ST MAIDOC, BISHOP OF FERNS - 31 JANUARY

 

ALL SAINTS CELEBRATED IN JANUARY

Saints celebrated on the 31st of January

Prayer to the Angels and the Saints

Heavenly Father, in praising Your Angels and Saints we praise Your glory, for by honouring them we honour You, their Creator. Their splendour shows us Your greatness, which infinitely surpasses that of all creation.

In Your loving providence, You saw fit to send Your Angels to watch over us. Grant that we may always be under their protection and one day enjoy their company in heaven.

Heavenly Father, You are glorified in Your Saints, for their glory is the crowning of Your gifts. You provide an example for us by their lives on earth, You give us their friendship by our communion with them, You grant us strength and protection through their prayer for the Church, and You spur us on to victory over evil and the prize of eternal glory by this great company of witnesses.

Grant that we who aspire to take part in their joy may be filled with the Spirit that blessed their lives, so that, after sharing their faith on earth, we may also experience their peace in heaven. Amen.

ST MAIDOC, BISHOP OF FERNS 

Saint Maidoc, Bishop of Ferns, in Ireland; he is called also Maodhog, Aidan and Mogue. He was born in Connaught, a province of Ireland, and seemed from his infancy to be deeply impressed with the fear of God. 

HE LIVED UNDER THE DIRECTION OF THE ABBOT DAVID

He passed in his early days into Wales, where he lived for a considerable time under the direction of the holy abbot David. 

HE RETURNED TO HIS OWN COUNTRY

He returned afterwards to his own country, accompanied with several monks of eminent piety, founded a great number of churches and monasteries, and was made bishop of Ferns. 

HE DIED IN 632

He died in 632, according to Usher. His name is celebrated among the Irish saints. It appears from Cambrensis that his festival was observed in Wales in the twelfth century. He was also honoured in Scotland. 

AN ANCIENT COLLECT IN THE BREVIARY OF ABERDEEN

There is found in the chronicle of Scone, and in the Breviary of Aberdeen, an ancient collect, in which the Divine mercy is implored through his intercession. Chatelain tells us that in Lower Brittany he is called St De, (contracted from the Latin word Aideus, or Aidanus,) and that the village and church, which bear his name, celebrate his festival.

(From Fr Butler's Lives of the Saints)