അനുദിന വിശുദ്ധർ (Saint of the Day) January 14th – St. Malachy

അനുദിന വിശുദ്ധർ (Saint of the Day) January 14th – St. Malachy

Máel Máedóc, whose surname was Ua Morgair, was born in Armagh in 1094. St. Bernard describes him as having noble birth.[1] He was baptised Máel Máedóc, which was rendered Malachus in Latin (and subsequently as Malachy in English) and was trained under Imhar O’Hagan, subsequently Abbot of Armagh. Imhar was in sympathy with the aims of those who sought to reform the Irish church, and it was probably through his influence that Malachy became imbued with their principles. After a long course of studies Malachy was ordained priest by St Cellach (Celsus) in 1119.

Shortly afterwards Cellach made the young priest his vicar. For the next year or two it was Malachy’s duty to administer the diocese of Armagh. He established in all the churches the apostolic sanctions and the decrees of the holy fathers, and the customs and practices the Roman Church. He introduced the Roman method of chanting the services of the canonical hours and instituted a new Confession, Confirmation, the Marriage contract, which those over whom he was placed were either ignorant or negligent.[2] With the consent of Cellach and Imar he went to study under St. Malchus, who had by this time retired from the archbishopric of Cashel and was settled at Lismore. He spent three years there.