Saint’s Life Story

His Early Life

Fintán was born in around 526 in Leinster, Ireland. He was the son of Christians Gabhren and Findlath, a noble family. Fintán received his early education from a holy priest by whom he was baptized.

Student of Saint Columbkille

While Fintán was still a boy, he was visited by Saint Columba (also known as Saint Columbkille), who, on that occasion, foretold Fintán’s future distinguished career. Fintán entered the Monastery of Tir-da-glass (now Terryglass, Co. Tipperary). Here Saint Columba presided over this famous school. Fintán became a student of the abbot, Saint Columba, one of the most important figures in the early Irish Church. Under his guidance, Fintán developed a profound understanding of the Scriptures and a strong desire to pursue a life of deep prayer and asceticism. He was deeply influenced by his penitential practices and the severity of his Rule. Under his direction, Fintán developed a reputation for austerity.

Hermit at Clonenagh

Fintán was known for his deep spirituality and his unwavering commitment to living a life of austerity and devotion to God. After a period of intense spiritual formation having passed a novitiate here, Fintán decided to withdraw from the world and became a hermit with two or three, companions. Being anxious to find a retired place where they might devote themselves to the service of God, they consulted Saint Columba. Then, accompanied by Saint Columba, they came to Clonenagh, Ireland.

Here, it is said, Fintán and his companions stayed there a year. There, he embraced a life of solitude and strict self-discipline, living in a small cell and dedicating himself to prayer, penance, and contemplation.

However, finding their solitude greatly broken, they determined to abandon the place. So, they, again accompanied by Saint Columba, went to the Slieve Bloom mountains attempting to settle near a hill called Cabhair near Maryborough, Queen’s County. Looking back upon Clonenagh, Saint Columba saw a multitude of angels hovering over it. His disciples seeing him sorrowful, asked the reason why.

Saint Columba replied: “Because I see the place we have left filled with the angels of God, and these angels unceasingly minister between it and heaven”. So, Saint Columba added “One of us should return and abide there for the future”.

Whereupon Fintán said: “Whomsoever, O Father, you direct to return, he will instantly obey.”

Saint Columba replied: “Go you in peace to that spot, O holy youth, and the Lord be with you. It has been divinely revealed that for you it shall be the place of your resurrection.”

So accordingly, Fintán retraced his steps to Clonenagh and established himself there around the year 548.

Abbot

Despite his solitary lifestyle, Fintán’s reputation as a holy man quickly spread. Many would-be students gathered around Fintán seeking spiritual guidance. Amongst his students was Saint Comgall, who would go onto be the founder of the famous Monastery of Bangor, who passed some years under his direction. In response to the growing number of disciples, Fintán founded a monastery at Clúain Ednech (now Clonenagh) and served as its abbot.

Strict Rules

Fintán gave his monks very strict rules. They abstained from any kind of meat, unable to consume any animal products. The community did not have even one cow and so they had neither milk nor butter. They lived upon only vegetables that they labored in the fields tilling their own ground by hand.

The monks complained they couldn’t do hard work on so meagre a diet. The fasting and abstinence were so severe that Saint Canice of Aghaboe and other holy men remonstrated with Fintán on the subject.

Dumb Man Spoke

For further instructions on how to proceed, Fintán was ordered to go out that morning and follow the directions of one whom God would send to meet him. The first person that Fintán meet was born dumb. Fintán blessed him and asked him to declare the will of God to him.

Then, the dumb man spoke saying “All these good things that thou thyself hast begun for God, carry out unto the end; but beware of scandalizing others; for some vessels are weaker than others.”

So, Fintán learned from the lesson from the man and yielded to their requests. Fintán relaxed the rigor of his rule for his community. However, he himself, adhered to his former mode of life. In fact, tradition has it that Fintán ate exclusively barley bread and some herbs and drank only murky water of clay.

Gentle, Forgiving and Gifted

However, despite his rigorous discipline, Fintán was known to be gentle and forgiving with others, displaying a deep understanding of human frailty. Fintán has been compared by the Irish annalists to St. Benedict, and is styled “Father of the Irish Monks”.

It is said that Fintán possessed the gifts of prophecy and knowledge of distant events. Witnesses claimed that when he prayed alone, Fintán’s head was girded with a dazzling luminous halo that testified to his profound union with God.

Buried Enemies

One day some soldiers brought the severed heads of their enemies to the monastery. Fintán had these heads buried in the monks’ cemetery hoping that by the Judgement Day they would have benefited from the prayers of generations of monks: “since the principal part of their bodies rest here, we hope they will find mercy.”

Miracles

There is an account of an irreligious King who ordered his men to bar Fintán from visiting him. However, a mighty tempest arose immediately. Mature crops blazed with fire, thus blinding the men. Then, they asked forgiveness of Fintán. So, Fintán blessed some water. After applying it to their eyes, their sight was restored. In gratitude, they bound themselves and their people to his service, including that King.

During Springtime, a leper asked for bread. However, the Monastery did not have any flour. Fintán prayed and caused the corn seed to grow fully immediately, so that the bread could be made. Fintán also exorcised demons, causing a mill to grind for three days without the use of the usual water power.

Another miracle occurred when a man whose son was afflicted with paralysis and in a wretched condition came to Fintán. Prostrating himself at the feet of Fintán, the man asked in God’s name that his son might be healed. Fintán extended his hands in prayer and his paralyzed son arose in perfect health praising and blessing God.

His Death

Knowing his end was approaching, Fintán assembled his Monks and named Fintan Maeldubh as his successor. Then, Fintán passed away in the year 603 of natural causes, most likely in Clonenagh, Ireland.

Fintán’s Tree and Well at Clonenagh

This tree, an acer pseudoplatanus, was planted in the late 18th or early 19th century at the site of the Early Christian monastic site of Clonenagh. This is the famous Saint Fintán’s Tree at Clonenagh, where a well sprung up in its trunk when a farmer who lived across the road refused to allow pilgrims to visit a holy well in his field. The well miraculously transferred to the tree. This tree came to be known as “The Money Tree” in later times as people hammered coins into its bark having invoked Saint Fintán’s help praying for cures for various ailments and illnesses.  It was blown down in a storm in 1994. However, a new shoot has grown up in its place and is almost the same size as the orginial tree.

There is also a holy well in Cromogue called Saint Fintán’s well. Mass is celebrated here each year on his feast day of February 17th.

Born:                   Around 526 in Leinster, Ireland

Died:                   603, most likely in Clonenagh, Ireland

Beatified:           Pre-Congregation

Canonized:        Pre-Congregation

Feast Day:          February 17

Patron Saint:     County Laois, Leinster, Ireland

Source:

• • Saint of the Day – 17 February – Saint Fintan of Clonenagh (c 524 – 603) “Father of the Irish Monks.” – AnaStpaul
  • #369 – The lives of the saints / by the Rev. S. Baring-Gould, … v.02. – S. Fintan, Abbot of Clonenagh
  • CatholicSaints.Info » Saint Fintán of Clonenagh
  • Saint Fintan of Clonenagh, February 17 – OMNIUM SANCTORUM HIBERNIAE
  • Saint Fintán of Clonenagh – Saint for a Minute: Saints & Blesseds
  • Saint Fintan – Santi e Beati (translated from Italian)
  • Fintan of Clonenagh – Wikipedia

Prayers

Video Link

St. Fintan of Clonenagh – YouTube Video (Laois History And Folklore)