May Saints
Feast days of Scotland's May saints.
St Asaph, 590 AD -
May 1st
His memory lies in the connection he had with St Kentigern, his master, whom he followed to Wales and when it was time for Kentigern to return to Scotland, was left in charge of what became a large and important monastic community on the banks of the Elwy in South Wales. His name has been remembered there to this day. There is potentially a place of veneration of his on Skye, near Broadford called Aiseag however this maybe a simplistic transliteration and could have more to do with Maelrubha.
May 3rd
St Fumac
Saint Fumac is a well known figure in the village of Drummuir in the valley of Botriphnie in Morayshire.
May 10th
St Comgall
Comgall is an early Irish saint, contemporary with the well-known St Columba in Scotland. According to the Life of St Columba, the saints were known to visit each other and travel together at times, including on their return trip from participation in the in the convention of Druim Cett. Comgall was reportedly born c. 510 and was part of the kin group k…
St Cattan of Bute
May 17th
A Saint connected most intimately with the Isle of Bute and is alternatively the uncle or tutor (or both) of St Blaain (Blane/Blaan) who had returned from Ireland. The earliest record of this link refers to Cattan as: 'Cattan the abstinent stern warrior'. Little else is known of his life but he has a variety of places venerating him and it was from him that Clan Chattan took their name. He is remembered in places such as Kingarth in Bute, wells and chapels on Gigha, Colonsay, Kintyre at Southend, Ardnamurchan, Ardchattan Priory and Parish church in Argyllshire, and Luing.
St Conval, 7th Century
May 18th/September 28th
Depending on source his feast day can be slightly different. He is the patron of Cumnock and Ochiltree but it is at Inchinnan in Renfrew we see the most certainty linking place and name. There are quite a few Saints mentioned with similar name but this one - Convallus was Irish and had been connected with Kentigern having left Ireland on what became known as St Convals chariot, a rock that bore him into the Clyde. The rock itself became a place of healing and many other miracles were attested to him. It seems the church at Inchinnan held his relics for quite a long time, but as ever such objects are now lost to us. However wonderfully Inchinnan retained St Convals chariot and you can still find it if you visit.
25th May
St Bede
25 May is the feast of one of the greatest historians Britain has ever produced, the Venerable Bede, who died in 735. A saint and scholar whose works were read throughout Europe, Bede has done more than any other medieval writer to shape our understanding of British history in the early Middle Ages.
St William, Martyr, AD 1201
23rd May
William, a Baker, experienced a radical conversion as a youth in Perthshire and would give a tenth of his bread to the poor alongside other holy acts. He even took in a young man out of pity, who unfortunately for William decided to kill him near Rochester as they journeyed south on pilgrimage to Jerusalem. A few days later a mentally ill woman found him but was cured by touching the body of William. Word got round and he was transferred into the Cathedral which became a lively place of Pilgrimage for all those seeking healing. So busy were they that it was fancied you could see how worn the steps were near to the altar in which is relics were translated.
See also an article about St William and pilgrimage here.
St Dagnus
29th May
Receiving his training at Bangor Abbey he crossed the Irish Sea and became Bishop of the Scoti probably in Galloway. He is mentioned by Bede in his histories having very little truck with a delegation of missionaries sent over from Rome. He had also held the Bishop of Canterbury with low regard. The Roman delegation, Bede wrote, were eating in a particular Inn and so incensed was our Daganus, not only would he not eat with them - he wouldn't even eat in the same place as them.