12 July – Saint Colmán of Cloyne

[Weedy]

12 July – Saint Colmán of Cloyne

(522-600)
Priest, (possibly Bishop), Monk, Founder, Poet, known as the Royal
Poet of Munster. Born on 15 October 522 at Munster, Ireland and died
on 24 November in the year 600 (aged 78). Patronage – Diocese of
Cloyne and of its Cathedral in Cóbh. Also known as Colm, Colmán of
Conpriest, Colmán mac Léníne. St Colmán is also venerated on 24
November.

No hagiographical Life is known to have been written for Colmán but
various aspects of his life are presented in different types of
sources, such as Irish annals, genealogies and martyrologies.

Irish genealogies generally agree that Colmán had a father called
Lénín. Through his father, Colmán appears to have been descended from
the Rothrige, an obscure people who are known elsewhere as a subject
people of the Déisi of Munster.

Colmán is remembered as the Founder of the Monastery at Cluain Uama,
now Cloyne (Co. Cork, Ireland), in Munster. Cloyne appears to have
been his earliest settlement. The Cathedral and round tower are
situated on a limestone eminence in the midst of the valley,
surrounded by rich meadows. In the rock is the cave extending in
various branches underground to a great distance, from which the Town
derives its name. Here it is that Colman took up his abode as a place
of security and the remains of his primitive Oratory, known as
Colman’s Chapel were still to be seen in 1813. Colmán also founded a
Monastery, at what would become Killagha Abbey in County Kerry.

Further details of his life are not documented in writing but the
connection of many places in counties Cork and Limerick with his name
to this day proves the reality of his labours. The tenth-century
Triads describes Cloyne as an important school of learning.

Colmán is credited with extraordinary poetic powers, being styled by
his contemporaries ‘royal poet of Munster. Several of his Irish poems
are still extant, notably a metrical panegyric on Saint Brendan.

It is unclear whether he was brought up as a Christian but what is
sure, is that he was educated and became a bard, which required a
special education – (in order to reach the highest level (12 years of
study were required.) As a member of the class of bard, he became
attached to the Court of Cashel where he remained until about the age
of 48 years. In 570 he and Saint Brendan of Clonfert were said to have
settled a dispute between rivals to the throne of Cashel and Aodh
Caomh was acknowledged as King – the first Christian king of Cashel.
The King was installed by Saint Brendan. During the time of the
coronation Colmán discovered the lost Shrine of Ailbhe of Emly.
Brendan said that it was not right that the hands which had held this
sacred relic should be defiled henceforth, thus it was that the son of
Leinin offered himself to God. Brendan blessed him and gave him the
name Colmán, which is a diminutive of Colm. The Gaelic word Colm
corresponds to the Latin Columba meaning dove.

Colmán then went to the school of Saint Iarlaithe of Tuam and after
his studies he is next mentioned as preaching to the heathen
population in the east of County Cork. He is described as a “religious
and holy presbyter, who afterwards became a famous Bishop”. The Prince
of Déise, in the present County of Waterford, presented his child to
Colmán for Baptism. Colmán Baptised him Declan and urged his parents
to educate him well in his faith. This child became Saint Declan.

Colmán was given Churches in Erry and Killenaule (4 and 10 miles from
Cashel respectively) by the King of Munster (Cashel), as well as lands
in Cloyne, Co. Cork. It may well be that the lands in Cloyne (Cluain
Uama, the lawn of the cave), were conquered lands and to prevent the
possibility of reconquest, were given to the Church. The Cloyne estate
was large and contained some of the best land in the area.
St Colmán died in 600 and his probable place of burial is Cloyne.

https://anastpaul.com/2021/07/12/


Saint Quote:
Earthly riches are like the reed. Its roots are sunk in the swamp, and
its exterior is fair to behold; but inside it is hollow. If a man
leans on such a reed, it will snap off and pierce his soul.
--St. Anthony of Padua

Bible Quote:
I speak of Thy testimonies before kings: and I was not ashamed. I
meditated also on Thy commandments, which I loved exceedingly. [Ps.
118:46,47]


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Two prayers:

Grant me grace, O merciful God, to desire ardently all
that is pleasing to Thee, to examine it prudently, to
acknowledge it truthfully, and to accomplish it perfectly,
for the praise and glory of Thy Name. Amen.

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O Mary, Mother of mercy and Refuge of sinners, we
beseech thee, be pleased to look with pitiful eyes upon
poor heretics and schismatics. Thou who are the Seat of
Wisdom, enlightened the minds that are miserably
enfolded in the darkness of ignorance and sin, that they
may clearly know that the Holy Catholic Church is the
one true Church of Jesus Christ, outside of which neither
holiness nor salvation can be found. Call them to the
unity of the one fold, granting them the grace to accept
all the truths of our holy Faith, and to submit themselves
to the Supreme Roman Pontiff, the Vicar of Jesus Christ
on earth; that so, being united with us in the sweet chains
of divine charity, there may soon be one only fold under
the same one Shepherd; and may we all, O glorious
Virgin, sing forever with exultation: Rejoice, O virgin
Mary, thou only last destroyed all heresies in the whole
world. Amen.

Hail Mary... (thrice)