Born in Ireland; died c. 830. The appellation "Culdee," Ceile De, or
Kele-De means "worship of God," which became the name of a monastic
movement otherwise known as the "Companions of God." Oengus was of the
race of the Dalriadans, kings of Ulster. In his youth, renouncing all
earthly pretensions, he chose Christ for his inheritance by embracing
the religious life in the monastery of Cluain-Edneach (Clonenagh) in
East Meath (County Laois). Here he became so great a proficient both in
learning and sanctity, that no one in his time could be found in Ireland
that equalled him in reputation for every kind of virtue, and for sacred
knowledge.
To shun the esteem of the world, he disguised himself and entered the
monastery of Tamlacht (Tallaght Hill), three miles from Dublin, where he
lived for seven years as an anonymous lay brother. There he performed
all the drudgery of the house, appearing fit for nothing but the vilest
tasks, while interiorly he was being perfected in love and contemplation
absorbed in God. After his identity was discovered when he tried to
coach an unsuccessful student, he returned to Cluain-Edneach, where the
continual austerity of his life, and his constant application to God in
prayer, may be more easily admired than imitated. For example, he would
daily recite one-third of the Psalter (50 Psalms) while immersed in cold
water.
He was chosen abbot, and at length raised to the episcopal dignity: for
it was usual then in Ireland for eminent abbots in the chief monasteries
to be bishops. He was known for his devotion to the saints. He left
both a longer and a shorter Irish Martyrology, and five other books
concerning the saints of his country, contained in what the Irish call
"Saltair-na-Rann." The short martyrology was a celebrated metrical hymn
called "Felire" or "Festilogium." The longer, "Martyrology of Tallaght"
was composed in collaboration with
Saint Maelruain of Tallaght (f.d. July 7).
He died at Disertbeagh (now Desert Aenguis or Dysert Enos), which became
also a famous monastery, and took its name from him
(
Benedictines,
Farmer,
Husenbeth,
Montague).
Another Life:
To Aengus many ascribe the reform of Irish monasticism and its emergence
as an ordered ascetic and scholastic movement. He is called the Culdec
because this reform produced the groups of monks in Ireland and
Scotland, who were really anchorites but lived together in one place,
usually thirteen in number after the example of Christ and His Apostles.
The name Culdec probably comes from the Irish Ceile Dee (companion)
rather than the Latin Cultores Dei (worshippers of God). The Culdees
produced the highly decorated High Crosses and elaborately illuminated
manuscripts which are the glory of the Irish monasteries.
Aengus was born of the royal house of Ulster and was sent to the
monastery of Clonenagh by his father Oengoba to study under the saintly
abbot Maelaithgen. He made great advances in scholarship and sanctity
but eventually felt he had to leave and become a hermit to escape the
adulation of his peers. He chose a spot some seven miles away for his
hermitage which is still called Dysert. He lived a life of rigid
discipline, genuflecting three hundred times a day and reciting the
whole of the Psalter daily part of it immersed in cold water, tied by
the neck to a stake. At his dysert he found he got too many visitors and
went to the famous monastery of Tallaght near Dublin, without revealing
his identity, and was given the most menial of tasks. After seven years
a boy sought refuge in the stable where Aengus was working because he
was unable to learn his lessons. Aengus lulled him to sleep and when he
awoke he had learnt his lesson perfectly.
When the abbot of St. Maelruain heard of this monk's great teaching
gifts he recognised in him the missing scholar from Clonenagh and the
two became great friends. It was at Tallaght that Aengus began his great
work on the calendar of the Irish saints known as the Felire Aengus
Ceile De. As for himself he thought that he was the most contemptible of
men and is said to have allowed his hair to grow long and his clothing
to become unkempt so that he should be despised. Besides the Felire one
of his prayers asking for forgiveness survives, pleading for mercy
because of Christ's work and His grace in the saints.
Like all the holy people of God, Aengus was industrious and had a
supreme confidence in His power to heal and save. On one occasion when
he was lopping trees in a wood he inadvertently cut off his left hand.
The legend says that the sky filled with birds crying out at his injury,
but St. Aengus calmly picked up the severed hand and replaced it.
Instantly it adhered to his body and functioned normally.
When St. Maelruain died in 792, St. Aengus left Tallaght and returned to
Clonenagh succeeding his old teacher Maelaithgen as abbot and being
consecrated bishop. As he felt death approaching he retired again to his
hermitage at Dysertbeagh, dying there about 824. There is but scant
evidence of the religious foundations at Clonenagh or Dysert but he will
always be remembered for his Feliere, the first martyrology of Ireland.
He is honoured on 11th March
(
Walsh,
Cross,
Flanagan).
The Martyrology of Oengus the Culdee
http://www.ucc.ie/celt/online/G200001.html