Francis O'Molloy
Encyclopedia
Froinsias Ó Maolmhuaidh Franciscan
monk
, theologian and grammarian
, author of the first published Irish grammar of Irish in Latin, c.1606-1677.
, most probably in the district of Fercall, lordship of The Ó Maolmhuaidh, in what was then called King's County
. While his exact place within the Ó Maolmhuaidh family is unknown, he recorded stories heard in his youth "of a great Christmas
banquet for 960 people, lasting twelve days, held by Calvagh O'Molloy, chief of his name, at the end of the sixteenth century." (p.804, 2004). He appears to have been an uncle to Reverend Seán Ó Dálaigh, a student at Saint Isidore's College
, Rome
, who seemed to have been the man who acted as censor
for Ó Maolmhuaidh's Grammatica.
in philosophy
at Klosterneuberg, Vienna
, when aged about thirty-six. It was that that his solely theological work, Disputatio theologica de incarnatione verbi ad mentem Joannis Duns Scoti
was written, probably as a thesis
. It was published in 1645. He received instructions while in Mantua
, on the 4th May 1647, to proceed to the Irish Franciscan College of St. Isidore, at Rome, to teach philosophy; he was teaching theology
there in 1652, and was doing so as late as 1677. While he never seems to have become guardian
of the college on the death of Luke Wadding
in 1657, he was president for a time in 1671.
His best-known work, Lucerna fidelium, seu, Fasciclus decerptus ab authoribus magis versatis qui tractarunt de doctrin a Christiana (Lochrann na gCreidmheach), was an Irish language
catechism
of Catholic church doctrine
. It was published in Rome in 1676. This project dated back to 1670, when it was instigated by the secretary
of Propaganda Fide, Monsignor Baldeschi
, who, along with Cardinal Altieri
, were among his most influential friends and contacts in the city. His last printed work, Grammatica Latino-Hibernica nunc compendiata, was the first printed grammar
of the Irish language, and published in 1677. "Written in Latin
, it consisted of twenty-five chapters: nine on the letters of the alphabet
, three on etymology
, one on contractions
and cryptic
writings, and twelve on prosody
and versification. It ... included, at the end, an Irish poem composed by the author on the neglect of the Irish language and the prospects for its revival." (p.805, 2004).
. "He had been working on behalf of his fellow Irish Franciscans for a number of years and was respected by them. In May 1670 he was appointed procurator
of the Irish Franciscan province at the Roman curia
. In 1671 he was recommended to the Congregatio de Propaganda Fide for appointment as bishop of Kildare
, with Signora Maria Altieri, sister of Pope Clement X
, among his supporters. The opposition of Oliver Plunkett
, archbishop of Armagh
, may have been enough to ensure he was not appointed, and he did not return to Ireland." (p.804, 2004).
for Ireland
, in the company of Seán Ó Dálaigh.
Franciscan
Most Franciscans are members of Roman Catholic religious orders founded by Saint Francis of Assisi. Besides Roman Catholic communities, there are also Old Catholic, Anglican, Lutheran, ecumenical and Non-denominational Franciscan communities....
monk
Monk
A monk is a person who practices religious asceticism, living either alone or with any number of monks, while always maintaining some degree of physical separation from those not sharing the same purpose...
, theologian and grammarian
Linguistics
Linguistics is the scientific study of human language. Linguistics can be broadly broken into three categories or subfields of study: language form, language meaning, and language in context....
, author of the first published Irish grammar of Irish in Latin, c.1606-1677.
Early life
Ó Maolmhuaidh was born in the Diocese of MeathDiocese of Meath
The Diocese of Meath is an Irish diocese which took its name after the ancient Kingdom of Meath. In the Roman Catholic Church it still exists as a separate diocese, but in the Church of Ireland it has been united with other dioceses.-History:...
, most probably in the district of Fercall, lordship of The Ó Maolmhuaidh, in what was then called King's County
County Offaly
County Offaly is a county in Ireland. It is part of the Midlands Region and is also located in the province of Leinster. It is named after the ancient Kingdom of Uí Failghe and was formerly known as King's County until the establishment of the Irish Free State in 1922. Offaly County Council is...
. While his exact place within the Ó Maolmhuaidh family is unknown, he recorded stories heard in his youth "of a great Christmas
Christmas
Christmas or Christmas Day is an annual holiday generally celebrated on December 25 by billions of people around the world. It is a Christian feast that commemorates the birth of Jesus Christ, liturgically closing the Advent season and initiating the season of Christmastide, which lasts twelve days...
banquet for 960 people, lasting twelve days, held by Calvagh O'Molloy, chief of his name, at the end of the sixteenth century." (p.804, 2004). He appears to have been an uncle to Reverend Seán Ó Dálaigh, a student at Saint Isidore's College
Irish College
Irish Colleges is the collective name used for approximately 34 centres of education for Irish Catholic clergy and lay people opened on continental Europe in the 16th, 17th and 18th centuries. The Colleges were set up to educate Roman Catholics from Ireland in their own religion following the...
, Rome
Rome
Rome is the capital of Italy and the country's largest and most populated city and comune, with over 2.7 million residents in . The city is located in the central-western portion of the Italian Peninsula, on the Tiber River within the Lazio region of Italy.Rome's history spans two and a half...
, who seemed to have been the man who acted as censor
Censor Librorum
In the Roman Catholic Church, the Censor Librorum is an ecclesiastical authority charged with reviewing texts and granting the nihil obstat. The Latin Censor Librorum translates as "censor of books."...
for Ó Maolmhuaidh's Grammatica.
From Rome to Vienna and back again
Ó Maolmhuaidh became a member of the Friars Minor of Strict Observance at the Irish College at Rome on 2nd August 1632. In 1642 he was appointed lecturerLecturer
Lecturer is an academic rank. In the United Kingdom, lecturer is a position at a university or similar institution, often held by academics in their early career stages, who lead research groups and supervise research students, as well as teach...
in philosophy
Philosophy
Philosophy is the study of general and fundamental problems, such as those connected with existence, knowledge, values, reason, mind, and language. Philosophy is distinguished from other ways of addressing such problems by its critical, generally systematic approach and its reliance on rational...
at Klosterneuberg, Vienna
Vienna
Vienna is the capital and largest city of the Republic of Austria and one of the nine states of Austria. Vienna is Austria's primary city, with a population of about 1.723 million , and is by far the largest city in Austria, as well as its cultural, economic, and political centre...
, when aged about thirty-six. It was that that his solely theological work, Disputatio theologica de incarnatione verbi ad mentem Joannis Duns Scoti
Duns Scotus
Blessed John Duns Scotus, O.F.M. was one of the more important theologians and philosophers of the High Middle Ages. He was nicknamed Doctor Subtilis for his penetrating and subtle manner of thought....
was written, probably as a thesis
Thesis
A dissertation or thesis is a document submitted in support of candidature for an academic degree or professional qualification presenting the author's research and findings...
. It was published in 1645. He received instructions while in Mantua
Mantua
Mantua is a city and comune in Lombardy, Italy and capital of the province of the same name. Mantua's historic power and influence under the Gonzaga family, made it one of the main artistic, cultural and notably musical hubs of Northern Italy and the country as a whole...
, on the 4th May 1647, to proceed to the Irish Franciscan College of St. Isidore, at Rome, to teach philosophy; he was teaching theology
Theology
Theology is the systematic and rational study of religion and its influences and of the nature of religious truths, or the learned profession acquired by completing specialized training in religious studies, usually at a university or school of divinity or seminary.-Definition:Augustine of Hippo...
there in 1652, and was doing so as late as 1677. While he never seems to have become guardian
Legal guardian
A legal guardian is a person who has the legal authority to care for the personal and property interests of another person, called a ward. Usually, a person has the status of guardian because the ward is incapable of caring for his or her own interests due to infancy, incapacity, or disability...
of the college on the death of Luke Wadding
Luke Wadding
Luke Wadding was an Irish Franciscan friar and historian.-Life:Wadding was born in 16 October 1588 at Waterford to Walter Wadding of Waterford, a wealthy merchant, and his wife, Anastasia Lombard . Educated at the school of Mrs...
in 1657, he was president for a time in 1671.
Publications
Ó Maolmhuaidh was still in Rome when his Iubilatio genethliaca in honorem Prosperi Baltharasaris Philippi Hispaniarum principis there in 1658. "By 1663 he wa spreparing a course on philosophy for publication. The first part of his Philosophia ... tomus primus dialectiae breviarum complectens was published at Rome in 1666, but no further part was published." (p. 804, 2004).His best-known work, Lucerna fidelium, seu, Fasciclus decerptus ab authoribus magis versatis qui tractarunt de doctrin a Christiana (Lochrann na gCreidmheach), was an Irish language
Irish language
Irish , also known as Irish Gaelic, is a Goidelic language of the Indo-European language family, originating in Ireland and historically spoken by the Irish people. Irish is now spoken as a first language by a minority of Irish people, as well as being a second language of a larger proportion of...
catechism
Catechism
A catechism , i.e. to indoctrinate) is a summary or exposition of doctrine, traditionally used in Christian religious teaching from New Testament times to the present...
of Catholic church doctrine
Doctrine
Doctrine is a codification of beliefs or a body of teachings or instructions, taught principles or positions, as the body of teachings in a branch of knowledge or belief system...
. It was published in Rome in 1676. This project dated back to 1670, when it was instigated by the secretary
Secretary
A secretary, or administrative assistant, is a person whose work consists of supporting management, including executives, using a variety of project management, communication & organizational skills. These functions may be entirely carried out to assist one other employee or may be for the benefit...
of Propaganda Fide, Monsignor Baldeschi
Baldus de Ubaldis
Baldus de Ubaldis was an Italian jurist, a leading figure in Medieval Roman Law.-Life:A member of the noble family of the Ubaldi , Baldus was born at Perugia in 1327, and studied civil law there under Bartolus de Saxoferrato, being admitted to the degree of doctor of civil law at the early age of...
, who, along with Cardinal Altieri
Pope Innocent X
Pope Innocent X , born Giovanni Battista Pamphilj , was Pope from 1644 to 1655. Born in Rome of a family from Gubbio in Umbria who had come to Rome during the pontificate of Pope Innocent IX, he graduated from the Collegio Romano and followed a conventional cursus honorum, following his uncle...
, were among his most influential friends and contacts in the city. His last printed work, Grammatica Latino-Hibernica nunc compendiata, was the first printed grammar
Grammar
In linguistics, grammar is the set of structural rules that govern the composition of clauses, phrases, and words in any given natural language. The term refers also to the study of such rules, and this field includes morphology, syntax, and phonology, often complemented by phonetics, semantics,...
of the Irish language, and published in 1677. "Written in Latin
Latin
Latin is an Italic language originally spoken in Latium and Ancient Rome. It, along with most European languages, is a descendant of the ancient Proto-Indo-European language. Although it is considered a dead language, a number of scholars and members of the Christian clergy speak it fluently, and...
, it consisted of twenty-five chapters: nine on the letters of the alphabet
Alphabet
An alphabet is a standard set of letters—basic written symbols or graphemes—each of which represents a phoneme in a spoken language, either as it exists now or as it was in the past. There are other systems, such as logographies, in which each character represents a word, morpheme, or semantic...
, three on etymology
Etymology
Etymology is the study of the history of words, their origins, and how their form and meaning have changed over time.For languages with a long written history, etymologists make use of texts in these languages and texts about the languages to gather knowledge about how words were used during...
, one on contractions
Contraction (grammar)
A contraction is a shortened version of the written and spoken forms of a word, syllable, or word group, created by omission of internal letters....
and cryptic
Cryptic Writings
Cryptic Writings is the seventh studio album by heavy metal band Megadeth. The album was released on June 17, 1997 and debuted at #10 on Billboard Top 200. This is the last Megadeth studio album to feature drummer Nick Menza. His departure would mark the end of the band's longest lasting lineup to...
writings, and twelve on prosody
Prosody (linguistics)
In linguistics, prosody is the rhythm, stress, and intonation of speech. Prosody may reflect various features of the speaker or the utterance: the emotional state of the speaker; the form of the utterance ; the presence of irony or sarcasm; emphasis, contrast, and focus; or other elements of...
and versification. It ... included, at the end, an Irish poem composed by the author on the neglect of the Irish language and the prospects for its revival." (p.805, 2004).
As an Irish Franciscan
He attended a general chapter of the order at Rome in 1664 on behalf of the Irish provincialProvincial superior
A Provincial Superior is a major superior of a religious order acting under the order's Superior General and exercising a general supervision over all the members of that order in a territorial division of the order called a province--similar to but not to be confused with an ecclesiastical...
. "He had been working on behalf of his fellow Irish Franciscans for a number of years and was respected by them. In May 1670 he was appointed procurator
Procurator
Procurator may refer to:*Procurator , the title of various officials of the Roman Empire...
of the Irish Franciscan province at the Roman curia
Curia
A curia in early Roman times was a subdivision of the people, i.e. more or less a tribe, and with a metonymy it came to mean also the meeting place where the tribe discussed its affairs...
. In 1671 he was recommended to the Congregatio de Propaganda Fide for appointment as bishop of Kildare
Bishop of Kildare
The Bishop of Kildare was an episcopal title which took its name after the town of Kildare in County Kildare, Ireland. The title is no longer in use by any of the main Christian churches having been united with other bishoprics. In the Roman Catholic Church, the title has been merged with that of...
, with Signora Maria Altieri, sister of Pope Clement X
Pope Clement X
Pope Clement X , born Emilio Bonaventura Altieri, was Pope from 29 April 1670 to 22 July 1676.-Early life:Emilio Altieri was born in Rome, the son of Lorenzo Altieri and Victoria Delphini, a Venetian lady...
, among his supporters. The opposition of Oliver Plunkett
Oliver Plunkett
Saint Oliver Plunkett was the Roman Catholic Archbishop of Armagh and Primate of All Ireland....
, archbishop of Armagh
Archbishop of Armagh
The Archbishop of Armagh is the title of the presiding ecclesiastical figure of each of the Roman Catholic Church and the Church of Ireland in the region around Armagh in Northern Ireland...
, may have been enough to ensure he was not appointed, and he did not return to Ireland." (p.804, 2004).
Final years
While a commemorative stone at St. Isidore's College erected early in the 1900's gave 1684 as the year of his death, Ó Maolmhuaidh's decease has since been narrowed to sometime in the last quarter of 1677. He died while travelling through FranceFrance
The French Republic , The French Republic , The French Republic , (commonly known as France , is a unitary semi-presidential republic in Western Europe with several overseas territories and islands located on other continents and in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans. Metropolitan France...
for Ireland
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...
, in the company of Seán Ó Dálaigh.