Saint Laserian
Saint Laserian (also known as Saint Molaise of Leighlin; born c. 566 AD in Ireland; died April 18, 639 AD in Old Leighlin, County Carlow, Ireland) was an Irish bishop and the first Bishop of Leighlin in Leinster. He is notable for having sided with Rome over the Celtic tradition in the controversy about the correct calculation of Easter — a crucial turning point in the alignment of the Irish Church with Rome. He is the patron of the Diocese of Kildare and Leighlin. His feast day is April 18.
Stored in Cargo: Saint Laserian
| Saint Laserian | |
|---|---|
| Feast Day | April 18 |
| Profession | Bishop; monk; champion of Roman Easter calculation |
| Rel. Affiliation | Catholic Church; Irish Church; first Bishop of Leighlin; patron of Diocese of Kildare and Leighlin |
| Patronage | Diocese of Kildare and Leighlin; Leighlin; County Carlow; those who suffer chronic illness with patience |
| Attributes | Bishop's vestments; pastoral staff; Leighlin Cathedral; the Roman Easter date (historically significant) |
| Birthplace | Ireland (exact location uncertain; probably Ulster or Leinster) |
| Death Place | Old Leighlin, County Carlow, Ireland |
| Cause of Death | Natural death; died April 18, 639 AD at Leighlin; tradition records he suffered from sixty diseases but bore them all with patience |
| Primary Shrine | Old Leighlin, County Carlow — the cathedral site; a small pilgrimage; the cathedral is now Church of Ireland but the site itself is venerated |
| Liturgical Class | Feast in the Diocese of Kildare and Leighlin; Optional Memorial elsewhere in Ireland; April 18 |
| Historic Class | Not in universal 1962 calendar; observed in Ireland |
Biography
Laserian (also written Laisren, Molaise — Mo- being an Irish term of endearment, so "Molaise" = "my Laserian") was born around 566 AD, probably in Ulster or Leinster. His parentage is given variously in the medieval Lives. He was educated in the monastic tradition of early Irish Christianity and eventually traveled to Rome.
He was consecrated bishop in Rome by Pope Honorius I, returning to Ireland as a convinced advocate of the Roman method of calculating Easter — a matter of deep controversy in the 7th-century Irish Church. The Celtic churches had followed an older method of computing Easter; the Roman Church used a different calculation; the two methods produced different dates in many years, causing the scandal of different communities celebrating Easter on different Sundays.
Laserian returned to Ireland championing the Roman position and became the first Bishop of Leighlin in Leinster, establishing his episcopal church at Old Leighlin in County Carlow. He governed the diocese until his death on April 18, 639 AD. His Lives record that he endured sixty simultaneous diseases with patience.
The Easter controversy he engaged in was not resolved until the Synod of Whitby (664 AD), a generation after his death — but Laserian's advocacy helped prepare the ground.
Significant locations
Legend
Birth location: Ireland (exact location uncertain; probably Ulster or Leinster)
Death location: Old Leighlin, County Carlow, Ireland
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Parishes
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Shrines
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Known shrines
- Old Leighlin Cathedral, County Carlow, Ireland — the site of his monastery and first church; a continuous place of worship since the 7th century.
Feast day
April 18
Veneration
Saint Laserian is the patron of the Diocese of Kildare and Leighlin. He is venerated as one of the founders of Leinster Christianity.
Prayers
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