Celtic and Old English Saints 27 November =-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-= * St. Fergus of Glamis * St. Seachnall of Dunshaughlin * St. Virgil of Salzburg * St. Congar of Somerset * St. Edwold of Cerne * St. Gallgo of Wales =-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=
St. Fergus, Bishop (Fergustus, Fergusianus), ----------------------------------------------------------- Died after 721; feast formerly on November 18. An Irish bishop, possibly of Downpatrick, and surnamed "the Pict," he went to Scotland as a missionary and preached in Caithness, Buchan (where there is a town called Saint Fergus), and Forfarshire. In Strogeth he founded three churches; in Caithness, two (presumably Wick and Halkirk). He may also have established churches at Inverugy, Banff, and Dyce. He finally settled at Strathearn, Perthshire, where he exerted a powerful influence in the area between Aberdeen and Wick. Saint Fergus is buried at Glamis, a central location of William Shakespeare's "Macbeth" and where a cave and well bear his name. During the reign of James IV (1488-1513), the abbot of Scone removed the head of Fergus and built a splendid marble tomb for his body relic at Glamis. Aberdeen had an arm relic. He may be the same as Fergustus, bishop of the Scots, who signed the Acts of the synod in Rome in 721, which condemned irregular marriages of various kinds, sorcerers, and clerics who grew their hair long. In the Aberdeen breviary he is called Fergustian. The feast of Saint Fergus, who was highly venerated by the Scottish kings, is kept in the dioceses of Dunkeld and Aberdeen. Although the Reformers attempted to suppress his cultus, Montague states that it is still growing, especially in the area around Paisley in Renfrewshire. A new church has been dedicated to his memory and the nearby town of Ferguslie is named after him (Attwater 2, Benedictines, Delaney, Farmer, Montague). Web site with a map of the monastic foundations of Saint Fergus http://www.cushnieent.force9.co.uk/fergus.html "Traces of the Cultus of St Fergus in Scotland" by J.M.MacKinley, M.A., F.S.A. (Lond. & Scot.) We cannot be on terms of intimacy with St Fergus as with St. Columba, the former having had no Cumine or Adamnan to supply particulars regarding his daily life. There are, however, some biographical details on record, and it may be interesting to connect these with the traces of his cultus in Scotland. For such details we are largely indebted to the lections given in the "Breviarium Aberdonense", under the Saint's festival day-the 17th of November. Read the paper in full here: http://ads.ahds.ac.uk/catalogue/adsdata/PSAS_2002/pdf/vol_038/38_445_453.pdfSt. Seachnall of Dunshauglin, Bishop(Secundinus, Sechnall)-----------------------------------------------------------Born c. 375; died 447. Sechnall was sent from Gaul in 439(?) to assisthis uncle, Saint Patrick, in Ireland, together with Auxilius andIserninus. He became the first bishop of Dunslaughlin in Meath, andthen auxiliary bishop of Armagh. He wrote several hymns, notably thealphabetical hymn "Audites, omnes amantes Deum" (the oldest known Latinhymn written in Ireland) in honour of Patrick and the earliest Latinhymn in Ireland, and "Sancti, venite, Christi corpus sumite" (Attwater2, Benedictines, Coulson, Delaney, Husenbeth).Troparion of St Seachnall Tone 1Today we hymn thee, O Hierarch Seachnall,/ for as thou in thy pietydidst compose the praises of our Father Patrick,/ pray to God for usthat we may, with true piety, honour our saints./ And in praising thisglorious company may we be worthy oftheir prayers and the great mercy of Christ our God.The Communion Hymn of Bangor----------------------------------"Draw Nigh and Take the Body of the Lord"Sancti, venite, Christi Corpus sumiteThis is a 7th century Latin communion hymn found in the BangorAntiphoner, a rare Irish liturgical manuscript. From the Monastery ofBangor where it was written between 680 and 691 it was carried toBobbio, the famous monastery founded on Italian soil by the Irishmissionary Columbanus after he and been driven out of Burgundy by thereigning powers. It was first published by Muratori in his Anecdota(1697-98), when he discovered it in the Ambrosian Library in Milan.An old Irish legend tells of St. Patrick and his nephew Seachnallhearing angels sing it first during the offertory before the communion,and adds; "So from that time to the present that hymn is chanted inErinn when the body of Christ is received."As the legend goes, St. Patrick and Sechnall had a terrible argument,with Sechnall accusing Patrick of preaching charity too little andPatrick threatening to run over Sechnall with his chariot. After beingreconciled to each other in the graveyard of their church, they suddenlyheard angels within the church singing this hymn.John Mason Neale translated the Latin text in 1851 and published it inhis Medieval Hymns. Here is his text:Draw nigh and take the Body of the Lord,and drink the holy Blood for you outpoured.Saved by that Body and that precious Blood,with souls refreshed, we render thanks to God.Salvation's Giver, Christ, the only Son,by his dear Cross and Blood the victory won.Offered was he for greatest and for least,himself the Victim, and himself the Priest.Victims were offered by the law of old,which in a type this heavenly mystery foretold.He, Ransomer, from death, and Light from shade,now gives his holy grace his saints to aid;approach ye then with faithful hearts sincere,and take the safeguard of salvation here.He that in this world rules his saints and shields,to all believers life eternal yields.With heavenly bread makes them that hunger whole,gives living waters to the thirsting soul.Alpha and Omega, to whom shall bowall nations at the Doom, is with us now.St. Virgil of Salzburg, Bishop(Feargal, Fearghal, Fergal, Virgilius)-------------------------------------------------------------Born in Ireland; died in Salzburg, Austria, November 27, c. 781-784.Virgil was an Irish monk, possibly of Aghaboe, who went abroad about 740intending to visit Palestine. With him were Dobdagrec, later abbot of amonastery at Chiemsee, and Sidonius, afterwards bishop of Passau. Hislearning and ability attracted the attention of Blessed Pepin the Short(f.d. February 21), who kept him at the Merovingian court for two years.About 743, Pepin sent Virgil with letters of recommendation to hisbrother-in-law, Duke Odilo of Bavaria, who, c. 745, appointed Virgilabbot of Saint Peter's Monastery at Salzburg, with jurisdiction over thelocal Christians, while Dobdagrec served its episcopal functions.Instead of visiting Palestine he remained in Bavaria to help SaintRupert (f.d. March 27), the apostle of Austria. For 40 years helaboured to convert Teutons and Slavs, founded monasteries, churches,and schools. (In 774, the council of Bavaria issued its firstpronouncement on the establishment of schools.)Virgil appears to have been a somewhat difficult character and heincurred the strong disapproval of Saint Boniface (f.d. June 5), whoseems to have detested him. (Perhaps because of differences in theinterpretations of Roman observance or jurisdiction, or because Virgilsucceeded John whom Boniface had as abbot of Saint Peter's, or justpersonal differences.) Boniface twice delated him to Rome. On thefirst occasion Pope Saint Zachary (f.d. March 22) decided in Virgil'sfavour. Through carelessness or ignorance, a priest had used incorrectLatin wording during a baptism. Virgil and Sidonius ruled that thebaptism was valid and need not be repeated; Boniface of Mainz disagreed.Zachary was surprised that Boniface should have questioned it and issueda statement to that effect.The other case concerned Virgil's cosmological speculations and theirimplications, which, as reported to Zachary by Boniface, the pope foundvery shocking. In 748, the pope directed Boniface to convene a councilto investigate the questionable views, but the council was neverconvened. The incident has been the subject of much discussion and hasbeen used and exaggerated for polemical purposes, but in fact it is farfrom clear what Virgil's ideas really were. It appears that Virgilpostulated that the world was round and that people might be living inwhat would now be called the Antipodes. He was both a man of learningand a successful missionary, and even after his cosmological views werecalled into question, he was consecrated bishop of the see of Salzburg(c. 766), whose cathedral he rebuilt.Saint Virgil brought relics and the veneration of Saints Brigid (f.d.February 1) and Samthann of Clonbroney (f.d. December 19) to the areashe evangelized. In fact, Saint Samthann, who may have provided Virgilwith his early education, is better known in Austria than in herhomeland.Among his other good works, Virgil sent fourteen missionary monks headedby Saint Modestus (f.d. February 5) into the province of Carinthia, ofwhich he is venerated as the evangelizer. He baptized two successivedukes of Carinthia at Salzburg (Chetimar and Vetune). His influence isrevealed by the issuance during the time of duke Chetimar of aCarinthian coin, an old Salzburg rubentaler, with the images of SaintRupert, who built Saint Peter's monastery, and Virgil. He fell ill anddied soon after making a visitation in Carinthia, going as far as theplace where the Dravo River meets the Danube.His feast is kept throughout Ireland, although he is buried at St.Peter's in Salzburg. Virgil is widely venerated in southern Germany,Austria, Yugoslavia, and northern Italy (Attwater, Attwater 2,Benedictines, Coulson, D'Arcy, Encyclopaedia, Farmer, Fitzpatrick,Gougaud, Healy, Husenbeth, Kenney, Montague).Sometimes he is paired with Saint Rupertus in artwork (Roeder). Virgilis the patron of Salzburg, Austria (Farmer).St. Cungar, Abbot(Congar, Cumgar, Cyngar, Docco),-----------------------------------------------------------Born in Devon; 6th century; feast day formerly on November 7 (althoughthis could be a different saint). There may be several saints with thisname or only one with two names. It's difficult to determine because ofthe paucity of documentary evidence. His "vita" was not produced untilthe 9th century, and it is moralistic rather than historical in nature.Nevertheless the memory of Saint Cungar survives in the monasteries hefounded at Budgworth, Congresbury (Somerset) and at Llangonys(Glamorgan). There are dedications to this Celtic saint in Wales,Cornwall, and Brittany, and legends that suggest his was one of thegreat monks who evangelized throughout the Celtic lands. It is amazingthat his name survived the influx of the heathen Saxons in his day,which again leads to the conclusion that he was an especially greatmissionary preacher. He is to be identified with Saint Docuinus(Doguinus). This seems to be the name that was later corrupted into Oueand Kew. Saint Cumgar was buried at Congresbury according to manymedieval records including pilgrim guides, to which town his own namewas given (Attwater 2, Benedictines, Coulson, Farmer).St. Edwold of Cerne, Hermit-----------------------------------------------------------Died 871; Farmer gives him two feast days: August 29 and the feast ofhis translation, August 12. Saint Edwold is reputed to be the brotherof Saint Edmund the Martyr (f.d. November 20), king of East Anglia. Helived on bread and water as a hermit near Cerne in Dorsetshire. Heworked many miracles and was buried in his cell near which the abbey ofSaint Peter's was built. His relics were later translated into itschurch (Benedictines, Encyclopaedia, Farmer).St. Gallgo of Wales, Abbot-----------------------------------------------------------6th century. A Welsh saint, founder of Llanallgo in Anglesey(Benedictines).Lives kindly supplied by:For All the Saints:http://www.saintpatrickdc.org/ss/ss-index.htmThese Lives are archived at:http://groups.yahoo.com/group/celt-saints¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤
