Statue of St. Finian, Clonard, County Meath, Ireland, created by the Italian workshop Studi Nicoli, founded by the sculptor Carlo Nicoli.
Statue
of St. Finian, Clonard, County Meath, Ireland, created by the Italian
workshop Studi Nicoli, founded by the sculptor Carlo Nicoli. The
inscription at the front reads: St. Finian was born 454 A.D. He was
educated by St. David in Wales. He founded his monastery at Clonard, and died
12th December 563. The inscription is continued on the right side: The
monastery of Clonard became famous for sanctity and learning. St. Finian was
given the title of tutor of Irelands saints. The monastery was suppressed on
the 14th January 1553 in the reign of Edward VI. Finian is patron of the
diocese of Meath. On the rear side: This statue was erected for the
faithful of this parish Aug. 1960 by V.Rev. Edward Crinion P.P. The left
side gives a prayer: Oh God who didst give blessed Finian to be a minister
of eternal salvation to thy people. Grant we beseech thee that we who had him
on earth as a teacher of life may be worthy to have him for advocate in heaven,
throhch Jesus Christ our Lord Amen.
Saint Finnian de Leinster
Abbé en Irlande (+ 552)
Devenu chrétien grâce aux disciples de saint Patrick, il passa dans le pays de Galles qu'il évangélisa avec saint Gildas et saint Divy. Il est le fondateur d'un célèbre monastère à Clonard, qui marque le seuil de la grande période monastique et missionnaire de l'Irlande.
À Clonard en Irlande, l’an 549, saint Finnian, abbé, qui fut le fondateur de
plusieurs monastères, le père et le maître d’une multitude de moines.
Martyrologe romain
SOURCE : http://nominis.cef.fr/contenus/saint/9577/Saint-Finnian-de-Leinster.html
First
stained glass window in a series depicting the life of St. Finian in the Church
of St. Finian at Clonard. The windows were created by Hogan in 1957. The
inscription reads: Saint Finian is baptized. This image has been
postprocessed with the help of Gimp.
First
stained glass window in a series depicting the life of St. Finian in the Church
of St. Finian at Clonard. The windows were created by Hogan in 1957. The
inscription reads: Saint Finian is baptized. This image has been
postprocessed with the help of Gimp.
Also
known as
Finian of Clonard
Finden of Clonard
Profile
A pious youth, he founded
three churches in Ireland while
still a layman. Studied in Wales under Saint Cadoc
of Llancarvan and Saint Gildas
the Wise. Monk.
Great admirer of Saint Patrick.
Considered one of the great founders of Irish monasticism.
Founded the monastery at Clonard, Meath, Ireland c.520 which
lasted a thousand years, and was a training center for great Irish saints.
Spiritual teacher of Saint Columba
of Iona, Saint Columba
of Terryglass, Saint Ciaran
of Clommacnois, Saint Brendan
the Voyager, Saint Nathy, Saint Nennius, Saint Ruadhan
of Lorrha, Saint Daig
MacCairaill, and others. Maintained close relations with the British Church.
Often referred to as a bishop,
there is no evidence he was ever so consecrated.
Legend attributes
many miracles to
him. Birds would
gather around him because of his gentle holiness. Reported to have cleared
parasitic insects,
worms and vermin from the island of Flathlom and the regions of Nantcarfan. One
story says that he fended off a party of Saxon raiders
by causing an earthquake to
swallow their camp.
Born
c.470 at
Myshall, County Carlow, Ireland
c.549 to 552 at Clonard, Meath, Ireland of plague
relics originally enshrined in Clonard,
but were destroyed in the 9th
century
Alexandria-Cornwall,
Ontario, Canada, diocese of
Additional
Information
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MLA
Citation
“Saint Finnian of
Clonard“. CatholicSaints.Info. 12 December 2025. Web. 19 August 2026.
<https://catholicsaints.info/saint-finnian-of-clonard/>
SOURCE : https://catholicsaints.info/saint-finnian-of-clonard/
Second
stained glass window in a series depicting the life of St. Finian in the Church
of St. Finian at Clonard. These windows were created by Hogan in 1957. The
inscription reads: Saint Finian as a boy with Saint David in Wales This
image has been postprocessed with the help of Gimp.
Second
stained glass window in a series depicting the life of St. Finian in the Church
of St. Finian at Clonard. These windows were created by Hogan in 1957. The
inscription reads: Saint Finian as a boy with Saint David in Wales This
image has been postprocessed with the help of Gimp.
Book of Saints
– Finnian – 12 December
Article
(Saint) Bishop (December
12) (6th
century) An austere Cenobite of Irish birth who, trained in the School of
Menevia in Wales, became master of the Irish School of Clonard, where Saint
Columba was numbered among his three thousand disciples, and where he earned
the title of “Master of the Irish Saints.” He is recognised as the Patron Saint
of the Diocese of Meath, of which he was Bishop.
MLA
Citation
Monks of Ramsgate.
“Finnian”. Book of Saints, 1921. CatholicSaints.Info.
12 August 2018. Web. 19 August 2026.
<https://catholicsaints.info/book-of-saints-finnian-12-december/>
SOURCE : https://catholicsaints.info/book-of-saints-finnian-12-december/
Third
stained glass window in a series depicting the life of St. Finian in the Church
of St. Finian at Clonard. The windows were created by Hogan in 1957. The
inscription reads: Saint Finian returns to Ireland This image has
been postprocessed with the help of Gimp.
Third
stained glass window in a series depicting the life of St. Finian in the Church
of St. Finian at Clonard. The windows were created by Hogan in 1957. The
inscription reads: Saint Finian returns to Ireland This image has
been postprocessed with the help of Gimp.
St. Finian of Clonard
Feastday: December 12
Death: 549
The “Teacher of the Irish
Saints.” He was born in Myshall, in County Carlow, Ireland. Trained by Sts.
Cadoc and Gildas in Wales, Finian returned to Ireland where
he built schools, monasteries, and churches. Clonard at Meath was
his most famous foundation, and under his direction it became a renowned
scriptural school. He is listed as a bishop, but it is possible that he was not
consecrated in the office. St. Columba was
one of his students, as he trained the “Twelve Apostles of
Ireland” at Clonard. He died there during a plague.
SOURCE : https://www.catholic.org/saints/saint.php?saint_id=3368
Fourth stained glass window in a series depicting the life of St. Finian in the Church of St. Finian at Clonard. The windows were created by Hogan in 1957. The inscription reads: An Angel directs St. Finian to establish his monastery by the Boyne. This image has been postprocessed with the help of Gimp.
Fourth stained glass window in a series depicting the life of St. Finian in the Church of St. Finian at Clonard. The windows were created by Hogan in 1957. The inscription reads: An Angel directs St. Finian to establish his monastery by the Boyne. This image has been postprocessed with the help of Gimp.
Finnian (Finian, Finden)
of Clonard B
Born c. 470; died c.
549-52. Irish monk who followed in the path of Saint Patrick and began the
initiator of a strict form of Irish monasticism. Finnian had close relations
with the British Church. The contemporary collection of regulations for
penitents, ascribed to Vinnianus, was probably not the work of this Finnian but
perhaps by Finnian of Moville. Unreliable legend has him born at Myshall,
County Carlow, Ireland, and spending several years in Wales at monasteries
under Saint Cadoc and Saint Gildas. He became a monk in Wales, returned to
Ireland, and founded several monasteries, most notably Clonard in Meath, which
was the greatest school of the period, renowned chiefly for its biblical
studies (Finnian was a great Biblical scholar). He died at Clonard of the
yellow plague, which swept Ireland. Though called a bishop in Ireland, it is
doubtful if he was ever consecrated. He is often called the "Teacher of
Irish Saints" and at one time had as pupils at Clonard the so- called
Twelve Apostles of Ireland, including Saint Columba of Iona, Saint Ciaran of
Clommacnois, and Saint Brendan the Voyager (Attwater, Benedictines, Delaney,
Encyclopedia).
SOURCE : http://www.saintpatrickdc.org/ss/1212.shtml
FINNIAN, SS.
The name of several Irish
saints, of whom two are important.
Finnian of Clonard,
abbot; b. Leinster, Ireland;d.549, Annals of Ulster. Finnian, or Finian, was
one of the most important personalities in early Irish monastic history, he
studied in Leinster before going to Wales, where he visited several important
Welsh monasteries. Upon returning to Ireland, he made his principal foundation
at Clonard (three miles east of Kinnegad on the Dublin-Galway road), one of the
first great Irish monasteries. It combined Irish and Welsh monastic traditions
and teachings. From Clonard, monastic enthusiasm spread throughout Ireland.
Finnian's students included such Irish saints and monastic founders as columba
of iona, brendan, Kieran of Clonmacnois, and kenneth of derry. Finnian is the
author of the oldest of the surviving Irish penitentials, compiled sometime
after 525.
Feast: Dec. 12.
Finnian of Moville,
abbot; b. north of Ireland; d. 579, Annals of Ulster, or 576, Annals of
Inisfallen. After having studied at the famous Scottish priory of whithorn,
founded by St. Ninian, he made his own principal foundation at Moville, near
Newtownards on Strangford Lough, Ireland. Surviving evidence presents Finnian— who
is sometimes known also as Findbarr, both names meaning "fair-haired"—as
a notable scholar. There are chronological difficulties in the belief that he
taught columba of iona, and there appears to be no real historical basis for
the legend that the two saints quarreled over a stolen copy of the Psalter.
Feast: Sept. 10.
Bibliography: Finnian of
Clonard. J. F. Kenney, The Sources for the Early History of Ireland: v.1, Ecclesiastical (New
York 1929) 374–376. P. Grosjean, "Mention de S. Finnián de clúain
Iraird …, " Analecta Bollandiana 72 (1954) 347–352. The
Irish Life of Saint Finnian of Clonard, ed. E. Hickey (Tara 1996). K. W. ughes, "S. Finnian of Clonard," summary of thesis, Bulletin of
the Institute of Historical Research 25 (1952) 76–78; "The Cult of
St. F. of Clonard …, " Irish Historical Studies 9 (1954–55)
13–27; "The Historical Value of the Lives of St. F. of
Clonard," English Historical Review 69 (1954) 353–372; "The
Offices of St. F. of Clonard …, " Analecta Bollandiana 73
(1955) 342–372; "Additional Note on the Office of St. F. of
Clonard," ibid. 75 (1957) 337–339. A tr. of Finnian's
penitential in J. T. Mc Neill and H. M. Gamer, Medieval Handbooks of
Penance (New
York 1938) 86–97. Finnian of Moville. J. F. Kenney, The
Sources for the Early History of Ireland: v.1, Ecclesiastical (New
York 1929) 390–391. O. Davies, "Movilla Abbey," Ulster Journal
of Archaeology 8 (1945) 33–38. A. Butler, The Lives of the Saints, ed. H. Thurston and D. Attwater (New York 1956) 3:531–532. For the legend of the
quarrel with Columba, D. D. C. Pochin Mould, The Irish Saints (Dublin
1964) 95–97, 169–171.
[D. D. C. Pochin Mould]
New Catholic Encyclopedia
SOURCE : https://www.encyclopedia.com/religion/encyclopedias-almanacs-transcripts-and-maps/finnian-ss
Fifth
stained glass window in a series depicting the life of St. Finian in the Church
of St. Finian at Clonard. The windows were created by Hogan in 1957. The
inscription reads: Saint Finian and followers building Clonard. This
image has been postprocessed with the help of Gimp.
Fifth
stained glass window in a series depicting the life of St. Finian in the Church
of St. Finian at Clonard. The windows were created by Hogan in 1957. The
inscription reads: Saint Finian and followers building Clonard. This
image has been postprocessed with the help of Gimp.
December 12
St. Finian, or Finan,
Bishop of Cluain-Irard, or Clonard, Confessor in Ireland
AMONG the primitive
teachers of the Irish church the name of St. Finian 1 is
one of the most famous next to that of St. Patrick. He was a native of
Leinster, was instructed in the elements of Christian virtue by the disciples
of St. Patrick, and out of an ardent desire of making greater progress passed
over into Wales, where he conversed with St. David, St. Gildas, and St.
Cathmael, three eminent British saints. After having remained thirty years in
Britain, about the year 520 he returned into Ireland, excellently qualified by
sanctity and sacred learning to restore the spirit of religion among his
countrymen, which had begun to decay. Like a loud trumpet sounding from heaven,
he roused the sloth and insensibility of the lukewarm and softened the hearts
that were most hardened, and had been long immersed in worldly business and pleasure.
To propagate the work of God, St. Finian established several monasteries and
schools; the chief of which was Clonard, in Meath, which was the saint’s
principal residence. Out of his school came several of the principal saints and
doctors of Ireland, as Kiaran the Younger, Columkille, Columba, the son of
Crimthain, the two Brendans, Laserian, Canicus or Kenny, Ruadan, and others.
St. Finian was chosen and
consecrated bishop of Clonard. 2 The
great monastery which he erected at Clonard was a famous seminary of sacred
learning. 3 St.
Finian, in the love of his flock, and his zeal for their salvation, equalled
the Basils and the Chrysostoms, was infirm with the infirm, and wept with those
who wept. He healed the souls, and often also the bodies of those who applied
to him. His food was bread and herbs, his drink water, and his bed the ground,
with a stone for his pillow. He departed to our Lord on the 12th of December,
in 552, according to the Inisfallen Annals, quoted by Usher, but according to
others in 564. See his life, published by Colgan, on the 23rd of February.
Usher, Ant. Brit. c. 18, p. 493, and Index Chronol. p. 531. Sir James Ware,
Ant. Hib. c. 29, de Eccl. Cathedr. p. 291, and on the Bishops, p. 136. See also
the note on St. Ultan, 4th of September.
Note 1. Fin, in
Irish, signifies white, as does Gwin or Win in Welsh. See Usher, p.
494. [back]
Note 2. Simon
Rochfort, the last bishop of Clonard, translated this see to a monastery of
Regular Canons, which he built at Trim in honour of SS. Peter and Paul, in
1209. He and his predecessor, Eugenius, first took the title of bishops of
Meath; to which two other sees were united about the thirteenth century,
namely, that of Kenlis or Kells, where St. Columkille founded his monastery of
Cells about the year 550, and that of Duleek, anciently called Damliag, which
bishopric was founded by St. Cianan, who is honoured on the 24th of
November. [back]
Note 3. The
monastery of Regular Canons of St. Austin, which subsisted at Clonard till the
dissolution of religious houses, was erected upon the ruins of St. Finian’s
abbey, in honour of St. Peter, by Walter Lacy, lord of Trim, son of the
ambitious Hugh Lacy, who having conquered this country was made lord of Meath
by Henry II. but afterwards beheaded by one O’Meey, an Irishman, as he and
O’Meey were measuring the fosse which surrounded the castle then erecting at
Dairmagh, now called Durrow. See Littleton’s Henry II. and Harris’s Hib. [back]
Rev. Alban
Butler (1711–73). Volume XII: December. The Lives of the
Saints. 1866
SOURCE : http://www.bartleby.com/210/12/122.html
Sixth
stained glass window in a series depicting the life of St. Finian in the Church
of St. Finian at Clonard. The windows were created by Hogan in 1957. The
inscription reads: Saint Finian preaches to his monks at Clonard. This
image has been postprocessed with the help of Gimp.
Sixth
stained glass window in a series depicting the life of St. Finian in the Church
of St. Finian at Clonard. The windows were created by Hogan in 1957. The
inscription reads: Saint Finian preaches to his monks at Clonard. This
image has been postprocessed with the help of Gimp.
School of Clonard
Clonard (Irish, Cluain
Eraird, or Cluain Iraird, Erard's Meadow) was situated on the
beautiful river Boyne, just beside the boundary line of the northern
and southern halves of Ireland.
The founder of this school,
the most famous of the sixth century, was St. Finnian, an abbot and
great wonder-worker. He was born at Myshall, County Carlow, about 470. At an
early age he was placed under the care of St. Fortchern, by whose direction, it
is said, he proceeded to Wales to perfect himself
in holiness and sacred knowledge under
the great saints of
that country. After a long sojourn there, of thirty years according to
the Salamanca manuscript,
he returned to his native land and went about from place to place, preaching,
teaching, and founding churches, till he was at last led by an angel to
Cluain Eraird, which he was told would be the place of his resurrection.
Here he built a little cell and a church of clay and wattle, which
after some time gave way to
a substantial stone structure, and entered on a life of
study, mortification,
and prayer.
The fame of his learning and sanctity was
soon noised abroad, and scholars of all ages flocked from every side to
his monastic retreat — young laymen and clerics, abbots and bishops even,
and those illustrious saints who
were afterwards known as the "Twelve Apostles of Erin". In
the Office of St. Finnian it is stated that there were no
fewer than 3000 pupils getting instruction at one time in the school in
the green fields of Clonard under the broad canopy of heaven.
The master excelled in exposition of the Sacred
Scriptures, and to this fact must be mainly attributed the extraordinary
popularity which his lectures enjoyed. The exact date of
the saint's death
is uncertain, but it was probably 552, and his burial-place is in his
own church of Clonard. For centuries after his death the school continued
to be renowned as a seat of Scriptural learning, but it suffered at
the hands of the Danes, especially in the eleventh century, and two
wretched Irishmen,
O'Rorke of Breifney and Dermod McMurrough, helped to complete the unholy work
which the Northmen had
begun. With the transference by the Norman Bishop de Rochfort,
in 1206, of the See
of Meath from Clonard to Trim, the glory of the former
place departed forever.
Sources
Irish Life in Book
of Lismore; HEALY, Ireland's Ancient Schools and Scholars (Dublin,
1890).
Healy, John. "School
of Clonard." The Catholic Encyclopedia. Vol. 4. New York: Robert Appleton
Company, 1908. 12 Dec. 2016 <http://www.newadvent.org/cathen/04064a.htm>.
Transcription. This
article was transcribed for New Advent by Anthony J. Stokes.
Ecclesiastical
approbation. Nihil Obstat. Remy Lafort, Censor. Imprimatur. +John
M. Farley, Archbishop of New York.
Copyright © 2026 by New Advent LLC.
Dedicated to the Immaculate Heart of Mary.
SOURCE : http://www.newadvent.org/cathen/04064a.htm
Seventh
stained glass window in a series depicting the life of St. Finian in the Church
of St. Finian at Clonard. The windows were created by Hogan in 1957. The
inscription reads: Saint Finian imparts his blessing to twelve apostles of
Ireland. This image has been postprocessed with the help of Gimp.
Seventh
stained glass window in a series depicting the life of St. Finian in the Church
of St. Finian at Clonard. The windows were created by Hogan in 1957. The
inscription reads: Saint Finian imparts his blessing to twelve apostles of
Ireland. This image has been postprocessed with the help of Gimp.
Pictorial
Lives of the Saints – Saint Finian, Bishop
Article
Saint Finian was a native
of Leinster, was instructed in the elements of Christian virtue by the
disciples of Saint Patrick, and passed over into Wales; but about the year 520
he returned into Ireland. To propagate the work of God, our Saint established
several monasteries and schools. Saint Finian was chosen and consecrated bishop
of Clonard. In the love of his flock and his zeal for their salvation, he was
infirm with the infirm, and wept with those that wept. He healed the souls, and
often also the bodies, of those that applied to him. He departed to Our Lord on
the 12th of December in 552.
MLA
Citation
John Dawson Gilmary Shea.
“Saint Finian, Bishop”. Pictorial Lives of the
Saints, 1922. CatholicSaints.Info.
15 December 2018. Web. 19 August 2026.
<https://catholicsaints.info/pictorial-lives-of-the-saints-saint-finian-bishop/>
SOURCE : https://catholicsaints.info/pictorial-lives-of-the-saints-saint-finian-bishop/
Eighth
stained glass window in a series depicting the life of St. Finian in the Church
of St. Finian at Clonard. The windows were created by Hogan in 1957. The
inscription reads: Saint Finian tutor of Ireland's Twelve Apostles. This
image has been postprocessed with the help of Gimp.
Eighth
stained glass window in a series depicting the life of St. Finian in the Church
of St. Finian at Clonard. The windows were created by Hogan in 1957. The
inscription reads: Saint Finian tutor of Ireland's Twelve Apostles. This
image has been postprocessed with the help of Gimp.
Below is a reproduction
of a biography of Saint Finnian from the Irish Ecclesiastical Record (Volume
13 (1892), 810-815). This reproduction is taken from the Under
the Oak blog that is written and maintained by one of our parishioners.
ST. FINNIAN OF CLONARD.
SAINT FINNIAN of Clonard,
" Tutor of the Saints of Ireland," lived in the sixth century. He was
a native of Leinster ; his birthplace is generally supposed to have been near
the present town of New Ross. Saint Finnian was of the race of Ir, and belonged
to the Clan na Rudhraidhe. His name appears to be a diminutive of Finn,
"white." He was a contemporary of Finnian of Moville, whose name
comes next in the list of saints of the second class.
Saint Abban baptized Finnian,
and at an early age he was placed under the care of Bishop Fortchern of Trim.
With him he remained thirty years. At the end of that period Finnian proceeded
to Britain, and settled at Kilmuine or Menevia, where he placed himself under
David, Gildas, and Cadoc. David was grandson of an Irish prince, Bracan. He
taught St. Aidan of Ferns, was first Bishop of Menevia, and died A.D. 589.
Gildas was the author of De Excidio Britannia, according to the Annals of
Ulster. He died A.D 570. Cadoc is represented as cousin to St. David, and was a
pupil of St. Thaddeus, an Irishman. Saint Finnian is said to have founded three
churches in Britain, but they have not been identified. While a monk at the
monastery of St. David, Finnian on one occasion was asked to supply the place
of oeconomus, or house steward, in the absence of the monk who generally filled
that office. Finnian replied that he would be unable to do so, as he was
unprovided with the necessary requirements for carrying wood and provisions.
His superior having insisted on his undertaking the task, Finnian obeyed, and
we read in his life that an angel came to his assistance. What before had
seemed an impossibility he was able to accomplish by the aid of this heavenly
messenger.
How long Finnian remained
at St. David's monastery is uncertain. Lanigan thinks he returned to Ireland
about A.D. 520. Before leaving Britain Finnian determined to undertake a
journey to Rome, but an angel warned him not to do so, but to return to his own
country " Redite ad vestras plebes, Deus enim acceptat intentionem
Vestram." Finnian was accompanied to Ireland by several friends, among
whom special mention is made of Biteus and Genoc. On his passage to Ireland,
says Dr. Lanigan, he stopped a while with his friend Caimin, and landed at the
port Kille-Caireni, in Wexford.
Finnian sent messengers
to Muiredeach, sovereign of Ky-Kinsellagh, asking permission to enter his
territory. The king generously acceded to his request, and came himself to see
Finnian, in whose presence Muiredeach prostrated himself on the ground, and
promised the saint a site for a monastery. Saint Finnian erected an
establishment at Achadh Abhla ; i.e., “Field of the Apple-Tree," which now
bears the name Aghowle, or Aghold, in the barony of Shillelagh, County Wicklow.
It was anciently called Crosalech. Here St. Finnian resided for sixteen years.
At Mughna, County Carlow, he erected another monastery, and is said to have
lectured there for seven years on the Sacred Scriptures. It is probably while
there that he preached on one occasion in presence of St. Brigid.
We now approach the most
important event in St. Finnian's life in his settlement at Clonard, County
Meath, which during his lifetime became the most celebrated sanctuary in
Ireland for piety and learning. Cluain-Eraird i. e., Erard's Lawn or Meadow is
the derivation given by O'Donovan. Erard was a man's name, very common in
Ireland, signifying lofty or noble. Again, we find it related in the saint's
life that an angel appeared to him directing him as to where he should take up
his abode. Saint Finnian entered Clonard repeating the psalm " Haec
requies mea in Saeculum Saeculi hic habitabo quoniam elegi eam."
The date of the saint's
arrival at Clonard is said to be about A.D. 530. It is a matter of doubt
whether St. Finnian was a bishop. The Four Masters simply term him abbot. Such
is the title accorded to him in the Martyrology of Donegal and other Irish
calendars. Dr. Lanigan seems to think that St. Finnian was only abbot. It is,
doubtless, a fact that Clonard was an episcopal see, but it is quite possible
that it did not become so till after Finnian's time. His successor at Clonard,
St. Seanach, is called bishop by the Four Masters. The school of Clonard in a
short time became famous in Ireland. Those great men who were afterward called
the Twelve Apostles of Ireland came to seek instruction from Finnian viz.,
Columba, the two Brendans, Ciaran of Saigher, his namesake of Clonmacnoise,
Columb of Tir-da-ghlas, Mobhi Claraineach, Molaish, Canice, and Ruadhan of
Lothra. Three thousand scholars are said to have been educated at Clonard
during the saint's lifetime, and the holy founder was justly termed
"Magister Sanctorum Hiberniae sui temporis." In the Life of St.
Ciaran of Clonmacnoise we read : " In schola sapientissimi magistri
Finniani plures Sancti Hibernise erant ;" and in that of St. Columb of
Tir-da-ghlas : "Audiens famam S. Finniani Episcopi de Cluain-Eraird, ut
Sacram Scripturam addisceret accessit ;" and, lastly, we find it said of St.
Ruadhan :"Legens diversas Scripturas et multum proficiens in eis."
Colgan enumerates thirty two saints who received instruction from St. Finnian,
and bears testimony of the fame of Clonard, where students assembled from
various parts of Europe.
Saint Finnian did not permit
his multifarious labours in behalf of learning to interfere with his duties
towards the needy and afflicted. We read in his life that he was a father to
all who sought help from him: " Flebat cum flentibus."
"Infirmabatur enim cum infirmis." On a certain occasion a bard named
German presented St. Finnian with a beautiful poem, in which many of his
virtues were extolled; the bard demanded from the saint not gold or silver, or
any worldly substance, but only fertility of produce in his lands. Finnian answered
him, and said : "Sing over water the hymn which thou hast composed, and
sprinkle the land with that water." The bard did as he was directed, and
his land produced abundant fruit.
In the historical tale
"The Expedition of the Sons of Carra," published by O' Curry in his
MS. Materials of Ancient Irish History, we have a description of St. Finnian's
interviews with the three brothers, who had plundered the churches of
Connaught. O 'Curry observes that while these tales often contain matter
without resemblance to facts, we are not to reject them wholly on that account,
but rather make allowance for poetic embellishment, at the same time having
good ground for believing that a foundation of truth exists. The story is as
follows : -
" Three brothers actuated
by an evil spirit plundered the churches of Connaught. In their wicked
enterprise they were joined by a band of adventurers as daring as themselves.
They commenced by pillaging the Church of Tuam, and never ceased till they had
laid waste more than half the churches of the province. When the three brothers
arrived at the Church of Clothar, they determined to kill the old man, who was
the Airchennech of that place ; he was their grandfather; but he, though
suspecting their evil design, treated them with kindness, and assigned to them
a comfortable resting-place. Lochan, the eldest of the three brothers, that
night had a vision, which alarmed him so much that he became
conscience-stricken. He saw represented before him the eternal joys of heaven
and the torments of hell. When morning came he acquainted his brothers of what
he saw, and like him they felt remorse for their wicked deeds. The brothers
Carra sought the pardon and prayers of their grandfather. They took counsel
with the old man as to what course they should pursue in order to obtain God's
forgiveness and to make reparation for the past. He told them to repair to St.
Finnian, the great teacher, and to submit themselves to his spiritual
direction. The Ua Carra immediately put off their warlike attire, and donned
the garb of pilgrims, and with staves instead of swords hastened to Clonard. At
their approach the inhabitants fled, for the fame of their evil deeds had
spread far and wide. St. Finnian alone came out to meet them ; the brothers
threw themselves on their knees, and besought his friendship and pardon. ' What
do you want, said Finnian.' ' We want,' said they, ' to take upon us the habit
of religion and penitence, and henceforward to serve God.' ' Your determination
is a good one,' said Finnian, ' let us come into the town, where my people
are.' They entered the town, and Finnian took counsel with his people
respecting the penitents. It was decided that they should be placed for the
space of a year under the direction of a certain divinity student, with whom
alone they were to converse during that period. The Ua Carra faithfully
complied with the mode of life laid out for them, and when the year expired
presented themselves before St. Finnian for his benediction. The saint blessed
them, saying, ' You cannot restore to life the innocent ecclesiastics whom you
have slain, but you can go and repair, and restore as far as is in your power,
the churches and other buildings which you have ruined.' The sons of Ua Carra
took an affectionate leave of St. Finnian, and as the Church of Tuam was the
first which suffered from their plundering, they wished it to be the first that
they should restore. They repaired it, and proceeded from place to place,
making amends for the injury they had inflicted on the churches of Connaught.
Having restored all the churches but one, the Ua Carra returned to St. Finnian,
who inquired if they had finished their work. They replied, 'We have repaired
all the churches but one.' ' Which is that?'asked Finnian. 'The Church of Ceann
Mara (Kinvara),' they said. ' Alas !' said the saint, ' this was the first
church you ought to have repaired the church of the holy man Coman ; return
now, and repair every damage, you have done to that place.' The brothers obeyed
St. Finnian's command, and restored the church. By the advice of St. Coman they
built a canoe, and undertook a voyage on the Atlantic Ocean."
Thus far the tale refers
to St. Finnian ; the voyage and its results does not come within the scope of
this paper.
St. Finnian's mode of
life was very austere, his usual food was bread and herbs ; on festival days he
allowed himself a little beer or whey ; he slept on the bare grounds, and a
stone served him for a pillow.
In his last illness the
saint was attended by his former pupil St. Colomb, of Tir-da-Ghlas, who
administered to him the Holy Viaticum. The Four Masters record his death A.D.
548; but the year 550 or 551 appears to be the correct date. It is stated in
some of our annals that Finnian died of the plague ; there is no doubt that the
plague was in Ireland during this period, viz., 548 and 551. In the Chronicon
Scotorum, under 551, we read : "A great mortality, i. e., the Chronn
Conaill." St. Finnian is enumerated among its victims.
This great saint is commemorated
by Oenghus in the following verse :
" A Tower of Gold
over the sea,
May he bring help to my
soul,
Is Finnian fair, the
beloved root
Of the great
Cluain-Eraird."
St. Finnian's sister, St.
Regnach, was Abbess of Kilreynagh, near the present town of Banagher, King's
County.
Hardy, in his Descriptive
Catalogue of British History, mentions four lives of St. Finnian: viz., Ex. MS.
Salmanticensis (which is given by Colgan) ; MS. Life, Duke of Devonshire ; MS.
Trinity College, Dublin, referred to by Bishop Nicholson in his Irish
Historical Library ; and MS. Bodleian Library, which begins thus : " Fuit
vir nobilia in Hiberniae partibus." (Hardy's Catalogue, p. 128, vol. i.,
part 1.)
December 12th (the day of
his death) is observed as his Feast.
JOHN M. THUNDER
©2009-2015 Russian
Orthodox Community of St Finnian of Clonard, Belfast
SOURCE : http://stfinnian.webs.com/biographyofstfinnian.htm
Detail
of stained glass featuring St. Finnian of Clonard in the Irish
Nationality Room of the Nationality Rooms at the University of Pittsburgh's Cathedral of Learning. Manufactured by the
Harry Clarke Studios in Dublin in 1956/57.
Venerable Finnian, Abbot
of Clonard
Commemorated December
12/25
St. Finnian, a native of
Leinster in Ireland, was destined to become one of the greatest fathers of the
Irish monasticism. His life was compiled in the 10th century. According to the
tradition, the future saint was born to a noble family in the second half of
the 5th century, most probably in the village of Myshall in the present-day
county of Carlow. When his mother was still pregnant, she once saw in a dream
that a bright flame flew into her mouth and then flew away like a glorious
bird, which at once flew between the northern and southern parts of Ireland,
attracting a huge flock of other birds from all over the country, which
followed it. The woman told her husband about her vision, and he understood
that their child would become a great teacher and mentor. All this later came
true.
The young St. Finnian was
probably educated in Idrone. His first teacher was St. Fortchern of Trim, a
disciple of St. Patrick. Some time later, the Saint founded his first three
monasteries, which were situated at Rossacurra, Drumfea, and Kilmaglush.
According to some sources, St. Finnian studied for a short time in the great
monastic centre of St. Martin in Tours in Gaul. It is certain that this ascetic
learned the fundamentals and skills of monastic life in Wales, in the tradition
of the great hermits of Egypt. There his teachers included great fathers of the
Welsh Church: St. David, St. Gildas the Wise, and, particularly, St. Cadoc.
This experience proved to be extremely useful for the saint in the future.
St. Finnian meant to go
to Rome after his training in Wales, but an angel appeared to him in a vision
and told the saint to return to his native Ireland, where he was to become
"a teacher and tutor of Irish Saints". Significantly, among the
future disciples of St. Finnian was St. Columba, one of the greatest early
Irish missionaries. After some 20 or 30 years in Wales, St. Finnian returned to
Ireland, where he founded a great number of churches and monasteries, for
example, at Aghowle (in Wicklow) and Mugna Sulcain. The holy man liked Aghowle
very much and wanted to stay there forever, but the angel appeared to him again
and commanded him to go further, as that was the will of God.
As was the case with
other early Irish saints, St. Finnian became a travelling missionary. On the
island of Skellig Michael, not far from the shores of Kerry, which later became
one of the most famous bastions of Irish Orthodoxy, St. Finnian built several
churches and founded monastic communities. After that the ascetic visited the
monastery of Kildare, under the great Abbess St. Brigid, and remained there for
some years. He left Kildare to continue his journeys and finally reached
Clonard, situated on the River Boyne in the present-day county of Meath. And
the Lord revealed that in this very old and pagan place, where there had never
been any churches or monasteries before him, the saint’s main labors were to
take place.
At Clonard St. Finnian,
first of all built a small cell and tiny church, and in the year 520 founded a
monastery, which became the largest and the most important in Ireland. St.
Finnian became the first abbot of this monastery and organized life there,
taking as his model the practices of Welsh monasteries. This form of
monasticism was based on the traditions of the holy fathers of the East with
the compulsory study of the Holy Scriptures.
St. Finnian was venerated
as one of the greatest saints of his time. Numerous disciples flocked to him.
According to his life there lived some 3000 monks at Clonard at the same time.
Monks and laypeople, bishops and priests, poor and rich—everybody came to him
for spiritual advice. The fame of St. Finnian, loved and honoured for his
exemplary life, learning, gift of prayer and many miracles, spread all over
Ireland and far beyond. Monks and theologians from various countries visited
St. Finnian‘s monastery. Over the centuries thousands of monks there studied
the Holy Scriptures, the works of the Church Fathers, grew in monastic life and
were then sent as missionaries to distant lands. The rule of Clonard was known
for its strictness and asceticism. The brethren slept little and rose early in
the morning, prayed frequently and fervently, ate little and worked hard.
St. Finnian himself used
to sleep on the bare, earthen floor of his primitive cell and never put
anything under his head. His iron girdle served him as chains in his ascetic
labours. According to the evidence of one of his disciples, the venerable abbot
became so emaciated because of his many years of extreme ascetic life that his
ribs could easily be seen through his clothes.
The disciples of Clonard
established hundreds of churches and monasteries in Ireland as well as in other
countries. According to a custom which existed in Clonard, every monk who left
the monastery as a missionary took with him a copy of the Gospels, a crozier
and some holy object (for example, a reliquary) and later, when building his
own church or monastery, placed these relics inside it. Thanks to Clonard and
other monasteries of similar reputation, Ireland became known as "The
Island of Saints". Under the influence of Welsh saints and, originally,
St. John Cassian in Gaul, St. Finnian compiled the first Irish Penitentiary,
which, in its turn, influenced St. Columbanus, who compiled his own and more
famous version. The Abbot also had a reputation as a brilliant interpreter of
the Scriptures.
St. Finnian died of the
plague in 549 (others say in 552). His relics remained in the monastery church
at Clonard until 887. There is evidence that after his main relics had been
vandalised by barbarians in that year, a small portion of his relics were kept
in a parish church near Clonard till the 17th century. The monastery flourished
till the 9th century and was considered as the second most important monastery
in Ireland after Armagh. Unfortunately, following the attacks of the Vikings
from the 9th to the 11th centuries, the glory of this monastery faded.
In Clonard today visitors
can find a statue of St. Finnian and a church dedicated to him, which contains
stained glass of the saint with his disciples. Only minor ruins remain of the
former monastery. In the village of Myshall in Carlow, where according to
tradition St. Finnian was born, there are ruins of a pre-Norman church, which
stood there for many years but was ruined under Cromwell in the 17th century.
In the village of Aghowle there are ruins of the ancient monastic church, which
was built by St. Finnian himself early in the 6th century. In the 18th century
a new church of St. Michael was built near it. An ancient cross of St. Finnian
has survived in this village as well. Today there is also a Russian Orthodox
mission in Belfast in Northern Ireland dedicated to St. Finnian.
29 / 12 / 2013
SOURCE : http://www.pravoslavie.ru/english/67125.htm
Wooden
life size sculpture of St. Finian in the Church of St. Finian at Clonard. The
sculpture was carved in Bolzano, Italy, in the 1940s(?)
San Finniano di Clonard Vescovo
† 549
Martirologio Romano: A
Clonard in Irlanda, san Finniano, abate, che, fondatore di molti monasteri, fu
padre e maestro di una grande schiera di monaci.
San Finniano fu una
figura eminente tra i santi irlandesi nel periodo immediatamente successivo a
San Patrizio, apostolo dell’isola celtica, e diverse leggende nacquero attorno
al suo nome. Una “Vita” risalente al X secolo narra che il santo nacque e
studiò a Leinster, probabilmente ad Idrone, nella contea di Carlow. Nei pressi
di tale città istituì tre fondazioni: Rossacurra, Drumfea e Kilmaglush.
Trasferitosi poi in Galles, approfondì il monachesimo tradizionale di San David
di Menevia, San Cadoco e San Gilda, che consideravano la vita monastica
superiore a quella secolare ed attribuivano particolare importanza allo studio.
Finniano fece ritorno in
Irlanda per fondare chiese e monasteri. Il suo grande monastero si trovava
sul Boyne, nella contea di Meath, ove divenne celebre quale “maestro dei santi
d’Irlanda” e quasi tre migliaia di discepoli si raccolsero attorno a lui.
Secondo il Libro di Lismore, quando i monaci lasciarono Clonard, portarono con
loro un libro dei Vangeli, un pastorale ed un reliquiario, attorno ai quali
costruirono le loro chiese ed i monasteri. L’educazione dei santi del
periodo successivo è considerata opera di San Finniano, ottimo conoscitore
della Sacra Scrittura. Clonard mantenne infatti per secoli la sua reputazione
di luogo specializzato negli studi biblici. Il monastero di Clonard subì vari
attacchi durante le invasioni danesi e normanne, ma comunque dall’inizio del
XIII secolo cessò la sua funzione di centro religioso della diocesi di Meath e
passò ai canonici agostiniani, sino al XVI secolo.
San Finniano morì
probabilmente di peste nel dicembre del 549, assistendo altre vittime della
terribile epidemia. L’autore di una sua “Vita” irlandese afferma infatti: “Come
Paolo morì a Roma per amore del popolo cristiano, altrimenti sarebbero tutti
peritiall’inferno, Finnian morì a Clonard per amore del popolo, perchè non
morissero tutti di peste gialla”.
Il Penitenziale di
Finnian è un’opera attribuibile a lui. Esso si basa in parte su fonti gallesi
ed irlandesi, su San Girolamo e San Giovanni Cassiano, ma parecchio materiale è
invece originale e costituisce il più antico esempio di tal genere. Contribuì
assai ad accrescere l’influenza di Clonard nella disciplina penitenziale e
negli studi biblici. Le reliquie del santo furono custodite nella sua abbazia
sino alla loro distruzione nell’887.
Autore: Fabio
Arduino
SOURCE : http://www.santiebeati.it/dettaglio/93212
St. Finnian of Clonard, 470–December
12, 549. Patron Saint of diocese of Meath : https://ewtnmission.com/dailysaint/st-finnian-of-clonard/
Dec 12 – St Finnian (d. 539) abbot of Clonard : http://www.catholicireland.net/saintoftheday/st-finnian-d-539-abbot-of-clonard/
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