Mochta

Mochta, disiple of St. Patrick, died 535.

Also known as Maucteus, he was like Patrick a native of Britain. The Annals of Ulster date his death to 535, which points to him being considerably younger than Patrick, who had died in 493.

He is known to have written at least one letter, apparently in Latin, the beginning of which is quoted in his obitury. However neither this nor any other compositions of his are known to have survived.

Entry in the Annals of Ulster

"Dormitatio Muchti discipuli Patricii .xiii. Kl. Septembris. Sic ipse scripsit in epistola sua: Mauchteus peccator, prespiter, sancti Patrici discipulus, in Domino salutem/The falling alseep of Mochta, disciple of Patrick, on the 13th of the Kalends of September. Thus he himself wrote in his epistle: ‘Mauchteus, a sinner, priest, disciple of St Patrick, sends greetings in the Lord."

Sources

"Hiberno-Latin Literature to 1169", Dáibhí Ó Crónín, "A New History of Ireland", volume one, 2005.
http://www.ucc.ie/celt/published/T100001A/index.html

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