Celtic and Old English Saints 17 June =-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-= * St. Herve of Brittany * St. Moling of Wexford * St. Adulf * St. Botulph of Boston * St. Nectan of Hartland * St. Briavel =-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=
St. Herve of Britanny ------------------------------------------ See http://groups.yahoo.com/group/celt-saints/message/2316 St. Moling of Wexford (of Ferns), Bishop ------------------------------------------ (also known as Molling, Mullins, Myllin, Molignus, Dairchilla) Born in Wexford; died 697. Saint Moling is said to have been a monk at Glendalough. Later he was founder and abbot of Aghacainid (Teghmolin, Saint Mullins) in County Carlow beside the Barrow River on which he is reputed to have established the ferry service which continues to today. For a time he lived in a nearby hermitage. Afterwards he succeeded Saint Aidan as bishop of Ferns, which included the entirety of Leinster. Moling was a singular benefactor to his country. In 693, he persuaded King Finacta to release the people of Leinster from the heavy tribute of oxen which had been imposed by king Tuathal Techmar. He resigned his see some years before his death. In addition to his eminent sanctity, manifested by the gifts of prophecy and miracles, this saint is celebrated in Ireland for the abundant Gaelic poetry he wrote--more than any other saint except Columba. At his death Moling was interred in his own monastery of Teghmoling. The Book of Mulling is a 9th-century Book of the Gospels, which was probably copied from Moling's autograph as its colophon suggests. It was described by Gerald of Wales (c. 1200) and survives in a splendid jewelled shrine in Trinity College library in Dublin. It is especially noted because of its plan for Moling's monastery; some crosses on the plan probably indicate places of sanctuary. The cultus of Moling was early and widespread (Benedictines, Farmer, Husenbeth, Montague). Below is a sample from the many stories that arose around Moling's pet fox. "The blessed bishop Moling used to keep animals both wild and tame about him, in honour of their Maker, and they would eat out of his hand. And among these was a fox. Now one day the fox stole a hen that belonged to the brethren and ate it. The brethren brought their complaint, and the man of God scolded the fox and accused him of being perfidious above other animals. "The fox, however, seeing his master wroth with him, gazed upon him with solicitude, and made off to a convent of nuns that were under Saint Moling's care, captured a hen by guile, and bringing her to his lord, presented her safe and sound. And the Saint, smiling, said to him: 'Thou hast offered rapine to atone for theft. Take back this hen to her ladies, and deliver her to them unharmed; and hereafter do thou live without stealing, like the rest of the animals.' Hearing this, the fox took the hen between his teeth and deposited her unharmed in her ladies' cloister. And those who saw so great a marvel wrought in either place, made merry over it and blessed God. "Another time another fox stole a book from the brethren, and carried it off to hide it in one of his earths, intending to come back shortly and gnaw it there. But on his return to the monastery, he was found stealing and eating a honeycomb. Whereupon the brethren laid hold on him and brought him to Saint Moling, and accused him of stealing the book. "And the holy man bade the brethren to let him go free. And when he was released, the Saint said to him, 'O wise and crafty one, be off, and bring me back that book unharmed, and quickly.' At that, off went the fox, and hastened to bring the book from his cave, and set it down dry and unharmed before the holy bishop. "And then he lay upon the ground before the man of God, as if seeking forgiveness. And the Saint said, 'Get up, you wretch, and fear naught; but never touch a book again.' And the fox got up rejoicing, and fulfilled in marvellous wise the Saint's behest; for not only did he never touch books again, but if any one would show him a book in jest, he took to flight" (Plummer). St. Adulf (Adolph, Adulph) ----------------------------------- Died c. 680. The relics of the noble Saxon, Saint Adulf, together with those of his brother of Saint Botulph, were translated to Thorney Abbey by Saint Ethelwold about 972. They have long been venerated there. While the hagiographer Folcard is probably wrong in identifying this Adulf as the bishop of Maestricht, famous for his teaching and almsgiving, it explains the reason today's saint is often honoured as a bishop (Benedictines, Farmer). St. Botulph, Abbot of Ikanhoe, Boston, England ------------------------- (also known as Botulf, Botolph) Died c. 680; feast of his translation is December 1. Botulph and his brother, Saint Adulph, were two noble English brothers at the dawn of Christianity on that island. They were probably born in East Anglia. At some point they travelled into Belgian Gaul to learn more about Christian discipline in a monastery because they were then scarce in England. They progressed in the spiritual life to the point that Adulph is said to have been raised to the episcopate, though this is questioned. Botulph is said to have been chaplain to the convent where two of his king's sisters lived, possibly at Chelles. (Liobsynde, the first abbess of Wenlock (Salop), was from Chelles and Wenlock was initially dependent on Ikanhoe.) Botulph returned to England with the treasure he had found and begged King Ethelmund of the South Saxons for land on which to set it. The king gave him the wilderness of Ikanhoe (Icanhoh), formerly thought to be near Boston (Botulf's stone) in Lincolnshire but now believed to be Iken in Suffolk. (Others relate that the land was provided by the king of East Anglia, either Ethelhere, 654, or more likely Ethelwold, 654-64.) There he built an abbey and taught the assembled brethren the rules of Christian perfection and the institutes of the holy fathers. He became one of the foremost missionaries of the 7th century. Everyone loved Botulph: He was humble, mild, and affable. He always practised what he preached, finding an upright example far more important than sermons. Nevertheless, Saint Ceolfrid travelled all the way from Wearmouth to converse with this man "of remarkable life and learning" before joining Saint Benedict Biscop at Wearmouth. Botulph thanked God in good times and in bad, knowing that God works all things to the good of those who love Him. He lived to a venerable age and was purified by a long illness before his happy death Although his monastery was destroyed by the Danes, his relics were carried to Ely (the head) and Thorney Abbeys. It is said that when Ethelwold sent his disciple Ulfkitel to collect the relics of Botulph for Thorney Abbey, he found that he could not move them without also taking those of Adulph as well. Saint Edward the Confessor gave some of them to Westminster and others are at Bury Saint Edmunds. More than 70 English churches were dedicated to Saint Botulph, including four parishes in London. Name other place names also recall his sanctity including the town of Boston in Lincolnshire and Botulph's bridge, now Bottle-bride, in Huntingdonshire (Attwater, Benedictines, Farmer, Husenbeth). In art, Saint Adulph, bishop, and Saint Botulf, abbot, hold the Abbey of Ikanhoe, Suffolk, England. The four gates of the City of London are dedicated to them (Roeder). A Service to our Righteous Father Botolph of Boston http://www.orthodoxengland.btinternet.co.uk/serstbot.htm Icon of St. Botulf http://www.orthodoxengland.btinternet.co.uk/botolph.htm http://www.allmercifulsavior.com/icons/Icons-Botulf.htm##1 St. Nectan (Nighton) of Hartland, Martyr --------------------------------- 6th century. The Welsh saint Nectan has always been venerated as a martyr killed by robbers, although we have no details about his life. He is the patron of Hartland, Devonshire, which is near the site of his hermitage. The fullest surviving vita dates only to the 12th century in the Gotha manuscript. This work describes Nectan as the oldest of the 24 children of Saint Brychan of Brecknock. It tells us that Nectan was already a monk when he and his many relatives sailed from southern Wales to northern Devonshire. Seeking solitude, he settled in the dense forests. His family would meet him at his hermitage the last day of each year. After several years he found an even more remote valley with a spring. There he helped a swineherd find his pigs; later the owner rewarded Nectan with a gift of two cows, which were stolen. Nectan found them, remonstrated with the thieves, and tried to convert them to Christ. They rewarded his efforts by cutting off his head. After his death, we are told, he carried his head for half a mile to the spring by his hut. Nectan's cultus was substantial in the West Country. Bishop Lyfing of Crediton (1021-1046) provided treasures for the church at Hartland, including bells, lead for the roof, and a sculpted reliquary. Nectan's staff was decorated with gold, silver, and jewels. Manors were built around the church to give it some protection from against Danish invaders. Hartland has had other illustrious benefactors: King Harthacnut, Earl Godwin, and Godwin's wife. Canons restored the church, which was in their care until the Reformation. Five churches are dedicated to Nectan in Devon and Cornwall and possibly two Breton placenames may be connected with him. His feast is commemorated at Launceston, Exeter, Wells, and elsewhere. The date of his death is thought to be May 18; December 4 is the date of his translation (Benedictines, Farmer). Troparion of St Nectan tone 4 O holy Father Nectan thou didst follow the bidding of the Lord/ and didst leave thy father and mother for His sake to embrace the hermit's life./ Faithful follower of Christ unto death pray that He may save our souls. Icons of St. Nectan http://ocafs.oca.org/FeastSaintsViewer.asp?FSM=6&FSD=17 St. Briavel (Brevile), Hermit in Gloucestershire ------------------------------------- Date unknown. Nothing is known of Saint Briavel's life, which was not recorded until 1130, but he is the titular patron of a parish in the Forest of Dean in Gloucestershire. He seems to have been a Celtic saint, whose name, according to Ekwall, dates from the Old Celtic Brigomagls (Benedictines, Farmer). Translation of the Relics of Columcille (Columba), Abbot of Iona, Apostle to Scotland ----------------------------------------------------- Lives kindly supplied by: For All the Saints: http://www.saintpatrickdc.org/ss/ss-index.htm An Alphabetical Index of the Saints of the West http://www.orthodoxengland.btinternet.co.uk/saintsa.htm These Lives are archived at: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/celt-saints *****************************************
