From: rich <
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December 22nd - St. Ernan, Son of Eogan, Monk of Donegal
Name of four Irish saints. O'Hanlon enumerates 25 saints bearing the
name Ernan, Ernain, or Ernin; it is, therefore, not surprising that
their Acts have become confused.
Died about 640. He is mentioned in the Martyrology of Tallagh on 1
January. He was a nephew of St. Columba, Feilim or Feidhlimidh (St.
Columba's father) being his paternal grandfather. Owing to this
relationship, some writers have mistaken our saint for Ernan of Hinba,
[See following Vita(life)]an uncle of St. Columba. His monastery in
Ireland was at Druim-Tomma in the district of Drumhome, County
Donegal.
Adamnan relates the wonderful vision he had on the night St. Columba
died (Vit. S. Col., III, 23). Ernan, with some companions, was fishing
in the River Finn, in Donegal. Suddenly at midnight he beheld the
whole sky brightly illuminated. Looking towards the east he perceived
an immense pillar of fire shining as the sun at noonday. This
marvellous light then passed into the heavens, and a great darkness
followed, as after the setting of the sun. This wonderful occurrence
was related to Adamnan by Ernan himself, who at the time is described
as "a very old man, a servant of Christ, whose name may be rendered
Ferreolus, but in Irish Ernene (of the clan Mocufirroide), who,
himself also a holy monk, is buried in the Ridge of Tomma (Drumhome)
among the remains of other monks of St. Columba, awaiting the
resurrection of the saints".
Some writers style this St. Ernan, Abbot of Druim Tomma. It is
uncertain whether he visited Scotland, nevertheless he is regarded as
patron saint of Killernan, in Ross-shire; and it may be that the
dedications of Kilviceuen (church of the son of Eogan) in Mull, and of Kilearnadale in Jura, Argyleshire, are in his honour. In the "Scottish Kalendars", collected by Bishop Forbes, his name appears as
Ethernanus, and his commemoration is assigned to 21 and 22 December
(pp. 170, 222, 243).
Colgan, Acta SS. Hib., 1 Jan.; Forbes, Kalendars of Scottish Saints;
O'Hanlon, Lives of the Irish Saints (Dublin, 1875), I, 21; Adamnan,
ed. Reeves, Life of St. Columba, III, 23; Gammick in Dict. Christ.
Biog., s.v.
More Info:
Lived in the 6th century. He was uncle of St. Columba, and one of the
12 who accompanied him from Ireland to Iona. He was brother of Ethnea,
St. Columba's mother, and son of Dima, the son of Noe of the race of
Cathaeir Ivor (Reeves, notes, p. 263).
St. Columba appointed him superior of the community which he himself
had established on the island of Hinba. The identity of Hinba has not
been established with certainty. It may be Canna, about four miles N.
W. of Rum (ibid., p. 264); but more likely it is Eilean-na-Naoimh, one
of the Gaveloch Isles, between Scarba and Mull (Fowler's Adamnan, p.
87). Hinba was a favourite place of resort for St. Columba.
There he was visited by St. Comgall, St. Cannich, St. Brendan, and St.
Cormac. At the request of these holy men, St. Columba celebrated Mass,
during which St. Brendan beheld a luminous globe of fire above St.
Columba's head. It continued burning and rising up like a column of
flame, till the Holy Mysteries had been completed (Adamnan, III,
xvii). On another occasion, while visiting St. Ernan's monastery in
Hinba, St. Columba was favoured with heavenly visions and revelations
which lasted three days and nights (Adamnan, III, xviii).
The death of St. Ernan was tragic. Being seized with an illness, he
desired to be carried to Iona. St. Columba, greatly rejoiced at his
coming, started to meet him. Ernan likewise hastened but when he was
24 paces from his nephew he fell to the earth and died. Thus was the
prophecy of St. Columba fulfilled, that he would never again see Ernan
alive (Adamnan, I, xlv).
Saint Quote:
It is not man that causes the things offered to become the Body and
Blood of Christ, but He who was crucified for us, Christ Himself. The
priest, in the role of Christ, pronounces these words, but their Power
and Grace are God's. This is my body, He says. This word transforms
the things offered.
--Saint John Chrysostom
Bible Quote
Now about the midst of the feast, Jesus went up into the temple, and
taught. 15 And the Jews wondered, saying: How doth this man know
letters, having never learned? 16 Jesus answered them, and said: My
doctrine is not mine, but his that sent me.=C2 (John 7:14-16)
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Who abideth in charity, abideth in God, and God in him.--1 John 4:16
2. Those deceive themselves who believe that union with God consists
in ecstasies or raptures, and in the enjoyment of Him. For it consists
in nothing except the surrender and subjection of our will with our
thoughts, words and actions, to the will of God and it is perfect when
the will finds itself separated from everything, and attached only to
that of God, so that every one of its movements is solely and purely
the volition of God. This is the true and essential union which I have
always desired, and which I constantly ask of the Lord. Oh, how many
of us there are who say this, and who think we desire only this! But,
wretched that we are, how few are ever to attain it!
--St. Teresa
This Saint never ceased to wonder at the great privilege which man
possesses in being able to unite himself to his Creator, and at the
wonderful desire which so great a sovereign entertains to see him
united to Himself. This, therefore, was the object of her keenest
desires, and for this she strove more ardently than for anything else.
St. John the Baptist abode in the desert for 24 years. God knows how
his heart was touched with love for his Saviour even from his birth,
and how earnestly he desired to enjoy His presence; and yet, devoted
to the simple will of God, he remained there discharging his duty,
without even once seeing Him. And after he had Baptized Him, he did
not follow Him, but continued in his office. What can we say of all
this, if not that his was a spirit detached from all things and from
God Himself, to perform His will? "This example," said St. Francis de
Sales, "overwhelms my soul with its grandeur."
(Taken from the book "A Year with the Saints". -- December: Union
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