Saint Fintán, or Munnu (died 635) is one of the saints of Ireland and Britain 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 is a pilgrimage site; today
Taghmon
Taghmon (; ) is a village in County Wexford, Ireland. It lies on the R738 regional road, 14 km west of Wexford town and 25 km east-southeast of New Ross.
History
It can be established, from historical records, that the area now com ...
is in the
County Wexford
County Wexford ( ga, Contae Loch Garman) is a county in Ireland. It is in the province of Leinster and is part of the Southern Region. Named after the town of Wexford, it was based on the historic Gaelic territory of Hy Kinsella (''Uí Ceinns ...
, in the province of Leinster
Ireland
Ireland ( ; ga, Éire ; Ulster Scots dialect, Ulster-Scots: ) is an island in the Atlantic Ocean, North Atlantic Ocean, in Northwestern Europe, north-western Europe. It is separated from Great Britain to its east by the North Channel (Grea ...
.
[Lanigan, John: ''An Ecclesiastical History of Ireland, from the First Introduction of Christianity Among the Irish, to the Beginning of the Thirteenth Century, Vol. II., 2nd Edition'', pages 404-409. Simpkin and Marshall, London, 1829.] In Scotland, he is venerated as the
patron saint
A patron saint, patroness saint, patron hallow or heavenly protector is a saint who in Catholicism, Anglicanism, or Eastern Orthodoxy is regarded as the heavenly advocate of a nation, place, craft, activity, class, clan, family, or perso ...
of
Clan Campbell
Clan Campbell ( gd, Na Caimbeulaich ) is a Highland Scottish clan, historically one of the largest and most powerful of the Highland clans. The Clan Campbell lands are in Argyll and within their lands lies Ben Cruachan. The chief of the clan be ...
.
Alternate names
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''.
The name Fionn was preceded by the term of endearment 'mo', followed by "og", meaning "young". Mo-Fhionn-Og became Munno, the name by which he is popularly known.
Biography
Early life
Based on certain linguistic characteristics and some historical references, the earliest life of Fintán/Munna is believed to date around the year 800.
[Culleton, Edward. "St. Munna Of Taghmon", Taghmon Historical Society]
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Fintán was born of the dynasty of Niall, son of Tulchan (or Tulcan)[Baring-Gould, Sabine: ''The lives of the saints, Vol. 12'' page 558. John Hodges, London, 1877.] and Feidelmia. According to the Felire of Oengus, Tulchan was a druid.[
Fintán may have first studied at the school of ]Bangor Abbey
Bangor Abbey was established by Saint Comgall in 558 in Bangor, County Down, Northern Ireland and was famous for its learning and austere rule. It is not to be confused with the slightly older abbey in Wales on the site of Bangor Cathedral.
His ...
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
Lough Erne ( , ) is the name of two connected lakes in County Fermanagh, Northern Ireland. It is the second-biggest lake system in Northern Ireland and Ulster, and the fourth biggest in Ireland. The lakes are widened sections of the River Erne, ...
. St. Columba
Columba or Colmcille; gd, Calum Cille; gv, Colum Keeilley; non, Kolban or at least partly reinterpreted as (7 December 521 – 9 June 597 AD) was an Irish abbot and missionary evangelist credited with spreading Christianity in what is toda ...
also studied at Cluain-inis under Sinell, but left prior to Munnu's arrival.
Ministry in Scotland
Iona monastery
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 Í (now called Iona
Iona (; gd, Ì Chaluim Chille (IPA: iːˈxaɫ̪ɯimˈçiʎə, sometimes simply ''Ì''; sco, Iona) is a small island in the Inner Hebrides, off the Ross of Mull on the western coast of Scotland. It is mainly known for Iona Abbey, though there ...
) to join the monastery there under St. Columba
Columba or Colmcille; gd, Calum Cille; gv, Colum Keeilley; non, Kolban or at least partly reinterpreted as (7 December 521 – 9 June 597 AD) was an Irish abbot and missionary evangelist credited with spreading Christianity in what is toda ...
. 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.[Walsh, Thomas: ''History Of The Irish Hierarchy, With The Monasteries Of Each County, Biographical Notices Of The Irish Saints, Prelates, And Religious.'' pages 710-711. D. & J. Sadlier & Co., New York, 1854.] 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."
Kilmun monastery
Mun lived on the Island on Loch Leven, before making his way to Kilmun
Kilmun ( gd, Cill Mhunna) is a linear settlement on the north shore of the Holy Loch, on the Cowal peninsula in Argyll and Bute, Scottish Highlands.It takes its name from the 7th century monastic community founded by an Irish monk, St Munn (Fin ...
, where he founded a monastic community at the site of the modern Kilmun Church.
Ministry in Ireland
Wexford monastery
Fintán returned to Ireland shortly thereafter to found his monastery. A local lord in what is modern day Wexford
Wexford () is the county town of County Wexford, Ireland. Wexford lies on the south side of Wexford Harbour, the estuary of the River Slaney near the southeastern corner of the island of Ireland. The town is linked to Dublin by the M11/N11 N ...
in Leinster
Leinster ( ; ga, Laighin or ) is one of the provinces of Ireland, situated in the southeast and east of Ireland. The province comprises the ancient Kingdoms of Meath, Leinster and Osraige. Following the 12th-century Norman invasion of Ir ...
, named Dímma mac Áeda Croin, granted Fintán land circa 597. Munnu, in turn, granted, Dímma his personal guarantee that Dímma would gain the kingdom of heaven. Fintán at some point took Dímma's son into fosterage, and Dímma later became a cleric and was buried among the monks at the monastery.[Charles-Edwards, T.M.: ''Early Christian Ireland'' pages 4,116-118. Cambridge University Press, 8 January 2001.] The monastery was named Teach-munnu or "House of Munnu" and became a center of learning. Fintán was versed in scientific knowledge and gave frequent public lectures where Christian revelation was illuminated by the sciences and mathematics.[ Brenan, Michael John: ''Ecclesiastical History of Ireland from the Introduction Of Christianity Into That Country to the Year MDCCCXXIX. Vol. I.'' Pages 126, 161. John Coyne, Dublin, 1840.] Munnu presided over 152 monks at Teach-munnu.
Munnu probably founded a religious establishment at "Kilmund" (Kilmun
Kilmun ( gd, Cill Mhunna) is a linear settlement on the north shore of the Holy Loch, on the Cowal peninsula in Argyll and Bute, Scottish Highlands.It takes its name from the 7th century monastic community founded by an Irish monk, St Munn (Fin ...
). and may have done so at Eilean Munde
Eilean Munde is a small uninhabited island in Loch Leven, close to Ballachulish.
It is the site of a chapel built by St. Fintan Mundus (also known as Saint Fintan Munnu), who travelled here from Iona in the 7th century. The church was burnt i ...
as well. However, it is improbable that he is founder of Clonenagh, Fintan of Clonenagh
Saint Fintan of Clonenagh (c. 526 – 603) was an Irish hermit and monk. He was an Abbot and disciple of Columba of Terryglass.
Life
Fintan was born in about 526, the son of Christians Gabhren and Findlath.
The monastery at Clonenagh was foun ...
, though they are often confused. He did have an abbey in Heli (or Hele, perhaps in County Westmeath
"Noble above nobility"
, image_map = Island of Ireland location map Westmeath.svg
, subdivision_type = Sovereign state, Country
, subdivision_name = Republic of Ireland, Ireland
, subdivision_type1 = Provinces o ...
), which he and his monks forsook, giving it to Saint Cera
Saint Ciera of Ireland (alternately Chera, Chier, Ciara, Cyra, Keira, Keara, Kiara, Kiera, Ceara, Cier, Ciar) was an abbess in the 7th century who died in 679. Her history is probably commingled with another Cera (alternately Ciar, Ciara) who live ...
and her companions. Saint Cera
Saint Ciera of Ireland (alternately Chera, Chier, Ciara, Cyra, Keira, Keara, Kiara, Kiera, Ceara, Cier, Ciar) was an abbess in the 7th century who died in 679. Her history is probably commingled with another Cera (alternately Ciar, Ciara) who live ...
named the place, according to Fintán's instructions, after St. Telle who had given three jubilations in the plain of Miodhluachra that day. There are several references to Munnu being a leper.
Later life
Toward the end of his life he opposed the adoption of the Roman method for determining the date of Easter. He strongly promoted the Irish method in opposition to Laserian. A synod convened at Magh Lene in 631 to resolve the matter, but the parties were unable to resolve the matter so a delegation was sent to Rome. Munnu withdrew his opposition, and adopted the Roman system with the rest of southern Ireland.
Death and burial
He died in 636, and was buried in the cemetery at St Munn's Parish Church, Kilmun
Kilmun Parish Church and Argyll Mausoleum in Kilmun, Argyll and Bute, Scotland, consists of St Munn's Church (a Category-A-listed building but no longer a parish church of the Church of Scotland), as well as the adjacent mausoleum of the Dukes ...
, Scotland.
Veneration as a Saint
His feast day is on 21 October. Fintán is associated with several tales of miracles and is recorded to have been visited by an angel.Duffy, Patrick. "Oct 21 – St Fintan (or Munnu) abbot of Taghmon d. 635", ''Catholic Ireland'', 21 October 2012
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References
{{DEFAULTSORT:Fintan Of Taghmon
Medieval Irish saints
Medieval saints of Leinster
Medieval Gaels
7th-century Irish abbots
Christian clergy from County Wexford
Angelic visionaries
Burials at Kilmun Parish Church