Saint Maelruain

St. Maelruain was born in 720 in the Lorrha neighborhood of north Tipperary, Ireland. In 755, he founded a monastery at Tallaght on land given by Cellach mac Dunchada, King of Leinster, and served as its first abbot. According to tradition, he is regarded as one of the prominent members of the Culdees, an Irish monastic movement that experienced significant growth in both Ireland and Scotland from the 8th to the 12th centuries.

Irish monasteries had become less strict in the eighth century, perhaps due to an excessive focus on the "pilgrimage for Christ" movement to the continent initiated by Saints Colmcille and Columban in the late sixth century. The desire of many monks to go into wandering exile on the continent contributed to a decline in the internal discipline of the monasteries. Maelruain's reform at Tallaght was severe. It emphasized preserving the enclosure and keeping the monks from sin more than the missionary dimension. The reform included strict adherence to asceticism, regular spiritual guidance, frequent confession, and intense penances like standing in cold water for extended periods to control their physical desires.

Alongside his disciple Aengus, Maelruain is revered as the co-author of 'The Rule of the Céilí Dé.' The monks gathered for a liturgical prayer cycle, chanting psalms. They also held a deep devotion to Our Lady and St. Michael, the archangel. Mass was celebrated on Sundays, Thursdays, and during major feasts. Additionally, during each Mass, they recited a litany of the names of the saints, known as The Martyrology of Tallaght. The monastery valued intellectual and manual work as part of its daily routine. Laypeople were drawn to the Culdee communities' pursuit of holiness and formed their villages in secluded areas. They lived piously with their families, practicing farming, manual labor, and singing spiritual hymns. Maelruain passed away in 792. St. Maelruain had many followers, among them St. Aengus, who held his mentor and teacher in high esteem. St. Aengus referred to St. Maelruain as "the great sun of the south plain of Meath."

St. Maelruain, obtain for us the grace to lead a life of simplicity and prayer.

Jonathan Fabian Ginunggil,

Most High Servant,

Jesus, Mary, Joseph Ministry of Love (Blessed  and Saints and the Nine Choirs of Angels)