Saint Buite

Buíte (died c. 519/20 or 521), also known as Buíte mac Bronach (Brónaig), and Boetius, was a sixth-century Irish monastic. He was born near Mellifout, Louth; visited Wales and Italy; returned through Germany and Scotland to Antrim, and thence to Louth, where he built Monasterboice, i.e. the Monastery of Buite. Buíte, son of Bronach, was descended from Tadhg, son of Cian, and therefore belonged to the Ciannachta. He was known as the "bishop of the monastery", that is of Monasterboice. The date of his birth is not known, but his death took place in 521, and this date is of special interest as determining that of Columba's birth, which is not given in the Annals of the Four Masters, but is stated in the following lines from Tigernach of Clones to have taken place on the same day: Born in the neighbourhood of Mellifont, in the south of the county of Louth, his parents, who were Christians, were in much difficulty as to his baptism, no clergyman being within reach. But some missionary priests having touched at an adjoining port, one of them baptised him; a fountain, called Mellifons (Old Irish: "sweet water") having sprung up, as it was supposed, to supply water for his baptism. An incident of his youth indicates his personal character. Sent by his mother to bring home some calves, and not returning in the evening, his parents went in search of him, and found him asleep. When awoke he asked them why they disturbed him, as "the angels were teaching him psalms and ecclesiastical offices, and if he had not been awoke he would have learned the wisdom of God." When grown up he desired to devote himself to the service of God, and for this purpose seems first to have gone to Wales, with which the early Christians of Ireland were in close connection.