Celtic and Old English Saints 12 August =-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-= * St. Porcarius and Companions * St. Merewenna * St Just of Penzance * St. Jambert of Canterbury =-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=
St. Porcarius and Companions, Martyrs -------------------------------------------------------- Died c. 732. Abbot Porcarius governed Lerins Abbey on an island off the coast of Provence, France, now known as Saint-Honorat, at a time when the monastery included over 500 monks. About 732, Porcarius was warned by an angel that they were threatened by the descent of barbarians from the sea. Immediately the abbot heeded the warning and sent off to safety all the young students at the abbey and 36 of the younger religious. When the ship left fully loaded, he set about preparing the rest of the community for death. The community was attacked by the Saracens, probably Moors from Spain or North Africa, and were massacred, except four who were taken into slavery. Their feast is kept in the diocese of Frejus, France (Benedictines, Encyclopaedia, Walsh). St. Merewenna, Virgin -------------------------------------------------------- Date unknown. There are many saints by this and similar names that are totally confused. This Merewenna is said to have been one of the daughters of Brychan of Brecknock (f.d. April 6). She is the titular saint of Marhamchurch near Bude, Cornwall (Benedictines). St Just (Ust, Justus) of Penzance -------------------------------------------------------- Date unknown. Saint Ust has been described as a hermit or a martyr or even a bishop, but nothing is known with certainty. His various stories may have been an amalgam of those of several holy men. Nevertheless, he is the patron of the church of Saint Just near Penzance (Benedictines). Church of Saint Just-in-Roseland http://homepages.tesco.net/~k.wasley/justrose.htm St. Jambert of Canterbury, Bishop -------------------------------------------------------- Died 790. Jambert, abbot of Saint Augustine's, succeeded Saint Bregwin (f.d. August 26) as archbishop of Canterbury (Benedictines, Encyclopaedia). Lives kindly supplied by: For All the Saints: http://users.erols.com/saintpat/ss/ss-index.htm These Lives are archived at: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/celt-saints *****************************************