Baithéne mac Brénaind (also known as Saint Baoithin and Saint Buadán)[1] was an Irishmonk, one of Saint Columba's followers who accompanied him to Scotland around 563, and was the first successor of the abbacy of Iona. The Annals of Tigernach record his birth in 534, and his death was likely between 596 and 598 according also to the Annals of Ulster. Irish genealogical records indicate him to be the "son of Brendan, son of Fergus, son of Conall Gulban, son of Niall Noígiallach",[2] thus being a member of the Cenél Conaill branch of the Northern Uí Néill, as the abbots of Iona following the death of Columba often were.[3][4][5][6]
Baithéne is still venerated in Ireland, but is most heavily associated with county Donegal where his cult was most active in Taughboyne and Culdaff. Celebrations of the saint in Donegal are ongoing, and a major celebration of the saint's 1400th death anniversary was celebrated in the parish of Taughboyne in 2000.[7] Folklore about the saint from Donegal further refers to him using various variants of his name.[8]
There is also evidence of Baithéne being venerated as Saint Bathan and Baodáin in Scotland as Abbey St Bathans in Berwickshire (south east Scotland) is named after him, as well as several other place names.[9]
The earliest source for Baithéne is Adomnán of Iona's Life of Columba (Vita Columbae), in which he is featured as Columba's close companion and successor. Two 12th-13th century lives of Baithéne also survive in the Codex Salmanticensis and Codex Insulensis but are heavily influenced by Adomnán's life.[10]
Baithéne is recorded in the four major Irish martyrologies as sharing his feast day with Columba on 9 June.[11]
Companion to Columba
Baithéne is heavily featured in Adomnán's Vita Columbae, where he is featured as Columba's trusted companion and chosen successor.[12] He is called Columba's alumnus, which has variously been translated as 'foster-son' and 'disciple'.[12]
In one story, there was a very sinful man who came to Iona to request being a monk there, but Columba had foreseen how wicked this man was and said he should not be allowed to come. But when the man came, he said he wanted to see Columba, and Baithéne said that the man should be allowed to do penance and quoted the scriptures. To this, Columba responded that the man had murdered his brother and debauched his mother. When the man finally met Columba, Columba told him that he could do penance by living among the British for twelve years without returning to Ireland, but Columba foretold that he would not fulfill this and instead would return to his sinful ways and head to perdition. And the man did exactly as Columba foretold, going not to Britain but back to Ireland, where he was murdered.[10]
In another story, Baithéne asked Columba to give him a monk to help him go through the psalter and look for mistakes. Columba told him that there was no mistake in the psalter except that the letter I was missing in one place. And they went through the psalter and found that it was just as Columba had said.[10]
Another time, Adomnán mentions that Baithéne once visited the island of Eigg.
Baithéne also features on a list of twelve companions who followed Columba to Iona.[13] The list gives Baithéne an alternative name 'Conin' and it mentions that he had a brother called Cobthach.[13] It has been suggested that these have been fabricated to create a biblical parallel.[14]
Iona, Tiree, and Hinba
Baithéne's reign as abbot was fairly short as Columba died c. 597, and Baithéne's death is recorded as occurring c. 598, aged 66 according to the Annals of Clonmacnoise. No evident sources contemporaneous with Baithéne's abbacy survive.
Baithéne served as prior over a monastery connected to Iona on the island of Tiree.[15] The name of the place where his monastery was located on Tiree was Mag Luinge or Campus Luinge. The monastery was a house for penitents from Iona. Some historians have thought that it may have supplied food to Iona.[10]
Adomnán recorded a story about a voyage he took to the island, when Columba first told a monk who was heading to Tiree that he should not sail directly from Iona to Tiree, because a great whale would frighten him, but his did not listen to his advice and took the direct route, and a huge whale came out of the water and almost destroyed the boat, which terrified those in the boat. When Baithéne departed the following day to Tiree, Columba told him about the whale, and Baithéne responded that both he and the whale were in God's power, to which Columba responded 'Go in peace, your faith in Christ will shield you from danger'. And so Baithéne then took the direct route and the whale came out of the water which terrified all in the boat, except Baithéne, who used his hands to bless the sea and the whale, and the whale then went down into the water.[10]
Another story that Adomnán recorded held that Baithéne and Colmán Elo both approached Columba one time to ask him to pray for a favourable wind on their respective journeys to Tiree and Ireland. Columba said that in the morning the wind would be favourable to travel to Tiree and in the afternoon the Lord would change it to make it favourable to travel to Ireland. And it happened just as Columba said.[10]
Another story that Admonan recorded held that one time Columba encountered an army of demons on Iona, and he fought them with the help of angels, such that the demons fled from Iona. But after they fled, they then went to Tiree and attacked the monks there, including the monastery at Mag Luinge headed by Baithéne. While many in the other monasteries died from diseases, which were caused by the demons, only one monk in Baithéne's monastery died and the rest were protected because of their prayer and fasting.[10]
In one story, Adomnán claimed that Columba went to Hinba and relaxed the penitential rules on one occasion. However, one monk named Neman refused to abide by the relaxation. Columba rebuked him and said 'Neman, Baithéne and I have allowed a relaxation in the diet and you refuse it. But the time will come when in the company of thieves in the forest you will eat the flesh of a stolen mare'. This monk eventually left the monastery and went back into the world, and one day found himself among thieves eating such meat.[10]
References
^Ó Riain, Pádraig (2011). A Dictionary of Irish Saints. Four Courts Press. pp. 88–9.
^"Genealogiae regum et sanctorum Hiberniae, by the Four Masters, edited from the manuscript of Míchél O Cléirigh, with appendices and an index by Paul Walsh". Maynooth Record Society, St. Patrick's College. 1918.
^Sharpe, Richard (1995). Life of St Columba. London: Penguin Books. pp. 306–308, n. 194.
Attribution
This article incorporates text from a publication now in the public domain: Herbermann, Charles, ed. (1913). "Baithéne". Catholic Encyclopedia. New York: Robert Appleton Company.
baithéne, brénaind, also, known, saint, baoithin, saint, buadán, irish, monk, saint, columba, followers, accompanied, scotland, around, first, successor, abbacy, iona, annals, tigernach, record, birth, death, likely, between, according, also, annals, ulster, i. Baithene mac Brenaind also known as Saint Baoithin and Saint Buadan 1 was an Irish monk one of Saint Columba s followers who accompanied him to Scotland around 563 and was the first successor of the abbacy of Iona The Annals of Tigernach record his birth in 534 and his death was likely between 596 and 598 according also to the Annals of Ulster Irish genealogical records indicate him to be the son of Brendan son of Fergus son of Conall Gulban son of Niall Noigiallach 2 thus being a member of the Cenel Conaill branch of the Northern Ui Neill as the abbots of Iona following the death of Columba often were 3 4 5 6 Saint BaitheneAbbot of IonaBornc 534IrelandDiedc 596 598Iona ScotlandVenerated inRoman Catholic Church Eastern Orthodox ChurchFeast9 JuneBaithene is still venerated in Ireland but is most heavily associated with county Donegal where his cult was most active in Taughboyne and Culdaff Celebrations of the saint in Donegal are ongoing and a major celebration of the saint s 1400th death anniversary was celebrated in the parish of Taughboyne in 2000 7 Folklore about the saint from Donegal further refers to him using various variants of his name 8 There is also evidence of Baithene being venerated as Saint Bathan and Baodain in Scotland as Abbey St Bathans in Berwickshire south east Scotland is named after him as well as several other place names 9 The earliest source for Baithene is Adomnan of Iona s Life of Columba Vita Columbae in which he is featured as Columba s close companion and successor Two 12th 13th century lives of Baithene also survive in the Codex Salmanticensis and Codex Insulensis but are heavily influenced by Adomnan s life 10 Baithene is recorded in the four major Irish martyrologies as sharing his feast day with Columba on 9 June 11 Companion to Columba EditBaithene is heavily featured in Adomnan s Vita Columbae where he is featured as Columba s trusted companion and chosen successor 12 He is called Columba s alumnus which has variously been translated as foster son and disciple 12 In one story there was a very sinful man who came to Iona to request being a monk there but Columba had foreseen how wicked this man was and said he should not be allowed to come But when the man came he said he wanted to see Columba and Baithene said that the man should be allowed to do penance and quoted the scriptures To this Columba responded that the man had murdered his brother and debauched his mother When the man finally met Columba Columba told him that he could do penance by living among the British for twelve years without returning to Ireland but Columba foretold that he would not fulfill this and instead would return to his sinful ways and head to perdition And the man did exactly as Columba foretold going not to Britain but back to Ireland where he was murdered 10 In another story Baithene asked Columba to give him a monk to help him go through the psalter and look for mistakes Columba told him that there was no mistake in the psalter except that the letter I was missing in one place And they went through the psalter and found that it was just as Columba had said 10 Another time Adomnan mentions that Baithene once visited the island of Eigg Baithene also features on a list of twelve companions who followed Columba to Iona 13 The list gives Baithene an alternative name Conin and it mentions that he had a brother called Cobthach 13 It has been suggested that these have been fabricated to create a biblical parallel 14 Iona Tiree and Hinba EditBaithene s reign as abbot was fairly short as Columba died c 597 and Baithene s death is recorded as occurring c 598 aged 66 according to the Annals of Clonmacnoise No evident sources contemporaneous with Baithene s abbacy survive Baithene served as prior over a monastery connected to Iona on the island of Tiree 15 The name of the place where his monastery was located on Tiree was Mag Luinge or Campus Luinge The monastery was a house for penitents from Iona Some historians have thought that it may have supplied food to Iona 10 Adomnan recorded a story about a voyage he took to the island when Columba first told a monk who was heading to Tiree that he should not sail directly from Iona to Tiree because a great whale would frighten him but his did not listen to his advice and took the direct route and a huge whale came out of the water and almost destroyed the boat which terrified those in the boat When Baithene departed the following day to Tiree Columba told him about the whale and Baithene responded that both he and the whale were in God s power to which Columba responded Go in peace your faith in Christ will shield you from danger And so Baithene then took the direct route and the whale came out of the water which terrified all in the boat except Baithene who used his hands to bless the sea and the whale and the whale then went down into the water 10 Another story that Adomnan recorded held that Baithene and Colman Elo both approached Columba one time to ask him to pray for a favourable wind on their respective journeys to Tiree and Ireland Columba said that in the morning the wind would be favourable to travel to Tiree and in the afternoon the Lord would change it to make it favourable to travel to Ireland And it happened just as Columba said 10 Another story that Admonan recorded held that one time Columba encountered an army of demons on Iona and he fought them with the help of angels such that the demons fled from Iona But after they fled they then went to Tiree and attacked the monks there including the monastery at Mag Luinge headed by Baithene While many in the other monasteries died from diseases which were caused by the demons only one monk in Baithene s monastery died and the rest were protected because of their prayer and fasting 10 Baithene spent time as prior of Hinba 16 17 In one story Adomnan claimed that Columba went to Hinba and relaxed the penitential rules on one occasion However one monk named Neman refused to abide by the relaxation Columba rebuked him and said Neman Baithene and I have allowed a relaxation in the diet and you refuse it But the time will come when in the company of thieves in the forest you will eat the flesh of a stolen mare This monk eventually left the monastery and went back into the world and one day found himself among thieves eating such meat 10 References Edit o Riain Padraig 2011 A Dictionary of Irish Saints Four Courts Press pp 88 9 Genealogiae regum et sanctorum Hiberniae by the Four Masters edited from the manuscript of Michel O Cleirigh with appendices and an index by Paul Walsh Maynooth Record Society St Patrick s College 1918 Annals of Tigernach Annals of Ulster Herbert Maire Iona Kells and Derry Clarendon Press Oxford o Riain Padraig Corpus genealogiarum sanctorum Hiberniae Dublin Institute for Advanced Studies Crooks Canon David W T 1999 Baithin 2000 Donegal Annual 51 19 21 St Boden s Duchas ie BAITHINE M BRENAINN OF IONA Saints in Scottish Place names Retrieved 15 December 2019 a b c d e f g h Adomnan of Iona 23 February 1995 Life of St Columba Penguin Books Limited ISBN 978 0 14 190741 3 Stokes Whitley Martyrology of Oengus Retrieved 15 December 2019 a b Adomnan Vita Columbae I 2 a b Anderson A O Anderson M O 1991 Adomnan s Life of Columba pp 238 9 Sharpe Richard 1995 Life of Columba p 355 n 356 Adomnan Vita Columbae I 19 Adomnan Life of St Columba pp I 21 Sharpe Richard 1995 Life of St Columba London Penguin Books pp 306 308 n 194 Attribution This article incorporates text from a publication now in the public domain Herbermann Charles ed 1913 Baithene Catholic Encyclopedia New York Robert Appleton Company Preceded byColumba Abbot of Iona597 600 Succeeded byLasren Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Baithene mac Brenaind amp oldid 1167568396, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
