|
St. Fiacc's Hall. Chapel Street. Graiguecullen
.
Image taken by Mr W Muldowney 2006
|
Saint Fiacc was a poet, chief bishop of
Leinster, and founder of two churches. His father, MacDara, was prince
of the Hy-Bairrche in the country around Carlow. His mother was sister
of Dubhtach, the chief bard and brehon of Erin, the first of Patrick's
converts at Tara, and the apostle's lifelong friend. Fiacc was a pupil
to his uncle in the bardic profession and soon embraced the Faith.
Subsequently, when Patrick came to Leinster, he sojourned at Dubhtach's
house in Hy-Kinsellagh and selected Fiacc, on Dubhtach's recommendation,
to be consecrated bishop for the converts of Leinster. Fiacc was then a
widower; his wife had recently died, leaving him one son named Fiacre.
Patrick gave him an alphabet written with his own hand, and Fiacc
acquired with marvellous rapidity the learning necessary for the
episcopal order. Patrick consecrated him, and in after time appointed
him chief bishop of the province. Fiacc founded the church of
Domnach-Fiech, east of the Barrow. Dr. Healy identifies its site at
Kylebeg. To this church Patrick presented sacred vestments, a bell, the
Pauline Epistles and pastoral staff. After many years of austere life in
this place, Fiacc was led by angelic command to remove to the west of
the Barrow, for there "he would find the place of his resurrection". The
legends state that he was directed to build his oratory where he should
meet a hind, his refectory where he should find a boar. He consulted
Patrick, the latter fixed the site of his new church at Sletty -"the
highland" - a mile and a half northwest of Carlow. Here while built a
large monastery, which he ruled as abbot while at the same time he
governed the surrounding country as bishop. His annual Lenten retreat to
the cave of Drum-Coblai and the rigours of his Lenten fast, on five
barley loaves mixed with ashes, are mentioned in his life by Jocelyn of
Furness. He suffered for many years from a painful disease and Patrick,
commiserating his infirmity, sent him a chariot and a pair of horses to
help him in the visitation of the diocese. He lived to a very old age;
sixty of his pious disciples were gathered to their rest before him. His
festival ha been always observed on the 12th of October. He was buried
in his own church at Sletty, his son Fiacre, whom Patrick had ordained
priest, occupying the same grave. They are mentioned in several
calendars as jointly revered in certain churches.
St. Fiacc is the reputed author of the
metrical life of St. Patrick in Irish, a document of undoubted antiquity
and of prime importance as the earliest biography of the saint that has
come down to us. A hymn on St. Brigid, "Audite virginis laudes", has
been sometimes attributed to him, but on insufficient grounds.
This article incorporates text from the
public domain
Catholic Encyclopaedia.
|
