St. Comgall. Abbot

New Zealand Tablet, Volume XXXI, Issue 19, 7 May 1903, Page 31

St. Comgall. Abbot

Comgall the renowned abbot of Bangor, was of the family of Dalaradia The annals of Ulster assign the year 516 as that of his birth. After receiving instructions m various branches of learning from able masters he was adnntted into the monastery of Cloneagh in Lemster, over which St. Fintan presided. He remained there for several years with St. Fintan, who, at length l.nding him fully qualified for the purpose, advised him to return to his own cotontrv and form some religious establishment. We are told that he speut some time in solitude and prayer in an island on Lough Erne, and that soon afterwards he founded the monastery of Banchor, now Bangor, near the town of Carrickfergus, about

The fame of Bangor soon spread over Europe, and was much enhanced by the celebrated men educated there, particularly _St. Columbanus. It is related in St. Comgall s life that in the seventh year after the founding of Bangor he went to Britain in to visit some saints there. It is most likely that it was on this occasion he , an l, ,\ B'-endan, and others, paid a visit to St Columbkill at lona. While in Britain he is said to have established a monastery in that country. He is also S T v. to have been the means of converting Bridens, King of the Northern Picts After his return to Ireland he im^ 1^ 1118 a « boy at Ban <? or > in the year 601, on the 10th May, after receiving the Holy Viaticum from St Jiachra St. Comgall was remarkable in his life, and holy in his death, and has justly been reckoned one of the latheis of the Irish Church.

St Carthagh, Bishop and Confessor

Lismore ( athedral is said to have been founded by St Carthagh (McCarthy) about the jear 636, and was subsequently icpaired and partly rebuilt in the year 11. 50 by Cormac, the son of Mauretus, King of Minister }W' have but very imperfect accounts of this saint and ni s vv o j k.s .

V.hen St. Carthagh founded the - Cathedral of Lismeve lie a so established an abbey of Canons Regular Jne.se monks lived m the .same manner as the Trappists at piesent confining their diet to vegetables, which they raided with their own hands When Carthagh was a voiilh, like ]>«i\id,Jie watched his father's flocks His piety, gentle-ness anel grace attracted the notice of the ijiince oi the pi ov mcc and his wife, who was daughter to the King- oi Minister, and they became very fond of the no.v \\hile tending his herd one day a bishop and suite p.isseel. (hanting h.\ nins The boy was so captivated by this psalmody that he followed them to the gate of the convent, where they stopped, and passed the night outsi.le listening lo them The prince, who loved"the boy sought him everywheie, end when he returned 'he asked him uhv he did not come as usual on the previous evening ' My Lord,' he replied, ' ] did not come because I was lathed by the divine song of the holy clergy-plea-e heaven, lord dul-e, that J was with them, that I might cvun to sing as they do' The prince admitted him to his table, ofleied him a sword, buckler, lance, and other gifts to turn him from his purpose ; but the boy reiuscd them, saying ' that he wanted no gifts, he wanted but one thing, to chant hymns like the saints of God ' In the end he pre\ ailed, and was sent to the bishop to be made a monk. St. Carthagh was the first abbot of Kathmv, in Westmeath. which he founded, and in which he is said to have governed over 800 monks. About the 1 cai 031 he was driven from Ratheny by King Blathinuc jUterwards he became Bishop of "Lismore, where he built a cathodial and several schools. He did not sur\i\e his labors long, for he died in the v ear 638 tull oi the odor of virtue and sanctity ' '

St. Brendan, Abbot.

St Brendan was a native of Ireland, and a disciple of St Fmian Passmg into England he established theie two monasteries On his return to Ireland he continued the same good work, and founded, among others, the famous abbey of Clonfert. He died in 578 m the 94th v car of his age. According to a legend' accepted by some historians, St Brendan voyaged to America, and landed in the neighborhood of the present State of Virginia.