ÁEDÁN (AIDAN) of LINDISFARNE, Our father among the saints Áedán of Lindisfarne, Enlightener of Northumbria, was the founder and first bishop of the monastery on the island of Lindisfarne off the northeast coast of England. He is credited with restoring Christianity to Northumbria (Northern England).

St. Áedán was a native of Ireland, possibly born in Connaught, who became a monk at St. Columba of Iona’s (9th June) monastery on Iona. Known for strict asceticism, St. Áedán staunchly defended Celtic practices against the imposition of Roman ones.

During his exile (c.616–633) in Scotland, St. Oswald (5th August), King of Northumbria (r. 633–642) he became friendly with the monks at Iona, and when he sought missionaries for his kingdom, he naturally turned to Iona rather than Canterbury. The first bishop sent to lead the mission was too stern, and this alienated many people. St. Áedán was then consecrated bishop and sent to Northumbria to take charge of the mission. King St. Oswald gave him the island of Lindisfarne, near the King’s castle at Bamburgh, where St. Áedán founded the famous monastery of Lindisfarne, which later also served St. Áedán's episcopal seat.

Icon of St. Áedán (Aidan) of Lindisfarne, Enlightener of Northumbria

St. Áedán proved to be an inspired missionary, walking from village to village, though according to one legend King St. Oswald gave St. Áedán a horse so he would not have to walk, but St. Áedán gave the horse to a beggar. On these travels, he would engage people in conversation and slowly interest them in Christianity. Since St. Áedán did not initially speak the local Saxon language, King St. Oswald, who spoke Gaelic from his time in exile, often travelled with St. Áedán, acting as interpreter, thus playing an active role in the conversion of his people. Through these simple conversations, St. Áedán and his monks slowly restored the Christian faith to Northumberland. St. Áedán also selected twelve local boys to train at his monastery, including the future St. Ceadda (Chad) of Lichfield (2nd March), thereby ensuring that the future leadership of the local church would be English. Though St. Áedán followed the Celtic, rather than the Roman practices, which were then vying for supremacy in the region (see Synod of Whitby), his character and energy as a missionary earned the respect of several of the Popes of Rome of his era.

St. Bede the Venerable (25th May), in the Historia Ecclesiastica, praises St. Áedán for his humility and piety, recommending him as a model for other bishops and priests to follow. He also wrote a Life of St. Áedán, thus preserving this important part of the history of the Church in the British Isles. The Life told of miracles attributed to St. Áedán. It is said that St. Áedán once predicted a storm at sea, and gave the sailors who would be caught in it some holy oil to pour on the water which calmed the storm. Also in 651, when a pagan army attacked Bamburgh and attempted to set its walls alight, St. Áedán prayed and the winds turned, blowing smoke and flame towards the pagans, causing them to flee.

St. Áedán reposed at an unknown age in 651. It is said that at the moment of the saint’s repose, a young shepherd boy named Cuthbert had a vision of the St. Áedán’s soul being carried up to Heaven by angels. This inspired the future St. Cuthbert of Lindisfarne (20th March) to dedicate his life to God and prepare to receive monastic tonsure.

BARBOLENUS of BOBBIO, the fourth Abbot of the Abbey of St. Columbanus (Abbazia di San Colombano) at Bobbio in Emilia-Romagna (northern Italy). St. Barbolenus reposed circa 640.

CAESIDIUS and COMPANIONS, St. Caesidius was martyred with an unknown number of Christians the Fucine Lake (Lago Fucino – about 100 Km / 60 miles east of Rome) during one of the third century persecutions. Some traditions state that he was the son of St. Rufinus of Marsi (11th August).

CUTHBURH (CUTHBURGH, CUTHBURGA) and CWENBURH (CWENBURGH), a sister of St. Ina (8th September), King of the West Saxons (r. 689–726), St. Cuthburgh was married to Aldfrith, King of Northumbria (r. 685–704/5). However, as she desired to enter monastic life, they separated, and St. Cuthburgh received monastic tonsure at Barking Abbey under St. Hildelith of Barking (24th March). St. Cuthburgh, along with her sister St. Cwenburh, went on to found the great Abbey of Wimborne in Dorset, England, where SS. Lioba of of Bischofsheim (28th September), Thecla of Kitzingen (15th October), and many other great and saintly women were trained. Many of these women went on to help St. Boniface of Mainz (5th June) to enlighten the German people. St. Cuthburgh reposed circa 724 and was succeeded by her sister St. Cwenburgh as abbess.

Icon of St. Eanswith of Folkestone

EANSWITH (EANSWYTHE), (Seventh Century), St. Eanswith was the only daughter of Eadbald, King of Kent (r. 616–640) and his Frankish wife Emma. At the time of St. Eanswith’s birth, her father was a pagan, her mother a Christian, and St. Eanswith was baptized and raised as a Christian. This is consistent with her desire from early childhood to enter monastic life. As she grew, St. Eanswith continued to insist on becoming a nun, even asking her father to build a cell for her where she could pray. Nevertheless, King Eadbald wanted her to marry. Eventually, the King realised the futility of his wish, and built a monastery for St. Eanswith in Folkestone in Kent. This was the first women’s monastery to be founded in England, and there, from the age of sixteen, St. Eanswith lived with her companions. Due to her age, she was not made abbess immediately, though there is no other recorded abbess. It is assumed that the community was guided either by members of St. Augustine of Canterbury’s (27th May) mission, or by a few experienced nuns who had been especially sent from the Continent, until St. Eanswith and the community were ready for her leadership. Many miracles are attributed to St. Eanswith during her lifetime, including the restoration of sight to a blind man, and the exorcism of a possessed man. We know little else of St. Eanswith’s life. According to tradition, she reposed in 640, when she was in her mid-twenties. Unfortunately, her monastery was sacked by the Danes in 867, though St. Eanswith’s relics were saved, and for some time were kept in the local church of SS. Peter and Paul. The monastery also had to contend with the encroaching sea, which required several relocations further inland. In 1138, a new monastery and church, dedicated to SS. Mary and Eanswith, were built farther inland, and St. Eanswith’s relics were translated from the church of SS. Peter and Paul to the new monastery.

During the Dissolution of the Monasteries in England and Wales (1536–1540) by Henry VIII, King of England and Ireland, (r. 1509–1547), the monastery was plundered, and the shrine of St. Eanswith destroyed, but her relics had been hidden beforehand. In June 1885, workmen in the church discovered a niche in the wall, which had been plastered over. Upon removing the plaster, they found a reliquary made of lead, which, judging by its ornamentation, dated from the twelfth century. A number of bones found inside were determined by experts to be those of a young woman. Today the niche is lined with alabaster and is covered by a brass door and a grille. Following the uncovering of St. Eanswith’s relics, they were brought out each year for veneration on the parish Feast Day. Unfortunately, this practice came to an abrupt end after several parishioners accused the vicar of “worshiping” the relics. Although St. Eanswith’s relics are no longer offered for public veneration, candles and flowers are occasionally placed before the brass door where they are entombed.

OPTATUS of AUXERRE, commonly reckoned the thirteenth Bishop of Auxerre in Burgundy (east-central France). St. Optatus reposed circa 530, in the second year of his episcopate. No further information on his life is extant.

PAULINUS of TRIER, the sixth Bishop of Trier in the present-day German state of Rhineland-Palatinate, succeeding St. Maximinus of Trier (29th May), whom he had accompanied to Trier from France. St. Paulinus was one of the leading Gallic defenders of orthodoxy against Arianism; steadfastly supporting St. Athanasius the Great at the second Council of Sirmium in 351. As a result, at the Council of Arles of 353 St. Paulinus was exiled to Phrygia in Asia Minor (present-day Turkey), where he reposed circa 358. The relics of St. Paulinus were translated to Trier in 395, and entombed in the crypt of St. Paulinskirche (St. Paulinus’ Church), which was dedicated to him.

ROBUSTIAN and MARK of MILAN, (Date Unknown), martyrs who have been venerated in Milan (north-west Italy) since time immemorial. Though the do appear in early calendars of the Milanese church, nothing is now known about them, and it is possible that this St. Robustian may be the same as the one commemorated on 24th May.

AMATUS (AMÉ), a member of the Grenoblois nobility, St. Amatus was, as a child, placed in the Abbey of St. Maurice (abbaye de Saint-Maurice d'Agaune), Agaunum, present-day Saint-Maurice-en-Valais, Switzerland. After completing his education, St. Amatus received monastic tonsure at the Abbey, and later lived as a hermit for over thirty years. In 614 his spiritual father, St. Eustace of Luxeuil (29th March), encouraged him to move to the Abbey of SS. Peter and Paul of Luxeuil (abbaye Saint-Pierre et Saint-Paul de Luxeuil) in Burgundy (east-central France). While at Luxeuil, St. Amatus converted St. Romaricus of Remiremont (8th December), and the two of them founded in 620 the double-monastery of the Abbey of St. Peter of Remiremont (abbaye de Saint-Pierre de Remiremont) in present-day Vosges, France. St. Amatus served as first Abbot. St. Amatus reposed in 630.

AMATUS of SION, the particulars concerning this saint have become rather muddled over the ages, hence there is some confusion about his life. The majority opinion seems to be that St. Amatus served as an Abbot of Agaunum, and later as the tenth Bishop of Sion in Valais (Switzerland). St. Amatus reposed in 690.

BARSENORIUS, (Seventh Century), a spiritual child of St. Leutfridus of La-Croix (21st June), and an Abbot of the Abbey of the Cross of St. Ouen / abbaye La Croix Saint-Ouen (later the Abbey of the Cross of St. Leufroy) in the present-day town of La Croix-Saint-Leufroy, in Normandy (northern France). The relics of St. Barsenorius are enshrined at the Abbey of the Trinity (abbaye de la Trinité de Fécamp) in Fécamp, Normandy.

COLUMBINUS of LURE, the successor of St. Deicola of Lure (18th January) as Abbot of Lure, about 100 km (60 miles) east of Dijon, in the Vosges (eastern France). St. Columbinus reposed circa 680.

HADUWY (HEDWIG), a noblewoman, and granddaughter of St. Ida of Herzfeld (4th September). Following the repose of her husband in 849, St. Haduwy received monastic tonsure, and from 858 until her repose in 887, served as third Abbess of the Imperial Abbey of Herford (Reichsfrauenstift Herford) in the Duchy of Saxony (northern Germany).

MAURILIUS of ANGERS, a native of Milan (north-west Italy) who studied under SS. Ambrose of Milan (7th December) and Martin of Tours (11th November). St. Maurilius accompanied St. Martin when he went to Gaul (west-central France), and circa 423 was consecrated second Bishop of Angers (western France). St. Maurilius reposed circa 453.

NECTARIUS of AUTUN, the seventeenth Bishop of Autun, Burgundy (France) from 540 until his repose in 549 or 550. He was a friend of St. Germanus of Paris (28th May), whom St. Nectarius appointed to serve as Abbot of the Abbey of St. Symphorian (abbaye Saint-Symphorian d'Autun) in Autun .

PHILIP of ROME, Prefect of Egypt under the Emperor Commodus (r. 180–192), he was dismissed from this post when it was learnt he had been baptised. He was then chosen to be Bishop of Alexandria, but the new Prefect sent assassins who mortally wounded St. Philip while he was praying, and he reposed three days later. St. Philip was also the father of St. Eugenia of Rome (24th December), in whose home SS. Protus of Rome and Hyacinth of Rome (11th September) were employed.

VENERIUS of TINO, there is no reliable Life of St. Venerius, but the general consensus is that he was an anchorite, and later abbot on the Island of Tino in the Gulf of La Spezia in the northern Ligurian Sea (Italy). St. Venerius is believed to have reposed circa 630, however, there are some scholars who say he flourished in the ninth century

WULFTHRYTH (WILFRIDA), St. Wulfthryth was the mother of St. Edith of Wilton (16th September), who, after the birth of her daughter, received monastic tonsure from St. Ethelwold of Winchester (1st August) at Wilton Abbey, eventually serving as its Abbess. In time, her daughter joined her at Wilton as a monastic. St. Wulfthryth reposed circa 988.