St. Modomnóc of Ossory (also ''Domnóc'' and ''Dominic'') (died c. 550) was an
Irish saint
In Christianity, Christian belief, a saint is a person who is recognized as having an exceptional degree of sanctification in Christianity, holiness, imitation of God, likeness, or closeness to God in Christianity, God. However, the use of the ...
and
missionary
A missionary is a member of a Religious denomination, religious group who is sent into an area in order to promote its faith or provide services to people, such as education, literacy, social justice, health care, and economic development.Thoma ...
in
Osraige
Osraige (Old Irish) or Osraighe (Classical Irish), Osraí (Modern Irish), anglicized as Ossory, was a medieval Irish kingdom comprising what is now County Kilkenny and western County Laois, corresponding to the Diocese of Ossory. The home of ...
who was a disciple of
St. David of Wales and a member of the
Uí Néill
The Uí Néill (; meaning "descendants of Niall") are Irish dynasties that claim descent from Niall Noígíallach (Niall of the Nine Hostages), a historical King of Tara who is believed to have died around c. 405. They are generally divided ...
royal family. His feast day is February 13.
Life
Modomnoc's name is likely to have been Dominic or Donogh, as the words "my", ("''mo''") "little" and "dear" were added to Irish saint's names; hence Domnóc's name is often rendered ''mo Domnóc'' or ''Modomnóc''. He left Ireland to practice priesthood and crossed the sea to Wales to study under St. David at Menevia.
[Haggerty, Bridget, "The Bees Who would not be Left Behind", Irish Culture and Customs]
/ref>
Beekeeper
One of the best known stories regarding Saint Modomnoc concerns his work as a beekeeper in Saint David's monastery . Bees were kept both for their honey and the production of wax.[ He was never stung. When the time came for him to return to Ireland, three times the bees followed in great swarm and settled on the mast. With Saint David's consent he let the bees sail with him and introduced the honeybee to Ireland on his return from Wales.
Modomnoc's talking to his bees is in keeping with an Irish folklore custom of ‘Telling the Bees’ which ensures that the bees not feel any offence due to exclusion from family affairs and so will remain with the hive. It was believed that if one didn't tell the bees of a wedding, a birth, or a death they would take offence and leave.][Chaomhánach, Eimear, "The Bee, its Keeper and Produce, in Irish and other Folk Traditions", University College Dublin]
/ref> This same custom forms the basis of John Greenleaf Whittier's poem, "Telling the Bees".
Bishop
Upon returning home he continued his religious services at Tybroughney. He is said to have been honoured with the episcopal dignity, about the middle of the 6th century.[Butler, Alban. "St. Modomnoc, or Dominick, of Ossory, Bishop and Confessor", ''The Lives of the Saints'', Volume II, 1866]
References
External links
* ttp://www.catholic.org/saints/saint.php?saint_id=5148 St. Modomnoc - Catholic Onlinebr>Chaomhánach, Eimear, "The Bee, its Keeper and Produce, in Irish and other Folk Traditions", University College Dublin"''A Saint and His Bees''" by Dessi Jackson
*
{{DEFAULTSORT:Modomnoc
6th-century Irish Christian clergy
Irish beekeepers
6th-century Christian saints
Medieval Irish saints
Bees in religion