Aileran the Wise

Saint Aileran the Wise was an Irish scholar and saint, who died on 29 December 664 or 665, of the Yellow Plague. He was one of the most distinguished scholars of the school of Clonard in the 7th century and, according to some sources, abbot of the monastery there. His early life is not recorded; he was drawn to Clonard by the fame of Saint Finnian and his disciples. In 650 he became lector of the school. He knew well the works of Origen, Philo, Saint Jerome, Saint Augustine and others, and had a wide patristic culture.

Among his works are attributed, following John Colgan, the Fourth Life of Saint Patrick, a Latin litany, and the Lives of Saint Brigid and of Féichín of Fore. The best known is the "Interpretatio mystica progenitorum Christi", a mystical interpretation of the genealogy of our Lord Jesus Christ according to Saint Matthew. He may also have written the poem "Canon Evangeliorum", falsely attributed to Alcuin. His death is recorded in the Annals of Ulster. He is commemorated on 29 December. He is honored as a saint of the undivided Church.