| Saint Patrick was chosen for this altar because of the large number of Irish immigrants who poured into the United States in the late 18th and early 19th centuries. He was also one of the personal patrons of Baltimore's Archbishop Francis Patrick Keough, under whose leadership the Cathedral was built. He is surrounded by eight early Irish saints: | ||
| Kevin, 7th
century founder of a monastery at Glendalough and patron of Dublin
(feast day June 3)
Columba, 6th century abbot of the monastery at Iona (feast day June 9) Ita, 6th century virgin and teacher of St. Brendan (feast day January 15) Benen, 5th century successor to Saint Patrick as the chief bishop of the Church in Ireland (feast day November 9) |
|
Brendan,
6th century abbot of the monastery at Clonfert (feast day May 16)
Finian, 6th century abbot of Clonard (feast day December 12). Fiaac, 7th century bishop of Lindesfarne and poetic biographer of Patrick (feast day February 17) Brigid, 5th century foundress of a monastery at Kildare (feast day February 1st) |
