3--St. Malachy, Archbishop, A.D. 1148.
Among the Irish saints who benefited Scotland, the illustrious
contemporary and dear friend of his biographer, St. Bernard, must not
be omitted. St. Malachy, Archbishop of Armagh, twice visited
Scotland. On his return from one of his visits to Rome, he stayed
with King David I., and by his prayers restored to life the monarch's
son, Prince Henry, who was in danger of death. During this visit, St.
Malachy erected an oratory of wattles and clay on the sea-shore near
Port Patrick. St. Bernard relates that the saint not only directed
the work but laboured with his own hands in its construction. He
blessed the cemetery adjoining, which was arranged according to Irish
usage, within a deep fosse. The second visit to Scotland was shortly
before St. Malachy {158} set out on that last journey to the
continent from which he never returned, dying on November 2nd, 1148,
in St. Bernard's own Abbey of Clairvaux. He had set his heart on
founding a monastery in Scotland at a place called _Viride Stagnum_,
"The Green Lake," situated about three miles from the present town of
Stranraer. There he marked out the boundaries, and established a
community brought from one of his Irish houses. St. Bernard alludes
to a monastery in Scotland as the last founded by St. Malachy, and
this is undoubtedly the one referred to. Later on, this monastery,
which acquired the name of Soulseat (_Sedes Animarum_), was peopled
by Premonstratensian Canons, brought from St. Norbert's own house of
Premontre. It became known in after ages as Saulseat.
St. Nidan, Bishop, about the 6th century.
He was one of the Welsh disciples of St. Kentigern, and probably
accompanied him on his return to Scotland (see pp. 47-8). He is said
to have evangelised the part of Deeside round Midmar, of which he was
the patron. {159}
St. Englatius, Abbot, A.D. 996.
This saint, whose feast-day appears in the calendar of the Aberdeen
Breviary, is associated with the parish of Tarves in Aberdeenshire,
where he is known by the name of Tanglan. There is a "Tanglan's
Well" in the village, and a "Tanglan's" Ford on the river Ythan.
St. Baya or Vey, Virgin, about the 9th century.
She is said to have inhabited the island of Little Cumbrae, where she
lived in solitude surrounded by birds and beasts. The ruins of an
ancient chapel, called that of St. Vey, are still to be seen, and the
saint is believed to have been buried there. Tradition tells us, in
proof of her love of solitude, that when the Rector of Dunbar
attempted to carry off St. Baya's relics, a furious storm arose
through the saint's intervention, and compelled him to desist. Kilbag
Head in Lewis is probably named after a church dedicated to this
saint.
St. Maura, Virgin, about the 9th century.
This saint was a friend of St. Baya, and used to visit her upon her
island for spiritual converse. {160} She is said to have governed a
very austere community of virgins consecrated to God. She died at
Kilmaura (Church of Maura) in Ayrshire.
6--St. Methven.
There are no particulars extant concerning the life of this saint,
and it is therefore impossible to determine the time in which he
flourished. A church bearing the name of St. Methven formerly stood
in the parish of Fowlis Wester, in Perthshire. A fair used to be
held there on this day in each year, locally known as St. Methvenmas
Market. The day itself was observed as a holiday. Like most of such
remains of Catholic merry-makings, the custom has long disappeared.
8--St. Moroc, Bishop.
Some writers maintain that this saint was formerly Abbot of Dunkeld.
His name certainly survives in that neighbourhood in Kilmorick,
where a spring is called St. Mureach's Well. Another church named
after this saint was at Lecropt, near Stirling, and here his {161}
body is said by tradition to have been laid to rest. Kilimrack
(Beauly) has been sometimes ascribed to this saint, but the more
reliable authorities give it as one of Our Lady's dedications. The
period in which St. Moroc flourished is not known with any degree
of certainty.
St. Gervadsus or Gernadius, Hermit, A.D. 934,
This saint was of Irish nationality. Longing for a life of entire
seclusion from the world, he left his native land and took up his
residence in Scotland. He is said to have lived many years as a
hermit in the province of Moray, and in corroboration of the
tradition a cave was formerly pointed out in the parish of Drainie,
near Elgin, known as "Gerardin's Cave," it was situated on the height
behind the modern Station Hotel at Lossiemouth. For many centuries
this habitation was intact. It had an ancient Gothic doorway and
window-opening, but these were demolished more than a hundred years
ago by a drunken sailor. Since 1870 the whole face of the cliff known
as "Holyman's Head," including the cave, has {162} been quarried. No
trace now remains of the spring of water there, called "Gerardin's
Well," from which the anchorite drank a thousand years ago.
It is said that a monastery was founded by this saint at Kennedar, in
the same parish of Drainie where he associated himself with many
fellow-soldiers in Christ, and built a church under the direction of
angels. The remains of Kineddar Castle, a residence of the Bishops of
Moray, may still be seen there. Tradition tells that on stormy
nights, the saint was wont to pace the beach below his cell, lantern
in hand, to warn off vessels from the dangerous rocks. This is
commemorated in the Lossiemouth Burgh seal, which represents the
saint with his lantern and bears the motto: _Per noctem lux_. A
Presbyterian church erected at Stotfield (Lossiemouth) in recent
years bears the name of "St. Gerardine."
12--St. Machar or Mocumma, Bishop, 6th century.
This saint was the son of Fiachna, an Irish chieftain, and was
baptised by St. Colman. In his youth he became a disciple of the
great St. {163} Columba, and when that saint went to Scotland, Machar
accompanied him, together with eleven other disciples. After some
years he was made a bishop, and was sent by St. Columba with twelve
companions to preach to the pagan Picts of Strathdon, in the
northeast of Scotland. It is said that his holy master commanded him
to found a church in the spot where he should find a river forming by
its windings the shape of a bishop's pastoral staff. Such a
configuration he found in the river Don, at the spot now known as Old
Aberdeen. Here he accordingly fixed his seat, and the cathedral that
rose from the humble beginnings of a church instituted by Machar now
bears his name.
Besides the old Cathedral of Aberdeen, there are in the same county
two parishes, formerly joined in one, which are known as New and Old
Machar, respectively. At Kildrummie, in Aberdeenshire, is a place
called (after the saint) "Macker's Haugh." There is St. Machar's
Well, near the cathedral, at Old Aberdeen; the water used always to
be taken for baptismal purposes to the cathedral. {164}
At Corgarff, in Strathdon, is another spring known as _Tobar Mhachar_
(the well of St. Machar); miracles were formerly obtained there. Of
this spring the legend is related of a priest, in time of famine,
drawing from it three fine salmon which lasted him for food till
supplies came from other quarters.
St. Machar's feast was restored to Scotland by Pope Leo XIII. in
1898.
13--St. Devenick, about the 6th century.
Tradition tells that this saint was a contemporary of the former, and
preached the Gospel in Caithness. A legend relates that his body was
borne for burial to Banchory Devenick, in Kincardineshire, in
accordance with his continually expressed desire to rest in the
district of St. Machar, whom he had tenderly loved during life. A
church was afterwards built over his relics, and named after him.
Criech, in Sutherlandshire, was probably another of his churches, if
he is the saint known there as St. Teavneach. Besides a fair of great
antiquity, known as "Dennick's", held at Milton of Glenesk,
Forfarshire, another at {165} Methlick, Aberdeenshire, held in
November about this date, bore the same name; this implies that the
respective churches are dedicated to him, as fairs bearing saints
names had their origin in all instances in the concourse of people
assembled for the celebration of the patronal feast of a church. St.
Devenick's Well is near Methlick church.
15--St. Machutus, or Malo, Bishop, A.D. 565.
The Aberdeen Breviary gives on this day the feast of the British
saint who became one of the apostles of Brittany and is commemorated
there by the town of St. Malo.
There is no record of this saint's residence in Scotland, but his
_cultus_ flourished there, possibly on account of his connection
with St. Brendan (see May 16). Lesmahago, the site of a Benedictine
monastery, takes its name from him, the title being a corrupt form of
_Ecclesia Sti. Machuti_ (Church of St. Machutus). Wigtown church,
also, was dedicated to this saint.
16--St. Margaret, Queen, A.D. 1093.
It is impossible here to say much in detail of {166} the life of the
saintly queen who is regarded as one of the heavenly patrons of the
Kingdom of Scotland; but to omit all notice of her would make our
calendar incomplete. It will be sufficient to note briefly the chief
events of her life. St. Margaret was granddaughter to Edmund
Ironside. Her father, Edward, having to fly for his life to Hungary,
married Agatha, the sister-in-law of the king. Three children were
born to them. When Edward the Confessor ascended the English throne,
Prince Edward returned with his family to his native land, but died a
few years after. When William the Conqueror obtained the crown,
Edgar, the son of Edward, thought it more prudent to retire from
England, and took refuge with his mother and sisters at the court of
Malcolm III. of Scotland, having been driven on the Scottish coast by
a tempest. Malcolm, attracted by the virtue and beauty of Margaret,
made her his bride, and for the thirty years she reigned in Scotland
she was a model queen. The historian Dr. Skene says of her: "There is
perhaps no more beautiful character recorded in history than that of
{167} Margaret. For purity of motives, for an earnest desire to
benefit the people among whom her lot was cast, for a deep sense of
religion and great personal piety, for the unselfish performance of
whatever duty lay before her, and for entire self-abnegation she is
unsurpassed, and the chroniclers of the time all bear witness to her
exalted character." Her solicitude for the nation was truly maternal.
She set herself to combat, with zeal and energy, the abuses which had
crept into the practice of religion, taking a prominent part--with
her royal husband as the interpreter of her southern speech--in many
councils summoned at her instigation. She loved and befriended clergy
and monks, and was lavish in her charity to the poor. Her own
children, through her training and example, were one and all
distinguished for piety and virtue. Her three sons, Edgar, Alexander
and David, were remarkable for their unparalleled purity of life:
David's two grandsons, Malcolm IV. and William, and William's son and
grandson, Alexander II. and III., were noble Catholic kings. Thus did
the influence of this saintly queen extend {168} over the space of
two hundred years and form monarchs of extraordinary excellence to
rule Scotland wisely and well.
St. Margaret died on the 16th of November at the age of forty-seven.
Her body was buried with that of King Malcolm, who had been killed in
battle only four days before her own death, in the church they had
founded at Dunfermline. At the Reformation her relics were secretly
carried into Spain, together with the remains of her husband, and
placed in the Escurial. Her head, with a quantity of her long, fair
hair, was preserved for a time by the Scottish Jesuits at Douai. The
sacred relics disappeared in the French Revolution. Fairs on the
saint's feast-day, known as "Margaretmas," were held at Wick,
Closeburn (Dumfries shire) and Balquhapple (now Thornhill) in
Kincardineshire. St. Margaret's Well at Restalrig near Edinburgh, was
once covered by a graceful Gothic building, whose groined roof rested
on a central pillar; steps led down to the level of the water. It is
thought to have been erected at the same period as that covering St.
Triduana's Well in the same place. {169}
When the North British Railway required the spot for the building of
storehouses, the well-house was removed to Queen's Park, where it
still stands, but the spring has disappeared (see October 8th).
Innocent XII. at the petition of James VII. (and II.) in 1693, placed
St. Margaret's feast on June 10th, the birthday of the King's son
James (stigmatised the "Old Pretender"), but Leo XIII., in 1898,
restored it for the Scottish calendar to the day of her death.
18--St. Fergus, Bishop, 8th century.
This saint, a Pict by nationality, is said to have been for many
years a bishop in Ireland. Moved by a desire to benefit the pagans of
the northern districts of Scotland, he left Ireland and returned to
his own land, accompanied by a few priests and clerics, and settled
in Strathearn. Here he founded three churches, which he dedicated to
St. Patrick. Passing north wards he visited Caithness, and after
preaching the Gospel there for some time he travelled to Buchan,
where he built a church at Lungley, a place afterwards known as St.
Fergus. Finally {170} he moved on to Glamis, in Forfarshire, where he
founded another church, and it was here that he ended his life and
was buried.
Several dedications to this saint are to be found in the northern and
eastern parts of Scotland. The churches of Wick and Halkirk, in
Caithness; Dyce and St. Fergus, in Aberdeenshire; and his well,
called "Fergan Well," at Kirkmichael, in Banffshire, famous for its
miraculous efficacy in curing skin diseases: all these bear witness
to the devotion borne towards St. Fergus by Scottish Catholics in
past ages. An annual fair was held at Glamis on his feast-day (known
as "Fergusmas"), and continued for five days. Another fair took place
at Wick.
Other proofs of his connection with Scotland are seen in the
traces of the three churches founded by the saint in Strathearn:
Strogeth-St.-Patrick, Blackford-St.-Patrick, and Dolpatrick.
The head of St. Fergus was venerated in the Abbey of Scone, where
James IV. provided a silver reliquary for it. His arm was preserved
at Aberdeen, in the old cathedral. {171}
The pastoral staff of the saint, long treasured at St. Fergus, in
Buchan, is said to have calmed a storm on that coast. No traces now
remain of it.
An ancient image of St. Fergus existed at Wick until 1613, when it
was destroyed by a minister, who was drowned by the indignant people
for his action. The saint's holy well was honoured there. He is
thought to be the same "Fergus, the Pict, Bishop of the Scots," who
took part in a Synod in St. Peter's at Rome under Pope Gregory II. in
A.D. 721.
Pope Leo XIII. restored the feast of St. Fergus in 1898.
26--St. Christina, Virgin, A.D. (about) 1085.
This saint, though brought into close connection with the country,
was not of Scottish lineage. She was the sister of St. Margaret,
and therefore the daughter of Edward the Etheling. Together with
her mother Agatha, sister to the Queen of Hungary, Christina took
the veil in the Benedictine Abbey of Romsey, in Hampshire. Here
both royal ladies became distinguished for holiness. Matilda,
daughter {172} of St. Margaret, was educated by her aunt at Romsey.
She became known as the "good Queen Maud" after she had married
Henry I. of England. St. Christina died in the odour of sanctity
about the year 1085.
27--St. Oda or Odda, Virgin, about 8th century.
She is said to have been a daughter of a Scottish king. Having the
misfortune to lose her sight, she made a pilgrimage to the tomb of
St. Lambert the martyr, at Liege, to implore the help of that
renowned wonder-worker. Her faith was rewarded by a cure, and Oda
resolved, in gratitude for the favour, to dedicate herself to God in
the religious state. She therefore retired to a hermitage in Brabant,
where she spent her remaining years in prayer and penance, winning
from Heaven many graces for the people of that district. After her
death her relics were enshrined in a collegiate church in the town of
Rhode, and she became the chief patron of the place.
It is remarkable that the feast of this saint was inserted in the
calendar drawn up for the Scottish Episcopal Church by order of {173}
Charles I. St. Oda's supposed royal descent is thought to have won
for her this distinction.
28--St. Callen.
Nothing more is known concerning this saint than the facts that the
church of Rogart, in Sutherlandshire, was dedicated to St. Callen,
and a fair, known as "St. Callen's Fair," was formerly held there
on this day.
30--St. Andrew, Apostle, Patron of Scotland.
We cannot reckon St. Andrew among the national saints of Scotland,
for he lived and died far from these northern lands. Scotland cannot
even claim connection with him on the ground of having received
missionaries from him, as England can boast of her connection with
St. Gregory the Great. Yet from time immemorial so far back that
history cannot point to any precise date St. Andrew has been
venerated as the special protector of Scotland, and his feast, known
as "Andrewmas," celebrated everywhere with great rejoicing. The
legend of St. Regulus (see October 17) which attributes to that saint
the bringing of {174} the apostle's relics to the country is rejected
by modern historians. The origin of devotion to St. Andrew in
Scotland is nevertheless due to the translation of the apostle's
relics thither (probably from Hexham) during the eighth century.
These relics were undoubtedly honoured with much devotion at the
place which was afterwards known by the name of the great Apostle,
and eventually became the Primatial See of that country.
Whatever be the true facts of the case, St. Andrew has been invoked
for more than one thousand years as the Patron of Scotland, whose
battle-cry in the ages of faith was "For God and St. Andrew."