Enda of Aran
Encyclopedia
Saint Enda of Aran is an Irish
saint
in the Roman Catholic Church
. His feast day is March 21.
He returned to Ireland, and built churches at Drogheda
. He was given land in the Aran Islands
by his brother-in-law, the King of Cashel. There he founded one of the first monasteries
in Ireland, the monastery of Killeaney
on Aran Mor
, as well as several other across the island, and has since been known as the father of Irish monasticism
, along with Finnian of Clonard
. The division of Aran Mor in two parts, one half assigned to the monastery of Killeany, the western half, to such of his disciples as chose "to erect permanent religious houses on the island."
Patrick Pearse
named his school for young boys St. Enda's School
in honour of the saint in 1908. Ballyboden
has a Gaelic Athletic Association
club named after him, Ballyboden St. Enda's
.
. Legend has it that the soldier Enda was converted by his sister, Saint Fanchea, later abbess of Killeaney
. He renounced his dreams of conquest and decided to marry one of the girls in his sister's convent. When his fiancé died suddenly, he surrendered his throne and a life of worldly glory to mourn his loss. Such was his pain that he began to lose any interest in life. It is said that on the day that he would leave this mortal plane due to the grief of loss, a strange man came to him in a vision and told him of an isle where he would find peace, Innish. He made a pilgrimage to Rome and was ordained there. These stories told of the early life of Saint Enda and his sister are unhistorical, but the rest is not. More authentic vitae survive at Tighlaghearny at Inishmore, where he was buried.
's foundation in Pembrokeshire or Saint Ninian
's in Galloway. Returning to Ireland, Enda built churches at Drogheda
, and a monastery in the Boyne valley. It is uncertain how much of Enda's rule was an adaptation of that of Rosnat.
Thereafter (about 484) he begged his brother-in-law, the King Oengus of Munster, to let him go to the wild and barren isle of Innish in Galway Bay
. Oengus wanted to give him a fertile plot in the Golden Vale
, but Innish suited Enda's ideal for religious life. On Innish he established the monastery of Enda, which is regarded as the first Irish monastery in the strict sense. There they lived a hard life of manual labor, prayer, fasting, and study of the Scriptures. It is said that no fire was ever allowed to warm the cold stone cells even if "cold could be felt by those hearts so glowing with love of God."
Enda divided the island into 8 parts, in each of which he built a "place of refuge", and under his rule the abbey of St. Enda became a burning light of sanctity for centuries in Western Europe. Cattle, goats, and horses now huddle and shiver in the storm under many of the ruins of old walls where once men lived and prayed. Most survive as coastal ruined towers. These structures were the chosen home of a group of poor and devoted men under Saint Enda. He taught them to love the hard rock, the dripping cave, and the barren earth swept by the western gales. They were "men of the caves", and "also men of the Cross", who, remembering that their Lord was born in a manger and had nowhere to lay His head, followed the same hard way.
Today, the primary industry on Aran lies in tourism. Mini-buses and horse-drawn carriages carry curious western Europeans to religious sites and scenic vistas. Traditional music may be heard in the pubs alongside rock and jazz. Contrary to popular belief, there are no sheep on Inis Mor. Although there are some older skilled hand-knitters, the majority of Aran sweaters are made of imported wool and produced elsewhere. Although many fish are caught in local waters, they may not be sold on the island, rather are taken to the fish market in Rosaveal. There is also no bakery or butcher shop on the island, and the many cattle are shipped to the mainland to be sold as meat, while the goats are employed in keeping the grass short. Although several restaurants take advantage of the constant influx of tourists, food shopping on the island is limited to one small SPAR.
of Clonmacnoise
, who came there first as a youth to grind corn, and would have remained there for life but for Enda's insistence that his true work lay elsewhere, reluctant though he was to part with him. When he departed, the monks of Enda lined the shore as he knelt for the last time to receive Enda's blessing, and watched with wistful eyes the boat that bore him from them. In his going, they declared, their island had lost its flower and strength.
Another was Saint Finnian
, who left St Enda and founded the monastery of Moville
(where Saint Columba
spent part of his youth) and who afterwards became bishop of Lucca in Tuscany
, Italy
. Among them also was Saint Brendan the Voyager, Saint Columba
of Iona, Jarlath
of Tuam, and Carthach the Elder. These and many others formed a great and valiant company who first learned in St Enda the many ways of God, and who from that rocky sanctuary carried the light of the Gospel into a pagan world.
, and Inisheer
.
On the largest will stand Saint Enda's well and altar, and the round tower of the church where the bell was sounded which gave the signal that Saint Enda had taken his place at the altar. At the tolling of the bell the service of the Mass began in all the churches of the island.
"O, Innish," cried Columba in ecstasy, "the Rome of the pilgrims!" He never forgot his spiritual home which lay in the western sun and her pure earth sanctified by so many memories. Indeed, he said, so bright was her glory that the angels of God came down to worship in the churches of Innish on the day it disappeared.
Ireland
Ireland is an island to the northwest of continental Europe. It is the third-largest island in Europe and the twentieth-largest island on Earth...
saint
Saint
A saint is a holy person. In various religions, saints are people who are believed to have exceptional holiness.In Christian usage, "saint" refers to any believer who is "in Christ", and in whom Christ dwells, whether in heaven or in earth...
in the Roman Catholic Church
Roman Catholic Church
The Catholic Church, also known as the Roman Catholic Church, is the world's largest Christian church, with over a billion members. Led by the Pope, it defines its mission as spreading the gospel of Jesus Christ, administering the sacraments and exercising charity...
. His feast day is March 21.
Overview
According to the Martyrdom of Oengus, Enda was a warrior, and the King of Oriel. He visited his sister, Saint Fanchea, an abbess, who tried to persuade him to lay down his arms. He agreed if she would give him a young girl in the convent for a wife. The girl she promised turned out to have just died, and Enda only saw his fiancée as a corpse. Greatly affected by this, he went to study for the priesthood.He returned to Ireland, and built churches at Drogheda
Drogheda
Drogheda is an industrial and port town in County Louth on the east coast of Ireland, 56 km north of Dublin. It is the last bridging point on the River Boyne before it enters the Irish Sea....
. He was given land in the Aran Islands
Aran Islands
The Aran Islands or The Arans are a group of three islands located at the mouth of Galway Bay, on the west coast of Ireland. They constitute the barony of Aran in County Galway, Ireland...
by his brother-in-law, the King of Cashel. There he founded one of the first monasteries
Monastery
Monastery denotes the building, or complex of buildings, that houses a room reserved for prayer as well as the domestic quarters and workplace of monastics, whether monks or nuns, and whether living in community or alone .Monasteries may vary greatly in size – a small dwelling accommodating only...
in Ireland, the monastery of Killeaney
Killeaney
In the 5th century the Great Island was given by Aengus, King of Cashel, to St. Endeus or St. Enda of Aran, who founded several monasteries, and built several churches, of which the principal was named after him Kill-Enda, now called Killeany...
on Aran Mor
Aran Islands
The Aran Islands or The Arans are a group of three islands located at the mouth of Galway Bay, on the west coast of Ireland. They constitute the barony of Aran in County Galway, Ireland...
, as well as several other across the island, and has since been known as the father of Irish monasticism
Monasticism
Monasticism is a religious way of life characterized by the practice of renouncing worldly pursuits to fully devote one's self to spiritual work...
, along with Finnian of Clonard
Finnian of Clonard
Saint Finnian of Clonard , or Finian, 'Fionán' or 'Fionnán' in Irish, was one of the early Irish monastic saints, who founded Clonard Abbey in modern-day County Meath. The Twelve Apostles of Ireland studied under him...
. The division of Aran Mor in two parts, one half assigned to the monastery of Killeany, the western half, to such of his disciples as chose "to erect permanent religious houses on the island."
Patrick Pearse
Patrick Pearse
Patrick Henry Pearse was an Irish teacher, barrister, poet, writer, nationalist and political activist who was one of the leaders of the Easter Rising in 1916...
named his school for young boys St. Enda's School
St. Enda's School
St. Enda's School, or Scoil Éanna, was a Secondary school for boys set up by Irish nationalist Patrick Pearse in 1908.-Background:Pearse, generally known as a leader of the Easter Rising in 1916, had long been critical of the educational system in Ireland, which he believed taught Irish children to...
in honour of the saint in 1908. Ballyboden
Ballyboden
Ballyboden is a locality within the suburb of Rathfarnham in South Dublin, at the foot of the Dublin mountains between Whitechurch, Ballyroan and Knocklyon....
has a Gaelic Athletic Association
Gaelic Athletic Association
The Gaelic Athletic Association is an amateur Irish and international cultural and sporting organisation focused primarily on promoting Gaelic games, which include the traditional Irish sports of hurling, camogie, Gaelic football, handball and rounders...
club named after him, Ballyboden St. Enda's
Ballyboden St. Enda's
Ballyboden St. Enda's is a Gaelic Athletic Association club in Knocklyon, Dublin, Republic of Ireland. It is named after Saint Enda of Aran. The Club serves the Knocklyon, Ballycullen, Rathfarnham, Ballyboden, Ballyroan, Firhouse areas.Their homeground is Pairc Uí Mhurchú, located on the Firhouse...
.
Early life and conversion
Enda was an Irish prince, son of Conall Derg of Oriel (Ergall) in UlsterUlster
Ulster is one of the four provinces of Ireland, located in the north of the island. In ancient Ireland, it was one of the fifths ruled by a "king of over-kings" . Following the Norman invasion of Ireland, the ancient kingdoms were shired into a number of counties for administrative and judicial...
. Legend has it that the soldier Enda was converted by his sister, Saint Fanchea, later abbess of Killeaney
Killeaney
In the 5th century the Great Island was given by Aengus, King of Cashel, to St. Endeus or St. Enda of Aran, who founded several monasteries, and built several churches, of which the principal was named after him Kill-Enda, now called Killeany...
. He renounced his dreams of conquest and decided to marry one of the girls in his sister's convent. When his fiancé died suddenly, he surrendered his throne and a life of worldly glory to mourn his loss. Such was his pain that he began to lose any interest in life. It is said that on the day that he would leave this mortal plane due to the grief of loss, a strange man came to him in a vision and told him of an isle where he would find peace, Innish. He made a pilgrimage to Rome and was ordained there. These stories told of the early life of Saint Enda and his sister are unhistorical, but the rest is not. More authentic vitae survive at Tighlaghearny at Inishmore, where he was buried.
Monastery in Aran Islands
It is said that Enda learned the principles of monastic life at Rosnat in Britain, which was probably Saint DavidSaint David
Saint David was a Welsh Bishop during the 6th century; he was later regarded as a saint and as the patron saint of Wales. David was a native of Wales, and a relatively large amount of information is known about his life. However, his birth date is still uncertain, as suggestions range from 462 to...
's foundation in Pembrokeshire or Saint Ninian
Saint Ninian
Saint Ninian is a Christian saint first mentioned in the 8th century as being an early missionary among the Pictish peoples of what is now Scotland...
's in Galloway. Returning to Ireland, Enda built churches at Drogheda
Drogheda
Drogheda is an industrial and port town in County Louth on the east coast of Ireland, 56 km north of Dublin. It is the last bridging point on the River Boyne before it enters the Irish Sea....
, and a monastery in the Boyne valley. It is uncertain how much of Enda's rule was an adaptation of that of Rosnat.
Thereafter (about 484) he begged his brother-in-law, the King Oengus of Munster, to let him go to the wild and barren isle of Innish in Galway Bay
Galway Bay
Galway Bay is a large bay on the west coast of Ireland, between County Galway in the province of Connacht to the north and the Burren in County Clare in the province of Munster to the south. Galway city is located on the northeast side of the bay. It is about long and from to in breadth...
. Oengus wanted to give him a fertile plot in the Golden Vale
Golden Vale
The Golden Vale is an area of rolling pastureland in the civil province of Munster, southwestern Ireland. Covering parts of three counties, Limerick, Tipperary and Cork, it is the best land in Ireland for dairy farming....
, but Innish suited Enda's ideal for religious life. On Innish he established the monastery of Enda, which is regarded as the first Irish monastery in the strict sense. There they lived a hard life of manual labor, prayer, fasting, and study of the Scriptures. It is said that no fire was ever allowed to warm the cold stone cells even if "cold could be felt by those hearts so glowing with love of God."
Enda divided the island into 8 parts, in each of which he built a "place of refuge", and under his rule the abbey of St. Enda became a burning light of sanctity for centuries in Western Europe. Cattle, goats, and horses now huddle and shiver in the storm under many of the ruins of old walls where once men lived and prayed. Most survive as coastal ruined towers. These structures were the chosen home of a group of poor and devoted men under Saint Enda. He taught them to love the hard rock, the dripping cave, and the barren earth swept by the western gales. They were "men of the caves", and "also men of the Cross", who, remembering that their Lord was born in a manger and had nowhere to lay His head, followed the same hard way.
Today, the primary industry on Aran lies in tourism. Mini-buses and horse-drawn carriages carry curious western Europeans to religious sites and scenic vistas. Traditional music may be heard in the pubs alongside rock and jazz. Contrary to popular belief, there are no sheep on Inis Mor. Although there are some older skilled hand-knitters, the majority of Aran sweaters are made of imported wool and produced elsewhere. Although many fish are caught in local waters, they may not be sold on the island, rather are taken to the fish market in Rosaveal. There is also no bakery or butcher shop on the island, and the many cattle are shipped to the mainland to be sold as meat, while the goats are employed in keeping the grass short. Although several restaurants take advantage of the constant influx of tourists, food shopping on the island is limited to one small SPAR.
Influence on early Gaelic Church
Their coming produced excitement, and the Galway fishermen were kept busy rowing their small boats filled with curious sightseers across the intervening sea, for the fame of Enda was spreading far and wide. Enda's disciples were a noble band. There was Saint CiaranCiarán of Clonmacnoise
Saint Ciarán of Clonmacnoise was one of the early Irish monastic saints and Irish bishop. He is sometimes called Ciarán the Younger to distinguish him from Saint Ciarán of Saighir. He was one of the Twelve Apostles of Ireland....
of Clonmacnoise
Clonmacnoise
The monastery of Clonmacnoise is situated in County Offaly, Ireland on the River Shannon south of Athlone....
, who came there first as a youth to grind corn, and would have remained there for life but for Enda's insistence that his true work lay elsewhere, reluctant though he was to part with him. When he departed, the monks of Enda lined the shore as he knelt for the last time to receive Enda's blessing, and watched with wistful eyes the boat that bore him from them. In his going, they declared, their island had lost its flower and strength.
Another was Saint Finnian
Finnian of Moville
Finnian of Movilla Abbey, Irish Christian missionary, 495–589.-Origins and life:Finnian was a Christian missionary who became a legendary figure in medieval Ireland. He should not to be confused with his namesake Finnian of Clonard...
, who left St Enda and founded the monastery of Moville
Moville
Moville is a town and coastal resort on the Inishowen Peninsula of County Donegal, close to the northern tip of Ireland.-Location:...
(where Saint Columba
Saint Columba
-Saints:* Columba , Irish Christian saint who evangelized Scotland* Columba the Virgin, also known as Saint Columba of Cornwall* Columba of Sens* Columba of Spain* Columba of Terryglass* Sancta Columba -Schools:...
spent part of his youth) and who afterwards became bishop of Lucca in Tuscany
Tuscany
Tuscany is a region in Italy. It has an area of about 23,000 square kilometres and a population of about 3.75 million inhabitants. The regional capital is Florence ....
, Italy
Italy
Italy , officially the Italian Republic languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Italy's official name is as follows:;;;;;;;;), is a unitary parliamentary republic in South-Central Europe. To the north it borders France, Switzerland, Austria and...
. Among them also was Saint Brendan the Voyager, Saint Columba
Saint Columba
-Saints:* Columba , Irish Christian saint who evangelized Scotland* Columba the Virgin, also known as Saint Columba of Cornwall* Columba of Sens* Columba of Spain* Columba of Terryglass* Sancta Columba -Schools:...
of Iona, Jarlath
Jarlath
Saint Iarlaithe mac Loga, also known as Jarlath , was an Irish priest and scholar from Connacht, remembered as the founder of the monastic School of Tuam and patron saint of the Archdiocese of Tuam...
of Tuam, and Carthach the Elder. These and many others formed a great and valiant company who first learned in St Enda the many ways of God, and who from that rocky sanctuary carried the light of the Gospel into a pagan world.
Saint Brendan's stone
When Saint Brendan returned from his travels far to the West he thanked God at the Abbey and laid down the only gift he bought back from his travels, a stone with an eye carved on one end and a rune on the other. It was given him by a dwarf far to the West. This stone floats if placed on water and the gem points to the Last Isle of the West. The rune is a variant of the Norse Reith rune which resembles the letter r. This is called the “Styrimathr” (STEE-ri-mah-thur) meaning in Norse “the Captain of the Seas path”. It is carried in a small silk purse by the Abbot of the Abbey of St. Enda.Enda's own words
The very wildness of Innish made it richer and dearer to those who lived there. They loved that island which "as a necklace of pearls, God has set upon the bosom of the sea," and all the more because they had been the scene of heathen worship. There will be left only three islands altogether, when Innish is sent from mortal planes. They carry lovely Irish names: Inishmore, InishmaanInishmaan
Inishmaan is the middle of the three main Aran Islands in Galway Bay on the west coast of Ireland. It is part of County Galway in the province of Connacht. Inishmaan has a population of about 160, making it the smallest of the Aran Islands in terms of population. It is also quieter and less...
, and Inisheer
Inisheer
Inisheer is the smallest and most eastern of the three Aran Islands in Galway Bay, Ireland.-Naming:The official name, , was brought into usage by the Ordnance Survey Ireland. It may be a compromise between the traditional local name and the previous official name . There is no Irish word...
.
On the largest will stand Saint Enda's well and altar, and the round tower of the church where the bell was sounded which gave the signal that Saint Enda had taken his place at the altar. At the tolling of the bell the service of the Mass began in all the churches of the island.
"O, Innish," cried Columba in ecstasy, "the Rome of the pilgrims!" He never forgot his spiritual home which lay in the western sun and her pure earth sanctified by so many memories. Indeed, he said, so bright was her glory that the angels of God came down to worship in the churches of Innish on the day it disappeared.
External links
- Catholic Encyclopedia 1908: "The Monastic School of Aran"
- Rev. Clifford Stevens, The One Year Book of Saints "St. Enda"