Saint Finnian of Clonard
![[Saint Finnian of Clonard]](saintf48.jpg "??kb jpg image of Saint Finnian of Clonard; please do not write to ask about the image")
- Also known as
-
Finian
Finden
Teacher of the Irish Saints
- Memorial
- 12 December
- Profile
- A pious youth, he founded three churches in Ireland while still a layman.
Studied in Wales under Saint Cadoc and Saint Gildas.
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, 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
- Died
-
c.549-552 at Clonard, Meath, Ireland of plague
relics originally enshrined in Clonard, but were destroyed in the 9th century
- Canonized
- Pre-Congregation
- Patronage
-
Alexandria-Cornwall, Ontario, Canada, diocese of
Meath, Ireland, diocese of
- Additional Information
-
Book of Saints, by the Monks of Ramsgate
Catholic Online
For All The Saints, by Katherine Rabenstein
Little Book of Celtic Saints
Our Sunday Visitor's Encyclopedia of Saints, by Matthew Bunson, Margaret Bunson, and Stephen Bunson
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