20 FEBRUARY

. . . . .is the feast of St. Colgan (or “Colgu”) of Clonmacnoise. St. Colgan was chief lecturer in scripture and theology at Clonmacnoise in 8th century Ireland. It was said that he was so well-versed in St. Paul’s epistles because St. Paul himself appeared to him and instructed him personally. St. Colman was the teacher of the English scholar Alcuin, whom Charlemagne brought to France as head of the palace school.

“The Irish Josephus Scotus, who accompanied Alcuin to France, is believed to have been another of Colgu’s pupils and to have taught at York. From Charlemagne’s court he addresses Colgu as his ‘blessed master and dear father.’ Irish schoolmen were a continuing influence at the palace school of Charlemagne. It is suggested that Colgu, through his pupils, gave as much impetus to the Carolingian revival as many of those whose names are more closely associated with it.” [from D'Arcy's The Saints of Ireland]