Cummian Fada

Saint Cummian Fada (Cumianus, Cumméne Fota) was an Irish monk and bishop of Clonfert, a scholar and an important theological writer of the first half of the seventh century. He reposed on 12 November, in 661 or 662.

He was the son of Fiachna, king of West Munster, and embraced monastic life early. After some years he became abbot of Keltra, an island in Lough Derg on the river Shannon. Later he was lector and bishop at Clonfert, where, according to the calendars, he also founded the monastery of Kilcummin. Around 632 he wrote a letter on the date of Easter to Ségéne, abbot of Iona, urging the monks there to keep Easter together with the universal Church. The letter shows great learning: it quotes Scripture, Augustine, Jerome, Cyprian, Origen and Gregory the Great, as well as decrees of councils. He is said to have owned a library of at least forty manuscripts, and a penitential and a hymn on the apostles have been attributed to him. Tradition says that he was a foster-⁠son of Saint Ita.

In 1162 his relics were moved into a shrine at Clonfert. He is a saint of the undivided Church and is commemorated on 12 November (New Calendar).