Chapter III: Part 3

In one of his journeys he visited St. Columba at Iona, and afterwards sailed as far as the Orkneys, where the pagan people were minded to put him to death. But one of the chiefs had long before made a solemn promise to St. Columba, who had seen in vision the coming of Cormac to the islands and his threatened death, that no harm should happen to him in the Orkneys. This intervention was successful.

Neither the place nor time of St. Cormac's death is known with any certainty, but an ancient Irish tradition asserts that he returned to Durrow and was buried there.

A fragment still exists of the "Crozier of Durrow", which is considered to be the most ancient relic of its kind now extant. It is believed to have belonged to the founder of Durrow, the great Columba, and to have been given by him to his disciple, Cormac.

22--St. Suibhne, Abbot, A.D. 772.

This saint was the sixteenth Abbot of Iona. There had been before him another abbot of {97} the same name. Suibhne, pronounced "Sweeney", is identical with an Irish appellation not uncommon in our day.

25--St. Moluag or Lughaidh, Bishop. A.D. 592.

This saint was born in Ireland and became a monk in the renowned abbey of Bangor. He was so fervent a follower of monastic life that, as St. Bernard testifies, he founded no less than a hundred monasteries. Fired with missionary zeal, he left his native land to preach to the pagans of Scotland. Tradition says that the rock on which he stood detached itself from the Irish coast and became a raft to bear him across the waters to the island of Lismore, in Loch Linnhe, where he landed. St. Moluag converted the people of the island to Christianity, and then moved into Ross-shire, where he built many churches, dedicating them to the Mother of God.

He lived to extreme old age, and died at Rosemarkie on the Moray Firth. Here he is said by some to have been buried, but his relics must in that case have been afterwards translated to Lismore; for his remains were honoured in the cathedral there, which was H {98} called after him.

Great devotion was shown to this saint in Catholic ages both in Scotland and Ireland. There were many dedications to him in Scotland. At Lismore, the cathedral of Argyll bore his name. Other churches were dedicated to him at Clatt and Tarland, Aberdeenshire; Mortlach, Banffshire; Alyth, Perthshire; also in Skye, Mull, Raasay, Tiree, Pabay, Lewis and other islands. An ancient burial ground at Auchterawe, near Fort Augustus, styled Kilmalomaig, is called after this saint. In these dedications his name appears in various forms. The original Celtic name Lughaidh (pronounced _Lua_) became changed, as in many other cases, by the addition of the title of honour _mo_, as a prefix, and the endearing suffix _ag_.

At Clatt was held annually for eight days "St. Mallock's Fair", and at Tarland "Luoch Fair". Others were held at Ruthven (Forfarshire) and at Alyth; at the latter place the fair was styled "St. Malogue's". At Mortlach, where some of the saint's relics were preserved, an abbey was founded in 1010 by Malcolm II. in thanksgiving for a victory obtained over the Danes in that place, after the Scottish army {99} had invoked the aid of Our Lady and St. Moluag. His holy well was nearby.

The crozier of the saint is now in the pos session of the Duke of Argyll; it was long kept by its hereditary custodians, a family named Livingstone, on the island of Lismore. The bell of St. Moluag was in existence up to the sixteenth century; but disappeared at the Reformation. An ancient bell, discovered in 1814 at Kilmichael-Glassary, Argyllshire, has been thought to be the lost treasure. The feast of this saint was restored by Leo XIII. in 1898.

JULY

1--St. Servan or Serf, Bishop, 6th or 8th century.

Much that is legendary has become mixed up with the history of this saint, and it is difficult to fix upon what is authentic.

He founded a monastery at Culross, Fifeshire, where he lived in great veneration on {100} account of his virtues and miracles. He is said to have befriended the mother of S. Kentigern when she was cast on the shore near his dwelling, and to have baptised and educated her child. A very ancient life of St. Serf, however, places him a century later than St. Kentigern, and makes him contemporary with St. Adamnan.

On account of the many difficulties presented by conflicting traditions, it has been suggested that two saints of the same name have lived at Culross in different centuries.

St. Serf died at Culross in extreme old age, and was buried there. Within the grounds belonging to Lord Rosslyn at Dysart is pointed out the cave where the saint is said to have encountered and overcome the devil. The name Dysart (desert), which marked his place of retreat, became afterwards extended to the town which grew up there. The cave of the saint became a favourite place of pilgrimage.

The churches of Monzievaird-Perthshire, and Alva-Stirlingshire, were dedicated to this saint, and at each place is a well called by his name. Another well of his called "St. Shear's Well" exists at Dumbarton. All three were {101} considered miraculous. St. Serf's Fairs were formerly held at Culross, Abercorn (Linlithgowshire) and Aberlednock (Perthshire).

At Culross a custom prevailed from time immemorial for the young men to perambulate the streets in procession, carrying green boughs, on the 1st of July each year. The Town Cross was decorated with garlands and ribbons, and the procession would pass several times round it before disbanding to spend the day in amusements. This was doubtless the remains of a procession in honour of the saint. At the accession of George III. the population, being strong Hanoverians, began to celebrate that King's birthday on June 4th, and to avoid too many public holidays, the procession of July 1st, the signification of which has become lost, was transferred to the King's birthday. It survived the accession of Queen Victoria, but has now probably fallen into disuse.

3--St. Killen, Abbot, A.D. 752.

This saint was the fourteenth Abbot of Iona. The old church of Laggan, near Loch Laggan, Inverness-shire, was dedicated to St. Killen. {102}

4--St. Marianus Scotus, Abbot, A.D. 1088.

The monastery of St. James, Ratisbon, owes its first beginnings to this saint. Most historians are now agreed in maintaining that Marianus was a native of Ireland, which for many centuries bore the designation of Scotia. The holy man with several companions entered a Benedictine monastery at Bamberg. Some time afterwards, when on a pilgrimage to Rome, they passed through Ratisbon. A holy hermit who was living there persuaded Marianus to forego his visit to Rome and take up his abode in Ratisbon. He obeyed the injunction, and founded a monastery in connection with the Church of St. Peter, which the nuns to whom it belonged made over to him.

After the death of Marianus a larger abbey was built in honour of St. James and St. Gertrude which eventually became peopled by Scotsmen, and became, after the Reformation, an important seminary for the education of clergy for mission work in Scotland. This venerable abbey was appropriated by the Bavarian Government about the middle of the nineteenth century, a compensation of L10,000 being paid to the Scots College in Rome. {103}

A valuable MS. consisting of selections from the homilies of the Fathers of the Church, in the actual handwriting of St. Marianus himself, was presented to the Benedictine Abbey, Fort-Augustus, by the last survivor of the community of the Scots Monastery, Ratisbon, and is one of the greatest treasures of the Fort-Augustus library.

6--St. Modenna, or Medana, Virgin, A.D. 518.

This saint was an Irish virgin, who received the monastic habit from St. Patrick himself, and was a dear friend of St. Bridget. She took up her abode in Scotland, where she founded many monasteries for women. Some of these foundations were in Strathclyde, but the greatest of them was in Galloway, at the place now styled Kirkmaiden (formerly Kirkmedan), where St. Medan's Well and Cave may still be seen.

St. Modenna is said to have lived to the age of 130 years and to have died at Longforgan, near Dundee, after having made during the course of her long life three pilgrimages to Rome, barefoot and clad in hair-cloth.

Edinburgh probably takes its name from Medana. Her sanctuary, marking, it was said, {104} one of her monastic foundations, and known as "St. Edana's," was a place of pilgrimage long before the time of King Edwin who was once supposed to have given the city its designation. The discovery of the foundations of a much more ancient building under St. Margaret's Chapel in Edinburgh Castle, in 1918, seems to corroborate the statement in an ancient Latin life of this Saint of the erection by her of a church on the top of Edinburgh Rock, while it strengthens the tradition of the origin of the name, Edana's Burgh. Maiden Castle is really Medan's (or Medana's) Castle. A new Catholic church, situated in St. Meddan's Street, Troon, was erected in 1911 and dedicated to this saint in conjunction with Our Lady.

7--St. Palladius, Bishop, A.D. (about) 430.

St. Prosper of Aquitaine tells us that this saint was a Roman deacon who was sent by Pope Celestine I. to those Irish who were already Christians, that he might be their bishop. After founding several churches in Ireland, and meeting with opposition from the pagans there, he left that country for Scotland, where he founded churches in the Mearns. He died at Fordun, and his relics were still preserved there {105} in 1409, when the Archbishop of St. Andrews placed them in a new and costly shrine adorned with gold and gems. The ruins of his chapel are still to be seen there and a well bears his name. "Paldy Fair" is still held at Auchinblae in the parish of Fordoun (Kincardineshire); it formerly lasted eight days.

Pope Leo XIII. in his Bull concerning the restoration of the Scottish hierarchy in 1878, refers to the share of St. Palladius in the evangelisation of the country. "St. Palladius," he says, "deacon of the Roman Church, is said to have preached the Faith of Christ there (in Scotland) in the fifth century."

The same Pontiff, in 1898, restored this saint's feast to Scotland.

11--St. Drostan, Abbot, 6th century.

This saint was of Scottish birth, being descended from King Aidan of Dalriada, the friend of St. Columba. He was sent over to that saint, then in Ireland, to be educated and trained for the religious state. He eventually became a monk at a monastery known as Dalquongal, of which in course of time he became abbot. After some time he passed over to {106} Scotland where he lived as a hermit near Glenesk, in Angus. He afterwards entered the monastery of Iona, and while dwelling under the rule of St. Columba accompanied that saint to the district of Buchan, Aberdeenshire, and was made by him abbot of the monastery of Deer, which St. Columba founded on land given to him by the ruler of the district, whose son had been restored to health during a severe illness by the saint's prayers. The name Deer is said to have originated in the tears (_deara_) shed by Drostan when he parted from his beloved master.

St. Drostan preached the gospel in the district of Inverness-shire known as Glen-Urquhart which in Catholic ages bore the name of "St. Drostan's Urquhart." Here a plot of ground, said to have been cultivated by the saint when he lived there as its apostle, is still known as "St. Drostan's Croft." In St. Ninian's Chapel, in the glen, was preserved the saint's cross, and the custodian of the relic had the use of the "Dewar's (or keeper's) Croft" as a reward for his services.

St. Drostan died in his monastery of Deer and was buried at Aberdour where miracles {107} were wrought at his tomb. Many churches in the North of Scotland bore his name; in Caithness were Halkirk and Cannisbay; in Angus, Edzell and Lochee; in Inverness-shire, Alvie and Urquhart; in Banffshire, Aberlour and Rothiemay; in Aberdeenshire, Deer and Aberdour. At Westfield in Caithness is St. Drostan's Burial Ground; at Lochlee is "Droustie's Meadow" and "Droustie's Well." Other wells bore his name in various districts. One was at Aberlour, and there were five between Edzell and Aberdour.

St. Drostan's Fairs were held each year at Rothiemay, Aberlour (for three days) and Old Deer. The last named, which formerly lasted for eight days, is still kept up. This is one of the few instances in which the old fair day of Catholic times has survived. In too many cases these remnants of Catholic ages disappeared during the last century. Pope Leo XIII. restored the feast of this saint in 1898. It was formerly celebrated in Scotland in December.

12--St. Donald, Hermit, A.D. (about) 716.

A local tradition speaks of the sojourn of this saint in the Glen of Ogilvy, in Forfarshire, {108} where he lived a secluded life for some years. He was not, strictly speaking, a hermit, as his nine virgin daughters shared his solitude, and spent their time like St. Donald in the almost constant practice of prayer and contemplation. No reliable record remains of the course of his life or of the date and circumstances of his death.

18--The Nine Maidens, 8th century.

These were the daughters of St. Donald, mentioned above.

During the lifetime of their father, these maidens lived with him in strict seclusion in the Glen of Ogilvy. Having devoted their youth to the Religious Life, they were loth to return to the world when their father's death left them without a protector. They accordingly entered the monastery for women which St. Darlugdach, an Irish nun and the friend of St. Bridget (or as some say St. Bridget herself), had founded at Abernethy. Here they spent the remainder of their lives.

There were many dedications in Scotland to these saints. The ancient church of Finhaven in Forfarshire, a chapel at Pitsligo, Aberdeenshire, {109} called the "Chapel of the Nine Maidens," and another, bearing a like designation, at Tough, in the same county, are some of them.

Other associations are still to be found in the many holy wells which are called after them, at Strathmartin, Glamis and Oathlaw (Forfarshire), Old Aberdeen and Pitsligo (Aberdeenshire), Newburgh (Fife) and Mid-Calder (near Edinburgh).

These saints were honoured together in Catholic ages on this day.

St. Thenew or Thenog, A.D. 514.

The history of the early life of this saint is involved in obscurity. There are various legends relating to it; but recent historians reject them as spurious. St. Thenew was the mother of St. Mungo or Kentigern; she is said by Jocelin in his life of St. Mungo (written in a later age) to have been befriended by St. Serf, and baptised by him, when she was cast ashore near his dwelling. The fact, however, is disputed by modern critics, on account of chronological difficulties.

At an early period a chapel dedicated to St. Thenew existed in Glasgow; but at the {110} Reformation it was destroyed. The street leading to this chapel was known for centuries as "St. Thenew's Gate"; it is now called Argyll Street. The chapel had been popularly styled "San Theneuke's Kirk," and its name still survives in the corrupted form of "St. Enoch's"--the modern designation of an important square in the city with its large railway station and hotel. Close by the chapel was a holy well bearing the saint's name.

22--St. Dabius or Bavins, Priest.

Some historians have maintained that this saint was a native of Ireland; but the Scottish tradition affirms that he was born in Perthshire, and that he became a recluse in his native parish of Weem, where he built a small chapel.

The shelf of the great rock of Weem, upon which the chapel formerly stood, is still called "Chapel Rock." A holy well hard by is called after the saint.

This well was once much frequented by pilgrims. It was a common opinion that St. Dabius would grant any wish made there if an offering were thrown into the water. When the well was cleaned out some years ago a large number of coins was discovered; these were {111} evidently offerings of the kind. There was an ancient burial ground at Weems which bore the name of the saint, and on his feast-day a fair was held annually there.

The name Kildavie (Church of Davius) which is found in the parish of Kilblane, in Bute, and also in the parish of Kilninian, in Mull, testifies to ancient churches in honour of St. Davius in those localities. The Church of Kippen, Stirlingshire, is also dedicated to this saint, under the designation of "Movean."

AUGUST

3--St. Walthen or Waltheof, Abbot, A.D. 1160.

He was the son of Simon, Earl of Hunting don, and Maud, grand-niece of William the Conqueror. After the death of her first husband, Maud married David, King of Scotland, one of the sons of St. Margaret. The early life of the young Walthen was consequently spent at the Scottish Court, where he edified all who knew him by his purity of life and diligent practice of the Christian virtues. Desiring to embrace the religious life, Walthen {112} left Scotland, and entered the monastery of Nostell in Yorkshire, belonging to the Austin Canons. His holiness, attested by miracles, procured the esteem of his contemporaries, and led to his appointment, while still young, as Prior of the monastery of Kirkham, in the same county. Attracted by the reputation of the Cistercians, he resolved to pass into that Order, and was encouraged in his purpose by St. Aelred, Cistercian Abbot of Rievaulx, who became his attached friend. In spite of the remonstrances of his religious brethren, and the avowed indignation of his kindred, Walthen persevered in his resolution, and took the Cistercian habit at Rievaulx, where he eventually made his profession as a monk.

He was made Abbot of the Scottish abbey of Melrose, which he ruled till his death. In the later years of his life he was nominated Archbishop of St. Andrew's; but his humility shrank from the burden, and he prevailed upon his religious superiors to prevent the election. He died at Melrose at an advanced age. Many miracles are attributed to him, even during life, and fifty years after death his body was found to be incorrupt. {113}

9--St. Berchan, Bishop.

This Irish saint spent a good part of his life in Scotland. Few particulars of his career now remain to us, but he laboured near Stirling as a missionary. Some traces of devotion to him are still existing. The name of Kilbarchan, in the county of Renfrew, proves the connection of the saint with that neighbourhood. St. Barchan's Fair was held there annually. In the same county is to be found an ancient Celtic cross erected in honour of St. Berchan. Another fair was at Tain; this is evident from an ancient charter of that burgh, in which it is stated that St. Barquhan's Fair is "held on the 3rd day after the Feast of St. Peter ad Vincula, commonly called Lambmes." St. Peter ad Vincula, or, as it is usually called, St. Peter's Chains, is a feast which falls on August 1st, hence St. Berchan's Fair, in celebration of his feast, was held on the 4th. Lambmes or Lammas was the ancient name of this feast of St. Peter and was derived from the Saxon _hlaf_ (loaf). It had its origin in the offering at Mass of a loaf made from the first-fruits of the harvest. {114}

6--Blessed Alexander, Monk, A.D. 1229.

In the account given of St. Matilda (April 11) allusion was made to her brother Alexander, who, concealing his royal origin, entered the Cistercian monastery of Foigni, in the diocese of Laon, France. He died some years before his holy sister on May 4th, 1229. His feast is celebrated by his Order on this day. A fair was formerly held in his honour at Keith, in Banffshire.

9--St. Oswald, King and Martyr, A.D. 642.

This illustrious King was the son of a pagan. Ethelfrid, King of Northumbria. He was compelled on the death of his father to seek safety in the north, and took refuge with his two brothers at Iona, where all three received baptism. Eanfrid, the eldest, obtained the throne of Northumbria, but relapsed into paganism. He met with a violent death at the hands of the British prince, Cadwalla, and Oswald succeeded him as king. Cadwalla was defeated near Hexham by Oswald's inferior army, the Christian prince having previously erected a large wooden cross on the field of {115} battle, before which he knelt in prayer for the success of his arms, and promised, with the consent of his soldiers, that all would embrace Christianity should God grant them the victory.

On ascending the throne Oswald procured a missionary for his people from Iona in the person of Aidan, who became eventually the first Bishop of Lindisfarne. The saintly King did not disdain to act as interpreter to his people of the instructions given by Aidan in the Celtic tongue. Oswald reigned but eight years, yet they were years of blessing for the nation The King led the way in the practice of the Christian virtues, especially of charity to the poor. It was on the occasion of the distribution to a hungry multitude at the palace gates of the food prepared for the King's repast, and the division of the costly silver dish itself amongst the poverty-stricken people, that St. Aidan, who was about to join the King at a banquet, cried out enthusiastically as he seized Oswald's right hand, "May this hand never corrupt!" The utterance was prophetic, as the sequel will show. {116}

The saintly King met his death on the field of battle, when resisting the invasion of his dominions by Penda, the pagan king of Mercia. His dying words were a prayer for the souls of all who had fallen in the battle. Many miracles were wrought by his intercession and by the use of particles of the cross he had erected. His right hand and arm, in accordance with St. Aidan's prophecy, remained in corrupt till the time of the Venerable Bede, who tells us that they were honoured in the Church of St. Peter at Bamborough. His head was taken to the monastery of Lindisfarne; it was eventually deposited in St. Cuthbert's shrine and was carried with the remains of that saint to Durham Minster.

Many monasteries and churches both in England and Scotland bore the name of St. Oswald. Those in Northumbria and Cumbria can scarcely be termed Scottish in these days, but Kirkoswald near Maybole and Carluke in Lanarkshire possessed respectively a church and chapel dedicated to the holy King. His death occurred on August 5th, but his feast has been transferred to this day. Devotion to St. {117} Oswald flourished greatly in Ireland as well as in Scotland and England, and extended to the Continent.

St. Angus.

At Balquhidder, in Perthshire, there is a local tradition regarding a saint of this name. He is said to have been a disciple of St. Columba, and to have preached the Faith in that neighbourhood. His name is preserved in the _Clach Aenais_ (Stone of Angus), a slab bearing a representation of a priest holding a chalice. This stone formerly stood within the old church at Balquhidder, and it was the custom to stand or kneel upon it during the solemnization of a baptism or marriage. As this rite seemed to Presbyterian authorities to savour of superstition, the stone was removed to the churchyard about a century ago. Near the church are the foundations of the "Chapel of Angus." A hillock hard by is pointed out as the spot where the saint preached, and it still bears his name.

"Angus Fair" was formerly held at King's House, in the parish of Balquhidder, on the Wednesday after the second Tuesday in August. {118}

This locates the saint's feast-day (which the fair doubtless commemorated) in the early part of August, although the exact date is uncertain.

11--St. Blaan, Bishop, A.D. 590.

He was born in Ireland of a noble family, and after spending seven years under the direction of St. Comgall and St. Kenneth, passed over to Bute, to St. Cathan, his mother's brother. He is said to have made later a pilgrimage to Rome. The monastery he founded became the site of the well-known Cathedral of Dunblane a place which derives its name from the saint where the mediaeval building begun by David I. is still to be seen. Among the many miracles attributed to the saint is the restoration to life of a dead boy. He is also said to have rekindled the extinguished lamps in his church during the night office, on one occasion, by striking fire from his fingers as from a flint; the miracle being vouchsafed by God to clear the saint of any imputation of negligence in his duty.

St. Blaan became eventually a bishop. After his death devotion to him became popular, {119} and many dedications bear witness to his callus. There was a church of St. Blaan in Dumfries and another at Kilblane in Argyll. The ruins of the saint's church in the parish of Kingarth, Bute, form an object of great interest to antiquarians, and stand amid surroundings of extraordinary beauty and charm. His bell is still preserved at Dunblane. The saint's feast was restored to the Scottish Calendar by Leo XIII. in 1898.

18--St. Inan, Confessor, 9th century.

In the southern district of Scotland are to be found many traces of the _cultus_ of a saint bearing this name, though his history is not known.

Some consider him a native of Ayrshire, since the greater part of the remains connected with him are to be found in that county, where he seems to have spent many years of his life. Others claim him as a native of Ireland, and it has been conjectured that his name is merely a corruption of Finan. There are no conclusive proofs in support of either opinion.

The chief place of residence of St. Inan {120} seems to have been at Irvine, though many interesting remains recall his memory at Beith On the Cuff Hill in the latter parish is a cleft in the rock which was originally of natural formation, but has been enlarged by art; it bears the name of "St. Inan's Chair." At a short distance from it is a double spring of abundant and excellent water known as "St. Inan's Well." On the day corresponding to the 18th August, old style, a fair is annually held in the vicinity, which bears the name of "Tenant's (probably a corruption of St. Inan's) Fair." Inchinnan (Renfrewshire) is said to signify "Inans' Isle."

Another well bearing the saint's name is at Lamington in Lanarkshire, where the church was dedicated to him. At Southenan, Ayrshire, was another church or chapel bearing the name of St. Inan; for a charter of James IV. in 1509, confirms the donation of John, Lord Sempill, of a perpetual Mass therein.

24--St. Yrchard or Merchard, Bishop, 5th or 6th century.

This saint was born of pagan parents in the district of Kincardine-O'Neil, Aberdeenshire. {121}

In his early youth he embraced the Christian Faith, and was ordained priest by St. Ternan, who associated the young man with himself in his missionary labours. In later life he journeyed to Rome, and was there consecrated bishop. Returning to Scotland he ended his days in Aberdeenshire. At Kincardine-O'Neil a church was erected over the spot where the chariot which was conveying his remains to burial was miraculously stopped. A fair was formerly held there annually on St. Merchard's feast and during the octave.

One of the saint's churches was in Glenmoriston. The ancient burial ground which adjoins it is still in use, and some few stones of the old building are yet to be seen there. The local tradition tells that the saint when labouring as a missionary in Strathglass with two companions, discovered, by previous revelation, three bright new bells buried in the earth Taking one for himself, he gave the others to his fellow-missionaries, bidding each to erect a church on the spot where his bell should ring for the third time of its own accord; undertaking to do the same with regard to his own. {122} One of these companions founded a church at Glenconvinth, in Strathglass, the other at Broadford, Isle of Skye.

St. Merchard travelled towards Glenmoriston. His bell rang first at _Suidh Mhercheird_ (Merchard's Seat), again at _Fuaran Mhercheird_ (Merchard's Well), near Ballintombuie, where a spring of excellent water treasured by both Catholics and Protestants still bears his name, and a third time at the spot where the old churchyard, called _Clachan Mhercheird_, close by the river Moriston, recalls his memory.

The bell of the saint was preserved there for centuries. After the church fell into decay's early in the seventeenth century, the bell remained in the churchyard. The narrow-pointed spar of granite on which it rested still stands there. The bell, unfortunately, was wantonly removed, by Protestant strangers about thirty years ago, to the great indignation of the inhabitants of the glen, Protestant as well as Catholic; it has never since been discovered.

Tradition has it that the bell was wont to ring of its own accord when a funeral came {123} in sight, and that whenever it was removed from its usual position it was invariably found restored miraculously to its place, Many persons still living in the glen have seen the bell, and the grandparents of some of them used to relate that they heard it ring in their youth. Devotion to this saint was very strong in that neighbourhood in Catholic times, and he is still regarded by Catholics as the local patron.

25--St. Ebba, Abbess, A.D. 683.

She was sister to St. Oswald, and to Oswy, his successor, Kings of Northumbria. She founded a monastery at Ebchester, on the Derwent, and another and more important one at Coldingham. It was at the latter place that the great St. Ethelreda received her monastic training. St. Ebba was buried at Coldingham, but portions of her relics were afterwards placed in the tomb of St. Cuthbert at Durham. St. Abb's Head, the well-known promontory on the coast of Northumberland, takes its name from this saint.

30--St. Fiacre, Hermit, 7th century.

He was born in Ireland about the year {124} 590. A hermitage and holy well near Kilkenny are called after him, and were frequented as late as the beginning of this century by pilgrims who wished to pay him honour. After labouring as a missionary in Scotland, St. Fiacre ended his days at Breuil, near Meaux, in France, where he became famous for miracles both before and after his death; he was invoked as the patron saint of the province of Brie, and his shrine became a famous place of pilgrimage.

St. Fiacre's day was kept with devotion in Scotland. The Breviary of Aberdeen contains the office for the saint's feast. Several Scottish churches bore his name. Among these may be mentioned the ancient church and burial ground of St. Fiacre, or, as he is often styled, St. Fittack, at Nigg, Kincardineshire, on the opposite bank of the Dee from Aberdeen. The bay in the vicinity is known as St. Picker's Bay, and St. Fittack's Well, a clear spring near the roofless ruins of the old church, still recalls his memory. Its existence is a strong proof of the saint's residence in the neighbourhood at some time in his life. The fame of this well {125} for healing powers survived the downfall of religion, and it became necessary to prevent recourse to it by severe penalties. Thus in the records of the Kirk Session of Aberdeen for 1630 we read:--"Margrat Davidson, spous to Andro Adam, fined L5 for sending her child to be washed at St. Fiackre's Well and leaving an offering."

The large numbers of pilgrims conveyed in hackney coaches to the French shrine of this saint at Breuil, caused those vehicles to be known as _fiacres_, a designation they still bear.

31--St. Aidan, Bishop, A.D. 651.

This saint was a native of Ireland, where, after some years of monastic life at Inniscattery in the Shannon, he was consecrated bishop. Later on he entered the monastery of Iona. He became the first bishop of Lindisfarne, and the helper of St. Oswald in the conversion of Northumbria. His life was one of great poverty and detachment, and his example had a wonderful effect on his flock. He used to travel about his diocese on foot, accompanied by his clergy, spending the time occupied by {126} the journey in prayer and holy reading. His alms were abundant, and his manner to all with whom he came in contact kind and fatherly. His miracles, even during life, were many and striking.

St. Aidan was the founder of Old Melrose, which stood a short distance from the site of the more modern Cistercian Abbey whose ruins are familiar to travellers. He also assisted the Abbess, St. Ebba, in the foundation of the celebrated monastery of Coldingham, which consisted of two distinct communities of men and women.

After ruling his see for seventeen years, he died at Bamborough in a tent which he had caused to be erected by the wall of the church. St. Cuthbert, then a youthful shepherd, as he kept his flock on the hills, had a vision of the soul of St. Aidan being borne by angels to Heaven. It was this vision which determined him to seek admission to Melrose. Many churches bear St. Aidan's name. Among them are those of Cambusnethan in Lanarkshire and Menmuir in Angus. At the latter place is the saint's holy well, which was renowned for the {127} cure of asthma and other complaints. Another holy well called after St. Aidan is to be found at Fearn in Angus. The ancient church of Kenmore, Perthshire, was known as Inchadin. Keltney Burn in the same neighbourhood, is called in Gaelic "St. Aidan's Stream."

SEPTEMBER

1--St. Egidius or Giles, Abbot, A.D. 714.

This saint never laboured in Scotland, yet the honour shown to him in the country is sufficient reason for the mention of his name here. He is said to have been an Athenian by birth, who fled from his native land to escape the admiration excited by his extraordinary sanctity. He settled in France and founded a monastery in the neighbourhood of Nismes, where many disciples placed themselves under his guidance, and where he died and was laid to rest. His _cultus_ extended from France into other countries. St. Giles was honoured in Edinburgh as early as 11 50, when a monastery existed under his invocation. He became the {128} recognised patron saint of the city, and his figure appeared in the armorial bearings of Edinburgh, accompanied by the hind which is said in his legend to have attached herself to the saint. Since the Reformation the figure of the saint has disappeared, though that of the animal remains.

The beautiful Church of St. Giles was re built in the 15th century, and was erected into a collegiate church by Pope Paul II. It still continues to be the glory of the Scottish capital. This church possessed an arm-bone of the saint, for which a rich reliquary was provided by the city. Fairs were formerly held in honour of St. Giles at Moffat and also at Elgin, where the parish church bore his name.

2--St. Murdoch, Bishop.

No very reliable particulars can be ascertained as to the life of this saint. Traces of the honour shown to him are to be found in Forfarshire, the district which seems to have been the scene of his missionary labours. At Ethie, in the parish of Inverkeilor, in that county, are the remains of an ancient church and burial-ground {129} which bear his name. Near Ethiebeaton, in the parish of Monifieth, are traces of an old church which goes by the name of "Chapel Dockie." This is believed to be another dedication in honour of St. Murdoch.

9--St. Queran or Kieran, Abbot, A.D. 548.

This saint was born in Ireland and became abbot of the monastery known as Clonmacnois. He passed over to Cornwall, and there laboured as a missionary for some years. Many churches in that district are known by his name, which appears there under the form of Piran.

The saint afterwards journeyed to Scotland, where he preached the Gospel in the western districts. He settled at Dalruadhain, near Campbeltown, and the cave to which he was accustomed to retire for prayer is still to be seen there. He died in A.D. 548. St. Kieran came to be regarded eventually as the patron saint of the whole of Kintyre. He became very popular in Scotland, on account of the great affection with which St. Columba regarded him. Every year his hermitage and {130} holy well were the resort of pilgrims who came to honour his memory. A rock near the sea shore is said to have been marked by the impress of his knees, from the frequency with which he would kneel there to pray with arms outstretched, looking towards his beloved Ireland.

Several churches in Scotland are dedicated to this saint. Besides a church in Campbeltown, others at Kilkerran in Kintyre, Kilcheran in Lismore, Kilkeran in Islay and Barvas in Lewis were named after him. Those of Strathmore in Caithness, Fetteresso and Glenbervie in Kincardineshire and Dalkerran in Ayrshire are dedicated to a saint of the same name, but whether it is this particular St. Kieran is disputed. There is a well of "St. Jargon" at Troqueer (Kirkcudbright), which is thought to be St. Kieran's.

15--St. Mirin. Bishop, 6th century.

Born in Ireland, he became a pupil of St. Comgall in the monastery of Bangor on Belfast Lough, where no less than three thousand monks are said to have resided together. In {131} the course of time Mirin was made Prior of the Abbey. No authentic record relates that he left Ireland to labour in Scotland; but Bangor, like Iona, was a great missionary centre, from which the brethren started to evangelise the various countries of Europe, and this fact lends credence to a tradition that St. Mirin came to Scotland. Paisley has always claimed the honour of possessing his remains, which became in after years an attraction to many pilgrims.

When in the twelfth century Walter Fitz-Alan founded a Benedictine abbey there, he placed it under the patronage of St. Mirin, jointly with Our Lady, St. James and St. Milburga, the patron of Wenlock, Shropshire, whence the first community came. Lights were burnt around St. Mirin's tomb for centuries, and a constant devotion was cherished towards him. The seal of the abbey bore his figure, with a scroll inscribed, "O Mirin, pray to Christ for thy servants." The chapel in which his remains repose is popularly known as "The Sounding Aisle," from its peculiar echo.

A fair was formerly held at Paisley on the {132} saint's feast-day and during the octave. Other churches in the south of Scotland were dedicated to him. In the parish of Kelton, in Kirkcudbright, are the remains of an ancient chapel and burial-ground known as "Kirk Mirren." On Inch Murryn (Mirin's Island), in Loch Lomond, are the ruins of his chapel. At Kilsyth, Stirlingshire, is "St. Mirin's Well." There are other traces of him at Coylton, in Ayrshire, where a farm is called "Knock Murran," and at Edzell, in Forfarshire, where there is the "Burn of Marran."

16--St. Ninian, Bishop. 5th century.

He was the first bishop residing in Scotland of whom there is any authentic record, and one of the earliest missionaries to the country. He was born about A.D. 360, in the district now known as Cumberland. His father was a converted British chieftain. Ninian had a strong desire to study the Faith at its fountain-head, and journeyed to Rome in his twenty-first year. The Pope of the time, St. Damasus, received him very cordially, and give him special teachers {133} to instruct him in the doctrines of the Church. After he had spent there fifteen years, Pope St. Siricius made him priest and bishop, and sent him to preach the Faith in his native country. Ninian settled in the district now called Galloway. The recollection of the churches he had seen in Rome awoke in him a desire to build one more worthy of God's worship than the simple edifices of that early age in these northern countries. By the help of his friend, St. Martin of Tours, he obtained Prankish masons for this purpose, and built the first stone church ever yet seen in Britain. It was called _Candida Casa_, or "White House" (still the designation in Latin of the See of Galloway). The point of land on which it stood became known as the "White Home," from which Whithorn derives its name.

Besides converting the people of his own neighbourhood, St. Ninian, by his zeal, brought into the Church the Southern Picts, who inhabited the old Roman province of Valentia, south of the Forth. He is therefore styled their Apostle. He was more than seventy when he died, and was laid to rest in the {134} church he had built and dedicated to St. Martin. Later on it was called after him and became illustrious for pilgrimages from England and Ireland, as well as from all parts of Scotland. So many churches in Scotland bore his name that the enumeration of them would be impossible here, while almost every important church had an altar dedicated to him. An altar of St. Ninian was endowed by the Scottish nation in the Carmelite Church at Bruges in Catholic ages. There is a portion of a fresco on the wall of Turriff Church, Aberdeenshire, which bears the figure of St. Ninian. The burgh of Nairn was placed under his patronage. Many holy wells bore his name: at Arbirlot, Arbroath, Mains and Menmuir (Forfarshire); Ashkirk (Selkirkshire); Alyth, Dull (Perthshire); Mayfield (Kirkcubrightshire); Sandwick (Orkney); Penninghame, Wigtown (Wigtownshire); Isle of Mull. That at Dull is said by a Protestant writer of 1845 to have been greatly frequented by invalids from far and near, on account of its reputed healing powers.

St. Ninian's fairs were held at Whithorn {135} (for four days), and also at Arbroath. The saint's feast, which had previously been long observed in the diocese of Galloway and at the Benedictine Abbey, Fort-Augustus, was extended to the whole Scottish Church by Leo XIII. in 1898.

St. Laisren. Abbot, A.D. 605.

He was a cousin of St. Columba. He ruled for some years the Abbey of Durrow in Ireland, and afterwards that of Iona, of which he was the third abbot.

20--St. Marthom.

A fair was held annually at Ordiquhill (Banffshire) for eight days from September 20, under the name of St. Marthom's fair. Nothing is known about the life of the saint.

22--St. Lolan, Bishop.

Many extraordinary miracles are related of this saint, but his real history is involved in obscurity.

The crozier and bell of St. Lolan were long preserved at Kincardine-on-Forth, Perthshire, {136} and were included in the feudal investitures of the earldom of Perth. They are alluded to in documents of the 12th century, and the mention of the bell occurs in one as late as 1675. Both relics have long disappeared.

23--St. Adamnan, Abbot, A.D. 704.

He was of Irish race, and belonged to the same family as St. Columba. In his 55th year he was elected Abbot of Iona. He is said to have been instrumental in obtaining the passing of "The Law of the Innocents" in the Irish National Assembly of Tara. This statute exempted the Irish women from serving on the battle field, which before that time they had been bound to do. In 701 St. Adamnan was sent on an embassy to his former pupil, Aldfrid, King of Northumbria, to seek reparation for injuries committed by that King's subjects in the Province of Meath. It was during this visit to England that he conformed to the Roman usage with regard to the time for keeping Easter, and he was afterwards successful in introducing the true practice into the Irish Church. His efforts in this respect were {137} not successful with his monks at Iona; though his earnest exhortations, and the unfailing charity which he exhibited towards those who differed from him, must have helped to dispose them to conform to the rest of the Church, which they did about twenty years after his death.

St. Adamnan is most renowned for his life of St. Columba, which has been called by a competent judge "the most complete piece of such biography that all Europe can boast of, not only at so early a period, but throughout the whole Middle Ages." He is also the author of a treatise on the Holy Land, valuable as being one of the earliest produced in Europe.

Though the saint died at Iona, his relics were carried to Ireland; but they must have been restored to Iona, as they were venerated there in 1520. He was one of the most popular of the Scottish saints, and many churches were named after him. The chief of these were at Aboyne and Forvie (parish of Slains) in Aberdeenshire; Abriachan in Inverness-shire; Forglen or Teunan Kirk in Banffshire; Tannadice in Forfarshire; Kileunan (parish of Kilkerran) {138} in Kintyre; Kinneff in Kincardineshire; the Island of Sanda; Dull, Grandtully and Blair Athole in Perthshire--the latter place was once known as _Kilmaveonaig_, from the quaint little chapel and burying ground of the saint. There were chapels in his honour at Campsie in Stirlingshire and Dalmeny in Linlithgow. At Aboyne are "Skeulan Tree" and "Skeulan Well," at Tannadice "St. Arnold's Seat," at Campsie "St. Adamnan's Acre," at Kinneff "St. Arnty's Cell." At Dull a fair was formerly held on his feast-day (old style); it was called _Feille Eonan_. Another fair at Blair Athole was known as _Feill Espic Eoin_ ("Bishop Eunan's Fair" though St. Adamnan was an abbot only); it has been abolished in modern times. His well is still to be seen in the Manse garden there, and down the glen a fissure in the rock is called "St. Ennan's Footmark." There was a "St. Adamnan's Croft" in Glenurquhart (Inverness-shire), but the site is no longer known.

Ardeonaig, near Loch Tay; Ben Eunaich, Dalmally; and Damsey (Adamnan's Isle) in Orkney, take their names from this saint. At {139} Firth-on-the-Spey, near Kingussie, is a very ancient bronze bell, long kept on a window-sill of the old church, and tradition relates that when moved from thence it produced a sound similar to the words, "Tom Eunan, Tom Eunan," until it was restored to its original resting-place in the church, which stands on the hill bearing that name. The tradition points to the dedication of the church to this saint. Few names have passed through such various transformations in the course of ages as that of Adamnan. It is met under the forms of Aunan, Arnty, Eunan, Ounan, Teunan (Saint-Eunan), Skeulan, Eonan, Ewen and even Arnold.

St. Adamnan's feast was restored by Pope Leo XIII. in 1898.

25--St. Barr or Finbar, Bishop, 6th century.

He was born in Connaught and was the founder of a celebrated monastery and school on an island in Lough Eirce (now known as Gougane-Barra), in County Cork, and to this house, says Colgan in his _Acta Sanctorum_, so {140} many came through zeal for a holy life that it changed a desert into a great city.

St. Finbar became the first Bishop of Cork, where he founded a monastery almost as famous as the former. St. Finbar, like so many Irish saints, made a pilgrimage to Rome. Missionary zeal led him later on to Scotland, and for some time he laboured in Kintyre.

Devotion to St. Barr was very great in Catholic Scotland, as numerous dedications attest. His churches are chiefly to be found on solitary islands, which seem to have had a special attraction for him. Thus in the parish of Kilkerran, Kintyre, is an island now known as Davar; it was formerly called St. Barre's Island. The island of Barra takes its name from him; traces of his _cultus_ lingered on there long after the Reformation. At Kilbar (sometimes called Shilbar), for example, an image of the saint, which was long preserved, used to be clothed with a linen robe on his feast-day in comparatively recent times. Other curious customs also prevailed in the island in connection with him; his holy well is there. St. Barr was the patron saint of the churches of {141} Dornoch, and of Eddleston (Peebles-shire); at both places a fair was annually held on his feast-day. In Ayrshire is the parish of Barr, and in Forfarshire that of Inch bare. At Midd Genie, in Tarbat, is Chapel Barre.

28--St. Machan or Mahon, Bishop, about 6th century.

St. Machan, born in Scotland, was like many of his contemporaries, sent to Ireland, then renowned for its schools, to be educated. After he had returned to his native land and had become a priest, he laboured in various provinces of Scotland.

At Rome, whither he had gone as a pilgrim, he was consecrated bishop in spite of protestations from his humility; later he returned to Scotland and to the apostolic ministry. After many years of fruitful labour he died and was laid to rest at Campsie in Lennox. His name still survives in Ecclesmachan (Church of Machan) in Linlithgow, of which he is patron. The parish of Dalserf, Lanarkshire, formed at one time the chapelry of St. Machan, and was known as Machanshire. It was connected {142} with the church of Cadzow (now Hamilton). An altar in St. Mungo's Cathedral, Glasgow, was dedicated to him. A fair in honour of this saint was held annually at Kilmahog, Perthshire.

OCTOBER

8--St. Triduana, Virgin, 7th or 8th century.

St. Triduana devoted herself to God in a solitary life at Rescobie in Angus (now Forfarshire). While dwelling there, a prince of the country having conceived an unlawful passion for her is said to have pursued her with his unwelcome attentions. To rid herself of his importunities, as a legend relates, Triduana bravely plucked out her beautiful eyes, her chief attraction, and sent them to her admirer. Her heroism, it is said, procured for her the power of curing diseases of the eyes. Many instances are related of such miracles worked after her death.

St. Triduana died at Restalrig in Lothian, and her tomb became a favourite place of {143} pilgrimage. Before the Reformation it was the most important of the holy shrines near Edinburgh. On account of this prominence her church was the very first to fall a victim to the fanatical zeal of the Puritans. After being honoured for a thousand years her relics were desecrated by the destruction of her shrine. The General Assembly, decreed on December 21, 1560, that "the Kirk of Restalrig, as a monument of idolatrie, be raysit and utterlie castin downe and destroyed." An interesting discovery was made in 1907 in connection with this church, which had long been used as a Presbyterian place of worship after restoration. An octagonal building, standing near, was thought to have been a Chapter House in Catholic times; it was filled with earth and rubbish, after having served as a burial place, and a mound of earth surmounted it on the outside on which trees had rooted. The Earl of Moray, superior of the village, offered to restore the church to its original state, and, when examined by competent authorities, the supposed Chapter House was found to be a beautiful little Gothic chapel with groined roof supported {144} by a central pillar, similar to the building which once covered St. Margaret's well at Restalrig. Further explorations proved that the little octagonal building had evidently been raised over the miraculous well of St. Triduana, so much scoffed at by Reformation satirists. Steps led down to the water, thus covered in, and a chapel, which must have formed an upper story above the well, is thought to have been the "Triduana's Aisle" alluded to in ancient documents. The building has now been thoroughly restored after its original form and is regarded as a valuable monument of antiquity. Thus do more enlightened ages condemn the foolish fanaticism of bygone days!

This saint was honoured in various parts of Scotland, and her name has undergone so many changes in the different districts as to be often unrecognisable. It occurs under the various forms of Traddles, Tredwell, Tradwell, Trallew, Trallen, etc.

Among these dedications are Kintradwell in Caithness and Trad lines in Forfarshire. Near the island of Papa Westray in the Orkneys is St. Tredwell's Loch, and on the east side of {145} the loch is a small peninsula containing the ruins of a little building measuring 20 feet in length and 22 feet in breadth, known as St. Tredwell's Chapel. At Rescobie a fair used to be held on her feast-day, but in the beginning of last century it was transferred to Forfar. It was known as "St. Trodlin's Fair." Relics of this saint were honoured in Aberdeen Cathedral in Catholic ages. Devotion to St. Triduana has been revived in the modern Catholic church at Restalrig.

11 St. Kenneth, Abbot, A.D. 599.