Celtic Saints for March 26

[Celtic Daily]

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* St. Macartin of Clogher
* St. Sincheall of Killeigh
* St. Mochelloc of Kilmallock
* St. Garbhan
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St. Macartin of Clogher, Bishop
(Macartan, MacCartan, Maccarthen)
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Died c. 505; feast day formerly March 24. Saint Macartin (in Irish -
Aedh mac Carthin) was an early disciple and companion of Saint Patrick
during the latter's missions into pagan territory. He is said to have
been consecrated bishop of Clogher in Tyrone by Patrick in 454. It is
said the Saint Brigid, Macartin's niece, was present at the founding of
the see. Tradition names Macartan as the "strong man" of Saint Patrick,
who established the church in Clogher and spread the Gospel in Tyrone
and Fermanagh.

Macartin is also one of the earliest Irish saints to be known as a
miracle-worker. His holiness is revealed not so much by any
"vita," which are non-existent, but by the high veneration in which he
is held. Saint Bede records that the earth was taken from his grave as
holy relics. His Office is the only one to survive from an Irish
source.

A reliquary, called the Great Shrine of Saint Mac Cairthinn, which was
designed to contain relics of the True Cross as well as his bones, has
been altered over the centuries but still survives as the "Domnach
Airgid" in the National Museum. It's inner yew box was given to
Macartin by Patrick together with the latter's episcopal staff and
Bible.

The Cloch-Oir (Golden Stone), from which this ancient diocese takes its
name, was a sacred ceremonial stone to the druids, It was given to
Macartin by an old pagan noble, who had harassed Macartin in every
possible way until the saint's patient love won the local ruler to the
faith. The stone is still preserved and the noble's son, Tighernach of
Clones, succeeded Macartin as bishop.

See "Cumdachs and Polaires
Medieval Irish Book Shrines and Book Satchels"
http://www.eskimo.com/~hmiller/cumdachs.html

St. Sincheall, Abbot of Killeigh
(Sinell of Killeagh
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5th century. Sincheall, an early Roman convert of Saint Patrick (f.d.
March 17), was abbot-founder of the monastery and school at Killeigh,
Offaly, Ireland, where he had 150 monks under his direction. The
community flourished until the 16th century.

St. Sinell or Senchell . Said to be the first to be baptised by St.
Patrick. He lived as a hermit in Clane, Co. Kildare afterwards founding
a community in the present parish of Killeigh, Co. Offaly. Killeigh is
derived from Cill Achaidh the original name. Two saints of this name
resided at Killeigh.

The Martyrlology of Donegal has this verse about St. Senchell:

"The men of heaven, the men of earth, a surrounding host, thought
that the day of judgement was the death of Seancheall. There came not,
there will not come from Adam, one more austere, more strict in piety;
there came not, there will not come, all say it, another saint more
welcome to the men of heaven."

And from the Annals of the Four Masters
Page 137 http://celt.ucc.ie/online/T100005A.html

1] The family of Patrick of the prayers,
2] who had good Latin,
3] I remember; no feeble court were they,
4] their order, and their names.
5] Sechnall, his bishop without fault;
6] Mochta after him his priest;
7] Bishop Erc his sweet spoken Judge;
8] his champion, Bishop Maccaeirthinn; [the Saint above]
9] Benen, his psalmist;
10] and Coemhan, his chamberlain;
11] Sinell his bell ringer,
12] and Aithcen his true cook;
...................

Troparion of St Sincheall Tone 1
Thou didst make the wilderness thy dwelling/ and become an angel in the
flesh and a wonderworker./ Thou wast found worthy of grace/ to heal all
who hastened to thee, O blessed Sincheall./ Glory to Christ Who has
glorified thee; glory to Him Who has crowned thee;/ glory to Him Who
through thee works healings for all.

St. Mochelloc of Kilmallock
(Cellog, Mottelog, Motalogus)
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Died c. 639. Mochelloc is the patron saint of Kilmallock in Limerick,
Ireland. Reliable details of his life are unavailable.

St. Garbhan, Abbot
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7th century. The Irish Saint Garbhan appears to have left his name to
Dungarvan. Nothing certain is known about him.

Sent out at approximately midnight G.M.T.

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