Celtic and Old English Saints 3 September =-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-= * St. MacNisse of Connor * St. Balin of Techsaxon * St. Cuthburga of Wimborne * St. Quenburga of Wimborne * St. Hereswitha of Chelles * St. Edward of England * St. Gregory the Great (see #2) =-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=
St. MacNisse, Bishop of Connor, Dalriada (Macnisius, Aengus McNisse. Macanisius) ----------------------------------------------------------- Died 506-514. Saint MacNisse, a disciple of Saint Olean (Bolcan?), was said to have been baptized as an infant by Saint Patrick. After MacNisse made a pilgrimage to the Holy Land and Rome, Patrick consecrated him the first abbot-bishop of Kells, which became the diocese of Connor, Ireland. His life is filled with miracles, such as changing the course of a river for the convenience of his monks and rescuing a child about to be executed for his father's crime by causing him to be carried by the wind from the executioners to his arms. Various ancient lists record different dates for his death (Benedictines, Delaney, Husenbeth, Montague). Troparion of St MacNis tone 8 Having learned thy faith from Ireland Enlightener, O holy MacNis,/ thou didst found a shining beacon of the True Faith, the Monastery of Kells,/ from which was bequeathed to Christ's church a treasure of piety and wonder, which is with us to this day./ Inspired by thine example, O Saint, we beseech thee to intercede with Christ our God/ that we may be given grace to follow thee in the way of salvation. St. Balin (Ballon, Balanus) of Techsaxon ------------------------------------------------------- 7th century. Handsome, well-loved Saint Balin was the brother of Saint Gerald, one of four sons of an Anglo-Saxon king. The four accompanied Saint Colman of Lindisfarne to Iona, then retired to Connaught, where they settled at Tecsaxono (the house of Saxons) in the diocese of Tuam (Benedictines, Encyclopedia). St. Cuthburga of Wimborne, Widow and Abbess ---------------------------------------------------------------- Died c. 725; feast day also on August 31. Saint Cuthburga, sister to Saint Quenburga and King Ina of Wessex, married the learned and pious King Aldfrid of Northumbria in 688. After bearing him two sons, Aldfrid gave Cuthburga permission to enter religious life. She became a nun at Barking monastery under the direction of Saint Hildelith, and then in 705 with her sister Saint Quenburga, she founded the double monastery at Wimborne in Dorset and governed it as abbess. The convent was strictly cloistered. Saint Lioba, who was formed by Cuthburga, reports that even prelates were forbidden to enter the nuns' quarters; Cuthburga would communicate with them through a little hatch. Hagiographers describe Cuthburga as austere with herself, kind to others, and steadfast in prayer and fasting. This convent produced the band of missionary nuns who helped evangelize Germany (Benedictines, Encyclopedia). St. Quenburga (Coenburga) of Wimborne -------------------------------------------------------- Died c. 735. Saint Quenburga, Saint Cuthburga, and the future King Ina of Wessex were the children of Cenred, a lord of Wessex. The two sisters founded Wimborne Abbey in Dorset about 705. Although it was a double (and possibly, triple) abbey, it was intended primarily for nuns. Cuthburga was its first abbess. Wimborne was important for having produced Saints Lioba and Thecla, who were among the many religious who assisted Saint Boniface in his efforts to evangelize Germany (Farmer). St. Hereswitha of Chelles, Widow --------------------------------------------- Died c. 690. Princess Hereswitha of Northumbria was the sister of Saint Hilda and mother of Saints Sexburga, Ethelburga, and Withburga. She spent her golden years as a nun in Chelles convent in France (Benedictines). Translation of the Relics of St. Edward, King of England and Martyr, to the Church of Saint Edward at Brookwood, Near Guildford ----------------------------------------------------------------------- Troparion for St Edward the Martyr tone 4 Celebrating the newly manifest commemoration of the holy King Edward, who shone forth of old in the virtues and suffered undeservedly we all bow down before the Icon of his honoured countenance and in gladness cry out: Truly Thou art wonderful in Thy Saints, O God. Lives kindly supplied by: For All the Saints: http://www.saintpatrickdc.org/ss/ss-index.htm These Lives are archived at: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/celt-saints *****************************************
