Skip to main content
There's a Saint for That! Search

St. Declán of Ardmore

Feast 07-24

Patron of

About

Declán of Ardmore was an early Irish saint of the Déisi Muman who is remembered for converting the Déisi to Christianity in the late fifth century. He founded the monastery of Ardmore in what is now County Waterford, a house that became a center of faith and learning in the south of Ireland.

The principal source for his life is a Latin Life composed in the twelfth century. Like Ailbe of Emly, Ciarán of Saigir, and Abbán of Moyarney, Declán is presented as a Munster saint who preceded Patrick in bringing Christianity to Ireland, a sign that the Gospel took root in the southern kingdoms before the apostle's mission.

He was regarded as patron saint of the Déisi of East Munster, and his feast is kept on July 24. Through Ardmore his memory endured as a father of Irish Christianity.

missionaries, missionary, missions, mission work, missionary activity, evangelization, foreign missions, missionary work, missionary societies, church missions, evangelizing, monks, monk, monastic, monasticism, monastic life, monasteries, religious brothers, cloistered monks, monastic orders, monks life, brothers, converts, convert, converted, new converts, new catholics, converts to catholicism, new christians, converted catholics, converts to the faith, neophytes, new believers

Suggested prayer

O God, who sent Your servant Declán to prepare the way of the Gospel among the Déisi and to found the monastery of Ardmore, grant through his intercession that we may labor faithfully to bring Christ to those who do not yet know Him. We ask this through Christ our Lord. Amen.

Sources

Other saints to pray to

For missionaries

For monks