Saint Assicus of Elphin (Lanigan)

From Lanigan's Ecclesiastical History of Ireland:

"Patrick placed Asicus at Elphin but it does not state whether he was then a bishop or not.  According to the chronology of the Tripartite Asicus would have been fixed at the place about A.D. 437 (see chap. v sction ix) at which time he could not have been a bishop. "fter some words we read in said passage: 'Assicus sanctus episcopus fuit faber acris Patricii.' Here he is called bishop; but  the addition of his having worked in brass for St. Patrick would seem to indicate that his promotion did not take place, at least, until after the foundation of Armagh, when the saint, having a permanent restidence had occasion to employ him.  Next we may suppose, that he was not made bishop of Elphin until after he had ceased to work at Armagh, as he must have resided in his diocese.  The passage referred to above may, I think, be explained in the following manner.  Ascius was placed at Elphin when a priest by St. Patrick not many years after the commencement of his mission; when Armagh was founded he was summoned thither to assist in making utensils for the use of the church; afterwards, but whether before or after the death of the saint cannot be ascertained, he became bishop of Elphin." (Vol. I, 2nd Edition, 1829, Chapt. VII, p. 343)

A wonderful account of St. Assicus can also be round here.

Saint Assicus of Elphin (Archdall)

From Mervyn Archdall's Monasticon Hibernicum:

Of St Asicus who also had a hermitage on Slieve Leagne we have ample information. The Rev. Mathew Kelly in his notices of the "Patron Saints of Ireland" writes of him:- "St Asicus Asaach bishop patron of Elphin. A disciple of St. Patrick who obtained from a Druid the land on which the church of Elphin was founded Asicus was its first bishop. Among the different members of St. Patrick's household to whom provision for all the ecclesiastical wants of the infant church was committed St. Asicus is described as an artificer in brass "faber acris Patricii." In a penitential spirit St. Asicus renounced the govemment of his diocess and retired to the mountains of Sliebh Ling, in the present county of Donegal, from which he could not be persuaded to return. He died in his retreat and was buried in the church of Rathcunga in Tirhugh Donegal. His name is in the Martyrology of Tallaght on the 26th of April. His festival is observed on the following day in the diocess of Elphin."

This notice is not so full as the one given by Colgan who writes:- "The most holy and chaste bishop Asicus when on a certain occasion it was necessary to state a certain fact uttered a falsehood having spoken without sufficient reflection. In consequence of this fault he became so great a penitent that he determined never to be seen in the place where he had given so great a scandal herefore having resigned his see and the government of the monastery in which he lived heretier to the northern parts of Ireland and on a certain mountain in the country of Tir Eoghaine called Sliabh Liag he led a solitary life for seven long years. Meanwhile his monks by their untiring exertions discovered him in that desert and implored him to return to his deserted see and monastery but he refused sternly because he considered himself guilty of a great scandal in telling a falsehood and that he therefore ought not be seen where he had given the scandal. They prevailed however on him to remove to another solitary place where he shortly after slept in the Lord and was buried by his disciples in the country of Serthe at a place called Rathcunga. Not far from this hermitage on the mountain there is in the townland of Rinnakill another holy well which is called the Well of the Female Saints. Local tradition says that a convent of nuns stood here at an early period but not a trace of it can now be seen.

Clonshanville Abbey (Grose)

From Francis Grose's The Antiquities of Ireland Vol. 2 at 52:

ROSCOMMON 

CLONSHANVILLE ABBEY 

THIS Monastery stands upon the edge of a very extensive bog the country for a great distance round being a flat. In Irish it is named Cluain sean mhil or the retreat of the old Leper. It stands in the Barony of Boyle and seven miles from the Town of that name. A legendary account ascribes the foundation of the Church to St. Patrick, an ideal personage to whom monkish writers resort when they are about to retail fables. It was erected in 1385 by Mac Dermot Roe for Dominicans. The Mac Dermots formerly had large possessions in this and the neighbouring county of Sligo, the representative of which was the late Prince of Coolavin, of whom Young in his Tour in Ireland thus speaks. Another great family in Connaught is Mac Dermot who calls himself Prince of Coolavin, he lives at Coolavin in Sligo and, though he has not above 100l a year, he will not admit his children to sit down in his presence. This was certainly the case with his father and some assured me even with the present Chief, Lord Kingsborough, Mr Ponsonby, Mr O'Hara, Mr Sandford &c. came to see him and his address was curious: "O Hara you are welcome; Sandford, I am glad to see your mother's son (his mother was an O'Brien) as to the rest of ye come in as you can."

The eastern window is entire, the Tower sixty feet high standing upon an arch and has offsets. There are no remains of cloysters. Near the Belfry is a vault the cemetery of the Frenches of French park, on the eastern wall of this vault are their arms and this inscription:

Pray for the Souls 

Of Patrick French Fitz Stephen of Galway

Burgess, who lived in this world eighty six years. 

This Monastery was granted by the Crown to William Taafe, who afterwards sold it to Lord Dillon.

National Latin Mass Pilgrimage to Armagh 2017

To mark the 10th Anniversary of Summorum Pontificum the Catholic Heritage Association of Ireland made our second pilgrimage to St. Patrick's Cathedral, Armagh.  A report of the first pilgrimage can be read here.  It was a truly National Pilgrimage with members coming from Antrim, Armagh, Cavan, Clare, Cork, Donegal, Dublin, Galway, Kildare, Limerick, Louth, Meath, Monaghan, Wexford and Wicklow - the Four Provinces of Ireland all represented - to assist at Holy Mass and attend our Annual General Meeting held afterwards in the Synod Hall attached to the Cathedral.

However, one element of the pilgrimage above all made it a most blessed occasion, the presence of His Eminence Seán, Cardinal Brady, Archbishop Emeritus of Armagh, to celebrate the Mass.  In his homily, Cardinal Brady reminded the congregation that the Traditional Latin Mass had been the Mass of his Altar service, of his First Communion and Confirmation, and of his Ordination and his First Mass.  He also reminded us that this day, the feast of St. John the Baptist, was his own feast day.  Cardinal Brady is to attend the Consistory on 28th June with Our Holy Father, Pope Francis.  His Eminence was assisted by Fr. Aidan McCann, C.C., who was ordained in the Cathedral only two years ago.  It was a great privilege and joy for the members and friends of the Catholic Heritage Association to share so many grace-filled associations with Cardinal Brady and Fr. McCann and the Armagh Cathedral community.

Saint Assicus of Elphin (Walsh)

From Thomas Walsh's History of the Irish Hierarchy:

"St Asicus is mentioned as the first bishop of Elphin and to have been placed in the see by St Patrick but it is doubtful whether he has been one in the lifetime of the apostle. The festival of St. Asicus is celebrated on the 27th of April but the year of his death like unto the deaths of other saints is not known. Ware fixes his incumbency in or about 450. It is said that Asicus was an excellent goldsmith and that he adorned the cathedral with monuments of elegant workmanship that he also wrought for St. Patrick quadrangular chalices and altars. It is also related of him that through a penitential spirit he retired from his diocese to the mountain Slievliag in Donegal where, after sojourning a considerable time, he was discovered by his disciples. He could not be induced to return to his see but went with them to a solitude and when he died was buried at Rathcunga barony of Tyrhugh in that county. Next to Asicus is mentioned his nephew Bitheus bishop of Elphin and who was buried with Asicus in Rathcunga.  Bron bishop of Caisseal Iorra was the contemporary of both and died in the time of St. Bridget, AD 512. The names of the successors are lost to our enquiries but may we not hope that they are recorded in the book of life."

"Rathcunga in the barony of Tir Hugh. A very old establishment St Asicus of Elphin and Baithen are interred here St Patrick is said to have erected this church."
 
"881 Asicus bishop of Elphin Biteus and Tassach who fabricated sacred utensils are noticed as such as well as Dageus The ingenuity of the last saint is described in his life which Colgan quotes Idem enim episcopus Dageus abbatibus aliisqne Hibernite Sanctis campanas cymbala baculos cruces scrinia capsas pixides calics discos altariola chrismalia librorumque coopertoria qusedam horum nuda quaedam vero alia auro atque argento gemmisque pretiosis circumtecta pro amore Dei et sanctorum honore sine ullo terreno pretio ingeniose ac mirabiliter composuit."

"See of Rathcunga county of Donegal: St Bitheus. was the founder was contemporary with Bron of Cashel Iorra and Asicus of Elphin, who was his uncle. It is likely that he was also bishop of West Cashel. He has been buried at Rathcunga where the remains of his uncle St Asicus were deposited."

Cashell Jorra

Cashell Jorra (See diocese of Elphin) in the barony of Corran between the rivers Uncion and the Owenmore and six miles south of Sligo. St. Bron, the disciple of St. Patrick, was bishop of this place.

Baslick Abbey (Walsh)

From Thomas Walsh's History of the Irish Hierarchy chapter lix, p. 624 ff:



Bais-leac-mor. St. Sacellus, a disciple of St. Patrick, was bishop of this place, now called Baslick. He was one of those who attended the synod at Maghseola. Whether he was then a bishop or not, remains in doubt.

Bealaneney, was a house of conventual Franciscans. It was found to contain a church, with other buildings, and a cemetery, orchard, and garden within the precincts; eight acres of arable land and seven of pasture; a castle in the town of Athlone, near the cemetery of the parish church, in which were two chambers, and a parcel of land adjacent to the said castle, extending from the east near the market-place, sixty feet, and in length, near the river Shannon, two hundred feet.

These possessions were granted to Edmund OTallon, of Athlone, at the annual rent of 44s. 7d., Irish money.

Prayer for the Church in Ireland

God of our fathers,
renew us in the faith which is our life and salvation,
the hope which promises forgiveness and interior renewal,
the charity which purifies and opens our hearts
to love you, and in you, each of our brothers and sisters.

Lord Jesus Christ,
may the Church in Ireland renew her age-old commitment
to the education of our young people in the way of truth and goodness, holiness and generous service to society.
Holy Spirit, comforter, advocate and guide,
inspire a new springtime of holiness and apostolic zeal
for the Church in Ireland.
May our sorrow and our tears,
our sincere effort to redress past wrongs,
and our firm purpose of amendment
bear an abundant harvest of grace
for the deepening of the faith
in our families, parishes, schools and communities,
for the spiritual progress of Irish society,
and the growth of charity, justice, joy and peace
within the whole human family.
To you, Triune God,
confident in the loving protection of Mary,
Queen of Ireland, our Mother,
and of Saint Patrick, Saint Brigid and all the saints,
do we entrust ourselves, our children,
and the needs of the Church in Ireland.
Amen.

Pope Benedict XVI
19th March, 2010
Solemnity of St. Joseph

Saint Assicus of Elphin (Ware)

From Sir James Ware's The antiquities and history of Ireland at 147:

"Elphin or as some write it Elfin is situate in a fertile and pleasant Country something rising where St. Patrick built the Cathedral near a little river that flows from two Fountains about the middle of the fifth Century and there placed Asicus a monk of an austere life. Some say that this Asicus was a goldsmith and by his art adorned the Church with monuments of excellent workmanship. After many centuries and not long after the coming of the English, the See of Roscommon being translated hither, this See of Elphin was very much enriched and endowed with large possessions. When Ardcarn, Drumclive and other Sees of less note were united to this, I confess I know not but it is probable that it was before the coming of the English. Their names are not in the distribution made in the year 1152 nor, which is strange, the See of Elphin itself. From whence I cannot but think that it was at that time namely before the said translation united to the See of Roscommon. However it is certain that the See of Elphin by these unions was esteemed one of the richest in Ireland and had more or less 79 Parish Churches. The ignorant vulgar think the name was given it from a great stone there to be seen called the stone of the giant Fin Mac Cool.

"Saint Asicus

"Promot. circ. 450

"Elphin or as some write it Elfin is situated in a pleasant and fertile country of a gentle ascent St. Patrick founded a Cathedral in this place near a little river issuing from two fountains about the middle of the 5th Century and placed over it St Asicus a Monk and a great lover of penance and austerity whom he consecrated Bishop and who soon after filled it with monks. He died at Rathcunge in Tirconnell and was there also buried. [But the time of his Death is no where related, that I know of.  His festival is celebrated on the 27th of April.] Some say this Asicus was an excellent goldsmith and that by his skill he beautyfied the Cathedral with monuments of elegant workmanship. The Author of the Tripartite Life of St Patrick saith that Asicus wrought for St Patrick in brass and that he made for him altars quadrangular, books and quadrangular chalices, one of which was preserved at Armagh, one at Elpbin and one at Domnach mór. After many centuries and a little before the arrival of the English in Ireland this See of Elpbin was enriched with many and large Estates upon the translation of the See of Roscommon to it. I confess I am at a loss to discover at what time the Sees of Ardcarn, Drumclive and others of less note were united and annexed to this. But it is very probable that they were joined either to the See of Elpbin or to that of Roscommon before the arrival of the English. Their Names indeed are not to be found in that Disposition of the Bishopricks of Ireland made in 1152 which I have so often before mentioned and which is strange the See of Elpbin itself is omitted in that Distribution. From whence I cannot but suspect that before the said translation it was for some time annexed to the See of Roscommon. However it is certain that by these unions the See of Elphin came at last to be looked upon as one of the richest of all Ireland and had subject to it about 79 Parish Churches. The foolish common People are silly enough to dream that the name of this place was taken from a huge Stone there to be seen called the Stone of the giant Fin Mac Cool. Others with more probability interpret the name to signifie a stone of a clear transparent fountain, Ail signifying in old Irish a stone and Fin or Fion white. Its name was antiently [sic] Imleach Ona being the Donation of Ono a petty Prince of that Territory to St. Patrick. Flaherty gives an account that this stone fell prostrate to the ground on the 9th of Oclober, 1675 and that the certain day and hour of its falling was foretold by some person who called out witnesses to see it fall. Possibly this was effected by some contrivance of his that he might gain the reputation of a prophet. I find no mention made of any of the Successors of St. Asicus in the See of Elpbin before the arrival of the English except of two viz., Domnald O Dubbai, who was also Bishop of Clonmacnois and died at Clonfert in 1136 or 1137, and Flanachan O Dubhai, who died in 1168."

National Latin Mass Pilgrimage to Armagh Cathedral

The Irish are very devoted to pilgrimage.  In the Golden Age of Faith the Saints of Ireland undertook Peregrinatio Pro Christo to Heaven-knew-where to bring them the Catholic Faith.  It is a startlingly rare thing to make a pilgrimage to Armagh, the seat of Saint Patrick, the Apostle of Ireland, and his successor the Primate of All Ireland, and, in a sense, the spiritual heart and ecclesiastical capital of Ireland.

The present Cathedral, the National Cathedral, as Cardinal Logue called it, was built between 1840 and 1904, the medieval Cathedral having been confiscated during the 16th century.  Historic images of the Cathedral can be seen here.

Latin Mass Pilgrimage to Armagh