OMNIUM SANCTORUM HIBERNIAE

Month: July 2013

  • Saint Cilline Droicteach of Iona, July 3

    At July 3, the Irish calendars commemorate Cilline, an eighth-century abbot of Iona. This saint has the epithet droichteach, ‘bridge-maker’ attached to his name. Canon O’Hanlon seems to interpret this quite literally, but I can’t help wondering if there is also a spiritual dimension to this title, much as in the Latin title pontifex. Our saint seems to have flourished at a particularly interesting time in the history of Iona, as the sources seem to record more than one abbot exercising authority simultaneously. In the past this led some commentators to talk of a ‘schism’ at Iona due to the Paschal dating controversy, with rival abbots representing the ‘Celtic’ and ‘Roman’ points of view. I hope to be able to examine this theme in more detail in future posts.

    St. Cilline or Cillen, Droicteach, Abbot of Iona, Scotland.

    [Eighth Century.]

    Among a long line of illustrious abbots who presided over Iona, the present holy man is classed. In the Martyrology of Tallagh, at the 3rd of July, the simply entry of Cilline, Abb. Iae, occurs. He is noted in the Martyrology of Marianus O’Gorman, at the 3rd of July. At this date, the Bollandistss have noticed him, also, on the foregoing authority and on that of Sirinus. Some notices of him occur, in the work of Bishop Forbes. This distinguished saint derived his origin from the race of Conall Cremthainne, son to Niall of the Nine Hostages, of the southern Hy-Neill. This saint’s pedigree is thus given in the Naemhsenchas. His father’s name was Dicolla, son of Cilline, son to Amalgadh, son of Feradhaigh, son to Feic, son of Cerbaill, who was son to the aforesaid Conall Cremthainne. He was born in Ireland, probably towards the close of the seventh century. The epithet, suffixed to his original name Cilline, and which was Droicteach, signifying “Bridge-maker,” has reference apparently to work of that kind on which he had been engaged, previous to his leaving Ireland for Scotland. It is likely, that he felt a religious inspiration to join the Columban institute in Iona, and there, too, it would seem, that he chose to live as an anchorite, according to the custom of those monks, who desired to observe a very strict discipline. His virtues were so highly esteemed by that community, after the death of St. Cilline Fada, or the Tall Abbot of Iona, which took place, A.D. 726, Cilline Droicteach was selected as his immediate successor.
    Meanwhile, Feidhlimid or Failbhe seems to have been elected Abbot of Iona in the year 722, nor do we find that he ceased to enjoy that title, during the administration of Faelcu, of Cillene Fada, and of Cilline Droicteach, until he departed this life at the very advanced age of eighty-seven years, completed in 759, and during the administratorship of Slebhine. Whether Feidhlimid or Failbhe had been the principal or only a coadjutor Abbot over Iona cannot be gleaned with any degree of distinctness from the Irish Annals. It is thought, that owing to the circumstance of Cilline Droicteach having chosen the rigid rule of an anchorite’s state, the active duties of his presidency, over the monastic institute of Iona, had been in a great measure discharged by his coadjutor, Fedhlimid. He continued alive, during the presidency of Cilline Droicteach. The present holy man brought to Erin that shrine of the many relics, which Adamnan had collected, to make peace and friendship between the Cinel-Conaill and the Cinel-Eoghain. This appears to have occurred in the year 727. The Relics collected by Adamnan were returned to Iona in 730.
    The present saint, called Cilleine Droctigh, anchorite of Ia, died on the 3rd of July, A.D. 747. Other accounts have A.D. 751 and 752. He is reputed to have been the fourteenth abbot of Iona, commencing with the great founder, St. Columkille. We have him recorded, in the Martyrology of Donegal, at this same date, as Cillen Droichtech, Abbot of Ia Colum Cille.

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  • Saint Ternoc of Cluain-Mór, July 2

    At July 2, the Irish calendars record the memory of a saint Ternoc, but, as Canon O’Hanlon explains, it is difficult to identify this holy man or his locality with any certainty:

    ST. TERNOG, OR TERNOC, OF CLUAIN-MOR.

    ONLY a supposition can be raised, that the present holy man lived in the early period of the Irish Church. In the Martyrology of Tallagh, we find a festival entered, at the 2nd of July, in honour of Ternoc, of Cluanamoir. In the Martyrology of Marianus O’Gorman, at the 2nd of July, this saint is eulogized, as being innocent and virgin-like. Whether this was the St. Mernocus, or Ternocus, who is mentioned, as having lived a solitary life in that delightful Island, near the Mountain of Stone, and who flourished before that time when St. Brendan the Navigator sailed on his adventurous voyage beyond the Atlantic, cannot well be determined. We have seen already, that St. Columkille s had a disciple named Ternoc, who interrogated him regarding futurity; yet, we should be far from intimating, that he was identical with the present saint. The St. Ternog under consideration appears to have been venerated at a place, called Cluain-mor; but, where it was situated, we are not informed. It must be observed, that Mr. John M’Call places it, in the county of Carlow; and, if such be the case, it seems most likely, that the present holy man was that Abbot or Bishop of Ferns, mentioned in the note of Colgan to St. Brigid’s Acts, and who died A.D. 662. The name, however, is there printed Tuenocus, or Tuenoc, yet elsewhere Ternoc. There is a parish of Clonmore, in the county of Wexford, and in connexion with it, we find allusion made to the present St. Temoc, whose feast has been set down, by Colgan, in one instance at the 2nd of June, and in another place, at the 2nd of July —which latter is the correct date. Nevertheless, we are not to assume, that the present Cluain-mor is to be confounded with Cluain-mor-Moedhoc, which was in the county of Carlow. However, of the many Clonmores in Ireland, we cannot know with certainty to which of these the present holy man belonged. The Martyrology of Donegal, at the 2nd of July, enters a feast for Ternóg, of Cluain-mór. In the Manuscript Calendar of Professor Eugene O’ Curry, the feast of St. Ternog is entered, at the 2nd of July. At the present date, citing the authority of Sirinus, the Bollandists have a misprinted entry of Fernacus de Cluain-mor; but, they desire to have clearer evidences regarding him.

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  • Saint Cuimmein of Nendrum, July 1

     

    We begin the month of July with the commemoration of Saint Cuimmein of Nendrum, or Mahee Island, County Down. His feast comes not long after that of the founder of the monastery, Saint Mochaoi, whose memory is commemorated on June 23. Canon O’Hanlon has this to say:

    St. Cuimmein, Bishop of Nendrum, or Mahee Island, County of Down.
    [Seventh Century.]

    On the 1st of July, in the Martyrologies of Tallagh, of Marianus O’Gorman and of Charles Maguire, it is mentioned, that veneration was given to Cuimmein, Bishop of Aendruim. This place is now known as Mahee Island, inStrangford Lough, and in the county of Down. The Bollandists, who have a notice of this holy man, at the 1st of July, refer to Hugh Ward’s work for the entry; but, they defer to treat about his veneration and Acts, until they had more certain evidences. It has been stated, in Rev. Dr. O’Conor’s text of the Annals of the Four Masters, that he died A.D. 658; but, this is faulty, for according to Tighernach, he departed A.D. 659. He is said to have rested—about the year 661 —by Duald Mac Firbis, in his text, De Quibusdam Episcopis. This tract was found among the Bodleian Manuscripts, at Oxford. This holy Bishop’s name is entered, in the Martyrology of Donegal, at the present date.

    The diocesan historian, Father James O’Laverty, has only this to add:

    A.D. 658, “Cummine, Bishop of Aendruim died” (Four Masters). His festival was held in the ancient church of Mahee on the 1st of July.

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