Men & Women of the Celtic Irish Church
Written by Ben Kesp
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| 12 Irish Apostles of Erin |
The Irish Celtic Church was a prosperous and independent church in Europe that produced incredible works of art, I want to mention some of the great men and women who helped the church flourish from the 5th to 12th centuries.
Not everyone can be mentioned nor has history recorded the lives of every individual. Women held equal status to men and as previously written; Monks were the key players with bishops taking lesser roles unlike those of the Roman Church.
The Twelve Apostles of Ireland (or Erin): were 6th century monastic monks who studied under St. Fenian (Died 549) in the monastic school of Clonard Abbey on the river Boyne in Co. Meath. Also known as the second order of Irish Saints. Thousands of scholars studied here and many well known names of Irish Christianity were educated at the abbey.
- Saint Ciarán of Saighir
- Saint Ciarán of Clonmacnoise on the Shannon, died in the year 549.
- Saint Brendan of Birr, County Offaly, died 29 November 571.
- Saint Brendan of Clonfert (Brendan the Navigator). He was the son of Finnloga, the patron saint of the see of Clonfert in Co. Galway. Born in 484, and died in 577 aged 94.
- Saint Columba of Terryglass abbot of Tir-da-glas in Co. Tipperary. Died in 552.
- Saint Columba of Iona was born in 521, and died in the year 597, aged 75. Columba introduced Christianity to the Kingdom of the Picts, Scotland during the early medieval period.
- Saint Mobhí of Glasnevin, near Dublin. He died on 12 October 545.
- Saint Ruadhain of Lorrha, in Co. Tippeary. He died on 15 April 584.
- Saint Senan of Iniscathay (Scattery Island)
- Saint Ninnidh of Lough Erne, the Pious. Death is unknown but he was alive in 530.
- Saint Laisrén mac Nad Froích the son of Nadfraech, he was the brother of Aengus, the first Christian king of Munster. Died in 570.
- Saint Canice the patron of Aghaboe in Co. Laois who died in 599 at the age of 84.
Saint Hilda: Born in 614, grandniece of King Edwin of Northumbria of the Angles. She established many monasteries with her last being Whitby Abbey, a great centre of English learning. Kings and commoners came to her for advice and she was well respected. It was at Whitby that Abbess Hilda held the confrontation between the Celtic Church and the Roman Church that decided the future of the church within Europe.
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| Whitby Abbey, UK |
Saint Ita: Born in County Waterford and descended from a Royal family she established her monastery of holy virgins called Cluain-cred-hail in Limerick. She died 15th January 569.
Saint Bridget: Born in Kildare c450 into a druid family, daughter of Dubhthach, court poet to King Loeghaire. She established a monastery in Kildare that was formerly a pagan shrine with a fire that was always burning. She did not extinguish the light but allowed it to keep burning giving it a Christian meaning. Bridget also was part of many Irish Councils and her respect gave great influence on Church in Ireland. She died in 523.
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| St. Brendan - The Navigator |
Saint Brendan (B. 484 – D.577): called “The Navigator”, “The Voyager” or “The Bold”. Born in Co. Kerry he was educated under Saint Ita for five years. He went onto become one of the Twelve Apostles of Ireland tutored under Saint Fenian of Clonard. Saint Brendan sailed all around Ireland establishing monasteries. His travels brought him to Brittany off the coast of France. His voyages have been colourful with many interesting visits to strange and mysterious islands. But one has to ask was Saint Brendan the first European to reach the Americas? The Norse may have been recorded as the first to reach America, however the voyages of St. Brendan have been documented, recording his detailed accounts of his discoveries. The exact location of St. Brendan's Island is unknown. Some historians agree that the places he describes could be America while others believe it to be Greenland. Either way his quest for knowledge and his curiosity for exploration have left us with remarkable stories. More here on discovering America: Voyages of St. Brendan
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| Bobbio Abbey, Italy |
Saint Columbanus: Born in the Kingdom of Meath in 573 he studied under Sinell, Abbot of Cluaninis in Lough Erne. Afterwards Saint Columbanus moved to Bangor Abbey and remained there until he began his travels to Europe. He spent twenty years in France and established many monasteries, most notably the Luxeuil Abbey. In France he gathered a huge following and he had conflict with the French bishops who feared of his influence. Columbanus defended his position and the Celtic customs strongly with the bishops and continued by sending three letters to the Pope. In addition to speaking out against the Roman Church, Columbanus also had issues with the French Royal Family that ended with his abduction and he was to be banished to Ireland. He managed to escape and travelled onto the Alps. Here he established a monastery, but his old enemy King Theudebert II took hold of the region and an uprising followed against his community. He moved onto Italy and befriended King Agilulf and Queen Theodelinda of the Lombards. Again he had disputes with Rome and Pope Gregory I over the Three Chapters, writings by the Christians in Syria and Egypt who considered to favour Nestorianism (the disunion between the human and divine natures of Jesus) that was considered heresy in the fifth century. He asked the pope to prove his orthodoxy and assemble a council. Following is a quote from one of his letters to the Pope:
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| St. Columbanus |
We Irish, though dwelling at the far ends of the earth, are all disciples of St. Peter and St. Paul ... we are bound to the Chair of Peter, and although Rome is great and renowned, through that Chair alone is she looked on as great and illustrious among us ... On account of the two Apostles of Christ, you are almost celestial, and Rome is the head of the whole world, and of the Churches.
Columbanus established the Bobbio Abbey based on the monastic practices of the Celtic Christianity at the Apennine Mountains, Italy. Before his death he was asked by the King Chlothar II to return to Burgundy, France but he did not return. He died on the 21st November 615 in Italy. More on Saint Columbanus can be read here: Life of Saint Columbanus
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| St. Columba converting the Picts |
Saint Columba: Born 7th December 521 was responsible for spreading Christianity into present day Scotland, converting the Picts. He founded Iona Abbey that became a great religious and political centre. He continued to be involved in Irish politics but remained living in Scotland. He died on the 9th of June 597.
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| St. Malachy |
Saint Malachy: Born in 1094, Armagh, he went onto become the Archbishop of Armagh. It was Saint Malachy who brought about the reformation of the Celtic Church in Ireland in the twelfth century aligning it with the Church in Rome that saw the introduction of the Roman religious orders to Ireland. He restored discipline to the church adopting the Roman Liturgy. He established the great Mellifont Abbey in 1142. He died while on a journey to Rome at Clairvaux on the 2nd of November 1148. Malachy is also attributed to having prophesised 112 popes before the last judgement. While he was in Rome he fell into a trance and saw a vision. The prophesy was published in 1590. Whether the prophesies are true or not perhaps one day we will find out!
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| Mellifont Abbey, Ireland |
These are but short biographies on some of the people behind the Celtic Irish Church. Their lives were complex, eventful and exciting helping to enlighten a dark Europe facing many obstacles along the way. Detailed records are kept of these abbots and abbesses across Europe giving a testimony of their great work in the spread of Christianity through scholarly pursuits, artistic expression, deep spirituality and love of nature.
Images from Wikipedia.
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