OMNIUM SANCTORUM HIBERNIAE

Author: Michele Ainley

  • Saint Mocelloc of Magh-Scethe, March 7

    Today the Irish calendars record a hermit who is credited with being among the first Christian believers in Ireland, and who features in the hagiography of Saint Declan of Ardmore. Saint Declan, along with saints Ailbe, Ciarán of Saighir and Ibar is part of the tradition of pre-Patrician saints of Munster. Whilst modern scholars are sceptical, nevertheless we know that Saint Palladius was sent in 431 ‘to those Irish believing in Christ as their first bishop’ which indicates that there was a community of Christians already present in Ireland. Unfortunately, the problems with trying to work out the chronology of the mission of Saint Patrick in relation to that of Palladius leaves the whole question of pre-Patrician saints an open one. The Life of Saint Declan dates to the later medieval period, by which time Saint Patrick was firmly established as the apostle to the Irish. It was also a time when the reform of the Irish Church presented an incentive for the Munster dioceses to assert their claims to precedence. Thus it is uncertain just how far back the tradition of pre-Patrician saints actually goes. Canon O’Hanlon takes up the story of Saint Mocelloc, who is claimed to predate the Palladian mission by almost a century:

    This saint, originally called Celloc—or perhaps Cellan- had the endearing appellative, mo, prefixed to his name, according to a custom of our ancestors, when they wished to express great veneration for a person. He was one of the first converts to our holy faith in Ireland, having flourished before St. Patrick’s time, according to our ancient records. It is said, our saint was baptized, so early as A.D. 347 and in common with six other holy men, constructed separate cells in a place, called Magh-Scethe, which signifies,”the Plain of the Buckler,” near the present site of Lismore. Mocelloc lived as a hermit, in his cell or oratory, according to tradition, many years before the Gospel had been preached in these parts, by Saints Declan, Ailbe and Kieran. In common with other religious eremites of the place, Mocelloc is said to have had a vision, on the night of St. Declan’s birth, and that, in consequence, he predicted this infant’s future greatness, by declaring that the country and people around should one day be subject to his spiritual rule. After this prediction, the Acts of St. Declan state, that seven just men were baptized, in the name of the most Holy Trinity; and, afterwards, having constructed cells, they lived there in a religious manner. From whom they received baptism, or at what exact time, we are not informed. On St. Declan’s return from Rome, these seven eremites—among whom our saint was included—waited on him, and placed their cells, with their own persons, under his rule and direction. St. Declan’s habitation was at Ardmore, at present, the head of a parish, in the barony of Decies within Drum, in the county of Waterford…

    To conclude this account, the Martyrologies of Tallagh, of Marianus O’Gorman and of Cathal Maguire, at this date, [March 7] have inserted the festival of Mocelloc. Besides, on this day was venerated Mocheallog, as we read in the Martyrology of Donegal.

    In the extracts below from Canon Power’s translation of the Life of Saint Declan which feature Saint Mocelloc, we find some standard hagiographical tropes. We first meet him in connection with the birth of Saint Declan, attended by celestial phenomena. Mocelloc and his fellow hermits then prophesy the future greatness of the newborn saint who they will later serve. In both extracts we see the use of sacred numbers – the hermit group numbers seven and this is the number of churches founded in their locality. Saint Declan, also in an echo of the scriptures, spends forty days in his birthplace:

    There were seven men dwelling in Magh Sgiath, who frequently saw the fiery globe which it has been already told they first beheld at the time of Declan’s birth. It happened by the Grace of God that they were the first persons to reveal and describe that lightning. These seven came to the place where Declan abode and took him for their director and master. They made known publicly in the presence of all that, later on, he should be a bishop and they spoke prophetically:—‘The day, O beloved child and servant of God, will come when we shall commit ourselves and our lands to thee.’ And it fell out thus (as they foretold), for, upon believing, they were baptised and became wise, devout and attentive and erected seven churches in honour of God around Magh Sgiath….

    ….Once on a time Declan came on a visit to the place of his birth, where he remained forty days there and established a religious house in which devout men have dwelt ever since. Then came the seven men we have already mentioned as having made their abode around Magh Sgiath and as having prophesied concerning Declan. They now dedicated themselves and their establishment to him as they had promised and these are their names:—Mocellac and Riadan, Colman, Lactain, Finnlaoc, Kevin, etc. These therefore were under the rule and spiritual sway of bishop Declan thenceforward, and they spent their lives devoutly there and wrought many wonders afterwards.

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  • Saint Ciarán of Saighir, March 5

    March 5 is the feast day of a saint whom later tradition claimed was the earliest in Ireland, pre-dating the arrival of Saint Patrick. This challenge to the primacy of our national apostle caused some discomfort to the nineteenth-century writers on the Irish saints, but in his account of Saint Ciarán of Saighir below, Father Albert Barry sidesteps the issue completely. Instead, he concentrates on the other aspects of the hagiographical record- the saint’s asceticism, his miracles, his role as one of the ‘Twelve Apostles of Ireland’  and his holy death:

    SAINT CIARAN was born at Fintract Clearagh (Cape Clear) in the year 446. “He was the firstborn of the heaven-loving Saints of Erin”. His father was Luaigne, and his mother was Liadhan of Corca-Laighde (Carbery). Angels watched over her at his birth. He grew in holiness as in years, and won the love of all.

    Whilst he was seated one day near the seashore, he saw a hawk swoop down on a little bird sitting in its nest in a hole of a rock, and bear it aloft in its claws. Ciaran was very sad on account of what had befallen the bird, and prayed to God for its safety. The hawk suddenly flew back, and laid the little bird fluttering and panting at his feet. He took it gently in his hand and put it again in its nest.

    When he had grown up to manhood he set out for Rome, “for” as an ancient writer says, “it had been made known to him that he should there get holy learning and become a Bishop.” He spent many years at Rome, leading a very holy life and then went back to his birth-place. He preached to his clansmen and built a church on the island of Clearagh.

    He went soon afterwards, at the bidding of Saint Patrick, to Saighir (King’s Co.), and made his home in a lonely wood on the bank of a small stream. He built a hut of wattles interwoven with twigs and smeared with mud, and thatched it with leaves and grass. He dwelt among wolves and deer. His food was a little barley bread and herbs eaten only at sunset, and his drink was water from the well. He slept on the ground.

    Disciples flocked about him and strove to live a holy life like him. The wood, hitherto filled with the howling of wild beasts, was now filled with the sacred songs of men like angels. They wore coarse sackcloth, slept on the ground, watched, prayed, and fasted. They at one time listened to the wise words that flowed from the heart of their holy teacher: they then went forth to the fields and worked from love of Jesus Christ who once had worked at Nazareth; they again sang hymns of praise to God in their little wooden Oratory, They were poor in earthly goods, but rich in heavenly goods, and every day laid up for themselves treasures in heaven. Ciaran wrote a Rule for them, and led them on the way of perfection both by word and example.

    Ciaran often saw angels hovering over the monastery. He also worked many miracles. Saint Patrick came one day followed by some chieftains. There was a dearth of food, but the little that was there wonderfully increased through the prayer of Ciaran and the goodness of God.

    Ciaran went to the monastery of Saint Iltud, at Bangor in Wealhas (Wales) in the year 500. ‘The monastery was built in an open fertile plain; there was a wood thickly planted with trees, where many wild beasts lived and a very lovely stream flowed through it.’ He then went to a small island in the river Wye, and built a monastery there. Saint Samson came with other holy men to dwell with him in that hallowed spot, and was welcomed by him as an angel from heaven. Ciaran left it under his care, and then went back to Saighir.

    Whilst he was at Saighir a war broke out between the Monarch of Ireland and the King of Caiseal, and the two armies met near Saighir. There was near to it only a little stream between them. Ciaran went to the leaders in turn and besought them not to fight, but his efforts were unavailing; they would not listen to him. He then betook himself to prayer, and God heard his prayer, and the Prince of peace hindered these bloodthirsty men from slaughtering each other. The little stream suddenly became so swollen, that they could not fight. The Monarch of Ireland withdrew on seeing the miracle, and the Leader of the army of Mumha (Munster) came to Saighir, and the holy Abbot welcomed him and made a great feast for him and for his soldiers.

    Some harpers of the King of Caiseal were slain whilst on their way through Muscraidhe-Tire (Co. Tipperary). The King, unaware of what had befallen them, but uneasy on account of their long absence, instead of consulting soothsayers, sent word to Ciaran, and begged him to let him know what had befallen his harpers. Ciaran sent word back saying, “Your harpers have been slain, and their bodies have been thrown into a lake in Muscraidhe-Tire.” The King went at once to the place, and saw the harps hanging on the trees hard-by. He then searched for the bodies, and at length found them through the prayers of Ciaran. The lake has ever since been called “the lake of the harpers.”

    He brought a woman to life by his prayers. Eathyll, a woman living at Leim (Ballybritt), fell one day from a height, and died soon afterwards. Ciaran prayed to God to bring her back to life, and his earnest prayer was heard. She came back to life through the goodness of God, and the wonderful faith of the holy Bishop.

    Ciaran wished to become a disciple of Saint Finnian, although he was now old, and had Saint Odhran, Saint Carthaig, and other holy men as his disciples at Saighir. He had so great a thirst for the knowledge of the holy Books that when he heard of the great learning of Saint Finnian, he set off to his monastery at Cluain-Iraird and sat at his feet as if he were only a young disciple. He remained there for many months and then went back to his own monastery. His holiness shone out more brightly as he grew old. His last days at length drew nigh, and his holy friend Saint Finnian hastened to Saighir to be with him, and to speak to him for the last time.

    Many Bishops, and his own Monks stood silently around him. He said to them,  “My brethren, pray with me to God that I may not stand alone before His judgment seat, but that His holy Saints and Angels may be there with me: pray that my path to the King may not be through darkness, but that His smile may welcome me.” He then gave his blessing to the Monks, and said to them, “My children, the Lord now calls Me and I fear for you: I entrust you to God and to Carthaig: uphold piety: love your monastery: beware of the son of perdition, that your days of blessedness may not be shortened, A time shall come when wickedness shall prevail: churches shall be pulled down, and monasteries be made into deserts: truth changed into falsehood, and holy Baptism be corrupted. Every one then will seek not his own, but what does not belong to him.” He then went with them to the monastic church and offered up the great Sacrifice. He got the holy Anointing, and then begged the brethren to bury him in a hidden spot known only to themselves.

    Ciaran, having won a victory of abstinence and penance, and overcome the devil and the world, breathed his last breath, and angels came to meet his soul and lead it to God. He died at midnight, March 5th, in the year 540. His body was wrapped in linen, and hymns and psalms were sung over him for seven days.

    “His heart was chaste and bright:
    his soul was white and spotless
    like the foam of the sea,
    or the whiteness of
    a swan in the sunshine.”

    —Ancient Irish Writer.

    The large pillar-stone on which Ciaran had carved a cross still stands on the shore of a small inlet of the sea at Clearagh. A spring of fresh water now called Saint Ciaran’s well, gushes forth near it and mingles with the tide.

    Saint Ciaran’s feast-day is kept March 5th.

     



    Rev. Albert Barry, Lives of Irish Saints (Dublin, n.d.),


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  • Saint Philip of Cluain Bainbh, March 4

    On March 4 the Irish calendars commemorate a saint Philip, whom they style Bishop of Cluain Bainbh, but no other details are given. The Martyrology of Donegal records ‘PHILIP, Bishop of Cluain Bainbh’ on this day.
    Canon O’Hanlon summarizes the evidence from the other calendars, which include mention of a mysterious ‘Saint Moggrudo’ at the same date:
    This saint is merely named, in the Irish Martyrologies and Calendars, as being a bishop of Cluain Bainbh. Colgan was unable to discover the age, in which he flourished. He hazards a conjecture, however, that Philip might have been identical with a reputed saint, to whom a feast has been assigned, at the 4th of March. Thus, in the Carthusian Martyrology, it is stated, that a Saint Moggrudo, a Bishop and Confessor, was venerated in Ireland, on this day but, nothing is contained, in our home Martyrologies or Annals, regarding him, at this, or at any other, date. Perhaps, he only distinguished himself, on a foreign mission. The Carthusian Martyrology at the 4th of March, says: “In Hibernia Moggrudonis Episcopi et Confessoris.” And Herman Greuen finds in a MS. Carthusian Martyrology of Cologne: “S. Moggrudonis Episcopi et Confessoris in Hibernia.”On this day, the Martyrology of Tallagh commemorates the Natalis of a certain holy bishop, whose name is suppressed. However, he is called Bishop of Clocharbainni, probably another name for Cluain-Bainbh. Under another form of insertion, Colgan thinks the former an erroneous one, and that it should accord with that in the Martyrologies of Marianus O’Gorman and of Donegal, where we find, on this day, recorded, Philip, Bishop, of Cluain Bainbh. The Bollandists have their doubtful notices of Philip and of Moggrudo. Again, under the head of Cluain-bainbh, and Clochar, Duald Mac Firbis enters, Philip, Bishop of Cluain bainbh, a holy bishop of Clogher, at March 4th. Besides this, the anonymous Catalogue of Irish Saints, published by O’Sullevan Beare, at the 4th of March, we meet with Mogrudo. On the authority of the Carthusian Martyrology, at the same date, he appears, in Henry Fitzsimon’s list, as, Mogrado, a bishop.

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