Saint Auxilius of Ireland

Saint Patrick came twice into Kildare. The first occasion was about the year 448. He came south from Meath, passing through Straffan and Clane to Naas. In Naas, he baptised the local Chieftans, Ailill and Illan, sons of Dunling, and Ailill's two daughters, Mogain and Fedelma. The people of the area having converted to the Faith, St. Patrick appointed his nephew, St. Auxilius, as bishop there with his seat at Kilossy, now Kilashee or the Church of Auxilius, a few miles south of Naas.


Continuing his journey to the south, St. Patrick also placed St. Iserninus and Mac Tail as bishops at Old Kilcullen, in the present-day Archdiocese of Dublin. From there he carried on south, founding a Church at Narraghmore and, crossing the River Barrow near Athy, continued his journey as far as Stradbally, in County Laois and the historic Diocese of Leighlin, and then re-crossed the Barrow to the south and west of Rathangan, coming back into the County and Diocese of Kildare, and passing to the North of Newbridge, where a Holy Well is dedicated to him at Barrettstown, he continued to Allen and Kilcock, carrying on north, towards the seat of the High Kings at Tara in Meath.

Thus, although St. Auxilius is not the founder of the Diocese of Kildare - that honour goes to Saint Conleth - he must rank as the first Saint of Kildare.

Rev. Thomas Walsh, in his History of the Irish Hierarchy, states that:

"It is related that Auxilius, Iserninus, and others, received holy orders on the same day that St. Patrick was consecrated - and from the same bishop; these persons are spoken of as his companions on the mission of Ireland. Whether they accompanied him from Rome, or whether they were selected in Gaul, is not easily determined."

"From this district Saint Patrick went to Kildare, where he laid the foundation of several churches, arranged the boundaries of ecclesiastical jurisdiction, and left the bishop, Auxilius, at Killossy, and the prelate, Iserninus, at Kilcullen. These transactions are supposed to have taken place about the end of the year 443."

"At this period, our Saint held two synods, in which salutary laws relating to morals and discipline were enacted. The first of these synods is entitled 'The Synod of St. Patrick;' the second bears the title of the Synod of Bishops, of Patrick, Auxilius, and Iserninus."

"In the 24th and 27th canons of the Synod, called that of St. Patrick, Auxilius, and Iserninus, it is ordered that no stranger do baptize, or offer the holy mysteries without the permission of the bishop."

"Killossy, called after St. Auxilius, a nephew of St. Patrick, and son of Restitutus, the Lombard, was bishop here, and assisted St. Patrick in compiling the ordinances by which the Irish church was to be guided. St. Auxilius died on the 27th of August, 455."

The Book of Obits of Christ Church gives the date of his death as: xiv Kal. Nov. S. Auxilius, episcopus et confessor. While he does not appear in the Martyrology of Tallaght, his death is found in the Annals of Ulster for 459 and in the Annals of the Four Masters for the year 454:

"S. Usaille Espucc a Chill Usaille hi Life xxvii August.
Aois Chiost, ceithre céd caocca asé. A hocht fichet do Laoghaire Enda, mac Cathbhadha, décc."

This translates into English as:

"St. Usaille, Bishop of Cill Usaille, in Liffe, on the twenty-seventh of August.
The Age of Christ, 456. The twenty-eight year of Laoghaire. Enda, son of Cathbhadh, died."

To put this into context, at the time that St. Auxilius died at Kilashee, about the year 450, both St. Conleth and St. Brigid were born, St. Patrick would live about another ten years, St. Peter Chrysologus had just died (31st July, 450), Laoghaire II Mac Néill (d. 462) was still High King of Ireland, Valentinian III was Emperor in Constantinople (r. 425-454), and St. Leo the Great was Pope (r. 440-461).

National Latin Mass Pilgrimage to Armagh 2017

To mark the 10th Anniversary of Summorum Pontificum the Catholic Heritage Association of Ireland made our second pilgrimage to St. Patrick's Cathedral, Armagh.  A report of the first pilgrimage can be read here.  It was a truly National Pilgrimage with members coming from Antrim, Armagh, Cavan, Clare, Cork, Donegal, Dublin, Galway, Kildare, Limerick, Louth, Meath, Monaghan, Wexford and Wicklow - the Four Provinces of Ireland all represented - to assist at Holy Mass and attend our Annual General Meeting held afterwards in the Synod Hall attached to the Cathedral.

However, one element of the pilgrimage above all made it a most blessed occasion, the presence of His Eminence Seán, Cardinal Brady, Archbishop Emeritus of Armagh, to celebrate the Mass.  In his homily, Cardinal Brady reminded the congregation that the Traditional Latin Mass had been the Mass of his Altar service, of his First Communion and Confirmation, and of his Ordination and his First Mass.  He also reminded us that this day, the feast of St. John the Baptist, was his own feast day.  Cardinal Brady is to attend the Consistory on 28th June with Our Holy Father, Pope Francis.  His Eminence was assisted by Fr. Aidan McCann, C.C., who was ordained in the Cathedral only two years ago.  It was a great privilege and joy for the members and friends of the Catholic Heritage Association to share so many grace-filled associations with Cardinal Brady and Fr. McCann and the Armagh Cathedral community.

Latin Mass Pilgrimage to Rathangan 2016

Almost seven years after our first pilgrimage to Rathangan, which took place during the Holy Year for Priests (see here) the members and friends of St. Conleth's Catholic Heritage Association returned for a traditional Latin Mass during the Holy Year of Mercy.

The following article was contained in the 1956 Year Book of the Diocese of Kildare and Leighlin: 

Rathangan Builds 
The New Church and Schools are a Credit to Ireland 

 On Sunday, 6th November, 1956, the little town of Rathangan, by the River Spate, with a proud past that can be traced back well over a thousand years, added one more page to an illustrious history of Catholic devotion. For this memorable day witnessed a twin triumphant accomplishment, the laying of the foundation stone of the new Church of the Assumption by his Lordship, Most Rev. Dr. Keogh, Bishop of Kildare and Leighlin, and the blessing and opening of Rathangan's new schools named in honour of Saint Brigid.

Speaking with characteristic sincerity Most Rev. Dr. Keogh paid tribute to the priests, nuns, and faithful to whose devotion and self-sacrifice the new Church and Schools present so lasting a monument. "The people have dona a grand work in building their Church, the laying of the foundation stone of which symbolises that Christ and Christ's teaching should be the foundation stone of our lives."

And so, almost two hundred and fifty years from the year in which the first humble Church of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin was built in Rathangan, and one hundred and forty years from the founding of its successor, St. Patrick's Church, this second Church dedicated to the Assumption of Our Blessed Lady into Heaven is rearing its graceful lines to the sky.

The site upon which the new Church and Schools were destined to stand were donated by the local Order of Mercy nuns. Most Rev. Dr. Keogh visited these sites on Monday, 14th February, 1955. One week later fundamental operations were under way. Building started on May 16th. on the 6th November of 1955, the Feast of all Saints of Eire, "under the invocation also of St. Patrick," the cornerstone was solemnly blessed and laid. Already progress is well in evidence, and it seems a foregone conclusion that this beautifully planned Church will be completed well within the scheduled period of 15 to 18 months.

Designed in the Irish traditional style the Church will cost £60,000 and accommodate a congregation of four figures. One hundred and ninety feet long, sixty feet wide, and fifty two feet high, it will be graced with a belfry rising to an imposing height of one hundred and twelve feet. Its front elevation shows a dignified proportioned piece of architecture with gentle, graceful lines, the whole effect in perfect taste and symmetry.

Latin Mass in Wicklow Town

Prayer for the Church in Ireland

God of our fathers,
renew us in the faith which is our life and salvation,
the hope which promises forgiveness and interior renewal,
the charity which purifies and opens our hearts
to love you, and in you, each of our brothers and sisters.

Lord Jesus Christ,
may the Church in Ireland renew her age-old commitment
to the education of our young people in the way of truth and goodness, holiness and generous service to society.
Holy Spirit, comforter, advocate and guide,
inspire a new springtime of holiness and apostolic zeal
for the Church in Ireland.
May our sorrow and our tears,
our sincere effort to redress past wrongs,
and our firm purpose of amendment
bear an abundant harvest of grace
for the deepening of the faith
in our families, parishes, schools and communities,
for the spiritual progress of Irish society,
and the growth of charity, justice, joy and peace
within the whole human family.
To you, Triune God,
confident in the loving protection of Mary,
Queen of Ireland, our Mother,
and of Saint Patrick, Saint Brigid and all the saints,
do we entrust ourselves, our children,
and the needs of the Church in Ireland.
Amen.

Pope Benedict XVI
19th March, 2010
Solemnity of St. Joseph

A Latin Mass Pilgrimage to Armagh

The Irish are very devoted to pilgrimage.  In the Golden Age of Faith the Saints of Ireland undertook Peregrinatio Pro Christo to Heaven-knew-where to bring them the Catholic Faith.  It is a startlingly rare thing to make a pilgrimage to Armagh, the seat of Saint Patrick, the Apostle of Ireland, and his successor the Primate of All Ireland, and, in a sense, the spiritual heart and ecclesiastical capital of Ireland.

The present Cathedral, the National Cathedral, as Cardinal Logue called it, was built between 1840 and 1904, the medieval Cathedral having been confiscated during the 16th century.  Historic images of the Cathedral can be seen here.

Latin Mass Pilgrimage to Armagh

Holy Week Ceremonies in the Gregorian Rite in Ireland (2015)

 

Palm Sunday

29th March, 2015

Diocese of Dromore, St. Mary's Chapel, Chapel Street, Newry, Co. Down.
9 a.m. - Holy Mass

Diocese of Meath, Silverstream Priory, Stamullen, Co. Meath.
10 a.m. - Blessing of Palms, Procession, and Holy Mass
4 p.m. - Vespers and Benediction of the Most Blessed Sacrament

Archdiocese of Dublin Latin Mass Chaplaincy, St. Kevin's Church, Harrington Street, Dublin 8.
10.15 a.m. - Blessing of Palms
10.30 a.m. - Holy Mass

Institute of Christ the King, Sovereign Priest, Sacred Heart Church, The Crescent, Limerick City.
10.30 a.m. - Holy Mass

Diocese of Cork and Ross, St. Peter and Paul's Church, Paul Street, Cork City.
12 noon - Holy Mass

Diocese of Raphoe, Ss. Joseph and Conal's Church, Bruckless, Co. Donegal.
12.30 p.m. - Holy Mass

Diocese of Meath, Church of the Nativity, Johnstown, Navan, Co. Meath.
1 p.m. - Holy Mass

Diocese of Kerry, Holy Cross Church, O.P., Tralee, Co. Kerry.
1.30 p.m. - Holy Mass

Diocese of Galway, Institute of Christ the King, Sovereign Priest, St. Mary's Church, O.P., The Claddagh, Galway City.
2.30 p.m. - Holy Mass

Diocese of Ossory, Society of Saint Oliver Plunkett, St. Patrick's Church, Kilkenny City.
5 p.m. - Holy Mass

Spy Wednesday 

1st April, 2015

Archdiocese of Dublin Latin Mass Chaplaincy, St. Kevin's Church, Harrington Street, Dublin 8.
7 p.m. - Tenebrae

Institute of Christ the King, Sovereign Priest, Sacred Heart Church, The Crescent, Limerick City.
7 p.m. - Holy Mass
8 p.m. - Tenebræ

Holy Thursday

2nd April, 2015

Institute of Christ the King, Sovereign Priest, Sacred Heart Church, The Crescent, Limerick City.
3 p.m. to 5 p.m. - Confessions.
7 p.m. - Holy Mass with washing of the feet. (Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament from the evening Mass to Midnight)
8 p.m. - Tenebræ.

Diocese of Meath, Silverstream Priory, Stamullen, Co. Meath.
6 p.m. - Mass in Coena Domini

Archdiocese of Dublin Latin Mass Chaplaincy, St. Kevin's Church, Harrington Street, Dublin 8.
8 p.m. - Holy Mass of the Lord's Supper

Good Friday

3rd April, 2015

Institute of Christ the King, Sovereign Priest, Sacred Heart Church, The Crescent, Limerick City.
3 p.m. - Mass of the Presanctified.
7 p.m. - Stations of the Cross.
8 p.m. - Tenebræ

Diocese of Meath, Silverstream Priory, Stamullen, Co. Meath.
3 p.m. - Synaxis of the Passion of the Lord, with Adoration of the Holy Cross

Archdiocese of Dublin Latin Mass Chaplaincy, St. Kevin's Church, Harrington Street, Dublin 8.
5 p.m. - Liturgy of the Passion
7 p.m. - Stations of the Cross

Holy Saturday

4th April, 2015

Diocese of Meath, Silverstream Priory, Stamullen, Co. Meath.
11 a.m. - Blessing of Easter Baskets
8 p.m. - Solemn Paschal Vigil, with 1st Mass of the Resurrection

Archdiocese of Dublin Latin Mass Chaplaincy, St. Kevin's Church, Harrington Street, Dublin 8.
9 p.m. - Easter Vigil

Institute of Christ the King, Sovereign Priest, Sacred Heart Church, The Crescent, Limerick City.
9 p.m. - Easter Vigil

Easter Sunday

5th April, 2015

Diocese of Dromore, St. Mary's Chapel, Chapel Street, Newry, Co. Down.
9 a.m. - Holy Mass

Archdiocese of Dublin Latin Mass Chaplaincy, St. Kevin's Church, Harrington Street, Dublin 8.
10.30 a.m. - Holy Mass

Institute of Christ the King, Sovereign Priest, Sacred Heart Church, The Crescent, Limerick City.
10 a.m. - Confessions.
10.30 a.m. - Holy Mass followed by blessing of the Easter lamb.

Diocese of Meath, Silverstream Priory, Stamullen, Co. Meath.
10.45 a.m. - Tierce and Holy Mass

6 p.m. - Vespers and Benediction of the Most Blessed Sacrament

Diocese of Cork and Ross, St. Peter and Paul's Church, Paul Street, Cork City.
12 noon - Holy Mass

Diocese of Meath, Church of the Nativity, Johnstown, Navan, Co. Meath.
1 p.m. - Holy Mass

Diocese of Kerry, Holy Cross Church, O.P., Tralee, Co. Kerry.
1.30 p.m. - Holy Mass

Diocese of Galway, Institute of Christ the King, Sovereign Priest, St. Mary's Church, O.P., The Claddagh, Galway City.
2.30 p.m. - Holy Mass

Diocese of Ossory, Society of Saint Oliver Plunkett, St. Patrick's Church, Kilkenny City.
5 p.m. - Holy Mass

Diocese of Killaloe, Institute of Christ the King, Sovereign Priest, St. Joseph's Church, Ennis, Co. Clare.
5.30 p.m. - Holy Mass

Archdiocese of Tuam, The Old Church, Our Lady's Shrine, Knock, Co. Mayo.
5.30 p.m. - Holy Mass

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If you have additional information or corrections please e-mail to thecatholicheritageassociation@gmail.com

Exultent filii matris ecclesie - A medieval hymn for the Feast of Saint Patrick

Let the sons of mother church rejoice and let us,

their fellows sing a hymn today.

The glorious feast day of Patrick, a day of light and joy, has come.

While the world held him in the chains of the flesh

he abounded with many miracles.

He was a source of healing for the Irish people

through the nourishment of his holy teaching.

He spread abroad the seeds of the faith

He banished serpents from Ireland.

He gave the lame to walk, the blind to see, and to him the people sing.

The power of a new miracle is revealed.

The goat is recognised in the belly of the thief 

through the sound of its bleating.

People marvel at the virtue of the servant of God.

Honour and devotion to the unbegotten Father,

praise to only begotten Son of God;

equal praise to the Spirit Paraclete

for ages unending.

Amen.

Note: This post was first published at my own blog Trias Thaumaturga, dedicated to the three patron saints of Ireland. 

A Prayer to Saint Odhran

February 19 is the commemoration of Saint Odhran, whom tradition remembers as Saint Patrick's charioteer and as a martyr who sacrificed his life for his master. Below is a prayer to Saint Odhran, taken from the 1941 edition of the Catholic prayerbook, Saint Anthony's Treasury. The prayer to Saint Odhran sounds like a product of the 19th-century nationalist revival, there is a strong emphasis on the land of Ireland but combined with an appreciation of the saint's heroism and a desire that his 'noble sacrifice' should not be forgotten:

Prayer to St. Odran

(St. Patrick's Charioteer)

(Who gave his own life to save that of his master)

Blessed Saint Odran, faithful and loyal to God and man! you whose name is almost forgotten by those who owe you an everlasting debt of gratitude, accept our poor thanksgiving, offered in the name of all Ireland, for your noble sacrifice of your life to save that of Ireland's Apostle. You had toiled in his service long and devotedly; you had learned what priceless service he could render to God and the Irish land and, when the moment came when he or you should die, by pagan hands, quickly and resolutely you laid down your life, that your master might live and labour for the Divine Master of all.

By your crown of martyrdom so gloriously won, by your centuries of endless peace and joy, we beseech you to look down on the toiling sons of Ireland and on those who try to guide them to their eternal rest. Look down on us all, O blessed Saint! for the love of him whose heart burned with love for Ireland, and pray that the blessing of the Triune God - Father, Son and Holy Ghost - may descend on us and remain with us for ever. Amen.

St. Anthony's Treasury - A Manual of Devotions (Anthonian Press, Dublin, 12th edition, 1941), 285-286.

Latin Mass in the Church of St. Pius X, Templeogue, Dublin 6W