CONCERNING SAINT CRONAN, BISHOP IN IRELAND.
Sixth century of Christ.
CommentaryCronan, Bishop in Ireland (Saint)
G. H.
[1] The name of this holy Bishop is variously written: for he is called Cronan, Chronan, Carnan, Cuaran, Caurnan, Trouan, and Mochuaroc by various authors. Saint Cronan the Bishop is venerated on February 9. In the manuscript Florarium his memory is celebrated on the ninth of February in these words: "In Ireland, of Chronan, Bishop and Confessor." The same is found in Hermann Greven in his Supplement to Usuard, in Canisius in the German Martyrology, and in Ferrarius in his General Catalogue, but they call him Trouan. John Colgan in the Acts of the Saints of Ireland reports that he is recorded in the Irish Martyrologies -- those of Tamlacht, Dungal, Saint Aengus, Maguire, and Marianus Gorman; in which Saint Aengus says of him: "Machuaroc the wise, whom no deed ever caused to repent." Maguire says more fully in his Festology: "Machuaroc the wise in the region of the Decii, rests in the region of the Decii; who is also called Cronan, son of Nethsemon. He is called Machuaroc of Nona, because he was the first to arrange for the celebration of Mass to be held separately, which among the ancients was celebrated at mid-Nones." in Munster. Gorman calls him "Cuaran the wise, in the Decii of Munster, who is also Cronan son of Nethsemon." Colgan adds from the Genealogical Sanctilogy that he was descended from the noble and ancient family of Fertlacta, son of Fergus the Red.
[2] Saint Adamnan, Abbot of Iona, in his Life of Saint Columba the Abbot, which we shall give on the ninth of June, describes his pilgrimage in book 1, chapter 42, under this title: "Concerning Cronan the Bishop." And then he says: "At another time a certain Bishop from the province of the Munstermen, named Cronan, came as a pilgrim to the holy Columba, who was humbly concealing himself as much as he could, so that no one would know recognized as a Bishop by Saint Adamnan. that he was a Bishop. But this could not be hidden from the Saint: for on another Sunday, when he was bidden by the Saint to confect the Body of Christ, he summoned the Saint, so that together, as two Priests, they might break the Lord's bread. The Saint, therefore, approaching the altar and suddenly gazing at his face, thus addressed him: 'May Christ bless you, Brother; break this bread alone according to the episcopal rite. Now we know that you are a Bishop. Why have you thus far tried to conceal yourself, so that the veneration due to you from us would not be paid?' At this word of the Saint, the humble pilgrim, greatly amazed, venerated Christ in the Saint; and those who were present were greatly moved and glorified the Lord." So far the account. From this we gather that he flourished in the sixth century of Christ, in which Columba also lived.