Jul 25, 2011

St. Abban

Window in a church in Los Angeles.
There are numerous Irish saints that we know little about, just that they are mentioned in old manuscripts. The Lives of these saints were often written several hundred years after they supposedly lived. One of these is St. Abban. Abingdon near Oxford, England, may have been named for him, or as some suggest, may have named in an attempt to shed Norman Britain in a better light with the Irish. I don't know. I don't spend time trying to prove these obscure Irish histories.

But, I do love the stories and legends associated with the saints. Here is one about St. Abban.

Wolf
 Photo by Arrr! Steve Gregory

He was tending the cows belonging to his foster family when he was but a lad. A wolf approached. Abban communicated with the animal and learned that he was starving. He allowed him to eat one of the calves. Later, the family was distraught over this. Abban told them that if God could create the calf, when one did not exist before, He could surely make another calf out of nothing now. And miraculously the calf was restored. Amazed, the family took Abban to the King, saying that they were agreed that Abban should worship the God who did this thing for him. So when Abban was twelve years old he went to live with his mother's brother, Bishop Iubar, and thus began his religious training. He seemed to understand the nature of God while those around him were astonished by it. Of course they were amazed by the miracle, but to this young boy, it was nothing to marvel at. Of course God could do that. He's God!!

Killabban (literally the church of Abban) in County Laois, is supposedly where St. Abban is buried. But he is associated with many places in Ireland, so who can know? Abban lived in the 5th century, or maybe the 6th century, or maybe he lived to be 300. All that is said about him.

Jul 22, 2011

Sharing the Love

Greetings!
Wow, has it been a busy summer, or what? I was hoping to have something posted today that was truly inspiring, but I think my brain is fried. (And not just from the heat either.)

I would like to encourage anyone reading this blog to sign up for my newsletter. It's usually monthly and we have a trivia contest every month with free prizes! (Yeah, what kind of prize is not free? Told you my brain is fried.) BUT, one reason you might want to do that NOW is that I'm going to share something with my newsletter subscribers before the general public hears it. Curious? Hop over to my web site: www.cindyswriting.com and click the link to subscribe.

And just so I don't leave you empty-handed....

For your browsing pleasure:
50 Best Blogs for Celtic Culture & History
(Mine's not listed, but maybe someday!)
See you next week!

Jul 20, 2011

County Down

I mentioned before that County Down, Northern Ireland, is where my ancestors came from (some of them, anyway.) Next time I go I hope to do some hiking. This video is very inspiring! What do you think?


Jul 18, 2011

The Mountains of Mourne


So I'll wait for the wild rose that's waitin' for me
In the place where the dark Mourne sweeps down to the sea.

You can look at Irish song lyrics and even listen on this web site. Tom took this photo while our Irish friend stood by and quoted this song.

Jul 11, 2011

Irish Authors

From County Sligo comes a site you'll want to check out. I was delighted to hear from Jho Harris at www.podcasts.ie who introduced me to some Irish authors. At the site you can listen to some podcast interviews.

You can find the writers here: http://www.podcasts.ie/featured-writers/

Later in August I'll be featuring one of the authors on my historical fiction blog, Favorite PASTimes. I'm currently reading Kate Kerrigan's Ellis Island, and loving it.

But there are many other pages to check out as well, such as Musicians. (You can even listen to Tommy Sands sing here.)

Myths and Legends can be heard here.

There is much, much, more. Be prepared to spend a lot of time and really enjoy the podcasts. Let me know what you find there!

Jul 4, 2011

Happy Birthday, America!

Greetings!
I have blogged in the past on American/Celtic topics. Here are some links to help you celebrate the 4th!
















I'm proud of my Celtic heritage, but I'm also proud to be an American. Happy Birthday, America!

Jul 1, 2011

O'Dangal's Vision

St Martin's relief
Photo by Lawrence OP
I read about this in  The Wonders of Ireland by P. W. Joyce, 1911.

During Ireland's Golden Age of Christianity pilgrims would journey to religious centers such as Rome and Tours. They greatly venerated Martin of Tours, probably because of the association that they believed had existed between Martin and St. Patrick. One day while a man named O'Dangal approached Martin of Tours'a tomb he saw a great crowd of people. When he got closer he discovered that while there was a great deal of activity, he heard no sound. In the middle of the crowd he saw his mother passing out meat and milk to the poor. He knew his mother was in Ireland, however. He decided to test his vision and he sneaked up and took the lid to the milk vessel. Then he stood back and saw his mother searching about for it. He kept the lid, continued his journey, and then went home to Ireland.

He asked his mother what she had been doing on the very day he'd had his vision. She said she had called together the poor of her community and had passed out meat and milk. But strangely, she had lost the lid to her milk vessel. He produced it and she saw that this was indeed the missing lid.

This story was told to persuade the people that an arduous and dangerous journey to a holy site need not be made in order to do good--the work the venerated saint had done in his lifetime. Do good where you are.

This rhyme brings the point home:


To go to Rome
is much of trouble, little of profit:
The King whom you seek there,
Unless you bring him with you,
you will not find. 

"Lord God, you were glorified by the life and death of Saint Martin.
Renew the wonders of your grace in our hearts 
so that neither death nor life may separate us from your love.
Through Christ our Lord. Amen." ~ This prayer accompanied the photograph above.