Died c. 560. Senan was the principal of the numerous Irish saints with
this name, and is credited with making a remarkable succession of
monastic foundations on islands at the mouths of rivers and elsewhere,
from the Slaney in Wexford to the coast of Clare. The stories that have
survived about St. Senan suggest a man of considerable complexity of
character. He is said to have visited Rome and on his way home stayed
with
St. David (f.d. March 1)
in Wales. On his return to Ireland, he
founded more churches and monasteries, notably one at Inishcarra near
Cork. He finally settled and was buried on Scattery Island (Inis
Cathaig) in the Shannon estuary, where there is still a fine round tower
and other early remnants. There are indications that he spent some time
in Cornwall, but appears to have had no connection with the Land's End
parish of Sennen
(
Attwater,
Benedictines).
* * *
Senan was born at Kilrush in County Clare where his parents, Erguid and
Comgella, owned land and were well to do farmers. In his youth he had to
do some fighting for his overlord but it was while he was about the more
peaceful occupation of looking after his father's cattle that the call
came to forsake the world and devote himself to religious study. His
conversion was caused by a great wave that broke at his feet as he was
walking on the sea shore, then ebbed leaving a clear path for him across
the bay, and finally closed behind him. He saw this as a sign that his
lay life was over and, breaking his spear in two, he made a cross of it
and set out for the monastery at Kilnamanagh in County Dublin.
Senan was obviously a resourceful man for he miraculously automated the
mill at the monastery so that it ground the grain without him having to
leave his books. He made great progress in his studies and after his
ordination he visited other centres of learning before returning to his
home country to found a number of religious houses. The most famous of
his foundations was on Scattery Island, Iniscathaigh, and before he
could build his monastery there he had to rid the island of a ferocious
beast after which it was named, the Cata. The monster is described as
exceedingly fierce and breathing fire and spitting venom which make some
believe that it was a tribe of wild cats. However, Senan protected by
his faith, expelled it with the sign of the Cross, ordering it never to
harm anyone again.
The Archangel Raphael is said to have aided him and there was an
incident when Senan was searching for water for his monks that the
Archangel directed the holly stick with which he was probing and water
gushed out of the dry ground. Senan left his stick in the hole and on
the next day he found that it had grown into a tree. Raphael also helped
S. Senan to ensure safe crossing to the island for his monks.
The ruins on Scattery include those of six churches, the Saint's grave
which provides miraculous cures in the church known as Temple Senan and
a spectacular round tower, the tallest in the whole of Ireland. He died
on March 1st but his burial was postponed to the octave day of his death
to enable those from the neighbouring communities to attend, so his
festival is observed on March 8th
(
Flanagan,
Neeson,
Baring-Gould).
* * *
Manuscript Live of St. Senan:
The several versions of Senan's Life differ considerably in content. The
metrical Latin version is probably the oldest, but it seems to be a
monastic composition having no very direct connection with Inis-Cathaig.
On the other hand the Irish Life, which, though quite fabulous, is also
very interesting, seems to depend directly on legends of the lower
Shannon, and probably on a Life written at Inis-Cathaig when that was
still a flourishing monastery, that is, not later than the tenth
century. The imposing array of miracles, the list of famous saints with
whom the subject of the Life is brought into contact, and the records of
church foundations made by him, all indicate an origin in a monastery of
his community.
The extraordinary inconsistencies of the chronological setting may
reject the absence of historical data: Senan is, while still in his
mother's womb, foretold by Patrick (d. 461); he succeeds Maedoc (d. 626)
as abbot of Ferns; he makes a league with Martin of Tours (d. 397 x
403); he associates with various Irish saints of the middle and second
half of the sixth century; and he dies on the same day as David of Wales
(544 x 547, or 601). But the biographers were capable of a wonderful
recklessness in these matters, even when dealing with saints whose
records were well founded.
The establishment of many different churches by Senan is recorded: they
represent, doubtless, the paruchia claimed by the abbots of
Inis-Cathaig.
Much curious and interesting matter is contained in the several texts.
Amra Senain.........
This eulogy of Senan is written in language of intentional dignity and
obscurity similar to that of the Amra of Colum-cille (no. 212) which it
closely resembles. It too is ascribed to Dallan Forgaille.
Miorbuile Senain: The Miracles of Senan........
This is an account, written probably in the fourteenth century, of
happenings during that and the preceding hundred years which the author
considered to be due to the intervention of St. Senan. It has value for
the history and social conditions of the age; and the information
regarding Senan's churches and their inter-relationships can doubtless,
be used in part for earlier epochs. The text ends with a poem giving a
long list of famous saints with whom Senan had made alliances, and who
were bound to avenge any injury to his churches.
For a photograph of Scattery Island and descriptions of the remains of
the holy places, go to
http://www.clarelibrary.ie/eolas/coclare/places/scattery.htm
Troparion of St Senan
Tone 3
As a true believer thou didst confess Christ,
as a monk thou didst surrender unto Him
and as a pilgrim thou didst honour His righteous ones, O Father Senan.
Wherefore we implore thy help to reform our
lives,
that Christ our Cod may have mercy on our souls.
Kontakion of St Senan
Tone 1
By thy travels, O Father Senan, thou dost teach us the value of
pilgrimages
and the virtue of putting Christ above all earthly cares.
Shining brightly through the centuries thou day star of orthodox piety,
we sing praises in honour of thee.