Saints

Welsh monk. Born at the end of the ninth century in South Wales, Caradoc came from a moderately wealthy family. As a young man he lived at the court of the prince Rhys ap Tewdwr, where he was a harper. Caradoc fell out of favour after losing the royal greyhounds. He broke off the head of his lance and, using the shaft as a walking stick, went to Llandaff where he was tonsured and entered the se... Read More

Martin was the last Pope to be venerated as a martyr. Born in the Italian town of Todi in Umbria, as a young man he rose rapidly in the church, and served his predecessor Pope Theodore I as papal nuncio to Constantinople. At this time, there was a growing belief among Christians that Jesus was purely divine, without the will of a human being. The Emperor Constantine was one of the main supporter... Read More

Monk. This sixth century Irish saint was the founder and abbot of Lothra in Co Tipperary. Coming from a royal Munster family, he studied under St Finian at Clonard. He is sometimes described as a bishop and one of the Twelve Apostles of Ireland. He is said to have replaced St Brendan (the Navigator) at Lorrha, who preceded to cross the Shannon and set up his monastery at Clonfert Co Galway. In ... Read More