(ABOUT A.D. 1250.)
[Aberdeen Breviary. Authorities:--Leslie, Dempster, and the lections
in the Aberdeen Breviary.]
S. Duthac was a member of an illustrious Scottish family. Several
legends are told of his life in the Aberdeen Breviary, and little else
is known of his acts. For instance, when a child, he was sent by his
mother to bring fire from a forge, as all the fires in the house were
extinguished. The blacksmith, in brutal jest, put some red-hot charcoal
in the lap of the child, and Duthac brought the glowing embers thus to
his mother. He was afterwards in Ireland, where he studied, and on his
return was appointed to the bishopric of Ross. One day he was dining
with a noble, and a guest becoming very drunk, gave his gold ring and
a slice of meat to one of Duthac's disciples, ordering him to take
them to his home. The disciple was on his way, when passing through a
churchyard, he laid down the meat and the ring, whilst he said a prayer
for the repose of the souls of those who lay there. At that moment a
kite swooped down and carried off ring and meat. The young man ran to
S. Duthac in dismay, and the bishop summoned the kite, which obeyed,
and bringing the meat and the ring, deposited them at his feet. Duthac
took the ring and gave it to the young man, but allowed the kite to
consume the meat. On the feast of S. Finbar, a canon at Dornock slew a
fat ox, roasted it, and distributed slices amongst the poor. "Surely
some one will take Duthac his share of the beef," said the canon. Then
a man offered himself, and lo! as he travelled by night with the meat
for the bishop, a light like that of a lamp shone on his way, guiding
him; and thus the bishop received his share before it had lost its
freshness.