Saint Etchen

Saint Etchen
Saint Etchen, the Farmer Bishop
Born490
Leinster, Ireland
Died11 February 577(577-02-11) (aged 86–87)
Clonfad, Ireland
Venerated inRoman Catholic Church
Feast11 February
Attributesfarming
PatronageClonfad, Farmers

St. Etchen (Etchenius, Ecian or Echen; 490 – 11 February 577) was an Irish Abbot who founded a monastery in Clonfad, County Westmeath.[1][2]

Traditional narrative

Legend states that Etchen ordained Columba into the priesthood, and that he had to stop in the middle of ploughing a field to perform the act.[3][4][5]

Death

Etchen died on 11 February 577AD of natural causes. He was buried at his monastery in Clonfad.[6] His date is celebrated as the Feast of Saint Etchen in Ireland.[7]

Veneration

A number of local schools and churches are named after St. Etchen, including:

See also

References

  1. ^ "Saint Etchen of Clonfad". 11 February 2015.
  2. ^ "St.Etchen the Farmer Bishop Pray for us!". Church of the Assumption. 2018-04-26. Retrieved 2021-10-16.
  3. ^ Stevens, Paul. "Clonfad - an industrious monastery (And selected chapters) 2012".
  4. ^ Stevens, Paul (January 2010). "For whom the bell tolls: The monastic site at Clonfad 3, Co. Westmeath". Creative Minds.
  5. ^ Watkins, Basil. The Book of Saints
  6. ^ Todd, James Henthorn (1864). "St. Patrick: Apostle of Ireland".
  7. ^ "St. Etchen of Clonfad Biography". Catholic Readings. 23 April 2019. Retrieved 26 October 2021.
  8. ^ "Scoil Etchen Naofa". scoiletchen.com.