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  • The List of Irish Parallel Saints

    Another interesting compendium of Irish saints is a list which compares our native saints with those of the universal Church. J. F. Kenney, in his classic study of the sources for the early history of the Irish Church, remarks: 

    One of the conceits of Irish hagiographers was the equation, because of some real or fancied resemblance, of the heroes of their own native sanctilogium with the famous personalities of world Christianity. Some of these comparisons are here gathered into a list.

    The Sources for the Early History of Ireland: Ecclesiastical – An Introduction and Guide (reprinted edition, Dublin, 1979), 484.

    There are two separate versions of this list of parallel saints, one from the 12th-century Book of Leinster and another from a manuscript in the Royal Library of Brussels appended to the Martyrology of Tallaght. In both, Irish saints are likened to saints of the Old and New Testaments and to important saints of the universal church. There is only one female saint on the list, Saint Brigid, and her parallel with the Mother of God is something with which Irish people are very well-acquainted since it is reflected in the popular title of Muire na nGael, the ‘Mary of the Gael’ by which our patroness is known. I doubt that any of the other equations would be quite so familiar to people today.

    I have taken the texts of the lists below from the work of two nineteenth-century Irish Anglican writers. The Brussels Manuscript list is given in Latin, but it is quite straightforward to work out, especially as both versions are so similar. We can start with The Book of Leinster list which has 33 names:

    The following enumeration of native and foreign saints is taken from the Book of Leinster (facsimile), p. 370 c, d. The heading is, “Hic incipiunt sancti qui erant bini unius moris”—” Here begin the pairs of saints who were of one manner of life.”

    John the Baptist = Bishop Ibar

    Peter, Apostle = Patricius

    Paul, Apostle = Finnian of Clonard

    Andrew, Apostle = Colum Cille

    John, Apostle = Ciaran of Clonmacnois

    Philip, Apostle = Cainnech

    Bartholomew, Apostle = Brendan, senior

    Thomas, Apostle = Brendan of Clonfert

    Matthew, Apostle = Colman of Terryglas

    James, Apostle = Comgall of Bangor

    Simon, Apostle = Molaisse of Devenish Island

    Tatheus (Thaddeus), Apostle = Sinchell, jun

    Matthias, Apostle = Ruadan of Lothra

    Maria = Brigita

    Martin = Bishop Erc of Slane

    Paul the Hermit = Coemgen (Kevin) of Glendalough

    Anthony the Monk = Lonngarad

    Ambrose, hymn writer = Mac-ind-eicis,

    Job of the Patience = Munnu, son of Tulchan

    Jerome the Wise = Manchan of Liath,

    Clement, Pope = Kieran of Saigir

    Gregory of the Morals = Cummin the Tall

    Cyprian of Carthage = Mochuda of Lismore

    Laurence the Deacon = Deacon Nessain

    Beda, sage and monk = Buite, son of Bronach

    Hilary, bishop and sage = Bishop Sechnall

    Cornelius, Pope = Moedoc of Ferns

    Silvester, Pope = Bishop Adamnan

    Boniface, Pope = Molaisse of Lethglin

    Paucomius, monk = Gerald, monk

    Pastor, monk = Cammine, monk (of Inis Caltra)

    Benedict, head of the monks of all Europe = Fintan of Clonenagh, head of the monks of all Ireland

    Augustine, bishop of the English = Barre, Bishop of Munster and Connaught.

    There is a similar list prefixed to the Martyrology of Tamlaght, in the Royal Library of Brussels, which gives thirteen apostles—Paul and Matthias being included. The present list has only twelve—one, James, being omitted. In the Brussels manuscript he appears as James, Apostle = Finnian of Moville.

    Thomas Olden, The Church of Ireland, (London, 1892), 425-6.

    The Brussels MS list of 32 names reads as follows:

    Hi sunt sancti qui erant unius moris et vitae, ut dicunt:

    Johannes Baptista, Episcopus Ibair.

    Petrus Apostolus, Patricius.

    Paulus Apostolus, Finnan Cluana-hiraird.

    Andreas A., Colum-cille.

    Jacobus A., Finnian Mhuighe-bile.

    Johannes A., Ciaran Cluana.

    Pilipus A., Cainneac.

    Bartolomeus A., Brendinus senior.

    Tomas A., Brenainn Cluana ferta.

    Matheus A., Colum Tire da glas.

    Jacobus A., Comgall Bennchair.

    Simon A., Molaisi Daimh-insi.

    Tatheus A., Sinchellus junior.

    Mathias A., Ruadhan Lothra.

    María, Brigita.

    Martinus, Caemligin Glinni da lacha.

    Antonius monachus, Feichin Fobbair.

    Augustinus sapiens, Lonngaradh.

    Ambrocius Imnodicus, Mac indecis.

    Job patiens, Munna mac Tulcain.

    Jeronimus sapiens, Manchan Leith.

    Clemens Papa, Ciaran Saighre.

    Grigorius Moralium, Cummini Fota.

    Laurtius [sic] diaconus, Decoin Nesan.

    Beda sapiens, Buite mac Bronaigh.

    Ilarius episcopus et sapiens, Sechnall episcopus.

    Cornelius Papa, Maedog Ferna.

    Silvester Papa, Adamnan episcopus.

    Bonifacius P., Molaisi Lethglinne.

    Paucomius monachus, Caimin Innsi-cealtra.

    Benedictus caput monachorum Europae, . . . Fintan Cluana eidnech, caput monachorum totius Hiberniae.

    Augustinus episcopus Angaloram [sic], . . . Bairre episcopus Mumhain agus Conacht

    J.H. Todd, ed and trans., Leabhar Imuin – The Book of Hymns of the Ancient Church of Ireland, Fasc. 1, (Dublin, 1855), 69-70.

    Todd also adds in a footnote that Saint Patrick is compared to St. Peter in the Hymn of St. Sechnall, line 10, but elsewhere to Moses; see Vit. Trip. lib. i. c. 37. He also explains the reference in both lists to ‘Gregory of the Morals’ as Pope Gregory the Great, author of the Libri Moralium, or Exposition of the Book of Job.There seem to be a few differences between the two lists, for example, Saint Kevin of Glendalough is likened to Paul the Hermit in the first list, but to Saint Martin of Tours in the second. The great eastern founder of monasticism, Saint Anthony is also parallelled by two different saints, Lonngarad in the first and Feichin of Fore in the second. But there is a high degree of correlation between the two lists and it is interesting to see how these Irish saints, some of whose names would not be well-known today in their own country, were viewed as ‘types’ of other famous saints of the universal Church.

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  • The Three Orders of the Saints in the Martyrology of Gorman

    In his introduction to the 12th-century Irish calendar, the Martyrology of Gorman, editor and translator, Whitley Stokes, provided a helpful listing of the Irish saints who appear in the text, laid out according to the three orders of the saints:

    The Irish saints before A.D. 666, the year of the great mortality, are divided by an author who wrote not later than A.D. 750, into three orders. The first was composed of S. Patrick and 350 other bishops, who had the same mass, Easter and tonsure. They were also ministered to by subintroductae, or, as the Irish called them, siair, ‘quia supra petram Christum fundati, ventum tentationis non timebant.’ This order included Britons, Franks, Scots (i.e. Irish) and ‘Romans,’ i.e., subjects of the Roman empire. It lasted till A.D. 543, or according to the Four Masters, 538. The second order appears to have been founded by the British Church after a more or less complete apostacy of the Irish. It was composed of few bishops and many presbyters, in number 300. They received a mass (liturgy?) from SS. David, Gildas, and Cadoc, but dissented in this respect (diversas missas celebrabant), and had different ‘rules’ or monastic regulations. They shunned the consortia and services of women, and excluded them from their monasteries. This order lasted till 599 or thereabouts. The third order was only a hundred in number, mostly presbyters. They were hermits, living on herbs and water, and despised private property (propria contemnebant). They had different rules, masses, tonsures and Easters. The last eight of them were swept away by the Yellow Plague in the year 666.
    Of the saints celebrated by Gorman, the following (arranged alphabetically) belong to the first of these orders :

    Ailbe, Sep. 12; two Ailills, Jan. 13, July 1; Auxilius or Usaille, Feb. 7; Benen, Nov. 9; Beo-aed, Mar. 8; Bron, June 8; Buite mac Bronaig, Dec. 7; two Cairnechs, March 28, May 16; Cianan, Nov. 24; Conlaed, May 3; Cormac, Feb, 17; Enda of Aran, March 21; Erc, Nov. 2; Fortchern, Oct. 11; Iarlaithe of Armagh, Feb. 11; Ibar, Ap. 23; Laeban, June 1; Lomman of Ath Truim, Oct. 11; Mac caille, Ap. 25; Mac cairthinn, March 24; Mel, Feb. 6; Mocta, March 24, Aug. 19; Sechnall, Nov. 27; Sen-Phatric, Aug. 24 ; Tassach, Ap. 14.

    The following belong to the second order :

    Aed mac Bricc, May 4; one of the Barrfinds ; Becc mac De, Oct. 12 ; mo Bi clarenech (Berchan), Oct. 12; Boethin, June 9; Brenainn of Birr, Nov. 29; Brenainn of Clonfert, May 16; Cainnech, Oct. 11; Cairlan, March 24; Cathub, Ap. 6 ; Ciaran mac in tsair, Sep. 9; Coeman, June 12; Coemgin, June 3; Colman mac Lenin, Nov. 24; Colum cille, June 29; Colum mac Cremthainn, Dec. 13; Comgall, May 10; one of the Commans, May 10; Conandil, March 1; Cormac hua Liathain, June 21; Daig, son of Cairell, Aug. 18; Enda, son of Nuadan, Sep. 18; Fergus, March 30; Findian of Clonard, Dec. 12; Findian of Mag bile, Feb. 11 and Sep. 10; Fintan of Dun Blesci, Jan. 3; Finntan of Clonenagh, Feb. 17; mo Laisse (Lasrian) of Daminis, Sep. 12; Lasren of Mena-drochet, Sep. 16; Mac-nise, June 13; mo Lua of Clonfert, Aug. 4; mo Luoc, June 25; Moenenn, March 1; Natchoime, May 1; Nessan, July 24; Ninnid Laebderc, Jan. 16; Odran, Oct. 26; Senach, Aug. 21; Ruadan, Ap. 15; Sinchell the Elder, March 26; Sinell of Cloen-inis, Nov. 12; Tigernach, Ap. 4.

    To the third order belong : Aedlug, Feb. 26, Aileran, Dec. 29, Beogna, Aug. 2, Berach, Ap. 21, Boethin, June 9, Coeman Brecc, Sep. 14, Coemgen, June 3, mo Choemoc, Mar. 13, Colman mac Duach, Feb. 3, Colman maccu Telduib, Feb. 8, Colman Ela, Sep. 26, Colman Stellain, May 26, Columbanus, Nov. 21, Critan, May 17, Cronan, Nov. 11, Cronan Becc, Jan. 7, Cronan of Mag bile, Aug. 7, mo Chua of Tech mo Chua, Dec. 24, mo Chua of Balla, Mar. 30, Cuanna, Feb. 4, mo Chutu, May 14, Cummine, bishop of Noendruim, July 1, Cummine fota, Nov. 12, Dagan, Sep. 13, Daniel, Feb. 18, Dimma Dub, Jan. 6, Domongin, Ap. 29, Eochaid, Ap. 17, Fechin, Feb. 14, Finan, Jan. 8, Finntain (or Munnu), Oct. 21, Gobban, March 17, Lachtain, March 19, Laidgenn, Jan. 12, Lassren (mo Laisse), Ap. 18, mo Liba, Jan. 8, Liber, March 8, Lomman of Loch Uair, Feb. 7, Maedoc of Ferns, Jan. 31, Mac Lasre, abbot of Bennchor, May 16, Mac Lasre, abbot of Armagh, Sep. 12, mo Lua, Aug. 4, Manchan, Jan. 24, Muirgen, Jan. 27, Nem maccu Birn, June 14, Ossein, May 1, Ronan, Nov. 18, Saran, Jan. 20, Segin, Sep. 10, Senach Garb, Sept. 10, Sillan, abbot of Bennchor, Feb. 28, Sillan, bishop of Daminis, May 17, Sillan of Mag bile, Aug. 25, Srafan, May 23, Suibne, Jan, 11, Tommein, Jan. 10, and Ultan, Sep. 4.



    Whitley Stokes, ed. and trans. The Martyrology of Gorman (London, 1895), xlvii-xlviii.

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  • The Catalogue of the Saints of Ireland

    The ‘Catalogue of the Saints of Ireland’ is a curious document dating from the 8th or the 9th century. It organizes our early native saints into three distinct ‘orders’ and describes the characteristics of each. The translation of the text below is by Liam de Paor:

    The First Order

    The first order of saints was in the time of Patrick. They were all bishops, eminent and holy and filled with the Holy Spirit, numbering three hundred and fifty. They were founders of churches, who worshipped one head, Christ, followed one leader, Patrick, had one tonsure and one liturgy of the Mass, and celebrated one Easter (that is, after the spring equinox). What was excluded from the communion of one church, all excluded. They did not reject the the government and the company of women because, since their foundation was the rock, Christ, they did not fear the wind of temptation. This order of saints lasted through four reigns: that is, from the time of Loeguire son of Niall, who reigned thirty-seven years, and Ailill surnamed Molt, who reigned thirty years, and Lugaid, who reigned seven years. And this order of saints lasted until the end of the time of Tuathal Maelgarb. They all continued to be holy bishops, and for the greater part they were of Frankish and Roman and British and Irish origin.

    In a footnote, De Paor also gives some of the dates from the Irish annals for the deaths of the kings mentioned:

    Loeguire son of Niall: 461; Ailill Molt: 482; Lugaid: 507; Tuathal Maelgarb: 544.

    The Second Order

    The second order of saints was as follows. In this second order there were in fact few bishops but many priests, to the number of three hundred. They worshipped one God as their head. They had diverse liturgies and diverse rules of life, but they celebrated one Easter (that is on the fourteenth of the moon), and they practised one tonsure, from ear to ear. They shunned the company and the services of women and excluded them from their monasteries. This order lasted as far as four reigns, that is, from the end of the reign of Tuathal Maelgarb through the thirty years in which Diarmait son of Cerbel reigned, through the time of the two descendants of Muiredach, who reigned for seven years, and through the time of Aed son of Ainmere, who reigned thirty years. These accepted their ritual of the Mass from holy men of Britain: St David and St Gildas and St Doc. And their names are: Finnian, Enda, Colman, Comgal, Aed, Ciaran, Columba, Brendan, Brichin, Cainnech, Coemgen, Laisren, Lugid, Barra, and many others who were of the second rank of saints.
    The Third Order
    The third order of saints was as follows. They were holy priests, few of them bishops, to the number of one hundred, and they settled in uninhabited places. They lived on herbs and water and on the alms of the faithful; they despised all earthly goods and they utterly avoided every murmur and distraction. They had diverse rules and liturgies, and even differences in the tonsure: some shaved the top of the head; others wore their hair long. And they varied in their celebration of Easter, some calculating from the fourteenth of the moon, others from the thirteenth. This order lasted through four reigns: through the time of Aed Allan, who reigned just three years; through the time of Domnall, who reigned thirty years; through the time of the sons of Mael Cobo; and through the time of Aed Slaine. And this order endured until the time of the famous great plague. Their names are as follows: Bishop Petran; Bishop Ultan; Bishop Colman; Bishop Aedan; Bishop Lomman; Bishop Senach. These were all bishops, and there are many more. These indeed are the priests: the priest Fechin, Airendan; Faelan; Cummine; Colman; Ernan; Cronan – and many more priests. 
    The Hierarchy of the Orders
    Note that the first order was the holiest, the second holier than the third, the third holy. The first blazed like the sun in the heat of love; the second shone with a paler light like the moon; the third glowed like gold. The blessed Patrick, taught by his heavenly inspiration, discerned those three orders when – in his prophetic vision – he saw the whole of Ireland filled with flames of fire; then afterwards, the mountains as if they were burning, then lighted lamps in the valleys. This is taken from the old Life of Patrick.

    Saint Patrick’s World – The Christian Culture of Ireland’s Apostolic Age. Translations and Commentaries by Liam de Paor (Dublin, Four Courts Press, 1993), 225-6.

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