Celtic Saints for January 19
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Celtic Daily
Jan 18, 2013, 6:01:03 PM1/18/13
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St. Nathalan of Aberdeen, Bishop
------------------------------------------------------
Born near Aberdeen (Tullicht?), Scotland; died 678.
Saint Nathalan's name is included in ancient Irish martyrologies, such
as that of Aengus. The Aberdeen breviary records that Nathalan was a
nobleman, who possessed a large estate which he gave to the poor in
order to become an anchorite. Nathalan is especially praised for having
earned his living by farming, "which approaches nearest to divine
contemplation." He fed his neighbours from his produce during times of
famine, and found that farming served him as a type of penance.
During his pilgrimage to Rome, Nathalan was consecrated bishop by the
pope, because of his holiness and proficiency in profane and sacred
learning. He took up residence at Tullicht (now in the diocese of
Aberdeen), where he built a church, but he continued to use all his
revenues for the relief of the poor as he had previously. He continued
to earn his livelihood by the work of his hands, while living austerely,
and preaching the Gospel. He is also credited with founding the churches
at Bothelim and Colle.
His story has elements of folklore, which resembles that of several
other saints from this part of the world--but with a difference. A
sudden storm interfered with Nathalan's harvest, and he protested
against God. When he realised what he had done, he locked his hand and
leg together in irons and tossed away the key in the River Dee.
He vowed that his arm would never be free until he had made a pilgrimage
to Rome. Upon his arrival in the Eternal City, he met a boy who offered
him a fish for sale. He bought it and recovered the key from the belly
of the fish. It is said that when the pope heard of this miracle, he
determined to make him a bishop.
Many miracles were wrought at his tomb in Tullicht, where his relics
were preserved until the Deformation. It should be noted that the see of
Aberdeen had not yet been regularly established; it was first erected at
Murthlac by Saint Bean (f.d. October 26) at the beginning of the 11th
century, and transferred to Aberdeen by its fourth bishop, Nectan.
St. Blaithmaic (Blaithmac, Blathmac, Blaithmale) of Iona, Martyr
------------------------------------------------------------
Died c. 823; feast day formerly on January 15. Blaithmac was an Irish
abbot, who, desiring martyrdom, crossed over to England, which was then
prey to the heathen Danes.
His contemporary, Walafrid Strabo (died 849), the German Benedictine of
Reichenau, narrates his life in a 180-line metrical poem, which has been
reprinted in Migne's "Patrologia" and Messingham's "Florilegium Insulae
Sanctorum". According to this
tradition, Blaithmac was heir to an Irish throne, but entered a
monastery instead and later became its abbot. Desiring the crown of
martyrs, he obtained permission to live among his brethren at Iona.
During the absence of its abbot Dermait, Blaithmac foretold the Viking
raid on Iona and buried the shrine containing the relics of Saint
Columba (f.d. June 9). After carefully replacing the sod above the
burial site, Blaithmac then gave each of the monks the choice of fleeing
or staying.
As he was offering the Holy Sacrifice the next morning, the invaders
rushed in. The whole community was slaughtered, until only Blaithmaic,
the temporary abbot, was left. He was promised that his life would be
spared if he gave them the relics. He refused and was hacked to pieces
by the Danes on the altar steps of the abbey church. When his brethren
returned, they buried him where he had fallen. The relics were later
reposed at Dunkeld in 849.
St. Albert of Cashel, Bishop
------------------------------------------------------
7th century; feast day may also be January 8. A 12th-century "vita"
describes Saint Albert with the pun: "by race an Angle, in speech an
angel' ("natione Anglus, conversatione angelus"). According to rather
unreliable accounts, Saint Albert was an Englishman who laboured in or
was archbishop of Cashel, Ireland, and afterwards evangelized Bavaria
with Saint Erhard (f.d. January 8). He made a pilgrimage to Jerusalem
and died shortly after his return to Ratisbon (Regensburg, Germany).
Unfortunately, the diocese of Cashel did not exist then, so this is an
obscure point in his life. He is the patron saint of Cashel, Ireland.
St. Branwallader of Jersey, Bishop
(Branwalader, Branwalator, Brelade, Breward)
------------------------------------------------------
6th century (?); in Cornwall he has feast days on February 9 and June 6;
January 19 may be the day of the translation of his relics. Saint
Branwallader was a Celtic or Welsh monk, who is said to have been a
bishop in Jersey. It is believed that Branwallader worked with Saint
Samson (f.d. July 28) in Cornwall and the Channel Islands, where he is
remembered at Jersey in St. Brelade. He may also have travelled with
Samson to Brittany in northern France. In the Exeter martyrology,
Branwallader is described a the son of the Cornish king, Kenen.
King Athelstan, who founded Milton Abbey in Dorset, obtained some of the
saint's relics (an arm or head) from Breton clerics fleeing Northmen and
translated them to Milton Abbey in 935. William Worcestre claimed that
the body itself was at Branston, Devon, and Leland referred to a chapel
of St. Breward near Seaton.
The cultus of Saint Branwallader has been strong at least from the 10th
century, when his name could be found in litanies. His feast was kept at
Winchester, Exeter, and Cornwall. In Brittany, he has sometimes been
confused with Saint Brendan (f.d. May 16) and Saint Brannock (f.d.
January 7).
St. Fillan of Strathfillan, Abbot
(Foelan, Foellan, Foilan, Foillan, Fulan),
------------------------------------------------------
Early 8th century; in Ireland his feast is celebrated on January 9 which
is the day of his death.
The Irish Fillan, son of Feriach, grandson of King Ceallach of Leinster,
received the monastic habit in the abbey of Saint Fintan Munnu. Then he
accompanied his mother, Saint Kentigerna (f.d. January 7), and his
uncle, Saint Comgan (f.d. October 13), to Scotland, where he became a
missionary monk. He was perhaps a monk at Taghmon in Wexford and a
hermit at Pittenweem, Fife, before being chosen as abbot of the nearby
monastery, which he governed for some years. He retired to Glendochart
in Perthshire, where he lived a solitary life and built a church. There
he died and was buried at the place now called Strathfillan in his
honour. Until the early 19th century, the mentally ill were dipped into
the pool here and then left all night, tied up, in a corner of Fillan's
ruined chapel. If they were found loose the next morning, they were
considered cured.
Further north, in Ross-shire, there are dedications to his memory and
that of his uncle (Kilkoan and Killellan). Both Irish and Scottish
martyrologies recorded his sanctity, and the "Aberdeen Breviary" relates
some extraordinary miracles performed by him.
History also records that Robert the Bruce put his hopes of victory at
Bannockburn into the hands of Saint Fillan. It is reported that he
brought an arm relic of the saint into battle having passed most of the
night praying for his intercession. Not surprisingly, the Scottish
victory at Bannockburn revived and perpetuated his veneration, and his
feast is still kept in the diocese of Dunkeld.
The bell and staff of St. Fillan still exist. His pastoral staff, or
crozier, (the Quigrich), and his bell are in the National Museum in
Edinburgh. To see the reliquary cover of the crozier, go here
http://www.cushnieent.force9.co.uk/photogallery1.html
His "healing stones" are at the Tweed Mill, Dochart Bridge,
Killin.
St. Wulstan of Worcester
------------------------------------------
Bishop of Worcester & confessor, 1008 - 1095. The last bishop of England to
receive his pastoral staff from a Saxon king, Saint Edward the Confessor;
one of the very few, by Divine intervention, to have kept his Seat after the
arrival of William the Conqueror.
Sent out at approximately midnight G.M.T.
RSS Feeds available at
http://groups.google.co.nz/group/celtic-daily/feeds?hl=en
------------------------------------------------------
Born near Aberdeen (Tullicht?), Scotland; died 678.
Saint Nathalan's name is included in ancient Irish martyrologies, such
as that of Aengus. The Aberdeen breviary records that Nathalan was a
nobleman, who possessed a large estate which he gave to the poor in
order to become an anchorite. Nathalan is especially praised for having
earned his living by farming, "which approaches nearest to divine
contemplation." He fed his neighbours from his produce during times of
famine, and found that farming served him as a type of penance.
During his pilgrimage to Rome, Nathalan was consecrated bishop by the
pope, because of his holiness and proficiency in profane and sacred
learning. He took up residence at Tullicht (now in the diocese of
Aberdeen), where he built a church, but he continued to use all his
revenues for the relief of the poor as he had previously. He continued
to earn his livelihood by the work of his hands, while living austerely,
and preaching the Gospel. He is also credited with founding the churches
at Bothelim and Colle.
His story has elements of folklore, which resembles that of several
other saints from this part of the world--but with a difference. A
sudden storm interfered with Nathalan's harvest, and he protested
against God. When he realised what he had done, he locked his hand and
leg together in irons and tossed away the key in the River Dee.
He vowed that his arm would never be free until he had made a pilgrimage
to Rome. Upon his arrival in the Eternal City, he met a boy who offered
him a fish for sale. He bought it and recovered the key from the belly
of the fish. It is said that when the pope heard of this miracle, he
determined to make him a bishop.
Many miracles were wrought at his tomb in Tullicht, where his relics
were preserved until the Deformation. It should be noted that the see of
Aberdeen had not yet been regularly established; it was first erected at
Murthlac by Saint Bean (f.d. October 26) at the beginning of the 11th
century, and transferred to Aberdeen by its fourth bishop, Nectan.
St. Blaithmaic (Blaithmac, Blathmac, Blaithmale) of Iona, Martyr
------------------------------------------------------------
Died c. 823; feast day formerly on January 15. Blaithmac was an Irish
abbot, who, desiring martyrdom, crossed over to England, which was then
prey to the heathen Danes.
His contemporary, Walafrid Strabo (died 849), the German Benedictine of
Reichenau, narrates his life in a 180-line metrical poem, which has been
reprinted in Migne's "Patrologia" and Messingham's "Florilegium Insulae
Sanctorum". According to this
tradition, Blaithmac was heir to an Irish throne, but entered a
monastery instead and later became its abbot. Desiring the crown of
martyrs, he obtained permission to live among his brethren at Iona.
During the absence of its abbot Dermait, Blaithmac foretold the Viking
raid on Iona and buried the shrine containing the relics of Saint
Columba (f.d. June 9). After carefully replacing the sod above the
burial site, Blaithmac then gave each of the monks the choice of fleeing
or staying.
As he was offering the Holy Sacrifice the next morning, the invaders
rushed in. The whole community was slaughtered, until only Blaithmaic,
the temporary abbot, was left. He was promised that his life would be
spared if he gave them the relics. He refused and was hacked to pieces
by the Danes on the altar steps of the abbey church. When his brethren
returned, they buried him where he had fallen. The relics were later
reposed at Dunkeld in 849.
St. Albert of Cashel, Bishop
------------------------------------------------------
7th century; feast day may also be January 8. A 12th-century "vita"
describes Saint Albert with the pun: "by race an Angle, in speech an
angel' ("natione Anglus, conversatione angelus"). According to rather
unreliable accounts, Saint Albert was an Englishman who laboured in or
was archbishop of Cashel, Ireland, and afterwards evangelized Bavaria
with Saint Erhard (f.d. January 8). He made a pilgrimage to Jerusalem
and died shortly after his return to Ratisbon (Regensburg, Germany).
Unfortunately, the diocese of Cashel did not exist then, so this is an
obscure point in his life. He is the patron saint of Cashel, Ireland.
St. Branwallader of Jersey, Bishop
(Branwalader, Branwalator, Brelade, Breward)
------------------------------------------------------
6th century (?); in Cornwall he has feast days on February 9 and June 6;
January 19 may be the day of the translation of his relics. Saint
Branwallader was a Celtic or Welsh monk, who is said to have been a
bishop in Jersey. It is believed that Branwallader worked with Saint
Samson (f.d. July 28) in Cornwall and the Channel Islands, where he is
remembered at Jersey in St. Brelade. He may also have travelled with
Samson to Brittany in northern France. In the Exeter martyrology,
Branwallader is described a the son of the Cornish king, Kenen.
King Athelstan, who founded Milton Abbey in Dorset, obtained some of the
saint's relics (an arm or head) from Breton clerics fleeing Northmen and
translated them to Milton Abbey in 935. William Worcestre claimed that
the body itself was at Branston, Devon, and Leland referred to a chapel
of St. Breward near Seaton.
The cultus of Saint Branwallader has been strong at least from the 10th
century, when his name could be found in litanies. His feast was kept at
Winchester, Exeter, and Cornwall. In Brittany, he has sometimes been
confused with Saint Brendan (f.d. May 16) and Saint Brannock (f.d.
January 7).
St. Fillan of Strathfillan, Abbot
(Foelan, Foellan, Foilan, Foillan, Fulan),
------------------------------------------------------
Early 8th century; in Ireland his feast is celebrated on January 9 which
is the day of his death.
The Irish Fillan, son of Feriach, grandson of King Ceallach of Leinster,
received the monastic habit in the abbey of Saint Fintan Munnu. Then he
accompanied his mother, Saint Kentigerna (f.d. January 7), and his
uncle, Saint Comgan (f.d. October 13), to Scotland, where he became a
missionary monk. He was perhaps a monk at Taghmon in Wexford and a
hermit at Pittenweem, Fife, before being chosen as abbot of the nearby
monastery, which he governed for some years. He retired to Glendochart
in Perthshire, where he lived a solitary life and built a church. There
he died and was buried at the place now called Strathfillan in his
honour. Until the early 19th century, the mentally ill were dipped into
the pool here and then left all night, tied up, in a corner of Fillan's
ruined chapel. If they were found loose the next morning, they were
considered cured.
Further north, in Ross-shire, there are dedications to his memory and
that of his uncle (Kilkoan and Killellan). Both Irish and Scottish
martyrologies recorded his sanctity, and the "Aberdeen Breviary" relates
some extraordinary miracles performed by him.
History also records that Robert the Bruce put his hopes of victory at
Bannockburn into the hands of Saint Fillan. It is reported that he
brought an arm relic of the saint into battle having passed most of the
night praying for his intercession. Not surprisingly, the Scottish
victory at Bannockburn revived and perpetuated his veneration, and his
feast is still kept in the diocese of Dunkeld.
The bell and staff of St. Fillan still exist. His pastoral staff, or
crozier, (the Quigrich), and his bell are in the National Museum in
Edinburgh. To see the reliquary cover of the crozier, go here
http://www.cushnieent.force9.co.uk/photogallery1.html
His "healing stones" are at the Tweed Mill, Dochart Bridge,
Killin.
St. Wulstan of Worcester
------------------------------------------
Bishop of Worcester & confessor, 1008 - 1095. The last bishop of England to
receive his pastoral staff from a Saxon king, Saint Edward the Confessor;
one of the very few, by Divine intervention, to have kept his Seat after the
arrival of William the Conqueror.
Sent out at approximately midnight G.M.T.
RSS Feeds available at
http://groups.google.co.nz/group/celtic-daily/feeds?hl=en
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