The Lives of the Irish Saints

We're all familiar with St. Patrick and the stories that accompany his life; however, early Christian Ireland was home to a great many saints, and many of them also have interesting and often miraculous stories connected to their lives and works. This will be a three part series of articles, focusing on the miracles and supernatural happenings connected to these saints. The first of the series will focus on the male saints of Ireland, the second, on the women of Ireland, and the third article will be a comparative study of the differences in miracles stories of male and female saints.

No discussion of Irish saints in this period would be complete without a discussion of St. Patrick. St. Patrick's miracles are occasionally more miraculous than those of many of the saints that followed, but they are, nonetheless, typical examples of miracle stories as presented in Irish hagiography. Patrick's miracles include victory in battle, bringing the sun, and a number of smaller miracles. The folkloric tale that Patrick led all the serpents out of Ireland should be seen as a metaphor for the victory of Christianity over paganism, rather than as a miracle story in a hagiographical sense. For an accessible and accurate telling of Patrick's story, see http://www.christianitytoday.com/ch/60h/...

Second only to Patrick in prominence among Irish saints of the early Christian period, in St. Columcille, also called St. Columba.Columba's miracles include changing the winds, miraculous victories in battle, turning water into wine, prophecy, and seeing angels. For more information on Columba, see http://www.fordham.edu/halsall/basis/col...

Other male saints are credited with similar miracles. While minor miracles and supernatural behaviors, including speaking to animals, being surrounded by light, or seeing angels are rather common, the most notable of the miracles of male saints consistently involves victory in battle.

The male saints of Ireland were, by and large, bishops and leaders. Their roles as leaders in a war-like society may well have influenced the stories their biographer's told.

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