ALL SAINTS CELEBRATED IN OCTOBER
Saints celebrated on the 12th of October
SAINT FIACC, BISHOP
Saint Fiacc lived about 415 - 520. 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 St 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. 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". A mile and a half northwest of Carlow he 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 has 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.
(From Catholic Encyclopedia, 1913)
PRAYER TO ST FIACH [FIACC]
O blessed St Fiach, noble scion of royal lineage, and still more noble Priest of God, mindful in Heaven of the Irish Church thou didst so tenderly love and cherish here on earth, lift up thy stainless hands and bless our devoted Irish Priesthood and our faithful Irish people, that imitating thy prayer, thy spirit of generous sacrifice and untiring zeal, we may one day, Priests and people, rejoice with thee in Heaven. Amen.
(St Anthony’s Treasury, Laverty and Sons, Leeds, 1922)
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