(6TH CENT.)
[Roman Martyrology, and those of Bede, Usuardus, Ado, &c. Colgan
says there were twenty-four saints of this name in Ireland, which
has led to some confusion. Authority:--An ancient life published by
Colgan, and also by Bollandus, but, like all the lives of Irish
saints, late, and resting on tradition.]
S. Fintan, abbot of Cluain-Ednech, (Clon-Enach), was born in Leinster,
in the sixth century. He was brought up in piety and letters by a holy
man, who led a religious life in a place called Cluain-mhic-Trein,[52]
under whom he made such progress, as to give early evidence that God
was with him. When he was grown to man's estate, he took leave of his
spiritual father, and went for further improvement to S. Columba of
Trydaglas, (December 13th), with whom he remained, till he was ordered
to Cluain-Ednech, in East Meath, where he laid the foundations of a
famous monastery, to which many resorted from all parts of Ireland, to
place themselves under his direction, (about A.D. 548.) The rules he
gave his monks were very strict; they abstained from all kind of meat,
butter, and milk; living only upon vegetables; they laboured like
hermits in the fields, and tilled their ground with their own hands.
This rigour appeared excessive to the other holy solitaries in those
parts, and assembling together, they resolved to send a deputation to
remonstrate with the saint for imposing a rule which it was impossible
for flesh and blood to endure. The night before they were to come to
him, with S. Cannech at their head, Fintan was admonished from heaven
of their coming; and for further instructions how he was to proceed,
was ordered to go out in the morning, and follow the directions of one
whom God would send to meet him. The first person he met was one born
dumb. Fintan blessed him, and bade him declare to him the will of God.
Then the dumb man spake, "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 are others." The saint
observed this lesson, and when the deputation reached him, he was in a
compliant mood, and ready to remit the rigour of his rule with regard
to those under his direction; but with respect to himself, he
persevered in his penitential exercises. Amongst the disciples of S.
Fintan was the famous S. Comgal, who afterwards founded the monastery
of Bangor, where S. Columbanus, and many other saints, received their
education. When this holy abbot had served God in great perfection,
from his very childhood to a venerable old age; after a long exercise
of humility, charity, patience, meekness to others, and severity
towards himself, he called his children about him, and recommending to
them his successor, gave them his benediction, and arming himself with
the Holy Sacrament, fell asleep in the Lord.