the river Shannon, near Athlone. We have much to glean from ‘’The Lives of the Saints’’ which is a series of homilies composed for the festivals of our holy men and women. The aim of the sermons was to edify the congregations by presenting the virtues of their subjects, and, of their thaumaturgic powers. The ‘’Lives of the Saints’’ consists of disconnected anecdotes, describing events that gave occasion for a miraculous display.

The holy abbot St. Ciarán descended from the people of the Latronens, from old kingdom of Midhe, (meath & Westmeath). His father Beonnadus, was a wood worker, making carts for animals to draw forward. Ciarán’s mother Derercha, begat five sons, of whom all were ordained to the presbytery. She had three daughters, two of whom were holy virgins and one became a holy widow. Beonnadus travelled from the coasts of the kingdom of Midhe, into the territories of the Conactha (Connaught. There in the plain of Aei in the stronghold called Raith Crimthain, Beonnadus begot Ciarán. A Wizard of the king Crimthan (Griffen) of Aei, prophesied about the child saying: “The son who is in the womb of the wife of [Beonnadus] shall be [held] in honour before God and before men; as the sun shineth in heaven so shall he himself by his holiness shine in Ireland.” Ciarán was baptized and was reared by his parents in the plains of Aei, and the grace of God was manifest in him.

One day as a very young boy, Ciarán’s mother gave out to him, explaining that the other boys bring honey to their parents every day, from the fields where honey is found, while Ciarán returns with no honey at all. The holy boy Ciarán, went quickly to a spring close by, and filled a vessel with water, then he blessed it, and honey of the best was found in that vessel, which he gave to his mother. The holy deacon Diarmaid  upon learning of this, he gave thanks to Christ, and prayed for the boy.

Young Ciarán was a shepherd and often read the Psalms with Diarmaid, though the were a long distance from each other. Ciarán was shepherding in the southern region of Aei, while Diarmaid was teaching from his cell in the northern region of Aei. His words were heard far across the plain, while the boy would read, sitting upon a rock in the field. This same rock is reverenced to day, as the Cross of Christ, that is now placed upon the rock. Their communications from such great distance was a miracle, because no one else heard their discourse, though they could hear themselves clearly.

One day sa small band of thieves came by, and found Ciarán shepherding alone, while reading.  The brigands considered to kill him and to plunder his flock. But they were suddenly smitten with blindness, and paralysed, to the point of repentance. They then begged Ciarán to deliver their sight. Ciarán upon seeing their repentant hearts, prayed over them, and their sight returned.  The reformed robbers were grateful and proclaimed their story to many.

Another time a pauper came begging for a cow from Ciarán, and begged of him.  Ciarán then asked of his mother permission to give a cow to the pauper. But his mother would not have any of it. Ciarán hatched a plan, and on the QT, he gave the pauper a good cow with her calf. But the calf itself was cared for by two cows, so Ciarán gave the pauper the second cow to add to the bargain. The folk seeing Ciarán’s generosity to the poor man, in turn gave Ciarán four cows in alms giving. His mother was scolding him, when Ciarán placated her with the gift of four cows, to which she fell in awe of her son.  

One day Ciarán’s father brought home a treasured royal vessel from the court of King Furbithus, for safe keeping. However, Ciarán gave the treasured vessel to a pauper who begged in Christ’s name, as he was destitute. Upon learning of this, the king’s ire was inflamed, and Ciarán would have to serve time for justice’ sake. He was held a slave servant in captivity, at the King’s court. Ciarán’s job was to turn the millstone every day to make flour. But Ciarán was a book worm and would sit by and read, while the millstone, rotated swiftly without human aid to grind corn. For God sent his angels to do the grind work for Ciarán. At around the same time, and by further Divine intervention, a Déise man called Hiernanus of the province of Mumenia (Munster), came to Ciarán and gifted two most excellent vessels, both on a par with the former treasured royal vessel of the king. With the miracle of the millstone and the Déise gifts, the King accepted the ransom and freed Ciarán from servitude. Ciarán then blessed Hiernanus and the Déise tribe for helping him be free again.

As Ciarán grew older, he desired to leave home and go to the school of St. Finnian. Ciarán wished to learn from the Scriptures, with other students there. Ciarán asked his father and mother for the use of a cow to take with him for daily sustenance of milk. His mother was alarmed and denied him, reasoning, “Others who are in that school have no kine.” Not withstanding, Ciarán received the blessing to take leave for the school and the boy set out on his way. Passing by his parent’s cattle, Ciarán blessed a cow, and in Jesus name, he commanded such cow to follow him. The cow duly followed him and her calf followed her.  Ciarán and the kine marched to Cluayn Irayrd (Clonard), in the region bordering the Laginenses and Ui Neill.

Ciarán ensured by use of his rod so that the calf would not drink away the store of milk in the cow’s udder. That cow, later called Odar Ciarán, “Ciaran’s Dun” became famous, for the great quantity of milk which could hardly be believed. The large quantity was sufficient for the school. The cow’s hide became venerated in the monastic city of Clonmacnoise; for through it, many miracles were produced. It was so venerated and it was revealed by divine inspiration, that any man who passes away lying upon this hide, shall possess eternal life with Christ.

While at St. finnian’s school, when Ciarán was by himself in his cell, he came to table to take food. He began with a blessing, saying, “Benedicite.” But no one answered “Dominus,” so he got up from the table, without tasting anything that day. He did the same thing the next day, and again no one answered so he rose from the table without food. After fasting for three days, he came to table and prayed, “Benedicite”; and a whispered voice fell from Heaven saying, “The Lord bless thee, weary Ciarán; now is thy prayer matured, since a lone blessing is sufficient to eat. Ciarán gave thanks, ate his bread on the third day.

Ciarán read the gospel of Matthew with Fr. Finnian, in the presence of other students. And coming to the text where is written “All things whatsoever ye would that men should do unto you, so do ye unto them,” Ciarán stopped reading and said to Finnian, “Father, enough for me is this half of this book which I have read;.. verily this one sentence is enough for me to learn.” In this way he was nick named, ‘Leth-Matha’ (Half-Matthew) by the students.” Fr. Finnian added to his new name, as ‘Leth n-Eirenn’ (Half-Ireland). This was a prophecy on the size of his parish, extending through the middle of Ireland.” His school mates were envious of Ciarán over this prophecy.

From St. Finnian’s school, Ciarán went to island of Ara (Inis Mór of the Aran islands), in the west of Ireland. There he rendered service to Abbot Enda. At that time Ciarán saw a marvellous vision of a great and fruitful tree along the river Synna (Shannon) in the middle of Ireland. The tree’s shadow protected Ireland on each side; and its branches flowed into the estuary and beyond. The next day Ciarán related the vision to St. Enda, who forthwith interpreted… paraphrased thus: ”Such fruitful tree witnessed by you, I have also seen too. You are that tree, and you shall be great before God and man. You will be honoured in Ireland, and your shadow of duty and grace shall protect Ireland from demons, plagues, and perils. Your fruit shall be for a profit to many far and wide”. Later Ciarán was consecrated priest and afterwards, at the command of St. Enda, Ciarán returned to the mainland.

[Ciarán lead the life of a perfect priest. He practised the rule of a priest’s life received from his formation at Aran. A contemporary student, St. Carthage, narrated: “the patience, humility, prayer, fast, and (Ciarán’s) cheerful abstinence’’]

One day Ciarán while travelling, he met a pauper along the way. The poor man begged of Ciarán something in alms. The beggar received his only cloak, thus depriving  his body of necessary cover. Ciarán journeyed to the island of Cathi (Scattery Island) around the estuary to the Atlantic ocean, at Luimnech (Limerick) between the regions of Kiarraighe and Corco Baiscind. On this island lived St. Senan. While Ciarán approached  that Scattery island, Senan sensed interiorly that Ciarán was without comfort in clothing. Senan sent a boat to collect Ciarán, to carry him to the island, with the view of giving Ciarán a new coat in person.  It was a welcome act of charity, and Ciarán remained for some days with St. Senan, before he continued his journey.

Ciarán then set out to his visit his brethren Luchenn and Odran, who lived in a cell  called Yseal, (the lowest place). Luchenn, the elder, was the abbot, and Odran was  prior. One time while there Ciarán was reading in a field on a sunny day, He saw some weary guests entering their guest-house and he went to show hospitality, while forgetting his book, leaving it outdoors, exposed to the elements. His diligence to the weary guest, made him completely forget the book and that night, there was a downpour of rain, but by Divine favour, the opened book remained perfectly dry, even though the ground around was wet. Ciarán and his brethren praised Jesus for the miracle when they found it again.

Ciarán upon departing his brethren, gave a blessing, and taking his books on his shoulders, he went on his way. Ciarán had gone a little distance from the place, when he stumbled upon a gentle stag waiting for him. Ciarán placed his book-satchels on the stag, and followed him. [the stag held his books in it’s antlers while Ciarán read] The stag arrived at Loch Rii (Lough Ree – King’s lake) in east Connaught, and he stopped near Inis Angin, an island in that lake. Ciarán understood by this sign of the stag stopping, that the Lord wanted him to go to that island, and so it happened. The stag went on his merry way.

While at Inis Angin, a community grew. One day it happened that The gospel-book of Ciarán fell into the lake by the careless hand of one of the monks. It was certain that the gospel was lost for good. But one summer’s day, a small number of cows  entered the lake looking to refresh themselves from the heat. Afterwards the cows  returned to the land, but the binding of a leather book-satchel got tangles in the  cow’s hoof, and so the gospel-book inside book-satchel was dragged back to dry land. This gospel-book was found in perfect condition, without dampness nor any moisture. It was well preserved and Ciarán and his followers rejoiced over this miracle.

Later, there came a man called Donnan from the tribe of Corco Baiscind from Mumonia (Munster). He came to Ciarán looking for a place wherein to sojourn, as a servant of  Christ. Ciarán permitted Donnan to stay at Inis Angin, as Ciarán felt called to found a new monastery elsewhere. Ciarán left Inis Angin, and settled at Typrait, now called Cluain meic Nois (Clonmacnoise – Meadow of the Sons of Nós). Here Ciarán proclaimed: “Here will I live: for many souls shall go forth in this place to the kingdom of God, and in this place shall be my resurrection.”

The great monastery of Clonmacnoise was founded, and Ciarán’s parish was extensive. Thus St. Finnian’s prophecy and St. Edna’s interpretation of the vision came to pass. The noble river of the Shannon flowed along the verdant plains, and by it’s banks, there was that stately tree laden with leaves and fruits, and covering the land with it’s shade. The monastic site was home to that lush tree with its branches shading Ireland. St. Ciarán as founder became renowned over Ireland. [He became the perfect Abbot.]

At clonmacnois, Ciarán was gifted with an excellent cloak. He was mindful to send it to St. Senan, on the island of Cathi on the Shannon estuary. It was a difficult task to send, as the sea was rough, and the political climate required a lot of pragmatic communications. So from the banks of the Shannon river, at Clonmacnoise, in the centre of Ireland, Ciarán placed the cloak on the river, and it floated along as far as the island of Cathi. The cloak remained dry for the entire duration, arriving safely into the hands of St. Senan who filled with the gift of prophecy sensed its coming. He was filled with thanksgiving as his monks delivered the cloak. It was held in honour, as though it were a sacred diadem.

Ciarán lived only one year at his new monastic site of Clonmacnoise. He recognised his life was slipping away. Now when his final hour approached, Ciarán commanded to be carried outside of the house. He gazed up to heaven, and raising his hand and he blessed his brethren and flock. Ciarán received the Lord’s Sacrifice, and at age thirty three, he gave up his soul. He is buried in Clonmacnoise awaiting his resurrection of his body on the last day. Within the monastic grounds, Kings from the O’Neill tribe were also buried along with St. Ciarán and the monks.

[St. Ciarán died in September in the 540s] He is remember on the 9th September by the Irish Church

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St. Macnessius – 4th September

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Much of the information below has been gleened from Omnium Sanctorum Hiberniae: Saint Mac Nissi of Connor, September 3

St. Macnessius was known as Oengus. The ancient Irish ”Leabhar Breac” narrate that the saint’s mother was Cnes, a daughter to Conchaid of Dal Cethern. It was common enough among the Irish to derive a surname from the mother in those times. So we have Oengus Mac Cnes toda known as St. Mac Nissi or Macnessius… Oengus was baptised by St. Patrick, at a fountain of water that suddenly sprung from the ground. As a fostered child, Oengus became known as Mac Cnes Patraic.

St. Patrick placed Mac Cnes under the care and formation of his disciple Abbot Bolcan. Mac Cnes was a docile pupil, and progressed through his elementary studies. When St. Patrick was later on a journey through Dalaradia, having met Bolcan with Mac Cnes, he prophesied that the Apostlic mission of Bolcan would be handed over to Mac Cnes. The docile student proved himself perfect in every good work, and was later again raised to the episcopal dignity of Abbot by St. Patrick. The holy Abbott was founder of a monastery that was to become the see of Down and Connor. Mac Cnes was thus also a Bishop.

Mac Cnes undertook a pilgrimage to Rome and to Jerusalem. The Bollandists narrate that Mac Cnes was a prayerful pilgrim, and that returned to Ireland with several relics from the Holy Land. He took a stone relic from our Lord’s Sepulchre, a portion of the Blessed Virgin Mary’s hair, a bone of the Apostle St. Thomas, and pieces from the garments of the Apostle’s vestments. Mac Cnes returned to Ireland via Rome, and lodged in the Apostolic curia for a few days. He was treated with marked distinction by the curia. Certain Roman magnates, bestowed on Mac Cnes many valuable gifts, along with several gold, silver, and brazen vessels. After visiting the shrines of various saints, Mac Cnes received the Sovereign Pontiff’s benediction and prayers. Mac Cnes returned to Ireland laden with remarkable relics. The native Irish went forth to meet him, from the towns, villages, churches and even from the woods and mountains. They received him with most reverend joy.

Mac Cnes did many miracles through his prayers. For example he healed a blind man, and a leper companion. They presented themselves to Mac Cnes full of confidence of being healed. At his request, they washed themselves in a fountain of clear water. The blind man then received his gift and the leper was cleansed from his leprosy. In a document on Mac Cnes, contained in the Salamancan Manuscript, we read, that he miraculously changed the current of a river in Ireland named Curi. He changed the flow, to mitigate the murmuring of the waters so as not disturb the infirm at a place called ”Dysart” which means hermitage. The Bollandists relate that through the effect of his prayers, Mac Cnes obtained the birth of a saint for a woman. We are told, that a certain man called Setna was with his wife Brig while travelling in their chariot. Upon seeing St, Macnessius travelling on foot, Setna said to his wife: “O woman, descend that the Bishop may take a place in this chariot.” But, Macnessius called out: “Do not disturb her, for she shall give birth to a king, who will rule over many.” It was his prophecy of St. Comgall of Bangor who would rule his people as spiritual King in the name of the Lord.

St. Macnessius reached old age, and the time of death approached. He departed this life, on the 3rd day of September, in the very early 500s. The church in Ireland celebrates St. Macnessius on September 4th.

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St. Aidan of Lindisfarne; Apostle of Northern England – 31st August

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Saint Aidan, also known as Aidan of Lindisfarne and the Apostle of Northumbria, was an Irish saint, who lived from about 590 until 31 August 651. He first became a monk who had studied under St. Senan, at Iniscathay at the Shannon River estuary on the Clare coast. Aidan then became a monk at the monastery that St. Colum Cille had founded on the island of Iona. Aidan would later establish his own monastery on the North Sea tidal island of Lindisfarne, known as Lindisfarne Priory. In time the Abbot became known as the apostle of Northumbria.

When the Romans withdrew from Great Britain, the Anglo-Saxons became strong, and paganism returned. The Northumbrian warrior-leader Aethelfrith was killed in battle (616AD) and his children fled into exile to Scotland. Here they met the Irish monks of Iona and accepted the Christian faith. Oswald, the second son of Aethelfrith, grew up in Iona from the age of twelve and he was determined to re-gain the throne of Northumbria and to Christianize his subjects there. In 633 he fought a successful battle and established himself as king of Northumbria at Bamburgh Castle. In 634 he invited Irish monks from Iona to help him convert his subjects to Christianity. The good English king Oswald even learned how to speak in Irish through his contacts with the Irish.

The Christian mission was handed from one religious to another, from Cormán to Aidan, who then chose with the King’s blessing, the island of Lindisfarne for his new monastic base. St. Bede praised the rule of St. Aidan, and of his Irish monks in the ministry. Aidan then set out, with his disciples, to walk the length and breadth of Northumbria. In this way he converted the Northumbrians though personal piety and the power of his example. He bears the title “Beacon of the North.”

King Oswald died in 642, and Aidan then worked closely with Oswald’s successor, Oswine of Deira to continue the apostolic mission. Twelve days before Aidan’s death, the royal Bamburgh Castle had come under incendiary attack. Aidan saw the smoke from the fires from his monastery and knelt in prayer. The wind immediately changed and the smoke miraculously blew back in the faces of the attackers, who withdrew as a result. For this reason, Aidan is known as the patron saint of firefighters.

St. Aidan died at Bamborough, the town of the King’s seat of power. He died there the last day of August, 651, and his remains were borne to Lindisfarne. His memory is celebrated in the Church on the 31st of August.

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Saint Fiacre of Breuil; the hackney herbalist saint – 30th August

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Much of the information here is taken from the website https://www.omniumsanctorumhiberniae.com/

St. Fiacre was born around the year 590. He was from a noble family in Connaught. Charity was a strong characteristic in his life. One day, a poor pauper came by seeking an alms. Fiachra was already exhausted from his precedent alms giving, and having nothing left he bestowed his rich mantle to the poor man. 

Fiacre later decided to live the religious life, placing himself under the care of St. Cuanna, a saint famed for learning and sanctity, at his monastery at Kilcoona, along the shore of Loch Orbsen. Fiacre was ordained priest, and wished to live the contemplative life. He departed from the school of St. Cuanna, and established his first hermitage on the banks of the Nore near Kilkenny, to live an austere life. This hermitage became later known as Kill-Fiachra, or Kilfera. Now Fiacre became an accomplished with the use of herbs, a recognised a healer, and saintly man, who caused followers to flock to him. But he desired greater solitude, so leaving Kilkenny, Fiacre sought refuge in France, at Meaux.

In France, He approached Bishop Faro, of the diocese of Meaux. He expressed his desire to live a life of solitude. St. Faro gave him a site at Breuil, present day Brie which was once upon a time a tract of land called Broilus (Latin for a small wood). This forest land was considered uninhabitable, and infested with ‘sorcerers’ and barbarians. At Breuil, St. Fiacre received as much land as he could furrow in one day. He ploughed the soil using the point of his spade, and with divine help he would uproot trees, briers and weeds. Fiacre went on to render his land arable, creating a lofty sized garden with vegetables, fruit, flowers and medical herbs.

He was a great ascetic, a man of prayer, fasting, and manual labour as a gardener.  His food consisted of roots and wild herbs. As a herbalist, St. Fiacre had a medicine that would become known as “Saint Fiacre’s figs” in the Middle Ages. His medicine had a reputation for healing haemorrhoids. St. Fiacre erected an oratory to venerate the Blessed Virgin Mary, and a hospice to take in strangers, and a private cell to retire in prayer. Fiacre did this with the help of his growing number of disciple, and this apostolic work helped with the maintenance of pilgrims to the monastery. His original preparation work was again initiated with the help of his spade and divine support of uprooting trees. Seeing this miracle of the spade, an busy body woman called ‘La Becnaude’ rushed to the diocese of Meaux, denouncing Fiacre as a sorcerer to bishop Faro. She returned to Breuil with orders from the diocese to stop all operations straight away. This caused Fiacre much grief, as he sank with sadness into the jacked rocks in the trench. These rocks melted forming a comforting chair for Fiacre. The bishop on arrival seeing and understanding such miracle of the stone chair in a trench, took Fiacre’s side. A decree that all women should be banished from the monastic grounds was established by the abbot Fiacre. One noble lady would try her luck and infringe this decree, but she suffered sudden a violent illness. Physicians called her illness ”Fiacre’s Malady”. This decree of prohibition of women lasted until 1760 when it was dissolved. Fiacre died on 18 August, 670 A. D.

Today there is veneration to St. Fiacre’s relics at Meaux Cathedral. Visitors to his shrine included Anne, of Austria, Bossuet, and Vincent de Paul. St. Fiachra is today venerated as patron at Brie, and one of the chief patrons of the diocese of Meaux; He is venerated in France as patron of gardeners and of the Fiacre-drivers, the French hackney cab dubbed since early times for the use of pilgrims travelling to the Brie shrine. 

His memory is celebrated by the church on the 30th of August

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St. Eoghan of Ardstraw, in Co. Tyrone – 23rd August

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St. Éoghan of Ardstraw, is commonly known as Eugene in English, Eugenius in Latin, or sometimes referred to as Tir Eoghain which is the Irish for Tyrone, a county in Ulster. Éoghan was an important figure in Irish Christianity from the 6th century. His life was marked by a series of remarkable events that shaped his future as a monk, as abbot and bishop.

Hagiologist Colgan, wrote the unpublished Acts of St. Eugene. His work called the ‘’Acts of St. Eugenius of Ardsrata’’, are currently found in the Burgundian Library at Bruxelles. Historians have since edited and published from the original draft, such as Carolus de Smedt and Joseph de Backer.

Éoghan is a descendent of Laeghaire Lore, son to Ugaine Mór, whom the Leinster people are also descended. Éoghan’s father was Cainnech of Leinster and his mother was Muindecha, descendent of the region of Mugdarnia, Co. Down. Éoghan was uncle to St. Kevin of Glendalough. As a youth, Éoghan received his education with Tighernach, in a school at Clones.

Éoghan, Tighernach and another school friend Corpre, were taken hostage to Britain by pirates. By the grace of God, a man called Neunyo, (Mancenus), from the Rosnat monastery (or Candida Casa, in Scotland) procured their liberation from the King of Britain. The three lads received their tutelage under St. Ninian. But later again Éoghan, with companions, found themselves taken hostage and this time they were brought to British Amorica in Brittany. They became slaves under a Gallic King, as mill workers.

They loved reading and would skive from their work duties to read more. One day, the king’s steward caught them on the hop studying, as the milling wheel suspended operations without reason. The steward lorded it over them to resume work at the mill. Finding themselves alone again the three students begged Almighty God, for some respite so they could study. In response, the Angels of God appeared, and these angels worked the mill-wheel, so it revolved, giving the captive slaves time to study. When the miracle was made known to the king, the noble man sent the three captives back to the Rosnat monastery as free men. Restored to his tutor and master, Éoghan studied some more years in the monastery.

After a long period, St. Ninnian felt drawn to sail for Ireland, with Tighernach and Éoghan. There Éoghan went on to establish the monastery of Kilnamanagh (church of the monks) in Co. Wicklow. Éoghan gave his life to sanctity, mortification and prayer. For fifteen years He was Abbot of excellent repute. At Kilnamangh, he influenced the mind of his nephew, Coemghen or Kevin of Glendalough.
Éoghan set out on an evangelical mission to the north of Ireland. His monks at Kilnamanagh were encouraged to excel into their diverse capacities as Abbots, priors, and ministers. Éoghan, later established a monastery at Ardstraw, along the shores of Lough Derg. He built this monastery close to the junction of confluent streams in the Mourne region, near Lifford on the river Foyle… The ancient name Ard-straha means the height by the bank of the river…

In Ardstraw monastery, Éoghan led a saintly life, distinguished by his miracles and a spirit of prophecy. Towards the end of Éoghan’s life, a grave infirmity grew on him day by day. Recognising his time was near, he called his monks around, and he received the last rites, with pious resignation. His monks present, then separated into two choirs, and standing, with alternate chanting of the psalms. During the celebration of the Divine Office, Angels received the soul of Éoghan, who went home to his eternal reward.

The memory St. Éoghan is celebrated by the church in Ireland on the 23rd August.

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St. Declan; patron and the Patrick of the Deise of the Waterford and Lismore Diocese – 24th July

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St. Declan

We have a latin account of Declan’s life called ”Vita Declani” in which we can learn about this distinguished Irish saint. Declan is the  patron of the Waterford & Lismore diocese, of the ancient territory of the Déise. Declan was born around 373A.D at Dromroe between Lismore and Cappoquin, to his father Erc Mac Trein and mother Déithin. His parents were of noble blood and his father’s line extended back to King Tuathal Teachtmhar in the 1st century. Around the 1st century, a dispute happened at the Royal Seat of Tara, where the Désii tribe were expelled from the Royal Province. This tribe moved south to Tipperary & Waterford, and its from this tribe that Declan comes from. Another section of the tribe was exiled to the South West Wales, settling in Meniva.

Coming back to the birth of St. Declan, a holy priest called Colman, baptised Declan and explained to his parents that the child was blessed by God. Declan was fostered, trained and educated by his Uncle Dobhrán, for seven7 years. As Declan grew older, he was sent to a holy man named Dioma to further his studies. Whilst with Dioma, his reputation grew and many follower came to Declan.

Around the year 395, he later travelled to Rome via Gaul, now France, to study. At Rome, he met and became friends with Ailbe, the future bishop of Emly. Humble Ailbe is considered the Patrick of Munster. During Declan’s stay in Rome, he was ordained priest and bishop by the pope of the time. While still in Rome, as he began his pilgrim journey back to Ireland, he met Patrick, Ireland’s future patron. They became providentially acquainted during this encounter. Today, St. Declan is considered “the Patrick of the Déise.

St. Declan was to establish a monastery Ardmore (meaning great height), which grew into a large town. He is one of the pre-eminent figures in the early Irish Church. Declan was one of four pre-patrician saints (along with Ailbe of Emly, Ciarán of Saigir, and Abbán of Moyarney) who preached the Gospel along Ireland’s south coastal regions, before Patrick arrived in Ireland.

Anecdotes of St. Declan.

Declan’s monastery at Ardmore has long been a place of pilgrim significance, with large crowds that gather every year for his feast day on July 24. The story behind this pilgrim, has it routes in a religious and political meeting that took place. Declan and Patrick met at Cashel, and this ancient meeting is commemorated today in a long-distance trail known as St Declan’s Way. In the 5th Century, St Declan walked 110 km from his monastery in Ardmore, Co. Waterford to visit St Patrick in Cashel where he was resident. Patrick had been appointed a bishop by pope Celestinus and at that time, and was preaching and converting the King of Cashel Aongus MacNatfrich to Christianity. At the same time, a man named Ledban, the King of Déise, was antagonistic to Christianity. There was a persecution brewing, and so an Angel of the Lord appeared to Declan to tell him that he must make a journey to Cashel before matters escalated. Declan made his way over the Knockmealdown mountains, passing through Mount Melleray, Lismore, Ardfinnan, Cahir and met Patrick at Mullach Inneonach which is just off the R687 road spur from the N24 not far from Clonmel. Here, Declan was greeted with hospitably by his old acquaintance, Patrick. They held a meeting and came to an arrangement and  encouraged the deise people to denounce Ledban and follow Patrick instead. A new King of the Deise was selected by Declan and Patrick, named Fergal Mac Cormac; a Déise relative of Declan, he led his people in the grace of God and Ledban was banished and never heard of again.

Another anecdote

An imminent naval attack threatening Ardmore was averted when Declan asked St. Ultan to intervene. Ultan then raised his left hand against the attackers and the sea engulfed them. Declan and Ultan disputed the originator of the miracle, but the saying holds sway today in Ardmore “The left hand of Ultan be against you’’.

Nb* Much of the information here is taken from the book ‘’’Declan’’ by Liam Suipéil, published in 2020

[When Declan realised that his last days were at hand, his disciples brought him back to his citadel Monastery, for Declan dwelt in a small venerable cell, built in a quiet  place near the sea called Diseart Decláin (Declan’sHermitage). Before he died, He received the body and blood of Christ and he blessed his people, his dependents and his poor and he kissed them in a token of love and peace.]

Taken from Canon Donal O’Connor’s book -‘The Pilgrim’s Round of Ardmore’ Co. Waterford 2000.

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St. Killian the Irish bishop and martyr who became patron of Wurzburg in Germany – 8th July

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The oldest biographical texts refering to Killian are an 8th century necrology at Würzburg, as well as a reference by Hrabanus Maurus in his martyrology. We have diverse spellings such as Chillian, Killian, Cilian, and Kilian. St. Cillian is the name used in the Irish liturgical calendar.

Cillian was in born in Ireland in the mid 7th century, in Mullagh, County Cavan. He is of Irish nobility and dedicated his life to the service of God, which culminated in a life as a missionary. In the early days, Cillian became a monk at the Monastery of Hy.

Tradition holds that Cillian received his religious formation at St. Fachtna’s monastery in Rosscarbery, Co. Cork. Cillian then founded a monastery of his own near Kilmakilloge harbour in Kenmare. There he formed his monks in preparation for a Peregrinatio Pro Christo to continental Europe. From Kilmakilloge harbour, Cillian and his twelve companions, set sail for Europe and with time they found the Rhine River estuary. They followed up the Rhine until they reached Wurzburg in Bavaria. Cillian then travelled to Rome with Colman and Totnan, seeking approval for an apostolic mission at Wurzburg. In Rome, Pope Conan conferred on Cillian an apostolic mission to the old province of Franconia, in Germany.  Cillian officially established his apostolic mission at Wurzburg in the year 686. He began preaching the gospel and succeeded in converting the local duke, Gosbert.

But things quickly went sour for Cillian over a moral & political stance he took with the count over a sensitive marriage he deemed the duke was involved in. The duke married the wife of his dead brother… in the Franconian province, it was the norm for a widow to be remarried to the brother of the deceased husband.

Now if we look at the biblical verses surrounding this matter, we shall see that it says:

”If a man takes his brother’s wife, it is severe defilement and he has disgraced his brother; they shall be childless.” (Lev. 20:21)

Elsewhere the bible says:

”When brothers live together and one of them dies without a son, the widow of the deceased shall not marry anyone outside the family; but her husband’s brother shall come to her, marrying her and performing the duty of a brother-in-law.” (Deut. 25:5)

So, to give a simple explanation, marrying your brother’s wife is forbidden except if the brother dies childless. But in canonical terms within the catholic church, there seems to be no obvious grounds for advising seperation from such a marriage in the case of Duke Gosbert and his wife Gailana… Cillian however advised separation from Gosbert’s former sister-in-law. At present we can only offer an opinion as to why this advice was given… Perhaps it was to stabilise the province from future family feuds amongst step brothers to be. Leaving such opinion aside, we can say for certain that an irate Countess Gailana began seeking for revenge on Cillian for giving advice to Gosbert. When the duke went off on a military campaign, Gailana ordered the assassination of Cillian. He was stabbed along with Colman and Totnan who were praying beforehand. Their bodies were secretly buried in the count’s stables.

As a result of the whole debacle, the Countess suffered mental ill health and soon died in the state of insanity; the hired assassin committed suicide; and count Gosbert was later killed. They all became a by-word for the local inhabitants.

Over 50 years later the remains of the three martyrs were rediscovered. Tradition has it that horses would paw in their stables where the three monks were secretly buried. An excavation was requested, and three skeletons remains were discovered. Later again, a miraculous cure from blindness, of a local philosopher at the find location, spurred on calls for recognition for the holy remains of the three martyred monks. These rediscovered remains became a point of pilgrimage and St Cillian became the patron saint of Würzburg where a Cathedral is dedicated to him.

Although Cillian’s apostolic mission lasted but a short duration, his influence remained. Later when Saint Boniface arrived in Thuringia, he discovered evidence of Cillian’s earlier influence in the region.

In the present days, the Kiliani-Volksfest is a popular festival in the Franconian region, and the celebration lasts over a fortnight around St Kilian’s Day! The Feast Day of St Kilian is held on the 8th of July and his relics are paraded publicly along the streets of Wurzburg. According to the local Franconian farmers’, with St Kilian’s Day begins the harvest time. Additionally, each year a German whiskey distillery named after St. Kilian produces a special edition whiskey.

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St. Colum Cille; the dove of Iona – 9th June

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St. Colum Cille is one of the three Patron Saints of Ireland. He was born at Garten, Donegal in Ulster, 7th December, 521. Colum Cille was from the noble O’Donnell Clan. His father was Fedhlimdh (Irish for Phillip) and his mother was Eithne, of Leinster nobility. Fedhlimdh’s father was Felimy, whose grandfather was great King Niall, who was dubbed Niall of the Nine Hostages. King Niall kidnapped St. Patrick along with his sisters Lupita and Dererca and a host of other victims from Armoric Britain. Colm Cille’s baptismal name was Chiomhthainn (Chriffin) but he became known as Colum, which signifies a dove. His name was further adjusted becoming Colum-cille, meaning “dove of the Church”.

When he attained a foundational level of education, he entered St. Finnian’s monastary of Movilla in Co. Down. Finnian had once upon a time studied under St. Colman of Dromore. At Movilla, Colum Cille’s sanctity began to manifest itself by miracles, and he also received his ordination to diaconate. Traditions attests through the writings of St. Eunan, (Adamnan) that by Colum Cille’s prayers, he converted water into wine, for the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass (Adam., II, i). St. Columba was also tall and dignified. St. Eunan further says: “He was angelic in appearance, graceful in speech, holy in work” (Praef., II). His voice was strong, sweet, and sonorous capable at times of being heard at a great distance.

From Movilla, Colum Cille travelled southwards into Leinster, and he became a pupil of an aged bard named Gemman for a while. He later entered the monastery of Finnian of Clonard, and became one those twelve Clonard disciples. These twelve subsequently became known as the Twelve Apostles of Ireland. It was around this time, he was ordained a priest by Bishop Etchen of Clonfad. Colum Cille founded several important monasteries, including at places like Derry, and Durrow.

Colum Cille travelled to Tours in France. There he managed to get a relic of those gospels that had lain on the bosom of St. Martin for a one hundred years. Tradition says this relic was deposited in Derry (Skene, Celtic Scotland, II, 483).

Colum Cille left Ireland for Iona in Scotland in 563 in his forty-fourth year. He took with him twelve companions, on a mission, crossing the Irish sea in a currach. The twelve took to land at Iona on the eve of Pentecost, 12 May, 563. Iona island, according to Irish sources, was granted to Colum Cille by King Conall of Dalriada, who was his kinsman. St. Bede however, an English monk, attributes the gift of the island by the Picts (Fowler, p. lxv). These diverse explanations offer expediency; an way to appease Colum Cille’s  kinsmen of Dalriada and the Picts of Caledonia.

From Iona, St. Comgall, St. Canice, and St. Colum Cille travelled up to the highlands of Scotland. There, they would seek to visit King Brude at his royal residence near Inverness. However, admittance was denied to the missionaries, and the doors were all shut up, and the gates shut off. To gain entrance, they made the sign of the cross at the gates, and suddenly the bolts flew back, and the doors & gates opened out. The three monks walked right into the castle. Amazed by so obvious a miracle, king Brude, then gave ear to Colum Cille with reverence. From this exceptional encounter the Pictish King Brude was baptized. His people soon followed his example of baptism, and thus Christianity took sway over the whole of Caledonia. The Druids lost their status in the Highlands.

Tradition tells us that St. Colum Cille occupied frequently within an hour, his studies, his prayers, and the likes. He was regularly engaged in transcribing, even upon the  eve of his death. Colum Cille was a prolific transcriber and it is believed he wrote 300 books, two of which are extant; “The Book of Durrow” and the psalter called “The Cathach”. This psalter enclosed in a shrine, was once upon a time carried into battle by the O’Donnells as a pledge of victory.

St. Colum Cille was conscious of his death looming, in the spring of 597. By Saturday, 8 June, he climbed up the hill on Iona, overlooking his monastery, giving it his final blessing. He was to make himself present for vespers, and after the prayers, the monastic bell summoned the community for a midnight service. Colum Cille forestalled his monks, deciding to enter the church without assistance. As he made his way to the altar, the aging Abbot sank down, breathing forth his last, by now surrounded by his disciples. This happened between the 8th and 9th of June, 597. He died in his monastery in Iona, Scotland. The relics of St. Colum Cille were carried back to Ireland and deposited in the church of Downpatrick in Ireland. He is now buried there together with the two other national patrons of Ireland, St. Patrick. and St. Brigid.

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