Aug 13 – St Fachtna (6th century) patron of Rosscarbery
Summary: St Fachtna; founded a monastery and scripture school in Rosscarbery (Ros Ailithir), is the patron of the Diocese of Ross, and now integrated into the combined diocese of Cork and Ross.
Patrick Duffy explains.
Scripture school
Toward the end of the sixth century Fachtna founded a monastery and school in the area now known as Rosscarbery (Ros Ailithir – “the wooded headland of the pilgrims”). The School of Ross became a celebrated seat of learning and gained an international reputation for study of sacred scripture and learning until the ninth century when it was besieged and destroyed by the Danes.Brendan, the Navigator, taught in this school, which was crowded with students from every land. It flourished for three hundred years and survived in some form until the coming of the Normans to Ireland. 
Ross diocese
Fachtna is regarded as the first bishop and patron of Ross diocese, which comprises eleven parishes on the seaboard from Timoleague, near Clonakilty, to Aughadown, west of Skibereen, as well as Oileán Cléire and Sherkin Island. Though not listed among the dioceses set up by the Synods of Rathbreasail (1111) or Kells (1152). He died around 600. His monastery became the principal monastery of west Cork and later had a famous Scripture school.
Rosscarb Church
Pope Celestine III appointed Daniel Bishop of Ross in 1197 and the diocese had its own bishop from the 12th century until 1693, when it was united with Cork and Cloyne. In 1849 the diocese regained its own bishop, but in 1954 was united with Cork diocese.
Influence
The description of Saint Fachtna in Cuimin of Connor’s poem on the characteristic virtues of the Irish saints is:
- Fachtna, the generous and steadfast, loved
- To instruct the crowds in concert,
- He never spoke that which was mean,
- Nor aught but what was pleasing to his Lord.
Fachtna is a favoured name for Catholic boys from this area. There is a Catholic church dedicated to St Fachtna in the picturesque village of Glandore. A stained-glass window of St Fachtna by Sarah Purser appears in the Honan Chapel in University College, Cork. (c/f upper left image)
A Church of Ireland Cathedral dedicated to him remains in the village of Rosscarbery. His feast is held today, August 13th.
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Memorable Proverb for Today
The mediocre teacher tells.
The good teacher explains.
The superior teacher demonstrates.
The great teacher inspires.
~ William Arthur Ward ~
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Summary: Ss Pontian & Hippolytus, martyrs: died some time in the fourth century after mistreatment in exile. They were brought back to Rome for burial on this day and honoured as seekers of the truth.
Patrick Duffy tells us what is known about them.
Pontian: (circular image below left) Bishop of his native Rome in 230 but exiled to Sardinia, where he abdicated the papacy during the persecution of the emperor Maximinus in 235. He succeeded Pope Urban I as pope in the year 230 AD.
During his reign as pope, Pontian held a synod which confirmed the excommunication of the great theologian Origen in Alexandria. Pontian was banished to exile by the Roman emperor in 235, and resigned so that a successor could be elected in Rome. n 235.
He was a presbyter of the church at Rome under Pope Zephyrinus (199–217) and was distinguished for his learning and eloquence. Origen of Alexandria heard him preach there as a young man (212) and was impressed by his eloquence.
Conflict with four popes
Hippolytus came into conflict with Popes Zephyrinus (119-217), Callixtus I (217–222), Urban I (222-230) and Pontian (230–235) whom he accused of christological unorthodoxy and laxity in receiving back those guilty of serious offences and may even have allowed himself to be elected as a rival Bishop of Rome or an anti-pope.
Pontian and Hippolytus martyred
Both Pontian and Hippolitus were exiled by the emperor Maximinus to work in the mines of Sardinia. Pontian abdicated during persecution. They reconciled together and probably died there in the same year.
Under the persecution by Emperor Maximin the Thracian, Hippolytus and Pontian were exiled together in 235 to work in the mines of Sardinia, and it is very probable that before his death there he was reconciled to the other party at Rome, for under Pope Fabian (236–250) his body and that of Pontian were brought back together to Rome for burial (Chronograph of 354) indicating both were considered Catholic martyrs. Little is known of Pontian other than he was elected pope in 230 and died in Sardinia in 235.
Hippolytus’s writings
Hippolytus was said (by Photius, 9th century patriarch of Constantinople) to have been a disciple of Irenaeus and is credited with a number of theological (for example, The Philosophoumena) and liturgical writings (for example, The Apostolic Tradition), which have been argued about by scholars for years. In 1551 on the Via Tiburtina in Rome, a 3rd century statue of him was discovered portraying him seated on a chair, on the sides of which are listed works attributed to him: this is now in the Vatican library. But more recently archaoelgists say that originally this statue was of a woman and was re-used to portray Hippolytus.
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Memorable Proverb for Today
The measure of a man’s real character is
what he would do
if he knew he would be found out
~ Thomas Macaulay ~
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