OMNIUM SANCTORUM HIBERNIAE

ALL THE SAINTS OF IRELAND

  • Saint Colman Speaks With His Mother

    June 7 is the commemoration of Saint Colman of Dromore. Various of this saintly bishop’s miracles have been recorded, one of which, the story of Saint Colman and the Water Monster,  Canon O’Hanlon related in a collection of folklore. In the Lives of the Irish Saints he records some other of Saint Colman’s miracles, including this one concerning the saint’s mother:

    Our saint’s mother had sent a message, that she desired the privilege of speaking to him. But, the servant of Christ returned for answer: “Let her take choice of the alternative, either to see me only, or to speak without seeing me”. On hearing this, she said: “I had rather he would speak to me, on matters pertaining to the welfare of my soul”. Then, both met, but on opposite sides of a tree, and they began to converse with each other, without being mutually seen. Meantime, by Divine interposition, an opening was made through the tree, and which enable both to behold each other, without the intervention of any obstacle. 

    Rev. John O’Hanlon, Lives of the Irish Saints, Volume VI, (Dublin, n.d.), 234.

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  • Saint Lonan, June 6

    Another name to add to the long list of obscure Irish saints- Saint Lonan, commemorated on June 6. Canon O’Hanlon can bring us only the recording of his name on the calendars:

    St. Lonan.

    The name Lonan is entered, in the Martyrology of Tallagh, at the 6th of June. His time and locality are alike unknown. It is recorded, likewise, in the Martyrology of Donegal, that veneration was given to Lonan, on this day.
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  • Saints Fionnlugh and Brogan of Cluain-mic-feig, June 5

    Canon O’Hanlon points out some scribal confusion in his entry for Saints Fionnlugh and Brogan on June 5. The Martyrology of Tallaght appends the name not only of Brogan but also of a Saint Leain to that of Fionnlugh on this date. The name of Brogan only is attached to that of Fionnlugh in the later Martyrology of Donegal, and as Saint Leain has his own separate entry in O’Hanlon’s Lives of the Irish Saints, for now we will look only at Saints Fionnlugh and Brogan, not that there is much known of either:

    Saints Fionnlugh, and Brogan, of Cluain-mic-Feig.

    In the Martyrology of Tallaght, the name of Finnloga is written. To it we find appended, “ocus Leoini Cill gobuil, and Brocan, Cluana mic miad,” at the same date. This writing must be owing to some want of skill and knowledge, on the part of a scribe. This day, the Martyrology of Donegal registers, that veneration was due to Fionnlugh and Brogan, of Cluain-mic-Feig. This locality cannot be discovered by the writer.Content Copyright © Omnium Sanctorum Hiberniae 2012-2015. All rights reserved.