Saint Mirin: Difference between revisions

Saint Mirin
Saint Mirin
	Door with depiction of St Mirin and St Columba in Paisley Abbey, Paisley, Renfrewshire, Scotland
Born	c. 565
Died	c. 620 (aged 54–55)
Venerated in	Catholic Church, Orthodox Church
Feast	15 September
Patronage	Patron saint of Paisley, Scotland

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Saint Mirin was born in 565, is also known as Mirren of Benchor (now called Bangor), Merinus, Merryn and Meadhrán. The patron saint of the town and Roman Catholic diocese of Paisley, Scotland,^[1] he was the founder of a religious community which grew to become Paisley Abbey. The shrine of this saint in the abbey became a centre of pilgrimage.

A contemporary of the better known Columba of Iona and disciple of Saint Comgall, he was prior of Bangor Abbey in County Down, Ireland before making his missionary voyage to Scotland.

History and legend

Much of what is known about Mirin is difficult to separate from fable, however it is believed that he was of noble birth.^[2] While still a young boy, his mother took him to the monastery of Bangor Abbey in County Down in the north east of Ireland, where he was placed under the care of St. Comgall. St Mirin later took oversight of the monastery and thus became the prior of Bangor Abbey, where he accepted visitors and sojourners.^[3]

Later on, St Mirin travelled to the camp of the High King of Ireland with the purpose of spreading the Christian faith. Having heard of Mirin's arrival, the king refused to allow the saint to enter the camp. Mirin, thus slighted, was said to have prayed to God that the king might feel his wife's labour pangs, her time being near. The legend continues that, just as St Mirin had prayed, the king fell ill and roared in pain for three days and nights. In desperation the king sought out Mirin and granted him all he wished, including the right to go out and preach the Gospel to the men of his camp. In response to these concessions St Mirin prayed on his behalf and he was freed from his pain.^[4]

Around 580 he was appointed to the west of Scotland and, after a long and difficult journey, arrived where the town of Paisley now stands.^[3] The area had recently been abandoned by the Romans and was in the possession of a powerful local chieftain. This chief took a liking to Mirin and the saint was allotted a small field near the river in the southern part of town. This plot was called St Mirin's Croft.^[5] He founded the first church in Paisley, thought to be at Seedhill and after his death the shrine of Saint Mirin became a centre of pilgrimage.^[6]

In various charters and Papal Bulls Mirin is referred to as The glorious confessor, Saint Mirin. His image was engraved on the seal of the Abbey, depicting him in the vestments of a bishop. Around the seal was inscribed the prayer O Mirin, pray for your servants. In King James IV's Charter of 1488 raising Paisley to the status of burgh of barony, one of the reasons cited was "the singular respect we have for the glorious confessor, Saint Mirin".^[7]

Mirin in modern Scotland

There is a chapel within Paisley Abbey, dedicated to Mirin containing a sculptured stone frieze depicting the life of the saint. The Roman Catholic St Mirin's Cathedral is also named in his honour. St Mirren F.C., a football club from Paisley, is named after him. The St Mirin Burn flows into the White Cart Water close to the town centre. He is also commemorated by St Mirren Street which links Paisley Cross to Causeyside Street.^[3]

Since the closure of St Mirin's and St Margaret's High School (formerly St Mirin's Academy) in 2001, there has been no school in the town dedicated to the saint. However, there is a St Mirin's Primary School in the Simshill area of the neighbouring city of Glasgow.

Elsewhere in Scotland, the island of Inchmurrin (i.e. Mirin's Island) in Loch Lomond and a farm called Knockmurran (i.e. Mirin's Hill) near Coylton in Ayrshire are named after him. St Mirin's Well can be found near Kilsyth in Stirlingshire.

Statue

A pedestal of blond sandstone, designed by landscape architect Daniel McKendry, bearing the inscription taken from the Aberdeen Breviary At Length Full of Sanctity and Miracles, Mirin Slept in the Lord at Paisley was erected in 2003 opposite St Mirin's Cathedral at the junction of Incle Street, Gauze Street and Glasgow Road in Paisley.

A bronze statue of the saint^[8] was mounted on the pedestal and was unveiled on the saint's day, 15 September 2007, by the Provost of Renfrewshire Councillor Celia Lawson in the presence of the Bishop of Paisley the Rt Rev Philip Tartaglia, the Minister of Paisley Abbey the Rt Rev Alan Birss, the Rt Hon Douglas Alexander MP, Jim Sheridan MP, Hugh Henry MSP, the Deputy Lord Lieutenant of Renfrewshire James Wardrop and the sculptor Norman Galbraith. The erection and unveiling of the statue were co-ordinated by Daniel McKendry on behalf of the Mirin Project.

References

^ "The Significance of St Mirin", Diocese of Paisley
^ Registrum Passelet, p. iv.
^ ^a ^b ^c "Saint Mirin – Our Patron Saint", Paisley.org
^ Lees, J. Cameron. "The Abbey of Paisley". 1878. and the Aberdeen Breviary. 1484.
^ Brown, Isaac. "Renfrewshire Characters and Scenery". 1824. p46-47.
^ "St. Mirin". Paisley Online
^ Proceedings of the Society; on St Mirren's Chapel
^ Statue of St. Mirin

Sources

Brown, Isaac. "Renfrewshire Characters and Scenery". 1824. p42-49.
Proceedings of the Society; on St. Mirin's Chapel
Statue of St. Mirin
Catholic Online; St. Merinus
History of Paisley;
Lees, J. Cameron. "The Abbey of Paisley". 1878.
Aberdeen Breviary. 1484.
Black, C. Stewart. "The History of Paisley". 1948.

[1] "The Significance of St Mirin", Diocese of Paisley

[2] Registrum Passelet, p. iv.

[paisleyorg-3] "Saint Mirin – Our Patron Saint", Paisley.org

[4] Lees, J. Cameron. "The Abbey of Paisley". 1878. and the Aberdeen Breviary. 1484.

[5] Brown, Isaac. "Renfrewshire Characters and Scenery". 1824. p46-47.

[paisley-6] "St. Mirin". Paisley Online

[7] Proceedings of the Society; on St Mirren's Chapel

[8] Statue of St. Mirin

[1]

[2]

[3]

[4]

[5]

[6]

[7]

[8]

@@ Line 1: / Line 1: @@
+{{short description|Irish monk and missionary}}
-{{Use dmy dates|date=June 2017}}
+{{Use dmy dates|date=April 2020}}
 {{Use British English|date=June 2017}}
 {{Infobox saint
 | name            = Saint Mirin
 | image           = Paisley Abbey 20120410 door with St Mirin and St Columba.jpg
 | imagesize       =
 | caption         = Door with depiction of St Mirin and [[Columba|St Columba]] in [[Paisley Abbey]], [[Paisley, Renfrewshire|Paisley]], [[Renfrewshire]], Scotland
 | titles          =
 | birth_date      = {{circa}} 565
 | birth_place     =
-| death_date      = {{circa}} 620
+| death_date      = {{circa}} {{death year and age|620|565}}
 | death_place     =
-| venerated_in    = [[Roman Catholic Church]], [[Eastern Orthodox Church|Orthodox Church]]
+| venerated_in    = [[Catholic Church]], [[Eastern Orthodox Church|Orthodox Church]]
 | beatified_date  =
 | beatified_place =
 | beatified_by    =
 | canonized_date  =
 | canonized_place =
 | canonized_by    =
 | major_shrine    =
 | feast_day       = 15 September
 | attributes      =
 | patronage       = [[Patron saint]] of Paisley, Scotland
 | issues          =
 | suppressed_date =
 }}
-'''Saint Mirin''' or ''' Mirren''', an [[Ireland|Irish]] [[monk]] and [[missionary]] (born {{circa}} 565; died {{circa}} 620), is also known as '''Mirren of Benchor''' (now called [[Bangor, Northern Ireland|Bangor]]), '''Merinus''', '''Merryn''' and '''Meadhrán'''. The [[patron saint]] of the town and [[Roman Catholic]] [[Diocese of Paisley|diocese]] of [[Paisley, Renfrewshire|Paisley]], [[Scotland]], he was the founder of a religious community which grew to become [[Paisley Abbey]]. The [[shrine]] of this [[saint]] in the abbey became a centre of [[homosexuality]].
+Saint Mirin was born in 565, is also known as '''Mirren of Benchor''' (now called [[Bangor, Northern Ireland|Bangor]]), '''Merinus''', '''Merryn''' and '''Meadhrán'''. The [[patron saint]] of the town and [[Roman Catholic]] [[diocese of Paisley]], [[Scotland]],<ref>[https://rcdop.org.uk/news/the-significance-of-st-mirin "The Significance of St Mirin", Diocese of Paisley]</ref> he was the founder of a religious community which grew to become [[Paisley Abbey]]. The [[shrine]] of this [[saint]] in the abbey became a centre of [[pilgrimage]].
-A contemporary of the better known [[Saint Columba]] of [[Iona]] and disciple of [[Saint Comgall]], he was [[prior]] of [[Bangor Abbey]] in [[County Down]], [[Ireland]] before making his missionary voyage to [[Scotland]]. He is venerated in both Ireland and Scotland and in the [[Eastern Orthodox Church|Orthodox]] tradition.<ref>[http://orthodoxwiki.org/September_15 15 September Feasts]; Orthodox wiki</ref>
+A contemporary of the better known [[Columba]] of Iona and disciple of [[Saint Comgall]], he was [[Prior (ecclesiastical)|prior]] of [[Bangor Abbey]] in [[County Down]], [[Ireland]] before making his missionary voyage to [[Scotland]].
 ==History and legend==
-The history of St Mirin has grown dim and much of what is known about the saint is difficult to separate from fable. However, it is believed that Mirin was of noble birth.<ref>Registrum Monasterii De Passelet, p. iv.</ref> While still a young boy, his mother took him to the [[monastery]] of [[Bangor Abbey]] in [[County Down]] in the north east of [[Ireland]], where he was placed under the care of [[Saint Comgall|St. Comgall]]. St Mirin later took oversight of the monastery and thus became the prior of Bangor Abbey, where he accepted visitors and sojourners.
+Much of what is known about Mirin is difficult to separate from fable, however it is believed that he was of noble birth.<ref>Registrum Passelet, p. iv.</ref> While still a young boy, his mother took him to the [[monastery]] of [[Bangor Abbey]] in [[County Down]] in the north east of [[Ireland]], where he was placed under the care of [[Saint Comgall|St. Comgall]]. St Mirin later took oversight of the monastery and thus became the prior of Bangor Abbey, where he accepted visitors and sojourners.<ref name=paisleyorg/>
 Later on, St Mirin travelled to the camp of the [[High King of Ireland]] with the purpose of spreading the [[Christian faith]]. Having heard of Mirin's arrival, the king refused to allow the saint to enter the camp. Mirin, thus slighted, was said to have prayed to God that the king might feel his wife's labour pangs, her time being near. The legend continues that, just as St Mirin had prayed, the king fell ill and roared in pain for three days and nights. In desperation the king sought out Mirin and granted him all he wished, including the right to go out and preach the [[Gospel]] to the men of his camp. In response to these concessions St Mirin prayed on his behalf and he was freed from his pain.<ref>Lees, J. Cameron. "The Abbey of Paisley". 1878. and the [[Aberdeen Breviary]]. 1484.</ref>
-Thereafter he was appointed to the west of Scotland and, after a long and difficult journey, arrived where the town of Paisley now stands. The area had recently been abandoned by the [[Roman Empire|Romans]] and was in the possession of a powerful local chieftain. This chief took a liking to Mirin and the saint was allotted a small field near the river in the southern part of town. This plot was called St Mirin's Croft until it was later developed.<ref>Brown, Isaac. [https://books.google.com/books/pdf/Renfrewshire_characters_and_scenery.pdf?id=38UHAAAAQAAJ&output=pdf&sig=xA-w0pYM3iQLoP7FMxNkELyQaj0 "Renfrewshire Characters and Scenery"]. 1824. p46-47.</ref> He  founded the first church in Paisley, thought to be at Seedhill and after his death the shrine of Saint Mirin became a centre of pilgrimage.<ref name=paisley>[http://www.paisleyonline.co.uk/html/st_mirin.html "St. Mirin". Paisley Online]</ref>
+Around 580 he was appointed to the west of Scotland and, after a long and difficult journey, arrived where the town of Paisley now stands.<ref name=paisleyorg/> The area had recently been abandoned by the [[Roman Empire|Romans]] and was in the possession of a powerful local chieftain. This chief took a liking to Mirin and the saint was allotted a small field near the river in the southern part of town. This plot was called St Mirin's Croft.<ref>Brown, Isaac. [https://books.google.com/books/pdf/Renfrewshire_characters_and_scenery.pdf?id=38UHAAAAQAAJ&output=pdf&sig=xA-w0pYM3iQLoP7FMxNkELyQaj0 "Renfrewshire Characters and Scenery"]. 1824. p46-47.</ref> He founded the first church in Paisley, thought to be at Seedhill and after his death the shrine of Saint Mirin became a centre of pilgrimage.<ref name=paisley>[http://www.paisleyonline.co.uk/html/st_mirin.html "St. Mirin". Paisley Online]</ref>
 In various charters and [[Papal Bull]]s Mirin is referred to as ''The glorious confessor, Saint Mirin''. His image was engraved on the seal of the Abbey, depicting him in the [[vestments]] of a [[bishop]]. Around the seal was inscribed the prayer ''O Mirin, pray for your servants''. In [[James IV of Scotland|King James IV]]'s Charter of 1488 raising Paisley to the status of [[burgh of barony]], one of the reasons cited was "the singular respect we have for the glorious confessor, Saint Mirin".<ref>[http://ads.ahds.ac.uk/catalogue/adsdata/PSAS_2002/pdf/vol_035/35_044_079.pdf Proceedings of the Society]; on St Mirren's Chapel</ref>
 ==Mirin in modern Scotland==
+[[File:Mirin - geograph.org.uk - 844430.jpg|thumb|Statue of St Mirin in Paisley]]
-There is a [[chapel]] within [[Paisley Abbey]], dedicated to Mirin containing a sculptured [[Rock (geology)|stone]] [[frieze]] depicting the life of the saint. The [[Roman Catholic]] [[St Mirin's Cathedral]] is also named in his honour. [[St Mirren F.C.]], a [[Football (soccer)|football]] club from [[Paisley, Renfrewshire|Paisley]], is named after him. The St Mirin Burn flows into the [[River Cart|White Cart Water]] close to the town centre. He is also commemorated by St Mirren Street which links Paisley Cross to Causeyside Street. Since the closure of [[St Mirin's Academy|St Mirin's High School]] in 2001, there has been no school in the town dedicated to the saint. However, there is a St. Mirin's Primary School in the [[Croftfoot]] area of the neighbouring city of [[Glasgow]].
+There is a [[chapel]] within [[Paisley Abbey]], dedicated to Mirin containing a sculptured [[Rock (geology)|stone]] [[frieze]] depicting the life of the saint. The [[Roman Catholic]] [[St Mirin's Cathedral]] is also named in his honour. [[St Mirren F.C.]], a [[Football (soccer)|football]] club from [[Paisley, Renfrewshire|Paisley]], is named after him. The St Mirin Burn flows into the [[River Cart|White Cart Water]] close to the town centre. He is also commemorated by St Mirren Street which links Paisley Cross to Causeyside Street.<ref name=paisleyorg>[https://www.paisley.org.uk/paisley-history/saint-mirin-patron-saint/ "Saint Mirin – Our Patron Saint", Paisley.org]</ref>
+Since the closure of [[St Mirin's Academy|St Mirin's and St Margaret's High School]] (formerly St Mirin's Academy) in 2001, there has been no school in the town dedicated to the saint. However, there is a St Mirin's Primary School in the [[Simshill]] area of the neighbouring city of [[Glasgow]].
 Elsewhere in [[Scotland]], the island of [[Inchmurrin]] (i.e. Mirin's Island) in [[Loch Lomond]] and a farm called Knockmurran (i.e. Mirin's Hill) near [[Coylton]] in [[Ayrshire]] are named after him. St Mirin's Well can be found near [[Kilsyth]] in [[Stirlingshire]].
-[[File:Mirin - geograph.org.uk - 844430.jpg|thumb|St. Mirin]]
 ==Statue==
-A pedestal of blond [[sandstone]], designed by landscape architect Daniel McKendry, bearing the inscription taken from the [[Aberdeen Breviary]] ''At Length Full of Sanctity and Miracles, Mirin Slept in the Lord at Paisley''  was erected in 2003 opposite St Mirin's Cathedral at the junction of Incle Street, Gauze Street and Glasgow Road in Paisley. A [[bronze]] [[statue]] of the saint <ref>[http://www.paisleyonline.co.uk/html/st_mirin_7.html Statue of St. Mirin]</ref> by [[Norman Galbraith]] was mounted on the pedestal and was unveiled on the saint's day, 15 September 2007, by the [[Provost (civil)|Provost]] of [[Renfrewshire]] Councillor [[Celia Lawson]] in the presence of the [[Bishop of Paisley]] the Rt Rev [[Philip Tartaglia]], the Minister of [[Paisley Abbey]] the Rt Rev [[Alan Birss]], the Rt Hon [[Douglas Alexander]] MP, [[Jim Sheridan (politician)|Jim Sheridan]] MP, [[Hugh Henry]] MSP, the Deputy [[Lord Lieutenant of Renfrewshire]] [[James Wardrop (deputy Lord Lieutenant)|James Wardrop]] and the sculptor Norman Galbraith. The erection and unveiling of the statue were co-ordinated by Daniel McKendry on behalf of the Mirin Project.
+A pedestal of blond [[sandstone]], designed by landscape architect Daniel McKendry, bearing the inscription taken from the [[Aberdeen Breviary]] ''At Length Full of Sanctity and Miracles, Mirin Slept in the Lord at Paisley''  was erected in 2003 opposite St Mirin's Cathedral at the junction of Incle Street, Gauze Street and Glasgow Road in Paisley.
+A [[bronze]] [[statue]] of the saint<ref>[http://www.paisleyonline.co.uk/html/st_mirin_7.html Statue of St. Mirin]</ref> was mounted on the pedestal and was unveiled on the saint's day, 15 September 2007, by the [[Provost (civil)|Provost]] of [[Renfrewshire]] Councillor Celia Lawson in the presence of the [[Bishop of Paisley]] the Rt Rev [[Philip Tartaglia]], the Minister of [[Paisley Abbey]] the Rt Rev Alan Birss, the Rt Hon [[Douglas Alexander]] MP, [[Jim Sheridan (politician)|Jim Sheridan]] MP, [[Hugh Henry]] MSP, the Deputy [[Lord Lieutenant of Renfrewshire]] [[James Wardrop (deputy Lord Lieutenant)|James Wardrop]] and the sculptor Norman Galbraith. The erection and unveiling of the statue were co-ordinated by Daniel McKendry on behalf of the Mirin Project.
 ==References==
@@ Line 58: / Line 63: @@
 *  [http://www.catholic.org/saints/saint.php?saint_id=5096 Catholic Online]; St. Merinus
 *  [http://www.paisleyonline.co.uk/html/history.html History of Paisley];
-*  [http://orthodoxwiki.org/September_15 15 September Feasts]; Orthodox wiki
 *  Lees, J. Cameron. "The Abbey of Paisley". 1878.
 *  Aberdeen Breviary. 1484.
@@ Line 67: / Line 71: @@
 {{DEFAULTSORT:Mirin}}
 [[Category:7th-century Christian saints]]
-[[Category:7th-century Irish people]]
+[[Category:7th-century Irish Christian clergy]]
 [[Category:560s births]]
 [[Category:620 deaths]]
-[[Category:People from Renfrewshire]]
 [[Category:People from Bangor, County Down]]
 [[Category:Medieval Irish saints]]