The Compass

Irish saint became beloved in the heart of Italy

St. Catald of Taranto is one of those unusual saints who is well known and honored in distant countries rather than in his homeland. There he is virtually unknown.

This 7th century native of Munster, Ireland, became a student at the monastic school of Lismore in Waterford. The monastery was founded by St. Carthach — famed for writing his monastic rule in metric verse. After the death of Carthach, Catald became the school’s headmaster.