Saint Fintan of Clonenagh

Memorial

• 17 February

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

• at Leinster, Ireland

Died

• 603 of natural causes

Canonized

• Pre-Congregation

Additional Information

• Book of Saints, by the Monks of Ramsgate
• Catholic Online
• For All The Saints
• Kirken i Norge
• New Catholic Dictionary
• Our Sunday Visitor’s Encyclopedia of Saints, by Matthew Bunson, Margaret Bunson, and Stephen Bunson

MLA Citation

• “Saint Fintan of Clonenagh”. Saints.SQPN.com. 16 February 2010. Web. {today’s date}. <http://saints.sqpn.com/saint-fintan-of-clonenagh/>