OMNIUM SANCTORUM HIBERNIAE

Category: Uncategorized

  • Saint Colman of Oughval, May 15

    May 15 is the feast of a Leinster saint, Colman of Oughval. Below is an extract from the work of diocesan historian, Bishop Michael Comerford, on Saint Colman, his foundation at Stradbally, County Laois and his association with saint Columba:

    St. Colman-mac-ua-Laoigse, a disciple of St. Columba, founded a monastery here about the middle of the seventh century; this Saint’s feast was observed on the 15th of May, at which date he is entered in the Martyrologies of Tallaght and Donegal; in the latter it is given thus:- “Colman Mac ua Laoighse, of Tulach MacComhghaill, at Druimnitogha, i.e., at Nuachongbhail in Laoighse, of Leinster. He was of the race of Laoighsach LeannMor, son of Conall Cearnach.” In the life of St. Columba it is related that St. Columban of Oughaval, when leaving Iona, where he had lived some years in his youth under the spiritual care of St. Columba, full of anxious affection at his departure, he exclaimed:

    “O Saint of God! How can I live in my own country and confess my sins to thee?”
    Columba answered him:
    “Go to the holy man whom I see every Sunday night, standing with the angels before the tribunal of Christ.”
    The holy youth asked who was that saint. St. Columba answered:
    “Saint, indeed he is, and comely, and of your own kindred, with florid complexion and bright eyes, and a few grey hairs now beginning to appear.”
    The young man answered:
    “I know no such person in my country except St. Fintan of Clonenagh.”

    Adamnan relates also the following regarding the Vision of Holy Angels who carried off to Heaven the soul of the Saintly Bishop Colman Mac Ua Laoigshe:- Another time while the brothers were dressing in the morning and about to go to their different duties in the monastery, the Saint (Columbkille) bade them rest that day and prepare for the holy sacrifice, ordering also better fare for dinner, such as was given on Sunday. “I must,” said he, “though unworthy, celebrate today the holy mysteries of the Eucharist out of respect for the soul which last night went up to heaven beyond the sky and stars, borne thither by choirs of holy angels.” The brethren, in obedience to his command, rested that day, and after preparing for the sacred rites, they accompanied the saint to the church in their white robes as on festivals. And when they were singing the usual prayer in which St. Martin’s name is commemorated, the Saint, turning to the chaunters, said: “You must pray to-day for Saint Colman, Bishop.” Then all the brethren present understood that Colman, a Leinster Bishop, the dear, friend of Columba had passed to the Lord. A short time after, some persons who came from the province of Leinster, told how the bishop died the very night it was revealed to the saint.

    Rev M Comerford” Collections relating to the Dioceses of Kildare and Leighlin” Vol. 3 (1886)

    Content Copyright © Omnium Sanctorum Hiberniae 2012-2015. All rights reserved.

  • St. Comman, of Tigh-mic-Fionnchain, May 8

    On May 8 the earliest of the Irish calendars, the Martyrology of Tallaght, at least in one of its surviving manuscripts, records the name of Saint Comman and associates him with a locality called ‘Tigh mic Fionnchain’. No further information about either is known, as Canon O’Hanlon explains:

    St. Comman, of Tigh-mic-Fionnchain.

    In the published Martyrology of Tallagh, we find no entry of the present saint, or of his feast. The copy of the Tallagh Martyrology, belonging to the Dublin Franciscan Convent, has a notice, however, at the eighth of the May Ides about Comman, while his place is denominated—probably as given in the later Martyrology of Donegal. The locality, denominated Tig-mac-Fionnchain, does not appear to be known; nor do we find any corresponding nomenclature for it, among the parochial or townland etymons, on the Ordnance Survey Maps for Ireland. The Bollandists  have a feast for Communus de Teghune Fendchain, sive de domo filii Fianthaim, but, it seems pretty certain, they have mispelled some of the letters in the original entry, drawn from the Tallagh Martyrology. The Martyrology of Donegal registers a festival, on this day, in honour of Comman, of Tigh mic Fionnchain.

    Content Copyright © Omnium Sanctorum Hiberniae 2012-2015. All rights reserved.

  • A Feast of Saint Christopher on the Irish Calendars

    On April 28, the early Irish calendars commemorate a feast of Saint Christopher, the Martyr. His main feast is celebrated on July 25, although in the East he is commemorated on May 9. Canon O’Hanlon cites a medieval document which suggests that the April 28 date marks a feast of the translation of the martyr’s relics and helpfully notes the other early calendars which also record it. In the account below, taken from Volume IV of the Lives of the Irish Saints, I have inserted the verse in honour of St Christopher from the Martyrology of Aengus, quoted in the footnotes into the main text. The illustration of Saint Christopher on the left also has an Irish connection, it is taken from the personal collection of the nineteenth-century Belfast antiquarian, F. J. Bigger:

    Festival of St. Christopher, Martyr

    In the Leabhar Breac copy of St. Aengus’ Felire, a festival of St. Christopher is commemorated, at the 28th of April. In a scholion affixed to this account, he is set down as a martyr, who suffered under Decius, with no less than 10,403 martyrs. An Irish poem is quoted, containing the following eulogy, translated by Dr. Whitley Stokes:

    He was a cleric with purity:
    he was a pious Christian:
    before the call without reproach over sea
    his proper name was Christopher.

    In the genuine Martyrology of Bede, as also in the Martyrologies of St. Raban Maur, and in the Manuscripts at Monte Cassino, at St. Maximin’s and at St. Martin’s church of Treves, and in Ado’s Manuscript copy belonging to the Queen of Sweden, this feast has been recorded. However, in a certain document of the Carthusians, at Bruxelles, it is set down as the Translation of St. Christopher’s relics. The Natal day of this holy Martyr is thought to be the 25th of July. There is a beautiful allusion to this holy martyr, who is thought to have carried Christ on his shoulders, over a sea; although the allegorical meaning seems to be, that he carried our Redeemer in his breast, while wading through a sea of temporal tribulation.

    Content Copyright © Omnium Sanctorum Hiberniae 2012-2015. All rights reserved.