1--St. Ernan, Abbot, A.D. 640.
The Saint whose feast is celebrated on this day was a disciple of
the great St. Columba, and is said by Colgan, the renowned Irish
scholar, to have been his nephew. What connection the saint had
with Scotland is not clear. He may have laboured for a time there
under St. Columba, but he became Abbot of Drumhome in Donegal. On
the night St. Columba went to his reward, as we are told by that
saint's biographer, St. Adamnan, Ernan was favoured with a vision
in which the saint's death was revealed to him. St. Ernan died in
his Irish monastery at an advanced age in the year 640. The church
of Killernan, in Ross-shire, is named after him. Another dedication
to this saint is thought by some to be Kilviceuen in Mull.
4--St. Chroman or Ghronan, A.D. 641.
On account of the destruction of so many ecclesiastical records at
the Reformation, many {2} particulars regarding some of our
Scottish saints have been irrevocably lost. This is the case with
the holy man before us. All that we know of him may be told in a
few words. He lived in the Cunningham district of Ayrshire, where
he was revered during life and venerated after death for his great
sanctity. On his deathbed we are told he kept continually repeating
those words of the 83rd Psalm, "My soul longeth and fainteth for
the courts of the Lord. My heart and my flesh have rejoiced in the
Living God."
7--St. Kentigerna, Recluse, A.D. 733.
Like so many holy souls whose lives drew down the grace of Heaven
upon the land, St. Kentigerna was of Irish race. Her brother, St.
Comgan, succeeded their father, a prince of Leinster, in the
government of his territory. Meeting with violent opposition from
the neighbouring princes, on account of his just and upright
Christian rule, St. Comgan was obliged to fly the country, and
together with his widowed sister, who had been married to an Irish
prince, took refuge in Scotland. St. Comgan devoted himself to
monastic life, and {3} Kentigerna retired to an island in Loch
Lomond to live as an anchoress. Here in her solitary cell, on the
hilly, wooded isle which is now called in memory of her _Innis na
Caillich_ (the Nun's Island), she spent many years of the remainder
of her life. The island became the seat of the old parish church of
Buchanan, which was dedicated to her, and in the graveyard, which
is still in use, are many tombs of the chiefs and illustrious men
of the clan MacGregor. The church has been long in ruins. St.
Kentigerna died in 733. Her feast is to be found in the Aberdeen
Breviary.
11--St. Suibhne (Sweeney), Abbot, A.D. 656.
This saint was an Abbot of Iona who died in the odour of sanctity
when he had been Superior of that monastery for about three years.
14--St. Kentigern or Mungo, Bishop, A.D. 603 or 612.
The ancient kingdom of Cumbria or Strathclyde extended from the
Clyde to the Derwent in Cumberland. It had been evangelised by St.
Ninian, but, in the course of two centuries, through constant
warfare and strife, the Faith {4} had almost disappeared when, in
the middle of the sixth century, St. Kentigern was raised up to be
its new apostle. The saint came of a royal race, and was born about
A.D. 518. He was brought up from childhood by a holy hermit of
Culross called Serf, who out of the love he bore the boy changed
his name of Kentigern (signifying "lord and master") to that of
Mungo (the well beloved). It is under the latter name that he is
best known in Scotland. It should be noted, however, that the
benefactor of the young Kentigern, though possibly bearing the same
name, cannot be identified with the well-known St. Serf of Culross,
who, according to modern historians, must have flourished in a
later century. At the completion of his education Kentigern fixed
his abode at Cathures, now known as Glasgow, and was joined by many
disciples, who lived under his rule in a kind of monastic
discipline. His holy life caused him to be raised--much against his
will--to the episcopal state. He fixed upon Glasgow for his see,
and ruled his flock with all the ardour and holiness of an apostle.
Simple and mortified in life, he abstained entirely from {5} wine
and flesh, and often passed two days without food. He wore
haircloth next his skin, slept on a stone, and often rose in the
night to praise God. Throughout his life he preserved the purity of
his baptismal innocence. His pastoral staff was of simple wood. He
always wore his priestly stole, to be ready to perform the
functions of his sacred office.
Driven from Glasgow by the enmity of a wicked king, the saint took
refuge with St. David in South Wales. He subsequently founded the
monastery known afterwards, from the disciple who succeeded him in
its government, as St. Asaph's, and here more than nine hundred
monks are said to have lived under his rule. Later on he was
recalled to Glasgow, and after a life of apostolic zeal he received
through an angel, on the Octave of the Epiphany, his summons to
eternal life. Fortifying himself by the Sacraments, and exhorting
his disciples to charity and peace and constant obedience to the
Holy Catholic Church, their mother, he breathed his last, being at
least 85 years old. His saintly body was laid to rest where the
magnificent under-croft of St. Mungo's Cathedral, {6} Glasgow, was
raised to his honour in after ages.
Many old churches in Scotland bear the dedication of St. Mungo; the
chief of these is Lanark parish church. There is a parish bearing
his name in Dumfries-shire, and many holy wells are called after
him; one of these is in Glasgow Cathedral, others are in the
precincts of Glasgow, and at Huntly, Peebles, Ayr, Dumfries,
Glengairn (Aberdeenshire), also at Currie, Penicuik and Mid-Calder,
near Edinburgh. There is also St. Mungo's Isle in Loch Leven.
Besides these Scottish dedications, there are seven churches
in Cumberland which bear his name. It is noteworthy that all
of them bear the more popular title of Mungo. Within about six
miles of Carmarthen, in Wales, is the ancient parish church of
Llangendeirne--"Church of Kentigern"; this is one instance, at
least, of a dedication to the saint under his real name, and maybe
the only one. There were formerly two fairs of St. Mungo kept in
Alloa each year, where the church was dedicated to this saint. St.
Kentigern is said to have made no less than seven pilgrimages to
Rome in the course of his life. {7} His feast, which had long been
celebrated by the Benedictines of Fort-Augustus and the Passionists
of Glasgow, was extended to the whole of Scotland by Leo XIII in
1898. As he died on the Octave of the Epiphany, the feast is kept
on the following day, January 14.
19--St. Blaithmaic, Martyr, 8th or 9th century.
This saint was of princely birth, and a native of Ireland. In early
youth he renounced all the attractions of wealth and honour and
entered a monastery. Here for his many virtues he was chosen abbot,
and ruled his flock with wisdom and prudence. But from his youth he
had longed for martyrdom, and though he had often begged leave from
his superiors to preach the Faith to unbelievers, he could never
obtain it. Being at Iona, where he had entered the community as a
simple monk on renouncing his charge in Ireland, he announced one
day to the brethren in the spirit of prophecy that an irruption of
pagan Danes was about to take place. He exhorted those who felt
themselves too weak for martyrdom to seek safety in flight. They
concealed the shrine of St. Columba's {8} relics, and many of the
monks betook themselves to the mainland.
Next morning, while Blaithmaic was at the altar, having just
offered the Holy Sacrifice, the pagans rushed upon him and the few
companions who remained, and slaughtered all except Blaithmaic.
They offered him life and liberty if he would show them the shrine
of St. Columba with its treasure of gold and gems. But the intrepid
martyr refused to betray his trust and was hewn down at the altar.
He was buried at Iona on the return of the monks from their place
of safety. There is some doubt about the date of his death, some
writers place it as late as A.D. 828.
20--St. Vigean or Fechin, Hermit, A.D. 664.
The parish of St. Vigean's, Forfarshire, derives its name from this
saint, who though called Vigean in Scotland, is no other than the
Irish abbot Fechin. He ruled three hundred monks at Fore, in
Westmeath. It is not easy to determine his precise connection with
Scotland, though from the remains which bear his name it would
appear that he spent some time in the country. A hermitage at
Conan, near Arbroath, {9} is pointed out as his residence, and the
foundations of a small chapel may still be traced. Near them is a
spring known as St. Vigean's Well. A fair called by his name was
held at Arbroath on this day up to the eighteenth century.
Ecclefechan known in Middle Age charters as _Ecclesia Sancti
Fechani_ (Church of St. Fechan) takes its name from the same saint.
It has acquired celebrity in later times as the birthplace of Thomas
Carlyle. St. Fechin was buried in the Monastery of Fore.
25--St. Euchadius, Monk, A.D. 597.
This saint was one of the twelve disciples who accompanied St.
Columba from Ireland and settled with him upon the island of Iona.
He was one of the saint's helpers in the conversion of the Northern
Picts. He is said to have written the Acts of St. Columba. It seems
probable that St. Euchadius laboured at one time in Galloway, as he
received special veneration in that district. This may have been
due, however, to relics of the saint preserved there in Catholic
ages. {10}
26--St. Conan, Bishop, A.D. 648.
He was born in Ireland, and is said to have passed over to Iona to
join the community there, in which his virtues and talents placed
him high in the estimation of the monks. He was characterised by a
special devotion to the Mother of God, which won for him a singular
purity of soul. He was made tutor to the three sons of Eugenius IV,
King of Scotland, and brought them up carefully and wisely. Later
on he became a Bishop. St. Conan was greatly honoured in Scotland.
His name survives at Kilconan, in Fortingal, Perthshire, and at St.
Conan's Well, near Dalmally, Argyleshire. St. Conan's Fair is held
at Glenorchy, Perthshire, but this seems to relate to another saint
of like name, as its date is the third Wednesday in March and our
saint was venerated on January 26th, as the best authorities
testify.
28--St. Nathalan or Nauchlan, Bishop, A.D. 678.
This saint was born of a noble Scottish family at Tullich,
Aberdeenshire. From his youth he was distinguished for great piety,
and spent {11} much of his time in manual labour in the fields as a
voluntary mortification and a means of subduing the passions. Many
miracles are related of him. It is said that having given away all
his corn in time of famine, he caused the fields to be sown with
sand for lack of grain, and was rewarded by a plentiful harvest.
Having given way to murmuring in a moment of impatience he imposed
upon himself the penance of making a pilgrimage to Rome, wearing on
his leg a heavy chain; this he fastened by a padlock and threw the
key into the Dee at a place now known as "The Pool of the Key." He
is said to have bought a fish for food in Rome and to have found
the key in its stomach; this he took for a supernatural intimation
to discontinue his self-inflicted mortification.
Being made bishop by the Pope, he returned to his native land as an
apostle of the Faith. He built in Deeside several churches at his
own expense; one of these was at his native place, Tullich, where a
huge slab of granite, sculptured with an antique cross, forms the
top lintel of one of the doors of the ancient church, and is
thought to have been a portion {12} of the saint's tomb. St.
Nathalan is said to have visited Ireland, and to have founded the
monastery of Dungiven in Ulster. He died at a very advanced age at
Tullich, on January 8th, 678. He became the patron saint of
Deeside, and traces of his _cultus_ still remain in that district.
Long after Protestants had lost sight of the reason for it, an
annual holiday was held on his feast day, no work being allowed to
be done. A market was formerly held at Old Meldrum on or near this
day, called "St. Nathalan's Fair," and another at Cowie,
Kincardineshire. The ancient name of Meldrum was Bothelney, a
corruption of Bothnethalen, which signifies "habitation of
Nathalan." Near the ruins of the old church is still to be seen
"Nauchlan's Well." A quaint local rhyme preserves his memory at
Cowie:
"Atween the kirk and the kirk ford
There lies St. Nauchlan's hoard."
The feast of St. Nathalan was restored by Leo XIII.
29--St. Voloc or Macwoloc, Bishop. 5th or 6th century.
This saint is considered by some to have been of Irish race as his
name is possibly identical {13} with the Irish name Faelchu. He is
said by the Aberdeen Breviary to have left his native land to
spread the Roman Faith in Scotland, where he was raised to the
episcopal rank. He voluntarily took upon himself a life of great
austerity to satisfy for his own sins and those of others. His
evangelical labours were devoted to the northern parts of the
country chiefly. He lived in a little house woven of reeds and
wattles, for his attraction was towards everything poor and humble.
His simple and holy life and the miracles he worked had an immense
influence in spreading the light of faith amongst the ignorant and
half-barbarous people to whose welfare he had devoted himself, and
many were converted to the Truth.
He is said to have died in extreme old age; angels standing round
his death-bed. The old churches of Dunmeth and Logie Mar in
Aberdeenshire were dedicated to this saint. The former parish is
now included in that of Glass. Two miles below Beldorny in that
parish are St. Wallach's Baths and a ruined chapel called Wallach's
Kirk, while in the neighbourhood of the latter is St. Wallach's
Well, which up to {14} recent times was a recognised place of
pilgrim age. An annual fair was formerly held in his honour at
Logie; it is commemorated in a provincial rhyme:
"Wala-fair in Logic Mar
The thirtieth day of Januar."
30--St. Glascian or Maglastian, Bishop.
Scottish calendars give short notices of this saint, who is said to
have been an illustrious and saintly bishop during the reign of
King Achaius, a Scottish king contemporaneous with Charlemagne.
Very few particulars can be ascertained as to his life. All that is
at present known of him is gathered from the traces of his _cultus_
which remain in various districts of the country. Thus the parish
of Kinglassie, near Kirkcaldy, seems to have been named after him,
and in the neighbourhood is a spring of fine water known as St.
Glass's Well. There is another well named after him at Dundrennan
(Kirkcudbrightshire). Kilmaglas, now known as Stachur, in
Argyleshire, indicates another dedication to this saint. His feast
is noted in the Breviary of Aberdeen on this day. {15}
31--St. Adamnan of Coldingham, A.D. (about) 686.
In the monastery of Coldingham, over which St. Ebba presided, was a
monk of great sanctity and austerity named Adamnan. It is not
certain whether he was a native of Scotland or not. In his youth
Adamnan had led a life of great licentiousness, and being converted
by the grace of God from his evil ways was moved with a desire to
do penance for his sins. Accordingly he sought the counsel of a
certain Irish priest, to whom he made a general confession and
confided his desire of entering upon a penitential life. So deep
was his sorrow that he expressed himself ready to accept any
penance his director might impose, even to spending whole nights in
prayer, or fasting for a week continuously. The priest having
imposed upon him the penance of taking food twice only in a week
until he should see him again, departed into Ireland, and died
there before Adamnan was able to consult him a second time. Taking
this as a sign of God's Will that he was to persevere in his heroic
course of penance, Adamnan resolved to continue to the end the hard
life begun by the counsel of the Irish priest. Having become {16} a
monk at Coldingham after his conversion, he lived there for many
years, and was made one of the priests of the monastery. He died in
the odour of sanctity after being favoured with the gift of
prophecy.
St. Mittan.
All that is known of this saint is that a fair, called after him,
was held formerly at Kilmadock in Perthshire, on January 31st.,
which must consequently have been his feast day.