Born at Desi (Decies), Waterford, Ireland, 5th century.
Declan, an Irish monk, was baptized by and a disciple of Saint Colman.
He appears to have been an Irish evangelist before the arrival of Saint
Patrick. He may have made two pilgrimages to Rome and later became the
first bishop of Ardmore, a see confirmed by Patrick during the synod of
Cashel in 448. Many miracles are attributed to Declan, who is much
honoured in Dessee (formerly Nandesi)
(
Benedictines,
Delaney,
Encyclopaedia,
Husenbeth).
St. Declan, son of Erc, chief of the Desii, was born at the beginning of
the fifth century near Lismore, Co. Waterford. As a young boy he was
sent to fosterage with a certain Dimma, who is said to have been a
foreigner and a Christian. While under Dimma's guardianship, Declan was
converted and baptised by one of the several Irish saints named Colman.
After leaving Dimma, Declan went to Rome, where he studied for the
priesthood and was later consecrated bishop. On his return to Ireland,
he established a monastic community at Ardmore and was later confirmed
in this office by St. Patrick himself. Declan was well known as an
active missionary in Ireland prior top the coming of St. Patrick, the
great organiser of Irish Christianity.
Many miracles are attributed to the intervention of St. Declan. He is
credited, in particular, with having arrested a serious plague by his
prayers and fasting. He is reputed to have been a very close friend of
St. David (patron saint of Wales) and, perhaps more importantly, to have
been on very good terms with Aengus, king of Munster. His influence,
therefore, would have been considerable.
According to tradition, Declan made a miraculous return from Rome by
crossing the sea on a large flagstone. Popular belief has it that this
flagstone ran aground at Ardmore, where he decided to establish his
monastery. To this day the flagstone is pointed out by the locals on the
popular beach at Ardmore.
St. Declan's day is still actively celebrated by the Ardmore
parishioners on 24 July. Until recent times it was the custom, on this
day, for those suffering from back ailments to crawl under the flagstone
as a method of obtaining relief. One nineteenth century commentator,
however, voiced a certain amount of disapproval of the practice on the
grounds that participating ladies would, of necessity, reveal their
ankles in the process. Such a display could, conceivably, lead the
onlooking menfolk into temptation!
The described treatment for backache, however, was said to have been
ineffective if the patient had anything borrowed or stolen on his/her
person at the time.
The waters of St. Declan's well (which was restored in 1951) are said to
posses miraculous powers of healing. Those who suffer from sprains,
injuries or rheumatism, it is said, will obtain relief by bathing the
injured limb in its cool waters.
Each year, the week including his feast day is known as
Pattern Week.
Pilgrims still come to pray at the site of Declan's church on the
headland of Ardmore, adjacent to the round tower which is in an
excellent state of preservation .
St. Declan died in the latter half of the fifth century. He was laid to
rest in his beloved Ardmore, and his burial place is marked by the ruins
of an oratory built over his grave.
The Irish Life of Saint Declan of Ardmore
http://www.ccel.org/d/declan/life/declan.html
The Round Tower of St. Declan's Cathedral (12th. century)
http://www.vitruvio.ch/arc/ingrandimenti/g_stdeclans.htm
A Map of Irish Monasteries
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/celt-saints/files/Monasteries650AD.gif
Troparion of St Declan tone 4
Thou wast a bright light in Ireland before the days of Saint Patrick,/ O
holy Father Declan./ Thou didst travel in Europe and return to found a
monastery/ where thou wast ever kind to the poor./ We praise thee, O
glorious Hierarch.
