ENGLISH SPEAKING SAINTS: MAR. 16 St. Abban, 620 A.D, St. Finian Lobharm, 560 A.D, Bl. John Amias, 1589 A.D. Bl. Robert Dalby, 1589 A.D.

ENGLISH SPEAKING SAINTS: MAR. 16 St. Abban, 620 A.D. Abbot and Irish missionary. An Irish prince, Abban was the son of King Cormac of Leinster. He is listed as the nephew of St. Ibar. Abban founded many churches in the old district of Ui Cennselaigh, in modern County Wexford and Ferns. His main monastery is Magheranoidhe, in Adamstown, Ireland. This monastery's fame is attributed in some records to another Abban, that of New Ross. Abban is also associated with Kill-Abban Abbey in Leinster, serving as abbot there until March 16, 620. He is revered in Adamstown, which was once called Abbanstown. St. Finian Lobharm, 560 A.D. Irish abbot, a disciple of St. Columba. He was born in Bregia, Leinster, Ire-land. Tradition credits him with founding a church at Innisfallen and a monastery there as well. After a stay in Clonmore, Finian Lobhar became abbot of Swords Abbey near Dublin. He may have returned to Clonmore in his later years and was called Lobhar, “the Leper,” but apparently did not have that disease. He acquired the name when he contracted leprosy from a young boy whom he cured of the disease. Bl. John Amias, 1589 A.D. Also called John Anne, a martyr in England. He was born and married near Wakefield where he became a cloth dealer. When his wife died, he went to Reims and was ordained a Priest in 1581. Returning to England, he worked until his arrest by English authorities. Hanged, drawn, and quartered at York with Blessed Robert Dalby, he was beatified in 1929. Bl. Robert Dalby, 1589 A.D. English martyr. Born at Hemingborough, Yorkshire, he was a Protestant minister before he converted to Catholicism and left England to become a priest. Ordained in 1588 after studies at Douai and Reims, France, he returned home. The next year he was arrested and hanged, drawn, and quartered at York on March 16, with Blessed John Amias. He was beatified 1929. Mar.16