Donatus of Fiesole (died 876) was an Irish teacher and poet, and Bishop of Fiesole.

Biography

Donatus was born in Ireland to noble parents towards the end of the eighth century. Despite there being little biographical detail in the tenth/eleventh-century ''Vita sancti Donati episcopi'', Donatus is one of the better documented of the Irish ''peregrini''. There is reason to believe that he was educated in the monastic school of Inishcaltra, a little island in Lough Derg, near the Galway shore, now better known as Holy Island: so he was probably a native of that part of the country. He became a priest and in course of time a bishop: he was greatly distinguished as a professor.Joyce, P.W., "St. Donatus, Bishop of Fiesole", ''The Wonders of Ireland'', 1911
/ref> According to William Turner, writing in the ''

Catholic Encyclopedia ''The'' ''Catholic Encyclopedia: An International Work of Reference on the Constitution, Doctrine, Discipline, and History of the Catholic Church'', also referred to as the ''Old Catholic Encyclopedia'' and the ''Original Catholic Encyclopedi ...

'', in an ancient collection of the ''Vitae Patrum'', of which an eleventh-century copy exists in the Laurentian Library of

Florence Florence ( ; ) is the capital city of the Italy, Italian region of Tuscany. It is also the most populated city in Tuscany, with 362,353 inhabitants, and 989,460 in Metropolitan City of Florence, its metropolitan province as of 2025. Florence ...

, there is an account of the life of Donatus, which states that about 816 Donatus visited the tombs of the

Apostles An apostle (), in its literal sense, is an emissary. The word is derived from Ancient Greek ἀπόστολος (''apóstolos''), literally "one who is sent off", itself derived from the verb ἀποστέλλειν (''apostéllein''), "to se ...

in Rome with his friend, Andrew Scotus. They remained in Rome for a considerable time and then set out once more, directing their steps now towards Tuscany, till at length they reached Fiesole,Turner, William. "Donatus of Fiesole." The Catholic Encyclopedia
Vol. 5. New York: Robert Appleton Company, 1909. 27 September 2021 where they entered the hospice of the monastery, intending to rest there for a week or two, and then to resume their journey.

Bishop of Fiesole

In 829 Donatus was elected bishop of Fiesole. The traditional account relates that the people were praying to be sent a bishop to replace one drowned by the feudal lords. When Donatus entered the Cathedral of Saint Romulus, the bells spontaneously began ringing and the candles lit. The people took that for a sign their prayers had been heard. It is also possible that no locals wanted the position given the fate of its previous incumbent. Raised by popular acclaim to the See of Fiesole, Donatus made Andrew his archdeacon. He encouraged Andrew to restore the church of San Martino di Mensola and to found a monastery there. Donatus founded a school in Florence under the patronage of Lothair, where he taught grammar and metrical composition for many years. In 840, he led a contingent of troops against the Saracens. He was in Rome in 844 when Louis II was crowned King of Italy, and for his subsequent coronation as emperor in 850.Breen, Aidan. "Donatus", Dictionary of Irish Biography, 2009
/ref> Also in 850, he gave the Church St. Brigid at Piacenza, to Columbanus' abbey at Bobbio, provided that they establish there a hospice for Irish pilgrims. Piacenza was an important stop on the

Via Francigena The Via Francigena (), also known as Francisca or Romea, is an ancient road and Christian pilgrimage, pilgrimage route running from the City status in the United Kingdom#Cathedral towns, cathedral city of Canterbury in England, through France and ...

. He joined the king and the pope in judging a dispute between the bishops of Arezzo and Siena. He also attended the Roman synod of

Pope Nicholas I Pope Nicholas I (; c. 800 – 13 November 867), called Nicholas the Great, was the bishop of Rome and ruler of the Papal States from 24 April 858 until his death on 13 November 867. He is the last of the three popes listed in the Annuario Pontif ...

on 18 November 861. The church of Fiesole had suffered much in its property and prerogatives from the emperors, and the Normans had destroyed its charters. Donatus applied for redress to the emperor Louis, who in 866 granted his request. A confirmation of this grant was obtained subsequently by Donatus from Charles the Bald at Placentia, with the condition annexed that anyone who infringed it should pay the church thirty pounds of gold. Donatus served as a bishop, teacher, and public administrator for forty-seven years. He was buried in the cathedral, where his epitaph, dictated by himself, may still be seen.Benigni, Umberto. "Fiesole." The Catholic Encyclopedia. Vol. 6. New York: Robert Appleton Company, 1909. 21 May 2013
/ref> In it he alludes to his birth in Ireland, his years in the service of the princes of Italy ( Lothair and

Louis Louis may refer to: People * Louis (given name), origin and several individuals with this name * Louis (surname) * Louis (singer), Serbian singer Other uses * Louis (coin), a French coin * HMS ''Louis'', two ships of the Royal Navy See also ...

), his episcopate at Fiesole, and his activity as a teacher of

grammar In linguistics, grammar is the set of rules for how a natural language is structured, as demonstrated by its speakers or writers. Grammar rules may concern the use of clauses, phrases, and words. The term may also refer to the study of such rul ...

and poetry.

Works

Donatus did much to promote the cult of

Brigid of Kildare Saint Brigid of Kildare or Saint Brigid of Ireland (; Classical Irish: ''Brighid''; ; ) is the patroness saint (or 'mother saint') of Ireland, and one of its three national saints along with Patrick and Columba. According to medieval Irish ...

and composed a metrical "Life of the St. Brigid". When it was printed by Colgan in 1647, the text was attributed to Coelan, an Irish monk of the eighth century, and only its foreword, which refers to previous Lives by Ultan and Aileran, was ascribed to the pen of Donatus. His ''Life of Saint Brigid'' is interspersed with short lyrical poems. The best known of these is the twelve-line poem in which he describes the beauty and fertility of his native land, and the prowess and piety of its inhabitants. Like Columkille, Donatus always cherished a tender regretful love for Ireland; and like him also he wrote a short poem in praise of it which is still preserved. It is in Latin, and the following is a translation, made by a Dublin poet many years ago:

Far westward lies an isle of ancient fame, By nature bless'd; and Scotia is her name, Enroll'd in books: exhaustless is her store, Of veiny silver, and of golden ore. Her fruitful soil, for ever teems with wealth, With gems her waters, and her air with health; Her verdant fields with milk and honey flow; Her woolly fleeces vie with virgin snow; Her waving furrows float with bearded corn; And arms and arts her envied sons adorn! No savage bear, with lawless fury roves, Nor fiercer lion, through her peaceful groves; No poison there infects, no scaly snake Creeps through the grass, nor frog annoys the lake; An island worthy of its pious race, In war triumphant, and unmatch'd in peace!

According to Donatus, St. Brigid visited his deathbed to give him spiritual strength and comfort. (A similar story is told of his archdeacon Andrew, whose sister Bridget, miraculously arrives from Ireland shortly before his death.) Donatus' story, preserved in manuscript in the Laurentian Library in Florence, recounts that Brigid flew to his deathbed, and before she touched him, she hung her cloak on a sunbeam to dry.

Veneration

His feast day is 22 October."The Saints: St. Donatus of Fiesole", Archdiocese of Denver
The numerous locations and churches incorporating his name, San Donato, provide evidence of his influence and popularity throughout Tuscany. His remains lie buried in an altar dedicated to him in the Cattedrale di San Romolo, (Duomo di Fiesole).Degl'Innocenti, Antonella. "Donato di Fiesole, santo."
''Dizionario Biografico degli Italiani'' Volume 41 (1992)

References

Bibliography

*Benjamin Bossue, "De S. Donato episc. et confes., Fesulis in Tuscia,
''Acta Sanctorum Octobris'', Tomus Nonus.
Bruxelles: Alphonsus Greuse 1858, pp. 648–662. *

External links

"Saint of the Day - October 22": "Donatus (Donagh) of Fiesole B (RM)"
from Saint Patrick Catholic Church
San Donato di Fiesole
{{DEFAULTSORT:Donatus of Fiesole Italian Roman Catholic saints Irish Catholic poets Poet priests 876 deaths People from County Clare People from County Galway People from County Tipperary 9th-century Christian saints Medieval Irish saints Colombanian saints 9th-century Irish writers Medieval Irish saints on the Continent 9th-century writers in Latin Year of birth unknown 9th-century Irish poets 9th-century Italian bishops Medieval Latin-language poets Irish male poets Carolingian poets