OMNIUM SANCTORUM HIBERNIAE

Author: Michele Ainley

  • 'Lives of Heroic Sanctity' – Feast of All the Saints of Ireland, November 6

     

     

     …..What could not be destroyed was the memory of the past; above all, the memory of those Irish men and women, whose lives of heroic sanctity won for them a place in the Martyrologies, in the Félire of Oengus, the Félire of Tallaght, the Félire of Gorman. Their number is about seventeen hundred, a goodly company, whose virtues Catholic Ireland of the centuries since has sought but rarely to emulate and has never been able to surpass.

    John Ryan, S.J. Irish Monasticism – Origins and Early Development (2nd edition, 1972, reprinted Irish Academic Press, 1986), viii.

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  • A Litany of Irish Family Patrons

     

     
    Following yesterday’s posting on the Litany of the Patron Saints of Irish Dioceses,  below is the second short litany of Irish saints, this time in their capacity as patrons of Irish families. One thing worth noting is that the families are not all of native Gaelic origin, as Norman ‘Old English’ surnames are equally well-represented. It is interesting too to see the decidedly non-Irish Saint Nicholas at the end of the list, but he has his place in the Official Litany of Irish Saints as a patron of Galway. I have no other information about this litany of family patrons, its author or its accuracy but it’s an enjoyable read on this the eve of the Feast of All the Saints of Ireland:
     
    Litany of Irish Saints.
     
    The
    following interesting document, translated from the Gaelic, was among
    the papers of a cultured Irish lady who died recently in New York: —
    Many of the old clans, patriarchal races, and ancient Catholic families
    of Ireland have cherished a traditional devotion to certain
    local saints who have been regarded from time immemorial as their
    patrons, and to encourage this devout observance the following ‘Litany
    of the Patron Saints of the Dioceses of Ireland’ was compiled and
    approved by the ecclesiastical authorities. Subjoined is a list of
    some of the Irish families, who thus are clients of the saints invoked in this litany. There are many other Irish families, clans, towns,
    and localities who invoke the patronage of other illustrious local
    saints, whose names do not occur in this litany of Diocesan saints, to
    which the following list is confined: 
     
    St. Malachi is patron saint of
    the O’Dohertys, O’Reillys, O’Neills, Mc Canns, Nugents, O’ Ferralls, Maguires, and Mc Kennas. 
     
    St. Laurence of the O’Tooles and Purcells. 
     
     St.
    Kevin of the Kilbrides, O’Byrnes, Murrays.
     
    St. Albert of the Cullens,
    Ryans, and Bennetts.
     
     St. Jarlath of the
    Moores and Killeens.
     
    St. Kieran of the O’Connors, Grehans, and
    Brownes. 
     
    St. Columbkille of the O’Donnells and O’Loughlins. 
     
    St. Conlath
    of the Mullens and Duffeys. 
     
    St. Macartan of the O’Flynns, Macartans,
    O’Donnellys, Smiths, and Mc Guinnesses. 
     
    St. Kyrans of the O’Brennans,
    Fitzpatricks, O’Donohoes, and Mahers. 
     
    St. Aiden of the O’Kinselas
    and O’Farralls.
     
    St. Ailbe of the Cullens and Nolans. 
     
    St. Fachanan of
    the Fitzgeralds, Mc Namaras, O’Briens, Mc Mahons, Blennerhassets, Ennisses and O’Shaughnessys.
     
    St. Finbar of the Mc Carthys and Barrys. 
     
    St. Otteran of the Barrons, Wyses, and Walshes.
     
    St. Ascium of the Frenches, Kelleys, and Dysarts.
     
    St. Nicholas of the Blakes and
    Burkes.

     Catholic Press (Sydney, NSW : 1895 – 1942), Saturday 26 May 1900, page 5

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  • A Litany of Irish Diocesan Patrons

    Below is the first of two litanies of Irish saints which I came across in the digital archives of the New Zealand press. This one was published in 1920, a year before the official text of the Litany of the Irish Saints was issued as part of the establishment of the Feast of All the Saints of Ireland, commemorated on November 6. I have already made that official text available here. The litany below is much shorter and links some of the saints to their patronage of Irish dioceses. It concludes with the collect for the Feast of All the Saints of Ireland, albeit in a different translation to that of the official text:

    A LITANY OF IRELAND’S SAINTS. 

    Lord, have mercy on us.

    Christ, have mercy on us.

    Lord, have mercy on us.

    Christ, hear us.

    Christ, graciously hear us.

    Holy Mary, Mother of God.       Pray for us

    St. Patrick, Apostle and Patron of Ireland.

    St. Brigid, Patron of Ireland.

    St. Columbkille, Patron of Ireland.

    St. Malachy, Patron of Armagh, Down, and Connor.

    St. Macanisius, Patron of Connor.

    St. Macartan, Patron of Clogher.

    St. Eunan, Patron of Raphoe.

    St. Felim, Patron of Kilmore.

    St. Mel, Patron of Ardaugh.

    St. Kyran, Patron of Clonmacnoise.

    St. Colman, Patron of Dromore.

    St. Eugene, Patron of Derry.

    St. Finian, Patron of Meath.

    St. Laurence, Patron of Dublin.

    St. Kevin, Patron of Glendalough.

    St. Aidan, Patron of Ferns.

    St. Kyran, Patron of Ossory.

    St. Canice, Patron of Kilkenny.

    St. Conleth, Patron of Kildare.

    St. Laserian, Patron of Leighlin.

    St. Albert, Patron of Cashel.

    St. Ailbe, Patron of Emly.

    St. Finbarr, Patron of Cork.

    St. Brendan, Patron of Kerry and Clonfert.

    St. Munchin, Patron of Limerick.

    St. Colman, Patron of Cloyne.

    St. Fachanan, Patron of Ross and Kilfenora.

    St. Flannan, Patron of Killaloe.

    St. Otteran, Patron of Waterford.

    St. Carthage, Patron of Lismore.

    St. Jarlath, Patron of Tuam.

    St. Nathy, Patron of Achonry.

    St. Asicus, Patron of Elphin.

    St. Colman, Patron of Kilmacduagh.

    St. Muredach, Patron of Killala.

    St. Columban.

    St. Gall.

    St. Enda.

    St. Dympna.

    St. Ita.

    St. Attracta.

    All ye Holy Irish Martyrs.

    All ye Holy Confessors and Virgins of Ireland.

    All ye Saints of Ireland.

    Lamb of God, etc. (thrice).

    Let us Pray.

    Multiply Thy Grace, O Lord, in us who celebrate the Feast of All the Saints of our Island; that we who rejoice in being their fellow-countrymen on earth may deserve to share in Heaven the glorious freedom which by their good works they have purchased. Through Jesus Christ, Our Lord, Thy Son, Who liveth and reigneth with Thee in the unity of the Holy Ghost, God, world without end. Amen.

    New Zealand Tablet, 19 February 1920, Page 3

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