Celtic and Old English Saints 7 June =-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-= * St. Colman of Dromore * St. Meriadoc of Vannes =-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=
St. Colman (Mocholmoc) Bishop of Dromore ------------------------------------------------------------- Born at Argyll, c. 516; died c. 610; he has a second feast on October 27. If you are confused by the many saints named Colman, there are 126 Irish saints bearing that illustrious name. Today's saint was the first abbot of Muckmore, County Antrim, then chosen as the abbot-founder and bishop of Dromore in County Down. He founded the See of Dromore, of which he is patron and over which he presided as bishop. He set up a small 'daub and wattle' church on this site in 510 AD. Probably thatched with reeds from the River Lagan which flows beside it, this church site has been, for the 15 centuries since, a location for the worship of Jesus Christ, the Redeemer of all humanity. Little evidence is available for the first 700 years of St. Colman's Church nor is there any indication of either its style or size. He studied at Noendrum (Mahee Island), under St. Mochae or Coelan, one of the earliest disciples of St. Patrick. Many interesting stories are told of his edifying life at Noendrum and the miracles he worked there. To perfect his knowledge of the Scriptures St. Colman went to the great school of Emly, c. 470 or 475, and remained there some years. At length he returned to Mahee Island to see his old master, St. Mochae, and remained under his guidance for a long period, acting as assistant in the school. Among his many pupils at Mahee Island, in the first quarter of the sixth century, was St. Finian of Moville. Jocelin, in his life of Saint Patrick, tells us that Colman's virtue was foretold by Patrick. Many miracles are ascribed to the bishop. This Colman is titular saint of at least one church in Scotland, Inis Mo-Cholmaig, and one in Wales, Llangolman (Attwater, Benedictines, Encyclopaedia, Husenbeth, Montague). St. Meriadoc, Bishop of Vannes -------------------------------------------- (also known as Meriadec, Meriasek) Died c. 688. "Poverty is a remover of cares and the mother of holiness." -- Saint Meriadoc. Meriadoc, though venerated especially in Cornwall and Brittany, was probably a Welshman who lived in the 5th or 6th century. He came to Cornwall and founded several churches, one of which at Camborne was once dedicated to him. He became renowned in these parts and a miracle play in Cornish still survives, recounting his legendary exploits. He then crossed over into Brittany, where his memory is still strong. In the 16th-century church at Plougasnou is a reliquary containing what may well be part of Meriadoc's skull. At Stival is preserved what is believed to be his bell. Placed on the heads of the deaf and those suffering migraine, it is said to heal them. Some documents state that Meriadoc even became bishop of Vannes at a time when it was one of the most important cities of Brittany. Meriadoc had been a rich man. Before becoming a hermit he gave all his money to poor clerics, distributing his lands to the needy. So great became his reputation for sanctity that he feared he would become vain and retired even further from the world. Instead of the silks and purple that he once wore, Meriadoc new dressed in rags, eating simple food, living in complete poverty. When his relatives tried to make him leave his new life and return to the world, he told the viscount of Rohan who had come with these relatives that he would be better engaged extirpating the thieves and robbers of the neighbourhood. The viscount took the saint at his word, and a great evil was removed from Brittany. Although Meriadoc was unanimously elected bishop of Vannes, he took the bishopric reluctantly. After his consecration he continued a life of abstinence and love for the poor. He died kissing his brethren and crying, "Into your hands, Lord, I commend my Spirit" (Bentley). Bell of Saint Meriadoc http://www.visuf-sourd.com/regions/bretagne/cloche.htm Troparion of St Meriadoc tone 4 O Meriadoc holy hermit,/ through thy simplicity thou didst draw many souls to God./ Near the church of the Mother of God in Camborne/ thou didst cause a healing well to rise./ We glorify God Who has glorified thee. Sources: ======== Attwater, D. (1983). The Penguin Dictionary of Saints, NY: Penguin Books. Benedictine Monks of St. Augustine Abbey, Ramsgate. (1947). The Book of Saints. NY: Macmillan. Bentley, J. (1986). A Calendar of Saints: The Lives of the Principal Saints of the Christian Year, NY: Facts on File. Encyclopedia of Catholic Saints, June. (1966). Philadelphia: Chilton Books. Husenbeth, Rev. F. C., DD, VG (ed.). (1928). Butler's Lives of the Fathers, Martyrs, and Other Principal Saints. London: Virtue & Co. Montague, H. P. (1981). The Saints and Martyrs of Ireland. Guildford: Billing & Sons. For All the Saints: http://www.saintpatrickdc.org/ss/ss-index.htm These Lives are archived at: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/celt-saints ¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤
