SAINT CRONAN, ABBOT

SAINT CRONAN, ABBOT

Saint Cronan was born in the territory of Ely O’Carroll and died on April 28, 640. After spending his youth in Connacht, he returned to his native district about the year 610 and founded Abbey Roscrea. The Acts of Saint Cronan abound in miracles. The most surprising is the transcribing of the Four Gospels by one of his monks, named Dimma. Dimma could only undertake one day’s task, from sunrise to sunset. Saint Cronan encouraged him to write and then Dimma set to work, never ceasing till he had finished the Four Gospels, the sun continuing to shine for the space of forty days and forty nights. The scribe himself was unconscious that the work occupied more than one day. The magnificent Evangelistarium, known as the “Book of Dimma”, was for centuries preserved in Saint Cronan’s Abbey at Roscrea, and is now in the library of Trinity College, Dublin. The scribe, Dimma MacNathi, signs his name at the conclusion of each of the Gospels. He has been identified with Dimma, subsequently Bishop of Connor, who is mentioned with Saint Cronan in the letter of Pope John IV in 640, in regard to Pelagianism in Ireland. His feast is celebrated on 28 April.

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