(A.D. 977.)
[Spanish and Benedictine Martyrologies. Office with twelve lections
in the Coimbra Breviary. His translation is observed on Sept. 1st.
Authority:--A life by Brother Stephen of Cella-nuova, about 1180.]
The Blessed Rudesind was the son of a Count Gutierre da Mendenez, in
Gallicia. His mother is said to have had a foretoken of the sanctity
of the child that was about to be given her, whilst praying in the
Church of S. Salvador on Mount Corduba. When the child was born, she
desired to have him baptised in the church, but as there was no font
there, one had to be brought up the hill in a cart. The cart broke
down, says the popular legend, however, the font continued its journey
without it. The child grew up to be a good man, and he was appointed to
the bishopric of Dumium, a see which has ceased to exist. His kinsman,
Sisnand, bishop of Compostella, was a scandal to the Church, "spending
all his time in sports, excesses, and vanities, and paying no attention
to his duties." Wherefore, at the request of the king, Sancho, and
the nobles and people, Rudesind undertook the government of it, and
Sancho put Sisnand in prison. During the absence of the king against
the Moors, the Normans invaded Gallicia, whereupon the bishop called
together an army, marched against them, and drove them back to their
ships, and then turned his arms against the Moors, and routed them. On
the death of Sancho, Sisnand escaped from prison, attacked Rudesind on
Christmas night, whilst engaged with the canons in the sacred offices,
and threatened him, sword in hand, unless he resigned the see. Rudesind
at once laid aside his office, and retired into a monastery, where he
assumed the habit, and after some years was chosen abbot.
[Illustration: Lichfield Cathedral. See page 23.]
March 2.
SS. MARTYRS, _under the Emperor Alexander at Rome, circ._ A.D. 219.
SS. JOVINUS AND BASILEUS, _MM. at Rome, circ._ A.D. 258.
SS. DUCIUS, _B.M._, ABSALOM, LARGIUS, HEROLUS, PRIMITIUS, AND
JANUARIUS, _MM. at Cæsarea in Cappadocia_.
SS. PAUL, HERACLIUS, SECUNDOLA, JANUARIA, AND LUCIOSA, _MM. in the
Port of Rome_.
S. SIMPLICIUS, _Pope of Rome_, A.D. 483.
S. JOAVAN, _P. at S. Paul de Leon, 6th. cent._
SS. MARTYRS, _under the Lombards, in Italy, circ._ A.D. 579.
S. CEADDA, OR CHAD, _B. of Lichfield_, A.D. 672.
S. WILLEICH, _P. at Keiser-werdt, on the Rhine, circ._ A.D. 726.
B. CHARLES THE GOOD, _M., Count of Flanders_, A.D. 1127.