Maughold

Maughold (also known as Macaille, Maccaldus, Machalus, Machaoi, Machella, Maghor, Mawgan, Maccul, Macc Cuill; died c. 488 AD) is venerated as the patron saint of the Isle of Man.[2] Tradition states that he was an Irish prince and captain of a band of freebooters who was converted to Christianity by Saint Patrick. His feast day is April 25.[2] His original name is unclear,[3] and he is distinct from St MacCaille of Croghan, County Offaly, who received Brigit of Kildare into religious life.

For the parish on the Isle of Man, see Maughold (parish).
Saint Maughold
St Maughold Church, Maughold, Isle of Man, 1905
Diedc. 488
Venerated inRoman Catholic Church Eastern Orthodox Church
FeastApril 27 (formerly December 28)[1] Anglican feast day July 31
PatronageIsle of Man

Legend
Maughold head

One local legend relates that Maughold tried to make a fool out of Patrick. Maughold had, according to this story, placed a living man in a shroud. He then called for Patrick to try to revive the allegedly dead man. Patrick came, placed a hand on the shroud, and left. When Maughold and his friends opened the shroud, they found the man had died in the interim. One of Maughold's friends, a fellow named Connor, went over to Patrick's camp and apologized to him. Patrick returned and baptized all of the men assembled. He then blessed the man who had died, who immediately returned to life, and was also baptized. Patrick then criticized Maughold, saying he should have been helping his men into leading good lives, and told him he must make up for his evil.[4]

One story says that Maughold retired to the Isle of Man to avoid worldly temptation.[1] Another account relates that as penance for his previous crimes, Patrick ordered him to abandon himself to God in a wicker boat without oars.[5] Maughold drifted to this isle, where two of Patrick's disciples, Romulus and Conindrus (Romuil and Conindri), were already established. Tradition says he landed on the north-east corner of the Isle near Ramsey, at the foot of a headland since called Maughold Head, where he established himself in a cave on the mountain side. He is said to have been chosen by the Manx people to succeed Romuil and Conindri as bishop.[5]

Maughold is today best remembered on the Isle of Man for his kind disposition toward the Manx natives. Several places on the island, including, Maughold parish, St Maughold's Well,[6] and St Maughold's Chair are named after him.

References
  1. Saint of the Day, April 27: Maughold of Man Retrieved 2012-03-02.
  2. Butler, Rev. Alban, "St. Macull, of Ireland, Confessor", The Lives of the Saints, Volume IV, 1866
  3. Lewis, Barry (2015-12-16). "St Mechyll of Anglesey, St Maughold of Man and St Malo of Brittany". Studia Celtica Fennica. 11 (2014): 24–38. Retrieved 2020-12-15.
  4. Kennedy, Patrick. "Conversion of the Robber Chief Macaldus", Legendary Fictions of the Irish Celts, London. Macmillan and Co., 1866, p. 327 This article incorporates text from this source, which is in the public domain.
  5. Duffy, Patrick. "St. Maughold", CatholicIreland.net
  6. St Maughold's Well
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