Mo Chutu of Lismore
Encyclopedia
Saint Mo Chutu mac Fínaill (died 637), also known as Carthach or Carthach the Younger and in Latin as Carthagus, was abbot of Rahan
(Irish Rathan), Co. Offaly, and subsequently, founder and first abbot of Lismore
(Irish Les Mór Mo Chutu), Co. Waterford. The saint's Life has come down in several Irish and Latin recensions, which appear to derive from a Latin original written in the 11th or 12th century.
Through his father Fínall Fíngein, Mo Chutu belonged to the Ciarraige Luachra, while his mother, Finmed, was of the Corco Duibne. Notes added to the Félire Óengusso (the Martyrology of Óengus) claim that his fosterfather was Carthach mac Fianáin, that is Carthach the Elder, whose floruit can be assigned to the late 6th century.
Mo Chutu first became abbot of Rahan
, a monastery which lay in the territory of the southern Uí Néill
. According to the Annals of Ulster
, he was expelled from the monastery during the Easter season of 637. The incident has been connected with the Easter controversy
, in which Irish churches were involved during the 7th century. Through his training in Munster, Mo Chutu may have been a supporter of the Roman system of calculation, which would have brought him into conflict with adherents of the 'Celtic' reckoning in Leinster.
Following his expulsion, Mo Chutu journeyed to the Déisi
, where he founded the great monastery of Lismore (in modern County Waterford
). The Latin and Irish Lives make very little of Mo Chutu's earlier misfortune and focus instead on the saint's resistance against the oppressions of Uí Néill rulers and by contrast, his joyous reception among the Déisi. Mo Chutu is also portrayed in a heroic light in an Irish saga entitled Indarba Mo Chutu a r-Raithin ("The expulsion of Mo Chutu from Rahan").
His feast day
in the Irish martyrologies is 14 May, as well as in the Great Synaxaristes
of the Orthodox Church. His foundation at Lismore flourished after his lifetime, eclipsing the reputation of the saint's earlier church. It was able to withstand the Viking depradations which plagued the area and benefited from the generosity of Munster kings, notably the Mac Carthaig of Desmond. In the 12th century, St Déclán
's foundation of Ardmore aspired to the status of episcopal see in the new diocese, but the privilege went instead to Lismore.
Rahan, County Offaly
Rahan is a parish/village, associated with Mochuda , which is located on the banks of the river Clodagh approximately 5 miles from Tullamore, in County Offaly, Ireland.St...
(Irish Rathan), Co. Offaly, and subsequently, founder and first abbot of Lismore
Lismore, County Waterford
Lismore is a town in County Waterford, Ireland. It is located where the N72 road crosses the River Blackwater.-History:It was founded by Saint Mochuda, also known as Saint Carthage. In the 7th century, Lismore was the site of the well-known Lismore Abbey. It is also home to Lismore Castle, the...
(Irish Les Mór Mo Chutu), Co. Waterford. The saint's Life has come down in several Irish and Latin recensions, which appear to derive from a Latin original written in the 11th or 12th century.
Through his father Fínall Fíngein, Mo Chutu belonged to the Ciarraige Luachra, while his mother, Finmed, was of the Corco Duibne. Notes added to the Félire Óengusso (the Martyrology of Óengus) claim that his fosterfather was Carthach mac Fianáin, that is Carthach the Elder, whose floruit can be assigned to the late 6th century.
Mo Chutu first became abbot of Rahan
Rahan
Rahan is a French comics series about an intelligent prehistoric man, that appeared first as part of Pif gadget, then published in albums of 2 to 4 complete stories. It was initially written by Roger Lecureux, and after his death in 1999, by his son, Jean-François Lecureux...
, a monastery which lay in the territory of the southern Uí Néill
Uí Néill
The Uí Néill are Irish and Scottish dynasties who claim descent from Niall Noigiallach , an historical King of Tara who died about 405....
. According to the Annals of Ulster
Annals of Ulster
The Annals of Ulster are annals of medieval Ireland. The entries span the years between AD 431 to AD 1540. The entries up to AD 1489 were compiled in the late 15th century by the scribe Ruaidhrí Ó Luinín, under his patron Cathal Óg Mac Maghnusa on the island of Belle Isle on Lough Erne in the...
, he was expelled from the monastery during the Easter season of 637. The incident has been connected with the Easter controversy
Easter controversy
The Easter controversy is a series of controversies about the proper date to celebrate the Christian holiday of Easter. To date, there are four distinct historical phases of the dispute and the dispute has yet to be resolved...
, in which Irish churches were involved during the 7th century. Through his training in Munster, Mo Chutu may have been a supporter of the Roman system of calculation, which would have brought him into conflict with adherents of the 'Celtic' reckoning in Leinster.
Déisi
The Déisi were a class of peoples in ancient and medieval Ireland. The term is Old Irish, and derives from the word déis, meaning "vassal" or "subject"; in its original sense, it designated groups who were vassals or rent-payers to a landowner. Later, it became a proper name for certain septs and...
, where he founded the great monastery of Lismore (in modern County Waterford
County Waterford
*Abbeyside, Affane, Aglish, Annestown, An Rinn, Ardmore*Ballinacourty, Ballinameela, Ballinamult, Ballinroad, Ballybeg, Ballybricken, Ballyduff Lower, Ballyduff Upper, Ballydurn, Ballygunner, Ballylaneen, Ballymacarbry, Ballymacart, Ballynaneashagh, Ballysaggart, Ballytruckle, Bilberry, Bunmahon,...
). The Latin and Irish Lives make very little of Mo Chutu's earlier misfortune and focus instead on the saint's resistance against the oppressions of Uí Néill rulers and by contrast, his joyous reception among the Déisi. Mo Chutu is also portrayed in a heroic light in an Irish saga entitled Indarba Mo Chutu a r-Raithin ("The expulsion of Mo Chutu from Rahan").
His feast day
Calendar of saints
The calendar of saints is a traditional Christian method of organizing a liturgical year by associating each day with one or more saints and referring to the feast day of said saint...
in the Irish martyrologies is 14 May, as well as in the Great Synaxaristes
Synaxarium
Synaxarion, Synexarion, pl. Synaxaria —Latin: Synaxarium, Synexarium—the name given in the Eastern Orthodox, Oriental Orthodox and Eastern Catholic Churches to a compilation of hagiographies corresponding roughly to the martyrology of the Roman Church.There are two kinds of synaxaria:*Simple...
of the Orthodox Church. His foundation at Lismore flourished after his lifetime, eclipsing the reputation of the saint's earlier church. It was able to withstand the Viking depradations which plagued the area and benefited from the generosity of Munster kings, notably the Mac Carthaig of Desmond. In the 12th century, St Déclán
Declán of Ardmore
Declán mac Eircc , Declanus in Latin sources, was an early Irish saint of the Déisi Muman, who was remembered for having converted the Déisi in the late 5th century and for having founded the monastery of Ardmore in what is now Co. Waterford. The principal source for his life and cult is a Latin...
's foundation of Ardmore aspired to the status of episcopal see in the new diocese, but the privilege went instead to Lismore.
Sources
- Johnston, Elva. "Munster, saints of (act. c.450–c.700)." Oxford Dictionary of National Biography. Oxford University Press, Sept 2004, online edition May 2008. Accessed: 14 Dec 2008.
- Listing in the Greek Orthodox Synaxarion for May 14 (Greek):
-
- Ὁ Ἅγιος Καρτέγιος Ἐπίσκοπος Λίσμορ. ΜΕΓΑΣ ΣΥΝΑΞΑΡΙΣΤΗΣ.
External links
- Lives of SS. Declan and Mochuda at Project GutenbergProject GutenbergProject Gutenberg is a volunteer effort to digitize and archive cultural works, to "encourage the creation and distribution of eBooks". Founded in 1971 by Michael S. Hart, it is the oldest digital library. Most of the items in its collection are the full texts of public domain books...