"and S. Terence and S. Edward" (U12.1696)
S. Edward the Confessor (1003 - 1066) was born in Oxford (England), the son of King Ethelred II and Queen Emma. When his father was unseated by Danish invasion, Edward and his brother Alfred were sent to Denmark to be quietly killed. The officer in charge took pity on the boys and sent them to Sweden, then on to the King of Hungary to be raised and educated. Grown up, the brothers moved to Normandy and waited for a chance to reclaim the crown of England. They tried in 1035, but they were turned back and Alfred was killed. Edward successfully tried again in 1042, and was chosen by acclamation, ascending the throne on April 3. He gained a reputation as a just and worthy king. He repulsed invasions, helped restore the King of Scotland to his throne, remitted unjust taxes, and was noted for his generosity to the poor and strangers, and for his piety and love of God. He built churches, including Westminster Abbey. Represented as a king with a ring or a coin, sometimes offering it to a beggar. Feast October 13 (January 5 in England).
S. Edward the Confessor (1003 - 1066) was born in Oxford (England), the son of King Ethelred II and Queen Emma. When his father was unseated by Danish invasion, Edward and his brother Alfred were sent to Denmark to be quietly killed. The officer in charge took pity on the boys and sent them to Sweden, then on to the King of Hungary to be raised and educated. Grown up, the brothers moved to Normandy and waited for a chance to reclaim the crown of England. They tried in 1035, but they were turned back and Alfred was killed. Edward successfully tried again in 1042, and was chosen by acclamation, ascending the throne on April 3. He gained a reputation as a just and worthy king. He repulsed invasions, helped restore the King of Scotland to his throne, remitted unjust taxes, and was noted for his generosity to the poor and strangers, and for his piety and love of God. He built churches, including Westminster Abbey. Represented as a king with a ring or a coin, sometimes offering it to a beggar. Feast October 13 (January 5 in England).
"and S. Owen Caniculus " (U12.1696)
"and S. Anonymous and S. Eponymous and S. Pseudonymous and S. Homonymous and S. Paronymous and S. Synonymous" (U12.1697)
"and S. Laurence O'Toole" (UU12.1698)
"and S. James of Dingle and Compostella" (U12.1699)
"and S. Columcille and S. Columba" (U12.1699)
S. Columcille and S. Columba refer to the same Irish saint (521-597) born in Donegal. He is also known as Colum, Columbus, Colmcille, Columkill, or Columbkille.
S. Columcille and S. Columba refer to the same Irish saint (521-597) born in Donegal. He is also known as Colum, Columbus, Colmcille, Columkill, or Columbkille.
S. Columba was of royalty, the son of Fedhlimidh and Eithne of the Ui Neill clan. He was a bard, a priest, and an itinerant preacher throughout Ireland and Scotland. The spiritual student of S. Finnian, he was in turn teacher to S. Corbmac, S. Phelim, S. Drostan, and S. Fergna the White. He travelled to Scotland in 563. Exiled to Iona, he founded a monastic community there and served as its abbot for twelve years. With the monks of Iona, including S. Baithen of Iona and S. Eochod, he evangelized the Picts, converting many, including King Brude. Legend says he wrote 300 books. He died and is buried in Iona. Feast June 9. This PC shows S. Columb's cathedral in Londonderry.
"and S. Celestine and S. Colman" (U112.1699)
"and S. Kevin" (U12.1700)
S. Kevin of Glendalough (498-618) was Irish. He was the son of Coemlog and Coemell, Leinster nobles. He was baptized by S. Cronan of Roscrea, educated by S. Petroc of Cornwall from age 7, and lived with monks from age 12. He studied for the priesthood in Cell na Manach (Killnamanagh) and was ordained by bishop Lugidus. He then went to live as a hermit for 7 years in a cave at Glendalough, a Bronze Age tomb now known as Saint Kevin's Bed. He wore skins, ate nettles and herbs, and spent his time in prayer. Word of his holiness spread, and he attracted followers. He founded the monastery at Glendalough, which included relics brought back during a pilgrimage to Rome. This house, in turn, founded several others, and around it grew a town which became a see city (later part of the archdiocese of Dublin). When the monastery was well-established, he left to live as a hermit for 4 years, then returned to Glendalough and served as abbot until his death at age 120. Represented as a monk or hermit with a blackbird sitting on his outstretched hand. Feast June 3. Notice the Irish round tower in the background of this holy card.
S. Kevin of Glendalough (498-618) was Irish. He was the son of Coemlog and Coemell, Leinster nobles. He was baptized by S. Cronan of Roscrea, educated by S. Petroc of Cornwall from age 7, and lived with monks from age 12. He studied for the priesthood in Cell na Manach (Killnamanagh) and was ordained by bishop Lugidus. He then went to live as a hermit for 7 years in a cave at Glendalough, a Bronze Age tomb now known as Saint Kevin's Bed. He wore skins, ate nettles and herbs, and spent his time in prayer. Word of his holiness spread, and he attracted followers. He founded the monastery at Glendalough, which included relics brought back during a pilgrimage to Rome. This house, in turn, founded several others, and around it grew a town which became a see city (later part of the archdiocese of Dublin). When the monastery was well-established, he left to live as a hermit for 4 years, then returned to Glendalough and served as abbot until his death at age 120. Represented as a monk or hermit with a blackbird sitting on his outstretched hand. Feast June 3. Notice the Irish round tower in the background of this holy card.
Kevin disdained human company, especially women; his name was synonym with misogynist in Ireland up until the 19c. He once pushed an amorous woman into a patch of nettles. He liked the company of animals, and had a mystical command over wildlife.
Many legends surround him. An otter caught salmon and brought it to his monks daily (until it over-heard a monk talking about killing it to make gloves). A man dreamed his epilepsy would be cured if he went to Glendalough and ate an apple from Kevin; as no apple trees grew in Glendalough, Kevin commanded a willow to grow apples. A blackbird landed in the palm of Kevin's hand while he was praying for Lent, and laid an egg there; the saint remained immobile until the egg hatched. This PC shows an Irish round tower and S. Kevin's chapel in Glendalough.
"and S. Brendan" (U12.1700)
"and S. Frigidian and S. Senan" (U12.1700)
"and S. Fachtna and S. Columbanus and S. Gall and S. Fursey and S. Fintan and S. Fiacre" (U12.1701)
S. Fiacre (d. 670) was Irish. He was raised in a monastery, studied healing herbs, and had the gift of healing. His knowledge and holiness caused followers to flock to him. Seeking isolation, he fled to France. He asked S. Faro of Meaux, who was the bishop, if he could have land for a garden for food and herbs. The bishop promised as much land as Fiacre could entrench in one day. Fiacre walked around the perimeter of a plot he wanted, dragging his spade behind him. Wherever the spade touched, trees were miraculously toppled, bushes uprooted, and the soil was entrenched. This garden became a site of pilgrimage. Represented with a spade and/or vegetables. Feast August 30. This PC shows the Chapelle St Fiacre in Bretagne (France).
S. Fiacre (d. 670) was Irish. He was raised in a monastery, studied healing herbs, and had the gift of healing. His knowledge and holiness caused followers to flock to him. Seeking isolation, he fled to France. He asked S. Faro of Meaux, who was the bishop, if he could have land for a garden for food and herbs. The bishop promised as much land as Fiacre could entrench in one day. Fiacre walked around the perimeter of a plot he wanted, dragging his spade behind him. Wherever the spade touched, trees were miraculously toppled, bushes uprooted, and the soil was entrenched. This garden became a site of pilgrimage. Represented with a spade and/or vegetables. Feast August 30. This PC shows the Chapelle St Fiacre in Bretagne (France).
"and S. John Nepomuc" (U12.1702)
"and S. Thomas Aquinas" (U12.1702)
S. Thomas Aquina (1225 - 1274) was the son of the Count of Aquino, born in the family castle in Lombardy (Italy). He was educated by Benedictine monks at Monte Cassino, and at the U of Naples. He secretly joined the mendicant Dominican friars in 1244. His noble family kidnapped and imprisoned him for a year to dissuade him, but he rejoined his order in 1245. He studied in Paris (1245 - 1248) under S. Albert the Great. Ordained in 1250, he returned to Paris to teach theology at U of Paris. He wrote defenses of the mendicant orders, commentaries on Aristotle, and bible-related works. He won his doctorate, and taught in France and Italy while writing the Summa Theologica. In 1273 he experienced a divine revelation which so enraptured him that he abandoned the Summa, saying that it and his other writing were just straw in the wind. He died four months later while en route to the Council of Lyons. Represented usually as a teacher with pagan philosophers at his feet, sometimes with chalice, monstrance, ox, or star. Feast January 28.
S. Thomas Aquina (1225 - 1274) was the son of the Count of Aquino, born in the family castle in Lombardy (Italy). He was educated by Benedictine monks at Monte Cassino, and at the U of Naples. He secretly joined the mendicant Dominican friars in 1244. His noble family kidnapped and imprisoned him for a year to dissuade him, but he rejoined his order in 1245. He studied in Paris (1245 - 1248) under S. Albert the Great. Ordained in 1250, he returned to Paris to teach theology at U of Paris. He wrote defenses of the mendicant orders, commentaries on Aristotle, and bible-related works. He won his doctorate, and taught in France and Italy while writing the Summa Theologica. In 1273 he experienced a divine revelation which so enraptured him that he abandoned the Summa, saying that it and his other writing were just straw in the wind. He died four months later while en route to the Council of Lyons. Represented usually as a teacher with pagan philosophers at his feet, sometimes with chalice, monstrance, ox, or star. Feast January 28.