OMNIUM SANCTORUM HIBERNIAE

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  • A Hymn for Sunday Matins from the Bangor Antiphonary

    Ymnum ad Matutinam in Dominica – Spiritus Diuinae Lucis Gloriae or Respice in me, Domine

    Spirit of the light of divine glory,
    look round on me, Lord.
    God of truth,
    Lord God of hosts,
    God of Israel,
    look round on me, Lord.

    Radiance from radiance,
    we shall bring to mind the Son of the Father
    and Holy Spirit in one substance,
    look round on me, Lord.

    Only-begotten and first-begotten,
    From You we obtain
    our redemption,
    look round on me, Lord.

    You were born of the Holy Spirit
    From the Virgin Mary
    For the adoption
    For His very Self
    of sons who for You
    brought into being live from the font [of baptism]
    look round on me, Lord.

    Heirs and fellow heirs
    of Your Christ, in Whom
    and through Whom you created all things,
    as in a predestination
    From the ages He is for us
    the God Jesus, Who has now begun,
    look round on me, Lord,

    obtaining a body for God
    the Only-begotten from among the dead,
    remaining the brightness of God,
    for ages of eternal ages,
    King,
    look round on me, Lord,

    as He has now begun Who always was
    the Son of Your nature
    of the light of your divine glory,
    Who is the form and constant fullness
    of Your divinity,
    look round on me, Lord,

    the person of the Unbegotten
    and first-begotten,
    Who is whole from the whole,
    Light, we say, from Radiance,
    look round on me, Lord,

    and true God from true God
    we confess Himself
    in three persons
    in one substance,
    look round on me, Lord.

    David Howlett, ed. and trans. The Celtic Latin Tradition of Biblical Style (Dublin, 1995), 154-55.

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  • This illustrious saint was a man of work, prayer and penance…





    This illustrious Saint was a man of work, and prayer, and penance. To his last breath he ceased not to teach his people. His daily devotions were countless. It is related that he made the sign of the cross many hundred times a day. He slept little, and a stone was his pillow. He travelled on foot in his visitations till the weight of years made a carriage necessary. He accepted no gifts for himself, ever deeming it more blessed to give than to receive.


    His simple dress was a white monastic habit, made from the wool of the sheep ; and his bearing, speech, and countenance were but the outward expression of his kind heart and great, beautiful soul. Force and simplicity marked his discourses. He was a perfect master of the Irish, French, and Latin languages, and had some knowledge of Greek. 


    He consecrated three hundred and fifty bishops, erected seven hundred churches, ordained five thousand priests, and raised thirty-three persons from the dead. But it is in vain that we try to sum up the labors of the Saint by the rules of arithmetic. The wear and tear of over fourteen hundred years have tested the work of St. Patrick: and in spite of all the changes of time, and the malice of men and demons, it stands to-day greater than ever — a monument to his immortal glory. 


    Read the rest here.


    Beannachtaí na Féile Pádraig oraibh!


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  • St. Indreachtach O'Finachtain, March 12

    On March 12 Canon O’Hanlon brings the details of a ninth-century abbot of Iona who may also have been a martyr. The final reference to William of Malmesbury would seem to make our saint the same Saint Indreachtach commemorated on February 5:

    St. Indreachtach or Innrechtach O’Finachtain, Abbot of Iona, Scotland, and Martyr.

    [Ninth Century.]

    We learn, from the Annals of Innisfallen, that the surname of this holy man was Ua Finachta or Ua Finachtain. Idreachtach O’Finachtain is called Coarb of Columbkille, and from this it has been inferred, he was abbot over Londonderry Monastery, in the olden time. However, this title he obtained, because he was the twenty-first Abbot of Hy, and he held office A.D. 849, in which year he went to Ireland, with St. Columba’s relics. As the date of his predecessor’s death is not recorded, although we know, that Diarmait, the twentieth abbot, visited Ireland, on a similar errand; it cannot be known, when St. Innrechtach began his rule, over the Iona monks. He was regarded as an eminent sage. On the 12th of March, A.D. 852, he suffered martyrdom, among the Saxons, according to the Annals of the Four Masters. He was on his way to Rome. According to the Annals of Ulster, the date for his departure to Christ is A.D. 853, while the Rev. Dr. Reeves places it, at A.D. 854. A legend, by William of Malmesbury, misdates his martyrdom, by one hundred and sixty-five years, and places it near Glastonbury.

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