Mo Laisse
Laisrén mac Nad Froích – 25th September
Our Venerable Father Laisrén, known affectionately as Mo Laisse, shone forth as a beacon of Christ’s light in sixth-century Ireland. He is venerated as the patron saint of Devenish Island, nestled within the tranquil waters of Lough Erne, near Enniskillen in County Fermanagh. Though he reposed in the Lord in the year 564, the fragrance of his holiness and the memory of his deeds have been preserved for generations.
The accounts of Saint Laisrén’s earthly sojourn, compiled in both Latin and the Irish tongue, offer glimpses into a life dedicated to God. These venerable Lives weave together various anecdotes and miraculous happenings, illustrating the power of divine grace working through His humble servant.
Saint Laisrén is primarily remembered as the holy founder of a monastic community on Devenish Island, known in ancient Irish as Daim-inis, meaning ‘Ox-island’. This blessed isle quickly became a center for his veneration shortly after his departure to the heavenly abodes.
Genealogy
At that time, the region surrounding Devenish was held by the Síl nDaiméni branch of the Uí Chremthainn. The Irish Life includes an account concerning the Dartraige people, perhaps reflecting later shifts in earthly power and how divine providence often works within, or transcends, such temporal arrangements. While earthly genealogies trace Saint Laisrén to various noble lineages, such as the Uí Chóelbad or the Éoganachta, the true lineage of a saint is found in their spiritual ancestry, being born anew in Christ through water and the Spirit.
The Latin and Irish Lives serve as precious sources, recounting both the historical context and the wondrous acts that marked Saint Laisrén’s ministry. It is said that in his youth, he diligently studied the sacred Gospels, receiving guidance and instruction from the venerable Saint Finnián of Clonard (who reposed around 549/51). Thus, grounded in the Holy Scriptures, he was prepared for the spiritual warfare and pastoral care that lay before him.
Among the more dramatic narratives, one recounts his encounter with Conall Derg, a local chieftain of the Síl nDaiméni, who remained steeped in pagan ways. When this king stood in opposition to the saintly work, Father Laisrén, endowed with power from on high, demonstrated the might of God through miraculous signs. Through divine intercession, the saint subdued the resistance of the chieftain, who then ceded the island to God’s servant, allowing for the establishment of a spiritual stronghold where once darkness prevailed.
Pilgrimage To Rome
A significant event in his holy life was his pilgrimage to the venerable city of Rome, the historic heart of the Christian world. On his journey, he visited his spiritual brother, Saint Máedóc of Ferns, promising to intercede on his behalf before the Lord. Upon his blessed return to Devenish, Saint Laisrén brought with him sacred relics of the Holy Apostles Peter and Paul, and of the glorious Martyrs Laurence and Clement. These precious relics were interred with him in the sacred ground of the monastery, signifying his desire that Devenish might become a radiant spiritual center, an “Irish Rome,” sanctified by the presence of these heavenly treasures.
The Irish annals humbly record the year of his repose as 564. From ancient times, the Orthodox Church in Ireland has kept his memory alive, observing his festival on the twelfth day of September, celebrating his entry into the eternal Kingdom.
Legacy
A tangible testament to the fervent veneration of Saint Mo Laisse is the Soiscél Molaisse, the Gospel-book of Mo Laisse, a precious piece of metalwork likely originating from Devenish. This venerated artifact, originally an eighth or ninth-century portable reliquary, was transformed into a book shrine in the early eleventh century at the behest of Cennfaelad, the then abbot of Devenish. Later embellishments further adorned this sacred object, which now resides in the National Museum of Ireland in Dublin, a silent witness to the enduring spiritual legacy of Saint Laisrén, the Venerable Father of Devenish. Through his prayers, may Christ our God have mercy upon us. Amen.
