3rd: Bl Columba Marmion was born in Dublin in 1858 and ordained priest in Rome in 1881. He served as curate in Dundrum Parish and then as professor in Holy Cross College, Clonliffe, before entering the Abbey of Maredsous, Belgium, in 1886. Elected Abbot of Maredsous in 1909, he remained in office up to the time of his death in 1923. He was the author of three best-selling spiritual classics: Christ, the Life of the Soul; Christ, in His Mysteries; and Christ, me Ideal of the Monk. He was beatified in Rome on 1 September 2000.
11th: St Canice was born in Co. Derry around 527 and died in 603. Though his people were poor he studied at Clonard under Finnian and at Glasnevin under Mobhi. A deep friendship developed between himself and Colum Cille, with whom he worked for a time in Scotland, where he set up a number of churches. In Ireland his principal foundation was in Aghaboe in Ossory, but this was replaced centuries later by his church in Kilkenny.
16th: St Gall was a monk of Bangor and set out with Columbanus for the Continent. When Columbanus was exiled from France, Gall accompanied him to Bregenz on Lake Constance. When Columbanus crossed into Italy, Gall remained in Switzerland. He lived in a hermitage, which later became the monastery of St Gallen. He died around 630.
25th (Cloyne, Cork and Ross): Bl Thaddeus MacCarthy was born in 1455. His appointment as Bishop of Ross was opposed and Innocent VIII then appointed him bishop of Cork and Cloyne. He set out as a humble pilgrim to Rome where he was confirmed as bishop of Cork and Cloyne. On his return journey in 1492 he died at Ivrea in Italy.
27th: St Otteran, a descendant of Conall Gulban, is usually identified with Odhran who preceded Colum Cille in lona. His death is recorded in 548 and his grave was greatly revered in lona. He was chosen by the Vikings as patron of the city of Waterford in 1096 and later patron of the diocese.
29th: Our Diocese, St Colman hailed from Kilmacduagh, Co. Galway, in the 7th century. After studying in Aran, where he founded two churches on Inis Mhor, he returned to make a foundation at Kilmacduagh.
31st (Cloyne): Bl Dominic Collins was born around 1566 in the city of Youghal, Co. Cork. In 1598, after a military career, he entered the Society of Jesus as a Brother. He returned to Ireland in 1601, but on 17 June 1602 he was captured by the English who tried in vain to make him abjure his faith. Condemned to death, he was hanged in his native city on 31 October 1602.
