OMNIUM SANCTORUM HIBERNIAE

Tag: Female Saints

  • Saint Attracta of Killaraght, August 11

     

     

     

     

     

     

    The August 9 feast of Saint Nathy, patron of the diocese of Achonry, is quickly followed by that of the diocesan patroness, Saint Attracta, commemorated on August 11. There are many legends associated with Saint Attracta, whose Life contains a number of elements common to saints’ vitae. For example, she manifests a commitment to the monastic life early on and goes against her father’s wishes for her to marry. Attracta, however, is received as a nun by Saint Patrick himself, and her veiling is accompanied by a miracle, one of several recorded concerning the two saints. Indeed, the distinctive Celtic cross was said to have been granted to Saint Attracta in one of these miracles. Some calendars assign a feast of Saint Attracta to the 9th of February, but her main feast has always been celebrated on August 11. The following account of her life has been distilled from Canon O’Hanlon’s Lives of the Irish Saints, Volume 8:

     

    Saint Attracta, Virgin and Patroness of Killaraught, County of Sligo

    [Fifth or Sixth Century]

    St. Attracta is said to have been the daughter of Talan, and to have had a brother called St. Coeman. These belonged to the race of Irius, and derive their origin from the Province of Ulster. However, other statements are found to differ from the foregoing account of her family and race. We know not whether her parents were Pagans or Christians; for, it is stated, that when St. Patrick preached in the wooded region about Moylurg, about A.D. 450, St. Attracta had led a very pious and austere life, at home.

    In the ancient Life of this Saint, we are informed, that during her tender years, she was most fervent in prayer, that she bestowed frequent alms, and macerated her body by continual fasting. When this holy virgin arrived at the age of puberty, her father was desirous to engage her in the state of marriage. This did not accord, however, with her own desire. Being very beautiful, and sought in marriage by several suitors, she felt a Divine inspiration to embrace a religious life. Those writers who hold, that she belonged to the Ulster province, state her coming thence to Connaught to fulfil that object. St. Patrick—then engaged on his western Irish mission—was preaching in that part of the country. To avoid her parent’s importunities, and taking with her a maid, called Mitain, and a servant-man called Mochain, she left her paternal home, and directed her course towards Gregraighe, in the territory of Lugnia, or Leney. When St. Attracta arrived in St. Patrick’s presence, the pure virgin signified her intention to consecrate herself entirely to Almighty God. Her companion seems to have been from that part of the country, likewise, and both were united in desire and act. Our great Apostle accordingly prepared to receive their religious profession. The author of St. Patrick’s Tripartite Life expressly names St. Attracta, in the account of this miraculous reception. She and her companion, accordingly, and at the hands of the great Irish Apostle, were professed, and in the following manner. Whilst in the act of consecrating those virgins, a veil fell from Heaven on St. Patrick’s breast. He received it with great devotion, and presented it to the virgin, he had last consecrated. This was St. Attracta, according to some accounts. But, as we are told, the spouse of Christ, with unfeigned humility, said to the saint: “Since this good and perfect gift has descended from the Father of Light, I do not consider it intended for me, a sinner yet, in my opinion, you who have received should retain it, or present this veil to my companion, who is more holy than I am.” Pleased with our saint’s humility, the Apostle then placed the veil upon her head, and, he told her, she should wear it, until introduced to the bridal chamber of her heavenly spouse. The virgin at length yielded to his request, and wore that veil, until the day of her death.

    Beside Lough Techet, now Lough Gara, St. Patrick established a convent, and at a place, which from our saint was afterwards known as the church of St. Attracta. Having founded a nunnery there, St. Patrick appointed St. Attracta to rule over it as Abbess, some other pious women becoming inmates of her house at the same time. He is said, likewise, to have left a teisc and a chalice with Attracta. Hence, in due course of time this locality took the designation of Kill Athracta, or Killaraght, on account of the establishment and name of its holy Abbess.

    We learn little more regarding her, except from those acephalous Acts, furnished by Colgan. It must be our endeavour to extract from these, some few subsequent particulars, which are of much interest, could we only have a certainty they had been derived from authentic sources. After relating the flight of this Virgin from her friends, and her arrival in the province of Connaght; we are told, that Attracta not only vowed perpetual chastity, but resolved, moreover, on cultivating the virtue of hospitality, to a very great extent. For this purpose, she designed taking up her residence at a place, where seven roads should appear within view, or meet, that thus it might be likely, numbers of persons should pass the spot. Towards all of those wayfarers, she intended to minister the necessaries of life, by establishing there a common hospice or house of reception for strangers. The Acts of our saint state, that she designed establishing a “commune synochen,” at this place. By this term, we are to understand, that it was to be a xenodochium, or a hospital, for poor travellers or strangers.

    Her servant, named Mochain, who had accompanied Attracta from her own part of the country, and who already had been made aware of her intention, went out one day, at an early hour of the morning. When the sun had risen, Mochain betook himself to the deep recesses of an adjoining wood. There he discovered the meeting of seven roads, which appeared to have been formed, by frequent journeys made through that part of the country. Immediately he thought, that there God must have designed to satisfy the wishes of his mistress, and that He had designated such place as the site for her future habitation.

    Soon the servant returned to his mistress, and, falling before her on his knees, he related what he had seen. Then, accompanying him to the spot, Attracta gave thanks to God, with outstretched hands, believing her desires were about to be accomplished, as to the choice of a location for her intended establishment. She is said to have bestowed a tract of land upon her servant, at that place; recommending the practice of the virtue of hospitality to him and to his successors, that thus they might obtain favours from God, on the great accounting day. She asked leave from the inhabitants of that district, to erect a habitation there, and this permission they eagerly accorded. The saint was much beloved and respected by the natives of that country. They admired her great virtue and prudence ; they consulted her upon all their important undertakings ; and they held her in as much esteem, as if she had been born there, and had constantly resided among them. Moreover, they erected a church in that place, which was dedicated in her name, as also in honour of the Most Holy Trinity, and of the Blessed Virgin…

    This holy virgin was called to the joys of Heaven, after the performance of numerous miracles and the exercise of many virtues. We are ignorant regarding the year or even the day of St. Attracta’s death, although few Irish saints have left after them such vivid traditions and so many lasting memorials. To this very day, her life and miracles form much of the folk-lore among the people of Coolavin. According to most probable accounts, she flourished in the fifth century, and about the year 470. In the foreign calendars, her name is written Tarachta or Tarahata. No saint so named is mentioned in any Irish document, and hence Colgan justly inferred, that she was no other than St. Athracta. One of the virgins veiled by St. Patrick at Cregi was St. Attracta, who is thus noted, but without her feast being assigned, in Father Henry Fitzsimon’s “List of Irish Saints.” Her name is written Etrachta, Virgo, in the published Martyrology of Tallaght, as also in that copy of it found in the Book of Leinster. The Martyrologies of Tallagh, of Marianus O’Gorman, of Maguire and of Donegal record her festival at the 11th of August. She is mentioned, in the Martyrology of Donegal, at this same date, as Athracht, Virgin, daughter of Tighernach, of Cill Saile, in Crich Conaill. She was venerated after her death, as patroness of the church of Kill-Athracta or Killaraght, and, in the townland so named, the modern church is built on the site of an old church, none of which now remains, but burials are still continued in the church-yard. In the same townland was the well of St. Athracta, at which the people of that neighbourhood were accustomed to perform stations, on the 11th of August, which seems to have been traditionally and locally regarded as the holy virgin’s chief festival. It was situated on the south side of Killaraght townland, on the road from Boyle to Frenchpark, and very near the boundary between Killaraght and Kilnamansentagh parishes. The place of this holy virgin retained the name Kill Athracta, in Colgan’s day, and it was situated in Achonry Diocese.

    On this day, the feast of St. Attracta is celebrated as a Double of the Minor Rite, in the Diocese of Achonry, by permission of his late Holiness Pius IX., granted on the 28th of July, 1864, at the request of the former Bishop of the diocese then living. She is the special patroness of Killaraght parish, in the County of Sligo; and, it was then agreed, that when a church should have been erected to her honour, in that town, on regular application to the Holy See, her festival might be raised to the dignity of a greater Rite. An Office of Nine Lessons, with the Second Nocturn Proper, and a Mass, taken from the Common of Virgins, with a proper Prayer, were then allowed for the Diocese of Achonry. As a Double Festival, this commemoration of St. Attracta has been extended, on this day, the 11th of August, to the whole Church of Ireland. We learn, from the continuator of Usuard, who places her festival at this date, that St. Arata, virgin and nun, was invoked for the liberation of captives, and for the staying from men of pestilence. The cross of St. Athracta had long been preserved in her place, and the O’Mochains or Moghans were the hereditary keepers of that relic. But, it is not known to be in existence, at the present time.

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

  • Saint Daire, August 8

    The Irish calendars commemorate Saint Daire (Daria) on August 8. In his account of this holy woman Canon O’Hanlon helpfully lists the three saints who bear this name and attempts to identify which of them might have been our saint of August 8. One clue is that two are classified as widows whereas today’s Daire is a virgin saint. This leads Canon O’Hanlon to wonder if she might be the blind nun Daire mentioned in the hagiography of Saint Brigid, even though he had been somewhat more lukewarm about the possibility when discussing the miracle of Saint Daire in his February entry for Saint Brigid. We can look at the account of this miracle now from Volume 2 of the Lives of the Irish Saints, before proceeding to the entry for the day from Volume 8:

    No matter how far we may dissent from the details of various legendary narratives, we must admit the spell of a charming treatment and a sublime moral lesson in the following story, related almost in the words of an accomplished writer [Baring-Gould], alluding to St. Brigid. One evening, she sat with Sister Dara, or Daria, a holy nun, who was blind, as the sun went down; and they talked of the love of Jesus Christ, and the joys of Paradise. Now, their hearts were so full, the night fled away whilst they spoke together, and neither knew that so many hours had sped. Then the sun came up from the Wicklow mountains, and the pure white light made the face of earth bright and gay. Bridget sighed, when she saw how lovely were earth and sky, and while she knew that Dara’s eyes were closed to all this beauty. So she bowed her head and prayed. She extended her hand and signed the dark orbs of the gentle sister. Then the darkness passed away from them, and Dara saw the golden ball in the east, while all the trees and flowers glittered with dew in the morning light. She looked a little while, and then, turning to the abbess, said: “Close my eyes again, dear mother, for when the world is so visible to the eyes, God is seen less clearly to the soul.” So Bridget prayed once more, and Dara’s eyes grew dark again.

    St. Daria, or Daire, Virgin.

    At the 8th day of August, a festival for Daria, a holy Virgin, is entered in the published Martyrology of Tallagh, as also in the Book of Leinster copy. Marianus O’Gorman and Cathal Maguire have inserted the name of this holy Virgin in their respective Calendars. The Bollandists notice her, likewise, at the 8th of August.

    There are three saints having this name to be found in the Irish Martyrologies. The first is St. Daria, Virgin, who died in the eighteenth year of her age, and on the 8th of August, as mentioned at this day. The second is St. Daria, Widow, named Bochana, who is venerated on the 2nd of November. The third St. Daria was a widow, likewise, and she was venerated on the 26th of October. It has been thought most probable, that the present holy virgin is more likely than any other bearing the same name and venerated in our Calendars, to have been that St. Daria mentioned in the Acts of St. Brigid, and who was one of her nuns. If so, she is said to have been blind from the time of her birth, and she must have flourished towards the close of the fifth or beginning of the sixth century. The Martyrology of Donegal registers a festival at the 8th of August, in honour of Daire, Virgin. It likewise adds, that from earlier records, her age was eighty years; and, in the Table thereto appended her name is Latinized, Daria, Virgo.

    Note: The poem Saint Brigid and the Blind Nun by the 19th-century writer, Aubrey de Vere, can be found at my other blog here.

     

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

  • Saint Trea of Ardtrea, August 3

    August 3 is the feast of a female saint, Trea, who has given her name to the district of Ardtrea in County Derry. She is one of those named as having received the veil from the hands of Saint Patrick himself, and in her case, the veil was delivered by an angel. Most of the accounts of Saint Trea which circulate online describe her as an anchoress or recluse, Canon O’Hanlon, however, speculates that she was most likely the head of a religious community. He also mentions that she had a second feast day on July 8:

    ST. TREA, VIRGIN, OF ARDTREA, COUNTY OF LONDONDERRY [FIFTH CENTURY.]

    This pious maiden flourished after the time, when St. Patrick commenced his great mission in the north of Ireland. We have seen already, that a St. Trega or Trea, Virgin, was venerated at Ardtrea, on a different day from the present. A question may arise, as to whether there had been a double festival instituted to honour the same saint. However, on the 8th of July, there is record of a feast for St. Trega, virgin and patroness of Ardtrea Parish, near Lough Neagh. We find, however, that St. Trea inghen Chairthind, or “the daughter of Carthenn,” is recorded in the published Martyrology of Tallagh, at the 3rd of August without stating the locality to which she belonged.

    When blessed Patrick had entered the northern parts of the Ulster province, he met with opposition from a dynast in the region of Hy Tuirtre. He had journeyed by Fersait Tuama, until he rested at a very beautiful locality called Finnabhuir. The place formerly called Fersait Tuama, is now known as Toome, near where the River Bann escapes from Lough Neagh and enters Lough Beg, at the division line between the present Counties of Londonderry and of Antrim. The beautiful district alluded to as Finnabhuir had the wide-spreading Lough Neagh on the east and Slieve Gullin a high ridge of mountain, on the west side. It so happened, that two brothers, one named Carthenn the Elder or “major,” and the other known as Carthenn, the younger or “minor,” had lived in this district. The former a wicked man and addicted to the errors of Paganism had banished his younger brother from that place, in which he exercised complete control. From this district he wished, likewise, that St. Patrick should be ejected. The holy man, like the Apostles, when persecuted in one city left for another, and shaking the dust from of his feet against the tyrannical dynast, predicted that he should fall from power, and serve, with his posterity, under the future rule of the younger Carthenn. He, on the contrary, was virtuous, kindly, and disposed to receive the doctrine of Christ, so that St. Patrick baptized himself, his wife and family. After this time, Carthenn’s wife, Mugania, appears to have given birth to a daughter, destined to a life of grace from St. Patrick’s prophecy regarding her. She was named Trea or Treha at the baptismal font; but, it is not stated, that she had been baptized by St. Patrick.

    Through her father, she descended from the race of Colla Uais, monarch of Erinn. From what has been already stated, it should seem, that she was born about the middle of the fifth century. That she grew up in grace and in the practice of all virtues, is generally conceded. She is classed, among the many holy virgins St. Patrick veiled, during the progress of his great missionary career. In accordance with his prediction, when St. Trea began to grow up into girlhood, she felt a strong desire to chose the Son of God for her future spouse. The Apostle had already declared, that she should be a woman of great innocence of life, and that her vesture and dowry should come to her with the veil received at his hands. Therefore, when she sought the illustrious saint for this purpose, and stood before him, an angel was seen descending from Heaven, and placing a veil on her head. It completely covered her eyes. St. Patrick then attempted to lift it, so that she might the better see, but the holy virgin exclaimed, “O pious father, why cannot the veil remain as it has been placed, in its right position?” Wherefore, the holy man replied, “It can very properly thus remain, and its mode of being worn shall be pleasing to your spouse.” As if the cenobite’s veil were glued to the noble lady’s face, the writer of the Tripartite Life and Jocelyn remark most poetically and approvingly, that it covered her dovelike eyes and her soft cheeks, through the whole remaining term of her life. Thus were her eyes and ears remarkably guarded, lest, through such entrances, any dangerous occasion of sin might bring death to her immortal soul.

    We have no further account of the place where she dwelt in the religious state; but, it is most likely within her ancestral territory, and on the height, which now takes its name from her. This Ardtrea was situated near Lough Neagh and Lough Beg. …In what particular condition St. Trea lived here has not been specified ; but, it is probable enough, she was head of a religious community. Nor does the date of her departure from life appear in our annals. In the Martyrology of Donegal, at this same day, we find her name entered as Trea, Virgin, daughter to Cairthenn, of Ard Trea. Whether the 3rd of August, or the 8th of July, be the commemoration for her death, has not been recorded.

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