Celtic and Old English Saints 22 August =-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-= * St. Sigfrid of Wearmouth * St. Andrew of Ireland * St. Arnulf of Eynesbury * St. Ethelgitha of Northumbria * St. Maelrubha of Applecross =-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=
St. Sigfrid, Abbot of Wearmouth ----------------------------------------------------------------- Died on August 22, 688. Nothing is known about the early life of Saint Sigfrid, a disciple of Saint Benedict Biscop (f.d. January 12). He was known for his knowledge of Scripture, his temperance, and obedience. During Benedict's absence on his fifth visit to Rome, Saint Esterwine (f.d. March 7) died. Saint Ceolfrid (f.d. September 25) and the other monks elected the deacon-monk Sigfrid to take Esterwine's place as coadjutor abbot of Jarrow and abbot of Wearmouth in 686. Both saints fell deathly ill upon Benedict's return to Jarrow. Knowing that their earthly lives were about to end and wanting a final meeting to inquire about the welfare of each other and their monks, Sigfrid, suffering from a lung disease, was carried on a stretcher to Benedict's cell. They were both too weak to even embrace one another unaided. After consulting Sigfrid, Benedict sent for Ceolfrid and appointed him abbot over both monasteries. Benedict and Sigfrid, of one heart in life, died the same year. Sigfrid was buried by Saint Ceolfrid in the abbey-church of Saint Peter next to his master, Saint Benedict, and his predecessor, Saint Esterwine. Saint Bede (f.d. May 25) testifies to the date of his death and the development of a cultus at Wearmouth and Jarrow (Benedictines, Encyclopaedia, Farmer, Walsh). St. Andrew of Ireland (of Tuscany) (of Fiesole), Abbot ----------------------------------------------------------------- Born in Ireland or Scotland; died at Fiesole, Tuscany, Italy, c.880. The story of St. Andrew is hard to determine with certitude. Some say that he was a pilgrim who became the abbot-restorer of San Martino Abbey in Mensula. Beyond that all we have is embellished legend. He is reputed to be an Irish travelling companion of Bishop Saint Donatus of Fiesole (f.d. October 22), who later became the bishop's archdeacon. Donatus was one of the many Irishmen who journeyed on the continent in the early Middle Ages. Nevertheless, Saint Andrew is included on the calendar, and has several churches dedicated to him (Attwater, Benedictines, Husenbeth, Montague). Generally, he is portrayed as a deacon curing a paralytic girl. Sometimes he is shown (1) appearing to a sleeping priest; (2) with his sister St. Brigid miraculously transported to his death-bed by angels; or (3) with an Irish wolfhound at his feet (Roeder). He is venerated in the environs of Florence: Fiesole, Settignano, San Martino e Mensola (Roeder). St. Arnulf of Eynesbury, Hermit ----------------------------------------------------------------- 9th century. Saint Arnulf's relics were venerated in Arnulphsbury (Eanulfesbyrig or Eynesbury), Huntingdonshire, before the Danish invasions. He seems to have been forgotten by about 1000 AD, because "On the resting-places of the saints" mentions Saint Neot (f.d. July 31) but not Arnulf. He is described as an English hermit of the area, but he may well be a duplicate of Saint Arnulf of Metz (f.d. July 18), which would explain why he was forgotten (Benedictines, Farmer). St. Ethelgitha of Northumbria, Abbess ----------------------------------------------------------------- Died c. 720. Saint Ethelgitha was a holy abbess of a convent in Northumbria, England (Benedictines). St. Maelrubha (+722), Abbot of Applecross, Isle of Skye, Scotland ----------------------------------------------------------------- His main feastday is April 21 http://groups.yahoo.com/group/celt-saints/message/1525 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. Benedictine Monks of St. Augustine Abbey, Ramsgate. (1966). The Book of Saints. NY: Thomas Y. Crowell. Bentley, J. (1986). A Calendar of Saints: The Lives of the Principal Saints of the Christian Year, NY: Facts on File. Delaney, J. J. (1983). Pocket Dictionary of Saints, NY: Doubleday Image. Doble, G. H. (1931). Saint Symphorian. Encyclopedia of Catholic Saints, August. (1966). Philadelphia: Chilton Books. Farmer, D. H. (1997). The Oxford Dictionary of Saints. Oxford: Oxford University Press. 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. Roeder, H. (1956). Saints and their Attributes, Chicago: Henry Regnery. Walsh, M. (ed.). (1985). Butler's Lives of the Saints. San Francisco: Harper & Row. 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 **************************************
