Saint Cronan
Encyclopedia
Saint Crónán was the abbot-bishop and patron of the diocese of Roscrea (a see later incorporated into the diocese of Killaloe
), Ireland. He is not to be confused (though he often is) with his contemporary Saint Crónán Mochua
of Tuamgraney (died 637).
Crónán was born in the territory of Ely O'Carroll, Ireland. After spending his youth in Connacht
, he returned to his native district about the year 610 and founded Roscrea Abbey, where he established a school. Previously he settled at a place known as Sean Ros or Loch Cre, which was a wooded morass far from the haunts of men; in fact, it was utterly wild, so much so, that St. Crónán abandoned it and moved to the wood of Cre, that is Ros Cre, County Tipperary
.
William Reeves
notes that the Annals of Tigernach
and the Annals of Ulster
both describe Crónán as "bishop of Nendrum".
", was for centuries preserved in Crónán's abbey at Roscrea, and is now in the Library
of Trinity College
, Dublin. The scribe, Dimma MacNathi, signs his name at the conclusion of each of the Gospels, and he has been identified with Dimma, subsequently Bishop of Connor, who is mentioned with Crónán in the letter of Pope John IV
in 640, in regard to Pelagianism
in Ireland, but this identification cannot be sustained.
The case containing the "Book of Dimma" was richly gilt by order of O'Carroll, Lord of Ely, in the twelfth century. Notwithstanding the conflicting statements arising from the number of contemporary Irish saints bearing the name Crónán, it is more than probable that St. Crónán of Roscrea, as les Petits Bollandistes
say, lived as late as the year 640, and his death occurred on 28 April of that year.
His feast is celebrated on 28 April and as such is included in all the Irish calendars, as also in the Kalendar of Drummond.
, Co. Wicklow in Ireland
is named in his honour.
Diocese of Killaloe
The Diocese of Killaloe may refer either to a Roman Catholic or a Church of Ireland diocese, in Ireland.-Roman Catholic diocese:The Diocese of Killaloe is the second largest Roman Catholic diocese in Ireland....
), Ireland. He is not to be confused (though he often is) with his contemporary Saint Crónán Mochua
Cronan Mochua
Mo Chua or Crónán mac Bécáin was the founder of Balla, whose diocese was subsequently merged into that of Tuam, Ireland. He is not to be confused with his contemporary Crónán of Roscrea ....
of Tuamgraney (died 637).
Crónán was born in the territory of Ely O'Carroll, Ireland. After spending his youth in Connacht
Connacht
Connacht , formerly anglicised as Connaught, is one of the Provinces of Ireland situated in the west of Ireland. In Ancient Ireland, it was one of the fifths ruled by a "king of over-kings" . Following the Norman invasion of Ireland, the ancient kingdoms were shired into a number of counties for...
, he returned to his native district about the year 610 and founded Roscrea Abbey, where he established a school. Previously he settled at a place known as Sean Ros or Loch Cre, which was a wooded morass far from the haunts of men; in fact, it was utterly wild, so much so, that St. Crónán abandoned it and moved to the wood of Cre, that is Ros Cre, County Tipperary
County Tipperary
County Tipperary is a county of Ireland. It is located in the province of Munster and is named after the town of Tipperary. The area of the county does not have a single local authority; local government is split between two authorities. In North Tipperary, part of the Mid-West Region, local...
.
William Reeves
William Reeves (bishop)
William Reeves was an Irish antiquarian and the Church of Ireland Bishop of Down, Connor and Dromore from 1886 until his death...
notes that the Annals of Tigernach
Annals of Tigernach
The Annals of Tigernach is a chronicle probably originating in Clonmacnoise, Ireland. The language is a mixture of Latin and Old and Middle Irish....
and the Annals of Ulster
Annals of Ulster
The Annals of Ulster are annals of medieval Ireland. The entries span the years between AD 431 to AD 1540. The entries up to AD 1489 were compiled in the late 15th century by the scribe Ruaidhrí Ó Luinín, under his patron Cathal Óg Mac Maghnusa on the island of Belle Isle on Lough Erne in the...
both describe Crónán as "bishop of Nendrum".
Hagiography
Like those of so many other Irish saints the Acts of St. Crónán abound in miracles. The most surprising, perhaps, is the legend as to the transcribing of the Four Gospels by one of his monks, named Dimma. It appears that Dimma could only undertake one day's task, from sunrise to sunset. Crónán, however, bade him write, and then Dimma set to work, never ceasing until he had finished the Four Gospels, the sun continuing to shine for the space of forty days and forty nights - the scribe himself being unconscious that the work occupied more than one day. Whatever may be thought of this legend, it is certain that a magnificent Evangelistarium, known as the "Book of DimmaBook of Dimma
thumb|left|The 12th century case of the Book of Dimma.The Book of Dimma is an 8th-century Irish pocket Gospel Book originally from the Abbey of Roscrea, founded by St. Cronan in the County Tipperary, Ireland. In addition to the four Gospels, in between the Gospels of Luke and John, it has an...
", was for centuries preserved in Crónán's abbey at Roscrea, and is now in the Library
Trinity College Library, Dublin
Trinity College Library Dublin, the centrally-administered library of Trinity College, Dublin, is the largest library in Ireland. As a "copyright library", it has legal deposit rights for material published in the Republic of Ireland; it is also the only Irish library to hold such rights for the...
of Trinity College
Trinity College, Dublin
Trinity College, Dublin , formally known as the College of the Holy and Undivided Trinity of Queen Elizabeth near Dublin, was founded in 1592 by letters patent from Queen Elizabeth I as the "mother of a university", Extracts from Letters Patent of Elizabeth I, 1592: "...we...found and...
, Dublin. The scribe, Dimma MacNathi, signs his name at the conclusion of each of the Gospels, and he has been identified with Dimma, subsequently Bishop of Connor, who is mentioned with Crónán in the letter of Pope John IV
Pope John IV
Pope John IV was elected Pope of the Catholic Church, after a four-month sede vacante, December 24, 640.Pope John was a native of Dalmatia . He was the son of the scholasticus Venantius. At the time of his election he was archdeacon of the Roman Church, an important role in governing the see...
in 640, in regard to Pelagianism
Pelagianism
Pelagianism is a theological theory named after Pelagius , although he denied, at least at some point in his life, many of the doctrines associated with his name. It is the belief that original sin did not taint human nature and that mortal will is still capable of choosing good or evil without...
in Ireland, but this identification cannot be sustained.
The case containing the "Book of Dimma" was richly gilt by order of O'Carroll, Lord of Ely, in the twelfth century. Notwithstanding the conflicting statements arising from the number of contemporary Irish saints bearing the name Crónán, it is more than probable that St. Crónán of Roscrea, as les Petits Bollandistes
Les Petits Bollandistes
Les Petits Bollandistes is a 17 volume collection of lives of the saints by Paul Guerin, published in Paris in 1865.-References:Holweck, F. G. A Biographical Dictionary of the Saint. St. Louis, MO: B. Herder Book Co. 1924....
say, lived as late as the year 640, and his death occurred on 28 April of that year.
His feast is celebrated on 28 April and as such is included in all the Irish calendars, as also in the Kalendar of Drummond.
Trivia
Saint Cronan's Boys National School in BrayBray
Bray is a town in north County Wicklow, Ireland. It is a busy urban centre and seaside resort, with a population of 31,901 making it the fourth largest in Ireland as of the 2006 census...
, Co. Wicklow in Ireland
Ireland
Ireland is an island to the northwest of continental Europe. It is the third-largest island in Europe and the twentieth-largest island on Earth...
is named in his honour.
See also
- Temple CronanTemple CronanTemple Cronan is a ruined medieval oratory or chapel built over a holy well in the Burren, County Clare, Ireland; the current buildings apparently date from the 12th and 15th centuries, although they may partly incorporate earlier buildings...