St Carthage, monk
Posted by Sr Eleanor on May 15, 2008
It is said that the land on which our monastery stands once belonged to the ancient Celtic monastery of Lios Mór (Lismore), founded around the year 632 by St Carthage.
The feast of St Carthage is celebrated on May 15th. In our liturgy today we sing an antiphon at Lauds and Vespers: “On hearing the monks chanting the psalms Carthage, inspired by the Holy Spirit, followed the bishop to the monastery.” It comes from the story of his life according to which, as a young boy tending his father’s herd, Carthage one day heard the chanting of some monks who were passing nearby in procession. Enchanted by the beauty of their singing, he left the animals and followed the procession to the monastery. At this time he was too young to become a monk, but the desire remained in his heart, and later in life he was able to fulfil his dream of dedicating himself to God as a monk.
His life-journey in the service of God ended in Lismore, where he established what was to become one of Ireland’s most flourishing monastic communities.
Today the psalms are still sung, seven times every day, in another monastery in the Blackwater Valley.
Please feel welcome to join us for worship at any time. (Liturgy times are listed in new page here).
