Saint Fintan of Clonenagh
Saint Fintan of Clonenagh (born c. 529 AD in Leinster, Ireland; died February 17, 603 AD at Clonenagh, County Laois, Ireland) was an Irish abbot who founded the monastery of Clonenagh in County Laois and was renowned for his extreme asceticism — the harshest monastic rule in Ireland, whose severity alarmed even other Irish saints. He is patron of the Diocese of Kildare and Leighlin. His feast day is February 17.
Stored in Cargo: Saint Fintan of Clonenagh
| Saint Fintan of Clonenagh | |
|---|---|
| Feast Day | February 17 |
| Profession | Monk; abbot; ascetic |
| Rel. Affiliation | Irish monastic church |
| Patronage | Diocese of Kildare and Leighlin; County Laois; monks; ascetics; slaves and captives |
| Attributes | Abbot's staff; barley bread and clay water (asceticism); Irish cross; captives freed |
| Birthplace | Leinster, Ireland |
| Death Place | Clonenagh, County Laois, Ireland |
| Cause of Death | Natural causes; died at his monastery after a life of extreme asceticism |
| Primary Shrine | Holy Well of Saint Fintan, Clonenagh, near Mountrath, County Laois — associated with him; a local pilgrimage site |
| Liturgical Class | Not in universal Roman Calendar; feast February 17; observed in Diocese of Kildare and Leighlin |
| Historic Class | Not included |
Biography
Fintan was born around 529 AD in Leinster. He was a disciple of Saint Columba of Terryglass (not Columba of Iona — a different saint of the same name), under whom he received his monastic formation. He founded the monastery of Clonenagh in County Laois around 560 AD.
He was known throughout Ireland for the extreme severity of his rule. While other Irish monasteries practiced serious fasting and mortification, Fintan's rule at Clonenagh was reputed to be the harshest. His own personal diet was said to consist of barley bread and water mixed with clay. He slept little and prayed constantly.
Saint Columba of Iona reportedly tried to persuade him to moderate his rule for the sake of his weaker monks, arguing that human bodies could not sustain such extremes indefinitely. Fintan replied that the way of the Gospel was the way of the cross and that he could not in good conscience give his monks an easier path. Some concessions were made, but the tradition remembered Clonenagh as the place of the most austere life in Ireland.
He also had a reputation for compassion: he welcomed and protected captives and slaves who sought refuge at his monastery, a significant act of charity in the violent world of early medieval Ireland.
He died on February 17, 603 AD. His feast is February 17.
Significant locations
Legend
Birth location: Leinster, Ireland
Death location: Clonenagh, County Laois, Ireland
Notable location: His principal monastery; one of the notable monastic sites of Leinster; the site is near Mountrath in County Laois; ruins and a holy well survive (Clonenagh, County Laois, Ireland)
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Parishes
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Shrines
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Known shrines
- Holy Well of Saint Fintan, Clonenagh, near Mountrath, County Laois — local pilgrimage site.
Feast day
February 17
Veneration
Saint Fintan of Clonenagh is venerated in the Diocese of Kildare and Leighlin with a feast day on February 17.
Prayers
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