Saint of the Day: St. Colman of Kilmacduagh

Bishop (ca. 560-632)

His life

+ Colman was born in Cork, Ireland, and was the son of a local chieftain. 

+ After being educated at the monastery in Inishmore on the Aran Islands, he became a hermit. 

+ Colman eventually sought greater solitude and settled in what is the modern-day parish of Carran. The site is marked by an ancient stone oratory, a holy well, and Colman’s cave.

+ In 610, Colman established a monastery and he was later consecrated bishop, serving what would eventually become the Diocese of Kilmacduagh. 

+ Many legends grew up around Saint Colman, including a promise that no person or animal living in Kilmacduagh would ever die of being struck by lightening. His crozier was also used for centuries for swearing oaths. 

For prayer and reflection

“For thus says the Lord GOD: Look! I myself will search for my sheep and examine them.”—Ezekiel 34:11

Spiritual bonus

On this day we also remember Saint Egelnoth “the Good.” A monk of Glastonbury Abbey, he was named archbishop of Canterbury in 1020. He died in 1038 and was honored as a saint immediately after his death.

Prayer

Almighty ever-living God, who chose blessed Colman to preside as Bishop over your holy people, we pray that, by his merits, you may bestow on us the grace of your loving kindness. Through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son, who lives and reigns with you in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen.

(from The Roman Missal: Common of Pastors—For a Bishop)
Saint profiles prepared by Fr. Silas Henderson, S.D.S