Saint Fintan
Patriarche des moines
irlandais (+ 603)
Confesseur.
Abbé de Clonegah, disciple de saint Columba. Aux disciples qui voulaient se ranger sous sa conduite, il traça une règle du plus sévère ascétisme, tempérée par une sincère humilité et sa grande douceur à l'égard de tous. On le considère comme l'un des pères de l'Irlande monastique.
A lire (en anglais): St Fintan of Clonenagh, célèbre ascète - illustration - catholicireland.net
Au monastère de Cluain Ednech en Irlande, saint Fintan, abbé, fondateur de ce
monastère, célèbre par son austérité.
Martyrologe romain
SOURCE : https://nominis.cef.fr/contenus/saint/658/Saint-Fintan.html
The
Grave of St Fintan at Kilfountain on the Dingle peninsula, a pillar stone with
his name written on it.
Also
known as
Fintán of Clúain Ednech
Profile
Spiritual student
of Saint Columba.
Austere hermit at Clonenagh, Ireland.
Many would-be students gathered around him that he founded a house for them and
served as their abbot.
He set such an austere example that neighboring monasteries complained
they could not keep up; though he was very severe on himself, Fintan was known
to be gentle and forgiving with others. Spiritual teacher of Saint Comgall
of Bangor.
Legend says that
Fintan’s mother received
an angelic visit
to explain what a holy son she would have. Fintan was reputed to have the gifts
of prophecy and knowledge of distant events. Witnesses say that when he prayed by
himself, he was surrounded by light.
Born
603 of
natural causes
Additional
Information
Book
of Saints, by the Monks of
Ramsgate
Lives
of Irish Saints, by Father Albert Barry
Lives
of the Saints, by Father Alban
Butler
books
Our Sunday Visitor’s Encyclopedia of Saints
other
sites in english
sitios
en español
Martirologio Romano, 2001 edición
fonti
in italiano
nettsteder
i norsk
MLA
Citation
“Saint Fintán of
Clonenagh“. CatholicSaints.Info. 1 May 2020. Web. 16 February 2022.
<https://catholicsaints.info/saint-fintan-of-clonenagh/>
SOURCE : https://catholicsaints.info/saint-fintan-of-clonenagh/
Clonenagh
St. Fintan's Tree
This tree, an acer pseudoplatanus, was planted in the late 18th or early 19th century at the site of the Early Christian monastic site of Clonenagh. The monastery was founded in the 6th century by St. Colum and then left to his disciple St. Fintan when St. Colum moved on to Terryglass. The tree is dedicated to St. Fintan and it became custom to insert coins into the tree from which the tree suffered and was already believed to be dead until the tree started to recover with some new shoots.
St. Fintan of Clonenagh
A Leinster saint, b.
about 524; d. 17 February, probably 594, or at least before 597. He studied
under St. Columba of
Terryglass, and in 550 settled in the solitude of the Slieve Bloom
Mountains, near what is now Maryborough, Queen's County. His oratory soon
attracted numerous disciples, for whom he wrote a rule, and his austerities
and miracles recalled
the apostolic ages.
Among his pupils was the great St. Comgall of
Bangor. When he attained his seventieth year he chose Fintan Maeldubh as his
successor in the Abbey of Clonenagh. He has been compared by the Irish annalists to St.
Benedict, and is styled "Father of the Irish Monks".
Grattan-Flood,
William. "Sts. Fintan." The Catholic Encyclopedia. Vol.
6. New York: Robert Appleton Company, 1909. 16 Feb.
2022 <http://www.newadvent.org/cathen/06078a.htm>.
Transcription. This
article was transcribed for New Advent by David M. Cheney. Dedicated to
Ceil Holman (1907-1996), my grandmother.
Ecclesiastical
approbation. Nihil Obstat. September 1, 1909. Remy Lafort,
Censor. Imprimatur. +John M. Farley, Archbishop of New York.
Copyright © 2021 by Kevin Knight.
Dedicated to the Immaculate Heart of Mary.
SOURCE : https://www.newadvent.org/cathen/06078a.htm
February 17
St. Fintan, Abbot of
Cluain-Ednech, in Ireland
WHICH Usher
interprets the Ivy-Cave, in the diocess of Lethglean, in Leinster, in the sixth
century. He had for disciple St. Comgal, the founder of the abbey of Benchor,
and master of St. Columban. Colgan reckons twenty-four Irish saints of the name
of Fintan; but probably several of these were the same person honoured in
several places. Another St. Fintan. surnamed Munnu, who is honoured on the 21st
of October, was very famous. See Colgan, Usher, and Henschenius
Rev. Alban
Butler (1711–73). Volume II: February. The Lives of the
Saints. 1866
SOURCE : https://www.bartleby.com/210/2/175.html
New Catholic
Dictionary – Saint Fintan
Article
Abbot of
Clonenagh, born Gorey barony, Wicklow, Ireland, 524; died c.597.
He was a pupil of Saint Columba of Terryglass. In 550 he
retired to the solitude of Slieve Bloom Mountains, Leix County, where he
attracted numerous followers (among them Saint Comgall
of Bangor), for whom he composed an austere rule.
He is often called the “Father of Irish monks” and the “Benedict of
Erin.” Feast, 18
February.
MLA
Citation
“Saint Fintan”. New Catholic Dictionary. CatholicSaints.Info.
30 January 2013. Web. 17 February 2022.
<https://catholicsaints.info/new-catholic-dictionary-saint-fintan/>
SOURCE : https://catholicsaints.info/new-catholic-dictionary-saint-fintan/
Lives of Irish
Saints – Saint Fionntan
Article
Saint Fionntan was born
at Cluain-mac-Trein (near New Ross) in the year 526. His father was Gabhren and
his mother was Fionndath, An angel made known to them that their new-born child
would be great and holy; and Saint Columba also foretold his holiness.
Fionntan was sent to the
monastic school of Tir-da-Ghlas, on the bank of Loch-Deirgdheire (Lough Derg),
and there he was taught by Saint Columba-mac-Crimthan. After staying at that
school for many years he went with Saint Coemhan and Saint Mochumin to Cluain-Eidhneach
(Clonenagh, near Mountrath), a fertile spot, amidst a bog, at the foot of
Sliabh Bladhma (Slieve Bloom), and there built a church and monastery, in the
year 548. Saint Columba saw angels come down there.
Fionntan and his Monks
led a very hard and holy life at Cluain-Eidhneach. They tilled the land; fasted
and prayed, ate neither butter, eggs, nor flesh-meat. They did not even keep a
cow. He himself, as Saint Aenghus writes, never ate anything besides a little
barley-bread, and never drank anything besides a little muddy water from a
stream flowing through the bog hard-by.
The wooden huts amidst
the lonely bog were soon filled with youths willing to bear the hard fare and
to cut themselves off from the outside world. Saint Comgall came from his far
northern home and put himself under the holy Superior. All these holy men
worked and prayed in turn, eating little but praying much and working hard.
They went forth every day to a wood on the side of Sliabh Bladhma and hewed
timber for the monastic buildings: they brought firewood on their backs across
the bog, and embanked the swift-flowing Fheoir (Nore) that after heavy rain
often overflowed on the meadows. They also dug the marshy soil at springtide
and made it ready for sowing barley. They, above all, worked very hard at the
garden of their souls, and uprooted their sinful habits and sowed instead the
seed of good works.
One day whilst the Monks
were at their scanty meal the wooden roof of the room took fire and began to
blaze. The Monks started from their seats in fright, but Fionntan blessed the
fire and at once it died out. Another day whilst he was sitting at table with
Lorcan-mac-Cathen he suddenly burst into tears, and Lorcan in wonder said: “Why
do you weep?”
He answered: “If you had
seen what I have now seen you would say that I had good cause for weeping. A
war has been waged to-day in southern Mumhan, and I have seen the souls of many
of the slain going down to everlasting punishment: that is why I am so very
sad. A few only have been saved. They had always led good lives, and fought
only because they could not help it. You shall hear of this war in a short
time.”
Before the meal was ended
Fionntan said: “Your man-servant shall die this evening in a wood and his body
shall not be found for many days.” It all happened as he had foretold.
Sinchell, one of his
Monks, said to him: “My father and my foster-father as you know are leading
wicked lives. I would like to go to them in order to strive to get them to give
up their evil way.” Fionntan said to him: “Go in the name of the Lord.” When
Sinchell had come back to the monastery, he said: “I altogether failed to get
them to give up their bad life.” Fionntan then said to him: “Go back again and
fetch them to me.” When they had come Fionntan put one on his right hand and
the other on his left hand, and then spoke to them strongly for a long time of
the sufferings of hell and of the unending happiness of heaven. When he had
made an end of speaking, turning towards Sinchell, he whispered into his ear: “As
these men are now seated, one at my right hand and the other at my left hand,
so they shall be on the last day.” And as soon as they had gone away he said:
“Your father shall die in his sins, and his land and goods shall be laid hold
of by some neighbouring Chieftains; but your foster-father shall give up his
sinful life and shall die well.” And all happened as he had foretold. “The
father of Sinchell,” says the writer of the life of Saint Fionntan, “died as he
had lived, and his ill-gotten goods were lost to his family, and thus the first
half of the prophecy has come true; and the second half will most likely come
true also.”
When Fionntan had come to
Achad-Finnglass (County Carlow), Bishop Braadubh of Hy-Ceannsellagh coming
there to see him, humbly begged to be allowed to live in his monastery with
him, but Fionntan said: “The life led by the Monks there would be too hard for
you, and it would be better for you to stay here where the life is more easy.”
But the Bishop answered: “I have governed others until now, and I wish to yield
my soul to God whilst living in obedience to another. I therefore give myself
to you and to the Lord, and I will do whatever you give me to do. I beg only
this favour, that I may not live long after you, and that should you die before
me you may come speedily to take my soul with you.”Fionntan then said to him:
“I give you my word that I will grant you what you have now asked.” He soon
after left the monasteiy and crossing the river Bearbha (Barrow) went back to
Cluain-Eidhneach.
One of the Monks died.
When his younger brother, also a Monk, came back from the wood where he had
been hewing timber and learned that his brother was dead, almost beside himself
with sorrow, he ran to where the Monks were sino-insj psalms over the dead body;
and throwing himself on his knees before Fionntan begged him, with floods of
tears, to pray to God that he too might die and go to heaven with his brother.
Bat Fionntan gently chided him for his words, and said to him: “Your brother
has already gone to the heavenly kingdom: you are alive and cannot go with him
unless he were to come to life again.” Fionntan besought God to enlighten him
what to do, and God heard the prayer of the holy man, and made known to him
that as he had always done his will He would now enable him to do a wonderful
work. Fionntan sent for the young Monk, and said to him: “Your wish is pleasing
to God: stay here and you shall behold your brother alive again.” Fionntan then
prayed, as Elias did once before in presence of the dead child of the widow of
Sarepta, saying: “O Lord, my God, let the soul of this child, I beseech Thee,
come back into his body;” and as God then heard the prayer of His Prophet, so
now He heard the earnest prayer of this holy old man: and the soul of the dead
Monk came back into his body. Then Fionntan said to the younger Monk: “Behold
your brother is alive.” And the newly risen Monk said to him: “Make haste and
receive the holy Eucharist, for angels have come with me to bear us both to
heaven together.” When the younger Monk had got the Viaticum he lay down beside
his brother and they both slept in the Lord. They had lived together, and now
they died and went to heaven together.
One day Fionntan, when
driving along the road, met a good man, called Ferghna, and alighting from the
chariot, knelt before him. Ferghna, ashamed, said: “Why do you kneel before a
sinner,” Fionntan answered: “I would not have knelt before you were it not that
I have seen you amongst the angels in heaven. I beg you to leave the world and
its amusements and to become a Monk.” But Ferghna said to him: “I cannot do it
because I have many children to watch over and provide for, and there are many
persons also devoted to me whom I could not leave.” Fionntan then said: “Go to
your home and when I am on my way back I shall call to see you.” Fionntan went
to see him and found him full of the love of God, and willing to forsake all
and follow in the footsteps of Jesus Christ. He became a holy Monk at
Cluain-Eidhneach.
When Saint Columb, of
Nuachonghbail (Aughaval), was going to set sail from the island of Iona for
Ireland, he said to Saint Columcille: “Father, how can I live in mv native land
and still continue to confess my sins to you?” Saint Columcille answered: “Go
to the holy man whom I behold standing every Sundey evensong with the angels
before the throne of God.” And Columb said: “Father, who is that holy man?”
Saint Columcille answered: “He is indeed a holy man and is beautiful to behold,
and he is of your own kindred. He has rosy cheeks and bright eyes, and a few
grey hairs are beginning to show themselves on his head.” Then Columb said: “I
do not know any one in my own country like that except Fionntan of
Cluain-Eidhneach.” Columb came to Cluain-Eidhneach and told Fionntan all that
Saint Columcille had said of him; but the holy man, full of true wisdom,
forbade him to speak of it to any one else. However he told it to the Monks
after the death of the holy Abbot.
Fionntan was wont to go
forth every night to the graveyard of the monastery, and to kneel for hours in
prayer upon the grass. A Monk stole after him one night to watch him, and on
coming near where the old man was kneeling in prayer saw a bright light shining
over his head.
Fionntan, “the prayerful
of great Cluain-Eidhneach,” had now grown old, and the end of his wandering in
this vale of tears was drawing nigh. He was worn out with prayer and fasting,
but was very rich with good works. Falling sick, he gathered his weeping
brethren about him, and having blessed them, gently breathed out his soul to
God, February 17th, in the year 616. His Feast is kept on that day. The Office
for it was written by Bishop de Burgo. The people of Cluain-Eidhneach have
great devotion to his holy well at Cromogue.
MLA
Citation
Father Albert Berry.
“Saint Fionntan”. Lives of Irish
Saints. CatholicSaints.Info. 27 February 2014. Web. 16 February 2022.
<https://catholicsaints.info/lives-of-irish-saints-saint-fionntan/>
SOURCE : https://catholicsaints.info/lives-of-irish-saints-saint-fionntan/
Fintan Of Clonenagh
St Fintan (Approx. 524 – 594) was born in Leinster, Ireland. His Christian parents were named Gabhren and Findlath.
St Fintan was taught by
the then Abbott, St Columba, who entrusted the monastery of Clonenagh to him
when he moved to Terryglass, Tipperary.
St Fintan’s life was one
of solitude, prayer and deep penance. He attracted many like-minded followers
despite his very austere expectations. St Fintan was well known for his
many miracles and prophesies. His legacy lives today, mainly in Ireland where
his works have often been compared to that of St Benedict.
St Fintan’s Feast Day is
17th February.
St Fintan:
Pray for us that we may
be made worthy of the promises of Jesus Christ. Amen.
SOURCE : https://www.daily-prayers.org/saints-library-2/fintan-of-clonenagh/
Fintan of Clonenagh, Abbot (RM)
Born in Leinster; died 603. A disciple of Saint Columba (or according to
Montague, Saint David), Fintan led the life of a hermit at Clonenagh in Leix.
Soon numerous disciples, including Saint Comgal, attached themselves to him,
and he became their abbot. Such was the austerity of the life led at Clonenagh
that neighboring monasteries protested. Fintan himself was reputed to live on a
diet of barley bread and clayey water; however, he established a less strict
rule for some neighboring monks. One day some soldiers brought the severed
heads of their enemies to the monastery. Fintan had these buried in the monks
cemetery hoping that by the Judgment Day they would have benefitted from the
prayers of generations of monks: "since the principal part of their bodies
rest here, we hope they will find mercy." Fintan's feast is celebrated
throughout Ireland (Benedictines, Farmer, Husenbeth, Montague).
SOURCE : https://web.archive.org/web/20191030064035/http://www.saintpatrickdc.org/ss/0217.shtml
St.
Fintan's Cemetery, Sutton,
on the south side of Carrickbrack
Road in Dublin, Ireland.
St. Fintan of Clonenagh
Yesterday the 17th of
February marked the feast day of another great Laois saint. St. Fintan of
Clonenagh is regarded as one of three patron saints of county Laois which
include St. Colman Mac ua Laoise and St. Mochua of Timahoe.
There are a number of
sites in the county associated with Fintan both modern and historic. These
include most notably the Early Medieval monastic site which he founded in the
mid-6th Century A.D at Clonenagh or Cluain Eidhneach (the ivy retreat). Other
sites include St. Fintan’s Well at Cromoge Co. Laois, as well as more modern
examples which included schools, hospitals and a number present day churches,
tributes to his former greatness.
Fintan is said to have
been born near Clonkeen in Co. Laois and went on as a young ecclesiastic
student to study under St. Columba at Terryglass in Co. Tipperary. Whilst on
his journeys to find a new monastery near the Slieve Blooms, Fintan received a
vision and was instructed to find a monastery at Clonenagh which he duly did.
This was to become one of the most important foundations in the country at the
time in the 6th Century. Fintan was known to have a strict rule and forbade the
use of the plough, didn’t allow cattle to be held at the monastery (cattle
being units of wealth at the time), practiced fasting regularly and prayed
almost constantly. His rule was so austere that it prompted a visit from St.
Canice to appeal for a more relaxed practice. Fintan agreed but continued
adopting this rule for himself. It is said that many monks came to study at
Clonenagh from around and even abroad, it became known as a Gallic school due
to the number of French student who flocked there during Europe’s “Dark Ages”.
The Book of Leinster
describes Fintan as being one of the three most important saints in Ireland,
behind Patrick and Brigit. There are quite a few references to Fintan in the
annals of the time from all over Ireland. He is regarded to have died in the
year 603 A.D and his obituary is recorded all the major chronicles from the
time. The Fragmentary Annals record as follows:
“Fintan moccu Echdach,
abbot of Cluain Eidnech, chief of the monks of Europe, died on a Thursday” a
poem by Colman reads;
“On Thursday Fintan was born
and was brought forth on earth;
and on Thursday he died on my fair thighs”.
Today people still
venerate the Holy Well at Cromoge Co. Laois attributed to Fintan. There has
been some that have had their prayers answered by using its blessed waters.
This text is courtesy of
Sean at Laois Archaeology. Click here for the Facebook page.
SOURCE : https://www.laoispeople.ie/laois-lore-and-legends/
Saint Fintan of Clonenagh, February 17
We commemorate one of the great Irish masters of the ascetic life, Saint Fintan
of Clonenagh on the 17th of February. The sources for his life and feast
have been summarized by diocesan historian, Father Michael Comerford:
On the 17th of February
the Feilire of Aengus records, "The Feast of Finntan, the prayerful, of
vast Cluain-Ednich;" and the Gloss in the Leabhar Breac, and the
Martyrology of Donegal, on the same day, add:- Fiontain, son of Gaibhreine, son
of Corcran, son of Eochaidh, son of Bresal, son of Den.- Here he and (St.)
Brigid meet (in their pedigrees), Abbot of Cluain-eidhniach in Laoighis (Leix).
Great was the abstinence of this holy Fiontain, as is evidenced from this verse
(of Aengus)-
Fiontain the generous
Never ate during his time
But bread of barley corn
And water of earthy clay.
A very ancient vellum
book . . states that Fiontain of Cluain-eidhniach, chief of the monks of Erin,
in his manners and life resembled Benedictus, head of the monks of Europe.
Colgan styles him
"Fintanus Stationarius de magno Cluaineadnach;" the epithet of
stationarius being applied to him from his praying, like many others of our
early saints, with his arms extended in the form of a cross.
St. Fintan received his
early education from a holy priest by whom he was baptized. Whilst yet a boy,
he was visited by St. Columbkille, who, on that occasion, foretold St. Fintan's
future distinguished career. When he arrived at man's estate, he entered the
Monastery of Tir-da-glass (now Terryglass, Co. Tipperary), where St. Columba,
son of Crimthain then presided over a famous school. Having passed a novitiate
here, he and two, some say three, companions, being anxious to find a retired
place where they might devote themselves to the service of God, consulted St.
Columba, and, accompanied by him, they came to Clonenagh. Here, it is said, St.
Fintan and his companions passed a year, but, finding their solitude greatly
broken in upon, they determined to abandon the place, and directed their course
to the Slieve Bloom mountains, again accompanied by St. Columba; this saint,
looking back upon Clonenagh, saw a multitude of angels hovering over it. His
disciples seeing him sorrowful, asked the cause; the saint replied: "Because
I see the place we have left filled with the angels of God, and these angels
unceasingly minister between it and heaven". "One of us", he
added, "should return and abide there for the future". Whereupon
Fintan said: "Whomsoever, O Father, you direct to return, he will
instantly obey". Columba replied: "Go you in peace to that spot, O
holy youth, and the Lord be with you. It has been divinely revealed that for
you it shall be the place of your resurrection." St. Fintan accordingly
retraced his steps to Clonenagh and established himself there; this was about
the year 548. Great numbers flocked to this place to serve God under the
guidance of our saint, amongst whom was St. Comgall, afterwards the founder of
the famous Monastery of Bangor, who passed some years under his direction. The
discipline observed at Clonenagh was very rigorous; the fasting and abstinence
were so severe that St. Canice of Aghaboe and other holy men remonstrated with
St. Fintan on the subject. Yielding to their representations, he relaxed the
rigour of his rule in favour of his community, but, himself, adhered to his
former mode of life. Finding his end approaching, St. Fintan assembled his
monks and named Fintan Maeldubh as his successor.
Rev M Comerford"
Collections relating to the Dioceses of Kildare and Leighlin" Vol.3,
(1886).
SOURCE : http://www.omniumsanctorumhiberniae.com/2013/02/saint-fintan-of-clonenagh-february-17.html
Clonenagh,
originally called Cluainadnach, is a very remote antiquity. A monastery was
founded here by St. Fintan, who became its first Abbot. He was succeeded by St.
Columba, who died in 548. This Abbey was destroyed in 838 by the Danes, who in
843 carried its venerable Abbot aid, who was also Abbot of Tirdaglass, into
Munster where he was martyred on the 8th of July.
San Fintan Abate
di Cluain Ednech
†
603
Martirologio
Romano: Nel monastero di Clúain Ednech in Irlanda, san Fintáno, abate,
fondatore di quel cenobio e celebre per austerità di vita.
San Fintan nacuqe a Leinster in Irlanda e fu educato da San Columba di Tirda-Gals. Un’antica litania lo presenta quale discendente di Eochaid e tutte le fonti pongono in risalto l’eccezionale austerità che contraddistinse la sua vita. La tradizione vuole infatti che il santo si nutrisse esclusivamente di pane d’orzo e di alcune erbe e bevesse solo acqua torbida. Non a caso molti giudicarono eccessivo il suo ascetismo, quasi una sorta di fanatismo. Stabilitosi come eremita a Clùain Ednech nel Leix, accrebbe il numero dei discepoli che presero a circondarlo, a tal punto da dover fondare un vero e proprio monastero, presso Cluain Ednech.
Nelle sue “Vite” sono riportati numerosi miracoli non però fini a se stessi, bensì come già con Santa Brigida ed altri santi irlandesi miranti a sottolineare la dolcezza e la cortesia del santo. Queste qualità emergono comenque anche da svariati episodi narrati nelle “Vite” del santo, per esempio il perdono che era solito accordare a quei monaci che partivano pellegrini senza il suo benestare, oppure l’indulgenza mostrata nel mitigare l’austerità di vita per quei monaci più in difficoltà nel praticarla. Fatto un pò macabro, ma significativo, è la sepoltura che Fintan diede alle teste di alcuni nemici appartenenti ad un clan rivale portetegli dai predoni, nella speranza che la vicinanza della parte più importante del loro corpo ad un luogo di preghiera si rivelasse propizia nel giorno del giudizio finale.
La tradizione vuole che durante la preghiera il capo del santo fosse cinto di un’abbagliante aureola luminosa Secondo una versione della vita di San Fintan, risalente probabilmente al 1225, San Columba avrebbe detto “ad un giovane uomo di nome Colmano”, assai desideroso di tornare in Irlanda, di “recarsi da quell’uomo beato che io vedo ogni sabato notte stare tra gli angeli davanti al tribunale di Cristo. Il giovane stupito disse: ‘Chi è questo santo e che tipo di uomo è?’ San Columba rispose: ‘E’ un uomo della tua razza, santo e bello, rosso in volto e con occhi splendenti, di scarsa capigliatura e canuto’. E il giovane: ‘Non conosco nessun uomo che corrisponda a questa descrizione nella mia provincia eccetto San Fintan’. [...] Allora San Colmano ricevette da San Columba il congedo e la benedizione e ritornò con gioia in Irlanda”.
Autore: Fabio Arduino
SOURCE : http://www.santiebeati.it/dettaglio/41380
St.
Fintan's Parish Church, Sutton, Dublin
Den hellige Fintan av
Clonenagh (~524-603)
Minnedag: 17.
februar
Den hellige Fintan
(Fiontan; lat: Fintanus, Fintán moccu Echdach) ble født rundt 524 i den østlige
provinsen Leinster i Irland. Fintans biografi fra 700-tallet ga hans far navnet
Cremthann (Crumthann, Criomhthann), mens genealogiene kalte ham Garbhán
(Gabríne, Gaibhrín, Gabrén). Men alle var enige om at han på farssiden tilhørte
Fothairt, et folk som hovedsakelig var spredt i det nordre Leinster, som man
også mente at den hellige Brigida av Irland (ca
452-525) tilhørte. Et annet navn på Fothairt er Ceinéal Eachdhach, og et tidlig
litani beskriver Fintan som etterkommer av Eochaid. Familiebakgrunnen til hans
mor Findnait (Fionnad) er ikke kjent. Han hadde en søster ved navn Díognad
(Díoghnad, Díogha), som ble regnet som mor til Aonghas Láimhiodhan alias Muicín
av Moyne i grevskapet Kilkenny.
Legenden forteller at
Fintans mor fikk besøk av en engel som fortalte hvilken hellig sønn hun ville
få. Han ble født i ødemarken og ble nesten umiddelbart overlatt til en prest
for å bli oppdratt og utdannet. Han fikk sin utdannelse hos den hellige Kolumba av
Terryglass (d. 552) i hans kloster Tír-dá-glas (Tir-da-glas, Tir da
glas, Tirdaglas, Tyrdaglas), nå Terryglass ved bredden av Lough Derg i
Múscraige Tíre i baroniet Lower Ormond nord i grevskapet Tipperary i provinsen
Munster i det sørlige Irland. Kolumbas strenge regel og botspraksis hadde så
stor innflytelse på Fintan at også hans eget kloster fikk ry for askese.
Fintan slo seg i 550 ned
som eneboer i ensomheten i Clonenagh (Clúain Édnech, Cluain Ednech, Cluain
Eidhneach, Cluain Ednig) i fjellene Slieve Bloom, nær det som nå er
Maryborough. Det lå i det nåværende baroniet Maryborough West i territoriet til
folkegruppen Loígsi, som delvis tilsvarer det moderne grevskapet Laois i
provinsen Leinster. Han fikk snart mange disipler som strømmet til hans
oratorium, og han skrev en regel for dem og ble deres abbed. Det vokste snart
frem et kloster i Clonenagh med svært mange munker. Blant hans disipler skal ha
vært de hellige Comgall av Bangor (Comhghall)
(ca 516-ca 602), som grunnla sitt eget kloster i Bangor (Benchor), hvor han
blant andre lærte opp den hellige Kolumban og
en rekke andre som brakte det irske klostervesenet til Europa. Andre disipler
skal ha vært de hellige Colman av Oughaval (500-t)
og Óengus
Culdeus (d. ca 824) (sistnevnte levde nok atskillig senere).
Klosteret Clonenagh fikk
stort ry i Irland, først og fremst for fattigdommen og askesen som preget
Fintans og munkenes liv. Alle kilder, inkludert Óengus Culdeus’
martyrologium Félire, legger vekt på Fintans eksepsjonelle askese.
Munkenes mest luksuriøse mat var grønnsaker, mens Fintan selv ifølge Óengus
levde på gammelt byggbrød, noen få urter og grumsete vann. Deres jordbruk ble
drevet med de enkleste redskaper, uten bruk av noe dyr. Kommuniteten hadde ikke
engang en ku, så de hadde verken melk eller smør. Noen munker som bodde i
nærheten, protesterte mot en slik strenghet og sa at munkenes diett ikke kunne
kombineres med hardt fysisk arbeid.
Det sies at en deputasjon
av lokale klerikere ledet av den hellige Canice av Aghaboe (ca
516-ca 600) kom for å bønnfalle Fintan om å lette litt på askesen. Fintan
svarte dem med all den høflighet og vennlighet som synes å ha preget hans
omgang med andre mennesker, og han gikk med på lettelser for sine munker. Men
han valgte å holde seg til den strenge dietten selv. Hans askese minner mest om
apostolisk tid eller eksempler fra østlig tradisjon. En annen versjon sier at
han ble advart av en engel så han gjorde i stand en stor fest for deputasjonen
med rikelig med mat så lenge de var der, men da de dro igjen, vendte alt
tilbake til slik det var før. Til tross for prøvelsene, eller kanskje til og
med på grunn av dem, var klosteret fullt av unge munker fra hele Irland.
Den hellige Kolumba av Iona (ca
521-97) hadde stor aktelse for Fintan og skal ha beskrevet ham som en vakker,
hellig utseende mann, med røde kinn og skinnende øyne, mens hans korte hår
skulle ha vært gråsprengt. Fintan hadde ry som undergjører og var kjent for
klarsyn, profetier og mirakler. Vitner fortalte at når han ba alene, var han
omgitt av lys. Hans minne er bevart i mange historier om hans mirakler, som
beskrives på den tradisjonelle måten, men i likhet med biografiene til Brigida
og andre hellige, er ikke miraklene tatt med i biografiene for sin egen skyld,
men for å vise hans vennlighet og godhet.
Fintan lempet på askesen
for munker som ikke klarte å leve opp til hans standard, og han tilga også
flere som dro bort som peregrini (pilegrimer) uten å be om hans
tillatelse først. Da noen krigere kom med hodene til medlemmene av en
rivaliserende klan som de hadde drept, fikk Fintan hodene gravlagt nær
klosteret, slik at det at de viktigste delene av deres kropper lå i nærheten av
et bønnens sted, kunne komme dem til gode på Dommens dag.
Fintan tilhørte samme
generasjon av monastiske grunnleggere som Kolumba av Iona og den hellige Canice av Aghaboe (Cainnech)
(ca 516-ca 600). Hans korte biografi har i sin eldste form blitt datert til
730-tallet. Den har som et av sine fremste anliggender hans plassering i
forhold til disse andre monastiske lederne av sin generasjon. Biografien
forteller at da Fintan var barn, skal Kolumba ha profetert hans storhet. Dette
kan delvis være en reaksjon på det nære vennskapet som attesteres i den
hellige Adomnán av Ionas (ca
627-704) biografi om Kolumba, mellom grunnleggeren av Iona og en annen helgen
fra Loígsi, biskop Colmán moccu Loígse, som var forbundet med en kirke noen
kilometer øst for Clonenagh. Canice av Aghaboe, som ligger bare rundt tretten
kilometer sørvest for Clonenagh, men i nabokongeriket Osraige, er også
fremstilt som en alliert, selv om han også opptrer som lederen for en
delegasjon som forsøkte å overtale Fintan til å mildne strengheten i hans
monastiske regel.
Ifølge en versjon av
Fintans biografi, trolig fra 1225, skal Kolumba ha sagt «til en ung mann ved
navn Colman», som var svært ivrig etter å dra tilbake til Irland, for å «dra
til den salige mannen som jeg ser hver lørdag kveld blant englene for Kristi
domstol». Den forbausede unge mannen sa: «Hvem er denne helgenen og hva slags
mann er han?» Kolumba svarte: «Det er en mann av din rase, hellig og vakker, rød
i ansiktet og med glitrende øyne, med sparsomt og grått hår». Den unge mannen
sa: «Jeg kjenner ingen mann i min provins som passer til denne beskrivelsen,
bortsett den hellige Fintan». [...] Så Colman mottok tillatelse og velsignelse
fra Kolumba og returnerte med glede til Irland.
Da Fintan var rundt sytti
år gammel, valgte han den hellige Fintan Maoldubh (Maeldubh)
til sin etterfølger som abbed i Clonenagh. Fintan døde den 17. februar 603. Han
er en av en håndfull helgener, hovedsakelig fra Leinster, som ble minnet i den
metriske kalenderen fra Hampson fra 900-tallet. Han har blitt sammenlignet av
de irske annalistene med den hellige Benedikt av Nursia,
og han kalles «de irske munkenes far». Hans minnedag er dødsdagen 17. februar,
som feires i hele Irland. Denne festdagen angis i martyrologiet fra Tallaght og
hos Óengus, og den står også i den nyeste utgaven av Martyrologium Romanum
(2004):
In monastério Clúain
Ednech vocáto in Hibérnia, sancti Fintáni, abbátis, eiúsdem cœnóbii fundatóris,
austeritáte célebris.
I klosteret Clúain Ednech
i Irland, den hellige Fintan, abbed, grunnlegger av dette klosteret og berømt
for sitt asketiske liv.
Det finnes to skoler når
det gjelder opprinnelsen av navnet Fintan, en avleder det fra fionn (lys,
hvit) + sean (gammel), den andre mener at det er sammensatt av fionn og teine (ild).
Det er et av de vanligste helgennavnene med over femti representanter på listen
over homonyme helgener, hvorav den viktigste er Fintan av Clonenagh. Colgan
regner opp 24 irske helgener ved navn Fintan, men trolig var flere av disse var
samme person som ble æret på forskjellige steder. Flere helgener ved navn Fintan
er bedre kjent under den hypokoristiske formen Munna (gr: ὑποκoριστικος;
hypokoristikos; det vil si kjælenavn). Munna eller Munnu er utledet fra mo-fhionna.
Den mest kjente Fintan
blant de irske helgenene ved siden av Fintan av Clonenagh i grevskapet Laois,
er Fintan
Munnu av Taghmon (d. ca 635) i grevskapet Wexford, som ble feiret den
21. oktober. Óengus’ martyrologium forteller at Fintan Munnu av Taghmon og
Fintan av Clonenagh dannet en oentas (pakt) om navnet til hver av dem
skulle gis til den andre, in commemorationem societatis. Munnu var
dåpsnavnet til mannen fra Taghmon, som tok navnet Fintan, mens Fintan av
Clonenagh tok Munnu eller Munda som et andre navn. Ikke overraskende førte
dette til en viss forvirring.
The Book of Clonenagh er
en av de tapte kildene som siteres av Geoffrey Keating i hans Foras Feasa
ar Éirinn («Historien om Irland») for informasjon om etableringen av
bispedømmene i Irland på synoden i Rath Bresail i 1111. Andre hellige ved navn
Fintan er de hellige Fintan av Doon (500-t)
i grevskapet Limerick, Fintan av Killerr (400-t), Fintan Corach (500-t?), Fintan Maoldubh (d. ca
625), Fintan Fionn, Fintan av Myshall og Fintan av Rheinau (ca
803-78).
Kilder:
Attwater/John, Attwater/Cumming, Farmer, Butler (II), Benedictines, Bunson, Ó
Riain, KIR, CE, CSO, CatholicSaints.Info, Infocatho, santiebeati.it,
en.wikipedia.org, celt-saints, ODNB, Butler 1866, zeno.org, heiligen-3s.nl,
catholicireland.net - Kompilasjon og oversettelse: p. Per Einar Odden
SOURCE : http://www.katolsk.no/biografier/historisk/fintan
Voir aussi : https://www.catholicireland.net/saintoftheday/st-fintan-of-clonenagh-6th-century-monk/
http://laoisarchaeology.ie/st-fintan-and-his-monastery-at-clonenagh/
