The Feast of Saint Aidan

On January 31, we will celebrate the patronal feast day of St. Aidan, for whom our parish is named. First, as with many saints, there is more than one “Saint Aidan”. “Our St. Aidan is more fully referred to as St. Aidan of Ferns. He should not be confused with Saint Aidan of Lindisfarne, who lived almost contemporaneously with our St. Aidan, but ministered in different area. 

He is also known as Saint Máedóc and as Mogue (Irish: Mo Aodh Óg) in addition to Aidan (Irish: Áedan, Aiden; Welsh: Aeddan; Latin: Aidanus and Edan), The name meant "fire", which is the source of the flame in our parish emblem. It was formerly often anglicized as Hugh.

St. Aidan originally brought Christianity to Eastern Ireland, and the Cathedral Church of the diocese in which the village of Wexford Ireland is located is named for him. He founded over 30 churches and several monasteries and his missionary spirit is a clarion call to all our parishioners. 

A Bishop and missionary, he was born in County Cavan, Ireland circa 550. As a small boy he was held as a hostage by the High King of Ireland, probably to insure the loyalty of his family. The King was so impressed with Aidan that he told him he could stay or go. Aidan said he would go, but only if all other hostages were also released, whereupon the King let them all return home. Released, Aidan studied at Kilmuine, in Wales, a famed institute of learning conducted by St. David. In 580, he returned to Ireland, going to the coast of Wexford. He served the area in and around Ferns, Ireland, which includes county Wexford. Ferns was elevated at that time to the status of a diocese. And Aidan was appointed the first bishop of Ferns and eventually the Chief (now called “Arch”) Bishop of the region. In time he was called Mogue, "the beloved Aidan." The episcopal seat is no longer in Ferns but in Enniscarthy, where a cathedral was dedicated to Aidan: however the Bishop still resides in Ferns, County Wexford.

He was noted for his benevolence, good humor and hospitality: on one occasion, seeing them exhausted by their journey, he permitted beef to be given to a visiting delegation of British bishops during Lent and permitted them to excuse themselves with the claim that the slaughtered cow was merely "milk and vegetables in condensed form". On another, he was pushed into a lake to see whether he would lose his temper; upon his meekly restoring himself, his tormenter confessed himself and apologized. 

Many miracles are recorded of St. Aidan. Irish legend says that the "Bell of St. Mogue" was given to the infant on his birth by Saint Caillín. When a boat could not be found to take the infant Aidan across the lake to where Caillín waited to baptize him, Aidan was floated to shore on a slab of stone. The font at St Mogue's in Bawnboy, Ireland is said to be made from part of that miraculous stone. He was said to have broken a jug while fetching ale for his fellow monks; making the sign of the cross over the shards, however, it was repaired, and he continued on his errand. A yoke given to him by St. David's steward purposefully too small to fit the necks of his oxen miraculously accommodated them.  When asked by Saint Fintan Munnu to heal monks suffering under an epidemic, Aidan was said to have indulged him: first by curing the monks and then by permitting the sickness to resume when Saint Fintan changed his mind, considering the sickness to be good for their souls.

St. Aidan died on January 31, 632 and his relics are claimed by St. Edan's Anglican Cathedral in Ferns.