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Saint Crónán (died 640) was the abbot-bishop and patron of the diocese of RoscreaGrattan-Flood, William. "Cronan." The Catholic Encyclopedia. Vol. 4. New York: Robert Appleton Company, 1908. 14 Jan. 2013
/ref> (a see later incorporated into the diocese of Killaloe), Ireland. He should not be confused with his contemporary Saint Crónán Mochua (died 637).
Like those of so many other Irish saints, the Acts of St. Crónán abound in miracles. The most surprising, perhaps, is the legend concerning the transcribing of the Four Gospels by one of his monks, named Dimma, which is associated with the manuscript now known as the Book of 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. 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 "Saint Cronan". ''New Catholic Dictionary''
CatholicSaints.Info. 16 September 2012
Butler, Alban. ''Lives of thee Saints'', Vol. IV, 1866
{{DEFAULTSORT:Cronan Of Roscrea Year of birth missing 640 deaths 7th-century Christian saints Medieval saints of Munster People from County Offaly 7th-century Irish abbots
/ref> (a see later incorporated into the diocese of Killaloe), Ireland. He should not be confused with his contemporary Saint Crónán Mochua (died 637).
Life
Crónán was born in the territory ofÉile
Éile (; , ), commonly anglicised as Ely, was a medieval petty kingdom in the southern part of the modern county of Offaly and parts of North Tipperary in Ireland. The historic barony of Eliogarty was once a significant portion of the kingdom.
...
in Ireland. His father’s name was Odhran, while his mother came from west Clare. After spending his youth in Connacht
Connacht or Connaught ( ; or ), is the smallest of the four provinces of Ireland, situated in the west of Ireland. Until the ninth century it consisted of several independent major Gaelic kingdoms (Uà Fiachrach, Uà Briúin, Uà Maine, C ...
, he returned to his native district around the year 610 and founded Roscrea Abbey, where he established a school. Previously he settled at a place known as Sean Ros or Loch Cré, which was a wooded morass far from the haunts of men. In fact, it was so wild that pilgrims would often get lost. As a result, St. Crónán abandoned it and moved to the woods of Cré, now known as Ros Cré, County Tipperary
County Tipperary () is a Counties of Ireland, county in Republic of Ireland, Ireland. It is in the Provinces of Ireland, province of Munster and the Southern Region, Ireland, Southern Region. The county is named after the town of Tipperary (tow ...
.
William Reeves notes that the ''Annals of Tigernach
The ''Annals of Tigernach'' (Abbreviation, abbr. AT, ) are chronicles probably originating in Clonmacnoise, Ireland. The language is a mixture of Latin language, Latin and Old Irish, Old and Middle Irish.
Many of the pre-historic entries come f ...
'' and the ''Annals of Ulster
The ''Annals of Ulster'' () are annals of History of Ireland, medieval Ireland. The entries span the years from 431 AD to 1540 AD. The entries up to 1489 AD were compiled in the late 15th century by the scribe Ruaidhrà Ó Luinà ...
'' 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 concerning the transcribing of the Four Gospels by one of his monks, named Dimma, which is associated with the manuscript now known as the Book of 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. 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 (; died 12 October 642) was the bishop of Rome from 24 December 640 to his death on 12 October 642. His election followed a four-month vacancy. He wrote to the clergy of Ireland and Scotland to tell them of the mistakes they were ...
in 640, regarding Pelagianism
Pelagianism is a Christian theological position that holds that the fall did not taint human nature and that humans by divine grace have free will to achieve human perfection. Pelagius (), an ascetic and philosopher from the British Isles, ta ...
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 highly 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.
Crónán is the patron of Roscrea, Tipperary; his feast day is 28 April.CatholicSaints.Info. 16 September 2012
Trivia
Saint Cronan's Boys National School inBray
Bray may refer to:
Places France
* Bray, Eure, in the Eure ''département''
* Bray, Saône-et-Loire, in the Saône-et-Loire ''département''
* Bray-Dunes, in the Nord ''département''
* Bray-en-Val, in the Loiret ''département''
* Bray-et-Lû ...
, County Wicklow
County Wicklow ( ; ) is a Counties of Ireland, county in Republic of Ireland, Ireland. The last of the traditional 32 counties, having been formed as late as 1606 in Ireland, 1606, it is part of the Eastern and Midland Region and the Provinces ...
in Ireland
Ireland (, ; ; Ulster Scots dialect, Ulster-Scots: ) is an island in the North Atlantic Ocean, in Northwestern Europe. Geopolitically, the island is divided between the Republic of Ireland (officially Names of the Irish state, named Irelan ...
is named in his honour.
See also
*Temple Cronan
Temple Cronan is a ruined medieval oratory or chapel built near a holy well in the Burren, County Clare, Ireland. The current building apparently dates from the 12th and 15th centuries, although it may partly incorporate earlier buildings or so ...
Notes
External links
Butler, Alban. ''Lives of thee Saints'', Vol. IV, 1866
{{DEFAULTSORT:Cronan Of Roscrea Year of birth missing 640 deaths 7th-century Christian saints Medieval saints of Munster People from County Offaly 7th-century Irish abbots