OMNIUM SANCTORUM HIBERNIAE

ALL THE SAINTS OF IRELAND

  • Saint Cennfaoladh of Bangor, April 8

    On April 8 we commemorate one of the abbots of Bangor, Saint Cennfaoladh. It seems from Canon O’Hanlon’s account below that the site of Saint Comgall’s famous monastery was one of those visited in person by him as part of his research:

    ST. CENNFAOLADH, ABBOT OF BANGOR, COUNTY OF DOWN.

    [SEVENTH AND EIGHTH CENTURIES.]

    A MAN, who rendered essential service to the cause of religion, humanity, and civilization, deserves to be a beloved and respected historic celebrity. The present holy Abbot had a sensitive and chivalrous feeling, which urged him to labour for the correction of a great social evil, and for the emancipation of women, from a state of degradation, by no means creditable to the customs or policy of past times. In the “Feilire” of St. Aengus, his festival was commemorated, at the 8th of April. We find Cendfaoladh, Abbot of Bennchair, at the record, concerning him, in the Martyrology of Tallagh, on this date. From the same source, and at the same day, the Bollandists set down, Kinfseladius, Abbas Benchorensis. St. Cennfaoladh was the grandson to Aedh Breac, according to the Annals of Ulster, and those of the Four Masters. He became Abbot of Bangor, in the county of Down, most probably soon after the death of Cronan Slacu Caulne, whose departure is variedly placed, at A.D. 686, 688, and 690. However, it has been stated, on the authority of Fleming, that St. Kennfaelus was Abbot here, so early as A.D. 678. The place was called Great Bangor, by which the early Irish Annalists distinguished it from Bangor of the Britons, in Wales. It has been stated, that on the present site of the English church, stood the ancient one of Beanchuir, or Bangor. This, however, seems to me an inexact location, nor does it accord with the tradition of the inhabitants. The situation of the old monastery was undoubtedly within a vale, on either side of which two gentle eminences or ridges of land are to be seen.

    And its locality well deserved the title of the Vale of Angels — which according to the old narrative it formerly bore — as well on account of its beautiful site, as also for the reason, that a numerous band of holy men sung the praises of the Almighty, on the spot, and for a long lapse of ages. In the beginning of the last century, Bishop De Burgo saw some ruins of Bangor monastery. Immediately adjoining the church, the ruined walls of an old building are even yet shown; and they lie, partly within the garden of the Rectory, or Glebe House, and partly facing the ornamental grounds of Bangor Castle, within the demesne enclosure, and not far from its entrance gate. Those ruins are situated, about one-half statute mile, from the waters of Bangor Bay. They are partly covered with trees and creeping plants. Although of some extent and height, they appear quite featureless, on the exterior, whence only the writer had been enabled to obtain a view of them. He was informed, by an intelligent inhabitant of Bangor who accompanied him, that the ancient cemetery extended a considerable distance, from these old walls, into the demense, as could be proved, from the quantity of human bones, removed from time to time, by labourers engaged in effecting improvements. He gave me to understand, that local traditions confirmed these disentombed indications of a former burial place; while the same traditions assigned the ancient monastic site to that place, where the present old walls are to be seen.

     
     

    As we learn, from the Life of St. Comgall, Bangor was founded, about the year 558; and, before half a century had passed, it was in such celebrity, that a great number of monks flocked to it. From the earliest period, Bangor had been regarded, as belonging to the civil territory of the Ards. Among the Acts, which reflect such great credit on the memory of our Abbot, the Cain Adamnain states, that this Cennfaeladh was among the saints, who went security for liberating women from military service, from bondage, and from every other kind of slavery. He died, in the early part of the eighth century, on the 8th of April, A.D. 704, according to the Annals of Ulster, and of the Four Masters. According to the Martyrology of Donegal, St. Cennfaelad, Abbot of Bennchair, was venerated on this day. In an Irish Calendar, preserved at the Royal Irish Academy, the same statement is made, but the year given, A.D. 674, seems to be assigned for the date of his death.

    This feast is in the Calendar, compiled by Rev. William Reeves. We find him recorded, in the Scottish Kalendar of Drummond, as a holy confessor, at this date, assigned for his departure to Christ. The life of a true saint should not only be aglow with promise, like the bright mornings of Summer; but, it ought to become still more mellowed and beautiful, like the evening’s setting sun. As the Autumn proves its richness, with the golden sheaves and luscious fruits, so must good works and words ripen into merit, towards the harvest time of a well-spent existence.

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  • Saint Aedh of Rathlin Island, April 7

     

    On April 7 we commemorate the memory of Saint Aedh, an eighth-century monastic of Rathlin Island. This island off the coast of north Antrim was part of the Kingdom of Dalriada from the 5th to the 8th centuries. It has an even more famous later Scottish association because, as every schoolchild here learns, it was whilst Robert the Bruce was hiding in a cave on the island from the English conquerors that he watched a spider continually attempt to bridge a gap using her web. Inspired by her patience and perseverance he too decided to give his own cause another try and returned to regain his throne. Canon O’Hanlon’s account is also tinged by romantic imagination and his concluding comments are typical of the imagery of windswept desolation of former glories, which many 19th-century writers used to describe places associated with early Irish saints.

    St. Aedh, of Oilein Reachrann, or of Rathlin Island, County of Antrim. [Eighth Century]

    That Islands should be the places of residence, chosen by many early Irish missionaries, may be inferred, from the many instances of old ecclesiastical structures thereon, and from their religious discipline, which was essentially recluse. Other propagandists of the faith founded churches. With the Irish, the church was frequently a hermitage, and not a place for large congregations of the faithful. Many of our primitive churches were known as Cills, Kills, or “Cells.” It improves the evidence in favour of Islands, within and around our shores, having been lone spots, such as anchorites would love, at the introduction of Christianity, rather than marts of trade or nests of pirates, for which they might be fairly taken, if we looked solely to their position. St. Aedh was son of Cairbre, and he became abbot of Rechrann monastery. We read, in the Martyrology of Donegal, that Aedh Oilein —or of the Island—was venerated, on this day. The place is now known as Rathlin Island, off the northern coast of Antrim.

    It does not appear, that a church had been built there, before A.D. 630. This saint appears to have immediately succeeded St. Murghal, Abbot, who died A.D. 764. St. Aedh did not long survive him; for, he departed, in the year 768, according to the Annals of the Four Masters, or in 672, according to those of Ulster. The true year appears to have been A.D. 773. In the year 790, the shrines of Rathlin were destroyed, by the gentile pirates. It is probable, one belonging to this saint, as also, some shrines of his holy predecessors, perished. Thus, like the stranded ship, once filled with life and motion, many a house of prayer, in former times, lies lowly and desolate; while, in contemplating its melancholy wreck, with its peculiar and artistic beauty, the visitor’s thoughts are subdued to reverence and prayer, when rejoicing in the living Faith, that survives the ruin of material temples.

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  • Saint Cronan Beg of Clonmacnoise, April 6

    On April 6 the Irish calendars commemorate the memory of one of the abbots of Clonmacnoise. As not a great deal is known of Saint Cronan as an individual, Canon O’Hanlon instead alludes in his account to the status of Clonmacnoise as a place of pilgrimage:

    St. Cronbeg, or Cronan Beg, Abbot of Clonmacnoise, King’s County.
    [Seventh Century.]

    This Saint is called Cronan Beg, or the Little, owing probably to his want of ordinary stature. He is entered, in the Martyrology of Tallagh, at the 6th of April, as Cronbrice, Abbot of Cluana, or Clonmacnoise. The date of his birth has not been ascertained, nor does his genealogy seem to be known. This holy man most probably succeeded Colman, Abbot, who died, in the year 681. Then was his successor elected to rule, in a spot, greatly resorted to, even from distant regions. The pilgrimage to holy places is one of the oldest of Christian institutions. The first known visits were to Jerusalem, and to other parts of Judea. Thus, Helena, the pious mother of the Emperor Constantine, hastened as a pilgrim to the Holy Land, when she visited the scenes of our Redeemer’s passion. The Empress returned, bringing with her the true cross, with other relics of Christ’s death; and, from that time forward, pilgrimages to the Holy Land were annually made by thousands, from every part of Christendom. Our Irish countrymen frequently visited this distant land, and usually combined with their journey a pilgrimage to the shrines of the Apostles, St. Peter and St Paul, at Rome. Hardships, persecutions, and even death itself, often overtook the zealous and devoted pilgrim. The tremendous conflicts, which shook Palestine during the period of the Crusades, barred the road thither to all but the most hardy, adventurous, and daring. The subsequent loss of the Holy City, all but closed its gates against the Christians. At and before this era, the practice of national pilgrimages grew into transcendent importance. Instead of turning towards the Holy Sepulchre, the penitent wended his way, towards some shrine in his native land, famous for some deed of sanctity, or for some spiritual manifestation. In Ireland, Lough Derg, Kildare, Glendalough, and Clonmacnoise, were the great pilgrimages. The ten ruined churches, which surround St. Kieran’s grave at the latter place, are said to have been the offering of ten royal pilgrims, who knelt at his shrine. Among the religious foundations here is shown, what purports to have been a church or chapel of the nunnery, said to have been built in 1170, by Dearvoirgilla, and it was consumed, with other buildings, by an accidental fire, A.D. 1180.

     
     
     

    The festival in honour of Cronbeg — a contraction most probably of his regular name — who was placed as Abbot, over Cluainmic Nois, occurs, in the Martyrology of Donegal, at this date. This was the day for his death, and the year was 689, according to the Annals of Clonmacnoise, or according to those of the Four Masters, A.D. 692. The Annals of Ulster place his demise, under the year 693.

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