Fintán of Taghmon
| Saint Fintán | |
|---|---|
| Born | Ireland |
| Died | 635 |
| Feast |
Eastern Orthodox: October 21st (Julian Calendar) (Corresponds to Nov 3rd Gregorian Calendar) Roman Catholic/Church of Ireland: February 5 and/or October 21. |
| Attributes | several tales of miracles and is recorded to have been visited by an angel. |
| Influences | Abbot Sinell at Cluain-inis |
Eastern Orthodox: October 21st (Julian Calendar) (Corresponds to Nov 3rd Gregorian Calendar)
Saint Fintán, or Munnu (died 635) is one of the Orthodox Saints of Ireland and Britain venerated in the Eastern Orthodox Church who served in Ireland and Scotland being the founder and abbot of the abbey at Teach-Mhunn - The House of Saint Munn - where his bed may be visited as a pilgrimage; today Taghmon is in the County Wexford, in the province of Leinster Ireland. In Scotland, he is venerated as the patron saint of Clan Campbell.
He was known in Ireland as St Fintán or St Munnu. In Scotland, he was recorded as St Mun, St Munn, St Munda, St Mundas and St Mund.
Fintán was born of the dynasty of Niall son of Tulchan (or Tulcan) and Feidelmia. He may have first studied at the school of Bangor Abbey under St. Comgall, and later in the school of Kilmore Deathrib. It is more certain that he studied 18 years under the abbot Sinell, son of Maynacur, at Cluain-inis in Lough Erne.St. Columba also studied at Cluain-inis under Sinell, but left prior to Munnu's arrival.
Fintán arrived in Scotland in 579 A.D. He was said to be assisted by two wolves in guarding his sheep.
In 597, Fintán resolved to go to I (now called Iona) to join the monastery there under St. Columba. Just before his departure, news reached him that St. Columba had died and that St. Baithen had succeeded him. Undeterred, Fintán made the journey and applied to St. Baithen for reception into the community. Munnu responded "humbly" as St. Baithen made the customary inquiries into his background. However, when Munnu requested to be admitted as a monk, Baithen replied:
" I thank my God, that you are come to this place; but this you must know: that you cannot be a monk of ours." Fintan much afflicted at these words said; "Is it that I am unworthy of being one?" "No" answered Baithen, "but, although I should be very glad to keep you with me, I must obey the orders of my predecessor Columba, who some time ago said to me in the spirit of prophecy; Baithen remember these words of mine; immediately after my departure from this life, a brother, who is now regulating his youthful age by good conduct, and well versed in sacred studies, named Fintan, of the race of MocuMoie, (74) and son of Failchan, will come to you from Ireland (Scotia) and will supplicate to be reckoned among the monks. But it is predetermined by God, that he is to be an abbot presiding over monks, and a guide of souls. Do not therefore let him remain in these islands of ours, but direct him to return in peace to Ireland (Scotia), - that he may there establish a monastery in a part of Leinster not far from the sea, and labour for the good of souls."
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