1--St. Marnock or Marnan, Bishop, A.D. 625.
Like so many of the Celtic saints, the name of this one has been
changed by the addition of particles expressive of reverence. The
original form was Ernin; the Scottish name is a contraction of the
Gaelic words _Mo-Ernin-og_ (my little Ernin). He is considered by
some writers to have been of Irish nationality, but this is by no
means established. St. Marnock laboured as a missionary in Moray,
being specially noted for his zeal in preaching. He died at
Aberchirder in Banffshire, and was buried in the church there. The
place after wards received the additional name of Marnock from its
connection with the saint. St. Marnock's shrine became a favourite
place of pilgrimage, and miracles were wrought through his relics,
which were religiously preserved there. The head of St. Marnock was
frequently borne in procession to obtain fair weather. It was the
custom also to have lights placed round it every Sunday and to wash
the relic with water, {33} which was afterwards used, greatly to
their benefit, by the sick. The Innes family, who chose the saint as
their patron, had a particular devotion to that relic.
Traces of the _cultus_ of St. Marnock are to be found in many
districts of Scotland. Besides the church in which his remains
were honoured, a holy well at Aberchirder still bears his name. A
fair on the second Tuesday in March, held there annually, was known
as Marnock Fair. There was a Marnock Fair at Paisley also, which
lasted for eight days. The church of the well-known parish of
Kilmarnock, in Ayrshire, is another of his dedications. Near
Kilfinan, in Argyllshire, and not far from the sea shore, may be
seen the foundation and a fragment of the wall of a chapel with a
graveyard round it; the field in which the chapel stands is called
Ard-Marnoc. On an eminence not far off is a cell which tradition
assigns to this saint as a place of retirement for solitary
communion with God. Inchmarnock, an island near Bute, is another
place connected with him; Dalmarnock at Little Dunkeld, is
named after this saint. Other churches and parishes also show {34}
traces of the honour paid to him in Catholic ages.
St. Monan, Martyr, 9th century.
According to some writers, he was one of the companions of St. Adrian
(who was honoured on March 4), and preached the Gospel in Fifeshire;
his relics being afterwards translated to Abercrombie in that
county--King David II., in thanksgiving for cures obtained through
the saint's intercession, erecting there a noble church to contain
them. Dr Skene, however, is of opinion that this saint was not a
martyr, but was St. Monan, Bishop of Clonfert, known in Irish
calendars as Moinenn, and that his relics were brought to Abercrombie
by Irish who had fled from the Danes then plundering and burning
Irish monasteries about the year 841. On account of the great
devotion of the saint, Abercrombie became generally known as St.
Monan's, but has now reverted to its original title. The church was
given by James III. to the Dominicans; later on it was transferred to
the Canons Regular of St. Andrews. St. Monan's Well is near the
ancient building. {35}
2--St. Fergna, Bishop, A.D. 622.
This saint, a fellow-citizen and relative of St. Columba, became
eventually Abbot of Iona. During his rule many of the young nobles
who had fled from the sword of the King of Deira took shelter in the
monastery. They were instructed and converted to the Christian Faith.
St. Fergna is said to have been made a bishop in the later years of
his life, but this is called in question by some writers. He seems to
have been of partly British descent and is often styled "Fergna the
Briton."
4--St. Adrian and Companions, A.D. 875.
An old legend, which was long regarded as authentic, relates that
this saint was of royal birth and was a native of Hungary, and that
he came to Scotland with several companions to preach the Faith.
Modern historians identify him with the Irish St. Odhran, who was
driven from his country by the Danes and took refuge in Scotland. He
preached the Gospel to the people of Fifeshire and the eastern
counties. Eventually he founded a monastery on the Isle of May in the
Firth of Forth. Here he suffered martyrdom, together {36} with a
great number of his disciples, in an incursion of the Danes. A Priory
was built on the island by David I, and placed under the Benedictine
Abbey of Reading. Later on it was given over to the Canons Regular
of St. Andrews. The Isle of May became a famous place of pilgrimage
on account of the connection with it of other saints besides St.
Adrian and his companions. James IV visited it several times, having
evidently a great affection for the holy place. In 1503 he took the
"clerkis of the Kingis chapell to Maii to sing the Mes thair." Other
records occur in his treasurer's accounts, such as the following: "To
the preistis to say thre trentals of Messis thair"; for "the Kingis
offerand in his tua candillis in Maii."
6--St. Baldred, Hermit, A.D. 608.
This saint, according to a popular tradition, was a disciple of the
great St. Kentigern. He has often been styled the Apostle of East
Lothian. After his master's death St. Baldred took up his residence
upon the Bass Rock, near North Berwick, and there he devoted himself
to penance and prayer, his favourite {37} subject of meditation being
the Passion of Christ Our Lord. From time to time he would pay
missionary visits to the mainland. He died at Aldhame in Haddington,
a village which has now disappeared; St. Baldred's Cave is on the
sea-shore near its former site. Tyningham Church, in the same county,
and also that of Prestonkirk, were dedicated to him. The former was
burnt by the Danes in 941. The old parishes of Aldhame and Tyningham
are now united under the designation of Whitekirk. At Prestonkirk
there is a well which bears the saint's name, whose water, as a
Protestant writer notes, is excellent for making tea! An eddy in the
Tyne is called St. Baldred's Whirl. A century ago Prestonkirk
churchyard possessed an ancient statue of St. Baldred. The ruins of a
chapel dedicated to the saint are still discernible on the Bass Rock.
St. Cadroe, Abbot, A.D. 937.
He was connected with the royal family of Strathclyde. In his youth
he was sent to Ireland to be educated at Armagh. Returning to
Scotland, he devoted himself to the training and education of youths
for the priesthood. {38}
Later on he gave himself to a life of pilgrimage and passed into
England, where Odo, Arch bishop of Canterbury, received him with
great kindness; he also visited the King, Edmund, at Winchester.
Crossing over to France, Cadroe, by the direction of St. Fursey, who
appeared to him in a vision during prayer, took the monastic habit at
the Benedictine Abbey of Fleury. But although he wished to remain
there as a simple monk, his sanctity caused him to be made abbot of
the monastery of Wassons-on-the Meuse, which he ruled for some years.
At the request of the Bishop of Metz he took up his residence in that
city in the Abbey of St. Clement, where he instituted a thorough
reform of discipline. He remained at the latter monastery till his
death at the age of seventy, which was followed by many miracles.
8--St. Duthac, Bishop, A.D. 1068.
This saint was of Scottish birth, but was educated, like many of his
contemporaries, in Ireland. Returning to his native land, he was
consecrated bishop, and devoted himself with zeal to the pastoral
office. He is said to have {39} especially shown this devotion in
hearing the confessions of his people. He laboured as bishop in the
districts of Moray and Ross. Both during life and after death he was
noted for many miracles. He was buried in the church of Tain, whose
Gaelic title is _Baile Dhuich_ (Duthac's Town). Seven years after
death his body was found incorrupt, and was removed to a more
honourable shrine in the same church. His resting-place became one of
the chief places of pilgrimage in the country. James IV. visited it
no less than three times, travelling thither with a large retinue. At
that date St. Duthac's Bell was treasured at Tain. St. Duthac is
patron of Kilduich, at the head of Loch Duich in Kintail. The saint
probably visited this spot, which belonged to his pastoral charge.
Kilduthie, near the Loch of Leys, Kincardineshire, and Arduthie, near
Stonehaven, in the same county, both take their names from this
saint. A chapel in the Benedictine Abbey of Arbroath bore the
dedication of St. Duthac. Two fairs called after him were held
annually at Tain--"St. Duthac in Lent" was on his feast-day; that in
{40} December probably indicated some translation of his relics. At
Tain is St. Duthac's Cairn. A holy well bears his name in the parish
of Cromarty. Leo XIII restored his feast in 1898.
10--St. Failhbe (the second), Abbot, A.D. 745.
This saint was one of the abbots of Iona. He ruled that monastery
for seven years, and died there at the age of seventy.
St. Kessog or Mackessog, Bishop and Martyr, A.D. 560.
He was a native of Ireland, but devoted himself to missionary
labours in Scotland, in the province of Lennox. He used as his
retreat _Innis a' Mhanaich_ (Monk's Island) in Loch Lomond. Tradition
says that he suffered martyrdom near Luss, in Dumbartonshire. Another
version is that being martyred in a foreign country, and his body
being conveyed to Scotland for burial, the herbs with which it was
surrounded took root and grew where he was laid to rest; hence the
name Luss (herbs) was given to the spot, and was afterwards extended
to the parish. The place of his burial is called "Carnmacheasaig."
The church of {41} Luss had the privilege of sanctuary, which
extended for three miles round it, so that no one could be molested
within that boundary for any cause; this was granted by King Robert
Bruce in 1313. The church of Auchterarder, Perthshire, was dedicated
to this saint, and he was also venerated at Callander; at both
places, as also at Comrie, Perthshire, fairs were held annually on
his feast-day. Near Callander is a conical mound bearing his name.
The bell of the saint was preserved up to the seventeenth century. At
Inverness is "Kessog Ferry." The saint's name was often used by the
Scots as a battle-cry, and he is sometimes represented as the patron
of soldiers, wearing a kind of military dress.
11--St. Constantine, King and Martyr, A.D. 590.
This saint was a British king who reigned in Cornwall. His early life
was stained by many crimes, but, becoming converted to piety, after
his wife's death he entered the monastery of Menevia, now known as
St. David's, that he might expiate his sins by penance. St.
Kentigern, then an exile in that same monastery, exhorted {42} him to
devote himself to preaching the Faith in Cumbria. St. Constantine
accordingly founded a monastery at Govan, in Lanarkshire, where he
became abbot, and from whence he and his disciples preached
Christianity to the people of the surrounding country. He converted
the people of Cantyre, and met his death in that district at the
hands of the enemies of his teaching. He was buried at Govan, where
the church bears his name. Kilchousland in Cantyre takes its name
from him. The ancient church of Kinnoul, near Perth, and that of
Dunnichen, Forfarshire, were also dedicated to this saint; at the
latter place was St. Cousland's (or Causnan's) Fair, and some remains
of St. Cousland's chapel are there still. The water of his well at
Garrabost, in Lewis, known as St. Cowstan's, is said never to boil
any kind of meat, however long it may be kept over a fire. The feast
of this saint was restored by Leo XIII.
St. Libranus, Abbot.