Saint Fachtna
Encyclopedia
Fachtna mac Mongaig was the founder of the monastery of Rosscarbery
(Ros Ailithir), County Cork
. He died around 600. His monastery became the principal monastery of west Cork
, and later had a famous Scripture school known as the School of Ross
. It flourished for three hundred years and survived in some form until the coming of the Normans to Ireland. It was the centre from which the Diocese of Ross developed.
Fachtna was born at Tulachteann, and was one of the pupils of Saint Ita
. Before establishing the monastic school of Ross, he founded the monastery of Molana on an island in the Blackwater, near Youghal
. He suffered for a time from blindness, from which he recovered at the intercession of Saint Ita's sister, who was about to give birth to Saint Mochoemog. Fachtna was revered as a "wise and upright man", with a great gift for preaching; Saint Cuimin of Connor said of him that he was "generous and steadfast, fond of preaching to the people and saying nothing that was base or displeasing to God".
His feast day was 14 August, a date now occupied by the memorial of Saint Maximilian Kolbe
, and Saint Fachtna is now venerated, even in the Diocese of Ross, on 13 August.
Rosscarbery
Rosscarbery or Roscarbery is a town in County Cork, Ireland. The town is on a shallow estuary, which opens onto Rosscarbery Bay.-History:...
(Ros Ailithir), County Cork
County Cork
County Cork is a county in Ireland. It is located in the South-West Region and is also part of the province of Munster. It is named after the city of Cork . Cork County Council is the local authority for the county...
. He died around 600. His monastery became the principal monastery of west Cork
West Cork
West Cork refers to a geographical area in south-west Ireland, lying within Ireland's largest county, County Cork. Traditionally a popular tourist destination, the area is seen as being distinct from the more populated northern or eastern parts of the county, as well as the more urban area of...
, and later had a famous Scripture school known as the School of Ross
School of Ross
The School of Ross was a monastic institution located in what is now called Rosscarbery, County Cork, Ireland, but formerly Ross-Ailithir , from the large number of monks and students who flocked to its halls from all over Europe....
. It flourished for three hundred years and survived in some form until the coming of the Normans to Ireland. It was the centre from which the Diocese of Ross developed.
Fachtna was born at Tulachteann, and was one of the pupils of Saint Ita
Saint Ita
Íte ingen Chinn Fhalad , also known as Ita, Ida or Ides, was an early Irish nun and saint, patron of Killeedy . Her feast day is 15 January....
. Before establishing the monastic school of Ross, he founded the monastery of Molana on an island in the Blackwater, near Youghal
Youghal
Youghal is a town in County Cork, Ireland. Sitting on the estuary of the River Blackwater, in the past it was militarily and economically important. Being built on the edge of a steep riverbank, the town has a distinctive long and narrow layout...
. He suffered for a time from blindness, from which he recovered at the intercession of Saint Ita's sister, who was about to give birth to Saint Mochoemog. Fachtna was revered as a "wise and upright man", with a great gift for preaching; Saint Cuimin of Connor said of him that he was "generous and steadfast, fond of preaching to the people and saying nothing that was base or displeasing to God".
His feast day was 14 August, a date now occupied by the memorial of Saint Maximilian Kolbe
Maximilian Kolbe
Saint Maximilian Maria Kolbe OFM Conv was a Polish Conventual Franciscan friar, who volunteered to die in place of a stranger in the Nazi German concentration camp of Auschwitz, located in German-occupied Poland during World War II.He was canonized on 10 October 1982 by Pope John Paul II, and...
, and Saint Fachtna is now venerated, even in the Diocese of Ross, on 13 August.
External links
- St. Fachanan at Saints & Angels