12--St. Indrecht, Abbot and Martyr, A.D. 854.
This saint was also Abbot of Iona, being the twenty-first in order
of succession. On his way to Rome he was martyred by the Saxons.
St. Fechno, or Fiachna, Confessor, A.D. 580.
He was one of the twelve disciples who accompanied St. Columba to
Scotland. He was probably born in the north of Ireland, and spent
some years under St. Columba's rule. Miracles are said to have been
wrought at his tomb.
16--St. Finan, Abbot, A.D. (about) 575.
This saint, surnamed "The Leper," from the disease with which he was
afflicted, is mentioned in Irish calendars on the 16th of this
month. Although the dedications to St. Finan in Scotland are many,
and devotion to him must therefore have been widespread, it is
difficult to assign a cause for it. Some have thought that he was at
some time at Iona, but the authentic particulars of his life which
are now extant are so few that it is impossible to determine. To him
is attributed the evangelisation of part of Argyllshire, in the
district which still bears {44} the name of Glen-Finan. The ancient
burial-place of the district is on _Eilean Finan_, an island in Loch
Shiel, where he is said to have lived, and where is preserved one of
the few ancient bronze bells which still exist in Scot land; it is
called by the saint's name. A fair was formerly held there annually,
and was called "St. Finan's Fair." Other dedications to this saint
are at Kilfinan in the same county Kilfinan, near Invergarry, and
Mochrum in Wigtonshire. "St. Finzean's Fair" (a manner of denoting
Finyan), formerly held at Perth, is supposed to have been in honour
of the festival of this saint.
St. Charmaig, A.D. (about) 640.
This was a saint much honoured among the Hebrides. He is patron of
the church of Keills, Argyllshire. At Ellanmore, in that county,
there are the remains of a chapel, named after him, Kilmacharmaig,
and in a recess is a recumbent figure thought to be a representation
of the saint. Kirkcormaig, in the parish of Kelton, Kirkcudbright,
possibly refers to this saint. {45}
St. Boniface or Curitan, Bishop, 8th century.
An ancient legend, which modern historians have shown to be a
fanciful distortion of facts, relates that this saint, an Israelite,
came from Rome to Britain, and that after converting Nectan, King of
the Picts, and his people to Christianity, he consecrated 150
bishops, ordained 1000 priests, founded 150 churches, and baptised
36,000 persons. The real facts of the case seem to be that this saint
is identical with Curitan, an Irish saint, who laboured in Scotland
to bring about the Roman observance of Easter. The testimony of St.
Bede that King Nectan in the year 710 adopted the Roman computation,
and the fact that St. Boniface was zealous in founding churches in
honour of St. Peter, the Prince of the Apostles, thus identifying
himself with special devotion to Rome, seem to give weight to the
supposition. This saint became a bishop, and the cathedral of the
diocese of Ross, which replaced the primitive building raised by him
at Rosemarkie (now Fortrose) and dedicated to St. Peter, was
subsequently named in his honour. A fair was formerly held there
annually on his feast-day. {46}
In Glen-Urquhart, Inverness-shire, _Clach Churadain_, an ancient
church at Corrimony, was dedicated to this saint. _Croit Churadain_
("Curitan's Croft") and _Tobar Churadain_ ("Curitan's Well") are hard
by.
17--St. Patrick, Bishop, A.D. 493.
To many it may seem strange that the name of the great Apostle of
Ireland should appear among Scottish saints; but the calendar would
be incomplete without it. According to many competent authorities St.
Patrick was born in Scotland. They fix his birthplace at Kilpatrick
on the Clyde, near Dumbarton. Even were this theory rejected, and
that one accepted which makes him a native of Gaul, still the number
of churches dedicated to the saint in Scotland, testifying to the
devotion in which he was held in Catholic ages, would justify the
mention of his feast here. About fourteen churches bore his name, and
many have given the designation to the parish in which they stand, as
Kilpatrick, Temple-Patrick, Ard-Patrick, Dalpatrick, Kirkpatrick,
etc. Fairs were held on this day--known as "Patrickmas"--at Dumbarton
and Kirkpatrick--Durham {47} (Kirkcudbrightshire). There is a sacred
well called by the saint's name, and also a small chapel in honour of
St. Patrick, at Muthill, Perthshire, and so highly was he esteemed in
that place that a general holiday from labour was observed on his
feast up to the beginning of last century. At Dalziel (Lanarkshire),
Kilpatrick (Dumbartonshire), and Port Patrick (Wigtonshire), are holy
wells bearing St. Patrick's name.
18--St. Finian or Finan, Bishop, A.D. 660.
This feast is noted both in the Breviary and Martyrology of Aberdeen,
as well as in other Scottish calendars. There is a wide divergence of
opinion among authorities as to the particular saint referred to, and
the Aberdeen Breviary affords no account of his life. It seems,
however, not improbable that this is the St. Finan, patron of the
churches of Migvie and Lumphanan, both in Aberdeenshire, who is
thought by Dr. Skene to have been one of St. Kentigern's Welsh
disciples, sent, together with St. Nidan (see Nov. 3), to preach the
Gospel in Deeside. "In the upper valley of the Dee, on the north side
of the river, we find a group of {48} dedications which must have
proceeded from a Welsh source. These are Glengairden, dedicated to
Mungo, Migvie and Lumphanan to Finan, the latter name being a
corruption of Llanffinan, and Midmar dedicated to Nidan; while in the
island of Anglesea we likewise find two adjacent parishes called
Llanffinan and Llannidan." ("Celtic Scotland," ii., 193.)
A chapel at Abersnethick in the parish of Monymusk bears the name of
St. Finan, and an Aberdeen authority notes in 1703 that: "Finzean
Fair at the kirk of Migvie "was kept at that time," whiles in March
and whiles in April, on the Tuesday before Midlenton fair at
Banchrie."
St. Comman, A.D. 688.
He was the brother of St. Cumine, Abbot of Iona, and therefore of
Irish descent. Like him, too, he became a monk at Iona. The parish
of Kilchoman, Islay, takes its name from this saint.
20--St. Cuthbert, Bishop, A.D. 687.
This saint was born of Saxon parents in Northumbria, and was early
left an orphan. {49} While tending sheep on the slopes of Lammermoor
the youth had a remarkable vision, in which he saw the heavens at
night-time all bright with supernatural splendour and choirs of
angels bearing some soul of dazzling brightness to its eternal
reward. Next day he learned that Aidan, the holy Bishop of
Lindisfarne, had passed away. Cuthbert had often before thought of
embracing the monastic state, and this vision of the blessedness of
one who was a brilliant example of that way of life decided him. He
therefore presented himself at the gates of the monastery of Melrose,
being probably in his twenty-fourth year. He was received as a
novice by St. Boisil, the Prior, who, on first beholding the youth,
said to those who stood near: "Behold a true servant of the Lord," a
prediction abundantly fulfilled in Cuthbert's life.
For ten years the saint remained hidden at Melrose perfecting himself
by the routine of monastic observance. Then on the foundation of
Ripon he was sent there as one of the first community. After a short
stay he returned to Melrose, and on the death of St. Boisil was {50}
made Prior. To the greatest zeal for all that concerned monastic life
he added a tender charity for the souls of others, which led him to
make many missionary excursions into the surrounding territory.
When Abbot Eata in 664 received the charge of the Abbey of
Lindisfarne in addition to Melrose, Cuthbert was sent thither as
Prior. For twelve years he was a teacher to his community, both by
word and example, of the precepts of the perfect life. Then, desiring
more strict seclusion, he retired to a solitary cell on Fame Island,
that he might give himself more completely to prayer. Here he lived
eight years, visited on great feasts by some of the Lindisfarne
monks, and at frequent intervals by pious Christians who sought his
direction and intercession.
Having been thus prepared, like St. John Baptist in his desert, for
the work God had in store for him, he was chosen Bishop of
Lindisfarne. During the two years he exercised this office he was to
his flock a model of every virtue, and a pastor full of zeal and
charity. He preserved, notwithstanding his high dignity, {51} the
humility of heart and simplicity of garb which belonged to his
monastic state. Numerous and striking miracles attested his sanctity.
Foreseeing his approaching end he retired to his little cell at Fame
where he passed away, strengthened by the Sacraments, with his hands
uplifted in prayer. He was buried at Lindisfarne; but incursions of
the Danes necessitated the removal of his remains, and for nearly two
hundred years his body was conveyed from place to place till it was
eventually laid to rest in the Cathedral of Durham. There it became
an object of pious pilgrimage from all the three kingdoms. More than
800 years after death the sacred body was found still incorrupt, and
there, in a secure hiding-place, it still awaits the restoration of
St. Cuthbert's shrine to its rightful custodians, the sons of St.
Benedict, the guardians of the secret. Among the churches dedicated
to St. Cuthbert in Scotland were those at Ballantrae, Hailes, Ednam,
Glencairn, Kirkcudbright, Drummelzier, Gienholm (Broughton), Malton,
Edinburgh, Prestwick, Eccles, Drysdale, Girvan, Maybole, Mauchline,
Weem, and even distant Wick. Besides Kirkcudbright (Church {52} of
St. Cuthbert), which gives the name to a whole county, Northumbria is
studded with churches built in his honour, which recall the
resting-places of his body, and witness to the devotion inspired by
those sacred remains to this great saint. Fairs were formerly held on
his feast-day at Ruthwell (Dumfries-shire), and Ordiquhill
(Banffshire)--both for eight days--and probably in other localities
also. His holy wells were at St. Boswell's and in Strathtay
(Perthshire).
22--St. Finian, Wynnin, or Frigidian, Bishop, A.D. 579.
In this saint we have a remarkable instance of a change of name in
accordance with the character of the language spoken in the various
countries in which he successively lived. Born in Ireland of the
royal line of the Kings of Ulster, St. Finian was sent early in the
sixth century to be educated at Candida Casa or Whithorn, where a
famous school of learning and sanctity had grown up round the tomb of
St. Ninian. Returning to his native land, Finian, by the fame of his
wonderful erudition, attracted to him numerous disciples in his {53}
monastery at Moville. Here, among others, was trained the youth who
became in after years the great St. Columba--the Apostle of the north
of Scotland.
After a pilgrimage to Rome whence here turned with a copy of the
Sacred Scriptures--a volume rare and precious in those early
times--Finian again journeyed into Italy and came to the city of
Lucca, where his holiness procured him such regard from the people
that they succeeded in obtaining his consecration as bishop of that
city. It was during his residence there that the wonderful miracle
occurred which St. Gregory the Great, who calls the saint "a man of
rare virtue," relates in his book of Dialogues. This was the turning
of the channel of the river Serchio, which had previously given much
trouble to the citizens by overflowing its banks and spoiling
orchards and vineyards round about. The saint after prayer made a new
channel with a small rake, and commanded the river to flow in that
direction for the future, which it did. He is known in Italy as St.
Frigidian.
At one time in his life this saint dwelt in the {54} Cunningham
district of Ayrshire, where his name survives in the Abbey of
Kilwinning (Church of Wynnin or Finian). He is said to have come
there from Ireland with a few companions and to have established
monastic life in that place, which was afterwards the site of a
famous Benedictine Abbey. A like miracle is related of him here. He
is said to have changed the course of the river Garnoch. He seems to
have preached the Faith at Dairy, in Ayrshire, also; for a hill hard
by is called Caer-winning, and there, as at Kilwinning, is a holy
well bearing the saint's name. An annual fair, still known as "St.
Wynnin," is held at Kilwinning.
The saint departed this life at Lucca, where his body is venerated in
the church of St. Frigidian. His feast occurs in March in some
calendars, and in others in September. By some writers the names of
Finian, Wynnin, and Frigidian have been considered as representing
distinct persons; but modern research has pronounced them to be
merely different forms of the same name and to refer to the same
saint. {55}
30--St. Olaf or Olave, King and Martyr, A.D. 1030.
He was the son of Harald, King of Norway, and became a Christian at
an early age. Exiled from his country after his father's death by
powerful enemies, he spent many years of his life in piratical
warfare. Having embraced the Christian Faith himself, he resolved to
deliver his country from the usurping power of the Swedes and Danes,
and establish the Christian religion, together with his own lawful
sovereignty. Success crowned his efforts, and he was enabled to
release his people not only from foreign domination but also from the
thralls of paganism, many of them embracing Christianity. His
enemies, however, proved too strong for him, and he was again exiled
and took refuge in Russia. Returning soon after, he raised an army to
recover his kingdom, but was slain by his infidel and rebellious
subjects in a battle at Drontheim.
A just and brave ruler, zealous for the Christian religion, though
not altogether free from grievous offences against its laws, Olaf, by
his unswerving faith, his devotion and penance, {56} won the title of
saint and martyr. He was buried at Drontheim, and a magnificent
cathedral arose over his remains. His body was found incorrupt in
1098, and again in 1541 when the shrine was plundered by the
Lutherans. On that occasion the heretics treated the body with
respect, and it was afterwards re-interred. Many miracles have
attested his sanctity.
St. Olaf's efforts for the spread of the Gospel in the Orkneys, which
at that time belonged to Norway, were doubtless the cause of the
devotion which was shown to him in Scotland. Many traces of its
existence are to be found in the dedications to him. In Orkney was
anciently St. Ollow's parish; it is now comprised in that of
Kirkwall. In the latter town is St. Ollowe's Bridge. South-west of
Girlsta, in Shetland, is Whiteness, where once stood the Church of
St. Olla. He was honoured at Grease in the Island of Lewis. Kirk of
Cruden (Aberdeenshire), where St. Ole's Fair was held annually, was
dedicated to him. The remains of the saint's ancient chapel, said to
have been founded there by Canute, were used for road metal in 1837.
St. Olla's Fair, at Kirkwall, {57} lasting for fourteen days, is
described in Scott's _Pirate_. In St. Salvator's College, St.
Andrews, was an altar to this saint. St. Olaf appears in the
Martyrology on July 29th, when his feast was kept in Norway and all
Scandinavian countries. In Scotland, however, he was honoured on this
day.