Luchtigern ( la, Luctigernus) was an early Christian leader who was active in

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 ...

in the 6th century, and has been recognized as a saint by the

Catholic Church The Catholic Church, also known as the Roman Catholic Church, is the largest Christian church, with 1.3 billion baptized Catholics worldwide . It is among the world's oldest and largest international institutions, and has played a ...

Life

According to ''The Martyrology of Donegal'' Luchtigern's mother was Brigh, daughter of Forannan, son of Conall, son of Tochtan, son of Amhalgaidh, sister of Maelaithghin. He was a disciple of Saint Ruadhán of Lorrha. He appears to be a different person from Luchern or Luctigern, a disciple of Saint

Comgall Saint Comgall (c. 510–520 – 597/602), an early Irish saint, was the founder and abbot of the great Irish monastery at Bangor in Ireland. MacCaffrey,James (1908). " St. Comgall". In ''Catholic Encyclopedia''. 4. New York: Robert Appleton Co ...

at Bangor. Luchtigern presided over the abbey of Ennistymon, which has since disappeared without trace. An old ruined church in the

Ennistymon Ennistymon or Ennistimon () is a country market town in County Clare, near the west coast of Ireland. The River Inagh, with its small rapids known as the Cascades, runs through the town, behind the main street. A bridge across the river leads to ...

burial ground, although more recent, most likely marks the location of the abbey. Luchtigern resigned the apostleship of Ennistymon to Saint Mainchín. Luchtigern was also connected with

Corcomroe Abbey Corcomroe Abbey (Irish: ''Mainistir Chorca Mrua'') is an early 13th-century Cistercian monastery located in the north of the Burren region of County Clare, Ireland, a few miles east of the village of Ballyvaughan in the Barony of Burren. It ...

, and seems to have had authority over all of

Thomond Thomond (Classical Irish: ; Modern Irish: ), also known as the kingdom of Limerick, was a kingdom of Gaelic Ireland, associated geographically with present-day County Clare and County Limerick, as well as parts of County Tipperary around Nenag ...

or North Munster. Luchtigern is mentioned in the life of Saint

Mac Creiche Mac Creiche (or Maccreehy, MacCrecius) of Liscannor is described by various old texts as an early Irish saint, a hermit who slew monsters and persuaded kings to submit to him through miracles. He was probably not a historical figure. The stories ...

, who died in 541. At this time Luchtigern was connected with Ennistymon and Corcomroe. He accompanied MacCreiche to Carn Mic Táil to give advice to the Corca Modruadh and Tuadhmhumhain people over a tribute of cattle that the

king of Connaught The Kings of Connacht were rulers of the ''cóiced'' (variously translated as portion, fifth, province) of Connacht, which lies west of the River Shannon, Ireland. However, the name only became applied to it in the early medieval era, being name ...

was demanding. Luchtigern's main church would have been at '' Tuam Fionnlocha'' in the barony of Upper Bunratty. Tuamfinlough is the oldest known settlement in the region of

Newmarket-on-Fergus Newmarket-on-Fergus, historically known as Corracatlin (), is a town in County Clare, Ireland. It is 13 kilometres from Ennis, 8 kilometres from Shannon Airport, and 24 kilometres from Limerick. History The English rendering of the name 'Newm ...

. He is commemorated in the Feast of St. Luchtigern on 29 April, the date when he became abbot of ''Tuam Fionnlocha''.

Legends

Visit to Saint Íte

Luchtigern was one of the friends of Saint Íte, a contemporary of Saint

Brigid of Kildare Saint Brigid of Kildare or Brigid of Ireland ( ga, Naomh Bríd; la, Brigida; 525) is the patroness saint (or 'mother saint') of Ireland, and one of its three national saints along with Patrick and Columba. According to medieval Irish hagiogra ...

. It is recorded that Luchtigern and Saint Laisren were travelling to visit Íte with a young monk, who called them "stupid and foolish" to visit the old hag. The abbots reproved the monk, suspecting that Íte would have heard his words. Their fears were justified. Íte greeted them by asking why they had come to visit an old hag. The young monk was forced to do penance before the visit could proceed.

Plague stone

A traditional story tells of Luchtigern curing a woman inflicted by the plague, who came to him when he was working in the field at

Tomfinlough Tomfinlough ( ga, Tuaim Fhionnlocha) is a civil parish in County Clare, Ireland. A Christian establishment was first made here around 540 AD. The parish lands were often raided by Irish, Viking, Norman and English forces in the years that followe ...

with two deacons. One of the deacons was greatly impressed, and attributed the cure to God working through the saint. The other was skeptical. Luchtigern carved three faces on a stone, representing himself and the deacons, and said that heaven would show who was right. Soon the face of the skeptic was worn away, while the other two faces remained. The "plague stone" with its three bosses, one flat and two round, is part of the Tomfinlough graveyard wall, and may be seen today.

References

Sources

* * * * * * * * * {{DEFAULTSORT:Luchtigern 6th-century Christian saints Medieval Irish saints 6th-century Irish abbots Year of birth unknown Year of death unknown