OMNIUM SANCTORUM HIBERNIAE

Author: Michele Ainley

  • Saint Mella of Doire-Melle, March 31

     

    We close the month of March with the commemoration of Saint Mella, an abbess who embraced the religious life in later years, having borne two sons who themselves were saints. Canon O’Hanlon provides the details:

    ST. MELLA, ABBESS OF DOIRE-MELLE, COUNTY OF LEITRIM.

    [EIGHTH CENTURY]
    Some account of this holy woman is given by Colgan and by the Bollandists. St. Mella flourished, about the middle of the eighth century, in the northern parts of the Connaught province. This, has been inferred, from the circumstance of her son St. Tighernach’s death, having been recorded, at A.D. 805. The devout matron, by God’s holy decree, was the happy mother of two sons, whose names are found on record, in the pages of our Irish Martyrologies. These are named respectively, St. Cannech, a Priest, and St. Tigernach, an Abbot. Having been deprived of her husband, by death, she afterwards formed the resolution of embracing a religious life. St. Tigernach erected a religious house, near Lough Melve, —now known as Lough Melvin,—in the county of Leitrim, and within the diocese of Killmore. He left this establishment, in favour of his mother; and, he then retired to another monastery, named Kill-Acaidh, or “the church of the field,” the situation of which is unknown. St. Mella presided over a community of holy women, at the former place which, from her, took the name of Doire-Melle, which signifies, the “oak grove of Mella.” We are told, it had been situated in Rossinver parish, county of Leitrim, although the name is not known, at present. It is said, she ruled over her nunnery for many years; but, little more has transpired respecting her. She is supposed to have died, before the year 787, as her name occurs, in the Martyrology of Tallagh. In it we find inserted, Mella, at the 9th, and Doire Mella, added, at the 31st of March, to the same etymon. In the Martyrologies of Marianus O’Gorman, and of Cathald Maguire, there is a Mella, belonging to the church of Cluainai, set-down, for the 19th of March. But, she may have been a distinct person. The Martyrology of Donegal gives her this title of Doire Mella, on the 31st of January, when alluding to her son Cainneach; but, at the present day, it has no record of her feast. By her influence and authority, St. Mella awakened in the souls of her religious, as of her own two sons, the love and fear of God. This she effected, likewise, in the spirit of gentleness, forbearance, and true charity.

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  • Saint Tola of Disert Tola, March 30

    The Irish calendars commemorate Saint Tola of Disert Tola on March 30. The following account of him has been distilled from Canon O’Hanlon’s Lives of the Irish Saints:
    ST. TOLA, ABBOT AND BISHOP OF DISERT TOLA
    [SEVENTH AND EIGHTH CENTURIES.]
    That the present pious servant of Christ was a useful worker, in his Master’s vineyard, can hardly be doubted. Colgan has collected some particulars, with a view to supply his Acts, at the present date. The Bollandists merely notice him, also, as Tola, Bishop of Disert Tola, surnamed The Devout. His Acts had escaped the researches of Colgan; and, hence, very few circumstances, concerning his life, are recorded. However, that writer had no doubt, the Acts of our saint were extant, in his time, although he had been unable to procure them. For, not only his festival day, but his race, the places in which he had been venerated, and the year of his death, had been recorded, by our early Martyrologists and Annalists.
    The father of this saint was named Dunchad. He was son to Ernin, son of Garuan, according to the Psalter and Calendar of Cashel. The latter even more fully traces his family line. The pedigree of St. Tola is drawn from the race of Kien, son to Olild Olum, and he descended from the illustrious Galengi family. This tribe, according to the supposition of Dr. Lanigan, inhabited some of those districts known as Galenga, or Gallen. There was a Gallen, or Galien, which comprised a great part of Carlow and Kildare counties, with some of the Queen’s County. As the situation of that place, where our saint commenced his career, was not far removed from this latter district, according to the same authority, it is not improbable, Tola had his birth within that territory. It is likely enough, that he was born, after the middle of the seventh century. For many years, our saint led the life of a hermit, at a place called Disert Tola, or Tola’s Desert. According to the Calendar of Cashel, that place was situated in Meath; but, other authorities place it within the Dalcassian territory, in the northern part of Munster. It was supposed to have been, in Dealbhna, or Delvin, and situated in the present Garrycastle barony. King’s County. The true site, however, is said to have been at Dysart Taula, in the parish of Killoolagh, barony of Delvin, in the county of Westmeath. At this place, he lived an eremitical life, for some years; and, according to one account, he built a monastery, in the eighth century. Such was the fame of his sanctity, that many disciples were attracted thither; and, over these, he exercised the rule of Abbot. The site of this old church is still pointed out, but its walls have been uprooted.
    Afterwards, St. Tola was assumed to a higher dignity, having been called upon to preside over Clonard see, in Meath. Colgan doubts not, but that his name had been venerated in Clonard church, over which he presided, although no mention of this circumstance occurs, as he states, in our Irish records.
    Although, perhaps, a contemporary with Tola, Bishop of Ardbraccan, in Meath, who died A.D. 760, our saint was a different person. He also lived at a time, posterior to that, when flourished Tolua, or Toluan, Abbot of Clonmacnoise, in Meath, who died in the year 609. The death of our saint must be placed, at an intermediate period, to both these dates. The faithful servant of Christ departed this life, during 733, in the fourth year of the reign of Aidus, who was son to Fergal, and King over Ireland.
    The Annals of Ulster place his death, at A.D. 737… his memory was revered, at Disert Tola, on the 30th of March—the assumed date for his death. According to no less than six different Martyrologies, this account has been given. Besides St. Mochua of Balla, the Feilire of Aengus commemorates St. Colman of Land Ligach, and St. Tola, at the 30th of March. The Martyrology of Tallagh enters the name, Tola; and Bishop of Craibdigh follows this designation, at the 30th of March. The Calendar of Cashel, and Marianus O’Gorman commemorate him. The Irish Genealogist, Duald Mac Firbis, enters Tola, bishop, from Disart Tola — said now to be Dysart O’Dea, county of Clare in Upper Dal-Cais, at March the 30th. Again, on this day, the Martyrology of Donegal registers. Tola, Bishop, of Disert Tola, in the upper part of Dal Cais, in Thomond. In Scotland, also, he was commemorated. Thus, the Kalendar of Drummond states, at March 30th, or iii. Kalends of April: In Hibernia, the Holy Confessors Mochua, Colman, and Tola, went to Christ. There was a St. Teloc, a disciple of St. Patrick. Colgan thinks it possible to identify him, either with the present St. Tola, or with Telleus of Tehelly, venerated the 25th of June. But, the chronology cannot accord for the present holy man.
    A miracle, which took place, in the year 1034, is ascribed to the merits of St. Tola. Coirten Ua Maebuain, Lord of Dealbhna, was killed by some of his clansmen, on the threshold of Disert Tola church. In punishment for this sacrilegious and unnatural murder, the perpetrator of the crime was massacred, within that very same hour he perpetrated the treacherous act.
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  • Saint Lassara, March 29

    March 29 is the feast of a female saint, Lassara. Her name, reflecting the Old Irish word for flame, is also shared by a number of male saints, where it occurs in the variants Laserian and Mo-laisse. Much is made by neo-pagans of Saint Brigid as a supposed fire goddess, so it is perhaps worth pointing out that other Irish saints, both male and female, also have a link with fire in their names. There are a number of female saints who share the name Lassara, and Canon O’Hanlon attempts to give an account of the present one in his entry for this day in volume three of the Lives of the Irish Saints:
     
    St. Lasar, Lassar, or Lassera, Virgin. [Sixth Century.]
     
    A very brief allusion to St. Lassara occurs, in the Bollandists’ Collection, at the 29th of March. Entering more into particulars, Colgan notices her festival, at the same date and, he undertakes, also, to solve her genealogy. She is said to have been of royal origin; her father being Fearguss, son of Fethlemid, son to King Laoighaire, son to Niall of the Nine Hostages. She was niece to St. Fortchern, who became one of St. Patrick’s earliest converts, in Ireland. It is thought, that her earliest lessons of virtue and of culture were given, by her holy relative, while her name, Lassair, in Irish signifying “a flame,” was happily typical of that Divine ardour, which warmed all her affections. Her parents desired for their daughter a suitable marriage, but, being resolved on a life of celibacy and retirement, she wished to leave their home. So eager was she, that her youth should belong to a heavenly spouse, a name, in Irish, Algasach, and Latinized Desideriosa, was added to her former appellation. In St, Brigid’s Acts, there is mention made of a St. Lasrea, and Colgan seems to think, her commemoration fell on this day. Already have we alluded to her, in connexion with the renowned Abbess of Kildare. However, she seems to have been a person, altogether distinct from the present Lassara, who flourished a little after her time. Before and about the middle of the sixth century, St. Finnian, Abbot of Clonard, had a great school opened, in his monastery; and, the noble virgin was placed under his charge, to be instructed, in all science, religious and mundane. To St. Kieran, afterwards Abbot of Clonmacnoise, was especially committed the care of her education; for, St. Finnian had an inspiration, that she should become a very distinguished saint, and preside over a community of pious virgins. As an instance of the extreme circumspection and care, manifested for the young princess, while residing at Clonard; she lodged and boarded with a virtuous widow, who lived near the monastery. And, we are told, that neither did St. Kieran presume to gaze on her features, nor did his young pupil dare to look in his face, during the whole course of her instruction. She learned the Sacred Scriptures and the Psalms, through him. Another extraordinary occurrence is related, that an Angel brought St. Lassara from St. Finnian’s patronage, and placed her in the convent of his sister, St. Rioghnach, or Regnata. Here, she seems to have remained for some time, until feeling desirous of returning to her own part of the country, St. Finnian was consulted as to her guide. He replied to Regnacia, that the same heavenly messenger, who brought her away, should also conduct her homewards. Accordingly the Angel, raising her in the air, like ‘another Halbacuc, bore the virgin to her own country’. Here, greatly abounding in sanctity, this chaste spouse of Christ built a church, at a place, called Doire Mac Aidhmechain. At this place, she wrought many miracles, but the year of her demise is not found on record.
     
    The simple name, Lassar, is set down, in the Martyrology of Tallagh, at the 29th of March. The published Martyrology of Tallagh mentions, however, that veneration was given to Ailgasach, at this date. As we have already seen, this is only another designation, applied to her. Marianus O’Gorman, and Cathal Maguire commemorate her, in like manner, at the 29th of March. A saint, thus described, as Lassar, Virgin, is mentioned in the Martyrology of Donegal, and as having been venerated, on this day, in accord with the authorities of an earlier date, on the subject of Irish saint history.

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